New Beginning Part 2

The rooster's crow signified that dawn had come and a new day had begun. Joshua got up from his bed and got ready to leave. His mother stopped him with a piece of bread.

"Joshua, please remember to eat." She instructed. "I know you are excited to start your new life, but you must always remember to maintain yourself."

"Sorry mom." Joshua replied. "I don't know what came over me. I forgot to eat."

"Excitement can do that to you." She said as she leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You have a good day today and be careful."

Joshua ate the bread as quickly as he could and then left the dungeon in which they lived.

[Okay my first task will be acquiring a weapon.] He thought to himself. [For that I am going to need money. Clearly my family doesn't have any, so I can't ask there. Time to exploit my knowledge of stories.]

Joshua walked the streets until he found a bakery. He was somewhat of an amateur baker in his past life and was sure that his skills would translate to this world.

A small bell over the door rang out as he entered the shop.

"Coming!" A young girl yelled from the back. "Oh, it's you Joshua!" She said with a giant smile on her face.

Joshua searched his memories. [Right, her name is Gina. She is a childhood friend.]

"Hey Gina!" He responded.

"I am so happy to see you up and about!" She said. "When you were in bed those two weeks, I thought you were a goner. Glad to see that you have pulled through. What can I do for you today?"

"Well, it turns out that I need a job and a new place to live." Joshua explained. "The lord my mother serves does not want another male in the household."

"Pervert." Gina said. "I am sorry you have to deal with that, but father would never allow a boy, especially one who is my age, to stay under the same roof as me."

"Oh, I wasn't asking to stay with you." Joshua said. "Although, thanks for thinking about it. I need money for a weapon. I wish to become an adventurer."

"But you're so sweet Joshua!" Gina complained. "You shouldn't do that!"

"It won't change me." Joshua said. "I will still be the same guy you know." [Except I fear the Joshua you know is dead, sorry Gina.]

"Well, I can give you my savings." Gina said. "But you have to promise me that you won't do anything reckless and die on me! Also, you need to pay me back one day! So, you have to stay alive!"

"Thank you." Joshua said. "I promise I will pay you back one day."

"Just give me a moment." Gina said as she went into the back. She and her family lived above the bakery, and she was using the stairs in the kitchen to return to her room. She returned shortly after leaving with a small pouch that she tossed to Joshua.

"Here is ten silver." Gina said. "That is all I have."

"I will pay you back double one day." Joshua said. "I promise you."

"See that you do." Gina said. "Seriously stay alive, or I will kill you!"

"Alright, I get it." Joshua replied. "Thanks again."

The little bell rang out again as Joshua exited the bakery. He walked around town until he discovered the blacksmith's shop. There was no door, so Joshua entered. The blacksmith was a large man with a long black beard and black hair. He was not wearing a shirt but had a leather apron over her chest as he pounded red hot metal with a hammer.

"Excuse me." Joshua said. "I would like to purchase a sword."

The blacksmith paused from his hammering and placed the metal back in the forge. "Can you even hold one?" He asked. "You look weak, kid."

"What can I purchase for ten silver?" Joshua asked.

The blacksmith looked around his shop and then pointed to a small, short sword leaning against the wall. Its blade was coated in a thin layer of rust and its edge was dulled. "You can have the piece of trash some adventurer brought in from the ruins. Damn thing is probably cursed anyway."

"Well, if it is probably cursed you should just give it to me free of charge." Joshua said. "Since I would be doing you a favor."

"Fine." The blacksmith replied. "Just pay me what I paid the adventurer for it. Four silver."

Joshua opened his pouch and pulled out four silver coins and laid them on the counter. He then went to claim his blade. The guard was cracked and the leather wrapping on the handle was torn and worn. This blade was truly garbage from anyone's perspective. Still, it was a blade, and that is the first step in any adventure.

Having claimed a weapon at a steal Joshua decided it was time to enter the forests surrounding town. He hoped that he was born in a starter town and that the monsters in his area would be weak. He was terrified at the thought of it being a high-level town and him being stuck there at level one.

At least close to town he had the option of running away. Although with endurance of one, he doubted how far he would actually make it. He entered the woods. It did not take long after leaving the protection of town that a monster appeared.

A small blue slime.

"Thank god." Joshua said in relief. "Slimes are always the bottom tier monster. I just need to kill its core."

The slime was made of a translucent fluid that surrounded a denser dark center. Joshua knew from the stories he read that piercing the core would kill the slime. Luckily for him the sword he picked up still had a sharp stabbing point.

He approached the slime with his weapon in hand, he was prepared to end it. The slime just stood there, seemingly unaware of the threat and danger approaching it. Joshua got within stabbing range and stabbed the slime with all the strength his level one stats would muster.

As his rusted blade pierced the core of the slime the translucent fluid lost its adhesion and splashed out onto the ground. The slimes core cracked with small shimmers of light escaping from the creases. Until it exploded in a small explosion and the core turned to ash.

"Yes!" Joshua said in excitement. "I managed to kill one!"

Joshua then spent the next five hours scouring the forest for any slimes he could find. He found plenty and each time he found one he killed it without hesitation. He hoped the stone slab that was his ID card would automatically update with his new status and levels. He pulled it out to look at it.

He was in luck. It showed him at level nine now, his five hours of mindlessly decimating the local smile population had paid off. His stats all leveled even across the board. It seemed that each level he gained he got plus one to all stats. He even noticed he had a skill now.

"Jack of all trades." He read aloud. "Must be why I get plus one to all stats on level up. I will have to ask Gina, if that is normal. I don't want to worry my mom about it.

A deep growl could be heard from behind him. As he turned to face it, he found himself surrounded by wolves. With only a rusted blade and no armor, he did not like his chances against such a fierce predator. As he turned to attempt to run, he found wolves on the other side of him as well.

He was completely encircled with no hope of escape. His only option was to fight, although he was not hopeful for victory. He grasped the blade with both hands and waited for the wolves to charge him. One did, it was the largest of them. Clearly it was the alpha.

As the massive animal leaped into the air Joshua pointed his sword outward in hopes that he would stab the wolf. His hopes paid off. The wolf landed directly on the blade and impaled itself through the head. Its limp body was attached to his blade now, stuck in the skull of the dead alpha wolf.

The other wolves all howled at the loss of their alpha then ran away back deeper into the woods. Joshua fell down out of fear and looked at the dead body next to him. He glanced at his tablet one more time. A new skill had emerged as well as another level.

"Demon slayer?" He said as he read his new skill aloud. "The hell kind of skill is that?!"