The old white-haired goblin gave a sinister smile.
"Would you like to enter the village?"
His question carried a complex meaning.
But adventurers visiting this place for the first time couldn't understand the full extent of his words.
You had to experience the events in the village firsthand to understand.
"We will enter."
The goblin licked his lips with a meaningful expression.
"From here on, high-level monsters will appear. If they catch you, you might never leave, even in death. Is that okay with you?"
"Yes."
"Heh heh. You look like just a child, but you're a remarkable adventurer who isn't afraid of death despite my warnings."
"I've already experienced death."
"You've experienced death?"
I merely lifted the corners of my mouth in response.
The white-haired goblin frowned, perhaps thinking I was joking.
"From here, not only your life but also your soul can vanish."
"I don't care. If I die, what use is a lingering soul?"
"You wouldn't even become a [Back Phantom]."
"I have no intention of becoming one, so will you open the way now?"
"...You are an interesting one."
The goblin struck the ground three times with his staff.
Tap, tap, tap.
At that moment, two goblin statues blocking the village entrance moved aside, dragging against the ground.
Rumble.
"I wish you good luck."
I waved lightly and headed into the village.
* * *
Once inside the village, I immediately began to assess the situation.
Scattered carcasses of beasts and still-smoldering logs suggested a recent battle had taken place.
'It seems a trial began before we arrived.'
There were no clues indicating victory or defeat. However, it was evident that previous adventurers had failed to ascend.
Had they succeeded, there would have been at least a dozen goblin corpses lying around, but there were none.
Rox gripped the handle of his mace as if sensing something.
"Dean, I sense a presence not far away."
"The Goblin Champion."
"Goblin Champion?"
"Yes, I mentioned it before we came. There are beings called Apostles every ten floors waiting for adventurers."
There are ten Apostles we must face while climbing to the top of the tower.
And the Apostle guarding this place is one of the top five in terms of power.
In terms of skill, he is a formidable figure—no, a monster—that must not be underestimated.
Siegfried flew around the village quickly and then pointed and shouted loudly as if he had found something.
"There it is! That disciple of mine is over there!"
I walked in the direction Siegfried pointed. There, I encountered the so-called Goblin Champion.
'Of course.'
At this moment, it was not a living creature but merely a statue.
Rumble.
A goblin larger than an adult human, with devil-like horns on its forehead.
"Is this the Goblin Champion?"
Rox tilted his head in confusion.
The Goblin Champion was said to be the Apostle guarding this place, yet here it stood as an inactive statue.
"Yes."
"Should I smash it?"
That was a very Rox-like idea.
"No, that's impossible."
"Why not?"
"Try it."
"Try it?"
"Yes."
I encouraged him to try it himself and stepped back. Rox glanced at me suspiciously, then swung his mace forcefully.
Whoosh—
If the statue were just stone, it would have shattered into pieces.
That's how powerful Rox was. His strength alone surpassed human limits, reaching the level of an ogre.
Crash!
But the result was not what he expected. The statue remained intact, and his hand shook violently as if electrified.
"Argh!"
Rox was the only one hurt by the impact.
He rolled on the ground in agony, unable to even hold his weapon. Imagine the pain of receiving back the force of your own tremendous strength.
"What is this stone!"
"It's magic."
"Magic?"
"Yes, remember the white-haired goblin from before we entered the village?"
Rox slowly moved his eyes and nodded.
"Yes."
"That goblin is the monster responsible for this floor's trial."
"Huh? That old goblin? But isn't the Goblin Champion the master here?"
"That's right, and that old
goblin is the [Back Phantom] of the Goblin Champion."
"...[Back Phantom]?!"
I brushed my hand across the statue of the Goblin Champion as I spoke.
"The Goblin Champion's [Back Phantom] stays in the village and starts the trial once enough adventurers gather here."
"Even monsters can have [Back Phantoms], huh."
"You have one too."
Rox shrugged his shoulders.
"True."
"I'll handle this one, so don't worry."
"Okay, but you said this guy is really strong. Why take him on alone?"
In my past life, it took me a whole month to pass the trial on this floor.
Back then, I foolishly didn't understand the nature of the tower's trials and just fought the enemies in front of me.
'Yeah, that was the case.'
Because of that, I was stuck on this floor for a long time.
'But.'
I'm different now.
I won't repeat my past mistakes this time. I know all the climbing routes hidden on this floor.
* * *
As time passed, adventurers began to gather in the village.
Each one of them looked formidable, and more than seven out of ten seemed capable of using aura or mana.
"Synthia, isn't that kid over there the one we saw at the arena recently?"
A man with a ponytail and large glasses whispered while closing his book. The woman with long, sky-blue hair, who seemed to be his companion, replied.
"That's right."
"Oh, we are lucky. Looks like there are some useful ones this time. We might succeed in the climb."
"If they cooperate."
"Would they have a choice not to?"
The man with the ponytail stroked the statue of a human next to him as he spoke.
"Those who don't cooperate will all die. They might end up cursed and turned into something like this."
"...Forget it. Where's Alfredo?"
"He said he was going to relieve himself for a moment—"
Before he could finish speaking, a bald martial artist with a stomach like a tomato came running, waving his hand.
"Hey! I got lost on the way and am a bit late!"
Synthia shook her head.
"Idiot."
The bald martial artist, panting heavily, responded.
"Huff, huff, huff! Synthia, why are you so worked up today? Is it that time of the month?"
"The day you die?"
"...Did I do something wrong?"
"Ask your goblin-like face and orc-like belly."
The man with the ponytail stepped between them, waving his hands to interrupt.
"Enough, enough. Let's stop the nonsense. Let's plan how to climb this time."
Synthia replied with a disinterested look.
"Why do we need a plan? Let's just enter the church and handle the incoming monsters like last time."
"That's a good plan, but maybe there's a better way?"
The bald martial artist raised his hand cautiously.
"How about this? On the way here, I saw one of the adventurers who reached the tenth floor. We saw him at the arena."
"Oh! You saw him too?"
"Yeah, if we join forces with them, it should be easier to climb."
"That's true, but..."
The man with the ponytail glanced at Synthia before continuing.
"The question is whether they will want to team up with us. They seemed quite skilled at the arena."
"I'll take care of that."
"You?"
"Yeah, I can tell at a glance why they are here and what they want."
"And if you know, what then?"
"Then we cooperate to help them get what they want."
Synthia whispered.
"Idiot, do you think it's that easy?"
The bald martial artist ignored her and continued.
"Alright, I'll handle the negotiations, so follow me."
He walked confidently, and the other two reluctantly followed him to the graveyard at the edge of the village, where they met Verdin.
"Hello."
Verdin, who was sitting on a fallen tombstone, glanced at the martial artist but did not respond.
An awkward silence ensued. Even Rox, a few steps away, was watching nervously.
Unable to bear the silence, the martial artist spoke again.
"Excuse me."
"Speak."
"Ah, yes. Since it's our first meeting, I don't know what to call you. Can I call you 'Sir Knight'?"
"Call me whatever you like."
"Then, Sir Knight, I have a proposal for you. Could we talk for a moment?"
Verdin shrugged.
"Keep it short and to the point."
"Sure! It's nothing big. We are gathering comrades to face this trial together. How about joining us?"
"What if I refuse?"
"If you refuse, that's unfortunate, but wouldn't it be beneficial to work together? We can succeed in the climb and get better rewards. The more who succeed, the greater the rewards the tower gives."
The martial artist glanced nervously between Verdin and Rox.
When neither responded, he spoke again.
"What do you think?"
"Nine to one."
"Nine to one?"
"We get nine. You get one. If that's how the rewards are split, I'll consider it."
The martial artist's face hardened at the outrageous demand.
"Ah, that seems a bit too much—"
"Then forget it."
"How about seven to three? Our party is larger, after all."
"I said nine to one."
"But…"
Listening to their conversation, Synthia walked up and stood behind the martial artist, hands on her hips, glaring down at Verdin.
"Hey, even if you're strong, does it make sense to take nine out of ten rewards in a team effort?"
Verdin looked up at her face.
He stared at her for a moment, then scrutinized her from head to toe.
"Name."
"What?"
"What's your name?"
They stared at each other as if in a standoff.
After a few seconds, Synthia, with a reluctant look, glanced away and answered.
"Synthia."
"Synthia?"
"Yes, Synthia. Why ask for my name? Want to introduce ourselves in this situation?"
Verdin burst into laughter upon hearing her name.
"Hahaha!"
'Is fate really on my side?'
Meeting a holy spell user like Synthia here was unexpected.
He couldn't hide the smile forming on his lips.
'To think I'd meet someone capable of unlocking a hidden piece so soon.'
Plans changed.
He glanced at Synthia and her companions, then nodded slightly and spoke.
"Interesting. Very interesting. Alright then… let's do it this way. We'll work together, but we take 70% of the rewards, and you take 30%. Plus, there's one more condition."
"A condition?"
"Yes, a condition."
"What is it?"
Verdin stood up, brushed off his backside, and with a smile, pointed at Synthia.
"You will climb the next floor with me."