Chapter 27: Chillin'
The warm morning light crept in through the tall windows, slipping past sheer curtains and pooling gently onto the bedspread. The sheets were a tangled mess, but neither of them minded.
Chico lay on his side, one arm tucked under his pillow, the other draped loosely across Demeter's waist. She traced lazy circles against his chest with her fingers, her hair fanned out like golden wheat across the pillow.
"Mm…" she hummed softly. "So…what's on the agenda today, love?"
Chico blinked away the remnants of sleep, exhaled through his nose, and rubbed at his eyes with his free hand. "Not much…I'm gonna sell all the monster drops I got from the dives I've yet to cash in…then I'll ask for an advisor session with Ariel. Gonna be studying the 12th floor."
Demeter tilted her head slightly, brow rising. "Only the 12th?"
He chuckled quietly, rubbing the back of his neck as he shifted upright against the headboard. "Yeah…I kinda just want a chill day. Just that one floor, sell my stuff, maybe hang out with Ariel a bit after. Nothing too crazy."
Demeter smiled, eyes half-lidded as she rolled over to rest her head on his stomach. "You've been quite busy. Taking it slow sounds nice."
Chico ran a hand through her hair. "What about you? Got plans?"
She hummed again, thinking. "A little paperwork to catch up on today. Not exactly exciting." She stretched her arms out, arching her back. "But tomorrow…a few of the other goddesses invited me out. One of those garden lounge things."
He nodded, then paused when she suddenly perked up.
"Would you like to come with me?"
Chico raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that be intruding?"
Demeter laughed. "Hardly. If anything, I think they'd be delighted. Quite a few people have been very curious about you, us." Her eyes twinkled. "Though I should warn you…they may bombard you with lots and lots of questions about us."
He grinned at that, resting a hand over hers. "I think I can handle that. Yeah…I wouldn't mind."
Demeter grabbed one of his hands, and gave it a soft kiss. "Good."
A few minutes later, Chico rolled out of bed, gave her a kiss goodbye, and went to his room to shower. After dressing, he grabbed his backpack from the corner of the room, methodically began filling it with his loot, magic stones, and drop items. After a quick breakfast from the manor's cozy kitchen, he slung the pack over his shoulder and stepped out the door.
Orario was waking up. The sky was clear, the streets bustling with life, but today, he was just chillin'.
——————————————————————
Chico stepped into the Guild building, his eyes naturally drifting toward the reception counter. As expected, Ariel was on duty. Her long blonde hair was tied neatly, and her expression remained composed as she helped an adventurer ahead of him.
Chico got in line, which, thankfully, wasn't too long. A few moments passed before it was his turn.
The moment Ariel saw him approach, a small smile pulled at her lips.
"Welcome to the Guild…how can I help you today?" she asked, voice professional, but there was warmth in her eyes.
"I'd like to cash in some items," Chico said, "and maybe schedule an advisor session while I'm at it."
Ariel nodded once, then glanced toward the row of desks behind her. She turned and raised a hand. "Eina-san, can you cover for me?"
Eina Tulle peeked her head out from the office, gave a knowing smile, and walked out carrying a thick stack of paperwork. "Sure, sure. But you owe me for this." She plopped the mountain of documents on the counter and took Ariel's seat.
With that handled, Ariel turned to Chico and motioned for him to follow. "This way."
They moved through the Guild interior, past the public area, and into a quiet back hallway. She opened the door to a private consultation booth and stepped inside. The moment it closed behind them, Ariel turned around and wrapped her arms around Chico.
He blinked in surprise, but the hesitation faded fast. He embraced her back, firm and warm.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
"I am now…" she murmured with a smile into his chest.
He chuckled. "That's such a cheesy line…"
She smiled up at him. "You like it though."
"…Yeah, I do."
They stayed like that for a few seconds longer, just enjoying the closeness. Then, still holding him, she looked up. "Should we get started?"
"…Just a few more moments."
She nodded, and they stood together in silence for a little while longer. Then Chico finally pulled back and smiled. "Alright…I'm ready."
Ariel moved over to the table and pulled out a small pricing crystal. "Let's start with the magic stones."
Chico took off his backpack and began unloading pouch after pouch.
"Three days' worth," he said. "Floors one through nine, but I mostly stayed between six and nine."
The crystal began to glow as each stone was scanned and counted.
Magic Stones:
72 Needle Rabbit stones, 750 each = 54,000
60 Goblin stones, 300 each = 18,000
58 Killer Ant stones, 900 each = 52,200
43 Kobold stones, 450 each = 19,350
28 War Shadow stones, 1,250 each = 35,000
20 Frog Shooter stones, 650 each = 13,000
14 Dungeon Lizard stones, 600 each = 8,400
13 Purple Moth stones, 650 each = 8,450
4 Blue Papillo stones, 650 each = 2,600
Total from Magic Stones: 211,000 valis.
Ariel raised an eyebrow. "That's already a solid profit…"
Chico grinned. "There's more."
He flipped the bag and pulled out multiple sacks, each filled to the brim with monster parts.
Ariel's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
She also noticed something dangling off the side of his bag—a charm with a tiny flickering flame inside.
Her smile softened. "That's…is that the charm I gave you?"
Chico glanced down and rubbed the charm with his fingers. "Yeah. I attached it to my pack…makes it lucky."
She looked touched by that, but quickly turned her attention back to the task at hand. They began sorting and counting the drop items.
Monster Drop Items:
72 Needle Rabbit Tusks, 1,650 each = 118,800
60 Goblin Fangs, 850 each = 51,000
58 Killer Ant Mandibles, 3,250 each = 188,500
43 Kobold Nails, 950 each = 40,850
28 War Shadow Finger Blades, 4,500 each = 126,000
14 Lizard Tails, 1,000 each = 14,000
13 Moth Wings, 1,500 each = 19,500
4 Papillo Wings — Chico kept these
Total from Drop Items: 558,650 valis.
Grand Total: 769,650 valis.
Chico whistled. "Damn…that's a good ass haul…"
Ariel looked just as surprised. "Seriously impressive…what are you going to do with all this?"
Chico shrugged. "Well, I've got a pretty steep loan to pay off…"
That got her attention. "A loan? Wait…this wouldn't cover it?"
Instead of answering, Chico gave a small grin and summoned his armor with a silent command. Light shimmered around him before revealing the full dark silver set of combat armor.
Ariel took a half-step back, shocked by the sudden transformation. "That's…that's a magic item?"
He lifted the helmet off his head. "Sort of…yeah. Anyway, Demeter cut a deal with Goddess Hephaestus. 7 kilos of mythril, 3 kilos of orichalcum. We're splitting the loan."
Ariel blinked. "How much…?"
"30 million," he said casually. "Monthly payments. Oh…and once I'm strong enough, I'll be joining the Hephaestus familia on one of their expeditions."
She looked like she wanted to say something, but the numbers alone were making her dizzy. "…What even counts as 'strong enough' to you?"
Chico thought for a second. "Level three, maybe?"
She began to steady. "That's a long way off—"
"It might not be," he cut in gently. "I'm getting close to leveling already."
Ariel narrowed her eyes. "You are?"
He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "My magic stat hit S-rank yesterday."
Her lips parted in disbelief. "…S-rank? Already? It's only been…what, a little over two weeks? Chico that's…impossible?"
"I'm kind of an anomaly," he said with a lopsided grin. "And I'm only going to keep growing."
Ariel let out a sigh, rubbing her temple. "What have I gotten myself into…"
Chico chuckled. "You've got no idea."
——————————————————————
After a few moments of gathering the material, the study session was about to begin.
They remained in the private booth, away from the outside. A few open books sat between them, mostly floor maps, monster entries, and resource breakdowns related to the 12th floor. Ariel had insisted they focus only on that today.
She tapped a page with her pen. "You know…I'm really glad you listened and just focused on the 12th floor. Even if it's just you being lazy."
Chico snorted lightly, leaning back in his chair. "I mean…you're not wrong."
Ariel gave him a sidelong glare but smiled through it. "As your advisor, I want you as prepared as possible. Even if you're stronger than most, the middle floors are brutal. You can't just rely on instincts or stats down there."
"Yeah, I get that," Chico nodded, flipping to a sketch of the 12th floor layout. "It's not that I'm against going deeper…but I think I'll hold off until I've got a little more going for me. A companion, maybe a supporter."
"That's a good idea," Ariel said, genuinely pleased. "A lot of adventurers underestimate how important having someone to watch your back is. You may not need help fighting, but just managing loot, support spells, information…even that's huge."
"I've got a few ideas," Chico said, closing one of the books and stacking it. "Names too. I'll be thinking about it seriously over the next few days."
"That's all I ask," she replied, her voice softening.
There was a short pause.
"Just…don't be reckless," she added.
Chico tilted his head. "Would seeking out a confrontation with an Infant Dragon count as reckless?"
Ariel slowly brought her hands to her face and let out a sigh. "I hate that I know you're not joking."
Chico chuckled. "Come on…I'll have you know I slayed a Minotaur with my highest stat only at H rank."
Ariel peeked out from behind her hands, still hiding the slight smile, and shook her head. "Please don't let that get to your head. Stats aren't everything, but ego definitely gets people killed."
"Hai hai…" Chico replied with a teasing grin.
With that, the study session officially began.
They worked for a while longer, going over common monster behaviors, dangerous spawn zones, and safe spots on the 12th floor. Ariel made sure he memorized key exits and recommended rest areas. Chico didn't complain…much. And even if his answers were a bit casual, he was focused.
Eventually, Chico stood, stretching his arms overhead.
"That's about all my brain can handle today."
Ariel gave him a playful nudge as he packed up. "You did better than I expected."
He slung his bag over his shoulder. "Thanks, Teach."
"Be safe, alright?" she said as he got up.
Chico nodded once. "I'll be careful."
Deciding to be a bit bold, he quickly wrapped her up in his arms, gave the top of her head a couple of kisses, and after hearing a few giggles, he let go.
And with that, he waved goodbye and made his way toward the exit of the Guild. His backpack a little heavier with coin from earlier, his plans for the day still comfortably unambitious.
Now what to do for the rest of the day…
——————————————————————
The streets of Orario were still busy as Chico stepped out of the Guild, the afternoon sun casting long shadows along the cobbled paths. He took a deep breath and slipped his hands into his pockets, walking with no real destination in mind.
"Alright…what now?" he muttered.
He could just go home and do absolutely nothing. No training, no planning, just melt into his bed and exist for a few hours. That idea had a certain appeal. He could play with his familiars too, maybe spend some time with his cat, even if it was out and about, it could come home anytime. He's yet to let out any of the Observers, he's yet to find a true use for them. Now Garchomp…Gods he wished he could just summon it without any repercussions, but with it looking too close to a monster (read, absolutely badass) he was a little cautious on the idea. But maybe he could let it out in his room…how tall was a Garchomp? Anyway.
Or…maybe he could finally test out his wings. He hadn't really flown yet, not in any real sense. It was tempting, but he paused.
His thoughts drifted back to the conversation with Ariel.
A supporter…
He could technically hire someone. There were dozens available through the Guild, especially for solo adventurers. But that just didn't sit right with him. Too impersonal. He wanted someone he could trust, not someone working a shift.
"As for names…" Chico murmured, narrowing his eyes as he walked.
There was one obvious choice on who he could party with; Bell Cranel. The kid was earnest, hardworking, and more capable than he gave himself credit for. But Chico hesitated. Truthfully… the kid needed room to grow. Teaming up with him right now might just slow that down. He was meant to walk his own path.
Still…with how things kept turning out, how their paths kept intersecting…maybe it was inevitable.
Chico scratched the back of his head, sighing. The path ahead was dangerous…but he would do whatever it took to protect what mattered most to him. Now back to his plans…
Another thought hit him the mimic. The little guy had the ability to shapeshift. And yet, he hadn't really done anything with that. Right now it held the form of a chest…but it could be more. If he could figure out how to give it a more functional form…maybe it could be more than just storage and harvesting.
His pace picked up.
Yeah. That sounded productive, but not too demanding. He could tinker with the mimic, maybe see if it could hold a stable humanoid form? Mess around with some commands. And if Demeter was home, maybe bother her a little. Just for fun.
But mostly?
He was going to chill. No big plans. No dungeon diving. No training montage.
Just…chill.
——————————————————————
Chico let himself in quietly, setting his boots by the door before wandering deeper into the Wheat Manor. It didn't take long to find her.
Demeter was seated at a long wooden desk in her study, sleeves rolled up, fingers gliding across sheets of parchment. Several stacks of paper surrounded her, some labeled, others half-open, a few threatening to collapse under their own weight.
She looked up at his presence, smiling softly. "Welcome home, dear."
Chico smiled back and strolled over. "You're still working?"
"Unfortunately," she sighed. "Budget reports, contracts, permits…Running a familia isn't all feasts and flowers."
Chico peeked at the mess, then raised a brow. "Need a hand?"
Her expression lifted in pleasant surprise. "You're volunteering to help with paperwork?"
He shrugged. "I'm already standing here. Might as well be useful."
Demeter laughed gently. "Alright. If you're serious, I could use help organizing that stack over there, group the requests by floor level, then separate out the ones with missing signatures."
Chico playfully groaned but sat down beside her without complaint. He pulled the stack toward him and started sorting.
The room fell into a quiet rhythm, the only sounds being the occasional shuffle of parchment or the scratch of a quill. Time passed easily, the silence a comfortable one.
After a while, Chico leaned back with a sigh. "This is so boring."
Demeter chuckled, not looking up from her page. "I warned you."
"You didn't say it would feel like dying."
She grinned. "That's because I didn't want to scare you off."
Chico tilted his head toward her. "And you do this every day?"
"Most days. Someone has to keep things running. Being a goddess doesn't make me immune to paperwork."
Chico made a face. "Remind me not to ever become a god."
That earned another laugh. "Deal."
There was a brief pause before Demeter asked, "So…how was your day?"
Chico cracked a small smile. "Not bad. Studied the 12th floor with Ariel, dodged a lecture or two. Made her laugh, made 3 quarters of a million valis, so I think that's a win."
Demeter gave a small nod, visibly pleased. "Now that is impressive. What else did you plan on doing?"
Chico leaned back, staring at the ceiling in thought. "Well… I was thinking of trying something new with one of my familiars."
"Oh?"
"I want to see if I can shape the Mimic into a real supporter. Not just a pack mule or harvester, but someone that can have my back. Maybe even fight alongside me."
Demeter looked at him then, curiosity mixing with quiet admiration. "I like the sound of that. Not every supporter has to be someone you hire."
"Exactly," Chico said, his tone thoughtful. "It's loyal, flexible…I think it has potential. Just needs a bit of direction."
Demeter smiled warmly. "Just like its master."
Chico blinked at that, glancing away with a light flush. "Tch…You're lucky I like you."
She rested her chin on her hand, still smiling. "I know."
The two returned to their tasks, side by side. It was quiet again, but it wasn't as boring anymore. Just peaceful.
Now time to tinker with his mimic.
——————————————————————
Chico sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, door shut, lamp dimmed. His eyes settled on the mimic chest in front of him. It looked just like any normal chest…if you ignored the occasional twitch or the fact that it was breathing.
"Alright," he muttered, tapping the lid. Let's see what you can really do…
With just a thought, he activated the mental command. Shift form.
Immediately, the mimic's body shimmered like melted wax before rising into a new shape—small, green, and hunched over. A goblin. Chico arched a brow.
"Classic pick," he said, then motioned again. Change.
This time, a kobold. Then a lizard. Then a needle rabbit. The mimic shifted through them all with eerie fluidity. Some were armed, some had fangs, some even had wings. One had both. Stupid Bad Bats
Regardless, that's…actually kind of sick.
Then Chico paused. What about humanoid forms? Something that could blend into the city, maybe even walk beside him in public. He focused.
Shift…into me.
The mimic's body stretched, bones reforming, limbs narrowing. A moment later, Chico found himself staring at…himself.
"Whoa…" he muttered, standing up. "That's freaky."
It looked just like him. Clothes, hair, posture, everything. It even mirrored his blink. Chico slowly began to walk around the mimic. "No offense, but I don't think two of me would work. You'd probably steal my spotlight."
The mimic followed him with its eyes. As he passed behind it, its head tilted. Subtle, but noticeable.
Chico blinked. "Wait…can you understand me?"
The mimic nodded once.
He squinted. "Can you talk?"
There was a pause, then it slowly shook its head.
"Damn. That would've been too easy, huh?"
He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. "Do you have a form in mind?"
The mimic's body instantly folded into itself and returned to its chest form. Chico laughed. "Alright, alright. That's a solid pick, I guess. But not too practical."
He motioned again. Human form, please.
It shifted back…and then morphed again.
Red hair. Amber eyes. A plain white and grey long-sleeved shirt. Jeans and sneakers.
"…Hold up." Chico leaned in. "Is that…Shirou Emiya?"
What the hell?
He staggered back, eyes wide. "Are you pulling this from my memory?"
Another command. Shift again.
This time…a man with spiky black hair and an orange gi appeared.
"…Holy shit," Chico whispered. "Is that Goku?"
He couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Okay…that's just ridiculous."
He gave it one more command. "Alright, pick whichever one you like the most. Just…make sure it's human."
The mimic paused, then began to shift again. Its features simplified. Black messy hair. Droopy eyes. A deadpan expression. Jeans and a black school uniform blazer over a T-shirt.
"…Hikigaya Hachiman," Chico muttered. "Of course. Out of all the people, you pick him."
Still, he didn't mind. "Honestly? Goated pick. Can't even be mad."
He gave the mimic-now-Hachiman a nod, then flopped backwards onto his bed with a long sigh.
"Alright. I'm done for today. No more thinking. I'm not touching the Dungeon, not testing more magic, not checking Gatcha…"
Feat Achieved! Extremely Successful Dungeon Dive!
Description: 3 days worth of dungeon dives have netted you 3 quarters of a million valis! Well done.
Rewards: 3x Random Silver Gatcha Tickets
Well never mind.
'Roll Gatcha!'
Rolling…
Cloak of Invisibility (3 Rarity, 0.41% odds)-Rare Item-
A cloak that bends light around it to obscure its wearer
&
Bronze Heart Ticket (1.5 Rarity, 0.36% odds)-Common Item-
Apparently, they sell even affection nowadays. Just think of the person you want to affect and rip the ticket, making them like you slightly more. Is it mind control? Nope, retroactive reality and probability bending. No unwanted side effects.
&
Prodigious Pupil (4.1 Rarity, 0.08% odds)-Elite Trait-
You are THE Pupil. You learn things much faster and far more easily when taught personally by someone who has a higher skill level than you in the subject in question. In addition, it is easier to earn the favour of your teachers.
Fuck…Yeah. A cloak that makes me invisible. I CAN ACTUALLY GO AROUND AND FLY IN THE CITY. Ooooohhhhhh yeah! Also an elite trait on top of that?! Ignoring the ticket, kinda weird not gonna lie…but I won't complain, might come in handy.
Well, today was a big win. And now,
He stretched his limbs out lazily. "I'm just gonna chill right here…until either something crazy happens…or I pass out."
The mimic sat quietly on the floor, hands in its pockets, watching silently as Chico sank deeper into the mattress.
It was a rare moment of peace.
And for now…he planned to enjoy every second of it.
Chapter 27 End