[X] Focus on getting Leo up to speed: Support him and let him rack up kills.
[X] Compensate for your weaknesses: Grind Strength and Endurance.
You figure you'll focus on compensating for your weaknesses, so it'll be best to grind Strength and Endurance. Also, you'll need to protect your big pooch. He's only Level 1 and with straight I0s for each Basic Ability.
As per usual, you have Alivia cast Haste on you and Relay it to the whole party, including Leo, then have the Hume Bunny search out enemies with her Enemy Radar Skill. You soon find a group of three goblins and two kobolds. They spot you, screech, and come rushing at you.
"One-on-one!" Urist barks and you each pick an enemy.
You stick close to Leo and focus on putting your weight into your thrusts and swings and blocking instead of dodging. You occasionally thrust your spear out to block for Leo, but you're also conscious of him grinding his Endurance ability. You make sure the light, blunt strikes hit or nick him in non-vital areas, but block anything else. Of course, a few sneak in, since you still have to deal with your own kobold.
Leo bites onto his goblin's ankle and drags him onto the ground. Once it's downed, he mounts it and bites at its throat, snapping the monster's neck and killing it. Damn, this dog is well-trained.
"You might want to get Leo some armor," Alivia points out as she blocks a kobold's club swing with her blowgun. "That way he can take blows and train his Endurance easier. You should also see about getting him a saddle bag, as well. More storage is always good for more loot. From what I hear, Frobo offers discounts for barding since he loves getting a chance to make non-humanoid armor to test his skills."
"Oh, good idea, Scout," you compliment.
"Ee hee hee! Praise me more!" the Hume Bunny giggles.
You're about to, but then you get hit in the back of the heat by a kobold's club, sending your ears ringing. Thank gods for your helmet. Enemies first, praising sexy pear-shaped bunnies later.
-o-
It's as you reach the third floor that something immediately hits you in the chest. You nearly fall onto your rear from the momentum, but Ian catches you. You hold whatever hit you and look down at it seeing...
Wait... this is a Golden Mushroom! It's cowering in your arms, burying its face against your cuirass, looking quite scared.
"Wow, that's a small Golden Mushroom. Normally they're bigger," Alivia points out. "Can I kill it? These things are primo Exilia and every part of them is worth a fortune!"
"No," Urist interjects, throwing his artificial arm between you and Alivia.
"What? Why?" the Hume Bunny whines.
"Is not running. Is not wild Shroom."
"Wild Shroom?" Tessa asks, eyeing the Golden Mushroom... hungrily? Wow, she must really want that Exilia.
"Is not running. Therefore, must be tamed."
Tamed? Wait, could you have really- "There it is!"
You look down the tunnel, seeing three Adventurers standing there. They look to be a male Cows, a female Racoon, and a male Human. The male Cows is wearing robes and holding a staff, likely a mage, while the female Racoon is wearing bulky metal armor and holding an axe, and the male Human has a bow and is wearing leather armor. Fairly balanced party, you must say.
They stomp towards you, the male Human stopping to hold his hand out. "Ah, I see you found the Golden Mushroom. Sorry, but we don't intend to share it. Our party found it first, so do hand it over, please."
"This might actually get me to Level 2!" the mage giddily says, hopping up and down.
You frown, staring at the party of three. You're fairly certain this Golden Mushroom is the same one you found three months ago. Is it really possible you tamed it?
Reader Choice
[ ] Hand over the Golden Mushroom.
[ ] Kill the Golden Mushroom for the Exilia, and quick, before it spores you.
[ ] Defend the Golden Mushroom. Attack the Adventurers.
[ ] Negotiate. Explain the Golden Mushroom is your pet.
[ ] Introduce them to Urist.
[ ] Write-in.