Chapter 24

“Geez, who gives a hoot about me being able to find weaknesses- I have something better for ya guys! Behold my knife. It’s STR value may not be up to match with Madame Priest, but this baby packs quite the punch.”

“Sounds like a pretty rare find. Although… you probably nicked it off of some party now didn’t you.”

“Like hell I did! I found it myself on the 50th floor of the Dragon God’s Palace!”

“You went up to the 50th floor alone? What level are you?”

“A solid 55”

“My my. You were a higher level than me and Alvin.”

“Let me just say this, it’s not often you get an opportunity to kill steal so I got most of my exp solo.”

“I can believe that. If your level is high enough, then going about it the normal way is the better option.”

“But, he still lied to us didn’t he?”

“Uhm, that’s because, uhh……”

While listening to their conversation, a blue lizard shaped monster appeared in front of us.

“An Aqua Salamander, lucky us. It blasts out the Agility Reduction – Small Debuff.”

“Yeah.”

We’ve been wandering around for quite a lot so it’s great that we can finally check it out.

Approaching the small and nimble creature, I did a weak stab. If it loses too much HP, then it can’t use its attack that causes the debuff so I need to adjust my strength.

“Gwrah!”

With a cry, it spat out bubbles– The cause of the agility debuff. ,I take the attack head on and stab its weak point soon after.

Looking back as I’m amidst the vanishing body, Tet had already opened his status window.

“Come look at yours too mister. Yours doesn’t have a debuff icon right? In exchange I have— Eh?”

Tet tilts his head.

“…..Strange. Why don’t I have it too? You didn’t avoid it did you…. Well of course you didn’t. How can this be…? Hmmm?”

Tet knits his eyebrows as he’s affixed his eyes on the status screen.

“What’s this insane amount of exp!? I didn’t even kill it—Eh?. My stats went up a crap ton!? Is this someone’s skill? How’d this even happen…….”

“The debuff portion of my skill Isn’t applied to Kokoru either. With this, our questions have been answered succinctly.”

Melina closes her status screen.

Tet, who was yet to catch on, was then informed of a consensus by Melina.

“Join this party Tet.”

“…Eh? Didn’t I do just that a while ago?”

“Oh yeah— I mean that’s not it….How do I say this, ah, err, s-stay with me forever!”

“EEHH!?”

Tet turned his sights elsewhere, shaken by what he heard.

“W-what are you saying…. Even if you just up and tell me that out of the blue I’m–.”

“Enough of this poppycock. I’m telling you to become an official member.”

“Eh? Is that what you meant? You scared the daylights out of me.”

Tet then continues to talk, in the dark with all that’s happened.

“Before talking about whether that’s a good or bad thing…What’s with all this talk about me joining all of a sudden? Does this have anything to do with my weird status, burst in experience, and the three of you mumbling about this and that?”

“Fine, I’ll start explaining from the beginning then.”

-Melina then informs Tet of the matter.

“First off… The three of us possess Minus Skills.”

“Huh…? A-all three? Not just you?”

“Indeed. Didn’t Alvin tell you from the get go that we all met in this dungeon? Each of us came here for the boss drop.”

“…So that’s how it was. You did mention it was a temporary party that you built in this dungeon.”

“That’s not the whole story though. The only reason we formed a party together was because our Minus Skills meshed together very well. A one in a billion chance ticket,”

“….?”

“Maybe it would be easier to explain if I start with Kokoru’s skill.”

As if on cue, Kokoru nods and starts elaborating.

“My Minus Skill is called . If a party member defeats a monster, then it would be considered as my kill. All of the kill bonus’ experience would go to me, and even if the person in question has a Drop Rate Increase or Fortune skill that should have activated upon defeating a monster, it would become invalidated.”

“What a rare skill. That explains your high level then. I have to say this though…. What a detestable skill.”

“I’d have to agree. It really is.”

Kokoru chuckles a smile.

Judging by the look of things, Tet had immediately understood what Kokoru’s skill entails.

“Although…. Why did the two of you decide to team up with Kokoru?”

“Guess it’s my turn to explain.”

Melina presents herself forward to compound-

“My Minus Skill is