After they have returned to the village the priest took him into his house and he fell asleep in the guest room.
The house was just as simple as the others in the village except for some religious symbols and paintings on the walls. It had very basic furniture, but they were more than enough for a humble man's home.
In the next morning they had a piece of hard biscuit for breakfast and then Mamon told the priest what had happened.
- This is most wonderful! I knew you'll be able to vanquish the monster from the floor! Now everything will go back to normal. A few guards and villagers went to the closes village to ask for help. They should be returning soon as they were over there for the night.
- I'm glad to hear that. Do you think everything is going to be okay now? This whole situation seemed to be done by someone or something.
- I can not tell for now, but I will pray that this is the end of it. We can not deal with any more tragedies.
The priest shook his head then headed outside and waved for Mamon to follow him.
- We are going to restock the village and then tend to the saplings that started growing outside of the village. What are your plans? Are you staying for a while or will you head out?
-I'm planning to head out. I have many things to do and none of them are on the 1st level so I shouldn't linger for long.
They walked along the empty roads towards the gate where all the people waited for the group with the supplies to return.
- Do you know how to reach the 2nd level of the tower?
- I knew at least. I hope this whole mess did not ruin it.
- As far as I know it should be fine. The portal and the alpha wolf guarding it are outside the forest so they shouldn't have been effected. Unless the one behind it was aiming for them. I would say it's dangerous for you, but after facing the golem I know I shouldn't worry much.
He nodded along with him. It all sounded like it was in the game. A big wolf guarding a portal.
'It's strong and fast, but you can beat it with the starting sword easily if you know it's patterns, so it should be an easy job for me. Afterwards I can go to the second level and level up finally.'
When they got close to the crowd he noticed a familiar face.
- Mr. Garry! It is nice to see you!
The old man turned around and smiled at them. After greeting each other the old man asked about what happened so Mamon told the story to him as well.
- A splendid job! Only if I would be ten years younger! I could have gone with you to help you with it!
- It is alright! It worked out well, didn't it?
The priest shook his head.
- If by well you mean your broken ribs, then yes.
Gary laughed at the remark and patted Mamon on the shoulder.
- You are not a healthy young man, unless you break a few bones!
The priest wanted to make a remark on that, but the crowd was getting loud and when they looked over they noticed that the gate was getting opened. He smiled at the scene as the people started cheering at the sight of the carts showing up behind the gate.
Mamon leaned closer to them.
- It seems there will be a celebration now. I should head out before I get mixed up with it.
Gary shook his head.
- Do you not like festivals?
- It's not that. But whenever there is a festival like this, it always turns into a week long one, and I don't want to stay in one place for that long.
- I see. In that case you might want to move while the gates are operational.
Mamon scratched his head and sighed. After saying goodbyes to the two of them he headed to the gates and sneaked out while the guards were preoccupied with the crowd.
He headed to the right. A different way then before and as his figure disappeared into the distance he only had one thought.
'I really need to get some good food from the second level because I'm starving...'
After the week long festival the people of the village have decided to erect a statue in honor of the one who saved them. But for some reason no one, even the ones who talked to them, remembered how they looked exactly or what their name was, so they have made a cloaked figure and simply named them hero on the description.
In the middle of an open field only a single oak tree breaks the simplicity of the grassy land. Next to it a huge white wolf was lying on the ground resting it's head on it's front legs. It's body covered in old scars and it's left ear fully missing.
'It's lazing around as usual. This is the boss I have to take out to have the portal spawned if everything's still the same.'
Mamon took out the simple longsword he got as starting equipment and held it with both hands.
'I've tried to sneak up on it a few times, but that will just result in me getting hurt for no reason. First I need to provoke it to charge at me.'
He cleared his throat and shouted at the wolf from relatively far away.
It lazily opened it's eyes and looked at him, then put its head back on it's legs again.
- So you are going to ignore me? Let's see if you can ignore this!
He charged at the wolf with his sword held ready at his shoulder.
It finally stood up and shook itself. But instead of charging it disappeared from under the tree.
Mamon got surprised for a moment, slowed down and then jumped backwards.
If he would have been only a second slower his head would have been inside the wolf's mouth. It landed in front of him and stood there turned towards him with half its body.
'Since when can this boss teleport? I'm lucky this is not the first one I have seen do this or I would have died on the spot! I hope it's the usual teleportation and it can not spam it.'
Mamon jumped forward and tried to stab the wolf but it jumped backwards. Then it charged towards him, but he already expected that. He jumped to the side and swung his sword downwards into it's side, cutting it cleanly.
The wolf instead of landing disappeared again and reappeared outside of reach growling.
- Even if you growl it's not going to change anything.
It stopped growling and charged at him again. But when he jumped backwards to dodge it, it disappeared.
- Oh crap!
He quickly pulled his sword to his right just in time to block it's teeth from biting him, but it still pushed him backwards. He expected them to break from the impact, but it seemed it had iron teeth or something similar.
'I guess it's gonna be a little bit more difficult than I have anticipated, but it's still just an oversized feral dog.'
He slashed at it's head as is moved backwards, making a small cut on the side of it. Then charged after it and slashed one of it's front legs before it could react. After the cut it snapped at him which he barely dodged and countered, but he only cut the air.
This time it was behind him and swiped his back with it's claws leaving nasty wounds on him. He gritted his teeth to endure the sharp pain and spun around to cut back missing it completely. After a few swings it disappeared again. This time Mamon was ready for it and swung behind him cutting the wolf in it's left eye cutting it across.
It growled even louder and tried to bite him, but a second swing cut it into it's mouth. After that he tried to stab it in-between it's eyes, but it disappeared again. Ready for it to appear behind him he turned around, but it was at his side this time and bite towards his right hand. But it was a mistake as it was slower than before and Mamon had just enough time to turn towards him and stab it in the mouth.
His hands were bitten in the process, but the warm and dense fluid flowing down his hands were a proof that he had slain it. Also, the blue window popping up and the see through ball with the white swirling liquid inside falling out of it's head.
"Great white wolf slain."
'Nice! It also gave me 3000 SP and it's soul. It's a minor one that increases overall speed by ten procent. It will be helpful in future scenarios.'
He equipped it in the Souls window and looked at his sword.
'Lost twenty whole procent of it's durability?! How is that even possible? It usually only loses like five at most!'
He shook his head and looked at the oak tree. Next to it a blue swirling oval shaped portal was in the air waiting for him to enter.
'I can enter the 2nd level now. I should head there as the wolf will respawn if I dilly-dally too long.'
He walked up to it and jumped in. The whole world felt like it spun around him for a while and then everything stopped. He arrived on the 2nd floor.