Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1965: Different biomes (3)

As we ventured further in, the number of tracks visible in the area began to dwindle significantly.

While some prints remained, it was evident that very few people dared to penetrate this deep into Death Valley.

According to the observations of Klein and the royal guards, only a solitary group had reached this location.

Though there were numerous footprints, they moved in a unified pattern, indicating they all belonged to the same party.

We followed these marks for a short while until we reached a point where towering cliff walls enclosed us. These stone formations had gradually risen from mere rocks into massive precipices that completely isolated the area.

However, the cliffs weren't the only things present.

Gaping holes punctured the rock faces, appearing to serve as tunnels leading elsewhere.

Due to the oppressive darkness, discerning the destination of these openings was nearly impossible. Even gauging their depth proved to be a difficult task.

Given the sheer number of holes surrounding us in the cliffside, wandering off aimlessly felt like a terrible idea. Venturing too far into them would be perilous, as we risked becoming utterly lost.

Another unsettling detail was that the canyon seemed to have no end in sight.

It appeared as though the path would stretch on eternally... yet that was impossible given the limited geography of the region. After all, the far exit of Death Valley had already been mapped by others.

The illogical length of this passage simply didn't make any sense...

"Something is wrong with this place."

There was little need for me to speak the words aloud; the others had already closed ranks around me, prepared to defend me at a moment's notice.

Upon hearing my remark, Klein asked, "Your majesty, should we leave this place then?"

The way he spoke had shifted from his earlier manner.

I could detect a hidden urgency vibrating in his voice.

He was maintaining his previous facade, desperately trying to persuade me to retreat as quickly as possible.

This time, however, I found myself in agreement with him.

My sole purpose for entering Death Valley today was to scout the terrain, and based on what I had observed, that objective was fulfilled.

Pressing on would yield no further benefits and would only jeopardize my safety.

Furthermore, I hadn't uncovered a single trace of the god's messenger rumored to be hiding here. Rather than stumbling around like a headless chicken, it was wiser to seek out more concrete information.

I already had a specific source in mind.

The mercenaries who had informed me about this location were the most experienced ones in town. They were, after all, the only ones who had successfully reached this depth of Death Valley.

They were the most likely to possess the intelligence I required.

"Let’s go back then," I commanded.

Visible relief washed over Klein and the royal guards at my words, but I ignored their reactions as I turned to lead the retreat.

Klein and the guards quickly fell into formation around me, maintaining their protective circle as we moved.

The problem arose when we attempted to exit...

"Everything looks identical... I can't find the path out at all," Klein whispered under his breath.

Despite retracing the very tracks we had made upon entering, the exit remained elusive.

The more we trekked, the further the path seemed to extend.

It was obvious that we had traveled a much greater distance than our initial journey, so the issue wasn't a matter of distance.

Some force was actively preventing us from reaching the exit.

Because the surroundings were so repetitive, it felt as if we were being forced to traverse the same corridor over and over. To achieve such an effect...

"It doesn't feel like illusion magic, otherwise I would have sensed something," I told Klein when we eventually halted.

Hearing this, Klein and the royal guards furrowed their brows in deep concern. They had suspected as much but were holding out hope that I might offer a different perspective.

Now that I had confirmed I could find no magical traces, it felt as though their last shred of hope had been extinguished.

"We will begin selecting scouts to search the surrounding area," Klein finally decided.

This time, it was my turn to frown deeply.

Judging by his tone and choice of words, his intentions were easy to decipher.

I had no intention of letting them proceed with that plan.

It wasn't right to allow them to sacrifice themselves in a desperate hope of finding a way out.

But I never got the chance to intervene.

Just as I was about to speak, a sensation flared in my hand.

It wasn't a common physical reaction, causing me to look down at my palm immediately.

A mark had suddenly manifested there, and it wasn't just any ordinary sigil.

It was the Mark of God, and it had begun to pulse with light.

"Your majesty, what is this?" Klein and the others asked, naturally noticing the glow emanating from my hand.

Ignoring their questions, I muttered to myself, "Is this related to the god’s messenger?"