Chapter 82

"Finally!..."

Hearing the system notification that the first level quest [Annihilation of the Demon Wolf] had been cleared, I shouted and lay down on the spot.

The fatigue hit me all at once as my mind switched from battle mode.

"Whew, I'm so tired... I was fighting in such a state. I did a good job, even I have to admit."

As I praised myself, the system notification sounded again.

"You have cleared the first level and are now able to challenge the second level."

"Please choose whether to challenge the next level or retire within 24 hours."

"If you choose to retire, you will never be able to challenge the Tower of Isolation again."

So, that's the situation.

If I think I can't go any further, I can retire, or I can take a 24-hour break before challenging the next level.

"Well, what should I do? There's something I need to think about before making a decision."

The question is whether I can re-enter this dungeon, the Tower of Isolation, using my dungeon teleportation ability.

If it's possible, I might consider retreating for a while.

Since I've already challenged it, I should be able to level up in other dungeons.

I'd like to double my level and come back to breeze through it.

"But this isn't a regular dungeon. I don't know if I can re-enter using dungeon teleportation... and even if I could, there's no guarantee the quest will be available again."

According to the system, I can't proceed to the next level without clearing the quest.

Given the high difficulty of this dungeon, the rewards for clearing it are likely to be excellent.

If that's the case, I want to get them no matter what. I should minimize the risks.

"Which means... there's only one answer. I have to go to the next level!"

But not right away.

I need time to recover my HP, MP, and physical strength.

I'll make the most of the 24 hours given to me!

"...At the very least, I need to get some basic nutrition."

I got up from my heavy body and took out water and food from my item box.

I had almost no appetite, but I forced myself to eat it all.

Next, I took out a sleeping bag from the item box.

"I prepared it just in case, thinking there might be a chance of camping. It'll be harder to deal with sudden monster attacks, but it seems there are no other monsters on this level, so it should be fine."

With that, I tried to get into the sleeping bag and go to sleep.

But it didn't work.

"――――It's too bright!"

The sky above was blue, and the surroundings were a vast grassland.

There was no shade, so there was no way I could sleep.

I felt a surge of hatred towards the system notification.

"Hey, system notification! Can't you do something about this blue sky!?"

I shouted to vent my frustration.

Of course, I wasn't expecting a response.

But then...

"――What?"

―The blue sky suddenly turned into a night sky.

"Did it actually respond to my words? The system notification isn't as bad as I thought..."

I was about to reconsider my opinion of the system notification, but then I snapped back to reality.

"Stay calm, me! After being put through hell, getting a little kindness and changing my impression is a common tactic. I almost fell for it..."

I narrowly avoided being tricked.

I mustn't forget that the system notification is trash. I'll repeat it to myself.

"The system notification is trash!"

As I said this, the night sky turned back into a blue sky.

"I'm sorry, it was a lie!"

When I apologized, the sky changed back from blue to night.

"Hey, what's this? It's like the system notification has feelings... Forget it, I'm going to sleep."

Feeling too bothered, I just went to sleep.

For over 10 hours, I slept soundly.

System Notification was a mischievous kid...?