Chapter 16: Chapter 15
SHALLTEAR POV, NEXT MORNING:
It was a tranquil morning in the bustling city of Orario. The golden rays of the early sun cast a warm glow over the city streets as she gracefully navigated her way through them.
Leaving the dimly lit back alley of the Gnome Trader, she followed the northern secondary street that branched off from NorthWest Main Street. With each step, her long silver hair swayed gently in the breeze.
Passing by the Guild, Shalltear continued her journey through NorthWest Main Street, her eyes scanning her surroundings. She meandered through the city, her path taking her by Central Park, where the morning light danced among the leaves of the trees and bushes surrounding it.
Then, through SouthWest Main Street, she made her way to the Cafe Wish. The quaint coffee shop, tucked away in a charming back alley, exuded an inviting ambiance. Her crimson eyes glinted with anticipation as she stepped inside, greeted by the delightful aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
The cafe was tastefully decorated, with wooden partitioning screens separating beautifully crafted wooden tables. The walls adorned with thick, complicated-looking books and blooming flowers and plants added to the charming atmosphere.
Shalltear looked around, hoping to find Gita. However, to her disappointment, very few patrons were present at this early hour. Mostly elves were savoring their black tea and indulging in light breakfasts.
The bespectacled elven proprietor behind the counter who seemed to be reading a book noticed Shalltear's arrival and approached her with a courteous bow. Her demeanor was calm and welcoming. "Welcome, are you looking for someone?" she inquired, her soft voice carrying a sense of serenity.
Shalltear returned the bow with grace and answered, "Yes, I am looking for Gita Meyers."
The elven proprietor adjusted her glasses, and her eyes held a tinge of regret as she responded, "I am sorry to inform you that Miss Meyers never comes in the morning."
Shit! Just when I really need to meet with Gita...
Shalltear's crimson eyes narrowed slightly in disappointment as she heard the elf hostess' response. "You don't know where she is right now, don't you?" she inquired with a hint of curiosity, her voice polite and composed.
The elf woman responded with a gentle shake of her head, her demeanor remaining polite and attentive. "Unfortunately, no. Do you wish to leave a message for her?" she offered, ever ready to assist.
The silver-haired girl's graceful hand waved in a dismissive manner, indicating that she did not require such a service. "No, it is okay," she replied, a faint note of understanding in her tone. She turned away towards the exit.
Outside the cafe, walking on the stone paved road Shalltear was pondering what to do. Her elegant hand raised to her chin in contemplation, her mind working through possible alternatives.
How do I find Gita now?... Perhaps the better question would be 'Where to find Love?', assuming Gita is with her... I remember that Love liked the milk from Iris' dairy
Shalltear was really hoping Gita was with Love in Iris' dairy, otherwise, she would need to find her going around the entire city of Orario.
Now where is that dairy again?... If I remember right, Iris buys Jagamarukun at Hestia's stand, which is on North Main Street... But Iris also starts working in the morning, which means her diary should be close by... and is not in the main street itself but still a crowded one…. Then one of the two secondary streets of North Main, the west or the east one.
She decided to head back to Central Park and then ventured northward. The stone-paved road echoed with the footsteps of various races bustling about their daily routines. Elves, dwarves, and demi-humans of all kinds moved with purpose, giving life to the vibrant city.
As she continued on the eastern secondary street, which ran parallel to North Main Street, her crimson eyes scanned the lively scene. She found the milk stand with a cow sign board on a parallel street. There it was—Iris Bennet's diary, a wooden stall nestled inside a charming stone building.
The wooden counter of the stall displayed various bottles of milk, a jar of orange juice, and a glass case filled with delectable baked goods. The aroma of freshly made treats filled the air, tantalizing the senses of passersby.
In the background, shelves were lined with a variety of items, from cups and sauces to spices and even a barrel of beer. The stall offered a cozy and inviting atmosphere, with wooden chairs and barrels with tablecloths used as tables outside, where customers enjoyed their meals amidst the lively street.
On the makeshift tables of wooden barrels, Gita and Love enjoyed their milk and a delightful vegetable dish drizzled with a creamy white sauce, likely milk-based.
With determination in her crimson eyes, Shalltear approached the duo, her steps purposeful. Without hesitation, she pulled up a nearby chair and seated herself, a bag dropping gently to the ground by her feet.
Gita noticed the silver-haired girl approach and urgently tried to interject, "W-Wait a minute."
Undeterred, Shalltear greeted them warmly, saying, "I finally found you, Gita. Ah! Hello."
Love, the charismatic catgirl, chimed in with a playful tone, introducing herself, "Nice to meet you, meow~!"
Gita sighed, her tail drooping in resignation, knowing that her time with Love would once again be interrupted.
Shalltear, however, seemed oblivious to the situation and continued with her introduction, "I am Shalltear Bloodfallen, a pleasure to meet you," she said, flashing a smile.
"Love is Love, meow," the catgirl responded, equally charismatic in her greeting.
The dog girl glanced at Shalltear and then at the catgirl, her expression showing concern.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Gita?" Love inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"Well... I need to give her something," Gita responded, subtly signaling that she needed some private time with Shalltear to conduct business.
The silver-haired girl, however, had a pressing matter on her mind and interrupted, "That can wait. I want to ask you both something."
"Huh...?" The dog girl was taken aback, surprised by the sudden turn of events.
The catgirl, on the other hand, looked intrigued and smiled mischievously. "Hmm? What is it? Some fishy business?" she playfully prodded.
"Sorry, Love, no fishes are involved," Shalltear clarified, her expression serious. "Do you know if the Soma Familia has recently pissed off somebody by scamming them and wants to take revenge on the Familia? Have you heard anything about that?"
Gita furrowed her eyebrows, deep in thought. "No... I haven't," she replied honestly.
"Even Love doesn't know, meow," the catgirl added, equally puzzled.
Curious about the source of the information, the dog girl inquired further, "Where have you heard that? Did something happen?"
Shalltear explained, "I heard it from a member of the Soma Familia that I am in a party with. She told me about that rumor, and now I am worried about her.
Just as the trio was engrossed in their conversation, a gentle and melodious voice interrupted their discussion. "Excuse me!" the voice called out.
Shalltear turned her head and was surprised to see a beautiful bull girl standing there, "Ku!", her pupils dilated in response, captivated by the woman's striking appearance.
The woman, Iris Bennett, had long brown hair, green eyes, and adorable cow ears, horns, and tail. Dressed in a charming ensemble of a light wool sweater, a bell around her neck, a brown belt, a green skirt with a gold design, and stylish brown boots with blue trim, Iris exuded a warm and inviting aura. And, as typical of bull girls, she was very well-endowed, catching Shalltear's attention.
Those sweeter puppies are even bigger than Hestia's!!
"Nice to meet you! If you don't mind, please take a look at the menu~" chirped Iris, her smile radiating friendliness.
Shalltear's mind momentarily drifted as she was entranced by Iris' presence.
Iris gave a step forward, her breasts bouncing, she elevated a small wooden framed blackboard and moved it closer to the silver-haired girl while continuing to smile, her message was clear: 'Please order something'.
"...right...please bring...some milk...tea" Shalltear said while taking the menu and looking at it, then she gave it back to Iris. She was too distracted by thinking about milk.
"Yes~! Thank you very much!" said Iris happily, then she put the blackboard under her arm and proceeded to withdraw the plates that Gita and Love had used.
Gita couldn't help but feel a little annoyed at the silver-haired girl's distraction and tried to redirect her attention. "Shalltear... Shalltear," she said, slightly pouting.
"Fufufufu~ Iris is pretty, meow~" Love teased playfully, acknowledging the bull girl's captivating appearance.
Shalltear shook her head, snapping out of her reverie, and apologized to Gita. "Hah?... Right... sorry," she said apologetically.
Dammit Iris you're too distracting! I came here to hold a serious conversation! Not to drool for you!
Returning to the matter at hand, Gita crossed her arms under her breasts, looking concerned, "Is the rumor only circulating inside their familia?" she wondered aloud, contemplating the implications.
"As far as I know, yes. Can you ask around if somebody knows more about this?" Shalltear replied.
The dog girl sighed and facepalmed, frustrated with the lack of substantial details.
"It's okay, meow! As long as you give money to Gita, she will surely find out more about it," Love assured them with confidence in the dog girl's skills.
"...Haa... you are not giving me much to work with... very well... the investigation is gonna cost you 100,000 Valis," Gita stated, mentally planning how to allocate the expenses for the investigation.
100,000 Valis was a significant sum, not to be taken lightly. It equaled the cost of five high-quality weapons for low-level adventurers or the price of a costly Undine Cloth. However, most of the money would be used to pay others to gather information from various places she frequented.
Shalltear didn't hesitate and reached into her bag, producing two large sacks of coins tied with cords. The heavy sacks contained over 200 coins each. She placed them on the table and pushed them toward Gita and Love.
"...I will need to start carrying a bag around if this keeps happening," Gita murmured to herself as she tied the bags to her sides, securing them to the straps on her brown jacket. The weight of the coins caused her jacket to sag, and her hood shifted lower over her eyes.
Love observed the transaction with surprise, impressed by Shalltear's readiness to provide the money without hesitation. "An adventurer that values friends more than money... Hmm, how nice...!" Love commented with admiration, clasping her hands together.
It was an undeniable fact that most adventurers got into dungeon delving to strike it rich quickly, not that any of them really became rich, but being an adventurer paid 10 times more than a full-time job on the surface.
As Gita tried to adjust her cat-eared hood to accommodate her dog ears, Love declared, "Love has decided! Shalltear is now Love's friend too, meow~" She playfully threw her arms in the air, forming a V sign. Shalltear couldn't help but laugh at the catgirl's charming antics.
However, behind Love's charismatic and carefree exterior, one could never be certain whether she genuinely sought friendship or simply valued those who could provide her with resources. As an actress in the city's finest theater, the catgirl had mastered the art of deception, and only a god could see through her facade completely.
I want to destroy Soma Familia... I want to do it now~ How much do I have to wait?
A sadistic smile briefly flashed across Shalltear's face before morphing into one of intrigue. She turned her attention back to Gita, eager to know how long it would take to gather more information about the rumor she had planted.
"How much time do you think it's gonna take to get more information about it?" the silver-haired girl inquired.
Gita, showing a bit of her teeth in a reassuring gesture, held her open palm forward, signifying truthfulness and an attempt to ease the other person. "We can meet again in four days," she replied.
Eeeeeh?! Four days?!... sigh.... I suppose it is unrealistic to ask her to have it done for today so I can go and kill them now... Four days then… until I give them hell… the clock is now ticking…
She licked her lips, the thought of Soma Familia and the retribution she would soon deliver brought a wicked pleasure to Shalltear. She knew this rumor would be the perfect cover for her plans to destroy the familia. By spreading the rumor that Soma had angered someone and would face retaliation, she could ensure there were no loose ends and that the blame would be placed on the familia itself, making her scheme all the more effective.
"Hi! Thank you for waiting," Iris greeted as she walked over to their table, balancing a saucer with a big teacup in one hand and a bowl with candies in the other.
Placing the milk tea near Shalltear, Iris presented the bowl of candies, "This is the new milk-based product we are planning to sell, ice pops~! Please give me your opinion!" she said cheerfully.
"New huh~ The milk here is delicious after all," Love commented, happily taking one of the popsicles.
"...Understood," Gita replied calmly, reaching for one herself.
"...All right..." replied Shalltear, taking one.
Do not think they are made from breast milk. Do not! Definitely don't think about that!
As the sweet flavor of the ice pop reached her tongue, she found it to be quite delicious.
"Kiyaa~ It is delicious, meow~!" Love exclaimed while enthusiastically licking her ice pop.
"It's true, it's delicious…" Gita chimed in, her eyes widening with pleasure at the first taste.
Trying to articulate her appreciation, Shalltear's words stumbled a bit, "The brea--the mil--It's good...".
But then, the catgirl suddenly stopped licking the ice pop, her eyes, and ears widening in discomfort. Her face took on a slight blue hue, and it became evident that she was experiencing a brain freeze.
"Brain... froze..." Love managed to utter with a pained expression, closing her eyes and ears, comically swinging her arms up and down.
Gita, always caring, calmly continued licking her ice pop and reached out to the catgirl with her other hand, gently patting and caressing Love's head. She took the opportunity to rub behind her ears, knowing it was an area the mischievous cat girl loved.
Iris pouted and asked, "Is it too cold?"
"Just take them out for a while before giving them to clients," Gita calmly advised.
"Yes~!" Iris exclaimed happily, doing a girly victory pose with her hands in fists and her arms near her breasts to contain their bounciness. She did a small jump in place, celebrating the idea.
Love quickly recovered from her brain freeze and said, "Kiyaa~ I want one more, meow~!"
"Yes, yes~ I will give it to you now," Iris responded and hurriedly jogged back to her stall, her chest bouncing as she moved.
As Iris turned around, Shalltear noticed that the back of her sweater was open, revealing a lot of her bare skin. She inadvertently bit into her ice pop and started choking on it. "Cough, cough."
Of course she doesn't wear a bra! That girl is gonna be the end of me...
Seeing the opportunity, Gita glanced at Shalltear and then motioned towards a nearby back alley. The silver-haired girl nodded in understanding.
"Love, I will be back shortly," the dog girl informed Love and moved away from the diary.
Gita tried to move stealthily, but the heavy sacks of coins made a few clicking sounds as she walked. Finally, she reached a wall in the back alley and leaned against it.
As they both reached the secluded spot, Shalltear muttered, "Shouldn't you carry a bag or something for the money?"
"Idiot…! Whose fault do you think it is?" Gita retorted, her cheeks slightly flushed from embarrassment.
What is this? Did we got close enough that I cracked the calm and collected exterior to see the easily teased and lovingly tsundere inside~~
Gita was a kuu-tsun-dere, she tried to maintain a calm and collected exterior, as befitting for her job as an information dealer, but behind that front she was a tsundere with a heart as golden as yellow were her eyes. Behind her cool exterior laid an unfriendly attitude hiding a very caring personality for others.
The dog girl, with her back still against the wall, looked around and then began unfastening the straps on her jacket. From inside, she pulled out a thin package tied with a cord and presented it to Shalltear.
Shalltear stretched her arm, placing her hand against the wall as she leaned closer to Gita. With a teasing tone, she said, "What is this? Some chocolates or a love letter, perhaps~?"
"H-Ha?! Wh-What are you talking about?! Those are the maps that you asked me for!" the dog girl stammered, her face turning even redder. She pushed the package into Shalltear's chest, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Smiling playfully, Shalltear accepted the package, "Thank you, Gita~" she said, clearly enjoying the moment.
"I-I could only get the maps to the thirty-ninth floor. Beyond that, it is difficult to obtain them all at once, and it's impossible to get the maps from the fiftieth floor onwards without going directly through the Guild. Ahem! Also, take this," she said, presenting a folded piece of brown paper decorated with yellow fishes on the border.
No way! An actual love letter from Gita?! I was joking before!
Shalltear eye's widened, quickly took the envelope and opened it, to reveal a series of numbers from one to seven, saying morning or afternoon and the name of a location in each.
"To be clear, you are a regular at this point, and that is my current rotation, where to find me on each day of the week," Gita explained, her usual calm demeanor returning.
Wow, Gita is very well organized... Iris Bennet's Dairy, Hibachitei, The Flaming Wasp, Cafe Wishe, Hostess of Fertility, the Guild... She is everywhere in Orario! I got really lucky the first day when finding Love to find Gita... Otherwise, I would have to find her all over the city...
The dog girl then returned to the table, walking a bit faster than before, the coins in the bags making a clicking sound. Even though she appeared calm on the exterior, it was evident that her emotions were still not completely recovered.
o-O-o
Behind a cluster of tall residential buildings lay an open square space, exposed to the sky, where a lone dog rummaged through the trash in search of food. This dim and damp place was the location of the Blue Pharmacy.
Shalltear approached the wooden double doors and pushed them open, stepping inside Miach Familia's home. The aroma of freshly crushed herbs filled her senses as she entered. At the back of the building, Miach was seated on a rectangular stool, grinding herbs in a mortar. Nearby, Naaza sorted through green herbs on a wooden drawer.
When Naaza noticed Shalltear's arrival, her drowsy eyes lit up, and her tail swished softly from side to side, revealing her pleasure at seeing the silver-haired girl. "Morning," the dog girl greeted in a sleepy voice that belied her hidden excitement.
"Good morning, Naaza, Miach," Shalltear replied, holding a bag with one hand.
The dog girl quickly moved to the wooden counter as the silver-haired girl started to take out a pouch from the bag
Miach, getting up from his stool, followed behind and recognized the visitor. "Hm? Oh, if it isn't Shalltear?" he said with a hint of surprise.
"I got materials for you," Shalltear stated, continuing to take out a few more pouches from the bag.
Naaza's tail swayed faster, betraying her otherwise drowsy face. She opened one of the pouches to inspect its contents.
"I have... War Shadow's finger blades, Purple moth wings, and..." Shalltear begins counting with her fingers.
Before she can finish, Naaza interjects, "Plants from the twenty-fourth floor of the Large Tree Labyrinth."
Inside the pouch that the dog girl had opened, various intriguing items were revealed: pieces of large mushrooms, flowers with silver sap, and strange types of leaves. The 24th floor's plant diversity is known to provide ingredients highly desirable to chemists, leading to numerous quests being issued for that area. Many of the leaves and roots possess potent healing properties, so powerful that consuming them raw can instantly restore health or cure ailments on the spot. As the main components for healing items, these collectibles are incredibly valuable.
Naaza recognizes the plants as originating from a region in the Dungeon she hadn't had the opportunity to explore since she only reached Level 2 before the fatal day that left her outside of dungeon delving. Before that tragic event, she had earned from the gods the nickname Miyal Hound, the Medical God's Loyal Hound, and had remained loyal to Miach ever since, living up to her alias.
"And I also got this~!" Shalltear exclaims, opening one of the pouches she had placed on the counter, revealing white leaves inside.
Miach expresses concern, "Oh, white leaves from the twenty-fourth floor white tree... Wasn't it dangerous to get them?"
The Dungeon had many gimmicks, the ones on the resource-rich 24th floor relied on using rare resources to attract adventurers to their death. Among them, there were rooms connected to hallways that adventurers usually passed by. Those rooms had a White Tree illuminated by the blue light given by the luminescent moss on the walls, so it was easy to spot. Those trees had White Leaves that were highly valued and commonly used in shops on the surface. But, it was all a trap since monsters will ambush you the moment you try to collect any.
This was a pretty common pattern on the Dungeon, for example, on that same floor there were a few big rooms with an incredibly rare Jewel Tree in each, a tree that produced dazzling red and blue gems that could be sold for a great deal of money. But a green dragon sprawled out at the base of each Jewel Tree. These trees were protected by green dragons, the strongest monsters on the floor, and a good match for even Level Four adventurers. These types of powerful creatures, usually from the dragon species, were known as Treasure Keepers and were always the stronger ones on the floor, with no Monster Rexes located on them. In the Dungeon, it was common for Treasure Keepers to guard rare items, like the Cadmus dragons on the 51st floor.
Shalltear replies with a cheeky smile, "It wasn't a problem~."
Naaza bows formally, expressing her gratitude, "Thank you... for your invaluable help."
Then the silver-haired girl changes the topic, addressing Miach casually, "Ah, right, Miach... there are three girls from Soma Familia that come to buy here, right? I saw them before."
Miach nods slowly, confirming, "I believe that is correct, yes."
Shalltear pretends to be worried as she continues, "I am in a party with a member of the same Familia, and there is a rumor that someone is targeting the Familia."
It should be true since the rumor is spreading as we talk~
Naaza chimes in with her drowsy voice, concerned about losing clients, "Will something happen to them?"
Shalltear explains the rumor, "The rumor is about Soma Familia recently pissing off somebody by scamming them and wanting to take revenge on the Familia. I am concerned that they may come here for shelter. Can you do some preparation in case that happens?" She then closes her open bag on the floor and carries it with one hand.
Miach starts pondering, his hand on his chin, "Hmmm, we could mov--"
But the dog girl interrupts confidently, "No worries, we will shelter them... being regulars and all..."
You could practically see Naaza counting money in her head, it seemed she wanted to use that as an excuse for making the trio buy more potions from her.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone