Chapter 29

As I watched the adventurer being swallowed, I couldn't move a step.

If I used a slash... no, if I did that, I might hurt the people inside even if I managed to defeat it. Besides, I didn't think a single slash would be enough to take it down.

Between the giant lizard, the size of an Indian elephant, and us, there were smaller lizards, the size of wolves, swarming around.

"This is bad, Elise."

"It's bad, Joffre."

Joffre and Elise watched the giant lizard leave, their hearts pounding.

Ah, this is bad.

"Interrupting a meal is bad manners, right?"

"It was just barely mealtime, right?"

That's not the issue. I was about to say that, but—

"Looks like there's no time for jokes, huh?"

"Looks like there's no time for jokes, huh?"

Given that we were watching someone die, Joffre and Elise seemed tense too.

The remaining lizards were all watching the giant lizard.

The thought of them all attacking us at once made me shiver. The giant lizard, after swallowing the male adventurer, moved in the opposite direction from us. Then, the remaining lizards, who had been watching the giant lizard, all turned to look at us.

It's bad, I thought instinctively.

"Master! Use fire magic! Lizards are weak to fire!"

"O-Okay! Petit Fire!"

The fireball that emerged from my palm collided with the lizard, causing it to explode, leaving behind a magic stone, meat, and scales. The fire smoldered on the dirt floor, and the lizards clearly avoided it.

"Slash! Let's retreat to the 55th floor! You two as well!"

"Slash! Yes!"

Joffre and I prepared to escape while using Slash to keep the lizards at bay.

"Hey, watch my speed! I was once called the Champion of Fleeing!"

"Then I'll show you the skills of the Swift Retreat!"

They seemed eager to run too. I don't need those nicknames, but they fit them well.

Fortunately, it's common knowledge that monsters don't pursue beyond their floor. When we reached the 55th floor, I sighed in relief.

[Ichinou's level has increased]

It seems we gained experience points from the battle. Joffre and Elise probably gained some too, but with only two Fish Lizards defeated, it's like dividing the experience of 40 Fish Lizards among four people, so each person gets the experience of about five Fish Lizards. It's not easy to level up. Even the one Fish Lizard Hal defeated only gave about 0.1 of a Fish Lizard's experience to each of them.

"Hey, Elise, your level increased."

"Mine too, I'm lucky."

...It seems to have increased quite easily.

Well, a single level increase could be a fluke.

"Still, what was that huge lizard? It was eating an adventurer..."

"It's a mutant. A rare species with a different color and size, but it's a special one. It becomes stronger and more fertile, leading to a monster outbreak. Once it's reported, the Adventurer's Guild will issue a Special A-Class extermination order... Hopefully, this just started... But with that many..."

Just as Hal was about to continue, a presence came up the stairs.

A group of Fish Lizards. Four of them climbed the stairs to the 55th floor.

"Over time, the magic in the floor thins out, and the monsters overflow to other floors with more magic, or even to the surface. If they reach the 55th floor, they might use the teleportation array to get to the surface!"

"Did you hear that, Elise, Joffre? You two go to the guild and report what happened! We'll hold them off here. Show us the skills of the Champion of Fleeing and the Swift Retreat!"

I smiled confidently, and they grinned back.

"Got it, leave it to us, beginner!"

"We'll build your grave if you die!"

With those ominous words, they ran towards the teleportation array.

They always have to say something ominous.

"Haru, take off the Friendship Ring. It's time to grow!"

I put my sword back in my item bag.

Margaret told me that a Brawler's bonus experience points increase when they defeat prey with their bare hands. So, I'll give it a try.

I kicked off the ground and struck the lizard's head with a palm strike, causing it to fall to the ground.

Next, I crossed my arms and shouted, "Slash!"

I can't wield two swords, but I've been using my two arms since birth.

I demonstrated the two-sword Slash that Haru showed me using hand strikes.

"Haru, over there—no, are you okay?"

This lizard is no match for Haru.

By the time I turned around, the lizard was split in a V-shape, turned into a magic stone and scales.

[Ichinou's level has increased]

[Apprentice Mage Skill: Obtained Wind Magic]

[Brawler Skill: Obtained Minor Physical Defense Boost]

Good, I learned Wind Magic and my defense has increased.

"Haru, we'll use a hit-and-run strategy for a while. We'll go to the 56th floor, defeat enemies, gain experience, and retreat. If a giant lizard appears, we'll retreat without hesitation."

"Yes, Master!"

I descended the stairs and cast a restraining spell.

"Petit Fire!"

I cast the fire magic. The cooldown is 10 seconds, during which I'll keep defeating lizards with my fists.

Haru would strike and defeat one or two lizards with a single hit, and I would finish them off with a single, sure strike. As soon as 10 seconds passed, I would attack with Petit Fire.

I kept striking lizards without a moment to collect items. Then, a huge one walked towards us from the front.

It was a giant lizard!

"Petit Fire! Let's retreat!"

"Yes, Master!"

That thing can't climb these stairs!

When we reached the top of the stairs, it happened.

[Ichinou's level has increased]

[Unemployed Skill: Fourth Job Liberation upgraded to Fifth Job Liberation]

[Unemployed Skill: Job Appraisal upgraded to Job Appraisal II]

[Swordsman Skill: Spinning Slash upgraded to Spinning Slash II]

[Apprentice Mage Skill: Obtained Earth Magic]

[Job: Mage unlocked]

[Brawler Skill: Obtained Minor HP Boost]

[Automatically set Fifth Job to Commoner Level 15]

"Hah."

I laughed. How many lizards did I defeat just now?

60? No, 80.

That means, excluding the experience given to Haru, I've grown as much as if I had defeated 24,000 lizards.

That's impressive. If I defeated one lizard every five minutes, it would take 120,000 minutes, or 2,000 hours. Normally, it would take even longer to find the monsters.

My Unemployed level increased to 60, Swordsman to 17, Apprentice Mage to 20, and Brawler to 14.

At the same time, my Fifth Job was unlocked... and I set it to Merchant and promoted my Apprentice Mage to Mage.

Now, what should I do?

"Did Haru's level increase too?"

"Yes, I became a Beast Swordsman Level 6 and learned Enhanced Sense of Smell."

"Good, can you keep going?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Good... Now we can defeat that big one."

I said that with a confident smile.

Lizard fever. I'll display the status at the end of the chapter.