The next two uses of boost and then using the potion weren't as bad as the second time, but still, I was really building my pain tolerance. Before this, I would freak out at a bruise or cut, but honestly, that wouldn't even bother me for a second anymore, not after everything. Another thing I did before each attempt was to fill my stomach since afterward, I would fall asleep, and I didn't want my body cannibalizing itself. After the two successful attempts, I opened my status and viewed my increase in constitution.
Name: Jericho Law
Titles: Interdimensional Traveller
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 22
- Attributes -
Strength: 4
Endurance: 3
Constitution: 18
Dexterity: 5
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 7
Perception: 5
Sense: 2
Willpower: 3
Wisdom: 4
Luck: 3
- Skills -
Weaponry(Swords)(10)[Novice]
Persuasion(10)[Novice]
Hunting(2)
Foraging(2)
Crafting(General)(2)
- Abilities -
-----
Growth(?)[?]
Growth: ?
Time: 1 Week
Cooldown: 1 Day
Type: Active
-----
Boost(?)[?]
Boost: ?
Time: Varied
Cooldown: Varied
Type: Active
-----
Language Comprehension(60)[E]
Language Comprehension: The Ability to understand and comprehend languages.
Time: N/A
Cooldown: N/A
Type: Passive
-----
- Magic -
Magical Skills: None
Spell List: None
I had gained two points each time which seemed like less compared to the others, but the fact is someone else would have to go through months of normal training, or weeks of extreme training and risking their life. All I'd had to do was use an ability, drink a potion, go through some pain, then sleep. Rinse and repeat. Honestly, I contemplated buying one more potion or even two to get to twenty constitution, but I decided that I would consider it after I had some more money, which I was about to earn.
Last time I'd brought a small bag, but this time I rented a spatial bag for a silver. It was covered in runes, and I'd had to sign a magically binding agreement to bring it back by the end of the day. Honestly, this world was sort of medieval, but also had a modern feel to it in many ways. In any case, the bag could hold all the pelts I needed, and anything else. I still had the pack I'd arrived on this world with since I didn't want to risk leaving in the inn room.
I wasn't afraid of Stoll stealing it. After getting to know him, it seemed he was a decent guy just not talkative. I'd known people like back on Earth, and many were often seen as hostile or lacking in some regard because they wanted to remain quiet. I, myself, wasn't much of an extrovert. I was worried about the shady-looking sorts that frequented his inn. They had stopped sizing me up, which I didn't know why, but I guessed Stol had something to do with it.
It was early in the morning, and I entered the dungeon, full of energy, though also a ton of caution. I wasn't worried about a repeat, but I could still be caught off guard. I was far more durable, and normal blows wouldn't have much of an impact, at least not from an average Earth human, but here it was different and a weapon was a weapon. It would be harder, but a sword could still cut or pierce me as could claws.
I paid the fee, entered the first floor, and got to work. This time I was more aware of the walls and tried to keep my footsteps light since I guess the moles could feel the vibrations. Despite my attempt, the first monster I came upon was a mole. It leaped at me from above, but I was able to dodge and skewer it. It didn't die immediately but flayed for a few seconds. I collected the loot and moved on.
I ran into a few other adventurers as I went, and noticed how those who were alone looked at me in caution, which I understood. I did the same, even more so for groups. Not overblown paranoia, but a healthy distance, and watchful eye.
The most numerous mobs were giant rats and mud goblins with the occasional mole. I collected all the loot save for the meat. Apparently, rat meat tasted foul, and mud goblin was actually poisonous to a degree, not surprisingly since apparently they covered themselves in filthy. Mole meat was something I did store as it did sell.
Eventually, I did get hit. I was facing off against three goblins and had just cut down the second when the third managed to hit me with a bone club. I winced, but that was it. It felt more like a punch than a bone club. I cut off his head which went rolled across the dirt. It was very gory, but I didn't find myself repulsed. There wasn't much of a reason to. I wasn't doing this for pleasure, or cruelty. These were monsters that did nothing but kill. The higher floors of the dungeon weren't full of natural things. These goblins didn't have proper sentience, at least nothing beyond, hide, kill, rinse and repeat. They were dungeon constructs. It wasn't until the lower floors were things became very strange or so the books I'd read said.
By the end of the dungeon dive, I had collected dozens of rat pelts, a few moles claws, and plenty of meat alongside mud goblin teeth which were prized for their natural durability. I also ended up finding a rotten corpse. His weapon had been an axe, and though it felt wrong, I pried it from his hands and left. That had made me weasy, and the smell almost knocked me out. The smell of a rotten corpse was by far the most pungent thing I had ever smelled. The scent lingered, and thoughts of me in a similar position made me shiver.
When I made it back to the guild to sell my items, they were quite shocked. The guild had many areas, including a small area full of stalls, and one large store. The man behind the counter stared as pelt after pelt was pulled from the bag. By the time I was done, there were piles of loot in front of him.
"How much for all this?"
"Well, since you aren't an adventurer, I can't give you the best price, but I can give you 8 silver for the lot, that's including the axe."
I nodded, not arguing. That was plenty for my purposes. As I left, I received a few stares, but not much. What I had done wasn't common, but neither was it uncommon. It wasnt because of the amount. It really wouldn't take much to do what I'd done. I mean I didn't even have any combat abilities, at least none I'd risk using in the dungeon. Boost was an emergency plan or to be used for Growth.
I purchased two more potions from Martins before I got to the Inn, and that night, I feasted on three bowls of some odd meat pie and even a slice of bland but filling pound cake. Then came the torture after which was sleep. In the end, this is what my status looked like.
Name: Jericho Law
Titles: Interdimensional Traveller
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 22
- Attributes -
Strength: 4
Endurance: 3
Constitution: 20
Dexterity: 5
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 7
Perception: 5
Sense: 2
Willpower: 3
Wisdom: 4
Luck: 3
- Skills -
Weaponry(Swords)(12)[Novice]
Persuasion(10)[Novice]
Hunting(2)
Foraging(2)
Crafting(General)(2)
- Abilities -
-----
Growth(?)[?]
Growth: ?
Time: 1 Week
Cooldown: 1 Day
Type: Active
-----
Boost(?)[?]
Boost: ?
Time: Varied
Cooldown: Varied
Type: Active
-----
Language Comprehension(60)[E]
Language Comprehension: The Ability to understand and comprehend languages.
Time: N/A
Cooldown: N/A
Type: Passive
-----
- Magic -
Magical Skills: None
Spell List: None
Each attempt had gained only a single point which led credence to the diminishing returns idea I'd read about. My sword skill had also improved, but only a bit, mainly because I wasn't trying to improve, and only using what I had learned from the start. Unlike in the games, it wasn't just repeated use. You had to truly learn more about the weapon.
It was nearing the end of the week, and I was starting to think about what attribute I wanted to grow next. I was thinking something offensive, or maybe I should focus on speed. I needed to consider the training for each attribute.
That night as I lay in bed, I smiled and settled in for a pleasant night's rest. Or at least, that's what I hoped for until I heard a commotion downstairs.