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Last Embryo Volume 2 Prologue Part 2

Translator: DarkHeartedAlchemist

Editor: Weasalopes

Demon Bull King also seemed to get increasingly interested in that matter, who sat cross-legged in front of the Labyrinth’s jade throne and began to contemplate it.

「Hmm, if my understanding of these terms remains correct, 「Maze」 should be a straight path riddled with numerous branching paths, while the 「Labyrinth」 has only one way that will lead you from beginning to the end without fail. Are those definitions still correct?」

「As rough as they were, they are certainly not wrong. Ideally, you could say that a maze is something that is intentionally designed to lead people astray and drive them mad, while the Labyrinths are made in order to confine people inside of their walls, having only one entrance and only one exit. You know about the saying 「Trapped in an inescapable Labyrinth」? That should give you more than enough hints towards its nature as a prison. But that was how it was in the past. Nowadays it’s nothing like that anymore.」

After clearing her throat with a cough, Kuu resumed her explanations.

「Another thing that got me worried is that one line about destroying all of the ox heads. Just that one line alone implies that there is more than one of them that has to be destroyed to fulfill the second Winning Condition, meaning that the ox heads are probably not related to the Minotaur itself, which is actually a clever kind of ruse that is not contradictory with itself, because people usually associate him with having a head of an ox… you understand now, Demon Bull King? As the greatest of the Bull Monsters, you should have at least some idea what to do, right?」

The dragon girl flashed him a rather provocative smile. But as much as the Demon Bull King wanted to retort that he understood everything she said perfectly, he still had some difficulties putting 2 and 2 together, so he just sighed and crossed his hands in front of his chest.

「Actually… I find it difficult to wrap my head around most of what you just said, but what I do get is that those ox heads should be inanimate objects. And just to be clear, I’m not talking about the Minotaur, but just the ox heads themselves.」

Talking about that, the Demon Bull Kind looked around them. The Labyrinth was in a very poor condition, with many of its walls badly damaged and slowly crumbling away. But when he saw various weapons and decorative pieces littering the floor, he suddenly clapped his hands as if he just had a brilliant flash of insight.

「So that’s what it was! That is what it meant by Labrys!」

「Hahaha, finally using those brain cells for some actual thinking, are we? Then I guess I will have to step up my game a bit as well. That’s right, the double-edged battle axe that has its name originating from the Greek word for Labyrinth, the Labrys! Originally an ox head-shaped weapon meant to represent the Minotaur, it was also used during the sacrificial ceremonies for the beast. The Knossos Palace, the place that was supposed to be the original Labyrinth’s location was supposed to have a number of those all lines up neatly on the walls. So, now do you get it?」

Every piece of the Labyrinth’s walls had an ox head engraved on it. Finally understanding why the walls were so badly damaged, demon Bull King nodded his head in understanding.

「So that is why it was like that! When the weapons lined up on the walls were destroyed and the walls themselves crumbled as a result, they automatically created new paths throughout the place, causing it to change from the 「Labyrinth」 to a 「Maze」!」

「Yes, that’s right! That’s exactly it!」

Kuu and Demon Bull King both pointed their index fingers at each other as they shouted out their answers. Kuu then pointed to the destroyed Labyrinth and started to jump up and down excitedly.

「That Sakamaki Izayoi guy must have solved that puzzle as well, because judging by the look of the damages done to the place, they do not look like the traces of battle, but the ones of clearing the Labyrinth!」

Holding the Geass Roll high into the air as if she wanted to boast about it to the moonlit night, Kuu spun around in euphoric happiness.

「Hehe, hahahaha! I wonder what kind of human is he? He’s bound to have a good head on his shoulders if he willingly chose to challenge a Game as messed up as this one, right? Oh I just can’t wait to play with him! You’re excited for it too, don’t you?!」

「I couldn’t agree more. I cannot wait to see Sakamaki Izayoi and see with my own eyes how much that bastard and his companions have grown.」

Demon Bull King muttered those words with a dosage of intimacy mixed into them. Was he really feeling like that? Or perhaps he was only pretending? One could never be too sure with him. But when he also gazed at the moon, both his gaze and expressions became much gentler

「If there’s one thing I regret though, it’s the fact that the brats from Canaria Family Home got roped up into this despite our best efforts to prevent that from happening.」

「Oho? And yet you decided to join our side.」

「Well, that’s because the Buddhists decided to butt their ugly heads into the business that is not theirs like usual. I would have been fine with Shiroyasha, but I have not the slightest intentions of getting along with Taishakuten. One day there will come a time where I will challenge that bastard again, and this time, our duel will have a definite, unquestionable victor.」

「Oh, really? I didn’t know he had that many enemies, kinda sucks to be him. Ah, that’s right, I remembered something now! Did you know that apparently there is some teenage lad who’s related to him biologically?」

The little girl smiled as she placed a finger on her lips in a hush gesture, looking towards the shade where another one of their companions was also resting. She was too far away from him to see properly, but he definitely had blue hair that looked like they were clad in lightning. Was he honestly asleep or was he just pretending to be so that he didn’t have to join in the conversation? Looking at him for a while longer, both Demon Bull King And the World King shook their heads.

「When you live a long life, the unexpected things are bound to start happening around you. He might not be a Demon Lord, but I never expected that he will agree to join our cause as well.」

「On the other hand, he is one of the greatest heroes of the Indian pantheon. Since I am his Sponsor and he chose to become an active player, that means my reputation will only grow accordingly, and it also means that we, the 『Avatara』 have all but assured our victory in this 2^nd War for the Sun’s Authority. Hahaha, I cannot wait to see the face of that damn Indra when he sees him! I am looking forward to it so much that I cannot stop shaking!!!」

「Wow, how wicked of you. I knew your opinion of him was a negative one, but I never suspected it would be to such a degree.」

「Is it really that strange, though? I for one have no doubt that someone like him would never found it withing himself to ever understand the likes of us and forgive every sin we have committed. That is, of course, if he is still the same Indra that I used to know.」

Kuu puffed out her small chest in with pride. Demon Bull King did not reply to her and simply shrugged his shoulders, but it looked like he still had some doubts regarding her words. The Indra whom she was talking about was from the time when he was still considered to be a half-evil God,   but the current one was supposed to be a benevolent and kind deity serving as one of the strongest protectors of modern day Buddhism. He felt that if he was to meet a relative of his who had strayed off the path of righteousness, then it was inevitable for a fight to break out.

「Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter anyway. All I have to do is to do my job of keeping Sakamaki Izayoi and Saigo Homura company. And this time, I would be grateful if you kept yourself from interfering, Kuu.」

「Okay, okay, I get it, so stop looking at me with that condescending glare! I might not look like it, but I am actually very patient, you know?!」

Kuu rebuked him while vigorously shaking her hand around like a little kid. And just like a kid, she started laughing once more when she read the contents of the Geass Roll one more time. Unable to cope up with it any longer, The Demon Bull King returned to his resting place in the shade, waiting for the next challenger to arrive in hope of conquering the Labyrinth’s trial.