Dont you think were definitely on the wrong path?

Yes. Yes, I think so.

Ceres nodded in agreement with Marius.

The walls down the stairs were covered in skulls. The fact that the skulls of those who died in the lake had been collected in this location made them shiver.

The path seemed to have been made just to make the visitors feel scared.

They moved their feet, their faces drawn with fear. They walked faster and faster, as if they wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

Thank goodness it wasnt a decomposed human being. The smell would have been outrageous.

I dont like the idea of white-boned humans either, though.

I dont know how we have managed to survive this long.

Thats true. I want to be surrounded by alcohol and women when I get back home.

Oh, thats great. To do so, we must first get out of here.

Yes! I wonder if the Prince will be okay.

Marius paused for a moment before speaking up.

Theres the little guy. Im sure he can manage.

Thats true. Well just mind our own business.

They nodded vigorously at the same time and continued on their way, watched over by many skulls.

***

I can enter

Victor stared at his feet, which he slowly lowered into the water, his eyes wide.

Well, thats because I released so much magic power that it broke down the barrier. If he couldnt get in after what I did, Id have my doubts about Victors situation.

Perhaps because I released too much magic power all at once, I felt a little sluggish.

I was a bit tired. I wondered if I would ever get out of this lake. I definitely didnt want to die after coming all this way.

Hey, kid!

Go get the fairy.

I told him forcefully before Victor could say anything to me, not wanting him to realize how tired I was.

I kept a close eye on Victor while I rested. He made it to the top by clinging to a few strands of ivy.

How light was he. I mean, how sturdy were those ivies? It would normally tear apart under the weight of a normal adult male.

Youre almost there.

Victor reached for the fairy.

Thanks to removing the cloth, my vision has improved. I could see every detail. I gazed at the fairys expression.

Is she asleep? She looks like a little fairy from a picture book.

She had transparent wings, and her ears were slightly pointed. How cute. I wish fairies also existed in Duelkis Country.

Gotcha!

At the same time, the waterfalls flow became rougher, and the grass and trees began to decay. The walls started to fall down.

Oops. I knew this would happen.

What the heck is going on?

The ivy in Victors grasp turns brownish and snaps off. With a loud thud, he fell to the ground in front of me. In his hand is a small, adorable fairy that is still sound asleep.

I wonder how long she would stay asleep But when I get a good look at her, her beauty becomes even more apparent. Her eyelashes were long and her skin was smooth. She looks like everything a girl would envy.

Why are you so calm in this situation?

He fell from such a great height, yet how could he be unscathed?

Do you know how we are going to escape from here?

Victors impatient voice echoed in my ears. The path we came from was closed off, and we couldnt go back, probably because the wall had collapsed.

It was a pretty bad situation. The water was getting stronger, and the exit was blocked. If we dont act soon, well drown.

We have to get out of here.

Thats what Ive been talking about for a while now.

Victor looked at me with a dazed expression on his face.

Figure it out, me. This was like an escape game. There had to be a way out.

All the green I could see turned brown, and what was once a beautiful place instantly became obsolete. I then remembered the source of magic power.

I paused for a moment, then asked Victor.

Is it alright if I wake up this fairy?