What Should I Write to Make Rumors Spread That It's Well-Written?
"Can't I come with you?"
"No."
Heading to the workshop had become part of my daily routine now. I was in the middle of enjoying some tea and snacks in what was originally meant as a reception room for guests when Elena approached me.
"I know it's dangerous! But I could be of help—"
"Nope. No way. Absolutely not. Do you think Mount Etna is just some neighborhood hill?"
As I said that, I nudged Mikaela with my foot. She had been focused on her snacks but glanced over at me, then cleared her throat with a 'ahem' once she caught on.
"I understand Sister Elena's intentions, but Mount Etna is one of the places known as a living hell on earth. Moreover, most of the monsters that emerge from there are fire-attribute. It's an extremely unfavorable environment for the wind spirit contracted to you, Sister."
With not just my opinion but someone else's added to the mix, Elena's face fell into a deep pout. Seeing her like that started to soften my resolve again, but no meant no.
"It's a place even pro hunters and heroes in other fields don't challenge lightly. The newspapers are already going wild just because the Medici family stepped up, right?"
Yesterday, one of the guilds run by the Medici Family, 'Venice,' had officially declared they would challenge Mount Etna volcano. By now, most Italian media and major international outlets had turned that declaration into headlines.
"You know what the reactions are like."
"Mostly stuff like 'They're going to die,' or 'What makes them so confident to challenge that place...'"
"And you still want to go? To die?"
"But you're going too, Eugene."
"You and I the same?"
Our ages, skills, status—everything was worlds apart, and our experience even more so.
I racked my brain for a solution...
Aha.
A good idea hit me.
"Then let's do this."
"Huh? Do what?"
Just let her see for herself, right? This was a perfect chance to gauge Mikaela's true abilities too.
"We've still got some time before heading to Mount Etna. How about a dungeon?"
"A d-dungeon? I've never even been in a proper one before."
"And you're trying to challenge Mount Etna with that attitude? Once you know how tough dungeons are, you won't talk so casually about going."
Mikaela looked up at me curiously at my words.
"But, Calione Junior, I believe you need to apply through the Association to enter a dungeon. We didn't do anything like that yesterday, did we?"
She was right—going into a dungeon right now would mean skipping the standard procedures.
"Given my position, doing something illegal might be a bit tricky."
She seemed to have already assumed I'd ignore the rules, shaking her head with a regretful expression.
"No, I wasn't planning to skip procedures."
"Pardon? Then how...?"
"How else? I've got a high-ranking Vatican official right in front of me."
"...?"
"Sister Mikaela. Mind lending me your name?"
"Eh?"
"That's what friends are for."
"F-Friend...!"
Power was meant to be used in times like these.
* * *
We marched straight into the nearby Association building. True to a small town's branch, it was a modest two-story structure.
"We're looking for a dungeon we can raid today."
The staffer looked troubled when I cut to the chase.
"I'm sorry, sir, but per regulations, dungeon bookings need to be made at least a day in advance for allocation."
Just as expected, he cited the rules and turned us down. At the signal we'd discussed, Mikaela stepped forward from behind me and showed her cross.
"This is Vatican business. We'd appreciate your cooperation."
The Vatican—formerly Italy, now the Holy Vatican Empire's rulers. For matters of territorial reclamation and safety, they had authority to request Association cooperation for dungeons within Italy.
And sure enough, the staffer's face changed the instant he saw the Vatican insignia.
"V-Vatican business, I see. Please wait a moment."
He hurriedly rifled through the papers on his desk, then pulled one out and scanned it.
"Ah, there's one available, luckily... But with the 'Venice' guild's recent declaration to raid Mount Etna, activity on the surrounding hills has picked up. How about one of the Etna cinder cones?"
"A cinder cone?"
Perfect. It was a great chance for us to preview Mount Etna terrain. The difficulty sounded just right too—she'd have to accept it.
"Sounds good. We'll take that one."
"Understood. Hero registration confirmation, please."
The simple process wrapped up quickly. I used a fake ID, the others their real ones, and the booking was done in a flash.
"Thank you for verifying. With a Vatican knight and an A-rank hero... some mentoring, perhaps?"
He let out an impressed sigh as he checked our records, glancing enviously at Elena behind me.
"Hope you get some great experience out of it."
"Pardon? Oh. Yes."
She looked blankly confused, and Mikaela nodded.
"Mentoring is usually reserved for promising talents. It's natural he'd say that."
"Ah, I-I see."
"Alright, let's head out. We can make it back before sunset."
Once outside, we made a beeline for the rickety truck that was barely holding together, sputtering away.
"I can't believe this is really happening. Didn't we just use the Vatican's name for our own selfish reasons...!"
Only after arriving at the dungeon did guilt seem to hit her, and she hung her head.
"For someone so conflicted, you sure worked hard composing that hymn on the way."
"Th-That was...! I just poured my guilt into the lyrics."
"Sure."
Time for a test.
"Then could you sing a bit? I'm curious."
"Oh, I'd love to hear the Sister's hymn too."
"P-Pardon? Right now? Well, then... the piece I composed called Ruins of the Cathedral..."
"Kidding. I figured it'd put you on the spot. Come on, let's go."
I stepped ahead, leaving her bewildered. For some reason, she followed with a sulky expression. From the way she'd been fumbling for something, she really had been composing.
...She really puts her all into everything.
"First dungeon... it looks kinda scary."
Elena, peering around as she stuck close to me, murmured. Being near the volcano, the landscape was barren—sparse grass here and there, but mostly steam-venting earth and rock piles.
"It's a volcano, after all. Ah, there it is."
A bit farther on, we reached the cinder cone. At its center yawned a hole that seemed connected to somewhere else.
"Not a high-difficulty dungeon, so we'll wrap it up quick and grab food. Time you got some dungeon experience."
"O-Okay!"
"Sister, stop moping and hurry up. I'll listen to your song later."
"Really? Even I was called an ace in the children's choir! You should look forward to it!"
"Sure, sure."
Inquisitor and children's choir ace—what an odd combo.
"I'll go in first. Sister, enter with Elena behind me."
"Got it. Sister Elena, behind me."
"Yes!"
I plunged into the dungeon first. The space warped like it was swallowing everything, and a scorching heat hit my face.
"Volcanic terrain lives up to the name—hot as hell."
I undid a couple shirt buttons and scanned around. Crimson sky, sulfur-choked air, and fire lizards crawling on the ground in the distance. I hadn't cleared tons of dungeons, but this setup felt familiar enough.
"This is a dungeon...!"
"I smell heretics. Let's move, Calione Junior."
Elena gawked in awe at the new sights while Mikaela pinched her nose in disgust. Nodding at their contrasting reactions, I took the lead.
"Volcanic dungeons like this usually have the boss at the tallest peak, so let's head there."
Fireballs were already slinking toward us at our arrival. Better to set positions fast.
"I'll take mid. Sister up front. Elena, you and your spirit cover the rear. Move out."
I pulled Tommy from my cube and gripped it. She stared in admiration.
"That's... a gun?"
"Yeah."
"Somehow, you really look like a mafioso holding it. Just need a fedora to complete the look."
"Fedora's a bit..."
Ruins the hair.
"Calione Junior, the flat terrain means they'll swarm us at once. Your orders?"
Fire lizards encircled us as she raised her fists.
The answer was obvious.
"Let's clear 'em out first. Easier to move after."
"Understood. I'll break the path."
She surged with holy power, cloaking herself in white light, then charged ahead, pummeling the blocking lizards with fists and kicks.
"Whoa... Sister, you're way tougher than I thought."
Elena watched the fireworks explode around her in awe. This was leagues beyond handling those street punks before. Compared to now, that was like gingerly moving fragile glassware.
One punch bored holes through lizard bodies; one kick cratered the ground in a massive blast. Like venting pent-up stress.
"Stick to her and watch the rear. You good?"
"Yes!"
Elena summoned her spirit into attack stance.
"Compress wind for attacks if you can. Loose gusts will just fan the flames."
She got it, slicing rear attackers with wind blades. After a few exchanges, she panted and wiped sweat.
I reloaded Tommy, squeezed the trigger, and swept one flank clean.
"You make it look so easy, Eugene... Should I try a gun?"
She stuck out her tongue, impressed by the lizards dropping to my shots.
"Off-the-shelf guns are crap. Looks easy, but not just anyone can do this."
It took aura for sustained fire, plus my Hitman and Gunpowder & Explosives traits for that firepower. Impossible for a normie.
"Whoa? Sister's hyped. Catch up quick."
"Huh? Oh, yeah!"
We dashed toward her distant shouts of "Heretics!" and flailing fists.
This okay if we just let her go?
* * *