Chapter 199: Sorry, Hero—Your Three Wishes… I’m Afraid None of Them Will Come True

With the barrier dispelled, their once-secure stronghold now lay exposed to the perils of the labyrinth.

A faint, ominous tension settled over the group. Somewhere in the darkness, guttural monster roars echoed—one moment they had stood in a sanctuary, the next, it felt as though they’d stepped straight into the jaws of danger.

“So that’s how it is,” Iresha murmured, the realization dawning belatedly across her face.

As an adventurer, she was used to reacting instinctively to threats of all kinds. No wonder she’d felt uneasy the moment they’d left the inn—the sense of security had vanished the instant the defensive barrier was dismantled.

“Um… Mr. Lin Wei, what does today’s operation have to do with removing the barrier?” she asked, frustration seeping into her tone. She hated being the only one left in the dark.

Lin Wei only nodded thoughtfully, letting the matter drop. Iresha forced herself to do the same.

Yalis, standing nearby, looked at him in confusion, clearly just as lost.

“Oh… you probably haven’t spent much time in high-level labyrinths, so you might not know,” Lin Wei explained, patient despite the bustle around them. “There’s a short-range portal at the bottom of the Abyss that leads directly to the seventh floor.”

“These portals are easily affected by outside interference—especially magic barriers like this one, which are infused with spells to repel monsters. If the barrier remains, teleportation can go off course, sometimes disastrously so.”

“To ensure adventurers make it safely to the seventh floor, it’s standard practice to temporarily shut down the barrier. It’s just safer that way.”

He offered the explanation lightly, as if it was a matter of routine.

Meanwhile, the edge of the Abyss was growing crowded. Adventurers streamed in from all directions, filling the air with noise and anticipation.

Above, tamed flying beasts shrieked, their cries slicing through the din.

Here and there, firelight danced along the sheer black walls—enough to guide, though not enough to banish the darkness.

“Looks like the second wave of adventurers is about to head out,” Lin Wei remarked.

“Come on, step closer. I’ll take you both down.”

There would be time for explanations later. For now, business demanded action.

He turned toward the Abyss and beckoned to the two women at his side.

“We’re not riding the flying beasts?” Yalis, the Saintess, sidled up to him, eyes bright with curiosity.

The Abyss was said to plunge nearly ten thousand meters deep—a dizzying distance for anyone without a flying skill. For her, this was the stuff of legends.

“That’d be too slow. It’s safer if I take you down myself,” Lin Wei replied.

“Uh… Iresha, what’s wrong? City girl nerves? Your Highness?” he teased.

Unlike the excited, almost impatient Saintess, Princess Iresha edged closer to Lin Wei, her usually striking face drawn tight with nerves.

“Maybe we should just take the flying beasts?” she suggested, her voice wavering. “They say it’s really ten thousand meters! If something goes wrong halfway down and we crash… I don’t even want to think about it.”

She shot a longing look at the flying creatures. “At least they look safe. Even if there’s an accident, you’ll be there to help. For a drop this high, I’d rather fly down slowly—Lin Wei, ah—!”

“Stop overthinking it. Close your eyes and come with me!” Lin Wei cut her off.

He clearly wasn’t about to let her hesitate. The moment he finished speaking, he took her wrist and leapt into the Abyss.

The wind screamed past, battering their faces with a terrifying force. Compared to the slow, careful descent of the other adventurers atop flying beasts, this felt less like a descent and more like a headlong plunge into oblivion.

“Waaahhhhhh!”

Iresha’s mind erupted with panic, though her mouth was locked open in a silent scream. All she could do was feel her body hurtling downward, faster and faster with every heartbeat.

Ten seconds—maybe more—flashed by in a blur.

Suddenly, the wind vanished. Silence returned. Solid ground pressed beneath their feet, and reality snapped back into place, as if nothing had happened at all.

“That was incredible, Mr. Lin Wei!” Yalis exclaimed the moment he released her hand. Her eyes sparkled with exhilaration, and she bounced on her toes. “Can we do that again? There’s still time before we set out—let’s go back up and jump down once more!”

The area was aglow with magic lanterns and flames. Around them, flying beasts landed one after another, their riders glancing in shock at the trio who had just fallen straight from the sky.

For Yalis, the thrill of freefall was intoxicating. Not only had she plunged through the darkness, but she’d felt like a hero leaping down to deliver justice—a scene worthy of legend.

Someday, when she mastered the flying skill, she’d have to try such a dramatic entrance in the Imperial Capital—perhaps in the middle of a crime scene.

“We’ll save that for next time,” Lin Wei said, smiling at her boundless enthusiasm.

Iresha, however, was another story entirely.

She stood frozen, still reeling, her fiery red hair wild from the wind, looking utterly disoriented. Her hand, which should have let go, clung so tightly to Lin Wei’s that her nails had nearly drawn blood.

“Iresha, are you alright?” Lin Wei asked gently.

“Ah? I’m fine! Really, I’m fine!” she blurted, forcing a smile.

She was lying through her teeth—she’d been certain she was about to be dashed to pieces at the bottom. Did Lin Wei actually enjoy these death-defying plunges? Was he a lunatic, or simply blessed with nerves of steel?

Even as she reassured him, her fingers trembled with aftershock. Fear of heights wasn’t something you could simply wish away. It was like [Super-Tier Magic]—if you couldn’t learn it, you just couldn’t, no matter how hard you tried. If she had to do that again, she’d probably faint on the spot.

“Strange… you’re scared, even in the dark?” Lin Wei muttered, genuinely puzzled. “You can barely see anything.”

Still, he didn’t seem worried. He figured Her Highness would adjust soon enough.

“Next time you want to play skydiver, I’ll just knock you out first,” he teased. “Come here, let me fix your hair—see how well-behaved Yalis is?”

Never mind Iresha’s panicked thoughts—[Knock me out? Is this just an excuse to get handsy? Does he really have no interest in something more?]—as the crowd thickened ahead, Lin Wei reached out to smooth her hair, his touch gentle and calming.

His presence enveloped her, his scent filling her senses. They were so close she could almost feel his lips brush her nose. Instinctively, she wanted to pull away, but this rare closeness was something she didn’t want to squander. The longing kept her rooted in place.

Just then—

“Huh? Iresha? What a coincidence—you’re heading to the seventh floor at this hour too?”

That grating, unwelcome voice shattered the moment, making her heart sink.

Iresha’s expression soured as she turned to see her former teammates.

At the front, Eileen waved energetically. Behind her, cloaked in black, stood Kokoxi, and beside her the newcomer Krulu. Rein, ever the hot-blooded fool, was yawning, clearly short on sleep. And Oshu… Oshu was exactly the same as always, sword slung over his back in what he probably thought was a heroic stance.

Oshu’s gaze landed on her, and when he saw Lin Wei fixing her hair, his face twisted with an expression so ugly that even the torchlight couldn’t soften it.

“Not interested in talking. Don’t bother me unless it’s important,” Iresha said coldly.

“What, the two guys stopped fighting over you after last night? Neither of them wants you anymore, huh?” Oshu sneered.

Iresha didn’t even bother looking at him. She found it far more rewarding to gaze at Lin Wei—someone she actually liked. Oshu and the rest? They only polluted her view.

“Hahaha, don’t be so harsh, Iresha,” Rein interjected, scratching his head and forcing a sheepish grin. Even so, he looked exhausted.

“Your little comment last night really made Oshu misunderstand me, but I guess it’s for the best. Turns out Eileen’s been secretly seeing Oshu for a while now. As a teammate, I had to give them my blessing.”

He grew a touch more serious. “But Iresha… it’s been a whole night. Isn’t it time to let go of your anger? Even if things got heated yesterday, we’re still your friends. We’re waiting for you to come back.”

“Besides, we’re about to enter the most dangerous part of the labyrinth—the seventh floor. Wouldn’t it be better to rejoin us for the journey?”

He tried to sound sincere, as if still hoping for reconciliation.

But Iresha couldn’t even be bothered to listen, much less believe a word of it.

“No need. I’m perfectly happy with Lin Wei. I have absolutely no desire to come back,” she said bluntly. “Or is it that you’re out of money again and hoping I’ll bankroll you one more time?”

“In the past, I tolerated your attitude because we were fighting the Demon Lord together, so I put up with it and paid for the campaigns. But now? You think I’m stupid enough to let you scam me again? You people must be dreaming.”

She didn’t pull her punches.

Rein’s smile froze, his whole body going rigid. Kokoxi, huddled in her cloak, looked utterly lifeless, not even trying to break the tension.

“Don’t be angry, Iresha,” Eileen chimed in, her bright smile a little too sweet. “If you need time away from us, that’s fine. But no matter what, you should know you’re always welcome back. As for money—Oshu’s already planning to apply to the Holy See and the Empire for funding at the end of the year. Next year’s adventures won’t rely on your gold coins. After all, it isn’t right to always depend on a teammate—especially a girl—for finances.”

She leaned in, lowering her voice just a touch. “But as a friend, let me give you some advice: the seventh floor is going to be brutal. I hear it’s full of magma. That’ll seriously hamper your abilities. If you insist on staying with this man, you might run into trouble.”

“Why not rejoin us, or at least let our two teams travel together? It’d be safer for everyone.”

It was true—the magma terrain would be a huge handicap for her. Iresha frowned, unable to refute the point. Even knowing Lin Wei’s strength, could he really handle it alone? She wasn’t helpless; as a prodigy, she possessed the powerful [Elemental Affinity] skill. But lately, all her energy had gone into raising her Level, and she’d only truly mastered fire magic. The rest she could use, but not well.

Would she end up dragging Lin Wei down in a fight?

“That’s none of your concern, Miss Eileen,” Lin Wei interjected before Iresha could spiral any further.

He stepped forward, shielding her, his voice warm and steady, instantly easing the tension.

“I’ll take care of Iresha, just as your party looks after Eileen and the others.”

Behind him, Oshu was seething. Even after venting his anger last night—thanks to the city guards and Eileen’s intervention—Oshu couldn’t shake the thorn Iresha’s words had left in his heart. He’d already decided to fire Rein and recruit a prettier female warrior as soon as they returned to the Imperial Capital.

And now, Lin Wei had to bring up the same sore spot. What did he mean, “take care of Iresha the way you take care of Eileen”? The way Lin Wei stood so close to Iresha, it was more intimate than Oshu had ever been with her. What exactly had happened between them?

“Did you two… spend the night together?” Oshu finally exploded, unable to contain his jealousy. To any outsider, it looked exactly like he’d just caught them red-handed.

“Of course,” Lin Wei replied coolly. “And since Iresha’s scent was a little too intoxicating, I even dreamed of her last night. I figured I’d mention it, just so you all know.”

He had no intention of letting Oshu off easy. As Oshu’s face turned a sickly shade of green, Lin Wei’s cold smile radiated an aura that seemed to fill the entire area. He shifted, shielding Iresha protectively behind him, daring anyone to challenge him.

“Without the genius mage Iresha, the Hero’s Party would be easy prey for a demon ambush in the labyrinth. You’d all be wiped out.”

“The seventh floor is dangerous—and if you stray, you might end up captured by demons and turned into prisoners.”

“Oh… and sorry, Hero. Those three wishes you had for the future? I’m afraid none of them will ever come true.”