Kapitel 3: The mind warrior abuse monsters.

Entering the Guild Building, I was greeted by a silver-haired elf named Sophie. She had refused to be Bell's advisor, citing his lack of experience or seriousness during their introduction.

"Welcome. Have you come to sign up or post a quest?" she asked in a neutral tone, appraising me with her eyes lingering on my hair and slightly pointed ears.

"I came to sign up and check out the new dungeon guides," I replied.

"Alright, come with me."

We proceeded into the hallway with private rooms, and as we were halfway to an open room, a Werewolf woman with red hair and golden eyes opened a nearby door, interrupting us.

"Wait, Sophie," she said, watching me as her nose twitched. After a moment, she continued, "Boy, are you a member of the Hephaestus family?"

"Yes, I just entered as a blacksmith. Why?" I replied with curiosity.

"Alright, Sophie, I'll take care of... your name?" she asked, inquiring about my name. I replied, "Sinn, Sinn's Krieger, and you?"

"I'm Rose, the advisor responsible for Tsubaki and the tasks she brings," she said, clarifying my doubts. She probably smelled the forge, Hephaestus, and Tsubaki on me. "So Sinn, how about I be your advisor too?"

"If Miss Sophie is alright," I responded. Sophie replied, "No problems. If you'll excuse me," elegantly retreating to the guild's reception.

After losing sight of Sophie through the door, Rose invited me in with a "Come in." I entered the private room, and we sat on either side of a desk where she quickly pulled out a guild form and handed it to me with a pen, indicating me to respond.

Adventurer: Sinns-Krieger

Characteristics

Race: Half Prum (1/8 Elf, 3/8 Human, 2/4 Pallum)

Gender: Male

Age: 14

Hair Color: Matte green

Eye Color: Purple

Height: 147 cm

Professional Status

Affiliation: Hephaestus Family

Occupation: Blacksmith

Level: 1

Floor reached: 0

After completing the form, she took it back and read it carefully, pausing to ask if I had any questions about the guild or the dungeon, or if I wanted to know about the quests available.

"I'd like to hear about how the quest system works and if you can give me any more specific tips about the dungeon than just being careful when killing monsters, Miss Rose," I expressed. She replied, "Quests have three types: contract, search in the dungeon, and clearing monsters on the surface. The contract involves orders between adventurers and is secured by the guild. Search quests offer rewards for items that can be brought from the dungeon, and the last type involves clearing monsters on the surface. The guild charges a fee for posting quests, not necessarily based on the reward's price. For example, monster items for a blacksmith and dungeon ingredients for an alchemist."

She continued, "The guild formulates the quest system so that fees are charged according to the nature of the quest. Now, do you have any other questions?"

"I'd like to know more about the dungeon environment and any specific tips you might have," I asked.

Rose then provided a ten-minute lesson on practical tips for the dungeon, such as not screaming to avoid attracting monsters and keeping an eye on the surroundings. After thanking her, I left the guild, having analyzed some guidebooks and a psychometric map. Unfortunately, like most copied items, the map only contained information about what was written, saving reading time but lacking additional insights.

As I "read," I observed Eina and her friend Misha dealing with adventurers—Eina in a serious, teachable manner and Misha in a playful way.

When leaving the guild, I was offered standard equipment, which I declined, opting for a common but stronger mind potion instead. It only cost 3,000 varis due to novice discounts, and I received a few glances due to having useful magic as a novice. I left before anyone could invite me to a party.

Soon after, I returned to the Hephaestus Familia store, where Ria congratulated me for joining the family. She mentioned that Tsubaki was waiting for me in her forge and teased me as if I were heading into battle.

Entering the forge, I saw Tsubaki polishing a sword sheath, along with three different swords and a katana stuck in a makeshift backpack. She smiled playfully as she put a familiar sword in the sheath, Veteran's Advice I, and exclaimed, "Yosh Sinn, let's go to the dungeon!"

"You weren't going to teach me?" I spoke in a doubtful tone.

"Little Sinn, have you never heard that the best way to learn is by doing?" she replied playfully, so I could only agree.

Shortly after, we found ourselves in the dungeon.

"So Taichou, you just wanted to test your new weapons soon?" I asked, knowing the answer.

"Why not? We kill monsters, gain Excellia for your level-up, and I'll protect you. Besides, don't you want to test the sword you made in real combat?"

"I do, Taichou, but wouldn't you have to test your weapons on deeper floors? How would I follow you?" I inquired.

She replied mysteriously, "No problem, I have a plan." I couldn't help but think, 'That and a lot of trust in something unreliable, right?'

Descending to the first level of the dungeon, we encountered the first monster since I came to this world—a goblin.

"I was rooting for a dog-head kobold, but I got to see the ugliest version of the goblin possible," I said as Tsubaki pushed me toward the monster.

"Right, for being so ugly, I'll save you from being cursed even more," I said as I pulled out the sword, nearly the size of my body but only weighing five pounds despite being made from Damascus of Sharm, the siderurgic country.

I went into a combat stance as the goblin ran towards me, making goblin noises. I cut by burying the sword point in his right shoulder and slashing his torso diagonally to his left leg. The goblin exploded into ash, dropping a broken crystal and a goblin fang.

"Just as I expected," I said, acting as if it were easy. In fact, I used the experience of the mistakes committed by greatsword wielders I received from using psychometry on weapons and equipment of less experienced adventurers using large blades against goblins, learning from their mistakes and taking advantage of the size difference between the goblin and me.

"So, what did you think of your first kill in the dungeon?" Tsubaki asked.

"Harder than expected. I thought it would have a less taxing response against a weak monster. I see this as a problem against a large group," I replied.

"Hoh, so you know a lot. I thought I would have to throw you in the middle of a group and let you take a beating, and run out of energy. So, you're after a skill, aren't you?"

"Yes, Punisher (Increases the user's strength with every consecutive hit on the opponent) or Hunter (After ranking up, the only choosable skill that boosts damage against monsters you gained Excellia before). Seems helpful. I want to see if

I can get something on fatigue resistance or sleep as well."

"Do you have any tips?" I asked.

"About fatigue, maybe just fighting non-stop for a few days. At least I know forging non-stop or sleeping for two days didn't give me that," Tsubaki replied thoughtfully.

"Sigh. Anyway, you'd better focus on gaining Excellia and increasing your stats, Sinn. In the future, you'll get the skills if you don't stop trying. Plus, trying to exhaust yourself now will only harm your body," she replied seriously.

"Yes, ma'am."

Continuing, I killed ten goblins and analyzed their magic stones, uncovering their short thoughts of fighting desperately with life and death hate. I finally tested my magic on a goblin with limbs broken by my sheathed sword.

"Weakness of choked nerves, stagnant blood, and Paralysis, Bestow Curse!" I cast the spell, focusing it on my left hand with no visible sign other than feeling the spell circling and my mind slowing down by a little more than 5%. I waited ten seconds, the spell now decreasing by twenty. 'I must try to keep two sentences if that's not necessary anymore,' I thought as I walked, trying to move as quickly as possible around the goblin that was trying to get up, looking for the conditions for the concurrent chants skill and mage.

Touching the head of the goblin who was trying to get up, I watched as the goblin fell to the ground. An aura explosion with dark and faded colors of gray and orange-purple, like a rising flame, appeared before vanishing. It showed only the drowning goblin slowly dying after a minute to a stroke.

Lamenting the fact that even though it was an alternate curse, I still suffered side effects, I ripped the stone from the goblin's chest. I turned it with a respectful kick while Tsubaki said something about monsters being cursed ironically and cruelly.

"Well, I found out the side effects of using the curse," I said, interrupting her.

"Hmm, so what is it?" she spoke eagerly.