Chapter 25: A Date... in the Dungeon?
The following day, Ad woke up to find a new addition on his king-sized bed. It would seem that the previous night, Natsuki got comfortable using his arm as a pillow, and didn't feel like leaving.
The fact that she was daring enough to give him a morning kiss, similar to Hestia, was already a huge progress for Natsuki, who wouldn't have been able to show affection in public before. Today though, he had the day reserved for the Amazonness that was using his other arm to rest her bountiful chest.
Adalwulf: Iman, do you have any place you want to visit?
Iman: Not really, wherever Darling takes me I'll be happy, because Darling will be there!
Adalwulf: Okay then, I have a few places to go to so let's go together after breakfast.
*
After one hell of a breakfast, Natsuki's courtesy, Ad and Iman left the Hearth Manor. According to Ad's plans, their first stop would be Hephaestus' Workshop. He needed a good weapon, and he had the material for it.
On their way there, he and Iman talked about many things. For one reason or the other, the Amazonness never mentioned Telskyura nor her time there. To Ad, it felt like she was avoiding the topic. And he was right.
Not wanting to pry too much in her past, he decided to change the topic, and moved on to how she got to know of him. He only realized he hadn't asked something so simple in spite of having known Iman for so long.
She told him of the Killer Ant Party event, which was the moniker it had taken. She was one of the people watching from the side as he slaughtered the monsters.
In her eyes, there something about his finesse, about his strength, that turned her on. She fell for him at first sight, and she was instantly infatuated with his everything. When he smiled, she smiled. When he cried, she wanted to cry. When he was hurt, her heart ached.
Ad had a hard time taking in all of what Iman was saying.
Adalwulf: You... relly are devoted to me, right?
Iman: Of course. After all, Darling is the only one for me, even if I am not the only one for him.
A small pang of guilt went through Ad's heart when he heard what Iman said. He could feel that she was afraid of him leaving her, of losing him. Ad knew that it was his fault, because he didn't really know her so he didn't think much of her presence at first.
He decided to compensate her for his lack of understanding. Whatever it took, he would do, provide and care for her.
*
Once they arrived at Hephaestus' Workshop, they were led inside by a Half-dwarf Ad recognized as Tsubaki Collbrande, Captain of the Hephaestus Familia. The Blacksmith Goddess was sipping softly at a tea while Tsubaki sat on a sofa of her own. Ad and Iman were left to sit in front of the Goddess.
Hephaestus: What brings you here, Adalwulf?
Adalwulf: I wanted to request for a weapon to be crafted, Hephaestus-sama. I have two Minotaur Horns from the one we killed, and I was hoping that, perhaps, you or your Captain would be willing to craft a weapon for me.
Hephaestus looked at him with interest. No adventurer ever had had the gall to ask her directly for a weapon. Her craftsmanship was expensive after all, and besides, it could be considered a total lack of respect. But she saw something that ignited her interest in his eyes.
It was a determination to do whatever had to be done, so as to keep what he held dear protected. She didn't know that it was Ad, unconsciously channeling his emotions in her and Tsubaki. Sometimes, when his desire and determination were firm, his Samkennd acted on its own.
Tsubaki was about to talk, but she was interrupted by the Goddess.
Hephaestus: 100,000,000 Vallis.
Iman looked back and forth between Hephaestus, Ad and Tsubaki. Her simple mind that only had "Darling" in it couldn't comprehend the current situation.
Adalwulf: Ten years.
Hephaestus: You won't need that long.
Adalwulf: Just to have more time as an insurance.
Hephaestus seemed to think about it hard, but in reality she was just pretending. In the end, she opened her mouth.
Hephaestus: Deal.
*
Once he was done with business, he took Iman towards the Babel Tower. One would think that taking a girl to the Dungeon for a date was simply stupid, and it was. But Iman wasn't like every other girl. He didn't have to be as careful as with Natsuki.
He just had to give himself a chance to accept her fully. And he was close to it. She was a girl who devoted her everything to him, the man she loved. How could he not love her back, even in the slightest?
They didn't move beyond the fifth floor, where Ad had battled the Killer Ants. Iman had a contented smile on her face when she saw him slaying the monsters once again. He even entered his Shadow Trigger's first stage, to make it look more alike the first time.
Still, what transpired was more of a massacre than the first one. Iman just cheered him on as he killed monster after monster. The slaughter continued until they heard a weird rumble, and a bigger Ant appeared.
It was white in colour, had sharper and dented jaws and overall looked more menacing. Through its abdomen ran many red lines that resembled veins. Ad positioned himself before Iman, so he would pick the Ant's attention before she did.
His plan worked, as the Ant began dashing towards him.
Adalwulf: Iman, I'll leave the last hit to you, so be ready!
Iman: Okay, Darling!
Adawulf: 'This air-head...' *sigh*
He smiled warmly as he thought of the girl that had fallen for him without his knowledge. He remembered her warmth and how she would smile merrily just because he was there. If he praised her, she got happy. If he protected her, she felt loved. If he existed, she would love him.
A love that wasn't in his heart before suddenly made itself known, almost making Ad receive the Ant's attack. Teleporting behind it through the shadows, he looked at Iman and smiled lovingly. She could understand what that smile meant. She could feel it. She was her Darling's, now and forever.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Ice_Wielding_Ronin
Ice_Wielding_Ronin Before anyone bashes me saying that I didn't treat Iman properly in this chapter, I am going to explain what I already explained through the chapter.
She doesn't care. She only wants to be with him and be loved by him, and she already has it. Once she realized that he cared about her, she didn't even need the date.
Also, Telskyura is being saved for later plot. Not THAT plot, you horndogs. Actual plot.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone