“Connect 9 dots with 3 lines?”
I scratched my chin while looking at the puzzle inscribed on the pillar standing in the bear’s territory. It seems that there’s a puzzle in each area, and solving it gives hints.
A thought crossed my mind: at least they didn’t make it impossible to figure out.
Of course…
“Hey! There you are!”
“Aren’t you supposed to give me time to solve the problem?”
“Well, I’m just leisurely following you!”
How is appearing after I’ve read the entire problem at all leisurely? I’m solving the problem while running because I didn’t even have time to think about it. Now, how the heck am I going to solve this one?
It says to connect 9 dots with 3 lines, so I can’t just connect three lines, right? They need to connect!
“Crafting.”
“Well, how innovative, heeheehee—”
Just step back for a moment.
I dropped Vulcanus into a 50-meter pit and started drawing points on the ground, sketching lines all over. I tried drawing up, down, and sideways, realizing this puzzle would not be as easy as the ones I faced before.
Ah, it would be easier to just fight.
“This pit is pretty deep!”
“Crafting.”
Even if I filled the pit, I wouldn’t die.
I kept drawing lines but this vague instruction to connect 9 dots with 3 lines wasn’t going away.
Should I look at something else?
Hearing an earth-shaking boom, I glanced at the pit before getting up.
Maybe I should check something else first—
“Looks like you’re having some fun! Hahaha!”
I looked at the cracked pillar after dodging. The crack formed in the shape crossing the puzzle.
“Ah.”
So that’s how it works. I didn’t have to solve the puzzle inside it.
I immediately drew connecting lines zigzagging through the world.
The puzzle vanished, and a number appeared above it. Four?
The bunker had seven, and here it’s two.
“Oooh! Looks like I solved it! Lumi’s puzzles are always tough!”
I bounced sideways. Using my ankle’s snap, I traveled dozens of meters and clicked my tongue at the shattered puzzle.
Bind the legs? That’s annoyingly difficult.
“Crafting.”
Walls sprang up haphazardly, with numerous traps scattered among them.
Pit traps, snare traps, arrow traps, explosive traps—an overwhelming number of traps covered the area as I leaped to the next zone.
Though I could hear successive explosive sounds behind me, I didn’t need to pay attention. I know they wouldn’t last long anyway.
What matters now is swiftly solving puzzles as I traverse the areas.
Why are there so many rabbits?!
Thinking about it, I guess it’s only natural. Rabbits reproduce like crazy, and the things that eat them have all been swept away. Now, no creatures could stop the rabbits.
Having shoved the rabbits sitting atop the island’s ecological hierarchy aside, I approached the puzzle.
What is this?
There are four sticks making a square. Use one more stick to create two squares?
Ah, I think my head’s about to burst.
Just let me fight already.
Still, I think I somewhat get it.
I just push the stick on the right into the middle and place another stick on the right.
Easy.
“9…maybe?”
“There are quite a few cute ones here! You little rascals!”
Why is it that they come at me with all these rabbits? I dodged a creature that resembled a pile of rabbits charging me, grabbing a handful of dirt.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily!”
“That’s not a given.”
I took out the poison and mixed it with dirt. In an instant, the dirt turned purple, emitting an ominous air.
And—
“Eat this and take a break.”
I waved my hand at the approaching Vulcanus, throwing the dirt soaked in poison in his face. Even he couldn’t entirely dodge the clump, and he reached out to me, covered in dirt.
I evaded his hand and used my skill.
“Crafting.”
His whole body was ensnared by tree roots.
“You can’t stop me with just this much!”
“Do you think I threw dirt for no reason?”
“Hmm? Is that so…”
The voice of Vulcanus gradually weakened as his form crumbled.
Looks like even a fistful of paralysis poison won’t go unnoticed. I glanced down at the rabbit-covered Vulcanus before turning away.
I still had many puzzles left to solve.
———————-
“Vulcanus has been incapacitated.”
“Faster than I thought.”
“That was a pretty predictable outcome for me.”
Lumi looked away from the panel and gazed at the sky dyed in crimson light.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw a sunset.”
“Isn’t it beautiful? Right, Teddy?”
The three quietly admired the dimming sunset. Since they had spent eons within the mansion, it was rare for them to experience such beautiful forms of nature.
“Will we ever have the chance to go outside the mansion?”
“Maria, we’re Quartz.”
At Lumi’s response, Maria silently patted Teddy’s head.
The Quartz family’s contract with Kalon.
In exchange for allowing residency in this world, members of the Quartz family could not leave their designated territory without mutual consent from the head and Kalon.
“I know.”
And because she understood this, her longing grew stronger.
Maria stopped her meaningless chatter and changed the topic.
“…Will the grandson be able to pass through?”
“Who knows?”
‘At least he seems to have the best chance.’
Among those residing in the Quartz family, she thought it would make the most sense to draft the three who looked most favorable. Edmund seemed to be hoping for his success.
‘If she had nominated the jealousy-ridden Jeron or Hazel, they would’ve tried to kill him to prevent it.’
Before the bonds of the Quartz family, those two were incredibly dangerous individuals. They were even locked away separately in a mansion filled with dangerous individuals.
“Lumi. It seems like the grandson has nearly solved the puzzles.”
At her words, Lumi’s gaze returned to the panel. Of the 9 squares floating on her panel, 6 were lit up.
‘Smarter than I expected.’
Once the remaining panels were filled, he should arrive here.
“Lumi, you seem happy.”
“I am happy. It’s been a long time since someone has solved my puzzles.”
“But your puzzles are difficult.”
“I suppose so.”
‘Maybe I should let him solve other puzzles later.’
If Johan heard this, he might have a heart attack. She began to concentrate on the panel.
——————
I feel like I’ve gathered almost all the numbers.
I leaned against the pillar where the additional clues were written, lost in thought.
The hints I’ve gathered so far are 7, 2, 6, 15, with ‘=’ making five in total.
And this hint is 3×3.
What does that mean? Am I supposed to do multiplication or something?
Numbers aren’t my specialty. I was lost in a jumble of numbers, the equals sign, and this unexplained 3×3 hint.
What the heck kind of quiz is this?
I’m not confident in these kinds of things.
Just let me fight. Even a verbal showdown would work.
Sigh. What good is complaining going to do now?
I better either solve it quickly or get moving.
I crossed the Poison Swamp and examined the pillar at the center.
“…This is just a box to write the answer in.”
Do I need to draw a picture?
But with this hint, it should be solvable. I combined the clues I had gathered so far one by one.
First up, 15.
This is the biggest number, so it’s probably the answer.
That’s confirmed to go on the right side of the equals sign.
If I add 7, 2, and 6, I’ll get 15; that seems to complete the equation.
Then, what about 3×3?
What’s the connection between 7+2+6=15 and 3×3?
…Looks like I need to search for more hints… ah.
That’s what it was!
I drew a square on the pillar with my fingernail.
A large square divided into 9 smaller squares. Since it’s 3 squares across and down, that must be the 3×3. And that expression…
I began to fill in the numbers corresponding to the positions of the clues I had gathered.
I confirmed my suspicion as I drew, and my hypothesis became clearer.
This looks like a magic square.
Then the remaining numbers are…
…maybe.
As I wrote my answer on the pillar, the ground began to tremble.
Looking down, I noticed the Poison Swamp was gradually shrinking.
If this keeps up, the Poison Swamp will disappear, revealing the floor.
Seems like I got the answer right.
“I concede.”
A voice came from behind. I turned around to see Lumi patting her hands dryly.
“It was easier than I expected.”
“I didn’t think you’d get it right without gathering all the hints.”
“I was just lucky.”
If I hadn’t accidentally glimpsed the magic square that Elisa was drawing, I would have had quite a hard time.
I was really lucky.
Once I return, I should give Elisa a thankful kiss or something.
“Shall we head back?”
She snapped her fingers as if waking from a dream. At the sound that rang clearly in my ears, I blinked, and we found ourselves back at the beach where we first landed.
“Grandson, you made it through?”
“Now can I inherit the legacy?”
“I wouldn’t know. That’s up to the head to decide.”
[It’s a bit anticlimactic, but I’ll grant you passage.]
…Passed, huh.
I released a breath of relief as I listened to the voice from the sky.
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