Strangers to

/Within the Hermes Familia/

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Hermes was trying to calm her nerves by playing a couple rounds of card games casually, but the stress from all of the happenings in the city was wearing into her psyche. There were so many people looking for jobs that there were even some very good adventurers who wanted to join her Familia. They were usually in the Level 4's and lower, Hermes thought that this was a blessing but in truth it was just a sham. The majority of the adventurers that Hermes and Asfi saw, were only specialized in battling, and although that was a very good resume for them, it wasn't going to help that the dungeon was a lot harder these days thanks to the work of that madman, Frank. Asfi Al Andromeda, the Captain of the Hermes Familia, herself was specialized in reconnaissance, and not battle mainly. And the fact that most of the very lucrative goods were stuck in the lower floors was not helping the economy of the city at all. The rarer materials such as the Jack Bird's golden egg, and even simpler things such as Goblin Fangs were even getting scarcer by the day. Many Familias had already been disbanded from the poverty, and even the passive Familias such as the Demeter Familia were getting less and less "connected" with Orario, finding trade in other places such as Rakia and even Telskyura! These were desperate times, and usually desperate times called for desperate measures, but unfortunately, Hermes was already in the red after gambling away a portion of the Familia's earnings.

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(RAAAAAHHH!!!! THIS IS BULLSHIT!!! HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET THAT CARD? YOU NEVER HAD A TELL!!) Hermes said as the man she shouted at simply shrugged at her words and collected his winnings. Her mood was getting progressively worse and the rest of the Familia were losing money as well. {At this rate, we won't even be able to survive in this city, the dungeon was too important in keeping this city stable.} she thought as she then ordered another shot of whisky from the bartender. (You've lost again haven't you Hermes-sama?) said the bartender. Hermes simply shook her golden hair and threw the contents to the back of her head and put down the shot glass. (This city is going to the shitter, I might as well have my Familia pack up and start to take up map ruin hobs.) she says as the bartender then nods at her words as he wipes down the glass that she used. (Well I'd be careful in that department Hermes-sama, the numbers of deaths in those jobs are large enough as the are.) Hermes heard his words and nodded as she took out a couple coins and gently threw them onto the bar top. (Consider the extra a tip.) she says as she disappears from sight. The bartender sighed as he opened up a drawer and stored the coins in it, then proceeded to go serve another customer.

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/With Asfi/

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Asfi was doing the same duty as she had been doing for the last couple years, paperwork. But this time, she wasn't just worried for her goddess, no, she was worried for the future of the Familia in its entirety. Everybody in the Familia, excluding Asfi and the younger members, were gambling addicts. Whether they picked up the vice or if they had it ever since, a large majority of the Familia waste their profits in gambling and it was a problem that was starting to show its true effects. Ever since the dungeon had a new monster that was classified as that only Level 6 and above could possibly survive them, this brought the morale of any adventurer to a whole new low since it meant that they would most likely perish if they ever met one, and the added information that they were numbering in the hundreds put out any ideas that the dungeon was a money pit, instead, people saw it as a dangerous death pit that would kill anyone who ever had the courage to go down there. Asfi sighed yet again as she tried to think of a new way to fix their Familia's situation when her goddess had returned from her gamble. (H-Hey Asfi-chan.) Hermes said as Asfi took a look in her goddess eyes and sighed at what she expected to happen. (You've lost the money haven't you?) she asked as the blonde goddess chuckled nervously as a single sweat drop went down her forehead and straight to her shirt. {I'm so in trouble.} thought the goddess as she was berated by her familia captain coldly.

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/Back to Frank/

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{Okay then, I fist thought that this woman was crazy, but holy shit she's a beast.} thought Frank as his Tap disguise had a penitent look on its face. (And you willingly put yourself in danger?! What you'd you goddess think of you doing this to her behind her back?) she said as she had made "Tap" kneel on the floor. (Miss Tulle, I told her what I did and she shouted at me, but then forgave me.) "Tap" said as Eina then looked at him as she made her eyeglasses glint with light as she asked yet again (And why didn't you tell me of this fact?) "Tap" then made a confused face as he replied (Because you were busy punishing me for something that my goddess had forgiven me for.) Eina heard his reply and looked away as she allowed "Tap" to stand up. (*sigh* Listen Tap-chan, you really shouldn't be going to the dungeon nowadays, that crazy man would have you turned into mincemeat if he got a hold of you!) she said with blatant concern strongly showing in her voice. (I'd never forgive myself if I lost another adventurer who great prospects such as you.) she said as melancholy filled her eyes. "Tap" sensing the mood brightened it by asking innocently (Miss Tulle, why are you still single? I mean you're very pretty but I don't see you with anyone, why's that so?) Eina heard what he said and was shocked at first but started to chuckle since she already noticed what he was trying to do, and strangely enough it worked. (It's because nobody had caught my eye Tap-chan, plus I severely doubt that anyone would have the guts to date me!) she says with pride as "Tap's" eyes looked straight at her and said to her (That sounds like you're lying to yourself Miss Tulle.) Eina then got fisheyed as she went into a standing fetal position, and started to draw circles on the floor.

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(It really is, isn't it?) she said in a deadly tone as "Tap" nodded to her words and then decided that he would leave. (I'll see you next time when I need to have my Status posted throughout the city Miss Tulle, until then!) he said as he waved her goodbye and went off to do something else. {What a nice man, it really is a shame that he looks like a grown man when he's still 15.} she thought as she sighed and got ready to do other things in the Guild, namely, refiling the documents about the monsters that live in the dungeon.

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/Back to Frank/

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[Well that hurt my pride by a lot, I know! since everyone is so depressed about the fact that I'm probably going to end up destroying the economy of this city, I'll just make SCP-3199 my personal guard! Now that's a very good idea! Good job Frank, you're getting smarter and smarter every day, but not wiser!} Frank thought to himself as he walked along the streets and found another good spot to return to the 100th Floor to, in which the good spot was another alleyway. The white light had come and he was taken back to the familiarity of the 1ooth Floor room, which looked a lot more cleaner than usual. {Huh, must be Haruhime. Wait a minute, did the old man forget to connect with the Loki Familia for her to be put under the tutelage of Riveria? Ah fuck nuggets. Oh well, if I can't have a very old elf do it then I'll just go ask the goddess of magic that lives here in this city, and I'll probably make her do it.} Frank thought as a very certain nerdy goddess was studying in her private library when all of a sudden a very certain goddess felt as if there was something wrong that was going to happen, she took a couple looks around her library and even went so far as to use the minuscule amount of her divinity to locate if any scrying magic was being used on her. Seeing nothing wrong happen, she continues her study into a strange book.

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{Well then, time to check up on the two of them, hopefully that bitchy one isn't trying to pull something again.} Frank thought as he saw that his tuxedo was cleaned, he then grabbed it quickly and turned it back into its card form, then equipped it to get to feel the greatness of it. (Oh how much I've missed you!) he says to himself as he then admired the craftmanship of the being that the system purchased it from. (Franku-san?) said a feminine voice as they walked over to where he was at. (Oh hey there Haruhi-) he said as he saw what Haruhime was wearing, a maid's outfit that was very, very risqué in certain areas {HOLY SHIIIIIIIIIII} he thought as he used his [Full Control] to stop his hormones from going crazy at the sight. (Haruhime?) he said in an inquisitive manner. (Y-Yes Franku-san!) she said with pep. He sighed at her actions and the fact that she seemed to be willing (You already know that I'm not looking for anyone right? You really don't need to throw your pride away, confide in me that I'm not going to take advantage of you, and confide that I won't do it unless I really am interested in you.) he said as Haruhime's ears went down and her tail also stopped wagging. {Seriously, at this rate the machinations of the Chaos Gods will corrupt me and I'm probably gonna do something.} he thought to himself semi-seriously as he walked over and pet her head. (Listen up Haruhime, I may be shorter than you, but I've seen some very dark things, you're just like a lotus, you've yet to truly blossom and see the world for how it is. It was a miracle that you kept your virginity while in that bitch's Familia. You don't need a hero, you need to be your own hero.) he said as Haruhime looked up at him and blushed.