Doomsday Wonderland Vol. 12: New Game Launch [Complete]

1393: On the Edge of Exile

Lin Sanjiu didn't know how she had endured another two days. Since the field-fallowing plan started three days ago, every day was the same. She would wake up at 4:50 AM and lie weak, hungry, and dizzy before mustering the energy to get up and eat a food ball.

By 5 AM, all four farmers would begin plowing the fields, working non-stop until 10 AM. Then, they could take another food ball and nap while Louisa inspected and fixed the farming tools. Thus, their day was divided into three segments: work for five continuous hours and rest for an hour. Lin Sanjiu felt that these brief rests, rather than rejuvenating her, made the upcoming work seem even longer and tougher — not to mention that to let the grand prize rest a little longer, she would work an extra hour at night.

By 9 PM, when the day's work ended, she would often be so exhausted that she couldn't think straight. Once, she even mistakenly thought Han Suiping was still alive—only to snap back to reality upon seeing the covered body in the corner.

A worker and a tax collector had a much easier life than farmers. While the worker still had several hours of work daily, the tax collector only needed to make a single trip daily, taking less than an hour. Apart from Horst occasionally mumbling, "I wish I'd chosen to be a tax collector," the room was mostly filled with Louisa and Jian Sheng's inaudible murmurs. After all, even speaking was an effort for the farmers.

The biggest solace was the increasing number of food balls beside Silvan. They were neatly packed in paper and stacked in orderly piles on the ground. Whenever Lin Sanjiu felt she was reaching her limit, she would glance at them. The more food balls there were, the closer she was to the end of the grand prize's plan. Regardless of the grand prize's true intent, the hard days would soon end.

On the morning of the fifth day of the field-fallowing plan, Louisa suddenly raised her voice and called out to Silvan, who was far across the room.

"You only eat three food balls a day. That can't be enough, can it?" She sat next to Jian Sheng by the field, a distance away from Han Suiping. "We're barely managing with four a day. Given that your role is the most crucial, shouldn't you be eating more?"

'How is his role the most crucial?' Lin Sanjiu thought. She was too exhausted and occupied by the plowing before her eyes to dwell on it. If it was crucial, so be it.

Nearby, Ji Shanqing paused, drawing her attention as well.

Silvan was leaning against the wall, having not moved for quite some time. Even though she couldn't see his face clearly, Lin Sanjiu could sense that his energy and strength had greatly diminished. This was the first time she had seen Silvan appear so pale and vulnerable.

Upon hearing Louisa's question, he paused for several seconds before finally speaking up.

"No... no need," he said. His smoky voice now sounded even huskier and somber, as if it would crumble into dust and blow away with the slightest breeze.

"But with only three food balls, isn't even talking a struggle?" Jian Sheng asked.

Silvan seemed about to shake his head but remained motionless. "I'm fine... don't worry about me," he murmured, his eyes cast downward. "We just have to hold on for another two or three days, and then it will all be over."

Both nodded, exchanging a glance.

"Well... if you're sure there's no problem..." Louisa began, clutching the corner of her garment tightly. "Would you mind addressing the words on the wall?"

What words?

Stunned, Lin Sanjiu realized she'd been so focused on farming that she hadn't looked up in a long time. It seemed she wasn't the only one. When the grand prize looked up, he took a sharp breath upon seeing the text on the wall.