Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 050
Chapter Title: Lingering Specter in the Tale (3)
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Skelji's robe fell to the floor.
It was such a thick robe that even the sound it made was intense.
It was the thud of something heavy slamming into the ground.
Rattle—
'Is he still alive?'
From beneath the robe sprawled on the floor came a clattering sound.
It was the sound of Skelji's bones, the very components of his form, knocking against the ground.
Soon, bones began protruding from gaps in the robe.
They started assembling atop the robe with a series of noises.
'Persistent bastard.'
No mana could be felt anymore.
Unlike Alice, whose mere presence had been nauseating, Skelji's mana was gone.
That meant he'd used nearly all his power, yet his bones desperately gathered and reassembled.
Finally, taking the form of a skeleton, Skelji creaked as he turned his head.
His gaze fixed on none other than Regan.
Clatter—!
He looked ready to collapse at any moment, yet he dragged his legs toward Regan.
A strange sound leaked from the skeleton's empty mouth.
— ...You all...
It had been a long time since he'd seen a monster speak.
Skelji continued as he trudged forward with grim determination.
— Will... be trapped... in this place...
Crack!!
Seeing Skelji lunge to bite his throat, Regan didn't hesitate and raised his wand.
'I told you not to ignore the wand.'
The wand struck precisely at the creature's skull.
With a sharp impact, Skelji's body finally began to crumble.
A strange sensation washed over Regan from head to toe. It was the influx of massive experience points, something he'd never felt before.
"Ugh."
Skelji had been defeated.
The moment everyone, including Regan, confirmed it, they all collapsed to the floor.
Regan closed his eyes as if passing out. He'd been fighting nonstop in the Rabbit Hole for over a day.
It was the price of racking his brains without rest.
Thud—!
Greg collapsed face-first onto the ground as well, right after confirming Skelji's death.
Investigator Alice and Knight Chris. Even Greg, the powerhouse of the 11th floor, had struggled against Skelji.
Against normal forces, it was a monster that would have wiped them out entirely.
To survive.
To return alive.
Without the scrolls someone had desperately prepared since playing DAT.
* * *
The red portal opened.
The Rabbit Hole had been cleared, meaning they could escape alive, but...
“......”
Regan and the others lay collapsed on the floor, not even twitching a finger.
They should recover before leaving.
Everyone tacitly agreed.
The first to rise was none other than Greg.
'......Insane.'
During the battle, his boiling senses had narrowed his vision momentarily.
Now, regaining his wits, Greg's eyes took in the devastated plaza.
The skeleton bones were scattered across the floor as if pulverized.
Cracks from explosions marred the plaza walls.
It had been that fierce a battle.
...So fierce that losing their lives wouldn't have been surprising.
“......This.”
Checking on the others, Greg soon reached the robe.
Peeking inside in case any remnants of Skelji remained, his eyes widened.
'This must be the Specter Orb. What the Investigator's been after.'
A black crystal orb lay there. As a non-mage, Greg couldn't even guess its use.
Except that it emanated the same ominous mana as Skelji.
'The kingdom's taking this, so best not touch it.'
Even if the kingdom weren't after it...
He wouldn't have taken it lightly.
How could anyone handle that ominous mana?
Greg's gaze naturally shifted beside it.
Swish—
After some hesitation, Greg pocketed the item.
It was a mana stone that dropped from monsters, but its color differed from ordinary ones.
Honestly, it was valuable, but that wasn't why he took it.
'I owe Regan too much.'
From getting caught by investigators while searching for the Rabbit Hole, to now after finding it.
Without Regan, they wouldn't have reached here or survived, Greg was certain.
Regan downplayed it, but he'd made the best calls in every fight.
If he hadn't passed the strength enhancement scroll to Greg at the end, the outcome could have been entirely different.
'I'll keep this for you.'
As a mage, you'll handle mana stones better than a dwarf like me.
Before Alice woke, Greg secretly pocketed the mana stone.
Hoping that the one who'd freed him and let him see this through gained at least one more reward than those who'd captured him.
* * *
A little time passed, and Regan and the investigators regained their senses.
"What happened to Skelji...?"
"Right before we all collapsed, Regan finished him off. Thanks to that, we could rest easy."
“......Well done.”
Alice nodded at Greg's words and looked at Regan.
'Well, he charged even as a skeleton, so I just smashed him once.'
No need to correct it when they're grateful.
'Anyone else, maybe... but with Alice, it's better to rack up debts.'
The more she felt sorry, grateful, or fond toward him, the better.
No matter how bound to kingdom orders, she wouldn't harm someone she owed lightly.
'......Though she'll follow orders after agonizing. At least let her waver a bit.'
Uncertain future and all.
Regan didn't want to make an enemy of the kingdom either.
But circumstances could force it.
'If I think antagonizing the kingdom aids survival more, I'll do it.'
Then he'd clash head-on and prepare for what follows.
Having a debt on the mage Alice, who'd be at the forefront, was advantageous no matter how you sliced it.
"Alright, let's gather up and head out."
Alice spoke while retrieving the ancient specter's orb.
Regan organized his bag, preparing to leave.
His gaze naturally swept the entire plaza.
'......Hah.'
The plaza bore traces of battle.
A hollow laugh escaped him.
He'd nearly died for real.
'When was the last time I faced odds like this?'
The pressure from the lycanthrope flashed in Regan's mind.
It was the fear of death he'd felt again since then.
'Skelji was tough, but how bad will the lycanthrope be?'
Not to mention the ones on upper floors.
Even in the game, they weren't easy.
He'd have to risk his life against them from here on.
Regan stood still, thoughts churning, then gritted his teeth.
'Yet I survived.'
And he'd survive and get out.
Same as with the lycanthrope, same as now.
It wouldn't be easy, so prepare more, judge faster, survive.
'Hesitation means death.'
If he'd balked at using the special bomb, or if Greg had hesitated after strength magic.
They'd be friendly tombstones on the ground now.
By pushing forward without retreat and finding paths, they'd opened new ones.
To survive ahead.
He had to fight death even more desperately.
— Will... be trapped... in this place...
Skelji's last words brushed Regan's mind.
If it meant trapped in the Rabbit Hole, wrong. The four were already preparing to leave alive.
But if it meant trapped in the Tower...
There was some truth.
'The Tower is an infinitely repeating, continuous world.'
Becoming part of it might be an explorer's fate.
But Regan shook it off.
He wasn't destined to become part of the Tower like other explorers.
'I saw the Tower's end once. I'll see it again this time.'
He was the one to end this Tower.
* * *
"We have some time left."
Alice, who'd been about to open the red portal, looked at Regan and Greg and continued.
"You haven't forgotten there's a plaza we haven't checked."
“......!”
Regan and Greg's eyes widened.
'......Right.'
The treasure room.
One of the four paths led to the treasure room.
"Our investigators might not need it, but you two do."
She'd said nothing in the plaza mattered to them except the orb.
Unless there was something even Alice overlooked, but...
No mention so far meant most were useless to investigators.
'But she's accommodating us by stopping at the reward room.'
Rare items were assets to explorers.
Usable ones propped up climbs higher.
Sellable ones funded preparations.
"My mana’s recovered, so I'll send you there."
As Alice cast her spell, the four bodies simultaneously moved to the fourth plaza.
"Should be around here."
The fourth plaza was the only one Alice had entered alone.
Regan and Greg had faced the land moles on 1 and 2.
Alice scanned the surroundings. She'd seen something briefly before.
"Whoa, mana stones everywhere...!"
Piles of mana stones came into view.
Greg gaped at them all.
'No way the reward's mana stones...'
Mana stones were the best mineral for converting to cash.
Rich in mana, essential for potions and magic gear.
Higher grades multiplied value.
These weren't low-grade.
'And the quantity's insane.'
Selling these alone would net at least 50 gold.
Enough for 100 games of darts with Boland.
Nearly 20 regeneration scrolls worth.
"Take them."
“......Even mana stones are useful to the kingdom, aren't they?”
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I've heard the kingdom consumes a lot. Plenty of royal mages, and royals use them heavily."
Alice leaving these?
Regan asked, puzzled.
Other treasures? Kingdom had plenty, so unnecessary.
But given royal mana stone usage, this haul was achievement-worthy.
"Well."
Alice smirked and continued.
"My mission ends at the orb."
Compared to entering the Rabbit Hole, her expression wasn't as cold.
"You earning rewards for risking your lives... is only natural."
Only then did Regan nod.
For a moment, he wondered her angle, but no.
It acknowledged their contributions and offered recompense.
* * *
After grabbing the mana stones, the four promptly exited the Rabbit Hole.
A familiar sight filled their vision.
Dark sky. Moonlight illuminating below. The 4th floor landscape.
'The investigators head back to the kingdom now.'
Lycanthrope long gone, orb secured.
Alice had completed all tasks.
"What are your plans now?"
At the Rabbit Hole entrance, just the two remained.
Greg asked Regan.
About future plans.
'Plans on the 4th floor are done.'
A sudden plan from meeting Greg, but successfully cleared.
Mana stones plus rabbit feet.
Money and key materials secured.
"Up to the 5th floor. And keep climbing after."
Greg stared at Regan quietly, then spoke.
"Hm, then take this first."
Swish.
Greg pulled out the black mana stone he'd hidden in the Rabbit Hole.
"Kept it for you. No clue what it's for, but maybe you do."
“......!!”
"Oh, and planning to go beyond the 5th?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm heading up anyway. Could use a good guide. Oh, need someone to tank in fights too."
Regan smirked at Greg.
The age of self-promotion, huh. No different here.
Someone who tanks and guides to high floors.
That was him, plain as day.