Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 242: The Ancient Ruins (Part-14)

"How am I going too far?" Sigmund retorted, meeting her gaze without flinching. His pride had been pricked, and he was in no mood to retreat. "You spoke first. If you can mock others, you should be prepared to hear the truth in return."

For a moment, the air between them grew tense and sharp, like drawn blades crossing. Neither was willing to back down, and the clash of words quickly turned into an unspoken feud.

Nearby, Zora had already taken a seat beside Prince Kael.

After several days without proper rest, he had finally closed his eyes, his breathing steady and calm. His usually sharp aura had softened, and for the first time in days, he looked genuinely at ease.

Guinvere’s gaze flicked toward Zora from time to time. There was a faint, almost imperceptible challenge hidden in her eyes, as if she were silently reminding her that the number and "quality" of people drawn to her far exceeded those around Zora.

If it were another woman, such a thing might have been a source of pride or insecurity. But Zora felt nothing at all.

In her eyes, it was meaningless.

"I really don’t know what Guinvere is so proud of," Black muttered, hands on his hips, indignation written all over his face. "Does our master lack people who admire her?"

White shook his head lightly, his tone calm. "Let her be proud if she wants. Prince Kael choosing our master is already the biggest slap in her face."

Black nodded vigorously. "Exactly. Thinking about it like that, I don’t even feel angry anymore."

Around them, most spirit warriors were still gathered before the massive stone gate, unwilling to leave. This place held the greatest treasure of the ruins, and no one was willing to give up so easily.

Especially after seeing the gains Zora had already obtained, the jealousy in their hearts burned even hotter. What she had taken was clearly only a fraction of what the ruins might still conceal. The true inheritance was almost certainly hidden behind this very stone door.

"This ruin is too strange!" someone exclaimed in frustration. "There’s not a single visible mechanism!"

"Who knows what the owner of this place was thinking?" another replied bitterly. "If there’s no mechanism, then we should just force it open!"

"That won’t work," someone else quickly objected. "We already tried. This stone gate is absurdly tough. With our strength, we can’t break it at all."

A wave of frustration spread through the crowd. The feeling of standing before unimaginable wealth yet being unable to touch it gnawed at everyone’s patience.

Reesa frowned and turned to ask, "If we really can’t open this stone gate... can we still leave this place?"

At this point, she no longer dared to hope for the final inheritance. As long as she could leave safely, she would be satisfied.

For a brief moment, no one spoke.

Only then did everyone suddenly realize something they had deliberately avoided thinking about.

From the moment they stepped into the ruins, the gates behind them had sealed shut without warning. They had rushed forward, driven by greed and excitement, their eyes fixed on inheritance and treasures. Not a single person had stopped to ask the most basic question of all.

If the stone gate never opened... will they be trapped here forever?

That thought spread through the crowd like a creeping chill.

Faces that had been flushed with anticipation slowly stiffened, smiles fading inch by inch. A few people subconsciously turned their heads, as if expecting to see the entrance behind them, only to be met with the cold, unyielding walls of the ruin.

Sebastian hesitated, his brows drawing together. He had always been composed, but even now, uncertainty surfaced in his eyes.

"This..." he said slowly, choosing his words with care, "I can’t be sure."

Reesa’s expression darkened. The implication was too obvious to ignore. Once inside the ruins, their fate might no longer be in their own hands.

If the owner of the ruins had no intention of letting them leave without passing this final trial, then this stone gate was not just a barrier to inheritance. It was the only exit.

"Then, what are we supposed to do?" Reesa muttered, bitterness creeping into her voice. The thought of being trapped here indefinitely made her scalp prickle.

Miel exhaled and forced himself to remain calm. "This stone gate must have a way to open it," he said, more to steady himself than anyone else. "The owner of the ruins wouldn’t trap everyone here without leaving a path forward. We just haven’t found it yet."

His words became a small anchor.

After Reesa’s reminder, the surrounding spirit warriors visibly grew more anxious. No one dared to slack off anymore. People began examining the stone gate again with renewed desperation, fingers tracing carved patterns, eyes scanning every seam and indentation. At this point, survival outweighed treasure.

Zora then got up and stepped closer to Reesa and gently patted her shoulder, the gesture calm and grounding.

Reesa turned, startled, and studied her face carefully. Zora didn’t look worried at all. There was no panic in her eyes, only quiet certainty.

"Zora, you..." Reesa began, suspicion and hope tangled together.

Before she could finish, Zora nodded slightly. "Don’t worry," she said softly. "Let Kael rest first."

Reesa glanced toward Prince Kael, who was still seated with his eyes closed, his posture relaxed for the first time in days. Understanding dawned on her face, and she immediately swallowed the rest of her question.

"I get it," she said with a small laugh, lowering her voice. "I won’t ask."

Nearby, Baldwin overheard part of the exchange. A flicker of confusion crossed his face, but he was sensible enough not to pry.

Not long after, Prince Kael finally opened his eyes. The fatigue that had weighed on him earlier had eased, replaced by his usual clarity. When he saw Zora sitting beside him, a relaxed smile appeared on his face.

"You didn’t rest?" he asked quietly.

Zora shook her head. "I just came out of a half-month retreat. I’m not tired." After a brief pause, she added casually, "Also, I found the mechanism for this stone gate."

Those simple words landed like thunder.

Prince Kael’s eyes sharpened instantly. He had always trusted her judgment, but even so, the speed of her discovery surprised him. For days, countless spirit warriors had exhausted every method they could think of without results.

"You found it?" he asked, a hint of disbelief slipping through his calm tone. "How?"

Zora smiled, the expression carrying a trace of mystery. "Come take a look. You’ll understand."

Prince Kael raised an eyebrow, amusement flashing briefly in his eyes. "So confident?"

"You’ll see," she replied, already standing up and turning toward the stone gate.

That quiet certainty was more convincing than any explanation. Prince Kael rose without hesitation and followed her.

Their movement immediately drew attention. The moment Zora returned to the stone gate with Prince Kael at her side, the surrounding crowd stirred. Whispered speculation rippled through the air.

She had only been here a short while ago. Had she really discovered something so quickly?

Reesa and the others exchanged glances and hurried after them. Earlier, Zora had already given Reesa a subtle signal, and Reesa, quick to understand, quietly alerted those close to her to move forward and secure a good position.

When Zora reached the front of the stone gate, the spirit warriors instinctively made space for her. No one quite knew why, but after everything she had done, no one dared to block her path.

All eyes were now fixed on her hands and the massive stone door, their hearts pounding with anticipation.