The narrative picks up with Albin, a skilled swordsman, being unceremoniously kicked out of his adventuring party by their mage leader. The reason for his expulsion is revealed to be his unique, detrimental skill: "Drop Rate Down (Special)." This skill drastically reduces the chance of monsters dropping items or coins, making deep dungeon dives unprofitable and a financial drain on the party. Despite Albin being their strongest member, contributing significantly to their progression, the party prioritizes financial stability and decides to adventure in shallower, less profitable areas without him. Albin is left with a single gold coin as a parting gift, a gesture he perceives as a severance payment.
Disheartened and reflecting on his situation, Albin contemplates his unique circumstances. He possesses seven innate skills, including powerful combat abilities, but his "Drop Rate Down (Special)" makes him a liability. He learns that the world is a "sandbox" or simulation, which explains the existence of stats and item drops. However, this knowledge offers little comfort as he faces the reality of being a pariah in the adventuring community. He recalls his past struggles and the repeated rejections due to his skill, which prevents him from earning a living as an adventurer.
Albin discovers a potential solution in a rumor about a recently found dungeon, the "Setting Sun Cave." The boss of this dungeon is said to drop an item capable of removing skills. This prospect ignites a spark of hope, as it could free him from his curse. He decides to tackle this dungeon alone, recognizing the risk but seeing it as his only chance to continue his chosen profession.
Upon entering the Setting Sun Cave, Albin finds it deserted, a sign of its obscurity. He encounters various monsters, but his "Drop Rate Down (Special)" skill continues to manifest, with no items or even coins dropping from defeated foes. This reinforces his frustration, but he holds onto the hope of obtaining the skill-removing item from the boss.
While exploring the dungeon's mid-levels, Albin hears a scream and rushes to investigate. He finds a young priestess named Cocor being overwhelmed by a horde of Yellow Goblins. Albin intervenes, showcasing his combat prowess by single-handedly defeating the goblins. After the rescue, they retreat to a safe zone. Cocor, despite her seemingly frail appearance and priestess job, reveals an astonishingly high level of 80. She explains that her high level is due to her own unique negative skill, "Headhunter's Usurper," which causes her to gain all kill experience bonuses from party members, effectively stealing their experience and preventing them from leveling up. This skill has also led to her being ostracized and unable to join parties.
Albin, recognizing a shared struggle with negative skills, proposes they team up. He believes their combined abilities, despite Cocor's skill, might be advantageous. He reveals his own negative skill, "Drop Rate Down (Special)," and suggests that Cocor's skill might negate his, allowing him to drop items normally. Cocor, initially hesitant due to her skill's detrimental effect on others' experience gain, eventually agrees to form a temporary party with Albin for the duration of their dungeon delve.
As they venture deeper, Albin experiences a significant increase in item and coin drops, confirming his theory about Cocor's skill negating his own negative effect. He realizes that with Cocor by his side, he can function as a normal adventurer. He expresses his desire for a permanent partnership, emphasizing his need for companionship and his belief that they can overcome the limitations of their skills together. Cocor, touched by his sincerity and the potential for her own skill to be useful, agrees to continue adventuring with him.
Their journey through the dungeon reveals a peculiar mix of monsters, lacking a clear theme. They encounter and defeat various creatures, including Emerald Golems, with Albin's combat skills enhanced by Cocor's supportive buffs. Albin's ability to consistently land critical hits and exploit monster weaknesses, even with his level, impresses Cocor. They also discover a parchment detailing the effect of the boss's drop, confirming it can remove a skill. Cocor, in a selfless gesture, offers Albin the first use of the item, believing it would be more beneficial for him to be free of his negative skill. However, Albin deduces that the item might be usable multiple times and proposes they both use it to remove their respective negative skills.
The chapters conclude with Albin and Cocor progressing deeper into the dungeon, their partnership solidified by their shared goal and the hope of overcoming their unique challenges. They face a large group of Emerald Golems, and with Cocor's buffs and Albin's combat expertise, they efficiently defeat them, further solidifying their synergy. The narrative sets the stage for their confrontation with the dungeon boss and the potential resolution of their skill-related afflictions.
