Ornstein Stabbed Me to Death!

"Well, Princess Highness, there's a small problem before you carry out your grand plan."

"What's wrong?" Serena confidently put her hands on her hips, looking as if everything was under her control.

"If you're worried about my safety, don't worry. Don't let my small size fool you, I've actually been training for several weeks. I'm confident I can outrun you guys. All you need to do is figure out how to capture me and Ornstein in action!"

"No, no, it's not that kind of problem."

"Are you worried about not taking good photos? No problem, the Image Stone I brought is a special version that can automatically adjust the shooting angle according to the environment!"

"It's not this one either."

Fingel finally couldn't hold back any longer and said bluntly:

"Only one person can enter the Painting World; we can only wait for you outside!"

"Ah"

Serena's smile froze on her face, and even the air seemed to fall silent for a second or two.

"Oh no, I was so excited that I completely forgot about this!"

Seeing the Princess staring blankly at the sky in frustration, everyone couldn't help but feel annoyed and whispered among themselves:

"What were the original terms of our commission again?"

"Help the Princess enter the Painting World Anor Londo, and then be responsible for carrying her back."

"Then let's just stick to the job. The Princess seems a bit unreliable to me; listening to her doesn't seem like a good thing."

"That's it! I've got an idea!"

Serena suddenly clapped her hands, summoning a semi-transparent ghost.

"This is a summoned beast that Court Magician helped me contract. It's a very rare and special breed. Its combat ability is average, but it's fast enough. If I encounter danger, it can carry me away or quickly call for help from the nearest person." She explained, "This kind of monster also has a unique use, which is that it can temporarily hold a person's thoughts."

Everyone seemed to have guessed what the Princess was planning to do.

"Originally, it was bound to Court Magician. If I encountered danger, the magician could immediately transfer his thoughts to the ghost to protect me. But I can change the object it's bound to, so..."

Serena clasped her hands together and pleaded with the three of them, "Please, could one of you possess a ghost and help me take the photos? I think this way we can bring one more person into the Painting World."

The members of Hasawi Squad exchanged glances and sighed helplessly in unison.

Not long afterward.

"Wow! This is the Painting World? I've never seen anything like it before, it's just like what I wrote... cough cough! It's nothing, it's nothing."

Upon entering the Painting World of Anor Londo, Serena was so excited that she almost dropped her disguise.

But even if it falls, no one here will care.

She chanted a spell to summon the ghost, and upon closer inspection, she discovered that the ghost's head now had Fingel's face on it!

"No, why is my face on the back of my head?" To see the scenery normally, he would have to float upside down or twist his head hard. Fortunately, the ghost's neck was flexible enough.

However, they actually managed to get in.

He was amazed, never expecting that such a method could be used to break the limitation that only one person could enter the Painting World at a time.

Unfortunately, these ghostly monsters are a special breed bred and modified by the Court Magician. According to the Princess, they gained their current abilities due to an unknown mutation, so they are basically impossible to mass-produce.

Those possessing ghostly monsters also find it difficult to unleash their full potential. Like most ghosts, these creatures are elusive and unable to use Weapon Skill. However, they possess a great deal of magic power, so it seems they can only fight using magic.

Rather than saying he is now an independent person, it's more accurate to say he has become something like a familiar.

He wondered if, if this ghostly body died once, his Fingel's consciousness would either be resurrected in the Painting World along with its body, or be kicked out of here.

I think there will definitely be a corresponding countermeasure for the Zane Dungeon.

In fact, Gong Qiying did glance at this place.

"Oh, so you've achieved this level by relying on a small number of special monsters? Since it can't be mass-produced and promoted, let's leave it for now."

Serena returned the equipment Fingel had brought with him. He wasn't carrying dual swords, just a Meteorite Staff and a Yorshka's Chime. He was determined to use magic and miracles to assist him.

By the way, will Gwyndolin here have any reaction to Yorshka's Chime?

As Fingel was pondering this, he suddenly realized that the other party had already headed towards the castle!

A Giant Guards suddenly leaped down from the sky, wielding Greatshield and smashing it at her. If that hit, she would definitely be turned into mincemeat.

Just then, Serena flung out a long, thin object that precisely pierced a gap in the Giant Guards's armor. The Giant Guards stopped attacking and wandered aimlessly around the area.

Fingel narrowed his eyes. Was that Bewitching Branch the Princess just threw? That's quite a move.

But he still shouted:

"Slow down a bit!"

Faced with several Giant Guards blocking her path, the Princess displayed a wealth of money that astonished Fingel.

She pulled out a grappling hook with the War Ash Hound Step from Storage Ring that was almost identical to the one in Sid, and then pulled out a bunch of papers—no, those papers were all pages of magic books containing magic, the kind where you could learn magic just by touching them!

She picked out a few photos and slapped them on her body. Instantly, she learned to become invisible, Cast Sound, and eliminate the sound of footsteps. With the help of the Hound Step, she quickly passed through the Giant Guards.

"."

Fingel realized that his earlier worries were completely unnecessary.

This is the legendary pay-to-win player!?

No wonder she's someone whom all the nobles of the Leyndell send her gifts!

"Come quick, come quick, help me film a scene with her!"

As expected of a player who has upgraded all her intelligence and agility in the campfire, her running speed and reaction speed far exceed those of ordinary people. Her movements show signs of training but are still somewhat immature. If she can continue to train, she might become a fairly capable assassin in the future.

Fingel shrugged, raised the Image Stone, and took a few photos of Serena and the still-unconscious Brass Woman together, thinking to himself:

The Princess is destined to be Queen, living a life of luxury and extravagance. Being an adventurer is far too boring for her.

Even now, dungeon adventures are a means for adventurers to make a living by risking all their time, but for Princess, it's just a pastime.

Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly saw the Giant Guards who had been provoked by Serena rushing over.

"Danger!"

Serena wore the composure and calmness of a pay-to-win player, waved to Fingel to indicate that he didn't need to panic, and then took out a Bewitching Branch and threw it at the Giant Guards.

Her posture was elegant, her expression composed, and a smile played on her lips.

Even the confidence she exudes shines with the dazzling color of money!

Fingel's eyes widened. Was he about to witness the birth of a new adventure genre, the money-spending genre?

If you have enough money, you can definitely buy enough items to clear the dungeon!

Oh no, I'm a little envious too—

"Thump!"

With a dull thud, the Giant Guards's Greatshield slammed Serena down beneath him.

"Huh?"

Fingel fell silent before he could even utter the word "envy".

"Knock knock knock—"

The sounds of smashing and breaking continued. At first, Serena's hands were still struggling, but after being smashed a round, they stopped moving completely. She was only able to revive by the campfire after the Giant Guards had left.

How could he have died so quickly?

"."

The two exchanged a glance and remained silent.

It seems, probably, possibly the same person can only use the Bewitching Branch once within a certain period of time.

"I forgot about that setting."

The Zane Dungeon shattered her dream of becoming a whale (a player who spends a lot of money on in-game purchases).

Fingel breathed a sigh of relief and laughed. It seemed that the most important thing in exploring dungeons was still strength and skill.

After such a setback, Serena's excitement subsided considerably, and she chose to obediently follow the instructions of the experienced Fingel, heading straight for Gwyn Castle, ignoring Gwyndolin's Tomb and Solaire below the rotating mechanism.

However, as he ascended the rotating mechanism, Fingel seemed to sense something and turned back to look at Gwyndolin's Tomb.

He always felt that something had changed there, and his subconscious was calling him to go and take a look.

I'll go check it out after I finish filming with the Princess at Ornstein.

Under Fingel's command, Serena arrived at Gwyn Castle in a short time and went through the Fog Gate.

"Make sure you take good photos later."

Yes, yes.

Fingel took out the Image Stone and went inside as well.

When she saw Smough, Serena's face remained completely expressionless.

Serena practically cheered when Ornstein jumped from the building.

Fingel was recording the footage as fast as he could because he felt that Serena didn't have much time left to live and might die at any moment.

Ornstein was still at the forefront, making a super long-distance slide and thrusting at Serena!

But the other party dodged it!

"I rehearse this moment in my mind every single day, every single moment, so I absolutely won't make a mistake!"

Serena wiped the drool from her mouth and suddenly knelt down on one knee!

Is this a sign that some kind of attack is about to be launched?

With lightning speed, she slipped her hand into her Storage Ring and pulled out—

"A bouquet?" Fingel was stunned.

"What are you standing there for? Take a picture!"

Serena shouted, Fingel snapped out of his daze, pressing the Image Stone in his hand so hard it was almost smoking.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the bouquet in the Princess's hand was not an ordinary bouquet, but rather a collection of Bewitching Branch tied together, numbering roughly in the dozens!

Not only did she hold up the flowers, but she also winked coquettishly at Ornstein.

"If this photo gets circulated, it won't have a good impact."

"Stop talking nonsense and just shoot, okay!"

She screamed in agony as Ornstein finally moved, stabbing her to pieces with a single shot.

"Princess Highness!"

"No, don't worry," even with her chest pierced, Serena endured the pain for a moment, laughing as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. "Look, I've been stabbed through by Ornstein!"

"I suggest you see a psychiatrist first!"

Fingel had never seen such a crazy woman, especially not Princess! The future of the kingdom is in jeopardy!

Ornstein threw her away, and Smough rushed over and finished her off with a powerful hammer blow.

"Tsk, why was it you who killed me?"

These were Serena's last words before returning to the campfire.

Not long after, she sat in front of the campfire looking through Fingel footage Finger had taken, cheering softly as she watched, and even the Brass Woman next to her couldn't help but cast her gaze.

She had never seen anything like it before; it was an eye-opener.

Seeing her like this, Fingel couldn't help but sigh inwardly and asked, "Are you going again later? When do you leave?"

He felt that he might have to spend the next few days playing and having fun with the Princess.

"You still want to go?" Serena glanced at him. "But I'm already satisfied."

"Satisfied?" Fingel was somewhat surprised. He thought that given the Furious Rajang she had shown, she would have to let the Lion Knight kill her dozens of times before she would be satisfied.

"Idols are something you can only see once in a while. If you see them too often in a short period of time, I'm afraid it will affect your liking for them."

She carefully put away the Image Stone, as if it were a priceless treasure.

"After all, people always change. You might like something today but get tired of it tomorrow. What's worse is that getting tired of it is almost inevitable, so I want to prolong this inevitable process as much as possible."

She suddenly became serious as she said this, which made Fingel a little uncomfortable. It felt as if Serena had two personalities, one crazy and one serious.

"Why do you like Ornstein so much?" Fingel couldn't help but ask.

It couldn't possibly be because of his handsome appearance; judging from her behavior, she's probably not just someone who's attracted to good looks.

Serena gave him a strange look and said, "Of course it's because he's strong and handsome."

You really are a sucker for good looks!

Fingel's lips twitched slightly. To be so obsessed with looks is, in a way, true love.

Serena seemed to have thought of something, her eyes flashed, and she said:

"At first, I only liked Ornstein because of his appearance. I didn't like him as much as I do now. Later, I encountered a series of things that I wouldn't have dared to imagine at this time last year. A lot of responsibilities came my way, and the pressure was really great."

"When you're under a lot of pressure, you want to find ways to relax, right? But I can't do any of the relaxation methods I used to use anymore because I have to maintain my image, haha."

She lowered her eyes and said, "Fortunately, idol worship is still a way to relax. No one can interfere with my thoughts. It's my freedom to like whoever I want."

"So, liking Ornstein has become my only way to relax. I was a little excited just now, sorry for letting you see my out-of-control side."

Because after leaving the Zane Dungeon, she would have to return to that dark Royal Palace where she didn't know who was being controlled, who was an informant, or who she could trust.

As Princess, she couldn't do anything of substance; all the power was in the hands of the ministers. She was merely a mascot kept by Iliphis.

So she wanted to seize this rare opportunity to relax, which is why she didn't allow any royal knights to follow her.

Sometimes I wish a golden knight could rescue me.

Why does the atmosphere suddenly feel so sad?

Fingel, using his talent for lightening the mood, dispelled the oppressive atmosphere by saying, "Since we're already here, how about we go see Gwyndolin's Tomb? There's a decent Sun Warrior there."

"Okay, let's go take a look."

When they got to the lower level, they discovered that Solaire had already left.

It seems that entering the Fog Gate without seeing him will cause him to disappear.

In short, the line has broken.

As expected, Serena, a player who spends a lot of money on in-game purchases, pulled out a Dark Moon Priest Ring. I really wonder if robbing her would guarantee a life of comfort for the rest of my days.

The statue of Gwyn disappeared, and a path appeared leading to the Dark Moon Mausoleum where Gwyndolin was located. The two stopped in front of the Fog Gate and stopped when they heard Gwyndolin's warning.

Serena simply took a commemorative photo here, without being reckless enough to enter the Fog Gate.

Just as the two turned to leave, Gwyndolin's voice came from behind the Fog Gate.

"You may stop here."

Fingel suddenly turned his head.

"Why have you come into possession of the gift I gave to my sister?"