ACE SUPPORTER
“Hey, Bell. Have you had any luck hiring a supporter?”
“…Whuh?”
I lift my bleary eyes from the thick book I’m reading. Miss Eina sits across from me, her head in her hands, looking worried.
“You know how I was saying earlier I don’t like the idea of you going into the Dungeon by yourself? …Oh, and you just wrote the wrong answer. When fighting purple moths, the most important thing is to pay close attention to your positioning. Start over.”
“Yes, ma’am…”
We’re in the Guild library, where countless rows of bookshelves hold all of the Guild’s collective knowledge on the Dungeon. I am studying hard in hopes of surviving my excursion tomorrow.
It’s been a week and change since I first became an adventurer. In that time, Miss Eina has been running her, uh, immensely helpful Dungeon lessons, and I’ve been diligently attending them without fail. Even when the Dungeon has left me weary and tired, or when the mountain of textbooks and encyclopedias makes me want to cry, I crack the whip, pick up my quill, and push on.
And while I am meticulously jotting down on parchment paper how best to tackle different monsters in a variety of combat conditions under Miss Eina’s watchful eye, other Guild employees giggle as they pass us by.
“Anyway, going back to what I was saying,” she says, “are you having any trouble hiring a supporter?”
“Erm…”
Putting down my pen, I scratch the side of my head nervously. A supporter is a noncombatant who aids adventurers by gathering magic stones and drop items. They’re basically a requirement to maximize your time in the Dungeon, or so I’ve been told.
The only problem is Hestia Familia has no members besides me, and we don’t have enough money to hire a freelancer.
“I really think you ought to hire one, even if it’s temporary, just so you’re not going solo,” Miss Eina explains. “They may not fight monsters, but there are many other ways supporters can save your life.”
“I know,” I say with a sigh. “B-by the way, if I did hire one, how much do you think it would cost?”
“Hmm, well, at the end of the day, you’re asking someone to risk their life for you. Prices can vary, especially if you negotiate, but I’d say you’re looking at about a thousand valis up front, plus a share of the day’s earnings.”
Eina’s quick calculation already totals more than half the money I earned today in the Dungeon. If I do hire a supporter, there’s almost no doubt that I won’t have enough cash for weapon maintenance and purchasing items.
“I…I don’t think I can afford that right now,” I reply meekly.
“Really…? Well, I suppose making do with what you have is a common challenge for new familias like yours.”
“I’m sorry…”
“There’s no need to be sorry,” says Eina, shaking her head. “But at least talk it over with your goddess, okay? Maybe she has some ideas.”
She gives me a smile. I peer into her calm, emerald eyes and nod.
“Okay.”
“A supporter, you say…”
Once Eina’s lesson ends, I pick a time after supper to broach the subject with Goddess.
“Hmm, I’m not sure we have the money for it…” she says.
“That’s what I thought…”
“Believe me, if we had the money, I would pay up in a heartbeat! Anything to help you stay safe out there, Bell.”
Goddess crosses her arms and frowns. I hate to see her so troubled. It looks like I’ll be going solo for the time being. Thinking back to all the times I’ve escaped danger on my own, I tell myself I can handle it.
“It’s okay, Goddess. I’ll just keep on doing what I’m doing.”
Goddess stares at my slightly forced smile. I suppose I’m bluffing, just a little. She curls a finger around her chin and ponders for a moment. Then she seems to have decided on something and beams at me.
“I guess I’ll help you out, then!”
“You will? How?”
As I stand there in shock, Goddess puffs out her large chest and speaks proudly.
“I’ll be your supporter!”
At first, I don’t believe my ears. I just stay there in frozen silence, staring at her oddly smug face. When time finally restarts, I practically leap out of my seat.
“Wh-what are you thinking?! You can’t do that!!!”
“Oh, it’ll be fine! Tomorrow’s my day off anyway! I’m totally free!”
That’s not what I mean! I want to say, “Do you have any idea how dangerous it is down there?!” But my mouth still doesn’t work. I try to communicate it with just my eyes instead.
“The job’s just carrying your bags, right? I don’t mind. I’m your goddess!” she beams. “Besides, if anything happens, you’ll protect me, won’t you?”
There’s a sly look in her eyes and a big grin on her lips. The sheer amount of trust in her statement forces me to simply respond with a weak, “Well…yeah…”
“Then it’s settled!” she says. “I can’t wait to go Dungeon-diving with you!”
There’s not even a hint of worry in her voice. She might as well have announced we’re going on a picnic. Meanwhile, I’m only getting more nervous, but there’s something else on my mind.
“Erm, Goddess? Are you even allowed in the Dungeon? I know I’m new to the city and all, but I’ve never seen a god adventuring alongside their familia…”
My naive question causes Goddess to freeze in her tracks. She gazes up at the ceiling for a moment before she answers.
“…Well, as long as we stick to the first floor, who’ll know?”
I feel like that answers my question and doesn’t answer it at the same time. I tilt my head in concern, but Goddess seems to have made up her mind, and I don’t want to tell her no when she’s so eager to help.
It looks like we’ll be adventuring together tomorrow…
“So this is the Dungeon…”
When we reach the first floor, Goddess looks around curiously. At my insistence, she’s wearing a tattered cloak and hood. I’d never live it down if my fellow adventurers knew I’d brought my goddess into the Dungeon, but so long as she’s dressed like that, nobody will be able to tell…I hope.
“I’ve heard stories about the place, but I never knew the paths were so well-maintained. It really is like a labyrinth.”
“It’s not like that farther down, apparently…”
In addition to the cloak, Goddess is also wearing an adorable backpack. As the two of us venture deeper and deeper into the Dungeon, she waltzes down the main path, blissfully ignorant of the danger, while I follow along in a cold sweat.
Suddenly, a monstrous cry marks the beginning of our first encounter.
“Gii!!!”
A plump, green-skinned creature lifts its eyes to us and glares in open hostility.
“Huh, so this is a goblin? I’ve never seen one before…”
“…?!”
I swiftly draw my weapon, but in complete contrast to my combat readiness, Goddess walks right up to the beast, oohing and ahhing. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
“What are you doing, Goddess?! That’s a monster! Get away from it!”
“Huh? It’s just a little goblin. What’s the worst it could do?”
Okay, goblins may be the weakest creatures in the Dungeon, but it’s only because of our Falnas that they don’t pose a threat!
I watch in horror as Goddess taunts the goblin, going, “Hey, you! Get over here!” and beckoning it closer. I think I’m feeling faint…
“Bugii!”
“Guh!”
“G-Goddeeeeess!!!”
The goblin punches her hard in the face, sending her rolling across the ground at high speed. I run over to her, screaming like the world is ending. She sits up, rubs her swollen cheek, and shivers, staring at the creature.
“B-Bell, this guy’s crazy strong!”
“I think you were just being way too careless!” I scream as I swiftly dispatch the goblin. This is the very first battle of the day, and I’m already sweating and panting.
“I thought goblins were the weakest of the weak…” Goddess mutters. “What’s going on? This isn’t what I expected at all…”
“They’re weak compared to adventurers, not you! A-anyway, let’s try to be a little bit more cautious from now on, Goddess. Please stay behind me.”
“O-okay.”
Goddess nods, a tense look on her face. Perhaps she finally understands what a dangerous place this is. With a distinct sense of relief, I press forward.
As Goddess quickly noticed, the first floor of the Dungeon is neatly carved out of its stone like a man-made labyrinth. Pale blue walls stretch as far as the eye can see, and I proceed down the halls in a state of constant vigilance.
Sudden turns in the passageways, like the one we’re coming up on now, make me especially tense. There could be monsters lurking around the corner—just out of sight—waiting for the perfect chance to jump out and ambush us!
“Whoa! Look over there, Bell! There’s a magic stone just waiting to be looted!”
“…?!”
Unfortunately, Goddess does not share my caution. She springs out of our cover and runs toward a magic stone lying on the floor—most likely left behind by another adventurer—like a child spotting a piece of candy.
“All right! That’s the second find of the—”
“Gruooogh!!!”
“Hwaaaaaaaah!!!”
“Waaaaaah!!!”
Goddess and I both let out ear-piercing screams as a kobold pops out from around the corner. Still screaming, I run over and deliver a flying kick to the creature’s jaw, sending it flying away.
“Th-this place is so dangerous!” Goddess says between pants as the two of us crouch on all fours, catching our breath. “Is this really what you have to deal with every day?!”
“………”
I don’t have the energy to speak. It hasn’t even been that long since we set out, and I feel ready to pass out already.
This goes on for a while, with Goddess getting in my way—er, I mean, having learning experiences—at every turn, and me constantly rescuing her from trouble.
“Ugh. I’m sorry, Bell. It seems all I do is slow you down…”
“Th-that’s not true, Goddess…” I say to cheer her up.
The two of us are resting in an empty, square room. We’ve learned that being a supporter is not as easy as it looks. Anyone who does it as their job must have developed a wealth of skills and knowledge.
As I ponder this, Goddess raises her head.
“Oh! Bell, there’s a monster over there! It kind of looks like a chicken…”
“What…?”
I don’t remember a monster like that on the first floor, but I look over to where Goddess is pointing, and sure enough, there it is. It has pea-green plumage and trots across the room, clucking loudly without a care in the world. Confused, I stare at it, but then my face slowly warps in terror as I realize what it is.
“Th-th-that’s a jackbird!” I cry.
I’ve seen it before. I know I have. It was in one of the lessons Miss Eina drilled into me; a rare monster that seldom appears in the Dungeon. A creature that even the most veteran adventurer would stop at nothing to take down…!
“Is it really that strong?” says Goddess, noticing my flustered look.
“No, Goddess… It’s not strong at all…!”
This hen-like creature is next to useless in a fight. All it can do is run. but there’s something far more important to know about this monster. When its killed, you can extract an item from its belly known as the jackbird’s golden egg, which sells for at least a million valis!
When I explain this to Goddess, she goes as pale as me.
“Imagine what I could buy with one million valis…a hundred thousand Jyaga Maru Kun…a beautiful home sweet home…everything I ever dreamed of! I wouldn’t have to work another day in my life!!”
Oh no! Mortal desires are consuming my goddess’s mind!
“Cluck Cluck!!”
““Wah!!””
As if sensing our greedy thoughts, the jackbird spreads its wings and dashes out of the room at top speed.
“Get back here, you!!”
“G-Goddess?!”
Desperate to capture the bird, Goddess sprints after it with both arms raised. I feel a slight sense of déjà vu, eclipsed by a much greater sense of worry, and hurry after her.
But before I even reach the door, Goddess comes running back through it.
Behind her is a horde of goblins and kobolds.
“Bell, I’m sorry.”
“What have you dooooooone?!”
How did she even attract this many monsters in such a short time?! I immediately turn tail and flee alongside her.
For the rest of the day, all we do is try to get them off our tail, and by the time we finally reach the surface, we’re both exhausted. I have no desire to go back, even after I realize that Goddess dropped her backpack and the entire day’s haul with it.
After that, Goddess never accompanied me into the Dungeon again, and I started taking the whole “hiring a supporter” matter a little more seriously.
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