Rubbles... Lots of rubbles... Well, not all, but still. It was the aftermath of that combined attack from the girls. Miraculously, no one died except for a few bandits, especially those who were got disintegrated. Just by that attack alone, the bandits had surrendered to the Allied, unconditionally. They had realized that it would be useless to attack since the Beyond the Gate's Gods are here.
The Allied had decended for searching any survivors among the enemy. But when they saw the girls who were also decended, they froze. None dared try to attack them. Luckily, the Recon Teams explained everything about who they are... And as expected, they were stunned and got hyped. Though, they still try to process everything. They praised them, and didn't expect them to be cute and hot girls.
Meanwhile, Pina stood on the wooden tower. Just yesterday, when she had met the Teams' Leaders and their Gods, she had ordered them to help her, as though she was in charge.
Indeed, the bandits had been beaten back, and the townspeople were happy to have won and survived. Of course, mourning and getting over the loss of life and lost family members would take a while. Rebuilding the ruined town would be a problem too. However, this victory had been won by betting their lives, so it should be celebrated. Pina should have celebrated, as one of the victors. However, the desolate atmosphere around her was one of defeat.
She did not feel like she had won at all. The winners were the Allied and Beyond the Gate's Gods. These enemies who had taken control of Alnus, who rode iron Pegasi, who had their Gods helping them with their terrifying combined powers, who had exterminated in an instant those normal and corrupted bandits that had troubled Pina. If they decided to turn their fangs on Pina and Italica, what could she do? The Empire's Princess Piña and the young Countess Myui of House Formal would become prisoners, and the Empire's breadbasket would be taken by the enemy. Or worse, they could be wiped out of the map.
What about the townspeople? Well, they would welcome the invaders with open arms. After all, it was the Allied and their Gods who had won the day. Talk of the "Men in Green" had already spread from the mouths of Coda's villagers.
Pina (Mind): If they demanded this town in exchange... I might have to kneel in front of them and beg for their mercy, and for them to release myself and Countess Myui. Me, begging an enemy for mercy? A proud Imperial Princess? Pulling on a man's sleeve like some common whore in an alehouse?
Piña gritted her teeth. If she went down on her knees and kissed their toes, they might actually do it. She would have to accede to any humiliating requests they had.
Timeskip
It never happened. Itami, Terry, and Min-Jae had made their request to Pina to treat the prisoners humanely. Humanely? That's it? That was their request? Pina thought they would take Italica by force, but no. It was a simple request.
The terms of the treaty took effect immediately, and so the Allied squadrons flew back to base with their souvenirs such as pictures and videos of Amaterasu and her team. They were also had touched Ran and Inari's tails which brought them joy, and had asked them a few questions. However, the girls had only answered 1-3 questions due to not revealing too many classified informations. But despite that, it satisfied them a little. The girls have to stayed with the Recon Teams for a little bit more.
The townspeople took some time out from the post-battle cleanup to watch them soar into the sky, waving their hands at them until they vanished from sight. Lelei, Tuka and Rory went to the home of the trader Ryudo to discuss business.
Being exempted from taxes was a huge selling point for any trader, so the girls were welcome by all of them. They completed the sale of 200 dragon scales for 4000 silver denarii and 200 gold cinque. However, actually claiming those 4000 denarii in liquid currency was impossible. Lyudo had tried his best, but House Formal's territory had just been ravaged by bandits and trade in Italica had ground to a halt. In addition, the Empire did not supply its outlying regions with a lot of currency, so obtaining even 1000 denarii would be a big challenge.
In the end, the remaining 2000 was paid in credit guarantees, while the remaining 1000 was written off as a discount. In exchange, however, Lelei asked Lyudo for information. This information pertained to the markets in the region and beyond, and she requested him to carefully investigate the prices of certain items in various markets.
Lyudo laughed as he heard this request. Unlike the buying and selling of regular citizens, the information on the prices of merchants was an important weapon in price negotiations. No trader would ask so bluntly about them, nor would anyone answer so readily. However, since Lelei was an outsider, she knew nothing about what things cost. Because she knew nothing, she wanted this information, but broader in scope, with more details, in exchange for the debt owed.
Timeskip
On the road to Alnus, the Falmartian girls were exhausted as they have fell asleep. For Amaterasu and her team, they had taken a ride with one of the Recon Teams vehicles. Earlier, everyone wants to offered them a seat since they are VVIP, but they were also wanted to get close to the girls. They chose a vehicle with women's only. It made the guys felt dissapointed and missed out their chances. The women personnel saw this and called them perverts. Inside, Jophiel and Shinki had unsummoned their wings.
As they were en route to Alnus, Itami's team vehicle has made an unexpected stop, followed by other vehicles. It caused some of them to stumbled foward.
Kurata: Smoke in front of us!
Itami: Again?
He grabbed his binocular to see the distance, along with Kurata.
Itami: It's coming this way? The smoke's keeping me from getting a good look.
Kurata: ... Ah, I see something.
Itami: What can you see?
Kurata: ... A tiara!
Itami: Oh, a tiara, Okay... A tiara!
Kurata: Blonde hair!
Itami: Blonde hair?
Kurata: Ringlets!
Itami: Ringlets!?
Kurata: I've sight one blonde girl with ringlets, one beautiful girl in boy's clothes, and several hot chicks behind them!
Terry (Radio): Uhhh, don't we have beautiful goddesses on our side?
Terry called them through the comms. But they ignored him.
Itami: ... Those are roses!
Kurata: Those are roses!
What they saw was the tri-colored rose crest. The knight that Pina was talking about during Italica. They began to approached the vehicles as all of them raised their guards for combat.
Min-Jae (English) (Radio): Everyone, stay alert.
Itami (radio): Hold up! No overt shows of hostility. It might violate the treaty.
Min-Jae (radio): ... Suit yourself. If anything happens, don't blame me.
The white haired knight spurred her horse toward Tomita before speaking.
?1: Where did you come from?
Tomita: ... We're returning from Italica.
?1: To where?
Tomita: ... Alnus-
She drawed her sword and points at Tomita. The rest followed, their lances, originally held upright, were levelled straight at the Allied Recons Teams. The blonde knight dismounted from her horse, a cold expression on her face, and she drew close to Tomita before grabbing him by the collar.
?2: Are you the enemy from another world?
At that moment, Itami stepped out of the vehicle and walked towards her very slowly with his hands up.
Itami: Um, Excuse me. Did my man there done something to offend you?
The white haired knight stops him by pointing her sword at him.
?1: Surrender!
Itami: ... Now, calm down. We can sort this o-
Before he could finished, he got slapped by the blonde knight, which alerted the whole teams. They were filled with murderous intent as they saw this. Every rifles were in position and 10 different sigils has suddenly appeared in the air, ready to fire, but Itami stopped them.
Itami: Run! For now, just get out of here!
And so, with the roar of their engines causing the knights' horses to panic, Allied Recon Teams fell back, tires squealing. The 10 sigils that were aiming had dissapeared after the retreat. Because it had happened so fast, the effort which the knights put into calming their startled horses was wasted, because the JSDF vehicles had long since vanished in a puff of smoke. Itami had been left alone in the midst of the enemy.
Timeskip
At Evening...
On the outskirts of Italica, the 3rd Recon Team, minus their Captain, lay prone on the ground to conceal themselves as they waited for dusk to fall... Well, except for Lelei, Tuka, Rory, and Amaterasu's team. Tuka and Rory were in the back, Lelei was sitting next to Kuribayashi, and all 10 supernatural girls were sitting on Yukari's gaps that she made for them.
Kuribayashi: *sigh* Maybe he's already dead.
Kurata: Don't jinx it.
kuribayashi: But he got so roughed up on the way back to italica.
Tomita: Anyway, we'll just wait until for sunset. Plus, we have our powerhouses on our side.
He looked at the girls who were just sitting on those creepy space-ripping rift with full of eyes. He didn't want to question what those eyes were, so he kept it silent.
Kurata: Captain...
Inside the Formal Mansion
Pina: What the hell do you think you're doing?!
Enraged, Pina flung the silver goblet she was holding.
Bozes: Eh?
Bozes, who had proudly brought a prisoner of war with her in anticipation of a commendation, was completely taken aback by that reaction. She was stunned by Pina's anger and the pain in her forehead, and it was only when she felt the warm wetness flowing down her face and saw blood flowed down her beautiful cheek and dripped off her chin onto the carpet below, before slowly spreading out.
Pina: *heavy breathing* You idiots.
Bozes fell to her knees in shock. Panache dabbed at Bozes' wound while questioning what did they do wrong.
Panache: Princess, what have we done wrong?
Pina: Can't you tell?
She sighed as she looked at beaten up Itami while Hamilton's hand was on his shoulder and shook him and shouting, "Itami-dono, Itami-dono". But Itami was covered in abrasions and he sported many bruises from being beaten by many people, so his physical and mental stamina was depleted, to the point where he couldn't even answer her and slump down unconscious.
Hamilton: *scream* AHHHHH!
Pina summoned the chief maid of House Formal and said, "Sorry, we'll leave him to you". The old maid and butler replied, "Understood", and then the maids came together to form a human wall around Itami. After watching Itami leave, she sat on her throne and covering her face with both of her hands, knowing how messed up she was.
Back at the Outskirt...
Kuribayashi: What did you just say?
Kurata: That captain would probably be fine?
Kuribayashi: After that!
Tomita: He may not look like it, but he's a ranger.
Kuribayashi: HUH!
Kuribayashi, who had long coveted the Ranger badge, felt her dream becoming tainted in that instant. She fell back, not believing what she had heard. Rory and Tuka did not understand Japanese too well and were quite confused, while Lelei, who was more familiar with the language, had no idea what those words meant. But for the Goddesses, Divine servant, Youkais, and Immortal from Earth, they understood of what they were saying, and it was hilarious.
Kuribayashi: No, That's impossible!
Yukari: Fufufu, reality hurt, doesn't it?
The Gap Youkai mocked, which made her irritated.
Kuribayashi: Shut up, you damn youkai!
Inari: *Sigh* You should be more surprise about miss sun goddess over here.
Amaterasu (Annoyed): Woi!
Kuribayasi: I said shut up!
Lelei, To satisfy her curiosity, she asks Kuribayashi why it was impossible for Itami to be a "Rain Jar".
Lelei: Would it be a problem if Itami were a ranger?
Kuribayashi: It's not just who he is at all! They undergo hellish training! They have bodies and minds of steel. They can carry out even the toughest mission! That's what ranger is! Not him!
The Falmartian girls looked at each other before they smile and laughed.
Rory: Itami's a mighty warrior, then?
Tomita: Now then, let's go.
The group rose from the ground after he said that. The sun had set during their entertaining discussion, and the veil of night now cloaked their surroundings. It was the best time to move out.
Inside the Italica's gate wall
Guard 1: Damn those arogant imperial knights! I'm sick of them.
Guard 2: Quiet, the imperial above will hear you.
Guard 1: I dont care. hmm?
He noticed Rory, Tuka and Lelei proudly walked into Italica through the front door and successfully "infiltrated" the city.
Guard 1: It's the priestess and her friends.
As they walk, Tuka wave her hand at the guard and left. They went up to the upper wall as Tuka called on the spirits of sleep to visit the guards watching the wall, putting them out until dawn. After that, they signalled to Kuribayashi, Tomita, Kurata, Katsumoto, and sun goddess's team, who were waiting outside the town. They poked their heads up one after the other.
Silence reigned in Italica, and nobody noticed Tomita and the others moving around. In this way. they easily made their way to Formal Manor. Eventually, they reached the side of a building, and Tomita found a window. He broke it down and entered. However, as soon as they entered, they were greeted by Amaterasu's team who had already been inside. The JSDF and Falmartian girls looked behind them and saw that they had been vanished without their awareness.
Tomita: How did you-
Yukari: Gaps. I used my ability to transport us here.
Rory: Hmph, show off.
The priestess said with a hint of jealousy. Having that kind of ability was really convenient for everyday life.
Inside the castle, specificaly in the Guest Room.
Itami had woken up and was treated well by the maids. It was then until the bunny maid had heard the sound of window break.
Kaine: Mamina, what's wrong?
Mamina: Someone has forced open the bars on the window.
Kaine: It's likely Master Itami's friends and his Gods. Bring them here. If it's anyone else, deal with them in the usual way.
Mamina and Persia: Understood.
They silently left the room in murderous intent. This piqued Itami's otaku curiosity, and he asked the chief maid a question.
Itami: Um, who are those two?
Kaine: Are they new to you? Mamina is a warrior bunny, and Persia is one of the cat people. Aurea is a medusa, and Mome is human. The previous count had a liberal nature, and went to great efforts to hire nonhuman staff... well, part of it was a personal taste.
Itami: Sounds like someone I'd get along with.
Aurea suddenly came close to him with an interested look on her face.
Aurea: Master Itami, you give of a similar scent to the last count!
She reached her wriggly red hair out to Itami, but it was smacked aside by Mome with a solid "Thwap!"
Mome: You can't be rude to our master, Aurea.
Aurea: okay...
Aurea had a pitiful look on her face, like a cat whose food had been snatched away.
Kaine: Medusa drain away people's life energy with their hair. She's been carefully trained, but please be on your guard.
Meanwhile with the group, Tomita and the squad were now near one of the door. He ram the door open and was greeted with the two demi-human maids. They escorted them to the room where Itami is. Persia and Mamina entered, followed by Kuribayashi, Tomita, Kurata, Katsumoto, three Falmartian girls, goddesses, divine servant, youkais and immortal, one after the other.
What they were seeing was Itami having great time with the maids, treating him like some kind of royalty.
Itami: Yo!
The 3rd Recon team: ... Huh?
Timeskip
Springtime had finally arrived for Kurata. He had seen beautiful foxgirls, goddesses, immortal, and divine servant with own eyes. Whether it was on Falmart or Earth, he couldn't deny it. But there was one person who might be his soulmate. The one who captured his attention was Persia, the cat-eared glasses-wearing maid.
She was not a cute little Loli catgirl like Chen, but more like an onee-san type panther or lioness. Of course, he was not the type of person who'd want to date Chen, the bakeneko youkai girl, as his girlfriend. She's still young, plus he would be dead by that blonde-haired nine-tailed foxgirl. Though, he did try to date Inari, but he figured that she would most likely refuse his offer. All 10 girls would 100% refuse to going out with him. They were too hard, and deadly. So, the perfect option he has left was Persia. A little downgraded, but worth enough.
She wore pince-nez glasses and short bob cut hair with the patterns of leopard fur on her skin, but even they and her two feline eyes could not hide the cool image she gave off, and there was a special kind of feeling about her mature, sensual proportions which looked like they could barely fit into her maid uniform. Unlike in the Akihabara maid cafes or pachinko parlors, she was different from the usual exhibitionist cosplay attendants. She did not wear one of those heretical maid outfits which lewdly displayed her body, but a proper set of work clothes. These tightly-fitted orthodox maid clothes dripped with the true essence of maidness.
Kurata: I-I am Sergeant Kurata Takeo! 21 year old. Single! My hobbies are anime and reading doujinshi. Nice to meet you!
He saluted and bowed nervously. Persia just giggled at his attitude, which this is the first time she saw a man acting like that. Meanwhile with Kuribayashi, Mamina had seen Kuribayashi's moves during the previous battle and she admired her for them.
Lelei, on the other hand, was interested in Aurea the Medusa, so she drew close to carefully inspect her, even going so far as to touch the writhing tentacle-like strands of Aurea's snake-hair.
Rory, on the other hand, was stuck dealing with the chief maid, who was a faithful follower of Emroy. Rory felt that she couldn't just brush the chief maid off after seeing her earnest response, so she had to explain Emroy's message to her.
Mome the human maid was glued to Tuka and a few of Amaterasu's team. She was pestering her with questions about the jeans and the trendy T-shirt she was wearing. For the sun goddess's team members, which was Hecatia, Junko, Kaguya, Ran, Yukari, and Chen, she asked more complicated questions such as how they move their multiple tails, how are they so strong, and so on. Tuka could only answer within her knowledge, which was largely limited to how it felt, while they just answered randomly, avoiding wasting time.
On Itami's part, He briefed with Tomita and Katsumoto, while Jophiel was healing his wounds and Shinki, Inari, and Amaterasu were beside the bed.
Jophiel: Are you feeling better?
Itami: Yes, in fact, I'm feeling way better than before.
The four girls gave a soft chuckles. To think seeing a real angel and goddesses standing beside him, and taking care of him was a dream come true.
Outside the room
At a certain point in time, Bozes, under Piña's secret orders, had arrived at Itami's door, with a pained expression on her face. However, nobody heard her knocking. She waited dumbly in the dark corridor for some kind of reaction. She continued waiting, in front of the silent, unresponsive door. As she waited, she began to get worried about a passer-by spotting her, so she looked left and right, before taking a deep breath and exhaling to relieve her tension.
She opened the door and were dumbstruck at what she had discovered. She was greeted with a cheery, lively atmosphere. She saw Kurata had taken a group photo of everyone. They were completely ignoring her. Bozes could not tolerate the insult of being overlooked. And so, she stormed over to Itami and raised her hand before giving a good hard slap to the face.
Itami: AAHHHHH!
Timeskip: Morning
Throne room
Itami now has a bright red palmprint on the left side of his face. Truly, the victim's face was a picture of tragedy.
Pina: And that wound?
Said Pina as she looks really angry. After a huge disturbance in the middle of the night, the JSDF and the sun goddess members now stood before Piña, along with Bozes, who had been dragged before her, as well as the manor's maids. Bozes just lowered her head and answered that she did it. She did hit him with a slap. Pina dropped to her knees and grabbed her head, which felt like it was going to explode.
Pina: AGGGHHHH! What are we going to do with this!?
Not only he got slapped, there were also witnesses, specifically their goddess's members. And to add matters worse, she noticed the angel was smiling at her with her eyes closed. From the looks of it, it's like she gave a warm calm smile, but Pina knew that she wasn't giving her that kind of smile. Her eyes were shaded in shadow, giving out an unsettling atmosphere. It was as if Pina had just pushed the angel's limit. Amaterasu and the others didn't bother to stop her. Why? Because she is scary when she smiled like that.
The Imperial Princess Piña Co Lada now felt like she had swallowed a burning stone, given the scorching pain in her abdomen. She was scared stiff, of course, but given her circumstances, she had to take responsibility.
Tomita: Umm, we're going to take our captain back... So you can deal with it.
Lelei: He says you can make it work out yourself.
Pina: That won't do at all!
Pina could not just let 3rd Recon go like that, so she was looking for ways and means to keep them here, , like saying "How about breakfast with us", "Please accept our hospitality", and something like that. Kurata stood aside and explained in an apologetic tone.
Kurata: That's a kind offer, but the thing is, Captain Itami's supposed to appear before the United Nation meeting. You know, all countries.
Lelei's translation used a slightly different word, and thus the meaning changed.
Lelei: Itami has been asked to report to their assembly meeting from every kingdom.
Pina: Assembly meeting!?
From her understanding, only individuals with super-elite bloodlines and careers were granted the honour of stepping into the Assembly Meeting. A highly-placed person would have a chance to steer the ship of the assembly and become a leader of men. Even if one were a low-ranked officer, they would be permitted to brief to all leaders on the progress of the war. And once Piña learned Itami had been called to speak before their assembly, she immediately mistook him to be part of Japan's elite and an important man in his country.
At that moment, Piña instantly made a decision. She clenched her fists and rose forcefully to express her determination.
Pina: Then I'll go to Alnus Hill, too!
Itami: Eh?
Pina: I wish to apologize to your superior officer directly for violating the treaty!
To be continued...