Becoming Their Guiding Spirit

”You could put it that way. However, there are tons of traps outside. I feel that your probability of survival by staying here and waiting for rescue was considerably higher than if you had recklessly rushed out on your own.”

Magallan thought of her explorer colleagues who had died miserably in all sorts of bizarre traps. Suddenly, Magallan felt that perhaps staying in the stone room wasn’t so bad after all. At least... she was successfully rescued now. And who knew where the outside led? What if it was just another place full of traps?

Lucas Reeve carried Magallan on his back. Dusk stored the Crown in her painting world; there was no safer place than the painting world.

The group walked, one after another, across the massive plaza ahead, passed through the single pitch-black corridor, and headed continuously upward. As they walked, a glimmer of light, as if representing hope, appeared up ahead. Magallan had a very bad feeling in her heart. And when Lucas Reeve quickened his pace and passed through that light, Magallan’s eyes widened, and she froze.

Because...

They had walked out of a cave...

Ahead of them was a green meadow and a cool breeze.

And this breeze, blowing on Magallan’s face, seemed to be filled with mockery.

The atmosphere among the group instantly hit rock bottom. No one spoke. Including Lucas Reeve, everyone’s gaze toward Magallan held nothing but pity and sympathy.

A strong gust of wind blew past, and the green grass on the meadow rustled. This sound seemed to be laughing at Magallan, causing Magallan’s expression to grow darker and darker.

”Tell me... is there something wrong with my brain?”

After a long while, Magallan finally spoke quietly.

No one answered, because everyone was engaged in a challenge.

”Try Not to Laugh Challenge”

Finally, Laurentina couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. Laurentina was the first, Lucas Reeve was the second. Dusk also couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing. Skadi was the same. Even Surtr’s lips were twitching, forcefully holding back her laughter.

Only Magallan’s face grew darker and darker.

It turned out...

The exit was right ahead. All she had to do was walk straight.

And yet.

Magallan had actually, earnestly believed she was trapped, and stayed there for six months waiting for rescue.

It was lucky Lucas Reeve arrived when he did. If he hadn’t, and Magallan had starved to death in that stone room, she probably would have risen from the dead upon learning the truth, climbing right out of her grave in sheer indignation.

This feeling was just like.

You’re trapped in an escape room.

But the door in the room just won’t ’push’ open. Just as you’re about to starve to death in despair, you suddenly discover...

The door isn’t ’push,’ it’s ’pull.’

”Aaaaaaah!!”

Magallan screamed at the sky.

How she wished right now that there was a trap on the path behind them. Even just one trap. Then she could find any random reason to barely console herself.