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nJelia’s somewhat shrill voice instantly focused Roronora’s attention.

nDespite seeming to have succumbed to despair, Roronora had always harbored the hope of leaving this place.

nBut he had never found a way to do so.

n“You have a way?” Roronora, watching the excited Jelia, frowned and asked, “What’s your method?”

nWith her thoughts completely clear, Jelia, excited, looked at Roronora, non-stop talking, “This world, perhaps, is not real at all!”

nJelia paused for a moment before continuing.

n“When you entered, all you saw were corpses, no one mentioned the true form of the legacy, yet you were able to make a judgment.”

n“There’s no sign of mouse holes, yet mice appear and disappear.”

n“There are no inlets or outlets for the water, yet the lake remains clear.”

n“There are no vents, yet the air in the cavern has not been exhausted.”

n“Each anomaly is more conspicuous than the last. While it sounds incredible, after eliminating all impossibilities, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

nListening to Jelia’s description, Roronora’s initially eager gaze gradually cooled.

n“Do you have any more direct evidence?”

n“Yes.”

nJelia raised her hand, pointing at the crystal at the top of the cavern that was emitting a faint glow.

n“Why would a special-level magus set up such an impossible trial?”

n“Besides, does a special-level magus truly have the ability to completely shield mana? But if it’s just about isolating your body, that’s much simpler.”

n“Just a little manipulation during teleportation, and you wouldn’t even realize that your body is no longer under your control.

nAnd of course, a mere consciousness wouldn’t be able to manipulate mana, let alone feel its presence.”

nIs this the truth?

nJelia wasn’t certain, but she believed this to be the truth, or rather, this was her all-in bet. .𝒎

nIf her judgment was correct, then both of them could escape happily.

nAnd if she was wrong, they’d all die anyway, but at least death wouldn’t be so painful, without enduring prolonged loneliness or gasping for breath on mice from who knows where, then sinking into endless despair.

nEither way, the outcome doesn’t seem too bad, does it?

nJelia brushed back her cloak, her palm resting on the hilt of her shortsword.

n“You’re thinking of suicide, aren’t you? Despair has led you to hallucinate,” Roronora said, looking into Jelia’s eyes with a cold smirk and disdain.

nIn his view, all of Jelia’s nonsensical talk was a result of her despair over reality, unable to bear such a blow.

n“It’ll be just me again.”

nHe sighed, laying back down, hands cushioning his head.

n“Then why haven’t you died yet? Or rather, why aren’t you dead?” Jelia’s voice seemed to come from a distant place.

n“We return to the initial question: Why are there mice in a place where nothing grows, and no mouse holes can be found?”

n“The reason is simple, because it’s your hallucination!”

n“Hunger causes your body to react, projecting onto your consciousness as the emergence of hallucinations.”

n“You ‘feel’ you’re in a desolate cavern, so the only food is mice.”

n“Just as you said, this is indeed a deception.”

nThe shortsword was drawn slowly, Jelia caressing the blade.

nIt wasn’t particularly sharp, as it was never meant to be a weapon for killing, merely a tool for eating.

nBut under these circumstances, it was enough.

nThere was a blade, there was a point; it could pierce anyone’s skin, slice through their muscles and blood vessels, destroy their organs, and take away their last breath of life.

n“You’re a madwoman, completely insane!”

nRoronora suddenly sat up, pointing at Jelia and shouting, but due to his weakness, he had to stop to catch his breath after a few words, resting momentarily.

nWatching Roronora’s vehement reaction, Jelia remained unmoved.

nOf course, she was mad; she knew what was most important to herself.

nSo what if she guessed wrong?

nTo die here without hope or to die on the road with hope, which death was more fitting, more preferable?

nEveryone wants to live, but Jelia had seen clearly, this legacy offered no path for mere survival!

nEither push through to a new life from a place of certain death, or sink here and die regardless.

nRoronora was actually wavering.

nHe had been here for who knows how long, familiar with every detail of this place.

nHe had certainly noticed the oddities Jelia mentioned, but just surviving each day had consumed nearly all his energy, leaving none to analyze or seek a way out.

nIf Jelia hadn’t shown up, he might have continued to live like this indefinitely, or perhaps one day the mice would run out, and he’d starve to death.

nNeither was a good end.

nOne last gamble?

n“Jelia, how confident are you?” Roronora asked, looking into Jelia’s eyes.

nThe question was somewhat meaningless.

nIf she was right, even the slightest chance could lead to success.

nIf she was wrong, even the greatest confidence would only lead to a dead end.

n“Fifty percent.”

nNot more, not less, just the right number for a gamble.

nIf correct, life would resume under open skies, with freedom as boundless as the ocean.

nIf wrong, death would come, lying in this cold place, nameless, with future explorers finding nothing but two suicidal corpses, one of which would be as thin as a skeleton.

nThe rats would probably like it, they say they eat anything.

nDid the mice I ate, eat people?

nOr corpses?

nEven in such circumstances, Roronora’s thoughts couldn’t help but wander.

n“If you make it out, could you help me?”

nRoronora’s gaze, filled with a hint of hope, fell on Jelia, only to meet her cold smirk.

n“Why should I?”

nJelia didn’t just verbally agree but clearly stated her conditions.

nThere’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world; effort and reward are always proportional.

nOnly then will more people be willing to put in the work.

n“If you succeed, if you take me out with you, I’m willing to do three things for you! Anything!”

n“If you succeed, if you take me out with you, I’m willing to do three things for you! Anything!”

n“I’m a level 1 magus! If you save me, I’ll be your bodyguard for ten… twenty years!”

n“Moreover, I have countless treasures, all outside. If you want them, I can give them to you! I can tell you where they’re hidden, how to find them, and even help you find a way to sell them!”

n“Just save me, and I’ll fulfill everything I just said!”

nRoronora’s gaze was fervent, not caring whether Jelia would succeed, blindly placing his bets on her.

nHowever, what met him was Jelia’s icy stare.

n“Death extinguishes life like a snuffed candle; all that you’ve mentioned holds no meaning to me.”

nIf I fail, naturally, I’ll gain nothing.

nBut if I make it out, and the situation reverses outside, who knows whether you are friend or foe.

nBut now, expecting Roronora to offer anything of value seems unlikely.

nEven if there was anything, it would probably just be dried mice.

nNot even a wild cat would eat such things, so they would be of no use to Jelia.

nFrowning, Jelia continued, “I don’t want any promises from you. If I can get out, I’ll help you out of moral obligation. But whether I’ll succeed, and what the outcome will be, I cannot say.”

nIn other words, fate decides life and death, and staying or leaving is up to destiny.

nIf, in the end, the legacy allows only one person to leave, Jelia would undoubtedly not give up her spot.

n“Agreed.” Roronora paused, then nodded.

nHe still couldn’t bring himself to commit suicide, even though he had never feared death on the battlefield.

nYet, he showed fear before his own blade.

nThe unknown always brings fear, for its obscurity breeds terror, leaving one hesitating in place, seeking a once familiar balance.

nIs this cowardice?

nBut Roronora once challenged the legacy trial, even being among the closest to success.

nNo one can judge.

nJelia raised the shortsword, its tip glittering in the cavern’s dim light, resembling a distant star in the sky.

nBeautiful, yet deadly.

nRoronora watched Jelia, silent.

nHer gaze shifted upwards, and with a resolute heart, Jelia’s hand holding the shortsword suddenly exerted force!

nPain!

nAgonizing pain!

nAm I wrong?

nThe sensation of the blade cutting through skin felt all too real, warm blood spraying from the vessels onto Jelia’s sword-

nwielding hand, carrying a mix of warmth and slickness.

nJelia withdrew the blade, collapsing to the ground weakly, a “heh” sound escaping her throat, unable to speak as her windpipe was severed.

nWas I right?

nJelia felt as if something was fading within her, aware it was her life force ebbing away.

nWhen it fully dissipates, that would mark her complete demise.

nLying on the ground, waiting for death, is truly unbearable… so painful, so very painful!

nJelia’s eyes, devoid of life, stared at the cavern ceiling, twinkling like the night sky with stars, the enormous legacy crystal still emitting a cold light, neither brighter nor dimmer.

nJelia tried to lift her hand, but the muscles no longer responded to her will.

n𝑖.𝘤ℴ𝘮

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