Chapter 3 - Chapter 2: Magic Stones

After eating the whole Basilisk, I realised that there was a fist-sized stone around his heart.

『Huh? What's this? ⟨Appraisal⟩』

『Result. Magic Stone: ⟨⟨It is equivalent to the life of a dungeon monster⟩⟩』

『Hoh....so ⟨Appraisal⟩ now provides a little bit more information huh. But it's still insufficient so I'll just tap into ⟨Wisdom⟩'s knowledge. ⟨Appraisal⟩』

『Result. Magic Stone: ⟨⟨This is a ⟨⟨Basilisk⟩⟩'s ⟨⟨Magic Stone⟩⟩. It is something that is present only in dungeon monsters and not in normal monsters. For dungeon monsters, their ⟨⟨Magic Stone⟩⟩ is their life. If it is destroyed the dungeon monster loses its life. However, it does not mean that the only way to kill a dungeon monster is to destroy their ⟨⟨Magic Stone⟩⟩. When the ⟨⟨Magic Stone⟩⟩ of a particular monster is destroyed by another monster, either directly or indirectly, all the skills of the dead monster are obtained by that monster, reduced to level 1⟩⟩』

Hmm, I get the basic details but....

『Huh seriously? Then if I destroy this ⟨⟨Magic Stone⟩⟩ I'll get his skills?』

『Answer. That is correct. However the skills will be reduced to Lv.1 before Master receives them』

『That's fine with me. Atleast I get new skills. Now I just have to raise their levels to make them stronger.』

I break the ⟨⟨Magic Stone⟩⟩ with my claws.

It easily shatters to pieces and turns into particles of light and enters my body.

『Skill ⟨Razor Tail Lv.1⟩ has been acquired』

『Skill ⟨Quick Step Lv.1⟩ has been acquired』

『Skill ⟨Poison Fangs Lv.1⟩ has been acquired』

『Skill ⟨Petrifying Glare Lv.1⟩ has been acquired』

『Skill ⟨Petrifying Resistance Lv.1⟩ has increased to level 2』

『Oh if you already have a skill then on acquiring it a second time, it raises the level by 1 huh.』

Still, who would've thought that a damn lizard would be so strong.

『Come to think of it, what was the threat level of the Basilisk?』

『Answer. The ⟨⟨Razor Basilisk⟩⟩ was a dungeon monster of threat level D』

『No wonder it was so damn strong!!!』

My first battle in this world had to be against an enemy who was 2 ranks more dangerous than me huh.

My luck really sucks.

『By the way Wisdom-sama, where is my ⟨⟨Magic Stone⟩⟩ located?』

『Answer. Master does not have one.』

『Huh? What do you mean?』

『Answer. Master is not a dungeon monster. Therefore, Master does not have a ⟨⟨Magic Stone⟩⟩』

『No no no, no matter how you look at it, it's weird. If this is a dungeon then I should also be a dungeon monster, right? I was born here after all』

『Answer. It is true that the current position is a dungeon and it is also true that Master was born in this dungeon. However it is not true that being born in a dungeon necessarily makes someone a dungeon monster』

?!!

『......then are you telling that I hatched from the egg here but I wasn't born here?』

『Answer. That is correct』

『Then the egg I hatched from must've been brought here by someone? Is that....the reason why have not been registered as a dungeon monster when I was born?』

『Answer. There is a high possibility of that being the case』

.....seriously? The mystery to my reincarnation is more complicated than I thought.

Well it's no use pondering over such things.

More importantly, I can't wait to try out the new skills.

『Err....let's see, first is ⟨Razor Tail⟩』

I aimed at a huge rock and activated the skill.

The attack was decently powerful and made a 50 cm deep cut on the rock.

『Hoh....It's pretty good for a level 1 skill』

I can't use ⟨Petrifying Glare⟩ and ⟨Poison Fangs⟩ if there's no enemy, so let's keep it for when that happens.

『Now, the one which looks the most useful is this one. ⟨Quick Step⟩』

I came to an open area and used the new movement skill I received from the Basilisk.

Immediately after using the skill, I put a little strength in my hind legs and covered a distance of about one metre in an instant.

『Hmm, this is gonna be useful. I better level it up. ⟨Quick Step⟩ ⟨Quick Step⟩ ⟨Quick Step⟩ ⟨Quick Step⟩』

....

『Haa.....haa.....after using it so many times I finally managed to get it to level 5. Damn this world sucks!! Why is everything so difficult here?!!』

Well even if I complain, it's not like God will come down the make it easy for me.

「*boing boing*」

『Hmm?』

A slime appeared!!

It's....huge.

A slime appeared a couple of metres away from me.

It was bigger than what I imagined slimes to be.

It was a spherical blob of blue colour, around 2 metres in diameter.

『All right, this is the perfect chance to test out my new skills!』

『Notice. The enemy is a Sli-』

I ignored Wisdom-sama's words and rushed in to defeat the slime.

『⟨Razor Tail⟩』

I whipped my tail at the slime to inflict some momentary damage and was planning to inflict poison and petrification after it had took some decent damage.

But for some reason, I didn't learn my lesson from the Basilisk fight, and ended up underestimating my opponent.

Maybe because it's ⟨⟨Magic Stone⟩⟩ was visible through its transparent body, I though I would be able to win as long as I destroyed it.

But the fact that the ⟨⟨Magic Stone⟩⟩ was covered by its jelly-like body, totally escaped my mind and I naively rushed in and attacked.

As soon as my tail came in contact with its jelly-like body, it started melting.

『Ow! ow! ow! What the hell is this?!! Don't tell me.....It's acid?!』

『Answer. The enemy possesses the skill ⟨Acid Body⟩. Anything that comes in contact with its body melts into nothingness』

『Damn it!!! I can't believe I foolishly charged in even after the Basilisk battle!! If I had just listened to Wisdom-sama first, I would've had a better chance to survive this. On top of that, now that my strongest weapon is gone, I don't know if I can even make it out alive.』

...What should I do?

『Should I run away? Yeah I can't win from this position. Retreating would be my best opti-』

Just as I thought about retreating, the slime, as if seeing through my intentions, spits acid all around me preventing my from escaping.

『Shit!! Now I can't even escape from here.』

As I was desperately trying to find an escape route, I saw that a few bones from the Basilisk were lying in a place not far from my current position.

『This might work!』

I quickly pick up 4 bones from the ground.

The slime was still continuously firing acid but thanks to my ⟨Evasion Lv.5⟩.

That was when I noticed something strange. Even with my ⟨Evasion Lv.5⟩, I was barely avoiding it's attacks.

『Tch! Does it have increased accuracy or what?』

At any rate, after gathering the bones, I dipped them in the ⟨⟨Blast Liquid⟩⟩ lake.

I take them out, and start waving them vigorously hoping them to catch fire.

It didn't take long before the bones started burning.

『Yes, I did it!』

Now I take the burning bones and stick them all into the slime which had come close to where I was.

Fortunately, it's movements were slow.

But in spite of being slow, it managed to spit acid on my arms in the last moment.

『It hurts!!!!!!!』

But with this now the slime was finally defeated.

『Notice. Experience threshold reached. Level has increased from 2 to 4』

『Huh? The slime gave more experience points than the Basilisk? Well I always appreciate more EXP. Also my injuries are healed.』

『Skill ⟨Acid Body Lv.1⟩ has been acquired』

『Skill ⟨Accuracy Lv.1⟩ has been acquired』

『Skill ⟨Pain Resistance⟩ has increased from level 6 to level 7 』

『Skill ⟨Acid Resistance⟩ has increased from level 1 to level 2』

『Skill ⟨Acid Shot Lv.1⟩ has been acquired』

『So ⟨Pain Resistance⟩ increased 1 level and I gained ⟨Acid Resistance⟩ during the battle itself huh. I should really listen to Wisdom-sama from next time. Honestly, I would've been definitely dead without Wisdom-sama by now.』

Let's see what my status looks like currently.

Name: N/A

Gender: N/A

Age: --

Status: Normal

Species: Wyrm

Level: 4

HP: 70/70

MP: 50/50

SP: 68/70

STR: 50/50

VIT: 70/70

AGI: 50/50

INT: 30/30

[Unique Skills]

⟨Wisdom Lv.1⟩

[Skills]

⟨Appraisal Lv.2⟩ ⟨Hunger Resistance Lv.2⟩ ⟨Fatigue Resistance Lv.2⟩ ⟨Razor Tail Lv.1⟩ ⟨Quick Step Lv.1⟩ ⟨Poison Fangs Lv.1⟩ ⟨Petrifying Glare Lv.1⟩ ⟨Evasion Lv.6⟩ ⟨Pain Resistance Lv.7⟩ ⟨Fire Resistance Lv.3⟩ ⟨Petrification Resistance Lv.1⟩ ⟨Physical Resistance Lv.2⟩ ⟨Acid Resistance Lv.2⟩ ⟨Acid Body Lv.1⟩ ⟨Accuracy Lv.1⟩ ⟨Acid Shot Lv.1⟩

My stats are finally looking decent.

Now then, let's see what this slime is.

Status: Dead

Species: Slime Lord

Level: 7

HP: 0/100

MP: 50/50

SP: 0/90

STR: 110/110

VIT: 30/30

AGI: 0/20

INT: 30/30

Hm?

Hmm?

HMM??

It wasn't a normal slime?!!

Then if it was a greater species, why didn't Wisdom-sama warn me earlier?

『Answer. When details of the enemy Slime Lord were about to be announced, Master had already rushed in』

W-Wisdom-sama?

Is it just me or does Wisdom-sama actually sound like she's terribly pissed off at a certain someone?

『Err, Wisdom-sama....um, sorry for ignoring you when you were explaining something important』

『.....』

?!!

『W-Wisdom-sama! Why are you being silent?! Are you really that angry on me?』

『Answer. I am just a skill. Skills do not possess the emotion associated with anger』

........she's definitely pissed off at me.

I-I better not ignore her from now on.

『C-Come to think of it, what was the Slime Lord's threat level?』

『Answer. The Slime Lord is a monster with a threat level C』

?!!!

Are you kidding me?!!

This slime was more dangerous than that damn lizard?!

I-It sure feels good to be alive....

I would've been so dead today.

Heck, why do I always encounter these out of norm monsters?!! Do normal monsters don't exist here!!

No no no, for now I should just be grateful that I'm alive.

Hmm, let's try out the new skills.

Ah....I can't use ⟨Accuracy⟩ if there's no enemy.

Well let's see what ⟨Acid Body⟩ can do.

『⟨Acid Body⟩』

As soon as I use the skill, my body is covered in a veil of acid, with me as the centre, around 2 metres in diameter.

『Oh this is nice. It can protect me from falling debris and projectiles and physical attacks will become a double-edged sword for the enemy. Then the only thing that can inflict considerable damage on me has to be magic, considering it actually exists.』

Now let's try ⟨Acid Shot⟩.

『⟨Acid Shot⟩』

A fist-sized ball of acid forms infront of my mouth and is shot towards a rock.

『As I thought, the quantity and power are pretty low. The balls fired by the slime were a lot bigger and their firepower was scary as well. My attack simply gouged out a few centimetres off the rock. Well as expected from a level 1 skill. It'll get pretty useful at higher levels.』

I just noticed that I don't have the skill ⟨Poison Resistance⟩.

『Won't ⟨Poison Fangs⟩ become a double-edged sword for me if I don't have ⟨Poison Resistance⟩?』

『Answer. There is a possibility』

Hmm....

『Is it possible to acquire ⟨Poison Resistance⟩ if I use ⟨Poison Fangs⟩ on myself?』

『Answer. There is a possibility』

Haa....I'm a bit reluctant to do this but I have to do it now so that I do not get into trouble later on.

I go towards a ⟨⟨Recovery Crystal⟩⟩.

『Well then let's do this. If things go bad, I can just break this and it'll be fine. ⟨Poison Fangs⟩!』

Saying so, I bite my arm while using ⟨Poison Fangs⟩ as hard as I can.

『It hurts!!!!!』

It's just the pain right now. The poison is yet to take effect.

『!!!』

It's here! The poison is finally taking effect.

Now.....I just...need to.....hold on.....

『Huh? M-My mind is...going blank. This is...bad. I need to...recover...fast』

『Skill ⟨Poison Resistance Lv.1⟩ has been acquired』

I muster the last bit of strength and break one of the ⟨⟨Recovery Crystals⟩⟩ somehow.

I didn't even notice that my HP had dropped to 20 right from 70.

....

.....

...

『Huff....huff....』

I-I've managed to survive.

『Man, I somehow survived. I seriously thought I was a goner back there. That was really close. I would've died for real if not for the ⟨⟨Recovery Crystal⟩⟩』

Well I managed to acquire ⟨Poison Resistance Lv.1⟩ so it's fine.

『Skill ⟨Sleep Resistance Lv.1⟩ has been acquired』

Come to think of it, I haven't slept even once after reincarnating.

『Umm, Wisdom-sama do you know how much time has passed since my reincarnation?』

『Answer. It has been 30 hours, 17 minutes and 42 seconds since Master's reincarnation in this world』

Ohh, as expected from Wisdom-sama.

Wait, if she knows that I have been reincarnated then maybe she knows the reason as well?

『Wisdom-sama, do you know why or by whom I've been reincarnated in this world?』

『Unable to answer』

As I thought, it wouldn't be so easy huh.

Well it's fine. I'm sure I'd eventually find out the reason behind my reincarnation.

For now I should sleep.

I haven't slept for more than 30 hours after all.

Well then let's return to my home and...

『Good night, Wisdom-sama』

『Good night, Master』

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Man I had a nice long sleep after a long time.

『Good morning Wisdom-sama』

『Good morning Master』

『By the way, for how long was I asleep?』

『Answer. 12 hours 5 minutes 50 seconds』

That long?!

Uwaa...I can't believe I was asleep for 12 hours straight.....

Well then let's see what I should do today.

Hmm?

Now that I come to think of it, the broken pieces of the egg I hatched from were still here.

『Hmm, let's see if I can learn something about this egg. ⟨Appraisal⟩』

『Result. Wyrm Egg: ⟨⟨It is an produced from breeding between two Wyrms. These eggs are a delicacy for ⟨⟨Serpents⟩⟩. A full grown one can swallow one such egg effortlessly.⟩⟩』

?!!

『What the hell?!! What do you mean I'm a delicacy among ⟨⟨Serpents⟩⟩?!!』

....I don't even want to know reason behind.

『Skill ⟨Appraisal⟩ has increased from level 2 to level 3』

Ooh nice.

Well for now let's tap into Wisdom-sama's knowledge for more information on the egg.

『Result. Wyrm Egg: ⟨⟨It is an egg produced from breeding between two Wyrms. These eggs are a delicacy for ⟨⟨Serpents⟩⟩. A full grown one can swallow one such egg effortlessly. This particular egg did not originally belong to this place. Thus, it is highly likely that it has been brought to this place.⟩⟩』

Yeah, Wisdom-sama said something about my egg being brought here by someone earlier as well.

Well I didn't get any new information other than that so I guess that's all the egg was about.

『Unique Skill ⟨Wisdom⟩ has increased from level 1 to level 2』

『Skill ⟨Dimensional Storage Lv.1⟩ has been acquired』

Ohhh!

Finally Wisdom-sama leveled up huh.

More importantly, why did I acquire a new skill.

And it didn't sound like I did something that triggered the acquiring conditions.

『Answer. A specific new skill will be gained every time Unique Skill ⟨Wisdom⟩ levels up.』

『Seriously? By the way, what skills will I gain for the next levels?』

『Unable to answer』

『Haa...Well we'll eventually get to know.』

That's right, let's see what this new skill is about.

By the way, apparently I can directly tap into Wisdom-sama's knowledge for information on this new skill since it has been acquired due to Wisdom-sama leveling up.

『Result. Dimensional Storage: ⟨⟨It is a separate space owned by the user of the skill. Time is completely stopped inside this space. The amount of space available increases with an increase in the skill level. Anything can be stored in this space with the exception of living things.⟩⟩』

Uwaa.....What's with that super handy skill? Is it really alright?

Am I really allowed to be this lucky?

W-Well if you insist so much then I guess it can't be helped.

Haa...who am I even talking to?

Looks like too many monologues are making me go crazy.

Well it's not like I'm completely alone since I have Wisdom-sama.

But she is a terrible conversation partner.

Man, I really hope she had some personality or ego.....

Still since she's the only one I can talk to, I better not complain.

Hmm, let's do that.

Coming back to the topic at hand....

『Hey Wisdom-sama, what will happen if I put some ⟨⟨Blast Liquid⟩⟩ in my dimensional storage space?』

『Answer. Since time is completely stopped within the dimensional storage, the ⟨⟨Blast Liquid⟩⟩ will remain in the same state as it was while entering for the entire time it is present inside the dimensional storage. Which means it's properties will also remain the same』

Wow, isn't that convenient?

『What's the total capacity?』

『Answer. A space extending 5 metres in all directions』

『Hmm, looks like it's not that big, but it's fine considering its still at level 1』

For now I'll use it mainly for keeping the ⟨⟨Blast Liquid⟩⟩ and save some space for a few ⟨⟨Recovery Crystals⟩⟩ in case I'm in trouble.

I'll leave some space empty so that I can bring back important stuff.

Now then, we'll be setting out for exploration from tomorrow.

I really hope I don't have to fight insanely powerful monsters right off the bat like my last battles.

I think I can fare pretty well against a Basilisk as I am right now.

But I'm not going to make the same mistake like the last times.

I'll properly listen to what Wisdom-sama has to say first and then accordingly proceed.

I've learnt my lesson.

『By the way Wisdom-sama, how long has it been since I've reincarnated?』

『Answer. 43 hours 9 minutes 37 seconds』

So it's gonna be two days soon huh.

I guess everyone who knows me has been informed of my death by now.

Well even if I say everyone, it'll just be my classmates since my parents have already passed away and I don't have any relatives either.

I wonder how Ayato and Hinata are doing.