AN : Right, this took a long time. I'm not really satisfied with this, but I can't seem to make it any better. ah well.
PeaceofPoo, Saito won't die free, because we're never really free from anything. Also, it doesn't surprise me that people want Saito to be with Louise, but whether or not that's going to happen. No, or yes, or maybe.
MizoreShirayukiFan, Saito won't be mean to her. When he first meets her he has no reason to be mean, however, he will be mean to her later on when she does something. :D
XoreandoX, I am cutting hole in canon, that's kind of the point.
Aishata, is this one good, and please elaborate.
Apsody243, I am better than canon! Yes!
Angry Santo, I hope the new chapter makes you happy.
Acronymous, What you should be asking is, will Louise find out that Saito teamed up with Fouquet? If she does find out, what will she do and what will her relationship with Saito be? What will Fouquet be when she finds out?
Sacchin, not much Saito and Fouquet interaction in this one.
Atrile, you need to be patient, it will happen, and it will be concerning a love potion. By the time it happens, however, you won't want it to happen.
kitiem3000, couple things missing, but otherwise it is perfect.
Octol, 1TroublesomeGuy, LastStandZiggy, you are correct it was Thor you get a hug.
Mical sat up with a yawn and looked out the dirty window. The bright, sunshiny day made the fact that he had to share a bed with Saito less unpleasant. He pulled himself out of bed and tried to open the window. He grunted as he pulled up, and glared at the window that refused to budge. Of course these plebeians didn't have windows that opened. He felt like he was living in the poor house. He could even hear the filthy patrons of this establishment down below. Worst of all was that the inn only provided them with one bed, and it was only a Queen sized one. He had to share with the commoner.
Of course he wouldn't express his discontent with the arrangement, Saito was very intimidating. Simply knowing that the man was capable of defeating mages with his bare hands was beyond terrifying.
Mical turned back to the bed and paused. There were two people in it. There was a woman with green hair, and Saito. The fact that Saito was still asleep was odd by itself, but who was this woman. Mical looked over and saw both of their clothes hanging to dry. He looked back at the pair sleeping in the bed.
"By the Gods I hope they didn't do anything... dirty." Mical told himself.
Mical turned to leave when he saw the most peculiar object. It was a strange metal tube. He picked it up, it was pretty heavy. It didn't really strike him as important. He looked over to the ratty desk in the room and saw a few shiny and expensive looking trinkets sitting on it. Mical picked a few of them up, looking them over. They were nice. He really wanted to know where they came from, and how Saito or the green haired woman got them.
Mical paused for a moment as he tried to figure out who the green haired woman might be. He could have sworn that he knew her from somewhere. The green haired woman rolled over, and Mical got a good look at her face.
Longueville. Headmaster Osmond was going to be extremely jealous. Of course it didn't take a genius to know why the perverted old Headmaster hired the woman. It was depressing to see a mage like her associating with that brute Saito, but alas it is her life to ruin.
Suddenly the door to their room was slammed open. "Didja get 'er!" The child thief shouted.
Saito and Longueville groaned as they were unceremoniously awoken. "Why did you wake me up?" Saito let out as he pulled himself out of the bed.
"I'm going back to sleep." Longueville muttered.
"Yeah, well I'm going to be gone before you wake up." Saito said as he stretched out. "I have my own goals."
"Wait, we need to talk about the Staff." Longueville said. This caused Mical to raise an eyebrow.
"If you want it, you'll have to kill me." Saito said as he grabbed the strange metal tube.
"You don't know how long I cased that place. How much work I put into it."
"No I can appreciate that. You can have everything else I took when I rescued you, even the bow, stock of arrows and the two back up wands I bought for your rescue. So be happy with that, hell if it makes you feel better, you can say that I bought the staff from you."
Longueville was glaring at Saito. Saito was glaring at Longueville. Mical had absolutely no clue what in Brimir's name was going on. It felt like any action would cause the two to engage in inexplicable acts of violence.
"What's... happening?" Conrad asked nervously. Mical had to admit that it was a good question.
"Saito doesn't want to give me what's mine." Longueville said.
"Your's, no no no no no, the, what is it that you call it, the "Staff of Destruction?" It. Is. Mine." Saito glared at her, before a slow grin spread across his face and he threw the Staff at Longueville. "Use it, activate it. If you can do that, I'll give it to you."
Mical was taken aback, that was the legendary Staff of Destruction! He had heard tales of the weapon, how a powerful mage destroyed a Four-headed Dragon with a single spell! (1) "Y-y-you st-st-stole the STAFF OF DESTRUCTION!"
"For the love of God, why do you people call it the "Staff of Destruction!" It's not even a damn Staff, and Fouquet, use it now or I'm taking it back!" Saito ordered.
"Wait, Longueville is Fouquet!"
"Mical, relax, nothing bad is going to happen. I would bet my life that she has no idea how to use the... "Staff of Destruction."" Saito said with a grin.
Mical looked back toward the former secretary, holding the Staff. A look of realization slowly spread over her face. "You know how to use it, don't you?"
Saito marched forward and ripped it out of her hands. "Yes, I do. And you can't use it."
Fouquet glared at him. She then sighed. "Fine, take it, you could probably sell it for more écu than me."
"Wait, just like that, no violence?" Mical asked. This was weird.
"I'm not going to fight him, he saved my life. I know how to be thankful. Also, you can keep your bow and arrows."
"Yes, well, you're welcome. Mical, let's get out of here."
"You're just leaving?" Conrad asked.
"Yeah, Partner doesn't stay in one place often." Derflinger said as Saito grabbed his five other weapons. He had some trouble carrying all of them.
"You know, it is going to be hard to keep 3 weapons strapped to my back."
"And two satchels." Derflinger helpfully added.
"I can't believe how stupid you are."
"Yes, I know you're upset with me." Saito groaned. At least Mical waited until they left the town, but he knew this conversation was going to be annoying.
"Upset? What are we going to say? You freed a fugitive who stole from dozens of nobles. Every one of them pushing for her execution! You helped one of the most hated people in the world. How are you going to justify that?"
"Well you see..." Saito began, before he realized something. He had no idea what he was going to do. Conrad had told him that Fouquet was arrested and that she was going to be executed, so he planned a daring rescue that involved shooting an arrow with a wand attached and large amounts of recklessness. Then... no other plans. "...I didn't think that far ahead."
"What, that's it? You didn't think about anything? Do you think there won't be any consequences?"
"In hind sight it was probably a bad idea." Saito admitted. He still felt like he did the right thing, even if he didn't get along with her in their final conversation. It would make things hard, but he would think of something.
"So, what, you're going to walk into the Academy with the Staff of Destruction the day after it had been restolen? The day after Fouquet escaped?"
This was bad, he really didn't think this through. "Um, Derf, any ideas?"
"Don't ask your weapon. Think of something."
"Hey, I can help!"
"Yeah, Derf can help!"
"Fine, what does your sword think we should do?"
"Tell them you bought it from her." Derflinger suggested.
"That's a terrible plan!" Mical shouted.
"Actually that will probably work." Saito said.
"Really?" Derflinger said.
"Derf, why are you surprised that I support your idea? I mean sure, I'll need to modify it a bit, but yeah, it should work."
"That won't work!"
"Oh come on, it's not like any of the guards will say some guy beat them all without using magic. Besides, they won't recognize me, I had my face covered and the bad weather made it hard to see."
"Yeah, well... That's probably going to work better than I want to admit." Mical said with a sigh. "None of them will admit that someone could beat them without using magic. They're too prideful."
"Yep. Also, you need to hear how Fouquet infiltrated the Academy, it is simultaneously hilarious and depressing."
Classes had ended for the day. The sun was beginning to set, in an hour or two it would be dark.
Louise was sitting out, enjoying a snack, watching enviously as some of her classmates enjoyed their Familiars. She watched as Guiche doted upon his mole, Malicorne pet his owl, or Montmorency tie a bow around her frog.
Louise chuckled, the idea of tying a bow around Saito was amusing. Louise glanced back at Montmorency's familiar, it was a pink bow. The image of a scowling Saito with an obnoxious pink bow was stuck in her mind.
"HE'S BACK!" Louise looked up, one of the servant had just shouted, her voice giddy.
"Yes Siesta, our Fist just walked in the gate!" Another server said. Louise couldn't help but wonder who the 'Fist' person was.
"Saito's really back!" The servant called Siesta exclaimed as she ran for the gates.
Louise stared at the running servant, trying to process what she just heard. Saito, the man she summoned, was back. Louise then, in a very dignified and noble fashion, pushed the table over and began sprinting toward the front gate.
Then she saw him, walking toward the central tower wearing a grin with a mage. He was marching forward with an air of confidence as the servant ran up to him and gave him a heartfelt hug. He also had a sword, a bow, a stock of arrows, a musket, two satchels, and the Staff of Destruction.
This was bad. Her Familiar had the Staff of Destruction.
Louise didn't know what to do, as she stared dumbly at Saito talk to the servant. She tried to think of the possible reasons why he had the Staff, and all of them pointed to one thing. Fouquet had escaped.
"HI LOUISE!" Saito shouted, waving to her.
Louise lamely waved back, still trying to process how Saito could have gotten a Staff that was supposed to be very well protected. She hoped there was a positive reason she hadn't considered yet.
Then she saw Old Osmond and Professor Colbert approach him, and Louise quickly ran forward as the servant ran off. She would be held responsible for Saito's actions, she needed to defend him for somehow getting his hands on the Staff of Destruction.
"No." Saito responded with a cold glare directed at Headmaster Osmond. Louise felt a pit in her stomach form, what did Saito just refuse?
"Familiar-" Old Osmond began.
"My name is Saito Hiraga. Do not call me a "Familiar."" Saito sternly said.
Louise quickly put herself between the Headmaster and Saito. "Headmaster Osmond, I apologize for my Familiar's behavior!"
"Stop calling me a Familiar!"
"Stop arguing!" Louise shouted at Saito. She could not afford his return to upset the Headmaster! Couldn't he see that she was trying to help him!
"Please, everyone, stop shouting for a moment." Colbert said pleadingly.
Saito, the Headmaster, and Louise looked around. Everyone was staring at them. "Yes, well, let's continue this at my office."
Louise followed the Headmaster, dreading what was to come. She had almost forgotten the problem with Saito. He was a damned nuisance. He hadn't been back for 10 minutes, and he had already gotten into a shouting match with Headmaster Osmond.
That's not even considering how he got his hands on the Staff of Destruction!
Louise did the only thing she could do, she prayed to the Founder that things would work out.
Osmond was nervous. While it was great that Gandàlfr had returned, the fact that he had the Staff of Destruction was horrifying. It begged the question, what happened to Fouquet, and how they were supposed to explain the Staff being in their possession again.
The group arrived at the Headmaster's office, and Colbert held the door for them. Gandàlfr took a seat across the desk, resting the Staff on his shoulder. "Now then, if I'm going to stay here, I'm going to need some things."
Osmond was taken aback. He understood that Gandàldfr was an extremely aggressive man, but he needed to teach him some respect! "I need to know how you got your hands on the Staff of Destruction."
"Yes, Saito, we need to know what happened! Did Fouquet escape?" Louise asked.
"I bought it from a woman who called herself Fouquet. She also told me some interesting things, about how she was able to infiltrate this Academy. Would you like to know how she did it. I'm sure you wouldn't want an assassin to infiltrate an Academy filled with the children of very important people." Gandàlfr said with a knowing look.
"Th-that's not, necessary." Osmond said. This was bad.
Louise was glancing between her familiar and the Headmaster, a look of confusion covering her face. "Saito, why are you looking at Headmaster Osmond like..." Louise trailed off, as a look of rage covered her features, and she threw a glare at Osmond. "What did you do?
"He hired Fouquet after meeting her in a bar. He grabbed her ass, and she flirted with him. She gave him the name Longville that she made up on the spot, and he did no checking to see if she was telling the truth. On the first day here, she had access to all of the Academy's written information."
"It's YOUR FAULT!" Louise screamed.
"Please listen to-" Osmond began.
"NO! Princess Henrietta is being blamed for diverting guards during her visit to the Academy, but the reason Fouquet was able to take ANYTHING is because of YOU! I will be reporting this to the Princess as soon as I can!"
"What? No! I'm doing this to blackmail him! Don't ruin that!" Saito hastily said, and Osmond was taken aback at how blunt it was.
"And YOU! Saito, what were you doing associating with a vile thief like Fouquet!"
"Stop shouting!"
"No you need to tell me why you would associate with a criminal!"
Saito sighed, and extended the staff. "Louise, the M72 LAW is a weapon of that my people make. It is rightfully mine. So, I did business with her, and got it back."
Silence fell over the room, and Osmond had no idea what to think of this new revelation. Gandàlfr's people make Staves of Destruction, and more than that, Gandàlfr could use it. Was it a common weapon among Gandàlfr's people?
"M72 LAW?" Colbert asked.
"That's this weapon's actual name." Gandàlfr said as he collapsed the weapon. "Now then. How did you get your hands on it?"
"First, swear to me that you won't tell anyone how Fouquet got into the Academy." Osmond asked, he needed to protect himself.
"WHAT! NO!" Louise shouted.
"I have to agree with Louise, just telling me isn't enough." Saito said.
"Not enough! It will never be enough!"
"As long as the information never leaves the room, Louise, I'm staying at the Academy." Saito calmly said.
Louise stared, wide eyed at Saito, then sighed. "Fine..."
"So, Headmaster, it's story time."
Osman sighed and said, "The one who gave the Staff of Destruction was my savior."
"Where is the person now? He is definitely from my country."
"He died. That was over thirty years ago…"
"What did you say?"
"Thirty years ago, while I was strolling inside the forest, I was attacked by a two headed dragon. The one who saved me was the owner of the Staff of Destruction. He used another Staff of Destruction to kill the two headed dragon and then collapsed. He was already injured at that time. I transported him to the academy and treated his wounds. But to no avail…"
"And he died?"
Headmaster Osman nodded.
"I buried the Staff of Destruction that he had used to save me along with him in his grave, the other one I named the Staff of Destruction and kept it inside the vault in order to commemorate my savior…"
Saito stood up, and paced around the room. He took a deep breath, and said, "I need to see his body."
"What?" Osmond asked.
"He'll have tags on him that identify him. I'll need to... take them home, to ensure that he is given the proper honors that he deserves."
A crypt in an Academy. That was weird. That was really weird. Saito silently wonder if this was common, as the group walked through the creepy crypt. Did Harvard or Yale have a crypt under them? Oxford might. Still, the idea that there was a crypt under the Academy was extremely creepy, and Saito didn't like it.
Still, things were going excellently. The perverted Headmaster seemed to be under control, and Louise was simply terrified of the possibility of him leaving again. Saito wasn't sure why the bald mage named Colbert was with them, but he didn't seem to matter so Saito ignored him.
"We're here." Osmond said.
Saito looked down at the grave. I was a coffin made of marble. On it was engraved "A Hero."
"You don't have his name?"
"We couldn't understand what he was saying."
"Of course." Saito said with a sigh. The man was probably speaking in English, and as far as he knew, the only people in this world who knew English were Sasaki and himself. "Could you open it for me?"
Osmond waved his wand, and the massive slab of marble slid off. Saito gazed at the dead soldier. He was fully armed. He was strapped with a pistol, a Colt M1911A1, had five magazines of ammo for it. He also had seven magazines for another gun. Saito grabbed one of the unknown clips. It was for thirty 5.56mm bullets. It was M16 ammunition. Saito took every magazine and shoved them into his satchel, then he took the soldier's pistol. Saito turned the safety on, ejected the clip, and emptied the chamber. He shoved that into his satchel as well. No kit to clean the weapon was on the man. (3)
Saito lifted the dead soldier, and saw a weapon that made his heart soar beneath the man. It was an M16A1, strapped to the man's back. Saito took the assault rifle, and instinctively turned the safety on. He removed the magazine, and saw that it was empty. He pulled the bolt back, the chamber was empty. Saito paused for a moment, how was he going to carry this? He already had four weapons strapped to his back, now he had 2 pistols, two satchels and a knife. Saito wore the rifle like a necklace, he was carrying way too much stuff. It was starting to get heavy.
Saito then looked at the M72. It had been used. Saito removed the spent weapon, and set it on the ground outside of the coffin.
"What are you doing?" The bald mage, Colbert, asked.
"Taking the weapons out. He's in a peaceful place now. He doesn't need them." Saito said as he removed 3 fragmentation grenades, M61s, from the soldier, and two smoke grenades. Then, Saito found the man's dog tags.
Boltic
Christopher J
Some numbers
O neg and some more numbers
Protestant
His name was Christopher J. Boltic, PFC Boltic, blood type O negative, and he was a Protestant. He served in the army. He put one of the tags in his pocket.
Saito took a moment to actually look at the dead soldier. He was a fairly skinny man, with no trace of decay on him. The man had vibrant red hair. Saito could still see freckles on the dead man's face, even some color. Must have been makeup, and magic had to have been used to prevent decay. His uniform was in immaculate condition, and Saito could see the Big Red One patch. Private Boltic had been in the 1st Infantry Division.
There were a collection of notes, and a sealed envelope. Saito put them in his satchel, he would make sure that the letter would find its way to what's left of the man's family.
Saito took the man's scabbard and M-7 Bayonet Knife, and that was all of the weapons. Saito felt dirty, for taking all of the man's weapons. Saito returned the body into a more peaceful position, and told him in English, "Thank you, for your gear, and I'm sorry." Saito backed away from the coffin. He thought for a moment, unsure of whether to use the man's rank or not. Saito decided to forgo its use at the moment, and announce it later if it seemed appropriate. "His name is Christopher J. Boltic, you'll probably want to put that on his tomb stone. I wish I knew how he wanted to be buried, but all I really know is that he was a Protestant, so I guess that this burial is honoring him to the best of our ability."
Saito looked back at the three mages, looks of shock covering their faces. "He was a Heretic?(2)" Louise asked incredulously.
"...No, he just has differing religious beliefs. I mean, if he's a Heretic, then I'm probably a Heretic too, but that would be ridiculous considering that I'm Gandàlfr, the Left Hand of God."
Louise stared at him, dumbfounded. "You're Gandàlfr?"
"Louise, you have no idea what's happening, do you? No one told you? I am legendary. Gandàlfr, first one summoned by... Derf! Who summoned the first Gandàlfr?"
"Brimir did partner."
"Yeah, Brymer."
"Brimir." The sword corrected.
"What Derf said."
"I summoned a void Fami-" Louise cut herself off, Saito was taken aback. She was going to correct herself? "I summoned a void... Servant?" Well, that wasn't much better.
Osmond sighed, "We wanted to learn more before you found out, but yes, he is a void Familiar."
"I am not a Familiar OR a Servant. I'm Louise's... Ally." Saito said. "And can we have this conversation outside of this crypt? I do have a few more demands."
Nothing was ever simple. Sure, Saito was back, but he was in trouble the instant he returned. This was different. Saito had confessed that he was a Heretic, that he didn't follow the ways of the Founder Brimir as set forth by the Pope. He didn't even pronounce Brimir's name correctly! Her Ally didn't follow the Papacy. A Heretic, who compared himself to a Protestant. Decades prior the Papacy had denounced groups who began spouting blasphemies, labeling the Heretics as Protestants. There had been a few minor battles that brought the Heretics back from the brink of Damnation, but Saito was a Heretic. He was also Gandàlfr. The theological implications were terrifying.
Louise paced around her room, waiting for Saito to return to her room. He had left for the student baths. It was one of his requests. Really, after looking at the dead soldier, he didn't ask for much. Access to the Library, the school's bathing facilities, housing and food. It was very basic, and she had expected him to demand more, but it seemed as though he didn't want to push his luck. Although she still had to show him where the Alviss Dining hall was.
Still, Saito was back. Louise hoped that this was good, but considering how his return somehow coincided with blackmailing the Headmaster had somehow soured his return. Him threatening to leave again if she told anyone the truth of Headmaster Osmond's negligence was all Louise needed to know that Saito's return was probably not good. Still, she could hope.
Louise glanced at Saito's belongings, there was that odd black rectangular thing, some clothes, a multitude of weapons, that thing that was strapped to the Heretic who saved Osmond, some odd egg shaped balls with pins in them, the Staff of Destruction (or the Em Seventy-Too Law) and of course, the oddest thing of all, a satchel full of money. Saito had taken his sword with him to the baths. His talking sword.
Louise sighed. Somehow, over the course of a few weeks, Saito had gotten his hands on an incredibly valuable sentient sword, the legendary Staff of Destruction/Em Seventy-Too Law, and a big pile of money. She had trouble figuring out how he had accomplished so much is so little time. All she knew that he could do was fight, what else could he do that allowed him to get so much money?
Louise turned as she heard her door opening. "My God it feels so good to be clean! Haven't been able to bathe using soap in weeks. I would have preferred a lavender soap instead of strawberry scented, but I just feel so clean! I missed this feeling." Saito said. He was wearing a plain white shirt, and sturdy looking blue pants
"Did you have to bathe with me, Partner?" Saito's sword chimed in.
"What if someone attacked me?"
"While you were bathing?" Louise asked.
"Just because I'm naked doesn't mean that no one will attack me."
"But did you have to take me?"
"I suppose I could have taken a weapon that wasn't sentient. Sorry. Where do we eat?" Saito asked as he tucked his two knives in his belt, and slung the Staff of Destruction/Em Seventy-Too Law over his shoulder.
"I've been waiting to show you." Louise said as she walked out the room, with Saito following.
"Hope I didn't delay your diner." She was not expecting him to be so polite. She was expecting more,well, anger. She still didn't know why he came back, and she desperately wanted to know. She had thought that he would never come back, what with the mind altering affects of the Familiar runes.
"Why'd you come back?" She needed to know.
"I was wondering when you'd ask that. Short answer, I need void magic to get home. Long answer, and whether you know it or not, you are a void mage. I will get you to figure out how to tap into it, and you will. Send. Me. Home." Saito said resolutely.
"But how can I be a void mage?" It didn't make any sense! She couldn't be void! She could barely use magic!
"Louise, you are a void mage, because I'm a void ALLY." Saito said, with extra emphasis on the ally.
Louise saw the students entering the dining hall as they approached. "Let's not talk about this in front of others."
"Fair enough." Saito said as they walked in.
They proceeded to the seat Louise always took when she ate, and Saito wordlessly pulled her seat back for her, and Louise took her seat, glad that Saito was being a gentleman. He then took the seat next to her. Louise paused for a moment, she had the servants prepare a spot for Saito on the floor, but he had taken a spot at the table. She hadn't considered that he would consider eating in the dining hall as a chance to eat as equals. He had made it clear, he was an Ally, not a servant. He expected to be treated as an equal, and considering what he was capable of Louise knew that he probably would respond with violence if he wasn't treated as an equal. Violence that she couldn't stop. Besides, he was being nice, and she didn't want that to change by trying to make him sit on the floor. Louise chuckled, even if she tried to make Saito sit on the floor, she would fail. She could let him sit at the table.
"Commoner, what are you doing sitting in my seat?" Malicorne demanded.
"Oh by the Founder, no." Louise muttered to herself. This would not end well.
"Well, move!" Malicorne shouted. Louise rolled her eyes, he was acting so stupid. Did he think that Saito would just get out of his way?
Saito sat there a moment, and Louise could see the blank look covering his face. "Really? Already?"
"I won't ask again." Malicorne said as he pulled out his wand.
Louise sighed, he was taking this way too far. Didn't Malicorne remember what happened to Guiche, or Rodger? "Saito, just make him stop acting like a fool."
"I don't need permission."
Saito turned around and deftly grabbed the wand out of Malicorne's hand. The tubby Noble backed away as Saito stepped toward him. "You can have the seat!" Was all Malicorne said before he was slammed face first into the table and held there. Louise saw her ally holding him against the table, and holding one of Malicorne's arms, twisting it in a position that looked very painful.
"Now then, fat Noble boy whose name I don't care about, apologize for being such a rude jackass." Saito said with a bored look on his face.
"I'm... I'm sorry?" Saito twisted his arm a bit more at the lame apology. "AHH!"
"Why are you sorry?" Saito asked.
"I'm sorry for disrespecting you and being rude!"
"'I'm sorry for disrespecting you and being rude' WHAT!"
"I'm sorry for disrespecting you and being rude... My Lord!" Malicorne quickly blurted out.
"I was expecting 'Sir,' but that works." Saito said with a grin.
"Malicorne, sit somewhere else." Louise said, hoping to avoid another incident like that.
"O-o-of course!" He said before running off.
"Well, that was annoying. Kind of fun, scaring him like that. Still, I hope things are less eventful." Saito said, with Louise silently agreeing with her ally. The last thing she wanted was Saito causing an incident, or getting involved in one.
"Please try to avoid displays like that."
"What, you think I planned that?"
(1) This is from Mical's POV, and this is not accurate.
(2) Pay attention in the light novels, and you'll notice that their religion is undergoing a Protestant Reformation. They even use the term Protestant to name those who follow Brimir their own way instead of the Papacy's. Agnès' origin flat out states that she came from a Protestant village that was burned to the ground for being Protestant.
(3) A common problem with the early M16, and the reason it got the nickname "Jamming Jenny." You see, the REMFs (Rear Echelon Mother Fuckers) had the idea that the M16 was so advanced, that it was self cleaning. It was not. In fact, it required to be cleaned, but no one was given cleaning kits and were told that you didn't need to clean it. A few weeks later it would jam because no one cleaned it. I chose it over the AK because the AK has a lot more kick, and the precise and accurate shots Saito will make with the M16 would be impossible with the AKM (At least I believe it was the AKM model that was being used during the Vietnam). Sure, the AK had a higher caliber and was easier to maintain, but the first M16s were loved early on for a reason. It was easy to use, it was incredibly accurate for a machine gun, because the bullets tumbled on impact it was slightly more lethal if you were standing behind someone who was being shot. However it got a bad reputation, because it was reported as "Self cleaning," and changing the ammunition specs without telling the designer... What can I say, I'm a gun nut.
AN : And I decided to abruptly end here. The action will be winding down, as things start to get involved in the main plot of the story. The main story will morph, with different circumstances, different allies, and different people surviving and dyeing. Saito saving Fouquet will play a big role, very big. I'll be honest, this all feels a bit forced to me. It was difficult writing Saito's return, and in truth it's not done yet. This chapter was more about the terms in which he is staying, terms that he chose. Next chapter will be more about how people react to his return, and how he deals with it.
And time to rant. I always wondered why Saito in the anime and light novel was so honest. More than that, why didn't he investigate the man who saved Osmond and brought the M72 Law. It was clear that it was a soldier, and soldiers tend to carry useful things that would have made everything much easier.
Also, I introduced a new conflict. Religion. While I will probably not state what Saito's religious beliefs are, it is pretty much mandatory that he doesn't share the same beliefs as anyone else in the world he's trapped in. This is keeping in mind that he is trapped in a time where the Pope in Romalia sent people to burn a town to the ground for housing Heretics, better known as Protestants. They didn't even have a different God, they just believed in Brimir in a way that wasn't approved by the Church. This is mostly to show how different Saito is culturally, since he will hardly pay any attention to the religious beliefs of those around him, but those who know that he is a self-professed Heretic will obsess about it. Although the conflict that it will cause won't really be relevant for a long time. Like, really long.
Best way to view Saito's view on religion is a quote whose source I can't remember, "Politics and religion is not a reason men can't be friends." I don't that is the actual quote, but it's gets the point across.
Anyway, read and review.