"Uhhh… no, thank you."
"..."
Silence continued to plague the suddenly quiet conversation. The grinning Gerfrie was still grinning like an idiot, seemingly dumbfounded or having some problems with his hearing, but soon that grin turned upside down into a demonic scowl.
"What did you say…?"
"No, thank you… I just, have issues with people like you."
Something popped somewhere, which made Seichi look around but couldn't find anything.
"Issues… what kind?''
"Uhh… it's just, I don't want to sound rude, but I've seen the kind of people like you before. They… hurt me."
What Seichi is referring to was the hired goons outside of the Tower in his past life. They always hung around the shady alleys and were friends with the rich kids that used to bully him. They don't interfere, but if he fights back then he receives three times worse than what his peers are capable of.
"So, I'm sorry. But I can't trust people like you."
This, of course, caused a misunderstanding to occur with Gerfrie, who's a proud warrior with standards and honor.
'Who fucking dares… to hurt a damn kid?! Wait, then does that mean he'd met someone like me? On the first floor? No… it must be one of the challengers, if so, they're banned from joining the cause! Fucking hellllll!'
Seething with rage, the buff barbarian then shouted out to the Chosen Undead who's about to leave.
"Wait! Chosen Undead, I want to make sure, was it really someone like me? Please, spare no details with the explanation."
"...Yes?"
With another look over Gerfrie, Seichi once again describes those that hung around the rich kids.
"They have tattoos similar to yours."
Gerfrie had traditional markings as a barbarian warrior, lines that glowed blue across his entire body with one unique marking of a three-line claw mark on his left eye. While the tattoos that the hired goons had were of modern traditions, dragons, bears, tigers and whatnot.
"They have… quite the rough personality?"
"Hmm, rough enough to even…"
Although Gerfrie wouldn't call himself rough, it is what normal 'soft-skins', humans, elves, and dwarves, and challengers from the outside would describe people like him.
"And they… also have quite the facial hair, with unique features as well."
He could recall some, almost all of them having facial hair but most of the goons that followed his friends had much more facial hair than average, and they're also braided too.
"......."
With the explanation done, Seichi was expecting to leave, since he said he wasn't very comfortable with those of Gerfrie's stature. This explanation, however, made the misunderstanding worse than it already was.
"Grrraaaaahhhhh! Chosen Undead, I have a proposal!"
"E-Eh? What… is it?"
Taken aback by the apparition suddenly appearing in front of him, he backstepped and brandished his sword out of caution.
''It seems like some from my kind have disrespected the rules. We aren't supposed to pick on unworthy opponents, I apologize on behalf of all my brethren, and would like to request something of the Chosen Undead."
Gerfrie bowed courteously and even got down to one knee. This made Seichi lower his guard just a bit, loosening his grip slightly as he leaned forward.
"What is… your request?''
"Please, let this one accompany you. I swear that I will repay the damages that my people have caused you. Until the Chosen Undead has reached a suitable state, I wish to accompany you and be your companion."
[You have received the Summon Call: Gerfrie]
[You can now make contact with Gerfrie and summon him to battle wherever you are in the Tower]
{However, since Gerfrie is at a higher Level than the Chosen Undead, a price must be paid in order to summon him at his full potential}
One of the windows was golden, and its content was longer than the others.
'Hmm…'
"Please, consider it."
Seichi knows having someone as a companion is good, since he'd seen plenty of examples of it back in his past life. He was tempted, something he has never experienced before as someone who has a useless existence.
"..."
Seeing the kneeling Gerfrie, Seichi pretended to sigh for some reason. He then nods and accepts the request.
"Alright, I will accept your request to be my companion. I'm glad to have you on my side, mister Gerfrie."
"No, it is my honor to wipe away the disgrace my people have caused to each other. I won't rest easy knowing someone like you was abused by my people."
Gerfrie gets up, a smile of satisfaction on his face. Seichi, puzzled, returns to his schedule of completing the Quest.
'Now…'
The Chosen Undead, one that harbors the fate of the Undead Race. A representative, one that has the constitution to learn Magic like any of the Living, while also having what most physical Undead and mindless spirits don't, Humanity. It's the concept that's only relatable for Humans, and is different for other Races, but this trait is considered the second most powerful reason.
The main reason why they're powerful, the reason why even some incarnations of the Chosen Undead can rival even the Gods of some Floors, were because of their unique upbringing, the Path of Undeath. A self-imposed punishment, usually in the form of combat, knowledge expansion, or self-reflection.
This helps them better themselves, to revise on what they could do, what their options are, and even if they die within the punishment, they'll just return to their Grave, the point of their most recent death, and die again to their opponent. Eventually, through thickheaded determination and stubbornness, they would return victorious.
So, when the first ever Chosen Undead faced off against the mysterious owner of the Tower, it became the talk of myths, one that's able to be on match with the seemingly invincible 'owner'. So, in honor of the Chosen Undead who has reached a stalemate with him, he offered to make him part of the magnificent legacy he has created. He made a dedicated Class, and put the first Chosen Undead as the first thing that later incarnations will have to face.
"......Huh."
And so, this founder stands before this current incarnation of the Chosen Undead. A young boy with gray hair that reaches his shoulders, eyes clear and crimson, face kind and yet soulless, a body that, not too long ago, was just a twig from a dead tree.
The founder, the Soul of Undeath, stands before the current incarnation, Seichi Kurotachi. A knight figure, clad in ashen colored armor that reveals none of his body. His height, more than double that of Seichi's, and in his hand a signature squire sword.
[You are faced with the Founder]
[A Nameless Undead with the will to match even the great owner]
[You will have to prove your tenacity, best the Founder, and claim your rite to be the Chosen Undead]
[Please, do not give up under any circumstances]
The windows were very strange for Seichi.
"Hmph… he's going to kick your ass."
"I know… but, I'll beat him, somehow."
"Haha, good luck then. This is something you alone must accomplish, so I can't interfere. I hope you the best of luck, Chosen Undead."
"Save that for when I claim that title rightfully."
Seichi readies his sword, the scrappy sword that once belonged to someone, now pointed at that very someone.
"........"
And as a sign of acknowledgement, the Founder also makes a stance with his sword bent forward slightly. His feet spread apart, making his foundation a steady one.
"Huuuu…"
With a slow, lengthy exhale from Seichi, he moved first forward.
"....."
Only to be cut down almost immediately.