Chapter 45

(Clive, narrated by Morgan Freeman)

I will have to admit, I was a little worried about Kodori. From what I'd put together, and been told from her own mouth, she was far more experienced than the rest of us, her party, when it came to combat. It was also obvious, that much of her experience was 'second hand'. Even with the Legendary Shield not allowing her to use a weapon other than another shield, it was obvious that she had little 'hand's on' experience with weapons.

Of course, seeing her use the Shield, or not, against our own weapons during our morning sparring, it was easy to guess that her experience with weapons came from the wrong end of them. Even so, it was enough for all of us, save brother Usa, to establish a good foundation for us to grow our own skill.

But when she stood in front of this ruffian, and gave brother Usa and I a look to step aside, I was still a little worried. Capable certainly, but alone against ten... If I were still a betting man, I would have bet on Usa and I still having to step in. But that kind of life is what put me in the cages in the first place.

Then the thug made his move. A simple motion that I'd been on the receiving end of more than once as well. Except, even as M'lady moved her head back, her eyes went wide in... no, not surprise... shock.

Then I truly understood why she insisted, demanded, commanded that we, her slaves, never fight with anger in our hearts.

And it started with a scream.

Not a feminine cry of shock, or surprise. But a dual toned howl of pain, riding on the back of something feral and raw. As we'd seen her do to others, ourselves included, Kodori reached up with her free hand, underneath the offender's wrist, wrapped around, grabbed, and twisted.

But instead of kicking his shin out to help him to the floor, she bit him. Her held hand twisting free and bracing on his shoulder, she pulled his arm down by the wrist and clamped her teeth down just above the man's elbow. Howling, the man's face still hit the cobblestone, but instead of letting him up, or perhaps finishing the move by pulling back on his wrist and dislocating the shoulder, Kodori wrenched her head sideways.

Uncomprehending, the man was dragged along the ground for a half second, before part of his arm came free in her teeth.

And that's when she started to actually hit him.

We all knew she lacked combat power. Her punches and kicks, even now, simply felt like heavy pillows. But she had mastered the ability to use things to her advantage. Letting the opponent hurt itself. And while she lacked attack power, her body was quite robust. The shock of seeing their leader getting a chunk of meat bitten off of him was followed by him getting smashed through a windowsill, the back of his head slammed off Kodori's knee, his leather vest getting ripped off by her teeth, arms twisted, leg broken in a nearby wagon wheel, slammed down onto a crate of empty glass bottles...

And all the while, she was screaming at him.

Finally, she had taken a moment to breath, the other nine men, Usa and myself simply looking at her as she looked down at the shattered man who had dared touch her. Her breath was frosting in the warm night air, and her eyes... ah, I wished I could have eyes like that...

Then she looked over to the wagon with bits of the man's pant leg still dangling off a broken spoke in its wheel. And by his broken leg, she dragged him back to it, the man leaving a bloody trail from the bits of glass still in his bare back. Once there, she flung him so he was almost completely under the wagon. Head exposed, he looked up at the sky almost insensate, hardly comprehending how his day had gone so wrong in about thirty seconds.

"Clive..." Usa mumbled, my poor brother's feet and legs as rigid as my bow at full draw.

I focused both my eyes on M'lady again, just as she got her hands under the wagon and lifted it up onto two wheels. It was loaded with barrels, wine or water I guessed, but even so, she managed to lift it off the ground, then drop it.

The partially broken wheel cracked ominously under the sudden weight, the unbroken wheel on that side enduring, though the axle that held it groaned underneath the wagon bed.

"no... no..." The man under the wagon started, "cough help me... help!" He pleaded suddenly, probably remembering he had nine 'friends'.

Nine friends who wanted nothing to do with the marvellously angry woman who was my master.

"Clive?" Usa said, looking at me.

I gave his shoulder a pat, and we both peeled ourselves off the wall to stop our master from doing something stupid.

(Kodori)

Someone grabbed me from behind, gently. The single arm wrapping itself around my middle feeling more like cabled iron than flesh despite the lack of strength holding me. I started to shake it off, but the grip didn't budge, or get tighter, and I heard Usa's voice, "Please, stop..."

Beside me, the man who...

"please... don't drop that... i'm sorry..." Clive started dragging the broken man out from under the wagon by whatever he could grab of his bare chest, and I felt myself losing my grip on the edge.

I had to dig. Really search for the word. "Hurry." I said, the unfamiliar feeling of something slipping over the palm and pads of my hands and fingers. As soon as the man's broken and twisted legs cleared the wagon, I leg go, the wagon wheel sagging as another spoke gave out.

Clive, rescue done, dropped the man and stood next to me, his bow appearing in his hand, a glowing arrow forming on the string. On my other side, the spiked end of Usa's whip 'tinged' off the cobblestone.

I spit some too salty blood out of my mouth, looked at everyone else, their knives and swords still only partially raised, and said, "Go away."

As if to punctuate my demand, the wheel of the wagon gave out, dropping one corner, then the other as the other wheel snapped. If it wasn't for the high wall of the wagon, the barrels on its deck would have toppled onto us. But they didn't.

There may not have been gods in this world, but they knew an omen when they saw it. And they left.

The three of us watched them go, filtering out through a gathering mob of onlookers, not dropping our guard until they had vanished from sight. "Usa, Clive, thank you. Usa? Find out who owns this, pay them for the repairs. Buy a bottle of something strong that isn't beer while you do. Clive? Keep him out of trouble. I'm going to get a bath before dinner."

"click." Replied Clive, patting Usa on the shoulder again, then tugging a little on his sleeve.

"Yes ma'am." Usa nodded, one of my tails uncurling from around his back. Huh, hadn't even noticed that.

Before I arrived in Orario, most people I knew would have blamed the outburst I just had on the attacker. How dare he touch me. How dare he try and order me and mine to do less than our best. Blah blah blah.

No. I had lost control. How long had it been since someone had set me off like that... Akeno? Yes... She'd innocently grabbed my 'wrist' as I slept, my body in the form of a giant fox. I still remember my dream of open fields and gentle brushes through my fur shattering, becoming chains, shadows and mocking laughter... Instantly, I'd woken, confused, alert... But she'd calmed me down once I'd set my own mind at ease that it was safe.

This time? I'd nearly decapitated a man with a wagon. I wanted to make an example of him, yes, but if you kill them, they don't learn. And if I had killed him... Huh... I had no idea actually. Maybe I'd ask the Ringmaster, and see if I really could get away with 'self defencing' someone to death. If this were a civilized place, I'd probably would have ruined everything my party and I had been trying to accomplish...

"Ma'am..." Raphtalia knocked on the bathroom door.

I'd eaten dinner first and in silence, giving them only the most basic of polite greetings, eating, and declaring I was going to bathe first. Considering the man had bled on me, a lot, and I likely looked very grumpy, they let me be.

Until now. The hot water (that I was keeping almost boiling with my own foxfire) was just starting to remind me of home, when Raphtalia knocked on the door.

"Come in." I said, not bothering to move to cover myself. Why bother? Oh wait, "But only if you're alone."

My ears caught a mumbled 'aww', and I heard Tetsu's feet retreat down the hall a few steps before Raphtalia opened the door. Wearing 'house sandals', the Raccoon girl's feet were just loud enough to hear. "Ah..." She hesitated, then stepped forward again, the bathroom door closing.

"Nothing you don't have yourself." I said, "You all have brought a bit of trouble back from the arena." I said.

"Usa mentioned that... when we asked what was wrong."

I could almost hear her start to apologize, so without moving my head I held up a finger in her direction, "No. Do not be sorry." It took great effort, bordering on an act of willpower, to sit up to face her directly, "I am proud of you all for doing so well. Well enough you're turning all kinds of heads to watch."

She closed her mouth, frowned, opened her mouth, closed it again, then sighed. "But you had to get involved yourself. I know Usa and Clive were with you but..."

"That's why they were with me." I said simply. "To be fair, I didn't expect them to step in, but all the same... Say..." I looked to the object in her hands.

"I didn't know you drank." She said, the dark green bottle in her hands sloshing a little.

"Only often enough to remind myself why I don't drink." I said, the Shield (currently 'stuck' to my shin so I could lean back properly) produced a couple of stone cups, "Pour just a little in there." I held both cups out to her, and dutifully she sloshed a bit in each. "When ever I felt an emotion I couldn't just... put aside or deal with, I would sit on the roof of my home, and have a drink." I said, only taking one cup back. "I've have a very very short list of spirits I enjoy, so the act of bringing myself discomfort refocuses me a little."

She sniffed the cup, her nose wrinkling. "I've... never had anything to drink like this before. My... my parents didn't forbid it, but they also didn't make a habit of having it at home very often."

I sniffed the contents of my cup as well, my well trained nose pulling the contents apart in my sinuses, even as my tongue worked around my mouth to get ready to purge the taste from my mouth after I'd consumed it. "Some people enjoy the taste. Others chase the feeling getting drunk brings. Others still drink it for the pain, and sensation of surviving it."

The faces of people back home flashed through my mind. Bell, and his occasional, but not rare, visits to various pubs on 'dates' with Ais. Loki and her newest drinking buddy Rory. Welf and that stuff we occasionally use for industrial cleaner, rust remover or paint thinner.

"What about you?"

"A deliberate act of self abuse, that reminds me I have better things to do than sulk." I tossed the contents back in one go, the initial taste of fruit replaced by an aggressive alcohol vapour that felt like it was burning my nose hairs, then a lazy burn as it went down my throat, settling into a ball of grumpy warmth in my stomach.

I watched Raphtalia's face go through the five stages of remorse just as fast as I had, before her adorable features settled into a scowl as she worked the taste out of her mouth. "Yuck." She set her cup down and pinched her nose as well, trying to banish the ghost sensations of burning nose hair.

"I agree." I nodded, "But, it has reminded me we have work to do. And that what ever fruit that was, it has been defiled by the wine maker who used it for whatever this crap is." One of my tails wiggled under the water, but it was too waterlogged to swat me for swearing.

"Ma'am?" This time it was Melty who knocked on the door.

I put a hand out to stop Raphtalia from pouring more, "Yes?"

"Fohl is here." She said, "We only just stopped him from looking for you."

"His sister would never have let him hear the end of it." I said, giving Raphtalia an eyebrow waggle. Now that I had tortured myself, I needed a smile from someone.

Thankfully, Raphtalia didn't disappoint, but after the smile she pouted.

"No. One drink. I'll save the bottle. Maybe start a collection. But only one." Then louder, my heart hardening to ignore the sad raccoon eyes, I said "I'll be out in a moment."

The dutiful brother was here for a lesson. In his endless quest to be useful to his sister, and keep her smiling as long as he could, and as long as she could endure life, he wanted to learn how to make the numbing antiseptic and nourishing beverage.

So, with Kunshu (who's thoughts on the wine were an angry buzz and an attempt to take it from me to either destroy it or drink it so it would never bother anyone ever again) we went to our wagon, showed him various plants that were needed, and how to make the medication over a simple stove. The quality was lower, but if he had time, he could use a second pot to boil away a little more moisture and raise the quality while lowering quantity.

The beverage, well, that was easier, and was essentially just making a 'food smoothie'. While things cooked however, we got to talking.

"She's been in high spirits since you visited. I'm not sure if its the medicine you put on the bandages, or just seeing someone new who isn't a debt collector or useless doctor." He faithfully stirred the pot on the stove while he talked. "You... kind of remind me of mom."

"Good." I said, meeting his puzzled look with a smile, "Being a mom is my real job, not this adventuring and saving the world stuff I end up doing."

"A big sister too." Usa said.

"Only when I'm not around." Raphtalia pouted.

"Yes ma'am."

Things bubbled on the stove, filling the companionable silence for a moment or two. "Oh. I just thought of something." I said, my tails making happy swishing noises behind me, "We can make her a wheel chair."

"A..." Fohl paused, his face looking thoughtful. This reminded me that he wasn't just some arena junkie, but a smart boy who (by his sister's words of him) learned many languages on their journey, as well as taught them to her. "Huh... But wouldn't that be difficult?"

"Nah." I waved it off, "I suspect tomorrow will be my last day in the shop, before I end up having to go into the arena myself. So I'm sure I can make it then."

"Ma'am? What about..." Usa started, a rare smile playing over his face, "Zat man." He even tried to fake the accent.

"Oh, that's mostly made already. I'll need a few special parts made, and a bit of fine detail, but honestly, not that difficult." I smiled, already thinking of another friend, Cime, and the 'Hellboy special' I'd made him.

"I'm sure my sister would love to get out a little more." Fohl said, "Oh! Don't want to burn this..." He caught himself and started stirring again.

"The workshop is a bit dirty for her, so I'll bring it by after if I can. Or here, if I cannot." I said.

Another little pause, some of the bubbles turning into 'glop' noises as things thickened in the pots.

"Ah, you said you'd join in the arena?" Usa asked, "But..."

"If the 'anything goes' arena is what it promises, then it won't be a problem." I smiled, "Besides, I've been learning magic from all of you, so I can fake being a support class or wizard or something."

We poured the finished medicine into bottles for Fohl during the next little silence.

"I wish I could join you." Fohl said, "But I'm just not strong enough."

"Just keep doing what you are doing a little longer." I said, "I might be able to help you get out of here."

He almost fumbled a bottle, but Clive's hand darted out and steadied him.

"What? Really?" Fohl nodded thanks then asked with wide eyes. "But..."

"It's what she does." Raphtalia and Usa said with a shrug.

"The only thing I'm missing, I think, is sap from a sacred tree. But, I just happen to know where two of them are."

Melty appeared in the kitchen doorway, "Ma'am! She's..." She spotted Fohl, "Ah..."

"Don't worry about it. Can you finish the rest? Clean up too?" I said to the others as I walked towards Melty.

"Yes ma'am." They replied (as well as a 'click' from Clive).

With Melty beside me, we stepped into her room and closed the door. With a quick look in the mirror, I hardened my features a little, reduced my bust size, and resumed my 'male' disguise. Melty gave me a puzzled look, but then remembered that her mother might not be alone.

I gave her a nod, and she set the Occulus down on the desk, held it with one hand, and very carefully flicked the glass orb with a fingernail. This was something I had 'stolen' from the 'failure' sound stones that almost everyone in Orario used now. The original Occulus really just had a small area where you could hear it if it were covered. My newest version however, mimicked the gentle vibration of a cell phone on silent.

I heard a very faint, "Ah, you will have to excuse me." Female, regal.

Followed by an even quieter, "Of course." Male, I think.

I couldn't hear any footsteps, but I did hear a few fragments of conversation. Carpeted floor? Meeting hall?

There was another faint female voice, "M'lady."

Then, "I am indisposed for the rest of the evening."

"As you wish, M'lady."

The sound of a closing door, a very noisy lock, then a sudden brightening of the Occulus in front of Melty and I. I caught sight of the underside of a chin, a crazy wobbling of a very nice wood panelled room with various paintings, then finally, the face of a Queen.

Mirellia Q Melromarc was by all but the most jaded counts, a beautiful woman. Stern purple eyes. Perfectly kept purple hair that had been done up in an array of pleats. A nice nose. Lips that were full and had a naturally good colour to them. And lastly a delicate chin. There was no doubt that she was Melty's mother, and even on the tiny view I had through the Occulus, I could almost feel her authority.

So long as the first words out of her mouth weren't insulting, I knew we could get along.

"Lady Mirellia." I greeted, reaching out just a little to pull Melty closer, her head under my chin so we could both look into the Occulus. "You are every bit the queen I imagined you to be." Standard royal greeting, flattery line number three. Thank you Rias.

Her reply was a raised eyebrow, then a, "So long as we are quiet, we are alone in this room."

"Very well." I replied, making Melty 'eep' as my flat chest expanded a little against her back, and my face relaxed slightly to its softer truth. "My name is Kodori Haruhime, Holder of the Legendary Shield. I thank you, Queen Mirellia, for trusting me with your daughter."

The regal face looked surprised for an instant, "I was told... Oh... I see..."

I gave Melty a poke in the ribs, "Ah... Yes. Due to Father's rearrangement of the nobility in his court, Ma'am Kodori remained ignorant of how things were run, until recently."

I nodded, "I am adept with disguise, and as I grew into an adult, I kept my true self hidden until recently. Your spouse forbid me to leave Melromarc, but my party and I are in Zeltobe now."

She nodded, not bothering to voice that she understood, "Am I to assume you were also denied access to the Dragon Hourglass?"

"I was. But my party and I will earn our class up ceremony by coin and combat here in Zeltobe."

"And this... fascinating trinket?" She wasn't a hand talker, but made a tiny gesture towards me, or rather, the Occulus in front of her.

"Once our business is done here, we are coming to get you." I said flatly, "Your spouse and other daughter have made a horrible mess of things, and your authority needs to return to the throne."

She gave me a judgmental look, "Ah, this is what my shadow meant."

"That's correct." I nodded, "I could fix things, but I would rather you return to an intact house, not a burning one."

"My husband has given me enough to clean up, thank you." She sighed, the barest hint of emotion in her voice. "Your offer to escort me back to my throne is not needed however."

"Are negotiations done?" Melty asked.

"No. But if I were to leave them suddenly, or at sword point, it would create more problems than it would solve." She said with a tiny frown.

"Forgive me, Queen Mirellia. But I have quite lost my patience with Melromarc. Roughly two weeks ago, I escorted almost all the demi-human slaves that 'your' knights captured after the first wave. A little while before that, I executed Idol Rabier, for the crime of being a child torturing pervert. And when I leave here, with my party, your daughter included, with a class up ceremony, I'll have a few dozen more slaves to return home."

She held up a finger to stop me, "Melty? Is this true?"

Melty nodded, "She is leaving a lot out as well. But yes."

The finger of conversation pausing was lowered, and I continued, "If your spouse decides to attack those people, I am going to kill him, and every knight who helps him. Then I will kill every noble who was in the throne room when I was summoned to your world. I have a responsibility to those people, and the longer you are away, the greater the chance they will be found, and likely executed."

She smiled grimly, but it was still a smile. "I will endeavour to speed things along here then. How long do I have before you start..." She tapped her chin in obvious amusement, "cleaning up without me?"

"If things continue as they have been here, two, maybe three days, plus however long it takes to reach you. I'll certainly contact you when we are on our way." I smiled to match her expression, "I won't ask forgiveness, but I have a little timer in the corner of my vision that is counting down the end of your world."

She nodded, becoming very serious, "I understand. Melty?"

"Yes M... mother?"

"Continue to do your best for her."

"She is a brute of a woman." Melty said, "But she is a hero." Of course, she then covered her mouth, her inability to lie apparently making her a little too candid.

But I applied a headpat, "Of every sign of trust or support you could have given me with your limited movement, Melty is the greatest I have ever been given. Thank you."

For all of a half second, Mirellia truly looked like a mother, and not a queen. "Continue to look after each other then." And with another little flash of the underside of her chin, the Occulus went dark.

Melty put our half of the Occulus in the padded box, "A brute huh?" I asked.

"Well... you are." She pouted, but had yet to move her head away from my hand.

"I am." I admitted, "I was also serious. You've been amazing to have around." And just like I'd done with Usa, I wrapped her up in a hug. I didn't say anything, but made sure to add all the other little things I did with my children back home. Pat on the back, headpats, a little side to side shake (like she was the best pillow ever), then a nose boop when I let her go. "When we go pick up your mother, I'll make sure she gives you one of those too."

That night I worked on some of this 'miracle medicine' from the book. Distilling stuff was fairly easy after all, and focusing on my work kept my mind off the terrified look of the man I nearly decapitated. Mostly. The other thing that it kept me from thinking too much about, was me losing my grip on something. That was rather alarming too. I mean, sure, I knew I was missing most of my Adventurer abilities, but it was the first thing I'd 'gained' when Hestia adopted me.

But, despite the little shadows of self depreciation I was having, I apparently made a new medicine. The Shield identified it as 'all purpose restorative' (just imagine that in bold letters and being all self satisfied or something... stupid shield...). And the effect was just what it sounded like. Nazza would be proud, then demand the recipe, since it was a three in one potion, instead of her masterwork 'dual' potion.

The Ringmaster 'ambushed' me on the way to the workshop the next morning. As usual, he had one of the Metallica Clowns with him, however, he was not smiling.

"I'm guessing I've gotten a few people angry with me?" I asked as he stopped Fohl and I.

"You have." He said, "Fohl." Flesh trader or not, he was still polite. Even to his 'merchandise'.

And despite being the Ringmaster's property, Fohl replied with polite, "Sir." And a small bow.

"Is it about my party not playing nice with the betting pools? Or me beating the beard off the thug who told me to tell my party to do something less than their best?"

"A little of both I'm afraid." He replied, though that silly smile of his returned. "Your party is doing incredibly well! And every bet I've made on them has turned a profit. However, as they continue to win, the margin decreases, the odds reduce, until the payout is hardly worth talking to the book keeper!"

"We planned for this, did we not?" I replied, crossing my arms (a little theatrically, since I almost never 'occupied' my hands like that on purpose). "I understand you want to make more money, but we are on a very tight time table."

He sighed, shrugged, then tapped his cane on the cobblestone. "I thought I would at least try and convince you." And like that, he gave up and moved on, "The next matter, yes, you did indeed upset someone with your little... example."

"But this is why you are getting the percentage of profits you are getting." I smiled, "Speaking of, you'll likely be getting a rather large commission sometime today. A silly sounding man with frills and nice flowers wanted me to make him a pistol."

"Ah yes! I know of him! Since we do not compete with each other, we are on good terms, yes Sir!" He gave me a raised eyebrow, "A pistol you say? You know of such weapons?"

"They're overly popular in the world I was born in." I shrugged, "I don't suppose anyone will care if I sell something that may or may not be the greatest hand held killing device the world has seen to someone with a silly accent?"

His smile stayed in place, "If it brings me profit, and you closer to your goal, why not?" Again, he tapped his cane to the street stones, "Returning to the topic of the arena for a moment. You are considering entry as well?"

"I am. Just a little more 'reputation' and 'practice'. Everyone but Melty and Kunshu are going to enter the 'no restriction' bracket today, and tomorrow, maybe, we will call out the local champion."

He looked alarmed, "I believe I warned you that you and yours were not ready for that."

"Now that they've had a few days to fight people, and not monsters, I think they are. That, and the equipment I've made them... well you've seen Clive's bow." I smiled, "If you have any other merchant kings you are on good terms with, send them my way."

He laughed, "I like your style, Ma'am!" He nodded, "I will be sure to do so."

It seemed like business was done, so I started to walk past.

But then the Ringmaster said, "Fohl. Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

"Ah, not today sir. Ma'am Kodori has offered to make my sister a chair with wheels!" Fohl replied with a smile.

"Well well." The ringmaster replied with an amused chin rub, "Carry on then." He nodded, then snapped his fingers towards the Metallica Clown. "We have to visit someone."

I watched the huge man and little merchant walk away for a moment, then turned to Fohl. "What was that about? Surprised he's not upset or something."

"Well..." The tiger boy hesitated for a moment, "I'm his slave, yes. But most of that is for my sister. Serving him gets us food, shelter, protection and the occasional doctor visit. Since he handles slaves, well, no one in their right mind would try and 'mishandle' his merchandise. He also helps with setting up good arena matches."

I frowned, but that made a weird kind of sense. "So you could leave any time?"

"Well... not exactly?" He sighed, "I've set aside enough money to buy my sister's freedom. But the instant I do, I'd lose all the things letting me keep my sister safe, and close so easily."

"Archer's paradox..." I mumbled.

"A what?"

"If an arrow is shot from a bow, it must travel half the distance from you to the target, right?" He nodded, "Then, from that halfway point, to the target, it must travel half that distance." Again, a nod, "Then half that, and half that, and so on. But if you are only ever travelling half way, will you ever actually hit the target?"

He frowned, his feet slowing down as he pondered that. "Huh... But... So you think I'll never get us both free?"

"Until a couple of days ago? No."

I might as well have kicked him, and he shot back an angry, "Why? What happened a couple days ago?"

"You met me. Come on, we got work to do. I can teach you a bit of metal working."

This time, I was ready for the Frenchman and the Spanish Inquisition. With Fohl working with me, we had completed a simple but sturdy wheelchair in an hour or so. It wasn't fancy, but I was sure it would last through reasonable use, and after showing Fohl where he would need to put a bit of oil if it ever started to squeak, it would last for years. Unless I could make that medicine, well, it would outlast the poor girl it was meant for.

This left us plenty of time to work on the 'revolver'. Using all the lessons I learned while in Kuoh, this was a pure magic weapon. It would have only three cylinders, each with a finite amount of 'charge' to them. But so long as the man wasn't magically inept, he would have no trouble using it.

But, because it only had three 'shots' before needing a recharge, well, it would also stop him from going on a rampage if he ended up being some kind of psychopath. I'd considered enchanting it to be 'less lethal' or even limit it to 'stun' with electricity or the like. But when I mentioned it to Fohl, he suggested a 'why not both' solution. So, I put in a 'safety'. Charge, stun, kill.

And while I didn't really care what kind of mess it might make, I couldn't just leave all my morals behind. So if the man DID earn the weapon from me, I would bind it to him as I did with Clive's bow and Raphtalia's sword. Only him, or his immediate blood relatives could ever use it. Anyone else, and it would instead unload the energy in the chamber into their hand, instead of out the barrel. And if he didn't like it, I'd give it to Usa, and find another way to 'buy' his loyalty to my cause.

But when he arrived just after lunch, with his four guards standing outside and two inside, he made it quite clear he would do his best.

Once again, his guard had to catch him as he swooned at the sight of the revolver. This time however, I was the one to hand back his fancy identifying monocle. But once recovered, he declared, "I vill do my absolute best to help you and yours vin your way to ze class up!"

"I am pleased you like it." I nodded.

He cradled the revolver in his hands as if it were made of glass, and not dragon steel, crystal and very fancy copper and gold inlay. "You must understand ma'am! Zer is nossing in ze world like zis! If I ver a gambling man, I vould bet it rivalled a vassal veapon!"

That made even Fohl (who had been helping me put the thing together) gasp in shock. But I remained cool and replied with, "I have never handled one, so I do not know." I said, "But, now that you've seen the standard of my work, and given me your word you will do your best, I will set it aside just for you."

He nodded, understanding (thankfully) that he still needed to help me, and that I too was a merchant.

"I vill spread the word then, and see if I cannot convince others of your verth!" He smiled a charming smile, but then threw a little curve. "But I must see it work!"

"Fohl?" I looked to my assistant. "If you would be so kind?" I clicked the revolver to 'stun', then handed it to him.

No fool, even if he was unfamiliar with the weapon, he understood 'business end' and how you never pointed a weapon at anything you weren't willing to harm. So, he stood there, barrel pointed to the floor, until I set up a bit of metal on the far wall. I angled it upwards, just in case, and stepped away.

"Um..." Fohl paused, "Ah, sir? If you wanted to show me how it is done?" He looked to the posh noble.

"Ov course!" He sparkled back, his own fancy pistol appearing in his hand. Flowery mannerism aside, he also kept the barrel pointed away from everyone until he stood beside Fohl, brought both hands up to hold the ornate curved grip of the weapon, then fired.

It was a good chance to see how they did things in this world. With the heavy pull of the trigger, a little set of internal gears automatically cocked the hammer back, then when the well manicured finger pulled all the way back on the trigger, the hammer fell forward. With a little 'clack' 'fizz' and 'SNAP', the metal plate across the room 'DING'ed with impact. The aim, unless he was aiming for the edge of the metal, was a bit off, but it left a nice lead smear across the face of the plate, and a little smoke from the heat transfer.

"I think you will be pleased with how this goes." I said after I inspected the damage and adjusted the plate. "Fohl, line up the sight here." I poked the middle of the target.

"This little thing at the tip?"

"No no. Zee? You put your eye behind zis, then the end of the barrel between them." It appeared our Frenchman was familiar with the 'iron sight' as well.

"Oh! Thank you sir." Fohl replied, "Ah... So this goes like this." Click, "The setting..." He made double sure it was set to stun, "Look down here... hold firm like that...

"Make sure no one is in the way." I added.

"Oh right! Okay."

There was a quiet 'click' of the trigger, before a violent slash of energy crossed the gap between gun and target. With a splash, the bolt of energy slapped against the face of the plate, leaving curling energy playing over its surface for a moment. I'd have to give Usa a pat on the head or something, he did very well with making that part.

Everyone, including the two guards inside the shop, clapped. The metal plate was scorched, but unmoved. It was just set to stun though.

"Should I..." Fohl asked.

"Go ahead." I said, "Watch your aim first, then switch it up a notch."

"Oh, I am quite excited!" The noble gushed.

Well disciplined for his age, Fohl went through the steps while ignoring the man. "This and this and... aim..."

This time, just after the little 'click' and motion of the cylinder as it set a capacitor in line, there was a heavy 'WUMP' noise a split second before bits of metal pinged off the walls on the other side of the room. I'd done my work too well it seemed...

Because now there was a small hole in the heavy stone of the back wall and bits of shattered metal all over the place. The next sound, was Fohl quickly putting the revolver down in front of me and stepping away from it like a guilty child who broke a window.

I picked it up around the middle, careful not to touch the grip since the Shield might force me to drop it. "I look forward to your assistance, good sir." I said to the Frenchman.

NOTES!

Kodori doesn't have to live there... So why would she care about what is basically a plasma pistol loose in the world?

Thank you for reading! And if you want to see any full colour art, join the discord!

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