It was the day after his trip to the Hostess of Fertility.
Gin sat in the dining hall, eating his breakfast. His hand moved in a familiar rhythm, bringing food to his mouth at a steady pace.
He didn't taste the food. He just chewed and swallowed. It was blasphemy, but he could hardly think about enjoying a meal. His mind was elsewhere—namely, his wallet.
7,000 Valis… just how much did he eat? A normal meal at a place like that should cost around 100 to 200 Valis at most. For his bill to reach that high, he must have eaten thirty portions at the bare minimum.
He knew he was a big eater.
That was his whole shtick from day one. He just never realized the monetary cost would be this huge.
Back in the village, most of his food came from hunting and gathering. Sure, he spent money on food then, but only for occasional spices or cooking oil. He went months without spending a single coin sometimes.
Not spending money didn't mean he was swimming in it. He only sold the inedible animal parts. Selling fangs, pelts, horns, or tusks was a terrible money source, and it showed. Even after all these years, his savings never broke the 40,000 Valis mark.
He had just blown the equivalent of his usual two-month budget in a single night.
'No more restaurants until I earn more Valis,' he decided. He would just have to settle on demolishing the Twilight Manor food pantry. He hoped the Loki Familia wouldn't notice the sudden spike in their grocery bills.
Even ignoring his food expense, he still needed to buy arrows. The cheapest ones cost 10 Valis, and he planned to replenish them after every dive. His quiver held fifteen arrows, meaning a full restock cost 150 Valis.
Based on yesterday's haul of 2,200 Valis, his actual profit would hover around 2,000 Valis per trip.
If he messed up and needed to repair his equipment, that cost money too. If he wanted to play it safe in melee to conserve arrows, he needed potions. Those cost around 500 Valis per vial.
Gin let out a massive sigh. He was going to stay poor at this rate. He needed a solid plan.
'Should I conserve arrows? Take the risk and hit the lower floors for better loot? Or… should I go for the jackpot?'
Hunting down a Jack Bird could net him a whopping one million Valis. A million Valis from a single kill was too good to pass up.
The Jack Bird was the obvious choice. He could still hunt regular monsters while searching for the bird anyway.
His next step was gathering information.
'Let's pay a visit to the Guild.'
Educating him on the Dungeon was good old Rehmer's job. No need to bother the people he was freeloading off of right now. Gin headed for the Guild.
"You want to hunt down a Jack Bird?" Rehmer raised an eyebrow the moment Gin asked.
"Is that surprising?"
"No, you are not the only rookie aiming for easy money. You are not the first, and you certainly won't be the last."
Gin could tell his get-rich-quick scheme earned him zero brownie points.
The staffer saw him as just another idiot needing a reality check.
Rehmer pulled a folder from his desk and flipped it open. A picture of a Jack Bird stared back at Gin.
"The Jack Bird is an elusive monster. They only spawn on the upper floors, with the first floor having the highest appearance rate. They are weak and harmless. You don't need to worry about them attacking you."
"Their only means of survival is running." Rehmer adjusted his glasses, making him look a bit smarter than usual. "They will flee at the tiniest sign of danger, and their speed is no joke. For a Level 1 like you, you need at least a B in your Agility stat just to not lose sight of it. If you were Level 2 or above? The Jack Bird wouldn't even show a sign of its existence."
"If you want to hunt them, your best bet is to sneak up on them or snipe them from afar for a one-hit kill. The weaker you are, the lower the chance the Jack Bird will detect your presence. Anything else you want to ask, Mr. Hvergel?"
"Are there any patterns to their sightings?"
"Based on the records, the reports almost always come from solo adventurers. There's an interesting theory that the Jack Bird senses danger with a… sixth sense, for lack of better words. There are multiple stories of wounded or exhausted adventurers spotting a Jack Bird, or fighters with broken weapons finding it staring at them from a distance. The lower the chance of it getting caught, the higher the chance it appears."
'That explains why it showed up right after Niflheim faded and I ran out of ammo.' Gin scoffed. "So the Jack Bird is basically an ass?"
"Perhaps."
"When was the last time someone managed to hunt one?"
"Forty-three years ago."
"Seriously?"
"They are considered rare for a reason, Mr. Hvergel. Their drop item, the Jack Bird's Golden Egg, auctioned for 2.3 million Valis last time."
'Just for some stupid egg?' "I see your confusion. You must be wondering how a drop item holds such value. The Jack Bird's Golden Egg is a vital ingredient in a number of miraculous potions. One can restore youth. Another grants an extra skill. Rumor says one can even revive the dead."
"You're joking."
"I assure you I am not."
"Can you tame them?"
"There is no reason to. They are useless except for their drop item. Any more questions?"
"…What's their favorite food?"
"Hopefully your soul. It's been a nice session, Mr. Hvergel. I wish you luck on your hunt."
...
Gin exited the Guild with some useful trivia.
Whether he could use it was a toss-up.
'What's the best way to capture it?'
Using Niflheim was out. He didn't know his exact strength with the skill active, but he didn't want to risk scaring the bird away with his dark energy aura.
Ginnungagap… Nah. The bird would bolt before he finished the chant. Chasing it while chanting was begging for Ignis Fatuus. Running it down in melee was impossible. He had better odds with his bow.
'Okay, so no skills, no spells, yes bow.'
Luring it was the logical play. He needed to get wounded and look helpless. The more pathetic he looked, the higher the chance of it appearing.
'Should I take damage on purpose, or let it happen as I hunt?'
Normal hunting was the best option.
Killing a Jack Bird was the golden prize, but there was no reason to stunt his growth for it. He just needed to finish the hunt with a spare arrow or two, just to be safe.
'Should I set a trap just in case?'
Setting a net was simple. He only needed a net and something to secure it to the cavern walls.
Some iron stakes might work. He could test it in the Dungeon.
Well, he had a plan. It lacked sophistication, but it was doable.
Gin grabbed the materials and headed straight for the Dungeon.
He stood on the first floor again, carrying a fishing net and four iron stakes. The other adventurers gave him funny looks. He ignored them, knowing he wouldn't need to associate with them in the future anyway.
'Now then, how do I approach this?'
He decided to try out Ginnungagap and practice his knife work. It was just goblins and kobolds. A hit from them would be no worse than bonking his head.
After walking for a bit, a lone kobold appeared in his vision. It stood at a good distance. The perfect target for his magic. He focused his mind. It was no different than drawing a bow.
"O' evil descend,"
Gin felt a strange pulling sensation inside his body. 'Is this how magic feels?'
Oh shit.
The kobold noticed him. It ran at him, making zero effort to hide its intention to slash him to ribbons.
Gin stood his ground.
He was already committed to the chant.
"Reminds the Mighty of their burden, and the Weak of their powerlessness. Empty unanswered prayer is their only salvation from despair."
The kobold brought its claw down right at his face!
'Holy crap, doesn't this thing know the rules? No attacks above the chest and below the belt!' That was it.
Payback time.
He finished the chant, glaring at the beast.
"Yet none shall escape my grasp for I am beloved by hell! Ginnungagap!"
A black fog manifested around his feet, creeping forward to envelop the kobold. It thrashed around, struggling like a worm on hot pavement to dispel the curse. Served it right.
"It's no use. Ginnungagap can't be broken by a mere beast like you. Your struggle is pointless, useless, futile."
Gin bitch-slapped the kobold.
It was a total success.
The monster didn't even try to dodge or resist. It was like knocking over an empty mug.
'Is this the curse in action?'
He drew his knife and drove it into the creature's head. With a single slash, the kobold dropped dead.
"I told you, didn't I?" Gin wiped a streak of blood off his face, acting like he had slain an indomitable beast rather than a helpless dog.
"Useless, you see? Useless, useless."
...
Gin pocketed the magic stone and left the disintegrating kobold behind.
He'd gained new information from that encounter.
Ginnungagap was overkill.
He knew it weakened his enemies, and that it worked on multiple opponents as long as they were in his line of sight, but he hadn't known exactly how much it weakened them.
Now he knew.
The kobold was weakened to the point of being no different than a child. It was so pathetic that he almost killed it with a single slap to the face.
But… how many more times could he use it?
What if it actually used half of his Mind?
One more cast might knock him out with Mind Down for all he knew.
Should he keep using it against these dungeon-bottom fodders?
Yes.
The reason: magic was neat.
He'd never heard of a spell that completely consumed a user's Mind after two uses.
So it should be safe for a few more casts.
'I mean, what's the worst thing that could happen?'
...
The worst that could happen was nothing more than getting a firsthand lesson that Concurrent Chanting—the technique of using magic while moving—was fucking useful.
Oh, and if he wanted to fight in melee, he should really invest in some healing potions.
He had to end the dive early because of how beaten up he got after taking ten hits from monsters just to raise his Endurance.
He managed to use Ginnungagap seven more times before calling it quits.
Using it anymore might truly bite him in the ass.
Gin pocketed his admittedly small gains and exited the dungeon.
....
"Oh, come on!" Gin exclaimed in frustration as he looked at his updated Status.
Gin Hvergel
Level 1
Str I 22 → I 35
End I 0 → I 5
Dex I 27 → I 43
Agi I 11 → I 17
Mag I 0 → I 26
"My Endurance only went up by five points!? You're sure this is correct, my goddess?"
"Umu, children are not born equal. Some were born with strong bodies, others with clear minds. You, my champion, were born with the latter. Odin himself must have blessed the day of your birth. Your affinity for the dark mystic is truly outstanding."
So he was actually better at magic.
Okay, that was clearly not a talent an archer should have.
Gin could feel his identity slowly crumbling apart!
If this kept up, he might become a mage who was decent with a bow, rather than an archer who could use some magic.
"I see dark clouds surfacing in your mind, my champion. Lay all your heart bare, for I am all-accepting. Should it be within my power to set those haunting thoughts away, I shall release my limiter and grant you with alms."
He hoped the limiter she was talking about was a figurative one and not the literal one holding her divinity at bay.
"No, it's nothing serious. I was just thinking about the future. What kind of archer do I want to be?" Gin wondered out loud. "A bow that puts my magic to use would be neat. Maybe it could enhance my arrows with magic? No, wait! A bow that can create magic arrows! That would be pretty awesome."
He could imagine it.
No more stopping his hunt just because he ran out of arrows. No more spending Valis to buy replacements every time he dove into the dungeon… Ah, that would be awesome.
"Umu, you speak of a magical bow, forged with mystery along with a strong core to contain its power." Hel gave him a little nod of understanding.
"Does something like that even exist?"
"Something has always been created from nothing. Pioneering a weapon for a legend in the making will be a great honor to a craftsman. Put your mind at ease, my champion. I am the dead, the dark, the silence. No quest is too daunting, for I am divine. At this moment, I can only show you a path you might take, but once you have reached a new height, I vow that I shall deliver to you what your heart desires."
A new height, huh? For an adventurer, a new height to reach was synonymous with Leveling Up.
There were certain conditions he had to fulfill to achieve a Level Up.
First, he needed at least one of his basic abilities to reach D-rank.
As long as he kept adventuring in the dungeon, his stats would reach that level eventually.
With how quickly his magic grew, he had no doubt his Magic stat would probably be the first to hit it.
The second condition, however, was vague. He needed to accomplish a feat that would impress the gods.
Defeating an enemy stronger than himself was the obvious example, but it was easier said than done.
Right now, some monsters on the dungeon's upper floors were stronger than him, but he doubted he could Level Up from defeating War Shadows or Killer Ants.
How much stronger the enemy needed to be compared to him was unclear.
'Yeah, no need to worry about it for now, I suppose. Most people take around a year and a half to three years to Level Up anyway.'
She turned around to exit his room. "For now, let us advance to the banquet of dusk. Devour everything if you wish it, my champion. You shall not fear any opposition as long as I am there."
"Of course. I am right behind you, my goddess."
As Gin stepped into the Twilight Manor dining hall, he noticed that most of the tables were already packed.
"It's quite crowded, isn't it, my goddess?"
"Umu. Loki said that her warriors had finally emerged victorious from the dungeon. This banquet is a celebration for their return."
Ah… he had thought the "banquet" part was just her usual chuuni choice of words. It turned out she actually meant a literal banquet.
A party.
Now this was awkward.
He had managed to avoid socializing with Loki's Familia members up until now, but with this kind of atmosphere, he would stick out like a sore thumb if he didn't try to mingle.
'Can't be helped. Which table should I sit at?'
He didn't want to see Hel putting up with Loki during dinner time.
Besides, it seemed improper to just plop down with the big-wigs when he was just a freeloader.
He decided to look for a free spot at the newbies' table.
"Hey, do you mind if we sit here?" Gin asked the nearest person, a black-haired young teen. "There's no empty table left, so…"
"Oh! Yes, of course, have a seat, feel free to join, man." He looked surprised for a moment, but gave Gin a light smile and motioned for him to take a seat.
"Thanks." Gin sat down beside him. Hel followed suit and plopped down next to Gin.
"I am Gin, and this is Goddess Hel—"
Hel looked at him with a deadpan expression.
Yep, he knew what she wanted.
There went his dream of a normal introduction.
Well, he might as well jump in if he was already this wet.
Gin grabbed as many forks as he could fit in his hands, holding them tightly between his fingers, hoping he looked cool and not idiotic.
"Before you stands the Supreme Ruler of Dusk, The Queen of the Underworld, She whose darkest light falls from the heavens, the darkness which grows as all light dies. She is our inevitable ruler for which our hearts will crave for demise! The one and only for which the dead shall rise. She is Hel. Fear and revere her, O' children of Loki!"
Most of the people at the table looked flabbergasted or confused. Hel just looked satisfied.
Well, that was about the reaction he expected.
He looked at the young man beside him, practically begging him silently to pick up the ball he'd dropped and restore the situation to normal.
"I-I see! Wow, you're an amazing goddess, huh, Hel-sama? They're amazing, right Aki?" He signaled to the female cat person beside him.
"Huh? Oh! Uhm, sure! I agree with Raul! I can see that you are quite close to your goddess, Gin."
'Wow, these two are good people.'
Such an understanding spirit that he wouldn't expect coming from complete strangers. He could see himself actually being normal friends with them.
Maybe when Hel wasn't around, he could show them he was a normal guy.
"He is weird."
And there went his hope.
Only despair remained.
Gin turned his attention to the last speaker. She was a young girl. Like, young young. She was probably less than ten years old. Her deadpan expression was similar to Hel's, except for the underlying gloom seeping from beneath it.
"Ais-san! Please don't say something like that! See, you're hurting his feelings!"
'Dammit bro, you don't have to point it out! It hurts more now.'
"He might be a little weird, but he's still Loki-sama's guest. You shouldn't be rude to him."
'You're not helping, cat girl. You just admitted that you think I'm weird too, dammit!'
The girl, Ais, stayed quiet and left the table in silence.
He made an educated guess that she wasn't exactly the poster child for friendliness in the Loki Familia.
"I am sorry about that, Gin! Ais is a bit… different, but I swear she's a nice girl inside!" the guy, Raul, said.
Wow, he really was a nice guy.
He even covered for that inferior Hel-wannabe.
"Nah, it's cool. She's just a kid after all. It would be immature if my feelings got hurt over that." Gin shrugged. "So what's her deal? Is her parent a Familia member or something?"
"No, Ais-san is our senior here."
"Wait, what? I …see. She's a dwarf or a pallum, huh? I thought she was a human girl."
Raul and Aki traded glances.
"Well, Ais is human. She will be eight years old this year."
Gin almost spat his drink.
Was Loki sane!? She was employing a literal child.
'Fuck this. I'm not getting involved with this business.'
Loki was a god. A literal god. If she thought it was okay to make a pint-sized, monster-killing dungeon explorer, who was he to argue?
"So you're Raul and Aki, right? Are both of you new here?" Both Raul and Aki looked glad he didn't press further about Ais.
"Yes, I am Raul Nord, Level 1. I joined around two months ago."
"I am Anakitty Autumn, also Level 1. I joined around the same time with Raul here."
"Oh nice, we're all Level 1 then. I am Gin Hvergel, the one and only Familia member of Hel-sama. It's only been a week since I joined, though." He continued to eat as they chatted.
"You are the only member? Must be rough starting from scratch, huh?" Aki said. "Did Hel-sama recruit you when you were looking for a Familia to join?"
"Fate led us to one another. An encounter enveloped in the setting sun, a trial as I descended upon this world. My champion has shown his skill and I deemed him worthy," Hel interjected from the side.
"Oh, did something happen?"
"I kind of assisted Hel-sama when she first came down here. Nothing big, just some surface goblins."
"That's still something, though! Both of us only joined through open recruitment. Only a brief interview and then poof! We're suddenly adventurers of the famed Loki Familia," Raul groaned. "I am just lucky to be here, if you ask me."
"Luck is a skill too, in a way. The dungeon is a dangerous place, yeah? Some good old luck from you might be just what the Familia needs." Gin grinned. "Luck is merely a circumstance in which you took the opportunity to benefit yourself. The only thing you have to do is make yourself worthy of that luck. Isn't that right, my Goddess?''
"My champion is only half-right, Humble Novice." Hel nodded. "Thou can downplay your involvement, but luck is not a benevolent mother who brings food to your mouth. You move and make your decision, and thus luck gives you its blessing. You invited your own luck. Be proud of it."
"Aww, thank you." Raul shyly rubbed his head. "I see. Luck comes because I take action, and when it comes, I just need to live up to it, huh? That's a new outlook."
As they continued chatting, a new term came up in the conversation.
"Supporter?"
"Yeah, all of us newbies learn the ropes by being a supporter for our seniors. They let us fight small fries like kobolds and goblins, but we mostly carry their baggage, prepare their food, move monster corpses, collect magic stones, stuff like that, you know?"
"Like an adventurer squire?"
"That's a good analogy, actually. Our seniors lead the way, and we only need to tag along and assist them. It's only been two months, but both me and Aki have seen the 11th floor."
11th floor in two months? Yep, that was impossible for a solo adventurer like Gin.
"That's amazing. I've only hunted on the first floor. It will take me, what? A year to reach the 11th floor at the pace I'm going."
"Then why don't you join us?" Raul said excitedly. "You can be a supporter too until you get used to the dungeon. You should be able to advance quicker that way!"
"Thanks, but that's alright. I already live rent-free here, imposing more than this isn't comfortable for me. No offense."
"Not to mention…" Gin placed his hand on its new favorite resting place: Hel's head. "I am the champion of Hel. My loyalty is not so easily bought and won over. I've vowed to write my own legend, and I cannot so easily shatter my word as one shatters glass."
"Well said, my champion. I refuse to see you as a supporting cast of Loki's children. Take each steady step proudly, knowing that I am blessing you in the shadows."
Raul nodded in understanding while Aki just giggled.
It seemed they were getting used to his sudden outbursts of elaborate words.
That was right.
It didn't matter if it took him more time.
This was his story, and he was going to enjoy dictating every part of it!