As Seojun read the final question, his system suddenly chimed in with a suggestion.
[Host, I think the answer might be 'The Beast Within.' It fits with having the soul of a beast while being a healer.]
Trusting his system, Seojun spoke the answer aloud. "The Beast Within."
The moment he said it, a series of arrows shot out from hidden openings in the walls, flying straight towards him. Reacting quickly, Seojun dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the arrows as they whizzed past him and struck the ground.
He muttered under his breath, "Hmm So Every wrong answer comes with consequences."
[I'm sorry, host. I was trying to think too like a participant in the exam without using any search functions. Unfortunately, I'm not smart enough, Riddles was always my weakness..]
Seojun shook his head, a small smile forming on his lips. "It's okay," he replied aloud.
"Not everything is about knowing all the answers. We can all make mistakes, even you. What matters is that we learn from them and keep moving forward."
Seojun turned back to the pedestal and thought carefully about the final question once more.
Seojun stared at the question, and the meaning slowly began to dawn on him. This was the last riddle, and it combined everything from the previous questions.
The first question was about the stages of life. The second question was about a creature that changed depending on the time of day. Now, this final question asked about the essence of a healer who was also a beast.
He knew he needed to connect everything together to find the answer.
Seojun took a deep breath. "The first question was about change, from one form to another. The second was about duality—being a healer and a hunter. Now, this last question is asking about the true nature of someone who has both gentle and wild sides."
He thought back to his studies as a Beast Doctor. "A true healer who carries the soul of a beast doesn't just heal with herbs or magic," he said aloud,
"but understands that sometimes healing requires strength, and sometimes it requires compassion. They can be fierce when they need to protect, yet gentle when caring for others."
He stepped closer to the pedestal, speaking his answer clearly. "The true nature of a healer with the soul of a beast is to be a protector—balancing both their wild instincts and their healing abilities."
The letters flashed brightly, and the room trembled. The final door appeared behind the pedestal, glowing with a warm light. Slowly, it opened, revealing a path forward.
Outside the entrance exam, the audience was puzzled those who watched Seojun test. Many people had frowns on their faces as they tried to understand how Seojun came up with the answers to those difficult questions. Even Seoyang, Seojun's mother, was deep in thought. She sighed and shook her head.
"How did Seojun think of that? I don't get it." she wondered aloud, still trying to piece together his reasoning.
John, who was standing nearby, also looked baffled. "Your son has a weird brain," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't figure out how he was able to answer those questions."
Alex, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, decided to speak up. "It's actually not that complicated once you break it down," he began, drawing everyone's attention.
"The first question was about change, right? It talked about different stages in life, like how things aren't always the same over time. So Seojun figured out that the answer was something that changes, like the growth or transformation of a creature."
He continued, "The second question was about duality—a creature that plays two roles, such as a healer by day and a hunter by night. Seojun knew that some beasts have different behaviors depending on the time, so he connected it to a creature that changes its role, like the Moonshadow Fox."
Alex paused to let the explanation sink in. "Then the final question asked about the true nature of a healer with the soul of a beast. The previous answers were all about change and having different sides. So, Seojun thought it was about balancing those two sides—being strong and fierce when needed, but also knowing when to be gentle and heal. That's why he answered that a true healer with the soul of a beast is a protector, balancing both instincts and compassion."
Seoyang looked thoughtful, nodding slowly. "I see... so it all connects together," she said, starting to understand how the answers fit.
"Yeah, when you put it that way, it makes more sense," John admitted, still amazed. "But it takes someone really sharp to piece it together like that."
Alex shrugged. "Seojun's good at thinking outside the box. It's not just about knowing the answers but understanding how they all link together."
"Hehee He is always like that Auntie, Remember Seojun was the top in highschool. Right?" Alexa said and Seoyang chuckled and agreed.
"Riddles and puzzles is Seojun favorite, If not for his weird appearance before he would have not bullied and became famous." Alex added and they nodded.
Seoyang pointed at the screen showing participants #602 and #15. "Look," she said.
"They got the same question as Seojun."
The screen displayed a hot, glowing cavern filled with rivers of lava. The air shimmered from the intense heat, and the ground was cracked with glowing red lines where molten rock flowed beneath.
The walls glowed with an eerie orange light, and bubbling lava pools surrounded the two participants. In the middle of the chamber stood a large stone pillar with floating letters displaying the question:
"What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?"
Andrew and Lila stood side by side, beads of sweat rolling down their faces from the heat. The question hung in the air, and at first, they were both quiet, unsure of what to say. Sёarᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Lila's eyes narrowed as she thought hard. She had heard this riddle before—it was famous, but the answer was on the tip of her tongue, and she just couldn't get the words out.
"I... I know it," she whispered to herself, but fear kept her from speaking. She knew they only had two tries, and if she got it wrong, the consequences could be serious.