Chapter 17: Securing the Base and Falna

[Miko's POV]

After receiving information about the vacant spot that we could as our Familia's base, we head over there while carrying our belongings via horse-pulled carriage.

When we arrived at the place, our expectation for a good quality building was shattered to pieces. What we see is a rundown building with many holes on the walls and missing floorboard pieces. The rooves are dirty and colorless. The courtyard is a total mess with all of the leaves and debris.

"It could be worse... but I think it is manageable, I guess" I muttered to myself trying to be optimistic. Then a bunch of roof bricks fell when I said that. *sigh*

I turned around and look at my companions' reactions. All of them looked quite disappointed at the place we are going to stay at. I'll try to motivate them a bit so we can get started.

*clap* *clap* I clapped my hands to get their attention and they look at my direction.

"Alright guys, we might have got ourselves a not so nice place to stay. BUT it is still a good foundation to get started"

"What do you mean, Miko-san?" Yamato-san asked me about my statement

"What I mean is we will be going to repair everything that are broken and everything that are dirty. Is that clear everyone?" I decided to order my companions to help me fix this place.

Their disappointment was increased by tenfold. I was annoyed by the pessimism to do the fixing.

"I SAID is that clear EVERYONE?" I said with a smile but I am certainly not happy right now

""YES!"" All of them answered in unison and I nodded at their enthusiasm. I then turn to face our god who enjoyed seeing me ordering my Familia members.

"Takemikazuchi-sama, is that fine with you?" I asked Takemikazuchi-sama for confirmation to start the cleaning.

"Umu, I think it is recommended for us to hire some carpenters and workers to help with the heavy lifting" I pondered a bit about Takemikazuchi-sama's advice and nodded in agreement.

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After I signaled the start of the operation: fix the housing complex, we did our jobs for one week straight.

First, we sweep all of the leaves and debris with brooms we bought from a nearby store. We then collect them and put them in sacks to secure the cleanliness of the courtyard.

Then, we hired people who are capable of carpentry and manual labor. I used my money I got from father and from all the bargaining in the town's we visited in our journey. The money wasn't enough to build ourselves a big house, but it is enough to buy a cheap housing complex and hire workers to help with the repairs.

Kashima-san and the other male companions helped with the hired workers in the fixing of the damaged parts of the house. They also painted the walls and added a wooden porch at the outside of the housing complex. While me and the other female companions went shopping for cheap furniture like cabinets, table, curtains, etc. We also bought some ingredients for cooking as well.

After the repair jobs and paid the workers, we moved on to placing our belongings inside the house. I decided to take the room on the second floor as my room. I placed my futon, clothes, belongings and weapons in the room.

Even though the room looks a bit empty at the moment but it's okay, when we start doing dungeon things, we will earn money. However, before I could do dungeon stuffs, there is one thing I need to do.

I, no, we all went to see Takemikazuchi-sama and tell him to put a falna on each and every one of us.

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[Third POV]

Mikoand my companions are currently standing at the courtyard facing our god, Takamikazuchi. He looks at them knowing what are standing here for. He knows that they want to tell him to Falna on them so they could start venturing the dungeon. He looks at each and every one of them from left to right. The members of the Takemikazuchi Familia have seven members, which includes Miko. They have three male members and four female members.

After gazing all of them over and over again, he stops his gaze at Miko.

"I assume that all of you are here for Falna, correct?"

""Yes""

"I see. Are you all ready to face the dungeon?"

""Yes""

"Are you all ready to fight hordes of powerful monsters and bosses?"

""Yes""

"Are you all ready to die?"

""....""

All of the members went silent when Takemikazuchi asked the last question. Well, all except...

"YES"

All of the members look at the person who answered yes, it was Miko. Takemikazuchi raised his eyebrows on Miko.

"Ho? Would you like to explain, Miko?"

"Being ready to die doesn't mean we should allow ourselves to be killed by monsters, but rather accepting risks of dying in order to protect and save our teammates from potential danger in the battlefield"

"Hmm, I see. Well said. Now everyone lineup in my room. I will put a Falna on each and every one of you"

""YES""

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[Miko's POV]

We are all lined up on the hallway to Takemikazuchi-sama's room. I am at the front because my companions think I am the leader. Even though I am not actually qualified as a leader, they insisted of becoming one. Seriously, do I look like a leader to them, if anything, Kashima-san is more qualified to be leader. Oh well, I will just do what I can do for my Familia.

When Takemikazuchi-sama prompted for us to come inside, I went first in the room. When I entered the room, he is currently seating on a high chair and in front of him is a medium stool.

"Okay, Miko, sit on this stool and show me your back"

"Eh? Why specifically my back?"

"Yes, ever since long time ago, gods and goddesses had descended to the mortal realm while sealing their power, also known as Arcanum, and lived among the mortals of this world. For that reason, we gods and goddesses place falnas in your backs in order to give our blessings to you"

<A/N: Tell me if I nailed that one>

"I-I see" I promptly sit on the stool facing away from him and moved my hair out of the way, showing my bare back. Since my clothes exposes my back, I don't need to strip top naked in front of Takemikazuchi-sama, which is embarrassing to do.

Before he starts doing his thing, I decided to give a fair warning.

"Takemikazuchi-sama, just do you know, if you touch me in weird places, I might not cook for everyone tonight"

<A/N: Miko and Mikoto are both the chef of the Familia during their journey>

"Eh? What are you saying? I am a gentleman you know"

"Oho~ A gentleman you say? Very well, carry on~"

I teased Takemikazuchi-sama and he blush a little bit but recovered right after. He then grabs a knife and pricked is finger. Then he drops a blood between my upper back and lower neck. After that he moves his finger with various movements as if he is writing something in my back.

Then I feel a faint glow at my back and sounds of ticking and movements behind me. Takemikazuchi-sama then move his hands at my back as sounds of gear can be heard.

"!!"

"Something wrong, Takemikazuchi-sama?"

"No, it's nothing"

Takemikazuchi-sama then pushes the glow towards my back, finishing the process. He then grabs a sheet of paper from a stack on his desk and place it in my back. Then I feel a circular motion with his finger.

"Here, this is your parameters and status. Honestly, your status is quite surprising. You already have magic and skills"

"What?" I quickly take the paper from his hand and take a look.

[Parameters and Status]

Name: Yae Miko

Level: 1

STR: I 0

END: I 0

DEX: I 0

AGI: I 0

MAG: I 0

[MAGIC]

> Sakura no Rakurai (Cherry Blossom Lightning Strike) <

A very short chanting magic that hits enemies upon contact with a pink and purple lightning bolt. The magic can multiple enemies who are in close proximity to each other.

The chant for the magic is [Raiden]

> Sakura no Kakyū (Cherry Blossom Fireball) <

A very short chanting magic that shots a pink colored fireball. The user can manipulate the trajectory of the fireball if they wished to.

The chant for the magic is [Sakitama]

[SKILLS]

> Kitsune no Sōko (Fox's Storage) <

-The user can store objects inside her tail. The object will be transported to a sub dimensional storage with infinite space. The user needs to snap their fingers and the desired stored object will appear at the user's hand.

> Kitsune no Shukufuku (Fox's Blessing) <

-The user can temporarily share the half of their parameters to the people she trusts when the user is in close proximity to them.

> Kitsune no Kyōka (Fox's Enhancement) <

- The EXP that the user gains will be multiplied for every monster they kill. The skill will reset if the user doesn't kill within 5 seconds.

<A/N: I hope you all humor me for a bit. I decided to start her parameters to 0 so that it is makes writing simple and avoid giving me headaches. You might ask about the monsters they had slayed in their journey. I decided to not count them because they didn't have Falna that time.>

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"WAIT WHAT?! Takemikazuchi-sama, what is this? Why do I already have magic and skills even though I didn't even start fighting monsters?"

"I am not sure, but it is something to do with your mother's lineage that their descendants will be fated to gain great power upon receiving a Falna"

"Do you think this is a bit overpowered?"

"Well, if put it that way, then yes. However, your parameters are still zero. So, using your magic is prohibited for now. Unless you learn to know how to control your magic, then slowly use your magic when necessary. Do you understand?"

"YES"

"Good, now call the next others"

"Understood"

I then exited the room and reported my Falna's parameters and status to them. They were shocked that I already have magic and skills.

All of them promptly entered the room one by one. Every time one of them are done getting their Falna, they looked quite disappointed and looks at me with envy.

"Don't look so down, everyone. You guys will get you magic and skills when we start venturing the dungeons!" I said enthusiastically to cheer them up. However, it backfired and Yamato-san and Hitachi-san rush forward and tackled me. Then they tickled me as punishment for having magic and skills.

"HAHAHAHAHA! Stop it Yamato-san, Hitachi-san! It tickles HAHAHAHA"

"Hmph, Miko-san, you are being full of yourself"

"Yeah, this is your punishment for being arrogant!"

The two women tickled me while the three men deadpanned stared at us.

Takemikazuchi-sama also came out of the room to check the commotion.

We stayed like this throughout the day.