Sitting once again in a wagon, I stare at the horizon while enduring the usual pain that comes with this mode of transport.
— I need to focus on my goal… even though I don't really have one.
To be honest, my only goal for now is to level up, learn what my title will be, and maybe choose some direction for my life.
After that, the next step would be finding a way to return home. But since I have no idea where to even start, it's better to set that aside for now and simply try living in this world.
— I feel a little lost... maybe I should've stayed in Maralto with Estela.
Even though she didn't talk much, it was comforting to spend time with her under the trees.
And I even managed to earn a little money selling fish. Not much, but enough.
— That's it. I'll go back there as soon as I get my title.
Maybe I can make some sort of deal with the old man or his granddaughter to get a place to stay in that town.
While I think through these possibilities, I keep staring at the horizon. This time, not talking to any of the women in the wagon, just enjoying the gentle breeze.
In the end, even if I plan every step, there's no way to predict the future, not even with the novel's knowledge. Reality always finds a way to stray from the script.
— I'll just live peacefully, without worrying about anything…
[...]
After a trip even longer than the previous one, I finally reach my destination.
Before me lies a massive pit carved into the ground, with a fortified city built around it. A wall circles the abyss as if trying to keep it under control, leaving only a single entrance.
Even knowing what it looked like from the novel, seeing it with my own eyes leaves me speechless.
— Just how was this hole created? To hide the hero's inheritance all the way down there… is there a reason for it?
It's as if the inheritance is being hidden from someone, which I suppose would be the Demon.
— The first ten floors are easy to access… I think I'll stick to those.
The pit has a spiral staircase that descends to the tenth floor. Each level has a side entrance and is easy to reach, but only up to the tenth. Starting from the eleventh, you have to cross through each floor and defeat the bosses to keep going.
Another option would be jumping onto the bridges inside the abyss, but only lunatics try that. Those bridges connect the next floors after defeating a boss.
For example, the staircase goes down to the tenth floor, but after defeating that floor's boss, you must cross a bridge leading to the eleventh floor. From then on, new bridges only appear after defeating the boss every ten floors; that is, the next one only appears upon defeating the boss of the twentieth, and so on.
— There's no flying magic yet… so no one has tried jumping straight down into the hole.
That's why the hero's inheritance hasn't been found yet. Reaching the bottom takes time, preparation, and a lot of effort. Most groups give up halfway.
— I wonder how the protagonist is doing down there…
Considering how long I took to arrive, he must have been exploring for at least a month.
Furthermore, his class has probably already returned to school.
— Better find an inn and register as an adventurer.
Now begins the somewhat complicated part: becoming an adventurer.
Since I don't have any impressive magic and my skills are mediocre, it will be relatively difficult to become a ranked adventurer.
I could try entering the Dungeon without registering, but the guards block anyone for security reasons.
— If I stick to the early floors, they should let me pass as a Common adventurer…
I keep weighing my options until I finish renting a room at an inn, then head toward the adventurers' building. Its location is simple enough, it's right next to the Dungeon entrance.
Upon entering, I feel like I'm in a shopping mall, with several stores selling weapons, armor, and survival items.
To sustain itself, the guild not only buys and sells the items acquired by adventurers in the Dungeon but also rents internal stalls for merchants to sell their own products.
Naturally, because they are inside the guild, their products are supervised, providing security to adventurers who are unsure how to choose the right gear.
For this reason, the price inside here is a bit higher than outside, but the quality is always up to standard.
In any case, I head to a counter labeled "REGISTER" and notice no line.
— Good morning, would you like to register? — the woman behind the counter asks.
— Yes. If possible, I'd like to become just a Common Adventurer. — I reply calmly.
— A Common Adventurer? Did you come to the Dungeon to get your title?
— Yes.
— Alright, please write your name here.
She hands me a document listing the terms and conditions for adventuring, but since I'll be just a Common, focusing only on the first floors, the rules are few: basically, don't cause trouble and don't go past the tenth floor.
She didn't even ask about my skills or magic, as fatalities are rare at the initial levels, and if I am careful, I will only get a few injuries at worst.
After signing, she hands me a simple card with only one word: "Common"
— Congratulations, you're now a new adventurer! I look forward to great achievements from you!
— Thank you.
It should sound motivational, but knowing she probably says that to everyone, it comes off more like a standard line.
Leaving the guild without buying anything due to the little money I have left, I walk toward the Dungeon.
— As expected… this is massive.
I stare at the gigantic abyss that seems to have no end. Down below, I start to distinguish some bridges that look relatively new.
— I wonder if they use magic on these bridges or just replace them from time to time?
I have no idea how this Dungeon works, and why it's in such great shape, even after all these years.
With these thoughts, I show my card to the guard, who allows me entry. The huge staircase has side doors placed at regular intervals.
— These must be the ten floors... Let's start with the first one.
I see some people descending with me, but they all ignore the first door and continue deeper.
This is a sign of how easy the first level is considered, to the point that no one cares about it anymore.
— Better for me…
Observing the double stone door, about four meters high, I push it slightly and step inside.
Inside, I find an environment very similar to a cave, made of dirt and illuminated by torches fixed on the walls.
The air is somewhat humid and cold, but nothing that will really affect me.
— So this is what a Dungeon is like... Strange feeling.
I start walking slowly, observing the surroundings with caution. Even though it's the first level, I prefer to stay alert since I don't know the place.
After walking for some time, I finally encounter the first monster: a small greenish being, about one meter tall, walking while leaning on a cane.
The wrinkles on its face and the white beard indicate how old it must be.
— A goblin... Elderly?
I feel like fighting it is a bit wrong, but as soon as the goblin sees me, it starts trying to attack me with the cane as it approaches.
Its movements are slow and wide open, and it doesn't seem to have much strength.
— Well... There's not much else to do.
The moment it tries to strike me with the cane, I grab it, snatch it from its hand, and hit the goblin on the head with it.
With the impact, it falls to the ground, with blood running from where I hit.
— …That's it?
When I look at my panel, I see that my level has gone up to 5.
— Alright, now let me get your stone…
Opening its chest, I see a small magic stone, much smaller than the ones I found on the island.
— So this is a real magic stone... Its color is reddish and it must be about five centimeters?
Looking closely at the magic stone, I start analyzing it while thinking about whether or not I should try to consume it.
— Given its size, consuming it would be quick. But what kind of magic can a goblin provide?
Seeing its appearance, I feel like I might, in fact, receive some weakness curse or something similar.
— ...Well, it shouldn't be anything too extreme since it's a weak monster... In fact, I might not even gain anything.
Seeing this possibility, I put the stone in my pocket and decide to continue for a while longer.
[…]
I return to the lodging only after defeating fifteen more goblins and selling their stones to get money for dinner and the next day's lunch.
The meal was simple, bread and water, but it's enough for now.
— I need to get more money…
Since the value of the magic stones from the first floor is so low, I start considering going to the second floor or the next ones.
— At least I'm already Level 10, although I don't feel much difference…
In theory, I should have gotten stronger, but in practice, I don't feel the change.
— Anyway... Time to try my luck. — I think, crushing the only magic stone I kept.
After careful consideration, since it will be a Magic and not a skill, even if the result is strange, I can simply choose not to use it.
Besides, the stone is so small that I should be able to absorb it in probably two days.
— I hate this part…
I swallow pieces of the stone as I did on the island, and after a while, I end up vomiting.
— ...Better leave that for tomorrow, before lunch.
That day, I went to sleep hungry.
[To be continued…]
[???]: — The curiosity was so strong that he let himself be carried away, creating a random reason to use the stone, and vomited everything he ate for dinner... He has a serious gambling problem.
[+++]: — ...What exactly are you watching?