Pulling step by step into the light and past the bitter silence of night turned into dawn from under windy skies.
Returning from grave danger and certain death.
Two pouches of cores, a worn dagger, a chipped piercing dagger misshapen as though it were badly drawn and shaded, scratched bracers, torn leather shin guards, ripped tunic and two halves of metal with a grip; that is what I had on me.
After returning from the dungeon, this is how Sen appeared at the door to their familia.
Fully heated and almost overheating with the hot sun in the sky.
Dried blood on the skin exposed from fighting.
A gash rising up to end before hitting the shoulder. Pain racing up the torso whenever a tough muscle was pulled taught.
After a worried peck and pat down by the Goddess, Sen removed their remaining attire before wiping their body of dirt or oil.
A shower and a bath and a nap. That's all they took, other than a small loaf, before resting the rest of the night.
The night was one filled with dreams of fruit and the foggy memory of candy from my childhood.
Sen awoke in the morning with their Goddess hanging onto their arm. Snuggling close in response to small movements from Sen.
I slipped away when I could but they squirmed with a pout, still asleep.
Redoing a bandage, then putting on a new set of clothes, I left to get new equipment and weapons.
So there he is on the unmarked roads, walking towards where the Hephaistos Familia conducted business. Because of the consistency of quality and likelihood of good stuff being in the same general area.
Walking past the produce market and clothing market. Entering and exiting the Exchange to turn in the last of the crystals from the day before. Up into the tower of Babel where shops and outlets were for browsing.
Crisscrossing shelves, rooms with people, passing characters and personalities that would fit in this setting. Fully on the lookout for hidden gems.
If the iron didn't smell good, he avoided it. If the steel didn't shimmer at the edge, he disregarded it. If the leather didn't dampen the scent of the air, then he wouldn't look at it.
This continued until the more out-of-the-way rooms and shops showed up.
Amateur and original pieces here and there where one may look. Boxes, shelves and even small wooden carrying trays of weapons.
A few good daggers shone in one shop so it seemed better to start getting serious in their search here. A small discount and set-piece sales shop run by a rabbit demihuma. Their coworkers coming in and out of different nearby rooms with either a conversation or stock.
One heavy yet balanced dagger placed in display appeared out of nowhere. Pillars and columns in the tower's shops often having that effect. The blade didn't flip or lull from the sheath it was in and the tip seemed so dense that Sen was sure it wouldn't wear down easily. Relatively ornate handle but with a solid pommel. A sword in a box stood out in the same area.
A blue sheath, bronze clasp, a handle that could be described as tall and light. A solid body and angled sides with a round tip. The tiniest amount of silk embroidery stitched an eight armed star and sideways drop of dyed silk. This seemed to be a sword designed for day to day dungeon delving. The intent this sword must have been made with hides so much of the durability. To the point where the choice to obtain it would depend on the style of the sword.
Already, Sen felt good about these two items. The price was reasonable too. 16,000 Vallis for the sword. 8,000 Vallis for the dagger. It was almost strange how the quality and price didn't match up in his opinion. Not that he would judge it as such, this would become his and for as long as naturally possible.
With what adventures may be had, it was a strong stimulant to the system. Sen focusing on calming themselves down before continuing with these two items.
Close by there was a rack with weapons and armour on display. Several stacks of the same kind of weapon in a corner.
On one of the smaller displays was armour with the same marking as earlier but directly on the center of the chest. Where the metal was thickest.
One way to describe it would be leather armour under a chest plate combined with several layers of hardend leather behind the shoulders before being braided by leather chords pulling taught from the spine.
Finished with stitched soft leather over silk padding on the belt region from the small of the back. Flexibility and mobility were retained while durability was focused on the more tender parts of an adventurer. Or the more vulnerable to the unknown lethality of monsters. There were a few chainmail shirts and leather boots next to this display.
What drew the eye was yet another pushed-to-the-side stack of equipment. This being a few small and medium-sized leather gloves that covered the first third of the forearm. As well as a thick belt that could be adjusted to attach equipment.
Close by were thick and light hemp or cotton cloth armour and coarse canvas battle-ready clothing with a bundle of grainy silk ropes to tie around rings connected to weapon sheaths. There were even knee guards that could be slid into the boots in front; with rope to tie under the boot laces.
Overall this all looked good and would combine well with the balance of the entire set. Perfect for fighting monsters again and again in a close-quarters place.
Without second guessing, Sen went up to pay for it all. Not checking the price after recognizing the synergy of the armour. The rabbit demihuma becoming flustered and blushing once they saw the armour. As though the most unexpected outcome came to be. A few questions about why I chose this armour came up. As to whether or not I intended to wear it in the dungeon. If it fit my body and fighting style. All were a yes from me.
Stolen story; please report.
They asked, “Do you really like the design? It isn't overly complicated or mismatched to you?”
“I do like the design but mostly because of how it may serve me- because of my style of dungeoneering. I would have the freedom to go all in on my attacks. The material covers the basic needs of exploring the beginning floors. Plus, the weapons from this smith feel good in my hands.”
“Ah- I see. Well, yes. It does seem to be that way. I'm happy you're pleased with all this.”
Their pale complexion tinged with blushy cheeks quivered with rabbit-squeaks when saying the next parts.
“This is actually all my work that I put here to recover some funds for practicing. It really does make me happy that you're getting this. Ah- the total will be 73,000 Vallis. Thank you.”
While taking time to appreciate their cute mannerisms, I payed in full and left after saying I'd return when I have need of more equipment.
It was an enjoyable moment. Mixed in with the excitement of acquiring new equipment.
I returned home before showering and equipping everything together. Then jogging over to the dungeon to slowly climb down with a practice run.
The first floor was for sword swinging and running. The second floor was for practicing finishing blows and core-breaking strikes. The third floor was where I cautiously moved and stealthily backtracked into different paths to ambush monsters with my daggers.
Because of how well made the leather was, I didn't make much of a metal sound when bouncing into crouches or lunging.
The tightness of the material actually provided a feeling of light movements.
Detailed structures in the metal shined when this feeling came to me. Such good steel.
Keeping bipedal monsters at a distance and disarming them felt easily done with the sword. The basic abilities I had were where they could bring out the extent of my daggers.
Reaching the tenth and eleventh floor would be when I'd look for new equipment, as it would be wise to do so at that point. I kept on moving through the fourth floor.
After carefully pacing myself while on the fourth floor, I moved past to explore the fifth until taking a series of short rests to tease out more opponents from the dungeon. Returning to the third floor to work on dagger attacks and moving silently in full armour. Lizards were the only challenge for such actions.
It became a routine to then return to cash out and take a nap before returning to the third floor and up to increase basic ability scores.
Specifically working on overwhelming enemies in one-on-one combat and finishing them off quickly before edging away from multiple enemies. Sometimes charging to sweep goblins into halves or executing disarmed kobolds.
To the point of repeating this for a full week after returning from the fifth floor. Polishing and sharpening my equipment whenever necessary. Any of the previous plans from the allied familias were put on hold until we all fully recovered.
It was good that it was so, that with how often we ventured down to make progress, we needed just as much time to rest.
So today was a solo exploration day.
Once I finished, I came back up and saw a few familiar faces hanging around the dungeon- likely having finished their own solo run before resting here to people-watch.
I was drawn to thoughts of them and how they looked towards me when I continued walking from the dungeon entrance.
My curiosity was put to rest though, since I may see them in the future.
I returned home and got a big hug from Ceres-Sama when she walked over from the kitchen. My face had been buried in her huge soft, sweet-smelling breasts.
The rush of blood to my thighs when I crouched to withstand the supernatural effect of her allure helped me stay presentable.
“Goddess, please. I need to ask you something- well, after you're done cooking.”
“Yes, yes, yes. Of course~”
My Goddess finished cooking rice and a red curry stew dish. Covered it and let it steam up.
As I sat kneeling on a plush fluffy rug, I looked up to her approaching figure and asked her, “Goddess, please update my status today.”
She only smiled and gestured for me to lay down, so I did.
A golden needle to draw a single drop of blood, falling onto my back while I closed my eyes to focus my heartbeats into my falna somehow. Breathing deeply while appreciating the care given to me by my dear Goddess.
“This is absolutely, positively phenomenal. You'll love this, I bet.”
I remained silent before she climbed off of my lower back.
“Here, this is the result of your recent work.”
I was shown my status on a page of paper.
Sen Hyunyunmun
Level One
Strength I 47 { I 53
Defense I 26 { I 67
Dexterity H 117 { H 193
Agility I 39 { I 65
Magick I 43 { I 71
Magick
[Flame Magick]
•Summoning the power of flame to create and manifest flame magick.
Skills
[Harvest]
•Increasing ability scores leads to improved benefits.
•Status is reinforced by growth.
After updating my status and blessing, I now have a skill and magick. Actual magick. Not even a single spell but a branch of magick I could improve with during my career.
Flame Magick, is what it is called. With a medium length chant but casting it feels as though the chant that appears is because of the amount of mind I have so far. Leveling up may make it possible to know the full length of the chant where it may manifest as a result of a higher rank.
The skill is what I was surprised most by; a skill that may be influenced by the presence of my Goddess. Her lessons in growing fruits and grains in our private gardens are a rare treat.
This skill is called ‘Harvest’ and apparently reinforces an aspect of the Falna gracing my back. The image of a wreathed maiden holding a scythe, prepared to smile and reap bountiful rewards.
The description could be read as successes providing higher returns.
Which may mean the nature of Excellia may be impressed further when abilities improve or how it may express influence over ability scores is higher. Such as a higher likelihood of developmental abilities appearing once I level up.
Or perhaps Excellia gained would become higher quality material for the blessing to come through. A smaller threshold for ability scores to be raised? By the divines, this was super exciting.
I love this blessing I was given. I love my beloved Goddess.
After spending the evening and night with my Goddess, I followed her at her request to help her with something.
That something was actually helping her wash her back and legs. I willingly did as she needed me to. It was a joyful occasion for me as well.
She hadn't asked me to before, then there was the attention from Swordswoman-San earlier today, even the way I am seen by the allied deities, their children and people whom I haven't gotten close to so as to not be overwhelmed by loss of a companion.
Hmmmmm… it seems I have become an adventurer rising to my own golden era.
But first, I scrub and wash her shoulders. Her soft skin is pale and she doesn't seem to shy away from my actions. Even allowing myself to get close to her while washing her back.
She enjoyed it with the slow bubbling of soap as she rubs her thighs together and moaning quietly. I felt the need to continue without minding the steam.
Pouring warm water over her to signal the end of it before doing the same for myself. Following her into the bath and relaxing together.
Having a conversation that I wouldn't reminisce about or speak of in the future.
We enjoyed our bath together.
I enjoyed her company for the rest of the night and fell asleep the same way I woke up, at her request. Reminding me to wake her up in the morning before I leave for the dungeon again.
My heart had felt warm since she sat down with me full of divine excitement.