I wake up in my bed feeling much better. I have no recollection of how I got here or what happened after we left the employee dining hall.
All my equipment was also unceremoniously dropped into my room and lies there messily. I used up most of the miniature javelins Hippo gave me so I should go ask him for more. I should also give him my thanks. These javelins had made my life a lot easier.
I leave my room and take the elevator down to the forge. I wait at the entrance both due to the overwhelming heat and because I don't feel confident to navigate through this place. A Cyclops appears after a few moments.
"HELLO GUY, HIPPO IS HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGAIN. WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?"
So this is Hippo. I hadn't been able to tell since all his features were covered in soot. I am glad I get to speak to someone I've already met.
"Hi there Hippo. I'm also glad to see you again. I came to thank you for those miniature javelins you gave me. They proved to be really useful so I wanted to ask if I could have some more of them?"
"YOU LIKED OUR TOOTHPICKS? WE HAVE LOTS OF THOSE AND YOU CAN HAVE AS MANY OF THEM AS YOU WANT."
Wait a minute. Did he just say that the miniature javelins he gave me are toothpicks? Sure I thought they were a little short but really? Toothpicks of all things? And they were so damn effective.
"Are those miniature javelins really toothpicks? Aren't they a little too dangerous for that? I did use them to kill multiple people."
"EVERYTHING MADE BY A CYCLOPS IS A WEAPON IF USED CORRECTLY. HIPPO AND HIS BROTHERS ARE THE GREATEST CRAFTSMEN AND BLACKSMITHS THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN! WANT TO KILL PEOPLE WITH A PAN? GET A CYCLOPS PAN MADE BY THE GREAT HIPPO!"
"That sounds like a commercial."
"THAT IS A COMMERCIAL. PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD BUY HIPPO'S CREATIONS."
"So about those toothpicks..."
"RIGHT, HIPPO NEARLY FORGOT ABOUT THAT. I'LL GO PREPARE A BUNCH FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM BROUGHT TO YOUR ROOM."
"Thanks for that."
I run out of the forge before my eardrums are ruptured by the sonic nukes Hippo keeps blasting at me. Are all cyclopses like that? I hope not but fear that the whole bunch is just like him.
I return to my room and walked right in on a young lady in maid uniform tidying up the equipment on my floor. She looks like a human at first glance but after looking more closely her body is made up of a blue jelly-like substance. She notices the sound of the door opening and looks at me with unblinking eyes.
"Oh, you must be the porter. I'm Guy, a new employee here, nice to meet you!"
"I'm Tele."
"When I heard you were a giant spacial jellyfish I kind of imagined something different. You know, with the giant part and all."
The area where her face was turns a bright shade of pink reminding of how ordinary people blush. Tele doesn't answer but steps forward to reveal a tentacle extending from her back and disappearing into nothingness. Then, space around the tentacle suddenly opens up and reveals a passage leading into the void. There, floating in the void is a giant and I mean GIANT blue jellyfish. The tentacle is the only connection between the giant jellyfish and the jelly maid in my room.
Before I can say anything more, the jelly maid is pulled into the void by the tentacle and the passage closes. Is she shy?
The jelly maid is now gone and my room is cleaned up. I even have a slight notion that my room was cleaned too and the bed is definitely made way better than how I left it.
I have come to the conclusion that all the other employees here are weirdos and I need a good dose of normalcy.
It's already the morning of the next day, I spent a lot of time here. Not going home for the night isn't something I like to do but the mission required it and according to Navi I don't have to go to work for the time being.
Come to think of it, Navi hasn't said anything for a while now. I got kind of accustomed to the constant comments she made at all times. She's probably busy with the dungeon defense and all the stuff that's happening.
I shouldn't disturb her unless necessary.
I check my things and find that there are three new quivers filled with cyclops toothpicks aka miniature javelins. With this, all my preparations for the next mission are done and I can go home without worry.
I walk out of the VR dungeons HQ finding the reception to be empty. Valeria must also be in the dungeon right now. I wonder how strong she is?
On my way home I buy a cut of orc meat to celebrate the completion of this mission. I had only taken a quick look at my bank account and found that the bonus for this mission had been very generous.
I arrive before the door of my home and find myself a little anxious to enter. I summon my courage and push open the door to enter. I find Melody in the living room folding laundry. Based on her movements she's angry.
"Hey honey, I'm home."
"Why do you sound like a pitiful puppy that's about to be beaten by its owner."
"Because I feel like that is what's about to happen."
"If you knew the consequence then why did you do it? Guy, you know me well enough to avoid doing such things."
"I'm sorry. But the job I have suits me well and there is no risk of me not returning alive. Also, the pay is good. Look, I bought some orc meat with the bonus I got for yesterday. The girls always said that they wanted to try some."
"What did you even have to do that stopped you from coming home?"