Chapter 4

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 4

Chapter Title: 3rd Floor

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Late into the night.

I let out a sigh and closed the search bar. No matter how much I scoured, nothing useful turned up.

"Umm..."

After sitting perfectly still in concentration, a faint weight settled on my legs.

I pulled my hand from the mouse for a moment and glanced down.

"......"

There on my lap, a little silver head was using my thigh as a pillow, blissfully asleep, oblivious to the world.

Earlier, when I'd booted up the computer, its eyes had sparkled at the cursor on the screen. But after hours of me staring at nothing but boring text, it must have lost interest fast.

Snooze...

I could feel its tiny back rising and falling. Warmth seeped through my leg from its body heat.

'Sleeping like a rock.'

I chuckled softly and gently stroked its hair.

Afraid to wake it, I didn't dare shift position as I reached for the mouse again.

Click, click.

A few more searches, but the screen was still flooded with worthless chatter.

'Guess I'll have to ask directly.'

After ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a moment's hesitation, I hit the [Write Post] button.

I kept the content vague on purpose. The moment I hit [Post], a comment notification pinged—before I could even refresh.

"......Huh?"

I figured it'd get niche treatment at worst, but they were straight-up denying it existed.

'No such thing as a Summoner class... at all?'

Then another comment popped up.

The reply came quick.

Tower Gallery.

Lame name, but "real hunters" had me clicking the link before I knew it.

"......Ha."

A hollow laugh escaped me.

Just wanted some info, and they want me to snag an A-Rank first.

"......"

I quietly closed the tab. Nothing was ever easy.

'A-Rank or higher only.'

Ridiculous. Then it hit me—a post I'd seen somewhere before.

'In that case...'

B~A-Ranks got swarmed with attention from everywhere: Association, government, guilds. Reports, appearances, interviews... endless.

And with this elementary-school-kid face and white hair to boot? Stepping out like this would turn me into a circus freak.

But S-Rank? That changed everything, or so I'd heard.

At that level, they started watching their step around you.

Sure enough...

I muttered low.

"S-Rank, huh."

Wouldn't be easy. But somehow, it felt doable.

"S-Rank it is, for now."

The Little One on my lap stirred in its sleep. My hand automatically patted its back. It settled right down.

That moment, a strange chuckle bubbled up.

"You're coming with me, right?"

No reply, but it clung tight to my leg.

...Probably just my imagination.

I chuckled again, then finally powered down the computer for real. Time for sleep.

Dawn meant back to the Tower.

But the second I hit the bed, habit had me grabbing my phone.

Meant to search more, but my thumb hit shorts first.

"......Just one, then bed."

That one turned into ten.

Before I knew it, the clock in the corner read past 10 a.m.

The next day, late into the night.

Fwaaah—!

As the light faded, familiar darkness cloaked my vision. Musty earth scent. Clammy dampness.

"......Another cave."

No different from floors 1 or 2—just a dingy tunnel. Wider passageway, maybe?

Habit had me crouching low, scanning around.

That's when it hit.

A sticky presence slithered from the shadows ahead.

"Hey, Little One."

I called to the one draped over my shoulder. It flipped through the air in acknowledgment, blocking my path. That tiny back felt reassuring.

'Wish I could help more.'

But no attack spells yet—just two passives.

Until I got real skills, all I could do was cheer.

Thud, thud.

The thing emerging from the dark, shaking the cave floor, wasn't your run-of-the-mill goblin.

A hulking brute at least twice my size.

And its weapon? A ridiculously massive wooden club to match.

"......Hup."

The sheer pressure choked the air; my feet edged back on instinct. But the Little One ahead of me?

It looked up at the giant and mocked it, covering its mouth in a giggle mime.

Then, casually.

Snap.

Fwoosh!

In an instant, crimson flames erupted over the giant goblin's face.

"Kraaaagh!"

Even with its face ablaze in agony, the beast lunged more ferociously than ever. Its massive bulk charged like a tank.

The Little One flinched, frantically snapping its fingers again.

Zzzaap!

A bolt of lightning crashed from above. But that hide was too thick, maybe.

It twitched, slowed a tad—no critical hit.

'Not working?'

Panic flashed across the Little One's face too.

It wildly waved its hand, trying another spell. But all that sparked from its fingertips were puny flames and electric flickers.

Instinct took over. I yelled.

"Little One! Freeze the floor!"

Its eyes lit up at my shout.

It nodded eagerly and slammed its palm down at the ground.

Crack-crack!

Chilly frost spread instantly under the beast's feet. The floor flash-froze into a slick ice rink.

The madly charging giant goblin couldn't see its feet through the flames engulfing its face.

"Keeek?!"

Its foot slipped pathetically. The heavy body lost balance, floated midair, then smashed into the ground.

BAM—!

A cavern-shaking boom. It flailed on its back.

Now!

The Little One soared atop the fallen goblin, raining down spells in a frenzy with both hands.

Boom-boom-boom! Crunch!

Fireballs and lightning poured like a storm. The thing didn't even scream properly before turning to ash right there.

I hadn't even fought, but cold sweat poured down my back.

"Phew......"

Tension drained; my legs buckled. I plopped down right there.

Thought I was done for.

But the Little One? Still pissed, or something—gesturing wildly at empty air even after the fight.

Twisting fingers, flicking wrists, trying everything to squeeze out another spell.

Fwoosh.

Still just tiny sparks.

It pouted, toddled over to me, and looked up all aggrieved, mumbling away.

I stared blankly, then it clicked.

"Oh, uh. Praise?"

Mad after the fight 'cause no pat on the head?

"Yeah, yeah. Good job. Thanks."

I gently stroked its silver head. It narrowed its eyes in bliss for a sec, then snapped to like 'Wait, no.'—shaking its head in a fluster.

Then, super aggrieved, it flailed its arms in protest, babbling incoherently. No words, so who knows what.

What's the problem?

As we both stewed in frustration, a familiar glow flashed in the air.

"Mana stones again, huh."

I smacked my lips in disappointment, eyeing the status window.

That's when the Little One, now perched on my shoulder, jabbed a tiny finger fiercely at the air.

Straight at the floating system window, in fact.

"Huh?"

Once my eyes locked on, it pointed at the window once... then itself once. Alternating back and forth. Dead serious face.

"......"

Oh.

"You want me to check your status?"

It beamed like 'Finally!' and nodded vigorously. So that's what it was sulking about.

"Alright, let's see."

I focused on it and pulled up the details.

"......Race is ????"

I furrowed my brow. Race ???, second trait ???—everything locked or unknown. So many secrets.

But my eyes stopped lower.

[Elemental Magic (Lv.1)]

"Level 1......?"

I looked back at the Little One. This was Level 1?

Suddenly its earlier antics made sense. It knew this wasn't its full output.

The Little One hopped onto my knee and crossed its arms.

Like it was saying, "See? This is all I've got!"

I chuckled.

"Hey... this is more than enough already."

Its eyes went wide—unsure if praise or not.

I gave its head a pat.

"But Level 1 means... it can get even stronger, right."

If this grows... can I even handle it?

That thought brought more strange excitement than fear.