Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Cradle of the Dead #2
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Rakiya Bells.
She wasn't a hunter he held particularly fond memories of.
And for good reason—she'd tried to attack Do-yoon right from their first meeting, spouting nonsense about him being a "male" or whatever.
So.
"..."
Even as she stared at him now with those abandoned puppy eyes, Do-yoon had nothing comforting to offer.
"Why are you here? Didn't you go up ahead already?"
"I-I had something to do."
Unlike their first encounter, Rakiya Bells responded with extreme reluctance.
"Something to do?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Here?"
Do-yoon eyed Rakiya Bells suspiciously.
Judging by her appearance, she was no slouch who would get stuck in a place like this.
She looked perfectly fine, for starters.
Her hair still gleamed with luster, and her pale skin bore only a light dusting of grime.
There were no signs of any real damage.
What gives?
"Heh heh!"
The blood-red chains coiled around Do-yoon's left arm slithered toward Rakiya Bells like a snake's head, peering at her curiously.
"What is...?"
"Eira."
"Eira? Hic!"
Rakiya Bells finally realized what the chains were and let out a shrill whimper.
She had painful memories of getting thoroughly thrashed by them once before.
"Th-That thing... you're still keeping it with you...?"
"Yeah."
Do-yoon gave a casual nod, not feeling the need to elaborate.
"Do what you want if you have business with me. I'm heading out."
"..."
Without waiting for a reply, Do-yoon turned to leave for the boss room, chains rippling behind him.
But.
"W-Wait...!"
The situation he'd dreaded finally arrived.
Do-yoon turned back with profound annoyance at Rakiya Bells's trembling voice calling out to him.
"What."
"Th-The truth is, I have something I want to say to you."
"What is it? Spit it out."
"It's..."
Suddenly, Rakiya Bells's ears flushed bright red as her words trailed off.
Do-yoon felt a twinge of puzzlement.
This kind of attention felt utterly awkward.
He'd heard rumors that her kind developed affection for those who proved their strength, but it was a racial trait he had zero interest in.
What good would bonding with hunters from another world do him here?
"G-Give me your heart...!"
And just like that, it turned into a duel challenge.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Do-yoon drew the Goblin Warlord's curved sword. "Come on."
"Huh...?"
"Didn't you want to fight? Should I come to you?"
"N-No! That's not what I meant!"
Rakiya Bells slammed her axe into the ground with a thud, looking utterly wronged.
How was anyone supposed to interpret "give me your heart" any other way?
"In the world I come from, asking for someone's heart is how we express a desire to forge a deep bond...!"
"With me?"
"...Yes."
"Why?"
"...Huh?"
"I mean, why come to me now? We settled everything back then. Clean break."
The teamwork in the theme stage had been purely temporary.
Every hunter was a rival, and you couldn't let your guard down around anyone.
Especially Rakiya Bells—she was even more unpredictable and erratic than the rest.
She's something else.
Do-yoon thought to himself.
In any other situation, he might consider such overtures positively, but inside the tower? No thanks.
"Showing up out of nowhere and hitting me with that? Kinda throws me off."
"Should I punish her?! Want me to?!"
A fragment of Eira by his side bristled with ominous energy, as if delighted by the opportunity.
"The truth is, I also wanted to formally apologize to you. And use this as a chance to rebuild our relationship."
"Heh. What's with the total humility act?"
"Because you're strong."
For the first time during their conversation, Rakiya Bells met his gaze directly, her eyes brimming with raw emotion.
She showed a purity of conviction toward strength that bordered on obsession.
"There are plenty of other hunters. Can't you just team up with them?"
"I still can't forget the prowess and wisdom you showed back then. You're the only one who's left such a profound impression on me."
Her words were strangely alluring.
On the surface, it almost sounded like a marriage proposal.
In a more peaceful setting, he might have even believed it—she was that earnest.
"..."
Feeling dizzy, Do-yoon ultimately left without responding.
He didn't want to get close, but he also had no desire to attack someone humbling themselves like this.
He preferred to avoid unnecessary killing.
So, he'd hoped to just pass her by like before.
"The boss room's location."
But her offer stopped him in his tracks.
"You know where it is?"
"I've already cleared this floor."
"Good. Follow me."
"..."
That changed everything if she knew the boss room's position.
Desperate for a level-up as soon as possible, Do-yoon decided to accept her goodwill.
"Y-You wouldn't accept when I offered my heart...!"
"That doesn't get me anything."
Even back on his Earth, you couldn't blindly trust people.
How much less with someone from another world?
Do-yoon recalled a famous line he'd heard in passing.
Don't trust people—trust the situation.
And the current situation seemed trustworthy enough.
Thus, their temporary alliance was reformed.
Rakiya Bells brightened noticeably at his acceptance and closed the distance—only to halt at the hissing blood-red chains.
This was the limit.
Eira wouldn't tolerate any closer.
"Ugh!"
"Bear with it a bit."
Do-yoon soothed the mildly annoyed Eira as he walked the sixth-floor stage alongside Rakiya Bells.
"That skill... does it last forever?"
"Not exactly."
From his training ground tests, it reverted to mana form once combat ended.
"You. Is it okay for someone like you to waste time in a place like this?"
"...I."
"Other hunters, even me—we're all dying to climb just one more floor. You've got the skills, so why linger here?"
He decided to separate her rude first impression from her obvious talents.
Rakiya Bells, who had been sneaking glances at him, finally spoke up.
"...Tower raiding is important, of course, but I have other reasons too."
"Other reasons?"
"Yes."
He had no interest in prying into her family history or backstory.
Do-yoon shrugged it off and shifted topics.
"No other hunters around?"
Maybe he was overthinking, but it didn't seem like she was the only one interested.
He'd read the greed in the other hunters' eyes right after clearing the theme stage.
People confident they'd discard pride or morals for rewards.
"There were."
"Figured."
"But I chased off all the annoying ones."
What was that supposed to mean?
Had she gotten into a huge fight before he arrived?
"No reason to let guys with impure motives stick around you, Do-yoon."
"And you're different?"
"..."
Rakiya Bells clammed up at his sharp retort.
He hadn't meant to make her sulk, but oh well.
Pretty much what I expected.
In the tower, everyone maximized their own rewards and gains.
Anyone who got in the way—like those pesky flies—was collateral damage.
Couldn't help it; he couldn't have killed them back in the theme stage either.
"Thanks anyway."
Bottom line: she'd cleared out the nuisances in advance.
Without her, he'd probably be fending off a swarm of unwanted advances by now.
Some might even come laced with poison.
-Clatter!
Skeletons stirred here and there once more, prompting Do-yoon and Rakiya Bells to ready for battle.
Truth be told, nothing had blocked the stairs so far.
"...You seem even stronger than before."
Rakiya Bells watched Do-yoon dispatch skeletons with familiar ease, blurting out in a daze.
"Did some training back at base and killed time."
"No, even so, this is... impossible."
Leaving her trailing words behind, Do-yoon glanced at the status window announcing another experience gain.
It felt like he was still far from leveling up.
Addicted to the massive exp from boss mobs, Do-yoon had no choice but to follow Rakiya Bells toward the boss room.
"Almost there."
"Nice."
He pressed forward at her announcement that the boss room was near.
And so.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 「Would you like to enter the boss room?」 They finally reached the end of the sixth floor.
Suddenly struck by a question, Do-yoon turned back to face Rakiya Bells.
"Wh-Why...?"
"We can't enter together anyway. What're you gonna do now?"
"Head to the next floor."
"And then?"
"..."
She hadn't thought that far?
She was definitely more unique than the other hunters obsessed with clearing floors.
"Then stick around as needed."
"I-Is that okay?"
"As long as you don't pull anything weird first, no reason for me to chase away someone offering help."
It wasn't a formal party, but things had somehow led here.
Honestly, their combat synergy didn't feel half bad.
In a tower where anything could happen, having a reliable backstop was a boon.
"Wait here a sec."
He said that to Rakiya Bells, who watched him with an odd glint in her eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 「Entering the boss room.」 Do-yoon finally faced a boss mob after so long.
"Please be a hidden piece."
And without a shred of conscience, he hoped for maximum rewards.
"..."
Do-yoon vanished beyond the boss room.
Rakiya Bells was left alone, guarding the spot with complicated feelings.
-Thump. Thump.
The persistent heartbeat
—unpleasant yet not unwelcome.
"Do-yoon."
She murmured the source of it.
"You have no idea how dangerous you are."
And if she played her cards right, she could carve a place for herself in his heart.
Following her sisters' teachings, Rakiya Bells secretly began her scheme.