Chapter 19

Chapter 19 First-Time-Dungeon

"I can carry your luggage for you~. 300 mani for half a day~! Leave the physical labors to me~~."

"We're looking for someone who can use magic as our rear guard. Anyone want to improve themselves together with us in the dungeon~?"

"We have potions and cure potions here. Get yourself ready before you get hurt~."

Arrived at the entrance of Gramada Central Dungeon! There's a big cystal installed near the entrance. It's called Gate Crystal, it controls the traffic of people that come and go to the thing called Port Crystal on a particular floor.

Of course this thing can only be installed on a dungeon that has been put under control.

This dungeon is called Fonbran Dungeon. Also known as, Dungeon of Growth. There are no strong monsters on the shallower floors so it's perfect for beginners.

It's almost 2:00 PM now. The area around the dungeon's entrance is relatively bustling. It's full of porters (baggage carrier) waiting to be hired, stands selling medicines, maps and such, and people soliciting for temp parties. Of course, I'm going solo though.

Since I still can't tell left from right, let's gather some intel for now.

"Hey pops, how's business?"

"Eh not bad. Newbies still keep coming but they always dived in first things ya see. Only bought maps and stuff once they were in a world of pain."

"Well, I'm here to buy a map since it's my first time. How much is a map for this dungeon?"

"The whole 1-5F are 500 mani. 6-10F are 700 mani. 11-15F are 900 mani. The last floor 16F has randomized layouts so ain't no one selling the map."

"I see I see. I'll have the 1-5F map for now. I'm gonna take it step by step."

"Here ya go, thanks for yer patronage."

He gave me a bundle of five rolled parchments.

"The symbol marked on the maps are the floor crystals that carry you down. They're floor crystals that connect to the crystal on the floor below. ones would bring you back up one floor. There's a port crystal every five floors that'll bring ya back to the entrance."

"Hou hou, you sure are thorough."

"This dungeon is under control but some parts do change at times. Would ya report it to me if you find one of those changes? You can get a handsome sum if the info isn't known. I'm hedging my bets here since ya look like someone who understands the importance of intel."

"Gotcha, well, first I gotta get accustomed to it."

"Get back in one piece ya hear me. Yer' my important lunch tickets after all."

Gahahaha, the old man laughs heartily.

"Hahaha, I'm off then."

Town civil servants called Administrators are collecting admission fee at the entrance. The fee is 100 mani. Whether that's expensive or cheap will depend on my earnings from now on.

From the admission gate, I set my foot into the dungeon.

A huge floor spread out when I descended the stairs. True to the map, it seems to be a large hall on 1F.

There are parties and solo people here and there. Judging from a rough outlook, everyone seems to be a beginner.

For now, I'd like to try many things so let's look for an unpopulated place by relying on the map.

By the way the inside of this dungeon is bright, dunno how that works. I should manage as long as I didn't get caught off guard then.

I slowly advance ahead while gripping an iron sword. I still don't know what will come out, so using this swor

d I'm used to is better. I have throwing knives ready to be thrown any time.

As I advance ahead while straining my ears, suddenly I can hear something breathing roughly from beyond a turn ahead.

I tiptoed with my back on the on the wall, peeked and saw a dog there.

Pawn Dog Lv3

HP: 15/15 MP: 0/0

The lowest ranked underling dog. They're good at group battles, can be a menace if you're surrounded by many.

It looks like a Doberman but a bit skinnier. That makes it look very hungry instead. Either way, I've got to focus.

I check that nobody is around. Alright, let's shoot a magic as the first strike and bring it down in close combat.

I wait until it turns its back here and take my aim.

"Fire Arrow (whisper)."

An arrowed appeared in the air and went straight to the Pawn Dog.

Hm, it turned around!? Did it notice my voice? I throw a throwing knife as an additional attack. I immediately ready my iron sword and wait for the opponent's next move.

GYAWAN

Ah, the fire arrow hit. The knife is also stuck on it. Huh? The dog fell, like plop....

Pawn Dog Lv3

HP: 1/5 MP: 0/0

Err.... For now let's carefully approach and finish it off. Apparently, it ended into a deadly combo of getting hit by the fire in the face, causing oxygen deprivation followed by the getting pierced by the knife.

The killed Pawn Dog became particles of light and dispersed. Unlike on the outside, looks like you can't strip off monsters here. Since not even a Soul Stone remains, I wonder if I can expect drop items from them.

I steadily hunt monsters while heading to a place that seems unpopular according to the map.

However, I've only ever been encountering Pawn Dogs. I've already hunted 40 of them but only got 3 Soul Stones. Moreover, they're black. I'm advancing while covering myself in Mana Clad to decrease minor damages, swinging the iron sword, firing fire arrows. The hunt is going steady but the drops are depressingly bad.

I saw a small room on my left as I pushed on. The inside...hm? There's a chest?

Is this perhaps, perhaps this is?

I'll take a little break in front of the room while inflating the expectation in my heart.

Presently, my potions still fully remain. HP and MP are full. Preparation is perfect. Prepare to charge!

I invoke Mana Clad as I walk into the small room.

Something wrong happened the moment I went inside the small room.

With a 'VOOON' sound, the path I took to go inside the room was blocked by black mist-like thing. I tried to get out of the room, but I couldn't get past the black mist for some reason.

"I only ever got right when I looked bad, really now."

Oh damn, something's coming!?

A group of dogs overflowed from inside black mist that looked like it was protecting the chest.

Pawn Dog Lv3 x 4

HP: 15/15 MP: 0/0

Knight Dog Lv6

HP: 30/30 MP: 2/2

A type of high-ranking dog accompanied by underlings.

There's a new one among them1?

The white haired dog is Knight Dog huh.

Anyway, in a one vs many, I've got to decrease their numbers first!

"Fire Arrow!"

The target is a Pawn Dog. Next, I throw throwing knives while moving around to disperse their aim.

The fire arrow hit one dog, and while most of the throwing knives missed, one of it hit another dog's leg.

Its movement looks obviously slower after losing its mobility.

But then, the Knight Dog suddenly howls!

AOOOOOOOOOON

Guuh, my ears hurt.

With the howl as a signal, three Pawn Dogs rushed at me all at once.

I mowed down and killed one dog, but the other two's fangs pierced my left leg and right tight.

OWWWWWWWWW

Even though I'm covered in Mana Clad, it still feels really hurt. It feels like stepping on a nail with sneakers on.

While enduring the pain, I hit the Pawn Dogs' heads with my free hand and the sword's grip.

However, the Knight Dog assaulted me during that chance.

Even though I twisted my body to evade it, its claw grazed and easily cut my left hand.

Uwaa, its power is on a completely different level than Pawns'.

I keep moving around while healing myself with Heal. This could get very dangerous if they started coordinating well.

Ah, they moved while I was thinking. Sneaking around like they're watching my movement.

Is there something, anything? I've used up all the knives... Fire arrows can't stop them....

Ah! Wonder if I can use that? I haven't checked if I can invoke it, but I'm gonna give it a try.

The moment they jump at me, I jump back and powerfully voice out the words.

"Flame Wall!"

A wall of flame raises up from the ground in front of me.

I feel my strength getting drained at a stretch at the same time. Looks like I used up quite a bit of mana.

No surprise there, since a wall of flame bigger than Futsuno-san's came up.

The dogs that jumped into the flame wall got burnt and writhed.

But the Knight Dog alone hasn't lost its fighting spirit even though it's covered in flame!

I ready my iron sword, use up the remaining mana to strengthen Mana Clad and stare at the Knight Dog.

The Knight Dog rushes in while howling.

However, its movement isn't that sharp, even the current me can manage it!

I aim at its opened mouth that's trying to bite me and horizontally slash it.

"HAAAAAA"

Even though I felt some resistance from the meat, the Knight Dog got cut up into two from the mouth back and fell down like splat.

I feel relieved since it went well somehow, but there's still some Pawn Dogs remaining. Let's finish off the ones that haven't disappeared one by one.

And then the dogs disappeared into lights without a sound.

Afterward, a small stone that's different from the ones I got so far falls on the place.

"Ooh, it's red. A red Soul Stone."

If I'm not mistaken this ranks higher than the black one. One of the Pawn Dogs also dropped two Soul Stones. Dunno how it works, but at least this means I didn't work for free. Ah, I recall something I forgot to do, I haven't sold the Soul Stone I got from the goblin back then.

Tereretettette~ Nobusada Leveled Up.

Name: Nobusada Izumi - Gender: Male - Race: General Human?

Class: Fighter Lv9 - State: Healthy

Title: Moss Ball Killer

HP: 30/80 - MP: 12/82

Skill

Etania Native Language - Differing Soul Communication Lv1 - Magic Development Lv1 - Houseworks Lv5 - Agriculture Lv3 - Swordsmanship Lv2 - Two-handed Spear Lv1 (New!) - Throwing Lv2 (Up!) - Evasion Lv1 - Holy Magic Lv 1 - Elemental Magic Aptitude Lv2 - Life Magic - Disguise Lv2 - Mana Clad Lv2

Unique Skill

Discerning Magic Eyes Lv3 - Levelitt's Blessing (Small)