*Boom!*
The floor of the execution platform shook violently.
Black liquid erupted from the ground, shattering the guillotine.
*Crash!*
It enveloped Monestiere's body.
'No way.'
Valentine recognized the nature of this sudden black liquid.
Having ascended the Tower in the past, she was familiar with the Tower's mystical phenomena.
She hurriedly drew her sword to cut through the black liquid to prevent what was about to unfold.
*Clang!*
The black liquid solidified into a round shape, becoming so hard that even her strength couldn't cut through it.
"Damn it."
The soldiers guarding the platform, hesitating for a moment, charged all at once.
"Argh!"
"Argh!"
Five soldiers thrust their spears simultaneously.
*Clang!*
Of course, they caused no damage.
If Strange's sword couldn't cut through, what could ordinary soldiers' weapons possibly achieve?
If Monestiere became an apostle now, it would be a significant hindrance to Strange. It was a crisis so severe that it could erase the family's history.
Valentine decided to summon her guardian spirit, something she had never shown to others before.
There was a rumor on the continent.
Anyone who faced Valentine's guardian spirit did not live to tell the tale.
This meant that her guardian spirit was both secretive and possessed immense power.
*Shhhh...*
A grotesque bird with a human face appeared above her head.
The bird, a red crow with a body over twice the size of a grown man.
"Come forth."
When Valentine raised her hand above her head,
the red crow transformed into smoke and began to be absorbed through her palm.
*Swish, swish, swish.*
When all the smoke entered her body,
*Flash!*
two massive red wings sprouted from Valentine's back, resembling the image of an angel as recorded in the Tower.
"Run to the Strange estate immediately and report this!"
The terrified soldiers fled while answering.
"Yes, Lady Valentine!"
"Understood!"
Valentine, holding her sword, stood waiting in front of the black liquid encasing Monestiere.
She judged this was beyond human power.
So, she waited quietly for the new him to emerge.
But this was a mistake. She should have left instead of staying.
*Crack, crack, crack!*
As time passed, Monestiere, breaking out of the black shell like a hatching egg, possessed unimaginable power.
"…A dragon?"
A massive flame descended from the sky.
*Rumble!*
* * *
I distributed the rewards from the Tower to my party members.
Of course, once again, they didn't find anything they wanted. They had hoped for chests filled with glittering jewels or gold coins, but the box opened with Cynthia's power contained only three items.
'One ring and two bracelets.'
Alfredo's face twisted in displeasure.
"So, this damn ring is all we get?"
He held up the ring from the box, mocking me as if he was unhappy with the contents.
"That's right. If you don't want it, you don't have to take it."
"No, it's not that. I just think we should be more careful when choosing the Tower's rewards next time. There were many fancy and large treasure chests."
It was true that those appeared more impressive. The larger, the more items they seemed to contain and the more valuable they looked.
'But.'
"Isn't the payment for this request enough money already?"
"Well, yes."
"Then our goal is to bring items that can only be obtained from the Tower."
"..."
"Now is the time to seek practicality, not splendor."
Cynthia gave Alfredo a hard slap on the back, and he stepped back, scratching his head awkwardly.
'By the way, the box contained one more item than last time.'
Does the number of rewards increase with the floors? This was a reasonable assumption based on our experience.
The artifacts our party obtained in our previous lives were from the 50th floor, and we received a total of six items then.
I picked up the two remaining bracelets from the box.
If the Talisman Darkstar obtained last time was an offensive artifact, this one was defensive.
*Clink.*
When I put the bracelets on both wrists, the two rubies embedded in them began to shine.
*Shiiiiii...*
'Good.'
I now had the capability to face the dragon head-on.
The artifacts sparkling on my arms were called 'Rising Force,' mystical items that condensed the user's aura to block enemy magic.
This was an artifact that played a significant role in the war against Glazer, used by a party member from my past life.
Back then, I couldn't use its power properly because we parted ways before facing the dragon, but this time, I could use it directly.
'So far, everything is perfect.'
I had taken a step closer to avenging the dragon.
Not only was I prepared offensively but also defensively.
'Moreover.'
Thanks to Cynthia joining quickly, I even had the opportunity to go to the Papal States.
This meant I could gather the necessary companions faster than in my previous life.
*Boom!*
A sudden loud noise echoed.
At the same time, two incredibly powerful auras were felt within the Legion Castle.
"What is this?"
It was an aura at the level of a desperate apostle; even in my previous life, I had never encountered someone this strong.
'Who on earth could it be?'
A person who could produce such an aura with a human body.
My entire body instinctively went on high alert.
Reflexively, I gripped the sword's hilt and enveloped myself in aura for defense.
If I were closer, a battle might have started immediately, given the threat posed by this presence.
I quickly gathered my gear and spoke to everyone.
"You all stay at the mansion and guard this place. Do not come outside under any circumstances."
Whoever they were, the owner of this aura felt dangerously strong.
So strong that I couldn't afford to worry about my companions while dealing with them.
"Understood."
"Got it."
Rox and Cynthia responded simultaneously.
'Thank goodness.'
In my previous life, Cynthia might have insisted on coming with me, but this time, she readily accepted any command I gave.
I glanced at Judah.
He shook his head, indicating he didn't know the enemy's identity.
If he did, he would have given me a clue or followed me with a book, providing information.
'…Wait a minute?'
As I pondered who could be this strong, a few skilled individuals crossed my mind.
Of course, I hadn't faced them directly, so I couldn't be sure, but rumor had it they had influence comparable to my father's.
"Judah."
"Yes?"
"You're coming with me."
"Why me?"
"To document."
"Document?"
"Yes, the person I'm about to meet is significant enough to be recorded in history."
Judah grimaced.
But he couldn't refuse my order.
Before I could say more, Cynthia grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and pulled him up.
"If he says follow, just follow. Did you forget our agreement? You promised to obey Verdin completely."
"Yes, yes, I remember."
"Did you eat something bad today?"
"No, I didn't."
"Then why are you not understanding?"
"…Sorry."
That attitude hasn't changed. She pushes him around despite them being equals in the party.
"Hurry up!"
"Yes, yes."
Judah approached me with a troubled expression. His fierce gaze seemed to say, 'Why drag me into this?'
"Judah, do you have any complaints?"
Judah glanced at Cynthia and shook his head.
"No, none."
* * *
Two generals had come to the Legion to deal with Marquis Pierre.
A massive man, wearing only shorts, stood in a stance ready to burst, exuding aura from his entire body.
"What, what is this?"
A short-haired girl holding a skull head jumped up from her seat, startled, and looked around.
"I know who this is!"
Their reactions caused a stir among those gathered in the tavern.
Other adventurers were cautious about the overwhelming aura but didn't make as much fuss, thinking it was nothing compared to the incident at Strange a few days ago.
"Who?"
"Valentine."
"Valentine?"
"Yes! I once carried out an imperial mission with them. Back then, they also emitted a terrifying aura like this."
The short-haired girl swallowed hard and continued.
"Everyone present was killed."
"Killed?"
"Yes, I was spared because I was a general."
The muscular man hesitated for a moment and then asked the short-haired girl.
"Then who's the other one?"
"The other one?"
"Yes, the one with an ominous aura as if moving with death beside them."
The girl shook her head.
"I don't know that one."
"Hmmm… What should we do?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, what are we going to do about them? This is Legion, a neutral zone."
Legion's jurisdiction included not only imperial troops but also the soldiers of the Papal States.
This meant that the 'Five Generals' who maintained the continent's balance also managed this place.
The two hesitated.
It was undoubtedly a signal to commence combat, but should they ignore it and leave, or investigate the situation?
If it were anyone else, it might be different, but the muscular man, as a general, couldn't just let this pass.
"Let's go."
The short-haired girl donned the skull head like a helmet and clenched her fists.
"Are you sure about this?"
"If it comes to it, we can flee. No matter how strong Valentine is, they can't handle both of us at once. Actually, they might be too focused on the other person to worry about us."
"…This is scary."
"Scary? Aren't you a general? How can you talk like that?"
The two bickered as they exited the tavern and summoned their guardian spirits.
"Looks like we'll have to use some strength today."
Above the muscular man's head appeared a massive steel gorilla with two huge fists.
"Ha… I was looking forward to exploring the city, and now this. Sorry, Foxy."
Above the short-haired girl's head appeared a nine-tailed fox.
Unlike others who summoned human guardian spirits, they summoned animal guardian spirits.
"Clark, just to be clear, we mustn't fight Valentine."