Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 228: A Riddle
The Queen Dowager’s villa was located not far from the sea.
A small fishing village nearby housed about a hundred residents.
Though the two-story brick house stood atop a hill, it looked far too worn-down to have once housed a woman of such power and influence.
“So… the Queen Dowager once lived here…”
“The Queen Dowager was greatly respected as a noble patron by the local people. It seems she used much of her personal wealth to support the nearby fishing village.”
As Rest gazed up at the moss-covered, ivy-clad building, Celestine explained.
“She provided fishing boats and nets free of charge and even gave financial aid during years of poor catches. The villagers held her in great esteem, which is why, even after her passing, this villa was never looted or vandalized.”
Celestine approached the entrance of the villa and brushed her fingers over the door.
Suddenly, faintly glowing letters shimmered into view across its surface.
“That said… perhaps this is the real reason it was never disturbed. It’s a magic defense mechanism.”
Something was inscribed on the door.
It was in the common language of this world—one that Rest could read.
‘A beast with the head of a rat and the tail of a lion. Yet, it is not welcome among beasts. What is it?’
“…A riddle?”
“It seems so… The door won’t open unless we touch it and provide the correct answer.”
Celestine looked up at the two-story villa.
“The Crocus family’s court magicians examined it. It appears that if anyone tries to force their way in without solving the riddle, the entire structure will collapse. The walls and pillars have been imbued with a specialized form of barrier magic.”
“It looks like an old ruin, but it’s actually well-secured, huh…”
Looking closely, Rest could indeed see runic inscriptions carved into the walls and door, reinforcing the barrier magic.
It was a highly advanced spell—one beyond his understanding.
Perhaps someone like Jalana Meitis, the supreme barrier mage, could analyze and disable it, but that was far beyond Rest’s own capabilities.
“The Grandmaster is always busy… There’s no way she’d come all the way here. So, solving the riddle is our only option.”
“Yes… However, neither I nor anyone else has been able to figure it out, no matter how much we pondered it.”
“If even you couldn’t solve it, I doubt I’ll have any better luck…”
They could try guessing random animal names, but considering the magic security involved, there was a risk of penalties for incorrect answers.
Celestine had likely refrained from making blind guesses for this very reason.
(A password-protected door… The fact that it’s a riddle must mean that whoever solves it is allowed to enter, right?)
If the Queen Dowager had truly wanted to keep everyone out, she could have simply set an unknown password.
There would have been no need to write it out as a puzzle.
(If that’s the case, then this riddle must be solvable… But if even Celestine, the top student of her class, couldn’t figure it out, then who could…?)
No—perhaps this riddle was designed to be solved by a specific person.
If that were true, then the key to solving it would be…?
“Ah…”
A thought suddenly struck Rest.
If the Queen Dowager was indeed a reincarnated person from Japan, as he suspected… then she might have designed the riddle in a way that only another reincarnated person could solve.
“Mouse… Lion… Of course!”
Rest had found the answer.
A triumphant smile spread across his face as he stepped past Celestine and placed his hand on the door.
“～～”
Then, he spoke the answer aloud.
“Ah…”
Celestine let out a small gasp.
The door, which had been firmly sealed for so long, swung open effortlessly.