After fully mastering Alise's swordsmanship, Genichi began sneaking into the Dungeon again.
This time, his goal was clear.
The seventeenth floor.
The Floor Boss.
Goliath.
A giant over five meters tall, a Level 4-class monster.
In some respects, its strength didn't even lose to a Level 5 adventurer.
For Genichi as he was now, it was the perfect opponent.
Challenging a Level 4 Goliath as a Level 3, crossing one level, plus the special status of a Floor Boss… this battle would be enough to earn the feat he needed to rank up to Level 4.
Of course, he was going to win.
Genichi didn't worry about that for even a second.
Did they really think Alfia's strongest offensive magic was a joke?
Genos Angelus.
The spell that had erased Leviathan, the ruler of the seas, in a single strike. Using it on a mere Floor Boss would be child's play.
Against a Level 4 Floor Boss?
More than enough.
Even if he had to fight across two levels, Genichi still wasn't without a way to kill Goliath.
And besides…
He'd brought insurance.
"So I'm the insurance?"
Alise's voice rang out, perfectly clear in the echoing chamber.
Genichi had summoned her.
As the "insurance" for this operation.
"Yes."
"In the seventeenth floor… you once promised me nine lives after your sworn enemy was beheaded."
"If I can't beat Goliath, you'll buy me time so I can escape."
Alise went quiet.
"…You're serious?"
"I'm serious."
"You want me to fight Goliath and give you time to run?"
"Yes."
Alise inhaled slowly.
"Do you even know how strong Goliath is?"
"I don't."
Genichi's reply was crisp.
"But it doesn't matter."
"If you die…"
His tone stayed flat.
"I can just summon you again."
Alise: "…"
For a moment, she really wanted to curse him out.
But what he said was true.
She was a being brought forth by magic.
If she died, she died. Genichi could always use Mana to summon her again.
To him, her death was nothing more than a Mana expense.
To her, though…
"I still feel pain, you know!"
Alise finally snapped.
"Getting hit by monsters hurts! Dying hurts! That feeling right at the edge of death hurts!"
"I know."
Genichi's voice remained calm.
"But compared to me truly dying, your pain is insignificant."
Alise opened her mouth, ready to argue, then realized she couldn't say anything.
Because he was right.
She would feel pain.
He would die.
It wasn't hard to tell which mattered more.
"But…"
Her voice weakened.
"No 'but.'"
Genichi cut her off.
"You were summoned by me. I tell you what to do, and you do it."
Alise fell silent.
After a long moment, she finally sighed.
"…Fine, fine. I get it."
Her voice carried resignation, a touch of helplessness, and something she couldn't quite name.
"So I'm just a tool, huh."
"Yes."
Genichi answered without hesitation.
Alise: "…"
She took a deep breath and silently swore to herself.
Whatever. It's just pain.
I'll revive anyway.
And he wasn't wrong.
Compared to his real death, her pain really wasn't much.
Still…
"Jerk."
She muttered under her breath.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing! Nothing!"
Alise denied it immediately.
Genichi didn't press.
Watching his slender but power-packed back, Alise felt an inexplicable emotion rise in her chest.
This boy was strange.
So calm. So rational. So cold.
To get stronger, he'd use any method. To survive, he'd treat her like a consumable.
And yet…
He was also so relentless.
Relentless to the point it hurt to watch.
Relentless enough that even she, the summoned "tool," couldn't help wanting to support him.
"Hey."
She spoke up.
Genichi didn't turn around.
"Hm?"
"If… I mean, if."
Alise hesitated.
"If you really can't beat Goliath, I'll buy you time."
"Even if I die, even if it hurts, I'll still buy you time."
"I know."
His voice was flat, betraying no emotion.
But Alise saw it.
The corner of his mouth lifted, just slightly.
A faint smile, barely there.
But she saw it.
And she smiled too.
"Alright, alright. Let's go fight that big guy."
She hurried after him, falling into step beside him.
"Let me see if you, you monster, can really beat Goliath."
"And if you can't, I'm going to laugh at you for the rest of my life."
Genichi didn't respond.
Seventeenth floor of the Dungeon.
A vast space. A towering ceiling. Dim light.
"Goliath hasn't spawned yet?"
"Not yet."
Genichi drew a breath and tightened his grip on his blade.
"No. I have a feeling the Floor Boss is about to spawn."
The next second—
Crack.
A sharp sound like something shattering.
Countless fractures spread across the wall.
Then—
Boom!
The whole chamber began to shake.
The ground trembled, the walls quivered, rubble falling from above.
A massive silhouette was slowly pushed out from within the wall.
Goliath.
Over five meters tall, gray-skinned, muscles knotted like stone, huge as a mountain.
Its eyes were a deep crimson, flashing red in the darkness.
It lowered its head, staring down at the two tiny figures on the floor.
Then—
It unleashed a roar that shook the heavens.
ROAR—!
The shockwave slammed through the entire space.
Alise reflexively clapped her hands over her ears.
Genichi didn't move at all.
He lifted his head and met those enormous crimson eyes.
In his pitch-black gaze there was no fear, no retreat.
Only… battle intent.
"It's here."
His voice was calm, but there was excitement in it he couldn't fully hide.
"Alise."
"Here!"
"Follow the plan."
"Understood!"
Alise drew a deep breath and gripped her sword tighter.
Genichi would handle the fight with Goliath, and if Genichi wasn't a match for it, Alise would step in to restrain Goliath and create a chance for Genichi to retreat.
(End of Chapter)
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