Chapter 8

It slid and fell from the wall.

The monster does not hunt for food.

It quickly loses interest in those it deems defeated and leaves.

The rumbling of the ground grew distant, and silence descended.

Rio stood there in a daze for a while.

He had thought it was hopeless, but he had surpassed one hundred million experience points.

He felt an urge to jump and shout in joy at the long-awaited level-up. Although he had the presence of mind to consider the danger of the one-eyed giant returning, more than anything else—

"Levels have suddenly increased to 12...?"

He was simply amazed by this fact.

He had feared that it might take one hundred million experience points just to reach level 3.

However, he knew about the goddess's lazy nature.

So he believed that she probably hadn't thought about levels after 3 and that the values would follow the usual pattern.

However, that was not the case.

Rio calculated in his head.

The experience points he had just gained were 12,500. He subtracted the amount needed to reach level 2 and compared it with the typical experience points required for subsequent level-ups.

(Probably around 8... or at most 9, right?)

Assuming level 9, it would take about 15,000 experience points to reach level 12.

Of course, there are individual differences, but even so, the discrepancy was significant.

(It's probably reduced to about half of a normal person's, right?)

Based on Rio's calculations, this made sense. However, it was conditional on "at this point," so he couldn't be entirely sure.

(Well, let's put that aside for now. First, I need to check my status.)

He summoned the status screen.

＝＝＝＝＝

HP: 320/320

MP: 70/70

STR: 141/273

VIT: 157/290

INT: 104/223

MAG: 65/147

AGI: 126/288

DEX: 103/215

＝＝＝＝＝

The values on the left are Rio's current status. Since he had maximized his stats, these are the level 1 max values.

The values on the right are the level 12 max values. He could reach these by training.

Generally, each level-up increases the max value of each stat by about 10. So, a sudden 11-level increase would result in an expected boost of about 110.

(Strength (STR) and Vitality (VIT) have good growth. They were already high, though.)

What caught his eye was Agility (AGI). It had increased by 162.

However, there were also disappointing aspects.

(Magic (MAG) is low. And—)

What Rio had secretly hoped for with the level-up.

(I didn't learn any magic...)

Magic typically appears as a skill.

However, unlike other skills that are learned through practice, magic skills cannot be used unless they appear in the skill list.

Magic skills are acquired (appear in the skill list) as levels increase.

The point at which they are acquired varies by talent. Those with exceptional magical talent might have multiple by level 2.

However, Rio had not learned any magic even at level 12.

(Well, that's just a matter of talent. My magic was low to begin with, so this is probably how it is.)

Rio changed his mindset.

He had surpassed the major goal of level 2 and had jumped all the way to level 12.

There couldn't be a better result.

He had also gained insight into his own tendencies from the growth of his stats.

From here on, he needed to decide his combat style.

It wasn't just about barely surviving and gaining experience. Of course, he would use that, but like many adventurers, he needed to learn how to fight and win.

To conquer the seven great dungeons, he had to defeat the dungeon bosses lurking at their depths.

(First, I'll give up on magic. I don't need healing, and I'll specialize in physical attacks.)

He could cover enemies that are only vulnerable to magic with specialized items or weapons with magical effects.

(Since Dexterity (DEX) is average, it's probably best to avoid ranged weapons.)

The accuracy of bows and thrown weapons is directly linked to dexterity. Without this, he would end up making futile attacks.

He should also avoid weapons that require complex operations.

Therefore, close combat should be his primary style.

However,

(Swords, spears, axes, hammers... there are quite a few options.)

Should he focus on brute force with his strength and vitality?

Dexterity also affects weapon handling. If he didn't use weapons, dexterity wouldn't matter.

However, a focus on unarmed combat would result in lower attack power compared to using weapons.

He didn't want to try everything and end up with all skills below average. He wanted to choose one and focus on raising its skill level.

(Mm, this is difficult...)

There was a reason for Rio's hesitation.

He had accompanied many adventurer parties and seen many "top-tier techniques."

The true elite moved with refinement, fighting as if they were dancing.

Each time, he was captivated by their beauty. Their images were etched in his mind.

If there had been only one role model, he would have chosen it without hesitation. However, they each excelled in a variety of weapons, and all of them were impressive.

(If only I could have seen Mom fight...)

It was an impossible request for his mother, whose body was being eroded by an incurable curse. Even though she lived brightly without showing her pain, Rio, even as a child, understood that he couldn't ask her so innocently.

Rio's mother was a swordsman. More precisely, a magic swordsman.

However, he didn't have a strong desire to become a swordsman like her.

Still, the reason he carried a short sword on his hip wasn't just because it was easy to handle. He was also drawn to it.

(Swordsmanship is already at level 2, so maybe this is it?)

Then, Rio remembered.

(Mom was a dual-wielder, right?)

According to what he had heard, but he had never seen it himself.

(Well, with my average dexterity, it's impossible to wield two swords at once.)

It would be a waste of effort.

(But it looks cool...)

He was a 14-year-old boy, after all. He couldn't completely let go of the idea.

He decided to think about it more when he got home and stood up.

"I should leave this place soon."

The Low Cyclops had left, but other monsters might come.

Rio returned to his large bag and easily slung it over his shoulder.

"Since I'm here, I might as well train on the way back."

Rio started running. He intended to do a sprint to the exit of the dungeon.

If he encountered a monster, he would try to avoid it.

After finally leveling up, it would be nice to have a good meal and a good night's sleep.

He wasn't being careless, but he was a bit relaxed.

"Why...?"

After running for a while, at a corner.

"Oooh..."

A Low Cyclops with a single large eye stood there, moving it around.

(It's the same one from before. Was it lying in wait?)

No, if it had noticed him, it would have run over instead of taking a roundabout way.

It was a coincidence. He had just happened to run into it.

"Oooh!"

It had spotted him.

Alone and in a one-on-one situation, he wasn't confident he could escape. Even with the significant level-up, his stats were still the same as when he was at level 1.

(I have to protect the bag first.)

That was his top priority. Rio hurriedly dropped the bag and tried to move away, but—

(No good. It's faster than me!)

The giant club was about to knock both the bag and Rio away—

"One—"

A girl's voice rang out.

"Seven Flashes!"

Several dazzling lights scattered.

In the next moment, the one-eyed giant fell to pieces on the ground.

Someone who had probably defeated the giant passed by Rio like a gust of wind. They crouched with their back to him and returned a slender sword to their waist with a cool "ching" sound.

(That's... a katana?)

A rare, curved, single-edged sword. It required high skill to use.

(A girl... a child...)

The figure that stood up was shorter than Rio. Even from behind, it was clear she was slender.

She turned around, shaking her long black hair tied in a single braid.

(—!? Mom?)

Her image overlapped with his mother's. But it was only for a moment. She was clearly younger than Rio, a girl.

"Are you hurt?"

Her lovely face, filled with concern, was unfamiliar to Rio.

However, the resemblance to his mother was unmistakable—

(Mirei...)

Rio whispered the name of his long-lost sister in his heart—

Next time, is the sword-wielding girl his sister?