Is it wrong to have a Celestial Grimoire in the Dungeon ?

Here it was—the big-ass tower I'd seen from miles away. Up close, it was even more massive, like it could scrape the damn sky. People were pouring in and out of it like ants, and the sheer variety of them was mind-boggling. Some were armed to the teeth, others weren't, but they all moved with purpose.

As I got closer, a commotion caught my eye. Two groups of people stumbled out of the tower, bloody, battered, and shouting at each other like they were about to throw down right then and there.

"You bastard! You're reported to the guild—you set us up!" a little girl with dog ears cried, her voice full of rage. She was dressed in some kind of thief-like outfit, all dark fabric and belts.

"We didn't know you were there, Lia!" one of the guys snapped back. He looked just as rough, cuts on his arms and armor dented. "You and your group were sulking in the shadows, like always! We were running for our lives! I already said I was sorry!"

"You passed the monsters onto us!" the girl shouted back, her voice shaking. "Two of my familia members are dead! DEAD! Do you even comprehend that?!"

Familia? Monsters? This little argument was starting to sound like it'd be a goldmine of info about where I'd landed. I stayed back, pretending not to listen, but my ears were glued to every word.

"Not my fault your members weren't fast enough to flee the War Shadows," the guy said, rubbing his face like he was sick of arguing. "Look, let's go to the Pantheon and sort this out. Your familia will get compensation, I promise."

The girl huffed, crossing her arms and glaring at him like she wanted to tear his throat out. As I passed by, it clicked—there was some kind of adventurer's guild tied to this tower. And below it? Monsters.

This world was getting weirder by the second.

I stepped into the tower, glancing around. To my right, I saw a staircase spiraling downward, dark and foreboding. To my left, another staircase ascended, brightly lit and almost inviting. Naturally, I picked the left—bright lights usually meant less chance of running into something nasty.

When I reached the first floor, I stopped dead in my tracks, my jaw practically hitting the ground. It was like some massive shopping mall—but instead of clothes or food, the stalls were packed with materials. Big chunks of iron, oversized monster teeth, scales, and all kinds of weird stuff were on display.

I spotted a clerk nearby, finally someone who looked like they could give me some answers. The guy was dressed in a sharp tuxedo, standing behind one of the booths with an air of bored professionalism.

"Uh, excuse me," I said, walking up to him.

He raised an eyebrow but at least his voice was polite when he answered. "Yes? How can I help you?"

"I'm, uh, new here," I started, scratching the back of my head. "Could you point me to a library or somewhere I can read up about this city? I'm trying to get some information."

The guy chuckled, shaking his head. "There's no library in Orario, I'm afraid. But you can head to the Pantheon. They've got access to lectures and information about the Dungeon and how things work here."

I frowned. "The Pantheon? And where's that exactly?"

The clerk blinked, then sighed with a small, apologetic smile. "Ah, of course. You wouldn't know that either, would you?"

"Not a clue," I said, trying not to sound too annoyed.

He turned to the woman working behind him. "Hey, Maka, I'm going to guide this guy to the Pantheon. I'll be back in twenty minutes!"

She shot him a sharp look. "Don't drink on the way, Kio!"

The guy visibly flinched, shuddering like her words hit a nerve. "Of course not!" he said quickly before turning back to me. "Alright, follow me, please."

With that, he started walking, and I followed close behind, still trying to wrap my head around what the hell a "Pantheon" even was. Sure, I knew the word—pantheon meant gods, right? But the bigger question was, were the gods here real? Unlike Earth's distant, ambiguous ones? And, more importantly, could one of them send me back to Earth?

"So, when did you arrive?" his voice broke through my spiraling thoughts, snapping me back to reality.

"Today," I said with a shrug. "I was lost and wandered into that Daedalus place or whatever it's called."

He stopped mid-step for a second, giving me a look like I'd grown a second head. "And you survived?" he asked, his tone sharp with disbelief. "Daedalus is a slum of poverty and darkness, where the wretches and the worst of this city gather." He spat the words like the place personally offended him.

"O-kay," I muttered, a little thrown by the sheer spite in his voice. Not that I could argue; it had been a shithole, but still, this guy seemed to have a personal vendetta.

We passed through a bustling street, the crowd thick enough that I had to keep dodging people to avoid getting elbowed. Stalls lined the sides, selling everything from food to weapons, with merchants loudly shouting about their wares. It was chaos, but everyone seemed to know where they were going, even if I didn't.

"So," I said, trying to shift the conversation, "what exactly is the Guild? I heard some people mention it, but I don't really know what it is."

He slowed down and turned to me, eyebrows raised in disbelief. "You don't know what the Guild is?" he asked, sounding genuinely shocked.

I shot him a look that said, Does it look like I know what the hell's going on here? He coughed awkwardly, clearly realizing how dumb his question was. "Ah, sorry," he said, adjusting his tone. "The Guild—it's the official governing body of Orario. Basically, it's what holds this entire city together. I work for it, actually."

We turned onto another street, this one slightly quieter but still lively. Kids darted between people, laughing, while others hauled carts piled high with supplies. The smell of food wafted through the air, and my stomach growled, reminding me I hadn't eaten all day.

"The Guild," he continued, "manages the Familia in the city, ensuring they don't cause problems for each other. We're the ones who enforce the rules, especially when one Familia tries to mess with another. We also regulate the adventurers—keep things organized so this place doesn't collapse into chaos."

"Sounds like a fun job," I said dryly, dodging a guy carrying what looked like a giant bundle of fur pelts.

"You'd be surprised," he replied with a grin, but I noticed it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Anyway, we're almost there. The Pantheon should answer most of your questions."

Great. More questions to add to the growing pile. Still, at least I was starting to piece things together, little by little.

"We're here," the guy said after a while, stopping in front of a building that, honestly, didn't scream "headquarters of an organization running an entire city." Sure, it was decent, but I'd seen more impressive buildings in my life. Still, it'd do the job, I guess.

"I'll be heading back to Babel," he said with a polite smile, already turning to leave.

"Well, thanks a lot," I said, genuinely meaning it. "You didn't have to go out of your way for me, but you did. I appreciate it."

He shook his head, waving off the compliment. "I'm a member of the Guild—it's my job to help people. Besides, you looked lost and a little… out of touch." He gave me a once-over, gesturing vaguely at my pajamas. "And judging by your, uh, garments, it's clear you haven't exactly had the best day."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Ahah, you're not wrong. It's been a frankly horrible day so far."

He grinned, starting to walk off. "See you around, then. Wait—what's your name? You never told me."

"Almus," I said after a moment. "You can call me Almus."

"Well, see you around, Almus!" he called back, giving me a wave.

I waved back, watching him disappear into the crowd. First civilized conversation I've had with someone here. Youhou! 

[CP :500]

I stepped into the building and was immediately greeted by a horde of people milling around inside. The interior wasn't anything special—just a bunch of folks standing in lines, waiting to talk to someone at one of the counters. It didn't take a genius to figure out this was where all the administrative stuff happened.

I shuddered at the thought. Paperwork. Great.

Resigning myself to it, I got in one of the lines and waited. Thankfully, the wait wasn't too bad, and I had time to eavesdrop on the conversations around me. Most people here seemed to be talking about the Dungeon—bragging about how they'd killed goblins and kobolds. I recognized goblins, of course, but kobolds? Not a clue what those were.

As I waited, I noticed a few adventurers bringing what looked like small stones up to the counters. After handing them over, they walked away with stacks of money, grinning like they'd just hit the jackpot.

So… you could make money by going into the Dungeon. That was something to think about. I bit my lip, feeling conflicted. Killing monsters to earn cash? They weren't human, sure, but still—it wasn't exactly what I pictured myself doing.

Still, considering my options—or lack of them—it might be worth looking into. I sighed as the line inched forward. I needed money, plain and simple. If I didn't want to end up sleeping on the streets like a dog, this Dungeon seemed like the fastest way to earn it.

But then I frowned, shaking my head. Fuck that, I thought. Sure, I wanted to rush in there and start killing goblins—I had magic, didn't I? I could handle it, right? But something in the back of my mind stopped me, a nagging voice whispering that it wasn't the way to go. Charging in blind would get me killed.

Let's be smart about this, I told myself. First, I'd get some proper info. If the Guild could hook me up with a weapon or some basic armor, that'd give me a much better shot at surviving down there.

And then there was the magic. Sure, I had the knowledge in my head, thanks to whatever weird system dumped it there, but I hadn't actually used it yet. For all I knew, I'd blow myself up the first time I tried casting a spell. Magic wasn't just dangerous—it was massively dangerous.

The Winds of Magic weren't to be messed with lightly. From what I understood, they were unpredictable and volatile, and while the spells I knew were devastating, they also weren't the kind of thing you tested casually.

Rushing into the Dungeon without a plan? Yeah, no thanks. I wasn't that desperate. Not yet, anyway.

Finally, after what felt like forever of standing in line and overthinking my entire life, I made it to the front desk. Sitting there was a stunning red-headed woman with animal ears. Her expression was… well, "icy" was putting it mildly. She looked like she didn't give a damn about anyone in front of her and would rather be doing literally anything else.

"Uh, hello," I started, trying to sound polite. "I was guided here by one of your colleagues over at Babel. I was hoping to read some books about Orario and the Dungeon."

Her ears twitched slightly, and her eyes widened just a fraction before she spoke, her voice flat and monotone. "You're not here to become an Adventurer?"

"Not necessarily," I replied with a shrug. "I just want to figure out what's going on in this city. I got here today, and honestly, I have no clue what to do next."

She stared at me for a moment, then sighed like I'd just handed her an extra chore. "Eina, take my post," she called over her shoulder. Almost immediately, another girl walked up and slid into her seat. Without another word, the redhead stood and motioned for me to follow her.

"Come with me," she said curtly as she walked off. I quickly left the line and followed her down a series of corridors, the noise of the main hall fading behind us.

"You'll have two hours to read per day," she said as we stopped in front of a door. She opened it, revealing a dusty old room lined with bookshelves. "Not many people come here anymore, so excuse the dust."

"That's not a problem!" I said quickly, smiling at her. "Thank you so much for this. Really, I appreciate it."

She gave me a small nod, her frosty demeanor thawing just a little. "I'll come back in two hours to check on you," she said simply, turning to leave.

"Alright, thanks again… miss?" I added awkwardly, realizing I didn't even know her name.

She paused for a second but didn't answer, instead walking off with a flick of her tail. "I'll be returning to my post," she said as she disappeared back down the hall.

Well, that wasn't the friendliest exchange, but hey, I'd take what I could get. At least now I had a shot at learning something useful.

'Let's read !!"

–

I can't read their language. I can't fucking read it, but I can talk it. Like, WHY?!

I plopped down on the seat, glaring at the unfamiliar symbols on the page in front of me. Even with the Mark of Tzeentch boosting my brainpower, I couldn't make sense of this crap. Sure, I could piece together a few symbols here and there—probably thanks to my boosted intelligence—but I couldn't just read it like I could back home.

[CP: 600]

There it was again. The sound, the counter ticking up. And then:

[Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch]

[Emotion Pearl: 100 CP]

[The Emotion Pearl is a magical charm designed to balance and regulate your emotions. When emotions run too high, the pearl turns blue, cooling your passion and bringing calm. When you feel depressed or down, the pearl turns red, lifting your spirits and making you feel more upbeat. The pearl's powers affect you as long as you accept ownership of it and remain nearby. However, if exposed to an opposing element—fire when blue or water when red—your emotions may spiral into chaos. If the pearl becomes overloaded and shatters, the magically-enhanced emotions will overwhelm you, sending you into a passionate frenzy before exhausting your energy and leaving you unconscious to recover.]

[Take the Emotion Pearl for 100 CP?]

[Discard the reward?]

[Bookmark it for taking it later?]

"Okay… that's different," I muttered, staring at the options floating in my mind. This time it wasn't free. It cost 100 CP, and I still had 600 left. The other rewards? The Mark of Tzeentch and the Lore of Ulgu? Those were just dumped on me, no choice involved. But now? Now I had three options.

Take it? I didn't think so. Sure, it sounded useful, but the part about losing control of my emotions if it overloaded? Yeah, no thanks. I didn't need something else messing with my head.

'Discard,' I thought, and the presence vanished instantly, like it had never been there.

I let out a long breath, leaning back in my chair. "At least I got to choose this time," I muttered, glancing back at the book in front of me. The unreadable symbols taunted me, but I wasn't giving up yet. Not when I had nothing else to go on.

'Each two ticks I gain a power, this had been the case for the past three powers, perhaps it'll change in the future'

I shook my head, determined to make the most of my time. "Alright," I muttered to myself, "two hours to figure out this damn language. Let's go."

––

[2 Hours Later]

Every day, it's the same. Fools who don't know any better rush headlong into the Dungeon, and more often than not, they're never seen again. Every day, people die, and thousands more line up to take their place. Every day, I see Familia returning battered and broken, missing members who'll never come back. And yet, people keep going. Always charging into that cursed pit like it's some golden ticket to a better life.

I sighed, lifting my cup of tea to my lips, letting the warm bitterness calm me as I stared up at the ceiling.

Then, with a loud thunk, something landed on my desk, breaking my thoughts. I glanced down, and there he was—the strangely dressed man I'd escorted to the library earlier. Still in his ragged, filthy clothes, he placed the library key down in front of me with a satisfied expression.

"Thanks for the help earlier," he said casually. "I do have a question, though—do you give out weapons to people wanting to go into the Dungeon?"

Another one. Another damn fool looking to throw themselves into that hellhole. I fought back the wave of irritation that bubbled up inside me, keeping my voice steady. "Yes, but you'll need to register as an adventurer with the Guild first. Then you'll receive the standard starter pack."

Why can't they just stop? Why do they all insist on charging into that death trap? I see them come back in pieces, their Familia mourning them, yet every day, more fools line up to take their place.

"Ah," he said, scratching his head awkwardly. "In that case… could I at least get some spare clothes? These ones are filthy, and, uh…"

"Yes," I cut him off, already done with this conversation. "Lona!" I called out, and one of the employees snapped to attention. "Go fetch him some spare clothes from the storage."

The girl nodded and bolted off without a word, leaving me to glare at the strange man in front of me. Another idiot, heading straight for the Dungeon. Another one I'd probably never see again. Why do they all insist on dying?

Lona came back while I was still watching the man. He was older than most new adventurers—most people started young these days, but he looked well past twenty-five. Maybe even around my age.

And yet, I couldn't shake the thought: he's going to die. I'd seen it too many times before to think otherwise.

Lona handed him the clothes, and I took in more details. He had auburn hair that looked like it hadn't seen a comb in weeks, deep brown eyes, and a scruffy, unkempt beard. Everything about him screamed "someone who doesn't take care of themselves."

But he wasn't frail—far from it. I could tell he was healthy, the kind of guy who'd probably been active all his life. Even under his strange, ragged clothes, I could see the hint of muscle. He might've been fit, sure, but that wouldn't save him in the Dungeon. It never did.

"Lona, give him the starter pack," Rose said firmly, not breaking her gaze from the man.

Lona froze, her eyes widening. "B-but—"

"I said give it to him," she repeated, cutting her off. "I know someone heading for the Dungeon when I see them, even if they don't have weapons yet."

The man smiled faintly at me, a foolish, almost carefree grin. "You're observant, Miss…?"

"Rose Fannett," the advisor replied flatly, crossing her arms.

"Almus," he said, nodding. "Just Almus." His grin widened as if he didn't have a care in the world. "The books were pretty informative, by the way. Thanks a lot for the help."

"It's my job," she said simply, watching as Lona hesitantly handed over the starter pack. Another one off to throw themselves into the Dungeon, She thought. Good luck, Almus. You'll need it.

–

Rose was intense. For a moment there, I thought she was going to kill me just for asking a few questions. But hey, now I had some new clothes, a chestplate made of some kind of metal, a short sword, and a dagger. Not bad.

Guess the next step was heading to the Dungeon, huh? Those two hours I spent in the library were a blessing, though. Their language wasn't as complicated as I first thought—once I started piecing the letters together, it all clicked.

From what I read, Familia were created by the gods because they were bored out of their divine minds up in their realm. So, naturally, they decided to descend to the lower world and form these Familia groups, mostly to use them as a means to clear the Dungeon.

"What a sick world," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head as I adjusted the chestplate. But still, I couldn't deny it. All this was starting to pull me in.

The gods gave something called Falna to their Familia, and from what I'd read, it basically worked like XP in the RPGs I used to play. Which, honestly, was weird as hell to wrap my head around.

Apparently, the strongest Familia in the city was Freya's, with Loki's Familia coming in second. But that just raised more questions—Earth's gods? In another world? How the hell did that work? My head started spinning with too many unanswered questions.

I shook it off. I had to focus. I needed to either head to the Dungeon or find somewhere quiet to test out this magic of mine. But testing magic in the middle of the city didn't feel like the smartest idea—I didn't want to attract the wrong kind of attention from anyone shady.

"Alright, let's go," I muttered, setting off toward Babel—the massive tower.

–

Standing before the dark staircase leading to the Dungeon's first floor, I couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach. From what I'd read, this level was home to goblins and kobolds—creatures that, while not the most formidable, were still dangerous to a novice like me.

'Let's do this,' I muttered, beginning my descent.

The stairs were crowded with adventurers, some descending with determined expressions, others ascending, bloodied and weary from their encounters below. The air was thick with tension and the metallic scent of fresh wounds. Isn't that a bit ominous ?

As I reached the first floor, the atmosphere shifted. The walls glowed with a faint blue luminescence, casting eerie shadows that danced with every flicker. The terrain was a maze of wide corridors and open chambers, the perfect hunting ground for lurking monsters.

I saw adventurers all around me, taking down the green little monsters—Goblins—and those dog-headed creatures, Kobolds. They made it look easy, slicing through them like it was just another day at work.

I kept moving, trying to stay out of their way as I scanned my surroundings. My grip on my weapon tightened. Everything down here felt dangerous, like it was just waiting for a chance to kill me. My eyes darted to every shadow, every corner. I couldn't afford to let my guard down—not even for a second.

Suddenly, I heard noises from my right. Two goblins came rushing out of the corridor, their shrill screeches echoing through the space.

My strange sense of prescience kicked in, showing me their movements just before they made them. I dodged their first attacks easily, stepping out of their range. Without wasting a second, I drew my dagger and drove it straight into the head of the first goblin.

The creature collapsed, but I barely had time to pull my blade free before the second one lunged at me. I ducked under its swipe and, with a quick movement, stabbed the dagger into its chest, driving it deep. The goblin let out a gurgled screech before crumpling to the ground.

I stepped back, breathing hard, wiping the blade clean on the goblin's ragged fur. My heart was pounding, but I was alive—and they weren't.

I saw their bodies dissolve and a stone fell, these were my main income of the day.

[CP: 700]

[Young Justice: Sword of Beowulf]

[Sword of Beowulf: 400 CP]

[The Sword of Beowulf is a legendary weapon that works only for you or those you allow to wield it. If anyone else tries to use it, the sword refuses to swing and will quickly leave their hand, returning to you or its sheath, whichever is closer. The blade is indestructible, unnaturally sharp, and capable of unleashing beams of magical energy with each swing, making it a devastating tool in combat.]

'Yes, I'll take this!' I thought, not hesitating for a second.

Suddenly, the air in front of me shimmered, and with a faint hum, a sword materialized right before my eyes. I reached out and grabbed it instinctively. Surprisingly, it wasn't heavy at all.

The blade was long and elegant, its silvery surface gleaming faintly even in the dim light of the Dungeon. Runes etched along the length of the blade seemed to pulse softly with energy, almost like they were alive. The hilt was ornate, wrapped in leather for a perfect grip, with a golden pommel that felt warm to the touch. It looked like something straight out of a legend—beautiful but clearly made for battle.

I gave it a light swing, and to my shock, a faint beam of shimmering energy trailed from the blade's arc, dissipating into the air. "Oh, hell yes," I muttered, grinning like an idiot.

I heard the sound of claws scraping against the stone, followed by growls. I turned to see four Kobolds rushing straight at me, their dog-like faces twisted into snarls.

I couldn't help but smile. "Perfect timing," I muttered, tightening my grip on the Sword of Beowulf.

As they closed the distance, my prescience kicked in, showing me their movements just before they made them. I dodged the first Kobold's swipe with ease, sidestepping as its claws raked through empty air. With a smooth motion, I swung the sword, slicing clean through its chest.

The second Kobold lunged, teeth bared, but I saw it coming. I raised the sword, and as I swung, a crackling beam of energy shot from the blade, slamming into the creature and sending it flying back into the wall with a sickening crunch.

I couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face. "This thing is amazing."

The last two came at me together, but I was already moving. I ducked under their claws, spinning around to slash at the first one's leg, dropping it to the ground with a howl. The second one hesitated just long enough for me to drive the blade straight into its chest, the runes along the sword glowing faintly as it cut through like butter.

I finished off the Kobold on the ground with a quick stab and took a moment to catch my breath. Bending down, I grabbed the four small stones they dropped and stuffed them into my pocket. "Damn," I muttered, realizing how little space I had. There was no way I'd be able to carry many of these. Looks like my first trip into the Dungeon was going to be a short one.

With that in mind, I started heading back toward the entrance, cutting down anything that got in my way.

––

"Here's your 2,130 Valis," the clerk said, handing me a small stack of coins on a tray as I turned over the gems I'd collected.

"Well, thank you," I said, giving her a polite nod before stepping out of the building.

I jingled the coins in my hand, not entirely sure how much they were worth, but it seemed like enough to keep me from sleeping under the stars tonight. "Not bad for a first run," I muttered, walking off into the city.

–

That'll do for the second chapter, until next time !