“The level seems to have improved everything, but it’s still not perfect. Hmm…”
With a serious face, I focused my senses back into the net of perception.
“Okay, clear.”
I confirmed there were no enemies within a 10m radius.
Only then did I think about collecting my level-up rewards and recalled my status screen.
—–
[Skeleton Soldier Il-wol – Lv.2]
Strength: 3 Agility: 2 Health: 6/7 Intelligence: 24
Magic Power: 6 Resistance: 0 Sense: 15 Recovery: 1
Traits: Calm, Protection, Thievery, 99 Lives
Skills: Slam, Stealth, Dagger Throw, Acid Spray
Equipment: Roughly Chiseled Wooden Club
Stats: 3
—–
The stats gained from leveling up increase my abilities by 3 for each stat. I can’t invest in the same ability all at once; I must choose three.
“Hmm… I can raise Resistance later. My Magic Recovery is too slow, should I raise Recovery? No… I guess leveling up will be faster for now, so no need.”
In the end, I opted for Strength, Agility, and Magic for safety.
Strength: 6(+3)
Agility: 5(+3)
Magic: 9(+3)
Zzzz-
As I raised my stats, a tingling lightning sensation coursed through my veins.
“Ah – I feel alive now.”
This thrill of rising in level is always invigorating.
“This really is like a drug.”
“Ah ha, the Summoned Creature’s stats aren’t something I can raise? Is it automatically selected? Either way, thank goodness. I take way too long with decisions like this, heh heh.”
Yeon-hee’s giggle reminded me of an Earth Puppy, and she was just so cute. I could almost want to pat her head. But since I’m a monster, that’s not happening.
“Phew… I need to stay focused. Il-wol must have sensed something, right? It was that slime earlier.”
“Clap, Clap, Clap!”
“Then, if this situation arises again, make sure to hold my hand tight. I’ll make a quick getaway.”
Nod-
“Oh, my clever little Il-wol. You’re too cute to handle.”
Yeon-hee scratched my jaw and cooed, then softly exclaimed, “Let’s go!” as she set off again.
Fortunately, we soon arrived by the lakeside and found a spot to hide while scanning the surroundings.
“What do you think, Il-wol? Is there anything we should be wary of?”
Thanks to the slime incident, my trust in my senses had risen quite a bit. Imagining closing my eyes, I concentrated on the waves of perception, and finding nothing special, I shook my head slightly.
“Hmm… But touching that over there might be risky?”
Through the bushes, I spotted a group of goblins about 50 meters away by the lakeside, fussing around.
They had constructed what looked to be a small hut, and although the fire was out, the remnants were still there. There seemed to be about twenty of them.
They were no different in size from the three goblins I’d encountered before, and they had shabby gear.
But…
“I can’t confront them head-on.”
All goblins possess a trait that increases their stats the more they gather. Of course, there are limitations within a certain radius, but with twenty of them, there must be at least a 10% increase in stats.
“There’s no need to jump into the fire.”
Of course, Yeon-hee didn’t ask with the intention of facing them directly. She was probably gauging whether to hit and run.
Soon she signaled with a nod to start, cautiously circling the outskirts to look for other prey. After all, it makes sense for us to skirt a certain distance by the lakeside.
Before long, we encountered another group of goblins.
This time, five were on the move—typical of their dominant species in this dungeon, they walked about freely even in an open area.
Yeon-hee pondered for a moment, fiddling with her chin.
“Taking the initiative is crucial.”
The best move would be to strike simultaneously like last time, but I would have to risk being surrounded right after hitting.
……
“What am I even worrying about? She wouldn’t be worried about her Summon getting destroyed, right?”
After a moment, she nodded and whispered to me.
(Let’s do it like last time. We should utilize the skill we got from the slime this time as well.)
Nod-
“Right – I shouldn’t get too attached to my Summoned Creature.”
As a summoned being myself, it’s a chilling thought, but her battle style has mostly been like that.
The reckless movements and tenacity of the death-defying summons, the high-level mental strength to control countless summons, and the ridiculous amount of mana to keep resummoning them.
That’s why she was called a genius, and the advantages her team gained were beyond words.
“Should we go…?”
Swish-
Magic Power: 7/9 (-2)
Let the action begin.
We proceeded in the same order as before, but one thing was different: the goblins were moving.
“If I take out the last one, they’ll be even more confused.”
I firmly gripped the one remaining club, now merged with me and in stealth. Acid was already bubbling in my mouth like lava.
I had no idea how a skeleton could gather acid in its mouth, but in this twisted world, finding anything normal was difficult.
Gurgle gurgle-
I sprayed the acid on the face of the last goblin in line.
Splat—
– Kieeeek!
The goblin, drenched in acid and grasping its face, fell as I immediately swung at the fourth goblin’s face.
Thwack—
– Grrk?!
At the same moment, an arrow came flying, smoothly penetrating the temple of the largest goblin in the front.
The fifth one, still rolling on the ground from my acid, the fourth with its skull smashed by my club, and the first one that was killed by Yeon-hee’s arrow.
Now only two goblins were able to fight, and they were already rushing at me.
I flattened my upper body against the ground and threw sand toward them with all my might. But with only a little dust raised and no big effect, I was instantly surrounded by the two.
“Damn! With nothing but bones, I can’t even grip the sand properly!”
Thwack—
“Ugh!”
The goblins had a slight edge in agility compared to me, but just because the numbers were close didn’t mean they could move like me.
They were living beings with functioning bodies. Being non-linear in movement, I couldn’t properly fend off their attacks.
Health: 6/7(-1)
It all started with one hit chipping away 1 health. I was focused on my attacks while being pummelled by both.
Health: 4/7(-3)
Yet, even amidst it all, I kept swinging [Slam] to choke out the fourth and fifth goblins.
Thwack—!
– Krrrrk!
Whoosh phew!
– Kah-hah—!
Just then, the goblins attacking me were each taken down by an arrow as my health dropped to 2.
“It’s true that my accuracy drops after the first shot.”
The goblins, hit by arrows that barely grazed them, began to thrash about even more aggressively.
Kiaaaak—
Whoosh- Swoosh-!
As the arrows kept coming, they finally knelt down.
Health: 1(-6)
“Am I really going to die to some goblins?! Damn, if I’m going down, I’ll take at least one more with me!”
Slam! Slam! Slam!
– Goblin defeated.
– Goblin defeated…
– Helped defeat goblin…
– Level up…
Confirming the two kills and one assist as the wave of darkness crashed over me, I gritted my teeth.
Thanks to the goblins clinging to me so desperately, I eventually fell to 0 health.
Health: 0(-7)
– Skeleton Soldier Il-wol has been destroyed.
“Destroyed… They don’t even say I’ve died…”
Death was not permitted to the already dead.
And then…
– Il-wol…!!
She rushed toward me.
Her shimmering short hair seemed so bright and beautiful that it was perfect for my last view before death.
“Still, this feels much better than last time I died. Hehe…”
– Trait [99 Lives] activated…
* * *
………..
“Clap, Clap, Clap!”
Hmm— my body is moving.
Creak—
‘Is this… that damn place again?’
The place I had curled up in for an eternity.
I couldn’t see an inch ahead, but instinct told me everything. Quickly straightening up, I pushed off in one direction.
Ding!
—–
[Skeleton Soldier Il-wol – Lv.3]
Strength: 6 Agility: 5 Health: 7 Intelligence: 24
Magic Power: 9 Resistance: 0 Sense: 15 Recovery: 1
Traits: Calm, Protection, Thievery, 98 Lives
Skills: Slam, Stealth, Dagger Throw, Acid Spray
Equipment: Worn-out Wooden Club
Stats: 3
—–
“I lost a life.”
The only thought that crossed my mind was one.
“What a waste…”
The feeling of having lived a lifetime with a single life is a big enough desire that I can’t argue against it.
“I’m feeling lacking despite having 98 lives left. I shouldn’t be feeling this way so early.”
I shouldn’t hesitate even a moment in protecting her.
Clop— clop— clop—
After some time moving, a gigantic door, now a bit more familiar, welcomed me.
“Clap, Clap, Clap—”
‘Is it once again the beginning of waiting?’
Since I’d have to get used to this, I sat down and concentrated on my status screen.
“I should hold on to Strength and Agility for a while. Raising my Health might help, too.”
If my health were 3 points higher, I would have had a much better chance of survival.
Strength: 9(+3) Agility: 8(+3) Health: 10(+3)
“Finally, I’m nearing the lowest in the F-grade.”
Of course, if I were human, even such low stats with a Sense score would probably get me decent treatment in any guild.
Nodding at the significantly raised stats, I stood up and checked my body’s movements.
I threw a light jab,
Creak—
Tried a kick,
Thudd—
Attempted a snappy low tackle.
Thuddtadak—
It was still a mess, but…
“My body feels… more flexible?”
A change so minute that I would never have perceived without my Sense stats. But it was enough to boost my motivation.
“As I level up, my movements improve.”
Even if it’s just a placebo effect, I had to believe it and keep pushing myself.
While I was training my uncoordinated body, the sound of a familiar melodic incantation echoed, slowly opening the door.
Creeeak—
Then suddenly, the door swung wide open, and I was swallowed again.
* * *
“Il-wol—! Hiiing…”
‘It’s so bright… why am I feeling this way even when I have no eyes?’
Re-summoned in a shabby one-room apartment, I briefly held the sobbing girl in my embrace.
“So, I’ve grown attached to my Summoned Creature.”
Since it was the first time, it was probably understandable. Would I eventually become like her old self – cold as she became accustomed to seeing more numbers and the many broken summons?
That’s something I couldn’t know yet.
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