Chapter 91

Is this the genius level that can break the crystal ball?

 

The elemental affinity of the [Breaker] level is truly terrifying.

 

Vanessa felt a tinge of relief that Aesphyra hadn’t had the chance to use magic on her at that time.

 

Although she could have held on, surviving a [Breaker]-level fire magic attack would have been excruciating, likely leaving her skin scorched even if she didn’t perish.

 

The skill Aesphyra had just used was likely [Flame Wave Roar], a high-level skill of the Artisan Level. This indicated that Aesphyra’s current realm was also that of an Advanced Artisan or above it.

 

And Vanessa was merely a Beginner Apprentice.

 

Even though she could overpower Aesphyra in hand-to-hand combat, the moment magic came into play, the disparity between them became glaringly obvious.

 

“Alright, well, the noisy flies are gone, and there’s no one else. Dear, can you tell me your name?” Aesphyra turned around, her expression shifting instantly as she smiled at Vanessa.

 

Vanessa was momentarily at a loss for words.

 

Aesphyra had saved her and resolved a significant problem for her.

 

Vanessa had no intention of becoming her enemy, so falling out with her now would be unwise.

 

But this protagonist was really…

 

Before she could react, the ground beneath her feet trembled.

 

Vanessa looked down in astonishment as the altar began to melt rapidly under the red lotus’s burn, resembling ice cubes subjected to intense heat.

 

What’s going on?

 

Before the two could process the situation, the platform melted into muddy water, and they fell into the stratum at the center of the altar.

 

“Click!”

 

Both landed on the ground below, stepping on the falling rocks.

 

Vanessa looked up. The height from which they had fallen wasn’t insurmountable, but it was significant enough to make climbing back up a challenge.

 

Scanning her surroundings, she noticed that the area beneath the altar showed signs of artificial excavation, with a hole leading further down.

 

It seemed the altar’s disrepair wasn’t due to neglect but rather because it concealed an underground secret room.

 

What puzzled her was that after the fall, her hearing seemed sharper.

 

She couldn’t help but glance at the silver-haired girl standing beside her.

 

Aesphyra was staring intently ahead, muttering something under her breath.

 

Vanessa followed her gaze and saw a large arched stone door. In the faint moonlight, she could barely make out an Ouroboros ring and a flying griffon.

 

Isn’t that the totem and banner of the Ancient Carillian Empire?

 

For such a structure to appear in this dungeon, could it be…?

 

After recognizing the totem, Vanessa glanced at Aesphyra beside her and suddenly understood.

 

Of course, the passive trigger of the protagonist had been activated.

 

Blessed by misfortune, she had stumbled upon an opportunity.

 

Don’t ask where the trouble was. If she found an opportunity left by ancestors wherever she went, wasn’t that just typical for the Protagonist?

 

Not to mention, being the only direct descendant of the Ancient Carillian Empire was already a massive advantage.

 

However, judging by Aesphyra’s expression, it seemed even she was unaware that a relic from the Ancient Carillian Empire was hidden here.

 

After all, even the Carillian Academy hasn’t fully explored this area. There must be some missing places or royal relics that they are not qualified to enter.

 

Vanessa pondered this but suddenly felt something was off. Then it hit her.

 

Oh no!

 

Why did she end up here too??

 

As everyone knows, villainous characters who follow the protagonist into ruins rarely meet a good end.

 

Either they covet a certain treasure during the exploration and are killed by the protagonist under the guise of “justice,” or they’re eliminated on the spot with the excuse of “too many people, not enough rewards.”

 

Even if none of the above applies, they’re still likely to die during the exploration process.

 

In short, entering a ruin full of opportunities with the protagonist is extremely dangerous.

 

And at a glance, it was clear that this was something left behind by the royal family of the Ancient Carillian Empire for their descendants.

 

It belonged to Aesphyra, and Vanessa had no intention of coveting someone else’s inheritance.

 

Just as she was thinking of a way to avoid following Aesphyra into the ruins, Aesphyra caught her off guard.

 

She walked straight up to the arched stone door and, with practiced ease, bit her finger, letting her blood drip onto the stone slab.

 

Vanessa was stunned.

 

Wait, there’s an outsider here! Are you really opening the relics left by your ancestors in front of me??

 

You’re really not worried about me, are you??

 

Vanessa’s brows furrowed slightly.

 

But Aesphyra was the protagonist, after all. She had the strength and the confidence to look down on the world.

 

However, the issue wasn’t whether Aesphyra was worried about her, it was that Vanessa didn’t want to get involved in this kind of thing.

 

The stakes were too high, far exceeding the level of risk she was willing to take. She had to find a way to avoid this!

 

“Click!” The sound of ancient mechanisms echoed as the arched stone door slowly opened, revealing the scene inside.

 

The moment air rushed in, the crystal lamps hanging on both sides lit up, shimmering with an icy glow that reflected off the agate-encrusted crystal throne below.

 

At the center of the ruins was a mint-colored lake.

 

A path led to the crystal throne in the middle of the lake, flanked by burning crystal lamps and various relief frescoes.

 

Vanessa had seen artwork in this style on the carriages of Carillian, typical of the ancient Empire’s design.

 

However, those on the carriages were imitations made by later generations, while these were genuine artifacts that had survived through the ages.

 

This was truly a relic left by the ancient empire.

 

“My dear, why are you standing so far away? Aren’t you curious about what’s inside? Let’s go in and take a look,” Aesphyra turned back and smiled.

 

“No, I’m not curious,” Vanessa replied, standing as far from the ruins as possible, maintaining the greatest distance from Aesphyra.

 

“You opened the door. I won’t go in.”

 

Seeing Vanessa’s reaction, Aesphyra didn’t press further. She had already realized where they were.

 

It really hadn’t taken much effort to find it.

 

In her previous life, she had searched tirelessly but never found a clue about the ruins of the ancient imperial royal family hidden in the dungeon of Carillian’s entrance exam.

 

Yet, in this life, she had stumbled upon it by chance.

 

She glanced deeply at Vanessa, who remained behind and refused to step forward.

 

If she hadn’t met this cherry blossom-haired girl, she might have missed it entirely.

 

Was this some kind of divine revelation?

 

“Come on, it’s fine. I found this place thanks to you, young lady. There might be some valuable treasures in these ruins, and those who see them deserve a share.”

 

“No need,” Vanessa replied firmly, unmoved. She took Aesphyra’s words as a test or temptation.

 

“You opened the door, Miss. I won’t go in.”

 

She wasn’t foolish. This place was clearly reserved for the Carillian bloodline by the royal family of the ancient empire.

 

No one except Aesphyra had any right to claim it.

 

“Then don’t you wonder how I opened this door? Or why did my blood open it?” Aesphyra tilted her head, her tone probing.

 

Here it comes, the proposition!

 

“I think my blood might have the same effect if I tried, but I don’t want to know any of that. I’m not interested in you, Miss, and I don’t want to learn anything further. Please don’t say anything more.” Vanessa’s words were a clear display of “playing dumb” and “just wanting to survive.”

 

Aesphyra naturally understood what Vanessa was implying.

 

This cherry blossom-haired beauty was clearly a smart person.

 

She had likely already guessed that Aesphyra’s identity was extraordinary and wanted to avoid any unnecessary involvement or trouble.

 

After a brief observation, Aesphyra found herself increasingly satisfied with Vanessa.

 

Of course, she couldn’t fully trust someone based solely on appearances.

 

A person’s tone of voice, subtle movements, and demeanor could reveal a lot about their character, and Aesphyra was particularly skilled at reading people.

 

She could indirectly judge someone’s personality and intentions through their actions, words, tone, habits, and demeanor.

 

The persona she had presented to Vanessa earlier, part of it was an act, a carefully crafted image meant to shape how Vanessa perceived her.

 

It was all part of the role she wanted Vanessa to believe she embodied.

 

Let Vanessa believe that she is truly a love-struck fool.

 

The favored one has no fear and no scruples. Only in this way can a person’s true nature slowly reveal itself to her.

 

Of course, a larger part of the reason is that she is genuinely showing her true feelings.

 

She really does like Vanessa’s appearance and demeanor.

 

This cherry blossom-haired girl perfectly aligns with her aesthetic ideals, embodying every definition of the word “beauty” in her heart.

 

It’s not a lie to say it was love at first sight, it truly was.

 

After all, she is the ultimate lover of beauty.

 

Lies often contain half-truths to deceive people.

 

She just didn’t know if Vanessa’s personality would align with the partner selection criteria in her mind. If not, well…

 

After a brief observation, she felt that Vanessa was a person with little ambition.

 

She had a clear understanding of her own risk tolerance, knew what she should and shouldn’t do, and had no interest in the status of being above others.

 

She simply wanted to maintain her own peace and take what she deserved.

 

Compared to the group of eccentric, unpredictable individuals she had known in her previous life, Vanessa was already a very honest and straightforward person.

 

Although Aesphyra loves beautiful girls, if someone’s personality is unpleasant or even flawed, she would only treat them as a beautiful vase, maintaining a superficial affection.

 

In this regard, she is very clear. Liking is liking, but if the other person only has a pleasing appearance, then she would only maintain a surface-level fondness.

 

However, there are exceptions. If a girl’s appearance perfectly aligns with her aesthetic ideals, she might tolerate even significant character flaws. It’s not impossible.

 

But such a person is almost impossible to find.

 

Aesphyra herself is a one-in-a-million beauty, and her standards for appearance are extremely high. Few could meet them.

 

Now… perhaps.

 

Aesphyra turned and walked closer, her black silk heels clicking on the path leading to the Crystal Throne in the middle of the lake, splashing water lightly.

 

With one leg crossed, she faced Vanessa’s direction and sat on the Crystal Throne, resting her head on one hand, her expression slightly lazy.

 

At this moment, she looked like an empress reigning over the world, gazing down at her subjects.

 

The sudden shift in her demeanor left Vanessa momentarily stunned, and at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of vigilance and suspicion.

 

When they first met, Aesphyra’s overwhelming enthusiasm had made Vanessa believe her words without question.

 

But now, thinking calmly, would Aesphyra, someone who had lived two lifetimes, truly fall in love with a girl at first sight?

 

The change in her demeanor just now reminded Vanessa that Aesphyra has countless masks.

 

She can seamlessly adopt any persona without others noticing she’s acting at all.

 

And who knows if she was wearing a mask when she said those things earlier?

 

Aesphyra did have a strong emotional reaction upon seeing her, but emotional reactions don’t necessarily mean genuine affection.

 

Aesphyra loves beautiful girls, so it’s not strange for her to have a strong reaction.

 

But calling it love at first sight seems a bit arbitrary.

 

Maybe she’s still testing her.

 

At this thought, Vanessa averted her gaze, avoiding eye contact with Aesphyra.

 

Seeing this, the corners of Aesphyra’s lips curled into a mysterious smile, and she closed her eyes.

 

At this moment, the water in the lake began to boil, breaking into several streams that gathered into a ball and immersed themselves into Aesphyra’s body.

 

The silver-haired girl sitting on the throne remained unmoved, her beautiful eyes slightly closed, as if she were absorbing the water from the lake.

 

This mint-colored water seemed to be some kind of inherited power or opportunity left by the ancient imperial royal family.

 

So, was she receiving an inheritance or a chance now?

 

Vanessa didn’t know. Only Aesphyra could answer that.

 

Seeing that Aesphyra had closed her eyes, Vanessa thought it was time to leave.

 

Staying with Aesphyra, the so-called “plague god,” was harmful to her health. Prolonged exposure could shorten her lifespan.

 

She looked up. The height would be troublesome for other candidates to navigate, but it wasn’t difficult for Vanessa.

 

She could use her [Flawless Holy Feather] to fly up.

 

However, before Vanessa could spread her wings and leave, a beam of light erupted from the underground ruins, soaring into the sky. In an instant, it was visible for hundreds of miles.

 

“……” Vanessa silently glanced at Aesphyra, who was currently unconscious, still absorbing the water from the lake.

 

She had forgotten that, in addition to the protagonist’s ability to turn misfortune into opportunity, there was another buff called “public outrage.”

 

Although this wasn’t Aesphyra’s intention, with the protagonist’s life, how could she not attract everyone’s attention?

 

Vanessa glanced at both sides of the door. The patterns on the stone door were no longer visible, as it had fully opened and retracted into the cracks.

 

This was not good news.

 

Sure enough, before Vanessa could leave, three figures were drawn to the scene, descending from the sky and landing not far from her.

 

“What’s that?” The sturdy young man in black stared at the water in the middle of the lake, which was gathering inside the ruins. He frowned and muttered to himself.

 

“I knew it! I just said this castle looked strange. Turns out, there’s a hole under the central altar?” The bespectacled man with a heavy backpack gasped.

 

In fact, almost everyone had guessed what these underground ruins were.

 

The dungeon used by Carillian Academy for assessments originally belonged to the Ancient Empire, a fact known to all candidates.

 

It was said that Carillian Academy hadn’t fully explored all the ruins in the dungeon.

 

If one were discovered during the assessment, it would be a tremendous opportunity!

 

This was something everyone understood.

 

They all guessed as much in their hearts, and as their eyes fell on the throne in the ruins, greedy expressions spread across their faces.