Neme was not disappointed by the black market in the end his few dozen dungeon drops netted him a reasonable amount of valis that would help fund his adventures within the city.
Of the hundreds of Goblins and Kobolds he'd slain, he only managed to get 21 Goblin fangs, and 11 Kobold nails, but even still with the slightly lower buying price of the market.
Neme walked away with 23,240 Valis which considering all he'd sold were monster drops and a single mana stone of each floor one monster.
And yet his wallet now contained the same amount typically earned by a party of level 1 adventurers for an entire day.
Seeing the amount brought a rare smile to his face, and without bothering to waste time, he traced back his steps visiting a few of the stalls he'd passed along the way, buying up potatoe croquettes, meat skewers and even a bowl of soup to fill his horrendously empty belly with much needed sustenance.
After slaking his hunger and thirst, his attentions turned to the market district itself.
His short sword was well worn by this point so a replacement would be needed, on top of that he'd need new clothing for himself, and perhaps even some armor.
Then there was the saving of a thousand or so valis to afford a room at an inn for the night, and other odds and ends such as a backpack, water bags, food rations to be eaten in the dungeon etc.
~
After running around for a good hour or so, Neme was please he'd spent most of his Valis but he at least was back to looking more like a normal adventurer should.
He'd found some light armor being sold for 7,000 valis and for only another 200 he convinced them to paint the armor black for him.
Beyond that he got a pair of shortswords, a dagger, a black cloak, backpack, 3 days worth of dried rations, four waterskins, and a few sets of clothes also in black.
Feeling his exhaustion starting to peak, he stopped his shopping spree and went looking for the universal sign of an inn.
Nothing expensive, hell even if he wandered into the slums and found an inn he'd be willing to pay for the chance to sleep.
Halfway back to the tower he found a quaint little in and for 700 valis a night he secured a room.
Night wasnt upon them yet but the afternoon was coming to a close quickly, so rather than wasting anymore time Neme ascended the stairs inserted the key to him room unlocking the door with a satisfying ker-chunk.
Entering to find nothing more than a bed, and a chair in the room.
But it didnt matter, locking the door behind him, he disrobed and climbed into the bed, his safe haven for now.
Using his skill from his previous life his eyes drew heavy and sleep took him even admist all the noise and commotion being caused below in the tavern from returning adventurers and laborers.
~
Hours passed and when Neme finally opened his eyes, the room was still dark but illuminated by the rising of the moon.
Feeling refreshed but also pleased he hadnt overslept, he quickly got dressed in the dark, getting his new cloths on, followed by his armor and cloak before then strapping his dagger to his lower back, and swords to his shoulders.
Looking very much like the Black Swordsman, he unlocked and left his room, reaching the mainfloor tavern the room though still smelling of booze, was nearly vacant save for a few passed out individuals on the floor and the keeper who was half-asleep at the counter in case anyone wandered in during the night.
Not minding them Neme slipped through the room and out the door.
"Welcome-"
From behind him the keeper startled at the door noise started to rattle of the spiel only to realize someone was leaving not staying.
Entering the night environment Neme took in a deep cool breath.
The darkness almost greeting him, as the noise of the city from the day had passed into silence of night.
The streets previously packed were now bare.
Giving him an unimpeded path towards the tower of babel, his destination.
In Orario very few adventurers would bother venturing into the dungeon after dark, usually only those undergoing Familia expeditions to the lower floors spending days to weeks at a time in the dunegon depths would bother to stay inside.
The reason being was that at night the dungeon monsters got more dangerous, almost as if they were empowered by the night, or the evil forces were mocking adventurers who would be required to turn in and drop their guards to get rest.
For Neme an increase in difficulty wasnt something he was worried about.
Aside from getting a few strange looks from the Guild staff who watched him enter the first floor was just a hunting ground for the well kitted out him.
But after slaying three rabid goblins it was clear to him, if a cooldown existed on his absorbtion, it was still active so rather than continue to earn paltry sums he instead decided to take a chance on the second floor.
And after descending the stairs the second floor was the exact same in looks to the first, same walls, same pale glow, even the same monsters.
Except that, these monsters... they paid out.
After slaying his first 2nd floor kobold, the mana stone dropped was absorbed through his gloves and his status informed him that he had an unallocated point available.
Seeing this his blood began to boil with bloodlust.
The first floor was no longer viable, but the second?
The second had just become his hunting ground, and seeing as it was nighttime, he wouldnt need to worry about any adventurers getting in his way or stealing possible kills.
As Orario slept peacefully, below its surface a maniac swordsman was busy carving a bloody path through the dungeon monster almost frantically absorbing every stone he could, before once more reaching his limit requiring him to descend down to the third level.
His hunts getting faster, and faster the longer he went on just as his stats were rising one point after another as the moon itself trapsed across the earths sky.
~ 150:22:55:01 ~
2,227 Valis