Chapter 7 The Gravesite Needs to Be Dig Again

The entrance to the cave, covered by thorns and vines, was narrow and deep. When Buster followed Mark's lover through the entrance, he was filled with the stale, fishy smell of decaying plants mixed with rotting animal flesh.

Buster raised his hand, and a fist-sized ball of light immediately appeared in the ring with a green gemstone set in his thumb, illuminating the entire space for them.

The cave passage was irregular, with large pebbles underfoot; if you walked quickly, you would kick up a thin layer of sand. It was clearly a man-made tunnel, with traces of tool hammering still visible on the stone walls on both sides.

“This path was actually dug by the dock dwellers,” Mark’s lover said, leading the way as she walked a little ahead of them. “Legend has it that a nobleman from an ancient family lies buried here. This family worshipped gods for generations, but committed unforgivable crimes in the name of the gods. The gods were enraged and sent down divine punishment and curses, executing the nobleman whose hands were stained with blood here. Other blood relatives of his were also more or less implicated and were cursed.”

"But their sins did not warrant death, so shortly after the divine punishment was handed down, they moved away from this place."

Buster crossed his arms and sneered, "You call yourself a god, but you sound like you only do murder and arson."

“Yes…” Mark’s lover was unaware of Buster and the others’ true identities, let alone who was behind him. She couldn’t help but sigh, “After Ragnarok, the word ‘god’ has taken on a different meaning, seemingly becoming a synonym for disaster. Moreover, with the advancement of technology, it’s uncertain whether gods truly exist. I, for one, don’t believe in their existence anymore. Ah… but that nobleman deserved it.”

Suddenly, he recalled the events that had recently occurred on the distant other side: "Sir, I heard that you once sailed across the Western Continent. Did you see the legendary Son of God? What does he look like? Was he really abducted?"

I've met them.

Not only have you seen them, but they're actually standing right behind you.

Buster, being mischievous, suddenly wanted to see how Mark's lover would react after he pulled the handsome young man behind him over.

Buster, who considered himself kind-hearted, eventually gave up on the interesting idea. He shook his head and skillfully shifted the topic to the present.

"Is the rule-based spell on the island related to this nobleman?"

“This… I don’t know,” Mark’s lover said. “I’ve heard that the Rule Curse did appear after the death of nobles, but it appeared very late, at least after Ragnarok.”

"Many people have been here?" Buster casually kicked open a bone that looked like a human body.

“…Yes.” Mark’s lover nodded. “Rumor has it that the nobleman is incredibly wealthy, and even if his relatives move away, they can’t take all his wealth with them. Many people explore the ruins for the sake of wealth, and I’ve been here too, but as you can imagine, after so many years and so many people, this ruin has long been emptied out. Get off this way.”

As they spoke, they had already walked out of the cave entrance.

The illumination range of the light sphere expanded instantly, making it easy for them to see everything.

The space outside the cave entrance is vast, as if half of the mountain has been hollowed out, with some broken walls and ruins lying horizontally at the bottom.

History exudes a decadent stench in this vast, empty pit, occasionally a breeze, from who-knows-where, seeps through its weight.

Buster smiled, a very sarcastic laugh.

"Cleaner than Mark's pockets."

It seems there are quite a few customers coming and going. If we work harder, the mud on the ground will be all moved away and sink by a meter.

They were in the middle of the cave, a few steps away from the stone steps carved down the rock wall.

Buster glanced down, turned halfway around, and reached out his hand to the person behind him.

The cave entrance wasn't high enough, so Buster stopped carrying the son of the god and simply slowed down, letting him follow at a leisurely pace.

But there are stairs below, and one wrong step could lead to a misstep. No matter how wicked Buster is, he wouldn't let a blind guy venture alone into this dangerous place.

Unfortunately, the Son of God can be truly oblivious when he's not. He can't pick up on Buster's signals of goodwill and will simply stand there quietly and obediently, waiting for an explanation.

It's a bit infuriating, but no one can be angry at that face, even though it still bears the muddy finger marks deliberately made by a leader with a strong desire for revenge.

Tsk, it actually looks kind of cute.

Buster, who had a terrible temper, felt like a worried old father, so he put his arm around Rapunzel and pulled her into his arms again.

The action was too rough, and the son of the god instinctively wrapped his arms around his neck again.

Buster realized then that the blonde princess wasn't calm and collected; she was just plain slow-witted.

It's so funny, it's like a real person.

Mark's lover looked at the muddy finger marks on the long-haired beauty's face, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

He wanted to remind the other person to wipe their face, but he was afraid of angering the owner who had deliberately left mud marks, so he kept those words stuck in his throat.

Perhaps... perhaps it's just a matter of personal interest, Mark's lover sighed, her desire to see Mark growing stronger.

The light sphere will continue to guide you.

The vast space didn't obstruct the light, and as Buster walked down, he could see not only the path beneath his feet but also the distant obstacles. Unfortunately, from Reinhardt's perspective, the orb of light was completely useless.

His world remained a dark place.

However, it was indeed different from the past. He no longer needed to grope his way forward, navigating an unknown and desolate landscape where he might encounter unexpected minor dangers at any moment.

Despite his rude manners, inappropriate speech, arrogant personality, and the fact that he lost the ribbons that Madonna and two other ladies had carefully chosen for him.

But at least he had no ill intentions towards himself.

Reinhardt nestled quietly in Buster's arms, feeling the rise and fall of Buster's muscles as he walked, and the warmth emanating from his body.

Slightly taller than average, resembling some kind of large feline, languid yet possessing hidden strength.

Reinhard withdrew his observation of Buster, turned his head slightly, and listened intently to the sound of the wind deep in the cave.

Mark's lover walked ahead, glancing back every now and then, finding the pair both strange and harmonious. A sarcastic and flamboyant man held a beautiful, quiet creature, almost ethereal, like a wild beast carrying its prey, yet strangely radiating a protective instinct.

This strange feeling continued until the three of them walked down the stone steps.

"arrive."

Mark's lover stopped in her tracks.

At the end of the stone steps was a wide-open platform, with a view no different from what they had seen from above. Below, only some tall, dilapidated building remnants remained. Buster, carrying Reinhardt in one arm, strode into this ancient realm, his gaze sweeping over the carved stone pillars and broken walls, a carefree smile playing on his lips.

"They didn't even leave any bones behind, how greedy!"

Mark's lover, who had also participated in the treasure hunt, said awkwardly, "After all... many things, even if they have no value, can be sold for a good price if they are stored for a long enough."

Buster remained noncommittal.

With a magnanimous stride, Reinhardt strode to the center of the open space. Just as he was about to warn that his aura had already extended to the area directly below, Buster's hand beat him to it and gave him two impolite pats on the buttocks.

Reinhardt's usually calm demeanor finally wavered slightly; at least for this moment, he felt a faint urge to jump off the guy's arms.

Oblivious to the situation, the scoundrel Buster asked, "Which direction?"

Could it be underground again?

Then he heard the gentle son of the god point to his feet.

Buster looked down at the mud stains he'd smeared on his face: "Are you trying to lie to me again?"

The latter remained silent, neither denying nor admitting it.

Buster stared at Reinhardt's innocent face for two seconds, then suddenly grinned and gave him another nasty slap on the butt.

This time the force was greater, even carrying a hint of provocation.

"Fine, you little liar." He slowly released his grip and put Reinhardt down. "If there's nothing down there, I'll bury you here to keep that nobleman company."

Reinhardt: "..."

He pursed his lips slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just gently pulled his wrist away, signaling Buster to let go.

Buster raised an eyebrow, not letting go but gripping even tighter, and with his other hand he drew a short knife from his waist, the tip of the knife touching the ground, and casually slashed twice.

Mark's lover looked troubled: "But more than one wave of explorers came, and they've hollowed out the ground; there's nothing underground..."

"Am I the one in such a hurry to find Mark?" Buster scoffed at the idea. This was the center of the mountain; even if they dug down another ten meters, there would still be room to dig.

He crouched down, then looked up at Mark's lover, raising an eyebrow and scoffing, "What? You really think I'm a laborer?"

The delicate Rapunzel can stand aside, but why does this guy have the right to do that?

Mark's lover quickly came to her senses, strode forward, and squatted down with Buster to dig a hole.

Buster was digging a bit too hard, and Reinhardt felt his legs being hit by the dirt he was shoving out several times.

He subtly took a few steps to the side and inadvertently tripped over a stone.

Reinhardt stumbled, bracing himself for a fall—just like when he was trapped in that dark, sunless cage, and every time he was forcibly pushed forward, he would scrape his knees or hands.

Unexpectedly, his arm was gripped tightly, and his body went from leaning uncontrollably backward to leaning forward, falling straight into a solid chest.

His long, golden hair swept through the air like a dazzling waterfall. His hands tightened around his waist, causing the smooth strands of hair to fall back down and cover his back.

A cool, soft touch brushed against the back of his hand, and Buster's pupils flickered almost imperceptibly. He didn't seem to care, only sighing with a mixture of disdain and exasperation: "Your Highness, how come you can even trip while standing? Do I need to find a rope and tie you to my belt?"

Because of the tone of their voices, neither of them realized that the sentence sounded very ambiguous.

The only ordinary person with normal perception in this regard is still digging a hole.

Buster released his grip, arranged a flat spot for the princess to stand and play, and then turned back to his digging project.

The Storm Leader was not only adept at plundering, but he had also maxed out his digging skill. Before long, he had dug a pit nearly a meter deep beside him. Then, his fingers touched something cool.

A note from the author:

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The Son of God hesitated, then spoke again: "Could you please stop pinching that spot all the time?"

The wicked Storm Leader coldly rejects: Who told you to be so short?

Son of God: ?

Child of Gods: So you do the same to other people?

Madonna: That's indecent assault!

Celine: You pervert!

Victoria: Disgusting!!

Storm Leader: Wait! I didn't do anything to anyone else! What are you yelling about!

Victoria, Celine, and Madonna: But you touched him!