Just as Samuel had suspected it, the tomb was not hidden. In fact, they almost ended up walking past what looked like a large hill, but the experienced eyes of the Pathfinder still managed to accurately grasp the parts added by the human hands.

A long time had passed by and the tomb had almost become one with nature. However, the four passageways and rusted steel doors they eventually found hidden around this 'hill' clearly proved that this was not a simple mound of dirt but an actual tomb.

“Now that I think about it, this whole area is rather strange.”

As soon as Ian said those words, the attentions of everyone immediately fell on him.

As one of the main actors who enabled this expedition to the Forest of Denial, every word he said carried heavy weight. Also, when recalling the fact that he dissuaded Samuel when the younger man wished to continue on with the expedition just before the battle against the Lioners broke out, it was obvious that he wished to save as many lives as he could.

“Ahh. I wasn't saying that in a bad way, so relax yourselves.”

Ian lightly waved his hand about, and the relief came washing over the members of the expedition.

“Well, it's like…. Mm, what should I say here, I wonder. I can't be too sure, and that was why I haven't said anything until now, but….”

Ian carefully reorganized his thoughts and only then did he speak up.

“Actually, I’ve been feeling more comfortable in my chest and my head starting from a short while ago. The closer we get to this tomb, the effects of this forest seem to soften more and more…. No. It feels as if the magic itself is surrounding the tomb, with it in the dead center.”

Paradise was a world where one's 'gut feelings' held very little value. If there was an end result, then there should be a cause for it. Thus, people preferred truth formed from actual, tangible pieces of information rather than simple feelings and baseless assumptions. This was especially so for Archers....