My Charity System made me too OP

As Leon and Roselia exited the castle, the oppressive darkness that once enveloped the area seemed to lift, replaced by a soft, eerie calm. The distant sounds of wildlife cautiously returning to the land echoed through the night air.

Roselia stretched her arms above her head, sighing. "Finally, some fresh air. That place was suffocating."

Leon adjusted his staff on his back, nodding. "I'll admit, it's good to be out of there. Though, I have to say, this crown might make all that trouble worth it."

Roselia glanced at the Crown of the Deceased Queen, a faint glow radiating from the intricate carvings on its surface. "Do you even plan to use it? I am not really the 'commander of the undead' type."

Leon shrugged "No, but it's a unique piece. You can either keep it as a backup or trade it to someone who could use it more effectively. It's better in the hands of someone who'll maximize its potential."

Roselia nodded. "Makes sense. Someone specializing in necromancy or summoning would kill for an artifact like that."

As they walked down the winding path leading away from the castle, Leon's Tower system interface pinged, drawing his attention.

{ Quest Complete: Plague Queen's Wrath

Rewards:

50,000 Gold Coins

Rare Crafting Materials

Exclusive Skill Scroll: Necrotic Veil

Bonus Reward for Exceptional Performance:

Title: Purifier of Darkness }

"Interesting," Leon muttered, scanning the rewards.

Roselia tilted her head, curious. "What now?"

"System gave me a new title. Purifier of Darkness. Should boost my effectiveness against undead and shadow-based enemies," he explained.

Roselia raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. Makes you even better at dealing with stuff like this."

Leon grinned. "Yeah, though I hope we don't run into something like that again anytime soon."

As they reached the base of the hill, they saw a small campfire glowing in the distance, surrounded by a group of adventurers. The party seemed to be discussing something animatedly, their voices carrying through the quiet night.

Roselia tapped Leon's shoulder. "Should we check it out?"

Leon nodded. "Might as well. Could be a chance to gather information or trade."

When they approached the camp, the adventurers quickly noticed them. One of them, a tall man with a greatsword strapped to his back, stepped forward cautiously. "Travelers, are you coming from the castle?"

Roselia crossed her arms, smirking. "What gave it away? The bloodstains or the aura of badassery?"

Leon chuckled. "Yes, we just cleared it out. The Plague King is no more."

He is not going to expose hunt of plague Queen, as Plague King might not arise the greed in these people but Plague Queen will, as Mage related items are expensive, especially the ones that allow one to use a Mage skills without owning the related mage class.

The adventurers exchanged stunned glances. One of them, a woman in a mage's robe, stepped forward. "You defeated the Plague King? That's incredible! We've been avoiding that area for months because of him. We have been only hunting at the outskirts of castle, How did you manage it?"

Leon shrugged. "Teamwork, preparation, and a bit of luck."

The mage looked genuinely impressed. "You've done this region a huge service. If you're headed to the nearby town, you should visit the guild. They'll want to hear about this and probably offer you a reward."

Roselia grinned. "See, Leon? Even more rewards."

Leon nodded casually. "Hmm, it's normal sincewe took the quest after all. Thanks for the tip."

' though I have already gotten the rewards' he inwardly addded.

The adventurers exchanged stunned glances before a realization seemed to dawn on them. One of them, a younger man with an eager expression, stepped forward. "So… you two are Ascendeds?" he asked, his eyes shining with awe.

Leon noticed the admiration, as well as a faint trace of envy, reflected in their gazes. From their reactions and the way they addressed him, he understood that these adventurers were locals of the first floor of the tower. Each floor of the Tower of Arune was like a world of its own, populated by descendants of those who had decided to settle there rather than risk their lives climbing higher.

Over the years, many floors had become densely populated, with thriving communities and even unique cultures. Unlike outsiders—those who entered the tower to climb it and faced strict time limits on each floor—locals could live indefinitely on their home floors. They were born with the potential to awaken an Arune Key, granting them the ability to climb, but most chose not to.

For the locals, life on a single floor offered stability and relative safety, while climbing the tower was fraught with peril. Only the geniuses or the desperate—those with exceptional abilities or aspirations—or the foolhardy dared to attempt the climb.

Leon offered a small nod, confirming their suspicions. "Yes, we're climbers. Just passing through."

The mage among the adventurers adjusted her glasses, studying Leon and Roselia more closely. "You make it sound so casual, but defeating the Plague King… That's no small feat. Are you on a specific quest to ascend further, or just clearing threats as you go?"

Roselia shrugged, leaning on one of her twin blades. "A bit of both. We take things as they come, but if there's a challenge, we don't back down."

Leon added, his tone measured, "The Plague King was in our way. Clearing her was just part of the process."

The adventurers exchanged glances again, visibly impressed. One of them, the swordsman, spoke up. "You Ascendeds really are on another level. Most of us here are just trying to survive, maybe clear a few small quests. Hearing about people like you… It's inspiring, to say the least."

Leon gave a faint smile. "The tower isn't easy for anyone. Whether you climb it or live on a single floor, everyone's just trying to make their way."

The adventurers seemed to relax at his words, the initial awe softening into camaraderie.

"If you're heading to the guild," the swordsman offered, "let them know what you've done. They'll spread the word, and it'll mean a lot to the people here. The Plague King has been terrorizing this floor for months.".

" I don't know why but the Quest for killing him was not taken for months" He added and then continued after a pause " Once gain thankyou for killing him" He said sincerely as Leon nodded.

Leon nodded. "We will. Stay safe, and good luck with your quests."

With that, he and Roselia began their trek toward the town, leaving the adventurers behind.

Roselia glanced at Leon as they walked. "So, locals, huh? Did you know about them before?"

"A bit," Leon admitted. "Each floor has its own quirks. I'd read that some floors are home to full civilizations, but seeing it firsthand is… different."

Roselia smirked. "Well, seems like they see us as big shots. Guess we've made an impression."

Leon chuckled softly. "Let's not get complacent. The higher we go, the tougher it'll get."

"That's what makes it fun," Roselia replied with a mischievous grin.

They soon returned to the quest hall, but instead of a warm reception, they found themselves walking into an unpleasant scene.

****

Few minutes earlier

"Didn't I tell you not to give this quest to anyone?!" a young man in dark robes snarled, gripping the receptionist by the collar. His voice carried a haughty arrogance, his tone laced with menace.

The receptionist, a composed woman with sharp features and an unyielding demeanor, stared at him impassively. "I cannot withhold any quest from an Ascender," she replied, her tone professional but firm.

The young man's face twisted in rage. "You bitch! I am the son of the Death Lord! The ruler of the 10th floor!" he shouted, his grip tightening as he shook her slightly.

Despite his aggression, the receptionist remained calm, brushing his hand off her collar. "Whoever you are, no one has the right to interfere with the tower's rules. That includes you, Young Master Hades."

Hades, as the young man was addressed, bristled at her words, his hand twitching as if he was about to strike her. Just as he raised his hand, another figure stepped forward—a tall, older man in a pristine butler's uniform.

"Young Master Hades," the butler said in a calm, measured voice, placing a restraining hand on the young man's arm. "It is unwise to attack a representative of the tower. The repercussions could be severe."

Hades snorted, withdrawing his hand reluctantly. "Fine. I can't attack her. But I can attack those fools who dared to take my quest," he hissed, his eyes burning with fury.

The butler inclined his head slightly. "As you wish, Young Master."

One of Hades's lackeys, a wiry man with a nervous expression, hesitantly spoke up. "Maybe… they were defeated and killed? That would explain why the quest wasn't marked as completed."

Hades glared at him, his expression darkening. "If they were dead, the quest would've returned to the board by now, along with their names. That hasn't happened, has it?" he snapped, his tone dripping with irritation.

The lackey shrank back under the intensity of Hades's glare, mumbling an apology.

If during a quest, an ascender dies the quest will be returned to board as it will also have another section added, Casualties, to inform next taker of potential risks.