Chapter: 25
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance. I'll keep posting regardless. If you have any suggestions you would like to see added, I will try to incorporate what I can :)
(The Monster Tamer)
The Amphisbaena's heads tilted, its glowing slotted yellow eyes narrowing as it watched me.
I tensed, waiting and ready to avoid an attack, but it didn't come. Instead, the creature shifted, its tails swaying behind it like coiled serpents.
"You understand me, don't you?" I muttered, my voice calm despite the strange situation.
I didn't lower my hands entirely.
Admittedly, the saying I had bitten more than I could chew was applicable in this sense. I hadn't exactly been cocky but this monster was incredibly dangerous.
Granted, I wasn't outright vying to kill it so I wasn't resorting to everything I had at my disposal. I was interested in that red mist that could even weaken my mutated power of destruction.
Both heads growled in unison. The sound wasn't purely hostile; it was filled with something else. Unfortunately, I wasn't a monster. Despite what our dearly beloved local church may decree. So I couldn't understand.
I wanted this to be my Familiar. Since it could understand me my chances had grown a lot higher.
"Look at this place," I said, gesturing to the scorched and shattered battlefield around us but mostly the deary dungeon above. "I wonder how long you've been stuck down here like this?"
The left head lunged without warning, jaws wide and fast.
Touchy subject.
I spun out of the way, just barely dodging the attack. Its fangs snapped shut inches from my side, and I felt the rush of heat from its breath.
"Not exactly the answer I was looking for," I muttered, jumping back as the right head followed with another strike.
This time, I raised a barrier of wind, forcing the head to veer off-course.
"You're confused," I continued, my voice self-assured as if I was some sort of therapist.
I sidestepped as its tail whipped around, carving a trench into the ground.
"You've probably never met anyone who could talk to you like this. Especially an adventurer or maybe not even another other monster. If I'd truly wanted to kill you I wouldn't be talking to you right now." I tried to assure the large monster.
The creature hissed, both heads snapping toward me at once.
I ducked low, moving across the scorched ground as its jaws collided where I'd stood. I clicked my tongue and threw a fireball at the left head, not to harm it but to grab its attention.
It recoiled, shaking off the minor burn, while the right head spewed a wave of red mist in retaliation.
The mist descended toward me, in response to its attack a strong gust of wind erupted from my palms, barely dispersing the haze just enough for me to leap out of range.
"You're strong. I don't think you're fighting to kill me. Not at the moment anyway. I think you're interested in the fact that I can communicate with you." I told the creature.
The heads paused briefly, their eyes narrowing again.
I continued talking. The Amphisbaena was hesitating due to my words.
"See? You're thinking about it," I said, smirking slightly. "You've been here for who knows how long, Imprisoned in an endless battle."
Say what you want about my lack of subtlety in most situations, I knew how to use my words. I didn't want to kill what I could see as a very powerful ally.
The Monster without my help is easily in the pseudo-high-class range. It did make me wonder what else was down in the dungeons.
"But what happens after this fight? You kill me, sure. Then what? You go back to waiting for the next poor fool to wander in here? Or maybe a party enters and ends up killing you." I continued, an easy-going smile on my face.
I could see it actually considering my words, a thought about the future that had never been touched before.
The left head roared, its jaws opening to release a massive blast of blue fire.
I raised a large shield of earth as my imagination magic was used to full effect, barely managing to hold back the searing flames. The thick slabs of rock cracked and I was forced to add many more layers.
"Do you perhaps think I'm just talking to a stall? I'm not," I growled, dropping the shield and letting the flames pass over my shoulder as I darted to the side.
I used a considerable amount of power to send a giant blast of condensed wind that caught the monster off-guard, slamming into its scaled skin and pushing it back.
"I've fought monsters before. I've killed monsters before. I haven't killed you because you are not a basic monster." I calmly uttered.
It quickly recovered, sending a glance down to the impact zone that had knocked a few scales off its scaled skin.
Both heads growled again, though it noticeably held less malice.
Even monsters liked the thought of being special.
"You've got brains to match your strength," I continued, circling around the creature. "You are more valuable than to spend the next million years trapped in a dungeon, repeating an endless motion."
The attacks had stopped, I could actually see some pain in its slitted eyes.
"Join me, break free of whatever you've got going on here and do something other than sitting around. You'll grow stronger, smarter and you'll get to adventure to places with me." I finished chipperly.
The right head lunged suddenly, snapping at my legs.
I flipped backward, landing on a chunk of shattered rock as its fangs clamped down on empty air.
Rude.
Obviously taming a monster that's been down in the dungeon for who knows how long wasn't going to be a piece of cake.
My wand appeared in my hand for the first time.
"Confringo." A bright red spell shot out. My magic was amplified just a small bit and the drain on my demonic power wasn't as draining as normal.
The spell hit the Monster and a large explosion shook the cave. The monster was thrown back and scales dropped off its body.
Its mouth opened to spit fire. "Langlock."
The head that was gathering fire's tongue suddenly became tied to the roof of its mouth, thus making its attempt to spout fire cut off abruptly.
"Incarcerous."
Ropes started to bind the large monster, only to be ripped apart within moments.
"Duro." The spell hit, making it pause for a moment as its skin seemingly became solid. Only for the monster to resist the spell.
If you couldn't tell, I was testing new spells I had learnt recently. As you could see, my magical knowledge from the world where I accidentally became a dark lord was proving to be invaluable.
These spells were useful.
"Confringo."
Another spell shot but this time the monster knew better.
Red mist poured out chaotically around the beast as it regained its bearings completely.
The spell fizzled out. The demonic energy fuelling it being dissolved by the red mist.
The left head snarled, releasing another torrent of blue fire.
This time, I didn't dodge. I countered with a powerful stream of wind, redirecting the flames upward before they could reach me. I skidded back slightly from the force but was overall able to maintain it.
The creature hesitated, both heads lowering slightly as it growled softly.
"You know I'm right. What's the point in this? Join me."
The right head snapped forward again, but it was slower this time. I stepped aside, and retreated further back. I reached into my bottomless pouch and pulled out the contract I had made especially for this occasion, it was basically a Familiar contract in every way I could think of.
There was the issue of how I was going to get the Amphisbaena to sign it. I don't think a monster can exactly sign it.
"This contract will bind you to me, you could say we will become partners." I continued.
Perhaps waiting would have been better, but I had no way of knowing that he wouldn't be wiped out by one of the stronger Familia's if I left him down here for a while.
The left head sniffed the air, its glowing eyes narrowing as it examined the contract. The right head growled softly, but it didn't attack.
"You're already serving as someone else's unwilling lapdog, join me instead and you'll receive a lot more benefits than simply existing." I offered.
The creature growled again, both heads lowering toward the parchment. I didn't flinch or make any movement.
"I'll need a small bit of your blood since I'm presuming you won't be able to sign it." I calmly requested.
The large monster stared me down before. Finally, the Amphisbaena let out a sharp huff and lowered its heads completely. I searched its eyes and I could see my words resonated with it.
Not exactly a hard feat considering its current situation.
A grin spread across my face as I pressed the contract onto its scales. A small 'Diffindo.' Had a small part of its skin open up and drop blood onto the contract. I watched with anticipation.
The contract lit up and I grinned.
I had based it off the sacred gear from one of my original worlds.
Due to my status as a pureblood Devil, I had learnt about the subject thoroughly as they were considered invaluable for peerage pieces and the overall pyramid scene the Devils had going on.
When I had been thinking about gaining a monster as my Familiar, I had worried about how I was going to get them out of the dungeon.
Since the contracts had shown themselves to be incredibly powerful, to the point they could even transfer non-physical assets such as attributes and even souls.
It had firstly left me wondering why the Devils didn't abuse this, I hadn't heard any such contracts even existing among our race. The contracts I had been shown simply offered deals for small amounts of demonic energy and bonded agreements.
Secondly, when making this contract. Besides the general agreements of a Familiar contract, he should in theory be able to shrink down to a smaller form.
Since he would be connected to my soul now. I didn't think making him disappear completely into my soul was possible and I didn't want to even touch anything involving my own soul so I settled on this.
I was guessing that since the contract was accepted that it worked?
I felt a connection form.
The Amphisbaena's eyes softened considerably as I felt its emotions. It was weird feeling loyalty from the creature that had just spent the last few minutes trying to kill and eat me.
Though, it had the effect of making me feel a bit more at ease. I hadn't been sure how I was going to gain full loyalty from a monster but it seems to have worked out.
The Amphisbaena's eyes glimmered with newfound care for me.
"Well, that worked better than expected," I muttered to myself.
Both heads dipped slightly. I raised a brow and smirked.
"Let's see if this part works too."
"Shrink," I commanded, I extended both of my hands.
The creature's body glowed faintly, the sheer size of its twin heads and coiled tails beginning to compress. Tough scales shimmered as its form twisted and shrank until it was no larger than a coiled serpent.
Both heads tilted as they regarded me curiously, now perched on the ground like a snake with a split personality.
"Perfect," I said with a wicked grin.
The Amphisbaena slithered up my arm, its smaller form surprisingly lightweight as it coiled itself around my shoulders. Its two heads rested lazily, one near each side of my neck.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity.
"I think I need to give you a name." I mused. "I don't want to keep referring to you as a Monster."
The two heads hissed, and I could feel a pulse of agreement through our newly created bond.
"I have a feeling you'd be against a pet name like 'Sooty'." I further mused.
They both hissed and a strong pulse of disagreement and bewilderment was sent my way.
I laughed.
"How about Vermisynth?" I questioned, and the two heads paused.
It was admittedly a strange sounding name but I liked that it was weird.
The name was one that was created to be remembered if not only for its weird pronunciation.
They both hissed in acceptance.
"Alright." I continued. "You are now named Vermisynth."
They hissed in agreement, giving my head a small nudge.
Vermisynth's form hugged tighter around my shoulders, its twin heads tilted in curious harmony.
"Ok, let's test something," I muttered, excitedly.
Vermisynth was a powerful addition to my Familia. I wanted to know what he could do.
"That strange red mist of yours... I want to see if it's just as potent in this size. Give me a small blast of it." I calmly ordered.
I wondered if keeping him around my neck like a quasi-sacred gear so he could boost my fighting capability was viable. It was a weird thought, but having such a powerful monster with such strange powers was a major power boost.
The heads hissed softly, seemingly understanding my request.
I pointed towards a rock.
The right head raised slightly, its eyes narrowing as it exhaled a faint plume of the crimson mist. It drifted into the air in front of me and I wondered if he could control it.
The rock was consumed by the red mist and easily began to dissolve into nothingness.
I tilted my head, and looked back at Vermisynth.
Inspecting the monster closely, I realised it had black lines on the underside of its entire body.
I opened my bottomless pouch and pulled out the guild's little books on known monsters that Rose had given me.
Sure enough, there was no mention of the red mist being able to corrode anything or any black lines on its body.
It was like the black Goliath.
That confirmed it, the dungeon was somewhat sentient and hated my existence. Jokes on it I had been able to tame it.
Vermisynth sensed my emotions of intrigue and exasperation. I hoped now that I had tamed one of them that the dungeon would not continue these weird attacks at me but that was wishful thinking.
"Now, give me a full blast." I continued.
Vermisynth's right head bulged slightly and a massive red blast of mist shot out, completely filling the area in front of us and corroding all of the stone.
The mist didn't reach us, even parting around us and the grin that spread across my face would probably unnerve a lot of people. Even in its reduced size, Vermisynth's power hadn't diminished at all.
"Impressive," I remarked, brushing off the residue of the stone. I moved to a different area, as to not disturb the red mist that was slowly starting to dissipate.
"Now a small blast of fire. Let's see if that blue flame is still hot enough to roast something."
The left head flicked its tongue, then unleashed a tiny stream of blue fire.
The flame struck another shard of rock, and the result was pretty clear. Scorching heat instantly melted through the material, leaving only a charred puddle of molten stone behind.
"Now, let a big blast out."
There was only a moment's pause, a gathering of blue in Vermisynth's throat. His right head opened its maw and let out a massive gout of flame that consumed everything.
Vermisynth stopped and looked at me, two eyes blinking almost innocently.
This monster had probably killed many powerful adventurers, yet that didn't matter. It really wasn't my business and it was kill or be killed. I gave him a pat on the head.
I smirked. "Still deadly. I think we're going to have a lot of fun, Vermisynth."
The two heads hissed in agreement,
"Let's hunt," I said, my grin sharp.
I wanted to see the effects that eating a copious amount of monster crystals would bring.
We left the area and casually strolled to another one.
"Let's see what you can do in combat," I whispered, my voice low.
No sooner had I spoken than a pack of Hellhounds emerged from the gloom, their glowing eyes fixated on us. Their maws opened, and waves of fire roared toward us.
"Vermisynth."
The right head hissed, releasing a burst of red mist that spread out like a living fog. The Hellhounds' flames fizzled the moment they touched the corrosive cloud, the monsters snarling in confusion.
Vermisynth uncoiled and leapt into action, its small form rapidly growing later.
The Hellhounds looked up in bewilderment.
The left head unleashed a concentrated jet of blue fire, cutting through the pack with surgical precision, their blackened bodies crumbling into ash.
"Maybe try to not destroy the monster crystal." I added.
It was a few minutes before we stumbled into the next monster.
A giant Minotaur lumbered into view, drawn by the commotion.
Its roar echoed through the cavern, shaking loose chunks of stone from the ceiling. Vermisynth simply opened its maw, its red mist seeping into the monster's thick hide.
I sighed.
"Yeah, see this isn't going to work if you just keep destroying all of the monster crystals." I flatly said.
I got two huffs of annoyance in reply.
This was going to take a while.
-Scene Break-
I walked into the adventurer's guild casually, catching the eye of a rose. Who greeted me with that cold stare of hers.
"Zephyrion." She nodded, her eyes widened slightly. "You are still alive."
"Naturally." I replied. "It's great to see you too, I've missed you."
She blinked. "Why would you miss me?"
I shrugged.
"Even after everything I've done?"
I tilted my head, yeah. She was a bit annoying but that came from a good place. I wasn't going to cry about it and it wasn't completely unwarranted. I was a new adventurer that probably looked completely over their head.
"Of course, you weren't doing it to be malicious, you were simply worried in your own way." I replied easily.
She actually gained a hint of a blush.
"We should take this talk somewhere else." She commented.
"How come?" I responded.
She deadpanned.
"Everyone is staring at us." She replied coldly.
Sure enough, they were. Most of them were guild workers who looked shocked that I was conversing with Rose so casually.
Right. I had a habit of ignoring people that weren't a threat to me.
We moved to a conference room.
I had the pleasure of passing the elven guild assistant that was paired with Bell, she glared at me as if I had shat on her baby kitten and I simply smiled back.
"So." Rose started. "I see your back in one piece."
"Yeah, mostly." I chuckled.
She raised an eyebrow, "I'm guessing you caused a lot of trouble wherever you disappeared too."
"Not willing." I replied.
She sent me a flat look.
"How is everything going since I've been gone?" I asked, diverting the subject.
"Strangely, my other adventurers are doing… well." She admitted, looking oddly vulnerable. "Which may be attributed to the fact you've changed my views on certain things."
"Good to hear." I replied without any trace of judgement.
She smiled slightly at that, before she gained a small frown. "The guild is on high alert though, recently we found a massive amount of destruction in lands relatively not too far away from here. It looks like a large-scale battle has taken place."
My face was perfectly blank. "Why would that be a concern? Don't battles probably happen often and by the sounds of it the destruction took place a distance away from Orario."
She looked pensive. "Well… yes. That's true. But the damage and how quickly it was achieved. Leads us to believe it was a group of very powerful adventurers. Perhaps levels fives or even six. Which makes it our business."
"Could it have been other beings outside of Orario?" I questioned curiously, I didn't know much about the world outside of Orario so this would be a good gauge. It would be weird if Orario was the only place with powered-humans.
"Naturally, but considering the distance it's most likely an adventurer. Which can't go unchecked. If it is an outside force we will need to look into them and potentially fine them." She explained.
I paused. "Why would you fine someone outside of Orario? I've seen plenty of adventurers abuse their status and the guild doesn't seem to care at all."
"The damage done, whether by adventurers or an outside force, was substantial and has caused that land to become a wasteland. Unable to regrow to the sheer destruction. Letting that go unpunished so close to our walls is a bad look and allowing any sort of powered being to do as they please never ends well." She said coldly, a hint of spite entering her blank tone.
Yeah, that seemed valid.
"Many times an adventurer has gotten in over their head and the guild has been forced to gently remind them that they aren't that important in the grand scheme of things." She said, a small smirk on her face.
It was sexy.
I admired her and she blinked at my silence. Before she noticed my eyes and glared.
I smiled. "Well, looks like whoever did that is in for a hefty fine."
"Indeed." She replied, unamused but with a minuscule blush that made me grin.
"As for you inquiring into a new property, I think I've gathered a few estates that fit the budget you are seeking." She continued.
"Ah, yes." I clapped my hands.
My budget.
This world's currency ran based on yen, one of the biggest differences that suggested this world was an alternate reality to the one I knew.
Besides what had come after my arrival anyway, since technically my presence was what made this place the alternate reality.
In terms of dollars, after a few sleepless nights of going to higher floors in the dungeon, My budget had come up to a quarter of a million dollars. The fact we were still living in the church was because most of us had survived the worst conditions and weren't that picky.
Being an adventurer was a very good paying job.
Most Familias on the more powerful side made a lot of money.
A decent house was in the 75,000 USD zone which was 3,750,099 Vali.
A good, large spacious house was 300,000 USD.
15,000,000 Vali.
A big number.
My price range was 12,000,000 Vali. Which was basically all of our funds.
I wanted a big house sooner rather than later in any case, I would be going back to the wizarding world in just over a week and now that I knew what to expect I would be taking some of them back with me to act as guards.
"I've selected three different housing options for you to consider," Rose began, holding a neatly folded scroll with the details. "Each has its pros and cons, but they're within your price range. Let me break them down for you."
She unfolded the scroll, pointing to the first listing.
"The first is a cozy two-story home in the northern district. It has two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a combined dining and living area. It's a bit older but still looks good. The space might feel a bit cramped if you're planning on a larger group, but it's the most affordable."
I nodded, inspecting the house and overlaying it with what I had in mind.
She moved her finger down to the second listing.
"The second option is near to the heart of Orario. three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a decent kitchen, you'll have to deal with some repairs. It's larger than the first for a cheaper price though."
That could be easily done. Wizarding magic was woefully overlooked.
Finally, she tapped on the last listing with a subtle smile.
"And this one? It's in a quieter part of the city, near the western gate. Six rooms, three bathrooms, a large dining area, and additional spaces you could repurpose however you like. It's pricier, but it's in excellent condition and could accommodate a Familia if that's your goal. It's got a gate surrounding the premise but again, for its price some repairs will be in order." She explained.
I grinned, rubbing my chin. "Six rooms and three bathrooms? That sounds like a palace compared to the first two. As for the repairs, that's not a worry. I am more than willing to fix it up."
I looked at the cost.
11,250,000 vali.
It was a hefty sum of money. I assumed it would be more expensive if not for the damages that the property probably had.
Rose nodded. "It is the best choice if you can afford it. The repairs were my only concern but if you are so sure that you can fix it up. Shall we go take a look?"
I grinned in response. "Lead the way,"
Rose nodded and started walking, the scroll tucked neatly under her arm as she led me through the winding streets of Orario.
It didn't take us long till we were at the house.
"Here it is," Rose announced flatly, stopping in front of a large gate.
It creaked slightly as she pushed it open, revealing a spacious property beyond. The house itself was a two-story structure that was protected by a gate spanning around the whole area.
I walked inside.
Rose followed and walked past me, unlocking the front door.
"The previous owners abandoned it after their Familia disbanded. That Familia owed a debt to the guild and thus we possessed it for damages," Rose informed me.
The door opened, revealing a wide foyer with high ceilings.
Despite the dust, the interior was nice. The polished wooden floors were scuffed by and obviously damaged. The walls showed signs of peeling paint along with cracks, and a few cobwebs in the corners.
"This is the main hall," Rose said, stepping aside as I entered. "It leads to the dining area over there and connects to a small study on the right. The kitchen is through that door, and the bedrooms are split between the first and second floors."
I stepped into the dining room and ran my fingers along the edge of the long wooden table left behind. It was scratched.
The space was large enough to easily host my Familia and future members.
I nodded in approval.
She led me through the kitchen next. It was serviceable, though the counters were chipped and some of the cabinets hung slightly askew.
Nothing a bit of wizarding magic couldn't fix.
"The real highlight is upstairs," Rose continued. She gestured toward the staircase, which creaked underfoot but felt solid.
The upper floor had four bedrooms, each with enough space for a bed, a small dresser and room to spare. The two bathrooms upstairs were surprisingly intact, with functioning plumbing that Rose demonstrated.
"It's rare to find something this well-constructed in this price range," she said. "Then again, the fact it's so damaged and the guild wants to get rid of it to recover most of the debt."
"The repairs are manageable." I commented. "I like it. The gate will be easy to fortify and add an extra bit of security too."
She sent me a side-eyed look, her sharp yellow eyes narrowing.
"Why would you need defences?" She questioned.
I shrugged. "Why not?"
She huffed. Turning around and leading me outside to the backyard without another word. It was overgrown with weeds, but the stone patio and small fountain at its center was a nice touch.
Rose shot me a look. "So, what's the verdict?"
I grinned. "It's perfect. I'll take it."
-Scene Break-
"I'm back." I called out, walking in to see Hestia alone.
Hestia sat alone on the worn couch, her frame illuminated by the soft glow of a nearby candle.
She blinked up at me, a mix of surprise and delight crossing her face.
"Hey, Zeph," she greeted me.
I walked closer, leaning against the back of the couch with an easy smile. "So, I've got some news."
Her brow furrowed slightly. "News?"
"We're moving," I said casually, watching her reaction closely. "I bought us a new place. A real house."
Her eyes widened instantly, the words clearly catching her off guard. "Wait, what? A house? Like, an actual house?"
"Yep. No more cramped church. It's big, cozy, and all ours," I replied.
Her lips parted as if to respond, but no words came.
Instead, her hands flew to her mouth, and tears began to well in her eyes. "We are moving…?"
"Of course," I replied easily. "I told you we weren't going to be staying here much longer, you deserve better."
She stood abruptly, throwing her arms around me, her face pressed against my chest. Her voice came out muffled. "I can't believe this… thank you, Zeph."
I placed a hand on her back, letting her have her moment. "It's no big deal," I said lightly, though I knew it meant the world to her.
Chapter: 26
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance. I'll keep posting regardless. If you have any suggestions you would like to see added, I will try to incorporate what I can :)
(Monsterphilia)
"So, what do you think?" I asked, turning to both Bell and Lili.
They both wore massive backpacks that carried most of our items and clothing from the abandoned church.
"Definitely an upgrade," Lili commented, looking over the large house. "Though it looks like some repairs will be needed, which won't be a problem with your magic." She summarised.
Bell looked excited. "It's amazing, Zephyrion."
The signs of wear and tear were evident with the chipped paint, cracked windows, and a few loose shutters.
Nothing a little magic couldn't handle.
"Though, it must have cost quite a bit. Even with its worn-down state." Lili muttered, shooting a small frown my way. "You know, I would be more than willing to pitch in."
Was she pouting?
I couldn't help but chuckle. "It's no big deal. I'll just push a little deeper on my next Dungeon Dive. Honestly, I don't even need any Vali."
"Still..." Lili murmured.
Beside her, Bell looked just as downcast.
"Seriously, don't worry about it," I said, waving it off.
They were too adorable for their own good.
"How about we head to the Monsterphilia festival to celebrate? We can check out some of the stalls around there." I suggested, breaking the tension with a grin.
"I'll pay!" Lili interjected immediately.
Bell let out a long sigh. "What am I meant to contribute…?"
I laughed.
"Seriously, don't worry about it." I reiterated.
I got a half-hearted agreement.
"Alright, let's get started," I said before they could continue, rolling up my sleeves.
They both nodded, picking up the massive backpacks they had temporarily sat on the floor.
Bell and Lili followed me through the gate. Only to momentarily pause at the sight of Vermisynth, who was lounging on the front lawn. They both jumped into action, Bell pulling out his dagger and Lili jumping back into a combative stance.
I sighed. I had told him to wait inside. Within one of the rooms. Luckily, he was in a place that made it hard to see him from outside the gate but regardless I sent him a flat stare.
As was obvious, I hadn't quite introduced Lili and Bell to him yet. I was glad he wasn't in his full-sized form or everyone in Orario would see him. No doubt an army of Adventurers would be sent my way.
Especially since he seemed to be one of the strange mutated versions.
"What the hell is that?!" Lili shouted in alarm, her body tense like a cornered cat.
I held up my hands, trying to keep the situation calm. "Relax, he's not going to hurt you."
"Zephyrion, what the hell?" Lili repeated, her eyes narrowing.
I came to stand beside him, much to the worry of my two other Familia members.
"He's harmless." I paused, maybe those weren't the right words.
Lili looked at the monster closer and stumbled back.
"Is that an Amphisbaena?!" She questioned.
Apparently, she recognised him.
"Yes, I've tamed him," I replied, a bright grin on my face.
"What?" Lili stared at me as if I'd gone insane.
I glanced at Bell, who still had his dagger raised. "Bell, trust me. Vermisynth isn't going to attack anyone unless I tell him to. Remember I was telling you about my… culture."
Meaning Devil society.
They both nodded slowly.
"You- you named It!" Lili asked, bewilderment obvious in her tone.
I ignored her comment.
"It's common to make strong monsters part of your Familia." I finished.
Bell hesitated but slowly lowered his dagger, his gaze flicking between me and Vermisynth. "If you say he's safe, then I believe you, Zephyrion."
I smiled and gestured toward the creature. "Come on, Bell. Pat him. He's friendly."
Bell took a tentative step forward, then another. When he finally reached Vermisynth, the monster let out a low rumble but didn't move.
Bell reached out, hesitated for a moment, and then placed his hand on one of Vermisynth's head.
"See? Nothing to worry about," I said as Bell gave the monster a tentative stroke.
Lili was still staring at me as if I was mad.
Sure, this wasn't normal but I thought they'd be used to it by now.
Bell was quickly tamed by Vermisynth who was oddly docile.
Lili, however, remained rooted to the spot, her eyes narrowed and suspicious. "Does Hestia know about this?"
"Not yet," I admitted, scratching the back of my head. "I only bonded with him today. I was going to introduce him to her when she gets here."
Lili's gaze remained sceptical, but after a moment, she let out a breath. "This… this doesn't make any sense. How did you even do this? No one just goes into the Dungeon and tames monsters, much less powerful monsters."
"As I said, it's just something I can do. Those magical contracts have a part of it.," I replied with a smirk.
She crossed her arms but took a cautious step closer, her curiosity starting to outweigh her fear. "It's... unheard of. How does it even work? Is he really going to obey you?"
"Completely. Vermisynth's part of the Familia now. He's loyal to me." I assured her.
Lili hesitated again before taking another step forward, her eyes fixed on Vermisynth.
"If he attacks anyone, I'll put him down," she muttered, but there was a spark of fascination in her tone.
"That's the spirit," I said, grinning.
Lili didn't respond, still staring at the creature as though trying to figure out how something like this was even possible.
"Let's head in shall we?" I called out, making them both turn to me.
We walked inside the actual house and both of their eyes immediately started scanning the interior. Bell with excitement and Lili with appraising eyes.
The main floor consisted of a spacious living room with an old, slightly sagging sofa, a kitchen with cabinets hanging slightly ajar, and a dining area that had seen better days.
The wooden floor creaked under our weight, but it felt solid.
"I like it," Bell said, his voice filled with excitement.
"Definitely a worthy upgrade for our Familia," Lili muttered, dropping her backpack onto the floor with a soft thud.
I smirked and pulled out my wand. "Start unpacking our items while I make this place livable."
They nodded, opening the large backpacks and beginning to unpack.
I pointed the wand at the cracked windows first. "Reparo."
The glass shimmered, the cracks vanishing instantly, leaving a pristine surface behind. I repeated the spell on each window, working my way through the house.
Bell and Lili got to work unpacking our belongings, organizing them into piles for the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms.
Meanwhile, I moved to the walls, repairing the chipped paint with a few precise incantations.
I could do this all silently but that reduced demonic usage for simply calling out the spell's name? It would be stupid not to.
"Reparo." The plaster patched itself seamlessly, the paint regaining its former colour.
Lili poked her head out from the kitchen. "This is better than what we had. The pantry even has space for food storage."
I gave her a thumbs-up before turning my attention to the loose floorboards in the hallway. With a wave of my wand, the boards settled into place, aligning perfectly with the rest of the floor.
"Zephyrion, the plumbing works!" Bell announced from upstairs, her voice echoing down the stairs. "I ran the taps, and there's no problem."
"Good to hear," I called back, moving to the creaky staircase.
Another quick flick of my wand silenced the offending steps.
By the time I reached the upper floor, the bedrooms were already being looked at by both Bell and Lili who were naturally excited.
Bell stood in one room, measuring the space with his arms as if imagining where his bed would go. Lili was in another room across the hall inspecting the decently sized bed with a small smile plastered on her face.
They were both equally glad and excited that they wouldn't need to sleep on the floor and couch anymore.
The upper floor had four bedrooms, two on either side of the hallway.
There were also two bathrooms, which, to my relief, were in surprisingly good condition.
"Are those your choices for rooms?"
They had both had the decency not to try to claim the master bedroom.
They both nodded.
"Ok then."
Lili had claimed one of the smaller rooms near the bathroom while Bell chose the other on the same side of the hallway. That left the master bedroom and the room next to it.
I moved into the master bedroom, noting its size and the tall windows that overlooked the street.
Just as I finished repairing a crack in the wall the door creaked open, and Hestia stepped in.
I knew it was Hesita… who was earlier than expected. She must have run into Vermisynth on the way here. I was going to greet her before she got here in what was meant to be twenty minutes but she had come early.
Oh dear. I quickly made my way down the stairs and was greeted by the incredibly gorgeous woman
She immediately stared at me. "Beloved, why is there a monster on our front lawn?"
Her voice was neutral.
"That's my new pet," I replied. "His name is Vermisynth."
"Pet?" She asked.
"Yes," I affirmed.
"Did you use your magical contract to bind a powerful monster in the dungeon to serve as your Familiar?" She questioned.
"Yes!" I affirmed excitedly.
See?
Why couldn't more people be like Hestia?
She giggled. "Ok then,"
She went to speak further but I hoisted her up and pressed her against the wall, immediately coming to kiss her soft pouty lips. Hestia immediately reciprocated passionately.
We pulled away only after a good while of making out and I stared into her clear-sapphire eyes. She stared back hungrily and her large breasts came out to press against my chest while she grinded her against me.
"You know, I never did give you that reward for coming back safely. We haven't had a chance with how awkward the abandoned church was… but now. I believe that's changed, thanks to you." She mumbled huskily into my ear.
I smirked, giving her another kiss before releasing her.
She smiled innocently as if nothing had happened.
Dating a literal Goddess came with its perks.
She looked around, a smile tugging at her lips.
"This is an incredible place, Zephyrion. You've outdone yourself." Her face turned a bit downcast. "Sorry, we had to begin in that abandoned church in the first place. I never expected to find someone like you in all honesty."
I raised an eyebrow. "You don't need to apologise, had you been in any other situation you may have never accepted me. Perhaps you would have had a different Familia and you wouldn't have needed me."
I hadn't minded living within the abandoned church, it was just hard to have sex in. When you slept with a gorgeous Goddess with an insanely curvy body who liked pressing into you all night.
That became a bit of a liability.
Her eyes narrowed as if the possibility annoyed her. "I'm sure you would have still become my lover."
"Not if you found someone else before that." I retorted.
"Hey! I've been alive for thousands of years and you're the first man I've loved." She retorted with a false pout.
"Yeah, and like a few years of that was in Danmachi." I chuckled.
"Zephyrion!" My crazy Goddess whined.
"Alright, relax. I'm just saying. I'm lucky, how many guys are actually dating a Goddess? Not including the many in Orario who are probably a part of some Harem." I replied easily.
She raised an eyebrow. "I think I'm the lucky one here, how many Goddesses' are dating a hot Devil Prince from another world and who can furthermore travel worlds."
I titled my head. "You know what? You have a point. I'm awesome."
We both laughed and she naturally came to snuggle into me, her head coming up to my chin.
I took a step back and gestured toward the stairs where the rooms were located. "If you want, you can have the master bedroom. I can take the one next to it."
Hestia paused before she laughed, a full-blown laugh.
"Oh, Zephyrion, you're sweet, but I think I'll take whatever room you're choosing." She stepped closer, a playful glint in her eye. "I don't plan on sleeping alone, much less now. Now we can have a safe place to store future outfits. The next room can be for your mistress."
Well. Okay then.
We walked upstairs and inspected the large master bedroom with its own toilet.
A waste considering neither me nor Hestia produced bodily waste.
Hestia beamed, spinning around to inspect the room further. "It's perfect."
With that settled, I moved back to finish fixing up the last of the house.
By the time evening fell, the house was clean, repaired, and ready to live in. Bell and Lili were setting up their rooms while Hestia helped me arrange some of the furniture in the living room.
We finally finished packing, all of us relaxing in the living room on the couch.
"So, shall we head out?" I questioned the others.
It was about mid-day as we had waited a night before packing.
"Head out?" Hestia questioned.
"Yes, we were planning to head out to the Monsterphilia festival to celebrate getting a new house," I informed her.
She frowned. "I see."
"Is there a problem with that?" I asked. "We don't have to go…"
"Ah! No, I am simply disappointed I can't go with you." She replied.
Both Bell and Lili looked confused.
"What? Why?" Bell questioned before I could.
She turned a bit bashful at that, "I have something to do."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, what I need to do is kind of important," Hestia responded.
If it's important…
"How about I come with you?" I offered.
She shook her head. "No, thank you. How about you go enjoy the Monsterphilia festival with Bell and Lili, I can try to catch up with you later."
I nodded reluctantly, wondering why Hestia was acting so weird.
She would tell me if it was a problem so I decided to let it go.
"Alright. Guess we'll head out now then." I said, walking up to Hestia and giving her an unashamed kiss in front of the others.
Lili blushed slightly while Bell covered his eyes.
We both laughed.
"I'll see you later," I told Hestia.
She nodded.
I nodded at Hestia one last time before heading out with Bell and Lili.
The midday sun hung high in the sky as we walked through the bustling streets of Orario. The Monsterphilia festival had naturally drawn a massive crowd.
Colourful banners fluttered in the breeze, stalls lined the streets, and the smell of roasted meat, sweets, and other delicacies filled the air. Laughter and excited chatter echoed all around us as adventurers and civilians alike enjoyed the festivities.
The Monsterphilia festival was quite popular. Wasn't the Ganesha Familia hosting it? My canon knowledge was iffy and honestly, I didn't even think Canon was a thing anymore, considering my presence.
"Look at all this food," Bell said, his wide eyes darting from one stall to another.
Sure enough, there were special foods on display from different locations outside of Orario. Exclusive to the Festival.
"Do you want anything?" Lili immediately asked from beside me.
"You do realise I still have Vali left over?" I asked.
"That wasn't my question." She huffed.
I laughed lightly, motioning for them to follow me. "Come on. Let's see what these stalls have to offer."
Our first stop was a skewer stand, where the vendor was grilling thick chunks of unknown meat over an open flame.
The sizzling sound and the savoury aroma were impossible to resist. I ordered a couple of the strange skewers, and Lili threw herself in front of me to pay.
She did feel indebted to me, didn't she?
"This is amazing!" Bell exclaimed, taking a bite of his skewer.
I nodded in agreement as I bit into mine.
The meat was juicy and perfectly seasoned. Even Lili couldn't hide her small smile as she ate.
We moved from stall to stall, sampling different foods and checking out trinkets and souvenirs.
One stall was selling small, enchanted trinkets and glowing stones, pocket mirrors that displayed reflections of landscapes, and tiny figurines that moved on their own. Ignoring the incredibly small strings I could barely make out controlling them.
It was relaxed, compared to the normal pace of our lives anyway. Perhaps this was needed, I had been in constant motion since becoming a Dark Lord in another world.
Which reminded me, there were only a few days left till I was due to return. I had learnt from all the magical books so I'd need to look into higher-levelled magic.
My mutated Power of Destruction had made my danger level go up massively but it cost a lot to use.
So I wanted to learn other magics alongside it.
As we wandered further into the festival, we came across a large stage where performers were putting on a show.
A group of tamers brought out a variety of monsters, each more dangerous than the last.
The crowd cheered with each new act. The monsters ever so often turned towards me as if they expected me to do something.
"Impressive," I muttered.
The next act was a group of beast tamers showing off their control over a particularly large troll. The creature roared, flexing its muscles as it smashed a boulder in half with its fists. The tamers kept it in check with a series of commands, and the crowd applauded loudly.
"Level two, maybe three," I guessed, assessing the troll's strength. "Not bad, but nothing special."
Lili and Bell seemed to disagree.
"I don't know if I'd be able to beat that." Bell chuckled nervously.
He was right on the verge of reaching Level Two, but only because I was being a hard-ass about it. I made sure he maxed out every single stat before taking that step.
No shortcuts for my lieutenant. He needed to be a lot more powerful if he would stand by my side. So would Lili but she was incredibly intelligent so I let her do her own thing.
When he levelled up, he'd be the strongest Level Two possible.
That was why moments like this were important. I pushed him hard in the dungeon, so he needed time to unwind. The performances carried on, holding the crowd's attention, and from the looks of it, Bell and Lili were enjoying themselves.
"I'm going to go get some more food, I'll be back," I called out over the general noise.
They both looked at me.
Lili frowned. "Now? Do you want me to come with you?"
I raised an eyebrow. "There's no need for that, I'll be back in a second."
"O-ok." She replied, blushing slightly.
Bell gave me a nod, his usual bright smile on his face as he watched the show with enthusiasm.
I left the area and sighed as the noise quietened down by multiple folds.
My sensitive ears didn't appreciate all the shouting, having a Devil physique came with its downsides.
I walked over to a particularly good food stall and purchased some meat sticks, casually chewing on them as I looked around through the various crowds of different races.
A familiar head of hair caught my attention, and I was greeted by the pretty sight of Riveria's cold visage. Which turned slightly less stony as her eyes caught sight of me.
She was with others, one I could identify as Ais, another elf in her Familia, and the two Amazonian sisters, Tiona and Tione. I think that was their name. I smiled, it wasn't often I found a group that could beat me in combat.
Her group passed me and she stopped to speak to me.
"Zephyrion," she greeted, her voice calm and measured.
"Riveria," I replied smoothly, stepping closer without hesitation.
The other stopped in surprise and I saw Ais' eyes narrow. She remembered me.
Before I could say anything else, Tiona smirked, elbowing Tione. "Hey, look at that! A man made our Ice Queen's melt."
Tione snickered. "I was starting to think she didn't know how to smile."
Riveria shot them both a stern-unamused look, but it didn't stop them from grinning in response.
"Hello, you must be the rest of Riveria's Familia. I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you." I greeted them smoothly.
I idly noted the way some nearby Elves shot me hard looks.
"Oh, the pleasure is all ours," Tione smirked, leaning in a way that exposed her smooth tanned stomach.
"Riveria didn't tell us your name," Tiona spoke, much more reserved than her sister. A polite smile on her face.
"Zephyrion Gremory," I replied easily.
I could see Riveria's eyes squint in displeasure. A small movement you had to be looking out for to notice.
"Zephyrion huh?" Tione hummed. "What Familia are you a part of?"
The other Elf next to Riveria looked baffled and shied away from my curious glance towards her.
"I'm the captain of the Hestia Familia," I announced proudly.
"The Hestia Familia?" Tiona questioned.
"Yes, it's a rather new Familia so you won't have heard of it. That'll be changing soon." I replied.
"What level are you?" Tione interjected. "You look strong."
"That's enough." Riveria's cold voice calmly cut through the conversation.
I chuckled. "Well, since you're already in such a great mood, want to hang out?" I asked, completely unashamed.
Ais tilted her head curiously, while the other elf kept quiet, observing.
Riveria sighed, but before she could refuse, Tiona threw an arm around her shoulders. "Oh, she totally does!"
"Yep, she'd love to!" Tione added, grabbing Riveria's arm and all but pushing her toward me.
Riveria gave them a long, unamused look. "I never agreed to-"
"Too late!" Tiona laughed, waving her off.
And just like that, the two of us were left standing alone.
"I apologise for them." Riveria started uncertainty, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
I smiled easily. "No need to apologise."
Riveria crossed her arms. "I suppose I should make good of the time I have away from them."
I raised an eyebrow as she began walking, sending a subtle glance back at me. Rolling my eyes, I followed along. I had a feeling that was just an excuse.
We began walking, drawing many eyes from bystanders.
Both good and bad. Only the male Elves took to glaring at me, while everyone else was more interested than anything else.
She was silent for a moment. "I have to ask, why are you so interested in me?"
I sent her a questioning look.
"I mean, I'm just curious as to why you keep insisting on spending time with me. What is your objective?" She elaborated.
I thought about it.
"Is it because of my position?" She asked, hiding the slight disappointment in her tone very well.
"Why are you interested in me?" I answered back.
"What?" She questioned.
"You wouldn't have entertained me this long if I bored you," I concluded. "So I could ask them the same thing."
She thought about it.
"I suppose it's because you're different. I originally came to help an adventurer out but I've become interested In both magic and just in general. I… li- it interests me." She worded her statement carefully.
"Fair enough." I responded with a smile.
She sent me an expectant look.
"I just like you in general. I find you interesting and the fact you came to help me out was nice. That's all really." I shrugged, most things I did were whimsical for better or worse. "It doesn't hurt that you're extremely attractive but even if you weren't nothing would change." I teased at the end.
She was stony-faced at my attempt and I merely laughed in response. I felt a prickling sensation at the back of my neck. My instincts flared, and I casually glanced around, scanning the crowd.
Someone was watching me.
Standing out even among the sea of festival-goers. I couldn't pinpoint who it was, but the feeling didn't go away.
-{Riveria Ljos}-
Riveria kept her face cold, even as her insides tingled. She hadn't expected such words to make her feel so strange.
A simple attempt at teasing, she deduced and she didn't know how to feel as a small wave of disappointment was felt at that prospect. This made her distracted, only glimpsing at Zephyrion from the corner of her eyes to notice him scanning the crowd in a relaxed manner.
Then, without warning, a loud roar echoed through the air.
Riveria only broke from her momentarily distraction too late, a maw was opened and ready to snap down on her. It didn't matter, as a powerful Adventurer even with her distraction that had allowed it to get so close, a spell was prepared.
She identified it, her eyes only slightly widened at its sudden appearance.
It was a chimera, but it had been heavily altered. Its body was larger and more muscular than any chimera I'd ever encountered, and its eyes burned with a wild, uncontrollable rage.
Just as she was about to jump back and release a spell, she was pulled away from the monster and in the arms of Zephyrion.
She blinked.
-{Zephyrion Gremory}-
I probably shouldn't have let myself get distracted in the search for who was watching me, the powerful monster had been able to get that far simply because of that.
In fairness, I hadn't been expecting a monster to attack me. It was a good thing my guard had been up regardless.
The athletic body of Riveria was pulled against me as I jumped back, waving my hands sparks of pure destruction came to life before I paused. This wasn't something I should be showing.
The guild would learn that I was the one who caused so much destruction close to Orario.
No matter.
A bolt of red light formed wordlessly, firing at the beast and creating a massive explosion on contact.
A wordless Confringo.
The beast was blasted back.
One of the guards near the cage answered, his face pale. "It's been filled with monster stones!" He didn't finish his sentence, but the look on his face said it all.
The chimera let out another deafening roar. The smoke cleared and revealed the blast had only charred a part of its skin. The guards surged forward and tried to secure it, but it was too late.
Panic erupted as the crowd scattered in every direction. The chimera wasted no time, tearing through the festival grounds with terrifying speed and strength.
Its claws slashed through stalls like they were made of paper, and its tail whipped around, sending debris flying everywhere.
I realised I was still holding Riveria who was blankly staring at me, I released her from my arms and yet she didn't move back. Her head turned to the side and her hand moved up.
The many guards who had gone to subdue the beast had been blown back, all of them with heavy wounds that could be life-threatening. By now most people had the sense to completely vacate the area.
My eyes locked onto Riveria. She was performing a spell. Riveria's chant flowed smoothly despite the chaos. Magic circles formed around her, glowing with a cold blue light.
Wintry cold, become my blade. My Frozen Spear."
A massive spear of ice formed and shot toward the Chimera, piercing one of its legs and freezing it solid. The beast let out a guttural snarl, thrashing as frost spread up its limb, locking it in place.
I grinned. Perfect.
I extended my hand, wind gathering in my palm as I shaped it into a razor-sharp blade. The slicing wind slammed into the frozen limb, shattering it into shards of ice and severed flesh.
The Chimera roared, stumbling as it tried to balance itself with only three legs.
Riveria turned her head slightly, her sharp emerald eyes locking onto mine. Her pink lips parted for a moment and a faint pink dusted her cheeks, but she refocused quickly, already chanting her next spell.
"O' golden radiance, smite my enemy. Luminous Wind."
Golden streaks of light shot forward, slashing into the Chimera, tearing deep cuts into its hide.
I followed up immediately, twisting my hand to summon swirling flames.
A lance of pure fire shot through the air, merging with her golden streaks and slamming into the Chimera's wounds. The flames ignited, spreading through its body like wildfire.
The beast let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing, its massive frame hitting the ground with a dull thud. The demonic fire quickly consumed its corpse, leaving nothing but a scorched carcass behind.
Silence followed.
Yeah.
It was powerful. It was unfortunate two powerful Adventurers just so happened to be in its vicinity. That beast could have run rampant without our presence. Until nearby powerful adventurers came to save the day anyway.
At an estimate, despite our ease. That creature was high-level five material.
This wasn't a coincidence. Perhaps it was fed magic stones?
Someone had been watching me and then we just so happened to be attacked. Annoying.
That was the first active move. I'd have to respond.
Riveria stared at me, her expression unreadable, but her cheeks were still tinged pink. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something.
She stepped back, turning into a blur as she jumped on a rooftop. Stumbling slightly as she easily jumped away.
I blinked once more.
What was up with her? I suppose it didn't matter. It's a shame our time got interrupted. I'd better go find Bell and Lili quickly. Someone was out for our blood.
-{Freya}-
She chewed her nails.
That wasn't how it was meant to go!
Why was he with that Elf? Riveria was her name if she remembered correctly. Annoying.
That moment had been intimate.
She had inadvertently set up an intimate moment for them.
This had been met to gauge his abilities. She needed to plan his growth of course. Not after she found a way to get him to leave that hussy Goddess for her.
Interestingly, She felt jealous.
Jealous of that closeness.
That wasn't something she had thought would happen. It was his soul that made her want him.
Her eyes narrowed.
She'd have to think more about that.
It was this realisation that made her stay up all night. Planning to make Zephyrion someone worthy of standing by her side. Her plans were originally slow and well-placed but now… the jealousy that burnt in her made Freya speed things up.
-END-