Chapter 47

"Yeah... the drop box isn't falling."

Currently, I'm hunting in the fifth floor, following yesterday's session. Today, I've already slain about 30 monsters across three floors by noon.

Including yesterday, I've taken down nearly 40 monsters. In the fourth floor, even without the 'Designated Skill Effect Double,' I should have gotten at least two drop boxes, but so far, there's no sign of one falling.

"Perhaps I should consider that the necessary luck is determined by the floor I delve into..."

Otherwise, there's no way the monsters that dropped the drop box in the fourth floor wouldn't drop it now.

My current luck, including the merchant's correction, is 490. Given that I exceeded 400 when the drop box appeared in the fourth floor, it seems that once the required luck is surpassed, the drop box will appear.

"If I change to a Jester, it will probably start dropping..."

My current profession is a Merchant at level 30.

I'm using support magic to the maximum to fight the monsters, so choosing a Jester, which only gets luck as a status correction, feels risky at this point.

This is because the monsters that spawn in the fifth floor come in various numbers and combinations.

During the morning, I faced five Mage Goblins and two Hobgoblins, which kept spamming healing magic, making it take a considerable amount of time to defeat them and causing significant wear and tear.

The fifth floor sometimes has trap-like formations that can render my strategies ineffective.

If I get killed with my abilities lowered, it would be a disaster, so I need to be cautious.

"...Besides, I need to figure out the specifics."

Based on my estimation, the drop box release condition for the fifth floor is likely a luck of 500.

If I raise my merchant level by five more, I should reach it, and at my current pace, I expect to achieve it in a few days. I want to use this opportunity to determine the line at which the drop box starts to drop.

"After that, I'll raise my merchant level to 40."

Thanks to Salome's cooperation, we've gathered a fair amount of information on the skills that adventurers have learned.

There are a few skills that can eliminate Lesser Dragons, like the one I did recently.

While having those skills would certainly add to my options, I'm more interested in the merchant's skills.

Level 40 is roughly equivalent to a C-rank adventurer. No one would raise a merchant, who can't fight, to that level, and even if someone did, the extremely rare Item Box skill would require proficiency, making it unlikely they would continue to level up.

However, I have the advantage of being able to acquire skills with skill points, so I'm really looking forward to what happens when I reach level 40.

"After that... I'll raise the Jester too."

Raising a Jester takes a lot of time, but once I can handle the fifth floor with ease, I can consider changing professions. I should be able to reach level 25 quickly.

With my future plans in mind, I finished my break and headed to the next floor.

---

"Hey, Tim!"

"Good work, Tim."

"Hm, ah, good work."

When I came out of the dungeon and returned to the Adventurer's Guild, a few adventurers greeted me.

They are a year younger than me.

I've been an adventurer for about a year and a half, and the younger generation is starting to show some promising individuals.

Perhaps because of the story of me rising from having no skills and defeating the Lesser Dragon in the battle against Walter, they've started to greet me more casually recently.

"Next time, come with us on an adventure and check out our moves."

"Sure, if the opportunity arises..."

I casually brushed off the enthusiastic junior and headed to Salome's place.

"Yeah, it looks like I don't need to go to the warehouse today?"

"Right, but I expect I'll be bringing in a lot again soon."

It's known that I'm an adventurer with a dedicated support, and even just talking like this draws attention.

"That's great, I'm looking forward to it."

Salome smiled broadly. We've been going out for drinks the night before my days off recently, so she's become more relaxed around me.

I can sense the seriousness behind her smile, which puts some pressure on me.