Chapter 258: The Evolved Minotaur Armor
Junk chose to continue wearing his armor and declined to switch for this swimsuit that the witch had just cooked up for him, even though he perfectly knew that it would be a lot less hot, but he still wouldn't do it.
The beach they were on was the strangest any of the three party members had ever seen in their lives. It was a regular beach for most part, except that this one had some kind of farmland on it. There was a field and there were scarecrows everywhere. Real scarecrows. They were not moving or anything like that, there were just real scarecrows constructed of clothes and hats and things like that. No jack-o-lanterns for their heads, though, as this was not the Autumn province. Everyone knew that there were no pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns in this province. Instead, the scarecrows had strange leatherheads with vague shapes that sort of resemble eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
They were real scarecrows meant to frighten crows in the hope to protect the fields, as well as the beach it seemed.
"What the heck is this place supposed to be?" April asked as the party finally began exploring the area following the recent and intense battle. So far, there was no one around here. Except for those stupid scarecrows, there was no one here. At least, there was no one they could actually go up to and talk to, which was a shame because this would make this entire investigation a lot easier for them.
"There are scarecrows everywhere. This has to be a connection to that one scarecrow back home, right?" Junk theorized as everyone was desperately searching for more clues.
"I like how you're thinking, knight. We got to keep a close eye on those scarecrows if you ask me? It doesn't matter that they are not moving… We never know…" September was careful, as she was most of the time…
"Right. You got it," Junk replied to her, getting what she meant out of this. Being as careful as possible was capital.
"Hey! There's a path over there in the field!" April, the ranger was the most efficient among any of them to analyze landscapes and areas. April was the one who found this path in the field. This path was still on the beach, but in an area that they had not explored yet. Everyone followed April without even thinking twice about it. The ranger led the way in this particular case.
"Good job, April!" the knight congratulated her.
"I knew you could do it, girl!" September mentioned to her.
"Don't mention it, guys! Say, Junk… Are you certain you don't want to change up and wear your swimsuit trunks instead? You'd look even sexier that way if you want my opinion…" April reminded the knight that this possibility was still on the table. It was obvious that she desperately wanted him to wear his swimsuit. She turned wet simply thinking about it.
"Nah… I think I am going to pass my turn for now."
"Too bad…" April's shoulders dropped as she was feeling disappointed that he didn't want to change.
"We should focus on the mission at hand!" September snapped a little and tried to bring April to reality for a second.
"RIGHT!" April shouted. She agreed to focus on the job at hand and immediately went back to working on studying this unknown area.
"You got it, witch," Junk was more than ready to work.
At some point on their path, April abruptly came to a stop. Everyone then also stopped behind her. April then crouched down and placed the palms of her hands on the ground, so she could feel the earth with her hands. April was silent. Her eyes were shut for the longest time… There was a beat. Junk and September both tried to be silent for as long as possible until…
"What's wrong? Are you feeling anything interesting, April?" Junk had to know.
"Anything noteworthy?" even September asked her about it.
…
Another silence later…
April finally raised her eyes and opened her eyes again.
"There's a shrine over there!" April revealed. She was able to determine that there was a shrine at the end of this path they were in without any of them actually seeing anything in front of them. The skilled ranger sensed something from a distance…
***
April was completely right.
A little later, the party discovered a golden shrine at the end of this path they traveled on. There were even more scarecrows around the shrine. It felt like they were placed there to watch over that shrine more than scaring crows and protecting the field. The shrine had an entrance, but no doors, so they were able to enter easily, which they did. Junk entered first with April entering second and September penetrating last.
The interior of the shrine was almost completely dark. Junk couldn't see much here, unfortunately, but it was important to continue searching everywhere inside to uncover what secrets this mysterious place held.
"Do you see anything, Junk?" the witch asked him.
"I don't see anything in here…" he told her.
Perhaps the knight spoke a little bit too soon because as soon as finished replying to his Witch Queen, he suddenly began to feel a presence around him inside the shrine.
It felt like there was someone behind him.
Step!
Step!
Junk stepped back and turned around to discover that there was, indeed, something inside the shrine. To be more exact, there was someone. When the knight finally turned around, he came face-to-face with a tall and imposing shadowy shape. It had to be a tall man or a humongous monster even.
The knight immediately summoned his ax and readied himself for battle.
A second later, Junk realized that this was no man and no monster. It was not a male monster, at the very least. This shadowy shape came closer to him and light from outside began illuminating it…
It was a woman, but not any kind of woman.
This one had horns on the side of her head.
"I don't want to have to hurt you…" Junk immediately told her.
She scoffed.
"Um… I'd like to see you try…" the mysterious and tall horned woman replied to the knight.