Chapter 14
The next morning.
Just as we were about to leave the inn, Felicia suddenly stopped.
"Wait a moment, please."
"What is it?"
Felicia gave a little hop where she stood.
Then she rolled her arms a few times.
"My body feels way too light."
"Oh..."
"You raised your stats quite a bit yesterday, didn't you?"
"I raised Strength, Endurance, and Agility by 180 each."
"One hundred and eighty?!"
Felicia's eyes widened.
"In one night?"
"I'd built up quite a lot of P."
"Do you have any left?"
"Just 80P."
"You spent almost all of it!"
Felicia brought up her ability information.
【Name: Felicia Roth】
【Strength: 10 + 53】
【Endurance: 12 + 52】
【Agility: 15 + 57】
【Magic: 33 + 1】
"Huh?"
"What is it?"
"It's not just the shared stats that have gone up. My own numbers have increased, too."
The last time we'd checked, her Strength was 9, Endurance 11, Agility 13, and Magic 32.
Apparently, all the traveling and fighting we'd done had helped Felicia grow little by little, too.
"So it's not just the shared stats."
"That makes me happy."
Felicia smiled as she looked at her display.
I opened Membership, too.
【Base Abilities】
【Strength: 532】
【Endurance: 523】
【Agility: 573】
【Magic: 18】
They were the same as they had been right after I enhanced them last night.
A new message had appeared below them.
【Since your last purchase, you have reached 500 or more in a base ability】
【High-Ability Enhancement will apply starting with your next purchase】
【Strength Enhancement (Medium): 100P】
【Endurance Enhancement (Medium): 100P】
【Agility Enhancement (Medium): 100P】
"...One hundred P?"
Until now, each purchase had cost 50P.
The required P had doubled.
"Did something happen?"
"It looks like enhancements will cost twice as much from now on."
"So the price doesn't stay the same forever."
"It seems not."
I had 80P.
Not enough to buy even one enhancement right now.
"Then we'll have to earn more today, too."
"Looks like it."
I closed the display and left the inn.
◇
When we arrived at the Adventurers' Guild, I first asked the receptionist about the fourth floor.
"I defeated an Iron Wolf on the fourth floor yesterday. What other monsters are there?"
"Besides Iron Wolves, Rock Armors and Blood Boars have been sighted on the fourth floor."
"Are they much stronger than the monsters on the third floor?"
"Yes. Be especially careful of Rock Armors. They have high defense."
The receptionist took a request form from the board.
【Exterminate Three Iron Wolves】
【Target: Belgrant Western Dungeon, Fourth Floor】
【Reward: 36,000 Jenny】
"Thirty-six thousand..."
The Stone Lizard request we'd taken on the third floor had paid 18,000 Jenny.
The reward doubled just for going down one floor.
"Can we take this one?"
"Since you're two E-ranks, I can't exactly recommend it..."
"You defeated an Iron Wolf yesterday, didn't you?"
A voice came from behind me.
I turned around.
It was Claude.
The other members of the Silver Wolf were checking the requests a little way off.
"Yes. Just one, though."
"The two of you?"
"Yes."
"Were you injured?"
"No."
Claude thought for a moment.
"Then I think you're ready for the fourth floor."
"Even though we're E-rank?"
"Rank is just a guideline. If you defeated an Iron Wolf the first time you faced one and both of you came back without a scratch, you can handle the fourth floor."
"I see."
"But don't go to the fifth floor yet."
Claude's voice grew a little stern.
"Fight on the fourth floor for a few days first."
"Understood."
"Good."
Claude returned to his companions.
"Hearing that from an A-rank adventurer makes me feel a little more at ease."
Felicia said.
"We still can't let our guard down, though."
"Right."
We accepted the request to exterminate three Iron Wolves.
◇
We passed through the first and second floors with hardly a pause.
After entering the third floor, we encountered a Stone Lizard.
"Magic Bullet!"
Felicia shot it in the foreleg.
As it lost its balance, I charged in and thrust my sword into its belly.
One more strike.
That finished it.
【You acquired 120P】
【Total P Acquired: 3,210P】
【Your points: 200P】
We collected its magic stone and scales, then headed straight for the fourth floor.
◇
We descended to the fourth floor.
We lit the lantern and proceeded down the wide passage.
I noticed the difference in my body as soon as we started walking.
Even with just a little effort, I moved farther forward than I'd expected.
I made a conscious effort to shorten my stride.
"I have to be careful, too. I keep moving more than I mean to."
"Your shared stats increased all at once."
"I need to make sure I don't trip."
After we'd gone a little farther, a low growl came from the darkness ahead.
"Grrrr..."
"It's coming."
An Iron Wolf leaped out.
"Grrar!"
It charged straight toward us.
Yesterday, it had seemed fast.
Today, I could clearly see its movements.
I stepped to the side.
The Iron Wolf rushed past right in front of me.
Before it could turn around, I caught up and brought my sword down on its shoulder.
Slice!
"Gyow!"
The blade cut in.
Yesterday, it had taken several of Felicia's Magic Bullets just to wound that spot.
The Iron Wolf swung its claws at me.
I dodged.
I struck its neck with a second blow.
"Gah...!"
It crumpled to the ground.
【You acquired 200P】
【Total P Acquired: 3,410P】
【Your points: 400P】
"...You're fast."
Felicia looked at the fallen Iron Wolf.
"It's completely different from yesterday."
"I'm surprised, too."
I looked at my Steel Sword.
There were no chips in the blade.
Still, I was a little concerned by the sensation that traveled through the hilt when I swung it with all my strength.
Could this sword withstand being swung with all my might over and over?
My body was getting stronger too quickly for the sword.
We collected the magic stone and fur, then continued onward.
◇
The next time, there were two of them.
"There are two."
"One each—"
"Grrar!"
It charged before I could finish speaking.
"I'll take the one on the right!"
"Please do!"
We split up.
One of them leaped at me.
I lowered my body to dodge and slammed my sword into its flank.
"Gyow!"
I caught up before it could get away.
One more strike.
【You acquired 200P】
【Total P Acquired: 3,610P】
I immediately looked over at Felicia.
"Magic Bullet!"
Felicia was firing spells while dodging the Iron Wolf's attacks to the side.
She moved with more confidence than before.
"Felicia-san!"
"I'm fine!"
The Iron Wolf leaped at her.
Felicia moved to the side.
Its claws fell short.
"Magic Bullet!"
The shot hit it in the face.
I caught up with her.
"You already defeated yours?!"
"Yes!"
"That's way too fast!"
The Iron Wolf turned toward us.
Felicia shot it in the leg.
"Magic Bullet!"
As it lost its balance, I struck it with my sword.
【You acquired 200P】
【Total P Acquired: 3,810P】
【Your points: 800P】
"That's three of them."
"We've already completed the request."
We hadn't been on the fourth floor for very long.
"Can you keep going?"
"I'm completely fine."
"Me too. Let's go a little farther."
"All right."
◇
Farther in, a large monster stood in the middle of the passage.
It had four legs.
Its entire body was covered in thick, rocklike armor.
"I think that's a Rock Armor."
"It certainly looks tough."
It noticed us.
"Grrroar!"
It approached with a low growl.
It wasn't fast.
"I'll test it out."
I charged straight at it and swung my sword.
Clang!
"Ugh!"
The blow was deflected.
It had only left a shallow mark on its armor.
"It's hard...!"
"Magic Bullet!"
The glowing projectile struck its armor.
It barely did any damage, either.
"Its belly or the insides of its legs look like the best targets!"
"Agreed!"
The Rock Armor brought down one of its forelegs.
I dodged to the side and circled around to its leg joint.
There was a gap in its armor.
"Here!"
I thrust my sword in.
"Grr!"
The blade sank in.
I caught up as the Rock Armor tried to turn its body and slashed the same spot.
"Hah!"
Its massive body tilted.
"Magic Bullet!"
Felicia's spell struck the wound.
"Grrroar!"
When it fell, I thrust my sword into its belly.
【You acquired 250P】
【Total P Acquired: 4,060P】
【Your points: 1,050P】
"Two hundred and fifty P..."
"Is that more than an Iron Wolf?"
"Yes."
I touched the Rock Armor's shell.
It was hard as stone.
"We could probably sell this, too."
"It looks like it'd be hard to carry back, though."
"I wonder if I can lift it."
I tried putting my hands against its body.
I lifted it.
"...I can lift it."
"You really lifted it?!"
Felicia's eyes went wide.
"But exploring while carrying this would be a nuisance."
"That's true."
We collected only the usable pieces of its shell and its magic stone.
◇
We continued exploring.
We defeated another Iron Wolf.
【You acquired 200P】
【Total P Acquired: 4,260P】
【Your points: 1,250P】
The next monster to appear was a large, reddish-black boar.
"It's a Blood Boar!"
As soon as it spotted us, it kicked off the ground.
"Bwooooh!"
It pointed its thick tusks forward and charged straight at us.
It was quite fast.
I started to dodge—but stopped.
"Allen-san?!"
I grabbed its tusks with both hands.
Thud!
The impact shot through my body.
My shoes slid across the ground.
One step.
Two steps.
Then I stopped it.
"...I stopped it."
"Allen-san?!"
The Blood Boar tossed its head.
But it couldn't overpower me.
Still holding its tusks, I pushed sideways.
"Bwo?!"
Its massive body turned.
Then it toppled to the ground.
"Magic Bullet!"
One of Felicia's shots struck it near the eyes.
I drew my sword and brought it down on its neck.
"Bwooooh!"
One more strike.
It stopped moving.
【You acquired 180P】
【Total P Acquired: 4,440P】
【Your points: 1,430P】
Felicia stared at me in silence.
"What is it?"
"You just stopped the Blood Boar's charge, didn't you?"
"I guess I did."
"Usually, you have to dodge a monster like that."
"I was going to dodge at first."
"Did you change your mind halfway through?"
"I felt like I could stop it."
"...And you did."
We collected the Blood Boar's magic stone and tusks.
We had quite a bit of luggage now, too.
"Should we head back soon?"
"Let's do that."
◇
We returned to the guild in the evening.
We handed the proof of our kills for the three Iron Wolves to the receptionist.
"Yes. I've confirmed three. The request is complete."
The reward was 36,000 Jenny.
Next, we had the materials we'd collected today appraised as well.
The Stone Lizard's magic stone and scales.
The magic stones and fur from four Iron Wolves.
The Rock Armor's magic stone and shell.
The Blood Boar's magic stone and tusks.
There was a lot, so the appraisal took some time.
The receptionist returned.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. The materials come to a total of 154,000 Jenny."
"One hundred and fifty-four thousand?!"
Felicia asked in surprise.
"The Rock Armor's shell and the Blood Boar's tusks are worth quite a bit. We also have the fur from four Iron Wolves."
That came to 190,000 Jenny including the request reward.
We split it between us.
We each got 95,000 Jenny.
"We've already made back what I spent on the sword."
"I didn't expect to earn it back after just two days in the dungeon."
"The fourth floor is amazing."
Just then, a display appeared in my field of vision.
【Request completion confirmed】
【You acquired 100P】
【Total P Acquired: 4,540P】
【Your points: 1,530P】
This morning, I hadn't had enough to buy a single enhancement.
Now I could buy fifteen.
"My P has gone up quite a bit, too."
"We defeated a lot of monsters today."
"Felicia-san."
"Yes?"
"Why don't we take requests on the fourth floor for a while?"
"We're not going to the fifth floor?"
"I think we should wait. We can earn plenty on the fourth floor, and I'd like to get a little more used to my body."
"So we'll earn money while training."
"Yes."
"I think that's a good idea, too. I'm still not used to how fast I am."
"Then it's settled."
Felicia nodded.
◇
That night, I opened Membership at the inn.
【Your points: 1,530P】
【Base Abilities】
【Strength: 534】
【Endurance: 526】
【Agility: 577】
【Magic: 18】
"They've gone up..."
Last night, my Strength had been 532, my Endurance 523, and my Agility 573.
It seemed that after a full day of fighting, they'd increased a little even without spending P.
High-Ability Enhancements were listed below them.
【Strength Enhancement (Medium): 100P】
【Endurance Enhancement (Medium): 100P】
【Agility Enhancement (Medium): 100P】
I closed the display without buying any today.
It looked like we'd be visiting the fourth floor for a while.
【Total P Acquired: 4,540P】