Rebirth, Reconstructed, Redemption

Arriving back to the fighter's guild, he is greeted by Karan. His "caretaker". It's complicated. She works at the guild as a receptionist.

Karan: Oh, you're back! How did it go? Did you get hurt? Did those guys hurt you in any way? I'll revoke their pay a bit!

Yuuto: They died. We were attacked by a pack of wolves. I was the only one to come out alive. I healed my wounds. I'm fine though. I think I got some cores left over so I can cash that in.

Reminder/addition: Monster cores are proof of elimination of a monster. They are unique for each type of monster and size is depending on their mana purity which determines the price.

Uses of monster cores can vary. They are sold back to the guild for the government's use. They can also be resold for it's incredibly powerful utility to hold, transform, expulse and give power. They can also change form to the user's choice. Though they are very powerful, it comes at the price of being a one time use. Only with extreme refining can it be reused indefinitely for uses such as blank rounds for construction or as bartering units when money isn't on the table.

Receptionist Karan: That's 40 lunes for the herb quest and 20 for the cores. Congrats on getting to the 4th floor. That's the farthest you've gone.

Lune(s) is the currency used in this world. It is the only international currency.

Author's note: Lune means moon in French.

Note: They have about the same value of an American dollar.

Karan: It's amazing that you could defend yourself. You defeated a mad wolf on the 4th floor by yourself. I think you can start fighting on the first floor but still. Be careful.

Yuuto: I don't know. I'll think about it.

(Later that day)

Yuuto goes back to what he calls home.

Home as in an old abandoned shack a little north east of the town with minor renovations to make it habitable.

He changes his clothes and cleans his dirty clothes after today's dungeon run and lies down in bed.

He starts to think about today's events. Though he has killed two people, he is strangely calm about this.

he looks at his right hand which was telling another story.

Yuuto: My hands are shaking. I don't feel bad about killing but how come does it feel so normal- So natural? It's like I had let go and something came over me.

His arm felt different than before. As if something had grown and granted him the throwing accuracy to hit the adventurer in the throat even from quite a distance away.

Yuuto: And my arms. It was never this developed. I'll have to look into that more.

He slowly drifts into sleep with all his thoughts muted. This would be the first time he has slept this well in 3 years.

(The next day at the guild)

Yuuto: Huh. That's weird.

He stands before the closed gates.

Karan shows up behind him.

Karan: Oh hey, Yu-chan.

Author's note: Due to my horrid attempt at a LN, there shall be honorifics and the fact that this takes place in the equivalent of if the Japanese language took over Asia and Europe. I might just give up later with the honorifics.

Yuuto: Karan-san. What's up with the guild today. Closed today?

Due to the Dungeon Law Act, the adventurers must have a pass to enter the dungeon in order to monitor who enters and leaves to determine who has gone missing or killed in action in the dungeons.

Karan: It's just for today. It's apparently a small renovation. Since you're free for today, why don't you come play around town with me today.

Yuuto: I don't see why not.

Yuuto drops off his stuff in at Karan's and then they head up to the port of town where there are all of the shops and cafés at the west of town. The guild and tower is in the opposite side of town.

They walks around the port and grab a bite to eat at a café.

Karan: Where did your staff go? I didn't see it this morning.

Yuuto: A while back, I killed 2 monsters using the broken staff you gave me by throwing the pieces and found out that I'm pretty good with my accuracy.

Karan: Oh? Why don't we play a game. I'll give you a reward if you beat me...

Her eyes lock onto the dart board in the café.

Karan: In darts.

Yuuto: Is that a challenge?

Karan: Don't underestimate me. I was the best in my high school at darts during lunch tournaments. I have a lot of experience. Well, are you up to the challenge, Yu-chan?

Yuuto: Of course.

They get the darts and Karan goes first to set an example.

Karan: Whoever scores the most points in 3 throws wins.

Yuuto: That's alright.

She throws the darts and land a triple 20, single bull and a 14 right outside the bullseye.

Karan: Great. 99 points. Go on. Your turn.

Yuuto throws a dart and it lands on a 16.

Karan: Good form. Try to aim a bit higher and to the right.

Karan lightly smirked at his first throw.

Yuuto: Thanks for the tip. I'll keep that in mind.

Yuuto throws a second one and lands a double 20.

Karan: Great throw. But you'll have to hit one pretty accurately to beat me. I guess that's my w-

Yuuto throws the last one and lands a double bull.

Yuuto: So you were saying?

[Points: 116]

Karan: I guess you win. I'll give you a reward.

Yuuto: Sweet. I wonder what it's gonna be.

(Later)

They have some fun around town and look at a shop.

Karan: Alright. This is the place.

They enter the store and are greeted by many swords on display.

Karan: Well, there are some good swords here. Why don't you pick one?

Yuuto: Alright. I'll look around.

He looks around with the dagger and swords until something in him was telling him the same thing.

Karan saw him indecisively crouching in front of the dagger display and approaches him.

Karan: What's up? Can't find what you're looking for? I can help you. You need a self defense weapon.

Yuuto stands up and looks her straight in the face and says...

Yuuto: Actually, I want a spear.

She turns her back and walks to the sword display.

Karan: That was not what I expected. I thought you would never pick up a spear. I thought you would use a short sword or dagger because of your... cute smallness.

She turns her head to find Yuuto staring at her with eyes that reflect the anger similar to a lion's rage.

Karan: Ahah... I'm joking.

He goes to the spear display and pick up a basic iron spear.

Yuuto: I don't need that much. A simple spear is fine.

Karan: I can always buy you a more expensive one. I have the means to you you a more high quality one.

Yuuto: While yes- it might dull quicker because of mediocre material, I don't think I would need it that much.

Karan: Oh, I see. I didn't think of it like that.

Yuuto speaks again but with a weaker voice.

Yuuto: I don't want to be a burden to you.

Karan: Huh? What was that?

Yuuto ignores the question and changes the subject.

Yuuto: This spear is fairy balanced and that's all I need.

Karan: Oh, trying to change the subject, huh? I can see your embarrassment...

She approaches him and turns him around towards her.

Karan: Right through yo-

He was not embarrassed in the slightest. In fact, he looked quite ticked off.

Karan: Ah well that's that. Here.

She gives him a leather satchel.

Karan: You'll need a bag to keep the cores close. It would be easier to keep them in here rather than a small pouch. I often see you having to search your backpack because they are in the bottom of the bag.

Yuuto: Are you sure? Isn't this a bit too much? You're being too generous. I'll just take the spear.

Karan: I can buy you some light armor! Can't be too cautious, can we?

Yuuto: Can I don't need that much... I'll just take the spear and the bag. Happy now?

Karan: You're still a kid. You're not as strong as the other adventurers!

Yuuto: I started 3 years ago as an adventurer. I started when I was 10, Karan. You should know this by now. I know the first 2 floors like the back of my hand. I can get out if I'm in danger.

(A bit later right outside of the port)

There are stairs leading down to the port and there are many- very very many.

Yuuto crawls up from the stairs, struggling to catch his breath.

Karan: What's up with you, Yu-chan?

Yuuto: Wait a second!

He finally gets up on his two feet and starts catching his breath once more.

Yuuto: Hot damn... That's WAY too many stairs!

He straightens up and starts walking towards Karan.

Yuuto: I've really got to start working on my cardio.

(Tomorrow morning)

Yuuto walks into the guild and feels something different that he has heard for the last year- Something he has felt to his sole for a long time.

Yuuto: Oh my god. It's gone. It's finally gone!

Karan: So how are you enjoying the newest renovation to the guild?

Yuuto: The creaking is finally gone!

The floor boards stopped creaking.

(Later)

Yuuto found a party lacking a healer in the team composition.

The team was formed with 2 swordsmen and a tank.

They got a quest for gathering 20 mana replenishing mushrooms which are dropped from blue hounds in the north east corner of floor 3.

Tank: It's my first time going this far in. I'm new to this I guess I'm not alone right, healer?

Yuuto: I've worked in this place for 3 years.

Swordsman A: Shut up, brat. No one cares.

Swordsman B: 3 years and you still suck? That's embarrassing!

Tank: Well that wasn't nice. You should say something.

Yuuto: It's fine, tankie. I've been treated like this for a long time. How long have you been working here?

Tank: Oh, about a month.

Yuuto: You're going to experience a lot very soon. I can tell. Your eyes tell me that you haven't seen someone die before.

Swordsman A: I said shut up! Or do you prefer that I do it myself?

Yuuto just mumbled something under his breath.

[Till Yuuto's Full Explosion: 69%]

(Later further inside the dungeon)

They got to the 3rd floor of the dungeon without any big fights. Soon, the first monsters appeared and found them.

[Monsters]

-Goblins x5

-Goblin Warrior (Knife) x3

-Goblin Archer x4

They raise their swords and start off with a charge where one gets an arrow in the shoulder.

Swordsman A: Agh! Medic! Do something, you useless piece of junk!

Yuuto: (Sigh) Here we go again.

Yuuto goes to him and violently rips out the arrow but not before giving it a push into his arm.

Swordsman A: AGH! You bitch!

He smacks Yuuto in his face, making him step back a few steps.

Blood rushes down the swordsman's arm. Yuuto gets back up and heals the injury.

Tank: Are you okay, Healer?

Yuuto looks at him and shows him that he was more than fine. In fact, he was smiling. A smile from cheek to cheek. His smile wasn't one of pleasure nor anger- but pure malice. No one can tell what inhuman thoughts lie behind that wicked smile.

[Till Yuuto's Full Explosion: 76%]

Just a bit later, they arrive to their destination and now need to find the blue hounds and beat them. As expected, Yuuto was beat up for not being "good enough". He just sucked it up and moved on or did he?

At floor 2, they decide to take a lunch break. They took a seat in a place they deemed safe. Yuuto took out his teriyaki chicken sandwich he got from Karan this morning. He hears the swordsmen talk.

Swordsman B: Damn it, I forgot my lunch. Can I have some of yours?

Swordsman A: Screw you, I'm not giving you a bite.

Swordsman B starts sniffing something that peaks his interest.

Swordsman B: What's that smell coming from, eh?

He spots Yuuto's teriyaki chicken sandwich and snatches it from behind Yuuto's back.

He takes a bite and sits back down with Swordsman A. Yuuto froze in shock and just stood there.

Tank: They have absolutely no qualities whatsoever. I'll share you some.

The tank takes a small tray from his set and gives him a share of rice and vegetables.

Yuuto didn't pay attention but he was distracted from the crunchy lettuce with each bite taken even from 7 meters away with each crunch raising his anger even more.

[Till Yuuto's Full Explosion: 85%]

...[88%]

...[94%]

[95...]

Yuuto stands up and walks behind Swordsman B and kicks him off of his seat on a fallen log to the ground. The sandwich falls to the ground and it's toppings fall apart onto the ground.

The tank looked on in shock as Yuuto starts going down hard on the guy. Throwing punch after punch AFTER PUNCH!

The hits packed a punch since Yuuto gave himself an attack support spell to have the similar strength of an average adult man.

Swordsman A finally stepped up and pushed Yuuto off. Yuuto luckily caught himself and reveal his face to them. He was smiling- the same smile as before now with the full extent of his anger.

Yuuto: Time for some payback.

Yuuto picks up his spear and prepares to fight.

Swordsman B stood back up with his face beaten up badly.

Swordsman B: I'll fucking kill you!

Yuuto throws the spear at his neck and it's a bullseye.

Yuuto: Yeah. Let's see about that.

Swordsman A picks up his sword but when he looks back, he sees the healer and the spear gone.

He hears a whoosh behind him and turns around and tries to block it but his block was too weak and it flies out of his hands into a the ground. Yuuto was swinging the spear like a sword at the end of the spear pole.

Yuuto gets the bright idea to swing it around with the momentum left and spin it around over his head and back to slash his target. But it only nicks their stomach.

They see their sword and go running towards it so Yuuto casts [Ice Spears] and hit the leg, right side and scrape the right arm.

They fall to the ground merely a meter away from their destination and look back to what they thought was a weak and defenseless healer.

Swordsman A: (Grunting) How? You're just a healer.

Yuuto walks up to him and stomp the swordsman's face.

Yuuto: You all are so ignorant- So stupid.

He takes his foot of his face and turns halfway from him.

Yuuto: You are all so FUCKING predictable!

Yuuto charges a kick and hit him hard in the ribs.

Yuuto: Would you look at that! Look who's the worm now, HUH!?

He kick the fallen worm repeatedly and violently. Something can be heard breaking after every few kicks and a ever growing sadistic smile on this small, frail and short gremlin of a healer's face.

...

[100%]

Yuuto pulls out the sword from the ground and holds it high above his head. Like an axe, he swings down with immense strength.

It lands right beside the man's head and he passes out.

Yuuto steps back and takes a breather. He looks down and sees that the man soiled himself.

Poor Tankie. He witnessed all this unfold right before his eyes and he's barely got any time in as an adventurer.

Yuuto took everything of value off of the corpses.

Yuuto: Hey Tankie. Let's go.

They soon left the dungeon and brought back quite a good amount of goods.

|Quest: 240

|Cores: 70

|Loot: 1057

|{Total}: 1310

Yuuto: Hey tankie, do we split 50/50?

Tank: It's fine... I don't feel comfortable with the money from the... "loot"... You got that by yourself... I'll.. take the half from the quest and cores.

Yuuto: I'll give you a bonus. You did good. Don't worry, it's from the quest portion.

|{Total}: 1310

|Tankie's share: -255

|{New Total}: 1055

Tomorrow at the fighter's guild, Yuuto didn't show up.

Neither did he show up the day after that.

Karan asks the other receptionist who worked an earlier shift than hers that morning.

Karan: Did you see Yuuto? I haven't seen him this morning.

Receptionist: That kid? If anything, I thought you would know. I heard some people are saying he took a break. He was covered in blood yesterday a few hours after your shift 3 days ago. He was covered head to toe. He lost two members in his party and it seems like he was in the splash zone. I understand that can be traumatizing. The swordsman who was with him resigned this morning. I heard some people seeing him trying to get a job as a farmer.

Karan: How come didn't I hear about this? I guess I'll have to check on him after this.

(Meanwhile...)

These past two days, Yuuto has been busy. He went to the park and ran laps throughout the entire large terrain the park takes over with each lap being about 2.5 kilometers (about 1.5 miles). He pushes himself to his absolute limits and has shown great improvements. His first lap ended in a bit more than 30 minutes but has improved by a whole minute in the past days. He can now run 28:34 on average. Where before he would break down, winded out and stop, now he is running on a constant pace.

With all this running, any normal person would destroy their legs but Yuuto is a healer. He can heal his muscles and gain from it. Since healers have a faster natural regeneration. Though it's weak and barely makes a difference in battle, but for muscle growth, it's the best thing a bodybuilder could hope for. Since muscle building is repairing damaged tissue from exercise and adapting to the movement or exercise, this is a perfect tool to help Yuuto's growth.

He would run from the break of dawn till noon where he would go to the market and buy some ingredients. He would go back home and attempt to cook whatever he got and would eat a bland pile of cooked meats and veggies with an entire iceberg lettuce in hand. But, today he has a special something: A cook book.

This time, instead of buying whatever on a whim, he bought ingredients following the cook book and made something that doesn't resemble a pile of bland meats and vegetables. He made beef chili and it was an entire large tall cooking pot worth and it was packed full of beef and kidney beans.

He ate it with a comically long grilled cheese made from a baguette with 4 eggs, cheese and diced chicken breast which he sliced in half to prevent the grilled cheese sandwich to become a really girthy wand. On the side, a salad of spinach, tomatoes and avocados with a bit of lime juice for flavoring.

Since he hasn't eaten anything since morning, he devoured it, eating half of the chili from the pot- Ho- How the fuck can he stuff all of that? That's like one fourth of his body weight in chili alone... ANYWAY!

With some of the support beams around the house, Yuuto uses them as pull up bars.

With no proper equipment, Yuuto decided to make them himself with the materials he picked up from the forest in order to make dumbbells and plates.

For the next few days, he would go to sleep with just a bit more progress. Nowhere from a fully sculpted body of the gods but the groundwork has been made. No longer was his arms comparable to twigs. With each night he has slept, he can see a difference. Though it's not incredible growth despite his class advantage but to him, right now, it's another step forward into the right direction.

A few hours later, Yuuto is going a set of dips when he hears a knock at his door. He goes to check by peeking through a little and hears a familiar voice.

Karan: Yu-chan. Are you feeling alright lately?

Yuuto: Mhm. Yeah. I just decided to take a little break to work on myself. That's all.

Karan starts pushing on the door, trying to get in.

Yuuto: I said I'm fine! It's dirty in here!

Karan: I heard what happened! Let me in!

He starts losing strength after a bit of pushing and from the set he did. Karan gets past through the door to find the place full of dirt, dust and weights.

Karan: What in the world happened here?

Yuuto: Like I said. There's nothing happening. I'm just working on myself.

Karan: This isn't like you. I didn't see this one coming.

She picks up a dumbbell but struggles a bit.

Karan: I get you want to work out. Buy don't push yourself too hard. You hear me, Yu?

Yuuto: I think I might have pushed a bit too far by your standards.

He picks up the dumbbell out of her hands with one arm and places it down on a table.

Yuuto: I'm doing just fine. I'm thinking of coming back by the end of the month. I'll start going alone into the dungeon and I'm just preparing for that.

Karan: I shouldn't have worried so much then! Ah. Well, goodnight, Yu-chan.

She walks towards the door and turns around.

Karan: Just check up on me sometimes. Don't get me worried about nothing next time.

Yuuto: Alright. I will.

That... Surprisingly went smoothly...?

(At the end of the month...)

With all the proper equipment, Yuuto heads to the guild.

Karan: It's really been that long, huh?

Yuuto: Can I just have my pass, please?

Karan grabs his pass and holds it in front of him. He goes to grab it but she holds it back.

Karan: Promise me that you will watch your limits and leave if it gets too hard. Do not go above floor 3. I'm simmering a stew and it would be a shame if you didn't show up.

Yuuto: Oh! It's been a while since you last made stew. I won't miss this for sure.

She finally lets go of her grip on the pass and Yuuto goes into the dungeon. Since he is experienced and knows the first two floors like the back of his hand, he passes through the first 2 floors with barely any encounters with monsters.

He arrives to floor 3 where he could barely defend himself without major support from his defensive spells.

With less knowledge of the 3rd floor, he starts exploring and mapping out the place in his mind, keeping mental notes of landmarks.

With a wrong turn, he finds himself way too close to a small group of goblins. They have heard him approach but haven't spotted him just yet. He is hiding behind a bush.

He looks at the situation while trying to be stealthy as possible as to not alert the goblins.

Yuuto (Thinking): 2 looking for me. There are sounds of maybe 3- No. 4 more. They probably are hunting for something. I think there are white bunnies in this part of the dungeon...

Something clicks and starts the ideas. With his breathing getting heavier from the excitement. The plan starts now.

He starts shaking a bit in the bush to alert one of the goblins to check out the source.

Getting into range, it raises it's knife, preparing a strike onto what it thinks is an unsuspecting rabbit.

Yuuto's arm comes out of the bush and pulls it in and stealthily kills it with a knife fabricated from ice magic with a quick slice in the throat.

Upon closer inspection of the skin, the marks on it's skin show that it's a goblin warrior. A warrior has a diamond shape white tattoo. A great kill. Yuuto grabs it's knife and moves towards the next one.

Looking at the next target, he sees no marks. It's a normal goblin.

Yuuto waits for the wind to pick up.

At the right moment and a with a cast of [Ice Needles], the target is eliminated easily.

Yuuto got a good execution but stealth failed in this one since he was spotted by a goblin archer.

Goblin archers are identified with a triangle for marks. They have better vision than the normal ones.

With a deep sigh and a little moment to take it all in, Yuuto charges into battle.

As he charges into battle, he blocks an oncoming arrow and stab through it's neck. It's dead on the spot.

He grabs the knife it dropped. Yuuto throws it to at one of the goblin archers.

It hit it's head. It wasn't deep enough and it gets back on it's feet and charges blindly.

Yuuto grabs ahold of the knife in it's head and uses the force from it's charge and dig it deep into it's skull.

Yuuto: Whew! That was close! I don't think that alerted the other goblins.

Yuuto: Now all that's left is to finish off the rest.

Stalking in the bushes, Yuuto spots the last few goblins and decide to stop the subtilty and get straight to the point.

Yuuto casts [Ice Spears] and hit them all. They died and dropped their cores. He collected them and continued deeper into the dungeon.

Yuuto: Sorry Karan. I'm going to ignore your warning.

With his healing granting him impenetrable defense and basically invincibility throughout about the first 3 floors, he went through the floors increasing his kill count with the spear and throwing weapons he got from the enemies from the floors. He soon reaches the great gates.

//Current Location: Floor 5 (Boss Room Entrance)//

The door was overwhelmingly bigger when compared to Yuuto. (10 meters: 1 meter 50 centimeters)

Yuuto: Alright. Let's do this. After this, I'll have enough for a whole feast for myself for every meal for the next week!

His bag was filled to the brim with monster cores. It could give him at least 1000 moons.

He pushes the gates open and a heavy gust of cold wind pushes him back a bit.

The cold air surrounded him, the hairs on his arms and legs raised themselves from the excitement.

A loud roar coming from the heavy snow storm through the door echoes through. The cold winds are surely to be ferocious.