We walk down the stairs, our noses are tickled by the rich aromas wafting into them. The meat smells succulent and there is a sweet aroma, such as moon peach liquor, which I have heard is quite good indeed.

I watch Kay as he bounds down the stairs ahead of me. Bounce, bounce, hop! It almost takes effort to keep up with him, but it seems that I may be a little more hungry than I at first believed myself to be.

"Another round o' drinks for the place!" I hear someone shout and then cheers followed.

"What are we celebrating tonight Borris?" a liquid and sultry voice asks.

"Me an' the team made it down to floor 27!" This causes a whooping sound.

"Wow!" Kay exclaims. “I hear that the lowest floor that has been conquered is floor 47!"

"Floor 47?" I inquire of him. Is that correct? "Pray do tell, how many floors is the dungeon believed to have?"

"Don't know! Someone would have to finish it, if that is even possible." Kay responds cheerfully. It is fun to listen to all the nuance in his communications.

That thought makes me almost freeze on the floor. I have to conquer at least 47 floors? I wonder how many there were. How long would it take to conquer so many floors. It sounds like such a vast world that is still so unknown to me.

'What?!'

'I, but, just... I really need to learn how to kill things. I should really observe more of the world around me to become more accustomed to this life and develop enough to be able to swiftly end the existences of monsters'.

'Of course you will.' I somehow feel a smile come through our connection. It was quite a peculiar sensation.

While I feel like I am in my head for a long time it seems that it hadn't even been a minute yet.

"Oh yay! Look at how cute you look. The colors look amazing when combined with that dress of yours. Oh, we will have you serving on the floor tomorrow in your serving uniform and the patrons are just going to eat you up!" Vita exclaims while lightly clapping.

"Oh, please tell me that you do not mean literally, the food here smells great, could it be? I don't want to eat other sentient beings that have families and friends and.. Gah! You can't cook her, she is my only friend." Kay says and clings on to my arm. Life with him around is going to be great fun I believe. I have a good sense of things and I must say that I do believe that we shall develop a lifelong friendship.

"Now then, now then!" Vita says and ushers us to a table. "Sit sit! I will have Momma Tia stop by at some point to meet you. And with such a cute bunny I don't think that Emmie and Hillie are going to waste any time coming over to meet you when they have a spare moment."

As soon as she ceases her speaking the avian-kin comes over to join us.

"Is this her? Wait, are both of these lovelies going to be working with us? Oh, she will look so cute and look at those colors. So lovely. But what of this one? What a cute bunny boy. He is just too precious. I want to fly away with him and keep him all to myself!"

"Him?" Vita asks, clearly confused. "Don't you mean bunny girl? Think of the cute bunny girl outfits!"

"Boy! Bunny boy outfits can be just as cute! Also, think of all the lovely girls he would be bringing in. Cute, sweet, charming ladies for tea time. Oh, how cute with their dresses, and sweet voices. See, bunny BOY!"

The two lively girls turn to look at Kay, who shrinks in his seat for just a moment, clearly embarrassed at all the attention being lavished upon him. However, he perks right up.

"I am a boy, but I don't mind the thought of wearing cute things." he states simply. "But... I already have a job, one where I am surrounded by books, which are much better than people."

The avian-kin tilts her head in confusion.

"I work in the library and despite my current exuberance usually find company in my two-dimensional friends." Kay states simply.

"Ah, well then I suppose that makes sense? Hmm... How about helping us out on festival days, or when a large celebration is happening. You will get paid really well. Being as adorable as you are is a great way to get tips."

"I might be able to?" Kay says, voice raising a bit. “Depends on how much this pay is you speak of.”

He is rather cute when he is embarrassed. Good for him though, he deserves to get a lot of positive attention. I sit back and drink in the atmosphere while they coo around him.

The tables and chairs are all wooden, and they don't match one another. However, it is obvious that they were lovingly crafted. Some tables are even of different heights. They are well lacquered as to be able to handle condensation and food spills.

I can also tell what Dillan the sharp had meant. It is very lively here, but it is also full of positivity and good cheer. I like the atmosphere very much.

"Okay so the different days that we are able to drag you in to help out you will go back and forth between dressing as a bunny boy and a bunny girl? Oh how fun!" Vita says, doing a little jump and clapping her hands. Between these three I have a hard time knowing which has the most energy. I suppose I will need to learn how to have that much energy.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Oh my goodness, how rude am I? We have been talking all this time and I haven't even introduced myself yet! My name is Hillie. It's a real pleasure to meet you!"

"Hi. My name is Kay!" says Kay brightly.

"My name is Amaya. I am well pleased to make your acquaintance as well."

"My acquaintance? Girl if you are going to be working here you will be closer to family than anything. We protect our own."

I have been hearing that a lot. That they protect their own. It sounds as though there is a rich history here in this dungeon town, and not all of it was good. Is it possible that the blood of beast-kin soaked into the earth right alongside of the monsters?

'I wasn't even talking to you. How do you know what I was thinking?'

'You know, I almost feel that I should be afraid. But that is something to think upon at a later hour.'

"I like the idea of people here being like family. I miss my family back home, so I thank you from the endless well within my heart."

"Oh wow, listen to the way that she speaks. How poetic!" Hillie say before walking behind me and wrapping me up in a hug.

It was warm and her feathers tickle a little bit, which causes me to laugh.

"Oh, she even laughs cute. Teehee!" Vita said.

"Vita, Hillie that's enough chit chat. Full house tonight, get to it!" said a rather pretty wolf-kin. She looks strong and fierce while somehow delicate. It’s rather difficult to put into words.

"I suppose we have to get back to work then."

"I suppose we do."

"Bar dance! Bar dance! Bar dance!" the patrons start to chant. Oh my, would I get to see what I would be learning.

"Yeah, okay!" Vita says before hopping up on the bar.

"Right foot, right foot, stomp, stomp clap! Left foot, spin, tap clap!" I say, voicing what I was seeing them do, trying to internalize it.

came the higher pitched voice of Rocketta.

She must be a real favorite of his. Either that or she stood out to me due to the range difference between his normal tones and Rocketta’s.

"Clap, tap, stomp stomp, spin and shake the booty." I freeze at that. Most of the time when girls shake their butts it is seen as sexy. This? This was so fun and silly. I laugh out loud and let out a small whoop along with the crowd.

"Why are you saying out loud what they are doing?" Kay asks me. It was slightly difficult to hear him in the loud din around us.

"Because I want to quickly learn it. I feel that if one is to do a job they need to endeavor to do it the best that they are able to from the start."

"Oh, that makes sense, it does make you a dork though. Looks kind of fun doesn't it?"

"It really does!" I say as the wolf-kin woman walks up to us.

"Hey there young ones. Which one of you is going to be working for us starting tomorrow?"

"That would be me." I say, raising my hand somewhat demurely.

"Huh. Well alright then. The name is Momma Tia. I run this place. Welcome to the team."

“Woah, that can’t be. You are only like 25, how can you be a momma?” Kay blurted out.

Momma Tia slowly blinks at Kay, before pausing and returning her attention to me.

"Thank you." I say, a bit dazzled. Doesn't one usually interview with the proprietress before one is able to begin working at the business?

"Haha, you look a bit startled. Vita picked you out right? If she likes you then I like you. She has proven herself a good judge of character. She also tells me that you are able to mix drinks and pour tea."

"Yes, that is quite correct." I say.

"Haha, you are gonna need to relax your speech a bit to fit in around here. And you, bunny boy."

"Who me? Couldn’t be" Kay quickly glances left and right not seeing any other bunny people “oh, it is me.”

"Yeah you, don't let the girls push you around. Do you want to serve here? Do you want to dress as a girl?"

"I, well, it kind of looks fun. I like how cute the outfits are. I want to be a famous mage or wizard and they wear really cool cloaks and robes, so I always thought of them as a bit similar. And if I can learn to maneuver around in a dress, think of how much more agile I will be in robes! It would be like a speed boost.

“Also, I just like the way new clothes look. I have never had such silky clothes before, so I like the way they look and feel. I myself only have this outfit and another just like it... Oh! But I also didn't mind them fussing over me. It felt like having older sisters, or well how I think it would feel to have older sisters? I don't have siblings. Or parents either for that matter." Kay says.

"That was a lot of information for you to be telling someone you just met." she says and gives a hearty laugh. "You know, I have younger brothers that used to work here that recently left to go live in the guild building. One of them was a bit on the small side, close to your size, and he left some of his clothes behind. They aren't new, but they are well made. I know, as I made them myself. You can have them."

"I can? I should be suspicious of someone being so nice, but I really like free things, so thank you!"

"Sure. It would be nice if you came to help out here on occasion, but you don't have to. This is a fun place though, and I think you'd enjoy the work."

"I already work at the library though… The girls they mentioned money, how much, because I’m not saying I’m poor but, no that is exactly what I’m saying!"

"Yes, but you are going off to be an adventurer with this lass aren't you. This will net you some extra funds, which you will be needing. And really, how long will you be able to keep working there after you start doing dungeon runs? This place is open at all hours, we never close so there is always time to drop in to help to make some extra cash. Though how much depends on you."

"That sounds like an opportunity too good to pass up. But I have no experience."

"That's fine, we can put you to work, even if it's only greeting guests as they come in."

"That's something I can do if you think that I won't scare them away. After all I am an adventurer now, a big tough adventurer… not even I’m buying it."

"That... That is really sad. I take it you grew up outside of your burrow?"

"Yup! I grew up at the library. My parents moved here before I was born and when they died I was taken in by the library."

"So that is why you are so loyal to them then?"

"Yes."

"Well it's obvious that you are a good boy then." she says and reaches out and pats Kay right between his soft bunny ears.

I stare with a tinge of jealousy, I want to feel those ears, but it would be most improper without express permission.

"Now then what can I get you to eat. Food is on the house tonight. Don't expect me to always be this nice to you. And you girl. It's always on the house as long as you work here.”

"Thanks. What do you have to eat?"

"Stew, boar ribs, tossed salad, moon peach jelly tarts, garden tossed salad, warm bread. What will you have?"

"I would like the boar ribs and some moon peach jelly tarts." I say, grateful. I am rather hungry. I blush furiously as my stomach lets out a very soft growl.

"Can I have some salad, bread and moon peach jelly tarts? As many tarts as I can eat?" Kay asks with a sparkle in his eyes.

"Coming right up." she says and grins at us.

"She is really nice." I say to Kay.

"Yeah I agree, super friendly. Does this place remind you of your home at all?" Kay asks, clearly curious.

"In many ways not at all, but in more ways it does."

"Okay. I'm glad for you then, but you keep dodging my questions."

"That is good for I am supposed to have high dexterity, and for me? No Kay, for us! It seems that you got yourself some older sisters here. Do ever plan to tell them that you are not a bunny-kin?" I ask, inquisitively. It is up to Kay to decide how he chooses to present himself.

"Yes, at some point I will, but I really feel like people like me here and I don't want to do anything to ruin that anytime soon!" he says.

It sounds like Kay has suffered a lot of heartache in his life. But we would do our best to fill it with fun. We would make good friends, eat good food, get good sleep, train really hard and firmly place our feet upon the posteriors of those that get in our way or wish us harm!