How to Survive as a Mage Inside a Game-Chapter 42: Ruins Exploration (8)

If they’d at least given them something to measure with, maybe. But this wasn’t something you could eyeball.

Karl reread the floating instructions.

1. Within 10 minutes, find the largest circle and stand inside it to pass the trial.

2. Anyone who doesn’t find and enter the largest circle in time will die.

3. No duplicates allowed.

Reading the same thing over and over wasn’t helping—the time kept ticking.

Then, Karl suddenly realized something odd.

'Trial of Insight... why is this called the Trial of Insight?'

If this really was just about comparing sizes and picking the biggest circle, did that really deserve to be called "insight"?

There had to be something more.

And as Karl looked around, he soon found it.

Unlike the previous trials, this chamber wasn’t a square—it was perfectly circular.

"...!!"

Wait, could it be?

Now that he thought about it, rule 3 about "no duplicates" seemed weird too.

A duplicate would mean someone standing in two circles at once, but the three circles didn’t even overlap. That was impossible.

No, that rule had to exist for another, hidden reason.

Karl was almost certain now.

Time was running out.

"I have no idea. Looks like we’ll just have to split up between the three circles and hope for the best."

"That’s insane! The ones who pick wrong will die!"

"Then what do you suggest? There’s no time left, and no way to figure it out..."

Karl cut through the rising voices and shouted.

"I think I’ve figured it out! Everyone, listen!"

All eyes turned to Karl.

"You... you found the answer?"

Having already pulled them through the Trial of Wisdom, Karl now had people looking at him with real hope.

He glanced around as he spoke.

"Doesn’t something feel off about this place?"

"...Off? What do you mean?"

"All the previous trial chambers were square. But look around—this one’s perfectly circular, like someone carved it out on purpose."

People started nodding as they realized it too.

And some of them caught on to Karl’s thinking.

"Wait... are you saying..."

"Yes. I think not just the circles on the floor, but the entire space we’re standing in is part of the answer. It’s obviously the largest circle here."

"...!!"

Everyone’s eyes widened.

"My guess is, if we don’t enter any of those three and just stay put, we’ll pass the trial. I can’t be 100% sure, though. If anyone disagrees, feel free to pick one of the others."

But no one argued or stepped into a different circle. Karl’s reasoning was too solid.

It made a hell of a lot more sense than randomly picking one and risking death.

In the end, no one entered any of the three marked circles.

They all just stood, tense, waiting for the time limit to run out.

And when it did—

No one died.

Grrrk...

The stone gate to the next trial creaked open.

They’d gotten it right.

"You did it again. Damn impressive!"

The whole expedition turned to Karl, amazed.

First the Trial of Wisdom, and now this—he clearly wasn’t just some ordinary adventurer.

With relief and excitement, they headed through the open gate.

The fourth and final trial.

The end of these cursed trials was in sight.

* * *

「Trial of Distrust」

The space they entered next was even bigger than any of the ones ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) before.

"..."

And the entire expedition was left speechless.

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Not because of how massive the space was.

But because in the center of it, taking up almost the entire area, was a giant creature, staring at them, drooling.

Grrrrk!

Blood-red gleaming eyes, a mane of jagged fur, and an aura of sheer menace just from looking at it.

It was a massive beast in the shape of a dog.

It was trapped behind some kind of semi-transparent black barrier, and if that wasn’t there, it would’ve already charged at them.

BOOM!!

"...Hrk!"

The beast slammed its front paws against the barrier, and one of the mages stumbled back in shock.

Thankfully, the barrier held.

"W-What is that thing...?"

He looked around, embarrassed, but no one could answer.

They could only pray that this trial didn’t mean having to fight that monster.

[Lv.52]

[Kerus]

Only Karl knew what it was.

He frowned as he stared at it.

'Now even magic beasts are showing up.'

Kerus, Kerves, Cerberus.

Out of the three, Kerus was the lowest-ranked, with only one head.

Still, it was a magic beast—way stronger than any regular monster—and easily over level 50.

1. If one day passes, the trial is cleared.

2. Anyone who steps into the circle in front of the barrier will be safe and pass the trial, but the barrier containing the beast will break.

3. Only one person can enter the circle.

4. Killing the beast will also clear the trial.

The explanation appeared in the air, as always.

Everyone’s eyes naturally turned to the circle in front of the barrier.

Then—

"...Well, this is a bit unexpected."

A voice, from somewhere else.

Not from within the group, but from far off.

Everyone turned, eyes wide, and someone shouted.

"Tobaz!"

The dark mage Tobaz.

The traitor who’d betrayed them and left them to rot in this hell.

There he was, standing off at a distance, hands behind his back, watching them.

"You bastard!"

Several knights drew their swords and charged without hesitation.

No need for words with a traitor.

Thud!

But the domain’s barrier wouldn’t allow it.

The trials weren't over yet, so the barrier remained intact.

Tobaz chuckled, watching the knights banging uselessly against the boundary.

"This isn’t something you can break with brute force. Why not give up and just get on with the trial?"

"Why the hell did you do this! What’s your goal, damn it?!"

Tobaz didn’t answer. Instead, he turned his gaze toward someone standing frozen stiff.

"A-Arman..."

His nephew.

Tobaz smiled kindly.

"Go on, boy. Step into the circle."

"...!!"

"You really think they’re going to let you go after all this is over? Being related to me, you’ll be treated like a criminal no matter what. Even if you make it back to the school, those bastards from the Inquisition will torture you, demand you spill everything."

Everyone’s eyes turned to Arman.

Knights gripped their sword hilts, and mages gathered mana.

Under that deadly pressure, Arman gulped and shook his head.

Like hell he’d step into the circle—he’d be taken down or killed before he even got close.

"I-I have nothing to do with this! If I did, why would I still be here, standing with you?!"

He turned, shouting at Tobaz in desperation.

"P-Please surrender now, Uncle! I don’t know why you’re doing this, but do you really think we’ll let you go after all this? I don’t care if you’re a high mage, you can’t take on everyone here at once!!"

Rosariel stepped in too.

"No one here’s crazy enough to step into that circle. We just need to wait a day to pass. Why the hell would anyone do that?"

The whole expedition glared at Tobaz, nodding in agreement.

But Tobaz just laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.

"Well... I’m thinking a bit differently."

"...?"

"Thanks for the distraction, kid. You always were good at pulling attention. Shame it was usually the wrong kind."

Everyone’s gaze instinctively snapped toward the circle.

And they saw her—already right at the edge.

"...No!"

Berren.

Before anyone could stop her, she stepped into the circle.

BOOM!!

A spell fired at her, but too late. It slammed into the air, blocked by a pillar of light that erupted around the circle’s edge.

"Why... why would you...?"

The betrayal of the one they’d trusted most—the priestess.

Everyone just stared, stunned, at Berren inside the circle.

Even the other priests stood with their mouths open, speechless.

Tobaz grinned.

"The master of this domain whispered to me. Said there was one of His faithful servants among you. Never guessed she’d be one of the clergy. Ha! This is priceless!"

Berren burst into mad laughter.

"Aha, aha-ha! You filthy heretic scum!!"

"..."

"You’re all just food for Him now! What better use could your worthless lives have?!"

Crack!

The moment someone stepped into the circle, the barrier around the beast would break.

Just as promised, cracks started spreading across it.

"...E-Everyone, get ready for battle!!"

Chaos spread. The expedition scrambled, forming ranks to face the beast.

Things had gone straight to hell, and now they had no choice but to fight.

CRASH!

The barrier shattered completely.

KRAAAAAA!!

Kerus, now free, roared in triumph.

The air itself seemed to tremble.

A force that far surpassed any normal monster—the raw pressure alone drained the color from everyone’s faces.

'This... this is really bad...!!'

The knights of House Dante, who had fought and slain countless monsters.

The mages of Ersmund, famed as one of the Three Great Schools, with years of magical prowess behind them.

The adventurers, hardened survivors of countless dungeons and ruins.

None of them had even moved yet, but they could all feel it.

Death was close.

And then, a surge of immense magical energy.

A beam of light, blazing through the air.

FLASH!!

Blinding light filled the chamber.

When their vision returned, they saw it—Kerus, standing headless.

Thud...

The massive body wavered, then collapsed. Black blood poured from its severed neck, pooling on the floor.

It had looked so fearsome only moments ago, and now, it was dead. Just like that.

「All Trials Cleared」

The message floated in the air.

The beast was dead, and just like the rules said, the trial was over.

The barrier around the domain vanished, but no one even noticed.

"...Karl?"

Pakion turned, dazed.

And so did the rest of the expedition, staring at Karl in shock.

He stood there, lowering his hand, calm as ever.

"H-Huh...?"

With the trial over, the light pillar around Berren disappeared too.

She stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the monster that had died in an instant.

POP!

A moment later, her head exploded.

The same ending as the beast.

"Hah, finally. Looks like we’re done."

The trials were over. The domain’s barrier was gone. The dark mage had shown himself.

There was no need to hold back anymore. This was the final act.

Karl turned his head toward Tobaz.

The bastard stared back, eyes wide, furious.

"Had enough fun with your little game?"

Karl cast his next spell immediately.

"Now die, already."

BOOM!!

Lightning slammed into Tobaz's position.