Quest Complete

Thunder Spear. A fifth-circle lightning spell that pierced ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠through enemy armor as a basic function, unlike Fireball which scorched an entire area—it could target and guide itself toward a specific foe. In other words, it was a spell made for taking down individuals.

Truly worthy of a sub-tower master. It wasn't a wrong judgment by any means. No, in a situation like this, nothing could be more efficient. Just a graze could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠electrocute or paralyze the enemy, buying time or setting up for the next spell. Moreover, she was skilled enough to deploy over a dozen spears at once. Without a doubt, ninety out of a hundred would be awestruck by the sub-tower master's mana reserves.

The chamber filled with lightning spears would instill fear in any onlooker and deliver inescapable death to her foes.

Of course...

"All done now?"

That was only if her level matched up.

"Wh-what are you...? A god? Why are you doing this to me? Why such... cruel things...?"

Unlike when she'd tortured him in the solitary cell, her tone was now utterly humble as she backed away step by step. Her fighting spirit had vanished long ago. The sub-tower master trembled from head to toe, desperately trying to staunch the blood flowing from her remaining hand with it.

"Who I am?"

"Y-yes...! If you'd grace me with your great name..."

She let out a squeal like a piglet moments from slaughter, prostrating herself at his feet. If she'd been like this from the start, things might've been better. But Tanas was drawing on his innate true qi, so he couldn't afford to waste more time.

"You don't need to know."

He raised the bloodstained shackles once more and slowly approached the sub-tower master.

"Kuh... hack! Pl-please, I beg you! What grudge do you have against me...?"

What grudge? Was she in her right mind?

"......"

True to form as a madwoman who offered child sacrifices in human tribute rituals, she looked up at him with an expression of utter injustice, as if she were the victim. Even if he hadn't received the prologue quest, after the torture he'd endured, he would've stormed the Magic Tower sooner or later.

Watching her grovel until her hands and feet went numb, tears streaming down her face...

"Please... show mercy..."

It didn't evoke pity so much as revulsion. Tanas shook his head side to side and spoke in a low tone.

"...You want to live that badly?"

No need to understand a lunatic's thoughts. He just needed to take what he wanted and leave.

"...Yes? Y-yes! Please, just spare my life, and I'll do anything—anything!"

Did she see this as her chance? She flung off her half-broken ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠glasses and kowtowed to the floor again. Again and again... The sight filled him with disgust, but on some level, he understood her desperate clinging to life.

"......"

"I'll do anything..."

He'd worried about her strong pride, but things had resolved faster than expected. If she won't listen, maybe she just needs more beatings.

After staring at her silently for a moment, he murmured in a low voice.

"Then open the treasure vault."

"The... treasure vault? Th-there's no such thing in the Magic Tower..."

"I hope you make a wise decision this time."

He cut her off and leaned back leisurely in the chair. He knew everything, so pointless lies wouldn't help her.

"......"

After pondering for a while, she clenched her fist and glared at him. Pity—had the beating been a bit light?

"Kuh... Even in this state, I have the pride of a sub-tower master!"

Swish— She raised her hand and drew a line from left to right.

"I don't care who you are, but handing the treasure vault to some heretical bastard... Kek!"

A red line appeared on the sub-tower master's neck.

"Hmm... Must be from being locked up so long—my hand's shaking."

Crimson blood trickled from the line. If it had been just a bit deeper...

"......"

She'd realize it then. How head and body could separate in an instant. Well, if she insisted on her principles, he wouldn't stop her.

"What was that? Pride?"

She stared at him, trembling violently, her face drained of color.

"I-I must've lost my mind... It won't happen again, I swear."

"Good."

"Forgive me... Please, mercy..."

Stop scheming. The outcome wouldn't change anyway. He just wanted to use this time more productively.

"Follow me."

"Have you... found the entrance to the treasure vault? Even in the Magic Tower, that's top-secret..."

The sub-tower master gaped in shock, as if wondering how he knew.

"...Hah."

With a small sigh,

"I-I won't say anything useless..."

She jumped to her feet in fright.

"...Follow quietly."

"Yes."

"You know, right? You just open the entrance."

"......"

The treasure vault could only be used by one person at a time. If two entered simultaneously, it'd be quite the spectacle.

"Try screwing me over if you want."

"......"

Beasts only listened after a beating. Better to warn her before she did something stupid.

"If you can take responsibility."

The warning worked; the beast bowed her haggard face.

"...Yes."

He positioned the sub-tower master at the entrance and stepped into the treasure vault without hesitation. She'd be useful for a bit longer, so he'd endure.

How much time passed? Creeeak— Rumble rumble rumble— With a massive roar, narrow stairs emerged between the marble floor tiles.

"You came out quickly."

"Can't reach the treasure vault core...?"

"S-sorry, but even as sub-tower master, this is my limit..."

"......"

He'd expected it, so no surprise, but it was annoying that she was powerless right now. If he'd fully mastered his martial arts, he'd have sliced through the barriers.

A shame. She sighed in relief with a sullen face and bowed her head.

"...But are you really okay with that?"

"......"

What Tanas had taken from the vault was just a single vial, a sheet of parchment, and some black ribbon-like trinket.

She had to be wondering. Why enter the treasure vault and not bring out even one artifact?

The Magic Tower's prized vault held dozens of magical artifacts. But...

All enchanted with tracking spells—why bother taking them and inviting trouble?

Of course, the strongest ones were in the deepest core, which he couldn't access this time. But they were only valuable to mages anyway. He'd gotten what he needed.

"...An elixir?"

He held the vial emitting a subtle iridescent glow and let out a small sigh.

"Yeah."

Elixir. The legendary potion that perfectly healed all wounds. He just wasn't thrilled with the quantity.

There should have been seven originally, but only one remained.

Probably came too early.

No helping it; he'd have to be satisfied. The treasure vault wasn't accessible until mid-game anyway...

Hm...?

He sensed an anomaly and scanned the surroundings.

"...What's wrong?"

He glanced at the sub-tower master ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sidling up familiarly and sighed again.

He understood, really. Anyone would claw for survival.

"You think this can kill me?"

He pointed incredulously at the floor and turned away.

A hidden flame magic trap in the ground. Fire Trap, perhaps? Sure enough, her face went sheet-white.

"...How did you...?"

With heat like this radiating, how could he not notice?

"......"

"S-sorry... I must've gone mad for a moment, committing an unforgivable act against the hero..."

Enough. He'd anticipated it.

"Use it."

He glanced at her and tossed the worn parchment at her feet.

Something from inside the treasure vault.

"You said you'd do anything for mercy once... What's this?"

"You begged to live? Then sign it."

Sign, and he'd definitely let her live. No pretending between people who knew better.

The sub-tower master's face paled as if handed a death sentence, staring holes through the parchment.

"A Pact of the Victor... It'll seal my ego!"

"Ten years."

"......"

"I'll release you after ten years."

"Ugh..."

Dragging her feet needlessly.

Drawing more innate true qi was risky now. He could probably manage once or twice more at best before death.

Surviving bare-handed in this unfamiliar world was tough. Even with knowledge, variables abounded.

Moreover, the demon king's army invasion was a matter of time—no place to hide or flee.

He needed to awaken magic, acquire divine power, or re-cultivate his martial arts ASAP.

Collect all hidden trophies.

To survive, no holding back on means. Thus, he needed an info network. Not like the game where he could always track the heroes' positions.

The sub-tower master would do nicely.

How much time passed? After hesitating endlessly, she slowly raised her head.

"Decided?"

"I'll do it... Ah!"

No sooner had she spoken than she dropped the parchment—right at his feet.

"......"

Too unnatural, but surely she wasn't trying something stupid again...

A deafening roar echoed as pillars of flame shot up from all sides.

"Ahahahahaha! This is the Magic Tower! No need to fight—just teleport him away!"

She'd triggered the Fire Trap and simultaneously opened a teleport portal above where the hero stood! She'd set the coordinates to the farthest possible spot—borderlands, allied kingdoms... With luck, maybe even the desert!

"Doesn't matter where."

One thing was certain: he wouldn't return anytime soon. She'd face severe reprimand from the tower master for unauthorized portal use, but so what? She'd saved her life—a bargain.

"Now just recover my research data and escape..."

At that moment, a chill ran down her spine. Turning around...

"Is this your answer?"

The white-haired hero stared at her with an expressionless face.

"...Eh?"

"......"

The sub-tower master flinched and hastily bowed her head.

"H-hero... I swear, never again..."

Shunk—

He swung the shackles leftward. A gruesome sound rang out, followed by a fountain of blood spraying skyward.

Regrettably, the sub-tower master couldn't finish her words.

Roll... Thud.

...Her head and body had separated.

"No second chances."

To act up even after that? Was she an idiot?

"......"

The all-too-familiar blue window. As expected.

He'd cleared a quest meant for the Sword Hero, the original player character.

'Hero's Qualification' must be it.

But more eye-catching were those words:

I don't expect something like Positive Rifle—just give me a top-tier magic sword...

The white light slowly faded, and something settled onto his palm.

"......!"

He was stunned.

How is this...!

No, he had to be. Impossible.

He stared at the reward in his hand, speechless.

"......"

It looked like fruit... or a smooth stone... A small, featureless orb.

And understandably so.

"What... is this?"

He'd never seen the item before.