Dungeon Menagerie 35 (Patreon)

Commissioned by InfiniteChaosRei

Dungeon Menagerie 

Chapter 35

-VB-

When the fighting out in the forest came to an end, both Mori and Vel’Koz walked out of the treelines. 

Vanessa blinked. Wait, Mori? Wasn’t he just next to her taking a nap?

She looked.

Oh, no. He was gone from where she last saw him. She looked back at the floating mollusc from hell and the Judge of the Black Forest. Looking at them and having seen and felt just the effects of what they just did in the forest, she wasn’t sure how to feel.

It was obvious that they were both stronger than her. It was obvious before, but it just happened “popped out” because there was no need for it. Even Mori’s special attack with his black ropes had felt more like a gimmick.

But now, after she felt all of the shockwaves, grinding of steel, and the even a sort of pressure that she couldn’t describe as anything physical, she knew without a doubt that she was weak. Far too weak to even protect herself. 

… In a way, they fit together. Both of them were creatures of unimaginable power and lifespan. She didn’t know a tenth of what they knew and experienced.

…

BUT!

That wasn’t good enough of an excuse to shit around and do nothing! Her friend was still in danger, and if that meant she had to use Vel’Koz to help him, then by God, she was going to do just that. 

Just … not right now. She was too tired to even walk across a single Floor, never mind the dozen plus that she needed to climb up.

Vel’Koz came over to the camp and settled down fully next to her tent while Mori came over to her side, cawed, and then sat down as if he hadn’t just gone off to fight something utterly out of her league. 

“Thanks guys,” she hummed. 

Mori just cawed and Vel’Koz remained silent. 

It was good to have friends… even if one of them used to be the source of all of her troubles so far. 

-VB-

Vel’Koz began to blink.

0.1 seconds.

Understanding humans was not easy but it was also not hard. 

Humans, by their very nature, was an intelligent animal, and like all intelligent animals, they overestimated their intelligence and willpower over their instincts. 

Vel’Koz suspected the very same for his new Mistress.

From what this “Mori” told him in detail, the cause for this expedition was indeed his other self’s infection of another Friend, one “Chrysalismon,” a “digital” creature. Chrysalismon was helping Vanessa with something, which raised its value to Vanessa. 

Vel’Koz reasoned internally that this may be the reason why Vanessa showed a very strong desire to help Chrysalismon. 

It was clear, then, that Vanessa favored “Friends” who provided more help for her than those who didn’t. An example of this was “Chauky,” an insectoid, non-sapient, and luggage-carrying Friend. Despite its “help” being of value, it was not regarded as highly as Mori. However, lack of high regard did not mean disregard, and Mistress Vanessa did keep it in her company in good standing. 

Thus, Chauky was the “minimum” standing that a Friend needed to have to remain in good standing with the Mistress. 

Mori was the other extreme. He was regarded perhaps the highest out of all of Mistress’s Friends. 

Being as helpful as Mori was the path to being regarded highly by the Mistress. 

In which niche could he, Vel’Koz fulfill this, then? 

0.15 seconds.

It was not in combat. Though he was possibly more destructive and powerful than Mori, his attacks often caused degradation of materials all around him, running counter to resource gathering activities that all adventurers, including his Mistress, partook in. 

It was not in logistics. Though he was intellectually powerful as well, he could not act as supply manager for the simple fact that, in the eyes of the adventurers, he was a monster as the adventurer he fought had muttered. 

Then could he … perhaps … fulfill Mistress’s other needs? Humans required social and physical contacts to feel fulfilled and continue their routine. A lack of either led to slow degradation that was difficult for humans to overcome. 

Mistress Vanessa did not look like she was lacking in social contacts; the white-haired human and the short, brown-haired humanoid were “friends,” a standing above social acquaintances. And Vel’Koz could feel the divinity on the other side of Mistress Vanessa’s supernatural abilities, thus even the usually unfulfilled spiritual need had been addressed. 

But what about physical needs? 

Was Mistress Vanessa partaking in healthy levels of libido? Was she not? 

These were questions that humans often hesitated to answer, if it wasn’t a taboo to answer in public or private except to specific individuals of their choosing. 

0.2 seconds.

Considering his status as an “tolerated” Friend and who was not human, it would be difficult for him to help Mistress fulfill that need. 

This meant that, in line with his previous conclusions, he needed to raise his standing with her. 

Since he was a stranger to the customs, interactions, relations, and economics of everything that his Mistress partook in, his new job until such a time he had the right standing or understanding was simply to observe and act as his Mistress directed him. 

It would be frustratingly slow process as were all human things but it would be fascinating one, nonetheless. 

And if Mistress summoned the likes of him, then he would naturally gather more information on not just her but also beings and creatures beyond Runeterra.

Understanding his Mistress and fulfilling his duty as a Voidborne? 

As humans would say, it was catching two birds with one stone.

Vel’Koz “blinked.”