Izuku woke up so early in the morning that the sun had barely risen, only to see Rumi standing over him, a cup of water in her hand.
With a yell, he jolted upright, backing away from her. "Please don't splash that on me."
Rumi shrugged, downing the cup in one go. "Eh, you're awake, so I don't have to. Now get a move on. We got an hour before the final call for the defenders happens and you still gotta eat."
Izuku pushed himself to his feet, already in his pants and shirt, and quickly started strapping on his bracers, as well as the cloth drape around his waist and the belt that held everything in place.
He put his [Ratmaster Pendant] on and wrote a small note containing his order for breakfast as he shoved his foot into his boot. He passed the note and a pair of silver coins to Sir Ratsudon, and the spirit rat bolted down the stairs.
He had to fiddle with metal shin-guards/boot things that Mei had made for him, still not used to putting them on just yet. He heard loud a voice coming from down the stairs and chuckled. That was probably the Innkeeper getting his note from Sir Ratsudon.
His gear clicked into place, and he grinned, hopping to his feet. Pulling on the [Mantle of the Duke] and his [Ratleather Cloak], he turned to see Rumi waiting for him next to the door. "You good to go?"
Izuku nodded, and Rumi grinned. "Alright then, let's eat, and then get down to the gates so Shield knows that we're ready."
She turned and left the room, and Izuku ran out after her, following closely behind. Izuku smiled as Sir Ratsudon appeared next to his feet, holding a couple of copper coins, probably his change from paying for breakfast.
The plain but filling breakfast he had ordered was devoured quickly, and having food in his stomach helped calm the butterflies he was feeling. It was weird to see that he and Rumi were basically the only people other than the Innkeeper inside the Sleeping Boar.
Izuku thought that he just might not have been willing to go to The Dungeon Hall, where anyone not part of the defence forces was staying but was proven wrong when the Innkeeper left at the same time they did.
But while he turned right to head towards the Dungeon Hall, the designated 'safehouse' for Mustafu, Izuku and Rumi turned left, headed towards the front gates. Izuku felt his stomach twist slightly as they got closer and closer.
"You good?"
Izuku almost jumped into the air as Rumi spoke. Turning to her, he nodded. "Oh, yea. I'm totally fine. I'm just… nervous, that's all."
Rumi sniffed, wiggling her nose slightly as she twisted her torso, stretching out her spine. "That's a good thing. Two [Incursion]s back to back… this is gonna be dangerous, especially if they decide to overlap."
Izuku gulped. "That's uh, thanks?"
Rumi chuckled. "I wasn't finished. The reason being nervous is a good thing is because its means you've got a fucking brain in your head. You should be nervous. You're under levelled for this, and under-geared. Not being nervous would just mean that you're a cocky jackass."
Glancing over at him, Rumi grinned. "And let me tell you, kid, it's the people that are too cocky for their level that end up monster food. That grumbling in your gut that tells you to be scared will keep you alive, as long as you don't let it control you."
Izuku chuckled, smiling. "Thank you, Miss Rumi. I will keep your wisdom in mind!"
Rumi blew a raspberry, waving him off. "Eh, don't worry about that. It's not my wisdom, to begin with, just some shit I picked up along the way. But hey, if you got the balls to Dungeon solo, and still feel nervous about stuff, then I think you'll be just fine, Izuku."
Turning and continuing towards the Front Gate, she started almost hopping forward. "Now c'mon! We cannot be late for something like this! My pay is on the line!"
They arrived at the Front Gate to see it bustling with activity.
Guards and Soldiers ran back and forth, carrying weaponry and tools and other various items. Izuku even spotted a higher levelled guard carrying a cart of magical items around and distributing them between some of the defenders that were clearly magic casters.
He could even see Sir Shield on top of the town's walls, but he was much too far away to wave or say hi, especially since the man's back was turned to him.
"Izuku! Miss Usagiyama! You've arrived, excellent."
Izuku grinned as Kurimuzon jogged up to them. Rumi smirked, crossing her arms. "I'm surprised that you're so happy to see me, Stones-for-Brains. Finally accepted how cool I am?"
Kurimuzon scoffed. "Like hell, you're just a juiced-up bunny! I could rock your shit with my eyes closed!"
Izuku furrowed his brow at that, letting out a small hiss accidentally. Kurimuzon glared at him, and for a second Izuku was almost convinced that he was serious. "Argh! Betrayal! After everything I've done for you!"
Rumi laughed, almost doubling over. "I kicked him around the yard a couple of times to see if he was any good, so he knew that I could do the same to you! Now, why are you here, old fart?"
Kurimuzon turned his glare towards Rumi, who just raised her chin at him, smiling smugly. Shaking his head, he grunted. "Whatever. Commander… uh, damn. Commander Abraham wanted to see you when you arrived."
Rumi stomped on the ground. "Fuck. Thought that old shitbag had died already. C'mon, Izuku, I don't wanna deal with this guy longer than I have to, so let's go get this over with."
She jogged away, leaving Izuku standing there, shocked. As he did, he yelped in surprise as Kurimuzon slapped him on the back. "Go on then, you don't wanna deal with her when she's pissed I can tell you that!"
"Ah!"
Grabbing onto the pommel of [Steelbringer], he ran after her, the [Mantle of the Duke] flowing behind him as the morning air blew in his face.
"Miss Usagiyama and Mister Midoriya, it is a… pleasure to have you."
Izuku bowed slightly as the portly old man addressed him and Rumi, noticing that she very intently did not. She actually even wrinkled her nose at him. "Cut the shit, Samuel. Tell us where we need to go, then go fuck yourself."
Izuku winced at the way Rumi spoke to Commander Abraham, raising his head and taking a half step back. Commander Abraham didn't seem surprised, though, a sneer growing on his face.
"My word, how Master Shield can make deals with such an insolent bitch is beyond me."
BANG!
Izuku jumped as Rumi slammed her hand down on his desk, rattling everything on it, and leaned in really close to Commander Abraham. "Call me that one more time and your head will be so far up your ass they'll have to call Emperor Yagi to rip it out."
The sneer vanished from Commander Abraham's face, replaced by a cold glare. But even under that, Izuku could tell that he was more than a little scared by the threat. Whispering under his breath, Izuku [Identify]'d him.
"Identify"
Commander Samuel Abraham
Level 29
Class: [Dark Magician], [Sorcerer]
Traits: [Level-headed], [Tactician], [Curious], [Dark-Touched]
Current Force: [Mustafu Inner Guard]
Izuku's eyes almost bugged out of his head. This guy was as old as some of the grandparents in his old village! And he was only Level 29, and a full Spellcaster?! Why the hell was he talking shit to Rumi? She could quite literally tear him in half if she wanted!
As Izuku was flipping out about that mentally, Commander Abraham composed himself. "Moving on. You two were 'added' to our ranks on the order of Master Shield himself after we had already gathered up all of the members."
He sat up a bit straighter as he looked at Izuku, smirking. "Therefore I have labelled you 'extras' to our force. Your job will be to mop up anything that sneaks or breaks its way through all the way to the Dungeon Hall, as well as backing up all the other teams as needed. But because of your status as 'extras', neither of you will be gaining any of the more tangible benefits of my leadership."
Rumi clicked her tongue, her foot-stomping the ground softly. "Like we'll fucking need it. Are we done here?"
Commander Abraham let out an annoyed huff as he stood up, sliding over two small metal spheres. They were made of what looked like silver and gold wrapping around each other, and they shined slightly, even on the bits that didn't have light hitting them.
"While I don't think you deserve the honour, Master Shield has requested that the both of you have these low-tier [Message Beads]. By placing your finger on it and thinking a message, you will be able to speak with one another, as well as Master Shield if you need assistance, or if he calls for yours."
Rumi picked both of the [Message Beads] and chucked one over to Izuku. Glancing over at Commander Abraham, she raised her eyebrow. The man grunted. "You can leave now, the [Incursion] should be beginning shortly."
Rumi nodded and darted out of the tent, and Izuku gave a small bow before following her out. She hadn't even waited for him this time, and it took all of his speed without using [Lunge] to catch up to her.
Even then he only caught up to her as she landed in the area out front of the Dungeon Hall, practically growling to herself. He stopped a few meters away as Rumi stomped on the cobblestone ground around a fountain, sending dust flying around her.
"Rumi! What was that?!"
She glanced over at him, a disgusted frown on her face. "That, was 'Commander Samuel Abraham', the worst fucking person in Mustafu. That motherfucker put a bounty of 5000 Gold on my head once."
Izuku almost fell over at that. Not only was that a shocking revelation, but it was also… "So much money?!"
Rumi rolled her shoulders, her ears pointed to the sky, stiff as a bone. "Yea it was quite a fucking bit of cash. The fucker put a literal kill order on my head, skipping the proper channels even, all because he thought I was the one that ruined one of the merchant transports he hired. Guess what, it wasn't fucking me."
Izuku just froze at that, unable to think of anything to say in response. Rumi growled again, kicking the ground as she shook her head. "Guh, why the fuck am I telling you? You got some truth-giving ability your hiding from me there?"
Izuku shook his head rapidly. Rumi's angry face faltered just slightly. "No, it's just you fucking [Heroic]'s, isn't it. Keigo even fucking told me that you guys brought shit like this out of people. Well, was he right? You wanna try and unlock my tragic backstory, have a go at playing therapist?"
Izuku took a step back, his hands going up. "No! Of course not, I would never forcibly pry into something like that! But, uh… well, I mean..."
He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "A-after we finish here, and the town is safe, you can always uh, talk to me, y'know? I seem to be getting really lucky with making friends these days, and nothing would ever stop me from helping my friends with anything they need."
Rumi just stared at him, her angry expression switching completely to a confused one. "I was… I was making a joke… wow. You're a fucking dork."
Izuku winced slightly before he noticed the smirk on Rumi's face. She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Actually fucking hilarious."
He was about to respond when clouds above their heads started to darken, the ground below him becoming slick and muddy. In an instant, the sky went grey, and Izuku felt a surge of Mana coming from outside of the town.
He might have only been able to actually sense the [Earth] Mana, but he could still feel the pressure in the air from all of the other types that were rupturing from the [Mana Spring] alongside it.
Rumi smirked beside him, reaching down to her belt and grabbing odd-looking fist weapons with what looked like giant teeth sticking out of the top. She turned to him, her grin only growing wider. "A little earlier than I was expecting, but we'll be fine! You ready, Izuku?"
Izuku drew [Steelbringer] and his [Ratbone Dagger], getting into a ready pose as he nodded, smiling at her. "I am!"
Smiling, Rumi jumped up onto the roof of the Dungeon Hall with ease, overlooking the square. Cupping her hands to her mouth, she yelled down. "Alright then, here we go!"
"The [Water Incursion] has started!"
If you're a fan of Dungeons and Dekus (and if you're this far in I'd hope you would be!) and you want something similar with a bit of a darker tone, my friend Jade_Kitsune has posted a story called Unwelcome and Undeterred, which was inspired by this fic!
I highly suggest you go give it a try! Jade is a wonderful writer and an even better person!
(The fic is an Ao3 only fic, btw!)