83 The Aftermath
I cry for hours. It’s frustrating that I seem to be the only one upset, but I’m so happy that Brigit is alive. After finally calming down, I take in the aftermath of the battle. Two bodies are lying on the ground. Mom has moved Saphire and Blue to the sex bed by the entrance and is taking care of them.
“What are we going to do about the bodies?” I ask, “Um, I’m sure it makes you uncomfortable.”
Brigit shrugs, “It’s strange, but I don’t feel any strong emotions. But maybe we should just let the slimes eat the bodies? We might get in trouble if they are found later.”
I frown in disgust, “I don’t know how you can say that about your own body.”
My nude sister responds, “This is my body now. It’s not like I have a use for the old one.”
“I guess,” I say hesitantly. I think of an excuse, “But it might affect the slimes.”
“That’s true. They do change based on what they eat,” Brigit agrees. I’m glad I convinced her. She takes a moment to think, then says, “I could try making my body into string.”
“I, I guess that’s fine. What about the adventurer? Should we leave the body outside?” I question.
“There may be someone who will mourn her death, so I agree we should deliver the body,” Brigit says while walking over to her body. She holds out her hand, and her body disappears into a thread. “I think I’ll make it into a necklace to remember my first death.”
Now that Brigit’s body is gone, I feel a bit better. I look at Christal and ask, “So how did I get all those points? Is that why you keep saying killing is more efficient?”
“Killing is more efficient. It creates hate and wealth, and points drive more adventurers to enter. In this case she is too high level for this dungeon. Defeating someone who you normally wouldn’t be able to give a large bonus,” Christal explains.
“Level?” I question with a tilted head.
“The adventure system creates levels. Anyone who challenges a dungeon can join the system.”
Brigit looks at the adventurer and asks, “Is it normal for high levels to attack new dungeons?”
“No, they will face the opposite, facing a large tax. This woman would have gotten nearly nothing for destroying the dungeon,” Christal informs us.
I snidely say, “We don’t have anything after all.”
“An adventurer can get life-changing rewards if they choose to destroy the dungeon.”
Brigit starts pulling on the adventurer's armor. “So she wanted to take the dungeon?”
Christal shakes her head, “I don’t know her reason.”
I walk over to Brigit and say, “Yeah, we can’t read her mind, but what are you doing?”
“We should take her stuff. She’s high level after all,” Brigit says.
I balk a little. She’s right, but, “Uhg, I’m sorry, I can’t. I, I killed her.”
Brigit pauses and looks up at me, “I get it. Don’t worry.”
“Oh!” I clap my hands, “Christal help her. You know how the armor works, right?”
“What she can’t-“ Brigit begins to say until Christal pulls on the armor.
“This is where the latch is,” Christal says, pointing to a leather connection.
“How?”
“When I finished the,” I use hand quotes, “Instruction manual, she got an upgrade.”
“So, it wasn’t useful?” Brigit asks as the plate armor comes loose.
“Well, the upgrade is useful. Maybe if I were a genius, I’d understand, but most of it was barely readable at best. I mostly scrolled through it.”
“Can’t complain too much then.”
“Ha, you didn’t have to scroll for months.”
“Mistress, time didn’t change while there, so you didn’t scroll for any amount of time.”
With that frustrating comment, they continue to work, and soon, the woman is nude. I didn’t mind with the last adventurers, but throwing out a naked dead woman. It doesn’t feel right. I cover her with the blanket from the sex bed.
Christal floats with the body over the pool, and the garden is empty. They must have escaped after the commotion. We exit the dungeon and pause.
“I don’t feel good about this,” I say, looking around.
Brigit nods, “Yeah, wild animals will eat her.”
“Let’s leave her in the garden area.”
We leave her in the garden for someone to pick up later, then rendezvous with Mom.
“How are they?” I ask as I enter the room.
Mom’s gentle smile washes away my exhaustion. She responds, “Saphire just woke up.”
Saphire small green hands reach out to me with tears in her eyes, “My baby is alright.”
I rush over and grab her hand. “That’s great, but what about you?”
“I hurt. Still happy,” Saphire states.
“Ok, I understand,” I pat her bald head gently. “Blue, how are you doing?”
“Mom, grandma says I’ll be sore for a few days!” Blue responds, all smiles.
“I don’t feel you should be happy about that. But I’m glad it’s not worse.”
Brigit puts her hand on my shoulder and asks, “What about the slimes?”
“What about them?”
Christal informs me, “Mistress, three slimes have died.”
I squeeze Saphires hand and let out a deep sigh. “Alright.”
Brigit hugs my back, “Are you alright?”
“No, but there isn’t anything we can do. I’ve already cried so much I can’t anymore,” I respond.
Mom pats both of our heads, “It’ll take time.”
I rub against Mom’s hand. “Yeah. Oh, what about Angelique?”
“She was so enamored by the magic book I don’t think she noticed when I left,” Mom tells me.
“Ok,” I give my best smile, “Let’s go see what magic she picked out.”
We carry Saphire on the cot back to the house. As we enter, we are greeted by an excited Angelique.
“Welcome back!” Angelique exclaims with the magic book in her hands, “Awaaaah! Why are you naked!” She makes a big fuss while hiding her face behind the book.