The two stood still, watching Kopii's serene sleep, his body seemingly being reborn after the torments he had endured. The silence was broken by the quiet voice of one of them:
— Who could have brought him to such a state? — Having spoken, she raised her gaze to her companion.
— Most of the wounds are jagged, as if from bites. Considering which floor we're on… most likely, it was killer ants. Beginners often overestimate their strength, descending lower and lower until they meet their doom from these creatures. It's not for nothing they were given the nickname "newbie killers."
She looked at the trail stretching behind the boy.
— It seems that after the victory, he was unable to move and simply crawled... A very commendable willpower.
— Well then, let's head up.
The other girl simply nodded and took the boy in her arms.
— He's rather handsome.
— ...
They lifted Kopii and continued their way upwards. Soon they found themselves at the entrance to the Tower of Babel.
— What now? Maybe take him to a hospital?
— Why? We'll just take him to his familia.
– You read his falna?
— Yes.
— Nanny! – Kopii shouted, suddenly jolting upright. He looked around the unfamiliar room in confusion, but at that very moment he realized – it was his room. Bewilderment grew. He remembered dying, felt the hellish pain spreading through his entire body.
The more he came to his senses, the less he understood, and the main question that tormented him was.
«How?»
He threw off the blanket and examined his body. It was completely healthy, no traces of wounds. Without thinking long, he stood up, but he felt no pain in his leg; he felt no pain at all. He lay back down, trying to understand what had happened.
«Maybe this is a dream?»
But Kopii immediately dismissed this assumption. The pain he had felt, the despair, the desire to live, the hatred. Could not have been an ordinary dream.
But the more he thought about what had happened to him in the dungeon, the more he doubted.
«How did I win?»
He thought and thought about how he could have defeated such a number of ants; even in his best condition, he could not have fought back. But he had won while on the brink of death.
He remembered everything that had happened to him in the dungeon. And that feeling when he was killing the ants, he had never felt before. The more he tore them apart, the stronger his desire and madness grew.
Reflecting on what had happened, he suddenly remembered Naaza and Miach; they must surely know. Kopii jumped out of bed, changed his clothes, and left the room. Going downstairs, he saw Naaza, as always, standing behind the counter and selling potions to someone. Kopii waited until the customer left. After some time, the customer left, and Kopii approached Naaza.
— Hi, Naaza. I wanted to ask, did you...
She silently raised her gaze to him and immediately interrupted.
— How did you end up near our pharmacy unconscious and covered in blood? And your clothes were all torn. – Her eyes narrowed dangerously and her tail stopped completely. – You underestimated the dungeon, since you couldn't even take your key and open the door.
– Well, I. – He wanted to say something, to refute her, but looking at her face, he swallowed his next words. – ... Yes, perhaps I was slightly arrogant.
He agreed with her words, and at the same time understood that Naaza herself did not know how he had ended up here. He decided to tell her his story, slightly altering it.
— Yes, Naaza, you're right. I was too overconfident and paid for it. If it weren't for your potions, I wouldn't have survived. I was so exhausted that I lost consciousness when I tried to open the door... But it was locked. And I was unlucky, and there was no one around... Forgive me...
Having listened to Kopii, she replied a moment later:
— I see.
– And how did I end up in my room?
— Miach-sama found you and carried you to your room, washed you and changed your clothes. And you lay unconscious for a whole day.
«He washed me...»
Kopii's cheeks turned pink, but he could be grateful that it was Miach who found him and not Naaza.
«And would she have washed me?.. What?»
— What! I was unconscious for a whole day?
— Yes. Are you even listening to me?
— Sorry.
— Well, never mind.
— And where is Miach-sama?
— He's in his room.
— I see. Sorry again for making you worry; it won't happen again.
But she said nothing, just watched his back as he left. Thinking about her own concerns.
After that, he continued upstairs, knocked on Miach's door and entered.
— Miach-sama.
He nodded, carefully examining him while smiling.
— I see you've rested well, Kopii. You lay in bed for a whole day.
— Yes, Miach-sama. I feel rested.
— You overestimated your abilities, Kopii... – His eyes filled with sadness. – But I'm glad you're alive.
— Yes, that's right, Miach-sama, I was so exhausted back then that I couldn't even open the door... Forgive me for making you worry.
— It's nothing terrible, Kopii, you're alive, and that's what matters most; I hope you've learned your lesson.
Kopii's eyes darkened even more.
– Yes, Miach-sama. I understand my mistake, and it won't happen again. – Clenching his fists behind his back so hard that his nails dug into his palm; drops of blood began to drip from his hand.
– I'm glad you understand. When I saw you, I was very worried, but after looking at your body, I saw that it was completely healthy. Your clothes were just all torn and bloody.
— Forgive me once more. — Kopii lowered his eyes; he was ashamed to look at Miach, until he felt him ruffle his hair.
— You have nothing to apologize for. You are my child, Kopii. I'm just glad you're healthy.
Kopii looked at Miach's face, at his smile. Kopii did not even notice how he himself began to smile, and all the anger that had begun to rise vanished. He was glad that at least someone worried about him. It warmed his heart.
— Thank you, Miach-sama. I promise it won't happen again.
— I'm glad to hear it, Kopii.
— We haven't updated my stats in a long time.
— Got it, so what are you waiting for?
Kopii nodded, took off his upper clothing, and sat on the chair, turning his back to Miach. He felt a drop of blood fall onto his back.
Silence reigned. Miach fell silent for several minutes. Kopii grew curious, and he glanced back and saw the shocked expression on Miach's face. Kopii jumped up from the chair and turned fully to him.
— Is everything alright, Miach-sama?! – Kopii asked worriedly.
Miach paused a little longer, and his face returned to normal, but the shock was still visible in his eyes.
— Everything's fine, Kopii. Nothing terrible. It's just… I was shocked by your overly rapid growth.
— Write it down, Miach-sama, quickly. I want to see.!
— Alright, Kopii.
Kopii watched as Miach walked to the table, took a sheet of paper and a pen, and began writing. After he finished, he walked over to Kopii and handed him the sheet. Kopii looked at the sheet, and his face also stretched in surprise.
Strength: D 594
Endurance: C 643
Dexterity: D 554
Agility: C 612
Magic Power: I 0
«Magic»
[ ]
«Skills»
[Copying] "You can be whoever you want, but not yourself."
Kopii did not understand how one could raise one's level so quickly. He remembered that the last time he had updated his stats, they had been several times lower. How could they have risen so quickly? But joy began to stir in his heart from the fact that he was progressing so fast. But he still asked:
— How is this possible, Miach-sama?
Miach looked at Kopii and said:
— I don't know, Kopii. In all my time, you are the first I've seen who raises his stats so quickly… You know, Kopii, at this rate, you could reach the second level as soon as next month. – He uttered, not believing his own words, and sat down on a chair. – If you do that, you'll break Ais Wallenstein's record and become the fastest to level up! Ahhaha
Miach laughed, stood up from the chair, and patted Kopii on the back.
— You, Kopii, are a genius among geniuses!
Miach-sama became more serious and said:
— But, Kopii, understand that you mustn't rush and lose vigilance just because you are leveling so quickly. Do you understand me?
— Yes, Miach-sama. I perfectly understand that one must never relax and look down on an enemy.
After a few more minutes of conversation, Kopii left the room and headed to his own. Lying in bed, he once again reflected that, as it turned out, he was not useless, that he was capable of something.
«Better than the Sword Princess.»
He could not even have dreamed of it. He was so happy that he forgot about everything that had happened to him.