As the famous level-up sound echoed in my mind, my body began to glow, not just my head, but my entire body.

"Did I just level up?"

After the recent series of events, I was exhausted. I returned home to tend to my injuries and rest. Mizumochi, thankfully, was unharmed and already sleeping in its cardboard bed. "I'm glad tomorrow is Sunday." Looking in the mirror, my face was more swollen than I thought, and my hair was... missing in patches.

"Looks like I'll have to visit the barber tomorrow."

After treating my wounds and taking some painkillers, I finally relaxed.

"First, I need to figure out what happened during that incident."

Searching 【Level Up】online, I found it instantly.

"Becoming an adventurer leads to experiencing leveling up..."

This time, the blog post about leveling up was by Muscle V. According to him, accumulating magical energy in the body by repeatedly entering dungeons and then defeating a monster triggers the level-up phenomenon.

"What are the benefits of leveling up?"

First, you can see your status after leveling up.

"Status?"

As I wondered aloud about my status, a screen appeared before me, like in a video game.

Name: Hideo Abe

Age: 40

Species: Human

Level: 1 (SP 10)

Job: Beast Tamer

Ability: Taming

Familiar: Mizumochi

"Wow, I can really see my status. And my adventurer job is listed too. The guild receptionist really should have explained more."

I could interact with the display, and it showed detailed information for each category.

Name, Individual Name

Age, Calculated as years since birth

Species, Determined by DNA = Human

Level, Calculated by accumulated magical energy + experience from defeating monsters

SP, Skill Points

Job, Dungeon challenge ability

Ability, Skills acquired from dungeon job, innate talents

Familiar, Tamed magical creature

"Interesting... So, you get skill points when you level up. These can be used to acquire abilities useful in dungeons or to discover your own hidden talents."

What hidden talents could I possibly have? My inner chuuni soul is getting restless.

"Come forth, my hidden abilities!"

When I touched SP, a list of options appeared.

- Enhance Monster Attack

- Enhance Monster Defense

- Enhance Monster Magic

- Enhance Monster Magic Defense

- Enhance Monster Abnormal Resistance

- Enhance Monster Healing

- Restore Monster Abnormal Resistance

- Double Monster Experience Points

- Self-Healing (Minimal)

- Odor Cut

- Hair Growth

...

...

...

I know what you're thinking. I don't have any special talents. I've lived a pretty ordinary life.

But let me say one thing.

Can I press Hair Growth? Will it regrow my hair? Can I still hold out hope?

Each skill only cost 1 SP, so I decided to acquire them all.

However, I had 10 SP and 11 skills to choose from... Hair Growth and Odor Cut... I chose Odor Cut.

I wanted Hair Growth, but the thought of it only growing where I was injured was too much.

Besides... I was starting to worry about body odor. It would be embarrassing to be detected by a monster because of my scent.

So, while making excuses to myself, I stared at Hair Growth before falling asleep.

Yes, Sunday was the usual large shopping trip to the supermarket.

Then, to the barber shop.

"What can I do for you today?"

"My hair is uneven. Could you shave it all off, please?"

"Are you sure?"

The barber's eyes sparkled, I think.

"Yes, as neatly as possible."

His work was impeccable.

Yesterday's encounter with the goblin made me realize the importance of survival over protecting my "grassland" (my term for hair). To increase my chances of survival with Mizumochi, I don't need the grassland.

"All done."

In the mirror, my head was cleanly shaven, reflecting the fluorescent lights... why do I feel tears in my eyes?

"Sir, you're a real man."

"Thank you!!!"

I unexpectedly felt moved at the barber shop.

With my purchases loaded on my Super Cub, it was another party day with Mizumochi.

"Mizumochi, thank you for saving my life yesterday. I don't know if you'll like it, but I bought steak from the supermarket. A one-pound wild steak. Please enjoy."

I seared the surface for a rare finish and cut it into large pieces for Mizumochi. It melted into Mizumochi, who quivered more than usual, clearly delighted! It seems Mizumochi is a meat lover. The one-pound steak was gone in no time.

After yesterday's events, we skipped the dungeon walk and just slept together.