Landlord World - Start with SSS talent-Chapter 246: The mystery of Snow World

"You… What the hell are you talking about?" Valen asked in confusion.

"I heard everything you said to Noan," Monica replied, her voice full of despair and disbelief.

"I really don't understand who you are anymore. Are you still the Valen I've known these past two years? And… who is your Master?"

Valen was startled by her words, but quickly regained his composure.

His expression lost all emotion, replaced by a calm so eerie it sent chills down her spine.

"Monica, I know you like me, right?" Valen suddenly asked, his question completely unrelated to what Monica had just said.

"Huh?! What… what are you talking about?" Monica stammered, caught off guard. Though her eyes still held firm resolve, a hint of embarrassment had surfaced within them.

Zeka was also stunned when he heard that. Inwardly, he cursed:

'What the hell? She likes him? But… then why did she save me?'

'No, he must be mistaken. The one she likes is obviously me, not him.'

Valen sighed and continued, "Monica, if I told you that everything I've done has been to protect all of you… would you believe me?"

Monica faltered, her mind beginning to waver. "I… You… You're lying."

Valen sighed again and said, "Monica, haven't you realized that the mission the system gave us… is impossible to complete?"

"You're lying," Zeka cut in. "If the system issues a mission, why wouldn't it be possible to complete?"

"You're just jealous because I found the way to finish it. That's why you're saying all this, isn't it?"

Valen glanced coldly at Zeka. The murderous intent in his eyes was so intense that Zeka instinctively stepped back in fear.

Monica frowned. She found Zeka's words surprisingly reasonable. She spoke up too:

"Valen, we could work together to finish the mission. Even if we fail, at least we'd still have a chance to leave this place."

Valen sighed again.

Suddenly, large stones appeared, hovering in the air around him.

"Monica," he said, "I'm giving you one last chance. Retrieve the key and capture him.

If you do, I'll accept your love."

"Moreover, I'll grant you eternal life. You and I can worship my Master… together."

At that moment, Monica knew—

Valen had passed the point of no return.

She reached behind her back and drew her bow, pulling the string taut.

Wind began to gather, forming a shimmering blue arrow at the tip.

"Valen," she said firmly, "I'll give you one last chance too. Join me in completing the mission and leaving this place.

Or else… even if it costs me my life, I'll stop you. I won't let you hurt anyone else."

"Hahahaha…" Valen suddenly burst out laughing. "Monica, you overestimate yourself far too much."

"I am a Level 5 Lord with the power of Earth Elementals. And you? You think you can defeat me?"

Monica didn't respond with words—but her eyes gave the answer.

They were unwavering, filled with resolve and no trace of regret.

She simply said in a soft voice to Zeka, "Go. Leave this place. I'll hold him here."

Zeka clenched his teeth. He wanted to argue that they could all leave together.

But he knew—someone had to stay behind to stop Valen.

If not, no one would make it out of this cursed world.

He understood Monica might die, that he'd lose a woman from his future harem.

But his own life was more important.

He looked at Monica, gave a nod, and said, "Thank you."

Then, without hesitation, he grabbed the key and turned it.

"No! Stop!!!" Valen roared.

But Zeka didn't stop. He gripped the key tightly and forced it through the full rotation.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Kang!

The sound of grinding gears echoed—then a loud metallic thud followed.

The door slowly opened inward. Darkness stretched beyond it, deep and endless.

Without hesitation, Zeka pulled Violette with him and stepped into the shadowy space.

The moment they crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut, and the key vanished from the lock.

Monica let out a breath of relief.

Valen suddenly chuckled and asked, "You're not going with them?"

"No need," Monica said firmly. "I'll keep you here. Even if I die, I won't let you…"

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Valen began to clap, slowly and deliberately.

His expression turned disturbingly strange. freёwebnoѵel.com

He even wore a satisfied, sinister smile.

Monica instantly sensed something was wrong…

But what exactly was happening?

"Hahaha… your actions are so noble, so heroic—but what a pity. What you've just done has put everyone in danger," Valen laughed.

"Thank you, Monica. I never expected things to go this smoothly. Thanks to you, I've fulfilled the mission my Master entrusted to me."

"You… what the hell are you talking about?" Monica asked, clearly confused. Worry spread across her face. "I… I put everyone in danger? How? That's not possible!"

"You're lying. I only stayed behind to keep you here. I didn't do anything wrong!"

Seeing her so anxious, Valen didn't bother explaining.

He simply said, "Then keep watching and see what happens next."

"Oh, and if you want… I can stay and watch it with you.

But before that, I need to restrain you for a while."

Valen raised his hand—

Suddenly, a Golem emerged from the ground, towering over three meters tall, made entirely of stone.

Its eyes glowed with a faint blue light as it locked its gaze on Monica.

Startled, Monica pulled her bowstring tight—

Whoosh!

The sound of slicing wind tore through the air as a wind arrow launched straight at the stone Golem.

But the Golem didn't even flinch. It simply stood there, letting the arrow strike it head-on.

BANG!

"What?!"

The wind arrow shattered into countless gusts the moment it touched the Golem, dispersing harmlessly.

Monica stared in disbelief.

She knew the difference in power between her and Valen was huge—but for her strongest skill, Wind Arrow, to not even leave a scratch?

It filled her with a crushing sense of hopelessness.

Still, Monica didn't give up.

She pulled back her bow again. Wind began to gather—more violently this time—forming another arrow in front of her.

"Hahahaha… I love that determined look of yours, Monica," Valen laughed.

"If my Master hadn't told me not to touch you, I would've 'devoured' you from day one."

"I really want to see how long you can keep struggling."

…

Zeka stepped into the chamber beyond the great door, but the entire space was pitch black—he couldn't see a thing.

And yet, he almost wished this moment would last forever… because he was holding the hand of the goddess in his heart.

That's right—he was holding Violette's hand. Her soft, delicate fingers felt like those of a baby, and the sensation thrilled him so much that he never wanted to let go.

His heart thudded wildly with excitement, the sound of his heartbeat pounding like war drums in his chest.

Violette, on the other hand, didn't want to be holding his hand at all. But with the darkness so complete, she couldn't move on her own.

She had no choice but to let Zeka hold her hand.

Still, deep inside, she imagined she was gripping the paw of a filthy mutt—just to suppress the nausea that threatened to rise.

Violette fought the revulsion, forcing herself to walk beside Zeka through the shadows.

Zeka had no idea where this place was or where he was supposed to go.

All he knew was that his instincts were urging him forward—

And he had always trusted his instincts. They had never let him down.

Hidden in the darkness, Noan and Vylyss observed everything clearly, thanks to their unique talents.

Their Space-based Talents not only allowed them to use spatial skills and magic, but also gave them the ability to perceive the surrounding space in any condition.

Noan realized that the area resembled the grand hall of a cathedral, though it was completely enveloped in frozen vines.

Ahead stood a massive statue—so entangled in vines that it was impossible to tell what the statue actually depicted.

On the ground was a giant engraved magic circle, over twenty meters in diameter—

Just its size alone spoke volumes about the sheer scale of this place.

"Master," Vylyss suddenly spoke, "there's someone else here too. But…"

Hearing this, Noan frowned. "Who?"

"She… resembles that girl."

Noan's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"

Vylyss answered calmly, "Master… that person looks very much like Monica."