HEO 43

Based solely on the reasoning process so far, chest 3 was closest to the correct answer. But if they assumed the chest’s claim was ‘only half true,’ it became impossible to reach an answer. Did he overcomplicate things again? Yet if the problem was this easy, it would be suspicious. Could this really be a guessing game? Should he stake everything on a single stroke of luck?

As this thought occurred to him, Wolf grew anxious. No way! It would be strange if a commoner boy who hated studying could breeze through logic problems. He just hadn’t found the clue yet.

“Hey. Servant.”

Black Weasel’s voice pulled Wolf from his thoughts. The assassin bared his teeth, an axe slung over his shoulder. He looked like a wolf who’d spotted a plump rabbit just as its stomach started growling.

“Those damn chests giving you a headache?”

“……Yes.”

“Don’t you want to finish this quickly?”

“Sir. There’s still time left.”

Wolf clenched his fist. He felt the urge to punch that despicable assassin. Black Weasel’s scheme was crystal clear. He wanted someone to open the third chest. If the fairy was inside, everyone lived. If not? He’d just put someone else in front of the chests.

Irredeemable bastard! He doesn’t even have patience!

“You said you’d give us time until the clown rotates nine times. Please just wait until then.”

“Damn it, what’s gonna come out of waiting? To me, this isn’t even a logical problem. You’ve been barking up the wrong tree the whole time. I’ll give you credit for trying hard to think it through.”

“Fucking hell, but I agree with that asshole. This is a guessing game, you know? Has this kid never gambled before? He’s got zero sense.”

The woman splashed water with her crutch as she grumbled. Black Weasel pointed at the chests with a chin gesture.

“You fake one-eyed bastard, open chest 3. The odds are 50-50, so it’s not a one-sided losing game. You’ve gambled before, right? You know that thrill when you lose everything and only one last card remains in your hand? Enjoy it again this time.”

“Bullshit. Well, I guess it is thrilling.”

The woman spat and raised her middle finger toward the air.

“Why is there no alcohol at this party! Bring it out!”

〔The clown’s third rotation has ended.〕

〔The clown begins its fourth rotation.〕

Wolf was unable to tear his gaze away from the lining of the robe he clutched in both hands. Red Eagle grabbed Wolf’s shoulder.

“Wolf, let’s believe there’s a fairy in chest 3. Even if there isn’t, it’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”

Despite the prince’s consolation, Wolf found it hard to shake his gloom. Was the solution really just guessing? For a god, shouldn’t it set a more intellectual problem? Or are the Stoll gods as dim-witted as the Stoll people?

“It’s alcohol! Alcohol!”

A sudden cheer rang through Wolf’s ears. Black Weasel and the woman with the eye patch ran forward, arms raised high like children greeting a conquering hero. Several wooden barrels had appeared somewhere nearby. Black Weasel and the woman each grabbed a barrel and gulped down the contents.

[Pwaaah! Life is so worth living!]

[Damn it! This is worth living for!]

Black Weasel and the woman shouted as they pulled their mouths away from the barrels. The fairy clicked her tongue and shouted.

〔The lady’s right! A party needs alcohol! It’s my gift!〕

Wolf and Red Eagle stared at each other in shock. How could they guzzle alcohol when they were on the brink of life and death…

“S-Silver?!”

And then Silver ran over too. He grabbed a barrel, gulped it down, then threw his head back.

[Ah, life is so worth living!]

Black Weasel, Silver, and the woman with the eye patch chattered away in Stoll, each trying to outdo the other in drinking. As the alcohol kicked in, Black Weasel and the woman linked arms and even started singing at the top of their lungs.

Fuck it’s late at night, I’m still empty-handed! I should drink, because if I drink, I can roll around with pretty women, women who will disappear when I sober up, but fuck! But this is a pretty cool life! I’m drinking!

Wolf was dumbfounded. Black Weasel and Silver were cheerful, and even the woman was in high spirits. She didn’t even seem to resent Black Weasel, who had driven her into this predicament.

“Hey! You guys have a drink too!”

Silver staggered over while hugging a barrel of liquor. Wolf and Red Eagle waved their hands dismissively.

“We’re fine.”

“Ha! Fine? You’re trembling, scared you might die. You’ve already died once, so what’s one more time?”

“More than that, I’m just surprised you’re drinking when you’re about to die…”

“So what? Do the people of Atania drink milk instead?”

“What I mean is… it’s disrespectful to the lady.”

“Oh, are you criticizing me? Aren’t you sorry in front of someone about to die?”

Silver raised one corner of his mouth. A mocking light flashed in his Alice blue eyes

“To tell you the truth, whether we roll this way or that, we’re dead. Even if we get out of here safely, we’ll get tangled up in some bizarre problem again. The only difference is the order, we’ll all die.”

Wolf couldn’t speak for a moment. The back of his head felt numb.

“Um, Silver. You… think the god will break the promise? Why?”

“That’s not a god. It’s anevil spirit.”

Silver interrupted.

“It denied hell. A god could never do that.”

Wolf was speechless. He was right?

“The evil spirits in Stoll folklore and mythology all lie, testing or tormenting people. That blacksmith Bingapsu supposedly met survived miraculously. But if you ask me whether such a grand miracle could happen to us, I’d say no.”

Silver took another swig of liquor and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Let me tell you something? The people of Stoll believe drinking even when facing death makes for a splendid life. Look, that Bingapsu bastard doesn’t even put on airs anymore, he just drinks himself silly.”

“Silver, what you’re saying…”

Red Eagle spoke in a trembling voice.

“You mean… you’ve given up too?”

“Yeah. Given up.”

Silver shrugged.

“Bingapsu… ever since he saw the finger monster, lost his motivation. But the skeleton evil spirit’s temper doesn’t seem too vicious. Those who couldn’t form a group and the chief warrior died without suffering.”

〔The clown’s fourth rotation has ended.〕

〔The clown begins its fifth rotation.〕

“It sped up by two beats again.”

Silver’s words made Wolf jump in surprise once more. He was counting the beats even while drinking?! It couldn’t be easy to count without seeing the clown.

He was curious to see just how skilled Silver was. The only skills he’d shown were dagger throwing and scaling cave walls, but both were extraordinary. More importantly, he possessed immense courage and was level headed. In every aspect, talent and temperament, he was a natural-born warrior. Perhaps even top-tier among Stoll’s warriors.

“You really won’t drink? Fine, forget it! Go cry with your crybaby prince!”

Silver ran over to Black Weasel and the woman. He linked arms with them and started singing. His expression was bright and joyful. It was the expression Wolf sometimes imagined. In a field of blooming wildflowers, they lay side by side, only a hand’s distance apart, Silver’s face beaming at him.

But what surrounded Silver now was not a field. Beneath a cold dome, beside chests crouched like monsters, he was splashing through water that had risen to his calves. Silver splashed water on Black Weasel and the woman. It was just like when he played pranks on Wolf and Red Eagle at the hot springs back when they lived together in the cave.

“Wolf… Let’s join them over there…”

Wolf suddenly came to his senses at Red Eagle’s words. At some point, Red Eagle had started shedding tears.

“He said even he’s given up… Stoll evil spirits are nothing but liars and monsters… we all die, just in a different order… let’s just drink and have fun too…”

“Your Highness.”

Wolf sighed and said.

“Even if you mingle with them, can you really drink and splash around like they do? We are Atanians. We were taught not to even cough in front of a dying person. Just as they accept death the Stoll way, we must accept it the Atanian way. It won’t be easy, but try to maintain a calm demeanor.”

“Wolf. You sounded like a prince just now.”