Chapter 246 : Chapter 246

Chapter 246: Heroes

Seated ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍gracefully in the chair of honor, Cecilia leaned forward slightly, her ice-blue eyes resting attentively on Lillian in a posture of careful listening. But the words she spoke made both Lillian and Rex tense up the moment they had just sat down.

“First ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of all, congratulations,” the Royal Princess said, her voice still as gentle as ever. “Among the explorers who entered the Starfall Ruins this time, fewer than ten survivors have been confirmed so far, including the two of you. And among those who truly reached the core of the ruins and returned with actual gains, the number is even smaller.”

Her ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍gaze swept over the unconscious Ryan and Ilyss nearby, then returned to Lillian and Rex.

“Other ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍than the five of you—Ryan, Ilyss, Eleanor, and the two of you—as well as Miss Vera under the Gale Duke, most of the other survivors merely wandered through the outer forested region of the ruins, failed to find the true entrance, or retreated in time after encountering dangers they could not withstand.”

Lillian ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and Rex exchanged a glance, each seeing the same shock in the other’s eyes.

So ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍many people had gone in... and so few had come out alive?

“After waking, Miss Vera submitted part of the ancient elven documents and artifact fragments recovered from inside the ruins through an emergency channel to the Empire,” Cecilia continued. “Combined with her testimony, and the fact that your party survived and brought back vital information, the Imperial Evaluation Committee has already made a preliminary judgment. Your team successfully explored the ruins and partially uncovered the core secrets of the Starfall Ruins. As a result, you will be officially recorded as the successful conquerors of this exploration. In the coming days, the Empire will grant the corresponding rewards and honors. In other words, you are about to become heroes of the Empire.”

Heroes?

Lillian froze.

Rex’s mouth fell open too.

That word was too heavy, too bright. It weighed on them until they could barely breathe, and it was bright enough to make them think of Parker, Vincent, Shiloya... those who had never made it back out, and of Ryan lying unconscious now on the bed.

That title of hero was stained with blood, and instinctively, it made them uneasy.

“However, because Miss Vera’s status is somewhat special, after submitting her report and the recovered items, she returned to the Imperial Capital at daybreak today with the Duke’s envoy to make an urgent report. She is no longer here.”

The Royal Princess shifted the subject slightly, explaining why they had not seen Vera. Then her gaze deepened.

“So now I can only ask the two of you directly.” She looked at them, her voice softening. “What exactly happened in the depths of the ruins? Why did so many go in, yet only a handful of you return alive? And why are those three in such a state? Ryan in particular... his condition is extremely troubling.”

Lillian’s fingers tightened abruptly in the fabric of her clothes.

The Royal Princess’s manner was warm, her words logical, and everything she said sounded perfectly reasonable. But she was still a member of the imperial family. She was the power behind Ilyss. She was someone capable of summoning even the Church’s Saintess with ease.

Was she really only curious? Only concerned?

Ryan was unconscious. Vera had already left. So what were they supposed to say now? How much?

Beside her, Lillian felt Rex shift slightly, as though he was about to speak. In a flash of alarm, she reached out beneath the cover of the chair and pinched the outside of his thigh hard.

“Hiss—” Rex sucked in a breath. The words at the tip of his tongue died there, and he turned to look at Lillian with bewilderment and wounded grievance.

Lillian did not look at him.

She drew in a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, lifted her eyes to the Royal Princess, and tried to make her voice sound steady.

“Your Highness... what is it that you wish to hear?”

It seemed Cecilia had taken in their little exchange completely. The smile at her lips deepened, and she leaned back, relaxing her posture even more, as though trying to ease their concerns.

“Relax, Lillian. I am not interrogating you, and I mean you no harm.” She gave a light wave of her hand, her tone becoming more casual. “After all, in a sense, I am your senior as well. It is only natural that I should be curious about what you younger students experienced. And besides, is not one of my own people in your team? So do not be nervous. Just treat it as... telling an inquisitive senior the story of your thrilling adventure, all right?”

Her words were deliberately intimate, and those ice-blue eyes of hers seemed utterly sincere.

The wariness in Lillian’s heart loosened slightly.

Perhaps... the Royal Princess truly did only want to understand what had happened. After all, Ilyss was one of hers. It made sense that she would be concerned.

“...All right.”

Lillian nodded, gathered her thoughts again, and began to speak.

She started with their entry into the outer forest of the ruins, the various corrupted plants and monsters they had encountered, how they discovered the hidden entrance, how they entered the underground maze, and how they struggled through the mirror labyrinth...

She spoke in great detail, but instinctively omitted certain things—for instance, Ryan’s unnervingly accurate instincts and the occasional flashes of judgment that had seemed almost beyond reason. Instead, she emphasized the team’s cooperation and a measure of luck.

She went on to describe their encounter with the enormous and terrifying Illusion Spider, how they had fought desperately against it, how they had rescued Eleanor from the spider silk, how dreadful and cunning the creature had been, and how brutal and difficult the battle had become...

Those experiences had been harrowing enough on their own. Even though Lillian still held certain things back, the fear and lingering tension in her voice as she recounted them were entirely real.

Cecilia listened very carefully.

From time to time she nodded lightly. Surprise flickered now and then through her ice-blue eyes, and at other moments a thoughtful look appeared, as though she were genuinely drawn in by the twists and turns of the story.

“I truly did not expect the Starfall Ruins, which were only rated as moderately dangerous in the assessment, to be so perilous within. To think that something like an Illusion Spider was inside...” the Royal Princess murmured softly, her fingers tapping unconsciously against the armrest. “What you experienced is far more vivid—and far more alarming—than any report that has been submitted.”

Just as Lillian finished recounting the battle against the spider and quietly let out a breath, preparing to continue—

to Randall’s appearance, Parker and the others’ encirclement, Ryan’s transformation, and the Witch’s rampage, the most crucial and hardest-to-explain parts—

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

A healer’s voice rang out from the side, low but unable to hide the excitement in it.

All of them turned at once.

On the middle bed, Ilyss—who had remained unconscious all this time—had had her eyelashes tremble several times before slowly opening her eyes.

At first her gaze was unfocused, but it sharpened quickly. Her violet eyes moved, first landing on the healer at her bedside, then sweeping across the tent before settling on Cecilia.

“Cough—cough, cough...” She tried to sit up, only to trigger a violent fit of coughing. An unhealthy flush rose over her pale face.

“Ilyss! You’re awake?”

Lillian and Rex both sprang to their feet in surprise and joy, wanting to hurry over. But when they saw the Royal Princess had already risen and gone to her bedside, they stopped where they were.

Cecilia crossed quickly to Ilyss’s bed, bent slightly, and looked at her.

“How do you feel? Is your body able to endure it?”