Chapter Thirty-Six: A Frog in a Well Seeking for True Freedom
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Name: Ichiro
Race: Terrestrial Wolf
Gender: male
Age: 1 year and 3 months
Lifespan: 30-300 years
Status:
Stats:
Strength: C
Resilience: C+
Agility: D+
Spirit: B-
Abilities:
Cockroach Tenacity (passive)
Meteoric Drops
Absolute Defense (new!)
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Peter pressed the newly acquired ability, Absolute Defense, causing its details to appear before him.
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Absolute Defense (new!)
Strengthens the body's defense by transforming the user's fur into metal and integrating it with hardened earth-like skin, temporarily increasing the user's Resilience by one level.
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"A defensive ability. Not bad at all, Ichiro," Peter commented in satisfaction as he examined the new information.
...
Peter immediately returned to the interior of the Livelihood Dungeon after Ichiro reached Rank C.
He leaned against the wall outside his Master's Lodge, surrounded by piles upon piles of corn.
He also opened his own status board, visibly excited.
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Name: Peter Bulalakaw
Race: Human
Gender: male
Age: 23 years old
Lifespan: (40-90)
Title/s:
Master of the Livelihood Dungeon!
Passionate Tamer
Status:
Stats:
Strength: C
Resilience: D
Agility: E
Spirit: D
Stat point available: C
...
Without hesitation, Peter allocated his available Rank C stat point to Agility. In a dangerous place like the Eternal Forest, the ability to escape was just as important as the ability to endure attacks.
His hand had barely lowered halfway after assigning the stat point when it happened.
Peter suddenly grimaced and cried out in pain as he felt his entire body rapidly becoming unbearably hot. It felt as though he had been thrown into a furnace and boiled alive.
The master of the strange dungeon writhed in agony. He twisted like a salted worm, convulsing from the intense pain surging through his body.
He scratched frantically all over himself, and the force of it eventually left wounds across his skin.
However, the burning sensation gradually subsided.
In the end, his clothes were left wrinkled and torn apart, while the injuries covering his body rapidly healed—thanks to his passive ability, Self-Regeneration.
Peter collapsed face-down onto the grass to rest.
He could feel the change.
His body felt lighter compared to before he had allocated the stat point to Agility.
Slowly, he opened his updated status board.
...
Name: Peter Bulalakaw
Race: Human
Gender: male
Age: 23 years old
Lifespan: (40-90)
Title/s:
Master of the Livelihood Dungeon!
Passionate Tamer
Status:
Stats:
Strength: C
Resilience: D
Agility: C
Spirit: D
Stat point available : --
...
Peter smiled, completely satisfied.
It had changed greatly compared to his starting point.
Truthfully, back then, he could genuinely feel just how "weak" his stats were.
They had been incredibly low.
Almost everything had been ranked E.
...
"What exactly is your problem? Why won't you cooperate or even answer me? You've been surviving on nothing but water for almost two weeks now—do you realize you're putting your own life at risk?" Peter said one after another to the female Frosty Chicken.
The diligent male Frosty Chicken translated everything for her.
Yet despite Peter's serious tone tinged with concern, the female Frosty Chicken remained unmoved. She did not even glance at him or react in the slightest; her mouth stayed shut, her resolve unwavering.
"What is it that you really want?" Peter asked with a sigh.
His eyes suddenly narrowed when he noticed the female Frosty Chicken twitch slightly.
"Looks like I finally understand your point," he muttered softly to himself.
"Tell me your wish. Let's see if I can grant it," he added.
The female Frosty Chicken proudly faced him.
"Kru! Kru! Kru!" she replied loudly.
"Are you sure about that, human? What if you're just like the others and end up taking back your word?" the male Frosty Chicken carefully translated.
"Try me," Peter answered boldly as he stared directly at the female chicken.
The female Frosty Chicken responded again, every cry sounding like a challenge.
"Freedom. I want freedom."
Peter fell silent for a moment.
The female noticed his hesitation, yet her sharp gaze did not waver in the slightest.
After several moments, the Frosty Chicken seemed to lose interest—until Peter spoke again.
"Alright. I agree."
The eyes of both the female Frosty Chicken and the male translator widened in shock.
"A-Are you serious?!" they asked almost simultaneously.
"Yes," Peter answered briefly before pausing to fully capture their attention.
"But I have one condition."
"Kru! Kru! Kru!" the female Frosty Chicken reacted immediately, her voice filled with protest and suspicion.
"You need to come with me first and see a few things," Peter explained, not only to her but also to the male chicken.
The female Frosty Chicken listened silently.
"If, after seeing those things, your decision still doesn't change, then you're free to leave."
"You can come too," he added while turning toward the male Frosty Chicken.
The male immediately shook his head. It was obvious he could not risk his life on uncertain danger.
He still wanted to live a long life. There was no trace of pride in him—only pure survival instinct.
...
"Can you calm down already?" Peter clicked his tongue in annoyance.
He was scolding the female Frosty Chicken resting in his arms. She was currently with him outside the dungeon—right in the middle of the Eternal Forest.
In other words, they were inside a dangerous forest. Anyone would feel stressed in a situation like this. They were already standing at the edge of danger, yet his companion still refused to cooperate.
As usual, the duo of his Terrestrial Wolf, Ichiro, and the small pale-green slime, Iyashi, led the way ahead of them—his companions for combat and reconnaissance.
"Krukrukru!!" the female Frosty Chicken complained without restraint.
Peter immediately covered her beak.
The chicken even tried to peck him, but it quickly realized that Peter's hand was far tougher than expected. Because of that, she was forced to quiet down—though her irritation and sulking were still painfully obvious.
The group continued walking through the towering wild grass.
Since there was nothing else she could do, the Frosty Chicken reluctantly focused on her surroundings. However, the more she observed the forest, the more unsettled she became as she realized how isolated and seemingly endless it was.
"Just where is this idiot human taking me?" she wondered to herself, filled with doubt.
Despite reaching Rank C, Peter still was not complacent.
Based on his assessment, they were still only at the outer edge of the Eternal Forest, yet they had already encountered two Rank C creatures—though fortunately, they managed to avoid them. That could only mean that even stronger enemies were waiting deeper within the forest.
"Hold on," Peter called out to Ichiro.
The Terrestrial Wolf obediently stopped at his master's command.
Peter slowly approached and patted his companion's side before advancing more cautiously. He gently parted the thick reeds.
And there, he witnessed a battle.
Two groups of monsters were fighting each other.
The first group consisted of creatures roughly the size of human children, with vivid green skin and improvised weapons in their hands.
The second group was made up of humanoid creatures covered in thick fur. They had elongated snouts, pointed ears perched atop their heads, and strange, inhuman facial features. Their weapons were also noticeably more refined than those of the other group.
It was a clear clash between two races of creatures—both fully intent on killing one another.
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