I once again woke up with the Hearth Goddess by my side. She held me tightly and I held her back as well. Her body heat sent me a soft sensa
I once again woke up with the Hearth Goddess by my side. She held me tightly and I held her back as well. Her body heat sent me a soft sensation that helped me relax . . . but the day waits for no one! I was fully rested so it was time to get started.
However today I wouldn't awaken the sleeping Sun from her rest, instead I lightly pushed some of the hair out of her mouth as it seemed that some had somehow gotten in. She really is cute like this.
I also promised her that I'd say where I was going, so its looks like I was going to have to wake her up anyways. I lightly shook her and she clung to my body as I moved her back and forth.
"Hesta, Hestia wake up." I whispered the words to her and she stirred awake and gave me a tired smile. "Hestia, I'm heading out to buy potions." She nodded slowly. "Then I'm going back into the Dungeon." She was instantly awake at the word.
"Are you sure you'll be alright? Shouldn't you get more rest before you go?" I rolled my neck lightly at her questions.
"I'll be alright, and resting beside you fully recharges me. There's no need to worry about that." She blushed and I smiled at her before climbing up the ladder and walking outside of the church. She was close behind and pouted out a response.
"At least let me see you off . . ." I turned around in the mostly dark city and gave her a thumbs up.
"I swear that I shall return to you Goddess Hestia!" She looked stunned for a brief moment before turning serious.
"You better!" I struck a pose and held my Best Friend Sword high to the sky! This isn't a 'goodbye', it's a 'see you later!'
"I shall return to you, I swear it to you Hestia!" She nodded with a sigh, and leaned against the church door frame as I ran off towards the potion shop with a total of 10,000 Valis in a pouch. I'd intended to spend it all on potions so I could push my limits!
If I could break my limits then maybe I could make Rose and Hestia worry about me less! The power up would also be pretty cool too! I wonder if mana potions exist? Might need to grab some of those as well.
I'd gone for a light jog through Orario for about an hour before deciding to head into the potion shop. I'd worked up a sweat but I could already feel the difference from before. While it wasn't astronomical the change in my status was visible.
"Good morning! I got recommended to this place by a valued companion of mine!" A woman behind the counter with dog ears atop her head perked up at that. She had a long sleeve shirt on her body with a stylish leather glove on her right hand.
https://i.postimg.cc/WzwD8GsN/Naaza-1.webp
"Good morning to you, customer." Her voice was sleepy, but I could see the merchant's eyes upon her face. This woman was certainly a shrewd merchant. I could feel it in my gut!
"I'm new to potions in general, but I'd like some potions to regenerate health and magic if possible." Her expression was flat for a moment and she gave me a sigh as though it couldn't be helped.
"How many Valis are you working with?" I gave a shrug.
"10,000 Valis right now. Can I get one of each potion with that much?" She gave a small shrug as she seemed to mull it over.
"You can only get one low grade potion for that amount, honestly I'm giving you a discount because someone recommended you. Next time come back with more." Ah! She's so compassionate! Truly a kindred spirit! Honestly I feel like her and Rose would get along well. Or maybe they'd try to kill each other, I'm not sure.
"Well I'll take it then! One low grade potion for me!" Her ear twitched as she pulled a vial of dark blue liquid off of the wall.
"Don't be so loud." I awkwardly rubbed the back of my head. It is quite early.
"Sorry about that, I was just happy that you're being so nice to me." She gave a measured nod after a brief pause. "I'll definitely come back here next time. Thank you." She let out a small hum as we made the exchange.
This wasn't a lot, but I could definitely work with this. As I eyed the potion her eyes seemed to narrow before she froze. An older man's voice echoed out behind me and he put a hand on my shoulder.
"Greetings there my young friend. I think this is your first time coming here right?" I gave a nod and the dog girl slowly put a hand over her face as the large man grabbed two bright blue vials on the top of the shelf and leaned down slightly to hand them to me. My eyes widened at the gesture.
"My name is Miach, and consider this a free sample for a first time customer." Tears welled in my eyes. This potion was clearly better than the previous one, and while I didn't know how expensive it was, the answer was probably a giant number!
"I'm Andrew Ariti! Thank you, I'll make sure to pay you back for this!" He waved a hand casually.
"There's no need, just treat it as an investment in a new friend." This man . . . he truly was one of my people! He walked to the back room for a moment and the dog girl turned to me with an angry look and a pointed glare.
"Don't take advantage of Lord Miach's kindness." My eyes widened and for a moment I was filled with sadness. It wasn't like that at all . . . was it? I looked at the potions in my hand before sighing. I didn't know the situation this shop was in, and considering how the boss just handed out high ranking potions like that was either really good or really bad.
I nodded, and set the potions on the desk in front of her and flashed a smirk.
"I'll be back when I can afford these, and trust me, I'll be back." She looked stumped for a moment before her eyes widened. I gave the woman a wave goodbye over my shoulder as I left the shop before the nice man could come back.
"I'm Andrew, I'll see you later!" She was like a goldfish at my actions and I couldn't help but smile as I closed the door. However I just barely caught her words as I stepped outside.
". . . I'm Naaza." The soft sound of the door clicked shut as her words hung in the air.
I am thou, thou art I. Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the Wings of Hope that break the chains of thy Fate.
With the Birth of the Hermit Arcana, You have obtained the winds of blessings that shall lead to freedom and new power. . .
Rank 1: Precise Potioncraft - The positive benefits of potions are increased on you.
Looks like my kindness has been repaid with better potions! Thank you Naaza! However I have to get away before Miach realizes I didn't take his gift. If he's anything like me he'll be heartbroken! Forgive me my dear fellow, but this is the way it must be!
I ran on over to the Dungeon with all my gear accounted for. The Best Friend Sword, the small knife at my hip, the potion upon the other, and one of my twin whetstones was also tucked into my belt. I'd left the rest of our funds at the church so I had lots of room for today!
Though honestly I enjoyed going dungeon diving, I really just wish I could get more of a challenge. I think I'll just go down to the second floor though, I wouldn't want to give Rose a heart attack.
I'd gone back to the same path where my first delve had begun, this large tunnel that twisted into many others and had a light monster presence. I slung my blade over my shoulder as I moved through a random pathway. I'd been walking for about ten minutes and killed a few goblins that spawned, but nothing much else had happened until I ran into a group of three.
They eyed me warily and one of them looked over my shoulder before smiling at the lack of anything. I gave them a small wave as I started to approach.
"How's the delve going?" The man with a casual grin gave a light shrug as another man moved past me to pick up a magic stone he seemed to drop by accident.
"It's going wonderfully, and I think its about to get so much better." The man's eyes gleaned down to the potion at my hip and my instincts blared at me causing me to jump off the ground and onto the wall before kicking off it in a side flip to avoid the sudden stabbing motion of a knife from the man who'd 'dropped' a magic stone.
My eyes narrowed as the man scoffed and drew his weapon.
"Fuck! I thought you said this kid was a new adventurer?" I aimed a hand at the man who'd tried to stab me. I hadn't found anything to test this on before, I wasn't using my first casting of magic on a damn goblin after all!
But using it against nefarious adventurers who sought my loot and my life? That was fine!
"Agi." As expected an orb of flame burst from my hand and collided with the shocked man. Then it exploded and sent him smashing into a nearby wall. I landed on the ground and aimed my sword at the other two adventurers with a pointed glare. Their friend had some nasty burns on his face, and was bleeding but he'd probably live if they got him medical attention.
"Don't make me kill you." I really didn't want to kill them, but if they didn't acquiesce my response I'd have no choice but to kill them. It was either that or let the dungeon get them, and I'd rather kill them myself than try and shift blame to the Dungeon.
To kill is to accept all the responsibility that comes with it. The grinning man's face warped in anger but his nervous friend put a hand on his shoulder before whispering something in his ear that I'd caught despite my heart slamming in my chest.
"That was a one word chant." The man paled at that and the Kobolds started to break out of the wall only made his expression worsen more. A Kobold raised a claw towards their downed ally, but I stabbed it through the brain and picked up the man before tossing him to them.
"Go . . . and try to live a more honest life from now on." They fled without another word while I prepared to fight off the squad of nine- eight Kobolds, as I decapitated another with my blade. My heart pounded in my chest as a smile bloomed on my face.
As much as those guys were assholes I didn't hope they died. They were probably just desperate and needed someone to tell them to turn things around! If they came back for revenge though I wasn't sure what I'd do. I let out a breath as I cleaved through two more Kobolds as one jumped at my back. I grabbed its wrist and flipped it forwards onto the ground and into a bunch of other Kobolds before jumping back and flicking my wrist forwards while chanting the word that could manifest my inner flames.
"Agi!"
There was an explosion that wrecked throughout the tunnel and covered the cavern in scorn marks that faded after a moment. I approached the pile of dead monsters and snagged the two Kobold nails and ten magic stones in the surrounding area. Nice!
Then a thought occurred and I let out a small sigh. I ran back through the tunnel and when the two fellows carrying their injured friend saw me they paled and tried to run before I waved a hand in the air.
"I have a gift for you!" That only seemed to speed up their scrambling before the nervous one drew a spear out and pointed it at me with a determined expression causing me to halt. The previously smiling man looked at the spear holder with shock as he spoke.
"Take Terry out of here, I'll hold him off as long as I can!"
"You stupid bastard!"
Such intense bonds! I tossed the two Kobold nails at their feet before turning around with a light wave. They clearly needed it more than I did. They stared at me in shock before the leader muttered something after snagging them.
". . . we won't forget this." The scampered off after that, and I'd gotten a better look at the guy I'd burned and let out a sigh of relief. Looks like most of the burns were on his chest armor. He'd get a burn scar on the right end of his jaw, but he'd be fine.
I walked away with the good deed in my wake, did they deserve it? Probably not. But I didn't really care. I'd given them a chance to make things right, what they'd do from then was up to them.
Thus was the life of a Shounen Protagonist.
I stared off at the Dungeon with a happy smile as the group didn't go for a sneak attack on me, instead I pointed my sword down the Dungeon hall and smiled.
"It's time to tackle Floor Two!"