Everyone stood there, unsure of how to react to this unusual situation, until Ayase cleared his throat, diverting their attention to a more pressing issue.
"Do you know anything about a secret passageway? Did the Knight Captain mention anything?" This time Ayato inquired; his tone tinged with curiosity.
"I already told you, no one stays on this floor for an extended period, and there are no maps, so I don't know about any passageway," Agawa responded.
"Maybe we're the only ones who have discovered it. Perhaps it's a shortcut," Miki suggested.
"Or it could be a hidden treasure room," chimed in a former member of the Otaku Group, whose occupation was an assassin.
At the mention of treasure, the eyes of almost everyone lit up with greed and excitement. After all, they were not wealthy individuals, and most of them came from middle-class families. The thought of discovering a room full of treasure had them all buzzing with anticipation.
"Let's go," Kenji declared, motioning for his group to follow him.
"Shouldn't we inform the Knight Captain first?" Agawa interjected, trying to halt their impulsive actions.
"If you want to, you can, but we're leaving," Kenji responded defiantly, and without any other options, Agawa and the rest of their classmates reluctantly followed suit.
As they continued along the dark corridor, their eyes were drawn to something shimmering ahead. Thinking it could be a treasure, their excitement grew as they moved closer. Before them, they discovered a peculiar mineral, emanating a soft blue glow, jutting out from the wall like a blossoming flower. It appeared to be a crystal with an Indigolite embedded at its core. The girls, including Ayase, were captivated by its beauty.
"What could these be?" one of the girls wondered aloud.
"Perhaps they're a rare kind of diamond," another girl speculated.
Kelly, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "Oh, those are glasz crystals. Quite rare, especially one of this size," he remarked. As his words hung in the air, everyone turned their attention to him, surprised by his knowledge.