I was sitting outside of an old cabin that we found in a village in the Sailcoat. I opened my Status and was shocked to see my attributes increase slightly.
===
[[Status]]
Name: Ivan
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Level: 3
HP: 44/44, MP: 24/24
EXP: 175/204
---
Attributes:
Strength: 4 -> 6
Lifeforce: 15 -> 17
Mana: 2 -> 3
Agility: 7 -> 8
Luck: -
---
Nature: Void
Ability: Shadow Manipulation
---
Passives:
[Daggers F], [Instincts E]
Actives:
[Dagger Dance F], [Shadow Hide G]
===
My stats increased a little but not as much as I expected. I have speed-type attributes, so I had to start training in fast melee combat. I also gained some exp points since maturity contributes to the experience bar.
"Sip* Ah~! Mr. Shin, other things aside, the tea you brew is exceptional." I said to Shin, who was sitting beside me.
It had been seven days since we arrived at the territory of Marquess Sailcoat. It was a territory that lay south of the principal capital of the Herculean Empire. It was a small territory compared to Flareottems Grand Duchy, but it had been a hub for business merchants for quite some time. It was also a bustling city where chances of government employment were narrow.
Before starting our mission, Shin and I decided to stay here and observe the city called Sailcoat City.
"So you can also praise the art. I am delighted." Shin replied without any smile on his face. He was in Japanese kimono, which was casual clothing according to his cultural tradition. "How is the new gift?"
I looked at a short straight sword encased in a wooden casing.
[Short Enchanted Sword (Rare)
Type: Weapon
Effects: +10% ATK, Agility +4]
It was a gift from Shin that he promised during the duel. It was a short sword crafted in his village and enchanted with magic. It was also doable and can easily be repaired.
It was perfect for me, who had been looking for a good sword to start my adventure.
"By the way, Ivan. I am curious."
It was then Shin called me, and by the look on his face, I had already guessed what he would be going to ask.
"I have been trying to figure out the reason behind your trauma for killing someone, but I couldn't. The only case I have seen is with former knights who suddenly refuse to kill another human for reasons that discard their sense of justice. I have also sensed similar honor that proud knights have.
However, you are just a 13-year child and haven't gone through such exposures. What could be the reason?"
I looked at Shin with a deadpan face and said, "Mr. Shin, please use your brain next time when challenging me to a duel. My reasons? You don't need to know."
I couldn't tell that I was from another world and brought my trauma with me. I didn't need to share my secret with anyone, especially Shin.
"Whatever." He shrugged his shoulders and said, "I am just saying since you have to take life when needed to stay in Flareottems. Duke likes to add talented people to his arsenal, but he hates people like you who refused to kill even betrayers."
"I know. I am fully aware how much my life is worth to duke." I replied, then added, "I am aware of my weakness. That's why I am here to fix it."
Another reason, besides obtaining treasures and leveling up, was to erase my trauma once and for all. I don't know about the dark knight, but I should have dealt with those assassins. At that time, Anastasia wasn't my concern, so I didn't care who came after her, but after becoming her servant and her friend, I realized how hard it could get to keep worrying about such a person.
That's why I wanted to change. I chose this mission because I knew how to expose Marquess Sailcoat crimes and obtained the contracts he made with the assassin organization.
However, today I would also have to clear a dungeon that I didn't tell him about.
For two days, I had been searching for treasures' whereabouts, and I had found one near me.
---
A 122 cm green creature was standing holding onto the branch of a tree with a dagger in his hand, ready to kill any intruder that might come for his newly created home. It was just a cave where the leader of the tribe was mating with other females, so that he couldn't let his guard down.
Although it was nighttime when adventurers did not come, goblins didn't care. They have to be on guard and kill anyone who tries to intrude.
The goblin felt a sense of danger just for a second, but it faded away. The goblin looked around, but after finding no one, he shrugged his shoulders and continued to guard the post.
Suddenly a hand came from behind him and grabbed the goblin's mouth tightly, preventing him from screaming, but he didn't wait long when a sharp blade pierced his heart.
Soon the goblin's body stopped moving, and he was slowly put down on the branch as if nothing had happened. A shadowy figure was behind his death which soon dived and disappeared.
Around 56 cm tall and sturdy green goblin was pumping another green goblin, a little deeper in the cave and lit by a torch.
"Gorrr?"
The goblin heard something moving but looking around, he didn't find anyone. It must be wind or one of his mating partners groaning. On one side, the female goblins could be seen resting without moving with a gruesome liquid coming out from their bottom. They also had multiple fresh cuts and scars due to recent torture.
"Gr!" Goblin smirked as those female goblins soon bear his children, and then he will create his horde and attack a village to get some human girls to enjoy the mating. It was just their nature to show disgust to fellow goblin females. They are just too ugly.
Just then, he noticed that the female goblin he was pumping had stopped moaning. Wait. How can she moan when she doesn't have a head on her neck?
The leader goblin widened his eyes and roared, "Grrrr!!! Khuah….!"
A sword pierced his skull out of nowhere as he stopped screaming and fell to the ground, lifeless like the rest of his dead tribe.
"Oh, god. Why do they have to go for sex of all time? Can't they do these kinds of activities in daylight?"
I came out from a shadow, and a grotesque sight came into my view. Thank goodness I didn't eat anything before coming here, or else I would have flooded the dungeon with the white stuff.
I have also gained a level and some stats. I didn't see how much since my work wasn't done yet.
I ignored everything and went towards another corner of the dungeon where I found a chest box and some old armory like chest armor and swords. I ignored the arsenal and opened the chest box.
In addition to some gold and silver coins, one finger size gem attracted my attention.
[Skill Gem (Epic)
Type: Consumable
Effects: It can grant a fighting type from Rank B to Rank SS]
Without thinking any further, I put the gem in my mouth and cracked it. Soon I started to feel pain all over my body. It felt like my muscles were going through strenuous training on their own.
After the pain went away, I fell to my knees and was covered in sweat.
Several notifications were also being displayed.
[You have levelled up!]
[A passive skill has been installed.]
[Your stats have been increased due to levelling up and implementing the skill.]
[Daggers E has been replaced with Pioneer of Blades SS]
===
[[Status]]
Name: Ivan
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Level: 4
HP: 54/54, MP: 25/25
EXP: 197/329
---
Attributes:
Strength: 6+1+2 -> 9
Lifeforce: 17+2 -> 19
Mana: 3
Agility: 8+1+3 -> 12(+4)
Luck: -
---
Nature: Void
Ability: Shadow Manipulation
---
Passives:
[Instincts E], [Pioneer of Blades SS]
Actives:
[Dagger Dance F], [Shadow Hide G]
===
[Pioneer of Blades SS
Countless sworders came and left this world, with each having a distinctive sword style different from the other. They spent their whole life mastering various blade techniques and making their name. But what if there was one person who could master every sword like a child's play. One who doesn't need to put their whole life into mastering just one blade? One who sits above the hails of blades? A person who hasn't moved a single step from bed saw dreams of masters of sword making legacy and believed to be master of blades. This 'believe' was passed down to many successors until one man indeed displayed this 'believe' and defeated the demon lord. As a result, this skill came into existence.
Effects: Host can learn any blade-related skill of their opponent by just fighting with them. They can also increase the rank of any blade-related skill 20 times faster.]
"Yes! I finally hit the jackpot! Now, I don't need to find a master and train for years!"
I wasn't a talented man who excelled in blade arts. All I learned was the primary defense knife skills in the US military, but now I can learn all the excellent skills of the great master by just fighting them.
But there was just one problem.
"Oi, Vivi? I just wiped the whole goblin lair, yet I earned so little EXP; why is that?"
My target was to become a Level 25 before the start of the academy. How would I be able to get such a level with so little EXP?
[Vivi: Did you forget why people can get excess to dungeons at 15? It is because a multiplier is added as a result of their maturity. You can wipe as much dungeon as you can, but the rate of EXP will be slow.]
"Now that's BS!"
Is this what nerfing means?