Tiamat's ever-so-slightly salty milk was the first thing I awoke to. As Tiamat slept naked, and while we rolled around during our sleep... My face naturally sought out the best pillows available.
"Hmm are you awake?" Tiamat asked gently as her hand that was gently threading through my hair paused and I blinked myself awake though making very sure not to stop the flow of milk from Tiamat to my mouth.
As I did use a good bit of my lifeforce/Soma last night and throughout the day.
"Mmh." I muttered softly into the wonderful pillows that my face was pressed into. And the sound made Tiamat giggle with her hand going through my hair returned to its motions.
"I hope you slept well Jake... Now, you drink up so you can be safe in the dungeon." Tiamat spoke caring clearly in her voice as she pressed her breast further into my face.
And I sure as hell wasn't going to disobey that request obviously!
A couple of minutes later Tiamat nudged me a bit with her leg she had thrown over mine and said. "Ok sleepy head, sit up so I can be in your lap. And then you can drain my other breast. You need to get to the guild early remember?"
That was also a good point so we disengaged a bit so she could sit in my lap properly and I used my hands to massage her other breast making her breath a bit heavier with little soft moans of joy escaping her as I drained her other large breast of the milk within.
With that lovely if slightly frustrating exercise done with. 'A bit frustrating due to how Tiamat clearly wasn't ready to go further right now' I got ready for the rest of the day, putting on my Guild-issue leather armor and such with myself keeping the Swift Spellblade at my side.
Then I got going straight to the guild... It's not like I needed breakfast after drinking like half a gallon of milk from Tiamat's warm bosom.
I got to the Guild bright and early and as I came in I saw Shera L Greenwood, the ditsy elf just... Napping at the end of the lines for people coming out of the Dungeon at obscene hours and with how there were more than two dozen lines open and only three lines actually active with how early it was.
I walked straight over to the napping elf and after a moment of thought, I considered scaring her awake before I just began rapping my knuckles carefully on her table making her stiffen before slowly looking up before exhaling hard.
"Oh thank the forest spirits! I thought you were my boss Royman for a second haha." She laughed awkwardly as she leaned back and I saw her large breasts bounce heavily as she hit the back of her chair while she was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"So you normally sleep while at work?" I asked teasingly as she got up from her chair and grabbed some papers.
She hurriedly put a finger to her lips and whispered. "Shhh! Don't draw attention to me! But yeah in the mornings I get a little nap in before the morning rush starts haha." She laughed before taking a breath and continuing.
"Let me get a colleague to take my spot, and then we can continue our lessons!" She said before spinning around her chair and bouncing into the office area behind her to presumably go get a colleague to take her spot.
Which indeed was the case, as a new man came out of the offices to take her place at the front desk, while Shera came out of a side door and waved me over excitedly.
I walked with Shera bringing over to the small side offices for meeting rooms and for dungeon advisors to give their clients information on the dangers of the dungeon itself.
"So Jake, we didn't get to speak too much because you were in the line. But how did the dungeon experience go besides... Saving that other human girl and dragging her out of the dungeon?" Shera asked with a small smile.
I took a deep breath and I said slowly. "It... It was fine honestly. The monster's weren't the scariest part or even the hardest. Saw more than five dead people in half as many hours and most of those people we killed by other adventurers."
Shera's face lost that smile and she sighed before saying quietly. "I am sorry about that Jake. The earlier floors from first to tenth typically have the most danger due to other adventurers as I warned you."
She took a deep breath and continued. "Past floor ten, there are level twos and so people are more cautious about causing issues in the dungeon. And past floor eighteen, there is typically too many monsters for adventurers to bother attacking one another."
I shrugged and said coldly. "I understand, but still. I don't relish the idea of killing my fellow adventurers." I took a deep breath and said. "Either way, besides my fellow Adventurer's antics. Let's continue on the adventurer lessons."
She nodded and then she worked on refreshing me on the first five floors of the dungeon, their monsters, their habits, where their monster stones were located, and what they could drop as Drop Items.
"Now! Let's start talking about stuff we need you to know about in Orario outside of the dungeon. Just stuff you need to know being that you are new." Shera spoke with myself nodding in understanding.
She took a deep breath and then she handed over a bundle of papers. "There are four main Familia's in Orario as you likely have heard. The Loki Familia is at the bottom of that with only a roster of level sixes at best." She started off making me blink as I read through the files and my expression pinched at the information within.
"Next of course is the Nyx and Freya Familia's. Freya's Familia is filled with mostly deep-diving adventurers with her having a single level eight adventurer and three level seven adventurers."
Even as I was going What the fuck' mentally at this point. Shera continued on calmly. "Nyx has two-level eights with five-level sevens. Her familia is also filled with powerful magic users due to Nyx being able to make twenty magic Grimoire's every month herself.
She took a deep breath and then continued. "Lastly is the Amaterasu Familia. Due to how Renard's have innately very powerful magic, and Amaterasu herself being the creator of the race she is basically gaming the system with her Familia having two level nines, and four level eights."
"Along with many other high-level Renard adventurers. But her familia innately is rather small compared to the Freya and Loki Familia in terms of numbers, due to her exclusively taking in Renards and even then she is picky of the ones she allows into her Familia."
Shera then took a drink while myself? I just needed to process all this. Freya and Loki weren't the top Familia's? What did that mean for canon honestly?
Actually... Besides Freya being fucking nuts was the majority of canon anyway. I wouldn't be surprised with higher leveled adventurers being more prevalent if there was more checkpoints and more dungeon exploration to do actually.
'Maybe Freya won't be as much of an issue or being so chaotic when she isn't the queen bitch of Orario?' I mused while wondering she had seen my soul yet while walking around and whatnot.
Though I most certainly wasn't going to go rush into the Hostess of Fertility to find out.
Either way, I just took a deep breath and reset as I internalized the information given along with the logo's/emblems of the familia's so I knew who to look out for.
"Now, that's enough about the familia's. How about I share the locations of reputable potion dealers, healers, and of course blacksmiths." Shera said clapping her hands together and clearly wanting to get back into the thick of things.
"Go on, I certainly wouldn't say no to knowing where I can get some healing done." I said honestly as Filia although having a healing spell. Well her healing spell wasn't too strong yet.
And if I got stabbed, gnawed on, bludgeoned, or otherwise fucked up. I wanted a potion running through me as well as her healing spell.
-
After a solid half an hour of lessons, I packed up the bits of notes I had taken into a packet in my backpack where I kept my maps of the first five levels of the dungeon that Shera had given me.
And with that, I headed to the front of the dungeon, as I was supposed to meet my new adventuring party in front of it... Unless Shenhe, Ganyu, Filia, AND Xianyun decided to sleep in which I highly, highly doubted that would happen.
'Now... If I was four 'jade beauties' where would I be waiting?' I mused to myself before I smiled slightly at seeing my part of four at this point waiting outside the tower of Babel. With Shenhe having gotten a new spear, and was wearing a tight but thin-looking scale-like armor over her chest and thighs.
"Have your lessons gone well Jake?" Xianyun asked curiously and I noticed she had a small wand in one hand along with a short bow and arrows on her back. While Ganyu had a larger more ornate bow and three quiver's of arrows spread out on her back and sides.
"Yeah, it went rather well. Got to learn more about Orario itself and got a bit of a reality check about how adventurers are often the most dangerous people in the upper floors." I spoke as I reached them.
Shenhe tilted her head to the side and said bluntly as she took in the other adventurer's walking past us into the depths of the dungeon. "How are we to react to seeing other people in the dungeon when we split off the main path?"
I took a breath and said clearly. "Guarded. If they act hostile, go for the kill as the dungeon is a lawless place I have picked up. Too many weak wretches with no ambition think that looting and killing a fellow adventurer is so much more profitable than actually killing monsters."
Which to be fair, was very much true. Goblin, Kobold, and other weak monsters, monsters' stones were worth a damned pittance in comparison to monster stones from the monsters when an adventurer got around Riviria's floors.
"Alright, so let's get down there." I said clapping my hands while I was wondering how I should explain my Roguelite system to them... Before mentally shrugging as I would just wing it when we filled up Filia and my own pack with monster stones along with any drops we got.
And with us now having a party of five. I elected for us to actually use the elevator to save the fifteen minutes of going down the stairs even if it cost us a bit of money.
Once we got down to the first floor and we had a lull in between other adventurer's moving deeper into the dungeon. I spoke out an idea I had.
"So we have two ranged fighters in Xianyun and Ganyu, you both stay in the back. Filia you are in the middle as our healer. And Shenhe, you, and I should be in the front and stick to the sides of the wall so we ourselves don't get shot in the back on accident."
Xianyun gave a soft snort of amusement before she said in almost challenge. "You believe that we would shoot you or my disciple on accident?"
And with zero hesitation I nodded saying. "Accidents happen in the dungeon. What if while you are going to release an arrow, you are startled by monsters coming up from behind? Yeah, I am just making sure there aren't going to be any issues."
My point on monsters coming up from behind made Ganyu ask curiously as we headed down the stairs toward the second floor. "And what happens when we do have a monster come up from behind us? I am not good in melee haha." She joked weakly.
I looked to Shenhe and said. "In the case of monsters coming in from behind. Shenhe for now needs to run back to protect our ranged support and our healer in Filia."
And Filia grumbled as she held her large weighted at the end staff. "I don't need to be protected so much."
I just ignored Filia's adorable grumbling as I asked more seriously. "So you girls think you can handle the third floor at least? The monster stones are worth a good five percent more compared to the stones from the first and second floor?"
The ladies shared a look before Xianyun said equally seriously. "Although we do have a sizable party for such a low floor. We should first break our teeth in, see how much stronger, faster, and more durable the dungeon monsters are compared to the surface monsters."
I had no problem with that so we veered off the main path to the third floor while still on the second and I began speaking, telling them about the three monsters of this floor in the goblins which had some cunning and would set some minor traps.
Kobolds which relied on larger groups and a pack-like synergy they could have at times. And last the dungeon lizard, which was an oversized iguana basically that would hide in crevices in the ceiling and walls and loved to drop or jump at people.
"Is the dungeon lizard... Dangerous actually?" Filia asked in confusion with her continuing quickly. "I mean I know they are dangerous, they are a monster after all. But I have never heard anyone have any actual issue with them."
I shrugged and said honestly. "I mean, they aren't nearly as dangerous as a goblin or kobold unless it literally lands directly on your head and gets to your eyes or something." I spoke with a wry smile.
But then just to fucking taunt me a dungeon lizard fell down towards me from the rugged uneven roof above our heads that was about three meters above us.
And in a split moment with my hand on the Swift Spellblade, I summoned a flying sword which shot forward at high speed pinning the dungeon lizard into the ceiling before the flying sword broke apart into motes of mana.
The dungeon lizard likewise fell to the ground and I kneeled down with my guild issues carving knife in hand as I cut open the softer underbelly of the lizard a bit more to reach into it's chest to grab it's monster stone.
"So... Now with us being in the dungeon, and not having too many ears on us. I have a secret I need to share with you ladies as part of our familia." I spoke and then I explained how I had a special skill that was almost like it's own independent Falna.
Where I could get treasures, spells, weapons, other skills, tamed monsters, and other things at random all for the cost of having to break down monster stones.
To prove this I converted the dungeon lizard's monster stone into exp then and there with them blinking and Xianyun nodded in understanding.
"I see, you can't exactly keep such a skill secret from us obviously. Thank you for sharing this with us." She said with a small smile of appreciation.
And Shenhe asked quietly. "This skill, that's where you got your sword and that dagger wand?"
I nodded with her looking somewhat introspective before shrugging so I took a deep breath and spoke. "Anyway, I won't be able to use it so much. As we are all obviously rather lacking in money as we can't live in that inn long term. So as a familia we are focused on getting the money for a house."
Though by house I meant more along the lines of a manor or something with how Tiamat wanted to run an orphanage anyway.
Before we could discuss anything further however, the walls of the dungeon cracked loudly and I watched as three goblins began falling out of the dungeon's walls. And seeing the goblins coming out of the wall Shenhe went over to inflect dire violence upon the three.
And loud crunching noises rang out as Shenhe shamelessly committed spawn camping on the goblins by killing them right as they left the protection of the dungeon walls that made the monster's skin and muscles as hard as stone for some reason.
"Where are goblins monster stones?" Shenhe asked blandly as she pulled out a thick knife to kneel down to help Filia take out the goblin's monster stones while I stood watch.
Then a soft rumble rang out out as from down the long hallway deeper into the second floor of the dungeon came a modest-sized kobold pack that was six members strong. Shenhe got into position at the right side of the dungeon hall like I suggested while I took the left.
And then... By the time the kobolds crossed the twenty meters towards us through the hallway, Ganyu had shot four arrows with the arrows slamming home into the kobold's chests with her landing two arrows into two kobolds to truly put the fight out of them.
While Xianyun jabbed her short wand ahead and the icy blue crystal built atop the wand glowed along with runes crisscrossing along the wand glowed before a fist-sized drill of ice shot at high-speed point first into a kobold as well putting a naturally fist sized hole through it's chest.
I likewise spammed the Swift Spellblade's Flying Sword Spell I had put into it. And thus a half dozen ethereal blades formed into the air and shot into the last surviving kobolds making Shenhe throw us all a blantant pout.
"Kill steal... Not nice." She muttered under her breath before we got to work and I gave that staff Xianyun had a look before asking.
"So how does your wand work? Doesn't magic take powerful chants or something most of the time?"
And Xianyun turned it back on me as she retorted. "The same to you Jake. I spent forty years learning under a magic god in order to make enchanted tools and weapons. But that dagger wand combination doesn't have runes on it!"
I smiled wryly and said honestly. "The wand is just a conduit for the spell tablets I get. I have to roll actual spells, and modifiers for the spells to be slotted into the staff when I reach the reward milestones with my skill."
And I earned a look of honest frustration from Xianyun which... Was honestly fair. My skill apparently allowed me to skip decades of learning and practise to get something that was obscenely expensive all in reality.
Then the sounds of combat down the hall rang out and we all perked up as a trio of rough looking men ran through the three way hall intersection ahead of us with them running away and not heading down our way.
And I realized why they were running as a small monster party of about a dozen and a half. Close to twenty goblins ran behind them before the leading goblin saw my party standing still down the other hall.
The leading larger goblin squealed loudly and pointed at us furiously before charging at us with his larger group of goblins following behind them as they gave up the chase for the other group.
And seeing the horde of goblins coming for us I quickly called out. "I will break them up and kill a bunch, just get back!"
Shenhe seeing me taking out the Stygian Blade instantly backed away quickly and as the goblins got closer I stabbed the Stygian Blade into the ground making a wave of black energy with red highlights roar to life and create a circle of destruction around myself.
And like before with the wave of destruction that didn't register friend from foe. The wave of power for one now that I was paying attention. Smoothed out the floor of the dungeon as the wave of destruction seemingly evaporated the dungeon stone as it moved forward.
Out of the twenty odd goblins, like twelve of them were caught in the blast of the divine sword's technique and all the goblins were scared for a moment at the sight. Ganyu and Xianyun quickly nailed the frozen in place goblins in the head with an arrow apiece.
While Shenhe finally managed to move forward to let her spear taste blood as she skillfully jabbed holes and parted flesh of the shorter goblins.
"I see by what you mean by our familia lacking funds." Filia teased with some amuesment making me groan before shaking my head.
"It's a powerful magic sword. It has a set radius of destruction unless I upgrade it and it destroys anything in its path. Which is why I warned you all."
To which Shenhe said dully. "A more plain warning of your sword rendering us to nonexistence if we are in the wrong place would have been valued."
I just shrugged at that not having an answer but as we went to go get the monster stones from the goblins I didn't actually nuke with my enchanted sword...
A crackle of boots on stone rang out and I watched as those three men made a return down the hall and turned towards us.
"Oi, those were our goblins!" The seeming leader spoke out as he strode towards us leering at the women behind me but giving Ganyu and Xianyu looks of caution at seeing their bows.
Which meant this guy was still only level 1 especially with how he was running away from the goblin 'horde'.
"Fuck off." I stated calmly as I palmed the Swift Spellblade at my side so I could summon up some Flying Swords if it became needed.
And I saw the man scowl at my blunt refusal to play his game and he puffed out his chest before saying threateningly. "I am the fourth party leader for the Kubera Familia and we run the upper floors! So I will let you off with a warning if you drop your packs and run on home!"
Looking at the three men who looked so damned cocky I coudn't help but ask incredously. "We have more people then you, why are you so confident?"
And he snorted and said with a grin that showed foul yellow teeth. "Because our captain is patrolling this floor also helping to lighten the purses of any shit stain newbies like you. And he is a level two almost level three!"
Now I was in a hard place. Ok no I wasn't.
"Sorry then." I said before flaring out the Flying Swords and then soft thwacks rang out as Ganyu and Xianyun quickly shot their arrows towards the chests of the three while I drained half of my mana to send thirty flying swords into the three men.
"Loot their bags and lets get the hell out of here." I said quietly as I jogged forward to the brutalized remains of the three men and I took their large bags off their backs with Shenhe's help.
And we were jogging off silently back onto the main path and we quickly backtrecked the first floor with our 'ill' gotten goods.
Once we entered one of the side paths on the first floor. Filia staggered and I held her up as she retched off to the side and I realized this was definetly hitting her trauma button after her friends died yesterday.
"Slow breaths Filia... It will be ok." I gently soothed her as I held her blond hair well away from her mouth in case her retching became... More substantial and she made a mess.
And Shenhe being the total sweet heart she was called out calmly as she was searching the gore covered bags. "They had the smaller weapons of other adventurers in their bag's, their captain probably killed some smaller parties and had these goon's carrying the loot."
I frowned as Shenhe began tossing... Literal fucking hands out of one of the bag's and I thought back to the meeting. "Kubera... Isn't that a god of thieves? Does he have his adventurer's take the hands of their victims like how thieves hands were supposed to be cut off?" I mused more to myself.
And seeing the literal pile of hands. Filia retches turned liquid and she moaned as she properly vomited out her thankfully light breakfast.