4 - Adventuring?

(A quick note before I start I enjoy Narberal, so she will be joining Nari and Veri I still intend even after all this time to have them follow the main story roughly as many of the suggestions Demiurge says I would personally agree with but with major changes based on Veri and Nari's individual choices)

Veri, Nari, and Narberal stand inside the town of E-Rantel surveying their surroundings in disguise. Nari Looks incredibly bored as Veri mulls over something before sighing deeply. He kicks a rock just a bit too hard, rocketing it into an incredibly unfortunate bird who was perched on a signpost for the guild they stood across from.

"Is something the matter, Lord..." Narberal stops mid-sentence as her throat refuses to continue to work as Veri stares her down with his orange eyes.

"Nabe, must I remind you time and time again not to call me Lord? I am Victor she's Valerie and you are Nabe understand? I'm already annoyed the registration for the adventuring guild took what felt like six months!" Victor shouted in his native accent drawing attention, he simply coughs and looks away from the prying eyes.

"Now, now, my love..." Valerie is stopped mid-sentence as her throat refuses to function while Victor stares her down with his orange eyes. She then blushes with a lustful look.

"Dearest sister... Keep in mind we are siblings and not your fetishized version, keep yourself in check so that we don't draw any additional attention." Victor said with a sigh before walking down the street as the two quickly followed behind.

"I saw an inn or at least what I assume to be one just down the street it's already far too late in the day to accept any requests that lady at the counter spoke of, so let's rest... Oh no, I just realized none of us sleep, we have a boring night ahead of ourselves. I wish I would have stocked up on useless board games like Luci now..."

"We can spend the night being active with Nar... Ahem, Nabe if she so desires right lo... Dearest brother?" Valerie also said with her native accent, adding to Victor's newfound stress. Nabe blushed furiously as they continued to walk.

After a minute of silence, they finally come across the inn Victor had mentioned before they enter and look around spotting a red-headed woman looking incredibly pleased with what looked to be an MP-potion. And a group of three adventures, one resembling a cue ball. Victor's group approaches the counter.

A hand is placed on Victor's left shoulder, stopping him, he turns to see a man with a brown beard looking at Nabe and Valerie lustfully.

"You got some lovely women with you, would you lend them to me and my group for the night? We are iron plates, after all, you copper plates should do as we say." The man said irking Victor, Valerie, and Nabe all at the same time.

"If you don't remove your hand from my shoulder, I will remove it for you."

"Now, don't be like that…" The man is stopped as Victor lifts him by the throat, throwing him into the group he had mentioned, knocking them to the floor.

'I think these humans are almost activating my blood frenzy... I almost ripped his throat open right then and there.' Victor thought to himself, taking a calming breath.

They finally reach the counter unhindered, Victor leans on it, looking a bit out of it. He looks far paler than he did when he was outside.

"I'm sorry for them, they're far more stupid when they drink, which isn't saying much I suppose. Are you feeling well, mister?" The muscular, greyed man asked as he cleaned a cup at the counter.

"Just tired, we had a rather long journey and to top it off the massive delay at the guild. Oh, and some fool who clearly didn't want his arm attached stopped me to harass my party members. How much for two nights? We only need two beds. Have to save money, you know?" Victor said, straightening himself out.

"It's usually seven copper per night, but I'll knock it down to five since you look like you really need the rest." The man said, Victor just nodded in response, placing twelve copper on the table. The innkeeper hands him a wooden plaque with a strange symbol on it to Victor.

The group heads upstairs and spots a door with the same symbol on it. They enter and Victor drops onto a bed. Valerie quickly pulls a talisman out of her inventory and places it on the door, the room flashes light purple for a moment.

"Are you okay, my love?" Valerie asked, moving to his side quickly.

"My racial debuff and class debuff are taking their toll I never knew this is what it really was like, I would have classed better if I did. I need to fight and be covered in blood to stop the class debuff, but the thought of being covered in blood is almost activating my blood frenzy." Victor said, pulling a bottle from his inventory containing a thick red liquid. He looks at it apprehensively before opening it and downing the contents.

I wish I could give my class buff to you, being calm is boring, and it would help you far more than it would help me." Valerie said, patting Victor's back as he lay on his stomach

"To think my Lords have to be in such a dingy and unfitting room." Nabe said, looking around in disgust.

"Victor and I have been in much worse rooms in our world. But onto more important matters... Now, I have to ask this because of the rules my love put into place. But would you like to sleep with me and Victor we won't force you to do so you may say no if you so desire, understand?" Valerie looked Nabe up and down.

"I-It would be an honor, Lady Nari." Nabe said, not thinking twice about what she had called Valerie.

"That sounds like a bit of a gray area, dear... But, I think she actually wants to so have at it, you two enjoy yourselves I'm just going to rest I'm not really feeling it right now. Maybe later or in the future at some point... Sheesh, these debuffs really are a nightmare, they were just simple things in Yggdrasil." Victor said, moving over to his side facing the wall.

Valerie quickly removes her black and gray GI, tossing it to the ground, Nabe also follows suit with her casual outfit.

THE NIGHT PASSES WITH CONSTANT NOISE FROM NABE AND VALERIE

Victor stares out the window, thinking about something rather intensely.

"Is something the matter love?" Valerie said as she slipped her black and gray GI back on. Nabe just lays there, clearly out of it.

"I was able to tune everything out and just lay down, it was almost like I was sleeping but not really... I didn't feel bored, I just existed." Victor said, looking conflicted.

A gate opens up in their room, launching everyone into action. A man in a black tailcoat with black hair with a single red strand emerged from the gate. His eyes were catlike red and glowing.

"Vlad, what the hell are you doing here?" Victor asked, calming down.

"Goodness gracious, Narberal put on some clothes... I came to inform you that Kataclysm has escaped and wreaked havoc. Well, until Reave stopped her. Thankfully nobody was harmed, but Lucius's room is absolutely disastrous, Along with the door to your room it being right across the hall.." Vlad had said, glaring at Victor and Valerie. Nabe quickly puts on her clothing and is about to speak up against Vlad.

"Ohhhh... That stare, I'm so glad we programmed that into him, it's just doing it for me." Valerie said shivering. Vlad changes from a glare to a look of disappointment.

"Ugh, you two really shouldn't have made me aware of you and your world... But, I suppose I am real now and unfortunately loyal. Might I join you instead of cleaning the mess Kat has made? Despite me clearly being a basic vampire, I can be an incredibly convincing human, what do you say?" Vlad asked. Nabe looked at him in a confused manner after he said he was real now.

"No. Based on what I put into your backstory, you are likely to gain the trust of a family before killing them all just to see their reaction... Actually, I wrote that exact thing. While I am severely lacking in empathy, I think I'd rather have you doing whatever Demiurge or Albedo suggests." Victor said, much to Vlad's disdain he clicks his tongue.

A rather large wolflike black arm with sharp black claws reaches through the Gate grabbing Vlad by the tail-coat and yanking him into the gate it begins to slowly close

"I haven't personally seen Kat, but I think that was her... I might have to see if she wants to sleep with us." Victor said.

"You can do that all on your own, love... Not my flavor but I am curious about watching though to see if she has proper parts." Valerie said.

Clawed furred fingers wrap around the gate from the inside and begin to open it as tears appear around the gate. When it's large enough, a wolflike snout peeks out and sniffs the room before it peeks all the way in. It was a massive beast, her orange and red wolfish eyes scan the room before locking onto Victor. She had black and gray fur and her gaze was inspiring fear regardless of the limited emotions Victor could feel.

"Uh... I don't normally look like this, I'm bigger in all regards. Hello, Kat, Lucius had mentioned you before, but I've never seen you. I would love for us to have a talk next time I'm back in Nazarick I'm sure it will be an enjoyable conversation... So, I would like you to go back and wait until then." Victor said without a hint of the fear he was feeling.

"Fine... if you are not back within a week... I will be... Upset." Kat's voice was deep but still feminine as she retreated into the gate, which close much quicker than before now that a horrific wolf creature wasn't forcing it open somehow.

"I might be a little in over my head with her... Do you think everyone's creators would mind if we are sleeping with their creations?" Victor asked, the thought having not crossed his mind before.

"If they had their genitals and libido, they would one hundred percent indulge without a care in the world... I don't think Lucius would, he's never been too interested in sex as far as I could tell." Valerie said, sitting back down.

"I'm still extremely annoyed about that bogus adventurer's guild. I would personally kill and maybe torcher anybody who decided to call it that... Those requests were ridiculous escorting not the fun type, bodyguarding, monster slaying, and so many more. How is that adventuring?" Victor said annoyed.

"The monster slaying is kind of adventuring, but I get what you're saying love. Ugh, remember those temps we had to hire thanks to our shithead of a boss firing so many people. They were so much worse than everyone that was fired." Valerie said Nabe listens with interest as she sits on the edge of the bed.

"I would have just hired people, put them through training and then fire whoever was underperforming. That way you still have a workflow while preparing others to replace them." Victor said, looking to be in deep thought. Approaching the door, he removed the talisman and then put his finger up to his lips while looking back.

A SHORT WHILE LATER THEY ARE AT THE GUILD LOOKING AT THE JOBS ON THE BOARD

Valerie and Nabe stand by waiting for Victor to pick a quest, but he has to do it one at a time as he still can't read, only comprehend what is written.

"Having trouble picking a quest?" A soft man's voice said from the right, Victor turns to meet him face to face. The man had blond hair and blue eyes.

His group consisted of a shorter feminine magic caster who on a second glance looked to be a boy with medium-length brown hair with blue eyes, Another had medium-length blond hair with brown eyes he was eyeballing Nabe and Valerie, and finally another blond guy with long wavy hair and bushy beard his eyes were closed tight and there was a distinct smell of grass in the air.

'Sheesh, it's weird that this place has so many people who seem similar to other Europeans, but they all speak Japanese...' Victor thought to himself.

"Kind of hard to read when you're cursed... So yeah, kind of difficult. Oh! Right, my name is Victor, it's a pleasure to meet you." Victor said before chuckling with feigned awkwardness.

"I'm Peter Mauk do you actually mean you are cursed? Or was that a joke about not being able to make up your mind?" He asked curiously

"My group and I came across some rather suspicious books, and I stupidly decided... Hey, let's read one of them at least! And then we discovered we now can't read, even though we could before. I burnt the books thanks to me being easy to anger." Victor said, taking a breath after all the lying.

"He has a 'talent' that allows him to comprehend written and spoken languages. It's kinda weird with how it works, he can't quite describe it, but he just seems to know what is said or written. It only works one at a time, though." Valerie chimed in before Victor could continue.

'Wanted to join in on the lying, huh? Don't dig yourself too deep into a lie dear.' Victor thought, Valerie just nodded as if she knew what he was thinking.

'Yes! He's going to sleep with me today.' She thought. Victor however is now questioned if she understood what he really thought or not.

"If you're having trouble deciding on a quest, you could join us on one of ours if you want." Peter said.

"We had a rather annoying encounter with iron plates at the inn, so we'll pass until we know you all more personally... Speaking of which, what is the name of your compatriots?" Victor said, looking closely at the brown-haired one.

SKIPPING INTRODUCTIONS BECAUSE I'M LAZY AND YOU SHOULD REALLY KNOW WHO'S WHO, IF NOT, GO WATCH THE SHOW RIGHT NOW! OR READ THE MANGA THATS REALLY GOOD AND i PREFER HOW EVERYONE LOOKS IN IT.

'Ninya gives me the feeling he's lying about something, not to mention his voice... I don't want to jump to conclusions, but they might be trans-gendered or hiding their gender for some reason.' Victor thought.

"We should find a job while we can L... Uh, next week if we chat more we'll gladly take you up on your offer... Peter's offer, not Lukruts..." Valerie said, completely disregarding Lukrut's attempts to get hers and Nabe's attention.

"I can't wait for us all to work on a request together." Lukrut said getting closer to Nabe.

"You filthy worm, know your place, or I'll crush you." Nabe said, causing a bead of sweat to drop from Victor's forehead. Valerie, however, just looks turned on, making another bead of sweat drop from Victor's brow.

"Oh, that cold gaze is just perfect!" Lukrut said rather loudly, drawing the attention of those in the lobby of the guild.

"Lukrut! I am so sorry for my team member's attitude..." Peter said, looking exasperated.

"It... It's fine, I think he might have the same personality as my sister here... Please forgive Nabe as well, she has problems with her temper." Victor said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Right, what quests do you think would be worthwhile to rank up as fast as possible?"

"Ah, I'd say either turning in monster parts to the guild, which is what my group is going to be doing. Or any quest posted by popular shopkeepers, they will pay an additional amount sometimes. Depending on how well you do. They are also more likely to report to the guild about how well you did, so there's that too." Peter said, giving Victor much to thank about.

"Thank you truly. My group and especially myself will need to find a way to repay your kindness. When we do go out together, my group will just take fifteen percent as a thank you for your kindness." Victor said, leaving the room.

"Lord... Uhm, Victor, why are we leaving the guild?" Nabe asked.

"Well, we need to look for a shopkeeper and ask them if they need help with anything it would be additionally easy with mind control. Then we have them post it to the guild requesting us." Victor said before running into a woman with ginger hair.

"MY POTION!" She shouted. Victor quickly kneeled and grabbed it before it could hit the ground.

'Hmm, potions huh?' Victor thought.

"Please forgive me, I wasn't paying full attention, but I saved your MP potion." Victor said, returning it to the woman.

"I thought it was going to shatter... and this is a healing potion, not an MP potion!" She said, clearly irritated.

'That's an HP potion? Why on earth is it blue?'

"My name is Victor, may I get your name? And maybe a little about yourself too." Victor said, pouring on the charm, giving a masterful smile and making her blush. He then made eye contact.

'I was surprised he didn't hit on her at the inn... He's always had a special place for redheads.' Valerie thought to herself.

"I'm Brita I lead an adventuring group here in town... We normally handle patrolling the streets." She said her eyes somewhat glazed over. She snaps out of it without even realizing she was being controlled, to begin with.

"We must talk further, perhaps over lunch or dinner?" Victor asked.

'She's pretty cute, and she's an iron plate with her own group... While this might be a little messed up to use her for requests I won't do so for a date, that would be a little too much I'm not into mind-control like Peroronchino or hell even Nari.' Victor thought.

"Uh, yeah, let's get dinner, I know a great place!" Brita said ecstatically.

"Fantastic! Valerie, Nabe, I'll be gone for a while, I'll meet you back at the inn we have that room for another day." Victor said.

"We shouldn't leave your side." Nabe interjected, just to be shot down by a glance and a wink from Victor.