(Caution: This chapter has some explicit implications/actions. You have been warned!)
Entering the dungeon, Ruby stood before Karion, her shield strapped to her arm.
"Have you entered the dungeon in Qirsley before?" Karion asked.
"Huh? Ah- Yes! The expeditions I've been on only took place here."
[So when she mentioned expeditions earlier, she meant dungeon crawling…]
"How deep have you gone?"
"I was only ever rented to the silver level."
"Sorry, 'rented'?"
"Yes, as a slave, I was only there to assist other parties."
[So she was rented even as a slave? No, I suppose it makes sense. Hired help from a slave would make any loot yours… Just what does she mean by "silver level"?]
"By the way, master," Ruby hesitantly asked, "H-Have you only been on this floor?"
"That's right. The strongest I've encountered thus far would be Dire Wolves."
"You must be very talented, master…" Ruby looked awestruck. I know my price was quite high. I never would have imagined someone who only ventured through the first floors to…" Ruby's eyes widened as she listened to what she said, "I'm terribly sorry, master!!"
Karion had a chuckle, "No, I get it," he drew his blade.
"Everything I achieved so far, is all thanks to my sword."
"It's a beautiful craft, master."
A small horde of goblins suddenly appeared from the end of the hall, rushing in their direction. Karion and Ruby looked at each other for a moment. As if knowing what to do in sync, they waited until they grew closer before using their legs to kick them aside.
"They're pretty weak, aren't they," said Karion, hoping to start another conversation.
"They are goblins. I've only ever heard of six adventures in history who fell to them," Ruby collected the goblin ears and gave them to Karion.
[So there are people who lost to those?!]
Karion placed the ears in his pockets.
With a confused look, Ruby asked, "Is Master's storage cell full? You're free to use mine!"
"Hm? Storage?"
"Yes. Every identity card holds a certain space of storage. The size expands with experience, or so I'm told. Is that not why you put the goblin ears in your pocket?"
Karion took out his identity card, infusing it with mana. As usual, he only saw a panel of his information. Concentrating more mana into the card, a new panel appeared with seven empty slots of storage.
With a loud groan that echoed through the labyrinth, Karion slammed his hand to his face.
"D-Don't worry sir, I was unaware of the function until I was seven years old..!" Ruby replied, hoping to console him.
[So I'm worse than a seven-year-old… It makes sense why thieves hold these so close now…] Karion placed the ears in a box of storage, "Thank you, Ruby… Moving forward, I would appreciate it if you shared a lot of things with me. I'm quite ill-informed about a lot of things…"
"Y-Yes, I will do my best!"
Continuing through the dungeon, Ruby asked, "Could it be that master was unaware of mana loading?"
"It's the first I've heard of it," Karion shook his head, "Does it have something to do with the dungeon?"
Ruby nodded, "Before entering the dungeons, infusing the doors with your mana will lead you to the deepest floor you last entered. I was curious about this when we entered because…"
Ruby stopped herself noticing Karion with his face buried beneath his hand, "S-Sorry..!!"
[I wish ANYONE told me about this earlier… Is this common knowledge?? Make a pamphlet for other-worlders!!] Karion could only imagine Veridas mocking him, "Thank you for telling me, Ruby…"
"Ah- Not a problem…"
Attempting to place the plaque of his ownership over Ruby within the same box, the plaque was immediately forced into a different space.
[Different objects can't be in the same storage space?]
"Say, Ruby? Is there a limit to how many items can be in the same box?"
"I don't believe so. The highest recorded in history is 500. At the time, they ran out of goblin ears, so they never tried again."
"Is there a way to increase your storage?"
"There is, however, it's unknown how. The only thing people theorized was that it grows with experience."
[That's vague… I assume experience and levels are the same, but my level is lower than the spaces I have…]
Continuing through the labyrinth, it took time for them to finally find the boss room. Karion was seconds away from touching the doorknob before Ruby stopped him,
"Um- sir!" She shouted, "May I be added to your party?"
"Party?"
"Yes, otherwise I would be left behind…"
After a pause of silence, Ruby began to explain, knowing that this was information he was unaware of, "Parties are formed when adventures work together. If I'm not in a party with you, you will be teleported alone when you enter the boss rooms. Others use the party system to pinpoint each other's general location…"
"Thank you for telling me, Ruby… How can we form a party?" Karion asked, silently cursing Veridas.
"We infuse each other with our mana," Ruby said with her hand outstretched.
Holding her hand, Karion followed Ruby's lead as the warmth of mana enveloped them.
{Party Registered}
[..?]
"That should be enough," said Ruby, letting go of Karion, "You heard the ley lines, right?"
[Are ley lines those voices?]
"Yes, I did."
[Does anything change now that I'm in a party?]
{
Karion - Age: 19 [Health: 30/30] [Mana: 45/50]
Active Class: [Swordsman Lv. 3], [Villager Lv. 2] (Farmer Lv. 1, EX - Jack+ Lv. 1)
Skills: [EX - Appraisal], [Pierce]
Equipment: [EX - Ivory Ataria]
}
[Nothing seems to have changed…]
Facing Ruby, he changed appraisal once more.
{
Ruby - Age: 19 [Health: 25/25] [Mana: -]
Active Class: [Villager - Lv. 3] [Farmer - Lv. 2] (Taurus - Lv. 1)
Skills: [N/A]
Equipment: [Aspis Shield]
}
Karion had a look of surprise, [I can see more of her stats..!]
Concluding that he can only see an in-depth appraisal of people when they're within the same party, he skimmed over Ruby's information.
[As a test, I want to see what the effects of changing her skills will be…]
Moving her classes, he switched Farmer for Taurus, and her stats changed.
{
Ruby - Age: 19 [Health: 75/75] [Mana: 5/5]
Active Class: [Villager - Lv. 3] [Taurus - Lv. 1] (Farmer - Lv. 2)
Skills: [N/A]
Equipment: [Aspis Shield]
}
[Her health skyrocketed..!! She gained a mana level too… But how was she able to create a party with me if she didn't have mana before..?]
"Um… is something wrong, master?" Ruby asked.
The constant shifts of expressions Karion made worried her, thinking she had done something wrong. In truth, she was just unable to see Karion's appraisal panel.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to hold us, let's enter," Karion hesitantly laughed before touching the doorknob.
Entering the boss room, the hobgoblin held a large club as it snarled at them,
"Ruby, take the lead. I'll strike when needed."
"Yes, master."
Karion was curious if his strategy against the hobgoblin was considered unusual. As expected, the hobgoblin swung its club around his head while rushing to Ruby. With a predictable swing, Ruby only crouched down, blocking the swing with her shield, before punching the monster with her other hand, knocking it back a few steps.
[…Eh?]
A fight between Ruby and the hobgoblin ensued, with the hobgoblin being pummeled with each swing it tried to hit. As their fight continued, Karion's expression was a mix of confusion and amazement. His confusion stemmed from why Ruby wouldn't use the hobgoblin's lack of intellect to her advantage, but amazed at her way of fighting that constantly pushed the enemy back.
"Uhh… Ruby? You can take five!"
"Eh? Ah- Yes master!" Ruby baited the hobgoblin to take another swing before punching it back and retreating to Karion's side.
Karion walked towards the hobgoblin as it raised its club once more. Turning to Ruby, he asked, "Just curious, but is there a reason why you fight that way? Is it the shield?"
"No sir, hobgoblins are quite powerful. Many early adventurers have their legs shattered under their impact. It's important to stay alert and cautious."
"Right…"
The hobgoblin ran to Karion, ready to swing down once more.
"Master, look out!!"
Facing the hobgoblin more times than he cared to remember, Karion knows its attack patterns by heart. Even with his back turned to it, he knew just when to dodge. At the right moment, he took a step to the left, dodging the swing of its club. The hobgoblin lodged the club into the floor, struggling to pull it out.
Karion slowly walked around the hobgoblin, poking the back of its neck with Ataria,
"Pierce."
A flash of light that decapitated the hobgoblin ended the fight instantly.
"Easy, no?"
"That was amazing, master!" Ruby exclaimed, running up to Karion, "I've never heard of such a tactic! Using the hobgoblin's strength to your advantage!!"
[More like using its little intellect against it…]
"Thank you, Ruby," Karion replied. He was glad to hear her praise and ignored his thoughts.
They ventured through the dungeon multiple times only going as far as Dire Wolves before returning to the inn at sunset.
The owner, noticing an increase in members, had a grin on his face, "Looking to switch your room for two?"
Ruby had a blushed face while fidgeting with her fingers.
"Yes please, how much will it cost with meals?"
You've got 11 days left with us. It'll be 660 to accommodate for the gal."
[That's almost half of what I have left. I have to get back to selling…]
"That's fine," said Karion, paying the owner.
The owner pulled a key from beneath the counter, "I'll give you tonight to grab whatever you left in your old room. Just leave the key when you return your bowls in the morning."
Karion gathered the few monster materials he had left in his old room before heading to the new room.
The size of the room remained unchanged, making the double-sized bed along with two chairs at the table making the room feel smaller, but the wardrobe remained the same.
The room was filled with an awkward silence from the both of them knowing what would happen soon.
"A-Allow me to draw water from the well, master."
"Y-Yeah, go on."
Ruby bowed before leaving the room. The emotions welling up within Karion were a mix of embarrassment and arousal. He had not been in an intimate relationship in his life, so having Ruby would fulfill a portion of the various things he had missed out on in his previous life.
Trying to take his mind off of intimacy for a moment, he took a second to review what materials he had in his storage.
[Goblin Ear x34], [Hobgoblin Ear x18], [Slime Core Shard x13], [Dire Wolf Fang x12], [Dire Wolf Fur x5], [Brown Crystal x12], [Wooden Plaque]
[I'll be able to make quite a few potions with what I have now… Come to think of it, why did Ruby want to collect water? I haven't told her about Synthesis…]
Seconds later, Ruby returned holding a bucket of water, a cloth, and a small towel, "I'm back, master."
[A cloth?]
Ruby seemed hesitant to ask something. Placing the bucket on the floor and soaking the cloth in the water, her eyes darted around the room while thinking of what to say,
"I-I'm ready to bathe you. C-Could you… please remove your clothing..?" She asked while handing him the towel.
"A-Ah, right."
[That's why the owner looked at me weirdly earlier..!!]
From the lack of advancements compared to his old world, Karion had assumed that the leisures of the bath were exclusive to people of higher ranking. From the bucket of cold water and cloth, his assumptions weren't totally off the mark.
Karion took off his clothes, wrapping the towel around his waist. Ruby had turned her back, allowing Karion to undress himself more easily.
"Go ahead," he said.
Ruby jumped at his words, "Yes, of course..!"
She brought the bucket closer to Karion before gently wiping his body down with the cloth. The water temperature was lower than he hoped, but if commoners only used water to wipe their bodies down, he easily imagined that there was no need for them to use warm water. Though composing himself when she was wiping down his face, neck, and chest. When she moved to his legs and back, Karion couldn't help but struggle to hold his face back from smiling. Finishing cleaning his arms, Ruby took a step back,
"I-I'm finished, sir…" she muttered softly.
"Thank you. Let me clean you off as well."
"H-Huh..?! N-No, I couldn't possibly..!" Before Ruby could say another word, Karion caressed her hair, slowly placing his hand on her cheek.
"You worked hard today, let me do this much," he said with a calm smile.
[God was that corny..?!?!] His actions couldn't be more distinct from his thoughts.
Ruby shyly nodded, taking a step back. She faced Karion for a brief moment before averting her eyes. She slowly began removing her clothes starting with her pants.
Karion turned his back immediately, [Right, of course that'd mean she'd take off her clothes too.]
"I-I'm ready now…"
Turning around, Ruby's eyes locked with Karion's for a second before she bashfully looked away. Her naked figure burned into his memory. Her arm wrapped around her chest to cover her nipples, her breasts pouring through her arms, while her other hand covered her groin.
Karion stepped around Ruby, wanting a better look at her body while hiding his erection. Taking note of her tail extruding from her coccyx, he gently grabbed the base of her tail. Ruby jumped at the sudden touch.
"Sorry! I couldn't help myself," Karion released his hand.
"N-No, I apologize. You're… free to touch me," she said, her gaze still away from Karion in embarrassment.
Karion slowly began to wipe her legs from behind. Kneeling, he took occasional glances at her vagina through the gaps between her thighs and tail.
Finishing her legs, he asked, "Out of curiosity, can you freely move your tail?"
"Ah, yes..! I'm sorry, was it in the way?" Her tail swayed from left to right before slowly rising. Before Karion could correct her, Ruby's vagina and anus were in clear view.
Needing a second to process the moment, he soon snapped back, moving to wipe her waist. He took a few moments longer to wipe her rear after noticing Ruby's quiet reactions to his touch. After her back, he soon reached for her front. With one arm wrapped around her waist, he pulled her closer, indirectly pressing his member against her, and used the other arm to wipe her breasts.
"Ah…" The quiet moans she gave only fueled the erection behind Karion's towel. Finishing by wiping her neck and face, her ears twitching with each brush against her head.
Moving the bucket to the corner of the room while hanging the cloth on the rim of the bucket, Karion sat on the bed, gesturing for Ruby to join him with his hand.
Ruby silently approached him, sitting beside him, her arms still covering her body. Karion gently pulled her arm aside, exposing her nipples. Lifting her face to his, he initiated a kiss she quickly reciprocated. As their tongues soon intertwined, Karion caressed her chest. Separating themselves, Karion stood, removing the towel. Ruby laid on her back and spread her legs, allowing Karion to mount her more easily.
He leaned in for another kiss, his member poking the entrance of her core.
"May I?" He asked.
Ruby silently nodded with a gentle smile.
Karion softly pushed against her, penetrating her delicate body. Ruby winced in pain, her hand gripping the mattress as she felt the tip of his phallus kissing her womb. A trickle of blood dripped from her canal.
"Are you okay?" Karion asked with a concerned expression.
Ruby looked up at Karion with tears in her eyes. As the pain gradually faded, she kissed him softly, "Please continue."
Slowly moving his hips, Ruby's quiet moans echoed through the room,
"Ah… Nn! Hah… hahh.. ah..!"
With each moan that parted through her lips, Karion gradually increased his speed. Ruby's breasts began to shake along with his rhythmic thrusts.
"Ah, hah.. hahh.. Nnn!! Hah.. ha…"
Their fornication continued as the light of the moon illuminated the room.
After some time, Ruby felt Karion's member pulsing from inside her.
"Y-You're free.. ah! To release whenever..!!" She struggled to properly complete her sentence under the pain and pleasure she felt.
"Ruby..!!" Karion leaned over her, his thrusts becoming faster.
"Master.!!!"
Ejaculating his load into her, Ruby's hips began to convulse. Lying beside her, their huffing was the only noise left in the room. Karion tilted her head to face him as they shared another kiss before they both rested their eyes.