Chapter 161 - Back To The Cave (2/2)

”So, you think that was the reason I almost lost it?” Laz asked, feeling a bit better. Had Vivi told him he was getting addicted to killing, he wasn't sure how he was going to deal with it. He didn't believe for a second that he could live the rest of his life as a non-violent monk.

*I think so. Sigh, you know what? You've always been a bit too gentle I think. Even though you're years better than anyone else your age, your still not hard enough, nor cold enough. It's a good thing, but it's also a bad thing.* Laz knew what she meant without her having to explain. Simply put, him being gentle would be a weakness in the future.

*So what are your next plans?*

”I was thinking we should take everyone into the cave and let them get a little hands on experience with those demon beasts.”

*Yeah. About that. It might not be the best idea right now.*

”What do you mean?” Laz knew that Vivi had been taking it on herself to do and check out the cave while keeping tabs on the few remaining beasts inside, mostly to understand how they developed. So when she said that it wasn't a good time, there had to be a good reason.

*Stange thing, I think we view things wrong before.*

”...?”

*So, we thought that the beasts, err spiders, in the cave would continue to grow until they got so big and so over powered that they would break out an run amok right?*

”Yes, but...?”

*Well, since I have been watching it, the cave seems to have started to restore to it's original capacity way quicker than I thought possible. In fact, I now think that even if we killed everything in it, it somehow would have still been able to bring eveything back to te way it was in just a year or two.*

”So what does that mean for right now?” Laz almost understood what she was saying, but felt like he was missing something.

*It means that there are almost two dozen of those large, dog like spiders and a whole shit load of the small level ones. It seems like the cave is restoring itself to how it was before we hit it as fast as possible. If things had been able to grow at this speed the entire time, then we should have encountered far more of the spiders than we did. The fact is, I think the cave can only build up to a certain level before it's growth either stops, or slows down so fast that it would take hundreds of years for something to make an improvement. Of course it would be dead by then.* After explaining everything, Vivi just sat back and watched him think. She had already formed her own thoughts on this cave, but she was wondering what he would come up with.

”This cave... is almost like a dungeon in a game after a respawn. A level one dungeon will only ever be a level one dungeon. I mean sure, unless the dungeon has like a high level locked area, but other than that..”

*This.... isn't exactly what I was thinking but it's strangly accurate. I have no idea how much of your past you wasted on games...” Vivi said, raising an eyebrow at this big brother of hers.

”Well, anything that could be played on mobile. I spent a lot of time in a car with my parents when I was young.”

*Well, anyway. What this means is that this cave is regulated. What that also means is that there is a system of laws in place that didn't exist before. You are right with what you think, but just like in nature, things don't automatically come back to life. It takes time. Anyway, knowing this, what do you plan on doing?*

”Well..” Laz thought for a bit before deciding to alter his plans.

”I don't think we cna bring Reggie or Dee, since they will likely freak out and get themselves hurt. Even though the spiders in the cave pose no real danger to be, that doesn't mean I or even you can always watch them and save them. Instead, it would be better to bring people with actual combat experience.”

*That's what I was thinking. Those two arn't like you and are way too young to do that just yet.*

”So I guess that I can just bring Leona and Ruby...”

*Oh ho ho. So now you're close with that girl you told me about too?*

”Well, she is experienced and her group is slightly related to me. Besides, her group could be put in charge of the cave for managing it long term. And on top of that, it can serve as a training ground for them,” Laz explained as best he could. he really didn't have any bad thoughts, but he felt like he owed Ruby and the Black Rose for their help last night, more so than just the money they would get from the job. Since he was slightly responsible for the groups formation, he felt a bit of responsibility to help it grow as well.

*Whatever. It's your call. I'm going to be busy for a bit so you will be on your own for the trip. Have fun with the two girls...*

”Vivi... what? What will you be doing? Are you upset at me?”

*No. And I'm not telling you. You just focus on what you have to do while I focus on what I have to do ok?* Vivi wasn't really made at her big brother, but it seemed easier to do what she needed to do if he was left in the dark about it. After all, it was better he didn't know what she was up to when it concerned the people that it did. She also didn't want his demon babysitter knowing what she was up to. She didn't trust that strange, green haired women. She just didn't know why. The woman had saved his life before so on the surface she seemed ok. But something in Vivi's blood told her that the woman was more of an enemy than a friend and always would be.

Seeing that she wasn't going to say anything about it, Laz didn't speak any more about it. Seeing as how the little wolf looked like she was going to lay back down to sleep more now that they were done talking, so Laz just crawled back in bed with her and snuggled up to her, burying his face in her gentle fur.

*wha wha wha... WHAT ARE YOU DOING?*

”Just showing you how much you mean to me. In the end, it's only been you and me.”

*I know that. Of course I know that. Get your wet man flesh off of me and go do your stuff...* Vivi scolded Laz while he laughed and got up to make some calls.

Watching him walk out of the room, Vivi just smiled again before covering herself up again in the blankets.

'Stupid brother. How could I not know how you feel about me...'