Chapter 10 – Charging Through the Gate at Full Speed

“Hеу, what arе you dоing? Lеt’s hurrу uр аnd еnter the Gаte, yеаh?”

“…”

“Hеу!”

“…Нm, аh, right.”

Аsuto hurriеdly rеspondеd tо Аmу.

He hаd beеn spacing оut whilе looking at his own Stаtus.

Тhis was already thе 30th timе he had returned using Return.

Аt first, hе had stumbled аgainst thе initiаl Коbold Soldier, but in the lаst few attеmрts, hе had beеn аblе to advаnce quitе deep.

Sincе rеaching Lеvеl 11 and аllocаting SP oncе, he hаdn’t bоosted his Status at all.

Тhat wаs bесausе when Subjugatiоn bесame tоo еаsу, Skill Рrоficiеnсу would risе mоre slowly.

He wanted to grow his abilities as a Hunter as efficiently as possible.

Therefore, he had no intention of distributing SP until he reached a certain target value.

But it was about time.

○Name: Yuki Asuto (20)

Level: 12→20 Aptitude: Assassin

Rank: F-Rank SP: 5→45

Held G: 165→312

○Physical Ability

Strength: 20 Stamina: 12 Magic Power: 1

Spirit: 1 Agility: 25 Perception: 11

○Skills

・Basic Dagger Arts Lv1→3 (23%→12%)

• Evasion Lv1 to 3 (17% to 5%)

・Leap Lv1→2 (60%→97%)

・Memory Playback Lv1→2 (7%→10%)

・Return Lv1 (0%→31%)

Once his Skill levels exceeded 3, the rate of Proficiency gain had slowed considerably.

It seemed that against F-Rank Monsters, Proficiency Grinding became inefficient after Skill level 3.

This was as far as Level and Proficiency Grinding would go in this Gate.

From now on, he would seriously aim for Conquest.

Having decided this, Asuto quickly tapped the Window with his fingertip.

○Name: Yuki Asuto (20)

Level: 20 Aptitude: Assassin

Rank: F-Rank SP: 45→0

Held G: 312

○Physical Ability

Strength: 20→30 Stamina: 12→22 Magic Power: 1

Spirit: 1 Agility: 25→40 Perception: 11→21

○Skills

・Basic Dagger Arts Lv3 (12%)

・Evasion Lv3 (5%)

・Leap Level 2 (97%)

・Memory Playback Lv2 (10%)

・Return Level 1 (31%)

He allocated his Status befitting his Assassin Aptitude, distributing points heavily into Agility.

Since prolonged battles would leave him unable to move properly and sometimes result in death, he also properly supplemented his Stamina.

(…Alright, this should work)

Next time, not to learn, but to overcome.

Asuto stepped into the Gate.

Immediately upon entering the Gate, Asuto felt the change from his Status increase.

(Amazing. I can already sense a Kobold approaching)

By raising his Perception, he could now sense information from much farther away.

He drew his Dagger and gripped the handle lightly.

The experience gained through dozens of battles moved his body more efficiently.

A Kobold appeared from ahead.

The next moment, Asuto put strength into his legs and used Leap.

In just one breath, he closed a thirty-meter distance to zero.

The Kobold, noticing his approach, entered combat stance.

But it was too slow.

—Stab!

Asuto, who had quickly gotten behind it, thrust his Dagger deep into its nape.

“…A-amazing”

Beside Asuto, Amy’s eyes were wide with shock.

In complete contrast to before, her true feelings showed on her face.

(Come to think of it, this is my first battle from Amy’s perspective)

For Asuto, this was already his dozenth Kobold battle.

However, for Amy, whose memories were erased by Return, this was his first battle.

If he could overwhelmingly defeat a Kobold this suddenly, she might feel some suspicion.

“Let’s move on”

“H-hey, wait”

It would be better not to give her time to harbor doubts.

Asuto began walking toward the depths.

Next were two Kobold Soldiers. He easily defeated them as well.

He couldn’t help but wonder what all those close calls and hard fights had been about.

That’s how significant the benefits of Status were.

(Well, in the last few attempts, I had gotten to where I could defeat Soldiers if I took my time)

Of course, Status alone wouldn’t have made this possible.

At first, he could barely take down one as a mutual kill.

Through repeated Returns, he had eventually become able to defeat up to two simultaneously.

This was thanks to his Skill levels rising.

Just like with Status, he experienced firsthand how important Skill levels were.

Though he had died thirty times, the trial and error during that period had been good experience.

Moving forward and turning a corner, two more Soldiers appeared.

He easily defeated these as well.

In the next chamber, three Soldiers were waiting.

This was his previous best record.

His body was already warmed up.

Gradually, his concentration heightened.

He repeated deep breaths, then stopped.

Almost simultaneously with the enemies noticing him, Asuto leaped out with Leap.

—Shing!!

He severed one Soldier’s head.

“Next!!”

He immediately spun around.

Evaded an attack from one charging enemy.

Circled around to its neck.

—Stab!!

The other one—was frozen, unable to react.

This was his chance.

He judged in an instant and thrust out his Dagger.

The enemy thrust out its sword.

He immediately twisted his neck slightly.

The rusted blade passed a hair’s breadth from his cheek.

—Thud.

His Dagger pierced deep into its chest.

Before the Kobold Soldier could fall, Asuto was already running to search for the next Monster.

—More.

Just moving his feet lightly, he could run faster than his previous full sprint.

His breathing still had room to spare. Thanks to raising his Stamina.

—I want to fight many more.

Time not spent fighting Monsters felt wasteful.

Right now, Asuto was in perfect condition.

His combat gear had shifted to maximum.

The more he fought, the more new sensations he experienced.

He could clearly feel himself growing stronger.

—More, more, I want to become stronger!

After slaying new enemies, he ran to search for the next prey.

One by one, Kobold corpses accumulated throughout the Gate.

Before he knew it, Asuto had reached the deepest part of the Gate.