1-5 Library

In the room of a cheap inn, I was getting ready for tomorrow's first goblin hunt.

"This about does it?"

Into my usual rucksack went the canteen, dried meat, knife, and wooden spear. Blanket and spare clothes stayed at the inn.

The other dimension held my money, paper, and writing supplies.

I'd bought paper and such for future use, but it was surprisingly pricey, so I treated it like treasure and stashed it in the other dimension.

The magic gun goes in there too.

From our chats, Elliott and his crew didn't seem like bad guys, but I couldn't let my guard down. Even without malice, if push came to shove, he'd prioritize his girls over me.

As a last resort, I practiced lightly pulling the magic gun from the other dimension—even if my hands were bound, I could grab it anytime.

Once I'd checked my gear, it was time for status review. Somehow, I hadn't had a chance to dig in deep today.

I'd used the magic gun that morning, so MP was half-spent. Seemed like it recovered over time.

Oh yeah—any new jobs unlocked? I tapped Survivor (4) to pull up job candidates.

Whoa!? Magic!? Mage job unlocked!

No clue what triggered it... probably the magic gun? If that's all it takes.

Anyway, magic. If you've got magic, you gotta use it.

Let's set it right away.

Nice. The classic four elements from games, huh? Let's give it a shot.

Fire, fire, fire...

I focused hard, imagining a flame igniting at my fingertip. Nothing. Nothing. Snap—a spark flew and fizzled.

...That was fire magic?

Shake it off. Water, water, water.

Nothing.

This calls for the usual trick. Gather moisture from the air into water... oh! A little dribble came out.

But I was wiped—couldn't squeeze out more. Felt like death. So this is magic.

Ah, MP tanked hard...

Shitty mileage!

So it's not a system where skills let you spam fireballs right away—you gotta train proficiency first?

Anyway, crystal clear now: the magic gun's way more practical.

Check out Magic Gunner too.

Magic Gunner's skill is Magic Shot Slight Boost, huh? Probably amps magic gun damage a tiny bit.

Not bad.

For tomorrow, switch back to Survivor. Already blabbed about it anyway.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠next day, I threw a robe over plain town clothes, grabbed my wooden spear, and headed to the mercenary guild.

Elliott's group was waiting, greeting me with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cheerful smiles.

"Hey, feeling good? Perfect goblin-hunting weather!"

"Eh, yeah, sure."

Elliott seemed even more hyped than yesterday. Something good happen?

Bet he had fun with his slaves last night.

"Hm, no armor?"

"Yeah, money's tight... planning to grab some soon."

"I see."

He looked a bit disappointed but kept smiling. Makes sense—frontliner without armor's a hassle.

"No worries. Today, I'll take center, Marie left, you right on the front line. Patch'll heal any scratches, so relax!"

Healer, huh. Worth partying up just for that.

"Is Healer hard to unlock?"

We headed to the north gate—goblin territory—while I asked.

"Kinda. More than unlocking, mastering it's the real challenge."

"Mastering..."

"Frontline jobs, skills just activate and done. Mages study theory but okay once they cast. Right?"

"Hm."

"Healers gotta constantly think: what symptom, how to apply skill. Not 'unlock and good.' Needs a sharp mind, or skills waste away. Patch is one sharp girl!"

"Patch is amazing..."

I glanced back at the quiet women trailing us. Petite Patch bashfully averted her eyes.

I mulled Elliott's words. Normal jobs: unlock and go. Healer: extra stage beyond, tough to master.

So skills don't auto-activate—need practice. Some, like healing, require post-unlock training.

That why my Mage skills sucked? No theory study or practice yet.

Got it.

"Sticking with Survivor forever?"

"Nah, newbie here. Gonna gather info first."

"Fair, but pick early. Better lock in."

"...Speaking of, Trishiera doesn't swap her Sex Warlock to combat job in fights?"

"Some do. Not me."

"Why not?"

"High-level non-combat jobs give solid bonuses. Better focus one than swap. Plus, church fees per hunt? Gold sinks fast."

"...!! Yeah, makes sense."

Nice info, playing it cool.

Church for job swaps, huh.

Without Interferer, can't view status, so can't self-swap. Needs third-party job or tool.

Big intel. Hit church tomorrow... nah, library first for job basics. I know zilch on common sense.

Soon reached north gate, deposited residency proof, headed out. Elliott's crew waited.

"Let's roll."

Beyond here, no safe zone.

Elliott led, arrow formation northeast.

Goblin turf mainly northwest from gate.

But goblins breed fast, herd-migrate, so threats span west to northeast wide.

To guard north highway, Slagee warriors/guards goblin-hunt nonstop, high bounties encourage civvies too.

Goblins smaller/weaker than humans.

But pack-hunt coordinated, wield crude wood weapons or loot from fallen travelers.

Spawn points birth goblins only, but variants exist: rare big skill-users, pains.

Unlike northeast green caterpillars (one type) or south blood slimes—goblins trickier.

Still, single-type easier than other spawns.

Other points spew 5-6 monster types routinely.

Slagee total newbie zone.

That white-haired kid pick it considering that?

"Mm, shadows. Goblins maybe."

Alert on my right flank, Elliott's hushed warning snapped me from thoughts.

"Goblins, three, all with sticks."

Marie from opposite flank. Looked like specks to me; her eyesight sharp.

"Me and Trishiera first strike. When they flinch, frontliners charge!"

"Got it."

Marie and Trishiera synced.

Solid teamwork.

Trishiera nocked arrow, but Elliott? His sword glowed, slash sent light ray forward. Cool as hell.

No time to gawk.

Marie jogged ahead; I bolted too.

Arrow and mystery slash nailed center goblin—screamed down.

Flankers spotted us, shrieking.

"Now! Go!"

Marie surged. I ditched shield, gripped spear two-handed, thrust goblin gut on momentum.

Ditched shield on impulse—no defense confidence. All-out opener.

Strike hit sweet; goblin wheezed. I hammered brute-force follow-ups.

Marie appeared behind, lopped head.

Left one already down somehow.

Panting, I poked goblin—dead?

"Fine, it's dead. Technique messy, but good momentum."

Marie smiled. Total stud.

Could fall for her.

"Th-thanks... huff..."

"Not bad at all! Stones to Trishiera for now."

"Other materials... huff... where?"

"Both ears, canines—I'll get 'em."

Wondered why separate from stones; later learned Elliott handles gross bits.

Slave-owner (vibes) ikemen indeed...!

"No shield?"

"Slowed my run. Usually too scared to drop."

"Haha, spears flow better sans shield. Ease in gradual—good call."

After, spear-pro Elliott/Marie lectured pre/post-fights. Nabbed strays.

Northeast goblin land, but culls keep day-trip range to lone stragglers.

Just normal stick-goblins so far.

"Sorry, not pulling weight."

"Nah, you're useful. Duos let some slip, stresses backline."

True—goblins clock me as weak spot mid-fight, swarm me. Dodge/defend till others clean up.

Bait role: aced. Patch heals bruises each hit, staying upright.

"Thought warriors/guards thinned 'em often—still plenty."

"Goblins? Breeding's insane. Easy pocket change for solo mercs like us."

"Fair."

Vs. hunting green cats—goblins seek you out. Easy mode.

Normal beasts flee humans; monsters charge regardless. Low IQ? Starving desperate?

"Goblin stones colorless, huh."

Split chest, eyed chunky clear lump in light. Cats green, slimes red-tinged—goblins pure transparent.

"Total neutral affinity."

"Huh."

Stone uses fuzzy still.

Colorless probably handy its way.

NEETs got uses. Society's the problem.

"Head back soon. Dusk brings night goblins."

"Yeah."

Back before full dark. First hunt: smooth success.

"Your cut."

Counted coins from Elliott: 75 coppers.

One-fifth total haul.

Slaves don't count extra, but I underperformed—five-way split's gravy. Took gratefully.

Low payout: normals only, no sellable gear.

"Gate-adjacent's like this, huh..."

"Overnight next?"

Marie suggested.

"Overnight pays better?"

"Spawn-forest hordes, elites/mutants galore. Not like these scrubs."

"I see..."

Current me? Dead quick. Need plans.

"Hunt tomorrow?"

"Dunno. Sticking in town awhile."

"Daily mornings, same time guild. Fancy temp party? Holler. Same-day fine. Fun today."

Pocketed coins in pouch, waved bye.

Exposed my lacks today.

Too early for inn—library time.

City library: plain building.

Big for here, but not my image.

Entrance: trembling farewell to one silver, entered.

Out in two hours or pay another silver.

Damn, gold hog.

"Jobs first..."

Job books popular—right by first-floor desk.

Grabbed kid-friendly Let's Learn Jobs ~God's Blessed Power~ and scholarly Job System Overview, sat.

No checkout—read, return prompt.

Plan hit: basics from beginner book, precision from academic. Latter comprehensive yet clear—wanted to borrow.

First: normies sans Interferer's Status Manipulation—how set jobs?

Church gig.

Initial job auto-sets ~5-10yo. Unviewable, unnoticed. Enter church.

Priest/Acolyte jobs view others' partial status.

Rich: yearly from 5. Rest: milestones 5/10, donate for status rite.

Blessed initial unlocks jobs per aptitude/experience.

But swaps need viewable status—church/Priest aid. Fees per change.

Elliott's "hunt swaps gold-drain"—that.

Increase candidates? Harsher than thought.

Assumed magic gun trivialized like Magic Gunner—but needs solid experience match.

Marie’s Swordsman: not just swing—train to proficiency.

But aptitude lets some grip-and-get; others initial auto.

Huge variance.

My quick Magic Gunner: aptitude or prior "experience."

Spear use no Spearmaster—till today's tips unlocked it. Decent aptitude.

Derivatives/Advanced: need base levels + aptitude/experience. Elliott's Flower Warrior likely warrior branch.

Leveling misconception too.

Gamed it: kill ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠monsters, exp grind to level.

Overview: "Job-appropriate experience" levels up. Sticking sans swap slowly levels too.

Job-fit skills accelerate daily gains.

Kills optional.

Grind skills/experience fitting job.

Combat jobs: fights count as experience indirectly.

No "last hit exp" gamism—party shares.

"Appropriate experience" vague, but guessable.

Mage: study theory, practice casts, use magic.

Builds skills, amps daily levels.

Why no frequent swaps: constant job-hopping stalls all at half-levels.

(I multi-job—how to grow?)

Steadfast second? Swap for versatility?

Third job'd expand options.

Normies single-job—luxury woes.

Deep dive ate time—near two hours.

Rushed return, exited.

(Mage growth tough sans theory... damn, more time for magic books...!)

Finally grasped job basics—lamb Yohei schemed plans late.

The first slave girl's coming soonish.

"First is quick" (for this series). Yep.