floor 18 (3)

Thank you for the support from the last chapter, I think I know what to do to fix my life is to look at myself and my self-worth more

Also, I will change Bell's way of speech to add -san at the end of each name since I forgot what Bell did in the original work but im too lazy to change all the chapters

P.S if you have a better Jingliu pic as a cover for the book it would be appreciated 

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After dressing myself following the incident with Bell and Hermes, Bell regained consciousness and apologized, explaining the true events.

"So it was Hermes who lured you here," I crossed my arms and looked coldly at the sitting Bell. I sighed and let him go, redirecting my attention toward where Hermes originally lay unconscious. He was nowhere to be found. Deciding to deal with him another time, I bid farewell to the group with Bell in tow.

Choosing to explore the forest once more, I stumbled upon Ryuu, placing flowers above a graveyard of swords and spears. Most were rusted from the surrounding air.

Ryuu noticed a presence behind her and swiftly turned around.

"Who's there?" she inquired, then relaxed upon seeing both our figures.

"Oh, it's just you guys." She returned to facing the graveyard as I walked toward her side. Bell seemed to want to say something.

"I just wanted to say thanks for coming here to rescue me, Xian-san, Ryuu-san," Bell expressed his gratitude.

"No need. I was going to visit this place sooner; your going missing just gave me a good excuse," Ryuu replied.

"I also had a plan to be here soon, though I could imagine Mama Mia would be mad if two of her employees went to the dungeon," I replied, turning my attention toward the graveyard.

"Fallen companions?" I surveyed the graveyard of weapons; almost all of them were different, ranging from greatswords to bows.

"Yeah, they were killed in an ambush." Ryuu seemed to hesitate to continue but resolved herself and continued explaining.

"They were killed by another familia, and as the only surviving member, I took revenge for them—traps, assassinations, no line was placed between me and my revenge." Ryuu caressed one of the sword handles as she explained.

"That's the reason why the guild blacklisted me. After I was done with my revenge, I was content to die in a ditch, but Syr found me lying and bleeding in an alley and took me back to the Hostess of Fertility," Ryuu finished explaining her story and turned to us.

"So in the long run, I'm just a bloodthirsty elf. I will only disappoint you and break your trust." Ryuu quietly went back to placing flowers next to the weapons.

"Ryuu-san, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. It's not beautiful," Bell said, and Ryuu stopped, turned around, paused for a second, and smiled.

"Well, I don't really know what to say."

"So-sorry if that was too harsh." Bell tried to retract his words, but Ryuu simply shook her head and took one of his hands.

"You are kind, Bell. The kindest human I have ever seen, worthy of the utmost respect."

"May I join you to commemorate this?" I recalled a ritual performed by dancers to guide the dead to the afterlife.

"You can, but you don't need to," Ryuu turned to me and nodded.

"Every warrior is worthy of respect, to fight for something they treasure. To be a warrior is to break out of weakness." I walked over to a clear area next to the grave and unsheathed my katana.

"This is a ritual from my homeland, meant to honor the fallen and guide them to the afterlife—a custom from a war-filled country." Both Bell and Ryuu seemed intrigued, observing closely. Although I could barely recall the exact dance steps, I compensated by using 'First, the calm lake below the blue moon,' and I decided to employ a magic technique I had restrained myself from using until today.

Ice formed into a blade as I gracefully executed my first move. An afterimage trailed my wake, and Bell recognized the technique.

"It's—this sword style," Bell quietly commented. Ryuu briefly turned to him but refocused on me.

Activating Soul magic, I sensed numerous souls tethered to this place, bound by lingering emotions of revenge or grief.

"Come" I call upon them and black and red ethereal spheres gathered around me as I danced, seemingly entranced and drawn by my movements.

Ryuu and Bell's expressions shifted to surprise at the mesmerizing display.

"Move on; your grievances and revenge are pointless." I raised my sword as all the souls scattered through the sky, phasing through the ceiling.

-

"Damn it! How did he make it all the way here?" In a bar inside the town, an adventurer complained bitterly.

"As soon as he leveled up, he went through the middle floor and ended up here." He slammed his drink onto the table, and laughter erupted from others who found his frustration amusing.

"Why are you even complaining? Just get better," one adventurer retorted. He shot a glare at the speaker.

"You know exactly what I'm complaining about. He's messing with us by flaunting his talent." A portrait of Bell adorned a board, and he angrily threw a dagger at it, hitting the head.

"Guys, want to take down that runt and put him in his place?" He grinned as an evil plan brewed inside his mind.