I’m the Eldest Son of a Poor Family, but My Magical Talent Awakened While Working Hard for My Family - Chapter 5

“I think Itsushiki-kun can earn money by collecting plants since you’re solo.”

What Shiraishi-san proposed was a way to earn money in the [Sea of Sacrifice].

The research subjects within the dungeon are not limited to just the bodies of monsters. Plants that cannot be cultivated on Earth can also be exchanged for money.

However, there are two major drawbacks to this.

One, the plants in easily accessible places have long since been harvested.

There’s no need to go out of your way to do it at the party.

Due to these two factors, plant-based items for exchange are chronically in short supply. However, there is a limit to raising the purchase price… As a result, it seems that among adventurers, they are treated as “lucky if you can pick them up on the way back.”

It’s a reasonable story. If I were at a party with someone, I would probably prioritize combat too. In fact, it seems that once I can get through the forest, I can make a living just as an adventurer.

So, it seems that this plant collecting could be quite a hot niche industry.

If Shiraishi-san says so, then it must be true.

I believe in Shiraishi-san.

Shiraishi-san, a volunteer who doesn’t lie.

I passed through the gate.

“…Hm?”

It’s a different feeling from yesterday.

I feel like my whole body is being wrapped in something. However, that something has no mass, and I’m not perceiving it with my skin.

Could this possibly be mana?

This feeling that seeps into my body after a night’s sleep, it seems that magic is just like studying and sports.

For now, I start walking towards the outside of the Labyrinth. The way to find the exit is the same as in a regular cave. Just head in the direction the wind is blowing from.

While walking, I try out various spells.

First, I need to strengthen my body. Even mid-level adventurers don’t consciously think about it. However, if I delve into dungeons, I’ll eventually need it. It’s better to start gradually building it up now.

By absorbing mana from the atmosphere and circulating it within the body, it seems that one can draw out more power than humans inherently possess. True to the principles of magic, the more mana that can be used, the stronger the enhancement becomes.

Slowly control the mana from the tips of my toes and move it up to the top of my head. Make this movement as smooth as possible.

Walking and trying not to be ambushed by Mobmen is quite tough. Using magic stimulates what could be called a sixth sense――put simply, it makes me extremely tired.

In terms of studying, it’s like listening to a lesson on a new unit.

In terms of exercise, it’s like overworking muscles I haven’t used before.

“What is this… It’s more exhausting than I imagined…”

Walking while calmly enhancing my body—an incredibly mundane act. Since there’s no adrenaline like in battle, my spirit is gradually worn down. Each second feels long.

Escape from the Labyrinth.

A forest where light pours down brilliantly. At its entrance, I sit down as if collapsing.

A thin layer of sweat beads all over my body. I haven’t earned a single yen yet… Haa. The road ahead is long.

――And then.

At this point, the dungeon isn’t so lenient as to let me rest.

“Yahh yahh yahh.”

I can hear a voice. A voice that is definitely coming this way, moving through the trees.

Angry monkeys. True to their name, they harbor intense hostility towards humans. Especially when they realize their opponent is weaker, they are said to chase them to the ends of the earth.

I stand up and do a light jump on the spot.

――To stabilize income through foraging is an essential condition.

That is escaping from this monkey that lives in the Sea of Trees.

Pure white fur. Bright red face. Long, developed limbs.

Our eyes meet.

“I am over here, to where the sound is coming from!”

Provoked with applause. Smirking, they turned their backs.

A full-speed dash with magic infused in my legs. It’s a desperate escape.

“Yaaahh!”

An obviously furious monkey is chasing after me, screaming.

I thought about it yesterday too, but these guys are way too fast!

In the blink of an eye, Anmon was right behind me. Judging that I couldn’t escape any further, I turned around.

“[Lightball].”

The spell I shot instinctively was just a light-emitting magic. It had zero firepower, but it was enough to blind the opponent.

“Yaaahh.”

In the brief opening that was created, I adjusted my stance and circulated the body enhancement throughout my entire body.

“Yahh yahh yahh.”

When it regained its sight, Anmon grinned. Saliva dripped from its large omnivorous mouth.

――The flow of mana has changed.

Monsters also use magic. Creatures born and raised in dungeons probably have it as an innate ability.

Even if I call it body enhancement, it’s far superior in skill compared to mine.

It learns.

From the enemy in front of me.

Anmon steps in. Predicting a linear movement, it pulls back its left foot. Immediately, a blow to the chest. It holds its ground and counters with a left straight.

My fist strikes Anmon’s forehead directly.

Thud.

“Ha?”

There’s no resistance at all. What was that just now――like hitting a soft fluid?

“Yaaahh.”

Anmon screams and gets punched in the face. This time, I can’t brace myself and get sent flying backward.

My head is spinning. I’m completely out of it. No nosebleeds. I can see.

“Molecular interference, condensation, activity.”

This battle cannot continue any longer.

With an unstable brain, I will unleash magic.

“Yahh yahh yahh.”

Anmon is clapping its hands and making strange noises as if to provoke me while I’m staggering.

This creature has such a twisted personality…

But well, thanks to that, I was saved.

Aim and fire――snap my fingers.

“[Fire].”

Black smoke rises from Anmon’s white fur, and in the next moment, it ignites.

I still can’t perform complete fire magic. So, I focus only on raising the temperature and using the opponent’s body itself as fuel.

“Yaa… ahh!”

Watching a living being burn right in front of me is an incredibly harrowing sight.

The scream of the Anmon echoes through the Sea of Trees.

“This is bad.”

I had a bad feeling.

Yaaahh! Yaaahh! Aahh! Yaaahh! Yaaahh yaaahh yaaahh!

As if pushing back the echoing voice, another scream approaches from afar.

“Harvesting… Ah, d*mn it, there’s no time to be saying such leisurely things.”

If I tear off Anmon’s right ear, I will receive 700 yen as a reward for defeating it. However, the next one is already in front of me.

“Come on. If you catch up, I’ll fight you.”

Once again, I focus my mind on body enhancement.

Imitate.

That gentle magic I touched earlier.

For the next four days, I relentlessly repeated my escape and battles.

◆

For mid-level and higher adventurers, the [Sea of Sacrifice] is just a place to pass through.

For the trio of adventurers known as “Monthly,” walking along the well-trodden path, this area has become nothing more than a corridor for their return.

A young man clad in heavy armor says in a spirited voice.

“This expedition was quite profitable!”

“Ugh――It’s only a matter of time before we become heroes.”

“Hahaha! Enough with the talk, let’s drink! It’s been a week since I was out, let’s have a good time!”

A thin, gloomy man wearing glasses and a giant man, standing 190 centimeters tall and unlike any Japanese person, follow behind.

The three of them are upper-middle-tier adventurers. They have explored the latter part of the fourth area and are about to become veterans. It was a long time ago that they were called promising newcomers, but they are still steadily progressing.

The three of them came to a complete stop in the middle of the Sea of Trees.

“What is this presence?”

“Angry Monkey… is it? To dare to confront us, It was quite the reckless one.”

The two people in the back instantly go into a combat-ready stance. This quick switch is also a testament to their skill.

However, the young man restrained the two who were brimming with killing intent with his hand.

“Wait. It’s not just the monsters.”

There are four presences of detectable creatures. Among them, only the one at the front is behaving strangely.

Moreover, to be precise, the presence isn’t coming towards them. It just seems to be getting closer by chance.

“It’s a human. They’re escaping from the Angry Monkey.”

Triggering those words, the three of them dash toward the presence.

They circled around and came face to face with the fleeing adventurer. The adventurer was young――a boy, one might even say. Sweat was running down his forehead, his face was flushed, and he was out of breath.

“You’ve done really well to get this far!”

The young man raises his voice and reaches for his sword.

At that moment, he made eye contact with the boy.

――That’s fine.

Feeling as if he had been told that, the young man let go of the sword.

The boy who had been running away jumped with all his might and twisted his upper body in mid-air.

“Molecular interference, activity, three-point condensation.”

The mana in the air all obeys the boy’s command at once.

“[Fire].”

At the same time he snapped his fingers, three Angry Monkeys ignited.

When he lands without a hitch, the boy quickly bows his head.

“I’m sorry for causing you worry.”

“…No, I’m the one who should apologize for being so presumptuous.”

The boy politely bowed once more, then quickly skinned the monster’s right ear and disappeared into the depths of the trees.

After sending off that back, the three of them from “Monthly” start walking.

“Seriously. This is why I can’t quit dungeons.”

The young man smiled as if he were in trouble.

For now, they should ask about that boy when they get back.