Does it mean that the world doesn't run on ideals alone?
I turned around and turned my back to all the events.
I faced the wall and chanted to warp.
It would be enough to check the place where the thieves appeared later.
If I went now, I might just be on guard.
I emerged on the third floor of the dungeon.
The dungeon is a place ruled by violence.
Rather, the dungeon can be said to be a place completely ruled by violence.
For that reason, it's straightforward and easy to understand.
The dungeon is a world where the strong survive and the weak perish without any need for thought.
That blatant malice felt good at the moment.
I left the small room at the entrance of the third floor and went outside.
I needed to test whether I could choose the floor when entering the dungeon.
Outside was pitch dark, and no one was around.
I immediately went back inside.
When entering, I chanted to go to the third floor.
I arrived at the small room at the entrance.
Since everything looks the same, I couldn't tell the difference by appearance.
I took out a wand and a copper sword from the item box and put away the scimitar.
Cobalt Level 3
What appeared was a Cobalt Level 3.
It's definitely the third floor.
I took down the monster with a single Fireball.
It seems I can choose the floor when entering the dungeon.
Or perhaps I can choose when going outside as well.
For now, I'll hunt on the third floor.
The Minotaur on the fourth floor is scary.
Those horns are dangerous.
Maybe I'll get used to it.
But if I don't get used to it, that would be a problem.
The options I can consider are to use Durandal to fight on the fourth floor until I get used to it, or to level up on the third floor before going to the fourth floor.
Probably, it would be faster to level up on the third floor.
If I can take down a Minotaur Level 4 with three spells, the horns won't be a threat anymore.
I also found out that there are thieves in the slums, so there's no need to force myself to earn money in the dungeon.
I won't earn much money on the third floor, but I won't have to cross dangerous bridges.
I hunted three more on the third floor, consumed my MP, and then returned to the small room at the entrance with Durandal.
I was testing whether I could choose when going outside.
While entering the black wall, I chanted to go to the fourth floor.
I emerged at the entrance of the small room.
It was a success. Or, probably.
I advanced further.
Green Caterpillar Level 4
It was definitely a success. I made it to the fourth floor.
I ran up and swung down Durandal.
The sword split the caterpillar, and the Green Caterpillar was defeated.
One hit, even at Level 4.
Minotaur Level 4
Minotaur Level 4
Cobalt Level 4
Next, a group appeared. Three of them.
Maybe the number of enemies appears according to the floor.
I've never encountered a group of three on the third floor.
Since I haven't progressed much on the third floor, I can't say for sure.
Twenty enemies on the twentieth floor, thirty on the thirtieth.
I hope that's not the case.
I don't know how many floors there are, but I'll probably die around the tenth floor.
There must be enemies that are resistant or immune to magic.
Since my party can only have up to six members, I hope there's a cap.
For now, I cast Sandstorm.
The Minotaurs might be resistant to fire magic.
The sandstorm attacked the monsters.
However, none of them were defeated.
Even the Cobalt Level 4 needed two spells to take down.
It was a mistake to try to advance without properly exploring.
I chanted Sandstorm again.
The Cobalt was defeated.
Two Minotaurs remained.
I ran up to the charging Minotaur and thrust Durandal into it. The holy sword pierced the bull's forehead.
The Minotaur disappeared in a puff of smoke.
At the same time, another Minotaur charged and swung its horn.
I barely avoided it, and the horn grazed my left arm.
Ohhhhhhh.
That was close.
It grazed. It grazed, just now.
Half-crazed, I swung down Durandal.
Durandal split the bull's head, and the Minotaur fell to the ground.
The monster disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Skin
The skin remained.
That was close.
Battles in the dungeon are a matter of life and death.
A moment's lapse can be fatal.
Or maybe, I just became negative after casting Sandstorm twice.
Even if it grazed, it's not certain whether it actually touched.
It might have just been the wind.
However, even thinking calmly, the fourth floor is dangerous.
The horns are too dangerous.
If there's only one, I might be able to handle it by being careful and calm.
But what if I'm surrounded?
Even if I can avoid rooms with a large number of monsters by not exploring dead ends, three Minotaurs are still dangerous.
What if four Minotaurs appear?
I should retreat. Retreat.
I decided to retreat to the third floor.
It's a strategic retreat.
The main base orders a retreat to the third floor.
After that, I continued hunting on the third floor.
I finished as usual and went outside the dungeon.
When I emerged from the dungeon, the sun had already risen.
Damn.
I intended to warp to the back of the brothel district while it was still dark.
There are guests staying at the brothels.
They should be returning in the morning.
I planned to mix in with the returning guests and pass through the brothel district.
I stayed up late wandering around with a lantern last night.
So, I probably woke up later than usual.
Since I went around the slums and then entered the dungeon, it was natural to be late if I hunted as usual.
Warping after it gets light is noticeable.
Well, it can't be helped today.
Today is market day.
I returned to the inn, had breakfast, took a break in my room, and then walked around the market.
There are many things I want to buy.
First, I looked around the clothing shops and searched for a black cloak and a dark hood to hide my face.
If I'm going to look for thieves at night, this is essential attire. I don't want to stand out while searching.
The cloak was easy to find, as many people wear them.
It was at a stall in front of the inn.
Many clothes were folded and displayed.
It felt a bit expensive.
At least, it might be classified as a luxury item in this market.
"How much is this?"
I asked the merchant.
"It's four thousand nals."
It's probably expensive.
It would cost a whole day's earnings in the dungeon.
"Is that so?"
"That cloak is made of flannel and is a fine product."
It's not a cloak but a cloak.
The merchant tried to sell it to me as I put the cloak back on the stand.
It's probably a good product.
However, what I want is not necessarily a good product.
I glanced to the side and saw green-dyed pants.
The fabric looked soft, and they might be usable as underwear.
When I spread them out, they looked like pumpkin pants with a drawstring.
They are probably considered underwear in this world.
"How much is this?"
"It's forty nals."
"Then give me two."
I bought two, including a spare.
They might be expensive, but the price of one percent of the cloak's cost made my sense of money go haywire.
"Thank you. Since you're buying two, I'll give you a discount to fifty-six nals."
It seems I got a thirty percent discount.
I paid fifty-six copper coins and put the pants and a pouch in my backpack.
For some reason, the merchant didn't offer a discount when I was buying one, but suddenly offered a discount when I bought two.
It's the same as when I asked for a bath at the Bail Inn.
Maybe a discount doesn't apply when buying a single item.
I should test it.
I moved to the armor merchant's shop.
It's the same armor merchant I used five days ago. I know that when selling multiple items, the merchant buys them at a thirty percent higher price.
It might be different when buying, but I'll try.
"Welcome."
"I'm looking for gauntlets."
I might receive attacks from monsters while holding a sword or wand, and my fingers are easy to injure.
I also wonder if I can recover from having my fingers cut off with HP absorption.
It's better to have some kind of equipment on my hands.
"Here they are."
The armor merchant showed me a platform with many gauntlets.
There were gauntlets and iron gloves.
Of course, I want the ones with high defense, but I don't want to buy something too expensive. It might attract unwanted attention.
Leather Mittens - Arm Equipment
These seem to be the cheapest.
They look like the gauntlets used in kendo.
However, they don't cover the forearm, only up to the wrist.
"How much are the leather mittens?"
"They are eighty nals."
Is that the price?
I'm not sure.
"What about these leather gloves?"
"They are one hundred and twenty nals."
So, the leather mittens are the cheapest.
The difference between mittens and gloves is that the gloves have five separate fingers.
The mittens, like kendo gauntlets, have the thumb and the other fingers separated.
The leather mittens are probably as easy to use as kendo gauntlets.
They are sufficient for holding Durandal or a wand.
Leather Mittens - Arm Equipment
Skill Slot - Empty
"Can I have these?"
I showed the armor merchant the ones with a skill slot.
"Thank you."
The armor merchant only said that.
It seems a discount doesn't apply when buying a single item.
The discount and the price increase for selling multiple items probably only apply when buying or selling multiple items.
I paid eighty copper coins and got the leather mittens.
After that, I bought a hooded coat, two pairs of socks, two hand towels, a medium-sized wooden bucket, a small wooden bucket, two ropes, and a candle.
The small wooden bucket is for a cup, the rope is for drying clothes, and the hand towels, medium-sized wooden bucket, and candle are spares in case I need them.
The small candles cost ten nals each, so it's the same as borrowing a lantern. I'm not sure how long they will last.
The hooded coat was easy to find, as it seems to be commonly used.
The large hood can probably hide my face well.
I wasn't sure if soap, a toothbrush, and toothpaste were available.
After shopping, I returned to the inn in the late afternoon.
"I want a room with dinner, and a bath after dinner."
I told the innkeeper.
This way, the bath should be discounted.
I could also have dinner elsewhere, and this is quite convenient.
Paying for one day at a time is a very favorable system for guests, isn't it?
Or maybe it's not.
The guests who enter the dungeon might die at any time.
Maybe the payment is on a daily basis so that they can die anywhere at any time.
Maybe the idea of paying for the next day's stay is absurd in this world.
Explorers probably don't keep money overnight.
That's right.
In this world, you never know when you might die.
"Um, it's two hundred and thirty-eight nals. Since you're a regular customer."
"Alright."
I was about to think about unpleasant things, but I shook my head to clear my mind.
I paid two silver coins and thirty-eight copper coins.
I received the key to room 311.
Before eating, I went to my room to put down my luggage.
Even just staying at an inn, quite a few things are needed for daily life.
I wonder how to settle down in this world.
The next night's exploration started on the fourth floor.
I wanted to test how many spells it would take to defeat a Minotaur now that I'm a Level 21 Mage.
After checking the slums, I warped to the fourth floor.
There might be no difference between the first and third jobs, but there might be.
If I'm going to fight with magic, it's worth trying to make my first job a Mage.
I had to take everything out of the item box to move the explorer, which was a hassle.
Then, I stopped the tenth of the required experience and added a fifth job.
I added Merchant and Herbalist, which have a small increase in intelligence, to the fourth and fifth jobs.
Intelligence is probably the parameter related to magic attack power.
If I set a job with an increase in intelligence, the magic attack power should increase.
The effect might be small since I haven't leveled up at all.
I also want to increase my attack power by holding a wand, but it's better to use Durandal.
Durandal is more reassuring and safe.
Minotaur Level 4
Needlewood Level 4
They appeared in a pair, so I immediately cast Firestorm.
I cast the second and third spells as soon as the fire died down.
The Minotaur approached.
The Minotaur seems to move faster than the Needlewood.
I blocked the charging horn with Durandal.
Neither of them could be defeated with three spells.
I dodged the swinging horn.
The Needlewood caught up.
While I was paying attention to the Minotaur, I was hit by a branch.
It hurt, but it's inevitable to some extent.
I chanted the fourth Firestorm.
The sparks attacked both monsters.
While I was wary of the Minotaur Level 4's horn, the Minotaur fell.
The Needlewood also seemed to fall at the same time.
Skin
Branch
Four spells, huh.
It's the first time I've defeated a Minotaur and Needlewood Level 4 with magic alone, so I'm not sure if the effects of the various tests were successful.
In any case, it's dangerous to fight on the fourth floor if I can't defeat them with three spells.
I put the skin and branch in the item box and warped to the third floor.