So... What fate did I choose? Suppose you'll have to read and find out. :)

Chapter 47

I looked at the screen being projected over Ouranos's. Sitting on her nice observation chair, dressed in that 'dress' that showed off just about everything without being indecent, she was smiling cruelly into the 'camera'.

Haruhime was at my side before my tail had even finished boffing me on the back of the head for swearing. "Ko-san? This is bad, isn't it?"

I nodded, keeping silent. This wasn't just bad... This had the potential to rip the city apart. The guild was trusted by both adventurers and citizens to be 'fair' and 'impartial'. To inform everyone about what was going on, and dealing as best they could with problems. It was obvious they were going to have a bit of dirty laundry, but some of it was incomprehensible for the general populous.

"I didn't predict this..." I said finally, my tails tangling with Haruhime's as I, and the entire city looked at the two Gods on the giant monitors.

(City wide view)

"Freya, you are out of line." Ouranos said firmly.

"Be silent -traitor-." She said, "You call it a 'war'? You forget who the real enemy is!" She leaned forward just a little, "Consorting with -monsters-, the guild having -adventurers-, covering up for the -lies- of other Familia! I am simply exposing it all to the city, to show them what is really happening!"

Ouranos, his weathered and wizened face simply stared, passive, while he said nothing.

"Yes, we all assumed that the guild would only hire normal citizens. But when Hermes was sent back to Tenkai, many of his former Familia joined the guild!" Pictures started to flash on the monitor, still images of various people, like one of a red vested Chienthrope. The last image however, was that of Asfi, "And Asfi, named Perseus, the best item maker in Orario, was sent to Rakia! To support their 'king'." Freya's face appeared again, "Rakia only helped Orario during the recent crisis to scout our defences, learn of our adventurers and their weaknesses."

Ouranos remained still, saying nothing in his defence or to refute Freya's claim.

Freya laughed, seeming to draw a kind of manic energy from Ouranos's silence, "Yes, and he's not the only guilty one! Ganesha, the so called 'god of the people'."

The images started to change again, this time showing monsters. Most seemed to be taken from inside the dungeon. Lido the Lizardman, Let the redcap goblin, Fear and Ray. All obviously wearing 'clothes' and 'armour' like 'normal people'. But then it showed the Lamia and her adopted family, inside the Ganesha 'zoo', wearing clothes to cover their nakedness, and the five of them curled up around desks and all being taught by Shakti like any teacher would at a school. But then there were three more. Gros (sunning himself in Hestia's yard), Spot the Hellhound (getting a headpat from Eina), and Weine (walking the street next to Kodori, a snack in her hand, smile on her face, someplace on the main street).

"Yes!" Freya's image came back again. "They are up here, on the surface, walking among you! They might wear clothes, they might even talk. But they are still -monsters- they are still the -enemy-!"

And again, Ouranos said nothing, did nothing.

"And this little 'Alliance'. It hides the greatest monster of all! A cheating Goddess, and a beast from the eastern lands!"

(Kodori)

By now, all of Hestia Familia, Takemikazuchi Familia, and Astraea Familia were gathered in the middle of the yard. Thankfully, none of the workers around us had done anything but look up at the screens, but if something wasn't done, if Ouranos didn't say anything, then...

My mind worked furiously for something, anything, to head off what might be a decapitating strike to everything we'd tried to build so far.

(The citywide view)

The image changed to show Kodori. In full battle mode, fury on her face, Fen-chan by her side as they faced Ottar, outside the city.

"Yes..." Freya's voice lost that hint of madness, "Kodori did beat my beloved Ottar."

The picture switched to Ottar laying by the fountain, beaten, swords broken, armour torn, bleeding, a small potion vial next to his hand.

"She beat him, then paraded him through the city, leaving him there for all to see!" The picture switched back to Freya again, her eyes angry but misty, "And at the time, she was only level five!" She paused for effect, then continued, "How else could she have beaten him, if her Goddess, Hestia, wasn't cheating!"

(Kodori)

An idea came to me someplace in the middle of that, "Who's got our Occulus?" I mumbled.

"I do." Bell said, just as quietly, though I could hear the anger just under his voice.

I reached over, still not looking away from the monitors, took his wrist and raised it to my mouth, "This is Kodori of Hestia Familia. Please relay a message to Royman, that Lady Hestia would like to speak, after Lord Ouranos replies to Freya."

"What? I do? But..." Hestia sounded a little panicked.

"You can do that too, right?" I pointed to the screen.

"Only with permission... yes." She gripped one of my tails with kitten strength.

"So, we're asking for permission." I replied, frowning at the next picture.

(The Citywide view)

The picture changed to a full on picture of Kodori's exposed back. With the nine tailed fox in the middle with its 'flaming' outline, looking at the 'camera', it showed everything. The hieroglyph that played around and through the tails, the list of numbers, skills, stats, everything was exposed for anyone who could read it.

Also of note, there was a tiny hand reaching under her armpit towards who ever it was who captured the image. As well, a small forest of tiny pointed ears over Kodori's shoulder, and the smiling face of Haruhime as she looked at her wife.

(Kodori)

"Don't swear." Haruhime said before I could say anything.

(The Citywide view)

"To all the Gods of the city. You all know how this -should- look!" Freya said, "Every God has their own emblem behind the status of their child. Proudly displayed to show who they serve. But what is this? There is clearly something -wrong- with the 'Demon Fox's' status! Corrupted? Altered? Helped along unfairly perhaps?"

Ouranos's face remained still, but then he blinked at something from off 'camera', then forward again.

"This is who runs the 'Alliance'. A cheating Goddess, an eastern Monster, and her incursion of unnatural -things- from her homeland!" She leaned back in her chair, face smug, "And the Guild is letting her do it! Strange inventions given for 'free', assisting our known enemies in Rakia, letting foreign and dungeon monsters walk the streets, bringing in adventurers against their promise to never have a Familia!" She paused, "That is who is really running the city now. I wasn't fighting the guild, no, I was -resisting- against an -invasion- that is hiding under our very noses!" She then narrowed her eyes slightly, "Nothing to say, 'Pillar of Orario?'

Ouranos didn't smile, or frown, or even sigh. He simply said, "It is rude to interrupt. Am I to assume you are done?" When Freya frowned, but said nothing, he sighed, then said very clearly, "I will address each point in order, to avoid confusion. Citizens of Orario, I ask that you pay attention, and listen carefully."

(Kodori)

"Is he going to..." Bell started to ask.

"He has to, now." I shook my head, "He has no choice."

"I just hope... the people understand." He said, taking hold of one of my tails and putting it over his shoulder like a scarf.

"The best we can hope for, is that the people don't -misunderstand-." Haruhime said.

(The Citywide view)

"I have been here since the beginning. And even now, as I sit and pray for the dungeon to remain calm, I still do not know everything about the dungeon." His eyes went a little distant, "For a thousand years, we, the Gods and Goddesses of Orario have sent the Children into the dungeon to learn its secrets. The Guild, acting as my eyes and ears, put together what the Adventurers discovered, so that each generation of Adventurers could discover more." He shook his head, "But even then, much of the dungeon remains a mystery to us, to Me, who sits here to suppress the dungeon's will for destruction. I remain vigilant, but I am not infallible."

He looked left and right, as if observing the city, "Years ago, something new occurred in the dungeon. The leading monster taming Familia, Ganesha, brought it to my attention, and has since worked with me to understand this new phenomena. Even now, we only have guesses as to why it happens. But sometimes, the dungeon gives birth to a monster, who is different." He paused, closing his eyes for a second, then opening them again, "The Gods created the children, who throughout time has learned to prosper and grow. Use tools, create wonders, shape nature and survive hardship. But, it seems the dungeon has started to do the same."

His voice trailed off slightly, but then returned, more forceful, attention grabbing, "Make no mistake, the dungeon is a dangerous, living, -wilful- thing. It spawns monsters endlessly, in the hopes that I, who sit here to suppress it, fail. But those monsters are thoughtless, with no other purpose than violence and rage." He smiled ever so slightly, "And we rely on you, the Children, to keep that rage in check." The smile faded just as quickly, "But, recently, we have discovered monsters who think like the Children. They use tools, create wonders, shape nature and survive hardship, just as Our Children do. But, they are not -Our- creation. So, we call them Xenos. Outsiders."

Again, a slight attention grabbing increase in volume, "They are few, but they are just as capable as the Children. They are hardly even a tribe, but they are a 'people' in its infant stages, and that is why Ganesha helps me to understand them. For he is the God of the People. No matter if they are our Children, or the Dungeon's. And it is, as it has ever been, the duty of the Gods to guide the Children."

He looked left and right again, and smiled ever so slightly, "The images you saw," And this time it was his face that was replaced by the Xenos who were living 'in the sunlight', "Are true, they are up here, in the sunlight. But they have harmed no one who did not attack them first, -like any of the Gods Children- would do. They conduct themselves as any of you would, no matter how different they might look. And while rare, they have even offered aid to adventurers, against the dungeon that birthed them, so that they might live another day and return to the sunlight."

Freya frowned as Ouranos moved on.

"It is also true, that the guild has adventurers in its ranks." He nodded, looking sternly into the 'camera', "And with the recent attempt on my existence, I feel it has justified itself. As for Hermes, who was sent back to Tenkai for killing the former King of Rakia, I adopted his Familia so that they could continue their usual work directly, and honestly, for the Guild. It was no secret that he flouted the Guild's laws when it came to taxes and reporting his assets accurately. But I allowed him leeway, since it was his Familia who delivered messages to high risk locations, for you, the people of Orario."

"The Guild sho-"

"It is rude to interrupt." Ouranos said, as Freya's voice was cut off, her image continuing to 'speak' for a moment before she stopped and 'huffed' in her chair. "Yes. The guild has adventurers. But they work for the guild -properly- instead of under the direction of an unreliable God who causes problems for Orario in distant lands, and even here in Orario itself. The handful we have are still vastly outnumbered by the normal Guild employees, but not every problem the guild has can be handled by a normal person."

His face softened slightly, "As for Asfi, nicknamed Perseus. She wasn't sent by us to Rakia, no. She stayed after Hermes killed the former King, and is now the Queen of The Rakia Man, King Marius. But yes, it is true. Orario did send aid to them. While they have been aggressive in the past, King Marius has reformed their warlike ways. Abolished slavery, improved the well being of his people, and in our time of need, sent adventurers and building materials to help us. Even now, despite the lukewarm welcome of the people of the city, he promises to be there for us if we should ever need aid."

Finally, he looked down slightly, his eyes piercing. "Hestia, I give you permission to speak in defence of your Child."

(Kodori)

Hestia had a moment of panic, her hands twisting my poor tail, "But, what do I say? I'm no good at this!"

I turned to her, smiled, and with a thought my clothes changed, the 'fabric' of the back vanishing and revealing my still exposed status. "Update me. Renew your mark upon my soul. Show them everything."

"But..."

"I'll talk first, but please, the people are waiting."

She looked at me, then around her to the core of the Alliance. Not a single one of us had anything but an encouraging smile for her. "Very well..." And with a deep breath, a gentle blue glow seemed to grow out of her body. Then, below Ouranos's array of screens around the tower, Hestia's face appeared. In front of our Goddess, there was a small clear 'window' like a smart phone screen, without the phone.

"Before I prove that I am not 'cheating', my Child, Kodori, will correct Freya on her assumption that she is a 'monster'."

And then the screen was in front of me, my face displayed for all of Orario to see. It was time for honesty, at least, as much as I knew I could get away with. If I ever went back to visit Rias and Sona, I would give them, their peerages, and even their parents such a hug for teaching me how to do this...

(The Citywide view)

Kodori's face replaced Hestia's on the screen. It was far too close, but after a moment and a mumbled word to the side, it moved back a little to show her head and shoulders, with the background being the rubble pile of the Manor.

"I am Kodori, the Demon Fox." She introduced herself, "And while I resent being called a 'beast', it's true, I am from an Eastern land." She glanced off camera, and there was a swish of a couple of her tails, but then she looked ahead again, "It is also true, that yes, I beat Ottar, and I was only level five at the time."

Something about her seemed to relax a little, "There are many races in the world. From Amazons to Were-wolf. And some of these races, even without the gift of Falna, can do extraordinary things. Were-wolves can transform under the moon. Elves are able to use magic even without Falna. And we adventurers rely on the Spirit-folk in the city for most of the protective cloth we adventurers use to survive in the dungeon."

Her arm reached for something just off camera, and a moment later a pair of golden haired fox ears entered the bottom of the frame. "Can you..." The view shifted slightly again, and it showed both Haruhime's face and Kodori's, "And even Renard all have some kind of minor magic before receiving the gift of Falna."

Haruhime blushed then moved aside again, and the view refocused, "But, all of these races started somewhere. Legends, even before the descent of the Gods, tell of them. Elves making pacts with spirits for their children to be blessed with strong magic. Those same spirits wishing to be closer to people, and taking a physical form."

She smiled, and all of her tails fanned out behind her, "One thing is always true however. That no matter the ability in the -blood-, Falna, the Gods gift of their blood to us, the Children, makes our gifts stronger." Her tails continued their little display for a moment longer, then settled as Okakai and Fukawa knelt behind her. "We, are from another race. Demons. The East has records of us, and some places even worshipped us before the Gods descended. But most of us simply went into hiding as the people started to follow the Gods, accepting their gift of Falna so that they could protect themselves, instead of the relying on Demons."

She took a step back, putting a hand on the two Oni's shoulder, "Just like any person, we have our own motivations and goals. For these two, it is fighting. But when the fighting is done, they will move on. A village might buy their loyalty with food and shelter, but when the immediate danger passes, they would migrate to the next battlefield."

She stepped forward again, "For the Kitsune." She put a hand over her heart to indicate herself, "We would stay, accept offerings, protect the people, and offer advice. But when the Gods came, their reliance on us lessened, and we were forgotten." She smiled, "So yes, Freya, I am from an Eastern land. I am -different-, but I am not a beast. The Kitsune, and the Oni, were simply forgotten by time, as the Gods helped the people defend themselves."

(Kodori)

I knew that if I said a single word of a lie, that the Gods would know. For example, I didn't say 'which' land I was from, just that it was 'Eastern'. Thankfully, both worlds called it the same way. Thanks to Takemikazuchi, Momiji and Kaede (who were all going to get a thank you later), I knew enough about -this- world's version of us, the Demons, and could weld together some kind of half-truth half-omission story, that would have no lies, yet not just give away that I wasn't even from this world, let alone the 'East'.

"As for my status." I looked not at the screen with Freya's face, but towards the top of the tower, "Now that it has been -illegally- exposed to the public," Ouranos nodded ever so slightly, telling me that yes, he was still keeping count of Freya's crimes, "I will have my Goddess update it, live, for the entire city to see."

I looked to Hestia, gave her my best smile (a pale but well meaning imitation of Her best smile) and finished with, "To prove that no matter how strong I get, no matter how strange my power is, or where I'm from. I am still hers."

So, I knelt down, and watched as the view did a blurring panorama of the work site, my Familia, the Alliance, and the workers, before settling on Hestia. Then, with a blink, the image showed my back, and the fox, who stood in front of Hestia's Familia emblem, tails fanned out, eyes open and alert, ears perked up and listening.

"Can someone..." Hestia started, before I heard the 'click' of Haruhime drawing her deadly little tanto, "Thank you."

I hated putting Hestia on the spot like this. I knew she hated it, hated politics, and was no good being in the centre of attention. But, she was also too nervous to have any of her usual emotional outbursts. Oh, she'd certainly cling to Bell later, but for now...

I looked up at the screen showing my back, hugging myself (a little belatedly) so I didn't give the entire city too much of a view of my side boob (huh... less than the last picture I had... finally x_x). And then the first drop of Hestia's blood 'tapped' onto my back, and her finger descended.

(Twilight Manor, Loki's Office)

"No way..." Loki said, leaning in really close to the screen she'd made (illegally, but who cared, right?) and looking at just how much -stuff- was printed on Kodori's back. "Rivy-rivy? You reading this?"

Riveria was trying to act professional, but her eyes went wide at the sight of Kodori's back. "I'm not sure I am reading this correctly... Are those -question marks- on her attribute lines? And all of those abilities..."

Loki was giggling, "Oh, how I wish I'd scooped her up at that party... I could tell there was something different about her, but now I know what..."

Then the first drop of blood hit her back, right between the black Fox's ears. "So far I see no less than three things that break the norm... and that's not including the different emblem..." Riveria mumbled as Hestia's little finger touched that drop of blood, and drew a line down Kodori's back, "Though, perhaps she gets around the spell limit like I do..."

(I AM GANESHA, Ganesha's office balcony.)

"Kodori is being very trusting, and risking everything on this." Ganesha said in his 'normal' voice, accepting a cup of tea from Shakti, who was also reading and watching the monitors around the tower. (since Ganesha didn't break the rules unless he was told to by the Guild).

"My Lord? Aside from the entire city now knowing her abilities, what else would she be risking?" Shakti asked.

"If her status does not return to normal, or something closer to it, the people will likely assume it is corrupt. And now that her status is known, her enemies can plan their encounters with her." He sipped his tea, watching Kodori's back glow Hestia's blue, numbers and letters lifting off her back and rearranging themselves. "Let us hope she has more friends than enemies in the future."

"Considering all she's done, and is planning to do? I doubt she will have that problem." Shakti said, "Looking at her status though... I have never seen an Abnormal Resistance that high before."

"I have only seen it once. And they had survived an affliction so dire that there was nothing left of them but a body and soul. They survived, yes, but their mind was gone, and they wasted away soon after." Ganesha sighed, "I too sent some of my Familia to fight the Behemoth, but only he returned."

"It was before my time, but I hope the world never sees something like it again." Shakti shivered a little.

(Citywide View)

As the numbers changed and shifted, and the words shuffled themselves around, the fox on Kodori's back began to move. First it was the tails, swishing slowly until they were a single bundle, and not fanned out behind it. Then it was the body, standing, turning slightly, then laying down. This revealed Hestia's usual emblem on her back, the 'Olympic brazier' with its roaring flame emanating from the it.

The letters and numbers started to settle again, writing themselves around the flame, inside it, on the brazier, all while the fox seemed to crawl along the underside of it, curling its body and tails under the bowl of fire.

Finally, it seemed to find exactly the place it wanted to be, and while its posture was one of rest, the eyes were still open, the ears were still up, and it was still facing towards anyone who might look at it. As it set itself there, the words 'Beloved Kitsune of Hestia' wrote themselves anew along one of the 'uncoloured' tails of the fox.

And finally, using what little space there was on Kodori's back, a small list of development abilities wrote itself down, and the numbers on her back reset themselves to zero, the topmost ticking over to seven.

(Kodori)

I'd never actually watched my own back while getting an update. I'd just never really thought about it, and simply enjoyed the sensation of my Goddess giving my soul a headpat or whatever it was she did.

But, as I watched the update happen, as the letters and numbers and my own 'divinity' move around, I felt... It felt like something, or a bunch of somethings, deep inside of me relax. Untwist, untangle, lay flat and get comfortable again. It was uncannily similar to getting my tails brushed, except someplace close to where I kept my magic reserves, but not quite as deep down as my soul.

And finally, once again, Hestia renewed her faith in me while claiming ownership, as Beloved Kitsune of Hestia wrote itself anew on what little empty space there was on my fox's tail. And then, with a little internal 'click' I felt, as much as saw, my level increase to seven.

Hestia's finger lifted off my back, but then returned a moment later to poke the nose of the fox that was now resting, alert, under her Emblem. But instead of moving, or blinking, or doing any of its other weird and unusual things, the entire status faded away, hiding itself again, just under the skin, just over the soul.

(Citywide View)

Ouranos waited a moment, watching along with the entire city as Kodori's status settled, got a nose boop, then vanished as was proper for an adventurer. Then, after a nearly inaudible deep breath, he said, "Gods and Goddesses of Orario, I saw no error with her methods."

Freya, as much as she looked like she wanted to, didn't comment. It was obvious Kodori's stats were strange, that her growth was insane, that having a moving... 'something' on her status was unheard of. But there was no flaw or alteration in the update itself. This was how all of the Gods performed their updates. So, she chose another method.

"That update was normal, yes. But how do you explain the insane growth? She has been in Orario for less than five years. And now, she is level seven. Outstripping every single record ever, with stats that are above the normal thresholds!" She frowned, "Bell Cranell as well! Both of Hestia's children are abnormal!"

Ouranos looked very much like he wanted to sigh, but instead he said, "I too have wondered." He admitted, "But when things were brought to my attention, I understood why." His eyes hardened, almost angrily, "It was not Hestia, but those around her Familia who caused this. Incident after incident. Battle after battle. Many of them manufactured by other gods to deliberately put the Hestia Familia in danger."

It was only now that Ouranos moved, and it was only enough to lean forward a little, as if he was looking down on someone, "A minotaur with an adventurer's weapon. A wargame that was grossly out of their favour. The rescue of a loved one from an item delivered by Hermes. Xenos getting trapped on the surface. Returning to Rakia to remove a king who was driven insane." He leaned back, "Nearly a year away to return the fragments of the dungeon. Fighting and beating someone two levels higher. Pulling the entire city together so that it may return to its proper order. Planning, facing and defeating the top Familia in the city."

He frowned, and a hint of true anger showed on his face. But, as quickly as it happened, it vanished again, "If there is anything abnormal, it is how many times they have faced true adversity, and grown the overcome it. I am sure I am missing a few things, my place in the city does isolate me somewhat. But even I understand that the only 'abnormal' thing about their growth, is how often they have had to overcome great things, surpass their limits, and overcome the seemingly impossible."

His eyes looked forward accusingly, "It is as if someone is manipulating them to grow, and making the rest of the city suffer in the mean time."

Freya's face darkened, and she stood, "Then you leave me no choice. People of Orario! Raise your voices, let yourselves be heard. Will you listen to the voice of reason? Or continue to follow a Guild who breaks their own rules, and a Goddess who houses -monsters- and -mutations- under her roof? Who's members buy your loyalty with trinkets and useless knowledge from distant lands?" She smiled, "Or will you continue to follow the strongest Familia? Who took up the mantle of leadership when the Zeus and Hera Familia failed to slay the Black Dragon, leaving the city vulnerable to the dungeon?"

(Kodori)

I watched, and felt that something was wrong. Something about her voice, something about her eyes...

*Thump*

The Oni had stood, and both brought a foot down at the same time. The vibration under my feet cleared my head, and I knew exactly what Freya was trying to do. It seemed to have the same effect on the workers around me, and they were all shaking their heads like they were clearing away a dizzy spell.

Ouranos must have noticed as well, looking over Hestia's shoulder as she turned to see why the giants were making the noise.

(Citywide View)

The weathered and time worn face of Ouranos lost its composure, lost its calm, lost its 'professional stoicism'. And became -furious-.

"You DARE, Freya?" He demanded.

Freya blinked in surprise, as if getting caught was the last thing on her mind.

"For the use of your Arcanum, in a situation that does not directly involve your safety-"

"I am the true ruler of this-" She started to glow, a faint, royal purple aura, but then it winked out as if turned off by a switch.

"You would attempt to pit your will against mine?" Ouranos asked, his eyes wide, but his posture relaxed once again, "You forget the rules we all agreed to when we came to the world to help the Children survive the dungeon. Let me remind you, I am the God of the Sky, and you are under my domain."

Freya fell to her knees like a stringless puppet. A moment later, she struggled to rise, and managed to get to one knee.

"For the crimes committed by Freya Familia against the Hestia Familia, the Guild will apply all appropriate fines and fees, including the cost of rebuilding their home. If it weren't for the good your Familia does, in suppressing and exploring the dungeon, I would sentence you to the same fate as Dain Cecht. As it stands, the fines you have accrued to this point will make it a near thing as it is."

His face relaxed again, and Freya managed a single sob, and a whimpered "no..."

"As for your crime of breaking the First Contract, I hereby strip you of all but the barest hint of your divinity. No longer will your body heal instantly from minor wounds, such as that of updating your Familia. No longer will you have the use of your Arcanum. No longer will you be impervious to mortal blade!"

"You will be mortal, in all but name. Ageless, but vulnerable to all the mortal hurts of the world. Truly powerless but for the support of your Familia."

Freya seemed to lose even more of her strength, and she flopped to the floor again, and the screens around the tower she had made vanished with a quiet -fizz-.

(Kodori)

I almost forgot to put the back of my shirt back into place as I stood up again. Did he just... "Lady Hestia?" Bell asked quietly, "Did Lord Ouranos..."

"She broke the rules of the First Contract. We must all sign it before we descend. To only use our true power in the direst of circumstance, and only for personal protection, and never for personal gain." Hestia explained distantly, "Ouranos... took it away from Freya. She's only a little more than human now."

"Boss... boss? Hey..." Delly was giving my sleeve a tug, "We might have a problem."

I looked to Delly, then to where she was pointing. The workers, now snapped out of their daze with the disappearance of Freya's image, were now looking towards Gros's cage. I couldn't tell what kind of look it was, but he had all of their attentions.

"Hey Gros!" I took a little bit of a risk, a feeling of mild euphoria working its way through my body, "You can drop the act now!"

There was a pause as all the workers looked at me, then back to Gros. Then, in true 'old man' fashion, Gros said, "I suppose you expect me to help with the cleanup then?"

"It would be nice, yeah!"

"Fine fine... What are you all looking at? Haven't you seen... oh... I suppose you haven't seen a talking gargoyle before..."

"Citizens and Adventurers of Orario!" Ouranos said from behind us, "And Hestia? Unless you have something to add?"

The image of Hestia panicked a moment, then she said, "U..um no... lemme just..." And she stopped glowing, the array of screens around the tower vanishing.

(Citywide View)

"Citizens and Adventurers of Orario. I will close with this. I established the Guild, so that all people of Orario could conduct their business without worry. We handle money, logistics, and maintenance of the city we all live in. But, without the people of the city helping, the Guild would have no purpose."

He looked side to side, as if looking over the entire city, "We do not play favourites. We uphold the justice as best we can. But the other side of Justice, is Mercy. We understand that the Familia compete and conflict with each other, and we have rules set in place in the hopes that they are followed, and such conflict does not affect the city at large."

His eyes seemed to look right at the ruin of the Hearthstone Manor, "You are free to do as you please, so long as you follow the rules. The Guild is not here to 'rule' but 'mediate'. We do not support this 'Alliance', but they support us, and we are grateful for the support they give the Guild. It is my hope that this example is followed, and that the conflicts between the Familia stay within the rules."

He closed his eyes, leaning back properly in his chair, then spoke, "I declare there to be another Donatus in two weeks. I encourage you all, citizens and Familia alike, to bring any lingering issues to the Guild. As well, I think it is well past time we did something fun. Let us put this conflict behind us, look ahead to the future, and work together to keep the city safe."

And with a little 'fizz' all the screens around the city vanished.

(Kodori)

"Does this mean... we won?" Haruhime asked quietly, giving one of my tails a tiny little tug to get my attention.

"I do believe it does." I said quietly, looking around at the 'core' of the alliance, "Aside from needing to rebuild..."

"And hope the people don't panic, knowing there are Xenos in the city?" Bell said.

"We can start on that problem, right now." Okakai suggested, looking at the workers, who still seemed to be undecided on what happened next.

"Just like you did with Kurin." Fukawa nodded, "Put us in the same space together, and keep the peace."

Maki laughed quietly, Delly nodded, and everyone else smiled. "So!" I said, raising my voice, "Does anyone care that we have a Gargoyle who can help do some heavy lifting-"

"Oh sure, make me move walls out of the way..."

"Or a Vouivre who makes cookies?"

"I think these ones are burnt..." Weine pouted from her spot at the cooking tent.

The workers looked at me, then Gros, then Weine, then back to me, "We all gotta work to eat." One said, getting a bunch of nods from around him. "She cooks better than my wife!" Another said, getting a few laughs, "Hey, what about those birds?"

"They're just normal birds!" Delly called out, "But pretty friendly if you don't make any sudden noises!"

"Oh, no problem then!"

I looked around me, meeting the gaze of my Familia, my friends, my Goddess and Wife. "Suppose that means it's lunch time! Lots left to do, and we might lose the evening to rain! Weine get a new batch of cookies going! You there, that table is for eating, not tools! Hey! It's break time, put that hammer down! Chop chop! Wash your hands and faces and line up!"

"Yes Ma'am!"

Only after we'd had lunch, realized I was only a so-so weatherman, and gotten canvas tarps over everything we needed to, did it really settle in that we'd done it.

It was there, huddled in the doorway of our small 'bunk' room, watching people either take shelter under other tarps, or run home for the day, that I started laughing. Not just a little laugh, or a solid chuckle, but an 'amused at the world' one step from running about and hugging everyone kind of laugh.

This was promptly stopped by a tug on one of my tails, "Shh, they're starting to get sleepy." Haruhime said, "Back up a little more out of the rain, help me keep them all warm."

Inside the limited space, we only had Delly, Maki, Bell, Hestia, Haruhime, Myself and the children. Well, the rabbits were here too, but they were basically not taking up any space worth counting. Just about everyone had one of our children in their arms, suffering(?) through curious pokes, prods, exploring fingers or just getting drooled on as they napped.

So, obeying my wife, I picked up Yumi and Chie (getting a curious 'blup?' from Jiru) and said quietly, "We did it." I said to the two in my arms, rubbing my cheeks against theirs, "We can stop worrying so much about keeping you away from that silly Freya, and just... concentrate on growing, and learning, and getting big and strong, fair and fine."

The others sighed quietly, "Is it really over?" Bell asked, "I mean, yes, we won, but the Xenos are exposed now..."

"I think the word you're looking for Mister Bell," Delly said, "Is 'acknowledged'. Aside from the ones here, who are safe and apparently well liked..."

"Cookies make you very likeable." Maki said.

"And those ones staying with Ganesha, who might not be 'liked' as much, but are under much tighter guard." Delly gave Maki a friendly elbow and eyebrow waggle, "Ouranos didn't tell anyone where they were. Just that 'they exist' and 'they will react like anyone else' when bothered."

"Just like the Oni." Hestia said, "Take' told everyone that when they were asked about. Don't poke unless you can accept a poke back' kind of thing."

"But will the people stop there? There was so much confusion during the Xenos incident..." Bell sighed, looking down at Toshi, who yawned at him as only an unconcerned baby could.

"That entire night was a mess." I said, "But now that things have calmed down, and the people who've interacted with the Xenos living up here know them to be 'good' or at least 'reasonable'... Well, who knows? Better than before at least... I hope..." I couldn't help but feel a little of the same doubt that Bell had. But I was still hopeful.

"So now we can focus on rebuilding?" Haruhime asked.

"Yes, I think so." I said, "Huh, rain is slowing down a little... We might be able to get to the Madam's place before dinner... maybe..."

"You're still going there? They exposed you!" Hestia said sharply... before getting a nose-oop from Kei. "Ow..."

"I'm sure she will be very sorry it happened. And those two will be unwelcome in her house." Haruhime said, tapping Kei's nose, "You must be gentle, little Kei."

"-et." Kei tried again, clumsily brushing his hand over Hestia's face.

"Very good." Haruhime smiled.

"How about you two?" I asked, deflecting the topic of us staying in a brothel.

Both Hestia and Bell kind of froze in place, then looked at each other, then laughed nervously, "Well, um... we found a place near the Blue Pharmacy... just for us... you know... close to friends, away from this mess..." Hestia mumbled.

I tried very very hard not to tease them, and I could see everyone else trying as well. "Well, so long as you're both safe." I said finally, "And come to work in the morning."

"Yeah. Lots of work to do." Bell said, giving Hestia's shoulder a pat with his free hand.

NOTES!

And that is how Freya fell from grace. (Yay Oni saving throw!)

See you in five days, as I start the 'wrap up' and lead into the next story, Gate (and the JSDF went WTF?) I think I've finally decided on how to go about things, and where/how I'll start. I'll bet it surprises most of you!