"I had a feeling you'd be the best magic teacher ever, honey! You've already taught our youngster how to channel mana!" My father exclaimed with delight, throwing me and my mother into the air in celebration.
"Please, I wish I could have taught him how to channel mana, but he did it all by himself. Our son is the genius he was destined to be!" my mother replied, giving my father a kiss. Even though I had a mature mind, witnessing their affectionate display still irked me. I quickly intervened, pulling my mother away from him.
"When will it be my turn to teach our son, honey?" my father called out to me as I distanced myself from him.
"When I'm done asking the questions about the outside cave!" I responded, clarifying that it was me, not my mother, who would continue the teaching. Taking my mother back to my room, which still lacked a door, we sat down to continue our discussion. "We are still following a student-led learning approach, right?" I confirmed with my mother, who nodded in agreement.
"What questions do you have?" she asked, ready to provide me with answers and guidance.
"You mentioned in our last session that we are mana-based creatures. What does that make humans if we are based on mana?" I inquired, eager to delve into the topic.
"Ah, an excellent question. It seems you are interested in learning about our counterparts, aren't you?" My mother smiled, sensing my curiosity. "While there is a rich history behind it, I will give you a brief overview. Before the existence of humans, there were mythical creatures like us. Our history is deeply intertwined with the earth, and our gods came into being long before humans emerged. However, as the human population grew, they chose to create their own gods rather than follow ours. These new gods gained power as humans worshipped them."
"However, these new gods also envied us mythical creatures. Humans possessed stones while we had mana and advanced tools. So, the old and new gods reached an agreement. They bestowed strength upon humans, making them mana-infused beings rather than mana-based like us. This meant that humans only had mana in their veins, not constituting their entire being like us."
"To aid them in their journey, dungeons were created. These dungeons were unique to human settlements and kingdoms, both a blessing and a curse. Inside these dungeons, there were unintelligent mythical creatures, but they became stronger within the dungeons. The dungeons were ranked from E to S, with E being the weakest and S the strongest. By conquering these dungeons, humans could gain strength and power. The more dungeons they completed, the stronger they became. Additionally, valuable items of varying strengths would occasionally drop within these dungeons. From swords that could cause disease to torches that never extinguished, humans had the chance to obtain extraordinary artifacts. They even stumbled upon magic books containing knowledge of specific spells. They could even learn a version of the dragon's breath, though considerably weaker. The existence of a human possessing that skill nearly sparked a war with the dragons."
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"However, the dungeons also posed a curse. If a new dungeon appeared and remained unchallenged for a certain period, it would collapse and unleash the creatures inside, wreaking havoc upon the lands. This led to countless villages and kingdoms struggling to overcome dungeons that were simply too powerful. Humans obtained their abilities and strength through this unique system. That's what sets them apart from mythical creatures like us, as we possess innate abilities, while humans gained theirs through the blessings of gods and the challenges of dungeons. Do you understand?" my mother concluded, providing me with an overview of human history and their path to power.
I nodded, absorbing the information and contemplating its implications
. After a moment of thought, I decided to step away to ponder further. Humans, it seemed, lived in a reality that resembled a game, where they could become stronger by conquering dungeons, leveling up, and acquiring items. Their abilities even allowed them to learn skills associated with mythical creatures, albeit at a lower level. However, it appeared that humans were reliant on their slave magic for their power and relatively weak without it.
Curiosity sparked within me as I considered the possibilities. What level of adventurer could I handle within a dungeon, Little Helper?
[Based on your current status, I would estimate that you are capable of dealing with some E or low mid G-rank humans within a dungeon. However, this assessment is based solely on your status and not the weapons or armor that can be obtained from a dungeon.]
I acknowledged Little Helper's assessment, understanding that I shouldn't dismiss humans outright and should exercise caution when encountering them. Nonetheless, their dungeon-acquired abilities would likely only grant them a slight advantage. If an E-rank human possessed an S-rank item, it would indeed be perplexing. Such encounters would be dictated by fate. I couldn't help but feel a sense of longing to experience the challenges and rewards that awaited within a dungeon. The prospect of entering one and growing stronger was incredibly appealing.
However, I also recognized the importance of preparation and self-improvement. Before venturing into a dungeon, I needed to continue honing my own skills, exploring my abilities, and gaining more experience.
With renewed determination, I decided to share my thoughts and contemplations with Little Helper.
[Entering a dungeon can indeed be a thrilling and rewarding experience. However, it's crucial to approach it with caution and thorough preparation. Ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of your own abilities and limitations before embarking on such a challenging endeavor. Additionally, gathering information about specific dungeons and their potential challenges could prove beneficial.]
Thank you, Little Helper. I will keep all of that in mind. For now, I will devote my efforts to self-improvement and further exploration of the world around me. The journey ahead holds abundant opportunities for growth and adventure, and I eagerly anticipate what lies in store.