[You have done a foolish thing, human!
Do you know what you have done?]
“I got rid of a stupid custom and freed the sacrifices.”
[…You were a stupid fool.
I will just eat you.]
The sphinx opened its mouth.
Right before being eaten, Ulric spoke.
“I request a Riddle [Challenge].”
[…!]
The sphinx could not refuse a riddle.
In the original work, when Ulric gained something like enlightenment on his own around episode 61 and attempted an escape, he also engaged in a Riddle [Challenge] with the sphinx.
‘And he lost.’
And the original work’s plot was that the moment he was locked up again and about to be swallowed whole by the sphinx, he barely survived with the help of the ‘Platinum Druid’ who came to cause destruction to the Tower of Sacrifice.
‘I will Dispose of it myself before that.
And by winning with a riddle at that!’
[Hmmmm… To request a Riddle [Challenge].
It has been a very long time.
Do you know the rules?]
The sphinx’s voice was full of curiosity.
“Of course.”
Taking turns exchanging riddles with each other’s lives on the line.
If one cannot answer, they lose.
“I want to bet not only my life and freedom, but also the lives and freedom of the others trapped in the Tower of Sacrifice.”
[Then what will you offer in return?]
“Everything of myself.
And I will even bet the fate of the greatest alchemist.”
[Fate?
What does that mean?]
“It means this.”
Ulric wrote down a few formulas on the dirt floor with his sword.
The sphinx’s eyes widened.
[Th-that is…!]
“Can you recognize it?”
[Nonsense!
H-how do you know that Alchemical Formula…!]
“Right.
The thing you want most.
It is half of the Alchemical Formula to make the Elixir of Wisdom.”
[Oh, ooooooh…!!]
It thrust its head forward to see that half of the information.
Ulric quickly swept the dirt with his foot and erased it.
“If you beat me, my fate and knowledge are all yours.”
[Good!
That is enough!
I accept this Riddle [Challenge]!]
The sphinx could not hide its excitement.
“Great.
Who should start?”
Naturally, the side giving the riddle first had the advantage.
Because the moment one couldn’t answer, it was a loss.
[I will go first.
Because I am the master of this place.]
Naturally, the sphinx stubbornly insisted on going first.
Ulric chuckled.
“Strictly speaking, the tower is smashed, so isn’t it hard to call this your place anymore?
Well, fine.”
[When a riddle is given, it must be answered within 1 minute.
Also, a correct answer must exist for the riddle, and the one giving the riddle must know the answer.
Do you agree?]