I was thinking about my deal with Alexandrios, and about the fact that we will need to set aside a lot more money than usual, when Ginnegith suddenly stopped. I turned around, and he tried to kick me in a stomach. I caught his leg and grinned.

  - Not bad, - I hit his stomach with my free arm. I did not hold back and he fell on his knees, coughing and trying to catch his breath: - You might be a D rank adventurer, but did you really thought that you will be able to defeat B rank adventurer, whose level surpassed forty?

  - Did not know that? - he answered after a while: - But better death than to be ensved by an elf. And you will kill me anyway.

  - Why do you think that?

  - Elves do not keep sves. What other reason did you have for buying me?

  - Oh, I see. But did you not hear me? Sve colr isn't for me to use. But before we get to that, I want to ask you something. Did you became an adventurer because you have a goal, or for the sake of adventure?

  - Sake of adventure? - he looked at me with surprised eyes.

  - You know. Travelling, killing monsters, getting stronger, seeing other towns and different creatures. Eating food that you have not even heard of.

  - I understand. Yes, in a way you can say, that I want the sake of adventurer.

  - Isn't that nice, - I pulled his rope and he fell face down: - Get up. We are not here to rest.

  He got up and I continued walking, but this time keeping an eye on dark elf.

  - You will accompany me to the dungeon, but your job will be protecting a girl, who I was hired to protect during her leveling hunts. What weapons you prefer?

  - Bow and dagger.

  - No sword, ha? Well that expins your skills. So, you will have a choice. We will stay here for two years or so. After I decide to leave, there will be two possibilities for you. First, if you do not make friends with that girl, I will kill you, or sell you to quarries, were you will die slowly. Second choice. That girl wants to become a traveling bard, and she will need loyal party members. As her party member you will be partially free, I guess, but on the bright side, you will travel a lot and get to see many different kingdoms, and enjoy life as an adventurer.

  - Is she good at singing?

  - I do not know, - I gnced at him curiously: - Met here not so long ago, but she does have singing and harp pying skills. And also bard job, so she must be at least not bad. By the way, do you need bracelet with a glowing stone?

  - No. All dark elves can see in the dark.

  That was handy. Too bad that all elves did not have such abilities. Rest of the way we continued in silence. I did not have anything to talk to him, and let him think about his possible future. Before going to tavern, I bought him a bow, with two quivers with arrows, and a dagger, long enough to resemble short sword. Weapons were of good quality, but ordinary ones. I also decided not to spend any money on armor. After all, he could die during first day, and he already costed me a lot.

  Eumilia already finished with her spell learning and was in her room. When I came inside, she writing something on a piece of paper.

  - I got you something that will protect you in the dungeon.

  - Really? - she looked up and her eyes widened when she saw dark elf.

  - This is Ginnegith, he will be your shield, during our dungeons hunts. And this is Eumilia, girl that you will protect with your life, sve.

  - He is a sve?

  - Yes. Got him for you. He is former adventurer. Elves do not keep sves, but humans do not have such reservations, so he will be perfect for you.

  - You want me to be s sve owner?

  - Of course not. You already are one. Became from the moment I bought him for you.

  - Now you must use your blood to personalize this sve colr and put it on him.

  - B-but why?

  - Because he is convicted criminal, who killed several people. Because of this crime, he became a sve. And he already tried to escape three times. This colr will prevent him from escaping and from cutting your throat while you sleep. The faster you use it, the faster you will be safe. Now you need to let drop of your blood to fall on this colr. Now! - I increased my voice and Eumilia jumped. He nodded and quickly pricked her finger and allowed drop of her blood to fall on the colr. It glowed, and I nodded satisfied: - Now put the colr on his neck.

  I pulled the rope and Ginnegith fell on his knees. Eumilia looked at me, but saw no mercy in my eyes. She sighed, but did as told.

  - Good. Now order him not to harm you, me or my party members. Order him not to run away and protect you with his life, if you are in danger.

  Eumilia took a deep breath, and repeated my words.

  - Ginnegith I order you to serve me and never harm me, Avone or her party members. Also you must not try to escape and always protect me from harm. Was that alright? - she looked at me.

  - It was perfect.

  I took out weapons, which I bought for Ginnegith, and gave them to Eumilia.

  - I got them for Ginnegith. But you should probably order him not to harm other people unless there is no other choice, since you are partially responsible for your sve actions. Also, I would advise you two to get to know each other better. Ginnegith loves songs, so maybe you can sing something for him, - I grinned: - We depart for the dungeon tomorrow at sunrise, so do not speak all night and get some rest.

  I left, not listening to Eumilia's questions, and went to see my party members, and let them know about our newest member. I gave Dragon scale gauntlets to Luara and expined them, that Eumilia will have a protector, which will free Trevor, and also that we will have one more archer as a result. They did not object, but were not very comfortable having a sve as a party member.

  Our second dungeon visit went better that first one. Ginnegith turned out to be a skilled archer and was able to kill many monsters using his bow. Eumilia was slowly learning to use her Magic arrow spell and killed some monster with it. This time we also avoided attacks from below the water, and I dried all water filled caverns using my Burning sun spell. I had to use several mana potions, since even my Mana rapid recovery skill could not restore my mana fast enough. We spend almost a month in the dungeon and mapped three upper floors. They are were simir and reminded underground swamps, with some of the monsters that gave me chills. Especially huge leaches and meter long worms that could spit saliva, with acid like properties. Worms were glum, sickly white and borrowed from below the ground. One of them came out behind us and spit on Eumilia. Ginnegith jumped on her and covered her with his body. His back got burned, and, only thanks to Nelly quickly using her Cure spell, he got out unharmed.

  Eumilia was more distress by the attack than Ginnegith and spend long time after that asking dark elf if he was truly all right.

  Two weeks in our journey Ginnegith run out of arrows, and I gave him several of my own arrow quivers. He was not as strong as my party members, but turned out to be an excellent bodyguard. We reached floor four in twenty days, but, after discovering that it was another swamp like dungeon floor, I decided to go back. According to guild records rakshasa got as far as floor nine, but all of the floors were alike. I found it quite annoying, mostly because of the smell and wet air, which made me sweat and did not improve my mood or my own smell. Even frequent showers using my Life magic spells only partially improved things, since I had to spear my mana on more important spells.

  But our second dungeon dive brought us one orichalcum and eighty gold coins from adventurer guild, and we got additional orichalcum coin and twenty eight gold coins, after selling monster materials to human representative of Alexandrios' auction house. We even killed three low level floor guardians. Two gigantic three headed snakes and a wyrm, which allowed me to start collecting magic gems again.

  My party members were not happy to hear that they will receive only enough money to pay for the tavern, food and few coins for other expenses, but I needed to save a lot of money for our future missions, and we did not have any other means of income.

  Eumilia reached level seven. Her stats barely improved, but at least her level was increasing, which will make her safer when we go deeper into the dungeon. Thanks to my and Nelly's spells, swamp like floors were no match for us, and we could focus on Eumilia's leveling and keep her safe at the same time. Ginnegith also performed his job well, and I had high hopes for him. Even higher that for Eumilia, even if she was a reincarnated person.

  Eumilia registered Ginnegith in Adventurers guild and got him adventurer tag. His previous adventurer tag was confiscated and destroyed, after he became a convicted sve.

  After reaching level eleven, dungeon changed. Next twenty floors reminded me some freaky spider ir, since instead of corridors and caverns dungeon floors, walls and ceiling were made out of spider web like material and reminded arachnid made home, instead of stone made dungeon, that I was used to. Monsters in there were numerous insect like types, who hunted and lived in colonies, whose numbers sometimes reached several hundreds. Battles against such swarms forced all of us to use everything that we had, and we only survived them thanks to our Slow spells and Nelly's wide range attack spells. Only good thing that came out of such battles were huge numbers of magic stones and monster materials. Floor guardians also were giant insect types, mostly my familiar giant spiders, but they were easier to deal with than a swarm of hundreds weaker monsters.

  Spider web floors, as I called them, ended only when we reached floor twenty six. Floor twenty six reminded me ruins of abandoned town and had undead monsters in them. Remembering Ares' warning about spell casters that inhabited the dungeon, I decided to return and take one month rest. By the time we exited the dungeon we spend in Kota eleven month, and I gave everyone pocket money and ordered to take one month rest, until I could attend the auction and get more artifacts, with magic resistance abilities.

  By that time, unlike my own party members, Eumi reached level fourteen and Ginnegith also got two levels higher. We did not spend much time concentrating on Eumi's leveling, mostly allowing her simply to tag along and kill monsters whenever she could. Ginnegith taught her how to use bow, and she became our third archer. Her sword skills were unexisting, and her magic skills also did not improve much. By her performance in the dungeon, I guessed that her skills were just as bad as her stats, and best thing that I could do for her was letting her kill monster when she could, so she could increase her level and stats to make her stronger. In my opinion, ones our time with her was finished, she should attend an academy to get some useful battle skills and then form her own party with Ginnegith as party's core member. But until she got some warrior, or at least basic level magic skills, there was not much that I could do for her. During rest time, I ordered her to practice her sword use and magic with Ginnegith as her teacher and sparring partner, but girl was more interested in practicing with her music and songwriting than becoming an adventurer, and I doubted that she would become great champion in the future.

  After returning to Kota, selling our loot and getting good night sleep, I counted my magic gems and coins. I already had seven magic gems and seventy four orichalcum coins, even after giving Eumilia and my party members their allowance. That was not much, but since we were able to find only two artifacts, that turned out to be low level swords, with minimum stats increase, our ability to earn coins was not going well. Even so I had enough money to participate in the auction and by all stamina and high ranking mana potions that I could find in town, and hopefully pay Alexandrios for the potions that I asked him to buy. In worst case I will have to sell my magic gems, which I wanted to avoid. I was also pnning to visit dungeon near Bcksmith cave and earn more coins, before the auction, and use opportunity to check on my sves.

  I was pnning which stores to visit first when someone interrupted my thoughts by knocking on my door.

  - Come in! - I shouted annoyed and was surprised when local guild hunter came inside my room.

  - Miss Avone, thank you for seeing me.

  - Guild master Ampelios, did not expect to see you so soon again?

  - Neither did I, but I received a message from town lord's pace. Under other circumstances I would not have asked you, but this time I must beg for your assistance.

  - From town lord's pace? - I raised my eyebrow: - What is it about?

  - You may not know that, but Kota was chosen as a town where peace treaty between our continent and Dark continent must be renewed. Representative of Lucifer's empire will arrive to Kota, to sign this treaty. He send a message to town lord demanding additional guards. He wants to hire highest ranking adventurer party. Most adventurers in Kota are F and E ranks, with only few D ranks among them. Your party is highest ranking adventurer party in town, and, to be honest, only one who is qualified for this job. Since it is request from town lord, it is difficult for me to say no.

  - I see, - this job sounded like an annoyance. But local town lord probably already knew which party had highest rank and could make life difficult for us, especially considering how low was value of adventurers in Kota: - So you want me an elf to protect a demon?

  I slightly raised my voice, and Ampelios stepped back in fear.

  - Well, I understand that it was not your decision. But have you even considered the reputation of my party, after taking such a job. Only to show my appreciation for your support, I will consider taking this job. When is this ambassador is supposed to arrive?

  - In three month time.

  - You should know that we are B rank adventurer party, who prefers hunting in dungeon. Our goal is to make enough money for better equipment and to raise our levels. This job dey us from achieving our goals. So we will require proper compensation. Considering that it will damage our reputation for future endeavors, our price will be two hundred orichalcum coins, and I will also need half in advance in twenty days time. And the price is not negotiable.

  - That is a lot, but I do understand your position. I will inform town lord about the price that guild will require for such a quest.

  - Do that. I will return in about a month and will need your answer then, and advance payment, if your town lord decides to hire my party.

  - Of course. And thank you, - Ampelios bolted out of the room, and I sighed. The fact that I was an elf will hopefully help me out to avoid this job. After all everyone knew how much elves hated demons and their allies, and price that I demanded was probably too high for the town lord to afford, but that way the guild and my party will have a way out. After all, I was right about our reputation. No self respecting adventurer party would agree to protect demons and do their job properly. Not that I had any such standards, but I could pretend that I have. And even if town lord do agree, it will earn us a lot of money.

  Still thinking about possible job I visited local shops and apothecaries and bought all avaible stamina, mana and anti-sleep potions. Since I started buying them in huge quantities their price slightly increased, just as herb gathering quests for local adventurers.

  After that I left town and summoned king simurgh. Giant bird as always compined a lot, but I ignored him. All I needed him to do was to be a proper taxi for me.

  For the first time, none of my sves were dead. The food supply was a problem for them and they all looked hungry and much thinner than I before. I gave kid-mage and Elena scrolls that I bought for them and gave supplies for titan, to divide among others. Dwarf like usually compined about ck of iron, but this time I brought bunch of iron bars, that I ordered from Kota bcksmiths, and he looked happier than ever.

  At least they increased goat numbers, fruit trees were growing well and they expected harvest from fruit trees very soon. Mason was doing good job, by repairing my castle, and I considered rewarding him somehow, during my next visit.

  I spend a week in my castle, casting my Life magic spells, to improve earth fertility and filled almost empty pond again. Then I spend two weeks in the dungeon, killing all monsters on the upper floors. I even encountered one burning tiger, and my magic gem count increased to eight. Just twelve more to go.

  After I returned to Kota, selling magic gems and Burning tiger's hide and cws earned me three more orichalcum coins. To my surprise guild master informed me that town lord agreed to my requested reward amount and handed me over a wallet, with hundred orichalcum coins. Counting guilds percentage this job costed town lord two hundred and twenty orichalcum coins, which probably considerably emptied his treasury.

  Two days ter I received a message from Alexandrios and visited the auction house.

  Gremlin happily grinned after seeing me and took out an expensive crystal wine bottle, with two crystal gsses.

  - Successful journey, I see?

  - Yes. Just as my deal with you. Those floor guardian materials will be put to good use. Especially that burning tiger hide. Excellent quality, with minimal damage. How did you do that?

  - Weakened him with freeze spell and then cut off his head. Was not easy, but needed money.

  - Yes. You do. I did not get you as much potions as you requested, but got you four hundred and seventeen stamina potions, fifty three anti-sleep potions and one hundred and twenty seven high ranking mana potions.

  - That should be good enough.

  - Considering that you spend a year cleaning out town's supply, I would guess so, - chuckled gremlin.

  I tried the wine. It was semi sweet and probably very expensive.

  - You heard about it?

  - Keep an eye on local market, not that anyone else noticed, do not worry about it.

  - Not that it matters much. What about other things?

  - Got you two low ranking artifacts with magic resistance properties, that I can sell you now. A pendant increases magic resistance by five percent, which means that it works only for people with such skill. Other, a ring that protects from level one and two spells. But I also got one high ranking artifact for you, but you will have to buy it tomorrow, at the auction. Helmet of the dragonlord, grants wearer high magic resistance. Even level four spell won't kill the wearer, as long as he has high defense stats.

  - That's better, but I did expected more from you.

  - Well, I would hate to disappoint. Your party spends a lot of time in the dungeon. So I got you something special. Eye of wolf god. Pendant that protects from monster or creatures innate magic abilities.

  I remembered illusions that one of the floor guardians was able to cast. No magic resistance skills or spells worked against such monsters. That artifact could be very useful. Too bad it was useless to me, since my Shirt of Ares was useless, when used alongside other artifacts, but a definite benefit for my party members.

  - Not many such monsters, but it might be slightly useful, - I shrugged: - And it was not what I needed from you.

  - Well I did what I could. I could get you more next year?

  - Thanks, but I will not need any more artifacts by then. Hundred high ranking mana potions and five hundred more stamina potions, I could use.

  - Yes, I will search for them then. Anything to keep monster materials coming, - he grinned.

  - Got anything else interesting, for the auction?

  - Many things. But nothing that stand out among others.

  - Well then, I will see them tomorrow.

  - Hope you bet a lot. Will you take potions and two artifacts now.

  - Yes. How much will they cost me?

  - Thirty orichalcum coins. Give you a small discount.

  - I would prefer a big one.

  I counted coins, and one of the sves brought me two artifacts and several magic bags with potions. I needed some time to pack them all. I was counting on simir amount and did not count on many high ranking artifacts with magic resistance. Even the things that gremlin got was more than I expected. At least the job for town lord got me enough money to buy everything he brought and perhaps something more.