Chapter 46

I would have liked to be there when Fohl gave the chair to Atla, but I still had work to do. Just after the flowery Frenchman left, another of Frost's mercenaries showed up, a bit of broken equipment in hand. After Fohl and this new person exchanged a respectful nod (the tiger boy seemed quite popular), Fohl thanked me again, then left with the wheelchair.

The repair would be simple, and not only was I paid in full before even starting, they also bought a dragon-steel knife I hadn't yet sent to Melty.

But just as he was leaving, and I got to my feet to start that repair, I heard the mercenary 'eep', and then booted feet shuffling quickly to the side to clear the way.

The reason why entered my workshop a moment later, and for just a fraction of a second, I thought it was Aisha standing in the doorway. Tall (just a little taller than me), with raven black hair, dark blue eyes and an easy confidence that almost screamed 'Amazon' to my adventurer senses...

Well, I had to stop my tails from swishing happily at the sight. Especially since she was also dressed like an amazon from back home. Though to be fair, I was too at the moment. Her outfit though favoured whites and blues, though to call it 'clothing' would have been a stretch. Maybe a bathing suit with a hint of Arab influence?

The most interesting thing however, past the breezy outfit, great figure and confidence, was her skin. For a moment, I thought she was wearing a thin set of black leggings and arm socks. But when she stopped just inside the door and leaned forward to (just as shamelessly as I was) look at me, I realized that was actually her skin. Whatever heritage she had, it had gifted her with (perfect, so far as I could see with her clothes on) symmetry and transition between black and white skin.

"No secret you like what you see." She said with the same 'Aisha energy'. Even her voice!

"You have no idea how home sick you make me feel." I replied before I could stop myself, covering up (I hoped) a little of my embarrassment by palming my face to focus on 'business'. "Kodori Haruhime. Welcome to my workshop."

"Oh, I know who you are." She smiled, "You made quite the mess outside the pub I was at." Her sandals making almost no noise over the workshop floor, "Even saw the state you left him in."

For a second or so, I thought she might be here for revenge or something. But then she gave me a little bow.

"Nadia." She said, "But seeing such fantastic display of instant justice isn't why I'm here. I've been seeing some of your work in the arena, and got curious. Asked that adorable rabbit boy about it."

Knowing Usa, and seeing just how much confidence this woman was radiating, I wondered if Usa's ears caught fire or something. "Usa." I nodded, feeling amused and sorry for him. "A good portion of their equipment was made by me, yes."

"I've also heard you're planning on sending them to the real arena soon too?" Her smile turned predatory, "If they earn it, maybe I'll take them on."

"Champion?" I guessed, her smile getting wider when I didn't flinch under her gaze (though, my tails started to swish 'at the ready').

She stood straight again, putting her hands on her hips (yes her hands and feet were pearly white that faded to black over the backs/top of her hands/feet). "No, I'm only second best." Her smile became almost flirtatious as she leaned forward again, "I hope that doesn't disappoint you?"

Unable to help myself, I reached up and ran a fingertip under her chin. As soon as I realized what I was doing, I changed the gesture to a poke on the nose and hoped I wasn't blushing too hard, "Not at all. I'll be sure to watch that fight."

She went cross-eyed for a moment, then pouted in the most adorable sexy/fake way, likely disappointed I wasn't acting like Usa. "I'll be sure to put on a show, certainly." She winked, "Though, four on one might be a little too much action for me..."

Past all the urges to return some of that energy she was trying to tease me with, that caught my attention. Second best, and fought solo against teams? "I hope you don't mind if I warn them about you?"

"It might help them, and make things more interesting. I'll admit, your four fighters are impressive! But..." She stage whispered to me, smiling, "kind of boring. They have almost no flair! Though, that darling little rabbit and his whip are incredible, especially when he only has one arm." She did a little 'squee' while hugging herself, "That interesting lizard friend of his though..."

"You'll have to forgive Clive and his wandering eyes."

"I don't mind those."

"Obviously." we smiled the same smile for that one, "But he also can't really speak."

"I wonder if he can drink..." She mumbled to herself, "The little winged girl too! I love the wild energy she has! Though, she's almost like a pet to the others."

"We all love her though." I nodded, "Ah, welcome in."

Nadia turned to see my next customer, and to my surprise, I knew him too. "I'll get out of your hair." Nadia said with a smile, "Maybe we can chat some more over drinks?"

"Who's to say?" I replied as she gave the short squat man space to approach, then left, her nice rear catching my attention of course... When I did pull my attention off it, or rather, it and the body it was attached to walked out of sight, I dragged my eyes to the man.

"Miss Nadia has that effect on all kinds of people it seems." It was the merchant I'd met, and rescued, and honestly, owed a lot to. He'd cleaned up properly since last I saw him, his beard back to being perfectly trimmed, and his nice red coat and pants in perfect condition.

But he'd never seen me in my true form. So I did my very best to keep my face from betraying that I knew him. "Welcome sir," I smiled, "to my humble workshop."

He smiled warmly, looking around much like he did when he rode in our wagon after his rescue. "You have quite the setup here! I would hardly call it 'humble', considering the things I saw at the shop you have set up just down the street."

A half dozen different 'scenarios' played through my mind about how to deal with this unexpected meeting. I could be mysterious, and pretend this was our first meeting. I could be aloof and humble, and hope he didn't catch on. I could do any number of little things to deflect and misdirect him on any of the topics I knew he'd want to talk about.

But no. He trusted me with what amounted to a life's work of reputation building and business. So, I stood, "I owe a good part of that to my teacher." I said, walking around him and shutting the door of the workshop, then putting my back to the wall, just in case someone walked in suddenly, "It's good to see you again, Mr. Hickwaal."

I put my hand on the Book Shield, and it became the nice Hagane red that (especially after meeting a flirtatious 'amazon' of this world) made me homesick to think about. Of course, the nice merchant blinked at me a few times, worked his mouth a bit to try and form words, then finally said, "Um... This is unexpected."

"You're taking it better than my party, more or less." I said, changing the Shield again, then again, just to prove he wasn't seeing things, until finally, the spiked bottom of the Shield of Marius slammed into the stone floor. "Because you helped me get a handle on this world's enchanting, I made this."

If anything, his flabbergasted look was scratching that need to make someone a stuttering idiot itch I got. But once he got over just how shiny the shield was (thankfully the Shield was self cleaning, since you know, the last time I used it, I had been in a dragon's mouth), he took out his super fancy identification lens, and 'looked under the hood' so to speak.

"I had no idea you were a woman." He said while looking through the fancy green monocle, "Though, some demi-humans can change forms, like Miss Nadia."

"My race has almost perfect control of their outer shape." I said, "I had been misled by the near total male presence in Aultcray's court, so..."

"Near total? Truly?" He looked up at me, putting the lens away. "But why not tell people then? Considering Melromarc is a Matriarchy..."

"A matriarchy that's missing its queen at the moment." I corrected, "I was 'forbidden' to leave Melromarc, since the church of three heroes is behind a lot of the hate for me. I had a decoy sent in the direction of Shieldfreeden, told everyone who hated me that I was headed there, then," I motioned to myself, "Came up here in 'disguise'."

I dared to give him a pat on the shoulder, put the Book Shield back on my hip, and sat behind my anvil again. "My party and I need a class up ceremony. And this was the first place that came to mind to get it."

He rubbed his chin at the news, sitting in 'the guest chair' across from me, "But you should know by now that-" He paused, "Ah, you're here to buy it."

"I am." I smiled, "I have a good word from the Beloukas house, dangled an exceptionally well made hand gun that will only be sold for support to a flowery man with an accent who runs a mining conglomerate, and I plan on joining my party in the arena tomorrow, I think." I motioned to my 'waiting to ship' shelf, next to the flower vase and hammer on the windowsill (that was sporting that rose I was given), "I've also been selling dragon-steel weapons, and been doing work for a mercenary band led by 'Frost'."

Again, the shock was clear on his face. But sadly, there was no stuttering. "A tremendous start!" He said, "But not nearly enough... The word of three great merchants, the most successful mercenary band in Zeltobe, and... Well, I'm not sure you will succeed in the arena to be honest..."

I waved away the potential insult, then realized, "Three?"

"Of course you'll have my support." He smiled, "I can't have a business partner who's supposed to save the world from the Waves be held back by something so mundane as 'tradition'." He laughed, and I couldn't help but join in for a moment, "Still... Unless you can produce wonders like that Shield you showed me endlessly..."

"I can." I shrugged, "Apparently I've already made a 'lesser legendary bow' that never runs out of arrows, and probably the sharpest sword to ever exist in this world... Those were really just warm ups. Remember Kunshu..."

Since I couldn't afford to stop working, but still wanted... no, now that he was here, needed to catch up with Mr. Hickwaal, I hung the 'out for lunch' sign on the door and did both. He was quite impressed by just how seriously I took his lessons, inspecting the things I'd stored away and made recently. Even my medicine was given a more professional appraisal.

After catching up, and trying a (new and improved!) Fox-berry nourishing beverage, he sighed, gave me what I could only call a fatherly look, and said, "I am sad you are married." He laughed as I felt my face go slack, "If you had spent as much time as I have, building a trade empire, you would be the queen of this city!"

"I'm already the Queen back home, though only when people don't think I'm listening." I shrugged, theatrically looking at the bottom of my empty cup, "But... I have one last thing to show you, since I know Raphtalia and the rest would love to say hello to you. And even with all the magic I can cram into a polished garnet... I'm sure you'll agree this is worth more to a merchant than any of it."

And I took out an Occulus, giving the side a tap to 'ping' Melty.

One of the things I had over Hickwaal, over his ability to enchant and his powerful (more so than I realized) trade empire, was that I could use just about anything to craft. Most of his enchanting was with gems. He was an exceptional gem cutter, and could work with softer metals like gold like they were made of wax.

So in return for all his help, both before and after meeting up again today, I showed him how to make an Occulus, and the lesser version Sound Stones. This also taught him some basics about glass blowing, and just because I could, I made him a nice chisel, so he didn't have to directly touch the glass he needed to enchant. That was another four out of four thing. All the worlds I'd been to needed the enchanter to be in direct contact with their work, be it by hand, or by holding the tools directly.

"This is... It almost seems unfair now." He grinned. Different from his usual friendly smile, this expression was fuelled by greed.

But...

"I think I just figured out a way to get everyone on my side for this. But, it might make you unpopular, or too popular with all of them." I rubbed the base of one of my horns.

"Oh?" He looked interested of course, since 'popular' meant money.

"The Occulus is a great tool, but since only two people in the world can make them..."

I saw the gears clicking about in his head, "I could keep this a monopoly for myself." He played with his beard, the neat curl on the end bouncing like a spring when he let it go, "But perhaps..." He started to pace, "Maybe..."

I let him pace and fret for a while, leaving it to an expert while I got on with my own work. After a half hour or so of pacing, occasionally taking out an abacus to tally things, more beard pulling and a dozen other little motions of his hands, he stopped in place.

"I think I have it."

"Do tell?" I said, putting some metal back in the furnace.

To most people, his idea would have been selfish, cowardly, and underhanded. To me, it made perfect sense. And so long as he never got caught, there would be no problems. At least for a little while. But by then, he could safely change things. It only had to work long enough to get my party a class up, and then leave Zeltobe.

Since I was basically a petitioner, I would speak 'through' him. He would advertise the Occulus, and say that supporters of my cause would get a two pairs. He would also say, only I could make them, that even his ability as an enchanter was unable to figure it out.

Such an incredible tool offered to the hands of people who relied on communication to run things would be almost guarantied to get me a vote so to speak, since if they wanted more, they'd have to play along.

But, you might wonder, what would happen when they DID want more?

Well, Hickwaal would take payment, 'pretend' to send word to me, then just make them himself. Since they only helped with communication and not travel times, well, he'd have a bit of time to 'pretend' he was waiting for them.

If they went behind his back and came to me directly, (while I wandered about slaying monsters), fine, I could make them still. If they dealt with Hickwaal, they'd still get their merchandise. Profit would be had either way.

Even so, there would be those not willing to try something new, or didn't trust magic, or just didn't like Hickwaal, Beloukas or... you know, never got his name. Fancy. I'll just call him Fancy. So yes, there might still be people against it...

But I still planned on entering the arena. Smashing metal and getting into the initial stages of setting up a magical revolution was fun and all... But that damned Nadia had me craving something more now.

Just as I was getting ready to bank the fires for the day, the thoughts of food and a bath starting to override even that amazon itch I was getting, Fohl walked into the shop. Well, mostly into the shop. He had one hand still outside, resting on something.

"Ma'am Kodori?" He called out.

"Just Kodori is fine." I turned around, looking for things that I might have forgotten to pick up. Hammer? Check. Glass furnace? Oh wait Hickwaal took it so he could get started... Bits for a new glass furnace? Those went into the Shield... Tools? Yup. Collection of new armour bits? Yup. Oh, and one last thing...

"But you're..." He stopped as I gave him 'the look', "Oh right... that's true."

Quietly from outside, "Brother?"

"Aha." I nodded, "Best she stays out of here. The air is a bit gritty. Give me a minute or two to at least clean the soot off my face."

He nodded and stepped back out, and after I finished up I did as well, locking the thick wood door once I closed it. "Atla." I greeted, making sure my hand was clean (as it would get without lots of soap) and giving her hand a pat, "Enjoying the new chair?"

"I am, Kodori." She smiled up in my general direction, then directly at me as her cloudy eyes 'found' me. "I was surprised when my brother brought it home. Are you sure..."

If I didn't know her nose had one of those weird creeping sores on it, I'd have booped her. "It's fine. Simple work when you know how, and a good distraction from the boring monotony of making weapons." I looked to Fohl, then down at his hands as he put them on the wheelchair handles and started pushing. "No problems?"

Fohl saw where I was looking, then focused on the road ahead, "Not at all. I've been the envy of the lesser bracket since they passed inspection." He looked over to me with what was clearly a hopeful look.

I returned a look of my own that asked, 'have you told her?' and he shook his head. "Why the sigh, Kodori?" Atla asked.

This made both Fohl and I wince slightly.

"You're not planning on eloping with my brother, are you?" She continued, a tiny smile in her voice.

"No." I said, thankful she seemed to have missed the mark on the hidden conversation behind her. "But I do have some good news, and... not terrible news."

"Oh? Something that my brother hasn't told me?"

"Don't blame him. I asked him to wait until I knew more." I defended the poor tiger boy. "The good news, is I may actually have the formula for something that might cure you. The not terrible news, is one of the things I need is currently in Melromarc, and might not actually work as a substitute."

She was silent for a moment, then, "Truly?"

"If the notes in the book aren't lying? Yes." I said seriously.

She fell silent again, and Fohl gave me another look.

"Now that you're out of the house, want to join us for dinner?" I asked, "Fohl got everyone curious about you."

If Atla weren't blind to the lights and colours around her, she'd have seen the hopeful sparkles radiating off her brother. Thankfully, she was an exceptional big/little sister, and knew her brother. "I'd like that." She said.

Understandably at first, Atla seemed quite nervous. Fohl too. But for a different reason. I could guess that Atla's exposure to people had been reduced to her brother and the occasional doctor visit, and now, she was in the middle of a quiet by nature rabbit man. A quiet by necessity lizard man. A giant bee who was even more silent than the other two unless she was flying. A super friendly dragon girl who didn't seem to understand what 'sick' and 'blind' were, but didn't care because apparently they didn't stop Atla from giving her a headpat. A raccoon girl who radiated more big sister energy than Fohl could ever hope to compete with. And Melty, the only human in the room, who was royalty.

Fohl's reason was only slightly more complex. He wanted her to be accepted. To anyone who didn't know, Atla was the textbook image of 'sick', and understandably, no one wanted to be near that. But if nothing else, my party was accepting of each other's flaws and faults, so why wouldn't they be with someone new? Especially since they'd been told it was okay.

But once she'd settled in, gotten a hello from everyone (or a 'bzz' or a 'haaaaooooo'), and realized we were treating her like just another person... Well, she couldn't stop smiling. At least, not until she fell into a food coma. It was no surprise she didn't eat much, but it was likely double what she was used to.

After that, with her head resting on Fohl's shoulder, we lowered the volume on the conversation, and only woke her up for dessert.

I let Raphtalia take Atla into the bathroom, so she could be cleaned up in a nice big proper bath, then started back towards the dining room. Even from down the hall, I could hear Fohl and the others talking about their experiences in the arena so far.

"Ah, Ma'am Kodori." Appearing almost like magic from a side room, the Ringmaster stepped out from behind a nice door and into the hallway. "I was hoping to talk to you."

"Mr. Beloukas." I returned with the same official businesslike tone. "Oddly enough, I was as well. I hope inviting two of your other..."

He saved me from having to say it out loud, "Not at all. I'm sure you've heard about Fohl's arrangement with me?"

"I have."

"Then consider him, and his sister, visiting this place of mine for dinner as... something he's done on his own merit." He grinned, "Truth be told, if I were to put the money you've brought me, against the cost of feeding two extra people, all but the most miserly of people would call me greedy!" He laughed, "I heard Mr Hickwaal returned to Zeltobe today. I had no idea you two were so well acquainted!"

"What is a merchant's most valuable possession?" I asked casually.

And without hesitation the Ringmaster replied, "His life. Money comes and goes, though one hopes there is more coming in, than going out, Yes Ma'am! But without your life, well, everything stops."

"I saved his. Without a shadow of a doubt. In return, he gave me everything but his life. Of course, without knowing it I was already edging into his domain so to speak, but he made it official."

The Ringmaster paused, his silly wide brimmed hat tilting down to cover his expression. But for all the world it looked like he was having a little moment of silence. But when he looked up at me again, the smile was back in place. "I think I understand the nature of your business with him now."

"Maybe." I replied, waiting for him to catch up so we could continue on towards the dining room. "Has he mentioned our master plan yet?"

"I feel almost sad I am being left out! No, he's said nothing to me." Apparently 'almost sad' had no effect on the silly smile.

"Don't worry, as my supporter in this, you'll be second in line when the news hits. But that's only because of how the plan overall must work."

"You certainly know how to lead a man on! Yes Ma'am!" He laughed, then like a flipped switch he asked seriously, "I hear you are planning on entering the arena tomorrow?" He stopped, the two of us just outside the doors to the dining room, one of the Metallica Clowns waiting for the signal to open it.

"I have gotten word from the Queen. The longer she is away, the worse Melromarc gets. As much as I would like making enough money in a week to rival a merchant house, I have promises to fulfill."

"Shall I have your new acquisitions ready for you for the day after tomorrow then?" He asked, "With the medicine you've provided, they've started to become almost spirited! It's good to see!"

I ran a few possible scenarios through my mind, "Day after tomorrow, evening, or the morning after that, depending on how easy it is to convince the merchant kings to let me and my party use the hourglass."

He rubbed his chin with a gloved hand, "Unless money is involved, there might be some delay..."

"If they aren't there to stop me... Well, they won't stop me, and they'll lose out on what Mr. Hickwaal and I have planned." I felt a smile of my own pull at my cheeks.

"And." He tapped his cane onto the carpet just loud enough to hear, "Will those acquisitions include young Fohl and Atla?"

"Try not to mark up their price too high." I replied.

"Of course not!" He scoffed. "Be sure to let them know, and to visit me before you leave to transfer them to your ownership." He did a flashy little spin and cane flip, then a neat ninety degree turn, "Enjoy your evening, Ma'am Kodori!"

I watched him leave for a moment, then looked up at the still waiting Metallica Clown. "If you please?"

He nodded, his huge hand making the doorknob vanish as he turned it. "Ah, Sir." Usa greeted as if he hadn't likely heard everything the Ringmaster and I had said a moment ago. "Fohl was telling us an interesting story."

"I do like story time." I said.

Only one other thing of note happened that night, and of course, it was the 'news'.

"When I leave, you two are coming with me." I said.

Fohl, standing behind Atla, and Atla on her nice chair (and practically sparkling with how clean Raphtalia had gotten her, even after bandaging her up again) both gave me a perfect five degree head tilt.

"But..." They both said at once.

"In a day's time, I'll have both of your contracts, so to speak. And when I leave, you'll be coming with me. Everything we need to care for you is in the wagon, and a possible cure is waiting just over Melromarc's border." I continued, "Aside from helping with monster control, and if you want, Fohl, fighting during the Waves, your only cost will be to keep living."

"I..." Fohl hesitated.

"If you want. The only thing I'm not going to give you a choice about, is leaving this town when I do." I grinned, "Oh, and visiting one of my trees. If it doesn't work, I will still provide the same treatments you were paying far too much for, for free, and I'll teach you how to make it yourself just in case."

Fohl and Atla looked up/down at each other, then to me. "I suppose all we can do then is wish you luck tomorrow." Atla said, "I am however very tired..."

Unable to resist, I gave them both a little ear scroofle, "Get some rest. Get what ever you're bringing packed up after you rest, and meet me by our wagon tomorrow around lunch."

Fohl nodded, then carefully turned the wheelchair around. Even if they seemed too shocked to really understand, their tails were doing a happy swish behind them as they left.

The next morning we started to get all the non-essentials packed up again. For the most part, it was just travel supplies. Things we would need that already had a bit of redundancy in the Shield's super handy storage. Even if it was under the Ringmaster's care, on his property, I didn't want to make it a 'target'.

I also swapped some recipes with the head chef (a Metallica Clown with a chef hat and apron). And yes, when he did the 'rock on' sign, it was to sprinkle in spices.

Then it was off to the workshop for me. I had a couple orders to finish, you know, cause I'd already been paid, and Frost and company had sent me a heap of business. This time however, Melty was the one who joined me.

"I am not sure what to think, about not getting a chance to fight in the arena." She said as she worked a grind stone to smooth out a rough edge on some armour. "Hmm, this is rather fun..."

"You didn't ask, and you are also supposed to be here in secret, of a sort." I replied as I examined a shoulder plate, planned how to fix it, then put it into the fire. "That said, did you want to?"

A pause, "I would like to." She said, "But it is a little late."

"It is. But you'll be in the stands with... I'm not sure actually. Kunshu probably. Not actually sure if they'll let a full team of six enter." I frowned, "Probably not."

"What of the shop? We still have some things to sell." She held up the bit she was working on, "Is this okay?"

I ran a thumb over the corner of the armour piece she was smoothing, "Perfect. Use that rounded knife there, and cut that leather to size? I left a drawing next to it." I watched her get set up for that, then pulled the heated metal from the fire, "Raphtalia is selling what she can in the next couple of hours, then she'll pack it up so we can sell it later. Once that's done, and I finish the last of these commissions, we'll all go to the arena, and see what the actual limits are. I've also got a little something I'd like to try, thanks to your lessons, and a bit of extra work I've been doing on the side."

I motioned towards a pair of gauntlets that I'd been making on and off for the last couple of days. Due to my lack of real attack power, they weren't really made for punching. However, because I had the Book Shield, and had copied every spell from the magic book we'd all been learning from since the nice Witch in Melromarc gave it to us... I could (at various levels of power) cast everything they could.

Of course, any attack spells I cast were pathetic. But support spells, light, healing, protection, status effects, that kind of thing, got a bonus since I was the Shield Hero. Best of all though, is that I got part of the idea from Myne, when she cheated during Motoyasu and I's duel.

I didn't hear her cast, and only her bracer was glowing. So that meant some kind of magic storage, or gem that produced a magic effect when you put magic into it. So, using my far superior ability to whomever sold her that shiny scrap she cheated with... I made myself a pair of spell storage gloves.

And yes, they looked like small versions of the Infinity Gauntlet. Yes, I had seen the movie (thanks to Akeno, her connections and the Occulus) but long before that I was a comic geek. Sadly, even if they cast a spell into the gauntlet, it would become mine and thus have its attack powered reduced. But that was fine, I was a supporter here.

"Hey Boss." Frost stepped into the workshop, even though I had the 'no more commissions' sign on the door. "Got your message." He grinned, paused, then looked to Melty, "Oh come on... I'm not that scary am I?"

"Y-you seem much bigger in a smaller space." Melty replied.

"You do look like you eat monsters for fun." I added.

"Well I cooks them first." He laughed, "Really gonna try and convince them to let you at the Hourglass?" He continued seriously, "I couldn't until I'd taken top spot for mercenary work, and only I was allowed out of my company!"

"Are you available to run escort duty to Siltvelt?" I asked.

"For you? Of course! Oh, is that mine?"

Melty looked down at what she was working on, blinked, then offered it to him. On a normal person, it might have been a helmet. To him, it was for his elbow. Helpfully, Melty worked the straps for him, letting him tighten them up as he pleased once the leather went through the buckles.

"Perfect! Next person I lariat is gonna feel it! Anyhow. When?" He flexed his newly armoured elbow.

"Day or two. Doubt I'd need your entire company, but..." I paused, "Lock the door?"

He did, and dropped the smile, replacing it with a super serious look, "I've agreed to do a job. How discreet I keep it is now up to you."

"Good. Need to know basis then. Melty? If you would like to inform him?" I motioned to the last bits of work I had to do, "Frost's company has already paid me after all."

So Melty told him. Even used her best 'royal' voice and everything.

"I understand Lady Melty." Frost nodded, "Shield Hero huh?"

"I am." I nodded.

"Well, I know who I'm betting on for the fights this afternoon, even if you're probably gonna face Nadia. Not just that, but if you really want to win the respect of the Arena Lord..." He paused, "Now... As your business partner for this, I'll come clean and say I can't put money on you for that one. But if you really want to wow the Arena Lord, if you can beat Nadia, ask to fight the Murder Pierrot."

"Ominous name for the champion." I replied.

"Well earned. She's a quiet one, don't think I've ever seen her out side of the arena grounds. But win or lose, you'll get respect for even trying."

"I'll keep that in mind. I'd still bet just a little on me though." I grinned, offering him my hand, "Deal?"

"Deal." We shook, "I'll be ready no sooner than tomorrow. We'll get you to Siltvelt, then the castle-town of Melromarc in style. Or at the very least, safe."

"Good. I've got one more thing to do before I head to the arena. I hope you'll at least cheer a bit for me." I laughed.

"Well yeah. I expect a bit of money from your fight! Oh... One last thing." He again put on the serious face, "Anything goes for the champion bracket. Anything."

"Understood." I nodded, "Give this to the guy with the burn scar on his scalp, and this to the cat boy who isn't fooling anyone."

"Boy...? Well suppose he isn't fooling anyone NOW. Haha!" And with that, he took the bits of armour for his crew, unlocked the door, and left the workshop.

"One more thing?" Melty asked, "I thought..."

I looked out the window, noting that we still had a bit of time before lunch, "I have to just admit to myself that I have to change the design a little." I said, taking out something from the Shield's inventory, "Without the divine protection from my Goddess back home, my demon nature is likely here to stay."

And I put my mostly finished black fox mask into the fire to heat up.

NOTES!

Next episode? MORTAL COMBAT! Well... maybe not mortal? But with a name like 'Murder Pierrot, you'd think it might be?

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!