Chapter 9

"Anyway, we've completed the first floor's conquest..."

Back in the cheap inn's room, I was deep in thought.

"Total of 52 goblins defeated, my level has gone up, and I found the stairs to the second floor... but..."

I recalled today's battle results.

"Why did I only get two magic stones?!"

The small magic stones that weak monsters like goblins carry can be sold to the guild for two silver coins each.

In other words, despite defeating so many goblins, my income for today is only four silver coins.

"I used five potions... It's inevitable to get injured when fighting multiple enemies..."

After that, I gradually got used to combat, but the dungeon's enclosed terrain limits the ability to avoid attacks.

As a result, when facing multiple enemies, I ended up getting hit one out of three times.

"...After all that, I'm one silver coin in the red."

I thought I had done a decent job, but the magic stones and items just didn't drop.

"Should I rely on healing for recovery from now on?"

I tried casting healing on myself a few times. After a few casts, I started to feel tired, but I figured it wouldn't be a problem if I only used it as many times as I drank potions today.

"Well, with the increased stats from leveling up, tomorrow should be easier, and I'll be heading to the second floor. It should work out."

It was just bad luck today, and a single magic stone from a slightly stronger monster would have covered the deficit. I regained my composure and continued to look at my status screen.

---

The next day, I ventured into the dungeon again.

I easily cleared the already conquered first floor and stepped into the second floor.

On the way, I hunted about 20 goblins, but thanks to my increased stats and the new skill, I didn't receive any attacks.

I thought I needed to be more cautious since this was unexplored territory, but as I walked...

"Someone is fighting."

It was probably another adventurer party.

I turned off my light and quietly approached, peeking from behind a rock.

"Smash!"

"Gwarah!"

The man with the sword smashed a cobalt with a smash attack. Since he couldn't finish it with one hit, two cobalts closed in to attack him.

"Ice Arrow"

"Like I'd let you!"

The female mage created a magic arrow to hold one back. The other was restrained by the man with the dagger.

"Ugh!"

The man with the sword was hit and injured.

"Healing"

The female cleric immediately cast healing to heal him.

"One more! Smash!"

The man, having regained his composure, launched a second smash attack at the cobalt.

"Gahun..."

That was the finishing blow, and the cobalt collapsed.

"I'll keep the other one. Shina, support with magic. Plumia, keep watch."

"Understood!"

Following the man's orders, everyone fought with heightened tension.

The man with the dagger and the female mage worked together to finish off another cobalt.

Finally, the three of them took down the cobalt the man with the sword was holding back.

"That's teamwork, well done."

Each member understood their role and worked together.

Even if the front-liner was injured, healing magic was immediately cast, and any monsters that broke through were held back by the back-liners' magic and support.

I opened my eyes wide and couldn't help but mutter...

"Envious..."

What I saw was that after the cobalts were defeated, two magic stones had dropped.

---

After a while, they left.

They discussed their mistakes and moved on to the next area.

"This floor has cobalts, but it seems magic stones drop more frequently than on the first floor."

On the first floor, I didn't encounter any other parties, but on the second floor, I saw more and more people.

Among them were solo warriors like me, but I noticed they often picked up magic stones after defeating enemies.

"Well, it's finally my turn to fight."

Moving around the dungeon, I finally encountered some monsters.

Two cobalts were standing diagonally apart.

"First, I'll take the initiative!"

I confirmed that the two were somewhat apart and ran to close the distance.

"Smash!"

"Gwarah!"

The attack hit, and the cobalt staggered. I couldn't finish it with one hit, but it would take a few seconds to recover.

"Gwar!"

The other cobalt saw an opening and attacked. Its sword was about to strike me from above, but at that moment,

"Backstep"

The sword missed me and hit the ground.

"Too slow!"

I slashed the cobalt's right arm, which was exposed in front of me.

"Gwarah!"

It dropped its sword in pain, reducing its threat.

"Come on! Attack me!"

I provoked it, and the cobalt, recovering from the shock, approached.

I closed the distance with the cobalt and

"Finish it! Smash!"

Launched a second smash attack.

"Gahun"

Finally, the cobalt fell.

"One more to go!"

The other cobalt had already been weakened. I raised my sword and finished it off.

"Phew, this skill really works. I'm glad it's effective here."

I checked my status screen again.

Name: Tim

Age: 16

Class: Warrior Level 8

Strength: 73 + 16

Agility: 49

Stamina: 41 + 16

Magic: 16

Spirit: 38

Dexterity: 35

Luck: -7

Status Points: 57

Skill Points: 40

Unique Skill: "Status Manipulation"

Skills: "Swordsmanship Level 5", "Smash Level 5", "Healing Level 3", "Increased Skill Points Level 5", "Increased Status Points Level 5", "Increased Experience Points Level 5", "Light", "Trap Detection Level 5", "Trap Disarming Level 5", "Backstep Level 5"

The newly acquired "Backstep" is a scout skill that allows quick movement backward to avoid attacks.

Yesterday, I stayed in place after attacking and got hit, but with this skill, I thought I could easily create a one-on-one situation.

This strategy worked, and I could easily clear the first floor's goblins with a single smash attack, interspersed with backsteps.

"But, it took two hits..."

I put my hand on my chin and thought. The warrior in the four-person party earlier used two smash attacks to defeat a cobalt.

Given his appearance, he seemed to be around my age, likely a low-level adventurer.

I realized my strength was still at that level.

"I should be able to defeat enemies with a single smash attack before heading to the third floor."

The deeper you go, the stronger the monsters become, and the size of the magic stones and the quality of the items you can obtain increase.

"Oh, right! Magic stones!"

The cobalt corpses should have been absorbed by the dungeon by now. I looked at where the cobalts had fallen, hoping to see some magic stones, but...

"Why didn't any drop?!"

I trembled and shouted in frustration.