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I thought that this elf's training would be tough, but I was taken aback from the start. I heard that the Labyrinth Guild's training involves some theoretical training before entering the labyrinth, but we went straight into the labyrinth without any such training.
When I asked about theoretical training, she said that we would learn through practice in the labyrinth. I suspected that she was just a muscular brain who thought the practice was the best, but unexpectedly, the substantial training began the moment I entered the labyrinth.
"The most important item to bring into the labyrinth is a torch. Light-emitting magical tools are good, but sometimes magical tools don't work, so make sure to carry at least one torch."
"I see you weren't wearing a helmet, but it's better to wear one. Many people don't like it because it blocks their vision, but the terrain is rough, so you'll often hit your head, and many monsters attack from a distance, so it prevents you from getting hit in the head unexpectedly."
"What about you?" I asked.
"Me? Elves like me have sensitive ears, so we don't often wear helmets. The ringing sound of a helmet is quite stressful for an elf. I wore a helmet when I was a beginner explorer, but since I became an intermediate explorer, I've been saving up money to buy headgear with protective magic."
"When you meet other explorers in the labyrinth, the basic rule is to keep your distance. It's not uncommon for them to try to loot or kill you. There are wanted posters on the first floor of the Labyrinth Guild, so it's a good idea to memorize the people there."
"The goblins on the first floor of the labyrinth are the ones who escaped after falling behind in the survival competition on the second and third floors of the labyrinth. They are short and stunted, but they often use the equipment of the beginner explorers who died on the lower floors, so you must not let your guard down."
Each and every sentence she uttered was valuable knowledge. Although she was blunt when I asked questions, she answered them all one by one.
When she met a goblin in the middle, she caught one and explained its characteristics in detail. Where on earth did the others find training difficult? Despite scaring me so much, she had been training me thoroughly without any difficulties. I had been worried, but it wasn't much?
As I was chewing on what I had learned, Alencia handed me a bunch of herbs.
"Eat it."
"Oh, what kind of herb is it? I have been working at the clinic for three years, but it is a herb I have never seen before. Of course, there is no way I would know all the herbs... No, it is poisonous."
"Huh?"
"It's a poisonous plant that causes blisters and severe itching when eaten."
"...Eat this?"
I thought the instructor was suddenly trying to assassinate me, but Alencia's expression was serious.
"Why are you telling me to eat this?"
"Didn't you say you would follow all the training?"
"Rather than saying I'm not following it... can you tell me why you have to eat it in the first place?"
Who would eat poison for no reason?
Alencia nodded at my question and began to explain to me further.
"You do know that it's easy to acquire skills in the labyrinth, right?"
"Yes. I've heard that skill experience points increase more when under the influence of the magic of the labyrinth."
"All creatures and plants that grow in the labyrinth are imbued with the magic of the labyrinth. In particular, if any of them contain poison, the magic of the labyrinth combines with the poison to produce an even more dire effect."
That's something I know. That's why I heard that people who are poisoned by the labyrinth's poison need to receive treatment from a high-ranking priest or be treated with an antidote made from labyrinth materials.
Wait, by any chance?
"By any chance, if I eat this, I'll gain skill experience?"
"Yes."
"!"
So you're saying that you can gain skill experience by directly consuming the labyrinth's magic power! No, from what I know, the labyrinth's magic power has no effect other than naturally accepting it from the labyrinth?
"[Poison Resistance] skill experience, you know?"
"… By any chance, if you directly consume the labyrinth's magic power, the skill experience will go up?"
She looked at me weirdly. "No, that's impossible. The labyrinth's magic power has no effect other than naturally accepting it. Just eat the poisonous plant combined with the labyrinth's magic power, and wait for your body to overcome the poison. Then, along with the achievement of overcoming the poison combined with the labyrinth's magic power, the [Poison Resistance] skill experience will go up tremendously."
Getting poisoned, waiting for it to naturally recover, and gaining [Poison Resistance] skill experience? In theory, it's possible, but...
"…Did you come up with this method?"
"No, it's said to be a method devised by an otherworldly person. I was just amazed that such an efficient method existed. I call this method 'Resistance Work.'"
"...Are there other resistances, by any chance?"
"Unfortunately, it's hard to obtain them this way. I once tried repeatedly beating people and having them recover in order to obtain physical resistance... but it just accumulated pain. In the end, the only skill I could obtain this way was the [Poison Resistance] skill."
What did you do? Anyway, the theory is plausible. If you eat poison, and your body overcomes the poison, you gain [Poison Resistance]... And since you're doing it in a labyrinth, it must be a highly likely method.
"By any chance, this poisonous plant. Are there any other symptoms besides the itchiness?"
"Yes. It's not life-threatening, and it only causes itchiness. I've already verified it many times, so you can trust me."
Well then. If it's like that, there's no need to hesitate. I can even get the skill. And...
"Wheeze, wheeze"
"If all of the trainees I've trained, you're the first one to drink poison without hesitation."
Alencia's voice grew louder, as if she was slightly surprised, although her expression was still blank. Of course, who would drink poison if you told them to?
As soon as I chewed and swallowed the poisonous plant, blisters began to form on my skin. Wow, is it because it's a poisonous plant from the labyrinth that the effects appear so quickly? As the blisters began to form, itching began to form all over my body. It felt as if mosquitoes were biting all over me. Ignoring the sensation that made me want to scratch my entire body right away, I cast my skill on myself.
The sensory blocking that reached level 3 of [Sensory Blocking] had a much wider range than before and could now be maintained on my entire body. In addition, the intensity of the sensation that can be blocked has also become stronger, so this level of itchiness can be felt with just one 'activation' of the skill. Of course, [Sensory Release] was turned off.
Seeing my calm appearance, Alencia asked with a look of bewilderment.
"....Doesn't it itch?"
"It itches? It feels like mosquitoes are biting my whole body. But it's bearable."
Well, it's actually because of the skill. There's no need to tell her about it, though. When I worked at the treatment center, I revealed my skill to appeal to my usefulness, but there's no need to do that anymore.
"....That's amazing. In fact, purely theoretically, you should be able to endure the itching and wait for your body to detoxify. However, since everyone couldn't endure the toxin, they endured it to their limit and eventually took the antidote."
"....? By any chance, have the other trainees been like that until now?"
"They all couldn't endure the itching and quickly took the antidote."
"....But why didn't you tell me that there was an antidote?"
"That way, you can endure until the limit of your endurance. But you don't even flinch. You have amazing mental strength. Finally, someone has obtained [Poison Resistance]!"
"....? You said you could obtain it like this?"
"That method only works on beginners who are still weak. The only poisons that can work on those who have become somewhat stronger and accustomed to the magic of the labyrinth are powerful poisons that cannot be naturally cured. Even the poisonous herb that a beginner can eat and endure and be naturally cured is the 'Thousand Mosquitoes' herb that you just ate, but no one could withstand it enough to be used as torture."
"....You fed me that stuff just now? Just in case, how many people have gotten the [Poison Resistance] skill this way so far?"
"Only the other world person who first came up with this method succeeded."
Tsk, that bitch.