#081
I got it right!
A cheer burst out, but there was no time to enjoy the joy. Beyond the open door stretched a dark tunnel like something you’d see in Alice in Wonderland, but behind us the ground was collapsing and ice props were exploding like bombs, so there was no time to worry about this and that.
We jumped into a passage like a water slide at a summer amusement park. And we slid down frantically without knowing where we were going.
The place we tumbled to was unexpectedly an outdoor garden. However, it was a completely different space from the outside. While outside should be a blizzard-struck midnight, this place still had sunlight making it bright, with clear skies and gentle winds. Snow had accumulated but not enough for feet to sink deeply, and while the air was cold, it wasn’t cold enough for exposed skin to freeze.
Just like at the mansion entrance, there were many statues standing here and there. All were made of ice with people and animals intermingled. It was a quiet and peaceful scene, but there was a strange tension in the air. The statues’ eyes didn’t even have pupils drawn, yet I felt strangely like I was being watched. I licked my dry lips from the tension.
Shing.
Carlisle, standing beside me, had somehow drawn his sword. In the quiet atmosphere, only the sharp sound of metal scraping spread distinctly. I too armed myself with my only weapon, a sword.
As expected, it seemed like battling escort troops right before meeting the boss mob was an essential course. I thought all the combat portions of this quest were finished with the battles we fought while climbing the snowy mountain. I don’t know what this sudden situation is when we even left behind Freya, who showed excellent combat skills.
[Mansion Owner Licht: Farmer who has invaded my garden.]
Finally someone’s voice broke the silence. But farmer? It was a designation pointing directly at me. It was probably because I was the player, but somehow it felt ominous.
[Mansion Owner Licht: I have been waiting. But I must confirm whether you are truly the one I have been waiting for.]
We came through properly by solving puzzles and passing legitimately, so what’s with this talk of confirmation again? Forgetting the fact that we broke through the first stage with Carlisle’s physical strength, I grumbled internally.
[Mansion Owner Licht: The test is simple. I will give ten questions. If you answer all the questions, you will be able to meet me safely, but each time you get a question wrong, a penalty will be given to you. Whether you can safely pass through the penalties will depend on your capabilities.]
Even though it was covered white with snow, there was a circular cultivated framework, and the center of that circle split open, creating a path toward us. Low hedged fences made of ice trees and vines also sprouted up along both sides of the path. Since the garden was large in scale, the length of the path was considerable too.
Right in front of where we were, at the starting point of the path, as well as at intervals along the path like obstacle courses, low fence gates were installed. It seemed you could only pass through if the gate opened by getting the question right. The fence gates made of ice thorns were only about waist-high for adults, but when you approached closely, they would instantly surge up to the height of massive castle walls while extending ice thorns like spears, showing aggression.
At the end of that path stood a human-shaped statue. I couldn’t see clearly so I couldn’t be certain, but given the circumstances, it was probably the boss mob, the mansion owner.
[Mansion Owner Licht: The time limit to answer each question is 5 seconds. If you get the answer right, the gate will open; if you get it wrong, penalties will be given until you get it right. All questions must be answered correctly and you must arrive here within 6 minutes. If you try to break through by force like the first checkpoint, I cannot guarantee your lives, so keep that in mind. Well then, shall we begin?]
The voice echoing from the air declared the start of the game.
[Mansion Owner Licht: First question. It’s mine, but other people use it more – what is it?]
A riddle. It’s not usually a field I’m particularly interested in, but this was a question that came up in the game too, so I immediately thought of the answer.
“Name!”
[Mansion Owner Licht: Correct!]
Even though it was the first question, it was so easy I was bewildered. How many times has the hurdle been low because this was my first time since entering this world? But there was no time to think about other things. As soon as the gate opened, I ran quickly without hesitation and stood in front of the next fence gate.
[Mansion Owner Licht: Second question. What breaks more easily the less it weighs?]
The second was the same. A question I’d heard before. I just hesitated briefly because I suddenly couldn’t remember what the answer was, but fortunately the answer came to mind within the time limit.
“Promise!”
[Mansion Owner Licht: Correct! Third question! What is made of nothing, but can destroy everything?]
“Rumor!”
Running along the path that opened smoothly without any hindrance, I was a bit bewildered. Should things go this smoothly? Even while thinking I shouldn’t let my guard down especially at times like this, I unconsciously relaxed bit by bit.
[Mansion Owner Licht: Sixth question! What changes everything but never changes itself?]
Sure enough, finally a question I’d never heard came up. Only then did I hesitate. Having answered so smoothly until now, my mind went completely blank. As I clenched my fists and bit my lips in anxiety, fortunately Carlisle’s voice came from beside me.
“Time.”
Time. Ah, that seems right? Regardless of what the questioner was thinking originally, anything that fits the conditions of the question can be an answer. But.
BANG BANG BANG! THUD!
The moment I felt relieved thinking it was the correct answer, suddenly the ice all around us exploded and large and small fragments flew at us, startling me. It was a penalty. Sharp fragments grazed by, tearing clothes and causing wounds. Since Carlisle pulled me into an embrace, wrapping me in his coat and deflecting the fragments, there was no further damage, but even from the light wounds, my health bar dropped by a whopping 15% in an instant, which was absurd.
‘What? The answer seems right though?’
Carlisle whispered in my confused ear.
“You answer.”
Me? Ah, does the designated player have to answer for it to be recognized? Once more, ice fragments flew in a cluster – no, ice chunks too large to be called fragments – and in the shock of being struck all over my body, I briefly lost consciousness before barely coming to my senses and raising my voice.
“Ti-time? Time!”
“Correct!”
Only then did the ice bombardment stop.
‘Ah, really this damn…’
I seemed to have let my guard down unconsciously because it was easy at first. After being suddenly beaten while relaxed, my mind snapped awake and anger surged up. A monster was a monster. I had felt some pity because of the sad background story, but pity my ass. He was a damn bastard.
Now you’re just a boss mob, a monster trying to kill me. Damn it!
Even so, I couldn’t openly curse at the one holding a sword hilt, so I was seething while swallowing the boiling anger inside when I suddenly heard Carlisle clicking his tongue.
“Tsk.”
And simultaneously his hand brushed my chin.
Since this guy generally clicked his tongue when he had some complaint about me, I tensed slightly. However, he furrowed his brow and ran his thumb across my face once before glaring at the boss statue in front again. The incident at the entrance came to mind. This time too, there was a bit of blood on the finger that wiped my chin.
“……”
What? As if he was annoyed that my face got injured.
But whether I cursed internally or not, whether Carlisle glared at the statue or not, the quiz continued. We approached near the statue. In a place made like a king’s throne sat a man made of ice, lost in grief with one hand covering his face.
[Mansion Owner Licht: Seventh question. What is invisible to the eye but has the most powerful force that shakes people, shakes lives, and shakes the world?]
This was also a question I’d never heard. Like the other questions, but this one was even more ambiguous in its answer. Especially since it was a question of values, couldn’t the answer differ from person to person? But right now we had to think from the perspective of this mansion owner who was the questioner.
While hesitating briefly, I looked at Carlisle and confirmed the answer with lip-reading. Our thoughts matched.
“Love!”
[Mansion Owner Licht: Correct! Then, eighth question. What causes one to freeze in unending sorrow, submerged in flowing tears?]
It wasn’t just my imagination that the questions were gradually flowing into personal territory. What was the reason the mansion owner was submerged in tears and frozen in sorrow?
Heartbreak? Death? Separation?
“Separation?”
[Mansion Owner Licht: Correct! Ninth question. What is most precious to me?]
This bastard is getting more and more… I wanted to shout how would I know that, but I couldn’t. What’s most important to him… probably love. But the answer “love” already came up. Are duplicates allowed? Or more specifically…
“Celia?”
That seemed to be the best choice.
[Mansion Owner Licht: Correct! Excellent. As expected, you seem to be the one I was waiting for. Then you should be able to solve the most important tenth question too.]
Satisfied laughter echoed. Was the cold shiver I felt just due to the weather, or was it an ominous premonition? At this point, I began to think that rather than me proactively getting the answers right, that ghost had been leading me to these answers.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
