Is It Wrong To Skitter In A Dungeon? Chapter 48: Fathers and Mothers (Patreon)

Chapter 48: Fathers and Mothers

Silence filled the room, everyone staring at Taylor as she finished her tale. She understood their surprise. Not every day your entire worldview was flipped upside down, after all.

“Xenos, huh?” Aisha eventually said. “I’ll be damned.”

That broke the dam, and everyone began to chatter loudly, their voices rising and getting louder and louder until Taylor had enough and snapped her the fingers of her artificial arm, using a modified Spell to enhance the sound so it pierced the noise.

“Alright, settle down,” Taylor ordered. “Yes, it’s surprising. Yes, it shakes the very foundations of what you know. But so what? You can at least freak out in private later.”

Everyone coughed and looked away awkwardly at her scolding. Satisfied, the captain of the Familia nodded, pleased by the quick reaction, before noticing that Wiene was staring at her intently.

“Can I help you?” Taylor asked, taken aback.

“You smell like mama,” Wiene said, looking up at Taylor.

“Mama?” the parahuman blinked.

“Yes. Like mama… but not,” the humanoid Vouivre explained.

“You mean the Dungeon?” Hestia asked seriously, and the Xenos girl flinched back away from the goddess but nodded.

“Y-yes. She smells… like home.”

Hestia and Taylor both exchanged a look with other.

‘The other Xenos didn’t seem to notice, but then again, we were in the Dungeon, so any ‘scent’ may have been overpowered by that fact,’ Taylor thought to herself.

That also raised another question: what did it mean that Taylor ‘smelled’ like the Dungeon?

Hestia had an idea of her own about the reason, and Taylor was also feeling suspicious that there might be some sort of connection between her passenger and the Dungeon.

“Taylor’s newfound child aside, I think we should be talking more about the existence of thinking monsters,” Ryuu suggested, and the parahuman spluttered in disbelief while everyone else nodded in agreement.

“Yeah. How did they go unnoticed for this long?” Lili wondered.

“The Guild knows,” Taylor replied, clearing her throat. “And so do the Ganesha Familia. They probably covered some of it up.”

“Okay, sure, but that’s like two – admittedly large and powerful – groups out of the entire city. How has this remained so quiet?” Welf asked incredulously.

“Actually, rumors about talking monsters have been circulating amongst the information brokers for a while now,” Gita admitted, the chienthrope’s tail swishing back and worth.

“Is that so?” Oriana asked, surprised.

“Yes, for about a decade now, there have been whispers about them, but no concrete proof,” Gita confirmed.

“But if there have been people talking about this, that still doesn’t explain how it isn’t being spoken of in the bars and taverns,” Leo pointed out.

“Possibly due to the low number of Xenos sightings compared to the number of adventurers in the Dungeons, but it’s more likely because of the smugglers,” Taylor spoke up. “If they are capturing and selling Xenos outside of the city, then they’d want their actions to go unnoticed. I’d wager that quite a few information brokers are on their payroll.”

“You think so?” Bell asked with a disgusted look.

“Positive,” Taylor stated firmly. “Not to mention… I have a feeling the smugglers are working with Evilus.”

“Evilus?” Ryuu repeated darkly, hands clenching into fists.

“Remember those cages we found in the cave on the 18th Floor? And then the way those Thanatos Familia members reacted?” Taylor asked, and everyone nodded. “Either the Thanatos Familia are the smugglers, or they are working with them. Either way, we have to find them, and crush them.”

Ryuu nodded, her expression one of barely suppressed fury, and everyone else looked eager to take down the boogeymen of Orario.

“But that can wait,” Taylor said, shaking her head. “For now, our immediate concerns are making sure Rakia doesn’t do anything stupid, and that Wiene is returned safely to the other Xenos.”

“We can’t let them continue to-!” Ryuu began, but Taylor held up a hand to stop her.

“I understand, Ryuu. But I promise you, when the time is right, we will tear them out by the root,” Taylor vowed. “You’re not the only one who wants this.”

“Then why are we waiting?” she hissed. “If we don’t hurry, the men Bell knocked out will escape and we’ll lose our only lead!”

“Because in a few weeks, once this situation with Rakia is resolved, the Loki, Hermes, and Dionysus Familia will be conducting a raid on some hiding spots that they believe Evilus is hiding, and we will be joining them.”

“Really?” Ryuu asked, and everyone looked surprised.

“Yeah,” Taylor nodded, before frowning. “That’s fine, right?”

“If it’s the Braver leading this operation… then yes, I will wait,” Ryuu replied.

“Good to hear,” Taylor said.

“Well, uh, okay, then,” Welf muttered. “Guess I’m gonna be preparing more equipment to prepare for that. At least it gives me a chance to use my new Skill…”

“That means more training, doesn’t it?” Gina whispered excitedly to Primo, who nodded back.

“It probably does.”

“Nice!” the tiny Amazon said, pumping her fist excitedly.

“First, though, I have to answer the door,” Taylor said out of the blue, causing everyone to blink in bewilderment at the non-sequitur. A moment later however they could all hear a person knocking on the front door.

“That’s always so cool, but really creepy when she does that,” Silva muttered to Gita, who nodded silently.

Taylor went to see what Hermes wanted, her swarm detecting the god the moment he’d hopped the fence, and opened the door with an annoyed expression.

“Message for Welf Crozzo!” the Messenger God said, smiling widely as he presented a letter for her.

“It’s illegal to trespass,” Taylor replied, snatching the letter away before slamming the door in Hermes’ face. She could hear him knock again on the door, trying to get their attention, but a swarm of bugs drove him off a moment later.

Through the insects, she watched as he climbed back over the fence and ran off, only to be confronted by his very angry captain who grabbed his ear and dragged him away, scolding him the whole time.

‘If he does that again I’m going to put lice in that ridiculous hair of his,’ she decided to herself as she walked back into the living room where everyone was still gathered.

“For you,” she said simply, handing Welf the letter. He blinked but accepted it, before frowning.

“This seal bears the Crozzo family crest,” he revealed. The emblem pressed into the red wax keeping the message closed was that of a hammer crossing a sword with a lightning bolt and fireball in between.

“Would your family have come with the army?” Bell asked worriedly.

“Even if he doesn’t have the power to create Magic Swords, my grandfather was one of only eleven people with the Blacksmith Developmental Ability in all of Rakia,” Welf revealed. “He’d likely have been forced to accompany the army to provide his talents in providing equipment.”

He opened up the letter and began to read, his expression turning more severe with every sentence. “It’s from my father. He wants to meet with me a few days from now in an isolated part of the city. Alone.”

“It’s a trap,” Taylor drawled.

“Totally,” Lili agreed.

“Obviously,” Welf nodded. “But what do we do?”

“We spring it,” Aisha said eagerly.

“Indeed,” Taylor nodded. “But we can’t just assume that Rakia won’t do something else underhanded. So, we shall prepare.”

Everyone nodded, and Taylor gave Wiene an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry, but we may have to wait a bit before we can take you back.”

“That’s okay,” Wiene assured her. “We like it in here. It feels… nice.”

“We’ll prepare a room for you,” Taylor declared. “Just do not wander outside without wearing your cloak, alright?”

“I’ll make you a new one!” Lucia promised. “You shouldn’t have to wear something so dirty!”

“Thank you,” Wiene said tearfully. More than one person saw those tears and couldn’t help but question everything they’d ever known about monsters.

Philosophy would have to wait, however, as there were plans to make.

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In the two days since receiving the letter, the Hestia Familia had not been idle. Supplies were stockpiled and training that some might call ‘hellish’ was done.

Finally, however, the time had come, and Welf made his way towards the meeting spot his father had put down in the letter.

It was late at night, and as he walked through the streets alone, Welf couldn’t help but feel confused. How had his father gotten into Orario with the city on lockdown? Surely somebody would have seen him climbing the walls?

‘Unless somebody else must have helped him get inside,’ Welf mused. He didn’t like that idea at all.

The warehouse was supposedly abandoned based on what Taylor had dug up. Previously owned by some minor god that left the city after their entire Familia was wiped out by the 27th Floor Nightmare, it was now owned by the Guild, but wasn’t being used for anything.

Well, that is, until recently, when apparently shadowy figures had been seen moving around within it around the time Rakia had arrived.

The Blacksmith didn’t know how his scary captain had found out so much about it, but he wasn’t going to ask, in case he got an answer.

‘Alright, no time to think about stuff like that! It’s show time!’ he thought to himself, stepping up to the warehouse’s door and opening it. There was no sound as it swung open, which if it really had been abandoned, should not have been the case.

‘Seems like the captain was right. Rakian saboteurs really did get inside Orario ahead of the army and set up shop in this place,’ Welf noted. Hm. Worrying.

But again, that was something to figure out later. For now, he had somebody else to deal with.

“Father,” Welf said, folding his arms as he came to a stop in front of the man who was, technically, his parent.

“Son,” was the curt response.

Vil Crozzo was an older man with dark brown hair that had a faint reddish tinge to it, his face lined with wrinkles that made him look significantly older than he actually was. The weathered features spoke of hardship, but the glint in his eyes when he stared at his son was unsettling.

“Gramps,” Welf said, looking at the second person waiting for him. “Didn’t think I’d see ya here, too.”

“Your father and I wanted to try and convince you to return to Rakia,” Garon Crozzo said, giving his grandson a nod.

Garon was a tall man, taller than Welf or even Taylor. He was also extremely fit, with his grey hair and beard neatly trimmed. The fact he was wearing the Rakian military uniform, the support version for backline units like smiths, confirmed Welf’s fear that he’d been forced to join the army on this foolhardy errand.

“You’ve got to realize that this won’t turn out well for Rakia,” Welf said slowly. “Leaving aside the fact you two snuck in, when has Rakia ever succeeded in their mad plans for world domination?”

“There is no reason to worry,” Vil claimed. “With you serving Lord Ares again, we shall reclaim the glory that rightfully belongs to us!”

“The first time Rakia invaded Orario, they were also soundly defeated, and that was with Magic Swords out the wazoo,” Welf pointed out. “Hell, the defeat was so bad, that’s the whole reason Rakia turned their attention to the west, and ended up attacking the Great Spirit Forest.”

‘And losing our bloodline’s blessing in the process,’ went unsaid, but from the way Vil tensed, it was heard all the same.

“This time, it will be different!” Vil declared.

“No, it really won’t,” Welf said with a sigh. “It doesn’t matter what you say, I won’t return to Rakia. I have a life here. Friends and a Familia that care about me as a person, and not just the bearer of the Crozzo blood.”

“Is there truly nothing we can say that will convince you?” Garon asked sadly. “Do you not have any loyalty or love for Rakia?”

“Anything like that I may have once had vanished when they punished Lady Phobos for the ‘crime’ of keeping me from making weapons of mass destruction for a petulant War God,” Welf retorted. “And even if they hadn’t… why should I give any fealty to a nation that immediately cast us aside when we were no longer useful to them?”

Garon sighed but said nothing while Vil glowered darkly.

“Fine. If that is your answer…” Garon began, but Vil cut him off.

“If you won’t come willingly, we’ll have to do this the hard way,” Welf’s father declared darkly, and from the shadows three figures appeared wearing black leather armor with hooded cloaks.

“Ah, so the Shadow Troupe show themselves,” Welf scoffed. “How predictable.”

He then glared at the leader of the shadowy agents. “And it seems the Captain of the Deimos Familia has shown himself. I’m honored, Umber.”

“Welf Crozzo, your rebelliousness has gone on long enough,” the man declared, drawing a short sword. It glistened wetly, having been coated in some sort of poison. Something to incapacitate him, no doubt. “Surrender.”

“Or what?” Welf uttered. “You’ll threaten my Familia? You clearly have no idea who you’re messing with.”

“By now, members of the Shadow Troupe will have assaulted the Hestia Familia compound and taken Lady Hestia hostage, as Lord Ares ordered,” Umber informed Welf, and he stiffened, causing the spy to smirk. “That’s right. Your Familia is indeed being threatened. You and the goddess will be coming back to Rakia with us. You have no choice.”

“What?! This is not what you said would happen!” Garon shouted angrily, before turning to Vil. “Is this your doing?!”

“It is Lord Ares’ wish, nothing more,” Vil replied haughtily. “You joining me wasn’t expected, but it doesn’t change the plan at all. Now Welf will come home, where he belongs!”

To everyone’s surprise, Welf just threw his head back and laughed.

“Sorry, sorry, it’s just… boy, you fucked up,” he snickered, wiping a tear of mirth from his eyes. “Trying to kidnap me was bad enough… but going after Lady Hestia? Rakia’s days are numbered.”

“Enough bravado!” Umber snarled. “Men, take the traitor into custody!”

One of the Shadow Troupe stepped up, but suddenly collapsed with a cry of shock and pain as a barrage of crossbow bolts flew out of the darkness and pierced his back, pinning him to the ground. Umber and the remaining adventurer, along with the two older Crozzo, spun around towards the source of the attack, and a chuckle rang out.

“Lili thinks your family could learn some manners,” the cheeky voice of the pallum called out, but there was no sign of her anywhere.

“Who’s there?! Show yourself!” Umber snarled.

“No, Lili doesn’t think Lili will,” the Supporter replied, her voice echoing through the shadow-filled warehouse.

“Hey, Lili! Quit playing around and help a guy out!” Welf shouted, and a massive anvil-hammer came flying out of the darkness at him. The Blacksmith caught his custom weapon out of the air and swung it in a single smooth motion, slamming it into the back of the second Shadow Troupe member who’d taken his eyes off of him.

He went flying into the wall with a shriek, spine broken. The poor fellow, along with his bolt-filled buddy, had both been only Level 1, no doubt thinking Umber, a Level 3, would be enough to handle things if Welf got feisty.

“You didn’t count on me seeing through your stupid trap, did ya?” Welf smirked.

“You… a mere Level 2 dares to challenge me?” Umber growled. He then spun around, slashing several bolts out of the air. “And you! Show yourself!”

“No~!” Lili gleefully called out. “Come on, Welf!”

“Yeah! Let’s do this!” Welf cheered, and he lunged at the Shadow Troupe leader without hesitation while Vil cowered and Garon watched with a raised eyebrow.

He swung his hammer at Umber’s chest, but the Level 3 blocked it easily. Before Deimos’ captain could retaliate against the Blacksmith he had to dodge several bolts fired by a still invisible Lili.

“Is this the best you got?” Welf taunted. “All those years of bullying people weaker than you has really made your skills stagnate!”

“I! AM! NOT! WEAK!” Umber roared, trying to slash Welf in the arms, but he twisted aside at the last moment, his cloak tearing as one of Lili’s kukri tore through it, and he stared at it as the cloth fluttered to the ground, shorn in half.

“I really liked that cloak,” he muttered, before side-stepping another smashing attack from Welf. Umber prepared to stab the blacksmith in the chest in retaliation, but a crossbow bolt knocked the blade off course, letting Welf jump back and create some distance.

“Okay, now I’m getting angry!” he shouted.

“Too bad, so sad!” Lili taunted.

“You’ll run out of bolts soon!” Umber sneered, darting back towards Welf, focusing on his mission over trying to find the other adventurer fighting him.

However, that had been a fake out. He’d shown his back to the hidden Supporter to lure her into attacking him, and when he heard her footsteps approaching from behind, he grinned.

“GOT YOU, RAT!” the Captain of the Deimos Familia shouted as he spun around and thrust his sword forward at chest height in front of him. His mad grin suddenly flickered and became doubt-filled as he failed to hit anything.

“What?!” he exclaimed, having expected to hit the invisible target, only to cry out as a blade carved through his wrist, causing him to drop his poison-soaked blade.

“Pallum?!” he hissed, realizing his error far too late. Yes, if Lili had been a few inches taller, the blow might have hit her. But he’d aimed at her thinking he was fighting a human or elf. Nobody ever expected a pallum to be a good fighter, after all.

“Take this!” Welf called out, trying to slam his hammer down onto Umber’s head, but the other man was still Level 3 and easily dodged, jumping aside.

“You-!” Umber snarled. “It won’t be that easy!”

‘Wait, where’s my sword?!’ Umber wondered, looking around and trying to find his dropped weapon, only to stagger as a blade was shoved into his ribs from behind.

The Level 3 assassin gasped and lashed out with a kick, managing to knock back his assailant and dislodge the Hade’s Head helmet she was wearing, but all it did was reveal that he’d just been stabbed with his own sword after it’d been stolen off the ground when his attention was drawn away by Welf’s attack!

‘No… no, no, no!’ Umber gasped, feeling his body grow sluggish as poison flooded his veins.

As an assassin, he had naturally taken the Abnormal Resistance ability. But at the same time, because he knew other people with the Falna might also have the ability, the poison he used on his weapon was a paralytic toxin capable of putting down somebody with H rank Abnormal Resistance. His was at G rank, so it didn’t immediately immobilize him, but he was now as slow as a Level 2.

“Grit your teeth!” Welf called out, and he slammed the hammer into the side of Umber’s head, knocking him into the ground.

He bounced a few times before crashing into the wall with a grunt of disbelief and pain. For a moment he struggled to rise, before eventually slumping, unconscious and possibly concussed.

“That must have hurt,” Lili chuckled, even as she clutched her ribs.

“You okay?” Welf asked, concerned, but she just nodded.

“Lili is fine, it’s just broken ribs,” she assured him, and a potion bottle fell into her hands out of her pocket dimension. She drank it quickly, wincing as her bones knit themselves back together.

She then glanced at the two other Crozzos who were staring at them with wide eyes. “What do we do with them?”

“Leave ‘em,” Welf snorted as he rested his hammer onto his shoulder. “They can drag those Shadow Troupe bastards back to Lord Ares for all I care.”

“Welf, Lili,” a buzzing voice suddenly called out, causing Vil and Garon to tense up. A bug clone rose up in front of the two Hestia Familia members, and the duo sensed something was wrong.

“Return to the manor, Evilus is attacking.”

Those seven words filled them with terror, and they immediately rushed out of the warehouse without a second look back, making a beeline back towards the Hearth Manor. They could already hear the sounds of destruction ringing out in the night, and see the smoke spilling into the air, obscuring the moon and stars.

The two could only hope they’d make it back in time.