Big Guy and Beanpole stared fixedly at me.
Even though they had no eyeballs, I could feel their gazes.
"One Hundred?"
"Yes. My name is One Hundred."
I spoke confidently.
One Hundred, One Hundred.
The more I said it, the better it rolled off the tongue.
"I don't know why a Skeleton Soldier needs a name."
THUD— THUD—
After finishing his words, Big Guy returned to his spot. Beanpole also returned without saying much.
'Oh no....'
Had I gotten too excited over the fact that I had gained a name?
I tensed up at the fact that an intruder had arrived.
I examined the room. This time, there were three doors.
It wasn't a situation where I could hope for an ambush.
'It can't be helped....'
To avoid getting caught, I had to reduce any sense of incongruity as much as possible.
I returned to the grave where I had risen.
"Huh?"
"Where're you going?"
It didn't matter how Big Guy and Beanpole looked at me. Once the Reset happened, they wouldn't remember me anyway.
Just like I had done before, I used the Play Dead skill.
This time, I left only my right arm and pulled out all my other bones.
Only my torso, one arm, and my head remained.
THUD— THUD— THUD—
The sound of the iron bars rising.
I buried my face in the grave.
Because if I saw the intruder's appearance, I might react without realizing it.
A moment later, I heard the sound of the iron bars coming down. Soon, I also heard the sound of Big Guy and Beanpole lunging forward.
CRACK— CRACK—
It was reckless. Charging forward prepared for death was the paragon of a soldier, but courage and recklessness were separated by a hair's breadth.
Big Guy and Beanpole dying didn't worry me anymore. The reason I had been anxious was the possibility of being left alone, not because their deaths made me sad.
Now that I knew the repetition hadn't ended, wasn't there no need to worry?
I didn't grieve just because a Skeleton Soldier died.
This intruder seemed to be the taciturn type.
"Hmm...."
I heard a low groan. It was probably a sound made because the iron bars remained closed.
The numbers that appeared before my eyes began to decrease.
SCRAPE—
I didn't know what weapon the intruder was using, but it made a spine-chilling sound. His footsteps repeatedly grew closer and further away.
'Hurry....'
Contrary to my feelings, the numbers decreased at a steady pace.
THUD— THUD— THUD—
The iron bars went up, and that spine-chilling sound scraping the floor stopped as well.
The intruder's footsteps receded into the distance.
I pulled my face out of the grave. I saw the shattered figures of Big Guy and Beanpole.
'That's the fate of a Skeleton Soldier....'
Level 1 Skeleton Soldiers guarding the first floor—the end awaiting Big Guy and Beanpole was set in stone.
However, I was different.
Even though I was a Skeleton Soldier just like them, my level was 2, and I had a name.
And I would grow stronger.
To do that, the first thing I had to do was level up.
[Challenger has left the floor.]
[Survival EXP acquired.]
[Lv2 (30%)]
'The most important thing is... surviving....'
It was just as I thought. My EXP had gone up by 10%.
Just by not dying, EXP accumulated.
***
Rattle—
[Death Count: 10]
My tenth death.
Unfortunately, my Play Dead skill wasn't perfect.
Sharp-eyed intruders found me and swung their weapons.
The number of times I died like that was three.
Thankfully, I kept resurrecting with Heart-to-Heart still in my possession.
"A new... Hmm? Why isn't this friend getting up?"
I heard Big Guy's voice.
What need was there to get up? I was going to play dead anyway.
I ignored the sound of Big Guy and Beanpole grumbling.
'Wait, no....'
Changing my mind, I stood up. Big Guy and Beanpole looked back at me.
"You...."
"I am One Hundred."
"Hmm?"
I quickly cut him off.
"My name is One Hundred."
"A name...?"
As expected, they didn't understand. I didn't want to waste time.
I found bones in the grave. I handed them over to Big Guy and Beanpole.
"Here, please use these."
"Huh? Ah... That's a good idea."
"Then I will leave it to you."
I immediately returned to the grave and buried my head.
The reason I put weapons in Big Guy and Beanpole's hands?
Naturally, it wasn't to fight alongside them.
When I used the Play Dead skill, the time appeared. In other words, it meant that the longer Big Guy and Beanpole held out, the lower the chance of me getting caught.
Because if Big Guy and Beanpole lost their lives right away, the intruder's gaze would naturally scatter to the surroundings.
Once again, an intruder came, and the situation of Big Guy and Beanpole fighting the intruder unfolded.
The intruder dealt with Big Guy and Beanpole, and the iron bars went up.
'Good....'
I hadn't been caught. I just had to wait like this.
Since I had accumulated EXP up to 90% before, my level would go up this time.
After waiting like that for a brief moment, letters appeared.
[Challenger has left the floor.]
[Survival EXP acquired.]
[Congratulations. Level increased.]
[Lv3 (0%)]
'Just as I thought...!'
I had smoothly risen to Level 3.
However, my joy was short-lived; my mind went blank at the letters that appeared right after.
[The maximum monster level on the 1st floor is 3.]
[Maximum level reached.]
Maximum level?
'What's that supposed to mean...?'
It wasn't that I didn't know the meaning. I simply didn't want to believe it.
***
Rattle—
The Reset ended, and I returned to the grave.
This time, I couldn't stay still.
"A new...."
I sprang to my feet and passed Big Guy. Beanpole looked at me.
For now, let's at least ask.
"Do you know a way to go up to the upper floor?"
If the maximum level on the first floor was 3, didn't that mean it would be different on the second floor?
I had thought I would have to leave the first floor someday anyway. The time had simply come faster than I expected.
"The upper floor...?"
Beanpole's voice wavered. Did he not know either?
"Yes."
"What're you going to the second floor for?"
"Because my level will not go up anymore."
I answered honestly.
"Level...? What're you talking about?"
Big Guy asked. However, Beanpole was different.
"Don't tell me... you...."
"It is One Hundred."
"What?"
"My name. Please call me One Hundred."
Clack— Clack—
Beanpole clacked his teeth together. He stroked his jaw and soon opened his mouth.
"We're bound to the first floor. There's no such thing as a way to go up."
"However...."
"The System's absolute."
Beanpole shut his mouth.
'The System...?'
Big Guy looked back and forth between me and Beanpole. I turned my gaze back to Beanpole.
"What is the System?"
"God."
Beanpole answered briefly.
"God...?"
"Yeah. God. The god that rules this place. We follow God's commands. Guarding this room is also God's command."
Beanpole spat out the words in a stiff voice. It was an attitude showing he wouldn't take any questions.
However, if Beanpole's words were true, there was something strange.
'Is my desire to escape this place also God's command?'
I didn't have a sense of duty telling me I had to guard this room. I only had the desire to get out of this unknown prison.
THUD— THUD—
At the sound of the iron bars coming down, Big Guy quickly headed to the center of the room. Was that also the System's command?
Beanpole passed me and stood beside Big Guy.
'Play Dead's useless anyway.'
If I couldn't obtain any more EXP, I had to try another method.
I quietly leaned my body against the wall.
Silence filled the inside of the room.
Time passed, and an intruder arrived.
"Ah... Skeleton Soldiers again."
It was an intruder I was seeing for the first time. She was a woman wrapped in a robe as black as the darkness of the passage.
Big Guy and Beanpole turned their bodies.
They lunged toward her. Movements that were far too predictable.
"Summon Skeleton Soldier."
THUD—
Muttering, she struck the floor with the staff she was holding.
'What's that...?'
A purple light spun rapidly and drew a magic circle. Then, the floor disappeared as if sinking away, and an abyss appeared.
And pure white finger bones rose up from the abyss.
Rattle— Rattle—
Another Skeleton Soldier appeared in front of her. If there was a difference, perhaps it was that unlike Big Guy and Beanpole, it was equipped with a sword and a shield.
"Deal with them."
She spat out the words with an annoyed expression. With its mouth firmly shut, the Skeleton Soldier took on Big Guy and Beanpole.
They were the same Skeleton Soldiers, yet the difference in caliber was visible.
Her Skeleton Soldier shoved Beanpole with its shield. While Beanpole fell over, Big Guy lunged in, but facing a sword barehanded was a foolish thing to do.
CRUNCH—
The Skeleton Soldier's sword dug into Big Guy's ribs. Big Guy's hands didn't even reach the Skeleton Soldier.
The Skeleton Soldier twisted its waist and flung Big Guy away.
CRUMBLE—
With his bone joints scattering, Big Guy died. Right like that, the Skeleton Soldier crushed the fallen Beanpole with its shield.
CRACK— CRACK—
Cracks formed across Beanpole's head.
'Is this the will of the System?'
It was an unwinnable fight. When I turned my gaze, she was staring fixedly at me.
"Why isn't this one fighting?"
The Skeleton Soldier turned its head. Was it aiming for me?
Since I had no intention of dying easily, I urgently opened my mouth.
"Wait, I have no intention of fighting."
"Stop."
As soon as she spoke, the Skeleton Soldier stopped in place. A strange look showed on her face.
"What... are you?"
This was it.
The difference between me and the Skeleton Soldier she controlled, which was just like Big Guy and Beanpole lying fallen on that floor.
What are you? It was the name to answer with when asked that question.
"My name is One Hundred."
My voice felt stiff. However, I didn't know how to modulate my voice.
"One Hundred?"
"Yes. I am a special Skeleton Soldier."
I wouldn't deny that I was a Skeleton Soldier. She looked at me with an intrigued glint in her eyes.
"Are you a Quest NPC?"
It was a term I was hearing for the first time. Even so, I had no trouble understanding its meaning.
Why was that?
"Why aren't you answering?"
However, I couldn't afford to think deeply. She pressed me for an answer.
A Quest NPC—one who makes a request under the name of a quest and provides a reward in return.
If I wanted to survive, there was only one way.
"If it is a request... I have one."
"Just as I thought... I'm lucky. To think I'd see a Quest NPC on the first floor."
She wore a satisfied smile.
"What do you want?"
"Please take me... to the second floor."
Would it be possible?
After finishing my words, I waited for her answer.
"The second floor...?"
An answer didn't come easily. Was it impossible after all?
"That is correct."
"That's a peculiar request... I've never heard of a request like that before...."
Her eyes shifted around. I quietly waited for her to finish thinking.
Because the strong one in this place wasn't me, but her.
"And the reward?"
"A reward...."
It was something I hadn't thought of yet. A reward—what was I supposed to give her?
"Why aren't you answering?"
Rattle—
The Skeleton Soldier took a step toward me. She was a woman lacking in patience.
"Is there something you want?"
Since nothing came to mind, I asked. In the first place, I didn't even know why intruders came here.
"How truly peculiar. Are you going to grant whatever I want?"
"That... is not the case."
In an instant, the expectation that had surfaced on her face disappeared. What a blatant woman.
"Do you have Gold?"
"Gold... I have none."
"What about items?"
At her question, Heart-to-Heart came to mind. However, I couldn't give this away.
Because without this, I wouldn't even be able to talk with the intruders.
"I have none."
"Do you at least have a key?"
Her face gradually hardened.
"By a key, you mean...."
"There's bound to be at least one key on every floor. Do you have it?"
Her expression asked if she really had to explain something like this too. Thanks to her, I obtained a piece of information.
One on every floor, huh.
The moment I heard those words, a good idea came to mind.
"I do not have a key. However...."
There was something only I could do.
"I can tell you where the key is."
"You'll tell me the location of the key?"
Her expression smoothed out. It seemed her interest had been piqued.
"Yes. Since I am a monster, I can move around the rooms without being attacked by other monsters."
"Oho...."
She nodded her head. Was it a decent condition in its own right?
"Hmm... Fine."
"In exchange, you must wait in this room. Um...."
What should I call her? Perhaps noticing my hesitation, she opened her mouth first.
"It's Feirin."
"If you encounter monsters in another room, Lady Feirin, I will not be able to move between rooms...."
When an intruder engaged in battle, the rooms closed. She had to stay here.
"Fine."
She lightly tapped her staff again. The abyss appeared beneath the Skeleton Soldier once more. The Skeleton Soldier sank into the abyss.
"However... if you don't return within 15 minutes...."
CRACK—
Feirin smashed Beanpole's skull with her staff.
"You'll have to see my Skeleton Soldier again."
Was it a threat?
However, I wasn't afraid of death.
"I understand."
THUD— THUD—
The iron bars went up. Even though I was still alive.
However, there was something even more surprising than that.
['One Hundred and Feirin's Promise']
[One Hundred has agreed to tell Feirin the location of the key. Locate the key within the time limit and guide Feirin.]
And the numbers that surfaced at the same time.
[14:59]
The numbers began to decrease rapidly.