Chapter 229: The Door to the Villa Opens
“It opened… but how?”
Celestine gazed at the opened door in astonishment. Rest shrugged in relief and turned back to her.
“It’s opened! Let’s go inside.”
He led the way into the villa, with Celestine and her attendant hurriedly following behind.
“Rest, could you please clarify the answer for me?”
“Hmm?”
“Why is the answer to that riddle ‘cat’?”
The answer to the riddle inscribed on the door was indeed ‘cat.’
“Hmm… I wonder if you’ll understand if I explain…”
Rest pondered how to articulate his thoughts. This riddle was one that only a Japanese person could solve. The key to the riddle lay in the Zodiac, specifically the twelve animals of the zodiac.
(The head of the rat, and the lion… the tail of the wild boar. That signifies the Zodiac. And to be unable to mingle means an animal that couldn’t enter the Zodiac… which is to say, the cat.)
There was an old tale about how the cat was tricked by the rat and thus failed to enter the Zodiac, and it seemed this riddle was inspired by that story. In reality, the animals of the Zodiac were assigned later, and the cat had no connection to it.
“It seems to be based on a legend I read in a book long ago… though I’ve forgotten the title, and explaining it might be difficult.”
“I see…”
Celestine didn’t seem entirely satisfied, but she didn’t press further. Rest was grateful for her understanding.
“More importantly, let’s investigate the villa.”
With that, Rest shifted the conversation and began exploring the interior of the villa. It was a two-story building, with a staircase leading down to the basement. The first floor contained a living room, a restroom, a kitchen, and a shower room.
“Oh?”
“Eek…!”
Celestine let out a short scream. As soon as they entered the living room, a shadowy figure wriggled into view.
“What is this… a golem?”
It was a humanoid figure with smooth, white skin. Its face bore no eyes or nose, resembling a crude mannequin that moved about the living room. It held a broom, seemingly cleaning the space.
“A golem… In our country, ownership of golems without permission is prohibited…”
Celestine glanced at the golem over Rest’s shoulder. In some nations, magical creatures that moved autonomously through magic, including golems, were banned. This was due to humans using magical creatures as soldiers or assassins.
(Heartless soldiers that can be discarded… If one wanted to misuse them, the possibilities are endless.)
Moreover, there had been past incidents where humans had used the corpses of the deceased like zombies. Others had trapped the souls of the dead within dolls to keep them alive. Such magic was seen as playing with life and was shunned by many.
“This golem has been active since the time of Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, hasn’t it? How has it been functioning all this time without a supply of magical power?”
“Perhaps it has a power source within its body. Maybe a magic stone infused with the magical power of monsters?”
“The academy doesn’t teach about golem technology… Well, it’s only natural since it’s a prohibited item.”
The golem continued its cleaning without showing any signs of aggression.
“…To treat a golem that employs highly advanced magical technology as a cleaning robot is quite extravagant.”
“A cleaning… robot? What on earth is that…?”
“Oh, my apologies. It’s nothing.”
There was no way the people of this world would know what a robot was. If they did, they would be a Reincarnator.
(Celestine is not a Reincarnator! Well, I suppose that’s to be expected!)
“There’s nothing here in the living room… so it must be upstairs?”
It seemed that something had been sealed away with special magic. There had to be something within this villa.
“Let’s head upstairs. The basement can wait.”
Rest ascended the staircase. Upon reaching the second floor, he found two rooms.
“Is this one the study…?”
As he opened one of the doors, he found a room lined with a wooden desk and bookshelves. The musty smell of old books assaulted his nose.
“This room is… ah.”
“What is it… ah?”
Celestine opened the door to the other room. Rest peered inside, and then he lost his voice.
“It’s beautiful…”
“…”
The room had a large window with a balcony beyond it. Upon entering, he was instantly captivated by the view outside.
“The sea… it’s incredible…”
What lay beyond the window was an expanse of ocean, stretching endlessly, beneath a blue sky. The grandeur of the scene rivaled that of the view from the cape they had seen earlier.
Work Introduction
The Poison King: Having Awakened to the Strongest Power, I Become the Master of a Lustful Harem with Beautiful Maidens
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16816927862162440540
Volume 3 is now available! A comic adaptation is also in progress!!
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