Loop Mob – A Mob’s Interdimensional Travel Caught in a Loop

Chapter 7: Popular Beginner Dungeon (Part 1)

Now, the weekend is once again for the dungeon. I picked up the repaired boots from the armor shop, stocked up on consumables, and set my sights on the popular beginner dungeon. The map was purchased at the guild last week. This week, I’m determined to bring back some conquest achievements. Let’s go.

A dedicated carriage operates to the entrance of the beginner dungeon. Leaving from the opposite gate of the unpopular dungeon from the other day, it’s a few kilometers away. Although I could walk, let’s take advantage of the convenience.

At the entrance of the dungeon, a line had formed, mostly consisting of 3-4 person parties. Some adventurers equipped with impressive weapons and armor were present, making me, in leather armor with a mace, feel a bit out of place. However, I prioritize practicality. Since the pros chose it for me, it must be the right choice. Presenting my adventurer card to the guild staff at the entrance, I embark on the journey.

Following the map I purchased in advance, the dungeon turned out to be a stone corridor. Most adventurers around me head straight for the stairs leading to the second basement. I, on the other hand, head for the spawning point of weak monsters on the first floor, targeting the pill bugs.

I had wondered where insects would come from in a corridor, but the spawning points indicated on the map had cracks in the stonework. Out of the crevices came pill bugs about the size of an eraser. They were big and surprisingly agile. I hurriedly crushed them with my mace.

Fortunately, this is a dungeon, and they are monsters. Unlike real insects, they didn’t splatter bodily fluids when crushed but turned into coins and drop items effortlessly with a swing of the mace. I learned that these capsule-like shells, which are more robust than they appear, can be used for various materials. The loot from defeating one was 100 gold, and a shell was worth 20 gold. The currency in this country, called gold, doesn’t seem much different from the sense of Japanese yen. It’s a game designed that way. Saying 120 yen for defeating one monster might sound meager, but considering that you can crush a larger insect in a predetermined location for 120 yen, it’s not such a bad part-time job.

I went around the spawning points, defeating pill bugs one by one. Occasionally, I spotted fluffy dragonflies and large spiders lurking in corners, but they wouldn’t turn hostile unless provoked. Truly, the shallowest level of the labyrinth is designed to accommodate beginners, whoever made it.

After several encounters, I became adept at dealing with pill bugs calmly. Once you get used to it, it becomes as easy as playing whack-a-mole. I panicked when I took them lightly once and had them crawl up to my thighs. I swatted them away and crushed them, but my pants were slightly torn. Clearly, just dealing with monsters in the labyrinth doesn’t make them entirely harmless. However, the damage from pill bugs is just that.

In the morning, I thoroughly explored the spawning points, defeated around 100 pill bugs, and earned about 12,000 gold. Considering the preparation of equipment, stocking up on consumables, and accounting for expenses, it wasn’t an exceptionally profitable job, but the results were decent this time. However, it’s questionable that my level only increased by one despite going around this much. Well, certainly, if it’s such a safe and easy game, there’s not much that can be done.

It’s about lunchtime. Let’s take a break outside. Before that, let’s go down to the second basement and see how things are progressing. After all, in the morning, I suffered no damage other than my pants being torn.

Unlike the first basement, there were signs of people in the second basement. As soon as I descended the stairs, about 20 meters away at the spawning point, a three-person party was in battle. However, suddenly, a large dragonfly flew over their heads and came straight towards me. It’s fast! And the dragonfly’s close-up is scary!

“Eek!”

I instinctively swung my mace. However, the heavy blunt weapon showed no sign of hitting the agile dragonfly. It circled around to my back, landed on my neck, and bit my head.

“Ahh!”

Trying to fend it off with my hands, I got bitten, and trying to thrust it away with my mace, it flew off. The dragonfly, about to come back towards me, I hastily pointed my finger and yelled, “Stone Bullet!” In response, a couple of small stones flew. One of them hit with a snap, and somehow, the dragonfly fell and disappeared.

Terrifying. Impossible. Goosebumps are intense. After that, the party in battle in front finished their fight and came over to me. Normally, it’s etiquette not to approach a party in battle as much as possible, but this time, since what was overlooked came towards me, they said it’s okay.

“More importantly, you shouldn’t come down here with that equipment.”

Without headgear and in an unarmed appearance, the young members of a party kindly pointed out my lack of defense. They seemed younger than me, probably adventurers who flowed in from another territory since I didn’t recognize their faces from the academy. Feeling embarrassed, I quietly thanked them and quickly headed back.

Exiting the dungeon, the guild staff at the entrance expressed concern. There seemed to be quite a bit of bleeding from the back of my head. I applied a potion to the bitten scalp and hand, deciding to go home as it is. By the way, the dragonfly was worth 300 gold, and the dropped material, the wing, was worth 100 gold. It seems it can be used as alchemical material. I’m somewhat interested in alchemy, but today my sanity points have been drained, and I can’t focus on that.

Also, my level increased by one more thanks to the dragonfly, reaching level 4 today. Good job.

Name: Alexi Appel
Race: Human
Title: Apel Trading Company Heir
Level: 4
HP: 80
MP: 120
POW: 8
INT: 12
AGI: 8
DEX: 12
Attribute: Earth
Skills:
+ Stone Bullet Lv2
+ Landscape Lv1
Equipment:
E Mace
E Leather Armor
E Leather Boots
E Cape
Status Points Remaining: 0
Skill Points Remaining: 0

I obtained two out of the five magic books found in Professor Kabanell’s laboratory: “Stone Bullet” and “Landscape.” I couldn’t acquire “Golem Creation,” which I was looking forward to the most; it was blocked with a message saying, “Cannot be obtained at the moment.”

Also, there was a display at the bottom saying “Automatic Point Allocation: On,” so I tapped it to turn it off. That was close. Until now, 10 status points were automatically allocated with each level up, but from now on, it seems I can decide which parameter to increase on my own.

As for skill points, it seems I can acquire 10 with each level up. And acquiring one skill costs 10 points, while raising it to level 2 requires 20 points. So, to reach level 3, do I need 30 or double, 40 points? In any case, I can’t afford to waste points.

Anyway, let’s start fresh. Tomorrow, I’ll visit the weapon and armor shops again, re-equip, and then try again.