After the midterm tests, the next fifteen days had no classes scheduled. Most students went home to visit their families or left for relaxing vacations.
Except me.
Here I am, standing inside a C‑rank dungeon, preparing for another stealing spree. And no, don't mind the pile of dead monsters behind me, they were just weaklings.
After leaving the café, I booked a ticket to a dungeon called "Lizard Nest." It's rated C‑rank, and right now I'm searching for the location that triggers the hidden mission.
Extras like me have to hunt for hidden missions. Protagonists, on the other hand, just stumble into them through absurd luck.
Terrifying luck.
If luck were an actual stat, protagonists would've been invincible ages ago. Thankfully, that's not officially a thing… yet. Though in this ridiculous world, I wouldn't be surprised if pigs suddenly started growing wings.
After about half an hour of running, Rio arrived in front of a massive cave.
This should be their nest.
This time, a fight was unavoidable. To get what I needed, I'd have to carve a path through.
The moment Rio stepped inside, a three‑meter‑long lizard covered in scales lunged at him. It wasn't fast, but its raw strength cracked the ground beneath its claws.
And this is just one of the weaker ones here.
When it was two meters away, its head suddenly flew off with a sharp slash of steel. The body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
Still weak.
What followed was a one‑sided massacre. The lizards were slaughtered like vegetables. An hour later, Rio stood before the boss room. He pushed open the massive door and walked in.
Darkness filled the chamber, then torches ignited along the walls.
A five‑meter‑long lizard stared at him. Flames leaked from its mouth, and its thick scales gleamed like armor.
This one's C+. Since I haven't officially reached C‑rank yet… This might finally be interesting.
They stood still for a few seconds. Silence pressed down on the room.
Then both moved at once.
The monster spewed a thick stream of fire, but Rio sidestepped with ease. By the time the flames faded, he was already near its face.
His blade slashed at its neck, but only a shallow wound formed.
Rio retreated instantly. A split second later, the lizard's massive tail smashed into the ground where he'd been standing.
Guess I finally get to use skills again.
[Body Strengthening]
Mana surged through his body from within. Nothing changed outwardly, but every muscle and bone was reinforced.
His stats rose temporarily.
This burns through mana too fast. I'll increase my mana capacity later.
The monster roared and spat fire again. Rio dodged, then countered with a mana‑infused slash. A deep wound tore across the lizard's back.
Its tail whipped toward him, but Rio deflected it with a precise swing, a simple motion made possible by his mastery of basic swordsmanship.
Let's end this.
[Lightning Sword]
A flash.
A strike so fast it vanished from sight.
The monster's head separated from its body.
Rio's mana, however, was nearly drained. He sat on a nearby stone and began meditating.
In this world, mana doesn't recover naturally. You either meditate or use recovery potions, and those are expensive.
The academy gave me one potion, but using it here would be a waste. Better save it for a life‑and‑death situation.
Half an hour later, his mana recovered.
Rio approached the right wall of the chamber, where several statues stood. He stopped before one holding a spear and shield, then pushed it sideways with all his strength.
A mechanism clicked.
The wall split open, revealing a hidden corridor.
Rio stepped inside without hesitation.
When Fade came here, that statue was destroyed during his fight, revealing this path. But the boss never came near it while I was fighting…
Is that a coincidence? Or luck at work again?
One thing was certain, being a "child of the heavens" had its perks. Rare treasures appeared like breathing air, and even deadly situations turned into blessings.
Unlike an extra like me, who has to claw his way forward.
Abandoned by the heavens?
Who cares?