Level Eater
Chapter 172

After passing through the air-filled space beyond the deep-sea cave and proceeding up the stairs, they found a massive, lavishly decorated church standing before them.

"A church in a place like this? Who would use it?" (Tatsuro)

"It's life-threatening just to get here, no one would want to come." (Ai)

"But it's such a beautiful building!" (Nana)

Nana said, looking up at the large church from bottom to top.

"But we can only see it now because of Tatsuro's light magic. Usually, it's pitch dark, right? The decorations seem pointless..." (Ai)

"Yeah, it's unnecessarily fancy. It feels out of place." (Athena)

As Athena said, if this were on the surface, they would have genuinely marveled at its splendor. But standing here, it only made it seem more suspicious.

Moreover, when they tried to examine the inside with detection magic, the magical power was repelled, preventing them from learning anything about the interior, which only added to the suspicion.

"Let's explore around this church before deciding whether to enter." (Tatsuro)

"Yeah. There might be a point to go to the next level behind it, and this could just be a fake." (Ai)

"Given the nature of the dungeons we've seen so far, that's quite possible." (Tatsuro)

So everyone started to circle around this unnecessarily large and lavish church as if they were touring it.

However, after circling the church, they found no entrance to the next level, nor any monsters or traps.

Thinking it might be above, they had Jeanne carry them to view it from the air, but all they saw was a pointed roof.

"Nothing." (Tatsuro)

"Nope, nothing." (Ai)

"Nothing at all!" (Leah)

"Maybe this means we have to enter..." (Nana)

"Such a suspicious place? Well, if we're going to explore further, that's the only option left." (Athena)

Cardina and Jeanne nodded in agreement with Athena's words.

One option was to ignore this place that was obviously emanating a "something is here" aura and go back to explore the deep sea again.

But if the path to the next area continued inside, they would eventually have to come back, resulting in a significant detour.

So, they had Jeanne, who was strong both physically and magically, stand in front in her [Adult Form], with Tatsuro right behind her, ready to respond to any situation.

Flanking Tatsuro were Ai on the left and Nana on the right, with Leah and Athena behind them.

Then Jeanne pushed open the heavy door with her nose, and everyone entered.

The inside of the church was different from what Tatsuro and the others had imagined, with long benches and an altar in the front center.

The interior floor was entirely sky blue, with a small stone tablet about 60 centimeters in size placed in the center. The walls and ceiling were adorned with countless tiles and stained glass, giving this place alone a church-like atmosphere.

One strange thing was that it was as bright as midday inside, even without Tatsuro's light magic.

"Cardina, there's nothing special here, right?" (Tatsuro)

"Pewee" (Cardina)

"She says there's nothing." (Nana)

Just as they were beginning to think it had been a wasted trip despite how suspicious it seemed, the entrance that had been left open closed with a loud sound without anyone touching it.

As everyone became alert, thinking something was coming, suddenly a bright female voice, as if through a machine, resonated throughout the church.

[Hello, everyone! Thank you very much for coming to the Extra Stage today!]

"Extra Stage? Does that mean this has nothing to do with the main route?" (Tatsuro)

[That's right! You could clear the dungeon without coming here at all!]

"Wow, we got a response, Tatsuro." (Ai)

"So we can have a conversation?" (Tatsuro)

[Yes, we can! After all, I'm talking to you to explain the rules as clearly as possible!]

The casual tone of speech almost made them let their guard down, but Tatsuro tensed up again as he heard something that couldn't be ignored.

"Did you say rules?" (Tatsuro)

[Yes, I did!]

"So, should we assume you're trying to make us do something?" (Tatsuro)

[Well, yes. For now, it's up to you whether you do it or not, but I won't let you out of here unless you listen to the rules!]

"So if we decide we don't want to do it after hearing the rules, will you let us out without any fuss?" (Tatsuro)

[Of course! So, will you listen?]

Tatsuro sent a glance to everyone for confirmation, and they all nodded in unison.

"Alright. Let's hear it." (Tatsuro)

[Yay! It's been a while since I've had work. *ahem* Now, I'll explain the rules. First, you'll have to fight the monsters we've prepared!]

"Hmm. Is there something good if we win?" (Tatsuro)

[Yes, there is! If you win, you might get a fabulous prize!?]

"Which is it?!" (Tatsuro)

[Hehe. That depends on your luck. There are five grades prepared: fourth, third, second, first, and special! After defeating the monsters, various prizes will be randomly awarded from these grades!]

"So that means we'll get at least fourth grade at worst, right? By the way, what kind of prize can we get for a special grade?" (Tatsuro)

[The prize contents differ each time, so I can't say specifically. But I'm sure it'll be amazing!]

Everyone wanted to retort at this explanation that lacked any tension, asking if it was really true, but suppressing that urge, Tatsuro asked the mysterious voice again.

"Should we assume the probability is equal, one-fifth for each?" (Tatsuro)

[Bzzt! Wrong! As the grade goes up, the probability decreases! But—]

"But what?" (Tatsuro)

[There's a way to increase that probability!]

"A way to increase the probability? But you won't do that for us without us doing anything, right?" (Tatsuro)

[That's right! But it's easy to take on the challenge. After all, you just need to reduce the number of challengers!]

"Number of challengers?" (Tatsuro)

According to the mysterious voice, each member of the party present was given one chance to challenge, and the probability would change depending on whether they used all their chances at once with a large number of people or gradually with a smaller number.

If one person challenged alone, the probability of getting the special grade would be highest, and it would decrease with each additional person. If five or more people challenged at once, there would be no benefit of increased probability.

"So if each person has one chance to challenge, does that mean we can fight monsters up to seven times with our current group?" (Tatsuro)

[That's right!]

"Can we join in the middle of a fight?" (Tatsuro)

[Yes, you can! But in that case, even the smallest assistance will be considered as using up one challenge, and the number bonus will decrease, so be careful!]

"Does the level or strength of the opponent change depending on the number of challengers? Or does the enemy get stronger if someone joins in the middle?" (Tatsuro)

[It doesn't change particularly. So if you challenge with a large number of people, it simply makes the fight easier!]

"Is it possible to transfer the right to challenge to someone else?" (Leah)

[No, it's not. It's strictly one chance per person. But you can give up your right to challenge, so you can decide for yourself whether to do it or not!]

Leah, who had been thinking of transferring her chance to members who were good at combat if possible, made a bitter face as her plan fell through.

Even though her level had increased, she thought she might hold the others back as she wasn't a pure combat class.

"Then what happens if someone who has lost their right to challenge interferes during someone else's challenge?" (Tatsuro)

[At that point, the Extra Stage ends and the monsters disappear. Also, any prizes obtained up to that point will be confiscated. You won't be able to challenge again unless you leave the dungeon once!]

"Should we think of it as a forced termination?" (Tatsuro)

[Yes, that understanding is correct!]

This meant that in the worst case, they could intentionally interfere to force a termination if someone was in danger, even at the cost of sacrificing the prizes they had obtained. Tatsuro kept this rule in mind.

"Are there any other rules you haven't mentioned yet?" (Tatsuro)

[If you're asking about others, I guess the rule is that there are no more rules! Whether you kill or be killed, it's okay as long as you achieve victory by any means. So, what will you do?]

"Do monsters appear here before we take on the challenge?" (Tatsuro)

[No, they don't! This is a sacred dueling ground, after all. Now then, will you take the chall—]

"Alright, everyone. Let's have a strategy meeting here. Let's discuss what to do while staying alert." (Tatsuro)

[Oh? You're not going to challenge right away?]

"It's not such a simple thing that we can decide so quickly. Or are the monsters we need to defeat weak enough to be taken down casually?" (Tatsuro)

[No. They're at least significantly stronger than the monsters you've encountered up to this point!]

The monsters they had met up to this point were below level 40. Taking that into account, it wouldn't be strange if enemies in the 50-level range appeared.

This made everyone revise their assessment of the danger level upward, realizing they couldn't decide lightly.

[Well then, when you've decided, feel free to call out to me anytime. Take care now—]

And with that, the mysterious voice disappeared, leaving only a profound silence in the place.

So, Ai decided to ask what needed to be asked first.

"Then, let's take a vote for now. Who wants to try this event?" (Ai)

Tatsuro, Ai, Nana, and Athena raised their hands, Cardina raised her right wing, and Jeanne lifted the horn on her nose.

But Leah kept her hand down.

"Leah, are you against it?" (Ai)

"It's not that I'm against it, but I'm still nervous without everyone's support. I might cause a forced termination because of me..." (Leah)

"Hmm. You don't need to think about it that seriously, you know?" (Ai)

"That's right! It's not even related to clearing the dungeon, so Leah should just take it easy! Besides, even though it's only been a few days, you've gradually been able to join in battles, and your hammer handling has been improving!" (Nana)

"Is that so?" (Leah)

"It is! And—" (Nana)

After being encouraged by Nana in various ways, Leah eventually joined the agreeing side.

Now they needed to think about how to take on the challenge.

For example, they could all go together considering safety, or they could challenge individually aiming for rare rewards.

"I want to challenge first, alone. That way we can gauge what kind of monsters will appear from now on, and if it's tough, you can come to support me." (Ai)

"Athena's level has been increasing too, so we might be able to leave it to her. Then, if Athena can defeat it on her own in the first challenge, Leah might want to go second if she wants to participate, as it would be easier to jump in at the beginning. Rule-wise, we can also send in someone else if it looks dangerous." (Tatsuro)

"—I understand. I'll give it a try!" (Leah)

Perhaps because of Nana's earlier encouragement, Leah was now full of motivation, even wanting to test how far she could go.

"And if Leah doesn't need support, the next to go will be—" (Tatsuro)

"Pewee" (Cardina)

"Father and Mother should go, Cardina says." (Nana)

"Neigh" (Jeanne)

"She says it would be easier to jump in that way." (Nana)

"Well, that's true, but..." (Tatsuro)

For Tatsuro and Ai, it would be hard not to be able to support Cardina and Jeanne if something happened, according to the rules.

So they were planning to go later, but it seems Cardina and the others couldn't overlook the fact that Tatsuro and Ai wouldn't be able to step in if they were in danger.

Even Athena, who volunteered to go first, was taking on the fight with the least information.

From Tatsuro and Ai's perspective, Cardina and Jeanne's resolve seemed firm, and it didn't look like their opinion would change until the end.

In the end, after further discussion, assuming all battles went well, they decided to challenge this stage in the order of Athena, Leah, Ai, Tatsuro, Nana, Cardina, and Jeanne.