Chapter 17: Run Before You Walk (Part 4)

"Okay, so if I want to properly take advantage of all these little tricks and stuff when it comes to giving my companions EXP and other benefits then I need to keep them close at hand while also participating in battle, no easy power leveling, unfortunately."

Barely paying attention to his leaps and bounds through the forest of Till's homeland Cayman's mind was running a mile a minute, making connections and correlations between all the evidence and examples he'd been provided in a bid to reach a satisfactory conclusion regarding how his abilities worked. Or at least a guess on how they worked, since provided data was inconsistent at best and the 'tooltips' felt more like deliberate misdirections than anything useful.

Again, he was hoping hitting the level thirty milestone would provide some context.

"Are you going to stay like that the whole way?"

"This place is freaky and better you take the hit than me. It's your fault I'm involved with all of this in the first place!"

"Still a fifty-fifty chance that you get downed first. Probably worse odds than that, in all honestly. Most ambush predators prefer to strike when their prey's back is turned."

The gamer glanced over his shoulder and met the slitted, wide eyes of Lilim as she clung to his back, arms and legs wrapped around his torso as he offered a roguish grin.

"Feel like crawling around onto my chest? I certainly won't complain."

All he got from the Succubus was a low, defeated groan as she let her head slump across his shoulder, complaining, "I just had to go and follow you. You! A jerk that almost got me killed and eaten by a bunch of stupid Dark Beasts!"

"Oh relax, they didn't even come close."

"Why are you carrying around that dead weight again?"

Vali's bewildered question caused a squawk of protest to leave the Demon's throat as Cayman smirked, responding, "Easy does it now, Vali. She didn't really have a stake in our assignment and just got dragged along for the ride. Besides, her illusions and other stuff worked just fine for keeping the rest of the pack off your back, I wouldn't exactly call that dead weight."

The hybrid didn't really look convinced, dryly observing, "But why are you letting her ride on your back? She can run. Or fly."

Reaching back to give Lillim's small but rounded ass a playful smack - the Succubus unleashing a brief yip of surprise that caused her tail to stiffen - the male cheerily explained, "Because her body is soft, warm and feels really good against mine. Also she isn't heavy in the slightest, so there's that."

The confused and completely clueless expression Vali had confirmed to Cayman that he was very much in some ways the same as his canon counterpart, mostly in regards to having practically no interest in sex whatsoever. Seriously, how did someone resist having a girl as hot as Kuroka constantly propositioning them and stay aloof? There was having priorities and then there was that.

"If you say so."

Vali left it at that as they maintained their steady pace, the older male surprised at the sudden notification that flitted across his vision.

+5 REP with Lilim [15/100]!

"Don't think you got that feel for free."

In complete contrast to what was actually being shown to him Lilim's voice was icy in his ear, the gamer absently replying, "Whatever you say, your majesty."

"Hmph! You're no fun."

"Looking forward to overturning that expectation."

The Demon fell silent as he glanced upwards, finding Till and Jesie still locked in fast and silent communication, the only audible parts being the occasional bits of laughter or giggling.

...He really hoped his contracted Fairy wasn't badmouthing him, that was dangerous territory while her super powerful mom was in the local area code.

Thankfully the rest of the trip passed without issue, the group arriving within the Fairy's borders in good time as Vali immediately turned to face them, bluntly stating, "This is where we part ways, my job is done."

"That's it, huh? Not even gonna stop and say bye to the local monarch?"

"Why would I?"

Shaking his head in amusement at the male's innocent cluelessness as both Till and Jesie alighted upon their respective contractor's shoulders Cayman settled for instead handing the youth a slip of paper with his phone number on it, Vali accepting it with a tilt of his head.

"What's this for?"

"It's how to reach me, duh. All things considered this little outing was pretty fun and I wouldn't mind meeting up with you again, kid. Give that to your comrades as well or keep it to yourself, I'll leave that bit up to your discretion."

Piercing blue eyes blinked in surprise before a slow nod escaped the young man.

"I can do that, Lavinia says I should try to make friends more often anyway…"

"Well, that's just one extra bit of confirmation that he really is spending time with Slash Dog right now. Who knows? With Jesie's influence and theirs he might just end up a bit more well adjusted than a turncoat battle junkie. Dunno if I'd call myself anything remotely close to a good influence, at least when compared to Slash Dog."

Clearing his head of those meandering thoughts he instead held out a hand for the youth to grab, a moment passing before Jesie elbowed the hybrid and he responded in kind.

"Hopefully we meet again before long, take care of yourself and maybe I'll finally be tough enough to offer you a real spar when that day rolls around."

"Hmph. You seem confident that you'll grow fast enough to outpace me and become a worthwhile opponent."

"You might just be surprised. Oh, and one more thing."

He leaned in close, dramatically whispering, "If Jesie one day wants to be more 'intimate' with you take it from one contractor to another. Listen to her wants and answer them, you won't regret it."

Vali's Fairy gave him a cheeky grin and wave of gratitude while Till swatted his earlobe, the silverette just blankly staring before replying, "Okay? Jesie, what did he mean by that?"

"Heh heh, don't you worry about that just yet, tough guy. Give it a year or a few more months, then I'll show you precisely what it means."

The hybrid shrugged, completely clueless as to the good things headed his way as he stated, "Very well, then...yes, until next time we meet. Try to be stronger then, I want a good match."

+5 REP with Vali Lucifer [15/100]!

"Oh, before you go take this!"

She quickly tore a chunk off the paper and used some kind of magic to leave a glittering trail of numbers on it that she handed back, all smiles.

"It's Vali's phone number, you might have to call him a few times to get through, he rarely ever uses it."

Before Cayman could reply to the genuine entreaty the youth was gone in a flash of light, a teleport circle whisking them away as Till pouted at him, grumbling, "Don't go trying to corrupt innocent people, Cayman!"

"He's about as innocent as a cornered wolf. You saw what he did to the Alpha."

"Oh you know what I mean."

Before the duo could get into their dispute full ahead Lilim cleared her throat, jumping off of Cayman's back as she did so.

"Not to interrupt or anything but how are you going to get me home?"

"I believe I may be able to help with that."

The soft, mature words immediately had the Demon hiding behind the male as none other than Titania levitated towards their position, pleased smile upon her lips as Till happily shouted, "See, mother? He's a really good and trustworthy contractor!"

"While I would hesitate to attribute such ironclad analysis after one demonstration of only a few hours…"

Till visibly wilted at the comment, her parent's reserved demeanor obviously not the glowing response she'd desired.

"The attraction and rapport between you two is clear to see. At the end of the day, that is what will set the proper framework for everything that happens afterwards."

And just like that Cayman's winged partner was all smiles, the gamer gently plucking her from the air before planting a kiss between her wings as she squirmed with obvious delight at the motion.

"Of course it's strong between us. Haven't you seen your own daughter? She's amazing."

An elegant eyebrow rose at the action.

"Evidently, considering how brazen you are in embracing her directly before my eyes."

"Not the most publicly indecent thing we've done."

"C-Cayman?!"

Till's squeak was matched by her mother's dull stare, expression unreadable at the bold statement-

-before a small twitch of amusement assured the gamer that he hadn't overstepped his bounds, Titania amusedly responding, "You certainly don't lack in boldness. And you did well, in working together splendidly with the White Dragon Emperor."

There was a brief pause, as if she was trying to decide how best to speak of a delicate matter.

"The current host of Albion is certainly an unusual one."

"That's putting it a little lightly but overall I'd say he's a good kid. Helps that Jesie will be keeping an eye on him."

Titania merely nodded, turning to her daughter before stating, "I will return you to the location you came from in just a moment, although I require a moment of privacy between myself and my child."

"Works for me. Lilim included in that return trip, right?"

A casual and brief glance the Succubus's way from the uber Fairy had her predictably huddling close behind Cayman's back.

"Naturally. Take good care of my daughter, Cayman Lute. She deserves it."

"Would have done so even without the request, your majesty."

+5 REP with Tien-Titania [10/100]!

The winged Demons took to a more private area as the male turned to the wide-eyed Succubus, glibly commenting, "See? I look after my possible employees."

Her disgusted expression left a warm and fuzzy feeling in the male's stomach.


"You seem quite taken with your contractor, Till."

"He's not what I expected but so far that's been for the better...even if the outside world is a lot meaner than I thought it would be."

Crossing her arms the Fairy queen gently asked,"Do you now see why I wished for you to not depart our lands so abruptly?"

"Yes. And you were definitely right. But!"

Till drew herself up proudly as the pair perched high in a tree, looking down on the casually conversing Cayman and Lilim.

"My contractor has been helping to teach me all about the difficult parts of the different realms and has been incredibly patient with me! He's the best guide I could have ever hoped for!"

"Allow me to reiterate: you seem quite taken with him."

A blush colored Till's skin as her mother shook her head, sympathizing with the bevy of emotions her daughter must be experiencing for the first time. After all, she had undergone much the same with her first contractor.

"W-well, there is something that I would like your assistance or advice on…"

Sensing the nature of the oncoming question and fighting down the urge to sigh - it was a predictably common topic among her people - Titania nodded in a request for Till to continue.

"W-we were already intimate once but I'm, erm...not sure I can fit his cock inside of me. I mean, I know I can but he wanted to make sure it was nice for both of us and, well…"

Pale skin had swiftly turned to a rosy shade, Titania unsure whether to laugh or sigh at the stumbling attempt for information.

"I-is there any magic or technique that will make that happen?"

"There is. And it's one already within your grasp."

She gently tapped her daughter's chest, right where her heart was.

"Our bodies are the product of magic, magic that originates from our contractors or our homeland. During sex if you desire to fit and pleasure your partner your form will naturally work to accommodate that. Drugs and other malignant kinds of placebo achieve a similar effect but this is the most effective, natural and enjoyable means of doing so."

She smiled, even as she tried not to think about her little girl being railed by her contractor.

"So merely ensure that you are both in mutual agreement and consensus on what you want, your inherent abilities will take care of the rest."

"Oh...I never knew it was that easy!"

"How do you think our kind copulate and contract with those larger than even humans?"

Till blushed even further, hastily rising to her feet before stating, "A-anyway, it's time we head back, wouldn't you agree?"

Running her fingers through her daughter's hair Titania nodded, replying, "Indeed it is. Stay safe, my daughter. And do visit on a more consistent basis, I wish to speak with your contractor again given the opportunity."


"See? Everything worked out in the end."

"I am never going to follow a guy as suspicious as you again. Ever."

"So you say, but I think it's a safe bet that you're going to be following after my coattails or some other poor saps in good time or when you get bored, one or the other."

Lilim released a rather cute 'hmph' as she crossed her arms and pointedly marched away from Cayman and Till, the trio having been warped back to Hoestia's former base in all its dismal glory, the refreshing and natural scent of the Fairy forest replaced by dusty stone, concrete and mostly dried blood or gore.

"Well? The offer of steady, paying work to keep doing what you already were is still on the table. Interested?"

"After this whole mess?! Are you crazy?!"

Smirking at the Succubus' indignant response Cayman lazily said, "What, is that a deal breaker? Remember, I know all about you, Minasaki and Hatsukaze's antics across the various realms. More to the point I know you three get off on interesting or fun scenarios. And I promise you this, my life is going to be very interesting."

He offered a roguish grin, the Demon pretending not to be interested even as her tail eagerly swayed and wings ruffled.

"Doesn't that sound like fun? Seeing me scramble and work to stay just ahead of trouble and danger while you get front row seats alongside a paycheck?"

The woman was clearly wavering even as she suspiciously stated, "It sounds a lot like you're just telling me something I want to hear."

"I am telling you what you want to hear. The best part is that it's true."

"Sounds like it could easily backfire though. All that trouble you get into could come back and bite us you know."

"Isn't trouble and mischief your preferred brand of entertainment?"

"Hmm...not very convincing…"

With a clear show of turning around in dramatic dismissal Lilim started to slowly walk away, body language relaxed and languid as she lightly swayed from side to side, tail undulating with mesmerizing motions.

Cayman had to resist the urge to smirk at the little display. It was a clear attempt at figuring out just how desperate or highly he wanted her services and might just have fooled a suitably horny or inexperienced negotiator.

Unfortunately for the Succubus, he was both horny and experienced.

"Well how about this then?"

He stepped forward, firmly grabbing the Demon by the tip of her spaded tail as she released a surprised moan, turning around to face him directly-

-and found her lips seized in an aggressive kiss, yellow-green eyes flying wide as a pleased hum escaped the female, leaning into the liplock as Cayman's hand nestled in her hair, the other gently tracing the edge of her waving tail with an electric caress.

"Damn. Creature of lust indeed."

Lilim's breath was pretty darn intoxicating, an addictive and unusual blend of sandalwood and cherries that was more fulfilling than any wine or spirit he'd tasted thus far in life could hope to achieve. And she was certainly into it, pressing her slim and soft body into his own as her hands traced the edges of his chest in playful circles, a sinuous and temping tongue flicking against his lips...and she blinked, leaping back a moment later with an expression of patently false outrage.

"Hey! I thought you said you were gonna treat me to dinner first before doing any of that!"

"That was just an appetizer, obviously. Provided free of charge with plenty more where it came from if you join up. Hell, technically you'll be the one getting paid."

Lilim didn't seem all that impressed, crossing her arms and staring at him with a lidded gaze...and promptly grinned.

+10 REP with Lilim [25/100]!

"Well I suppose that this deal sounds pretty okay. But!"

Grin seamlessly shifted into a predatory smirk.

"If you think you're going to end things with having one over me then you're in for a rude awakening~! I'll have you regretting the day you tried to outprank me!"

"Oh no, I'm quivering in my boots."

Snorting at his sardonic words the Succubus turned around and began to leave, teasing, "I'll have Minasaki and Hatsukaze show up next week. Better bring our money during that meeting, we expect to get paid up front~!"

"You'll get paid for the work you do. Bring something worthwhile or useful to the table and you'll get that advance."

"Ugh, what a deal breaker…"

Despite the half-hearted complaint the Demon nonetheless blew him a kiss and suggestive wink that probably would have worked if he didn't know she was actually more on the innocent side when it came to such matters, or at the very least inexperienced.

And then with a final skip she was gone, leaving Cayman alone with Till as the Fairy seemed more bemused by the whole interaction than she did offended or worried.

"Cayman, were you a con artist or something before all of this?"

"Weren't you supposed to be super innocent and unaware of stuff like that?"

She poked him in the cheek, protesting, "Hey, I learn fast! Besides, mother always told me to watch out for people that try to scam others and I think you fit that description pretty well."

"Uh, I resent the implication of that?"

"Am I wrong?"

The duo stared each other down for a moment...and Cayman chuckled, affectionately rubbing Till's head as she preened at the attention.

"Nope. You're pretty spot on, truth be told. While I wasn't exactly a scam or con artist I interacted with quite a few individuals who were those things as well as a lot of other unsavory characters. You tend to pick up a lot of tricks and know how just by mere association. Trust me, this was one of the more tame bits of knowledge I saw in action."

Sending a glance after the retreating Succubus the gamer didn't bother to hide his sigh.

"This is going to be a pain in the butt, isn't it? I can already tell Lilim and her pals are gonna keep me on my toes."

"Isn't that why you wanted them though? Besides, I think they're funny~!"

Shaking his head at Till's reaction - as well as the way she had seemed completely unbothered by his open groping and kissing of aforementioned Demon - the male instead turned to head deeper into Hoestia's lair, stating, "C'mon, the day isn't over yet and we still need to go through all of the crap scattered around this place."

"Ugh, that's right…"

Chuckling at the Fairy's clear displeasure with their appointed task the pair returned to their search, Cayman inwardly glad that Till hadn't pushed the matter of his past life. While it wasn't exactly anything he was ashamed or regretful of it was a bit of a convoluted mess to explain, since much of his former existence had been a whirlwind of circumstance, luck and misfortune.

So he just counted his lucky stars that instead of having to describe that mess all he had to do was pilfer and examine a bunch of corpses and their loot.


Gosha Academy held a unique spot in the hearts of the many Taimanin that passed through its halls and facilities, a venerable institute despite the main campus barely being more than a decade old. While many of its alumni - when asked directly to their faces - would gripe and complain about the brutal hours, constant annoyance and friction from its wild and varied student population, crushing academic standards and perpetual sense of surrealness from the 'unconventional' staff it was an unspoken certainty that the academy was, without a shadow of a doubt, home.

It was harsh because the work demanded of its student body outside of the institution's walls was even more so. Political or ethical opponents of the Taimanin often called the organization a child soldier program, an accusation that wasn't entirely off the mark considering that a fair few of the attendees of the academy were barely into their teens or occasionally younger if they showed exceptional talent...young boys and girls that could be called upon to kill or be killed (if they were lucky, it was no great secret that Taimanin operatives of both sexes were prized commodities on the black market or slave rings, a fate most would agree was worse than death) if the situation was dire enough.

Care was taken to ensure that younger operatives always had a sufficiently experienced mentor or appropriately easy mission in order to gain field experience but their world was a harsh one and all it took was an unlucky roll of the dice to have events turn sour.

It was because of those morbid facts that so many Taimanin came to quietly adore the academy, the futuristic buildings, stunning mountain scenery and just as many ancient or traditional constructs. Even if their classmates or peers drove them crazy or harbored grudges bordering on the homicidal they all had powerful shared experiences to draw from, the insanity of the academy a strangely soothing balm for the soul after the darkness of the outside world reared its ugly head.

As migraine-inducing as they may be there was something endearing about basic math or history exams after returning from a mission in which monsters of all stripes and species either tried to eat or violate you. A slice of normality that promised a future beyond their task, especially since a degree earned at Gosha Academy was basically an equivalent to a more prestigious university one.

"Job well done, you two. While the loss of one of our comrades is a tragedy the fallout obviously could have been far worse had you not performed excellently."

And it was a rare student of the Academy that didn't strive for the attention and approval of the strongest of their kind, Asagi Igawa and head principal of the institution. Even Yukikaze and Jinglei - proud and haughty young women in their own right - couldn't help but stand a bit straighter as the purple-haired woman gave them a warm smile.

While the strongest Taimanin may have been showing the slightest signs of age with small crow's feet at the corner of her eyes - no doubt due to the stress of her job than it was any actual aging - she still commanded utmost respect and the pair offered it.

"I will freely admit, while you had all the necessary qualifications to be included on a Sanctuary assignment I was worried your initially abrasive personalities would affect team cohesion, I'm glad to see that I was proven wrong."

And just like that both Yukikaze and Jinglei - having changed into the standard Academy uniform - sagged slightly, the tan-skinned girl grumbling, "I don't have an abrasive personality…"

"Yes, Yukikaze, you do."

Asagi steepled her fingers before resting her chin on them, staring at the Lightning Taimanin with an authoritative gaze that held none of its prior warmth as the young woman abruptly felt like she was just a little girl being scolded for wetting the bed.

"I wasn't too concerned about it when you were younger but you're just about to enter university level education and - despite being a genuinely kind soul - you seem determined to come off as unlikeable as possible during initial meetings."

Jinglei smirked, enjoying the dressing down her friend was receiving-

"And you, as a former intelligence and military operative, have even less of an excuse to be as stubborn and confrontational as you tend to be."

-before wilting under the stern rebuke, Asagi picking up their after action report and rifling through to a specific page, stating, "Take this particular passage about the Church's Caren Hortensia, for instance. An excellent summarization of her skills and talents but when asked to elaborate on her personality…"

The principal flipped the printed sheet around, trimmed fingernail tapping one line in particular.

"She's a bitch. Succinct and not entirely inaccurate - I'm well aware of Hortensia's reputation - but a bit more professionalism and maturity wouldn't hurt."

Both Taimanin glumly nodded, Asagi relenting as she smiled once again, stating, "You two are swiftly turning out to be some of my most accomplished and reliable agents. I'm chastising you because you have the opportunity to be truly great, equal to if not greater than my own reputation."

Just like that both young women were back to being proud and certain, the principal flipping through their report before curiously asking, "What do you make of this Surveyor, Cayman Lute? While I'm not aware of every individual with that title I should know of one sponsored by the Kaleidoscope himself, that's more than slightly suspicious."

Jinglei shared a brief glance with Yukikaze before responding, "He was...unusual for what was expected of a Surveyor? He shifted between having extremely potent knowledge of events and being completely clueless on rather basic matters. Although he did aid us a great deal in matters of teamwork, getting along with Hortensia wouldn't have been nearly as easy if it hadn't been for his smoothing things over."

"Did you really have to mention that part?!"

Yukikaze's annoyed hiss caused Jinglei to cross her arms, bluntly replying, "We were just told to stop being so standoffish and the first thing you want to do is lie in front of Principal Igawa?"

"Well, no, but it's not like he did all the work! He just helped things along a little bit!"

Amused at the interplay Asagi brought things back to the present as she asked, "So there were slight discrepancies in the way he acted and worked, gaps in knowledge that were suspicious?"

To the woman's surprise both Taimanin hesitated, Yukikaze slowly stating, "Well he wasn't too bad, or at least not for a Surveyor since I heard they can be micromanaging jerks. And he was pretty chill outside of work, hanging out with him was okay. But…"

She shared a brief glance with Jinglei, the Chinese Taimanin bluntly stating, "It'd be easier to list all the parts of him that weren't cagey or suspicious."

"Yeah, seriously. How much do Surveyors know about the people they're supposed to be working with anyway?"

Asagi raised an eyebrow, replying, "Basic dossiers unless they're working with those who are potentially dangerous or problematic even by Sanctuary's standards. And I guarantee you this, neither of you - not even Hortensia despite her usual demeanor - qualify for an in-depth report."

Another glance, this time with both young women sporting furrowed brows.

"Principal...he knew about my mission to Under Eden and was even familiar with Zokuto, the fucker."

Asagi was instantly on guard, eyes narrowed as she swiftly asked, "Did he attempt to use that information against you? Gain leverage?"

Yukikaze blinked, hurriedly waving a hand as she said, "No, nothing like that! Again, he seemed like a pretty okay guy."

A smug, devious grin adorned the Lightning Taimanin's face.

"He even made it pretty clear that the slave trading bastard is free game, gave me a few ideas and locations that will work for a nice, slow execution."

"...Just don't get into trouble again, all right?"

"Yes ma'am!"

The older woman quickly began typing into her computer, inquiring, "Anything else that leaps out as immediately suspicious or worrying?"

"He was also familiar with Touko Aozaki and her Phantasmal Beast companion, Yukikaze also talked about how he knew Zokuto and his line of work...even for being sponsored by the Kaleidoscope that seems like a lot."

Asagi just nodded, continuing to type before quietly sighing, informing the pair with, "As of a few days ago, Cayman Lute evidently didn't exist."

"...Huh?"

She flipped her monitor around so that the pair could see what she'd been looking at, a dossier of the male in question comprising of basic physical data, his status as a Surveyor sponsored by the Wizard Marshall...and nothing else except the date the form had been submitted, no more than a few days prior.

"Oh. Oh fuck he was probably summoned by the Kaliedoscope or something similar, wasn't he?"

"That seems like the most likely option although I would prefer to hear it from the man in question before we go deciding anything final."

The principal of the academy flipped her monitor back around, staring into the eyes of the young man displayed with a frown of contemplation.

"If there was an assignment that brought you back to Tokyo in the near future - one that brought you into contact with Lute - do you think the two of you could keep a clear head and objective view on whether he's trustworthy or not?"

The pair blinked, Asagi clarifying with, "I sincerely doubt he is a villain or working against the world's greater interests, the Wizard Marshall is many things but cruel or idiotic doesn't count among them. He wouldn't sponsor someone like this if they were a threat. All the same…"

She frowned, one finger tapping against the desk.

"Information is power and even if he isn't a danger to us knowing his wants and desires will ultimately be beneficial. A Surveyor of his status as a close friend or ally would be a great boon."

Jinglei nodded, far more confident than Yukikaze in the possible mission.

"We can do that, Principal Igawa. Count on us to deal with him if he ends up being a problem."

"Good. You two are dismissed, you've earned a break."

A more playful grin tilted her lips.

"Unless I am mistaken, you have an exam later this week in physics."

A groan escaped Yukikaze while Jinglei seemed resigned to her fate, both girls reminded of the cruel reality of schoolwork.