Chapter 15
The next morning, Felicia and I entered the Adventurers' Guild, where the receptionist who usually helped us called out to us.
"Allen-san, Felicia-san. Do you have a moment?"
"Yes."
We headed over to the reception desk.
The receptionist checked our Adventurer's Cards and the documents in her hands.
"You've both met the requirements for promotion to D-Rank."
"D-Rank?"
Felicia asked, sounding surprised.
"Yes. In addition to the number of requests you've completed, your escort work and dungeon kill records meet the requirements."
"You have no failed requests, either, so you'll be promoted to D-Rank as of today."
She handed our Adventurer's Cards back to us.
【Adventurer Rank: D】
"We've gone up a rank."
"Yes!"
Felicia looked at her Adventurer's Card with delight.
I looked at mine, too.
"Now that you're D-Rank, you'll have access to a wider range of requests. These include long-distance escorts and hunting large monsters."
"What about the dungeon?"
"As E-Ranks, you were allowed to go as far as the fifth floor. From D-Rank onward, you can enter up to the tenth floor."
"The tenth floor?"
"Yes. But just because you can enter doesn't mean you'll be able to safely make it all the way to the tenth floor."
"Please choose a floor suited to your abilities."
"Understood."
I glanced to the side.
Felicia was looking at me, too.
"Yesterday, we said we'd fight on the fourth floor for a while, right?"
"We did."
"But now we can go all the way to the tenth floor."
"That doesn't mean I'm planning to go to the tenth floor."
"What about the fifth floor?"
"...I'm a little curious."
"I thought so."
The receptionist gave a small laugh.
◇
Before looking at the requests, I asked the receptionist one more question.
"Are there any nicer inns around here than the one we're staying at now?"
"Are you thinking of changing inns?"
"Yes. We've been going to the dungeon almost every day lately."
Up until now, we'd been staying at a cheap inn that charged three thousand Jenny a night.
When we'd first become adventurers, even that much had made me worry about the cost of lodging.
These days, we sometimes earned close to a hundred thousand Jenny in a single day.
"In that case, I'd recommend the Silver Wheat Inn. A lot of adventurers stay there, too."
"How much does it cost?"
"Ten thousand Jenny per person per night. Breakfast is included."
"Ten thousand..."
It was more than three times what we were paying now.
A little while ago, I'd have hesitated at that price.
"Shall we check it out?"
Felicia asked.
"Let's do that."
◇
The Silver Wheat Inn was about a ten-minute walk from the guild.
It was a little larger than the inn we'd been staying at.
The first floor was a dining hall, and several adventurers were eating there even though it was still morning.
"Welcome."
We paid the woman at the front desk and each rented a room.
I went inside my room.
"It's spacious..."
The first thing that caught my eye was the bed.
At our old inn, it had been little more than a thin mattress laid over a wooden frame.
Here, the bed had a thick mattress and clean white sheets.
I sat down.
My body sank into it a little.
"It's soft."
The window was large, too.
There was a rack on the wall for weapons, and the luggage chest even had a lock.
They could bring hot water up to our rooms if we asked.
When I stepped out of my room, Felicia came out of the room next door at the same time.
"How is it?"
"The bed is completely different."
"Mine, too. It makes me want to lie down for a while."
"It's still morning."
"I know! Come on, let's go to the guild."
We left our luggage behind, took only what we needed, and returned to the guild.
◇
We looked at the requests available to D-Ranks.
There were more high-paying requests than on the board we'd been checking until yesterday.
【Long-Distance Caravan Escort】
【Large Monster Subjugation】
【Fifth Floor: Magic Stone Collection】
【Subjugate Two Horned Panthers】
I checked the last request.
【Target: Belgrant Western Dungeon, Fifth Floor】
【Reward: 60,000 Jenny】
"Sixty thousand Jenny."
"That's more than the fourth-floor requests."
"Shall we take this one?"
"As long as we only go as far as the fifth floor."
"Then let's take it."
We accepted the request and headed for the Western Dungeon.
◇
We made our way through the first four floors with hardly any stops.
We defeated four Cave Bats on the first floor.
【You acquired 20P】
On the third floor, we encountered one Rock Mole.
【You acquired 80P】
An Iron Wolf appeared on the fourth floor.
"Grrar!"
I dodged to the side as it leaped at me.
I chased after it and struck it in the flank.
Before it could turn around, I landed another blow at its neck.
【You acquired 200P】
【Total P Acquired: 4,840P】
【Your points: 1,830P】
We collected its magic stone and any materials that looked useful.
"We're getting to the fourth floor faster now."
"It's completely different from when we first entered the dungeon."
We continued on to the stairs leading to the fifth floor.
"This is our first time going down here."
"Yes."
"Let's be careful."
The two of us descended the stairs.
◇
The passageways on the fifth floor were wider than those on the fourth.
There were fewer magic lamps, but our lantern was enough to light the way.
We'd been walking for a while when a black shadow sprang out from behind a rock ahead.
"It's fast!"
"It's a Horned Panther!"
It was a monster resembling a black panther.
A single horn grew from its forehead.
It came rushing toward us in a low stance, closing the distance in an instant.
I dodged to the side.
The Horned Panther shot past me and kicked off the wall.
It changed direction at once.
I moved into the spot where it was about to come next.
"Over here?"
"Gah?!"
The Horned Panther twisted its body.
I swung my sword at its flank.
Shhk!
"Gyaah!"
It tumbled across the ground.
As it tried to get up, I struck it again.
【You acquired 300P】
【Total P Acquired: 5,140P】
【Your points: 2,130P】
"...Didn't you just move before the Horned Panther did?"
"Did it look that way?"
"Its speed is what makes it a troublesome monster."
"I could see its movements."
"That's amazing..."
We collected its magic stone and horn.
We still needed to defeat one more for the request.
◇
The second one appeared about twenty minutes farther along.
"I'll help with this one, too."
"Please do."
The Horned Panther started running.
It was going for Felicia.
"Magic Bullet!"
The first shot missed as it leaped to the side.
It kept charging toward Felicia.
Felicia moved to the side, too.
The horn cut through empty air.
"Magic Bullet!"
The second shot hit its hind leg.
"Gah!"
Its movements slowed.
"Magic Bullet!"
The third shot hit the same leg.
The Horned Panther's body tilted.
"Allen-san!"
"Yes!"
I stepped in and struck it at the neck.
One more blow.
The Horned Panther fell.
【You acquired 300P】
【Total P Acquired: 5,440P】
【Your points: 2,430P】
"We can handle the fifth floor."
Felicia caught her breath.
"I think so, too."
"We've completed the request. What should we do?"
It was still before noon.
Before I could answer, Felicia looked farther down the passage.
"...Shall we take a quick look at the sixth floor?"
"You're the one suggesting that, Felicia-san?"
"The fifth floor turned out to be easier than I expected."
"Then let's just take a quick look."
"We'll turn back if it gets dangerous."
"Of course."
◇
We descended to the sixth floor.
Larger footprints than any we'd seen before marked the passageway.
"What made these footprints, I wonder?"
"They're pretty big."
We found out soon enough.
"Rooaaar!"
A large monster appeared ahead.
It had the body of an ape over two meters tall.
Its thick arms were covered in rock-hard skin.
"It's an Armored Ape!"
The Armored Ape ran toward me.
It swung its fist down.
I dodged to the side.
Thud!
Its fist struck the rocky floor.
It looked incredibly strong.
But I could see its movements.
Its fist came flying at me again.
This time, I slipped inside its reach.
I slashed its leg.
"Roar!"
I struck it again as it turned around.
An arm came swinging at me from the side.
I ducked to avoid it and drove my sword into its belly.
"Rooaaar!"
"Magic Bullet!"
Felicia's attack hit it in the face.
The Armored Ape staggered.
I brought my sword down on its neck.
【You acquired 400P】
【Total P Acquired: 5,840P】
【Your points: 2,830P】
"Four hundred P..."
"That's a lot."
"Yes."
I still had plenty of strength left.
It was stronger than the monsters on the fifth floor.
Even so, I could handle it without much trouble.
We collected its magic stone and tough hide, then went a little farther.
◇
We found the second one just around a bend.
"Rooaaar!"
This time, it headed straight for Felicia from the start.
"Magic Bullet!"
The glowing projectile struck it in the chest.
It didn't stop.
"Magic Bullet!"
A second shot.
The Armored Ape kept coming.
Felicia dodged to the side.
Its thick fist passed right beside her.
"Magic Bullet!"
She fired a third shot.
She could keep up with its speed.
But even when her Magic Bullets hit, they couldn't stop its momentum.
The Armored Ape swung its arms around wildly.
Felicia backed away.
"Ah...!"
"Felicia-san!"
I stepped between them.
I dodged its swinging arm and slashed its leg.
"Rooaaar!"
The Armored Ape turned toward me.
"I'm all right!"
"Magic Bullet!"
One of Felicia's shots hit it near the eye.
It stopped moving.
I thrust my sword into its belly.
"Rooaaar!"
I pulled out my sword and struck it again.
Its massive body crumpled.
【You acquired 400P】
【Total P Acquired: 6,240P】
【Your points: 3,230P】
I went back to Felicia.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Are you all right?"
"Yes. But..."
She looked at the fallen Armored Ape.
"This floor is a little too much for me."
"Is it different from the fifth floor?"
"I can dodge it, but even when my Magic Bullets hit, they don't stop it. Once it gets close, I have less time to fire."
"I see."
I could still fight.
But there were two of us exploring together.
"Let's head back for today."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"You still seem like you could keep going, Allen-san."
"I'm not exploring alone."
Felicia looked a little surprised, then nodded.
"Thank you."
"How about we spend some time on the sixth floor, then?"
"On the sixth floor?"
"I can gain more combat experience here, and I think you'll get used to its speed and strength, too."
"Until we can fight normally on the sixth floor?"
"Yes. After that, let's go to the seventh floor."
"That sounds good."
We collected the Armored Ape's magic stone and materials, then retraced our steps.
◇
We got back to the guild in the evening.
We handed in proof that we'd defeated two Horned Panthers at the reception desk.
"I've confirmed both. The request is complete."
The reward was sixty thousand Jenny.
Next, we had the materials we'd gathered today appraised.
Cave Bats.
A Rock Mole.
An Iron Wolf.
Two Horned Panthers.
Two Armored Apes.
The receptionist finished the appraisal and returned.
"The materials come to a total of 240,000 Jenny."
"Two hundred and forty thousand..."
Felicia let out a small gasp.
Together with the quest reward, that made three hundred thousand Jenny.
That meant one hundred and fifty thousand Jenny each.
Even after paying for tonight's lodging, we'd each have 140,000 Jenny left.
Just then, a display appeared in my field of vision.
【Request completion confirmed】
【You acquired 100P】
【Total P Acquired: 6,340P】
【Your points: 3,330P】
◇
We returned to the Silver Wheat Inn.
"Welcome back."
The woman at the inn greeted us.
Before going back to my room, I asked for hot water.
A little while later, a large tub of warm water was brought up to my room.
I washed away the sweat and dirt and changed my clothes.
Even that felt wonderful.
We had dinner in the dining hall on the first floor.
Roasted meat and hot soup.
Soft bread.
"This is delicious."
"Yes."
"Is this included in the ten thousand Jenny?"
"It looks like dinner costs extra."
"Oh, I see."
"It seems breakfast is included."
"That's still plenty."
After we finished eating, we returned to our separate rooms.
I lay down on the bed.
My body sank into it.
"...This is nice."
We'd walked all the way to the sixth floor and fought several times.
Even so, I didn't have the aches I'd get when I lay down on a hard bed.
After a while, I drifted off to sleep.
◇
The next morning.
I woke up and sat up.
"...I feel light."
Yesterday, we'd gone all the way to the sixth floor.
We'd even fought an Armored Ape.
And yet, there was hardly any heaviness left in my legs.
I rolled my shoulders.
They felt barely stiff at all.
I washed my face and went downstairs.
Felicia was already in the dining hall.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
"Did you sleep well?"
"Very well."
"Me, too."
Felicia rolled her shoulders.
"We fought a lot more yesterday, but I feel much better today."
"Same here."
Freshly baked bread, eggs, and hot soup were laid out on the table.
"The three-thousand-Jenny inn helped us out, too,"
Felicia said as she tore off a piece of bread.
"But now I understand why it's worth paying ten thousand Jenny."
"Where you stay matters."
"Especially if we're going to the dungeon every day."
"I'm glad we switched to this inn."
After breakfast, I went back to my room.
There, I opened Membership.
【Your points: 3,330P】
【Base Abilities】
【Strength: 535】
【Endurance: 527】
【Agility: 579】
【Magic: 18】
My base abilities had increased a little during yesterday's battles.
The enhancements were listed below them.
【Strength Enhancement (Medium): 100P】
【Endurance Enhancement (Medium): 100P】
【Agility Enhancement (Medium): 100P】
Three thousand three hundred and thirty P.
There was no need to save up this much.
I enhanced Strength ten times.
Endurance ten times.
And Agility ten times, too.
【You purchased Strength Enhancement (Medium) 10 times】
【Strength: 535 → 835】
【You purchased Endurance Enhancement (Medium) 10 times】
【Endurance: 527 → 827】
【You purchased Agility Enhancement (Medium) 10 times】
【Agility: 579 → 879】
【You used 3,000P】
【Your points: 330P】
I closed the display.
When I left my room and went downstairs, Felicia, who had been waiting, looked at me.
"...Allen-san."
"Yes?"
"Did you do something again?"
"I raised Strength, Endurance, and Agility by three hundred each."
"Three hundred?!"
"I had the P for it."
Felicia opened and closed her hands.
"My body feels even lighter than it did a little while ago..."
"The increases are shared, too."
"Please be careful not to overdo it today."
"I'll be careful."
"I really mean it."
Today, we'd be going to the sixth floor again.
First, I needed to get used to this body.
【Total P Acquired: 6,340P】