Becoming an Elementalist had distracted me, so I had forgotten all about the pocket watch. In fact, after I had gotten it, I stuffed it into my inventory and never looked at it again. I would have never expected for it to turn out like this. As always, the best feeling came from unexpected gains.

Most importantly, it was a subclass. Unlike the Elementalist class, it did not grant me any amazing abilities that changed the way I fought. That being said, it would have been weird if my class changed from Elementalist to something else. However, being able to use Orc Lord’s Warcry, Vengeful Spirit’s Wail, and other equipment set skills without having to put on the actual equipment was certainly beneficial.

Not to mention, the class passive skill ‘Spirit of the Collector’ was another bonus! Although this skill seemed to rely on luck for the most part, it was clear that it wouldn’t be harmful in any way. It was quite a helpful passive skill and would not lose use over time.

After organizing my thoughts, I hurriedly took out the pocket watch. All the jewels on the lid of the pocket watch were glowing as if a switch had been turned on.

The moment I opened the lid, the minute hand, which was between 11 and 12 o’clock positions, suddenly began to spin. At the same time, I heard a voice in my ear.

[You have used the skill, ‘Endow Skill’. You now currently possess 3 skills from equipment sets. Which of them would you like to endow?]

[1. Orc Lord’s Warcry

2. Vengeful Spirit’s Wail

3. Dark Thunder Explosion]

I involuntarily gasped, “Wow.”

It wasn’t as if I had doubted the fact I had this new skill, but seeing it with my own eyes made it more solid. I smiled as I spoke out. “Orc Lord’s Warcry.”

[Designate the hour.]

“Hour? Ah, it’s asking where. Then 1 o’clock.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, the Orc Lord Set flew out of my inventory and fell on the ground. Following that, the Orc Lord Set began to shine with red light. Soon, a red jewel flew up from the middle of the red light and popped into the pocket watch.

The sudden movement startled me as I thought I was being attacked, so I almost let go of the pocket watch. When no damage landed on me, I turned my attention toward the pocket watch. The previously spinning minute hand had stopped and was now fixed on the 1 o’clock position. A red jewel was embedded there, replacing the number 1.

I now realized that these holes weren’t actual holes where something came off. They were empty sockets where skills would be embedded.

“Vengeful Spirit’s Wail.”

Like before, the Wraith Queen Set glowed with a gloomy gray light and spit out a gray jewel. It then entered the 2 o’clock socket. I continued with the Dark Ratman Set, which went into the 3 o’clock socket. Contrary to my expectation, the jewel from that was yellow. Was it because the lighting was yellow? But it’s called dark thunder… how mysterious.

“Huh, so this means I don’t need to wear the full set anymore. Though, since the Dark Ratman Set is the best, I’ll continue wearing it,” I muttered to myself. 

That set increased my strength and dexterity by 10 points each, which was a stat bonus equivalent to gaining 4 whole levels! The Dark Ratman was comparatively difficult to solo, but I had also gained a lot from doing so. A giant grin crossed my face as I patted Peika’s head out of happiness.

[Stop, my hair will get tangled.]

Although Peika was technically telling me to stop, I could see that she didn’t hate it from the slight blush on her cheeks and the way she twisted her body back and forth. So, I continued to pat her.

Hm? Why did I feel like I was forgetting something?

A lightbulb turned on in my head. “Oh yeah, the reward.”

I had almost forgotten about the reward for defeating the Floor Master alone.When I checked, it was a Return Magic Book. Return? As I tilted my head to the side, I used it immediately.

[You have learned the Return skill. By using 80 percent of your remaining mana, you can teleport to any predetermined location. You can bring up to two people. You can only choose two locations at any given time, and you must have visited these locations before. You can only use this skill twice a day. You can change these locations every two weeks. The number of locations and the number of times Return can be used will increase as levels increase.]

[You cannot bring non-dungeon explorers to the dungeon.]

[You cannot bring those belonging to other worlds into your own.]

Geez, why are there so many twos in the description!? It’s easy to memorize at least. Wait, now that I think about it, this skill…

I said the last part out loud, “It’s… amazing.”

There was no better skill for going to and from school! I could not hide my excitement as I imagined myself teleporting to school for classes and then teleporting back as soon as classes were done. 

Ah, going from school to home should be easy since I can just go into the restroom, but the other way would be hard… I’ll need to look for a secluded area at school. Well, I’ll think about this later.

[Name: Kang Shin     

Race: Human     

Sex: Male

Class: Elementalist (Sub – Skill Collector)     

Title: Dark Ratman Slayer     

Rank: Bronze 1

Level: 20

HP – 5,870/5,870     

MP – 3,860/3,860

Strength – 55(+15)     

Dexterity – 49(+13)     

Constitution – 59(+3)

Intelligence – 20(+3)     

Magic – 74(+3)     

Charm – 43(+3)     

Luck – 20(+3)

Normal Skill – Mid-rank Martial Arts (Lv 9), High-rank Spear Technique (Lv 4), Peruta Circuit (Lv 3), Mid-rank Heroic Strike (Lv 2), Low-rank Provoke (Lv 7), Return (Lv 1), Deific Manifestation.

Class Skill – Low-rank Spirit Mastery (Lv 5), Low-rank Spirit Aura (Lv 1), Low-rank Elemental Control (Lv 1), Low-rank Elemental Contract (Lv 2), Low-rank Elemental Tempest (Lv 5)

Subclass Skill – Endow Skill, Spirit of the Collector]

Ohhhh. Now that I looked at my stats, one thing stood out in particular. My highest stat now was magic, likely because I had received bonus magic stats when I became an Elementalist and a Skill Collector.

Of course, since magic could strengthen spear techniques, it was not a bad thing. Other close-combat classes most likely received bonus strength, dexterity, or constitution stats. But the compressing elixirs I consumed easily covered that difference. Not to mention, the bonus from the Dark Ratman Set should easily help me surpass those class benefits. After all, I knew for certain it was rare for equipment to raise strength and dexterity by 10.

When I visited the Floor Shop afterwards, Loretta was smiling but didn’t say anything. Even when I showed her my sparkling pocket watch, she acted as if she had expected it to happen as she maintained her tranquil smile. Her flippant attitude irritated me for no apparent reason.

“So you’ll be challenging the 20th Floor Master next.”

“Yes, although I won’t go for a complete conquest until I’m level 25.”

Loretta seemed to ponder over something before she said, “Customer, the 20th Floor Master, Lizard Knight, is a monster that separates the Bronze rank and the Silver rank. It is a cruel and formidable monster that slaughters explorers who do not meet the qualifications to rise to the Silver rank.”

“Is that so? But why are you telling me this?”

“For customer, it might be easier to defeat the Lizard Knight than the Dark Ratman.”

“Why is that?”

Loreta stayed silent for a moment before she opened her mouth again.

“Customer, if the Dark Ratman appeared with a stronger defense, but without its ratmen minions, what would you have done?”

I immediately replied, “I probably could have defeated it at level 15. I would just have to dodge its skill.”

There was only one reason the Dark Ratman fight was so hard. There were too many ratmen minions to deal with while also needing to dodge the Dark Ratman’s lightning. But if there were no ratmen minions to worry about, defeating the Dark Ratman would have been easy. In fact, it might have been easier than the Wraith Queen fight. No matter how much its defense increased, it would not stand a chance against my skills. I would just have to use my skills a few times.

Loretta became speechless and stared at me fixedly when she heard my answer. When I gave her the ‘why are you looking at me’ face, she cleared her throat and continued.

“That’s exactly how the Lizard Knight is. He does not have any minions that fight for him. However, he is strong, fast, and robust. With these qualities, he has forced countless explorers to kneel and despair. But if customer is confident, it would be fun to challenge him alone.”

“Dare to adventure. That’s what you’re saying, right?” I smiled.

“Do you remember what I told you? That the fruit of adventure is always sweet.”

Loretta was giving me a hint. But what did she mean by the fruit of adventure being sweet? The title of Lizard Knight Slayer should be the same no matter when I earned it. What difference was there in getting it now or later?

Ah.

“Don’t tell me, there’s a difference if I succeed in a solo raid for my first challenge?”

“Who knows? Hwi hwi~!”

Loretta avoided looking into my eyes as she whistled. It was so obvious that it felt a bit staged, but Loretta had never said anything to put me at a disadvantage. She did try to con me into buying more items though.

The crux of the issue was that…Could I trust her?

“One more thing, customer.”

As I was wondering whether a mere level 20 adventurer like me should try to do something that didn’t seem particularly appealing, Loretta added, as if to put the nail on the coffin.

“The ‘first’ is always special.”

The first. I felt a strong attraction to that word. It also implied that I had never truly been the first. Being the idiot that I am, I felt my pride being provoked. Even her eyes seemed to be saying ‘you can’t even do this?’

“Alright, I’ll do it. The first.” I made my decision. 

Loretta stared into my eyes for a moment before flushing her cheeks and turning away. Then, she shouted as she took something out of her pocket.

“Then here’s an offer from the Floor Shop, customer! This here is a magical item that holds down the enemy’s movement for 5 seconds! Now it’s only 10,000 gold!”

“I’m not buying it.”

“Why!?”

I’ll challenge it. At level 20, I will solo the 20th Floor Master! Without that magical item, of course!

Author's note: Mastered lower-ranked skills have been removed from that status to avoid cluttering!