Before setting off, I handed all the collected runes to Yeon-hee.
I thought about just eating them without a word, but the Helen duo wasn’t that oblivious, and I remembered the whole honesty and integrity spiel Helen dropped earlier, so I couldn’t just do that.
And if they had a conscience, they’d probably give us a decent share.
“Ah… 6 of them…”
“Wow, this Lee Young-chul guy really has been running dungeons a lot, but half of them are just ordinary runes? And only 6? Was his luck that terrible?”
“Maybe he’s one of those types that takes higher settlement fees instead of runes? I know a D-rank hunter who still hasn’t filled all their runes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, and getting 6 is actually a decent drop.”
Listening to their conversation, Yeon-hee cautiously said, “Um, I’ll take the first three since I decided on that, so I’ll just take out one Rune of Magic. The other 5 can be distributed in turn…”
As Yeon-hee picked up the Rune of Magic with her finger, Helen and Jin-kyeong seemed to ponder for a moment before responding.
“We barely did anything but lie around. Yeon-hee can take them all.”
“Right! If it weren’t for Yeon-hee, we might have been dead… or experienced something worse. So it makes sense for her to take them all.”
“Oh? So this is the trusty and honest Helen duo?”
I couldn’t help but nod.
“No, let’s stick to what we initially agreed on.”
“Yeon-hee, why are you doing this? Just let us have them!”
“We do have a conscience; we can’t just…”
“Exactly! Helen! But I promise I’ll keep an eye on you until I leave!!”
Still, Yeon-hee stressed the previously agreed principles several more times, and the Helen duo ultimately settled for taking only 3 ordinary grade runes.
Usually, fights break out over who gets to take even one extra, so I was staring blankly at this rare scene.
“It feels a bit different from just being nice. Principles… principles…”
It felt strange seeing that side of her, someone who liked to stick to manuals in life. I guess her fundamental nature doesn’t really change.
Yeon-hee was going to try to give me all three low-rank runes, but when I handed the Rune of Magic back to her, she scratched her head as if feeling guilty.
“I just can’t figure her out.”
The work of a summoned creature counts as her ability, yet I strangely tended to view it as separate.
In any case, the two Runes of Vitality I received were all normal stat +7s.
“Well, at least it’s something.”
=====
[Skeleton Bombardier Il-wol – Lv.31]
Strength: 80 Agility: 105(+8) Health: 105(+14)
Wisdom: 79(+8) Magic: 110 Resistance: 7
Sense: 42(+8) Recovery: 43
=====
Thanks to the runes, my health rose by 14, and my level increased by 2, allowing me to invest stats into agility, wisdom, and sense.
With the +8 increases from the 5-level special abilities, these stats were pretty high, especially for low-rank standards.
I thought it was surprising to be only mid-tier despite diligently raising stats, but considering my base stats were such trash, it was impressive to pull them up this far.
Of course, the stat values didn’t directly equate to combat power. I had my Skeleton Bomb, after all.
“I’ve gathered quite a few runes now.”
=====
Rune of Vitality (Low-Rank) Health +7
Rune of Vitality (Low-Rank) Health +7
Rune of Vitality (Low-Rank) Health +7
Rune of Vitality (Normal) Health +4
Rune of Vitality (Normal) Health +4
Rune of Magic (Low-Rank) Magic +8
Rune of Giants (Low-Rank) Strength +9
Rune of Giants (Low-Rank) Strength +8
=====
I ended up with a total of 8 runes.
“How did I gather so many Runes of Vitality? A full house of +7? Looks neat!”
Seeing them lined up with the same values, it lifted the previously uneasy feeling.
“Yeon-hee, shall we gather the rest of the magic runes and move out?”
“Uh, since they’ll come at us just from the smell, it might be better to move now.”
“Okay!”
The way back to the entrance wasn’t hard at all. There were skirmishes here and there, but all were under 10 monsters, and the three of us, after going through a crisis once, were quite… proactive now.
“Die! Just die!!”
“1! Sweep them all away!!”
Crash! Crackle!!
“Wait! Just let me steal once!!”
Clink-
Jin-kyeong didn’t forget to diligently collect silver as she battled. You see, when a thief class steals during combat, the silver taken can exceed amounts dropped by killed monsters by more than 50%, so her diligence was noted with appreciation on our end. It might not be a fortune, but it’s the principle of it, right?
After defeating over 10 monsters, I was able to steal the second trait from the Lizardman.
Boom—!!
Cough—!
– Lizardman has been defeated!
– Trait [Thievery] has been activated.
– Obtained trait [Blessing of Pitp]!
“Surely, raising the thievery rate by some percentage makes stealing easier.”
Thinking my choice wasn’t bad, I checked the newly acquired trait.
Blessing of Pitp
– A legacy left by the great warrior of the lizard tribe, Pitp
– The longer the battle goes, the faster health recovery increases (up to 50%).
“Sounds good, though I might not have a chance to experience that for a while.”
Crunch-!!
What the hell are you doing, dude?
Slurp?!
The last remaining Lizardman swung a machete at me from left to right, but I didn’t take a single hit.
“The Chainmail’s performance is solid.”
Boom!!
The Lizardman, perplexed as to why his attack was ineffective, got blown apart when the bomb I threw detonated from the ground.
=====
Skeleton Bomb Lv.4
– Process the bones of monsters you directly defeat into magical bombs to store and throw when needed, inflicting damage (330% of attack power).
– The higher the grade of the processed bones, the more additional damage occurs.
– Storage 0/56
=====
Perhaps because I killed a Lizardman with it, my Skeleton Bomb skill leveled up quickly after defeating a few more.
Honestly, I was happier about the increase in the number of bombs I could store by 2 than the 10% rise in attack power.
“Wow, these lizards definitely offer good nutrition and are good for practice. They might be a bit dumb, but they have decent combat intelligence so it’s fun to fight.”
“You saying that while looking like a ragged mess doesn’t sound very convincing, Jin-kyeong.”
“No, I’m serious! You were saying it was fun earlier too!”
“I was talking about the fun of gathering runes. Frankly, this environment doesn’t suit me at all. Look at this? Waterproof or not, it doesn’t matter here!”
“Are you really worried about blood all over your face?”
“They say their blood is good for the skin.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Just kidding.”
“No way! Seriously!”
“Still, I think hanging out with them has some positives for Yeon-hee.”
I noticed Yeon-hee’s lips twitching as she listened closely to the cheerful (?) chat of the Helen duo. She didn’t seem brave enough to join in, content to just listen.
We twisted and turned toward the entrance, going through 4 more battles, taking out a total of 37 Lizardmen.
By afternoon, it seemed our coordinates were clear, with monsters charging at us without needing any searching, which was quite convenient.
And as Helen mentioned, the rune drop rate was higher than in other dungeons, leading us to acquire two more runes. Having gathered 4 runes just from hunting, something that might take a whole day to get in other dungeons, felt immensely satisfying.
Rune of Giants (Low-Rank)
– Strength +6
We distributed the runes one by one, but we ended up at a slight loss this time. Ours was a strength +6, while they got a strength +10. There’s no doubt that they received the best available among low-rank runes.
“Tsk… did I waste all my luck on the chainmail!”
It seems human greed truly knows no bounds.
A bit later, as the entrance came into view, Helen gazed at Yeon-hee with a heart-wrenching look.
“……”
Yeon-hee tried hard to look away from that gaze, but eventually, it seemed she couldn’t hold back anymore, saying to Helen, “Would you like to join us again tomorrow?”
“Hmm… skipping negotiations to raise settlement ratios, huh? Our Yeon-hee is still quite a ways off on that front.”
It seems Yeon-hee should be getting proper care in the guild. Or at least someone crafty like me should be looking out for her.
Before I knew it, the Helen duo had their arms wrapped around Yeon-hee, babbling sweet nothings as if bright tomorrows awaited us.
“They’re both cute.”
Yeon-hee was flustered, looking at me for help, but I just gazed at the distant mountains, keeping my hands behind my back.
Regardless of the Helen duo’s abilities, it was a good thing they actively attached themselves to Yeon-hee.
Hmm, not a bad picture at all.
I realize Yeon-hee has been relying on me quite a lot lately. I’m not sure why that is, but our relationship can’t last forever, so I need to gradually help her live in the world outside the fence.
The fact that I somehow turned into a skeleton could lead to circumstances where my consciousness could drift away, leaving only a dumb skeleton behind.
So, she needs to establish relationships with others. If it leads her to like them enough to forget me, I might feel a twinge of sadness, but… it can’t be helped.
Of course, I won’t just stand by.
It’s only natural to protect Yeon-hee and all that.
Before variables arise for me, I need to find a way to escape this dark space. Or at least, I should be able to come and go as I please.
Separately from my hopes for Yeon-hee’s success, I still have my own life.
Life, in its definition, has meanings of living and existence.
I may not be alive, but still, I must continue to live.
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