Raul Nord, titled ‘The Extraordinary Man’.
However, his ability values were not extraordinary at all; in fact, they could be described as ordinary.
He had no skills and no magic.
He had simply raised his basic ability values to LV4.
While it might sound a bit rude to say so, it was true that, with Raul’s personal ability values, when facing Adventurers of the same LV4 rank, he likely couldn’t gain any advantage apart from combat experience.
To use a gaming term Asta liked, he was just a super minion with no skills or ultimate moves.
The girls at The Benevolent Mistress pub could probably beat him up.
After all, in that pub, except for Syr Flova, everyone was LV4, and they were all very strong LV4s.
So, looking at it this way, it wasn’t surprising that Raul would envy Asta for having magic.
However, his sigh made Asta unsure how to respond.
Because it felt like anything he said at that moment would be inappropriate.
But Asta wasn’t left to ponder for too long, as Raul noticed the anomaly around him.
“Speaking of which, Asta, what’s that yellow barrier wrapped around you?
Why does it look like a condom, enveloping you?”
After collecting the dropped magic stones, Raul came before Asta and couldn’t help but curiously poke the bright yellow energy barrier around his body.
“This?
This is a shield, an additional effect after casting magic, I guess?
It can be maintained for a period of time and helps me block attacks.”
Asta tried to use words that he could understand.
The Rock Lord’s pillar plus shield was something Asta had been tinkering with all last night.
It took Asta the entire night, and even then with a reference, to barely complete this magic.
The initial method of raising the rock pillar was actually achieved by using his ability to manipulate earth elements.
Afterward, the rock pillar would emit a powerful shockwave; if it was an enemy, they would be knocked flying and heavily injured.
If it was a teammate, they would be granted a shield by the strong earth element.
As for the criteria for judging between the two, it was based on Asta’s intention.
“It can attack and defend at the same time?
That’s great~ It makes me even more envious…”
Raul, the useful assistant, once again expressed his ‘we are not the same’ sentiment.
…
Afterward, the time became rather monotonous.
Encountering monsters, killing monsters, encountering, killing, encountering…
Life in the Dungeon, in summary, was essentially a cycle of encountering and killing monsters.
Perhaps some might experience the thrill of Adventure from the rewards monsters brought.
However, most of the time, it brought a sense of fear, with life and death hovering on the edge of danger.
After passing the fourth floor, monsters started dropping complete magic stones.
Although small in size, compared to the fingernail-sized magic stone fragments from the first four floors, this was already a leap in quality.
Besides magic stones, Asta and Raul also acquired many ‘drop items’.
‘Drop items’ are materials that do not disappear even after a monster dies, mostly parts of the monster’s body, and their appearance rate is relatively rare.
Without exception, these were all rare items that could be used to forge weapons and equipment, and even medicines and magic items.
They were beloved by the artisans of Orario, and their prices were also considerable.
“Is it just my imagination?
Why does it feel like the drop rate of items in the Dungeon is much higher today?”
After collecting another drop item, Raul spoke with some self-doubt.
In the past, when he entered the Dungeon, he estimated that he would only collect a single-digit number of drop items in one round trip.
Now, accompanying Asta, they hadn’t even returned yet, and the drop items collected had already filled one compartment of his backpack.
A supporter’s backpack has internal divisions, as it’s impossible to cram everything together.
Medicines, magic stones, drop items, spare weapons like daggers, etc., were all strictly divided into areas.
Otherwise, if one encountered injuries or damaged weapons, and spent half an hour fumbling in the backpack without finding anything, that would be ridiculous.
It would be an instant ‘GG’.
“Is that so?
Why don’t I feel that way?”
After killing the last of the War Shadows from that batch of monsters, Asta, who had no precise concept of this, looked over in confusion.
This was already the sixth floor, and both the strength and number of monsters had clearly increased.
However, it was still manageable, in Asta’s opinion.
Gradually exploring in combat, Asta’s skill, ‘Heart of the Earth,’ also began to show its effects.
‘Heart of the Earth’:
・When touching the ground, automatically restore stamina and mental power.
・When entering combat, greatly increase strength and endurance.
With each battle, he could clearly perceive the enhancement of his own strength.
As for the automatic recovery of stamina and mental power…
Asta found it hard to describe that feeling.
If he had to say, it was probably similar to standing on a spring?
Except the range of this spring was larger, and the recovery speed was slower?
“Asta, isn’t this your first time in the Dungeon?
It would be strange if you had a feeling about this kind of thing, wouldn’t it?”
Raul asked a soul-searching question.
“…You’re right.”
“If I remember correctly, the entrance to the seventh floor should be ahead.
What do you say?
Want to check it out?”
Along the way, perhaps sensing Asta’s relaxed demeanor, Raul, who had originally only planned to explore up to the fourth floor or so before bringing him back, now actively suggested it.
“Eh?
I thought you’d say something like, ‘That’s enough for today, let’s explore the area ahead later,’ at this point.”
Seemingly hearing an unexpected remark, Asta couldn’t help but tease.
“Uh…
Although I don’t know why you’d think that, I definitely sensed the malice in your words.
That’s certainly not a compliment.”
“Just a misconception~ a misconception~ How could I slander a senior in the Familia?
Don’t you think so?”
“…”
Chatting quite casually, the two passed through the staircase at the end of the sixth floor.
“Crack—!!!”
Upon first arriving on the seventh floor, the wall cracked open once more, and monsters began to emerge from the dark red energy.
Perhaps they wanted to welcome the two big brothers to the seventh floor?
This time, the range of the wall cracking was particularly wide, almost covering the entire wall at once.
One by one, terrifying monsters were born from within.
With four legs, two slender arms, and large eyes, their entirely reddish appearance made one think of ants.
What distinguished them from ordinary ants was that their bodies were about the same size as a human’s, and from their slender waist, their upper bodies stood upright as if raising their heads.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”