Chapter 195 : Chapter 195
Among the ordinary explorers, some hesitated for a few seconds before stepping forward as well. One, then two, then three... more and more of them stood up and walked to the front of that door.
Those who did not move either shrank into the corners, lowered their heads, or looked at the ones who had stepped forward with eyes full of envy, regret, and an unnamable kind of fear.
Parker’s gaze swept over those who remained where they were.
At last, it landed on Ryan.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
The smile was slight, but there was something cruel about it.
He said nothing. He merely withdrew his gaze and looked at the people standing before him.
“Very good,” he said. “Now, in the name of the Second Prince, I promise this—if we break through this stage, if we make it out alive, every one of you will receive the reward you deserve.”
At his side, Vincent added with his usual gentle smile,
“His Highness the Third Prince makes the same promise.”
Among those who had stepped forward, some people’s eyes lit up. A low cheer rippled through them. Some clenched their fists. Some slapped each other’s palms. At last, a glimmer of hope showed on their faces.
And among those who had not stepped forward, some lowered their heads, some bit their lips, and some looked at the cheering people with nothing but regret in their eyes.
Parker gave Ryan one last glance.
Then he turned around to face the open door.
“Now,” he said, “like soldiers, like knights—”
He stepped into that darkness.
“Advance!”
Hayden followed him in. Vincent and Gray followed. Marcus and Olaf followed. Shiloya and Kallen followed. One after another, all those who had stepped forward walked into that dense, impenetrable darkness.
Their footsteps gradually faded.
At last, no one remained before the door.
Only that darkness still gaped there, waiting.
Ryan rose to his feet.
He brushed off dust that was not really there and adjusted the pack on his back.
Lillian looked up at him. Rex stood up as well and came to stand beside her.
“Let’s go,” Ryan said.
Lillian froze for a moment, then nodded. The taut string that had been wound tight in her chest suddenly loosened a little.
It was not just the two of them going in.
Everyone was going in together.
They would not be separated. They would not have to face that unknown terror alone.
She let out a quiet breath of relief.
Rex scratched his head and grinned.
The three of them walked toward the door.
As they passed Eleanor, Ryan glanced at her.
Eleanor was looking at him too.
Then she rose to her feet and walked alone toward the door, her sword in hand, its tip hanging toward the ground. Her red hair swayed lightly behind her.
She stepped into that darkness without looking back.
Ryan shook his head.
He was just about to move—
“Hello.”
A voice came from the side.
It was soft, gentle, with a pleasant lilt at the end.
Ryan paused and turned his head.
Lillian and Rex froze too.
Vera stood before them.
A moment ago, she had still been leaning against that stone pillar. Now she had walked over. Her light green hair was loosely pinned up, with a few strands hanging down beside her ears. In the dim light, her gray-green eyes held a faint gleam, like distant mountains after rain.
She was still injured. Her calf was wrapped in bandages, and blood had seeped through along the edges. But she stood there with the same composed grace as though she were standing in her own garden.
“This gentleman here,” she said, the corner of her lips curving into a faint smile, “forgive the interruption, but may I join your team?”
Rex answered by reflex. “Join our team? With us?”
Only after the words left his mouth did he realize she had been asking Ryan, not him. Embarrassed, he scratched his head and took half a step back.
Lillian frowned as she looked at the green-haired girl before them.
The number one genius of the Eastern Region.
The adopted daughter of the Gale Duke.
Vera looked at Ryan and waited for his answer.
“Miss Vera,” Ryan said.
Her eyes curved slightly.
“So you do know who I am, sir,” she said. “That is convenient. I know you as well, Mr. Ryan Velt.”
Ryan nodded.
“Well then,” Vera said, “would you mind having one more teammate?”
Ryan looked at her and did not answer at once.
“Why?” he asked. “Why didn’t you go in with Parker and the others just now? Isn’t it safer in a larger group?”
Vera shook her head.
“You saw what Parker did earlier,” she said. “I do not feel comfortable traveling with someone like that.”
She lowered her eyes and glanced at her leg.
“And besides, I am injured.”
She indicated the wound on her calf. The bandages were wrapped tightly, but blood was still seeping through.
“If I go with a large group like that, then if the road ahead forces us into some difficult choice, I might be the first one they abandon.”
She looked up at Ryan.
“So going with them offers me no real benefit.”
Ryan was silent for a few seconds.
“Then why choose me?”
Vera smiled.
The smile was faint, but sincere.
“Because you are a man with a strong sense of responsibility.”
Ryan paused.
These days, apparently, responsibility counted as a virtue.
Vera glanced at Lillian and Rex behind him, then looked back at Ryan.
“Do not worry. Although I am somewhat injured and my movements are a little inconvenienced, I am still very strong,” she said. “You know my name, so you should know why I dare say that. If we run into powerful monsters, I can help deal with them.”
Lillian looked at her, then at Ryan.
That face carried wounds, and she looked so fragile. Standing there all alone, with no one willing to take her along, Lillian suddenly felt a flicker of sympathy.
She was just about to say something for her—
“Fine.”
Ryan had already spoken.
Vera’s eyes curved again.
“That was a very decisive answer,” she said.
Ryan nodded.
“Then let’s consider this a temporary alliance,” he said. “But your leg—”
He reached into his pack and took out two Healing Potions.
“Do you want to use these first? I still have some left.”
Vera shook her head.
“This is a special kind of wound. Ordinary Healing Potions will not help,” she said. “But do not worry, it will not affect my movement. Let us go.”
Ryan looked at her for a moment, then said nothing more.
He put the potions away, turned around, and faced the open door.
The four of them stood at the edge of that darkness.
Lillian drew in a deep breath.
Rex tightened his grip on the greatsword in his hands.
Vera still wore that same faint expression, as though nothing in the world truly concerned her.
Ryan stepped forward.
Into that darkness.
Behind them, once they had entered, the door slowly swung shut.
The dark red light in the crack of the door flickered, on and off.
Like a heartbeat.
Like a countdown.
Like some living thing waiting for them in the dark.