Vale's heart was pounding uncontrollably. He felt like a chicken being prepared for slaughter, with no defense or resistance. Despite having experienced death once before he was being reborn into this magical world, Vale was not fearless. In fact, the reason he wanted to become strong was to protect his life.
On the other hand, Vale still had many dreams that he wanted to fulfill in this world, dreams that he didn't have a chance to pursue in his previous life. Furthermore, no one knew what would happen if he died for the second time.
As if sensing Vale's worries, Valentine reassured him, "You don't have to worry, I never intended to kill you from the beginning."
After hearing Valentine's words, Vale immediately felt his body being freed. He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he was not in danger. Nevertheless, he remained cautious of Valentine.
"If you're so strong, why did you have to put on an act like that?" Vale asked.
Valentine answered with another question, "Emerald Green Island, this island, is not the only dimensional fragment that the Midvalley Magus Academy possesses. Do you think it's strange for someone who interacts with humans only a few days every three to five years to put on such an act?"
Valentine's words made sense. People who rarely interact with humans tend to be eccentric. Valentine, who had only a bit of quirkiness, could be considered extraordinary for being able to maintain her sanity.
Valentine turned around and touched the locked door with the palm of her hand. A collection of runes appeared on the door and moved orderly. Valentine rearranged the runes and then withdrew her hand. The locked door slowly opened.
"As I said, I never intended to kill you. Have you seen my father's recording? My goal is to take revenge against the Malefic Orchestra. I chose you to inherit all of my father's knowledge and assets, with the condition that you help me take revenge against the Malefic Orchestra."
Suddenly, Vale remembered the mission that the system gave him when he first arrived in the labyrinth. The mission described a hidden solution in the labyrinth. Was the hidden solution that the system was talking about inheriting the Magus Chakuva puppet technique? If he refused, would Valentine kill him?
"Why don't you do it yourself? No one is more suitable to inherit a father's abilities than his child," Vale asked.
"Of course, I also want to do it myself, but The Academy never lifted their oversight on me."
As they chatted, Vale's eyes caught sight of a locked room with a vast interior. Inside, there were nine wooden puppets that emitted an unusual aura. Vale sensed that these puppets were not ordinary puppets.
"These are clone puppets. Your friend destroyed one of them. They are specially crafted with basic intelligence, the ability to mimic someone's appearance and voice, the capability to replicate any magic technique below level one, and most impressively, they can grow stronger like a living creature."
'So, this is the impersonator that Frida fought against?' Vale thought.
Vale suddenly asked, "Even if I agree to your request now, how can you be sure that I won't lie? Furthermore, do you believe that I am strong enough to avenge your grudge against Malefic Orchestra?"
A faint smile appeared on Valentine's face. "You misunderstand something. I never thought anyone would refuse my offer. My father explored many dimensional fragments, and this is not the only one he had. However, the academy is not interested in exploring all of them."
Now everything made sense. Dimensional fragments tend to store various treasures that were useful to Magus. Moreover, the fragments themselves were valuable. In other words, as long as Valentine supported him, Vale's path to becoming stronger will be more straightforward.
Valentine used dimensional fragments, knowledge, and other things to entice Vale. Faced with such an offer, anyone with a brain would know that refusing Valentine's proposal was a foolish act.
"You haven't answered my second question," Vale remarked.
"Even if you fail to avenge my grudge, I won't be too disappointed. I have enough time to wait for the next person who can inherit my father's legacy. You can consider this as a test."
Valentine walked to the corner of the room and retrieved a small puppet. It was dressed to look exactly like Valentine.
"With this puppet, you can contact me even after you return to the main world. For now, focus on breaking through to the beginner magus stage one. By the way, this puppet consumes a lot of mana during communication, so prepare a magic radiation stone when you need to contact me."
"Alright."
Vale accepted the puppet from Valentine. He couldn't resist the temptation to lift the long maid dress on the puppet. He was slightly disappointed to find that Valentine had not carved the pubic area details, nor given the puppet any underwear on it. It was unprofessional.
Thereafter, Vale returned to Brenda and Frida's place and put the puppet that he received in Frida's bag. Subsequently, he rested.
Approximately two hours later, the trio of students from the Midvalley Magus Academy returned to the crater where the formation was situated. Vale employed the [Spider Dance] spell to transport Frida to the platform in the midst of the crater, as the stone bridge had been severed. With the collaborative efforts of Vale and Frida, they successfully destroyed the formation.
At that moment, a magical circle appeared beneath the feet of Vale, Frida, and Brenda. After a few seconds, a brilliant light enveloped them, transporting them away.
Soon after, Vale opened his eyes, feeling his heart racing and his lungs were expanding. The sensation of wind on his skin made him realize he had successfully returned to his original body.
"I'm back! Finally," Brenda exclaimed through tears of joy, overjoyed that she had regained her original body.
The hardships they had faced had finally come to an end. Like Brenda, Vale also felt relieved and slightly relaxed, knowing that everything had ended. He was certain that this annual test, his first dangerous adventure as a magus, would soon be over. He was confident that he would face even more difficult challenges in the future.
After a short while, Vale immediately transferred points from Yor and Colbert's point ball to his own and Brenda's.
"Let's go now, Frida is probably fighting again," Vale urged Brenda, who was still in disbelief that she had really returned to her original body.
However, as Brenda stood up, suddenly the second point ball emitted a bright light. A sentence appeared on the point ball.
[The annual test has officially ended.]