How can I use Mistilteinn to make my movements more efficient?
I swung my sword, focusing solely on that thought. It didn't matter if one or ten enemies came at me.
'Just cut them down.'
They weren't unbeatable opponents anyway.
If they were humans, it would have been a different story. But the mutant ants guarding the entrance to the jungle were mindless monsters that only knew how to charge straight ahead.
*Crunch!*
I stabbed the closest mutant ant's back shell.
*Slash!*
Then I decapitated the next one rushing at me.
Hoo-.
Finally, it's over.
The battlefield filled with ant corpses signaled the end of the fight. The scout ants, which had been peeking out from the cracks in the ground, disappeared.
'We won.'
And it was a flawless victory.
"Woah! We did it!"
The ponytailed guy from Cynthia's party cheered, raising his sword above his head in disbelief.
"I can't believe we actually survived!"
His party member Alfredo lightly patted his back and replied.
"I knew we'd win from the start."
"Didn't you suggest we sneak away from Verdin earlier?"
"W-What! I was just saying we should take a quick walk because I was tired."
"Who's gonna buy that? Who takes a walk during a fight!"
Cynthia smiled as she watched them and then walked over to me.
"Good job."
I took out a cloth from my pocket and wiped my sword as I replied.
"Are you hurt?"
"No. You?"
"No."
Our conversation was brief.
We only cared about surviving.
Cynthia nodded slightly and inspected the mutant ant's corpse.
"The devil horn?"
"Found it."
"Where?"
"They're all over."
"All over?"
"Yeah. Hey, Rox, show Cynthia the devil horn."
Rox yanked out a mutant ant's fang nearby.
*Crack.*
"How many do you need?"
"Just one is enough."
"Oh, here it is."
He handed the mutant ant's fang to Cynthia, who looked at it in confusion and asked me.
"What's this?"
"The devil's horn."
"The devil's horn? This?"
Yes.
This is one of the ingredients that mid-level alchemists need to advance to high-level alchemists.
'The devil's horn.'
But very few people know how to obtain it.
This is because, even if they reach the jungle, they might not encounter the mutant ants or know that their fangs are the devil's horns.
"Alchemists in the past were misled by appearances. It was such a rare and strange material to find."
"I thought a demon would appear if we took care of the ants."
"These creatures were once called demons."
"Really?"
"Yeah, but only by the adventurers who came to the tower. Even seasoned warriors from outside would struggle if ambushed by these creatures without preparation."
"Oh..."
"But they're not unbeatable foes. We came with a small party, but most groups visiting the 11th floor usually have around fifteen members."
Cynthia knew this too.
That's why she hesitated about this mission.
"We completed the quest, right?"
"Yes."
"So what do we do now?"
"We go down."
"Go down?"
"Yeah, we didn't come here to climb the tower today. There's no need to stay longer."
Thus, we completed the quest to gather devil horns without much difficulty.
'Not just one, but hundreds of them.'
We not only opened a hidden piece in this trial, but also secured the funds for Cynthia's party to engage in proper combat.
* * *
We spent half a day disassembling the mutant ants' corpses to collect the devil horns.
Even with five party members, it took longer than expected, and we ended up spending too much time in the jungle.
"We'll stay here for the night."
I chose a spot near the center of the jungle.
The exit wasn't far from here, but the jungle was too dangerous at night to move carelessly.
'Of course.'
I'm not saying I'd lose to the monsters here. But unexpected monsters or other adventurers targeting us, known as 'Takers,' could be a threat.
'I can escape, but...'
These guys still lacked the skills for that.
I threw a mutant ant leg into the campfire.
The sound of crackling flames and the delicious smell began to fill the air.
Hoo-ha, hoo-ha.
Alfredo wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked.
"When can we eat?"
Rox turned the ant leg over and replied.
"When it's fully cooked. Mutant ant blood is toxic, so we need to cook it properly."
"Oh..."
"If you want to risk it, you can eat it now. Want one?"
"N-No."
Yuda pushed his glasses up and jotted something down in his notebook.
"Mutant ant blood is toxic... That's why the blood splashing during the fight numbed my skin."
"Were you thinking about that while fighting?"
"Yes, because they could appear again while climbing the tower. I can't remember all the monsters' traits, so I write them down."
"Well, noting down monster info is fine. But don't slack off during fights."
"Slack off?"
"Yeah, you were hiding behind Verdin earlier instead of fighting."
"..."
"You only joined the fight after the situation was mostly under control."
Yuda tied his ponytail tighter and replied.
"I'm sorry for not explaining earlier. My spirit's ability needs to analyze the battlefield before activating, so I join the fight a bit late."
"Because of your spirit?"
"Yes."
"What ability does it have?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't reveal that easily."
*Crackle, crackle.*
I took an ant leg from the fire and handed it to Yuda.
"He's right, Rox. You shouldn't disclose your abilities carelessly."
"Thank you for understanding."
"No need to thank me, just eat."
"...Yes."
Rox nodded, understanding my point, and grabbed a well-cooked ant leg.
"I made a mistake."
"It happens. This is your first time living with others."
"…You've become quite gentle recently. Before, you would sting like a bee at the slightest mistake."
"Do you want me to go back to that?"
"No!"
"Then just eat. After dinner, we'll take turns standing guard."
"Ah, right."
We each grabbed a piece of ant leg and began eating. While eating, I remained vigilant, sharpening the aura I had spread around.
Someone was watching us, but I couldn't pinpoint who.
'Is it one? No, at least two. It could be three or two, but I can't be sure.'
One of them was immensely strong, possibly even stronger than me, or at least on par.
'Who could it be?'
They had been watching us since we started fighting the mutant ants.
If they got a bit closer, I could determine their exact location, but their ability to maintain distance without being noticed was impressive.
Crunch.
I chewed on the ant leg while gazing at the jungle sky.
'As long as it's not that guy.'
As soon as Yuda finished eating, he cautiously started a conversation.
"Hey, Verdin."
"Speak."
"What's your reason for climbing the tower?"
"Reason?"
"Yeah, why. Your family is one of the five most honorable and wealthy on the continent. Why would you need to climb the tower?"
I suppose it could look that way to others.
"If you want to become stronger, you could go to the academy or lead your knights into a dungeon. So why the tower?"
I drew a dragon with aura on my palm as I answered.
"Dragon."
"Dragon?"
"Yes, I'm here to kill a dragon."
It wasn't a lie.
I really was climbing the tower to slay a dragon.
Although growth was also an important reason, reaching the place where the dragon resided would naturally lead to growth, so it wasn't my main objective.
"That's cool. Climbing the tower to kill a dragon!"
Cynthia, who had been listening, joined the conversation.
"What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes, we've been together for a while now, but I've never heard your reason for climbing the tower."
Yuda scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I'm here to find my family."
"Family?"
"Yeah, I grew up in an orphanage without a family. When I got older, the headmaster told me my parents live in the tower."
"Where in the tower?"
"That, I don't know. But I figure I'll find them if I keep climbing."
In my previous life, Yuda wasn't there.
At that time, Cynthia's party was already decimated when I met them.
So I didn't know this part of his story.
'He's here to find his parents?'
I scrutinized Yuda. There are no human settlements in the tower unless they're adventurers.
I know this because I've been to the higher floors myself.
'Is it a lie?'
Honestly, it sounds like something the orphanage headmaster might have said to give him hope.
"I thought you were climbing for money."
"That's true too. You need money to do anything."
While listening to their conversation, I suddenly stood up and drew my sword.
"Enemy."
Before I finished speaking, Roks summoned the mutant ant he had made into a marionette.
Thud, thud, thud.
Cynthia gripped her sword tightly and positioned herself behind me.
"An enemy? I don't sense anything."
"They're hiding their presence. Approximately 300 meters to the east and west. They'll be here soon."
"How many?"
"One."
"Strong?"
"Very strong."
Strong enough to defeat everyone here except me.
Which meant I would have to deal with them.
'Will I have the strength?'
I hadn't yet recovered the aura used against the mutant ants.
We all waited in tense anticipation for the enemy to arrive. It wasn't long before the bushes rustled, revealing our foe.
Swoosh!
Roks, who was closest, lunged first, swinging his mace.
Wham!
"Where do you think you're going?"
The figure in a red cloak dodged Roks's mace and grabbed his head, slamming him to the ground.
Thud!
"Hold on, stop! It's me, Mongkel! It's me!"
Flap.
Mongkel raised his hands above his head, grinning sheepishly.
* * *
I handed Mongkel a well-cooked ant leg and asked, "So, you're saying the Apostle of the Jungle came down here?"
"Yes! I saw it clearly. When you were fighting the mutant ants, he came close and then suddenly changed direction and left."
So the killing intent I felt during the fight was his?
'Hmm.'
That doesn't make sense.
The Apostle, known as the Master of the Jungle, descended to the lowest floors.
A being tasked with overseeing trials on the 20th floor moving to a different floor was unbelievable until I saw it myself.
It was akin to defying the will of the gods.
"Where did he go?"
"North."
"North?"
"Yes, he suddenly changed direction and vanished."
I closed my eyes and recalled past events. Why did Dead Road appear on this floor? And why did Mongkel come to us now?
If he had been watching me, and if he wanted to protect me from danger, he would have shown himself sooner.
"Mongkel, let me ask you something."
"Sure, go ahead."
"Why did you come to find me?"
"Reason?"
"Yes."
Mongkel rested his chin on his hand, contemplating, before suddenly turning serious and cold.
"To kill you."
He drew his sword and threw off his cloak.
Swoosh, flap.
"Because two apostles in one trial makes no sense."