<Proficiency has reached a certain level. The Skill 'Appraisal LV2' has become 'Appraisal LV3'> My skill level went up just like that.
It hasn't been that long since I started using Appraisal, though.
Maybe it wouldn't be so easy if I wasn't a hikikomori? Not sure.
It's a complicated feeling, honestly.
Well, leveling up is always good, no complaints there.
So, what's it like at level 3?
Let's try appraising myself right away.
『Small Lesser Taratect LV5, Name: None』
The level display was added. Yay.
*Sigh.* Well, a plus is a plus, but still...
When will this thing actually become useful?
Hmm.
But just how strong is my species, the Small Lesser Taratect, within this dungeon?
As soon as that thought popped into my head, something unexpected happened.
『Small Lesser Taratect: Larva of the Degrading Taratect Species』
Wh...at?
Eh, did this just appraise the species name that came up in my own appraisal result?
A double Appraisal?
Ohh.
Haven't I just stumbled upon a pretty important secret technique?
Which means, just for kicks, let's try appraising it one more time.
『Taratect: A type of spider Monster』
It worked!
Isn't this amazing!?
When you Appraise something and get an unknown term, you can then Appraise that term as well!
Woo-hoo!
The descriptions are still short, and the amount of info is minimal, but if I level up this Skill, wouldn't it become something incredible?
From a single Appraisal, I might be able to gather a whole chain of knowledge.
Fufufu!
I'm sorry for ever saying Appraisal was useless!
From now on, I'm going all-in on leveling up this Skill!
Alright, feeling proud and ready to Appraise everything is great, but there are a couple of problems that have cropped up.
Specifically: I'm hungry! And I'm sleepy!
Well, duh. Ever since the attack on My Home, I've been fleeing at full speed and then wandering around the dungeon like this. Of course I'd get hungry and tired.
It's not like I can't endure it a bit longer, but eventually I'll have to eat and sleep.
The issue with both is the presence of other Monsters.
To eat, I have to find a Monster, defeat it, and then eat it.
Conversely, while sleeping, I have to avoid being found by other Monsters.
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Hmm.
Well, there is a solution to both, if you think about it.
When I sleep, I can build a simple nest and sleep inside it.
That way, I can sleep safely, and if by chance a Monster gets caught in the trap, I can also get a meal—killing two birds with one stone.
But still...
Since I've decided to fight properly, I'd prefer to catch my meals with my own skills as much as possible.
Building the nest for sleeping is unavoidable, but at least while I'm awake, I want to get in a fight.
I'll use the nest strictly as a safe place to sleep, not as a tool for hunting.
Though, if something does get caught... I won't hesitate to help myself.
For now, let's keep wandering and look for a suitable Monster.
There it is.
『Elroe Frog LV3』
In the corridor where I was hiding, there was that frog, our nemesis.
Its back was turned towards me.
It hadn't noticed my presence yet.
Should I launch a surprise attack?
—Or so I thought, but it spotted me.
Tch.
*Kishaaah!* It let out a threat first.
*Ptoo!* Whoa!?
Hey, you! Couldn't you at least wait a split second before spitting saliva at me?!
I almost got hit!
*Ptoo! Ptoo! Ptoo!* Stop spitting continuously!!
Whoa, whoa, ow!?
There's no way I can dodge all of that!
It hurts, it hurts!
Thanks to my resistance, it's much easier to handle than the first time I was hit, but it still hurts!
Also, you— were you this lively when you were restrained by my threads?!
*Ptoo! Ptoo! Ptoo!* Hold on, hold on!
*Kigya!?* Missed another one!
This is bad, I'll be done for if this keeps up!
If it's come to this, then a frontal assault is the only option!
*Ptoo! Ptoo! Ptoo!* You think I'll fall for the same trick this many times?!
After taking this much fire, I can tell your limit is three saliva shots at once!
Don't underestimate the observational skills and dodging techniques of a gamer once known as Idaten!
I dodged the saliva!
Then, I swung my claws down at the frog!
Tch, so you can dodge that, but then you jump and smack me with your tongue!
*Thwack!* Ouch!
I was slammed by its tongue as if being pounded flat.
And it wasn't just the impact—the tongue must have had acid on it, because there's a stinging, sizzling pain.
Oww.
This is a serious injury.
If there was a health gauge, I'd be flashing red in the danger zone.
If I take even one more hit of anything, I'm done for.
But that's not going to happen.
The outcome is already decided.
Where the frog had jumped to, my threads were waiting.
The setup was simple.
While I was dodging the saliva, I just let some threads dangle to the ground.
It seems that while moving, I have a subconscious habit of letting threads trail on the floor.
This time, I used that to my advantage.
I added stickiness to the threads I'd been unconsciously trailing.
All that was left was to lure the frog to that spot.
I'd adjusted the angle and speed of my claw attacks to force it to fly right to where the threads were.
I didn't expect it to launch a counterattack from midair, but still...
The moment it landed, the frog was ensnared.
I immediately wrapped additional threads around it without mercy.
Then it was over.
*Chomp!* My first real battle ended with a narrow, desperate victory.