The sub-key suggested to the Hero in a soft childish voice.
"So, in this brief moment before we clash again, why not play a game?"
1.5. Equivalent Exchange
3.7. Quiz with Prizes
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
"...Game?" The Hero was slightly taken aback.
"Yes, a quiz game with prizes! It seems to be quite popular in the current Capital, you know.
"Citizens who pride themselves on their vast knowledge love participating in these kinds of contests, and even High-tier events might involve Legendary Mages."
The sub-key spoke confidently, appearing to be quite knowledgeable about the culture of the Capital.
But where did she learn all this knowledge from?
The Hero looked around, his gaze sweeping over the modern Capital embedded within the ancient ruins, yet he didn't voice this question.
"This kind of game usually involves several contestants competing to answer first, after all, it's a quiz. But let's not be too rigid with the format now." The sub-key continued.
"How about it, do you want to play?"
"Hmm..." The Hero pondered slightly.
She was completely unaware of the Four-winged King, and just now He specifically came out to stop her from conversing with the Angel's Corpse, which proves there's indeed a historical truth that contradicts the Sergeant's intelligence.
Even if this truth might not serve as bargaining material, since she's no match for Him at all. But since He doesn't want her to know, going against Him should be the right choice.
The Hero made a decision through simple reasoning.
"So what should I do?" The Hero asked.
"It's very simple, I'll ask questions, you provide answers. Correct answers have rewards, incorrect answers have penalties." The sub-key smiled gently, like a child eager to play.
[Number of Questions (Reach the city center upon completion)]
"I'll ask eight questions, and you have four chances to ask for hints. If in the end, you answer more questions correctly than incorrectly, you'll receive a more significant prize, but if you get more wrong..."
The little girl smiled mysteriously.
"Hehe, what will happen then?"
"Either way, we're just going to spar, right?" Since she had already agreed, the Hero also nodded openly.
Despite not being very confident in her knowledge, there was no other choice at the moment.
An eager gleam shone in her emerald-green eyes as she straightened her chest.
"Alright, I understand, let's begin!"
The sub-key, seeing this, smiled even more, clapping her hands lightly and said, "Very well, let's start——with the first question!"
1. About Divine Knowledge Saintess
2. About the Four-winged King
3. About the Key Changing ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel-fire.net
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
♛: What was the first purpose intended to be fulfilled by the construction of the Ancient Royal City?
Walking on the rubble-strewn, silent streets, the Key Changing raised her short finger.
"The first question, Hero, please answer~
"Angels, for what purpose was this city built?"
"For what purpose?" The Hero looked puzzled, "Aren't cities built for living in?"
"Can I take that as the Hero's answer?" The sub-key's smile remained unchanged.
The Hero quickly shook her head.
The Key Changing chuckled softly and continued:
"Since it's the first question, I'll explain a little more. As you might be aware, demons have a much lower birth rate compared to humankind. Although angels are among the highest of species, they haven't escaped this limitation in reproduction either.
"So if it's simply for residence, given the number of angels at that time, it wasn't necessary to build such a large Floating City."
As if she had witnessed the city's construction herself, the Key Changing's words unfurled a historic tapestry before the Hero's eyes.
"So, Hero, please choose your answer."
The Key Changing's fingers continued to rise.
"One: It was for religious needs.
"Two: It was to defend against foreign invasions.
"Three: It was an industrial and commercial hub.
"Four: It was the center of power to rule the land."
[The Hero's Thoughts (51+ exclude a wrong answer, 70+ choose between two, 100+ get the right answer)]
The Hero's gaze wandered through the ruins, her mind repeatedly playing back the Key Changing's words while she tried to eliminate unreasonable answers.
"Back in that era, there shouldn't have been Magic-guided Industry yet. Without Floating Ships, commerce couldn't possibly take place in the skies..."
She whispered to herself, quickly dismissing the third option.
The Floating City certainly represented highly advanced arcane engineering, but recalling the Border Count's tour of the Arcane Workshop, she didn't seem to notice any remains of such facilities in the ruins of this city.
"And for defending against foreign enemies... Were there really enemies necessitating a fortress built by angels for defense?"
She frowned in thought, her mind conjuring images of the Border City.
That Fortress City had thick walls specifically built for battle, with roads significantly wider than those of inland cities. But this Ancient Royal City clearly lacked similar defensive structures. The remnants of buildings in the ruins mostly portrayed an ordinary and livable urban landscape, quite different from war-focused design.
If it weren't for time carving a gulf between the two, the Ancient Royal City and the modern Capital, despite style differences, seemed to share a similar core function.
"Then it's down to the political function as a Royal City and the religious origin as a Church..."
The Hero thought hard.
"Hero, while careful consideration is good, if you hesitate any longer, we'll reach our destination, you know?" The Key Changing reminded.