Chapter 27: Rain in the Dungeon

---

Chapter 27: Rain in the Dungeon

We were sitting together inside a large camping tent. Me, Rem, and Sherial. The tent was genuinely spacious—not something temporary, but rather a proper shelter, the kind that could withstand a storm. And apparently, that was exactly what we needed right now.

It was pouring outside. Not a drizzle, not a light rain, but a full-blown downpour, so loud that its roar cut through the thick fabric of the tent and echoed in my ears.

I finally understood why the girls had such small backpacks. Damn, why hadn’t I figured it out sooner?

Rem had a storage skill. Of course she did. All their belongings—including large, heavy, and clearly inconvenient items—were kept inside that spatial storage.

And I’d even seen her effortlessly pulling items out of thin air… This tent we were sitting in? From there as well.

Everything made sense now: the food supplies, sleeping bags, dishes, even a small potion stash—all of it traveled with us without burdening our steps.

Now we were just sitting and waiting for the rain to pass.

Yes, we were inside a dungeon. And the sky above us was just an illusion. But the rain… The rain was real.

Water streamed down the outer walls of the tent, drumming on the roof, rustling through the grass. The air had turned damp and cool.

Several hours had passed, and the downpour showed no signs of stopping.

— Why not just keep the weather normal? — Sherial muttered, wrapping herself in the edge of her cloak. — It’d be better if everything stayed the usual way.

— Well, nothing we can do. We'll have to wait it out, — said Rem, a bit quieter, and with what seemed like a hint of concern in her voice.

Yeah, spending a few hours inside a tent doing nothing might sound boring. Really boring. Especially for someone used to constant movement, fighting, or at least heading forward.

But… I wasn’t that bored. Maybe even the opposite.

I was sitting in the same tent as two beautiful girls. One of them—strong, calm, and confident—Rem. The other—vivid, energetic, always reacting to everything—Sherial.

Saying I was lucky would be an understatement.

Rem and Sherial were talking. About something of their own, calmly, not too loudly, with small pauses in between. Their voices were like background music—soft, soothing. The conversation wasn’t lively, but it was warm. And I didn’t interrupt.

I barely participated. Just listened. Occasionally nodded when someone glanced at me. Sometimes smiled without saying a word.

And you know… I was perfectly fine with that. Even pleased.

I was warm, dry, and… at peace.

Not too bad, when you think about it.

Today marked our fourth day inside the dungeon.

The first day I spent fighting red goblins. Simple, predictable, almost defenseless against a clean strike. By the end of the day, some of them started appearing slightly stronger—maybe level eighteen or even nineteen.

But still… a single well-placed hit, and they’d burst into a thousand sparks. The fight would end before it truly began.

Then we moved on to the second zone of the dungeon.

The monsters there were something else. Not just “slightly tougher goblins.” Here, we were met by creatures from the basic ranks—rank one and rank two. Including the giant toads. Huge, disgusting, slimy.

They were a problem. Personally, I only managed to kill a few. The rest were dealt with by Sherial—fast, precise, as if she were playing. And Rem was always nearby, ready to intervene if anything went wrong.

The second zone was harder. But still, it didn’t feel like a true trial.

But the third zone… that was a different story altogether.

Every other fight ended with my defeat. Yes, I didn’t die. But I did lose—again and again.

If it weren’t for Rem and Sherial… if I had been alone… I wouldn’t be here anymore. These monsters would’ve killed me without hesitation.

Before reaching the third zone… I hadn’t even taken off my backpack during battle. Like an idiot.

Seriously. I just fought with that huge thing on my back like it was normal.

And the funniest part—I didn’t even feel its weight.

After everything I’d gone through, with my strength… it felt light. Or at least, not a burden.

Until it was.

The monsters in the third zone were much more dangerous. They moved faster, hit harder—each fight was no longer a stroll.

And then I stumbled, almost lost my balance… and realized.

— When are you going to figure out that taking off your backpack during battle is a good idea? — Sherial laughed, brushing wet hair from her face.

— I thought you'd never remember that, — she added, still smiling.

— Yeah, I really forgot, — I mumbled, scratching my head. — I mean, I take it off at night. When we rest—same. When we eat…

— But during battle—never, huh? — she smirked, finishing me off.

Yeah, I was an idiot.

The backpack was huge, heavy, awkward. Just throwing it somewhere during a fight wasn’t an option either. What if a monster ran off with it? Or something happened?

Then Rem silently walked up and held out her hand.

— Give it to me. I’ll carry it.

At first, I was stunned.

What, her? Rem?

The same Rem I already owed so much, now offering to carry this beast on her shoulders?..

I wanted to refuse, but didn’t get the chance.

As soon as she touched the strap—the backpack vanished. Disappeared into thin air. Soundlessly.

— I have a storage skill, — she said calmly, noticing my stunned face.

— Well… yeah, — was all I could think.

I should’ve realized that long ago.

Every time we stopped to rest, Rem and Sherial would pull out food and some dishes—spoons, bowls, canteens. Nothing unusual… but the amount was always more than could fit in their tiny backpacks. Especially the food.

I had noticed. Truly, I had. But I hadn’t thought about it. Just took it for granted.

And now… I felt like a fool.

Rem once told me it was foolish to reveal your skills to people you barely know. And maybe she really had many more skills I knew nothing about.

Keeping them secret—just common sense. Especially in a world of swords and magic. Especially in a world where anyone could be your enemy.

Back to the monsters of the third zone... The key thing was: they rarely appeared alone. Here, attacks came in groups. Two, three, ten… sometimes more than a hundred at once.

Yes. More than a hundred. And that’s not an exaggeration.

But luckily, I had Rem and Sherial.

They stepped in immediately—silently, without drama, like seasoned hunters. They cut down, shot, destroyed anything that moved.

And in the end, they always left one. The last one. For me.

And I’d step forward, trying to look composed, even though I knew how it would end.

I had to fight that last monster—the one that had probably watched me standing aside while its companions turned to smoke and dust.

That last monster… It was as if it knew I was the weakest one here. As if it wanted revenge. For all of them.

And it fought with rage, precision, a kind of wild zeal.

About sixty percent of the time, it just beat the crap out of me. Sometimes not enough to bleed. Sometimes enough to lose consciousness.

At those moments, I didn’t feel like a hero or an adventurer—I felt like a training dummy.

Yeah… the dream. Ending up in another world. Just to get beaten up by giant bats.

Only way too big. Almost human-sized, but just a bit smaller. With leathery wings, gleaming eyes, and a screech that sent chills down your spine.

Then came the giant insects of all shapes and forms. Some were disgustingly creepy. Especially the centipedes. Long, shiny, with dozens of fast, gripping legs.

The first time I encountered them, I wanted to drop my sword and just run. Seriously. Just turn around and run. Anywhere. As long as it was away from those wriggling, hissing, many-legged nightmares.

But I knew—that wasn’t an option. That wouldn’t be a fight. That would be running away from myself.

And then... Behind me stood Rem and Sherial. Two experienced adventurers who had just wiped out a dozen of the same monsters in ten seconds.

And there was one left. One they’d left for me on purpose.

I knew I wouldn’t die. They wouldn’t let that happen. But fear… fear isn’t always rational. It’s just... there. And it’s the first thing you have to fight.

After the centipedes came the toads. Huge, thick-skinned, with whipping tongues and ground-shaking jumps.

Then—wolves. No, the wolves were regular-sized. But too fast, too precise, too dangerous.

And yes—I lost in the first fights. Almost always.

But then I started to notice something: Every monster followed a pattern. They had their moves, repeated attacks. First time—unexpected. Second—almost. After that, I knew what to expect.

And then I started winning. First once. Then again. And then several times in a row.

That’s when we’d move on to the next monster. A new type. A new pattern. A new fear.

The most memorable monster in the third zone was… a monster. Not a toad, not a centipede, not a winged beast or giant bug. No. This one was different. A real monster. Not just a creature—something that truly deserved the name.

Its figure vaguely resembled a human. Tall—nearly two meters—broad shoulders, balanced build. No face. No voice. A smooth, clay-like head.

It looked like a training dummy. Clay, sturdy, heavy. Almost like a golem, but… not quite. Golems, as I imagined them, were bulkier, more mechanical. But this one moved with the grace of a fighter. It punched, kicked, lunged, dodged—like a person trained to fight.

— If you want to learn how to fight people, — said Rem, — start with him.

— And no sword. Completely unarmed, — she added, giving me no choice.

And apparently, it turned into a great show. Because every time that monster knocked me down, punched my ribs or gut, when I rolled across the ground in pain, I heard suppressed laughter behind me.

Sherial, of course. Who else?

It went on for several hours. No, not with the same monster. Every time the fight got too dangerous—Rem would instantly step in and destroy it.

I didn’t suffer any serious injuries. My level was much higher than these creatures’. But that didn’t stop the bruises, the pain, the scrapes—and the humiliation.

After a short rest—and a healing potion if needed—we’d find the next one. And again. And again.

I fought them barehanded. And lost. Again and again.

With other monsters, I gradually adjusted—learned their movements, found weaknesses. But with this… clay man, it was different. It was like he read my intentions.

Every fight with him felt like a duel with a real opponent. Over time, I started lasting longer. The last few fights ended in near-draws.

And I’ll say this with pride. No, I didn’t win. But I didn’t fall immediately, either.

Then evening came.

— You can use your sword now, — Rem said calmly. — It’s time.

I didn’t ask why. I just nodded. And entered the next fight with a weapon in hand.

And then… it became too easy.

The sword sliced through the clay like butter. I could decapitate, slice in half, sever limbs with ease. It wasn’t a fight anymore. It was an execution.

On one hand—relief. On the other—a strange, heavy feeling in my chest.

Because this lesson wasn’t about monsters. It was… about people. About how to fight them. How to strike, how to dodge, how to kill.

Can you call it training for murder? I don’t know. But we’re adventurers. Which means… one day, I might truly have to fight humans. And maybe… kill.

I just hope that day doesn’t come too soon.

That’s how the last few days passed.

Today, we were supposed to enter the fourth zone of the dungeon.

After all these fights, all the hits, all the attempts to get back up... Physically, I felt fine. All wounds and bruises—healing potions handled easily.

But mentally—it was a bit tougher. Fear. Disgust. Doubt. All of it kept building up.

But despite it all, I knew very well: All these fights were for me. For my growth. My survival. My future.

For Rem and Sherial, there was nothing new here. They didn’t need this training. They were far too strong for this level of the dungeon. The monsters I fought posed no threat to them.

And all these battles… All these encounters, hits, victories, and defeats— they only helped me. Rem and Sherial gained nothing from it. No experience, no new knowledge, no achievements.

From what I understood, their real goal was the fourth zone of the dungeon. The largest one. The most dangerous. With the strongest monsters.

And everything before this... Was just preparation. My preparation.

Four days. Four full days they didn’t use for clearing or advancing— but only to train me. To make sure I could hold a weapon, not fall from one hit, recognize enemy movements.

Did I deserve it? I don’t know. But I’m endlessly grateful to them. Truly. And I don’t even know how I’ll ever repay this debt.

And so we reached today.

The morning was calm. The usual dungeon weather—cloudy, dim light, cool air. Everything as always. We had breakfast, checked our gear, and set off. Today we were supposed to enter the fourth zone.

About thirty minutes passed. We walked along a mostly flat path between rocks and trees, and nothing hinted at trouble.

And then it started to rain.

At first—light. Almost unnoticeable. A few drops on the shoulders, moisture in the air, a faint sound of water tapping the leaves.

As soon as it started, Rem and Sherial stopped almost immediately. Without a word, they began setting up the tent.

It was the first time I saw this tent. Before, they always slept in the open, even at night. No shelter. The golems guarded us, and that seemed to be enough.

But now it was clear—why we needed the tent.

A few minutes passed, and the light rain turned into a real downpour. Cold, loud, dense.

It’s still going now.

After four days in the dungeon, I’ve come to a simple conclusion. The life of an adventurer—definitely not for me.

Yeah, I don’t have much choice right now. If I want to sell health potions—safely, without suspicion—I have to be a registered adventurer. And do it in a big city. That’s the rule.

But one day… When I’ve saved enough money… I’m going to buy a small house. Somewhere far from the city. Maybe in a quiet village, with no monsters, no crowds of people.

I’ll have my own garden… Actually, no. A garden’s too much work. And I don’t plan to work from dawn till dusk. That’s not for me.

I just want to live… peacefully. Quietly. Away from all this.

But… I won’t stop training. Every day, I’ll use my skill—the Training Room. To grow stronger. Slowly. Without risk. Without pain.

I’m a fourth-rank adventurer. But even third-rank monsters can beat me with ease.

Yeah, I get why. I spent all my free attribute points on intellect, magic power, and magic defense. That made me stronger… as a mage.

If I were a mage. But I don’t have a single offensive magic skill. No fireballs, no lightning, no shields. No protection, no spells—nothing. All I use my mana for is crafting potions. That’s it.

So, combat… definitely not my path. I can feel it.

Also… After all those battles, all that fear, pain, and fatigue… I gained less than fifty thousand experience points.

Yeah… Not even fifty thousand. A bit less. After all that suffering—just this?

Now I look at adventurers differently. With more respect. Real respect. And my respect for Rem and Sherial… It’s soared sky-high.

They became so strong by fighting real monsters. By risking their lives.

And me… I gained my levels in complete safety, inside the Training Room.

And now I understand the difference.

Even if I someday reach their level… I still won’t be strong enough.

Any monster or person in this world who’s gone through real battles, blood, and pain… They’ll be stronger. Stronger than me, even if our levels match. Because they have what I don’t—experience.

To catch up, I’d need to be far above them in level. Probably, that’s the one thing I’m actually good at—leveling up in the Training Room.

— Do you think the rain will stop soon? — I asked, looking at the gray sky beyond the tent.

Rem looked in the same direction.

— Hmm… Maybe by evening. Though even if it stops, everything around will turn into a swamp. There’s no way we’re fighting today.

— Yeah, what kind of battle can you have when it’s all mud under your feet, — Sherial added with a smirk.

— Anyone who fights monsters in weather like this must be a masochist, — Sherial said.

"If we’ve got nothing to do, I might as well use the time for something useful," I thought, standing up.

— Well, I’ll be gone for a few minutes, — I said, brushing off my clothes.

— Where are you going? — Sherial asked, giving me a curious look.

— I’m going to use the Training Room, — I replied. — I want to get a bit more experience. Maybe level up once or twice.

Rem nodded:

— Do as you like. We probably won’t be able to do anything productive today anyway.

I activated the skill.

Just as I activated it, I heard a voice:

— Wait!

But it was too late.

The next moment, I was in the Training Room… and froze.

Because I felt a hand on my shoulder.

When I turned around—Sherial was standing there.