episode_0019

We took our time sorting through everything.

—

Hobgoblin Champion.

The spoils we obtained from defeating it were:

– The greatsword it wielded. – A massive magic stone.

The magic stone was truly enormous—about the size of my palm. Considering that even a fingernail-sized one was worth a silver coin, this was a pretty decent haul.

And then, the greatsword.

The moment I grabbed it, its size shrank. What had been a massive blade, easily over 3 meters, reduced to roughly my height.

This might’ve been the biggest jackpot among our loot.

‘A sword like the Whisper of the Wind, perhaps?’

If so—

‘…Does it grow or shrink based on the wielder’s height?’

I used Appraisal.

[Item] Champion’s Greatsword (B-) A greatsword that changes according to the wielder’s capabilities. ◇ Transforms into the most suitable form for the user. ◇ Absorbs the user’s mana to generate Blood Combat Arts.

‘…?’

It absorbs mana. I’m not sure how that feels, but—

‘Still.’

If that’s the case, then that thing was moving so nimbly while having its mana drained?

‘No wonder.’

It really was a monster.

If it was moving purely through muscle power, then it truly was a freak of nature.

‘Should I try using it?’

The Champion’s Greatsword.

It absorbs mana, but how much does it take?

I gripped the sword.

‘…!’

Instantly, my body swayed.

A splitting headache tore through my skull.

‘I shouldn’t use this.’

Even just holding it briefly, I felt something inside me being violently sucked out.

‘So this is mana.’

Drip.

A warm liquid trickled from my nose.

Probably a nosebleed.

I rummaged through the hidden stash in our supplies and pulled out a cloth to wipe it away.

‘If it drains this much mana…’

If that thing had discarded the sword and attacked us outright, who knows what would’ve happened?

Had it dragged the fight into a war of attrition, slowly whittling us down—

‘…No, that’s not it.’

The real reason it was so troublesome was its defense—the power to block the Whisper of the Wind and my Blood-Soaked Dagger.

Without that, the fight might’ve gone differently.

That was the reward for defeating it.

—

“Shall we open it now?”

Ermé grinned excitedly.

From the hidden room’s boss, we obtained two things: the magic stone and the Champion’s Greatsword.

But the hidden room itself was said to hold its own reward.

‘What could it be?’

Ermé said it was worth looking forward to.

Tiriel and Glasses (Marcel) also seemed visibly pleased.

-Well, of course.

Lysielle crossed her arms and chimed in.

-The rewards from hidden rooms are incredibly special. Experience and magic stones—those are things you can get in regular dungeons, but here, the boss itself is the reward, and it also grants a unique power.

‘A unique power?’

-Yes. For example, you might inherit one of the abilities the hidden room’s guardian monster possessed. Or receive a potion that permanently boosts your stats.

‘There are potions that increase stats?’

-That’s not all. Very rarely, you might even obtain a Gift.

‘I see.’

But the reward wouldn’t be distributed equally.

It’d probably be split among us.

‘Dividing it will be a hassle.’

So I tempered my expectations.

Because of the distribution ratio from obtaining the Whisper of the Wind last time, I was effectively living off someone else’s money.

From my food expenses to training fees and inn stays—everything came from Ermé’s pocket.

‘…Thinking about it makes me kind of sad.’

Ermé seemed to enjoy it, though.

But that wasn’t my preference.

No, to be more honest—

‘It’s totally my preference.’

There’s not much entertainment here. Almost nothing gives a dopamine rush.

Part of why I train so much is because of that.

If I ever return to the modern world, I’d want to live like that.

Without any expectations, I quietly approached the treasure chest.

If something expensive came out, I could sell it and reduce my debt.

‘Besides, we already got the Champion’s Greatsword.’

This time, I might actually get a proper share.

In terms of grade, it’s on par with the Whisper of the Wind.

-Take that back…!

‘Huh?’

Suddenly, Lysielle looked furious.

She glared at me like I’d said something utterly unacceptable.

-How dare you compare some goblin’s trash sword to our elven heirloom?! Recant that immediately…!

“……”

She’s throwing a tantrum over this?

I gave her a deadpan look at the absurd outburst.

‘I take it back.’

-…Huh? Why do I feel like I just lost somehow?

—

Anyway, we moved forward.

Ermé, Teresa, and Glasses stood before the treasure chest with eager expressions.

“What’ll it be? Whatever it is, I hope it’s something useful for our party.” “I’ll take cash.”

At Glasses’ words, Teresa tilted her head.

Ermé chuckled and answered.

“Teresa, you prioritize money, so of course you’d say that. But don’t worry—we’ll distribute everything as fairly as possible.” “Okay.” “And everyone remembers the rules, right?” “Ah, the distribution rules?” “I know them.” “Just to be sure, let me repeat them. If any party member can use the item, they have priority claim over it.”

Listening to Ermé, I felt a slight unease.

This dungeon had scavengers and all sorts of valuables—could people really resist betrayal?

It seemed like there’d be a lot of freeloaders, but—

‘Ah, so that’s why the Adventurer’s Guild exists.’

To steadily explore the dungeon, descend deeper, and identify true talent capable of amassing real treasure.

That must be the guild’s true purpose.

“I hope we get something useful.” “Same.”

I agreed with Glasses.

At the very least, I hoped for something Teresa, Ermé, or Glasses could use.

‘Teresa said she needed money, so she might just sell whatever she gets.’

The worst-case scenario would be me getting something—because I could obtain Gifts through quests and other means.

“Then, Yuseong, would you do the honors?” “…Shouldn’t you be the one opening it?” “I have terrible luck. I only ever get duds.” “Same.” “Me too.”

At Ermé’s words, Glasses and Teresa raised their hands.

Somehow, it felt like they were pushing it all onto me.

‘Well, whatever.’

I’m luckier than most.

Maybe even the luckiest one here. Behold, the power of Pangyo’s B-Tick King!

I approached the chest.

For some reason, tension crept in.

‘…I hope it’s something good.’

Holding my breath, I opened it.

Inside were: – A glass vial filled with a crimson, shimmering liquid. – A blue, sloshing potion. – And a single card.

“Oh, a Gift Card?”

Ermé smiled brightly and stepped closer.

“The red potion is a Strength Elixir, the blue one is a Mana Potion. And this card… isn’t a Gift Card. It’s a Skill.” “A Skill? What kind?” “It creates shields. Pretty standard for mages, but what about the rest of you?” “Marcel was eyeing the Mana Potion.” “…Mana is crucial for mages.” “The red potion… seems like three of us want it.” “I’ll pass.”

Since I got the Whisper of the Wind last time, it’d be better to yield now.

‘Still, I’m a little curious.’

Appraisal.

I checked the Skill Card Ermé was holding.

[Skill] Shield Creation (C) ◇ Can summon a shield in midair.

‘Doesn’t seem that great.’

Doubtful it could block something like the Hobgoblin Champion’s strike.

Next, the potions.

[Item] Strength Elixir ◇ Permanently increases Strength by +3.

The Mana Potion was similar—+3 to Mana.

‘Are stats really that hard to raise?’

I didn’t think they were worth getting this excited over.

I also wondered what connection these had to the Hobgoblin Champion.

“Yuseong, what will you choose?” “Huh?” “Well, you contributed the most here, so you have first pick.”

First pick, huh?

I looked them over again.

But the Strength Elixir didn’t appeal to me.

-Good instincts.

Lysielle commented on my choice.

-For an elf’s swordsmanship, like Moonshadow, agility matters more than strength. Seems you sensed that instinctively.

‘Is that how it works?’

I don’t think so.

My gut says I can learn it regardless.

‘If nothing else, I trust this.’

S-Rank, Thief’s Pinnacle, subtly fed me information like this.

“I’ll take gold.”

This might be a good chance to upgrade my armor or weapons.

“Understood.”

Ermé nodded and turned to Glasses and Teresa.

After a brief discussion, she returned.

“The Strength Elixir is mine. Marcel’s taking the Shield Skill and Mana Potion.” “I’m taking the money.”

Teresa made a peace sign with a blank expression.

“So, what’s next?” “I’d like to restock and explore the 1st floor some more.”

Glasses responded to Ermé’s question.

Seemed like he spent a lot in this loot distribution.

“I’m fine with that.” “Me too. Yuseong?” “Same.” “Unanimous decision, then. We’ll rest here today and go hunt more goblins.” “What about this sword?”

I pulled out the Champion’s Greatsword and showed it to them.

“Should we just sell it? Doesn’t seem that great.” “Really? It’s on par with the Whisper of the Wind.” “Wha—?! You mean the best thing here was that?!”

Is the Whisper of the Wind that good?

-Like I said before, the Whisper of the Wind carries strong symbolism.

Ah, right.

Even if two weapons are the same grade, symbolic value changes things.

“So, what about this one?” “I have a blunt-weapon Gift, so I can’t use greatswords.”

Teresa was the first to raise both hands in surrender.

“I already got the Mana Potion and Shield Skill, so I’ll pass.”

That left one person—Ermé.

“Ahem. There are two sword users here, but a greatsword suits me better, so I’ll take it.” “I’m fine as long as I get money.” “…It’s a bit tight, but I’ll manage.”

Ermé gleefully grabbed the Champion’s Greatsword.

Afterward, Marcel set up alert spells and a makeshift tent.

Our first night in the dungeon passed.

—

The 1st Floor of the Dungeon.

The area where goblins primarily spawned was easier than expected.

Even I could handle about ten goblins without much trouble.

‘They’ve gotten way stronger.’

Teresa had leveled up, boosting her combat prowess.

I watched as she faced a shield-carrying goblin.

“Hup!”

A single swing of her mace sent the goblin flying—shield and all—crushing another behind it.

“Wow, you’ve gotten really strong.”

Ermé remarked casually, though she wasn’t one to talk.

Wielding the Champion’s Greatsword and having taken the Strength Elixir, she was slaughtering goblins even more effortlessly than before.

‘This is practically a massacre.’

As I thought that, a goblin ahead locked eyes with me.

-Keeek!

It lunged—only to be bisected by my Blood-Soaked Dagger.

‘Must’ve killed around a hundred by now.’

Maybe because of that, the dagger felt sharper, as if it had absorbed more blood.

My body also felt oddly lighter.

‘Oh.’

I immediately checked the item’s info.

[Item] Blood-Soaked Dagger (B) A dagger that grows stronger with each life it takes. ◇ Unlocks new abilities every 100 kills. ◇ Can use Blood Spirit Arts by consuming absorbed blood. ◇ +3 Agility.

‘Blood Spirit Arts?’

Information flashed in my mind.

A technique that converts the blood of those slain by the dagger into a blade-like energy—similar to the Whisper of the Wind’s Azure Wind.

‘I want to test it out.’

Just then, I felt eyes on me.

The entire party was staring.

“…?” “Yuseong, what do you think? We’re probably ready to head to the 2nd floor.”

Ermé was right.

With our current strength, we were overqualified for the 1st floor.

‘The 2nd floor shouldn’t be a problem either.’

The 2nd floor wasn’t much different—just that goblins evolved into hobgoblins, and the boss was slightly more annoying.

‘Annoying in appearance, not strength.’

After defeating the Hobgoblin Champion, it shouldn’t be an issue.

“I’m fine with it.” “At this point, we’re overleveled for the 1st floor anyway.”

Glasses adjusted his glasses and spoke.

“Besides, Teresa and I came here aiming for the 2nd floor from the start.” “Normally, I wouldn’t say this, but…”

Teresa’s gaze shifted between me and Ermé.

“You two are strong.” “So, what’s the plan?”

Ermé grinned at me.

‘The 2nd floor, huh…’

Ermé seemed to be nudging us toward moving forward.

If so, it should be fine.

“Honestly, with our strength, we could even handle the 3rd floor.” “Yeah. We’re strong.”

Glasses and Teresa’s words.

I nodded in agreement.

We began walking toward the path leading to the 2nd floor.