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nChapter 3. Evan D. Sherden, Clenched his fist. (2)

nEvery human action is given a corresponding result value.

nThe word experience, in relation to dungeons, will immediately come to mind, but really, it is existence level that makes growing and building up experience possible.

nTo train in swordsmanship, to qualify in chess, to use mana, to recite spells, to mop, to study… or hunt a monster!

nIn all such situations, human beings, gain experience whether many or few and rise in existence levels and becomes stronger.

nPeople think that growing in dungeon levels is what’s worth the effort, but it shouldn’t be that way. What’s more important for the player is to grow in existence levels along with the dungeon levels.

nGrowth in existence level is not as dramatic as compared to rising in the dungeon level, but it is miraculous enough in itself.

nThere is no choice but to adapt the speed of dungeon level growth depending on one’s ability, but existence level had no such limit.

nStill and repetitive efforts in every single time – anyone can surely grow if they can endure a dull and tedious process.

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nLeveling up, especially by hunting monsters, is no exception.

nThat’s why people loved dungeons.

nIt was a place where we could be rewarded if we tried!

n‘But,’ he thought, ‘Evan is still so young, so he can’t get into the dungeon yet. It’s even worse to go outside the city where wild monsters roam… but what if you summon slime from an artifact? What if slime was weak enough for a child to kill?’

nThe Miraseul’s Necklace could call up slimes.

nAt existence level 1 and dungeon level 1, both the slime and the main character only have HP (health point) 100 and MP 100, so even Evan can kill a few of them!

n‘Miraseul’s necklace is an artifact that could speed up Evan’s growth. It didn’t mean much to high-level characters.’

nBy killing a level 1 slime, you could get 1 experience value. Such low value means nothing to high-level characters.

nBut for someone who is just at level 1, like Evan?

nHe would surely grow faster, killing slimes rather than sticking to his desk and study for ten hours!

nThis is how the Level-Up Project begins!

n‘And if I keep doing it from now on while I am only nine years old, I could get stronger by the time a maid tries to stab me! And then – ‘

nHis thoughts were cut off by a maid’s voice.

n“Lord, the Marquis is waiting.”

n“Oh, yeah. I’ll be right there.”

nIt was a different maid, not Maybell. Evan jumped out of bed, dressed up, and followed her out of the room.

n‘Wow, if you sell all the paintings on the wall, you’ll earn enough for the rest of your life!’ he thought, as they walked through the hallway.

nIt was the same hallway that he walked through just yesterday. But now that he has regained the memory of his previous life, he is fascinated by the items in the mansion. It was as expected for a mansion where the head of the city dungeon lived.

nAs he looked through the hallway with fresh eyes, the maid asked him quietly.

n“I’ve heard from Maybell that you want a birthday present in advance.”

n“Yes. There’s something I really want.”

n“But don’t be too demanding. The Marquis is still busy with the backflow of the Dungeon.”

n“Yes, I know.”

nThe dungeon backflow is a phenomenon in which the monsters of the Dungeon overflow outside.

nIn the early days of the Dungeon’s discovery, it was what made people call the Dungeon the ‘den of the devil’.

nDestruction was inevitable, and the people living near it suffered.

nHowever, they soon learned that dungeon backflows regularly happen every three months. As such, hunters were able to devise ‘cleaning’ – a regular schedule of hunting monsters inside the dungeon and defeating the overflows. Human adaptability!

nHowever, this time, the cleaning was a little unfortunate, and it caused a lot of damage.

nIt was terrible timing to beg for something, but he can’t help it.

nBecause he has to grow up a little faster and survive!

n‘The main character is 16 years old by the time the main episode happens. Evan is four years older than the main character, so… 20 years. He would be 20 years old by then. 11 years to go. I have to keep him safe; he should not die before the main episode!’

nHe has to save himself from now on! Be careful of the road, of little monsters; be mindful of the poison; be wary of people, especially the woman with the knife!

nEvan focused on reviewing the precautions carefully in his head.

nWhen he came to his senses, he had already arrived in front of the room where the Marquis is waiting for him.

nThe maid gently knocked on the door of the library to announce Evan’s visit. “I’ve brought Evan, master.”

nSoon, beyond the door came the Marquis’ deep voice.

n“Tell him to come in. You should go back to work.”

n“Okay.”

nThe maid gently twisted the doorknob open, and backed away, opening the door for him. The series of refined and courteous movements amazed Evan. These movements were unfamiliar in his 29 years of living on Earth.

n“Why are you still standing by the door, Evan?” the Marquis’ voice startled him.

n“Oh, yeah. Father.”

nEvan stepped into the library.

nThe first things he saw were the mountains, mountains, and mountains of papers piled in front of his father. Behind the mountains, he could see the Marquis’ face.

n“Come closer here. The fatigue I have accumulated so far is gone just by looking at your face,” the Marquis said.

nThe Marquis was a middle-aged man who gave the impression that he was going to be very stubborn.

nFrankly speaking, Evan does not look very much like him. They only had one thing in common – dark, deep violet eyes that noblemen have.

nThe rest of Evan’s features closely resembled his mother, who has dark hair, a sharp nose, and slender build.

nUnbeknownst to the Marquis, Evan is very grateful that he looks more like his mother than his father.

n“Father.”

n“Yes, Evan. You came here yourself to beg for something?”

nMarquis lifted Evan, his nine-year-old son, and sat him on his lap.

nIt didn’t suit the dignity of a nobleman, but why should he hide his affection?

nThe Marquis dotes on Evan, who looks just like his wife!

nEvan was banking on this knowledge when he decided he would ask for a family heirloom.

n“Well, I’d like to get my birthday present a little early.”

n“You could wait for a few days, and I’ll let you have whatever you want. What’s the rush?”

n“I really want the necklace I saw before.”

n“The necklace? You?”

nThe Marquis’ eyes opened wide at his son’s request. It was not what he expected.

nA boy of this age usually wants a sword, armor, or a living animal.

nBut a piece of jewelry?

n‘No, wait,’ the Marquis thought, confused. ‘The necklace he saw before? He is not talking about his mother or my second wife’s necklaces. So, what do we have? Come to think of it, what I just showed him one a while ago… you don’t think…’

n“Is it the Miraseul’s Necklace?” he asked his son with curious eyes.

nEvan nodded.

n“I’d like to have that necklace with a bunch of little jewels.”

n“I see. It’s not something you can take out recklessly. Didn’t I tell you about this?”

n“But Father. I really want it.”

nEvan looked up at the Marquis with tears in his purple eyes, eyes that were the same as his father.

nA nine-year-old boy’s cuteness is powerful!

nIts effect is extraordinary, and primarily when targeted at parents, its destructive power is to break through the universe!

n“But Evan, no matter how insignificant the necklace may look, it is still an heirloom.”

n‘I can’t easily give out the family heirloom,’ the Marquis thought with strong determination, which was gradually weakening as he looked at his son’s cuteness.

nA theory came to his mind.

n‘There’s a saying that the artifact chooses the right owner to have it. If the Miraseul’s Necklace chose Evan and he could bring out the true power of the necklace…’

nThe real ability is to summon level one slime, but the Marquis didn’t know that!

nHe looked at his son with a mournful expression and agonized repeatedly… then, he finally nodded.

n“All right, Evan. I’ll give it to you.”

n“Really? I love you!”

nEvan cheered and hugged the Marquis. It doesn’t matter if the Marquis is a middle-aged man with a hairy face; he could’ve kissed a chimpanzee right now!

n“But, there’s something to be careful about, Evan,” the Marquis calmed him down as he was jumping for joy.

n‘Chimpanzees? No, focus,’ Evan thought. He tilted his head and asked. “What is it?”

n“That’s because there’s a limit on the number of artifacts you can equip.”

nAll of a sudden, something like a game came up!

n“The sword, armor, rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets… Up to five, regardless of the area. This is the limit to the ability of the magical armor and artifact. More than that is something our bodies cannot carry.”

n“Okay…”

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nIt was definitely the same in the game.

nTherefore, when and where to wear certain artifacts is a critical issue.

nThe usual tactic was to carry a sword or armor and fill out the rest of the slots with artifacts.

n“So if you grow up and need another artifact, take off the Miraseul’s Necklace and put it back in the storage. You don’t have to keep wearing a necklace that’s worth a lot of money.”

n“Yes, I will!”

nEvan’s original plan was to return it back when he could no longer raise the level with slimes. He won’t be able to level up forever with slimes that only give 1 experience point!

n‘I wish I could check my existence level and skills,’ he thought, ‘but that’s impossible.’

nThat’s the conclusive proof that this world is not a game. With such thoughts, Evan sighed.

nAnyways, what matters is that he got the Miraseul’s Necklace successfully.

nProject number one, “Level-Up”, was in operation.

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