GAMBER - A Ceramics Kingdom Encounter

JONEL POV

Now, I'm going to escape before my companions wake up. We're currently on the stairs, but due to the urgency of my system, I need to leave to carry out my mission.

I can still hear the snores of the other members, and it hurts. Besides, those I can talk to - Elina, Anna, Layla, Carl, Mr. Cook, Ms. Cook, and Mr. Merchant - I don't have anyone else to talk to. Although they respond when spoken to, it's only with yes or no, this and that. They answer just like confirmations. It hurts my feelings.

Floor 25, typical, no smell, no changes in temperature. As I walk, I see ceramics. Fragments.

*[You've discovered Ceramics Kingdom]*

"What are these?"

Like children's toys but made of ceramics. Everything is made of ceramics - an entire city, the size of about four basketball fields, enclosed by walls almost my height, also made of ceramics, literally.

Why made of ceramics and not earth like in the dungeon?

"Even the floor is ceramics?"

As I approach the wall, I see a passage that looks like a gate.

"Uwahhhhh..." a girl's cry can be heard.

I get closer and it stop! 

"Hi , Mr. Human?"

"!?-"

At first, I thought she was part of the decorative magic items in the gate.

A girl, about the size of a doll, is sitting at the gate. NPC, this is one characteristic of a dungeon. You can see these in the guild - sometimes human-sized mice, sometimes dogs, with soap, and more.

NPCs have characteristics of receiving and responding; even in the game, they are like this.

But this is the first time I've seen a ceramics NPC.

"-Hello?"

The small creature's feet are noticeable. Broken, and you can see parts of her feet.

"Mr. Human, please don't go in there because there's a big monster. It's in front of the gate now; don't even think about going there; you'll just be in danger."

She waves her hand, signaling me not to go.

Are you okay? I feel sorry for this little one's situation.

"Do you want help?"

"No thanks; it's better to die honorably for the kingdom! Anyway, you won't help me; look at my feet, severed from the legs, look at the kingdom I belong to."

i turn around and look for the kingdom she talk about.

'it was already destroy, is she a soldier? but her cloth is dress, is she a maid?'

"I understand. In situations like this, when you lose your home, you lose courage - not because of material things but because of your attachment to the place and the relationships around you. But you need to be strong."

"If you're afraid of the world, you can live quietly, but if you're quiet, nothing will happen to you."

*[URGENT: Rescue the Princess]*

The notification system appears again, but because I'm compelled to help this poor creature.

I apply glue and tie a stick to her leg like a splint.

I use wood glue, the one I use to make crossbows and shields or wooden weapons. I didn't expect to use it here.

"What's that?"

"This is glue! It's used for various things."

"Various things? What are those?"

"Don't bother asking, but the effect on you will be good, for sure!"

*[URGENT: Rescue the Princess] [URGENT: Rescue the Princess] [URGENT: Rescue the Princess] [URGENT: Rescue the Princess] [URGENT: Rescue the Princess] [URGENT: Rescue the Princess]*

After applying the glue and placing wood for support of her legs, I've spammed the system. What's happening here!

When the small ceramics creature stands up.

"I need to go to the princess!"

This was the day of my true adventurer feels like a gamer comes out from shell for too long.

_______________________________________

JONEL POV

I'll cut to the chase and ask directly. Before it's too late, this needs to end.

"Why are you looking for her?"

"No specific reason, I just want her to make a contract with me!"

The doll fell silent. Wait, is she broken? Why isn't she moving?

"All right, fine, let's make a contract!"

what? what she mean?

"i'm the princess!"

"Oh? Wait, are you really the princess?"

i thought the princess was a human NPC or something.. like succubus... princess is hard literrally ceramics!

but?

Should I kneel? This is often seen in RPG games and shows, but usually, it's reserved for kings. Elegant kneeling and introduction.

"I am Princess Teensy Mug Porcelain, the princess of the Porcelain Kingdom. Currently, my kingdom is under attack by a monster designated to the 30th floor basement of this dungeon. It's called the 'Tarantula Queen Broodmother!' It's better to get to the floor's hidden portal; this floor is usually peaceful, but now that monster is running to climb. The dungeon has locked it here."

"What! Why did the dungeon lock it here?"

"Because anything can happen in the dungeon!"

"So, you want to sign a contract with me?"

Urgggg, her eyes are shining. Should I check her status?

[??-Princess of the ceramic kingdom]

what the freak, my appraisal is not working! is she a high level?

"Then contract with me."

I take out the contract scroll, [Friend and Help Contract - friends can help each other as long as one calls for help; party A has already given help, so friend B helps Friend A, one time].

I think this is better.

"What's with this contract! A pet contract would be an honor, human, but why do you mean, friend? Do you want to be friends with me?"

What the hell with this princess; if I get her as a pet, her kingdom will attack me... but her people is all dead? but i will be her friend.

"Yeah, why?"

"If you don't have a contract, then I will pull out our kingdom contract. This has been passed down through generations in my family," she said.

[Pet Contract - the contract cannot be canceled for the lifetime of the contractor; the contractor must provide essential things for the pet: protection, food, shelter, and walk outside with the pet; the contractor must give her privacy; the pet will have a one-time request to the contractor in exchange for her dedicated life to the contractor; the pet will get mana from the contractor; the pet will do anything the contractor asks for.]

this is a bargain, i think contract should both be get benefits.

"This is too good a contract; are you sure?"

"Yes, this kingdom is already dead... wahhhhhhhh"

She cry, but she can't. I get this feeling, looking at her like she has already lost hope to live, but living just to fulfill her people's wishes because they gave their lives to protect her.

"You can make a request!"

She can request me to kill it, the boss; now I have an item skill.

"My request is to… just escape here."

"Hmmmm… I see, then let's go and escape. But I have a comrade, so I'd better regroup with them."

As far as I know, the five guilds must be on the 20th floor if their pace continues.

Then I look for the skill shop; there was a skill.

[Inventory Skill - you can store anything with a 50-item limit, not exceeding 99 pieces per item. Price - 1 million pesos.]

The basics of the skill: if I work as a porter for something like an expedition, I can earn.

"I never thought to buy a skill, but this is necessary."

But then the price suddenly jumps to 3 million. What!

But the skill that attracts me!

[Total Mastery Encounter Skill – a skill that can't do it on its own, relying on others.*

(Passive Skill) A commanding strategy skill that will help allies and make better judgments in battle. The commander can see health, mana, and the status effects of their allies using 1% as a unit, forecasting 30 seconds ahead. In other words, the commander can grasp their allies' remaining MP with a 1% margin of error, know all remaining resources of both allies and enemies, and forecast battles 30 seconds ahead. The commander and the units can see the health of the monster or boss dungeon. The units can see their allies' health above every unit in the battle state.

(Active Skill) If the area is commanded, add to the buff area: 200% defense for attackers and 250% for attackers shot: basic or skill. Price – 3 million.]

The skill has been added to status.

A skill that reveals enemy health and allies' sta-

[Full health 4000 HP, full mana – 9000, normal – status]

"very cool very nice, this is like real a game! Nakikita ko ang buhay at mana!" (Cool! I can see their health and mana!)

As the princess heard this, she couldn't understand and only tilted her head.

"Status:"

My [Level 23]

"System! Status."

Status – Level 23 [52 level points.][monster points: 36,000] [RLM:"9,935,040.00 pesos!" ]

STR, - 7 (strength)

DEX, - 6 (flexibility)

CON – 5 (defense)

INT, - 3 (mana capacity)

WIS, - 3 (casting spell)

CHA – 18 (luck) 

Skill: INVENTORY 

 TOTAL MASTERY ENCOUNTERY 

Pet: Princess Teensy Mug Porcelain(level 85) - the princess of the porcelain kingdom

Title: Can't be received due to can't connect to the main server.

**Buffs:**

Beginner's buff 10% all-up stat. -2 years remaining.

Sage blessing 50% experience gain – permanent. 

**Passive system skills:**

- Can create rune marks using magic stone.

- Throwing a knife is second nature to items.

- Can navigate and sense danger in dungeons.

- Passive appraisal

"Let's go!"

As I said it to my new pet, the princess, I put her into the inventory, and with my new skill, I'm ecstatic.

[System: Let the pet use the item shop] 

Then I set her as auto-on for the system shop user.

[Defeat – the boss spider, reward: Newton skill, failed: the exit portal cannot be used]

Why the hell is the skill of price 100 thousand becoming my reward? now! 

"Systeeeeem! Why the hell can't the exit portal be used?"

["Master, don't be angry. The 'Tarantula Queen Broodmother' is nesting at the portal exit."]

"Okay, so on and so forth… we need to defeat it. I better talk to the team."

When I got back, they were still sleeping?

Looking at the time…

"What! I just saved a princess within one hour?"

i lay down and sleep too.

"I better talk to Carl and the group tomorrow." as i said those words, i got sleep as nice as my life now.

________________________________________________

JONEL POV

Morning arrived as I awoke.

[Mission success – the reward skill has been automatically added to your status.]

'I'm not thrilled about the skill, but anxiety builds about facing the boss monster.'

I addressed everyone. talk about i know not the pet i got.

i said i walk to floor 25 cause i cant sleep and got a intel to the ceramics peope but they are dead as my story, flawless truth but little lie.

"Do any of you know where the exit portal is?"

"Could it be in that secret room?"

"We can finally go home!"

"We should defeat the boss and head home! I'm exhausted!"

"Then everyone, let's head to the exit portal."

Really? Was it from the level 30 floor boss?

"Jonel, if we stay here for more than 4 days, we'll die. I don't know how you managed it, but good work!"

"Yeah, yeah!" everyone unite in this time.

Aware that the remaining food would last only one more day, with supplies nearly depleted, going through the normal route and taking the exit portal seemed impractical now.

"OK, as I prepare everything."

I transferred everything from the bag to the inventory and sorted it by the date added. Yes, I'm done.

Does the princess need food? Perhaps she gets hungry. it was part of the contract, right?

I took her out.

"Are you hungry? Yes, I want to eat clay or aluminum."

"Yes, I have clay!" This clay is from the craftsman I know from my time as a porter.

"Then water too!" "Oh, here!"

She softened the clay with water and ate it directly.

"Can you move to the inventory?"

"Yes, it was so spacious!" as she adorable, and exagerate her world like it was her own place now. well, it was exclusive for her.

"OK, I will put clay in your area and water. I may not take you out for a few hours."

she stick to me like a toddler before I placed her in the inventory. she was cute. 

"why, do i feel i got a daughter? and I thought she only consumed mana and didn't eat physically, she can digest? i don't think so but better to get and give her what she wants. better follow the contract."

___________________________________

A few hours before we raided the exit portal.

Are you okay, Jonel? Are you still organizing?

Anna came to my tent.

"No, I'm finished already."

"Okay, let's go and eat!"

Glancing at my status:

"System! Status."

Status – Level 23 [52 level points1.][monster points: 36,000] [RLM2:"9,935,040.00 pesos!" ]

STR, - 7 (strength) 3+

DEX, - 6 (flexibility) 4+

CON – 5 (defense) 5+

INT, - 3 (mana capacity) 12+

WIS, - 3 (casting spell) 12+

CHA – 18 (luck) 16+

I had fixed everything before heading to the boss fight. The new status is stable, and then I checked my items.

I taught my pet to use the shop and prohibited her from using it, except for essentials.

"My money will be emptied if the royal princess starts using it."