[Feral Dire Weretiger - Level 22 has been killed.]

[You have completed the dungeon.]

[Rewards: Bee Trove - Rank S+]

[As no bees have died, or even gotten injured (except for the visual examples that died first), the rank of the reward has increased!]

Wisteria let out a whimper of surprise and pulled away from Alliana, embarrassed as she rubbed her eyes of tears. She sniffled, “S-sorry… I… um… I guess we’re done with the dungeon.” She took her ring off to set it in her eyes again, but Alliana held up a hand.

“Dear, you don’t need to hide yourself. Be proud. Certainly, working for us you won’t have any need of hiding your hair or eyes,” she smiled, petting Wisteria’s shimmering gem hair, “You’re a beautiful young woman. You and your mother won’t have to fear that Kavan man. I don’t care what station he is in, he has no power here, not in our duchy, and not in the Mare Kingdom. You’re our people. Perhaps I should ask your mother to get in touch with other refugees. I hate tyrants.”

“Y-yeah…,” Wisteria muttered, gripping the ring nervously, “I guess you’re right. You’re too kind… I don’t deserve all th-this effort.” She sniffled, “Thank you… really, thank you so much. I know it’s because of my friendship with Alister, nobles don’t just… afford such kindness to everyone… but still. Thank you.”

“I cannot lie, I wouldn’t have known you if not for Alister, but your station means little to me. Blas, despite his upbringing, has never been one for pompousness. He has tempered my more haughty behavior over the years. I don’t have a good reason to help you and your mother. I suppose knowing your abilities, I’m aware that you two could be very useful, but I hardly approached you knowing you were going to hit me with such a surprise,” she said, taking out her fan again now that the dungeon was over, “I can’t help but feel motherly toward you. I think that’s why I’ve been so friendly with you since Alister brought you over. I… have struggled with conceiving. Alister was such a blessing. I was starting to wonder if I’d ever have a child. You… hah, it sounds silly aloud, but you’re a bit like the daughter I haven’t been able to have. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to have more children… I hope my feeling that way doesn’t make you feel awkward towards me. What? What’s that look for?”

Wisteria had a pout on her face, eyes welling with tears again, “Awww! Miss Alliana you’re too kind! I would’ve never guessed you had any troubles of the sort. It doesn’t make me feel awkward at all! I’m flattered. I’ll make sure to pray to the fertility gods for you.”

Alliana chuckled, “I suppose that coming from you means a bit more than from most. I don’t need you to help me, dear. Only do so if you want to. I appreciate it.”

“Of course! I don’t mind at all,” she said as they walked back toward the group, “…Miss Alliana…? I know it’s not very appropriate for me to ask, but… could I call you Auntie?”

Alliana let out a squeak and squeezed Wisteria into a tight hug, “You absolutely may! I love it. You’re so cute! I will gladly be your auntie. Even if it causes some confusion with others.”

The two returned to the group, where Alister was pacing with excitement. As soon as he saw them he spoke up, “There you two are!! I was wondering if you’d ever get back! We finished the dungeon! I want to open our reward but Father said to wait until you ret…ur…n… Wisteria why is your hair shimmering? And your eyes, too! What happened? What did I miss!?”

Wisteria blushed brightly, tucking a lock of her hair in front of her face as though to hide, “This is.. my… um… natural hair color. I’m sorry I hid it…”

Alister was stunned, he wasn’t sure what to say, “That… you have gem features…? But that’s so rare. Why would you hide it?”

Alliana set her hand on Wisteria’s head and took over for her, explaining to the group what she was told so Wisteria wouldn’t have to fumble over it again. Alister was silent for the whole explanation, finger against his lips in thought.

“A voice of the gods…,” he mumbled, “That would explain why you don’t want to choose any one deity.” Wisteria’s pouting, worried expression tugged a sigh from him, “Don’t look like that. It’s fine. You look beautiful with your natural hair and eyes. I’ll keep you safe from any tyrant.”

Wisteria couldn’t help but giggle at the statement, so confident, “You know, that sounds pretty silly coming from an eight-year-old? But you’re so much stronger than you look, so… thank you. It means a lot.”

“Blas, dear, I’ve given Wisteria permission to call me auntie now,” Alliana explained.

Blas smirked, giving her a wide grin, “I see Wisteria wasn’t the only one who had their arm twisted. You’re getting soft, love.”

“Oh, hush. It’s cute!”

“Yes, yes. I have no qualms about it. Just imagining my brother’s unpleasant face twisting as he hears it is enough of a reason to say yes to that on its own,” he teased, “Now then. We can marvel over that gem hair later - I think Alister is going to explode if we don’t let him open his reward. But, let’s move out of the dungeon before we do so. We have no carts in here, and rewards can sometimes be heavy or difficult to move without one.”

They shuffled along to the exit and out to the lazily waiting rest of the guards that didn’t join the dungeon. It seemed a little counter-intuitive, but the inside of a dungeon was actually far safer for a noble (if it was a low-level one, anyhow) than outside of one. There were no outside forces to account for, no or few assassination worries, as the dungeon was a private instance for each party.

The guards on the outside, along with Morgan, Ode, and Jacob, looked incredibly bored. It had been something like four hours since they went in.

Wisteria half-hid behind Alliana as all eyes fell on her and her new hair color, but Alister couldn’t give a damn, as he was already bringing out his loot. He’d save worrying for when they were back on the road and had nothing better to do.

It was a new option on his status page, all the way at the bottom, and when he pressed it, he saw the loot bag again listed there “Bee Trove - Rank S+”. It presented itself as another button, and when he pressed it this time there was a new screen with a small warning beneath it.

[Would you like to redeem “Bee Trove - Rank S+” loot bag?]

[Y/N?]

[This action cannot be reversed. Once claimed, loot will turn into an object or objects of varying sizes and weights.]

Alister confirmed, pressing yes as the smile grew on his face.

[Bee Trove - Rank S+]

[One pot of High-Grade Honey]

[Cloak of Flight - Lowest-Grade]

[Necklace of the Werekin’s Curse - Low-Grade]

Seeing him receive his items, the rest of the party followed suit, including the guards.

Wisteria gained a Bee Ring of Swarm, and 2 pots of high-grade honey. Blas got a pot of Royal Jelly and an enchanted claw dagger which he had little to no interest in. Alliana got three pots of healing honey and a fuzz cap. The five guards got 8 pots of high-grade healing honey, a Weretiger Skull Helm, 3 pots of mid-grade healing honey, 3 sets of werebear fangs, 2 Potions of the Hive, 3 pots of high-grade honey, and an enchanted werewolf pelt coat, in total.