Volume 3 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Phil obtained a new class that even I hadn’t a clue about. The class’s name was Druid and it was a class that is only spoken of in stories. A class whose potential is unknown and is only unlocked by resetting your level. Since there is such a strict condition to unlocking the class, it is highly likely that the class has some sort of powerful skill. I wanted to know more about the class. However, Phil refuses to tell me about the class and only told me to look forward to her demonstration. With Phil in a good mood, we entered the dungeons exclusive for beginners. The dungeon we entered was the dungeon with the Rock Golems. There was a hidden room that fixes your status gain every level in this dungeon, the same dungeon that I had entered with Luna. Similarly, the two of us continued to climb the rocky mountain.

[Let’s pick up the pace. It’s about to be night soon.] (Phil)

[I agree. It doesn’t affect Phil since you have your jade eyes but it’ll be rough for me.] (Youya)

Just walking at night becomes extremely difficult due to the limited visibility. Since many of the monsters in this dungeon rely on their sense of smell and hearing, they are able to move about at night without troubles, making exploration much more difficult. I pulled out my blade and observed the surroundings. Ideally we should arrive at the hidden room without encountering a single monster, however it’s a difficult task especially when we didn’t have Presence Detection. If we encountered any monster, then I’ll be the one to deal with them.

Currently, since Phil isn’t in my party, experience points won’t be distributed between us. She had went to the trouble to arrange a patrol quest for me so that I would be allowed entry into the beginner dungeons. Looking at Phil’s actual combat ability, it is possible for her to safely reach the hidden room at level 1, however it is still highly impossible for her to defeat any of the monsters in the dungeon alone.

[Fufu. Doing this reminds me of my childhood when I was constantly relying on Youya for help.] (Phil)

[Yeah. You were always afraid and hiding behind my back.] (Youya)

Although she was currently a super-first-class adventurer, when we had just formed a party together she was completely frightened and unaware of everything. It was a difficult task to teach her as I had to teach everything from scratch.

[Even now it is still a nice memory. Youya, behind you.] (Phil)

[Got it. Be right back.] (Youya)

I ran towards the enemy which Phil saw. Let’s hurry up and wrap up our business here.

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After several battles, we finally arrived at the cliff where the hidden room is located. I waited in front of the cliff while Phil heade downwards to the hidden room. Since there wouldn’t be any monsters ahead, there isn’t any reason for me to escort her all the way down. It is actually better for me to stay behind as there is the possibility of other adventurers coming here and noticing the rope, deciding to remove the rope on a whim.

In the end, I took a break while waiting for Phil at the top of the cliff. While waiting, I was thinking of the plan on how to raise Phils level. In this world, experience distributed in a party remains the same regardless of the level difference between the members.

In other words, if a low-level adventurer enters a high-level party, their levels would increase tremendously in one setting. However this poses a danger. If we brought Phil who had a low level into a high-levelled dungeon, the risk of Phil getting annihilated and losing her life in the dungeon was high. Considering Phil’s safety, at best I would like to bring her to a dungeon at least 10 levels above her current level, that way she would be able to survive attacks and traps with her excellent equipment and bonuses from her level reset. Between instant death and able to handle one attack, was a world of difference.

[It is impossible for me to stay in Rumberg just to raise her level. It’s a little tight but is it possible to slightly raise her level by hunting several Rock Golems?] (Youya)

Thanks to the weekly respawns, the dungeon should be filled with golems as it was impossible for beginner adventurers to defeat a Rock Golem. In that case, we should go ahead and hunt for them. The experience provided by Rock Golems were very high for a low leveled monster. Who knows, it may even be possible for Phil to reach level 10 by the end of the morning. From there, we can raise her level by defeating all the monsters we encounter on the way to Flaregard. If we were to do this, she would most likely be around level 12-14 by the time we arrive at Flaregard. With her current equipment, it should be possible for her to endure at least one attack from a monster in the dungeons there. This sounds reasonable, let’s go with this.

When I took a look at the cliff, I saw the figure of Phil climbing up the cliff, about to arrive at the top. Then, Phil arrived at my location with a light jump.

[Welcome back, Phil.] (Youya)

[I’m back Youya. I’m safe and I have fixed my status gain at the hidden room. I’m looking forward to raising my level from now on.] (Phil)

Phil said that with sparkling eyes. As expected, first-rate adventurers know first hand how amazing having the maximum status gain every level is. It is completely different from occasionally having the maximum based on luck. Even I got extremely excited when I exited the room, with the urge to quickly raise my level even one second earlier. Although in my case, I was even more excited due to the massive difference between my original status and my current one.

[In that case, let’s hurry up and go hunt monsters. It may be slightly dangerous but let’s go hunting for Rock golems now. It’s efficient for us and impossible for beginners to hunt so we don’t have to feel bad hunting them. Although it would be bad if we were to defeat any monster other than the Rock Golem on the way.] (Youya)

I’m not worried about hunting monsters besides Rock Golem due to efficiency issues, but for the fact that a higher level adventurer like me is hunting monsters meant for lower leveled adventurers. Even if they will respawn on a weekly basis, monsters were still a finite resource within the week. I do not want to disrupt any adventurers who are hoping to become strong.

[As expected of Youya, that is very Youya-esque. As much as possible, let’s avoid other monsters while climbing the mountain.] (Phil)

[If anyone knows me best it’s you Phil.] (Youya)

Just as when she was a receptionist, Phil still has compassion for other adventurers.

[Phil, send a party request to me. I’ll accept it.] (Youya)

Phil smiled brightly as she heard my words.

[I am finally in the same party as Youya again. Fufufu. I’m so happy. I’m glad to be in the same party as you again. I am the druid Phil.] (Phil)

Phil actually gave another formal greeting as we officially joined party. It was so out of place that I couldn’t help but laugh.

[Likewise, nice to meet you and please take care of me from now on. I’m the Magic Knight Youya. Together, let’s aim for the strongest.] (Youya)

We shook hands as our eyes caught each other’s’ gaze. Our faces turned red as we both let go of our hand. Then, together the two of us headed towards the top of the mountain aiming for the golems that reside there. Having Phil in my party again, gave me a feeling of nostalgia and a strong sense of security.