7. Challenging the Dungeon

It had been two weeks since I’d registered as an adventurer, yet I still hadn’t set foot inside the dungeon.

Perhaps I was taking things a bit too easy. Of course, it’s not like I’d just been idling my time away.

Every day, I’d been steadily completing requests to gather medicinal herbs. Whether it was because no one else was taking the jobs or because my Luck stat was so high, I wasn’t entirely sure, but I seemed to find clusters of herbs with ease. Thanks to that, I was earning five silver coins a day. I felt like I could actually make a decent living just by foraging, though I knew that with the balance of supply and demand, I couldn't rely on that income forever.

I also attended training sessions at the Guild. I focused on dagger techniques, as well as lockpicking and trap disarming. While my skill with a blade was still a work in progress, I’d made decent strides in my Thief Skills. Naturally, it would take much more time to truly master them.

My current status looked like this:

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Name: Tort Race: Commoner Age: 12 Level: 1

Life Force: 15/15 Mana Amount: 13/13

Strength: 6 Stamina: 8 [1 up] Agility: 12 Dexterity: 14 Magic Power: 12 Spirit: 10 Luck: 100

Protection: 【Divine Protection of the Job God: Dungeon Explorer】

Skills: 【Destiny God's Smile】【Dagger Lv2】[new] 【Lockpicking Lv5】[4 up]【Trap Disarming Lv5】[4 up] 【Sense of Direction Lv1】

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

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Aside from training, I’d also gathered most of the gear I thought I’d need for a dungeon run: a lantern, bandages, a leather water flask, rope, and various other sundries.

I’d wanted better weapons and armor, too, but the prices were staggering. Even a basic set of leather armor cost three large silver coins—the equivalent of thirty standard silver coins. I could have bought it if I’d pushed my finances to the limit, but I decided to hold off for now. I’d rather wait until I have a bit more breathing room.

Skill Scrolls were another hefty investment. Despite being consumables, even beginner-level magic cost five silver coins per scroll. However, considering it an essential investment for my growth, I bought two: Clean and First Aid. Clean was a spell for removing dirt; since adventuring is a filthy business, it was a practical, almost mandatory convenience. It was quite popular even among non-adventurers. First Aid was a basic healing spell. Its effects weren't miraculous, but it could apparently mend minor bruises and scrapes instantly.

With that, my preparations were complete.

Well, that might be a slight exaggeration. To be honest, I’d really hoped to join a party. I even visited the tavern where the adventurers hung out for that very reason, but the place seemed to be filled with nothing but grizzled veterans. It didn't feel like the kind of place where I could just wander up and ask to join in, so I ended up slinking back home dejectedly.

And so, even though I was on my own, I decided that I should at least be able to handle a scout of the First Floor. At long last, I arrived at the dungeon entrance!

I hadn't been sure what to expect, but the area was incredibly bustling, complete with a Guild branch office. There were plenty of adventurers standing around—some seemed to be in the middle of strategy meetings.

I even spotted a party that looked like fledgling adventurers just like me. It was a three-person group, so I figured there was plenty of room for one more. Maybe I should go talk to them?

But while I was standing there hesitating, the party turned and entered the dungeon...

Oh well.

I’d originally planned to challenge it solo today anyway. This was all according to plan. Totally according to plan.

The entrance to the dungeon was essentially a cave. However, the space inside was supposedly distinct from the world outside. I’d heard that depending on the dungeon, you might find forests or even volcanic regions inside. It defied logic. I wondered if there was something like a "Dungeon Master" who tinkered with the layout of the floors. I hadn't come across any concrete information like that in the rumors I'd gathered, though.

Regardless.

I began a slow descent down the gentle stone stairs just past the entrance. The light filtering in from behind me was already growing faint and unreliable. I pulled out my lantern and lit it. It occupied my left hand, but there was no helping it. I could have hooked it to my belt, but that would mean the light would be cast from a lower angle, narrowing its effective range. It was a trade-off.

By the time I reached the bottom of the long staircase, the atmosphere had shifted. Up until then, it had felt like a natural cavern, but this place looked like an artificial labyrinth. The floor was level, which made it easier to walk, but the walls were so monotonous that I felt like I’d get lost if I took too many turns.

Fortunately, this floor had been thoroughly mapped. Markers had been placed at the corners, making it nearly impossible to lose one's way. I’d heard stories of "Shifting Dungeons" where the internal structure changed frequently, but no such phenomenon had ever been recorded here. It was a beginner-friendly dungeon.

Of course, one might wonder if there was any point in diving into a dungeon that had already been explored to death. The answer was a resounding yes—otherwise, adventurers wouldn't be swarming the place.

Through some unknown principle, monsters and treasure chests periodically manifested within the dungeon. The materials dropped by monsters were precious resources, and it went without saying that finding a treasure chest was the ultimate goal. That was what drew the adventurers in.

My goal was exactly the same. Especially the treasure chests! While the spawn rate for chests was reportedly much lower than that of monsters, I was hoping my Great Luck would tip the scales in my favor.

As I made my way down a random passage, a cackling, raspy sound echoed from the darkness ahead. Gehe-gehe...

A monster.

Since I was carrying a lit lantern, it definitely knew I was here. A surprise attack was out of the question. I set the lantern on the ground and prepared for combat.

Before long, small, humanoid monsters emerged from the shadows. They carried crude, club-like weapons. And there were three of them.

Was my Luck even working?

They were almost certainly Goblins. I’d researched the monsters on this floor in advance. I would have liked to confirm their stats with Appraisal, but I didn't have the luxury of peering through my Appraisal Loupe right now. In moments like this, the loupe was a bit of a nuisance.

The odds were a bit high, but even so, they weren't opponents I couldn't handle...!