(Curator POV)

“And done.” I put the finishing touches on the hidden basement we were working on. I intend to let Big Bad Wolf use this room as sort of a break-room, dining room hybrid. It's not the most visually-

*bump*

pleasing room to look at, but it radiates a cozy aura that can make anybody want to settle in. Both the fairies and critters helped out with the room's creation, apparently, Big Bad Wolf has become pretty popular with the woodland critters ever since he saved them from a fiery demise by calling to them-

*bump*

And the fairies followed along with the critters, not really having much else to do.

Together we worked on the basement. I carved out the room, while the fairies used their magic to summon will-o-wisps to light it up and create furniture like chairs and a table from tree roots. The critters scampered on the floor and using their paws and claws they stamped down on the lumpy ground until it was even. Afterward, they brought in fresh grass and leaves of the highest quality carpeting it over the newly formed floor.

The last thing to do was to summon in the fresh meat.

*bump*

Okay, what the hell is happening up there? Shifting my sight to the source of the racket I expected it to be Alice and Red, and sure enough, it was them but they seem to be in a bit of a bind. The trio of Alice, her wolf and Red were bracing themselves against the barrel to stop it from barrelling down the stairs while slowly making their way down, one painful step at a time.

Looks like a sadistic game of twister, let’s get the first-floor guardian-

*bump*

and Big Bad Wolf to help them out.

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It was a little awkward trying to get both Big Bad Wolf and the first-floor guardian through the door but we eventually managed to get the barrel downstairs and into the library.

“We have the water.” There was a hint of pride in Alice’s voice as she declared mission complete.

“Nice job!”

I would pat her head if I could, but sadly I can’t so I’ll just settle with giving her words of praise. It’s nice to see Alice taking a little pride in her work, instead of taking it as a matter of fact. And as for Red, somethings different about her, she seems more.... lucid, I think that’s the best way to put it, her eyes show more attention than they used to.

“Alice, Red take a rest, you’ve both had a long day.” The two of them looked like they were running on fumes about to fall over at any moment, they must have had quite an adventure today.

Saying nothing the two simply walked to their preferred sleeping areas, Alice behind the counter and Red, she headed down to the second floor back to where she usually stands. I am really starting to think that my Dungeon lacks any basic living necessities for its inhabitants.

In any case with Alice and Red going off to rest, I should get down to business so they can see the fruit of their labors when they wake up. Honestly, this was way more water than I was expecting, I expected two buckets full at the most, this barrel looks like it has enough water to hydrate a person for a month even if they were being liberal with it.

Okay, let's see here, how do I assimilate something?

DP probably has something to do with this so let's start with that. Scrolling through the DP menu, there weren’t any options to absorb things, so it’s not a menu option.

But it has to have something to do with DP I mean everything in the dungeon is made with DP. Alice did say that as a dungeon core I filter mana into DP when we first met. Concentrating on the barrel I try to exert my influence over it, by manually willing DP around the barrel.

It was a bit of an unpleasant sensation like manually breathing, I became very aware of the mana flowing through me and the process it took to purify it into DP.

As I finished cocooning the barrel in a web DP a message popped up.

Do you wish to absorb “barrel” including its contents, Warning contents are unknown.

That's weird I know there’s water in the barrel Alice told me herself, unless. I get Big Bad Wolf to open the top of the barrel, which surprisingly came off very easily since the lid was a screw-on type.

Do you wish to absorb “barrel” including its contents, “water”

Right, so I actually need to see the contents of the container to know what it is. Which in retrospect sounds obvious.

Moving on from the obvious, what the hell is up with this barrel?

The rim was covered in some sort of rubber, possibly to make absolutely sure nothing slips in or out of the barrel. It feels weirdly out of place but then again didn’t that Keith guy have some fancy steampunk looking sword on him. Well, questions for another time I suppose.

Replying yes to the message, the absorption process began as the water and barrel broke down into shards of mana.

Water has been added to your list. Barrel has been added to your list.

As the barrel fully disappeared I noticed my DP going up by a few points, it was in the single digits but hey it was something.

Scrolling through the menu there was a new tab for objects and materials. Right, let’s see here high-grade barrels for 50 DP, no other variations unlocked, water for 20 DP per meter cubed, variation drinking water has been unlocked.

Okay water for 20 DP I get but once again just what the hell is up with this barrel, it costs more than two wolves put together.

Well let’s put that on the back burner, right now there are some lakes in dire need of water.

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(Zhenya POV)

Today both Rudi and I were called up to the boss ladies office, I really didn’t know what to expect we were just going day to day doing requests, so I don’t think we did anything wrong.

Even knowing we did nothing wrong Rudi was still shaken about the prospects of entering that office again, the last visit really left an impression on him.

Seeing Rudi like this I figure I’d lead by example. Okay, deep breaths Zhenya deep breaths.

“Hello, boss la-bleah!?” Opening the door I was immediately blatered in the face with a book.

“Dammit knock before you enter!”

“Sorry, sorry just excited is all, I’ll remember to knock next time.” Well, she's pissed at me, but Rudi seems less scared than he did before.

“Just take a seat, and I’ll tell you why I called you here.”

Both of us took a seat on the couch as the boss lady continued. I don’t think she cared if we did take a seat or not, but I am not passing up the chance to sit on this couch, it’s like sitting on a cloud, super comfy and bouncy

“Alright, I'll be brief, from today onwards you two are finished with your sentence effective immediately.

Here are the earnings that you’ve accumulated from doing requests and Rudi here is a written note signed by me, show this to the front desk to notify them that your sentence is over.”

“Rudi she’s smiling. Why is she smiling?” I whisper to Rudi who looks just as surprised as I do.

“Maybe she’s in a good mood today. Don’t do anything to ruin it” he replied back in hushed whispers.

“Wait if our sentence is being lifted does that mean...” I can’t help but raise my voice at the realization.

“Yes, starting today the dungeon will be opened up for exploration.” she flipped through some of her documents making sure of some facts.

Jumping to my feet I let out a celebratory “Woot!” Finally, I can start making money to send back home. Ma must be worried sick since I haven’t sent a letter home yet.

“Ahem, if you’re finished that will be all, you may leave. Ehm have a nice day.” she tried to make the smile even bigger than it already was.

“oh... yeah, sorry my bad. We’ll be taking our leave now” It was embarrassing but for some reason, I can’t seem to control myself today. “Er Right, We also hope that you have a nice day,” Rudi added as we slid out the door and back into the hallway.

Making our way back downstairs Rudi nudged me to get my attention, “Hey don’t you think Lyra was acting differently today.”

Now that he mentions it the boss lady did seem a little less hostile today than she did the first time we met her. Well, ‘less’ she still had the same strict tone of voice, but at least it doesn't feel like she would bite my head off if I interrupted her mid-sentence.

“It’s the smile, as scary as it was it really did help set a different mood. I was holding it in this whole time but wasn’t it hilarious, just how weird it was. I mean did you see the face she was making, makes me feel kinda silly for being so scared of her the first time.”

Oh, and here I thought he was just trembling in fear the whole time when we were in her office.

We continued talking about the boss lady’s mood shift as we passed on her note to the front desk, I think it’s a good thing, she’s feels a bit more relatable. Receiving the note the receptionist handed Rudi a set of keys.

With our business finished we left the A.A.

“So I guess this is where we part ways, huh?” We pretty much lived and ate together for the past few weeks, so it was pretty sad to finally part ways after everything.

“Seems a bit surreal doesn't it. How long has it been since the fire, two weeks maybe three?” It seems Rudi shared the sentiments as me, or so I thought.

*fwip*

He flicked me on the forehead. “yeah right, why the hell are you being so melancholic for, you’re still gonna see me like every other day, Remember I run the potion shop.”

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Guess I spent so much time trying to get Rudi to forget about his potion shop being confiscated, that I forgot about it myself. “Ehehehehe, you do don’t you, but that reminds me you said something about a friend discount didn’t you.”

“you just had to ruin the mood, didn’t you?

Well, any case I'll be opening tomorrow morning so drop by, and I just might give you a discount. Also, remember my shop is located on the east side of town on the same street that leads to the dungeon, it’s the one with the red roof. Don’t get lost.~”

With that Rudi left waving me goodbye, I know he meant well, probably, but what the hell does he mean, don’t get lost. I don’t get lost that often, okay maybe a little, sometimes.

Right then with goodbyes done and over with let’s prepare to enter the dungeon, and that means shopping. First stop would have to be the enchanter’s store, Rudi said to get the red hood I received in the dungeon checked out there when I asked him for his advice. Now then where would an enchanter’s shop be located?

With a bit of wandering in between, I do eventually find the place, it was a two-story building with some well-kept flower beds in front of it. Entering the store I went up to the counter and rung a bell that was sitting on it.

I got to say the place was pretty fancy it had polished floors and plenty of soft-looking couches in the waiting room. This place even had a dire ice wolf pelt hanging on the wall and from the size, it looks like it was an alpha too. It must’ve cost a lot, probably somewhere along the lines of 320 GP. Merchants love selling items they buy from us northerners at an insanely high markup price, or at least if I correctly remember what Pa taught me when it comes to bartering our spoils.

“Welcome, what might we help you with today.” The voice came from a kid who looks even younger than me, must be an apprentice.

“Yeah, can I get this hood examined.” Handing over my hood, the apprentice takes a few intense looks at it before running upstairs. What is all this about?

Before long a dandy old man came downstairs, taking the kid's place behind the counter.

“I’m terribly sorry miss it looks like my apprentice still has many things to learn as he could not identify your item. If you would allow me.” The dandy enchanter picked up my hood and gave it the same intense gaze as his apprentice did before.

“Miss. Is this. Is this item from the dungeon?” he asked with a tremor in his voice.

I only returned an apprehensive nod.

“Exquisite, absolutely Exquisite so this is.... incredible.” the dandy old enchanter started muttering to himself before remembering that I was his customer. “Ahem apologies for my behavior, I wasn't expecting any items from the dungeon to surface for at least a couple of weeks or months. You must absolutely be a very talented youth to acquire a dungeon item on its opening day.”

Seeing the old enchanter praising me so vigorously, it feels a bit undeserving especially since I got it through a freak accident. Who would believe me if I said, I got a picture book from some travelers which the dungeon took interest in and traded me a magical item for it.

“Ah yes you came to get this identified didn’t you, at first assessment this item will cost 150 GP to identify is that okay?”

Once again I give the lively old man a nod.

“Good, here is a full summary of your item.” Grabbing a wooden slate from behind the counter, muttering a few words and making a few hand gestures. The old man lightly touched the slate making light blue letters appear on it.

“excuse me I can’t read it.”

“Oh my, no worries it reads as follows.

Name: Red Hood

Item Type: Clothing

Effects: Size manipulation, Acid Resistance (low), Pierce Resistance (low), Wolves Prey (MAX)

Description: A large piece of red cloth reminiscent of the hood little red riding hood wears. Very soft and comfortable.”

Wolves prey at max, well if that’s true then it explains a lot about what happened the day of the fire, also now that he mentions it the red hood does match the one from the storybook. Maybe the dungeon copied a random item from the book?

“Thank you, sir, here’s 150 GP” Apparently all the extra requests me and Rudi did amounted to 300 GP, even with half of it gone I should still have enough to buy items and provisions.

“Actually young miss, if I could trouble you, may you allow me to keep this item for a time, of course, I will waive the identification fee and pay you extra on top of it.”

“You want the hood but what for?”

“You see everything that has mana has a signature unique to it. So what I’m asking of you is to lend me your item for a few days so I may record its mana signature. It is to help people in my profession tell forgeries from the genuine article. I will compensate you with GP for those few days.”

“So let me get this straight I’m not selling you this, just lending it to you?” it doesn't seem like a bad proposal, I make some extra GP and help the enchanting community out.

the old man gave a nod.

“Than sure, have a field day with it, take all the time you need with it.” After getting mauled by wolves I can’t really blame myself for not wanting to bring the hood into the dungeon again.

“Oh such a personable young lady, here take this.” he gingerly placed 175 GP in my hand.

Slipping the coins into my pouch I said goodbye to the old man. The moment I stepped out of the shop I heard the old man stomping up the stairs in a rush. A spry one isn’t he, I let out a small chuckle at his childish vigor, I can only hope to have that much energy when I’m his age.

After the encounter with the old man, I stopped by the provisions shop to pick up some supplies things like rope, jars, about three days worth of cured foods and a whetstone.

With all the preparations done I made a round trip back to the A.A building. The place was empty now since everyone’s off running around the dungeon, going up to the counter I asked the receptionist if there were any requests for the dungeon available.

The one they recommended me was a request to map out the first floor of the dungeon, apparently, those are always available since they constantly need up to date maps for each of the dungeon’s floors. There also seems to be a bonus GP reward if you’re the first one to map out a floor, though it seems like I’m already out of the running for that.

Accepting the request the receptionist handed me a piece of parchment and a pencil. Now with the preparations done, I make my way towards the dungeon for my first proper dive into it.