Chapter 10: Solo Dungeon Trip

After returning to his room, Akira flopped onto his bed, limbs splayed out like a discarded puppet. "Haaah... adventuring is seriously exhausting..." He turned his head lazily to the side, eyes narrowing with weariness. But even as fatigue weighed on him, a hint of excitement sparkled in his heart. "...Let's take a look at the skills unlocked after leveling up." His [Skill Bar] opened with a thought, two new entries glowing softly: Grappling Palm and Magic Shot. "Huh. So these are the new skills... They don't look too powerful, but maybe they have potential." He murmured thoughtfully, fingers tapping his chest. "When Grappling Palm is used on an opponent, it releases a shockwave... If that's the case, could I trigger the same effect by hitting something with my spear? As for Magic Shot... Let's see if I can modify it into some kind of elemental burst tomorrow." With plans forming in his mind for tomorrow's solo dive into the dungeon, Akira's thoughts gradually melted away into dreams, his breathing evening out as sleep claimed him. The Next Morning A faint orange glow seeped through the curtains. Akira blinked his eyes open. His stomach growled violently before he could even move. "...Ugh, I'm starving. Why am I this hungry?" He sat up slowly, holding his belly in confusion. "Could it be... my body's burning more energy because of all the growth yesterday?" His theory made sense, at least to him. Groaning, he dragged himself out of bed, washed up, and followed the tantalizing scent wafting through the halls. With every step closer to the kitchen, the aroma of sizzling meat and spices became stronger, like invisible fingers beckoning him forward. His stomach roared again in protest. "Who's up this early making breakfast...?" He peeked into the kitchen—and immediately froze in surprise. The one humming cheerfully over the stove, wearing an apron and bathed in the morning light... was none other than the goddess Astraea herself. "G-Good morning! Astraea-sama, are you making breakfast today? I'm starving!" Akira approached quickly, eyes flicking to the spread being prepared. Astraea turned with a serene smile, brushing a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear. "Good morning, Akira. Did you sleep well?" "I did! Though I kinda woke up early because my stomach wouldn't stop growling, haha..." The goddess chuckled, pleased. "I figured you might be hungry, so I started cooking early. It's part of my divine intuition, you know." Despite being a goddess, Astraea looked as graceful and down-to-earth as any housewife—no, more like an ideal motherly figure. Yet Akira knew her strength rivaled that of elite adventurers. It was... a strange contrast. "Although I am a goddess, I can't help you much in your battles. The only things I can offer you are warm meals and a place to come home to. So, tell me—what dishes do you enjoy most, Akira?" "I like anything you make," Akira answered instinctively, then smiled. "But if you could make sausage and egg custard... that would be amazing." "Haha, that's easy! I'll make some next time. Just let me know if you crave anything else." When breakfast was finally served, the table was filled with milk, freshly baked bread, thick slabs of juicy steak, steaming rice porridge, crisp vegetables, and sliced fruits. It was a feast. As the goddess set the plate before him, Akira's stomach growled again, louder this time. Astraea giggled, propping her chin up on her hands as she sat across from him, watching with soft, affectionate eyes. "Come now. Eat up. I want to know if it tastes good." Where... where did this divine motherly figure come from?! Akira panicked internally. I'm seriously going to fall for you if you keep this up! Thankfully, gods couldn't read minds—only detect lies. Suppressing his chaotic thoughts, Akira devoured the food with gusto. Between bites, he glanced around. "Don't the others eat with you?" "Everyone wakes at their own pace. There's no major mission today, so I let them sleep in." "Got it." "Oh, and by the way, Alise bought you a new weapon. A little welcome gift. Let me go fetch it for you and replace the broken one." "I'll come with you." Akira wiped his mouth, then stood to follow her. Astraea led him to the storage area, where a newly forged spear lay on a cloth, gleaming faintly. Beside it was a short knife and a few vials of elixirs. "This spear was crafted from materials dropped by monsters. Alise picked it out with care. And these—" Astraea gestured to the potions and said, "—use them if you're ever injured. Don't think it's wasteful. Even with your [Immortality] skill as a safety net, you never know what awaits in the dungeon." Akira looked at the gifts, heart swelling. Each item was imbued with the care of his goddess and comrades. He said, "...Understood. I'll be careful when exploring the dungeon. Someday, maybe I will become a hero—but for now, I'm still weak. I know that, Astraea-sama." Astraea's expression softened even more. "Good. Then take this as well." She held out a neatly wrapped lunch box amd said, "You probably won't be back by noon, right? But remember—you must come back before dinner. We'll all be waiting to eat with you." She stepped closer, adjusting his collar and brushing imaginary dust off his shirt. "Is this... really my home?" Akira asked quietly. "Isn't it obvious?" Astraea smiled. He exhaled slowly, walking with her to the front door. "Then I'm off." Akira turned, grinned, and waved. "I'll be back before dinner, Astraea-sama!" Astraea stood at the doorway, waving him off. — — — Dungeon – First Floor Arriving at the familiar stone corridors, Akira's body tingled with a subtle charge. His recent status update had undeniably enhanced his physical capabilities. Now it was time to test it. "Let's see just how much I've grown..." At this stage, floors 1 through 6 were his playground. But he needed to start pushing the boundary—testing the waters on the 7th floor to assess the risk. Though floors 1 to 12 were technically categorized as "upper floors" suitable for LV 1 adventurers, the truth was more nuanced. Strength varied wildly even among adventurers of the same level. And on the 12th floor, even seasoned LV 2s could fall prey to Silverbacks or the rare Infant Dragon. Below that, floors 13 to 24—the middle floors—became nightmare zones. A single misstep meant death for any LV 1. Those depths weren't just about stronger monsters—they introduced terrain hazards, magical traps, and monsters with ranged magical abilities. It was an entirely different world. But for now... A soft rustle echoed down the tunnel. Six goblins emerged from the walls, snarling. "Well, I guess this counts as a warm welcome..." Akira muttered, adjusting his grip on the new spear. "But you guys aren't the main course today. I'll make this quick." He stepped forward, energy thrumming beneath his skin. Time to test his new skills. He spun the spear, channeling a ripple of magic into the shaft. A sharp sound cracked through the air as wind coiled tightly around the spear's head. With a sudden thrust, he cut through three goblins in one blow. Clean, swift, deadly. Not bad. Now for something else. He threw the spear upward and struck it midair with his palm—invoking Trap Strike. Pah! The spear blasted forward, stabbing straight through a goblin's chest but... no shockwave. "...Huh. That's weird." No time to dwell. He flicked his wrist, summoning glowing orbs—Rapid Fire. A barrage of light streaked through the air, pummeling the final goblins. One by one, they fell. Akira exhaled deeply, lowering his hand. "Alright... that's a good start."