Chapter 72 – Berserker? I barely even know her.
I tried to keep my explanation of tactics short and comprehensible. The basics would suffice for the moment, and I didn’t want to overwhelm my comrades.
“I hate to admit it,” began Penrin, “but those are some pretty smart ideas.”
“Thank you.”
“For someone as dumb as you,” she clarified.
At this point I was happy to receive even a backhanded compliment. If I wanted more, I would probably have to wring genuine praise out of the girl.
“Yarm, how do you know so much about combat strategy? Are you a tactician?” asked Newmill.
I waved both my hands dismissively. “No, no. Not at all.” I was pretty amazed myself that I knew so much. “During the fight, I just figured it out.” The words I said were true, but they seemed so obviously a lie. “It’s all because of my high Mind.” Or at least I thought it was.
“Amazing!” said Newmill. “That’s a huge benefit.”
I didn’t think it was that great. “If I had Body or Soul, I could help in fights with actions not words. Plus, my Mind means that I’m basically worthless when alone. I can’t even defeat supposedly weak creatures like slimes. My stat allocation has made me useless.”
“I don’t think that’s the case at all,” said Penrin.
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes. I think you would be useless regardless of which stat you invested into.” She gave me a thumbs up.
My face drooped. “Thanks for the encouraging words.”
Newmill’s index finger and thumb extended into a finger-gun shape, and he rested his chin between the two. With eyes closed and brows furrowed, he was contemplating something. Then he formed his other hand into a finger-gun so he could place both hands against his chin to double the contemplation. “Hmm…” He opened his eyes and clapped his hands together. He had thought of something. “Yarm, do you have any class titles?”
“Yes, of course.” I didn’t know what he was asking but I instinctively said yes.
Newmill was suspicious of me. “Alright then Yarm, explain what class titles are.”
“Phuh.” How preposterous that he thought he could catch me in a fib so easily. “I know what class titles are, but I bet Penrin doesn’t know.”
“What?” she said, offended. “Of course I know!”
“Then explain it,” I said, mockingly sticking my tongue out at her.
“Fine!” She crossed her arms and puffed out a breath of air. “Class titles are an unofficial categorisation of titles. A class title is a title that affects the effects of stats. Take the Rogue title for example. It halves the physical strength you receive from your Body level but doubles the speed. The Tank title decreases speed but increases defence and HP. These titles don’t necessarily make you stronger, but they focus your talents towards something specific. Personally, I have two class titles: Berserker and Barbarian.”
“Interesting,” I said. “If I get one of those, I could increase my logic or reasoning. Then, I would still be as useless as I am now.” My shoulders slumped.
Newmill said, “Wait… If you get one? Aha! That means you don’t have a class title, so you were lying before!”
“I’ll tell you what’s lying. These skeletons,” I said as I went over to inspect the dead skeletons lying on the floor. I picked up the weapons they were using. They were all blunt and rusty. “Is this loot? Could we sell these?”
“Maybe for a gold piece each,” said Penrin.
I gathered all the weapons in my arms. “We only need to collect 56 more to make back the entrance fee.” The rusty sword split into two and fell to the ground. “Make that 57.”
“We don’t need to scavenge worthless items, Yarm.” Newmill took the weapons out of my hands and cast them aside. “This area has been explored so there’s nothing valuable, but when we go deeper inside there will be stuff that’s worth decent money.”
“Very well.” I pointed down the corridor. “Onwards my disciples.”
“Shouldn’t you be leading the charge, teacher?” Penrin teased as she went first.
“Nonsense. A man of my calibre has to follow the charge.” I believed I may have been the first to use the figure of speech ‘of my calibre’ derogatorily.
The three of us went deeper into the dungeon. At certain points, skeletons would come out to receive a beating from Penrin and Newmill. Their weapons were of horrible quality. Penrin purposely took a blow from a scimitar, and it broke when it collided with her body. She did not receive a point of damage.
Newmill explained how the enemies were weak because of our proximity to the entrance. Once we travelled deeper and descended floors, we would face stronger foes and receive better loot.
Eventually, we came upon an intersection with no arrow chalked into the middle. Newmill said, “It will be unexplored territory from now on, so we need to be careful.”
“We or Yarm?” said Penrin.
“I’m sensing some negativity,” I said, frowning at that comment. “I know. How about we all do a teambuilding exercise?”
“Please no.”
“That’s the spirit!” I clasped my hands together. “Why don’t we all compliment each other? I’ll start off. Newmill, I love your warm personality. Penrin, I love your patience and realism.” Looking at Newmill, I said, “Your turn.”
“Oh, uhm.” He took a moment to think. “I like Penrin’s fashion sense. And I like your sense of humour, Yarm.”
“Thank you!” I said. “That’s nice of you to say. Now it’s your turn, Penrin.”
I saw that she didn’t want to speak. Her desire to participate was dubious from the start. However, after a minute of silence, she surprised me by saying, “Sometimes when I’m with you two, I forget that I even have a scar.”