Chapter 7

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007＿Equipment Selection

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"Can you tell me about the dungeon?"

On the morning of the fourth day after my reincarnation, after breakfast, I asked Anneliese about the dungeon.

"The dungeon is dangerous."

"I know that. I want advice on how to prepare and what mindset to have so I don't die in the dungeon. Just to be clear, I know nothing about the dungeon. Please give me advice with that in mind."

Anneliese nodded and thought for a moment.

"First, you should gather information about the dungeon and the monsters."

"Can you tell me that information?"

"You should read the materials available at the Explorer's Guild. They have more detailed information than I can provide."

"Understood. What else?"

"Identifying traps."

"How do I do that?"

"The best way is to bring someone with a Scout job."

"I plan to enter the dungeon alone, so please give me advice based on that."

"I will go with you."

"No, that's..."

Carrying Anneliese into the dungeon would be some kind of ascetic practice.

"It's fine. I'm strong and can detect traps."

That's true, but...

"Then, can you teach me how to detect and disarm traps?"

"It requires magic, so it would be impossible for you, my lord."

Magic is used to detect and disarm traps. Since my job is a reincarnated hero, I can't use magic, and there are no trap-related spells in my job...

Anneliese was stubborn. I've heard that people become stubborn as they get older, and it's true. I decided to carry her if it came to the worst and took her with me.

I followed Anneliese's advice and prepared for entering the dungeon.

I would bring spare weapons. If my fighting style was highly consumptive, I would need spare armor. I would bring more water and food than planned in case of emergencies. If I camped, a thick blanket would be essential.

The food and water were very heavy, so I put everything into the item box. Fortunately, with the Low Item Box, I had 40 slots, so everything fit.

Even if it didn't fit, I could pack multiple items into one bag, which would only take up one slot in the item box. This wasn't a hidden trick, but it was convenient.

"Item box...? Are you a Carrier, my lord?"

Why was she so surprised?

"No, I'm a villager. Level 1."

"Level 1 villager? ...So you have the Unique Skill Item Box?"

Anneliese had a subtle expression. Is being a villager that rare? Or are Unique Skill holders that rare?

"What's wrong?"

"Unique Skill holders are very rare. I've heard that in this city of Kelniff, which is called a large city, there might be only a few."

Golteo said Kelniff's population is about 200,000. A few out of 200,000 is a small number, but considering the whole world, it's not that rare, right?

"Is it better not to let others know?"

I haven't shown it to anyone except Anneliese. That's what light novels taught me.

"Unique Skills are more powerful than regular skills. The storage capacity of the Unique Skill Item Box is double that of a Carrier's. It's a skill that nobles, merchants, and explorers who carry a lot of items envy."

Thanks to the item box, I can move around without carrying anything, which is indeed a big advantage.

"There are a certain number of Carriers, but not many. In combat, a Carrier's level doesn't increase, but they are highly valued by explorers. If you're not careful, you might be kidnapped and made a slave."

Being kidnapped is serious.

"I see... I shouldn't use it in public, then."

"Yes."

Just hearing this common knowledge from Anneliese was worth it. I hope she can give me as much knowledge as possible before her short life ends.

And I won't tell anyone about the Detailed Appraisal. It feels quite dangerous to let others know about it, though I can't explain why.

"Also..."

"Hmm? What is it? Don't hesitate to speak."

"Level 1 villagers are very rare."

"Eh?"

"Villagers level up no matter what they do. Being Level 1 at your age means you haven't done anything, which is very strange."

"Ah, I see..."

This was a blind spot. Changing my job to a traveler should be fine, so I'll do that.

"By the way, do you need to register as an explorer, Anneliese?"

"Slaves don't need to register. Just register yourself, my lord."

So, I decided to register as an explorer alone.

Anneliese has a simple slave collar around her neck, which apparently identifies her as a slave.

Putting a collar on an old woman like this would be considered elder abuse in Japan.

"Did Anneliese become a mage using a magic book?"

"Yes."

"Did you get the magic book from the dungeon? Or did you buy it?"

"I got it from the dungeon. Magic books drop from monsters with a very low probability, so I must have been lucky."

The drop rate from monsters is 1 in 10,000, which is quite low. Moreover, killing 10,000 monsters isn't something one person can do alone. Many explorers enter the dungeon every day, so all of them have a chance.

After hearing this, I took Anneliese to the Explorer's Guild.

I appraised the people walking around town and confirmed their jobs.

▼Detailed Appraisal Results▼

・Swordsman: A user of swords. Skills: Slash (Minor), Insight (Minor). Requirements: Perform 100 sets of 100 consecutive serious sword swings, or kill 100 monsters with a sword.

・Lancer: A user of lances. Skills: Triple Thrust (Minor), Knockdown (Minor). Requirements: Perform 100 sets of 100 consecutive serious thrusts, or kill 100 monsters with a lance.

・Cleric: A servant of the gods. Skill: Prayer (Minor). Requirements: Pray for 500 days, or kill 100 monsters with bare hands.

・Knight: A protector of allies. Skills: Provocation (Minor), Shield Attack (Minor). Requirements: Block 1,000 attacks with a shield.

・Monster Tamer: A tamer of monsters. Skills: Tame (Minor), Monster Enhancement (Minor). Requirements: Win 100 battles against monsters one-on-one.

While walking, I checked and confirmed the main combat jobs.

Being a swordsman seems doable, but I don't know the strength of the monsters, so I'll have to try and see.

"By the way, I need to buy weapons and armor for Anneliese. And clothes too."

"Weapons: Staff. Armor: Robe. Clothes: I want a dress."

Anneliese made her preferences clear. However, she walked very slowly. In the time it took me to walk 10 meters, Anneliese could only walk about 5 meters. It's understandable because she's old, but it's worrying.

I adjusted my pace to Anneliese's and visited the clothing store, weapon shop, and armor shop.

At the clothing store, Anneliese chose clothes, underwear, and socks in less than 10 minutes, but at the weapon shop, she stood in front of the staff and didn't move. I was worried she had died because she was motionless like a battery had run out, but she was just thinking hard about choosing a staff.

"What are you so worried about?"

"I was choosing one that feels right in my hands."

She doesn't even have one yet, so how can she know what feels right?

・Mage's Staff A: MATK+4, Durability 13/13

・Mage's Staff B: MATK+5, Durability 13/13

・Mage's Staff C: MATK+5, INT+1, Durability 14/14

・Mage's Staff D: MATK+3, Durability 12/12

・Mage's Staff E: MATK+4, MIN+1, Durability 13/13

"I'll take this one."

Anneliese chose Mage's Staff C.

"Why did you choose that one?"

"The staff called to me."

Is Anneliese some kind of weird person?

"What about this one?"

I suggested the Mage's Staff D with lower effects, but she shook her head.

"That one is too weak."

It seems she can intuitively tell the quality of the staff, like a genius.

At the armor shop, she also took a long time to choose a robe.

She picked the best one from several options.

Anneliese doesn't have any appraisal or item evaluation skills, so it must be based on her long experience.

・Mage's Robe: MDEF+3, MIN+1, Durability 10/10

Anneliese, being a mage, said a robe is the best for torso armor.

Here's what my weapons and armor look like:

・Iron One-Handed Sword: ATK+10, STR+2, Durability 31/31

・Steel One-Handed Sword: ATK+15, STR+3, Durability 45/45

・Mithril Two-Handed Sword: ATK+35, STR+7, DEX+6, Slash Enhancement (Low), Auto Repair (Low), Durability 85/85

・Iron Shield: DEF+10, VIT+2, Durability 30/30

・Steel Shield: DEF+15, VIT+3, Durability 47/47

・Iron Chestplate: DEF+10, VIT+2, Durability 31/31

・Steel Chestplate: DEF+15, VIT+3, Durability 46/46

Looking at the status screen, I could see all the stats. The familiar stat display from games made it easy to accept.

HP=Hit Points, MP=Magic Points, STR=Strength, VIT=Vitality, AGI=Agility, INT=Intelligence, MIN=Mind, DEX=Dexterity, ATK=Attack, DEF=Defense, MATK=Magic Attack, MDEF=Magic Defense

These stats seem to increase proportionally with level, but the rate of increase varies by job, which is a common game mechanic. Additionally, different races have stats that increase more easily or less easily, but what is the system like in this world?

Here are my stats:

My job is set to Traveler. The Detailed Appraisal revealed that Travelers, Cooks, Merchants, and Carriers don't level up in combat. Avengers and Reincarnated Heroes do level up in combat, but I don't plan to set those. The only remaining option was Villager, but Anneliese pointed out that a Level 1 Villager is strange. So, I set it to Traveler.

If my Villager level was around 4, I would have kept it as a Villager.

Additionally, a Level 7 Villager and a Level 1 Swordsman have roughly the same strength, assuming the Swordsman doesn't use skills. If the Swordsman uses skills, they would win easily. Despite this, the Detailed Appraisal revealed that Villagers, while weak, grow quickly because they level up from any activity.

【Job】Traveler Lv1

【Race】Human

【Stats】

HP=30

MP=30

STR=5

VIT=5

AGI=5

INT=5

MIN=5

DEX=5

ATK=15

DEF=15

MATK=15

MDEF=15

STP=0

Changing jobs changes the stats. The stats of the two problematic jobs increase significantly, but I don't plan to set them. Additionally, the stats displayed include the bonuses from equipped weapons and armor.

Furthermore, my status screen has an STP (Status Point) section. It seems that points are added as my level increases.

In addition to the growth from job level-ups, I can freely allocate these points.

Last night, I could see Anneliese's status screen from mine. It seems that a slave's status screen is linked to their master's.

Here are Anneliese's stats:

【Job】Mage Lv21

【Race】Half-Elf

【Stats】

HP=96

MP=126

STR=13

VIT=12

AGI=19

INT=22

MIN=20

DEX=18

ATK=39

DEF=36

MATK=66

MDEF=60

As expected, Anneliese is strong due to her high level. Her stats are so strong that a normal hit could kill me, but her walking speed is half of mine. Do stats not affect walking speed?

Additionally, Anneliese doesn't have STP. It's not "zero," but "non-existent."

I don't understand, but even when I appraised the stats of people walking around town, they didn't have STP. Is it a special benefit for me, or do the summoned classmates also have it, or does it appear in extremely rare cases?

The Detailed Appraisal didn't provide that information.

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