"…Why did I agree to come?"
Isabelle grunted as she walked down Lima Port City's main road, going down the slope and passing by some vendors trying to sell seafood by calling out to her.
"It's so crowded here."
She wasn't sure why she accepted Arthur's invitation to tag along to the mission. It was unlike her usual response.
All this time, she faked her ability as the church knight because she didn't want to be sent on a mission. With all her might, she avoided something called a mission that made her leave the convenient space called Academy City.
Due to personal reasons, she wasn't keen on leaving the private space she had built up around her. Academy City was nice. There was no big problem. The city was clean and nice; everything was within the wall, and she could visit them anytime.
Nothing beats the convenience of Academy City. It was said even those from Capital City envied the Academy City for its beautiful and peaceful atmosphere.
At most, the only inconvenience was rowdy students who were too excited after school was over. However, that also added to the charm of Academy City if compared to the others.
And Isabelle was now in a dilemma. She held her head, which was attacked by a headache due to the sudden change in environment.
"Why did I agree?" She asked once again, stopping in the empty area on the side of the road.
Nothing forced her to come.
In fact, Isabelle could refuse and return to Academy City alone right now. She knew Arthur wouldn't be mad at her.
Disappointed? Might be. But he wouldn't get angry for such a small reason even if he didn't remember her at all.
Looking around, she immediately knew it wasn't her place. Isabelle knew she wasn't supposed to be here. And she didn't mean by this city, but this world altogether.
A mixed feeling got jumbled inside her, making her feel really awful. Shaking her head strongly, she muttered, "…Let's just walk."
Isabelle continued her aimless walk. She didn't know the terrain of this city, so she had no real destination in mind. It was just… she remembered seeing a beautiful place from outside the city earlier and wanted to find it.
As for the way back, she could just trace her track or ask for the citizens. They would definitely answer if she asked the question politely… something that was a bit hard for her current her, who had a sharp tongue. But she could try.
The place she had seen from outside the city was a small cave at the end of the beach on the other side of the city from their lodging. Somehow, she was fixated on that cave.
Was it because it reminded her of the dungeon in Horizon Online? Or was it because she wanted to seek a thrill again, just like in the past?
'What are you doing?' She asked herself as she stopped in front of that said cave. 'It's been 10 years since you fought. Although you got younger when you arrived, you're already in your 30!'
Isabelle was confused. She didn't know what was wrong with herself. She had changed, but lately, she changed once more.
The trigger was clear, but she didn't want to admit it. Even now, she knew she was just seeking something nostalgic. Something that made her re-remember her past. Such as this cave that looked like a dungeon.
"Maybe… just a peek will not hurt me?"
In front of her, the entrance to the cave stood tall. She was looking inside as she stood on sandy ground. No light penetrated the interior of the cave, casting a long shadow due to how deep it was.
From its appearance alone, it wasn't clear how deep this cave was. The atmosphere inside was different from the outside. This foreboding and heavy atmosphere was as if a monster could jump from darkness anytime.
Unsheathing the [Night's Edge] on her waist, Isabelle gulped and started walking.
"Let's check it for a second and walk out afterward."
Her feet moved with mixed feelings between anticipation and anxiety.
"I can do this."
And then, she disappeared into the cave, penetrating the darkness of the shadow cast by the sun in the sky.
***
"Hnn~ I love you, Sir Arthur…"
"I know. Sleep well, Garcia."
I put a blanket over the naked Garcia and stepped away from the bed. The bed was covered in various liquids, and the room was filled with a sweet sex scent and pheromones.
Garcia's body was also covered in sweat and semen. She refused to be cleaned and begged to let her sleep like that as it made her calm and happy. I had no choice but to agree, and I didn't realize that a few hours had passed since we did it.
Well, after getting satisfied, she apologized for getting into heat again and then fell asleep. Thankfully, Isabelle was out all this time, so she didn't see or hear our activity.
"Talking about Isabelle, why does she move back and forth?"
While getting dressed in a black and white shirt, I checked my radar and noticed Isabelle's dot location running back and forth in a certain area. For some reason, she was also underground if that added to the strangeness of this situation.
"What's she doing? Don't tell me that she's directionally challenged?"
If so, that was troubling.
Once again, the fact that she was underground worried me. Did she try to find an underground city? There should be no such city around this area.
Then, what did she do? What was she trying to do?
A clue? Maybe she found something and decided to check it herself without asking me. I should've asked her to stay in the lodging if that was the case, and this would turn out to be my fault.
What if she was kidnapped then?
A bad premonition entered my head. Getting kidnapped in a new area was something that often happened in Horizon Online.
Just because I was in Sins Paradise, I shouldn't lower my guard like that.
"Tsk!"
I clicked my tongue and took out a magic sword from my inventory. It wasn't [Excalipoor] or something weak like that. Instead, I took out a genuine sword that only a Max Level player could equip, the spare sword I often used in case of emergency.
"[Caliburn]."
The shimmering gold blade reflected the sunlight that seeped out from the gap in the window in my room. The blue handle fitted perfectly in my hand, and the simple handguard didn't give away that this sword was one of the best.
Unfortunately, this sword had no scabbard. So I was forced to hold it in my hand as I opened the window slowly, stepping out from it.
Where should I go?
'Think.'
This lodging was tall but located at the feet of a slope. I had no good vision here, but it was enough to see the entire city.
'Where is the place that can be used to hide an underground entrance? Or where is the place that Isabelle most likely would visit in this city?'
My eyes surveyed the entire city, from one side of the wall to the other and then from one beach to the other beach separated by a port.
And at the end of the beach on the left, I saw it.
"There."
A cave with a similar look to a dungeon's entrance stood at the end of the long beach. The entrance was massive, and it was deep. My radar showed that one of its paths led underground.
"That's the place that Isabelle most likely will visit."
Why would I know about it? Because I also wanted to visit that place.
The third place on my list was actually that cave. It was just for a personal reason and not because I wanted to find a clue about the first event.
For some reason, the cave was just inviting me. It drove my attention to it, making me unable to look away. And that cave… something about it reminded me of Horizon Online.
"If Isabelle felt something similar to me, then I bet she entered that cave out of curiosity."
Looking at the current situation, exploring a strange cave was dangerous. It also wasn't mentioned at all in Sins Paradise, probably because it wasn't necessary and wasn't a part of the first event.
"Well, there is nothing wrong with checking it. I also need to check if Isabelle is okay."
If that girl was indeed getting kidnapped, then the kidnappers were truly skilled, so I took out my [Caliburn] for preparation.
However, if she were just getting lost, I would be relieved and only scold her. She was just as handful as Garcia, it seemed.
'Talking about getting lost due to curiosity, she's just too similar to that girl.'
Sighing, I kicked against the roof softly and jumped to another roof.
'The similarities are just scary. I can't even think of her as just Isabelle now.'
Nothing was certain yet, but I hoped Isabelle was just lost and didn't get involved in any trouble.
