As I advanced through the dungeon, I kept finding the eyeball bats in pairs… thanks to that, I kept two arrows in my right hand all the time. That solved the problem of fighting them before they could do anything.

Still, thanks to the bad vision on the floor since I didn’t have a torch with me, I missed one arrow and when the beast was five meters away, it flapped its wings and then fired a single wind blade at my head… I avoided the attack, but my ear was still stinging. It was only a scratch, but for someone who hadn’t unlocked the magical defense parameter yet, it could have been pretty nasty… In any case, I reached the end of the first floor, and it seemed on the same length as the previous one.

You completed a trial. Please choose between the classes: Fletcher, Tracker, and Actor.

You obtained the Fletcher class.

You improved the Dexterity parameter.

You unlocked the Aptitude: Master of Archery Craft

You unlocked the skill: Precision Crafting

You unlocked the skill: Adaptive Ammunition

Master of Archery Craft: Gain additional bonus experience when crafting arrows or bolts, more experience will be gained according to the quality of the creations.

Precision Crafting - Improve the quality and performance of the arrows you create. This skill allows you to enhance flight accuracy and increase damage dealt by your arrows, ensuring each shot counts. Each level improves the chance of creating high-quality arrows and increases their creation speed as well. Cost: 02 Mana per minute.

Adaptive Ammunition: Modify arrows to suit different situations, such as adding elemental tips. This skill enhances your versatility in combat, allowing you to quickly switch arrow types for maximum effectiveness against various foes. Higher levels grant you more options Cost: 10 Mana

I nodded to myself in satisfaction once I confirmed that my Dexterity increased by ten percent. The multiplier was working and also obtained the knowledge of the skills. My first goal was complete, so I decided to leave the dungeon, I had already more than enough wings for the client as well.

One hour later, I was heading back to the inn for lunch. It was still earlier, so I could get a new job, but I decided to experiment with my aptitudes. I had some skills that used mana now, so it was time to test them. I got twigs in the forest and I decided to turn them into arrows in my room. Those wouldn’t be as powerful as the ones with arrowheads, but they would make me save money.

‘I need to stock them until the moment arrives I decide to clear the dungeon completely. This one will take even more time, but I guess I can stay here for a week. I wonder if it will be enough to increase my rank again... the benefits can probably come in handy too.’

I thought of using Precision Crafting and it felt like I suddenly got a lot more skilled. As I carved out the arrows, my knife felt like it was extra sharp. I usually make the arrows in five minutes, but I made the arrows in three minutes, even though it was supposed to be two times harder.

I didn’t need arrowheads with Adaptive Ammunition. As long as I had the right materials, I could turn some of them into special arrows. The skill granted me the knowledge… to make an arrowhead that could burn the target, I just needed some oil, and then the arrow would ignite while it was flying. That wasn’t considered magic, but I certainly believed that it was…

With my current Dexterity and considering how little defense the eyeball bats had, I just needed these types of arrows to finish them off. Still, considering the rate they spawned and the depth of the dungeon, it was unlikely that I could carry enough arrows with me. That was the first real problem I had to face as an adventurer... the magic bag was starting to look even more important.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

‘I don’t want a party, but I might need one… the faster I unlock the next classes, the better.’

There were other options… I could look for a magic tool that would help me carry more arrows. Those usually cost at least one Ignis coin, though. It will take a while before I can save that much.

The other option would be to fight at close range. Even throwing knives would last longer than ordinary wood arrows. With my Dexterity, I probably could use them to some extent, but using short knives would be a better option.

The final option would be to make a slingshot… stones would be enough to destroy the eyeballs of the creatures and that would make them easier targets. Still, I could also ask for a blacksmith to make some iron marbles and those would be probably enough to kill them… the problem with this would be my strength and stamina that would go down pretty fast.

‘There is no easy path forward… for now, let’s rewrite all the important information I have with the updates and some fair guesses. If the guesses I make gain more experience, then they will be real. I also need to think of a way to make money with this class, just increasing my mana regeneration isn't enough.’

I spent the whole afternoon rewriting the data I had about the classes. I had enough information about them that granted me five hundred experience points without risking my neck. That sure was something. Still, without proper skills, no one would be able to fight monsters with only non-combat classes.

Those who had them would be more than three times more effective. They also would have combat experience with them… so, any ordinary worker that improved their parameters like dexterity up to fifty times would probably lose in a battle of attrition against someone who only improved their health ten times. Such was the unfairness in this world.

There weren’t many free dungeons that granted combat classes, and they were in hard places to reach, so most people wouldn’t dare to try to obtain those. All of those places were on my list, and soon enough, I would arrive in such a place, but I had to clear that dungeon first.

After breakfast the next morning, I took my time heading to the guild while checking the shops around. I wanted to find any type of magical implement and try to modify it into another kind of tool or weapon, but I didn’t find any of those around. The town was probably too poor for people to be able to afford them. Or maybe they weren't needed since the dungeon wasn't difficult for a full party of experienced people.

‘Maybe I should spend some money and buy a skill book for an Archer…’

For now, I didn’t need any other skills, but since I had extra money, I thought of learning a new skill to increase my cards, but I also considered buying one that would grant extra experience for my archery skills. That was possible since just like Aptitudes had some tricks and tips, skills also had those, and learning them granted extra experience, like using the same skill a dozen or even hundreds of times.

Learning Identification was also my goal… but the skill book that taught that skill was no less than one Aqua coin. I had sixty Terra coins, so I wasn’t far away from buying it, but… that kind of investment was tough. It consumed mana too, and at level one, a very small amount of information was granted. That being said, it had to be leveled up, and the sooner I got, the more efficient things would be.

While I was thinking along those lines, I reached the guild. It was time to focus on the next job. If I don’t find a solution to that problem, then I will have to solve it with money. I approached the board and then checked the quests available. There was a bunch of them requesting Granite… it was a type of stone that could be mined in the second half of the dungeon, thanks to the golems that could be found there.

‘The rate is pretty good, but to carry that much, one would need a large group. It isn’t for me.’

I wondered how I would make money on the second part of the dungeon. Without being able to carry that kind of stuff, I would have to rely on the mana cores. They are easier to find on the eyeball bats, but they would be hard to find them in the middle of the bodies of the golems.

Maybe I would need a pickaxe and then smash the whole thing… things would have been harder if the core of the monster wasn’t exposed, but the core of the golems was a bit different from the mana cores. Their cores work as a device that makes them move as they see fit. Besides, it would be too easy if it was inside such a core or behind it.

“Hey, you! Are you deaf or something?”

While I was lost in my thoughts, I suddenly freed myself from those thoughts, feeling like my eardrums were about to explode. My balance broke a bit and I almost fell to the side thanks to it. After blinking a few times, I recovered and then looked to the side only to see a kid around the same height as me. He had a rapier on his waist, so he seemed to be an adventurer despite his young age… he seemed a bit older, perhaps around twelve or thirteen.

Behind him, I could see a girl of similar age studying me with suspicious eyes. She seemed pissed for some reason. She didn’t have a weapon with her, but I could see that her gloves and boots had some metallic parts attached to them. Both of them had short brown hair and light brown eyes. The shape of their faces was quite similar and since their sets of leather armor was the same, I assumed that they were twins.

“... How can I help you?”

“You are the new adventurer who arrived yesterday, right? We need an extra hand for our party. If you are willing to join, we can split the rewards and materials equally.”

I wondered why they would need some extra hand… and asking for someone who just arrived was just dumb. It was better to watch and observe someone for a few days before making that kind of invitation, even if it was only a temporary member of their party.

Still, that made me think that perhaps the number of monsters would increase further in the dungeon… all the parties that I saw had six members, after all. I thought that they wanted to maximize their gains, but perhaps that wasn’t the sole reason.

Another reason that they might have considered inviting me was the fact that I went to the dungeon the previous day and returned unscathed with some materials. In a place like this, rumors tend to spread fast when people are bored. There is also the possibility that they just found me on the previous day heading and leaving the dungeon.

I didn’t need to work with anyone and risk revealing my skills and identity, but it would be beneficial to try to get to the next class as soon as possible, or at least map the first part of the dungeon faster. While I was thinking along those lines and making this risk assessment, I could see the anger and impatience growing on their faces.

“Are you daydreaming or something?”

The girl asked while she was tapping her foot on the ground… I shook my head and then stopped to think for a bit longer. There were some quests that required parties, so this might be a good experience. I also needed to learn how people fought nowadays without combat classes.

“Okay. I am willing to join.”