Chapter 65: As the Problem Suggests

Of course, it was still too early to consider the third correction mission.

Ian’s primary goal now was to figure out how to get Amivy, the plot protagonist, to obtain the key item, the Holy Sword Excalibur.

Only if Amivy obtained the Holy Sword could she possibly complete the first act, “Anomaly of the Dungeon.”

Only by completing the first act could Amivy have a chance to leave the 99th floor, and he himself could receive the reward for the second correction mission and start the third.

However, based on what he observed from the peak, it was clearly impossible to cross that huge crystal stone and take the Holy Sword under the effect of Magic Sealing.

That meant Ian could only think of a way to make the Holy Sword come out of the crystal stone by itself.

And the only one who could move the Holy Sword was Amivy, the current Hero.

As for what Amivy had to do to move the Holy Sword, that was also what Ian was thinking about…

While Ian was thinking, footsteps approached from afar.

Soon, Amivy rushed back carrying a large pile of weeds, leaves, and even a few thorny vines, her face smudged with mud and her hair somewhat disheveled.

“I-I found them! Is this it? And this?”

She dumped everything at Ian’s feet, her eyes anxiously looking at Xiao Bai, who seemed much calmer and was sleeping again.

“Xiao Bai… how is he?”

“Your Highness, don’t worry. Xiao Bai’s fever has already subsided…”

As he spoke, Ian cast a subtle glance over the pile of “harmful weeds” Amivy had brought back.

He silently sighed and made a firm resolve.

‘I must never let this protagonist gather anything related to plants again.’

How did she manage to bring back only poisonous weeds?

Under Ian’s gaze, Amivy looked away guiltily, knowing the “herbs” she had brought were all useless.

She had never been good at identifying plants.

After Ian disposed of all the harmful plants Amivy had brought, he returned and handed her a nutshell.

The nutshell contained some green paste.

“Moss paste. Apply it around the swollen bump on its forehead. Be careful to avoid the eyes and the wound. It will help reduce swelling and prevent further infection.”

He gave her the nutshell and briefly explained how to use it.

“Be gentle. It might still be a little uncomfortable.”

Amivy listened unusually attentively this time.

She took the nutshell and nodded firmly.

Just then, Xiao Bai woke up.

Sensing the movement, Amivy immediately went to Xiao Bai’s side.

She crouched beside Xiao Bai.

Though her movements were still a bit clumsy, she was noticeably more careful.

Following Ian’s example from before, she first moistened its lips with clean water, then fed it a little at a time.

When applying the medicine, she held her breath and used her fingertips as lightly as a feather.

Xiao Bai squinted its eyes, feeling Amivy’s gentle touch and familiar scent.

A faint, comfortable purr came from its throat.

It occasionally licked Amivy’s fingers, full of trust.

Ian stood to the side, quietly watching this scene.

The wound on his wrist from the bite had been simply treated and still ached faintly, but he seemed unconcerned.

After observing its closeness to Amivy for a while, he left to prepare food for the night.

Time passed minute by minute.

When the light of the crystal stone became extremely dim, Ian returned.

He carried several plump silver fish strung together on tough grass stems.

He had caught them in a nearby stream using a simple trap.

Fish was easy to digest and rich in protein, perfect for supplementing Xiao Bai’s nutrition after its illness.

When night fully fell, the small shelter was filled with the aroma of grilled fish.

Ian carefully deboned the tenderest parts, mashed them, mixed in a little fruit puree, and fed them to Xiao Bai, whose spirits had improved considerably.

Xiao Bai was initially wary, looking at Ian and then at the food in the bowl.

But under Amivy’s encouraging eyes and the temptation of the fish’s aroma, it finally lowered its head and began to eat in small bites.

Though it no longer resisted, it was still not as affectionate toward Ian as it was toward Amivy.

“Oh?”

Ian raised an eyebrow at Xiao Bai’s attitude.

He found it amusing, but that was all.

He made no other move.

Around the small campfire, one man, one woman, and one dog ate in silence.

The firelight flickered on Ian’s silver mask, casting the silhouette of his thoughts.

After a long while—

“Prince Arthur,”

Ian suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

“How much do you know about the Holy Sword?”

Amivy was carefully picking out fish bones.

She was startled by the question, put down the grilled fish, and tried to recall.

“Huh? I don’t know… The Saintess just said that when a true Hero stands before the Holy Sword, it will respond. But I don’t know the specifics.”

“A true Hero…”

Ian chewed on that very ‘spiritual’ phrase, his eyes narrowing behind his mask.

As a transmigrator, he was all too familiar with this concept.

Things like “People Who Shine Together” or “The One Who Shines” were perfect reference answers.

Of course, the guess that Amivy would summon the Holy Sword by shouting things like “friendship!” or “bonds!” was just speculation.

But the specifics still needed verification.

He needed a situation to test whether changes in Amivy’s conviction could truly move the Holy Sword.

Ian’s gaze swept over Xiao Bai, curled up and dozing in Amivy’s arms, then passed through the shelter to the dark forest outside, lit an eerie blue by the crystal moonlight yet still unfathomably deep.

Suddenly, an idea came to him.

He remembered that this Hero couldn’t stay in the dark for too long.

Fear of the dark… that might be a point of entry.

Fear could trigger a person’s most primal reactions, either to retreat or to transcend.

“Your Highness,”

Ian’s voice pulled Amivy back from her confused thoughts about the Holy Sword.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“I have a theory about how to move the Holy Sword.”

“A theory?”

Amivy was surprised.

She, the true Hero, hadn’t even an inkling yet, but this masked man already had an idea.

Ian used a twig to stoke the fire, making it burn a little brighter, dispelling some of the night’s chill.

“According to the legends and what the Saintess told you, the Holy Sword recognizes a ‘true Hero.’

And the concept of ‘Hero’—aside from talent and bloodline—is often defined by certain qualities: the courage to risk oneself for others in dire straits, the determination to protect the weak, and the conviction to do what seems impossible…”

Ian spoke with authority, quoting various sources.

Amivy listened with partial understanding but got the gist.

“You mean… I have to do something worthy of a ‘Hero’?”

“Something like that. But it’s just my guess. Whether it’s really true will require further testing from Your Highness.”

Amivy instinctively hugged Xiao Bai tighter.

Her voice quavered.

“T-test? What kind of test?”

Ian: “Heh heh heh, don’t be afraid, Your Highness. It’s just a simple test…”