After a long 20 minutes, we landed safely next to the seal between the crack of ice and the entrance to the real Ice Rift.

I tossed aside the parachute constructed by magic and looked around the place.

The color of the floor was almost blackish blue, and the surrounding walls were the same.

The walls began to shrink as they neared the bottom, and now the entire space was about the size of a classroom.

In the center, there was a crack emitting bone-chilling cold air. On a iron pillar beside it, countless magical runes were flashing with dazzling light, and there was a lock hanging in the middle.

It looks like this is the so-called flight restriction seal, right?

"It's really amazing! This kind of construction can actually slow down the descent speed."

Upon hearing these words, I turned to look behind me.

Miss Yuxue Monsieur was squatting in front of the parachute I had just created with ice magic, curiously examining it up and down.

"Miss Yuxue Monsieur~"

"Hmm?"

Yuxue Monsieur turned around and, after seeing my gaze, sheepishly stuck out her tongue.

"Hahaha, sorry, I'm just curious about new things. I've never seen such a fascinating contraption before."

"Well, keep looking then, only I can create this with magic."

"Really?"

Yuxue Monsieur's eyes widened.

"I didn't expect you to have the talent of an alchemist."

"It's just a simple use of physics... Anyway, you can ask me later when we get out. Let's focus on finding a way out for now."

"You're right, by the way, that's the flight seal."

She pointed at the strange pillar.

"That thing, I..."

Before she could finish, Aliyah had already unsheathed her sword and in the next moment, it transformed into a massive fiery sword.

"Ultimate skill·Red Divider!"

With a swing of the fiery sword, a red scythe spun rapidly in the air, then vigorously struck the pillar.

"...I've been hacking at it for a while now, but it's not breaking..."

The red scythe suddenly disappeared, leaving no trace on the stone pillar.

Both of you did a perfect job of coordinating explanation and action. Compared to listening to someone else's explanation, Aliyah prefers to try things out herself. Seeing that her attack had no effect, she put away her short sword with frustration, and then took out a small knife.

"I've never seen a lock like this before, you guys wait a bit..."

After saying that, she stood there fiddling with the lock.

Would it disturb her if I spoke to her now? I continued to look at Yuxue Monsieur, who was still examining the parachute, and walked over.

"By the way, you've been here for over 600 years, so what do you usually do?"

"I take walks. Every 12 hours, strong winds blow from the Ice Rift, carrying people a certain distance. With the help of these winds, the farthest you can go is a platform that looks like a maze. There are annoying monsters there, so I settled down on a larger island below."

"I see...then why don't you keep flying with the wind?"

"Because there are no other platforms above the maze. Every time I'm almost at the exit of the rift, the wind stops, and then I fall again."

"Fortunately you don't die from falling..."

"Yeah~ One time I fell all the way from the highest point, it took a long time."

"..."

Seeing her so happy, I wondered if she had become stupid from falling so many times...

"So there are no other exits here?"

"No, I've explored every other place, there is absolutely no way out."

"Okay..."

It seems unlocking the lock is the only way to get out, but seeing Aliyah getting more and more frustrated with her actions, I began to doubt if we could leave this place.

Moreover, I didn't know how much time was left. If the exit outside was sealed while we were still here... No, wait!

I turned to look at the Ice Rift.

"Um...Miss Yuxue Monsieur, I have a question. Have you ever tried going inside the Ice Rift?""Ice Crevice?"

She glanced in that direction and shivered.

"No way, if you get close to it, your skin starts freezing immediately. Even before you get in, you'll be pierced by the icicles... Oh, have you seen those strange ice sculptures in the corner? Those are the bodies that were blocking the ice crevice, frozen in the shape of icicles. I moved them aside so the wind could carry me up. And it's precisely because I saw what they looked like that I don't want to try going in."

"I see..."

It seemed that going in there would be extremely dangerous.

"What's inside?"

"Although it's not very clear, my master once mentioned that it's the entrance to the Ice Abyss, the domain of the Ice Demons."

"Ice demons?"

That word immediately stimulated my nerves.

Generally speaking, demons and angels are the biggest competing factions in the world, each specializing in light magic and dark magic, respectively. Although humans in this world possess some magic, compared to those angels and demons, their levels are completely different.

If there was a chance to enter the demons' domain and steal a magic book, then... I would definitely be able to protect world peace, whether you believe it or not!

But this setting of freezing people to death is really terrifying. Even a level 45 ice archer said so. I, a level 19 person without even an occupation, going in would just be offering my head, wouldn't it?

"Yeah, demons are really scary, I don't want to go in."

"Ah... yes, me neither."

I quickly laughed in agreement.

"Ah, ah, I can't take it anymore! You two, stop chatting over there! Come help!"

Smack!

A dagger was directly thrust into the ground next to me.

I looked over and saw Aliyah walking towards us with an angry expression.

"No good? Who said they could unlock all the locks earlier?"

"These locks are too scary! There are over ten layers inside, and there's no way to undo them one by one!"

"..."

I looked at the locks, which had many burn marks on the outside. It seemed that Aliyah really had been driven mad.

"Alright, let me try simulating the key shape you mentioned with ice and see. You already decrypted some parts earlier, right?"

"Yes... hurry up!"

It seemed that Aliyah was really eager for revenge. She picked up the dagger from the ground and pressed it against my waist.

"Let's go!"

"Alright, alright... don't rush..."

When we reached the lock, Aliyah inserted the dagger and fiddled with it.

"The first section is 0.3 centimeters, with a distance of 0.06 centimeters in between. The second section..."

"Wait a minute! Even if you say that, how am I supposed to know how long 0.06 centimeters is?"

"About this long,"

Aliyah said, gesturing with her hand.

My goodness, even if you use two fingers to show me, I still won't be able to tell!

Do you think I have a ruler on my eyes?

"Alright, here's what we'll do. You set that part to the unlocked position, and I'll freeze it, then you work on the next one, how about that?"

"That works!"

After she moved the first ring inside the lock, I immediately infused it with magic, creating a layer of ice on top.

It seems feasible!

"Be careful!"

Before we could even celebrate, we heard a swishing sound, and an arrow flew past my right side. Then, a scream came from behind me.

I turned my head and saw something resembling a snake floating in the air, with an arrow stuck in its head!

Oh my god!

Here comes the experience again!