Bonded Summoner

Ophelia had looked hesitant to spend money on herself, but Jake insisted she sit down at the computer and review the [Alliance Shop] and [Multiverse Market] for her skill-book and equipment choices. Jake and Fhesiah set out to start cooking various finger foods for their feast, and Jake wondered what type of skill-book Fhesiah would be able to pick up, or if she would instead have to focus on equipment for now until they can reach the Multiverse proper before she could really purchase anything.

Jake learned that she was now properly under the Framework, so her skills, including those that are related to cultivators, could advance with the assistance of it. On top of that, she could learn any Framework skill that Jake could learn, with some caveats; ones that require mana instead of heavenly energy would not work, unless she manipulated and used some of Jake’s mana or the mana in the air, as she had none of her own and could not have any, as part of cultivation was to remove and reject energies like that from her body.

She had previously shown her capabilities at using mana by casting tiny mana bolts of her own. Her skill at manipulating energy was far above Jake’s, so it was entirely likely she could use mana crystals to cast spells if she desired to learn them, but it was not worth her efforts.

Instead, she would focus her efforts on purchasing skills that would improve her offensive or defensive capability, or help with her cultivation in some way but indirectly. They finished their cooking and set it all out on the table, and talked about what they wanted for their choices while they ate.

“What did you end up getting, Ophelia?” Jake asked. He checked his [Menu] and found two books waiting in the shopping cart, but wanted to hear from Ophelia her reasons why she had made her choices. She replied, “When we were in the dungeon, I was able to cast some spells to help with combat, but I really feel like something is missing. I would like to get my [Valkyrie Magic], but that’s just not possible for now.

I purchased the [Runic Magic] skill book so that we could get the proper foundations, as I had not even gotten to read it originally, then the [Book of Common Rune Words] to help us have a much wider variety of spells. I was hoping we could learn them together.”

Jake noticed she blushed a little at the end, so she must have been thinking about Jake using [Mana Transfer], which the demoness decided to run with as she said “Oh? You’d like to spend some more time with Jake? Is it because of how he makes you feel? With mana transfer, I mean.” The battle angel’s blush was even more prominent, and she didn’t trust herself with speaking so she nodded in response to the final question as an out, which the demoness enjoyed.

Jake decided to move on, “Of course. I am looking forward to our usual sessions together, practicing Runic Magic. What about your equipment choice?”

“I’m still happy with my trainee equipment, but I decided to purchase a shield with a little more coverage and increase the size of my room in our [Refuge]. There was hardly enough space in the room for anything besides the bed. Still, I was happy to get my own room, in the boarding school we were many in the same room in bunks.”

Jake accepted the purchases and decided he would need to think of his own. He was going to purchase a book related to runes, but having the valkyrie take care of it with her purchase left him able to have some freedom. Jake realized that enchanted equipment was simply too expensive, and that solidified what he wanted to learn: enchanting.

He could improve all their unenchanted equipment, the capability to be able to do something that would pay for itself over time. Not only could he purchase unenchanted equipment and enchant it for resale to make money outside of the dungeon, but he could likely take a number of the gnoll equipment for practice, selling anything he succeeds on for a slight gain while training the skill. The study of rune words for enchanting will likely carry over into [Runic Magic] as well.

Decision made, Jake purchased a book on [Runic Etching], [Enchanting], and equipment for accomplishing the Runic Etching. According to the wiki, a magic scribe tool powered by mana crystals or personal mana was what was used to create the desired effects on equipment, along with a sort of magic ink to fill the runes and charge them for a long duration; they would not last forever but recharging them once they ran out was entirely possible, even for an unskilled user of the items. Enchanting an item was far from free, and maintaining the charge was not permanent as well.

Jake also learned that it was possible to empower the etched runes with their own personal mana during combat, and this solidified how good of a choice this was for him and the battle angel. His purchases pushed dangerously close to his eight thousand credit budget, but he knew it would eventually be worth it. Jake and Ophelia’s purchases were done; he looked at the demoness, and she looked at them both and smiled.

“I too chose a skill that would benefit more than one of us. I had seen Ophelia’s interesting use of her wings even on the first day she joined us, and thought that I could benefit from using such a skill, even with heavenly energy. [Winged Combat] helps both with fighting in the air or on foot, for those with wings. Sorry, Jake, but short of an artifact I don’t think you’ll be able to have wings, but I’m hopeful.”

Jake smiled at that but was confused at what that last part meant, but she was mysteriously silent on the matter. He then realized that a movement or other ability could be important to have for himself. There were so many skills or abilities to choose from, that Jake wondered how long it was going to take to have his full assortment of skills to progress. Still, that was going to be a problem for future Jake.

They finished their feast of finger foods, and Jake wondered what activities the girls would pick. Fhesiah wanted to let Ophelia pick first, and he had no problem with that. She just picked them playing a fighting game on the gaming console, to which they took turns for the first hour. The Valkyrie really enjoyed the fighting game, and was quite competitive when it came to playing it, the battle angel seeming to enjoy all forms of combat.

Jake had years of experience playing games like this one, so the two girls could hardly ever claim a victory from him. They however were mostly evenly matched, both learning to play around the same time.

The demoness came up with an idea, “How about we make this a little more interesting between us girls? The winner, best of three, gets to kiss Jake.” The valkyrie was shocked into silence, and glanced over at Jake a few times, and blushed profusely. It was clear that she was interested, but perhaps too afraid to voice that she was.

The demoness continued, “C’mon, Jake wouldn’t mind kissing such a cute angel. Right, Jake? You just have to defeat me in the game, you’re not going to back down from a fight, are you, battle angel?” To which Jake just nodded, in response. The valkyrie thought on it for a moment, and her eyes took on a competitive edge and said, “Fine, you’re on, demon. I will defeat you in combat and claim my prize.”

The demoness floated above everyone else and flourished her fan where she covered her mouth with it, and gave off a strange laugh that Jake thought was very anime, “Oh ho ho ho! We are just talking about a kiss, right? Still, I will make you work hard for it. Let us play.”

Jake watched as the two really got into it, and he could tell they both picked their fighters they were most confident with. The first round did go to the demoness, to which she taunted the Valkyrie once more, “Do not worry, Ophelia. The consolation prize is Jake will buy that pulsating shower head that they sometimes talk about in TV shows. It is not much for talking, but it will keep you company.”

The valkyrie only barely registered what the demoness said, fully focused on the game. The next round went to Ophelia, but it was very close. The demoness had a smile on her face, like she didn’t have a care in the world, but Jake could tell she was focused.

The final round, once again things were very close, but the valkyrie managed to parry the demoness’ combo, and was able to turn it around for the victory. Jake was somewhat surprised to learn that the demoness did not give any quarter at all, that she had tried to win until the end. Jake supposed that she knew that if the valkyrie sensed any deception at her victory, she would not be happy at all.

The valkyrie jumped for joy at her victory, cheering and flapping her wings excitedly. This is actually not very different from her usual victories, as she reveled in victory, perhaps a battle angel thing. Jake might never know unless he met another valkyrie and sat them down to play video games, but he had thought it cute how much she enjoyed her victories at something so, usually, low of stakes.

Ophelia then remembered that she was in fact playing for a prize, and she turned shyly to Jake. Jake gave her a reassuring smile, and approached her from where he was originally sitting.

The battle angel was embarrassed, but she still turned to face Jake. The demoness just watched with her face covered with her fan, but Jake could just feel her interest and excitement over the bond. He thought for all her words she would feel some jealousy that he was about to kiss the angel, but even her thoughts had her imagination running wild, him going a lot further than kissing and her enjoying watching the two of them as they did.

Jake looked into Ophelia’s crystal blue eyes, which were almost precisely at his eye level with them both standing. He put his hands on her waist and stepped close, causing her to blush even further. He decided he would provide some encouragement, to make her feel desired and not just him kissing her because she won the game, but because he wanted to, “We’ve only known each other for a week, but I can feel that you are very special. You’re an excellent member of our team, and I appreciate having your hard work and dedication. Fhesiah is right: I am happy to kiss such a cute angel.”

With those lines stated while looking into her eyes, he leaned in and gave her a slow, long kiss. Her wings flapped in anxiety, or perhaps enjoyment, and Jake thought they might have glowed, but Jake kept going. He started feeling what he thought were her emotions of excitement, joy, and longing, and he received a notification. He had felt her emotions a few times before, but they were weak and sporadic, not usually for more than brief instants. The bond had previously increased to level two over the course of forming her core, but now it increased yet again.

Bond Increased!

Summon Bond: Ophelia

Level 3

Jake pulled back from the kiss, and the Valkyrie was almost disappointed that it was not continuing. Jake smiled at her, and the demoness was quite satisfied with the result as well, so she decided to voice her observations,

“Oh? You both seemed to quite enjoy that. I wonder, if you both enjoyed it so much, what is stopping that from happening all the time? At any rate, I believe we should go with my activity next. There was that movie I wanted to watch, in which those old-timey vacationers and travelers all sink with a giant ship and many die due to rich, greedy people’s foolishness. Jake hasn’t wanted to watch it so I will take advantage of the situation to finally see it.”

Jake was surprised that the demoness chose a movie, his bets were on her picking some form of truth or dare, or to be completely unsubtle and pick spin the bottle, or something else along those lines. The demoness smiled and responded in his mind, [I am quite satisfied with the kiss and your charming of the girl, those other types of things might be a little too much for her right now. Perhaps next time, thank you for the ideas, husband.]

Jake was once again amazed at how she could tease him with both ridiculous or seemingly innocuous phrases, and they settled in on the couch with Jake sandwiched between the two girls, though the demoness would sometimes move to a floating, while lounging, position. The movie filled both of them with emotion, but each a different kind. The valkyrie enjoyed the romance, crying in the end when the man died saving the heroine, the scene now showing her arriving safely and escaping her violent fiancé. “He was a little bit of a swindler, but he had the heart of a hero.”

Jake just smiled and shook his head, and looked over to the demoness, “I’m just glad those greedy idiots got their comeuppance, and that girl got away with the jewel. I did not like her, though: just why would she think to kill herself to escape from that man? Just poison his drink or hide a knife under your pillow like a normal girl; it is not that hard. Why give him the satisfaction? What a coward.” Jake couldn’t help but glance at his drink, and look over at his bed through his open door to his room.

The scene now changed to where the woman, now old and on the ship, took the necklace that she had actually had the whole time, and threw it off the ship and into the ocean, where it would likely never be found. The demoness stood and shouted in rage, “That stupid bitch! She had it the whole time, did not profit from it, and instead squandered it? She won that necklace by defeating that fool, it was the law of the heavens! She should have worn it proudly! and…and that stupid look on her face!” Jake couldn’t help but laugh. Mr. Cameron had really raised the bar once again: he managed to troll even a demon from across the multiverse.

The movie completed; it was now Jake’s turn to choose their celebratory activity. The demoness said, “Jake, I know training somehow seems fun to you, but it will not do for celebration, even if this battle maniac would go along with it.” Jake shook his head and smiled, she could read his thoughts but still sought to tease him and the angel every step of the way.

He replied, “I realize that it might be a little bit of a job, but thought it would be exciting enough for us to plan for the future with my activity: planning our future [Refuge]. We can queue up the changes and pay for them as our credits allow, adding the rooms and furniture we desire, and even prioritize them to where it’s easy for us to pay for each item as we work through dungeons. We can’t leave here in the near future except to a dungeon filled with monsters, so we might as well design our ‘dream’ home.”

The two girls were quite excited at this idea, and they gathered around the computer, each taking control over the mouse to design their ideal place.

“Aww, the little house-hubby wants a beautiful kitchen, is it? So sweet of you, always cooking delicious and nutritious foods for us. This magic oven will ensure dinner is hot and ready for me when I come home from work, huh?”

The demoness teased Jake incessantly about his focus on wanting a better kitchen, including a magic oven and tools that would allow him to cook food that temporarily improved the effectiveness of their attributes.

Another focus of his was on their entry-way with the portal, wanting to have a separate closed-off section where the portal was where they could clean and store their armor and spoils, and wash themselves down before entering their home all dirty and full of monster guts, and even separate the smells. They added various rooms, and planned out the shrine to the future god or goddess.

They also added Ophelia’s smithy, and Jake’s enchanting room, as well as what was going to be Fhesiah’s trade skill: an alchemy room. For now, it was just an empty room, but she indicated she would add the furnishings later, not even deeming learning the prices for something like a proper cultivator alchemy cauldron or pill-furnace until they reached the greater multiverse.

The demoness had learned alchemy to some extent in her “previous life”, but was not overly interested in it and she did not have a proper mentor. Now that the framework would assist her, and she nearly required becoming self-sufficient for making her cultivator pills for personal advancement, she would pursue this avenue. Plus, her fire attribute was very compatible with alchemy, and she could even make things to improve Jake and Ophelia’s advancement. The problem currently was resources and recipes, something that might become more affordable later.

They designed their future training room, which was also set as a high priority. There were various fixtures that included training dummies that could even fight back, and be set to a certain level of difficulty. They also found a fixture for increasing the gathering of mana and heavenly energy within the refuge, which will allow them to practice their spells much more rapidly, and for the demoness to cultivate properly. This fixture was quite pricey at 25,000 credits, but Jake felt it would be worth it.

All told, Jake was surprised at the large number that appeared when they were finished queuing up their purchases. Nearly 150,000 were planned out to make their ideal refuge, with larger rooms and nicer beds and furniture, additional and bigger bathroom, training room, private temple, trade-skill rooms, ideal kitchen for Jake, and more. But Jake couldn’t help but feel for once that dungeon diving was quite profitable.

They had gained nearly one-quarter of that killing the gnolls, and realized it was entirely possible that a month from now, they could be living in the place that they designed, and aside from being unable to leave it: a dream home. It was more than enough to make Jake and the girls excited for the future.