Chapter 25: Dungeon, Stronger, Make up, and More
Morning sunlight peeked through the curtains, warm and quiet.
Chico stirred first, his eyes slowly opening. He was still lying in bed with Demeter, her body curled slightly against his. His wings were still out, stretched around them both like a soft cocoon.
Demeter gently shifted, her hand brushing over the feathers before she slowly pulled them aside.
"Good morning," she whispered with a small smile.
Chico yawned and stretched…or tried to. The moment he flexed his wings, a dull soreness ran through the joints.
"Ow…okay. That's weird."
Demeter chuckled as she sat up beside him. "Wings sore?"
"Yeah," he said, gently rotating them. "Feels like I slept on my back wrong…but from the inside."
"Well, thank you for the lovely blanket," she said, brushing one of the feathers off her arm.
Chico laughed lightly. "Glad they were useful."
She looked at him as he stood up and adjusted his posture.
"So…what's the plan for today?"
Chico looked to the ceiling, thought about it for a moment, then answered.
"I'll be heading into the Dungeon...I want to get really familiar with the 8th and 9th floors. There's quite a few valuable item drops I want to stock up on."
"And after that?"
"I'll start getting ready for the 10th and 11th. I plan to study those on my own…without Ariel."
Demeter's brow lifted slightly. "You'll be giving her some space?"
"Yeah," he said. "I think it's for the best. I don't think my presence will…I don't know. But maybe, we both need some time."
Demeter nodded and looked at him fondly.
"I suggest that once you return from your first trips to the 10th and 11th floors, you should make your return," she said. "I believe she'll be ready by then."
Chico looked at her for a moment, then smiled.
"…Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks."
He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek before grabbing his gear.
"I'll be off, then. Got some grinding to do."
"Be safe~."
With one last look and a wave, Chico left the room.
Demeter stayed behind, sitting on the edge of the bed in silence for a moment. Then her gaze shifted to the closed bathroom door.
She stood and walked toward it, her steps calm.
"I guess it's finally time to have that conversation…Ariel-san."
She smiled to herself and opened the door, heading in to prepare for her trip to the Guild.
——————————————————————
~3 Days Later~
3 days.
That's how long I've been at this routine.
Wake up. Gear up. Head down to the 8th and 9th floors. Slay everything that moved. Haul back magic stones and drop items. Rest. Then repeat.
By the time I got back today, I was sitting on over 320 stones and nearly 300 drop items. My bag was starting to struggle with the weight, but I wasn't complaining.
Right now, I was sitting at my desk, surrounded by maps, notes, and my own scribbled observations. I flipped through the last page of my floor guide and cross-checked everything against the Guild's official documentation.
Tomorrow…was going to be a big step.
Floors 10 and 11 weren't like what I'd been used to. The light down there…was different. Almost like a constant morning mist. Not enough to block vision completely, but enough to make everything feel a little more closed in. A little more eerie.
I tapped my pen against the table and muttered to myself.
"Orcs…imps…bad bats…needle rabbits…"
The 10th floor was where things started changing. Larger monsters. Smarter patterns. More aggression. The 11th would be worse. Hard-armored variants. Silverbacks. And if I got real unlucky…or maybe lucky…an Infant Dragon. The 'Boss' for the upper floors.
I flipped to another page, reading about terrain-based attackers. Monsters using trees and other landforms as weapons. Most of those were concentrated on the 11th floor.
Honestly…I was excited.
Looking at my status sheet confirmed it.
Francisco "Chico" Sol
Demeter Familia
Race: Angel
Stats:
Strength: D587→C665
Endurance: D592→C638
Dexterity: D582→C648
Agility: E476→D502
Magic: A879→S937
Skills:
— Habilidad Activa:
-Accelerated Evolution
-Magic Arrow
—???
Magic:
— Six Arms
— Lightning Spear
— Barrier of Light
— Weather
— Summon Item
— Strength
— Arc
— Desperation
— Masochist Soul
— Ripen
— Holy Flame
— Minor Healing Light
— Blind
—Marked
—Perfection
—Lux Sanctum: Puriflamma
I was getting too strong for most of the upper floors. The fights were still good for endurance training, but most enemies couldn't pressure me anymore. Not unless I got careless.
The end of the upper floors…this was where I'd hit the next stage of my growth.
And if I was lucky…maybe I'd find something tough enough to push me over the edge. Something that could finally give me the spark I needed for my first level up.
And if not…well…
I leaned back in my chair and stretched, letting out a slow breath.
"…Then I'll just have to do something reckless."
That brought a tired but genuine smile to my face.
But those were thoughts for another day.
For now…I closed my notes, rolled up my maps, and double-checked my gear.
Tomorrow, I dive deeper.
And I was ready for it.
——————————————————————
The morning sun barely crept in through the curtains when I opened my eyes. Early…just how I wanted it.
Demeter stirred beside me, blinking awake with a soft, sleepy smile. Before either of us said anything, we leaned in and shared a slow good morning kiss.
When we pulled back, she gave me a gentle look. "Good Morning dear. I wish you luck…in the Dungeon…and~ with Ariel."
Her tone caught me off guard. There was something in her eyes…a knowing kind of look.
I narrowed mine just a bit. "Wait…what's with that look?"
She turned on her side, propping her head up with her hand, her smile shifting just slightly…a little sly now.
"I may or may not have had a conversation with her," she said, voice teasing. "Just clearing the air…woman to woman."
That actually made me pause. A small wave of relief washed over me.
I'd been trying to distract myself with the Dungeon and study sessions for days, but the truth was…I'd been anxious. Worried about where I stood with Ariel. What she was thinking. How she was feeling.
Knowing Demeter had reached out…that cleared the doubt in my heart.
I stared at her for a moment longer, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Resting my forehead against hers, I murmured, "Thank you…"
Her hand came up, fingers brushing against my cheek.
"Good luck…playboy," she whispered, right before biting down lightly on my bottom lip.
I froze.
Wide-eyed. Completely caught off guard.
As she let go, I stiffened, blinking a few times.
"P-Playboy?!" I stammered. "I am not a playboy!" I protested with an incredulous chuckle.
Demeter laughed quietly, then tilted her head with a mock-thoughtful expression. "Mhmm…I'll be sure to tell that to my future sisters."
That hit me like a brick.
"S-Sisters?!"
I let out a long, exasperated sigh, though I couldn't hide the smile breaking through.
"…You're such a teasing minx."
"And you love it," she said with a grin.
She wasn't wrong.
We both stayed like that for a moment, eyes lingering on each other. Part of me wanted to stay. But I knew it was time.
I pulled her in for one last kiss. Just a quick one on the cheek.
I stood and started to head out.
"Time for me to go."
"I'll see you later~," she said, still smiling.
With that, I stepped out of the room…I grabbed my gear and made my way to the dungeon.
——————————————————————
It had been about an hour and a half since I first stepped into the Dungeon this morning.
I kept a light jog most of the way, passing by more adventurers than usual. Plenty of parties roaming the upper floors today.
I ignored most of the monsters that didn't drop anything worth collecting, sticking to the ones that did. Purple Moths, War Shadows, Killer Ants…even caught sight of a Blue Papillo.
By the time I reached the deeper part of the 9th floor, I'd already collected around 35 stones and drop items total. Not bad for a quick descent.
Now…I was just a couple of turns away from the staircase to the 10th floor.
I slowed down as I approached, I started thinking over what I knew.
Orcs…definitely the biggest threat here. Even Level 2 adventurers had to stay on their toes when fighting them. Their durability alone was leagues above anything I'd fought on the upper floors. And their strength was no joke.
I pulled out my armor from my inventory and it quickly covered my body. It'd slow me a little, but I'd rather have the protection. My Scrap Iron Candies could've helped too…if I hadn't left them at home. I was stockpiling those for now anyway.
Whatever. My blades, my armor, and my magic were enough.
Finally…I reached the staircase.
And with no hesitation.
I stepped down.
The air changed almost immediately. A light mist clung to the air as I descended, growing thicker with each step. Visibility started dropping. Not enough to block my sight entirely, but enough to dull the colors and make distant shapes blur.
At the bottom of the stairs…I stood on the edge of a small cliff. Looked like a six-meter drop. The slope beside it wound down to the main floor—patches of tall grass and uneven terrain spreading out like a soft green carpet.
I kept my senses sharp. The mist made it hard to see, especially through my helmet, so with a thought, I dismissed the helm for now. Better vision was worth the trade-off.
I moved carefully down the slope and onto the grassy field, eyes scanning every direction.
Only a few seconds passed before I heard it—rustling, coming fast.
Tall grass parted, and out shot a group of Needle Rabbits, moving at full speed toward me.
I narrowed my eyes, braced my stance.
The lead rabbit lunged first.
I sidestepped cleanly, driving my blade across its body. It dropped in a heap.
The rest weren't much harder. A few clean cuts, a well-timed parry, and it was over.
I did notice one thing though—they were faster than the ones from the previous floors. Though thanks to my agility and my Ring of Swiftness, it wasn't a problem.
I kept moving.
A few minutes later…I encountered a large category monster.
An Orc.
It hadn't noticed me yet, just wandering through the mist. It easily stood over eight feet tall, all muscle, with skin a dull, ugly green. Its jaw hung open slightly, showing a row of thick, uneven teeth.
I crouched slightly, keeping low behind a rise in the terrain.
Then it stopped.
Its head turned. It sniffed the air.
Its eyes narrowed.
A low growl rumbled from its throat. It seems to have caught my scent.
Fine.
Let's test it's magic resistance.
Without a word, I slotted in Lightning Spear.
Two spears of crackling energy formed in the palms of my hands. The air hummed as the magic charged up.
The orc locked on to me, then took a step forward, then another…then broke into what I assume is its full speed toward me.
I didn't wait.
I threw both spears.
They sailed straight through the mist—two bright streaks of light—and slammed into the orc's chest with twin explosions.
A burst of fire and smoke kicked up from the impact zone.
When the air cleared…the only thing left was falling ash.
The nearby grass was scorched black, the dirt cracked and smoking.
I lowered my hand, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth.
Magic was my strongest stat for a reason. And it would only get stronger.
I gave my shoulder a small roll, shook out the tension in my legs, and moved on.
The mist still hung low, and visibility was still bad, but I kept pushing forward.
There was a lot more ground to cover…and I had no intention of leaving the dungeon until I explored both the 10th and 11tth floors.
——————————————————————
You know…I've been exploring the Dungeon for over two weeks now, and there hasn't really been a single monster that I've hated going up against.
That was…until I met Imps…and Bad Bats.
Because holy fuck…these bastards are annoying.
A little background on Imps…they're small, demon-looking things that attack in groups. They're clever…way too clever for their size. They're tactical, coordinated, and love hit-and-run tactics. They trail you from a distance, scatter when you target them, then regroup and strike from another angle.
Honestly…they remind me of hyenas.
Especially when they laugh.
But Imps alone weren't even the worst part.
No…they were at their most unbearable when paired with other monsters. Groups of Needle Rabbits…Orcs…and especially…Bad Bats.
God…I hate Bad Bats.
They're big. Bigger than I expected for something called a "bat." Large wingspan, sharp claws, and teeth like mini daggers. But their real problem? The goddamn soundwaves.
Disruptive, mind-numbing pulses that throw off your balance, your focus, even your ability to stand straight. More than once I'd been left dizzy and disoriented, with a migraine pounding behind my eyes while those stupid laughing Imps picked at me like vultures.
More than once…I thought about just saying screw it…unfurling my wings and sniping every last one of them from the sky.
But…I held back.
I still wanted to keep these wings a secret, I couldn't risk someone seeing them. At least for now.
My little internal rant ended abruptly when something fast came from behind.
I barely caught the movement before a Needle Rabbit lunged at me from the grass.
Without thinking, I spun and punched it square across the skull.
Its neck snapped with a dull crack, and it dropped like a stone.
I stood still for a second, keeping my ears sharp for anything else nearby. Nothing…for now.
I summoned my mimic with a thought, opened its maw, and tossed the dead rabbit inside.
Just as the mimic started chewing…that's when I felt it.
A shift in the air.
I turned around and found myself surrounded.
Dozens of Imps.
Must've been at least twenty-five of them…maybe more.
And judging by the looks on their ugly faces…they weren't happy.
I let out a slow, deep sigh.
They weren't strong individually…but in large numbers…they could be a problem.
I recalled the mimic instantly, dropping into a low stance.
Both blades slid into my hands…reverse grip.
It's been a while since I fought a group this big.
'Let's see whatcha got.'
I dashed toward the nearest cluster.
The first Imp lunged—too slow.
I buried my left blade into its chest, twisting as I shoved it aside.
Two more came from the left. I pivoted, slashing low, cutting both at the knees before finishing them with a single spinning strike.
Another from above—leaping straight for my head.
I ducked, drove my right blade up, and split it open from gut to throat.
Blood sprayed…fine.
Keep going.
I weaved through their ranks, stepping between them, slicing clean, pushing forward. They shrieked and howled and scattered, but I stayed on them. Kept cutting them down as fast as they regrouped.
But halfway through…
It hit me.
A sudden, violent pressure against my eardrums.
Soundwaves.
From every direction.
"AGGHH!"
The air distorted. The ground beneath me seemed to tilt and shift. My head rang like someone smacked both my ears with frying pans.
I stumbled, lost balance.
Gritting my teeth, I dropped my blades and covered both ears with my hands.
After a few more moments, I was barely able to think straight, but straight enough to summon my helmet, which barely did anything.
And this lost me precious time in the battle.
Big mistake.
Out of the corner of my eye…I caught a glimpse of movement. Large. Fast.
By the time I turned, it was too late.
An Orc.
Charging at me…mid-swing…with what looked like an uprooted tree trunk.
My eyes widened.
I barely had time to cross my arms in front of me.
The hit landed like a freight train.
I went flying.
I slammed against the stone wall on the far side of the room. The impact knocked the air straight out of my lungs.
I hit the ground hard.
For a few seconds…I couldn't breathe. Couldn't do anything.
Mouthful after mouthful of air finally dragged itself back into my lungs.
My ribs…aching.
Arms…numb.
But…I was breathing.
Slowly…steadily.
My hands dropped from my ears.
And as I exhaled…a quiet sigh escaped my nose.
But the Bad Bats weren't done.
They were already on me. The soundwaves hit again, making the air vibrate around me, making my skull feel like it was going to crack open.
And then I heard it.
The Imps.
What was left of them.
Laughing.
That laugh…that high-pitched, scratching cackle that rattled through the mist. Even through the distortion.
That…was the breaking point.
I dragged one knee under me.
I closed my eyes.
And under the barrage of sound.
I began to chant.
"All evil shall burn by my light,
Holy fire, blaze through the night.
Wings of flame, rise ever higher—
Cleanse the world in sacred fire.
With my heart unshaken, I ignite…
Lux Sanctum: Puriflamma…"
He lit up in a golden light.
Every monster shrieked, and tried to shield their eyes. But that didn't matter.
There would be hell to pay.
——————————————————————
I stood there…still catching my breath…still pissed.
The chant was done.
The flames…answered.
Golden light burst from my body like a second sunrise.
The air shifted…the mist parted around me like it knew better than to stay.
The Bad Bats screeched and dove in first, coming at me from above in wide, swooping arcs.
I launched forward to meet them halfway.
First bat…split in two by my left blade.
Second one…I twisted mid-air and drove my heel straight into its skull, sending it crashing into the ground like a broken toy.
The others kept coming.
Didn't matter.
They died just the same.
The next wave of Imps thought they could close in while I was distracted.
Cute.
I spun, letting my flames loose, catching three of them drenched in holy flame. Their screams didn't last long…they turned to ash before they even hit the ground.
The rest hesitated…but I didn't.
I rushed them, slashing low, then high…weaving between their panicked strikes.
Their numbers dropped fast.
Too fast for them to recover.
By the time I finished carving through the last one…a new rumble shook the air.
Orcs.
At least eight of them.
Seemed they heard the commotion.
Good.
I charged before they could organize.
My blades flashed gold as I ducked the first swing, driving both swords deep into the closest Orc's gut.
I dragged them sideways, spilling hot gore across the grass.
Another Orc rushed me from the left—I kicked its kneecap in, folding its leg backward, then spun and buried my sword into its throat.
They kept coming.
Didn't matter.
One after another…they all fell.
When my blades weren't enough…I kicked.
When my kicks weren't enough…I burned.
When I was done…when the last Orc collapsed into the dirt with a wet thud…I finally stopped moving.
I stood there…surrounded by bodies.
The mist had almost fully cleared thanks to the lingering heat of my flames.
The holy fire that covered me flickered…then began to die down, along with my anger…slowly fading until only light wisps of gold remained.
I took a long…deep breath.
My annoyance…fading with it.
I glanced around…taking in the aftermath.
Over thirty Imps…fifteen Needle Rabbits…nine Bad Bats…eight Orcs.
Might have gone out of hand.
…
Nah.
…
Anyway.
Now…time to harvest.
I started with the smaller stuff first. Summoned the mimic with a thought.
Tossed in every Imp I could reach. Their stones stacked neatly in my inventory—forty-three total. No drop items…Sick. Annoying and they don't drop items.
Next…the Rabbits.
Twenty-six stones…plus their horns.
Bad Bats were next.
Fifteen stones…and their wings.
The Orcs…yeah…those were gonna be a problem.
I crouched near one…looking over its size.
Even at full stretch…the mimic wouldn't fit that in.
But then…I paused.
Something clicked in the back of my mind.
I remembered the mimic's description.
'They also get larger and stronger the more you feed them…'
Huh.
Worth a shot.
I unsummoned it…focused my desire for it to be larger…and re-summoned it again.
Sure enough…it came back bigger.
A lot bigger.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Well…that's convenient."
Without hesitation…the mimic opened wide and swallowed the first Orc whole.
One stone…and one full Orc hide dropped instantly.
That worked better than I expected.
With that solved…I fed it the rest.
Bit by bit…the Orc corpses disappeared. Stones and hides safely stored away.
By the time I was done…I stood tall again…rolled my shoulders…flexed my fingers.
Time to keep going.
I turned toward the path leading deeper into the mist.
And without another word…I moved on.
——————————————————————
I stayed pressed close to the wall…feet light…steps quiet.
The 10th floor had treated me well…for the most part. My inventory was looking solid. Monster stones…drops items…more than enough for a single day's haul.
After the last headache with the Imps and Bad Bats…I decided to play it a little more cautious. Stick to the edges…avoid open spaces…snipe anything that looked at me funny.
I utilized Magic Arrow quite a bit, as it was probably my most stealthy offensive Magic.
One shot…curve it…clean kills. Well atleast for Imps, Badbats, and Needle Rabbits
Orcs had to be dealt with by my blades. But with a couple of flicks to the wrist, a few kicks here and there, and they went down easy.
After maybe another ten minutes of hugging the walls and weaving through the mist…I finally spotted it.
The staircase.
The path down to the 11th floor.
I exhaled slowly.
From here on…it might get tricky.
Silverbacks…Hard Armoreds…maybe even an Infant Dragon.
Most level 1 adventurers wouldn't dream of stepping past this floor alone.
A Silverback's strength was said to be a rank above an Orc's. The armor of a Hard Armored is said to be the most durable among any monster on the upper floors…though he wondered if that was true compared to an Infant Dragon.
The Infant Dragon. Said to be the 'boss' of the upper floors. Said to be even more dangerous when compared to a Minotaur.
Most level 2's would party up in the face of an Infant Dragon.
But me?
…I was able to take down a Minotaur with my magics, and skills. I was confident in my abilities.
I tightened my grip on my blades…took a deep breath.
Then…without another thought…I descended.
——————————————————————
The moment my grieves touched the 11th floor the air felt…quite literally the same.
The mist wasn't as thick as the 12th is said to be, but it was definitely denser than the 10th. The visibility wasn't great…but manageable.
I kept my blades drawn…moving low and slow through the grass and rocky outcrops scattered across the floor.
Didn't take long for trouble to find me.
A pack of orcs wandered too close.
A bit bigger than the ones on the 10th…muscles bulging under green skin.
They roared and charged.
I stayed light on my feet…weaving between their swings.
Danced around them…cutting deep into joints and tendons.
One dropped.
Then another.
By the time the last one fell…I was already moving again.
Imps weren't far behind.
Figures.
They tried their usual swarm tactics…darting in and out…laughing that shrill, ugly laugh of theirs.
I answered with steel.
Quick…precise slashes.
No wasted movement.
Didn't let them build momentum…just took them out one by one until the last imp choked on its own blood.
Then came the Bad Bats.
I'd had enough of their screeching tricks.
Before they even got close…I launched two Magic Arrows mid-stride…both shots curved and nailed the lead bats straight out of the air.
The rest scattered.
I chased them down…sliced their wings…made sure they wouldn't get airborne again.
I was starting to hit a groove.
Step…dodge…strike…repeat.
The deeper I went…the more my body moved on instinct.
My footwork tightened…my grip on the blades felt like an extension of my own hands.
For a good while…it felt easy.
Too easy.
That's when the ground rumbled.
I immediately shifted my gaze
The mist shifted ahead.
Heavy footsteps…closer…louder.
Then it appeared.
A Silverback.
Tall…easily over 9 feet.
Muscle stacked on muscle.
Grey fur rippling with every step.
It stopped maybe twenty meters away…turned its bloodshot eyes toward me.
It began to pound its chest, then it let out a deep…throaty roar that reminded me of another beast.
And then…it charged.
I didn't slot in any abilities.
Didn't activate any magic.
I wanted this fight clean.
Just me…my blades…my stats…and what I've learned.
I braced myself…exhaled sharply…and ran straight at it.
The Silverback's first swing was wide…a full horizontal sweep that would've crushed me flat.
I ducked low…feeling the wind of it graze past my head.
Came up hard with a slash toward its ribs.
My blade cut in…deep, the blade's strength easily cut through its defense.
It barely flinched. Only seemed to get even more angry.
I jumped back as it stomped…then lunged with terrifying speed for its size.
Barely twisted out of the way…rolled to the side.
I went for its knee…stabbed deep.
This time…I struck bone…blade sinking halfway in.
It roared again…this time in real pain.
It swung down both fists…trying to hammer me into the dirt.
I dove out…gritting my teeth…kicking up dust.
One hit from this thing would hurt. A lot. Even with such fortified armor. And especially without my abilities or magic.
But I didn't stop.
I kept moving.
Kept slashing.
Tendons…joints…soft spots.
It started to bleed more…started to slow.
But it didn't stop.
I could have finished this encounter sooner…but I didn't want to. This was a stepping stone, this was so I could prove that I wasn't just someone with gifted abilities. I didn't want to be defined by just my abilities. I wanted to be more…
So I continued.
The fight stretched on for less than a minute…though it felt longer.
Every dodge got tighter.
Every counter got sharper.
And finally…I buried both blades deep into its chest…it let out one final grunt…then collapsed with a ground-shaking thud.
I stood there…panting.
Sweat rolling in my armor.
But smiling all the same.
No magic.
No abilities.
Just skill.
I stepped forward…wiped my blade clean on its fur…and went to harvest my prize.
——————————————————————
By the time I started making my way back up…the aches in my body started catching up.
Six hours down here…passed in a breeze.
After finishing off the Silverback…I stayed on the 11th floor a little longer…a while long enough to grab its magic stone and snag some of its fur as a drop. Honestly…for something so beastly…the fur was stupidly soft. Kinda threw me off for a second.
The rest of my run on the 11th was more of the same I encountered before.
Orcs…imps…bad bats.
No more Silverbacks. No Hard Armored. And luckily, or maybe unluckily…no Infant Dragons.
I did my best to avoid adventurer groups. Ducking behind walls…cutting through the grass…keeping low whenever I sensed voices or footsteps. Seemed that on this floor there were a ton of groups, even in the deeper corridors.
The last thing I needed was getting caught up in some other party's mess, or worse, have them notice my spoils.
By the time I started climbing the stairs back toward the upper floors…I did a mental count.
About 170 magic stones. Unfortunately quite a bit of those were thanks to Imps, which further soured my opinion on them. Large in number, yet nil in item drops.
Even without the imps, I still had around 100 drop items.
For a solo dive…this was going to be a crazy haul.
I couldn't help but grin at that.
He just couldn't wait for…Ariel's reaction.
That thought brought a bit of anxiety. Which began to creep in.
I reached for the charm she gave me…the one she handed over just before I left for Orario.
Fingers curled tight around it.
And it began to calm me.
The nervous weight pressing on my chest…lightened just a bit.
I took a long breath…steadying myself.
"Alright…one thing at a time…" I murmured under my breath.
With that…I pushed forward.
Up the stairs.
Out of the Dungeon.
And toward a very different kind of danger…one that had nothing to do with monsters, but with the heart.
——————————————————————
The sun was just starting to dip down when I finally made it back to the surface.
The afternoon glow painted the streets in soft gold, and the breeze was cooler than I expected…or maybe that was just me.
Either way, I felt calm. Elated, even.
All that anxiety I'd been carrying around…it wasn't there anymore.
I wasn't nervous.
I wasn't overthinking.
I just…missed her.
That was all that mattered right now.
Whatever happened after…well…I'd accept it.
So I kept walking, a steady pace, making my way to the Guild.
It was packed today.
Three lines of adventurers were stacked near the receptionist desks. Eina, Misha, and Rose were working through them, their hands moving fast to keep up with the flow of reports and exchanges.
Near the entrance, a whole crowd of adventurers hovered around the quest board, arguing over postings and bounties.
I ignored them, eyes scanning past the front lines and toward the desks behind the counters.
And then…I spotted her.
That familiar blonde hair.
There she was, sitting behind her desk, working through a mountain of paperwork.
Focused.
Efficient.
And…honestly…she looked content.
That sight alone made me smile.
Without thinking, I made my way over. Quiet steps.
When I finally reached her…I leaned over, resting my bare arms gently on top of her head.
She didn't even flinch.
"Your favorite adventurer is here," I murmured with a grin, "ready to save you from the monstrous pile of paperwork. And my fee's cheap, just your time and an ear to hear about the absolutely terrible, annoying little gremlins that lurk on the 10th and 11th floors."
She barely paused.
Didn't even miss a beat.
"…You mean imps," she replied, voice calm but playful, just like always.
That made me chuckle.
She set her pen down and glanced up at me, her eyes holding that familiar glint.
"I'll be happy to lend an ear," she said.
Then she stood, and I stepped back to give her space.
She looked around the room for a second before her gaze landed on someone else nearby.
"Sophie-san!" she called out toward a silver-haired elf seated a few desks away.
The elf perked up, offering a calm smile.
"Could you cover for me a bit?" Ariel asked, before flashing me a half-playful, half-exasperated glance. "I need to go advise a reckless adventurer." "-Oi-."
I raised a brow, but she ignored my protest entirely.
Sophie walked over, her steps graceful as expected of an elf, and took one look at the stack of papers.
"I expect you to finish up soon," she said with a small, amused sigh.
Ariel gave her a helpless shrug, but Sophie still sat down and picked up a pen without complaint.
That settled, Ariel turned back to me, already walking toward the hallway leading to the private booths.
"Come on," she said gently, not looking back.
I followed without hesitation.
We both knew there was going to be more than just his past dives.
——————————————————————
As we entered the room, she paused a bit, her back turned to me. After a few moments she spoke.
"I'm sorry…"
Those few words meant a lot, and he happily accepted the apology.
"I accept your apology, let's sit and talk." I said with a smile, we then moved toward the couches.
We sat across from each other, the room keeping everything quiet between us. Ariel leaned back a little, folding her arms, her eyes meeting mine. Her usual playful glint was there…but something else too.
"So…you wanted to vent?" she asked, breaking the ice with that familiar grin.
I chuckled under my breath, leaning my elbows on the table. "Yeah, but…I think that can wait."
Her grin faded into something softer. "You look good," she noted, her voice lowering. "How have you been?"
I took a breath, steadying my nerves. "I've been well, especially my pockets," I admitted with a small smirk. "Dungeon dives have been successful, and also had a very interesting meeting. I've been getting much stronger." I paused, looking at her directly, "And now here we are..."
Her eyes softened even more, and she let out a small sigh. "I'm sorry," she said, her tone honest. "For being cold back then. I wasn't handling my feelings right."
I smiled a little, shaking my head. "You already apologized," I said. "And honestly, I get it. I wasn't exactly being considerate either."
There was a small silence between us, not uncomfortable…just heavy with unspoken thoughts.
"Still," Ariel murmured, her gaze lingering on me, "I want to be honest this time."
I raised an eyebrow slightly, watching her as she leaned forward just a little.
"Our current relationship…I'm happy, but…" she said, her voice soft but firm. "I wouldn't be…opposed to something more between us."
That actually caught me off guard.
I blinked, staring at her as her cheeks colored slightly.
"I know you're with Demeter-sama," she added quickly, "but…I'm not against this. This feeling in my heart…I don't want to shut it out."
I let her words sink in, feeling the weight of them as I processed it.
"…You're serious," I muttered, more to myself.
She gave a small laugh, her fingers playing with a lock of her blonde hair. "Yeah."
I smiled, feeling warmth swell in my chest. "Thank you…for telling me that."
Ariel smiled back, her expression a bit relieved, like a weight had been lifted.
Then, after a beat, she grinned again, leaning on her hand. "So…how about we see where this goes?"
I blinked. "…?"
She chuckled softly. "Let's go on a date," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Tomorrow?"
That definitely caught me by surprise. I froze for a second, a slight blush creeping up my cheeks as I tried to find words.
"I—uh—wait, what?" I stammered.
Ariel's grin turned sly, her next words making me nearly choke on air.
"Demeter-sama actually suggested it," she said, smirking.
My jaw practically dropped. "She…what?"
Ariel laughed at my reaction, clearly enjoying herself. "Yep. She thought it'd be good for us."
I couldn't help but start chuckling, shaking my head as I let out a breathless laugh. "That Goddess of mine…"
I looked at Ariel again, seeing the playful sparkle in her eyes, and my smile softened.
"So…?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
I let out a light chuckle, still a bit in disbelief but honestly amused. "Yeah…I'd like that."
Her face lit up instantly, and she beamed at me with a radiant smile that caught me off guard.
She bit her thumb shyly, turning away slightly with a grin. That little gesture made me smile even more.
But then she gave me a look, resting her chin on her hand. "I can't wait."
I gave an exasperated huff. "You know…I have absolutely no clue how this kind of polyamorous relationship will work…"
Then her look turned smug. "Demeter-sama mentioned something of that nature. She said something about being the 'Head wife'."
I raised an eyebrow, feeling a sudden sense of dread. "Did she now…?"
"She said this is your 'Harem,'" Ariel said, smirking wider, "and I'd be one of her harem sisters."
I choked on air, coughing into my hand. "Wha-?!"
Ariel laughed, clearly enjoying my flustered reaction.
I groaned, shaking my head as I chuckled helplessly. "That Goddess of mine…"
Still laughing softly, I looked back at her, my smile lingering.
I squinted slightly at her playful grin. "Anything else you two talked about?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Or am I not allowed to know…forbidden girl talk?"
Her smug smile returned full force as she leaned back. "Forbidden girl talk," she confirmed with a teasing wink. "You're not getting anything else out of me."
I let out a long, amused sigh, smiling fondly.
Gods…what did I get myself into?
But honestly…this wasn't bad.
Not bad at all.
——————————————————————
The conversation shifted from playful teasing to something more familiar.
"So," Ariel started, crossing her arms on the table, "how'd your dungeon run go?"
I groaned dramatically. "You ever hear of a monster that just exists to piss you off?"
Her brows lifted slightly. "I'm guessing this is leading into a rant?"
"Absolutely," I said, leaning back. "Imps. And Bad Bats."
Ariel blinked. "Imps? The little demon things?"
"Yeah. Too smart for their own good. Giggling, sneaking around, flanking—just a bunch of mini-tacticians. Felt like I was getting bullied by a group of snickering gremlins."
She stifled a laugh. "And the bats?"
"Don't get me started," I muttered, rubbing my temple. "Big, loud, and every time they screeched, it felt like my brain short-circuited. Nearly got overwhelmed 'cause of them."
Her expression turned a bit concerned. "Are you okay?"
I waved it off with a small grin. "I'm fine. I may or may not have gone a little overboard in retaliation. They got what was coming."
That earned me a small, amused shake of her head. "You're unbelievable."
I reached into my pack and began to pull out pouch after pouch, setting them on the table between us.
Her eyes widened as the pile grew. "Wait, this was all from today?"
I smirked. "Yup. And believe it or not, I still have three more hauls from previous dives sitting at home. Untouched."
She stared at me like I'd grown two heads. "You're hoarding magic stones now?"
"Investing," I corrected, grinning wider. "Waiting for the right moment to cash them in."
Ariel let out an incredulous chuckle, but didn't argue. The two of us began sorting through the day's haul together, slipping into that easy silence we'd always shared during our advisor sessions.
177 magic stones, total haul for the day:
79 Imp stones (1,000 each) = 79,000 valis
52 Needle Rabbit stones (750 each) = 39,000 valis
52 Needle Rabbit tusks (1,650 each) = 85,800 valis
28 Orc stones (2,750 each) = 77,000 valis
28 Orc hides (5,750 each) = 161,000 valis
12 Bad Bat stones (950 each) = 11,400 valis
12 Bad Bat wings (3,500 each) = 42,000 valis
3 Killer Ant stones (900 each) = 2,700 valis
3 Ant mandibles (3,250 each) = 9,750 valis
2 Goblin stones (300 each) = 600 valis
2 Goblin fangs (850 each) = 1,700 valis
1 Silverback stone = 7,750 valis
1 Silverback fur = 13,000 valis
Grand Total: 530,700 valis
I stared at the numbers for a second. "…Huh."
Ariel looked up at me, brows raised. "What?"
"That's easily the most profitable dive I've ever had."
She gave a short laugh, shaking her head with mock exasperation. "Of course it is. Leave it to you to casually rake in half a million valis in a single trip…while mainly exploring the 10th and 11th floors."
I shrugged, feigning modesty. "And again, that's just one haul. You'll have to help count the rest someday."
Ariel groaned loudly at that, dropping her head to the table. "You're going to work me to death."
But the smile on her face said she didn't mind at all.
And truly, neither did I.
I stood from my seat, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Before I go…" I looked back at her, "…was there anything specific you wanted to do tomorrow?"
At that, her eyes lit up, a bright smile blooming on her face. "Mmhm. I'll be at the central plaza at eleven in the morning. Don't be late."
I raised an eyebrow. "Any plans?"
"Sort of," she said, swaying slightly on her heels. "Mostly just walking around, maybe some shopping, but…nothing rigid. I want it to go like that night before you left for Orario. Just us, no expectations."
That memory hit me hard, in a good way. Her hand in mine, the casual banter, the lights of the plaza, the quiet way we enjoyed each other's company before things really began to change.
I smiled. "Yeah. That sounds perfect."
Without thinking, I crossed the distance between us in a few steps and wrapped her in a warm embrace. Her body relaxed against mine as I rested my chin on top of her head.
"I'm happy…"
She let out a soft breath and pressed her cheek to my chest. "What are you happy about?" she asked.
I didn't even hesitate. "Everything."
Her fingers curled slightly against my shirt, and I felt her smile too.
We stood like that for a few seconds longer before slowly pulling apart.
I gave her one last look, then turned toward the door. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Don't be late," she called playfully after me.
I lifted a hand in response, not looking back, still smiling as I stepped out of the Guild.
Now I had a date to prepare for… and a certain goddess to thank.
——————————————————————
As I strolled through the afternoon streets of Orario, still riding the high from earlier, a familiar chime echoed in my mind.
Feat Achieved! Extremely Successful Dungeon Dive; Earn half a million valis from a single dive!
Reward: Random Gold Advantage Gatcha
I rolled without hesitation.
Rolling…
Garchomp (3.7 Rarity, 1.03% odds)-Rare Familiar-
Pokemon - A large intimidating ground dragon with immense physical power, Garchomp can also manipulate the earth to cause earthquakes, fissures and blades of earth to erupt. And they can also somehow fly at Mach speeds.
Or
Power Pole (3 Rarity, 0.47% odds)-Rare Item-
Dragon Ball - An incredibly durable Bo Staff wielded by Son Goku(The Saiyan, not the god), that allows the user to freely extend its length by expending their energy.
I stopped mid-step.
"…No way."
Garchomp…
A wide grin spread across my face. "Garchomp? Seriously?"
I chuckled under my breath like a kid who just unwrapped a legendary trading card. "Man…that's such a cool pull." I mean, the power pole was somewhat Iconic, but come on. A pseudo-legendary? That was a no brainer for him.
Of all the Pokémon out there, Garchomp was one of those that just radiated raw power and speed. Land shark dragon, massive claws, incredible strength, yeah, this was going to be fun.
Though…I paused, rubbing the back of my neck. It did look like something straight out of the dungeon. A few wrong glances and people might think I was leading a rogue monster around the city. I'd definitely need to be mindful about where and when I summoned it.
"Maybe outside the city," I muttered. "Or maybe only in the dungeon…eh, I'm sure it'll be fine."
Still, the thought of having a damn Garchomp as a familiar made me grin all over again. "This is gonna be so sick."
With that out of the way and excitement still buzzing through me, I picked up the pace toward home.
I'd have dinner, a shower, and then spend some quality time with Demeter.
——————————————————————
Later that night, Demeter and I were settling in for bed, the soft glow of the moon slipping in through the window. The quiet of the room wrapped around us like a blanket, as comforting as the presence of the woman beside me.
Demeter was brushing through her long hair with steady, slow strokes when she glanced over at me with a knowing smile.
"So," she began casually, "you dived into the Dungeon again, met with Ariel, have a date with her tomorrow, and made a new…'friend.'" She said the last part with a faintly amused tone, raising an eyebrow.
I nodded along like a student being read their day's itinerary. "That sounds about right."
She placed the brush down and turned toward me, resting her head against the pillow. "You've had quite an eventful day," she said softly. "And something tells me tomorrow's going to be just as full."
"Yeah," I murmured, scooting closer to her, "I'm starting to realize I don't get many slow days anymore."
I looked into her eyes, sincere and grateful. "Thank you…really. For letting this happen. For pushing things forward when I didn't even know how to."
Demeter's smile didn't waver. She simply reached out, her fingers brushing lightly across my cheek. "You're worth the effort."
I gave a small laugh and let my wings extend from my back, the feathers unfurling with a gentle rustle. It was a nighttime ritual now, something that had become natural between us. I pulled them around us both, wrapping her in warmth and light, and let my forehead rest against hers.
"I love you," I whispered, holding her close. Then, with a small teasing smirk, I added, "My head wife."
Demeter let out a soft laugh, clearly amused. "And don't you forget it."
We stayed like that for a while, cocooned in warmth, comfort, and something deeper.
And then, together, we drifted off into sleep—peaceful and ready for whatever tomorrow had in store.
Chapter 25 End