“Are you sure it’s safe for us to go to the town?” Serena asked a little hesitantly

“I’m sure it’s fine, the map says it’s a little town with almost no shops, players only go to this town when they are ready to face the Floor 11 Boss so I doubt they’ll want to start trouble before that” It had been around 6 weeks since I first came into this Dungeon Crawl World, although, I didn’t know if this place had any days or weeks or months or even seasons really, I was just basing it on Earths, the days did feel the same length though.

“If you say so, I still think we should keep our guard up” Serena moved closer to me and nodded her head, I could feel an icy gaze behind me. I turned to see Miko staring daggers at Serena, did those two not get along?

“Hey Miko, what is the Floor 11 Boss anyway?”

“The monster is known as the Tassie Devilnoid” Miko replied pushing herself in between myself and Serena, I turned to see Umi giggle under her breath and Vnaa shake her head, am I missing something here?

“Tassie Devilnoid?” Thats an interesting name, the only time I ever heard the word Tassie was either that crazy cartoon character that spun around all the time or the small island in Australia.

“Yes, its a fairly tall and strong monster, it has keen hearing and smell, along with a strong odour that can disrupt someones vision” Miko turned away looking disgusted

“So, do players just go into the floor and fight it, what happens if they lose, I’m assuming they die”

“That is correct, the stairs to the floor will only let you step foot on the actual Boss Level Floor if you have at least 5 members registered in a party, when the fight is over the Guild officials from Floor 12 make their way down to clean up the mess, I don’t know how it works but the Boss doesn’t spawn when the Guild officials are on the floor. They either clean up the dead bodies or help the players that managed to win up to the twelfth floor” Again, I have no clue how this Dungeon operates, are the Guild officials the same as players? Or are they people that report directly to The Creator

“What is on the twelfth floor Rival Miko” Umi chimed in looking very interested.

“The last I heard of it, it was nothing but a giant hot spring for players to rest and re-energise”

“Yes, when I made my way down to the Lower Floors, it was just that” Serena confirmed Miko’s description

“Interesting, so if we are to injured to move or make our way up the next floor, the Guild Officials will just carry us up and put us in the hot springs” It seems to good to be true, these girls might be innocent and good at heart, but I couldn’t say that about anyone else in this Dungeon

“That is correct, but I wouldn’t refer t them as Guild Officials” Serena added in trying to get closer to me. I saw Miko turn and glare at Serena which caused her to back off a little, Miko might just be trying to protect me but does she realise Serena is technically my slave, I might not treat her like one but that still means she can’t harm me, no matter how I treat her.

“Do they not work for the Guilds?” I asked Serena

“They are known as Guild Officials, but they don’t serve any God or any particular Guild, they are more like servants of the Dungeon itself” So I was right, they answer to The Creator, I wonder what would happen if someone tried to harm them? Surly someone has tried to kidnap one and sell them on the black market as a slave, I mean, I would never do that but I could see the value of an Official Guild slave.

“Papa Udon is thinking of something bad” Huh? I looked down to see Vnaa squinting her eyes at me, great, now she has a mind reading skill as well, what is with these girls and their ability to know what I am thinking

“This town really is small” We had made it into town, I looked around at the seven small shops that made up the place. It looked like a simple town, the road or path were dusty red bricks, the houses were built in either light brown planks with red tile roofs, or on a wooden foundation with red bricks as their main building material and brown tiles as the roof, all in all just a normal middle aged town you’d see in any fantasy game or anime.

“It seems peaceful here, there are even kids playing just outside the town” Umi looked around and pointed to the kids kicking a ball just outside the town gate. Compared to other floors, this floor was rather peaceful, if you wanted to find monsters you’d have to venture deep into the forest or mountains, it was known as the grind floor, players would stay here a long time levelling up before facing the boss so it would make sense monsters would try and hide.

“Hmm”

“Huh?” I turned to Miko who nudged my shoulder, she looked down indicating me to look at Vnaa, I turned down to Vnaa and saw her looking at the kids kicking the ball, she looked amazed at what they were doing, it was clear that she wanted to play with them.

“Want to join in with them Vnaa? I don’t mind having a little rest while you play” I smiled at Vnaa

“R-really? Are you sure?” Vnaa clenched her fist in excitement

“Sure, I’ll sit just over here and watch you ok” I ruffled Vnaa’s hair and moved over to the towns wall

“I’ll be back!” Vnaa shouted out running towards the other kids

“You’re a good father Sir Udon” Umi smiled at me, wait a minute! I’m still in my 20’s!

“I agree with Umi, you are very protective of that little girl, she will have a good life” Serena said sitting next to me, but not fast enough, Miko managed to plot down in between myself and Serena, seriously, does Miko not like her?

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“She is a kid, she should be doing kid things, playing around in the sun, rolling on the grass and playing with other kids, I’m not going to deny her that” I said watching Vnaa kicking the ball with the other kids, she fitted in well and seemed to had made friends already, see, she’s already better than me, I could never had done that.

“Does that go for all of us?” Umi asked

“Huh?” I turned to Umi at her question

“Well, what if we wanted to do something, something that might seem weird to you, like go shopping, or, train, or something, will you let us?” Umi fiddle with her fingers as she blushed, was I some sort of tyrant in her eyes?!

“Of course I’d let you, I don’t own any of you, you can do what you want, even Serena can do what she wants, the world is a horrible place enough, who am I to deny you of the things that bring you joy” The three girls bursted into a wide smile, what is wrong with them

“Really? What if we wanted to take you with us?” Umi asked again staring at me with stars in her eyes

“I mean, if it means that much to you, I don’t mind tagging along, I’m not a very fun person though, so I don’t know if it would be any better if I was there” I brought the mood down where ever I was

“My world has got brighter since I’ve met you” Miko mumbled something under her breath

“Lets have a race!”

“Yeah!”

“I’m going to win”

“I’m the fastest here, just you watch!” The kids all shouted out and lined up in a line, myself and the other girls looked on interested in who will actually win, I mean Vnaa’s speed wasn’t a joke

“I’ll win, my father gave me this special necklace that grants me +25 speed” A rather glamours looking girl stepped ahead of everyone, does she think she gets a head start? She was wearing black tights with a fluffy pink one peace skirt, she had diamond ear rings and two golden bracelets with numerous jewels embedded in them. It was obvious she came from a wealthy family, maybe a well known merchant like Ragar.

“My papa got me a pretty bracelet that grants me speed as well” Vnaa stepped closer to the girl showing her the silver bracelet with the emerald gem, she puffed out her chest like she was showing off her most precious treasure. Yeah, that’s my girl

“Ha! That ugly thing, I wouldn’t even use that to play fetch with my pet, only commoners from the dirtiest of slums wear something like that” What did she just say…

“Master Udon, please calm down, they are only little kids, they say things without thinking” Miko grabbed my tight fist, I understood kids did say stupid things, but if they are allowed to say those things without being punished than it was just letting a monster grow instead of them becoming a functioning member of society.

“Age does not matter in situations like that Rival Miko, I shall teach that horrible little wretch to treat Vnaa with the respect she deserves” Whoa, ok, maybe settle down just a tad Umi, I was only going to lecture the snotty nose brat, not harm her.

“Ready…Go!” One of the boys shouted out, starting the race.

“Go little rockstar” I whispered watching Vnaa run against the other kids. Majority of the kids fell behind Vnaa and the bratty girl, some kids even fell over and landed on their face, I couldn’t help but snicker

“Master Udon! They are little kids” Miko gave me a light whack to the back of the head, what? It was funny when someone fell face first, no matter what age they were

“Go! Go!”

“Yeah!” The kids shouted out and cheered on Vnaa and the bratty girl, they were neck and neck, the finish line was a tree just before the forest started. The bratty girl was getting a little bit ahead of Vnaa, just how fast is that girl anyway?

“Go Vnaa!” Umi stood up and pumped her fist in the air shouting out to Vnaa. Vnaa heard Umi’s call and couldn’t help but smile, she picked up her pace and flew by the bratty girl touching the tree first.

“Woo! Go Vnaa!” Umi jumped up and down, excited to see Vnaa win. I couldn’t help but smile and let out a little laugh

“Master Udon” Miko turned to me and smiled, I had been smiling and laughing more than I had on earth recently, I couldn’t help it, that small girl, she was the joy in my life, a proud father I was.

“Wow, you’re so fast!”

“How are you that fast”

“You’re like the fastest in the dungeon” The kids surrounded Vnaa and complimented her, I could see Vnaa smiling and giggling, she was having a good time.

“She cheated!” The bratty girl finally got her breath back and spoke up, great, a sore loser

“Huh?” The kids turned to the bratty girl, they all seemed frightened of her

“She cheated, there is no one faster than me” The bratty girl got into Vnaa’s face trying to intimidate her

“How did you cheat? Tell me!” The bratty girl shouted

“That little bitch” Umi started walking towards the kids in a rather aggressive way, good, I was just about to do the same thing

“I-I didn’t cheat, I’m just fast” Vnaa stuttered as she replied

“Liar! You cheated! Tell me!” I’ve had enough, that girls parents need to have a strict talking to, I got up and started to follow Umi, Miko and Serena were behind me

“I-I’m not lying” Vnaa replied, the rest of the kids seemed to back off and just watch on in fear

“You are! Tell me how you beat me!” The bratty girl got a little louder and ended up pushing Vnaa

“Vnaa!” I shouted out

“Arrr” Vnaa fell to the ground and got flustered, she transformed back into her Fluffy Caterpillar form

“ARRRRR!” The rest of the kids screamed

“Monster! She’s an ugly monster! Get the grown ups to kill it!” The bratty girl shouted out, the kids all ran off frightened, leaving the scared Vnaa on the ground with tears falling from her eyes

“Vnaa!” Umi ran over to her chasing the rest of the kids off

“Vnaa are you ok?” Miko ran past me and picked Vnaa up

“Vnaa?” Miko asked, she had shut her eyes and was shaking, damn it! Those damn kids! I guess the horrible people doesn’t just stop at players, the kids of this world are just as bad

“Vnaa, don’t let what those kids say get to you” I patted Vnaa on her head, she transformed back i to her human form and jumped into me

“A-am I r-really that ugly!” Vnaa shouted out crying louder now, she was burying her head into my chest, trying to hide from the world, I knew how she felt, the world was a horrible place, I tried all my life trying to hide from it.

“No! You’re not ugly! Those kids are just bullies” Vnaa just buried her head into my chest even more, there was nothing I could say that would help her at the moment, I had gone through this myself, she just needed some time to let it all out and than I’d be able to talk to her

“I shall burn those kids alive” Serena turned to face the town in a rage

“I will join you, drown those wicked kids from the Dungeon we shall” Umi stood next to Serena looking at the town with a sinister grin

“Master Udon! Do something about those two” Miko turned to me in a panic

“…”

“Master Udon!” I turned away, don’t worry I won’t let them actually kill the kids, but maybe a light beating was just what they deserved

“I-I’m sorry for being so ugly and pathetic” Vnaa mumbled into my chest, I could tell what she said though, and so could the others

“Vnaa, please don’t say that about yourself, you’re a beautiful, cheerful little girl, you are more special to me than you know”

“No I’m not! I’m disgusting” Vnaa let out more loud cries, damn it! Maybe I should let Serena and Umi just kill those kids

“You’re irreplaceable Vnaa, those kids are just jealous, you’re lucky enough to be different from everyone else, you don’t need to and shouldn’t change” I comforted Vnaa more and picked her up, she wrapped her arms around my neck and we all headed towards the inn for the night. The other girls looked at Vnaa with worry on there face, they were worried because they know how Vnaa felt about herself, she didn’t think she was strong, she didn’t think she was pretty and now thanks to those kids, she probably thought she was a disgusting monster now, damn it! Damn it! Even the kids of this world are horrible, I need to protect these girls at all costs, they won’t get hurt like I did, they won’t be exposed to the horrible things called people.