Only I Am A Reader
chapter-40

Originally, a few years into the future, forced into a sticky situation by his plot magnet, Ray would come to Sword Fall in search of one of its rumors to get out of his predicament.

However, even as the protagonist, he wasn't able to chance upon his objective the moment he stepped into Sword Fall along with his companions. Instead, he was 'lucky' enough to notice one small detail that normal characters didn't.

As he wandered Sword Fall in despair, Ray was very close to giving up as he collapsed on the ground, but the spot he collapsed at just happened to be close to a few faint marks.

Upon inspecting these marks, his botanist companion concluded that it was likely a dried-up water path. So, considering the nature of their objective that she was the most familiar with, the heroine suggested digging through the path, which later turned out to be the entrance to the urgently needed opportunity.

"It's definitely getting softer."

Leo, however, didn't have the luck of a protagonist, nor did he plan to wander Sword Fall in search of faint marks in the middle of rough sand. As such, he could only improvise on the method used by Ray.

Since the marks caused by water erosion would fade easier the further the water source, Leo started from the river itself where marks would be more apparent.

By the time he reached the rocky structure, the marks were hardly noticeable, if he hadn't traced it from the beginning, Leo didn't know how he was supposed to notice the slight depression in the ground.

'As expected, protagonists are really in another 'league' of their own…'

Blurrllrble…

Soon enough, the sound of success reached Leo's ears. After digging through the ground that grew increasingly softer the deeper he went, Leo observed the visibly wet sand as flowing water could be heard.

"This is it!"

Confirming that he hadn't just followed a 'blank' dried-up path, Leo started to dig around the depth he reached so he could secure a footing. Before long, a small area surrounding the original digging spot was leveled down.

Following that, Leo climbed out of the dug area, taking a large nail and a bundle of sturdy robe out of the carriage. After firmly fixing the mail into the rough ground, he tied one end of the rope to it before tying the other end around his waist. Only then did he return to digging.

Crickk… Plop! Plob!

A few more shovels later, the wet sand automatically fell on the impact of the shovel, dropping into the source of the water flowing sounds. It seemed to be an underground water tunnel.

'Finally.'

However, even as Leo grew excited to be a step closer to his objective, he didn't rush to jump into the water. Unlike Ray who had the help of his companions from the outside after he 'accidentally' fell into the tunnel while digging, Leo was on his own.

Taking that into consideration, Leo climbed up out of the dug area once more, taking out another nail and rope pair as he did earlier before going down again.

'This would do.'

Squatting in front of the sturdiest point he could find, Leo stabbed the nail into it and tied the relatively shorter rope to the nail, he then pulled its other end and threw it through the hole.

After confirming that the rope has reached the ground thanks to the sunlight that invaded the underground tunnel, Leo slightly tugged the rope around his waist before holding onto the rope to climb down to the tunnel's ground.

Thankfully, the height of the tunnel and Leo's weight weren't that much, so his descent was swift and without accidents. His clothes were completely submerged in the water reaching up to his neck as his foot touched the ground.

Barely able to stand within the water, Leo quickly unfastened the rope around his waist which was at the limit of its length, tying it to the other rope.

'My way up should be secured with this.'

Having solved the problem of his exit, Leo turned his back to the rope and struggled to march forward within the water stream.

As the fading golden light that radiated from the end of the tunnel drew closer, Leo's steps grew stronger as the water level decreased.

'Closer… I need to get closer…'

Taking one last step to support his jump, golden light filled Leo's vision as he crossed the exit and splashed into the shallow stream that extended through it.

However, as he laid his eyes upon the scenery to the front, Leo froze in his position, mesmerized by the blinding sight.

Unlike what it appeared like, the water path that seemed to have dried up was nothing but a fake front to the stream which flowed underground instead, providing water to the inner canyon hidden within the rocky structure.

The canyon didn't only have a water supply, but it also had a window for sunlight through a small crack from above, providing the basic necessities for plants to thrive.

'There it is…'

Surrounded by exotic forms of vegetation, a lone stalk bathed in the golden rays of sunset dropping down from above, standing tall at the center of the shining water pool…

'The Treasure of Sword Fall.'

The stalk exuded a silvery metallic sheen as if it was a sword pierced into the ground, its petals gracefully wrapping around the pistil to form the resemblance of a hilt.

Taking slow steps forward, Leo admired the beauty of the plant that looked more like a work of art, his eyes shining in anticipation.

This plant that looked nothing like a plant was none other than the objective that both Leo of today and Ray of the future sought.

"The Cleansing Sword!"

Standing before his door to the supernatural, Leo slightly hesitated as he took out a short dagger from his pocket.

'This will work… right?'

Leo recounted what he read as he carefully drew the dagger closer to the breathtaking flower....