Reborn As An Evolving Monster



"So what rewards did you get from Clearing the Dungeon anyways? Was it this Necklace?" Elisa asked as she held the pendant around her neck.

She was seated, her back against a dead tree.

Mark was seated a couple of steps away. On his straightened legs lay a yawning Lioness.

"I only got one Item."

Mark called out his Inventory.

"And that's supposed to be... What?" Elisa asked as she stared at the dark sphere that lay on his palm.

"Darkness Catalyst... [A] Ranked Item. Supposedly lowers the Mana Consumption that comes with Dark Magic use and raises Affinity with Dark Magic."

"Ugh... Ominous."

"You've said that plenty of times already."

"I know. Still very ominous."

"Right... It's weird though. Never obtained something from the System that I couldn't use before."

Mark said 'System', but he meant 'Nia'.

"Mm... That's how Rewards are sometimes. What else did you get?"

"What else? I developed two Skills upon leaving the Dungeon. Accelerated Mana and Endurance Regeneration. Are those part of the Rewards too?"

"Huh. No, probably not. Skills can't be given as Rewards. The Endurance Regen Skill might simply be because you've grown used to staying awake and not needing much rest?"

"Uhu..." Mark nodded as he looked away.

He already knew the truth, but wanted to know if he was the only one who had obtained such benefits.

Messages he had received some time after leaving the Dungeon:

[The Seal "Enhanced Mana Regeneration" has been lifted.]

[The Seal "Enhanced Endurance Regeneration" has been lifted.]

[Your body has grown used to regenerating Endurance and Mana Points at a faster rate!]

[You have developed the Passive Skill "Accelerated Endurance Regenaration[C]".]

[You have developed the Passive Skill "Accelerated Mana  Regenaration[C]".]

"So that's all you got?" 

  "Yeah."

"Haha! Stingy with you."

"You got anything else other than the Armor Set?"

"A damn good bow, arrows, and Gold Coins."

"Huh..."

Mark didn't complain much.

He had an idea as to why there was such a difference in Rewards, even though he had Cleared ten Floors while Elisa had only Cleared one.

  "That's strange though. You really didn't get anything else? Maybe there's something special about the Item."

"Special how?"

"Mmmm. I can't be sure, but sometimes the value of a certain Reward doesn't only depend on the Reward itself."

"Huh. You're saying that the value depends on the Rewarded too?" Mark lowered his gaze towards the Item on his palm.

"Yep. Exactly." Elisa snapped her fingers. "I can't do anything with that Item, but you can. Just like the Elven Necklace. It's much more valuable for me than it is for you, since I can use it."

"Mm." Mark nodded as he stared at the perfect sphere of darkness in his hand.

"It's the same thing for this... Darkness Catalyst. Must be. Though... There should be more than that."

"Uhu." He nodded absent-mindedly as he stared at the sphere.

A dark sphere which, in appearance, resembled the one the Final Guardian had been turned into.

Mark's eyes got lost in that darkness until the Lioness that lay on his legs raised her head slightly, pulling him out of the daze.

"It's hard to explain, but the Reward has to be proportionate to the achievement. The System wouldn't let it slide otherwise."

"Isn't it the Dungeon Master's role to choose the Rewards?"

"It is."

Mark nodded silently.

To him, it was obvious why there was a difference in Rewards. A difference in value.

He lowered his gaze towards the Lioness for a bit.

Then stared at the white scales that covered his hands. At the sharp claws at the tip of his fingers. At his developed musculature.

Rewards.

The difference between the one who Cleared the Dungeon and the one for whom the Dungeon was made.

"It's still weird though..."

Mark raised the Darkness Catalyst. 

"What is?" Elisa asked.

"I can't use Dark Magic."

"Even though you can use Corruption Magic?"

"Well, yeah. You should know that by now."

"Mmmm...." She brought a finger to her chin. "Maybe you can't use it for now. Tsk. I would rather you remain unable to use it anyways. Dark Magic is just... Ugh."

Mark chuckled.

"I'd turn into some kind of Dark Mage, huh?" He whispered.

"Actually, yes. And that wouldn't be good."

"I was joking."

"I know, but it's no laughing matter. Who you are has something to do with the Type of Magic you can use. But it's also the case that the Type of Magic you can use has something to do with who you are."

"Huh...? Isn't that the same thing?"

"Kind of, but not really."

"Mmm. Dark Mage... That would be a Title, huh?"

"Yep."

"Then the Magic Type or Magic Skills would make you a Dark Mage. And the Title would... Influence you?"

"Well, possibly..." Elisa yawned. "It's more likely that you'll develop that Title if it suits you." She crossed her arms and seemed ready to nod off.

'Dark Mage... That sounds pretty cool. If it suits you... So you'll develop that Title if you act in a way that you would expect a Dark Mage to act. Just like Zephyr said about the Monster Hunter Title. Mm...'

"Elisa?"

"Yes...?" She yawned with her eyes closed.

"You said the System wouldn't let the Dungeon Master choose freely the Rewards for Clearing the Dungeon."

Elisa nodded.

"Why not?"

"You can't give an apple as a Reward for defeating Demons."

"Huh... Why not?"

"Because it's a Dungeon..." She yawned again.

"So? What is a Dungeon anyways? If it's just a place filled with Monsters, then isn't that how the Monster Realm is?"

"Haha..." Elisa chuckled. "What's the Dungeon, huh? A business, I guess."

"Think you might be too sleepy. Let's talk later."

"It's a business. Or rather, a gamble. If the Dungeon is Cleared, it's the Dungeon Master's loss, and he, now, has to pay Rewards. If it's not Cleared, then he keeps whatever was brought inside by the adventurers or hunters or whatever you want to call them."

"Whatever was brought inside?"

"Mm." Elisa nodded. "Items and all that."

A thought passed Mark's mind. It made him chuckle.

'Maybe I should get into the Dungeon business then.'