The group quietly exchanged a few more details at the camp outside the cave. Before setting out, they checked their weapons and gear one last time.
Only after confirming everything was in order did they enter the cave one after another, following their formation.
By rights, Leven, as the Shield Bearer, should have taken the lead. But the mine was dark, enclosed, and winding, so the task could only go to Gauss and his partner, who had just scouted the cave.
Gauss had a map in his mind showing the paths. Even without any light inside the cave, he could accurately keep track of their direction and position.
On top of that, he had Mage Armor active, and their potential enemies were kobolds. Even if he was spotted, he didn't have to worry about being killed in the first volley, given the kobolds' fighting ability.
So a rather odd sight emerged: Gauss, the Mage, was walking at the very front.
Meva had wanted to lead, but when she realized Gauss seemed even more familiar with the cave's layout than she was, she didn't insist.
The group moved silently through the cave. They kept their pace slow to minimize the noise of their footsteps.
Fortunately, under Gauss's guidance, they were in little danger of taking a wrong turn. Soon, they reached the fork in the mine tunnel leading to the kobolds' living area.
Unlike the mine tunnels, which had been made tall enough for humans to work in, this passage dug out by the kobolds was rather cramped.
At its highest point, it was probably no more than 1.7 meters tall—and that was the main passage. Some of the side tunnels farther in were only about 1.2 to 1.4 meters high, forcing ordinary humans to stoop or even crawl.
The side