Chapter 29: Attack of the Amazons

"I have no idea what's what anymore," Archer sighed while leaning against a wall.

After they regained their senses and Bell carefully picked the harpy up in his arms, the four of them made their escape from the warehouse. There was no way they could bring the harpy back to the inn so they put as much distance between them and the warehouses as possible after removing a rather large metal plate that had been inserted into the harpy's back until they reached an old factory that appeared to have been abandoned judging from the scattered machine parts scattered about with the trash and pieces of scrap iron. It must have been used to build ships once upon a time.

"It is…no…she is very weak," Lancer said as she examined a potion in her hands while Bell rested the harpy against the cleanest wall he could find. "The wounds are rather old and may be infected from the filth. She is also rather emaciated…would giving her a potion in such a state worsen her condition?"

Thankfully all of the filth had been removed due to Lancer's runes so they wouldn't be found out by the smell in any case.

"I…don't know," Bell admitted. "I only know that you have to reset bones before administrating a potion since it could heal improperly if you don't. I don't know anything about what might happen if you give a potion to a starving…err…"

He was about to say "person" but he wasn't even sure potions worked on monsters in the first place.

Lancer nodded her head as she gripped the harpy's wing. The harpy seemed to realize what she was going to do as she clenched her eyes shut. One rather awful sound later, the bones were reset properly as tears seeped out of her eyes.

"We are rather far from a pantry though," Saber noted. "Then again, if that was all monsters ate, we wouldn't have any on the surface."

"Sharp teeth," Lancer noted as she gently tapped the harpy's jaw making it open her mouth to allow Lancer to slowly feed her the potion.

"Carnivorous then. Like most monsters."

"Sorry, but Caster is the one holding onto all of our meat," Archer joked as he shrugged his shoulders. "And I didn't think to bring anything with me."

Saber let out a rather dry laugh before turning toward Bell.

"Your orders, Master?"

"We…were never really told what we should do once we finished with the rescue, did we?" Bell asked and the others nodded their heads.

"I suppose we all assumed that our captive would have been human," Archer sighed. "If that were the case, we could have just brought them back with us into the inn. We're just going to have to wait until that Fels person contacts us."

"Thank…you…" the harpy suddenly said as Lancer wiped off her mouth, causing the woman's hand to jerk in surprise before she gently patted the harpy's shoulder.

"…It is way too late for this…" Archer sighed as he placed a hand to his forehead.

"Agreed," Saber replied with a nod.

"Then I guess we're resting here for the night?" Bell said before turning to Lancer. "Lancer, can you head back and report to everyone?"

Bell felt that it wasn't a good idea to leave Saber and Lancer together just in case Lancer lost herself again. Bell himself wasn't confident in making it back alone without being spotted and also wasn't confident in protecting the harpy if Lancer and Saber were to have another "spat."

"Understood," Lancer replied, giving the harpy a soft pat on the shoulder before turning on her heel and vanishing, causing the harpy to stare at the spot where she disappeared with wide eyes.

"You get some rest as well, Bell," Archer said as a blanket materialized in his hands and he tossed it over to Bell. "Saber and I don't need sleep so we can afford to keep watch without any problems."

"Got it," Bell replied as Archer created another blanket for the harpy.

Archer then jumped up, toward the ceiling, only to disappear just before hitting the roof, no doubt to take watch up top for the night while Saber walked over to a spot where he could keep an eye on the entrance, Bell and the Harpy and simply waited there like a statue.

Bell glanced over at the harpy just in time to see her turn toward him in confusion as well. He could only shrug his shoulders in response as he pulled the blanket over himself. It was probably going to be a long night.

X-x-X-x-X

"What."

Hestia wasn't sure who exactly said that. It could have been anyone really, even herself. After all, that was the only reaction one could have when Lancer returned, saying that the target they went to rescue was an intelligent monster that could speak.

"Yes, that is what happened," Lancer said, kneeling on one knee as she gave her report. "Not only that but it…she also…thanked me for helping her. Master, Saber and Archer are watching over her right now as we judged that bringing her back here as was originally planned would not be the best idea."

"This has got to be some cosmic joke…" Welf muttered rubbing his head.

"If it is, Lily isn't laughing," Lily agreed with a nod. "…Lily doesn't suppose everyone could just…leave the harpy behind, right?"

"That would indeed be the safest choice," Caster began, propping his head up with his arm on a stool. "However…for that god, Ouranos, to choose to have placed this mission upon us…means it is most likely that there are more than just this single harpy that is intelligent."

"Ouranos…what the hell have you found in these last thousand years?" Hestia muttered before glancing toward Gina. "…Hey Gina, did Hermes ever mention anything like this?"

"Nope," Gina replied with a shake of her head. "I'm just as surprised as everyone else…"

"Hey, Mommy Hestia?"

Hestia suddenly found Assassin right next to her with her hands clinging onto her arm.

"We're going to help right?" She asked. "We're not going to abandon her?"

"Stop!" Hestia screamed in her head. "Don't look at me with those begging eyes! It's cheating!"

"What should we do, Captain?" Primo asked turning toward Caster who shook his head. "This sounds pretty…bad right?"

"I had no interest in this rescue mission in the first place," Caster reminded them. "The one who decides what to do with that harpy is the Goddess Hestia."

"Me!?" Hestia asked, looking surprised at suddenly being the one to make the big decisions.

"Who else but you? You are the one who approved of the boy's decision to rescue the harpy in the first place and it is your duty to decide how the Familia should proceed as its Goddess."

"Ngh…uuu…grrr…" Hestia could not respond to that but she wasn't sure what to do.

"Hey…" Welf began drawing everyone's attention. "I know I'm an…outsider to all of this…but I was just wondering. Can't you just say that Rider is a Tamer and it's a Tamed Monster?"

"That's it!" Emma said, clapping her hands. "If it's a tamed monster then no one should bat an eye, right?"

"It doesn't work like that," Gina said with a shake of her head. "Only Ganesha Familia has permission from the Guild to bring monsters into the city and that's because they host Monsterphilia and do research on them as well."

"But if Fels really is from the Guild then they should be able to give us permission, right?"

"That's…"

It would seem that Emma was on the side to help the Harpy. From Hestia's point of view the ones who want to help the Harpy were Bell, Lancer, Emma and Assassin. The ones who were against helping for one reason or another were Caster, Lily and Primo. The others weren't leaning toward any direction in particular and seemed to still be reeling from the implications of a monster that could speak.

"You're sure it's intelligent?" Hestia asked Lancer. "It's not some trick, right?"

"Yes," Lancer answered with a nod. "She was… begging for help. Injured, lost, trapped, she had no choice but to hope and seek help from us."

Hestia looked up toward the ceiling and took a deep breath to try and calm herself and get her thoughts in order.

"I'm going to say what I think now," Hestia said as everyone aside from Caster seemed to sit up a bit straighter. "Without seeing the harpy for myself, I don't think I can make any final judgments."

She then turned toward Lily, Emma, Primo, Gina and Welf. The true children of the mortal realm.

"Monsters and you children are enemies," she said simply. "That's how it was and how it has been for millennia. However, I and this Familia cannot turn away someone asking for help. No matter who…or what they are."

Assassin was beaming at her while Lily turned away with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"We'll help them," she decided with a nod. "For the time being anyway. I don't care if this turns out to be some sort of test by Ouranos or whatever but I admit that I'm a little curious about this so-called Intelligent Monster. However, it'll be your job to make sure that nothing bad gets traced back to us, got it, Lancer?"

"Yes!" Lancer replied with a bright smile. "I thank you for your magnanimity, Lady Goddess!"

"So, how do we proceed?" Rider asked. "Get them out as soon as possible?"

"I know it is urgent but I would recommend against moving her immediately," Lancer replied. "She is still very weak."

"Should we wait until tomorrow night then?" Emma suggested. "Maybe bring over some food as well?"

"Do monsters even eat people food?" Primo asked.

"Lily thinks monsters will eat anything that doesn't stink," Lily pointed out. "Though monsters will also happily eat people for food too."

"N-not what I had in mind…"

"Well for now you should rest here for the night, Lancer," Hestia decided. "Running around so much must have tired you out. For now, take a break and tomorrow we'll figure out how to get some food over to the others."

"Yes, I understand," Lancer replied with a nod.

"We can't all go, right?" Gina asked. "If the harpy's being targeted we shouldn't go with too many people, right?"

"Yeah so we'll just leave it to Lancer to head back to wherever it is you're hiding the harpy with food for the boys," Hestia said. "Go out on your own tomorrow to go shopping. The rest of us…well, I suppose it's just more free time then."

"Would it be strange if most of us stayed inside all day?" Emma asked.

"Tis a long vacation," Caster said. "A beach trip on the first day and a long shopping trip on the second. No hypothetical watchers would find it amiss if you all were exhausted on the third day."

"You're okay with this, Gil?" Hestia asked.

"A mindless beast that has grown the mind of a human? Although its nature intrigues me, its fate is no concern of mine. If you wish to protect it then simply demand permission from the Guild to house monsters from Fels as part of the reward. If this Ouranos truly is in control of the Guild, such a thing would be simple, would it not?"

A hum escaped Hestia's lips as she glanced off in the distance…no, she was looking in the direction of Orario.

"Ganesha," she said suddenly. "He's in on this too."

Her realization caused the mortal children to stare at her in shock.

"I have no proof other than 'a goddess's intuition,' which admittedly isn't worth very much to begin with," she continued. "But the fact that they work so closely with monsters has been nagging at me that I can't help but think so."

"Monsterphilia…" Lily suddenly said. "The Guild works together with Lord Ganesha every year to put on that festival. Lily heard that it used to be a show but nowadays…"

"People have become more or less used to seeing monsters in the city at that time of year to the point that some are even bored of it…" Welf added, realizing what she was implying. "You think Monsterphilia is a way they're using to make people get used to monsters?"

"Even so it probably backfired this year with all those monsters breaking out," Gina pointed out. "Speaking of which, didn't you and Bell get chased around by a Silverback, Lady Hestia?"

"Geh…don't remind me," Hestia grumbled.

"Should we send a message to Lord Ganesha for help?" Rider asked but Hestia shook her head.

"No…I don't want to bet everything on just my hunch," Hestia replied. "First off, let's worry about getting it outside the town first. Then we'll worry about whether we release it into the wild or try and smuggle it inside."

"Umm, would Lily's ring be of any help?" Lily asked, pulling out a ring attached to a small chain around her neck.

"Ring?" Emma repeated as Lily slipped the ring onto her finger. "Wha!?"

"Lily disappeared!?" Gina shouted.

Gina and Emma suddenly looked around in bewilderment while Primo and Welf looked at them like they had lost their minds.

"She's…right there you two," Welf said pointing to the still seated Lily who had a small smile on her face.

"Are you still tired from your Skill, Miss Flores?" Primo asked.

"It's Lily's treasure," Lily said as she removed the ring, causing Gina and Emma to start in surprise. "Anyone without Magic can't see Lily when she wears it. It doesn't work against monsters though…"

Hestia glanced over toward Caster to see if the Servant had any reaction to his little "toy" being treated so preciously by Lily but the man had simply closed his eyes and kept on a neutral expression.

"It is a good idea but the harpy doesn't have any fingers to put a ring on and its talons are too big as well," Lancer replied. "But it does give me an idea…oh!"

Lancer then turned toward Hestia again.

"Lady Hestia, may I ask for a favor?"

"Go ahead."

"May I have some of your blood?"

Hestia found herself leaning back away from Lancer who blinked and quickly raised her hands up.

"I-I do not mean it in a nefarious way!" She said quickly. "We came across Adventurers guarding the harpy and defeated them. If we come across some more, we would need your blood to unlock their Falna and reveal their Familia."

"Oh, like a Status Thief?" Gina asked, prompting confused looks from Emma and Primo. "A Status Thief is an item that unlocks the Status of an Adventurer without help from their God. It's uh…not exactly legal in Orario though, obviously."

"I suppose that would be for a good purpose…" Hestia agreed. "Fine. Come here."

For a vacation, this trip sure was one endless source of stress.

X-x-X-x-X

When Bell woke up, the first thing he thought was that he was amazed at himself for being able to fall asleep with a monster in the same room. Glancing over at the harpy, he found that she was sleeping peacefully in spite of the ordeal she went through.

"Are you awake, Master?"

Bell turned at the sound of Saber's voice and found him sitting in the same spot he had been the previous night.

"There have been no incidents last night," the knight reported. "Not from the harpy nor from her captives. Archer is still keeping watch from the rooftop."

And an invisible sentry that could see for kilometers and didn't need sleep was an invaluable one indeed.

"Hey Saber…" Bell began. "Am I doing the right thing?"

"It is not my place to question my Master's decisions," Saber answered dutifully. "However, I will say that wanting to save the maiden is what a hero should do."

"And wanting to help others isn't wrong," Archer added as he fell through the roof and landed on the floor across from Saber. "That said, sometimes you have to think of the consequences of saving someone. And I can't even begin to fathom how saving a monster would come back to bite us."

"…Are you mad?" Bell asked, feeling a bit worried but Archer shook his head.

"No, I just don't know what to make of that harpy. I guess we'll have to wait for Lancer to come back and see what Caster and Lady Hestia want to do."

"We may be here for a while then," Saber noted. "Perhaps we should get to know our charge in the meantime?"

The three of them turned toward the harpy who seemed to have woken up and was staring at them with slight trepidation in her eyes.

"Kinda hard when we can't talk to her, right?" Archer asked, tapping his neck.

Saber let out a small chuckle as he traced a rune over everyone's necks, removing the enchantment that only sent their voices to each other. With that done, Bell walked over to her and knelt down.

"Are you feeling all right?" He asked. "Can you understand me?"

"Yes," the harpy replied with a nod. "Who are you?"

"Umm…we can't give our names just in case something happens but would you trust us if we said Fels asked us to help?" Bell replied and the harpy nodded her head, prompting Bell to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Do you have a name?" Archer asked, standing next to Bell.

"Fia…" the harpy replied, shifting slightly at the sight of Archer. "Everyone calls me Fia."

"Then Fia…Fels hasn't told us what to do after rescuing you…but you're from the Dungeon, right? Do you want to go back?"

"The Dungeon…" Fia muttered, looking clearly unhappy about it.

"Were you not from the Dungeon?" Saber asked.

"No…I was," Fia replied. "But…I don't want to go back!"

Bell looked over his shoulder back at the others as Fia continued speaking.

"I finally made it to the surface! I want to fly in the open air! To feel actual wind underneath my wings! I want to see the giant ball of light go up and down and watch it turn red!"

"You mean the sunset?" Bell asked, feeling awkward at someone wanting to see something as mundane as that. "But…you've never been up here before now, right? How do you know about such things?"

"I don't know," Fia admitted. "But I see strange things in my dreams sometimes…Lido, a friend, says that we probably see into our past lives or something."

"Past lives…" Saber muttered. "Reincarnation, is it?"

In this world, the gods still remaining in Tenkai oversee the souls of the departed and judge their fate. The judging is completely left to the whims of the individual god in question, the life that the soul had lived up until then did not come into account whatsoever, with reincarnation being the most common choice for the soul.

If the souls of mortals could reincarnate…did that mean that the soul of monsters did too?

"You mentioned someone named Lido," Archer said. "Are there more of you? More err…monsters that can talk?"

"Yeah. We call ourselves Xenos. I think there are about twenty of us right now."

"T-twenty…" Bell repeated as he fell back onto his butt in shock. It wasn't a lot but it was still much more than he thought possible.

"With so many comrades, you do not wish to return to the Dungeon?" Saber asked.

"No! Even if there are others, everything else in the Dungeon still wants to kill us! I've had enough of wanting to live down there!"

Bell grimaced underneath his helmet.

Even if he wanted to help her, it wasn't as though they could keep her hidden in the Hearthstone Manor. Monsters weren't allowed in Orario without the Guild's permission, of which only Ganesha Familia had and Bell wasn't sure it was something that they could just throw Caster's money at to solve.

"We could try asking Ganesha Familia to take her in," Archer pointed out. "But I'd worry about her mental health if she were to be kept in cages without anyone to talk to like the rest of their tamed monsters."

At the mention of cages, Fia quickly shook her head in refusal.

"There is the choice of simply parting ways once we leave Melen," Saber pointed out. "We return to Orario while Miss Fia simply flies off to parts unknown. That said, I do not believe her captors will give her up so easily."

A monster that could speak and understand Koine was a near unique existence after all. Even Bell didn't have to think hard of how many people would want to get their hands on her, gods and mortals alike. Deviancy was not something unique to either after all.

"I…don't want to cause you all any more trouble," Fia spoke up, wrapping her wings around her body. "You all will get in trouble if I'm seen with you up on the surface and Fels would want me to return to the Dungeon where it is safer than being up here too. So…"

Her words were interrupted by a knock on the doors to the factory, causing Bell and Fia to jump and for Saber and Archer to wheel around. However, the three Familia members calmed down when they sensed who was there.

Saber quickly moved toward the doors and opened them slightly to allow Lancer to squeeze in.

"I have returned with food," Lancer reported causing both Bell and Fia's stomachs to growl.

As Fia and Bell ate, the latter wearing a hood that Lancer had made to hide his face, Lancer repeated what Hestia and the others decided on last night.

"So in short, we will continue helping you until we return to Orario or until we are contacted by Fels," Lancer said as she sat down in front of Fia. "If we can get permission to allow you to live with us, you may, otherwise…you are free to do whatever you wish."

"I…don't know what I want…" Fia admitted as she nibbled on the fish Lancer held up to her mouth since the harpy couldn't exactly grab it with her wings or feet making Bell wonder just how or what she normally ate. Perhaps she ate the sap from a Dungeon Pantry like other monsters or one of her friends helped her? "All I ever wanted was to be on the surface and fly in the sky. I hadn't thought about what to do once I was there."

"Certainly if things were different and mortals could learn to distinguish Xenos from monsters you wouldn't need to worry about such things," Saber muttered with a nod. "As it stands though, thousands of years of mutual hatred cannot be wiped clean so easily. I would also admit that I am surprised that you are willing to trust us after how harshly you have been treated by your captors."

"You killed them and you said you know Fels," Fia pointed out. "But…yes…I don't know if I can trust you all but I do trust Fels…and…"

She glanced over toward Bell for a second but when Bell looked back at her she turned her eyes away, prompting a small chuckle from Saber.

"So the plan is to get Fia outside of Melen then try and contact the Guild god and see what goes on from there?" Archer asked.

"Yes," Lancer replied with a nod.

"Then can I ask you to continue keeping watch?" Bell asked Archer who nodded his head. Then without using their names, he asked Lancer to help by patrolling the area while dematerialized, leaving Saber and himself to keep watch over Fia.

"Hey Fia," Bell began as he sat down beside her, helmet back on his head, causing her to stare at him. "If we could get permission for you to stay with us, would you?"

Fia gave a little jerk in response as she looked down at her feet and hugged her body closer.

"Please don't…" she said in a voice quieter than a whisper.

"Don't?"

"Don't make me hope."

Now it was Bell's turn to stare, unsure of what she meant by that. Wasn't this something that she wanted? To be able to live and fly freely on the surface? Or was it because she knew she would have to return to the Dungeon that she didn't want to see the life she wanted right in front of her face?

"Unfortunately for you, it is in the nature of Heroes to selfishly bring hope to others," Saber said in his usual stoic nature. "It is also in our nature to make them come true. So you best prepare yourself."

Fia glanced over at Saber for a moment before pulling her knees up to her chest and burying her face into them, not showing her face to either of them.

Bell wished he knew how to handle things like this.

How could he become a Hero if he couldn't cheer up a single person in front of him?

X-x-X-x-X

"Archer."

The man in question looked over his shoulder and down from the smokestack he had been standing on to see Lancer looking up at him. A moment later, she jumped up and landed on the smokestack closest to him.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I feel as though something might happen in town today," Lancer replied. "Yesterday, the streets were filled with Amazons. Today, they were few and far in between."

"Maybe they already moved on from Melen," Archer suggested without really meaning it. "But yeah…I've noticed that too. I wanna say that they're all behaving themselves but…"

Even though he only personally knew three Amazons closely, he knew that the three of them wouldn't sit still if they could help it.

"It also might be because of Fia, but I feel like there's this tension rising up within the city," Archer continued and Lancer nodded her head in agreement. "Evilus, Kali Familia…"

"And possibly Ishtar Familia," Lancer said, prompting Archer to stare. "We saw what looked to be members of their Familia yesterday before we went to test out Miss Flores's Skill."

"…That guy is going to blow a gasket if her finds out," Archer muttered. "No…he probably already knows. That's probably why he hasn't left the inn. He's probably worried what might happen if he were to meet her or a member of her Familia in the street or something."

"Would he truly lose control like that?" Lancer asked. "I know of his…grievances with the goddess but…"

"Let's put it this way. What would happen if you were to meet Grimhild in the middle of the street?"

The sounding of metal twisting and bending in Lancer's hands was the answer that Archer expected.

"…Yes…I suppose it would be hypocritical of me to criticize Caster in this regard," Lancer nodded as she drew a rune on the smokestack to repair her damage to it.

Archer nodded his head in response as he turned his eyes to look back over the city.

"Hmm?"

"Is something the matter?"

"I'm not sure…" Archer replied. "I'm just seeing a lot of familiar faces running around looking worried."

In the distance he saw several members of Loki Familia being carried away by their fellows, their injuries clearly telling a story of having been in a rather brutal fight.

"Will you go assist them?" Lancer asked. "Different Familia or not, they are your friends, right?"

"…One thing at a time," Archer decided. "We have to worry about Fia first. Then I'll worry about Loki Familia. I can't put others before the Familia."

"Should we tell Master?"

"Tell him and he'll tell us to help."

Lancer gave a soft giggle in response as they returned to their positions.

Time slowly ticked by and the sun began to set.

The time to move was drawing closer. By now, the others should be heading to the rendezvous point, a spot between Orario and Melen. Caster, Lily and Hestia would remain behind for the time being and would meet up with them in the morning.

Frankly, Archer was surprised that the unknown Familia hadn't shown any sign of activity. Even the warehouse where they had pulled Fia from had been left alone. Not even the regular guards went to investigate it. Not that they'd find anything but a rather smelly crate. No corpses or stains had been left behind. Saber and Lancer had been rather thorough about it.

Did they simply decide to cut their losses after losing so many of their members without a trace? Granted if Archer had a base where all the staff and cargo had disappeared without a single trace…he would have suspected that his staff had made off with the cargo rather than an outsider. Then again, a god would immediately know if their Child had died so whichever god was leading the Familia would already know that his Children were dead and that their cargo was most likely taken.

"It'd be nice if they just did decide to cut their losses," Archer muttered as the lights in the town began to light up in response to the sun disappearing beyond the horizon.

X-x-X-x-X

"You know…what part of 'Leave us out of it,' did you not get, Loki?" Hestia asked, sitting crosslegged on the mat while propping her head up with her arm. To her left, Caster was lying on his right side supporting his head like a rather famous statue and to her right Lily was sitting on attention. Emma, Primo and Gina had gone off into town with Welf following them as their body guard while Rider and Assassin had left in the wagon to retrieve the package, leaving only the three of them to entertain the unwanted guests in the form of Loki, Riveria and Ais.

"Come on, don't say that," Loki said with a wide smile. "Shouldn't we get along for the sake of our kids?"

"Our relationship has merely been one of give and take," Caster pointed out. "Neither side owes the other any favors."

Archer's trip to the Deep Floors had been a job which he had already been compensated for.

Caster delivering potions and antidotes to the Loki Familia Expedition had been repaid by allowing Hestia Familia to make use of their campground in preparation for the Boss Fight.

Even Loki checking in on a lonely Hestia had been repaid by Hestia giving Loki the last of her wine and sharing their food with them during the beach party.

"Wait, didn't our side actually spend more money in those exchanges?" Hestia pointed out.

"Now now, no need to fuss over the little details," Loki said quickly, trying to brush the matter under the rug. "Is Archie around? I wanted to borrow his eyes for something."

"Does it have to do with the missing Thousand Elf?" Caster asked, prompting the three to turn toward him. "Do not act so surprised. One can see quite far when one properly uses their eyes on the proper vantage point."

"Do you know where they took her?" Ais asked, leaning forward toward Caster.

"Such information holds no worth to me so I do not mind giving it away freely," Caster said, lazily examining his fingernails. "But perhaps the goddess would like to squeeze something out of this deal?"

Hestia gave Caster a wry smile before shaking her head.

"No, I don't mind just telling them where their missing Child is," Hestia said. "Though I expect you guys to help out on the chance one of my kids goes missing too!"

"Yeah yeah, that's fair," Loki said, looking a little relieved that that was all it took.

"The exact location cannot be described but she is currently being held to the west, outside of the port town within the caves along the cliffside," Caster replied. "There's quite a network of them but she is being held in an area where the moonlight can reach."

"So somewhere near the outer wall," Riveria muttered. "But how do you know this?"

"As I've said, I've seen her myself. These eyes can see further than even the gods if I so wished, Riveria Ljos Alf. Although, I suppose I should caution any reckless rescue mission. She is being watched at all times by no less than four Amazon guards, at least Level 4 by my appraisal. It wouldn't take much for one of them to snap her neck should they become pressed."

Loki and her Familia members grimaced at the thought. Even if they were to destroy Kali Familia in retaliation, it wouldn't replace Lefiya's existance.

"Are they all waiting there?" Loki asked. "All of Kali's Amazons, I mean."

"Information of Kali's war strength would cost you, Goddess Loki," Caster said with a smirk, causing Loki to sigh and scratch her head in thought.

"Then how about Riveria or Lefiya help nurture your little elf cutie?" Loki offered, causing Riveria to blink in surprise. "You said during the beach barbecue that you were looking for a teacher for her, right?"

"I'm not Converting her," Hestia said immediately.

"Nah no need to go that far. Maybe a lesson once or twice a week? That would help Lefiya's studies too, right?"

Loki turned to her Vice Captain who held a hand to her chin in thought.

"Certainly taking on a student of her own would instill a sense of responsibility in her and reinforce her own studies," Riveria agreed. "But is it okay? Considering how busy we are with our investigation?"

"Well, let's consider it a vacation for Lefiya," Loki said with a shrug. "Besides, once or twice a week wouldn't hamper us much. Not like we're making all that much progress looking for that-"

"Ahhhh! Ahhh! I'm not listening!" Hestia shouted, covering her ears and playing dumb.

"Fine, fine," Loki sighed, rolling her eyes again. "We'll iron out the details later but is that good enough for ya, Goldie?"

"It will suffice, for now…" Caster nodded as he stood up and walked toward the window. Immediately, Loki and Ais followed after him. "The Goddess Kali's interest in your two Amazons are like those of a mother wishing to see the growth of their children that have left the nest and made a life of their own. She expresses this love in the form by having them perform the Rites of Telskyura here in Melen."

He pointed out to the cliffside.

"The younger one has headed to those cliffs in the same network of caves that they are holding Thousand Elf. The goddess herself is also present with the younger of her Familia Captains and half of her Familia. The rest…"

He pointed out a ship sailing into the harbor.

"…Are on that ship with the older sister along with the first Familia Captain."

"Fuck," Loki cursed.

The ship was being propelled by oars operated by the powerful Telskyuran Warriors. Even if they were to leave on another ship to give chase, they would never catch up to them in time.

Before anyone else could say anything however, the water around the wharf suddenly exploded.

"…Well now," Caster said with a slight frown. "It would appear that more weeds have sprouted up after being culled, as they often do. A clear distraction, if nothing else."

Seven Violas have exploded out of the water in the middle and had begun attacking the sailors around the area.

"And not one I can ignore either!" Loki growled as she turned to Ais. "Get Narvi and the others and get rid of them!"

Ais gave Loki a nod before jumping from the balcony toward the commotion while Loki turned to leave.

"One final message before you leave, Goddess Loki," Caster said, not taking his eyes off the Violas. "And a request if you will."

"What, you wanna help out after all?" Loki asked.

"A king does not weed his own garden," Caster shot down the request for help with a wave of his hand. "This information is free of charge. Be aware that there are more than one set of Amazon Warriors currently residing in this town."

Loki's eyes actually opened at the information.

"And the request?"

"…When you see him, give the God Njord my thanks for his recommendation for a vacation spot."

"Bah, so you did learn of that place from him too," Loki sighed before nodding her head and leaving with Riveria in tow.

"You think 'that one's' involved in this mess too?" Hestia asked, being careful not to mention the name of a certain goddess.

"I do not merely believe it to be the case, I would say that that one is the perpetrator of this chaos."

"Does that mean Lord Caster will help Loki Familia after all?" Lily asked, finally speaking up.

Caster did not respond and instead simply continued to stare out the window and down at the Violas, watching the Adventurers of Loki Familia converge on the plant monsters.

"I have some business to attend to," Caster finally said, procuring a small bottle containing several strange pills. "I leave the Goddess's safety in your hands, Arde."

"Y-yes…" Lily nodded in obedience, finding herself unable to say anything more as Caster seemed to be exuding a strange pressure. It was like a layer of pure rage and hatred simmering underneath a mask of calm that should only ever appear on the king's visage.

With that said, Caster left without another word.

"…I think that's the first time I've ever seen Gil actually pissed," Hestia muttered as Lily nodded her head in agreement.

It wasn't as though Ishtar didn't have a million different reasons for someone to not like her, but Caster's rage seemed to be on another level. The Servants seem to understand but for one reason or another no one was willing to share.

She just hoped Melen would still be standing after everything's finished.

X-x-X-x-X

Of course, on the other side of the town, the commotion did not escape Archer's eyes.

"Looks like Evilus is making their move," Archer said as he dropped back down inside the Factory where Bell was carrying Fia on his back with Saber and Lancer beside him. "They're attacking the wharfs with Violas."

"Are they trying to draw us out?" Saber asked.

"Even if they aren't we should use this opportunity to leave," Lancer said. "Let us make haste."

"Right," Bell nodded as he turned toward Fia who was wearing a cloak crafted by Lancer to cover and hide her body . "Hold on tight okay?"

"Y-yeah," Fia nodded as they made their way out of the factory and jumped onto the rooftops, giving them a good view of the carnage.

"…Seven in total," Archer noted. "With just that much, Ais and the others from Loki Familia should be able to handle it just fine."

"…Yet you look as though you wish to help out nonetheless," Saber pointed out.

"No. I can't afford to worry about another Familia right now."

"Then what if I tell you to go?" Bell asked, causing Archer to turn toward him. "If Loki Familia are running around then our enemies can't act recklessly anymore, right? So Archer, Saber…we'll split up like we originally planned. If our enemy is watching Loki Familia then we may be able to trap them between us and Loki Familia, right?"

"…Humph, fine," Archer said. "But I'm doing this because you're telling me to go, not because I want to, got it?"

"I believe this is what the Goddess refers to as 'tsundere?'" Saber asked with a chuckle.

"Keep that up and I will make sure you get stabbed next time there's another spat."

"T-there's no need to go that far," Lancer said before holding her hand out toward the two of them. "Although this might be unnecessary, allow me to provide a small amount of assistance."

A magic circle appeared below Lancer and flames rose out from it, wrapping around the two of them with a much large amount of flame shrouding Saber. It was Lancer's Skill, Hero's Bridesmaid. A support-type Skill that increase a target's parameters based on Lancer's affections toward the target.

While Saber's flame was massive as expected, Archer's flame was not too far behind.

"…Is there something I should know, my dear?" Saber asked, glancing from Archer to Lancer.

"N-no, not at all!" Lancer said quickly. "He simply…reminds me of you…sometimes."

A moment of silence passed between them with only the blowing wind to give commentary to Lancer's confession.

"…Be careful around her," Saber said to Archer after a pause and Archer nodded his head seriously in understanding. Saber then turned back toward Bell. "Then Master, we're off."

"Yes! Please be careful!"

With one last nod, the two of them launched off of the rooftops toward the commotion while Bell and Lancer turned around to head the opposite way.

"We need to reach the others," Lancer said. "They should be waiting outside the town."

"Got it!" Bell nodded as he followed behind Lancer.

However, they only crossed about halfway across the town when Bell felt the hairs on the back of his neck bristle.

"They're here!" Bell called out.

"Get down!" Lancer called out as a spear of light formed in her hands. Bell dived out of the way as Lancer thrust her spear behind his and Fia's heads, impaling a robed figure in the stomach. With a quick motion of her hands, a magical shield appeared between them and the robed figure…who promptly exploded in a torrent of flame, causing Fia to scream from the noise and heat.

"H-he exploded!?" Bell shouted.

"It wasn't my doing," Lancer said quickly. "That man…these people…are prepared to kill themselves to stop us."

At Lancer's words, several more robed people appeared around them and Bell realized that they were the same people that set the Violas on him and Lefiya down on the Eighteenth Floor. It would seem that sending Archer and Saber away was the wrong call after all.

But even so…

"Your orders, Master," Lancer said, holding her spear of light out in challenge to the members of Evilus.

Thankfully, they were still in the sparsely populated section of the city with only factories and warehouses that should be vacated for the night so the chances of someone getting caught up in the mess would be slim.

"…I'm going to continue forward," Bell said, feeling Fia's wings shaking against his neck as she was sobbing in fear. "My Servant…" He was not someone that could put the lives of people on a scale and decide which was more important than the other. "By my order…"even if one of those was a monster. "Strike them down! Protect us until we reach outside the town! Use whatever means necessary to keep damage to the town to a minimum!"

"Acknowledged!" Lancer replied as the spear of light split in two and was launched in two separate directions, impaling two Evilus members before Bell broke off into a run through the opening in the encirclement.

Before anything else, he needed to get out of the town!

X-x-X-x-X

Archer and Saber were watching the "fight" between Loki Familia with Ais at the helm and the monstrous Violas. Well, it wasn't so much of a fight as it was only seven Level 3 monsters against over a dozen Level 3 and 4 Adventurers from one of Orario's top Familia led by a Level 6. It was all over in a few minutes with the damage being kept to a minimum and no civilian casualties.

"Well, it wasn't as though we were here to fight Violas," Saber reminded him and Archer nodded.

They were to keep an eye out for anyone that would use the commotion to their advantage. So it was only natural that the commotion would happen back the way they came from with an explosion in the distance.

"Damn!" Archer cursed as he stood up, ready to rush back to Bell's side, only for a series of war cries to sound out as countless Amazons descended upon the Loki Familia women. "Kali Familia!?"

"No…something's a bit different…" Saber muttered as a dull light seemed to shine around Ais, prompting a confused look to appear on the girl's face. She also didn't seem to be using her usual Desperate either. Was it in maintenance? "But let us leave Master's safety to Lancer. We should assist them as ordered."

"…Fine," Archer nodded as he projected a spear in his hands. "Do you need a weapon? You can't use Gram here after all."

"I will make due," Saber replied as he cracked his knuckles. "There would be no purpose for the disguises if I were to wield my demonic sword here. But to think they would bring along a monster with them as well."

Archer blinked as he turned away from the spear in his hands toward the battle below where a massive armored creature that looked like a giant frog wielding a massive axe trying to strike at Ais, not caring about the fact that several other Amazons were in the line of fire.

"I…think that's another Amazon…" Archer said, although he couldn't be sure.

"…Let us not question it," Saber said, cracking his knuckles as his eyes swept across the battlefield. "There are several enemies on the rooftops…mages and their escorts most likely. Which do you want."

"I'll take the rooftops."

"Understood."

With that, the two of them shot forward, Archer smashing into a group of Amazons with staves aiming down at Ais while Saber smashed into the armored Amazon, sending her flying away from Ais. With the two of them now officially in battle, the effects of Lancer's Skill took shape, setting their weapons ablaze and acting like beacons in the darkness.

"W-who the heeeeell are you?" The large Amazon demanded in a slightly slurred voice.

"Enemy sighted," Saber muttered. "Ally status, confirmed. Skill activation, confirmed. Commencing interception."

"You are…" Ais began as Saber looked over his shoulder toward Ais.

"We are here to assist," Saber said. "Please rest assured."

Ais looked up at Saber's helmet and nodded her head to show that she understood.

"Don't screw with meeeeeee!" The armored Amazon screamed as she lunged forward, only for the head of her axe to be caught in Saber's hand with ease.

"Enemy parameters…confirmed…" Saber said as his fingers lit up in flames and began digging into the axe. "Your opponent is me!"

With another burst of flame, the woman was launched back once more with droplets of melted metal sliding off her weapon and armor. Above them, Archer sent several Amazons flying off the rooftops before landing behind Saber, spear at the ready.

"What…what the hell!?" The armored Amazon demanded as she stood up, holding a hand against the spot where Saber punched her.

"Just a pair of warriors that happen to be passing by," Archer said. "Though I suppose you don't need to remember that."

X-x-X-x-X

Bell's Level 3 speed was proving his worth as he quickly put distance between himself and the Evilus members with Lancer right behind him.

Light covered his body and flames rose up to shroud him, telling him that Lancer was using her Skill on him as well. For now, they had to regroup with the others and add Assassin and Rider to their fighting strength.

Thankfully, only a few Evilus members were able to keep up with them, telling Bell that they were not expecting a pair of High Class Adventurers to have disrupted their operations.

"Keep your mouth closed or else you'll bite your tongue!" Bell shouted at Fia who was doing her best to not scream at Bell's massive sprinting speed.

Even so, this was the first time Bell was in combat since hitting Level 3. He was faster than he ever was before to the point that he wondered if he could rival a Level 4 in pure speed at this rate.

Once or twice, Lancer would disappear from his side and a scream would ring out, telling him that she had taken down another pursuer.

If this kept up, they should be able to reach the rendezvous without any trouble.

"Look out!" Fia shouted just as Bell turned his head to the right.

A member of Evilus smashed through the metal wall and Bell found himself staring at the person's eyes. Strained bloodshot eyes screaming with maniacal despair.

"OH GOD! TAKE THIS WRETCHED LIFE!" The man screamed as he lunged toward Bell and Fia.

"Master!" Lancer's scream seemed so far away.

At the very least, he needed to shield Fia…!

"I see…rather conspicuous people aren't they?"

In a flash of green and brown, someone appeared in front of Bell and punched the Evilus member up into the sky, allowing him to explode "safely."

"Y-you're…" Bell began as he recognized the person in front of him.

Not just Bell but the Evilus members as well.

"E-Elgram!" Someone said in fear.

Loki Familia Executive: Level 6 Gareth "Elgram" Landrock.

"Those kids told me all about you people but I never thought I'd see you for myself so quickly," the dwarf said as he stood in front of Bell and Fia. "You all right, lad?"

"Y-yes!" Bell said as Lancer landed beside them and helped them up. "Thank you for helping us."

"Well to be honest, I just came to investigate the explosions," the dwarf said with a laugh. "But if these guys are chasing after you then it's only natural I step in. Now get going. It's not going to be pretty to watch."

Bell nodded his head as he hoisted Fia back onto his back and took off running with Lancer right on his heels.

"Thank you again!" Bell called out to Gareth who simply held a hand up as he walked toward the Evilus members with his axe over his shoulder.

None of them broke rank as they lunged toward the dwarf and their certain doom.

"They're broken…" Lancer muttered quietly from behind Bell and Fia. "Those people were completely broken. That is the risk one takes when seeking a Familia. We should count our blessings that ours is not like theirs."

Bell could only nod his head in response while Fia did not share the two's sympathy for her pursuers, not that Bell could blame her.

Glancing over his shoulders, he hoped Archer and Saber were okay.

X-x-X-x-X

The battle was going just fine. Aside from the armored Amazon, none of the other Amazons could match Saber or Archer as they were being enhanced by Lancer's Skill. Each of their strikes burned their opponents and either melted or outright shattered their weapons. And even then, the armored Amazon only had strength and speed to call her own. She did nothing but blindly charge forward in rage and was easily knocked aside by the Servants and Ais even though the latter had been hit with a curse that temporarily sealed her wind.

"Has the curse been lifted yet?" Archer asked as he stood back-to-back with Ais.

"No, not yet," Ais said as the two parried the Amazon's massive axe once more allowing Saber to close the gap and deliver another burning punch into the woman's chest, destroying what was left of her armor to pieces and sending her smashing into the stone pavement.

"HOOOOOOOOWWW!?" The massive armored Amazon demanded. "HOOOOWW CAN YOU BE SO STRONG!?"

"Of course, this is the power of love," Saber replied in his usual serious voice, causing the people nearby to stop fighting and stare. "A wife's love for her husband gives him more strength than what someone who only loves themselves can muster."

Ais turned her head toward Archer who quickly held up his hands and took a few steps away from Saber, trying to say that he had nothing to do with the lovestruck idiot.

"D-DON'T FUUUUUUCK WITH MEEEEEEEE!" The amazon lunged at Saber once more only for the man to step aside and deliver a fierce punch with his right hand, smashing through her helmet and sending her rotund body flying away again. "BUUUEEEEHH!? MY FAAAAACE! MY BEAUTIFUL FAAAACE!"

"Although I must say…the battle strategy of being so grotesque in mind, body and soul that your opponent does not wish to touch you is ingenious."

"…I didn't think you were the type to kick someone while they're down," Archer muttered, resting his spear over his shoulders.

"I am merely saying what is on my mind. Nothing more."

The two of them then turned toward the remaining Amazons who took a step back from the two men who had easily trounced their leader.

"What do you think?" Saber asked.

"There's something off about these Amazons," Archer said. "It doesn't feel like they're from a warrior country…"

"That's because they're not," Ais said. "They're-"

But her voice was quickly cut off by another one.

"Oh no no no no no, this just won't do."

A massive bolt of lighting struck a nearby lamppost, causing the glass containing the light to shatter and sending the entire district into a complete blackout. As the dust settled all present could see a small figure standing over them with one hand against his face.

The cute near androgynous boy let out a laugh that was both harmonious and eery at the same time as a single glowing red eye appraised the Adventurers below him.

"I had only expected to see Kali Familia Amazons trampling across my garden but to think that the rats would willingly come out of their holes."

The boy pushed his hair back, allowing it to stand up as his face broke into a rather maniacal grin, causing the women around them to flinch as if they had seen a massive crack appear in a perfect stained glass window.

"But there is no mistaking this foul stench of yours clinging onto your mongrels, ISHTAR!"

The boys eyes narrowed into slits like that of a snake as the night sky erupted in a mass of golden lights. Countless weapons appeared hung in the sky above, each one of them flawless and powerful, perfect for the hands of any Hero or High Class Adventurer.

"That guy…!" Archer gasped. "Is he serious!?"

"Everyone scatter!" Saber shouted as he directed the Loki girls away.

"Although it's a bit messy, my treasures can be used in this way as well," the boy said raising his hand up, pointing a finger toward the ground. "The King's Treasury: Gate of Babylon."

The weapons came down upon them like droplets of rain.

Screams littered the night sky as the Adventurers did their best to defend against the onslaught of countless Noble Phantasms which fell down indiscriminately.

The Amazons. Loki Familia. Even Archer and Saber were forced to weather the storm.

But the golden rain eventually ended with Archer and Saber standing before Loki Familia, having blown away the weapons before they could reach them.

Across from them, the Ishtar Familia Amazons were lying scattered across the plaza with only three of them still up with their bodies bloodied and standing in front of another woman wearing a white hood.

"I see…" the golden-haired and red-eyed boy said as he glared down at them while pointing his finger at the hooded woman. "It's you then? You're Ishtar's precious secret. The secret behind the mysterious power of the Berbera. I see, a Renard's magic."

"Lena, Samira! Get her out of here!" The frontmost Amazon ordered. "That kid…that kid's the one who assaulted Freya Familia's Folkvangr!"

"But Aisha!" One of the Amazons made to protest.

"Now!"

However, they didn't get two steps when portals appeared by their sides and chains shot out, binding all four of their arms and legs like serpents, restricting their movements and suspending them in the air.

"W-what's with these chains?" The lead amazon, Aisha, shouted.

"It's useless," the boy said as he landed on the stone road and started walking up to them, pulling a sword out of a fallen Amazon's arm, causing the woman to scream in pain. "That is one of the greatest of my treasures meant to restrain even the heavens above. Though I suppose you should consider it an honor to have them be used on you."

Aisha simply growled at the boy as she tried to struggle against her bindings but it was no use. It was a weapon that turned the divine Falna, the strength and pride of an Adventurer, against them. Aisha must have been rather high Level as she couldn't even move a finger while the other two Amazons could make rougher movements even if they couldn't escape the chains.

The boy walked right up to the Renard and pointed his blade at her throat, causing the girl to tremble in fear with tears in her green eyes.

"What, are you afraid to die?" The boy asked with a smile that contrasted his words and actions.

"Y-yes…" the fox-eared girl admitted.

"But for what reason do you have to live for?" The boy asked. "Whether you die tonight or a few weeks from now on that altar makes no difference in the end, right? "

"Y-you!?" Aisha shouted as she tried to turn her head around. "How do you-"

"Even so…I want to live…"

"Then why do you not cry out to be saved?" The boy asked. "Surely a hero will come to your side if you merely ask. Or do you believe someone of your…duties…does not deserve the light of a hero?"

"I…" the girl hesitated in speaking as tears flowed out of her cheeks.

"There is no shame in such a profession. Even one as lowly as you deserves to have their wishes granted," the boy sighed as he raised his blade. "Well, I suppose it doesn't really matter what you want in the end. A caged bird lives and dies by the whims of its master after. It would only be a kindness if I kill you now. At the very least, it would save your soul."

"Haruhime!"

However, before the sword came down, the boy abandoned his weapon and jumped back as a flash of white smashed down at the spot where he had been standing.

"Oh dear, another visitor," the boy said with a smile as the chains and weapons scattered about disappeared into golden light except for the ones that were lodged into or had touched the formerly armored Amazon. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Vanagrand?"

Standing tall with what looked to be Ais's Desperate in his hands was Bete Loga, another one of Loki Familia's executives.

"Cut the crap," Bete growled as the werewolf glared up at the boy. "You're the one who jumped in and attacked everyone first."

"Hahaha, I suppose so," the boy admitted with a cheerful laugh. "It wasn't on purpose though. They were simply in my way."

"You…are you with Enyo?" Bete demanded as the Amazons stood between the Renard and Bete.

"Enyo? Are you asking if I'm your ally?" The boy asked with a confused tilt of his head.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. I'm saying that 'Loki Familia are the ones who are working alongside Enyo.'"

The boy punctuated his declaration by launching several blades toward the Renard and the Amazons behind Bete. One of them grabbed Haruhime in a hug as if planning to shield her with her own body but Bete stood between them and the rain of Noble Phantasms.

With a feral howl, the Werewolf's movements were little more than a blur, redirecting the blades off course and sending them flying into the surrounding buildings or into the water instead.

"I see…so there is some truth in the tales of wolfmen," the boy sneered. "A shame that you cannot use such power within the Dungeon itself."

Werewolves had long been considered the least-suited race for Dungeon crawling all across Orario because deep within the bowels of the Dungeon, they had no access to the moon—the source of their true power. These sorts of "transformations" had been confirmed only in a limited number of animal-person species. It was an ability that unleashed not only their untapped power but their innate animalistic nature as well, "trading rationality for strength," as the saying went. And for werewolves, the key to their transformation was none other than the light of the moon.

The boy ran his hand through his hair again and let out a long sigh.

"But I cannot have you track my scent back to me," the boy said. "So do me a favor…and forget about it."

"And what makes you think I will?" Bete growled, his arms and legs not even shaking despite taking the assault head on.

"Because you will probably want to forget this smell."

"Hah?"

Bete let out a confused sound as something fell down between him and the Ishtar Familia members. A massive brown cloud filled the plaza as the boy let out a roaring laugh, shielding his nose as he did.

"My my, looks like it worked perfectly! Such a potent item! It has completely surpassed my expectations! A…a little too much actually…ugh…"

"Bete!" Ais shouted, making a move to get to him, only to stop right in front of the smoke and quickly retreated from it, covering her nose with tears in her eyes.

"A stink bomb!?" Archer shouted incredulously. "Really!?"

"Fear not," Saber said as he and Archer pushed the girls back and away from the cloud. "Our helmets will protect us from the worst of the stench."

"Caught on after that incident, huh?"

"Indeed."

"Lucky you…" one of the girls said behind them in a nasally voice. Archer recognized her as Narvi, one of the Supporters that went down to the Fifty-Ninth Floor back then. "It's to the point that I want to chop off my nose just so I can't smell it anymore. Bete probably wishes he was dead."

Indeed, Archer did not envy the Werewolf who had been standing at ground zero of the explosion. Of course, after having his fill of laughter, the boy had vanished without a trace.

As the brown cloud cleared, they could see the werewolf still standing in the same spot he was before…only his eyes were rolled back into his head with foam seeping out of his mouth, having fallen unconscious shortly after the stink bomb was set off. The Amazons and the Renard were nowhere in sight though.

"At least he didn't suffer for too long," Archer said with a sigh as Ais and another one of her fellow Familia members ran over and grabbed the werewolf and pulled him over to let him rest on a bench.

"Well, thanks anyway for the save," Narvi said as she patted his back. "Archer."

"…You are mistaken," Archer replied in a dull monotone. "I am Red Hawk, a spearman that just happened to be passing by."

"Sure sure, let's go with that," Narvi said with a laugh.

"Still…can you help us a bit more?" Ais said as she came back to them. "Lefiya was taken by Kali Familia so that Tione and Tiona would fight their Captains."

"…"

Archer stared at the blonde girl, clearly unsure whether or not he should go or quickly return to Bell's side.

"Let's go," Saber said, placing a hand on Archer's shoulder. "He cannot blame us for getting involved after what just happened. Besides, we were ordered to help out anyway."

"You sure like getting me involved in your troubles," Archer said with a sigh as he turned back to Ais who gave him a soft smile.

"I'm sorry," she said. "But you look like you wanted to help so…"

"…Let's talk about compensation afterward," Archer said with a sigh and Ais nodded her head.

"All right, we'll handle the cleanup here," Narvi said. "Good luck."

With a nod of her head, Ais led the way for Archer and Saber to follow them.

It would seem that the night was far from over.