A wave of surprise swept through the survivors when a notification appeared before their eyes. This notification stood out from the others due to its mysterious nature.
"Secret riddle? What does that mean?" wondered one survivor.
The simple title aroused curiosity mixed with apprehension among the survivors, plunging them into a state of anticipation.
[Secret Riddle: -The Embellished Maze-
Explanation: Let yourself be guided to the right exit by using all the paths that present themselves to you.
Time: None
Rule: You may not use any method other than the one stated in the riddle to find the exit.
Success: the truth
Failure: the lie]
[Tip:
- There are no clues in this secret riddle. The elements for the solution can be found in the title of the riddle.
- To solve the riddle, the majority must agree on the chosen path.]
The riddle presented them with a quest: find the right way out of the maze to win the truth as a reward. However, if they failed, they would be confronted with a lie. This duality between truth and lie added extra tension to the already charged atmosphere.
A unique feature of this riddle was that no clues would be provided. The survivors had to rely solely on the wording of the riddle to find the solution. This lack of outside help intensified the challenge, forcing them to delve into the subtleties of the riddle itself in hopes of finding the answer.
Total confusion reigned among the group of survivors, fueled by the mysterious riddle that had been presented to them. Anxious whispers rose as everyone wondered about the hidden meaning behind the words of the riddle.
"But what could it possibly mean?"
"It all makes me a little scared..."
Soon, a debate broke out, with the various survivors offering their interpretations and hypotheses about the meaning of this quest.
"It's obvious, isn't it? It refers to what the child's voice said earlier!"
"What do you mean?"
"She said that if we reached Hakone, we would have the answers to our questions. And in this riddle, its success includes the truth!"
Some argued that the reward mentioned in the riddle referred to the child's voice's earlier promises. If they found the right path, they could reach Hakone and get the long-awaited answers about the situation that had turned their world upside down.
"Yes, you're right, it can only be that!"
"So we'll be able to understand what happened to our world?" said one person, their eyes wide with wonder.
"We'll be able to get our world back? Without having to deal with these horrible riddles?"
This prospect rekindled the flame of hope among the survivors. The idea of regaining their former reality, of understanding the mysterious events that had plunged them into this ordeal, galvanized them. Despite the uncertainty and complexity of the task ahead of them, their burning desire to recover what had been lost gave them new and unwavering motivation.
It was then that Kaisho spoke up. "It's all well and good to cling to hope, but we don't even know how to solve this riddle. Plus, the word 'secret' in it doesn't bode well."
Indeed, Kaisho was right. Even with this glimmer of hope, they knew that solving the riddle would not be easy. They first had to understand its subtleties and find a way to decode the clues hidden in its words.
"We'll find the solution. If we work together, we'll find it, I'm sure of it!" said a man as he stared at Saé's group.
The task was daunting, but they were determined to succeed, guided by a deep desire to return to their former lives.
Accusing glances fell on Saé and her group, and indignant murmurs rose among the survivors.
"We really have to work with them. .."
"Despite the situation, they continue to act alone, as a group."
They felt betrayed, silently blaming those they considered individualists, having acted in their own interests during the previous puzzle. Saé, aware of this growing mistrust, knew she couldn't expect unconditional support after past events.
However, as the tension mounted, Bun, usually quiet and reserved, suddenly spoke up. His unexpected intervention caught everyone's attention, including Saé's, who was surprised by this unusual gesture from her companion, who seemed to be in a state of total depression.
"Haven't you noticed anything?" Bun asked. "Unlike the previous ones, this one seems to require more thought than physical strength."
A man, perplexed, asked him to clarify his remarks. "What do you mean? Explain yourself better than that!" But at the same moment, another voice in the assembly supported him. "He's right. It is mentioned in the council that all the answers can be found in the statement of the riddle itself." This simple reminder sparked a sense of curiosity among the survivors, prompting them to think differently about how to approach the challenge before them.
"Which means we have to find the answer in the statement itself..."
Bun, visibly uncomfortable with being the center of attention, continued his explanation with palpable hesitation in his voice.
"I think... That the use of the term 'Let yourself be guided' suggests that there must be a clue or guide somewhere to lead us to the right exit..."
His words were tinged with uncertainty that betrayed his nervousness, but he nevertheless tried to express his thoughts before the assembly.
However, instead of arousing interest or reflection, Bun's proposal provoked mocking laughter among the other survivors. Some shook their heads in disbelief, while others wore condescending smiles. They openly mocked Bun's suggestion, ridiculing his attempt to find a deeper meaning in the riddle's wording.
"What is he talking about?"
"He can't even form a sentence without stuttering, and he wants us to believe his theory?"
"Why do you think it says 'use all paths,' idiot?"
To them, simply taking all the paths and finding the exit was the most obvious and logical solution, and they saw no reason to consider anything else.
Bun, feeling the weight of their skepticism and mockery, lowered his eyes, a sense of rejection weighing heavily on his shoulders. He had dared to share an idea that seemed plausible to him, but the reaction of his peers only reinforced his doubts and fears about his own ability to contribute meaningfully to the group.
An imposing man, whose presence seemed to fill the entire space around him at that moment, stepped toward Bun with icy authority. His hard gaze conveyed a clear message.
"Kid, would you kindly get out of the way! We don't need you and your crazy ideas."
His stern voice pierced Bun like an arrow, adding to his anxiety.
Bun, overwhelmed by the imposing man's rejection and coldness, bowed his head with an expression of resignation. He silently withdrew to the side, hoping that his unfortunate intervention would soon be forgotten by the others. In his eyes, one could see a glimmer of desire, an ardent wish that the critical glances would turn away from him and find another target.
"Please forget me!" "Please forget me!" "Please forget me!" "Please forget me!" "Please forget about me!"
Meanwhile, Sae approached Bun to comfort him.
"Please forget about me!" "Please forget about me!""Don't worry, Bun!""Forget about me..."
She tried to cheer him up.
"You just tried to help by explaining your idea, but they didn't want to listen to you. Some people are like that. Even though they point out one of your flaws, when you try to fix it, they'll always find something else to complain about. You don't have to dwell on it."
However, she was surprised to notice a physical change in Bun. Her eyes lingered on his face, then slid down his body, noting the slightly rounder contours, the clothes that seemed a little tighter around his figure. It was a detail that had not escaped Saé's keen attention.
"Bun... Have you gained a little weight?"