Is it Wrong to Try to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon
Fanfic: Familia Plus One
Thanks to everyone who has Followed, Liked, and Reveiwed my Story so far.
Disclaimer: Still don't own it.
Chapter 4: The Dungeon Test
Town of Orario, Surface streets
mid morning
…..
Wyntir stood by the fountain, wearing his charcoal grey three piece suit. Losing his Blue Jacket was a hard blow, and he had placed a reward on it if it was found. He had gone into see Eina, the Guild mistress and Advisor for himself and Bell, the only other member of his Familia, the Hestia Familia.
Eina was releived to see that one of the two teenaged boys in the newly formed Familia had taken her advice, and found someone to adventure with in the Dungeon. She had taken the time to show him how to submit such a request, and helped him fill out the paperwork. Once that was done, Wyntir had gone to the fountain, where he had agreed to meet his two new Supporters.
Twins from the Miach Familia, which happened to be based just next to the Chapel where the Hestia Familia lived, Isabelle and Azalea, or Azalea and Isabelle, depending upon which one you asked, were also known as Zig and Zag, due in part to their confusing way of speaking.
Chienthropes, the sisters sported the over sized ears and forehead spots of a breed of canine known as a Corgi. They spent time in which they were not adventuring by brewing various potions and tinctures for the Miach Familia. They had, until recently, been a part of another group of adventurers, who had split up after one of the members became insufferable about their most recent level up.
As Wyntir considered these things, he heard his name being called, and saw the two sisters running towards him. They were wearing what looked to be custom made leather armor, the twins each carried a medium sized pack, about 4-5 times larger than the small pack Bell carried, and each sported a leg pouch as well. Coming to a stop by the fountain, the two leaned over and began panting.
"It has…" Azalea, the blonde haired Chienthrope started
"...Been a while…." Isabelle, her coppery-red headed sister picked up, beginning the strange twin-speak that had earned the pair their nickname.
"...Since we…."
"...have had to…"
"...run with….."
"...all of our gear." The two finished together.
Wyntir smilled, and rested both of his hands on the head of his cane. "We can afford to wait a few minutes before we head off. You two shouldn't push to hard, we haven't even started yet."
Sighing happily at his announcement that they could rest, the twins each took a small canteen of water from their leg pouches, and took a quick sip to help their thirst. "We ment to…"Isabelle started, as she finished drinking first.
"...ask the other day….."Azalea continued.
"...What is the…."
"...deepest level…."
"...that you can….."
"...have access to?" they finished togetrher, looking up at Wyntir expectantly.
"I went and got cleared all the way to level 8 this morning." He said, looking a bit more proud of that fact than he probably meant to.
The twins ears stood up, and they smilled excitedly. "That is…" Azelea began
"...Very good news….." Isabelle picked up.
"...there is a…."
"...rather rare monster…."
"...that spawns at….."
"...level 7 and…"
"...below, known as…"
"... the Blue Papilio!" they finished together.
"The blue..pillow?" Wyntir asked, confused.
"Papilio!" the twins shouted together.
"It's a big…"
"...blue butterfly. And it's…"
"...wings have…"
"...restorative powers…."
"...that we can make…"
"...into a healing potion …"
"…..for later use."
Raising an eyebrow at the way the two seemd to get so excited about this monster, Wyntir nodded slowly. "So, we should try and find one or two so we can get, I'm guessing a drop item for you two to use?"
"Yes!" they proclaimed together, before Azalea started the next set of twin speak.
"With the annual celebration…."
"...Monsterphilia being just…"
"...around the corner, our…
"...Familia is getting alot of potion…."
"….. requests that need to be filled. Getting…"
"…..even one of the Blue Papilio's wings…"
"...would make this much easier for…"
"….our entire familia."
Wyntir, being able to pick up the pattern of the twins odd manner of speaking, had just one question. "What is Monsterphilia?"
….
Hostess of Fertility
…
"Now you listen here," Mama mia said, looking Bell in the eye. The young boy had just come back and paid the entire amount he had skipped out on. After admitting to such an action the following morning, Wyntir had taken the full amount owed, plus a generous tip, from the Familia's coffers, and insisted that his friend take it back the following morning before going to the Dungeon.
Bell had taken almost 3 hours, pacing Daedelus street, trying to work up the nerve to go back to the pub. Finally realizing that he had put it off long enough, Bell ran inside, and bowed to the first person he saw.
The problem with going from a brightly lit street under the sky, to a darker, but still lit pub, was that your eyes take time to adjust. After realizing that the only response he was getting was a few giggles from various places, Bell had looked up, and realized that he was bowing and apologizing to one of the waitress' coats, hanging on a peg on the wall.
Turning to see Mama Mia smirking at him, with Syr trying to hide her own giggles behind a serving tray, he had moved over to the counter, and bowed again, apologizing profusely. Mama Mia had accepted his coins, with a mild rebuke, mostly to make sure it didn't happen again. The tone she had now, was far gentler though. She sounded, almost motherly.
"Adventurers," She continued, "don't get to far in life pretending to be all cool, or acting like they're more than they actually are. You're going to make mistakes and fall down, but as long as you can pick yourself back up….." she smirked a little, winking at Bell. "...and don't make a habit of apologizing to Chloe's overcoat to often, well then you shouldn't listen to what others say, because at the end of the day, you did the best you could, and walked away in one piece."
Placing her hands on his shoulders, She turned him around, making sure he didn't drop the lunch Syr had made for him. "Now get on, and do your best. You'll only get underfoot and cause problems if you stay here any longer."
As Bell ran towards the Dungeon, he smiled and looked up, the sky seeming bluer than it had in a long time. 'This must be what having a home feels like.' He thought to himself.
….
Dungeon level 5.
….
With the promise made to eventually make it to Floor 8 that day, the trio of Wyntir, Azalea, and Isabelle had agreed to first do a different level, so they could learn each other's skills. Wyntir had been surprised, to learn that inspite of being Supporters, the twins also fought some. They each carried a slingshot, and a pouch of small metal bullets that they used to fight with, keeping monsters from swarming Wyntir, or distracting one of them to make an opening for him to strike.
It didn't take long for the trio to fall into an easy pattern. Wyntir would move forward to attack, drawing his weapon, while the twins would spread out, and set up their positions. the first strike would get the monster's attention. If there was more than one, then the twins would focus their attacks on keeping the monsters busy, so Wyntir never had more than 2 opponents.
They also could let him know, if more monsters were spawning behind him, or trying to sneak up on him. As a result, Wyntir was able to focus more on what he was doing, and things flowed more smoothly in combat without him having to pay attention to everything around him.
Stabbing his sword through the last of the monster they were facing, a large War Shadow, Wyntir stepped back and watched the monster burst into soot and ash. Breathing a sigh of relief, he turned to the twins, sliding his blade home in it's cane.
"Thats got this area done. Hmm?" seeing a glint from the corner of his eye, Wyntir noticed a long sharp looking shadowy blade on the ground. Picking it up, he looked at it a moment, before turning his attention back to the task at hand. While the twins gathered stones and items, his job was to be on lookout, making sure nothing spawned, or snuck up, on the trio.
Slipping the item into his pocket out of habit from how often he had gone into the Dungeon solo, Wyntir looked up and down the corridor they were in, and made sure he couldn't hear the tale-tell cracking of a monster's spawning from the walls.
Soon the twins had gathered everything up, and the trio regrouped to move deeper into the Dungeon. Leading the way, Wyntir turned the corner, and almost ran into another group. Nodding to the other party's leader, he moved aside, to let the group pass.
Soon, Wyntir and his party had made it to the stairs going down to the next level. Mid way down the stairs, Isabelle spoke up.
"Another great thing….." she began
"...about Monsterphilia…" Azalea continued. Wyntir fought back a sigh. ever since he had made the twins aware of the fact that he had never been to the festival of monster taming, that celebrated Ganesha's birthday, the twins had been telling him all they could about it. While the two had been intelegent enough to avoid talking about it during combat, or when a distraction could prove fatal, Wyntir was sure that he knew more about it than some people who had gone to the festival every year for their entire lives.
The twins had stories, lessons, and memories to share with him by the dozen, and they had no plans to be stingy with their information.
Continuing down to the next floor, the trio came to a sudden stop, when a group of small gremlins turned and looked at them. For a moment, no one in either group moved. Then one of the goblins uttered a loud, chittering war-cry, and the small group of half a dozen green humanoids rushed the party.
Drawing his sword, and moving forward, Wyntir heard the twinging tones of the twins slingshots, as they fired bullets to make the group split up. Thrusting his blade forward, and using the fact that his longer arms and blade gave him superior reach, Wyntir stabbed his blade home into the hollow of the left eye of the large gremlin that had uttered the war-cry.
He had already promised, not only to let the twins have the day off, but to join them in attending the festivities that day. Turning, and slashing downwards with his blade, he struck a second goblin with his cudgel, the cane-end on his weapon. The twins were doing a fine job of keeping the monsters distracted, as he sliced a third monster, causing it to join the other two in bursting into soot and ash.
…..
That evening.
Banquet hall of the Ganesha Familia.
…..
Hestia frowned, looking off to the side, having just been told off by Loki for asking about Aiz Wallenwhatever. Loki had leaned forward, trying to start a fight, but since she was wearing the new dress that she had been able to afford, thanks to Wyntir's skills at budgeting, Hestia simply crossed her arms and looked away.
Since she and Loki had been fueding for well over a century, this came as a surprise, to all the Kamis who were in attendance. Freya herself seemed to be particularly impressed, but instead tried not to mention it.
"By the way Hestia, I noticed that you're wearing a different dress from normal. I don't recall ever seeing that one on you."
Loki looked down, seeming to have seen Hestia's outfit for the first time.
"What gives Shrimpy? I figured you'd just be wearing the same little threadbare house robe as always." the Asgardian shapeshifter mocked, trying again to get a rise out of the shorter Olympian.
"And Loki, don't think I didn't notice your evening gown. How unlike the two of you." Freya said, holding her cheek in one hand, and looking at the two of them.
"Well yeah." Loki said, pulling her shoulders back, and getting ready to strike a decicive blow to the busty Olympians pride. "I wanted to be able to rub it in a certian little shimp's face how poor she was, not even having her own Familia."
"Excuse me, miss Titless," Hestia said, causing Loki to recoil, and cover her smaller chest. "but you must be mistaken, I have a Familia of my own, and we are doing just fine, as you can see." she stated, spinning on the ball of one foot, and showing off her new dress.
"Hardly a Familia worth talking about," Loki started, trying to regain some leverage in the argument that she could use. "Just two little boys who won't even make it a…."
"Now, now Loki, there's no need to be rude." Freta said, keeping an eye on Hestia, who had suddenly had a fire in her eyes as she glared daggers at Loki. making comments about other deities was one thing, but to insult someone's Familia members was crossing a line.
Realizing that she had lost this round, Loki muttered a quick parting, "Whatever." and walked away, seeking somewhere else in the large banquet hall to be.
"Well, that didn't go the way I thought it would. Seems you've grown some from the little Kami who always used to freeload off my Familia." A warm, familiar voice came from behind Hestia, causing her to turn around abruptly.
"Hephistus!"
….
Dungeon floor 8
….
"So that….. is the….Blue Padpillow." Wyntir said, panting.
"Papilio." the twins corrected through their own panting breaths. it had been a rough fight, with two Blue Papilios healing the monsters they were fighting, and the monsters defending the brightly colored moths.
As they began to gather the items, the twins were happy to discover 4 dropped wings as items, each Papilio leaving two sets of wings behind. The wings looked like thin pieces of blue paper, folded into an upper and lower wing each, and dust seemed to be drifting from them. They quickly wrapped the wings in soft linen cloths, to make sure they kept as many of the scales and powders as they could. Deciding that they had gone far enough for the day, the trio began their long trip back to the surface
Wyntir had discovered that the twins had sharp eyes, and were able to spot items and crystals that had been dropped and left by other adventurers, and their parties. As a result, when ever one of the two asked to pause for a moment, he had learned to listen to their requests.
As thery made their way out, A familiar mess of white hair stood out against the darkened walls of the Dungeon. "Let's wait here for a minute, I want you two to meet someone." Wyntir said, placing both hands on the top of his cane, and taking up a comfortble stance.
As Bell slew the last moster he was facing, he became aware that he was being watched.
Wyntir raised a hand as Bell turned towards his party, and since Bell was closer to the floor's entrance than they were, the trio moved towards the lone Adventurer.
"Hello Bell, glad we could meet up. Bell, these are my Supporters, Azalea, and Isabelle." Wyntir said, indicating with an openahnd, each of the twins in turn. "Ladies, this is Bell Cranel, the other member of the Hestia Familia."
The twins gave a small bow each to the white headed adventurer. Isabelle started as they launched into their normal rhythm of speech. "It is quite a…."
"...pleasure to meet you…."
"...Mister Cranel." They echoed each other, finishing together.
Bell looked at Wyntir, with questions clearly written on his face. "Yes Bell." Wyntir answered, before his younger familia member could even ask. "They speak like that all the time, now don't be rude."
Bell's eyes widened, and he snapped into a bow. "Pleasure to meet you both as well, ladies." Azalea and Isabelle looked at each other and smiled, giggling at the interaction between the two members of the Hestia Familia.
Deciding to complete their path back to the surface together, the four made their way back, and went up to the window to cash out their stones and items. Waiting for Bell, The twins asked Wyntir if they could keep the wings instead of cashing them in, and he agreed, since that had been the entire point of their adventure.
At the end of the day, Bell had managed to make over 9,000 Vallis, while Wyntir and the girls, going deeper, and getting larger crystals as well as a few additional items, had made a total of 17,000 Vallis. When the twins had gushed on both of them, saying that they were earning much more than normal level 1 Adventurers, the boys had simply rubbed the backs of their heads sheepishly, and said that it was no big deal.
Wyntir had tried to split the money evenly between the three of them, but the girls argued about the value of the wings they were keeping, and in the end they agreed to split one half, while Wyntir took the other half.
The boys then walked the girls back, although not by their normal route, since the girls refused to walk down Daedalus street with the sun setting.
As the quartet walked by the front of the Miach Familia shop, Bell stopped, and stated at something in the window. Bell and the girls, realizing they didn't hear his footsteps any more turned to see what was holding him up.
Bell was staring at a sword. The price tag was more than the entire Hestia Familia had saved so far by at least a full digit. But that didn't stop a young boy from dreaming. It did however, stop him from realizing the Kami of the Familia walking up behind him, until the kindly celtic Kami greeted him.
After some suttered greetings, and apologizing for not being able to buy anything, Azalea and Isabelle rushed up th their kami, and gushed over the Papilio wings they had brought back from the Dungeon.
"My thanks to you Wyntir, These will be of great help to my Familia in the coming days as we prepare to help supply the Ganesha Familia with their celebrations. I'd like to give you a little something for your trouble," Miach said, reaching into a pocket, and pulling out four long tubes, potions to be used when needed. "As well as to thank you and Bell for being such good neighbors."
Bell tried to refuse, saying it was to much, but Wyntir silenced him with a quick tap of his cane on Bells foot. "We are honored Miach-sama. Thanks for your kindness."
Miach inclined his head, and in his quiet manner, shepherded the twins into the Familia home, as the two girls called out to Wyntir that they would be at the Fountain the same time the next day, if he wanted to go into the Dungeon again.
Bell and Wyntir both bowed, before Wyntir looked over at the boy he was beginning to see more and more as a younger brother. "Well, since Hestia-sama isn't here, and we both made a good amount of coin today, why don't we visit your friend's Pub for dinner?"
Bell quickly agreed, and they walked to the pub, each ready for dinner, hungry from a long day in the Dungeon.
…..
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