In the game, this wall could not be opened from the outside, though it could be in reality; many just didn't know about this hidden passage.
The wall was very thick. After clearing the surface plants and soil, there was still a huge rock, which was troublesome. Simon wove a net from vines, then went to catch a few Oomas nearby, using them as blasting charges.
After a series of rumbling explosions, a passage was finally opened.
Once the dust settled, Simon looked into the hidden passage and found himself face-to-face with an insect.
It had a cashew-shaped body, long limbs, a Nail at its waist, a pair of large eyes on its pristine face, and a four-holed mask on its head like a bamboo hat. Its design was identical to that of Teacher Monomon's mask.
This was Quirrel.
"My friend, the path you've taken is truly unusual!" Quirrel's tone was soft and gentle, steady and mild, very similar to Simon's Insect Language, but it lacked some of the clear, short syllables and had more drawn-out sounds, making him sound like a young shopkeeper at a newsstand.
"I didn't want to wander around the dangerous areas of Fog Canyon; that would waste a lot of my time," Simon explained.
"That's fair. I'm Quirrel. Please, come in. There's a very peculiar building ahead. Would you like to come see it with me?"
"Of course, in fact, I came here specifically for this building. Also, I don't have a name for now, so please excuse me."
They conversed back and forth, politely yielding to each other, and slowly passed through the secret passage, arriving at a spacious cave.
Long branches hung from the cave ceiling, coral-like plants flourished like flowerbeds, and bubbles filled the ground and air. Uumas and Oomas gently floated around a grand palace.
All the scenery was bathed in a hazy, luminous mist, as if some life force, using the mist as a medium, permeated from living things like plants and jellyfish into non-living objects like soil and metal, making everything in the entire area vibrant and filled with an upward surging power.
The Teacher's Archives looked like a brass-colored castle. Its main gate bore a mask, identical to the one on Quirrel's head.
There was only one way to enter the Archives: the main entrance, because the main body of the building was submerged in a giant acid lake, making other routes impassable.
Quirrel stood by the lake, gazing at the colossal structure of the Archives. This sight reminded Simon of himself sitting by Blue Lake, and he suddenly felt a bit anxious.
Quirrel unhurriedly admired the scenery, then suddenly turned to Simon and said, "This kingdom is full of surprises. Who would have thought there would be a building at the top of an acid lake? But what makes me uneasy is why I can't help but feel that these sights are familiar? Though I can't quite say what they are…" Quirrel's tone was a bit hesitant. "I thought the desire for discovery led me here, but now it seems that's not the case. This building is calling to me. What about you, my friend? What brings you here?"
Simon knew that the Teacher was calling Quirrel to break the seal; she wanted to sacrifice herself, but this was tantamount to Quirrel committing suicide.
"I am here for the fate of the kingdom," Simon said softly. Without waiting for Quirrel to ask, he spoke passionately, explaining his evacuation plan, then stated that all of Hallownest yearned for a capable and virtuous guide, finally staring intently at Quirrel.
Quirrel, being kind and straightforward, understood Simon's obvious intention and readily said, "Once I figure out the secrets of this building, I'll have time. And since I've traveled outside the kingdom for a long time, acting as a guide will be no problem!"
Simon was overjoyed. He went up and put an arm around Quirrel's shoulder, then pulled a blank notepad from his pocket. On the spot, he used his Nail to carve into it in Insect Language: "Warrior Quirrel swears by his honor to lead the insects of Hallownest away from this dangerous place, to lead them back once the crisis is over, and to participate in the building of a brand new Hallownest. May Warrior Quirrel always be peaceful and happy."
Quirrel looked at it, feeling a bit embarrassed, and said shyly, "Thank you for your blessings, stranger. I can agree to this oath!"
Simon asked him to sign with his Nail. Quirrel readily agreed, drawing his Nail and gently shaking it. The tip of the sword carved "Quirrel" onto the notepad with a steady, light arc.
They were both skilled warriors, and carving words with their weapons came naturally to them, but the way they carved also showed the contrast in their swordsmanship. Simon carved very naturally and smoothly, and quickly, like dusting off a layer of ash with a feather duster to reveal hidden text. Quirrel, on the other hand, was a bit slower, like writing with a brush, very meticulously.
"Excellent! Excellent!" Simon clutched the stone tablet in his hand, letting out a long breath. He had finally gotten Quirrel on board. Next was to supervise him to be a guide in peace.
"What's next? Should we enter this building and explore it?" Quirrel asked.
"My friend, wait a moment. Another important person hasn't arrived yet. And you should know him."
"Who?"
"A true Knight."
...
The Little Knight traversed the perilous Fog Canyon, venturing deep into dangerous terrain, and finally arrived at the Archives.
Simon and Quirrel were sitting by the Archives' entrance, chatting. Seeing the Little Knight arrive, they both turned their gaze to him.
The Little Knight walked up to Simon, ready to listen.
"You've arrived. It seems you've already been to the Abyss beneath the Ancient Basin. Was it terrifying? I sense the increasingly dense Void power on you, especially your cloak; such a profound feeling, it must have very powerful abilities."
The Little Knight's cloak had been changed twice since he came to Hallownest. The first time was in Greenpath, after his initial encounter with Hornet and repelling her, he obtained a Mothwing Cloak from the corpse of a Vessel, one of his own kind, which granted him the ability of a short dash. The second time was when he went to the Abyss to undergo the dark baptism; Void matter permeated the Mothwing Cloak, transforming it into the Shade Cloak, which allowed him to become a void shadow during a dash, immune to attacks, but with a slight cooldown.
Simon continued, "I understand you want to know your destiny, but history is hidden in the dust, difficult to trace back. I also know you want to understand the path ahead, and I will tell you these things one by one."
"You are a being created by the White King, essentially Void matter, bound into form by a mask, and infused with the White King's will, which is why you must submit. You were created to seal The Radiance, using your bodies as Vessels. This is why you are called Vessels. The Pure Vessel has already completed the sealing, located in the Black Egg Temple in Crossroads. The Black Egg's entrance is sealed by three Dreamers. You can only open the door and enter by killing the Dreamers."
The Little Knight listened calmly, but Quirrel appeared somewhat uneasy.
"If you are unwilling to abandon your mission, then you have three paths you can take."
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
If you want to see it, then why not?