I stabbed my fork into the sausage before tossing it into my mouth. Welf had a good taste in food that I couldn't deny! Chewing on it I couldn't help but relate it to a recent meal of sushi I had.
Both of these meals . . . Are perfect in their own way! I just can't decide which one I like more!
Well, it would make sense that I can eat a whole lot then! Thank you my stomach, we are truly both blessed by the Sun Goddess today!
Gulping down the bread roll that quickly followed the savory delight, I asked Welf to continue with what he was talking about. I didn't really get it, but he seemed to be a big nerd about it so I didn't dare interrupt!
As a fellow nerd, it was my sworn duty to allow my friend to continue his rant! Though our passions were related, they weren't exactly the same. I loved using swords, and he loved making them!
I kept eating as he continued, what can I say, I'm hungry!
"-and that's why it's better to make a custom hilt for a weapon to help balance out the amount of weight you use for the blade rather than make mass produced junk that's generally useful, but overall unreliable for different wielders." He let out a small breath as he picked up and started taking a drink of his water. His meal was finished, but only I had gotten around to ordering thirds!
It's a bit hard to eat and talk at the same time after all, and Welf certainly did a lot of talking! I sort of feel like I learned something today, even if I have no idea how to use this knowledge.
Setting down my own empty glass I gently patted my stomach.
"That was great Welf! Are you going to be getting thirds too?"
He casually waved me off with a smile.
"I don't want to overstuff, seconds is enough for me. We can always swing by tomorrow with the rest of our party if we'd like too."
I couldn't help but nod. While Belle struck me as the type who preferred more expensive cuisine, I'm certain my adorable companion would at least give the humble Fox & Boar a try!
It was run by a super cute couple of a fox woman, and a boar woman- gah. Why am I picturing Belle and myself like that!? Get your mind out of the gutter Andrew! Even if did start dating Belle, public handholding would be way too soon!
No, I must stay focused for now! First, dungeon dive! Then I can worry about this!
It's still interesting to see the different species of people around though. I don't really know the actual names, but I've seen people with animal traits, and just straight up elves and dwarves!
This world really is awesome!
Maybe I should take some time to learn more about it once I leave the Dungeon. Though I've got to spend time with Syr first!
"Speaking of the rest of our party, we still need to pick up Belle. Hestia and Belle are probably wondering where I disappeared too. I'm normally back by now."
I wish I could just text them where I was! Maybe this world isn't as awesome as I thought.
"Alright then, we can do that and then finish up our final prep for our first dive as a team."
Alright, scratch everything! This world is super awesome! I nodded in response to Welf, and he awkwardly looked to the side before giving a small sigh, and a smile.
"Thank you for partying with me."
"Of course! Honestly I'm glad you're coming with us, it never hurts to have an experienced blacksmith on hand." I gave the redhead a smile, Welf was a good guy.
Wait a second, I should just say that to him!
"Welf." I leaned in, over the table slightly as I stared into his soul! He moved back slightly, his body tensing up. "You're awesome!" I held a fist to the sky! Fork in hand, meal consumed, friend reminded he's awesome!
All three tasks complete!
He flashed a grin as he stood up and cracked his neck.
"Alright then, let's get going." He reached down to pull up his weapon, but his eyes widened as he looked over my shoulder. "Hey isn't that-"
"Found you." I raised an eyebrow and turned around, a menacing rabbit was standing over me!
"Hi Belle!" Turning back to Welf I flashed him a thumbs up. "Looks like she can eat with us here before we head out!"
Welf slowly nodded, only to look more confused as he stared at Belle.
"How did you even find us?"
Welf, that doesn't matter! What matters is that she's here now!
"I followed his scent." Her tone was deadpan, as she looked up at Welf's taken aback expression.
"That's amazing Belle, you have a good nose." I couldn't help but nod my head, from what I understand of humans, it was fairly hard to track with smell. She must be a really impressive tracker to be able to do that! The more I learn about her, the cooler she becomes!
Or maybe it's because of her increased stats? Either way, it's still pretty cool! Either way, she puffed out her chest from the praise.
"That's . . ." Welf decided to stop speaking after saying that, and instead engage with a staring contest with Belle which he swiftly lost. He coughed a moment later as I handed Belle the last buttery bread roll on my plate.
Which she swiftly devoured like a ravenous beast!
"We should prepare some food before we get in. If we plan to be in there for a while, food will be critical."
Welf reached into his bag and pulled out small wrappings of cloth with something hard inside, presenting them to the group. Could it be what I think it is?
"This is hardtack, it's not great, but it works."
I had to wipe away my drool for a moment. Welf had hardtack, and he didn't tell me! It wasn't as good as the meal I just ate, nor was it as good as sushi, but it's still quite good!
Turning to Belle with an excited expression, I froze. Her entire existence permeated gloom! I paused, thoughtfully analyzing her behavior, before remembering a critical detail. Don't most people not enjoy hardtack? I patted Belle on the shoulder with a faint sigh.
"Do we have any other rations that won't spoil easily? I don't know if Belle wants to eat the biscuits." I'd posed the question to Welf, but Belle shook her head before turning to me with her own answer.
"No, it's fine. That sort of thing is fairly expensive."
Tears threatened to break free from my eyes. Eating something you don't like . . . Belle truly is brave!
"Money is just a number compared to your comfort Belle! After this delve, we'll get super expensive food!"
"We should head into the Dungeon as soon as possible."
That seemed to give her a bit more of a pick me up, now with our group finally convened, we decided that now was the time to head to the Dungeon!
Moving through Orario was relatively easy, the roads easily guiding our way to the passive tower at the center, as well as what lay beneath.
The Dungeon wouldn't be so easy to navigate, but I was certain the three of us would be fine.
"So, do we actually have a proper plan? Or are we just going to be stuck on the first floor?" Welf spoke up, and I couldn't help but consider his words.
We didn't exactly have a plan, but we also sort of did?
"We can just continue at our own pace, if we feel comfortable going to the next floor, we should!"
We continued talking as we made our way down the gigantic stairs, the memory of meeting Welf upon them was still fairly fresh in my mind and I couldn't help but smile as we descended. It's good to be surrounded by friends.
We made our way down and into the first floor, its blue hue reflecting slightly off the walls as adventurers came and went. The side tunnels splitting off the path practically called out to me, we couldn't fight monsters with all these people in the way!
"Alright team, let's continue!"
As we entered the side path I sucked into a breath as the walls cracked.
This was it! This was our moment! My best friend's sword held in hand almost seemed to quiver with anticipation. Goblins, eight of them, clawed from the Dungeon walls and flopped down onto the ground before turning to us. At the same time Belle moved, her speed surprising even myself for a moment as she danced between the different goblins until nothing but headless corpses remained. I was certainly still faster, but at Belle's rate of growth, she'd catch up in no time!
"Good job Belle!" I patted her on the shoulder, her hands and arms covered in blood as she gave me a small smile. We turned to continue moving, but I couldn't hear Welf following us!
Turning around I stared at the red head who was glaring at the magic stones and three goblin fangs on the ground in shock.
"What?" He kneeled down after a moment, staring at the monster drops in sheer bafflement to the point of repeating himself. "What?"
I frowned faintly at him, but he didn't seem to notice. What had our dear companion confused? Could it be that he didn't know how to split up the drops? I shook my head slightly in amusement. I was similar long ago, but then I learned about division!
Picking up one of the fangs I passed it to Welf, who still seemed to be a bit dazed. Then I tossed one to Belle, and pocketed the last one.
"Alright, let's keep going. We're wasting precious time just standing around." Patting him on the shoulder was an easy task, but I couldn't help but feel a rabbit staring at my back as I did so.
I continued down the hall, but it took Welf a strange amount of time to catch up. A whole five seconds!
"Are we just not going to talk about what just happened?" He seemed a bit desperate, but I could only tilt my head.
"Talk about what?" We killed some Goblins, got some drops. That's how it works! His lips twitched before he let out a small breath and nodded.
"Alright, I get it. Just let miracles be miracles. Don't question them I guess."
Our descent into the second floor was mostly uneventful, two more Kobolds tried to jump us, but I think the Dungeon realized at a certain point it was just feeding us free stuff!
Then we got to the second floor. It took me about half a second to realize things were off, before laughing slightly. Silly Dungeon, do you seriously think that will work twice? I've already faced invisible foes before!
Belle didn't seem to immediately clock the Dungeon Chameleon skulking towards us, but I couldn't have that. Pointing my sword right at the beast I smiled towards my companion.
"Belle, I've killed one of these before. Now it's your turn!"
Isabelle Cranel POV
A Dungeon Chameleon. Invisibility, a crushingly powerful bite, and everything else that made Dungeon Lizard's dangerous. I shifted my mask from Luck to Sense. The Developmental ability warped, along with my soul. The mask I wore became something else entirely as I locked eyes with the beast now revealed to me.
I am curious however. How must a Dungeon Chameleon experience its own powers used against itself?
I whispered under my breath as I locked eyes with my lover. He was a pure soul, so pure that he could dye my black heart the colors it once was. Whether the feelings he felt for me were romantic, or familial. He was still my lover. Nonetheless, I was certain of which he would end up selecting.
That much was obviously true.
The whisper of words confounding from my mouth manifested in reality.
This was my Silence. That which was inherited from my Aunt.
"Σιωπή"
For a moment the lizard froze, confused. The drain of magic upon me was an interesting experience, but one I took in stride. Welf, the foolish man, began to awkwardly ask my lover questions of what he could be referring too.
Didn't he know that he was in the presence of a Hero? You shouldn't ask questions. Simply accept.
The Lizard turned its gaze over to the redhead, perhaps sensing that he was our weakest link despite his stats being the highest in our party. Or maybe it was the terror of the encroaching beast that I knew Andrew could reveal if need be.
Either way, it seemed to have forgotten about me for the moment. Did Invisible Face do more than just suppress physical presence? But Mental Presence as well? For a moment my heart clamored, would Andrew forget me- No. He was staring right at me in fact. I blushed faintly as he gave me a thumbs up.
"You've got this Belle- Sorry Welf what were you saying?"
I channelled Argonaut into my weapon as the Chameleon stalked towards the pair. Perhaps if Welf became afraid of the Dungeon, he wouldn't wish to be in here anymore and I could continue my date?
That would be excellent. Ideal even!
I continued to channel power into my blade, the stalker became the stalked as it continued. I sucked in a small breath of air as the drain on my mana grew more intense, perhaps I would need to finish this sooner than I thought.
No. I needed to do this right.
In the name of Love.
A claw began to descend, but Andrew didn't flinch. He had complete faith in me. And while a small part of myself was willing to get Welf injured to stay out of my way, I didn't want him to die.
Andrew would be sad after all.
My vision turned grey for a moment as time began to feel as though it slowed down, my form moving like a wraith as I took a step. Then, with a rotation of my entire body strength I tore out its throat.
Blood cascading on the ground as it uselessly clawed at nothing, my spell broke, I reappeared in the eyes of Welf who took a step back in shock for multiple reasons. The glassy eye of the Dungeon Chameleon stared up at me as it returned from its invisibility, hate in its eyes.
I was like that once. Full of hate. But I get it now. Love is far stronger than hate. After all, if hate truly did have the ability to give such immense power, then how could someone like Andrew exist?
Suddenly I found myself in a hug.
"Great work Belle! I knew you could do it! That was super cool timing as well!"
Welf turned back and forth, his eyes flickering between the massive dead body in front of him, a blood soaked Hero, and his lover in his arms.
I couldn't help but give the blacksmith a smile. This was a good moment.
Though for some reason, he gulped as though seeing something scary.
He just didn't understand cute things I suppose.
____
If you'd like to read up to 4 chapters ahead and vote on story polls, you can do so on my Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/BobOfTheHedgeField
Thanks for everyone's support and reading this far, see you next time!