The next day:
After a good night's sleep, I got up and was greeted by my goddess to prepare breakfast for us. The girls were then in the bathroom. I ate without them so I could go there. After the shower and the girls' meal, it was decided that Neze and Lyra would take me to the guild then to the Dungeon. Alise, Kaguya and Ryu going directly to the Donjon on the middle floors. Alise and Kaguya being level 2 they can manage the 13 floors, Ryu acting as a mage/support while passing level 2.
Pantheon:
Lyra: Do you already have a contact in the guild? Or are we introducing you to our advisor?
Me: Eina had taken me in yesterday. Is it a problem if I stay with her?
Neze: Not at all, as long as she is competent. Which one is it?
Me: The half-elf with hazel hair over there. Hello Miss Eina.
Eina: Oh... uh... sorry I saw you yesterday but I forgot your name.
Me: Tank Yukki miss Eina, I came to update my status.
Eina: Have you already found a famillia?! Impressive, usually it takes several days to several weeks to find one. Very well that she famillia to you joined?
Me: The famillia Astrea, Neze and Lyra are there to attest it.
Eina looked at the two girls behind me.
Eina: Very well, to obtain your permanent citizenship you just have to pay the tax of 100,000 valis.
Me: *glupp, should I pay it immediately?
Eina: No, as long as your temporary stay is not exhausted you can pay it in installments.
Me: Phew... but here I am in debt before even starting my adventure.
Eina: In this regard, your clothing seems correct for the first floors but you don't seem to have a weapon or armor. The guild offers starting packs at 3000 or 5000 valis.
Me: What is the difference between the two?
Eina: The one at 3000 offers a generalized plastron, a dagger and two healing potions. The one at 5000 offers three healing potions, a generic breastplate, a weapon of your choice, a support knife, and a carrying pouch for the stones.
Me: Lyra an opinion?
Lyra: The two offers are frankly good, the guild material being new. You could maybe find the same thing for cheaper but the objects would have been used before.
Me: Ok, then I will take the option at 5000 valis and for the weapon I will choose a long sword.
Eina: Very well, I'll get that for you.
Lyra: hah, another swordsman...
Me: Is that a bad thing?
Neze: No no it's just that the other three are already fighting with swords we hoped you would fight with other things to balance.
Me: Sorry but I think the sword is just too versatile.
Lyra: Good point.
Me: Which floor do you think we'll be able to reach?
Neze: It will depend on you, if the goblins don't cause you too much trouble we can go to the fourth one. I don't think we'll go any lower. War shadows and frog shooter need higher stats to be kill witouht too much risk.
Eina: Listen to your comrade, what matters is that you come back alive. Adventurers should not seek adventure.
Me: Understood, play the safety before the exitation of novelty.
Eina: Perfect, here is your sword your plastron, your three potions and your magic stone bag.
Me: Thank you Eina, see you later.
How long are we staying in the Dungeon?
Neze: During the day, we usually come out when the sun sets around 6 PM.
Me: So I have to get myself rations and water?
Neze smiles: Well spotted, first successful test, Lyra and I have our rations, we will take yours on the road.
Me: Ok thank you and apart from the rations do you have any advice for the new one?
Neze: Don't panic, take your time against your first monsters. Your gaol is tosurvive not doing a big loot.
Quickly we arrived in the Dungeon. The atmosphere inside is quite oppressive, I feel like I'm being watched, hunted by the Dungeon. Once arrived at the bottom of the stair Neze and Lyra takes me away from the main road to look for goblins. The first group was a group of two goblins, wanting to test my magic I used my spell.
Me: Stormbolt!
The lightning pulverized the first goblin before a second less powerful ray was projected on his comrade, paralysing him for two seconds. After that, he ran towards me, raising his arms ready to tear me apart. I unsheathed my new long sword, took a stable position while slightly spreading my legs. When he knocked, I jumped back surprised him, when he recover I hit his right arm. I partially cut it off but his bone resisted. The goblin tried to scratch me with his left arm and hit my arm. The cut is not too deep but the pain is quite present. I took again the distance before getting back into position, raising my sword, when the goblin attacks me again, my sword abbot cutting his belly. He collapsed.
Lyra: Not bad for a first fight but you underestimated their resistance.
Me: Yes, his bone didn't seem so strong to me.
Neze: Their arm and leg are stronger than their torso and head.
Lyra: On the other hand, your magic is interesting not powerful enough to kill two goblins at once but enough to one shot one and paralyze the other. Usually, lightning spells are either pure damage or damage and crowd control. Your spell is on the second case.
Me: So much the better, a body-to-body paralysis seems better than pure damage.
Lyra: And now on the funny part, extract the magic stone. For the goblin it is just under the neck.
Lyra showed me how to cut the flesh to extract the stone, so soon the goblin fell into black dust. The goblin killed by my magic in ohter and turned into dust immediately.
After that, we quickly caught the groups of goblins, when the Dungeon didn't allow them to directly appear on us we huted them by smell. Goblins and monster in general smell rotten eggs. At the end of the fourth group, I have my little strategy against the goblins. I attracted them with my magic to weaken them but once in a melee I restarted my spell, it killed most of the monsters and for those who remained I took advantage of paralysis to finish them off.
Once several gorupes were eliminated in this way, Neze asked me to stop using my magic in each fight. The objective was not to make myself dependent on this tool, despite the sword which is always there unless it breaks, the magic is a limited resource. The mana regenerates but it's a slow process.
The next fights between me and gorupe of 2 to 4 goblins were more complicated, their number being always at maximum and without paralysis I had more difficulty parrying all their attacks and even more difficulty killing them.
On three potions offered by the guild, I used two. But the lessons was worth every blow. When we took the time to eat, I was able to globally counter all the goblin attacks that expose my limbs. For those the best moment is just after they have finished their jump attacks there their back is vulnerable.
Neze: You learn quickly for a new one. But you lack techniques.
Me: Yeah, to be honest yesterday is the first time I was actually fighting.
Neze supprise: You weren't fighting in your pack?
Me: How to say.. we weren't fighting in the pack, since I didn't have any.
Neze: Oh... Sorry for bringing the topic...
Me: No worries, it was definitely going to happen. So how do you think I should improve on?
Lyra: Hurry up, the monsters will gradually boost your stats but they are stupid. To work on the techniques, you need to face opponents who think. Ask Astrea or Kaguya to train and you will progress quickly, but you will suffer.
Me: I'll get used to the pain, in the Dungeon I will get injured so I'll get used to it quickly. That it doesn't become a handicap later.
Lyra: Good mentality, see if you manage to keep it. And then you will help Ryu improve her magic like that.
Me: Speaking of magic, if it's not indiscreet what do you have as spells?
Lyra: I can place mines in the form of magical circles with a small incantation, it's very practical to secure a resting area, a bottleneck or to ensure our withdrawal.
Neze: Alise has a flame enchantment spell, honestly her spell is impressive it boosts her speed and strength while protecting her with a barrier who automatically counters attack every 5 seconds. And with an another song she can can interrupt the spell to trigger a flame attack.
Me: Wow, it must be impressive to see.
Lyra: It is. Kaguya she also used a quick-incantation spell, it reinforces her next attack by adding eight blades of light that hit the same target.
Neze: And Ryu have a healing magic that you received yesterday as well as a long-incantation spell that generates spheres of wind and light.
Me: Incroayble, Astrea knows how to spot talent.
Neze: Clearly. Can't wait to have my own spell.
Me: And what kind of spell would you like?
Neze: I don't really know, an enchantment like Alise would be what would suit me best, that or a quick healing spell. But that for later, now we hunt the gobelin.
After eating, we continue the goblin hunt until we leave the Dungeon. This second session went better, some slight injuries notably on my forearms but nothing serious. For this session, Neze asked me to fight more 'sent off', that is to say rush in the group and once in contact I can use my magic or not. And I tell you tending the arm while parrying and dodging it's harder than it seems. Once the afternoon of hunting finished I have come back with forthy six magic stone and a goblin finger. And for echange that we have to come back to the guild.
Me: Hello again Eina.
Eina: Ah... uh... Tank, so how did your first raid go?
Me: Well, I think. The first fights caused me wounds but nothing that a potion cannot heal.
Eina: I see, be careful to restock well. The Miach famillia in front provides the best potions of the city. And if you need medical care, the Dian Cecht hospital is the best place for direct healing.
Me: I'm keeping that in mind. Can I exchange my stones here or do I have to go to the counter?
Eina: No, you can do it here, the counter is for large deliveries. Let's see, forty-six goblin stones, and oh, a finger from your first dive you are lucky. So for the forty-six stones, his tee makes 4600 valis, plus 2000 valis for the finger. That is a total of 6600 valis.
Me: Super thank you. And Eina I would like to have your opinion, do you think I should start paying my citizenship tax? I don't like being overtaxed.
Eina: You can but honestly you should save up to improve your equipment completed your armor, have a spare weapon etc. 100,000 valis may seem very much but you have already earned more than 6000 in an entire day on the first floor. You have 6 months to pay your tax. If you want my opinion, stuff yourself properly and when is done I can keep for example 1000 to 2000 valis for each exchange to pay your tax.
Me: I will do that I think, thank you for your comments miss Eina.
Elena: It's my job. Do you need something else ? Because I see other adventurers that I take care.
Me: Oh sorry, no thank you for all.
Eina: Perfect following, Oh Bell.
BELL!? Indeed the young white rabbit is really there and... what is this murderous aura on me? Upon turning around, I see an adventurer veiled in black, focusing on me, the pressure she emits is stifling. I recognized her for her style and from her heterochromacy. Alfia, and this Aflis is clearly, the mama-bear around Bell. She look at me for several second before refocusing on Bell and a young Amazon flirting with him. Good luck to her, flirting with Bell in front of Alfia is...
Lena: AHHH ALFIA-SAN promise I won't corrupt Bell! I was just offering him Hmmm!
Lyra: It's Alfia and her nephew Bell, the kid is a love of what they say but he has a dragon who protects him.
Me: Yeah I looked at the boy for a second and I felt like I was a mouse in front of a lion. When we get back, we can go through the pharmacy I would like to get some potion.
Lyra: Of course, Neze went to see her blacksmith for a comand. Follow me.
Lyra: Hi Naaza!
Naaza: Oh hello Lyra and... sorry I don't think I know you.
Lyra: It's Tank, the new member of my famillia.
Naaza: Oh nice to meet you, Naaza Erisius captain of our famillia and main apothecary. What I can do for you?
Me: I would like to buy potions, how much does a healing and mana potion cost ?
Naaza: The healing potions are at 500 valis for firsts, and the mana potions at 3000 valis.
Currently I have roughly 10 000 valis.
Me: Ok then I will take two heal potions and one mana.
Naaza: Very well, I see that you don't have a potion belt, do you want me to add one for beginners? She will protect your potions against any danger up to the 10th floor.
I turned to Lyra for her advice.
Lyra: Do it, for now I'm wearing your potions but I won't always be with you. But be careful, Naaza sells quality products but she is very good at adding extra products to you.
Naaza : Lyra ! I only offer you useful products. So the three potions and the belt that makes a total of 5000 valis.
I paid with my card. Naaza then asked me to try the belt, she made a supplementary hole to adapt it specially to my size. She would let me keep six potions safe on me.
Naaza: You have a place left in your belt. A little potion of mana to complete?
Me: No thank you, I have already spent half of my money.
Naaza lowered her ears: Oh... so I have to eat simple this evening...
Lyra exasperated: Stop your act, we all know that your famillia generates incredible profits.
Naaza: Lyra, how do you expect him to learn negotiation if you prevent him from falling into my traps?
Lyra: Because I am going to teach him, that's why. Help you trick idiots ok but not when the idiot in question is from my famillia.
Me: Uh what you sold me works, doesn't it?
Naaza furious: How dare you! I may be pushing more for sale but I always sell quality in potion and equipment!
Lyra: Don't worry, she's telling the truth. Do you need anything else?
Me: I don't think so. Thank you for your attention miss Naaza.
Naaza: No problem, but never question my abilities again.
Me: Promise.
Lyra: I congratulate you, usually Naaza is very cold with the new ones.
Me: It's mainly because you were there. Are you really helping her to trap clients?
Lyra laughs: No, well yes, when I come to buy I always do it with people behind me and I help her sell a little more to other adventurers against a small discount on our purchases. It's more a game about us than anything else. Come on, let's go home.