Chapter 3: Trapped Inside A Dungeon

-----

I was a bit too conceited. In that time, I didn't remember that Anna's life in the novel was filled with lots of despair. The author was really cruel, making her a device to always bring disasters and challenges to the main character, by always putting her into extreme danger.

One of these unexpected events was when Anna was finally woken up by her brother, only for a Dungeon Break to emerge right in front of her, teleporting her in the middle of a dangerous, monster-infested dungeon. At the age of 17, I am still too young to die! And just like right now, still in my damn hospital clothes, I found myself in the middle of a desolate cavern-type dungeon.

"Dammit."

I quickly looked around, finding nothing other than stone walls and a tight passage leading somewhere else. The darkness was only barely illuminated by blue and pink colored crystals growing at the ceiling, it was so silent that I felt like every movement made a sound. I could even clearly hear the beating of my heart, and the sound of the creaking of my bones.

This is bad.

Why? Well, because the story of the novel is told from the protagonist's viewpoint. So I have not much idea how Anna even survived in the dungeon. One wrong step and I might end up changing the story and bringing her death even sooner. Just after being given a new chance at life, am I going to die already?

"What is this sweet smell? Ah! That's…!"

Suddenly, I remembered one thing though. The Abyssal Caves where Anna and a lot of the hospital staff were summoned was a place filled with high-rank materials! And right behind me, there was an enormous bed of pink and purple flowers I hadn't noticed before. The beautiful flowers had colorful auras emerging from them, creating sparkles.

"Those are… I think they were named {Everose Lilies} and {Rotten Heart Roses}…"

Both were high-ranking materials, one good for making potions and healing, and the other used to make deadly poison. I quickly, and without hesitating, stepped right toward them. I need to get ahold of anything I can if I don't want to die! Without wasting any time, I grabbed the pink colored Everose Lilies.

FLASH!

And just as I grabbed it, my hands began… glowing with golden light?!

Ding!

[The Cosmic Throne {Maiden that Watches Over Nature} seems happy that you're knowledgeable about many plants!]

[She has graciously tipped you with a Skill to sponsor your new life!]

[You acquired the [Gatherer (F Rank): Lv1] Innate Skill!!]

-----

[Gatherer (F Rank): Lv1]

[Skill EXP]: [10/100]

A Special Innate Skill that allows the user to gather materials out of dungeons in perfect condition and store them inside a personal interdimensional Inventory with unlimited storage! The higher the level, the higher the quality of the gathered materials.

Level Bonus (1): Item Quality +10%. 5% Chance for a Gathered Item to Rank Up an Extra Quality Rank.

-----

[She hopes for you to find many new ingredients in the future!]

Oh, the Constellations. Right, even now, they're watching me. They probably don't want this to end so soon, don't they? Suddenly, the Everose Lily in my hands disappeared after giving a golden glow. What just happened? Where is it?

Ding!

[You've stored the [Everose Lily (B Rank)] x1 Inside your Inventory!]

[Oh?! The [Everose Lily (B Rank)] x1 has Ranked Up to A Rank!]

[Do you wish to dismantle it?]

Oh, it was stored in the Inventory. That was scary though, to think things can just disappear out of my hands. I need to be careful how I handle this.

"Dismantle it? I can even do that. Alright."

Ding!

[You've Dismantled [Everose Lily (A Rank)] x1!]

[You acquired [Everose Lily Roots (A Rank)] x1, [Everose Lily Flower (A Rank)] x1, [Everose Lily Stem (A Rank)] x1, and [Everose Lily Crystal (A Rank)] x1!]

"Oh…"

Wait, the crystal! I remember it did something good.

-----

[Everose Lily Crystal (A Rank)] x1

A special, incredibly high-quality crystal containing the heart and essence of the Everose Lily. When consumed, it can restore a large quantity of HP and increase all Stats by +10 for 3 Minutes. The buff can be stacked, and the buffing time can be reset each time the same item is consumed.

-----

Ahh, a buff! Just what I needed. It's only three minutes though. But it can reset as long as I keep consuming more, no? And there's a whole flower bed here. Then it's time to gather to my heart's content before any monster shows up! I have to hurry.

Ding!

[You've stored the [Everose Lily (B Rank)] x1 Inside your Inventory!]

Ding!

[You've stored the [Rotten Heart Rose (B Rank)] x1 Inside your Inventory!]

Ding!

[You've stored the [Rotten Heart Rose (B Rank)] x1 Inside your Inventory!]

Ding!

[You've stored the [Everose Lily (B Rank)] x1 Inside your Inventory!]

Ding!

[You've stored the [Everose Lily (B Rank)] x1 Inside your Inventory!]

Ding!

[You've stored the [Rotten Heart Rose (B Rank)] x1 Inside your Inventory!]

…

A few minutes later, I had dozens of flowers, which I quickly dismantled inside of my inventory!

----

[Currently Stored Items]

[Everose Lily Roots (A Rank)] x3

[Everose Lily Flower (A Rank)] x3

[Everose Lily Stem (A Rank)] x3

[Everose Lily Crystal (A Rank)] x3

[Everose Lily Roots (B Rank)] x16

[Everose Lily Flower (B Rank)] x16

[Everose Lily Stem (B Rank)] x16

[Everose Lily Crystal (B Rank)] x16

[Rotten Heart Rose Roots (B Rank)] x12

[Rotten Heart Rose Flower (B Rank)] x12

[Rotten Heart Rose Stem (B Rank)] x12

[Rotten Heart Rose Crystal (B Rank)] x12

-----

And not only that, but Gatherer is super easy to level up!

Ding!

[The [Gatherer (F): Lv1] Skill has earned 310 Skill EXP!]

[The [Gatherer (F): Lv1] Skill Level has increased to Level 3!]

-----

[Gatherer (F Rank): Lv3]

[Skill EXP]: [10/300]

A Special Innate Skill that allows the user to gather materials out of dungeons in perfect condition and store them inside a personal interdimensional Inventory with unlimited storage! The higher the level, the higher the quality of the gathered materials.

Level Bonus (3): Item Quality +30%. 7% Chance for a Gathered Item to Rank Up an Extra Quality Rank.

-----

"Chuuu…"

Phew, thankfully I was done now. For now, I have to quickly find somewhere safe to hide. I can't fight monsters in a B Rank Dungeon, to be honest. These items are just in emergencies, and-

"Chuuu…!"

And well, I-

"CHUU!"

What the hell is that little noise?!

I looked down at the floor, suddenly finding a tiny… critter. It resembled a purple-colored pill bug the size of a small house cat, and it was coming straight out of a hole in the walls.

And then, more.

And more…

And more?!

Ding!

[You've been spotted by the [Abyssal Dweller Pill Bugs (F Rank)] Swarm!]

[You've stolen all their food and now… they're furious!]

[Be careful, their bite is poisonous!]

Thank you System, I can tell.

-----