Chapter 2

The first thing I wanted to do when I woke up the next morning, was sort the books.

Well, no. I wanted to stay in bed with my two lovers. Then I wanted to give Aisha a few extra minutes of sleep by checking on Kinza. Then I wanted to brush Haruhime's tails while she decided if she should sleep in or not.

Sadly, I only got to give Aisha a few extra minutes of sleep. Even without a 'world standard' of holding a steady job, where your alarm clock was the one thing you couldn't ignore, very little 'sleeping in' ever happened in the Manor.

Then, my poor box of books had to sit in the library, all alone, as I fell into the usual routine in the Manor. Help with breakfast, eat, cleanup, morning sparring, cleanup after morning sparring, then splitting up to do whatever tasks we had planned the night before.

For example, 'The Rookie Team' (who were honestly overqualified for the name) of Momiji (another Renard who wore an oddly similar version of a Miko robe and was occasionally my part time secretary) Kaede (a 'Hume-Bunny' who was from The East like Momiji, who used a katana and dressed like an Amazon) Delly (the all singing, all dancing fox eared Fairy from Earth who's name means Lightning) and Maki (my adopted little sister, a half Kitsune who lead the other three in combat since she could be either support, long range or melee).

They were going into the dungeon. No surprise really. But just like any other soldier, each of them had a different reason, along with the 'overlapping' reason most adventurers had. Momiji, though she thought I didn't know, kind of worshipped me. I wasn't just a role model to her, and she wanted to follow in my footsteps and one day stand beside me like the other 'high levelled' members of the Manor, like Bell, Aisha, Ryuu and Haruhime.

Kaede's reason was simpler. She was a battle junkie. She wasn't reckless, but she loved the thrill of combat.

Delly was similar to Kaede in that, but throughout her past the fox-fairy had always needed to rely on someone else for 'power' and 'protection'. Now that she'd been freed from the near eternal role of 'Familiar' (read: combat capable mascot to someone powerful), she was able to become strong on her own. And even at level two, she was on all kinds of 'lists' for up and coming magic users. It was rumoured (though it was false) that Delly had more spells than she was allowed by falna. The God's gift of being an adventurer would only ever give you three 'spells'. But no, Delly was just incredibly flexible with her magic.

And Maki... She just wanted power and respect. She spent a lifetime on the run from people who wanted her for her heritage. Either as a slave or trophy, and I had been the cause, and cure to her ending up as the latter. Now that she was free from being hunted, she could focus on doing as she pleased. And that was 'becoming like her big sister', me. And to her credit, she'd never used her well known (since I always introduced her as my little sister) status as a short cut. It was a bit of a shield for her, since no one wanted to risk getting 'The Demon Fox' mad at them, but she'd never waved that status around. I couldn't ask for a more reliable little sister, even though she didn't let me pet her ears enough.

And of course, there was the money involved. We (everyone in the Manor) didn't bother to keep track of 'cost' past the necessity of buying food and paying our seasonal taxes. But new equipment wasn't cheap, even if the 'labour' was all in house. Momiji and Kaede also had a debt to Soma Familia, since they 'paid' Soma to leave for Astraea Familia. Delly didn't really care about money, but had taken charge of all the expenses we had housing our 'animal based projects' in the Ganesha Zoo, and Maki... I honestly didn't know what she did with her money, but she also did all our 'house' finances, and never complained about 'being short on money'.

The Takemikazuchi Familia, all of it, was doing 'community service' today. They'd just come up from the dungeon the day before yesterday, so to 'rest' for their next trip, they just did any number of 'bored adventurer' jobs in town. Thinking on it, they were due to send a care package back to their old home in the Far East. Even though they were all level three now, and 'officially' High Class adventurers, they were all just as humble and helpful as when they arrived in the city. All of them were orphans who started under the care of Takemikazuchi, before they became skilled enough to become adventurers, and come to the city to support their old home, earning and sending back money and easy to transport stuff any orphanage might need.

Bell had... huh, Bell didn't say what he was up to today. But he and Loki Familia's ace, Ais Wallenstein were dating. And since he didn't want to have Hestia pout at him (she always did until someone distracted her) he'd vanished... Probably taking lessons from Mikoto (never call her a ninja, but she would certainly qualify).

Speaking of orphans though, The Crone was walking over to me.

"You look positively stormy today." I greeted her pleasantly. Time as a cripple in a city that only put value on strength, had made her a bitter woman. Before I'd treated her, she had a terrible limp, a bad back, and a missing arm. Now? Well, last I saw she actually had both arms, except the one she'd regrown looked like it belonged on a ten year old, with a hand that was only a little bigger than Kinza's tiny paw.

Her gradual return to wholeness had improved her mood, so instead of taking offence, she grunted at me, "You would be too if you couldn't reach an itch with an arm that thinks it should be able to." She poked me in the shin with her cane, "Bloody youngster. We have to talk."

I motioned with a tail for her to follow me, since I was on yard cleanup duty. "The Hestia Familia captain will listen."

"Humph, your formality is appropriate for this. I want to take the young ones back." She opened our storage shed door, where we put the barrels for the wooden weapons.

"Oh? I'm guessing you know my condition for that?" I set the barrel down, then started to sort them onto simple wooden racks, giving each a bit of an eyeballing for cracks. Sure, we broke the occasional weapon, but the fewer we broke, the fewer splinters we had to pull out of faces, arms, an eye or two...

"A year and a day, or until someone came to get them." She said, setting her cane aside and helping me inspect and rack the weapons. "Well, I intend to return with them."

"Just to be clear." I said, snapping a wooden version of Welf's sword in half, then in half again, "Only the orphans."

"I'm not stupid. I saw what Jarha looked like when she got back." Her grin made my tails twitch a little.

I felt a little pressure in the back of my skull, one of those weird signs I was potentially violating a 'rule'. Or in this case, a 'promise'. Delly had teased me that it was the first sign that I was going to turn into a bogglin or something.

"Very well. Do you want escort?" And I felt that phantom sensation ease off.

"Considering how well they've been doing? I doubt we'd need it. You've even given them metal weapons and armour! Small versions of it, but still!" She picked up her cane and followed me out of the storage shed, "Back in my day, we were given just enough to keep the bugs off our bits, and fought shredder lizards and poison toads if we wanted shoes to go with it!"

"Uphill? Both ways?" I offered.

"Bah... no fun if you know the joke."

"I promised I would do my best to teach them, and part of a lesson is surviving it so you learn something." I gave one of my tails a pat, "The little battle maniacs are probably already on their way to the dungeon. What about Amani? And what happens when they get home?"

"Amani is still your problem. Brisid said she earned her right to come here on her own, so it's Amani's choice to leave, or not."

"I'd hardly call her a problem."

"You spoil her, with your soft city ways." She grumbled, "But I'll admit, she's learning fast. She'll likely beat my time to level three." She actually smiled, a tiny little smile, but still a smile, "And the others will go before Kali, receive her blessing, and... I don't know." She trailed off.

"I'm not going to like the answer if I ask, am I?"

"Probably not." She shook her head, "Usually when a group returns, Kali will demand they fight, and earn the right to receive Her blessing. Though, they are young. Maybe She won't. Their weapons and armour though... That'll make them a target unless they can get picked up by their former Room, or a new one."

"Nope. Didn't like the answer." I sighed, "Well, we can fix one of the problems." The Crone gave me a sideways look, "We have enough of that wood the Amazon favour, as well as teeth, leather and bone. No point in an adult stealing a child sized bit of equipment they could just make themselves."

"Clever. How long?"

"Two days, unless I can get Welf to help, then by tomorrow." I said after a moment's thought.

"Fine. I'll start packing."

I felt Royman step onto the property just as I finished up a set of simple orc leather 'Amazon Armour' (smol version). I had this weird theory that an Amazon always wore the same amount of clothing, except as they grew up, their old clothing would cover less as they refit and resewed it.

There was another person with him though, one I didn't know. Gros, the Xenos gargoyle who had decided that he liked sunlight better than the dungeon, grumbled a greeting to Royman. Being a car length (before his tail), bat winged, lion pawed, hawk mouthed, lizard tailed living statue, he was an expert grumbler. And the noise he made could be felt through the walls of the Manor. He could communicate well enough that we could tell if Gros knew the guests, liked them or not, didn't know them at all, or if they were armed, hostile or just a little kid getting too curious and peeking through the gate of our property's wall.

Today, it was 'I like Royman (though I'd never admit it) and, 'someone I don't know who is armed'.

Through my own sense of the property, a weird Kitsune ability I had, to know who was on my 'territory', I could feel them stop in front of Gros's big bird cage enclosure, then start towards the workshop. I could also feel the children moving around the side of the Manor, where the pool was, and peeking around the corner, cautious and alert.

So, I set aside the set of leather armour, pulled out a fresh sheet of orc leather, and waited for them to knock on the workshop door. I'll admit I was tempted to open it just before they knocked, but that kind of prank was reserved for people I knew. Didn't want to scare anyone.

The knock came, firm but polite. "It's safe, enter!" I called out.

Royman opened the door and stepped in, his modest impeccably dressed frame positively dwarfed by the man behind him. "Ah, the work never stops it seems. Something new?"

"Sending the little Amazons home with the Crone. Orario forged metal would make them a target." I replied, "You must be Sangris, son of Sangrigor." I greeted the hulking man behind Royman in English.

By any standard on Earth, he would be considered the peak of fitness. Tall, at least 185 cm. Thick well defined muscles that still looked athletic and not overdone like a body builder. Strong jawline and ice blue eyes that radiated confidence. Artistic and expertly done tattoos of predator animals (a wolf, a serpent, a panther) and thin precise Norse runes, one line of which said part of the Valkyrie's code.

"I am." He replied in Kione, his voice matching his form, heavy and confident. He grinned, showing perfect teeth at my blink of surprise, "Of course I'd learn the language of my hosts."

Strong and smart it seemed. "Pardon my assumption that you wouldn't." I nodded my head, "Kodori, Hestia Familia." I extended my hand.

"So humble." He said, reaching out and gripping my forearm, matching my grip without making it a contest. "Considering your other titles."

"Just don't call me Queen, and we'll get along." I let go and stepped back, "Aside from the JSDF, you're the first from another group to visit me."

He grunted, still smiling, "The others think you're too important to bother."

Royman ahem 'ed quietly, "Seems you're already informed. You say the little Amazon are leaving?"

"Yes sir." I replied, "I'll have the paperwork turned in before they exit the city gate. And just in case, I'll have everything but their signatures on the papers if they come back."

"Very well." He looked way up at Sangris, "You've done well with the words, but try and make your letters readable this time, Yarl Sangris."

"No promises. But I'll try." He gave Royman a respectful nod of his head, then turned to me once the door had shut behind him. "Letters and words aren't all I've learned. Met a boy, down in the pit. Lazlo, son of Rod. Said his weapon was reforged by you, under contract."

I motioned for him to sit at an empty workbench, and used a bit of foxfire to warm up the teapot I'd brought with me when I started working. He sat, then waited in silence until I set down a teacup and poured for him, then myself, and sat as well.

"He did come to me, and I became his contracted smith."

THUMP

He set down an axe on the table between us, making the teacup wobble precariously for a moment. The head had a broad crescent on one side, and a spike on the other. The haft, already well worn with use, was made of the same heavy wood the Amazon's favoured for their 'bladed' weapons. I didn't pick it up, but it was solid, looked well balanced, and properly cared for. I saw no maker's mark on it, but it was either on the other side or not there at all if it had been made by a 'rookie' smith.

"I'd heard that the first thing you did was invest in yourselves, instead of trying to pay back your 'investors'." I nodded approvingly, "But I'm sure you know that being 'just human' will limit what I can do for you."

"I didn't expect an Honorary Valkyrie to be so blind."

I paused, gave him a five degree head tilt, then smiled, "True, I can feel your claim to being descended from the Joten to be no exaggeration. Hmm..." I picked up the axe, feeling that yes, it was well made and balanced. "I'm sure Lazlo also-"

The Norseman set down a small collection of teeth, a chip of adamant about half the size of a credit card, and a patch of white fur about as big as both my palms side by side. "Of course. You borrowed godlings have a worthy code of conduct."

I felt a little... tingle... at the insult. "Not all of us are born with greatness in our blood. But with a little investment from our Gods, we can chase greatness. There are no half gods in this world. Never have been."

It was his turn to blink in surprise, "I see my mistake, and will be sure to correct it." He said, "None?"

"Since you are more aware than most. I'll tell you. oh..." I put the brakes on 'story time', "First this." I picked up the fur, the sliver of adamant, and the teeth, leaving one behind, "I will accept your offer of contract, Sangris, son of Sangrigor."

He grinned, then slapped a sheet of paper on the table, "Blood or ink?"

"The guild prefers ink. But to me, to us, either will do." I put the materials on a workbench, then picked up the axe, "The rules of this world are a little different. The Gods only inhabit a shell of a body. It only mimics some of the functions, eat, sleep, sweat, the occasional cold. But they can only ever enjoy the act and nothing will ever come of it."

He pulled out a supporter's knife and poked his index finger. He smeared the drop of blood on his thumb, and stamped it to the paper. He then offered me the dagger, but I declined and poked my own index finger with one of my teeth for the same effect. I gave the paper a quick read, making sure it was the correct form, then 'signed' it myself.

"So they gift out a little divine, and you return tribute with amusement. Not a bad deal!" He paused, "I wonder..."

"There are Norse Gods... But you'll have to pursue that on your own. Rules you see." He nodded in reply, "I will have this ready for tomorrow."

He stood, and we gripped forearms again, "And I will be here to pick it up. From what I heard, you only did armour. Glad the little blue bastard and the prissy brass git were wrong."

He laughed as I blinked in surprise again, but was already out the door before I could reply, giving me a look at a raven tattoo on his back just before the door closed.

For a special axe, made for a special warrior, I decided to call in a little help. I didn't need the help, but for someone who knew one of my other 'titles' and who knew Brok and Sindri, I would do things a little differently.

I went to the 'Orphan wing', to see if they were home. True sons of Shuten Doji, the first Oni, Fukawa and Okakai were blue and red skinned Demons who had maybe three things that brought them joy.

Oh, they liked many things. Tolerated other things. And made sure to voice or show their... disapproval of certain things. But Joy? True happiness? Yeah, three things.

First, even now, was fighting. They were creatures who had violence in their DNA, who's entire physical structure was made for conflict. Intimidating features, teeth that were meant for tearing, muscles that responded to adrenaline by almost doubling in size, flesh that was as tough as petrified wood, and a height at about two metres.

Second and third however, were their children and 'wives'. Being creatures of sentient distilled violence, they never expected anyone would join with them willingly, or stick around and find happiness in the children it brought. So when they weren't fighting, they were with their children and 'wives'.

Of course, any child of an Oni and Amazon, would be fierce and cunning, and as soon as I entered the Orphan wing of the manor, I could feel a dozen pairs of eyes peeking around corners, behind doors and over windowsills. That feeling only increased as I walked towards where I could feel the Oni brothers were.

Then I realized something, stopped, and figured I'd wait for them to come to me. Considering they almost always played with the children when they were home, there were only a couple of reasons why they wouldn't be. After all, ten Kijo and two Oni children (female and male words for the Oni race), wasn't really much of a population.

A bit later, with the head of Sangris's axe heating up in the furnace, the two Oni arrived at the workshop. I had lots of work to do, so the delay didn't bother me. I made sure to greet them, smile a knowing smile, and invite them into the 'hot' side of the workshop. They greeted me, but made no excuses for being being occupied, or the spots of lipstick they had missed cleaning off their horns.

"So... Someone from Earth all but mentioned Brok and Sindri by name, and I am now his contracted smith." I said, peeking over at the softening axe head and the shard of adamant, then looking back to them.

"Sangris." Okakai rumbled, "We've met."

"He looked like he wanted to challenge us, but he and his war band stopped at a greeting." Fukawa smiled, showing off his teeth and fangs.

"Well, he's the 'real thing'. It's distant I'm sure, but he and his band are probably holding back so they don't rouse any suspicion." That got raised eyebrows from both of them. "You've wrestled with Spot. Now tell me where a normal human, even one who takes excellent care of themselves, could get one of these?"

I picked up one of the teeth. It wasn't a goblin tooth like the others, but a hellhound fang. Longer, narrower, there was no mistaking it. "Considering none of the others, including the JSDF, have gone below floor five." Okakai said, looking at the tooth then handing it back.

I tossed the tooth into my mortar and started grinding it up. "He and his war band smell of blood and victory, not deception, so I doubt they stole it." Fukawa added.

"And while they aren't expensive, a rookie party wouldn't have the money for it." I said, "With that in mind, I think he deserves something more fitting for his ability."

"He and his kind are what you wanted to appear, aren't they?" Okakai asked.

"They are. It might take a while for the leaders of the world to admit they need them, but when they do..."

"You want Earth to notice magic again." Fukawa said.

"That's one of the reasons." I smiled, "Now, pick up the sledges, and help me hammer this."

The next morning, while a small parade of mini-zons were getting their new equipment (and pouting a little since they were giving up their metal equipment) (then cheering a little since I said if they came back they could have them again), I felt Sangris show up again. Just like Lazlo, this man didn't waste time, and it was barely after breakfast.

This time, Haruhime was the one to escort him to me (after getting a grumble from Gros, this time a 'oh this guy/girl again' for Sangris). Haruhime paused outside the door, and I could hear the few mini-zons who were still waiting start chirping at our guest.

So while my hands applied some last alterations, I listened in.

"Children ya?" Sangris said, "Well, they've got the eyes for it."

"Don't make fun of us, male." One said, "Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you get to mock us!" Another said, "We aren't weak!" (followed by a bunch of 'yeah'!s). "You don't even have a Goddess's blessing!"

"Oh dear..." Haruhime said.

"Um... Are you done? I kinda wanna see what happens." The girl I was fitting said. She knew better than to be impolite, though I wouldn't have minded.

"Jump up and down? Deep breath? Nothing pinches?" I watched her do a couple of hops, then puff her chest out with an exaggerated breath, then a nod when she shook her head. "Let's go rescue somebody." I gave her a hair ruffle and followed her to the door.

I didn't know who I'd be rescuing, to be perfectly honest. But as I opened the door I saw Sangris leaning way down so he could look one of the mini-zons in the eyes. "Say that to my face." He said, "I might not be God-touched, but you're still green if you think that's all that matters."

Sangris wasn't being aggressive. Sure, he was physically imposing, but he wasn't yelling or talking down to the brave mini-zon who was right in his face. This, to anyone from any world, was a stare down. Predator to prey, except who was who still needed to be decided.

So I just watched. It would have been rude to interrupt.

"You're lucky." I said as Sangris practically fell onto the bench by an empty worktable.

He had been... well, beaten up. One of his eyes was swollen almost shut, he had dozens of little bruises all over his bare torso, and double that in little mini-zon sized scratches all over him.

"Lucky you were there?" He asked, his voice a little rough with pain, but not angry.

Haruhime laughed very quietly, then covered her mouth to stop herself, looking a tiny bit ashamed.

"That I can make ice." I said, my fingers working through a simple senjitsu pattern and freezing a bucket of water solid. "Love? Towel?"

Haruhime opened a cabinet and brought a square of cloth to me. ""Heh. I earned that." Sangris chuckled, accepting a wrapped up bundle of crushed ice and pressing it over his face, "They're little, but warriors no doubt! Hope they don't hold it against me."

Because he'd actually beaten them. All of them. To be fair, we'd told the little fighters they weren't allowed to bite when sparring, else he might have been chewed to bits. Even so, the girls would be back on their feet in an hour, while Sangris looked like he might need a week to sleep it off.

"We take our training seriously." Haruhime said, standing in front of Sangris and helping with the ice so he didn't have to move his (bruised and scratched up) arm. "We meet with skill and equal weapons."

"I like it here more and more." He started to grin, but winced and thought better of it. "Only an enemy should be met with full strength. Though... I'm not sure what I think about one of them saying she'd take me home."

Haruhime and I laughed and neither of us hid it or stopped ourselves, "Amazons are a bit crazy. She just thinks you'd be a great sire for a child. Anyhow... if you think you're able to hold it..." I went to one of the other workbenches and picked up his new axe.

The shape, with the broad 'smile' shaped blade and vicious pyramid spike on the other side, was basically the same. The shape and flow of the handle too. But the colour of the metal was different now, and the 'smile' and 'spike' had a blended alloy look of steel and adamant. But, since he'd all but named the two dwarves who'd taught me, I'd put small runic enchantment on the metal using Norse runes and powdered hellhound fang. Just how Sindri had taught me, it looked like a little constellation.

He saw me coming towards him, and looked to Haruhime, "Thank you." He said, warning her he was about to stand up. Once on his feet, I offered him the axe, though it was more how I'd offer a blade to someone, the weapon resting on the backs of my hands as I held it for him.

He took a moment to admire it before reaching out with his hands and accepting, "I am honoured." He said, "I understand some of the craft, all of my kin do, but this..." He held it properly, one hand near the end, the other just under the axe head. But he didn't swing it, or even motion with it. He then turned, "Lady." He said to Haruhime, "Would you bless this weapon?"

Haruhime looked at him, the weapon, then to me with a clear hesitation, "I don't know?"

"As her other half." He explained, "I would ask a few words be said over this."

"Our world doesn't really have that kind of blessing. But this will be his trusted companion in the dungeon." I said over Sangris's shoulder.

"Ah. Well..." Haruhime paused, "May every strike be true, on the path back to home." She said, tracing a finger down the length of the handle.

Sangris nodded in thanks, then paused, "Ah, again, thank you." As I handed him a loop of leather and the needle rabbit fur for his belt so he could hang his new axe on it and keep the blade from bumping into things while it rested there. "I hope my Kin have found success in finding their own contracts. But now, it's time to return to the pit."

"You're not going to rest?" Haruhime asked, offering him the cloth pouch of ice.

He accepted it, rubbing it over some scratches on his arm, "We are children of the Jotun." The damp cloth smeared the scabs that had formed over the scratches he'd gotten, but the skin under it was unharmed, already healed. "If something like this gave us pause, we would be unworthy of the name." He still had trouble opening his swollen eye, but I could see the ice blue under the puffy eyelid now. "I'll refrain from challenging a short dozen of them again though."

Haruhime stayed in the workshop for a few minutes after he left, and finally said, "People of your world are strange."

"When you have to hide what you are most of your life, then suddenly find freedom to be who you are, it might seem weird to some. Look at Maki, Delly and the Brothers."

She nodded at the point, then asked, "Not yourself?"

"I will always be me." I smiled, "Are they done pulling themselves off the ground yet? Unless I missed count, there were a few more of them to fit for new clothing."

"I will check."

It was after dinner during 'the quiet time', where everyone in the Manor just... did as they pleased. Some read books, others played board games, others still went on a date (Hestia hardly even pouted anymore, but she still pouted when Bell went out), took care of children (Lilly's little one was super adorable, even more so when Chime sat guard on his crib, or Spot let himself be used as a bed), or did whatever else they thought might need getting done now instead of later.

Since I'd spent almost all day with weapon and armour craft, then a bit of time after dinner with weapon and armour checking when people got back from the dungeon, I figured I'd spend the last hour or two with the special little gift I'd gotten.

Of course, I had help. Our children decided to help O-ma and A-ma (no, around five and a half years old, I wasn't going to stop them from calling me 'O-ma') sort the big box of books, and while they meant well, they didn't really help much at all.

I blame modern printing techniques. Many of the books in the crate had colourful covers showing various things from simple black and white paintings, to high colour super flashy stuff. Dragons, space ships, cars, outlandish animals, a mysterious figure in a yellow robe, a current edition set of Dungeons and Dragons books...

It would hardly make a dent in the massive expanse of empty shelves in our library, but to be fair, I'd designed this room to house generations of books.

Sadly(?), with the children helping, we didn't even get half done. I couldn't help but answer questions about the covers and the weird objects on them. Even Haruhime asked questions, though it wasn't focused so much on the pictures, but the covers themselves.

"Ko-san? How... This cover shines like powdered glass, but it's just paper."

I looked at the book, "Ah, Altered Carbon." I smiled, "There is a super thin layer of that shiny stuff on top of the card stock."

"Card... stock?"

"It's like the paper we use for crafts in the school. Double the thickness of the usual stuff the Guild makes."

"O-ma? Why is this book so hard? It's not wood?" I could tell Toshi was resisting the urge to try nibbling at the corner of... 'Magic Kingdom for Sale'.

"No. It's still just paper, except it's made like the Amazon wood weapons. They get layers of paper, make it wet, square them up, then press down on them super hard." I replied.

"Oh oh! Like when Mr Welf-san uses the... ball press?" Chie asked.

"The rolling press." I nodded, looking around, "Here, see?" I picked up an older book that had lost its dust cover, 'Weave World'. The edge of the pressed cardboard was bare, "If you look close, you can see lots of little layers of paper."

There were six amazed sounding 'oooooo's, one yawn, and a sniffle. "Oh dear, it's getting late isn't it?" Haruhime said, "Let's put what we have in our hands on the shelf in order, and then get ready for bed."

"Awwww... But..." They all said at exactly the same time.

Haruhime and I had to tangle our tails together, so we'd have the strength to resist the collection of pouting fox eyes.

"Tomorrow, after we see the young Amazon's and the Crone off, we'll finish up here and you all can choose a book to read." I said, feeling a little tug on my tails from Haruhime. "Now, go ahead to clean up for bed, we'll be there in a couple of minutes."

Haruhime and I made sure to give them all headpats before they zipped around to put the books they had in their hands on the shelves (most of them were even in the right place!), then they filed out of the library.

I waited a moment, then said, "Let's put those books with the red covers someplace... else."

Blushing, Haruhime nodded, "I may need to talk to whomever put them in the box..." A pause, "And... maybe read one?"

I sighed, picking up a stack of 'Harlequin' paperbacks, and just... handed her a random one. "I'm not reading that, just so you know."

"Are they that terrible?"

"Eh... read a handful, and you basically know how the rest of them go. If you don't like them, I'll bet Lady Loki would love them."

"Poor dear... Though, I wonder if..." She started to blush.

"If anyone would be willing to give in to Loki's advances, it would be Rory. Once or twice maybe..." I gave one of her ears a little pinch, then an even smaller tug, "No freezing up. At least wait until we get to bed."

The next day, we saw the Crone and the mini-zon squad off. It wasn't... tearful. But you could tell they were all holding back. I hoped they would come back. Or if they stayed, teach others about their experience. Or just survive. Yes, I hoped they would all get to something close to 'old age' and live a good life.

But with most of them holding back tears, giving everyone they wanted a hug, handshake, ear scroofle (yes, Spot was also resisting the urge to make sad noises), they got into one of those 'mobile homes' (basically big wood box on wheels that had been converted for travelling merchants) and gave the two bored horses a nudge to get them going.

They weren't going with nothing but the new clothes on their backs though. Food, certainly. Some trade goods, some medicines and other minor but very popular things like soaps. It was the Crone's idea too. If what they had 'sold' well, they might get pulled in by a room and be 'protected' from the bullying they were bound to receive for being young.

Amani, the only young Amazon who was staying, had a different reason to pout now though.

"I'm the youngest again... sigh..."

"Just wake up a little earlier, and you'll stop getting dish duty after breakfast." Aisha teased, "Hey... you're getting taller." Further teasing followed as the elder Amazon ruffled Amani's hair.

"O-ma says you only grow when you sleep." Kei said.

"Then why is Yuki still the shortest?" Yumi asked, patting her twin on the head, "There there sleepy sister."

Yuki paused her polite yawn, "we're the same size... silly sister..." Followed by a subtle leaning into the headpat.

"You are still young." Haruhime said, giving the twins both headpats, then everyone else in turn, "Ko-san? You're taking another day off from the dungeon?"

Not wanting to be left out from fuzzy ear appreciation, I joined in with the headpats, "The Rookie Team needs a little equipment maintenance, I've been teaching Momiji how to make potions, Maki wants to try picking up a hammer seriously, annnnnnnd..." I knelt down and captured our children in a giant group hug, sighing a little internally when I noted my arms weren't going around them as far anymore, "I promised a story time once we finished sorting the books."

"Yay!" That hadn't changed though, and they were still easy to keep happy.

Haruhime knelt on the other side of the group hug, and joined in, "Make sure you all do well in your lessons with Takemikazuchi-sama." She said, "I will be back in a couple of days. Bell-san was planning a trip to the waterfall, and I intend to join him."

Amani, still there and looking a little sad she wasn't part of the fuzzy ear club, chimed in, "Can I join? Without my 'room' I kinda don't have an excuse to stay on the upper floors."

Hestia reached over and gave Amani a headpat, surprising her, but she also leaned into it, "It's hard to see friends leave, isn't it?"

"Now that I've been around them long enough to be friends with them? Yeah." Amani sighed, "So I will cheer myself up by killing monsters!" She perked up again, making Hestia 'eep' and abandon her efforts to comfort the young Amazon.

Haruhime looked up, then stood, "Ask Bell-san, and I'm sure he will allow it."

Takemikazuchi, silent until now (with the same slightly sad expression he wore when ever one of our orphans was adopted) spoke up, "If Bell doesn't agree, you can always attend my lessons." He wasn't one to give headpats, but when he smiled at our collection of little foxes, it had a similar effect.

A little later, I had Maki and Momiji in the workshop. My part time secretary was using a simple alchemy set very very carefully measuring out things, while Maki was working on making a Supporter's Knife. Most rookie smiths chose that as their first 'official' bit of self made dungeon gear, and she already had enough skill to do it on her own. At least, if it were a normal knife. Supporter's Knives needed to be made a little differently than a fighting knife, so they could resist potentially acidic blood, or hold a fine edge to help skin hide from meat. You never used one for real combat unless you had nothing else on hand.

Momiji on the other hand, was already adept with brewing. Her last few batches of Sake got praise from just about everyone, including Chandra, the Brew Master of Soma Familia. He had said, "If ya keep this up, only taking Mixing will improve your skill before long!" Followed by a hearty laugh and a pat on the shoulder that nearly put Momiji into a brewing vat.

Of course, Mixing was the skill that every serious Alchemist in the city had. So I suspected that was her aim for level three. Honestly, it would help a great deal, since potions were (still) the most frequent thing to go through my alchemy sets in my lab.

And while they did that, I did some armour maintenance, something that only Welf and I did since a rookie mistake with a strap or something on your armour might be the thing that lets a monster bite you.

After that, then having lunch (you would think having tusks would make eating properly difficult, but the Oni children were getting good at it!) and cleaning up, the children and I went back to the library. We were followed by Hestia and Astraea, and from the way they were both fidgeting, I could guess why.

I will note here, Hestia did that 'shy finger poke thing' while tilting her head down a little and to the side, while Astraea twirled a little of her long hair around a finger while looking a little up and to the side.

Without needing to be asked, I reached up and took a couple of books of a stack I'd left on a top shelf, laying on their side and pushed back so only someone tall enough, or someone who was flying/crawling around (Delly and Sir Skitters, one of which I knew didn't like that kind of book anyhow) would see them.

As they left, faces turning the exact same shade of red, Tatsuo asked, "O-ma? Do Hestia-sama and Astraea-sama have a fever?"

"They might be feeling a little warm, yes." I said, "But they'll be fine. Can you reach the spot where that goes?" I motioned to the book in his hands.

He paused, "Not without the little ladder, no O-ma."

"Make sure someone holds it when you use it."

It wasn't quite time to start dinner prep by the time we finished. At the risk of Takemikazuchi cooking, I instead decided to start on the promised story time.

"Okay." I said with a quiet clap of my hands, "Why don't you all decide on a book, and just for today..." I looked left and right, then lowered my voice, "We can all sit on Hagane's chair, since he and Shinkage are at the new town today."

NOTES!

See? Still not doing the cliffhanger thing! Aren't I nice?

Anyhow, this is the end of the 'you haven't read the other stuff' recap, and things officially hit the rails next time. :)

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.

And! I'm looking into getting some story themed merchandise made. Join the Discord to find out more!