There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game

The entire Prague Castle began to tremble.

After Cerys's figure dissipated, Armand Ray's black shadow also turned into ashes and vanished; subsequently, the flowers in the Rose Garden withered and shattered.

Now, the walls and architecture of the entire castle started to spread with cracks, turning the grand and solemn silver castle into a decaying, dilapidated ruin.

The buildings of the castle crumbled away, bit by bit, until they turned to dust and drifted apart.

If this trend continued, soon the entire castle would no longer exist, and outside was the pitch-black Abyss!

"We must leave quickly! To that cellar!" the archaeologist shouted earnestly.

However, after she spoke, she saw the Traveling Poet still standing there, motionless, staring blankly at the patch of blood that remained on the floor not far away.

Upon seeing this, the archaeologist walked up to the Traveling Poet and shook his shoulder vigorously: "Snap out of it, you idiot! That damn thing is an Evil Witch, I…" I haven't even lost my cool yet with my mission gone!

Seeing that the Traveling Poet still did not respond after a long moment, she raised her hand, ready to slap him, but her wrist was immediately grabbed.

Archaeologist: "...(╬艹皿艹)!"

The Traveling Poet said indifferently, "Look at the ground."

Still annoyed, the archaeologist shook off her hand and turned her head to look at the spot he was gazing at, only to see the patch of blood spreading toward the Rose Garden and finally merging into the statue of the young girl.

Seeing this, the archaeologist chose to remain expressionless.

Let it be destroyed, I'm tired.

This script won't have an ending option, right?

...

...

In the midst of the Blood-colored Illusory Realm.

Cerys, after all, was called the "Final Destination of the Evil Spirit," the "Witch of Blood and Night," the "Mare of the Knights of the Holy Light" — acquiring so many shaming titles wasn't simple at all, and killing her was not an easy task.

In the nick of time, Xu Shuo preserved a sliver of Armand Ray's consciousness and dragged him into the Witch's Illusory Realm.

No other reason, just to pluck some wool.

With a Double-edged Flying Dart in hand, Xu Shuo curiously asked, "Can I use this thing of yours?"

Armand Ray was still a bit dazed at the time, staring at the vibrant and exquisite girl in front of him, and he muttered, "My master, are we in hell now? Am I forever with you?"

"Exactly, exactly, so can I use that thing of yours?" Xu Shuo nodded, then continued to ask while shaking the flying wheel dart in his hand.

"Of course you can! I am willing to offer you anything you want. It's just that it seems to be bound to my spirit, and I sort of forgot how to release it," Armand Ray said ecstatically, but when he looked at his own weapon, he seemed somewhat lost.

"..." Xu Shuo frowned.

During the fight between the butler and the climber, he had noticed that this weapon was special; it could actually break through the illusory effect of the "Cloak of the Baseless One."

Moreover, Armand Ray was nearly as nimble with it as with his own limbs, able to retract it into his body and draw it out at will.

Considering the fact that Cerys's butler was a former player as well, Xu Shuo speculated that this weapon was likely also the opponent's Lifebound Item, similarly originating from Script Space.

After he got his hands on it, surely enough, a system prompt appeared: [You cannot pick up a contracted item.]

Xu Shuo handed the flying wheel dart back to Armand Ray, "Try and see if you can release the contract, then let me use it."

Although this item had been corrupted by the Abyss previously, the corruption was but a superficial projection used on the surface; after all, it had reappeared intact even after being cut by the Traveling Poet.

With Armand Ray's demise, only his consciousness appeared in this Blood-colored Illusory Realm, while his Lifebound Weapon floated beside him.

Xu Shuo needed to use him for an experiment first.

However, after Armand Ray frowned and studied his weapon for a good while, he looked at the girl in front of him with an apologetic expression: "Master, I cannot sever the connection with it."

Xu Shuo: "..." So was the archaeologist deceiving him?

That's not right, even if the archaeologist had her own ulterior motives, surely Hong Rao wouldn't be hoodwinking him too, right?

After staring at the contracted item in front of him for a long while, Xu Shuo looked up at Armand Ray with an indifferent expression, "Never mind, you can go die now."

Armand Ray was slightly startled, then seemed to realize something, looking even more bewildered: "Master, you haven't left that world, have you?"

Xu Shuo tilted his head to look at him, a strange smile on his face: "What makes you think that was my heart?"

As his words fell, without waiting for Armand Ray to react further and continue his ramblings, he casually waved his hand.

In the Blood-colored Illusory Realm, Armand Ray's consciousness instantly dispersed into smoke, and his Lifebound Weapon vanished along with it.

Seeing that the flying wheel item did not drop, Xu Shuo was somewhat disappointed.

Then, he too turned and left the Illusory Realm, opening his eyes on the statue in Prague Castle, his pupils blood-colored.

Cerys might be lovesick, but she definitely wasn't foolish.

Fools wouldn't have eluded the Holy Court's pursuit centuries ago, nor would they have concealed themselves in Prague for decades without discovery, let alone become a fearsome witch—all because they let love cloud their judgment.

Therefore, she wouldn't keep her heart within her own body, nor place it somewhere obviously abnormal.

...

...

"Swoosh!"

As Xu Shuo opened his eyes and sat up, the archaeologist beside him immediately adopted a defensive posture, still holding the Traveling Poet's cross sword.

The limestone color faded from the statue, replaced by the dark red of an elegant gown, but the girl's complexion still looked fragile.

She looked innocently at the archaeologist who was brandishing a sword at her.

The archaeologist was baffled, "Weren't your heart already destroyed? How come you're not dead?"

Xu Shuo weakly clutched her chest, "My existence has merged with the castle. As long as Prague Castle doesn't completely dissipate, my consciousness will linger, but it should be ending soon."

By the end, a touch of desolation appeared on the girl's face.

Seeing her like this, the archaeologist showed not the slightest bit of sympathy, but instead brandished the sword fiercely, "Your devoted butler has already bit the dust, can you give me that letter now?!"

The plot wasn't over yet, and the Traveling Poet was standing by; for her to boldly propose a trade between them at this moment clearly had an ulterior motive.

Xu Shuo exchanged covert glances with her, then, under the archaeologist's cunning gaze, reluctantly extended her hand to pass over the letter.

The archaeologist's eyes lit up, she quickly took her target for the mission and then stepped back, leaving space for the person beside her.

[Main Mission: Acquire Green's Handwritten Notes (Completed).]

Indeed!

After she handed over the notes for the task, she heard the system's unusually pleasant voice in her mind.

The archaeologist was overwhelmed with joy!

It hasn't been easy! It really hasn't been easy for me to get this far!

...

At that moment, the Traveling Poet standing amidst the flowers fell silent for a while before suddenly saying, "From the beginning, were you deliberately getting close to me?"

Xu Shuo looked up at him, "Alex..."

Traveling Poet: "..." Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire

Every time his name was uttered by her, it made the Traveling Poet's heartstrings violently tremble, especially after he had acquired the memories of his previous life as the Green Knight, the sensation grew even more intense.

That string was being plucked, constantly disrupting his thoughts and toying with his emotions.

The Traveling Poet clenched his teeth, "You..."

"Alex, just leave this place," but before he could utter any harsh words, the girl interrupted him, her expression filled with sorrow as she looked at him.

... The Traveling Poet opened his mouth but found himself speechless.

He looked at the feeble girl before him, his mind in turmoil, clueless about what to think.

At this moment, the archaeologist burst in, saying again, "Hey, the castle is about to completely collapse, staying here will only lead to our demise, we must leave quickly."

Xu Shuo bowed her head and said, "The passageway out of the castle is in the Underground Palace, just use this sword to open that door. Continue straight down the passageway, and you'll be able to leave this Illusory Realm. Alex, go with her quickly."

The archaeologist looked at her, surprised.

For a moment, she was unsure whether these were truly Cerys's heartfelt thoughts, or if the girl was secretly scheming something once again.

Anyway, she was determined to leave.

The archaeologist picked up the cross sword again and said to the silent Traveling Poet, "Let's go, don't waste any more time."

The Traveling Poet had a serene expression, the emotions in his eyes complex.

Seeing this, the archaeologist became enraged, "Forget it if you're not leaving! If it wasn't for the effort you've put in, I wouldn't bother with you!"

After saying this, the archaeologist turned and left the Tall Tower without hesitation.

Prague Castle was already on the brink of collapse, and she didn't have the time to stay there and watch their 'if you go, you go, I won't' nonsensical love story unfold!

Seeing that the archaeologist had departed and the Traveling Poet was still hesitating, the girl urgently grabbed his arm, "Alex, please go quickly! I won't hold on much longer. Once Prague Castle's Illusory Realm collapses, nothing here will stay behind!"

The Traveling Poet furrowed his brow, looked at the girl before him with a serious expression, and asked, "Cerys, can you leave with me?"

At those words, a flicker of dark light passed through Xu Shuo's eyes.

...