Chapter 3 : Progress

Sidhe Si

Level one

•Strength:

I-10 > I-20

•Endurance:

I-5 > I-12

•Dexterity:

I-11 > I-25

•Agility:

I-12 > I- 28

•Magic:

I-0 > I-0

Magic ()

Skills ()

His Basic abilities improved after one week of dungeoning, yet, it still slow, he will never reach the level of Ais Wallenstein or the now renegade Ryuu with this speed. He needs to fight more, to dungeon more.

He looked at the page in his hand, as his mind was full of thoughts on how weak he was.

Lord Miach saw it, or maybe he understood them from Sidhe's facial expressions, saying, "Dear Sidhe, you are progressing at a really good speed. In a year or less you could reach level 2. Don't temp fate and do reckless actions—" narrowing his eyes, "I know that look on your face, the last time you had it, you stole from innocent people."

Sidhe's ears fell flat on the head, he felt ashamed to have stolen, but it was the only thing he could thought at that time. Seeing your familia crumble from a tragic event where all of its adventurers became injured, with Naaza having the biggest lost. He wanted to help. To do something!

Even now, these emotions were growing in him. This inability to help to only person he cared about, Lord Miach who saved him from death. He took the sword, polished and sharpened with a brand new whetstone that he kept in his backpack, and put the sword on his belt, saying, "Lord Miach, don't worry. I promise to not do reckless actions, I want to live."

Lord Miach hugged Siadhe, patting his head. Siadhe blushed as his tail was swinging.

Siadhe checked his backpack, he had food, ropes, a can of water, and a magical compass that shows the exit of the dungeon.

He saw Naaza preparing to open her shop of potions, she gathered enough money to do it, and with the help of Miach expertise and her, they can have a successful shop, and another avenue of money. It seems luck appeared again in Miach's familia.

He walked towards the Babel tower, as he was passing by the Hostess of Fertility he smelled a strong aroma of coffee. He salivated at the smell. He loved their coffee, but he loved money more, though as a compromise he will buy one coffee every week there, and as a celebration to lucky encounters or success in the dungeon.

He entered the dungeon, in this past week he developed a plan to increase his gathering of excelia, excelia is, in plain terms, experience that you gather from killing monsters. There are two types of excelia, one is used to level up, called high-quality excelia. The other one is called normal excelia and is used to increase your stats.

The plan is to bait two, or more monsters in a steep bend in the cave, they will never expect for him to suddenly change directions and kill them. Of course it could go horribly wrong and end eaten by the creatures, but, if his calculations were right, he could deal with at most three monsters and not end up dead. After that, the chance of dying increase exponentially.

He prowled through the First floor of the dungeon, searching for his perfect spot, he saw curves, dark spots that were great to hide. But nothing of what he wanted.

He was flanked by a goblin from a hidden spot. He heard its rancid breath just in time.

First, he moved from the creature's way, then stumbled the goblin as it was running towards him, it hit the ground. Sidhe jumped on it and pierced its back, right next to the place where the magic crystal was.

This was good. He killed the goblin faster than yesterday. It seems improving his basic stats helped him much. He took the crystal and put it in his backpack.

Should he venture to the second floor? He didn't have that much to lose, the monsters there are of similar level to first floor. No, he shook his head, that was too much of a gamble, what if he ends up dead? Better stay in the Beginning Road for the time being.

He heard battle near him, his curiosity wanted to look at who was fighting, but he knows of dungeon rules, don't meet other adventurers that are not part of your familia. It's a risky endeavour to do so.

He continued his search for his spot, and finally he found it. Smiling, happy that he found his curve where monsters will meet their end. The cave was bending in the right, making a perfect curve for him to not be seen when he hides, or stays right at the corner.

Two goblins were running after him, saliva flying wildly from their mouth. Fangs barred and ready to bite his jugular.

He arrived at the curve, the goblins didn't know what will happen next as they turned to follow Sidhe.

He was with his back on the wall, as the goblins passed they saw nothing, Sidhe disappeared. He pierced one of them in the head. Leaving it dead on the spot.

The other one growled, confused at what was happening, it turned around, only to see Sidhe smiling at it with his sword already coming its way.

Death embraced it too, as the blade entered its stomach.

He joyfully took their magic crystal, it didn't affect him the lack of loot, as it was a low chance for it to drop. He took a pause of thirty minutes to sharpen his sword and to eat a sandwich. The sandwich was with a slice of venison, bought by Miach.

He took the last of his sandwich, stomach full, or at least not rumbling, he dusted of the bread crumbs, and left to get more monsters. He wanted to break his record of eight monsters killed in a day. And Today, might be that day with his new technique.

He started again searching for monsters. This time he didn't found monsters, they found him. A pair of kobolds smelled him and are now running to bite the poor cat. Or so they think.

Sidhe was running through the dungeon searching for his perfect place. His breath stopped for a moment, he lost that place. He took a deep breath and continued to run, there needs to be another place like that. Or at least something similar, that will give him the upper hand.

No need to waste too much effort in killing these kobolds when he could bait them in a trap. He found a curve, not perfect like the last one, but will suffice.

With kobolds it will be trickier to fool them, he was followed hot on tracks by those damned ugly dog persons. Sidhe entered the curve and hidden in the corner.

The kobolds passed, though they turned their heads towards Sidhe, for one, it didn't save it to know where Sidhe was.

The sword cut its head, the kobold could let only a whimper as it hit the ground, cold.

The other one howled and charged at Sidhe with a sword in hand. It slashed at the stone wall as Sidhe evaded the attack.

SIdhe using the mistake of his enemy slashed the kobold's hand and its sword. The kobold meet the same fate as the other one, death.

Sidhe took their magic crystals, in the same happy mood. He still had enough energy and stamina for two more baits, it seems he will not break his record.

He was huffing, this was the last for today, he had ten magic crystals. He will make around 1200 valis or more, as kobold crystals are a bit pricier than the goblin ones.

Misha was working, she had puffy eyes and not in the mood to talk, maybe some problems with love? He didn't know, and if he was honest, didn't really care. He sold his crystals to the headquarters and earned 1300 valis, he sent 900 valis to familia, 300 to his account, and 100 to celebrate.

Ten monsters killed and a new record sum of money, it's small, almost minuscule comparative to the amount of debt they had. But it's growing, with time and effort he will raise the numbers. The growth is visible and that warms his heart.

Maybe not this year or the following one, but they will escape the debt with his effort and Nazaa's and then grow again in a respectable familia with powerful adventurers.

Then they will forget about this dark period of poverty and bad conditions.

He entered the Hostess of Fertility, the smell was the same, it was watering your mouth, forcing you to buy something.

Witches, Sidhe thought, otherwise it wasn't explainable, Mama Mia was hiring only girls, that's a point in his favour, maybe? He sat at the counter, smiling in his specific way, that was similar to Nazaa's. He will never admit, never, but he admired Nazaa. She was the shining star of Miach's familia, her skill with the bow were unparalleled.

Even after that incident, he still admires her, she could get together and start working as a pharmacist, researching till deep in night to learn how to concoct potions and choose the correct plants. She was his role model, even if he disliked her.

He knows it's wrong, of course it's wrong to blame the debt on her; he still does it, his brain just can't separate the debt from her. The monsters were at fault, that's plain and simple, he wished he could forgive her, or not blame her.

Maybe he was influenced by the former familia's members who blamed her for that incident. Claiming it was a lack of leadership that lead them into that trap.

Who knows, he doesn't want to think anymore about it, what happened, happened, now he needs to look only for the future. He ordered a cup of coffee, as he was waiting for his order, Loki familia entered the pub.

It seems they had a reserved spot, they were really loud and annoying. His coffee arrived, he took a sip, his body was filled with a warmth that reminded him of Miach. The coffee was sweeter than the last time, he glanced at the girl who brought his coffee, she had a pair of cat ears. She was a cat people.

Well, it wasn't unexpected to find one of his own kin here, they were pretty common, not like humans common, but still numerous. She flashed him a smile and left after that.

Weird girl. He continued to look at Loki familia, they were joyful, rambunctious, drinking merry with their goddess who was already drunk. He took another sip of coffee, the scene reminded him of the old days of his familia. What's with this nostalgia today?

He counted the money he had in his account, he was closing in to the desired number. He needs 4000 valis for a new sword. The decision was hard to make, though in the end he decided to buy a new sword. The one he had was simple and old, the blade was dull and no matter how much he sharpened, it wasn't as sharp as he wanted.

After he will reach the H rank of his basic stats he will go to the second floor, he heard there were a type of lizards, who had a better magic crystal that sold for a good price.

He paid the coffee and left, because if he stayed for one more minute he would have done a sin, he would probably have bought some food. That's inexcusable, that food costs as much as an entire week of food. In no way he will splurge so much money on food. Even spending on the weekly coffee will break his heart.

Night was on the streets, the lamps were giving a peaceful aura, the time was perfect for sleep. Sidhe entered the house, everyone was asleep already. As he was opening his door he heard Nazaa crying, he stood a minute, frozen in shock, a feeling of sadness embraced him.

It seems Nazaa was still affected by that. He arranged the backpack for tomorrow and slept.