Chapter 12:

Surviving Dinner at GrandPre's

What it Takes for a Loser to Become a Career Isekai Adventurer ダメ人間が本職異世界冒険家になる資格は


The sun was setting behind the distant Mob Wall when Den’s party assembled on the porch of his house. He crossed his arms and held his chin high with his back to the door, doing his best to emulate Rika’s confidence. “This is going to be a tough battle, everyone, but we can do it.” He looked over his four teammates. They all wore street clothes and easy expressions, not seeming to grasp his serious tone. “My Grandmother will leave for her Friday night aromatherapy in an hour. That means we have to have a conversation for a whole hour without talking about adventuring. Are you all prepared for that?”

“How bad could it be if your grandmother learns you are going into the Hollows?” Rika asked.

“I’m afraid she’ll kick me out on the spot...” Den said. “Then I’d never have a chance to get my computer back.”

“Why would she kick you out for adventuring?” Sam asked with a raised eyebrow.

“My family has history. I don’t understand why it has to be such a big deal either.”

“But you wanted to move out, anyway, didn’t you?” Rika asked.

“Yes, but with our income, do you think I can afford an apartment too?” Den asked.

Chloe raised a hand. “Chloe would allow Den to live in the staff quarters of her house.”

Den straightened. “Wait, really?”

She nodded. “Chloe’s house has many unused rooms. She is sure she could convince her mother to let her party members use them.”

“Wait, does that mean that offer is for all of us?” Sam asked.

Den waved the idea away. “We’re off-track. As great an offer as that is, I’d rather not have to move in with you because I’m disowned by my grandmother.” He let his shoulders droop.

Chloe swung her fists up. “Chloe will do her best.” The others promised the same.

Den took a deep breath. “Thanks everyone.”

They made their way inside. GrandPre met them at the end of the entrance hallway. She gave them a bow and offered a shining smile. “It’s wonderful to meet the friends Den has been spending so much time with. You all… go Walloping-- I believe Den called it?”

“Down at the stables?” Rika said, her eyes lighting up. “Fun times! Man, I haven’t--”

With his back to GrandPre, Den shot her a pointed gaze. That’s our cover!

“--had a day to rest!” Rika said, going rigid. “Yup. I love going to the stables and pushing over those dumb monsters” She snickered to herself, seeming to recall some interesting memories.

GrandPre raised an eyebrow. “Den made it sound like some sort of wrestling.”

Rika’s eyes again clouded over. “Aw man, good times… hitting the snot out of each other...”

Den stepped in front of Rika and turned to his grandmother, forcing a grin. “For good health, of course.”

GrandPre said nothing, only looking over them with a bemused half smile. She stepped out of the way and gestured for them to come in. “Please make yourself at home.”

The group entered the main living space, and GrandPre asked for their help moving dishes from the kitchen to the dinner table. The group was quiet with the exception of Rika who went headlong into a story about beating her older sister in the Walloping ring.

GrandPre laughed at Rika’s animated description supplied with actions and sound effects. Den hadn’t seen his grandmother with such a light entertained expression. It made him uneasy. He couldn’t really be sure what she was thinking. He carried dishes with his lips sealed tight. We’re never going to make it. This was a terrible idea. We may have lost everything for the sake of a free meal.

The six sat down, crowding in close around the table. The room was hot and filled with the heavenly smell of grilled meats and cooked vegetables. GrandPre had gone all out it seemed. At his request to have his friends over, she had truly been excited. That too was a key point of his nervousness. Why had she been so intent on meeting his friends when she took no interest in his life otherwise? While it was suspicious, the result was a table set with grilled fish, fresh corn, and pickled vegetables out of GrandPre’s garden-- a true eden.

The group dug in, the room filled with moans of delight and smiles and praises of GrandPre’s cooking. Given their constant state of hunger, the table was silent for some time while they ate. Den too found himself relaxing despite himself as he filled his stomach. Even so, he kept one eye on the clock as each minute passed, bringing them closer to six forty-five when his grandmother would leave.

“It’s such an honor to have you at our table, Grengalheim,” GrandPre said, the first of the group to finish eating. “All of us who live in Suburb 23 are in your family’s debt.”

“And today I am in yours,” he said as he minded his manners and cut his steamed broccoli before bringing it to his mouth with a look of satisfaction. “Everything is delicious.”

“I’m so glad to hear you say that. I was acquaintances with your grandfather many years back. My husband and I used to do business with him. It was on his suggestion that we moved here. I’ve never been able to repay him for leading us to such a beautiful suburb.”

“Both my grandfather and ancestor would be proud to hear that. While not the fame he wanted, settling this piece of land and installing the anti-mob barrier in the outer wall were the only two things Grengalheim the first believed he had done right.”

“I didn’t know you knew Grengalheim’s family,” Den said. “What kind of business did you have with them?”

“I’ve been a public event coordinator for going on forty years now,” GrandPre said with a laugh. “I know most everyone with a name in the community.” She looked at Chloe. “And that of course means your mother as well. I used to play golf with your grandmother before she passed.”

“You knew Gramgram?” Chloe asked, her eyes going wide, pausing while somehow gracefully eating corn on the cob. “Were you scared?”

GrandPre laughed. “Sometimes. She was definitely a powerful woman. Your mother is starting to look more and more like her. It’s good to have strong allies. I’m always thankful for her support when planning community events.” GrandPre’s eyes lit up. “Do you mind if I ask a question, Miss Chloe?”

“Hm?”

“To be honest, I have always thought beastfolk to be special. I have a deep respect for them. I have always thought they are the superior form of Sekaijin--”

“GrandPre, that’s a little…” The sparkling look in his grandmother’s eyes as she looked at Chloe surprised him. He never would have expected her to be one of those fanatics that thought they were a higher race. “Chloe’s the same as the rest of us,” he said. “Her bunny ear is just an aesthetic her ancestor thought was cool.”

“But Den, there are different degrees of beastfolk,” his grandmother continued. “How much control they have depends on how much development was put into the extremities. Miss Chloe, I was always too intimidated to ask your grandmother, but do you mind my asking how developed your ear is? Which tier?”

“GrandPre!” Den said, shocked she would ask such a question. “That’s private!”

Chloe raised a hand to Den. “Chloe doesn’t mind.” She reached up to her hanging ear and lifted up from the point. The underside of the ear was incredibly fluffy, but unexpectedly there didn’t appear to be a hole at the base. “It’s tier one development,” she said. “Chloe has the muscles to move it, but it doesn’t have any hearing ability.” She let the ear fall.

GrandPre grinned wide, eyes sparkling. “Thank you, Miss Chloe. I always wondered if your family had improved hearing to give them an edge. It appears they are simply talented at what they do.”

Rika pouted. “My Isekaijin ancestor didn’t leave me anything special like you two. She was a farmer by class even before the Earth Gate closed,” Rika said, a piece of celery sticking out of her mouth. “Can you believe that? They could have done anything with their Player Account like become a wizard or dragon folk but they chose to be a base human farmer!”

GrandPre’s smile drew thin. “It appears that’s not your only heritage, however.”

Rika’s smile grew a little conflicted as she reached up to her side ponytail, the ends tipped with almost glowing pink. “Yeah. I have a great great grandfather Terraling that stuck around after the suburb got started.”

“That’s fascinating,” GrandPre said. “Not many stayed behind after the Expansion War.”

“Were you born with an Essence Ore Core?” Sam asked, eyes sparkling. “I read books about Sekaijin who were able to use magic.”

Rika shook her head. “I’m a two-three-burbian all the way. Nothing special.”

Suddenly a distant memory returned to Den and he turned to GrandPre. “Didn’t you and Grandpapi meet a Sekaijin born with an Essence Ore Core?” Den asked. He vaguely remembered hearing that once.

“He told you that story?” GrandPre’s mouth hung open for a moment before twisting. “What was that man thinking telling such a story to a child?”

“All he told me was that you’d met one while you were running from a Terraling raid.”

GrandPre frowned deeply. “I’m shocked he could talk about it.”

Den laughed as the memory came back to him. “He wasn’t sober at the time. He was going on about a number of things.”

She rubbed her forehead. “Oh course he was.” When she stopped, she gave them all a hard look. “I suppose you can hear this story. You’re not children anymore.” Den sat up. He hadn’t heard a story of his grandmother’s adventuring years in a long time. “The Empire called the event a raid, but it wasn’t, really. The whole event started because of that child.” She spoke softly, her hands folded in front of her. “She had a Terraling father. There were a couple living in the settlement out in the Dragonspine Isles. The trait to be born with an Essence Ore Core is recessive, but that child was born with one regardless.”

“Could they use magic?” Sam asked, sitting on the edge of their seat.

“They had some talent, yes. They were only a few years old but their father had taught them how to make flowers bloom,” GrandPre said, her eyes falling to the table. “Unfortunately, using the magic caused crystallization sickness in their house. The mother fell to it and the father ran to his family. It took only a few days before a third of the settlement was hacking up crystals.” GrandPre’s face grew tight. “Then the Terralings came. They slaughtered everyone. Den’s grandfather and I barely escaped. We quarantined ourselves out in the woods for two weeks. We were unimaginably lucky.”

Grengalheim ran a hand back through his hair. “To think that the Terralings would use an epidemic to launch a raid. Despicable.”

“It was mercy,” GrandPre said softly. She squinted down at her plate. “They killed everyone to stop the spread of the virus. My husband and I were the selfish ones-- but when is that anything new for the Sekaijin?”

No one had any words to follow that up. Even Rika had paused in devouring food to gawk.

After another breath of reminiscence, GrandPre looked up with a tired smile. “That’s just how things are for adventurers on the border,” she said at last. She nodded her head to Sam. “You seem like one who likes stories. Does your family have one?”

Sam rubbed the back of their head. “We have a few. One mother comes from a navy family, and another is a field doctor. The last is an Imperial Soldier.” They itched their chin. “My army mom wants me to follow after her. Her family helped build the Mob Wall, so protecting the suburb is kind of a family tradition.”

“That’s quite the family of service,” GrandPre said with a softened smile. “But it sounds like you’re not too fond of the idea?”

“If I did, I’d inherit the family wall house. It’s fine and all, but half the day it's dark and at night you can hear monsters spawning outside.” They laughed. “I’m hoping our work will let us live a little more glamorously.”

“Your work?” GrandPre asked. “Is it something you’re all doing together?”

“Uhhh,” Sam’s face went blank.

Aw shit, Den thought, his stomach twisting. Here we go.

“You’re talking about that new job you got at the Suit Store, aren’t you?” Grengalheim offered with an exacerbated grin.

“I did start at a Suit Store recently!” Sam said, tapping their fist in their hand. “That is glamorous!” They nodded furiously.

Chloe poked GrandPre’s elbow, and held up her empty plate. “The food was good. If Chloe can’t have more she may die.”

“Well we can’t have that,” GrandPre said, taking the plate and reaching for the closest dish. “What do you want?”

Chloe pointed to the far end of the table. “Everything.”

GrandPre laughed. “They say that a good appetite is a sign of good health. Den has been eating much better recently too. I have all of you to thank for that.”

“Mostly me,” Rika said with a nearly full mouth. “Our group was my idea.”

“Oh?” GrandPre asked. “Tell me more about what you do.”

Den’s heart nearly stopped.

Rika shot a hand into the air. “We’re working on getting stronger! You know, for the Monster Run at the Autumn Equinox Festival. I was planning on participating. And by I, I mean we. We’ve totally talked about this before now.”

“That is definitely not made up,” Chloe said, accepting her plate.

“The Monster Run?” GrandPre said, returning to her seat and crossing her hands. “It is not one of the events I am personally in charge of. I avoid directing traditions related to our people’s adventuring heritage. My events tend to honor our culture’s dramatic shift from one of simplicity and violence to one of society and high culture.” She raised a hand to Grengalheim. “Not that the Adventurers who settled our land are any less important.”

“No offense taken,” Grengalheim said, pushing back his empty plate.

GrandPre laughed once. “I’m not surprised you are interested in the Monster Run, Den. You have always been drawn in by the fancy of violent sport. I suppose it’s not your fault. Your Grandfather filled your head with his silly stories of grandeur.”

Den felt his skin prickle at that. He couldn’t help saying, “Let’s stop there.”

GrandPre’s smile faltered. “Sorry. You’re right.” Her face lit up. “Have you thought of participating in the Founder’s Dance?”

“I have never been to a dance, and have no interest,” Den said, resting his chin on his hand. I liked GrandPre better when she was talking about adventuring. He remembered why they had settled on silence. He couldn’t stand when she would give him unsolicited ‘advice’ of things she would prefer he did.

“Chloe’s mother wants her to dance at it,” Chloe said with a shiver. “Chloe does not have any rhythm. She has made a fool of herself enough times that she doesn’t wish to return.”

“I have always loved the dance,” GrandPre said. “I’m sure I could give Den proper lessons to prepare him, if you would like a low stress partner.”

Chloe gave Den a long squint. “Chloe thinks she would be better off with Grengalheim or Sam. Or even Rika.”

Den slumped. “Chloe… I know I don’t have confidence in my coordination either, but could you try not to crush me?”

“I’ll dance with you at the Autumn Equinox Festival,” Sam said. “I love dancing, not that I am very good at traditional ones.”

Rika stood up, half a roll of bread sticking out of her mouth. “I’ll handle him. I was the best of all my brothers and sisters at the Solstice dance on South slope.”

“It is true that the winning dancers each year come from that crop,” GrandPre said.

“Well, I haven’t practiced in years, so my younger sisters will definitely beat me now,” Rika said, sliding back into her chair. “I can handle Den at least.” She looked at him with sparkling eyes. “As team leader, I--” she paused, coughed once and started again. “Will you go with me, Den?”

When GrandPre suggested he go to a dance, it made him sick to his stomach, but going with Rika and the gang? That would be an entirely different matter. He used to scoff at those at his high school who went to dances, but going as a party, he thought he might just actually enjoy himself. He gave a defeated chuckle. “Sure. I’ll try.”

“We only have two months. It’s not a long time to start learning from scratch… We’ll need to get started as soon as you recover, Den,” GrandPre decided. “Will you all help?”

“I’ll teach him how it’s done,” Rika said with a salute.

GrandPre laughed. “I’m glad you’ve found such great friends, Den.” She looked up to the clock. It was a few minutes past quarter to. She rose to her feet. “Look at the time, I better be making my way out.”

Den let out a long sigh. They’d made it.

“Before I go, I do have one more question.” She gave them all a lookover. “What layer are you on? Den doesn’t tell me anything of your party’s progress in the Hollows.”

Rika froze in bringing a massive forkful of pickles to her mouth, one falling to her plate, the splat the only sound in the room. Den’s breath caught in his throat. The worst had come to pass. GrandPre knew he was going to the Hollows. When did she figure it out? His pulse sped up, his breath streaming back down his throat as he weighed his options. Should he try to lie and refute it? No. The smirk on her face at their surprise meant she knew the truth all too well. He felt the blood drain from his face as images of him being shipped out of town on a rail board came to mind.

He wouldn’t let her have her way with him. He sat up in his seat. “I’ll move out with Chloe,” he declared. He looked over at her. “That’s okay, right?”

She gave a short quizzical nod.

GrandPre rolled her eyes. “You don’t need to look so afraid. I’m not going to kill you.”

“You knew?” he asked, gripping the edge of the table, unable to shake the feeling he was about to be delivered a terrible fate.

“Of course I knew,” she said, putting a hand on her hip. “This isn’t the first time someone has tried to hide their trips to the Hollows from me. I was an adventurer too-- I know what slime erosion in clothing looks like. Anyway, I go to the same bunco group as the Guildmaster. I knew as soon as you and the others applied as a suburb party.” She shrugged and looked off to the side. “I had hoped that you would trust me enough rather than attempt to hide this. Poorly for that matter.” She let out a sigh. “You are just like him.”

“Are you going to make me quit?” Den breathed. “Like you made Grandpapi quit?”

GrandPre stood up straight, her expression growing stern again. “It seems you’ve had an incorrect impression. I never made your Grandfather retire. And I am not going to ask that of you either.”

Den could not believe what he was hearing. “But you hate adventuring. Aren’t you mad?”

“I don’t hate adventuring,” his grandmother said, letting out a slow sigh. “I liked it too much. I have never been skilled at moderation. Removing all aspects of adventuring from my life and finding new passions was my only way to move on.”

Den slumped back in his chair. His grandmother held him in her gaze, her vision strong. “What layer are you on?” she asked again.

“Fifth,” he droned. He didn't imagine trying to spite her now would get him anywhere.

She snorted. “Capybara, King of Rodents. You don’t think what you’re doing is dangerous?”

“No. I hit slimes with sticks and get mobbed by fluffy animals. It’s nothing like the adventures Grandpapi used to talk about.”

“It’s not as epic as you expected, is it?” His grandmother crossed her arms and let out a sigh. “How many Enchanted Items do you have? I see you have a Slash Ring.” She nodded to Grengalheim, having noticed his Enchanted Item at a glance it seemed.

Den nodded slowly. “Three. A Roll Blast and a Slip Tiara too.”

“A Slip Tiara is good news.” She let out a sigh. “Three total, huh? That’s a relief.”

“You think we’re fine with only three Enchanted Items?”

“No. Of course not,” she said with a scoff. “I’d be surprised if you could even defeat Old God Joseph with only two offensive items.” She gave a halfhearted shrug. “Thank you for sharing honestly. I now understand where you are at.” She gave Den a half-grin. “Feel free to move out. I’ll be overjoyed to have my grandson move in with a Silvermoon09.”

“I expected you to be angry,” Den said, the fight in him sinking out through his feet. He had been so ready to throw down.

“I’m not,” she said. “I understand you. That’s why I don’t want you to make the same mistakes your grandfather and I made.” She gave a tired huff. “But your choices are yours. Now, I can only be happy you have found such good people.” She walked to the exit doorway and bowed. “It was so good to meet you all. Please feel free to join my table any time. I am sorry that I will have to make my leave now.”

Den let out a long sigh, feeling his life force leave him as GrandPre quickly gathered up a small purse and everyone wished her the best on the way out. When he finally shut the door, he stood with his hand on the knob, his head hanging. “That was not how I thought that dinner was going to go.”

“Your grandmother is really a sweet put-together woman, Den,” Grengalheim said with a laugh, collecting dishes on the table. “I had expected much worse. Everyone’s family has things you avoid talking about. Mine you do not talk about politics. My uncle’s family can rant about the betrayal of the Western Confederation for ages.”

Sam cringed. “We don’t talk about religion.”

“Chloe’s family does not talk about Terralings. Her family holds some really unfounded rage.”

“And mushrooms vs pickles,” Rika said. Everyone gave her a look. Den could not imagine how that could become a problem. “What?” she said. “It’s a serious question for a bean sprout family. So many nights ended in battle...” Rika nodded solidly. “Everyone has their topics better left untouched.”

Den laughed out loud. “Well, hearing all of your problems makes mine feel a little more normal. I’m glad you all came tonight. I don’t think that conversation would have gone so smoothly if you weren’t with me.”

In record time, they cleaned, dried, and put away the dishes. When they returned to the table, Grengalheim brought out his tablet and a manila envelope. A new tension filled the air as everyone pulled out wallets. “Well everyone, the time has come,” Grengalheim said. “It’s time to consolidate our pay. As you can see, I have made my portion.” From inside the envelope, he revealed a banded stack of 10,000 doubloon bills. “Who’s next?”

Den groaned and opened his wallet. “This morning was such a bummer getting my first paychecks from both my Grandmother and landscaping job and knowing I was going to immediately spend all of it.” Den put down seven hundreds and seventy in smaller bills. “I know it’s a little short, but I think if we run the Fourth Layer eight more times, I’ll make it.”

“Hm, that will make for an exhausting day, but we should be able to make that work,” Grengalheim said, taking Den’s share and putting it on the envelope with his own.

Chloe slid over her portion. “Chloe is ready.”

Sam emptied their wallet and counted. “Looks like I’m short 5000. I’ll be able to make that up tomorrow. I’ll be broke but my bills will be paid! Please tell me someone is hosting dinner tomorrow too!”

All eyes fell on Rika. She sat with her bottom lip sticking out as she gazed into her beat-up leather wallet. Sensing everyone’s stares, she glanced up before quickly looking down at the table. She carefully pulled out two 10,000s then topped it with a few 2000s. Then she tipped the wallet upside down and patted the back, causing a dozen small coins to roll out onto the table. She pushed the coins onto the bill and slid it over to Grengalheim. Drawing back her arms she fidgeted as she looked down at her lap.

Grengalheim took a moment to recount her share before asking softly, “What’s this?”

Rika snapped up with wide teary eyes. “It’s so hard! I didn’t have anything to cut. I didn’t have any subscriptions or memberships or whatever.”

If Den’s memory was correct, she had only owed 60,000. His heart twisted painfully. She said she could do it! “You’re short 40,000, Rika!”

“You mentioned before that you live with your older sister so you don’t pay rent, right?” Sam asked.

“Yeah…” Rika said. “My older sister is really great, letting me crash at her place.”

“Then where’s your hard earned post office money?” Den asked.

Chloe leaned in. “Are you in trouble with the mob?”

Rika sighed. “I wish it was that cool…” She leaned forward on the table and slumped on her arms. “Looks like I’m the only one here who didn’t do college right...” She gave a listless shrug. “My monthly pay goes almost entirely into loans.”

“Wait, like how much are we talking?” Den said. “You work nearly full time at the post office. That’s at least 30,000 a week, right?”

“I pay 100,000 a month in interest.”

Den’s mouth dropped open. “How?”

“Art school's expensive-- especially when you don’t get a real job after…” She looked like all the life had drained out of her, slouching limp in her chair, eyes downcast.

Grengalheim looked down at Rika’s money with sagging shoulders. “You’re not going to make up the difference in the Hollows tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry,” Rika said listlessly.

“That’s not what I want to hear,” Grengalheim said, hitting the table once. “I want to hear how you thought you were going to be able to pull your weight.”

Sam stood up, giving a shaky laugh. “Hey, why are we making such a big deal out of this? Altogether, we’ll have some leftover, right? I’m sure--”

“Shut up, Sam,” Grengalheim spat. “This isn’t a laughing matter. You’re going to end up with almost nothing left over to share. You just expect me and Chloe to give over the rest out of the kindness of our hearts?” He pointed a finger at Rika. “She said she would be able to make it. Why would you say that and let us get this far if you knew you weren’t going to?”

Rika didn’t say anything.

Grengalheim pulled his chair forward, and started to separate out all their shares. “If we can’t depend on her for this very first group objective we’ve all agreed to, then as things get harder the deeper we go into the Hollows, we won’t be able to trust her.” When he’d pushed all their money back, he raised both palms. “I won’t be in a party with someone like that.”

Chloe rose to her feet as well, looking back and forth between Grengalheim and Rika. “Chloe wants this party to work…”

She didn’t raise any other options for how to make that happen however. Sam only stood with their head slumped into their hands. Den sat back in his seat, stunned that things had ended up like this so quickly. The party’s… going to dissolve?

Rika slammed the table with both hands and pushed herself up. “I’ll earn it tonight,” she yelled with tears in her eyes. “Den made almost 7,000 in one afternoon. If he can do that, I should be able to make it before the Guild closes tomorrow!”

Chloe ran to her and grabbed her arm. “You saw what happened to Den. Don’t hurt yourself, Rika!”

Den looked down at his pile of money. If the party dissolved, he’d have several hundred after all the cancellation fees went through. He’d make his bill to GrandPre. He’d get his computer back.

And he’d be right back where he started.

I don’t want to go back, he thought. Nothing matters as much as this party.

The lights in the room flickered and went dim. Everyone looked up.

“Another brown-out,” Chloe said.

The earth shook once. Den looked at the others, his eyebrows knitting. “Did you all feel that?”

A distant explosion like a single firework crackled outside. A moment later, another soft boom shook the earth. Then another, the pop and booms growing faster. Den jumped to his feet, his chair squeaking as the others did the same. He limped out onto the front porch. Downhill, through the night, a flash of light came with an explosion atop the Mob Wall. A moment later, another explosion lit a little further down the wall.

“It’s breaking down,” Sam breathed. “One by one.”

“Damnit,” Grengalheim said. “They’re stressing out the system. One goes down and then all the rest of the anti-spawn generators have to work even harder.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “We need to call the Starter Town Central Grid and tell them to turn our power back on!”

Suddenly, however, the air crackled, growing warm. Den lifted his arm, his hair standing on end. Oh no, he thought. The air crackled and the earth gave a single deep tremor, a small crack forming at the bottom step. Black smoke hissed out of the ground. The sound echoed all around into the distance. A second later, the smoke consolidated into a single slime.

Chloe didn’t waste any time. She reached down, picked up a snapdragon flower pot and threw it down on the monster. With a screech, it burst, the flowerpot shattering on the ground as the monster splattered.

Den’s stomach dropped. “That was one of GrandPre’s favorites--”

“What the hell is happening? Why are so many monsters spawning?” Rika asked, falling into a squat and jumping down to pick up one of the shattered pieces of the flower pot as a weapon. Further out into the street, smoke consolidated into Giant Rats, Foxbats, and other vermin monsters.

“With enough of the Mob Wall down, we must have had a Horde Spawn Event.”

“Wait, so you’re saying this is a Horde Spawn?” Sam asked. “Aren’t those super rare?”

“The larger the party, the more likely it is to occur,” Grengalheim said. A scream broke the night not far away. “And our party here looks to be about 22,000 people.”

“Chloe doesn’t understand why there are only junk monsters,” she said, lifting up her hands to hold her hanging ears.

Sam gasped. “I remember now. This happened sometimes back during the foundation. The area here is zoned to the Hollows. In the Isekaijin era before the Mob-walls were put up, settlements built over the Primordial Hollows would always only spawn monsters from the first ten layers for people who haven’t cleared the First Stratum.”

There are a lot of problematic monsters in the first ten layers. Den's heart trembled, as his grandmother’s smiling face came to mind. “GrandPre is probably still walking to her aromatherapy session,” he breathed. He looked at the others. “Do you have any of your weapons?”

Sam bit their lip. “We left everything at Chloe’s. You told us not to bring any adventuring gear that might give us away.”

“What about your Enchanted Item?” Den asked, looking at Grengalheim.

He lifted his fist that held his Slash Ring, but he shook his head. “No Essence Ore.”

Den swore.

Rika fished around in her satchel then finally whipped out a ten inch pike. “I have a piece of Pokey Stick 1.0!” she declared.

Den let out a heavy breath of air. “Right. Of course you do.” He didn’t get along with GrandPre, but he didn’t want anything bad to happen to her just as they were finally starting to understand each other.

Suddenly, a loud squeak came from behind the house.

Den groaned. “Please tell me I’m crazy and didn’t just hear what I thought I heard.”

“Chloe heard a guinea pig squeak,” she said.

Den was afraid of that. “Looks like we’re going to need to find some new weapons.”