The last of the soup was gone, and the taste of Mia's food still lingered on my tongue. I slipped out of bed carefully, so as not to disturb Nyx if she was nearby though, as usual, the Goddess of the Night was nowhere to be found or Perhaps she was watching. Perhaps. With the goddess I don't know, but different concerns for later.
The Sun still hadn't brushed the sky. The city of Orario was still sleeping, but I was going take advantage of it. I dressed swiftly, strapping on my gear and blades and bag, checking my pouch for coin, 3,500 valis, before slipping out the back door of the Hostess of Fertility.
My breath misted in the morning air as I walked. The streets were empty. then I realized I had no potions or snacks. Great, I thought, patting my empty belt pouch and realizing I wasn't as prepared as I should've been. I still had to meet up with Chloe eventually to get my cut of yesterday's dungeon run, but it was far too early for that.
That's when I heard it. "Good morning, Cain."
I turned. There she stood Naaza Erisuis, the the dog girl or Chienthrope girl of the Miach Familia, her long brown hair swaying slightly in the soft breeze. Her face was stoic as always and still felt distant. But her tail it betrayed her face. It wagged just faintly behind her, like she was holding back a smile. I believe she would be fourteen right now.
"Naaza," I said with a grin. "Back from the Dungeon already?" She gave a small nod. "Night runs are more quiet and productive for me." I scratched my head sheepishly. "I was actually heading there now. Or was. Kind of hard to do without potions."
She tilted her head, the tail giving another wag. "You're lucky then. Come to the shop with me. I'll sell you a few. At a discount assuming you can pay later."
I gave her a big smile. " Really thanks best news I've had all morning." We walked side by side through the still-dark city streets. When we reached the Miach Familia Shop, the door creaked open to her touch. Inside, lanterns lit softly, casting a glow over shelves filled with herbs, vials, and bubbling tinctures. No sign of Miach himself yet.
"I've got 3,500 valis," I said, pulling the coin pouch free.
She nodded and crouched to open a cabinet behind the counter. "I have basic healing potions. Normally 2,500 each." I grimaced. "Yikes."
"But," she continued, pulling out a small box, "two potions, 1,500 now, and 3,500 valis on credit. And" She placed a third vial on the counter. "This one's free. Consider it incentive." I blinked. "You serious?" She gave me a very Naaza shrug. "If you pay the debt within two days, I'll give you 15% off next time purchase. Just focus on coming back alive."
I grinned and held out my hand. "Deal." She handed me the three potions, sealed tight in glass with leather straps to tie to my belt. "You'll see me by the end of today or tomorrow morning," I promised, tightening them onto my hip and sliding the others into my pack.
She watched me for a moment, then turned her head slightly. "Stay safe, Cain. The Dungeon doesn't forgive."
"I don't plan on giving it the chance." By the time I reached the towering arch of Babel, the sun was just brushing the horizon. And standing there, in the shadows of the great tower, was someone I didn't expect.
Horn. Her presence was as sharp and reserved as I remembered from the anime. tall and beautiful even with her cold indifferent face. Her lithe frame with a ample chest wrapped in form fitting dress. She was beautiful and sad if you new her his background. I wounder what Freya's shadow was doing here?
She stepped toward me wordlessly and thrust something forward. A simple lunchbox wrapped in neat cloth.
I blinked. "Uh… good morning what's this?" "Take it." Her voice was flat, but I caught the faintest flicker in her eyes.
I hesitated, reaching out to accept the gift. "Thank you…" Before I could finish, she turned on her heel and walked away, vanishing like mist.
Freya, definitely sent her. I guess it's one of the perks of having a Yandere goddess obsessed with your soul. I get free food and possibly items. Maybe she would give me a grimoire if I spoke Infront of her while she is Syr?
I slipped the box into my backpack beside the potions. Then a headed into the dungeon making my way down to the first floor. The moment I stepped into the Dungeon, the stone beneath my boots felt familiar almost welcoming in its eerie silence and stillness. But before diving in, I set my bag against the wall and began my warm-up.
Controlled breathing.
Neck rolls.
Arm circles.
Torso twists.
Lunges.
Squat holds.
Shadow strikes with my blades.
Muscles were still sore but responsive. Slight aches from yesterday's clash with Ottar still lingered in my knuckles and forearms, but my body was recovering faster now and I remember the feeling from Haki. A glance at my reflection in the edge of one blade told me what I already felt my frame was slowly growing. Slightly taller by a few inches. A little muscle for my 10 year old frame but not much but I was more defined.
After readying my twin blades, I dove into the Dungeon's first floor, wasting no time.
Floor 1–2:
One hour between both floors blurred by in flashes of teeth, claws, and the bursting glow of disintegrating monsters. I moved clean, efficient, each movement and attack precise and I was getting use to using observation Haki to keep my self from getting hit from behind. Kobolds lunged with jagged claws and teeth, and goblins shrieked as they threw themselves into my path. I cut through them in a rhythm steady, never wasting a movement.
By the time I cleared the second floor, I'd dropped thirty-seven of them total. My pack was already half-full with monster stones and some decent drops from claws, fangs, even a pair of leather scraps that looked useful.
No jack birds today, but that was fine. I was more focused on growth money second.
Floor 3:
The temperature dropped slightly, and shadows clung a little tighter to the edges of my vision. That's when they came.
Dungeon Lizards.
Their skin was thick and earthy brown, blending almost perfectly with the stone. I noticed them by instinct and Haki. One dropped from the ceiling. I rolled aside and sliced upward, splitting its underbelly in a spray of monster dust.
From that point, it was on and off combat for forty minutes, striking fast and hard before they could surround me. They weren't stupid. They coordinated. One came in from the front, while another pounced from behind. But I moved like water, each encounter sharpening my edge.
By the time I sat for a water break, fourteen Dungeon Lizards stones lay in glowing around me. I collected:
14 monster stones
9 lizard fangs
6 thick scales
2 sets of glimmering red lizard eyes
I stuffed them into my dungeon pack, catching my breath against the stone wall. My hands ached. By my heartbeat was steady. This felt right I smirked. Time to keep moving forward.
Floor 4:
Pushing forward meant earning it and the fourth floor made sure I did that. For an hour, waves came and went. First goblins. Then kobolds. Then Dungeon Lizards again. All from different angles, often together, as if the Dungeon itself wanted to test or kill me to see if I would succeed or fail.
I didn't.
I became a blur of controlled chaos twisting through the mob, blades dancing in arcs of silver and gold. I didn't dodge everything. My arm got grazed, my ribs bruised from a kobold cutting me and a lizard slammed into me. But I endured. Blood trickled down my forearm, and I licked the sweat from my lips as I stood in a ring of glowing motes and fading corpses. Then I finally allowed myself a pause.
I sat down near a quiet corner and reached into my bag, pulling out the box Horn had given me. When I opened it, I blinked. Inside, wrapped was a sandwich layered with crisp bacon, lettuce, tomato, and scrambled egg on the side. Beside it, a handful of diced sweet potatoes, glazed with something sweet and savory.
"Damn," I muttered. "This hit's the spot."
The first bite melted in my mouth, warmth flooding through my body like a second wind. The mix of salt and heat, the tang of tomato, the richness of egg it reminded me that even down here, someone had thought of me. Someone cares.
I ate half of the sandwich leaving the other half with the scrambled eggs for the second half of my dungeon grind. Tucked into a corner of the cloth that wrapped the box. Was a small necklace a single blood red gem, clear and vibrant, dangling from a ebony chain. When I used my Mind's Eye I could tell their was some powerful magic on it.
An enchantment, I thought. Likely something to protect me. Maybe something more. I tied it around my neck. I felt a surge of power and stamina fill my body. (Image here)
"Thanks, Freya," I whispered, lips twitching into a grin. Next time I see her in her Syr disguised and give her a hug. Maybe even that kiss on the cheek.
The descent from the fourth to the fifth floor was steep but manageable. The air grew damper, the light crystals on the wall glowing a deeper blue than before. No sooner had I arrived than I was greeted by a familiar chorus of snarls.
Goblins. Kolbolds. It was like a twisted homecoming. I smiled faintly. The first wave came fast six goblins and three kobolds. Sloppy and predictable at this point after dealing with them for the past few hours. They charged in and I dismantled them with efficient precision, slicing low and high, twisting and pivoting like I'd practiced with Ryu a thousand times. Monster drops filled the dungeon floor, glittering from the torchlight.
Second wave came ten minutes later.
Four kobolds came from the front, while four goblins tried to flank me from behind. I ducked, spun, and slashed cutting them down in groups. My blades were looking a little worn I better take care of them after I leave the dungeon.
I crouched to gather the drops—crystals, claws, bits of hide. Each item packed carefully into my Dungeon backpack, which was now nearly full.
Just a bit more, I thought. One more floor.
Sixth Floor.
The temperature dropped. The walls were darker, and a faint humidity clung to everything. I stepped carefully, mindful of new monsters. There was something different here almost predatory.
And then I saw it. The Frog Shooter. It hopped into the open from a stone alcove, its single giant yellow eye blinking at me in slow, twitching motions. Its tongue lashed out with a wet snap, slamming the stone where I had just stood.
I didn't hesitate.
I ducked low and sprinted forward, sliding under its tongue. With one upward slash, I severed its tongue mid-whip, the end of it flopping to the ground in a twitching mess then dispersed. It croaked in pain, stumbled back but I was already leaping, blades drawn in a spinning cross-slash that cleaved through its eye and chest.
It burst into dust.
Left behind was a puddle of thick slime mucus, coating the stones where it had died. It shimmered faintly in the dark. I knew it could be a valuable alchemical material but I had no empty vials to store it.
"Tch," I muttered. "Next time." I turned to leave when I heard more croaks.
Four more Frog Shooters.
They bounded into view, all of them twitching and hopping erratically. One launched its tongue I dodged and slashed. The second came close I parried and stabbed. The fight was fast and grimy. Their tongues were strong, but their defense was poor. Their sheer numbers made it difficult, but I danced between them, hacking and slicing until all four fell in turn.
Each left behind monster stones and more mucus, and to my surprise, two of them dropped their massive yellow eyes.
I picked up the eyes carefully and packed them away. My backpack was now dangerously full the seams bulging. No more loot. From here on, I only fight if I have to.
That's when I felt it. A change in the air. The silence shifted from calm to oppressive. I stepped forward slowly, instinct humming, blades in hand.
Then I saw them. Two figures melted out of the shadows like living nightmares. War Shadows.
They looked like tall humanoid phantoms, made of pitch-black skin that shimmered like oil. Their arms were long, ending in blade-like claws that scraped along the stone with a high-pitched rasp. Their heads were small, faceless except for glowing eyes that fixed on me.
The strongest monsters on the sixth floor are known as the "newbie killer" for killing a lot of newbie adventurers. They moved like liquid. No sound, breathing, snarling, or hissing like the others.
Two of them. Perfect, I thought, a crooked smile tugging at my lips.
Their movements were a blur. The two War Shadows danced around me with terrifying grace, black arms slicing through the air like obsidian scythes. Their fluidity was unnatural, like shadows trying to claw their way into the light.
I could barely keep up. Every slash, every lunge, they pressed me harder and faster, forcing me to react on instinct alone. My blades clashed against their claws, my steps weaving backward and sideways, evading by inches. I gritted my teeth as one of them cut me along my shoulder, drawing blood, but I refused to back down.
I chose technique over strength, I reminded myself.
I use the Mind's Eye. I inhaled deeply, and time slowed. The Dungeon seemed to pause, if only for a second. I looked past the chaos, into the details. Their forms shimmered before me, and I saw them. Red lines. Thin cracks etched along their pitch-black bodies. Weak points.
They circled me again like wolves with knives for fingers, but this time I was no longer overwhelmed.
My Observation Haki flared to life, more vivid than ever.
I could sense it all now, the soft vibration of footsteps, the small shifts in weight, the tense muscles preparing to lunge. I closed my eyes for a moment and "saw" everything: the two shadows, the cavern walls, even the uneven placement of the stones beneath my feet.
I breathed. Then I followed the flow of the battle. This time, when they struck again, I was ready. I parried one's slash, let the other graze just past my ribs, and ducked beneath both with the smallest shift of my body. Pain flared through occasional close calls, but clarity and hyper focus remained. Then the monsters made one critical mistake: they overcommitted.
Now was my chance. My body moved without hesitation. I spun into a whirlwind slash, both blades sweeping outward in a fluid arc. I aimed at the red lines, those invisible weak points I saw with my Mind's Eye.
My steel cut through the shadow like butter and silence. Both War Shadows paused, twitching. Then disintegrated into black mist. Two monster stones dropped with soft clinks against the stone. Alongside them, two gleaming finger blades, jagged and razor-sharp.
I stood still, chest heaving, arms shaking—but victorious. "I did it…" I whispered, a tired grin forming. "I'm getting stronger." With my bag nearly bursting, I made my way back toward the Dungeon entrance. No ambushes. No, Ottar is waiting for another brutal training session.
Thank Nyx for that.
I climbed the last few steps into the morning sun. The city of Orario was just starting to buzz with early risers, merchants opening shops, and adventurers returning from or heading toward the Dungeon.
Guild time.
The Guild Hall was crowded, which was unusual for the morning. As I entered, I instantly spotted Chloe at the front desk, her muscular frame in her sleeveless smith's tunic catching more than a few stares from passing adventurers.
Their eyes lingered a little too long. Tact, people, she's not an exhibit. In front of her was the ever-unimpressed Rose, her tired gaze shifting from her ledger to the line forming in front of her.
I approached. "Morning." Chloe turned, her expression softening into a smile. "Cain. Still alive, huh?" "Barely," I chuckled. "But yeah, still kicking. Thanks for waiting. It means a lot." "I figured you'd want your share directly," she said, then motioned to Rose. "We've got some things to cash out."
Rose raised an eyebrow at my overstuffed backpack. "Fresh from the Dungeon?"
"Fresh as they come."
Chloe lifted the bag and poured its contents over the counter. Crystals, eyes, scales, blades, fangs, and the prize golden Jack Bird eggs—spilled across the table.
Rose's eyes widened. "Four golden eggs?" Chloe smirked. "He took out six Jack Birds. First floor. His luck is insane." I rubbed the back of my neck, hiding my grin. "Let's just say Lady Luck loves me."
Rose gathered the loot from Chloe's half first. "We'll process this as a direct sale to the guild. Eggs, high-quality monster stones, and unique drops." She ran calculations through an abacus, the clicking growing faster with each addition.
"Total value: 3,210,000 Valis after tax and commission. That's 1,580,000 each."
I blinked. "That's… incredible." Chloe gave a low whistle. "Richest first Dungeon dive as a party ever."
Rose looked between us. "Is this acceptable?" "Absolutely," we said in unison. A few minutes later, she returned with two Guild bags, each packed with our share. I looked down at the weight of the pouch in my hand, nearly bursting at the seams. "Can I withdraw 500,000 and deposit the rest into savings?"
Rose nodded. "Your Goddess started an account for you weeks ago. I'll move the remaining 1,080,000 Valis to it."
The Guild office buzzed with soft chatter and clicking abacuses as Chloe and I stood beside Rose's counter. My backpack sat heavily on the surface, filled with the spoils of nearly 3 hours in the Dungeon, sweat, blood, and hard-earned steel forged into coin.
"Can I get the rest appraised?" I asked, motioning to my dungeon back pack.
Rose gave a curt nod and pulled out a large ledger. With practiced fingers, she began removing the drops and crystals from the bag, laying them out neatly on the parchment-lined counter.
Two pairs of Dungeon Lizard eyes, glistening with eerie amber light, caught the first rays of morning sun.
"4,000 valis each," she said. "That's 8,000 total."
She moved on.
The kobold claws and fangs, bundled tightly with twine. "All together… 8,000 valis."
Then the goblin fangs, which emitted a faint, unpleasant smell as she examined them.
"7,500 valis."
Next, the pile of lizard fangs and scales, rough and sharp-edged, was enough to build an entire armor trim.
"10,000 valis."
Finally, the Frog Shooter's eyes, wet and jelly-like, were held in small jars. "3,500 valis."
Rose worked with speed, her fingers flying across the abacus with a satisfying click-clack-click, each motion a testament to her precision.
Then she stopped. Her eyes locked onto the final item laid carefully atop a cloth, the twin "War Shadow Finger Blades."
Silence fell like a blanket.
"…You went to the sixth floor?" she asked, voice low but firm. "Alone? On your third day in the Dungeon?" I rubbed the back of my neck, heart skipping a beat. "Uh… yeah. I fought two of them, actually."
Chloe blinked in disbelief. "You killed two War Shadows by yourself?"
"They're literally called newbie killers, Cain," she continued, shaking her head in awe. "They've ended more beginner adventurers than the entire frog population. And you just… beat two?"
I gave a weak smile, still nursing a sore rib beneath my shirt. "It wasn't easy."
"You're not normal," Chloe muttered with a chuckle. "And I mean that as a compliment." She turned her attention to the finger blades, lifting one and examining it with a craftsman's eye. "If you're serious about making them into new twin blades, I can do it. These will forge nicely more fitted to you than some random throw-away weapon, with excellent edge retention, and" she squinted, "traces of magical residue."
"Really?" I asked.
"Of course," she replied. "And since you split the golden egg earnings with me, I'll do it free of charge. I'll even enchant them myself. You just need to pick the effect you want."
I felt my jaw go slack for a second. "You're… amazing."
She smirked. "Tell me something I don't know."
Rose, meanwhile, recovered her composure and resumed her calculations. "The finger blades themselves are 5,000 valis each, but since you're not selling them, they won't be included in the payout."
"Understood," I said, already envisioning the weapons they'd become.
She slid the stones aside and checked the final count. "Your monster stones alone are worth 15,000 valis, and with all drops included—excluding the finger blades—your total payout after taxes and commission is…"
She flicked the abacus again.
"72,000 valis."
I grinned. "Perfect. I'll take it all, please." Within moments, Rose returned with a slightly smaller Guild pouch, the weight of which still brought a smile to my face.
As she handed it over, her sharp eyes narrowed on something else—the necklace now clearly visible around my neck. A deep black chain, almost velvety in hue, with a blood-red gem that pulsed faintly in the light.
"What's that?" she asked, eyebrow arched. I blinked. Oh right. "Uh… some random girl gave it to me," I said quickly, scratching my cheek. "Along with a lunch box. Guess I have a secret admirer?"
Chloe leaned in, her eyes narrowing curiously. "A very rich one." I tilted my head. "What do you mean?"
She pointed. "That's not just some pretty trinket. That gem is a Dragon Blood Eye gem, and the chain is enchanted ebony silver. Both alone are worth 700,000 valis each—minimum." (Image here)
My jaw nearly hit the floor.
"W-Wait. Seriously?"
Rose nodded solemnly. "The gem enhances strength and stamina regeneration. The ebony chain boosts perception and magical affinity. It's not standard adventurer gear. It's… elite-tier."
Suddenly, things made more sense. The recent ease with which my Haki activated. The tingling sense of awareness. The unexpected strength behind my strikes.
"Thanks, Freya," I whispered under my breath. Chloe crossed her arms. "That admirer of yours might be dangerous. Be careful."
I laughed awkwardly. "I'll… keep that in mind." Then I turned to her. "So, about those twin blades…" "Yeah," she said, eyes twinkling. "Let's head back to the Hephaestus forge. I'll get to work right away. You can pick the enchantments when we get there."
I turned to Rose with a grateful nod. "Thanks for everything." She gave a small, indifferent bow. "Be careful next time. War Shadows don't always die so easily."
"Noted," I said, slinging the bag over my shoulder.
The morning air was brisk as Chloe and I made our way back to the Hephaestus Familia manor. The sun climbed slowly over the edges of the rooftops, casting long amber streaks across the stone streets of Orario. The air buzzed with the promise of adventure, coin, and forgefire.
When we entered Chloe's personal forge, I was hit with a wave of warmth and metallic tang—the scent of steel and coal dust dancing with the faint aroma of lavender oil. She tossed her satchel onto a side bench, grabbed a leather apron, and turned to me.
"Hand me the materials, Cain."
I nodded, pulling the War Shadow Finger Blades, fangs, and other monster drops from my bag. She carefully laid them out, eyes gleaming with intent.
"You want me to measure you for armor?" she asked, already pulling out a measuring tape, chalk, and a leather-bound sketchbook filled with designs.
"Yeah," I said. "Might as well get it done now."
"Strip to your underwear then," she said nonchalantly. "I need precise measurements."
I blinked for a second, then nodded. I turned my back, removed my outer layers, and stood in my black underclothes while Chloe stepped in, tape already at my shoulders.
She hummed as she worked, gently guiding the tape around my chest, arms, torso, and thighs. Her movements were professional… but she wasn't exactly keeping distance. Her chest occasionally brushed against me, her fingers tracing along my sides as she marked notes in her sketchbook.
"You don't act like a normal elf," she murmured, her breath tickling my ear.
I glanced at her. "And you don't look like one."
She laughed softly. "Fair. I was raised by dwarves, remember? Touchiness never really bothered me."
Right, I thought. In this world, elves are usually aloof and don't like being touched by non-elves.
She pulled back and scribbled a few final notes. "I'm going to go with leather as the base, flexible enough for movement. Add metal guards on the chest, forearms, and shins. How's that sound?"
"Perfect."
She nodded, already visualizing the design. "It should be ready by tomorrow morning. Weapons too."
I slipped my shirt back on and asked, "What kind of enchantment can you add to the blades?"
"Hmm…" she set her notebook down and walked to the forge. "I can start with a cut-enhancement enchantment. Makes the edge sharper and allows it to pierce through tougher hide. Basic but great for newbies."
I tilted my head. "Are enchanted weapons common?"
She started lighting the forge, the flames flickering to life. "Not really. Magical weapons are more common—but they're one-shots. High destructive power but the weapon often breaks. Waste of good materials in my opinion."
I thought of Welf—a master smith who refused to make magical weapons. He'd said something similar in the anime. I smiled faintly at the memory.
"How many enchantments can a weapon hold?"
"Normally one. Two max, and only if you're working with a master smith. Any more than that, and the weapon won't survive the strain."
"Thanks for the lesson," I said, genuinely grateful. "How much for the armor?"
"30,000 valis." Without hesitation, I pulled out a small pouch and placed the money on her workbench.
She didn't even glance up—already deep in her work, heating the blades until their malleable with steady hands and hyper focus. I smiled and quietly slipped out.
I made my way through the city toward Miach Familia's potion shop, the clinking of coins in my satchel and the gentle sway of my backpack a steady rhythm to my thoughts. When I stepped in, Naaza greeted me with her usual stoic face and polite tone, but her tail gave her away, wagging slightly behind her. "Cain. Welcome back. I didn't think you be back this this early."
"Hello again Naaza, Hello Miach my Dungeon run was really good," I said, dropping a fat pouch of valis on the counter.
Naaza's ears twitched in surprise. "That's… quite a haul." Miach himself appeared from the back, smiling warmly. "Good to see you again, Cain. You've been busy."
"Yeah. I'm here to pay off my 3,500 valis debt and buy 150,000 worth of potions." Naaza's tail started wagging harder. She immediately pulled out a few vials and into serous mode. "Here. These five are worth 50,000 valis total a higher grade than what you got earlier."
Then she set aside five more vials with a different tint. "These are mind potions, for magic recovery. Another 50,000."
I nodded. "I don't use spells yet, but I'll take two. Do you have any low grade elixirs good for physical and magical recovery?" Miach appeared beside her with a small box. "Here are our low-grade elixirs. Stronger than mid-grade from most other shops. 40,000 each."
" Great can I have three please," I said. Their eyes lit up like festival lanterns. "Oh," I added. "Got any durable empty vials? Hopefully eight-ounce?"
Naaza reached below the counter, pulling out a wooden box with eight thick-glass vials inside. "These are 50,000 valis. Durable and Dungeon-safe just don't use these for collecting acid."
I paused, mentally tallying it all up. " Okay thanks for that, so what's the total?" "240,000 valis," Naaza said quickly like she already had the total ready "But since your debt is cleared, you get 15% off. That brings it to 204,000 valis."
I considered it for a second, then smiled. "I'll pay it all now." I dropped the pouch on the counter and then added another 40,000 valis. "For emergencies. Just in case."
Miach's eyes widened. "Thank you, Cain. Your generosity is appreciated." He handed me two extra Mind Potions as a gift. Naaza silently packed everything with care into my Dungeon backpack and offered it back with a rare, warm smile. "Stay safe."
"I will."
By the time I returned to the Hostess of Fertility, the sun had begun to dip again. I used the back door, slipping in quietly. The sounds of pots clanging and warm conversation greeted me like a blanket after a long day.
In the kitchen, Mia was already preparing for the evening rush. She looked up and gave me a wide grin. "Hey, Cain. Back already?"
"Yeah. I'll wash up and be down to help."
"Good kid," she said. I rushed upstairs. Still no sign of Nyx, as usual. I stripped, washed up quickly, and pulled on my Hostess uniform. It felt tight around the chest and shoulders.
I looked in the mirror. Am I growing again? My arms had gained definition. My chest had thickened slightly. Definitely getting stronger.
When I returned to the tavern floor, Syr was setting up tables.
"Hey, Syr!" She turned. "Cain—!" Before she could react, I wrapped her in a big hug, catching her completely off guard.
Her face lit up in pink. "W-What's the occasion?" I smiled. "It's just good to see you." She blinked. "…O-Oh really ?" I gestured her to lean down to my height. I leaned up slightly and kissed her gently on the cheek.
Her face turned crimson. "I—uh—I—Cain—!" she stammered as I casually walked away toward the kitchen. "Mia," I called. "What's on the prep list tonight?"
She smirked, watching Syr fan her cheeks with both hands. "You got Syr all flustered, kid. You trying to charm all the ladies now?" I shrugged. "Only the ones who feed me." She laughed. "Grab the cutting board, Mr. ladies man. We've got mouths to feed."