Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon?

Fanfic: Familia plus One

Chapter 7: Second Level

Do I own it? Nope….I still don't own it.

...Familia Plus One...

As it turned out, Hestia had simply been tired. Spending several days working in the forge with Hephaestus herself had drained the Kami of her strength. The excitement of Monsterphilia combined with the running from the Silverback, had further tired her to the point where she had collapsed.

After having dinner at the Hostess of Fertility, and paying for the room they used, the familia went home to their chapel on the outskirts of town. Bell was taking his new knife out, and examining it over and over, feeling the balance of it. He was still impressed that Hestia had gone to such lengths just to support him. A Hephaestus Familia weapon, especially one made by the Patron Kami of that Familia, was worth several million Vallis.

Upon arriving, they found a young man dressed in the garb of one of the Ganesha Familia messengers. His mask and tunic were clean and well made, with his eyes being covered by the same yellowish glass that all of the members of the Familia had to protect their eyesight.

The young man had honey blonde hair, and lightly tanned skin that spoke of working outside frequently. He stood with a nervousness that said he wasn't sure what to do, and was pacing back and forth in front of the chapel. A tightly rolled scroll was in his hands, and as the trio approached, his shoulders sagged in relief at finally having someone to give his message to. He snapped to attention a moment later, and stood waiting for the small group to approach him.

"What do you think he wants?" Hestia questioned softly to Wyntir, who raised an eyebrow before shaking his head to indicate that he didn't know. Bell was still testing his new weapon, the Hestia Knife, feeling how well it drew from the custom made scabbard.

"Good Morning Hestia Familia." The messenger called, his voice cracking slightly on the last word, showing he was still on the older edge of puberty.

"Lord Ganesha, the Patron Kami of the Ganesha familia requests your audience this afternoon to thank you personally for the assistance you all gave yesterday in dispatching the monsters that were set free from the Monsterphilia event." Holding the Scroll out to Hestia, the messenger gulped slightly at addressing another Kami, and smiled nervously.

Hestia gave a smile of her own, the stood up as tall as she could, and coughed a little to clear her throat.

"I, Hestia, Patron Kami of the Hestia Familia do kindly and graciously accept this invitation made by your Patron Kami, Lord Ganesha." Letting the professional persona drop now that important points had been observed, she asked softly. "Is there a particular time that we need to be there?"

Jumping with a slight start, the young messenger nodded rapidly. "Yes Kami Hestia, the meeting is set to take place at 2:00 PM. Please be sure to arrive early enough to be announced."

…Familia Plus One…

Inside the Chapel, after the Ganesha Familia Messenger had gone, Bell was polishing his Breastplate while Wyntir used his magic to mend and hem everyone's garments. Hestia was behind the divider, washing up and getting ready while the boys did their preparations.

Since they had taken the time to recover and get ready at the Hostess of Fertility that morning, it was already approaching Noon. The Ganesha Familia would be a fair walk for the small Familia to traverse, and so they would need to leave no later than 1pm to get to the meeting on time.

A moment later, Hestia came out from behind the divider wrapped in a towel, and as was their custom, Bell and Wyntir walked out of the room and up the stairs to let her have the space in the room to herself. After a few moments, Hestia called the two boys back in, letting them know that she was dressed and presentable.

Brushing her still damp hair out, she looked over at the boys. "Wyntir, I updated Bell's status Yesterday, How about I do yours before the meeting?"

Wyntir looked up from his coat, which he had been working on cleaning and getting ready, and nodded. He had decided to go with his Grey three piece suit, and blue shirt with his black tie. The tie and coat were all that was needed now to finish preparing. Taking off his shirt, he laid down, and Got ready for the status update.

Hestia climbed upon the back of his legs, and got the pin from her headboard that she used to get the drop of blood needed to update the status of the Blessing she had given to the Children of her Familia. Letting the blood well up and fall, she watched as the dome came up over Wyntir's tattoo, and the numbers began to rotate out, settling on a series of B-level stats with his Dexterity being A-level, and Endurance being a high C-level.

Wyntir's magic was listed at the bottom, with some new text fading in.

"Well well Wyntir-kun, you have a new ability." Hestia said, looking over his stats, before she made a sudden strangled half choking sound.

Bell looked up from where he had been re-lacing his boots in alarm. "Kami-sama, what is it."

Wyntir looked over his shoulder at his Patron, and raised an Eyebrow until she stuttered out an answer.

"L-l-l-l-l-level t-t-two."

Exclamations came from both adventurers, as Hestia pushed the dome of magic back into Wyntir's back, and quickly grabbed a sheet of parchment. She laid it over Wyntir's back, and tracing a quick circle with the finger she had pricked, she watched as the stats from his tattoo were transferred over.

Sitting on the side of the bed, she looked at the page while Wyntir put his shirt back on. As the eldest of her Children came over, she handed him the page, before jumping up and hugging him tightly.

"Congratulations! I'm so proud of you, Wyntir-kun!" She nearly yelled in happiness.

Looking at the sheet, Wyntir read everything over. "I'm glad for the Level, but what is this Status Hestia-Sama?" Reaching up and pointing to the bottom part of the page where his new ability was listed, Hestia read it off.

"The ability is called Fencer. It seems to be linked to your new sword. When using only one weapon with no shield, your speed is increased, and your agility gets a boost as well. It's a common and much sought after Ability for many swordsmen. I would guess that you haven't unlocked it until know because you tend to use the bottom part of your sword cane as a second weapon." Hestia smiled, laughing slightly in her giddiness.

Looking at the Clock, Hestia suddenly shouted out in alarm. "We need to go, we're going to be late!"

Gathering their things, and finishing getting dressed, the trio shot out of the Chapel, and began to run down the road to the main area of Orario, where the Ganesha Familia lived.

…Familia Plus One….

Eina sat in front of a cup of steaming tea, still filling out forms about the monsters that had escaped from Monsterphilia the day before. Since two of her charges had been caught up in the fighting and slaying of the monsters, she had a lot of papers to file to ensure that it was well documented that neither boy was the cause of the disruptions and that no extra damage had occurred as a result of their actions.

Sitting back and stretching her arms above her head to prevent any cramps from staying in one position for too long, she took a short sip of tea, smiling at the minty yet bitter flavor of her favorite blend.

'Well,' she thought to herself, 'at least neither of them were seriously injured."

The half elf stretched once more, letting out a sigh as her back popped slightly, and then went back to her work, filling out forms.

….Familia Plus One….

Wyntir, Hestia, and Bell stood in the large, Lavish hall of the palace, which just days before, had held the party of the various Kamis whom had attended the Monsterphilia birthday celebration for Ganesha's Birthday.

Seated of a small, yet opulent throne, Ganesha smiled down on the three visitors to his Familia's home.

"Welcome Hestia Familia!" He bellowed, "Lord Ganesha is pleased to have you in his humble home. And I should know." Leaping to his feet, Ganesha posed with his thumb pointing to his chest. "Because I am Lord Ganesha."

Hestia and Bell sweat dropped, with drooping shoulders as they looked at the Kami who had invited them. Wyntir stood, his body facing away from the Elephant masked Kami, and rolled his eyes.

"Lord Ganesha invited you all here to thank you for the assistance you lent the Ganesha Familia in protecting the Children in this town. And I should know, because…" Before Ganesha could finish, one of his Familia members came up and whispered in his ear.

"Wyntir, you don't seem to be excited to be here. What's wrong?" Bell muttered, while their host was preoccupied. Hestia turned to look at the elder of her two children and cocked her head slightly to the side.

"He's every bit as cocky and self-centered as Grandmother said." Wyntir sighed.

Apparently, he had been a little to loud in announcing his opinion, as two members of the Ganesha Familia stepped forward, and looked ready to fight. "How dare you speak so insolently of out Kami!" The two challenged, while several other members of the Familia looked angrily at Wyntir.

Ganesha cleared his throat, and waved his hands broadly, gaining the attention of most of the Familia, while a few still glared heatedly at Wyntir. "It seems I must end this meeting early, you have the apologies of myself, and my Familia for inviting you and then ending the meeting so abruptly. I offer, to you, a boon, Hestia Familia. Should you ever find yourselves in need, the Ganesha Familia will offer you assistance as you have assisted us." Posing again, Ganesha smiled broadly.

"And now, if you will excuse me, Lord Ganesha has another meeting to attend. I should know." As he was finishing, A woman, dressed differently that the toga-wearing members of the Familia, looped her arm through the Elephant-headed Kami's, and began to pull him towards the door, making him hop on one foot. "Because I am Lord Gane…." Although everyone knew what he was going to say, Lord Ganesha's last comment was cut off as the doors to another chamber slammed shut.

While Bell and Hestia smiled at one another, and turned to leave, Wyntir stared at the door through which Ganesha had been pulled for another minute, before joining his Familia members.

….Familia Plus One….

The next day, Zig and Zag, otherwise known as Isabelle, and Azalea, the twin supporters from the Miach Familia who journeyed with Wyntir were both picking up crystals in the Dungeon, while Wyntir Stood look-out, making sure no monsters came to attack while the party was pre-occupied.

They had gone down a little earlier than they normally did, because the two were planning to join Hestia, Bell, and Wyntir at the Hostess of Fertility to Celebrate Wyntir's recent increase in Level.

Using only his new saber, which he had yet to give a name to, Wyntir had over shot his attacks a few times, and nearly lost his balance twice already as the new ability made his attacks faster.

The twins' ears perked up, and Wyntir turned as the tell-tale sound of Monster spawning echoed through the Labyrinthian maze that comprised the 6th level of the dungeon. The cracking, stone crumbling sounds seemed to be coming from a little further in, and the trio of adventurers readied themselves, before moving forward.

Four Large Cycloptic frog monsters were standing up after their spawning process had concluded. The trio began to fall into their normal attack pattern, with Wyntir in the front, and Zig and Zag behind, using their slingshots to support him, when an eerie whistling, moaning sound came from behind the twins.

Black ooze seemed to drip down from the ceiling and pool into humanoid forms. A group of War Shadows formed behind the small twin girls, leaving the team to fight a battle on two fronts.

….Familia Plus One….

Wow.

It has been a while, y'all.

Sorry to make so many people wait on this chapter, I've had a lot of things going on in my personal life, so I haven't really had time to sit down and write.

Thanks to everyone who has been liking and favoriting the story, I hope some of you are still around.