"Put me down."
The voice of the mermaid echoed from behind, and Ronald immediately complied, setting the mermaid down.
There were no obvious obstacles hindering their progress on this part of the path leading upward, and naturally, there was no need for him to continue carrying her.
The two walked side by side toward the entrance of the passage, coincidentally harboring the same thought in their minds.
—From this place upward.
—Might we see something incredible?
Exchanging glances, a human and a 'mermaid' walked up the naturally formed passage.
The passage was narrow, and by the midway point, they could not walk side by side; instead, the mermaid led the way with Ronald following behind, both moving up the slope along the roughly forty-degree incline.
After ascending over ten meters, the previously brilliant 'gemstone' had completely disappeared, and the passage turned back into a damp, pitch-black underground tunnel.
Then came four more turns.
