24. Massive Gains (Patreon)

Luke stood before the pile of loot left behind by the goblin brute and its lackeys. A large pouch overflowing with gold coins, five massive bone clubs, and an assortment of rugged daggers littered the ground. The sight was satisfying, but the real excitement came from the notifications flashing before him.

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You have defeated the mini-boss Brute Goblin!
 You have gained +2 Strength!
 Reward multiplier is in effect, multiplying the rewards!
 You have gained +10 Strength!

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You have cleared the 1 Star Beginner Dungeon 'Goblin Den'!
 You have gained +1 Agility, 7 gold, Large Bone Club x1, Rugged Dagger x3
 Reward multiplier is in effect, multiplying the rewards!
 You have gained +5 Agility, 35 gold, Large Bone Club x5, Rugged Dagger x15

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Achievement Unlocked!
 Clear any 'Beginner' rank dungeon solely using guns!
 Rewards: Gun Combination (sub-skill)

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Luke blinked at the screens, a wry smile forming on his lips. "Is this even legal?" he muttered under his breath. The sheer stat gain alone was absurd. He flexed his arm experimentally, and to his shock, the fabric of his sleeve split open along the seams. His eyes widened as he examined his biceps, now more defined and packed with power.

"Damn… I actually feel stronger."

Shaking off his amazement, he grabbed the gold pouch first, feeling its satisfying weight. With 1 gold equaling 10 sils, he had just made a staggering 350 sils from a single beginner-level dungeon. A payday like this almost made him want to farm goblin dens full-time.

After securing his loot and putting it inside his inventory, Luke turned toward the dungeon entrance. The walk back to the surface would be uneventful, so he decided to make things more interesting.

"Alright, Szeth," he called out to the metallic serpent coiled beside him. "First one out of the den gets to boss the other around for the rest of the day."

Szeth's silver eyes gleamed with excitement. But before he could respond, Luke bolted forward without warning. "Hah! Head start!" he shouted over his shoulder.

Szeth let out a sharp hiss, momentarily stunned by the sudden betrayal, before slithering after him with blinding speed. The chase barely lasted a few seconds. As Luke emerged from the den's mouth, panting slightly, he found Szeth already waiting outside, looking smug—or as smug as a serpent could appear.

Luke groaned, wiping his forehead. "Not even close, huh?"

"Beh!" Szeth flicked his tongue out playfully, letting out a teasing hiss before scolding Luke with a series of sharp hisses for his cheap trick. Luke only laughed, reaching out to rub the serpent’s metallic scales. Szeth melted into his touch, his earlier protest instantly forgotten.

Still riding the high from his victory, Luke eagerly pulled up his status window to examine his growth.

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Luke Raynott
 Alignment: Neutral
 Title: None
 Class: Gunner (Growth)
 Specialty: Instincts of the Weak (Passive)

 Strength: 20
 Agility: 18
 Intelligence: 7 (+2)
 Divinity: 0
 Luck: 1
 Wisdom: 13
 Dexterity: 16

Skills:

• Double Round (Lvl 3)

• Gunner Craftsmanship (Lvl 2) (Sub-skill included)

• Lock On (Lvl 1)

• Far and Wide (Lvl 2)

• Leap (Lvl 3)

Overall Rating: Impressive

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Luke rubbed his nose, grinning. His stats had skyrocketed from a single dungeon run. The thought of repeating the process to grow even stronger excited him. He was still far behind monsters like Roy, but that wouldn't last forever. Not if he had anything to say about it.

'Not for long.'

His gaze shifted to a thick tree standing a few meters ahead. It looked especially punchable—perfect for testing his newfound strength. Balling his fist, he took a deep breath and swung with all his might.

A dull thud echoed through the clearing as his knuckles slammed into the bark. Pulling his hand back, he expected pain—but there was only a slight sting. When he looked at the trunk, a deep, one-inch imprint of his fist was embedded in the wood.

Luke's eyebrows shot up. "No way…"

He turned his hand over, flexing his fingers. That was all him. That wasn’t the power of some fancy skill or external boost—it was his raw, newly enhanced strength.

A slow grin spread across his face. "To think that crazy son of a bitch started with better strength than this…"

Roy had begun his journey already leagues ahead of where Luke was now, and knowing him, he’d only gotten stronger. Luke clenched his fist, the excitement surging through his veins.

He had a long way to go.

But he'd catch up.

And when he did—

He'd surpass him.

As Luke had cleared the dungeon, an exit portal had materialized in front of the Goblin Den’s entrance, pulsing with the same green hue as the one he had stepped through before. He flexed his fingers, still feeling the residual energy from his punch to the tree. Without hesitation, he picked up Szeth and draped the metallic serpent around his shoulders. Szeth let out a satisfied “Beeh!” as he curled around Luke’s neck, nuzzling against him in contentment.

Luke turned back, giving the dungeon one last glance before stepping into the portal. As he did, reality shifted around him, the sensation like stepping through a curtain of water. The moment he emerged on the other side, he took a long, steadying breath, feeling the weight of the dungeon’s trials lift from his shoulders.

The portal area was already bustling. Several groups who had entered before him had returned, their postures and expressions revealing how they had fared. Prince Blaine’s, Roy’s, and Alice’s groups looked practically untouched, their armor and weapons still pristine. Others weren’t as fortunate—some members of different teams had rugged appearances, with torn clothing and visible injuries from traps or monster encounters.

Luke kept to himself, walking forward without drawing attention, but he wasn’t granted that luxury for long.

“You’re back!”

Professor Yorth’s voice rang out, more surprised than relieved. His sharp eyes swept over Luke, taking in his unscathed appearance before landing on Szeth, who flicked his tongue out lazily. A look of understanding dawned on Yorth’s face, as if everything suddenly made sense.

Luke noticed the assumption but didn’t bother correcting it. Instead, he responded with polite humility. “Yes, thanks to your lecture, I had prepared enough.”

Yorth coughed awkwardly, rubbing his nose. “You’re not the only one I gave that lecture to,” he muttered under his breath, though he refrained from voicing it outright. Straightening up, he gestured toward the floating translucent displays above the dungeon portals. “Let me check your dungeon score for evaluation.”

Luke blinked, glancing up at the large screens. “Dungeon score?”

Yorth nodded. “Each dungeon assigns a score based on several factors—the time taken to clear it, efficiency, number of traps disarmed, party size, injuries sustained, and boss kills. It’s an automated evaluation to gauge performance.”

Luke absorbed the information, nodding. “And how do I check mine?”

“Just wait,” Yorth replied, crossing his arms. “Two minutes after exiting a dungeon, the system announces the results.”

As if on cue, a robotic voice resonated through the air:

[Goblin Den clear! Dungeon Score: 124! Party Members: Luke Raynott! New Record for the Dungeon 'Goblin Den'!]

A wave of silence fell over the crowd. Heads turned toward the display floating above the green portal. For the first time, the number one spot wasn’t occupied by a party’s name—it was a single person.

Luke Raynott.

The second-place record, previously the highest, held a score of 99. The name next to it? One he recognized instantly—Charlotte Rolhart, the first princess of the Rolhart Kingdom.

“Huh?” Luke stared at the screen, dumbfounded. “I set a record?”

Murmurs broke out among the students. Some gawked at him in disbelief, while others, like Prince Blaine, wore open displeasure on their faces. The tension in the air thickened, and for a moment, Luke considered slipping away before things became tiresome.

Before anyone could speak, a half-drowsy voice cut through the noise.

“Congratulations on setting a new record,” Professor Elric drawled, stepping into the circle of attention. He yawned before continuing, “If you manage to keep that record after everyone finishes their evaluations, I’ll personally hand you a dungeon card.”

Luke’s ears perked up instantly. “A dungeon card?”

Elric smirked, noting the sudden interest. “That got your attention, huh? Well, let’s see if your record holds first.”

The only reason Luke reacted so positively was because he had read about that item, and it was almost a necessity for anyone planning to get stronger.

A few minutes later, more groups started to emerge from the portal, their conditions varying. Some looked relieved, others battered and exhausted. The next group to return was Jasmine and Trenton’s, and despite the dirt clinging to their clothes, they appeared mostly unharmed.

Luke, leaning casually against a tree, waved at them with a smirk.

Trenton’s eyes widened the moment he spotted him. “How the hell are you out quicker than us? Did you have a return crystal and run away?” His tone was more accusatory than joking, unwilling to accept the idea that Luke, who had gone in alone, could finish before a full party.

A return crystal was an uncommon item that was used to escape from a dungeon without needing to clear it. Most veteran parties used it in high-tier dungeons since things could go awry anytime.

Luke scoffed, placing a hand on his chest in mock offense. “Me? Run away? Trenton, I’d never stoop so low. Don't know about you though.” He turned to the leaderboard floating in the air and gestured grandly. “Go on, take a look. I’ll wait.”

Trenton hesitated before glancing up. The second he saw Luke’s score, his expression twisted into one of absolute horror.

“Yeah,” Luke drawled, relishing the reaction. “That’s about right.”

Before Trenton could recover, Jasmine stepped up, her eyes bright with excitement. “Luke! How was your dungeon? Ours was—”

She launched into a rapid summary, her enthusiasm making it impossible to believe she was the same girl who, just a month ago, had been a nervous wreck. “But seeing humanoid creatures the size of kids die wasn’t very pleasant.” She made a face, the initial thrill dampened by reality.

Luke nodded, understanding her perspective. For normal Earth dwellers, killing—no matter the enemy—was a significant mental hurdle. His own fortitude had been forged through experiences he preferred not to dwell on, making him far less affected by the sight of death.

More time passed, and eventually, a loud, victorious laugh boomed through the clearing.

Grukthar.

The massive orc emerged from the portal looking like he had been through hell. Arrows stuck out of his shoulders, his legs bore the marks of spike traps, and yet, despite it all, he held his head high. In his hands was a massive bone club, the telltale sign of a mini-boss drop.

“No more theory tests! This is great!” He grinned ear to ear before scanning the crowd. “Where’s that pipsqueak? I want to see his face.”

A few people groaned, some covering their faces in second-hand embarrassment. Luke, however, merely chuckled, watching as realization dawned on the slow-witted orc.

Grukthar’s confident stride faltered as he picked up on the atmosphere, the way people avoided eye contact. Finally, his gaze landed on Luke—standing there, completely fine, an amused expression playing on his lips.

The orc’s stomach visibly dropped. “No way…”

Professor Yorth sighed dramatically. “Just wait for your dungeon score.”

Moments later, the system announced:

[Goblin Den clear! Dungeon Score: 55! Party Members: Grukthar!]

A heavy silence fell over the clearing. Grukthar’s fingers twitched around the bone club, his expression cycling from denial to rage to begrudging acceptance.

“There we go,” Yorth said, jotting down the score. “For reference, Luke’s score is 124—the highest in this dungeon.”

The temperature seemed to drop as the reality of the numbers sank in. Grukthar, to his credit, didn’t explode immediately. He inhaled sharply, exhaled slowly, and then grumbled something unintelligible under his breath.

Yorth, however, wasn’t done. “Now, since you lost…” His eyes gleamed with a sadistic edge. “Shall we proceed with the disciplinary action for disorderly conduct?”

The memory of the previous bet resurfaced in Grukthar’s mind. His shoulders slumped.

Professor Elric, ever the contrast to Yorth’s theatrics, clapped his hands to gather attention. “Alright, enough fun. Everyone, go sell your loot to the academy’s authorized loot seller near the station. Standard rate applies—three gold per set of equipment.”

Luke, blending into the crowd, smiled as he took out a similar set of loot compared to others. He had no intention of letting anyone know just how much he had actually earned.

As the students made their way to the loot vendor, small conversations broke out. Some grumbled about the difficulty of the dungeon, others eagerly compared battle experiences. A few students even discussed strategies for their next dive. The experience had changed them—many had entered with naive expectations but had emerged more aware of what lay ahead in their journey.

Just as Luke was about to leave, Elric stopped him and handed him a small bronze card, engraved with the emblem of the Seluvian Empire.

“With this,” Elric explained, “you can enter any Beginner or Adept dungeon within the empire. You’ll need to pay the entrance fee, but this grants you unrestricted access.”

Luke whistled, flipping the card between his fingers. “Sweet deal.”

Elric narrowed his eyes. “Don’t get cocky and jump into higher-level dungeons before you’re ready.”

Luke grinned. “You don’t have to tell me that twice.”

Elric studied him for a moment before sighing. “Somehow, I feel like I do.”

With that, the first dungeon excursion of C-Ruby class came to an eventful close. They boarded the train back to the main academy station, where trams would take them back to their dorms. The weight of the day’s events settled in as students leaned against seats, some reflecting, some dozing off, and others already planning for the future.

For most, it had been a grueling but educational experience.

For Luke?

It was payday.