djarcher

The people of the alpha plane have made it their hobby to enter the dungeons of other worlds and conquer them. Naturally not everyone is happy with this as dark undercurrents begin to work against the conquerors.

As some people die in the dungeons they are made an offer. To give up their humanity in order to live on. 
Guy, a veteran carrier, is one of them, he can't bear to leave his family alone and accepts. From then on he must fight in the dungeons but as a monster while simultaneously continuing his life in the alpha plane in the shape of a human.
Jade, an elite adventurer, also accepts the offer but her intent is solely to get revenge on those who killed her and make humanity suffer for her life.
Monica, a little girl not native to the alpha plane is pulled into the happenings due to her childish innocence.

Counter Dungeon-Delving

Cassidy is still asking questions while Quinn has already disapproved of Darwin. Earning her acknowledgment isn't easy.


Darwin doesn't care in the slightest and simply slouches deeper into his couch. He is one of few people I have ever seen able to disregard Quinn's judging looks. Most would immediately sit up straight at her words and attempt to mend whatever she criticized.


"Look here missy, I have had a hard day and night dealing with those damn ocean-born. They are impossible to deal with and way worse than even cockroaches. I don't care how I look to you. I hold that damn position even if I look nothing like it."


"Ocean-born? I have never heard of such a monster. Are they connected to Aphrodite?"


"No. Aphrodite was merely born once from the ocean and there were other ingredients too. If she were killed she surely wouldn't resurrect from the ocean again."


"Monsters... Yes, you could call them that."


I hope to the gods that Quinn never meets an ocean-born and calls him a monster. Seems I'll have to warn her of that once we get home.


"It seems our chairman is more exhausted than expected. Quinn and Cassidy, this is Darwin, our chairman. Darwin, these are Quinn and Cassidy, Guy's daughters. With the introduction out of the way, we can continue our tour."


Navi takes hold of the conversation and guides us out of the room. It seems to me like Darwin said a bit more than he should have. The exhaustion must be pretty bad for him then.


But... What else is there to tour? Every other place is managed or used by monsters.


This place has a wellness section? Why was I never told about that?


<Yes, and quite serious ones at that. Being in there feels too good and no one wants to leave of their free will. We even had to switch to charging by time spent inside. Once the time limit is reached the jacuzzi will automatically cease its operations until more time is redeemed.>


That's awfully strict. How much time will my daughters get?


We arrive in a more secluded part of the building that I would never have found if Navi hadn't been guiding us. The entrance is marked with a large wooden board that says 'Wellness and Jacuzzies' in elegant calligraphy.


"Yes, Cassidy dear, and the two of you have been given a free voucher for ten minutes in our famous jacuzzies."


Quinn is actually showing interest in such a thing? That is rare, to say the least. 


As we pass below the board we enter another waiting room that is cozily furnished with old wooden tables and comfy-looking armchairs.


There is also another entrance to the building here. Presumably, this was built for guests who come here solely for the wellness section.


And right after we enter the waiting room and someone enters through the other entrance. It's a lady wearing a red robe with long silver hair. Her eyes are covered by a red band made of silk-like material and her aura alone makes me want to kneel before her.


Navi's outcry rips me out of my trance and sends shivers down my spine. Libra as in the dungeon master that became a goddess on her own. What is she doing here?


"Lady Libra what brings you here today?"


"When the sun rises, shadows will be cast."


You are telling me there's more than one answer to what's one plus one?


It's not wrong but it's not as accurate as saying two. And even if you can say that three would be wrong whatever way you bend it.


If that is what Libra and you talked about then I want nothing to do with her.


<Again, my thoughts exactly when I first talked to her. But after some time these things start to just make sense. And at some point, you will be able to tell these things to someone who hasn't yet heard them. Like I just did to you. Only then will you realize that you changed positions.>


Let's hope the day never comes. But I'm sure Quinn will hit it right of with Libra. Talking about complicated philosophical topics is one of her favorite things. Thankfully, my smart daughter knows not to involve me in such conversations.


Work tour (3)