Original subtitles

Crap. I'm gonna die.

Give me a break.

I...

I'm supposed to become a mithril-class adventurer!

Huh?

Wait, wait. This can't be happening.

This can't be happening!

Unwanted Undead

The day starts early for adventurers.

Which sounds nice,

but the day starts early for most poor people.

The only people who sleep until noon are nobles, wealthy merchants,

and scholars living disorderly lives.

Maybe that's just my bias talking, though.

But my scholar friend sometimes forget

to sleep for days because they're so focused on their research.

I should check in on them soon.

Either way, it's not something a low bronze-class adventurer,

born and raised in a town too small to be on the map,

Rentt Faina, knows anything about.

Okay.

There's one reason adventurers get up early,

and that's to get good jobs.

The adventurers' guild provides us with jobs suitable for our rank and skills.

All manner of jobs are available, such as monster extermination,

protection, herb and material gathering, and even cleaning muck out of drains.

Hey, Rentt.

Good morning.

Are you going to the Labyrinth of The Moon's Reflection again today?

If there aren't any good jobs.

How do you work so hard every day?

Well, see you later.

Good luck.

You, too.

Later.

Guess I'll go to the Labyrinth of The Moon's Reflection.

Most adventurers form parties, but I generally work solo.

There are a few reasons for that, but mostly, it's because I'm not very good.

Even though I've been adventuring for ten years,

I'm still only bronze, the second lowest rank.

But even I can make a living

hunting monsters and selling magic stones and materials to the guild.

Thank you. Come again.

Most of all, I live conscientiously for an adventurer.

I've even got an emergency fund.

But in that moment, I lost my prudence that's essential to all adventurers...

because in the thoroughly-explored

and completely deserted Labyrinth of The Moon's Reflection,

I found something unbelievable.

Could it be?

A secret passageway?

What a discovery!

There's no mistaking it.

This is an unexplored area.

Maybe I'll find some valuable magical equipment or weapons.

No, I could make a killing simply reporting this news to the guild.

I should've ignored it,

but I went charging right into that suspicious and dangerous place alone.

Because I'm a fool.

I found myself facing a dragon.

The greatest of all monsters.

A real dragon.

According to legend, they take many forms,

and some are considerably larger than most standard dragons.

Regardless, I realized right away that it was a dragon,

even though I'd never seen it before.

Its sheer presence—

the pressure it exerted that froze me to the spot—

attested that it was a dragon.

As the thousand-year bronze-class adventurer,

I stood no chance against such an exceptional creature.

How am I alive after being eaten by a dragon?

No, wait. Am I actually alive?

I'm very obviously a skeleton.

I'm an immortal monster known as an undead,

but a bishop or priest could easily destroy me with their purification magic

because undead violate the divine providence

that the dead are not meant for this world.

When I think of it that way, does that mean I died?

No, I'm still conscious and have my memories.

I should return to town.

No, I can't do that.

I don't want to die yet.

No, wait. I'm already dead, so I don't want to be destroyed.

Oh, no! I'm confused!

An adventurer mustn't lose his head!

There's no point in thinking about questions I can't answer right now.

The dragon seems to be gone,

but I should start by getting away from here.

These labyrinths can be found around the world.

Many researches are trying to explain their mysteries,

but no one really knows where they come from or how they work.

Labyrinths come in various sizes,

but precious magical equipment and treasures slumber within them,

and monsters can be found around every corner.

Monsters are mysterious, as well.

Everyone's likely at the Labyrinth of the New Moon where there's good money to be had.

In a few days, some solo adventurers like me should come here.

I'll try asking them for advice.

Oh!

First I need to figure out how I'll talk to them.

Huh?

My body feels heavy.

Maybe because I have no muscles, my physical abilities are significantly worse.

I'm even less capable than an ordinary person.

That's to be expected.

After all, I'm a skeleton now.

I could defeat them easily as a human, but I need to be careful now.

I can't raise my sword!

That's not good!

I shouldn't expect to use fancy sword techniques when I'm made of bones.

But what about my other abilities?

All living things draw on their vital energy for strength.

Their spirit energy.

It's working.

Right now, you and I are the same.

Our strength is equal.

But my equipment gives me an advantage.

If I use my spirit energy to buff my physical abilities and raise my attack power...

Is it still alive?

I'm recovering the spirit energy I just expended?

Could it be?

Monsters have a mysterious trait.

With time and experience, they evolve into greater beings.

So do humans.

We grow with training.

They're on another level.

For example, a skeleton is typically a skeleton forever.

But on rare occasions, they evolve into ghouls.

It's known as

existential evolution.

Existential evolution...

Yes. It's one of the subjects I'm researching.

Existential evolution, huh?

Ghouls are also undead, but they have flesh and are closer to humans.

If I use robes and masks to hide my form, I may be able to return to town.

All right. I should aim to achieve existential evolution first.

I'll defeat monsters in this labyrinth and become a ghoul.

He didn't come today, either.

Oh, well.

I'll make dinner myself.

That's five!

My mobility has been mostly restored.

Anyway, it seems like this light heals me.

Because of it, I can use spirit energy during every battle.

I'll try taking on some stronger monsters next.

Like skeletons, slimes are an archetypal weak monster,

but they mustn't be underestimated.

Physical attacks are less effective against amorphous liquid monsters.

Magic is the easy way to beat them,

but unfortunately, I don't have the ability to use offensive magic.

The most I can do is start fires suitable for domestic tasks.

So I'll have to use physical attacks to defeat it.

There are two ways to do it.

Pierce its core, or break apart its liquid form until it can't regenerate.

Lacking in both skill and strength,

once a day I can expend my reserves of spirit energy to defeat them.

You could say slimes are my greatest enemy.

Huh?

Looks like I got lucky and my blade struck its core.

First I'll retrieve its magic stone.

Slimes have the ability to launch an Acid Blitz,

but no acid remains in their body once they're dead.

In fact, sticking your hand in the stuff makes your skin smooth.

Clear slime fluids are used to make cosmetics for women.

Surely we don't have to make cosmetics out of monsters.

Women's desire for beauty must be endless.

This'll pay for several days at an inn.

Good.

Take care.

Sheila.

Yes?

Has that newbie found a party yet?

Her letter of introduction said she lacks combat experience,

but she seems all right with a sword.

There wasn't a suitable opening for them, so I was going to ask Rentt,

but he hasn't been back since yesterday.

That's unusual.

He hasn't accepted a long-term job, has he?

No, nothing that would take him out of Maalt.

I told the newbie I'd introduce her to a helpful veteran if she waited a few days,

but she seemed pressed for money,

so I told her about the Labyrinth of The Moon's Reflection.

That should be fine.

Even a newbie should be able to handle it, if they're decent with a sword.

Right. I did warn her not to overdo it, though.

I don't feel sleepy at all, and I don't feel hungry, either.

I guess that's obvious since I'm undead.

Anything I ate would probably fall to the ground.

I fought all night since I might as well,

but it seems like existential evolution takes longer than that.

My physical abilities were significantly worse right after I became a skeleton,

but I'm mostly back to normal after defeating those monsters.

I tested my spirit energy, and it still works.

I can use my mana, too.

I can even use my divinity despite being undead.

I don't want to waste it. I'll use it on this bread.

In addition to curing injuries and illnesses,

divinity is a useful power that can purify water and delay spoiling in food.

Okay. That should make it last three more days.

I hope I'll have a body that needs bread three days from now.

There's no point in thinking about it.

I should focus on achieving existential evolution.

I'll play it safe for a while and steadily defeat monsters.

I can beat one or two.

Three would be difficult.

If I encounter four, I'll run.

And more than five...

It's unlikely I'll encounter groups that large in this labyrinth,

but if I do, I'm screwed.

That would be the end of me.

I'm so weak.

It's been ten years since I became an adventurer.

If you include my training time before that, it's been twenty years.

Not only that, but even high-ranking adventurers rarely

have spirit energy, mana, and divinity.

I wish I had just one strong power.

I know I'm not cut out to be an adventurer.

Normally, people give up on adventuring after a few years

and return to their village to farm or find another job.

But I figured as long as I'm alive, I'd manage somehow.

I trained every day without fail.

I asked an acquaintance to teach me about monsters and magic.

I accepted even the most minor jobs.

I did that for ten years to achieve my dream.

To become a mithril-class adventurer.

Higher than gold- and platinum-class,

not even naturally gifted people easily reach the highest rank

of adventurers who have saved entire nations.

I will become mithril-class.

It's what I've lived for.

Becoming a skeleton won't stop me!

Huh?

I'm starting to get stronger than I was as a human?

I knew it.

It's not a coincidence.

I'm getting stronger.

I can sell these materials. I should gather some more.

I'm lucky to acquire more clear slime fluid.

Slimes are fairly gross after they've eaten something,

so their fluids can't be sold.

Wha— What's happening?

I'm a ghoul.

I'm a creepy dried-out corpse, but I have flesh.

This is major progress.

If I keep working hard, I might be able to become even higher ranking undead.

That's right.

Vampires practically look human.

Oh, right. I have a fleshy body now.

Okay, I can make noises.

Hello... hello...

Good morning...

I'll have to practice.

Hello... hello...

I am Rentt...

The Rookie and the Veteran