Ryuji felt a weight off his shoulders after clearing the Rank-E Illumius dungeon. He found the loud atmosphere of the dungeon plaza to be soothing. Most of the knights from earlier vanished, with many of the different kiosks and shop vendors now changed.
'Simon isn't here. I guess he is a busy guy. That reminds me, I got a special tattoo from that kobold...'
"Ryuji, you look beat. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm alright, just a little tired. Shall we find a place to eat? I hear the knights make better food in the plaza. Don't worry, I'll pay the fee with my money. I will put the rest of the coins in the group account." Ryuji muttered while wiping his eyes, trying to stave off his exhaustion.
Ryo and Akari stopped walking. They turned back and looked at Ryuji with apologetic faces.
"Ryuji, please take the money. We are sorry for being disrespectful to you today."
When the two bowed to him, Ryuji didn't realise what they meant. He knew that people would have grudges or gripes even at a party, and when trapped in a dark cave like that, he even felt an annoyance towards people who did nothing.
"It's fine. We're only human. There's no need for us to hold stupid grudges. It's not like you attacked me or tried to kill me. Let's say this: I'll deduct 1 silver from you both as a punishment, and this can be the party rule in the future."
"Good, thank you!" Ryo shouted, his face almost touching the floor before he lifted himself with tears in his eyes.
Honestly, that dungeon seemed to have a strange mental effect, and Ryuji felt it from the moment they triggered the monster room.
'Maybe this was part of the trap, an enormous group of monsters and the party falling apart? A cruel trap.'
"I will help Ryo sell our materials and waste items for money!" Akari also looked to have repented, her eyes swollen and red, so Ryuji waved them off and leaned his head towards Yumiko, who frowned.
"Why do you look so angry, Yumi?"
"They acted so unfairly, and suddenly you forgive them. I hate they don't realise how difficult the dungeons are."
"I think the trap caused their actions and words. Remember how genuine their thanks were in the first dungeon and earlier today? It was the moment that the door closed and the strange mist blew over the dungeon that they changed."
Yumiko's tail puffed up and swayed aggressively. "How can you be so kind!?"
"Kind? That's not it. The true reason isn't something glamorous. Let's go to that kiosk and inquire about the monster rooms. Then we will know for sure."
Ryuji pointed to a petite brunette beastkin in chains standing at the information kiosk. She looked to be around Yumiko's age, but Ryuji found it hard to tell because they remained youthful once they hit their perfect figure.
'Not to mention levelling increases both lifespan and youth...'
Though levelling would increase lifespan and youth, should you wait till you are already old, it wouldn't reverse those effects, so that's why most adventurers would start at a young age, be it the day of adulthood or a year or two afterwards.
***
The pair approached the counter to find the nervous beastkin looking at them with strange eyes.
She looked at Yumiko in her maid outfit and armour, with a smile on her face, and then at Ryuji, who looked scary because of his narrow eyes.
"Welcome. I am Saki. Can I help you?"
"Sure. What's your job?"
"Ahem! My name is Saki, and I'm an information broker."
Ryuji ignored the thick chain around her neck and the bruises—his eyes focused on the various screens that appeared the moment Saki deemed them customers.
"I want information on low-level dungeons, the traps found in E and D rank dungeons if possible."
"Yes, please choose your level."
Ryuji instantly spotted the information he needed. He pressed the screen that appeared with his finger and paid 2 silver for the information.
'Interesting, only 200 coppers per sheet of paper...'
Dangerous Traps in Rank- E Dungeons
— Spike Trap - a simple spike trap that can sprout from the walls or even fire from a distance.
— Poison Trap - a simple poison trap that shoots darts at the target and can penetrate most light or medium armours.
— Monster Trap (Rare) - a Deadly trap that causes berserk and impaired mental state while trapping the party in a spawn room. (DEADLY!)
Dangerous Traps in Rank- D Dungeons
— Pitfall Trap - a trap that separates the party; one person falls and must clear a deadly version of the dungeon with monsters five levels higher.
— Spike Trap - a simple spike trap that can sprout from the walls or even fire from a distance.
— Poison Trap - a simple poison trap that shoots darts at the target and can penetrate most light or medium armours.
— Monster Trap (Rare) - a Deadly trap that causes berserk and impaired mental state while trapping the party in a spawn room. (DEADLY!)
***
The moment he read the paper, all the trap information suddenly appeared in his vision, with a question from the gentle female voice.
[Record Dungeon Information? Y/N]
'Yes!'
'Growth skill gained: Observation'
Observation - When you discover information relevant to dungeons or your needs. You can store the information in your system, creating a database of vital information.
Ryuji stared at the paper in confusion and then quickly studied the three traps' usual locations, uses, and strengths and weaknesses. He could hear Yumiko and Saki talking to each other, although different tribes of beastkin. He felt they all carried a sense of companionship.
"Your name was Saki, of the Wolf tribe?"
"Yes. Please, please don't get mad at me." Saki hung her head and showed Yumiko her tail, which was oddly frizzled.
"What beautiful white fur! I am Yumiko, and I seem to be from the golden tribe," Yumiko said.
'She's a demon-type fox, though, the shadow fox? Or is there something I don't know about beastkin?'
Though Ryuji wanted to ask, now wasn't the time; instead, he inspected the kobold's newest tattoo while pretending to read the information about these traps.
[View New Tattoo?]
'Yes.'
Kobold Tattoo of the Berserker (Rare) -> Replaces Kobold Tattoo (Uncommon)
Increase Strength by 4
Increase Maximum Rage by 20
Dark Vision
***
Ryuji found that although it didn't offer a new skill, the fact it increased his maximum rage made his heart race with excitement.
He could either decrease the damage taken and increase his health regeneration by another 10% or boost his damage even more!
'What will happen when I kill normal kobolds, though? Will they no longer count toward upgrading the tattoo?'
[All kobolds you kill will increase the quality of the Kobold Tattoo of the Berserker!]
'Good!'
The moment he accepted the change, Ryuji felt a shock like thousands of needles pierced his chest; unlike the previous tattoo, it hurt badly, causing him to grit his teeth while almost crushing the paper in his hand, causing Yumiko to worry.
"Ryuji? What's the matter!?"
He couldn't respond, but the information broker Saki saw his open chest and the tribal tattoo being painted in real-time.
The two beastkin could also smell the scent of his flesh being burned as the tattoo appeared, with a huge tribal heart and strange patterns covering his muscular chest.
"That tattoo is of the kobold's language!? It reads Deathbringer!" Saki gasped, her skill as an information broker showing.
[Gained Title - Deathbringer]
Your actions have caused the Kobolds to fear you as one who brings a violent and brutal death. Kobolds will fight you with all their hearts and never flee! Though you have a slight chance of breaking their will at the start of combat, reducing their attributes by half!
'Cool... Maybe all the tattoos have a hidden meaning. Not like I can show her my cock for the strange fox one, though.'