Must Save, Entering the Dungeon (3)

The smell of damp soil, heavy air bustling with magic, and hazy dust were apparent. It didn’t feel very pleasant to sleep in places like these, but Save was still grateful to be able to sleep safely in the Dungeon.

Currently, Louise’s party was in a shelter. After several hours of fierce fighting on the first floor after entering the dungeon, they finally found a secret shelter nearby.

“Hurray, we’re finally resting!”

“Save, close the door. You can’t trust other explorers in the dungeon.”

“Okay.”

They decided to rest here today and move back early tomorrow morning because the timing felt just right.

Since the reopening of the Sherden Dungeon, it was widely believed that it would take at least three days to break through a single floor on the lower floors, so it was better to reserve it when one could save their energy.

…Of course, according to Evan’s schedule brought by Louise, the group was expected to be able to enter the second floor early tomorrow afternoon.

“The dungeon is really full of danger. Everyone says the first floor is not that difficult, but why are there so many elite monsters?” Renail, completely exhausted after a full day of dungeon trials, said with her tongue out. Her magic was empty, evident from her exhaustion after a series of fierce battles. Of course, a magic potion was always saved for emergencies.

“I’m sure we have bad luck. We’re still on an earlier floor. Based on the level of other explorers who returned safely, the first floor should not be this difficult. Oh, I’m not saying we did it wrong. Eonni’s the one who found the shelter.”

Renail then said something sharp, saying, “I wonder if you have the brains to take the top seat at the tower, Eonni.”

In fact, Renail was not at fault for making such a remark. It was because Louise led the party only to dangerous traps, secret rooms hidden by elite monsters, and walls where achievements were all hidden.

“The more powerful monsters you catch, the more accomplishments you achieve, and the greater the reward. It’s going to be hard, but if you overcome it, you’ll get stronger.”

“Well, I guess we’re lucky, considering that.”

Renail also nodded convincingly. In the dungeon, everything an explorer does is subject to achievement. They fought tougher battles compared to other explorers, which meant that they had achieved greater achievements.

“What are you worried about when Louise is leading us? She only gives us the trials we can handle. If you follow, you’ll become strong.”

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry to be suspicious, boy.”

In just a few days, Renail who learned how to deal with Save, nodded moderately, and swept the stew ingredients into a pot caught on the bonfire. She was in charge of cooking.

“I’ll eat it when it boils a little more.”

“Thank you, Renail.”

“It’s nothing. I’ll do something like this since I haven’t contributed much to the group.”

In fact, she was already tired of casting magic in succession, but she hadn’t shown it. She thought that this situation would also be reflected in Astray’s joining evaluation!

“Whoa….”

Meanwhile, Save was holding his hands together while the stew was boiling, closing his eyes and muttering something. It was a very serious atmosphere. Louise wondered what he was doing, but she felt like she shouldn’t get close to him, so she backed away a little.

“Let’s all eat!”

“Wow.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

After emptying the stew from Renail’s bowl in a flash, Save went inside the shelter and slowly swung the halberd. It was a vision training method that Evan had transferred through Louise.

“Isn’t he tired?”

“Save, go to sleep, and practice after recovering your energy, as too much might interfere with your exploration tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

However, Save didn’t stop. He had an iron body with natural skill. This was a skill that made you stronger. The more you get hurt, and the more you overworked your body, the stronger you’ll get. Therefore, the harder the training was, the more he gained from doing it.

When he first discovered this skill after gaining the ability to look into all things, he thought he got this skill because he was special, but it was only half the story.

If he really wanted to be special, he had to use this skill to push himself to the limit. Only then would his skills grow, and only then would he become special.

‘Elite or not, we can’t even overwhelm the monsters on the first floor.’

Save forced his rusty squeaky body to swing a halberd and clenched his teeth. He realized it only after he entered the dungeon himself. How ignorant he was in the past!

If he had not learned about Evan, if Evan’s knights had not led him, he would have rushed to the dungeon with poor equipment and died.

‘I can’t stand my past self; when I was so proud of being gifted.’

What he did in the past could not even be considered effort. He had only grown little by little using his skills.

He couldn’t let it go like that from now on. With his ability to check his condition in real-time and the guidance from Evan, he could grow efficiently enough to make up for his lost time. Swinging the halberd was part of that.

[Iron Body (Unique Skill) has grown to Lv.9.]

[Passive Skill Halberd Mastery has grown to Lv.14.]

Save only stopped when he had no more strength left.

Even so, the Halberd Mastery, which can be considered a basic skill, had risen by one level again. As well, Iron Body had risen by eight levels during today’s battle.

‘Alright.’

The moment his skills grew, he felt that his body had become stronger. Save smiled lightly, clenching his fist over the Halberd.

His present self was certainly moving forward. There were no longer stray thoughts that had been running wild without a direction.

‘He did not abandon me, it was foolish, but he taught me greatly and led me to the right path. There is no way to repay his kindness.’

Save said one last thanks to him, wiped his sweat, and went to bed. Early the following afternoon, as scheduled, they found the stairs down to the second floor of the dungeon.

[I’m really surprised.]

There, they heard the voice of God.

[How can all three children escape fate?]

[I’m satisfied. He may not have intended it, but he is correcting his twisted fate.]

[But it’s not right. His power to escape the eyes of God is an anomaly.]

[A child who cares more about a man.]

The voices of God are heard simultaneously by the three who cleared the first floor. It just didn’t seem to be talking to them. Louise opened her mouth carefully.

“We’ve passed the first floor.”

[Oh, I was so surprised that I forgot to give my blessing. Your level has grown to 2.]

At that moment, the light from the three bodies exploded at the same time. The other two, who did not know what ‘level’ was, only learned about the ‘status’ recently. The level of their soul and body was rising simultaneously.

“That’s what it’s like leveling up in the dungeon…”

“I feel like I’ve grown stronger in an instant. How terrifying are the other seniors who have received this blessing again and again.”

While Louise and Renail were whispering, Save was slowly closing his eyes, feeling the change he was facing.

It felt different from the rising level of existence. This was God’s blessing… Save wondered if his power was also mixed here, but it couldn’t be.

Then again, the voice of God came to him.

[A strong faith that does not fall behind any priest of God, but it does not face us. If it did, he could have become a priest right away.]

[He’s too good to be a priest. He has a warrior’s soul in the realm of transcendence.]

[He can’t be a priest anyhow.]

Looking around, Louise and Renail seemed to be listening to the voices. Save listened carefully to the voice of God.

[The achievements are simply not good enough to warrant it… It’s like when HE first entered the dungeon.]

[But there’s something that’s not clear. Too little hesitation, too lucky, too heroic.]

[And excessive faith in a man.]

[You’re like the protagonist of the story. You are like an actor who manifests reality on a stage.]

It didn’t matter much to Save.

‘I heard that I would receive special rewards other than a level rise if I make the dungeon achievements. Was it not enough? Then, on the second floor, I will have to work harder….’

[Mhh. I could you get a class for this.]

Unthinkable possibilities came to him.

[That’s ridiculous.]

[What do you see now as he only broke the ground floor?]

[It’s unprecedented.]

[But this is how precedents are created.]

[Under the name of *%&$*$$, he has sufficient qualifications and achievements. Also, the strong desire is concentrated in only one way.]

The God soon faced Save, who was thinking about the reason with a familiar voice. Only from that voice did he feel absolute goodwill towards him.

[If a man who believes in God becomes a priest, what is he who believes in the man? If those who believe in God gain divine power, what do those who believe in man gain? Child, you will realize it for yourself soon enough.]

[Ah…]

[It’s enough to be considered an achievement. Even the artificial atmosphere felt throughout their expedition is perfect for this child’s path.]

God thus declared. At that moment, Save could intuitively realize that everything surrounding him had changed.

[You will be a paragon to people. As long as you follow him, you will always be influenced by him.]

[The job is changed from ‘Unemployed’ to ‘Extraordinary Fanatic’. Your physical ability grows significantly. Increase your chances of gaining special skills. The effect of the buff from the ‘Extraordinary’ modifier is amplified twice.]

[Passive skill ‘Mental Strength’ has been obtained.]

A storm of light swept in a terrible reverberation signifying that God had given him a job.

Even Louise and Renail, who had grown their skills and were freed by the blessing of God, looked at him in astonishment.

[Must Save]

[Existence level 20, Dungeon level 2]

[Extraordinary Fanatic]

[Passive Skill – Halberd Mastery Lv.14, Iron Body Lv.9, Mental Strength Lv.1]

[Active Skill – Quick Run Lv.8, Throw Lv.5]

“Whoa….”

Save, who was reborn as a true fanatic after his transfer, opened his eyes. His mind felt very clear and fresh.

He learned a little bit about what he didn’t know, and doubts soon turned to certainty.

“I was right.”

Save mumbled his fist and clenched his fist. One could see that he was stronger than ever. This was all thanks to Evan’s guidance.

“He really is sent by God…!”

“…Eonni, what is he talking about?”

“I don’t know.”

‘I don’t know, but I’ll never let him meet the teacher.’

Louise looked at the party. She didn’t want to be satisfied with just level two. The Dungeon expedition was just beginning.