## Chapter 172: Tomb Level 1
"At that time, besides the common Classes like Paladin, Monk, or Missionary, the Cathedral also had Special Classes like Lightbringer, and the Temple had Ascetics..."
Tomb Level 1. I was taking a short Rest in a dark little Room. A Restless Voice, containing a beautiful melody, emanated from the necklace on my chest as it constantly flickered. This necklace was the Pure White Monk's Necklace that Alice gave me. After the Battle with Alexander, the Holy Power attached to the necklace was completely depleted, and it had turned back into an ordinary Golden Necklace. However, perhaps saying "ordinary" isn't quite right; a Golden Tier necklace, no matter what, shouldn't be described with the word "ordinary."
"Hey~ hey~ Little Fan, are you really listening to me~?"
The girl in the necklace was unhappy. I could even imagine her silver eyes showing a troubled Expression. Her sweet Voice still carried a coordinated rhythm or melody, which seemed to have become her Instinct. Although it's a derogatory term, using "sounds better than singing" to describe her words was truly fitting.
"I'm listening, I'm listening!"
I raised my Voice, leaning Leisurely against Little Snow's fluffy Body and closing my eyes to Rest. The nickname "Little Fan" seemed a bit inappropriate, whether for my height, which only reached her chest, or my appearance of being around 16 years old. However, whenever I protested, she would, for once, bring up her real age. Of course, when mentioning her real age elsewhere, she would always deliberately avoid it. What a cunning Little Ghost.
"Time eliminates everything that hinders development, which is the so-called survival of the fittest. The fact that only the Seven Major Classes have survived until now doesn't that explain everything?" I retorted slowly.
"While that's true, it doesn't negate everything about them. Judging purely by Stats, Lightbringers and Ascetics were definitely much more Powerful than the current Seven Major Classes. It's just that the conditions were too harsh, so they could only be lost in the tide of History in the end. As for Monks and Missionaries, many people collectively refer to them as Clerics. The main function of these two Classes is Support and Healing. Because they lacked necessary Attack Methods, their elimination was unavoidable, whimper~~"
Towards the end, Alice let out a Painful whimper. Waking up from a thousand years of singing, she found that the current World had undergone drastic changes. Many things she was familiar with from the past had disappeared, replaced by unfamiliar things. It was only natural for her Mood to be depressed.
After a brief period of low spirits, her Spirit quickly recovered. It seemed she wanted to make up for the thousands of years she missed. Whenever I had free Time, she couldn't help but chatter incessantly in my ear with her beautiful, melodious Voice. I have to say, her Knowledge was extremely vast. Regarding anything from her era, she knew even more clearly and in detail than Cain.
Although there were many things Alice talked about that I wasn't interested in at all, when a person is lonely, even radio commercials can be listened to with relish, let alone Alice's Voice, which was like music? When I was lonely before, I would always talk to Little Snow and the others. They would whimper in response and comfort me with Mind Voice. But no matter how Smart they were, they were still just Wild Beasts. They mostly couldn't understand the complex Feelings of Humans.
There was also a crucial Single Point: I, an outsider Transmigrator; Alice, a Maiden isolated from the outside world for thousands of years. Unfamiliarity and the unknown about this World were our shared Stats. Therefore, I could speak to her without reservation using popular words and tones from my Original World. She wouldn't find it abrupt; she would just ask curiously what I meant. Then I would explain to her with a smile. This Feeling gave me a special sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, like gradually training an ignorant Maiden into a Type suitable for myself. Wahahaha~~, I'm truly too talented.
Of course, I wouldn't say or teach her things that would poison a pure and innocent heart. In my heart, Alice will always be a noble Saintess, my Saintess alone, not allowed to be contaminated by anything impure.
Thinking of this, I slowly pulled out the necklace clinging to my chest. The gentle touch, the Golden Glow, so similar to Alice's Presence, and the constant chattering from the necklace were all sources of comfort for me. I slowly stroked the outline of the necklace, feeling Alice's Warmth emanating from within. My bright Mood just now suddenly turned gloomy.
Alice was inside the necklace. As a Ghost, she could attach herself to the necklace. Of course, this wasn't something I requested her to do, nor was it because she liked staying inside the necklace. It was merely to preserve Vitality... Yes, to preserve her dwindling Vitality. When her Vitality was exhausted, that would be the Time we part ways...
"Rest for a bit, Alice. You've said a lot already. Let's talk more tonight..."
I gently stroked the necklace, biting my teeth to interrupt Alice's words. To conserve Vitality as much as possible, she could only appear for about ten minutes a day. Even talking had reached a Degree where she had to be frugal with her words... Blood slowly dripped from my tightly bitten lip...
"Mm~~"
Alice reluctantly ended her words in a low Voice, obediently agreeing. That troubled, tearful Expression reappeared in my mind. She truly was a child who wouldn't grow up.
To ensure this Restless Little Oriole quieted down, I only Rested for a moment before setting off again. Only during Battle would Alice truly stop and let me focus on facing the enemy.
To be honest, when I first arrived at Tomb Level 1, I was truly surprised. I didn't expect the Monsters inside to be so sparse. The largest group of Monsters I encountered was only a few dozen Dark Ones. Other Corrupted Monsters and Bone Mages were gathered in twos and threes, offering no challenge at all. If a new Monster Type hadn't appeared, I would have thought I had come to the wrong place...
"Have they finally settled down?"
Kashya, holding Maldath's Great Cleaver extorted from someone, asked Fara, who appeared behind her, without turning her Head, while training the 10 Shamans she had under control.
"Should be about done." Fara let out a long sigh and staggered to collapse onto a Chair.
"I've already used a Magic Array to isolate the Holy Light emanating from the Cathedral, ensuring it won't penetrate into the Tomb or the Inner Cloister. However, Monsters can no longer survive within the Cathedral and three kilometers around it. Also, a small amount of Light Power has seeped into Tomb Level 1 and the vicinity of the Inner Cloister. For a short Time, there might be fewer Monsters in these two places. It will only return to a normal Degree after the Light Power dissipates..."
"A blessing in disguise. This Matter is finally over..." Kashya took a fierce swig of her drink, exhaling a strong alcoholic Aura.
"Don't talk as if you had any Merit. I did it all by myself," Fara said, glaring at her.
"Don't say that. Didn't I fix the Jail Wall last Time? It's all Wu's fault..." As soon as that Name was mentioned, both of them simultaneously emitted a towering Aura of resentment.
"Right. 'That day' is coming soon," Kashya suddenly said.
"Yes, the preparations should be almost complete," Fara replied, tugging at his white beard.
"Is 'that thing' also ready?"
"Don't even mention it. I feel like our Mage Guild has always been unable to hold its Head high in the Rogue Encampment because of 'that thing'," Fara's old face suddenly fell. If he wasn't concerned about his Image, he might actually cry.
"Don't say that. How can we do without the Mage Guild? We're accomplices, after all. Besides, you should also think about the Mage Guild's research funds, shouldn't you?" Kashya said with her signature Accent, patting Fara's face, which was full of Helplessness, and laughing.
"We must make that kid Wu bleed heavily. Wahahaha..."
The two of them let out terrifying, chilling laughter, and a cold Wind immediately swept through the surrounding ten miles...
"Clang--"
My Body spun sharply, and the Large Shield immediately blocked a sharp Spear tip that suddenly appeared from the right. I then pushed hard, sending the owner of the Spear tip, a figure even smaller and thinner than a Fallen, flying out.
Ratmen, a new Type of Monster appearing in Tomb Level 1. They are short, agile, and terrifyingly strong Monsters. These insidious and cunning little things, some holding Butcher Knives as big as themselves, some holding Spears longer than themselves, and some even proficient in a very Special Dart from the Primeval Forest Tribe - the Blowgun Dart. If all the Normal Monsters in the entire Rogue Encampment were lined up and Adventurers were asked which one was the most terrifying, Ratmen would undoubtedly be at the top of the list. These Monsters, relying on extremely high Speed and extremely strong Attack to come and go like the Wind and lightning, if an inexperienced Adventurer is surrounded by them, they are very likely to be hacked to death by random blades in a few breaths. Then, before their companions can arrive for rescue, this group of Ratmen will scatter, leaving behind only a Corpse that died with its eyes wide open, truly making people tremble with fear.
Fortunately, I had the Ghost Wolf with its keen sense of smell and the Poison Creeper that wasn't afraid of darkness by my side. The attacks of these Ratmen were not very effective against me. Moreover, thanks to that unknown reason, the Quantity of Ratmen that ambushed me at most was only four or five.
Even so, these little things were enough to make me stay completely alert. Touching my numb arm, which was still vibrating, and the Large Shield, which was still buzzing, I thought with Cold Sweat - it's hard to imagine that without Shapeshifting, the Strength of these Ratmen, who aren't even as tall as my knees, actually had a tendency to overpower me.
The last Ratman I sent flying rolled skillfully in Mid-air, just about to land steadily, but unexpectedly, a ferocious large mouth was already waiting for it below its feet. The Poison Creeper opened its mouth, lined with neatly arranged saw-like teeth, and with a "gulp," it swallowed the entire Ratman before it could even react. The section of its Body that bulged high like a Python after eating quickly deflated at a speed visible to the naked eye. At first, faint Screams of the Ratman being dissolved could still be heard from its mouth, but within a few seconds, the Sound went from high-pitched to low, until it disappeared. Just imagining the Expression of the Prey struggling Painfully in its belly is enough to make one's hair stand on end and lose their appetite.
With a "whoosh," the good-appetite Poison Creeper spat out the Spear that had just ambushed me, now half-corroded, announcing the tragic Destiny of this Ratman. It circled on the ground contentedly. These Ratmen, smaller than Fallen, were truly perfect delicacies for it.
However, the key point was yet to come. I fiddled with the few fragile stubbles on my chin, putting on a very mature (?) look of deep thought.
Ahead was a straight Passage. There was also a Door on the left and right, another Crossroads Terrain. Which way should I go?
Ah, ah, ah... The Jail made sense, but why does even a proper Tomb have to be like a Labyrinth? Is it to prevent the dead from rising and running out? Does the Church also have such concerns? Unable to find an answer, I immediately entered a state of frustration.
Lord, grant me a Sense of Direction.
"You should go straight ahead, you know."
The necklace on my chest suddenly spoke.
"Why go straight? And with such a definite Tone? Where did a shut-in Ghost of several thousand years get this inspiration?"
I held a serious attitude of suspicion towards the Suggestion of a Ghost who had been isolated from the world for thousands of years. The most important thing was this unwillingness to be "outdone"!
So, I decisively chose the Door on the left. Let my Seventh Sense, granted by God to men, show you how wrong the Sense of Direction of a small Ghost, trapped for thousands of years, can be.
"Because, you've already been through both of these Doors, you know..." Alice muttered softly from inside the necklace. Unfortunately, I didn't hear her, being in a state of delusion.
Five hours later, I returned to the original spot.
"..."
"If you have anything to say, just say it..." I said, completely drained, leaning weakly against the Wall.
"Truly... truly amazing, Little Fan. Look, you actually managed to successfully circle the entire Tomb. This is something other Adventurers simply cannot do! It's a very!! very!!! Difficult Matter..."
After a moment of silence, Alice said in a very exaggerated and cute Tone.
"Forget it, this kind of comfort will only make me sadder..."
After getting Along these past few days, I finally figured out the personality of this Ghost Maiden. In stark contrast to the Holy and quiet Appearance she put on when I first met her, the Willfulness the Ghost Maiden before me displayed was unexpectedly making me speechless.
If I were to describe it in detail, it would be: Smart and knowledgeable but naive about the world, highly insightful, sharp-tongued, hitting people's Pain points and making them unable to Refute, a stay-at-home curious baby and sheltered young lady.
To put it simply, the Ghost Maiden before me has a very strange personality. She is a terrifying figure who can say bizarre things with a very quiet and Holy Appearance. Her Power is like when she purred like a Kitten in my arms while fleeing for life on the Spiral Staircase a few days ago...
"Alright, I'll choose the Door on the right this Time. There's definitely no mistake. It's this way..." I clenched my Fist tightly.
"Wow!!!"
Seeing me turn to the right, Alice let out a short, light gasp.
"What? Is something wrong?"
I swear, if she says anything else that could hurt a man who has already been hurt twice, I'll let her experience the thrill of the Carousel at 100 revolutions per second.
"No, nothing's wrong. I was just thinking that Little Fan's future Life will definitely be very exciting."
This sharp little girl, Alice, must have sensed the Killing Intent in my words and spoke carefully, using a Method that could express her Meaning while preventing me from finding a weakness to exploit.
"Let's Depart. Tomb Level 2 is calling us."
I deliberately ignored the profound Meaning in Alice's words, raised my Fist to cheer myself on, and then turned towards the Door on the right.
"Heh heh--"
A faint chuckle came from my chest. If I could see, I would find that in the empty dark Space within the necklace, Alice was quietly floating in the Void. Holy Light emanated from her Body, much dimmer than when I first saw her. Her Complexion also seemed more Weak and Pale, but a sweet, satisfied smile still appeared at the Corner of her mouth.