Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)

Alvero offers a modest smile, then reaches for the silver ring on his left hand. He twists it once. A soft pulse of light radiates from the band.

Oooh! Looks like it's also a storage ring!

In a shimmer of magic, he draws forth a large crystal sphere, nearly the size of a watermelon! It hovers momentarily in his palm before he sets it gently on the table between us.

The surface of the globe is smooth and flawless, humming faintly. The moment I see it, my heart skips.

Why does this feel like… Deja vu?

Wait a minute!

This thing looks just like the mana assessment orb from the Adventurer's Guild!

I stiffen instinctively.

From the corner of my eye, I catch Eris glancing at me. Her lips curl into a smirk, and she raises one delicate brow. I narrow my eyes at her, immediately suspicious.

What?

What is she thinking?

She looks at me… then at the orb… then back at me again, her smile deepening with quiet mischief, like she's trying to secretly reminding me something…

…

GASP!

ERISSS!

I realize what she's doing. She's teasing me, mocking me silently over the time I knocked over Karlogen's mana orb like a bumbling fool!

She doesn't have to say it out loud.

Her grin says it all:

Don't. Drop. It. Again!

My cheeks flush instantly, and I lean in and pinch her in the side!

But she doesn't even flinch, just laughs softly under her breath, looking far too smug about herself.

Oh, she's definitely getting double the tickling punishment tonight!

Mark my words!

I sit back with a dramatic pout, arms folded tightly as I pretend to sulk.

Meanwhile, Eris just tilts her head toward me, eyes sparkling. Totally unrepentant.

Jeez! She's having way too much fun!

Suddenly—

Snap!

Alvero snaps his fingers. In an instant, the soft lighting in the room vanishes. Everything goes dark, shadows swallowing the space around us.

But the orb…

It begins to glow.

First dimly, like the flicker of a distant lantern, then steadily brighter until it bathes the table in a gentle bluish light. The surface shimmers with a cloudy mist inside, swirling like fog caught in moonlight.

"This is our latest invention," Alvero says in a calm, polished tone. "Using this device, we can store and display real-time images of all Hearthcarvers properties. Every detail you see is an accurate projection of the actual location."

"Oh, that's very nice," Eris replies, her voice genuinely impressed. Then she tilts her head slightly. "But… isn't that a little invasive?"

"Ah! You don't have to worry," Alvero says quickly, waving his hand with a nervous chuckle. "As soon as the purchase is finalized, all Arcane Observers are removed from the property. We promise never to spy on our clients. I swear it, on the Guild's reputation."

Eris narrows her eyes just a little. "You'd better mean that."

"I do," he replies with conviction, bowing his head slightly.

He lets out a slow breath, visibly relieved that her suspicion doesn't linger.

Then, with a subtle motion, he adjusts the position of his fingers, and the mist inside the globe begins to shift.

I lean in slowly, blinking at the swirling fog. It stirs in rhythm with Alvero's gestures, curling and parting as if guided by an unseen hand. The magic radiates gently from his fingertips, coaxing shapes to form from within the orb.

Whoa… is this thing actually a hologram? That's so cool.

Alvero continues, his voice smooth and composed.

"Based on your request—a location with deep seclusion, natural abundance, a stable environment, and maximum privacy—I've selected a shortlist of our finest properties."

The mist churns one last time, then clears.

Within the globe, a vivid landscape comes into view: a secluded valley blanketed in greenery, ringed by protective mountains and veiled in soft silver mist. At the heart of it sits a majestic stone mansion, its rooftops climbing with ivy, the grounds surrounded by flowering trees and nearby, there is a small lake so pristine that it acts as mirror, reflecting the clouds above.

"This first property," Alvero says, gesturing with care, "is hidden within the Vale of Virellen dungeon cluster, an unregistered pocket territory that is purchased and protected by us to make sure no unauthorized person can get in. Temperate year-round, with abundant fresh water, dense foliage, and an existing mana-rich ecosystem."

The image zooms in gracefully, transitioning between scenes: the wide stone terrace overlooking the lake, the winding forest trails, the peaceful orchard garden blooming with corlorful flora. Every view is pristine, vivid, and so real I swear I can almost smell the dew and hear the quiet birdsong.

My breath catches in my throat.

It's beautiful!

Eris leans forward slightly, resting her elbow on the armrest as her eyes follow the shifting images.

A while later…

The Vale of Virellen fades from the crystal orb, the mist curling inward as Alvero prepares to show us the next option.

Honestly, that first mansion was amazing. There was so much space and such a gorgeous view!

But there was one small problem.

Spiders!

Yes, spiders! Not the giant ones that could kill me, like those in Vanessa's Dungeon, but tiny house spiders nesting in corners, hiding between roof beams, and occasionally creeping out from behind bookshelves.

Alvero tried to brush it off as 'natural pest activity' common in forested dungeons.

"They're harmless and may even be helpful, as they eat other unwanted insects," he said.

But… well, it doesn't matter.

The moment Eris heard the word 'spiders,' her expression flattened.

And mine?

Yeah, no thank you.

We made eye contact, nodded in perfect unspoken agreement, and Eris leaned back with a smile that said, Next.

"No spiders," she said crisply. "Next property, please."

"Alright," Alvero nodded.

As he moved his fingers, the fog inside the orb stirred again, shifting and reshaping with a faint ripple of light. With another tap, Alvero adjusted the orb, and a new landscape bloomed into view.

This time: a breathtaking beachfront estate!