Chapter 45 - Our First Adventure

It's still early in the morning, the sun hasn't fully risen yet.

I was waiting outside of the Tower, looking out at the doors to the entrance as adventures passed through. Most people started as early as they could to get a full day's work out of it.

After meeting with Kana yesterday I finally told her about Arga and our agreement. She was a little sceptical at first but she seemed to warm up to the idea once I showed her the equipment I was wearing.

Kana helped me fill out the form, which was way more detailed than I thought it would be… All kinds of clauses and terms might occur in these kinds of deals, so Kana said it was natural to have so many points in there.

It took around an hour to cover but once we finished I had it all signed and left it with ASH. They said Arga would be able to pick it up when she was ready and sign her part too. Knowing that my side of the agreement is done made things pretty light for me, like I could focus everything on today alone.

We're heading into the cavernous zone of the Tower, so I made sure to dress accordingly.

I held my hand over my wrist to adjust my vambrace, I made sure it was tightly fitted to my undershirt. A blue on white so to speak. I took one final look at the chest plate under my nose and grinned from ear to ear.

When I got home last night I couldn't help but admire it, it might have been impossible to take my eyes off of it. I was up far longer than I should have been, any other person would have thought I was insane if they had seen me.

"So cool…"

"Huh—what's so cool?"

A gleeful voice cut through the mist. It was Arga, fully dressed in her own gear and carrying her large two-handed sword on her back. She had a few new items attached to her belt and was carrying a sling bag over her shoulder.

"I still can't get over this armour, it's like I'm back to day one again."

"Always nice to hear the customer's praise!" Arga grinned.

She rubbed her finger just under her nose and winked.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, I had to get some last-minute items before we start. 'Ye ready?"

"All set."

-

The dark stone walls around us felt as if they were closing in. Each wide step we took was quickly interrupted by the short space around us.

"This area is too small—I can barely move!" Arga yelled out.

She was engaged in a fight, holding back a Shadow Prowler against the blunt end of her sword. We had entered one of the many tunnels past that first area and found a lone wolf running about.

Something like this should be no problem but there's barely any room to move around. Each time Arga swung her sword it would hit into the walls or nearly take off my head. I wasn't doing so hot either though…

Without any room to run it was as if I couldn't move at all.

It wasn't until we entered this tunnel did I realise how much I rely on my speed and agility. I seldom stand still in a fight.

I raised my hand to the feral wolf and prepared to launch my skill.

"I can't take the shot—I might hit Arga...ugh I need to do something though."

Frustration was building in my voice. It was difficult to near impossible to watch from the sides, especially when my teammate was being pinned back.

Realising my only option, my mouth curled into an excited grin. My hand raced to my lower back, under the blue cloak and pulled out the dark Chakram beneath it. I finally had the chance to use my new weapon.

Practically shaking with excitement I held back my arm. I threw it forward and the green glow encompassed my blade, sending it arching through the air and into the Prowler's neck.

After cutting through the skin, the Prowler fell back and Arga retreated away from it with three large backsteps.

She got herself back into focus with that small break and readied her sword. "Thanks!"

Arga straightened her sword horizontally ahead of her like a spear and charged at the beast. The tip of her sword cut into the monster's chest and forced it into the wall.

A large hole in its chest flowed with blood until it fell limp off of her sword. She pulled away and a notification followed its death.

"Phew…glad it's over. I hope the next area isn't as cramped as this place." Arga sighed as she put her sword back into the straps over her shoulder.

"Sounds good to me, it isn't any easier for me to fight in here either."

She walked over to the monster's corpse and pulled out the knife from her boot. Almost out of instinct she knelt over it and started marking where to cut.

"What are you doing?" I asked with my face slightly winced back.

"I'm taking out the drops, don't you usually do that after beating an enemy?" Arga looked back at me, surprised by my question.

That's right, this is how it's usually done. People without Arsenal have to do it by hand, they don't rely on the skill like I do.

We're in a contract so I should make things a little easier. If we do it this way, it'll take forever. Besides—I trust her. It might be a little soon to say so but I'll believe in my eyes the same way she does.

I don't think Arga is the envious type either.

"I have a better way if you'd like."

"Oh?" Arga stepped away and watched intently.

I took a deep breath in and then exhaled, my arm rose over the body and the black mist fell from my hand like water from a tap.

"Devour."

The two halves of the Shadow Prowler were taken in by the void and after three moments…gone.

The black mist was reduced to my palm where it swirled around. Four black claws and a yellow fang emerged from the mist in my hand.

"I knew it had to be something but I never guessed it was that!" Arga held her hand to the side of her head in surprise.

I placed the materials into a pouch at my waist and closed it tightly. I looked up at the wide-eyed Arga and grew nervous.

Now two people know…I didn't think I'd be so nervous about it.

"It even collected the monster drops for you too? Way too cool, you've been holding out on me!"

Arga's grin turned into a bright smile and my nerves were washed away under its infectious wave. She slapped my back with powerful swings, each one reducing me to a human drum beneath her palm.

I smiled back. "Yeah, it is."

"It's my unique skill, Arsenal. I can absorb a monster's corpse and turn them into skills, I only just recently learnt it could collect the drops though."

I don't mind sharing this with her, I trust her. I really do. Even so, I decided to keep the system and Uriel to myself. It's not like she's able to see it anyways. It might be good to save something just for myself.

"I've never heard of a skill like that…damn that's gonna make adventuring easier on us though." Arga's eyes grew larger as she suddenly realised something.

"Hey, you must like me then~ Showing me something as top-secret as a unique skill…I thought adventurers were secretive about those kinds of things!" She nudged her elbow against my chest plate, moving as close to me as she can. The space between us had long since vanished and this kind of playful banter only increased from that moment on.

"It's not a big deal—I just thought I could trust you since we're in a party!" My embarrassment was leaking out of my words.

Each time she shifted closer to me, the side of her chest would shake. She had been wearing armour, a chest plate in fact! The armour only covered across half of her chest though, allowing a small portion of her larger features to shine through…

Each playful poke from her elbow sent a ripple under her armour. My ears practically erupted from steam as I witnessed the sides of her breasts shake under the material hanging from her armour.

This angle is too much!! I thought as my face grew warmer.

I broke away from her playful nudges and walked ahead into the tunnel. I had to say something to bring things back to a playful energy or else I would pass out from embarrassment.

"It was just getting annoying doing all of this behind your back is all." I grinned back.

"You what?! When was this—I didn't even notice…"

"—?!"

I felt a presence approaching from ahead. Monsters, and a lot of them too.

Arga turned to where I was facing and readied her weapon, we were still in a tough place to fight so she looked worried.

"I think there's about four…maybe five."

"That many huh, we can't fight them here."

"There might be a way actually, it's a long shot though." I replied.

The growls grew louder as the pitter-patter of their paws raced closer from up ahead.

Arga was behind me while I stood at the front with one Chakram in hand and my free hand out.

If we're trapped between these narrow walls, then chances are…

"—they are too!"

I cast my free hand forward and yelled,

"ZEPHYR BURST!"

They were grouped together, running side by side, forming two waves.

First I would attack, stunning them with a pushback.

"Now drive it home, Arga!"

And our damage dealer finishes them off, all at once.

She raced past me, holding out her sword like a spear and stabbed through the enemies. Their powdery black bodies skewered at the end of her blade as she crashed it into the corner wall.

{150 Exp gained}

{200 Exp gained}

{200 Exp gained}

{350 Exp gained}

"My experience went down…it seems that fighting in a party limits the amount of Exp I'll get." I muttered under my breath.

Arga pulled out her blade and let the dead bodies fall in front of her. She wiped away the sweat on her forehead and glanced over her shoulder.

Looking back at me, she held out a thumbs up to give the all-clear.

"This is good, we're moving pretty fast through the floor. With this, I can go even higher." I continued to mutter.

"Devour~"