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3.46% Dungeon Academy: Only I Have a Skill Tree / Chapter 7: Silver Member

Kapitel 7: Silver Member

---

Three days later.

I woke up in agony and struggled to sit up.

On the bedside table, there was a bottle of mineral water and some painkillers. Without hesitation, I grabbed them, popped three pills into my mouth, and washed them down with water.

After sitting there dazed for a while, the muscle pain started to subside.

My body was still in shambles from the grueling daily runs. Without painkillers, there was no way I could win the point missions.

"Well, let's give it my all again today…"

I muttered to myself as I headed to the bathroom to check my Skill Tree.

Was it just my imagination, or had it grown a bit larger?

---

**Status**

Makoto Akatani

Level: 0

Health: 100 / 100

Mana: 10 / 10

Defense: 0

Strength: 10,000

Dexterity: 0

Intelligence: 0

Resistance: 0

Agility: 0

Mystery: 0

Spirit: 0

**Skills**

- Basic Strength

- Advanced Strength

**Equipment**

- Skill Tree

---

**Skill Tree**

Tree Level: 0

Skill Points: 0

Point Mission: Outer Loop

**Skill Menu**

- Basic Stamina (4 times available)

- Basic Mana (5 times available)

- Basic Defense (5 times available)

- Advanced Strength (4 times available) - NEW!

- Basic Dexterity (5 times available)

- Basic Intelligence (5 times available)

- Basic Resistance (5 times available)

- Basic Agility (5 times available)

- Basic Mystery (5 times available)

- Basic Spirit (5 times available)

**Completed Skills**

- Intermediate Strength (0 times available)

- Basic Strength (0 times available)

---

After unlocking Intermediate Strength for four consecutive days, I thought I had mastered strength. But there was more to come—Advanced Strength. Basic, Intermediate, and then Advanced.

The effect of the advanced passive skill was probably something like +10,000 to each stat. It was monstrous. My strength had significantly increased, and now I could easily crush doorknobs. Just look at my room's door—it's all weirdly shaped and hard to grip now.

Haha, my power is overflowing and unstoppable.

No, seriously, it's uncontrollable.

I break chopsticks just by holding them, and I bend forks out of shape.

I can't control my strength. I feel like a clumsy but kind-hearted monster from the forest.

---

**Advanced Strength**

Passive Skill

Greatly increases Strength stat

---

As I neared the peak of power, I couldn't control my strength, which wasn't mentioned in the description.

"I can't control my power… I might hurt someone eventually."

For the past few days, I kept telling myself, "Strength is everything for a man!" and continued unlocking Intermediate Strength, but now it felt like a mistake. I had a hypothesis.

My stats were extremely skewed.

Normally, stats don't grow so one-sidedly.

When leveling up, all stats grow overall, with some stats growing more or less than others.

But they don't become zero except for one stat.

Everything is supposed to grow in tandem. The immediate increase in strength from unlocking a skill defied the natural order.

"What should I do…? No one else seems to have this problem, and I can't control my explorer's power alone…"

Today was a holiday. Still early morning. I had free time.

What should I do to avoid being overwhelmed by my own strength?

I pondered for a while, trying not to break anything around me, and came to a conclusion.

To control my power, I needed to get used to it.

So, I decided to train against Dungeon Pomeranians in a simulated dungeon.

I headed to the training hall.

In the simulated dungeon, I could unleash my full power without any issues.

I carefully waved my student ID over the gate, cautious not to accidentally punch and break it.

Equipped with a magic sword—designed by the Dungeon Foundation to defeat dungeon monsters—I entered the simulated dungeon.

Initially, I tried to challenge it with just a fork, but now I had the wisdom to use proper dungeon equipment.

"Pomeranian, come out, come out, wherever you are~"

Holding a piece of jerky in my left hand and the magic sword in my right, I walked through the simulated dungeon.

A cute white fluffball appeared from around the corner, lured by the treat.

"Pom-pom~!"

"Aw, how cute! Here, here!"

The Pomeranian hopped towards me.

Once it got close enough, it suddenly bared its fangs and lunged for my jugular.

"So cute, but now you die~!"

I closed my eyes and swung the magic sword with all my might.

I felt a solid impact. When I opened my eyes, the Pomeranian was shattered into particles of light.

"Did… did I do it?"

Had I defeated a monster?

An indescribable joy welled up within me.

For over a month, I had tried and failed countless times to defeat the fearsome Pom-Pom. But now, I had done it. By myself. With my own power.

"I finally… finally defeated a Pomeranian…! Ugh…"

I wiped away the hot tears streaming from my eyes.

I couldn't let my guard down here; I might become Pomeranian food.

I stood up straight.

Looking at my magic sword, I saw that the blade was ruined, heavily chipped.

Could it be that I had damaged it with a single swing?

Was it because of my poor swordsmanship, or because I swung it too forcefully?

Probably both.

"Even the hilt is deformed to fit my grip."

The magic sword was designed to be durable against dungeon monsters.

For it to break like this, I needed to find a more compatible weapon.

I reached out to the particles of light left behind by the Pomeranian.

The light particles were known as experience points. In dungeon studies, they're classified as anomalous substance 'Gas Cristallo Energy,' but experience points was a much more familiar and understandable term.

The light particles absorbed into my body.

They quickly permeated my DNA, like a blessing.

"Even after gaining monster experience points, I'm not leveling up… Am I incapable of leveling up?"

Experience points obtained from defeating dungeon monsters were visible as light, but that wasn't the only source of experience in this world.

Explorers, also known as Blessed Ones, could gain experience from various activities. Even training, though minimal, contributed to growth.

Over the past month, I had been extremely dedicated.

Training after training.

Yet, I hadn't leveled up.

That was the answer.

I couldn't level up.

"Hmm?"

My arm itched.

An itch beneath the skin.

Was this… the Skill Tree?

The itch intensified, becoming unbearable.

I had to release the Skill Tree, letting a blood-red tree grow from my right arm.

The Skill Tree spread out to its usual size.

Remarkably, a small new branch sprouted from it.

No doubt about it, I saw it with my own eyes. It was growing, wasn't it?

"I thought it seemed a bit bigger… Wait, if I gained experience and it grew, then…"

Wait, am I getting screwed here?

Skill Tree, where did you put my experience points?

"You… you ate my experience points…! Wait! Have you been doing this for the past month?"

I was certain I had uncovered the truth.

The Skill Tree had been growing by absorbing my experience points.

For the past month, while I struggled, it had been growing comfortably, and once it was big enough, it broke through my arm to emerge.

What a troublesome tenant!

I was so angry I almost snapped the trunk, but I reconsidered.

The Skill Tree might not have done it out of malice.

Besides, it was my best friend now.

Thanks to it, I could continue my high school life without falling into despair, holding onto hope for tomorrow. My current attitude was selfish.

"I'm sorry, Skill Tree. I lost my temper. You've been supporting me all this time."

It might have been a baseless assumption that the Skill Tree was stealing my experience points.

What a petty person I was.

Unable to accept my lack of talent, I clung to the hope that I might still be a genius, an exceptional individual. And now, I was blaming the Skill Tree, which had given me room to grow.

That was unacceptable. I mustn't become more pathetic.

I wasn't a genius. I had to face reality.

"I'm sorry, and thank you," I muttered like a lovesick fool, gently stroking the Skill Tree.

The branches swayed gently, as if saying, "It's all good, partner. Let's keep going."

I left the simulated dungeon.

I still had the point mission for today.

Despite my doubts, I decided to go for the Outer Loop today.

Since it was a holiday, I planned to run slowly, taking care of my body.

That night, exhausted, I completed the point mission.

---

**Today's Point Mission**

Keep at it every day!

**Outer Loop**

Complete 10/10 laps around the Hero High School grounds.

**Reward**

2 Skill Points acquired!

**Consecutive Days**: 10

**Diligence Rank**: Silver

**Point Multiplier**: 2.0

---

Wait, something just happened!

Today's reward was 2 Skill Points!

I had been curious, but so that's how this system works!

As the consecutive days accumulate, the Diligence Rank increases, boosting the point multiplier!

I completely understood it now. What an excellent system.

I reached Silver Diligence Rank.

So, I was a Silver member from today?

Two points every day from now on?


next chapter

Kapitel 8: Black Cat

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

**[Status]**

 Makoto Akaya

 Level: 0

 Health: 100 / 100

 Magic: 10 / 10

 Defense: 0

 Strength: 10,000

 Skill: 0

 Intelligence: 0

 Resistance: 0

 Agility: 0

 Mystery: 0

 Spirit: 0

**[Skill]**

 "Basic Endurance"

 "Advanced Strength"

**[Equipment]**

 "Skill Tree"

━━━━━━『Skill Tree』━━━━━━━

**[Skill Tree]**

 Tree Level: 0

 Skill Points: 2

 Point Mission: Completed

**[Skill Menu]**

 "Basic Endurance"

  Acquirable Times: 4

 "Basic Magic"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Defense"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Advanced Strength"

  Acquirable Times: 4

 "Basic Skill"

Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Intelligence"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Resistance"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Agility"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Mystery"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Spirit"

  Acquirable Times: 5

**[Completed Skill]**

 "Applied Strength"

  Acquirable Times: 0

 "Basic Strength"

  Acquirable Times: 0

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

So, now that I had become a Silver member and the points doubling campaign had started, what should I do? I had 2 skill points…

As a student of the Hardcore Muscle School, I had a strong desire to put points into Strength. 

However, I was already unable to control my current strength and was being overwhelmed by it, so adding more points to "Advanced Strength" didn't seem wise.

On the other hand, I wasn't one of the chosen ones. I was just an ordinary person with a weird tree growing from my arm. If I became a jack-of-all-trades, I wouldn't achieve anything. It was precisely because I lacked talent that I needed to specialize.

So, with pride in my mediocrity, I decided to unlock "Advanced Strength". After all, thinking was a hassle. Strike while the iron is hot—when in doubt, choose power.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

**[Status]**

 Makoto Akaya

 Level: 0

 Health: 100 / 100

 Magic: 10 / 10

 Defense: 0

 Strength: 30,000

 Skill: 0

 Intelligence: 0

 Resistance: 0

 Agility: 0

 Mystery: 0

 Spirit: 0

**[Skill]**

 "Basic Endurance"

 "Advanced Strength" ×3

**[Equipment]**

 "Skill Tree"

━━━━━━『Skill Tree』━━━━━━━

**[Skill Tree]**

 Tree Level: 0

 Skill Points: 0

 Point Mission: Completed

**[Skill Menu]**

 "Basic Endurance"

  Acquirable Times: 4

 "Basic Magic"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Defense"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Advanced Strength"

  Acquirable Times: 2

 "Basic Skill"

Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Intelligence"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Resistance"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Agility"

Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Mystery"

Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Spirit"

Acquirable Times: 5

**[Completed Skill]**

 "Applied Strength"

  Acquirable Times: 0

 "Basic Strength"

  Acquirable Times: 0

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Strength 30,000…! I was on a different level from 10 days ago!

I could feel the power, an overwhelming strength surging within me!

Crack, crack.

"Ow, ow, ow!"

I heard a sound I shouldn't have heard from inside my body.

It hurt immensely, and the sensation filled me with terror. My flesh and bones seemed to move as if they had a will of their own, connecting, detaching, and seeking a new form.

Is this what it feels like to become a monstrous creature created by a mad scientist? I couldn't afford to be thinking leisurely thoughts like that. Terrified of losing my sense of self, I rolled around on the floor in agony.

"I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I won't put any more points into Strength, ahhhh!"

Was it a sin to mock the theory of evolution?

Eventually, the pain subsided.

"Haah, haah, it's over… why? Am I forgiven?"

No, that wasn't it. I understood now.

I had learned in class about the phenomenon where the human body restructures itself, changing its muscle composition due to level-ups. The pain I just experienced must be evidence of my biological evolution.

This meant that I had reached a level where I could exhibit outputs beyond the biological limits of a normal human.

I regained my composure and, trembling at the thought of the carnival beneath my skin starting again, wiped the sweat off my brow.

I placed my hand on the sink. The sink cracked and crumbled.

"What…?"

Just by touching it. Was this also power?

Had I become a living experimental biological weapon that destroys everything it touches?

"Meow."

"Huh? A cat's meow?"

I looked around to find the source of the voice and discovered a cat gracefully washing its face in the bathroom. 

It was a black cat. A typical black cat, but for some reason, it looked familiar.

"Meow (Translation: Good evening, Akaya-kun)."

"It spoke…!"

"Meow meow (Translation: A talking cat isn't that unusual these days)."

"Isn't it unusual both now and in the past…?"

"Meow (Translation: I don't think so)."

What an arrogant cat. But it's cute.

"Can I pet you?"

"Meow (Translation: Don't. In your current state, you can't control your strength. If you pet such a cute cat with your monstrous strength, you'll just end up with a lump of meat)."

"I forgot… what have I become?"

"Meow (Translation: As long as you understand)."

The black cat continued washing its face.

Its impressive whiskers flicked under its paws.

"Meow meow (Translation: Thank you for saving me the other day. I didn't get a chance to say thank you)."

"The other day? What are you talking about? Wait, could it be… the day of the entrance ceremony…?"

"Meow (Translation: That's right, Akaya-kun)."

What's with the "That's right"? You're a cat. But it's so cute.

"Back then, it was because of you cats that I ended up in such an embarrassing situation. I witnessed Shihahime's scoop and got threatened because of it. Ever since then, she's been targeting me."

"Meow (Translation: That was unfortunate. But your actions were commendable)."

"What are you, anyway? How did you get into my room? I closed the window."

"Meow (Translation: That's a trivial matter. By the way, Akaya-kun, it seems you're struggling with your current inconvenient situation)."

The cat glanced behind me. There was the broken, shattered sink.

"Meow (Translation: I've been watching over you for the past month, Akaya-kun. I'm glad to see the Skill Tree has successfully sprouted)."

"What did you just say? Sprouted…? Do you know about the Skill Tree?"

I had considered many possibilities, like a strange disease, a curse, or a bloodline, but I never expected a cat to bring me the answer.

"Meow (Translation: My memory is hazy. I don't remember much about the Skill Tree either. All I remember is that I used to call myself the Tree Cat)."

"Hazy memory… why?"

"Meow meow (Translation: I don't know either. But it doesn't matter now. The important thing is that I accidentally planted the Skill Tree in your right arm when you saved me)."

So even the Skill Tree wasn't my talent.

It was just a result of accidentally helping a talking monster cat.

"Meow (Translation: I don't know why the Skill Tree sprouted in you, who are just an ordinary person, but…)."

The cat muttered softly.

That's what I wanted to know.

Oh well, I guess there's no need to know anymore.

"You appeared to take back the Skill Tree you accidentally planted in my arm, right? …I don't mind."

I gently grabbed the base of the Skill Tree.

The cat's eyes widened.

"Meow (Translation: Are you sure? Without it, you'll revert to being a worthless, indebted, talentless high school student)."

"That's too harsh. I may be in debt, but… there are principles in this world. No matter how much I despise my scumbag father, I owe him for raising me, and if I accidentally got someone else's important thing, I should return it if the original owner wants

 it back. Of course, losing this would darken my future, but…"

A Skill Tree. Even an ignorant person like me could tell.

It was special, important, and valuable.

It might be an anomaly, an abnormal substance we learned about in class.

"Meow (Translation: You don't need to return it. You're a straightforward guy, Akaya-kun. I like you. Besides, I owe you for saving my life. As a token of a cat's gratitude, I'll let you keep the Skill Tree)."

"Are you sure? And I didn't save your life. That car stopped in front of the school gate. You wouldn't have been hit even if I didn't help."

"Meow (Translation: Don't sweat the details. I'm grateful. I'll take it as a gift. Also, take this)."

The cat pulled out something strange from nowhere.

It looked like a walnut. Reddish-black and dried up.

It pulsated like a heart, thumping.

It felt warm to the touch. Creepy. What is this?

"Um, cat…"

"Meow (Translation: Call me Tree Cat. That's my name)."

"Hey, Tree Cat, what am I supposed to do with this creepy thing?"

"Meow (Translation: Eat it)."

"Impossible."

"Meow (Translation: That's the 'Withered Blood Seed, Adam's Seed.' It's the same thing I accidentally planted in your body)."

"So this creepy walnut is the Skill Tree?"

"Meow (Translation: That's right. And if the person hosting the Skill Tree eats the 'Withered Blood Seed, Adam's Seed'…)"

The cat paused and stared at me.

Telling me to eat it out of nowhere is too much.

"Meow (Translation: The Skill Tree will guide you on what to do)."

I had always been a loser.

This was a strange chance.

A reward for accidentally helping a monster cat. A rare opportunity.

If it offered me the only talent I had, there was no reason to refuse.

Resolute, I swallowed the creepy walnut.

Immediately, excruciating pain shot through my right arm, and the Skill Tree burst out.

"Gyaaaaah! It hurts!"

The size had visibly increased, and the branches grew magnificently.

The wound was larger than before. It felt like my wound was being slowly widened by a vise, a torment that was hard to endure.

But I was growing stronger.

The Skill Tree had made a significant evolution.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

**[Status]**

 Makoto Akaya

 Level: 0

 Health: 1 / 100

 Magic: 10 / 10

 Defense: 0

 Strength: 30,000

 Skill: 0

 Intelligence: 0

 Resistance: 0

 Agility: 0

 Mystery: 0

 Spirit: 0

**[Skill]**

 "Basic Endurance"

 "Advanced Strength" ×3

**[Equipment]**

 "Skill Tree"

━━━━━━『Skill Tree』━━━━━━━

**[Skill Tree]**

 Tree Level: 1

 Skill Points: 0

 Point Mission: Completed

**[Skill Menu]**

 "Basic Endurance"

  Acquirable Times: 4

 "Basic Magic"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Defense"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Advanced Strength"

  Acquirable Times: 2

 "Basic Skill"

Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Intelligence"

  Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Resistance"

Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Agility"

Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Mystery"

Acquirable Times: 5

 "Basic Spirit"

Acquirable Times: 5

 "Harden" NEW!

  Acquirable Times: 1

**[Completed Skill]**

 "Applied Strength"

  Acquirable Times: 0

 "Basic Strength"

  Acquirable Times: 0

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"Meow (Translation: Congratulations. You've successfully leveled up the Skill Tree)."

The black cat was happily meowing.

I couldn't respond.

I had lost too much blood. A wave of exhaustion swept over me.

My consciousness rapidly sank into darkness.


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