[IYFILWATIP] Chapter 61

Jade shouted a quick command to Marlon and then resumed walking north. As he walked, he occasionally glanced back and saw that the princess, who still seemed awkward in everything she did, was following him. He wasn't sure if getting used to that fact was a good or bad thing, and with that thought, he shook his head to clear away unnecessary distractions.

* * * 

They encountered the basilisk again in the late afternoon, just as they were nearing the northern boundary. Suddenly, a large hand covered Kirona's nose and mouth from behind. A hushed whisper tickled her ear. 

"Take shallow breaths. Whatever happens, don't scream. The snake is right beside us." 

Kirona nodded quietly. Jade pointed to the left with his finger. The snake was perfectly camouflaged, its green and brown scales blending with the surrounding foliage. It was so close it sent a chill down her spine. 

If they had taken just half a step further, they would have stepped on it and become the snake's meal. 

The snake was enormous, and they couldn't tell if they were looking at its head or its tail. Its long, thick body stretched out far beyond what they could see. 

Fortunately, the snake seemed to be asleep, as it wasn't moving. Jade slowly released Kirona and motioned for her to crawl out of the bushes. She did as instructed, moving carefully until she was out of the undergrowth, her hands getting muddy in the process. 

"Move slowly and silently. I'll follow behind." 

Jade unsheathed his sword and, after gathering Kirona's sword as well, gave her a gentle push to keep her moving. He seemed worried that she might accidentally disturb the snake while fumbling with her weapon. 

The crawl was agonizingly slow. Several times, Kirona had to stop as she came face-to-face with the basilisk's massive body. The sleeping snake occasionally twitched, disturbed by branches or rocks brushing against its scales. 

Her entire body was drenched in cold sweat. Kirona gritted her teeth as she adjusted her path to avoid the snake's body, moving further to the right. 

One hour? Two hours? She had no idea how much time had passed. Somewhere, sunlight began to filter through, illuminating the black earth. 

Sunlight rarely reached Navimi Forest. The fact that sunlight was penetrating meant that the forest was still open—there was an exit somewhere. Kirona felt a premature sense of relief. 

The northern boundary was still open. 

She wanted to turn her head to inform Jade of this. But at that moment, she realised that the presence of Jade following her had disappeared. 

"...!" 

Kirona turned around and stifled a gasp. One of Jade's legs had been caught by a carnivorous plant hidden in the mud. 

The creature knew exactly how to ensnare its prey, quickly wrapping more of itself around Jade. Kirona started to turn back to help him, but Jade shook his head. 

He placed a finger to his lips. 

"Don't move. You'll wake the snake. If that happens, we both die." 

"..." 

"I'm telling you to leave me behind." 

"And let you die like this?" 

"This creature is tough. It's hard to cut through even with a sword. If you try to help and get caught yourself..." 

"You said you've been here seven times. There's no way out?" 

"I told you before, this is a place where anyone can die if their luck runs out, no matter how skilled they are." 

"..." 

"Now, get up and run. There's an exit where the sunlight is. It won't stay open for long." 

Jade Eclipse's expression was calm. Kirona was at a loss for words. 

What she saw in his face was neither fear nor noble sacrifice. Jade Eclipse wasn't sad or feeling pitiful. His actions weren't even for her sake. It was just cold, calculated logic. It was better for one to die than for both of them to perish. 

In his mind, this ending was acceptable. There was no other option. He treated it as casually as abandoning a half-played chess game. 

Now that Kirona thought about it, Jade had never said, "I won't die." He only ever said, "I won't live like that," unlike her. 

A mercenary's life was one where death always lurked just behind them. 

"If you want to do me a favor, tell them I fulfilled my contract, whether it's to the royal palace or our mercenary guild. My brothers escaped, but Beatrice still holds their lives as leverage. She could have caught them, but she let them go just to threaten me. Also, if you can, remind her that she promised to reduce the interest on my debt in exchange for this job." 

Kirona wobbled as she stood up. She began moving toward the sunlight as Jade had instructed, quietly hurrying her steps.