Devil’s Dividend
The next two weeks of Tanya’s life progressed much the same as they had since she arrived in Orario. She’d wake at dawn, eat a light breakfast, descend into the dungeon and spend the better part of the day killing monsters on the upper floors, surface to collect her earnings, sleep, and then wake up to do it all again the next day.
Any interruptions were short-lived and distractions were thankfully minimal. She had spoken briefly with Syr on occasion, exchanged nods with Mama Mia, and even encountered the Loki Familia once more when they stopped by the Hostess of Fertility for another celebration. That particular evening had been mercifully brief, as Tanya had already been heading to bed when they arrived.
Slowly but surely, her debt was whittled down to a much more manageable sum. Her daily hauls had grown consistent as she refined her approach, learning the most efficient routes through the upper floors and identifying which monsters provided the best return on investment. She hadn’t encountered any more War Shadows, but even without such luck, the steady accumulation of magic stones had begun to add up.
By the end of her third week in Orario, a mere thirty thousand Valis remained of her debt. It would have been even less, but she’d had to start actually paying for her room at the Hostess and that, alongside some preventative maintenance when her sword started making a concerning rattle, had bit into her funds somewhat.
Even so, at her current pace, she would clear her debt with nearly a week to spare. Soon, she would be free of the sword that loomed over her neck. Assuming, of course, Apollo played fair. She doubted he would, but she had measures in place for that as well. Whether they would work or not… She’d honestly prefer not to find out. Better to keep this whole deal as a simple transaction. Much less messy that way.
It was on her way to the Dungeon on a misty Tuesday morning that she found herself waylaid by something interesting.
“Hey, Tanya! Wait up!”
The voice called out from just out of sight as she approached Babel’s entrance. Tanya turned, one brow raising in slight confusion as she recognized the figures approaching her.
Dorian led the group, his easy grin catching the morning light. Licia walked beside him, practically bouncing with each step. Behind them both was a third figure Tanya didn’t recognize—a man with blonde hair held in a neat braid and striking green eyes that regarded her with open curiosity.
“Dorian, Licia. Good morning,” Tanya greeted them with a short nod, eyes regarding their third. “I see you’ve brought a companion this time.”
“This is Asterin Hanthor,” Dorian said, gesturing to the blonde man. “He’s a Level Two, and a pretty well-regarded adventurer in our Familia. Asterin, this is Tanya Degurechaff.”
“A pleasure,” Asterin offered a bow, his voice smooth and pleasant. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you from these two. The solo adventurer who survived the Dungeon without a Falna. Quite impressive.”
Something about his smile unnerved Tanya. It was perfect, almost unnaturally so. Decades spent with brown-nosing businessmen and smarmy bureaucrats told her to be wary of such a well-practiced grin.
“Thank you for the compliment,” she said, eyeing him carefully. “What brings the three of you here this morning?”
Her question was simple but the meaning was obvious: What do you want with me?
“We were hoping to speak with you,” Dorian said, stepping forward. “We’re heading down to the middle floors today. It’s training for Licia and Asterin offered to supervise. We were wondering if you’d like to join us.”
Tanya blinked, her expression shifting to confusion. “Join you? Why would you extend such a courtesy? We aren’t part of the same familia. In fact, if you’ll remember, I’m actively attempting to avoid joining yours.”
Licia waved off her words with a smile. “If you don’t want to join, that’s your choice. But it couldn’t hurt to see what it would be like working as part of a group, right? No strings attached.”
“Some strings,” Dorian corrected lightly. “We’d expect you to pull your weight in combat. But beyond that, this is just an invitation.”
Tanya’s eyes moved between the three of them, searching for signs of deception. Dorian’s expression was open, Licia’s earnest, and Asterin’s pleasant. None of them set off any immediate alarms, but she had learned long ago that appearances could be deceiving.
“I appreciate the offer,” Tanya said slowly. “But forgive me for being skeptical. You stand to gain little from my participation in this little expedition. Even I’ll admit that as I am now, I wouldn’t last very long in the middle floors. You’d be constantly babysitting, while I would benefit significantly from the protection of higher-level adventurers.”
“You’ve been skilled enough to survive so far,” Asterin pointed out.
“On the upper floors, perhaps. But the last time I delved so deep, I was injured so severely that I had to be administered a hundred thousand valis worth of aid,” Tanya smiled thinly, gazing pointedly at the group. “In lieu of those facts, I’m sure you can understand my skepticism.”
The group of Apollo adventurers exchanged looks, before Licia said softly, “Maybe we just want to help.”
The woman’s tone was earnest but Tanya was unmoved. “Altruism is rarely so pure.”
She prepared to turn and take her leave, but Asterin cleared his throat, drawing her attention. His green eyes glinted as he regarded her with a smile.
“If I might interject,” he said in that soft tone of his. “There’s a more practical angle you may be overlooking. The monsters on the middle floors drop considerably more valuable loot than what you’ve been collecting on the upper levels. A normal haul from where we’re heading would likely be worth three or four days of your regular delving.”
He gestured toward the Dungeon entrance. “The deeper you go, the higher the quality of the magic stones. We’re heading to the twelfth floor today. The monsters there drop stones worth ten times what you’d find on the upper floors. Even splitting the haul four ways, you’d still come out significantly ahead of your current earnings.”
Tanya paused at that, her mind rapidly calculating the figures. If Asterin’s estimate was accurate, a single run to the twelfth floor could potentially net her the remaining thirty thousand Valis she needed. Perhaps even more that she could put towards the repair of her computation orb.
Even she had to admit, it was tempting.
“I see,” Tanya said, her voice measured. “And you’re offering to split the loot evenly, despite the fact that I would be contributing far less than any of you?”
“As long as you don’t actively sabotage us, you’re welcome to your share,” Dorian nodded.
Tanya studied the three adventurers for a long moment. The practical side of her brain was screaming that this was an opportunity too good to pass up, while the suspicious side was warning her that nothing came without a price, and the Apollo Familia had already demonstrated a willingness to use debt as leverage.
What’s that saying… Tanya thought. If a service is free, you’re the product? It’s quite possible there is some other angle to this offer. Perhaps they want to see what I can do first-hand to report to their god. Apollo knows that Dorian and Lucia are acquainted with me. This Asterin character could be along to report back to him in their place.
Information was power, and Tanya had been lucky enough that few had seen what she could actually do. If that was the goal of this exercise, then it would be in her best interest to refuse.
But if it wasn’t, and this was simply an offer made in earnest, then she would be a fool to pass up the opportunity to put herself ahead of her debt.
“Very well,” Tanya said finally. “I’ll accompany you. But I reserve the right to leave at any point if the situation becomes untenable.”
“Naturally,” Asterin said, his smile widening slightly. “We wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He turned toward the Dungeon entrance, gesturing for the others to follow. “Shall we? Those monsters won’t kill themselves.”
Tanya held a hand up, “Actually, before we go, I need to return to the Hostess and get something from my room. I didn’t plan to delve so deep today, so I’m not exactly prepared.”
“Go ahead. We’ll wait for you,” Dorian said, and Tanya nodded her thanks, turning and heading back toward the Hostess at a brisk jog.
While thankful for the opportunity presented, Tanya didn’t know this Asterin character, and her trust in Dorian and Licia only went so far. She needed a bit of assurance in case things went south.
~~~
The descent into the Dungeon was a markedly different experience with a party.
Tanya had grown accustomed to moving through the upper floors alone, her path dictated by the need to maximize efficiency while minimizing risk. Every corner was a potential ambush, every shadow a possible threat. She had developed a rhythm that served her well, but that rhythm was disrupted almost immediately by the presence of companions.
Dorian took point, his long strides eating up the distance as he headed the trail. Asterin flanked the group on the right, and Licia brought up the rear, her eyes scanning the tunnels behind them for signs that they were being followed. Tanya was in the middle of the formation, surrounded on all sides by adventurers that were, by all means, much more capable than her.
A spike of nervousness passed through her and her hand brushed against her thigh where her Luger was resting in its holster. She hoped that she wouldn’t need it, both for the sake of her ears and the two adventurers who she would reluctantly admit to being somewhat fond of.
There was an almost military bearing to the group as they delved, Tanya noticed. It was faint, but it was there, the ghost of a formation and actual training. Perhaps Dorian or even Asterin had a mentor with a military background and had absorbed the habits. Or perhaps Tanya was just imagining things.
“The twelfth floor is about an hour’s descent from here,” Asterin explained as they walked. “The terrain shifts several times on the way down: wider corridors, larger caverns. The monsters become more aggressive, but the rewards scale accordingly.”
“I’ve read as much,” Tanya replied, eyeing a large hole in the nearby wall.
“Reading and experiencing are different things,” Dorian added over his shoulder. “The middle floors have a way of surprising even veteran adventurers. It’s easy to get tripped up if you get too confident. Remember, the Dungeon is alive, and it hates you.”
His words were met with nods from his companions, and even Tanya found herself bobbing her head.
They came across pockets of creatures seeking blood, but their first real encounter didn’t happen until the sixth floor, further down than Tanya usually cared to delve.
It came in the form of shrieks splitting the air as the walls around them darkened to a deep black. The group stopped, tensing as a cluster of goblins emerged from the walls, shrieking their usual fanfare. There were around eight of them, eyes glowing with malice as they turned toward the group. More shrieks came from behind as they pulled themselves free, and suddenly they were trapped.
Tanya’s saber had seldom cleared its sheath before she realized that Dorian had already cut down two of them.
The man moved with a skill that bordered on artistry, using his massive blade more like a club as he cut down two or three at a time. Behind, Licia engaged the second group, her sword and dagger flashing as she ducked and dove between the monsters with an ease that—while not as impressive as her mentor—certainly brooked speaking of.
By the time Tanya reached the fray, it was largely over. Three goblins remained, and she dispatched them quickly, her saber finding flesh and cutting them down. But the contribution felt almost token compared to what her companions had achieved.
“You fight well,” Asterin observed, watching her clean her blade. “Your form is disciplined. Military training?”
“Something like that,” Tanya replied, sheathing her saber. “Though I admit I’m somewhat outclassed in this company.”
“Level makes a significant difference,” Asterin nodded. “But technique matters as well. You have good instincts. With a Falna, you’d be formidable.”
Tanya nodded but didn’t acknowledge him further, instead choosing to note how he had sat back and watched during that entire exchange. She knew this was ostensibly a training delve for Licia, but he hadn’t even deigned to pull out his weapon. Did he have such confidence in his companions? Or was he simply lazy? Tanya wasn’t entirely sure.
They continued their descent, passing through the tenth floor’s transition point without incident. The corridors did indeed widen, opening into larger spaces that left more room for breathing and maneuvering, but also for monsters, which they soon discovered upon the next wave of deadly creatures.
It was on the twelfth floor that they encountered their first real challenge.
The cavern was vast, a cathedral of stone that stretched upward into darkness. Pillars of natural rock rose from the floor at irregular intervals, creating a maze of sorts within the larger space that was only made even more dangerous by the mist that seemed to permeate the area, choking their vision and leaving them squinting to see more than a few meters in front of them.
“This is a good spot to rest,” Dorian announced, surveying the open space. “The twelfth floor has a few of these large caverns. They’re usually safe enough to catch your breath in, provided you post a watch.”
Tanya followed his logic. The open ground allowed for better maneuverability, and it also meant that any approaching threat would be seen or heard long before it was upon them, even through the mist, as long as you kept your wits about you and paid attention.
“We’ve been moving for the better part of two hours,” Licia said, wiping sweat from her brow. “A short break would be welcome.”
The group dispersed slightly, each member finding a spot to settle. Dorian leaned against a pillar, his blade resting across his knees while Licia sat on a nearby rock, pulling a waterskin from her pack. Asterin remained standing, his position chosen with care—a spot that offered clear sightlines to multiple approaches.
Tanya found her own position kneeling along the edge of a rocky outcropping. Even as she dove into her own rations, she kept her saber drawn, resting it across her thighs as she watched the shadows.
“Relax,” Dorian called over, a hint of amusement in his voice. “We’ll hear anything coming long before it reaches us.”
“Complacency kills,” Tanya replied through a bite of stale jerky. “I’ll relax when I’m back above ground.”
Dorian chuckled but didn’t press the issue, and the minutes ticked by in relative silence.
In the lull of danger, Tanya found herself studying her companions. As she suspected, Dorian and Licia were quite experienced when it came to adventuring. Despite being Level One, both of them seemed mostly at ease on these lower floors. The teacher and student duo showed a great amount of talent, and Tanya admitted she would be hard-pressed to defeat them if things came to it.
Asterin, on the other hand...
Tanya turned her attention to the blond man, finding him eyeing her with a similar amount of thoughtfulness. Blue eyes met green, and he flashed her that same easy smile that he regarded her with up above. Tanya frowned, unable to shake the feeling that there was something off about the man, though she wasn’t sure why.
“So,” Licia broke the silence, her voice carrying in the open space. “How are you finding Orario so far? Aside from the obvious, I mean.”
Tanya considered the question. “It’s a nice city. The economy is flourishing thanks to the dungeon and the Guild provides a stable source of income for even the most destitute pauper living on the streets. If I were simply visiting, I might even find myself making a more permanent residence here, though I’ll admit having the constant threat of death only a short walk away might put a damper on things.”
Licia laughed, the sound bright and genuine. “You make it sound so clinical! Don’t you find any joy in it? The adventure, the thrill of exploration?”
“Thrill is not a word I would use,” Tanya said dryly. “Survival is a more accurate descriptor. The Dungeon is a workplace hazard, nothing more.”
“You’re a strange one,” Licia said, but her tone was fond rather than critical. “Most adventurers your age are all fire and passion, dreaming of glory and fame.”
“Glory doesn’t pay the bills,” Tanya replied.
Before Licia could respond, Dorian held up a hand, silencing the conversation. His posture had shifted, his body tensing as his eyes fixed on something in the darkness.
“We’ve got company,” he said quietly, eyeing the same corridor they had emerged from.
Tanya was on her feet in an instant, her saber raised. Licia fell into position beside Dorian and even Asterin stirred, his hand drifting toward the rapier at his hip as he turned in the direction Dorian was indicating.
Shadows stirred and mist shifted, parting to reveal several figures striding through the cavern towards them. Their outlines sharpened as they approached, and Tanya relaxed minutely as they revealed themselves to be humans, rather than monsters, though she didn’t lower her guard completely.
That proved to be the right move.
The group consisted of nearly a dozen adventurers of varying sizes. They wore the colors of no Familia that Tanya recognized, though she did somewhat recognize the emblem on their breastplates: a stylized chalice surrounded by a crescent moon, denoting they belonged to the Soma Familia. Their equipment was well-maintained, and their expressions were leering as they strode out of the fog. Clearly, they weren’t just here for a friendly chat.
The leader was a woman who Tanya recognized immediately. Wearing the same leather armor as the last time Tanya encountered her, Azalea had updated her ensemble with a dark cloak slung around her shoulders, and a fresh new scar stretching from her cheekbone down along her jaw, ending on her neck just below her ear.
It seems someone had a close call, recently, Tanya thought, locking eyes with the woman. Azalea bared her teeth in a mockery of a smile. A shame they couldn’t finish the job.
“Soma Familia,” Dorian said, his voice flat. “What brings you here?”
Azalea ignored him entirely, her gaze fixed on Tanya. “Well, well. Look what we have here. The little mouse who stole our gear.”
Tanya’s eyes narrowed.
“I believe we’ve already been over this,” Tanya said. “The previous owner had no further use for it. Did you take my advice and file a complaint with the Guild?”
Azalea’s smile widened, though it held no warmth. “Cute. Still got that mouth on you, I see. Sure hope I don’t have to cut out that damn tongue.”
Behind her, the other members of her group spread out slowly, forming a loose semicircle. One of them, a thickset man with a shaved head, was spinning a mace casually in one hand. The head of the weapon was stained dark red with what was certainly not monster blood. Tanya had seen enough of both to know the difference.
“We don’t want trouble with the Apollo Familia, so you three can walk away.” Azalea continued, finally acknowledging Dorian and the others. “This doesn’t concern you.”
Dorian slowly stood, his sword grasped loosely in one hand. His face was blank as if etched from stone, and a few of the men in the group suddenly seemed nervous as his bulk was revealed. “She’s with us. That makes it our concern.”
Azalea’s smile vanished, replaced by a scowl that twisted her fresh scar into something ugly. Her hand drifted toward the rapier at her hip.
“I don’t think you understand what’s going on here,” she said slowly. “That kid with you is a thief. She stole armor belonging to a buddy of ours and refused to give it back. If you were smart, you’d take a look at the lot of us, that little thief behind you, and make the right choice.”
“Henry died before I ever found his armor, so you can hardly call it thievery,” Tanya said, her voice cutting through the rising tension. She tilted her head, eyes flashing in annoyance. “I find it strange that you’re so bent on pursuing this. After all, I found his corpse a few floors above this one. If you had such attachment to his equipment, perhaps you should have ventured down to retrieve it yourselves. Clearly, you have the capabilities. At least when there’s enough of you to fill a tavern.”
The words hung in the air, and Azalea’s face twisted with fury.
“You little—”
“Enough.” Asterin’s voice was soft, but it carried an edge that silenced the cavern. The Level Two adventurer had drawn his rapier, the slender blade catching what little light filtered through the mist. His pleasant smile remained firmly in place, though it had taken on a strange quality. “I’m sure we can resolve this like civilized adults. There’s no need for—”
He stopped, his head turning sharply toward the corridor they had entered from. His sudden pause caught everyone by surprise, and it was in the sudden tense silence that Tanya heard it.
A low, rumbling sound, like boulders grinding against one another. It was followed by a chorus of guttural snorts and the heavy thunder of footsteps. Lots of footsteps.
“Oh no,” Dorian breathed as everyone turned to look.
The fog at the far end of the cavern began to churn, swirling violently as something massive pushed through it. The first creature emerged into the dim light, and Tanya felt her stomach drop.
It was an orc, a hulking, pig-headed monstrosity that they had been fortunate enough to avoid so far. Its body was thick with muscle, covered in bristly hair, and it wore a ring of hides around its waist like a skirt. The creature’s beady eyes swept the cavern, landing on the gathered adventurers with obvious hunger.
Then another orc emerged behind it.
And another.
And another.
“How many are there?”
Tanya wasn’t sure who said it, but her eyes swept the emerging horde, her mind racing as she answered. “Eight. Maybe more in the fog.”
The Soma Familia group had turned to face the new threat, their earlier hostility temporarily forgotten in the face of something far more pressing. Azalea’s rapier was drawn now, her scarred face pale beneath her tan.
“That’s not all,” Asterin said quietly.
Two more shapes emerged from the fog. They were taller and more humanoid, with heads like bulls and bodies that seemed carved from particularly muscular granite. The Minotaurs’ nostrils flared as they caught the scent of prey, and one of them let out a bellow that shook the very walls.
And behind them, rolling forward on short legs, came something that made Tanya’s blood run cold.
It looked like an armadillo, if an armadillo had been grown to the size of a carriage and covered in armor plates thick enough to turn aside cannon fire. Its beady eyes peered out from beneath the protective shell, and its snout opened to reveal a mouth full of grinding teeth.
A Hard Armored.
“Well,” Tanya heard herself say, her voice strangely calm. “I don’t suppose we can put this little tiff on hold for a moment, can we?”
The Soma Familia members didn’t need to be told twice. The moment the first orc charged, their earlier bravado evaporated, replaced by the survival instincts that every human possessed in their most desperate hour.
Azalea barked an order, and her group scattered, breaking into smaller clusters as the monsters descended. The man with the bloodied mace swung wildly at a goblin that had emerged alongside the larger creatures, his weapon connecting with a sickening crack. But his victory was short-lived as an orc’s fist caught him across the back, sending him sprawling into the stone.
Tanya didn’t watch what happened next, but the wet crunch of bones and viscera was easily audible even over the shouts.
“Dorian! Licia!” Asterin’s voice cut through the chaos, calm and commanding despite the carnage unfolding around them.
The three Apollo Familia members gathered together in a loose formation. Dorian planted himself at the center, his massive blade sweeping in wide arcs that forced the nearest orcs to give ground. Licia flanked to his left, her sword and dagger working in tandem to harry any creature that tried to circle around. Asterin took the right, his rapier darting forward in precise thrusts that found joints and gaps in the melee.
Tanya found herself drawn into their orbit almost instinctively, her saber raised as she fell into position behind them. It was a defensive posture as she lacked the raw strength to go toe-to-toe with an orc, but it allowed her to cover their backs while they engaged the main threat.
This is insane, Tanya thought, her heart pounding against her ribs as an orc’s axe whistled past her head. A horde of this size, emerging all at once, not to mention the Minotaurs who aren’t even supposed to be encounterable for another two floors! Something’s wrong.
Her mind flashed to the smug visage of Mary Sue in her final moments, and she grit her teeth. Being X, is this your doing?
A minotaur charged toward their formation, its massive frame shaking the ground with each step. Dorian stepped forward to meet it, his blade rising. As if they had planned it, Licia darted in front of him, her weapons flashing as she distracted the beast with a series of quick strikes to its legs.
The minotaur bellowed in fury, swinging its arms in a wide arc that forced Licia to throw herself backward. But the moment of distraction was all Dorian needed. He surged forward, his blade biting deep into the creature’s shoulder, carving through muscle and sinew until it struck bone.
The minotaur staggered, its arm falling limp. Dorian wrenched his blade free and brought it around in a second strike that took the beast across the throat.
One down. One minotaur, several orcs, and that damned Hard Armored still remaining. The Soma Familia had all but been wiped out, with only a few members remaining. Azalea was unfortunately among them, Tanya noted.
“We can’t hold this position!” Asterin called out, his rapier flashing as he drove back another orc. “There’s too many!”
“I can see that!” Dorian grunted, blocking a blow from a second orc that sent vibrations up his arms. “Tanya, Licia! Get ready to move!”
Tanya’s eyes swept the cavern, searching for an escape route. The corridor they had entered through was blocked by the Hard Armored, which was slowly advancing from the rear of the monster horde. But there was a gap in the chaos, a tunnel on the far side of the cavern that remained clear.
“There!” she pointed. “Our exit!”
“Go!” Dorian ordered. “We’ll hold them here!”
Tanya hesitated for a fraction of a second. To flee while others fought and potentially died on her behalf wasn’t something she normally cared to do, but she recognized the reality of the situation.
“Come on!” Tanya grabbed Licia’s arm, pulling her toward the gap.
“But Dorian! Asterin!” Licia protested, her eyes wide as she looked back at her companions. “They—”
“Are buying us time,” Tanya said sharply. “Don’t let their sacrifice be in vain!”
The words cut through Licia’s panic as Tanya knew they would. The woman’s expression hardened, her teary eyes narrowing with determination, and she allowed Tanya to pull her toward the corridor.
Behind them, Asterin raised his free hand, his lips moving in rapid incantation.
“Oh shining Sun! Giver of life and the eternity that passes after! Cast yourself from the heavens and be known upon the earth, that I may smite those who wish to sully your name!”
Heat built in the air, a sudden pressure that made Tanya’s skin prickle as it passed her by. Asterin pointed and cried, “Ardens!”
Fire erupted beneath the feet of the advancing orcs, a blazing column that sent creatures screaming in all directions. The explosion was massive, easily the size of a small house, and the shockwave it produced knocked several of the Soma Familia members off their feet.
The smoke cleared and the path was clear. Dorian urged them onwards with a look.
“Go!” he shouted, turning to parry a strike from a Minotaur that left him staggering backwards. He shouted, the sound ringing in Tanya’s ears, and she could have sworn she saw his muscles bulge as he reared back and swung his sword with all his might, cleaving the monster in two.
He slumped, and Tanya lost sight of him behind one of the Soma members. Turning away, she broke into a sprint, dragging Licia behind her as they plunged into the corridor. The sounds of battle faded behind them, replaced by the steady rhythm of their footsteps against stone.
They made it perhaps a hundred meters before Tanya heard it. It was a heavy, shifting sound, like a cart being dragged over cobblestones. She glanced back and felt her blood run cold.
The Hard Armored was following them.
The creature moved with surprising speed, its short legs pumping furiously as it pursued them down the corridor. Its armored shell gleamed in the dim light, and its beady eyes were fixed on them with predatory intent.
“Why is it following us?!” Licia cried, her voice pitched with panic. “There were easier targets back there!”
“Because the Dungeon hates us,” Tanya snarled, pushing Licia forward. “Keep moving!”
They ran, their footsteps echoing off the walls as they fled through the twisting corridors. The Hard Armored kept pace, its strange rolling gait allowing it to close the distance despite its stubby legs.
Tanya’s mind raced through options. Her Luger was loaded, but standard rounds wouldn’t penetrate that shell; she had seen what those plates could turn aside. Her saber was equally useless against such armor. Her magic...
Tanya paused, the perfect solution coming to mind. The formula was complex, and in her old world, the notion of performing it without a computation orb was functionally impossible. But perhaps here she could manage it…
“Listen to me,” Tanya said, her voice sharp. “I need time to prepare something. Can you distract it?”
Licia’s eyes widened. “Distract that thing!? Are you insane?!”
“Just for a few seconds. Buy me the time I need.”
The younger woman’s face went pale, but she nodded, her grip tightening on her sword and dagger. “I’ll try.”
They skidded to a halt in a wider section of the corridor, turning to face the approaching monster. The Hard Armored slowed as it reached them, its beady eyes tracking their movements with unsettling intelligence.
Licia charged forward with a wordless cry, her sword flashing toward the creature’s face.
The Hard Armored recoiled slightly, but its shell was already shifting, plates sliding over one another to create an impenetrable barrier. Licia’s blade scraped off the surface without leaving a mark, the impact sending vibrations up her arm.
While this was happening, Tanya’s mind was a whirlwind of complex magical calculus. She ran through a dozen equations in only a few seconds, molding and forming her magic with the help of formulas memorized and applied through countless hours in her previous world.
Licia darted in for another strike, this time aiming for the gap between plates. The creature shifted, and her dagger skittered across its hardened shell. The monster lashed out with a heavy claw, forcing her to throw herself backward to avoid being bisected.
“Hurry!” Licia gasped, scrambling to her feet.
Your shouting is certainly not helping. Tanya could feel the mana gathering in her mind. It was like trying to hold water in a sieve, and every ounce of concentration she possessed was dedicated to maintaining the formula’s integrity as she unholstered her Luger and flicked the safety. She was glad she had thought to bring it, though she never imagined she’d be using it like this.
The Hard Armored abandoned its pursuit of Licia, turning toward Tanya with sudden interest. Perhaps it sensed the gathering mana or perhaps it simply recognized the greater threat. It charged toward her, intent on running her down.
“Licia, get clear!” Tanya shouted.
The younger woman threw herself to the side as the creature rolled past her. Tanya raised her Luger, the equation burning in her mind. The mana wrapped around the bullet in the chamber, compressing, sharpening, turning the simple projectile into something far deadlier as she breathed, then pulled the trigger.
The shot rang out, deafening in the enclosed space. The bullet left the barrel trailing green light, the Penetration Formula glittering around it. It struck the Hard Armored directly between its beady eyes…
And passed straight through.
The creature’s head snapped back, a spray of ichor erupting from the exit wound. Its forward momentum carried it another few meters before its legs gave out, sending it crashing to the stone floor in a heap of armored plates.
Tanya kept the formula active for a fraction of a second longer than necessary, ensuring the wound was fatal before she erroneously fired another shot. The effort to keep it up sent a spike of agony through her skull, her vision blurring momentarily as her brain protested the strain.
The Hard Armored shuddered once, as if the last vestiges of hate in its body tried to spur it onward, before it collapsed and began to dissolve. A heavy monster stone fell to the ground with a thud, nearly the size of a head, shining dully as it listed onto its side.
Silence descended over the corridor, only broken by the sounds of combat leaking through from further down.
Licia stared at the dissolving corpse, her mouth hanging open. “You... how did you...”
“Not now,” Tanya said, her voice strained as she holstered her weapon. She pressed a hand to her temple, willing the headache to subside. She bent down and grabbed the stone, shoving it into her bag with some difficulty. “We’re still in the dungeon and far from safe. Let’s not wait around for Killer Ants or War Shadows.”
“B-but Dorian! We have to go back!”
“We can’t help them by dying,” Tanya said sharply. “If they survived, they’ll find their own way out. If they didn’t...”
She let the sentence hang, unfinished.
Licia’s expression crumpled, but she didn’t protest further. Together, the two of them began the long ascent toward the surface.
~~~
The ascent was mercifully uneventful.
Tanya kept a brisk pace, her eyes scanning every shadow and corridor for signs of pursuit. Licia followed in silence, the woman’s earlier exuberance now gone, her face pale and drawn.
They encountered only scattered pockets of monsters on the way up, easily dispatched even in their shaken state. Goblins and dungeon lizards fell before their blades without issue, yet Tanya didn’t bother collecting the stones from the weaker creatures; the Hard Armored’s stone took up far too much space and was likely worth far more than a hundred of them.
Part of her felt bad about thinking about money after her comrades had possibly sacrificed themselves for her survival, but it wasn’t the time to mourn and it wasn’t her place to.
By the time they reached the fifth floor, Licia had recovered enough to speak.
“Do you think they made it?”
Tanya considered lying, but saw no point in it. “I don’t know. Asterin’s spell created a significant opening, and Dorian is skilled. But that horde was quite large and the Soma Familia was on its last legs. They likely weren’t much help.”
Licia nodded slowly, her grip tightening on her weapons. Tanya glanced at her and watched a tendon clench in her neck as she grit her teeth. She turned away without commenting, even as she heard the woman’s breath hitch.
They reached the entrance to Babel without further incident. The transition from the Dungeon’s oppressive atmosphere to the open air of Orario was like surfacing from deep water, and Tanya filled her lungs with clean air, savoring the absence of monster musk and blood.
The Guild hall was busy as always, adventurers coming and going in a steady stream. Tanya made her way to the exchange counter, Licia trailing behind her like a ghost.
The clerk behind the counter raised an eyebrow at their disheveled appearance, but said nothing as Tanya produced the Hard Armored’s stone. The woman’s expression shifted to one of interest as she examined it.
“You two took this down on your own?” she asked.
“Near enough,” Tanya replied.
The clerk quoted a price that made Licia’s breath catch. Tanya simply nodded, accepting the pouch of coins without comment. The sum was substantial, enough to clear her debt with plenty left over.
She counted out Licia’s share immediately, separating a quarter of the total and sliding it across the counter. The younger woman stared at the coins, frowning.
“That’s... yours,” Licia said, her brow furrowed. “You killed it.”
“We agreed to split the haul evenly,” Tanya replied. “You held its attention while I prepared the strike. Without you, I would have been forced to find an alternative means of escape. This is fair compensation.”
Licia’s expression crumpled, emotions warring across her features. Guilt, gratitude, grief—Tanya recognized them all, though she couldn’t claim to understand the depth behind them. She had known Dorian as one would a friendly neighbor, but Licia’s bond with the man was much deeper.
“Thank you,” the woman whispered, clutching the pouch as if it would disappear.
Tanya nodded once, tucking her own share into her satchel. “I suggest you return to your Familia’s estate and report what happened. It’s possible that they’re still alive, so you’ll want to send some backup. Or a retrieval party.”
Licia nodded, clearly already intending to do that. “And you?”
“I have a debt to settle.”
They parted ways at the Guild’s entrance, Licia disappearing into the crowd with one last backward glance. Tanya watched her go, then turned toward the Hostess. She had her money, but the debt could wait until tomorrow.
A few minutes later, Tanya climbed the stairs to her room with leaden feet, the day's exertion finally catching up to her. Every muscle in her body ached, though the headache from her spellcasting had settled somewhat.
Slipping out of her clothes and dressing in her nightclothes, she sat heavily on the edge of the bed, staring at the window and into the world beyond. The coin pouch was safely locked away in her dresser, the key hidden away in case any had spied the heavy pouch attached to her hip when she walked in the tavern, but her mind wasn’t on that.
Instead, she oddly found her thoughts straying to the two men who had seemingly given their lives for her. Dorian, with his easy laugh and friendly demeanor, and Asterin, with his unsettling demeanor. Though she had barely known either, both had stayed behind to ensure she and Licia escaped.
And possibly died in the process, Tanya thought, her expression twisting slightly. A meal shared, a few conversation had, and now...
She shook her head sharply, forcing the maudlin thoughts away. Sentimentality was a luxury she couldn't afford, and dwelling on what-ifs served no practical purpose. They had made their choice, and she had made hers. That was the nature of war, even if it was a war against monsters in a hole in the ground.
Tanya laid back on the bed, not bothering to snuff the candle flickering on the nearby bedside table.
Tomorrow, she would settle her debt. Thirty thousand Valis to the Apollo Familia, and she would be free of their grip. Whatever schemes Lord Apollo had devised to keep her in his debt would become meaningless once the ledger was balanced ahead of schedule.
And if he tries something else…
Tanya's mind drifted away, before she could finish the thought
.