A Vali's Worth.

*Argus's Narration*

A Goblin's worth 30 Valis while a Minotaur's is 750, and I just 'Poofed' Lili's 48,000 Vs in the last 2 minutes.

Before me were 5 vials of glowing yellow liquid. I could even feel the concentrated Mana they held.

Beside them was a sea-blue Stamina potion alongside a dull grey Karambit.

The Karambit I chose was an 'Ungraded Weapon' with a wooden handle.

The owner of the store suggested an Ungraded Weapon because they make graded weapons with Leveled Adventurers in mind.

It means that Grade-1 weapons are much more durable, sharp, and heavy, so much so, I won't be able to use them properly.

And it was true, my Gladius was a Grade-1 weapon, and it weighs around 1.5 kg. It was the reason I lost my balance when I fought those Goblins in the dungeon.

So, Ungraded Weapons for me now.

"Alright, sir… I'll be taking these," I said to the gleeful Gnome while ignoring crestfallen Lili.

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Lili fled out of the shop, fearing something else might catch my eye.

And just as I was about to follow, the Gnome walked out from behind the counter and stood before me.

I watched with my eyes wide in shock, as he bowed before me and spoke, "Thank you, M'lord, for taking her in your wing… Fortune shines at last on that brave little girl."

My body instantly went into 'Young Master Mode' while my head spun at full speed to figure out- What the fuck!?!

Giving him a nod along with a small 'hm' I swaggered out of the shop with a hand in my pocket.

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[Okay… that happened… Lili said something about Fairies and Sprits.]

/ He probably thought of you a Fairy… Maybe that 'God' made some modifications? You are able to feel the magic encased in the Mana Potions. /

[Yeah… whatever the modifications are… I welcome them!]

I concluded as I stepped out of the store and towards the grumbling Lili.

"Aww… don't be so mad~… I'll return the cash when I get a Falna. Savvy?" I said laughing.

Her chest raged up like a dragon about to roar, with eyes wide open she scolded,

"I'm not mad because you spent my money! I'm mad because you spent so much of it like it's no big deal! Like it was pocket change or something! You said you lived in a colossal castle right?"

Her sudden outburst froze my body, I knew Lili was mad for real this time,

"Yeah, I did…"

"Well, not anymore! Listen, my point is… you need to learn how to respect money… before it makes you."

All of a sudden, I didn't know where to look. The ramblings mother pestered me with hit my heart like a sledgehammer when someone outside of my home said the same thing. Even the thought of running away from her flashed into mind for a second.

So, I made a request… a request I should've made to mom a long time ago…

"You're right… hey, can you… will you please teach me?"

"It's fine as long as the idea is in your head… You know, Karambit? It's a tricky little thing." Lili said, leaving the incident behind before we started walking towards the Dungeon.

"Well, a few years ago I got impressed by a guy named Sam Fisher… So, I asked my personal maid to teach me Karambit… She knew what wanted to learn so, she only taught me how to kill with it. We'd practice an hour daily… although I got bored of it a month later and never touched it again…"

"I'm getting more and more curious about past…" Lili said, with an eyebrow lifted.

"I'd rather not…" I mumbled, not knowing what to say. A part of me says 'I mustn't forget', while the other claims 'It's a fresh start'. I didn't know which to pick, which was the correct one. All I knew is that right here… right now, I'm in a new world and I now have a friend.

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*Argus's POV*

*Dungeon's First Floor*

-SCREECH!

-TLISH!

The screams of the Goblin dies as I plunge my Karambit down its throat, effectively puncturing its windpipe and the cervical spine.

-KREEECH!

Another comes from behind with its club raised high.

Twisting the Karambit to my right I harshly pull It out in a curve while spinning around and aiming it at the Goblin's left knee after dogging its overhead smash.

-TRITCHH!

-KREEEEEH!

The heavy swing of my Karambit shatters its knee before it cries on top of its lungs. The last sound it will ever make.

Corvo's Blade in my right hand comes to life, and a second later the Goblin's head spins in the air.

[Okay… that's 2 down, 3 to go.] I think before activating Re-Directive Blink.

Time virtually stops and I take my sweet time, planning my next course of action while the adrenalin is still in effect.

A lone Goblin is 9 meters on my left while the other two are on my right, 6 meters away.

All rushing towards me with eyes filled with nothing but madness.

Calming the panicky emotions, I aim the Exit Point behind the lone Goblin on my left.

Despite being alone, it is currently the greatest threat because it has a rock as big as my head in its hands.

Things can get disastrous if it threw the rock at me while I'm busy dealing with the other two.

Reappearing behind the lone Goblin, I swing my Karambit in an 'Upper-Cut Fashion', wrenching open its Cervical Spinal- destroying the connection between its body and mind. Right after that, I once again twist the blade to my right before swinging it out of its throat.

The poor bastard didn't even know what happened.

Now, only those two Goblins remain.

But suddenly…

The hair on the back of my neck stood on ends as I turn around only to find the two Goblins are almost before me while flanking me from both sides.

I'm more than capable of dispatching a Goblin at a time but, two are a whole different ballgame.

A ballgame I don't know how to play.

So I panicked.

The bestiality in their eyes left no room for diplomacy and a single hit from their clubs is more than enough to send me flying to my kingdom come.

Just as I was running out of options…

-SSSHHHEWW!

-TLARDHH!

A crossbow bolt flew, whistling its dreadful symphony before jabbing itself into a Goblin's skull.

Half of its skull bursts into splinters on impact while the other half now housed the bolt.

[All hail the great supporters!]

Activating Re-Directive Blink I aim the Exit Point half a meter above the last Goblin before initiating it.

Reappearing just above its head, I use the fall's momentum to plunge my sword into its skull and all the way down to its ribs before harshly pulling it out in a swinging motion. Signaling the end of the battle.

Huffing deep gasps, I let the adrenalin pass by.

And the moment I'm calm enough to form rational thoughts, my damn mind clicks out the alternative endings of the battle.

Cold sweat begins to roll down my eyebrows; I kinda died twice in the last few minutes…

And a few seconds later, a merry voice booms in the quiet room, snapping me out of it. I had almost decided to open a restaurant after getting out of here.

"You did pretty great, Master Argus… way better than the last time I saw you fight," Lili says while walking towards the scattered Goblin Cores and the bolt.

"Yeah… I know I'm awesome. Now let's get out of here," I reply before channeling mana into my clothes to tidy myself up. My mana still being at 80%.

"Out of here? We just got here!"

"I slew like… 5 Goblins? And I almost died twice doing that… I think that's more than enough for today."

Lili laughed at my face like it's the first time she has seen a meme;

"4 actually… But how much is that worth?… 150. That apple pie you stuffed alone costed 200!"

"So, what about it? I don't have a Falna!" I countered with an apple red face.

Lili's head sways left and right as she looks at me like a mother watching her baby 'goo-goo-gaga'ing' at her.

"A lot of people don't have a Falna, yet they still venture into the Dungeon to make a living… they are generally the people who cannot get into a Familia. So, they dive into the dungeon the way they are and hunt on the First Floor as they hone their skills and cash at the same time."

I, on the other hand, just stood there like a statue along with a churning stomach, not liking where this was going… Nope, not one bit.

My Loli's sweet-soothing smile is starting to look rather disturbing to me with each passing second.

In my last-ditch effort to sway the argument in my favor, I say,

"But we need not gather cores! Aren't you rich enough already! Not to mention, we're going to join Loki Familia."

While rubbing her chin with a thoughtful expression, Lili said,

"Well… technically yes, I'm rich but, that money was made from the blood and sweat of others… mostly blood. And Loki Familia's matter is going to take more than a few days… And besides! I'm only asking you to make enough money to satisfy your own expenses of a single day, and I won't even ask for a share!

Didn't you ask me to teach you how to respect money, anyway?… All I'm asking of you is to earn 1500 Valis daily. See? Nothing much, 700 will be a night's rest in a decent inn, 500 for your fancy meals and snacks while the rest goes to the Karambit's damage repairs. That's all.

Don't forget, I'll be there supporting you from behind. And I'm at least strong enough to protect you from anything on the first floor.

Now! On to the next room!"

And with that, Lili tottered out of the room. Leaving the tearing me behind.

While actual tears threatened to pour out as I wondered, [Why the fuck does that all make sense!?!]

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*Argus's Narration*

*Central Park*

The sun had long gone down by the time I was done with today's 'quota'.

My dead-beat body was lumped onto a bench beside the fountain, downright refusing to move an inch while I struggled to even stay awake.

My left hand's index finger now had a beet red imprint of the Karambit's ring.

As for the Karambit itself… its condition did not differ from mine.

The target was 1500 Valis, and that's 45 Goblins.

That's right… I slew 45 Goblins in a single day!

Not all 45… Lili took some too. But only some!

And she didn't even let me use the potions!

When I asked 'why?' she said, 'Drink if you want but, you can't leave the dungeon unless and until you've made up for the cost… That's 8,000 by the way.'

Like… What the hell!

My barely open eyes gazed at the tittering Loli beside me as she spoke,

"You rest here and I'll go find us a Taxi, okay?"

As if possessed, my barely open eyes snapped open as I blurted out,

"Eh? How much will that cost?!?"

The smile on her face grew by miles. With eyebrows dancing up, she said,

"Huh? Come again? I didn't hear you the first time~,"

My face went red in an instant,

"AHH! Go find me a Taxi… I'm not moving an inch without it!" *Humph!*