"Good morning, Lia." I greeted the perky receptionist of the Craftsman Association. "You look lively so early in the morning. Anything good happen?"
"Good morning, Rim! I was just told by my boss that I'm getting a raise, and it's all thanks to you." She said while smiling brightly.
"Me? What did I do?"
"You've been clearing numerous bounties lately and that increased our reputation. More people have been placing bounties as a result, which in turn increases our profit through the commissions."
Initially my main goal was to earn money for travel funds. But while doing so, I found that hunting down new monsters and gaining new skills was much more fun to do. It's like the game completionist in me woke up and started whispering to me to "collect 'em all". Bounties just became an extra additional income for me.
"I'm just doing them to earn money for my travels. Are there any bounties for Jungle Maze dungeon?" I asked.
"Hmm. I think there were some…" Lia went over to the bounty board and took two pieces of paper off and then handed them to me.
---
Request: 10 Uncommon Golem Cores
Type: Gathering, Slaying
Client: Buster from the Alchemist Guild
Deadline: 4 days
Reward: 5 Small Silver
---
Request: Black Leopard Fur
Type: Gathering, Slaying, Repeatable
Client: Prama from the Tailors Guild
Deadline: -
Reward: 2 Small Silver and 1 Large Copper per kilogram of fur
---
"I think these two are the most worthwhile bounties that need materials from Jungle Maze."
"Got it. By the way, I've been meaning to ask, how come I can read the words on these bounties? To be honest, I can't read or write well yet. But ever since the first day, I've had no trouble understanding the contents on the bounty board."
"Ah. That's because we have staff members with the uncommon Scribe job. They have a skill that lets them write down their intentions so anyone reading it can understand regardless of their literacy." She explained to me.
"Oh! How convenient. Thanks, Lia."
I've been trying to learn how to read and write the common language along with my classmates. Thank goodness Danae was around. She made learning a new language easier.
I waved goodbye to Lia and headed over to the south gate. Along the way, I spotted a familiar little figure. Feeling playful, I decided to play a little trick on her. I snuck up behind and then…
"Excuse me miss, you dropped your necklace." I lowered my voice to sound like a man's and spoke.
The little girl in front of me stopped dead in her tracks. I noticed her trembling a bit. She raised her hand and patted her collarbone and sighed in relief.
"I'm sorry but I don't think it's my- Rim!" Dawn shouted after turning around and seeing my face. "Don't scare me like that! I was worried that…"
"Yeah, I'm sorry. You were just so cute from behind that I wanted to play a prank on you."
"Moh!"
Dawn started studying under Grandpa Max after being accepted as his disciple. I occasionally met her when I completed some of his bounties and whenever I asked him for some maintenance on Blood Bane. I sometimes accompany her to the forest to raise her level and help collect some materials for blacksmithing practice. We walked to the gate together while chatting.
"Why do you dress like a boy, Dawn? You would look so much better in cuter clothes."
"My brother said that it's easier to lay low and attract less attention as a boy."
Damn you Nat! After a few days being locked up, he was eventually released. We've been on bad terms ever since.
But I do agree that what he said was correct. A cute loli like Dawn would attract way too much attention if she dressed in cute, frilly clothing. I started picturing her in gothic lolita-style clothes… hehe…
"You have that scary smile on again… I feel like I should remind you that I'm 16."
…Does this loli know [Foresight]?
"Look! It's Sir Hamish." I ran over to Sir Hamish who I spotted to change the subject.
"Oh Ms. Rim. Good day. I would like to thank you again for your generous donation to the guards."
During my grind fests in Dark Swamp, the monsters occasionally dropped a common sword or spear. I gave some of them to Sir Hamish and the southern gate squad as thanks for always letting me through the gate without hassle.
"It's no big deal. Are you about to go on a morning patrol?" I asked him.
"Yes. It's the job of us guards to keep the order of the city. Someone has to keep those Adventurers at bay and I will gladly take up that duty."
"Well don't let me keep you with chatter. Have a good day Sir."
Dawn and I went through the gate and we separated in the forest. After walking a distance, I reached the Jungle Maze entrance. There were a few Adventurer parties that were getting ready to enter as well. This dungeon was managed by the guild so I had to find a party to join in order to enter.
"It's the Earth Ranger!"
"Oh yeah look! Please join our party!"
"No join ours!"
"We'll give you twenty percent of the spoils if you come to our party!"
The various Adventurers recognized me and tried to recruit me to join them. Unfortunately, my goal is to try and [Assimilate] the boss so going with a big party is no good. I rejected the offers and looked around for a smaller sized party. Over to the side, slightly distanced from the entrance, I noticed two people talking.
"Remember to not push yourself too hard. You just got better."
"Yes."
"And also make sure to stick close to me. I heard that there are many traps in this dungeon."
"Yes…"
"And one more thing…"
"Excuse me. Sorry for interrupting your conversation."
I inserted myself into their conversation. The little boy looked thankful that I did. The one that was talking to him was the feline beastman that I encountered in front of the Alchemist Guild a few days ago, Suzuna.
"I couldn't help but overhear that you are entering the dungeon. Are you entering with just the two of you?" I asked them.
"Yes. I'm training my son here. He just recovered from an illness so I brought him here in order to level up and improve his immune system."
In this world, leveling up can improve your physical abilities. It can even prolong your lifespan. Everyone wants to level up and live longer. That's why the Adventurer profession is so popular.
"I'm surprised that a young and beautiful lady such as yourself already has such a handsome son. May I join your party? I can help with the training by disabling the monsters."
I flattered her before asking to join. It's a strategy that I discovered which increases my chances of joining a party by fifty percent of the time.
"Well…" Suzuna hesitated.
"By the way, my name is Rim. I'm the Earth Ranger that everyone keeps talking about." For some reason she didn't seem to know me. My reputation usually handles the remaining fifty percent that the first strategy is missing.
"Oh! I've heard about you from my Adventurer friends. I've been busy taking care of my son so I haven't been able to go on dungeon runs for a while. Your help would be greatly appreciated."
"Thank you. My main role is a ranged support. I can attack or bind enemies with my [Earth Magic] as well as create defensive walls. I also know some swordsmanship and [Heal] so I can fend for myself." I said promoting myself.
This is why everyone wants me to join. A ranged unit that doesn't need defending and can even heal? What is this cheat-like character?
I can play any role that the party is missing, even tank though no one has asked me to do so yet.
Name: Cyrus Lv. 8
Job: Swordsman
Race: Feline Beastman
I was introduced to Suzuna's son, Cyrus. After discussing our roles and battle strategies, we entered the dungeon after they showed the Adventurer guards their IDs.
Inside was a jungle-type forest with large trees that blocked the sunlight from the sky. Around us were the wooden trunks and roots of the trees. They formed a sort of wall and together created a maze hence the name of the dungeon.
"Oh the dungeon boss was just killed." Suzuna said after we walked forward a bit.
"How long until the respawn? I was watching our surroundings and wasn't paying attention." I said to deceive them.
"It said that it will respawn in 3 hours. Our quest is to gather some of the herbs that grow here but as discussed, we will focus on training Cyrus. Is there anything you need to do here Rim?"
"I actually need to get an item from the boss. I've been to this dungeon before so I already know the path and how to defeat it alone. If possible, I would like to make our way over there while training."
"Well if you say so then there should be no problems. Can we handle the stronger enemies as we progress though?" Suzuna asked worriedly.
"The max level of the boss monster here is 20. Since you are a level 29 Archer, I don't think there will be much trouble unless you run out of arrows." I said to relieve her worry.
With the plan made, we started the "Level up the shota beastman" plan which I named myself.
CHAPTER END.
Name: Ruby Sen Lv. 15
Age: 17
Race: Half-Human?
Class: Half-Magical Creature
Job: - Lv. 15
HP: 15 [82%]
MP: 16 [100%]
STR: 14 (+5)
DEF: 13 (+25)
INT: 21
WILL: 17
SPD: 13
<
Assimilate
Mana Manipulation
Physical Resistance
Foresight
Shapeshift
Mana Absorption
Novice Magic Caster
Poison Resistance
Sleep Resistance
Novice Weapon Master
<
Dissolve
Sensing
Sculpting
Detonate
Appraisal Analysis
Cloning
Mana Designing
Mana Disturb
Heal
Boost
Stealth
Engraving
<
Tongue Enhancement