Chapter 15 – Alicia’s First Dungeon (1/2)

A, a, a dungeon?!”

”Yup”

In the time it took Alicia to reboot, I had pretty much cleaned both her and the couch.

Magic really was wonderful.

”H, h, how?! Aren't dungeons scary?!”

”I...guess?”

In theory, they probably were, especially if you went deeper than you could handle. If I wasn't so good at recovering from my wounds, I might've been scared of actually pushing my limits, but as it was, diving in deeper was more exciting than scary.

”B, but...the adventurers said that dungeons are places that lots and lots of strong monsters live!”

(Oh? Adventurers?)

”Well, yea. There are a ton of monsters here, and a bunch of them are pretty strong, but we're in a safe zone. Monsters can't get here, so don't worry”

”B, but...outside...?”

”Yea. If you leave this room, then there'll be a ton of monsters in both directions. That's why you shouldn't leave here without me”

It looked like my words hit her harder than I intended. Alicia flailed her arms and somehow managed to grab mine before pulled herself to me. Her entire body was shaking.

”Don't worry. I'm a bit strong, and we're not going to meet any dangerous monsters”

”Really?”

”Really. Monsters can't come here, and there's no way I'd take you somewhere I couldn't protect you”

Technically, I doubted 100% security was possible, even if there was three more of me, but it was true that I would make sure she didn't get hurt.

(But still, maybe there's something I can do here to further keep her safe that wouldn't be possible on Earth? There's so many game parallels here after all. Something like 'cover' would be idea. The ability to take a hit in the place of another party member...party?)

”Alicia, have you heard of the term party?”

(Please don't ask about birthday parties)

”The hunters and adventurers made parties all the time when they went out”

”Ooh? Do you know how they did it?”

”No. I don't know. I'm sorry”

”It's fine. It's not your fault. I can just figure it out”

I patted her head as she dejectedly looked down.

(But since parties were a real thing here, maybe it was covered by the system?)

Turning internally, I focused my thoughts onto the desire of forming a party with Alicia.

”Ah!”

”What happened?”

My concentration broke and I turned to look at her, full of expectations.

”Something appeared”

”What did?”

”The words 'Scarlet has sent a party invite. Do you accept?' Then it says 'Yes/No'”

”Try hitting 'Yes'”

Suddenly, something appeared in the top left corner of my vision. It was the name 'Alice' and red and blue bars. It looked like it worked.

”Alright. Looks like we were able to form a party properly”

”Really? We're in a party now?”

”That's right”

”Wow, it's like we're adventurers!”

Alicia hugged my arm as she jumped in joy.

(Did this girl admire adventurers or something? Well, they are pretty cool)

But as Alicia calmed down, she developed a frustrated look on her face.

”Is something wrong?”

”Umm...umm...”

”Just say it. I won't be angry”

For some reason, Alicia looked down while tightening her grip on my arm.

”I need to poo!”

Suddenly, she looked up at me and practically yelled it out.

(Ah, poo. It's been a long time since I've done that. It's actually kinda nostalgic)

I looked at the ceiling as I reminisced about the bodily function I had lost. But it took a few seconds for the dots to connect properly. When they finally did, I stiffened and looked down at Alicia.

”I...uh...come with me!”

”Eeek!”

I picked the little girl up and ran to the fountain.

”First floor!”

Everything went dark before the light returned, and I ran out the empty room.

The sudden brightness caused me to squint, but I didn't slow down there. Carrying Alicia in one arm, I moved to the side of the path and used the other hand to quickly dig a hole in the grassy ground. Once I was satisfied, I lowered the squirming girl over the hole, then helped her raise the skirt of her dress.

”Okay, you can do it right here”

Alicia squatted down, and I turned away, doing my best to ignore the sounds coming from behind me.

At some point I realized that the sounds behind me stopped. I turned around, but quickly averted my eyes. She was still hunched over the hole.

”Is, is something wrong? You alright?”

”...”

”Umm...”

”I'm done but...”

”But?”

Did something happen? Is she sick or something?

”I don't have any leaves to wipe with”

”...”

Right. I forgot.

”K. Gimme a sec”

I had the option of giving her some of the grass from the dungeon boundary, but I didn't know if it was too rough or something. Fortunately, I could find a good alternative pretty close by if I was quick about it.

With a speedy dash, I ventured further into the dungeon, past the first monster, and to the second, a rabbit. Before it could react, I sliced it into two with my claws, then grabbed it's drop. Fortunately it was exactly what I wanted on my first try.

With my loot in hand, I rushed back to Alicia. Hopefully nothing had approached in the few seconds I was away.

She was still stooping down, and there wasn't any hint of a monster nearby.

”Here, use this”

I handed over my loot.

”This...is it really alright to use something as nice as this?!”

”It'll actually take more time for me to get leaves. And thanks to the dungeon, I can get furs whenever I want, so that's actually easier right now”

She was reluctant, but stuck between her choices, she took the one I suggested.

Once she was done, I took her hand so we could prepare to get some food for her.

Back home, I sat Alicia back onto the couch so I could get us ready for a trip through the dungeon. As much as I wanted to give her armour, everything I had was way too big and heavy for her. I'd just have to shield her with my magic and my own body if need be.

But that aside, there was one thing that she was missing that I could fix, namely footwear.

I'd used up all the remaining rabbit pelts, but I still had the scraps from making her dress along with plenty of other leathers. I sliced up some leather from a beastial boss monster that had a lion head and goat head along with a snake tail. It was basically a Greek chimera.

The leather was thick and strong, but was no match against my claws. I sewed the remaining rabbit fur to one side then attached a larger formed piece as well, then turned it inside out. I then cut a strip of leather into two cords.

Finally, I put them on to Alicia and tied the cords around her ankles so the fur boots wouldn't come off easily.

”How does that feel Alicia?”

I ask her as I lift her up and put her down onto the floor.

”I, is it really alright for me to have these?”

She lightly stomped the ground feeling out her new footwear.

”Of course. That's why I made them”

”I, I...thank you! I love you Scarlet!”

Suddenly, she jumped at me with a big hug and rubbed her face into my belly. I could feel the wetness from her tears and she trembled slightly. It made me worry what kind of life she lived if she was so moved about something like cheap boots like that, but I was hesitant to ask.

”Mmm. I love you too Alicia”

I hugged her back and stroked her soft hair.

(She's such a cute kid)

”Alright, gimme a sec and we'll be off”

I quickly grabbed my usual clothes and bag and put them on before grabbing Alice's hand.

”Right. Let's-a-go!”