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"And so Welf Crozzo, the Level 1 adventurer, managed to kill a Level 2 and two Level 1s?" said the Guild investigator, leaning back in his chair as his sharp eyes turned toward Damien.
Damien didn't look away. "No," he said evenly. "Welf killed the Level 2 and one of the Level 1s. I killed the last one. He was already distracted."
The man flipped through the report again, his quill scratching against the parchment. "No Falna, no Familia, and yet… you entered the Dungeon, hunted monsters, and took down Evilus remnants?" His tone was skeptical, more curious than accusing. "Quite the feat for a 'normal' human."
Damien clenched his jaw. "Look, sir. You already ran your tests — no Falna, no blessings, nothing. I'm a normal human. I just experienced one of the worst things possible in that Dungeon, and now you're questioning me about it?" His voice grew colder. "You've talked to Welf. He said the same thing. So why are you still wasting my time?"
The investigator sighed, dropping the quill into its holder. "Fine. You may leave." He gestured lazily toward the door, then added without looking up, "However, you'll need to go to the Fines and Punishment Office. There's a fee for this little… escapade."
Damien paused. "Fee?"
The man raised a brow. "Unauthorized entry of a non-adventurer. Reckless activity within the Dungeon. And breaking your verbal promise to the guards that you wouldn't go past Level One — which, might I remind you, is a tutorial floor. Yet you went deeper. To Level Two."
Damien rubbed his temples. "Okay, fine… How much?"
The investigator flipped through his papers and read aloud, "Five thousand Valis."
"Five thou—!" Damien stopped himself and sighed through his nose. At least he had loot. Goblin and Kobold cores, a Killer Rabbit core, and even the drops from those mercenaries who attacked him. That had to amount to something.
He left the dim office and followed the narrow hallway until he reached the Fines and Punishment section of the Guild. The clerk there — a young woman with tired eyes and an overly polite smile — handed him a parchment with his name written in ink.
"If you fail to pay within a week," she said, reciting the words like a mantra, "the fine will increase by ten percent. Each additional week, another ten percent."
Damien groaned softly. "I had my loot appraised before being dragged here. Where do I claim the Valis from it?"
The woman flipped through her ledger and nodded. "Normally, you'd collect it at the main reception. But given your circumstances, it was transferred here. One moment…" She retrieved a small pouch and placed it on the counter. The sound of coins clinking was almost melodic to Damien's ears.
"Three thousand, four hundred, and twenty-five Valis," she said. "Quite the haul for a first-timer."
Damien's face lit up for a moment. "Oh nice! One more trip into the Dungeon and I'll have enough to pay the fine in full."
The clerk's polite smile froze. "…Uhm. No, you won't."
Damien blinked. "What?"
"You're banned from entering the Dungeon until the fine is paid," she explained, her voice gentle but firm. "Those are Guild regulations. Unless you're part of a recognized Familia — which you aren't — you can't re-enter until your record is cleared."
Damien stared at her, dumbfounded. "But that was my source of income."
She gave a helpless shrug. "Sorry. Rules are rules."
Damien let out a slow, defeated sigh, running a hand down his face. "Fantastic. First near-death experience, then paperwork, and now I'm broke and unemployed."
He grabbed the pouch, the weight of the coins feeling far lighter than before, and muttered under his breath as he walked out, "Guess the gods of this world really hate efficiency."
....
As Damien stepped out of the Guild building, the afternoon sun greeted him — warm and golden. Welf was leaning against a wall near the entrance, waving both arms like he'd just spotted a long-lost friend.
"Hey! Brother! They finally let you out!" he called, grinning ear to ear.
Damien shrugged tiredly. "Yeah… pain in the ass, man. Treated us like we were the ones who attacked them."
Welf laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Heh, Guild bureaucrats, huh?"
"I appreciate what you did though," Damien added, his tone softening. "You didn't have to lie on my behalf."
"Of course I did! You saved my life, man!" Welf barked a laugh and slung an arm around Damien's shoulder. "And I'm not done repaying you. First, you're coming with me to my Familia's home — and then, I'm buying you a drink!"
Damien smirked. "Sure. Let's get to it then."
They weaved through Orario's bustling streets until the smell of hot metal filled the air.
"So this is the blacksmithing district," Damien muttered, eyeing the dozens of open workshops, where sparks leapt into the air and hammers sang in rhythm.
"Of course!" said Welf, puffing his chest with pride. "You'll find the best weapons in all of Orario here! Plenty of talent, including yours truly. But… if you can afford it, the ones made by Tsubaki are masterpieces."
The path led them to a wide building of dark stone and glowing forge vents, smoke lazily drifting from the chimneys. The heat radiated from within.
"Huh, looks like Tsubaki's inside," Welf muttered as they stepped through the heavy doors.
They had barely taken two steps when a caramel-skinned woman with a wild, fiery grin grabbed Welf by the head.
"YOU FOOL! You okay?!" she roared, yanking him into a headlock and ruffling his crimson hair roughly. "I heard about what happened from a Guild friend! Didn't I tell you not to drag strangers into your mess?"
"A–aw aw aw! I didn't have a choice, okay?! No one here would help! Everyone's busy with their damn furnaces!" Welf yelped.
Tsubaki released him with a snort, hands now resting on her hips. Damien couldn't help but stare for a second — she was striking.
Her caramel skin glowed under the forge light, smooth and bronzed from years of heat and hammering. Her kimono-style top hung loosely around her shoulders, leaving enough open space to tease the curve of her chest and the toned muscle beneath. Her waist was tight, her hips full — every movement a perfect blend of power and femininity. And that single crimson eye of hers, wild and sharp, carried the kind of beauty that burned rather than dazzled.
"Oh! You're the one that helped him, right?" she said, catching Damien's gaze with a grin that made his heart skip.
"Uhm—Y-yeah," he stammered, clearing his throat.
She clapped a hand on his shoulder, firm but warm. "I appreciate it! The Familia thanks you. In fact…" she smirked "our goddess wants to Reward you.... She's waiting in her office."
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If you Like this story! Check out my other story's ! Sukuna in DC! and Dragon Slayer in Marvel!
AND
If you wish to read more or simply support me just because ? than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/Riadooo"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want !