Once the mess died down, Izuna moved out of her spot with Pilate still on her back. She could hear pained moans and healers being called as she started silently getting further from the pile. She was glad to have furthered her training in ninjutsu and to have learned how to better conceal herself.

"I better take you to another place, I do not think they calmed down yet."

Izuna turned her head to take a good look at the man. His head was wobbling around, and he was covered in scratches and bruises. His clothes were barely holding together.

"Can you move on your own?"

"No, after what just happened, I can't even stand." Pilate groaned in pain. "I think I'll stay away from the greener areas of the castle for a while."

Izuna took a swift glance at the healers who were mobilizing under Alrauna. She could also see the queen harpy and fairy scolding their subordinates.

"I do understand why."

"Still, thank you for saving me. For a moment, I thought you also joined the hunt to rape me."

Izuna shook her head.

"As much as my kudagitsune wishes for that, I would not be so crass as to exploit this kind of moment for my own satisfaction."

The small spirit flew on the side of Izuna. "Awww, come on, don't deny yourself, don't you want to be filled by his-"

"Please stop." Izuna declared sternly without turning. "This is reserved to those that fall to my blade. And before you ask, I will not challenge him if he is not in a condition to fight properly."

The spirit pouted with its arms crossed.

On her back, Pilate felt a bit concerned: While she wouldn't try anything for now, she sounded serious about wanting to get involved with him, and he wouldn't want to break the commandments of the goddess. He still enjoyed the feeling of her soft tails on his skin. It didn't hurt to appreciate the presence of monsters if it wasn't for anything sexual, right?

As he pondered the question, he noticed the small samurai brought him to the royal quarters. She entered without ceremony before he could protest. The only one present was the mecha-pope from San Ilia. The other ones were training for the competition elsewhere, or preparing the upcoming event. The king's expression changed to one of surprise as the strange duo entered. Before he could ask any question, Izuna laid the wounded soldier on the bed.

"He got wounded by monsters dog piling him."

The king raised his hand before asking.

"As much as I'm willing to help you, why are no other healers already taking care of him?"

"Because they are all busy healing the monsters who rushed in said dogpile."

"So why didn't you leave him with them? They were closer, you wouldn't have had to carry him here..."

"And leave a vulnerable man near monsters on the hunt?"

The pope sighed.

"I see your point, I will take care of him and make sure he doesn't get further attacked."

Izuna put Pilate on the bed and bowed respectfully once free from her burden.

"I thank you for your work and will make sure that nobody comes here to disturb you."

She took a short look at Pilate, and bowed once again. One of her tail wrapped around the kudagitsune to prevent the spirit from telling something either lewd or stupid.

"Please be careful, in the hero's absence, the most unreasonable monsters will go for any man they deem worthy."

Her job done, she left the room while the pope started taking care of the guard.

Once she had the guarantee Pilate was now in sure hands, Izuna released her kudagitsune and started walking back to the barracks. She was joined by a still limping Minamo mid way. The kitsune kunoichi was grinning, but Izuna shook her head negatively.

"You didn't get him?"

"Trying anything would have been too huge a risk, I am certain monsters that were healed are already roaming the castle to get his hands on him."

"Unfortunately you're right. Some are already dueling because they're feeling they got taken for fools. Curiously none are looking for either of us. The only positive side is that Kasumi didn't ask for extras for the trouble."

Izuna sighed.

"This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Thank you for your help, though."

Minamo shrugged.

"I didn't expect that many monsters to step in. I thought almost everybody left the castle to train for the tournament. There was supposed to be only two harpies wandering around, but the only one actually missing was the queen. I also didn't expect them to be that aggressive, even if we're in the middle of their mating season. And then the fairies decided to join in while you were still stuck at the bar…"

The kitsune kunoichi trailed off as she looked down. Izuna shrugged at her turn.

"Victoria wanted to know when we could spar again. I told her that we would likely face at the tournament, but angels can be very stubborn in their idea. Luckily, she was already too tired to join the fray."

She shivered briefly.

"I don't want to think what an angel could have done in this chaos."

"But you still came nearly too late. And I'm sure your target will be more wary next time he leaves his room." Minamo grinned. "If only that valkyrie didn't keep you busy, you'd have been the one doing all the rescue, and you would be in bed with Pilate, drowning him in sweet pleasure by-."

The fox samurai answered instinctively. "If only he was not following Ilias commandments, we would already be together."

Izuna rose a clenched fist as she continued.

"It will take time, but I will get him eventually. Pilate will be my partner AND my lover."

The kudagitsune encouraged Izuna. "That's the spirit!"

Izuna relaxed as she felt she could now move onto a new plan.

"I just hope there won't be as many monsters next time in the castle. I wonder why so many came back in such a short time."

The duo became silent as they started pondering this enigma. After a few minutes, they could see Sylph buzzing through the halls extremely fast several times. The wind spirit eventually stopped near the kitsunes.

"Oh hey, foxy ladies, will you be there for the next Sylph festival?"

Minamo answered in a surprised tone. "I thought San Ilia cancelled the Sylph festival."

Sylph put her hands on her hips proudly.

"I asked the fairy queen how we could still do it! Since San Ilia won't do the Sylph festival because they're afraid of the Monster Lord's attacks, and other villagers are also too afraid, I decided the best place to do it where it couldn't get attacked."

The kudagitsune instinctively asked. "This castle?"

"Correct!"

Izuna's expression couldn't be deciphered as she still concealed her face with one of her tail. But her tails were rising menacingly like angry, furry snakes, while her spirit looked around worrily. Meanwhile Minamo was still smiling, but the wind told Sylph to keep away from her at all costs.

"So it was you…" The samurai fox was searching for talismans in her gi while the kunoichi crouched down.

Sylph started to panic.

"Wait, are you angry? Why are you angry?"

"One dog spirit! Coming up!"

Before she could react, several talismans flew in her face. No longer able to see, she could only feel Minamo jumping high before she struck her down with her tails as she landed. As soon as she reached the ground, Sylph was buried under a growing pile of earth. As the foxes started to move away from the new pile of dirt, a voice could be heard if one stuck his ear near the mound.

"What did I do? Get me out! You're uninvited! Why are earth users so meaaan! Gnomey! Come help me! Okay… you're still invited but please get me out!"

Sylph eventually got freed an hour later by the fairy queen. When the wind spirit told her what happened, the latter did burst into laughter.

Airy eventually told her that organizing the event at the same time with the competition in Grand Noah would be fine. She did not tell that it was the local queen's plan from the beginning, in an attempt to smooth things out between humans and monsters after the war. Neither did she tell that the reason she told the wrong place to Sylph was to get back to her after the "friendly fire" incident with Morrigan.

After laughing heartily, she started discussing with Sylph about their plans for the upcoming events.