(Ulva's Perspective)
"Hey Ulva-chan! Aren't you tired of doing that?"
A bored Kawaii asked as she melted an icicle in her hands.
"What? No way!"
Ulva responded.
"Um, but this is getting boring."
"Really? Sorry, but I wanted to see how much better I could get with my magic. Just look at this. [Ice Magic: Ice Bunny]."
She opened her hands and a tiny crystalline bunny was formed. It jumped off her hand and hopped close to the chair in the room. Once it nibbled on the chair a bit, it exploded, encasing the foot of the chair in ice.
"See? I want to make something cute, but every time I try this they always explode."
"Ne ne, Ulva-chan, don't you think it's better to weaponise these guys instead?"
"Weaponise them?"
"Yeah, you know? Like to make it an attack spell or something. Like imagine. [Ice Magic: Ice Bunny]! Then you let out a huge bunny that freezes a bunch of your enemies! Imagine Hinotori-sama in dire straits and you sweep down and do that for her. What do you think would happen? Hinotori-sama would pamper you lots!"
The scenario presented by Kawaii played out in Ulva's mind with impressively high imagination, perfectly detailing out every single moment of the scene.
"Big sis would pamper me?"
"Yea, yea! It'll be nice with a big hug and head pats and stuf-"
"Kawaii!"
Before the slime could finish her sentence, Ulva had grabbed her arms and was waving her about.
"Eh?"
"Help me make this a very powerful attack! Achew!"
"Um, sure. Let's try another day. Looks like you are coming down with a cold."
=================================================
So after a lot of contemplation I ended up naming Arisu. I even managed to make her my servant and was surprised to see her stats. Turns out she was actually the Silver Quartz Fanged Rabbit King who got thrashed by the black rabbit earlier on. At this point she was the strongest being I had in my arsenal so I was glad I managed to add her to my team even if this way was completely unexpected. And the fact that she was alive was proof of the fact that she defeated Hefla – Oh yeah, that thing is called Hefla - or at least she didn’t die at his hands.
Not wanting to interrogate her on such matters, I decided to go to the dungeons with her. If she attacked me I would simply silence her with [Absolute Command]. We were currently in the last floor.
‘Hmm, there aren't any monsters around. I figured they would have respawned by now. Will they take a bit more? Or they aren’t like that.’
I walked over to the thrown and I saw golden armor from the two headed skull warrior yesterday. I took it and added it to my item box.
[Name: Golden Sigma Armor]
[Item Rank: Epic]
[Description: Grants +400 Defense, +250 Speed, +300 Resistance to all elemental attacks and powerful elemental attacks]
‘Eh? Nice, nice. I can use this. I'll just keep on using this armor for now.’
I decided to wear the armor then I looked at Arisu. My stats had immediately gone up. The armor had six gems with different colours, probably representing six different elements. Red on the right gauntlet, blue on the left gauntlet, brown on the boots, green on chest, lightning blue and light blue on the breastplate.
‘Hey, Do I look like Gilgamesh?’
She stared at me, making me feel very weird. Obviously she wouldn’t get my question.
‘Arisu-chan?’
"Hinotori-sama."
‘Y-Yes?’
"You're spouting nonsense like an idiot."
‘Uk… we really need to fix your tongue you shitty brat.’
I grabbed her cheeks and pinched hard, although with her defense she didn’t feel anything. It did allow me to see a cute stretched face.
"Really? My parents told me to be completely honest."
‘And your parents were right, but sometimes it just turns rude.’
"Really? I see."
'Ah, wait… you had parent?’
“Hmm, yes. I ate them though.”
‘W-Why?’
“They proved useless to me.”
‘A-Ah… whatever. Scary~’
"Hello there!"
"Huh!?"
Completely surprised, I turned around to see that a guy wearing a black overcoat was glaring at us. He had short spiky black hair and wore glasses, with fair skin and an Asian like face. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. Did he come from my world? China or something.
"Welcome! To the Forbidden Dungeon! Once owned by me! My name is Kaleb Zen according to the residents of this world."
'Ah… an apparition.’
"You may be wondering what now, since you’ve cleared my dungeon.”
Well, he was kind of right.
“Well, look at the throne. The next master of this dungeon should sit on it.”
He pointed at the throne the litch sat on the day before. I jumped on to the seat immediately.
“Give it a moment and you should be hearing a voice in your head.”
[You have sat on the Dungeon Master’s Throne!]
[Do you wish to be the Master of the Forbidden Dungeon?]
Ø [YES]/[NO]
‘Oh? A screen? Nice.’
“Tell that voice that you wish to be the dungeon’s new master.”
‘OH? In that case, make me the master!’
[DING!]
[You have opted to be the Dungeon Master]
[You will acquire access to certain Dungeon features]
[You have received the [Dungeon Manual]]
[You have received the title [Dungeon Master]]
[You have acquired the Unique Skill [Dungeon System]]
[You have received 1x [Dungeon Orb]]
[You have received the [Forbidden Dungeon]]
[Bonus features for capturing a C rank dungeon will be given to you]
Screens flooded my vision, exciting me at the prospect of me becoming a dungeon master and managing it to my will. I hadn’t read many books on this, neither had I played lots of games such as these in my previous life, but that didn’t stop me from getting excited. Same way I got excited to explore this place.
“By now you should be seeing a certain screen in front of you. And you should also be wondering why I’m just giving this place out even after you technically just stole from me.”
Kaleb Zen said, making me gulp where I sat. Something didn’t feel right about his phrasing and the dead fish eyes he was giving me behind his glasses.
“The reason is simple enough. In the next second this place blows up. I hope you enjoy!"
‘Wha- Arisu!’
I wrapped myself around her, hoping to be able to protect her from the explosion. Only forgetting that she had a higher defense than myself after I had done that.
BOOM!
…
'Nothing… happened?'
"Hahahaha! You fell for it! Idiot! I wish I could see your face right now! Wait."
I was surprised to see the middle-aged man laughing after pulling an immature prank on me.
SNAP!!!
There was a bright flash out of nowhere.
"Ok, now this will be sent to my soul if I'm dead. I’d remember it in my next life now."
“Why is this guy so stupid?"
‘Wish I knew Arisu. I wish I knew.’
"You too, Hinotori-sama. You could have just teleported us away. That is one of your abilities, right?"
‘Ah, we'll have to work on your tongue.’
"Yea, yea. Anyway, the reason why I said that is because since you defeated the dungeon boss, the original dungeon core has been destroyed. Which means this dungeon will start to degrade until it is completely destroyed. You need to inse-… dungeon c-… the… And there you have it. Good luck whoever you are. You just cleared one of the lowest ranked dungeons in the world. I have two more. I'm sure you are tempted by my weapons, right? Especially since your era has probably downgraded in terms of technology. I wonder how Zero feels about that. Anyway get them together and you'll unlock something good. That's all the time I have for now. See you in the next dungeon at the Crimson Fields. My second ranked dungeon, the <<Yellow Springs>>. Oh yeah, if you awaken the egg you received post clearing the dungeon, another message will come, that is if you haven’t already seen it."
‘Ah… w-what was that!? Insert the dungeon core where!? Kaleb Zen! You idiot!’
The apparition faded.
I picked the core from my item box. It was just a dim glowing orb. When I touched it, the closer changed to a dark purple. I was amused and came to the conclusion that it was probably due to my aura or something. My signature colour, I was guessing.
‘Tch… if I wake up the egg from before he will also come back, right?’
I shove the core back in and took out the mystery egg. It looked like a dazzling crystal, light but rigid.
‘How do I activate this th-eeaggh!’
Out of nowhere, a powerful surge of energy traveled through my body. I could hear a powerful roar in my head as visions came through. I saw a large terrifying beast soaring over continents. With each breath, an entire continent would be destroyed. A mighty roar caused the planet to shake. A regular flap caused hurricanes. Its very movement was hazardous to the planet. I couldn’t make out its features well, but this thing was something that could destroy a world if it so much as wished to.
The visions died down and when I came to, I was on my knees, holding up the egg like some kind of servant. Arisu was breathing heavily in the corner as well.
CHIP! CRACK! CRACK!
I could feel movement from the egg.
[The mysterious egg is cracking]
I brought it down to my eye level and looked at it. Cracks were forming on it rapidly till it shattered. First came two little legs, followed by a lizard head, then its entire body. This thing was a lizard with light purple skin and a white under belly. Its spine was riddled with shiny crystals as well.
I tilted my head as I inspected this creature and it mimicked me.
[The Twilight Salamander is requesting a Soul Bond with you]
[Will you accept?]
Ø [YES]/[NO]
Feeling a bit exasperated I looked at the question awkwardly for a bit before remembering the incident earlier with Shiro. I gulped.
‘I-Is there no other way?’
[The Twilight Salamander is requesting a Soul Bond with you]
[Will you accept?]
Ø [YES]/[NO]
The same screen reappeared before me. I sighed and face palmed. Quickly, I took a glance at Arisu from the corner of my eye. She was still shaking in the corner of the room and I felt a bit surprised by the development. I hadn’t expected her to be this shaken. Maybe her animal instincts? In fact, I should have been terrified, but this thing was simply too adorable for me to be scared of it.
‘Hmm, can’t I put this on hold?’
*SQUEAK*
The creature opened its mouth and let out a cute squeak. I found myself liking it by the second.
DING!
[The Twilight Salamander is proposing another option]
[The Twilight Salamander wishes to form a Familiar Contract with you]
[Will you accept?]
Ø [YES]/[NO]
‘F-Familiar contract? That sounds kind of interesting. I wish the agent was here to explain though, but since it’s different from the soul bond, it should probably be less harmful, right? And if this is according to the books, then having a familiar would give me no issues. I guess I accept then.’
DING!
[You have accepted the terms of the contract]
[Familiar Contract is being formed!]
‘T-Terms of the contract?’
[Do you wish to see the terms of the contract?]
‘Why are you now showing me this!? Lemme see!’
[#1 You are the master in the relationship]
[#2 Being your first familiar, the Twilight Salamander is assured the highest position no matter how many familiar you acquire]
[#3 Once the Twilight Salamander achieves the same level of power as you or higher, you two will be put in a mandatory Soul Bond]
[#4 You are to give the Twilight Salamander special benefits for being your first familiar]
[#5 You are to name the Twilight Salamander]
[#6 The Twilight Salamander will follow all your orders without question]
[Congratulations! You have acquired your first Familiar!]
‘A-Ah!’
