Chapter 52

"Well, it's back to the fourth floor again today, huh?"

Stretching my body, I swung my arms around.

"Sure enough, my body feels lighter after the break."

I had spent the past two days with Olive, enjoying a leisurely time shopping and having tea, which helped me fully recover from fatigue.

"I don't think I'll struggle on the fourth floor anymore, but since I'm a playboy, I should probably get a bit more serious."

With renewed determination, I began my exploration.

"Phew, I leveled up faster than I thought...?"

Currently, I am resting in the fourth floor's break area.

Usually, Yugo's party would be hunting on this floor, but according to what Olive told me yesterday, they have been gradually showing up on the fifth floor recently.

They said they would be hunting on the fifth floor today, so it's unlikely we'll run into each other for three days in a row.

Since I had reached my target level, I opened the status screen to change my job to Mage... but then I noticed something odd.

"Huh?"

My hand paused as I looked at the skill screen.

"Could I have mistakenly obtained it while half-asleep?"

My acquired skills list now included "Sleep" and "Eat."

"No, my skill points haven't decreased. They've increased by the exact amount I gained from leveling up..."

I remember checking two days ago, and I had 187 skill points. Now, with two levels up, I have 211.

It's unlikely I obtained them by mistake.

"Could it be because I set my job to Playboy and then slept and ate?"

Reflecting on the weekend, I remember sleeping and eating a lot.

From the hypothesis that "Swordsmanship Level 1" was not obtained through skill points but was initially possessed, I had assumed that proficiency existed.

There were times in the past when I had been a Playboy for a few days, and the last two days were also spent as a Playboy during my break.

Could it be that my skills were automatically obtained due to increased proficiency?

"Is this a possible method of acquisition...?"

I had hypothesized this before, but it was now proven.

"Given this, maybe I can leave frequently used skills alone until they max out?"

Until now, I had immediately leveled up skills as soon as I could, but if proficiency-based acquisition is possible, it might be better to wait and see without raising the cap.

This way, I can save skill points in the long run.

"Probably, the way to increase proficiency is to perform actions related to the job's skills?"

I had spent a few days leveling up as a Playboy before. This explains why my proficiency was high enough to obtain the skills at this timing.

"Then this is bad..."

Normally, automatically obtaining skills is a good thing.

Other adventurers generally acquire skills this way and continue using them to level up.

I had forgotten this because I had been obtaining skills with skill points, but I can also obtain skills through proficiency.

"What if I keep being a Playboy and end up obtaining 'Deep Sleep'?"

In a place like this break area, there are no monsters, so it's not a problem.

But what if I take significant damage during a battle on the fifth floor or in deeper levels?

If I fall asleep on the spot, I'll be completely defenseless.

"Then I'll definitely die."

Until I understand the conditions for skill acquisition, I can't take any risks. With that in mind, I changed my job to Mage.

"For now, I'll keep this in mind and check the status screen frequently..."

With that, I decided to continue hunting as a Mage.

"Phew, finally reached level 40 as a Mage..."

I had been stuck on the fourth floor for four days to level up safely, as the thought of the 'Deep Sleep' skill kept flashing in my mind. Thanks to this, I managed to reach my target level as a Mage before the holiday.

"With the right skills, I should be fine to return to the fifth floor."

I opened the status screen.

"Good, I have new skills."

I used 'Skill Appraisal' to check the description of the new skills.

- 'Double' ⇒ Allows you to cast the same spell twice in succession. However, the second spell has half the power.

"This means the total power of the spells is 1.5 times, right?"

Since they can be cast consecutively, it's possible to knock back enemies or create a barrage. It might even allow me to take down monsters that I couldn't previously with a single spell.

"I'll acquire it immediately... Sure enough, it's a level 40 skill. It cost 50 skill points..."

If I had continued as a Mage and increased my proficiency, would I have eventually obtained it?

I can't help but think about it, but since I can obtain it easily, there's no point in dwelling on it.

"I'll put the stat points into Dexterity... and next, I'll change my job to Warrior."

Although there were unexpected developments, my plan remains unchanged. I intend to level each job to 40, check the skills, and then specialize in a support role.

Name: Tim

Age: 16

Job: Warrior Level 30

Strength: 347 + 60

Agility: 311

Stamina: 380 + 60

Magic: 339

Spirit: 302

Dexterity: 366

Luck: 500

Status Points: 0

Skill Points: 173

Unique Skills: 'Status Manipulation'

Designated Skill Effect Multipliers: 'Skill Point Gain Level 5', 'Status Point Gain Level 5', 'Experience Gain Level 5', 'Item Drop Rate Increase Level 5', 'Burst Level 8'

Acquired Skills: 'Swordsmanship Level 7', 'Bash Level 6', 'Healing Level 6', 'Light', 'Trap Detection Level 5', 'Trap Disarm Level 5', 'Rear Guard Level 5', 'Item Appraisal Level 6', 'Dagger Mastery Level 5', 'Fire Arrow Level 6', 'Ice Arrow Level 6', 'Wind Arrow Level 6', 'Rock Shot Level 6', 'Meditation Level 6', 'Wall Level 6', 'Magic Focus Level 6', 'Blessing Level 6', 'Cure Level 6', 'High Healing Level 6', 'Safety Wall Level 6', 'Speed Up Level 6', 'Stamina Up Level 6', 'Item Box Level 4', 'Designated Skill Effect Multiplier Level 5', 'Skill Appraisal', 'Sleep', 'Eat', 'Double'

"Alright, I'll keep working hard from tomorrow."

With the resolve to take steady steps forward, I closed the status screen.