Reborn in a Dating Sim: Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game!

Reborn in a Dating Sim:

Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game!

Chapter Thirteen

The girl they’d saved ended up losing whatever faux friendships she had quickly. Copper didn’t like the idea of getting too friendly with too many of the students, but he understood what it was to be singled out. The girl, for good or bad, had been singled out because of her reaction to the very potion that saved her life. Sure, he could have possibly gotten her to the entrance of the labyrinth in time, but there was no guarantee. So, instead he had made the best decision they had at the moment. That decision had saved her, and in return it had practically knocked her down several pegs.

She was on a low enough ladder that she was sticking close to them, and more specifically to him and Applebloom, “I feel so violated,” she said as they made their way toward the staircase that led to the third floor, “I… Everyone there heard what happened. I’m hopeful that no one will say a word. But they will, won’t they?” She asked, her voice sounding depressed, “I suppose I deserve it. I mean I basically told everyone that attacking a single insect seemed meaningless. I guess that’s how you managed to get through the wasps, wasn’t it?”

Copper didn’t stop as they made their way down, “Crystal wasps, like the ants, are not overly powerful. What they have instead of power is overwhelming numbers. A crystal wasp’s sting is enough to incapacitate an adventurer fairly quickly. If left alone it can kill,” he said as they moved, “This was all covered in the reading material, and if you’ve ever gone to a labyrinth before then you would know to research it as much as possible.”

She seemed to quiet down a bit, “I suppose I deserve that,” she replied, “I mean I’m a third year now, and I should have known this. I haven’t really done the labyrinth classes before though. I didn’t see much of a point. I mean, really I just planned on marrying and running my family’s lands. More specifically, I was going to run our textile business. It’s a good living, and there’s no need for raiding labyrinths in it.”

He stopped and looked back at her. Her hair was red and gold, her skin tone more of a coppery color, and her eyes were a bluish green. It reminded him of sea foam. For some reason he remembered her character from the game, but he was having a hard time remembering why he remembered her. Then it occurred to him. She was supposed to die in the labyrinth. She was part of the tutorial for the game itself. She’d been someone that flaunted the fact that she came from a prestigious family, and that she didn’t need to follow the same rules as the others.

“Everyone will let it go,” he said as he looked at her, “Maybe it will make rounds, but people will move on with their lives. This won’t really amount to much.”

She shivered, “I can’t understand how it will just simply not be the talk of the school for decades to come! Sunset Shimmer, of the Shimmer bloodline defiled herself in front of all of her classmates, and did so because she acted foolishly in a labyrinth!” she exclaimed, her voice raising in pitch, “I mean I… Well… I ripped ass! There’s no other way of saying it! I completely ripped ass in front of everyone. Oh… Oh no… I ripped ass in front of Spear.. He’s one of Platinum Reserve’s followers! I’ll never be able to get his attention now!”

She fell to her knees, “My life is over!”

Copper looked at her, “Will you please pick yourself up?” he asked, his voice firm, “Look, I get it, you’re mortified, and sure it was embarrassing, but it’s not the end of the fuckin’ world. For fuck’s sake it’s just a bodily function. So what if a few people heard it?”

She glared at him, “It’s just a bodily function?” she asked, her voice nearing panic, “Just a bodily function?! Do you not understand exactly what it means? I won’t find a husband now. I’ll be doomed to have a bunch of animals as companions because no one else will want to be near a girl that can’t control her bodily functions!”

He shook his head, “You are being absolutely ridiculous,” he said, his voice betraying a little amusement, “I mean, stop and think about it. Who’s going to care in a couple of years?”

She breathed in, “I’ll be graduated by then you new money idiot!” she exclaimed, “I’ll be graduated, and without a husband. I might as well wear a sign that says that I’m a failure at finding a prime piece of bachelor real estate.”

He shook his head, “Maybe not think of guys as real estate?” he said before turning around, “I mean would it hurt to get to know someone, to learn about them, to ask what they like, what they enjoy, maybe find out if the two of you even mesh?” he asked as he walked toward the third floor, “Then maybe you could find out if there would even be something there. Instead of gunning for someone simply because of status.”

She shook in place, “That’s idiotic!” she exclaimed, “The only reason to find someone is to find if they have the proper breeding and noble class to be worth the time and effort. Otherwise there is simply no point in it. A person might as well just say that they’re simply marrying for love. Who would do something so blatantly stupid?”

“I love the prince,” Diamond Tiara said, “I wanted to marry him not because of his royal status, or because of his looks, but because I had thought that I knew him, and that the person he was had potential. I saw someone that could be a great man, a wonderful husband, and now I am so unsure of myself. I wonder if my love for him was seeing what I had hoped to be there.”

“That’s my point!” she exclaimed, “Marrying for love is dumb!”

Copper stopped, “Okay, marrying for love isn’t stupid. It’s the best reason, but we are not talking about marriage right now. We’re dealing with the worms. So, be quiet, step lightly, and walk with me toward the center. Once there we might have a better chance of defending ourselves.”

“Who cares about the worms?” Sunset said, her voice carrying her hurt, “I’m talking about an important aspect here! I’m meant to find a husband and continue the Shimmer bloodline! That’s my sacred duty!” she exclaimed her voice sounding distraught, “I mean I guess someone that’s new money wouldn’t really understand that, but your grandchildren will! They’re going to understand what it means to keep your bloodline going, and to keep your family strong!”

Engaging her would be pointless and he knew it. Currently she was in the middle of the group, because unlike Diamond Tiara she actually was useless. She didn’t have even an ounce of what he’d consider battle potential. Instead she was complaining about the fact that she’d farted, or ripped ass as she called it, in front of so many of her classmates. Sure, it was embarrassing, but it wasn’t the end of the world by any means. At the same time she was being overly dramatic, and she was acting like her entire life was over because of what was going on.

“What is that you excell at?” he asked as they walked, “Obviously if you’re a third year then you must have a class that you’re better at than everyone else, so what it that class?”

There was some quiet, “I’m actually very skilled in defensive magic,” she said, her voice holding some pride, “I’m able to cast barriers, and depending where I am I can call upon entire walls made of earth. I was told that my true potential rests in being the shield for a group that was raiding a labyrinth. I mean I guess that’s impressive, but really it’s not very flattering. I like the idea of being a gallant warrioress who is able to woo all of her male companions with her abilities and looks.”

He shook his head, “This isn’t a cheap romance novel,” he said without thinking, “Things don’t just fall into neat little packages so easily in the real world. If you want to be a warrioress then work on it. Use your natural talents to your advantage, and work on the ones that you’re not as good at. Take the time to develop the skills you want. That or remain completely useless.”

“I’m not useless!” she exclaimed, “I am Sunset Shimmer of the Shimmer bloodline! My daddy is in the lower fifth of nobility, and my great grandfather was the one that found one of the largest islands, completely uninhabited, and he gave it to the kingdom! I am from a distinguished line!”

He finally stopped and turned toward her, “Sure, your great grandfather earned his right to be a noble. He earned his position by fighting with all he had, and he most likely trained every damned day so that he would get better. He was, by all rights, an adventurer. You, not so much. You’ve fallen low, and I’ve got to think that he would be humiliated by your attitude and actions. You’ve demonstrated exactly how little you’re able to ascend, and it is saddening.”

He turned back around, not taking the time to see the expression that likely crossed her face. He didn’t need to see it. Sure, maybe he didn’t need to lay it out there like that, but damn it the girl needed to understand that she wasn’t the end all of students and lines. She was, at best, a spoiled little girl that was trying to get things too far from her reach. In attempting to do so the universe finally hit her with a little bit of karma, and she didn’t like getting her first spanking, metaphorically speaking, in her life.

“Take it back,” she said her voice quivering behind him, “Take that back right now.”

He rolled his eyes as he walked, “Why?” he asked as he continued toward the center of the labyrinth? “Am I wrong? Have you attempted to improve in order to show that you deserve your seat of power? Have you done a single thing to prove that you deserve to be here?”

There was silence, “Work on yourself, improve yourself, and become a better person inside and out. Do the work, and you’ll see what it takes to be a noble. It’s not something you just inherit, but it’s something you earn,” he stated, his voice firm, “It’s something that you put the work in for, and something that is granted when those above you take notice of your abilities and power. The moment you prove that you are more than just a warm body capable of living off of your ancestors’ achievements is the moment that you become a true noble.”

He finally stopped and looked at the labyrinth itself. Just like the game he’d been following the exact trek toward the center. Even though there weren't a whole lot of crystal worms in the way he was going they should have found at least one by this point. Especially since Sunset was acting like a spoiled brat and complaining so loudly about everything. Even then there should have been at least a single worm pop up. But there wasn’t. There wasn’t a damned thing yet.

He took a moment to really look around, “There’s something wrong,” he said, his voice finally relaying the worry he was beginning to feel, “This isn’t right at all. We haven’t ran into an crystal worms, and we should have ran into at least one by now. Something has frightened them into hiding, and that’s not good for us. That means that there’s something stronger than them currently on this floor.”

It was almost as if the universe itself was waiting for him to say those words. He heard the sound, soft clicking that almost sounded like someone gently tapping glass on stone. The sound was getting closer, and closed his eyes, “Artemis, I need you to be ready,” he said as he pulled the magi-gun from his back, and loaded it with a normal shell, “Sunset, if you’re actually good at defense then throw up a barrier when I say so. Diamond Tiara, if you can help Applebloom we’re going to need her potions enhanced with destructive magic. Fire would be best.”

There was a moment of hesitation, “Of course,” Diamond Tiara said before he could hear her moving. Not a moment later he saw the shadow being cast. The sickly green glow of the labyrinth walls was disturbed by a faint blue glow. A glow that was reserved for the eighted floor. He heard the sound closer now, and he saw them. Five crystal scorpions, and all of them moving together, hunting down the crystal worms.

“Shit,” he cursed silently, “This isn’t great.”

He stood still, hoping that the one mechanic that existed in the game was actually real here. The crystal scorpions could see, but not well. In the game they had to see movement in order to act. That meant that once they saw something move then it was time to attack. If they stood still long enough the scorpions would return to hunting worms. At that point they potentially could take on the scorpions and have a chance. A couple of well placed shots would deal with one or two of them. If he could act quick enough he might even get three. That still left two. He cursed himself for not bringing a normal grenade with him. Sure, it could have been overkill, but his inner Jayne Cobb was telling him that boy it would be nice if we had some grenades, don’t you think?!

He had to agree with that voice. And he had to agree with that character. Now would be the time for one, and he didn’t have it. As he recalled the crystal scorpions were different from the ants, wasps, and worms. They had magic resistance, which meant that most of the attacks that Applebloom, Diamond Tiara, and Sunset were likely to have would be worthless. Of course their magic resistance was only to about third tier spells.

That was something else that this dumpster fire of a game had borrowed from another source. It had based the tiers of magic on a few famous light novels and animes. One of the parts of it was something that he had research to find, and he was a little upset that they didn’t at least try to hide the fact that they ripped it off better. But according to the game, and the source material they stole it from, Tiers one through three were normal human range magic. Tier four and five were upper limits of human magic and the beginning of elven magic. Tier six and seven were the depths of high elven magic. Tier eight was the connection of drow magic and magic reserved for undead sorcerers that had been able to study for ages. Finally that left tier nine and ten. Tier nine was world magic. Magic that was used by pulling the mana in a given place and directing it a single time. It wasn’t used to win battles. It was used to destroy entire cities. Tier ten was god level magic. It was the magic that composed the very universe, and it was able to create, or destroy, anything on an entire planetary level. The only way to get tier ten magic was to have a special item that was a hidden quest item. It was reserved for the protagonist, and he planned on getting it for her.

The scorpions could withstand up to tier five magic. Anything beyond that was able to crack their armor, but he knew that right now Applebloom, Diamond Tiara, and Sunset Shimmer weren’t at that level. That left traditional weapons. He heard the fast breathing, and he felt the sweat start to dampen his brow. Someone was going to run. He could feel it. He could feel that they were going to run like the very devil himself was attempting to rip their souls from their bodies.

“Oh sweet merciful Faust,” Sunset Shimmer said, her voice sounded as if she was pleading, “I beg thee, please have mercy upon me, and protect me from these horrible abominations!”

One of them turned toward them, and he heard the step, “Don’t run,” he said, his voice firm but just barely loud enough to be heard by them, “If you run they’re going to come after us. Don’t run. Stay still, and keep calm. We can beat them, but I need for them to go back to being interested with the worms.”

There was a moment, “Those are crystal scorpions,” Diamond Tiara said, “Magic doesn’t affect them. I read about them, and I know that. How, pray tell, are you going to be able to defeat them? Unless you have magic that is unheard of before I doubt that anything you throw at them will work. It’s likely that some of us are going to die here. I truly wish that it wasn’t so, but there is a very likely chance of it.”

“My magi-gun is special,” he said, his voice calm, “It fires both traditional and magical shells. Magic won’t get through their armor, but a normal shell will. I can get each one, with a single shot, but I need to have them occupied before I do.”

There was a little more pause, “Can you get all five,” Sunset asked, “I mean is that even possible?”

He considered it for a moment, “If they stay in sight, and I have enough time, then yes,” he said as he watched them, “The magi-gun is bolt action, so it takes longer, but it’s not impossible. I’ve got six regular shells in the clip, so I can cycle through them quick enough. It’s just making sure that they’re more interested in an easy meal than us.”

He heard the quick breathing, the near panic, but he could tell that they weren’t going to just run. That made him feel better about their chances. If they were willing to just relax a little, and wait then they could potentially make it. They stood there, still, waiting, and the seconds began to tick by. Moment after moment, until a minute passed, then two, then ten, and finally thirty. The crystal scorpions finally went back to the worms they were eating, and he slowly raised the rifle. He had the first shell cocked, and he aimed at the head of the first scorpion.

The shot was lined up, and he fired. In the crystalized labyrinth the sound reverberated all around them. He knew what to expect, and he had expected the others to as well. He hadn’t realized that for some of them it was the first time hearing an actual bullet being fired. He didn’t know that for Diamond Tiara it was a sound that she had never heard before, and one that caused her ears to ring. He couldn’t have known that it made Sunset drop to the ground from the loudness of it, or that Applebloom felt both frightened and intrigued by it.

What he did know was what would happen. The head of the crystal scorpion exploded, and it lashed out at the closest thing to it, which was one of the others. Its claws grasping the tail of the scorpion in front of it and snipping it off. He cycled through the shell as fast as he could, took aim, and took out the next one. They were starting to turn, and he cycled through it again. He took aim, faster than before, fired again, grazing the scorpion instead of hitting it dead on.

He cursed himself, cycled again, and fired. The scorpion’s head exploded in a brilliance of shattered crystal. He cycled through to the last shell, took aim, and fired. The stinger of the last crystal scorpion struck his leg as it fell. He groaned as he fell back, and he watched as Applebloom made the black root antivenom for him. He took it, knowing what was going to happen, but not really caring. He felt the bitterness of it as it slid down his throat, and he let it settle before he felt something warm surrounding him.

“Goddess Faust,” the sound of Sunset said from behind him, “I beg thee, please heal this brave warrior, take his pain, and return his vitality, I cast healing!”

The level one healing spell helped the black root, and he felt his leg knit itself back together. There were five scorpion cores, something of incredible value, and he had absolutely no problem collecting them. He also walked further away from the others and let himself puke and then completely rip ass. Once that was done, he looked toward the others and smiled, “Okay, lets finish up this level for a while. Should be a piece of cake.”

The time allotted for them passed, and they moved toward the staircase. Slowly they made their way, and he saw their teacher. He called upon his inner Bill Murry as they made their way, “We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!”

There was no cheering, only confused looks. It made him realize how much he missed nerd culture.