A bit later than usual, had a few things to do during the morning and the afternoon.
Recently there hasn't been much to say about the chapters, it's just how it is.
Once I finish writing everything I have in mind, I'll write the extra side chapter from my birthday, I already have the main setting for it.
Now, enjoy the chapter.
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/Not long after Silver left the Dungeon…/
'Somewhere on the 18th floor, a woman with strong pink hair gazed at a hidden camp of adventurers, her expression was that of extreme displeasure as she clicked her tongue.'
'The camp itself was full of men in black, the faction they belonged to and their appearances were all impossible to discern.'
'Any adventurers that approached them were pushed aside formally, and so far, no problems had arisen from troubleemakers.'
'This entire camp was built around several people inside metal cages, bound by ropes and other items like metallic handcuffs, all for the sake of keeping a close eye on them.'
'It was the Guild, preparing to move the captured members of the Ikelos Familia back to the surface for interrogation.'
"Oh shit, looks like that mad fucker really did it… He fucked up royally." Valletta said as she looked at them
I came here to relax a bit, but I found more work, holy shit...
These single-nutted guys can't do a thing without me.
'She looked around with sharp eyes.'
"Still, how were they even captured though?"
'She sneered.'
"They were equipped and Dix isn't stupid… Not much anyway but he's better than 99% of these mutt-heads."
The Guild wouldn't be able to pull this off so cleanly, they had help.
Was it those monsters? Doesn't seem like it, Dix wouldn't allow himself to be tricked by them, even if he was, he would escape.
Does the Guild even have the personnel to take them out? From our research, they shouldn't even have a Level 4... It's one of the requirements for them to be a neutral faction.
The possibility of them hiding forces for so long is not completely zero, but it's slim.
If they had any or anyone with such prospects, they would've appeared that day...
So there has to be a third party? But who?
'She smiled.'
I just need to go and ask.
'She jumped from the tree she was standing on, going back to the dark forest…'
...
'A few minutes later...'
/Thud/
"... Well shit." She mumbled to herself as she looked at the unconscious members of the Ikelos Familia
They're out cold, don't even react to me when I touch them.
'She looked at Dix, full of scorn.'
Really Dix, I want to slit up your throat for the diarrhea you shat today.
That being said, taking them all out with me is unrealistic, they were drugged pretty heavily, they're like logs, unmoving.
The Guild sure took every precaution there was in the book, I'll give this one to them.
Still, I can't leave like this, even if I have to go back empty-handed, I'll break what they have in theirs.
'Valletta smiled.'
"Should I just attack them?... No."
Not yet, this won't buy too much time, but more time is better than nothing.
'Valletta smiled wickedly, she approached a cage and punctured the major arteries of all of the people inside, they would slowly bleed to death, and within a few minutes they would be beyond saving even with magic.'
"Consider yourself lucky Dix, I have two shoulders and one of them will be for you." She said as she grabbed Dix, putting him on her back
Who was it again? The strongest one after this idiot...
Yeah, it was this lady...
'After grabbing the Captain and the Vice Captain of the Ikelos Familia, she rushed outside of the camp with a satisfied smile.'
'Not long after, flames would engulf the 18th floor and amidst the chaos, a group of people would disappear, causing the Guild a great deal of trouble…'
'It was the start of a War, old wounds that had yet to close.'
'What would spiral from these actions?'
…
/Even later that day in a small coffee shop near the Dungeon…/
'Two people sat at a table near a window on the third floor of the shop.'
'The atmosphere looked tense, but at the same time… Relaxed?'
'To be precise, one was tense, while the other person was relaxed.'
/Clack.../
'Only when a clerk approached them, carefully putting down 2 cups of coffee on their table, did one of them speak:'
"Uh… From everyone that I know… You were among the last ones I would expect to call me, especially so late like this." Hermes joked as he looked at the man in front of him
"With that in mind… What do you require of this me? Messenger of the Gods, your good old friend, Hermes?"
"..."
"Do you need me to send a love letter? I guarantee that I'm just as good of a wingman as Cupid!"
"..."
"Maybe that's not what you need, how about a s-e-c-r-e-t operation?"
"Or do you perhaps need me for something else?" Hermes said with a sly smile
"My friend, Silver?"
"..."
'Silver remained silent, he still couldn't get used to this man's pace.'
'But the longer he remained silent, the restless did Hermes become...'
"Uh… Don't tell me you're still upset about what happened last time right?!" Hermes said with a pale expression
I said it many times already... It was a joke! A little prank.
No! I was tricked!...
But I don't think he would believe me if I were to tell him that.
Still... It was a terrible first impression to have left on him, it's no wonder he thinks of me like this...
'Hermes was still traumatized due to what he was forced to pass through that day…'
'Silver blinked for a moment, saying with a straight face:'
"No, didn't I say it last time? That never happened."
Everything that happened on April 1... That never happened.
'Hermes replied with an awkward smile:'
"Ah! Right, right… Look at me, I must be confusing things…"
It seems he was merciful with me this time.
'Silver took a sip of his coffee, saying calmly:'
"I came here to collect what you owe me."
"Call it a favor if you must, but there is something I would like to request of you."
'Hermes smiled awkwardly.'
"Oh… Right now may be a bit difficult… I'm in a…"
'Silver interrupted him:'
"It's nothing serious, it should be pretty doable, no matter how occupied you are." He said as he stared at Hermes with his silver eyes
"..."
'Hermes eyes sharpened, it seems he won't be able to get out of it so easily this time.'
"Sigh, then say it."
"I need you to find someone for me, the faster the better."
'Hermes raised an eyebrow.'
"If that is what you want, why me and not some other source?" Hermes asked as he lifted his hat, curious
Looking for someone? How unusual coming from him.
And this smells trouble... Big trouble.
'Silver looked outside of the window, thinking as he said:'
"It's because the person I want to find can't be found through those sources…"
"And in the end, you're the only one who would comply with my requests."
This isn't something I can ask just anyone, they'll call me a weirdo or direct me somewhere in the Entertainment District.
I don't have such time to waste.
"Alright, I can try, but you'll have to give me their details…"
Looks like this will be something I'll have to carry on my own, if I ask Asfi to do this and she learns the background of this request, she'll make me go bald forever.
'Before replying, Silver asked, going straight to the point:'
"Aren't you going to ask what I want to do with this person?"
"Cough!... Ha… I mean, if you're willing to share…" Hermes said as he sweated slightly
It's so hard to deal with him, he's always so damn direct…
But better him than Loki or those crafty old Gods.
'Hermes grabbed his cup to drink a bit of coffee…'
"I need you to find me a Goddess, it can be a Beauty Goddess, or a Love one any wil…"
/PFFT!/
'Hermes spat all of the coffee in his mouth onto Silver, but he used Telekinesses and gathered everything in the air before he was stained.'
"?!"
'And he then shoved it back onto Hermes' mouth!'
/Gulp!/
"COUGH COUGH… That was unnecessary…" Hermes said as he took in deep breathes
And brutal... I think I burned my lips...
"I almost went to heaven there." He joked slightly
"Next time don't spit it on me." Silver said coldly
'Hermes smiled, making a complete 180 in expression as he said:'
"Silver my boy! I knew you had it in you! I'll introduce you to some beauties!"
"I didn't know you were like this, don't you worry as I got you covered!"
Man! Who is the best option?...
Hum… Let me see… There are a few free Goddesses who would be willing to give it a try…
There was… Who was the one that recently descended? Parvati?
Hathor! But she… She may not be his type, she has that single mother vibe, Silver is just an 18-year-old boy…
Juno?... No. Why did I even consider her? She's too clingy, and despite always seeking a stable relationship, she's always super serious and ends up getting dumped.
'Silver stared at Hermes with a poker face as he ran his mind, who knew what he was thinking…'
"Hum, we'll have to think this through, listen to me my friend, depending on what they do, each Goddess has their own unique way of being conquered, their own route, their own flag!"
'Hermes expression darkened as he said deeply:'
"What is your type?"
"A busty and cheerful Goddess of Life?"
"A strict and cold that happens to be clingy when alone, Goddess of trials?"
"Perhaps a more refined taste like the Emo Goddess of shadow and dark?... Cold on the outside, even colder alone?!" Hermes said as he used many hand expressions to help with his explanation
'Silver replied with a dark expression:'
"I… I'm not looking to hook up."
Looks like there is another day I'll have to erase from history...
Those 2 can never learn about what was discussed here today.
"Huh?! So what did you mean by that?!"
He wasn't even moved by my offer... It looks like he's truly in a relationship with Hestia.
Oh boy... This is truly fiery news!
But... I can never be the first to disclose it, or else this guy will...
'Hermes looked left and right and said:'
"Yeah... Now that I think about it, don't you already have Hestia?"
"You... You're misunderstanding things..."
"Heh, no need to hide, I won't tell anyone."
"..."
"I swear!"
"..."
'Silver frowned.'
How does he know I'm in a relationship with her?
Did she blurt it out on accident?... Well, that isn't really unexpected.
I never expected Hestia to be able of hiding it for long, knowing her, the moment someone makes fun of her, she'll run her mouth telling that she has a boyfriend already.
And it wouldn't be hard to link it back to me depending on how much she talks, and the fact we went on dates quite a few times already, someone that snoops around frequently like Hermes would likely learn a thing or two as time flies...
"Anyway... What do you want then?" Hermes replied as he scratched his head
"I want you to find me a Goddess with the ability to charm others so she can use it on me."
And if it's possible for me to resist it, and if not, what can I do to recover from, or prevent such a scenario...
My original idea was my Diary, I have one I keep in my subspace, I write what happened each day every day, and I read its contents once per week never missing a day.
So in case my memories get messed with, I'll be able to identify that I was Charmed when I read them.
Or so is the intent behind it...
"..."
'Hermes took a few moments to process that, and when he did, his mouth opened fully, completely shocked.'
"What?!"
'Silver rolled his eyes in annoyance.'
"Do I need to repeat myself?"
"N-No… Just… Why?"
This guy… Heh, I knew this couldn't have been so simple.
What a bummer...
'Hermes eyes sparkled.'
But he managed to get my interest once more... So show me... What will you do with this?
"I want to see for myself how it works and feel to be charmed, nothing more, nothing less."
If possible I'll try some things, but that is better left for when he actually brings me a Goddess.
'Hermes suddenly had a moment of enlightenment.'
"I can try and meet your conditions, but the power of the Charm is greatly dependent on the Goddess that uses it."
"For example, Freya's is so strong she can charm most Gods easily, although that does not extend to the Goddesses... The grand majority at least."
"I don't mind, I just want to see how it works."
Besides, you speak as if Gods actually care, most male Gods will go down on their knees if they see either Freya or Ishtar, be it if they're charmed or not.
They're simply... What was the word again? It's on the tip of my tongue...
Whatever.
I already know that strong adventurers have a greater resistance to Charm, but that is also highly conditional, if Freya was serious, it doesn't matter how mentally strong you are, she'll get what she wants.
Perhaps her Charm isn't something that affects the Mind, but the very core of a being, their Soul.
But my target isn't her, and I bet Hermes knows that too.
In fact, he may know what's going on already...
'Hermes nodded and continued:'
"Charm is similar to mind control, but at the same time it isn't, mind control affects the mind, forcibly twisting it, Charm is more of a natural attraction, more like a very strong influence…"
"As you said, I can find someone that fits your description without much trouble, the problem is having her agree with this... She may ask something out of it." Hermes said with a small smile as he got up from his chair
"That's up to you to pay, not me." Silver said sternly
'Hermes deflated.'
"... A day... If you give me that much time I can do it, no problemo."
"Meet me here tomorrow, same time, I'll book the entire floor so we aren't bothered."
"That works for me." Silver replied with a nod
'Hermes bowed and turned around, leaving Silver to pay for the bill...'
'Silver said heavily, interrupting Hermes:'
"Just one more thing."
"Y-Yes?" Hermes asked meekly
"If you just as much entertain the idea of bringing a Male God of Beauty, I won't hesitate to commit a deicide and send you back to heaven, we are clear on that note, right?"
"O-Of course! I would never do such a thing!" Hermes said as he patted his chest
Tsk.
"..."
'Although Silver was annoyed, he just let out a sigh and paid for the coffe.'
'Hermes on the other hand was in deep thought, it seemed trouble would soon stir once more…'
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Notes