My Self-Made Skillbook Episode 8
Episode 8
I applied the cheap burn ointment I'd bought at the Hunter's Market to my stomach.
It was a medicine made from plants found in the dungeon.
"Nnngh...."
Clenching my teeth, after applying all the medicine, my face was drenched in sweat.
When I examined my stomach, the skin that had been covered in blisters was slowly subsiding.
"Damn it."
My teeth ground together as I recalled the Golden Fox and the Flame Boar that had chased me right to the stairs.
'If I'm in this state after dealing with just two of them at once, I won't even be able to lay a hand on Jang Soyu and his underlings.'
As I pondered over what I lacked and what I needed right now, I sprang up from my spot.
"Kuh...."
Though I felt pain in my stomach that had yet to fully recover, I forced my body to move.
An hour later, having returned to the dungeon, I began wandering the 1st floor.
Having been defeated in the fight against the Golden Fox and Flame Boar pair, I was freshly reminded of how weak my body was.
'Aside from a few exceptions, hunters' bodies are only a bit sturdier than ordinary humans.'
That was why there was a Word I needed to get my hands on.
Walking around the 1st floor with my head raised, scanning the branches, I found some guys that were just right for me now.
Over ten squirrels were busy having a meal of tree fruits on high branches.
Magical beasts about three times the size of normal squirrels with strangely long arms.
Hunters called them "Throwing Squirrels."
I opened my pocket and pulled out something white and sharp. It was a throwing star made by carving monsters' bones.
And I checked once more what was strapped to my left arm. It was a large shield made of monster leather, covering almost the entire upper body.
All of them were things I'd bought cheaply at the Hunter's Market.
'Let's see....'
I drew back the arm holding the throwing star.
Swish!
The bone throwing star flew toward the squirrels.
Thunk!
The throwing star failed to hit a squirrel and lodged in the branch behind them. The Throwing Squirrels stopped eating and glared at me.
Seeing them lifting tree fruits and pine cones and such, I quickly lowered my stance, sat down, and covered my body with the shield.
Tatatatatak!
I heard the sound of the Throwing Squirrels' projectiles striking the shield.
Their method of attack was to throw whatever came to hand indiscriminately.
One might scoff thinking that was all they had, but their arm strength was quite formidable.
There were some among them that came down to the ground to pick up and throw stones; getting hit by one of those on the head would make you bleed.
Crack!
I felt something of a completely different level lodge into the shield. It was probably the monster bone throwing star I'd thrown earlier. A chill ran down my spine.
'Hurry up and come out.'
It was when I had been listening to the barrage for about ten-odd seconds.
[You have acquired the new Word
[You have acquired 10 Exp.]
"All right!"
Having achieved my goal, there was no longer any reason to be here.
While protecting my head with the shield, I backed away, then soon turned my body and ran.
Finding a place with no monsters nearby, I set the shield down on the ground.
And with a pounding heart, I summoned the book.
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-Status-
Ihwajin
HP: 100/100 MP: 30/30
Vitality: 5 Strength: 3 Magic: 3
Mental Strength: 4 Perception: 3
Unique Skill: [Edit Lv.1]
Exp: 405
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I'd been creating skills continuously, so the experience points hadn't been accumulating easily.
However, I decided to think of it as an investment rather than a waste.
'After all, the skills I've made so far might actually be useful in the fight against Jang Soyu's gang.'
To check the newly acquired Word, I opened the page with the Words.
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-Word List-
[Element] (1)
[Tool] (3)
...
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It was the newly acquired [Tool] Word.
For now, I had the offensive skills [Smash] and [Fireball], and the auxiliary skill [Charge], but I had no defensive skill.
Thinking that I would be fighting against a group, defense for survival was essential.
I wrote words on the blank page.
Having written one Word from the [Tool] and [Action] categories, I hesitated at the last word.
If I chose from the [Modifier] category like before, neither nor
'Block strongly with the shield? Block quickly with the shield?'
Rather than those, words like blocking perfectly or blocking thoroughly seemed more appropriate.
But I had no idea how to obtain such Modifier Words.
'...Shall I try it like this instead?'
Having decided on the third Word, I moved the pen.
It was an [Action] Word I had placed in the Daily Life category.
Since it wasn't a duplicate of the same word, it should be fine to have two [Action] Words.
[A total of 120 Exp is used.]
[A skill has been created.]
The words that had turned to light mixed smoothly and finally became a single skill.
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Created Skill: [One-Point Defense] (Superior)
Required Tool: Shield
Mana Cost: 3pt
Description: Defends against an opponent's attack by concentrating one's entire mind.
If defense succeeds at close range, creates an opening for a counterattack with a mana explosion.
However, even if defense succeeds, if the damage exceeds the defense by a certain amount, the mana explosion will not occur.
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'Superior!'
For the first time, a word other than 'Normal' appeared in the parentheses.
I had somewhat guessed, but it seemed the word that went in the back indicated how good the skill was after all.
'It also took more Exp to make.'
With a burning desire to test the skill, I headed down to the 2nd floor.
Grrr.
Not long after descending to the 2nd floor, I heard a familiar growl.
It was a Flame Boar.
Seeing the Golden Fox with it too, anger flared up inside me. It was those bastards from before.
The Flame Boar covered its body in flames and charged straight at me the moment it saw me.
I thrust the shield forward.
'One-Point Defense!'
A bit more mana drained out than when I used [Smash] and [Charge].
Crack!
The boar's charge was blocked by the shield and halted. Even against the charge of a Flame Boar weighing hundreds of kilograms, my body didn't get pushed back in the slightest.
Not only that.
Boom!
A blue explosion erupted from the shield, sending a shockwave forward. The boar staggered back.
'I see! An opening for a counterattack!'
Realizing this was the effect of [One-Point Defense], I raised the club with the arm not holding the shield.
"Smash!"
Along with a crunching sound, I felt the sensation of the boar's skull being crushed.
[You have acquired 15 Exp.]
"Kieek!?"
The Golden Fox started in surprise and began to flee.
I immediately extended my hand and fired a Fireball.
The Golden Fox, hit squarely by the Fireball, was engulfed in flames and collapsed on the ground.
'Nice!'
Having finished my revenge, I checked the shield.
Since I had blocked the Flame Boar's flaming charge, the leather should have been damaged.
"Huh?"
However, aside from being very slightly scorched, the shield was fine.
'So this is also the skill's effect.'
It seemed the drained mana had protected even the shield.
'As expected, the word Superior suits it. With this skill, hunting on the 2nd floor will become much easier.'
In this way, I now possessed skills corresponding to offense, defense, and support.
'At this pace, I really might be able to beat Jang Soyu's gang.'
Little by little, hope seemed to be approaching reality.
Crunch!
"Huh?"
But the joy was short-lived.
"The club...."
There was a crack right in the middle of my long-trusted monster bone club.
'This is troublesome.'
There was a condition attached to [Smash] that required a blunt weapon.
Even if I left the dungeon to buy a weapon, I had already spent all the money I'd earned on burn ointment, the shield, and the throwing star.
'Can't be helped. I just have to earn it again.'
I quietly looked down at the Flame Boar's corpse.
Flame Boar leather sold for a good price because it was resistant to fire.
However, a single sheet of the giant boar's hide filled my bag to the brim.
Rather than leaving the dungeon burdened with just one Flame Boar hide, gathering lots of small monster materials and leaving brought in more income.
'But right now, I need to secure money for a weapon first.'
Since I had Fireball, I could catch monsters even without a weapon.
But the monsters caught that way were burned completely black, making it impossible to recover materials.
I squatted down and began skinning the boar.
'It's a shame I don't have an Inventory.'
Most hunters carried around subspace pouches called 'Inventory.'
But they were so expensive that they weren't something I could afford.
"Wait, come to think of it, weren't those guys definitely in this dungeon?"
Realizing this, I hurriedly finished skinning.
Having stuffed the skin into my bag, I headed for the dungeon's 1st floor.
'My task after visiting the market is decided.'
***
"Hey, look at that."
"What the heck is that. Does that guy not have an Inventory?"
I heard snickering from those around me.
Right now, the Flame Boar hide was on my back, and a bulging bag was hanging on my belly.
The bag that originally contained the hide was now full of materials obtained from the 1st floor.
I had gathered materials on the 1st floor because the Flame Boar hide alone wouldn't be enough.
It was difficult to catch monsters using only [Charge].
When I had tried to catch a Bigfoot Rabbit and smashed my head into a tree, I had wondered what the hell I was doing.
'Damn it, laugh all you want.'
Clenching my teeth, I headed to the market.
Groaning as I entered the shop, the owner looked at me with pitiful eyes.
'If you're going to pity me, give me money!'
As if hearing my inner voice, the goods sold for a higher price than I expected this time as well.
"Nnngh...."
Exiting the shop, I arched my body like a bow and stretched. Cracking sounds came from my waist and back.
'Then I'll buy a weapon and head back to the dun....'
"Excuse me...."
A voice came from behind.
When I turned around, a boy stood there carrying a large brown bag on his back.
His hair and clothes were quite messy; he didn't seem to be from an ordinary household.
Moreover, he wore knee pads and gloves, and had a belt with a dagger around his waist.
"Mister, do you happen to need a porter? Won't you hire me as a porter?"
'As expected.'
It was clear this child was also a hunter.