Rotten Treasure

Welf wasn't having a good day.

No, Sir, no.

He was already used to the alienation and jealousy from almost all the members of his Familia. Whenever they formed parties to raid the Dungeon he was never invited, he was always at the receiving end of scornful and disdainful gazes.

In time, he learned to ignore them, and just do his thing without minding other people and their opinions. It was like since he awaken the [Crozzo Blood], a curse started to follow him wherever he went.

When he was in Rakia his father and grandfather pressured him to forge magic swords to bring back the family to its former glory. He was valued just for that, and it came to a point where he was overwhelmed and couldn't continue, so he fled the country and come to Orario with the hope to make a name for himself, and not rely on his blood skill and family name.

In the beginning, he was on cloud nine when he joined the Hapheastus Familia, but soon the joy turned into disappointment and sadness.

Now, he was being ostracized for the same skill that Rakia and his family valued so much. He became the joke of the entire Familia. They didn't understand how he felt about magic swords and that if it were up to him he would never forge one ever again.

'Rotton Treasure' and 'Defective Crozzo' were just only two of the cruel names he was called behind his back. The whispers followed him wherever he went and it was exhausting, he just wanted to be a blacksmith.

People's jealousy sometimes could reach levels that made people act cruelly just because they weren't good enough.

Usually, he would be able to just let it slide, but even Hephaestus, his Goddess, was colder than usual. She wanted him to be comfortable enough in forging magic swords, but Welf was stubborn and never cave in, and that created some tension between the two of them. He could understand her point, well not really, but he wasn't willing to break his vow just to make her happy.

'I will never again forge magic swords.' There was an unyielding determination in his eyes and spirit.

Today was even worse as he fought even with Tsubaki, the captain of the Familia, and one of the very few that treated him like a comrade, showing respect for the forging skill he honed year after year since he was able to lift a hammer.

Lately, it seemed that he was more and more unwelcome in his own Familia, and it was really disheartening.

Welf just wanted to forge and belong.

The Hephaestus Familia was really making it hard for him, and he reached his limit.

"We all know that you were able to join the Familia just because you can forge magic swords. You're not talented, you were just lucky to be born with a good skill," a man in his late twenties told him with so much venom dripping from his words.

His other four companions nodded along with cruel smirks on their faces.

"The Crozzo, a family of fallen nobles. Take their skill from them and they wouldn't even be able to forge a kitchen knife," a woman with long brown hair and hazel eyes said.

"He's so useless that even his family didn't want him around," another mad with a black beard doubled down.

The party of adventurers busted out laughing.

Welf normally would let it slide, but today he saw red as he was overwhelmed with an explicable rage.

It seemed that he reached his breaking point.

He briskly walked to them and headbutted the bitch that made the last comment first. He hit him in the nose and smirked when he heard the distinct sound of breaking bones.

The man reached for his nose, blood was covering the lower part of his face, dyeing his black beard red. The others watched shocked, not expecting Welf to react. He didn't stop there as he took the opportunity the moment of distraction offered him.

He stomped his foot on the man's kneed, shattering it.

The man scream in pain as he fell to the ground holding his injured leg.

"What the hell?" the only woman let out, not understating that she was the next target.

Welf run to her and punched her throat, and as she doubled over, he used his knee to hit her in the face. She fell backward, disoriented.

"Let's see how you'll spit your venom now," Welf smirked down at her.

Finally, the leader of the party reacted.

"What are you doing?" he shouted like a petulant child.

"I'm shutting your trap, isn't that obvious?" Welf said mockingly.

The leader looked at him with rage filling his eyes, and unsheathed the sword on his waist.

Welf frowned.

They were all Level One, but he wasn't sure he would be able to win if the other two join in. Nonetheless, he took his great sword from his back, ready to face his adversaries.

Luckily the other two were happy to just watch on the side.

The man charged at Welf and their swords clashed. The man was faster than the red-haired teen, but Welf was stronger and his sword was of higher quality.

They exchange a few blows, without either of them getting the upper hand, until Welf spot an opening. He raise his leg and kicked the man in the nuts, he didn't even think twice to kick as hard as he could.

The man let out a high-pitched scream, and let go of his sword to hold his balls. Welf immediately used the flat part of his greatsword, and hit him in the head, knocking him out.

Tsubaki chose that moment to make her appearance. She surveyed the scene and an annoyed looked made its way onto her beautiful face.

Welf wasn't even too surprised. After all, they were in the neighborhood where the Hephaestus Familia had most of its forges. She either heard the commotion or someone called her.

"What's this?" She questioned Welf who had just put his greatsword on his back.

"Payback," Welf shrugged like it wasn't a big deal.

"Is that so?" her unpatched eyes narrowed.

"Don't you think that you went overboard?" she asked as she gestured to the three injured people on the ground.

Welf looked at them as well, and the only thing he felt was disdain.

Disdain that he allowed them to get to him with their worthless words and opinions. He should be better than this, but someone could take only so much.

"No, I don't think so. In my opinion, they got it easy," he told her honestly.

"They are your Familia, you shouldn't treat them so harshly. You should get along, or at least treat each other with respect," she reprimanded him with a disappointed gaze.

"Uh, now they are my Familia? Where were you when they gang up on me?" Welf questioned fiercely.

"When?" she asked, but there was a knowing look on her face, and it irked the young blacksmith the wrong way.

"Like you don't know," he said bitterly.

"Welf-" Tsubaki started but she was interrupted.

"You know what? Fuck the lot of you, I've had enough. Just… Fuck you!" he said and turned around.

He walked briskly and before he knew he was already in front of the entrance of the Dungeon.

The only thing he could feel was anger and he opted to work it on the monsters. He went on and on, cutting everything in his path, and before he knew it, he was already on the Tenth Floor.

He never set foot in there before, and it was a new record for him. Nonetheless, he did suffer a bit. He had some cuts on the face and arms, and he was sure that some purple bruised were already forming on his upper body.

He didn't bring any potion with him as it wasn't a planned trip and it pissed him even further.

He didn't know that things were about to get far worse.

He sat on the ground, he needed a moment of rest before starting his trip upwards. He was thirsty and hungry, and while some of his anger quelled, most of it was still raging inside of him.

He was about to stand up and start his trip to the surface when something made its way from the thick fog.

Welf immediately stood and pointed his sword at the monster.

Welf gulped.

He never met an Orc before, and he felt itimitìdated by the three meters tall monster.

Unfortunately for him, it wasn't all.

More and more monsters stepped out of the fog, and in just a few seconds he was surrounded.

Welf had no idea how he would get out of that situation. The only thing he was sure of was that if he was to go down, he would put up one hell of a fight, and kill as many of them as he could.

Welf started to slash left and right, killing the imps in his way, being careful to keep his distance from the orcs. A hit from them could prove fatal to him.

He was doing his best, but no matter how many he kill, their numbers didn't seem to dwindle. He was really in a bad spot, he was trying to break the encirclement, but for every enemy he kill, two would take its place.

Desperation started to make its way into Welf.

'I don't want to die' was the only thing that made him swing his sword, even if his muscles were sore, and the only thing he wanted to do was rest.

He charged at another monster, but before he could close the distance and a shriek pierced his eardrums.

Welf kneeled on the ground to try to relieve the spinning in his head and the disorientation.

An orc didn't waste the opportunity and run at him. He swung its club, a natural weapon formed in the Dungeon, and hit him with all its might.

Welf let out an inhuman cry of pain and he was sent flying from the hit, and out of the encirclement.

He hit the ground hard.

The club collided with his left side, breaking the bones in his arm and some ribs. Every time he took a breath, he felt a sharp pain in the chest. He couldn't feel his left arm, but he couldn't afford to stay on the ground for long.

He gritted his teeth and used his sword as leverage and slowly stood up.

He backed until his back was against the wall, he decided to put as much distance as he could, to lessen the chance of sneak attacks.

The monsters were quickly closing in, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to get out alive.

Welf readied himself, he wasn't ready to die but didn't have the power to change the outcome.

He took a deep painful breath and pointed his weapon at the orc in front of him.

The orc was about to bring down his weapon when a purple light flashed in front of Welf.

The orc was taken aback as well as the blacksmith.

In front of him, there was a man.

He had long straight white hair that reached his lower butt. Speaking of it, Welf couldn't help but notice its perfect form, round and firm. The stranger had well-developed muscles, but what stood out the most was that he wasn't wearing a thing.

Welf looked in amazement as the stranger performed a roundhouse kick, hitting the monster square in the head, instantly killing it.

The man didn't stop there as he continued to slaughter them without much effort. He didn't have weapons but he made do with just his hands and feet.

Welf sat down and started to relax as much as his injuries allow. He felt relief that he was now out of danger.

He looked up and what he saw was a sight to behold, especially the big thing between his savior's legs. It was big and thick, with balls hanging low and perfectly trimmed white hair.

Welf gulped and his throat felt suddenly dry.

He wanted a taste.

He started to fantasize about all the things he would do to him if he got his way. He was so immersed in his thoughts that he didn't notice that the monsters were all gone and that the stranger was making his way to him.

"Hey, I'm Alec, how are you?" Welf was startled out of his thought by a warm voice and he jerked his body making a pained noise.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch," Welf repeated pityingly.

"I take that as a sign that you're hurt. Do you mind if I cast a healing spell?" Alec inquired with mild amusement in his tone.

"Yes, please," Welf said immediately and he notice the sudden twitch that the stranger's dick made. It was kind of impossible to ignore since he was still seated and the man was standing.

Welf managed to resist the urge to lean forward and take the stranger in his mouth.

Alec took a deep breath and close his eyes for a brief moment.

"[Heal]," he said and a green light enveloped him, healing him instantly.

Welf felt the strength returning to his body.

He noticed that Alec didn't use a chant, and was surprised that the spell was still so efficient.

Alec extended his hand to help him stand, and Welf took it and felt how it was so soft while still strong enough to kill monsters barehanded.

As he stood up his body almost collided with Alec's strong one, but unfortunately for him, he stopped in time.

"I'm Welf from the Hephaestus Familia. Thank you so much for saving my life," Welf smiled while scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Don't mention it, but answer one question," Alec waited for Welf's response.

"Sure, but you'll have to answer one of my own, deal?" Welf countered.

"Deal. Now tell me why are you on the Tenth Floor when you're clearly not equipped for it," Alec asked and his beautiful purple eyes were looking at him like he could peer into his soul, revealing his every secret.

Welf felt the blush forming on his cheeks and he mumbles something, but by the puzzled look on Alec's face, he knew that he didn't say anything understandable.

His blush deepened as Alec stepped closer into his personal space, and Welf had to avert his eyes to calm his racing heart.

"I had a fight with some members of my Familia and I was kind of caught in my feelings that I didn't realize how far I went," Welf admitted sheepishly.

Alec raised an eyebrow and Welf started to squirm in his place.

Alec sighed loudly.

"You should be more careful next time," Alec smiled tiredly at him.

Welf nodded.

"Now is my turn," Welf said with a smile.

Alec nodded and gestured for him to go on.

"Why are you naked?" Welf looked him up and down, appreciation visible in his eyes.

"Naked?" Alec questioned him and made a confused face.

'Cute' Welf noted.

"Yes, naked," Welf gestured at Alec's dick with his hand.

Alec looked down at his crotch and busted out laughing.