Just to preface this, coming off the last chapter. Kodori is not a perfect parent. Her points of view and choices may upset people. She is also not a perfect person. She has made many choices that have (so they said) stop reading. Of course, some of those people were expecting her to leave people in a burning building.

Anyhow. A little heavier than I'm used to writing.

Chapter 79

There were only two bodies that the Oni didn't desecrate. The first, was the child who had been stabbed through the back while her... what do you even call a person like that? And the second, was the body of the one who had burned to death.

Burned to death by foxfire, from my children.

Looking at the body, I saw that she had several slashes over what little flesh was left. She may have used a bone knife to dispel the magic behind the fire. But it was seven against one, and while I'd have given her full marks for thinking straight while on fire, it didn't help her.

And the rest of the bodies? I'd convinced the Brothers not to rip them to bits and toss them as far as they could into the tall grass for the predators who wandered around out here. No, they were in a big pile in front of me, burning with angry gold edged purple fire. I could make that fire hot enough to melt adamant. There would be nothing but ashes.

Cleanup mostly done, I looked up at the two brothers, "I ask that you don't hold my restraint against me."

"The second time will be shame." Fukawa said, though, I didn't know if he was talking about me, or the situation.

"They remind me of the Hero Faction." Okakai rumbled, "But even they could be taught."

I quirked an eyebrow, "Once your children start doing great things, the Amazon might start coming to you directly and solve the problem another way."

They blinked at me for a moment, then started chuckling. Dark amusement clearly, but amusement all the same.

"I hope you find them alive. But go look for the other two." I said after sharing a strained smile at my (only half joking) comment.

They became serious again and nodded, "We have extracted our river of blood, in case they are not." Okakai said, glancing at the burning pile.

"We will remember them for the children." Fukawa added, the two of them heading in opposite directions to search.

I returned to the two non-headless bodies, feeling an almost imaginary tug on my soul as Haruhime got closer, as everyone in the party got closer save the two Oni. Turning, I looked at the group. Many were wounded, a couple were being helped by others to limp a little faster in my direction. Haruhime and Aisha, as well as any of the Mothers not helping another to walk, were herding children, theirs as well as the captives.

I knew the looks on the Adult's faces. The burning pile behind me told them all they needed about how things were dealt with.

"Any serious wounds?" I asked, counting heads and relieved to see that we'd only lost two, unless they were found alive.

"good thing I don't sing." The one who'd been saved, or nearly killed, by the children's foxfire. "think I'll learn how to now, just to spite them."

"We've got a few injuries that might need real attention." Another said, her arm around the back of a limping sister, "We've all learned to set bones before, but it's good to be sure, yeah?"

Yes, I had all but ordered them to learn 'proper dungeon first aid'. Sure, any adventurer knows how to bandage a wound, Amazons especially, but not all of them know how to set bones, suture wounds or the like. Yes, most adventurers can heal minor fractures and cuts with a good sleep. Trick was you had to survive to get that sleep.

"Are they..." One interrupted my inner thoughts.

"Looking for the other two." I said, hoping to keep my voice from betraying my lack of optimism.

"Is that all of them?" Another asked, trying to hold three Oni-zons at once and doing pretty good too.

"The few that aren't there, either ran, or are walking back to Telskyura with a very clear message." I said, sure that some of them will have noticed the lack of heads on any of the burning bodies. "My foxes will make sure they get there. Or at the very least, the message does."

"What about this bunch here?" Amani asked from behind the line of tied up children.

"You're now their room leader." I said to Amani. "One of them already paid the price for following a bad order." I said, trying not to look at the child with the hole in her chest on the ground next to me. I looked over the grumpy looking young Amazon, the oldest maybe ten, though Amani was only nine, so I couldn't be sure. "We will feed you, house you and educate you. One year, less a day."

I didn't expect submission, so I'd already had a reply when one balked and asked, "So we're your hostages then?"

From what little I knew of Amazon hierarchy, I expected Amani to strike the one who spoke out, but she didn't.

"You are our guests." I said, "Training, letters, numbers, and if we think you're good enough, dungeon time."

Haruhime added something I didn't expect, though it just reminded me of that inner steel people forgot she had, "If the one who brought you here comes to negotiate for your release..." She didn't finish her sentence, but instead stood beside me, with the dead child between us.

Also from what little I knew of Amazons, they didn't usually get to Orario until they'd grown into adults. Or at least old enough to think about having children. They still looked upset, but I could see at least one of them thinking about how this was an opportunity, as much as a punishment.

"Our ride back to the city will be here in a little while." I said, looking to Aisha, "Can you..."

"Hope they didn't burn our fishing rods." Aisha shrugged, "Go see them." She knelt a little and gave the fox eared children a little pat on the back/rear to shoo them towards Haruhime and I.

The first thing I did, was kneel and gather them all up in a hug. A really big hug. Haruhime joined a moment later, and at some point I felt her thumb brush a tear from my cheek. Through skill, and a bit of luck, I let them go before any of the seven started to complain or wiggle to get free.

Then, and yes, I was delaying what I had to talk to them about, I fussed over them. Haruhime had already done that I was sure, but still. I was determined to get a little fussing done. Some dirt here and there, puffy eyes from a bit of crying, still damp tails from hiding in the water, a torn bit of clothing here and there from playing yesterday...

I sighed, gathering them all up in a hug again, just a little one this time, and letting them go. With a little creative knee walking, I put the dead child behind me and out of their sight, leaving only the burnt Amazon for them to see. Haruhime didn't knee walk, she was far too elegant for that, instead standing, moving a half pace sideways, and kneeling again.

"You are not in trouble." I started, before any of them could ask. "But, I have to ask, why?" I did my best to sound passive. Like a teacher more than a parent. Like Takemikazuchi.

Kei, smart cookie that they were, knew the question was for them. "I saw one of our friends in trouble... And I had..." Uh oh. Kei sniffled, and Haruhime offered Kei a handkerchief.

We waited for our white haired child to sniffle a bit more, wipe their eyes and dab their nose. Kei's siblings giving childish, yet well meaning pats on the shoulders for encouragement, or holding onto their happi coat.

"I had... it was already out, in the sky. My fire." Kei stumbled over words, but was making an effort to be clear. "I wanted her to let our friend go... I know..." Kei sniffled again, and I could see the slow change wash over their face, from 'sad' to 'upset' bordering on 'melt down'.

This time I reached out, and gave them a hug, just for Kei. The other children seemed to understand, since Haruhime and I almost never gave 'individual' hugs when more than one of them were around. They did however, after I'd wrapped Kei up so they could cry on my shoulder, gather around me to hug the two of us.

I was very proud, that they included each other in everything, even moments like this. However, the 'sad' was spreading to them as well, and I had to glance to Haruhime for backup. Once the six other children backed away from Kei and I, she gathered them up.

Once my shoulder had been covered in tears and probably a bit of snot, Kei backed up and continued, "I know... we don't use it on people. But..."

I could see Kei was just too upset to really gather themselves. So I put the tip of my finger on their nose for silence. "One thing I want you, all of you, to understand from this." My nose boop changed to a hand over their cheek, just so I could get them to look at the burnt body. "Rules are put in place to stop accidents. To stop bad things from happening to you, or others. When you visit Odds? You walk between the red lines. When you visit the workshop, you knock before entering the forge."

My palm cupped Kei's cheek, my grip, even now, like this, unbreakable, gently tugging their gaze away from the body so they looked at me.

"Or when practising with fire, you keep it away from people. But, sometimes, following the rules is the wrong thing to do. You broke a rule today, yes. But you saved a friend when you did. All of you did." I broke eye contact with Kei, to gather the rest of the children into the conversation. "Sometimes, the person you need to ask permission from isn't there. Sometimes, following the rules may stop you from doing good."

"But... how will we know?" Toshi asked.

We? Ha! Did Haruhime and I have seven children? Or one child with seven bodies?

"You must learn." Haruhime said, "Not just the rules, but who has made them." Again, she showed a bit more of that steel she kept hidden inside her soft outer shell, and moved a little, revealing the dead child behind me, "Not all rules are good. Not all orders are just." She moved back to block the view, "You will learn in time, from the people your love, and love you in return."

"Like you... And Mr Bell-san? And Miss Hestia-sama?" Tatsuko asked.

"And Miss Eina-san?" Tatsuo added.

"Especially Eina-san." Haruhime and I said.

"We aren't mad at you. Any of you." I said (after a little suppressed shiver), "But, I am going to give you all a little punishment."

To my surprise, none of them reacted to that.

"When we get back, and when there is time, we are all going to practice. You did well, protecting someone in trouble."

"Very well." Haruhime encouraged.

"But, if you want to keep doing that, you will all have to be stronger." I finished, "One more hug!"

Yes, one more hug was had. It gave me a moment to hide my face from everyone. Kei's effort to save the Mother worked. It wasn't well thought out, it had no finesse, and it I might not have been able to heal her after she got her throat slashed. It would have been a MUCH more miserable lesson if I hadn't.

But, together, they managed to get her free. I could be proud of that. Worried! VERY worried. But they were already trying to act like heroes.

The moment passed, I got my composure back in place, and I let them all go. "Go help Aisha with food."

Haruhime and I stood up, and she gave me a little touch of her lips against my cheek before holding out her hands for the children to grab on to.

Yes... We had a funeral. After a somewhat strained breakfast, the Oni came back from their search. They said nothing, accepting bowls of fish and vegetable stew and shaking their heads. The children didn't seem to catch on, but the adults did.

This left us with three bodies to bury. The one the children had burned had been added to the pile after they left, but I couldn't bring myself to do the same to the Amazon child.

I didn't want to have a graveyard in place before the first settler had arrived either. So the Oni suggested a Warrior's Funeral. Or as most would know it, a Viking Boat Pyre. Using some of the thinner logs a bit of simple rope, and the grass we'd dried out for bedding, we put the three bodies on the makeshift boat.

In true adventurer fashion, we used the bows of our enemies, the fire arrows too, and set the boat into the river at the point of the river delta. Standing on the stone platform, the other ten Amazon Mothers took aim, let their cloth wrapped arrows get lit up by a touch of foxfire, and fired at the boat.

This wasn't really a world of Prayer. With all the Gods wandering about, you'd think it would be, but no. And Amazon usually left their dead in the jungle, their dead doing a last service as bait for one more monster hunt.

But no, this time, we all said goodbye, as their three mortal shells burned up and went towards the sea to the east.

The train, now with three extra cars of cargo in addition to the passenger car it started with, glided to a halt just as we were finishing up lunch.

Most of the morning was spent decompressing. Trying not to let the mood spread to the children. Trying to give our new 'orphans' a bit more of an introduction to how things worked in Orario and at the Manor. Trying to find reasons for my foxes, who were escorting Jarha and what was left of her party to not just add them to the box of skulls and be done with their crusade.

Seeing that we weren't all waiting for them at the train platform, Odds further announced her arrival with a blast from the signal whistle. Moments later, a huge red doggo bounded towards our eating area, though he was not excited. Spot had all the signs of concern when he slid to a halt and did a quick look over everyone.

Amani had to shush the Mini-zons, "That's not a monster. That's Spot! He's friendly, though he'll sit on you if you steal his snacks. Or share snacks."

Considering he weighed upwards of 100kg, he just had to be 'overly friendly' to show his disappointment.

"It's... Okay now." I said to Spot as he started sniffing at the various bandages the Mothers had, or looking at each of the Oni-zons and Kitsune children. "Hey relax."

"Wurf." He rumbled, his head turning in the direction of the blackened patch of ground nearby.

"Come." Haruhime said, touching the spot just behind the Hellhound's jaw, "I will tell you about it while you eat."

He replied with a tiny concerned whine, and a little nudge of his nose on Haruhime's hand, but followed. All at once, the Mini-zon's relaxed.

"He's huge! The dungeon has... wait? Not a monster?"

"Just another thing for you to learn." Aisha said, "Ah, there she is."

Odds was trotting along with a dozen or so concerned looking miners. Most were looking around, picks at the ready, others were more focused on the Amazon (not hard to guess why). Odds however, as usual, was quite direct, "There's more of you than when you started. Why?"

With the miners here, all hope of containing the 'rumour' was lost. So I just shrugged, looked at the least wounded Mothers and said, "Gonna need more fish or something." Once they had nodded and turned to go back to the river, I knelt down so Odds didn't have to look up at me, and said, "It's a bit of a story, hope you're hungry."

An hour later, lunch done and cleaned up, and a story told, Odds almost swore. Instead, she just shook her head, "Well, at least nothing really burnt down. Get everyone on the train, we got a delivery to make... Just hope it rains a little before your guests get here."

The train passed Jarha's party, and I heard one of them (through the ears of my sentry foxes), "We'll kill them next time. Abominations."

"No. I want nothing to do with them now." Another said, "Those two things may look like men, but nothing I've seen fights like that. He was using our sisters as armour."

Reluctant eyes started to look at Jarha, who's arms were dangling limply from her shoulders, her walk a fast limp to keep up with the others.

"It's going to take weeks to get back at this pace." Another sighed, looking at the two largest foxes, with the message over their shoulders.

"Maybe we can stop in Orario?"

"No." One of my foxes said, a smaller one that just seemed to appear from the grass they were all wading through.

This made a couple of them jump in surprise and others reach for weapons that had been taken away.

"Shit... you're watching us?"

"Yes." The fox replied, "If you want to return to Orario, I'm going to give you two choices."

"Killing our sisters and capturing our younglings wasn't enough? You are going to restrict us too? Like some kind of animal?"

"You go to war, you fight and kill, you intended to murder children, yet... you are not willing to pay the price when you fail?" The fox asked.

"This is humiliating!" One said, "You should have just finished the job!" Said another.

"If I kill you, you won't learn. Nor will the ones in Telskyura who might also share your ideas of genocide."

"So?" Jarha spoke finally, "What choices?"

"Renounce your cause, here, now, and return to Telskyura. After that, you may return to Orario. Of course, if further attempts are made on their lives, expect a repeat and escalation of what just happened."

"Or?"

"Don't renounce your mission, and walk back with the message. You may still return to Orario after returning, but I doubt the guild will let you into the city, knowing what you've done."

"And if we refuse both?"

The grasses swayed slightly, a low growl surrounding them, "Then you will learn nothing."

A pause.

"Yeah, I'm done with this." One said, "To be cut off from the Dungeon, and face the humiliation we're already going to get? I swear I am done with it."

"You may go." A different fox said, and without even looking back, she started running.

When nothing bad seemed to happen, they had a 'everyone looking at everyone else' moment, "We swear we are done with this." Everyone said.

Except Jarha. Who was now alone, the others having abandoned her.

"I... I'll never make it back." She said, looking at the two foxes carrying the message. "If I swear to stop..."

"I keep my promises. I said you would be provided for. It's not mercy, or pity, but a promise."

"Ko-san?" Haruhime gave my sleeve the smallest of tugs, "Is something wrong?"

My hands had formed a simple Senjitsu seal, for 'fire'. "I hope not." I sighed, "I'm looking forward to something simple now... like paperwork for 10000 or so people from another world settling here. And a bath."

Hestia of course, was a little... distraught.

We arrived back at the Manor, looking like a bunch of rookies who had just come home from their first day of goblin slaying. Covered in bandages, bloody, clothes in bad shape, limping, two of us missing...

Then there was the eight Mini-zons who despite their status as 'prisoners' were looking around at everything like tourists.

"This is going to cause paperwork, isn't it?" She asked, our 'rookie team' rushing out to meet us and starting 'the after dungeon check' even though we hadn't actually gone to the dungeon.

"Among other things." I sighed, "Okay children... It's time for a bath. Then O-ma needs a nap."

"What about them?" Hestia asked, looking up at me and probably wondering how dirty she'd get giving me a hug. She settled on hugging one of my tails when it went to visit instead.

"New students, Hestia-sama." Haruhime said with a sad smile, "Perhaps join us in the bath today?"

The Baths of the Manor were pretty big. The original layout was meant for the Apollo Familia when it had been at its peak of over a hundred members. When we refit the place after the wargame, Hestia had insisted on having a 'men' and 'women' side. After we totally rebuilt the Manor, we had kept the 'unmixed' bathing, but made both sides bigger overall, since we were planning ahead with the next generation of children already living here.

Today however, it was 'Amazon mothers and the children' in the Men's side, and 'Mini-zons, Hestia, and everyone explaining to her what happened'. We all needed to get clean, and this was the fastest way. I was sure the Brothers were telling Takemikazuchi about it, and Astraea joined us in the bath (a rare thing, due to a little rivalry between Hestia and herself), so she too could hear the story.

It also gave us a chance to show off a little to the Mini-zons. They were going to get the Tour of their temporary home eventually, but showing off a little might help them drop a little of their 'I'm a prisoner' attitude.

One of those 'prisoners' actually provided a little information too.

"It was all planned..." She started, hiding behind one of her 'sisters', for a moment just in case someone lashed out at her. But when no one did, and Astraea motioned to continue, she did, "Jarha mentioned the new place, and said you were working on it."

Emboldened by the lack of punishment for speaking up, another elaborated, "She said you'd visit eventually, that it would be a good time to ambush you."

"That having the 'runaways' with you was just a 'bonus'."

"Most of us were already waiting there when you arrived on the metal thing."

"She and her scouts ran behind you, and in the middle of the night..."

I felt, in that dark little spot I kept around in my soul just so I'd know what I shouldn't do, that I should have just torn Jarha apart. But no, I'd already promised. "Amazons are great adventurers, so it makes sense we'd never notice one following us around." I sighed, splashing my face with warm water.

"So... what happens now?" One asked.

"Exactly what I said." I replied, trying and failing to let the bath relax me, "You'll all live here. Amani will be your Room Leader. You will have food, shelter, education and martial training provided to you. And if we think you are capable enough, you'll join us in the dungeon."

"But... We are still part of Kali Familia. We can't get updates..."

"We'll do our best to make sure you live long enough to get that update, when you return home." Aisha said, finally giving in and ruffling someone's hair.

"And if... if someone comes to get us?"

"You'll go home early." I said with a shrug.

"Always with the strays..." Hestia grumbled, sinking into the water, her last word making the water bubble.

Today just wouldn't leave me alone.

Once everyone had left the bath, the Mini-zons went on a tour. The Mothers and their children went back to their wing of the Manor to recover. The Rookie Team (who were in the dungeon yesterday, so were taking a break today) entertained Haruhime and I's children. The Brothers stayed with Takemikazuchi, meditating in front of his nice Zen garden...

And I tried to get a nap. Just a little one. You know, a couple hours. All an adventurer needed when not injured. I even went to my bedroom, just so people wouldn't randomly bother me.

Except, just as I was feeling my mind drift into a soft doze, where my body seemed numb and the silence in the room was wrapping around me...

I got a phone call.

There was a firm knock on the door of my room, and I almost almost gave in to the urge to roll over. I also entertained the idea of ripping the door off its hinges as casually as possible and greeting the person on the other side with a happy smile.

But it was Maki. So, I rolled over, stood, and answered the door like a normal boring person. "Grr."

Maki recoiled in mock horror at 'the angry badger' hair I was sure I had going on. "That didn't take long."

I scrubbed a hand over my face, "I know why I get into trouble so often. But I can't bring myself to hate it. What's up?"

"Other side is calling." She offered me a small pouch, "Said it was important."

"Which other side?" I accepted the pouch and undid the little catch that kept it closed. The Occulus 'turned off' when in total darkness, so even if someone was waiting on the other side of this one, my side wouldn't transmit, only receive.

Maki laughed, "Right, we are kinda the go between. JSDF."

I nodded, and gave Maki a single headpat, "Thank you. How is everyone?"

She shook her head, "There's a little shock, a little anger. The Brothers are still sitting by Takemikazuchi-sama. The Mothers are... I'm not sure what to call it. Accepting is too strong... Understanding maybe? The Oni don't seem to understand that two of the Mothers won't be back. And the Alliance wonders if you were heavy handed, or heavy handed enough."

"No noise from the Guild?"

"Not yet. But you can bet Eina with be twitching her eyebrow when she finds out about the new 'orphans'."

"I'd like to keep that as quiet as possible, for as long as we can. It's basically kidnapping. Or if you're really liberal with the word, slavery." I sighed and took a little comfort in giving Maki a second headpat, a little ear scroofle too. Such a good little sister.

"By now, everyone but your worst enemies will think the worst you'll do is deny them snacks for being naughty." She surprised me by giving me a hug, "How about you?"

Not one for hugs, and only begrudgingly accepting of ear scroofles, Maki's sudden affection surprised me a little. Just enough to make me think about her question properly. So, I wrapped an arm around her head and pressed it against my shoulder before I replied, "I... I had to watch my children kill someone."

Her mission to get a real answer out of me done, she let go and stepped back to arms length. "Hey... Different world."

"I know." I sat down, leaning my back against the door frame, "I know." I repeated, tapping my forehead, "But it still shocked me." I tapped my chest, "I knew that one day, they'd all become adventurers. I knew that one day, they'd hunt monsters. I knew that one day, they'd fight other people, be it because of me, or because other people can be jerks."

Maki knelt, and gave me the headpat this time. "Was it a monster?"

"What?"

"Did they murder a person, or kill a monster?" She clarified.

I laughed, a little bitterly, but nodded, "A monster, sure. But that was by our standards. I'd have done the same, so I can't blame them. Just encourage them to not make a habit of it. Being a parent is hard, especially when many of the things you picked up from another world about parenting only kind of apply in the world you're in."

She laughed, gave my ear one last scratch, gave my shoulder a light punch, and stood up. "You'll manage. You're a great big sister, so how hard can this be?"

"Heh, one day I'm sure you'll find out too." I swished a hand through one of her tails, then gave her a mock salute, "I'll be down for dinner after this."

She waved, and I turned my attention to the pouch in my hand. Before opening it, I gave myself a bit of a look, closed my mana cloth robe a little more, scrubbed a hand over my face again, then opened the pouch.

"This is Kodori. Is anyone listening?" I took the Occulus out of the pouch, holding it so the flat side was towards me. It was dark, so I repeated my call, "This is Kodori. Is anyone listening?"

There was sudden light, and a slightly fish-eyed view of Itami's face appeared. "Ah ahhhh. Test test?" He squinted at me and recoiled a little, "Kodori-san... did we wake you?"

"Last couple of days were far more exciting than I wanted. Was getting a little rack time before dinner." I replied, slinging what little military jargon I knew around. Weak nerd flex.

Lazy Ant Itami nodded, his face backing up just enough to stop him from looking distorted, "Sorry to bother you then." He actually did sound sorry, since his own uniform looked a little slept in as well, "Been busy over here too. But that little side project you started?"

"Remind me which one? I have a lot of them."

"Ah, the paired crystal communication thing you and Lelei-chan were working on." He said, a smile on his face, "It's working."

The news gave me a tiny hit of adrenaline and my head cleared up, "Oh! Tell me more."

"It's slow, since we can only use Morse Code, and whomever is on the other side isn't nearly as fast as Lelei-chan or Arpeggio-san. But we've gotten a small initial dialog going." He explained, "Wonder who they have on the other side though... I mean, you said it would take magic, right?"

"Can't say." I shrugged, hoping whomever it was, wasn't being turned into a lab rat or something on the side. "How 'initial' is 'initial' though?"

"Basic sit-rep really. Some confirmation codes, a few simple yes/no questions..." He paused, a glimmer of an unsure look passing over his face.

"Problem?"

"Well, we've had a couple of false confirmations too." He said, "Usual protocol when talking to an unknown but potentially trusted source, is to send a code word. Like, this is Fuji, how are you today?"

"And I would reply with something related to Fuji, not my actual condition, like, 'smokey' or 'rocky'?"

"A fellow fan of spy movies, neat. Basically that." He frowned a little, "How..." He paused, making me think he wasn't alone in the room, or risked exposing our conversation in the library when he visited. "It makes us think that other countries might have found a way to listen in."

"It would only work with bits from the same crystal or gem. Who knows how much material made it over to Earth from the Special Region? I'm assuming you cut off those who gave the wrong sign?"

"Of course. But even then, Morse Code is all we can really do. So we can't verify as completely as we want." The question in his eyes was clear.

I didn't reply directly, but nodded and scratched my chin in a clear 'thoughtful' expression. Then dropped the 'act'. He wanted my help. "Hows the big project going then?" If the Commander was listening in, he'd know the Topic Change Diversion for sure, but not much I could do.

"It's... You might have underestimated just how many people you were going to get." He said with a nervous 'back of the head' scratch, "But you were right to over-estimate the food you needed. Shelter is a little tighter than we wanted too."

"Any serious problems?"

"Yao-san's people have been a great help. Both in supplying a bit of extra food, security, materials to supplement living space, and just... being easy to get along with." He nodded, "Been a few fights, a little unrest, a bit of initial attempts to hoard or steal."

"Usual stuff when you have a bunch of very unsure people. Yeah." I nodded, "Any security issues? No one trying to break my rules?"

"Surprisingly, no. Most of them wont even look at us sideways. The little town around Alnus hasn't suffered any sudden spikes in crime or violence. What did you tell them?"

"That all they had to do was get along, really. Shows how eager they were for another answer." I was just as surprised as he was honestly. Packing that many people together with some nebulous hope of 'the promised land' usually had some rise up to denounce 'the promise' itself. "Any other news?"

I was right to assume he had at least one 'listener' when he looked to his left, then back, "That's everything above a dull roar. Business as usual."

"Good. I've got nothing bad to report, though... Might need to plan a better way to get them from the Gate to their new home. More expenses I suppose..." I sighed, getting a well meaning chuckle from Itami. I gave him one last serious look, "I hope you can figure out the communication thing a little better."

"Me too. Now... like this?" And the Occulus went dark.

Dinner was a little more exciting than usual. But that was expected with eight more mini-zons to feed who still didn't understand the lack of 'pecking order' in the Manor. Or to be more precise, that we didn't have a pecking order. You make it to the table for breakfast/lunch/dinner, you eat.

But it was clear Amani was already making progress in getting them to understand. I was also pleased that this world had that weird 'hidden rule' of everyone understanding basic hygiene. This meant that the Mini-zons (and everyone old enough to hold one) knew what forks were, and didn't chew with their mouths open. Savage people that they were, Amazons weren't 'primitive', even at the (I found out from Amani) tender ages between six and ten.

Good food restored a little of my cheer. And after dinner we gave the Mini-zons another lesson in how and who cleaned up after dinner and showing them how the kitchen worked (so they could do something like get a cup of water when ever they wanted). Then I collected Haruhime and the children, and went to the library with Akeno's Tarot, and the Occulus that was (usually) stationed at the Hyoudou residence.

Since my children being happy made me happy, we included them in the opening part of the call to my unofficial Miko.

"Aunty Akeno!" The children cheered as soon as her side of the Occulus lit up. This was of course followed by little waves, smiles, and leaning in a little closer to get a better look at the kind faced Devil/angel/human on the other side.

"My my! Look at you all!" She smiled brightly, "It's good to see you!"

We let the children and Akeno do a little banter. Just back and forth, rapid fire, excited snippets of news and acknowledgement. Once the volume started to get a little much though, we started to wrangle them under control and restore order.

"So, have you heard?" I asked Akeno, "Apparently the JSDF have had a return call from Home."

"Oh! That's wonderful news!" She beamed, "I suppose now you really do owe a Favour."

"So long as I can find a way to do it, you know I'm good for it." I nodded.

"And I will make sure." Haruhime smiled.

"No escape, Ko-san." Akeno fu-fu'ed, "Do you know how much success they've had?"

"Lemme explain..."

A few minutes later, with the children slowly getting bored, then getting up with one last wave and hug, and wandering off to amuse themselves... Then Haruhime getting that 'I'm going to fuss over them' look and joining them, I finished recounting my chat with Itami.

"I see..." She mused, doing an adorable little tap on her chin with her index finger, "This is a little surprising! If they are getting multiple replies, and some of those are false, then... Other places in the world must have magically sensitive people."

"How many people did you try and recruit in Japan?" I asked.

"As far as we know, and we have very good sources, only Kurin made the 'cut'. She's a little upset with you by the way." She waggled a finger at me, "She was almost impolite when she said it!"

Considering I put the... well I guess it would be literal... fear of God in her when we met...

"Are they treating her well?" It was my biggest worry that they might not be.

"She is under surveillance, and currently not allowed to leave the military installation. But we do have people checking on her. It's sensitive work to be sure! But Lady Rias has used it as a good excuse to grow her influence a little in that direction. Just because."

"Really now?" I smiled, "Well... At the oh so terrible risk of owing yet another favour to someone..."

"Careful Ko-san. You know that it can't always be so casual as that."

"I know." I nodded seriously, "I'd like to get a little message to Kurin. To help verify that she is the only voice the JSDF in the Zone should be listening to."

"A favour is still a favour. Noble intentions or not. But we will try."

"Well, here's my idea."

NOTES!

Well then! A little cleaning up, a little burning out, and an update on the other side of the Gate! Also, the vote is now over, and I have a little direction on how things will turn out with the Refugees, and potential problems.

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.