Dungeon Mole
They'd started seeing it frequently ever since descending to the fourth underground floor. A Dungeon Mole. It looked at least ten times bigger than a regular mole, but unlike monsters, it had no aggression. Whenever it encountered people, it was too busy startling and fleeing.
But as Seol Ara watched it closely, something felt off.
All the moles we've met so far... they seem like the same one?
At first, she'd thought the fourth floor was just teeming with Dungeon Moles. But after a few encounters, she realized the one from before was this same one now. The mole had brown fur with black patches scattered throughout—and those patches were exactly the same. Not just similar, but a perfect match.
That meant this mole kept approaching people only to flee repeatedly.
Why would it do that?
Pondering it, Seol Ara soon figured it out. She turned to a man standing nearby. He was Korean like her, named Kim Jung-min. He had a kind face that radiated honesty.
"Jung-min."
"Yeah, Ara noona."
"Your awakened skill is Animal Affinity, right?"
Kim Jung-min scratched his head with a shy smile.
"Yeah. I should've gotten something more useful, but I've just been a burden. Sorry about that."
"I think that skill could help right now."
"Huh? How?"
Seol Ara pointed ahead.
"See that guy over there?"
Following her finger, they spotted a Dungeon Mole watching them from afar.
"Oh, yeah. There sure are a lot of these things around here."
"No, it's the same one doing this over and over."
"The same one?"
Just then, Mitchell approached, having overheard their conversation.
"Are you certain?"
His blunt question caught her off guard—straightforward was good, but sometimes it threw her.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"That means... it knows all the paths here."
Otherwise, it couldn't keep appearing in front of people and vanishing like that. It knew the routes, so it could flee far away and still track them down precisely.
The problem was, even if the Dungeon Mole knew the way, they had no way to use it. The first time they'd faced one, it had vanished at impossible speed—like the wind itself. After a few experiences, people judged it harmless and stopped chasing. They couldn't catch it anyway. And even if they did...
"Say it does know the paths, and we catch it. You think it'll guide us to the next floor's exit?"
Ishihara Yui had joined them, pointing out the issue.
But Seol Ara, who already had an idea, answered immediately.
"Everyone remembers that message, right? The one about Han Ji-woo unlocking the Pet System."
"Yes. So you're saying we tame it?"
Mitchell's question.
"Exactly. The Dungeon Mole's scared of us. It watches from a distance, but bolts if we get close. Doesn't that seem odd? If it's so afraid, why not stay away entirely?"
"Yeah, now that you mention it."
Yui nodded in agreement. The others murmured assent too.
"I think one of us is drawing it in repeatedly. And it's you, Jung-min."
"Oh, the Animal Affinity skill? Makes sense!"
Yui snapped her fingers.
"Yeah. That's probably pulling the mole in. So if you step up and charm it, we could tame it as a pet."
It was worth a shot. Kim Jung-min rolled up his sleeves at the idea he could help.
"I'll give it a try, noona."
The others stayed put while Kim Jung-min cautiously approached the Dungeon Mole. Mitchell aimed his right hand at it, ready for Fire Ball if things went south.
"Hey there~?"
Kim Jung-min crouched low, inching closer slowly. The mole looked a bit spooked but didn't flee like before. As he drew near, it even sniffed curiously.
Moments later.
Kim Jung-min reached out and gently stroked its head.
Then, above the mole's head, this appeared:
Affection: 2/100%
Could this be...?
* * *
Kim Jung-min petted the Dungeon Mole diligently, shared food, played with it—and finally maxed out the affection at 100%.
It became his pet.
"We did it! I tamed the Dungeon Mole! It's my pet now!"
"Knew it~!"
Seol Ara's hunch was spot on. With Han Ji-woo unlocking the Pet System, she figured Kim Jung-min's Animal Affinity might let him tame it. And it worked!
From there, things progressed smoothly. Leading with the Dungeon Mole, they found the apple trees and lake. They stripped the ten trees bare, dividing and eating the apples, then grilled mountain trout.
Stuffed with supplies, they secured the exit to the fifth floor. But fatigue was high, so they built a barracks nearby and took turns resting.
Then.
"Uh, Ara noona. It wants to show us somewhere."
"The mole?"
"Yeah."
"Mind if I tag along?"
Mitchell stood too.
"I'll come. Might be dangerous."
The three followed the Dungeon Mole through the maze for about twenty minutes.
"Whoa, we'd have just wandered aimlessly without it."
The maze wasn't just complex—following certain patterns teleported you unexpectedly. The mole navigated flawlessly.
Soon, it stopped at a massive chest.
"I'll open it. Just in case."
Mitchell fired a Fire Ball at the chest—trap insurance.
Whoosh—Boom!
The lid flew off, and a message appeared.
Dwarf's Armor Chest
A mountain of armor erupted: breastplates, shields, helmets, greaves, boots, and more! Way more than the chest could hold. Enough for everyone surviving, and all gleaming top-quality.
Kim Jung-min yelled in ecstasy.
"Jackpot!"
* * *
Basic Swordsmanship Inheritance: 92/100%
Dagger Throw Inheritance: 95/100%
"Arrrgh. I'm beat. Let's call it."
Han Ji-woo had amped up training with Pao, adding dagger throws. A full day pushed progress to 92% and 95%.
"Master! Good skills! Just a bit more and done!"
"Yeah, feels like it. Hey, who's Luden Barfogia?"
Pao's Basic Swordsmanship skill mentioned learning from Sword Emperor Luden Barfogia. Curious, he asked.
"Luden! Sword Emperor from our continent! Few generations back, King Goblin inherited from him!"
"Luden was human?"
"Yep."
"Why teach a King Goblin?"
"Back then, goblins and humans got along. Briefly."
"Got it."
Not too invested in ancient history, Han Ji-woo dropped it.
"Whew."
He sprawled on his dungeon weed mat. Lucy pounced, flopping on his chest.
Purr~ Purr~
She purred happily. Pao eyed enviously, inching his butt toward Han Ji-woo's stomach.
"Bathroom, out."
"Got it."
He backed off at the firm order.
"You think you're a cat?"
Even a small goblin's weight crushed. As he lay there, night fell fast. He scanned for the Ogre constellation.
Oh! There it is.
Second time was easy. It glowed, and messages appeared.
Affinity with Ogres increases. Relationship with Ogres changes from Hostile to Neutral.
Affinity with the same monster type can change once per day maximum. Find the same constellation on future nights to increase affinity further.
"Nice. Up it tomorrow. More training?"
"Yes, master!"
After fifteen minutes.
Dagger Throw
Ten minutes later.
Basic Swordsmanship
"Yes!"
Han Ji-woo pumped his fist and opened his status window. Dagger Throw and Basic Swordsmanship shone proudly in his skill list.
"Good work, Pao!"
"Thanks, master."
Pao nodded proudly.
"Now, food..."
Then.
4 'One-Horned Chickens' Summoned
"What the—?"
Monsters appeared with the message.
Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cluck!
Powerful cries echoed. One-Horned Chickens—hens named for the horn on their heads, three times normal chicken size. Two roosters with combs, two hens without. All black-feathered.
Han Ji-woo puzzled over their arrival, then realized.
Damn cat butt!
Ferrofero's new rule: 20% chance nightly of low-grade monster spawns. Tonight's luck struck.
"Actually, perfect timing."
Brief panic aside, great chance to test new skills in combat.
Pao and Lucy blocked him instantly, but he stepped forward.
"Stay back unless I'm in real danger. Pao, lend me your dagger and sword."
"Got it, master!"
Armed, he hurled the dagger at the lead rooster. Distance: under 100 meters.
Dagger Throw!
Swoosh!
It sliced air, embedding in the rooster's forehead.
Squelch!
Squaaaawk!
Skull shattered, blood gushed; it collapsed dead.
One-shot?
Even low-grade monsters should've been tougher. Buoyed, he charged with sword drawn.
Cock-a-doodle!
The three glared, claws, beaks, horns ready.
But Han Ji-woo's eyes tracked every move. High agility made dodging trivial.
One more!
Instinctively stepping sword forms, he bisected a hen's neck.
Slash!
It died silently.
Two left—finish quick!
As he swung, a white egg rolled from the dead hen's rear. His hand froze.
"Eggs!"
In that instant, he saw them not as monsters, but egg farms.