Vodka endured the three irritating stares and continued, "The key lies in three things! The huge 'to' carved on the wooden sign at the cave entrance, the Dragon King, and the 'egg' on the pillar."
The three children did not understand, but they were impressed anyway. Holding their breath, they stared at him and waited for him to continue.
With those annoying brats looking at him so eagerly, Vodka suddenly felt a small sense of accomplishment.
He silently raised his chin. "These three clues actually refer to Shogi—the Pawn is followed by the Rook that begins with 'to,' the Rook is followed by the Dragon King, and that stone egg is written as 'Jewel Piece,' referring to the King General."
"According to the Shogi formation, if that stone egg represents the King General, then the other passages represent the Gold General, Silver General, Knight, Lance, and the passage opposite us—the Rook."
Kojima Genta scratched his head. What was this old man even talking about?
Tsuburaya Mitsuhiko understood, though, and realization dawned on him. "So the correct exit is the path diagonally across from us?"
Vodka nodded reservedly.
Tsuburaya Mitsuhiko secretly peeked outside, his face full of worry. "But if we go diagonally across, the person guarding the stone egg will see us. What if she suddenly shoots at us..."
But Yoshida Ayumi suddenly remembered something. She looked fearfully at the ceiling of the cave twice, then gritted her teeth. "I have an idea!"
Vodka: "..." What idea could you possibly have?
He had wanted to say that, but remembering that this little girl was also a promising talent Uzo had taken a liking to, Vodka hesitated for a moment before cautiously saying, "Let's hear it?"
The female writer was squatting irritably beside the Stone Pillar, keeping watch, when something