Chapter 146

[TL Note: We’re going to change up a few of the terms and we’d like to know whether or not we should keep the new terms or go back to the old ones . The new skill name will appear first and the term previously used will be in parentheses . Let us know in our Discord or in the comments section .

*Changed Dragon Soldier –> Dragon Troopers

*Changed Soul Steal –> Siphon Soul

*Dead Summoning –> Summon Dead]

"Da… "

Damn it .

I listened to the Dwarves until the end but it would have been better if I had just found out myself .

I flew with Talaria's Wings once more .

I spread my mana aggressively and located Idy .

First, I searched the graveyard that contained the Dragon's Inheritance, which Idy had been guarding .

Fortunately, Idy was in the vicinity .

I flew towards her after I ascertained her location .

A large group of dwarves was gathered at the entrance of the graveyard .

I pushed them out of my way, one by one, and went into the graveyard . In a corner of the cemetery, I saw a few dwarves whisper and lay out some thick gruel .

The runts had only been tasked with being on watch, so they were becoming impatient .

I used my Overpower (Coercion) skill .

The once bustling cemetery became silent as the dwarves fell onto the floor face down .

Now it was quiet, since the dwarves were on the floor . At least above the knees .

I could finally check on Idy .

She had a warm dressing tied onto her body and there were signs of medicine being applied here and there .

"Keruk . Captain, you're finally here?" Idy said .

"What… how did this happen?" I said, examining the area around the wound .

"Keruk, keruk . This is… I'm embarrassed . "

After I finished looking over her injury, Idy told me the source of her embarrassment .

I lifted the bandage slightly and I saw a black "something" squirming around the wound .

A squirming black energy .

It was something I'd seen several times on the 9th, 10, and 12th floors .

This was Idy's skill .

"I guess if I were to give you an excuse, it'd be that I had too much on my mind . Keruk . Plus, the chimeras look repulsive . It was strange that they had four limbs, but they also used strange weapons as well . "

"Strange weapons?"

"Keruk . They should be buried under Chimeras' bodies . Be careful if you have to fight them later . Keruk . "

Amongst the Chimeras I had fought today, I hadn't encountered any that used unusual weapons .

The Chimeras mostly charged in barehanded or they simply used standard weapons .

The Elite Chimeras that appeared occasionally likewise did the same, even though they had superior skills

Seriously, I'm really exhausted . This wasn't really a battle, but an ambush .

"And . . . "

"And?"

"Keruk . "

"Idy?"

"They said that they wouldn't have to live like beasts anymore if they get that necklace . I don't know if that's actually true, but that's what the Chimeras said . And… they said they were humanity's enemy . When I heard that… my hands slowed . Keruk . "

So it was complicated .

At the same time, I felt dizzy .

They had hurt Idy this much over such a trifling issue .

By piecing together the Dragon Troops’ complicated story, I figured out that the Chimeras and dwarves sought the necklace because it had the ability to evolve them .

However, that method was a problem .

It wouldn't simply grant superior strength, but advance their species to a higher level .

If that was possible…

What would a Dwarf, which had a higher class existence than a Chimera look like?

What would a Dragon Trooper, which had a lower class existence than a human look like?

Would they simply change into the form that they desired?

No, it was a pointless assumption .

They may gain even greater strength, deeper wisdom, or even a remarkable physical appearance, but in the end, their identity wouldn't change so easily .

Let's assume that a chimera regains their human body and blends into society .

It works at their appointed workplace and live a normal life, so nobody would be able to tell that that person used to be a chimera .

Everyone except for themselves .

They'll remember, deep down, that they used to be a Chimera and their own words will act as a painful reminder .

It's a task too difficult for one person to do, yet they claim that they'll accomplish the task tens of millions cannot?

That's impossible .

There are only two solutions .

They either accept that they're not monsters or they kill themselves .

The Chimeras laughed at the dwarves' desire to become Dragon Troopers .

It was pointless .

Even I agreed with them .

However, was there really a difference between the dwarvesand the chimeras?One side wanted to become Dragon Troopers, while the other sought to become human .

If a god saw them, how would we he feel?

If a dragon saw the dwarves, it would likewise feel indifferent .

"Because of that, I got stabbed like an idiot . Maybe I saw myself in them," Idy said .

I restrained myself from saying what I really wanted to say .

Instead, I asked a different question .

"It's a skill, right?"

"Yep . Keruk . "

I momentarily cleared my head .

"I'll remove the bandage now . I'll need to… examine it a bit . "

I wrapped my fingertips with mana and cut off the bandage . I carefully took it off but Idy seemed to be in pain and groaned .

After that…

What do I do now?

First, I took out a bottle of elixir .

"Keruk . Keruk . Captain . "

"What?"

"Isn't that expensive? Don't waste it," she said, embarrassed .

I felt like I had hit rock bottom .

This was Idy, who had first appeared on the 5th floor .

I had summoned her to the 20th floor and given her an important job because I trusted her .

If I were to give another reason, it would be because I wanted to see her .

She was with me from the start to the end of the stage . The person who was always with me was Idy .

I had cleared several stages with her and I had grown considerably since the 5th floor .

Although the 20th floor was extremely difficult, I thought Idy easily be able to deal with it easily .

Honestly, when she was on the 12th floor, she was pretty relaxed .

Idy had two skills .

One of them she used on the 5th floor; it changed her body into smoke, allowing her to avoid an enemy's attacks .

The other skill was one couldn't use on the 5th floor, though it was an attack that she could use on the 9th, 10th, and 12th floors .

She would be enclosed by a black, death energy that would attack her opponent .

However, there was a problem: if the death energy stuck to the body, there was nothing one could do .

While it had its limitations and it took some time compared to the nearly-invincible evasion skill, it had the potential to inflict fatal wounds .

I thought I would continue to get help from Idy even on the higher floors, not just the 20th floor .

But she had been hurt by her own skill .

Idy had already tested it on the 12th floor .

She cut her fingertip and the death energy remained in it .

Elixirs were useless .

I had to cut my own finger to shake off the death energy, but I drank an elixir and my finger grew back .

It might've been possible to treat Idy the same way, but it wasn’t her fingertip this time .

She had a long injury that stretched from her heart to her stomach . The wound had definitely reached her inner organs as well .

I raised my hand and took a closer look .

The wound was too deep .

Even if the death energy wasn’t there, it would still be a fatal injury .

An incision wasn't possible .

"Keruk . No matter how I look at it, there's no hope," Idy said .

That's also how I saw it .

I shook my head and cast out the thoughts deep in my head .

Some time ago, I began to think of only one thing when someone was dying .

Excessive bleeding, shock, difficulty breathing, ruptured inner organs . When I saw those symptoms, I knew the person was simply a corpse .

They'll die soon, they're nothing more than a corpse .

Get up and leave . There's nothing you can do, they're a corpse .

I swallowed down those thoughts from the depths of my mind .

As I stifled those thoughts, something else came out .

I roughly wiped my tears .

"Does it… hurt?" I asked .

"Keruk . Keruk . Are you worried? You know that this skill doesn't deliver any pain . I just feel the pain from the cut . "

I went silent for a moment .

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out .

"Keruk . Anyway, there're always risks on the battlefield . It was fatal for me to get hit by my own ability like an idiot, but I have a lot of other injuries . It was really close . Then again, if that were true, I would’ve been able to get treatment . But starting tomorrow, I won't be of much help in the battle . "

'Then again, if that were true, I would’ve been able to get treatment,' she had said .

I didn't just call Idy to fight .

Honestly, calling her for help was just an excuse .

It's just… when I came back, I thought it would be nice to have someone to eat with and talk to . That's all I really wanted .

"Keruk . Keruk . Actually, it went well . "

I hid my shaking hands behind me .

"Idy… Idy . Don't worry too much . I'll immediately summon you…" I rambled .

Suddenly, my head turned to the side .

When I got ahold of myself, I saw Idy's rustling tail on the side of my face .

"Keruk . Get ahold of yourself, Captain . I can't help but worry . "

Although I got smacked by Idy's tail, I couldn't understand her intentions .

"Captain . Why are you worrying about me?"

" . . . What?"

"Captain, are you possibly afraid of me dying?"

I was silent once again .

"Captain, don't you already know? We sometimes avoided the subject but it doesn't change the facts . "

I remained silent .

"Captain, I'm already dead . "

I really couldn't do anything but stay silent .

"How do you feel, Captain?"

******

During the long silence, Idy began speaking again .

"Keruk . First, take the unconscious dwarves outside . If we leave them like that, they might suffocate . "

Just like she said, I moved the unconscious dwarves outside .

"I moved them all . "

"Keruk . Come back after you put a blanket on the unconscious ones, at the bare minimum . "

Like she said, I draped a blanket over the unconscious ones and laid them outside the cemetery before coming back .

"Keruk . Keruk . "

"I'm done . "

"Good job, Captain . Now… shall we talk? Also, I'll leave behind a request and some advice at the end of the talk . It looks like I don't have much time left, so let's start now . "

I nodded .

"Keruk . How should I start…I kept thinking about it, but it's a difficult topic . "

Idy 'keruked' for a moment, thought about it, and then began to speak .

"Let's continue our discussion . Keruk . I'm already dead . "

Idy spoke calmly but her words slowly pierced my heart .

"One life, one soul . It's something that is said in our tribe . However, what about me? I have only one soul but I have many lives . Maybe I don't have a life or a soul . Keruk . "

"Idy…"

"Captain, you always regretted killing me, even though I told you not to . Keruk . I never died to you . My death happened before then . Keruk . "

It was something she had once talked about on the 10th floor .

"Of course, I don't know how I died . However, that…"

Idy's face froze .

Her face went blank .

The system disapproved of her words .

She grinded her teeth and bit on her blood .

"Keruk . I'll have to pass over that . Hoo . "

She took a deep breath and continued .

"Captain, I know that you treat everything you meet in the Tutorial as if it were real . You even treat lifeless beings as if they were real and just brush past everything to clear, as if you were in a play . It's as if this has become the real world to you and we've become real people to you . That's why you feel happiness and sadness from the people you meet here . You feel anguished when you have to kill an enemy . Keruk . But if you were to challenge them again, they'd look exactly the same . Keruk . "

I was silent .

Idy, too, was silent for a moment .

It persisted to the point where we became self-aware of how much time had passed in silence . Then, Idy continued .

"It'll be easier if you ignore it all . They're not real, so don't think . Just cut them down, and pass them . It'll be easier for you . But you don't do that, do you, Captain? You feel uneasy, don't you? Keruk . Captain, you think that, just like us, you might have died, and only your soul is left roaming around . "

She's right .

As time passed, my suspicions lessened somewhat, but lately, my suspicions have returned .

I also feel like I'm a puppet in some kind of play .

"I'll have the change the topic of discussion first . Keruk . "

Idy raised her hand and grabbed mine .

My hands were still shaking a little .

"Keruk . Captain, I'm sorry to say this but you have to look at reality . I'm just an item . "

An item .

When I heard that, I thought of the unconscious dwarves outside .

"The only Idy you know is me . But how many Idaltarus, who are killing challengers and conversely getting killed, do you think there are on the 5th floor, Captain?"

[PR Note: Just a reminder that Idaltaru is Idy’s real name, or at least the name the system identifies her with . “Idaltarus” is the plural form referring to multiple “hers . ”]

I knew .

I thought about it countless times but it was a subject that troubled me .

Idy's face went blank again .

She would intentionally say things that were restricted and when she was reprimanded by the system, she would experience a piercing headache .

However, Idy didn't suppress her feelings .

"I was lucky, wasn't I? Because of you, Captain, I became self-aware of my condition and I was able to spend my time happily with you . I'm really thankful to you, Captain . "

She let go of my hand and raised her own .

She wiped my tears as she 'keruked', and laughed .

"I'm sorry, but this is the end . It's really too bad that I can't talk to you anymore . Keruk . "

The gods and the system didn't want her to talk anymore .

Idy couldn't even talk about the subject indirectly and couldn't remind me about it .

The only thing left for me to do is to find out what she wanted to say .

"Now it's time for me to be a bit shameless, huh . Keruk . " She candidly laughed .

"Captain," she called .

"What?"

"Captain, I like you . "

She 'keruked' and laughed .

"You probably do too . Though it might be a different form of affection, at least you like me as a friend, as a comrade . "

I think of you as family .

"I have a request and some advice . It would seem like… I'll give you some advice first . I heard about your growth yesterday . "

I nodded .

"Keruk . I think that your growth is lacking . Actually, I think it's being repressed . "

"What?"

"Keruk . Keruk . Don't compare yourself to others, Captain . The only one that can compare to you is yourself . Do you think that your growth at its best right now?"

My growth rate is extremely fast .

It's to the point that the system can't keep up .

From the very beginning, I couldn't even be compared to the other challengers . I was at a level that they couldn't even comprehend .

However, I listened to Idy's words attentively .

Last night, I had told Idy, in fair detail, about the progress of my growth .

If she was the one saying my growth was lacking, it was definitely lacking .

"Next up is my request . Keruk . "

"Ask me anything," I spoke calmly, after I had relaxed a bit .

"Sorry about this, but I have two . "

"Don't be sorry . It's fine if there're more . "

"Keruk . Keruk . "

I didn't feel burdened by her requests . Rather, I hated the fact that she felt embarrassed about her requests .

"How many more times can you use the Summon Dead skill?" (Summoning Dead)

"2 more times . "

"You had less remaining than I thought . It looks like my request will be more shameless than I thought . Keruk . "

"What's wrong?"

"Don't summon me anymore, Captain . "

I’ve been shocked a lot today but nothing could've prepared me for this .

I couldn't help but ask . What did she mean?

"Idy . What are you talking about?"

Her eyes spun and she bowed her head furtively .

"Idy!"

"Instead, instead… When I become a single Idy, rather than those countless Idaltarus…When I'm freed of all my restraints . When I can exist as just me, as just "Idy", can you summon me then?"

Now I could finally read her expression .

Due to the shape of their head, when a lizardman bows, it doesn't hide their face at first .

"Of course, I know it's impossible . I also know how useful the Summon Dead skill can be…" Idy rambled .

"I got it, Idy . I'll do as you ask . Don't worry," I replied .

Idy cleared her throat and stared at the plain ceiling .

"Keruk . Keruk . I'm not worried . I trust you . You'll definitely succeed . The only thing you needed, Captain was… No . no, it's nothing . "

"What is it?"

Idy continuously moved her head side to side and slowly turned her head, avoiding my eyes .

She was really embarrassed .

Now that I think about it, it's the first time since the 5th floor she's asked me for a favor .

She had told me all about her tribe's characteristics, so it was definitely a rare case .

"Keruk . Keruk . I knew that my time was tight, but I still have a little bit of time left . My heart rate is slowing down, though . Captain . "

"What?"

"Have you calmed down a bit?"

"Yeah . "

"You sure are a strange boss . Keruk . So how about talking some more with the time I have left?

"All right, what do you want to talk about?"

"Keruk . Keruk . What do you mean? Anything . Do you not want to?"

"Sounds good . "

It'd be great if we could talk while eating, but Idy wasn't capable of eating anything in her current condition .

It didn't matter .

Eating wasn't important right now .

******

It wasn't hard to figure out what Idy had wanted to say .

Because in the end, she had told me everything she wanted to .

It was obvious what Idy wanted .

Her condition to summon her again…

I needed to get her out of the tutorial system completely and free her of her restraints before I could summon her again .

She didn't simply want me to summon her after clearing the Tutorial .

If I did, then I'd just be summoning an Idaltaru from the 5th floor who was under the Tutorial's jurisdiction .

I had to completely pull her out of the system . If that doesn't work, I'll just have to free everyone in this Tutorial . With that, I satisfy all of her conditions .

But I don't know how to do it .

There's far too much I don't know about the system .

Even if I learned all I could about the system, I still wouldn't be even be able to comprehend the basics of the system and how it works .

But now, I knew the path that I needed to take .

[All the Gods of the White Holy Temple are watching you . ]

Idy said my growth was lacking .

My growth certainly isn't lacking .

I had already surpassed the system's guidelines and I didn't face many difficulties in the party stages .

It's probably going to be easy to clear the Tutorial .

However, if I want more, then my growth is definitely lacking .

I expected nothing less of Idy . She knew me well .

Idy's trial was much more interesting than the Tutorial .

I saw the necklace floating in the center of the cemetery .

I snatched the floating necklace and put it around my neck .

I didn't have any reason to hide the necklace or face off against any enemies right now .

Besides, it's safest here . After all, I'm here .

If I take the necklace, I won't have to continue the mission . I won't have to split the single necklace and I can draw out the remaining chimeras .

When I went outside, I was met with the confused faces of the dwarves .

As always, I don't like them .

But when I put myself in their shoes, I don't feel unpleasant anymore .

I've been told many times as to why the gods brought me here .

To become a disciple of a god .

That was all .

That wasn't my intent .

I was reborn here .

The tutorial revitalized me and brought me new life .

It was a misfortune but at the same time, it brought me happiness .

I was thankful for the Tutorial .

I didn't worry about getting out quickly . Rather, I worried about what I would do after I got out .

I secretly wished that the Tutorial would go on forever .

I hadn't become self-aware until I had my talk with Idy .

Now there was another common feature between the dwarves and me .

But there was also a clear difference now .

Instead of listening to the dwarves' stuttering, I flew around with Talaria's Wings .

I flew away from the mountains and towards the plains .

I flew above the chimeras that filled up the plains .

I wonder how many there are . . .

[All the Gods of the White Holy Temple are watching you . ]

I received a message from the gods and descended onto the ground .

I fell towards the ground at full speed .

I don't know what my full power is .

I've never tested it before .

That's why I've always felt so uneasy, like I was suffocating .

I never met a suitable opponent and I've never been able to wield my full strength .

However, I could gauge my strength in a different way .

[Indomitable]

[Iron wall]

[Heightened Senses]

[Battle Concentration]

I used my skills and drew out mana to protect my body .

Kwang!

When I crashed onto the ground, the landscape around me erupted in a cloud of dirt .

I monitored the situation .

My arms and legs, head, inner organs, and magic circuits were all functioning optimally .

Even the durable Talaria's Wings in my body felt a shock when I exceeded its max speed .

The chimeras around the impact point looked as though they were about to faint from shock .

The other chimeras further away from the impact point couldn't get a hold of themselves and merely looked on vacantly .

We can't have that, now can we?

"Uah!"

[Soul Cry]

[Siphon Soul] (Soul Steal)

[Overpower] (Coercion)

Soul Cry aggravated the half-awake chimeras and they started to dash towards me .

Of course, they wouldn't be able to tell how dangerous I was .

I coated my sword with the largest amount of aura I was capable of .

It was two times longer than even a swordmaster’s aura .

I surrounded my shield and armor with aura as well .

I should discard my previous fighting style .

I fiercely dashed forward .

The chimeras crashed against my shield .

The chimeras attacked me one after another and I was pushed back .

I swung my sword in the largest, longest arcs possible .

I formed an Aura on my longsword three to four times longer than before and immediately severed the chimeras' huge bodies .

I advanced forward . Only forward .

The chimeras charged at me and I followed suit .

I should save as much mana and stamina as possible and calmly and carefully maintain my distance… I threw away this approach .

I charged boldly without holding back .

I had already prepared plenty of defensive measures .

There's no way that I'd run out of mana or stamina .

As long as I dealt with my enemies, Siphon Soul would allow me to recover faster than I would expend my mana and stamina .

"Uah!"

I relentlessly used Soul Cry in order to call all the chimeras towards me .

Blood spurted out .

The highly compressed Aura at the edge of my armor and my sword started to swell .

The aura blazed on my bloodied sword .

The burnt smell of flesh stunk .

Amidst the horrid stench of blood and the enemy's screams of agony…

"Uah!"

… I'm still alive .

* * * * * *

[Tutorial, Hell Difficulty, 20th Floor, Clear . ]

[All status effects and injuries are healed . ]

[You have received 4000 points for clearing the floor . ]

[You have received 4000 points for being the first to clear the floor . ]

[Many gods react positively to you . You have received 3700 points . ]

[Many gods react negatively to you . 6300 points have been deducted . ]

[All the Gods of the White Holy Temple are watching you . ]

[The God of Slowness is satisfied . ]

[The God of Adventure is cheering for you . ]

[The God of Dueling is satisfied . ]

[The God of Death is pleased . ]

[The God of Devotion pities someone . ]

[The God of Life is displeased with you . ]

[The God of Pain is delighted . ]

[The God of the Sky is disgusted by you . ]

[Based on your play records, additional rewards will be given . ]

[The God of Dueling would like to gift you some of his power instead of an additional reward . Would you like to accept?]

[The God of Dueling would like you to become his disciple . ]

[The God of Adventure is worried . ]

* * * * * *

[Tutorial, Hell Difficulty, 21th Floor, Perfect Clear . ]

[All the Gods of the White Holy Temple are watching you . ]

[The God of Death would like you to become his disciple . ]

[The God of Adventure is panicking . ]

[The God of Slowness is making fun of someone . ]

* * * * * *

[Tutorial, Hell Difficulty, 22th Floor, Perfect Clear . ]

[All the Gods of the White Holy Temple are watching you . ]

[The God of the Sky is showing an interest in you . ]

[The God of Balance is looking at you again . ]

[The God of Adventure is really panicking . ]

[The God of Slowness snorted . ]

* * * * * *

[Tutorial, Hell Difficulty, 23th Floor, Clear . ]

* * * * * *

[Tutorial, Hell Difficulty, 24th Floor, Perfect Clear . ]

[Many gods react positively to you . You have received 9400 points . ]

[Many gods show a react negatively to you . 600 points have been deducted . ]

[All the Gods of the White Holy Temple are watching you . ]

[All the Gods of the White Holy Temple have agreed to a few promises regarding you . ]

[The God of Adventure is restless . ]

[The God of Slowness is slightly anxious . ]