Chapter 40. The Reason Wings Rot in the Cave (8)

An incomprehensible concept?

Indeed, I couldn't move at all in front of that attack. I had no idea what was happening when the man stepped forward leisurely and slowly sliced through my armor-clad body with his blunt sword sheath.

Who exactly is that man? How did he end up in an F-rank dungeon, The Ossuary of Wraiths?

It was a place filled with people who didn't even know how to swing the swords they'd bought properly.

After dealing with such opponents, have I become complacent?

Clatter.

I shook my head. No, the man in the blue armor wasn't on that level. Even after twenty years of clattering around, I'd never encountered anyone like that. Not that I was in any position to make such judgments.

The very idea of dying in such a way was beyond comprehension. I slowly recalled how he swung his sword. It was not even the sword, but the sheath. The pure white sheath was like snow beginning to fall from the sky.

The unadorned sheath resembled a conductor's baton. It expressed a very slow, calm, and leisurely tempo. That sheath swung at such a pace had sliced me in two. I still felt confused.

Anyway, I needed to focus on what was before me now: a perk enhancement. I didn't deliberate much.

If it's a choice... it has to be number one.

There was no need to hesitate. The first perk had a + sign next to it. It indicated that it had been strengthened once before. If there was a chance to upgrade something by one step, I thought choosing what was already enhanced again would be more effective. After all, a second enhancement was likely more difficult than the first.

"Number 1."

[Are you sure you want to choose number 1? This is irreversible. Please choose carefully.]

[Confirm/Re-select]

"Confirm."

[Enhancing perk...]

The message stayed on for quite some time. I did not regret it, even though there could be a chance that the other options were more practical. It was a perk that increased affection with necromancers. Affection was one-sided. There was no guarantee that someone else's favor would always work in my favor.

However, I still chose this perk. I didn't want to think that I would never meet Rubia again.

There must be a way. When I meet her again, I hope she’ll feel more comfortable with me.

[Perk has been enhanced!]

[Assimilation rate has decreased.]

[93.04% -> 92.49%]

Somewhere, a space gently opened. Darkness slowly crept up to my toes. From my toes, it started to softly wrap around me layer by layer. I stood still, letting the darkness embrace my body.

[Perk is being equipped automatically.]

[Perk: Necromancer's Lover (New!)]

— You start with a base Affection of 20 in all relationships with necromancers.

— The Affection of necromancers with whom you have a servant relationship increases by an additional 10.

— Your presence inspires necromancers. The proficiency of necromancy for necromancers near you increases by 5% faster.

— This is a Hero-level perk. It will be forcibly selected until another Hero-level perk is activated.

Hmm

.

I couldn't choose any other perk. It seemed like my point investment had just vanished.

A perk focused on Affection, huh?

In any case, it was my choice. I could doubt it, but I couldn't complain.

Still wearing armor, I stepped carefully, so as not to break the silence of the hall. Then I delved into my thoughts. Unlike my previous deaths, this death left many questions.

First, why did I want to remain in the dungeon?

I kept walking while pondering this question.

When did it start? Was it around a month after I had been stuck in the dungeon?

It was probably around then. My consciousness had gradually become blurred. I couldn't make proper judgments. I couldn't connect one thought to the next. I just wanted to stay hidden deep inside the dungeon, in the shadows. It felt like it would be okay just staring blankly into the void and clattering around. It felt like everything would somehow work out.

Why was that?

Even thinking about it now, it was hard to understand. It seemed like there had been some message floating in the air. I couldn't remember well because my consciousness was already fading. The more I thought about it, something came to mind.

Was it because of the Dungeon Affinity?

After surpassing 5%, then 10%, I had no idea about the purpose of Dungeon Affinity. Certainly, as it increased, I found myself wanting to stay in the dungeon more and more. I couldn't think of anything else.

I should leave before it reaches 10%.

If I set the limit at 10%, the time I could stay here wouldn't be long. If it was similar to the last life, then perhaps it was around ten days. Things were about to get busy. I glanced at Rena, who was still sleeping peacefully.

I felt sorry for her in many ways. At first, I had doubted her. I thought of using her but didn't trust her. She had approached me actively, claiming we were kindred spirits. But I had dismissed her words.

I thought it wouldn't be strange if she betrayed me as soon as I let her go. I had half-heartedly utilized her, thinking things would go however they went. But Rena had been astonishingly loyal to me. She had genuinely seduced men. She had sold off the mementos diligently and deftly beheaded adventurers.

It was hard to explain her enthusiasm solely with the fact that she had ”agreed to do so.” The job seemed perfectly suited to her aptitude and preferences.

She really did well.

Moreover, she had even prepared many traps around the dungeon for me, who was stuck inside. In the end, I had ruined everything.

Clatter.

I must do better this time.

When I made this resolution, a message blinked in the air.

[B-rank Scenario, Rena's Story, is in progress.]

Is this it?

Once again, I reached for the glowing word: Rena.

Ding!

[Name: Rena

Thief Lv. 5

Health: 13

Strength:11

Agility: 17

Intelligence: 11]

[Affection: 11

—Rena feels a sense of kinship with you.]

[Basic Skills:

—Unlock by increasing Affection]

[Perks:

—Unlock by increasing Affection.]

[Title:

—Unlock by increasing Affection]

It was the same as before. Her stats were quite good. This time, I should train her properly. I gazed at her with a calm look. I vividly recalled how she had tried to take me out until the last moment.

***

"

Mm...

"

Rena let out a soft moan. She slightly opened her mouth and exhaled a trapped breath. She was slowly waking up. Her eyes still bore traces of exhaustion. I leaned against the wall and watched her quietly. She woke up sooner than I had expected for someone who was sleeping so deeply.

Was the timing of the return when she was about to wake up? Or did my pacing through the hall disturb her slumber?

"

Ugh...

"

Rena twisted herself in various directions. Her expression was similar to before.

"If you're tired, why not lie down a bit more? Weren't you hanging for three days..."

To be honest, that wasn't something the one who had left her hanging should say.

"

Ugh...

what...?"

She let out a small sigh and then gave me a bewildered look. It wasn't necessary to look so startled.

"Or you could go to an inn. Resting for a few days wouldn't be so bad."

Rena blinked.

Why is she looking at me like that?

Jingle.

I dropped a few silver coins, collected from the travelers' bags, beside her.

"That should be enough for you to use alone."

Rena flinched and recoiled.

"

Um...

why are you suddenly being like this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you suddenly being so kind? It's scary when you're like this, sir."

Why did I suddenly become kind?

I had nothing to say. I hadn't done anything in particular. I hesitated momentarily, trying to think of a response, but nothing came to mind. But keeping my mouth shut wouldn't make a suitable answer come to mind.

I blurted out what came to me. "Really? I'm usually kind."

"..."

Rena had a blank look on her face.

Did I choose the wrong answer?

To break the awkward silence, I asked, "Anyway, didn't you agree to become my companion? Make yourself comfortable."

She seemed a bit taken aback, but then her expression changed. She suddenly placed her hand just below her chest and started laughing uncontrollably.

"

Ah, hahaha... hahaha...

"

Why was she laughing? Was she supporting her chest that shook when she laughed?

She placed her hand just below her chest, her body shaking with laughter.

Is it a habit?

I didn't quite remember if she had laughed like that before.

"

Hahaha...

What is this, sir? It's really funny."

"What's so funny?"

"You took a nap, and suddenly your personality has changed drastically, huh?"

"..."

I thought her laughing face was cute. Maybe that was why I noticed the text floating above Rena's head a little late.

Ding!

[Rena's Affection has increased by 6!]

[Current Affection: 17]

The message was displayed in the translucent window.

A small difference.

Did our idle chat help ease the tension?

Her Affection had increased. It seemed a bit higher than last time. While she was laughing for a long time, she reached into her pocket.

Hmm.

Inside that pocket would be a small dagger, a vial of deadly poison, and a matchbox to light a bomb. But what she was trying to take out and hand to me was a pendant.

"

Um...

"

It was a memento from her mother. She handed me the small, worn-out ornament hung on a long, dangling string.

"Here, take this. I was going to give it to you, but I almost forgot while laughing."

It was the same as before. The only difference was that this time, her eyes and mouth were slightly smiling.

"This is my mother's pendant." I asked her, "Is this a token of trust for me?"

Rena's face blushed slightly.

"

Oh!

That surprised me."

With a slightly flushed face, she continued, "How did you know? I was thinking that to myself."

I heard it from you.

That was what she had said a month ago. Or, what she was about to say to me soon. I didn't answer her question. If I told her the truth, she'd probably just think I was crazy.

"It's not important; let's just move on..." I mumbled, watching her expression closely.

When I had first received the pendant from her, I thought I couldn't trust her anyway. Even if she had left a bottle with a heart in it, I wouldn't have trusted it. I had felt something close to that.

Now, I had experienced being with her. I trusted her. Now, even if she didn't pick up a single leaf for me, I could trust her. Either way, a pendant was still meaningless. But now, her story was beginning to mean something to me. I continued speaking gently.

"Feelings or promises... They can't be contained in objects, right? What's meaningful to you probably isn't the pendant itself."

The tone was similar to when I first received the pendant from her. But my attitude had completely changed. It had to.

I softly returned the ornament with a string to her white hand.

"

Oh

..."

Rena looked at me with wide eyes.

"Keep it with you. You said it was your mother's pendant, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then tell me about your mother. That would be more convincing."

Rena blinked her wide eyes. I looked steadily into those eyes.

Rena's expression was somewhat complicated. "My mother... needed to eat three people a day."