Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2053: Being watched

Upon emerging from the staircase, we discovered a completely separate realm existing below.

This area went beyond a mere simulated space mimicking a world; it formed a full and genuine world on its own.

Diverse vegetation and wildlife populated the space, revealing a thriving ecosystem hidden underground.

Gazing upward, one could clearly spot a sky stretching overhead.

Unlike an artificial sky featuring a magical illusion of the sun, this appeared as an authentic sky with a distant, real sun shining far away.

Although testing it using our wyverns might reveal more...

Still, pressing matters required our attention before anything else.

Without question, this spot matched the location Solista described during her talk of the trial. That implied the individuals I needed to assist hid somewhere within this realm.

Concerning their potential hostility...

This very uncertainty troubled Klein and the royal guards too, prompting them to fan out swiftly once they recovered their wits. They arranged themselves in a defensive setup around me, fully committed to guarding against any hidden dangers.

Only, no threats presented themselves nearby.

Living beings did inhabit the area, yet none carried an air of danger close to our group.

Exiting the staircase brought us to an open clearing directly facing a woodland. From our vantage, animals darted through the branches of the trees.

Nothing unusual marked these creatures; they resembled the everyday forest animals found anywhere. The scene suggested a tranquil woodland based on what lay visible.

"So where are the ones that I’m supposed to help?" I voiced aloud while surveying the surroundings.

Klein and the royal guards held their vigilance firm at this sight, which only heightened their caution, though our current spot left us with few options to act.

Ultimately, gathering further details remained essential.

Klein’s initial idea, after briefly exploring the surroundings, came as, "We should bring the wyverns down."

The staircase offered ample width to lower our wyverns if desired, yet I had opposed the notion. My entire presence here stemmed from the duty to aid another.

Entering flanked by wyverns would surely transmit the improper signal.

Though I recognized the wyverns posed no harm under our command, others here might not share that knowledge. Indeed, the wyverns’ fierce looks alone could instill fear.

For anyone unfamiliar with wyverns, viewing them as perils wouldn’t surprise, particularly if such beasts suddenly appeared in a calm setting like this.

"No, there’s no telling what is above us. If we were to fly up there and get caught off guard, what do you think we’ll be able to do?"

Realizing this argument alone wouldn’t sway Klein, I shifted to another point.

"We can take that risk." He pressed back firmly.

I understood his role in ensuring my safety, but I shook my head and replied, "No, I won’t allow that."

With a resolute expression, I met his gaze directly as he continued pushing for aerial scouting via the wyverns.

Thus, a stalemate arose between us, with neither yielding ground.

Eventually, Klein relented, aware my words arose from care for their well-being.

"We’ll go slow and scout from this place." This became my final compromise.

Though my true desire was to plunge straight into the woods and hunt for clues, I knew he’d forbid such recklessness due to the hazards. Therefore, I opted for a systematic sweep like casting a wide net to uncover whatever lurked.

This approach offered the utmost safety we could manage, but it would hit constraints soon enough given our limited numbers.

For the moment, Klein accepted this strategy.

I claimed a spot within the search line too, refusing to idle passively.

This led to an imbalanced spread in the end, as they assigned extra personnel to safeguard me.

I needn’t join, but my curiosity to witness the forest firsthand drove me to demand at least a short advance.

The instant I stepped into the woods, a subtle discomfort gripped me.

Facing Klein, I inquired, "Do you feel something watching us?"

Not just Klein wore a puzzled expression; the other royal guards mirrored it, indicating they detected nothing like what I sensed. Still, they refused to relax, all unsheathing weapons and bracing for combat.

Despite a thorough sweep of the zone, they uncovered no signs in the finish.

Nevertheless, I remained convinced eyes followed our every move.

For me alone to detect what escaped them...

"Is it related to divine energy?"

The connection fit, given this trial’s ties to the divine.

Moreover, they had deployed divine energy in that array to seal the entry to this domain.

It appeared this affair held far more complexity than expected...