Chapter 66

Cato was mostly silent for dinner. It wasn't that he was rude or withdrawn. But he clearly had something big on his mind.

Just as planned.

Nanami was full of questions though. Apparently she'd spent the day talking to anyone in the Manor who had time, and was still in 'reporter mode'. Good. This was part of her 'world', and super powered people would be something she'd need to get used to when she returned to Earth and met some of the 'others' a little more.

This reminded me. "Nanami? Did you want to talk to anyone on the other side? I'm sure I could set you up with a lesson or two."

Maki chimed in, "She wouldn't even let me skip the last bit of my year of school." She gave me a head tilt, "Who would you call though? Maybe Yasaka-sama?"

Since the fox was out of the bag, "Akeno wouldn't mind I'm sure." I smiled.

The two Oni put down their empty bowls, "You should take your own advice." They said together.

Haruhime's tails, tangled with mine as usual when we had dinner, tugged on me a little. She didn't say anything. Just gave me her very best adorable fox eyes. From across the table, Aisha leaned down to stage whisper to Bell, "Uh oh, she's giving her the eyes."

"They are hard to resist, aren't they?" Bell replied, playing along with the loud whispering.

I was about to say something, then realized exactly what I'd been doing. "I've been an idiot, haven't I?"

Haruhime gave me a pat on the arm, while everyone else nodded.

"While there is always a straight line to the goal..."

"It is seldom the best route." The Oni said.

"If it is still the only way..." Haruhime said, "But..."

Part of me wanted to pick Haruhime up, and hide her in a nice comfortable place until she smiled again. But it was always like that when she stopped smiling. Even more so when it was because she was worried about something.

"I'll talk to them after then." I said, looking back to Nanami, who had been silent all this time. "Well?"

"Sure." She nodded, "I mean, Akeno-sempai is a former classmate."

Delly perked up, "Maybe see if they've had any luck with the other communication plan?"

"Good idea." I nodded. "Who wants some iced cream?"

"Ara? Is that you, Nanami-chan?" Akeno asked, "It is!" Akeno's face got a little closer to the Occulus, "Ko-san?"

"She's part of your world now too. And since you taught me, I figured you could maybe teach her something." I replied, putting my hand on Nanami's back and giving her a little nudge.

"Ah, yes." She took the hint and spoke up, "I learned under Kurin-san for a while too. And after seeing some of the things here..."

"It's easy to feel inadequate with Ko-san nearby." Akeno teased, "I can hardly imagine what being in a world of people like her would be like."

"Similar to being in a room with nothing but the Satan's peerages, all day every day?" I offered, nodding to Akeno when she looked at me, "She figured out almost exactly who Rias and Sona were almost as soon as I reminded her of their last names."

"fu-fu. Well, if you manage to return here, I'm sure we can find a job for you, if you wanted to leave your current one."

Nanami looked at me, and I gave her a solid 'I told you so' look.

"But, before a lesson. Kodori has a bit of a story to tell." Nanami said, "Since I was asked to help, you might be able to give us a better idea on what exactly I can help with. If at all."

"In trouble again?"

"Yup." I admitted, "So here's what happened..."

It was rare to see Akeno facepalm. But she still managed to do it with her usual elegance, "Ko-san, that was very risky." She lowered her hand, "I do hope Ha-san has punished you."

"Sadly, I enjoyed it. But I'm not a devil." I laughed, "Yes, I'll admit, I nearly went and jumped in both feet first into possible insanity. But considering what I can't remember..."

"There may be a few things I can suggest. I would still talk with Yasaka-sama however." Akeno replied.

"Of course. In the morning though, since she'd be sleeping around now. Maybe I can contact Wukong? He'd probably have some kind of super secret technique... Or he'd just tell me to get drunk until it seemed less important. Think Inari-sama would know? Or even Yu-long? Susano? Amaterasu? Oh... maybe Hades?"

Nanami was going bug-eyed at the name drops.

"All good ideas. Much better than trying to eat a curse from a deity whole." She chided.

Yup, Akeno was using that voice. But she wasn't pouting at least.

"So lets hear your ideas then, Akeno-san?" I said, "And if you need anyone to hop on the call, they're all home right now."

For the next little while, we (Myself, Nanami, Haruhime, Hestia, Cato and whomever else wandered by the Lab to say hello) kicked around ideas. Some were put out there just to eliminate them. For example, going back through the Gate and burning things until the Gods either killed me, or removed the curse just so I'd stop burning things. Another 'discarded' plan, was to just not do anything, and hope it fixed itself. It might actually work, since being an adventurer meant many things, including a solid ability to eventually shrug off anything except genetic disabilities, sicknesses, or missing body parts.

There was also no telling if 'ignore it until it goes away' would ever work, and being a person of science and artifice not being able to remember/name/work with just about anything inorganic was unacceptable in the long term.

Another one that was low on the list, was gaining a level. Not only had my stats not moved much since I'd become 'Queen' of Orario, I'd have to go and do something really significant. Like go find and slay the Great Black Dragon or something. While I was very strong, I wasn't sure I was stronger than the level eight adventurers from Zeus and Hera Familia who had been killed by the Great Black Dragon. Yes, AdventurerS. Multiple, who had become food for it. A side project for another day maybe.

Just above all those, was the original plan of going up to the top of the tower, sitting down, and letting loose my own corruption to feed on the curse. If I went insane in the mean time, well, I couldn't hurt anyone while up there, and would eventually come to my senses.

Someplace in the middle, was to see if any of the local Gods had an idea. Hephaestus and Goibniu were possible candidates, since they were closely aligned with what 'went missing' from my abilities. Demeter was a close third. Loki a forth, but both Haruhime and Hestia were giving me their versions of 'sleeping on the couch' looks for suggesting it. Mostly since I didn't care about the pervert Goddess clinging to me.

But, another suggestion for a God who might be able to oppose Hardy's curse, was Ouranos. I mean, god of the Sky vs God of the underworld. We set that one aside as a last resort, since the INSTANT someone caught wind I'd transferred to the 'Guild', the political poop apocalypse would happen.

Cato suggested I go to Rondel for study. Not a terrible idea. Local people dealing with a Local problem from a Local Goddess. Except he also admitted I'd be a unique case, and even if most people of Rondel worshipped La or Elange, they'd be wary of poking at someone cursed by Hardy.

Then we got a couple interesting suggestions...

"Ah, Akeno-chan." It was Issei speaking from 'off camera', "Still talking with them?"

Akeno looked to the side, and without any hesitation kissed Issei as he slid into 'view' while wrapping her up in a hug. All very smooth and brief, it showed how far the Dragon of Lust had matured. No pink haze, no 'grabby hands', just a quick hug, smooch and natural looking 'shoulder to shoulder' with Akeno.

"Issei? Seriously?" Namani said, "YOU are one of them too?" She facepalmed, "I almost want to pass out again."

A pause, as Issei tried to place the face, "Oh! Catgirl cosplay president!"

"That's how you remember me?"

"I remember all the cute girls." He replied, getting a playful swat from Akeno, "What? It's true."

Those who knew him sighed, nodding.

"So, what's the problem this time Sensei?" Issei asked, "Not more politics?"

"Not this time, no. Got cursed by a God, and we're kicking around ideas that don't require me to risk insanity."

"Oh, like that time you fought Vali?"

"Or worse."

"Ko-san was quite careless this time." Haruhime said.

"She's pouting at you Sensei..."

"Yes Issei, I know."

We did a brief recap on what we'd thought of so far, with the Dragon King of Lust sitting there, arms crossed, looking down, eyes closed, and frowning in thought. Once we were done, he lifted his head and said, "What about containment?"

Just about everyone in the room said something similar to, "B'wah?"

"Yeah. I mean, I helped you make that glass right? To put that bit of Fenrir's soul into? Would that work? I mean, it's godly power, it's not 'yours', and you don't want it." He continued, "Just make sure to have someone around in case your heart stops again."

"I'm glad I lived through it, but I'll never live it down, will I?"

"No, Ko-san, you will not." Haruhime and Akeno said at the same time.

"But what do we put it in?" Hestia asked, "You helped her make some kind of glass right? But you aren't around now."

Being short usually meant Hestia was overlooked. "Oh, Hestia-sama!" Issei greeted, "But you're only... um..." He counted on his fingers, "One third correct? I'm not there, but the one who helped me make the glass is, kinda." He lifted a hand, his flesh transforming into the stylish red gauntlet.

"Oh? Ah good! You didn't bring me out just so I could get drooled on." The gem on the back of his hand flashed as Ddraig spoke. "Just how are my little brother and sister anyhow?"

"This house is so weird..." Nanami mumbled, "I always wondered why he talked to himself but he literally has another being inside him."

"They do well. Sharing wisdom, wit, and acting like the dragons they are." I said with a smile.

"Well, if they haven't forgotten everything, they might be able to help. And if I could make a request?"

Both Issei and I said, "Sure." Then grinned at each other.

"I don't suppose I can talk to them?"

"What time is good for you Issei? We'll arrange it."

"Sure. I'll try not to feel outnumbered." He looked to the side, tilting his head, "Uh oh. Might have to rescue something from baby drool." He gave Akeno a kiss on the cheek, and was gone.

Not before his gauntlet pleaded, "Please put me away first! Being drooled on is undignified for a dragon!"

"We might have a good idea here." Cato mused, "The JSDF store power in 'butter-ees'. Any mage worth their staff can store magic in small items, and even Mr. Hagane keeps a huge supply of power contained within himself through your artifice."

While a bit overeager to experiment, a bit of a pervert, and a little thoughtless at times, Cato was still one of the wisest in his world. So, we all watched him start pacing as he mumbled to himself. Haruhime, also quite wise, picked up a nearby clipboard, slotted a bit of paper in it, and handed it to me.

"The type of power must be considered... Lightning prefers (noise), magic resonates best in (noise), but curses?" Pace pace went his bare feet on the polished floor. "Malignant energy tends to erode things unnaturally, or at an accelerated pace..." more pacing, "The last time... used a... hmm... broke eventually though..."

"My my. Seems much like you, when you got here, Ko-san." Akeno said quietly, "I think, however, that we should use a few traditional methods for containment. Nanami-chan? How far along did you get with your studies?"

Before she could answer, I put a hand on Nanami's shoulder, "She managed to block my Kitsune abilities."

"Oh! Surprising." Akeno smiled her 'giving you a headpat' smile, just for Nanami.

Blushing a little, she gave me a micro-glare but then turned back to Akeno, "So long as I can get the right materials, I think I can get a good array built. If I knew how. Demon is one thing, God is a little past what I was taught."

"We can build on that. Though, Yasaka-sama would be more familiar than I." Akeno said, "I can have a call set up for tomorrow, I'm sure."

I looked to Nanami, "So long as I bring back 'material' for work, I can stay however long I'm needed." She said.

We all looked to Cato, and yes, I was idly scribbling down notes as he paced back and forth still.

"I'll let Lelei know he'll be here the night." I said.

"Very well. Ko-san? I suggest you find some of the best materials you can." Akeno said.

"Of course. And go find Shinkage and Hagane..."

"They're probably in the library." Hestia said.

I set down the clipboard, then found some stationary for Nanami to write stuff on. "Thank you." She said, "Ah, um..."

"We've got a room for you already." Haruhime said, "I'm sure Loaner can guide you to it."

Since I was basically unable to help with any kind of crafting, had no experience with demon sealing techniques, and really only needed to be there when people figured stuff out...

After telling Shinkage and Hagane about Ddraig wanting to talk with them soon, at some point, I went up to the roof to think. And just because I felt like an idiot, I grabbed Momiji's (who, as my personal Miko, joined in with Nanami and Akeno once she knew what was going on) latest attempt at berry flavoured sake.

"Ko-san." The one person I wanted to see most, but also the last I wanted to see right now, called out from behind me. Dainty footsteps made their way over to me on the tiles of the roof, "May I join you?"

A silly question and she knew it. But, she was also too polite not to ask. So, I told my tails to move all to one side, then wrap around her back when she sat down next to me. "I feel like an idiot." I said, filling my sake dish, taking a tiny sip, then offering it to her.

"You were very foolish." She said, accepting the little dish, and taking a sip, "Momiji-chan has improved." She returned the dish to me, and I sipped a little more.

"I do not like being limited." I said, carefully refilling the dish, "Hardy's curse is much worse than people think. At least from where I'm sitting." I held the sake dish up to the moon, "I can't name the material this is made from. Or the tiles of the roof. Or anything else that comes from under our feet. This... Half of what my adventurer status says I'm capable of, is gone. Almost no alchemy. No working with Welf. Cooking with some of the plants from underground. I can't even remember what to call those things under a plant!" I sighed, taking a sip, then offering it to her again, "The dungeon is off limits as well, since I can't see anything."

"The writing on your back does not define you." She said quietly, "And there is much you can do above ground as well."

"No, it does not." I sighed, drawing my knees up and hugging them, "But unless I wanted to get into politics, I have been reduced to 'Kodori who hits things'. I can't teach what I can't remember. I can't make money in the dungeon. The people," I waved a hand towards the nearest wall of our property, "Would see me, the strongest in Orario, doing random fetch and carry quests as beneath me and Hestia Familia..."

I finally drew up the courage to look at her, and felt a near soul crushing relief that she wasn't frowning at me, "I understand Ko-san. But there must be something only you can do. Even like this."

"Do you have an idea?" I asked, "I mean... I can think of a few things, sure. But none of them help with the current goal." I smiled.

She fu-fu'ed, "I think it is somewhat poetic. You complain endlessly that you'd rather be with your family, yet, when you are forced to take a vacation, you don't." She took the sake dish, and the bottle, and refilled it, "You don't have to be at the front of every effort."

I watched her throat move as she downed a little of the drink, "No. But it was my idea. It feels wrong to be unable to lead."

"Trust in them. You've set a goal, they've agreed to help. We all understand your current limitations." She finished off the sake, considered pouring more, but stopped. Instead she leaned on me, wrapping my arm up in a hug and making my elbow vanish in her kimono clad cleavage. "This isn't the first time we've had to rush forward without you."

She let my arm go, tucked the sake dish into her kimono, and tugged my sleeve to get me to stand. Never one to refuse her, I stood slowly, making sure the creeping haze of the alcohol wasn't going to upset my balance.

"Now." She said, "Come to bed. The children would love it if you were to keep them company tonight."

The next morning, I decided to sleep in. Not literally. But instead of getting up and doing things, I lay among our children as they huddled into my fox form. Ddraig should give up that useless pride of his. Getting drooled on by your children as they cuddled you was one of the best things.

Eventually though, after a bit of play with them all, we got to breakfast, ate, and started gearing up for morning sparring.

Someplace in the middle of our 'battle circle' one on one sparring, I was ejected from the 'ring' by a super slick move from Kaede. I'd gone for a spin kick, but instead of ducking, dodging, or getting hit, she curled up her gauntleted left arm, blocked, dropped her katana, and grabbed my leg with her now free hand.

She then used the momentum of my kick to do a half spin and toss me out of the ring. It wouldn't have stopped me from fighting on, and her dropping her weapon left her 'unarmed' for almost no time at all. But I was 'out' and thus lost.

Having just been flopped onto my face from the ring, I casually rolled over and sat up. "Well done kiddo." I said, giving her a thumbs up, "Wasn't expecting you to drop the weapon."

She grinned back at me, "You might not be my idol, but I'm getting into the bare handed thing."

"Hey Sister!" Welf called out from the other side of the circle, "Now that you're out, come over."

While Kaede and Haruhime squared up, I made my way around the outside of the circle, "Yeah?"

"Check this out." He said while keeping one eye on the fight, "Old man Cato and I got your idea working."

He held out a coin. The bright shiny disk was about the same size as the city's own Valis, but thinner. Just as designed, it had a picture of the tower on one side, and a teardrop on the other. But, it was also covered in glass. Well... I knew what glass was at least... But not what it was made from. It was quite shiny, and still very smooth. But, I could feel a little tingle of magic from it too.

"He said you taught the three of them how to do a little enchanting. And no, that isn't normal (noise). We melted... oh right..." He sighed, "Anyhow. It's stronger than you think. Give it a little power."

I nodded and fed a little power into it. And the shiny smooth clear stuff around the coin started to glow my signature purple/gold/silver. Just a little, just enough to notice.

"That will show that it's the real deal, given out by us." Welf grinned proudly.

Haruhime and Kaede's match came to a sudden climax, as the warrior bunny (Orario version) had her overhand swing parried by Haruhime's little tanto. Haruhime then hit Kaede square between the breasts with an open palm from under her blocking arm, straight arming the rabbit right out of the circle.

That's right. Don't mess with me or my wife will beat you up.

"Okay." I looked back to the coin, "So we have a way to ID people... How many can you make in... four days?"

"Few hundred? I mean, so long as Old man Cato or the other two can enchant them." He shrugged, "Just how big a party are you expecting?"

"I'll find out. Any progress on the other problem?"

"Well... kinda. But we're kinda nervous about trying it." Welf said.

"Oh?"

"Well, we were thinking of having Nanami scribe some stuff, then have you put the curse into a spare train Softy." He replied, "Thing is... That would involve magic stone in something we've never tested before. So it might work, not work, or not work and explode."

"Still haven't talked to Yasaka... So maybe something better than an empty battery..." I mused, "Suppose I'll go ask about that too, since I'll be on the Occulus."

"Sounds like a plan." We shared a fist bump.

"Welf-san." Haruhime said from the circle, "Since you are at the edge of the circle, you should join us."

Welf gave me a pleading look, "Don't look at me. I'm just her wife." He sighed, then took a couple steps into the circle, "Love? He has work to do later, so avoid the trees."

As always, Yasaka was elegant, regal, and so incredibly busty I had to ask her to back up a tiny bit from the Occulus so I could see her.

"Ah, Kodori-sama." She greeted, "Is that adequate?"

"Perfect, Yasaka-sama." I nodded. She also had a voice that made me want to hug her and fall asleep. Probably a joke in there someplace, but business first. "I'm hoping you've heard what happened?"

Her sweet, mildly vacant motherly look changed to a more serious one. "I have. You were clever to escape, but a hunter's trap occasionally requires sacrifice to escape." She sighed, "And your first plan to rid yourself of this..."

A world away, and I still felt like she was scolding me like a child. "Spontaneously clever, our dragon friend Issei came up with a better idea. What are your thoughts on it?"

"Quite serviceable." She smiled, "How are your preparations for it?"

"Well, we have an actual practitioner handy. I'm hoping you've heard of the Gate and the various events around it?"

She pouted at me, "I may live out of the way of most of the world, but that is quite hard to miss."

"Well..."

Since Yasaka was 'royalty' of a sort, and by Japanese standards, a Goddess, Nanami was waiting just off 'camera' to be introduced. So, I wrapped my tails around her and tugged her over next to me. "Eep?"

"I present to you, Nanami Kuribayashi. Formerly of Kuoh Academy, student to Kurin of Kuoh, and as soon as she gets back to Earth, no longer working for whatever rag of a news company she's working at now." I said with a perfect formal tone, and straight face. "She's exceptionally powerful too, able to suppress my mystical nature with little more than a makeshift tool."

Showing much better control than her battle maniac sister, Nanami bowed to the Occulus, "Yasaka-sama. It is a pleasure to meet you. I hope..." She fumbled for words, "I hope I can live up to everyone's expectations."

Yasaka laughed pleasantly, "With a teacher like Kurin-chan, and praise by someone who is close to my strength, I think you will do well, Nanami-san." She smiled, "Now... What exactly do you have in mind for the vessel?"

It took about an hour of back and forth descriptions. With my inability to remember, hear, or even say things that came from underground, we had to get creative with word usage. Almost right away, using a Softy battery was tossed right out. The mutable nature of magic stone would not only be a poor choice, but a dangerous one. It was material like that, that allowed curses to basically get up and walk around.

The magic glass idea was given praise, but wouldn't be quite right. Most glass was fragile by nature, and if the curse was too powerful, it would break out later and cause problems for someone else. Or, break out during transfer, and cause problems right away. Both undesirable, but at least in the right direction.

"What you need, ideally..." Yasaka started, "Is something of the same origin."

"Earth for Earth, Soul for Soul, Divine for Divine?" Nanami asked.

"Very good." Yasaka smiled.

"Well..." I mused, "We're in a city of Gods. But, I do have some other stuff... Some of Fenrir's bones and teeth made their way over here. Still have some hide left too." I paused, "But they're from the Norse side of things." I facepalmed, "Of course! Yu-Long's scale."

Yasaka sparkled at us through the Occulus, "That would be perfect! Though, it's not fresh, it is still quite divine, and from the same realm as the rituals Nanami-san will be using."

"Does it need a certain shape? Preparation?" Nanami asked, "I suppose if this is the same Yu-Long I'm thinking, it won't need purification since well..."

"Unless you've kept it someplace dirty?" Yasaka looked at me.

"In it's own box. Though, I hope Welf didn't use it all... The original plan had some counter measures made, just in case." I hmm'ed, "And I think I know a way to freshen it up a little, if need be."

Yasaka smiled, "Excellent. Now... Nanami-san? Do you have time now to get started? Kodori-sama? She will need some study materials."

"Of course." I gave Nanami's shoulder a pat, then went about getting her things to write with, "Ah, I also have my official Miko... Sort of. This world didn't quite develop Shintoism, but she'd love to learn."

After getting Nanami set up, Momiji introduced (the two of them sparkled at each other with how majestic/adorable the other was) I went to find Welf.

No surprise, he was in the workshop, slightly bruised from this morning's bout with Haruhime. Not like that would stop him from doing what he loved of course. I called through the door of the Hot side of the workshop, "HEY!"

The hammering didn't stop for a moment, but when it did, he called back, "Sister! What's up!"

"You didn't use all that scale up did you?"

He opened the heavy door, my eyes seeing, but not comprehending some of the things behind him, making me turn away from it, "Nah. Maybe half? Still not telling you what I made, but..."

"That's fine." I waved it off, "Yasaka-sama gave the battery a hard no. But that green scale is as close to perfect as we can get in this world."

"Good thing you kept it then." He grinned, "Hold on." He ducked back into the shop, then came back with a lump of bright green scale. "Gotta say, this stuff is fun to work with."

"Well you might have to work some more. Save all the dust and shards?"

"Of course."

"Awesome. Might need it for ink." I looked at the block of scale, and tried to imagine working with it. "Oh... well then..." I mused, smiling, "Hardy didn't remove 'bone' or 'monster bits' from my list." I looked at the wall, "And I haven't forgotten what a chisel is either."

"Good. Kinda hurts to be the only one in here all the time, now that I've gotten used to you clogging up my work space." He punched my shoulder, "You'll get past this. Just focus on what you can do, and we'll pick up the slack, yeah?"

"Yeah." I nodded, "Thanks brother. Now... Have to get some numbers..."

Since the lab was still in use by Nanami and Momiji (who were, by the way, getting along great), I only stopped by long enough to check on them, and get the Occulus for the Alnus base. At this rate, I'd have to get an organizer or something for these things...

I took that Occulus and went to the next quietest place in the Manor, the Library. Shinkage and Hagane were there, the Dragon-loli turning pages for the two of them.

"Mind if I make a call while you're here?" I asked.

"Try not to yell, and we'll be fine." Shinkage said.

"JSDF?" Hagane asked.

"Yeah. Going to get solid numbers for the initial tour. Welf can make the coins without issue, Cato can enchant them. Nanami, Momiji and Yasaka are working on the containment item, and most everyone else is getting money together with some extra dungeon time." I explained, "Leaving me to deal with administration to keep my mind off what I can't do."

"Good. I've never used my lightning spell to restart a heart. And I plan to keep it that way."

Shinkage didn't add anything, just gave Hagane a headpat and turned a page.

So, I went to one of our reading booths and set the Occulus down. Much like a booth in a normal library, it was just a small desk that was enclosed on three sides for privacy and noise reduction. I gave the Occulus a magical 'tap', then said, "This is Kodori. Is anyone on the other side?"

A pause. Then the glass orb lit up as someone on the other end uncovered it, "This is Yagagida." Aha, makes sense that the intelligence officer had it, "Kodori-san, what can I do for you?"

"Plans are shaping up over here nicely." I replied, "We have a reasonable and reliable method to authenticate refugees, and are well on the way to sourcing supplies for a little stay for them on your side."

"Good to hear. I suppose you're a long way off from electronic codification, but I'm curious, what did you come up with?"

"Magic coins." I replied, "I don't have one handy, but I think you'll like it."

"Small, easily hidden and carried, good idea. If you're that far along, suppose you'll want numbers then?"

"Yeah. Don't want any of them running off while on tour. And it will give us an idea on how much of what to send over for the camp site."

"Right." There was a pause and some paper ruffling, "Are you sure about this? The ones who've already arrived are... rough looking. We've had a few incidents already, and poor Sugawara is already running headless to keep the nobles from locking them up and throwing away the key." More ruffling, then a brisk tap as he squared up the papers, "We've had to ask very strongly more than a few times to keep some of them off the executioner's list."

"When they hear the plan, I'm sure most will calm down. Besides, we have places here for that kind of energy, and once they settle in, they can do what everyone else does when they want to fight stuff." I chuckled, "Before we get to the boring stuff though." I readied my own pen and paper, "How are your legs?"

"Tingly. Mari-san says that's normal for muscle that's remembering what it's supposed to do. Can't walk on my own just yet, but since I wasn't off my legs for very long, I should be well on my way in a few months."

"Good to hear." I nodded, "Now... hit me with the numbers."

A little later, after some back and forth, some 'seriously?' 'yes seriously' moments, and a brief very grumpy visit from the Commander, I had what the Guild needed to find, and the Alliance needed to pay for.

Why did the Commander visit? Well...

"Sugawara is going to need some kind of answer other than 'we're going to deal with it'." He said after a very polite, very short greeting. "Some of the nobles are asking for restitution before release. Others have threatened to execute them. What can we tell them?"

This firmly placed the 'restitution' on my shoulders so to speak, though the Commander was willing to be the messenger.

I hmm'ed, and wondered how the Commander would take it, if I mentioned 'The Builders Almanac' to him. "How heavy handed would you like to get? I'm literally offering to remove the body from the serpent, in the least bloody way possible."

"We've told them that." He sighed heavily, "But you have to understand, these people are bloodthirsty."

I considered for a moment, then, "I will give a bottle of Lizard Tonic and Eye Clear All, to any noble still holding out. Remind them of Lord Duran, if they wonder how well it works." I held up a finger, "But, don't tell them I'm giving the same to those who have already given up their prisoners."

"I will let them know then." The Commander nodded, "We've already gotten those still holding out in Italica. So it won't take time to tell them. Just a little time to gather them up."

"ETA?"

"Oh, we'll still have them all by week's end." He grinned, "Thank the little lady, Odds, for me. Got a couple of our vehicles running again thanks to her."

"Give her a tour of the motor pool if you really want to thank her." I said, "Is that all? If there are no delays on your side, then I've got... three and one half days to get things over to your side."

"The Commander and Yanagida shared a look, then shook their heads, "That is all."

"Okay. Ah, one last thing. Tell Lelei or Arpeggio that Cato is still alive. Dunno if they'll care, but you know."

"We'll do that. Signing off." Yanagida said, my Occulus doing dark.

I sighed, putting my Occulus away and standing up. "Urg... this is going to suck."

"The burden of trying to do a good thing." Shinkage said with an implied shrug. "You didn't tell them?"

"What? Tell them that I plan on giving 'the natives' and people powered versions of a lot of their fancy tools? Nope. Way I see it, when the Gate opens up back to Earth, they're going to have to either really dig in, or give up on the Special Region. There's going to be an incredible amount of fallout when its found that the JSDF never actually left."

"I don't care about that." She shrugged, turning a page for Hagane, "I was thinking more on the Gods and their Apostles. The Gods, of any pantheon, hardly work together for anything. But if they did, even once, the JSDF wouldn't stand a chance."

A fair point. Rory herself knew that the weapons of the JSDF could put her down long enough for them to stuff her in a bucket of concrete. But a half dozen at once? The loss of life would be irrecoverable.

"I plan on petitioning the Twins of Rondel. If they don't see reason and help, then I am simply taking the current problem away, and saying 'I told you so' as I close the door behind me."

"Cold. Understandable. But cold." Hagane rumbled.

"I'll offer sanctuary for the JSDF." I shrugged, "I'm sure they have a backup plan in case of angry natives. And if THAT happens, well, we already know how to get them back to Earth, with or without the Gate."

They both 'hmm'ed, but made no further comment. So, I gave them both a headpat and went to deal with... the administration.

NOTES!

Back through the Gate next episode. And we might see just how that little chat with the 'most knowledgeable' Gods goes.

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.