Ariadne - Labyrinth of Questions 3

[bakemonoremy]

Location: Inside the Labyrinth

- A short while after the beginning of the treasure hunt -



Niki: Oh boy, how much longer ‘til I get my beef tongues~? I can’t wait!

They’re inside a Golden Treasure Chest, right? That means it should be sparkling golden and super easy to see!

Kohaku: Niki-han, can ya drop the beef tongue thing already? Yer ruinin’ the tense atmosphere.

Keep in mind that we’re locked inside a labyrinth here, will ya.

HiMERU: Considering that it was the Vice President who prepared this, the beef tongues may be positioned close to the exit of the labyrinth, based on how the program is named after a cow-adjacent monster.

Kohaku: Not you too, HiMERU-han. Feels like yer lettin’ Niki-han coax ya into sayin’ moronic stuff.

HiMERU: Oh my. HiMERU was merely attempting a deduction based on the information we currently have.

— Well, Crazy:B has survived as a unit by circumventing the rules.

Since we’re unable to make use of this strong point of ours in this isolated environment we’re placed in, not a lot of the footage they get will be of much use.

Given that they intend to broadcast this as a variety show, Shiina’s thoughtless manner should work out well for that purpose.

Niki: Mean of you to call me thoughtless when I’m as serious as can be! There’s food on the line!

Speaking of which, I’m not the only one they prepared a Golden Treasure Chest for, right? What did you guys say you want?

Feels weird when I’m the only one who’s desperate, so spit it out already, guys ♪

Kohaku: Uhh… Bein’ put on the spot like this feels kinda embarrassing…

Well, since they’re recordin’ a variety show here, it’ll be a good chance fer the viewers to get ta know us.

The shame an’ nerves I’m feelin’ really fade away a bit from how unreserved you’re actin’, Niki-han.

As fer me, I answered that I want a travel coupon.

Ever since I left my family home, I’ve spent basically all o’ my time in the vicinity of ES. So I kinda started feelin’ like goin’ on a trip somewhere.

Niki: I see… Traveling’s a lot of fun, I agree!

What did you ask for, Rinne-kun? Though you seem the type to ask for cold, hard cash ...♪

Rinne: ………

Niki: Rinne-kun?

Actually, you’ve been weirdly quiet for a while now. Got a tummy ache?

Rinne: As if. More importantly, check this out… The mark on this wall, I mean.

Niki: Let’s see here… Oh, you’re right. On closer examination, there’s a cross mark scratched into it. ...Think it’s marking the location of a treasure chest?

Wow, that’s a great find, Rinne-kun! We’re one step closer to the treasure!

HiMERU: No. This mark — it doesn’t signify anything good. Judging from the traces of dirt, it must have been made fairly recently.

Niki: Huh?

Kohaku: Fairly recently… Are you sayin’ that someone who’s not part of our group made this cross mark?

Rinne: Nope. I was trailin’ behind the rest of you guys and left these marks as I went. Figured they’d come in handy if we wanted to retrace our steps later, but who would’ve guessed it’d come to this?

Kohaku: It felt like we’ve been walkin’ straight ahead all this time, so does this mean that the inside of this labyrinth is somehow slightly warped?

Rinne: You’ve got it. Just as you said, Kohaku-chan, it means that we’ve been walkin’ in circles all this time. Our Lil’ Snakeyboy is puttin’ his serpentine wisdom to good use ♪

Kohaku: I told ya to quit it with the “Kohaku-chan”. Don’t go crackin’ jokes just ‘cause yer in a good mood, Rinne-han, it’s a real pisser.

‘Sides, why’re ya in such high spirits at a time like this anyway, Rinne-han? They made us walk the same path over an’ over!

Rinne: Gyahahahaha ♪ What’s interesting to me is the very fact that we’ve been in the same situation the whole time ♪

Kohaku: Hah?

Rinne: Think it over. Lil’ Snakeyboy’s in a position where he could have directly set his hands on us, and yet he went through all the trouble of preparin’ this whole-ass labyrinth instead.

He could be causin’ us real harm, but instead he’s just doin’ this show… Get it?

Puttin’ in the other way around, this shows just how much he wants us to give it our all on this program.

Plannin’ this program, “Labyrinth of Minotaurus”, and even givin’ us these rewards…

At first I thought this was some kinda trap, but now I can tell that he doesn’t mean harm.

In fact, it’s like he conducted that whole interview in advance just to scrape together some freebies we’d like.

Even his twisted personality starts to seem adorable when I think of him as my junior. Haven’t you guys started to find our Lil’ Snakeyboy kinda cute, too? ♪ 

HiMERU: “Cute” is a strong word.

Although judging from the Vice President’s words and actions, as well as the contents of this labyrinth, HiMERU also believes that he isn’t trying to make us yield to him.

If anything, the natural conclusion would be that by bestowing Crazy:B rewards, he is trying to attain success in a much larger, separate plan.

Otherwise, the Vice President’s underhanded and treacherous — Ahem, HiMERU misspoke. His bold and innovative way of thinking should’ve culminated in a labyrinth that is filled to the brim with traps.

Kohaku: Now that ya say it, fer our Vice Prez-han, this sure is a mighty gentle setup he’s prepared here.

Sure it’s a prank, but it’s a setup the viewers are gonna be okay with. Meaning, it’s a layout that’s not impossible to beat or anything.

Rinne: Exactamundo. Now that we cleared that up, let’s walk another lap and choose the path that doesn’t have any cross marks on it yet.

Niki: Alright. I don’t really get what’s going on, but gotcha!

So, I’ll be following behind you guys! Guiding the way seems like a pain, so I’m leaving that up to you!

I’m used to traveling for the purpose of gathering ingredients, but even I’ve never explored a labyrinth before~.

Rinne: Well, damned if any of us have any experience bein’ in labyrinths.