Alice opened a portal to the forest nearby the city, then both Alice and Braydon walked through. "You're really not going to go loot that hidden room?" Braydon asked.
"No. I don't want to. Anyway, we should leave for that town after the banquet." Alice said. Braydon sighed.
"Alright. Well, let's go get this quest turned in." Braydon said. Alice and Braydon walked back to the city, then into the guild.
"Back already?" The receptionist asked. Alice nodded.
"It was a labyrinth. The only monster was in the center of it." Alice said.
"That can't be right. Most of the time dungeons have several levels and hundreds or even thousands of monsters." The receptionist said.
"It wasn't exactly a dungeon. It was a construct created to house a specific monster by a man named Daedalus." Alice said.
"That sounds... Familiar." The receptionist said. An adventurer walked up behind Alice and Braydon.
"It should. That man is an artificer that knew the witch of the north. He is mentioned in a few excerpts from her journals that were recovered after the great war." The adventurer said.
"Oh, that's right! It's said that Daedalus disappeared about a decade before the witch went mad. Weren't they friends?" The receptionist asked.
"I believe so." He responded.
"What was the witch's name?" Alice asked.
"That information was lost ages ago. She was just known as the witch of the north." The receptionist said.
"I see." Alice said.
"Anyway, how did you discover he created it?" She asked.
"We found a secret room with several journals as well as his body. I read one of them. He asked the reader to visit a small town, but if it was that long ago, the people he wanted to see are probably dead." Alice said.
"How unfortunate. Why didn't he leave?" The receptionist asked.
"I think he had gotten trapped inside of the maze. Something about cruel irony." Alice said.
"Ah, I see. Well, what was the town, I'll see if I can pull up any records." The receptionist said.
'Now I feel even more obligated to do this...' Alice thought. "Martav." Alice said.
"Ah, no records are required then..." The receptionist said.
"Why?" Alice asked.
"That town was destroyed by one of the kings of the era of myth. It was said to be the hometown of the witch of the north, so the king ordered it to be destroyed." The receptionist explained.
"What an illogical move. Why would you destroy the hometown of an insane person? Were they trying to get themself killed?" Alice asked.
"Nobody knows what was going on in his head at the time, all they know is he did it." She said.
"Well, anyway, here is the quest paper." Alice said as she placed the paper on the counter.
"It does say it was completed properly..." The receptionist said as she hesitantly marked the quest finished. She pulled out a bag of coins. "Here is the reward. Fifteen gold." She said. "By the way, what kind of monster was it that you defeated?" She asked.
"A minotaur." Alice said blandly.
"Sorry, I don't think I heard you properly, could you repeat that?" She asked.
"A minotaur. You know, half bull, half man?" Alice said with a confused tone.
"G-guild card please..." She said. Alice handed her the card. "C-c-confirmed." She said as she looked at Alice with fear and the eyes of the adventurers of the guild watched her with shock.
"Why is everybody reacting in such a way?" Alice asked as she looked around. The receptionist took a moment to regain her composure.
"Alice, you just told us you took on a demi-god." The receptionist said.
"Say what?" Alice asked with a flat tone.
"You killed a demi-god!" She yelled.
"Oh. Is there only one minotaur?" Alice asked.
"Three. One was killed in the era of myth, one disappeared, and the last is currently held in the dungeon of the castle." She explained.
"Which was strongest?" Alice asked.
"It is said that the weakest was killed by the hero, the strongest went missing, and the other, as I said, is being held in the castle's dungeon." She said.
"But... Like... They were weak demi-gods, right?" Alice asked.
"They were in the lowest tier of demi-gods, yes, but still, having defeated one puts you on par with a hero." She explained.
"Eh!?" Alice exclaimed as she hid behind Braydon. "No way! I am not letting this get out! Let someone else take the credit!" Alice yelled from behind Braydon.
"We can't. This is to be reported to, not only the church but the kingdom and grandmaster of the adventurer's guild." The receptionist said.
"P-please! I don't want the responsibility that comes with people knowing about this!" Alice pleaded.
"Sorry, but the rules cannot be ignored." She responded. Alice slouched in disappointment as she walked to the door. Braydon hurried to the desk and grabbed the gold.
"Sorry about her, she doesn't like to go to events and it's likely she would have to if this got out..." Braydon said as he grabbed the gold. After getting the coins, he left and put the bag into Alice's satchel.
"Thanks." Alice said with a solemn tone.
"Look on the bright side, you are likely to get access to the library due to this." Braydon said. Alice sighed.
"Yeah, I suppose. Just wanted to work my way there steadily, not by killing a demi-god." Alice said. "Well, no use worrying over what happened, we need to focus on what happens next." Alice said.
"Agreed." Braydon responded. After a bit, they returned to the inn and went to their room. Upon their entry, a bright light appeared and a young girl appeared.
"Yo! Figured I would come on by considering what happened." Alicia said as her feet touched the ground.
"Oh, hey..." Alice said as she closed the door behind her.
"We aren't going to be hunted by the gods or anything, right?" Braydon asked.
"Oh, no, don't worry about that. Their parent diety died off during the age of myth due to the witch." Alicia said.
"Ah, I see. The witch becomes more terrifying." Alice said.
"She was quite powerful, but the story the people of this world know about her is only a half-truth." Alicia said.
"Why is that?" Braydon asked.
"It's pretty obvious. The monarchy is hiding vital pieces of information." Alice said.
"That is indeed part of it." Alicia said. "For now, that much is to be a secret, I've already told a mortal about her story." Alicia added as she sat on Braydon's bed.
"Who did you tell?" Alice asked.
"A person from the same world as you. His name is Liam. He's about as analytical as Alice, oh, and he has a goddess under his command." Alicia said.
"How did he manage that?" Braydon asked.
"He was probably offered wishes without limit and he wished for the goddess to be his servant or something." Alice said blandly.
"Correct." Alicia said as she leaned back. "Anyway, he's going to be at that party you are attending here soon and I asked them to meet with you guys, so be prepared to meet them. The goddess is Julianna, Liam is the other worlder, and there is one more ortherworlder named Yue who will also be there." Alicia explained.
"Right, and now that I am thinking about the party, the minotaur might come up..." Alice said.
"Don't worry about it, just act as if it was nothing, which in all honesty, for you, it probably was." Alicia said as she waved her hand in front of her face.
"Fair enough." Alice said. "By the way, it could have used some clothes, does the last one at least have some under garments?" Alice asked.
"Yeah, it does. I've been watching your adventure up until now. You two have done a lot, certainly showing the people that appearance doesn't matter when it comes to being powerful." Alicia said. "But that does remind me. I really lowballed Hi- I mean, Braydon when it comes to ability, so I am giving him thirty more stat points and another cheat option. Alice also gets another cheat option and ten stat points so she doesn't feel left out." Alicia said.
Braydon's stat menu popped up as did Alice's.
Braydon's stats currently:
Health: 15
Mana: 1000000000
Stamina: 58
Strength: 7
Dexterity: 8
Intelligence: 4
Wisdom: 4
Charisma: 4
Agility: 6
Luck: 6
Alice's stats currently:
Health: 42
Mana: 1000000000
Stamina: 72
Strength: 15
Dexterity: 14
Intelligence: 13
Wisdom: 11
Charisma: 12
Agility: 15
Luck: 13
Braydon's stats after spending:
Health: 15
Mana: 1000000000
Stamina: 58
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 13
Intelligence: 9
Wisdom: 9
Charisma: 9
Agility: 11
Luck: 6
Alice's stats after spending:
Health: 42
Mana: 1000000000
Stamina: 72
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 18
Intelligence: 13
Wisdom: 11
Charisma: 12
Agility: 18
Luck: 13
"Alright, I may not quite match Alice, but I am stronger than before." He said.
"For my thing, I want both of us to be able to change how our clothes look at any time, this way we won't have to get new clothes and we can never have to wash anything, it's ingenius for lazy people." Alice said. Braydon sighed.
"Yeah, that's useful, but you kind of squandered your opportunity for a cheat ability." He said.
"It's fine~." Alicia said. "It's granted." She added.
"Alright, for mine, I ask for eight more cheat 'points' as I have taken to naming them." Braydon said. Alicia looked away for a moment.
"Is that in the rules? Wait, did I even make any rules? So is this allowed? Well, I guess I could add it to the rules, but he asked before I made the rule, so he would still technically be able to get it, what do I do? I didn't foresee this!" Alicia mumbled.
"I've been thinking back on everything that happened when we met you, and I realized you never put any rules or limitations on what we asked for." Braydon said. Alice suddenly hugged Braydon.
"You finally thought outside the box, congratulations." She said flatly as she patted his head. Braydon sighed.
"W-well... Yeah, I guess, granted." Alicia said.
"Alright, I realized when she was fighting the minotaur, she needs a weapon, so give her a katana that is scaled to her body and grows with her." Braydon said.
"Seven remain." Alicia said as there was a knock on ther door. Alice released Braydon as she stopped patting his head and turned around, the cracked open the door.
"Alice, lunch is here." Kenna said. alice nervously looked back.
"Let her in." Alicia said. Alice opened the door. Kenna froze up upon seeing Alicia.
"Don't worry, it's just a literal goddess." Alice said. Braydon karate chopped Alice's head.
"Maybe don't go around telling people that we are talking to a goddess?" Braydon said.
"Ow, ow, ow..." Alice said as she crouched and covered where he hit. "You hit harder now!" Alice said as she began to stand at her usual composure.
"I don't believe that for one second!" Kenna yelled as she charged into the room and put down both plates of food. "Honestly, if you have guests, you should tell us first, that way we could get them food as well." Kenna said as she observed Alicia.
"I don't eat." Alicia said as Alice closed the door.
"Why did you just close that door?" Kenna asked.
"Braydon, continue." Alice said.
"Are you sure? There's an observer now." Braydon asked with uncertainty.
"Just do it. She isn't untrustworthy." Alice said as she glanced at Kenna. Braydon sighed.
"Alright. Alicia, make us both exceptional with every instrument." Braydon said.
"Okie dokie." Alicia said as she sent a finger gun Braydon's way.
"Wait, Alice?" Kenna asked.
"Alicia. Our names are similar." Alice said.
"I see. That's confusing." Kenna said. After a few moments of silence, Kenna realized something. "Wait! Alicia, like, as in the goddess!? Not just some random Alicia!?" She asked as her expression changed to shock. All three of them nodded.
"Anyway, make us both great at mending and sewing." Braydon said.
"Five are left for you." She said as she held up an open hand.
"Now that those are out of the way. I want Alice's magical talent to be doubled and for her to have access to unique magics." Braydon said.
"That will cost two." Alicia said.
"Fine by me." He said.
"Alright, three left." She said.
"I want to match her in magic." Braydon stated.
"Ah, clever. Granted, two left." Alicia said.
"I want a library that Alice and I could enter at any time and bring anyone with us that has all historical information, myths, math, magical science, engineering, etcetera in it." Braydon said.
"Alright, that one is difficult, but I can do it." Alicia said. Kenna walked up to Braydon with glimmering eyes, almost as if asking, may I have something. Braydon sighed again.
"What do you want?" Braydon asked.
"Anything~." She said as she began to lose herself looking at Braydon.
"Give her a multiplier to everything she does. So if she decides to try learning something she pick it up faster." Braydon said.
"How big?" She asked. Braydon glanced at Kenna.
"twenty-five." He said.
"Alright, that's all of them." Alicia said. Alice walked over to Alicia and whispered in her ear
"Why don't you come to the banquet with us?" Alice asked.
"It has been a while since I attended a human event..." Alicia said.
"Alice, what did you just say?" Braydon asked.
"I only invited her to attend the banquet with us." Alice said.
"We're... Bringing a literal diety to a banquet?" Braydon asked.
"It's not like you are the only ones! Julianna will be there as well, she's the goddess of world transfers." Alicia said. Braydon sighed.
"This is going to be taxing, isn't it?" He asked.