Mr. Nobu’s Otherworld Chronicles Chapter 19

"I can carry your luggage for you~. 300 mani for half a day~! Leave the physical labors to me~~."

"We're looking for someone who can use magic as our rear guard. Anyone want to improve themselves together with us in the dungeon~?"

"We have potions and cure potions here. Get yourself ready before you get hurt~."

Arrived at the entrance of Gramada Central Dungeon! There's a big cystal installed near the entrance. It's called Gate Crystal, it controls the traffic of people that come and go to the thing called Port Crystal on a particular floor.
Of course this thing can only be installed on a dungeon that has been put under control.
This dungeon is called Fonbran Dungeon. Also known as, 『Dungeon of Growth』. There are no strong monsters on the shallower floors so it's perfect for beginners.

It's almost 2:00 PM now. The area around the dungeon's entrance is relatively bustling. It's full of porters (baggage carrier) waiting to be hired, stands selling medicines, maps and such, and people soliciting for temp parties. Of course, I'm going solo though.

Since I still can't tell left from right, let's gather some intel for now.

"Hey pops, how's business?"

"Eh not bad. Newbies still keep coming but they always dived in first things ya see. Only bought maps and stuff once they were in a world of pain."

"Well, I'm here to buy a map since it's my first time. How much is a map for this dungeon?"

"The whole 1-5F are 500 mani. 6-10F are 700 mani. 11-15F are 900 mani. The last floor 16F has randomized layouts so ain't no one selling the map."

"I see I see. I'll have the 1-5F map for now. I'm gonna take it step by step."

"Here ya go, thanks for yer patronage."

He gave me a bundle of five rolled parchments.

"The ▼ symbol marked on the maps are the floor crystals that carry you down. They're floor crystals that connect to the crystal on the floor below. △ ones would bring you back up one floor. There's a port crystal every five floors that'll bring ya back to the entrance."

"Hou hou, you sure are thorough."

"This dungeon is under control but some parts do change at times. Would ya report it to me if you find one of those changes? You can get a handsome sum if the info isn't known. I'm hedging my bets here since ya look like someone who understands the importance of intel."

"Gotcha, well, first I gotta get accustomed to it."

"Get back in one piece ya hear me. Yer' my important lunch tickets after all."

Gahahaha, the old man laughs heartily.

"Hahaha, I'm off then."

Town civil servants called Administrators are collecting admission fee at the entrance. The fee is 100 mani. Whether that's expensive or cheap will depend on my earnings from now on.

From the admission gate, I set my foot into the dungeon.

A huge floor spread out when I descended the stairs. True to the map, it seems to be a large hall on 1F.
There are parties and solo people here and there. Judging from a rough outlook, everyone seems to be a beginner.
For now, I'd like to try many things so let's look for an unpopulated place by relying on the map.
By the way the inside of this dungeon is bright, dunno how that works. I should manage as long as I didn't get caught off guard then.
I slowly advance ahead while gripping an iron sword. I still don't know what will come out, so using this swor

d I'm used to is better. I have throwing knives ready to be thrown any time.

As I advance ahead while straining my ears, suddenly I can hear something breathing roughly from beyond a turn ahead.

I tiptoed with my back on the on the wall, peeked and saw a dog there.

p.a.w.n Dog Lv3
HP: 15/15 MP: 0/0
The lowest ranked underling dog. They're good at group battles, can be a menace if you're surrounded by many.

It looks like a Doberman but a bit skinnier. That makes it look very hungry instead. Either way, I've got to focus.

I check that n.o.body is around. Alright, let's shoot a magic as the first strike and bring it down in close combat.
I wait until it turns its back here and take my aim.

"Fire Arrow (whisper)."

An arrowed appeared in the air and went straight to the p.a.w.n Dog.
Hm, it turned around!? Did it notice my voice? I throw a throwing knife as an additional attack. I immediately ready my iron sword and wait for the opponent's next move.

GYAWAN

Ah, the fire arrow hit. The knife is also stuck on it. Huh? The dog fell, like plop....

p.a.w.n Dog Lv3
HP: 1/5 MP: 0/0

Err.... For now let's carefully approach and finish it off. Apparently, it ended into a deadly combo of getting hit by the fire in the face, causing oxygen deprivation followed by the getting pierced by the knife.

The killed p.a.w.n Dog became particles of light and dispersed. Unlike on the outside, looks like you can't strip off monsters here. Since not even a Soul Stone remains, I wonder if I can expect drop items from them.

I steadily hunt monsters while heading to a place that seems unpopular according to the map.

However, I've only ever been encountering p.a.w.n Dogs. I've already hunted 40 of them but only got 3 Soul Stones. Moreover, they're black. I'm advancing while covering myself in Mana Clad to decrease minor damages, swinging the iron sword, firing fire arrows. The hunt is going steady but the drops are depressingly bad.

I saw a small room on my left as I pushed on. The inside...hm? There's a chest?
Is this perhaps, perhaps this is?
I'll take a little break in front of the room while inflating the expectation in my heart.

Presently, my potions still fully remain. HP and MP are full. Preparation is perfect. Prepare to charge!
I invoke Mana Clad as I walk into the small room.

Something wrong happened the moment I went inside the small room.
With a 'VOOON' sound, the path I took to go inside the room was blocked by black mist-like thing. I tried to get out of the room, but I couldn't get past the black mist for some reason.

"I only ever got right when I looked bad, really now."

Oh d.a.m.n, something's coming!?

A group of dogs overflowed from inside black mist that looked like it was protecting the chest.

p.a.w.n Dog Lv3 x 4
HP: 15/15 MP: 0/0

Knight Dog Lv6
HP: 30/30 MP: 2/2
A type of high-ranking dog accompanied by underlings.

There's a new one among them1?
The white haired dog is Knight Dog huh.
Anyway, in a one vs many, I've got to decrease their numbers first!

"Fire Arrow!"

The target is a p.a.w.n Dog. Next, I throw throwing knives while moving around to disperse their aim.
The fire arrow hit one dog, and while most of the throwing knives missed, one of it hit another dog's leg.
Its movement looks obviously slower after losing its mobility.

But then, the Knight Dog suddenly howls!

AOOOOOOOOOON

Guuh, my ears hurt.
With the howl as a signal, three p.a.w.n Dogs rushed at me all at once.
I mowed down and killed one dog, but the other two's fangs pierced my left leg and right tight.

OWWWWWWWWW

Even though I'm covered in Mana Clad, it still feels really hurt. It feels like stepping on a nail with sneakers on.
While enduring the pain, I hit the p.a.w.n Dogs' heads with my free hand and the sword's grip.
However, the Knight Dog a.s.saulted me during that chance.
Even though I twisted my body to evade it, its claw grazed and easily cut my left hand.
Uwaa, its power is on a completely different level than p.a.w.ns'.
I keep moving around while healing myself with Heal. This could get very dangerous if they started coordinating well.

Ah, they moved while I was thinking. Sneaking around like they're watching my movement.

Is there something, anything? I've used up all the knives... Fire arrows can't stop them....

Ah! Wonder if I can use that? I haven't checked if I can invoke it, but I'm gonna give it a try.

The moment they jump at me, I jump back and powerfully voice out the words.

"Flame Wall!"

A wall of flame raises up from the ground in front of me.
I feel my strength getting drained at a stretch at the same time. Looks like I used up quite a bit of mana.
No surprise there, since a wall of flame bigger than Futsuno-san's came up.

The dogs that jumped into the flame wall got burnt and writhed.

But the Knight Dog alone hasn't lost its fighting spirit even though it's covered in flame!
I ready my iron sword, use up the remaining mana to strengthen Mana Clad and stare at the Knight Dog.

The Knight Dog rushes in while howling.
However, its movement isn't that sharp, even the current me can manage it!
I aim at its opened mouth that's trying to bite me and horizontally slash it.

"HAAAAAA"

Even though I felt some resistance from the meat, the Knight Dog got cut up into two from the mouth back and fell down like splat.

I feel relieved since it went well somehow, but there's still some p.a.w.n Dogs remaining. Let's finish off the ones that haven't disappeared one by one.

And then the dogs disappeared into lights without a sound.
Afterward, a small stone that's different from the ones I got so far falls on the place.

"Ooh, it's red. A red Soul Stone."

If I'm not mistaken this ranks higher than the black one. One of the p.a.w.n Dogs also dropped two Soul Stones. Dunno how it works, but at least this means I didn't work for free. Ah, I recall something I forgot to do, I haven't sold the Soul Stone I got from the goblin back then.

Tereretettette~♪ n.o.busada Leveled Up.

Name: n.o.busada Izumi - Gender: Male - Race: General Human?
Cla.s.s: Fighter Lv9 - State: Healthy
t.i.tle: 【Moss Ball Killer】
HP: 30/80 - MP: 12/82
【Skill】
Etania Native Language - Differing Soul Communication Lv1 - Magic Development Lv1 - Houseworks Lv5 - Agriculture Lv3 - Swordsmans.h.i.+p Lv2 - Two-handed Spear Lv1 (New!) - Throwing Lv2 (Up!) - Evasion Lv1 - Holy Magic Lv 1 - Elemental Magic Apt.i.tude Lv2 - Life Magic - Disguise Lv2 - Mana Clad Lv2

【Unique Skill】
Discerning Magic Eyes Lv3 - Levelitt's Blessing (Small)

Ooh, my level went up by two, perhaps from the acc.u.mulation of the battles so far. Looks like Level G.o.d's blessing is working well. If I make something next time, I'm gonna offer some to her.
And getting Throwing skill leveled up is plainly nice.

For now, I heal myself to recover my HP.
Oh right, there was a chest, completely forgot about it because the heat of the battle. 

There is a treasure chest, or rather a wooden-like chest. There's no keyhole or anything, but how about traps? Sadly, I don't have that type of skills. Preparing for the worst, let's open it while guarding my face with gauntlets.
With a creaking sound, the chest plainly opened.
There's a small bottle inside.
The heck is this?
I appraise it while looking at it dubiously.

Shut-in Dokugael Poison
Quality: Crude - Expiration: Way pa.s.s
Poison made from a poison sac of Shut-in Dokugael that is quite hard to find since they like to shut themselves deep in a cave. The quality is bad so it can't be sold.

Some dangerous stuff came out!
It's Object X that needs to be handled with caution. This is that huh, I will eventually use it by smearing throwing knives with it. Since the quality is bad, its effect is probably lacking, but it should be useful somehow or other.

I take a rest in the small room while leaning my back on the wall. I've lost quite a lot of both stamina and MP, it's tough.
I attempt to recover myself by gnawing on the few remaining fruits I have.

After recovering to some extent, I resume the single minded dog hunting.
I also tried to use an iron spear, but using it in a real battle was quite different as expected. Nevertheless, I managed somehow since the opponents were just dogs. I also tried to use a bow, but I couldn't get a hit in at all due to the lack of training. Let's ask Mitama the knack for it at least next time.

The drop rate for Soul Stones was low though. Think it's around 10%. I only got 3 Soul Stones from hunting 30 dogs after the break. Is this just how the way it is, or is my real luck extremely low.... I pray that it's not the latter. No really seriously.
By the way, after that time I didn't encounter any more Knight Dog. Wonder if that was a really special pop up?

Tettere~♪ Acquired 【Dog Hunter】 t.i.tle.

Ooh, I got something.

【Dog Hunter】 Hunter of dogs. A t.i.tle given to those who hunted a large number of dogs. It has the effect of scaring wild dogs if you get close to one.

What a dubious t.i.tle. Won't I be unable to hunt if I use it?
Guess I'll leave it alone for now.

And then I b.u.mped into another small room while wandering around looking for dogs. It's not the same room from before.
What should I do? I still haven't used a potion. HP is at 80%, MP is at 70%.
There's something I'd like to try if the enemy have the same formation as that time.
Alright! Let's give it a try after resting a bit. This should be the last considering the time anyway.
Ah, since I'm likely going to have an encounter anyway, might as well make use of that.

There's a wooden chest inside the room again.  I step into the room while readying the iron spear and strengthening Mana Clad. Suddenly, the door becomes impa.s.sable and black mist hangs over the center of the room again.

p.a.w.n Dog Lv3 x 5
HP: 15/15 MP: 0/0

Knight Dog Lv7
HP: 35/35 MP: 2/2

OH, there's more of them. And the level is higher too.
Argh, first strike leads to victory! Eat thiiiiiiiiis!

I face the Knight Dog.... And throw an Iron Spear with all my might at it!!

GYAWAN

Aw yeaah! The iron spear pierced through the Knight Dog's torso!!
The p.a.w.n Dogs flinched when they saw that. Here's my chance, let's go!

"Fire Arrow!"

While moving and shooting a fire arrow, I aim and throw throwing knives one after another.

The fire arrow hit the Knight Dog right in the face. It's bleeding a lot since it's writhing with the spear still stuck. How tragic. The knives pierced two p.a.w.n Dogs.
Not sure if this made two other p.a.w.n Dogs regained their sense or if it triggered them more, but they jumped on me.
However, their movements are dull and obviously frightened. t.i.tles sure are quite effective.
That's right, I had changed my t.i.tle to 【Dog Hunter】 before going inside.
I draw my iron sword and counter slash at them.
The head of one of the jumping dogs said its farewell to its body, while the other dog went to bite my left leg. Ouch ouch, it's digging deeper than before. I kicked it with all my might like saying, "Don't be afraid, the ball is your friend", separating it away.

GYAUN

The p.a.w.n Dog flew in the air while yelping. It flew straight to the other frightened dogs. I let off a magic to finish them off.

"Flame Wall!"

Normally this magic is used to block enemy's charge, but I will be having it to annihilate them in this instance.
This flame wall is shorter yet wider compared to the one I used before, though I did it spontaneously. Wonder if I unconsciously controlled it to make it easier to annihilate them? Perhaps, its shape can be changed by the will of its user. This needs to be checked in the future. Ah, I've got to heal myself.

The flame wall receded and the rounded scorched bodies of the G.o.ds were all that remain. I'm the one who did it and all but it's truly tragic.

Tereretettette~♪ n.o.busada leveled up
Tettere~♪ Cla.s.s level exceeds 10, Second Cla.s.s is liberated 
Tettere~♪ Liberated new cla.s.ses

Ooh, something has come!

Name: n.o.busada Izumi - Gender: Male - Race: General Human?
Cla.s.s: Fighter Lv10 - State: Healthy
t.i.tle: 【Dog Hunter】
HP: 46/85 - MP: 30/82
【Skill】
Etania Native Language - Differing Soul Communication Lv1 - Magic Development Lv1 - Houseworks Lv5 - Agriculture Lv3 - Swordsmans.h.i.+p Lv3 (Up!) - Two-handed Spear Lv2 (Up!) - Throwing Lv2 (Up!) - Mana Clad Lv2 - Evasion Lv2 (Up!) - Holy Magic Lv 2 (Up!) - Elemental Magic Apt.i.tude Lv3 (Up!) - Life Magic - Disguise Lv2

【Cla.s.s Skill】
Provocation

【Unique Skill】
Discerning Magic Eyes Lv3 - Levelitt's Blessing (Small)

Looks like Level G.o.d splurged, lotsa things have leveled up. Wonder if Second Cla.s.s means I can gain experience for two cla.s.ses at the same time. That's nice! I guess Cla.s.s Skill is a cla.s.s-specific skill. Also, having the elemental magic and holy magic apt.i.tude increased is nice. Think I should study about magic at the guild reference room tomorrow. Doing things without prior knowledge is getting dangerous.

When I wished to put a cla.s.s on the unset slot, the displayed liberated info had increased.

Otherworlder, Fist Fighter, Monk, Magician, Shaman, Merchant, Farmer, Househusband, Thief, Hunter.

Hunter is probably because I used a bow, Thief is maybe because I opened chests? Not really sure about Shaman. If I have to say, it's probably something to do with those black mist rooms.

For now, let's go with Thief for First and Otherworlder for Second. It'll be most satisfactory if Thief gets presence detection type of skills, Otherworlder is for raising MP. Having a lot of MP is better for experimenting.

And the long-awaited drops.... Knight Dog's red Soul Stone gotchaaaaa!
There's nothing more.... Looks like my Real Luck is really at rock bottom.

I carefully opened the wooden chest and inside it is.... T-three copper coins!?
Ya think I'm an errand kiiiiiiid.

I went my way back while slightly tasting the bitter emptiness. Dammit, I'm gonna get my revenge for sure.