DD 301 Ch 5

I entered the brightly lit hall with Des and Felin in tow.

The place was massive. Dozens of long tables, each seating thirty, filled the room. A platform several steps higher than the rest of the room held a single long table. My grandparents, several older members of the Nagato clan who had rejoined us as we rebuilt, as well as Crimson, Charlotte, and Penny, were all seated in the elevated area. Charlotte had discarded her apron and was sitting comfortably near the head of the table. 

My grandfather started clapping to get everyone's attention before gesturing to his wife.

"If it isn't the man of the hour, the young leader of our Silver Fangs Guild, and the future patriarch of the Nagato clan!" Grandma Sakura spoke smoothly.

Grandpa remained seated, and I was thankful to Sakura for taking over the main speech. Who knows what buffoonery Grandpa would have spouted.

The crowd politely clapped, but not so loud that it would disturb my grandmother from continuing. 

"We are welcoming my grandson back from what I understand to be arduous summer training, only for him to rush back to school where he'll train even further. I dare say, by the time he finishes his four years at Haylon, my grandson and the rest of his party might be competing for top spots amongst humanity." Her voice boomed out over the space, filled with pride. 

There were more people clapping and I noticed quite a few nodding along with her words. In some sense, I was running my own race. But after being able to meet my grandfather blow for blow with his very grandpa-like welcome, I had to accept the reality that I was stepping into a high percentile amongst humanity in general. 

My eyes turned to Crimson, still the undisputed strongest adventurer in the world. But step by step, my party was making great strides in catching up. I'd have to ask Des and Charlotte if they had any more information about their families and how far they had progressed over the summer.

They were all names I had grown up admiring, and I was eager to start to being their match.

My grandmother swept the room with a smile. "But even so, before he continues, we shall have a night of celebration to remind him of the family behind him and why we work so hard, what we are here to protect. Many of us can thank our current prosperity to Ken and Crimson, the two shining stars lighting our way forward and making so many conversations easier because of our relation to them." 

I blushed slightly at those words.

The thought that bringing me up in the middle of a business deal was helpful simply because my name was that well known. I wanted to dismiss that my name had any prominence and that it was mostly due to Crimson, but I knew that to be false. The last few times I had interacted with the United Guilds, it had become perfectly clear that I was being treated like a top-tier VIP, even if they had been manipulating me slightly. 

Ultimately, Crimson was right. A break from the UG for the summer had been helpful.

I did not need people fawning over me or putting me on magazine covers. Too many adventurers were bogged down in such things. I needed to clear my mind and focus on my training. In the world of the dungeon, personal strength was the most valuable currency in any interaction, one that transcended even our world to other cultures and races.

"Thank you," I said, bowing to my grandmother as she finished and stepping away from the entrance.

Several bows and smiles were offered as congratulations from those at the long tables as I joined the elevated table.

I found myself placed between Charlotte and Penny. Crimson seemed to let those who had spent less time with me have the seats next to me.

Everyone had gone with Eastern attire, even though the room included people of every nation and creed, even Crimson. Who was wearing a bright red robe while she dutifully served my grandparents' wine. 

"I missed you. How are you?" Charlotte asked as I sat down, leaning into me softly. "I didn't get a chance to ask while you were outside. I was a little focused on my task."

I kissed her on the cheek, settling in. "No need to apologize to me. Des was the one with hurt feelings that you didn't say hello." I pointed around her and Des played along with me, pouting at Charlotte.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Des. Like I said, I was just focused." She pleaded with the other woman who cracked a giant smile, caving almost immediately. 

"He's kidding, Charlotte." Des laughed.

The druid perked back up and turned to me with a giant, cute and pitiful pout, one that made me want to wrap her up and protect her from all of the world's evils. Even if she’d matured, she was still my lovable druid.

"Don't do that." I said, knowing that it was my turn to plead. "You are too cute to use such attacks on me. They're too effective."

She broke into a grin. "Sometimes it's just important to know that they still work." She kissed me back. Two years ago, the Charlotte I knew would have been absolutely mortified to kiss in a space this public, especially elevated here, with everyone to see. 

Penny stole my other cheek. Both of them kissing me at the same time, while I caught murmurs of my grandfather grumbling down the table. 

"So, you've been diving with your family?" I asked Charlotte. 

"Only a little. Dad's been getting increasingly competitive. It seems the Verdant and the Renards have a small rivalry sparking off." She glanced at Des. 

"Don't look at me. According to my mother, yours was the one that started this competition when he started showing off his new sword." Given the people involved, I could highly see Charlotte's father starting it innocently.

That and it was probably encouraged by both of their mothers. They were the kind of women who believed growth only happened under extreme pressures. 

"He probably did," Charlotte admitted. "And it's probably good for all of them to get back in the dungeon. Honestly, it's going to be a little weird when I'm eventually stronger than them."

"I know, right?" Penny joined the conversation from my other side, leaning around me. "I'm already as strong as my father, and it's just weird." Penny shook her head. "It's like one day they are this giant, imposing figure that has no match. And the next, they're just another adventurer?" She frowned. "Does that make sense?"

"It makes perfect sense," I said. "Every child idolizes their parents, or grandparents," I said, turning and nodding down the table where I was certain that mine were listening in. "But once you're an adult, especially doing something like diving the dungeon and risking your life every day, they quickly seem not that far out of reach anymore."

Crimson was working her way down the table, holding up a wine bottle.

I nodded to her. "Unless, of course, you're a freak of nature like Crimson."

"I hope you mean that in the most loving way possible," she said, looking up at me through her eyelashes as she poured my drink.

"Oh, he does," Des piped up. "Mean it lovingly, I mean. I still remember the days when Ken used to stare at your ass when he thought you weren't looking in class."

"Oh, tell me more." Crimson flitted down the table and began pouring Des an excessive amount of wine.

Des flashed me a smile and the two of them began talking in hushed tones while Crimson poured.

I rolled my eyes, focusing instead on Charlotte. 

"So your parents are competing with each other? How far have they managed to dive?" I asked, very interested in hearing more.

"They're at least down to the low 60s," Charlotte said with some pride. "They might not be Crimson level, but I don't think they're quite ready yet to fade off into some relics of humanity. The real surprise has been the Harem Queen."

Penny nodded in understanding. "She's really going all in. I think she's down in the upper 60s. At least, that’s what I heard the last time I talked to Helen. That and she’s trying to get information on the trials."

I let out a soft whistle. "I know she's always had a competitive streak with Crimson. Do you think that's what's driving it?" I kept quiet about the fact that [Eyes of Wisdom] could track down the trials. The more I used the ability, the more I realized just how unique it was.

Otherwise the Orkai, Demons and Nekorians would have already found all of the trials and their routes through the dungeon.

"Maybe," Penny shrugged. "Doesn't really matter what's driving it, just that she's been taking Helen along for the ride. You'll be surprised when you see her. Helen has gained a lot of levels and combat experience. I dare say she's been put through a gauntlet almost as intense as what Crimson put you through."

"Well, even if she has, her party can't compare to mine," I said, grinning at the ladies on either side of me.

"Damn right," Charlotte nodded with more fire that I was used to seeing in her. "This isn't about just finishing school anymore. The dungeon has become so much bigger in the last two years."

I hummed to myself in agreement. There was still so much industry built around the dungeon and money pouring in and out of it. Clearly, that had been a focus for so many, including the SJS. And for others, even the Elves, it had been a big deal to form beneficial deals, trading materials scarce on their world and plentiful on ours. But that was only a minor part of what the dungeon held now. 

There were entire cities with powerful races. The arbiter of the orkai was powerful enough that he could simply walk up to Crimson, who had killed a high-level shaman, and demand recompense from her and the Nekorians.

There was a level of strength that was far beyond what we had previously been measuring ourselves against.

A part of me hungered for that power and that strength, and not for my own selfish desires. As I gazed out at the many tables of the Nagato clan and the Silverfang Guild, a sort of weight settled upon my shoulders. I could not help the knowledge that someone had to be strong enough to give the rest of them a voice if we were to survive and thrive in this ever more powerful reality. 

Somewhere in my musings, Crimson had come back around and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Don't get too lost in your thoughts, Ken. You aren't alone in whatever challenges you'll face. Not now, and I dare say not ever again."

"Of course,” Penny joined in.

“If something's worrying you, Ken, let us know. We're here to share the burden," Charlotte said, nodding along with a serious face, expecting me to tell her what was the matter. 

"It's silly. But looking out over this group, I just suddenly feel a little more responsibility," I confessed, nodding at the crowd in front of us. "After dealing with the orkai, a new bar has been set in the strength required to get to have a say in the broader world."

"We'll be there soon," Charlotte reassured me. "It's not like we can progress to that level immediately through sheer will. You've done everything you were supposed to do to get there. I mean, heck," she glanced over her shoulder at Crimson for confirmation, "I'm sure you put him through absolute training hell, right?"

"I made sure he's as ready as I can make him in the time I was given," Crimson nodded.

"See?" Charlotte gestured toward Crimson. "And we've been doing similarly here while you were gone." She nodded towards Des. "If she didn't tell you, she did quite a few wild and spooky warlock things with her family.”

I raised an eyebrow, looking over at Des.

“Just some rituals." Des made a face at Charlotte. "The mystique is so much better if I make it seem effortless."

Charlotte snorted and nodded at Penny. "Penny went raiding with her father. And even took on some of his guild's party missions solo." Charlotte then turned past Penny, focusing on Felin. "And I bet your favorite kitty cat told you all about fishing and inconveniently left out that she begged Grandma Yui to train her as harshly as she could."

Felin begin whistling and looking to the side.

Charlotte kissed me on the cheek. "We are doing our best to share the burden. The rest of the clan too. While they may not be raiding with you or diving directly with you, some of your spirit of trying to grow stronger has certainly infected all of them."

Somewhere in her speech, the room had grown quiet enough that the tables close to us and my grandparents could clearly hear what she was saying.

Charlotte hadn't noticed, only to finish and realize how many eyes were upon her. This time she blushed and ducked her head.

"Well said," I patted Charlotte on the shoulder, noticing the people closest by nodding in agreement. "Yes, very well said." 

Crimson stood behind us and lifted a glass high. "Cheers to all of that."

The rest of us at the head table lifted our glasses in cheers, and the gesture rippled through the crowd. Glasses were raised up high around the entire room. Those towards the back of the hall had clearly not heard Charlotte's impassioned speech, but that didn't matter. The moment was simply infectious for each and every person in the hall. Cheers rang out across the group.

I watched in slight awe, taking in the energy of the group in front of me. Perhaps there really was something happening in the Nagato clan, with me at the very center of it. Perhaps my growth would push the clan further than ever before.

Grandma Sakura looked down the table. "Well said, Charlotte. I'm proud to have someone as wise as you amongst my future daughter-in-laws." 

Charlotte bit her lip, fighting the urge to look away and be shy. Instead, she nodded sharply. "Thank you, Sakura, and thank you all for opening your home to us and our party." 

Right on cue, Grandma Akira slammed a stein of beer on the table while everyone else had been politely sipping wine. My large, scarred grandmother was not the refined wine type of person, a point she made abundantly clear a moment later when she pulled out a whole keg and hefted it so she could pour herself some. 

"Really, is it time to be sitting here like a hoity-toity, prim and proper clan? Or is it time to celebrate as loud as we can, because we can?" Grandma Akira hoisted the keg onto her shoulder.

Grandma Sakura put her head into her hands at the display, and Grandpa pulled out his own mug. "That's more like it," he shouted. Akira ripped off the spout before letting the beer flow as the somewhat ceremonial party turned into something far more jubilant. 

"I can't take them anywhere," Grandma Sakura shook her head. 

Hemi looked up and down the table. "Is it time to bring out the cheesecake? I had dessert made early, just in case we had to keep Uzmaki in line." 

"Yes! Dessert!" Grandpa shouted at the top of his lungs, "Let there be cheesecake!" 

Those down below looked on with a sense of bewilderment, though a few of them got into the mood far faster than the others.

I suspected they were the ones who knew my grandparents best. Several of them pulled out their own steins and kegs, slapping them on the side of the table and turning the space from a proper formal dinner to an all-out rager. This was closer to what I was used to experiencing in dungeon inns after just barely surviving a fight.

This was much more the party of adventurers.

Des let out a heavy sigh. "Phew, I was worried we were going to be stiff and uptight all night.”

“Does that really seem like my family?" I asked her. 

"Well, it seems like Grandma Sakura, but not the rest of these crazies," she gestured about at the group that was beginning to fill any vessel that came within range full of beer, only to pass it back out to the crowd. "At least we gave her some semblance of propriety for a while." 

I smiled at the rest of my party. "Well, she's lucky she got that." 

Des crossed her arms. "But at least in all of this chaos, we can slip out with you, and they will be none the wiser." Des flashed me a toothy grin.