70 CHAPTER 70(Late Night Conversations)

Please read the author's notes. (Examples and explanation of moves and appearance+ Monster Sources)

Discord: https://discord.gg/K7f8qGpvuk

pat.treon:/Keanu_Eugene

CHAPTER START---

"Ugh, WHAT!" Yang snaps at the person standing above him, Welf who woke him up with a kick, wrapped tightly in two blankets as he shivers, his breath visible in the freezing air.

"Dude, you're freezing the tent..." he struggles to say through chattering teeth.

"Huh," Looking around through his sleepy, and somewhat hungover eyes, Yang could see his waterskin in the corner frozen solid, with a thought he warms up the tent to a comfortable sleeping temperature before looking back at Welf, "what happened?"

"I, I think your magic and alcohol don't mix man, almost froze my nuts off, though it was some ice monster attacking us but it's just our tent, jeez..." He groans, trying to rub his chest to warm up.

"Sorry, I-I never really drank before Orario," Yang says in a quiet voice.

"It's fine, just take it easy on the booze from now on, your magic is way too strong for you to be using it in your sleep, I'm just glad I didn't wake up to blue flames everywhere," Welf jokes as he crawls back into his sleeping bag.

"Hahaha yeah, would that even work on you though, don't you have fire too?" Yang questions as they both lay awake, staring at the ceiling of the tent.

"Waddya mean?"

"Back with the Gorgon, when you slashed it your blade got flames on it, red flames so not mine..."

The observation hangs in the air for a bit, before Welf's mouth curls into a deep frown.

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that a lot. When I hit level 3 I got some skills I haven't used yet, well, until then. Crozzo blood skills, fire affinity so anything I do with fire is better, fire resistance, and one unique development ability, flame strikes. Sometimes a non-elemental attack can become imbued with fire, that's the first time it ever activated." He says in a grim tone, not noticing Yang watching him with a side-eye.

"You really hate your blood that much?" Yang asks, a hint of genuine concern in his voice.

"It-I've seen the damage it can do, it's not something that should exist, nobody should be able to hand out weapons that powerful, I can't even look any elves in the eyes to this day because of what my creations have done..." His voice shrinks into a small whisper.

After a silent minute, Yang finally decided to try something he rarely does, be inspirational.

"Then don't hand them out."

"Huh?" Welf questions, sitting up, confused, "I still half expected you to ask for one honestly, but you---"

"I never said don't make it, just don't give it to anyone, keep it for yourself and you alone. You know better than most what it can do right, so you know better than most how to use it, when to use it. Trust yourself to use it, there are no evil weapons just evil people and you don't seem evil to me," Yang says, covering his head with his blanket and closing his eyes, signaling an end to their little discussion.

Sitting in the tent as Yang falls asleep, Welf stared down at his hands, hands that forged weapons that ruined entire nations, destroyed elven forests, and set his name in infamy for as long as their species exist.

'Thalie is always giving her all when we need her, and Yang does all this,'

He takes a moment to look around, everything from the tent to the luggage within and even dozens of potions, all carried by Yang, he acts as their vanguard, support, and artillery mage.

'What the hell am I even doing if I'm not giving my all too, I can't outfight someone like Thalie, and my magic isn't as absurd as his, but I'm our smith. I can support us in my own way!'

With his resolve strengthened, Welf decided on his path forward, giving his very best no matter what, for the dreams, no, the goals of him and his teammates.

---Meanwhile, in Thalie's tent...

Sitting with legs crossed both Thalie and Tsubaki huddled around the message ring as Hephaestus spoke.

"That's pretty much it, I just need both of you to trust me on this, that clear?" the goddess said, her voice leaving no room for debate, oddly strict from the normally laid back goddess.

"Yeah, still kinda hard to believe tho, but the more I think about it the more it makes sense," Thalie says.

"Honestly, I haven't spent much time with him so I never would have noticed, but what about the guild?" Tsubaki adds.

"I'll deal with Royman, if I throw my weight around nobody in this city is dumb enough to get in the way, as much as I hate politics." Hephaestus groans through the message ring.

"Alright, a runner team can be sent up in maybe a week, we're gonna be down here a month and our supplies are currently full, can't really make an excuse till maybe a week," Tsubaki says.

"Don't bother, this isn't Freya familia business so I'll hire a class 1 adventurer to come pick it up, we can't afford to waste time when this information can save lives, have it ready in 12 hours," Hephaestus orders both women.

"Speaking of Freya familia, didn't you tell everyone not to come around Yang, I saw him talking pretty casually to Ottar, and Hedin was just staring at him every time he walked through the camp, anything I should look out for?" Thalie asks, causing both women in the conversation to become a bit alarmed.

"Hmm, Freya isn't this dumb, she won't try anything. Any idea what Ottar and Yang were talking about?" Hephaestus asks.

"He said something then ended it with 'Good look on your adventure, adventurer' I think."

"Ohhh, that explains that then, you don't have to worry. Yang isn't in danger, if anything Ottar is acting on his own right now." Hephaestus hypothesized.

"Ottar, Really?" Tsubaki questions, not sure how to take this news.

"It seems the king has found someone he thinks is actually worth being called an adventurer, that's rare, Ottar only respects those who constantly strive to surpass their limits and become better, unlike his goddess he's actually genuinely kind, unless she needs him to not be, please tell our resident blabbermouth not to insult Freya unless he wants to end up dead at least," Hephaestus explained.

"Yeah I'll remember to do that, ugh, I really don't like the idea of him talking to the captain of Freya familia, Yang tends to put his foot in his mouth..." Thalie groans out.

"One more thing, has Yang gotten into any altercations with other adventurers on the way down?" Hephaestus asks, intrigue in her voice.

"No, we haven't run into any adventurers, why?" Thalie asks.

"Hmm, that's strange, I have something for you to look into after this expedition, that's all for now, anything you ladies need to ask?" The goddess questioned.

"Hmm, nope I think that's it," Tsubaki says as Thalie confirms with a nod.

"Great, now... how's Welf been doing..." Hephaestus asks with a cheerful tune in her voice.

After half hour of allowing Hephaestus to indulge in hearing all about Welf's fights down to the safe zone, Tsubaki and Thalie lay awake atop a large futon.

"Why'd you even pack a tent if you're just gonna mooch off me?" Thalie asks in a bored tone.

"Mmmm, shhh. I'm not leaving, you got to pack this comfy futon and pillows plus a 6 person tent. This is bullshit." Tsubaki says, a bit annoyed.

"Hahaha, not my fault miracle boy is on my team, didn't even have to carry anything," Thalie adds with a smug tone.

"Yeah yeah rub it in, meanwhile your captain is in a 2 person tent on a sleeping bag. He really does have the best magic ever, lucky guy," she adds with no real heat.

"Well, wouldn't say lucky considering what he had to go through to get it..."

Thalie's words hang in the air for a bit, completely bringing down the mood, until Tsubaki speaks up.

"Yeah, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, can't believe he's been holding up this good, I might have lost it by now..." She admits with a deep sigh.

"Well, his desire to move forward is the only thing holding him together, I think the first time he stopped to really think about his situation was tonight, and he immediately started crying. If he stops moving forward, I don't think he'll ever be able to function again," Thalie says in a sad tone.

"Gods, poor kid, suffering by himself like that,"

"Hey... do you think Hephaestus made the right call?" Thalie questions, causing Tsubaki to lay on her side and look at the younger woman.

"Hmmm, well, the last time I thought she made a bad call was when some little thief tried to break into our vault," quickly reaching forward she envelops Thalie in a tight hug, pulling the woman into her ample chest, "And her decision back then gave me my little sister here hahaha,"

"Mmmm," the younger woman tries to speak while being pressed into Tsubaki's chest.

After a moment she releases Thalie, allowing her to breathe.

"Gods you're way to energetic this late at night," the purple-haired woman complained.

"All part of my charm sis, but yeah I trust Hephaestus, besides, that kid can do serious damage if anyone else got their hands on him, at least Hephaestus won't turn him on Orario or our friends," Tsubaki says while casually sneaking under Thalie's larger, warmer blanket. One of the perks of a larger carrying capacity.

"Sigh, fine just bring your stuff in here tomorrow, leave your tools by your workstation though, only living necessities in here got it," Thalie says, finally giving in and getting herself a roommate.

"You're the best lil sis," Tsubaki says, wrapping the girl in another bear hug as they try to get some sleep.

---The City Of Orario, Twilight Mano(Loki Familia Castle)...

"I thought you were supposed to be the nice one between us, don't you know what time it is Phae-tan," Loki complains as she sits wrapped in a short blue robe in her meeting room.

Finn stands beside her as Hephaestus and two level-3 smiths who company her stand against the wall.

"I know you need your beauty sleep but this is important, I need Bete," Hephaestus says rather abruptly.

This statement caused everyone in the room to look at her with unmasked curiosity.

"What's going on?" Loki asked, getting to the point, too tired to play games.

"I need a runner to get to the floor-39 safe zone and collect a package from Tsubaki, CONFIDENTIAL package. It happens to be high priority so I need the fastest available person,"

'If Hephaestus says its high priority...'

"Alright, Finn send for Bete immediately," Loki orders, in a few moments Finn writes some instructions and passes it to of the guards outside to give to Riveria, having a level 2 guard wake up a cranky level 5 Bete would be foolish after all.

"Thank you Loki," Hephaestus says, a warm smile on her face.

"Uh uh, being cute won't get you out of paying for this one, what do you think about the new monsters?" Loki asks.

Sensing the conversation becoming more serious, Hephaestus waves her hand, signaling her guards to exit the room to allow a more private conversation, guards that were mostly for walking the late-night streets, useless within Twilight Manor.

"What exactly do you mean Loki?" Hephaestus asks.

'Hmm, my Trickster's Intuition is acting up, she knows something?' Loki thinks as the familiar tingling at the back of her neck acts up.

"Monsters that burrow into the ground to ambush, monsters made of metal that turn people it breaths on to stone, that one cost me a pretty penny having Airmid use her magic and reverse that."

"Mhm, what's your point?" Hephaestus asks, trying to remain stoic.

"Expeditions are becoming impossible, even after we catalog all the new species they have.... abilities so to speak, that make traditional combat basically useless. Hell one of them almost drowned Riveria, stupid tendril of water forced itself into her nose and flooded her lungs." Loki complains with a deep scowl.

"Is she ok?" Hephaestus asks, genuine concern in her voice.

"She's fine now, but, between consumables and equipment even getting down to the lower safe zones is difficult, and reaching to floor 50 and further past it is unlikely without an overwhelming powerhouse like Ottar, OR..." Loki trails off, a Cheshire smile on her face.

"OR?" Hephaestus asks, truly confused.

"A specialized raid team, like someone with super versatile magic, some magic swords and a combat specialist, well, is that why you formed that little team of yours. Tione saw them entering the dungeon long after Tsubaki went in with Freya familia..." Loki asks, leaning forward almost falling off her chair.

"No, that's not my intention, I just needed to make sure that they don't go pushing their limits solo, Thalie is more of a babysitter for them really," Hephaestus admits with a small giggle.

"Well, either way, getting through the dungeon without regular repairs is impossible now, I'm putting in an order for as many second and first-tier smiths you have, Tsubaki included for our next big expedition. We'll have 2 months to get the valis for this, how's that been going Finn?" She asks, turning to the sleepy blonde.

"Well so far, a few hundred million available after the repairs and replacements needed from our last venture," he says while looking over some papers.

"Well, that's a start at least," Hephaestus says with a devious smile, sending a shiver down Loki and Finn's spines, they could already feel their wallets crying. "If that's all, I for one would like to get some sleep."

"Mmm, says the person who woke us up," Loki said, sticking her tongue out at Hephaestus, "Yeah that's all, Gareth will contact you with the details of what we need for the expedition," Loki adds as Hephaestus get up.

"Have a good night Loki, Finn," She gives each of them a nod before exiting the room.

A minute or so after they were sure Hephaestus was out of Twilight Manor, Finn turned to his goddess.

"Did you really mean that, Hephaestus forming the equivalent of a strike team?" he asks.

"It makes sense, from your reports on how strong he is, his fast leveling and high stats and his team leaving after the main expedition then not returning to the under resort even today, they're either dead or with the main expedition." Loki hypothesized.

"A level 3, a new level 4, and an experienced level 4. It's not impossible but it's definitely not easy, and that's before the new monster. I can't imagine what they'd have to face on the way there. With the new 36th floor acting as a sort of wall stopping progress and the unpredictable nature of the new species. If the 3 of them got past that then, they're certainly worth watching, at least one of them is."

"And I heard from Goibniu that Hephaestus made him her official expedition commander, that means she expects him to protect her familia and venture deep into the dungeon for specific materials. Apparently she only really told Goibniu to ask if he needed any specific items, unlike her, the other god of crafting doesn't have someone like Yang to delve past floor 30." Loki announces.

"Hmm, definitely worth watching, but I don't know if I want him too close to us, I've heard some nasty rumors about how..."

END CHAPTER---