"Why are most of the material locked…?" Benny asked himself while searching through the [Shop] function.
Although it was supposed to be [Shop] where Benny could buy various things for himself in exchange for [Coins], most of the shop functions were locked. It required Benny to reach a certain level.
For now, most Shop functions only contain Rank 1 spells or skills.
In this world where magic exists, so are spells. These spells are ranked from Rank 1 to Rank 10. Humans can only cast up to Rank 6 spells, whereas demons could cast Rank 7 or even Rank 8 spells. Only Gods could cast Rank 10 spells.
Humans who can even cast magic had to be blessed by a god or a mage dragon since only they use magic spells in their arsenal.
"Master, you can choose Rank 1 spell and then practice it to a higher rank." Vivian came after taking out Mana Stones from the Cifers he and Vivian killed on the third floor, which was also the final floor of this dungeon.
The third floor also had six Cifers but with slightly better combat skills. Benny didn't climb any level, though.
"Really? Can I do that? Speaking of, how could I earn these Coins?"
"Master can earn them through clearing proper Hell Gate. This isn't a proper Hell Gate."
"Figures."
It was a modified Hell Gate, so he couldn't earn the Coins, but if he could kill some Mors, he might make some Coins.
"Vivian, can I know something?"
"What is it, master?"
"What is the cost of this system?"
"W-what?"
Yes, Benny was happy with his progress as an Entomancer, but he wasn't an idiot who would accept things for granted.
This system premise might sound cool in novels and games, but Benny was a reasonable person. He won't just accept an unknown system like a parasite and level through the end.
Who knows what this system would do?
"I am asking why I am the one chosen by this system. Are there others like me? And who even created this system?"
"That… I cannot answer that question."
Hearing his 'loyal' servant's answer, Benny stood and looked at Vivian.
"What do you mean you can't answer? Aren't you supposed to be faithfully loyal to me? I am just asking the [Truth] that I am supposed to know."
"You are correct, master, but I cannot answer for many reasons. I am tied to this information as well."
Suddenly the green light Benny thought was his salvation started to get grim. Professor Aizeck and his team just betrayed him. Is Vivian or this system going to do the same…?
"Master… Actually, there is a way to get those answers…." Vivian spoke after some hesitation.
"And what that be?"
"Eat me."
"…Whoa! I am not going for that! I mean… I am still into actual girls, but they should be humans!"
"I-I mean literally…! What I really want to say is, you can eat my heart core. It will give you all the information I came into being."
"Wait, wouldn't you die?"
Vivian wasn't undead or anything, so she would actually die.
"I will; however, I don't want to keep my master in the dark. I don't want to live with lies or misjudgments. If my life can answer your curiosity, I, Vivian the ladybug crawler, will gladly die for my master."
Benny was stunned for the moment. It was not only Vivian's statement but also her emotions. Benny could genuinely feel her feelings from the words she put in her confession.
There was no lie to Vivian's statement. She was really willing to sacrifice her life.
Benny felt like an idiot. He might be immature, but he also knows there is always a right time to know everything. He was too weak to learn about many things, so it might be better if he discovered the answer as he progressed.
Sometimes knowing more than necessary could also become a weakness.
"Sigh, I am sorry, I am just frustrated." He sat down and sighed. He always used to be positive, but a recent betrayal broke him. It was hard for him to trust someone.
"Please don't apologize to me, master. I wish I could do more for you, but my powers are also limited. But please be at ease because soon you will find the answer at the right time."
Benny smiled and then lifted Vivian, embracing her gently.
"M-m-m-master?!"
"Hehe, thanks for the encouragement, Vivian. I will trust you."
People might be grossed out if they see someone hugging a giant bug, but Benny didn't care. He loves bugs with passion and wouldn't even mind patting a centipede if he had to.
"Anway, what should we do now? Should we return to campus? A hero might come here anytime."
It was the last floor, so Benny didn't think he could level up anymore. More Cifers will take time to respawn, so he would only be wasting time by staying here.
And, even though he was a nap in the school register, a Hero might be coming to search for him. The school would need his body as evidence that Benny Olbion is dead.
"Actually, master, I can sense a Variant Mors somewhere here."
"Variant? You mean some kind of hidden boss or Easter egg?"
"Exactly. My good luck leads my senses to fortune, and I can sense the original Mors on which these Cifers are based."
So there was a basic version of Cifer hiding somewhere.
"Let's go then!"
"Ha!"
Vivian then few into one cave of the room. Like the cave where Benny 'died,' there were five of them in this room. Benny followed one behind Vivian.
However, it was just a small cave with a dead end. Benny was about to say when Vivian flew back and then slammed the wall with a powerful impact.
Boom!
With just one hit, Vivian broke one foot through think stone wall quickly. What was revealed to the human and bug duo was another proper path leading somewhere.
Benny took out his torch and began to follow Vivian.
"By the way, what were the system conditions I saw when I died?"
"There were three conditions. Maybe call it requirements.
First was pure love for insects. This qualifies if the host can understand crawlers.
The second was a passion for doing something for insects. Master has been researching a way to infuse insects with mana so that insects can live in this world without dying from mana metamorphosis."
"You mean my Ento Serum? Wasn't that a failure?"
"Nope, it did succeed, or else there wasn't a door created for us Crawlers. The dung beetle is living in this world."
Benny was so happy to hear the news. His lifelong hard work finally bore the fruit.
"And third for a rebirth. Like insects that evolved from countless rebirths, the master had to undergo a rebirth process over time. I apologize, but your unexpected death did speed up the process."
So that was the reason why he was having that odd feeling when the exploration started. His sharpened senses, inhuman reflexes when fighting the Mors, and angered personality.
And should he thank Wendy for killing him? Nah, that girl doesn't deserve to live.
"Master, we are here!"
Vivian spoke as Benny soon came across into another room.
It was similar to other rooms of the Hell Gate, but the air was different. Benny could feel the pressure in the atmosphere created by the single entity resting in the center of the room.
It had four spider-like legs on the bottom, like a Cifer, but its torso was that of a human. Its head was covered in a hood and had two arms with claw-like hands.
The gate from where Vivian and Benny were standing was a few meters above the ground, so they had to jump down if they wanted to fight that Mors.
"Master, this Mors has been identified as Rank D Grim Cifer. Although its level is lower, it might create some trouble."
Benny nodded at Vivian's warning.
"Will it give us some Soul Energy to level up?"
"I lead you here for the same reason. In addition to climbing levels, its Mana Stone is very valuable. I suggest I must take that Mors down. But the challenge-"
"Then we have to kill that thing here," Benny smirked as he focused on the lone Mors resting silently.
Even Benny could tell that the Mors in front of him was stronger than Cifers he had fought in this Hell Gate. However, he knew he needed to get strong, or he won't be able to fulfill his goal of revenge.
"Let's go, Vivian!"
"Ha!"
With that, they jumped in to fight the boss of this place.