ã€ŠAm I Meant To Be A High Class Adventurer?ã€‹


 Enter, Sen.

    One week after exploring the dungeon.

    Sen Hyunyunmun

    Level One

    Strength I 47

    Vitality I 26

    Dexterity H 117

    Agility I 39

    Magick I 43

    This is the result of dancing, singing, reading, learning, practicing, sharpening, polishing and sweating. Three times a day Sen would journey to the first and second floor to enter every path of that underground creeping dungeon.

    First to test the ground for traction, then to test the walls for firmness then jumping up and down until their legs felt flexible enough to trounce his enemies.

    Practicing dives and rolls if acrobatics were to be worked on in the second floor.

    _________________

    Finding alternate paths in the early part of the third floor. Then retreating to listen for monster movement. Or making way for a small party to pass after downing the last enemy in the room.

    Scouting three paths, looping through one that connects to the next and then scouting each path from there before sneaking back and aggroing a group of monsters after another loop was my signature-newbie-tactic.

    Just one wrong step and two groups of monsters would be shambling at you. Thankfully, I was careful and somewhat prepared each time.

    I started carrying more than two daggers to ensure my success.

    I would break the stance of any two-legged enemy then slash at the second enemy.

    If there are an odd number of enemies then delaying their advancement in a room would make it easier to get out of.

    With sword in hand and a shield in my grasp, I harken myself before entering combat encounters.

    Goblins and Kobolds no longer provide a challenge unless in groups of three. Though I don''t allow myself to enter fights with too many enemies. Not until a single attack is enough every time.

    I assume that the brutally dense broadsword I wield would be good for more Strength-based fighters but I''m relying on the durability of this weapon to deal more damage with each attack. Not to practice my sword fighting abilities.

    This ¡°affordable yet deadly¡± broadsword is one of many gifts given to me by my Goddess. As long as I recover the metal from it''s final confrontation, then it won''t be wrong of me to rely on a brutal way of clearing a floor. As long as I don''t sharpen it too much in one night.

    One week of adventuring and exploring, that is what I''ve managed to accomplish. An entire week of delving into the dungeon for the first time. The first two days were followed by a third day with a nap.

    Then a day of introductions from deities and local familias from an established alliance.

    Mostly recently started shops and recently made familias.

    Interacting with various groups as the only member so far is highly exciting.

    Especially the groups of girls and goddesses seeking my attention.

    I''m only 18 years old but they make me feel younger than now. Or maybe giving me attention allows them to feel even younger than their youthful figures show them to be, here in the lower world.

    The insistence of burying me in their bosoms melted my resistance.

    I was instilled with many rules and etiquette. Being informed of how the guild and Orario are run every year. Of the why and how.

    It was so much fun. We planned practice and sparring on different days. As well as group lessons on how to handle different scenarios.

    I opted to ask all of the smaller and shorter adventurers to seek me out to practice ambushing or many-on-one battles.

    I asked to work on shielding and deflecting clubs for improving our ability scores by even the smallest number. Since the blessing made it possible to overcome the shackles of mortal ability.

    Some of the skilled newbie adventurers of these familias asked me to spar with them using a spear while they used a sword.

    They were saying that my unpredictable movements and serious temperament allowed them to concentrate on improving rather than observing the surroundings.

    I agreed. They arranged for group meet-ups where we warm-up together then wear away the faults of our approaches.

    So far I''ve been pinned down by the amazonian girls countless times during spars when weapons were not allowed.

    Learning about the backgrounds and stories of each of them and their friends made it clear to me how they came to be here. In the city built over a dungeon.

    I asked the more experienced members of the allied familias how starting out as an adventurer was like for them. They couldn''t really give specific examples about their own starts but recommended that I listen to my guild advisor.

    There were more than twenty deities allied to each other- though the more tame familias with only one party decided to practice apart from the children of ¡°our?¡± side of the alliance.

    Our alliance was made up by deities whom agreed to provide support when expanding or challenging other families¡­ such as when we inevitably cross them during War Games.

    It seems I won''t be seeing those parties from now on. I''ll be sure to not draw attention to them in professional settings. Perhaps my behavior and choices may influence the allied parties I may be potentially working with in the near future.

    There were several groups of people speaking to the many adventurers already in the service of their deities.

    I''m excited to see their improvement. I had the most fun speaking with them about developmental abilities and the potential for becoming mages. The ones I grew close to were as excited as I am.

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    A few would-be parties are working on the visible deficiencies in their balance for battle. Though a small prum girl joked that we could simply have the mages bombard groups of enemies all at once. If it were ever possible.

    We all had a private conversation on the possibility of ranking up and decided to cooperate whenever it seemed better for our start in this city. Even if it meant agreeing to doing something I''ve always cautioned people about before leaving the village. Up till here to become an adventurer.

    We wouldn''t party with annoying or useless strangers. Yes, even if it meant treating failing members like strangers. Of the combined 56 adventurers between 25 deities¡­ 11 of them didn''t meet our standards. It wasn''t presumptuous of us to discuss this. Our lives were more important than petty mobbing. We would not accept any requests or offers from them. And then after showing enough results in a party, individual members of that specific familia would inform their deity.

    I was happy we did this. It made sense and I wasn''t going to spend a day supporting them, as busy as I was. Though it may sound like a joke to lower class adventurers that moved up in their familias¡¯ hierarchy that way.

    Anyways, moving on from that, we decided to form parties with that in mind so that there could be no complaints. Agreeing that stating trust as why they wouldn''t help those lagging outcasts, was reasonable. As well as involving calculated numbers when being mindful of profits for the familias.

    The fact that this left most of the commonplace males out of friend groups we made wasn''t lost on us. We had already stated our intentions in the first few non-practice meetings and knew how these would align.

    Some more solo-oriented adventurers among us agreed that this was more about their independence and seeking adventure. Parties made up mostly of villagers or nobles from their place of origin joined the same familia and agreed that this would lead to success.

    Parties with more girls agreed with me when I suggested this and knew that I did so with the intent to provide support to adventurers seeking to be with their companions in a fitting setting.

    The allure of always being with their girl companions convinced them fully.

    The fact that we would have to be involved more with the management of one''s own familia came through. Being present when interviewing and accepting new adventurers was agreed upon.

    Though we also made sure to designate which familias we would redirect new adventurers to; those that didn''t fit with our personal ideals for party-play but weren''t lacking. Honestly, it means Hopeful Trickster-Sama and Destruction Trident-Sama were slated to be where we sent them. Recommending to our deities this strategy for successful cooperation between families.

    We really had to make an effort to be sure our voices would be heard at the proper timing. Knowing well enough why we decided to be adventurers in the first place.

    And then after those first few days, we confronted the less dungeon-minded deities about this and announced our intention to not work with the eleven we left out of spars. The deities had seen it before and chose to remove the falna from them. We didn''t talk to anyone afterwards.

    None of us felt guilty and many of us were actually relieved. Some were angry about this but a few of us stated we wouldn''t be negotiating.

    That very day we had two adventurers join while we were gathered together. One joined an incomplete party and one we placed in a familia with only one member.

    This method of setting up groups pleased our deities. Yet it came with an obvious cost. Some familias were given priority when directing the more skilled newbies. But mostly to keep a balance of sorts.

    Still, it was possible to form full parties for exploring the dungeon. The first two floors being our start. With plans to explore in a chain of parties so as to sweep entire sections of the dungeon once we had better statuses.

    The first level being a good place to compare out stats and abilities.

    We often had some smaller newbies encouraging one another to spar when you had matching Agility scores.

    Or wrestling with matching or close-to-matching Strength scores.

    We would trade books with each other when we felt it would be good for someone. Keeping larger and thicker books for when it seemed their Magick ability score was most responsive to improving.

    I enjoyed being given so many stories to immerse myself in before preparing for bed.

    The fact that my Magick stat improved was such a good sign to me. My desire to manifest Magick was strong and so was my intent to fantasize while climbing down towards the first floor.

    Once I had a rhythm to improving my Strength, I saw correlated improvements in my Dexterity and then a rare observable rise in either my Agility, Vitality or Magick.

    After forming my first party with allied adventurers, I started imagining how to guard their lives while delving.

    How to notice their talents or in what ways their efforts would give them the most results.

    A complicated yet satisfying form of exploring.

    Keeping in mind how the dungeon behaved to our presences.

    I was put into a party with most of the favorites of the deities.

    The prum girl with a slowly increasing Magick ability score and an elf girl with a steadily increasing Agility ability score from Strong Horns-Sama.

    With a young werewolf girl with a solid foundation added by Oak Staff-Sama after a lot of discussion.

    As well as the acrobatic amazoness from Light Steps-Sama.

    This was how I glided through the second floor and explored the ends of tunnels.

    Two supporters, one attacker with myself and our wolfgirl as the defenders with our two shields.

    We did well. Very well. To the point where we ran with this set-up several times in one day after meeting with a healer from Strong Horns-Sama. The healer would practice without entering the dungeon yet and we would have more energy for gaining experience.

    After two days of cooperation we reformed parties to access our results.

    I was very happy with the results, to be honest. I took the initiative to gather them again and a party from one single allied familia to do what I called ¡°Edging¡±; which for some reason was really humorous to the leader of the second party.

    We would practice passing by while taking shots at monsters before rounding the corner and measuring where a party may be discovered before relaying with the scouting party in the lead. The most efficient way to improve our partying. Being honest about what hits downed what monster so as to split the crystals evenly.

    Finding out more about the dungeon in this way as well. Explaining the intent behind our actions filled with fantastical purpose.

    We agreed to have the same composition for both parties. Supporters with spears, attackers with someone covering them with a shield while everyone had a dagger and pouch. One supporter from the second party would have a backpack for gathering crystal cores.

    If more than three monsters appeared, supporters would pincer the previous group of monsters and attackers would support the scouting party.

    This worked so much better than any of us had any idea of. Our supporters saw more results and the second party found out someone gained a skill.

    Their attacker learned a skill called ¡®Charge¡¯, it would increase Agility and Strength when running to attack groups of enemies.

    This was such an unexpected gain. I thought of it as something to do with their personality after seeing how they moved.

    I recognized my imagination had recently started deconstructing ideas of grandeur and why amounts were considered when making judgements.

    Staring up at the stars and to the night sky when I woke up in the middle of the night helped ease my mind. Sharing that moment with someone would calm my heart but I knew that required companions I could trust.

    This was true to me and continues to be true. After I increased my status, I would start recruiting for my familia directly.

    Finally returning to my bed, I planned to commit to this rhythm.

    One day for solo delving while practicing in the morning. Then the next for ¡°Edging¡± as two parties and then exploring in the parties set-up by our deities.

    Next week we would be reforming parties again to gain flexibility in our tactics.

    ____________________________

    The prum girl and elf girl both confided in me that they felt comfortable around me with the intent to form a strong business relationship. I was happy to agree. As well as exchanging knowledge with the prum girl while the elf girl provided both of us with higher tier knowledge she could explain in detail.

    Mostly myths and stories of elven adventurers. Our shared excitement for magick bringing us together.

    For the sake of professionalism, we''ll call the prum ¡®Ruby-San¡¯ because of the ornate ring she wore with a shiny ruby in it.

    For the sake of professionalism, we''ll call the elf ¡®Sapphire-San¡¯ because of her sparkly blue eyes.

    They made an amazing combination though they filled the same party niche. I assume they plan to be together and support themselves as a duo. Which seems accurate.

    On my own, I walked around Orario and saw the outer ends of the aboveground maze called Daedalus street. This was after I learned the main roads. Daedalus street was more of an overlapping, stacked and redeveloped set of neighborhoods and outcropped districts.

    It was named after the architect that worked on it before being arrested for attempting to build down into the dungeon.

    I was measuring the overall extent of each part of the area. The shapes that larger paths were based on.

    Which routes could be found naturally and which exits could be taken after navigating it were what I found. Memorizing the sidelong pathways to the other side of Daedalus street. Promising myself to do this ever so often, just in case.

    With the full force of a mallet, I plan to strike it rich while seeking adventure.

    *music trill*

    Pon/ Pon-Pon, puripuri, ponpon~

 Continuing

    On the ninth day as an adventurer, I started my day with water and fresh clothes.

    I would run errands with some of the adventurers I was acquainted with and complete tasks given to me by deities we knew of.

    First, running over to a larger house in the same district after finishing errands related to upkeep.

    Greeting people who were chosen to work in businesses run by their deity.

    I saw the deity I was to complete a small quest for.

    For the sake of my career, we''ll consider this entity to be called Purple Wreath-Sama.

    They were the kind to say exactly what they meant even if it surprised you into shaping up. They had good memory but didn''t recall the names of people they were uninterested in, whether or not they were deities.

    I was given letters to deliver, most of those letters were to a mage-friendly deity.

    They calmly spoke to me about reality. That my original intentions for becoming an adventurer would guide me to my place in this world.

    Paying me and reminding me to return in exactly 35 days for another batch of deliveries.

    The next moment, I travel towards the more forested parts of the city.

    Encountering a party of catgirls and then one of amazonians. As well as attracting the attention of an experienced mage adventurer.

    Recounting a moment where they noticed my hand often playing with the air to pull and raise mana. Gushing over my persistence to gain magick. Even to the point of excitedly asking if I split and sliced the wind in small, folding corners to allow elemental energies to calm down.

    Speaking to me and letting me know about how a mage could prevent stalling or passing out.

    Whether it be by getting knocked out or reaching mind zero.

    It was sudden and I didn''t expect to be hugged, but I was given one that almost knocked me unconscious despite her Strength not being that high.

    Their sword and bust shaking while lifting me by my armour to not have me fall over before she squeaked the tiniest apology.

    I then traveled down smaller roads to where trees and half-indoor fields lay. Flowers and small plants dotting the entire location. Smaller buildings here and there with a group or individual instances of adventurers being seen practicing.

    Running races taking place in the back of matching buildings.

    Then this adventurer at level one spoke with a deity.

    For the sake of my career, we''ll consider this entity to be called Light Steps-Sama.

    Dressed in a robe and classical themes behind them. Dye production and painters spread throughout the entire area. Cold and warm themes surpassing what mortals could make in his own painting.

    Statues and marble towers in the deepest reaches of this sector.

    Adventurers resting and sparring close by. Shade and tranquility. Murmuring at different times with people walking for more than a few steps.

    The smell of the ocean and dense inky liquid on wood palettes. Smoke fanned away from the entrance of taller buildings. Hallways to the sides of buildings and in between combined buildings.

    I entered a hallway which led me to deeper areas of this sector. A park almost completely empty.

    Encountering a deity with their bust showing as clear as day, drinking.

    For the sake of my career, we''ll consider this entity to be called Dangerous Smile-Sama.

    I delivered the rest of the letters and parcels.

    They asked me all sorts of questions but only listened to my reply less than half the time.

    Some of those questions being very close to what I''ve done so far or thought of while entering the dungeon.

    Accurately projecting my following week of status updates. Pinching or patting where they''re normally not supposed to if they were a girl.

    Her painted nails trying to tease me whenever daggers were the focus of a conversation. Her hands keeping up with the sudden playful jabs of her nails before sending me over to their ¡°younger sister from home with connections¡± whom would ¡°find the perfect match for me¡± for dungeon runs in the future.

    For the sake of my career, we''ll consider this entity to be called Soft Stones-Sama.

    Introduced to me while they still wore pajamas. She planned to measure my body for scientific reasons but only when it seemed I would be set to level up and race to my own kind of fantasy as an adventurer.

    After that I walked out to the part of the city made up mostly of sandstone.

    A few songs at most to measure the time.

    Polished sandstone and pale stone floors making-up the rest of the enclosed location.

    I delivered a letter to an influential but unknown deity.

    Waving goodbye and promising to visit again in the future after finishing up business.

    For the sake of my career, we''ll consider this entity to be called Baneful Architect-Sama.

    Leaving as quickly as I could while being mindful of any intersecting roads, I ran to a nearby area. A house with broad doors, several stories and six windows on the third floor where a parlor stayed level with 22 buildings close to the area.

    My Goddess saw me and reminded me to practice my swordsmanship so as to deliver the full force of my strikes during battle.

    Then this young level one adventurer was sent to finish the rest of what was planned for this specific day.

    For the sake of my career, we''ll recognize this moment to be where I have a conversation with and deliver letters to someone known to cross seas.

    Then moved to where there is storage and guarded buildings.

    For the sake of my career, we''ll recognize this moment to be where I have a conversation with someone as though they were a firekeep.

    For the sake of my career, we''ll recognize this moment to be where I deliver something to someone from the Northern Sea Shore.

    For the sake of this story, we''ll recognize this moment to be where I purchase health potions from someone likened-to a pheonix from the southern realm.

    For the sake of this story, we''ll recognize this moment to be where I purchase mana recovery potions from someone with a soft shell.

    For the sake of this story, we''ll recognize this moment to be where I purchase health potions from someone as a warm day would be.

    These three potion purchases were made to continue a beneficial relationship between both familias and adventurers.

    A sort of lightly fortified long-term investment to have access to a wide array of potions.

    I presented myself as being a reliable damage dealer and tank for people in the role of supporters.

    More and more of the supporters opted to schedule dungeon runs with me while accompanying attackers joined because of the way we split loot.

    If you downed the enemy, you kept the loot and got another pouch to continue collecting.

    Each person being responsible for their own collecting while enough people kept watch.

    Supporters gained more Excellia, Attackers gained more Vallis, I gained more experience and earned their trust.

    They''re all good and dear me, they''re adorable when their smiles come from the heart.

    We each had weapons and basic armour from our respective familias. Mostly leather and metal shin or forearm guards.

    After the ninth day I spent the evening reading while in the company of our parties.

    We had started dividing lanes in the dungeon and repeating branching into a corridor after scouting. Maximizing the reach of each party while limiting any openings in the recently cleared map we had of the floor.

    Someone somehow managed to acquire magick!!!

    It was the amazonian girl from Light Steps-Sama''s Familia.

    They were open about the description and power of this magick. Especially since we''d be working together as colleagues.

    A magick called ¡°Sharpen¡± which coated their weapon with a magickal aura and increased the damage dealt by that weapon. It seemed to be the kind of magick effective against monsters with strong hides or spectral monsters seen later on in deeper floors.

    Yet another adventurer to be the core of the party they become a permanent member of while advancing their career.

    Indistinct looks directed towards me from the more playful deities got me curious as to how I was viewed but I reorganized my thoughts to inspire each attacker to strive for the means to overcome the odds.

    Several of them then demanded spars and the smaller ones asked for a race with all of us included.

    I somehow beat all them in one-on-one spars with wooden weapons.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    After seeing the results, I placed 5th overall with my Agility score as it is. This reminded me to ask my Goddess to update my status once I completed my twentieth day entering the dungeon.

    It was a brilliant day, when we were to form new parties with the goal of challenging one floor deeper after elder members of the allied familias explored on lower floors to earn money.

    The gods and goddesses were all together and lounged while holding a conversation where we could hear their sincere opinions.

    They made assessments and compared individuals while also confirming accurate statements with one another. Teasing the ones with only a single adventurer under them. Then shifting the conversation to cover the balancing of each party.

    Before then ending it by stating that ¡°the children should decide for themselves¡± and that ¡°We should give them an opportunity to lead their companions.¡±

    So, we were to decide which ten would lead a party and then leave the remaining nine to be trained before sending them tomorrow in twos or threes while working on teamwork.

    I stood up along with the ¡°Sharpen¡± spell amazonian girl, the ¡°Charge¡± skill werewolf kid, the high vitality humanoid tomboy, the high agility eastern humanoid girl, the high agility and strength dark elf girl, a high strength humanoid girl, a high magick humanoid child with two magick chants, a high magick elf girl and a high magick and vitality elf girl.

    We were known to be the most capable while also not having any competitors in our familias. A few strong or more durable adventurers spoke up to challenge a few who were already standing but multiple voices told them to sit down in opposition.

    It was then that we were given the choice of picking who to be a part of our party. With everyone deciding to leave it to the discretion of our deities in what order we were to call someone over.

    They spent a short moment before we decided that either I or the amazonian girl were to start.

    She motioned for me to start so I did.

    Immediately asking for the more modest yet enthusiastic girl from the east with recent increases to her Strength and Magick ability scores.

    Then after a round of picking people, I called over a bunny demihuma with a high defense, then an elf with the same novel tastes as I have and then another demihuma with horns. Afterwards with only 17 people left to choose from, I decided to ask an amazonian girl with a somewhat high vitality to join our party.

    We were to coordinate which party would enter one after another.

    I asked to be the fifth to enter. Everyone agreed. They each made their own plans.

    I sat down to introduce myself to my party members for this run.

    Stating my equipment choice, my Agility and Strength ability scores and the composition I''d prefer leaving with to enter the dungeon.

    The amazonian would be carrying a spear and preferred to not be left to handle aggro. She would be in the role of supporter but would not be carrying a backpack.

    The bunny demihuma asked to be trusted with a large shield and shortsword. They were to have the role of tank and look out for dangers from the front.

    The horned demihuma would be carrying a round shield and shortsword. To be an attacker that aims at openings.

    The elf girl asked to be allowed to carry the backpack and a spear. To behave as a support while being protected by the group.

    The girl from the East decides to be a main attacker and brought her own weapon. A sword with an enchantment to absorb a tiny willowy mist of mana from the air to reactivate the enchantment. She explained that she had been carrying this to train her Magick ability.

    This knowledge elicited a giggle of excitement from the amazonian supporter of this party.

    She explained that it didn''t automatically absorb any of her mana so there was no danger of experiencing mind down.

    This warranted more attention on the girl from the east but that was to be for the future. We were still level one newbies for now. It did get me hopeful for multiparty delving in the future.

    After this we all moved together in one big group. Walking to the entrance of the Tower of Babel. Giving a minute to each party to travel to the first floor and then explore at their own pace.

    As the fifth party, I marched us to the first floor then to the second while having each member face off against a single monster.

    A spear or shortsword interrupting attacks from monsters.

    Then we went to the third floor and went through every corridor we could find while mapping.

    If it was a group of two or less we attacked. If it was one then we''d play a game to decide who gets to practice ambushing it. If it was more than that then we decided to not attack more than five monsters at a time.

    This went on until they needed a break. The Amazonian and Eastern girl were the ones without tiredness just as I was. Taking deep breaths in a relaxed yet prepared stance together.

    I would keep watch from the rear and listen in for movements.

    While they seemed to keep up well enough, the amount of conflict we overcame took teamwork.

    I would be ready with a sword and daggers to attack enemies that couldn''t be targeted yet by the attackers and tank. Then the horned demihuma and Eastern girl would attack if there was a good opportunity. The bunny demihuma would push and block whenever possible.

    The elf and amazonian would follow our lead to incapacitate the enemy.

    Most of the time it was three or four goblins or kobolds. Until it became three joined by two or two joined by three. Either the dungeon was targeting us or the parties in front and behind were pressuring the dungeon to act more offensively.

    We decided to start pulling back and retracing our steps. We encountered the sixth, seventh and second party having a conversation. Seeing us and explaining that the dungeon was more active and that the first and third party had already left to practice on the first floor.

    The fourth party were still exploring but were likely to move back up to the surface once they passed the third floor.

    The eighth party joined us in this main corridor of the dungeon. Because of the different strengths of each party, it was obvious that the eighth and seventh should return to the surface.

    I gave a warning to the sixth party to return to the second floor to gain experience before leaving once they needed more than a break to continue. Loudly claiming that they shouldn''t be tired when exploring.

    They acknowledged this and moved with some distance between each group.

    I asked my current party if they could continue and it seemed that they could. I intended to loop through the paths of the later part of the third floor to find the third and fourth parties, just in case.

    After carefully scouting and sneaking, we managed to find a roughed up fourth party with a wounded tank. The wound didn''t seem life-threatening but it would be too dangerous for them to move to the nearby stairwell.

    They asked us to lead them out of the dungeon for a pouch full of crystals to which we all wordlessly agreed.

    We guided them back the way we came but kept encountering groups of five enemies. Then their attacker and secondary attacker joined ours by getting rid of the rest of the monsters. It was happening more frequently.

    Until we saw groups of seven after scouting and having to find alternate paths that may not even meet up with the path we knew how to navigate.

    This happened again and again¡­ with the scream of a horrified adventurer somewhere behind us once we got back halfway to the second floor.

    Our supporters joining the fight to speed up the process and their supporters pulling upwards and with the wounded as they walked.

    We heard noises from behind and more screams close by. Unfortunately it seemed that with our groups and the many newly made parties from different deities, the dungeon had started preying on us. Our kills matching with the amount of enemies thrown at us.

    Groups of three were quickly dispatched but we could not continue avoiding the main paths. An entire seven kobolds tried to ambush us but we responded fast enough to prevent it.

    Then a group of four entered the room while we were down to three kobolds from the previous group.

    After that we had to include their supporters when killing the downed enemies.

    The horned demihuma clipping an enemy before it was bashed by our own tank. Then spears would get rid of the weaker monsters. It was difficult to figure out which kobold was weaker though, they had no defining features.

    I would attack while our party members with a sword or spear followed.

    Dodging claws and scratches meant I couldn''t attack as often as I needed to.

    So large sweeping attacks from the flank was what I was reintroducing into my attacks. Pulling a dagger out before one-hit killing a monster.

    After that, the amount of noise we made was likely too much. Yet another group of monsters but we broke through them easily until we started taking a short break.

    The dungeon may move slowly to target us again once we started sneaking past a corridor but small adjustments in our marching order made encounters more manageable. These naturally dangerous moments providing a bountiful lesson in the dangers of delving.

    If it was a clear path, we would sneak until we made it back to the beginning of the floor. Only to see a party of humans being wiped right in front of us. It was the only path leading out of the third floor.

    Their screams called in all the monsters that could hear it. So we ran. We ran to slay those monsters and to leave the third floor.

    Unfortunately, we were seen by monsters as soon as we made it to the dead party. Our supporters took all the items and bags off of the dead adventurers. We didn''t feel bad, it was something our allied parties all agreed to do for our good.

    It was better than allowing the dungeon to absorb it. Not that they had much anyways. So we picked up a weapon if ours were worn down.

    I only took a dagger and a shield.

    First, directing our swordswoman, supporters and tank to take the lead up the stairs and to inform me if there was any trouble up ahead.

    The tank and I covered for the other party before staying to prevent monsters from following us. Once most of us made it up the stairs, we followed until the spear carrying elf girl stepped in to push the monsters back.

    I brought my arms back and then threw the shield to down the enemies shambling up the stairs.

    A sword to cut them down before they could run away. A spear that cut in to deal a fatal blow. A shortsword to end the crawling of a few enemies.

    We wiped them out as quickly as we could because there were more behind them.

    If the tank seemed tired, I sent them back up the stairs. If the monsters crawled over their dead ilk, we attacked mercilessly.

    Once we were at the top of the stairs, we left one side closed with spears ready and then the tank and horned demihuma would meet the monsters full-force. Ever so often switching between myself or one of our group as the main attacker. I drank a health potion to recover from some of the glancing blows I received.

    We underestimated the amount of monsters from that previous group. So far we had taken down more than fifteen monsters. With eight or twelve left.

    I was getting restless, our tank was tired and could only block attacks and everyone was pretty much done for the day. Yet still we were fighting for our lives.

    I called out to our attackers to make way for a charge to be made to send enemies down the stairs.

    I threw a dagger at a goblin, the three with shields charged forwards and knocked as many of those weak monsters down the stairs. The girls with spears thrust down to prevent them from getting up and then I called back everyone to choke the entrance to the third floor.

    I and our attackers stayed in front while everyone else was commanded to stay put. Only raising their weapons since they were tired. The amazonian girl taking out an emerald potion, likely an emergency potion she could finally find time to drink.

    Ever so often we would back up if we needed a moment after attacking and then the next person would be up. The enemy didn''t have strong attacks but their ferality couldn''t be ignored.

    I could take down a few while someone fought for time. If it weren''t for our armour we''d be more heavily damaged.

    ¡°Shield bash ready then use spears to push some away while I deal with the front!¡±

    ¡°Aye!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Hai!¡± ¡°-hai!¡± ¡°Got it!¡±

    One shield back from the right side, then another towards the center, then spears separating the enemies while I charge in cut down enemies. Afterwards I take out two daggers to attack only their heads.

    Taking them out with as much accuracy as possible. With even better timing and reacting to attempts to hit me.

    Either I''d kick them or collapse their weak scrambling. My canines pulling up a seething growl.

    I pulled back and retrieved my sword.

    Moving again to slash at the monsters.

    Winding back an attack before sweeping up to knock them away.

    This worked. It worked well enough.

    But we heard that three enemies were coming from behind.

    ¡°Bunny! Spears! Deal with that!¡±

    ¡°Fuck¡­¡± ¡°Yes! Got it!¡±

    I could keep at it but I wouldn''t accept a mistake. I shouldn''t be hit at this moment. I can''t so I won''t.

    The sheep demihuma and an attacker from our party were both at my sides. I led with a sword but it was close to breaking. I could tell.

    I would thrust with the sword, thrust again to divert aggro. I would switch with the swordswoman before attacking when they pulled back.

    Now it was only three enemies but I couldn''t look back. I pushed the sheep from behind to take care of one of the kobolds. Then I attacked two of them before sidestepping.

    A sword slashed down to stop a goblin. I finished it off while shoving the other enemy into the next. Moving back up the stairs then kicking it to the wall.

    Rolling past to the side where there were no weapons on the floor, I look to see our supporters having downed an enemy each.

    Back to the stairs, realize that we no longer have any enemies left to attack. So we rest while that wounded tank from the other party looks worse but only from the pain.

    With this amount of monster corpses, I command our one non-tired member to retrieve their stones.

    ¡°We''re not wasting our efforts by giving up the cores.¡±

    They do that without complaint.

    Everyone is either staring at the long corridor leading to the surface while catching their breath or watching as they pull up dead monsters from the stairwell.

    Once we''re done, we move up while leaving enough room for someone to scout.

    I decide to scout another path while they do so but only to where I have visibility. Otherwise I come back and guard the front of our group.

    Moving past the scouted paths and fighting against single enemies, we make it back to the first floor. Where the second and first party can be found after likely having similar troubles to what we''ve encountered prior to walking up the steps.

    We explained what happened and someone wondered out loud if moving together would increase the risks. We moved carefully until it seemed clear to quicken our steps.

    Second and first would be on different paths that both happened to be surrounding a middle path which we would move through. No scouting, only working our way back to the city of Orario. We all agreed.

    I took the lead, followed by attackers with supporters in the back.

    On the way there we saw the two parties again at an intersecting area that lead to the exit. Behind us, a group of enemies but because it was so close to the exit, we asked everyone to simply leave me and one of their party leaders behind.

    It was five kobolds all sprinting at us. I wasn''t worried but I felt aggressively vicious.

    So we fought those kobolds, until I asked them to leave the last two to me.

    They went up without looking or saying anything. I prepared to raise the cracked sword but it fell apart. Yikes.

    Back to daggers, I drew both of mine and ran to aggressively crush fragmented pieces in then attacked the other before goring its skull with a piercing dagger.

    Leaving after doing so and not caring to stay any longer.

    We made it a point to leave behind weapons we found in the dungeon even if it was considered common practice to keep what you find in the dungeon since it was only on deeper floors that you would see hungry monsters or heinous bipedal monsters. There was no misunderstanding that we were meant to clear the dungeon of enemies to work towards removing the last of the dungeon''s bottom floors.

    This was only the very start of the very top directly under the Tower of Babel. Blades and arrows often found in one exit to the floor above or a row over to the edge of where monsters spawned.

    Up I went to the surface where I was met with my party and everyone else.

    I was pulled into a tight squirming hug from someone but I was already dazed by the events. Asking to bring ourselves to the healer to drop off the seriously wounded and then to have one of us turn in the crystal cores with the recorded list of who-earning-what.

    It was such an eventful day but I could only return home with the need to hear my Goddess encourage me to improve so as to not be in such dire danger again.

    Dear Goddess, I need a hug!

 Downwards

    Pulling step by step into the light and past the bitter silence of night turned into dawn from under windy skies.

    Returning from grave danger and certain death.

    Two pouches of cores, a worn dagger, a chipped piercing dagger misshapen as though it were badly drawn and shaded, scratched bracers, torn leather shin guards, ripped tunic and two halves of metal with a grip; that is what I had on me.

    After returning from the dungeon, this is how Sen appeared at the door to their familia.

    Fully heated and almost overheating with the hot sun in the sky.

    Dried blood on the skin exposed from fighting.

    A gash rising up to end before hitting the shoulder. Pain racing up the torso whenever a tough muscle was pulled taught.

    After a worried peck and pat down by the Goddess, Sen removed their remaining attire before wiping their body of dirt or oil.

    A shower and a bath and a nap. That''s all they took, other than a small loaf, before resting the rest of the night.

    The night was one filled with dreams of fruit and the foggy memory of candy from my childhood.

    Sen awoke in the morning with their Goddess hanging onto their arm. Snuggling close in response to small movements from Sen.

    I slipped away when I could but they squirmed with a pout, still asleep.

    Redoing a bandage, then putting on a new set of clothes, I left to get new equipment and weapons.

    So there he is on the unmarked roads, walking towards where the Hephaistos Familia conducted business. Because of the consistency of quality and likelihood of good stuff being in the same general area.

    Walking past the produce market and clothing market. Entering and exiting the Exchange to turn in the last of the crystals from the day before. Up into the tower of Babel where shops and outlets were for browsing.

    Crisscrossing shelves, rooms with people, passing characters and personalities that would fit in this setting. Fully on the lookout for hidden gems.

    If the iron didn''t smell good, he avoided it. If the steel didn''t shimmer at the edge, he disregarded it. If the leather didn''t dampen the scent of the air, then he wouldn''t look at it.

    This continued until the more out-of-the-way rooms and shops showed up.

    Amateur and original pieces here and there where one may look. Boxes, shelves and even small wooden carrying trays of weapons.

    A few good daggers shone in one shop so it seemed better to start getting serious in their search here. A small discount and set-piece sales shop run by a rabbit demihuma. Their coworkers coming in and out of different nearby rooms with either a conversation or stock.

    One heavy yet balanced dagger placed in display appeared out of nowhere. Pillars and columns in the tower''s shops often having that effect. The blade didn''t flip or lull from the sheath it was in and the tip seemed so dense that Sen was sure it wouldn''t wear down easily. Relatively ornate handle but with a solid pommel. A sword in a box stood out in the same area.

    A blue sheath, bronze clasp, a handle that could be described as tall and light. A solid body and angled sides with a round tip. The tiniest amount of silk embroidery stitched an eight armed star and sideways drop of dyed silk. This seemed to be a sword designed for day to day dungeon delving. The intent this sword must have been made with hides so much of the durability. To the point where the choice to obtain it would depend on the style of the sword.

    Already, Sen felt good about these two items. The price was reasonable too. 16,000 Vallis for the sword. 8,000 Vallis for the dagger. It was almost strange how the quality and price didn''t match up in his opinion. Not that he would judge it as such, this would become his and for as long as naturally possible.

    With what adventures may be had, it was a strong stimulant to the system. Sen focusing on calming themselves down before continuing with these two items.

    Close by there was a rack with weapons and armour on display. Several stacks of the same kind of weapon in a corner.

    On one of the smaller displays was armour with the same marking as earlier but directly on the center of the chest. Where the metal was thickest.

    One way to describe it would be leather armour under a chest plate combined with several layers of hardend leather behind the shoulders before being braided by leather chords pulling taught from the spine.

    Finished with stitched soft leather over silk padding on the belt region from the small of the back. Flexibility and mobility were retained while durability was focused on the more tender parts of an adventurer. Or the more vulnerable to the unknown lethality of monsters. There were a few chainmail shirts and leather boots next to this display.

    What drew the eye was yet another pushed-to-the-side stack of equipment. This being a few small and medium-sized leather gloves that covered the first third of the forearm. As well as a thick belt that could be adjusted to attach equipment.

    Close by were thick and light hemp or cotton cloth armour and coarse canvas battle-ready clothing with a bundle of grainy silk ropes to tie around rings connected to weapon sheaths. There were even knee guards that could be slid into the boots in front; with rope to tie under the boot laces.

    Overall this all looked good and would combine well with the balance of the entire set. Perfect for fighting monsters again and again in a close-quarters place.

    Without second guessing, Sen went up to pay for it all. Not checking the price after recognizing the synergy of the armour. The rabbit demihuma becoming flustered and blushing once they saw the armour. As though the most unexpected outcome came to be. A few questions about why I chose this armour came up. As to whether or not I intended to wear it in the dungeon. If it fit my body and fighting style. All were a yes from me.

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    They asked, ¡°Do you really like the design? It isn''t overly complicated or mismatched to you?¡±

    ¡°I do like the design but mostly because of how it may serve me- because of my style of dungeoneering. I would have the freedom to go all in on my attacks. The material covers the basic needs of exploring the beginning floors. Plus, the weapons from this smith feel good in my hands.¡±

    ¡°Ah- I see. Well, yes. It does seem to be that way. I''m happy you''re pleased with all this.¡±

    Their pale complexion tinged with blushy cheeks quivered with rabbit-squeaks when saying the next parts.

    ¡°This is actually all my work that I put here to recover some funds for practicing. It really does make me happy that you''re getting this. Ah- the total will be 73,000 Vallis. Thank you.¡±

    While taking time to appreciate their cute mannerisms, I payed in full and left after saying I''d return when I have need of more equipment.

    It was an enjoyable moment. Mixed in with the excitement of acquiring new equipment.

    I returned home before showering and equipping everything together. Then jogging over to the dungeon to slowly climb down with a practice run.

    The first floor was for sword swinging and running. The second floor was for practicing finishing blows and core-breaking strikes. The third floor was where I cautiously moved and stealthily backtracked into different paths to ambush monsters with my daggers.

    Because of how well made the leather was, I didn''t make much of a metal sound when bouncing into crouches or lunging.

    The tightness of the material actually provided a feeling of light movements.

    Detailed structures in the metal shined when this feeling came to me. Such good steel.

    Keeping bipedal monsters at a distance and disarming them felt easily done with the sword. The basic abilities I had were where they could bring out the extent of my daggers.

    Reaching the tenth and eleventh floor would be when I''d look for new equipment, as it would be wise to do so at that point. I kept on moving through the fourth floor.

    After carefully pacing myself while on the fourth floor, I moved past to explore the fifth until taking a series of short rests to tease out more opponents from the dungeon. Returning to the third floor to work on dagger attacks and moving silently in full armour. Lizards were the only challenge for such actions.

    It became a routine to then return to cash out and take a nap before returning to the third floor and up to increase basic ability scores.

    Specifically working on overwhelming enemies in one-on-one combat and finishing them off quickly before edging away from multiple enemies. Sometimes charging to sweep goblins into halves or executing disarmed kobolds.

    To the point of repeating this for a full week after returning from the fifth floor. Polishing and sharpening my equipment whenever necessary. Any of the previous plans from the allied familias were put on hold until we all fully recovered.

    It was good that it was so, that with how often we ventured down to make progress, we needed just as much time to rest.

    So today was a solo exploration day.

    Once I finished, I came back up and saw a few familiar faces hanging around the dungeon- likely having finished their own solo run before resting here to people-watch.

    I was drawn to thoughts of them and how they looked towards me when I continued walking from the dungeon entrance.

    My curiosity was put to rest though, since I may see them in the future.

    I returned home and got a big hug from Ceres-Sama when she walked over from the kitchen. My face had been buried in her huge soft, sweet-smelling breasts.

    The rush of blood to my thighs when I crouched to withstand the supernatural effect of her allure helped me stay presentable.

    ¡°Goddess, please. I need to ask you something- well, after you''re done cooking.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Of course~¡±

    My Goddess finished cooking rice and a red curry stew dish. Covered it and let it steam up.

    As I sat kneeling on a plush fluffy rug, I looked up to her approaching figure and asked her, ¡°Goddess, please update my status today.¡±

    She only smiled and gestured for me to lay down, so I did.

    A golden needle to draw a single drop of blood, falling onto my back while I closed my eyes to focus my heartbeats into my falna somehow. Breathing deeply while appreciating the care given to me by my dear Goddess.

    ¡°This is absolutely, positively phenomenal. You''ll love this, I bet.¡±

    I remained silent before she climbed off of my lower back.

    ¡°Here, this is the result of your recent work.¡±

    I was shown my status on a page of paper.

    Sen Hyunyunmun

    Level One

    Strength I 47 { I 53

    Defense I 26 { I 67

    Dexterity H 117 { H 193

    Agility I 39 { I 65

    Magick I 43 { I 71

    Magick

    [Flame Magick]

    ?Summoning the power of flame to create and manifest flame magick.

    Skills

    [Harvest]

    ?Increasing ability scores leads to improved benefits.

    ?Status is reinforced by growth.

    After updating my status and blessing, I now have a skill and magick. Actual magick. Not even a single spell but a branch of magick I could improve with during my career.

    Flame Magick, is what it is called. With a medium length chant but casting it feels as though the chant that appears is because of the amount of mind I have so far. Leveling up may make it possible to know the full length of the chant where it may manifest as a result of a higher rank.

    The skill is what I was surprised most by; a skill that may be influenced by the presence of my Goddess. Her lessons in growing fruits and grains in our private gardens are a rare treat.

    This skill is called ¡®Harvest¡¯ and apparently reinforces an aspect of the Falna gracing my back. The image of a wreathed maiden holding a scythe, prepared to smile and reap bountiful rewards.

    The description could be read as successes providing higher returns.

    Which may mean the nature of Excellia may be impressed further when abilities improve or how it may express influence over ability scores is higher. Such as a higher likelihood of developmental abilities appearing once I level up.

    Or perhaps Excellia gained would become higher quality material for the blessing to come through. A smaller threshold for ability scores to be raised? By the divines, this was super exciting.

    I love this blessing I was given. I love my beloved Goddess.

    After spending the evening and night with my Goddess, I followed her at her request to help her with something.

    That something was actually helping her wash her back and legs. I willingly did as she needed me to. It was a joyful occasion for me as well.

    She hadn''t asked me to before, then there was the attention from Swordswoman-San earlier today, even the way I am seen by the allied deities, their children and people whom I haven''t gotten close to so as to not be overwhelmed by loss of a companion.

    Hmmmmm¡­ it seems I have become an adventurer rising to my own golden era.

    But first, I scrub and wash her shoulders. Her soft skin is pale and she doesn''t seem to shy away from my actions. Even allowing myself to get close to her while washing her back.

    She enjoyed it with the slow bubbling of soap as she rubs her thighs together and moaning quietly. I felt the need to continue without minding the steam.

    Pouring warm water over her to signal the end of it before doing the same for myself. Following her into the bath and relaxing together.

    Having a conversation that I wouldn''t reminisce about or speak of in the future.

    We enjoyed our bath together.

    I enjoyed her company for the rest of the night and fell asleep the same way I woke up, at her request. Reminding me to wake her up in the morning before I leave for the dungeon again.

    My heart had felt warm since she sat down with me full of divine excitement.

 Over Again

    The next morning, early while the foggy air from the south turned into gusts of sweetened amber wind.

    Cold auras were active today and piercing looks seemed more frequent around the entrance of the dungeon.

    Some shops and restaurants were closed today for some unknown reason. Though it may be because of recent events happening in the world.

    More villages have reported adventurers clearing out monster lairs and several recently arrived deities.

    More adventurers and traveling groups were following roads to Orario. Part of it was seasonal migration as well as planned events.

    Business was picking up and there were excited folk listening in on joyful newcomers making it big. Even recent activity from different countries seemed to carry a tune to the liking of many amused deities.

    I have said that there was bound to be a rise in new adventurers coming from around the world but actually seeing the effect is stimulating.

    Anu, Tiamat, Bennu, Osiris, Anubis, Neptune and Medusa were recent additional players to the ¡®game¡¯ of running a familia. Or so my Goddess has said.

    Different allied parties have been getting together in response to these new arrivals but most didn''t seem to actively look for new members. Usually this means that the unbalanced groups with differing social hierarchies are putting in more practice time.

    I don''t know if that would be enough, considering how often you hear deities laughing over the unfolding of some hapless familias.

    Crime or illness left out as a plausible cause. A few deities have been removed from this realm after losing in war games.

    One of those being a very recently set up familia that had been gathering failed rouges to cause trouble in neighboring countries.

    Mercury and Pluto were the ones to have taken care of that issue. Apparently Mercury took the lead while Pluto profited the most. A huge bet won and leftover adventurers being taken in after finding the distinction between criminal and cooperative.

    I made preparations to enter the dungeon after staying in a stance before working on balancing.

    With this, I finally went to the sixth floor. Mostly prancing into the sixth floor then skipping back to the fifth. Aggroing the frogs before leading them to bigger corridors. Often having to use corners to avoid attacks then committing to lunge attacks after dodging tongues.

    War Shadows were like a dessert to me. My guts and viscera feeling warm and hot at the idea of facing them. Counters and crippling strikes being the focus of my strategy.

    I know it is better to not underestimate the danger of facing them. My neck, arms and chest where the parts I fully protected. As much as possible, actually.

    Swiping my sword up to literally disarm them. Bashing my sword into their heads when I had rare moments of ambushing them. Using long corridors to cast flame magick. Often breaking up groups of them before skipping back to conserve energy. Then listening in for enemies to take on Shadows one at a time. Backing up and side stepping their attention to build up leverage for when I am on the offensive.

    Leaving a dagger in their eye before bracing for a hit. After a few of these types of encounters, I went back up to find party members to take through these floors. Tactics and transforming techniques with the intent to start long-term career plans.

    No scars thanks to health potions I get for not much at all. Often attributing my fast recovery in part to how often I drink these potions. Sometimes to remove fatigue and enjoy the feeling of muscles hot from battle yet still warm by the time I encounter another War Shadow.

    The only attacks I received were those on my chest plate and glancing off my shoulders.

    Glaring back at the War Shadows is how I got over these mild occasions.

    So far, this is fantastic. My magick has seen three times to ten times the rate of improvement than before I got this Harvest skill.

    My Vitality and Strength have seen the same. Small naps and snacks are all I need before climbing back down into the dungeon for the rest of the day.

    Now three War Shadows are what I consider a reward for being patient while in the dungeon. The kind that is becoming more frequently available.

    And so, I started seeking new companions. Mostly people I haven''t seen before or with the kind of behaviors recognizable in potential adventurers.

    There were a few groups of amazonians and demihuma and even an elf or two. They were all cute and some eyed me after noticing my gaze. One elf almost gasped after hearing what their companion said when both looked towards me.

    I wonder if I''m some of these girls¡¯ type. That would be pleasing to know.

    Not all of these encounters led to partying¡­ it was often the case that they needed a mage or supporter rather than a new attacker.

    Since it seemed there were more than one major familia sending in low ranking adventurers today, I decided to finally wear an outfit I had in mind for recruiting a full party. With the next few days for solo play and training.

    After a first time experience in a bath house, I walked home slowly and steadily.

    Drank some tea and wrapped a few treats for enticing more delicate-types.

    Sandles and belt I found in a secluded shop behind several roads and a small stone square connected which stayed in front of a few mansions. High level adventurers sometimes roaming the area with ease.

    I''m in my new outfit today. A robe reminiscent of those of the east but fluffier and meant for lounging in the wild. The kind of style that fits in a dungeon city.

    My Goddess has agreed that recruiting now would be exactly what she needs for progressing past the point of entry-level exploration. She asked me to come up with ideas for several interlocking themes of what she calls ¡°the peak of adventurous dungeoneering¡± or something like that. This is a heavy yoke, to be known for accepting and allowing her desires to take precedence.

    Center stage, myself and my budding leadership. To the side, my Goddess singing and fantasizing. Behind me, the markings she speaks of as often as I do.

    A realization of how this world is and how strong I actually am now. Would this be enough to convince someone?

    I''ve already convinced myself and I don''t see any wiser starts to a conversation other than- ¡®Do you seek adventure in this city?¡¯/¡¯Are you in need of a new party to support?¡¯/¡¯Does adventure and danger appear differently to you?¡¯ all wonderfully noteworthy lines from the gut.

    Yet, I am at the end of one of my plans. A full-fledged fantasy of lengthy combinations while I stand and breath.

    I should seek the ones closest to becoming heroes, known specialists or talented artists.

    If they are without a blessing, I should see them as they are. If they are without a leader, I should place them where they''d bring successful results. Whether they are seeking their own way to rise from the ranks of level one or need the absolute certainty of their own power to overcome odds into adventure.

    Through the doors I open once I have mastered my own. If I could, I would support them in their first steps while reminding them to follow deeper into battles.

    Flame Magick¡­ this is what I''m keeping close to my heart and hand.

    If they seek magick, I''ll show them what they may see.

    If they are wise and strong, I would take them.

    If they are meant to support, I''ll find the one that has more potential then their forefathers.

    Darkness and monsters do not hold anything for me.

    I know how to handle this quest.

    Directly to the front of the gates and coming to the conclusion that I need glasses¡­

    Other than that, having a set range of sight is good for me. I''ll cherish the opportunities I have.

    If heaven has something I can''t say no to, I would give my strongest smile to know the end.

    Thirst quenched and sweat barely lifting from my back and collarbone.

    Pale brilliant light overtaking the sky as clouds pounce and dance under dry thunderous air.

    My steps becoming slow and sequenced. Death and power are absent from my hands and hips. Light graces my shoulders and tilting pauses.

    Deep darkening eyes accumulating soft quiet distances. The wind glancing off the steps in front.

    Sounds falling after groups or bands of people pass by after the silent paths close to the arcing, thick air pulled in at this hour.

    Children and young adventurers traveling in the city. Markets off to the back of this location.

    Melting wax from candles and the smell of bread.

    I see young beautiful elves, I see pale busty catgirls, I see tall feminine humanoids in armour, dresses, coats and carrying bags.

    Some people are on carts or coming down from smaller carts.

    Strong looking folk from different foreign lands.

    Music drifts in from the smallest windows and alleys.

    I walk up to a group of three girls I saw whispering about their own reasons for coming here while one had a sword strapped to their back and their companion playing with a dagger.

    -¡±I''m not sure where to start but I know I''d love to see you two with me. I could at most help you in the first floor if you''ll trust me!¡±

    -¡±Got it. I''m more of a support with my height for now. I''ll help you until we know what dangers there are.¡±

    -¡±I''ve heard plenty about this city but it''s not an easy path to walk on for new adventurers.¡±

    The amazonian who just spoke tilted back with a curious look in their eyes.

    A sudden movement echoed in the stance of their shortest friend.

    I walked slowly from behind a light green haired girl with a robe. Then I said what I had prepared in the last few steps before encountering them.

    After all of them had moved to the sides of their companions, their elf friend turned around and blinked with a shy smile.

    ¡°Are you three in need of a deity to bless your start as an adventurer? My Goddess has asked me to bring in someone to our home.¡±

    At this point in the story, I must recount that while I''m enjoying this, I have very firm demands when it comes to the quality of a party.

    For the sake of my career, we''ll call these three light green-san, dark blue-san and intentional-san.

    They all genuinely agreed to follow me to where my Goddess was ready to interview them. I spoke very little but responded to all important questions they had to ask. One by one they introduced themselves and demanded I convince them to join.

    Intentional-san became amused by their elven friend''s insistence to know how I could promise safety in the dungeon.

    The shorter blue eyed girl behind them chimed in asking how far I had gotten through the dungeon.

    I acknowledged the dangers of the first few floors and the farthest I reached. My comments on kobolds, war shadows and the approach one would have on the sixth floor were accentuated with the small rolling flames of a few flame spells.

    Mostly the smallest puffs of red fire and pale, smokeless fire.

    I had cast the spell to bolster their confidence in me and convince their friends.

    I convinced them. They asked how many times I could cast this spell and I responded by asking for the amount that would cover their range of attacks since there wasn''t an exact amount of times of casting that would deplete my mind yet.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    On we went to Ceres-Sama and she made sure to come to complete harmony with them. Finding out their hopes for facing monsters. An hour of preparing them for receiving their falna.

    Light and shiny sparkles rose and coiled under a glowing hand before Ceres-Sama handed them their weapons to kneel to the side of a cushioned mat.

    A sword held tightly by their small humanoid friend.

    Ears red and hands clenched by the elf girl with light green hair.

    Deep red undertones to the eyes of the amazonian now finally bowing to accept an inked page from their Goddess.

    First they spent a night getting close and enjoying asking questions. They were informed of our stance in the community. Leading them to a room with weapons, leather armour and cloth rolls on racks in-case they needed new clothing.

    A dark blue robe for dark blue-san was prepared.

    After adjusting a dress made from elven silk for light green-san, we were brought to a table to plan our first moves as a party.

    I asked to be given three days to train them, guide them through the first floor and practice with spears while being taught swordsmanship by our Goddess.

    And so we did that while withholding their first update. Saying the fifth day before meeting with parties with similar balances of ability scores would be when they''d know their initial potential.

    If they needed more time to practice on the second afternoon, we would have them fight against me and our Goddess.

    At first, they frantically asked Ceres-Sama to reconsider but after being tossed around with a wooden stick after walking into the garden, they started nodding more frequently whenever her ideas seemed possible.

    Intentional-San asked her if focusing on scouting and ambushing was acceptable.

    Light Green-San chimed in saying that magick and support would be her choice.

    Dark Blue-San waiting until after their teacher spoke for her part in how we would delve into the dungeon.

    Focusing on the sword was what Dark Blue-San desired most.

    They were all given their own small room filled with only a bed, a closet, a shower and two different bags to be shared between their two small supporters.

    The curls of Dark Blue-san would glow in the sunlight and dampened the lighter tone of her soft, soft skin.

    The long hair of Light Green-san wasn''t included in any of our conversations. We enjoyed the moments where she would form sentences with her honest requests in the instance that we were to rank up.

    Finding out the basis of Ceres-Sama and her allies¡¯ direction as new and experienced representatives of their children. Then continuing to turn the conversation into a strategy meeting on cooperating with prospective adventurers.

    I chimed in to mention the ones I would party with more often to stabilize our schedules.

    If magick was to be improved naturally, we would gather to practice and compare new additions to parties.

    If they needed a higher Defense to actually enter and leave a floor, we would measure their physique with their equipment.

    If they knew how to carry themselves then we would have them in front on the second day.

    We saw the magick of the elves as a wind blade that curved into the next hallway of the dungeon floor we started on.

    Then a combination attack where their wind blade carried the force of a flame spell rising at the outermost edge of the wind spell. A spear batting away a goblin while a shorter spear stabbed away the goblin.

    Her accuracy being very high while the spell was a concentrated slicing lull of mana of the wind attribute.

    The back of the slicing movement glided over and across in a straight line.

    Their chant was only two poems long and mine was timed after it seemed to be formed properly.

    I scouted ahead while Dark Blue-San guarded.

    We had one of the recent additions to Dangerous Smile-Sama''s familia.

    She had found someone with the exact same height as Dark Blue-san whom decided to be a supporter with a spear.

    A high Defense and Agility ability score were her main good points.

    I planned to see which specific allied adventurer from the many familias with switching configurations would be a permanent invite.

    Results were popping up all the time now. A handful of adventurers were now level two after five years of adventuring, their recent expedition to the ninth floor led to these rank ups. The more prominent deities of the alliance began initiating plans that had been set in motion after the most of each one''s children had reached their full potential.

    Adventurers from one of five familias had ranked up successfully.

    Two powerful mages, a swordsman, an adventurer with the hunter development ability and someone whom was transferred to a smaller familia with potion brewing knowledge.

    The strength of each party didn''t represent the total they had reached after this much time.

    I knew the challenges they may have faced were no greater than what they''ve known and lived through.

    Though their names were not specifically mentioned on the fifth day when we had gathered together to cover the basics of battle.

    Important news was shared while young adventurers sparred or warmed up.

    A practice spell was shared with the elven mages whom realized they were from the same forested mountainside.

    They were left alone together in a room while only one lantern was lit.

    It was the smallest of spells but it improved their magick ability scores. As to why the deities had this chant, we do not know but it had close to only a one in a 9000th of a possibly of fluctuating into reflexive combustion.

    Visibly seeing the affect of a spell somehow did the same to one''s conscious efforts as finding interest in a story.

    The magick of each newly joined adventurer with a high enough ability score was to be displayed to their own deity in front of either mages with an affinity to the same element or to rows of parties with some amount of potential for manifesting magick.

    The extent of mind while chanting could be an impactful experience for some of our allies.

    We could reference these displays as how well versed or rehearsed each one was in casting their magick.

    Some skills were displayed as well afterwards. With small matches held between individual adventurers.

    Sore muscles and quick counters were the highlight of the day.

    A small run around the boundaries of each familia with a full party was performed while smaller parties were to race in relays to time their skill with the momentum of their bodies.

    Personal weapons were carried during races between evenly matched adventurers afterwards, based on Agility and Dexterity compared to Strength.

    If someone had not received their status yet they were to find someone to spar against before we left.

    I was sent to collect books from a few stores that would be good for specific members, including ink, paper, clay and journals.

    The clay was also intended for gardening tall dense vegetables and herbs but a small portion would be for playing.

    Once I had returned I noticed our Goddess had taken a bath and found a young girl who looked very tired, once they decided to walk around for a short while.

    This girl is a short bear demihuma. Ears and tail making this obvious though she had a tendency to hide her tail from me.

    After hearing her out and feeling very happy with their personality, our Goddess gave her a falna in front of us.

    For the sake of my career, we shall call this person Panphan-Chan.

    While she could be described as curvy, her limbs were lithe and she had a bit of a tummy. Small as she was, while being 170cm tall.

    Twenty centimeters taller than Dark Blue-San.

    Fourteen centimeters taller than Intentional-San.

    Twelve centimeters taller than Light Green-San.

    My height was the same as her¡¯s before I received a falna. My diet could improve though, even with the many choices I would actually have available to me.

    Healthy doses of medicine and honey whenever I knew it to be better for me.

    Measuring the length necessary for crossing barriers and making an impact on the dungeon''s daily developments. Giving more of my attention to what is likely most important at this time.

    The current season was late summer, two trips to the sixth floor once everyone met the minimum requirement was planned, though most could do well enough when regrouping and chain in threes.

    Some floors being better for cutting through an aggroed group of monsters. Magick and focused attacks where monsters couldn''t flail or crash into kill spots.

    ¡­

    I had already imagining their potential for growth while they started having intermittent conversations related to the upcoming days.

    This is result of the following day of exploring.

    Intentional-San

    Level One

    Strength I 10 { I 26

    Vitality I 12 { I 32

    Dexterity I 15 { I 16

    Agility I 10 { I 12

    Magick I 5 { I 6

    Dark Blue-San

    Level One

    Strength I 5 { I 35

    Vitality I 10 { I 14

    Dexterity I 15 { I 36

    Agility I 15 { I 36

    Magick I 3 { I 5

    Light Green-San

    Level One

    Strength I 4 { I 8

    Vitality I 1 { I 13

    Dexterity I 5 { I 15

    Agility I 9 { I 20

    Magick I 50 { I 55

    I also made some progress.

    Sen Hyunyunmun

    Level One

    Strength I 53 { H 101

    Vitality I 67 { H 135

    Dexterity H 193 { F 350

    Agility I 65 { I 92

    Magick I 71 { G 239

    Magick

    (Flame Magick)

    Summoning the power of flame to create and manifest flame magick.

    Skils

    (Harvest)

    Gaining increases in status leads to improved benefits.

    One of my ability scores moved up to H and Magick somehow is already at G.

    This is good.

    I now have what may be the fastest growing magick ability of the newest batch of adventurers currently venturing into the dungeon; with results like these.

    Panphan-Chan also got some results.

    Strength I 5 { I 25

    Vitality I 5 { I 9

    Dexterity I 6

    Agility I 3

    Magick I 2 { I 3

    These were good for only a single day of intense preparation and floor clearing.

    This was now the third week since I came to Orario.

    All the many plots and schemes that I knew were implemented by multiple entities were fulfilling the goals established at the start.

    To find the most fitting weapon for each party member. To plan formations and responses to danger. To defeat enemies, monsters and surpass rivals.

    Dangerous Smile-Sama came out to me about considering me a small friend, after tense moments of quiet and shy glances.

    Asking me to keep this a secret so that my Goddess doesn''t misunderstand her intentions in getting close to me. She seemed sincere.

    Though the blushing behavior she impressed upon me was dangerous in its own way. Grabbing my attention to ask me how well I was doing lately.

    ¡°Do you imagine it would be soon that you may start delving deeper into the dungeon?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am searching for a permanent party and close allies to lead my familia to a high rank. Either I am to have a rotating line up of supporters from allied familias when we are looping through the surface levels or to commit to gaining Excellia at the very ends of the dungeon.¡±

    ¡°I know whom you have in mind¡­ well- if you ever do plan to do so, feel free to always consider my family''s supporters to be open for your explorations. They''ll be happy to help you. I''m sure.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°If I enter as often as possible, I would surely see a trend in the timing of movements on different floors of the dungeon. Either in the morning or whenever I enter alone.¡±

    Relaxing my arms and back while finishing my words.

    ¡°If I combine my knowledge with my intuition, I could .¡±

    She took a moment before exclaiming when her eyes looked about ready to jump at me with her sharp nails.

    ¡°You should play against me in something, just a few times.¡±

    ¡°If you''ll let me know your thoughts on a few specific parts of Orario¡­ and if there are any adventurers likely to be active in the middle floors in the following years.¡±

    ¡°Is it something difficult you''re planning?¡±

    ¡°I''m planning to network by focus on only one favoured child of each familia, rotate supporters every week and exchange cooperation on deeper levels for a say in how talented adventurers are to be placed.¡±

    ¡°We know we treat you all well enough. The results we share have been more than we projected after our first month here. Well, some of us at least.¡± *sigh*

    ¡°What''s the matter?¡±

    ¡°I only have one attacker and several supporters. A lot of them actually. My plan to be a supporter-heavy familia is slow to show results.¡±

    ¡°I know a few adventurers who could explore well enough to avoid being murdered. I''ll see your supporters and let them know about possible cooperating.¡±

    *sigh* ¡°That would be good, thank you.¡±

    By the time night had come on, I had finished my conversation with Dangerous Smile-Sama. Obtaining her support.

    I had finalized my party system for ranking up.

    Dark Blue-san, Intentional-San, Myself, Light Green-san, Panphan-Chan and either a supporter or one of my more talented helpers would be how my party would be set to return.

    With future new members either being trained as specialized professionals.

    Running into the most effectively profitable floors and not forgetting to make quick work of venturing deeper.

    If I saw a cute young elf or a demihuma with friends, I would place them under me to ensure their success in their field.

    Our work being the kind full preparation seemed most beneficial for.

    I have gotten more sleep, my eyes don''t hurt at night and I don''t see any stressful events playing in the background or foreground.

    ¡­

    ¡­

    ¡­

    This led to fantasies and moments where I forgot the possibility of people with higher stats seeing my semi-embarassing moves.

    Dancing and marching ever so often.

    This is how I spent my first night on patrol around the territory of our familia and allied groups.

    In the morning, I went to the guild to ask for guidance on my advancement through the dungeon with ability scores. I described my current party and how it would be entering at every recommended level of status for a party and then known parties of the same familia thereafter with plans in case of having someone join each party or several parties of allied familias.

    My advisor agreed to this and went on and on about my livelihood while reinforcing the idea of investing in my equipment whenever necessary.

    ¡°You can never be too careful on the first five floors but since you''re already planing to reach the sixth, bring higher quality potions with you. Or someone to carry a few. You''ll need to catch up if you intend to overtake the adventurers in front of you on this road.¡±

    ¡°I''ll keep that advice for reference.¡±

    ¡°It is likely that they won''t be too much of a problem though.¡±

    ¡°Be that as it may, be careful. Now carry on with your day, I have paperwork.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Advisor-San~¡±

    ¡°Hmph.¡±

    *smiles*

    :3

    It was a calm day and a peaceful night after that.

    It was a full schedule most days with rest for my party when I was to group up with supporters on the first few floors.

    Often with their better-equipped friends.

    Either the young swordswoman from the Eastern lands or a wolf demihuma would join us on explorations.

    Developing our tactics and gaining experience in adventuring.

    These two girls were Cold Rain-San and Broad Tail-San.

    Broad Tail-San is a tank with magick which increases their Vitality in exchange for Agility depending on the length of their spell while also increasing their Vitality the more they are defending with their shield.

    Longer casts would increase Vitality at a lower cost of Agility and Mind.

    Cold Rain-San had started planning to build up Excellia before asking their deity to update their Status later.

    Fully focusing on raising Magick and Vitality while only raising the remaining three Abilities in 10s before moving on to preserve excellia.

    This actually showed results and she informed me of these when we had privacy far from the places we normally met.

    Magick was left for the end of each week and Vitality was updated as often as possible.

    I shared my own way of having a deity update the blessing. Starting with Magick, moving on to write the Magick part of the Falna, then the level before raising Vitality before bouncing from Agility and Dexterity in single digits before writing in skills.

    Full power and a build up of secondary abilities is how I described it.

    They asked if they could do the same. I responded that it would be at their discretion.

    They asked me after a silent moment about their theory and methodology of improving by updating their blessing.

    If they updated their Magick every week, the gains would overcome the time difference between competing adventurers.

    If they updated their Vitality as often as possible, the results would improve their capacity to pull through in the dungeon.

    If they asked for their Excellia to be prioritized somehow then their rate of growth would not be limited by their actions.

    I asked if they gained more Strength over time in this way. They said yes.

    I asked if the rate of gaining Excellia had improved so far. They said it was more in-line with the depth they reached in the dungeon so far.

    My answer was as direct as I could make it.

    ¡°It may be the case that updates made before progressing in a floor would show where improvements could be made. Vitality and Strength could be balanced depending on the quality of excellia needed for increasing them and Magick would be where your potential would rise as you gain more and more experience.¡±

    ¡°Ask your deity if increasing each Ability one point at a time with intervals of measuring the increases leads to a more synergistic base status. Then allowing yourself to return to raising each one in full after you''re happy with your base total.¡±

    ¡°I''ll do exactly that, Sen.¡±

 Movements

    Days and then weeks of exploring began.

    Fully mapping the first few floors, entering the fourth, fifth and sixth in short quick runs while looping back ever so often.

    This is what we have been doing. Only with parties on higher floors. Most of the time with stronger friendly companions.

    We made sure to accomplish what we needed to make it through the upcoming month. Acquiring equipment that fit each member, training in groups whenever familias would gather and then sleeping after resting together.

    Taking on more supporters on full-floor explorations. As long as there was no danger with their abilities as they are.

    It led to having a single day for sleeping a lot and two naps in a week before completing tasks for the Goddess.

    I regular visited the bathhouse and newly discovered bathhouses around Orario.

    Drinking tea and eating fruit before walking over to the gates of the city. Climbing the stone steps set in the wide rounded lanes to overlook the ground past the gates.

    Recruiting new adventurers that I saw had potential. Not bothering to stop to listen to lanky or thin strangers. Bulky strangers were ignored too.

    Growling and hissing were becoming natural parts of my verbal behaviors.

    Whether it be a reflection of the growing pressure most level one adventurers felt whenever Sen moved pass them, or the fact that beastial or corporeal senses registered the aura of Sen as a dangerous entity¡­ there weren''t many furry people giving wayward looks towards the group.

    Pushing away shady figures with a deadly glare. Sometimes even kicking away fools that tried to talk to people I recruited.

    If they were more polite-then-presentable then I brought them to a house left in between the shared bordering territory of each allied familia.

    It was a neutral building meant to provide a bed and bath to newbies who may or may not join a familia I had a good relationship with.

    Specifically, their deity would either be someone I liked or appreciated as an adventurer.

    This was the result of many drawn-out discussions.

    We would allow the newly recruited people to choose which deity to join if they had multiple offers or defer to the judgement of the gods and goddesses for this occasion.

    The strange preferences that some party leaders had were unspoken but known as facts.

    Creamy pale elves for a devoted, tastefully well-behaved and reasonable goddess with the domain of wells at night.

    Pale drow with faint indigo shades of pink on their light, brilliant lips for a deity with a talent for judging strength.

    Silver or blonde haired adventurers for a monstrously powerful goddess.

    Pale pink-headed girls and diligent attitude for a deity associated with the sky.

    Tall handsome men and soft-spoken younger men for a deity with clean claws.

    Strong gentlemanly groups of travelers were directed to Destruction Trident-Sama and serious and attentive folk were redirected to Hopeful Trickster-Sama.

    Light Steps-Sama had recruited on their own while their brother had taken to sending parties of mages to find potential adventurers without a falna yet.

    Assigning a guard to prevent poaching or harassment.

    Recently there have been more fights in the districts and less crime. Such a happy occurrence for those without issues.

    A terrible end for weaker deities though.

    Entertainment like that was hard to beat.

    Never in their immortal lives would they have guessed that trying to cause trouble would end their schemes.

    A game over for the blinded organizations.

    Many restaurants had placed coarse grain salt in a old bowl outside the perimeter of their entrance and away from the path cleared for walking.

    The busy streets tossing up murmurs of rumors and hushed talks.

    Some overheard about conflicts starting in distant frontier countries and about the merger between two dynasties in the far eastern areas of the world with several small cities in different places growing after the clearing of old monster dens.

    This world having been built on the spines and jungles of countless civilizations yet to see an end brought to the age of heroes needed to defeat the dungeon.

    Daydreaming of the many legends resounding from the past heroes of the era of adventurers, Sen recounted the start of his journey.

    _______________________________

    Despite being overtly proud, he was enthusiastic and honest. Assured victory and a need for satisfaction led Sen to thoughts left from when they first entered the scene of Orario. Without much of anything except a prepared form at dawn¡­ he sought to join a familia and explore the first floor of the dungeon. Sandles, a thin simple robe and hemp trousers with a split on both sides of the knees.

    A small leather bag and a drawstring pouch. Starting with a drink, a bath, directions, a stroll and then steps made intuitively towards the upper areas of a properly designed part of the city. The smell of perfume cold until moments passed with multiple fuming feelings peering at me.

    Most of the lights along the smaller roads buzzing with notes to pick up from the drowned music coming from closed buildings.

    A few sets of eyes following my movements but not allowed to touch my body. Standing with a tilt to recover form from the many steps taken.

    The smell of honey and silk bringing me to matching paths and a quiet area with a fountain. Sitting there was a goddess in a long dress. The sun having just gone down.

    Leather bound books, ink and lamps on wooden posts behind a small house on a stone table took my attention. I looked past the short distance to meet eyes with the goddess. She was smaller than me.

    Or I thought as much. Before speaking, I gestured with a hand gracefully over my chest.

    ¡°Well met.¡±

    ¡°Are you a goddess? Do you need someone to join your Familia?¡±

    She almost winced at my action. Completely immersed in her own ideas. Eyes bouncing back from my face to her hands. I straightened my back and awaited her words. She raised her head and met my eyes again.

    ¡°Yes. I am looking for someone to join my Familia. Your senses must be good for you to have found yourself here. There''s about three dozen deities that planned to find some adventurers today and you''re the only one to come here.¡±

    ¡°Ah, that must be why a few of the crowds wandering around the city seemed to drift away from my sight. Maybe I''ll have an opportunity to party up with them in the future. ¡­Do not be alarmed by my next words, if possible.¡±

    ¡°That would depend- on what those words may be¡­¡­¡­. Don''t ask anything unreasonable right off the bat, I''m already concentrating on how to start judging the quality of your soul. Hmmmmm.¡±

    I walked a few steps forward before asking, in clear view of the half moon overhead.

    ¡°Would it be possible to do that now? I need to enter the dungeon as soon as possible. Only ten to fifteen seconds of slow silent steps into the first floor is exactly what I''ll do first. I know the guild will be open all night. I know that you might have equipment I could practice holding on the way there. I''m the careful sort of adventurer. As careful as one could be while inexperienced.¡±

    ¡°...as soon as possible? If you need to do that¡­ I''ll have to fill you in on all you have to know and drill it into you daily until you have it 100%. Got it??¡±

    ¡°Yes, Goddess. Please, bless me. I seek adventure.¡±

    ¡°Ah-h okay! Yes, hah-oh just come here already. What''s your name? Shouldn''t a young man like you take the start of your career more seriously?¡±

    ¡°I am Sen. I''m from somewhere monsters don''t reach. And yes, this is me taking it seriously. I would need what I know I need to gain Excellia. That''s where I am concentrating my effort.¡±

    ¡°That is true. That is so. Well, you''ll learn to behave and not worry me so don''t make it an issue when you get scrapes and bruises, alright?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Goddess.¡±

    At this point she pointed at a short wide stone table for me to lay down on. There was a small pillow for me to hold with my head down. I allowed my body is rest.

    My heart and spine pulled my attention with each moment. A drop of blood on my back caused lights to flutter into archaic shapes. Gold and grey flashes spreading down from a warm center.

    Small trembling fingers tumbling and thumbing the surface of my back.

    ¶÷{¼ª

    ¡°If you''ll indulge my preference, please start with the magick basic ability, Goddess.¡±

    ¡°Understood. I''m sure you''ll see improvement by the time you know how to explore. And as the first adventurer to be blessed by me, call me Ceres. It would be good for your career to consider this to be your fate. Your lot in this life.¡±

    ¡°I''ll have that with me in my darkest moments. I shall heed your words, Goddess.¡±

    ¡°See that you do so. Done.¡±

    ¡°Have a look. You may see where you are in terms of talent. All your life and one record after receiving my blessing¡­ and those are the few points you have to show for your travels thus far.¡±

    Sen Hyunyunmun

    Level One

    Strength I 3

    Vitality I 2

    Dexterity I 5

    Agility I 3

    Magick I 10

    This shortly went from a single update after returning from the second floor.

    Strength I 3 { I 5

    Vitality I 2 { I 3

    Dexterity I 5 { I 14

    Agility I 3 { I 6

    Magick I 10 { I 14

    To a second update after returning from the early middle of the second floor.

    Strength I 5 { I 7

    Vitality I 3 { I 6

    Dexterity I 14 { I 17

    Agility I 6 { 7

    Magick I 14 { 19

    The falna provided an instant flourishing sensation with this and a confident hand forming the runic impressions by the Goddess.

    Small wounds already healed after a small potion was taken before getting an introduction to the household and the type of deity my goddess would behave as from this point.

    Our personalities matched in some places. Her domain and reasoning for how the familia was to be cared for were exact.

    Falnas were to be cherished and your body or equipment were to be improved. Especially when healing was needed. Ceres-Sama had enough to be capable of running a familia to explore the dungeon to improve her growing investments.

    We spoke of the origins of the dungeon. How it was a disaster threatening the lives of mortals and an enemy of deities after the assimilation of magickal treasures and naturally formed metal veins deep into the earthly material of the world.

    Centuries of first attacking with weakened monsters without the involvement of deities and then years of dissolving the bodies of various living creatures. Layers of rock now both magickally widened into an underground system of impenetrable layers and intermetaphysical growth of a hidden abyss.

    The ancient quests were unfinished and the end of days thousands of years from now if they are left undone.

    The first quest, to slay a behemoth. Completed 896 years ago.

    The second quest, to slay the sea serpent.

    893 years ago.

    The third quest, to slay the stone giant.

    873 years ago.

    The fourth quest, to slay the thunderhawk.

    865 years ago.

    The fifth quest, to slay the earth dragon left incomplete.

    The sixth quest, to slay the flood dragon which escaped to the North from the dungeon- still incomplete.

    The seventh quest, to slay the red dragon- yet to awaken from undisturbed slumber- still to this day, left incomplete.

    Monsters from hundreds of years before roaming until groups of adventurers removed any disturbing happenings.

    Different territories were displaced by the flood dragon.

    The guild opened to directly remove this unholy monstrosity of a dungeon from the earliest parts of history.

    Kingdoms choosing to let go of grievances and completely taking over some villages over time.

    Valleys and jungles are the most dangerous places to explore outside of your own small world such as what a villager may know.

    Death and Light often warning people not to find suffering thousands of years ago.

    Priestesses stating the instructions given to them by the divine.

    Elixirs and magick items collected or amassed from decades of activity or records of them brought together to serve the familias which had started exploring the dungeon.

    No excess stock sold to sellers.

    Accounts and tomes stacked or rewritten. Energetic scholars and gentlemen ready to take the forefront of this pursuit to the finish.

    Rare materials and good weapons stocked in the markets as soon as profits came up in momentum as adventurers began adventuring.

    The outline for ranking up and developing the status becoming known to the adventurers involved in the expeditions into the next floor under the guidance of higher leveled individuals.

    The inherent ability to obtain wealth or experienced parties becoming renown as potential heroes.

    Words spoken before a younger Sen when they declared their aspirations to be famed as a hero after defeating the dungeon rose from the core of their intentions.

    A wandering band of deities with a few horses and guards visiting many many villages/towns/keeps.

    ¡°The first few gods and some friends would train groups or select individuals from somewhere. Most of these deities have left and sent messages with deities that descended from heaven. Starting with provoking prose pouring as sweet as wine and thirst. The darkness does not hold adventure for you, trespassing past danger does not afford you an opportunity, do not be blinded by the illusions you want and writh for.

    Silence, Death, Light, War, Life, Justice and Beauty.

    All together watching as many fall or return.

    Magick and swords, your fair yet hidden response.

    Death and mortals walking unto the world. Claims, laws and ever-present intent.

    Blessed you may be, the dungeon and your fortunes are all that one may see before being taken and never returned. Account for threat upon life when you delve into each floor.

    Enter, do not yet despair when you have explored.

    Bring your friends, your loved ones, your masters, your teachers, your companions and your persons.

    Fall at once if danger brings your death.

    Writh before dying, cry or be flung back from overwhelming ends.

    The dungeon of the city called, Orario.

    Where deities and ¡°children¡± live while the legends of heroes ring, the myths of the divines and the quests of the world.

    To be led into the depths undiscovered as monsters are slain.

    Destruction and desolation, the screams, the loss of your life as you pursue the extent of your name. Your efforts and achievements the only remaining experience left behind.¡±

    Should I Plan To Be A High Rank Adventurer?

    This is the question I asked myself when I yet just only graced the age of twelve, the same I answered while rising early in one fine cautious moment with then, the passing years, before leaving my village and crossing mountains before arriving and appearing at the gates, the road and the tower of this place.

    Smoke and ash the only impression I focused on¡­ the time falling slowly as I realized more than my tastes.

    The feeling of my sweat and breath. The clothing I wore. The dark alleys without noises.

    A quiet street next to a small market, a road absent of lingering images¡­ and the sense of power I had not concentrated my intentions over.

    Death or War, I was prepared to accept the highest hand and blessing I could during my vividly hot life.

    All my power, strength and warmth. The last of my pulse and heartbeats.

    I encountered refreshing steam and flowery, thick incense.

    I only had enough for at most two months. Sandles, a bow, a dagger, a sword and a bag with silver coins. My journal and a gourd of water. No rings, no scrolls, no leather, no food, no alcohol, no medicine, no horse and at most a few snacks.

    The small ones, my favorites and something dense.

    As I am, prepared and excited.

    Words and languages at my command, if that were to be.

    I could say, my own mind and tongue are skilled while my hands firm at the thought of entering the dungeon.

    Sweat running hot again as I imagine it.

    Pale lights glancing from my neck while I move to seek a deity worth my talents or capability.

    Lightning, Thunder, Dragons.

    The music I hear, the songs I''ve heard, smiles, rewards, treasure, gold, wealth, skills, magick, fortune, fate¡­ the reach of my hand and the range of my sight.

    This day is soft and sharp to me, the feelings I have cannot be there to quench my thirst and the correctness of my spine still holds my tail and horns which do not grow.

    I must demand of myself something that is not possible, when it is the most opportune moment for my striking.

    Becoming stronger, agile, wise or further blessed by right of conquest.

    My time in this life is my own.

    My moods and needs are not to be tested.

    My name is more clear to God than yours and here I know in what way.

    I demand absolute and total reign in my own reality.

    Yet, I have need. I desire. I could accept yet not purchase.

    I am capable, wise and seen while young.

    Here now, after six years of trials in places common and bountiful¡­ I arrive here.

    Barely clothed yet in need. Hungry now actually. My tongue and eyes do not look or bleed.

    All I ask for would amount to living in a city while I am stronger than a deity. Healthier than the oxen and horses of the land.

    Light or Thunder, I know how well my words and speech sound.

    Yet I''d demand more while someone does not want.

    I would know what may become possible. My powers are known to my own heart. If my soul could come to claim this as well¡­ I know to take and demand when it is my right to do so.

    Grasping what is impossible for mortals.

    Seeking what does not become light.

    Knowing that this is sweet yet bitter once tasted.

    I have greater need than most now. Or else I should be violent and aggressive.

    Better to take and not spit while I am not greedy nor suffering.

    I am younger or young enough. I do not act strangely. I do not imitate nor mimic. I do not steal nor thief. I do not harm nor hurt. I cry and I love to bleed. Yet I have need greater than truth and protection. I cannot be dishonest. I am sincere. It is maddening, I am sane, I hold myself, I am prideful.

    I would have roared to aggro a monster if I saw one near a village. I would run towards a fortified location if it means preventing horrors. I would have moved or countered in such a moment.

    A sword or a kick, while present. Moving in time, breathing under fatality and dodging the last thrown attack from an enemy.

    My figure continuing to stand when I am finally done.

    I do not remember who was attacked in the village or if someone died when hunting down monsters.

    I won''t remember them but that is natural. I never intended to and wouldn''t fail like they have.

    Sword in hand, I would enter the first floor to seek the most that I may gain from adventures.

    Though I still remind myself that I''ll be starting with a bow, to set the bow aside before drawing my sword to attack a weakened enemy and then to do the same until I must return to the first corridor of the dungeon.

    Though that would likely be deeper down when monsters are pushed to attack by the dungeon.

    Flipping the hunt of a monster into slaughter of vile lingering wailing.

    After entering the boundaries of Orario, I moved forward to seek a deity to grace me with a blessing.

    Most monsters turned to ash when destroyed or shattered. It was a simple fact often bring the first piece of information about the dungeon that was found to be natural.

    Tacit understandings of the meaning behind most decisions made in connection with the hunting of monsters.

    No canyons or marshes were to be left for the weaker monsters of the surface.

    It would all be free from the friction of adventurers hunting monstrosities.

    Ashes and flashing lights were the last depictions of damage inflicted on the enemies of living entities.

    Crumbling crystal cores the last of any random monster defeated by a person in one purposeful strike.

    The initial response to the possibility of this being a sign of potential did not stop at many younger warriors leaving for the dungeon city.

    It is the most tangible trigger to have caused new adventurers to bet on themselves overcoming certain danger.

    Sweet relief or empowerment was an alluring charm which only the phenomenon of moving up in rank could accomplish.

    Bile and mucus kept thick or hot from running in the dungeon was the worst one would have to deal with on the first floors.

    Strained necks and sweaty armor were the least of an adventurer''s worries when they were the last of their party alive.

    _____________________________

    Returning to the continuous ambient present, Sen enters the dungeon again.

    _____________________________

    While exploring the dungeon, I managed to clear entire floors with only magick.

    When I needed to save I an ally, we suddenly entered a monster on the seventh floor and got out just as quickly after a few moments.

    During on exploration of the dungeon, I tore over 330 monsters over the course of ten days on floor nine while on distant side corridors with difficult parallels at a decline.

    As a party we entered the seventh floor and made about 35,000 Vallis. This was in Autumn and then it was a time where we started seeing new descriptions appearing in our statuses.

    Intentional-San gained the skill, Secrecy. Meant for keeping her identity hidden while improving her sneaking. Increases in her Agility were seen after this skill showed up.

    Light Green-San learned magick, a wind spell with a lengthy chant with themes of tornadoes crumbling the earth.

    Wind Blade Storm.

    At first she turned blushy from the feeling of casting spells.

    Panphan-Chan also learned magick after staying a few days at home and meditating until sleeping.

    Dungeon Steps.

    This became a very mana-friendly spell that worked very well for her. A quick chant for a few rows of distance or a long chant to enter the dungeons deeper floors after entering the first floor.

    Either a long flight of stairs downwards would appear or she would disappear from the visible area and intangibly appear at the very start of the floor they intended.

    It needed to be one she had been on before, there was no way of entering the dungeon from outside it like from the surface, the amount of mind needed was miniscule, the amount of time it took to enter the next floor wasn''t more than fifty five seconds, or three minutes to move from the first to the fifth, she could do this about twenty times before getting tired, it was apparent that she could make short distance jumps a handful of times after that.

    A few tiger and cow demihuma joined our familia. Then a few elves from different places. Then a tall horned demihuma girl with magenta eyes joined.

    ¡Á

    Agility D 536

    Magick B 772

    Magick:

    Flame Magick

    ¡Á

    ¡­

    ¡­

    ¡­

    ¡°Huh.¡±

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Oh that''s the only thing you can say???¡±

    Shock and leering with outrage.

    ¡°It''s not much of a surprise but I don''t think of this as an issue.¡±

    ¡°More than this is not an expectation. At most I may blush if you mention it too often but I''m happy as long as it is good for my overall career. This means I could explore more on each floor. Most adventurers don''t look through the entire of floor five or six or the ninth floor.¡±

    A pouty face and deepening stare appeared on the face of the goddess. Pale cheeks, cloudy opaque roses on the top of the cheeks and a blush hot over the eyes of Ceres.

    ¡°How could you not be thrown for a loop and spinning in astonishment? This isn''t the type of increase you see in most statuses. You''re a very dangerously rare specimen to highly clingy and industrious deities.¡±

    ¡°The possibility of you being poached or hunted down if everything about your rate of improvement were exposed to a select few in this city is highly likely. There''s no way of knowing if you''ll be offered treats by women or demihuma asking for headpats from you!!¡±

    Sen~ ¡°It seems more likely that I would gain renown for my advancements.¡±

    ¡°Your ability score improvements, sure-but you''re not supposed to be eyed by my competitors. You could end up as one of those ward villains that attract queer side characters or fashionably unknown restaurant investors. It''s like asking you to show up in front of charts or maps in books or where there are horses racing until they have to get a suit for a smaller horse to be approached for giant endorsements. The sidelines and side dishes and drinks making you smell like centuries of paper or two millennium full of tea before a biscuit offers you a item for a transformation sequence in a song where someone gallops to a town or enters Qi reflux.¡±

    ¡°Is this somehow connected to the weird dreams including Death and a horned Dragon you spoke to me in passing before?¡±

    Ceres~ ¡°Ah, no¡­¡­. Touch my head, pet me. I should lead you to victory and fortune!¡±

    ¡°Pet me! Ask me to cuddle later and take me to the onsen. I need to see you swim for deity reasons!!¡±

    Sen~ ¡°I see. Let us leave and enter then. No waiting!¡±

    ¡°Yes! Now and from here through there after then while prepared. Then we turn into mushroom bamboo lotus uni truffle steamed dumplings or beef steaks! Or else you''ll eat fish before I practice sword swipes and slices all over your stances! Here moving now!¡±

    A sort of french/latin/german/greek/norse dialect and accent rose up and trembled in the throat of Ceres. Her chest and hips bounding up and cutting in to embrace Sen with arms around their upper back.

    Blushing and pouting. A calm stare afterwards with a few soft watery glances in complete silence. Cute whimpers and biting in small unseen moments.

    A quest given by Ceres to quickly enter and exit for a drink then entering the sauna while nude before enjoying smoked snacks and sake.

    No harsh taste. A small seriousness staying whenever short movements led to locking eyes.

    ___________________________

    Some time afterwards we saw improvements in the statuses of several younger members of our familia. Their preferences and talents becoming more noticeable. With improvements in their technique becoming tangibly more concise.

    Panphan-Chan continued her personal quest to become the strongest girl in Orario.

    Dark Blue-San started adventuring with Light Green-San and Intentional-San on their own to gain excellia.

    There were a few new familias with random adventures trying to get enough monster cores from the dungeon but we coordinated against their chances in the first few floors.

    Popular areas in each floor were in the loops treaded by our parties and allied parties.

    It was actually very strange how well it worked. Leave out those randoms when calculating and not including others made it possible to accurately predict when parties would pass after not finding smaller numbers.

    Then it was just a matter of moving up from the floors below to clear out whatever mass of monsters were left at the extremes of each floor.

    Often we would see the corpses of failed adventurers deep into a floor after many many rounds of this for several days.

    There was no room for complaints since there weren''t any cute people among them. Most adventurers would know better if it wasn''t because of desperation and paranoia.

    It was pointless trying to feel bad for any of that when it was obvious how people were in this world.

    One must be reasonable if intuitive actions did not guide you to the very next.

    We would leave everything to be absorbed by the dungeon and made sure to expand this safety net of chains.

    Reminding everyone to not overestimate their capacity for combat when needing rest.

    If someone saw a cute girl or a well-behaved familia then they''d ask about their plans with the intent of not having to share hunting grounds.

    Often further dividing the areas from there to prevent an onslaught of monsters appearing. Resting often enough that monsters spawning was kept in check.

    Being fair to the beautiful and mindful of the strong. Only if it was strength and beauty worth defending.

    Young girls would come up to our party members and gush over their adorableness. Some deities would come over from allied familias to hear stories of their progress too.

    Autumn passed without any issues. We gained plenty of excellia. As my swordsmanship improved, so did my footwork and martial prowess. Returning from the dungeon before spending time with Ceres. Entirely drowning in the scent of heavy estrogen and light harlequin from our familia''s gender ratio.

    Even Panphan-Chan and Light Green-San had started teasing me and playing around with me if they drank a small cup of wine with Ceres-Sama.

    More times that I could recount, I was snuggled into bed by my familia members. Under the covers with either an elf girl or demihuma coming to me for my body heat. Or my smell.

    Saying that it was my presence that encouraged them to improve so it would be appropriate for me to accept their advances. Feeling more unrestricted by my position as their Captain, I played with them and trained them while taking into account their distinct interests. Needy at every aching moment after long days with vibrant nights.

    A dull shine covering my eyes whenever I felt their naughtiness aiming for my excitement. Needing to be held and comforted more often because of this position. Always prepared to catch and rub one girl or the next batch of younger girls.

    Millions of ideas yet all I could imagine was the texture of their silk undergarments and bottoms. Their sweat, flavour and the depth of their fragrance when dulled by heat before their unconscious forms locked their legs around me.

    No escape from my presence and no escape from their whining moans.

    I was captured in a nightly routine of cuddling and sleeping while being hugged. Held by the bustier girls of the many parties now under our guidance.

    Monday, we updated our statuses together. I realized that I didn''t have to race to keep my momentum in improving. Because of the Harvest skill I have, by updating the status with retained excellia, there was a highly efficient rate of excellia being allocated to improve the status.

    So, I asked Ceres-Sama to update it every night whenever I returned by only one or two points in each Ability score until she saw the effect of the skill in comparison to the development of our familia members.

    Came to be, that doing this meant I''d gain more of an improvement while increasing the scale of what the excellia would ultimately be applied to with each update.

    A quick calculation after two months of this came with proof that the excellia almost multiplied the amount of points gained and then increased the efficiency of how gathered excellia would be accepted by the status.

    It was until we heard about the possibility of our allies being targeted by an exploration familia due to conflicts that we decided to preemptively get rid of any problems.

    Our familia would have a war game against theirs after three months. Supposedly because they''d be trying to centralize their forces into one familia before going against several smaller familia with similar dungeon floor ranges.

    We didn''t have anything to fear but our Goddess had such a sour-scheming look when she heard about this that we got chills from her laughter.

    A few well-timed events and there were no potential helpers they''d have other than their friends.

    We prepared as much as we could, having two allied familas send a person in case we needed more combatants. Cold Rain-San and a healer with pale silvery blonde hair.

    We welcomed them to our Familia, this arrangement was to be permanent.

    After that, we trained each girl and woman to the peak of their potential. Ceres often sparring with them and then with several girls circling to figure out her techniques.

    Music being played by girls who knew how to play, while these spars went on.

    This is how far I am now as a Level One adventurer.

    Sen Hyunyunmun

    Level One

    Str E 430

    Vit C 637

    Dex B 710

    Agi D 591

    Mag A 890

    Magick

    (Flame Magick)

    ?Summoning the power of flame to create and manifest flame magick.

    Skills

    (Harvest)

    ?Increasing ability scores leads to improved benefits.

    ?Status is reinforced by growth.

    (Wend Nocht Sin)

    ?Intense experiences increase the rate at which Excellia is gained.

    ?Status is reinforced by the rank of the Magick ability and removes limiters for Magick.

    ?Mind becomes more powerful as Magick is improved.

    I gained a new skill which makes it possible to overcome the very nature of the blessing given to me.

    My Magick may possibly increase without end as long as there is enough excellia to express this affect.

    Afterwards we continued to prepare for the war game while my Magick ability entered higher numbers.

    There was no way to prepare for the eventuality of utter domination.

    The war game was a bit of a laugh, in many group''s opinion. Entertaining. Not very amusing to the more sensitive deities.

    It was a duel relay. I faced all of their common fodder and then forced their one valuable person to submit.

    With that, we successfully defeated the Cerridwen, Brigid and Perun familias. With full control over their assets and fate.

    We decided to subject them to Ceres-Sama''s will and turned their familias into vassal familias.

    Not that they had any more members though.

    They didn''t have much and most of their annual income was invested in their only level two adventurer. Chained Book-San.

    We sold their property and reorganized what remained. There were three girls whom stayed out of the war game.

    One described as being a pervert with only their beauty and modesty as good traits. Often performing bridges while nude to ¡°properly train and improve their core.¡±

    A spear-wielding woman with some height.

    And then a pale wolf demihuma, a girl with a shield and sword.

    Their third was a younger half-elf girl with a robe but with an irritated face when their familia members started arguing. Whether or not it was playful banter.

    They followed behind their Goddess when the challenge was issued before.

    After that we spent several days practicing together as a party. Running quick dives into the dungeon to gain excellia and improve our magick.

    The new additions were trained to support the more active members of our secondary parties.

    The goddesseses were then taught by Ceres how to be good supportive vassals.

    Not letting them know peace until they performed to both of our satisfaction.

    They didn''t object, in fact they became more enthusiastic with every subsequent night or day.

    It was finally the time that I enter the dungeon to become level two, thought Sen.

    ______________________________

    Half a day later from that moment¡­

    Hands fluttering downwards. the sharpest flashing lines and arcs cutting past the monsters desolated.

    Daggers and Sword shifting and switching places. Clean draws and soundless dodges in the midst of crawling, screeching ants. Blocking attacks was not an option.

    All the wounds that Sen had accumulated so far were wearing down their sweat-drenched body.

    Breath and stance promising beastial destruction of the oncoming mass of a carapaced swarm.

    Broken limbs and sputtering green thoraxes.

    Dragging the closest monster to block the advance of others. Puncturing the weakpoints before slashing away weakened ants.

    Enemies warded off before rounding corners to barely get rid of the rest. If a monster wasn''t defeated, Sen made sure to prevent it from screaming.

    Not wasting any time to catch their breath when distance kept shrinking with every passing kill.

    One dagger already left cracked and broken.

    The second being dulled at the tip.

    The first barely keeping form.

    The sword was still in good shape but there was only so much that could be done to chop at an entire swarm.

    Sen threw the broken dagger to buy some time when switching to what they thought could last until they exited the scene of the dungeon.

    There were no mistakes possible. Every hit either decimated a crowd of ants or snapped their body into a limp, collapsing pile of ash.

    Spinning and snapping to respond to attack or preventing any from landing.

    A kick to push back a few ants before clearing the rest. Somehow he had entered a room with several exits but could not reach the last ant before it called more monsters.

    Sen didn''t hesitate to run out of that room and quickly dash from one corridor to the next in what would undoubtedly lead to the exit of that floor.

    No unexpected paths or encountering any parties. He would have warned them before they encountered what may be a huge crowd of ants. There were no sounds of monsters chasing but he didn''t stop to listen for them.

    Leaving that floor and avoiding monsters until it seemed like the faint evaporation-like sense Sen got from the floors or artificial light of the dungeon''s ceiling wasn''t reacting to his living presence.

    Worry of the living dungeon''s feral attacks with whatever means it had to attempt.

    Sen made sure not to make too much noise with the bag they carried.

    Deciding to hold onto the sword they brought before sweeping past the lone monster at the very entrance of what was now the seventh floor.

    Cleaving the lone monsters only at the beginning of each floor with the thought that it was better to not give any amount of time for the dungeon to respond.

    Not getting trapped by the potential for a monster party.

    Striking the weakest points of each monster or defeating the rest before they could notice.

    Bypassing areas with frog shooters, sneaking past lanes of war shadows and then sprinting away from dangerous areas in the smaller first few floors.

    Not taking chances with the threats new adventurers struggled against.

    Drinking a health potion in between all of this to prevent falling over.

    Dreams and fantasies playing over and over in Sen''s mind when running to the surface. Stabilizing their breathing before climbing further and further.

    Intense concentration without hesitation or carelessness.

    A firm grip and upwards stance from the many reminders and memories of Ceres.

    The blessing on Sen''s back running hot somehow. Light behind the eyes now wide and clear.

    Pale skin untouched by scars set beside the glowing gray-amber tone from being under the Sun in the city.

    Finally, Sen rose up the steps of the dungeon from the first floor.

    Leaving with what they carried while some distinctly memorable figures or adventurers stared with knowing faces at what Sen experienced. This young adventurer returning from the more profitable parts of the dungeon for level one individuals.

    The sweetness of the air growing thick with the twinkling of refracted sunlight.

    Cold and hot becoming distinct. Scent flush with sweat or smoke from afar.

    Blood pumping in great trembling pulses down the arms and under the core. Legs still while knees dug into the stone of a fountain.

    He washed his face and neck. Soaking the tunic under their armour with refreshing water.

    Taking it off once the pain of attacks had calmed.

    No markings on the face, nor the neck, or the hands, or shins, or feet, or hips or even the forearms.

    Only bruises and gashes over cuts from barely-evaded attacks.

    Blood loss wasn''t much but the fatigue neared every second when pain had quieted into tranquility.

    A few healer-types made eye contact with him but did not approach.

    This was the kind of business environment the outside of the dungeon was¡­

    If you were inside, it was better to save someone but some older jaded adventurers would rather put you into debt than properly treat those wounds.

    Causing the price of being saved to increase if they couldn''t protect themselves after being healed.

    Most parties didn''t have a healer though so it became more about what you owe rather than a debt.

    Most Familias agreed that triple the price is the most to be charged for health potions.

    Staying in front of the supporters porting bags was common courtesy if you were guided to the surface.

    Anyways, Sen was resting at the fountain. Imagining healing magick and the possibility of traveling to the floors below ten with a party of skilled people.

    Whether they be pale eastern drow or tan demihuma. Honest and loyal companions to face off against the dungeon until the end of an adventure.

    Quests or expeditions planned for the future¡­

    He made gestures of gathering mana and relaxing coiling wisps of non-elemental flame. A cold, opaque, bashing, flash of mana unformed yet hovering over Sen''s physique.

    Tone barely beginning to bolster the muscles grown up till now. Recent scars under the upper arms and shoulders the only visible damage accumulated over time.

    Healed properly but only much after battles.

    The conventional knowledge that not venturing deeper with a wounded ally or when tired was accepted by most who had no healers in their party.

    It was often better not leaving your survival to what happened after a few close encounters.

    Sen gave their focus to the deeper unconscious realm of their mind.

    Entering a sort of meditative moment where feeling and form mixed the natural movement of their own body.

    Exhales softened and inhales slowed down to match the pace of their heartbeats.

    Heroism and majestic heights were goals not yet reached. It felt good to daydream after these silent stages of recovery.

    Letting go of the guttural roars billowing from the stomach.

    Hisses from pain incorporated into the intakes of air. Intuitively angling the direction of visibility when strong adventurers looked upon the reclining image of Sen.

    Familiar people in parties or groups passing by here and there. Strangers and their friends walking by without looking, contrasted with the cold glares of random ill-tempered strangers.

    There was no reason why they would go to places like that. Dragging irrelevant conflict and insignificant troubles.

    Wasting time while complaining to other wastes of resources.

    Nobody bothering to give them the time of day. While trashy commoners littered the streets.

    It was actually aggravating to see that kind of thing. Enemies that leeched off the weakness of useless, untalented tripe.

    Obviously, it would be better to remove those mindless things ever so often through war games.

    A plan to be put into motion soon enough.

    Some familias were guided to place themselves in conflict towards the spineless groups of common humans or blind parasites that were not favoured by respected deities.

    It would be better to wretch after passing the corpses or piles of slain waste.

    Wrath overcoming the panicked mimicking of insignificant gore.

    A feeling of total control carried under the shoulders of Sen''s broadly positioned form.

    Standing up and walking steadily back to an allied familia before then leaving for their own home. Then a small soak in the bath of an onsen.

    Singing after coming out in a yukata.

    Marking down displeasing commonplace weakling to be targeted by several allied familias interested in what was planned.

    A few captains of friendly familaas agreeing with what Sen had in mind.

    Not having to convince anyone after stating the actual reasons for being this way.

    Behaving naturally and knowing why it was better to do this.

    Not allowing unworthy things to act like useful side characters.

    Only accepting the sincere truth instead of acting ignorant to take advantage of people.

    Worthless unintelligent things that tried to use the shameful insecurities of weaker randoms to steal.

    Lying and thieving to squander whatever they had while not deserving it.

    The paranoia of addicts and the dishonesty of evil garbage.

    Not accepting the wannabe antagonists that don''t deserve attention.

    Distractions that do not deserve payment or life.

    Wrath clashing with his own assured certainty.

    Pure and sincere people having not made messes with their regrets or confusion.

    Not allowing enemies to be included in calculations.

    Dishonest crooks that tried to hide behind the ugly deformed things that talentless trash coped in tangent to.

    After being healed and taking a nap, Sen returned to the dungeon to sweep through the sixth floor again and again. Collecting crystals and relaying delivered amounts to parties he coordinated with to stand guard at the exit to the floor.

    Mostly the trustworthy adventurers that were training their more experienced supporters.

    Keeping track of which high level parties passed by to enter deeper into the dungeon.

    The amount of monsters being down when they leave an area while the threats of monsters increasing the more they stayed on one level. It was barely noticeable but it was noticeable.

    Sen''s party returned from the dungeon to take a long rest. Tea and kisses ready for one''s soft full lips.

    The competition was fierce in the dungeon, coming in the form of fully-geared parties. Orario''s dungeon often wiping entire familias in the deeper levels. It was expansive from the fifth level down. Taking lone adventurers to the depths of despair, desire and desolation. Most of all, it was the most dangerous place to make it big.

    Passing the arches of the tower''s dungeon entrance and moving down the stairs rounding the freefall center of the stairwells thereafter¡­

    Entering the first floor and climbing down at a steady pace. Months and weeks spent there if you were a part of a large familia''s main force.

    Kindness and creativity sweetening the taste of victory.

    The closest of friends returning to the city''s road and preparing for the next venture.

    Standing alone in the quietest moments for some was the most natural response to the memories of their own adventures.

    Windows and hallways decorated with the treasures they''ve kept or continued to carry.

    Swords, staves, axes, bows and daggers from many or multiple dives.

    Maps and encyclopedias, maces, arrows and even enchanted jewelry¡­ the rooms of mansions or the beds of smaller homes.

    Scenes from ancient times and recent travels bearing down on the saddest of elves, the strongest of demihuma and even the youngest of humanoids.

    Holding one''s own weapons as treasures and protection¡­

    Taking one''s own precautions to grave threats.

    Searching for answers when the end seems near.

    Wit and wide wise words resounding past the actions upon the scene which was the life of adventurers in Orario.

    The dancing close to the Southeastern side, the running closer to the Western side and the music playing North of Babel.

    Darkness and Death reaching for the hidden strengths of the last of a party down in the middle floors.

    Sen journeyed from tower to wall, road to gate and back again to the top of the wall. Practicing insight to better judge the quality and qualities of most adventurers.

    Appreciation and enjoyment sparked by the influence of seeing the flair of high rank adventurers.

    Deities and their children walking to the areas they tend to be at.

    Duels and fights popping up ever so often, though most places were quieted quickly after a word or two from someone present.

    Yes, the built and smaller of many parties speaking up or calling over someone with means.

    Cute girls and handsome tomboys sitting together and finding amusement in all these moments.

    Exploring deeper in the dungeon as a level two adventurer.

    Several months had passed by this point.

    Making dives to the 18th floor and back again after every month of activity. Having harvested with their Familia the fields both inside and around the city. Past the long distant edges of mountainside where no monsters prowl.

    Their party traveled to the most enticing reas of the dungeon with the captain of their familia, improving with their party and seeing the extent of their combined abilities.

    ¡°Chained Delving¡± became the strategy for multiparty explorations of the dungeon floors. Since there were so many more paths on each floor than what went to the next floor''s entrance, we would loop through hallways and send scouts to several sides of the upcoming intersection or crossing of the floor.

    Regrouping and bypassing loops to open up the back of the chains we made by connecting or moving positions. Recovering between loops with potions before returning to pincer groups of enemies.

    The dungeon often sending more than ten after a few hours on one floor yet all of those monsters were wiped out by flame and wind.

    Several supporters were ready to stand back to carry crystals and drop items. Sometimes we would leave the more common drop items in one far-off spot in the dead-end of a dungeon floor and come back to compare the drop items we found in that area on a different day. Small details noted by the individual whom saw them.

    The grey tones of armour and the blue of eyes taking a purple hue when red and crystal appeared in the dark.

    Dense complex overlapping sections and longer hallways spelling the most complicated of situations where entire groups of monsters were thrown into attacks.

    Cutting off sectors of a loop and then taking a moment to set a formation became our response.

    Defeating more and more monsters as we updated our hunting location. Sometimes spending days of meticulous clearing of floors. Earning tens of thousands of Vallis with each trip into the most recently explored floor.

    We made good time with a set rhythm in place of a schedule. Switching between standing in rows to subdue enemies or allowing each role to strike in an unraveled stance.

    Practicing formations before taking serious measures to bring the most ferocity possible into combat. Stunning enemies and planning attacks while gathering knowledge of our preparations.

    In what way did this become deadlier? How are we to repeat that in a different scenario? Does this specific action pull in all the abilities of my status when most opportune?

    We knew what sort of statuses we desired to attain. Reaching a specific rank of ability to build up further achievements. Leading our party to encounter variants of war shadows when we moved through cascading tunnels that ended at folded, colliding trails to one side.

    If we could snap up a kill, good. If we could attack once an opening presented itself or in tandem then that was better. If we coordinated before each battle or when ambushing monsters, then the result was almost predictable.

    Our eyes moved faster than our weapons. In a single clear glance while we stood as motionless as possible. Giving rise or gaining fall with each completed movement.

    Soft precise thrusts and stabs pierced through the poignant flipping of shadowy fractions of sight. Efficient movements flattening the increasingly present ground while our footsteps passed over paths in hushed prances or stealthily marching.

    Multiple examples of striking in silence coming from the efforts of these five adventurers.

    Swordsmanship, dagger handling, shield bashing, spear techniques, spellwork and powerful martial transitions into stance or combination moves.

    Crossing clouds under pillars, columns and castles raised by divine lights.

    The lull behind the light of heaven, softened pale warmth fallen, falling through clouds.

    Overwhelming clarity, lightning following crashing waves of wind. Cold forms writhing below the depths.

    Darkness appears. Darkened ink pooling under a wide silken sky, dripping in splashes.

    Death and silence dancing over the coiling thunderclouds.

    Beams of light splitting the firmament. Red deepening the climbing indigo dye. Vermillion mixing the pale gold flames past the presence of storms.

    Oceans covered by billowing mist in layers. Waterfalls and waterwheels summoning unseen motion behind cold sharp forms.

    Nine motes of light rolled by the realm.

    Rare vibrant colours shimmering from the peaks hidden by the rain. Rays of azure bouncing from wave to wave.

    Music naturally played by the scene of nature. Entire continents moved by the slowest undersea accumulations. Beauty demanding sight.

    Mortal deaths blind to the mysteries of living creatures. Notes and tones falling before rising- peaking over connecting points to complete a sequence. Prepared words from the front of lines at stalls where hungry adventurers slumbered into their bowls of soup or chomped onto loafs.

    Mourning and meddling sliding in or gliding past the tails of storms. Aggressiveness and tranquility placed in balanced parallels. Even more adventurers leaving in couples to enjoy the day.

    Gold coins stacked as intended, exactly weighing or counting to put to rest the work of that evening.

    Halls and mansions filled with fierce comrades. Cooperative compatriots or allies known to one while a few famed figures rattled the streets and taverns when they left the top floor of the dungeon.

    Confident tanks, sharp archers, beautiful healers, cute mages and hidden warriors.

    Armor and weapons properly carried while traversing the upper floors.

    Some emerald haired high elves and blonde swordswomen, short dressed fairies, tall defined demihuma, prideful ears atop the heads of werefolks, foxkin, adorable heroines and the elusive long-lived dragonkin.

    Greatswords, rapiers, straight swords, scythes, bows, daggers, stilettos, blades, katanas, field swords, sabers, scimitars, spears, knives, axes, clubs and staves.

    Grand stimulating sights specially observed by the moments made by every major power from the city''s main competitors.

    Most destined to die in the dungeon or from assimilating the remainders of wars.

    Either a slow decline past their prime or a fast finish faced by the end of their careers.

    Generations of adventurers overlapping in one decade every century. While efforts from previous years becoming the core of most classes of adventurers.

    Level 8 and Level 7 being the current mountain that most people could not contend with in the view of many low class parties.

    A foaming mix of potential and achievements smoothing the twisting story of Orario''s recent bustle.

    Pluto, Dionysus, Athena, Quezalcoatl, Bacchus, Artemis, Zagreus, Mercury, Sol, Hephaestus, Ry¨±jin, Jacheongbi and Daikokuten were the leading players of the ¡®game¡¯ established by the trends to enter the dungeon. Gaining fame or earning riches by continuing to profit from conquering deeper floors.

    Level One adventurers being encouraged to face trials so as to rank up from their beginning stages. Concerns from different walks of life not mattering when the last days of tremendous aspirations are crushed by the release of rising stars.

    Chaos and Order scaling the diagrammatic chains of humanity''s sincere needs. Status and falna raised to a tale''s plateau or a lifting melody. Each individual case being more extensive than the last.

    An unending length of encounters before conflict. Duels and boss battles based on realizing transformation. Tactics and commands meant to attain Excellia.

    Either by supremacy or by acquisition.

    Significant contributions made by the stronger ones in the most important placements in formations.

    Orario went on while wind and blessed celestial bodies came together in alignment.

    Peaceful sleep following the tides of many more measures than graves.

    Drinking and devouring, the unique presence of graced proofs on the backs of favoured ¡°children.¡±

    Swift deaths prepared for every slower bet.

    Wine and spirits drunk until merriment found purchase in the spectacular year of the present.

    Sword in hand, the adventurer Sen makes way towards the dungeon by marching while concentrating on the thoughts brought by wise wonder willed into forms most mystical.

    Into the Dungeon, through the top floors there and then down the entrance of several floors where experienced parties would explore.

    Crossing the threshold of several sloped stairwells before the entrance of the 18th floor.

    Sword and daggers sharpened until a shine is attained.

    Flame appearing when summoned by a spell and spell circle. A mage reaching into the dungeon to be rewarded by treasure.

    He enters to explore and returns before nightfall. Being encouraged and praised by his Goddess and Familia.

    Again, he enters while solo or running an expedition with several parties.

    A year after this, he becomes Level Three after defeating several infant dragons.

    Getting an abundance of materials from this specific monster and finding rare materials that could be melted down to be worked on for practical crafting.

    With this he commissions a talented person with the Forge development ability to create a dagger known as ¡®Baguen¡¯, a dagger with a blade length of 18.35823 cm from the base. Made with this Infant Dragon Bone and Infant Dragon Fangs.

    This is also when Sen develops the ¡®Power¡¯ ability that raises the lethality of attacks and spells up my an entire level even with the benefits of the Mage development ability.

    Deeper in the floors he explores, finding hidden passages through floors and marking where monster houses were from floors 20 to 24.

    Then after battling alone against the first Monster Rex, he levels up to Level Four.

    He asks to be given the Abnormal Resistance ability when it appeared as he was ranking up.

    The status displaying a Magick rank of SSS 1599 while the Mage ability was at G.

    The Power ability reached a rank of H.

    All of his most beloved party members also ranked up in this time.

    Dark Blue-Chan had become a Level Four adventurer with the alias ¡®Dense Biscuit.¡¯

    Her development abilities of Immunity, Cleave and Sword Play gave her a major boost whenever they committed to attacking.

    Light Green-Chan had also become a Level Four adventurers after contributing most of the damage to several variant monsters on our way up to the surface after an expedition.

    Known to many young elves by the alias, ¡®Lightly Raised Creampuff.¡¯

    Her own developmental abilities being Mage, Abnormal Resistance and Healing.

    We saw an improvement in her damaging spells after she obtained this ability to support her healing spells.

    Adventures became more exciting and stimulating from there on.

    Intentional-Chan had become a Level Three adventurer with their abilities Hunter and Assassin. Often scouting for us and still in the position of our main supporter.

    Her Secrecy skill being very effective when diverting aggro or removing unwanted variables.

    Their alias, ¡°Natural Silence.¡±

    Further and further, they improved. Dangerous Smile-Sama became increasingly invested in our activities that she proposed as merger to Ceres-Sama.

    Somehow, behind closed doors, she convinced Ceres of this and came to live in our mansion. Yamagata Palace.

    We rebuilt the foundations of several buildings emptied behind our original place and connected everything with the highest quality stone we could buy. Enchanting everything we could and reinforcing the entire place to handle high level adventurers.

    A year after that we completed several expeditions and quests. Coming down to the twenty seventh floor and moving through the thirtieth until stopping on the thirty second floor.

    Returning after filling most of our storage bags.

    The younger parties of our familia leveling up to levels three and two. Half of our familia now becoming level two adventurers with one mage with a healing spell becoming level four. So many celebrations together and dates where I led them to inns with private baths.

    I acquired a dagger, made from various examples of the variability of adamantite from multiple floor. Including adamantine I had collected for myself.

    ¡®Gur?ebt¡¯

    A piercing dagger with a blade length of 17.6 cm.

    After that, we continued to make progress. Some girls learning magick or gaining skills.

    I gained a skill called ¡®Strengthen Flames¡¯ and then ¡®Critical Strikes.¡¯

    With this trained by diving solo until it became second nature to hunt down Infant Dragons and Dragon-type monsters. To the point where I developed the ¡®Dragon-Slayer¡¯ skill and leveled up to Level Five.

    A very mysterious development ability appeared after that, the ¡®Sorcery¡¯ ability.

    It increased the quality of my mind and mana while refining every form of spell I could cast from chanting into a dangerous attack completely different from before.

    The Mage ability became D after one year of this and the Power ability went up to D as well.

    Then the Sorcery ability went up to H.

    Every spell could now wipe out a monster rex from before Reveria, a single chant to summon flames and fire could be held until every spark of flame would engulf entire corridors, one after the next.

    At this part of their story, the sword carried and brandished up till now did not cut deep into each enemy. Sen acquired a sword and retired their first purchased main-weapon.

    A sword with an affinity for magick and a supernatural resistance to flame. Unbending and quenched with a magickal elixir made from Dragon Blood that I may or may not have collected from monsters during my career as an adventurer in the deep floors.

    The Blossoming Sword, a dangerous shark of the deep~ ¡®Othesame¡¯

    :3

    Sen became very pleased with this new companion of theirs.

    At Level Five, Sen Hyunyunmun could now reach the middle floors and deeper, on their own. Making it to the forty third floor with this status.

    Strength B 725

    Vitality S 999

    Dexterity A 830

    Agility A 810

    Magick SSS 1400

    Mage D

    Power D

    Abnormal Resistance G

    Sorcery H

    It was two years until the next rank up.

    Diving deep into the dungeon and feeding crystal cores to a treasure devil- a type of miniaturized monster tamed to point towards treasure after being fed enough cores. This was to prevent the dungeon from reusing cores taken out of monsters slayed there.

    Collecting materials while more parties formed between allied groups.

    Sen gained the Recovery development ability after that. It quickly improved from how often healing and potions were given to Sen.

    Sen Hyunyunmun

    5 { 6

    Strength G 289

    Vitality E 430

    Dexterity D 550

    Agility D 525

    Magick C 686

    Mage D

    Power D

    Abnormal Resistance D

    Sorcery G

    Recovery H

    There was an entire raised stack of Excellia stored in layers under the falna. It raised all basic abilities to this after a hand from Ceres.

    Now it became so much more natural to climb down into the dungeon and sweep through floors or dangerous enemies.

    The sword was enough to overcome the defenses of higher level or resistant monsters. Magick spells would decimate floors before even entering the many paths.

    Floor 50 became a place to solo when improving martial strategies to bring down difficult opponents.

    Actual immense threat to Sen''s life appeared from the many dangers of those floors.

    Variants of rare monsters and monsters on floors deeper than they usually appear.

    This only meant more high quality Excellia was being added to the story built up by the adventurers of this young huma. Still, the Harvest skill reinforced the falna and Wend Nocht Sin made the Magick ability into an infinite source of strength.

    There was no end to the benefits of this skill.

    Already the hidden parameter of Sen''s status may have reached a total of Maick 9000 or more with the current rank it continued to be.

    Five months after entering on an expedition with a party, they managed to teleport all the way to the thirtieth floor and traveled to the fortieth floor to do what amounted to a slaughter when returning to leave.

    Sending groups with Panphan-Chan to collect provisions and update their Status in sequenced cycles before Sen challenged the coliseum.

    A single charged spell with several spell circles forming a magnificent flame of fyr.

    Meant to be what collapsed the entire coliseum and the monster spawns the dungeon placed there.

    There were no surviving monsters. The flames would engulf and devour all the monsters. Whether they spawned or were released from the inner rings.

    A continuous fire of destruction that did not relent. Flowing stone scorched by fierce roiling hisses.

    After enough time, that all ended in silence. Or something close to silence while the dungeon shook in rage.

    A large skeletal monster leaped out from the ceiling. Fast and deranged with bizarre murderous movements.

    It wasn''t that overwhelming but that was only because of the extent my Magick had reached. Dodging and bouncing from slight twisting angles before completing a spell.

    ¡°Oh Flame, Under skies of red and clouds of darkness, I summon thy power to take form as mysterious strikes of flames. Swords of Flame!¡±

    It revolved and bound the movements of this skeletal monster. Collapsing the force field it put up around itself and crushing down on the limbs before destroying the entire thing into ash.

    No loot or anything from it. But it was exciting to take down something so seriously overpowered.

    Enough to make clearing that floor while running around and locating monsters in the next rooms much more enjoyable.

    Sometimes when I imagined that possibility of that monster appearing again on the floors above after breaking down the dungeon''s terrain. I would get cheerful and lively.

    Which is why I took my time figuring out how to prepare adventurers for facing that kind of monster each time the dungeon sent one.

    It didn''t have a resistance to fire after being disarmed of its shielding.

    Desolation and echoes were left behind before Sen awaited the arrival of Panphan-Chan to then climb up to the top floors. Playing with her while knowing that this personal stairwell of hers didn''t allow the spawning of monsters from the stone.

    Most of Sen''s party had become Level Six or Five by then. The combined benefits of several skills and strategies that made hunting much stronger monsters possible. Hidden skills that raised the potential rank of these young women.

    Happy that I could preserve my energy before delving at full speed and with as much fatality as possible.

    Finding fellow adventurers in those deep floors and helping them out with scouting to prevent losses.

    It was good.

    Soon after that, Sen updated their status until all were either close to S rank or higher

    The Magick ability finally reached a new record of SSS 2299.

    Mage went up to a B rank.

    Sorcery went up to a C rank.

    There were no possible ways of there being a stronger Mage in Orario now. Every major player from each familia with high amounts of Magick or Mind were then in the same field as Sen.

    He would either behave respectfully to gain their cooperation or allowed them to invite him on deep floor explorations for the experience.

    This became the start of a High Class Adventurer''s plan to transform and train the many legendary adventurers into heroes capable of defeating the dungeon. Starting with the most powerful mages of the elves and finding fairies with a need for a companion with matching affinities.

    This is also became how Sen gained the magick, Elemental Array. Now it was not only Flame that could be summoned from magick¡­ but it came at the cost of being a shorter chant. Not that this small difference could be noticed by most adventurers.

    Sen had even thrown a spell to decimate the many floors past the fiftieth without limiting the reach. It somehow made it to many floors below and destroyed every monster but led to the collapse of three entire floors.

    A monster with a skeletal frame and unearthly speed was summoned again.

    Yet it only took one spell and a few strikes to slay it. Turning it into ash and empty oblivion.

    This was before Sen Hyunyunmun spent the next three years focusing on training and developing his familia while starting from I rank ability scores as a Level Seven adventurer.

    With the development ability, ¡®Magick Resistance.¡¯ Many monsters had started appearing with supernatural attacks that sometimes stunned someone during attacks which was very dangerous.

    Luckily, this ability could be raised quickly and effectively. Normal attacks from monsters no longer threaten the health of Sen as an adventurer now in what could be considered the realm of legendary heights.

    Making further progress till the very ends of the deepest floors.

    The End.

    Ehu-hei

    Rurumae~

    Rurumae~

    Dun Den-Dan~

    Into floors, the danger rises.

    Melting gold is beautiful to me.

    Into danger, the monsters writhe there.

    Orario, the dungeon city.

    From the tower, return to the city.

    Passing by, adventurers.

    Forming parties, finding treasure, soaring pleasure, exciting me.

    *music and rhythm*