Chapter 45, Quite a Transformation

Translator: Barnnn

 

Naturally, the weapons and armor they needed varied depending on the Dungeon floor where they planned to operate.

In narrow, rocky terrain and corridors, compact weapons were ideal, while floors swarming with enormous Mystic Beasts demanded heavier arms with greater attack power.

After some preliminary research, Ize and Hal felt confident their current gear would suffice up to the fifteenth floor. Still, the prudent course was to consult an expert for reassurance. Etta, as a Jasted-born innkeeper who had served adventurers for over two decades, suggested several reliable shops catering to beginners before they set out from her inn.

 

“So this dried meat is rated D in quality. Doesn’t that make you curious about how it tastes?” Hal remarked, holding up a strip with a bemused grin.

“You’re really using your Appraisal skill on everything, huh…” Ize shot back. “What’s that rating even based on? The kingdom’s standards, ours, or the Goddess’s?”

“Feels custom-tailored for us. By the way, remember the steak we had in Abrol? A-grade.”

“…Please stop. It’s not even lunchtime yet.”

“Sorry.”

 

Their shopping trip was brief but productive.

When Hal mentioned his intent to reach the fifteenth floor and his alignment as a water mage, the shopkeeper assured him that his gear was sufficient. For Ize, the advice was to stick with her current leather breastplate; anything heavier might sap her stamina or restrict her movements.

 

“Come back if you outgrow your gear,” the shopkeeper added with a smirk that bordered on condescension.

[Ugh, he TOTALLY snickered at me,] Ize thought irritably — then shot a glare at Hal, noticing how he was suppressing a laugh beside her.

 

Ignoring him, she turned her attention back to the shop’s offerings.

The selection of beginner equipment wasn’t extensive, but it was practical: lightweight, durable, and suited for novices.

For now, Ize and Hal planned to return to the inn each day rather than risk an overnight stay in the Dungeon.

Still, heading in empty-handed would raise eyebrows. To blend in, they shape-shifted their Magic Bags to resemble ordinary adventurers’ packs and slung them over their shoulders.

Thanks to Ize’s skillful Camouflage, the bags even appeared to be full despite being nearly weightless.

 

“Well, that’s our prep done,” Ize declared as they left the shop.

“Yeah,” Hal agreed. “So, are we going in tomorrow, or should we take a day off first?”

“Tomorrow,” Ize said firmly. “Better to keep the momentum going and rest afterward.”

“Good call — that’s what I’m thinking, too. Let’s aim to clear up to the fifth floor on the first day and then head back. Safety first.”

“Got it. Let’s give it our all.”

“Right!”

 

Their strategy was simple enough. Ize would mark out enemies using her Perception Map, while Hal identified their strengths and weaknesses with Eye of Appraisal.

Hal’s attacks would come from a distance, and if any foe tried to flee, Ize would pin them down. When the opportunity arose, she would strike directly with her dagger.

With their current capabilities, even a massive Blood Bear wouldn’t be able to break their formation. They were confident they could handle themselves up to the fifteenth floor. And if anything went wrong, Ize’s Fleet Foot would ensure a swift retreat.

 

◆

 

The next morning, they rose earlier than usual, savoring Etta’s expertly prepared breakfast to bolster their spirits.

By the time they returned to their room, they were brimming with anticipation. They donned their gear and, standing by the door, ran through Hal’s pre-departure checklist.

 

“Weapons?”

“Dagger, check.”

“Backpack straps?”

“All secure.”

“Potions?”

“Belt pocket, check. Backpack outer pocket, check.”

“Shoes?”

“Laces, check.”

“Snacks?”

“Check!”

“All right! Time for our first Dungeon run. Adventure awaits!”

“Huzzah!”

 

The Sage’s Table, their inn, was conveniently located just minutes from the Dungeon’s outer wall.

Upon reaching it, they completed the necessary entry procedures and stepped through a small iron gate that seemed almost comically modest against the towering expanse of stone. Beyond the gate stretched a sprawling plaza, its grandeur reminiscent of a royal castle’s forecourt.

This plaza, the first line of defense during a Dungeon Deluge, was designed for large-scale combat, spacious enough to accommodate entire legions of adventurers battling hordes of Mystic Beasts. Even if a Dragon emerged from the Dungeon’s depths, there would still be room to maneuver.

The ground beneath their feet was riddled with traps and mechanisms — holes for iron plates, stakes, and other defensive measures — reminders that even here, carelessness could prove fatal.

Following the marked path, Ize and Hal made their way across the plaza, finally reaching the Dungeon’s entrance.

Nearby, a cluster of facilities bustled with activity: medical stations, food stalls, and makeshift rest areas where weary adventurers refueled. Ize’s gaze lingered on a group of them, wolfing down meals with an urgency she found oddly mesmerizing, until Hal nudged her.

 

“Ize, look up there.”

“Oh, that’s the Magicite? It’s even bigger than I imagined.”

“Yeah. Its size reflects the Dungeon’s rank. And the color… it’s marbled now.”

“I hope we never see a solid-colored one, especially yellow or red.”

“Let’s pray we don’t.”

“You know, saying that is just begging for trouble–”

“AHEM!” Hal cleared his throat loudly. “L-look, let’s just go.”

“Right.”

 

Their goal for the day was modest: reach the fifth floor and log their progress. Along the way, they aimed to defeat at least five Mystic Beasts each on every floor, a plan designed to sharpen their skills while minimizing risks. Safety, above all, was the priority.

 

“It’s brighter than I thought,” Hal observed as they entered the first floor.

“And crowded,” Ize added. “I don’t see any enemies on the Map.”

“Then let’s focus on getting to the next floor.”

“Mm-hmm. This way.”

 

They traversed the grassy expanse of the first floor for thirty minutes before encountering their first enemy: a lone Slime.

They observed it for several minutes, waiting for it to make the first move. When it didn’t, Ize sighed and poked it with her knife, ending the encounter in a single, underwhelming strike. The creature didn’t even leave behind a Magicite.

 

[This thing was weaker than the Slime in our bathroom,] Ize thought, unimpressed.

 

Though they saw no other enemies, they passed several groups of adventurers, most of them looking like trainees fresh out of basic training.

To avoid unnecessary interaction, Ize used Stealth to slip past unnoticed. Many of the parties seemed to be gathering herbs — an understandable choice. The first floor was renowned for its medicinal plants, which thrived year-round, as well as the rare Golden Grass coveted by herbalists. For those seeking a low-risk way to earn money, it was an ideal hunting ground.

 

“Ah, I see the stairs. That took longer than expected — must’ve been about an hour,” Hal said, stretching his arms.

“This is going to get tedious fast,” Ize replied. “No wonder everyone rushes to register the fifth floor.”

“If the next few floors are as dull as this one, we’ll skip straight through on our next run.”

“Agreed.”

 

The second floor stretched out in a familiar expanse of grasslands, not unlike the first, but there was clearly an increased presence of enemies.

It took barely five minutes for their first encounter: a cluster of giant rats, each roughly thirty centimeters long, scuttling through the grass.

 

“Clay Rats,” Hal said after a quick Appraisal. “They coat themselves in mud for protection.”

“Mud?” Ize tilted her head, intrigued. “Hal, what happens if you wash it off? I want to see.”

“Wash it off? Sure, why not…”

 

With an effortless chant, Hal summoned a stream of water that doused the rats. The transformation was instant and unexpected. Stripped of their muddy armor, the creatures shrank to the size of ordinary field mice.

 

“Well,” Hal said, blinking. “That’s… quite a transformation.”

“They REALLY were mostly mud,” Ize said, staring at the pathetic creatures. “I almost feel bad for them.”

“ALMOST. Let’s split them, half each.”

“O-okay…”

 

Ize stepped forward, her knife gleaming in her hand. One of the soaked rats froze under her gaze, and she hesitated, a flicker of guilt passing through her. It was a selfish emotion, she knew — a luxury she couldn’t afford as an adventurer. This was her path, and she couldn’t falter at the first step.

The knife struck cleanly, piercing the rat with a quick motion. There was a faint twitch of resistance before the creature vanished into nothingness, leaving only a tiny stone glinting in the grass.

 

“Magicite,” Hal said, crouching to pick it up. He held the pebble-sized gem between his fingers, then placed it in Ize’s hand.

“A Magicite…” Ize murmured, studying it.

“Yeah, though it’s so small it’s practically useless.”

 

It was indeed tiny, smaller than half her pinky nail and barely worth any coin. Yet to Ize, it was invaluable – a keepsake, proof that she had begun her journey as an adventurer. She clutched it tightly.

 

Mystic Beasts defeated in the Dungeon vanished shortly after death, leaving behind their loot.

This system was both a boon and a curse for adventurers. On the one hand, it spared them the effort of disassembly and the burden of carrying full carcasses, allowing them to delve deeper without pause. On the other, the loot drops were unpredictable. When a specific material was needed, adventurers were forced to hunt the same creatures repeatedly, their resolve tested by the grind.

Outside the Dungeon, however, Mystic Beasts left behind their full bodies rather than loot. This difference had led to a particularly infamous incident during the last Deluge: a Dragon had been deliberately allowed to escape the Dungeon.

The risk of unleashing such a creature on the city was enormous. Yet for some, the reward was worth it. The loot from a slain Dragon inside the Dungeon — no matter how massive the beast — would amount to a mere handful of items: perhaps a legendary weapon, rare limb-regenerating Potion ingredients, or a Magicite the size of a human adult.

Such a meager bounty could never satisfy all the forces involved in its defeat. Who deserved the spoils? The adventurer who delivered the final blow? The one who dealt the most damage? The leader who orchestrated the battle? Disputes over such treasures would escalate into bloodshed among high-ranking adventurers.

By contrast, a Dragon slain outside the Dungeon left an entire corpse that could be harvested. Every scale, bone, and organ held immense value, and the proceeds from their sale could be evenly distributed among all parties. It was a high-stakes gamble, to let a monster of such magnitude rampage freely, but when the forces assembled were deemed sufficient, it was a gamble some were willing to take.

 

Hal and Ize pressed onward, maintaining their rhythm of seeking out and defeating enemies as they delved deeper into the Dungeon.

The challenges varied with each floor. On the third, they encountered rabbit-like Mystic Beasts; on the fourth, dog-like ones; and on the fifth, wolf-like creatures. Each foe fell with relative ease, their defeats requiring little more than the duo’s instinctual coordination.

When they reached the stairway between the fifth and sixth floors, they found a round Magicite protruding unnaturally from the wall. They infused it lightly with magical energy, and the stone glowed faintly, activating the fifth-floor registration mechanism.

Then, adjacent to the staircase, they discovered a “Portal Room,” its defining feature a large Magicite embedded at its center.

 

“Starting on the sixth floor, we’ll finally face humanoid enemies,” Hal said, a grin spreading across his face.

“Not thrilled about it,” Ize replied, her tone flat.

“But Goblins are the quintessential Dungeon monsters!”

“Sixth floor’s Goblins, seventh’s Goblins and Kobolds… ugh,” Ize grumbled, folding her arms. “But the eighth floor — THAT’s something to look forward to.”

“Boar-types, right? Think they’ll drop meat?”

“They’d better,” Ize said, her fists clenching with eager anticipation.

 

Hal laughed at her sudden enthusiasm as they stepped into the Portal Room.

Their exploration pace had been steady throughout the day, averaging about an hour per floor. The fights, though varied, had posed little challenge, leaving them plenty of time to progress without feeling rushed.

Including short breaks, they had spent around six hours in the Dungeon.

 

“This is starting to feel like a proper hiking trip,” Ize remarked as they stood in the glowing chamber.

“You’re not far off,” Hal agreed. “But if we had to walk all the way back, it’d be brutal.”

“All hail the Portal Room?”

“All hail the Portal Room!”

 

With their voices raised in unison, they infused the Portal with magical energy. A wave of weightlessness swept over them, and in the blink of an eye, they were back on the first floor.

Thus, Hal and Ize’s first Dungeon expedition came to a safe and successful end.

 

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