"Finally!"
After enduring defeat at the hands of the Boss Monster no more than four times, I had triumphed. My victory came from painstakingly memorizing its attack patterns and exploiting its weaknesses.
I had been navigating this labyrinth world for approximately four days now. The revelation that I could RETURN TO LIFE AFTER DEATH had emboldened me to push my limits relentlessly.
Overpowered?
...Nope.
This apparent omnipotence came at a price. Each time I died, a small portion of my attributes diminished.
...Attributes, you might ask?
=====
𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲: Saber
𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗸: ?
𝗝𝗼𝗯: [Ruler of Calamity]
𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: [Lolicon]
[𝗛𝗣: 2,000/2,000]
[𝗠𝗣: 2,700/2,700]
𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:
- [N/A]
𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀:
- 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵: 20
- 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: 16
- 𝗔𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: 18
- 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀: 19
- 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 100
=====
"I look strong, don't I...?"
I stared at the status displayed on the phone I was holding for a few moments, my eyes twitching with frustration.
"Why in the actual fuck do I have 'lolicon' as my title!? Explain this properly, system!" I raised my voice and exclaimed in exasperation.
The phone I was using to check my status had appeared on the first day after I accidentally encountered the Boss Monster and was torn apart by its shadow. It had been a painful experience, one that had repeated several times before I achieved victory.
Er... According to the system, the phone was special. It allowed me not only to check my status but also to view the statuses of any Boss Monsters I had managed to tame as pets, which, at the moment, was zero.
[.....Deal with it]
The system's response, though rather blunt, echoed through my mind.
As tempted as I was to slap this system, I couldn't, for it had no discernible physical presence, merely existing as an unseen observer, a silent companion in this enigmatic labyrinth.
...How lonely, lol.
Shaking off the thought, I refocused my attention.
"Anyways..."
With a click on my phone's screen, a blue panel materialized once more, revealing a tempting array of abilities to choose from. My lips curled into a smirk as I look at the options.
But....
"System, can I postpone the selection for later?"
Unfortunately, I still have a job to do. It's not because I have to keep my image as Rider in the city, but to make sure that a 'certain someone' is still breathing.
[....Yes.]
Upon hearing the system's quiet assent, I smiled and stretched my back. "Great... Now, can you send me back?"
I closed my eyes, and a familiar breeze brushed against my face.
"I'm back."
When I reopened them, I found myself back where I had disappeared from.
"What time is it...?"
My heart raced as I rushed toward a nearby clock, anxiously searching for the current time.
"4:56...?"
If my calculations were correct, I had been missing for an entire day. The date must've happened a day before yesterday.
"...I should hurry."
Running seemed like the most sensible option, so I sprinted back to the house.
*****
"... I'm back."
I entered through the door, closing it behind me with a sense of trepidation.
But my ill-fated luck dictated that the first person I encountered would be none other than Reaper herself. She stood before me, scythe in hand, her posture ready for a fight. Her eyes narrowed as she asked in a cold tone, "Where have you been?"
In my usual, unfiltered manner, I couldn't help but blurt out, "To your mom."
...Me and my fucking mouth.
Regret instantly washed over me as I realized the gravity of the situation. Reaper's grip on her scythe tightened, a clear warning that my flippant remark had pushed her patience to its limits.
Realizing that I needed a more plausible explanation, I carefully composed my words, "That night, Solis and I ran into trouble with one of the higher-ups from the casino on the black market. After narrowly escaping, I failed to notice that one of his men had placed an artifact hidden within my cloak. This artifact activated and teleported me to them, where I found myself trapped in a cell for a day. It was only through the help of a friend that I managed to escape."
Of course, as for the final touch....
To lend credibility to my story, I added, "If you don't believe me, you can ask Solis for the details."
By maintaining a calm and collected demeanor, I hoped to make my lies more convincing, understanding that the right presentation could make even the most outrageous stories seem plausible.
"...No, I believe you."
I couldn't help but be taken aback by Reaper's unexpected response. It was surprising, to say the least, and I briefly let my surprise show before composing myself.
Reaper, ever perceptive, noticed my momentary lapse and questioned, "What's with that stare?"
"Nothing... Anyway, where are the others... specifically, Solis?" I glanced around, realizing that she was the only one present.
Reaper retracted her scythe into its artifact form and replied, "She's upstairs, sleeping in her room."
"...I see."
I guess I can leave now...
With a nod of understanding, I turned toward the door, but Reaper halted my departure by grabbing my right shoulder.
"Wait a minute! You can't just enter the house for a couple of minutes and leave again without telling us where you're heading!" She scolded me, and I couldn't even deny the logic in her words.
"Erm... Well, I'm off to visit a friend?"
Reaper wasn't satisfied with my vague response. She pressed further, demanding, "What you said is basically a question. Tell me the truth!"
I held back a retort, choosing instead to maintain my composure. I didn't want to prolong this conversation any further, as I had an important goal in mind – picking my reward.
Be gone thot!
Just then, a little girl's voice rang out from upstairs.
"Papa!"
The sound of that voice pulled at something within me... Maybe, I can stay for a couple more minutes.
...
..
.
An hour later...