Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 191 (Part 1):

‘let’s start with the head’

Helmut understood that brief word perfectly.

It was only then that Helmut drew his sword. Had he drawn it earlier, he would not have been able to refrain from striking down the foe.

He quickly charged towards the centipede-like golem, a monster more grotesque than any other.

Helmut’s sword relentlessly pierced through the giant centipede’s segments.

As Alea had recited, it was the fifth, sixth, second, and first segments in that order.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Four distinct sounds echoed. The moment he pierced through the first segment, the centipede’s body turned pale white.

Simultaneously, a door leading to the next room appeared.

“It’s over.”

Brushing off his sword, Helmut tilted his head slightly, puzzled by something unusual.

“This time, there was no space to input an answer.”

“By defeating the monster, the answer was input automatically. The fact that this type came up means it might continue in the future.”

Alea glanced at Helmut briefly.

She had made the right decision to bring him along. It was rare to find a swordsman who could wait calmly and then handle a golem so swiftly and cleanly.

Besides, he was tight-lipped. Even if she hired a first-rank mercenary from the guild, it might not be as effective as him.

However, she had no time to commend her choice.

“There are about 20 rooms left, with around 2 hours and 20 minutes remaining.”

Alea frowned. The progress was slower than she had thought. She felt they needed a break, but it also seemed like a bad time to rest.

“If we maintain clear roles like this, the resolution should be quicker.”

“It might not be so easy from now on.”

Alea did not forecast positively. Preparing for the worst was the right approach.

As the levels neared 100, the challenges would get more difficult.

Until now, Helmut dealt with the golems while Alea solved the puzzles.

But going forward, it might not be easy for Alea to avoid being targeted.

A creature immune to stealth magic might appear. It would be nice if things ended quickly, but entering Lampione’s dungeon meant such hopes should be abandoned.

“Let’s go to the next room.”

Helmut gestured with his chin.

Twenty more rooms were waiting for them. There was no rush to discuss until all rooms were cleared.

*

After the 70th room, combat was involved. No longer was there a need to record answers.

But this wasn’t merely about recording or not.

‘Combination of combat and knowledge-based challenges.’

Alea narrowed her eyes and scanned the surroundings. Helmut’s hand moved towards his sword.

The space was buzzing as if filled with flapping wings. The room was spacious, unlike before, but no golems were visible.

“Then it must be underground?”

No, since it’s a room, they might emerge through the ceiling or walls. There was something in the center of the room.

“Cocoons?”

Four massive cocoons hung from the ceiling, positioned at the center.

Alea, spotting the insect drawings beneath them, alternated her gaze between the cocoons and the drawings as she explained.

“This drawing, I think I know. It’s a very rare bee used in magic potions. The venom in its tail sting is potent. It’s useful from head to toe.”

“Are there bees inside?”

The white cocoons seemed to breathe, wriggling as if bees might burst out at any moment.

Helmut naturally harbored a doubt.

“Why are they still in cocoons? Moreover, there are four. Shouldn’t there be only one queen bee?”

“That’s right. Something is written on the first cocoon.”

Alea approached the cocoon. Helmut couldn’t read the script, meaning it wasn’t in the common tongue.

“Before the monarch is born, find and destroy the cocoon of truth. Otherwise, the legion will attack you.”

Alea’s brows furrowed.

“It seems like this room itself has a time attack set up. Considering the sounds around, the hidden bees are under the dominion of the creature in these cocoons. A swarm could indeed be described as a legion. If we can’t solve the problem before the creature breaks out of the cocoon, they will swarm and attack us.”

The thought of being attacked by a swarm made her spine tingle.

“So what about the three chances per puzzle?”

“The rules Lampione mentioned at the start still apply. If we eliminate all the bees or return to the previous room, the room resets to its original state. So, the position of the cocoons would change as well. Anyway, it’s one of these four.”

Alea left unsaid, but if attacked by the bees and killed, that would be the end. There was no mercy here.

By the 70th room, there had been no need to worry, but originally, dungeons were perilous places that demanded risking one’s life.

“If you don’t know about bees, this puzzle is unsolvable.”

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