10 Chapter 10

[Strength: 23.5, Agility: 48.4, Dexterity: 42.2, Magic: 27.6.]

'Oh my, the stats increased that much?'

By the time my consciousness returned, I found myself standing in front of an elf lying lifelessly on the snow, his eyes wide as if shocked by what he saw.

I didn't get to see how the AI managed to kill all the other elves or this one, as my consciousness was thrown into a void-like space when I activated that auto-pilot protocol. 

It was not the best feeling, but it does feel nice to see what the auto-pilot accomplished during my stay in that eerily quiet space.

"9 elves killed…"

Even with the Killing Path protocol, I doubt I can replicate what the auto-pilot did. That protocol shows movements to what's the best path to eliminate the target, and it's normal to see movements that are impossible to replicate. 

That's why there are dozens of lines; pick one that suits you best.

While we're on the subject, I've observed some discomfort in my body, particularly in my muscles. It's a sensation that isn't entirely uncommon, but given the capabilities of the AI, it does stand out.

If it's caused by fighting those elves, shouldn't it be healed? Or is this the penalty for using auto-pilot? I don't have any idea. I should ask AI about it.

But there was no reason for me to; the AI already knew the question I had before even voicing it out and already prepared an answer. So reliable.

[The discomfort stems from the ongoing body reconstruction. It's advisable to temporarily deactivate the auto-healing protocol until the process is complete.]

The AI showed me the changes and statistics he was talking about. A comparison between my body before and the current. There was a huge change in muscles, especially in the legs. The arm was also slightly longer.

[This physique enables you to harness your best stat, Agility, with an additional 12% efficiency.]

'12%? Oh, wow.' 

Body reconstruction? Because of the sudden increase in my stats, I did not notice the fact that I can move my body easier than ever before. My mind just unconsciously registered that as the effect because the stats increased.

"You can change my body structure? How come I didn't know about that?"

— You didn't inquire about it.

"Oh. Fair enough."

That aside, I need to continue my grinding. Not just continue, but I also need to ramp it up. Right now, I'm in a more urgent situation that I need to get stronger faster than I anticipated with Jinwoo's arrival. 

I just killed 9 of Baruka's underlings, although I doubt he'd be coming at me in the name of revenge; he would surely eliminate a wild card like me.

On top of the looming death called Jinwoo and his system, I now have another one on my plate named Baruka, the dungeon boss. 

I was used to cramming schoolwork in the past; I even did a whole research paper just a week before its final submission. But never did I feel so overwhelmed like this one.

'Well, if I fail this thing, it's not a deduction in my grade that's going to happen. It's me dying.' 

Dragging the elf's body to bury them deep into the snow so they won't be found by Jinwoo and turned into his shadow if he appears later — which I sincerely hope not.

After everything was done, with my sore body, I proceeded to continue my grinding sessions as if the massacre of elves did not happen.

'I used to believe that isekai, as depicted in the novels I've read, was all sunshine and rainbows. However, my current experience couldn't be further from that idyllic portrayal.'

...

There was a small community deep within the dungeon. They built small huts. Elves of different ages and genders were walking all around, doing their own things, much like a normal human settlement.

In one of the huts, an elf with a purple leaf pattern on his forehead was looking at his subordinates as if he couldn't understand their reports. 

"You lost contact with all of them?" 

"Yes, Chief Baruka. And we suspect, since it has been quite a while since we got the last message from them, they're already dead."

Originally, Baruka sent those elves to check and catch whoever it was that caused the lack of monsters in the hunting grounds. 

He suspected it to be some kind of mutated monster that those elves he sent would surely take care of. Never did he think that the result would be their deaths. 

Baruka still refused to believe it though. He couldn't imagine what kind of creature could manage to overpower those 9 elves.

"Yes, we've checked. Although we didn't manage to find their corpses, we did manage to uncover the possible places they might've fought from residual mana." 

"How about that thing? Have you checked if it appeared?" 

"You mean the Gate, sir? No, we haven't found any traces of it."

There was a moment of silence before Baruka narrowed his eyes. 

"Now, that's not good. Someone's able to kill elves is walking around the area who's not even the target ordered by that voice for us to eliminate."

The elves understood how dangerous it was to let whatever that thing was freely roam around. One of the elves asked. 

"What should we do, Chief?" 

"Find whatever gremlin that is. I'll deal with it myself before it accumulates any more losses, even before the Gate appears."

The elves bowed. "As you wish."

...

A/N: Sorry, been busy with the new semester. I kinda forgot I was writing this novel.