Resonance Stone Mining
"A Goblin Shaman appeared in the nearby forest?!"
"Yes. I brought its ears back as proof."
"Chief, take a look at this!"
The Adventurer's Guild buzzed with sudden activity the moment I reported my subjugation results, which I'd done while stopping by to submit my membership application.
I cautiously read the room and asked,
"Is a Goblin Shaman showing up really that big of a deal?"
"Well... the knights usually patrol this area regularly, so it's definitely not common. Something unusual might be happening."
The guild receptionist scribbled something on a piece of paper with a quill, looking impressed.
"Still, you're amazing. Bringing down a Goblin Shaman on your very first hunt... Honestly, I've never seen anyone fulfill the guild's entry requirements like this before."
"Huh? Is there no hazing ritual or initiation here?"
"Of course not. For safety reasons, we usually guide newly registered adventurers toward easy tasks, like repairing roofs, finding lost cats, or cleaning sewers."
"Ha..."
Repairing roofs? Finding lost cats??
What kind of utopia is this?
The adventurers of Velheim I knew were nothing more than meat shields used to repel magical beasts.
Cheap, disposable commodities whose lives were ground down just to delay humanity's extinction.
"So, can I join like this?"
"Well... registering with our Achaia Guild requires quite a bit of paperwork. First, we need an identification document issued by your previous city. If we recruit murderers or felons, it ruins our guild's reputation."
Ugh, how tedious.
In the game, all you had to do was get into a massive brawl with a veteran adventurer, share a bottle of rum to make up, and boom—you were registered.
Naturally, I didn't possess anything resembling an ID.
As I pondered my options, my recent conversation with Malton suddenly crossed my mind.
"Well... I lost my identification when I ran into some bandits, but I was actually referred to this guild. I don't know if you've heard of him, but his name is Malton..."
"You were referred by Lord Malton?"
The receptionist stared at me in surprise before continuing.
"How unusual... He's one of the strongest adventurers in our local branch, but he rarely recommends anyone. Though lately, it seems his health has taken a turn for the worse, as he's only been taking easy requests..."
"Haha..."
"In any case, a rookie who slays a Goblin Shaman right off the bat and comes recommended by Lord Malton... I have high expectations for you!"
"So I can take care of the identification later, right?"
"Yes! If an elf like him vouches for you, you can't be a bad person. Just fill out the essential information here, and I'll issue your adventurer's token right away. Is there anything else you need assistance with?"
"Yes, I'd like to take on the 'Resonance Stone Mining' quest immediately."
"Resonance Stone mining?"
The guild receptionist looked up at me with a puzzled expression that clearly asked, Why that of all things?
Pulling his hood low over his face, Doran stepped back outside the city walls and headed toward the location specified in the quest slip.
His immediate goal was clear.
Level up as much as possible and boost his combat power before the dungeon opened.
To do that, he needed to awaken the greaves he had stolen from the Mary Celeste fleet.
This item was unique; unlocking its hidden potential required a material called Resonance Stone.
Furthermore, the Resonance Stone mining quest had a strict prerequisite: a minimum party of four.
I have no choice but to party up with other adventurers this time...
Walking briskly, he reached the designated meeting spot and spotted three figures chatting amongst themselves.
Are those the people who took the same quest?
A man and a woman, armed with a bow and a short spear respectively.
And the woman holding a sword and shield... judging by the shape of her ears, she seemed to be a Retriever beastman.
The party composition wasn't bad, but judging by their youthful appearances and gear, they were greenhorns who hadn't even been adventurers for three months.
Tsk... I'm a bit uneasy about trusting them to watch my back.
Then again, maybe that wasn't something a guy who had literally just registered as an adventurer should be saying.
As Doran approached, the Retriever beastman sensed his presence and greeted him with a friendly smile.
"Are you here for the Resonance Stone mining quest? Nice to meet you! I'm Razvel! Could we verify your identity before we head out?"
"Yes, here it is."
Doran handed over the wooden token he had received after completing his guild registration.
"Ah, but be careful. The ink might smudge if you touch it wrong."
"Pardon? Oh, the ink really isn't dry yet... You must have just become an adventurer. Will you be alright? I heard Kobolds occasionally appear in the cave we're heading to..."
"That won't be an issue."
Doran answered confidently, but a flicker of doubt crossed the faces of the other adventurers.
Well, that's only natural.
He wasn't from a race naturally gifted in combat, and his only weapon was a single sword rusted by sea breezes.
When he shrugged, the Retriever beastman, Razvel, gave an awkward smile and returned the wooden token.
"Well... your details seem to check out, so let's talk while we walk! Besides, they say the chances of monsters appearing in the Resonance Stone cave are pretty low. The veteran adventurers who went last time said there were no issues at all..."
"...Do you happen to know when those adventurers visited?"
"Hmm... it must have been about three months ago. That was the last exploration record."
"Hmm..."
It was only natural for monsters to move into places abandoned by humans.
And three months was more than enough time for magical beasts to establish a nest.
I have a bad feeling about this.
That was flag number one.
After walking for about thirty minutes along a narrow path cutting through the forest, they arrived at a massive cave.
Razvel looked up from her map and spoke.
"Alright... we're here! This is the cave where we can mine the Resonance Stones. Oh, wait a second..."
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for traces of magical beasts! If they nest here, they usually leave signs. If there are droppings, we can even estimate what kind of monster it is. ...It looks clean, so I think we're good to go in."
Razvel's group lit their torches and stepped into the cave, but Doran stopped, furrowing his brow.
...No, this is actually weirder.
If it had been abandoned for three months, either magical beasts or wild animals should have slipped in and out at least a few times.
To shelter from the rain, or to regulate their body temperature away from the scorching midday sun.
Yet, the complete absence of any traces was highly suspicious.
In cases like this, usually...
Doran strode away from the cave entrance and scanned the surroundings.
Sure enough, behind some inconspicuous bushes, half-eaten animal bones and feathers lay discarded.
It's not Kobolds... Goblins? No, Goblins usually smear feces or hang up their prey to mark their territory...
Flag number two.
"Um... Doran? What are you doing over there?"
"I'm coming. I was just checking on something."
Urged on by the group, Doran lit his torch and stepped inside.
You have entered the Resonance Stone Cave!
Though it is practically an abandoned mine due to long-term excavation, scattered Resonance Stones still emit a faint glow deep within the cavern.
Be on your guard, as magical beasts are known to appear occasionally!
The moment they stepped into the fairly spacious cave, a damp chill clung to their skin.
It's far more desolate than what I saw in the game.
With every step, eerie footsteps echoed through the dark. Remnants of torches and broken pickaxes left behind by previous adventurers lay scattered here and there.
But Doran paid no attention to the debris, keeping his eyes glued to the cave walls.
Is it around here?
When exploring a place like this, it helped to lower one's gaze to match the height of the magical beasts.
Just as humans left graffiti at eye level, monsters also left claw marks at their own eye level.
They had been advancing for quite some time while carefully scanning for traces when the male adventurer walking ahead spoke up.
"Ugh... is the mining area still far? Razvel, do you smell any monsters? You're a canine beastman, so your sense of smell should be sharp."
"Well... I'm not sure. My nose has felt completely numb from a strange smell for a while now."
"A strange smell?"
"Yeah... Ah, found it. I think this is the source... What is this?"
The moment Razvel picked up a bundle of crushed mushrooms and herbs from the cave floor, Doran instinctively cursed under his breath.
"...Ah, dammit."
That was a method used by a specific type of monster to mask their scent.
Flag number three. Confirmed.
This place had already been overrun by magical beasts.
And the fact that these traces were now visible to the naked eye meant they had already ventured too deep to turn back.
It's too late to run...!
His blood ran cold, and a cold sweat broke out across his entire body.
Now that an invisible dragnet had closed around them, turning back to flee would only guarantee an encounter with the beasts.
But if they fought them head-on like this, they would be slaughtered in an instant.
The monsters nesting here were far too formidable for his current stats to handle.
In that case, what was the only way to survive?
First, the scent...! I have to mask our scent...!!
Doran threw himself flat onto the ground and shouted.
"Everyone, stop!"
The adventurers turned back to look at him with bewildered, bizarre expressions, but Doran paid them no mind as he rolled around on the floor, screaming.
"You all have to do exactly as I do! Hurry!"
The party of adventurers is bewildered by your bizarre behavior!
Dammit...!
There was no time for a lengthy explanation.
Doran rolled frantically, coating his entire body in mud.
But masking his scent alone wasn't enough.
That would only delay their discovery; it wouldn't ultimately save their lives.
To survive the impending battle, he needed to secure stats.
As Doran agonized over what to do, he looked at the bewildered adventurers staring at him and realized something.
They cannot comprehend your actions and are whispering amongst themselves!
⚡ SKILL EFFECT ACTIVATED: CHAOS ⚡
Agility and Strength have increased by 2!
"...Y-You have to do it."
"Pardon...?"
"If you want to live, you have to smear this on your bodies right now, just like me!"
"W-Wait...! There's feces mixed in here...! Argh!!"
"I-It's filthy...!"
"It's not filthy!! We are becoming one with nature!!"
Doran shouted, his eyes rolling back wildly like a man possessed.
For a split second, the dignity of a modern man flashed before his eyes, but Doran cast aside his hesitation and chose the path of survival.
When he scooped up a handful of foul-smelling mud and thrust it toward them, the adventurers grimaced and backed away.
From their perspective, a guy they had met for the first time today had suddenly snapped and started acting like a lunatic. It was utterly absurd!
The adventurers are thoroughly repulsed and are on guard against you!
They feel instinctive shock and disgust at the sight of you covered in filthy muck!
Agility has temporarily increased by 5!
My Agility went up...!
But his awe at the precious stats bought at the cost of his social reputation was short-lived. A bone-chilling shriek echoed from deep within the cave.
—Kreeeeeeeeeek—!!!!
"Ugh...! What on earth is that?!"
"Everyone, prepare for battle! It looks like Goblins have nested here!"
"B-But are Goblins usually this loud...?"
"...It's not Goblins."
"Pardon...? If it's not Goblins, then what..."
Tring!
The 'Radgit' nesting in the cave has detected your presence!
A natural recluse, highly skilled at erasing its own traces.
The Radgit catches the scent of humans and salivates! Humans who lose their way or enter the cave to escape the rain make excellent prey for the Radgit.
Goddammit...
It was the worst possible monster they could encounter right now.
A Radgit was a beast whose maximum level reached as high as 17.
They had a gaunt, bat-like build, hairless and slick gray skin, and cloudy, degenerated eyes.
It was essentially a cave-dwelling ape.
Armed with razor-sharp claws and aided by the dark, enclosed environment of the cave, they transformed into absolute slaughterers against novices.
Right now, even I couldn't guarantee my own survival.
—Kreeeeeeeeeek!!!
In an instant, a Radgit shrieked from beyond the darkness, lunging forward and swinging its claws.
Razvel reflexively raised her shield to block, but Doran immediately sensed that something was wrong.
She doesn't know how to use a shield properly...!
Like a true novice, she was merely trying to absorb the impact head-on with brute force.
Taking advantage of a stumbling Razvel, the Radgit unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks.
Crack! Creak! Crunch!
"Kugh...!"
"Get back, Razvel!!"
The spearman thrust his short spear, but it only grazed the beast's thigh.
In the chaotic scuffle, the arrow fired by the male archer missed entirely and embedded itself in the ceiling.
It was a recipe for total annihilation.
Finally, the Radgit bypassed the shield, ready to plunge its claws deep into her flesh—
Slash!
Doran swiftly slipped behind the Radgit and severed its neck.
It was a strike made possible only because he had masked his scent and boosted his stats.
He grabbed the fallen Razvel's hand and pulled her up. She sheepishly lowered her head.
"Ah, um... th-thank you?"
"It's not over yet."
"Pardon?"
—Kreeeeeeeeeek!!!!!
The moment the words left his mouth, the shrieks of more magical beasts echoed from deep within the cave.
As if in response, a chain reaction of roars erupted from all directions, followed by a frantic barrage of system alerts.
The faces of the adventurers turned pale as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.
A single Radgit was already a handful, but if they were swarmed by this many, they stood absolutely no chance.
Doran also gritted his teeth anxiously, staring into the darkness.
There's no time...!
With his current stats, he could handle one or two, but if they swarmed him all at once, he would be torn limb from limb.
To survive, he had to secure more stats.
Which meant he had to perform an even greater act of lunacy.
To draw their attention and sow even greater chaos in this frantic situation, there was only one way.
"Everyone, look over here!!"
Doran shouted at the top of his lungs, stopping the fleeing adventurers in their tracks.
Then, closing his eyes tightly...
...Ah, screw it!
He stripped off his top and pants, throwing his arms wide open.
The adventurers are utterly horrified!
They cannot believe their own eyes!
Faced with an unspeakable sight, the adventurers quickly avert their eyes!
Doran threw himself flat on the ground, rolling in the muddy puddles as he cried out desperately.
"No! Everyone, look at me! Look closely!!"
No, actually, please don't look.
"This is my true form!"
No, it's not. This is definitely not my true form.
"T-Take this!!"
As if painting his entire body black wasn't enough, he began flinging handfuls of foul, muddy muck, causing the adventurers to shriek and scramble backward.
"H-He's a complete psychopath!!"
"I'm n-not a psychopath!!"
Every time the scales of modern human dignity and the raw will to survive tipped back and forth like a seesaw, tears welled up in his heart. But he had to endure.
⚡ CHAOS EFFECT ACTIVATED ⚡
Agility has temporarily increased by 4!
⚡ CHAOS EFFECT ACTIVATED ⚡
Agility has temporarily increased by 3!
⚡ STAT INCREASE ⚡
Sub-stat [Stealth] has temporarily increased by 2!
Temporarily...
"W-Whoa..."
He could feel his body growing lighter in real-time.
It was a stroke of luck that not only his main stats but also his hidden stat, 'Stealth', had been boosted.
With this, he could actually stand a fighting chance against a pack of Radgits.
Shring!
As he drew his cutlass and stepped forward, the adventurers stared at him with utterly incomprehensible expressions.