This is the site of the ancient civilization Ishtar? ......

　After that, we drove Kobda to the ruins that we could see on the horizon.
　A few hours later, we were standing in front of the ruins.

But rather than ruins, they look more like ruins.

　I nodded quietly at Lily's line as she whispered next to me.
　You're right. When I heard of the ruins, I expected to find more solid structures.
　But what we have here is a literal ruin, a pile of rubble.
　What was once a huge building is now buried under the sand and the ceiling is growing out of the ground.
　Other rubble and half-destroyed structures can be seen here and there, but almost none of them have retained any form at all.

Ancient Civilization Isital: ....... I've heard of it in fairy tales, but I didn't expect it to be this far gone. ......

"Does Phytis know about Ishtar too?

Yes. But all I've heard is a bit of lore, so I don't really know what it was. According to the stories, Ishtar was the most advanced civilization since this world began.

"Evolved ......

I hear that they had technology that was beyond our current technology. We hear that there were vehicles that flew, and vehicles that dived under the sea. And we are told that there were many other tools of civilization in existence.

　That's great. Ever since we came to this world, the only vehicles we see are demons, carriages, and other medieval vehicles.
　Wasn't flying vehicles a very advanced civilization?
　In fact, even on Earth, flying vehicles were a fairly advanced form of civilization.

But I'm told that such an advanced civilization perished overnight.

"I heard that too. I'm sure he destroyed it--

"The demon king Freeswerg, at that time?

　It was also a story I had heard from Alisha earlier .
　The ancient civilization Ishtar. That highly developed civilization fell apart overnight.
　It was destroyed by a being called the demon king of that time, Freeswerg.
　I don't know what kind of monster that was, but if he had destroyed civilization in a single night, the danger level must have been completely different from the monsters I know.
　Isn't that even higher than Mom and the rest of the SS ranks?　I even feel uneasy about that.

Well, at any rate, it's all ruins now.

　Lily was right, what is here now is more of a wreckage than a ruin.
　There is no way to check for anything, not even that something.

Even if something remains, many adventurers have already come here and taken the possessions of a once defunct civilization. There wouldn't be anything left now. ......

"Sure. ......

　Phytis is right, if there was anything left, a lot of adventurers have already come here and taken it with them.
　There's no way there's anything left when we come here.
　But something about this place is still beating in my heart.
　There's something else lingering here besides that legacy.

Pow!

　And it was the same for Rock, who was jumping up and down to see what he had found.

Rock, what's up?

I think there's something here!

　As if led by Locke's voice, we gathered at the spot where he was.
　When I looked, I saw that there was sandy soil some distance away from the site of the ruins, and I didn't think there was anything there.

What's wrong with this place, Locke?

　Rock puts his hand in the sand at his feet as he asks. And then--

"Whoa!

　The ground where Locke had stuck his hand in swallowed his hand with a zubzudoku, and just like that, Locke disappeared into the sand.

Heh?

Wait, is that ......?

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of it.

I'm not sure if it's a hidden path ...... or more of a camouflage with sandy-land prison applied.

　Sand Prison. The so-called "ant hell" thing?
　So that means there's something under here?

No, we can't leave Rock alone either way. Let's go get him right away.

Yes.

　Everyone seemed to agree with me, and we jumped into the spot where the rock had been swallowed.
　Then the ground, which was flat just a moment ago, is swallowing us up like a bottomless swamp, and the next thing you know, you feel like you're walking into the sand.
　The next thing that came next was the sensation of being thrown into the air. Then we fell to the ground just below.

Wow, that was close.

　It wasn't that high, so there was little damage to the leg.
　But what was more surprising was the scene in front of me.

"This thing--

　There were countless ruins hidden beneath the ground.
　It was a literal sight of an underground empire.
　Many of the ruins were half destroyed or collapsed just like the ones on the ground, but there were some that were hiding underneath the ground almost intact.

This is ...... amazing. The ruins above are a literal sham. Most of them were hidden underground here: ......

　Either it was hidden underground by the sandstorms of the long years, or it escaped underground just before this civilization itself was destroyed.



"Dad, that one!

　As I was thinking about this, I pointed to one of the ruins that Locke had already entered this underground.
　Compared to other ruins, most of the exterior is intact, and there is a much bigger and more massive structure than other ruins and buildings.
　There was a building that resembled a castle, to say the least.

...... there, huh?

　I asked him about it, and he nodded his head, holding back his trembling shoulders quietly.
　I don't need to check with Locke, but the moment I saw that building, I felt my body tremble for some reason.
　It was because my instincts told me that there was something there.
　And that's exactly why I was led to this place.
　Feeling this, I lightly slapped my cheek as if to firmly support my trembling body, and looked around once more at the faces of the companions around me.
　They all have the expression of determination to follow me.

Okay, then, everyone. Let's explore the inside of that central building.

I get it!
"You can count on me, Kyou-sama.
"I'm on it, brother.
"Yes!

　Hearing each response, my friends and I set out for the ruins.