Chapter 90 

“Now then, I’ll begin by explaining the artificial dungeon known as ‘Lindblum’s Lair.'”

And with that, Bhaskar began his explanation.

Wait a minute—this artificial dungeon actually had a name!?
Lindblum’s Lair… It sounds pretty intense.

“First of all, Lindblum’s Lair has fixed floors, and the internal structure doesn’t change much. While the order of the floors may occasionally shift, the basic layout remains the same.”

Summarizing Baskar’s explanation:

• The dungeon consists of 50 floors, including the final floor.
• Monsters may or may not spawn on each floor.
• A staircase to the next floor appears randomly on each floor, but its location changes daily.
• Each floor is approximately the same size as the lower district of Lindwurm.
• All combat actions within the dungeon are recorded, so false reports are pointless.
• Consequently, pointing weapons at other people is strictly forbidden—violators are easily detected.
• Every 5th floor is a large, single-room area, similar to the current training room floor.
• If you’re unlucky, you may encounter a powerful creature, in which case a barrier will prevent you from proceeding to the next floor.

In such cases, the party must defeat the monster together to proceed.

Once you reach the bottom floor:

• You will face a monster infused with strong earth vein energy.
• Within that monster, a miniature artificial dungeon core will be generated.
• The goal is to retrieve this core.
• Each core is bought for 20 large gold coins—no negotiation allowed.

Other important rules:

• Items similar to those previously lost inside the dungeon may reappear.
• Ownership goes to the finder, so if you want something back, you’ll need to negotiate.
• The Explorer’s Guild will buy dungeon items, but personal resale is also permitted.
• All accidents within the dungeon are the explorer’s responsibility—the guild and the country take no responsibility.
• Deliberate harm to others will be discovered by the guild and punished accordingly.
• If you die, again, no responsibility is taken.

If you wish to exit the dungeon mid-run, a teleportation crest appears every 5 floors.

• However, if a strong enemy is currently present, it will take time before the crest becomes usable—you’ll need to endure.

Honestly, that was a long list of detailed rules.

Wait… isn’t there a guidebook or something for this?

“By the way, everything I just explained is also written in the guidebook sold at the Guild reception. If you’re worried, I recommend buying one.”

I knew it!

“Now, we’ll conclude with a practical test. On this training floor, we can summon low-tier monsters from the dungeon. Each of you will defeat one monster, solo. Be warned: some monsters here don’t appear above ground and may have unusual traits. Don’t be careless—if you feel you can’t handle it, report it immediately.”

After finishing the dungeon orientation, the session shifted into practical training.

Everyone gulped nervously at Baskar’s announcement.

The participants didn’t look like seasoned adventurers. They were all young.
Which makes it even more impressive that someone as young as Baskar is part of a major clan and selected to be a training instructor.

“Alright then, would the first volunteer please step forward? Everyone else, observe from a safe distance.”

Bhaskar moved over to a nearby crest and held his hand above it.

“Now then, who’s going first?”

“Oh, then—”

“Melt, wait. Let’s go last.”

“Huh? Hmm… okay, fine.”

Honestly, Melt is the strongest one here by far.

If someone like her goes first and easily wins, the others might get the wrong idea and think it’s too easy—which could lead to accidents.

As we waited, one person finally stepped forward, seemingly with resolve.

They wore a school robe, hood pulled low, so their face was hidden. But for a moment—it felt like they glanced over here. Or… were they looking at Melt?

“Please begin.”

Judging by her voice and build, she seemed to be a girl.

As she gave the signal, the crest lit up—and a monster appeared.

Whoa… this is amazing. I’m honestly kind of impressed.

What emerged was a monster about the size of a grown golden retriever, but its form was a formless mass, impossible to tell where its legs or head were.

It was a translucent, greenish blob—like murky water from an old pond.

Clearly, this was a slime.

“What is that…? I’ve never seen anything like it… it’s clear and squishy and not even cute…”

“Yeah, not cute, but kinda has some charm? Look how it’s wobbling.”

“Ew, it looks like the gross water in a neglected reservoir…”

Okay, I agree with that.

“Please defeat this monster. It’s called a Green Gel, and it’s the weakest monster in Lindblum’s Lair. One tip: that dark green sphere inside its body is its weak point.”

“Yes!”

The girl pulled out a staff and aimed it at the slime.

She murmured something softly, then fired a small fireball from the tip.

But… it wasn’t very powerful. With a faint hiss, it struck the slime’s surface and dissipated.

So it didn’t penetrate… I guess weak spells like that don’t deal much damage.

“Ugh…! That would’ve scared off a wild dog…”

“Please be careful. Its range is short, but it can stretch its body like tentacles!”

“Understood!”

The schoolgirl still didn’t give up. She continued to launch small bursts of flame.

However, this time she didn’t fire just once—she began firing rapidly like a machine gun.

Amid countless sizzling sounds, the surface of the Green Gel began to evaporate slightly. It was clear that her attacks were getting closer to the core.

But in the next moment, the girl closed in while still firing flames and plunged her staff deep into the now-thin surface, aiming to shatter the core inside.

Surprisingly, the core swiftly moved within the gel’s body, and the strike missed.

As a result, more than half of the girl’s body was engulfed by the gel—

“That’s enough.”

At that moment, Bhasker declared, throwing a net at the gel. With a powerful tug, the net passed through its body and caught the core, pulling it out.

Bhasker immediately stomped and crushed the core. The gel, which had been writhing just seconds ago, went completely still like a puppet with its strings cut. It then collapsed and spread across the floor as nothing more than a liquid.

“You were close. The gel’s core can move swiftly within its body. If you’d kept casting magic a little longer without rushing, you could’ve limited its movement and cut off its escape routes. Slimes are naturally weak against fire magic, but that doesn’t mean it’s always highly effective.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

“But it’s a monster that can be handled with even simple tools like you just saw, so with proper preparation, it’s not too difficult to defeat. Don’t be too discouraged.”

Thus, the first challenger’s turn ended.

Many others attempted with their own weapons afterward, but more struggled than expected.

Visually, it looked like a low-level monster, so people underestimated it. However, its resistance to slashing and fire magic, combined with a hard-to-target core, made it a troublesome foe.

Still, someone eventually took off their jacket, used it like a net to snare the core, and forcefully defeated it.

Seeing that, Bhasker beamed and said,

“Exactly! Explorers don’t get picky about methods. They use whatever tools they have to survive the dungeon!”

Then—

“Okay, it’s my turn next!”

Finally, Melt’s turn arrived.

As Bhasker activated the crest, another Green Gel appeared.

The same green jelly. Now, how would Melt handle it—

“Hyaaah!”

In the blink of an eye, Melt appeared behind the gel.

Wait… did she just slash through it as she passed?

The gel’s body slowly split in two, sliding apart horizontally.

Even the core, which should have been moving inside, was cut cleanly.

“How’s that!”

“Haha… Looks like Melt didn’t even need combat training after all.”

“I cut it faster than the core could move!”

If only it were that easy…

The other participants stared in awe at Melt’s method.

Hmm… I probably can’t pull that off right now.

I definitely don’t have that level of sword speed yet.

“Alright, last challenger. Ah… is that person lying down over there okay?”

“If they wake up, they can take their turn. If they don’t, we’ll take them outside.”

“Yes, it’s dangerous to make someone fight when they’re not at their best.”

…Well, I’m the one who knocked them out, but…

Does that count as self-defense? I mean, the system here tracks what attacks what, right?

Crap…

“Uh, excuse me, Bhasker-san. Does this place log what we attack or use during combat? I was thinking of trying out a few things for strategy’s sake…”

Lied to probe for info!

“Oh, no worries. This place is part of a special training section of the dungeon and isn’t recorded. What were you planning?”

“Ahaha, I was thinking of intimidating someone into fighting for me… just joking!”

“Even if we don’t choose our methods, there are still limits…”

Laughter erupted around us. My bad.

“Hmm… So slashes or narrow attacks aren’t very effective, huh…”

An idea came to me. I’ll try it.

Ever since I got this form, it’s been nothing but weird stuff like this…

I walked up to the gel and launched a high kick faster than its tentacles could reach out.

Unlike a sword, a kick has a wider area of contact. The strike didn’t slash—it exploded on contact, violently shaking the gel and blasting part of it off.

I immediately lunged for the slowed, exposed core with my sword.

With a solid crack, I felt the blade connect—and the core shattered.

Moments later, the gel liquefied.

“Alright, clear. I figured blunt strikes could interrupt it. I’m pretty confident in my kicks.”

“I see! That’s also a correct approach. Gels are weak to physical impacts and strong shocks. Good observation.”

That’s actually a pretty standard trait in games, so I just tested it.

With the gel defeated, today’s training session came to a close.

The collapsed boy, it seemed, would be taken home by Bhasker.

“Now, please return through that crest. If other people are returning from deeper floors, it may take a moment to activate, so stay still inside the crest.”

Good. Looks like there’s no risk of teleportation accidents here.

Thus, the first day’s training ended peacefully, and the participants began returning home one by one.

“Then it’s my turn next.”

“Melt, when you return, you don’t have to wait for me. Just go straight home.”

“Huh? Wait, what? Why?”

“I’ve got something to talk about with Bhasker-san.”

I just had an idea.

I approach Bhasker, who had returned carrying that noble on his back, and ask him a question.

“Excuse me, is this floor no longer being used today?”

“Yes, that’s right. There are no more seminars scheduled for today.”

“Then, that emblem which summons the gels—can I use it too?”

“Yes, you can. It does use up a bit of mana, though.”

“I see, I see… In that case, would it be alright if I stayed here a bit longer and kept fighting gels?”

“Hmm… Are you trying to level up and strengthen your Growth Vessel? Gels aren’t particularly strong monsters, so grinding them isn’t very efficient, you know. They don’t drop any rare items either.”

“Ah, well, it’s partly for testing purposes. Would you allow it?”

“Hmm… Well, it’s not forbidden. Just be careful not to exhaust your mana, alright?”

Alright! I got permission!

Now I can try what I wanted to do…!

Sorry, Melt, but this is important!

“Bhasker, if Melt is still around when you return, could you tell her that I’ll be doing some extra practice and she should head back without me?”

“Oh, that’s right, you two were acting together. Got it—I’ll pass the message along.”

With that, Bhasker disappears into the emblem, carrying the noble on his back.

Now I’m the only one left in this huge, empty floor.

“Okay, okay, let’s see… I’m at the starting level, and right in front of me is a magic emblem that spawns enemies infinitely. I’ve got plenty of ways to recover mana, and my stamina doesn’t drop at all.”

My current sword has the effect: “EXP gained +20%.”

So now I’ll swap out all the gear I’ve been hiding—gear that looks like ordinary clothes but isn’t.

• Azuki-colored Three-Line Track Jacket (Top)
• Azuki-colored Three-Line Track Pants (Bottom)
• Super Speed Shoes – ‘Pull Ahead Even on Straightaways’

These are too flashy to wear outside, but I’ll equip the tracksuit and shoes here.

Well, the shoes could technically be worn anytime.

I’m glad I still had these unused farming gears on me.

As you might’ve guessed, all of them have “EXP Gain Increase” effects.

And since they’re joke items, their effects are even stronger than the sword.

Each of them boosts EXP Gain by +50%.

Since the effects stack additively, that’s a total of +170% EXP Gain.

And now, for the final touch—

“Right… I only acquired the ‘Thief’s Knowledge’—I’m not actually a thief job class.”

The passive effect of the thief job, which Same had, increases accessory slots by 2.

Unfortunately, I can only benefit from one accessory’s effect, even if I equip more.

I checked in the status screen, so that’s for sure. But it’s still enough.

And now I equip the final piece—an accessory:

“Headband of Grit”

• Grants natural MP recovery if EXP gain is over +150%
• Additionally, while the wearer is alive, EXP gain increases by 1% multiplicatively every 10 minutes
• This bonus resets upon death

Yep, that’s the one.

It increases by 1% multiplicatively every 10 minutes—not additively.

So after 10 minutes, it’s 1.01x, then 1.02x, and so on.

But honestly, during the game era, the effect wasn’t that amazing.

Because each area had a cap on the maximum EXP that could be earned from one monster.

It was still useful early game, but this kind of gear would quickly become ineffective.

Because of those limits, grinding in early dungeons quickly lost its benefit.

But this world is different, isn’t it? There’s no EXP cap per monster or per area, right?

If I kept grinding here for, say, 300 years, I could become the strongest being ever.

Well, I won’t go that far though.

“I’ve got plenty of food with me… maybe I’ll keep at it until my ‘Gourmet’ skill runs out twice.”

Alright then… for the next ten hours or so, let’s have some fun, shall we?

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