Chapter 190: Delta The last Ear Bender
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Chapter 190: Delta: The last Ear Bender
“Now, class,” Mr Jones began, his lecture in Fera’s bar was an odd choice, but Delta politely took a seat between Deo and some child that looked like she could be the star of her own young teen romance novel with silver hair.
The kids of Durence were a little odd.
Still, Delta was just happy she wasn’t going to explode in a violent death anymore so she was a little giddy to just enjoy a lesson.
Mr Jones asked “What effect does Dungeon Mana have on Demons?” and Deo shot his hand up.
“It gives them wings so they can fight for justice with the power of DEO” he said eagerly.
“That’s characters in a book you’ve read, Deo,” Mr Jones corrected. Delta suddenly had an idea to bring all the children down to the library. With her dungeon control, she could even ‘thin’ the mana to prevent any incidents.
“Well, in churches, Demon’s will sweat badly. In some lawyer offices, they also sweat, but differently,” Amenstar, the quiet child with a strange light and dark mana aura said. “So, maybe they have a cold sweat here?” he shrugged.
Ruli raised her hand seriously.
“Nyeh... I bet they just get fat,” Poppy said and Ruli’s hand began to wave, desperate to be called on.
“No! Dungeon Mana must be a delicacy! I bet demons, even Mr Jones, are getting outrageously drunk on the mana. Drinking like they have demons to drown!” Grim said as his tongue sparked orange while he spoke, causing steam to rise into the air.
“I have actual booze right here,” Fera grunted as she slammed a tray of sandwiches and soda drinks down for the kids. Then she handed Mr Jones a smoking goblet that vaguely screamed in terror. Ruli was so far out of her chair, waving her hand in the air that she was straining with her neck muscles pulsing with her efforts.
“Miss Darknessbane?” Mr Jones asked with a smile.
“No effect! Demons and Dungeons work on different wavelengths, their energies pass through each other!” she gasped as she sagged down into the seat at the table beside her before she shot a smug grin at the teens around her.
“I see the newest crop of Mr Jones’ torture sessions aren’t up to snuff!” she bragged as next to her, a goblin shot her a dirty look.
Cois the fire mage snorted at her “As a grown woman, that’s just sad,” Cdowning a beer. Ruli just ignored him as she sat there with a smile.
“Do you know why?” Mr Jones asked innocently and Ruli stiffened, quickly busying herself by downing three beers in one go.
“I have no clue either,” Delta muttered, feeling like she should know this as one half of the subject in question.
“Not to fear, it is a bit of rather obscure metaphysics-” Mr Jones said as the pub door slammed open with a dramatic flair and a breeze fluttered through the bar, making the candles flicker.
“Obscure metaphysics is my thing,” Yattina said with a smile as she looked around the bar. Delta blinked, having been too focused on Mr Jones to even notice her approach. She smiled at the woman having forgotten only Ruli and Mr Jones should be able to see her. Yattina paused and looked at where Delta sat with a wink of her new golden eye. As if it was trying to focus on something but, was distracted as she joined Mr Jones at the bar.
Delta blinked, that had been weird of Yattina...
“Ah, I heard some of Fairplay possessed a modicum of smarts. I welcome you to the discussion and give you a chance to answer the question you heard while lurking behind the door, eavesdropping before your entrance,” Mr Jones smiled and Yattina spluttered before waving him off.
“I was not ‘lurking’! I was merely preparing for a lull in the conversation,” she corrected. Yattina cleared her throat.
“Demons are beings devoid of what we humans would call a soul or essence of humanity. They likely existed long before we even appeared on this world. Dungeons take the natural world energy, aka Mana and the essence of human souls, combining them into something uniquely their own. Demons can interact with us humans and vice-versa, sort of like water in a trench. Empty and something with content,” Yattina explained as she noticed she was losing the more classroom-challenged students.
Ruli was beginning to drool as her eyes rolled up in her head and her brain shut off.
“Demons are rocks, humans are water, and Dungeons are gas. People can, over time, interact with Dungeons and be disturbed by demons. Dungeons and demons just can’t interact with each other,” she summed up.
“Mr Jones is drinking right now,” Grim said, pointing out an ‘issue’ with Yattia’s words. Delta could feel the demon drinking, taking in her mana and... doing something with it.
“That’s physical interaction. We’re talking about mana. Dungeons cannot contract pure demons and Demons cannot take the ‘souls’ of Dungeons,” Yattina said as if this subject was fascinating and Delta leaned in on her hand, enjoying her passion.
Except there was one little issue.
It was a duck-shaped issue.
Delta had contracted a demon.
She let her mind wander over to Waddles who stared right back. The contract between them had barely done anything to the duck, unlike what it was doing to Renny or Jack.
In fact, Waddles held up the bond between them, showing how easily he could break it, but chose not to. The form he was in was technically duck shaped, but it was a mana construct
It was one of Quiss’ accidents, so maybe that allowed for a loophole? In fact, Mr Jones and Runilic were also mana constructs. Delta just hadn’t noticed because they were so tightly woven together it was like a real body...
The more Delta actually paid attention to them, the more they began to feel off. She took a slight peek as her Dungeon self. In an instant, Mr Jones was gone, replaced by a three-headed mass of tendrils connected to exposed brains, each brain connected to a dozen eyes and a mess of pulsing veins carved with glowing symbols. The eyes moved in every direction as if constantly reading something Delta couldn’t see.
The creature was bound with cords and chains with a single lock that had no keyhole but a missing word.
Runliic’s form had also changed into a being of ash and scars, his mighty hands blackened by a fire so hot it would have melted anyone else. Every bang of his hammer caused his bones to flash like a reaction of lightning. As he breathed, smog and bonedust wheezed out like an old tomb. His fire was barely a flicker but it was an inferno all the same. He was also bound by chains, but these chains were much darker... as if made of shadows and silence.
Almost a little afraid, Delta turned to look at Ruli, truly looking at the woman for the first time and saw that she was mostly the same except for her horns and the darker skin mixed with glowing lines of fire. Her hair was more smoke than thread.
But it was still life-loving Ruli.
All the same, Delta had contracted Waddles...
What made Delta different?
“You keep forgetting how annoyingly human you are. Dungeon 2.0, now with anxiety pre-installed,” Nu said as he appeared with a flicker, as if he was sensing her concerns.
“I only screamed and panicked once or twice,” she argued as Yattina went on describing how some species of life had odd reactions to demons.
“Spiders. Mushroom Spitters. People. Mushrooms-” Nu listed.
“Reasonable responses,” Delta said confidently.
“Pygmy Mushrooms, Renny, Maestro constantly, Bob-” he kept going.
“You make it seem unreasonable!” Delta said, pointing at the screen with a glare.
“Wilhelm. Muffet. Your secret garden results. Hero in action. Jack’s shrine. Jack’s death. The Guardgoyles-” he said, having no shame.
“I didn’t scream at my Critter mounds when I attacked Mharia,” Delta said, smirking as if this made her the victor.
“Death. Star. Dragon.” Nu said with a jab with each word.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.
Delta stared back defiantly.
“I left the oven on,” she said through clenched teeth.
“-and that’s why Dungeons seem to talk to themselves,” Mr Jones said as he gestured to where Delta was sitting.
Wait, what?
“I wanna see Nu!” Deo said excitedly. The rest of the class spoke up as Yattina was squinting hard at where Nu floated.
She didn’t even mind the overwhelming smell of cheese. It felt more like a charming quality than anything bad. There was never any cheese at home.
Her father had something against dairy products.
“Have some Cheese of the Right Arm. It’s limited in source due to the disease but it is delicious,” he offered snacks to her and Mas. Serma’s soul melted when she ate the offered snack and she tried not to float off with a feeling of bliss as Mas just beamed.
Cheese... Serma would wear a suit of this cheese when she locked her father in the Golden Maiden.
“You smell of nobility,” the woman said, her smile a little less bright but no less kind.
“Yes, apologies!” Serma said, flushing as she forgot her manners, “I am Princess Serma of Capital City,” she did a polite bow.
“R-Royalty?” the woman said, her smile trembling and she turned stiffly like her legs were made of wood.
“I must be going. I left an excuse to leave on the stove,” she said numbly and walked off quickly. Haldi waved her off and sighed.
“Don’t take it personally. She and royals have history,” Haldi explained with a tilt of his head, making his snow-white hair move in a breeze.
“Was it my father or my grandmother?” Serma sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
“Surprisingly, it had little to do with them and a much older kingdom called ‘Turtog’,” he said quietly and Serma had never heard of it. She needed to brush up on her geopolitical knowledge or she’d miss things like this.
“It was an older kingdom that caused a powerful distortion by committing a deep wound on the world. A lot happened, but due to a lot of drain on the land, it became a grayzone,” Haldi continued to explain and the elder was definitely knowledgeable for a cheese monger!
“Where is it?” Serma asked, interested as Mas was given more snacks to enjoy by Haldi.
“Oh... around. It collapsed but the wound never quite sealed over,” Haldi said vaguely.
“A kingdom doesn’t just collapse. They’d be ruins and signs of their history,” Serma pointed out as Lorsa snorted at the idea of something lasting. She was such a cynic.
“Well, sure if the collapse was done by decay and time, but there is a different way to collapse,” Haldi said then peered at her. Serma looked back, unwilling to blink.
“You remind me of someone. They had the same sort of reasoning about things and your nose is awfully familiar,” Haldi mused and Serma was going to start wearing a veil. This nose business was giving her a complex.
“You knew her father,” Lorsa said slowly. Haldi continued to stare and Serma raised an eyebrow.
“I know a lot of noble fathers,” Haldi said oddly.
“They suck,” Serma said bluntly and Haldi staggered suddenly as if struck by a memory.
“I was informed I had an escort quest here,” someone spoke up and Serma turned, blinking as she saw a sort of familiar face.
“Aren’t you Peharl’s apprentice?” she asked and the boy with a stoic look gave her a look as if only noticing her.
“I retired,” he said slowly.
“You must be Alpha,” Lorsa said quickly and the boy shot her a look, hand on his sword suddenly.
“You’re-” he said and Lorsa was at his side, giving his shoulder a squeeze.
“Royal Knight Captain, Lorsa. I’m glad you remember,” she said with a wink.
“Delta is better,” Alpha said and Lorsa made a strange choking noise as Alpha turned to Serma but Mas stood between them.
“Please be nice,” Mas said and Alpha frowned.
“My moral alignment is irrelevant for this escort quest, if it was, it would be listed before I accepted it,” he said and looked at Serma.
“I’m here to take you to Delta. Do you have any objections and are you able to match my walking speed without pathing issues?” he asked seriously.
“This is not how one escort’s a lady,” Serma said with a little bit of royal tightness to her voice.
“Your class is ‘princess’ and ‘rebel’. You are not a lady,” Alpha pointed out and Serma’s nostrils flared.
“I’m about to class change to ‘murderer’ in a second,” Serma said as she tried to square up to Alpha but Mas held her back.
“Think of the blood on your nice dress!” Mas said and Serma hesitated.
“The dress has no enchantments or lore. It’s ‘mid’ at best,” Alpha continued to speak.
“Do you have a problem with me?” Serma asked and Alpha suddenly made a strange smile.
“I heard a royal ruler must be advised by their ‘head mage’. I am simply trying to be helpful by pointing out that the dress you're wearing has no protections built into it nor does it allow you to activate any seduction skills to gain political power over your enemies,” he said flatly.
“I’m about to seduce your rib cage into a meat grinder,” Serma’s eyes flashed. Alpha frowned and Serma mentally felt like she had won a point in this strange game.
“I do not find you attractive as a ruler or as a girl. I’m simply advising you of your shortcomings as to prevent you dying or committing an act so shameful the royal city collapses. Also, my rib cage would break most meat grinders as I have the ‘Thick Bones’ passive ability. It gives me thick bones,” he added, as if Serma needed the clarification.
“Like a thick skull?” Serma asked, voice sickly sweet.
“Yes, I can headbutt most things without an issue. Sometimes if I use it on trees, creatures fall out of it,” he said, ignoring her tone. That just... made Serma feel worse.
“Princess, he’s just bad at talking!” Mas said quickly and Serma was going to introduce him to some rudimentary social classes in the nearest blood arena.
“Perhaps Serma would feel better, Alpha, if you shared a weakness you possessed?” Haldi suggested over the noise of their argument, but the old man was grinning. Alpha frowned and seemed to think... and think... and think so more.
“Humility, perhaps?” Serma whispered.
“I could not wear a bad dress like Princess Serma can with confidence. I think a weakness of mine then is confidence,” he said and Serma went for his throat.
“Youth is the best cheese of all,” Haldi said brightly and Lorsa could only nod over the sounds of Serma’s fingers creaking as they tried to squeeze Alpha’s throat but doing little more than causing indents in his skin.
“Your choking skills need to be grinded, I’ll add it to the list.”
Serma was going to leave this town with the ability to crush metal with her bare hands, even if it killed her.
“Mas can help her!” Lorsa said quickly.
“I don’t want to be choked...”
“Give it time,” Lorsa said and Serma’s urge to strangle them all grew.
A blond man with a Peacekeeper badge turned the corner, took one look at them and pivoted on his heel and walked back the way he came.
“Harder, use your thumb more,” Alpha instructed.
Serma was seeing red and a little gold.
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Chapter 190: Delta: The last Ear Bender
“Now, class,” Mr Jones began, his lecture in Fera’s bar was an odd choice, but Delta politely took a seat between Deo and some child that looked like she could be the star of her own young teen romance novel with silver hair.
The kids of Durence were a little odd.
Still, Delta was just happy she wasn’t going to explode in a violent death anymore so she was a little giddy to just enjoy a lesson.
Mr Jones asked “What effect does Dungeon Mana have on Demons?” and Deo shot his hand up.
“It gives them wings so they can fight for justice with the power of DEO” he said eagerly.
“That’s characters in a book you’ve read, Deo,” Mr Jones corrected. Delta suddenly had an idea to bring all the children down to the library. With her dungeon control, she could even ‘thin’ the mana to prevent any incidents.
“Well, in churches, Demon’s will sweat badly. In some lawyer offices, they also sweat, but differently,” Amenstar, the quiet child with a strange light and dark mana aura said. “So, maybe they have a cold sweat here?” he shrugged.
Ruli raised her hand seriously.
“Nyeh... I bet they just get fat,” Poppy said and Ruli’s hand began to wave, desperate to be called on.
“No! Dungeon Mana must be a delicacy! I bet demons, even Mr Jones, are getting outrageously drunk on the mana. Drinking like they have demons to drown!” Grim said as his tongue sparked orange while he spoke, causing steam to rise into the air.
“I have actual booze right here,” Fera grunted as she slammed a tray of sandwiches and soda drinks down for the kids. Then she handed Mr Jones a smoking goblet that vaguely screamed in terror. Ruli was so far out of her chair, waving her hand in the air that she was straining with her neck muscles pulsing with her efforts.
“Miss Darknessbane?” Mr Jones asked with a smile.
“No effect! Demons and Dungeons work on different wavelengths, their energies pass through each other!” she gasped as she sagged down into the seat at the table beside her before she shot a smug grin at the teens around her.
“I see the newest crop of Mr Jones’ torture sessions aren’t up to snuff!” she bragged as next to her, a goblin shot her a dirty look.
Cois the fire mage snorted at her “As a grown woman, that’s just sad,” Cdowning a beer. Ruli just ignored him as she sat there with a smile.
“Do you know why?” Mr Jones asked innocently and Ruli stiffened, quickly busying herself by downing three beers in one go.
“I have no clue either,” Delta muttered, feeling like she should know this as one half of the subject in question.
“Not to fear, it is a bit of rather obscure metaphysics-” Mr Jones said as the pub door slammed open with a dramatic flair and a breeze fluttered through the bar, making the candles flicker.
“Obscure metaphysics is my thing,” Yattina said with a smile as she looked around the bar. Delta blinked, having been too focused on Mr Jones to even notice her approach. She smiled at the woman having forgotten only Ruli and Mr Jones should be able to see her. Yattina paused and looked at where Delta sat with a wink of her new golden eye. As if it was trying to focus on something but, was distracted as she joined Mr Jones at the bar.
Delta blinked, that had been weird of Yattina...
“Ah, I heard some of Fairplay possessed a modicum of smarts. I welcome you to the discussion and give you a chance to answer the question you heard while lurking behind the door, eavesdropping before your entrance,” Mr Jones smiled and Yattina spluttered before waving him off.
“I was not ‘lurking’! I was merely preparing for a lull in the conversation,” she corrected. Yattina cleared her throat.
“Demons are beings devoid of what we humans would call a soul or essence of humanity. They likely existed long before we even appeared on this world. Dungeons take the natural world energy, aka Mana and the essence of human souls, combining them into something uniquely their own. Demons can interact with us humans and vice-versa, sort of like water in a trench. Empty and something with content,” Yattina explained as she noticed she was losing the more classroom-challenged students.
Ruli was beginning to drool as her eyes rolled up in her head and her brain shut off.
“Demons are rocks, humans are water, and Dungeons are gas. People can, over time, interact with Dungeons and be disturbed by demons. Dungeons and demons just can’t interact with each other,” she summed up.
“Mr Jones is drinking right now,” Grim said, pointing out an ‘issue’ with Yattia’s words. Delta could feel the demon drinking, taking in her mana and... doing something with it.
“That’s physical interaction. We’re talking about mana. Dungeons cannot contract pure demons and Demons cannot take the ‘souls’ of Dungeons,” Yattina said as if this subject was fascinating and Delta leaned in on her hand, enjoying her passion.
Except there was one little issue.
It was a duck-shaped issue.
Delta had contracted a demon.
She let her mind wander over to Waddles who stared right back. The contract between them had barely done anything to the duck, unlike what it was doing to Renny or Jack.
In fact, Waddles held up the bond between them, showing how easily he could break it, but chose not to. The form he was in was technically duck shaped, but it was a mana construct
It was one of Quiss’ accidents, so maybe that allowed for a loophole? In fact, Mr Jones and Runilic were also mana constructs. Delta just hadn’t noticed because they were so tightly woven together it was like a real body...
The more Delta actually paid attention to them, the more they began to feel off. She took a slight peek as her Dungeon self. In an instant, Mr Jones was gone, replaced by a three-headed mass of tendrils connected to exposed brains, each brain connected to a dozen eyes and a mess of pulsing veins carved with glowing symbols. The eyes moved in every direction as if constantly reading something Delta couldn’t see.
The creature was bound with cords and chains with a single lock that had no keyhole but a missing word.
Runliic’s form had also changed into a being of ash and scars, his mighty hands blackened by a fire so hot it would have melted anyone else. Every bang of his hammer caused his bones to flash like a reaction of lightning. As he breathed, smog and bonedust wheezed out like an old tomb. His fire was barely a flicker but it was an inferno all the same. He was also bound by chains, but these chains were much darker... as if made of shadows and silence.
Almost a little afraid, Delta turned to look at Ruli, truly looking at the woman for the first time and saw that she was mostly the same except for her horns and the darker skin mixed with glowing lines of fire. Her hair was more smoke than thread.
But it was still life-loving Ruli.
All the same, Delta had contracted Waddles...
What made Delta different?
“You keep forgetting how annoyingly human you are. Dungeon 2.0, now with anxiety pre-installed,” Nu said as he appeared with a flicker, as if he was sensing her concerns.
“I only screamed and panicked once or twice,” she argued as Yattina went on describing how some species of life had odd reactions to demons.
“Spiders. Mushroom Spitters. People. Mushrooms-” Nu listed.
“Reasonable responses,” Delta said confidently.
“Pygmy Mushrooms, Renny, Maestro constantly, Bob-” he kept going.
“You make it seem unreasonable!” Delta said, pointing at the screen with a glare.
“Wilhelm. Muffet. Your secret garden results. Hero in action. Jack’s shrine. Jack’s death. The Guardgoyles-” he said, having no shame.
“I didn’t scream at my Critter mounds when I attacked Mharia,” Delta said, smirking as if this made her the victor.
“Death. Star. Dragon.” Nu said with a jab with each word.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.
Delta stared back defiantly.
“I left the oven on,” she said through clenched teeth.
“-and that’s why Dungeons seem to talk to themselves,” Mr Jones said as he gestured to where Delta was sitting.
Wait, what?
“I wanna see Nu!” Deo said excitedly. The rest of the class spoke up as Yattina was squinting hard at where Nu floated.
She didn’t even mind the overwhelming smell of cheese. It felt more like a charming quality than anything bad. There was never any cheese at home.
Her father had something against dairy products.
“Have some Cheese of the Right Arm. It’s limited in source due to the disease but it is delicious,” he offered snacks to her and Mas. Serma’s soul melted when she ate the offered snack and she tried not to float off with a feeling of bliss as Mas just beamed.
Cheese... Serma would wear a suit of this cheese when she locked her father in the Golden Maiden.
“You smell of nobility,” the woman said, her smile a little less bright but no less kind.
“Yes, apologies!” Serma said, flushing as she forgot her manners, “I am Princess Serma of Capital City,” she did a polite bow.
“R-Royalty?” the woman said, her smile trembling and she turned stiffly like her legs were made of wood.
“I must be going. I left an excuse to leave on the stove,” she said numbly and walked off quickly. Haldi waved her off and sighed.
“Don’t take it personally. She and royals have history,” Haldi explained with a tilt of his head, making his snow-white hair move in a breeze.
“Was it my father or my grandmother?” Serma sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
“Surprisingly, it had little to do with them and a much older kingdom called ‘Turtog’,” he said quietly and Serma had never heard of it. She needed to brush up on her geopolitical knowledge or she’d miss things like this.
“It was an older kingdom that caused a powerful distortion by committing a deep wound on the world. A lot happened, but due to a lot of drain on the land, it became a grayzone,” Haldi continued to explain and the elder was definitely knowledgeable for a cheese monger!
“Where is it?” Serma asked, interested as Mas was given more snacks to enjoy by Haldi.
“Oh... around. It collapsed but the wound never quite sealed over,” Haldi said vaguely.
“A kingdom doesn’t just collapse. They’d be ruins and signs of their history,” Serma pointed out as Lorsa snorted at the idea of something lasting. She was such a cynic.
“Well, sure if the collapse was done by decay and time, but there is a different way to collapse,” Haldi said then peered at her. Serma looked back, unwilling to blink.
“You remind me of someone. They had the same sort of reasoning about things and your nose is awfully familiar,” Haldi mused and Serma was going to start wearing a veil. This nose business was giving her a complex.
“You knew her father,” Lorsa said slowly. Haldi continued to stare and Serma raised an eyebrow.
“I know a lot of noble fathers,” Haldi said oddly.
“They suck,” Serma said bluntly and Haldi staggered suddenly as if struck by a memory.
“I was informed I had an escort quest here,” someone spoke up and Serma turned, blinking as she saw a sort of familiar face.
“Aren’t you Peharl’s apprentice?” she asked and the boy with a stoic look gave her a look as if only noticing her.
“I retired,” he said slowly.
“You must be Alpha,” Lorsa said quickly and the boy shot her a look, hand on his sword suddenly.
“You’re-” he said and Lorsa was at his side, giving his shoulder a squeeze.
“Royal Knight Captain, Lorsa. I’m glad you remember,” she said with a wink.
“Delta is better,” Alpha said and Lorsa made a strange choking noise as Alpha turned to Serma but Mas stood between them.
“Please be nice,” Mas said and Alpha frowned.
“My moral alignment is irrelevant for this escort quest, if it was, it would be listed before I accepted it,” he said and looked at Serma.
“I’m here to take you to Delta. Do you have any objections and are you able to match my walking speed without pathing issues?” he asked seriously.
“This is not how one escort’s a lady,” Serma said with a little bit of royal tightness to her voice.
“Your class is ‘princess’ and ‘rebel’. You are not a lady,” Alpha pointed out and Serma’s nostrils flared.
“I’m about to class change to ‘murderer’ in a second,” Serma said as she tried to square up to Alpha but Mas held her back.
“Think of the blood on your nice dress!” Mas said and Serma hesitated.
“The dress has no enchantments or lore. It’s ‘mid’ at best,” Alpha continued to speak.
“Do you have a problem with me?” Serma asked and Alpha suddenly made a strange smile.
“I heard a royal ruler must be advised by their ‘head mage’. I am simply trying to be helpful by pointing out that the dress you're wearing has no protections built into it nor does it allow you to activate any seduction skills to gain political power over your enemies,” he said flatly.
“I’m about to seduce your rib cage into a meat grinder,” Serma’s eyes flashed. Alpha frowned and Serma mentally felt like she had won a point in this strange game.
“I do not find you attractive as a ruler or as a girl. I’m simply advising you of your shortcomings as to prevent you dying or committing an act so shameful the royal city collapses. Also, my rib cage would break most meat grinders as I have the ‘Thick Bones’ passive ability. It gives me thick bones,” he added, as if Serma needed the clarification.
“Like a thick skull?” Serma asked, voice sickly sweet.
“Yes, I can headbutt most things without an issue. Sometimes if I use it on trees, creatures fall out of it,” he said, ignoring her tone. That just... made Serma feel worse.
“Princess, he’s just bad at talking!” Mas said quickly and Serma was going to introduce him to some rudimentary social classes in the nearest blood arena.
“Perhaps Serma would feel better, Alpha, if you shared a weakness you possessed?” Haldi suggested over the noise of their argument, but the old man was grinning. Alpha frowned and seemed to think... and think... and think so more.
“Humility, perhaps?” Serma whispered.
“I could not wear a bad dress like Princess Serma can with confidence. I think a weakness of mine then is confidence,” he said and Serma went for his throat.
“Youth is the best cheese of all,” Haldi said brightly and Lorsa could only nod over the sounds of Serma’s fingers creaking as they tried to squeeze Alpha’s throat but doing little more than causing indents in his skin.
“Your choking skills need to be grinded, I’ll add it to the list.”
Serma was going to leave this town with the ability to crush metal with her bare hands, even if it killed her.
“Mas can help her!” Lorsa said quickly.
“I don’t want to be choked...”
“Give it time,” Lorsa said and Serma’s urge to strangle them all grew.
A blond man with a Peacekeeper badge turned the corner, took one look at them and pivoted on his heel and walked back the way he came.
“Harder, use your thumb more,” Alpha instructed.
Serma was seeing red and a little gold.
Chapter 190: Delta: The last Ear BenderNow, class, Mr Jones began, his lecture in Fera's bar was an odd choice, but Delta politely took a seat between Deo and some child that looked like she could be the star of her own young teen romance novel with silver hair.The kids of Durence were a little odd. Still, Delta was just happy she wasn't going to explode in a violent death anymore so she was a little giddy to just enjoy a lesson.Mr Jones asked What effect does Dungeon Mana have on Demons? and Deo shot his hand up.It gives them wings so they can fight for justice with the power of DEO he said eagerly. That's characters in a book you've read, Deo, Mr Jones corrected. Delta suddenly had an idea to bring all the children down to the library. With her dungeon control, she could even thin' the mana to prevent any incidents.Well, in churches, Demon's will sweat badly. In some lawyer offices, they also sweat, but differently, Amenstar, the quiet child with a strange light and dark mana aura said. So, maybe they have a cold sweat here? he shrugged.Ruli raised her hand seriously.Nyeh... I bet they just get fat, Poppy said and Ruli's hand began to wave, desperate to be called on.No! Dungeon Mana must be a delicacy! I bet demons, even Mr Jones, are getting outrageously drunk on the mana. Drinking like they have demons to drown! Grim said as his tongue sparked orange while he spoke, causing steam to rise into the air.I have actual booze right here, Fera grunted as she slammed a tray of sandwiches and soda drinks down for the kids. Then she handed Mr Jones a smoking goblet that vaguely screamed in terror. Ruli was so far out of her chair, waving her hand in the air that she was straining with her neck muscles pulsing with her efforts.Miss Darknessbane? Mr Jones asked with a smile.No effect! Demons and Dungeons work on different wavelengths, their energies pass through each other! she gasped as she sagged down into the seat at the table beside her before she shot a smug grin at the teens around her.I see the newest crop of Mr Jones' torture sessions aren't up to snuff! she bragged as next to her, a goblin shot her a dirty look.Cois the fire mage snorted at her As a grown woman, that's just sad, Cdowning a beer. Ruli just ignored him as she sat there with a smile.Do you know why? Mr Jones asked innocently and Ruli stiffened, quickly busying herself by downing three beers in one go. I have no clue either, Delta muttered, feeling like she should know this as one half of the subject in question.Not to fear, it is a bit of rather obscure metaphysics- Mr Jones said as the pub door slammed open with a dramatic flair and a breeze fluttered through the bar, making the candles flicker.Obscure metaphysics is my thing, Yattina said with a smile as she looked around the bar. Delta blinked, having been too focused on Mr Jones to even notice her approach. She smiled at the woman having forgotten only Ruli and Mr Jones should be able to see her. Yattina paused and looked at where Delta sat with a wink of her new golden eye. As if it was trying to focus on something but, was distracted as she joined Mr Jones at the bar.Delta blinked, that had been weird of Yattina...Ah, I heard some of Fairplay possessed a modicum of smarts. I welcome you to the discussion and give you a chance to answer the question you heard while lurking behind the door, eavesdropping before your entrance, Mr Jones smiled and Yattina spluttered before waving him off.I was not lurking'! I was merely preparing for a lull in the conversation, she corrected. Yattina cleared her throat.Demons are beings devoid of what we humans would call a soul or essence of humanity. They likely existed long before we even appeared on this world. Dungeons take the natural world energy, aka Mana and the essence of human souls, combining them into something uniquely their own. Demons can interact with us humans and vice-versa, sort of like water in a trench. Empty and something with content, Yattina explained as she noticed she was losing the more classroom-challenged students.Ruli was beginning to drool as her eyes rolled up in her head and her brain shut off.Demons are rocks, humans are water, and Dungeons are gas. People can, over time, interact with Dungeons and be disturbed by demons. Dungeons and demons just can't interact with each other, she summed up.Mr Jones is drinking right now, Grim said, pointing out an issue' with Yattia's words. Delta could feel the demon drinking, taking in her mana and... doing something with it.That's physical interaction. We're talking about mana. Dungeons cannot contract pure demons and Demons cannot take the souls' of Dungeons, Yattina said as if this subject was fascinating and Delta leaned in on her hand, enjoying her passion.Except there was one little issue.It was a duck-shaped issue.Delta had contracted a demon.She let her mind wander over to Waddles who stared right back. The contract between them had barely done anything to the duck, unlike what it was doing to Renny or Jack.In fact, Waddles held up the bond between them, showing how easily he could break it, but chose not to. The form he was in was technically duck shaped, but it was a mana constructIt was one of Quiss' accidents, so maybe that allowed for a loophole? In fact, Mr Jones and Runilic were also mana constructs. Delta just hadn't noticed because they were so tightly woven together it was like a real body...The more Delta actually paid attention to them, the more they began to feel off. She took a slight peek as her Dungeon self. In an instant, Mr Jones was gone, replaced by a three-headed mass of tendrils connected to exposed brains, each brain connected to a dozen eyes and a mess of pulsing veins carved with glowing symbols. The eyes moved in every direction as if constantly reading something Delta couldn't see.The creature was bound with cords and chains with a single lock that had no keyhole but a missing word.Runliic's form had also changed into a being of ash and scars, his mighty hands blackened by a fire so hot it would have melted anyone else. Every bang of his hammer caused his bones to flash like a reaction of lightning. As he breathed, smog and bonedust wheezed out like an old tomb. His fire was barely a flicker but it was an inferno all the same. He was also bound by chains, but these chains were much darker... as if made of shadows and silence.Almost a little afraid, Delta turned to look at Ruli, truly looking at the woman for the first time and saw that she was mostly the same except for her horns and the darker skin mixed with glowing lines of fire. Her hair was more smoke than thread.But it was still life-loving Ruli.All the same, Delta had contracted Waddles...What made Delta different?You keep forgetting how annoyingly human you are. Dungeon 2.0, now with anxiety pre-installed, Nu said as he appeared with a flicker, as if he was sensing her concerns.I only screamed and panicked once or twice, she argued as Yattina went on describing how some species of life had odd reactions to demons.Spiders. Mushroom Spitters. People. Mushrooms- Nu listed.Reasonable responses, Delta said confidently.Pygmy Mushrooms, Renny, Maestro constantly, Bob- he kept going.You make it seem unreasonable! Delta said, pointing at the screen with a glare.Wilhelm. Muffet. Your secret garden results. Hero in action. Jack's shrine. Jack's death. The Guardgoyles- he said, having no shame.I didn't scream at my Critter mounds when I attacked Mharia, Delta said, smirking as if this made her the victor.Death. Star. Dragon. Nu said with a jab with each word.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.Delta stared back defiantly.I left the oven on, she said through clenched teeth.-and that's why Dungeons seem to talk to themselves, Mr Jones said as he gestured to where Delta was sitting.Wait, what?I wanna see Nu! Deo said excitedly. The rest of the class spoke up as Yattina was squinting hard at where Nu floated.She didn't even mind the overwhelming smell of cheese. It felt more like a charming quality than anything bad. There was never any cheese at home.Her father had something against dairy products.Have some Cheese of the Right Arm. It's limited in source due to the disease but it is delicious, he offered snacks to her and Mas. Serma's soul melted when she ate the offered snack and she tried not to float off with a feeling of bliss as Mas just beamed.Cheese... Serma would wear a suit of this cheese when she locked her father in the Golden Maiden.You smell of nobility, the woman said, her smile a little less bright but no less kind. Yes, apologies! Serma said, flushing as she forgot her manners, I am Princess Serma of Capital City, she did a polite bow. R-Royalty? the woman said, her smile trembling and she turned stiffly like her legs were made of wood.I must be going. I left an excuse to leave on the stove, she said numbly and walked off quickly. Haldi waved her off and sighed.Don't take it personally. She and royals have history, Haldi explained with a tilt of his head, making his snow-white hair move in a breeze.Was it my father or my grandmother? Serma sighed, feeling a headache coming on.Surprisingly, it had little to do with them and a much older kingdom called Turtog', he said quietly and Serma had never heard of it. She needed to brush up on her geopolitical knowledge or she'd miss things like this.It was an older kingdom that caused a powerful distortion by committing a deep wound on the world. A lot happened, but due to a lot of drain on the land, it became a grayzone, Haldi continued to explain and the elder was definitely knowledgeable for a cheese monger!Where is it? Serma asked, interested as Mas was given more snacks to enjoy by Haldi.Oh... around. It collapsed but the wound never quite sealed over, Haldi said vaguely.A kingdom doesn't just collapse. They'd be ruins and signs of their history, Serma pointed out as Lorsa snorted at the idea of something lasting. She was such a cynic.Well, sure if the collapse was done by decay and time, but there is a different way to collapse, Haldi said then peered at her. Serma looked back, unwilling to blink.You remind me of someone. They had the same sort of reasoning about things and your nose is awfully familiar, Haldi mused and Serma was going to start wearing a veil. This nose business was giving her a complex.You knew her father, Lorsa said slowly. Haldi continued to stare and Serma raised an eyebrow.I know a lot of noble fathers, Haldi said oddly.They suck, Serma said bluntly and Haldi staggered suddenly as if struck by a memory.I was informed I had an escort quest here, someone spoke up and Serma turned, blinking as she saw a sort of familiar face.Aren't you Peharl's apprentice? she asked and the boy with a stoic look gave her a look as if only noticing her.I retired, he said slowly.You must be Alpha, Lorsa said quickly and the boy shot her a look, hand on his sword suddenly.You're- he said and Lorsa was at his side, giving his shoulder a squeeze.Royal Knight Captain, Lorsa. I'm glad you remember, she said with a wink.Delta is better, Alpha said and Lorsa made a strange choking noise as Alpha turned to Serma but Mas stood between them.Please be nice, Mas said and Alpha frowned.My moral alignment is irrelevant for this escort quest, if it was, it would be listed before I accepted it, he said and looked at Serma.I'm here to take you to Delta. Do you have any objections and are you able to match my walking speed without pathing issues? he asked seriously.This is not how one escort's a lady, Serma said with a little bit of royal tightness to her voice.Your class is princess' and rebel'. You are not a lady, Alpha pointed out and Serma's nostrils flared.I'm about to class change to murderer' in a second, Serma said as she tried to square up to Alpha but Mas held her back.Think of the blood on your nice dress! Mas said and Serma hesitated.The dress has no enchantments or lore. It's mid' at best, Alpha continued to speak. Do you have a problem with me? Serma asked and Alpha suddenly made a strange smile.I heard a royal ruler must be advised by their head mage'. I am simply trying to be helpful by pointing out that the dress you're wearing has no protections built into it nor does it allow you to activate any seduction skills to gain political power over your enemies, he said flatly.I'm about to seduce your rib cage into a meat grinder, Serma's eyes flashed. Alpha frowned and Serma mentally felt like she had won a point in this strange game.I do not find you attractive as a ruler or as a girl. I'm simply advising you of your shortcomings as to prevent you dying or committing an act so shameful the royal city collapses. Also, my rib cage would break most meat grinders as I have the Thick Bones' passive ability. It gives me thick bones, he added, as if Serma needed the clarification.Like a thick skull? Serma asked, voice sickly sweet.Yes, I can headbutt most things without an issue. Sometimes if I use it on trees, creatures fall out of it, he said, ignoring her tone. That just... made Serma feel worse.Princess, he's just bad at talking! Mas said quickly and Serma was going to introduce him to some rudimentary social classes in the nearest blood arena.Perhaps Serma would feel better, Alpha, if you shared a weakness you possessed? Haldi suggested over the noise of their argument, but the old man was grinning. Alpha frowned and seemed to think... and think... and think so more.Humility, perhaps? Serma whispered.I could not wear a bad dress like Princess Serma can with confidence. I think a weakness of mine then is confidence, he said and Serma went for his throat.Youth is the best cheese of all, Haldi said brightly and Lorsa could only nod over the sounds of Serma's fingers creaking as they tried to squeeze Alpha's throat but doing little more than causing indents in his skin.Your choking skills need to be grinded, I'll add it to the list.Serma was going to leave this town with the ability to crush metal with her bare hands, even if it killed her.Mas can help her! Lorsa said quickly.I don't want to be choked...Give it time, Lorsa said and Serma's urge to strangle them all grew.A blond man with a Peacekeeper badge turned the corner, took one look at them and pivoted on his heel and walked back the way he came.Harder, use your thumb more, Alpha instructed.Serma was seeing red and a little gold.
