Chapter 2

Level and Job.

These are powers that only those chosen by the dungeon can obtain.

Level refers to the numerical value that increases as you defeat monsters that inhabit the dungeon.

As this value increases, various stats improve, making it one of the indicators of an explorer's strength.

A Job is the occupation given to an explorer when they first level up.

There are combat, skill, magic, and merchant types, each containing unique skills.

Additionally, the stats that improve upon leveling up vary by job, so generally, combat jobs are placed in the front line, while magic jobs are placed in the rear. The role in dungeon exploration is often determined by the job.

In summary, both are essential for an explorer to be an explorer.

---

【Your level has increased. Obtain a job.】

As the mechanical announcement echoed in my mind, the memories of the fifteen years I had walked afterward flooded in.

Or, to be more precise, it was more like I "remembered" them.

To be honest, I don't really understand what's happening.

I feel like I want to shout, "What's going on?"

But I understand that it would be a bad move for me right now.

In the dungeon, you don't panic. You don't make a fuss. You don't stop thinking.

These are the ironclad rules of an explorer.

Additionally, there's another reason I didn't make a sound.

"From the looks of it, Matsumoto has successfully obtained a job. It can be confusing at first. Step back and rest."

"…Yes."

The supervisor, who is leading us, cannot allow any of the students to be injured by monsters under any circumstances.

If I made a fuss, it would only hinder him and put other students in danger.

That must be avoided.

To be honest, I want to take my time to think about what's happening to me right now.

I want to analyze what I can and experiment with what I can.

It's only natural for a young person who has just obtained a job to think this way.

However, that desire is just a feeling, a curiosity that can't possibly counter the sense of crisis that is overwhelming me… the natural desire to understand what has happened to me.

It tells me: If you give in to that feeling, you'll be back to being a cog. You can analyze and experiment later. For now, don't panic or make a fuss. Follow the instructions of your teacher and supervisor, Mr. Ozaki, and stay calm.

If asked, "Should you prioritize the emotional outburst of a student who has just entered the dungeon or the instincts of an explorer who has fought on the front lines of the dungeon for fifteen years?" would anyone choose the former? No, they wouldn't.

In fact, they might even be scolded for even considering it a comparison.

At least, I would.

So, I followed the warning, which could be seen as an alarm, and moved to the place the teacher indicated.

---

The place the supervisor, Mr. Ozaki, pointed to was a square-like area near the entrance of the dungeon.

There are seventeen people here, including me.

Out of the thirty students in our class, about half are waiting here.

Everyone here should have already experienced a level up, meaning they have obtained a job.

If you listen carefully, you can hear people reporting their jobs, like "I'm a swordsman" or "I'm a monk."

Some are excited, while others are dejected.

I imagine those who are dejected got a job they didn't want or a bad job.

A job can evolve into a higher-level job through leveling up, but it cannot be changed to a different type. If you get a bad job, it's pretty much over for you.

In my case, the job I obtained was [Traveler].

Fifteen years ago… or was it before that?

Anyway, it's the same job I remember.

After confirming the job, I should check the [Skill] next.

A skill is a technique that is usually linked to a job.

For a swordsman, it's [Sword Strike].

For a monk, it's [Fist Strike].

For a fire mage, it's [Fire Magic].

For a scout, it's [Scouting].

Initially, you learn one skill per job, but the number can increase as you level up.

The [Traveler] job comes with a skill called [Room], which, despite its modest power at the time, contributed to elevating a guild knight to the world's strongest.

"…Room"

I cast it with my right hand, and a bluish-white light appeared.

At first glance, it looks like just a light, but in reality, it's a space.

This is the best and most excellent skill a traveler can have: Room.

"Success. That's a relief."

Thanks to this overpowered skill, I was known as a "cheat beyond cheats" among the guild knights.

Of course, that also meant I was heavily guarded.

But that's beside the point.

There's no doubt that this is an unparalleled skill in terms of convenience.

However, if I were to report the true power of this skill, I would be forcibly recruited by a company worse than a black company. Therefore, I need to mislead people about the job and skill I obtained.

Normally, this would be impossible, but in this case, it's not that difficult.

Why? Because everyone here is a novice when it comes to skills and jobs.

"Hey, you're Matsumoto, right? What job did you get?"

A female classmate conveniently called out to me.

Her name… sorry, I don't remember.

She approached me for one reason: to confirm the job I obtained.

It's early April, and the class hasn't formed stable groups yet.

Since no one has decided who to be friends with, it's possible to approach someone who got a good job without worrying about others' opinions—conversely, it's also possible to distance oneself from someone who got a bad job.

Don't call it cunning.

To succeed as an explorer, it's important to act faster than others.

However, in this case, her action was too hasty.

"Well, actually…"

"Actually?"

"…I got a peddler. I don't know what to do now."

While activating Room with my right hand, I said this as if I were suffering from a headache. The girl's eyes widened as if she had spotted a black pest in the kitchen.

"Um… 'Try your best! I have to go meet my friends!' …That's it."

Before I could say anything, she quickly left, as if trying to distance herself from a pest… no, a genuine pest.

Her words of encouragement were probably out of pity, but they offered no comfort.

Yeah. If I were a boy my age, this would have left a deep wound in my heart.

--- Just by announcing my job, my classmate ran away.

This is the reality of the modern-day bad job [Merchant].

Thank you for reading.

I would be happy if you could rate and bookmark this.