A week had passed since my strange, makeshift master-apprentice thing with Momo began.
To my surprise, she soaked up my lessons like a sponge. Now she could pick up on subtle differences in the passageways, spot hidden traps, even sense approaching monsters from faint sounds or smells. She was turning into a proper adventurer right before my eyes.
"Sato-san," she whispered, crouched low near a corner. "The smell of dust is really strong past here. I think it's one of those digging-type monsters."
"Correct. Probably a pack of [Mole Bears]. Alright, lesson's over for today. We're heading back."
"Yes, sir."
She'd learned to make quick, accurate calls and avoid pointless fights.
Of course, not every fight could be avoided.
That day we ran into a squad of [Lizardmen] in a wide corridor. Five of them—shields, swords, the works. A pain to deal with.
"Momo, stay behind me."
"Y-yes!"
I stepped forward, shielding her, scanning the area calmly.
Inventory check: two [Sticky Floor Traps] nearby, one [Spear Trap] embedded in the wall. Good enough.
Plan locked.
I activated [Skill: Rearrangement (Change)].
Step one: drag two [Sticky Floor Traps] right under the feet of the frontliners. Both lizard vanguards froze mid-step, legs glued down.
Step two: relocate the [Spear Trap] right beside the archer in the back. The wall suddenly sprouted a hole, and a spear shot through, skewering the lizard before it could react.
Three down. Two left.
One more use of the skill. Did I need it?
I decided—no. Not yet.
And then, it happened.
A translucent window shimmered into existence before my eyes. The [Status] screen. But this time, it wasn't normal.
'[Rearrangement] skill proficiency has reached the threshold. [Skill Level] has increased to 2.'
...Skill level? That was a thing?
The window kept updating as I gawked.
'With skill level increase, the following bonuses are granted:
・Usage count: 3 → 5
・New target category unlocked: [installations]'
"...You've gotta be kidding me."
The words slipped out.
Five uses instead of three—hell yes. That alone doubled my flexibility. But the real bombshell was the new category. [Installations].
I leaned closer, reading the explanation like my life depended on it. [Installations] meant objects fixed inside the dungeon itself—like wall-mounted [torches], stacked [wooden crates], even dangling [chandeliers].
And now I could swap them around.
"Ohhh..."
The excitement rushed out of me before I could stop it.
The possibilities were endless. Drop a heavy chandelier straight onto an enemy's skull. Block escape routes with piles of crates. Teleport every torch in the hall right into a monster pack that thrives in darkness.
My skill wasn't just about swapping traps and monsters anymore. The entire dungeon itself had become my arsenal.
"Sato-san? Why'd you freeze up like that all of a sudden?"
"Ah—it's nothing."
I answered while Momo peered at me, clearly worried, but my head was spinning with strategies.
The two remaining [Lizardmen] charged. Perfect test subjects.
I flicked a [torch] from the wall above and dropped it right between them. Fourth activation.
They recoiled in shock, startled by the sudden flare of fire at their feet. That single moment of hesitation was all I needed.
"Sato-san, your face—you're grinning way too much right now."
"It's just your imagination."
But I could feel my smile stretching wider as I lined up the final strike.
This new power was going to be fun. Way too fun.