With the lesson learned from the shadow wolves' attack that night, the squad spent the next three days traveling with heightened vigilance.
The team gradually advanced toward the center of the vast wasteland.
Although they didn't encounter large groups of monsters along the way, a few solitary shadow wolves occasionally trailed far behind the team like lingering spirits.
"These monsters... it's like they're monitoring us," Ansu muttered while riding Radish, his gaze shifting back from time to time.
If his guess was correct, the remnants of the demon army might also be involved in the search for the treasure, which was something Ansu didn't want to see happen.
After all, the ancient ruins were essentially their ancestral tombs...
If Barcas knew that more than half of this team wanted to smash his family's graves and the rest wanted to loot the treasures inside, he would probably explode with rage on the spot.
However, the tense atmosphere of the team didn't affect the witch.
The desolate yet magnificent scenery of the journey filled her with excitement as she looked around, pointing things out to Ansu every now and then.
"Ansu! This place is much more interesting than Benalu. Look at those strange mountains, how fascinating~"
Ansu scanned the surrounding wind-eroded landscape, wondering what could possibly be interesting about such a barren wasteland.
"You don't think so?" Celia pouted helplessly, seeing Ansu's lack of reaction.
"Benalu City is full of people, crowded and noisy. It's so annoying! Look how quiet it is here, and there are none of those urban intrigues... honestly, I don't even want to go back."
"You just don't like crowded places..." Ansu said quietly.
The witch did indeed have a somewhat reclusive nature.
He felt that before she met him, the thing she looked forward to most every day was probably staying home alone to research magic.
Celia smiled and suggested, "Ansu, once we retire and settle down in the future, let's travel the world and visit all the remote, mysterious places! How about it?"
Ansu looked at the witch, who was happily lost in her beautiful daydreams, and nodded silently.
"Of course..."
That was assuming he could actually retire and settle down...
"Ansu! I've found something over here!" Professor Duncan shouted as he rode over from the front of the team.
He pointed at the magitech instrument in his hand, which looked like a mine detector, and said excitedly to Ansu:
"Although the signal has been weak, the instrument's Resonance Perception hasn't broken once! I think if we keep going along this path, we'll find that ancient ruins sooner or later, and then..."
Duncan went on excitedly for a while, but seeing that no one was responding, he looked up to find the two of them chatting and laughing, both looking at him.
"Oh, really?" Celia responded flatly.
"The professor is truly impressive," Ansu praised.
Professor Duncan paused, looking at Ms. Hailey's lack of interest. He felt like he was... ruining the mood?
Ansu wouldn't forget the main objective. He rode forward to take the detector from Professor Duncan and saw the mechanical needle on the dial trembling slightly. This indicated that the magic runes had detected underground metallic elemental activity.
"It seems your judgment was correct, Professor Duncan." Ansu nodded, feeling even more fortunate that he had brought this dwarven scholar along. The great inventor under Barcas really had some skill.
"Hmph! Those fools from the Church..." Professor Duncan glanced at the clergymen ahead.
"That vice captain just wouldn't believe me. Now he'll see! The evidence is right here. I'm going to tell him right now!"
The fact that the team had been wandering around the wasteland like headless flies for days had already caused the vice captain's strong dissatisfaction.
Many clergymen in the expedition also didn't quite trust Professor Duncan's magitech instrument, leading to occasional disagreements and suspicion.
This had caused Professor Duncan to hold a grudge these past few days, wanting to prove himself.
But Ansu quickly stopped him. "Professor, have you forgotten what we discussed at the start? We still need to find a way to separate from the expedition..."
"Ah, right!" Professor Duncan slapped his head. When the two of them had agreed to fund him, he had indeed made a promise that the route to the ancient ruins could not be shared with other teams.
"Alright then..." Professor Duncan nodded. "I already had an argument with that idiot this morning. I feel like if this continues and the friction between the two groups grows, we'll split up sooner or later..."
Returning to the topic of the ancient ruins, Professor Duncan grew increasingly excited about his discovery.
If he could reach the ancient ruins of the demon empire, reverse-engineer those exquisite magitech facilities, publish papers, and even use them as inspiration to design similarly advanced magic rune structures, it would be the most significant highlight of his academic career!
The world would remember his name: the magitech master, Duncan Adams!
"Ansu, I can't wait. What kind of great discovery do you think is waiting for me down there..."
Professor Duncan spoke incessantly about his expectations for the ancient ruins, but as he talked, he suddenly realized the other party wasn't giving much feedback...
"Ansu?"
"Hey, are you listening..."
Looking up again, he saw that this guy was flirting with his female boss again.
"I'm listening, Professor," Ansu said with a serious expression.
Professor Duncan looked at him and Hailey Lawrence with annoyance, realizing he had unknowingly become a third wheel again...
"Fine, fine. You two talk. I won't disturb you..." Professor Duncan muttered as he rode away.
"This boss of yours—no, wait, this girlfriend of yours—it's like she's here on vacation..." Professor Duncan didn't forget to whisper a warning to Ansu before leaving.
"It seems your young lady was really stifled in the city, but let me tell you! Archaeological exploration isn't like playing house!"
"She must be too well-protected normally. How could she know how dangerous the wilderness is? You better keep a close eye on her."
"My employer takes safety so lightly; if anything happens to her, who's going to pay me the rest of my fee..."
"I know, I know..." Ansu silently saw off the rambling Professor Duncan, thinking that the man was overthinking it.
There was no way he'd be the one protecting Celia on this trip...
However, it was normal for Professor Duncan to think that way. After all, he didn't know Hailey Lawrence's true identity and still thought she was just a wealthy young lady who loved adventure and had money to burn...
After Professor Duncan left, Ansu turned back to see Celia with a strange expression.
He felt a flicker of surprised and joyful light suppressed within the witch's deep purple eyes.
"Hmm... this Professor Duncan is quite the smooth talker..."
Although Professor Duncan had spoken very quietly behind her back, it couldn't escape Celia's ears, especially the word "girlfriend."
Even though he had clearly misunderstood something and was gossiping about her, Celia didn't hate it...
In fact, she quite liked that title.
She also inexplicably felt that this dwarven professor had become much more pleasant to look at.
Rate on N.U.
