In the end, Hephaestus reconsidered and decided not to leave with me. However, before I left, she gave me plenty of advice, as if I were a child who might get lost in the city. She even tried to change my mind.
Of course, I didn't change my mind.
I left the place we were living in, and it was utterly surprising when I stepped outside the house.
We had been living in a mansion, obviously. But it wasn't the best building around. There were many other large buildings like the mansion we lived in.
All the buildings belonged to the Hephaestus Familia.
They were all workshops or warehouses.
Walking through the streets, I was amazed.
Many adventurers roamed the streets, exploring the workshops. 'I remember a few details. I recall that the Hephaestus Familia has stores in the tower, right?'
As I walked through the streets, I received many curious glances—even a few looks of desire from some women.
My appearance is far above average. I can understand.
I ignored all the women who tried to approach me and focused solely on the city's architecture.
'It's so beautiful. It's nothing like what I'm used to,' I thought.
After a few minutes of walking, I could see it in the distance—Babel.
When I saw the tower, I held my breath.
It was taller than I had expected. The sight was so grand that I forgot how to breathe.
"It's so beautiful," I said. My eyes were probably sparkling at that moment. People around me treated me like a fool when they saw me staring at the tower like a child.
'I want to go there.'
I quickened my pace to reach Babel Tower as fast as possible.
####
The closer I got to the tower, the more enchanted I became by the massive structure before my eyes. I stopped walking and looked up. 'How many people dream of being in my place?'
Coming to this world and seeing this tower in person.
People who are huge fans of this work would kill to be in my shoes.
Since I'm not a big fan of the work, true fans would probably be furious if they knew I was here. 'Thankfully, I don't know much about the story. This way, I can explore this world.'
Having so much to explore without knowing what I'll find is such a wonderful feeling.
'Should I go to the tower and enter? I don't know what to expect inside the dungeon. I have no information about the tower's floors. I remember there are goblins, kobolds, ogres, minotaurs…'
If I encounter a minotaur, I'll surely be killed in an instant.
'But it's better not to enter the dungeon; I didn't bring a weapon.'
I left the two refined-rank swords and the rare-rank sword in my room. I should have brought one of them.
'I think I'll at least take a look inside the tower… I want to check out the Hephaestus Familia's stores.'
I quickened my steps and reached the tower in no time.
When I was close to it, near the entrance, I felt a shiver run down my spine. Then, a system message appeared—an intriguing message I didn't expect.
[Welcome to Babel]
[Begin your exploration on the first floor of the dungeon to receive a bonus.]
When I read the message, I became very curious.
'A bonus? What is this? Is it like the starter equipment every New World player gets when they begin the game?'
What could I receive? A sword? A recipe to craft a specific weapon?
Or maybe I'll get some points.
'It's tempting.'
I kept staring at the dungeon for a few seconds, debating whether to enter.
'No one will stop me. I think it's fine—it's just the first floor… I only wish I had a sword.'
Huff~~
I let out a long sigh and headed for the tower's entrance.
I thought for several minutes before deciding to enter the dungeon.
My initial plan was to check out the tower and visit the Hephaestus Familia's shops, but the system message made me too curious.
I'm sure everything will be fine.
####
As I descended into the underground level beneath the tower, where the dungeon's entrance was, I looked up and saw the grand painting on the ceiling. It made me hold my breath for a few seconds. For a moment, I felt like I was in the heavens.
Then, I looked ahead, where there was a staircase.
There was a massive hole in the center, and a spiral staircase led down into the darkness of the first floor.
Or so I thought it would be dark.
The deeper I went, the brighter it became.
When I stepped onto the first floor of the dungeon, a system message appeared.
[You have received the skill "Resource Identification"]
[You have received the skill "Adaptation"]
When I received two new skills, a wave of satisfaction washed over me, I gave a faint smile and opened the system to check the descriptions of the two skills.
But before I could do that—
KiIIKK~~
KiIkiikk~~
I hadn't gone far from the dungeon entrance, but a monster appeared.
A goblin.
When I saw the goblin slowly approaching to attack me, I felt nothing. I thought I'd be terrified upon encountering my first monster, but that didn't happen.
The only thing I knew was that I needed to kill it.
I stared at the green creature and thought about how to defeat it.
'I can't be that weak.'
The goblin, who was also unarmed, seemed cautious. I observed it while thinking of an easy way to take it down. 'Should I just kick it like I did with Balnan?'
I have some combat experience from taking martial arts classes during my teenage years.
That should be enough.
I ran toward the goblin and spun my body, delivering a kick with all my strength to its head. I felt a slight pain in my foot as the goblin flew toward the dungeon wall.
Its head exploded into pieces, and its body vanished, leaving behind a magic stone.
I looked at my dirty foot and the magic stone. "Well, it's not that hard."
Now, it's time to check out the skills I received.
The bonus the system mentioned must be these skills.
####
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Next chapters: Chapter 21 - Babel. / Chapter 22 - Adaptation. / Chapter 23 - It's frustrating. / Chapter 24 - Rank G. New probabilities. / Chapter 25 - Excited to explore the dungeon. / Chapter 26 - A mission? / Chapter 27 - Forging with Mithril. / Chapter 28 - Bell? / Chapter 29 - You should get a boyfriend.