Kazuma walked casually on the increasingly busy streets of Orario.
That morning, the sun shone brightly, reflecting its light on the city buildings. His black hair, combed back, gleamed in the sunlight, adding to the charm of the young man with deep blue eyes.
The girls passing by couldn't help stealing glances at him.
How could they not? With his handsome face, muscular body wrapped in simple yet neat clothes, and black hair combed back, Kazuma looked like a young nobleman taking a stroll through the city.
However, Kazuma paid no attention to those glances. His sharp eyes stared straight ahead, his mind focused on one thing—becoming stronger.
Although it was still morning, the streets of Orario were already filled with activity.
Merchants were busy arranging their merchandise, while adventurers prepared to conquer the Dungeon.
Kazuma saw a group of novice adventurers who looked nervous yet excited—perhaps their first day.
"I was once like that too," he thought with a slight smile.
His stomach began to rumble, reminding him that he hadn't had breakfast. Kazuma stopped at a food stall that had just opened. A middle-aged man with a dirty apron greeted him.
"Good morning, young man! What would you like for breakfast today?" the merchant asked warmly.
"Bread and meat soup," Kazuma replied briefly, handing over a few valis coins.
While waiting for his food, Kazuma began to contemplate his plans for the day. After the incident fighting the Minotaur the other day, his spear had broken. He needed a new weapon if he wanted to return to the Dungeon.
"I need at least a durable weapon," Kazuma thought.
The merchant handed him a bowl of hot soup and a piece of bread. Kazuma accepted them and began eating in silence. The soup tasted salty and slightly spicy—not bad for breakfast before entering the Dungeon.
As he ate his breakfast, Kazuma recalled his conversation with an old man named Gorgon earlier that morning. His words about strength and purpose continued to echo.
"I will become strong," he said to himself. "Not for anyone else, but for myself."
After finishing his breakfast, Kazuma hurried to the weapon merchants district.
The streets grew busier as the sun rose, filled with people of various races—humans, elves, dwarves, animal people, even some demi-humans.
The weapon merchants district was filled with various shops, from famous blacksmiths to small traders selling used weapons. Kazuma chose to visit a simple shop that wasn't too crowded.
"Welcome!" greeted a middle-aged woman with muscular arms—typical of a blacksmith.
"Spear. Strong one," said Kazuma briefly.
"A spear, huh?" The woman assessed Kazuma from head to toe. "Are you an adventurer?"
"Yes," Kazuma answered shortly.
"Level?"
"One."
The woman nodded, then walked to the back of the shop. Soon after, she returned with several spears of different sizes.
"These are the level one spears I have in my collection," she explained. "This one is made of regular steel, strong enough for low to mid-level monsters. It costs 8,000 valis."
Kazuma took the spear, feeling its weight in his hands. Too light for his taste.
"Something heavier?"
The woman showed him another spear. "This one is made of special metal from floor 20, heavier but also stronger. It costs 15,000 valis."
Kazuma tried the second spear. The weight was right, but the price was too expensive.
"Anything else?"
The woman appeared to think for a moment before taking a spear with a slightly blackened tip.
"This spear was made by my husband before he passed away," said the woman with a slightly melancholic tone. "Its material is a mixture of regular iron with a bit of monster metal residue from floor 18. Not perfect, but strong. 12,000 valis."
Kazuma took the spear. Its weight felt right in his hands, its tip sharp despite looking somewhat rough. There was something different about this spear—as if radiating its maker's resolution.
"I'll take this one," Kazuma decided, handing over his valis coins.
After completing the transaction, Kazuma intended to buy some additional equipment—chest guard, arm protectors, or at least combat gloves. However, his money wasn't enough.
"Too poor," he muttered quietly, counting his remaining money which was only a few hundred valis. Not enough to buy any decent protection.
"It's dangerous to enter the Dungeon without adequate protection," he thought. "But I have no choice."
With his new spear in hand, Kazuma walked toward Babel Tower, the center of Orario and the entrance to the Dungeon.
His steps were firm and his eyes had a slight cold gleam, even though in his heart he knew that what he was about to do carried high risk.
---
The entrance to the Dungeon was a large circular room with a hole about 10 meters in diameter in its floor.
The room was adorned with magnificent columns and beautiful paintings of blue sky on its ceiling—an ironic contrast to the danger waiting below.
Although it was still morning, many adventurers had already gathered there. Some were in groups, discussing their strategies for the day. Others appeared alone, with tense or excited faces.
Kazuma walked among them, with no one paying attention to him. He was just one of many level one adventurers who would try their luck today.
Before descending, Kazuma checked his new spear once more, ensuring that his grip was strong and the tip was sharp. Without additional protection, his only advantages were his speed and attack strength.
"This is going to be a long day," he thought as he jumped into the hole.
Unlike beginner adventurers who had to use the stairs, Kazuma jumped directly downward, landing smoothly thanks to his trained agility.
Floor 1 of the Dungeon looked like a vast cave with bluish-green walls that glowed dimly. Naturally formed winding corridors led in various directions, as if inviting adventurers to get lost.
However, Kazuma already knew this place well. He had reached floor 5 before, so floors 1 through 5 held no secrets for him.
As he began walking down the corridor, a goblin appeared from around the corner. The small pale green monster growled, showing its sharp teeth before attacking with its small claws.
Kazuma wasn't intimidated. With a quick movement, he avoided the goblin's attack and countered with a spear thrust that precisely hit the monster's heart.
The goblin screamed in pain before bursting into dust, leaving behind a small crystal—a Magic Stone.
"Too easy," muttered Kazuma as he picked up the crystal and put it into a small pouch at his waist.
As he continued his journey, more monsters appeared—goblins, kobolds, and even some lizardmen. However, none of them posed a challenge for Kazuma.
With efficient movements, he stabbed, cut, and slashed every monster that stood in his way.
His new spear proved to be very effective, showing no signs of breaking despite having penetrated the thick skin of lizardmen multiple times.
While fighting, Kazuma also began to deepen his martial arts techniques from his Martial Memory skill.
When facing goblins, he used Boxing techniques to avoid attacks and deliver decisive blows.
Against more aggressive kobolds, he applied Muay Thai with deadly kicks and elbows.
When confronting stronger lizardmen, Aikido techniques helped him utilize the momentum of enemy attacks to bring them down.
In no time, Kazuma had reached floor 5 without significant difficulty.
His Magic Stone pouch was starting to fill up, but he had no intention of returning to the surface. No, his target today was more than just collecting Magic Stones.
Before him now stretched the path to floor 6—a more dangerous region than the previous floors.
Based on information he once knew, adventurers needed to have at least E-D level status to survive on floors 6 through 9 if adventuring solo.
Kazuma looked at the path ahead with a serious face. From his status, only VIT (Vitality) was at level E with a value of 430. The rest were still at level F or even lower.
"This is not ideal," he thought while gripping his spear tightly. "But I must become stronger. I must."
Ignoring internal warnings about the danger that awaited, Kazuma stepped forward, entering the realm of floor 6 with a serious expression.