C121: End of the Abyss P3

Overall Word count = 1305 on 7/30/2024. ('See' yall next month. Gehehehe, funni)

Axel spent a few minutes teleporting around to tell everyone else in his team that he is going into the dungeon 'alone' and that he would try to reach it's end and destroy it if he could.

Mikoto questions Axel on what they path of adventurers should be once the dungeon is gone. Axel would have answered what he said before about being miners for the dungeon and whatnot but he decided against that as she could be considered his own student. He tells her that she could be introduced to the same magic system that Axel uses and become a professional teacher throughout the world. That or create a Dojo alongside Chigusa and Ouka in the countryside to teach and fight.

Mikoto understands that with so many adventurers, others would eventually have similar ideas regarding the dojo, so getting a head start would be great but strangely her mind is preoccupied with other thoughts that dull her mind. Axel takes his leave to talk to the others at this time as he doesnt notice Mikoto's predicament.

When he reaches Bell, Axel gets a headache as the 'White Rabbit' pesters him to bring him into the dungeon. Axel declines and disappears to meet Welf who is living back in his own home. He was almost under the impression that he couldn't separate from Daisy at all but he was wrong. Welf has done an amazing amount of work as of late.

Though he has recently heard that Hephaestus has recognized Welf as the best 'mortal' smith. Surprisingly, she has even begun to court Welf instead of the other way around. Welf is fairly confused on how to proceed. Afterall, on one hand, he is with Daisy and is faithful to her but on the other hand he still admires Hephaestus quite a bit still.

Then Goibniu, that crusty old fogey, came and tried to fish in the water by acting as a middle man to engage one of his executives, Marco Powell. Yet that same red haired cute girl 'appears' behind the old man with a red face and drags him away. Her actions caused a big enough commotion that Daisy ended up near them and overheard the situation from other bystanders. They confronted Welf who was still undecided that she placed a punishment upon him.

(Marco is from Orario Rapsodia-a pc game that was supposedly discontinued back in 2019. Pic here)

Axel has his fist land in his palm as he realizes the full situation now that he has actually taken the time to think it through. "He is in the dog house"

"Are you here to bully me too?" A voice suddenly speaks out to the side of Axel which actually makes him jump back a bit to find that Welf has grown a few bags under his eyes, he has grown out a bit of his beard. His appearance is quite downtrodden.

"Is this situation really bringing you so much?" Axel can only ask as he would work towards a simple solution that leaves everyone happy instead of leaving their questions and emotions unanswered.

Welf nods as he takes a seat on a stool that he pulled up. "I love Daisy and would like to live my life with her but I had admired the goddess for so long, she had granted me protection when I ran away from my family. I admired her workmanship and it was for her that I decided to forge even though I abhorred my family's work. Yet Daisy completed me, she motivated me to reach this point. I can't abandon Daisy but I don't want to decline Hephaestus."

He shares his emotions but Axel only had a blank expression on his face. Senji was sitting behind the corner of the small wall that separates the two forge hovels' spaces. He rolls his eyes whilst whispering, "women". He shakes his head as he goes back to cleaning the tools.

When Axel doesnt say anything for a while, Welf looks up to see that Axel has a look on his face that 'looks down' on him. This feeling makes him uneasy as he can't help but question, "What!? What is that look for?"

"I see your problem, and find it childish. You admire one but cant live without the other. Have you perhaps tried becoming a scumbag and bagging up both beauties for yourself? Maybe even that engineer girl from Goibniu that was proposed to you?" Axel offers his solution

"Like you" Welf says in response due to his stress but he quickly regrets his words as Axel has a healthy relationship with his women though he can't describe how much emotion that they actually share with each other. "Sorry"

"It's fine." Axel dismisses his harsh words with a carefree expression as he uses Trace to materialize an identical stool to Welf. "When I first got into my current relationship with my ladies, I barely even knew them. Had only been two weeks when I encountered my first Rex, that boney deer thing we fought when we went to take down the fake Evilus."

"Scary stuff. Seemed like you nearly died then"

"Lost an arm yea but I got it back."

"Nobody crazier than you in Orario"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence"

"Your welcome"

"Regardless, I took one of those beasts down as my first level up. I was pushed down by Freya when I was recovering and then again Raikou a day later. Freya I had truly only known for a few minutes but she took a gamble on me that I was her destined one"

"Pretty sure that is just rape."

"Pretty sure your still in the dog house until you get the moral of my story"

"Pretty sure you don't have morals."

Cough "Regardless, a relationship was still formed and it gradually progressed until we reached where we are now."

"And the moral of the story issss?"

"That I am likely considered a scum bag because through the many MONTHS i've been in Orario, i've gotten linked to various beautiful women who accepted me for as I am. Sure some may have approached me with different intentions but those that would seek to harm me were kicked out while the others got what they wanted and still stayed for various reasons."

"Probably cause you lived in the same house?"

"Ok now your just being a downer."

"Ill just skip to the end. The lesson is to be true to your emotions, they will reciprocate. After all, it was your indecisiveness that led to your current situation. Your desire to be with both of them will translate into the passion you put into your bed time activities"

"We…"

"Shush, now go change and get cleaned up. Go see Daisy and tell her how you feel for Hephaestus. "

Welf nods and rises from his seat when the door to the hovel that the duo are in is opened. Haruhime, Mikoto, Bell and the rest of the group are all there, peeking into the doorway.

Welf accuses, "Were you lying to me to as part of their plan" stiffens upon seeing Daisy.

"I'un'no'nuffin." Axel shrugs in response as he walks out of the Hovel, leaving the two lovers to their 'problems'. Welf grwos nervous and he fidgets about as he tries to find at least a rag to clean himself off on when the cat girl hugs Welf.

Axel closes the door on his way out and begins walking home when Haruhime grabs his hand.

He looks at the fox girl who struggles to meet his gaze until for a moment before she looks deeply into his eyes and proclaims.

"We are coming with you to the dungeon.

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Alt Title: Heart to Heart