Reading that dark story really killed my excitement. The sense of accomplishment and exhilaration from surpassing someone above me completely vanished. It reminded me of those moments when I was enjoying myself, lost in my drinking, only to be abruptly jolted awake by the news of an impending deadline.
Now I didn’t feel like reading books anymore, and without any magic power, I couldn’t even experiment with new spells. So, what should I do? For now, let’s turn on the lamp…
Oh, interestingly, it seemed that my level had increased, sparking my curiosity about whether I could handle two magic stones now. Let’s give it a try. Ah, just barely, the health recovery amount exceeded the damage. From now on, I’ll use two magic stones.
Come to think of it, I was subjecting myself to self-inflicted harm to nullify my weakness to light and acquire the [Light Magic] skill. Given the circumstances, it seemed like a fitting opportunity to invest some skill points (SP) and explore the potential skills I could acquire.
To begin, let’s organize them by category, starting with the weapon skills. Oh, interesting. It was intriguing to discover that even as a mage, I had the option to acquire skills like [Sword Mastery] during the character creation phase. But isn’t it too expensive, requiring 5 SP? The basic elemental magic skills all required only 1 SP each.
If that’s the case, aiming to master every weapon to become a “Weapon Master” using SP must be quite challenging. It sounded intriguing to be able to switch weapons depending on the situation, but I wondered if it was a too difficult path to tread. Although this didn’t concern me, but I hoped for the others who threaded this path the best.
Next up was the magic category, but let’s save the excitement for last. So, instead let’s focus on the production skills. Hmm… This one seemed pretty standard. It required a flat cost of 2 SP. Perhaps they had made it more accessible? It could have been just the right thing to do to pass the time when I found myself idle, like now. But I didn’t pursue it.
Next was the hobby category. There were various options. [Fishing] and [climbing] would probably have made those who couldn’t find much time in real life quite happy. However, in stories, it was often a classic plot development where you needed these skills to reach certain places or obtain certain items. It might be the case in this game too. I made a mental note of it, just in case.
Next… oh? Stat enhancement skills? Let’s see… [Strength Enhancement] and [Intelligence Enhancement], huh? I see, so these skills raise the actual stats themselves, based on the masked data. I’d really like to have a few of these. Especially [Intelligence Enhancement] and [Mental Enhancement], which seem relevant to magic, as well as [Increased HP Recovery Rate] and [Increased MP Recovery Rate].
The first two cost 5 SP each, a bit on the heavier side, while the latter two cost 8 SP, quite a hefty investment. This called for some contemplation. Should I prioritize raw power or focus on increasing my endurance in prolonged battles? I did think I would eventually acquire all of them, but this would determine how I navigate through the early stages, so it was something to ponder.
In my case, I should prioritize endurance in prolonged battles. Since I mainly played solo, it was crucial to have a reduced depletion of magic power to be able to handle unforeseen situations.
Next was the information category. Skills like [Appraisal] and [Linguistics] fell into this category. Wow, they were quite expensive. [Eavesdropping] and [Far Sight] were all priced at 10 SP each. Talk about getting ripped off.
Oh, could it be that the skills with high SP consumption were recommended to be acquired through personal efforts? I obtained most of my skills by thoroughly reading books or secretly moving around. It seemed that swinging a sword would grant the [Sword Mastery] skill, while eavesdropping with sharpened hearing would most likely grant [Eavesdropping]. Does that mean it was necessary to acquire skills through personal efforts, and SP should be used solely for evolving those skills? How unkind.
And finally came the magic category skill. All of the skills displayed “already acquired.” Well, I had put in a decent amount of effort. But wait, what? [Spirit Channeling]…? Why was it there!? It wasn’t there when I acquired the four basic elemental magic skills before! And it actually required a whopping 100 SP. Such a triple-digit demand in the face of a double-digit pool.
But I could actually acquire it. The requirement had exactly the same value as the bonus for discovering the “Heretical Mage’s Laboratory.” This couldn’t be just a coincidence. It was clear that someone had some idea in mind.
I was intrigued. I really was… but I decided to pass on it this time. It wouldn’t be too late to acquire it once I knew what that goddess had in mind. Besides, I was still struggling to master numerous spells even now. Adding more tasks forcefully wouldn’t lead to any good results.
Oh, it seemed that my magic power had fully recovered while I was contemplating my options. Well then, let’s summon my minions and begin the exploration of the south direction.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
There were so many Lesser Ratmen around here. However, I couldn’t help but notice that there were oddly more of them compared to the north and east. I wondered if there was something hidding ahead.
“Wait, seriously?”
A group of three individuals appeared in the distance. They all had weapons, which meant they were all Ratmen! No way, no way! Retreat!
In the north, there were only Lesser Ratmen, while in the east, Ratmen appeared sporadically. But in the south, Ratmen had formed parties. If the east was a dangerous zone, then the south was undoubtedly a perilous territory. It wasn’t a place to venture into with just my current starting race and current equipment. I decided to postpone the sewers’ south side exploration for now!
So I headed west instead. ‘Enemies stronger than the Lesser Ratmen but weaker than the Ratmen’, It would be nice to encounter such conveniently balanced opponents.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
Um, may I say something? There was nothing here! Absolutely nothing! Even the Lesser Ratmen were scarce. It was such a drastic contrast after experiencing the perilous south.
Though it made exploration easier when there was nothing around. However, I was currently fourteen blocks away from the base. It seemed like the base was located further to the east of the town.
“Hm, a wall?”
I reached a dead end just one block ahead. It seemed like fifteen blocks from the base is the west edge of the city.
However, due to the lack of battles, my level hadn’t increased. In fact, my health and magic power had been fully restored through natural recovery. Nevertheless, I had no choice but to continue the exploration.
Now, which direction should I head, north or south? Considering the presence of Ratmen in the east and south, it can be inferred that the west and north were relatively safe. For the sake of being prepared for unexpected situations, I’ll head towards the north.
“—–!—-!”
“Huh?”
What was that? What was that weird sound? It seemed to come from the south. Hmm, should I go there?
I hesitated. I was unsure, but eventually, I decided to give it a try. There might be some new discoveries waiting for me. If things seemed dangerous, I could always turn back.
Let’s see… Is this the right place? I ordered my minions to wait in the shadow of a pillar while activating my [Stealth] and [Sneak] skills. Now, let’s see what’s going on.
“Dzudzu!”
“Syurrrrrrrrr!”
It seemed like a battle was taking place. On one side, there were two familiar foes, the Lesser Ratman, accompanied by a Ratman. But the other side was an unfamiliar enemy. Let me appraise it to find out more.
――――――――――
Race: Big Slug Lv7
Job: None
Skills:
- [Mucus skin]
- [Blunt Attack Resistance]
- [Pain Tolerance]
- [Acid Spray]
――――――――――
As the name suggested, the adversary the Ratmen were pitted against was a big slug, as big as humans. Although, I was not one to cower at the sight of slimy creatures, this one was particularly unsettling.
Oddly enough, despite there being just a single giant slug, both the Lesser Ratman and the Ratman appeared to be struggling more than anticipated. Even the Ratman I had previously faced, who was a formidable opponent on par with my own skills and armed with a weapon, seemed to be having a tough time against a supposedly lower-ranked adversary.
Initially, I pondered over the reason behind their difficulty, but after observing the battle for a while, it became clear to me. The creature’s mucus was the culprit. The Ratmen primarily relied on their front teeth and swords for their attacks, but these proved futile against the mucus-coated skin of the big slug. One might assume that striking with punches or kicks could be effective, but that’s where the slug’s [Blunt Attack Resistance] skill came into play, rendering such efforts almost meaningless.
“Dzguaaaaaa!”
“Syyuuuuuuu!?”
In the midst of the intense confrontation, the Ratman suddenly made a decisive move. Swiftly closing the distance, it thrust its sword forward, relying on piercing attacks against an opponent that was difficult to slice and impervious to blunt strikes. If the enemy died from that, then all the better. However…
“JUUUU!”
“Du-zu…!”
Indeed, it turned out that the opponent possessed [Pain Tolerance]. Therefore, it was only natural that the Ratman, who had advanced too far, would face an imminent counterattack if it couldn’t finish the job.
And that counterattack came in the form of its final skill, [Acid Spray]. The big slug, spewed a repulsive-colored liquid from its mouth, drenching the Ratman at close range with a toxic substance. Ugh, the stench was overpowering. It was the worst kind of attack.
The acid of the big slug seemed to be quite potent, as the Ratmen’s marker displayed the poisoned indicator. However, whether they understood the folly of retreating at this point or not, the Ratmen, instead of jumping back, thrust their swords into the big slug, determined to defeat it. It was an intense battle, to say the least. However…
“Deploy a magic circle: Dark Wave!”
“””?!?!”””
From my perspective, this was nothing but an opportunity to seize the advantage over these monsters. Cowardly? Hahaha, I aspire to be a villain, you know? Underhanded? That’s a compliment!
――――――――――
You have won the battle.
Race level increased. Gained 1 SP.
Job level increased. Gained 1 SP.
The level of [Staff Mastery] skill has increased.
The level of [Magic Control] skill has increased.
The level of [Dark Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Appraisal] skill has increased.
The level of [Stealth] skill has increased.
The level of [Sneak] skill has increased.
The level of [Ambush] skill has increased.
――――――――――
Experience points were quite delicious, weren’t they? Even just a single Ratman would have been quite fulfilling, but taking down two Lesser Ratmen, one Ratman, and one Big Slug, a total of four creatures in a single strike, was even more rewarding.
However, it seemed that the Ratmen tended to appear more frequently on the southern side. So, as planned initially, let’s focus the exploration on the northern side. After all, I couldn’t expect every encounter to be as fruitful as that one.
Moreover, the recent battle revealed the presence of creatures other than the Ratman race, such as the big slug, within the sewers. It was a significant discovery. Not only did I gain knowledge of their skills, but I was also better prepared to handle them calmly if I encountered them again.
As for the drop items… once again, nothing. Since this time it was an effortless battle, there was no sense of frustration, but; I still felt a bit lonely. Well then, let’s begin the exploration of the northern side.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
――――――――――
The level of [Staff Mastery] skill has increased.
The level of [Magic Control] skill has increased.
The level of [Earth Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Fire Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Wind Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Dark Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Non-Elemental Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Summoning Magic] skill has increased.
The level of [Enchantment] skill has increased.
The level of [Magic Circle] skill has increased.
The level of [Necromancy] skill has increased.
The level of [Curse] skill has increased.
The level of [Trap Magic] skill has increased.
――――――――――
Yes, they were present as well, those big slugs entangled like a writhing mass of snakes, obstructing the sewer passage. Try to envision that sight. It surpassed mere disgust, nearly making me nauseous. It was a violent image that could make the faint hearted person get dizzy—an imagery of violence that couldn’t be described in words.
However, unfortunately, experience points were too enticing. They were very delicious. The creatures lacked agility to avoid magic attacks, so they proved to be easy targets for me. The fight also greatly increased the level of magic-related skills. It seems that most of the big slugs were slightly stronger than me, which worked in my favor.
Apart from that, I truly felt the concept of compatibility this time. Just as big slugs were a terrible match for the Ratmen, I was one of their worst opponents. Compatibility was indeed a significant factor in battles. How to deal with unfavorable opponents was something to seriously consider.
Incidentally, all the drop items from the Big Slugs were magic stones. A total of fourteen dropped. It was quite a fruitful harvest. I was secretly worried about what would happen if they dropped something like mucus at first.
There, at a location fifteen blocks to the west and three blocks to the north from the base, I encountered that swarm of big slugs. Since then, I’ve been advancing straight ahead, and currently I found myself five blocks to the north from that point.
“… Is this a breeze?”
It was here that I faintly noticed the flow of air. In the nearly enclosed space of the sewer, there should be no wind, only stagnant air accumulating. On the flip side, the presence of a breeze meant that there was a pathway connecting to the outside air!
With anticipation, I proceeded in the direction where the wind was coming from. I apologize for my slightly hastened pace and lack of caution. After all, finally, there might be a way for me to escape to the outside!
“Oh, wow!”
And at last, I discovered the entrance where the wind was coming from. It was located fifteen blocks to the west and seven blocks to the north of my base. The ceiling had collapsed, allowing sunlight to pour in through a gap spacious enough for a single person to pass through comfortably. I could finally leave the sewers!
However, I shouldn’t get too excited. I am, after all, an undead. If I were to be exposed to sunlight, I would be purified in an instant. I should return to the base for now, make thorough preparations, and choose a suitable time to venture out under the cover of darkness. Although I was about a day and a half behind in real-time compared to other players, my adventure starts now!
――――――――――
Name: Isam
Race: Skeleton Lv7 up!
Job: Apprentice Mage Lv7 up!
Titles:
- Knowledge Seeker
- Title Earner
- Heretic
- Underdog Usurper
- Mastermind Strategist
Remaining SP (skill points): 110
Skills:
- [Staff Mastery] Lv8 up!
- [Magic Control] Lv8 up!
- [Earth Magic] Lv6 up!
- [Water Magic] Lv6 up!
- [Fire Magic] Lv6 up!
- [Wind Magic] Lv6 up!
- [Dark Magic] Lv8 up!
- [Non-Elemental Magic] Lv6 up!
- [Summoning Magic] Lv6 up!
- [Enchantment] Lv4 up!
- [Magic Circle] Lv4 up!
- [Necromancy] Lv3 up!
- [Curse] Lv3 up!
- [Trap Magic] Lv3 up!
- [Archaeology] Lv6
- [Linguistics] Lv4
- [Pharmacology] Lv0
- [Alchemy] Lv0
- [Appraisal] Lv7 up!
- [Night Vision] Lv-
- [Stealth] Lv8 up!
- [Sneak] Lv7 up!
- [Ambush] Lv5 up!
- [Status Resistance] Lv-
- [Light Weakness] Lv7
- [Blunt Attack Weakness] Lv10
――――――――――
TN: Made a mistake on one skill, Blunt attack weakness, previously named it Physical attack weakness but the latter term very broad.
One other thing worth noting is that the current necromancy skill and spirit channeling skill can both be translated as “necromancy” but I made search in what the author wanted to convey and I concluded with these terms, if I’m wrong I’ll come back and correct everything.
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