The apostle guarding the 10th floor of the tower.
Goblin Champion, Gregory.
He sprang to his feet, his eyes wide open.
Boom.
"Strange?! Are you, by any chance, the son of Lois?"
"That's right."
He let out a hollow laugh.
"Haha, I see... No wonder you're so strong."
"Do you know my father?"
"Of course! He also came at me, just like you."
"Really?"
"I was wondering who you resembled with such a bold demeanor. Now that I think about it, you look just like your father."
Indeed, my father also pursued extreme strength, so he must have wanted to face an apostle.
Even though I dislike being compared to my father, it was still nice to learn something I didn't know in my previous life.
'So, Father also challenged an apostle.'
I emptied the potion-filled glass and asked.
Gulp.
"So, who won the fight?"
"I did."
As expected.
"Of course, Lois wasn't weak. Unlike you, he didn't come alone."
"But you remember it well?"
"He was the strongest knight I've met before you arrived. Though if you used that strange violet power, the story might be different."
Without that flame, I wouldn't have been able to cut Gregory's body.
"In terms of swordsmanship alone, who do you think is superior, my father or I?"
"For now, it would be your father. When he came to see me, he was already better than you are now."
Gregory chuckled.
"Well, who knows what will happen in the future."
Just how skilled is my father's swordsmanship? From what I heard in my past life, he had reached his limits.
He passed away before I could spar with him, so I never knew the extent of his abilities.
'I'm curious.'
Just how strong is my father?
I nodded slightly.
"I see. I understand."
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes, I don't have much time."
"What could be so urgent for a human?"
"Humans are busy because we don't have long lifespans like you."
The Goblin Champion laughed heartily and started packing to see me off.
"I'll escort you to the entrance."
"No, I know the way up."
"Huh? How?"
"I've been here before."
I picked up a torch and pointed to a grave in the corner of the village. Approaching the large tombstone lying there, I infused it with aura.
Ssshh-
Letters inscribed in the language of the tower appeared. A language now decipherable only by the apostles chosen by the gods.
"Wow, you really do know."
Gregory clapped his hands in amazement.
Clap!
"I told you, I've been here before."
You just don't remember my past life.
Rumble, rumble, rumble.
The tombstone began to move.
At the same time, the path beyond the 10th floor, known as the trial, leading to the 11th floor, began to form.
Rumble, rumble, rumble.
The tombstones piled up and created stairs reaching towards the ceiling of the 10th floor.
Boom!
As the stairway made of tombstones reached just in front of the ceiling, Gregory handed me a wooden box.
"If you ever need my help, come anytime."
I took the box from him and answered.
"Alright."
"The one guarding the next trial is no ordinary being, so be careful."
"I understand."
That was the end of our conversation.
I led Rox and Cynthia's group and stepped onto the next floor.
Once everyone who challenged the trial disappeared,
Shwack!
Amon suddenly emerged, splitting the space, and spoke to Gregory with a meaningful expression.
"Impressive."
Gregory, who had been smiling brightly, instantly hardened his expression and responded.
"Impressive? That human just now."
"No, I meant you, Gregory."
"...Me?"
"Yes. Gregory, what are you doing?"
"What do you mean?"
"I told you not to hand over that box. Do you not understand how dangerous it is for us if he takes it?"
The two glared at each other.
Crackle, crackle.
Amon's mana and Gregory's aura clashed, trying to push each other back.
"Whether I give it or not is my decision. Besides, isn't the reward for the adventurer determined by the gods?"
"..."
"As you saw, Verdin chose the box himself. Once the one who passes the trial makes a choice, no one can stop it."
"But you could have at least suggested another box or pretended to stop him."
"Do you think he wouldn't have taken it if I did that?"
"Well-"
Gregory stomped the ground in irritation.
Boom, boom, boom.
"We are acting within the causality set by the gods. That Verdin took the box was also known by the gods."
"No. Gregory, you know that Verdin has already broken free from causality."
"So? Are you saying Verdin intends to kill us?"
"That's not impossible. Just like when he had the chance to cut your throat when you foolishly lost a moment ago."
"Ah, like your sister, who followed you without knowing she was a sacrifice and died that day?"
Shack-
Amon aimed his mana-filled staff at Gregory's neck.
Whack!
Gregory easily caught his staff and infused his aura.
Crack.
"Do you want to fight?"
"It's not impossible. After all, since you've broken the promise made to the other apostles guarding the tower, you should be dealt with."
"I never made such a promise to you people. I am merely carrying out the orders given by the gods."
"Didn't the gods decree? Those who are worthy of becoming apostles should be spared. Those who are not should be killed."
"That's why I spared Verdin. He has enough qualifications to become an apostle like us."
Amon smirked, curling his lips.
"And why do you get to decide that, Gregory?"
"Because it's my role to oversee the trial on the 10th floor of the tower."
"...Demomium will open soon. Even if I leave now, the other apostles will hold you accountable for this."
"Do as you please. I've never sinned against the gods."
Gregory grabbed Amon's staff with his left hand, infused his right hand with aura, and struck the ground.
Bang!
Stone fragments scattered like bullets in all directions. Amon released his staff and leapt backward, opening a portal and escaping with a 'shwish' sound.
"You'll regret this, Gregory."
Gregory raised his middle finger in the direction Amon disappeared.
"The one who'll regret it is you."
* * *
As soon as I descended from the tower, I returned to the mansion. Roks, who had climbed the tower for the first time, couldn't stop talking about the experience throughout dinner.
"No way! So, we were in there for less than half a day? I thought at least a week had passed!"
Time flows differently inside and outside the tower.
No one can say exactly how different it is, but according to the renowned Alchemist Guild on the continent, the difference is roughly tenfold.
While a day passes outside the tower, ten days pass inside. Hence, those aiming for the pinnacle in their fields often use the tower to extend their training periods.
Synthia elegantly cut her steak and, pointing her fork at me, joined the conversation.
"So, it's advantageous for adventurers to not leave the tower?"
"No, once they reach their goal, they need to exit the tower."
"Why?"
"The moment their mind breaks, they become a resident of the tower."
"Become a resident of the tower?"
Those who haven't experienced it find it hard to understand. But there are too many examples to explain them all.
I tapped my glass with my finger so everyone could hear.
"The higher you go, the wider each floor gets. After the 30th floor, one floor is wider than the territory of Legion."
"..."
"So, what do you think happens to those who don't have a map or don't know the way?"
"They'd get lost."
"Right, they'd wander endlessly as if trapped in a maze. What if they can't find the way down or up in such a place?"
They'd be trapped on that floor and become a resident of the tower.
"Now I understand."
"There are many other scenarios as well. Do you remember the human-shaped statues when we reached the 10th floor?"
"Human-shaped statues... No way!"
"Right, some of them were adventurers who challenged the tower. Failing the trials repeatedly without leaving, they eventually forgot whether they were insiders or outsiders."
Alfredo, the bald martial artist in Synthia's party, gulped.
"So, are those guys trapped in the tower for life until they die?"
I smiled and drew a circle in the air with my fork.
"Bingo."
"Oh..."
"What I told you is just a small part. Many are trapped in the tower for various reasons, so be careful."
"O-okay."
"By the way, Synthia, aren't you curious why I chose you?"
Synthia nodded slightly.
"I am."
"Shall I tell you here? Or separately?"
"I don't understand the purpose of the question. Is there a need to tell me separately?"
"Consider it a courtesy."
"Courtesy?"
"Yes, because I know your true identity."
For a brief moment, her eyes wavered.
"My true identity?"
"You, like our family, carry the weight of the cross."
"Strange's information network is indeed extraordinary. Since when did you know?"
"For a long time. Longer than you could realize."
"Is that why you laughed when you heard my name in the tower?"
"Yes."
The conversation wasn't long.
Synthia stood up and instructed her pigtail-haired and bald companions.
"You two stay here."
Then, with a cold gaze, she asked me.
"If we're to talk alone, where should we go?"
* * *
On the first floor of the Adventurer's Hall, the largest inn in Legion's castle and a bustling tavern where all races, genders, and professions intermingle.
Verdin and Synthia quietly entered and took seats in a corner.
"Hahaha! Back in my day, I reached the 50th floor of the tower!"
A drunken man's boast.
"Yeah, right. Even Strange and Glazer couldn't get past the 50th floor, and you did?"
A young adventurer's retort.
"Hey, that old man's got dementia. Ignore him and leave him be."
A seasoned veteran, now used to this life.
The mix of voices created a sound like music.
"These people are interesting."
Synthia spoke first.
After quickly glancing over the familiar faces, I replied to her.
"Neither of us likes long conversations, so let's get to the point."
"Alright."
"The reason I want to climb the tower with you is simple."
Thud.
I placed the wooden box I obtained from the tower on the table and continued.
"I need the sacred spell that only your paladin order can use."