Chapter 9
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“...I told you I don’t just pick up and eat anything.”
“You said you only choose the good stuff to eat. Sure, of course you would.”
“…...”
“I knew you would say that.”
This time, I was the one left speechless.
No, I really had eaten only the good ones.
But in Isael’s eyes, I must have looked like someone who blindly put anything I saw straight into my mouth without realizing the danger.
…Well, from the perspective of someone who doesn’t know the circumstances, I guess that is how it would look.
This world is inside a novel, and I know the contents of that novel.
Trying to explain that I eat things because they’re beneficial items would only make him think I’m crazy.
I quickly changed the subject.
“...Anyway, the thing I summoned will go look for where the door is, so let us wait like this for now.”
Isael stared at me for a moment, let out a small sigh, then moved away to resume his sword practice.
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Not long after, the door leading downstairs appeared.
Once I heard from the spirit that the door had appeared, I no longer wanted to waste any more time loitering around here.
Before leaving, I checked my bag once more.
After confirming that everything I needed was inside, I said to Isael, “The flower’s effect won’t disappear the moment we pull it out.”
“I see.”
“Yeah. So we’re going to pull it out and bring it with us, but we need to reach the door before the flower completely wilts and the effect wears off.”
Isael listened seriously and nodded.
At that moment, Felix interrupted.
“I-I see. Then what should I do?”
“…...”
In that moment, the mood dropped instantly.
I stared at Felix in disbelief before speaking.
"I have no intention of taking you with me."
“...Huh? What?”
“Wait, were you seriously planning to come with me without a shred of conscience?”
“Of course... That was what I was thinking...”
Wow, this guy really has no shame.
I frowned at Felix, then subtly checked Isael’s expression.
Isael, wearing his usual calm face, was simply checking his outfit and then inspecting the condition of the sword at his waist.
Hmm, what should I do?
I’m torn.
And for good reason. At this point in time, Isael was still not a bad person, just an ordinary, average individual.
His true descent into darkness only begins after witnessing the death of his younger sister, Beatrice.
Despite showing signs of his displeasure in many ways, the fact that he had obediently followed my lead up to now proved as much.
And although he was in a situation where he needed to hear information about his younger sibling from me after I woke up, Isael still did his best to treat and care for me within his abilities.
In short, he couldn’t be called overly kind, but he was still a reasonable person.
No, wait. Isn’t it actually fair to say he is overly kind?
To begin with, Isael had only gotten dragged into this mess and dropped into the tower because he was trying to save his sister.
Thinking about it that way, Isael could even be seen as someone more suited to the role of protagonist than Leonard, with more heroic qualities.
But what would happen if I coldly abandoned Felix here and left?
Of course, he would understand.
Since he had heard my situation, Isael also knew I held a grudge against Felix.
So he might not see leaving Felix behind as something terribly wrong.
But if similar things kept happening…
Right. Felix hadn’t done anything that seriously hindered us yet.
For now, maybe I should bring him along.
If it comes down to it, I can always use him as a shield and throw him away afterward.
The trials starting from the fifth floor were not something one could overcome easily.
Having even one person who could be used as a shield in an emergency was never a bad thing.
After making up my mind, I spoke in a cold voice.
“I’m not going to help you or take care of you. If you insist on following, then you keep up on your own. I won’t stop you from doing that. Got it?"
“Got it, I’ll do that.”
Felix nodded immediately, as if he had been waiting for me to say so.
“I won’t get in your way. I’ll try to be helpful, so trust me.”
“Well, fine.”
Felix kept emphasizing how he would be useful.
He must have been worried that I might change my mind again and leave him behind.
…Well, we’ll see about that.
After giving Felix one last sharp glare, I turned to Isael.
“Alright, I’m pulling out the flower.”
“I’ll do it.”
Isael bent down and pulled the flower out by its roots.
Then he even took the trouble of placing it neatly into my bag himself.
“Good. Let’s go.”
I instructed the resentful spirit I had summoned earlier to guide us to the door.
It nodded and began walking ahead, and Isael and I followed behind it.
Of course, Felix hurried after us, almost tripping over his own feet.
“Are you really bringing him?”
Isael asked while giving a sidelong glance at Felix, who was scrambling to keep up.
I swallowed a small sigh and nodded.
“I don’t have much choice. He wants to follow that badly, and if we leave him here, he’ll obviously die. I can’t just walk away.”
“……”
“He said he would be helpful, so I’m giving him one last chance.”
Hearing my words, Isael had a peculiar expression.
But only for a moment. Soon, he spoke again, his voice sounding rather ominous.
“If that is your decision, I will follow it. But if that bastard threatens you or tries to harm you again…”
“Yeah.”
“Then I will eliminate him without hesitation. Do you agree?”
Well… That was reassuring.
It felt as if I had suddenly gained a personal bodyguard I was never destined to have.
I smiled faintly and nodded.
“If you’re willing to do that for me, I’d be grateful. I totally agree.”
“Good.”
Isael glanced over at Felix with a cold expression.
I also turned to look at Felix, who was hurrying after us.
The moment our eyes met, Felix’s expression brightened as if he were simply happy that we had looked his way.
Not only that, but perhaps spurred on by some courage he hadn’t had before, he suddenly made the most ridiculous suggestion.
“Uh, should we all hold hands and walk together?”
“……”
“Huh? Isn’t it kind of scary since it’s so dark?”
It was innocent, clueless nonsense that only someone who had no idea what we had just been discussing about him could say.
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“Your God sent forth a representative, and he willingly delivered you to salvation.”
This sentence was the first verse of an ancient scripture shared by both continents.
Reciting it aloud was the condition for opening the door, and the moment I finished speaking, the door opened.
I discarded the flower, which was no longer needed, and crossed the threshold with Isael.
The familiar staircase greeted us.
Behind us, Felix muttered quietly.
“Come to think of it, opening the door itself isn’t hard. It’s getting to the door that’s tough. Almost like it’s intentional?”
More than half of what he said was usually nonsense, but this time Felix’s words were surprisingly perceptive.
I guess there is a reason he is a supporting character in the protagonist’s group.
Thinking that, I started descending the stairs.
After walking for a bit, I could distinctly feel the air growing damp.
And from somewhere, a strange beast-like cry drifted faintly through the space.
“…W-what is that sound?”
Felix jumped in surprise and looked around wildly.
“I just heard something that sounded like an animal crying…”
Good hearing.
Felix had heard correctly.
Below us was a place crawling with demonic beasts.
Beasts who fought each other relentlessly, and even as they fought, they craved to fight even more.
A long river deep enough to reach our knees.
And scattered along the river were seven small islands.
That was the environment of this place's underground fifth floor.
There were more beasts fighting each other in the river than there was water filling it.
We had to push our way through those beasts, cross the islands, and reach the door.
Naturally, there were no bridges connecting the islands.
Between them, there was nothing but flowing water.
There were no special conditions or items required to complete the trial on this underground fifth floor and descend to the next level.
All you have to do is fight the beasts like hell and get to the door.
The only thing needed was pure physical ability.
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