An Oath of Eternity

Returning from death shortly after, Seichi immediately rushes towards a direction.

[Alert! The Maiden is in danger]

[Keep your promise and keep her safe]

A target was put in his sight, making his tracking easier.

"Oi! H-Help me for-"

"Apologies, busy!"

Seichi rushed past the bruised and heavily wounded Paladin. She stared in stupefaction as she was abandoned without even so much as a passing glance. This ticked her heart off, and she killed the last of her suppressors with one single wide swing of her hammer.

"Tch, damn kid!"

Seichi, hearing his doom behind him, accelerated his speed even more.

...…

"Yehehehehe, wow wow, what a beauty she is when you look at her closely."

"Revealing clothes, damn, this shank wants to get raped so badly!"

Hearing the vulgar words getting nearer, he manifests his sword at the ready. Ashes started to separate from him, forming the Lost Sword and he leapt up into the air.

"Now, let's take a- eh?"

Plunging down on one of the vulgar elites, he stabs his sword through the armor with his ridiculous Strength. He twists and turns, before finally making an exit by tearing through his body gruesomely. The others were stunned, but didn't stay put for long.

"This fucker-!"

The sword that was still in slow motion, suddenly accelerated and cut through the air once more, this time cleaving the approaching elite diagonally.

"Uwagh!"

Keeping with his motions, he continues to link strikes and dodge effectively with expert footwork. He had advanced to an unbelievable degree, that it was overwhelming the elites who took care of him easily just moments ago. But, what they didn't know was that in his Death, he became more than what he was.

"Urk!"

"H-How! W-Wait, spar-"

"Out of my way."

He was able to dispatch the elites effortlessly, without so much as a scratch on his body. Impaling the last elite soldier, he took his time to twist his sword left to right, then back and forth, then tore through and exited from his shoulder.

A gruesome murder scene, blood and carnage everywhere, red staining the surfaces wherever the eyes look. Guts sprawled all over the ground, even some heads to decorate it further. And yet, even in such a scene, a Maiden's eyes still shone uncanny bright as she looked upon her savior.

[The Maiden's heart throbs in ecstacy]

Another weird window pops up, but he just wipes it aside. Blood did get on his face, so he tries to wipe it away to the best of his abilities to look presentable.

"Sorry for the delay, I was having a hard time, please forgive my incompetence."

"A-Ah, no, it's… fine really. You… didn't do anything wrong."

[The Maiden's heart is pounding in expectation]

'....'

Seichi stares at the window, before doing something totally unnecessary.

"H-Hyaak! W-Wha?!"

"You must be tired and injured running away, don't worry, I'll go find some place to treat you."

"N-No! It's… I can h-heal myself with the Runes. I-I… p-put… u-uhmmm!!"

She was a stuttering mess. Her head, if it was a comic, would be fizzling with steam coming from it right now. Her eyes shook tremendously like there was an earthquake, her hands clasped tightly together, and her horn pulsed with an orange light.

[The Maiden's heart melts with bliss]

''....."

Seichi decides to finally regroup with the others.

...…

"Urggghhh…"

"Finally awake, dumbass?"

"Wha… who, are you calling- ow!"

"Stay, you have yet to fully recover."

In the shades of the forest separation line, the group hung out as the sun was in its twilight. Seichi was out in the distance keeping guard on the surroundings, and the Maiden was tending to the injured Assassin and Paladin.

"Kugh… saved by a fucking kid."

"Hey, I did my share too."

"Hah, and what did you even do?"

"I shared more than half the number with him. If I wasn't he wouldn't be able to live now."

The two women argued with each other.

"Uhmm, please, sit and relax. Don't strain yourself too much since you've all just recovered."

The Maiden, done with her job, returns to stand by Seichi's side. As she walked away, the two women stared at them. They each held different feelings, the Paladin looked away with a sorrowful face, while Assassin frowned and gritted her teeth.

Love, the poison so sweet that one cannot forget after tasting it. It's painful. It's bitter now, none of the sweetness remains.

'What a shitty teammate I got assigned with…'

'...Arty, why…'

This was the reason why they rejoiced when they were chosen to enter the Tower. They thought that, if they could do well in this life, they could live freely and love once more, truly love once more. But, after they encountered the wall that is the First City so soon in their travels, spending their time only battling and risking their life, they became numb to their original purpose.

But now, the fire from another's love rekindled theirs. They seek love, the fruit that is both the greatest poison and the greatest power.

"Seichi, how are you feeling?"

"Ah, Maiden, I am fine, don't worry and rest easy. I will protect you properly from now on."

"Seichi… I have some things to discuss with you, my savior."

Seichi froze on the spot. It was because of the unknown gaze the Maiden was giving him. It was of an obsession, but also of sadness and fear. It worries him, but since he had taken an oath to protect her, nothing good will come if their relationship sours.

"Yes, what is it, dear Maiden?"

But, the serious face she puts up was breaking slightly, and a rosy face of a 'maiden' comes through it. She composed herself to the best of her ability, and sat down on the ground to proceed with what she had to say.

"Sit, Seichi."

Complying with the Maiden, Seichi sits down and looks her straight in the eyes. This move would be called bold, but due to Seichi not having proper common sense this was the result.

"U-Uhmm, f-first, I have something to say about myself."

"Yes, please, I'm all ears."

Seichi smiles, thinking nothing of his actions, but that was misunderstood by the Maiden as confidence and absolute dedication. It made her heart throbs more strongly, and her gaze became unfocused with a strange obsession glooming over.

"I-I… uhm, s-since I know your name, you should know mine as well. Is, is that alright?"

"Oh, well yes! It would be more convenient if I could know the name of my dear Maiden."

Internally, she was having a bit of a meltdown from the situation. Seichi's lack of common sense proved to be fatal, and this only fueled the strange obsession gleaming through her eyes.

"M-My name is… Brynhild, a child of a demon, and also a… nevermind, I-I have accompanied you because of your oath of protection, and you have done well in protecting me. But, I… feel like I have been burdening you too much with responsibility. So, if you want, we can break off this oath."

[You have been met with a decision]

[The {A Maiden's Heart} Hidden Quest will end if you wish, and an appropriate reward will be given to you for discovering the Hidden Quest]

[But do be careful, once you have ended the Hidden Quest, you will not be able to trigger it again and the Hidden Quest may be lost forever]

'....'

It was an easy decision for Seichi, who had no goals until many days ago now. First, it was to climb the Tower, this mysterious place that he had heard of for so many times throughout his life, and now, the protection of a Maiden, Brynhild. He had no goals in life, but now, he had two that he would like to see through with. His life is immortal, unending, not even Death will claim him now.

"I wouldn't say you're a burden, Maiden Brynhild."

Her heart throbs with sadness.

"I would say that, if you see yourself as a burden, don't, I will carry those burdens and faithfully protect you from harm. I promise, in my unending life, I shall protect you until I see myself unfit to protect you any longer."

Her heart finally became normal, in an instant, and a strange expression forms on Brynhild's face. The sun was just about to set on the horizon, and plunge the world into darkness.

[You have decided to resume the {A Maiden's Heart} Hidden Quest]

[The Hidden Quest has been updated]

{An Oath of Eternity}

[Quest Difficulty: F]

[Quest Goal: You have managed to charm the Named NPC, Brynhild. You have gained ownership over Brynhild, who thinks of you as her loved one. You must care for her, and carry out your words and oath to protect her from harm]

[Quest Objective: Protect the Maiden, Brynhild, and give her happiness by your side]

[Quest Effect: The Battle Maiden, Brynhild, will always stay by your side]

As darkness collapses the world, Brynhild charges at Seichi. Her hands, gripped tightly around Seichi's neck, tightens more and more with a strength that Seichi has never experienced before.

But, he didn't resist, but instead, smiled.

"I will… protect… you."

He mouthed that line to her, before he died of asphyxiation and crumbled to ashes.

...

'...What a strange Maiden.'

Her face just before he collapsed was one of ecstasy, like she was intoxicated, with a flustered look of a young girl comprehending what she's doing.

'But… this Hidden Quest is quite something.'

Battle Maiden Brynhild. That is what the system referred Named NPC that was once known as simply Maiden.

'Her strength was so…'

He couldn't do anything. He knew it, so he didn't resist and just died within her grasp.

'I hope she doesn't do that too often…'

Dying is fine, but if he were to be killed like that in battle every time, he'd have a hard time trying to protect her.

'Anyways, now let's see how this has changed.'

The training with the Teacher, the Swordsman who taught him the basics, Swordsmanship, and the special Skill, Sword Eye. After he'd learn everything from him, he was expecting to return as it was quite an emergency.

However, the system stops him temporarily and informs him of the next Legacy Quest Stage.

{One Promise}

[Quest Stage: 1.2]

[Quest Completion Goal: Climb the Tower]

[Quest Current Objective: Ascend from the Second Floor and bring with you a keeper from the floor]

[Quest Total Completion Reward: Completion of your Existence]

'What is a keeper…?'

But, the most important change was to his new challenges.

[Activating Path of Undeath]

[Your Legacy Quest Stage 1.1 has been completed, adjusting the Difficulty and adding Variety for your challenges]

This kind of window showed up for the first time. It made his senses stand up in wariness. Caution, something that's been drilled into his mind by his Teacher during their training session.

[A Variety has been chosen]

[Variety selected is Survival]

[All Physical Damage is nullified]

[All Magical Damage is nullified]

A very worrisome window appears, but he doesn't take it up to mind very much.

'Survival…'

Somehow, he's expecting something very tough to head his way.

[Loading in Forest Terrain]

[Loading in the Bullies as the role of Chasers]

[Loading in the Grave Corpse as the role of Catcher]

[Loading in the Soul of Undeath as the role of Warden]

Suddenly, the surroundings turned into a forest dead in the night. No stars could be seen above, and only the eerie sounds of critters and bugs could be heard.

'What the…'

He was taken aback by the sudden abrupt change in atmosphere, and so tread carefully. His eyes scanned every part of the forest, pinpointing the sounds that he's hearing but was unable to see anything.

'It's so dark…'

He was at a loss for what to do. He couldn't see anything, he's unable to see his surroundings, nothing was giving him clues on how to overcome this.

"Kekekekekeke~."

But, his worries about no directions were soon solved.

"Oh punchy… where are you!? Come out to play with us, old friend."

Distorted voice of the dreaded past. His fears were somehow amplified, like his brain was perceiving fear on another level.

"What…"

"HRraaaa…"

Another familiar sound reached his ears. It was farther away, but it still gave him chills.

"I… need to run."

The inexplicable need to run, to sprint in any direction, to escape to wherever it is that he could feel 'safe'.

[Loading the Maiden Brynhild as the role of Light]

And to fully solve his problem of directions, a faint light in the far distance to his left appeared.

[Survive and reach the Light]

His instincts kicked into gear and he ran as fast as possible. Every cell of his body was urging him to run faster, harder.

"Found you~."

The sounds of those distorted voices. It gave him even more fear as he tried to run with all his might. His legs start to burn as trees pass by him in a blur. His pace was inhuman, but so was his pursuers.

"Get him, guys~."

Curiosity took the better of him, and he glanced back quickly to get a look on his bullies. Most of him expected them to still be kid size, small, easy to kill, but the Bullies that're chasing him was anything but.

He counts five, long arms, pitch black appearance, and a creepy large smile that has no lips. Their teeth, pearly white and sharp, protruding from their mouths as well.

"Hahahaha! Where are you going, little friend! We just want to play, practice!"

Their distorted voices brought fear and a sense of despair to him. His brain was in shambles, all over the place, crumbling little by little with each step. His fears, his despair, his madness was overtaking him.

To make matters worse, his terrain, the ground on which he ran, was beginning to show cracks. A large earthquake, one enough to make a bipedal being trip and falter, but Seichi didn't fall nor did he stumble. His stride was wide, confident, but in reality he was more terrified than ever. One trip, that was all it takes for the madness that is chasing after him to consume and devour him whole.

He was afraid, and yet his eyes were not shaking. His gaze focused on the Light, his Maiden waiting at where the Light is. This made him remember when he was running to get to Brynhild after coming back.

[Madness is slowly corrupting you]

At this point, the windows just look like a blur to him. Only the Light in front of him was what's steady, guiding him.

"Hrraaa…"

Death. A hand as big as his body grabbed him, and with a squeeze he died instantly.

[You have failed to reach the Light]

[Your Reward will be reduced]

Seichi, met with his very first failure within this simulation, slumped and despaired yet again, probably from the effects of what just happened, but it's for real this time.

[You have survived for 1 minute and 32 seconds]

[You have ran 23 miles within the time]

[No Skills were used]

[No Spells were used]

[These Bonuses will be counted towards the Reward]

[Error, too many Bonuses, several Rewards have been prepared]

[Another solution is devised]

{Spin the Wheel of Luck!}

[1. Night Vision]

[2. Danger Detection]

[3. Wind's Tempo]

[4. Air Dash]

A selection of four rewards have been picked out for Seichi, who watches with empty eyes. He was about to press on one of them, until another window obstructed it.

[Spin the Wheel to see your Fortune!]

He didn't think much, so he just went through with it and pressed the window. A sound rung off, cheery and exciting, slowly rising, and then it highlights the option that will be his Reward.

[The Spell Air Dash has been chosen]

[We wish you good luck next time, Chosen Undead!]

This was the new Path of Undeath, now redesigned into a mini-game instead of just brute force brawling.

Seichi now returns, a loser, but a better person than before as well.

...…

[Name: Seichi Kurotachi]

[Path: None]

[Class: Chosen Undead]

[Level: 12 | EXP: 34/120]

{Statistic}

Strength: 46

Dexterity: 34

Agility: 36

Vitality: 22

Magic: 12

Intelligence: 24

Faith: 12

Willpower: 1

[Unassigned Stat Points: 6]

{Skills}

[Path of Undeath – Lvl.2]

[Undead's Perseverance – Lvl.1]

[Burst Instinct – Lvl.1]

[Your Flame -- Lvl.1]

{Talent}

[Basic Understanding of Swordsmanship]

[Amateur's Sword Eye]

{Spells}

[Air Dash – Lvl.1]

{Miracles}

'His Stats are high… too high for this floor.'

Somewhere dark, a hooded figure was overseeing mountains of papers everywhere around him. Several of which were swirling above him in a circle. He sits on a leather chair that's grand-looking with a gold frame and a skull of something on top. His hands rested on the wooden desk, where two moderate stacks of papers lay in wait.

'But… it is for him to have a fighting chance on the third floor.'

He burns the paper he's holding into green flames, and no ash comes from its incineration.

[Name: Brynhild]

[Path: Destruction]

[Class: Battle Maiden]

[Race: Valkyrie/Daemon]

[Level: 657 | EXP: 467,337/800,000]

{Statistic} (REDUCED VALUES)

Strength: 875

Dexterity: 1,093

Agility: 785

Vitality: 789

Magic: 785

Intelligence: 717

Faith: 946

{Rune Skills}

[Heart of Imperfect Love – Inactive]

[Battle Cry of Victory – Lvl.10 (MAX)]

[Runic Weapon Creation/Recreation – Lvl.3 (MAX)]

{Talent}

[Advanced Understanding of Spearmanship, Swordsmanship]

[Intermediate Understanding of Archery]

[Basic Understanding of Magic, Witchcraft, Magecraft]

{Rune Spells}

[Fenrir's Bindings – Lvl.4]

[Mother Freyr's Blessing – Lvl.4]

[Valhalla's Grace – Lvl.5]

{Rune Miracles}

[Healing Touch – Lvl.1]

[Valhalla's Light – Lvl.1]

[Battlefield of the Victor – lvl.2]

{Titles}

[Last of the Valkyries]

[Lonely Maiden]

'And this one, what a find he scored himself with.'

He burns the paper that just landed in his hands like the other.

He leans back, taking a breath in.

'What a job to be doing in my retirement years.'

Compared to the glory, the greatness, the fame, those that see him now would be so shocked they'd enter a cardiac arrest.

A powerful entity, reduced to an overseer over the Tower which he built so long ago. Beings have entered, Worlds have gone and fully integrated, and he has watched it all. A monotonous existence, repeating endlessly without anything else to really do.

'Well…'

The work resumes, as he cycles through papers and then burns them afterwards.