Offering blood.
Certainly, a sacrifice was bound to shed blood.
Clack, clack—
I clacked my teeth together.
"In that case, I am excluded."
"What?"
At my words, everyone turned their eyes toward me. Dekian was still lying collapsed on the floor.
"Because I cannot shed blood."
"Ah... That's definitely true."
Feirin nodded her head.
"Lucky you. Being able to live because you're already dead—what irony!"
Bursting into laughter, Jack continued.
"How... unreasonable...."
Helen looked full of dissatisfaction. Was it because she was a priest, standing at the opposite pole from the Undead?
'Even though I don't have any feelings toward her.'
Being hated when I had no intention of doing her any harm wasn't a welcome thing.
"Then whose blood should we shed? Huh? Personally, I like that bald guy who's already bleeding over there."
"Ugh...."
Dekian let out a groan. Glancing around nervously, Helen agreed.
"Th-That is right. There is no need to shed anyone else's blood."
Naturally, my gaze turned to Feirin. Since it was a vote, once someone received three votes, they would be decided as the sacrifice anyway.
However, Feirin seemed to hope this event wouldn't end so easily.
"No, I'm voting for you."
"Me? Hah, isn't this our first time meeting?"
As if dumbfounded, Jack pointed a finger at his own face.
I was curious too. When we could end the event quickly, why had she gone out of her way to choose the difficult path?
"An event like this... it is better to finish it quickly!"
Helen also tried to persuade Feirin.
"Ha... This is why rookies are...."
However, letting out a sigh, Feirin muttered under her breath. Rattling, the Skeleton Warrior returned to her side.
"Feirin, they need an explanation. I would like to hear an explanation as well."
"Right, I was just about to give one anyway."
Had I urged her on for nothing? She didn't look to be in a good mood.
Keeping my jaw firmly shut, I waited for her words.
"Don't act without thinking. Especially in events where you come face-to-face with other Challengers, you have to be even more careful."
"Ah... What's so complicated about it? Why're you trying to take the long way around? Huh?"
Jack interrupted her words. The Skeleton Warrior stepped forward.
"Whoa... I'm not saying we should fight."
"Then shut up and listen."
At Feirin's words, Jack shrugged his shoulders. However, he didn't open his mouth again.
"The higher up the floors you go, the more events you'll run into where you face other Challengers. If so, eliminating other Challengers on the lower floors whenever possible is advantageous."
That was new information. Let's remember it.
Feirin continued speaking.
"The higher up you go, the more selfish bastards there are. There're plenty of bastards who won't hesitate to stab you in the back for their own survival."
Was she speaking from personal experience? For an instant, anger could be felt in her expression.
Feirin spoke while looking at Helen. It seemed Jack wasn't someone she intended to persuade.
"That's why we have to weed out bastards who swing their weapons without hesitation like that. And in terms of danger, that bastard named Jack looks far more dangerous."
"Hah... All I did was defend myself, though?"
Jack spoke as if dumbfounded.
"Ghk... I'll cast my vote for that son of a bitch too...."
Dekian stood up. Had he recovered in the meantime?
Just as Jack had said, it seemed nobody could die in this place.
"That makes it two to two."
Feirin spoke.
Either Jack or Dekian would be branded as the sacrifice.
Everyone's gazes gathered on me.
The remaining single vote—the deciding power lay with me.
"Let's not judge based on past feelings. That bald guy tried to kill you too, didn't he?"
That was true. Dekian had tried to kill Jack without hesitation when Jack looked injured.
Wouldn't judging that he wasn't dangerous be far too hasty?
"I don't use cowardly tricks like pretending to be injured to make my opponent let their guard down like you!"
Dekian shot back.
Was deceiving your opponent cowardly? Truthfully, when it came to survival, I thought Jack's method was right.
"I... I do not know anymore...."
Helen looked confused. Feirin only looked at me without saying a word.
Did she want me to decide for myself?
'This is hard....'
Clack— Clack—
Slowly, my jaw clacked together. Eight eyes were fixed on me.
My hesitation wasn't long.
"Jack."
I called out Jack's name.
Strictly speaking, Dekian had only tried to get his revenge.
In practice, the one who had killed me wasn't Dekian.
On the other hand, Jack had killed me, and he was a human who set out to deceive others from the very start.
'I don't want to climb the tower with someone like that.'
That was my decision.
Because according to Feirin's words, as we climbed higher, there seemed to be events where Challengers had to cooperate with one another too.
"Hah...."
Jack clutched his chest as if hurt. Then, wearing an eerie smile, he looked straight at me.
"I'll remember this."
[The sacrifice has been decided as 'Jack'.]
[Offering the sacrifice to the altar.]
Letters appeared.
Perhaps visible to the others' eyes as well, everyone looked up.
CLATTER—
Iron chains shot out from the altar and bound Jack up. To the very end, Jack didn't take his eyes off me.
His body was dragged onto the altar.
"Hahaha! You son of a bitch! Serves you right!"
Bursting into hearty laughter, Dekian pointed a finger at Jack. However, Jack couldn't see him.
The iron chains completely covered his body.
"Ghk...!"
He let out a groan.
CRUNCH— CRACK—
It was the sound of bone joints being crushed. At the same time, drops of blood flowed down along the iron chains.
"Good heavens...."
Helen squeezed her eyes shut. Was this sight hard for her to watch?
Turning my head, I looked at Feirin. She was silently watching the altar.
"Kyaaaaaagh!"
Jack's scream echoed out.
"Aaaagh! Aaaaaaaaagh!"
The screaming didn't stop. Even Dekian, who had been mocking him to his heart's content, shut his mouth.
Soon, the sounds stopped.
Drip— Drip— Drip—
Drops of blood flowing down the iron chains dripped onto the altar.
"One Hundred."
At the voice calling me, I turned my head. Feirin was looking at me.
"Thanks for following my opinion."
"Because I thought the same way."
Thanks to her information, I had been able to make my judgment. Shouldn't I be the one thanking her?
"One Hundred... As you climb the tower, what you need to be careful of is...."
[Through a noble sacrifice, the Challengers receive a blessing.]
[For this challenge only, you immediately acquire one Trait.]
FLASH—
Along with a bright flash, Feirin's figure vanished.
'What was it?'
What had she been trying to say at the very end?
Before I could hear it, I had returned to the original room.
'What I need to be careful of...?'
The tower was full of things to be careful of. Yet for her to bring it up separately like that, did it mean there was something I needed to watch out for that badly?
Flutter—
The piece of paper that had been floating in midair fell to the floor. Walking up close, I grabbed the paper.
[...Perhaps we were originally monsters all along? In fact, this current appearance of ours is the fake one. And the higher we climb the tower, the more we regain our true form. Standing here now after treading on the blood of my comrades, I am no different from the monsters of this tower...]
Just like before, the writing looked as if only the middle portion had been torn out.
'Originally monsters all along...?'
It seemed to connect to the writings I had found before. However, this time, the content was the exact opposite.
'Before, they said they were turning into monsters....'
There was no proof that what was written on these papers was the truth. Seeing how what the writer said kept changing, their mind might not have been sound.
'For now... I'll remember it.'
I had gathered everything there was to gather here. It happened just as I was about to move toward the dead end.
[Please select your desired Trait.]
[1. Navigator – Visualizes and displays the map.]
[2. Stable Investment – The Grade of items from all chests is fixed to 'Magic'.]
[3. Crescendo – Each time you enter a new room, the number of enemies starts at 1 and increases by one.]
The letters stopped me in my tracks.
'Ah... So this is that blessing.'
Adding one Trait through the blessing. If my guess was right, it meant enjoying the effect of Level 5, so it was well worth calling a blessing.
'Number 1 is... meaningless.'
My memory was quite good. Although I occasionally got mixed up, I was confident in my accuracy.
'Number 2 is pretty appealing. However....'
Magic Grade items could be kept even during a Reset. However, it had the drawback of preventing me from acquiring items of an even higher Grade.
'Number 3 is... iffy.'
If I understood it properly, it had to mean the number of enemies was fixed each time I entered a floor.
One in the first room, two in the second room.
It meant the number of enemies would increase like that.
In other words, the more rooms there were, the more enemies I would have to face.
I pondered briefly over the three choices. However, the answer came quickly.
I decided to select number 2, 'Stable Investment'.
Had I ever seen an item of a higher Grade than Magic Grade?
No. In that case, wouldn't it be better to acquire Magic Grade items consistently?
'Of course... it's a Trait that's only useful if I secure chests and keys.'
Having finished selecting my Trait, I moved my feet.
***
CLANG—
As I blocked a Skeleton Warrior's sword with my shield, a metallic ring echoed out. There was no time to admire the sound.
Right beside me, an arrow flew in.
Twisting my body, I angled my shield to the side and blocked the arrow. Riding the momentum of my spin, I swung my mace and struck.
CRACK—!
The Skeleton Warrior's jaw went flying and fell to the floor.
'Is it thanks to my skill level?'
A movement like this was something I couldn't have even imagined before. Yet it had come to me naturally.
Since the only thing about me that had changed was my skill level, it was a reasonable deduction.
The Skeleton Warrior was still moving. I had to finish it off.
Twisting my wrist, I swung the mace upward. Unable to withstand the force, its skull soared into the air.
I had finished clearing out the Skeleton Warrior.
SIZZLE—
Spraying poison liquid, a Poison Slime wrapped around my ankle.
I quickly pulled my ankle out, but several small holes had formed.
THWIP—
Another arrow flew in. Covering my body with my shield, I ran toward the Skeleton Archer.
'I'll deal with the Slime later...!'
A Slime's movement speed was on the slow side. If I widened the distance, I could buy time.
Dealing with the Skeleton Archer first was more advantageous for me.
Lowering my shield slightly, I looked ahead. The Skeleton Archer tried to get away from me, but it was already too late.
CRACK—
Crushing its breastbone, my shield pinned the archer against the wall. Unable to withstand the pressure, its bones broke and fell to the floor.
SCRAPE— SCRAAAPE—
Wall and bone ground together, making a harsh sound.
Because I didn't let up on my strength, the Skeleton Archer struggled between the shield and the wall.
Of course, I had no intention of letting it go. Leaning my body forward, I put my weight into it.
Just like that, I raised my mace.
'The Skeleton Archer's done too.'
Watching its skull fall to the side, I turned my body. Dealing with the remaining Poison Slime wasn't difficult.
[Combat EXP acquired.]
[Lv7 (45%)]
Passing through several rooms, I had reached Level 7. Unfortunately, it would take some more time until my next level-up.
'Still no Brass Key, as expected....'
Resting briefly, I waited for my body to recover. I rummaged through the piles of bones looking for a key, but the key the Skill Researcher had talked about wasn't visible.
'This is the only path left, though....'
All the other paths had ended in dead-end rooms.
I had found the stairs leading to the fourth floor, too. Even so, I hadn't gone up right away.
Was it to keep my promise with that human?
No. It was because I felt the need to grow stronger myself.
'I can run into other Challengers... at any time.'
If I wanted to gain the upper hand over them, I had to search every room and acquire items and EXP.
'That did it.'
When I lowered my head, all the holes had disappeared.
Passing through the passage, I opened the door to the next room.
THUD—
The iron bars dropped behind me.
A dead-end room—the very last room.
Rattle—
Bones moved.
'...So we really don't go back into the past after all.'
A giant skeleton stood with its back turned to me. It was an appearance I had seen before.
The skeleton turned around and looked at me.
The bones of other Skeleton Archers or Skeleton Warriors were attached to it. Skulls were stuck in a row along its shoulders like ornaments.
"Ah... You... said your name was One Hundred, right?"
The Skeleton Soldier looking down at me.
The Skeleton Soldier who had been bullied by other Skeleton Warriors, saying he wanted to be left alone.
That guy was looking down at me right before my eyes.
And hanging from his waist was a brass-colored key.
"Thanks to you, I've grown stronger!"
"How did this happen?"
"I've become a bigger, stronger skeleton! Nobody can look down on me anymore!"
Could he not hear my voice? Or was he just intoxicated by the sound of his own voice?
"I never looked down on you. Can you hand over that Brass Key?"
I asked just in case.
"Key? Key!? You bastard! You're after the key!"
Clack, clack— Clack, clack, clack—
The skulls hanging from his shoulders clacked their teeth together.
"You're not taking this key!"
The bastard charged roughly toward me.