Chapter 7: Tower Trials

This tower was created by a mysterious artifact. It is one of the rare ones where a major artifact is formed, while another minor artifacts would reside. Just like Hestia's Tear, a B-grade artifact, is capable of healing any ailment. While Midas' Coin is an A-grade artifact, granting its owner luck which was normally uncontrollable.

Both artifacts are located on the 20th floor, hidden deeply in the floors jungle region. In the novel, Michael got his information from an acquaintance, who discovered it by chance. Assembling his own party, Michael joined Julius' group in got a free pass to the tower.

Right before the night falls, Julius gathered the twins and Aria to a hidden cave, the site where the temple of Midas' artifact is located. The temple's entrance is covered in moss and huge pillars, so unless a person knows its location, no one will see it. Contrary to its temple, the entrance is perfectly hidden in the middle, and old wooden doors the size of a male adult, cover its path.

The trial is simple. The challenger only needed to pass the lake, and n take the coin buried under it. Well, the premise sounds simple, but if the raider did not know its true nature, he'd be stuck as a golden statue for eternity. As such, the proper method is to defeat the jewelry, either by slaying or submission. Then the snake will give you the coin. The lake itself is a trap, turning those who touch it into gold.

"Miira, do you like snakes?", Julius stared at the girl, guiding them to a distant place. There, they see a large forest covered in shining jewels.

"Yes, Miira likes snakes!!!"

"Liira loves snakes too!!"

The sisters chimed, eyes beaming in excitement."How about a pretty snake?",

Julius continued, pleased with their answer. ItsIt a good thing they don't have any prejudice against it, since most children would be afraid of reptiles in general.

Hissss....

As if a cue, a large snake slithers from the large trees, its long body gliding smoothly on the tree trunk. Unlike normal snakes, this one is not covered in scales, rather, shining red jewels acted as scales. Its eyes are made of sapphire, with a distinct ruby mark on its forehead.

The girls screamed, sounding more excited than scared. They approach it bravely, with Liira chanting weird spells on it. Aria tried to stop them, scared silly by its huge size. She had enough of these monsters ignoring tanks and attacking the people in the backline.

Julius stops her, pointing at Miira who approaches the snake bravely. That's right. Michael is not needed. Even with just these two, they could clear the trial. The snake could be tamed as well, and it is counted as submission to the challengers. Rather than slaying it, how will they get the coin then? So having strong tamers is a great advantage.

Miira successfully tamed it, patting its glassy head. Liira jumps over its back, riding the snake back to us. Scared silly, Aria shrieks, running away from the two. Heading back, they followed the snake to the lake. Slithering on the large lake, its huge body disappears, showing afterward with a rusty coin in its mouth. That's the genuine artifact, a rusty old coin. With this, they could finally head back, rest, and go home.

Back at the campsite, Miira instructed Bellare, the snake's name, to hide temporarily in the forest. They cannot scare these poor knights out of their wits. They're worn down as it is. Later on, Julius informed the greedy Harold about this beautiful lake, with a forest covered in jewels.

Hearing this, Harold immediately leaves the camp, traveling on his own because he doesn't want anyone else to have those jewels. Later that morning, the knights search for the missing noble, only to find a golden statue, which looks very similar to Harold. Leo led the team to the lake, upon inspection, they found out that the lake would turn whoever touched it into gold. Various golden statue scatters around the lake.

As he expected, the greedy noble did look for the jewels. His party might have gotten Bellare, but jewel snakes naturally live in that forest. They would drag anyone who touches the jewel into the lake, sealing that person's fate.

Despite knowing their father's demise, the twins remained unbothered. Guess that blood ties don't hold that much importance in that world. Far from being sad, Miira looked more refreshed than she ever did. Liira hugs his leg, flashing a full smile. So hearing about the death of their dad made them happy instead. Of course, he did not inform them that it was he who pitted Harold, that would be too much even for these eccentric children.

With the death of his guardee, Leo informed their retreat. The knights prepared to head back, organizing their raid's loot. No one had the time to mourn, since they were still inside the tower.

Everything with smoothly, with their descent easier than when they were climbing it. Tracing back their old paths, Leo leads his party with much more vigor than before. They took a short break on the 10th floor, tired from clearing away the remaining monsters.

Julius leisurely lay on their back, relaxing after clearing away a walking garbage. Aria excused herself, running back to accompany Cecil.

"Mister, Bellare said that she saw an injured man in the swamp"

"Liira saw it too!! He is still breathing!"

Miira came in, reporting her finding. Though I told them to relax, these two wander off elsewhere instead. That swamp is quite far from this place.  He was guided to a secluded swamp, thick grooves hid the spot. It's a true wonder how did these two even reach this place.

There, a man, or it should have been a man judging from its figure lay by the roots. His entire body melted into a disgusting mess. Only the eyes are visible, both his mouth and face completely melted. His body exuded this dark and ominous aura, a mark that this person had been cursed.

Well, curses do exist in this fantasy world, however, only demons and their kin are capable of doing so. Whoever is this man must be really unfortunate. With the recent boom of churches and continued holy crusades, the demon kin had dwindled, with a few hiding in places no human should ever reach. So chances of encountering one are low, which makes this person unfortunate.

No church will ever take him, it was as if they have allergies to victims of curses. Dragging the man's body, Bellare places him in a huge boulder, carefully placing the exposed body parts away from the dirty water.

Checking his injuries, Julius poured potions on the wounds. The potion evaporated, wasting his effort. Even casting healing spells doesn't work.

"Instruct Bellare to get some Satyrion plants. This poison must be removed first."

Miira rides Bellare, rushing off to the grassland. Liira looks at him worriedly.

"When Liira first worked as a raider the, captain told Liira to stay away from Satyrion plants. He said it was poisonous. "Does mister intends to end that man? You should just stab him with a knife in his chest. He won't suffer anymore ", although her words were cruel, Liira genuinely felt pity for the wounded man.

"Normally satyrion is considered poisonous, however, there is a trick to it. It could be used to treat poisons and as anesthesia, as long as the poisonous veins are removed", Julius explained, as he cleansed the man's wounds.

The grimes were removed, yet the blood seeps out again, staining the rag he uses to clean the man. Looking at his state, this man will not last long. Someone in this state would usually kill anyone instantly, yet he still somehow breathes, as if clinging on his dear life. Julius never considered himself a kind man, but he wasn't the type to leave someone on his deathbed like this as well.

Bellare came back, with Miira on its back, carrying ten satyrion plants. After creating a fire, Julius burnt the stems carefully, crushing the veins with a spoon. The green leaf turned yellow, shedding its petals as well. He then collected the nectar, pouring it into a bowl. The nectar was then reheated, and added with various medicinal plants.

Helping the man up, he feeds him the concoction. The wounds finally started to heal, with poison finally leaving his body. Julius then cast another healing spell, fixing the bleeding stomach. Although the wound closed up, his skin never came back.

"Is he okay? Should Miira ask the captain to take him?" Miira nervously asks, hiding behind Bellare.

"No. He was cursed. They might kill him instead. Please bring me my blankets instead, we'll hide under my bed's compartment", with haste Julius bandaged the man's wounds.

Covering up the figure's entire body, the trio sneaks back to the camp. Bellare assisted them, carrying the body to Julius' sleeping chamber. Luckily the man is unconscious, otherwise, he'd wake up only to find himself stored away like a mummy.