Bye-Bye, I'm Off to Archdragon Peak

Irithyll Underground Jail, a renowned area with a high profile among adventurers.

However, it's a negative form of fame.

Generally speaking, if there is a boss in a certain area, most people's attention will be drawn to the boss, and secondly, the various rewards and monsters will attract attention.

The most well-known aspects of Irithyll of the Boreal Valley are quite the opposite. People almost equate it with the Oath of the Dark Moon Blade, followed by the little boy whose death methods have been studied by adventurers in hundreds of ways, and then the Pontiff Sulyvahn's Phantom.

However, not long after, the negative perception of Pontiff Sulyvahn's Phantom, known for its high difficulty, was quickly replaced by another monster located in the same area.

This refers to the jailer, a unique monster found only in the Irithyll Underground Jail.

This monster has a unique way of harming people. It doesn't have strong attack capabilities; it basically only uses the branding iron in its hand to poke people.

However, he also has an ability that is considered as vicious as the Curse Frog's Curse of Death Spray: any life that leaves his sight will have its life force continuously drained, and very quickly at that!

Although the speed at which life force is taken away varies from person to person, the strong can kill them before the jailers see them. Those who are seen are usually those who are not strong enough. Therefore, the jailers' trick of taking away life force successfully put him on the list of must-eat, no, must-kill in the Zane Dungeon.

Now, the jailers have become the biggest help for Fingel to leave work early.

"Come, Princess Highness, do you see that jailer with his back to you? There's a cliff right in front of him. Don't you want to kick him hard in the butt and send him tumbling down?"

Inside the Underground Jail, Fingel pointed at the jailer in front of him, speaking as if Mephisto were tempting Faust.

Serena responded with only two words:

"Hehe."

Ever since their debate in the Painting World, which didn't quite escalate into an argument, there's been a subtle tension between them. How should I put it? It's like they're both looking for an opportunity to sabotage each other.

They were in a small cell in a prison cell that connected to the world above. Outside the narrow door was a jailer with his back to them. The door was so narrow that only one jailer could be seen. His back view must have stirred up people's desire to Backstab.

But if Serena had truly believed Fingel, she would have been exposed to Iliphis long ago.

She didn't even need to guess to know that outside the room, on either side of the door, there must be some evil, sinister creature waiting for the person who successfully Backstab.

So she took out her short, delicate lady's magic wand and unleashed Glintstone Pebble at the jailer. Although the magic she released was not very powerful, even pitiful, the impact was enough to knock the jailer off his feet.

At the same moment the jailer was knocked down, two jailers suddenly appeared on either side of the door, rushing into the room and attacking the crowd. Stared at by their gleaming eyes, people felt their life force draining away.

Serena glanced smugly at Fingel, who curled his lip, drew his sword, Execute the jailer. Then he used a potion to replenish his lost life force.

Then, throughout the exploration of Irithyll's Underground Jail, Fingel encouraged her to do things including, but not limited to:

Tell her that the area around the campfire is very safe and there is no danger, and encourage her to approach a glowing Living Dead that is only a few steps away from the campfire. Then the Living Dead lets out a huge scream that rivals that of the Terror Screaming Demon.

Tell her that the cages filled with all sorts of limbs that can be seen everywhere in the Underground Jail are performance art, but when you get close, the cages come to life and chase after you.

I told her there was something good in a certain prison cell, and she did find something good, but as soon as she turned around, she made eye contact with this thing:

That deathly pale head and those big, round eyes, when suddenly seen, could really scare a person to death!

However, none of the above-mentioned activities that allow participation in prank events had any effect on Serena.

Because

"Although I haven't seen it with my own eyes, I read all the information provided by adventurers."

Serena said those words in a calm and unassuming manner.

Although the map layout and monster distribution in different areas of the Zane Dungeon often change, they mostly follow a pattern known as the Sien Pattern.

For example, if a monster appears in front of you with its back to you, and there is a blind spot next to the monster, then there must be a monster hiding in that blind spot, ready to ambush you.

After spending a lot of time in the Zane Dungeon, people will smile knowingly when they see this classic design; that's the Sien vibe.

"Why didn't you say so sooner!"

"Isn't this to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve?"

"."

Serena chuckled, then pulled out a few pages from a magic book and tossed them to Fingel, saying, "Consider this a reward for your hard work."

Fingel felt no joy at receiving the "reward"; instead, he felt only humiliation.

"Where did you get so many magic pages? Did the nobles give them to you?" He looked at them; among the pages were Glintstone Swift Pebble, Starlight, and so on.

"Given by Iliphis."

Serena still remembered her deep love for Iliphis. Walking through the dungeon filled with echoing screams, she said:

"I think it was about three weeks, or maybe two weeks ago, Iliphis's men sent these over. They said he was collecting useful items from the Zane Dungeon and actively learning any magic and Weapon Skill he could. He's really working hard."

She feigned a longing expression and said:

"These pages of magic books were compiled by him and given to me. It is said that he has learned everything he can learn."

Why is this guy's tone so affected?

Fingel mentally grumbled, and then saw the words "Road Home" in the magic book, which immediately brought back unpleasant memories of the little boy.

After research, it was found that the effect of Road Home to the campfire after use could be used outside the dungeon, but not only was there a strict distance limit, but the magic power consumed and the cooldown time were also quite unpleasant. This thing has been used by people as a magic for exploring the Zane Dungeon, and its practicality is acceptable.

Iliphis even learn this? He really does accept anything offered.

"It's a pity that my magical talent isn't very high. I can only use some ordinary spells. The only one I can use is [Chaotic Magic], which I'm quite proficient at." Serena sighed.

After hearing this, Matilda muttered to herself:

"A [Chaotic Magic] that can disrupt the magic of the attacked and randomly use a spell? This spell is both useless and difficult to learn, and it also depends on talent. The Princess is quite an extraordinary person."

Hasawi Squad was fairly familiar with the general layout of the Underground Jail. Since they couldn't scare the Princess here, they planned to take her on a tour as soon as possible and leave. They themselves didn't want to stay in this particularly dark place.

Putting aside the generally frightening appearance of the monsters, the Underground Jail was filled with screams coming from who-knows-where. If you suddenly heard one during your exploration, the psychological pressure would increase dramatically.

However, Serena was in high spirits taking photos everywhere, even making a peace sign with Living Dead lying on the ground.

This attitude of relaxing to the fullest is quite enviable. Of course, she can relax because she has three Gold-Rank Adventurer protecting her.

"Wait, have we been here before?"

Just as Serena was taking pictures everywhere, Matilda suddenly spoke up.

"Isn't this still in the Underground Jail? Hmm?"

Fingel suddenly paused, exchanged a glance with Matilda, and had a strange look in his eyes.

The reason they felt strange was because they heard the sound of wind, the sound of fresh wind blowing in from the outside.

But they're deep inside Underground Jail; they shouldn't be able to hear the wind blowing in from above.

In other words, is there a place nearby that connects to the outside world?

"None of the adventurers' guides mentioned that the Underground Jail was connected to the outside world."

After discussing it together, the group unanimously decided to follow the direction of the wind. Serena seemed particularly excited. Could it be that she would witness the discovery of a new scene this time?

Guided by the wind, the group moved forward. The scenery of the Underground Jail was not much different, but people could still see a difference: this was a path that had never been explored before.

As we continued walking, the sunlight appeared.

A smile appeared on Serena's face. She ran towards the sunlight and looked closely. It turned out to be the gate leading outside.

Outside the door, the sunlight, like the first rays of dawn, poured down, not the cold moonlight, but the sunlight that made one feel the vitality of life.

Fingel marveled. This place should still be within the Irithyll of the Boreal Valley, so why is the sky different?

Dungeons are truly amazing things.

They thought they had discovered a new area, but once they went outside, they realized they had been too optimistic.

The gate does connect to the outside world, but only a short section of the path is open to the elements.

The path ended directly at a towering mountain peak, with no other way to go.

"Is this all there is to it? What's the point?"

Before they could even feel disappointed, Serena called out, "Come on, take a picture of me!"

There was something unusual about this path: several strange figures sitting cross-legged like fossils.

They sat quietly on the road, facing the distant mountains shrouded in mist, like a group of unconventional seekers of truth.

At that moment, Serena sat among them, striking the same pose and inviting people to take her picture.

She was so bold because these guys were as still as stones, no different from being dead.

A hideous head, a withered body.

Fingel found it increasingly strange, and suddenly remembered that he had seen these aliens before.

Isn't this the Dragon Man that the Farron Guard named Klan has turned into?

The only difference is that only Klan's head changed, while the one here now should be in its complete form.

Why are they sitting facing the sky?

The Dragon Man's sitting posture is somewhat unique, reminiscent of religion. The petrified Dragon Man sitting together create an indescribable atmosphere.

What's on the other side of the sky?

"Did you take the picture? This pose is so uncomfortable."

Serena's urging interrupted Fingel's thoughts, and he raised the Image Stone to take a picture.

In the picture, Serena is smiling happily.

At the very moment the Image Stone was activated—

She tilted her head to the side and remained motionless, maintaining the meditation posture of the Dragon Man.

"Princess Highness!?"

At the same time.

Serena blinked and suddenly felt the sunlight become extremely dazzling.

Not only was the sunlight blinding, but the wind was howling, as if she had suddenly arrived at the mountaintop.

When her eyes finally adjusted to the glaring light and she opened them to see the scene before her clearly,

Towering mountains, unique architecture, and the distant roar of a dragon.

Where is this?

She was stunned.