Outcast lost in RuneMidgard Chapter 14: New responsibilities, a ragnarok online fanfic

Hi this is Benji Himura I am starting a new fanfic. I don't own Ragnarok online I also don't own the characters of that story or the plot; taking out the changes that I will make and the characters that I will create. I own Benji Himura and others characters that will show up in the story. It might be violence and sex in the story so if you are underage of seventeen are warned the content might be too improper to your age. Read by your own will and risk. In anyway enjoy the story.

Signed: Benji Himura

"Text" Talked sentences.

'Text' Thoughts.

-Text- Sounds effects.

(Text) Talked sentences in a foreign language

: Text: Messages show in an electronic screen or written.

Text: something being recalled, flashbacks, scenes being replayed.

Text: a detail found in a location, scene, person, recording and images that originally wasn't there.

Chapter thirteen: New responsibilities

Benji could hear the sound of many feet trampling the ground, leaving the cover of the sakura forest and reaching a flower covered field Benji can see a little girl with short blonde hair running in despair, she is using a cream colored sundress and sandals. Less than ten meters away from her there are a group of what appears to be women clad in kimonos brandishing sickles, they looked like Japanese commoners of the feudal Japan, similar but different from the Miyabi ningyos.

Benji leaps over the girl, his speed plus the chasing mob makes Benji land neatly in front of the group, actually before Benji even touched the ground one of the women was running without a head before falling dead in the ground, the head flying in the air before landing several meters away from the spot where it was severed.

The mob doesn't react quickly enough and is decimate by Benji in the blink of an eye. Benji felt that the loot was send directly to his inventory. 'How pleasing.' Benji idly thought as he looked at the distance and saw a group of men wearing feudal Japanese common folk clothes still dozens of meters away from him.

Benji looks to the direction were the girl was running and sees that she was looking at him, her eyes showed a mixture of fright, relief, suspicion, anxiety and hope. "I am not going to hurt you." Benji said sheathing his knife and standing a hand to her.

Scared the girl backs away two steps as Benji advanced two steps. Benji could tell that she didn't understand his words. (I am not an enemy.) Benji said in Japanese, it was Amatsu's main language even thought English was the official language of Rune-Midgard and was fluently spoken in Amatsu city, it took him months to learn and he still held a good accent on it.

The girl still looks scared and suspicious; Benji spins on his heels and throws a venom dagger on a closer man armed with a cleaver. (RUN!) Benji shouted, in his mostly instinctive mode Benji shouted at his mother tongue, the one that he was more familiar with.

Benji isn't sure if it was the shout or the language but the girl complied and ran, but she ran to the wrong direction that Benji hoped, she ran straight to him and hug on his right leg with an impressive amount of strength for such slim arms.

Benji cursed inwardly while attacking with a nearly mad fury at the bigger mob, his daggers do the job as well as they should and in few moments the monsters are dead again. Benji looks at the distance and sees a third wave, this time not commoners but horsemen and Benji knew that they would reach him quickly.

He looks down at the girl and she looks at him with her big jade colored eyes, scared, begging to be protected and trusting fully on him. Benji guesses that he has two minutes before the horsemen arrive on his position; he gently pulls the girl from his leg and puts her on his back. "Hold on my neck." Benji said in Portuguese. "Okay." She whispered scared but obeying.

Benji takes out his belt and wraps around the girls back one end passing between her legs and the over her left shoulder Benji then buckles the belt across his chest keeping the pressure strong but not too tight. "Try not choking me." Benji instructed. "And try not scream; I need to hear them coming."

"Okay." The girl answered hugging his neck strongly but not choking. "What is your name?" Benji asked. "Maria." She answered. "Well then Maria you might want to close your eyes." Benji said in a gentle tone while unsheathing his knives. "It might not be suitable for your age."

Benji bites the hilt of his gladius and pulls a venom knife from his belt, he throws it on the horseman leading the charge, his aim is flawless and the knife buries itself deep in the skull of the horse.

The horse falls and in a chain reaction all the horsemen behind are caught on the effect as their horses trip on the dead one, legs are broken and chaos reign among them, all because a well placed knife. Benji smiled as he dashes at the horsemen while they are still a tangled mass with their horses.

Benji barely finished killing everything for the third time when a fourth wave arrives, more horsemen, this time Benji wasn't fully ready for them, yet he blocked a vicious impalation from the leading samurai horsemen. Benji's daggers crack when blocking the kamayari of the samurai.

Benji could feel his feet making trenches on the ground as the impact pushed him back but Benji had a good footing. However the samurai wasn't ready for the resistance that he met and fell from his horse. Benji sheathes his daggers since they are usable but the spear would do a much better job against the horsemen.

Benji kills the fallen horseman and spins the spear cutting the legs of two horses while ducking avoiding losing his head from a slash from another samurai. Benji moves his body packing as much energy on the spear as he can before bringing it down on the samurai. "BASH!" Benji shouted triggering the attack.

Man and horse fall dead split in half by the massive attack. Benji spins his body and spear bringing it down against another horseman. "Quagmire!" A familiar voice shouted casting a swamp between Benji and the incoming horsemen. Benji smiled and resumed killing the ones close of him. "Storm gust!" Haruka shouted starting a new cast.

The massive storm hits the horsemen trapped on the swamp, Haruka haven't even finished that spell before casting another. "Lord of Vermilion!" Benji smiled impressed as the spell combo kills the horsemen. "See I told you that multi-classing was good for you." Benji commented. "All the points that you didn't used of all the other jobs were used when you became a wizard."

"It isn't over yet." Haruka replied pointing at a fifth wave of monsters. Benji was impressed it was by far more monsters than when Haruka appeared, but then Haruka appeared in a place with less monsters. "This isn't all that common." Benji commented readying the spear for a new attack.

"And how you would know it?" Haruka asked casting ice wall between Benji and the incoming wave, the wall would hold enough for them to run away, at least she hoped. "How many times you face this kind of thing before?" "Just once with you." Benji answered moving away from there. "Not enough to say that this kind of thing is usual." Haruka replied.

"You people run too fast!" Makie shouts leaving the trail of the woods; she is covered with sweat from running all the way there. "Back! Back! Back! Back! Back! Back!" Haruka shouted to the dancer as her ice wall is shattered by the horsemen. "Warp us or something!" Makie shouted back.

"It doesn't work." Benji said unbuckling the belt and putting Maria on the ground. (Maria you stay with that lady over there.) Benji said to the girl while pointing to the raven haired dancer. (Don't run to me or run away unless I tell you okay?) (Okay.) She replied moving to Makie.

"Explanations will be given later." Benji said to them. "You two stay in the back, I will be the front line and you two cast everything that you can on them, we kill them or kill them." "Sounds good for me." Haruka commented readying her staff once more. "Don't get killed."

Benji nodded getting some distance between him and the girls. Haruka once again casts Quagmire in front of the horsemen making them slow in the swamp, and then she continues the combo. However some of the horsemen leave the area of the spell before the second one hits.

Benji was already expecting that kind of thing and strikes the horsemen that escaped from the spell combo. However one of them halted his charge when the others, Benji noticed that but continued to kill the other ones.

That samurai was different than the others and not only because he was smarter but his armor was in a different color, while the others had black and red armor that one had black and dark blue armor. Benji wasn't familiar with samurai rankings so he could only guess that the blue one was stronger than the others.

Forced to let go of the spear Benji grabs the blue samurai's spear when he charged and attempted to pierce him. Benji cringes as his body is once again pushed back by the superior momentum, but this time the samurai was also waiting for that and doesn't fall from the horse.

Benji felt his hands bleeding as the armored gloves were unable to block the entire attack and he was holding the wooden shaft, the blade was pointing to his chest but wasn't touching him.

Benji pulls on the spear surprising the samurai, but he doesn't let go of it, Benji was expecting that and hits the shaft with his right hand breaking it, the samurai now falls back as the shaft that was supporting the opposing strengths breaks. Benji holds the broken spear and smiles seeing the long and sharp tang coming from the exposed area bellow the area of the shaft that was in one piece, the spear was now a rather good dagger, a triple bladed dagger made from a kamayari.

The samurai recovered before Benji could make advantage of the moment, wielding a katana the samurai gets on an offensive defensive stance, Benji kicks dirt on the samurai and attacks as he covers his eyes. The now kama dagger does a fine job cutting the samurai, it lacks the massive damage from her original function but still gives a very good amount of it, the testimony is the severed head flying on the air.

Benji grabs the samurai's sword and scabbard; he heard Makie shouting about a new wave, backing slightly Benji grabs the spear that he discarded, he would need it as the ground shakes with the new incoming wave, he knew that would be a massive one.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

With nothing more than the footprints on the grass as indication of the path Layla leads a group on the direction that Benji, Haruka and Makie ran to, some broken branches also indicated the path. Layla was inwardly scared of what might be happening, of what would make not only Benji wake up in the middle of the night and run out of the guild with nothing more than his sleeping clothes and few weapons.

Alexis was nervous too, she and Isis experienced something like that before and the result was a new girl and new guild, Atsuko was very nervous about everything she has no idea of what is going on, but as Layla she was better equipped, while without time to put on most of her equipment Atsuko was wearing her armor and weapon, Layla was only with a light armor over her sleeping clothes and her sword, all the girls there were like that, with barely enough time to pick their weapons before rushing out of the guild.

"What in name of heavens…?" Atsuko asked seeing the now blood soaked field, few spots of the field were covered in burning pieces of wood, grass and ground itself; sited in a spot of green grass of the middle of everything is Benji, Haruka and Makie, Benji's right leg is outstretched while his left is like he were sited in Indian style.

Haruka is sited with her right knee close of her chest and her left leg stretched, she is holding her staff against her shoulder as the tip is resting on the ground. Makie is with her back against Haruka's and is sited with her legs next to her body, unlike Benji the two girls are clean, well ignoring few spots of dirt.

However the most shocking detail other than seven arrows nailed on Benji's right shoulder and arm is a little blonde girl lying on the grass with her head resting on Benji's left leg as he softly runs his left hand on her hair.

When in range Isis casts sanctuary around the group, they can't hear whatever Benji whispers to the girl, but they can hear both Haruka and Makie are softly singing something. "Maiori tekita shiroi tenshi yo…"

"What happened in here?" Layla asked in shock and disbelief. "Well it is a kind of a long story." Benji answered with a tired smile. Atsuko walks to Benji and swiftly, and in the most painful way possible she tears the arrows from his arm and shoulder. She eyes his right leg and then starts feeling his right thigh.

"Easy there!" Benji exclaimed. Atsuko noticed the pained edge and focusing her senses she holds her left hand in the middle of his inner thigh before smashing her right fist on the outer side. Benji shouts in pain as Atsuko breaks the healing bone, pulling strongly on his leg she starts to adjust the bone.

"A little warning next time!" Benji shouted angrily. "Yeah sure." Atsuko replied healing him, she lived with him for months to know that he sometimes need some pain to remind him of certain lessons in life, as not let himself be healed with a out of place bone.

"So what about explaining what happened?" Erika asked to the trio. "No idea, ask to Benji." Makie replied. "Idem." Haruka added. "I explain in the morning, now I want to get rid of this blood coating." Benji said to them. "And leave this place before a new mob appears." "I can agree with that." Layla commented.

With a towel wrapped around his waist and cleaned Benji is washing Maria's short hair. "Keep your eyes closed." Benji said while gently scrubbing her hair. "Okay." She replied with her eyes closed, Benji wasn't able to convince her to bath with one of the girls; Maria was firm in not letting him go so in the end he was forced to bath with her.

He made a condition that if she kept her eyes closed all the time he would allow; he really didn't want to let such young girl see his scarred body. Maria complied with his request and was mostly acting like a doll under his care, Benji washed her carefully trying to be gentle and impersonal as possible as if he is a nurse bathing a girl unable to move.

"Keep them close shut I will rinse you now." Benji said holding one of the many portable shower heads. "Okay." Maria replied, Benji rinses away the shampoo and the bubbles from her, he had cleaned every spec of dirt and blood from her small body. Carrying her to the hot spring Benji let the girl sit on a shallow area while he soaks a little on the deeper side. "You can open your eyes now." Benji said knowing that the water will cover the details of his skin.

Maria obeys and looks around before letting out an impressed 'wow' at the sight of the bath; Benji smiled knowing very well how breathtaking it is when seeing it for the first time.

Half an hour later after returning to the guild Benji is now wearing clean clothes, his hair is damp and his left hand is wrapped around Maria's small hand, she is wearing a overly big t-shirt clearly not for her and her short hair is also damp.

Layla looks at them. "Why you took her to the bath?" she asked in a mixture of curiosity and jealousy. "She doesn't want to let go of me." Benji answered. "She doesn't speak the same language that we all do, but my mother language and since no one else here does she isn't letting go of me."

Layla scratched her hair when hearing that, sure she felt silly for being jealous of a six years old girl but something on that girl made Layla uneasy, but she also could understand why she was clinging on Benji like that. Benji sees the other girls around Layla and with a swift move he snatches Jannine's morning star.

"My morning star!" She whined seeing Benji holding the spiked mace. "If anyone wakes me before I feel like waking up I will shove this morning start up her ass!" Benji shouted to them. "Am I making myself clear?!"

"SIR! YES SIR!" All the girls shouted in unison most out of fear of punishment than normal acceptance of his orders. "Good." Benji said shouldering the morning star and moving to his room with the little girl still attached to his hand.

"He is always like that in here?" Atsuko asked to Layla. "Some times when he is really tired or annoyed he scares us like that." Layla answered still feeling her behind tense at the idea of the morning star shoved up her ass; Benji sounded like it would fulfill the promise.

The group disbands waiting for an explanation on the morning it was late and they were tired so why wait long hours awake when they could sleep and wait without noticing.

It was way pass ten in the morning and Benji wasn't giving signs of leaving the bedroom. Layla was starting to get uneasy about everything. "Look Layla just let him sleep more." Haruka said seriously, she is Japanese so she is very worried about Benji developing some lolicom streak and favoring the little girl over them, but the fear of a morning star up her ass is more than enough to make her not barge in his room.

Benji's bedroom door opens and from there Tsugumi and Ruri leave the room. "Why the commotion out here?" Tsugumi asked to Layla. "What is going on inside?" Layla asked to the Sohee. "Sleeping." Ruri answered yawning and stretching.

Gently pushing the demon girl to the side Layla peeks on the still open door, in the bed Layla could see a lump on Benji's bed. Moving her eyes across it she sees Benji's head resting on a pillow while the bed sheet is covering him from the bellow the shoulder, Layla glared at a mop of blonde hair appearing from under the sheet, covering the lower half of Benji's face, Benji's left arm is over Maria's small shoulders as she sleeps holding him tightly.

"What happened?" Layla asked to them. "Why she is in his bed?" 'And why I am not the one there?' she added in her mind. "She refused to sleep alone or in my bed." Ruri replied casually. "Benji allowed her to sleep on his bed and I remember that they weren't like that when I went back to sleep so during her sleep that girl clutched on him."

Layla sighed at the answer. "We can't help it." Atsuko commented closing the door, it was a cute scene so why stress about it. "Let's leave, when he wakes up he explains to us what happened. Besides there are things that we can do around here without his supervision."

Layla sighed again and nodded, the kitchen still needed to be repaired so she had to pay the contractors, the lower level members needed to level and the castle needed a good cleaning too. Giving orders to Erika and Haruka to gather the others Layla moves to the dinning hall, she would issue the duties for everyone.

Benji was irate, he could live with not having much of a privacy or private life, eating monsters for food, killing people, having sex with multiple partners, having two attention demanding cute pets, shouldering an entire guild of girls, fighting in a stupid war and not having news of his saviors. But someone crossed the line of what Benji held as limits and he knew who it was to blame for that.

Storming out of the room brandishing the morning star Benji shouts. "HARUKA!!!!!" Benji's voice echoes in the large castle and only loses a hint of power when reaching the wizard's ears. "You are dead." Marine said to the blonde girl. "He discovered that." Panicking Haruka looks around for shelter or a way to escape or even better a way to ease his wrath.

She isn't given time since the door of the sorcery study room was splintered by a massive impact, seeing enraged Benji and the morning start in the middle of the mist of splinters Haruka did the only think that anyone that anyone aware of his or her sudden death does.

Haruka cried in verge of death and wet herself soiling her clothes, throwing herself at her knees Haruka started to attempt to beg for her life, throwing herself deep in groveling. "You out now!" Benji roared to Marine. "You don't have to order twice." Marine replied in fear running out of the room, the sheer death aura that Benji was giving out was enough to make her cower in fear and she wasn't even the target of it.

"You have three seconds to come with a damn good excuse for why all my clothes are white and you entered in my room without permission." Benji hissed with his voice dripping with poison enough to poison the girl. "And if I am not convinced I will let this morning star make the talking."

Observing everything from the safety of the distance corner of the hall Layla peeked to the hall of the sorcery study room. "How bad it is?" Layla asked to Marine. "I need dry panties bad." Marine said when finally realizing that Haruka wasn't the only one who lost the control of her bladder in sheer terror. "He is letting out some odd black mist like aura thing. I think that in a one to ten scale of anger he is around on one hundred and seventy four."

"What in name of heavens that girl did?" Atsuko asked shocked with the developments. "Well it was supposed to be a prank." Makie said knowing what was going on. "Shiroi tenshi. White angel, while Benji was sleeping Haruka replaced his usual clothes for white ones. Every single piece of them."

"I don't see reason for that much anger." Atsuko commented hearing the pained cries from Haruka as Benji punishes her. "He doesn't have all that much privacy." Makie explained. "So I am guessing that his room or at least his closet is supposed to be a place where he can be alone unless he invites some one in, and since Haruka trespassed…"

Atsuko scratches her head in confusion, she decided to not worry about how Benji applies discipline to his members, but from Haruka's cries she is more than sure that isn't a beating as it gave the idea of being it. The other girls keep their distance not even daring to enter in the same hall of the room where Haruka is being punished.

"I think that we might go do other things." Layla said trying to control the situation. "Haruka brought that to herself by entering on his room, we all know the rules." The other girls nod agreeing gossip about the event while moving away, more than few of them saw Benji stalking his way after the multi-class wizard girl, they decided that discretion was the best part of valor and went to do other chores and ignore the girl.

One and a half hour later Benji now in his usual dark blue highlighted black clothes walk to Jannine. "Here." Benji said handing her the morning star. "Do I really want it back?" Jannine asked eying the spiked head of her most favorite weapon. "I used another kind of punishment." Benji replied. "I only used that to demolish the door."

"Then I guess that it is okay." Jannine muttered storing her weapon away. "How bad is she?" Jannine asked worried. "Let's say that she won't walk right or sit for few days or weeks." Benji answered with a fanged feral grin making all the girls on the dinning hall shiver in fear. "Anyway I will settle few things in my office send Layla there when she shows up here."

Jannine nodded scared as Benji walks away. Twenty minutes later Haruka still her soiled clothes enters on the dinning hall, as Benji said she wasn't walking right and she is rubbing her hips clearly in pain. "What he did to you?" Jannine asked worried, seeing the disheveled girl.

"Something that I wanted in a way that I didn't wanted." Haruka answered walking to the kitchen. "We have ice don't we?" "Yes we do why?" Marine answered worried. "My butt needs it." Haruka replied wincing. "He really made me raw and sore."

"At least he didn't use my poor morning star." Jannine commented. "Wait a second there, what did he use then?" "As I said something that I wanted." Haruka replied tiredly. "Now let me get some ice and then let me get to my room and rest for few days."

Layla heard that, she were about to go to Benji's office, when entering on Benji's office after announcing herself Layla asked. "What exactly did you do to Haruka?" Benji smiled and glanced to Maria who is entertaining herself with a puzzle in a blanket next to his desk before answered.

"What she has been trying so hard to get from me since you and me had that affair in the tower?" Benji asked back. "Ahhh…" Layla replied understanding. "So you…" Benji nodded confirming. "With no lube…" Once again Benji nodded confirming Layla's unfinished question.

Layla winced lightly at the thought. "Did she got off?" Layla asked. "I made sure of that." Benji answered with a nod. "But I also made sure of make her ass as red and raw as possible too. She got what she wanted and I punished her so two birds with one stone."

"Well as long I don't get one of those I think that I will be fine." Layla commented sitting on her chair. "I really don't want to get punished like that." "And I wouldn't punish you or any of the others like that." Benji replied seriously. "Haruka is a different case because what she did to me in this office, you and the others even healed using sex as punishment would bring up painful wounds."

Layla nodded with a smile, happy that Benji never forgot their hardships, but she had to agree Haruka had that coming anyway, all the sneaking around and jumping on him naked or half naked would catch up with her eventually.

"Now changing to some other important issue." Layla said glancing at Maria. "What happened yesterday?" Benji leaned back on his chair; he didn't have much time to come up with an explanation for that.

"Before I start my explanation let me tell you that I also don't know much about this." Benji said seriously. "So much of this is only theories." Layla nodded understanding, what she liked when discussing with Benji on serious issues is that he is honest and straight with the subject, at least most of them.

"Makie, Haruka, that little girl named Maria, and lastly me." Benji said listing the people that he knows that isn't from that world. "We came from the same place but very different locations. That is why I know the language that Maria speaks, after all is my mother tongue and that is why Maria doesn't like to be away from me, I am the only one who understands her."

Layla nodded understanding that makes a lot of sense; it also explained the unfamiliar songs of Benji and Makie. "And how far is that place?" Layla asked, actually was mostly curiosity she wanted to she her beloved's homeland.

"Very far, so far that no one of us knows how we got her or even how to get back." Benji answered, he spoke with Makie, Haruka and even Maria trying to understand how they got there but no one knew why, and Layla wasn't ready for everything yet. "We are guessing that is magically related, we somehow got pulled from our home to Rune."

Layla nodded in silence now she was confused but she also understood it to a lesser extend. "Somehow we of that land can detect the arrival of someone of the same land if we are within a certain range." Benji added. "In the night before I freed you and the others it happened for the first time, I felt a sensation that I can't describe but it was dread and urged me to rush to the place where the newcomer was, and that is how I met Haruka, she was being chased by a huge mob."

"So you rushed there poorly armored and killed the mob?" Layla asked. "I rushed there only in my night clothes, without any kind of equipment." Benji answered. "But for to moment that isn't important, later in that day I met Makie by chance, a girl from my land, the second that I meet, she knew that we were from the same land…"

"Because of that song that you sang when she called you hero." Layla finished, she recalled that well. "It was the first time that she met someone from her land, my second so I am guessing that there aren't many of us here or if there are we don't know how to identify each other." Benji continued with a nod. "And since then nothing happened and before that a little more than four months had passed with me being here in Rune, now five months from when Haruka appeared Maria appeared here in Amatsu."

"And where Makie appeared?" Layla asked. "Payon." Benji answered. "In a field outside Payon, well in the one just after you leave the city." "And where you appeared?" Layla asked looking at him. "Morroc." Benji answered with a smile. "Somewhere in the middle of the Sograt desert without water or food, I was lost there for one week, I only survived because I ate everything that I could kill and drank the blood that I could get."

Layla looks worried at him, but she remembers that it had happened nearly one year ago, he was there standing fine and healthy. "I don't really understand this whole thing but from what I gathered there is a range were we can detect the appearance of someone." Benji said with a reassuring smile since he can see the worry on Layla's silver colored eyes. "Maria was farther away than Haruka was, but I don't know the range of the detection what I think that I know is that isn't more than ten kilometers, is a lot but isn't really much."

"And you can pinpoint the exact location of the person?" Layla asked. "More or less." Benji answered. "We get the feeling like tidal wave, we can feel the direction of it, and once we get in movement it gets line a thick column of smoke hitting us and guiding in the right direction. At least that is the best that I can explain."

"And what you will do about her?" Layla asked pointing to Maria. "Saying that keeping her makes her sound like a pet; the best word is to take care of her." Benji answered. "She doesn't have anyone else who understands her speech, so I will have to teach her English, after that I have no idea."

Layla nodded understanding and agreeing, she gathered that much after seeing Maria sleeping on Benji's arms. "Then we need to purchase clothes for her." Layla commented. "She can't wear your clothes." Benji nodded agreeing, he was planning to leave for that as soon Maria's dress is dry.

"Now another subject that I find pressing." Layla said seriously. "That Atsuko woman, what you decided?" Benji sighed inwardly he was expecting for that. "She is also agreeing in the polygamous relation that is common around here." Benji answered. "So I have to work on a schedule for two, well three of you since Haruka will want it as soon she can sit right."

Layla nodded in silence. "Now why you don't like her?" Benji asked to his silver haired lover. "Other than plain jealousy?" Layla asked, Benji nods confirming. "I get this feeling that she will hurt you." Layla answered honestly, it was true, she doesn't know how Atsuko will hurt Benji but she knows that it will happen.

"Layla if somehow I am returned to my homeland the departure from you would hurt me." Benji said with a sad smile. "That is why I kept a certain distance from everyone before our night in the tower to avoid getting myself and my lover hurt. You were the one that convinced me to let go of that worry and enjoy the happiness while I can."

Layla nodded in silence. "Come here." Benji said pushing his chair back and patting on his lap. Layla obeys and sits on his legs, Benji wraps his arms around her waist and she wraps hers around his neck. "I don't want to leave Rune; I have more than one reason to stay."

Benji kisses the tearing knight, Layla accepts and responds to the kiss unable to express her happiness with words, she knew that she could accept Atsuko in his bed now. 'He must be right…' She thought while sucking on his tongue, twirling hers with his. 'This must be the pain that I am feeling that she might give him…'

Two weeks flied by since Maria's appearance, the little girl revealed to be extremely smart being able to learn quickly, in that short time of learning and living in the guild she started to speak English, still badly but enough to make small sentences and requests.

Benji was working on his usual guild master tasks with two weeks to their first WoE battle to happen the entire guild was feverish and bursting with activity, all the members who still could level up were out leveling, the ones who reached level 99 and weren't helping the others are busy with other tasks, Melissa was visiting Prontera, Payon and Morroc checking on the merchants looking for new equipments and requests from other members, escorted by Alexis and Saya for safety reasons.

"Okay lunch time." Atsuko said entering on Benji's office with a tray full of food. "Let's take a break and eat something." Benji said to Layla and Erika. He turns to Maria and calls the girl to eat, Maria stop working on her studies and move to Benji's desk to eat.

The lunch is eaten with a light chat, everyone there wanted to relax a little. "Taisho!" Karen one of the hunters that were on the gate keeping duty exclaimed as she entered on Benji's office. "There is a messenger from the emperor's palace here; he says that he has to deliver a letter, and he is firm that he will only deliver to you."

Benji sighed. "He is by the gate?" Benji asked. "Yes. I said that I was going to inform of his arrival." Karen answered. "Well you can bring him in." Benji replied. "I will receive him here." Karen nodded and moves back to the gate.

Atsuko sighed and starts to clean his desk from the lunch. "We continue this after the meeting." Benji said with an apologetic smile. (Maria mind in gathering your books? I will receive an outsider.) Maria nodded and gathers her books and stores them.

"And what we do?" Layla asked to Benji. "The three of you can stay here." Benji answered. "Unless he requests a private meeting I don't see a problem for you stay." Layla nodded, Atsuko returns and sees how Layla, Erika and Maria are standing behind Benji's desk and moves there.

Karen knocks and announces herself, receiving the permission to enter Karen opens the door and leads the messenger in. "I came in name of his majesty emperor Tomotaka." He said in a formal way and tone. "I brought you a letter of my master."

Benji takes the offered letter. "You are to take a reply back?" Benji asked. "Yes." The messenger replied. Benji nodded and opens the letter, he sighed in relieve seeing that the emperor recalled to write in English. Benji sighs inwardly now in annoyance as he reads the letter.

Pulling a sheet of paper from one of his drawers Benji pulls a pen and writes his reply before placing on an envelope and passing to the messenger. "Tell him that we will are honored with his invitation." Benji said formally. "We humbly accept the honor of joining him tonight."

"I will pass the message." The messenger said with a bow. "If you excuse me." Karen leads the messenger away closing the door after they leave. "So what it said?" Layla asked worried. "What you had to accept?"

"We were invited to a feast tonight on the Emperor's castle." Benji answered in a tired tone. "Not the entire guild but only me and five of the members that I see fit to join in such event." "We can't just ignore the sponsor of this castle." Erika commented seriously. "I could tell that you weren't fond of the idea of going on that feast."

"Well I don't really like all the fanciness of the court." Benji replied. "And since is a formal event it requires formal clothing, the upside is that we are allowed to go in formal clothes of our own lands instead of the formal clothes of the court."

"Well at least that makes easier." Atsuko commented. "So who are you taking with you?" "You, Layla, Haruka, Alexis and…" "Not me." Erika said in a gentle tone cutting Benji's sentence. "I am really not good in that kind of event." "I don't think that Makie will fit there either." Benji commented. "Why this selection?" Layla asked to Benji.

"In case of something happening we are taking a well balanced party of high level able to fend off most threats even unarmed." Benji answered. "And yes we aren't supposed to take our fighting equipment with us."

Layla frowned but understands why the emperor doesn't let anyone enter armed in a room where he is in. "Why not taking Maria?" Atsuko asked. "It shows that you trust him since no one in his right mind would take a girl of her age in a dangerous place, besides the emperor is your sponsor why he would be threat for you?"

"Atsuko has a point there." Erika commented. "But what about manners? I mean we are talking about meeting with the emperor, I am not even sure that Layla has the needed manners."

"I am a bit unsure of it too." Layla commented. "While I do know good manners I don't know the etiquette of a royal feast." "Look the emperor knows that none of us have those manners." Benji said. "As long we follow the rules of etiquette of Amatsu I think that he won't care at a slip caused by lack of knowledge about royal manners, he knows that we are all warriors here."

The girls nodded agreeing. "And clothing?" Layla asked. "I have some nice dresses but nothing that I would call formal enough to such event." "We arrange them; we still have some hours so we should find some good ones in Prontera and Alberta." Benji answered.

Looking at the mirror on the inside of his closet's door Benji felt like stalking and punishing Haruka once again. 'Letting her select my outfit was a stupid idea…' Benji said to himself as he adjusts the two golden ropes that start on his right shoulder, moved across his chest ending on his left hip.

He is wearing black leather shoes, about those Benji didn't had complaints, they were comfortable and stylish, the trousers where on his good side too, a simple but stylish cut, the red sash like belt was acceptable too, the shirt was okay too, it was a button up white shirt.

But the jacket was bugging Benji, it has silver epaulettes, with four thin silver buttons, the collar was a stand up one holding and covering the lower half of his neck, above everything was that the jacket was waist was short if not nonexistent, it ended above his navel height were the sash ended and the upside 'V' cut of the front of the jacket revealed a triangle of his shirt, lastly the cuffs were white contrasting with blue with black highlights of the fabric of the trousers and jacket.

But without time to arrange something else has to settle with that outfit, after putting on a pair of white silk gloves Benji ties his long hair, now reaching between his shoulder blades; with a simple onyx clip fastened there Benji looks at himself, he wasn't looking bad, the outfit was rather comfortable but he felt uneasy with it.

Leaving the room Benji waits by the door of the dinning hall, they were supposed to meet there, looking at his watch Benji sighs while the girls that won't go to the palace sigh looking at him. 'Why it is taking them so long?' Benji thought, even knowing how long women take to get ready. 'In twenty minutes the carriage will be here.'

"So taisho what you think that the emperor wants?" Jannine asked to Benji. "I don't have much of an idea." Benji answered, it was true anyway the last time that he met the guy he won a castle. "The WoE is nearing and I guess that he wants to hear about our development from me instead from reports. But who knows what he might really want?"

"And if he asks for something indecent with one of us?" Jannine asked seriously. "You would allow him to have his way?" "No." Benji answered in the same tone. "You aren't slaves and I am not your owner, I won't order or force any of you to anything like that. If he asks for that he will get a polite denial, even if he uses any leverage that he has."

Jannine nodded pleased with his answer. "Sorry for taking so long." Layla said in an apologetic tone. "The makeup took time."

"It is okay." Benji replied turning to her. "We still have time." Benji looks at Layla, she is wearing a very dark silver dress, it was simple body hugging gown that was clinging well to every curve of her body, the thin shoulder straps hold it on her shoulders and the dress had a neckline that was edging on the line of modesty, her arms covered with a pair of gloves of the same color of the dress, a beautiful work of lace and brocade.

"It is odd isn't it?" Layla asked meekly, she was uncomfortable with the high heels that came with the dress; she was wearing only a touch of make up and just a silver necklace as jewelry. "You are beautifully stunning." Benji answered with a smile, Layla's hair wasn't all that different from her usual style but it was styled and held in place by silver clips.

"I agree with our leader you are gorgeous." Jannine said with an appraising nod. "You really shouldn't hide that beauty under so much armor." Benji nodded agreeing, but then Layla was also beautiful with her usual clothes, it was a very pleasant change. The others walk to them; they are using mostly the same gown, just changing the colors of the fabric and jewels.

Atsuko was wearing a dark golden gown with gold jewels; Haruka was wearing a very dark violet gown with silver jewels. Alexis was very embarrassed on her black gown and gold jewels, lastly is Maria who is wearing a gothic styled black and white dress. Benji turns to Haruka. "Suigintou?" Benji asked raising his eyebrow.

Haruka chuckled nervously that he discovered where she got Maria's dress. "But she is so cute like that!" Haruka exclaimed. "A gown like ours wouldn't suit her." "I admit that she is pretty cute but gothloli?" Benji replied. "She isn't really matching." "Actually her outfit matches yours." Makie commented. "In the most technical sense your clothes fit the gothic style of hers." "I like." Maria said giving a small spin and making her skirt follow her movements. "As long you like then it is okay." Benji said gently patting her hair.

"So how we are looking?" Atsuko asked with a smile, she really liked that gown; it barely contained her substantial assets, it was the same with Layla. "You are stunning." Benji answered. "Sorry Alexis and Haruka but you two need to fill out a little more to be stunning. But you two are beautiful too."

Alexis blushes madly his words. Haruka is jealous of the other two, she is still a teenager while both Layla and Atsuko are over twenty, she is smaller than them, not to count that she is also Japanese what really weighted on her side, but her advantage is that she isn't pure Japanese and she is counting in a growing spurt to make her not-insubstantial assets become even more substantial.

"Reviewing." Benji said to them. "You all know how to eat with chopsticks?" Maria is about to raise her hand. (You don't have to worry about that.) Benji said with a gentle smile. Maria nodded and smiled back to him. "Yes." Layla, Atsuko and Alexis replied as one, they got practice eating in Amatsu every now and them.

"I am Japanese." Haruka chimed; eating with chopsticks is part of her daily life. Benji nodded pleased. "The table manners?" Benji asked. "We reviewed that a lot." Atsuko commented making the others nod agreeing. "Then we are should be able to have a reasonably good time there." Benji commented.

Benji was relieved that the dinner was flowing smoothly, while fancy the emperor kept the feast clearly in a more modest level, the food were delicious and the attractions where for sure something really worth of notice, it was sad that there was only two males in the room and the women there doesn't appreciate much of the dancing taking place.

Tomotaka was sited between his two daughters, both wearing the several layers of fabric of the formal kimono for noblewomen. Benji was with Maria on his right as he sits on the right of the eldest daughter of the emperor, entertaining the ruler. Benji sighed inwardly at being unable to savor the grilled ell, the emperor stopped eating and the dish was removed before Benji could take more than six bites.

"I hope that you find the next dish flavorful." Tomotaka said with a large smile. "Personally is one of my favorites." Benji smiled letting out a formal reply before sipping on his sake.

Benji coughs hard when the next dish is placed in front of him; it took a huge amount of strength to prevent a huge mess when the sake that he just drank refluxed when in shock he sees a very much naked beautiful woman lying on a black lacquered and gold ornate platter.

Hiromi the oldest princess readily pats Benji's back as he coughs; Benji can't help on noticing her sympathetic smile at his surprise. Layla and the other girls other than Maria are looking in subtle sternness at the emperor and then the women being used as plate for various forms of sushi and sashimi.

'Body sushi?' Benji asked to himself as the cough subsides, having alcohol ending on the wrong hole is really painful. Laughing softly the emperor takes a salmon sushi from the girl in front of him. "This is an delicacy that I very rarely indulge myself to." He said in a warm tone. "I understand that can be a surprise to an outlander, but in Amatsu it is a delicacy that many save months worth of salary to savor."

"I am most honored with your consideration to my person." Benji said in a hoarse voice. "In the land of my ancestors there is a similar costume too, but I never had the pleasure of having it." Benji takes what he thinks to be tuna sushi from the flat stomach of the woman that was served to him.

"I can assure that this is nothing but the best of this land." Tomotaka said smacking his lips after eating his sushi. "I can guarantee the purity of this dish; the flavor isn't the best in an impure one. So tell me more about the land of your ancestors, I am curious to know about the place that gave birth to such a warrior, all men there are like you?"

Benji smiled after eating his own sushi, sure it tasted good but he couldn't really detect any difference of flavor because is served on the body of a virgin, then again he was used to the stronger tastes of his lovers.

"The land of my ancestors in a distant past used to give birth to amazing warriors." Benji said. "In this present time the warriors are rare but were replaced by scholars of unsurpassed wisdom."

The emperor nodded at his words, it was natural that during times of peace that the warriors were replaced by scholars. "Because the land of my ancestors is similar in appearance to Amatsu that I came to favor this city." Benji commented. "But Amatsu surpasses in beauty that land in the present."

With a happy smile the emperor sips on his sake. Maria looks at Benji confused she doesn't know if she should eat, she also isn't all that fond of raw fish. Benji takes a piece of sushi and removes the fish before feeding Maria the rice.

"And that girl, I am curious about her since you arrived." The emperor asked to Benji. "Is she your daughter?" "No your majesty." Benji answered. "She is from my homeland and lost her family because an accident, I am taking care of her until we find her relatives, she doesn't speak English and is just starting to speak English."

The emperor nods and continues to ask questions to Benji. Atsuko leads the others to eat seeing that the daughters of the emperor are eating from sushi and sashimi placed next to the women body.

Snapping his fingers the emperor says something to the butler. "I heard that you also have a liking for distilled cherry wine." The emperor said as he takes a flower shaped silver cup from a servant, then the cup is filled with the dark red liquor. Benji receives a similar one and so are the girls.

"I find the taste of it of my liking." Benji replied with a smile, he truly favored the cherry wine over the rice wine; it took him months to discover the cherry wine. Benji sees Maria holding a similar cup; he takes the cup from her and lightly tastes the contents with the tip of his tongue.

Turning to a servant Benji said. "Please change this for a non-alcoholic beverage. She is too young to drink something this strong." "I am sorry for my lack of attention." She replied taking the cup. "You are as attentive as a father." The emperor said with a laugh.

Benji smiled and sipped the strong wine, he wasn't getting many chances to eat since the emperor keeps showering him with questions, he was sad since the food truly looked delicious.

After half an hour the emperor rests his cup on his lacquered table. "I also heard that your guild is still lacking members to close on the official standard of eighty members." Tomotaka said seriously. "We are one member short." Benji replied. "I admit having a very high set of standards to recruit new members."

"So the guild is your harem?" The emperor asked. "No." Benji answered seriously but politely. "Having an affair with me isn't a standard to enter nor is the guild just a private harem for my leisure. I won't deny that I do took lovers from the ranks of my guild but those lovers came to me willingly and I haven't used of my authority or powers to make them submit to my will or bed. My standards are that someone within my ranks vouch for that person, I only recruit people who are trustworthy, I want members that aren't in the guild seeking for fame, fortune or pleasure, I want members who I can trust who will stay with the guild in good or bad times, helping the guild to grow and become strong."

The emperor nods pleased. "However your guild is only famous because of your fame." He said seriously. "It might have started like that but my members are also gaining fame and reputation for themselves, as you said earlier I only defeated the Golden Years because my guild members were there supporting me." Benji replied in the same way.

Once again the emperor nodded. "To be entire honest with you this feast purpose isn't to hear how the guild fares, it is one of the purposes I can't deny that, but from the reports I know how the castle is." Tomotaka said seriously. "The main purposed is…" Snapping his fingers he turns to his younger daughter. "Mutsumi."

The young princess with short brown hair stands up and undoes her sash letting her countless layers of fabric fall from her shoulders exposing beneath a much lighter set of kimonos. "Mutsumi here wishes to become an adventurer." Tomotaka said not looking at his blushing daughter. "She did behind my back and I am not really pleased with that idea of hers, I just recently discovered this transgression of hers, because her birth I can't just disown her as want to, she still could be used against me, therefore I must to place her under the care of someone who I can trust."

"And I fit the requirements." Benji said seeing where the conversation was going. "Yes." The emperor said with a nod. "While as an emperor I can't accept this affront to my authority and as a father I can't help in wishing the happiness of my foolish daughter, it might be too much to ask but I am placing this fool daughter of mine under your care if you accept the task, I will of course give a fitting rewards, more of a dowry or initial living expenses, you can call it in any way you desire."

"Your highness while honored with the high regard that you hold my person I can't give you a positive answer." Benji said he can tell that the servants are about to burst in indignation. "First I want to talk to your daughter; you can ask to my subordinates that I always question a new member alone. So if is possible I want to do the same before giving you an answer."

"Fair enough." The emperor replied. "Mutsumi take him to your room and answer his questions. No one else will follow you there." Benji nodded and stands up following the fourteen years old princess out of the room. The dinning hall remains in silence with the emperor drinking his rice wine in silence.

In the princess's room Benji leans against a wall while the girl stands on the middle of the room, it was rather simple when compared with everything else. "So what class are you?" Benji asked since he wasn't familiar with her outfit.

"Ninja." Mutsumi answered in a meek tone. "Just recently it was allowed to enter on the circle of normal jobs of Rune-Midgard among two more classes." Benji remained in silence but could understand that. "You really want to join my guild?" Benji asked. "No one else is here I want to hear what you wish and not what your father wants."

Mutsumi remained in silence. "I want to be an adventurer." She said in a less meek tone. "I asked if you want to join my guild." Benji replied. "I am sure that you know what is going on with my guild." She nods scared of him, she was sheltered for most of her life and reaching the level that she did took her four years.

"I want to join." She said looking at him, she was scared of him, she heard rumors about him from the maids of the castle and he was as intimidating as the tales said that he was. "I see." Benji mused looking at the scared princess.

Suddenly he bolts and dashes at her packing a strong punch on her gut, the princess gasps in pain and falls on her knees. "That isn't anything compared to what you might suffer in the WoE." Benji said looking down at the princess. "Thanks to your father my guild that was supposed to be a just for fun guild had to become a WoE guild, that pain that you are feeling isn't a fraction of the pain that my members endured."

Mutsumi gasps for air looking at his feet, clutching her stomach. "If you truly want to become an adventurer you will become familiar to pain." Benji said crouching. "Inflicting or suffering pain. Either way you will know it, so once again you want to join my guild?"

"Yes…" Mutsumi gasped, she was suffering the worse pain that she ever felt in her life, but it also felt good, it felt liberating making her feel like just any other girl that become an adventurer. "Then stand up." Benji said leaving her side. "Show me your determination."

Mutsumi places her right hand on the floor to support herself and tries to stand up. Benji was being particularly rough and mean to the princess but she needed to understand what kind of thing that she will experience outside the castle. "I won't treat you any different than anyone from my guild, you will have to show through hard work that you deserve your post, if you want to rise on the guild then you have to work hard for that." Benji said seriously as Mutsumi struggles to her feet.

"You were disowned your own father said that." Benji added. "You will get an collateral and some living money, but when that ends you will have to earn your own money and pay for your own food and clothes. You understand your place?"

"Yes." Mutsumi said standing over her trembling and weak knees. "Then gather only what you truly needs and treasure, you might also take what you think that can sell for money." Benji instructed. "You won't get servants in the guild you will have to take care of your own things."

Mutsumi nodded. "Now which way back to the dinning hall?" Benji asked leaving the room the place was a maze. Taking a rather pained deep breath Mutsumi show him the way.

Back in the dinning room Benji tells to the emperor his decision; however Benji is surprised with the little time that Mutsumi had to remain in the palace, she had to leave after the feast with Benji and the others. The feast continues with Mutsumi leaving to her room to gather the little of her belongings that her father hasn't ordered to be packed and shipped to the Silver Moon castle.

Two days have passed since Mutsumi were expelled from the emperor's palace, Benji learned on the way back to the Silver Moon castle that a female princess aren't of much importance, Tomotaka had a still child son who would succeed him, Hiromi was married to a important nobleman that was often away for political reasons, it was clear that her marriage was nothing more than a political maneuver to gain more power and ensure the loyalty of her husband.

It was a fate that Mutsumi guessed that she would have too, but she had a dream of exploring and fighting monsters as the heroes of the legends that she grew listening so with the aid of Saeki her loyal handmaiden and best friend she joined the ninja guild Saeki herself being a betsushikime, a samurai woman or fighter, at least that was what Haruka said that it meant in Japan.

In Amatsu it was a variation of the swordsmen class, Amatsu held its own classes since it is a different country, a betsushikime was a swordswoman trained to use sword and bows but mastered in the use of medium to short sword since they are normally kept as last line of defense of a noble, so in Amatsu was common for a castle maid be trained in combat to protect her assigned noble.

Benji sighs inwardly looking at the two new additions to his guild. Saeki was in a higher level than Mutsumi; Benji also learned that Saeki trained with a naginata and a nagamaki but haven't focused on their use. Saeki is wearing a dark pink kimono with a dark red hakama, but instead of being the loose type that one was more like normal pants, her long brown hair is tied in a simple ponytail.

The two girls are fourteen years old; Saeki is on level 49 while Mutsumi is on level 35, too low to leech from even the lower level guild member. Turning to Layla Benji said. "Raki is healthy?"

"Yes she fully recovered." Layla answered. "Why you ask?" "Since she is still a novice, Mutsumi and Saeki are too low level to leech; we could make them a party, send a high level rogue with them and let them level in Lutie." Benji answered. "I was also thinking in having Maria to go with them too."

"Well it is true that we can't get them in an acceptable level in time for the WoE." Layla commented. "But sending them to level slow sounds like a waste." Benji nodded agreeing but he as everyone else was busy with the incoming battle. "We don't have time to the power leveling with the two of them, besides I don't want to force Raki and Maria who are too young to that kind of stress." Benji said. "We can let them level in a more leisure pace."

Layla nodded; at least until the WoE ended it was the best course of action. "Besides I have this equipment that I am sure that Maria will use well." Benji added. "What kind of equipment?" Layla asked surprised, unless he meant the usual novice gear she has no idea of what he meant.

"Some equipment that I am holding that came from the treasure boxes." Benji answered. "I show you later, get your sister and Maria here." Layla nodded and leaves the office.

The transition of the two teens were rather smooth, it surprised Benji to see how they adapted to the commoner's life after a lifetime as nobles. "As I said before I am not giving you two any preferential treatment." Benji said when they are alone in his office. "The only reason that we aren't pushing the two of you as hard as we did to everyone else is the sheer lack of time, even if we worked all day long for the next twelve days you two wouldn't reach the desired level to fight and it would worn everyone else in the guild. We are saving that kind of training once this first battle is over, and the rogue will be there with you as well as a knight of my trust to ensure your safety because my guild and I have many enemies, I don't want to risk anyone and that include the two of you."

"We understand." Saeki said. "You two will be aiding the two novices that we have in our ranks." Benji continued. "Don't push them far because they are younger than you two. Other than that go out there and have fun, but obey the knight." Saeki and Mutsumi agreed at his words.

"Okay Maria here is the items that I am lending to you." Benji said handing to the girl a blue bunny plushie. "Taisho why that?" Layla asked in shock. "How she can possibly fight something using that?"

Benji smiled. (Maria I want you to hold it by the ears swing it and then throw it at Layla as hard as you can.) Benji instructed the child. (Don't worry she will be fine.) Maria nodded and turns to Layla while holding the plushie by the long blue ears and spinning it really fast.

"Brace yourself." Benji said to Layla. Layla looks confused at her lover, and then Maria throws the bunny at Layla. The silver haired knight feels the massive impact of the strike and can't believe on it, her body flies two meters back before she lands flat on her back; Layla was stunned and unable to move.

Maria was holding the plushie once again waiting for more instructions. Recovering and feeling Erika's spell working Layla turns to Benji. "What was that?" Layla asked rubbing her sore and bruised forehead. "Blue bunny of absolute stunning defeat." Benji answered. "I call it Sansão. It is an item for novices."

"And why you held it secret?" Erika asked. "Considering the huge amount of power of the weapon I felt that was wiser to keep is secret." Benji answered. "It gives a +80 bonus for all the stats+5000 for HP and +3000 to SP, one hundred percent of hit, seventy percent of chance of stun, long range enhanced damaged, short range enhanced damage, attack +900 defense +50, ASPD +100, and the skills bunny fling, bunny toss, bunny swing and bunny flail. And the bunny toss is a passive skill that enhances the damage and the stun chance of the attack, the bunny flail does the same thing to short range attacks."

The girls stared to Maria who is holding the weapon, actually hugging the bunny without realizing the power of the plushie. "And when paired with this." Benji said putting a brooch shaped as a simple red dress on Maria's dress breast. "It doubles the attack and the defense. But this is only given to novices."

"So Maria is now the stronger fighter in the guild?" Layla asked stunned with the equipment of the blonde child. Benji nodded confirming. "And why giving her such powerful items?" Saeki asked shocked with what she heard. "Because she can use it well." Benji answered. "And it allows her to level fast without having to worrying about points and jobs so she can be a novice for as long as she wants."

"And me?" Raki asked to Benji. "Well for you I have this." Benji said handing to her a similar bunny but instead of being blue is pink. "That is the Pink bunny of mirror, I call her Dalila. When you are teamed with Maria you will gain all the bonuses and effects that Sansão gives, well taking out the stun. It is another novice item. Now the two of you can go out and have some fun."

The two girls nod holding happily at their respective bunnies. "Erika you call Alexis and tell her to take Isis and go to Lutie with the girls." Benji said to Erika. "Tell them to take some money too, let them have fun and enjoy a day there."

"Okay." Erika replied finishing treating her friend. "Okay girls let's go meet your chaperone." Erika cheerfully said while clapping her hands and leading the girls away. Layla stands up and brushes herself. "I can't believe in that those two plushies are so powerful." Layla said looking at Benji.

"Appearances can mislead." Benji commented. "Lock the door and come here I have to make up for showing to you Sansão's powers." Layla smiled and nodded, happily moving to lock the door and get the compensation for experimenting the power of the plushie.

………Far from there……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Mana looks out of the window. "So two days now." Shina commented by the door of her friend's room. "Yeah, in two days his guild will have its maiden's fight and we won't be there to see how strong he became." Mana replied sadly. "Lately I feel like I made a mistake when coming here, we missed so much."

Shina nodded agreeing they really enjoyed their time with Benji and they heard by broken and late news how strong he became, they realized that they cared deeply for him and pained them to not being there to watch him walking on his path. "And about us?" Mana asked. "Was there any news about the situation? This whole siege thing can't continue like this."

"Tristan III said that if the invaders can't take this castle on this next WoE they will have one week to move and stop the pursuit and siege of this castle when not in the period dictated by law." Shina answered. "It seems that he finally saw that turning the blind eye to this was really hurting the WoE reputation, many guilds protested because they are scared of being attacked when not in the WoE period, having members tortured to spill important information that can be used by the invaders or prevent them from fighting with full power. It is hurting the economy because many guilds that were interested in the WoE are breaking out of fear of if they capture a castle they will be sieged like this."

"Finally some action." Mana commented. "This whole thing is a pain, what good is for us to get a castle if we only get worries?" Shina nodded agreeing as Mana she was hating to stay locked in the castle for more than nine months but as two of the vice leaders they had to show the example for the troops and keep the morale up.

It is three in the morning of Saturday April's tenth, at least that is what Benji's watch is telling him, for everyone else it was something else; it was the night before the day of the WoE.

As everyone else Benji didn't slept much, but unlike the girls of the guild, at least the great majority of them Benji wasn't unable to sleep because anxiety, it was that too, but the main reason is that he divided what would usually be his sleeping hours between his three lovers.

Atsuko wanted to be the last one of the night, Haruka and Layla didn't complained and were the first and the second ones. Atsuko was content that she were able to expend her hours with Benji, he was sited on the bed looking at the window and the distant horizon, she knew that he was worried about what was about to come.

She felt that he was distracted on that night, she didn't blame him for it after all is his first battle in the WoE and everyone gets nervous on their first time, so Atsuko redoubled her efforts in making him relax and forget those worries, she knew that she succeeded for a while.

Hugging Benji from behind pressing her bare breasts against his back Atsuko rests her chin against his shoulder and her cheek on his cheek. "Don't get so tense." Atsuko whispered gently, with her arms wrapped around his chest. "You did everything that you could now is up to them."

Benji reaches back and gently caresses Atsuko's hair, thanking her silently for her support. But Benji was still worried his role was the worse one in the entire defense plan, at least he felt that was the worst one, as the guild leader he should stay with the Emperium in the Emperium room during the entire duration of the WoE, so if the other defenses are breached he can defend it and if needed summon every guild member there to protect the Emperium.

Atsuko closes her eyes savoring the sensations of his hand on her hair and his warm skin against hers, she could feel his chest moving at each breath that he takes and she knows that he can fell the same on her. Atsuko kisses him, she knows that they have less than one hour left before the beginning of the WoE, she want to make the most of it.

It is four in the morning and every guild member ate, drank, bathed and used the restroom in the half hour prior to that moment, now they are all in their previously indicated locations, ready to battle and well supplied.

Raki, Maria, Mutsumi and Saeki gained important roles in the defense, they would be moving potions, arrows and other items from Yuka, the guild's Kafra lady to the others, so the alchemists can give pots to anyone that needs, blacksmiths have their own supplies, the same with monks and other classes.

Benji was in the Emperium room with Jannine, they are the last line of defense before the emergency call, and they will stay with the Emperium all the time during that day and defend it from any one who might get there. It is four twenty three and the horns of the judges send from Tristan the III signal the start of the WoE, and with that sound the trial of fire of the Seiryu's legions started.

End of the chapter thirteen:

Author explanation corner:

Body sushi: Middle age, rich, powerful and widower. Do I have to name any other reasons for a man order this 'dish'? Nyotaimori is the original term in Japanese; it is the practice of eating sashimi or sushi from the body of a woman, typically naked. Said to be practiced with maidens, at least from one of my sources said that was traditionally served on the bodies of virgins.

Haruka's and Makie's song: Mahou sensei Negima ending song.

New classes: As noticed I added the RO ninja class to the story, Benji is clueless about them since on the time of his departure that class didn't exist. The other classes will appear later on the story.

Original classes: (They might pop up now and then on the story)

Betsushikime: Is an original class, subdivision of the samurai class. It only makes sense that Amatsu and the country where the city is located has its own classes based on their traditions. So Amatsu gets samurai and ninja classes. Even thought I by myself don't think too highly of how the ninja is portrayed in RO. Spies, assassins, masters in killing techniques and use of poison, the legends also give them magical powers. In my personal opinion the assassin class is more ninja than the ninja class, especially after it gained the throw poison knife skill. But as I said it is my personal opinion.

Original weapons and items:

Blue bunny of absolute stunning defeat AKA 'Sansão': Based on a famous comic book character's toy. I admit that I overpowered it a lot but in the original comic book the owner of the toy could pack massive damage on the others as well break walls with her massive strength.

It is a novice only item that gives all the benefits named in the story and can be double wielded with the Pink bunny of mirror and showing its true power, it doubles the benefits of the user.

Pink bunny of mirror AKA Dalila: Also from the same comic book from Sansão, Monica the owner of Sansão also owns Dalila who is her secondary toy/weapon. In the story it became a bunny that mirrors the powers of the Blue bunny of the absolute stunning defeat.

It is a notice only item that shows all its powers when used at the same time as the Blue bunny of the absolute stunning defeat.

Brooch: Another novice only item made to enhance the powers of the bunny users.

Kamayari: Yari is a Japanese spear; the kamayari is a spear with an additional scythe like blade on it.