Chapter 64

I felt my body being moved, similar to when Hardy had control. It wasn't as literal, I was moving my legs, but they were more automatic motions as Welf got my arm over his shoulder and walked me back to the Manor.

My mind was... disconnected. Every time I tried to think of something related to what went on in the hot side of the workshop, I just couldn't think of it. Almost all the tools had no names. The things that went into the fire were just lumps of material. The objects where the work happened were... objects where the work happened. The information was simply... not coming to the surface.

Dimly, as the lighting changed from evening to the soft bright blue of indoors, I distantly heard Welf talking to someone.

"She's just repeating things. Hammer, chisel, scissors, awl... All tools for leather and (noise)."

Someone, Asuka maybe? Called for Hestia, and I continued my numb walk towards the living room. I heard my children, and without conscious thought, knelt and just gathered them up in a hug. "Um, guess I'm getting a hug too." Amani said.

"What's she on the floor for?" Hestia sighed, "What's wrong?"

Trying to draw some kind of solace from my personal happy place (plus Amani), I hardly listened until a new, less familiar voice broke in.

"Oh no! This is what she meant!" Giselle said.

"Giselle-san?" Haruhime asked, not joining in on the hug, but giving me headpats, her hand feeling wonderfully icy. "Do you know what's happening?"

"Hardy, my former Goddess, is the keeper of the Underworld and ruler of hell. She makes sure the Dead go where they're supposed to, but is also worshipped by miners, since underground is Her domain." Giselle explained, "And it's common for her to give a little something to people she possesses."

"Something?" Hestia asked icily.

"eep!"

"Now now, Hestia-sama." Haruhime chided, Giselle-san?"

"Hardy has no physical body, so she must rely on her Apostle, or the people she possesses to do things. The strain is incredible for a normal person, so anyone who can hold her spirit long enough to amuse her usually gets a gift. Lelei for example!"

"Move over." Hestia said gently, "Oh... these are real clothes today." She was behind me, her hands on my back.

"We'll help!" The children said, little hands over my body, pulling at buttons, holding things in place, "No peeking!" Kei said to someone.

"eep?" Bell replied with fake surprise, "Maybe the middle of the hall is a poor place for this?"

"It's fine." Hestia said, my mind slowing down a little as her hand put itself on my favourite spot. "It's just a peek, not an update... If I'd been there for real I'd have given that harlot such a kick!" She mumbled.

Aside from a few heartbeats from my children, I heard nothing, not even breathing.

Then Hestia took her hand away, "I'll be back in a moment." Followed by angry kitten stomping feet.

"Oh dear... She's going to the swear room." Haruhime said.

Someone handed me a teacup, and I blinked at it for a moment. A heavy, hard substance covered in a thin layer of coloured melted ash for a glaze... We had dozens of these, yet I couldn't think of the material.

"How bad is it?" Aisha asked, picking up all my tails from the couch, sitting, then putting them all on her lap.

Hestia shook her head, "I can tell it's there. It's a curse. But not exactly what it does."

"Not 'what'?" Welf repeated, "She's forgotten how to work (noise)."

"How do we remove it? We can, right?" Bell asked.

"I can't." Hestia said quietly, "It's not... Kodori mentioned it once... Not under my domain?"

Maki clarified, "You're house, home and family. But not (noise). Hephaestus? Goibniu?"

"They'd probably be able to? But... she'd have to leave my Familia." Hestia sounded sad. "I'd be willing to let her go, but..." One of my tails was suddenly hugged with kitten ferocity, "It might not work even then."

"Our power here, is very limited." Astraea said, "Falna can help the Children in many ways, but even then some things simply have no cure. It would have to be cured by mortal means, since we cannot simply will it away. Miach?"

"Cassandra and Airmid are both healers." Bell said, "Miss Kodori? Drink something?"

While they'd been talking, I just couldn't get past trying to figure out this cup... "Huh? Yeah... oh... I'll have to thank Jiru." Exceptionally minty tea, of course.

"What about the mission?" Mikoto asked.

"We can't just-" Bell started.

"No. Keep working on it." I said, "I can't think of how to do it, but... I still know the names for things that come after what I've forgotten. And there are lots of other things we need to get together beforehand."

"Are you sure?" Aisha asked.

"I'm not dead. So I will help people." I replied, "Welf hardly needs me to make coins. I haven't been in the dungeon for a while as it is. And Lilly was better than anyone here at finding stuff and that was before she joined Hestia Familia." I had to pull my eyes away from the mysterious cup in my hands, and focused on Bell's face, "Right Brother?"

He looked a little ashamed, but nodded, "Right. Sorry."

"Feels good to have people worry about me." I shrugged it off, "I'll just... Who has Nazza's crystal? Might as well make an appointment now."

Aisha and Haruhime were... fussing over me. At least, it averaged out to that. Aisha never really fussed over anyone, even herself, and when Haruhime went into full fuss mode it was almost intimidating.

"So you can't even name the walls?" Aisha asked, brushing a tail, "Oh? And where do you think you're going?" She asked it when it wandered out of her hand.

"No... nothing that comes from the ground. Even the general name for it. I can name things like 'plate' or 'brush' but..." I sighed, "Hopefully, Cassandra or Airmid have an idea."

"Whatever did you do to provoke such a response I wonder?" Haruhime asked.

"Well, I invited her to borrow my body, as Delly might. A simple spell, as old as the concept of 'host and guest'. Once I saw her start to power trip, by beating the stuffing out of Giselle, and getting ideas in her head like 'killing everyone that went against the Gods', I switched my tactics."

"Ah, you went from 'explain' to 'taunt'." Aisha laughed, "You're really good at that."

"Lady Hestia's connection with us, is a spiritual one, and it says on my back that I am hers. I taunted Hardy to admit she was going to abuse the strength of my body, and thus be a poor guest. It only half worked." I sighed, "Oh... right there."

Haruhime paused her brushing, and went over that spot again, "You couldn't remove her?" Haruhime asked.

"No. I had a foot in the door, but that was all. But, she felt everything much more keenly, being without a body meant she had no resistances, pleasure, taste, hearing... pain. Shinkage took that moment to jump out of hiding and set me on fire. A lot."

"I will have to talk to her about that." Haruhime was a little rough with her next stroke.

"No... That was the plan. Lelei told me all of this, and I used that to plan ahead. Shinkage's fire only wrecked my conjured clothing. See? Didn't even hurt my hair! But it did hurt. I'm used to it, Hardy not so much."

"Hehe, that'll teach her." Aisha laughed, "But she did something before leaving it seems."

"Honestly, I'd rather this than say, getting larger, or having hair down to my ankles like Lelei," I gave my bust a little heft, "And it wasn't the full moon... Urg... she'd have had too much fun with that."

Big Amazon arms reached over my shoulders, "Good. I don't want to share you with anyone outside this room."

"Aisha." Haruhime sighed, "We're not do-eep?" My tails placed Haruhime in my lap. "You are both so impatient." She pouted.

For about a half second, before she pushed me back into Aisha.

Royman and Eina arrived just a little past sunrise. Both were less bright eyed than usual, but this was almost an hour before they usually got to work. You know about when you'd have breakfast. Of course, they were let in, escorted to the dining room and served tea in those simple cups I didn't know the material for.

Breakfast was not Rakia or Special Region cuisine, and it pleased me that I had no issue working in the kitchen.

Once the plates were cleaned off and cleared off the table, we started 'business'.

"I will start with, 'we don't like the suddenness of the idea'." Royman said, "But, we all understood the reason for it." He nodded, and Eina put a bit of paper on the table, "We've come up with projected costs for the initial holding of them on the other side of the Gate." another bit of paper, "Estimated food needs." Another paper, "Hiring teachers afterwards." Another, "Materials past simple food and money like wood, (noise) and (noise)." And lastly, "The total estimated cost."

Eina made no move to push the paper at anyone, "I'm kinda curious. Is the land out there just not owned by anyone?" Maki asked, "I understand Demeter-sama basically owns the land outside the walls, but where we're from basically all the land is owned by someone."

"Ah, very astute. No, Miss Maki, no one owns the lands, but, they are under our watch, so to speak." Royman replied, nodding again. "But there is no point in patrolling an empty field."

Eina unrolled a map from a scroll tube at her side, "The land you want them to settle is good land. Defensible as you said, with all the things a budding city might need." She tapped the river delta, then moved her finger over to the mountain pass, "As for your question, Maki, the closest land owner, aside from the port city of Melen. Is here, at the mountain bridge. The Land(noise) Brothers have built a home there."

"I hope that's not causing problems?" I asked.

"A minor bit of paperwork. But in exchange for supplies and first offer for any mining we need done, they've promised to maintain the road, bridge, and when it's laid down, the railway." Royman said, "I was surprised too, but the Land(noise) Brothers aren't just clan folk to Master Land(noise) of Loki Familia, but a mining company of over a hundred strong." Royman smiled.

"So aside from cost?" Maki asked, since she was in charge of overall house finance.

"There was a general worry for the type of people you're bringing over. And while we are sure the adventurers can handle it, it would be a constant worry, and use of people to keep them guarded." Royman said, "And with the 'black powder' incident..."

"The JSDF will screen the refugees." I said, "Like us, they're professional."

"Would they do that here though?" Hestia asked, "I mean... We're bringing their families, giving them a home, and after they settle in a little, teaching them too right?"

Royman and Eina looked to me, "Of course." I said, "After that though... Once they've learned and understood they're welcome here, the next step will be 'work to eat'."

"We don't mind providing for the first part, right?" Bell asked.

"The materials and labour costs are on the Alliance." Royman said, "But we'd be happy to source it."

It was looking like things might go our way then. "There is one issue however." Eina said. "While I understand that many of these people have been oppressed by the Gods, sooner or later one of our own Gods or Goddesses will get curious."

"For now, I'd say leave them be." Aisha said, "The culture shock will be pretty high. Every Amazon goes through it when they come here, but this would be far worse."

We nodded, "Like me, they'll need guides." I said, "We want them to be welcome, not isolated. But right off we should ask, politely, that the Gods leave them be until one of them gets curious."

"I'm sure your tour will give them some information." Royman nodded, "The last issue, is this truly the only way you can help them?"

"The JSDF were seen as a 'slightly better' option than the Empire. We can't leave them over there under their protection. That won't solve anything." Maki said, "All it would do is put them all in once place for politics to take them away again."

Shinkage made her first sound, "Ha." There wasn't much mirth in the laugh, "Australia."

I facepalmed, while the others looked curious, "I hadn't thought of it like that." I said.

"A place from your old home?" Eina asked.

"There is a large island off the coast of a place called Australia. It was used, for lack of a simpler term, to exile people. Criminals of all kinds were put there, but, eventually, the 70,000 or so people who'd been imprisoned there stopped being an exile colony and joined the mainland. It took many years, a full generation at least." Shinkage explained, "We do a similar thing here. They are criminals, they are being exiled, but the people they fear and hate will no longer be in the picture."

"Let's hear it for second chances." Maki sighed, "I suppose it's just gathering up the supplies to home them over there for a little while?"

"At first yes. If all goes well, then you'll have time to gather material at the new town." Royman said, "And, at first, it will be on your Alliance to determine how to watch over them. Though, I've no doubt Lord Ganesha would be happy to help you there."

"People are people, no matter the world." Takemikazuchi said.

Giselle, quiet until now, looked a little awestruck, "You're really serious."

"This is a mission to save people. We're always serious for that." Welf yawned, "Urg... Back to the shop for me.

"You've come up with something then, Master Welf?" Royman asked.

"Yeah, if you've got a minute. We have some other touches to do, but I can give you the idea."

"We all have a lot of work to do now." Haruhime said, "Eina-san? Would you or Royman-san like us to pack a lunch for you?" She looked to me, but said nothing. She did however give me a headpat, "Don't forget to check in."

"Of course. Hopefully Nazza didn't sleep in." I said, standing and leaving the room.

I made my way to the Blue Pharmacy. The big opulent building made of polished stuff I'd forgotten the name of, was no longer a place where only the wealthy could seek aid. It still had a lot of wealthy clients, but they were treated no differently than the poor ones. Sure, they could afford the more expensive treatments, but weren't price gouged like before when Dain Cecht was in charge.

Since I actually had an appointment, I made my way to the private rooms, and waited for someone to see me. A short while later, Airmid stepped in, closed the door, and got to work.

And like any good doctor, the first thing that Airmid did was examine me. It wasn't as detailed as a trip to the family doctor, but more of a general 'question and answer' session. Since I wasn't wounded in the traditional sense, that's all it needed to be.

With her usual calm, she summed up the session. "You seem to be unable to remember, or speak of things that come from underground. When people mention things that come from underground you hear a strange noise that overlaps the word. Tools you used to work these items seem unfamiliar."

I nodded to it all.

"And you say this was caused by a Goddess from another world cursing you."

"That's right."

She hmm'ed, looked at her clipboard, and sighed. "As you may know already, I have the ability to remove curses. Both Cassandra and I have this ability, though, her timid mannerisms have stunted her ability somewhat."

"But?"

"This is an affliction from a Goddess." She shook her head, "I would try, but..."

"Cassandra told you it wouldn't work?" I guessed.

She looked surprised, "Ah, yes, I was reluctant to believe it, but she said, 'you won't be able to help her'." She shook her head, "Since you are the only patient I've had today, it's not difficult to guess who 'her' is."

"Have you told her you believe her little prophecies?" I asked, trying to cover my disappointment with a joke.

"Yes. And she gave me a hug." She replied, "It was very odd." She leaned over and gave my knee a pat, "I can still try, and it may give insight into a possible cure if not by my hands, then another. You said Lady Hestia was unable to remove it?"

"It was suggested that I could ask Lord Goibniu or Lady Hephaestus. But even then..."

"And going back to ask Hardy could possibly be suicidal, I see..." She hmm'ed.

"Should I be laying down or something then?"

"Stand." I did, my eyes following her as she took a half step away from me, and raised her hands and chanted, "Healing droplets, tears of light, eternal sanctuary. Compose a medicinal hymn-three hundred, sixty, and five. The melody of the healer's almanac saves all things. Come, destruction of evil. The burial of wounds, interment of disease. Curses be gone in the light of vitality. In the name of all that is holy. I heal you."

It was around the word 'Compose' that I felt something. It wasn't pain, or even discomfort. Almost a numbness just under my skin. That was normal for a healing spell. By the word 'melody' that tingle felt like it had gotten to my bones. As she neared the end, around the word 'Curses', I felt that tingle get pushed out of me, leaving behind a little pain behind my eyes. Past that point, there were no other sensations.

The light around her hands winked out, and she focused on me, "You have three curses." She said, "One, the city knows about, and is tied to your blessing. I wouldn't remove it, even if I could."

"Good to know. I rely on it more than its ever been a hindrance."

"The second is the one Hardy placed on you. It is... too complex for me. It's not as close to you as the first, but it's close to it. A... layer above your falna but still deeper than I can go."

"And the third?"

"I suspect it is simply part of your monstrous nature. I mean no offence, but you said it yourself during your debate with Freya. It feels like it is simply 'you' and not given or gifted."

I nodded, holding up my hands to calm her, "I know what it is, and you're right. It's something all of my 'kind' deal with." I hmm'ed, "Speaking of... Are you okay?"

She blinked at me, then touched her forehead with the back of her hand, took her pulse, then a deep breath. "Yes. Why?"

"Just making sure. Curses are dangerous business." I sat back down, "Does this tell you anything else?"

"Past what I told you? No." She shook her head, "You may still have luck by trading to one of the two major crafting Familia. Have you thought about trying to re-learn your lost abilities?"

"Go to the workshop and just hit things until it sticks?"

"In essence, yes."

I hmm'ed, "I could try. I've nowhere to go but up from where I'm at..."

We both reached the same conclusion, nodded to each other, and with a, "Do take care of yourself, Lady Kodori." Airmid watched me leave.

Welf was not expecting to see me. He was busy making coins still when I walked into the 'hot' half of the workshop. "Sister? All better then?"

I shook my head, my eyes seeing, but unable to interpret many of the items around me. "Airmid suggested I try from the beginning, so to speak." I said, sitting at my stool next to the weird shaped thing next to it. But even now, I couldn't seem to think of what came next.

Welf picked up on my situation, "Here, hold this." He placed a hammer in my hand, "And this." Tongs in the other. "Now when I say, I want you to take that plate of (noise) from the furnace, put it here, and give it a few taps."

At my feet lay a shattered collection of stuff I couldn't remember the name of. It had taken exactly three swings, and on the third, my hammer hit the thing Welf had me hold, put a hole in it, and smashed the object to bits. I hadn't meant to use that much force, but...

Ever the optimist, Welf brushed it off, "Wow! It's like your first try with (noise)... Well, maybe not that bad."

"You know... Even though I've forgotten all this stuff... I can tell I really liked doing it." I looked at the hammer, and put it down on the nearest flat surface. "If I could punch Hardy's head off, I would." I sighed.

"There there." He gave my shoulder a pat, then a tail when it went to visit, "Hey, just stick to the plan. You said she treats her world like a toy? Then focus on emptying her toy box."

"Yeah. Well... Suppose there's one thing I can do. Or at least make sure I can still do."

"Don't be late for dinner. It's taco night."

Except... I couldn't.

I got to the Tower, went to the middle of the floor, the entrance to the dungeon, the long spiral staircase that led to the first floor...

And it was dark.

Not just 'dim' or 'gloomy'. But 'I can't see, and I can see in total darkness', dark. About a third of the way down the spiral staircase, was a black nothingness. And being the kind of person I was, I even took a few steps into that 'nothingness'.

And couldn't see. There were no other sensations, no weird sense of dread or vertigo, or any number of other 'this is scary' feelings. But I was simply unable to see anything in that darkness.

So, I turned around and went to find the next expert.

When I encountered a problem I couldn't solve on my own, I asked an expert. Since I was apparently seeing 'nothing' when I went past a certain depth, when it was obvious there was something to see, I went to my local expert on illusions.

"BOSS!" Delly, as usual, was happy to see me. When not in the dungeon or cleaning the top shelf someplace in the Manor, she was at the Zoo working with the animals and monsters. The sparkly Fox-fairy clung to me and tried to hug the stuffing out of me. "I heard about the eggs!"

Of course I hugged her back. Sparkly fox-fairies were very rare and needed love. Headpats and ear scroofles too. "Yeah. Been a bit busy so forgot to mention it."

She just clung to me for a moment longer, then let go, "Yeah... How are you managing?"

"Well..."

One short explanation later.

"Oh... That's..." She sighed, "Boss, you might have really screwed up this time." She took one of my tails and tugged me towards one of the many benches at the Zoo. "You know more about how the brain works 'mechanically' than I did."

"Did?"

"Well, I did live in your head for a while. Psychology 101 seemed like a good read while you were sleeping." She gave me a headtilt and a stuck out tongue, "Topic appropriate too, for this Fairy."

"Fair. Go on?"

"It sounds like she's selectively altered your brain, to remove or scramble everything involving her Domain. You can see the tools of your trade, but have forgotten how to use them. You can't identify or think of the materials. And you can't see when you're underground." She sighed, "This is divine retribution at its worst. At least it doesn't harm you. Like turning the ground you walk on into thorns or something."

"The local Gods are limited by the First contract, so they likely can't help even if their domain matches Hardy's..." I grumbled, "So now what?"

"Well... There's one local god who never signed that contract." She said, giving me a sideways look.

I gave her a raised eyebrow in reply, "You know it's not like that here."

"I'm not the expert on this one." She said, reaching over and giving my shoulder a pat, "But remember when you were thinking of sticking those angel wings to your back?"

"I'm glad I didn't, since they probably wouldn't work here like yours do. But it seemed like a good idea at the time." I said with a shrug.

"It's one of the things Demons do. Eat other demons to become more powerful." Delly said, "And what are some Demons made of?"

"Curses. Really? Would that work?" I shook my head, "No, would that be a wise idea?"

"I'm not the expert, so my guess is 'no it's a stupid idea that might get you killed or turn you into a bogglin'." Delly laughed bitterly. "But you'd make a cute bogglin too."

I laughed, "Think so? I dunno... I don't even sparkle."

"Remember, I'm the expert. And I say you'd be a cute bogglin." She booped my nose, "The boys came back up while you were off visiting Nazza. Even they wouldn't miss taco night."

"I'll go chat with them. I mean, if I can find them under all that noise in the Amazon wing."

Yes, the two Oni brothers were in fact buried under 'all that noise' in the Amazon wing. Something funny to be said about the massive walls of muscle that they were, having a normal conversation with the nearby mothers, while being clung to, nibbled on, climbed over, or attempting to wrestle them. And even with so many of the oni children around, they still managed to keep a minor sort of order on them.

Of course, when I stopped watching from the end of the hall (just because it wasn't my happy place, I could still feel happy watching it), and walked towards the collection of women, horned children and massive Oni, I started gathering attention.

So, whatever chat I was going to have was put on pause as a bunch of them (who weren't too busy gnawing on the brothers or trying to wrestle one of their huge hands for fun) ran towards me yelling "Aunty Fox!"

So, I carried a bunch of them back towards the group, sat down, and joined in on the 'getting nibbled/clung to/climbed on' club for a little while.

After a bit of play time, then cleaning up a bit of drool from my tails, I got the two of them to come with me to sit under our well behaved Sakura tree. Yet another summary of the situation followed while the two of them knelt, arms crossed, and listened.

"Your idea is... Unwise." Okakai started.

"But if it doesn't drive you insane, it will work." Fukawa said.

"Insane, but not dead?" I asked.

"Dealing with curses is what a Demon does." Fukawa replied with a shrug.

"The more divine Banish them, the less divine devour them." Okakai motioned to me, then himself.

"And I've only really absorbed it before." I grumbled, "But this isn't a Demon's curse though?"

Together they said, "It does not matter."

"So... I allow that spark of corruption inside me out, until it's big enough to overpower Hardy's curse?"

"It is how we would do it." Again, together.

"But." Okakai said, "There would be no going back from this. Not this time."

"Taking in such a curse will give your Demon nature far too much power to hide or wash away with your Goddess's blessing." Fukawa said, motioning to themselves, "Even Takemikazuchi-sama could only go so far with us, and it will be like that for you."

"It may soften with time, but you may have grandchildren by then." Okakai added, "Or great grandchildren."

"At least I know my horns would look good." I sighed.

"They would, but we are biased." They laughed grimly.

"In our experience, banishing such a curse would likely kill the practitioner, and only suppress the curse. Only by devouring it, and changing it, can it be truly undone." Fukawa nodded.

"Of course, that may cause other problems. Especially if the curse you've fed is worse than the curse you ate." Okakai added.

"Well..." I hmm'ed, "We can deal with this after dinner. If I'm going to risk insanity, I'll do it after a good meal."

They both nodded sagely, "The fox is wise."

"In the mean time... Suppose I'll tell people about the plan. Oh, before that, since you just got back. Lemme get you up to speed with the Gate situation."

Even though the food was incredible, I realized I should have told people about 'the plan' afterwards. They all knew there were precious few options, but one that might drive me insane was not one anybody liked.

Even Finn, who always came for Taco Night, could easily tell something had gotten us down. But he was far too polite to comment, and just made idle chatter as usual.

That was, until he didn't. "I was thinking on your recent visit to the other side of the Gate." He dabbed at his mouth with a napkin and took a sip of milk. "Something wasn't adding up."

We all took a step back from our less than cheerful mood to pay attention, "And what does the wise tactician think?" Takemikazuchi asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"This Zorzal fellow... With his special force to suppress the 'peace' faction, and killing or arresting politicians and nobles who opposed him, seems very heavy handed. Poisoning his father too. Anyone who could count their own fingers could conclude he had done it."

"A tyrant's rule begins with violence." Astraea sighed.

"Yet, you the JSDF, and now you, have encountered many hidden factors. Groups building new weapons. Guerrilla tactics. Assassinations. The bakery. Hidden tunnels." He paused for effect, something the children loved when he told stories. "Doing, and organizing those things requires a delicate touch." He looked to Kaede, "You met some, correct?" Then to Maki and Ryuu, "You as well?"

The three of them nodded, "The one we interrogated had much to say about his group." Ryuu said, "Neither a criminal agency nor part of an army, they fought against the Empire and the Apostles both."

Maki laughed grimly, "Still kinda sad I gave him all my coin. I was hungry later."

"Tell me again, little Kaede? About the Queen Warrior Bunny? She turned herself over to the Empire to save her people, correct? Taken as a slave?" Finn asked.

"The Mongrel-"

"It's rude to make fun of people." Momiji stopped her.

Kaede pouted a little, "It's what the soldier called him. He looked kinda like an Orc, but not really? His ears looked like bald Chienthrope ears, he had a little porcine nose, triangle teeth like one of their kobolds or Volralden, and thick fingernails. Oh! And wide shoulders like a dwarf!" Kaede sighed, "He stopped telling the story about the Queen before giving a name, but she's still alive, from how he talks about her."

"Aha." Finn nodded, mostly to himself, "And where is that slave now? You said Zorzal 'introduced' himself to the JSDF by bringing out his 'collection' of women slaves, to tell his father about the earthquake?"

I was putting the puzzle together at what I hoped was a similar speed to Finn. But he met my eye and waggled an eyebrow at me, just to let me know he'd beaten me to the punch, so to speak. "The Emperor is a busy man, and lets his sons go about doing his conquering for him. Zorzal collects a bunch of 'trophies' and one just happens to be..." I chuckled darkly, "The Warrior Bunny Queen."

Aisha of course chimed in with the 'most socially awkward' part, since she didn't care about that kinda thing, "And men will do a lot for a woman they're sleeping with."

"But, are they working together?" Maki asked, "Both our more personal encounters say they aren't, but if they're literally in the same bed?"

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?" Delly suggested, "Can't get much closer than that."

"Men will also do stupid things for a woman they're sleeping with." Aisha added.

"Including follow bad advice, keep fighting when you have no chance, and undermine yourself with superficially intelligent ideas." Finn said.

"Great, so the one doing all of that stuff is smart, sneaky, has a huge network of people working for her, and is hiding behind what amounts to a fortress of politics and these cannon things, as well as an actual military force?" Welf said, "Well... It's not like one of us couldn't solve that problem in a week, maybe less if we wanted to be on time for dinner. But these JSDF guys are going uphill for sure."

"Well, we've done our part for them, so it's not our problem." Maki said, "What? They have to ask first."

"We can at least tell them our theory." Ryuu said.

"And maybe call Arpeggio over?" Welf suggested. "I mean, not to sound insensitive, be without you, enchanting those coins will be much harder."

"That's a good idea." I nodded, "We can tell them about our theory while we're at it, and update them on the Guild's decision, and get some feedback on what they might need to house a heap of people running from a tyrannical Empire and overbearing group of Gods."

"Speaking of." Finn looked to Giselle, who was pouting at her glass of milk and empty plate. "I'd heard you were quite the glutton before?"

"The flavour... it hurts. But it's so tasty..." She pouted some more, "My overbearing Goddess kicked me out."

"Ah, Kodori picked up another stray then. Mama would be proud." Finn laughed.

Instead of Lelei, or Arpeggio, it was Sage Cato who 'picked up' the call from the Occulus, "Ah, Lady Kodori, and... Master Welf? They keep telling me it's too dangerous to visit, so I haven't been allowed to go!"

Like any proper old man, he was polite and grumpy in the same sentence. "Sage Cato." I nodded back, "Some of your habits would get you stabbed here in Orario."

Welf clapped a hand over his mouth to silence a laugh, but Cato pretended not to notice, "A place so advanced would still harm an old man! Bah!"

"A casual slap here could kill a horse." I clarified, "Where are the other two?"

"Little Arpeggio is in Rondel right now. I'm not sure if her work on this 'magnetism' will earn her, her master's robes. But you've given all three of us enough insight into mixing magic and science, that we could probably pass without issue if we went through school again! And if it isn't magnets, it might be those wyvern scales." He shrugged. "Lelei is with her sister as well. Mostly because she wanted to support little Arpeggio."

Welf and I shared a look and he shrugged at me, "Okay. Find an escort, actually... Look for Nanami Kuribayashi." I said, "And have her bring you here. We have work for you, and we can give you a proper tour. But! Best behaviour."

"Fine fine. I'll keep my hands-"

"And magic. I heard about your 'pantie vanish' spell." I warned.

"Seriously? Traitors... Yes, I'll keep my hands and magic to myself." He grumbled, "Spoilsports."

"Try for early morning tomorrow." I nodded.

"Should I bring anything?"

"Your curiosity." Welf said.

"Who do you think yer' talkin' too? Whippersnapper!" Cato got super close to the Occulus, his glaring eye pointed at Welf. "Ahem. I'll try and find this Nanami girl."

His side went dark, and I covered our Occulus up with a bit of leather. "He's a funny guy. How old was he?" Welf asked.

"Seventy?" I guessed, "One of the oldest people in that world, before an Apostle."

"Great shape for a world without any magic healing to speak of." Welf mused, "Anyhow... You going to be okay? Need anything for this... thing you're doing?"

"Actually... We still have that hunk of Yu-Long's scale around someplace?"

"This big, glows green, smells like a fresh breeze even though its been in our 'big box of not a clue how to use' at the back of storage?"

"Yeah. I dunno how well it will work here. But, Yu-Long is basically a dragon from Tenkai. If you were to make a few things out of it..."

His expression was exactly the same as Ryuu's had been, when I handed her the dagger. The Dagger that Sachiko had eaten to get her nice green horns, and the weapon that could negate any power the corruption might give me, and kill me if it had to. "I understand Sister." He said the word as Ryuu did, "I won't tell you what I'll make, but I'll make sure..."

"Make it in pairs. Then give it to the Brothers." I said, "They've put me out before, and I'm sure they could do it again if they needed to."

"Sure." He started to leave my lab, "Oh, could you make... oh... guess even potions would be hard to do huh?"

"If they use only plant based stuff, it's okay."

"Oh! Running out of leather softener."

I ran through the mental list of what I needed, didn't come up with any blanks, then nodded. "Done. I'll have it in the cold shop before bed."

He walked off, and I went to work. Tomorrow was probably going to suck.

NOTES!

Yup, no getting around it this time. The only option she sees is one that puts her on the true Demon's path. She's still going to steal all of Hardy's toys though.

Thank you for reading! And if you want to see any full colour art, join the discord!

aKAQg4bnYu for the discord!

And my actual book, Were Too? is on Inkitt.