DD 204 Ch 3

Chapter 3

Crimson and I returned to Star City from our trip towards the Elven world, unsure of how much farther we had to go. Most importantly, we needed to meet the other members of the schools that had been stuck and not yet made it to Star City before we had left.

I stepped out and waved to the group. Machen was a head taller than everyone else, and when his attention snapped towards me, other heads quickly followed.

"Good afternoon," I hesitated, checking my CID. Time was somewhat hard to put a pin on in the dungeon. Especially when people here came from halfway across the world and lived in different timezones. "Either way, welcome, one and all. I think without any further ado," I gestured towards Crimson.

She activated Portal, opening to Earth, and then stood in front of it. "All of you will be allowed to return to Star City. However, you must understand the rules for coming to Star City. You must make it here upon your own merit. That means after you tell other people about this city and they wish to join you, they must traverse the dungeon to reach it." 

Crimson raked her eyes along the group. It seemed everyone from the three colleges had made it to the city. As for the Royal College, I had stopped worrying about them days ago. Crimson's eyes landed firmly on Neldra with a slight scowl.

"To that end, please, you are welcome to go home. In fact, I encourage we all step through so I am not answering your parents' questions when they ask where the fuck you are. Now get." Crimson stepped away from the portal and gestured them all through.

Under Crimson's authority, everyone quickly merged to a single file line, marching through the portal. There was a little jockeying for position, but in front of Crimson, they all acted like amicable students. 

Ambrosia walked over to me, staring at the portal. "What is that?" She asked, her eyes open in amazement. 

"Through some strange twist, I received this ability," I pointed at it. "As long as I've been to a location, I can portal to it even within the dungeon. Though the dungeon shuffle reset those apparently." 

Ambrosia flew nearby then landed, stepping up to the edge of the portal and looking around both sides of it. "This is rather impressive. Even to the Orkai," she said, "there's something like this, that when all seven cities in the depths of the dungeon reconnect with each other, they can, through a feat of technical engineering, create portals from one to the other, but they are held open for a very limited period of time."

I shrugged and gestured at the portal. "This one's dungeon-made rather than engineered, and we all know the dungeon does what the dungeon wants." 

Ambrosia nodded again. "You said your ability, though? Crimson has it as well? Is it common amongst your humans?" 

I shook my head. "Just me and my women." 

Ambrosia sucked in a deep breath before an awe filled with meaning came out. "Of course, an incubus would have such capabilities." She nodded to herself. "Are there rules for entry into your world? If you would like, I would happily continue my service for three mana crystals a day." Ambrosia peered curiously at the portal, a little bit of hope in her eyes.

I glanced at Crimson for her thoughts. 

"Ken actually already has a servant back home," Crimson patted the dark angel consolingly on the shoulder. "So I don't think he needs a servant. Actually, Ken tends to collect beautiful women, but they also need to be able to dive the dungeon alongside him." 

Ambrosia gave Crimson a strange look. "My people aren't adept at diving the dungeon. We are a little too fragile for such intensity." Ambrosia looked away from the portal, forcefully. "To both of you, feel free to retain my services upon re-entering Star City. I'll consider prorating any day that you return, because you've not fully utilized my day today." 

Satisfied with herself, she walked off until she had room to open up her wings and flap away.

Crimson chuckled beside me. "She's a bit of a prickly one, isn't she?”

“And what are you doing with her?" I said, joining her in walking through the portal. 

"She has potential. Lots of potential. At least that's what my eyes say." Crimson shrugged.

We'd already preemptively filled our party for when the elves left. Penny was going to slot in to be our tank. I was about to open my mouth but Crimson interrupted me.

“I know, I know," Crimson said, dismissing the inevitable objections.

Crimson continued. "My class is going to be down another three students. Maybe I need to pick up a few more. I bet there has to be an orc girl somewhere in the city that wants a group to dive. Variety is the spice of life and all that."

I rolled my eyes. Did she really think we were still going to be a class after all this? Everyone in Class A and Class B would easily get recruited into the top guilds at their levels. Even if we hadn't technically finished the Dungeon College, it seemed a little silly for us to continue.

That thought came to a screeching halt as I stepped out of the portal and into the dungeon entrance at Haylon. Everyone was filing out of the building in a hurry, more than a few falling down on the grass in relief.

Seeing the school's tall, bright buildings, the verdant green grass, and the general peaceful atmosphere almost brought tears to my eyes. Without knowing it, there had been a massive weight on my shoulders. Being in the dungeon for so long, there was a strange disorientation with being back in the world where I had spent so much of my life.

"Crimson, what is the meaning of... Oh my god!" Headmistress Marlow was rushing out of the back offices of the UG, nearly jumping out of her skin as she saw everyone standing in the field.

"I'm back!" I waved at her amid the soft gossip of the other students present.

Mrs. Marlow squawked and got out of the way of the students who were distractedly staring at their CIDs.

Most of them had already begun contacting their loved ones, who hurriedly replied. Many were putting their CIDs up to their ears and starting up conversations.

Crimson shooed everyone away, and despite their distraction, they eagerly parted for her as she went straight for the headmistress. 

"Students delivered," she opened her arms like some queen.

I had to work to avoid rolling my eyes. At least Crimson was enjoying herself.

"I can see that," the headmistress glanced over the group quickly, her eyes becoming hard as she scanned a second and third time. "I don't see anyone from the Royal Academy.”

“Unfortunate." Crimson kept a poker face. "They decided not to cooperate with the rest of the group when it came time for their exit strategy. As they were surrounded by hostile forces, they came into direct conflict with the Naga safe zone."

A nearby student snorted. "They attacked us while we were fighting the Naga. They had already tried to run away rather than fight."

The headmistress' lips sealed into a tight purse. "I see," she had to practically pry her lips apart. "Ken, would you perhaps be willing to come with us?" The headmistress checked me with her CID, her eyes popping even wider. 

"Oh, right. Did I mention they leveled quite a bit?" Crimson smirked, glancing back at me. 

As for myself, I was soaking in the headmistress' surprise with a satisfied smile fixed on my face. "If you'll excuse me, headmistress, I think I should contact my grandparents before doing anything else."

"Of course," she answered hurriedly. Suddenly my levels garnered me respect. At this point, I was the same level as her.

I tapped on my CID, messaging Grandma Sakura.

A ding sounded in reply on Crimson’s CID a few seconds later, and she waved open another portal.

Grandpa rolled through the portal before popping to his feet, spotting me and Crimson. He gave a smile and then darted over to Fayeth. 

"My favorite daughter-in-law," he said, holding her up with a giant smile on his face.

I felt the cold wind of him passing me by to welcome Fayeth first, though I knew part of it was on purpose. 

Grandma Sakura came through the portal a moment later, in a more poised but still hurried gait. She smiled. My grandmother, who rarely showed much outward affection, stepped up and wrapped me in a tight hug, kissing me on the top of my head. 

"We were so worried," she said, her face stoic. Even in this situation, the kiss on top of the head was the most surprising part, and it left me stunned. 

"Of course, Grandma, do not worry. We managed just fine. If you would do me a favor, though," I noticed as my other grandmothers came through, "could you help Neldra with an issue she's picked up in the dungeon?" 

I didn't speak of what was ailing her, but between Sakura’s class and Grandma Yui's, I hoped one of them could help Neldra, or at least know someone could help her. Assassins didn't just have to be an expert in using poisons, but also creating and curing them as well. I was fairly sure Grandma Yui had enough expertise to help Neldra. 

After thoroughly teasing my party, Grandpa reappeared in a flash in front of me, vibrating as if he resonated from stopping so suddenly.

"My boy, Ken. I'm so happy you're back. Do you remember some of those books I loaned you? When you disappeared, I was pretty worried we'd lost them. Some of them are collector's editions." Grandpa looked up at me with worry.

I smacked my face and dragged my hand down along it, stretching it out. "Yes, Grandpa, I have your books," I emphasized the word books. "However, I don't believe they were loaned. I'm pretty sure you gave them to me."

Crimson cleared her throat from beside me. "You don't have any books that are offensive material, do you?" Red lightning sparked in her eyes, and I remembered how upset she got when Grandpa gave me the smut magazine depicting someone other than Crimson. 

I also realized that I had just lied to my grandfather. I didn't have any of his magazines. They had exploded everywhere in Demon Lord Snu Snu's room. Given that they weren't any related to Crimson, I really hadn't picked them back up. There wasn't a need to keep them.

The dungeon would have absorbed them by now.

"Absolutely not, Crimson.” I suddenly changed my tune. “In fact, Grandpa, I think you might be disappointed. I got rid of all of them until they were just depicting a single subject. After all, I would hate to make Crimson jealous." I boldly wrapped my arm around her hip and pulled her against me.

We hadn't done many displays of affection in the past, but since coming back from my recent trials in the dungeon, I was feeling significantly bolder. 

"But I'm sure I can make it up to you, Grandpa, because I have a surprise for you." I told him. I have a notarized bet backed by SJS Financial, as well as proof that I won the bet," I said, a slight chuckle escaping my lips.

Crimson chuckled. "Even though the Royal Academy didn't come back, you're still going to press that?" she asked. 

"Oh yes, Crimson. We are absolutely going to press it. Furthermore, I'm going to throw an absolute fit about what Prince Albar and Professor Gaffar did in the dungeon. So much so, I hope SJS overpays this payout of the bet, lest I drag them absolutely through the mud." Though in my mind, I realized we were going to have to be a touch forceful on this one.

Perhaps it was better to think of it as a financial assassination.

Grandpa blinked several times. "I heard about this one. Are the numbers for it true?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. 

"They are indeed, Grandpa. Twenty billion Ren. Why don't we see how much money we can shake out of the giant tree?" I offered, knowing he would love to go chase that money down.

Grandpa began to cackle. "Oh, this is going to be good." He rubbed his hands together. "Do you need any help shaking the tree?" 

"I'd happily shake down a tree with you," I said, only for Grandpa to hand me a pair of glasses before handing one to Crimson and Elysara as he slid a matching pair over his own face. "If we're going to do this, we're going to do this in style." 

Grandpa shot a gleaming smile at me as Headmistress Marlow was already starting to open portals. Though hers would only work on Earth’s surface rather than into the dungeon. She’d be able to get everyone home and we were free to go.

I glanced over at the other members of my party. Elysara had stayed close, given she had no one here to greet. And with Neldra taken away, staying near Crimson was the safest spot for her. 

Des and Charlotte were both busy on the phone calming down their families. Meanwhile, Felin looked a little lost. Stuck in the sea of people talking, her ears were flat against her head.

I pulled her over to join our little robber gang before we went to SJS. "Charlotte, Des," I waved at both of them to get their attention. "I will catch up with you at the Nagato clan." 

Turning back to Crimson, I waited for her to open a portal. Des seemed to understand and walked through before stepping back and giving me a thumbs up, having recorded the location for her own use later. 

"Perfect. Crimson, you don't happen to have a portal to our money tree, do you?" I asked. 

"Oh, I'd happen to. I've done far too much business with them lately." She waved her hand and another portal appeared. Her, Grandpa, myself, Felin and Elysara, all wearing a pair of large sunglasses, walked through with giant smiles on our faces. 

Crimson's portal dumped us out into the busy streets of New York City. Towering skyscrapers dominated the horizon at every turn. 

"New York?" I asked, turning to Crimson. 

"What, do you think a massive financial institution would be anywhere else?" She rolled her eyes. 

Felin was just looking back and forth, like a curious kitten. "So, where are the people we're gonna rob?" She asked. 

Elysara patted her on the shoulder. "You're using the wrong words, Felin. We aren't going to rob them," she coached. "We're going to take a fair debt from them." 

Felin nodded so hard that her ears bounced with the movement. "Right, right. Not robbing them. We're just taking all their money in a fair way." 

Elysara glanced over at me and I shrugged. "Close enough. We’re going to be a little forceful if we can. If we're honest, it isn't that unlike robbery. Besides, I'm sure most companies perform robbery in broad daylight anyways." 

"We are going to this one," Crimson pointed to a building.

We rolled up like a set of thugs with the swagger of someone who was about to get paid.

I made for the door before somebody stepped forward and held a hand out. "Excuse me. You can't enter here." 

Crimson pulled down her sunglasses. "Do you know who I am?" 

"Ms. Crimson, we are very aware of who you are and that is why you cannot enter. We've been given strict orders that if Crimson shows up, we're to phone it up and wait until someone more qualified can escort you," he told her diplomatically. 

I chuckled and turned to Crimson. "Look, they're already scared and you haven't even stepped foot inside." 

The man at the door pointedly looked away, pretending to be busy. 

"Why are we waiting?" Felin asked. "I thought we were here to rob them." 

Those words got the man’s attention as his head snapped back to our group.

I put a hand on Felin’s shoulders. "I apologize. She's not great with human languages. You know, Nekorians just don't have a breadth of words when it comes to commerce."

Elysara patted Felin's shoulder and tried to calm the guard down. He held a finger up to his ear, holding the receiver deeper in. 

"Alright, you can go. Your escort will be here momentarily." He told us in a hurry like he was tossing a hot potato out into the next person’s hands.

"Hey, Crimson," I grinned, "you really just get the whole red carpet rolled out for you, don't you?" 

"Perks of being me," she shot me a wink and strolled in through the glass doors to an opulent lobby made of marble trimmed with gold. A giant, ostentatious gong sat beside the reception desk.

I wondered if anyone ever hit that thing. It looked like some sort of priceless heirloom. 

Meanwhile, down the hallway came a group of adventurers suited up like corporate thugs. They had sunglasses and receivers in their ears. I recognized one of them that had been following Prince Albar before beating me, only to get himself torn apart repeatedly by Crimson, then forcing the prince to revive him. 

“Crimson.” He paled, his body shaking for a moment before he swallowed and stepped forward. "We are going to bring you to the president," he told her quickly. 

"One moment, I've always wanted to do this." Crimson reached into her CID and pulled out a small club. It looked fairly innocuous, however, I was certain that it must be a high-level item. She wound up and smashed it against the gong.

The gong rang so loud, everyone in the lobby covered their ears. The pretty secretary behind the desk fell out of her chair and the gong was torn from her blow, falling off its stand and crashing to the ground. 

Crimson gave a brilliant smile as she spun back around, twirling the club and stuffed it into her CID. "Ah, it just was begging to be rung," she said, turning to the security guards with a giant grin. "Please, take us up," she gestured, and they hesitated. 

Crimson had clearly set the mood for our current encounter. 

"Of course, right this way, Crimson," the guard said stiffly, gesturing for her down the hall. "Elevators are on your left, and please use this card," he handed one to her, "to arrive at the penthouse." 

"You aren't coming to the elevator with us?" She asked.

"No, no, we're going to use a separate one," he pointed, before herding the rest of the people with him into the other elevator. Several of them were giving him strange looks, but no one moved as their elevator closed immediately and shot up before us. 

Crimson cackled, "After you, Ken," she opened up the other elevator with the badge.

"You know, I kind of wanted to hit that gong," I said to her. "How about you let me play forward for the next bit?" 

Crimson raised a manicured eyebrow, but she didn't comment further. Grandpa, however, was nodding his head as he crossed his arms in the back of the elevator. "A man sometimes needs to just take charge." Grandpa stated.

"For once, Grandpa, I agree with you. Besides, let this be my moment, Crimson." I put a hand on her shoulder. This was something I needed to do.

She puffed up her cheeks. "You have no idea how much I want to pay back my frustrations to them, but I understand. For this, I'll just be the backup.” She grumbled.

“Thank you." I pulled her into me and smiled at her.

It was considerable growth for Crimson to let me take the lead.

The elevator doors dinged as we reached the top. They opened up into yet another secretary desk with big glass doors behind it and a group of security quickly talking to a gray-haired man that greatly resembled Prince Albar, or perhaps with the lifeless beady eyes he resembled the prince’s corpse more.