Chapter 196

The two lovers who solved the problem were enjoying their happy time, and I didn’t bother to peek.

The dragon was disappointed but silently deactivated the beetle’s visual-sharing function.

I’ve learned everything I needed to know. It seems our party isn’t that unlucky after all.

Suddenly, such good fortune came our way. Even Lady Kisea, who had been irritated, finally showed a smile.

“Half the guards disappeared from here?”

[Always rushing things isn’t always the best strategy. Knowing how to wait for the enemy to show a weakness is also the essence of a surprise attack.]

“Indeed…!”

Having half the personnel means there are holes in the security. While the remaining half will eventually get used to handling double the workload, there’s still time before that happens.

Trying to do something you’ve never done before is naturally difficult.

Soon, the captain of this place, Pedro, straightened his clothes and stepped out of the room. He secretly called someone and gave various instructions.

As the instructions were relayed, the museum buzzed with activity, and people began selecting who would be dispatched.

The men, who had been maintaining a tight security, started drawing lots to choose the unlucky ones who would have to retrieve the monster’s corpse, revealing gaps in their defense.

Seizing the opportunity, the beetle quietly crept in. It looked around the darkened museum interior. Azahadaka smugly shrugged.

[I knew this would happen, so I modified it for night vision.]

“Now I see why they reduced the guards by half. There’s nothing worth taking anyway…”

The exhibits in sight were, as Lady Kisea said, not exactly treasures. In fact, their historical value was questionable.

A sword supposedly wielded by Epirna during the Beastman Liberation War, soldiers’ flags, and small items looted from human invaders back then.

No matter how you look at it, there’s nothing here worth stealing.

They have symbolic value, but their monetary worth is close to garbage. Stealing them would only earn the wrath of the entire Beastman Kingdom.

So even if someone did steal, all they’d gain is Epirna’s anger and a nationwide manhunt. Those people must have already known that.

They probably thought that as long as they guarded that golden statue well, even if security got a bit lax, no thief would come. Sadly, today, his judgment was wrong. We are here now.

[Oh ho, so they’re really here. The stone statues.]

It took a while, but after passing through the museum’s artifacts, we finally reached a hall filled with stone statues. Seeing them, the princess and I were shocked.

Could all these statues be petrified people? The beetle stretched out its front leg and tapped one of the stone statues.

[It doesn’t seem like they were affected by magic. Can something other than magic turn living beings into stone? What kind of monster is this…]

“Shut up and find my dad already! Hurry!”

[You want me to find one specific person among all these stone blocks? Are you joking?]

Lady Kisea, who had been grinding her teeth since seeing the statues, seemed to be at her limit. Her eyes trembled, and her gaze wavered.

I understand her feelings. If you thought your parents were turned into stone and stuck there, anyone would struggle to stay calm. But in times like these, you need to be even more composed.

[Even if these statues have distinct human faces, it’s hard to find someone. Not to mention, they’ve been weathered by time. Many have become smooth stone blocks with no distinct features. Can you be sure these aren’t your parents?]

“Can’t you do something with magic?”

[I don’t know anything about your parents. How would that work? You’ve got some nerve. Use your head for once.]

“What? You wanna die?”

I grabbed Lady Kisea, who was growling, by the scruff of her neck. Suddenly, an idea came to me.

“You, what are you doing? Where are you touching?”

“Lady Kisea.”

“Huh?”

“We may not know the answer, but the water might. Let’s use that.”

Her anger vanished instantly. She must have been that baffled.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“If we just dip these statues in the spring water…”

In the past, even if we knew the method, we couldn’t have done it.

But now, it’s clearly possible. As my spirit grows stronger, the power of the miracle, once limited by my humanity, also increases.

“Then we’ll definitely get an answer.”

*****

“No, dammit!”

Pedro, the museum security captain, clutched his head. This was a prestigious position, and he was talented and of good background.

Though he hadn’t created his own Power Techniques, he had vaguely grasped the form of magical power. He was already an expert, capable of slicing petty thieves with a single swing of his sword.

With talent, quick wits, and influential parents, his life had been smooth. At least until now. Now, an opponent he could never handle had come for him.

“What the hell is going on! What the hell is happening!”

Right after sending his lover away, a flood suddenly started!

Without any warning, out of nowhere. Not a single drop of rain, yet chaos erupted.

“Did it rain? Was there a typhoon? Did a river overflow? No! Did some lunatic dig up groundwater and burst it?”

Splash, splash, splash!

Water rushed in with the force of a waterfall, sweeping through the corridors and invading the museum. No matter how skilled Pedro was, he couldn’t cut or stop the water.

He was nearly in a panic. The water was rising, threatening to flood the museum, and no matter how strong he was, what could he do? What could anyone do?

“Captain! It seems a lake is forming on this floor. You need to evacuate!”

“Leave the museum to flood and just save myself…? Then both you and I are dead. Maybe even my father will be in danger.”

The entire museum was in a state of emergency. Strangely, the water was so clear and clean that it seemed fine to just float and drink it.

No, it felt like some kind of tonic—touching it made strength surge through my legs.

But even if my body felt healthier, my mind was full of worries, making it hard to appreciate the spring water’s effects. I was already healthy, so there wasn’t much room for improvement.

“At the very least, we need to secure the queen’s portrait. Even if our bodies get soaked, we must bring it back without a drop of water. That’s the only way we can survive.”

The cunning fox had the right answer. If they escaped the flooded museum first, it might seem good for now, but the aftermath would be endless. Epirna herself might come for their heads.

But if they could just secure the portrait and satisfy the queen, perhaps the crisis could turn into an opportunity, covering their mistakes and opening a path to promotion.

Hearing this, the subordinate slapped his knee. The higher-ups really think differently.

“Quick, secure the statues! Let’s go!”

The water, which had been rising as if to swallow the museum, stopped at calf height. It was just the height of a spring, but with a vast area.

Knowing this didn’t solve anything. Who could tell if the water would rise further or stop here? Should we just leave it to fate and wait?

This is a matter of life and death. The remaining half of the security force was fully mobilized to move the historical artifacts.

Thieves? Possible intruders? Don’t they know what’s important now?

If by any chance the water rose further and submerged the artifacts symbolizing the Beastman Revolution, the consequences need no explanation. Even if they were lucky enough not to die, they’d be demoted and imprisoned.

“You guys, hurry up! Quickly!”

The security team was completely out of it. Some were scooping water with buckets, but realizing it wouldn’t help, they stopped.

With everyone busy moving the artworks, now was the perfect time to infiltrate the museum.

Any later, and all eyes would be on this place, making it even harder to get in.

[The statues are submerged. Only up to the ankles, but even that seems to have an effect…!]

The most neglected place. The lowest priority among the artworks.

The beetle, clinging to the ceiling of the hall where the statues were displayed, relayed the situation inside. Water had also flooded here, lapping at the base of the statues.

Crack!

Where the spring water touched, cracks began to form. The cracks spread upward, growing larger. As flesh started to show through, Kisea clenched her fist.

“It’s definitely him.”

Her gaze fixed on a figure beyond the beetle, unwavering.

“It’s definitely Uncle Hound. He’s there! Our parents, our tribe members, they must be there too!”

Indeed, the water knew the answer.