Covering his bleeding lips, Sphinx asked with a terrified expression, "Mmm... human, you... what is this... magic curse?"

"A tongue twister! Never heard of it?"

With an annoyingly handsome face, as if stating the obvious, Ink Ash casually retorted.

*Kid, you think I’d tell you? Back when I was bored out of my mind, I practiced this for months.*

After countless failed attempts, unable to endure the physical and mental torture, Sphinx growled through gritted teeth, "I forfeit this question. Next one!"

"Sure? The next will be much harder... I fear it might crush your confidence."

Blinking earnestly, Ink Ash advised with genuine concern, "Why not try again?"

Barely resisting the urge to slap that infuriating face into pieces, Sphinx shouted coldly, "As long as it’s not like the last, I don’t need your worry."

"Sigh. I’m just trying to help. Why can’t you see that?"

Shaking his head with a soft sigh, Ink Ash stopped hesitating and spoke directly, "This question requires repeating the answer three times—listen: What is the essence of humanity?"

Repeating it with a puzzled look, Sphinx’s expression grew more confused. "The essence... of humanity?"

"Exactly. You have five minutes. Go ahead."

Yawning lazily, Ink Ash—too lazy to even bully him—gave generous time.

And so, the torturous Q&A began—

"Human nature?"

"Wrong."

"Emotions?"

"Wrong."

"Cognitive ability?"

"Wrong~!"

"Desire and reason?"

Glancing pityingly at the face symbolizing wisdom—too bad he’d never lived in modern society—Ink Ash leisurely urged, "Still wrong... Two minutes left. Hurry."

"No! Impossible! How could I fail such a simple question?"

Staggering back, his human face twisted, Sphinx muttered dazedly.

Silently counting sixty seconds, Ink Ash slowly raised one finger. "One minute!"

"Selfishness, ignorance, vanity, lust, greed, and willfulness are humanity’s base sides; friendship, love, unity, and creativity its bright sides. Emotions blended with thought, meaning tangled with reason—all mixed together, that’s humanity’s essence!"

Gaping in admiration, Ink Ash sincerely exclaimed, "Wow..."

"See? I got it right!"

Seeing that shocked look, a smug gleam lit Sphinx’s eyes.

Waving a hand with a teasing smile, Ink Ash asked curiously, "No, no. Rare to hear you speak so much. Tired?"

"H-how could I be?!"

"Sorry. Time’s up."

"You’re lying! What else could it be?"

Frantically whipping his tail, Sphinx roared in furious disbelief.

"Oh, the answer is—What is the essence of humanity? What is the essence of humanity? What is the essence of humanity!"

"Huh?!"

Gaping in disbelief, he clearly hadn’t processed it.