After what seemed like a perfunctory riddle exchange.

Catherine happened to arrive from outside, and the Sphinx began to reveal the information she could provide:

"The treasure of Hamono was originally hidden in the city center."

"But this colossal monster has eroded the entire city along with the earth, and now there's only seawater beneath it. Even if you manage to move it, it would be to no avail."

"The only way to obtain the treasure now is to enter the monster's body and then bring the item out."

After revealing this secret, the Sphinx struck the ground with her wings.

Her entire body no longer willing to budge an inch, displaying a complete refusal to communicate.

[The wise adventurers have solved the fierce riddles of the Sphinx!]

[However, after receiving the reward for their successful challenge, the situation did not improve in the face of this hidden truth!]

[Perhaps the road leading to the monster is a path of destruction!]

The voiceover simultaneously confirmed that the information provided by the Sphinx was entirely correct and made Ronald and his companion aware of the dangers ahead in their journey.

Catherine had already adapted to these maze rules.

So this time, she didn't pay much attention to the voiceover but instead directly asked Ronald:

"Ronald, why did this guy end up like this?"

"I didn't see you do anything excessive to her. It couldn't possibly be that she was scared by me, right?"

"Let's talk outside." Ronald did not answer directly but first dragged Catherine out of the room.

Once they reached the streets of the Sphinx village.

Seeing the situation was suitable, Ronald continued to explain:

"In the Sphinx's tribe, riddles and answers are a very important thing."

"According to past legends, there were even Sphinxes who, out of shame for having their riddles guessed, chose to jump off a cliff to commit suicide."

Catherine raised an eyebrow:

"Driving someone to jump off a cliff—you're quite the pure villain."

Ronald immediately retorted:

"If humans fail to solve the Sphinx's riddles, they get eaten by them."

"..."

"Then pretend I didn't say anything." Catherine chose to take back her previous comment.

Having obtained the information, and with nothing else needing attention on the Sphinx's side, Ronald and his companion soon decided to leave.

Based on the information given by the Sphinx, they started searching around the Dust Beast's body, looking for a way inside.

The journey was uneventful.

There were no life-threatening terrifying monsters near the Dust Beast, and what impeded their progress was not a maze, but at most a few trees and streams. Ronald and his companion easily overcame them without expending much effort.

They searched like this for half an hour.

Encircling the Dust Beast's perpetually unchanged white body, Catherine felt somewhat bored, so she started a conversation with Ronald:

"Ronald, if this were reality, entering the Dust Beast's body would surely be a stupid act of courting death."

"By the way, do you remember what the voiceover said earlier?"

"It said only courage and wisdom can help overcome the maze's challenges."

Ronald nodded slightly.

As the more experienced of the two, he naturally began to express his views:

"In reality, such things are unthinkable. But in the world of the 'Labyrinth Picture Book,' these things become entirely feasible. I still remember when we were in Springs; we once entered a maze world."

"There was a statue in the square at the time constantly complaining about its treatment—which is not something you'd encounter in the real world?"

Catherine was very curious about Ronald's description.

After pursuing further questions about the previous maze experiences, she returned to the main topic and began to help analyze the current situation:

"Since we were dropped onto a tree by the giant eagle, we've already spent three hours. Considering the time limit given at the game's start, it's clear that we should have sufficient time."

Ronald continued the conversation:

"But it was also said at the start that the maze difficulty isn't low at all."

"As the time factor is to our advantage, it indicates that this maze structure and adventure difficulty will surely be quite challenging."

Catherine wasn't bothered at all by the so-called danger.

In fact, after being emphasized by Ronald, she even displayed a rather strong smile:

"Challenging... this I quite like."

"It's just unknown in what form this thing will..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Catherine abruptly stopped talking.

Because not far ahead, the Dust Beast's body showed a significant curve change.

This noticeable change, compared to the massive size of the salon itself.

Even if there's no passage forward, there must be some conspicuously visible change!

And for Ronald and Catherine.

This meant that, finally, after nearly half an hour of circumnavigating exploration, they were about to discover something new!

"..."

But faced with the scene in front of them, the two didn't speak.

They tacitly quickened their pace, with the atmosphere around them growing tense at this moment, and due to the 'Labyrinth Picture Book,' certain lines that intensified the expression of tension suddenly appeared.

Continuing forward.

The changing trend of the Dust Beast's body became more evident.

It was a sloped body inclined sideways, extending about a hundred meters down to the ground.

And then... Ronald and Catherine were frozen in place.

When they passed through another clump of trees, the changing part of the Dust Beast's body emerged before them. They initially thought it might be part of the salon's limbs or, if lucky, a feeding or excreting organ.

Though possibly unsanitary and dangerous.

But in the world of the 'Labyrinth Picture Book,' this could still be a good way to enter its insides.

However, these guesses were all wrong.

The body sloping toward the ground was an organ used for nurturing offspring, providing milk. On the ground, quite a few smaller white creatures were clamoring to be fed!

Watching these newly born, compared to the Dust Beast, even less significant than ants, little fellows.

Catherine broke the silence, opening her mouth to mock:

"What, is this thing expecting us to help take care of the children?"

On the other side, Ronald had already started to frown.

The rules in the 'Labyrinth Picture Book' generally change forms of things in reality and then present them in this world, with seldom any creation out of thin air.

In other words,

The scene before them likely corresponded to something real.

[Dust Beast—Salon]

Perhaps after experiencing the crisis of having its core attacked by the two, it became aware of the unfavorable situation.

So while its body was frantically expanding, invading the land at the same time.

It also secretly gave birth to offspring, preparing appropriate measures for continuing its life form!