Shoutout to my new patrons:
Preston Long
Bombasticlambast
You guys are legends!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Lyze POV)
The tensions around me were high. Not so much in a hostile regard, but people were clearly nervous about addressing me on anything. Even the executives appeared to refrain from asking me anything, even when I returned home every day covered in monster blood and my arms drooping with exhaustion.
Life carried on as normal but everyone was always on edge. Even me. I made no effort to hide my activities or my abilities in the dungeon anymore. I just simply could not care anymore. If I saw a monster, it was dying no matter who or what was around. Even the tiniest bit of Excelia counted towards my final goal.
And it seemed to work for the most part. Already I was about halfway to the requirements I placed on myself to level up. But now I was beginning to understand the difficulties of doing so. Three weeks of pure grinding, and even though my stats had jumped quite a bit, I was beginning to slow down.
In exchange for the ease of killing monsters, courtesy of the Hunter ability, it was beginning to become harder to raise my ranks. I still faced some difficulty reaching the 17th floor. Having hordes of Minotaurs and occasional Liger Fangs jump me really did put a strain on my body but not so much as before.
It was becoming quite clear that the difficulty would soon pass and the middle floors would no longer be suitable for me, and it would take a much harder challenge if I wanted to level up. I had not gone beyond the safe zone on the 18th floor. I would go there sometimes after my dungeon run to wash a bit or take a small nap under the canopy of the trees before making my way up.
Those were the only moments in the dungeon I could find myself relaxing. The 18th floor really did live up to its descriptions. About a fraction of the size of Orario, the forest floor was still quite large and the artificial light generated by the crystals overhead provided an odd sense of serenity.
The perfect environment to sleep off the bloodthirsty haze, although I made no effort to try and visit Rivira. I supposed it simply was not time for me yet, plus going beyond the 18th floor was the point where I actually had to stay in the dungeon overnight before moving back up to the surface. The time it took to cross the floors, even by flight proved that it took far too much time.
If I wanted to cross over to the Lower Floors, I had to make provisions to carry with me into the dungeon to make sure that I got by. And even though I could toss everything into my hammer-space, the executives had their eye on me, and I severely doubted they would allow me to attempt anything of the like anytime soon.
'But what other choice do I have? I may as well just not be progressing any further.' I thought exasperatedly as I sat up in my bed.
Speaking of the hammer-space, I'd finally taken the time to get off my arse and move my belongings out of it into the room. There were a few chests full of some personal belonging I'd brought over from Valaron. A few tables had been placed around the room at various points holding different things for different purposes, like a mediocre alchemy kit and a writing table.
I'd also placed a special anvil I owned in the furthest corner for the bed, and next to it was a chest that was locked in three different places, the keys stowed away in my inventory. The reason being was that it was full of precious metals and others that could not be found in this world.
There was stand in the corner opposite me which held the armour I'd bought. Already the thing looked like it was starting to wear out. I had been fighting extremely vigorously in it and it had taken a lot of bashing from monsters, namely the stone swords of the minotaurs and the shells of Hard Armoureds', or the fists of Orcs and those giant monkeys.
One of the tables actually held some of my own weapons that I'd forged when I was still living in Valaron. I'd attempted to recreate Sacred Treasures, but I just simply did not have the skill level to make anything major. The best I'd made so far was actually a singular dagger.
Yes, a dagger. One that would be the main thing I'd have to present to whoever was Gareth's blacksmith contact. Whoever they were, they seemed to be quite busy as it had taken the entire three weeks for the to write a letter back to him with the allotted time they were free to meet me. I currently held it in my hand right now, and the address I needed to meet them at was unsurprisingly the Hephaestus Familia workplace.
The workplace was a completely different place to the shops in Babel. Babel was merely a place where smiths of the crimson haired goddess went to to sell their wares if they were considered good enough to do so. It was often the ones that could not make it to that point that often either became a smith support for other adventurer teams, or they became a part of Hephaestus's own dungeon divers. They also had the option of selling from the lesser shops located in the city.
Or they went to the workplace. This was pretty much a set of smithies located in the east of the city where the smiths worked to forge or repair equipment in large supply for adventurers that came from all kinds of Familia. And it was the place that I guessed served as the HQ of the Hephaestus lot. Not quite so surprising that Gareth's contact was located there.
As I made to get up, my foot bumped into something I'd left on the floor. Leaning forwards to see what it was, I was surprised to see a book lying there, one which I knew quite well. I'd set up a small shelf by my bedside (a large bed as well) which held some books I'd bought from the guild and some I'd carried over from my place in Valaron.
They were usually books that contained information on monsters and maps of the different dungeon floors. Then there were some on the different cultures of the mortal races and the history of each. And then there were a few story books I'd borrowed from the actual Familia Library, or what counted as the library in the manor. It was just a small room filled with books that were usually on magic and the like.
Needless to say it was a place that Riveria frequented a bit along with any elf she was directing in magical studies. But there were a few books in there on the ancient legends. One in particular was the tale of the Argonaut, the boy who wanted to be a hero and the person people generally considered as the individual that began the Age of Heroes over a millennium ago.
For me personally, I took it just to gain some insight into the famous rabbit-looking protagonist's past life, and I could've almost scoffed at the irony of Argonaut's struggle with a minotaur, using a magic sword forged by the first Crozzo, and the boy's great achievement of saving Lakrios as well as its then princess who I knew to be Ais's previous incarnation.
Sometimes my head span when I took in how many of these famous people were actually the past lives of canon's main characters. Fate had a wonderful sense of humour it seemed.
But the book in particular that I had kicked was one I cursed myself over as I hurriedly picked it up and threw it in my hammer-space, realizing that I must have fallen asleep the previous night with it on the floor. It was a book that nobody, ESPECIALLY the gods could ever find. And although it was written in English from Earth, I severely doubted that people of this world would not be able to decipher its meaning as Koine characters did have some remarkable similarities with English ones.
It was an encyclopaedia of every mythological god to have ever existed back on Earth, meaning the same names of the ones here. And although I was mostly of the opinion that most of the stories told there did not actually happen in the Danmachi verse, I couldn't afford any of them finding out I had such a thing.
One, it would probably expose my identity as an otherworlder, and two, I wasn't sure if there may be any vital information in that book that was true in this world and something the gods wanted to conceal. I'd read enough on Loki to know the he often fulfilled the trickery part of his domain by switching genders. It definitely seemed the kind of thing the Loki here would do.
"Maybe that's why she's so flat, an affect of constant genderbending perhaps?" I wondered aloud.
Still though, I had to do my best to make sure it stayed out of anyone's hands. I needed it for information on the kinds of personalities that the gods here potentially had but I could not afford anyone of them finding it.
Having had enough of my stupidity for one day, I finally got up and took a leather bag off one of the desks. I filled it with the weapons I intended to show to the smith as proof of my expertise in basic forging before slinging on my cloak and pulling up the hood.
While there necessarily was no need for the hood, it served its purpose in warding off any questions or reasons to stop from people as I passed them by. And although I realised how much it made me resemble a certain icon whenever I used Force Lightning, I could honestly say I felt oddly more comfortable dressed like that.
I locked my door once I exited the room as I didn't want any pranksters or nosy parkers rummaging around my stuff when I was not there. I was about to turn and make for the front door when somebody coughed behind me and I looked to see Riveria stood there with another elf I recognised quite well.
He was a moderately tall elf with a stupid bowl cut and an arrogant expression. He usually carried it especially around me for some reason. I say some reason, but I actually know the reason. The ingrate didn't like how Riveria paid special attention to me in magical matters and tried to get me to join the magic study group. What could be expected? A human asked to join a study group of elves in a subject they considered themselves the masters of? By their beloved and revered princess no less?
A recipe for disaster... for them at least. It didn't matter what level a person was, nobody was safe from the flames of hell and if one of them pushed it too far, I had no qualms on making them swallow black fire. Racism and supremacy was a thing that made the original King of Chaos bad enough, I did not need that rubbish rubbing off on me either.
"Where are you off to Lyze?" Riveria asked me with a hint of concern in her voice.
"The workplace. Gareth's contact wrote back because they finally have time to see me." I replied.
The bowl cut elf sniffed imperiously which made her turn around.
"Is something the matter Kalos?" She asked.
"No Lady Riveria. Nothing at all."
"Are you sure?" She got a nod. "Okay then." She turned back to me. "You have no plans on going to the dungeon then today Lyze?"
"No. I can't do so. Instead I shall be spending my evening trying to prove myself to the blacksmith that I am worth the extra trouble on their end to teach me the way of the smith. So I won't be diving today."
"Very well. I still have to ask you though, would you please consider joining the magic study group tomorrow?"
"Riveria. You've asked me this question a hundred times already and each time I've said no. I simply don't have the time."
"You've been going down into the dungeon non-stop for the past three weeks now." She said firmly. "I have half a mind to forbid you from doing so. It is not healthy."
"You know how important it is to me Riveria. I don't have time for anything else."
"Yet you apply for smithing classes?"
"So I don't have to rely on a blacksmith for good weapons in the future and so I can make my own weapons. All for the sake of making my dungeon runs better." I said as I turned away from her. "You just don't understand."
"Then help me understand Lyze." Riveria said as she stepped forwards. "Do not shut us out. You have no idea how many adventurers I've seen fall due o zealous dungeon runs and unending thirst for more strength, for a purpose or otherwise. I don't want the same happening to you."
"I'm fine."
"Are you really?"
"...Yes. Really. Besides, what would I get from any of your classes? You know my magic operates differently to any of yours."
"Perhaps. But new magic is all the more reason we should study it together. There is always something more to learn. I don't suppose you've ever really thought on the subject of magic circles?"
I scrunched my eyes as I realised she was correct. I mean, for certain spells of mine, magic circles would appear but I'd never really taken the time to study them in the way I knew she was implying. But it sounded tedious and boring, and definitely not something I wished to study among a group of borderline racist elves.
"No I haven't." I said. "Nor am I interested."
"You never know if you like something until you try. Come on Lyze, at least once. If you don't like it, then I won't ask anymore. If nothing else, see this as my efforts to know you better."
"For what reason exactly?" I asked.
"Just...just...(sigh), because I care for you Lyze."
"Why would you care?"
She looked like she'd been slapped.
"Why would I care? Why would I care? Because you are a part of our Familia. Because you are our responsibility. If you end up hurt in a situation where we could have helped to avoid it, it would be our fault as irresponsible elders."
She came over to me, turned me around as she knelt as stared at my face.
"You're obviously in pain Lyze. And that pain is felt by others as well. That night you cried in my shoulder, you sought me out for comfort. That's natural in a Familia. We depend on each other, lean on each other and help each other when it's needed."
I stayed silent. For a moment I considered saying 'What if I don't want your help?' but I refrained. Even to me that sounded like the words of an ungrateful jerk. I could appreciate her efforts in trying to comfort me and being someone I could confide in. To be honest, I would have done so if my secrets were not so complex and dangerous. She seemed to sense this and sighed, while rubbing my shoulder.
"I can understand that you don't want to say anything about your past. If you want to keep that to yourself, then it's okay. But please, when other people offer to help you, don't push them away. Ais nearly once killed herself because she did the same thing, and I know that you know that. All we want to do is help ease your pain, and make things easier for you."
She held me by the shoulders tightly. "Please, don't destroy yourself when you have someone here that's willing to pick up the pieces with you."
My eyes widened at hearing that. I'd heard those same words before a long time ago...in a another life...from another person...
The green eyes stayed the same, but the hair momentarily turned a chocolate brown...
I shook my head as the bottled feelings rose in me. I knew she was right. As my comrades whom I had now sworn to fight alongside, I knew I should show them more trust. But that trust could be turned against me if the truth of what I really was ever got out. And worse, they would probably be endangered as well. I could accept taking the brunt of the consequences but I could not accept others paying for it too. Still. I needed to find a way to appease her.
"Fine." I sighed. "I will attend the study group tomorrow. BUT, if I find that I don't like it, I won't attend anymore. Is that fair?"
Riveria held her gaze with me for a few moments longer before releasing a relenting sigh. "Yes, that is fair enough." She said in a much more quiet voice.
"I have to go now." I said.
"Yes, do so. I wouldn't want you getting there late on my account." She said in the same quiet tone of voice.
"I'll be taking my leave then." I said as I walked out of her hold and made my way to the stairs. Feeling a little bad though as I used Chaos Vision to see her standing there a little downcast, I decided it would probably not be in my best interest to leave things as they were. "Riveria?" I said as I looked back at her.
"Hmm?"
"I appreciate you. I really do." Her eyes widened and she brightened a little at that. "You all took me in when I really had nowhere else to go. And you took the time to supervise my first dungeon run and then helped me make it out of there alive despite my own foolishness. I owe you more than anyone else here and I really am grateful for that." I looked back to the stairs. "But there are some things that are better left unsaid. We all have things that we'd rather not let the world see. I'm not any different and I'm certain you aren't either. Please...respect that. I will do all I can to bring great contributions to our Familia in my time here, but my objectives will always be he same. My adventure will not be hindered by anyone. Man, elf, beastman, spirit or god. I will not allow anyone to hinder me from reaching my goal."
"Then...that is all I can ask from you." She said. "I wish you all the luck in the world on your objectives Lyze, whatever they may be."
I nodded and left feeling a bit better with myself. Riveria was by nature a very kind person, always looking out for the wellbeing of especially the younger members. She was a person of great status and standing among her people, with nothing left for her to desire. With riches, fame and prosperity at her fingers, she still chose to leave even if for her own desire to become an adventurer. And she did not bring that arrogance with her. Instead she focused on helping anyone that needed it and made full effort to do so, unlike the bastards that used to surround her as princess. What kind of person would I be if I were to spit on that care and kindness with a bad attitude?
More importantly, what would my mother have said? I knew for certain she would not have been proud of me. Even if I were the King of Chaos, and the heir to power that even the deities of this realm could only dream of I suppose, that did not mean my morals were gone. Well...I suppose for particular characters I had no morals to hold me back from decapitating them, but Riveria did not deserve it.
I may not be an all round good person...but I definitely did not make any effort to be a bad one either.
---
(General POV)
"I fail to see why you waste your time on that human Lady Riveria. Despite his words, it is abundantly clear he does not appreciate your magnanimous generosity in inviting him to OUR circle." Kalos sniffed.
Riveria straightened and looked on after Lyze.
"That boy may very well be the greatest mage to ever walk the lower realm Kalos." She said. "His talent and ways about magic speak of potential even greater than my own."
"You cannot be serious? A human of all things?"
She levelled a glare at him.
"Yes a human. And if you don't tone down that bigotry you've carried over from our homeland, you may very well be on the receiving end of his disfavour. Lyze does not strike me as the type to appreciate THAT, if anything else." Riveria said as the image of dark, black flames that radiated an excruciating heat came to mind.
"I still believe it's a waste of time my Lady. You cannot help those who do not want to be helped."
"Perhaps. But even the best of us cannot handle the weight of a heavy heart by ourselves. Even if he will not confide in me as the others have done, I will spare no effort to make sure he becomes the best version of himself that he can be."
'And among that is teaching how to use magic circles to make his range of spells even wider, and his attacks more powerful.'
For once, the High Elf was actually looking forward to the study group she carried out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read 5+ chapters ahead on my Patreon:
Patreon/ Vulkizaro_Zoromi
For commissions:
Ko-Fi/ vulkizarozoromi