Chapter 84

"Yuu~ Rena has collapsed~"

Yuu glanced at Rena. Rena had fainted due to the strain of simultaneously deploying four layers of the third-tier black magic, 'Thunder Crash.'

"You pass out because you push yourself beyond your limits. Nina, stay by her side; she’ll wake up soon. Fortunately, this is the boss room, so there’s no worry of other monsters attacking."

Nina nodded and placed Rena’s head on her lap, using it as a pillow. Marifa, noticing that Koro and Sukke were acting strangely, worriedly stroked their heads.

"Quite a beating, huh."

Yuu approached Ekkart, who was sitting on the ground, and smiled with his usual friendly grin.

"Hehe, as expected, Rank 5 named monsters are strong. We would have died without your support, Yuu."

"You should use multiple people to handle what you can’t handle alone."

Ekkart was severely injured. His left arm had a bone protruding, and his side, hit by a Storm Lance, was about to burst with his intestines. Yuu placed his hand on Ekkart’s side, pushing the intestines back in while casting Heal. Despite the pain being alleviated by Heal, Ekkart still groaned in agony.

"Hehe~ A Shield User shouldn’t be groaning over such a minor injury."

"Mmm... Even a Shield User feels pain."

"Ekkart, Larit seems to have a high pain tolerance, so he doesn’t need Heal."

"What!? Wait, give me Heal too! I have a few broken ribs!"

"Hehe, that’s good. Larit has a high pain tolerance, doesn’t he? That’s why he’s a Shield User."

Yuu’s joke made Larit, who was pale and desperate, even more flustered, and Ekkart teased him.

After finishing Ekkart’s treatment, Yuu started to heal Larit’s broken ribs when Nina suddenly hugged him from behind.

"Hehe~ Rena has woken up~"

"Hey, get off."

"Earlier, when I was attacked, the barrier protected me, right? Was that you, Yuu?"

"I don’t know."

"Hehe~ I know it was you. Yuu is so kind."

Yuu dragged Nina over to Marifa and checked on Koro and Sukke. Koro and Sukke were squatting on the ground, breathing heavily.

"Marifa, what’s wrong with Koro and Sukke?"

"They didn’t receive any particular attacks, but they’ve been acting strangely since the battle ended and now can’t even stand up."

Yuu used his Otherworldly Magic Eye to check Koro and Sukke but found no abnormalities in their HP or status.

"…Maybe they’re about to rank up."

Rena, who had regained consciousness, came over to Yuu but was still a bit unsteady on her feet.

"Rank up… Does it happen when their level increases?"

"…We don’t fully understand rank up. Some scholars say it happens when their level increases, while others say it happens when they keep eating magic cores."

Rena, who rarely spoke for so long, was catching her breath.

"Oh, Master, Koro and Sukke are—"

Marifa noticed that Koro and Sukke’s bodies were glowing and stepped back. The light soon enveloped them, and when it faded, Koro and Sukke had changed in appearance. Koro’s originally black fur had become even darker, his body had grown larger, and his tail had become thicker and fox-like. Sukke’s fur had changed from black to white, and his fur volume had increased, making him look like a fluffy sheep with only the tip of his tail visible.

"Wow, I’ve never seen a monster rank up before. The black one is a Shadow Wolf, and the white one is a Sheep Wolf. Both are Rank 3 monsters."

"Indeed. I’ve never seen it before either."

After the rank up, the two, who had been squatting just moments ago, were now running around Yuu and the others energetically.

"Koro! Stop licking Master’s face! Sukke, don’t crawl under my skirt!"

The two seemed to have excess energy and ignored Marifa, continuing to play around.

"…Fluffy."

"Koro’s tail is so fluffy~"

Yuu and Marifa stayed with the two until they calmed down, while Larit and Ekkart stripped the monsters for materials and magic cores.

"Yuu, we’re done with the stripping. We got a Rank 5 magic core from the Eldertrent. I also picked up the remaining branches from the Eldertrent’s charcoal. What do you want to do with these?"

"Hehe~ Did you use Analysis from that distance?"

"Yeah, something like that. Can you let me buy these branches?"

"We’ve earned more than three months’ worth today, so I don’t mind. What about Ekkart?"

"I don’t mind either. It’s a complete Rank 5 magic core, so it’s worth 300 gold coins."

When the Eldertrent was defeated, a treasure chest appeared containing:

Silver Spear (Rank 4): Enhanced Piercing

Poison Axe (Rank 5): Poison Status on Attack

Spirit Wood Branch (Rank 4): Enchanted with Spirit Power

"Ekkart, that shield won’t be much use. Use the Obsidian Shield we just got."

"That would help."

"Alright, let’s update the Enchantments and get going."

"Sure."

"…Got it."

"Understood."

Nina and the others responded enthusiastically, but Larit and Ekkart’s expressions were not so good.

"This is a dungeon no one has cleared yet. Let’s not rush."

"Y-Yeah. I agree with Larit."

For Larit and Ekkart, it was hell from the 14th floor onward. Rank 5 monsters started appearing among the Rank 4 monsters. The Murder Beetles with their strong attacks using their hard shells and horns, the Green Slimes with their poison attacks, the Mad Mantis with their sharp scythes and paralysis effects, the Dragonflies with their excellent flying abilities, and the Bloody Trent with their bleeding attacks. The variety of attacks they had never faced before made Larit and Ekkart repeatedly think they were going to die, but each time, Yuu repeatedly attacked, healed, and supported them, defeating the monsters. By the time they reached the 16th floor, the two were barely speaking. By the 18th floor, the color had started to fade from their eyes, and by the 20th floor, they were slaughtering monsters like emotionless machines.

Finally, they reached the Crystal Room on the 22nd floor.

"Finally, the Crystal Room. Let’s update the Enchantments and go in."

"Wait!"

Larit, who had been acting like a machine, suddenly shouted.

"Larit, what’s wrong?"

"We’ve done enough for today. I’ve already leveled up twice. It’s abnormal to level up twice in a day. I want to go home, I want to go home."

"Ode also thinks today is enough. Ode wants to go home."

Yuu, moved by their desperate pleas, agreed to return. Today, Larit had leveled up twice, and Ekkart had leveled up three times. The cause was Yuu’s style of not avoiding battles and defeating all the monsters.

When Yuu and the others returned to the entrance using the transfer stone, the barrier mages were just finishing setting up the barrier at the dungeon entrance. Joseph, who had been pouting like a child, hurriedly followed them when they started to leave.

Back at the Adventurer’s Guild, many adventurers congratulated Yuu and the others.

"Larit, well done! I always thought you’d become a C-Rank someday, but finally!"

"Ekkart~ You, the slowpoke, are now a C-Rank. Congratulations!"

"Nina, will you marry me?"

"Rena, how about dinner to celebrate?"

"Yuu, I raised you."

Amidst the congratulations, Joseph said something ridiculous, but Yuu ignored him. Larit and Ekkart were crying, but it wasn’t from joy; it was from relief at returning safely to the city of Kama.

"I’m back alive!"

"Ode thought we were going to die this time."

Name: Yuu Sato

Race: Human

Job: Magic Warrior, Enchanter

Level: 31

HP: 1021

MP: 1474

Strength: 326

Agility: 254

Stamina: 339

Intelligence: 306

Magic: 329

Luck: 1

Passive Skills:

Sword Mastery LV7

Axe Mastery LV5

Dagger Mastery LV3

Staff Mastery LV2

Unarmed Combat LV4

Spear Mastery LV6

Hammer Mastery LV4

Shield Mastery LV4

Throwing Mastery LV4

Brute Strength LV3

Physical Enhancement LV6

Agility Enhancement LV2

Detection LV6

Leadership LV5

Intimidation LV2

Night Vision LV3

Fire Resistance LV4

HP Regeneration Speed LV4

MP Regeneration Speed LV5

Dark Resistance LV2

Trap Detection LV4

Stealth LV2

Status Resistance LV2

Stripping LV2

Chant Speed LV2 (UP)

Skin Hardening LV3

Otherworldly Magic Eye LV2

Regeneration LV3

Cooking LV1

Active Skills:

Sword Techniques LV5

Combat Techniques LV5

Dagger Techniques LV3

Staff Techniques LV1

Fighting Techniques LV3

Magic Fist LV4

Spear Techniques LV5

Shield Techniques LV4

Axe Techniques LV5

Hammer Techniques LV4

White Magic LV5

Black Magic LV6

Necromancy LV2

Enchantment LV4

Spirit Magic LV4

Time-Space Magic LV3

Magic Sword LV3

Blacksmithing LV2

Alchemy LV5

Stealing LV2

Stealth LV2

Identification LV4

Roar LV5

Lockpicking LV4

Trap Disarming LV4

Barrier LV3 (UP)

Magic Awakening LV2 (UP)

Breath LV3

Unique Skills:

Otherworldly Magic Eye LV3

Plunder LV3

Follower Subjugation LV3

Beast Killer

Enhanced Hearing

Regeneration

Brute Strength

Equipment:

Weapon: Spirit Sword (Rank 4): Increased damage to ethereal beings

Armor: Flying Hat (Rank 5): None

Damascus Armor (Rank 4): Enhanced confusion and sleep resistance

Damascus Gauntlets (Rank 4): Enhanced instant death and temptation resistance

Damascus Boots (Rank 4): Enhanced magic and status resistance

Magic Shield (Rank 4): Enhanced magic and status resistance

Accessories: Mirage Ring (Rank 3): Displays false information when analyzed

Name: Nina Leba

Race: Human

Job: Thief, Assassin

Level: 31

HP: 496

MP: 226

Strength: 193

Agility: 376

Stamina: 158

Intelligence: 90

Magic: 69

Luck: 22

Passive Skills:

Detection LV4 (UP)

Trap Detection LV3

Dagger Mastery LV4

Stealth LV4

Dual Dagger Mastery LV2

Assassination Techniques LV3

Evasion LV2

Agility Enhancement LV3 (UP)

Active Skills:

Stealing LV1

Ambush LV4

Trap Disarming LV3

Stealth LV4

Combat Techniques LV3

Dagger Techniques LV4

Assassination Techniques LV2

Lockpicking LV3

Unique Skills:

Magic * Earth

Equipment:

Weapon: Mithril Dagger (Rank 4): None

Damascus Dagger (Rank 4): None

Armor: Steel Helmet (Rank 6): Enhanced paralysis resistance

Wyvern Leather Jacket (Rank 5): None

Serpent Dragon Leather Gauntlets (Rank 5): Enhanced poison resistance

Hard Leather Boots (Rank 6): Enhanced agility, strength, and defense

Accessories: Demon Armlet (Rank 3): Enhanced strength

Fairy Earring (Rank 4): Enhanced illusion resistance

Sisya Pendant (Rank 5): Enhanced stealth and disguise

Dragon Armlet (Rank 4): Enhanced all abilities

Name: Rena Forma

Race: Human

Job: Mage, Witch

Level: 30

HP: 282

MP: 1307

Strength: 53

Agility: 79

Stamina: 81

Intelligence: 387

Magic: 486

Luck: 16

Passive Skills:

Staff Mastery LV2 (UP)

Chant Speed LV4

MP Regeneration Speed LV3

Magic Enhancement LV3 (UP)

MP Consumption Reduction LV2 (UP)

Active Skills:

White Magic LV3

Black Magic LV4

Barrier LV3

Magic Awakening LV3 (UP)

Unique Skills:

None

Equipment:

Weapon: Mild Staff (Rank 4): Reduced MP consumption, enhanced magic

Mithril Staff (Rank 4): Enhanced magic, chant speed, and MP regeneration

Armor: Triangular Hat (Rank 6): Enhanced HP regeneration

Mithril Robe (Rank 4): Enhanced magic resistance

Sticker Mantle (Rank 5): Enhanced fire resistance

Ogre Boots (Rank 5): Enhanced magic, poison, and paralysis resistance

Accessories: Ygg Amulet (Rank 5): Enhanced defense

Life Ring (Rank 5): Enhanced HP by 50, increased HP and MP

Goldba Necklace (Rank 4): Reduced MP consumption

Rock Dragon Ring (Rank 4): Enhanced defense

Name: Marifa Nagts

Race: Dark Elf

Job: Trainer, Bug Master

Level: 26

HP: 432

MP: 276

Strength: 102

Agility: 143

Stamina: 108

Intelligence: 113

Magic: 124

Luck: 3

Passive Skills:

Bow Mastery LV2

Magic Eye LV2 (UP)

Training LV2 (UP)

Insect Mastery LV1 (NEW!)

Active Skills:

Bow Techniques LV2

Spirit Magic LV2

Follower Enhancement LV2 (UP)

Unique Skills:

None

Weapon: Elven Bow (Rank 6): Enhanced attack power

Armor: Leather Jacket (Rank 6): Enhanced defense

Leather Boots (Rank 6): Enhanced agility

Leather Gauntlets (Rank 6): Enhanced HP

Accessories: Leather Choker (Rank 6): Enhanced strength

Leather Bracelet (Rank 6): Enhanced magic resistance