episode_0005

***

In front of Melvia heading towards the intermediate dungeon, Ellen appeared.

Holding something in one hand.

“Ellen…? The intermediate dungeon is not this way….”

“Yeah. I came because I have something to give you.”

Ellen handed Melvia a cloth bundle he was holding without hesitation.

Inside the bundle were more cloth pieces.

Not just simple ‘cloth pieces,’ but something radiating a golden hue.

[Sacred Cloth Armor] – Exclusive equipment for Melvia

Doesn’t look like ordinary cloth armor.

Enhances a significant amount of strength and stamina.

[Special Abilities]

– Once a day, nullify an opponent’s attack and return it as is. (Active)

– When receiving fatal damage, nullify the damage and restore health to 100%.

– Purifies mana, increasing recovery by 200%.

[Requirements]

None.

“This is a gift bestowed upon you by Lord Robin.”

“…What?”

An incredibly remarkable piece of equipment at first glance.

Melvia was taken aback.

“I… can’t accept something like this. I’m not even a believer, never prayed to any deity… Besides, I usually prefer iron armor over cloth….”

“Lord Robin had this made specifically for you. If you won’t use it, he said to just discard it.”

Saying what I was instructed to, Ellen turned and left.

Switching the focus from Ellen joyfully running towards the temple, the screen turned towards Melvia.

How will she act?

.

.

.

Kwaaaah—!

*Gasping*… *Gasping*….

After dealing with the last minor enemy, Melvia gasped for breath.

Handling minor enemies was much tougher now compared to when she was with Ellen.

Setting up the tent that they used to do together was now a solo task.

It had become several times harder than before, but Melvia endured silently.

She didn’t wear the ‘Sacred Cloth Armor’ given by Ellen.

She only brought it along in case she changed her mind.

If asked if she wanted to try it on, she honestly felt like wearing it.

But she restrained herself.

“You shouldn’t rely on artifacts….”

Recalling the words of her master, Nopa, Melvia quietly nestled inside the tent.

She had to defeat the boss.

***

Melvia failed again.

Ellen reached the second floor of the intermediate level.

Next time, Melvia failed again.

Ellen reached the third floor of the intermediate level.

Several weeks passed like this.

Ellen settled on the third floor.

Although it had been only a few weeks since he ascended to the intermediate level, he had completely transcended the life of a poor lower-level adventurer.

Eating whatever he desired, moving out of the 5-copper inn-hopping life to rent a house. With clothes and equipment received from the deity, there was nothing more to say.

On the other hand –

Melvia’s life remained the same. Nothing had changed.

She was steeped in poverty, no different from any other lower-level adventurer.

Ellen brought Melvia to a fancy restaurant.

Quite an expensive menu.

Just looking at the menu made her hands tremble.

A place where it cost 1 silver per person.

However, Ellen casually placed an order.

“Two lamb steaks here. For sides….”

The only thing Melvia felt when she looked at Ellen after his simple order was one thing.

Admiration.

“It looks good because it works out well.”

“All thanks to Lord Robin… I should offer a prayer. Hehe.”

Ellen smiled brightly as he prayed.

Then, he sneakily asked Melvia.

“You still haven’t tried on the equipment Lord Robin gave you, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“Just try it on once, and you’ll realize. Lord Robin knows best.”

To Ellen, it was an obvious story.

But Melvia couldn’t accept it.

“You shouldn’t rely on artifacts. It’s better to walk around without them.”

“It’s not about reliance; it’s about using equipment suitable for your level.”

For people like us who are in dire straits, isn’t Lord Robin the greatest deity?

…”

Melvia couldn’t offer any response.

In reality, Elinne’s words were not wrong.

Soon, the ordered dishes arrived.

As Elinne sliced her steak, she asked Melvia, “You pretend to be carefree, but you’re actually putting in a lot of effort, right? You don’t need to act in front of me. I already know everything.”

With a look of surprise as if asking how she knew, Melvia raised her eyebrows.

“Lavin knows everything. She knows that you’re working hard.”

“…It’s something I should do.”

“Do you know how much effort I put into climbing up to Intermediate 3rd floor?”

Moving from Intermediate 1st floor to 2nd floor was never an easy task.

The same applied to going from 2nd floor to 3rd floor.

Intermediate demanded a different level compared to Beginner.

Listening to the words of Master Nopa, many other disciples who were dedicated to training had faced obstacles at Intermediate 1st floor.

However, Elinne ascended the stairs effortlessly.

Carefully taking a bite of her steak, Melvia replied conventionally, “You must have worked hard too.”

But Elinne shook her head.

“No. I didn’t work at all. I played all day, doing only what I wanted.”

“What?”

“As long as I receive Lavin’s grace, I can climb happily every day while having fun.”

Elinne pulled out something from her bag.

It was a fur hat she recently made.

“Look at this. I’ve been knitting as a recent hobby. I may not make it as well as Lavin, but they say love makes you resemble someone, right? If it’s not time to climb the dungeon, I spend my time doing what I want.”

Elinne casually shared a story that would have startled Lavin if she had heard it.

Melvia’s pupils were shaking roughly.

“Anyway, think about it. Just closing your eyes and wearing equipment isn’t such a big deal. Isn’t that right?”

Just a few weeks passed.

Many things had changed.

The street food they used to eat together for 1~2 copper coins had turned into a silver coin dish.

Their positions had reversed, and even the area they lived in had changed.

Even their way of conversing had shifted.

Melvia, usually assertive and rough in conversation, was now the opposite of Elinne.

But their current conversation was nothing like before.

Melvia was clearly feeling dejected lately.

She didn’t want to compare herself.

She believed in supporting her comrades who were doing well.

However, if she said she wasn’t envious of the continuous news about Elinne, it would be a lie.

She was gradually becoming pessimistic about her own situation.

On the other hand, Elinne, who was smiling broadly in front of her, seemed happier than ever.

“Think about it. I’m not asking for anything else. I just want to climb Intermediate dungeons with you like we used to.”

An empty plate.

The taste of the steak was mind-blowing.

Elinne ate this every day.

Despite just a few floors’ difference.

Melvia remained silent for a while before speaking up.

“…Thanks to you, I got to taste something like this.”

At a luxurious restaurant, a bill dropped in front of Melvia after slicing the steak.

[This month’s inn expenses]

“Sigh…”

There wasn’t much money coming in, but there was plenty going out.

After finishing the dungeon try and meeting Elinne during the day.

The meal with her.

All those things flashed by like a shooting star.

***

Once again, alone heading towards the 20th floor of the Beginner dungeon.

Defeating all the small fry and spending the night.

In front of the boss room.

Melvia’s heart felt heavy.

Her backpack carried slightly more weight than usual.

As she opened the stone door of the boss room and entered, the now very familiar boss greeted her.

With its dark red body and massive club.

Quaaaang—!

Now a familiar attack pattern.

Breaking Phase 1 was not an issue.

However, negative thoughts seemed to consume Melvia.

“Can I do it…?”

“Can I really defeat the 20th-floor boss…?”

Her stamina was already depleted.

But the boss was preparing for Phase 2.

Roarrrrr—!

The 20th-floor boss, who had been defeated once before, was roaring as he prepared to resurrect.

This time, his body was violet.

She had never managed to bring this guy down even once.

Elinne’s words flashed through Melvia’s mind.

— Just close your eyes and put on your gear, what’s the big deal? It’s not that hard, right?

Melvia tightly shut her eyes.

Yeah. What’s the big deal?

Trying to reassure herself.

She dashed forward with her backpack.

.

.

.

Ping—

Green light filled the door of the lower-level 20th-floor boss room.

Clack clack clack clack—

“Bravo. That was truly impressive.”

Melvia’s fundamentals were solid.

It felt different from Elinne, who ascended effortlessly with her gear.

There was a sense that the gear had truly found its rightful owner.

Above all, she utilized the gear’s special abilities incredibly well.

She knew exactly when and how to use these abilities in any given situation.

Moreover-

“It’s cool and all, but it’s also incredibly sexy.”

Melvia usually wore iron gear.

Even if there was some exposure on her belly or thighs, the solidity provided by the iron gear was undeniable.

On the other hand, the gear she received from me was cloth armor.

While it covered every area, she could feel her chest fat jiggling beneath the cloth armor.

If this were an earthquake, it would be at least a magnitude 9.

Melvia, looking bewildered on the screen.

She soon headed towards my temple.

“…Done!”

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