SSS-Class Overlord: My Harem Rules the Realms (18+)-Chapter 74: Hidden Pathway.

The slums lay behind them like a rotting memory as Ethan, Reyna, and Daniel moved into the wider streets, the air easing from the thick stink of sewage into the cool breeze sweeping between crooked rooftops.

The morning light broke through ragged clouds, glinting off rooftops patched with tin and rotting planks.

Ethan walked a little ahead of them, dark coat flowing behind him, eyes narrowed in thought. He felt the weight of the day pressing on his shoulders, every instinct in his body humming with quiet tension.

Reyna trudged along beside Daniel, arms crossed, giant sword bobbing on her back with each step. Daniel’s grey eyes were low, his mind still reeling from the truth Ethan had shown him the night before.

They passed a market where vendors shouted half-heartedly to passing customers. A child darted past them, clutching a stolen apple, chased by a butcher roaring curses. Ethan barely glanced at it—his mind was locked on bigger problems.

Suddenly, Ethan stopped, turning on his heel to face Daniel. "Now that you’re with us... I’ve got to ask you something important." His voice dropped lower, serious. "We’re not just fooling around here. We’re investigating the corrupted monster incidents. The ones popping up all over these regions."

Daniel lifted his gaze, blinking as though dragged from a distant place. "The corrupted monsters... yeah, I’ve heard whispers.

The kids in the slums keep talking about shadows with eyes... and creatures howling in places they shouldn’t be."

Reyna stepped closer, her eyes sharp, a spark of challenge in her tone. "Ya know anythin’ useful, don’t ya? Spit it out."

Daniel hesitated, lips parting as if the words were struggling to escape. He rubbed the back of his neck, jaw clenched.

Then, slowly, he nodded. "Actually... a few days ago, I saw people in black cloaks messing around in the slums. They were scratching weird markings on the wall. I thought they were thieves or gangs, so I tried to scare ’em off... but as soon as they noticed me, they ran away."

Ethan’s eyes sharpened instantly. His black eyes glimmered with dangerous light, a faint echo of the power he carried beneath his calm surface.

"Markings? Where exactly did you see them?"

"An alleyway near the west side of the slums," Daniel said. "It’s hidden behind some old carts and barrels. Not many people go there."

Ethan clapped a hand on his shoulder, a grin ghosting across his lips. "Good. You’re gonna take us there."

They retraced steps through narrow streets until the city began to decay around them again. The further west they went, the less life seemed to breathe in the stones.

Walls were stained black from years of grime and rain, graffiti scrawled in faded paint, and stray cats darted into broken windows as they passed.

The chatter of the markets faded into silence, replaced by the distant drip of water and the soft rustle of wind through torn cloth.

Eventually, Daniel led them into a cramped alley choked with stacked crates and the skeletal remains of abandoned market stalls. Rats scurried away as their boots crunched over debris.

"There." Daniel pointed, voice quiet. "Behind those crates."

Ethan and Reyna followed him, squeezing past splintered wood and moldy sacks until they reached a sheer stone wall. Faint lines were etched across the surface.

In the dim daylight, they almost disappeared into the stone—a sprawling pattern of stars, circles, and runic symbols carved with careful precision.

Reyna leaned forward, squinting. "Looks like scribbles t’me. Some artist with too much time on ’is hands."

Ethan traced a finger lightly along one of the lines, feeling the fine grooves cut into the wall. His black hair fell forward as he tilted his head, studying the marks.

He spoke almost to himself, voice low and curious. "These aren’t random. This is ritual work... maybe summoning, maybe sealing. Or worse."

He felt a faint prickle along his spine. The symbols pulsed with a strange resonance, like whispers pressing against his skull.

[Ethan Graves]

[System Note: "Intellect check successful. Magical symbols recognized as advanced ritual sigils."]

Ethan murmured, "System. Can you scan this and make a copy of the markings?"

A translucent blue screen materialized beside his head, flickering softly.

[Scanning...]

[Copy and information regarding this symbol set is saved and ready to view. Would you like to access it now or later?] freeweɓnovel-cøm

Ethan glanced at the symbols one last time, then shook his head. "Later. We’ve got bigger fish to fry right now."

The screen faded, vanishing with a faint ding.

Reyna tapped her foot impatiently, arms crossed. "So... now what, Ethan? We just stand here starin’ at a bloody wall, don’t ya?"

"Hold on," Ethan said. His sharp gaze swept the alley floor. He noticed how the dirt and dust gathered in uneven rings, as though something heavy or shifting had disturbed the ground recently.

He knelt down, fingers brushing the stones lightly.

"System," he whispered. "Do a deeper scan of the area. Anything hidden?"

[A hidden pathway has been detected nearby. Would you like me to locate it precisely?]

Ethan’s pulse spiked. "Hidden pathway?" A dangerous grin spread across his lips. "Yes. Locate it."

A ripple of bluish light rolled across the wall. A faint outline emerged—a rectangle the size of a door, so perfectly carved into the stone it had remained invisible until now.

Soft mechanical clicks echoed through the alley. With a low grinding rumble, the slab of stone began to retract, sliding back and sideways into the shadows.

A rush of cold, damp air spilled out, carrying a scent of wet earth and the faint metallic tang of old blood.

Reyna recoiled a step, eyes wide. "Holy shit... there’s a bloody hole in the wall, don’t ya?!"

Daniel stared, mouth slightly open. His voice came out barely above a whisper. "This... this was here the whole time?"

Ethan crossed his arms, smirking. "I love you, System. But sometimes... you’re too damn annoying."

At his words, a new translucent panel flickered into view. Tiny chibi icons shaped like mini System avatars waved their little arms, faces smiling brightly.

[Thank you for your kind words, Ethan! ♡]

Ethan stared flatly at the screen. "Don’t push it."

The icons vanished in a blink.

Reyna stepped closer, one hand drifting toward her giant sword’s hilt. "So... we goin’ in there, don’t ya?"

Daniel swallowed, glancing from Ethan to the gaping tunnel. "What if it’s a trap?"

Ethan clapped him lightly on the shoulder, black eyes gleaming. "Then it’ll be a fun night."

He turned back to the entrance, shadows flickering over his face as the darkness swallowed his expression. "Come on. Let’s see what these cult bastards are hiding."

Daniel hesitated only a moment longer before stepping forward, determination growing in his eyes. Reyna cracked her knuckles, a feral grin lighting her face.

Together, they stood at the threshold, the hidden path yawning before them like a mouth waiting to swallow secrets whole.

Ethan exhaled slowly, a predatory smile creeping onto his lips. "Time to see how deep this rabbit hole goes."

And with that, he stepped into the darkness, his team following close behind.

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