Chapter 25: Dee│Read translated stories and daily updates at: Awebstories.com

The door opened into a large, high-ceilinged room that resembled the great hall of a castle.

There was no sign of life in the room, which was unusually quiet. It looked like there could have been a boss monster or some sort of large-scale mechanics, but all that was present was a single massive stone statue.

A stone statue standing alone, with a human face, a lion-like body, and powerful wings.

They were on the lookout for traps or surprise attacks, but there was no movement.

There was no way to get to the back. It’s a dead end.

—Is there a secret passage somewhere?

A moment later, the stone statue’s eyes light up gold.

“D-Did it just move?”

“That’s a sphinx.”

【Appraisal】Stone Golem. A stone-based magical life form.

—Stone golem?

That’s exactly the kind of stone golem they’ve encountered in the passage so far.

Aside from the size and possible power, it’s probably a stone golem in the form of the Sphinx monster.

—Anyway, I know how to defeat the stone golem. Make ice on the joints, blow it up, and then break it…eh?

[Maggots in the morning, rocks during the day, and fire at night. What exactly is it?]

A deep voice echoes through the hallways.

“…What?”

[Maggots in the morning, rocks during the day, and fire at night. What exactly is it?]

(Awebstories.com) Other interpretations: four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs at night.

Lysette doesn’t understand what the stone golem said, so she asks again, and it politely repeats it. But she has no idea what it means.

“It’s a riddle—if you can solve it, you will be able to pass without difficulty. It will try to eat you alive if you get it wrong or don’t answer.”

—The stone golem is? How can a stone golem eat people?

Lysette’s head is buzzing with questions.

—If a stone golem can eat, that means it’s alive. It means it has internal organs… Does that mean the stone golem can be eaten?!

Lysette’s anticipation grows.

—But It looks like a stone, but has the same exoskeleton as the Mimic? I wonder what it tastes like!!!

“You must know the answer to the riddle if you know so much.”

Leonhardt gave a thoughtful look in response to Dee’s explanation.

“…No, it’s not the Sphinx’s riddle that I’m aware of…”

“Does Leon understand the riddle?”

“…Four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs at night…. Maybe a human being?”

“What?”

Leonhardt continued towards the unconvincing Dee.

“As babies we crawl around on all fours, and as adults we walk on two legs. As we get older, we use a cane, so we have three legs.”

“Ah, I see… Four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs at night—what in the world is that? I don’t get it.”

Dee scratches his head.

Leonhardt is also pondering and has a worried look on his face.

Lysette ponders and comes to a decision. Her face tightens and she lifts her head.

“I got it, this question must be related to the original question.”

“Did you figure something out, Lysette?”

“Yes, knowing the Sphinx riddle, the answer is clearly humanoid. That is…”

People come in many different races, such as humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, lilliputians, ogres, and so on.

Lysette raises her eyes to the Sphinx’s head.

“Dwarf is the answer!”

[Explain.]

“It is said that dwarves came into being when the goddess transformed maggots that gathered around giants. Dwarves were born and lived underground or in caves and rose as blacksmiths who could manipulate fire and iron at will!”

She looked at Sphinx and made a motion with her finger.

“That’s the answer, dwarf, the great blacksmith!”

[Excellent answer! ☆★☆]

A powerful voice full of cheers shakes the hall.

Then the body of the Sphinx is split in half and an amber colored magic stone glows in the middle.

The sphinx comes to a stop as if propelled by the magic stone.

Leonhardt and Dee, who were preparing to fight, lowered their arms.

“I’m pretty sure it was built by dwarves.”

“I think so, too.”

A low murmur echoed through the corridor.

A stairway to the bottom appears at the far end of the Sphinx and the Return Gate.

“The staircase leads to the fourth layer. That was kind of a bummer…”

“That’s because we were all working together—it’s nice to have company. We wouldn’t have gotten this far on our own.”

—I understand why the elven alchemist and guild staff suggested forming a group first.

—What you can’t do alone, you can accomplish with the help of others if you band together.

Lysette is moved to appreciate the value of companionship.

“Okay, let’s go home.”

Dee starts to walk toward the exit to the surface.

Lysette looked lonely as she watched Dee walk straight to the Gate of Return.

—I discovered how wonderful a companion is, and now I understand the loneliness of being alone.

When Dee returns his gaze, he notices Leonhardt and Lysette standing still and smiling at him.

“What’s the problem? You’re not going any further, are you?”

“Yes, we are going on.”

“No, don’t you have to go back and resupply?! That would be dangerous…”

“Thank you, Dee. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without your help. It’s been a pleasure spending time with you.”

They make a deep bow.

Although their relationship was brief, Lysette enjoyed her time with Dee.

—I am relieved to see him leave the Dungeon safely and joyfully.

“Please accept my thanks as well—your help has saved me many times, and I couldn’t have made it through this level without Dee’s help.”

“Really…”

Dee murmured in dismay, letting his gaze wander back and forth between the return gate and Lysette and Leonhardt.

He sighed deeply and turned away from the return gate.

“It’s unavoidable! For once, I’ll accompany you as far as I can.

“Is that alright with you?!”

“Don’t say another word.”

He gives a thumbs up.

Lysette was relieved and encouraged to see him.

“So, what are you guys up to?”

“…Dragon slaying.”

“I didn’t hear anything!”

“And dragon steak, too!”

“Wait, seriously?!”

Dee’s face turns pale and he runs towards the return gate.

“One second though, you can go without me…! Ahhhhh! The return gate is already closed!”

Dee fell to his knees as the glowing return gate disappeared.

“Hahaha. It’s too late.”

“Don’t be so silly! It’s almost impossible to defeat a dragon!”

“Well~ everything is a learning experience. Don’t worry about it. I’m still a beginner too!”

“This is nothing but stress!!!”

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