They looked at the old man with puzzled expressions.

  “Who are you?” they asked.

  He appeared shocked but quickly regained his composure.

  Angrily, he replied, “I am the director of this museum and a professional archaeologist! Munkan!”

  The group was visibly surprised, nearly tumbling back down the long staircase they had just climbed.

  Although Munkan leaned on a cane, it seemed he didn’t actually need it.

  He abruptly tossed it aside and strode toward the entrance.

  At the doors, he stopped and glanced back.

  “What are you waiting for?

  I will personally guide you!

  Just as I do with all other newcomers!”

  With that, he entered the building.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The group exchanged glances and quickly followed him inside.

  The interior was a large, nearly empty hall.

  Where they had expected history to leap out at them, there was only an empty expanse.

  The only features were a sizeable reception desk and two doors.

  One of the doors opened, and a small group of visitors stepped into the room.

  They seemed visibly shaken, as though unsure how to process what they had seen in the museum.

  San watched them briefly as they approached the reception desk, only to be surprised—no one was sitting there.

  “Welcome to our humble house of knowledge!

  Here, we strive to convey as much as possible about the history of our nation,” Munkan began.

  “In case you’re wondering why no one is here…

  Well, that’s because we rarely have visitors!”

  “What?

  But this is the largest museum in the country!

  How can it be lacking visitors?”

  “There are several reasons for that,” Munkan explained.

  “For one, nearly all the research we conduct here, along with the building and security measures, is funded by the army.

  Not everyone wants to visit what feels like a prison of history.

  On top of that, some of our exhibits are displayed under such strict precautions that most visitors leave with an uneasy sense of fear.”

  Suddenly, the group felt a slight chill run down their spines.

  What could they expect here?

  Munkan led them to one of the two doors—the one that had remained locked until now.

  “Across four floors, we offer exhibits covering the various time periods of Kasaka’s history and even beyond.

  We’ll start with the exhibition on the Third War of the Lost up to the present day.”

  He opened the door, revealing a simple elevator inside.