With the gold sand golem in the lead, we descended down the hole leading to the underground. To be honest, I don't know if this is labyrinth or not.
After all, I've heard of labyrinths, but I've never explored one myself. I was a member of the royal family, and until I was exiled into the desert, I was mostly in the castle.
„Ngongo!"
Raku seems to be very excited about exploring this place. He's very curious, isn't he?
The surrounding walls are made of hardened sand. I can use Sand magic on them.
„Kyikyi!"
As we continued down the hole, suddenly, a golden bat appeared in front of us. It was larger than normal one. It looked like it was full of confidence. (TN: It looked….hawk sentenance I'm not sure if I correctly translated it this is original 鷹ぐらいは余裕でありそうだった (Taka gurai wa yoyū de ari-sōdatta) so if someone knows another translation if I translated it wrong let me know)
„Kikyi!"
„Ngo!"
The bat attacked us with ultrasonic waves. My ears are ringing and my head hurts. Raku was having a hard time also, but soon the golem hit it and took it down.
„Thanks for saving us!"
„Ngo!"
When Raku and I thanked the golem, it nodded its head and we headed further in. Since there might be enemies like the ones we just encountered further ahead, I'm going to expand the range of my 'Sand Detection'.
As we proceeded further, I picked up a reaction of living thing ahead of us. I told the golem to proceed cautiously, and this time a giant scorpion appeared in front of us.
I had some knowledge of it, but I'd never seen one before.
„Ngo!?"
Raku is also surprised at the appearance of giant scorpion.Then the golem went at it and punched the scorpion. The scorpion is covered with a yellow armor and looks hard.
Even the golem might not be able to break it. The scorpion attacks with its tail and the pincers on both hands. Its tail is known to be poisonous, but it's safe because the golem is immune to poison. (TN: pincers, or claws it's the same I used pincers since I think it best describes scorpions hands)
Just as I was thinking, „I'll let the golem take care of this", the wall behind us burst open and a snake with sand-colored skin appeared behind us.
„Kishaaaaaaaaa!"
„Ngo!"
Raku's eyeballs nearly popped out in surprise. I guess he didn't expect that snake would appear from the wall.
It's a big snake. It's so large that it can easily swallow the whole Raku. But I won't let that happen!
„'Sand Spear'!"
I unleash several 'Sand Spears'. They pierce the skin of the snake and snake screams, and I use more magic as it starts to fall back.
„Sand magic – 'Sand Skewer'!" (TN: honestly I don't quite understand why he says sand magic before casting spell and sometimes not, but it's like that in raws so I'll leave it like this)
A sharp piece of sand shots up from right under the snake and skewers it. Now the snake can't move anymore.
Now, when I looked at the golem, I saw that it had just defeated the scorpion. Even though it was hard, scorpion seemed to have been unable to withstand the golem's repeated blows.
I'm not sure if it was a demon or magical beast, but whatever it was, I was able to deal with it with my golem and Sand magic. In the meantime, we reached the end of the hole and ended up in a large hall. (TN: 2nd part of sentenance I have no idea what it means exactly original is そうこうしている内に横穴が終わりを告げ,大きな広間に出ることが出来たけど (Sōkō shite iru uchi ni yokoana ga owari o tsuge, ōkina hiroma ni deru koto ga dekitakedo), let me know if you know exactly translation here)
„Wow, it's so shiny and there is so much gold!"
„Ngo!"
Raku was also surprised, the ceiling, floor and walls are all covered in gold. It's an amazing hall, but it's a bit too bright.
At first, I thought it was labyrinth, but I guess not. Is there someone living here? I went further ahead, but there doesn't seem to be anyone here.
„All I see is a statue on a pedestal."
It's a statue of beatiful woman with a lion's body and eagle's wings on her back. It has mysterious kind of vibe. (TN: original for last part is Dokotonaku shinpi-tekina nioi ga suru which translates to it smells vaguely mystical so it makes more sense what I wrote but if you have an idea let me know)
„Hmm, but there's nothing else but a statue, so I guess we're in a labyrinth?"
„I'm not a statue, you rude man."
„Eh? The statue is talking—!"
„Ngooooooooooo!"
Raku suddenly jumped in surprise. I was surprised too. Eh? But just now it said that it isn't a statue, right?
„I-It's alive?"
„Of course I am, you fool. This one is called Sphinx, remember that." (TN: I think she is refering here to herself as this one and further ahead, but again Idk this one is kinda hard again "Tōzendearou orokamono-me. Mekake o dare to kokoroeru sufinkusudearu zo" (当然であろう愚か者め.妾を誰と心得るスフィンクスであるぞ) if you know better way to translate it let me know)
After all, it's talking. I am surprised. Appearently it's called Sphinx.
„I'm sorry, I didn't notice. Are you the one who lives here?"
„Well, I don't feel like I'm living in same way humans do, but I guess I am."
I knew it, it does live here. It seems to be different from humans, but it seems to understand human's language.
„Nevertheless, you're quite a strange man."
„Eh? Me?"
„Who else could it be? Not taking any money from outside and then finding this place and coming here, unbeliveable."
„Ah, I'm sorry I barged in without permission."
„…it's fine. But why didn't you take the money outside?"
„Because it could have been someone else's, and it's actually yours, isn't it?"
„Kuku, yes, that's right. The money belongs to this one. If you had tried to take it away, I would have made you undergo trials in order to obtain it."
Tri-Trials? I don't know what it's talking about, but it's probably a good thing I didn't take it.
„If this is where you live, then this is not labyrinth, right?"
„Hmm, you are half right and half wrong."
Half right, half wrong? What the heck does that mean?
„Anyway, this is where this one lives."
„So that's it. I apologize for barging in."
„…You're quite strange, aren't you?"
„Eh? Is that so?"
„Ngo?"
I don't quite understand what the Sphinx wanted to say, and Raku was also tilting his head, not understanding what she meant.
„Most of the people who have seen this room and this one are either afraid or humble. Some of them even attacked me the moment they saw me, but you are none of them."
I see. Well, we can communicate with each other, but we don't know each other very well.
I guess I don't really know what fear and humility is. I think this room is amazing, but it belongs to her (?). (TN: protagonist (author) is now assuming its gender is female, so that is why he is refering to Sphinx „her" now)
„I'm sorry to have disturbed you without permission. I'll go now."
„Ngo."
„No."
„Eh?"
I am being stopped?
„You're an interesting man, stay here. Rest assured, I can guarantee that you will have a comfortable life."
„Eh? No, I can't do that!"
„Why? This one likes you, you know that?"
Even if she says such a thing, it's just too one-sided…..
„I have friends outside, so I can't stay here forever!" (TN:
„I see, but…."
At that moment, the entrance we had come in through was closed with heavy sound.
„Since this one likes you, you will do as I say."
„….no way…."
I thought you were intelligent and could talk to me normally, but I didn't realize you could be so forceful…..
„If you don't let me go back, I'll have to use force."
„N-ngo."
Raku looks worried, but I can't just sit here and do nothing either.
„Ho, are you going to fight against this one?"
„If you insist on not letting me go."
„Hmm, I see, I see. You're very brave for someone who looks so cute. I like you more and more. Then why don't you play a game with this one?"