Rum (DanMachi - FGO Reincarnation Chapter 6)
What the hell am I doing?
"Skreee-KRUK!" With a final cry, the Killer Ant was killed as it was stabbed through the head.
"That's how you use a longsword. You need stay at an optimal range. Extreme close quarters is only a last resort, or when you get familiar enough with your weapon, that you can adjust." I said, my voice disinterested. "You should have went with a knife if you wanted to be in punching range of the monsters that much."
"I get it, thank you so much, Mr. Michael!" The white haired boy's eyes were practically sparkling. "About the sword, well," Bell rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "I saved up a lot to get one before I got to Orario, because well, swords are cool. Well, I wanted to get a sword and spear, but could only afford one."
"Hmm." I nodded and turned away from the kid. I looked down at the copy of Bell's longsword that I made with Projection.
We continued deeper into the Dungeon. Well, more like I just walked aimlessly just heading generally deeper, while the boy followed me like a lost puppy.
Seriously, why am I bothering with this?
I found the kid in a room on the 6th Floor just frantically, and near suicidally, fighting Dungeon monsters. He was fast, he had some bit of strength, but he was using his weapon all wrong. His fighting was all wrong. Too emotional. Was he using the Dungeon to throw a temper tantrum? Who does that?
I jumped off the wall, soaring toward the Goliath's head, fist pulled back, screaming in rage.
Shut up, brain.
He was gonna get himself killed. I don't know why I just reacted and killed all the monsters. The white haired kid just look at me confused and wary.
"If you're gonna be using a longsword, don't jump in too close like an idiot. Your swing won't have much power in it. Second, either plant your feet on the ground to be stable, and have more arm power, or keep a bounce on your feet so stay nimble and ready to move for speed. Master one or the other first, rather than the confused drunkard movement you call footwork that you're doing."
I just started talking, not even looking at the kid, effectively ignoring him, and went forward lazily killing monsters. Honestly, I'm not even sure why he just listened and followed me. He just looked confused at first, then he started fighting the monster that came close by, while following my advice.
His...improvement, however marginally small, was noticeable. Weird.
A Needle Rabbit had dashed and jumped at me, once it was within reach.
Bell had been meters away slashing down on another Killer Ant, when he noticed.
"Watch out!" He said as he turned on the ball of his feet-not bad maneuverability-and ran toward me.
In an effort to conserve movement, I just moved the sword toward my free hand, grabbed the blade side, while making sure it doesn't dig into my gloved hand, and swung, slamming the handle into the rabbit's horn, breaking it.
"Eh?" Bell stopped running, blinking at the situation.
"I don't recommend doing this, but you can grabbed the edged side to hit your opponent, or adjust your blocking, but it's not a tactic to use a lot, and you must have a armored glove." I said before stabbing the sword through the Needle Rabbit's head. "You really don't want to slice your hand, or cut off a finger doing this."
"R-Right!" Bell gulped, easily imaging the scene.
We were silent for a while, as we cleared the monsters in the room we were in.
"Be the way," my mouth curled into a frown. "why are you following me?"
"Eh!?" The white haired boy seemed so surprised by the question, that a diving Purple Moth nearly got the drop on him. His instincts were pretty goo though.
Bell jumped away spinning, and let the momentum fuel his slash, cutting the butterfly monster in half.
The room was cleared.
"Um, I mean, you started lecturing and walking, so...I...followed to listen." He explained with such an innocent child-like expression, that I almost wanted to ask where his parents were.
"Didn't...anyone teach you don't follow strangers into weird places, more so if they are drunk?" I found myself asking, disbelief visible on my face.
"Wait, you're drunk?" Bell blinked at that.
"Yes!" Why energy getting into my voice? "Do you think people just start giving lectures out of nowhere?"
"Ah, well," he blushed and looked aside, an embarrassed smiled on his face, due to the-well, I suppose-humorous situation. "Mr. Michael looked like a good guy."
...Oh god. This poor kid is blind.
I sighed, shaking my head at another hot-blooded idiot kid, no matter how innocent he seemed.
"Why are you in the Dungeon anyways?"
Why am I asking this? Why am I bothering with this kid?
"Huh?"
"You weren't here to hunting monster." I clarified. "More like you were venting."
"...Ah," he looked down. A scowl coming to this face.
I walked toward one of the walls and leaned on it. He did the same, but didn't look at me. I patted my pouch for a drink, only to remember I didn't restock my bottles from Soma. Fuck.
I took out some...water. Fuck you brain for being rational in planning, and getting me something to hydrate with.
"I...want to become stronger." He finally said. "No matter what, I want to become strong. To not be weak anymore."
That's tautology.
"Hmm." I drank another gulp of water.
"You're...not gonna ask why?" I turned to seem him giving me an apprehensive look.
"It doesn't matter." I put the water bottle away. "First is instinct. Reason can come later."
"Um, okay." The kid nodded with a pumped fist, while obviously being confused.
Boy, enthusiasm is useless if you don't understand what someone's saying.
"What I mean is." Why am I putting effort in this? "Is that, after deciding on a goal, you go for it. Let your mind get out of your own way. You make plans and suggestions on how improve and step close toward that goal, then you stop thinking. You don't let your mind overthink and hinder your own progress. Instinct then reason."
"Oh." He looked away wide-eyed, before looking back with a big smile at internalizing what I said. "Hmm! Got it! Thank you, Mr. Michael."
What are you looking so happy for?
M͏̡͡͝e͏t̨҉e̸r̨͠i͡a̶̷͝͠ A white haired woman from a long time ago also used to smile like that.
"I'll definitely catch up to Ais Wallenstein!" Bell pushed off the wall, and declared loudly.
"Wow." I deadpanned. "You're doing all of this to pick up a girl." I pushed off the wall too. I wasted enough time. "Yep, this is the last time I dispense random wisdom."
"Ah, no! Please continue to do so. Besides! What's wrong with picking up girls in a dungeon?" Bell started sputtering quickly.
"Whoever told you to do that deserves a punch in the face." I said drily.
Bell laughed sheepishly for a while, before blinking and looking at me in slight alarm.
"Um, you're not really that mad are you, Mr. Michael?"
"Why would I be mad?" I raised an eyebrow.
"You...look like you're steaming." He pointed out slowly.
"Huh?" I looked at my arm to see that indeed a slight layer of steam was flying off of it. Like when you enter a cold area right after getting out of a hot shower.
I clamped down on Purge Engine with all my might and focus. When did this happen? Why did it kick up so strongly, that it was burning all the toxins in my body?
I clenched my hand already feeling all my stats rise up a bit. I clicked my tongue.
"It's nothing." I waved him off. "Body still hot from the fight and it's a bit cold here."
"Huh, is it really?" The boy looked around while rubbing his arms, imaging it being cold, and likely feeling so said imagination.
"Anyways," I turned toward the path to the next floor. "You should head back home for today, so you don't get hurt doing something stupid." I was about walk away, before looking to the kid, realizing how a bit messed up he was from the 7th Floor monster. "Well, I'm not your dad, so you don't have to listen to me, but do drink up a potion before you head up."
"Umm, I don't have any." Bell gave a small embarrassed shrug. "Can't afford to many stuff yet."
I scowled and clicked my tongue.
"Here."
"Wah!" Bell cried out as he catch the high potion bottle.
"Also, let me take a look at your sword." My hand was stretched out. Bell gave me his weapon without thinking about it.
I started Structural Analysis on the weapon, then used Reinforcement to work out any flaws, and repair any dents or chips, before just strengthening the entire thing.
"Um, Mr. Michael, what are you-"
"Here." I handed the longsword back.
"Huh? Woah! It's like it's new again." Bell swung it a few times. "Actually, it feels even better."
"Uh-huh," while he was excited about his renewed weapon, I took out my share of the magic stones from all the monsters we fought and divided then into two.
One Reinforcement and they became two fist sized magic stones. Interestingly enough, a quirk of the item is that it now held more magic capacity and was more potent.
"Wha? How did you..."
I then kneel, pushed the stones into the ground and after another round of Reinforcement and Alteration, and pulled a claymore and a short spear with their sheaths from the ground.
"Woah! Is that Magic?" Bell said, amazement in his eyes.
"Uh-huh, here." I stood up and pushed the weapons in his hands.
"Wha..." Bell took the new forges before realizing what he did. "Mr. Michael I can't take-"
"Boy," I cut him off, already turning to leave. "You saw make it rain weapons when we first met. This is basically the same, but now they are a bit more permanent. These weapons aren't that special, they're just sturdy, and will last long. While they won't need maintenance as usual, they can eventually wear down and break." Well, start to in about a year or so.
"But you used your Magic Stones!" He said looking heartbroken.
"Bell, I'm a Level 3."
"What!?" He cried out. Are you seriously that surprised?
"The Magic Stones of the Upper Floors means nothing to me. Just one stone from a monster on the 15th Floor would be worth what I just used."
"Oh." Bell didn't seem take back, but surprised and curious about the deeper parts of the dungeon.
"Either way, I'm going now. Good luck on everything, and take care of yourself, kid." I began walking away.
"Um," Bell seemed lost for words. "I won't forget your generosity, Mr. Michael. I'll pay you back, I promise." He called after me.
"No you won't," I waved without looking back. "We're not likely to meet again."
"I'll...I'll definitely make sure we will?" He called back like it was a question. Or did he just shout back to have the last word? What a kid.
Leaving that Adventurer and floor behind I started on my way to head to the Lower Floors.
I stopped in the middle of the 8th Floor, my thoughts annoyingly more clear.
I took out the list Soma gave me.
There are five major items I need to get including the Floor Boss's drop item. Each item had different quantities next to it. Like 20 Siren Tears.
I clicked my tongue.
"I'm gonna have to do multiple trips." I said to myself. I don't have enough recovery items to make the whole thing in one trip.
Also I don't have any Soma.
"Okay." I turned to head back to the Surface.
Two days to cross an item off the list. One day go down, then a rest day to drown in Soma.
I don't need to do everything right away. Also I should probably tell Lili that I wouldn't be taking her as Supporter for the next ten days, so she can do...whatever it is she does, when she's not screaming at me or for her life.
Ten days.