Chapter 18. Dungeon Explores Can Awaken Too? (4)
[A Grand Achievement! You defeated the Floor Master, Wraith Queen, alone! Amazing!]
[You obtained the t.i.tle, "Wraith Queen Slayer." All stats permanently increase by 1. This effect will apply even if the t.i.tle is not equipped.]
[You defeated the Wraith Queen alone. You obtained the special reward, "Wraith Queen"s Shirt."]
[You obtained 3,000 gold.]
[Choose your reward.]
[1. Spirit Mastery Magic Book.]
"Whew."
As expected, I obtained another t.i.tle. Along with the Orc Lord Slayer t.i.tle, all of my stats were now permanently increased by 2.
I stood speechless for a while, then pinched my cheeks to wake myself up.
The first thing I did was to check the Wraith Queen equipment"s set effect. I took off the Orc Lord equipment and put on the Wraith Queen equipment. I wondered if I also needed to equip the whip, but it appeared that wasn"t the case.
[You equipped the Wraith Queen Set. Your magic and charm increases by 5. When the Wraith Queen Set is equipped, you can use "Vengeful Spirit"s Wail" once per day.]
"As expected…" After staring at the message window with lingering attachment, I shrugged. Then I switched my equipment back to the Orc Lord Set. Vengeful Spirit"s Wail, a skill that changed the entire battlefield by affecting the enemy with confusion and fear status effects. It was undoubtedly a good skill. However, compared to the Orc Lord"s Warcry, it felt too weak.
Why? Because it was possible that the enemy was immune to confusion or fear, or could use a priest-type cleansing skill. In that case, the skill would be useless. On the other hand, unless there was a monster that canceled the buff, Orc Lord"s Warcry would always be useful.
I could only use one of the two skills, so I decided to choose the Orc Lord"s Warcry. Although the Wraith Queen was a higher rank Floor Master, her equipment was cloth, inappropriate for a warrior type like me.
However, its black jacket, white pants, and shirt all had a good texture, making me want to wear them in my daily life.
Next up was the rewards. 3,000 gold was the normal amount given for defeating the Wraith Queen. What was important was the reward given for defeating it alone.
[1. Spirit Mastery Magic Book.]
"Another magic book? Spirit Mastery, huh."
It made sense. Wraiths, the Wraith Queen, and the Soul Tempering Elixir all had to do with souls, so a magic book like this was expected to a certain extent. However, I hoped it would be a skill powerful enough to bring my strength to a new level.
"No, I shouldn"t complain. Magic books are said to be rare after all. Be more respectful, Kang Shin."
It seemed I got greedy after seeing someone vastly stronger than me. I could get stronger. If I try to rush it, it would only work against me. I had to do it my way, slowly and steadily. I vowed to myself once again and put my hand inside the half-transparent window.
[You obtained the Spirit Mastery skill. Your affinity to souls and spirits increase. The strength of all soul and spirit-related skills increases. As the skill level increases, your affinity with souls and spirits will also increase.]
In other words, my Deific Manifestation skill would be stronger. I had a partner I could call once a month, Peruta. If Spirit Mastery"s skill level rose, I might be able to summon him more often and for longer durations. When I thought about that, I was finally convinced that Spirit Mastery was a good skill.
"Alright then, let"s go."
It was time to collect the long-awaited quest reward. How would Loretta react? Excited for her reaction, I couldn"t hide my smile.
[Quest Success!]
[You conquered the Floor Master Wraith Queen alone. As a feat unseen in 200 years, the Floor Shop owner, Loretta, is in awe. She is regretting her decision to make a bet out of revenge. However, she will still give out her reward. After all, she is an honest shop owner.]
[You received a system reward. You obtained 1 skill point. You now have 2 spare skill points.]
"Aguhueforkuralo."
"Can you say that in human language? It seems I haven"t mastered alien language yet."
"Uwaaaah, you really did it…"
She showed a reaction surpa.s.sing my expectation. Just yesterday, she seemed full of doubt, but now that I had really done it, she was spouting out strange words with a soulless expression. After I talked to her a few times, she started crying. How shameful.
"Sob, you"re right, I"m a bad woman who gives quests but hates seeing it be completed. Are you disillusioned?"
"No, it"s nothing new."
"Uhuhuk!"
"Um, Loretta noona?"
When I called her hesitatingly, she turned toward me instantly.
"What? Can"t you see that I"m crying?"
"Um… Give me my reward."
Like I"d fall for your tricks to skimp out on my reward.
"Hueeeee!"
"Now, now. Stop crying and give me my reward."
"HUEEEE!"
It took a long time before I could calm her down. Although her intentions were crystal clear, I had no choice as I had to collect my reward. Only after I made a promise to bring her ramen did she stop crying. It seemed a dungeon explorer from Earth had treated her before.
"You"ll really bring me one?"
"Yeah."
"Sob… Okay, I"ll trust you."
Loretta wiped away her tears, then handed me something.
"Take it. It"s the best reward I can give you, customer."
"This…?"
After receiving it, I tilted my head. It was a pocket watch. When I opened the lid adorned with fancy jewelry, I saw a clock with only one hand. Just when I was wondering where the hour hand was, I realized the clock did not have any numbers written on it. Instead, in the places where the numbers should be were twelve small holes. The minute hand remained fixed between the 11th hour hole and the 12th hour hole.
The pocket watch was on a silver chain. Unlike its outer appearance adorned with fancy jewelry, the inside looked antique and rustic. I couldn"t help but be disappointed when I opened it up. It… didn"t even have a crown.
"Can I get angry?"
"Tsk, tsk. You have no eye for valuables. Try reading the item info."
"I don"t think that would change my mind. Let me see."
Even as I sent Loretta looks of doubt, I checked the information of the pocket watch. Immediately afterwards, my eyes seemed to pop up from their sockets.
[???? (Secret - Subcla.s.s)
A pocket watch filled with unknown powers. Its beholder will eventually obtain a cla.s.s befitting it.]
"… Cla.s.s!?"
"Huhu, now you realize what a precious treasure that is!?"
"N-Noona, there"s a way to obtain a cla.s.s?"
When I first entered the dungeon, I realized that I did not have a cla.s.s. I expected to get a cla.s.s like spearman, but even after all this time, I could not get a cla.s.s. It seemed Ellos and Palludia had received the Knight and Priestess cla.s.ses, so I couldn"t help but think something was wrong.
Not too long ago, when father became an ability user, he obtained a cool sounding cla.s.s called Wave Attacker. Although he complained, saying that a traditional spearman like him should not have such a superhero-like cla.s.s, I knew he was secretly bragging as he talked about getting bonus stats and few additional skills. My father really was childish.
In any case, I was the only dungeon explorer I knew that didn"t have a cla.s.s! I felt bad, as it was like being told I had no ability. If possible, I wanted to at least have Crown Prince of 5F as my cla.s.s.
But it was brought up now when I least expected it.
"Of course there is. In the first place, dungeon explorers from other continents who are appointed as knights or ordained as priests already possess cla.s.ses before entering the dungeon. But customer is different."
"That"s right. I haven"t been appointed a knight or ordained as a priest."
"Nor did you have the qualification."
"That"s why I didn"t have a cla.s.s?"
"Yes."
I see, there was a reason I was treated like an unemployed person. Then, I remembered my father who had the Wave Attacker cla.s.s, and asked Loretta.
"What about father?"
"Ah, that "ability"? That"s like a seal engraved directly on one"s soul. It would be a different story if he already had a cla.s.s, but since he didn"t, of course he would get a cla.s.s."
"… There"s more that you know, right? About the things happening on Earth."
"My, that"s a secret, customer."
I didn"t think my inquiry on cla.s.ses would lead to this. Although I always wanted to find the relationship between the dungeon and what was happening on Earth, I didn"t think I would hear it from the Floor Shop owner, Loretta.
Now that I thought about it, something was strange. Both Edias continent where Ellos came from and Luka continent where Palludia came from were being attacked by invaders, the so-called Demon race. Earth was in a similar situation, having to fight against invaders. This did not seem to be mere coincidence.
When I thought this far, I could feel my hair stand on end. However, before I had the chance to speak, Loretta placed her hand on my mouth to block it.
"Remember, customer. In the end, I am a shop owner that sells items to customers in need. I am on your side. As long as your willpower stands tall, the dungeon, too, will be of help to you."
"So for now, don"t ask anythi- Kyaa! Why did you lick me!?"
Loretta screamed as she hurriedly pulled away her hand. I also experienced a strange sensation of licking woman"s hand for the first time.
"It tastes weird… a bit salty, maybe?"
"It"s not salty! Don"t say something like that so casually!"
"What should I say then?"
"That"s…"
"Hehe, this is fine then, right?"
At my smiling expression, Loretta"s face reddened. Forgetting all about her anger, she smiled.
"… Really, what a strange customer."
"You"re the one to talk, Loretta noona."
"You can just call me Loretta, customer. Noona sounds like you"re emphasizing our age difference."
"Loretta."
"… Don"t call me without a reason. Really."
The day I conquered the Wraith Queen, I obtained many things and learned a lot about the situation surrounding me. I felt that I had taken one more step toward becoming a true dungeon explorer.
The next day, I challenged the 15th Floor Master, Dark Ratman. I died. For a week, I could not enter the dungeon.