Trait.
Didn't that word mean a special quality?
'Wait....'
[1. Sharp Brain – EXP acquired increases by 1%p.]
[2. Undead Hatred – Damage dealt to the Undead race increases greatly. However, among multiple races, you must attack the Undead first.]
[3. Dust Gathered Makes a Mountain – Gold acquired increases by 1G.]
I didn't quite understand.
Wasn't I a Skeleton Soldier?
'Do I even have a brain?'
I stuck a finger into the socket where an eyeball originally should have been. Nothing touched it.
'Does that mean it isn't meant literally?'
Did it mean my intelligence would improve?
What made even less sense was number 2—Undead Hatred?
Did it mean self-hatred?
'Could I accidentally attack myself?'
One wrong move and wouldn't there be a possibility of unintentionally committing suicide?
The only one I could readily accept was number 3.
The problem was that it was a Trait that would be useless if I failed to find the Great Merchant.
'This is a tough choice.'
Number 1 would make leveling up at least a little faster, while number 2 would make it easier to deal with the skeletons on the first and second floors.
Number 3 would give me the chance to buy more items from the Great Merchant.
Thinking about it, they were all good Traits. However, the problem was that I had to choose only one of them.
'It's only based on a single experience, but climbing past the second floor is hard.'
I mulled over my first challenge.
Was it because I lacked EXP? Yes. However, receiving 1%p more didn't seem like it would let me reach a higher level on the second floor.
'Because it's a Trait that only has value if I kill a lot of monsters.'
Number 2 was better, at least. If Undead monsters appeared on the third floor too, it would be icing on the cake.
Number 3 was decent too. However, just like number 1, I had to hunt a lot of enemies, and if I didn't meet the Great Merchant on the first floor, it was a useless ability.
'Overall, it's number 2.'
The rational choice was number 2. Whether it applied to me as well was questionable, but as long as I was careful, there shouldn't be a problem.
'Hmm... Looking at the condition, it specifies enemies, so....'
Since I wouldn't treat myself as an enemy.
Clack, clack—
I clacked my jaw and selected number 2.
[Trait 'Undead Hatred' acquired.]
I stepped onto the magic circle.
Light washed over me, and I arrived at the tower once again.
Nothing seemed to have changed much. Let's move.
***
I called up the Status window.
[Name - 'One Hundred']
[Race – Undead]
[Class – Skeleton Soldier]
[Lv3 (15%)]
[Skills Held – Play Dead (Lv1) / Swordsmanship (Lv2)]
[Trait - 'Undead Hatred']
'It doesn't feel real.'
I wanted to check my Trait again.
Was it because this was the first floor? The Skeleton Soldiers I hunted were far too weak.
There was no way to tell whether the Trait was being applied properly.
'Will I have to go to the second floor to tell....?'
I had already found the location of the stairs, and now it was time to search the remaining rooms.
The Great Merchant wasn't here. It was a relief that I hadn't chosen the miser Trait.
Aside from that, I found a key in the remains of a skeleton.
In that case, there had to be a chest somewhere.
It was best to equip myself as much as possible before heading up. I had to raise my level, too.
'Wait....'
Passing an empty room, I opened a door.
Since I was used to the dark passages now, I went straight ahead.
The problem was the other door at the end of it.
Rattle— Rattle—
The door wouldn't open.
'A room that doesn't open?'
Just how many things were there that I didn't know about?
'Can I break the door down and go in?'
I pondered for a moment. If I bashed it with my sword, might the door open?
However, I dropped the idea. Because it would be trouble if my innocent sword got damaged.
As I stared at the door like that, letters appeared.
[Use a key to open the door?]
Clack, clack—
The sound of my jaw echoed through the dark passage.
'Keys... weren't just for opening chests?'
Then again, a key was an object used to open locked things.
Thinking that only chests would be locked was a narrow-minded way of thinking.
'My knowledge has increased.'
Now I had another dilemma. With a chest, I at least knew for sure that I would obtain an item.
Yet what could be inside this room?
'If by chance there's a chest inside....'
Wouldn't there be a chest of a different color rather than a brown one? I could guess that a key was needed for the door because it held a better chest.
However, if that were the case, I would end up wasting my key.
Since I only had one key, no matter what color chest might be inside, I wouldn't be able to open it.
'Other possibilities are....'
Nothing came to mind very well. Was it because I lacked imagination?
What about an event for obtaining keys?
Giving a key to get a key. Wouldn't that be a bit of a waste of time?
'Is it for EXP?'
True, if it was something like 'Scream of the Dead', it would be worth trying. Because if I faced countless Skeleton Soldiers, I would be able to secure a lot of EXP.
'Could the Great Merchant be inside?'
Clack, clack—
I shook my head.
The Great Merchant was someone who needed to receive customers, so why would he lock the door with a key?
'No... I can't assume the Great Merchant locked it himself.'
Instead, the Great Merchant might be in a position where he was locked up.
Whatever the case, I wanted to open it for now. Because I would be able to use the knowledge for my next challenge.
CLICK—
As soon as I used the key, I heard a sound.
When I gave it a slight push, the door opened. What lay inside was.
'Hmm....'
Everything I had expected was wrong. No, it might actually be closer to an event.
It was a small room. Yet it was completely empty.
If I hadn't spotted the piece of paper lying in the center, I would have turned back without hesitation.
Trudge— Trudge—
Was it because my expectations had been so high? My footsteps felt heavy.
Bending at the waist, I picked up the paper.
'Something's written on it.'
I felt relieved by the fact that I hadn't wasted my key on a blank sheet of paper. For now, I decided to read it.
[...I do not know if climbing the tower is truly the right thing to do. Every time I climb a floor, I feel anxious. This place is cursed. As you face monsters, you end up becoming a monster yourself. In the end, I too....]
The paper seemed to have been torn from somewhere. The contents before and after were missing.
'If you face monsters, you become a monster?'
Did it mean tower monsters? Who had left this piece of paper behind?
One question led to another.
Ultimately, they boiled down to a single question.
'If this writing is true, was I originally not a Skeleton Soldier?'
If I interpreted the writing literally, wasn't there that possibility? What if staying in this tower for a long time turned you into a monster?
Since when had I been a Skeleton Soldier?
Because I had no such memories at all, I couldn't be sure.
'For now... let's remember this.'
It was information obtained by spending a key. It wasn't something to brush off lightly.
There was no next room. This was the last room on the first floor.
'Hmm....'
I returned to the room with the stairs.
Going up to the second floor without any other equipment bothered me, but there was no other way.
Because there had been neither the Great Merchant nor a chest.
Rattle— Rattle—
With every step I took up the stairs, my bone joints made a sound. Reaching the second floor, I opened the door.
'Let's go... to the second floor.'
***
THWIP—
A flying arrow lodged into my ribs and fell away. I was pushed back slightly by the impact.
At the same time, a Skeleton Soldier brought its sword down from the side.
CLANG—
Raising my sword to block it, I struck the bastard's cheek with my other hand.
CRACK—
Its jaw fell to the floor. I threw a punch a second time.
Several of its teeth fell out. I should make sure I didn't end up like that.
I picked up the fallen bastard's skull.
CRACK—
A flying arrow struck the skull. Even if it only lasted for one hit, I realized it was good to use as a makeshift shield.
The Skeleton Archer tried to nock another arrow to its bowstring. However, it should have been a little faster.
Running forward, I swung my sword wide. I aimed for the wrist holding the bow.
Its wrist shattered and fell away. Since it couldn't hold a bow anymore, it could hardly be called an archer.
Spinning my body wide, I severed its waist right through.
Split into upper and lower halves, its body collapsed backward.
[Combat EXP acquired.]
[Congratulations. Level increased.]
[Lv4 (20%)]
As my level went up, the cracks in my bones were erased.
'It definitely seems to be working.'
I scanned the bone debris scattered across the floor. My hope that there might be a key soon vanished.
All that stained my hand was gray dust.
'It's better than last time.'
To think having a single Trait would be this good. Or was it thanks to my experience?
Whichever it was, it didn't matter. I had gained confidence.
'Next is....'
Feeling my head, I recalled my own map. The basic rule was to go straight.
Passing through the passage, I entered the next room.
THUD— THUD—
The iron bars came right down.
Clack, clack—
Without realizing it, I clacked my teeth together.
'An event...!'
The stone statue placed in the center was different from the one I had seen before.
It was the figure of a person sitting on fallen people as if using them as a chair.
The victor's smile on that face of indeterminate gender captivated me.
RUMBLE—
The room shook. At the same time, my vision darkened.
'What the!?'
['The Final Victor']
[Eliminate all Challengers.]
[Were you curious about other Challengers? Prove your strength and take their equipment!]
[Remaining Challengers: 3]
As my darkened vision brightened, letters became visible.
"Oh no...."
A woman.
"Haha! Lucky me!"
A man.
"...Ghk!"
A patient.
Voices rang out simultaneously. I quickly scanned my surroundings.
Centered around the stone statue, Challengers had appeared in three directions.
The woman was draped in a robe and held a staff set with a blue gem. It looked like good equipment.
The man was a familiar face. The bald man.
'If I'm seeing him this often... doesn't that mean his skill is on the good side?'
Because he retried so many times, the number of times I ran into him probably increased too.
The patient—actually, a man. However, perhaps having already suffered an injury, his shoulder was red with blood. His weapons were daggers held in both hands.
"Let's see... Hmm?"
"A skeleton?"
I wasn't the only one checking out my opponents. The woman and the bald man looked at me in surprise.
"Isn't that a monster?"
"The message said Challenger, didn't it...."
At the bald man's question, the woman chided him. They looked almost like they were on familiar terms with each other.
"I am One Hundred."
When I opened my mouth, they flinched in surprise. Even the man who had been frowning.
"It speaks?"
"What the... Is it a new monster?"
The bald man stroked his chin.
The atmosphere didn't look good for me.
"I am not a monster."
I explained. However, what they needed didn't seem to be an explanation.
"How about we eliminate the skeleton first?"
"Certainly... I won't feel any hesitation about that."
The woman readily accepted the bald man's proposal.
Attacking me just because I was a skeleton—wasn't that going too far?
"Hrk...."
As if trying to hold back a groan, the patient pressed his lips shut. The gazes of the bald man and the woman turned toward the patient as well.
"That side's also, well...."
"How about we each take care of one, and then settle things between us?"
"Oh... That's a good idea."
They sure were chatting back and forth nicely.
In that case, I couldn't just stand still either.
"Human, will you join hands with me?"
I asked the man who was sitting slumped over and clutching his shoulder. I couldn't tell if any goodwill came across in my voice.
Looking at me, he opened his eyes wide.
"...Cut the bullshit."
I was rejected.
His frowning face didn't seem to be just because of the pain.
Reaching out a hand to the patient had been the wrong choice.
"Then I will take the skeleton."
"Hah, aren't you trying to get off way too easy?"
"Can you not even handle an injured man? And please do not speak casually to me."
"Touchy, aren't we. Fine, big brother here'll let you have this one."
At the bald man's words, the woman made a disgusted expression.
So my opponent was the woman.
I gripped my sword. Although she looked somewhat strong, I had seen a weapon like that before.
A similar type to the staff Feirin had used.
She would surely use magic.
'Close the distance as much as possible.'
Why had Feirin run away? It must have been because she lacked confidence in close combat.
I made the best judgment I could with the information I had.
The bald man and the woman split up to the left and right.
Gritting his teeth, the patient also stood up. Taking his hand off his wound, he took a stance.
'Is pain something that can be overcome that easily?'
The bald man let out a sneer.
"If you just stayed still, I'd send you off comfortably!"
"Shut up, baldy!"
"This punk...! My hair's just thin!"
Worked up, the bald man charged. Did he get provoked by words like that?
'I should learn from that.'
Patter—
At the light footsteps, I turned my face. Standing in front of me, the woman glared at me.
"Where do you get off acting so relaxed!"
I didn't answer. I examined her appearance.
Unfortunately, the woman had plenty of hair. I couldn't use what the patient had said as it was.
"Shut up."
First, I spat out those words.
And then I stated a visible feature.
"Woman with a back attached to her front."
At my words, the woman's face flushed red.
"You... I won't kill you simply."
It had been a successful provocation.