“I can’t speak for the wider world,” Antoine says, while I bludgeon my way to the next room, “But spontaneous [Skill] creation’s unprecedented for this dungeon. Have you ever stumbled upon something like that before?”

  I don’t like how he says that: ‘stumbled upon’, as if my discovery couldn’t have been intentional. That it wasn’t is beside the point. I blast the head off a nearby 「Caterpine」and throw him a strained smile over my shoulder.

  “Guess my [Luck’s] pretty high for a nobody.”

  “I’ve heard your [Attributes] are average, though.” He quickens his pace until he catches up to me, the thoughtful note in his voice suggesting my self-deprecating joke sailed over his head. “Keep an eye out for any anomalies, alright? Not to scare you, but the last few examinees noticed odd behavior from the mobs.”

  “What, like a spike in HP?”

  Antoine chuckles wryly. “We’d be out of business if that happened. No, sometimes they lag, clip into walls… one 「Sour Jelly」 killed its own neighbour, even though we’ve disabled friendly fire.”

  I startle at that, almost missing a bend in the hall. “Sounds like a serious glitch. I don’t remember too well, but didn’t Heroes get in fights over accidental friendly fire...?”

  “Yes, often.” He pats my back, the force better suited to the beefy guys stuck twiddling their thumbs in the lobby. I almost trip over a crack in the floor. “Don’t worry, I won’t attack you. The trial already has a [Final Boss].”

  “Y-yeah, lucky me...”

  What do you sound so disappointed for!? Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen a genuine smile from him since we left Valeria. Well… I’d be bored too, maybe, if I followed newbies around twelve hours a day. I'll try to be understanding.

  Another turn and a handful of squished「Jellies」later, we exit the musty maze and emerge into a forest.

  … … ...

  What?

  I turn my eyes skywards and squint at a sun that shouldn’t exist, while crisp woodland air ruffles my mantle. Little birds twitter cheerfully from lush, green trees that tower all around.

  “A change of pace,” says Antoine, while I lob a small rock into a bush. Startled insects scramble from its cover. Wow… they put a lot of trouble into designing this area. “You’ll encounter different terrain during your adventures, after all.”

  Valeria was right. They really do care about our success. “How long do I have left?”

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  “About half an hour. There are only three rooms, so don’t rush. You’re doing better than you think.”

  Thank you, I guess? Patronizing as he is, I can’t deny Antoine’s sincerity. I give my ‘mace’ an idle swing. Air whistles through fresh gaps in the splintering wood.

  Hmm. That can’t be good.

MAKESHIFT MACE

(Unique) (Weapon)

MEMO

A scrap of wood re-purposed for combat. Bound to creator. Cannot be sold, traded, or enchanted.

ATK +2

Durability: 3%

  Ah, jeez. I forgot about the whole ‘perishable equipment’ thing. My mace should last one more hit, at least, before I need to cobble another one together. I hope this [Skill] doesn’t expire if I fail the exam…

  I shake my head. Don’t worry about that. You won’t lose anything, because you’re not gonna fail, Quinn!

  Dry leaves crunch underfoot as we travel a narrow path. The sloping hills at either side rise higher than Antoine’s shoulders. I’ve got a feeling they won’t lead anywhere, but…

  Hup!

  Using rocks and shrubbery as footholds, I pull myself up one steep incline. I duck past tree after identical tree, sidestep root after identical root, until I find myself facing the path again. Huh. Seems like I just came out the other side, if farther down from where I began.

  “Well, that was a waste of time…”

  Mumbling to myself, I scratch my nape and scan the ground for a safe landing spot. With all the falling I’ve done today, I’ve lost faith in the kindness of hard surfaces.

  I glance at Antoine. He’s standing where I left him, hammering out secret messages again. No problem. I don’t want him watching me bunny hop from such a modest ledge. Even I, who dealt with [Drifters], witnessed some stylish acrobatics in the Heroes’ era.

  Haha…

  Even if I faceplant, my raised DEF should spare me from serious damage. I’m just afraid of heights.

  Soon, a pile of fallen leaves catches my attention. There we go! I suppose the staff anticipated this situation and gave us an easy way out. Holding my breath, I jump down and land squarely on my target.

  Hey, no faceplant! That went better than I expected. Proud of this little victory, I pick a couple stray leaves from my hair--

  SNAP

  The ground gives way beneath me. Aw, no way! Did I just launch myself into a basic trap? Accompanied by leaves, sticks, and tangled thread, I tumble into a pit. Bleeping noises spew from my mouth as the cursing filter kicks in.

Gravity is a cruel mistress. HP -4!

  Gahh… okay, that hurt. At least I landed on my rear this time.

  “Congratulations on discovering your first organic trap,” says Antoine, and I can feel him smirking somewhere aboveground. “Still alive down there?”

  “Just fine,” I call out. In the privacy of the ditch, I give an irritated huff.

  ‘Can’t deny his sincerity’, huh? I take it back. There’s nothing likeable about him at all!