Izuku had big plans for the next day. They involved Satou-kun cooking them all some deer meat in a blood hornet’s honey marinade and Uraraka finally embracing her new life as a wolfkin berserker.

Those plans were immediately scrapped when an intruder entered the Dungeon. Izuku’s attention immediately jumped to the entrance, just to see the Purifier stride inside. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to be hostile.

That was reassuring, as they still weren’t sure if they could take her on. They only saw her fight once, and she absolutely demolished those Rose Guard soldiers.

Looks like we’re going to have to waste some additional resources.

Or… you could spawn now and hang around until dinner.

And leave you free from the suffering that is my companionship for such a long time?

I don’t think so.

Alright, that does it

I spawn earlier as well and go pet the lampades’ dogs

Who unlike you are likable

Despite being made to tear people to shreds

Have fun with that.

***

Despite the Purifier not appearing hostile and the outcome of their last visit in the Dungeon, Izuku can’t say that he feels comfortable meeting her face to face. Thankfully, he doesn’t have to.

Uraraka volunteers to join him. And when she does that, so does Toga. And when that’s on the table, Midoriya is immediately reassured, even if a part of him dreads Overtyrant’s moral judgment of Himiko.

Purifier was nice enough to wait for them on the First Level, sitting around the guest area. She would likely start moving soon, but thankfully they managed to get there just in time for her to not get impatient.

“I take it that you came here to talk with me about something.” Izuku says as the Purifier stands up from the chair. Uraraka and Toga were doing their best to pretend to be standard puppets of the Dungeon.

They had a lot of experience in that.

The Purifier nods before pulling something out of the backpack that she earlier set down by her chair. It’s… it looks like a framed sheet of stiff paper, one that she quickly starts to write something on it with what looks like a graphite stick.

They are writing pretty quickly, and within ten seconds or so, they turn the sheet around to let them see the message.

THE BLOOM’S CULT IS UP TO SOMETHING BIG.

Well, it seems that Izuku just learned what was the ‘Next Big Thing’ that Luna mentioned. And it’s Bloom. Huh.

“Uhm, you can’t talk?” Izuku asks back. To be honest, he did that mostly on instinct.

Purifier raises an eyebrow at him, before quickly scribbling a message on her sheet.

I GAVE IT UP.

IS THAT A PROBLEM?

“No, no, I was just surprised.” Midoriya quickly replies. “What’s the deal with the cult?”

More scribbling. This time they get four messages in a row.

I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY.

THE VALLEY NEXT TO THE MINES IS JUST ONE OF THEIR BASES.

NOT EVEN THE LARGEST ONE.

I’VE SEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT DOWN THERE RECENTLY, THEY ARE PREPARING FOR SOMETHING BIG.

“Do you want me to pass the message to the beastkin?” Izuku asks. Whatever it was, it sounded like something that they needed a lot of combat strength to deal with. One that they didn’t have quite yet.

They were yet to place [Rose Barracks] anywhere. And, in fact, had rather mixed feelings about it.

The scribbling he gets this time feels full of pent-up religious extremism. It’s as if she was trying to stab the sheet with her writing stick. The fact that she erased what she wrote two times before finally deciding on the message has also spoken volumes.

I WON’T ALLY MYSELF WITH ONE EVIL JUST TO TAKE DOWN ANOTHER.

That was… about what Izuku should have expected from her. His knowledge of her religion was very faint, but the whole part about ‘tolerance being one of the worst sins’ that Aeonia hinted at said volumes.

It quickly turns out that she wasn’t done with messaging, although she definitely calmed down a little.

I KNOW OF TWO BASES OF THE CULT, I WANT TO HIT THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

HOPEFULLY FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE UP TO.

ANY CHANCES OF YOUR SERVANTS ATTACKING ONE OF THEM?

And that was… not something that Izuku expected to happen. Sure, they have already slayed a number of the warlocks of Filth (although ‘witches’ seemed to be the official local name for those) during their failed attack on the Dungeon. But…

That was something they’ve done in self-defense.

And even then, the only reason why they all managed to get through it so well, despite killing people, was that those people wore identity-concealing clothes. To the point where they had no idea what they exactly looked like.

It was surprisingly easy to imagine them as something that wasn’t human and also couldn’t be reasoned with it. And yes, it was still deeply concerning that they managed to get past it like this, but…

It was self-defense.

To actually come out on their own to attack them in their own bases was something completely different. Even if Ochako did mention something about finding their homes and setting them on fire for their attack on the Dungeon interrupting her sweet time with Izuku.

He wasn’t sure if she was serious about it.

He opens his mouth to tell the Purifier that he needs a moment to think it over, but that’s when it occurs to him that if he does so, then… then what?

They just don’t know enough about the Purifier to know whether the mere implication of not being sure about charging at the enemy headfirst wouldn’t be enough to make her hostile. Or wouldn’t just make her leave.

And while she was definitely a wildcard, the mere fact that she came to share with them what she knew about the cult made her invaluable.

Especially as, however fleeting of a suspicion it was, there was a chance that she was a total wildcard to Luna. Who acted as if the whole Next Big Thing was going to stay hidden from them for a while longer, something that Purifier just rendered wrong.

And, if Izuku is to be honest, the Webmistress’ Family is just a bunch of all-around nasty people. Worse than probably every villain that Izuku could encounter while a pro-hero on Earth. Whatever plans they had in motion would likely end up with a wave of giant spiders devouring everything that lives in the area, including inhabitants of local villages/towns.

Izuku might be at this point trying to justify an act of murder to himself, but if there was ever a good reason to kill someone, saving a lot of children and other innocent people from being cocooned before having their insides liquified and slurped out of their bodies by an army of giant spiders while they were still alive was probably it.

In other words, f-fuck Bloom.

Damn, it feels wrong to even think the F-word.

“Alright.” Izuku replies, noticing Uraraka giving him a surprised look in his peripheral vision. “But we won’t be able to depart before tomorrow. And my Dungeon’s still not ready to field all the daemons we’ve captured in the last battle. How many enemies might be inside?”

This wasn’t exactly the truth. They were large enough to field not just the [Rose Guard] soldiers but actually most of the Ecstasy fighters they captured in the last battle, with the exception of [Languid Ironclads], [Rapturous Brutes] and [Rose Knights].

However, they just weren’t quite sure if they wanted those guys around. Or to be exact, if they wanted them around right now.

They were yucky.

Purifier scribbles down the answers.

20-30 WITCHES, MOSTLY FIRST AND SECOND CIRCLE, MIGHT BE A FEW THIRD CIRCLE ONES.

UNKNOWN NUMBER OF SPIDERS

Well, that was definitely more than they could deal with with just their servants, even if they all decided to participate. They will have to spawn at least a few dozen of the Ecstasy daemons to give them some much needed manpower. Maybe even have Komori-san physically manifest herself to join them on the trip.

Ugh.

“I’m going to need at least two days to get all the daemons spawned and physically manifested.” Izuku replies. “Only then can we depart. Where is their base?”

This time the Purifier scribbles down a rough map of their surroundings, before showing it to him, pointing at one location on it, wiping it all out and quickly writing some additional information on how to get it.

About two days of travel from the Dungeon. They would need to cross the river and march through the area now patrolled by the beastkin before trekking past the mountain there. That, naturally, opened up another problem.

“I’m also going to need to inform the beastkin that we'll be passing by.” Izuku says. The last thing he wants is them noticing Ecstasy soldiers marching by and attacking them. “Unless they say no, it’s doable.”

Purifier nods before quickly scribbling down their goodbyes. Then she leaves.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Huh, that was nerve racking.

“Are you sure that this is a good idea, Izuku?” Uraraka asks him the second Purifier vanishes from sight. “Don’t get me wrong, we don’t really have a way of saying no to you when you and Shigaraki decide upon something, but… this doesn’t mean you should make such a decision without at least consulting everyone.”

“I don’t mind!” Toga grins towards her. “I don’t follow orders unless you or Izukun are the ones issuing them. Then I’m all for it, mrow.”

Uraraka shakes her head while sighing loudly and giving Himiko a quick scratch to the head. That was about what she expected her to do, either way.

“If they say no, I won’t force them to take part.” Izuku replies. “We’ll just send more Ecstasy daemons to compensate. I mean… I figured out that you at least would want to take part.”

“Of course I do, Izuku!” Uraraka grins at him. “I still have a score to settle with them for interrupting our time together by attacking the Dungeon! So, I’m absolutely taking part in that attack, stealing all their valuables and setting whatever houses they have on fire!”

Hearing her being so serious about having bloody vengeance on people for interrupting them makes Izuku blush.

Seeing Izuku blush makes Uraraka hug him tightly and almost entirely on instinct. He was just so… huggable!

Seeing Ochako-chan hug Izukun makes Toga press her lips together with all her might, only barely suppressing her intense desire to squeal loudly. They were just so… adorable!

***

They were on quite a tight schedule concerning the upcoming battle. So, naturally, they focused on the most important things.

“Satou-kun, this is absolutely delicious!” Uraraka exclaims after her first bite of the meal. She says nothing more, just begins to (pun intended) wolf it down with extreme enthusiasm.

Izuku can’t help but agree with her. He could understand why blood hornet’s honey was considered a delicacy in this world. And he also had an inkling as to why according to their lampades it was a ‘magical’ ingredient that made meals be more of a meal.

Satou-kun had an extremely limited list of ingredients available to him. Meat of deers and rabbits and a handful of herbs that they could find in the forest and grow in a [Growing Area] (with most prominent finds being rosemary and sage), plus of course the honey.

And yet, what he made was as tasty in his opinion as his mom’s katsudon.

The honey made the meat soft and tender, all while having that meaty yet sweet taste that made it feel as if you weren’t eating honey, but instead meat that was so soft that it was almost a liquid, or as if it was just melting in your mouth.

This, naturally, opened a completely new question in Izuku’s mind. Namely, how good would his mom’s katsudon get if she got to use similarly supernatural ingredients to improve upon it?

That was something he definitely intended to find out eventually.

Satou-kun didn’t seem to hear Uraraka’s words as he was too busy swallowing his own share of the meat - right before he began to stare into space while lightly crying.

“So this is how the food tastes…” He whispers, his eyes still blank, the man clearly in his own world. “... when you’ve gotten isekai’d to be a cook in a magical world. It tastes like my dreams.”

Izuku mentally notes him down as another person who has gone native and fully accepted their second life. Good for him.

“Don’t eat too much.” Monoma decides to rain down on Satou’s parade. Since he can’t eat it due to being a genetic vegetarian, Izuku lets it slide. He would be salty if he missed out on it too. “You might not like the side-effects. Seeing as the honey, apparently, doubles as a mild aphrodisiac.”

He and their remaining elves were instead drinking herbal tea spiced with said honey. Judging from the speed in which it was disappearing, the honey worked there just as good as it did with meat.

They’ve also made sure to send some of the meat and drinks to the lampades, a golem carrying it for them. Ay’zira was in the room, too, wolfing down her meal almost as quickly as Uraraka did.

“Remember the deal with the spells.” Monoma then immediately whispers to Yui Kodai who was sitting right beside him. And whose reaction to hearing about said side-effect was to give a rather sharp look to Satou-kun. It’s as if she was measuring him with her eyes.

Kodai says nothing, just sighs and returns to drinking her tea in measured sips. Satou, who didn’t get the memo about Kodai being Mineta (but hornier and much more attractive), looks back at the two of them, completely confused.

“Well, that’s something that I’m definitely looking forward to testing!” Uraraka exclaims before immediately returning to wolfing down the meat on her plate. It was vanishing very rapidly.

Izuku fails to contain the blush, which earns him a loud groan from Shigaraki. One so loud that he could hear it two tables away. And over the sound of Dabi grumbling loudly that if it ain’t kicking, it’s not worth drinking.

“You know what, I think I know what Uraraka-san sees in him.” Tokage whispers into Reiko Yanagi’s ear at the. They are both at the table that was mostly occupied by former 1-B students. Even Kinoko Komori dropped by. “When he’s like that, he makes you want to wrap him in a blanket and hug.”

Yanagi glances at Midoriya while taking a dignified sip from her cup. Then she notices someone else, who despite his lineage and past position at nearly the top of the class was somehow blending into the background.

“What about Todoroki-kun?” She whispers back to Tokage. “Doesn’t he give off a similar vibe?”

Tokage says nothing, just looks at Shoto Todoroki with a deeply thoughtful expression on her face.

“Hey, Mr. Cookman!” Dabi decides to interrupt the moment by being himself. “Can you at least make this into mead? So that the grown-ups can actually enjoy it?”

“Speak for yourself, this meat is good.” Shigaraki replies before Satou can. “Feel free to diss all the heroes, I’m all for that, but leave the guy who makes food for us alone, alright? Never disrespect the people who make you food.”

Spinner, with his mouth full, nods quickly a few times.

“Or what?” Dabi replies, glaring at Shigaraki.

“Or they might start adding things to it that you didn’t want.” Shigaraki replies angrily. “It’s basic etiquette and survival instinct, you prick. Same with the people who clean your house. I remember insulting Kurogiri over him complaining about my room being so dirty that it’s just inviting an infestation of something, and then bam, I started finding worms and other nasty little critters in my bed sheets, each and every damn day.”

“Really?” Spinner clearly didn’t hear this story earlier, and it made him swallow his food before speaking. “Was he warping them in?”

“Oh, absolutely.” Shigaraki replies while shaking his head. “Figured it out after I found a giant spider under my pillow. The largest fucking abomination I’ve ever seen before getting isekai’d. And two days later I heard that someone stole an identical spider from an exhibit at a local zoo, so yeah, it wasn’t hard to connect the dots.”

“Am I supposed to be impressed by his passive-aggressive parenting skills?” Dabi cuts back at him.

“No.” Shigaraki points his fork at Dabi almost threateningly. “You are supposed to be nice to our cook. If you need to insult someone, insult Midoriya.”

Uraraka stops eating for a moment just to show him a middle finger. Shigaraki just shakes his head.

“Well, as for the question, I’m not sure.” Satou decides to ignore the entire exchange and focus on the question that he was asked. “I know the theory behind it, it’s just fermented honey, but the problem is that I don’t have appropriate yeast on hand. And just because I know how it’s made in theory doesn’t mean that I know how to make it taste good. Also, I don’t know how long it will be. Normally it takes almost a year, and while the Dungeon makes things grow faster than they should be, I don’t know if it works for alcohol fermentation too.”

“You should ask Sero-kun.” Kaminari comments, the man busy staring at the contents of his cup just as his brain randomly decided to deliver them all a most important piece of information. “His family’s business is all about producing various types of alcohol for sale and he was helping them for years. If someone knows how to make mead and make it good, it’s definitely him.”

“And that’s… definitely something to consider for the future.” Yaoyorozu decides to comment. “If the fermentation process is faster than normally, we could easily obtain a lot of it for sale. Makes you wonder why not a single one of the beastkin that died in the battle carried a Brewing skill.”

“Maybe it’s under Alchemy?” Monoma asks, Yaoyorozu just shrugging in response.

“Speaking of, I have a question.” Kaminari raises his hand, his eyes finally moving from the contents of his cup.. “Uhm, we’re going to settle the Ecstasy folks down in the Dungeon, right?”

“We will, probably on the Ninth Level.” Izuku replies. He was yet to announce his decision to attack the Webmistress’ Family and their need to use some of their recent acquisitions to succeed. “Why are you asking?”

“So, hypothetically, what’s the official policy on visiting said level for entertainment purposes?” Kaminari then asks the one question that Izuku didn’t want to hear. “I wanted to be clear about it.”

“Oh, and now I’m suddenly interested.” Shigaraki says before anyone can react, turning around his chair to face Midoriya. “Go on. I’m looking forward to you trying to persuade him that this is a bad thing because they are your former enemies and villains all while you’re banging Toga. Go on. Entertain me.”

Toga shows him her tongue. Shigaraki doesn’t seem to care.

Izuku does, in fact, find it hard to find a reasonably sounding counterargument to that. Because Shigaraki had a point. What sort of argument did he really have to present?

They are bad people who have done bad things in the past? Questionable, seeing his relationship with Himiko. Playing the age card? He would shoot himself in his feet if he did.

“Alright, this is time for Mina ‘the Cupid’ Ashido to take a step in.” Ashido announces loudly while standing up to add further gravity to her statement. “Kaminari-kun, Jirou likes you. In the romantic sense.”

“W-what?!” Kaminari stares at her in shock. “She does?! But… she keeps stabbing me with her earlobes and laughing whenever I do something stupid.”

“She just likes dumb but kind men.” Ashido replies. “You know, the whole himbo aesthetic. She wants someone she can lightheartedly laugh at without them feeling bad about it, and while knowing that they are good people she can definitely trust. But if you go and sleep with random women, especially those women, she’ll definitely not like it. So, whom do you pick - Jirou as a girlfriend or sex with the thots?”

“Screw the thots!” Kaminari announces while putting his cup on the table, right before freezing as he realizes what he just said. “Uhm, not like literally, you know? I’m picking Jirou.”

“Perfect.” Ashido says as she sits down right beside Kirishima. “Love Intervention successful!” Kirishima gives her a thumbs-up gesture, before the two fistbump each other.

“I was promised Midoriya being either forced to accept it or be painfully hypocritical about it.” Shigaraki groans as he turns around, his choice of a seat picked specifically to not have to look at Midoriya. “But I got neither. What a disappointment.”

That's when Yui Kodai raises her hand, saying absolutely nothing. Monoma immediately shivering in his seat.

“We’ll get back to this subject once you get yourself at least a few spells unlocked.” He then says, immediately shutting her hopes and dreams down. At least for some time. “I’m getting you reformed or die trying.”

Kodai looks back at him before sighing lightly and putting her hand down. Shigaraki, it seems, wasn't the only person who suffered from extreme disappointment during this meal.

***

Descriptions of the aphrodisiac effects of the honey have been rather overblown in Izuku’s opinion, but it was still a rather interesting afterparty for him, Himiko and Ochako. Especially as Himiko snatched a bottle of honey and had some… interesting ideas for its application.

Izuku is genuinely happy that he can’t die because otherwise he would totally drop dead due to blood pressure alone.

His cardiovascular system was built for supplying his muscles with energy that he needed to punch out villains and for not dying out of blood loss due to his own injuries, not this.

Some time later he was back in the Dungeon Core. No longer having a body, but still with all the memories. And he could get back to being a productive member of their society. By finally having that talk.

And you agreed to attack them?

On the spot?

Without any moral issues?

Are there any moral issues when attacking cultists of the Rampant Bloom is involved?

Yes, Midoriya.

They are people.

You don’t ‘arrest them’ like you do daemons, you straight up kill them, the confirmed afterlife aside

And you agreed to that

Your point being?

Sob

They grow up so fast

I’m such a good influence on you

I have words that I would like to say about you, but my mom brought me up too well for me to have such a filthy mouth.

Uh-oh.

I assume that there would be no problems from you, then?

Sure, let’s kill them all.

Let’s tell everyone and see who is onboard with it first.