A month since my encounter with the goblin was approaching, and once again, I spotted a figure in the dungeon. I'm not one to repeat mistakes.

I had learned over the past two months that this dungeon was not frequented by adventurers. And there was no mistaking it; that was a goblin.

"Mizumochi, do you want to fight?"

We hadn't been noticed yet, so escape was still an option. However, I could feel Mizumochi's eagerness to fight. It seemed ready for battle, and I realized I needed to be prepared as well.

"Phew, as I mentioned before, I've never been in a fight. I'm likely to be more of a hindrance."

Mizumochi quivered as if to say, "Leave it to me."

"Alright, I'll prepare myself too. Deep breaths."

I took a deep breath to steel myself for battle.

"If Mizumochi becomes stronger, we won't need to visit the dungeon for magical energy. Then, we could travel together. I'd be happy to have a peaceful slow life with Mizumochi. If this fight is necessary for that, let's become stronger together."

I gripped the baseball bat firmly.

"Let's go, Mizumochi."

I wasn't sure how much the metal bat would help, but it was all I had.

I approached the goblin quietly, trying not to make a sound. As I got closer, I could see the small creature clearly and made my decision.

I swung the bat with all my might, hitting the goblin in the side. It let out a "Gyah!" in pain.

It wasn't a pleasant feeling, but it had to be done.

"Mizumochi!"

My preemptive strike was successful, and Mizumochi quickly suffocated the goblin.

"Phew, looks like we did it."

It was my second time, so I wasn't as negatively affected. A magic stone lay on the ground. I shattered it to absorb its power.

Considering future battles with Mizumochi, it might be wise to learn about fighting and dungeons at the Adventurers' Guild.

"No level up this time. Well, it was just one goblin."

I headed to the Adventurers' Guild for the second time. It was crowded, as expected on a Sunday.

"Excuse me."

"Eek! Oh, sorry. How can I help you?"

Was it my bald head? Did I frighten the receptionist? The first time someone has ever screamed at my appearance...

...Can I cry now?

"I'm new to adventuring. Do you have any beginner's courses?"

"For a beginner? You look quite experienced, I was surprised."

"Do I look that scary? Sigh..."

"We have beginner's courses at 11 am and 2 pm. It's by reservation only. Would you like to book?"

"Yes, please."

"It's currently 10:30 am, so I'll book you for the 11 am session."

"Thank you."

I left Mizumochi at home to do some research at the Guild. It's probably sleeping now, loving to sleep as it does. Since I'm the type to scout locations before attending, I memorized the way to the training hall.

With some time to spare, I decided to explore the Guild a bit. Inside, there were various facilities and gathering spots.

- Training Ground

- Martial Arts Lectures by Veteran Adventurers

- Guild Recruitment

- Guild Meeting Rooms

- Adventurer's Bank

- Shops for Buying and Selling

Just walking around was enjoyable.

"Hey, it's almost time."

"Wait for me, Yu-kun."

"Shizuka is always so slow."

"Sorry, Sae-chan."

Three teenagers, probably in high school, looked at their watches and hurried off. Ah, youth. It looks like it's time for me to head to the training too.

They entered the same beginner's training hall as me. It seemed I would be attending the session with them and a few others.

"Everyone's here now. Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild."

Our instructor appeared to be a handsome man in his mid-thirties, probably an adventurer himself given his well-toned physique.

"Today, we'll have a session for beginners. You all must have registered just a day or two ago."

Actually, it's been two months. Sorry for the delay.

"Let Yamada Taro-sama, a senior adventurer, teach you the ropes!"

His name was easy to remember, which was good since I'm bad at recalling names.

First, we learned about adventurers and dungeons. The birth of dungeons led to the appearance of monsters, and defeating them allowed anyone to level up and acquire adventurer jobs. Adventurer jobs and abilities can be seen in the status.

The main jobs of adventurers include hunting monsters that appear in dungeons (to prevent them from causing damage to the city) and collecting items from dungeons (many rare items that don't exist in the modern world can be found, like potions that can heal broken bones instantly or high-grade potions that have cured incurable diseases). Selling these items can be lucrative.

Magic stones dropped by monsters can be sold to the Guild.

Newcomers should start by hunting weaker monsters, leveling up, and selling magic stones for income.

The first thing a beginner should do is sell the magic stones they've collected and get equipped. My only weapon is a bat. Should I wear my Super Cub helmet too?

We also learned about leveling up and acquiring abilities specific to our adventurer jobs. Warriors could enhance their physical abilities in places with strong magical power, and magicians could use magic in such places. Sometimes abilities could be used without magical power, but generally, adventurer abilities are meaningless without it.

As beginners, we were told to be prepared for the dangers of the job and to understand the rules within the dungeons. No stealing from other adventurers, no pushing buttons to trap others with monsters, and to be aware of theft and robbery reports within the dungeons.

All of it was quite intimidating.

The session with Instructor Yamada was very informative. It was all basic knowledge for adventurers, but it was crucial to understand to avoid problems.

After the session, I felt much more informed and prepared to continue my adventures with Mizumochi.