"What?" Amitie cried out. "But you're supposed to take me to explore a dungeon today."

"Look, Amitie I'm sorry." Arle apologized. "I have to deliver everything today… And frankly, I could use the Credits… I'm growing out my armour, and this world is lacking in Blacksmiths who know exactly what I want, and they're not cheap."

"But you said dungeons are full of treasure."
"Not where we're going. And even if can go, who else will deliver?" Arle shrugged. "Next time?"
"Is it okay if I ask Sil? I'm itching for adventure."

"…Amitie. Are you sure you can trust her?"

"Duh, she's my sister. She stopped being mean to me ages ago."

Arle's lips wrinkled. "I hope you're right… I'll try to trust Silvana in keeping you safe in the tower's dungeons."

"She will." Amitie said in full confidence with a smile. "Stop worrying about Sil, Arle. It's not your fault she hates you. She's pretty cool with everyone else."

(What does that say about me?) Arle mumbled covering her mouth and chin.

"You okay, Arle?" The younger mage tilted her head.

Arle brushed it off. "I'm okay." She said in such a way that she barely fooled Amitie with. "I'd better continue. Let's plan our dungeon day some other time."

"Can I have your old chest plates?"

*Later, at the Circus rehearsal*

"WHAT!? Okay, that's it." Pierrot grabbed Amitie by the wrist. "Donny! You're in charge! I'm taking Ammy on a dungeon crawling adventure."

*Go Home*

"Sis, you don't have to do it right now."

"Yes I do, Ammy! Pierrot shredded the costume. Packing in the things they need. "No monster breaks a promise to my sister without having things set right!"

Amitie figured Sil only said that because Arle is Arle, with the sister bit being genuine, of course. She decided it's best to not push her. She's getting her dungeon trip anyway.

Chapter 52: No Loot

"I've climbed the stairs a lot."
"Yikes. How often did you accidentally fall off the tower?"
"Eh, I lost count after ten."
"…I fell five times myself…" Silvana admitted.

The girls came prepared. They just need to needed to find the right door to the right challenge.

"Endless Puyo, Endless Tsu, Endless Fever… …10-floor dungeon 50-floor dungeon. 100-floor dungeon."

"That door is always boarded off. Is it that dangerous?"

"Actually, it is, Ammy." Sil pulled her away from the door. "That door is for the most hard-boiled of adventurers. Like the rest, it reads your mind and tailors the toughest stuff your subconscious can provide."

"Neat! I wanna try it!" Amitie attempted to unboard the door before Sil slapped her wrist. "Ouchies!"

"No, Ammy! Don't!"
"Why, not? I'll be safe with you."
"That's not the point, missy. Gramps told me something vital about that door."

Once upon a time, I don't know when possibly long before your parents were born, a demon approached to attack Primp.

"Oh no."

Oh, yes. Of course, Gramps was there to stave him off. But the problem the demon possessing a suit of armour was a similar kinda demon to Akuma. Poltergeists of some kind. What's more, he was Akuma's intellectual equal.

'Sounds just like my comics.'

The wanna-be conquerer intruder caught on quick to Akuma's tricks. However, Gramps offered him a deal. And the demon wasn't unreasonable, he just wanted to rule something. Akuma showed him the 100-floor dungeon. With everything except for the stairs, it's purely for recreational use. Akuma bargained with the mayor then, and the demon was able to enjoy ruling over his own 100-floor kingdom. And Primp was saved.

"Oh, that's it! Akuma is my grandpa too now! I wanna be as smart as him! I'll make him proud!"

Silvana laughed at Amitie's unironic statement. "Ufufufu~ Please, I wanna be in the room when you tell him." *Smirk* "But do you see what I'm getting at? Someone evil is there. I mean, I'm... not finishing that sentence. His minions can't kill you, but he can. I guess he can be bargained with, but best not to chance it, no teleportation to save us."

"Okay, yeah, bad idea. Are we in for the long haul?" It just crossed her mind.

"Yep, until you reach the top floor, or if the monsters inside get to the point where they would've killed you."
"Huh?"
"Did you listen, Am? His minions can't kill you. You'll just wake up in this room as if you didn't die."
"Wicked~ I'll be invincible."
"Pain still hurts, Am. Just a little less."
"What did you just say, Sis?"
"…We're doing the Endless Dungeon. Every five floors there's a break room and an exit."

A few doors to the side the clowns stood in front of the journey to dip Amitie's toe into Arle's passion and Silvana's occasional pass time.

"Okay, Ammy. Repeat what we promised."
"Stay close, don't hit each other. If we're tired, we quit. If it's getting dark we quit. If I get… Uh…"
"Ejected."
"Ejected. I'll wait here for you. And if you get ejected I will make a run for the nearest exit. And we'll split the loot!~"

Silvana threw her arm around Amitie's shoulder and pressed their cheeks together. "Ammy..." Amitie enjoyed the affection before the older clown broke the hug and started morbidly snickering. "Where's that memory in school?"

Amitie frowned and slapped Sil's shoulder. Sil slapped back in jest. Amitie slapped back with two hands.

It escalated into a slapfight. Amitie won because Silvana was enjoying herself too much. This was an experience like no other. The thing that made her appreciate being Silvana. Amitie was just as happy even if she didn't have the same insight.

When the older clown could stand on her feet again, she asked if Amitie if she'd like to stay over again sometime and was fully ready to tackle whatever amount of floors Amitie was willing to handle.

Four floors. Got injured by tripping twice because she was actually good at defending herself. "Almost there, Ammy." Silvana dragged her sister to the exit in sight.

~Floor 5~

The armoured harlequin rested Amitie against the wall. "So, what do you think of this experience so far, Ammy?" Silvana sat next to her.

"It was kinda fun when you told me they're not real. And we got some wicked stuff! But I don't think I'm cut out for it yet."

"Maybe tell Arle that. You should know practice makes perfect. Give it another try with her."

"Okay… Can split the loot now?"
"Eh… Sure, why not?" Silvana opened her bag. "Not like we broke the bank or anything."
"We haven't found any money."
"You don't get money."
"What? But you said dungeon crawler make good money."
"This a dungeon for recreational uses. All you get is stuff you vaguely want and more or less what you need during exploration like armour, weapons, and enhancers. And chances you get to keep it are small on these lower floors."
"You mean I don't get to keep this magic enhancer, these wicked shoulder armours, and this awesome rubber ducky?"

*Squeaksqueaksqueak* Amitie played with the monster lure. Sil still has a pout.

"Nope. Lem estimates you need to reach the somewhere in the hundreds to get what you wanna keep."
"A-A hundred?"
"More likely 500."
"F-F-F-F-"
"And the 5000th floor to reliably to get your wishes to come true."
"5000?!"
"Give or take." The clown casually shrugged.

"Aw… This isn't as fun as I hoped." *Squeeeeeaaaaaaak*

Sil patted Amitie back, hoping the bubbles float back to her brain. "C'mon, li'l Sis. The journey here is less materially rewarding but I get a lot of fun out of topping my high score."

"What's that?"

"256… Higher than Arle despite being out of practice and missing some of my essence. Fufufufufufu~"

"Wow. Does it get difficult?"

"I rushed these last fifty floors or so." The clown stuck her tongue out. "Didn't get much in the way of armour or trinkets out of it." Some French bread they've found was ripped in half. "Almost forgot about this. Let's eat it now it'd be a waste if it disappears on us."

"It's so soft!" *Munch Munch* "Yummy!"
"Hehehe. Hm. Do you like the shoulder armour? I can get you your own if you want."
"If I don't get to keep it. Sure. But Arle might give me some of her old ones."
"I see."

*Jealousy hiding munch* 'Don't let it get to you, Sil. Ammy's your sister and she loves you more than she'll love Arle.'

*Amitie's last scarfing* "Mmnsay, Sil?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think that story Grandpa told you is real?"
"What do you mean, Ammy?"
"What if he lied about that evil guy on the 100-floor one? 'Cuz he cares so much for his grand daughter~"

Sil laughed and she laughed hard. "Maybe, but with how he always yells at me for just existing, haaaaaaa! Maybe not to keep me safe, but to protect me… Wait."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Whatever, even if he's lying, the door downstairs has to be boarded up for a reason."

"Huh, should've thought about that." Amitie had finished chewing. And rubbed her dried up scratches. "I wanna go home now."

"Okay." Sil stretched. "Don't be surprised if you an odd feeling in your stomach, the bread might disappear from our stomachs."


"Silvana."
"Yes, Gramps? Eeeeeeeh."
"JUST BECAUSE I ACCEPT YOU AS MY SURROGATE GRANDDAUGHTER, KUMA! DOESN'T MEAN I WANT ANY OTHER AGE REMINDERS! KUMAKUMA!"

"Aw. Please, Grandpa." Amitie whined.

*Old curmudgeon grumble.*

"You're awesome, Akuma. You're so smart, and wise, and strong, and you fight to keep everybody safe. I'd just love to be like you someday."

'Suck-up.'

Akuma took it well. Amitie seemed sincere. "Now then, Amitie. Consider me your grandfather, kumamamama!"

"Yaaay!~~"

"But stick to making a fool out of yourself, that seems to be your calling." The possessed teddy said matter-of-factly.


Nothing they found they kept. Except for one thing.

*Squeak Squeak Squeak* "Teeheehee~ Oh! Watch out, ducky, that's one wicked wave! Sploosh!"

Sil's bathtub got a looooot more use.

Author's Notes:
It's back. But I feel I'm still a bit drained when it comes to writing. Or it's just being drained from the heat we've had. I'm working on a way slower pace.

Next up: Someone important to a Circus member DIES!