Episode 125
There’s a problem here out of nowhere.
Tick-.
At that moment, the sound of a clock was heard from somewhere, and the shadow of the second hand actually appeared on the sign.
‘Is it magic?’
There doesn’t seem to be anything unusual about the sign itself, so that’s probably the case.
The second hand on the sign moved slowly, but looking at the speed, it seemed to take 60 seconds to complete one revolution.
I was even more bewildered by the sudden situation… As for Shinsu, I heard something from the last conversation with Sanghyeolgong.
There are a total of five divine beasts that Badniker is ministering to, each being a deer, a rat, a sheep, a dog, and a snake.
In other words, the correct answer here is number 3, deer.
Coincidentally, there are 4 intersections as shown in the question, so this means you have to take the third path, right?
Jeopuk-.
With that in mind, the moment I passed the third path.
[answer.]
[Rewards are strengthened.]
An artificial voice was heard.
[To stop here, turn right.]
A fork in the road appeared again inside the crypt.
‘aha.’
In other words, if you go straight forward, you will solve the next problem, and if you go to the right, you will be done.
Although it was a situation where I had no idea what problems would arise, I went straight ahead.
And then a sign appeared again with a slightly wider space.
[2. Choose the one that best fits the description among the following. (2 points)
– One of the four famous swords on the continent.
– A treasured sword that has been passed down from generation to generation in Badniker, handled by the black fairy Kusset.
– Among the four famous swords, it has the strongest aptitude for exorcism.
① Michael ② Gabriel ③ Uriel ④ Raphael
Current score: 1 point.
※Caution※ If you answer incorrectly, two molars.]
The number of points that can be obtained has increased, and a current score item has been added.
And then the second hand started ticking again.
I looked at the problem again.
“… “Umm.”
I have no idea.
There are more than one or two treasured swords in Badniker, and the name of the sword (劍名) is also the first I’ve heard of it.
These are names that even I, who sold my family’s treasured sword, have heard for the first time.
Also, what are these precautions from earlier?
“Two molars if you answer wrong?”
What does this mean that you are going to pull out a live tooth?
Whoever wants.
I snorted, but that doesn’t seem right to address the issue at all.
The moment you wonder what to do.
[I am Michael.]
Martial God’s voice was heard.
Somehow, I said, thinking that it had been a long time.
‘You also have knowledge about relics, right?’
[That is not a relic. It is now a forgotten divine name.]
‘What does it mean?’
[It doesn’t mean anything. Rather… I feel a very evil energy in front of me.]
I said as I walked down the first path.
[answer.]
[Rewards are strengthened.]
[To stop here, turn right.]
‘Then shall we stop here?’
Is it because of something I experienced while a priest?
Now I am ready to accept Musin’s advice.
You can get information about the great punishment from the academy, and you don’t necessarily have to stick to snakes when it comes to contracts with divine beasts.
[no. Although he is evil, he doesn’t seem to have any immediate hostility.]
‘hmm.’
[For now, let’s keep going, Yeonja. I too am curious about this issue. If I feel uncomfortable, I will tell you right away.]
‘All right.’
I nodded and went deeper into the crypt.
It was a difficult fact to realize, but this crypt had a slightly sloping shape.
So, the more problems you solve, the deeper you go.
It was a place without a single light, but strangely it wasn’t dark.
Even though it’s dark, you can clearly see things around you.
[3. Among the following, choose a race that was treated as an intelligent race as a member of the Allied Powers in the past, but is currently treated as a monster. (2 points)
① Kobold ② Orc ③ Lizardman ④ Gnoll
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Current score: 3 points.
※Caution※ In case of wrong answer, two ears.]
[4. Which of the following was one of the seven races that had the greatest power in the past, but is now the least numerous and difficult to find? (1 point)
① Giant ② Balaur ③ Fairy ④ Ikcheon
Current score: 5 points.
※Caution※ In case of wrong answer, five fingers.]
There were things I knew, and there were things I didn’t know.
To be honest, I didn’t know most of the things, but I was able to solve the problems without difficulty.
[I am a lizardman.]
[Braul.]
This is because Musin gave the correct answer.
[The person who raised this question seems to be very knowledgeable in history.]
Mushin spoke with admiration at first, but his demeanor changed slightly by the time he solved the eighth problem.
[8. The Unnamed Empire, the only country on the continent today, started out as a federation. So, how many countries were there in total when the federation was first established? Choose from the following: (5 points)
① 5 countries ② 7 countries ③ 10 countries ④ 15 countries
Current score: 15 points.
※Caution※ If you answer incorrectly, use your tongue.]
Of course, I don’t know the answer this time, but for now, my mind is focused on number 2.
I heard the legend of the nameless king who united the seven races until it hit my ears hard.
I’m waiting quietly for Musin’s voice, but for some reason, he doesn’t seem to open his mouth easily.
‘Mushin?’
[…] Number 4. 15 countries.]
I nodded and entered the fourth crypt. Then again, a voice was heard congratulating the correct answer.
Now that I think about it, the question I just asked was worth 5 points.
Musin spoke in a slightly more serious voice.
[…] I didn’t know there was still someone left who knew the starting point of the empire.]
‘Is the truth difficult to know?’
[That’s right. That was one of the most turbulent times in the history of the continent. Because we didn’t know how small actions would be remembered in history later, all opposing groups tried desperately to destroy each other’s records.]
‘hmm… … .’
[Was there an old book left? or not… … .]
‘… … .’
[For now, let’s keep going.]
I kept walking as he said, and faced the next problem.
[9. Choose the most heterogeneous devil among the following. (5 points)
① Demon King of the Green Tongue ② Demon King of the Black Swamp ③ Demon King of the Blood Moon ④ Colorless Demon King
Current score: 20 points.
※Caution※ If you answer incorrectly, one arm is given.]
At this point I looked beyond the crypt for the first time.
Somehow, I felt as if someone from beyond was observing me.
[Uhm… … .]
Musin, who had been responding without hesitation, also expressed his disapproval for the first time.
[This problem is strange. The standard of heterogeneity itself is too subjective. This means that it is unclear what standard to judge by.]
‘… … .’
[In the first place, each of the beings who are evil spirits are the lords of hell and are inherently transcendent. From a human perspective, they are categorized as demon lords, but in reality, they have little in common. Everyone is different.]
‘… … .’
[…] Yeonja, what are you thinking?]
‘I think I have a lot of enemies in my arms.’
I blurted out nonsense and looked at the problem once again.
Now that I think about it, I have already seen three demon lords.
And what I realized was that, as Musin said, they had nothing in common.
Right now, just Nine and Tangtata were all different, from their appearance to their atmosphere and ability to use them.
but… … .
Regardless of that fact, I know exactly who the most heterogeneous demon lord is.
As Musin said, the expression ‘heterogeneous’ is somewhat ambiguous.
No matter how many different Demon Lords there are, there must be only one from another world.
Jeopuk-.
Although I still had time, I moved to the fourth crypt without hesitation.
[Yeoja? Too hasty-.]
[answer.]
As the inorganic voice spoke, Mushin closed his mouth in a somewhat embarrassed manner.
Come to think of it, the forgotten warrior knew well about Baek No-gwang, but he seemed not to know about his disciple.
When I first heard that he had gained a disciple, I was very surprised.
I also suddenly became curious.
Why did the Master suddenly withdraw his disciples? Was there any reason why the first thing he achieved was the ambassadorship? Could this have anything to do with the excommunication of the ambassador?
It was surprising to me, but I realized that I knew very little about Master.
‘… By the way, how many problems have you had?’
At this point, it seems like we have descended quite deep underground.
The moment I had that thought, the sign appeared again, but there was something different from before.
This time there were only two crypts.
[10. Choose the correct answer. (10 points)
① Left ② Right
Current score: 25 points.
※Caution※ If you answer incorrectly, your life will be lost.]
Are you sane?
Without any clues, just choose left or right?
[…] Yeonja.]
‘wait a minute.’
I stopped Musin from speaking.
Did you say that you sense evil in the beings beyond this?
Even if he’s not evil, he’s probably not a sane person at least.
Tick-.
Look at the problem again.
Looking at the risk of life and death if I get it wrong, I thought that this might be the last time and wondered if this was really the only clue given.
Should I just give up?
Wouldn’t it be okay to go back the way you came and take the right path?
I thought about that for a moment, but shook my head.
It is unlikely that such a knowledgeable test taker would have thoughtlessly asked this question at the last minute.
There will be some hint.
Tick-.
I closed my eyes for a moment, ignoring the sound of the clock.
I also thought about the problems so far in order and imagined the personality of the test taker.
Although there will be a lot of subjectivity and prejudice mixed in.
‘A knowledgeable and gloomy fellow. He likes to play with people and has a cruel side?
If you put it all together, you’ll end up as a poor bastard… … . Surprisingly, the rewards and punishments are clear, and there may be a just tendency.
It was said that the opportunity to stop in the middle was given several times, and the reward increased as the problem was solved.
‘Did such a person come at the end and raise such a half-hearted question?’
An unnatural choice that appeared at the last moment.
I slowly opened my eyes and cooled my heated head.
The remaining time is probably 3 seconds.
I counted in my mind.
‘Three, two, one.’
Tick-.
Finally, the second hand stopped moving.
“… … .”
Nothing happened.
That’s not all.
[answer.]
Kurrrr… … .
With an inorganic voice, a new passage appeared between the two roads.
Kurrrr… … .
I sighed deep in my heart.
“… “You sneaky bastard.”
The guess was correct.
Unlike before, there was no ‘next’ in the problem description.
In other words, the correct answer was not among the choices, so there is only one option left.
Choosing nothing.
It was an obvious trap, but… By solving the nine problems presented earlier, an atmosphere was created to make students feel pressured within the time limit.
With a tired expression on my face, I looked beyond the suddenly revealed space.
‘What on earth are you doing?’
I had the thought of wanting to take a look and the thought of not wanting to even look at it at the same time.
I first walked to the central crypt.
Jerk.
The moment I first stepped into an unusually dark crypt, I felt as if my entire body was surrounded by an unidentified liquid.
Although I was a little surprised, I soon realized that it was a sensation I had experienced before.
It feels similar to when moving through space with the ring I received from Assad.
Just like that time, my vision blacked out for a moment, but soon the inside was revealed in a blur.
“… hmm.”
Should this really be called a library?
Books in a library would usually be shelved on bookshelves, but here the books were scattered haphazardly on the floor.
I also saw a place where books were gathered together and rose up like a mountain.
Slurp-.
There was even water on the ground, but what was surprising was that the floating books were not wet at all.
For now, let’s move on.
As I keep checking my surroundings as I walk, I realize that there are a lot of unnecessary tools to simply call it a ‘library’.
Glass bottles and beakers filled with various reagents, brain cells, intestines, or unknown monster body parts, skull-shaped candles… … .
There were unknown dolls and stuffed animals hanging on the ceiling and walls, and on the table in the very center was a crystal ball that gave off a bright light.
However, among the objects in the room, the one that caught my eye by far was the pot.
It was filled with something that looked like dark green porridge, and the staff was stirring the contents all by itself.
‘It looks like a witch’s workshop, not a wizard.’
Actually, I don’t even know the exact difference between a wizard and a witch.
Anyway, after taking a quick look around, it doesn’t seem particularly popular.
Could it be that the owner has gone out?
“… “I never thought someone so bright and young could answer all ten questions correctly.”
At that time, I heard a voice that seemed to be suppressed by something.
Unless my ears are dead, I think I heard a voice coming from underneath the mountain of books in the center of the room.
Rumbling… … .
At that moment, the books piled up shook.
fantasy,
