Ferrofero? That Damn Cat from the Quest Is Trying to Break In?
"Ferrofero? That damn cat who tossed the quest and bailed is trying to get in here?"
Ferrofero had previously sent quests to the dungeon dwellers through a rift in the error. Thanks to that, he'd even met Pao.
The messages kept coming.
Ferrofero is straining while stuck in the rift of error.
At that moment, a dimensional rift tore open in the air. A single cat eye appeared through the thin gap.
"Found you! This time, I'll definitely cross over there! Eeeeek!"
Ferrofero shoved his head in with all his might. Fluffy cheese-patterned fur poked out.
"If I can just get my head through, the body will follow!"
Ferrofero strained to prove his cat liquid theory, but the rift was far too small.
The rift of error is trying to close again.
"Ah, no! Eek! Th-then!"
Ferrofero uses the item Mid-Grade Rule Addition.
"When night falls in your space, mid-grade monsters will swarm in droves! This time, please just die!"
The dimensional rift closed, leaving Ferrofero's desperate voice behind.
"This guy pulls out all the stops."
Han Ji-woo ground his teeth. He had no idea what Ferrofero really was, but from the looks of it, the cat oversaw everything in the dungeon. So wasn't he the reason Ji-woo had been kidnapped here, missing out on 19 billion won in lottery glory?
Naturally, he couldn't look on Ferrofero kindly.
"Anyway, what the hell is this Mid-Grade Rule Addition…?"
As Han Ji-woo's uneasy mutter escaped, a message appeared.
Ferrofero has used an item to add a new rule to this place.
When night falls, mid-grade monsters will appear in large numbers.
The Hidden Space rejects the new rule forcibly injected by the item.
The Hidden Space and the item's energy clash.
After an intense struggle, the Hidden Space weakens the new rule but fails to fully erase it.
The new rule has changed to: "When night falls, low-grade monsters have a 20% chance to appear in small numbers."
Han Ji-woo stared at the system messages in disbelief. That previous quest and now this new rule—this shitty tabby cat was hell-bent on killing him somehow.
But the Hidden Space had twisted them all. This latest rule was massively nerfed too.
"20% chance for low-grade monsters at night, huh."
Typical low-grade monsters would be goblins like Pao, slimes, gremlins, and the like. Plus countless others Ji-woo didn't know.
Either way, with his base stats higher than a King Goblin's, he could hunt pretty much any low-grade monster.
"Cold calculation says it's fine, but not freaking out is key too."
Monster looks were grotesque enough to instinctively terrify any human. Courage training was a must!
"Pao!"
"Yeah, Master!"
Pao, who'd been checking out the Dungeon Tree sprout, hurried over.
"You… among monsters, how ugly are you on a scale?"
Pao thumped his chest proudly.
"Ugliest are us goblins! Right up there with dragons!"
"Yeah?"
"Yep!"
Thinking back, he'd been pretty tense at Pao's hideous mug on first sight. Now it was just the dopey expression and familiarity—no fear left.
"Pao. Pretend I'm your mortal enemy and make your scariest face."
"Scary face?"
"Yeah."
"Got it."
Pao wiped the puppyish grin and scrunched his face for real.
"Whoa, that's hitting."
Bulging eyes, bared fangs, all facial muscles rigid—it was legit scary.
"Good, hold that pose!"
"Gotcha!"
At Han Ji-woo's satisfied praise, Lucy, who'd snuck up, lined up beside Pao. She strained for her scariest face too, meowing pitifully.
Nyaang!
But her delicate features just made her adorably biteable.
"Aww, good girl, Lucy. You too."
After a light pat, he focused back on Pao's face.
"Gasp."
Cute to this—he involuntarily sucked in air.
"Pao! That's your washbasin face… no, great mug!"
"Yeah!"
Han Ji-woo stared it down, building his nerve.
After courage training, Han Ji-woo whittled something: two thick clubs from branches.
"Pao."
"Yeah."
"You handle swords, right?"
Pao nodded.
"Basics only."
Pao had innate skills—not dungeon-acquired, but goblin racial traits. Three: Dagger Throw, Basic Swordsmanship, Skill Transfer.
Details:
Can throw daggers up to 100 meters. Hit chance on target: 70%.
Swordsmanship learned from Sword Emperor Ruden Barfogia. Perfect mastery of all basics.
King Goblin innate skill. Can transfer innate skills through training.
The one Han Ji-woo eyed most was Skill Transfer. Train with Pao, get Dagger Throw and Basic Swordsmanship.
'Wish Great Harvest transferred too, but it's not innate.'
Shrugging off regret, he asked Pao: "Teach me swordsmanship starting today."
"Got it, Master!"
Thrilled to help, Pao grabbed a club and began instruction.
"Stance first! Feet shoulder-width!"
"Like this?"
"Wider!"
"This?"
"More!"
Crunch. Teacher mode flipped Pao—voice gruff, ignoring the master.
As Han Ji-woo opened his mouth—
Nyaaw!
Whack!
"Urk!"
Lucy, watching, launched and slapped Pao's cheek with a cat punch. Pao teared up, staring at her.
"Wh-why?"
Hiss!
Pao trembled and nodded.
"O-okay. I'll teach Master politely. S-sorry."
Lucy hopped onto Han Ji-woo's head to supervise.
"Aw, Lucy, why? I'm fine. Haha. Pao, it's cool—keep going like before. Really. Go on~"
Han Ji-woo bluffed, raising his club. But Pao eyed Lucy warily, teaching ultra-gently.
"Oh."
Two hours of lessons, and progress showed. Pao's Skill Transfer effect. Hit 100%, gain Basic Swordsmanship.
"Whew. Basics ain't easy. Soaked in sweat."
Body drenched, shower cravings hit.
"Come to think, only washed face and hair since arriving. No real bath."
Lake water for drinking made full dips iffy.
"Need a basin or something."
Scanning, his eyes hit the apple tree base.
"That work?"
Han Ji-woo gripped and yanked. Crack! Roots snapped, base out.
Placed it down, stabbed five fingers in center.
Squish!
'Oh, works.'
High stats enabled it. He hollowed it out.
Scraaape!
Deep wooden basin done.
Will the craft from apple tree base become a Basin?
"Yes."
Flash of light—basin upgraded beyond crude origins. Now store-bought quality.
Added blueprint:
Wooden Basin = Apple Tree Base
"Nice."
Rustic but practical basin born—Han Ji-woo stripped and headed lakeside. Scooped, dumped over head.
Splash!
"Whoa, refreshing!"
Cool water invigorated. Two more scoops, set basin down.
"Wanna wash hair proper."
Water alone smelled. Solution?
Eyes hit lavender blooms. Plucked some, dropped in basin, muttering.
"Creation, you're my hope."
Will the water and lavender petals become Perfume?
"Yes! Perfume."
Shimmer—water turned pale purple. Blueprint added.
Sniffed: subtle, not overpowering—perfect.
Washed hair, made extra batch for body. Lavender everywhere—bliss.
Bonus: washed clothes too. Hung on branch, campfire to dry.
While drying, too naked—wove dungeon weeds into skirt. Creation made Dungeon Weed Skirt, polished.
"Whew. Starting to look civilized. Hope the dungeon folk are safe."
Leisure sparked worry habit.
"What the hell is this place."
"These paths are a nightmare…."
Dungeon Floor 4. 58 survivors and 37 goblins had descended early morn, wandering till dusk.
Seol Ara checked her map. Massive window dwarfed prior floors.
Mitchell asked, "Ara, exploration at?"
"About 30%."
Her map skill marked shared spots from Han Ji-woo, but no exit.
Someone grumbled, "Sigh. Feels like all-day poking, still 30%?"
Bam!
Ishihara Yui punched the wall, growling. "Shut the death talk! Everyone's beat—don't sap morale!"
"…."
No more complaints under her glare. Mitchell frowned but held tongue—risk of brawl too high.
Swallowed sigh, checked quest.
Maze Hunt!
📍 Goal: Find the exit to Floor 5.
🎁 Rewards: Food Box, Random Skill Acquisition Ticket
Maze Hunt fit. Floor 4: colossal maze. Apple trees, lake, toilet, house—lost.
Apples from 2-3 kept meals going. But endless wandering wore minds thin.
'Need a plan….'
Mitchell pondered—
"Huh?"
Seol Ara's eyes sparkled at something.