5 Is it wrong that I have combat passives?

I spun my newly acquired dagger in my right hand and mulled over my meeting with Eina.

Although it was meant to be teaching me about the Dungeon, since she handed me a comprehensive database of information to work with regarding the first few floors, and since I could parse all of that in about an hour, the meeting turned to me teaching her instead.

...And to be honest, I was jealous.

Maybe it was because she was an elf. At least, that was my rationale.

Once I explained to her how photoreading worked... and also how memory worked. Namely how it wasn't necessary to read every word to remember the sentence, how sentences themselves were hooks that could be used to remember passages, etc. And how constantly flipping through pages could get the mind used to perceiving them as images and subconsciously processing them.

Once I explained all of that, it took her about two hours to be able to photoread. Better than me.

Not only that, but after she was able to, a strange glint shone in her eyes. The sort that someone who was obsessed would have.

...I hoped that I was her only advisee. If not, the next guy was in for a whole world of hurt when Eina started using her new info.

But anyway, Eina quizzed me a bit on the first floor and then let me go with a warning to not take the Dungeon lightly. Also with some new equipment.

The Guild gave each Adventurer a starting bonus to work with. Basic equipment so as to not send people into their deaths.

For me, it was a knife and a thick cotton tunic. In terms of long-term use, it was basically nothing. But when considering the sorts of monsters on the first floor, mostly just goblins and kobolds that traveled around in small groups, if not alone, it should be enough.

'Should.'

I entered the tower over the Dungeon. 'Babel.'

It was bustling with activity. People going back and forth from the Dungeon. People coming down from stairs above, probably from shops.

I ignored them all and headed towards the stairs down into the dungeon.

As I did, people ignored me as well, though a few glanced my way and shook their heads.

Eh. Not my problem.

I walked down the stairs, listening to my footsteps echo around me. As I did, I felt and 'saw' something else in the air.

Mana. Not only that, but a sinister presence in the air. Similar to how Hestia's was warm and friendly, this one was cold and hostile.

I frowned and adjusted my grip on my dagger. "Dammit."

If I could, I would love to just ignore the dungeon for now and prepare more. But I couldn't.

Hestia was working hard selling her potato snacks at the food stall, but even then that only brought in a thousand or so valis for a day's work. And at best.

A sum that could be made up with a single goblin's magic crystal.

I continued my descent down the stairs and went over my plan.

It was simple.

Groceries would run about 10k valis for the week. We didn't have any utility fees or obligations, so that wasn't a problem.

In that case, our weekly expenses would run about 10k... meaning I had to kill ten goblins a week to get by. That or kobolds.

But...

No. I could do it.

The main worries in this floor were just slashes from goblin knives and kobolds smacking me with clubs. Unlike later floors, the strength of these monsters were roughly on par with humans. Meaning that I could fight them the same as I did people.

And with a weapon in hand, I wasn't scared.

At least, not in one on one fights.

I stepped out onto the floor. The first of who knew how many.

It was quiet.

Despite adventurers flooding into the dungeon, it was big enough to where it was rare for adventurers to cross each other.

I was wondering how that'd be the case, but now that I saw it with my own eyes, I understood.

Nobody knew just how deep the Dungeon went. And nobody really mapped out the entirety of every floor either.

While there was a lot of maps around, and while the Dungeon layout was mostly stable, there were always minor changes here and there. New rooms opening up, old rooms closing... It was why the warning was always to not get complacent and also to always get the latest maps.

"...Well. Let's do this." I adjusted the bag around my waist that I intended to use for magic stones and then spun the knife around in my hand to a reverse grip.

Like that, I ventured forth.

If I had to be honest, it was terrifying. I'd been in caves before, and I'd seen them in games, but this was on a different level.

The feeling of something at the bottom of the basement in the middle of the night. The fear of shadows moving in the dark. Those were imaginary for the most part.

But not here.

I could see it. I wasn't sure if others could, but I did.

Ominous hostile presences shifting around in the dark. In the walls, 'things' moving around.

Most ignored me, either because I was too weak or because they found others more enticing.

But then... a crack. In the floor in front of me, a figure began to emerge.

Short, stubby. Sharp claws and ugly as all hell... A goblin.

My heart raced in my chest. Sweat gathered on my palms. My legs grew tense...

That was the normal reaction. One I 'should' have had. But at the moment.

"Huh?"

...I didn't feel it.

The goblin screeched and then charged at me, lunging at my face, mistaking my inaction for fear.

But...

'They tend to make simple attacks. While the depth of their tactics increase further on, when on the first floor, goblins are fairly straightforward.'

Words filling my mind faster than I could register them.

'When it's something like this... You know, right? Once in the air, the opponent loses maneuverability. Not only that, but they're extremely vulnerable.'

My body moved before my mind could catch up. My arm lashed out and grabbed the goblin's arm. At the same time, I spun, throwing it at the wall.

There was a loud 'crack', the goblin's skull smacking against the sturdy dungeon walls.

But I didn't stop moving.

'Remember. They're good at playing dead, especially against stronger opponents. So ensure the kill.'

I quickly closed the gap and then slammed my knife through the goblin's eyes.

It screamed, reaching for my hand. But I already pulled it back.

'Good. But that's not enough. To kill it, ensure the vitals are taken care of.'

I spun around and then threw a sidekick at the goblin's head.

My boot met resistance, but one that quickly vanished.

And then the goblin stopped moving.

'Be careful. Monsters can sometimes make one last ditch attack.'

I lowered my foot and then quickly stepped back.

The moment I did, the goblin's headless body lunged out, lashing with its sharp nails.

And then it flopped over, completely unmoving.

I blinked and then stared at my knife. "...Huh."

That went a LOT better than I thought. So well that I wondered if it wasn't cheating... but I wasn't about to complain.

I walked over the goblin corpse and then started dismantling it. My knife cut through its skin and opened its chest. After that, I pulled out the shining crystal inside.

When I did, the goblin's corpse vanished. No, not completely. A single ear was lying on the ground where it was.

"A drop item?"

I picked it up and then stared at it.

While it looked like a normal ear... which meant it was gross, it also wasn't a normal ear.

Magical energy emanated off it. Not a lot. But enough to glow in my eyes.

And then there was the magic stone.

I stared at the glittering crystal and hummed. "This seems usable..."

I could sense it.

The magic stone wasn't called that for no reason. If I focused, I felt like I could pull out the magical power inside and use it.

But this wasn't the place for experiments.

"...Should I go a bit more?"

I glanced into the Dungeon and considered it.

Right now, I wasn't far from the stairs. If we put it in RPG terms and treated each passageway as a 'room', I was about three rooms away. Only a couple minutes out, enough to beat a hasty retreat.

"...Mm. Yeah." I nodded and then turned back towards the direction of the stairs. "I shouldn't press my luck."

This wasn't a game. Caution was the better virtue here rather than courage and bravery.

After all, we didn't respawn and healing wasn't cheap.

Since I wasn't injured, I could count that as a plus. Besides, I didn't want to spend too much time down here.

It was already noon when I finished with Eina, so if I wanted to have time to shop for groceries and make dinner for Tia, I'd have to leave early.

So-

Crack. Not just one.

I tensed and then looked around.

One, two... four shadowy presences in the walls around me.

Not only that, but a few more blocking the path to the stairs.

"Well... Shit."

I quickly considered the situation.

This shouldn't happen. Or rather, this wasn't normal. Monsters didn't usually show up in groups on this floor... but this was the Dungeon, and it seemed pissed at me.

Was it because I took care of the goblin so easily? Did it change its mind on my threat level?

I didn't know. But I did know that I couldn't afford to play around.

"Running won't work. This body's stamina is too low and I can't move fast enough. Not only that, but fighting won't really work either for the same reason..."

The goblin was one thing, but these enemies...

I could see a few kobolds, and then more goblins. Thankfully, the encounters were normal. But still, the amount wasn't.

'A group is dangerous, but it can also be used to your advantage.'

I kept my cool.

A dozen monsters were around me now. All of them hostile.

Dangerous. But at the same time... actually less than fighting one on one. Because...

'They're not coordinated. And when your enemy is not a unit, they can be used against each other.'

A cramped room. The space I had been in was now packed with hostile monsters.

That would normally be a bad thing. Normally. But in actuality...

"It's a good thing Bell's so thin. This might work."

I focused.

Howls and screams filled the room and then rushes of wind flew towards me. A chaotic surge of footsteps.

A goblin lunging for my head. A kobold swinging a stone club. Another goblin lunging for my ankles.

And more on the way.

'Which is weakest?'

The goblin in the air. Momentum was set once you were in the air unless there was secondary acceleration from a force. So...

I grabbed its arm when it arrived and spun, throwing the goblin at the kobold.

The kobold stumbled, staggering back and dropping its club.

I rushed after it, shoulder checking the dog creature before grabbing the club in my left hand.

The kobold fell over, the scrambling goblin on its face.

The goblin lunging for my ankles missed, but it rushed towards me again.

I spun my knife around again and then stabbed its eye.

The goblin screamed and staggered back.

But I didn't have the luxury to watch.

'Range is key, especially in group battles. You will be cornered if you allow them to coordinate. So don't.'

The club was too heavy for me to use properly with one arm. But that didn't mean I couldn't use it.

I stomped on the ground and spun, using leverage and momentum to throw it at the approaching goblins. There was a funny scene where they got bowled over, but I didn't have the time to laugh.

Pain.

My body was quickly becoming sore. My muscles were tensing up from going through these motions without proper training.

But I couldn't stop.

'Focus.'

I did.

A kobold approached, stone club held over his head for a powerful swing.

I didn't flinch. Instead, I charged.

The kobold swung its club at my head. But before it struck, I interrupted the attack with a tackle.

The kobold growled. But before it could do anything, I headbutted its nose.

A low whine.

I brought my knife down on its neck and severed its spinal cord, causing it to slump and drop the club.

But I didn't stop moving.

Too many enemies. Too little room.

So I had to make it.

I let the kobold slump on me and then spun, tossing it off to the side. More monsters were bowled over on the ground.

I sheathed my knife and then grabbed the forgotten club. Spinning again, I brought it down on a goblin lunging at my head.

There was a disgusting squelch and then the goblin's headless corpse slid in front of me.

I kicked it away and then let out a breath to focus.

Time to be an adventurer.