January 12, mid-afternoon .

"I see it!　It's a huge golem!"

The Egelea Kingdom survey team received a report from a scouting hot air balloon that had gone ahead of them.

The location was Tubou village in the former Leonard Kingdom.

"Oh!　Is that a hot air balloon of the Kingdom of Egelea?"

The Cline Kingdom survey team also noticed the hot-air balloon flying in the sky.

"You did it!"

They cheered.

It has been a week since they set foot in the former Leonard's Kingdom. The expedition had achieved 80% of its objectives.

An hour after the report, at 1:30 p.m., the survey teams from the two countries shake hands.

"Thank you very much for your hard work from a long way. But, <>, isn't it? It's very impressive.

Yes, you've helped me a lot.

No, it was quite an interesting trip.

In a tent on the outskirts of the village of Tubou, Bernardo, the captain of the Cline Kingdom survey team, and Gloria, the vice captain of the Cline Kingdom survey team. Bruno, the captain of the Egelea Kingdom survey team, Jade, the magecraftsman, and the reinforcements, Emperor Shoro.

Major Shoro and Fritz, the reinforcements, were also present. They were reporting back to each other on the results of their research.

"We will be able to get seafood in the village of Neurea, and wild sea pike in the village of Awning," said Shoro.

In the village of Wu Gong, we will get honey and citran. We also found half-wild rye along the way.

These benefits are mainly provided by the Kingdom of Klein. The main beneficiary of these will be the Kingdom of Klein.

"The path that <> has walked on has been levelled and made easier to walk on, albeit in a simple way. We have taken care to make as few ascents and descents as possible."

The two men from the Kingdom of Egelea nod as Fritz explains. Jade Nephroy looks eager to check out .

"We still have a lot of work to do on the Tubou mine, but we've had great success at the Soldrake site."

Bruno opened his mouth to tell the truth on this occasion, as he was not good at bargaining, since it would soon become obvious even if he hid it from us.

"Well, Magi crystals and golems, that's ...... enviable."

Bernardo, the captain of the Klein Kingdom survey team, said with some regret.

"We haven't investigated the Botsuffa ruins yet, so why don't we investigate them jointly?"

Seeing Bernardo's situation, Bruno suggested, "Oh, that's a good idea.

"Oh, that would be a great idea.

The Botsuffa ruins are located about 30 km southwest of the village of Tubou, where they are now.

Hot air balloons, <>, knights of both countries, and magecraftsmen.

Bruno thought that with all these people together, the investigation of the ruins would surely progress well.

Normally, one should think of putting the interests of one's own country first, and inviting another country is an unusual choice.

This was a proposal that was typical of Bruno, who is not good at making political decisions.

But here comes the moment of crisis.

No!

It was the head of the village of Tubou.

"No?　Why not?

Bruno asked.

"You can't go in there!"

"What?　Why not?

There are dangerous things sealed up in there!

Dangerous things?　What is it?

That's new. No one I've ever met has ever told me such a story.

"I don't know. But I heard that there used to be a sign near the ruins that said "No Entry Due to Danger".

"Hmmm... No Trespassing."

Bruno thought for a moment.

This is the former Kingdom of Leonard. We know from the records that it still existed at the time of the Great Magic War.

As a knight, there were several possibilities.

Weapons and ordnance are hidden or abandoned and dangerous for civilians to approach.

Or emergency supplies are stored there and the area is off-limits to protect them.

There is something really dangerous here.

Bruno, who is a rugged man by nature, is not very good at thinking.

"...... have any of you checked it out?"

Bruno asked the chief.

"......"

The chief could not say for sure. Certainly not with his own eyes, and certainly not with anyone else's.

"So, but according to the legend!"

Still insisting, Bruno stopped him with a hand.

"Yes, all right, all right. But we have come this far for the sake of our country. How about we take it slow and careful?"

He adds, "We have a giant golem on our side.

Indeed, <>'s huge body was dependable and reassuring to look at.

The chief could not say anything more strongly and withdrew.

The next day, on the 13th, the survey team arrived at the site.

The next day, the 13th, the survey team started to head southwest.

Leading the way was . A hot air balloon floats in the sky, indicating the direction of travel.

Specifically, the balloon floats a little ahead of the direction in which it should go, and < proceeds toward that direction.

"Well, that's great!

Fritz said impressed.

"I didn't know that observation from the sky could be so effective.

The members of the Egelea Kingdom also thanked for carrying everything but their personal belongings, which made them feel lighter.

This was the first time that a scouting hot-air balloon and a golem for transportation were added to the expedition's composition.

This meant that it was worthwhile to have a mixed team of the three countries.

The group was able to travel at a speed of almost four kilometers per hour, so they had covered 30 kilometers while there was still daylight.

"So this is the Botsuffa ruins. ......"

What lies before us appears to be nothing more than the entrance to a collapsed mine.

To begin with, there are two kinds of ruins in the old Leonard's Kingdom.

One is what anyone would consider ruins. Probably, they were laboratories or warehouses of supplies.

The other is one that is located near a settlement and is called a by the inhabitants. This place seems to have been the latter.

"......There may be some precious ores and magic crystals (magi crystals) here, though. ......"

The group was a little, or rather a lot, depressed.

In any case, the excavation would have to wait until the next day.

The group finds a flat spot near the ruins and pitch their tents.

The night passed uneventfully.

The next morning, the excavation of the ruins began.

The entrance to the supposed tunnel was filled with crumbled earth and stones, and it would take some time to dig it back up.

However, the group was accompanied by a powerful golem named <>.

<

"Oh, this is amazing."

"...... I'm glad this giant golem is on our side."

It was just before noon when the tunnel opened its mouth before the eyes of the knights, who were thinking such thoughts as "Wow, this is amazing!

"As expected, can't get inside. The rest is up to us knights. But first, let's eat.

Bruno says jokingly, as if trying to restrain the rest of the group from getting too excited. And Bernardo agreed.

"Yes, that's right. Let's have a quick lunch.

The two captains told the team members to suppress their impatience, but they still hurriedly prepared their lunch.

However, all they had to do was heat up the soup, cook the dried meat, and cut and arrange the hard bread. They are used to it and are done in 15 minutes.

"...... what do you think, Mister Fritz?"

Gloria swallowed the dried meat and decided to ask Fritz, who happened to be standing next to her, for his opinion.

"Hmm?　What?"

Fritz, who had swallowed a piece of bread, looked doubtful. Gloria explained.

"No, I mean what is sealed in these ruins."

Fritz gave her an unusually difficult look.

"I don't know. I don't know, but if the captain has made a decision, I will follow it.

"You are a soldier of the Shoro Empire. Don't you have some discretion in this matter?

"Certainly I do. But once I become a member of an organization, I will follow the policies of the entire organization unless there is a good reason not to.

Fritz laughed bitterly as he added, "I'm not very good at thinking.