Chapter 2: As a New Adventurer – 05
“Wha!? Huh!? Did you really defeat the boss all by yourself, Okuno-san!?”
When I asked the receptionist, Kisara, to buy the materials, her voice rose in disbelief, causing me to flinch.
“Yes, that’s correct. Was that a problem?”
“Oh, I’m sorry! It’s not that it’s a problem, but very few people challenge a boss alone.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, well, hardly anyone at F-Rank does that. Even if they do, they often don’t come back…”
“Ah…”
“But if that’s the case, congratulations! You’ve gotten much closer to E-Rank now.”
“I believe defeating a boss is one of the conditions for ranking up to E-Rank. Is it really the biggest hurdle?”
“That’s right. Although, if you’re in a party, the boss of an F-Class Dungeon isn’t that tough. But it seems to be quite challenging in higher-class dungeons.”
“There’s a D-Class Dungeon in this town as well, but it’s still difficult, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. It’s not as bad as it used to be, but there were times when parties would go in and none would return.”
“That’s terrifying.”
The guide available at this guild is quite comprehensive, and it contains a fair amount of information about the bosses. However, it seems this guide was created recently. Apparently, there’s a capable person in the upper ranks of the guild who ordered its creation. For a newcomer like me, that’s quite helpful.
“Wait, Okuno-san, are these materials from the boss?”
Kisara held up two impressive horns.
“Yes. The boss had horns. I was surprised to find it wasn’t listed in the guide.”
“Really? Could it be that it was a Rare Boss?”
“I’m not sure… Is a Rare Boss one that appears very rarely?”
“Yes, that’s right! It’s the first time a Rare Boss has appeared in that dungeon. If that’s the case, I need to hear all the details from you. Would you mind sharing?”
So, it turns out that boss was indeed a rare find. And the first one at that… Did I really have such good luck? No, if the difficulty has increased, maybe it’s bad luck instead. That would make more sense.
“Understood. Of course, I’ll share the details. The guide has been a great help to me.”
With that, I was led to a room in the back once again. By the way, the horns would need to be checked at headquarters, so I would have to wait a while for the purchase.
It seems that the special skill I obtained, “Regeneration,” is quite rare. It’s a straightforward concept that you can gain rare skills from Rare Bosses.
Hmm, so I really was lucky after all. If this is a good omen, then I’ll take it.
Adventurer Level: 6
Weapon Skills
– Mace: Level 8
– Dagger: Level 4
– Unarmed: Level 4
Armor Skills
– Buckler: Level 7
Physical Abilities
– Endurance: Level 8
– Strength: Level 9
– Speed: Level 8
– Explosive Power: Level 9
– Reflexes: Level 7
Sensory Skills
– Enhanced Vision: Level 6
– Hearing: Level 5
– Smell: Level 3
– Touch: Level 3
– Dynamic Vision: Level 7
– Presence Detection: Level 6
Mental Skills
– Composure: Level 5
– Thought Acceleration: Level 4
– Excitement: Level 1 (new)
Special Skills
– Regeneration: Level 1 (new)
I lay on the bed at the inn, organizing the information.
Regarding my status, “Excitement” seems to be a skill inferred from my feelings during the boss battle. I assume it increases my attack power when in an excited state.
“Regeneration” is just as it sounds. Thinking about it, having this skill reduces the amount of potions I need to use, making it a wallet-friendly and excellent skill.
Now, the question is what my plans are moving forward. Having defeated the boss of the Great Rock Dungeon, the next logical step would be to head to another F-Class Dungeon.
You can only acquire one special skill per dungeon. If I want to grow stronger, I need to explore as many dungeons as possible.
Of course, it’s obvious that the skills obtained in lower-class dungeons are of lower rarity. The “Regeneration” skill I was fortunate enough to acquire typically wouldn’t appear unless you’re in a D-Class Dungeon or higher, and the acquisition rate is reportedly low.
In any case, I already have information on another F-Class Dungeon from the guide. I plan to talk to Kaim about it, but our meal times didn’t align today.
Well, even if I go tomorrow, I don’t intend to head straight to the boss room.
Oh, right! My clothes were torn to shreds during the boss fight. It seems the time has finally come to part with the shirt I brought from my previous life. If that happens, I’ll truly feel like a resident of this world. That might be a good thing in its own right.
As I pondered these thoughts, my consciousness gradually faded away.
The other F-Class Dungeon was located a bit away from town, nestled within a forest.
Following the marked signs carved into the trees, I came upon a massive tree that appeared to be a fusion of several trunks, with a large hollow opening in its bark.
It was a strange sight, but it seems that dungeon entrances often look like this.
There should be several parties here as well, but I couldn’t see any of the earlier groups. I double-checked my equipment and then entered the dungeon.
The walls of the dungeon had a texture resembling tree bark, unlike those of the Great Rock Dungeon. It was interesting how the texture changed in different areas.
As I followed the map, I detected a presence with my “Presence Detection.” A loud buzzing sound indicated that one of the dungeon’s weak monsters, the “Killer Bee,” was nearby.
What appeared was a large bee, about the size of a crow. Its stinger, which had barbs on the end, glimmered ominously, suggesting that being stung would be quite painful.
Upon spotting me, it swayed slightly from side to side before darting straight toward me, clearly intending to sting its prey.
Crush!
However, my skills in “Dynamic Vision,” “Reflexes,” and “Explosive Power” easily allowed me to respond to its movements. I countered with my mace, smashing the Killer Bee into pieces as it was sent flying.
“Fast movements, but it’s still just an F-Class.”
What dropped were a magic stone and a balloon-like object filled with liquid. When I picked it up, I discovered it was honey. Apparently, sweets are quite developed in this world.
I placed the honey-filled balloon into a special pouch and continued deeper into the dungeon.
In the end, I made it to the fourth floor before turning back (the Great Tree Dungeon was a vertical type).
The weak monsters I encountered included not only the “Killer Bee” but also a large mantis known as the “Killer Scissors.”
This one was a decent challenge, and I struggled a bit, but once I realized I could break its scythe with a counterattack when it attacked, it became easy.
In any case, even though both dungeons are F-Class, the Great Tree Dungeon seems to be slightly more difficult than the Great Rock Dungeon. Without skills like “Reflexes” leveled up, one might struggle.
“Okuno-san, you’re heading to the forest dungeon starting today, huh?”
When I returned to the guild to sell my items, Kisara confirmed the honey pouches laid out on the table.
“Yes, I want to acquire as many special skills as possible early on.”
“I understand that, but isn’t it a bit too soon to go again? And haven’t you been resting at all?”
“Ah, that’s certainly true…”
Watching Kaim and the others, it seems they operate on a schedule of entering the dungeon for a day and then resting for two days.
Given that it’s life-threatening physical labor, that’s probably the norm. However, for me, I honestly have nothing else to do, and since getting stronger is also a way to counter aging, I end up going into the dungeon.
Still, I can’t quite understand why I don’t have any aversion to life-threatening battles…
“But if you’re seeking power that much, once you conquer the forest dungeon, you’ll be heading to another town, right? That’s a bit disappointing.”
“Thank you. Well, that’s still a ways off. Besides, once I reach D-Rank, I’ll probably come back.”
“Oh, that’s true. But to do that, you need to rank up to E-Rank first. Actually, you’re almost there, so do your best!”
Hmm, being told that makes me want to go hunt the boss tomorrow. I doubt Kisara expected her encouragement would spur me on like this.