[Lucky Overpowered] — I Became a Background Character Meant to Die in the Game’s Opening, But Now I’m Overpowered and Fighting to Save My All-Time Favorite Alchemist Heroine - Episode 6

Thanks to our gambling winnings, we were able to invest in alchemy and steadily improve our skills.

Well, technically, it’s just Lise who’s improving. Her progress has been great, but I’m the real problem. I’ve been practicing with daggers and the bow, but I still have no actual combat experience.

Which is why I came here—to the dungeon at the center of the city of Barro.

While Lise focuses on her alchemy, I plan to gain real combat experience, level up, and get stronger.

Even a background character like me can become a little tougher if I level up, right?

Besides, if my hunch is right, we’ll need to defeat the Soul Eater soon. And we won’t survive unless we’re ready.

“So, this is the dungeon…”

Before me stood a towering circular wall, enclosing a massive tower that looked like it could pierce the sky. The top was hidden in the clouds—no, higher than that. This ridiculously tall structure was the dungeon of Barro: Babel. Sounds like the kind of thing a god might want to destroy, but rest assured, it never got destroyed in the game.

“Damn, that’s tall… I have to climb that?”

It was a sight so overwhelming it made me want to turn back. The tower literally pierced the clouds—who knows, maybe it stretches all the way to the edge of the universe.

“Let’s see… gear check… It’s just the first floor, so I should be fine, right?”

I quickly inspected my equipment, then started walking toward the dungeon.

“Next!”

The path leading to the dungeon’s entrance passed through a gate, where soldiers were checking the adventurers one by one. I joined the line, and soon enough, it was my turn.

“Show your adventurer’s ID.”

“Here.”

I handed over the parchment hanging from my neck. The soldier glanced at it and nodded.

“Paper rank, huh? Be careful in there. Next!”

He gave me a light pat on the shoulder—my signal to go.

I stepped past the walls and into the dungeon. The outer wall was pure white, almost unnaturally so, like it had never been touched by dirt. There were no seams or decorations—how it was built was a total mystery. They say it was created by a goddess, and honestly, I believe it.

I walked toward the gaping mouth of the dungeon. Inside, the white walls seemed to glow faintly, illuminating the space in a soft, ambient light.

As soon as I entered, I found myself in a large white chamber. In the center stood a strange monument that resembled an hourglass, and beyond it stretched a white corridor—just like I’d seen in the game.

Then, the party of adventurers ahead of me vanished. Teleported, probably.

I reached out and touched the hourglass-shaped monument. My palm warmed gently—must mean I’m registered now?

The dungeon has some kind of biometric system that records your progress. Once registered, you can teleport directly to any floor you’ve cleared before. Pretty high-tech for a fantasy world.

Well, it would be ridiculous to start from the first floor every single time when there are a hundred total.

Assuming I was now registered, I stepped past the monument and headed down the corridor. From this point on, monsters could appear. I had to stay alert.

Though it’s only the first floor, so I might struggle, but I won’t lose… probably.

I kept my bow loosely drawn with an arrow nocked, ready to shoot at any moment as I moved cautiously down the corridor.

Suddenly, something small appeared at the crossroads ahead.

A rabbit with a sharp horn protruding from its forehead.

“A Horned Rabbit…!”

I quickly raised my bow and let the arrow fly.

The arrow missed—by a lot. It sailed about fifty centimeters to the left of the rabbit.

What?! I missed!?

I hadn’t missed this badly during practice. Maybe I was just too nervous—it was my first real dungeon, after all.

The Horned Rabbit noticed the attack and charged straight at me.

Should I try another shot? Or ditch the bow and go for my daggers?

A moment of hesitation—and then I reached for another arrow from my quiver.

The rabbit was now about ten meters away. One more shot. If I miss, I’ll go for the daggers.

I took aim and fired. The rabbit was just seven meters away now.

Maybe I was already thinking about what to do if I missed. Or maybe I just couldn’t focus. Either way, I missed again.

“Damn it!”

I cursed and dropped the bow, drawing a dagger with each hand. Dual-wielding daggers.

In my previous life, I had experience in kendo, but never in dual-wielding. Gee picked dual-wielding because it looked cool, not because he was good at it. I’d practiced a bit, but I wasn’t confident.

Still, this was just a first-floor monster. The weakest of the weak.

Even so, I was more nervous than I’d ever been in my life.

By the time I finally raised my daggers, the Horned Rabbit was less than a meter away.

It leaped, aiming its horn straight at my gut.

If this hit, it would go right through me.

But my body wouldn’t move—as if I’d turned to stone.

Why!?

I’d practiced with daggers. But I suddenly realized—I’d only practiced attacking. I never once thought about what to do when I was being attacked.

“Ugh…!”

I felt a sharp, foreign sensation in my abdomen.

The Horned Rabbit’s tackle bent my body forward, forcing me to my knees.