8 The Difference Between Ranks
I was waiting to leave the dungeon with Rena to enjoy a meal, so we started to arrange how to distribute our attributes.
Rena seemed to like her new blazer as she danced near the portal.
"Let's go eat?" She asked.
***
[Name: Hoshikawa Rena
Race: Goblin? (Human)
Level: 3
Class: Goblin Warrior
Master: Akira Tendo
Bond: 40/100
HP: 87/102 (+50 From Akira)
MP: 100/110
STR: 25
VIT: 30
INT: 22
AGI: 22
DEX: 22
DEF: 33
CHA: 42
Bonus Attribute Points: 0]
"How is my status? I put 1 into AGI and DEX while the rest into DEF." Rena asked me, her eyes seeming to want my praise or input like torches.
I looked her up and down, wondering what was best for me.
Although her increasing a single attribute by 10 gains me 3 in total. If she died because I made her too weak, then I might lose everything!
Nodding at my thoughts, "You should increase your DEF to 40, then start increasing STR, VIT, AGI and DEX equally, with the last point alternating between INT and DEF."
Rena looked at me; once again, it seemed she was using the notepad function of our system interface, her pretty fingers dancing through the air.
"So 1 to all Stats except INT and DEF, which I alternate." Her eyes looked at me to confirm before she continued. "What about CHA? Do I need to be more charming?"
"You're pretty enough as it is."
Ignoring her blushing face, I sorted my stats before nodding in satisfaction.
[Name: Tendo Akira
Race: Vampire (Eros)
Level: 3
Class: Monster Tamer
HP: 70/70
MP: 35/35
STR: 15
VIT: 10 (Sealed)
INT: 7
AGI: 7
DEX: 10
DEF: 15
CHA: 163 (1,505 Sealed)
Bonus Attribute Points: 0]
Adding 3 to STR and 2 to DEF was close to my plan to balance my range and melee by getting my defence close to the base level.
"Shall we go?" I asked with the spear in my hand.
[Blood Drinking Lance]
STR + 5
INT - 1
A deadly black lance with the blood of a dreaded demon imbued in the dark red blade. 130cm in length with a 25cm blade.
On-Hit: Drains 10% of the Damage Deal and heals the wielder
Passive: Cannot be destroyed or damaged permanently. [Will repair after one hour]
My current Equipment list was getting there.
It didn't count as normal clothes, but I discovered I kept the bonus attributes as long as the item was on this list!
[Equipment]
Head - None
Chest - None
Legs - None
Arms - Cloth Gloves of Flame
Cape - None
Weapon - Blood Drinking Lance
Weapon - Crude Longbow
***
We stepped into the strange portal before the world turned into a washing machine and tumble dryer, causing us both to stumble as I held her waist naturally.
Rena squeaked but let her weight settle in my arms.
"Let's hand all the items to the woman."
"Mm."
The same woman was sitting at her desk, writing with a stone face. "Huh? Did you already return? I bet it was that ambush of four... Wait!? You are wearing Red Slime gear!"
She looked genuinely shocked and stood up.
"They were tough for me, but Rena is pretty strong."
However, her head shook to the sides. "No, this dungeon is supposed to take you more than 10 hours to clear the first time. That is the current record for a duo who were both C-Rank Heroes."
Her eyes looked at me with a slight sparkle but nothing major, a slight sense of respect. "Congratulations, you've managed to break the record."
"A D-rank and E-rank cleared the dungeon in 2 hours and 10 minutes."
It made me feel great to hear, but I knew it was just me and the bow this time. In the second section, with four slimes, I would have died.
So, most of the credit was Rena's. She let herself get melted to protect me.
Rena handled our unneeded stuff as my STR was too low and affected my carry capacity, as the Heroes below Rank B didn't get a weightless item bag.
"Quite a few good slime cores... 6... 7... 10 lesser and 4 small cores, along with the large boss core, which is classified as advanced..."
A small sign was placed to show the conversion rates, which Rena and I took notes on in our system interface.
==Rough Core Prices==
Lesser (level 1-10) = 1-3 copper coins
Small (Level 11-20) = 5-10 copper coins
Basic (Level 21-30) = 1-3 Silver coins
Advanced (Level 31-40) = 5-10 silver coins.
In small print, it said Boss cores of levels 1-10 could be anything from Small to Advanced.
"Altogether, I will give you 25 copper coins for the Lesser due to some that were a little crushed and 30 copper for the Small for the same reason."
"The advanced core was perfect, so the total is 10 Silver and 55 Copper coins. Please check the amount and confirm the sale by pressing your thumb here." As she was speaking, the woman took out the device from earlier.
We both pressed it and then a loud beep and green light showed as she tossed the bag of coins to me.
I wonder if it's due to my rank I got the rewards?
⟪Caress Skill Activated!⟫
[Monster Girl Taming Choice!]
A sudden voice sounded in my mind as Rena was frozen in time again.
1. Share the loot equally. + 10 Bond +20% of Total Stats added to Master.
2. Keep the loot, but don't be stingy if she wants or needs something +10 Bond. Rena's Trust in you will deepen, +20% of Total Stats added to Master.
3. Why give your pet the money? She earns for you! -100 Bond / +100% of Total Stats added to Master, gain the title: Scrooge.
Hmmm...
I didn't care what choice I made but chose 2. The reason was simple. I am the Master, but you should reward your pets when they do well.
Maybe if she wants something, I can get it; otherwise, I'll keep it for the future.
"Not only that, but it shows me exactly what type of man this girl is looking for. She doesn't want to be overly pampered, it seems."
Rather, she wanted someone to rely on, probably due to coming to this world.
***
I returned to normal time and tapped Rena's soft, peach-shaped buttocks, stroking along the gradual curve before reaching underneath.
She trembled but didn't complain as I took the bag with our money and put it in my inventory. This space was strange, with only money and Equipment going inside.
The rest needed a special item bag.
When we were finished, I used my hand to guide Rena outside. Her irresistible caramel skin with a slightly red shade seduced my gaze; I enjoyed the sight as we began to leave.
But I turned back because I almost forgot!
"By the way. Do we need to do more today? I thought it was 4 hours."
"No, it's optional for you until the practice later on since you cleared a floor completely! My name is Nicola, and I am usually down here, so we will meet often. I hope you managed to rise in the ranks."
We smiled before leaving the dark room and returning to the surface.
