Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength-Chapter 1197 - 1191: Garden Shortcut

"..."

The servant clearly still had many questions to ask.

The changes in the castle and himself, the whereabouts of everyone in the banquet hall just now, and Ronald's current situation were all things he was very eager to understand.

But experiencing the changes in life during this period in the [Runeland Kingdom] had made him lose the ability to resist 'Caster Sir,' and now facing Ronald, he couldn't speak.

So, standing in the banquet hall, he obediently guided Ronald:

"Master Bapuluer lives in the living quarters at the back of the castle. You need to turn left from the corridor and then turn a corner, pass through the courtyard, enter the third door, then climb the stairs to the second floor, turn right and go straight before you can finally reach it."

Ronald immediately nodded in thanks:

"Great, thank you."

Then, under the servant's slightly surprised gaze, Ronald proceeded along the path pointed out by the servant and soon disappeared from there.

Only the servant remained in the banquet hall, finally pondering:

"This feeling, it's different..."

"..."

On the other side, Ronald was advancing at full speed.

The changes to the world by Gwendolin with the power of the original text essentially followed the basic logic of the maze picture book world, where everything that would not happen in the real world became possible here.

Just like in the castle corridors.

Over there, some paintings originally serving a decorative role had gained spirituality in the image sections, allowing them to even call out to and communicate with each other across their frames.

[Jiaji'er, even in death you're restless! Do you still yearn for your father king's property?]

[You old rascal, do you realize how much trouble your secretly stashed wealth has brought to this country, it's simply absurd!]

[Hahaha, I actually hid that money in the tree hole of the tree you planted when you were young, but you didn't discover it!]

Upon listening closely, one would realize that much of it was once [Runeland Kingdom]'s secret lore.

But Ronald wasn't interested in these things.

So aside from occasionally overhearing messages, he ignored any chatter from paintings, sculptures, or even animated armors, rushing straight towards Bapulor's palace.

Soon enough, Ronald arrived at his destination.

But the room's door was tightly shut, with two soldiers standing guard at the entrance, making it seem like a challenging place to enter at first glance.

Upon getting closer, Ronald carefully observed and noticed more details.

The reason these two guards remained composed after the world changed was that they couldn't move at all. Currently, only the black dots that were once their eyes spun around on their faces, showing the unease in their hearts.

"Sir, help us!"

"We're stuck here and can't move!"

Right away, the guards cried out to Ronald for help; clearly, Ronald was the first freely moving individual they had encountered.

Witnessing this scene, Ronald immediately realized:

Just like the earlier servant who was confined to the banquet hall by their identity, these two guards were also restrained in place by their duties and the maze picture book world's rules.

These rule constraints would undoubtedly become critical in allowing Ronald to succeed in the game!

While sorting through his thoughts, Ronald approached the room, planning to enter:

"Gentlemen, I'm looking for Bapulor now; this situation is just a temporary hassle. As long as I can..."

Click—

Suddenly, two halberds crossed in front of Ronald, blocking his attempt to enter.

Looking up, Ronald saw it was the two previously immobile guards stopping him again.

"Sir, this is not my doing; I can't control my body!"

The guard hurriedly explained.

But just then, the guard beside him spoke in a tone as if he was being controlled:

"Outsider, this is the king's chamber!"

"A person like you must first get approval from the queen to enter!"

"..."

This wasn't Ronald's first experience with the maze picture book.

Even with Gwendolin's interference this time, he understood the guard's words indicated the requirements to enter the room.

So... now I need to find the queen and obtain permission?

How could that be possible!

If such effort had to be expended just to enter Bapulor's room, the time needed to search for everyone's location in the entire city would be incalculable.

He certainly couldn't follow the game's rules; instead, he needed to find another way to pass through.

"..."

Thinking this, Ronald decisively abandoned any dialogue with the guards.

He immediately began exploring clockwise around the room's walls, searching for a potential line of breakthrough clues.

Later, when he reached the right side of the corridor,

Looking outside through the window, he discovered that in the castle garden, the previously existing plants had formed into a complicated and grand three-dimensional maze!

And just there.

One of the branches led directly to the second-floor window—exactly where Bapulor's room was!

"This really does have the meaning of a maze picture book."

Faced with the 'authentic' maze structure outside the window, Ronald helplessly remarked, then immediately climbed out of the second floor.

He wasn't in the mood to slowly enjoy the maze's fun.

Sticking to the top of the maze wall, he dashed towards the branch leading to the second floor.

Swish—

As if sensing someone trying to 'cut class.'

Barely seconds after stepping onto it, the plants in the castle garden started shaking frantically, like a wild horse trying to throw off its rider.

"I've anticipated this situation long ago!"

But even facing such change, a thrill appeared on Ronald's face. Six months ago, he definitely would have been tossed harshly to the ground by the plants in the garden.

But the Ronald of today was already a changed man!

Due to past encounters, Ronald had been forcing himself to train regularly and exercise over the past six months since leaving [Entroland].

With the support of various spells, his physical fitness had already been transformed, and in terms of balance and reflexes, even without the enhancement and reinforcement of the original text spells, he was now at a level ordinary people couldn't match.

So even with the spell limitation of the maze picture book.

Relying solely on the abilities honed through training, Ronald firmly maintained his balance atop the frenzied plants. Then, using his hands and feet, he maneuvered himself in a strange but effective manner, successfully propelling himself onto that branch. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"..."

At this instant, a silence enveloped the area behind Ronald.

His stance on the branch seemed to signify a conquest of the maze, causing the previously violent plants to become eerily still.

"Phew—"

Ronald let out a long breath.

Once again, he focused on the end of the branch, right inside the second-floor window.

A cartoon-like Bapulor character stood there, watching him with a face full of surprise.