Skill Stones and a Single Room
Don't provoke it. As I dug into the coffin, a transparent stone chunk revealed itself, along with two blue stones.
"Skill stones, huh. You crawled all the way in here just to get these?"
Karen glanced at my dusty hands and asked. I straightened my back and gripped the transparent stone as hard as I could.
"Yeah. I need these badly."
This was the whole reason I'd entered the dungeon in the first place. No hesitation needed.
Skill: Forced Promotion
As the skill stone shattered, a new power settled into my body. With this, Limit Break wasn't just a pipe dream anymore.
"You just smashed that expensive thing without a second thought."
"That's why we cleared it, right?"
"So you're using the rest too?"
"Probably. Money's not an issue for me."
This blue skill stone granted a passive that permanently reduced mental damage taken. It was a nice bonus, and damn, what a solid effect. I had two of them. Breaking multiples wouldn't just stack or enhance the skill randomly, so I handed one to Karen.
I could've sold it, but if it ended up in some villain's hands? Better with a reliable ally like her.
"...What're you doing?"
"What do you think? Giving it to you."
"Why the hell are you giving it to me?"
"You looked pitiful?"
"Why beat around the bush if you wanna get hit?"
I nearly took a punch for that joke.
"Kidding. It's the same skill stone anyway—holding both is pointless for me."
"Sell it if you can't use it."
"Didn't I just say I'm loaded?"
Not loaded enough to hoard skill stones like crazy, of course. They sell out before inventory even hits the market. You can't buy them even if you want to.
Still, handing this rare one to her was worth it. She was this world's protagonist, after all. Investing now, at her low point, was a no-brainer. Plus, personally, I wanted to look out for her a bit.
"Fine... whatever. How am I supposed to read a rich guy's mind?"
She hesitated, then snatched it from my hand with a shy grab.
"In return, don't sell it—use it yourself. That's why I'm giving it."
"Tch."
As I spoke, Karen clicked her tongue and crushed the skill stone. Her eyes widened instantly.
"Hey, this thing..."
Reading the skill info in her head, she looked awestruck. Like a kid thrilled by a birthday gift but trying to play it cool, mumbling with pursed lips. Fun to watch. I enjoyed the view and shattered my own stone.
Skill: Worn Spirit
Worn Spirit. A sturdy passive that ignored about 20% of mental damage taken by the owner. Plenty of ways to train the body, but mental fortitude? Rare as hell. That bumped its value even higher.
Now, I'd stand a better chance against those mind-attack freaks and their weird powers.
"...I can't just take this."
As I savored my upgrade, Karen suddenly spoke up.
"Why not? Think of it as a gift."
"No way you'd hand over something this good for nothing. You'll use it as leverage for some crazy favor later."
Yeah, no way she'd accept it without pushback.
"Fine, add 500 to your debt then. Friend discount—500. Happy?"
"But then you can't use it as leverage for—"
"Heh, geez. I get it. I'm not that shady."
"Hmph..."
She narrowed her eyes at me for a long moment, then nodded.
"Alright. You're a bit sketchy, but I'll trust you."
Wait, I'm giving the gift—why do I have to be grateful? Absurd.
"Yeah, thanks a ton."
Dungeon cleared, we backtracked the way we'd come. The place was bigger than expected, eating up time, and the nightmare slime horde explosion delayed us further.
We were supposed to catch the last bus per plan, but now? Might miss it.
Out of the dungeon, up from the basement, out of the shack—we hustled to the bus stop.
One good thing, one bad.
Good: No villains despite the dark outskirts.
Bad:
"......"
"Man, they really just peeled out without looking back. Rude."
I muttered at the taillights vanishing in the distance. Phone check: harsh reality unchanged. We'd run hard, too.
"...Part of your 'perfect' plan too?"
Karen turned to me quietly.
"Appreciate the vote of confidence in my planning, but no."
"Show-off!"
"Ow."
Rubbing where she'd smacked me, I checked my phone again.
"Not the worst, though. One civilian lodge still open nearby. Crash there tonight, leave in the morning."
"Silver lining. Not thrilled about camping out again."
Karen yawned, rubbed her eyes, and nudged my back to lead on.
I nodded and followed the phone's directions to the lodge.
And then, another bad thing happened.
"Two rooms, please."
"Oh dear. We've only got one left."
"Ah."
One room after all that? Awkward city.
"...You planned this."
I shook my head frantically at her icy tone.
"No way. How could I?"
"You're rich."
"What does that have to do with it?"
Anyway, total pickle. Karen was basically an adult girl on the cusp. My body's probably similar age-wise, so sharing a room? Uh...
"...I don't care. Share or not."
Karen tossed it out casually.
"For real?"
"I'm not the type to joke around like some people. Decide quick—I'm beat."
"How can I help?"
"...One room, please."
I blurted it out at the innkeeper's question. Paid up, and he led us to the room.
"Checkout by noon. Oh, and soundproofing's solid—rest easy. Good night."
Handed the key, he headed back downstairs.
Did he have to mention soundproofing? Mood's weird now.
"....."
"....."
In the entryway after he left, stiff silence hung between us.
So awkward I might die.
Then Karen wordlessly slipped off her shoes, headed inside—and straight for the bathroom.
Or tried to.
"I'm using the bathroom first."
"Uh, yeah. Go ahead."
Before closing the door, she peeked out and said it, then shut it.
I slowly removed my shoes too, killing time by scoping the room.
TV's a bit old. Mattress feels decent. Pillows are comfy, good...
—Shhhhhh...
The faint sound of running water muddled my head a bit.
Snap out of it. We had no choice—one room left. Just here to crash and recover. No ulterior motives.
"Hoo..."
To quell the intrusive thoughts, I climbed onto the bed, crossed my legs, and started my daily meditation habit.
Today's quests were done, but I felt like it anyway.
How much time passed?
—Creak.
The sound opened my eyes naturally. Steam wafted from the bathroom as Karen stepped out cautiously.
No spare clothes, so same outfit, but her flushed cheeks and damp hair screamed fresh shower.
Damn, she looks pretty even post-shower. Does she skip makeup normally?
"What're you doing? Chasing enlightenment?"
Caught staring in admiration, she asked.
"Wrapping up the day. Bathroom free now?"
"Do what you want."
She strode over and plopped on the bed's edge. Sweet shampoo scent tickled my nose.
"Hey."
I ignored it best I could, got off the bed, and asked,
"What if I had bad intentions? I'm a guy, y'know... Aren't you too careless?"
She smirked and fired back.
"Why, planning to pounce?"