32 Advancing Forward

"Please!"

He said bowing low to me as begging. How did it become this… I know one way or another I will get involved with him sooner but still… sigh… I take my earlier statement; life is better to spend with monotony as watching season goes on idly.

Then again, I doubt being a Dragonborn I will be granted such luxury. To be honest, it's kinda baffling that my identity hasn't been expo- okay, I'll stop there… don't want to raise any other flag. Or am I just exaggerating things?

It was after I went to the guild to exchange some monster core leftover, still holding my desire to eat some superb meat I visited the local butcher, seeing the sun still half-way descending. Then fate rolled the dice, and I met this little white rabbit once more.

Crestfallen with dust bit his face. A little sad, I share the sentiment, for I just got scolded by Eina for visiting the guild with 'unsightly' condition, whatever that's mean. Look, I'm an adventurer it is my duty to get dirty; therefore it's not my fault if monster blood, gore, and smell stick to my armor who been inside there for days!

Alright I might ruin the floor slightly, and people gave me a stink-eye, but being the good and concerned citizen nevertheless, I proceed.

Back to the current matter, I contemplated the rabbit request.

He asked me to train him, obviously for that war-games which will be held a week from now on. Apollo Familia is at least mid-high tier Familia, with at least a few level 3 adventurers and dozens of level 1 and level 2 adventurers. In comparison, Hestia had only Bell and Artemis, who just joined amongst the rank of Orario, save maybe some volunteers and willing comrade.

It's not like I don't want to train him or something. The problem is… how can I train him? Magic is obviously a big no no. I might trust Bell's character and integrity but I don't trust the goddess of his, and that the little rabbit was too gullible, I doubt he could lie when facing some pressure.

Obviously, if I train him in magic, even if he tried to hide it, one way or another people will link him to me. But it will be another case if I train him physically, or if I could mentally since these qualities are hard to discern with naked eyes.

I realize we've been standing there for too long, as Bell stared awkwardly, his eyes wandered to every-side as waiting for an answer, fearing I may refuse. I might have an idea, as long as he consents.

His face soon lit brightly as I nodded, "Alright but one thing. No quitting, no half-assing, and no lollygagging. It will hurt, and you will come out alive, barely maybe."

"Anything!" The white rabbit answered eagerly as soon I ended my sentence. Desperate time called for desperate measure I guess.

I don't even know how to train people, all the skills I have are self-learned but at least it worth a try. If the rabbit fails, I guess I can bail him out from whatever Apollo planning as compensation for my poor teaching. But who knows.

"Good. Wait at the Babel rendezvous point for adventurer tomorrow at the earliest morning, so we can begin."

"Yes!"

He nodded, thanking me once again as we part-ways. There's no particular reason why I help him, other than thinking it was just another quest. Even I only got paid with some wheel of cheese or whatever loot I found in the dungeon for retrieving some lost item back in Skyrim.

I realized being a Dragonborn means underpaid job as no rewards are worth mentioning other than dungeon loot and the treasure chest. Even dark brotherhood's final quest was only enough to buy me an empty mansion in Solitude.

Enough with the thought, I finally got home. It was a two-story building, located just before the entrance to Daedalus Street.

I cast some spells to prevent spying and make sure there's no place was being bugged while I was gone. Call me paranoid, but it's better to be cautious.

The house was fairly silent, with the occasional muffled sound from the crowd outside as it illuminated by the dusk sunlight. There's a long counter with various cabinet behind it but still empty. There's a small opening leading to a small corridor that will lead to the kitchen area, as besides the corridor wall was the stairs to the second floor.

I planned to make the front as a shop of a sort, seeing, I seldom use the common alchemist and forging ingredients I have. At least it will give Ereshkigal some activity to do in her free time, improving her mixing and enchanting skills while having to keep the store.

Other than that, a door behind lead to mixing also enchanting room and safely locked behind a layer of protective spell and enchantment. A hidden trapdoor beneath leading to forging room, cold storage, boiler room, and hidden quick entrance to the city sewer system.

Other than that, there're a few essential amenities such as a toilet, bathroom, a master room, and a few guest rooms above. I planned the toilet to be installed with a Slime cleaning system since hygienically it will be cleaner, and we don't have to clean it so often.

I put off all of the armor pieces, leaving me only on long pants and suspender. I hummed as I walked upstairs, the atmosphere reminds me back home when the time was far more simpler.

The girl has neither a farm nor a house~

The girl has no gold, yes, no gold~

But, I'll never let her go, not for anything in the world~!

Holderi Juvi Juvi di HA HA HA~!

I opened the door, and there she was, basking in the sun afterglow as comfortably lied on the bed. Her eyes closed in tranquility. Fou, beside her, his ear twitched probably knowing it was me but didn't bother to wake up.

Truth to be told, I was afraid should she wake up, she would berate me again for the unplanned long absence after diving for days in the dungeon. I understand that she would be worried after that debacle with Molag.

Speaking about Molag, I tried to forget what he said –though my line of thought was interrupted as the goddess stirred to awake as I sat beside her.

"Welcome home, Dro'zah," She said with a tender smile, I didn't expect at all.

"You're not mad?" I said, still couldn't believe it. Was she still in the half-sleep state? Dreaming perhaps. Though seeing my conflicted expression which I forgot to hide, she only gets up, tugging aside the blanket and leaned her head on my shoulder.

"It's not you, fool. I do admit… I still feel distressed when you not coming back home for days. I chose to believe, as once you said. It gave me time to think when seeing your pained state after that fight and when you're not here…" Her voice was like melody, music to my ears even more so with the things she said.

Our relationship can be said as platonic to best, neither of us was dare enough to advance the line.

"I want to help, I want to be there… or so I thought. You're so strong, too strong, enough that I understand that you don't need me as much as I need you."

Is she confessing to me? All this time? I couldn't mull my head. I only listened, preferring to keep my thought for now.

Then she weakly chuckled, softly spoke to me, "I realize something, and trying to understand it. Then I came into a conclusion, conveniently."

"What would that be?" I asked.

"Would it be selfish of me that I said it's a secret?"

"Terribly, terribly so much, dear."

"Then I won't tell." She said, coyly smirking and letting a giggle.

Then we simply basked in the silence, with her humming to my sides, happily swayed her leg to the side. Before I knew it, Fou was already on her lap, curling his tail as comfortably trying to nap again.

"A gem is useless until someone found and appreciates it. Value is worthless to those who deemed it as rubbish no matter how glittering or beautiful it looks like. And a woman is simply far worth more than that. So hold your head high, a Khajiit don't simply pick a gem just to forsake it in the dust." I said, unknowingly blurted half of what's on my mind and simply gone with the flow.

Though inwardly, what was I saying?

She simply smiled as I felt her hand grasped, and tightly hold mine.

"I see. Then, I'm glad." She said with relief, face as lifted off a great burden. Did she just understand the thing I said?

However, she promptly let go again after that and stood up after moving Fou to the pillow, stretching her stiff body. Somehow my hand felt empty. Then, I realize she just wore simple sleepwear. Her hair golden hairs come undone. I can see her healthy thigh beneath the skirt and slim waistline supplemented with her sizeable also perfectly shaped butt cheek as her breast poked slightly to the soft fabric when she stretched.

It didn't help either, after all of the things she said… then something fell toward my head, dropping my treacherous line of thought. She chopped me with eyes closed, and smile that didn't reach her face.

"What're you thinking? Hurry up, and wash yourself. You stink." She said, even though she just tightly embraced me earlier, what a woman.

I grumbled, still easing the pain on my head as thinking how did she manage to incite me pain while monster attack barely hurt me at all.

"Yes, yes, as you wish, Mistress."

I got up and went to the bath to clean myself. Afterward, dinner was fairly lavish, considering I only ate some leftover and preserved food while fighting dozen of monsters.

She grilled the beef, accompanied along with some vegetables, tofu, bread, sausage, and roasted bean with simple seasonings. There are also a few varieties of soup and after-meal dessert. Though I must say her cooking had been improving since then.

It was fairly a quick affair, as we talk about my current plan to train Bell for the rest of the week. She only nodded, neither approvingly nor denying it, just hoping that I would stay safe.

Then there's the matter of her training. I gave her some pointer in some topic she couldn't understand, but in the end, we ended up half the night with me teaching her enchantment and we tidying up the store. Planning to open it when the war game between Apollo and Hestia ended, judging it as a good time.

Other than that, a few letter exchanges with Fels when I felt a presence outside as it turned out was his owl familiar. Mostly stuff regarding the supply for the Xenos I sent to him, and also about my reward for assisting Artemis destroying Antares.

I call him a favor to blur and hid my identity from the guild which he worked quickly right away after I requested it and also a few surveillance and the protective magic item he made. I left them in [Planar Gate] as of now, planning to study it and use it for the house and Ereshkigal security.

Before went to bed, I updated my status with Ereshkigal. Nothing groundbreaking other than the fact I leveled up and a slight twist which I don't know how to react to. It will raise other various problems, but I promptly ignored it, rather, favoring to sleep right away.

I slept like a log that night, none caring for what happening that evening. Ereshkigal claimed her spot beside mine after staying a bit late in the enchanting room. Running for days with Magicka and stamina potion tend to do that, but I have to wake up soon tomorrow early morning.

Sigh, business as usual then.

— [STATUS UPDATE] —

LVL 2

Strength: (S – 982) Defense: (S – 999) Utility: (A – 840) Agility: (A – 890) Magic: (S – 999)

< SKILLS >

[Dragonborn]

– NEW! – Divine Slayer (G) – Recognized for bravery to fight against divine being – Increased damage and resistance against divine beings.

[Arcane Sage]

– NEW! – Sub skill – Homunculi crafter (I) – The first step to the creation of artificial life – Provide a slight chance of success when designing new homunculi – Provide bonus in parameter stats for each created homunculus.

[Dungeon Cursed Child] – [AN: There's a slight patch in wording for this line of skill]

– Dungeon Bane (E –> D) – LVL UP! – Mob monster spawns with 1 level higher – Mob monster spawns in a higher variety of skill and parameter stats – NEW EFFECT!

– NEW! – Feeding Frenzy (H) – All monsters have increased damage correction against the skill holder.

– NEW! – MOAB (EX) – Monster Rex spawns with 1 level higher and spawns in unique variant – Monster Rex will always spawn regardless of dungeon cool down.

– Dragonborn Cometh (D –> C) – LVL UP! – Raise mob monster encounters and spawns rate in the dungeon.

– Call of the Keeper (EX) – Chance to spawn Floor Keeper increased for every 15 floors descended.