– Shhhhhhhhhhhh!

– Shaaaaaa……!

The wind calmed down and the pure white light slowly turned faint.

“hahahahaha……!” Hanan Rumayyan’s voice echoed through the burial room.

She wasn’t completely free yet, but you could feel the joy of someone who was experiencing freedom in her laughter.

I felt good just hearing her laugh.

Swooooooosh! She moved her hand to ruffle through our hairs.

I opened my eyes while hugging Demy. Our surroundings became quiet as if the ruckus had been a lie.

We were in the deepest spot of the Zaum Ruins, a spot with sparkling gold, silver, and jewels as well as a high ceiling that pressured those inside it.

The Queen was gone.

“Ah……”

Before we could even check on Isabelle, a different spectacle started taking place.

The blood-colored ghosts started floating up above the ceiling.

Knights, musicians, attendants, porters… Craftsman, scribes, astronomers……

They were all people who followed Hanan.

They were the Queen’s friends who had protected her here for 1,000 years.

– Shaaaaaaa……

Marian extended her hand. A little ghost waved bye to her and flew up with her guardian.

“Hehehe.” Every one of them were smiling.

I thought that their empty eyes regained light for a moment.

The souls turned white the higher they flew up.

The souls that had lost their language, their memories, and even their loved ones all spoke toward us.

– We will put our faith in you. We will return once the sacrament is completed.

– That is the day we will go to the embrace of the Almighty God!

– Bye, bye, bye……

– Please do it for us!

Some of them came up to us and bowed while others flew around the room a few times before flying up.

Oooooong, swooooosh-! The long tail of light looked beautiful like a comet in the sky.

Despite being in a tomb, I thought I was looking at the distant night sky. Demy reached out his front paw and opened and closed them a few times.

I couldn’t help but smile and my heart felt warm.

Even the usually stoic Sir Johann looked like he had a lot on his mind.

– Ah ah ah……

– I won’t forget it!

– Thank you, thank you, thank you……!

“It was nothing.”

I quietly answered. The ghosts, no, the souls smiled brightly and flew up.

‘Wow, we’re free!’ One of them shouted.

The rowdy chants swept the area before they disappeared like the early morning fog.

That was the end.

– Swoooooooosh……

“……”

Only a few strands of gentle breezes were left where thousand years old souls had left.

We blankly stared at the empty space for a while until-

“Ah, ah.”

“Isabelle!”

We ran in shock after seeing her stagger.

Christelle quickly caught Isabelle. I immediately released my healing circle.

Thankfully, her condition was not too bad.

She was conscious and her complexion was fine. She didn’t have a fever either.

She just seemed a bit shocked. I quickly released my ether with a calming circle.

The Imperial Crown Prince spoke in a low voice.

“That was reckless.”

“Yes, your Royal Highness……”

Isabelle smiled and placed her hand on Christelle’s cheek.

The MC buried her face in her mother’s hand but still looked full of concern and anger.

“You could have discussed it with me, with us. How could you decide everything on your own like that?!”

“You wouldn’t have let me.”

THe woman whispered. That was the truth. Christelle’s water-colored eyes started to shake.

“I heard who this esteemed individual is and what kind of person she is. Her voice was echoing in the path as I walked down.”

“……”

“Mommy wanted to protect my daughter too.” Isabelle said that and then smiled at everyone.

I understood how she was feeling and could not say anything.

Christelle was Isabelle’s daughter; the one who had not been able to wake up for many years.

Although they didn’t share a single drop of blood, Isabelle loved her more than anybody else in the world.

Despite her suddenly getting stronger and no longer being sick, it was normal for a mother to be worried about her daughter.

Furthermore, Christelle also recently lost her ‘biological father.’ She probably wanted to do anything she could to be by her side.

“I can hear her Majesty speaking in here.”

Isabelle pointed to her heart.

“Do you feel this Queen’s ether? She just said that.” She tried her best to mimic the Queen.

Sir Johann chuckled as he answered.

“I see, it really is a strong power.”

It was at that moment.

– Booboboboooooooooom……!

“Eek!”

‘Kiiiiiii!’ Joanne staggered and tightly held Perry. The ground was starting to shake intensely.

It was not a temporary phenomenon. We consoled the children and looked at each other.

It was weird how even the friends right in front of me were shaking up and down.

‘Is this what I think it is?’

– Booboboboooooooooom……!

“D, do you think it is crumbling?”

Sand ominously mumbled. Marian looked like she would start to cry.

‘Damn it! As I expected. The end of basically every movie with a ruin is destruction!

“India! What about India?!”

“Don’t worry. Auntie will take you to where your sister is.”

Christelle consoled the girl.

Her large eyes were sparkling as she looked at us.

“I’m pretty good with escape rooms.”

“Christelle?”

“I brought all the clues and paths, so just trust me.”

She helped her mother stand up and asked if she could walk.

Isabelle answered that she could run. Christelle immediately pointed toward the altar.

“Then let’s all run there!”

“Yes ma’am!”

“Ahhhhh!”

– Booboobabang……! Babang!

We ran down the hill of gold.

It was slippery and there were lots of hidden treasures, which made it easy to trip, but Sir Johann helped us all.

The wind pushed at our backs and helped us up, making us move much faster than normal.

Scorpions and dust were already falling from the ceiling.

Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumble! I could hear a scary sound of rocks breaking in the distance as well.

I felt like I got chills all the way down to my capillaries. ‘One wrong move and we’re all going to get buried alive!’

– Booboboboooooooooom!

“Instructor!”

Christelle urgently called out to her instructor. We were already near the four angel sculptures.

Once Sir Johann stepped forward, Christelle immediately pointed to the ceiling.

“Do you see that diamond-like transparent jewel over there? It is small but that is not a picture. That is a real decoration.”

“Yes. I see it.”

“Please turn that like a door handle! I don’t know the direction, but you may need to use some strength because it is old. If that does not work, please push it like you are using a magic tool. But you must not break it.”

“Paaat!” His white hair and a gust of wind swirled together and he headed up to the ceiling.

No other explanation followed but Sir Johann did not ask any questions.

While the Cardinal was taking care of his student’s request, Christelle looked at the rest of us.

We must have had blank looks on our faces as Christelle shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

“Do you see that angel statue to the right of the altar? The man holding the greatsword. If you take a good look, he is the largest of the four angels.”

“Yes.”

“But if you stop at just, ‘oh he’s bigger,’ and not think about anything else, you cannot get out of here. A room like this requires you to use your brain. Let’s take another look. He’s the largest and the second largest is the angel across from him. The one with the sapphire necklace. The largest one is about twice the size, right?”

“Ah, yes he is.”

I blankly answered. On the other hand, Christelle rattled off like a machine gun.

It was amazing how she didn’t bite her tongue even once while talking so fast.

Ruuuumble! The shaking did not stop either.

“The third largest is the angel over there! He’s looking down at the pile of gold. The smallest angel is this one right here, buried underneath the gold coins. He’s pointing his emerald arrow at the sky.”

Our jaws slowly dropped (Crown prince Cédric being the only exception).

She smiled and nodded her head.

“Yes, you are starting to understand, right? The order of size is the clue. It is a very kind clue. Furthermore, the gazes of the angels and the directions of the jewels are also hints. There is a ruby in the largest angel’s greatsword, and that is pointed at the sapphire angel across from him. But that one has his body twisted. It makes him not look forward but at the angel in the corner with the purple quartz. As for that quartz angel? He’s looking at the floor, at this emerald angel buried here. Then what is the last angel pointing at with his arrow? It is that diamond in the ceiling. It is placed in a spot to make you think it is part of the wall art, making it impossible to see unless you are looking for it. That is our way out of here.”

“Holy Almighty God!”

“Wow……”

“My goodness.”

I couldn’t help but gasp in admiration. Marian looked up at Christelle with eyes full of respect.

Joanne and Sand clapped as if they were bewitched.

The situation was so dire that my hands were sweaty but I couldn’t help but think that she was crazy.

‘How many escape rooms have you been to?!’

– Ruuuuuuuumble!

“There is a kind answer sheet as well! This golden monkey statue is out the farthest as if to introduce the angels, right? If you take a closer look, its eyes are made of diamond. It was there from the beginning to guide you to look for the same button.”

“Wait……”

– Baaaaaaaang!

“Eeeek!” “Aaaaah!” Sand and Joanne both screamed.

A portion of the ceiling opened and a bunch of black things fell down like a waterfall.

Isabelle calmly consoled the two of them but it was difficult to calm down.

‘Holy moly, that’s not dirt, those are snakes. They are slithering over here!’

– Ssssss, ssss!

– Ssssssssss……!

“You ate so much but you are still hungry?”

The crown prince growled in a low voice and moved forward. Clang! His black sword roared.

The tip of the Sword of Wisdom lit up in flames. ‘Wait, did he say they ate so much?’

“Are they perhaps the venomous snakes from the trap earlier, your Royal Highness?”

I asked, almost in a whisper. He flicked his chin.

“Yes. I smell blood.”

“There was already food there?”

“Uninvited guests who came before us.”

– Snap!

He instantly took off his glove and snapped his fingers.

Craaaackle! The snakes hissed as the man’s fingertips lit up in flames.

They must be scared as they did not approach any closer, but it was only temporary. The other side of the golden hill was turning black from the snakes.

A threat would not be enough to stop so many of them.

The triangular head and the bodies that were as dark as dead leaves seemed to be proclaiming that they had extremely dangerous venom.

‘How can a path be connected from the basement to the ceiling?! No, that’s not the important thing right now.

If all of the tomb raiders who were disguised as archaeologists died in the snake room, then India-’

– SCREEEEEEEECH…….

– Booboboboooooooooom!

Something big moved behind us. We turned our heads in shock.

Something extremely magical was happening in front of us. Christelle became even more confident.

“The altar……”

It wasn’t the front of the altar opening or the decorations turning.

The altar itself was moving like the hands of a clock.

Anybody would be able to tell that this was the secret door out of the burial room!

Sir Johann, who had finished his task, gently landed next to me.

I felt like he would show more of an expression breaking a toothpick than he did right now.

Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumble……

“Thank you very much. Marian, let’s go!”

Christelle pushed the child’s back and shouted. The little girl ran toward the altar as if she was flying.

We all ran over as well. Sir Johann guarded us from the back.

A small head popped out of the space underneath the altar at that moment!

“Huh? Big sis!”

“India!”

Marian almost screeched her sister’s name. The ten year old girl’s eyes opened wide.

The child did not have a scratch on her. I was anxious but I couldn’t help but smile brightly.

It was a miracle.

“Big sis! You came so fast!”

“You idiot! Why did you follow some strangers! You’re such a dummy!”

“Sorry. I didn’t know they were scammers!”

“No! It’s those people’s faults! But you are still a big dummy!”

Marian hugged her sister and started sobbing loudly.

India, who looked as if she could be twins with Marian but had buzz cut hair, just laughed.

I wanted the children to enjoy their reunion, but unfortunately, we did not have the time for that.

‘Heave ho!’ I quickly apologized and picked India up. The crown prince did the same to Marian.

I peeked back to see Sir Johann use a half-transparent sword to slice off a snake’s head.

Slash! Slash! ‘Ahh!’

“Hi! Auntie is the one who knocked on the lid earlier. Is there a path out in there?”

“Yes, there is. I was hiding in here the whole time!”

Christelle asked and India energetically pointed down.

Joanne pushed the excited divine beasts down and then pushed Sand’s back.

I was enjoying Sir Johann in action (honestly speaking, it was only around four seconds) when the crown prince bastard grabbed me by the collar and dragged me in.

‘I can’t breathe!’

“Please wait a moment!”

Isablle suddenly backtracked toward the golden hill.

We gasped and looked back at her.

That was the opposite direction of the altar, the ceiling was crumbling, and snakes filled the area! It was too dangerous!

– Craaaaaack……!

“Isabelle!”

“She told me to pack this!”

She urgently picked something up from the pile of treasures as she answered.

It was the white whip that Hanan had been asleep inside. It did feel like we could not leave this item behind.

If it was the weapon of a Cardinal at her level, it should have the abilities of a Holy artifact by this point-

– Baaaaaaaang!

“Aaaaaah!”

It sounded like a thunderbolt was coming from the ceiling.

Sand looked ready to faint and the incident happened in a flash.

I gasped at the sight I did not want to believe.

It was the first time I learned that people’s legs stiffen and do not move when you are extremely shocked.

A large piece of the wall art was falling on top of Isabelle’s head.

“Mother!”

Christelle shouted out loud.

She was holding Tithé and had already gone half way down the altar.

Sir Johann was dealing with the venomous snakes and could not react as quickly as usual.

The crown prince, who was holding Marian, was also a moment too late. A terrible chill ran down my spine.

‘No, no, no……!’

– Craaaaaack!

“……”

“Eek, ugh……”

A gruesome groan pierced my ears. India gently shook my shoulder.

I slowly opened my eyes that I had clenched shut. I then gasped for a different reason.

– Crack, crumble!

“Oh my……”

A thick and dark vine that grew out of Isabelle’s hand was magnificently holding up the piece of wall.

All that fell on her head were little pebbles of the piece.

That had been an extremely swift reaction speed.

Isabelle herself seemed quite surprised as she looked back and forth down at her heart and the rock.

The astonishment did not stop there. When she gently moved her arm…

– Swooosh!

– Baaaaaaaang!

A slate board about two inches thick fell on top of the snakes!

– Ssssss! Sssss……!

– Sssssss!

The few snakes that did not get squashed ran like crazy toward the corners of the burial room.

Isabelle seemed to be saying ‘sorry. I’m sorry I hurt you.’ to the snakes as she awkwardly smiled.

We looked at her with rough thoughts and anxious eyes.

The red pandas stuck their little tongues out and ‘Kiiii……’ Cried out.

For a moment, I forgot what we were doing.

– Boooooom!

I felt like I could hear Hanan’s laughter coming from somewhere again.

‘An earth attribute Cardinal is amazing……’

—
Translator’s Comments

We see that this Queen is … magical.

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