Chapter 05
“…So touchy.”
Leaving the disgusted-looking Isael alone, I quickly drifted into other thoughts.
How could Isael, not Leonard, become the master of the Holy Sword?
I pondered that for quite a while, then leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.
But the moment I did, Isael spoke.
“…Don’t tell me you’re trying to sleep?”
How did he know I was about to do that? What a ghost.
“I can’t believe this. How can you even think about sleeping when a monster could jump out at any moment?”
“…”
“Hey.”
“I’m not sleeping.”
I even answered him, but Isael didn’t believe me at all.
“You can’t sleep.”
“I said I’m not. And I told you, there are no monsters on this floor.”
“…”
“There’s nothing here. We just have to endure this darkness.”
At least, there were none on the 4th floor.
Well—more accurately, only the 4th floor was safe.
Which meant that this was the last floor where we could rest like this.
So I had to rest while I could.
“Don’t sleep.”
“I’m not sleeping.”
Then stop talking to me, you brat…
Even after that, Isael kept talking to me, telling me not to fall asleep.
If I didn’t answer, he’d keep asking whether I had fallen asleep until I responded, so in the end I didn’t get even a wink of rest.
When the darkness receded, the first thing I checked was the flower I had planted earlier.
It was fine.
“Good.”
Isael gave me a strange look as I muttered in satisfaction.
That guy… he doesn’t even realize how much I’m helping him right now and looks at me with that ungrateful expression…
Ugh, forget it. No point complaining.
With Isael “parked” safely beside me, I started practicing how to use my power more seriously.
The fruit I ate contained the power of the souls who died unjustly in this tower.
And in my opinion, this ability felt similar to controlling summoned beasts that were tamed with mana.
Because anyone who ate this fruit gained the ability to summon and control those souls.
If I can summon all the souls in this tower and command them at will…
If I could truly master this, descending to the 9th underground floor would be no problem.
I focused on the ground by my feet, drawing out all my mana.
I kept repeating to myself that I had gained the power to summon the souls wandering this tower—that I was someone who could use that power.
I don’t know how long I stayed like that.
In front of me, black smoke pooled on the ground I was staring at.
The smoke slowly gathered as though trying to form a shape.
Then—
“I hear… someone groaning.”
Isael cut in.
My concentration shattered instantly. I spun toward him.
This guy—if you can’t help, at least don’t interrupt!
“Hey, I told you to be quiet.”
“Wait.”
“…”
“Listen.”
Isael scanned the surroundings with a serious expression.
It seemed like he really had heard something.
Just in case, I strained my ears too.
“…I don’t hear anything.”
“You don’t see anything with your ability either?”
“There’s nothing special.”
Truthfully, I don’t have any clairvoyance. If you can’t see it, I can’t either.
But I pretended to check anyway.
All I saw was the same vast, smoke-filled space.
“And even if something were here, we can’t leave this spot.”
“What do you mean?”
Isael frowned and looked at me.
Even in the dim surroundings, his red eyes under dark hair were clearly visible.
I answered seriously.
“Why do you think I planted this flower here?”
“Well, just…”
“Just?”
“I just figured… you were doing something weird again.”
“…”
Excuse me?
“This flower prevents hallucinations!”
“Oh. I see.”
When I snapped, Isael only shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal.
But it was to me.
“It sounds like you’ve started hearing things. Hold on.”
“What?”
Maybe the flower alone couldn’t fully block the demon’s power.
It should’ve been enough, but…
I couldn’t ignore even the tiniest possibility.
And to prepare for that tiny chance, I had… something else saved.
I quickly dug through my bag.
Then I grabbed a handful of roots I’d collected on the 3rd floor.
They were a bit wilted, but the effect should still be fine.
I immediately put one in my own mouth and chewed it up.
I mean, helping Isael is fine, but first I need to save myself.
When I looked up again, Isael was staring at me in shock.
“What did you just eat…?”
“Open your mouth.”
Stimulant coming through.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“I said open.”
Of course, Isael resisted.
“What are you trying to feed me?”
“A stimulant. Eat it.”
“…I’m fine.”
I’m not fine.
If you fall into hallucinations, what am I supposed to do?
“No, you need to eat it. Eat.”
“I said I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine!”
He looked like he suspected I was trying to feed him poison.
Words weren’t going to cut it.
“Eat it!”
When I shoved the root at his mouth, trying to force it, Isael struggled wildly.
“What are you doing!”
“You have to eat it.”
“You eat it!”
“I already did!”
“Eat more!”
“I only ate it just in case—you’re the one who heard something! You need it!”
There was no way I could overpower Isael by force.
Even if we were around the same age, I was a girl and he was a boy.
He naturally had more strength—and on top of that, I was injured.
…Hm?
Oh, right. I’m an injured girl.
“Ugh…!”
I clutched my wounded side and collapsed dramatically.
Isael froze.
“Wait, did your wound open? Why would you—mmph!”
Never let your guard down, kid.
The moment he bent toward me in concern—
I grabbed his jaw and shoved the root into his mouth.
Then I held his lower face tightly with both hands.
“Mmph!”
“Swallow it. I’m not letting go until you do.”
“Mmph!”
“Hurry up.”
This time, he didn’t try to push me off with force.
Probably because he still felt guilty about me acting hurt.
He squirmed a little, but when he realized I wasn’t backing down at all, he finally surrendered.
Victory was mine.
Gulp.
Isael swallowed the root.
Only after I saw his throat bob did I let him go.
“See? If you’d just eaten it when I asked nicely, none of this would’ve happened.”
“…”
Wiping his mouth over and over with the back of his hand, Isael glared daggers at me.
His crimson eyes were full of murderous intent.
Ungrateful brat…
“Anyway, you won’t hear things anymore.”
You don’t know it, but I just saved your life.
Ever since I forced that root down his throat—
Isael has been trying very obviously to keep physical distance from me.
“I told you we can’t move away from here.”
“This much is fine.”
“…”
“I can still see you.”
Whenever I tried to move even a little closer, he flinched and backed away.
What is wrong with him?
“Ugh…”
I sighed and decided to focus on my task.
I need to master this ability as soon as possible.
To channel mana and summon the souls.
I could now form something vaguely human-shaped.
I had to succeed in creating multiple at once…
