CH.332 Moss and Carrots

CH.332 Moss and Carrots

While we kept going throughout the dungeon, I took a position in the back taking, making sure that Unika, the injured fox-folk, was going to be fine in the floating medical bed. I got some comments about it from Alice and Lua through the System Link, mainly about me refusing to heal her bones with one of my summons while still making sure to watch over her. I’m sorry, okay? I do somewhat trust her, but I don’t trust Nel. Sure I feel bad that this Unika girl has to suffer because of it, but at the same time, I don’t really know what else to do.

... I mean, I know what I could do, but mind control isn’t on my list of ‘generally acceptable things’. I’ll only do it if there is no other option, or if the person I’m dealing with is a criminal. And I don’t think Nel is a criminal, just because she is suspicious.

As we kept going, the monsters of course got stronger. Not that they were much of a threat to my squad, as even without me summoning a single monster, we were dealing with them quite well. To the point where I decided to tag out with Lua, so I could get some sword practice in. Just using my mithril sword, not Red-Eyes Black Dragon Sword. Well, I might bring it out later, as the number of B-rank monsters keeps increasing.

Eventually, we got to the area 4 rooms, which were basically all B-rank monsters. While we could take care of them, they were slowing us down. ... unless I let Agunan run free and burn everything, but that wasn’t our goal.

So instead, I think it is about time we stop holding back, and show our tagalongs why our party is called Card Summoner.

“Alice, Lua, Ria. I think it is about time we call some monsters out here.” I told my party.

Everyone agreed to my suggestion and we each took out one monster. Just one each, as to not clutter the dungeon too much. I watched what the others would summon and I’d then pick what I will call for.

Alice summoned her Buster Blader, which I found interesting as I think that this is the first time she has used Buster. She always just calls forth her Dark Paladin.

Spoiler

[collapse]

Lua summoned her Vampire Vamp while Ria called out her Vampire Grimson.

Spoiler[collapse]

So we have Grimson and Buster for frontline. Vamp is probably going to act support for them, so maybe... I guess this will do. I’m not sure if he will mind fighting plant-type monsters, considering that he is one, but I can always summon someone else if he does.

“Aromage Bergamot.”

Spoiler

[collapse]

With our new combat squad ready to go, we kept pushing through the dungeon. My Aromage Bergamot was actually a surprising miscalculation, as he was a lot more useful than I assumed he would be. He could control all of the non-monster plants around us, making the trip through the dungeon a lot more pleasant, and also a lot faster.

By the time our summoning time with our current set of monsters ran out, we had reached area 5-4-6, or the area right next to where our rue moss drop point would be.

But before we would continue, I decided that we’d take a lunch break. To defend us while we did so, I called out Aromage Rosemary and Rose Spectre of Dunn. Though I almost ended up unsummoning Rose Spectre of Dunn, as she wanted to ... get close to me. She only stopped after Alice threatened to burn every last speck of her, including her card.

Spoiler[collapse]

As we were eating, Nel cautiously asked if she and Unika could have some food as well. After I asked what had happened to theirs, she explained that she and Unika dropped their bags when they ran away from an A-rank monster in area 5-3-6. And because those bags had all of their food, they didn’t have any left.

Admittedly, I didn’t really think about the fact that they weren’t carrying anything. We always have magic fanny packs and Storage, so I’m used to seeing us travel around with no backpacks.

I agreed to share food with Unika for free, as she was injured, but before I gave any to Nel, I asked her for payment. I’m not a charity for her dumb decisions. She did get a large silver coin from her coin pouch, so I did give Nel some food as well. Not a large silvers worth, but if I gave her that much, she’d need a bag to carry all of that food in.

At least both Nel and Unika enjoyed the food I offered. But then again, it was cooked by Tinkhec and Maya, so if they called it bad, I’d probably abandon the duo in the middle of this dungeon. ... that was a joke. I wouldn’t do anything that major for some criticism.

Spoiler

[collapse]

After our break, and another set of monsters summoned to fight with us, we got to where we were headed, Area 5-4-7. We had to go through the room with a bit more of a comb as we searched for the drop point, but it was quite close to where the map showed it to be, so it wasn’t too bad to find.

Alice used all the points she had gathered on her dungeon card to trade for rue moss, and we got a reasonable amount of it, so I saw no reason to hunt more monsters for more moss. According to Laura, the amount we got should be enough for 10 high level healing potions. If the GM isn’t happy with this amount, she can always send us out on a second quest to get more.

“So, Area 5-3-7 is next, correct?” I confirmed with Nel.

Spoiler[collapse]Spoiler[collapse]

As we got closer to the entrance, Nel got visibly more ... worried looking. Almost like something was troubling her.

“Is something wrong?” I asked her. “Did we leave something behind?”

“No. That isn’t it.” She quickly denied. “... it is just... I ... didn’t think about this.”

“About what?”

“... I ... Can I trust you... to not tell anyone about this?” Nel asked.

“Depends on what ‘this’ is. If it is something illegal, I absolutely will tell someone about it. Well, maybe not absolutely. I do break the rules myself, so it would be hypocritical of me to punish you for something I myself do. So I guess as long as you have a good reason for... whatever that ‘this’ is, I think we can stay quiet.”

“... alright.” Nel walked over to Unika. “Unika. I need you to wake up.” She shook the sleeping girl a bit.

“No. No. No. Don’t do that.” Lua quickly interrupted her. “She still has the broken bones, so no shaking. If you need her awake, let me.”

“Ah, okay.” Nel quickly took a half a step back.

Lua then took a hold of Unika’s hand, before biting into her wrist. That caused Nel to let out a little screech.

“Don’t worry. It is fine. Lua needs a blood connection to use Blood Magic.” I quickly explained.

And I think I know the spell Lua is using. She has Blood Magic spells for both putting people to sleep and waking them up. I do have to say, the putting people to sleep part is a great help when I have too many things on my mind. I don’t have her do it too often, but every now and again, it does actually really help.

“...hmm...” As Unika began waking up, Lua released her wrist from her fangs. It is interesting that no mark is left behind by her bites.

“Unika. We are almost at the entrance. I need you to... do the thing.” Nel quickly explained to Unika. Even if I don’t really know that this ‘thing’ is.

After a second of catching the surroundings, Unika apparently realized what she was supposed to do.

“... alright. Put your hands on Fer and Rum.” Unika told Nel.

Nel did as asked and after just a second, the two iron foxes, as well as Nel herself, began to glow a bit. Then the glow flashed bright and after we could all see again, both the foxes and Nel were gone.

“... what was that?” I asked Unika. It wasn’t magic, I know that much. Or to be more precise, it wasn’t attribute magic, as I would have seen it with my Spiritual Human eyes. It could have been unattributed magic like Space Magic, but there is no way this girl could struggle with sprites, while also being able to use something like that. So it was most likely a skill.

“T-Tamer’s paradise.” Unika answered. “... an extra skill that you can use to hold your tamed beasts.”

“And apparently a human as well.”

“... not normally. I ... kind of discovered it by accident. If you have someone holding multiple tamed monsters when you take them into paradise, the person goes with them.”

“Quite the interesting interaction.” I admitted. “So, what about Nel? I’ll assume she isn’t actually a B-rank adventurer. Actually, she probably isn’t an adventurer in the first place.”

“... I ... I really don't know. I just... I’m on a quest for her. That is all... that I know. I swear.”

“Alright. I won’t pry any more. Let’s get out of here and get you some medical help for those broken ribs. ... but just a tip for the future. Maybe don’t take on shady quests. Next time, we might not be there to save you.”