There is No Epic Loot Here, Only Puns

38: Big Showdown in Little Dungeon

Rale was examining the room with interest as Delta stared at the menu before her.

Jungle room:Allow you to regulate the temperature to a range of Mild, Warm, Humid, and Hot: 15 DPAllow you to change the ceiling into an image of the sky: 13 DPAllow all tree saplings to grow at a much faster rate: 25 DPAllow a river to be formed through the middle of the jungle: 30 DPAllow lower room behind the waterfall to flood and drain over a period. 40 DP (Special option created by intention of Dungeon Core)Let plants and other green life to grow quicker.

Delta was smiling as the very thing she had planned had appeared. It was expensive, however. Delta would have to make sure she got the important things done first. The rising water was a gimmick to scare or to challenge people.

She still needed proper trees, more locations for monsters and people to travel to. The room was far too empty really and Delta couldn't wait to fill it up.

It was all one big room and it was a little different than was she had planned but that was alright. She focused on the room behind the waterfall and frowned. While the rising water had appeared, options to do with the two-bed frames and feather-stuffed pillows and mattress had not.

"Nu, any idea why the system ignored them?" she asked and Nu's box, busy with making sure the water wouldn't flood somewhere it shouldn't, floated closer.

Mostly because you haven't really made the area 'inn' like. The system wasn't sure how to factor them in. I blocked many options that it did try to aim for. Having spikes in the mattress, allowing them to snap shut and crush people, even slowly moving them towards the flooded room and trying to drown them.

Delta rubbed her throat at the words. Nu was so mattered in fact but Delta still tried for a weak smile.

"Thanks, I would rather not see those kinds of options," she agreed. Nu dinged once.

Of course, it is a waste of word space. I prefer saving us time and letting you choose options that will at least have a passing chance of being picked. Efficiency is a beautiful thing.

Delta just pinched the screen side and Nu yanked out of her touch, making small grumbling text appear as he moved away.

To answer your question. You have to keep adding to the area. Impress what you desire as you add options. Honestly, the system is learning as we are. While I may be the system in a manner, there are a lot of areas that just need time to learn. Add comfort, add rest, add protection. It will learn.

Nu's words made Delta perk up.

"Make it homely... yeah, I think I can do that. I had an idea as well, not sure if it's possible but do you know for anyone who beats Fran to just skip the first level? Like if they could teleport directly to the second floor and skip the walk? The inn room might make a good spot for it," Delta explained, using hand gestures that didn't really mean anything.

I... yes, there is something like that in the system but it's not matured enough to operate it.

They way he talked about the menus made Delta think the system was something that Nu... felt protective over.

"Do we help it mature by getting new levels?" she said, not pushing to know more about the relationship between Nu and the system. She knew the menu was having trouble with his existence as it was.

Quite. Also by just creating and applying your... special touch to things. A new way of using the dungeon and time will help greatly.

Delta nodded and looked upwards.

"How are they getting on?" she asked and Nu took a moment to answer.

Well. They decided to break for some lunch. The goblins are being good hosts... as well as goblins can be.

Delta felt curiosity but she didn't go to look. She had made a promise to work on the floor to Nu. She could control herself until they met Fran.

It was only one hallway between them. Five more minutes won't hurt.

---

"-then I said 'that's no sword, that's my teeth cleaner! This is my sword!'" Cram said and the goblins cracked up. Billy just shaking his head, amused as Numb guffawed into the meaty broth Smalls cooked over the fire.

The smaller man rolled his eyes as Cois cackled some sparks out his nose.

Hob and Gob nudged, grinning each other.

"Gob ran into spider, and spider tried to web us!" Hob began and Gob began to laugh as he remembered.

"I say to Hob 'this is a sticky mess'!" he howled and Cram snorted and had to take a moment not to choke on his broth. Mr Mushy applauded the joke and Smalls shook his head.

"Horrible, who taught you how to make such bad jokes?" he mock-chided as he offered more of the bubbling liquid to the goblins. They all shared a look and then looked down at the ground.

"Mother!" they all cheered. Mr Mushy looked pleased as Smalls used his pot to cook the broth.

Down the hall, the Greater Mushy rippled as he tried to ignore the happy people. He looked down at the ground where a series of rocks and pots stood close to the wall.

Gifts of his brother, Mr.

The tentacle mushroom softly began to tap the pot side, then one of the rocks, then to another large pot.

Low thud, high tap, low knock, high tap. The rhythm begin to form and the series of noises pleased the demonic looking plant.

Greater tried to remember how Mother hummed.

High tap, high tap, low knock, long tap.

Not quite but it was closer.

----

Delta had added a table, a few chairs and a campfire. It left her with 15 mana to toy with. The people upstairs were giving her small but steady mana. It was going well. She closed her eyes as contentment and laughter flowed to her.

She tilted her head as if to listen harder.

Her monsters, her goblins, were having a good time. Delta smiled without opening her eyes. She soaked in the feeling of joy and merriment. She added a stone sconce to a nearby wall and spun, sending her skirt spinning as she laughed.

Opening her eyes, she found the room to be a slightly better sight.

"Can we smooth the walls and ceiling slightly?" she asked and a box appeared.