Start Of The Original Timeline

Since my memories of the rampage returned, I quickly walked through the path I'd taken through the sixth floor to get where I awoke at and along the way, I collected the spoils my delirious self had left behind. Unfortunately, it would appear that I had been in the Dungeon far longer than I had since I arrived in this world, as not even halfway through my journey, I grew over-encumbered once again…

'Damn,' I cursed internally after reaching the stairs to the fifth floor. So much would go to waste simply because I couldn't carry it all. Resolving there and then that I would seek a solution to this most egregious problem, I pulled out the lunch I had the girls of the Hostess of Fertility prepare for me earlier this morning and took it as my dinner; it was definitely night time on the surface by now…

[Side Mission 2: Forming A Party!

Objective: Upgrade from your solo status to that of a party status

Description: I mean, the objective says it all. Now, you could go to the Guild and have them arrange a party, or you could go your own way and temporarily hire a supporter. However, those options are not without their faults...

Deadline: 2 Weeks]

"Mhmm?" I thought about it for a second and then recalled something important. In that instant, I knew where I would get another party member to complete the Side Quest, but it would cost a lot of money; Money, I didn't have at the time… So, after exiting the Dungeon, returning home, and surviving the wrath of my worry-filled Goddess, I quickly did away with the day.

The next day, I went to the Guild first thing in the morning to cash out all the monster cores I couldn't turn it and received a gobsmacking 22,000 Vali. Returning to the Dungeon, I went straight to the fifth floor and focused primarily on harvesting herbs. Sure, Monster Cores were valuable, but many an adventurer would pay a pretty penny for potions; with even my worst Health Potion easily sold for 3,000 Vali.

Concentrating on improving my alchemy skills now would only be beneficial for my growth once I started creating products that would boost cultivation and growth speed. Thus, for the next three or so days, my life fell into a sort of cycle: Go to the dungeon and harvest herbs, go home and synthesize potions through alchemy, and the next day go to Miach to get the potions appraised.

Hestia nearly had a panic attack after finally getting to update my Status and seeing the Delirious Inclination Innate Skill. Even I couldn't brush off it off as it had activated twice since I awakened it on the sixth floor of the dungeon. Both times, it activated while I was in the middle of concocting potions — I had started creating other types of potions by this point — and only after running out of materials to keep practicing with, did I come out of that state of mind.

Now… Well, I'll let my Status speak for itself…

[Status

Name: Nathanial Keter

Level: 1

Power: A 815

Endurance: A 827

Dexterity: A 821

Agility: A 850

Magic: SS 1098

Side Mission 1: First Step In The Path Of Alchemy! (Complete)

Objective: Attain the rank of Novice Alchemist ✔

Reward:

Choice of:

1) Bottle Of Muscle Tempering Pills (5 Pill Pack)

2) Mediocre Pill Concocting Furnace

New Mission Alert!

Side Mission 3: Second Step In The Path Of Alchemy!

Objective: Attain the rank of Journeyman Alchemist

Description: Practice, concoct and research your way to reach the second rank in the path of the Alchemist. You'll know you've made it when concocting "Mediocre Quality" medicines becomes commonplace; to be specific you need a 75% success rate when concocting the aforementioned quality alchemical products...

Deadline: 3 Weeks

Skills

Name: Light Flameling

Level: E → D

Effect: Potency and level of precision while wielding the power of the Light Flaming almost doubles when compared to the previous Level. The Flameling has started to transition out of its incorporeal state and looks less like a false flame.

Name: Alchemy

Level: H → F

Effect: Practised concoctions have a success rate and potency increase of 33%. Limited to Bad Quality pills, medicines, and potions.]

Naturally, I picked the Mediocre Quality Pill Concocting Furnace as my reward for becoming a Novice Alchemist as those things were worth an arm and a leg; even Miach didn't have one — though not out of desire as he wasn't a God of Pills, after all. Moreover, since I had yet to buy a replacement for my Chain Sickle — barely even trying to increase my physical stats — only my Magic Stat increase due to all the alchemy practice I had done over the days.

...

Today was the day I was going to sell all those Potions I had been stockpiling as I had heard rumors whilst making my way out of the tower of Babel that the Loki Familia expedition was due to arrive on the surface any day now; apparently there had been some complications and they were coming earlier than expected. Having heard that they were a pretty hardcore adventuring Familia, there would probably be a high demand for potions.

So, like some sort of shady figure straight out of a children's show, I packed my backpack full of potions and left to solicit business from the Loki Familia at the tower of Babel. In this world, that wasn't an impolite gesture or even reproached, unlike on Earth where people would call the authorities on you.

However… On my way to the Tower of Babel, I think I saw Bell running through the streets whilst covered in blood. It could have been my imagination as the person who'd run through the streets had even their haired saturated with foul-smelling blood, but since they were so active, it didn't matter to me whether or not it was Bell; as the protagonist of this world, he should be technically unkillable, right?

Anyway, I reached the Tower of Babel and sure enough, within the hour of my arrival, the massive expedition group lead by the Loki Familia started pouring out by the dozens. I wasn't the only one around trying to solicit their business as many like-minded adventurers also saw this opportunity. However, unlike them, I had a special quality about myself.