Novel Bin Chapter 22
Ed and the lich spent a couple of days together. The lich always seemed a bit unwilling when teaching but it knew quite well that the fastest way to kick Ed out was to teach to the best of its ability. Thanks to the lich\'s effort, Ed managed to unlock a new skill and become a proficient reader.
[<Language lvl. 1> Acquired]
"You are a quick learner, Champion."
\'Thank you\' Ed felt grateful. Perhaps not all the things in the dungeon are as bad as the dungeon itself.
"You may leave, read that book and don\'t come back" The lich pointed towards the door with its staff.
\'...Or maybe not\' Still, Ed didn\'t loiter around.
He packed up his stuff and walked towards the gate. He saw all of the Skeletons piled up by the barricade once he came out. Just as he was about to command them...
[A group of intruders have entered your floor]
Ed was hoping he could learn some combat skills before facing any intruders. Unfortunately, time waits for no one.
As more and more memories surfaced in his mind Ed became more opposed to killing. Conversely, the more time he spent in the dungeon the more he understood his role. It was impossible to avoid bloodshed.
In the first place, even if he wasn\'t a mob as long as he existed and wanted to live peacefully in this new world he would have to kill. In a world of fantasy and magic, world-threatening scenarios are commonplace. In that case, he may as well become as strong as possible using the dungeon. Then nothing would threaten him and he would finally live the average and lazy life he always wanted.
\'Not exactly a noble desire\' But Ed didn\'t care.
Does every person need to be a hero? Everyone has their own goals and they each choose their own means to attain those goals. He has no intention to suffer just because he doesn\'t want to kill anybody.
Ed rummaged through his robe, he pulled out a couple of ominous vials. They were the potions he never got to use. He then called up what he presumed to be the smartest skeletons in the group and handed the potions over to them.
His plan was that as long as the skeletons damaged the enemies with the potions, their sacrifice would be worthwhile. As it stood, they were merely capable of buying him time.
\'Status\'
[Name: Ed$#&!]
Type: Skeleton
Health: 300/300
Strength: 2
Agility: 1
Constitution: 2
Dexterity: 2
Mana: 8
~Skills:~
[Adept Throwing lvl. 4] -Show info-
[Swordsmanship lvl. -1] -Show info-
[Hoarding lvl. 6] -Show info-
[Mental Fortitude lvl. 2] -Show info-
[Transmission Lvl. 1] -Show info-
[Minor Explosion Resistance lvl. 0] -Show info-
[Deduction lvl. 7] -Show info-
[Assimilation lvl. 2] -Show info-
[Thought Manifestation lvl. 0] -Show info-
[Language lvl. 1]
Proficient at two or more languages.
~Achievements~
[First Kill] -Show info-
Ed stole some of the lich\'s magic devices from the pile of loot and assimilated them. The 8 mana was a result of that. Unfortunately Ed can\'t use that mana. Since he doesn\'t know a single spell!
\'The timing is just too poor\' He didn\'t have time to learn to manipulate mana or a single spell.
p
\'I will gather more skeletons\'
A generous estimate would be that he has 2 or 3 hours before the adventurers reach him. He would use that time to herd skeletons.
He would put large groups of 60 skeletons behind the fortification making them unable to leave. He could then use them to attack the adventurers. He would sneak in the skeletons with potions in the middle of the battle as well.
\'It isn\'t the best plan but I don\'t have much time\'
Ed climbed up the wooden mess of furniture and jumped down to the other side. He ran immediately after landing in search of Skeletons. He thought that if he got lucky he would be able to bring over two groups of 60. He would then have 180 skeletons at his disposal.
But Ed knew that was unlikely. He only gathered 60 in 12 hours before. He was obviously being leisure the last time since there was no rush whatsoever but he still wasn\'t optimistic.
He entered one of the corridors and came out into a large room. He found a group of 7 skeletons holding swords. He commanded then to follow him and continued running.
Ed repeated the process for about an hour and managed to get a group larger than 60 following him. The skill\'s range must have gone up even if just slightly.
\'My skill did level up when compared to the last time.\' Ed thought to himself as he ran back to the fortification.
Once he made it there he instructed the skeletons to move some of the furniture and enter the area. He put the furniture back after they all went in.
\'This should work well.\' He nodded to himself and then ran to gather more.
***
The dungeon was exceptionally average. Nothing in particular stood out to Felix. He was starting to think that the Union took his skills lightly.
\'I know I am inexperienced but! This is an insult!\'
To make him, someone called the flame prodigy, venture through a low level undead dungeon was an insult without a doubt!
Still, out of the other 3 organizations on the continent, the Freedom Union had the most power inside of the Bosque kingdom. It was unwise to go against their orders since travelling between kingdoms was very difficult.
\'Let\'s just get this over with...\' Felix looked back at the squad he was in charge of protecting.
The Union was probably testing his leadership skills as he was made the leader of the C-class squad. Letting a single member die would make him look inept.
It was a pretty basic composition. There was no C-class warrior as he was in charge of that role. He was a skilled swordsman afterall. There was a C-class support magician, it was a weak looking guy that provided buffs. There was also an archer and a thief that seemed much more experienced and capable.
The group was originally larger but Felix wanted his achievement to seem much more grand and clearing the dungeon with a large group would accomplish the opposite.
"Let\'s just go in, I\'ll take the lead" Felix confidently declared as he started walking towards the cave entrance.
The others followed right after him and headed inside. The first two floors were already completely explored so they didn\'t need to exert themselves, not to mention the mobs weren\'t anything special.
Felix let out a yawn as he walked down to the third dungeon floor. They proceeded and walked out of the safe room.
"Tsk, this place is a cakewalk" Felix was very much disappointed. How was he supposed to garner merits?!?
The others simply nodded and continued after him.
The third floor was much larger than the previous two so it took them a while to near the stairs to the next floor.
\'Hm?\' Felix made a confused expression and stopped walking.
He had realized that there were no more skeletons nearby. A lot of the rooms they were passing by had no mobs!
"Archer girl, do you know where they went?" Felix rudely asked. He was kind at first but he was already fed up with the dungeon so he dropped the facade.
Although she was insulted, the girl still answered.
"I can\'t really say... It looks like a large group of skeletons passed by here but that seems unlikely" Who would think that was the truth?
"If you were going to be so useless why did you even come?" Felix was visibly annoyed, this had to be the worst trip of his entire life!
"Excuse me but I don\'t think you have any right to say that!" The girl was angry at the blatant insult.
"Just shut up and follow me" Felix didn\'t even bother to pay attention to her as he arrogantly walked away.
"You-!!!" The girl swallowed the many profanities she wanted to yell out.
"Don\'t worry, you will probably never see that guy again. And hey! It is free pay you know? He does all the work and we still get paid, no danger no nothing" The thief man laughed out loud after patting the girl on the back and followed after felix.
"I guess..." She relented and followed after them.. The magician naturally did so as well.