Chapter 38

"Well, what do you think?" I asked, doing a little twirl in place.

"It's almost like the last one." Welf said critically, "But, aside from the colour, and the fact my skill is a little better than when I made the last one... But as you've said before, its not about form, but function. What do you think?"

"Lilly thinks Kodori looks scary." Lilly said with a smile.

One of my tails went to perch on Lilly while I patted myself down and did some simple stretches. "Potion loops are secure and padded. Nothing that shouldn't be exposed is exposed." I had seen a lot of the 'bikini armour', and wondered how some adventurers lived so long. "And I can move like it almost isn't there." I balanced myself and did a quick back flip, centred, then did a front flip. "And the weight is actually a tiny bit lighter... I think."

"And you still look like you." Welf grinned, "I mean, I understand the need to keep your soft bits covered, it's armour, that's what it's for. But you still look good in it."

Lilly giggled and actually waggled her eyebrows at him, and I laughed as Welf blushed. "Well, even if you have your eyes on someone else, you can still look." I said, giving myself one final look. No two drakes were the same, so the pattern was a little different, but it was still that nice black and rust red, the coat going down to my knees, with the chaps just as they were, form fitting but not quite restrictive. "So, how about yours Welf?"

"Well." He eyed the pile of armour that he had tried on, then took off after giving it a nod. "Our sister Familia likes it." It was a sort of simplified Samurai armour after all. "I got rid of those silly panel bits, and went for more of what I did with Bell's armour. My style uses a bigger swing, so plates like Marius's suit wouldn't do."

"You're still wearing the skirt." I pointed out. I didn't know the word for 'kilt' or if they even existed in this world.

"Lilly wonders if that's breezy too." She chimed in, "Maybe Miss Kodori is setting a trend? AHH THAT TICKLES!"

She dissolved into giggles as my tails, all five of them, poked at her ribs and under arms.

"Well, It's the most comfortable of the lot. I'd rather wear something like the Goliath hide, but our two supporters needed it most I think." He looked at Lilly, "Speaking of, I think we should get the last bits done for them. Think Little Haru can handle it?" He seemed to not notice our supporter's predicament as she tried to fend off my tails.

"Sure." I forgave Lilly for her joke, my tails following suit and putting her down gently. "I'll go find Haruhime."

Lilly was pouting at me as Haruhime and her stood side by side, arms out, as we put the last touches on their two robes. They really did feel like lead suits. Like that apron you had over you when you got an X-ray at the dentist. Lilly, with her special skill, that made her stronger, the more she was carrying, let her wear the heavy black robe with no difficulty. After we buttoned it up the front, she did a couple of hops up and down to settle it on her shoulders, and gave Welf and I a nod.

"It's... Heavy..." Haruhime said, raising her arms slowly. "But..." She took a few steps, hopped up and down carefully, then did a spin in place. "It's not uncomfortable. Just heavy... If I don't have to run..."

I scooped her up, noting the extra weight myself as I held her under the knees and shoulders, "Then I will carry you. Or Bell. Or whoever needs to." She blushed as I kissed her forehead, still not comfortable with public displays of affection that went past a hug. "And with your magic, so long as it isn't me, you can help them as well." I put her down then knelt between the two supporters. "Just remember." I poked them both in the ribs lightly, "It should stop an arrow or blade, but won't help against the impact." I clenched my fists and tapped them again with my knuckles, "We could have added metal to these, but they are heavy enough as it is."

They both nodded seriously, "It is comfortable, even in the workshop." Haruhime commented, "But yes, we will remember."

"Lilly too!"

"Good." Welf said, "So Sister. What about the other project you mentioned?"

"Right. I don't suppose I could get a little of your hair?" I asked the two of them.

Puzzled, they looked at each other then shrugged.

"Why two?" Welf asked later as I handed him a small metal hammer with a red metal head and black iron handle.

"I need someone to ask Hephaestus if the last of our adamant quest is done." I grinned as he looked away and blushed, the little token held in his fist, "Oh just go see the woman!" I got behind him and nudged him towards the door of the workshop, "Show off your new armour. As much as YOU don't like it, it's good work."

"Fine fine. Geeze, no need to push." He picked up the pile of armour and strapped it on as he walked, "I suppose I'll be out past dinner time, so save me some."

"Sure. I'll let Mikoto know." I said grinning, "Have a good night." I watched him wave over his shoulder and went back to the little pile of metal tokens I'd made after lunch.

I'd made my first concentrated effort at enchanting. Each little token represented one of the people in the two Familia. Using hair, or blood, I'd mixed the metals myself, and each time I touched the metal, I filled my head with what I knew of them.

Mikoto was also one I'd made two of. Using blood, I'd made two finger length swords. Sheathed katana, with a little of her blood mixed with iron. Images of her skill, determination, insight and kindness. I even thought of her skill at cooking as I shaped the metal with my bare hands as I pulled them from the furnace.

Ouka, Iron and Hair made into a spear. A protector who knew the seriousness of his role, yet could enjoy the little things in life without reserve. I'd put a single strand of Chigusa's hair in with it, because I knew, and they did too I'd bet, that one day, if they made it to retirement, they would be together.

Chigusa, Copper and Blood made into a shield. As I pulled the hot mix of metal from the forge, I thought of her quiet cheerful nature, supportive, thoughtful, willing to carry any burden for her Familia, and be ready to offer her strength at a glance. A strand of Ouka's hair went into the mix as well.

Asuka, Silver and Hair, made into a bow. Technically the most difficult of the tokens I'd made, the bow string was a hair thick strand of silver. For her, it was the sure strength, of someone who knew where her skill was most needed. Quiet, but never absent when you needed her.

That was it for the Takemikazuchi Familia. Even as I polished them carefully, I could feel thoughts of them sort of float to the surface as my fingertips brushed their surfaces.

Lilly, I had to ask for advice from Welf. We had known her long enough, and she had told us enough of her past, that we both agreed that no single base metal would do. Iron for endurance, Copper for its shine when polished, and a drop of gold that I used for decoration. Both hair and blood went into this one, a faithful representation of her backpack. A complicated past, a shining future, a girl who reminded me so much of the only family I ever really cared about.

Bell was easy. At least, the choice of metal was. Silver and Hair, though I also used a pair of ruby chips we had laying about for no real reason other than they were shiny. Obviously, as I thought of his determination, hard working nature and shyness, his token was a rabbit. Polished white with a trick Welf showed me, I set the ruby chips into its eyes.

Asfi had said my metal was simply an enchantment waiting to happen, so I let Welf work on the little black fox. I just told him to think about me as he gently tapped the jeweller's chisel against it to bring up the detail my fingernails had put in while it was still cooling the day before.

As I did the same to the golden fox chasing its tail, I thought of everything I loved about her. It wasn't a particularly difficult thing to do, though Welf had to call out to me once or twice because I'd stopped to think a little too hard about her.

Only Welf had a clue about what I was doing. The others however... They didn't even raise an eyebrow after I'd asked for either some blood or hair, or both. Once I said I was making something special for Hestia and Takemikazuchi, they took up the scissors or asked where to bleed.

"So, before we leave." I said to the two Gods after we had finished packing up. "We all have something to give you." Welf handed a little wooden box to Hestia, then to Takemikazuchi. "Open it after we leave. And tell us what you think when we get back, okay?"

Nodding, they both accepted the boxes and handled them like they were made of glass. Welf and I knew that you could toss them both down a flight of stairs, but only because we packed them in cotton over wood cutouts made for each individual token.

"Take care." Takemikazuchi said, "Return safe, and that would be the greatest gift."

Hestia, tearful at our mass exodus, nodded, though stayed silent. Chime was perched on her shoulder and She pet the little critter for comfort.

"Don't worry Lady Hestia!" Bell said, stepping forward, "We are all strong, and stronger together. We will come back. Take care of Chime for us."

She nodded again, reaching out her hand and patting Bell's head. "Be safe."

"Oh, looks like they are getting set for a big trip!" Some one commented as the eleven of us strode down the main street towards the tower.

"Hey, the Demon Fox is wearing her coat again!" Another commented.

"Think they are going to try for the lower floors?"

"Looks like it. Wow, they've put a lot of work into their gear."

"That Crozzo's been busy. Wonder if he'll do a commission for a magic sword?"

"I'd rather some armour like that!"

Welf and I shared a fist bump as we heard some of the comments. I didn't care that anyone but my friends knew I could make things like a slightly less skilled Welf. But it was nice to know people liked the work none the less.

"I still hate orcs." Marius said as we cleaned up an encounter on the tenth floor. It wasn't a complaint, just a statement. "Also, I have a single complaint about this shield."

"Oh?" Both Welf and I answered at the same time.

"It lacks a front ridge. It is a minor thing, and honestly something that is situational. But had it been there, I could have broken those stone clubs over it as I blocked." He explained, using the tip of his sword to drawn a simple diagram into the dirt of the floor.

"If we hadn't used drake scale for the front..." Welf mumbled, looking at the diagram. "Well, if there is ever a second version of that, we'll put it there."

"My thanks." The soldier said formally, "Everything else however, is perfect, the armour as well."

"Good to hear... Oh, speaking of." my ears twitched towards another nose, and I put my hood up. "Lilly, switch with Chigusa. Bats."

Wordlessly, we got ready for another encounter.

It was on the fourteenth floor that I saw Bell jump like some one had poked him. Looking over, puzzled, I felt something like a fingertip trace it's way down my back. A moment later, Mikoto smiled suddenly, and Lilly shivered once like someone had stepped in her shadow. Takemikazuchi Familia also experienced a little twitch of odd reactions.

"What..." Bell had noticed it too. "It felt like some one had touched my ear."

"I didn't think it worked both ways." I said. "But that's what was in the boxes. Something for our Gods to remind them of us while we are gone. Not sure what I'll call them, but... I wonder if it's because they are Divine that we can sense them as well?"

"So that's what you made..." Mikoto said, "I had wondered, but since you said it was for Them, I didn't question."

"Well, I'd say it worked..." Welf said with a bit of a blush, "Feels like some one has been holding my hand for hours now."

"Better than thinking of paperwork." I said with a grin, "Maybe I'll call them Memento Stones."

"Lilly wonders... Why stones? They are metal, right?"

I shrugged, "Memory Metals?"

"That's a bit better. But aren't they... I dunno, could you even sell them?" Welf asked. "They area bit personal."

"It's an idea. But I'd have to get to know the person before I could make one. I don't think I have the stomach to go drinking with everyone who wants one of these things made for their God." I said scratching my head. "Hey Bell. Think I should make one for Eina? I'd bet she'd like one for you."

And so I deflected the serious topic by turning Bell into a stuttering idiot.

"Oh hey!" We were greeted by a familiar face at the entrance to the eighteenth floor. It was... Moldo. The man I'd nearly beat to death... He was wearing new equipment, nothing fancy, but he was looking less... Scruffy. Like he'd put a little more effort into himself. "Fancy meeting you here... All of you? And you're the Rakia man?"

Marius raised an eyebrow at his title, but nodded and offered his hand. "Marius."

"Yeah that's right." They shook, "Heard about you from a couple of my Familia. You can drink like a fish, so they say."

"Speaking of." I said, looking around, spotting adventurers as they peered out from behind corners and over rocks. "I see a few familiar faces too."

"Oh yeah." Moldo grinned, "Since... well, you and I had that chat." At this, he coughed into his hand, "My Familia and I have been... More serious about things. You know, inspired."

This got a few smiles from my group. Even if he looked like a ruffian, his attitude had changed for the better.

"So why are you all hiding here?" Welf asked, nodding his head at the collection of people.

"Not hiding! Planning." He replied, "The Goliath is napping by the entrance. And we're going to take him out." He said this proudly, a few of the men and women behind him quietly agreeing. "I don't suppose... You guys could maybe." He looked nervous suddenly, like he was about to ask a teacher to go to the bathroom in the middle of an exam.

I looked around to my friends, got a nod from them all, "We'll support. It's about lunch time for us anyhow."

"Thanks." He turned back to his group, letting out a little sigh, "You heard her. Let's show them what we can do."

We didn't actually eat while they fought, but waited until after we'd all made it to the tavern on the eighteenth floor. They'd done a passable job of killing the Goliath too, and they wanted to celebrate a little. No one died, no one was seriously hurt, and out of the twenty of them, only one person needed our help. "Well, how did we do?" Moldo asked, holding a mug in one hand, and hooking the other arm around the shoulders of one of his Familia, "Not the neatest fight you've seen I'm sure, but we did it!"

"Well, your mages stayed in formation." I started, looking to Welf.

"Your equipment held up really well." He raised a mug of his own in salute to whatever smith made their equipment.

"You'd be better off with a third group though." Marius said thoughtfully, "Three units of three, instead of two of a four and five."

"Think so?" Moldo asked.

I left them to it, while Bell got my attention. "Miss Kodori, he's done well for himself, hasn't he?"

"Looks like it." I replied with a grin, "I'm glad what happened here didn't... Leave a more negative impression."

"Lilly still thinks he's a jerk." Our supporter mumbled, though she smiled as she said it, "But Lilly is glad too."

Having dealt with 'bad' adventurers enough while growing up, I didn't blame her for thinking like that. Though, I was also pleased she could smile at one of those 'bad' adventurers turning a new leaf.

"What is our plan from here?" Ouka asked, putting down his mug and pushing it away a little, "We've done well on the way down, I feel confident we can continue."

"Yes, we have prepared well." Chigusa said with a smile, "Aside from those minotaur on level sixteen..."

"I also hate minotaur." Marius said, before turning back to Moldo to continue his lesson.

"I would like to rest a little longer." Haruhime said, "Out of this robe."

She had held up well so far. As the weakest of us physically, it was to be expected, and not one of us gave her any sort of look for it. "Sure." I said, "We can clean up a bit after lunch. Rest our feet a little."

"I wouldn't mind a bath." Asuka said quietly. As the victim of 'those minotaurs' or rather, the hell hounds that had joined in with them part way through, she looked like she'd spent a day next to a coal stove.

"Two hours then." I said, "Stay safe. This is still the dungeon."

Contrary to what I'd told everyone else, I wandered the forest alone. Not really wandered, I knew where I was going more or less. My feet retraced my steps back towards where I'd woken up, near one of the outer walls of the floor, just in sight of the town.

I didn't know what I'd hoped to find, but I wanted to look.

I found the small clearing, mostly shaded by trees. The grass swished under my boots as I walked towards the now smooth spot I'd woken up from, the dungeon healing itself of the pit that had been dug just for me.

Nothing.

Not that I expected anything, but something had made me want to come back here, now that the opportunity was there. The wall, a crystal studded brown stone, was the same as I remembered. The trees, without any wind, were silent. No birds, no insects. Not even a tiny rabbit. A vibrant forest that just... was.

"Stupid dungeon and it's weird unnatural forests and impossible physics and..." I muttered in English until I realized I was doing it, feeling an odd sensation ripple through me. Like something in the air had changed. Like I was being watched. Ears turning about on my head, I listened.

A quiet sound, almost like I was imagining something. Slightly out of time with my own breathing. Slowly, I turned my ears, trying to catch the noise again, while turning my head to look.

All I saw however, was a branch that was suddenly shaking from what ever was on it leaving in a hurry.

"Ah, Miss Kodori." I heard Bell say from the edge of the clearing closest to the town. "I saw you from the hill. What are you doing?"

"This is where I woke up." I said turning, seeing Bell as he was pointing towards the hill I'd fought Moldo on, almost obscured by the trees. "It's still something that bothers me, not remembering everything."

He joined me and looked around, head turning about to capture all the details. "It's... Very relaxing." He said finally, "For the dungeon, at least." He added, scratching the back of his head, "I don't think I'd want to nap here, but maybe next time we camp here on another trip, we can put our tents here."

"Not a bad idea." I said, turning away from where I'd slept that one week. "But, we should get back, it's almost time to go."

"Oh yes, that reminds me!" Bell said, following, "A raiding party came down just now. They are on a quest from the guild to subjugate, err, hunt down," He explained the word I didn't know as soon as he saw the look on my face, earning himself a pat on the head, "Heh, some fire birds on floor nineteen!"

"Really?" I said, my feet remembering the way to town, "Hm, that's..."

"Do you think we are ready?" He asked, showing more cation than I'd known him for.

"Yes. I think we are." I said with a grin, "Know anyone in the battle party? How many are in it?"

As we joined up with the hunting party, some of which included the 'residents' of the town, I learned a few things. Mingling with the crowd and asking questions, I learned that this was only slightly unusual. Fire birds usually stuck around the mid twenties, but occasionally started upwards. To prevent them from gaining the eighteenth floor, with its 'open skies', and generally wrecking the place, adventurers went on hunts like this one at the first hint they were coming up. It was understandable. I could only imagine the sort of havoc a flock of two meter long birds with breath hotter than a hell hound could do to the forests around here.

The pay for such a thing was rather high too. Anyone who joined, and offered proof of participation, a monster drop or witness from some one else, meant they got a share of the reward. The reward was high for that reason, as it was divided among the participants, instead of given to a single party.

About the monsters themselves, it was just as advertised. Big flame feathered bird with fire breath and attitude. Monster drops, such as claws, beaks, and feathers sold for a good amount. Provided they survived the death of the monster, as usual.

We also had the other monsters to deal with. Even as the forty or so adventurers started splitting up into groups, we could all feel something had riled the monsters up. Hardly twenty paces away from the others, our group was attacked.

This time however, we were ready. More training. Better armour. A second defensive forward to cover our pure offensive forwards. Our supporters protected by ranged attacks and fireproof clothing. Even when the flying swords, the sharp edged dragonflies, started swarming through, we kept our formations, and left not a single drop of blood behind.

Sweat, on the other hand... Even with my insane resistance to fire, I had more than a few blisters after pulling the wings off a fire bird, and I'd probably need to apply more hair grow cream when we got back to the surface. It wasn't just direct contact either. The air itself was getting stuffy. Constant magical blasts, from adventurer and monster both had warmed the air. The usual chill of the dungeon only went so far, and after a few hours worth of fighting some of us, myself included, were starting to feel the effects of what might have been heat stroke.

"Bell." I called him over while Lilly and Chigusa cleaned up our latest in a long string of encounters. "How are you holding up?"

His ability to brush off the effects of environmental hazards made me envious. He was just as energetic as ever when he replied, "I'm fine. My clothes... My boots!" He looked down at himself, realizing how much of his ordinary equipment, like his shirt, pants and boots, were crispy in places. "Otherwise... I guess?"

"Good." I was doing better in that department. My coat offered better coverage, though it wasn't as solid as metal, so I knew I was going to be colourful when I looked at myself in the mirror later. "The heat is starting to get to some of us down here. We've done good work, and it looks like it's starting to thin out, so I'm thinking we should head back up." I took my water flask from under my coat for show, and rattled the last mouthful of water in it for show. "Chigusa, Ouka and Haruhime are getting unsteady, and Marius is going to need my hair cream when we get back home."

Bell winced, then nodded. The Rakian Prince had used his new shield like a pro, and his armour kept most of the heat from burning his skin, but Welf and I had both passed on making him another helmet, and that would have included a salamander wool lining.

"And the rest? Mikoto? Lilly? Asuka?" Bell asked, turning away from me and keeping a closer watch on one of the room's entrances.

"Mikoto and Lilly are fine, but we can't recover any of the arrows Asuka fires. Or Lilly's crossbow bolts." I replied, "We can only recover the metal, everything else just burns up."

He nodded, rolling his shoulders, something I myself did often. It was odd, now that I looked at him, his back seemed broader than when I'd first met him. "I think I'll help out a little more." He said, "Make sure our friends from the town are safe too."

I didn't want him to go alone. I knew that's what his words meant too. But, "Just be sure you come back." I heard myself say, "I'll make sure we all get back up, and we'll camp at that clearing. If you aren't back up in an hour, I'm going to come looking for you."

The tone in my voice, my best Hestia impression, sent a shiver down his back. However, his voice was confident as he looked back, "I'll be fine, big sister."

I took up his position as he darted off down the tunnel he was watching. Looking back over my shoulder, I saw the eyes of the party on me. "It's Bell. It's what he does." I said to them, earning a few tired chuckles.

We set up a camp site in the clearing I'd visited earlier that day. It wasn't far from one of the streams that flowed through the floor, and it was private enough that the more modest of the two Familia could relax a little as we did a check for injuries inside the tent. Mikoto got started on food right after I'd given her a once over and treated a few minor burns. Nothing worth using a potion for, I used some burn cream I'd made with my little alchemy set in my spare time. Lilly and Haruhime were only a little bruised, thanks to the Goliath skin robes. Asuka and Chigusa were scratched up a little, a little red skinned in a few places, but again, nothing worth using an expensive potion for. With our adventurer's endurance we could heal such minor scrapes after a good night's rest.

Then there was Marius Welf and Ouka. The three of them, being forwards, were the worst off. Though only Marius needed a potion. He had torn off his own helmet at one point, the top of his scalp a mess of burned hair and blistered skin. He was a little embarrassed, admitting he should have ducked his head down a little more, but made no fuss as I told him to sit still and bite down on something so I could clean the wound.

Welf grumbled the entire time I dabbed burn cream down his back, where an unlucky ember had actually gotten under the collar of his shirt and slid down his back. I teased him about his dislike of armour, saying he might have gotten that ember down the back of his pants instead if he hadn't been wearing it.

And Ouka, our shield and spear wielding forward, was a mass of bruises. More than once, he'd held a tunnel entrance to slow the monsters down so the rest of us could kill what we were already dealing with inside a room. Thankfully the armour stopped things like giant beetle mandibles from ripping him open, but he was going to be feeling that for the rest of the day.

"How long until dinner?" I asked Mikoto, wiping burn salve off my hands and putting my gauntlets back on.

"Not long." She replied, her armour laid out beside her, though her sword was still at her hip. "Lilly and Lady Haruhime found some cloud fruit." She tilted her head to the side, not looking away from the bubbling pot in front of her, to indicate a small pile of white fruit.

"Cloud fruit?" I asked, kneeling and picking up one of them. About as big as both my fists, firm like an apple, and sweet smelling, its shape was round, like an orange, but smooth. "I don't think I've ever had one of these."

"Monsters eat them as well. They are quite good, but seem to grow on the trees randomly." She explained, stirring the pot and adding something from a little pouch, probably salt. "It will add to our simple meal quite nicely."

"You'll make a good wife one day." I teased, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Good work today." I pretended to ignore her blush at my comment.

"We have all worked hard to do this well." She said, raising a hand to pat mine, before focusing on the pot again, "You have seen to that, as much as any of us."

"You are all my friends. And we work at a job that may get us killed." I said sitting down next to her, watching the pot as well. The smell was starting to make my stomach grumble impatiently. "Why wouldn't I do my best when it comes to keeping you all safe?"

"I was unsure of you, at first." Mikoto said, moving the pot a little away from the centre of the fire, and putting down a second pot on the wire frame. "Your methods, are unlike anything I had known until then."

I watched as she deftly peeled the fruit, the light sweet scent increasing, "Where I come from, the methods I use are common. Though, normally meant for less dangerous jobs." 'Team building exercise' was almost a curse at some of the jobs I'd worked at before. But here, in this world, it was a valuable tool.

"You have still never told us, where it is you are from." She said, putting the fruit into the pot as she cut it up, mashing it into paste, then cutting up another one. "Stir this please?" She asked.

"No. I guess I haven't. Aside from 'far away' and 'brought here by magic'." A half truth and a full one, they were still rather empty explanations. "What I will tell you, is that I hope I never go back." I felt myself smile, the dirt from the day's adventuring making my face feel tight, "I have everything I was missing there, here."

She didn't ask further, and I was thankful for it. One day, I might have to explain a little better, but I still had no real idea on how to go about it. "Bell-dono is late, is he not?" She said finally, lifting both the pot of rice and fruit sauce off the wire 'grill' we had put over the camp fire.

"I'm sure the smell of your cooking will bring him." I grinned, this time not pretending to ignore her blush, "I'll get the others rounded up for dinner."

"Lady Haruhime said she was going with Lilly-chan, Asuka-kun and Chigusa-chan to stream."

"Right. I'll go there first."

I could hear them chatting quietly not too far off, when I heard Bell's voice hiss at me from just off the path to the stream.

"Kodori!" Uh oh... He'd left off the Miss. "Kodori!" He called again as I turned and spotted him huddled among some bushes. He was covered in soot, something to be expected, but his salamander wool cloak was off his shoulders and around a bundle in his arms.

"What are you doing, hiding here... Who's that?" I asked, getting closer and kneeling. The bundle in his arms twitched at the sound of my voice, and it seemed to try and cling tighter to the boy.

"I heard them bathing, and hoped you were with them so I could talk..." He held the person closer, as if to comfort them, "Please don't be mad..." He said as I reached for the hood of the cloak. Who ever it was, he had wrapped them in such a way that I could only make out that it was a person.

"Why would I be..." I moved the hood away, my eyes widening at what I saw there. "Oh..."

I think this has become a habit. I know, I'm a terrible person.

But this is now the start of book nine, in the 'grand time line' of the series. This means two things.

First, its book nine! Holy crackers! This is a lot of words!

And second. I'm running out of books. I know there are at least eleven books. I'm not sure past that, and honestly, after reading the tenth book, I'm wondering how close it is to the end.

So this means two more things.

I'm unsure what to do after book 10. Until I read book 11, when it gets translated here in North America, I will be at a loss as to where to take the story.

And, when I do run out of story, be it the actual author Fujino Omori ending the series, or having to wait months for the next book... I'm not sure what to do!

Problems for another day. I'm going to save this and play a game or something. Until next time. :)