Chapter 22 - Nozan Dungeon

"So, I guess this is the time for us to part ways."

After we talked about various things, Rex suddenly said that with a tone as if he was talking about something ordinary.

"Eh?"

"I can't help you level up, you have to do it yourself."

Damn, so that's what you meant.

"Also, your Saga won't grow up healthy if you depend on others."

"Is that so?"

"There's some kind of system for Saga in the Unbound Boundary, so it might be possible," Sekhmet answered.

Sekhmet, who was born here, might be the result of how I played since I first entered this game, I suppose.

"So anyway, this is a good way. But if you receive a serious blow, make sure to contact me."

"A serious blow, huh."

"Yes. But first, you have to do your best to deal with it on your own."

Then Rex left after I added him to my friend list. With his departure, the only ones left here were me and Sekhmet.

"Well, Master. Finally, you are alone - or rather, we are alone, so have you decided where we should go?"

"Yes, we will visit some farming grounds or low-level dungeons that Rex mentioned."

"I can't wait to level up. Let the blood rain down on my enemies."

"Now I don't even understand what you're saying."

The first place we checked was the Nozan Dungeon, a dungeon near our Adventure Guild, located near the southeast city gate.

After leaving the Adventure Guild and walking for about ten minutes, we found a certain facility. The place was surrounded by an iron fence, and at the entrance gate, there was a worn-out signboard with the words

"Welcome to Nozan" written on it.

There were two soldiers wearing full armor standing on both sides of the gate. Both soldiers greeted us briefly as we approached, as Rex said I didn't need permission to enter this dungeon, so we just entered it.

When we entered the dungeon, we were greeted with a sight we never expected before.

Near the entrance, there were ruins of buildings and bricks scattered on the sides of the footpath lined with grass, there were flowers blooming among the grass, like wildflowers growing freely.

"Is this the remains of a park?" I said incredulously.

"...Maybe it's a man-made dungeon," Sekhemt said while looking around.

A man-made dungeon is a type of dungeon that is deliberately created for a specific purpose, not formed naturally like natural dungeons.

These dungeons can be made for various purposes, such as testing the strength and skills of players, hiding treasures or valuable objects, or even as a place of protection or prison for feared enemies.

In this case, I suppose this dungeon was made for the purpose of a leveling place for beginners.

"Sekhmet."

"Okay."

Obediently, Sekhmet transformed into that golden Great Spear.

I then tried to swing it up and down... or rather, it would be better to say that the weapon wrapped around my entire right hand, up to my shoulder.

"It's not as heavy as it looks..."

Even with my STR, I could easily swing it, it was as light as a feather, no, it was as if it was another part of my body, so I didn't feel its weight.

"...You don't care when you see a chain defying gravity, but when it comes to this, you worry about the "law of conservation of mass"?"

She's not wrong, though...

"And look, I might not be 'light' like this for others. Just consider this as something that only happens when our bodies are connecte-."

"Is that true?"

"Yes, it is."

Then I have to stop it now. If we keep doing this all the time, we will never level up.

"Okay, leveling start!"

As if responding to my shout, a rabbit appeared in the distance. But unlike ordinary rabbits, it had prominent horns on its head and was twice the size of a regular rabbit. Above its head, there was a floating text that read 'Hrin Rabbit' and LV 3 was written below its name.

I tightly gripped Sekhmet as I observed the open space in front of me, my senses on high alert.

After noticing my presence, the rabbit bared its teeth and growled menacingly, then swiftly leaped towards me. In just a few seconds, it was already in front of me, attempting to charge at me with its head.

But a golden spear pierced its body when it was in mid-air, and its entire body instantly turned into a crystalline light.

<You have leveled up>

<Please check your status screen for more detailed information>

"This monster may be fast, but that scumbag is much faster than this rabbit," Sekhmet evaluated the monster.

"Well, it feels a bit weird to compare the two," I said.

"That's true, but your reflexes are truly extraordinary, Master."

"I know, but now is not the time for chitchat," I said as I brandished Sekhmet ahead.

About 10 meters in front of me, again, there were three rabbit monsters, each with LV 7, LV 4, and LV 5.

Perhaps because they witnessed their kind being killed earlier, the rabbit monsters became angry, their eyes glowing with fury.

They attacked me simultaneously.

They quickly leaped towards me. I held onto Sekhmet tightly, ready to face their attacks. One of the monsters reached me first, then it leaped and tried to attack me with its prominent horns.

Just like before, I immediately thrust Sekhmet towards it when the monster was in mid-air. Sekhmet pierced its body, and then the monster turned into a crystalline light.

"Duck," Sekhmet said.

My body reflexively followed her instruction, and then one of the rabbit monsters slid past the top of my body, missing its target.

I immediately swung Sekhmet towards the rabbit monster that landed, and it split the rabbit in half before it turned into a crystalline light.

The third monster continued to leap towards me, trying to attack from below. I quickly jumped to avoid its attack, then turned around and used my right leg to kick the monster.

The monster flew for several meters before rolling on the ground, then its body turned into a crystalline light.

After defeating the three monsters, I cautiously looked around, but no other monsters were visible around me.

"Congratulations on your first battle, Master. That was executed beautifully," Sekhmet said, still in her spear form.

"That wasn't my first battle, and I'm not sure that can be called a battle,"

I fought against a monster called "Hrin Rabbit", an enemy that at first glance would make you think "Yes, it's a small monster usually prepared for beginners."

But the thing I couldn't believe was that they died after one attack.

"That's why Master should be grateful to have me as your SAGA."

I couldn't see her facial expression in this form, but I'm sure that right now this girl would have a smug expression on her face.

"I am always grateful to have you as my partner, Saga, and my companion, Sekhmet."

"T-Thank you."

Huh, why are you thanking me?

But man, combining Sekhmet with the Berserker Job is something else. Although that monster clearly looked easy for beginners, we killed it in one unfairly-looking attack.

Considering we just leveled up for the first time.

"Are you forgetting that we defeated a Supreme when I was born?"

Ah, you're right...

Well, it wouldn't be fun if all the enemies I faced died in just one attack.

"Don't worry, Master, we're still on the outskirts. When we get deeper in, we'll face tougher opponents."

With that, we started walking again, following a path made of gravel stones, although now only some of the stones remained.

By the way, when I looked at my status screen, I found that almost all of my stats had doubled from my initial status.