Dungeon and grandpa

The debut was getting closer and closer. The problem with the attack was taken care of, but mother still insisted that I will be taking extra protection walking out of our property.

Somehow, the day we exposed Gen Varill’s illegal slaves a fire sprung up in Duke Varill’s masion and the duke and his second son, both died. Given the conspiracy it created, Gen was forced to step down as duke and pay for reparations.

Weirdly one thing lead to another and in the end, embezzlement was discovered to take place in the duchy. With Duke Varill’s house disbanded, the territory was now divided. Most of it became kings personal lands and ivestigation was to be held. Two cities were given by king as compensation for troubles to father.

And I, who found out about the illegal slaves, got nothing. Not suprising, right?

From that day, I got to meet with Lulu almost every day and today was no different.

„Master! Young lady Lulu is in her combat gear! ‚Let’s go to dungeon!‘ she said,“ Tifaana, the beastfolk girl reported to me.

She’s from Crimson wolf pack that lived in Varill duchy, but they got hunted and turned into slaves. Tifaana herself was made into hunting unit that was responsible for destruction and enslavement of more than just a handful of villages.

Now, that I removed her collar (thanks to a spell I created), she sweared to follow me wherever I go. Weirdly she still positions herself under Kiira, maybe becouse she was defeated by her?

„Alright. Tell Kiira that we are leaving. She’s to go for Ruzu and meet us at main entery of the mansion as fast as they can.“

„Understood boss!“ she saluted while her brownish red tail was wagging behind her and she run off.

„She’s quite lively,“ Tina, my nurse maid (well, my only maid) said with almost motherly gaze.

Um, you know that you are only six years older then her right? She’s thirteen you know?

I changed into my training leather armor and I set off to meet with Lulu.

As I was walking down massive staircase, I saw Lulu with her hairs tied in ponytail waiting near doors.

„I’m here Lulu. Ready to go?“

„Yes!“ she said while smiling broadly and continued: „Are we going alone?“

„No, my mother insisted that I take Tifaana with me at the very least. So I had her go fetch Kiira and Ruzu.“

„I-I see…“ Lulu looked little crestfallen.

„Oh, by the way, do you know how big the dungeon is? Or, how it works?“

„Fufufu, of course! On every floor is one hundread rooms full of monsters, in every room is one monster exponantely stronger then the rest, which is called Master or Room boss. If you beat it and bring it’s core to special room inside center of the floor, you can summon and challange Floor boss. From the floor boss, you can get magic items, rare or powerful weapons and most importantly, you can get skill orbs. It’s said that person, who can collect all floor boss cores, can challange Dungeon master himself!“

Why it sounds like some RPG?

„Well, let’s not go too deep today.“

„Yeah, I thought simmilarly so I was thinking we could go to room twelve. It’s mostly lake area, but you can find some frog monsters which drop skewers.“

„Oh, so it’s drop dungeon, no corpse is left behind?“

„Yes, exactly! How did you know Leo?“ Lulu asked.

„Father is minister of dungeon resources so I heard a thing ot two,“ I smiled at her.

„I see! That make’s a lot of sence! Look they are here alredy.“

„We’re here master! Let’s get to it right now! Dungeon! Dungeon!“ Tifaana said happily wagging her tail.

„Sorry for the delay, master. We’re ready to go.“

„Let’s get to it kids!“ Ruzu smiled.

„Okay, everyone. Please grab me and I will use transfer.“

„G-grab you?“ Lulu turned bright red.

Oh, I forgot that I only held hands with her once before. Will she be alright?

On other hand, Kiira was more strightforward about this, as she was already hunging on my back, her cheeks rubbing against mine, but I was ignoring her.

I extended hand to Lulu and smiled at her: „Let’s have some fun in the dungeon!“

She extended her small hand and put it in mine: „I will trust you, Leo. Like always.“

Tifaana and Ruzu grabbed my other hand and I activated Transfer to get us out of the city in one go.

„So you can really use it… urgh… good thing the ownership was alredy transfered to you, ‘couse I don’t know how would I reported this…“ Ruzu grumbled, but she didn’t seem really mad.

„This was awesome! Can you really transfer anywhere you want?“

„Only if I was in that place before, but yes. Space magic is so rare and void magic, which can nulify it, is as rare, so not many cities have barrier which can block teleporting in. The barrier on this city is a strong one, compared to other places, still transfering out can go without any issue.“

„So amazing! …Okay! I will also show you something new! Go «Enhance: Agility»!“ White light enveloped us as Lulu finished her chant.

„Whoa, you can use magic Lulu?“ I got suprised.

„Hehe, training it was a good choice! This is my Enhancement magic, I acquired it from skill orb my father brought from his expedition to this dungeon.“

„So your father defeated Floor boss?“ I was suprised as we were talking during our way to the dungeon.

„You don’t know? The forces were put together by your father and my dad was leading them!“ Lulu smiled.

„True, our fathers are working together, that I know, but I hear about this for the first time.“

We started running and I got supprised just by how fast we were.

„Boss! It’s the place! Gruberra dungeon! The place where you can find food!“

Is dungeon nothing more then butcher shop to you? You know that more then 20% of adventurers dies inside right?!

„The dungeon city Gruberra and it’s dungeon… let’s do our best everyone!“

„„„Right!“““

When we entered the city, I understood that this was comletly different place compared to other places, like royal capital, my home town or any other village we went through on our way. People of dungeon city Grubera were all at least level 30, while everywhere else people are level 15 at best.

„This place seems little gloomy,“ Kiira said while hugging my arm.

Umm, why are you doing this? I thought.

„It’s like this every time…“ Lulu said, while hugging my other hand.

Okay, so what do you think you’re doing Lulu? Are you two ignoring those glares coming out way or what?

„So where are we supposed to go first?“ I asked freeing myself from the two.

„Right there into the city centre. There is the entery and guild register,“ Lulu said as she grabbed my arm again. I mean, give it few years and it will feel way better.

„Then let’s get going,“ Ruzu said and prepared her sword, in chance she would have to use it.

We made our way to the guild hall and went stright to the register.

„Hi, Toni and Wista! I’m here to register a friend.“

„Oh, miss Seawed, it’s good to see you again,“ one of the receptionist said.

„Register for your friends? If you recomend them, then they must be really good.“

„Yes! They are really, really good! After all they were the first to help me get stronger!“ Lulu beamed one smile after another, but the receptionist and even some explorers turned pale.

Later I found out that on her first day a year ago, Lulu send ten Blood red badge explorers to hospital, after they started a fight with her.

That being said. Blood red badge is the highest from the middle ranks. The ranks go as this: Adamantite blue, Mithril green (light green), gold, silver, bronze, Blood red, Bee yellow, Goblin green (dark green), White, wolf gray and Coal black.

We got our Coal black badges and together with Lulu, who have goblin green we entered the dungeon. Ruzu after becoming slave lost a right to have her badge so we got her new one. But I heard that before she became slave she was Bronze badged explorer.

„Ruzu, your hand is shaking, is something wrong?“

„Those people… they are my former team…“ her voice trembleing with rage Ruzu pointed at group of four people, three man and one woman.

„You want to kill them?“

„Yes,“ she said coldly.

„As you are my slave I can’t let you kill them. That doesn’t mean I will help them either.“

Lulu who was walking ahead of us turned at Ruzu and said: „If these people hurt Miss Ruzu, then I will help you anyway I can!“

„Yeah, Lulu have a point… If you want our help, just ask for it.“

„Master, miss Lulu, thank you…“

We desdended by long staircase into the heart of the labyrinth. The area one was cleaned from monsters and dungeon army was stationed here as well. From here three doors were leading to three different rooms.

I saw a bulletin board where shops from above had written what kind of items they were buying. We ignored it, becouse our only goal here were cores, leveling up and training. And I wanted some skills as well.

We went deeper and deeper. Our walking order was rather simple. Ruzu was in back with Kiira before her. I was alongside Lulu leading the group and Tifaana was in front.

We ecountered maze moth first. Sadly, it’s skill were paralyze spore and sleep spore. Those two skills were already in my possesion.

I took bow from my Item box and single arrow. I don’t need to say that it fell after one shot. Moths are extreemly weak against light atribute weapons, such as the arrow was. Sadly it’s enchant wear off with that shot.

„Maze moths are most common here. They are hard to kill and their cores are smaller compared to other monsters in this area. Also their drop…“ Lulu explained readily.

With a pompf moth turned into black particles which dissapeared into the ground. What was lying before me was a ball of glass and core.

„Ball of glass? No… “ I used my skill King of Wisdom to open world dictionary and searched for this item.

„It’s [Magic glass], maybe we would be able to use is while mixing it with something else… I will ask brother Noel if he knows something.“

Tfaana, who was, quite literally, sniffing our next prey gave us signal and we continued behind her through the rooms eight and nine until we entered room ten. Here was the start of water filled rooms. The next rooms, 11 and 12 were making a one big lake. This was our curent hunting ground.

„Now this,“ Lulu took a huge ball of meat out of her bag, which until now was resting in my item box.

With one strong humpff from Lulu, the ball flew into the water.

„Now get ready! The toads will be coming soon!“ Lulu said and we got into position.

Soon after that several giant toads jumped out of the water. I quickly used lighting magic to paralyze and immobilize them and let Kiira, Tifaana and Lulu to deal the finishing blows. The toads didn’t have any interesting skills and their levels were around twenty or bellow. We were continuing to hunt them as they were coming at us. From time to time Ruzu and I switched with Kiira and Lulu who didn’t have stamina recovery skills. Thanks to this after few hours we were all above level 40.

Kiira and Lulu were both level 43. Tifaana was 45 and Ruzu with me made it to level 49. Here I found out something interesting. I couldn’t level up anymore. Ruzu later explained that those who level up to level 50 have to go to church to get additional baptism. It seems like it’s called Warrior’s blessing and not so many people reach it in their life times.

As we were collecting skewers and magic cores after the bait run out of functioning I heard some scream thanks to my [Keen hearing] skill. I used long sight to learn about the situation.

And what did I find? Former party members of Ruzu had problems with some kind of giant water measurer. I pardoned myself with need to go to toilet and transfered away.

I arrived right behind the monster. Just when I arrived, the shield user got pierced stright through his chest. Damn it, I wanted his skill! The [Absolute defence] is gone!

I shook my head and headed to the two remaining members of the party. The mage girl and spear using guy. Seems like the scout either run away or died.

I slashed at the monster and touched it. With that I got it’s skills: [Water walking] and [Water manipulation].

With my knowledge from my previous world I was able to stop the two in their tracks by controling the water in their bodies.

„Wh-what’s happening?!“ the girl screamed.

„Damn it! Everything went to shit after we sold Ruzu! We should have sold you instead!“ the spear user shouted.

„Should you really shout like that with monster behind you?“ I said calmly as I forced them to turn around. Luckily all this made my new Water manipulation skill level up really quickly.

„What is this brat?!“ the spear guy shouted angrily.

„You boy! Would you like to take a bite of me? Hm? I’m still preaty young you know?“ the magician girl tried to seduce me.

„I don’t feel like getting some disease, really. And if I really wanted to do it with someone I would pick my girls before you. I see you both have some seriously worrisome titles: Whore, rapist, arsonist, traitors and murderers… you really know what to do to piss me off.“

„Let us go brat and I will not kill you!“ the spear guy shouted.

„You still dont understand huh?“ I turned my gaze towards the water mesuarer which was flailing in the water near us. I activated my petrification gaze and turned its lower half into stone.

„Th-that’s imposible! Turn stone is high leveled earth atribute spell! There’s no way a kid like this can use it!“

„You are indeed correct. My earth magic is only level four and I can’t cast that spell. However, I can use skills.“

„N-no… don’t tell me… that it was petrification gaze…“

„You are really smart for arsonist! So let me tell you why I didn’t kill you yet. I want your skills. Simple right? Now, I will take your spearmanship and quick feet skills and for the magician girl… well spell weaver looks nice.“

„Like hell you can take my unique skill!“ the facade of the girl broke down like card house.

I slowly walked towards them and touched her head. In that moment I stole her unique skill.

„N-no way… how did–“ the girl stared at me in disbelief.

„My unique skill is called King of greed. I can steal all skills and use them as if they were my own. If you don’t mind, I will be taking the rest of your skills now. Who would have thought that I will meet a real time void and metal magic user. Not like it really matters now.“

I took her skills and moved to the spear using guy. After I was finished with them I took their spear, staff and her pointed hat. As I put it on my head I give them one final look.

„All your resistence is now futile. I will pass judgement on you. But to be honest I really just taking my anger on you for what you did to Ruzu. I wish you better luck in your next lives.“

Their eyes went wide as I said those words and after that they turned into stone. I turned my head other way and took bow out of my item box.

„You’re not getting away you peeping tom.“

I released my arrow and in the distance I could hear it landed right in my target. The scout.

„I can’t really let my skill be known yet.“

I took out my coal badge from item box and fasten it to my left arm. The function of these badges is that they record kills in the dungeon.

With all that done I charched my mithril sword with space magic and slashed at the water measurer. When it died, a magic core of size of soccer ball fell to water. I quickly grabed it and when I wanted to get my spoils I realised that a chest was standing on a lilypad nearby.

I opened it and find some interesting items. First was sack full of glass pearls like those from moths, after that came two hair ornaments, one blue and one red. After that I found mithril long sword, which was too big for me right now and magic item called Well bag. Apparently it can produce one hundread liters of water per day. Talk about handy! I place everything inside my item box.

Now I was ready to go back, leaving the two statues behind. I realised that I am still wearing the pointed hat so I put it into the item box as well.

„I’m back, how’s it looking here?“

„We are almost finished. Look here master!“ Kiira urged me.

What I saw were five sacks full of cores. Every sack had one hundread cores.

„Did we overhunt them?“ I asked.

„Not really, they will be back in less then two days. And we didn’t even econtered that water measurer boss here.“

„That’s a boss here?“

„Yes, it’s said that less people challange it the more drops it gives.“

So I just solo a Boss class monster? But it was just level 35!

After this we changed our hunting grounds to scection 10, which was on other side from place where I beat the members of Ruzu’s old party.

Here we found new monsters, which were called Fake lily’s. Their upper body looked like lilypad and underneath was a fish like monster with fangs as sharp as sword I was using.

Aside from cores, it also dropped item called Lily mead. This Lily mead are spheares of delicate membranes holding mead. This mead is so high class that even nobles, which normaly doesn’t like monster origin food on their plates, look for it franticly. Given that every spheare is worth about half a litre it could be considered a rare item. The guarantee of drops aside from cores is about 50% at the very least for most of the monsters in this dungeon. As for toads the chance is 88%, but Fake Lily’s chance is only 15%.

Still we were able to collect fifty spheares, which means twenty five litres (6,6 gallons).

„I would say we should head up, what do you think?“ I said while we had a little break and eating skewers.

„Yeah, we were here for at least six hours anyway, we have to get home before people will start worrying,“ Ruzu added and everyone nodded. Tifaana wanted to hunt little more, so I had to promise her that we can return here any time, after all I have transfer.

„Then everyone come here and I will transfer us to room near the exit.“

One transfer later we went through doors which lead to first room.

„Over there guild master! They just came out!“ receptionist shouted as soon as she saw us.

Large framed man with silverish white hair and mustache came before us.

„You’re Leo Netrose and his group?“

„Yes. Can we help you?“

„Your badge shot a signal so abnormal it set the entire guild into state of panic. Just what kind of monster did you killed?“

„Toads, Fake Lilys and some overgrown insect.“

„I see. You will go with me to my office. Now.“

The tone of his voice was not that of a questioning. This was order that wasn’t good idea to not listen to.

We entered the office and I got a feeling like I walked into fathers room in our mansion.

„Looks like Flik’s doesn’t it?“ Guildmaster said.

„You know my father?“

„Of course, he’s my son.“

„You’re fathers father?!“

„Didn’t he tell you? After I quit the army I became advisor of explorers and I personally nutried a group of Adamantite blue ranked explorers. After that one thing lead to another and I became guildmaster here.“

„I’m sorry, I’m still processing you being my grandfather…“

„Hah! No need to be so polite with me kid! I know good well how Flik can be hard to deal with sometimes so I’m not suprised that he didn’t tell you about me! That being said, seems like my boy needs some practice swings again…“ grandpa added darkly.

„So why did you call us… grandpa.“

„I like that sound… well, we got signal from your badge that you defeated some crazy strong monster on your own. Show me the core.“

„Here you have it,“ I handled the core from my Item box to grandpa.

„… Leo, just what kind of monster are you? This is… Water measurer core. Room boss which took five squadrons of elite knights two weeks to defeat.“

„But it was just level 35! How could it took them so long?“

„L-leo, tell me how did you defeated it.“

„Well, this thing attacked me when I was doing… ehm that, so I used my transfer spell to get in it’s blind spot and used some dimensional slashes to chop off it’s legs. Just like that. But it did look like someone attack it before, it had really nasty wounds on it’s legs.“

„Don’t ‚Just like that!‘ me!! You know how many spells are known to Space magic? Three! And not even one is combat releated!“

„But it’s so practical…“

Grandpa fell back on his sofa with facepalm. In that moment Ruzu spoke:

„Guildmaster, sir. As former bronze ranked adventurer I can assure you that your grandson is out of reach for normal magicians. Most of the time, instead of learning new spells, he creates them. The Sword magic you’ve heard your son, Lord Flik, is teaching new recruits is devised from Lord Leo’s fighting style.“

Grandpa’s eyes went wide as Ruzu started boasting about me with her chest held high, which was sight for sore eyes. In that moment Kiira jabbed me from one side and Lulu from the other side. I mean, they jiggle like in anime!

„Leo, how many spells did you devise?“

„Well, there’s Dimension cut, Garage, Flame net, Electro net, Ice prison shot, Transform object, Machinegun shot…“ as I was continuing naming spell after spell, grandpa’s eyes widened more and more.

„And finally my last spell, Phoenix armor. Most of them are still in development stage, but I think that I will get better after today.“

After all the Spell weaver allows me to create my own original spells with minimal effort.

„I… I can’t take it… this kid is crazy… well you’re your mother’s son for sure.“

„So about this core… will you take it?“

„Yeah… wait. You said you were hunting Toads and Fake lilys right? How many cores did you got from them?“ grandpa asked and light returned to his eyes.

„Yeah, I forgot about that… here,“ I took everything out of the Item box. „Five hundread toad’s magic cores, one hundread Fake lily’s magic cores and one Maze moth’s.“

„RINANA! COME HERE!“ Grandpa shouted.

„Guildmaster! Did you– WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!“ Tigerfolk secretary went wide eyed the moment she saw cores before us.

„Rinana… prepare new badges for these guys.White or goblin green seems low for them so prepare Blood red ASAP.“

„Understood. I will see to it right away. Sir Leo, Miss Lulu I would like to take your badge numbers if you don’t mind.“

„Sure here,“ we all handed her our badges and she wrote down our numbers. My number was 121 300.

„Thank you very much. I will send someone for your cores to get handled.“

„One more thing. After the new badges are created, bring them with the reward for cores to me. I will pass it on these youngsters in capital after the new years audience.“

„Understood sir,“ with slight bow the secretary left.

After hanging out with grandpa for two hours we got ready for our way home. It was about hour before dusk so I used Transfer to get us back to our mansion and called carriage to take Lulu home.