SAAE 26

Chapter 26

“Then… do you perhaps know any magic that could take me straight out of this tower? Or at least to the last floor?”

When I quickly asked, the third shook his head slowly.

Well, of course.

If he could do that, he wouldn’t be trapped in the tower in the first place.

Since I’d asked without any real expectation, I wasn’t disappointed.

Anyway, what mattered was that the third’s ability would be extremely useful on the next floor—floor six.

“Still, you showed up at just the perfect time, my third.”

I smiled brightly at him.

“Nice to meet you, third.”

At that, the third twisted his little body around, almost as if shy. Cute thing.

On the next floor—six—there awaited a trial that even a pretty skilled mage wouldn’t be able to escape easily.

But now that I had the third, everything had become much easier.

I said it earlier too, but it really felt like a windfall.

As if the whole world were helping me.

Thanks to the third, that annoying jerk Louis won’t be able to come into my dreams anymore, either.

It was a situation I couldn’t have been more satisfied with.

Of course, the reality that I still had to descend through dangerous trials again and again hadn’t changed.

But I felt more confident that I could get through them.

After checking on Isaael—still asleep—I quietly got up.

The third followed behind me with tiny, tiptoeing steps.

Once I was far enough away from where Isaael lay, I called out the first.

“First… do you have any idea what kind of sin I have to confess to open that door?”

The moment the question left my mouth, the first’s voice sounded.

—Recent, biggest, sin.

So I had to confess the biggest sin I’d committed recently.

I thought about it for a moment, then casually spoke what came to mind.

“Could it be… that I left that bastard Felix all alone? Is that my sin?”

I hadn’t meant to take revenge, but somehow the situation ended up looking like I had.

Depending on who judged it, that could be a sin.

By my standards, definitely not.

This place was created by the Seven Great Demons, but at the same time, it was also like the last chance given by God to prevent the world’s destruction.

And the one god most people believed in valued forgiveness and mercy.

Which meant that not forgiving Felix and abandoning him could be considered a sin in this twisted place.

I hated to admit it, but… if that was what I needed to move down to the next floor, then I couldn’t help it.

“Sigh…”

If admitting it would make the door open, then fine. I’d admit it.

After organizing my thoughts, I asked my next question.

“Anyway… first. Why didn’t you tell me what was written on that box earlier?”

The first didn’t answer immediately. It just stared at me for a moment before saying:

—Dangerous. Becomes, dangerous.

It’ll make things dangerous…?

It was unsettling, but I felt it would be pointless to push further.

If even a spirit that normally tried to help me with everything avoided saying it this firmly, there had to be a reason.

“Okay… I get it. But is it at least okay for me to carry the box around?”

When I asked just in case, the answer came: that was fine.

Well, that’s a relief.

I let out a small breath and continued asking.

“First, do you maybe know what weapon Isaael uses?”

The answer came instantly:

—Exsolid.

“I know the sword’s name is Exsolid. What I want to know is—”

—Here, ruler, demon, slain, hero, sword.

…What?

I stared blankly, piecing together the words the first had just poured out.

The sword of the hero who slew the demon that ruled this place.

So Exsolid was the sword the hero used when sealing the Demon King.

Exsolid is the hero’s sword?

This was something I hadn’t known.

But how did the first know?

“…Anyway, you’re saying Isaael’s sword really is a holy sword?”

—Yes. Holy sword. Exsolid.

Hearing that confirmation, a suspicion crossed my mind.

Was the first really just a wronged spirit who died in this tower, like I’d assumed?

Same with the second and third.

Especially the second—his winged appearance was just too strange.

Sure, he’d changed after touching the sword, but still, he didn’t look human at all.

What were they, really?

I looked first at the first, then at the third.

And I asked:

“You three… you’re on my side, right?”

—Always.

The first firmly nodded.

—Forever. Your side.

Without a single moment of hesitation.

Hearing that, I finally asked the question I’d put off until now.

“Then… tell me. What exactly are you?”

The first and third, who had been wavering near me, suddenly froze.

And I knew instantly—

They weren’t going to answer properly.

“I assumed you were people whose lives—well, who were sacrificed because of the demons in this tower. Was that right?”

At my question, the first and third seemed to exchange glances.

They hesitated.

I waited calmly.

Soon, the first’s voice echoed in my head.

—Half, right.

Half right?

I thought for a moment, then asked:

“What does that mean exactly?”

But the first shook its head.

—No more. Cannot answer. Forbidden.

Then it slowly backed away from me.

The third, who had been watching nervously, followed the first.

I didn’t try to stop them.

At least they said they’re on my side.

I couldn’t trust that completely, but I had no reason to doubt them either.

They obeyed my commands and never harmed me.

If it was taboo for them to answer, then pressing them further would only be cruel.

Even if they couldn’t tell me directly, there were other ways to learn the truth.

I’ll coax it out eventually.

They couldn’t leave me even if they tried.

Learning the truth was only a matter of time—and I had plenty of time.

While waiting for Isaael to wake up, I talked with the first about the next floor.

For some reason, Isaael slept for quite a while. He must’ve been tired.

Even though he said he wasn’t tired at all.

All that talk about not needing rest was probably just bravado.

After a while, I sensed him shifting.

The spirits around me quickly retreated, as if avoiding him.

More precisely, the first and second pulled the third away with them. The third looked confused.

Guess they’re uncomfortable around Isaael…

Well, he had been cold to them.

“…Rosette.”

“Oh, you’re up?”

He sat up, frowning as he looked around.

“You know you slept really long?”

“…I did?”

“Yeah. You kept insisting you didn’t need rest, but I guess you were actually tired, huh?”

Isaael looked at me blankly.

“I had a strange dream.”

“A strange dream?”

I tilted my head.

Then something occurred to me.

“Wait… did you maybe see a guy with silver hair, chin-length, talks kind of annoyingly?”

“…Yeah.”

Still half-asleep, Isaael nodded.

I let out a short, bitter laugh.

“That guy is Louis. The mage of the Camelot Empire I told you about.”

“Hm.”

“What did he say to you?”

“He said he’d accept me as a comrade.”

“…What.”

“But I said no.”

I hadn’t expected Louis to approach Isaael too.

Things must be really desperate on his end.

“It’s true,” Isaael added.

“Hm?”

“I really did say no. I promised to leave this tower with you.”

I had gone quiet, lost in thought for a moment—but Isaael took it very seriously.

“I’m not like the people who deceived you.”

“…”

“I won’t betray you.”

Never.

His eyes didn’t waver as he said it firmly.

He looked straight at me.

I stared at him blankly for a moment, then finally nodded.

“Yeah… I won’t betray you either.”

“I know.”

Isaael held my gaze.

And somehow… I couldn’t look away either, like his eyes were tying mine in place.

After a while of just staring at each other, I felt… something.

Ticklish. A flutter.

What is this?

No really—what is this?

Why did the atmosphere suddenly feel like this…?