Chapter 54
[All statements made are true.]
"Your outer shell is less than thirty years old... but your soul is more than twice that age. What? Did I hit the mark?"
Those orange eyes of the Sphinx seemed to see straight through me, just like the World Tree I had met before.
It could see the age of my soul.
More precisely, it can probably see the soul itself.
[The first turn has ended.]
[Proceeding to the next turn.]
"Good. Now it's your turn."
At this point in time, there was almost nothing inside the Tower that the Sphinx didn't know.
The countless snakes growing from its mane constantly whispered into its ears, feeding it information about everything happening throughout the Tower.
"Oh, come to think of it, I heard what happened on the lower floor. One of Thanatos's servants appeared, didn't it?"
The Sphinx chuckled.
"What a fool. Trying to devour an unripe soul right away."
Its grin widened.
"Well, thanks to that, I now get to taste some rather delicious souls myself, so I suppose I shouldn't complain."
As if hoping to shake me, it kept spouting cheap provocations.
I remained calm.
"Focus on the contest. If you're doing this because you're afraid of losing, I can understand."
"Yes, yes. Keep thinking that way."
The Sphinx laughed.
"It'll make watching you resort to a lie at the very end all the more entertaining."
This contest was essentially an exchange of information.
The Sphinx was so convinced of its own victory that it was freely revealing things it knew.
That made this an opportunity.
A chance for me to confirm information I knew but wasn't completely certain about.
"My turn."
I looked directly at it.
"The Forgotten Temple is located on the 25th floor."
[All statements made are true.]
The Sphinx froze for an instant.
Then it burst into laughter.
"Khahaha! Bold."
It glanced casually toward Leon.
"To think you'd actually say that out loud. The Constellations watching you won't simply let that pass."
"That's none of your concern. We'll handle it ourselves."
I turned my head slightly toward Leon.
He immediately shook his head over and over, telling me not to worry.
[Some statements have been filtered by an Administrator.]
What? What did he just say?
I couldn't hear it properly ;;
Come on, why cut the flow like that??
Looks like it was blocked on purpose. If it got censored instantly, it must've been something serious.
(screaming in anguish) Aaaagh! I desperately wish to know!
The Sphinx answered without even taking a second to think.
"Hm. Yes. Such a temple does exist."
Its tone changed slightly.
"A pitiful Constellation driven out by the others long ago."
"One so powerful that none could easily challenge them, yet cursed with emotions as weak as a human's."
The Sphinx sneered.
"In the end, that weakness led to imprisonment."
"They committed a grave sin by feeling compassion for insects."
The Forgotten Constellation.
This was information directly from the Sphinx.
And during this contest, neither side could lie.
Which meant every word was true.
Just who is the Forgotten Constellation...?
[The second turn has ended.]
[Proceeding to the next turn.]
"My turn again, then."
The Sphinx sounded far more excited than before.
"It would be unfortunate if the contest ended already..."
It bared its teeth.
"But watching despair spread across your faces might be entertaining in its own way."
It clearly believed this would be the final round.
"Every world inside this Tower is an artificially created world."
Its many serpent heads hissed softly.
"And among them..."
"There is a world modeled partly after your own."
The Sphinx watched me closely.
"To put it simply, a parallel Earth."
"Your family, acquaintances, even lovers may exist there as completely different people."
[All statements made are ‘true’.]
The Sphinx had clearly expected victory.
But when nothing happened, its shoulders twitched.
For the first time, the confidence on its face began to crack.
"...Y-You knew even that?"
Its eyes shook.
"Just how much do you know?"
"In the past several hundred years, no one has ever survived more than two of my answers."
Its voice grew unsteady.
"How did you...?"
The place it was talking about was the 40th floor.
Of course I knew.
Before my regression, countless Players had chosen to settle there instead of continuing upward.
Oh, so he knew.
LMAO look at that face.
An arrogant bastard getting humbled? Peak entertainment lol
(nodding with satisfaction) Agreed.
Is this the first time that thing's ever looked this rattled? Makes it even creepier ㄷㄷ
He was never on the level of a Player who had just reached the 20th floor anyway. Maybe he really can beat the Sphinx?
Hmm, but this is a battle of knowledge. Beating the Sphinx at that still sounds impossible. It's still a retainer-class being.
"Your mouth suddenly stopped moving. You must be getting nervous."
"...!"
The Sphinx ground its teeth.
For the first time, it was experiencing genuine anxiety.
I ignored it and walked right up to its enormous body.
Standing directly before those giant eyes, I spoke in a low voice.
"This will be the last one."
I paused.
"My turn."
The Sphinx stared at me.
Then I said it.
"This Tower... has been rewound exactly once."
"...What?"
Its expression froze.
"What did you just..."
[The statement is ‘true’.]
The Sphinx flinched.
"T-True...?"
It looked genuinely terrified.
Its pupils shook more violently than ever.
What did he just say?
The whole sentence got censored, so no idea. Judging by that reaction, it must've been huge....
Damn it, what the hell was it? What could possibly shock the Sphinx that badly?
(dropping to his knees) Please tell me. Sob, sob.
Even Leon, who was managing the broadcast, apparently couldn't hear what I had said.
He tilted his head at me in confusion.
[ W-What did you just say, nya? Why couldn't even I hear it, nya? H-Huh? ]
Then messages appeared one after another.
[You have stated knowledge unknown to your opponent.]
[Congratulations. The winner of the contest is ‘Player Lee Suhyeok’.]
[The promised rewards will now be granted.]
The items and key entered my inventory.
I had obtained everything I came here for.
"N-No..."
The Sphinx shrank back in fear.
"This cannot be...."
It began trembling.
"This cannot be happening...!!"
Watching that massive creature cower like that was almost pathetic.
"You lost, Sphinx."
Rrrrrrrrk...
The sealed door opened.
I turned and started walking toward it.
Then...
"...I refuse to accept it...."
The Sphinx's voice shook.
"How dare..."
Its eyes twisted with rage.
"How dare I lose to a mere insect...!!!!"
Unable to accept its defeat, the Sphinx raised its enormous front paw and brought it crashing down toward me.
