6. Please Give Me a Protection

Apparently, the Divine Protection of the Job God was bestowed at a temple, but I didn't actually know where the local one was. Maybe the proprietress can tell me?

"Excuse me, where is the temple located?"

"Oh, the temple? You're quite the pious one, aren't you?"

"Ah, no. I just want to receive the Divine Protection of the Job God..."

"In that case, there’s a branch office right next to the Adventurer's Guild."

So that was how it was. I’d gone in a complete circle. I really should have just asked Nina earlier.

I thanked the proprietress and headed back toward the Adventurer's Guild.

Now, where exactly is it?

I didn't see any buildings nearby that looked like a house of worship.

Wait... is that it?

I couldn't quite read the characters yet, but I had a feeling the sign hanging over that door said "Branch Office."

But was this really the right place? Honestly, it looked more like a shack than a holy site.

Well, no use overthinking it.

I decided to just try going in. If I was in the wrong place, I’d just apologize and leave.

When I timidly pushed the door open, I found a kind-looking old man sitting in a chair. His clothes looked like a priest's vestments, so it seemed I had found the right spot.

"Um... can I receive the Divine Protection of the Job God here?"

"Ah, yes, yes. Certainly. That will be ten silver coins."

The priest was surprisingly casual. Perhaps that was just how they dealt with adventurers. A stiff, solemn atmosphere would have been exhausting anyway, so I appreciated the relaxed vibe.

The cost—or more accurately, the offering—was ten silver coins, just as I’d been told. To be honest, it was a painful blow to my wallet. However, since the protection supposedly provided a bonus to growth, I didn't want to miss the opportunity. I wasn't exactly a min-maxer, but I didn't want to let a chance to improve my abilities go to waste. With that in mind, I handed over my meager ten silver coins to the old man.

"Yes, that’s exactly ten. Now then, there is a crystal ball in the room next door. Please touch it and pray for a protection. No one else is waiting, so feel free to take your time."

Wow... that’s incredibly simple. I’d expected something far more ritualistic. Still, as long as I got the benefits, I wasn't going to complain.

When I stepped into the adjoining room, I found a luxurious pedestal that felt entirely out of place in such a shack. Atop it sat a polished, sparkling crystal ball. I hesitated, worried I might leave fingerprints on the pristine surface, but I did as instructed: I reached out and prayed for a protection.

In an instant, a strange sensation washed over me, and several possible jobs flashed through my mind. There were far more than I had anticipated, even including non-combat roles like Cook.

Ugh, there are too many. It’s hard to keep track of them all. Is there a filter function or something? For now, I just want to see the combat jobs.

The moment the thought crossed my mind, several candidates vanished. It seemed I could narrow down the options just by thinking about it. This would make finding the right job much easier.

As I continued to filter the results, a few interesting ones remained.

Archer

Hunter

Thief

Dungeon Explorer

Mage

Both Archer and Hunter looked like they would improve my skill with a bow. Judging by my status, I was better suited for the backline, and since my dexterity was high, the bow was a solid choice. I guessed that Archer was likely focused purely on combat, while Hunter would make it easier to learn skills for exploration and traps.

I suspected Thief would be good for things like Lockpicking and Trap Disarming, but I had a nagging feeling that "Thief" in this world might just mean a common criminal rather than an adventurer archetype. I figured the "Thief" position in game terms was actually the Dungeon Explorer. If my hunch was right, Dungeon Explorer was the most suitable role for my current stats.

Then there was Mage. Since I had [Magic Aptitude], I knew I was suited for it, and I’d always admired the idea of using magic. But I didn't actually know any spells yet. It didn't seem like the right choice for me at this stage, as much as that disappointed me.

Hmm, if I'm planning to head into the dungeon, then Dungeon Explorer is probably the way to go. To be honest, I didn't think I was the type to charge headlong into battle anyway. I’d much rather spend my time opening treasure chests. Plus, it seemed like the best fit for my natural abilities.

I've decided!

I’ll be a Dungeon Explorer! Please, give me your protection!

As I poured my will into the prayer, the crystal ball flashed with a brilliant light. Did I get it?

Feeling a bit anxious, I pulled out my Appraisal Loupe to check.

—————

Name: Tort
Race: Commoner
Age: 12
Level: 1
Vitality: 15/15
Mana: 13/13
Strength: 6
Stamina: 7
Agility: 12
Dexterity: 14 [1 up]
Magic Power: 12
Spirit: 10
Luck: 100

Divine Protection:
【Divine Protection of the Job God: Dungeon Explorer】 [new]

Skills:
【Destiny God's Smile】【Lockpicking Lv1】 [new]
【Trap Disarming Lv1】 [new] 【Sense of Direction Lv1】 [new]

Characteristics:
【Cooking Talent Lv1】【Great Luck】【Dexterous Fingertips Lv1】
【Magic Aptitude Lv2】

—————

Oh, it worked! I actually got it!

What’s more, my dexterity had increased, and I’d gained several new skills. The benefits of the protection were even better than I’d hoped.

Among the new additions, [Lockpicking] and [Trap Disarming] were pretty self-explanatory. If I leveled those up, I was sure to be a valuable asset to any party.

[Sense of Direction] was a bit more vague, even after looking at the description through the loupe. Apparently, it just meant I would have a general "feeling" for which way was which. I supposed that would make it harder to get lost inside a dungeon.

In any case, I had finally taken a real step toward becoming a dungeon adventurer.