Chapter 1 - Great Sage
Hidden Dungeons.
That's what places like the one I'm standing in right now are called. An unexplored dungeon that the world is still unaware of, or just one with an as of yet unknown method of entry.
Without exception there's some kind of obstacle that prevents people from getting inside.
An entrance that doesn't open.
No stairs to descend.
Protection by an overwhelmingly strong magical creature.
No knowledge on how to enter in the first place, and so on.
Precisely because of that the one to discover a way to enter is certain to be praised a hero. And that's an understatement!
One time a certain Janton Jastal accidentally stumbled upon a stone that was required to enter a dungeon and just like that his country rewarded him with enough money to live multiple life times of bliss. That's how big of a deal
Hidden Dungeons are.
And well, for better or worse that's the kind of uncharted place I've stepped into.
"It's still the third floor, what's with this kind of monster popping up!"
Facing a skeleton looking like death incarnate I couldn't help but yell. Just from the air it gave off I could tell it's an extremely dangerous enemy. With ripped cloth fluttering along with its movements it raised its scythe and made me its target. At this point all I can do is take up the fight.
Hurriedly I made use of 「Analyze」, one of the skills I acquired on the previous floor, and verified my opponent's strength.
...Turns out I encountered an enemy much worse than expected.
Name: Dead Reaper
Level: 99
Skills: Reap of Instant Death
For a level 23 like me it was already a ridiculously strong enemy on its own, but that skill is beyond brutal. A summary of the skill turned out as follows.
「Reap of Instant Death」
<Instant death upon taking damage. Without apt resistance evasion impossible.>
So basically, receiving a single hit means a journey to heaven. Since there's no way I could face this kind of attack head-on I activated 「Edit」, another skill I obtained from the second floor, and tried manipulating the 『Instant Death』 part of the skill summary.
『Instant Death』 Removal: 1000 LP
"Whoah, no way."
Removing those two words right now would render the skill useless, but to do that I need LP, life points. Right now I have no more than 500 LP, so executing that skill would just result in death for me.
"The creation skill then!"
I created a new skill called「Thickheaded」 for 100 LP and with another 100 LP I used the bestowal skill to pass it on to my opponent. I felt some rapid loss of strength with my life points sinking to 300 just like that, but bracing my legs I endured. No way am I going to die here.
"Hooh, let's do this."
――The dungeon no one should have been able to enter.
Why did I go into this kind of place?
Was I, the third son of a mere ruined noble, able to accomplish something great?
To explain that I'll have to trace back a few days.
◇ ◆ ◇
I got up from my slightly drab bed and went downstairs, headed towards the living room. In doing so I was presented with a development different from the usual; in a display of perfect prostration my father was pressing his forehead on the floor.
"Forgive me, Noir! I'm truly sorry, it's inexcusable!"
In a screaming voice I was suddenly receiving an apology. It was my first time seeing father go this far.
"Father, please raise your head. Just what is going on?"
"Truth is, it's about the library you were supposed to work at from today onward..."
I am Noir Stalgia, third born of a noble.
Just a while ago I graduated from the Jastal Youth Rearing school for commoners and nobles. Due to my family's circumstances I decided to forgo further education and instead chose to get a job. The workplace being at a library, meaning I was to become a librarian. Since I've loved books since childhood I was more than thankful for the opportunity.
"Don't worry, I'm already motivated enough about my first day of employment."
"Aah, no, about the position as librarian... My connections are no longer of use."
"What do you mean? Didn't you say you talked it over with a friend?"
"Well, all of a sudden a viscount's child cut in line and now... No more room for staff."
I felt a headache coming. That very moment, my unemployment was decided.
For nobles, the order of authority goes duke, marquis, count, viscount, baron, baronet. One could not oppose a higher class.
And we, House Stalgia, were of the rank baronet, at best to be called the end of the ladder. Barely high class and if one were so inclined, "beggar nobles."
Speaking up against a viscount two ranks above us was unthinkable.
"Father, please lift your head. I may have viewed becoming a librarian as my purpose in life, I may have even looked forward to it more than three meals a day, and I may be at the peak of despair, but I'm not bearing any grudge."
"No you certainly are!"
"But still, just what should I do now, old ma... Father."
"Were you just about to say old man?! No actually you did! You're definitely upset, oh my son!"
"Leaving jokes aside, what now? For a noble's son to be unemployed, even if it is a third rate noble, that's unacceptable."
"Third rate..."
Switching with my dejected father, both my mother and sister joined the discussion.
"Noir, just as a substitute plan, how about trying the hero school entry exam?"
"No way I'll pass that."
"In that case I'm going to provide for brother!"
"Thanks, Alice. But let's put being financially dependent on my little sister up as plan C. For now I'll be taking my daily stroll."
To cool down my head I went outside. In the mood I was I wished the wind would just blow my worries away. While walking through the farthest out quarter of the noble district, a beauty of a girl rushed over to me, her chest
shaking violently in the process.
"Morniiing, Noir! Everything ready?"
"Ah, good morning Emma."
Adorned with some hair ornaments her brown hair was as charming as ever. A girl that's been around me who knows how many years, Emma Brightness.
She's my 16 year old childhood friend and a girl brimming with a maiden's adorableness. Thanks to facial features that promised she would turn into a beautiful woman in the future and her chest size she was incredibly
popular with the boys in the Youth Rearing school. Actually, even the male teachers were no exception.
"From today on we'll both be librarians~! Let's work hard together, wahahaha~!"
While she was playing around mimicking some great hero I told her about the recent developments.
"...huh? So what? Wait, wait wait, so you can't become a librarian?"
"Looks pretty impossible. I'll be cheering you on from the back row though, Emma."
Thanks to their baron lineage her family enjoyed a rather wealthy life and since both our parents are friends our childhood was full of opportunities to meet. Our noble ranks were different, but she's never been the kind of person to boast about things like that. Our workplace... was supposed to be the same.
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