Since I'm here, I should take a look at the central room; I was in a bit of a hurry last time.

"Activate stealth!"

HP: 30/50

Once I'm hidden thanks to the skill, I carefully walk back to the well room. I look around and see that there are no goblins; however, several rats nibble at the goblin's corpse. Stealthily, I slowly approach until I am right behind one of the rats, extend my claws and stab the rat's neck, killing it instantly.

⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩⟩

- Congratulations, you have acquired the active skill Sneak Attack!

√ Sneak Attack

√ Level 1

- MP cost: 5

- Attacking from stealth inflicts 5% more damage.

Of course, all the other rats run off and disappear in a matter of seconds, but I don't care because now I have more food. I'm about to return to my room with the rat when I notice that the goblin corpse has a rope belt over its loincloth. I don't want to touch the loincloth, even though I'm tired of being naked, but rope is always useful, so I untie it and remove it from the corpse.

I'm pleasantly surprised to find a dagger sheathed in the belt when I pick it up. Grabbing my loot, I quickly return to my room. Once safely behind the illusory wall, I set the rat on the floor and pull out the dagger to examine it.

I'm immediately disappointed, as it's rusty and looks rather dull, but it's still a weapon, so I decide to see how I can make it useful. I look at the dagger while trying to think of how to remove the rust and sharpen the blade with what I have available.

√ ITEMS.

- Rusty dagger

- Damage: -5

- Durability: 5/30

⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩⟩

- Congratulations, you have acquired the passive skill Observe!

√ Observe

√ Level 1

- Intelligence +1.

Can identify common level items.

Not that you need a skill to identify that this is a rusty dagger, but the increase in Intelligence is beneficial. I try using some coarse dirt to polish the rust off the dagger; it works a bit, but takes a lot of effort. Next, I use a claw to make a notch.

⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.

- Congratulations, you've acquired the Repair crafting skill!

√ Repair

√ Level 1.

- Strength +1, Intelligence +1

- You can repair some common items.

Once the dagger is sharp again, I use it to skin the rat. Next, I use it to scrape the rat's pelts and clean them. Once the skins are as clean as possible, I use the rat's organs as a tanning agent, stretch them and fasten them with bricks.

⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩⟩

- Congratulations, the Skinning skill has advanced to level 2!

√ Skinning

√ Level 2

- Agility +2.

- You can skin small and medium-sized animals.

It won't work as well as a frame, but I don't have enough wood to make one. I hope I remembered how to do it correctly; after all, I only saw it once on a random survival video.

Next, I take the rat guts, stretch them out, twist them well, and let them dry. Next, I cook the rat meat; this time I'm not so hungry and cook it all the way through. It doesn't taste any better, but it's easier on my stomach.

Then I check the sink and, although it is only half full, the water is crystal clear. I drink my fill and then curl up on the floor to try to get some sleep.

When I wake up, I am stiff and sore from sleeping on the cold stone. I get up and stretch to relax and then drink some water. Then I do another exercise routine to warm up my muscles.

⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.

- Congratulations, Fitness has advanced to level 2!

√ Physical fitness

√ Level 2.

- Strength +2, End +2

Okay, that's going to be my morning routine from now on. At least I think it's morning, right? I guess I can't keep track of time down here. Let's see how I'm doing so far.

STATS!

==========

- Name: Klein.

- Race: Black Lion

- Title: None

- Class: None

- Level: 0

- HP: 65/145

- MP: 50/50

- Strength: 27

- Agility: 22

- Endurance: 27

- Intelligence: 21

- Physical: 18

- Charm: 18

- Unspent points: 0

Hmm, my stats have gone up quite a bit just by acquiring skills, but I'm still not healing very fast. I wasn't hungry or thirsty last night when I went to sleep, so that wasn't the reason. maybe healing is that slow without any items? I need a skill to help me heal faster?

Come to think of it, in many martial arts manga characters can use meditation to heal, so maybe I can create a similar skill here. I guess it's worth a try. First, I try to sit cross-legged, but since my legs are bent the wrong way, I find it difficult. It takes me a few minutes to find a way to sit that works with my new legs; then, I slow my breathing and work to clear my mind.

⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩⟩

- Congratulations, you've acquired the passive skill Meditation!

√ Meditation

√ Level 1

- Wisdom +1

- A skill for recovery. HP 5/hour, MP 5/hour

'Yes! It worked!'

Still a bit slow, but it's better than sleeping. At this rate, I can fully heal myself with sixteen more hours of meditation, and maybe I'll get better if I level up the skill. I then meditate for the next two hours.

- MP: 75/145

⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.

- Congratulations, the Meditation skill has advanced to level 2!

√ Meditation

√ Level 2

- Wisdom +2

- A skill for recovery. HP 5/hour, MP 10/hour

Well, leveling up the skill was pretty easy. My MP recovered, but not so my HP? Maybe the next level will be better. I get up and get something to drink before returning to my meditation. I meditate for four more hours before a sound interrupts my concentration.

MP: 95/145

⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.

- Congratulations, the Meditation skill has advanced to level 3!

√ Meditation

√ Level 3

- Wisdom +3

- A skill for recovery. HP 10/hour, MP 10/hour

Okay, that's much better. Five more hours of meditation and I'll be completely healed.