Translator: Blushy
Editor: Sam
It was like I had suddenly lost my footing. Lawk and I fell down while still standing and holding hands.
I looked up stunned and could make out the faint hint of the sky even though it was dark. It seemed like we had fallen through a tiny gap in the ground. It may seem impossible, but in fact, people can easily fall through even the tiniest gap between the train and the platform.
I canât get up because my eyes are unaccustomed to the dark, but I donât seem injured either.
âThere reawwy wash a howe,â (There really was a hole) I mumbled and the hand that was holding mine twitched. He seemed to have come back to his senses because of what I had said. Lawk probably wasnât injured either since he wasnât crying. But the words that he said back to me was a surprise, âNot this one.â
âNoth thhish one?â
Whatâs not this one?
âThis isnât the hole I wanted us to go to.â
âWhath...â
âThereâs a hole in the hill up ahead. One that someone had dug up.â
I see. So, no one might know about this hole and the ceiling might collapse because of people running.
âLaww yeww in a woud voice.â (Lawk yell in a loud voice)
âIn a loud voice?â
âYeww for hewp.â (Yell for help)
Thatâs right. We were able to stay somewhat calm since the both of us were here, but weâre in an emergency. Lawk looked up while stunned, like I had done earlier, and shouted into the hole.
âHeeey!â
I see. It was certainly easier to yell âheyâ rather than âhelpâ. Iâll do that too.
âHeeey!â
âHeeey!â
We immediately felt the presence of people from above as we were both yelling and the first thing we saw was dirt falling.
âUoah.â
âAhh.â
We moved around on all fours and brushed the dirt off our heads.
âLei-sama?â Then a familiar voice came from above my head.
âHansh!ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âThere you are! Theyâre here! Wait! Donât run!â Hansâs voice was as pleasant as always, but he had never sounded so relieved. Hans laid on his stomach and gently reached into the hole. Then, he carefully touched the walls. But dirt fell down from the places where he touched.
âHansh, thhe dirth ish fawwing.â (Hans, the dirt is falling)
âLei-sama, youâre okay. Stay calm. Iâll definitely get you out.â
âAi.â
âBut how did you fall down from such a small hole?â He was probably speaking to himself. But Iâve seen people fall into gaps like this in my previous life. Surprisingly, people can fall from narrow holes, even more so when theyâre children.
Lawk stood up and did his best to reach out. However, we had fallen deeper than we had expected, so his hands didnât reach Hans, and the hole was only big enough to fit an adultâs shoulder.
âLei-sama, Iâll have someone get me a rope, so please behave yourself down there.â
âAi.â
Itâs a good idea to have them make a loop with the ropes and pull us up by the armpits. So, weâll just sit down and wait somewhere so the dirt doesnât fall until then.
âLaww shith down.â
âOkay. Sorry, Lei.â
âIthâsh awrighth. Theyâww geth ush outh righth away.â (Itâs alright. Theyâll get us out right away)
My eyes grew accustomed to the light as we both huddled together, and the light shining through the hole gave me a vague idea of what was happening on the other side.
âItâs a long way down isnât it?â
âIthâsh wiwe a cave.â
âYeah. Thereâs a hole like this on the hill and it leads all the way down.â
It didnât look like a big hill.
âI heard there was a battle around here long ago, and they widened the original hole to make a maze so that they could hide. I was told that we werenât allowed to enter.â
Of course. Caves and mazes were places that a six year old boy should never be allowed to enter. When I observed our surroundings, I felt that the wall was smooth at the end and a personâs hands could pass through.
On the other hand, the walls in the area where we fell were soft and people couldnât put their hands through.
âThathâsh where thhe howe wash made wather.â (Thatâs where the hole was made later)
I guessed. While I was observing, there was a lot of activity above us.
âI didnât expect you to come this way. I told you it was dangerous cause there were holes here, didnât I?â
âI, I thought you were talking about the holes over there.â
It might have been Nicoâs guard who was angry. Hans didnât seem to know about this. I wish the guards shared information with each other.
âIâll bring the rope as quickly as I can, but it might be quicker to walk around to the hole in the hill. Iâll bring some light with me too.â
âItâs connected to the other side?! If we can get there safely, then it might be safer for Lei-sama that way rather than trying to get her out with a rope.â
âWell, weâll try both ways. Iâll get more people to help.â
Hans and the people from the mansion were talking above us. Iâm sure Nicoâs guard must be flustered.
âConnected... from over there?â Lawk whispered next to me. I have a bad feeling about this.
âLaww.â
âLetâs go!â
âAah!â
Lawk stood up and ran towards the passage that was vaguely visible from the hole.
I suppose I have to call Hans. However, Lawk said that this passage is a maze. Is the important thing to get myself out first or not to leave Lawk alone?
âWe canâth sheperathe, Laww.â (We canât separate, Lawk)
I also stood up and began to move towards Lawk. Briskly, of course.