《Harassing Thief Girl》 CH 1 I was Reincarnated as a Thief Girl and my Mission is to Harass the Demon Lord and the Hero. Volume: A Thief girl will do whatever she wants Prologue C The God has an idea. This is the world of the God. Yosh! This time its my win! The God of War did a Guts pose. When he first chose his representative, I honestly thought that it was impossible The God of Sorcery droops his shoulders. You guys, why dont you just stop meddling with the human world? The God of Thieves rebuked the other 2 gods, but they didnt pay him any attention. Its because human society has forgotten the term survival of the fittest and has, in turn, begun to rot said the God of War. Because of our involvement. Its all for the prosperity of the humans, you know? said the God of Sorcery. If its like that then no matter where my believers stand, they would always be outcasts said the God of Thieves who was already fed up with the other 2 gods. Yosh, our next match will take place on this world I wont lose like last time! So youre just doing it again. The God of Thieves let out a sigh. Eventually these guys representatives will go wild and end up killing my believers. Oh, I just thought of something pretty good. The God of Thieves will, in where the other 2 gods are holding their match, send in his own representative whose sole purpose is to wreak havoc upon his counterparts. CH 2 I was Reincarnated as a Thief Girl and my Mission is to Harass the Demon Lord and the Hero. Volume: A Thief girl will do whatever she wants Girl Reincarnation His name is Yashiro Eiji. A legitimate HikiNEET. His parents died several years ago and he is living off of the inheritance. This, of course, reached its limit. Out of necessity, he booted up his favorite PC and opened the HelloWork website and in the search parameters he entered [Girl], then clicked search. (TL: hellowork is a website that lists jobs, found it by googling this ϥ) So HelloWork has no girls. When will a girl fall from the sky for me? The keyword that he himself typed was the trigger that started Eijis sleazy delusions. The King of Sleazebags. Soon after, he attained Sage mode. Well, time to go out and eat dinner. Next to him were his usual toys that he had ordered by mail. He heads to the diner next to a convenience store. Its the only place he ever goes. If hes lucky, he might get to see the shopkeepers lovely daughter(estimated age: 8 years) who he worships. Oh, isnt that the daughter of the diners owner? Why dont I accompany her to the diner? Eiji, no longer in Sage mode, started to have delusions of going as far as grabbing her hand to lead her. Staggering, he headed towards the other side of the road where the little girl is. He noticed something getting near. A huge, unique Semi-trailer. (ED: I imagine something like this: http://goo.gl/QSRKeT) Eiji was hit 44 tons of pressure, instantly turning into minced meat. Oi, Eiji Eiji opened his eyes from suddenly having his name called out. He was in a pure white world. Oh, youre finally awake A voice resounded in Eijis head. Well, you you really are a low-life. The things in your head Apart from the common knowledge, arent most of them crimes? Mind your own business Eiji thought while looking around the surroundings. There wasnt anyone there. What a hobby, reading peoples minds. By the way, who are you and where in the world am I? I am the God of Thieves. This is the border between heaven and the human world. You were turned into minced meat by a truck, do you understand that? Eiji remembered it. Being attracted to a little girl, he jumped onto the road. Then a trailer drew near, and that was where his memory stopped. What will happen to me? Eiji impatiently asked. If nothing happens here, youll be going to hell, you know? Since youre scum. Seriously? However, Im here to give you a proposition. Would you like to become my Representative and reincarnate into another world? I like guys like you who are the Kings of low-lives. King of low-livesare you praising me? What do you mean by representative? Youll be the representative of the God of Thieves. Well, when you reincarnate, you wont remember that youre the representative. So, what should I do once I reincarnate? Youll be there with others like you. The God of War representative and the God of Sorcerys representative will be in that world. I want you to harass them Thats so troubleso~me Then youll be bound for hell~ Ok ok! I understand. Just forget what I just said. By the way, when you think of reincarnating, you normally get some sort of cheat. What kind of ability will I get? Unfortunately, the God of War governs over physical strength direct attacks and the God of Sorcery governs over wisdom and magical attacks, so I wont be able to give you anything like that. In exchange, I can give you the abilities of thieves. What do those do? Youll get Agile Aptitude and Prowess with Magical Tools The God of Thieves continues his explanation. The Agile Aptitude will give various boosts to the thiefs normal abilities. Hidden presence, trap discovery, lock picking, and assassination. Prowess with Magical Tools abilities are as follows: [Magical Tool Perception] I am able to sense the presence of a magic tool at a glance. [Magical Tool Identification] I can determine the ability of a magic tool and instantly know the command word for it. [Peerless Magical Tool] Magical Tools cost 0 Mana Power(MP) to use and can be used limitlessly. [Magical Tool Duplication] Can copy the ability of any magic tool and apply it to any normal tool. Amazing, this is an appropriate cheat. Isnt it? If its like this, there wont be any complaints, right? No no Yosh, the contract is complete. Well then, I will now hurl you towards your vessel in the other world. Your memories regarding me will disappear, but your abilities and purpose are drilled into your head, so you shouldnt need to worry. The God of Thieves started chanting something. Eijis existence began to fade and eventually vanished altogether. Well, if you dont have a magical tool, the abilities will be useless. (TL: say that first! -> tsukomi by 9) Ellis! Oi! Ellis! Someones voice resounded in Eijis head. Who is this Ellis? His head felt like it was split open. Thats right, I was hit by a semi-trailer Eiji remembered. Ellis has regained consciousness! Again, just who is this Ellis? Im glad that youre safe. Eiji turned towards the direction of the female voice beside him. There, he saw a woman with a nice body. It was an older woman with clothes and facial qualities that made her look Swiss. Who is this Ellis? Eiji impatiently asks the old guy. The old guy grabbed both of my shoulders, and said What are you saying? Youre Ellis, you know? She might have amnesia The obasan continued. Eiji looked at both of his hands. His skin was pale and white. The size was that of a childs. He looked down and checked his body from chest to feet. There was a cotton dressing wrapped around his head. No matter how much he looked, he was a kid. Eiji was reincarnated into the body of a little girl. Ellis-Eiji understood the situation to this point. She pretended to lose her memories and began to confirm the situation. The old guys name was Kevin and the older womans name was Alicia. They were Ellis neighbors and her fathers business partners. Angus sure is pitiable Alicia mumbled. In short, the story goes like this. Angus is a member of the Thieves Guild. He was either the center of the guild, or just the head of infiltration. (TL: TT__TT 󥬥Ȥϡ\ε\ɤǤЈԤɤǡDZˏ¤Ƥ) Ellis was Angus one and only daughter. Her mother died giving birth to her. Since then, Angus has been anything but doting on Ellis. It was something you call tough love. Ellis once ran away from Angus only to get chased around by slave traders. Ellis already had the skills of a thief that Angus was drilling into her everyday. Even so, Ellis was sweetly raised. Her skin was glossy and white, with straight, blonde hair that she inherited from her mother that came down to her shoulders. She had big, beautiful eyes that makes her look like a doll (ED: Or an anime character) Angus was worried that someone would take her away from him, so he made her register at the Thieves Guild. Ellis became a member of the Thieves Guild and Angus left her to one of his subordinates. For a female thief, their body is also one of their tools He couldnt tell what his other colleagues would do. Angus specialty was infiltration. It isnt a gender specific job. If she was in this field, he can bring her on jobs with him. Angus though it was a good choice, until the time he made a mistake on a mission. Angus and Ellis were on a mission in the house of a certain noble. It was a guild quest. The mission should have been simple, at least from what he could tell with his experience. However, this time, the situation was different. A poison dart trap was cleverly set. Both Angus and Ellis were hit by it. They were both somehow able to make it back to their hideout, but Angus ended up losing his life. Ellis would have also, had Eiji not reincarnated into her corpse. Ellis-Eiji was to wash herself. Alicia prepared a bath for her. In the reflection of the water in the tub, she could see her own naked body. It was Eijis dream to see a little girls naked body, but with this being her own body, she didnt really get aroused. She could only think of it as beautiful. Just like that, her sleazy thoughts exploded. Her own body is a no go, but its other girls, it shouldnt be a problem. Instead of the body of a HikiNEET, this appearance will do much better. On Ellis-Eijis lovely face, the smile of the King of Low-lives appeared. CH 3 I was Reincarnated as a Thief Girl and my Mission is to Harass the Demon Lord and the Hero. Volume: A Thief girl will do whatever she wants HikiNEET Vs Thief Couple The neighborhood couple, Kevin and Alicia, took good care of Ellis. They managed Angus funeral, and invited Ellis over for dinner every day. Alicia treated Ellis like her own child, holding her hand when they go to town or contact the Thieves Guild. Yes, they were too kind. At this rate, the 8 year old Ellis would definitely be adopted. Except shes actually a 30 year old HikiNEET. Suspicious Ellis-Eiji started to feel suspicious. Things felt really uncomfortable. Even though they are neighbors, there isnt a person alive who has such good intentions. The walks with Alicia still serve their purpose. Alicia believed that Ellis had lost her memories, so she answered anything Ellis asked. The currency in this world is called Rill. Judging from market price, at least for food and clothing, 1 rill equals roughly 1 yen. She also confirmed that she can read the language in this world. The signs on a storefront or guild papers, all were easily understood. She also got to know the relationship between the Thieves Guild and the Adventurer Guild. A thief works 100% with the Thieves Guild, and those who choose to work as a thief and adventure register as a [Thief Adventurer]. I want to stay as far away from Kevin and Alicia. However, she was in an Infiltration Unit with her deceased father. She cant go against guild orders. The one giving her the worst feeling is Kevin, hes the leader of the Intelligence Unit. First of all, I need to look for something useful to protect me. Ellis-Eiji started searching every nook and cranny in her house. This is when she started to realize her ability as a thief. She found a bunch of hidden doors, and unlocked all of her fathers treasure chests. She found her fathers diary as well as the diary of her past self. She read it carefully, taking in the experiences of her father and her old self. She noticed a faint glimmering light that came from an earring. She picked it up and words suddenly surfaced in her mind, and the faint light disappeared. [Earring of Intelligence. Ability: Target a person. You can hear what they are saying at a distance. Range: 1000 bit. MP Required: 3 Command Word: Strain my Ears] It would be weird if an 8 year old wore an earring. In her left hand, Ellis held her favorite Katyusha and in her right hand was the [Earring of Intelligence]. She then recited: [Magic Tool Duplication][Katyusha of Intelligence. Ability: Target a person. You can hear what they are saying at a distance. Range: 1000 bit. MP Required: 3 Command Word: Strain my Ears] It seems that 1 bit = 10 cm. (9: those who are lazy to calculate its 10000 cm or 100 meters) Ellis wore the Katyusha on her head. Kevin-san, Alicia-san, Konichiwa They both smiled and Kevin waved Ellis over. The wife is better at talking, but the husband was more suspicious. That day, Ellis stayed with them until midday. As she left, she set Kevin as the target for her Intelligence ability. Stop being so noisy, wait just a bit longer Perhaps on the other side it was Alicia shouting. I know, but even so, wont it be bad if I put her to use while shes mourning? After all, she is just an 8 year old brat. If this goes on, well start getting emotionally attached to her. Well, lets give it a little bit more time. That Angus bastard, since Im going to make Ellis my subordinate, I will have her search that guys house. Its totally fine, if that 8 year old blonde doll joins the Intelligence unit, she would be remarkable. All the others think so too. Then, if I sell her off to the nobles as their adopted daughter, she could infiltrate the upper class. Then all kinds of information will fall into my hands. Well be able to easily make back the million Rill we spent to kill that guy. That guy taking Ellis with her was beyond our expectations. Isnt it fine though? She survived in the end. Ellis smiled. She wont sympathize, since she knew that they were just trash. She has no proof of it though.If thats the case, she has to betray their expectations by slowly revealing what they were planning. Ellis ended her Intelligence ability, then, just before it started getting dark, she headed out. Ellis went towards the Adventurer Guild. Ellis entered the Adventurers Guild and went full speed towards the reception desk, where a woman was working. Frau-san, hello Ah, Ellis. Im glad to see you are doing fine. Due to Thief Guild requests, her father came to help adventurers many times. Thats why Ellis and Frau were acquaintances. Fraus age was around 18. An intellectual face, she is skilled with handling the rowdy set of adventurers. With her red eyes, pink skin, and flame like hair she gives off a passionate impression. A gentle Is something wrong? leaks out, and the difference between her appearance and her voice causes them to fall madly in love with her and become docile. Rumors say she is the daughter of the Guild Master. Ellis-Eiji heard that when she was walking around with Alicia. Frau is a pretty hot topic.(MrPop: Get it? Flame like hair? Hot Topic? Right!? Ill show myself out) The guild has a good, natural atmosphere, as Ellis looks around. It was mostly filled with dirty old men. There were a few handsome guys, but they hold no meaning to the sleazebag inside Ellis. Oh, that girl gives a good impression. Standing on one side of the guild, was a girl wearing a typical swordswoman outfit. She gave the alibi She might be an acquaintance to Frau, and walked towards the female swordsman. Judging off her looks, she seemed to be about 16. With green, shaggy hair, and the same color green long, slitted eyes. She was looking for something on the Guild Notice Board, often sighing. Ellis, with a big smile, started speaking to her. Onee-san, is there something wrong? The girl looked down at Ellis. From her perspective, it was like looking at a cute doll. She looked at Ellis with tender eyes. Just a little bit, cute little girl. (9: sounds better in jp kawaii oujo-san) The girl only said this much, Ellis saw her turning her gaze towards a certain quest.. It was a Treasure Hunt Quest. The HikiNEET had seen through the meaning of that sigh from earlier. Do you want to take up that Treasure Hunt quest? Ellis asked her, and then she continued. I am Ellis, I may look like this, but Im a member of the Thieves Guild, you know? She showed the girl proof that she was a Thieves Guild member. Im surprised, Oujo-chan. So youre a full fledged thief? The girl replied and then continued on. Ah, I apologize. I am Reeve. A swordswoman in training. Oh, I caught her attention. After all, I am a girl with a 10 year or so age gap with her. I saw Swordswoman-san sigh at the treasure hunt quest. You lack a proper thief, right? As expected from Oujo-chan. Ellis-chan was it? Ellis and Reeve sat at an open table and started to discuss. CH 4 I was Reincarnated as a Thief Girl and my Mission is to Harass the Demon Lord and the Hero. Volume: A Thief girl will do whatever she wants The Guardian is the great swordswoman. Reeve is the daughter of a noble in the countryside. As she saw her sisters one by one being sent around for political marriage, she did not know what will happen to her. When her turn came, she took her own belongings and ran away from home. From the start, she had known the basics of the sword; while on her journey, she had subjugated monsters. However, because of that, she didnt have much for travelling expenses. With Reeves strength, hunting down strong monsters was difficult. What she profited from were treasure hunting quests. If she can bring the target treasure to the guild, everything else other than the target becomes income to the whole party. However Reeve hated men who are always vulgarly looking at her. Because of those circumstances, she couldnt form a party. Nevertheless, female adventurers are really scarce. That was what the sigh some time ago meant. Reeve-san, the one that you were looking at, was it the Aida Labryinth treasure hunting quest? Both Father and I once explored there, why dont you go with me? Aida Labyrinth, the labyrinth is easy enough that a Thief and a Warrior can safely enter, even with both of them being at elementary level. At the deepest level, a mushroom delicacy called Aida Mushroom can only be collected there; as a result, recruit offers are always appearing for the labyrinth. However, its impossible to do it alone, but it is said that 2 people can do it. Though it could be difficult, and there is always a chance that youll have to leave someone behind. This knowledge came from Ellis and her Fathers diary. Ellis, is it fine? Oh, the oujo-chan changed to Ellis. I expected this Ellis anticipated, and laid the trap. Yeah, its just that I have something to request, is it fine? Ellis proposed an idea to Reeve. If I can be of help I will, Reeve replied. Ellis was satisfied with it and continued. I want you to call yourself my sister. Reeve was perplexed by Ellis request. What do you mean by that? And then Ellis, talked about herself and Angus to Reeve who was listening. However, the Kevin couple in the talk was still a secret. I want to register as a Thief Adventurer, but if its just me, they might say that Ellis has become odd and start thinking that I became weird. Thats why I want Reeve to claim me as my guardian. Since Reeve wants to challenge the Aida Labyrinth with me, it can become an good reason. Some time ago, as she heard about Ellis and Angus she has only been crying, thats why she has been reflexively nodding to the conversation. So then, right now lets go to the Thief Guild. And then after that, Reeve-san, from this day onward, stay at my home. Since now, you dont have worry about leaving the inn. Also, lets eat dinner at my house. Ellis all at once showered her with requests. Reeve didnt notice that Ellis had grasped the lead, only nodding. So then, lets go! Ellis pulled Reeves hand. and Frau, so a relative sister came, expressively coming along, and after that they went towards the Thief Guild. Frau seeing the both of them, she felt a vague emotion gush out. Somehow the 2 of them, no, this Reeve, I somewhat hate this. The reception at the Thief guild is Cathy. A so-called a Cat Eared-girl. Cathy, I want a position revision. As Ellis talked with Cathy, a puzzled look floated on Cathys face. She replied with these words, Ellis, Angus dying is unfortunate, but this occupation, abandoning it is regrettable, nya? Now Ellis winked towards Reeve. Reeve continued it. I am Ellis distant relative, Reeve. From now on, I will be looking after Ellis, I came here because I want her position revised from the [Infiltration Unit] to Thief Adventurer. Reeve youre magnificent. Just as expected from a noble. Cathys gaze seems to pierce Reeve. Fuun. Cathy snorted her nose and continued. If it nyike that we will proceed with the procedure nya. Ellis, you are really sure about nyis? Cathy did a last confirmation towards Ellis. Since [Infiltration Unit] is an Elite unit. Then Cathy said that what Angus did to her was only to protect Ellis, while also receiving criticisms from the surrounding, and why Ellis became a member of the [Infiltration Unit], she knew all about it. Its fine, Father is already gone. After this I will be living with Reeve. Cathy, thank you for worrying about me. Ellis eyes shot through Cathy. What is this feeling. I wonder how this girl feels this brutally cute. An image of fleeting, dangerous, and fickle tyrant was piled up, being transmitted. (EDN: no idea how to change second sentence. help) In that place was a doll-like girl. Still, from her, a pressure she doesnt completely understand is shooting out. Cathy couldnt help it and replied I understand nya. And then Reeve vacated out of the inn, and after they bought ingredients for dinner, Ellis with Reeve went back to the house. Ellis introduced Reeve to Kevin and her wife. From the both of their expressions, it was obvious that she was a person outside of their expectations. A bunch of disqualified thieves. Kevin-san, Alicia-san, for taking care of me up until now, thank you. From this day on, I will be looked after by Reeve. Thank you very much. And then before the couple could react, Reeve barraged them with words. I am Reeve. I am Ellis Distant Relative. For looking after Ellis up until now, I will always be grateful towards you. And then 2 of them,a u a u, did a sidelong glance, and after that returned to their home. Was that fine? Reeve asked. Ellis replied. Yeah. Since up until now, Kevin and his wife had been looking after me. Its just that, from now on I dont plan to trouble them anymore. Thank you for your cooperation. From Ellis face her emerald eyes stared at Reeve. Reeve unintentionally turn away her long slitted green eyes. And the reason she turned away was to shake of her feeling. She herself held interest in this doll. It was something society wont allow. Have I turned weird?(TL: nope its not you but the society) And so forth she was answering her own questions, she herself must be the girls guardian, she herself found a different reason, Reeve was somehow able to smooth it over. Buhihihihi The HikiNeet, some way or the other, quickly noticed Reeves reaction. Thats right. Yuri yuri will do right. The HikiNEET, once again realized that his delusions can materialize in this world. This is also because of this characteristic of this lovely girls appearance. Hey, Reeve, lets make do with a light dinner, tomorrow will be the day we will prepare for the treasure hunt so lets quickly go to bed. Youre right, lets do that. Ellis and Reeve ate a simple dinner, and then before going to bed, they went to the bathroom to wash their bodies. Reeves body was more beautiful than what she had imagined. An ordered shaggy green hair. Long slit eyes of the same color, and a white skin to the ends. Regarding her height as a woman, she is on the high side. If you see it here, its about 17bit(170cm). Her chest was small, but at the head of it was a transparent like pink. (TL: i think you know what the pink part means) Sitting straight up, from her smallish bottom to both of her feet were slender. Reeve wiped Ellis body. I need to seem like a Guardian right? Reeve smiled. Ellis-Eiji curiously thought about it. Right here it would be simple to have sex with her. However, after that it will be over. If possible she wants to keep having sex with her. Moreover, she wants the person herself to want it. Fortunately right now, she didnt have a penis to show her desire. Ok, this is an endurance match. Ellis returned a smile toward Reeve. Hey Reeve, you being so gentle towards me, it may have been my first time. Reeve unintentionally had an impulse to embrace Ellis. She falsified it by wrapping towel on Ellis body. I will also wipe Reeve. Ellis wiped Reeves body with a towel. As expected from the HikiNEET that had a pro call girl for him, it was unexpected that he was calm in this situation. (TL: OTL լLפǥץ֤ˤϰّbĥΥҥ˩`ȡȤ侲) The HikiNEET one by one expanded his delusions. Maybe at the night after the labyrinth has been captured. Seductively wearing a loose, sheer one piece. Reeve use this room, OK? Ellis was in her mothers room, while she lead Reeve to her fathers room, where there wasnt even one day that it was neglected from cleaning. Ill be at the room next to this one. Ellis walked along with Reeve, and then continued. Reeve, good night. Thank you for today. Ellis returned to her own room. Reeve wasnt able to sleep. In this one day, various things happened. Up until now, whenever she was exposed, it was the opposite of the vulgar stares from men, the eyes of a lovely girl, it was as if it was able to grasp the bottom of her womb. (TL: yes it is womb..OTL i totally dont get why, am i too pure for this-d-) right now she would be living with that girl. and that girl is the room next to hers. is there something wrong with me? she asked herself. she cant sleep. The door in the room made a sound as it was opened. Reeve being a swordsman, something like a presence, she can immediately grasp it. Then as she noticed it she got tense. The reason that she cant sleep was there. Reeve, are you awake? Ellis voice. Reeve made an effort to reply. Ah, Im still up. Ellis, is there something wrong? Ellis replied in a tearful voice. Nee Reeve, I want to sleep with you. Reeves heartbeat sprang up. If you are fine with it, wont you sleep together? She wrung out the trembling voice, trying to calm down. The little girl silently crawled into the bed. The little girl showed her face around Reeves chest, her sweet emerald eyes looked up to her. Thank you, Reeve, good night. The little girl buried her face at Reeves reserved chest, and before long she started sleeping. Being fished by it, it was as if the lust from earlier was a lie and Reeve pulled. She hugged the little girl, and slept in supreme bliss. yossha 1st stage completed. the HikiNEETs delusion materialization plan started. CH 5 The next morning, the two ate an early breakfast and began checking the equipment that they had on hand. Reeve had a thin cotton padding under her chainmail, as well as leather breast armor with her boots and gauntlets which were not in use. The weapons she had included a Shamshir that didnt seem to have any magical effects. Ellis had a jet-black costume, which was originally tailored leather. Because Ellis was still growing every day, cloth had been used instead. Although she had only been equipped with a single multi-purpose dagger as her weapon at the start, she now also had the high quality dagger that Angus left behind for her use. Due to her lack of physical strength, Ellis daggers are mostly for self-defense since she cant stab and kill a monster. In the case of a labyrinth search, some tools will be necessary. Well then, should we go out to the marketplace? Ellis and Reeve nodded to each other, and headed out to the market. That said, bringing proper funds is essential. Although Angus left behind some assets to be used, they couldnt squander them since they are to be used only when needed. Ellis had 100,000 Rill on hand, and to ensure they had enough, she also carried the ?Earrings of Intelligence? to sell. They did not want to rely on Reeves purse, her sighing from the Treasure Hunt quest earlier rang fresh in their minds. The two of them put on casual wear. Reeve had a snug-fitting, indigo dyed, three-quarter-sleeved pants and an unbleached colored pullover shirt. However, she had not forgotten to hang the Shamshir from her waist. Ellis was wearing a white blouse with a red short jacket and a red knee-length flared skirt. Reeve sighed at Ellis appearance, then muttered She really is a doll in a low voice so Ellis couldnt hear her. The two held hands and set out to the marketplace. /// The first street stall had various secondhand goods lined up. Ellis noticed miscellaneous goods were emitting a faint light, though there were very few of those items. In this world, magic tool appraisal is done via a special magic. The use of this magic employs the magic power of 5 people and consumes half a normal persons magic power while doing so, and the appraiser still charges a reasonable price. Ellis was muttering in a low voice. Reeve quietly asked Whats up, Ellis? Ellis stood on her toes to bring her lips close to Reeves ear, and whispered If I see something, I want to haggle. Reeve nodded in confirmation, and Ellis handed over the wallet stuffed with Rill to Reeve. The first item was a small, light brown leather bag used by children. It did not look out of place in Ellis hand. ?Bag of Gluttony. Ability: Swallows every item put into it. MP required: 0. Command Phrase to put item in: [Time of Meal]. Command Phrase to take item out: [Time of Turn].? I suddenly hit the jackpot Ellis mumbled in a low voice. Then with a louder voice so the shopkeeper could hear she pleaded to Reeve. Reeve, I want this bag. The shopkeeper intervened immediately. You have an expert eye, ojou-chan. Look at these if you like trying on clothes. Its a diagonal shoulder bag. It has a pleasant feeling to it. It suits you, ojou-chan. If you like it I can sell it for 10,000 Rill. Reeve gave an exaggerated response. We dont have 10,000 Rill to pull out! Relying on her acting skills, Ellis unwillingly puts down the shoulder bag. I understand onee-san, how does 7500 Rill sound? Reeve peeped unnaturally into the purse, then faced the shopkeeper and whispered in a sweet tone: If its 5000 Rill, would that be no good? When being stared at by Ellis set of emerald doll-like eyes, and Reeves green slitted eyes simultaneously, the shopkeep had no chance to refuse. With Ellis swinging the bag about in a good mood, Reeve asked: Although it certainly suits you, why did you want it so badly? Its a secret for now, Ill teach you when we get home. It was then recommended that a bag should be purchased for Reeve as well. She got a cloth pouch for 1000 Rill. Next was an old dagger that shined. ?Dagger of the Flying Swallow. Ability: For a certain amount of time, damage done to the enemy will be doubled. MP required: 1. Command Phrase: [Coming of the Swallow]? Ellis held the old looking dagger in her right hand and the other dagger in her left to compare them. ?Magic Tool Duplication? When she muttered the phrase under her breath, the effect was transferred to Ellis dagger. Reeve was then shown the dagger in her right hand. The dagger she held became the ?Dagger of the Flying Swallow?. How about this dagger? Speaking to Reeve in such a way that the shopkeep could overhear, then touching Reeves Shamshir and muttering the same phrase again. Reeves Shamshir became ?Shamshir of the Flying Swallow?. The ability of the old looking dagger then disappeared. Ellis mumbled As I thought, its not sufficient, and the dagger was returned to its former place. As she did so, she was deep in thought. Does the reproduction only work up to 2 times or is it random?. The next object to shine was a small silver ring. It was buried in a pile of rings costing about 2000 Rill each. ?Ring of Detoxification. Ability: To neutralize poisons in an object. MP required: 3. Command Phrase: [Wish Detox].? Ellis decided to experiment with this. Reeve, lets each pick our favourite ring from among the ones here. They looked through the pile and chose rings to their preference. Are the two shopkeepers sisters? They kept up pleasant smiles while helping the two find rings that matched their sizes. With the rings decided on, Ellis used ?Magic Tool Duplication?. Like before, the original ring lost its ability when the second ring was given the treatment. Next, the same experiment was performed. Holding the duplicate ring in her right hand, Ellis used the ability twice more. As expected, the source ring lost the ability when it was given to the second item. Although it takes time, the restriction can be avoided without a limit. Ellis, finally satisfied, said This is mine, this one is Reeves while handing over the ring with the copied ability. Reeve paid the shopkeepers 4000 rill with a smile, and they accepted the money with an equally pleased smile. Ellis smile was that of a sleazebag. Lastly, a small doll about the size of a thumb was discovered. ?Doll of Sacrifice. When the wearer receives an attack where their physical strength becomes 0 or lower, all damage from the attack is absorbed by the doll. The doll is then destroyed. MP required: 0. Command Phrase: Not applicable, automated type.? Finally. A big shot item has shown up. Reeve, I want this doll. Reeve inquired for the price. You could buy it for 1000 Rill, the shopkeeper had a happy yet calm expression on his face. Ellis was giving a look that screamed Buy it. Reeve made the payment without hesitation after seeing that. Ellis tied the doll to the frill of her skirt like a charm. Two matching dolls are then purchased at another shop for 1000 Rill. Ellis tied one onto the belt loop of Reeves pants. Embarrassing. Charming. Ellis put another one away into her bag. Shopping had only used up 12,000 of their Rill. Next was potions and adventurers tools. Incidentally, those can be bought from Frau at the Adventurers Guild. The two people proceeded into the building holding hands. Frau, hello. Although Frau welcomed Ellis with a smile, a tight gaze was thrown briefly towards Reeve, her bright red pupils locking on. Reeve noticed this right away and glared back with her emerald stare. Frau took her eyes off of Reeve as if ignoring it, and faced Ellis who was opposite of her. How are you doing today, Ellis? I came to purchase some recovery potions and a standard exploration meal set. Going somewhere? Yeah, Im going to the Aida Labyrinth with Reeve. Frau once again stared at Reeve. Reeve-san, I am aware you are somehow related to Ellis, but do you intend to put her in danger? I think thats rude towards a full-fledged thief. Ellis is still only 8 years old. Do you pick and choose your customers here? A nearby older man was displaying a dangerous expression towards Reeve and Frau who were creating an awkward atmosphere. Ellis decided to salvage the conversation. I decided to go to Adia Labyrinth because I rewrote my position from Infiltration Unit to Adventurer. This surprised Frau. Ellis, you became an Adventurer? Although I dont understand it yet, I intend to put some distance between the Thief Guild and myself. Ellis answered in a low voice. So please sell me the potions and the meal set. Frau nodded reluctantly and asked how many days they will be gone. I bought 10 potions at 1000 Rill a piece. The meal set was 1000 Rill for a single day, and we need enough to last for 3 days between 2 people. 16,000 Rill total. Because one Aida Mushroom sells for 4000 Rill, 4 of them are needed for us to break even. If we get less than that, were in the red. Frau turned to Ellis. Ellis, you must never act rashly. Before Ellis could answer, Reeve interjected. Its okay, I will protect her. I wasnt talking to you! Watching their backs as they left the Guild, Frau grew nervous. What guardian acts like that? And for Ellis to be so emotionally attachedperhaps she is being deceived? Yahit may just be like that! I must protect her! CH 6 Ellis and Reeve went directly to the Thieves guild. Their application should have been processed by now, so their renewed guild identification should be ready for pickup. Hello, Cathy When Ellis greets the cat eared girl, unlike usual, Cathy speaks to Ellis with a somehow dark expression. Hello Ellis. Im sorry but the application renewal has been put on hold nya. Cathy disregards Reeve and calls Ellis closer and whispers. Are you sure that woman isnt deceiving you nya? I think so, why? It was with great pains that it was arranged to get you into the infiltration unit, it is funny that you are purposely transferring to an adventurer nya. Does Cathy think so? I think so nya. In addition the deferment this time is the result of Kevins strong resistance nya. A rat has begun to move? Well Cathy, thinking calmly. At 8 years old I am being assigned to infiltrate alone, or with Reeve, where we are two people living and searching beginners class labyrinths, which do you think is dangerous? Cathy had considered it. Though, it was frozen probably because I was in the Thieves Guild for a long time, the infiltration unit was the most elite, but also had the most dangerous work. Though Angus had been protecting Ellis till now, and most of the risk had been forgotten. Ellis continued: Say that Kevin declares to protect me and you add me into his intelligence unit, hell still teach me things. And to strike home with Kathy: And bringing me into his unit for protection? The point of a woman in an Infiltration unit is to use her charm to maximum, totally the opposite of his declaration. I understand Ellis nya. This is a secret of two people nya. Please, Kathy Ellis and Reeve left the Thieves Guild. This is Elliss secret for only those two people. Kathy breaks into a grin. Thats true. Ellis is correct to be suspicious of Kevin. Come to think of it, the request that Angus lost his life on was accepted by Kevin This is worth looking into. We were busy all day long. Reeve called out to Ellis, while Ellis seems to be lost in thought. Ellis agrees with it being a busy day while Reeve remains silent after saying that. The two girls arrive at the house. Trouble seems to have appeared earlier than expected. The HikiNEET thinks up an idea. In the end its best to fill Reeve in by the end of the night. (ED: too close to an innuendo) Hey Reeve, since we are sweaty how about we bathe before dinner? Reeve greatly nods to Ellis suggestion. The two girls stripped and bathed like yesterday. Beautiful. Reeve stares at Ellis who appears that she would break if embraced too tightly. Reeve, its embarrassing. Ellis cheeks blush as though understanding the meaning of Reeves stare. Then in front of Reeve who is sitting, Ellis suddenly stands up bringing their faces to the same height. Reeve. Ellis brings her face close to Reeve. Then embraces her while giving her a kiss. The inside of Reeves head becomes blank. Buhihihihi~ Using the techniques that the hikiNEET learned from the professional home delivery sex service company, Reeve is attacked by an 8 year old girl whose body looks like a doll. It wasnt a stimulation that could be withstood by a 16 year old girl. After several hours, all that remains of Reeve is her twitching body after having been wrung out. Ellis, are you the devil? You could say that. Now then, its time to teach you about todays purchased goods. Reeve, please wipe my body and put pajamas on Reeve nods, and Ellis is wrapped with a towel and pajamas are put on. Ellis wipes Reeves body with a towel. The wiped places remind me of the intense pleasure from a little while ago. Reeve was unable to stand up for a while. Dinner is a sandwich and herbal tea that was bought along the way. While the two girls ate in a languid manner, Ellis explained her ability to Reeve. Reeve admired obediently. Today we obtained 4 magic tools. The first was the , where Ellis had the original and Reeve had the first copy of the item. The second item was the and , where both were first copies of the item. The third item was the , where again both items were first copies. The fourth item was , where Ellis had the original, and Reeve had the second copy, where the first copy was in Ellis bag. It is necessary to keep track of the original and the second copy because the ability gets lost on the second copy. Ellis passed Reeve the . This way if by chance Ellis and Reeve are pulled apart Reeve can hear Ellis conversation. Mr. and Mrs. Kevins story is then told. Reeve gets angry but Ellis calms her as there is no proof. Because the transfer from the Thief guild was exposed sooner than expected, Ellis requested to continue as they were with a smiling face. Reeve suddenly thinks. This 8 year old girl has been driven into such a situation I will at least become the shield of this girl. I believe myself to have been carried away. During that Ellis is doing something like an experiment. I see It should be similar When Ellis is heard talking to herself she begins to clean up. Now, because we dont know what will happen tomorrow, lets go to bed Ellis leads Reeve by the hand like its natural and heads to Reeves bedroom. Reeve couldnt resist. In the same position as yesterday Ellis looks up at Reeve with upturned eyes. However, her expression belonged to the King of Sleazebags. The smile of the Devil was reflected in front of Reeve. Reeve, are you asleep? Whispers the devil. Can we please try to continue from earlier? Ellis whispers while burying her face in Reeves chest. Reeve feels Ellis hit the tip of her breasts and leaks out a sigh. Already? Boring child. Ellis stares at Reeves face again She twists her body as she climbs up and faces the front of Reeve. Reeve instinctively buries her face under the pillow The sadistic Ellis pushes her way through Reeves hair and starts to lightly bite on Reeves ear and once more commands: Please. Reeve. While nibbling on Reeves earlobe ensnaring her. Please Ellis The Devils Night. After this, Reeve becomes Ellis for the night, and Reeve comes to desire it herself. /// A new morning came. Good morning, Reeve says Ellis with a refreshing smile floating on her face. Good morning, young lady says Reeve after breaking into a smile. The way she calls me is different from yesterday, probably has something to do with last night, but I dont mind. When I was preparing breakfast for two, a delivery was made from the Thief guild They were work orders stating to go to the guild tonight. Are you showing your true colors Reeve asks what it is in response to Ellis talking to herself. Isnt it normally abnormal for infiltration work to come to an eight year old girl? And I continue. This job is probably a dummy meant to restrain me, and main purpose is to dispose of you Reeve. Reeve understood immediately. Is it Mr. and Mrs Kevin? Yeah. When the two people finish breakfast they head out to the market. Todays purpose is assassination countermeasures for Reeve. Today several new items were put up shedding a faint light. I am searching for a particular important item. And having found it, it is the following item. MP replenishing is possible It is determined to be for Reeves personal use, and is confirmed that Ellis can replenish the MP without limits. Reeve has the original, and Ellis puts the first copy away in the bag. Reeve puts on the original and Ellis puts on the second copy. The first copy is put in Ellis bag. This is given the same treatment as the Flash Bracelet. And todays lucky find is this. Yesterdays experiment was the copy experiment. Because there was room on the , With various attempts, it was determined that copies could cant be made from the same system, in other words, I cant have two command phrase or automated on an item. Even when the copy fails, it counts as the copy effect having been used once. Well I was worried if the effects of the needle would transfer to the Shamshir properly, but there were no problems. The needle was put in the bag as it is. Is it because it is a command type and an autonomous type that both the Flying Swallow and Life Drain effects remained? This needs to be experimented separately. Well, I was worried about the effects of the needle transferring to the Shamshir properly, but there were no problems. The needle was put in the bag as it is. With this we should be fine even if attacked by several people. Miss, I would like to act violently soon. The 2 girls laugh together while facing each other. The preparations for the boobytrap are flawless. CH 7 The evening on that day. Following the Thief Guilds summons, Ellis brought her business tools and went towards the Thief Guild. Lowe could only accompany her up until they got to the Thief Guild, but after that came work in the darkness. Originally you were not to let the members of your family know you had workCif the work is a success, you go back as if nothing happened. If you fail, you get buried in darkness. It was just that type of job. For peace of mind, Ellis separated with Lowe outside of the Thief Guild. Lowe activated her Earrings of Spying at Ellis. Afterwards, Ellis replenished Lowes Ring of Mind and passed it to her, compensating for the MP. With these, Ellis voice will be transmitted to Lowe. Lowe disappeared into the alleys, and Ellis arrived at the Thief Guild. Cathy silently welcomed Ellis. Ellis, too, silently passed by her. Thereupon they whispered mutually. CathyCaught a tail-nya. EllisThanks Cathy. From only that exchange, Lowe understood that Cathy had gotten her hands on some helpful info for Ellis. Ellis entered a dressing room inside the guild, changed into her black clothes, and then entered the Guild masters room. Ellis has come. Ooo, so you have arrived. The Thief Guildmaster was a soft and flabby Mr. Chubby type of guy. Of course, even though I had went in and out of this room, if you can sense presences, then you can understand its just a disguise. This is a standard among the Thief Guild executive candidates. And then, the 8 year old Ellis saw through it. Oji-chan, why are you hiding? With those words, Angus proposal towards the Guild master namely, letting Ellis join the infiltration unit, was unearthed. Ellis, its a job. Yes Master. With your smarts, you should have guessed it to some extent, right? I wonder what it is, Master? The Guild Master heartily laughed. The hikineet who read the Diary studied the Masters traits and laughed with him. You, go and leave this paper there beside the guild master daughters pillow. He passed over a letter in an envelope. This is about Frau, isnt it? Thats right. The guild masters strangeness wont stop. Its just about an idiots tail being caught, you know. Aah, Master knows everything already. Understood, I shall conduct it. Yeah. Also about the organization, its already fine. You dont need to worry about it. Ellis rushed out towards the dark night. These were the two pieces of info that Lowe got from Earrings of Spying: Cathy is an ally, Frau is an enemy. And Ellis wordplay sounded idiotic. She was clearly being tested by the Guild Master. Ellis had simply infiltrated the Guildmasters house. From the start, Ellis already had a high ability foundation and also had the Thief Gods appending bonus from the Agile aptitude. Ellis knew that Lowe was jealous of Frau. Fuun, so then should I suggest an offer to her? and then she thought about it. Well, lets make her mine tonight. There was no mistake that Frau had affection towards Ellis. Oh Yeah plan: 2nd target capturing: start The hikineet was burning up. Around Lowes surrounding, several peoples presences were drifting about. They sure are good as expected. The Thief Guild that is. Its not that several of them were accompanied by bloodthirst, no. It was just that Lowe is a swordsman. Including the blood thirst, she sensed all presences. Lowe indirectly moved towards a spacious location. For such a situation, the usual strategy was to place yourself in a narrow place and then take them on one-on-one. However the opponents this time are Thieves. They are a company of people who use projectiles, poison, and whatever else there is. If thats the case, then it will have to be like this. Inside the darkness of the crescent moon, Lowe came to a spacious spot. And the presences chased her. ?Chameleon? Lowe erased her presence. Confused, the presences gathered to where Lowe was. As the presences accumulated, Lowe once again chanted. ?Let there be light.? The place was enveloped in light. The thieves panicked in chaos as they were blinded. Oh Swallow, come forth! Several thieves were stabbed to their deathCthere was no need to attack again. It was a one-sided slaughter. A slaughter that you cant even call a match. And then Lowe found a recognizable face. She indifferently cut off the head. Then, after extracting its blood, she wrapped it with cloth and put in her pouch. Fuun~, so its that room. Ellis found Fraus room. Looking at how the light were off specifically here, she sure is fired up to catch me. Now then, I wonder how I should do this? The Hikineet wonders. So I should purposely get caught for a moment and let her have the upper hand. As you would expected from the Hikineet. The things it thinks are all sleazy. Ellis infiltrated the room from the window. Inside the dark, she put the letter near Fraus pillow. And accordingly, a sudden light magic was cast, and Ellis was binded from behind. The one who bounded her was Frau. Ellis surrendered. So a mission failure. Frau, kill me. Fraus hand that was binding Ellis loosened, and Frau made Ellis stand face to face with her. Stupid Ellis. I cant just simply kill you for this. But..still Ellis started pouring out her tears in large drops. As if her heart was captured by such appearance, Frau felt a heart-wrenching pain. Its notCits not like that, you know! I didnt intend for Ellis to feel sad! Got her. The Hikineet knew that she had caught Frau in her spiderweb. I am a thief, you know. Mission failure is death, you know. Father also died, you know. After hearing Ellis sobs, Frau noticed that the lending hand she was holding out was outrageous. Hey, Frau, please kill me. If I just stay like this, then I wont be able to go back to the guild. Ellis was pressing for an answer. Frau was in chaos. Im sorry Ellis, Im sorry, you did not fail, OK? Thats why, please dont cry Really? The emerald colored eyes leaked a large teardrop as Ellis gazed into Fraus deep red eyes. Yes, really, thats why, please dont cry. Ellis embraced Frau.and then kissed her. In panic, Frau received it and furthermore embraced Ellis back. Im sorry, Ellis, Im sorry. The birth of the 2nd victim. buhihihihi (9: and here is you favorite a low-life man in a loli Hikineet Eiji!!!) Until morning, Frau was tormented by the Hikineet techniques of the 8 year-old girl. My mission, its a success, right? Frau wasnt able to get up. She could only entreat Ellis. Ellis, your mission is a success. Thats why, please come back again. Shut yer trap, you swine!(9: and a birth of a pig) With Ellis last words, Frau fell into a state of panic. To be loved by Ellis, what should I do?! Ellis continued speaking. Right now, I am going back to the Guild; however, werent there things that you had to say? Ah, thats right. If I tell her everything, then Ellis will come again. Frau started to dress flusteredly. *** I have come back. Ellis went inside using the secret back door of the Thief Guild and reported to the Master. How was it?the Guild Master grinningly inquired. Ellis returned with a smile. The Thief Guild sure has some unpleasant points. The guild master heartily laughed. A messenger entered. A person calling herself Elliss relative is coming here carrying Kevins head. What should we do. Should we kill her? Another messenger. The Adventurer Guildmasters daughter came here suing Kevin for instigating a trap on Ellis. A~re, why is Ellis here? Cathy came in with these ending words. Proof of Kevin being Angus murdererCI got my hands on it, nya~ The Thief Guildmaster called his aid and whispered something. Then he turned to Ellis. Ellis, daughter of Angus, from now on, you are a Thief Adventurer. As much as possible, please help finance the guild. Thank you, Master. As Ellis hugged him, the Master whispered. Just a little bit more here. Okay. And then, Ellis kissed the the designated place where the Masters skin was exposed. Then Ellis went back to the Thief Guilds hall, and everything was already settled. Thief Guilds Iron Law: Death to those who kill their comrades. The fellows who were involved with Angus murder, including Kevins wife, were all purged by sunset. CH 8 Ellis, you can have Kevins house. The thieves guild master issued an order that all of Kevins property would be given to Ellis. If he didnt do it this way, then a fight would break out among guild members over inheritance. The Guild normally takes possession of all property owned by members who are removed due to criminal offenses, but Kevins cleansing was performed by Reeve. Also considering the circumstances of the incident, Kevins property could be considered as remuneration for Angus. Other than that, the property of the other cleansed members shall be forfeited to the guild and distributed to the other members. Ellis and Reeve started the next day by cleaning up Kevins house. Then, the cat-girl of the thief guild popped in. Ive come to help, nya! Furthermore Katie continued, Ellis, what are you going to do from now on, nya? Suddenly, that question from Katie caused Elliss head to swirl. Brave Demon Lord Can not forgive Ellis-Eiji remembered. She was incarnated in order to harass. Reeve, Katie, have you ever heard of a brave or a demon lord? To Elliss crazy question Reeve and Katie looked between each other. Ive never heard of them. Ive never heard of them, nya. So neither the hero or the demon lord have appeared in this world yet. Or maybe they just havent become well known yet. So first, I need power to harass them. Ellis-Eiji noticed how excited she had become. As a former hikineet, this was the first time she had ever had a purpose. While cleaning Kevins house, a lot of treasure was pulled up from hidden spaces throughout the house. Although they didnt find any magical tools, they were able to find various jewels, cash, and expensive ornaments. Katie, can you take care of this stuff? If you go through the thieves guild, theyll take a 10 percent commission, nya. Thats fine. After liquidating all of Kevins property, it comes to about 30 million ril. Isnt this an amount of money where I would never have to work again? Reeve disagreed. What a half-hearted amount. What do you mean? The usage of 10 million ril can easily be imagine, but if you multiply that amount by just 3, it becomes 30 million ril and people believe that they have received infinite wealth. People give into this illusion and end up spending all their money even though its actually not that large of an amount of money. Hoh. Ellis was impressed. Reeve is amazing. As expected of a former daughter of an aristocrat. What about the building, nya? Elliss house is already quite large. The dining room has a table big enough to seat six people, a living room, and four bedrooms along with a guest room. She also has a kitchen and a washroom, so her house was big enough for five people to easily live there. With one room for Ellis and Reeve, there are still four more vacant rooms if you include the guest room. Kevins house was almost right next to Elliss and the space between them was only big enough for one person to be able to squeeze through. They were both only a short distance to the highway, and Ellis had a large backyard that could be used to spread a garden. Miss, why not sell Kevins house as well? Reeves suggestion was probably the right one, but in fact, if it is done carelessly, it would go against Elliss interests. She didnt want any strange new insects to become the new residents. Can you have the price evaluated? Sure, nya. You should make the offer price double the value and drop the price according to the opponents negotiations, nya. Lets do that for now. While Ellis and Katie discussed the price, Reeve had a bad feeling about something. Ellis, on the other hand, felt that a new prey was about to be caught. ? A few days later, as to be expected, Reeves enemy and Elliss prey visited the mansion. Hello, Ive come to greet my new neighbors. What appeared before Ellis and Reeve was Frau, the daughter of the adventurer guild master. I bought this mansion as a girls dormitory for the adventurers guild, Frau explained. By the way, the purchase price of the mansion that the adventurer guild presented to Ellis was 100 million ril. This was three times as much as the market price. Honestly, its crazy. Then the adventurer guild master himself appeared from behind Frau. Sorry to bother you with no prior notice. The guild master could only look awkwardly at Ellis and Reeve. Frau ignored her father. Well then, would you please lend me a room in your residence from where I can manage the dormitory? Ellis had to work hard to not reveal her disgusting smile. She gently walked up to Frau and whispered in her ear with a low voice that no one else could hear. Is this a request from a pig woman? Yes. Tears began to form at the end of her scarlet eyes. I understand. After softly kissing Fraus ear so that neither Reeve nor the guild master could see it, Ellis returned to Reeves side. From this day forward, Frau will live with us in this house. Miss! What are you saying? Reeve objected. This was natural. But this time, Ellis whispered into Reeves ear. The sun is still out, and the words we use now are not the same, right? Reeve stiffened. What will you say when the sun goes down? Reeve, overwhelmed by the pressure from Ellis, became red and shyly scratched her ear. I am my ladys toy. Very good. Ellis turned back to the adventurer guild master as if nothing had happened and showed him the intention of accepting Frau. Im sorry. I will pay you rent, of course. Well, I can be more relieved if she stays with you than some funny bastard, so I do appreciate your help. Papa Frau, you are being deceived. Certainly, there are no strange guys here, but that doesnt mean nothing will happen. ? Lets all take a bath. I understand. I will go get it ready. As Reeve left to go prepare the washroom, Ellis reminded her to prepare a spot for Frau as well. Frau stood motionless in a corner of the living room. In a new situation and a new house, she was in a situation where she was unsure of where to put herself. Adjusting to a new place is hard work. Ellis, remembering the feelings of the hikineet, took Fraus hand and guided her around the house. For today, please use this room. Ellis brought her to the houses guest room which was the highest room in Elliss house. However, Frau felt dissatisfied. If its alright with you Elliscould I have a room next to you and Reeve? Ellis slept in her mothers old bedroom and Reeve slept in her fathers old room. There was another bedroom near Elliss that was across the hall from Reeves but no one had slept in it for quite some time. Please give me that room, Frau pleaded. Ellis admired Fraus spirit. Alright, you should fit right in to a filthy room like that. Tomorrow, you can help me clean up my fathers mementos. With her peach skin flushing a slightly darker shade of red, Frau replied delightfully, Then I will take that room, please. Miss, the bath is ready. Im on my way now. Ellis responded to Reeves calling voice and began pulling Frau to the washroom. Alright, lets take a bath together! Fraus expression showed that she didnt know what Ellis was talking about. Is bathing not done alone? While entering the washroom with such a doubt, there was a girl who was already naked inside. Frau shook. Because standing there was a beautiful woman with shaggy green hair and bright green eyes. Furthermore, she had a naked body that seemed to have jumped right out of a painting. Before Frau could figure out what was happening, Ellis had already stripped naked as well. Straight blond hair that reached her shoulders. A thin body that looked like it would break if you squeezed it too hard with white porcelain skin. Frau became dizzy from the two beautiful women that stood before her. REEVE! Pour the water! Then Ellis and Reeve jumped into the water. Frau felt a sense of alienation. Frau watched the two jump into the bath, and she came to a decision. She took off her blouse and long skirt. She stripped off her underwear. She became naked and quietly asked, Ellis, please teach me the proper manners. Reeve showed a look of triumph. Ellis was full of humorous laughter. Burning deep red hair spread across her back in a fluffy wave. Sparkling crimson eyes as if to expose her passion. Peachy skin, which usually silences men, was now dyed red. And an impression that was the exact opposite of reeve. Rich breasts, a tight waist, and a glamorous butt. Frau, come in as well. At Elliss request, Frau began to approach the two. It feels good. Ellis handed a squeezed towel of cold water to Frau. Miss, lets clean your body first. Reeve cut inbetween Ellis and Frau as if to neglect Frau. Reeve wiped Elliss body with a towel. Ellis wiped Reeves body with a towel. Frau could only stare at the figure of the two. Her sense of time was gone. The sense of alienation peaked. She was overcome with sadness. Ellis came over to Frau. Frau left her body to Elliss hands. Ellis began wiping Fraus body with a towel. The sense of alienation evaporated and the sadness turned to joy. Its time for supper. The evening meal on that day was made by lightly grilling the meat that Reeve had pickled the other day. They also had leafy vegetables for sandwiches and had tea that was bought from the market. Frau ate silently. Reeve ignored Frau. Ellis did not say anything to either of them. After dinner, Frau returned to the room she had requested, but she could not sleep. Why did I come here? Because I had a sense of inferiority to the harmonious relationship between Reeve and Ellis? She could not understand her own actions. Sorrow struck again. Then she heard the door open in the next room over. Fraus curiosity was piqued, and she tried to pay attention to the sound. A new sound was coming from Reeves room. Frau snuck out and tried to casually listen at the door. The sound she heard was the panting voice of Reeve and the irrepressible voice of Ellis. Frau felt several times more terrible than she had in the bath. She got caught on the door. She lost all power in her legs. Tears began to come out. Why am I even here? Then the door was suddenly flung open. What a bad girl, eavesdropping like this. Ellis was standing there in the doorway. And Frau understood everything. I was happy when Ellis called me a bad child. Lets go to your room. Fraus left hand was taken by a girl whose height only reached up to her breast, and she wiped away her tears with her right hand. Frau was thoroughly embraced that night until her consciousness began to fade. As she slowly drifted off, she realized that she was being toyed with. There is no point in competing with Reeve. We are both just toys for this doll. And we both enjoy it. Frau is unexpectedly muscular. After Frau fainted, Ellis rubbed Fraus stomach before getting up and returning to her other waiting toy. CH 9 Now that the risk of being sold away has disappeared, I think I should check up on the common sense of this world again. After dealing with Kevin and securing living expenses, Ellis has become interested in the fantasy world she has been blown into. Three dishes of lightly boiled oatmeal with bovine milk is placed down for breakfast. This was all prepared by Frau. Apparently, Frau is good at cooking. At the dining table, Reeve is set up in front of Ellis in the center of the three-seater. Frau decided to sit next to Ellis and set the dishes down accordingly. Both Reeve and Frau ate their breakfasts silently, but the heavy atmosphere from yesterday had already disappeared. So Ellis decided to make a proposition. Reeve, Frau, Once were done eating breakfast, how about we explore the house? Thats alright. I have to run over to the market and the guild later though. I also have to arrange a variety of things for the dormitory. This is good. Some nice, friendly interactions. That reminds me. Frau, what about your job with the adventurer guild? There is a new receptionist in charge since yesterday. So now youre Winnie the Pooh? Reeve mumbled under her breath. (TL Note: This fantasy world apparently knows who Winnie the Pooh is) How rude! Im the manager of the adventurer guilds female dormitory! Ah. An insult to Fraus professional pride. Truly a low blow from Reeve. Whos the genuine Mr. Pooh? How can the run-away girl laugh in this situation? Ah. Going right for Reeves weak point. Merciless. I didnt run away. I became an adventurer! Reeve raises to Fraus provocation. Frau snorts. Then how about you go make some money? Ouch. Alright, get up from the table! Wherever you want it! And Reeve has brought it to physical violence. I guess this means Frau is better in a battle of words. Yes, lets stop here. Ellis decided to get between Reeve, who had stood up to throw a punch, and Frau, who had stood up to receive her punch. These two people just cant help but to fight each other. Well, my breakfast went well at least. With two people accompanying me, we confirmed the construction of the house. The building materials were mostly stone, brick, and plaster. Timber was used for the window frames and the like. There was no glass in the windows, but there were dishes and pottery. That fact that there are bricks and pottery must mean they have a culture of baking clay. Copper work and ironwork are also seen here and there. This means that blacksmithing technology is advancing nicely. Heating is done mainly through burning firewood and charcoal. The only problem was the water supply and sewage. Water is drawn from a well. Since that well was shared between Kevin and Angus until now, Ellis is able to monopolize it. The biggest problem is that there is no toilet. Or rather, there is no toilet. Thats right. Toilets do not yet exist. It is so important, I cannot stress this fact enough. I have to do something about this. Also, I want to take an outdoor bath. To see the trees as I relax in the water. This world probably has four season. I want to bathe even after it gets cold. Hey Frau, do you know about public baths? Frau stared at Ellis clearly wondering, what is this doll asking? Does Ellis want to go to the public bath? Oh, so they do have something like that. But its not a very pleasant thing. Why? Frau couldnt help but frown. The gazes of the men are annoying. In addition, the feeling of your clothes sticking to your body doesnt feel good. According to Frau, public baths in this world all seem to be mixed. You also have to bathe in your clothes. Ellis didnt give up this chance, though, and kept asking questions. How do you boil the hot water for the bath? Usually we just burn some fire wood. This means that the basic mechanisms of public baths exist in this world. Ellis stopped talking about it here and decided to return to the house and explain her abilities to Frau. Actually Frau showed an unbelievable expression to Elliss explanation, so Ellis placed her shoulder bag in front of Frau. This is my Bag of Gluttony. Seriously!? Ellis and Reeve jumped in surprise at Fraus excitement. This-This is a super rare item! How much is it worth? Priceless! Fraus excitement could not be stopped, and her words would only accelerate as it grew. You can carry anything in this bag! The Bag of Gluttony is a magic tool with the alias of Merchant Killer. It can easily throw the market price of special items into disarray, and it could be used to turn an entire citys economy into turmoil. In a sense, its actually a cursed tool! If that is true, then what if you had two of them? Ellis quietly asked the worked up Frau. Impossible! Dont be stupid. Frau was worked up and blatantly denied such a possibility. To such a reaction, Reeve pulled out her pouch and sang the command word. Fraus face turned a pale blue. I cant believe it I wont believe it Frau, go get your favorite bag. Ill turn it into a Bag of Gluttony. Unbelievable. Frau just kept muttering that word over and over again as she made her way up to her room and brought back a black leather tote bag. This is my favorite bag Well then, give me one moment. Ellis took out all the items from the bags and held her Bag of Gluttony in her right hand, and Fraus tote bag in her left before casting [Copy Item]. With that, the ability left Elliss bag and transferred to Fraus tote bag. After that, she switched the bags in her hands and cast [Copy Item] again. With that, Elliss shoulder bag was now a first copy and Fraus tote bag was a second copy. With that, your tote bag is now a Bag of Gluttony. When you want to put something into your bag, you just have to say {Meal time}. When you want to take something out, say {Turn time}. To demonstrate, Ellis picked up a chair that would ordinarily never fit into the tote bag. She held it over the tote bag and chanted {Meal time}. With that, the chair was sucked into the tote bag. Fraus eyes almost popped out of her skull. Ellis and Reeve had to work very hard to not laugh at Fraus dumbfounded expression. Why not check the contents of your bag? As she was told, Frau looked into her tote bag. Inside was a curious sight. The inside of the bag looked the same as usual, but for some reason, she could see a chair inside it. When she put her hand inside the bag, she could certainly feel the chair on her hand. Why not try to take it out? As urged by Ellis, Frau repeated the command word. {Turn time}. Surely, as she repeated the command word, the chair became bigger, as if it was a distance away and was now coming closer until the chair was neatly taken out. Well then, shall we continue our walk? Frau silently nodded her head. Today, Ellis wore a small white hat and a pale-red, knee-length dress. Her favorite shoulder bag was hanging diagonally across her chest. Reeve wore black leggings along with a tunic dress. Her shamshir was bound to her belt along with her pouch. Frau wore a floral yellow long skirt with a fluffy white blouse. Her black tote bag was carried on her shoulder. First of all, we three people will walk around the house. According to Frau, the mansion is on the edge of the eastern suburbs of the city. For Ellis, this landscape reminds her of a quiet, residential area. Angus and Kevins houses were standing side by side, but on the opposite side of the street there were no buildings for about another 100 meters. The area around the two buildings was about 50 meters to the left and right. This was all land that belonged to Ellis. The land was on a gentle slope with the highway passing past Elliss house and going up the hill. With her well placed to the side of the house on slightly higher elevation, Ellis came to a conclusion about the landscape. When walking further north up the hill, Ellis found a stream about 100 meters away from the mansion. The stream had a width of about 10 meters and the flow was quite fast. Hey Frau, is this someones land here? Well, I dont see a building anywhere around here. Apparently, the concept of land ownership in this world is very sparse. Perhaps it is because the population density is not that high. Next, turning to another direction, we crossed the road to the south side of the mansion and went down the hill. There, wet lands were spread out as far as the eye could see. As a matter of course, there were no buildings here and the scenery remained natural. There isnt much we can build on wetlands, Frau explained. Because of this, the city of Warrens building area remains narrow. Nice job Reeve. I finally know what the citys name is. Frau continued. Because Warren is just a relay point for trade and labyrinth exploration, the city doesnt have any real enemies like the Magical City does. Now that I think about it, Reeve is a daughter of an aristocrat and Frau is the daughter of one of the citys leaders, so I could probably ask them about whatever I want. Well, lets finish our walk and get lunch in Warren. After that, we will have to clean up Fraus room for the night. At the mention of night, Fraus face was dyed red. Ellis smirked at the shy reaction of Frau. She generally avoided mentioning night-time activities during the day, but every once in awhile she would bring it up abruptly just to see this reaction. Walking for awhile towards the center of the city, the number of houses alongside the road gradually increased as did the traffic. The road they were on would eventually reach the center of Warren. Warren, a trading city, had a large shopping center at the citys heart. Street stalls were lined up along the roads in all directions at the citys center. Merchants were all over: buying, selling, and exchanging goods. Furthermore, residential areas were spread out to the north, south, east, and west. The city did not have a wall surrounding it, so that means that the security of Warren and its surroundings must not be that bad. How about this store? The three decided to stop at an affordable restaurant that Frau suggested. As they sat down at their table, waiters immediately brought out a thick menu. They serve all kinds of food here, so feel free to find your favorite. While listening to Fraus explanation, Ellis looked over the menu. Oh, they have rice here as well, Ellis murmured surprisingly. Apparently the food culture here isnt that different from Eijis world. Ellis-Eiji sighed in relief. After all, unfamiliar meals are stressful. Ellis, who was feeling slightly better, tried speaking up while she had the chance. From now on, we should make a rotation for cooking duty. With such a proposal, Reeve gave a troubling look. Frau, on the other hand, looked like she had just won a major contest. Uu I dont mind making Elliss meals every night. It was two reactions on the complete opposite sides of the spectrum. Ellis decided to send out a life boat. Im also not that good at cooking Reeve, so lets all be sure to help each other if anyone needs it. Miss Reeve had a few tears form in her eyes. If Ellis says so. Meanwhile Frau looked slightly disappointed. Ellis was relieved that the two had at least stopped fighting each other for the time being. But wait. Why am I bothered if my two toys get along? Hmm. Oh well. Its best to get along well with others anyway. CH 10 After finishing lunch, the girls decided to take a look at the other street vendors and shops they hadnt yet looked at. Do you know any magic tool stores, Frau? I do. Did you want to take a look? Yeah. I thought Id take a look at the market prices of some magic tools. Frau nodded and then gave Ellis a little wink. Alright, but you cant sell a Bag of Gluttony. If you pull one of those out, it will definitely cause a panic. I understand. Ellis nodded obediently. So far, Ellis had made due with the magic tools she had found scrounging through the street vendors, but it will probably become necessary to eventually find a magic tool with a specific effect. At that time, she will probably have to buy it from a magic tool shop. The store that Frau brought them to was at the center of the town with other luxury goods shops. Before letting them enter, though, Frau stopped and turned to face Ellis and Reeve. Before we go in, you should both remove any magic tools that you are wearing. What, why? Frau furled her eyebrows. The owner of this shop is a troublesome person with quite the nose for magical tools. He will almost certainly be able to sniff yours out. Ellis and Reeve followed Fraus instructions and put all their magic tools inside their Bags of Gluttony, but the question remained about what to do with the bags themselves. Reeve is the one who found a solution to this problem. Give me your bags. I will wait out here with them and listen to your conversation with my Intelligence Piercings. Oh. Ellis and Frau had to clap for Reeves idea. They happily gave their bags to Reeve, and Reeve handed over her wallet before activating her piercings. Then were going, Reeve. Un. Have fun, ladies. Lets do it. Ellis and Frau made their way into the shop. There were no actual goods set up in the shop, though. Instead, there was just a variety of papers posted onto the walls. Where are all the goods? Ellis mumbled unintentionally. There are various reasons for, but the biggest one is to make sure nobody can switch the magic tools with a look-alike. Frau explained. Well. I guess this means I cant get the items cheaply like with the stalls Then the old shop owner came out from the back. Oh Frau. Its been a long time. Have you brought in a request from the adventurer guild? Frau greeted the shopkeeper and smiled as if she was seeing her grandfather after a long time. No, I just came to see what kinds of tools you had today. Ah, so thats why. Feel free to take your time. Oh, I dont believe Ive ever met this cute young lady before. The shopkeeper finally noticed Ellis as well, but he had so much trust in Frau, that he did not feel even an instant of suspicion for the little girl. Hello. Ellis introduced herself to the shopkeeper before being taken by Frau to read the explanations on the wall. Flame Bomb RingCShoots a flame bullet at the opponent. Basic damage: 10. Required MP: 5. Price: 10 million ril. This was the content listed on the paper. According to Fraus supplement, the average adult male has 10 HP and 10 MP, so this ring which deals 10 basic damage is quite powerful. Of course, the price is quite powerful as well. Offensive magic tools are great for self-defense. Youre right, but 10 million ril is really expensive. While listening to Frau read off the explanations for the items, we continued through the papers. Other offensive magic tools were listed there, but they were all roughly 10 to 20 million ril. Ellis decided to give up on attack magic for now and wait for them to appear in the stalls. The shopkeeper motioned to a different wall on the other side of the store. Auxiliary magic tools are over there. Amulet of SilenceCSeals the magic of one person. Required MP: 5. Price: 1 million ril. The price difference between auxiliary magic and offensive magic was huge. Isnt this profitable? When Ellis asked, Frau shook her head. Although auxiliary magic is certainly powerful, its use is limited to only certain opponents and certain situations. It also uses half of your total MP, so generally the usability of it is bad. So thats why it is only one-tenth the price. Ellis took a keen look at the next bulletin. Spirit RingCthe wearers MP is increased by 10, and any MP consumed is drawn from the ring first. Required MP: 0. Price: 100 million ril. None in stock. Its the same as three of Kevins houses! Frau noticed Elliss excitement and tried to clarify for her. The Spirit Ring has no drawbacks, and it would allow even an amateur to be able to fire off two fireballs for free. It is a popular magic tool that is usually bought up by the rich. Ellis whispered into Fraus ear, How many could I sell? This was a natural question. With Elliss hands, she could photocopy an endless supply, but Frau shook her head. The adventurer guild would pay you 50 million ril for a ring, but the guild would thoroughly check the ring upon its delivery. The second you turn one in, it is suspected to be a stolen item. In other words, it was impossible to get rich quick. Elliss plans for massive sales with the Spirit Rings ended as quickly as it began. There were many other types of auxiliary items with a price range generally around 1 million ril. There were no tools that stood out to Ellis specifically until she found another familiar name. Sacrificial dollCIn the event that an attack would cause someones HP to fall to zero or below, the doll takes all damage and crumbles. Required MP: 0. Price: 100 million ril. None in stock. Its a very useful magic tool. With it, its like you have two lives. Thats why it is also at the highest price of 100 million ril. Ellis chewed on her fortune; she was satisfied with this amount. Ellis then asked the store owner a few other questions she still had. Generally, healing magic tools like recovery or detoxification sell for 100 thousand ril. Frau explained. Its because these magic tools are found frequently in labyrinths, and since those tools can be substituted for potions from the guild, the price is quite reasonable. Adventurers still like to equip them just in case of emergencies after all. If the price for them is 100 thousand ril, then the selling price is 50 thousand ril. It would be boring to duplicate and sell these. Although Ellis was becoming disheartened, she eventually found a posting that caught her interest. Fever StoneCThis stone glows red. Necessary MP: 1. Price: 100 thousand ril. What do you use this stone for? Frau obediently answered Elliss question. This is an alternative magic tool for coal. Adventurers use it to cook food while exploring the labyrinth. To cook. As in, to boil water. Ellis laughed and then whispered in Fraus ear once again. If you were to have enough of these, could you warm up a bath? After thinking about it for a moment, Frau nodded. True. With your ability, you could certainly get enough stones to pull it off. If so, then buy it. Certainly. Frau took Elliss hand and headed back toward the shopkeepers position behind the counter and told him they wanted one Fever Stone. Just give me one moment. The shopkeeper disappeared into the back of the shop and returned after awhile with a big box. Several stones were lined up in the box and each one was the size of a fist. First of all, is there anything you like from this affordable size? Apparently these were the smallest stones. There were bigger stones, but their price went up accordingly. If its Ellis though, as long as she has one, she can make another at whatever size she needs. Then this one! Ellis picked up the smallest one that was only the size of her little fist. Little miss, are you sure? Just so you know, the bigger a stone is, the hotter it can become. Frau replied on Elliss behalf. This is fine. Since itll just be used for a fire, this size should be adequate. If thats so then the price is 100 thousand ril. Frau took out the money from the wallet given to her by Reeve. At the same time, the shopkeeper grabbed Elliss stone with a tong and called the command word. {Turn red}. The stone began to glow red. {Blacken}. The heat from the stone began to rapidly cool down. Grab the stone with a dedicated tong and then say the command word. Be careful not to touch the stone while its still hot and red. How long will it stay hot? The shopkeeper smiled to Elliss good question. It will stay on until you give it the second command word. Some of these stones are used to melt iron, but they will never become hot enough to melt the rocks themselves. If you dont stop it, it will be hot forever. What kind of perpetual energy is this? Ellis and Frau left the shop satisfied after buying one Fever Stone. Welcome back. Did you have fun shopping? Ellis smiled. Yeah. I can make something cool with what we bought. Quite a bit of time had passed while Ellis was in the magic tool store, so the three girls decided to take a break at a nearby cafe. While sipping on the drinks they had ordered, Ellis explained to them her plans of making an outdoor bath. Frau had a realistic view about the project. It is a difficult place for me to picture the actual design. Meanwhile, Reeve was rather carefree. Why not just make a large facility and make it open to customers? But Reeves carefree words played across Elliss heartstrings. Wonderful Reeve! I hadnt thought that far ahead! She then turned to Frau and asked if she knew anyone who was involved in construction. Frau suffered for a bit, but she eventually struck her hand with a pon. I have an acquaintance who might be able to help. I bet that girl would love to do it too. But Frau quickly became anxious. But in order to ask for a design and assist with production, I will have to explain to her Elliss ability. No, we should be fine. If they can design and construct the building along with the flow of the water, we should be able to handle the heating issue ourselves. Ellis quickly finished off her fruit juice and set the cup back onto the table. Reeve and Frau panicked and tried to finish off their cocoa and tea as well, but the hot drinks burned their tongues. Lets go! The three girls flew out of the store and Frau guided them to a part of the city called Blacksmith Alley. Frau took them down the street and stopped in front of a certain workshop. Hello master. Is Claire in? As Frau walked in, she greeted a giant, burly old man. Oh Frau, its been a long time. And you have two beautiful girls along with you. Youre going to make this uncle jealous. The old mans voice boomed like a hammer pounding metal, and Ellis hurriedly hid behind Reeve who silently put her hand on her shamshir. However, it seems the man in question did not notice their reactions. Hey Claire! You have a customer! Then, a girl with long black hair who was only about a head taller than Ellis peaked into the workshop. What do you want from me? The girl responded oddly however Frau laughed not minding it. Its a request for work. Is that OK? Job? Yes. Design and construction work. The girl showed interest at Fraus words and then, after looking at Ellis and Frau, she seemed to have confirmed something and then stepped forward into the workshop. Then the master came to Claire. You can do whatever you want as long as you turn a profit! With such momentum, the girl invited the three further into the shop. I understand. I will listen to your request. The three girls were led into a meeting-like room and were sat down at a table. After introductions were finished, Ellis began to explain the details of her plan to Claire. Claire listened to the explanation for awhile and then suddenly breathed out. It sounds fun! Are you interested? Ellis confirmed that Claire had a lovely smile. Yes, but I would like to check the site once. Then you can come over tomorrow. Yes. I just finished my last job I was in charge of. Good. Claire seems to be interested in the plan. Then if you dont mind, please bring some supplies over. You can stay at our house tomorrow night. For some reason, Frau and Reeve went rigid at Elliss words. They took a look at Elliss face, and sure enough, she wore a truly disgusting smile. It was a smile that belonged to the King of Scum. An expression she usually only shows during night-time activities. Clair did not notice. Reeve and Frau faced each other once again and sighed at the same time. On the way home from the blacksmith, Reeve worked up the courage to ask Ellis. Miss, are you perhaps trying to make Claire one of your toys? Ellis responded instantly. Are you complaining? After a momentary silence, Frau worked up the courage to ask Ellis, Will you have enough passion? Ellis gave Frau a full smile. For Frau who needlessly worries about silly things, Ill have to be sure to teach you thoroughly tonight. But this time, Reeve was feeling a little worried. Dont worry. Reeve will be next. Reeve couldnt help but to give a shy smile at Elliss follow-up. On that day, they went around the stalls and bought a variety of items to turn into magic tools including a new doll for Frau. The two people agreed with Fraus proposal to have vegetable stew for supper, and they bought the materials on their way home. First, they started cleaning up all of Anguss mementos from the room that Frau would be sleeping in. While Ellis and Reeve packed away the mementos, Frau brought in her own items from the womens dormitory. As they were finishing up, Ellis noticed that tears were flowing down her cheeks. Was this because she had read the diaries, or is this just a natural reaction from Elliss body. Ellis-Eiji did not understand. But she could not bring herself to wipe the tears away. After they finished tidying up, Frau began preparing dinner in the kitchen, and Reeve prepared the bath in the washroom. Ellis was immersed in production and experimentation of magic tools on the living room carpet. After that, the three had their meals. Bathed in the tub. And they went to bed. Hee Hee. Frau was shamed deeply as a reward for all the hard work she put in that day, and Reeve was dealt with much more severely than last night as remuneration for being left alone for so long while shopping for magic tools. I slept in Reeves room yesterday, so I should go to bed with Frau tonight. Ellis one-sidedly makes the rules for the night. CH 11 When you wake up, there are two rich mounds before you. They are soft, but at the same time, they are hard and tight with muscle. When Ellis woke up, she was terrified as these mounds completely obfuscated her sight, but then she remembered. Oh, I slept in Fraus bed last night. Ellis remembered her situation and did her best to slip out of Fraus grasp without disturbing her peaceful sleeping face. She tiptoed across the room and lightly closed the door behind her. After that, she made her way downstairs to the living room. Good morning A thin voice came from the entrance. Huh? Good morning Oh! Ellis realized the situation. In a hurry, Ellis ran back upstairs and woke up Frau and Reeve. We do not have time to bask in the afterglow, Frau. Dont give me that look of ecstasy so early in the morning, Reeve. Both of you get up, we have a guest! At her words, they hurried downstairs as if they had both remembered something. Good morning! Glad you could make it. Ellis greeted Claire at the entrance who was carrying around a large bag. She had straight black hair combed in the back and rare jet black eyes that you could swim in. Her expression makes one think about both a boy and girl. She was wearing carpenter pants with a ragged shirt. There is no beauty here, if you look at it normally. But Ellis had the eyes of a hikineet. Ellis saw the cuteness of a shy boyish girl. Good morning, glad you could make it. Claire, thank you for coming. Having finally woken up, Frau and Reeve came downstairs and greeted Claire. Todays breakfast was oatmeal lightly boiled with the broth separated form last nights vegetable stew. Claire, please join us. Frau invited Claire to the table. Frau took the initiative and is leading Claire along. Thats right. The only person here who Claire really knows is Frau. Eventually, Ellis will wedge her way in, but for now, she figured she would leave it to Frau. Ellis sat at her normal spot at the table, and Reeve sat across from her while Frau took up the position to Elliss left. Claire sat in front of Frau where her dish had been placed as if it was a landmark. Is it okay to have such a feast for breakfast? Her gentle voice and gestures flipped Elliss switch. Damn, Im already getting excited this early in the morning. Frau responded to Claires question with a smile. Dont worry, because this was all made at Elliss request. What? Ellis? Abandonment? Oh, this girl, shes trying to pretend to be a responsible guardian. What should I do? Would it be better to hand over the reins to Frau and Reeve to make this place seem safe for Claire? OK. I suppose that for today, I will be weak. For now, lets give Claire a lovely thanks as a test. Claire, thank you for coming so quickly. And now, what type of response will Claire give me. Thats because the idea Ellis showed me yesterday was so amazing! Alright, Claire has already dropped her politeness with me. Claire will easily talk to a younger, more modest girl. I have confirmed the direction of the spider web, so the future policy has been decided. Elliss thoughts spun through her head as she picked up her spoon and started eating. The vegetable bouillons gentle taste soaked into the morning stomach. The breakfast room was filled with conversation centered around Frau, and breakfast was finished safely. When Frau and Reeve began to clean up dirty dishes, Ellis called out to them. Frau, Reeve, I will show Claire around. Elliss words gave the two a sense of crisis. I will also go! I will go as well! But this reaction only served to light a flame in Elliss heart. In short, she was a sadist. Frau should make preparations for lunch, and Reeve needs to go to the market to pick up some more towels. We dont have enough. While giving her instructions, Ellis enjoyed the reactions of Frau and Reeve, but she was also sure to check the reaction of Claire as well. She had to see if Claire was sensitive enough to notice the transfiguration of Frau and Reeve. If Claire is sensitive to such a thing, the next step would have to be reworked. However, Claire is dull as expected. She seems like the type to not worry about the little details. Claire, I will show you around. Ellis hung her favorite shoulder bag around her shoulder and grabbed Claires hand, and she made sure to look back at Reeve and Fraus dissatisfied expressions. First, Ellis guided Claire to the northern stream. If its the gradient from here to the mansion, we could install a 1 meter wide waterway, right? Claire doesnt think to ask about how an 8 year old knows about the gradient of a slope and instead just honestly nods her head. Although it depends on the angle, we should be able to draw water at a degree loose enough that a slippery fish would be able to swim back into the river. Next, they headed south to the wetlands on the other side of the road. Its about 2000 meters from the creek to this point. How about having the route from the northern stream end here? This is good. Since there are many creatures in the wetlands, decomposition of dirty water is quicker. The story goes that we will draw the water from the stream to a public bath and flush toilet and then drop the dirty water into the wetlands. This world needs a sewage system, and other people can add on to the stream. However, I think 1 meter wide waterway is too large. Claire is right. The scale of the waterway would be too large if it was only meant for the toilet that Ellis had described to her yesterday. Ellis whispered to Claire, If you can set up a proper heat source on the way, you could set up a public bathhouse as well. Claire frowned at Elliss words. Ellis, it is impossible. Even if you could prepare the water, the cost of the firewood would be unimaginable. Claire assumes I will use firewood. Her imagination isnt quite there yet. Besides, just the waterway is going to cost a lot of money. We cant just make it out of brick and plaster? Tile would be ideal. Square tiles are 500 millimeters on all sides, and I will need about 24,000 of them to complete the waterway plus an additional 12,000 for processing. Are tiles expensive? The tiles themselves cost 100 ril a piece, but it also costs money for transport. The tiles will cost 3.6 million ril, but add on the cost of transportation and an extra freight charge, the total cost will rise to about 7.2 million ril. Hmph. How much will it cost to construct the waterway? 500,000 ril to lay the foundation for the pathway, and it will cost an additional 2 million ril as a material cost to make the wooden frame for the waterway. Add on another 500,000 ril in order to tile the inside of the wooden frame and the construction fee will come to another 3 million ril. Total construction costs add up to 10.2 million ril. Then I guess there is no problem. I made 30 million ril from selling Kevins possessions alone. Alright, thank you for your help. Ellis thanked Claire and pulled her hand to return home. Ellis, welcome home. I made your favorite risotto. Frau is trying to preserve her impression in front of Claire to the very end. I wonder when I said I loved risotto? Well, I do enjoy it, so I guess its fine. I have done the shopping as ordered. Please check the items. This is a game of loyalty. Ellis answered Reeve with a smile instead of a verbal reply while checking the towels that Reeve had proudly arranged. The four people took the same seats as this morning. Frau set out four plates for four people, and four people started to eat from their plates. Wow, Frau, this is delicious! Ellis had to admire the rich umami taste of the risotto. It was seriously delicious. Shes right. Even Reeve had to raise a white flag against the skill of Fraus dish. Then Claire opened her mouth. Do all three of you live in this mansion? The question was immediately answered by Reeve. Only the two of us live here. The chef lives in the neighboring house. And there is the unnecessary provocation huh? Frau will not reply? Reeve took a look at Frau. As if to ignore that gaze, Frau slowly puffed out her chest. Yes, we three all live here alone in this mansion. It seems that Fraus intention really is to just ignore whatever Reeve says. But thats not all. Something was included in the phrase from Frau to Claire. It was a certain gentleness. Ellis and Reeve both picked up on it. Frau knows something we dont. It probably has something to do with Claires circumstances. Ellis noticed Claire gently open her mouth, Sounds fun. And the air around Claire changed from the bright aura she had before to a jealous expression. Somehow the air in the room became heavy. Then Frau changed the topic as if to protect Claire. Ellis understood with Fraus response. Claire was hurt in the past. However, Ellis had no idea what had happened. The girl is carrying a burden, and Frau knows about the circumstances. Reeve, could you show Claire to the guest room? Reeve was surprised at Elliss sudden instructions, but she reflexively followed up on them and stood up. Oh yeah, let me show it to you. Reeve took Claires hand and grabbed her baggage and dragged both of them inside the mansion. When the two had both vanished from sight, Ellis turned to Frau. The wound of that child, domestic violence? To Elliss question, Frau gave her a momentary look. Do you understand? Frau began to tell the story. Claire was born to a couple belonging to the Warren Mage Guild. While raising Claire, the couple educated her about magic as a matter of course. However, when Claire turned ten, an emergency summons was brought to all magicians from the guilds headquarters in the Magical City. Claires parents had to attend however they were unaware of how dangerous it would be, and they did not want to risk their childs safety. So Claire was entrusted to her fathers brother. This was a mistake. Claire was assaulted by her uncle, but Claires body managed to remained safe. She used the magic she had learned from her parents to blow her uncle away. What was discovered the next day was Claire stained pink along with meat and blood and a horrendous stench. Naturally, Claire was not in a good state. Claires parents wouldnt return. She was unable to even know if they were alive or dead. The small number of magicians left at Warrens mage guild did not know what to do in such a situation. So the adventurer guild master, Fraus father, made a decision. He deposited Claire with a well-known artisan and asked him to teach her how to build things instead of destroy them. Claire is a magician? To Elliss question, Frau swung her head. Claire can use magic, but she hates magicians. Especially the mage guild. What do you think will happen if we tell Claire about my ability? Frau could not confirm. Ellis came up with a plan. She did not want to do it, but looking at Fraus expression, she came to a decision. ? Claire, this will be your room for the night. Reeve guided Claire to the guest room at the top floor. Thank you, Ms. Reeve. In such circumstances, Reeves cheeks became loose. Please, just Reeve is fine. Um, Reeve. What is it, Claire? The Lord of this house is Ellis, right? Im not sure what you mean by Lord, but I am Elliss shield. At the blatant expression of their relationship, Claire couldnt help but blush. And then Claire thinks. There are no disgusting people here. There is no one here to blame me. Unexpectedly Claires expression relaxed in relief. Before this innocent appearance, Reeve resigned herself. CH 12 Emotional scars need to be disinfected in order to heal. After lunch, Ellis decided to take Claire out again. But the other two wouldnt allow it that easily. Frau, besides dinner, can you take care of the laundry and prepare the bath? Reeve, taking care of the laundry and the bath is easy, so could you prepare dinner? The two both simultaneously tried to pawn off their work on each other. While the two of them were confronting each other, Ellis and Claire were slipping on their shoes at the door. Well then Reeve, Frau, we will see you once were done. Such I too Ellis cut them off coldly, The two of us will be going out alone. They both decided to give up after seeing Elliss look. As Ellis and Claire approached the stream again, Ellis pulled out a small stone from her shoulder bag. How about this as a heat source? {Turn red}. The small stone began to glow red at Elliss command . When Ellis submerged the stone into a small puddle created next to the stream, the water began to warm up. If its a Fever Stone, it could indeed continuously produce hot water as long as its active. Claire was interested in Elliss idea and crouched down to more carefully observe the puddle. But it would be impossible to make a bath with this stone. Ellis was waiting for this conclusion from Claire. Claire, how many stones would we need to keep a one meter cube of water warm? Ellis drew a simple design into the mud with a stick. As a girl who loves this kind of topic, Claire jumped at Elliss invitation. Yeah. If it is 1 cubic meter of water, you would need a 500 millimeter fever stone to boil it, but for the temperature of a bath, you should be able to accomplish it with a 200 millimeter stone. Of course, if we have a few smaller stones instead of one big stone, we could increase the surface area and have a higher thermal conduction effect. This would require more MP to get started though. In that case, why not just have the bath always be on. We can have water from the stream be constantly flowing to regulate the temperature of the bath. Claire was having fun and grabbed her own stick to add on to Elliss diagram. If we did that, we would still want a 500 millimeter stone to keep the water warm during winter, but then the water would be too warm during summer. So we would need to make another waterway that would divert just cold water to regulate the excessively warm water that could be adjusted with a mechanism. So we put in another canal here? Ellis and Claire were alternately marking down their ideas into the mud with their tree branches. If we always keep the bath on, we can create a mechanism to divert a certain amount of the hot water and have it lead into the waterway from the toilet. That way the cold water from the toilet waterway can cool down the warm water before it enters the wetlands. With this, a complete design for the public bathhouse and a toilet was completed. Claire, this is amazing! Claire blushed a little and laughed. It would be fun if this could be realized. How much would it cost to construct a bathtub big enough for ten people to fit in plus the building surrounding it? The bathtub would be about 5 million ril if it was made from wood. If you want it made of stone, it would cost twice that at 10 million ril. If the building was made from wood, it would cost another 10 million ril, so if you want everything made of stone, the whole structure would come out to around 30 million ril. Ellis calculated the amount and added in the price for the two waterways that the plan would require. To sum up, with the extra waterway, the stone bathtub, plus a quality building, the whole thing would come out to around 50 million ril. Yeah, that should be enough, but its an enormous amount of money, Claire replied while staring up at the sky as if she could see the end result. To such a peaceful smile, Ellis mercilessly cut right to the point. By the way, can Claire use magic? Huh? Claire could not answer Elliss sudden question. No, she wouldnt. She did not want to have to remember. But Ellis ignored Claires pained expression and repeated her question. Claire, can you use magic? Why are you so suddenly asking? Its okay to tell me! Claire was shaken at Elliss question. Do not know. I do not know such a thing Claire, can you use magic? Persistent Ellis Why, why are you asking me such a thing? Ellis was really kind to me a moment ago. We were talking happily together. Both Reeve and Frau were kind, werent they? Why are you suddenly asking me such a thing? Why are you questioning me? But Ellis would not let her escape. Claire, I will ask again. Can you use magic? Why, why are you asking so much? Claire, you can use magic, cant you? Completely ignoring the feelings of the other party, Ellis grabbed Claires hand. I do not want to remember. Yada yada. Dont touch me! Claire, can you use magic? Die already! Claire screamed and reflexively cast out her explosion magic. The resulting outburst immediately returned Claire to her senses, and she was horrified to find that she had impulsively cast an irreparable spell. It was a spell that she had feared since that time. A spell cast against her uncle whose serpentine hands had stretched across her body until she could no longer bear it. She recited the chant then too. Will she end up covered in brains this time as well. Elliss Claires eyes clouded over and fell into darkness. But, Claire was soon pulled back out from the dark. Stupid Claire. Claire felt someone gently pet her head. That was a girl whose head should have been blown off. Good, shes still alive. A pure white light spread inside Claires mind and banished the darkness. The petting feels comfortable. I cannot stop my tears. I dont want anyone to curse me anymore. I dont want to have to hide away anymore. I want someone to understand me. Claire, look at me. The voice of the little girl echoed in her ear. Ellis wrapped Claires cheeks in her hands and made Claire look up. My parents arent here either. I am the same. Then, something soft and warm was gently placed on Claires lips. When Ellis took her lips away from Claire, she showed her a calm smile, but in reality, her heart was banging so hard she thought it would fly out of her chest. Because Elliss head was was hit straight on by Claires explosion spell, the Sacrificial Doll tied to her waist scattered into a million pieces. It was a lethal blow. Ellis sighed in relief as she held up Claires body. It was a good thing she had bought so many dolls to copy the sacrifice ability. She would have to remember to grab another one when she got back home. Well, by the time Ellis carried Claire back to the mansion, Frau and Reeve had both finished their respective chores. Ellis gently quarreled with Frau and Reeve. Can you two wait to play until after we take a bath? Reeve and Frau looked at each other and sighed for the umpteenth time today. You mean that everyone bathing together is a mater of course? To Fraus disappointment, Ellis made an unreasonable declaration. If my plan fails, it will be all Fraus fault! Ellis relaxed her expression and turned to the surprised Frau. Its only until I tell my secret to Claire, so please cooperate until then. Todays dinner is Fraus homemade roast chicken. It is accompanied by bread and sweet soup. Bon appetite. Claire began eating at Fraus recommendation, but her heart wasnt in it. Claire sat down in the living room after dinner and stared into space until it was time to take a bath. Then Claire, lets take a bath and then go to bed. Yeah Claires reaction was dull, but Ellis brought Claire to the washroom without any hesitation. In the washroom, an already blue slender girl and a red glamorous girl were already there awaiting their arrival. That beautiful sight stimulated her, and Claire regained herself. It was a world that Claire wished for, but she could not believe that it would exist in reality. A world of only beautiful women. Claire, who had been trapped in her own little world, was easily dragged out into the world before her. Claire, come here. Come on in, Claire. Claire began to panic at Frau and Reeves invitation, but Ellis began to mercilessly remove her clothes on the spot. As she was stripped, she gradually began to reveal her developing limbs. Her chest was only slightly bigger than Elliss, but there was room to grow in the future. In a few years, she would have a thin and neutral body. Ellis finally solved the knot, tying Claires hair back. When it was released, glossy black hair spread out. Lets go. Ellis took her hand, and the jet black girl jumped into the sanctuary of gold, blue, and red. Claires black hair was carefully washed by a beautiful girl with a blue color while her body was gently wiped by a beautiful girl with a red color. In front of her, there was a young girl like a little sister with beautiful golden hair and gorgeous white skin that contrasted her own black hair. Then Ellis suddenly looked directly into Claires eyes. Claire, it was painful. Tears spilled from Claires eyes as she gazed into that emerald color. She couldnt stop them. Unconsciously, Claire hugged the girl in front of her, and she cried some more. She cried without fear of the people around her. The things that were stagnant at the bottom of her heart were shed with every teardrop. Claire, lets go. Ellis wiped Claires body with a towel, and pulled her along as she was. Naked, Claire was brought up to the guest room. The remaining Frau and Reeve folded Ellis and Claires pajamas and set them in front of the guest room door before returning to their own rooms. Claire honestly hugged Ellis and left herself to Ellis for the evening. Ellis sealed the techniques she knew as a hikineet and embraced Claire with some simple and honest moves that she knew. Are you okay, Claire? Yes. Yes, I am okay, Ellis. Claire tasted the world without fear for the first time in a long while. To this world, Claire gently nodded off and entered the world of dreams. After Claire fell asleep, Ellis moved to the door and laid Claires pajamas next to the bed. She then left the room and closed the door behind her. First was punishment for red. Frau, how dare you pretend to be the master of the house in front of Claire! Ellis, please forgive me Today, Frau was punished as expected. Next was an outburst of anger for blue. Reeve, Im tired of you always being nice to other people! Miss, if you do not mind, please hit me eight times. Reeve was humiliated for a baseless reason. Today was Reeves turn to have Ellis sleep with her, but since there is a guest, Ellis thought it might be a good idea to sleep in her own bed once in awhile. In the end, Ellis returned to Claires room in order get closer to Claire. In the morning, I must be gentle. CH 13 Ah Claire unconsciously leaked out a sweet breath she had never made before. Her whole body was wrapped in a warm gentleness. Something gently touched her lips. Claire resisted the idea of waking up for a second, but she eventually began to open her eyes. When her eyes were fully opened, a pair of emerald eyes were gazing back into hers. AhAhAh Ellis smiled at the shaking Claire as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Claire, good morning. Claire was brought into Elliss pace and mechanically returned Elliss greeting. Eh, oh yeah, Ellis, good morning. Ellis slightly raised herself up in bed and looked down at Claire. Do you remember what I asked you yesterday? Ask? Ah. Claire remembered in the middle of last nights fluff. It was a conversation during an interlude of pillow talk. Ellis would tell her about the ability that she possesses, but she had to promise to keep it a secret. Yeah, I remember. Will you listen to my request? Of course, Ellis. Thank you, Claire. Those emerald color eyes slowly came closer to Claire, and she was drawn into the luscious world again. But the two would soon be brought back to reality. Miss! Claire! Its morning! Ellis. Claire. Breakfast is ready! Reeve and Frau were both knocking on the guest room door and calling for the two. By the way, the both of them were tormented by Ellis the previous night, and they were both in very good moods with glossy skin. Ellis and Claire hurriedly threw on their clothes and opened the guest room door as if nothing at happened. Good morning, Reeve, Frau X2 Good morning, you two. Alright, lets go have breakfast. The four people went downstairs and took their usual seats at the breakfast table. Then I will explain my secret to Claire after we finish our food. Once you hear it, you cant unhear it. You dont know what you will see if you betray this secret. Two people were unnecessarily intimidating and threatening Claire, but Claire argued against them, even though her voice was like a mosquito crying compared to their pressures. I will absolutely not betray Ellis Hoh. Hee. Towards the Reeve and Frau who were admiring Claires resolve, Ellis was making a smug face as she showed off the results of her training. However, for the two whose training involved them giving up various things, Ellis knew she would never be able to give that type of face on their behalf. What, please be a little more jealous. It is good that no one is able to read the mind of the hikineet. After breakfast, Ellis told Claire about her secret abilities as she had done with Frau. While Claire was surprised, she was calmly convinced. Oh, so is that why Ellis suggested using a Fever Stone yesterday? As to be expected of Claire. You understand that with my abilities, we do not have to worry about the heat source. Naturally, Ellis. Thats why Id like to officially order the design and construction of the large public bathhouse and the flush toilet we discussed yesterday from Claires workshop. To Elliss request, Claire gave a hearty smile. I will do a good job. The only favor I ask is that you let me supervise the design and construction of the project. I also hope that you can lend me a room to stay in. No problem. Ellis accepts. Both Reeve and Frau who have already accepted Claire also have no objections. There is one more thing I would like to ask for. Go ahead. With this project, I would like to repay my master, sothen Yes? Because I will quit my position with him, I want to live with you. Ah, I will continue doing design work, so I will be able to properly pay rent. Reeve and Frau looked at each other expressionlessly. They were two people who were sighing continuously. Miss, I have no objections. I also have no problems with it. Naturally, Ellis also has no reason to turn down Claires offer. Okay, Claire, then welcome. After completing the settlement, the four people headed to Blacksmith Alley again and made their way to Claires studio. Frau entered first and calls out. Master, are you here? Then, like the other day, a giant old man came out from the back of the workshop and looked down on them. Oh, did the request for work come together? Here, Frau replaces Ellis and begins to describe the design and construction of the waterway and bathhouse to the master. However, in the drawing she provided, she provided camouflage and stated that they would be using firewood to heat the water. Its quite the large-scale project for a couple of people. When the master so muttered, Claire advocated from her side to her boss. I will take care of the project from the construction to the design management. I want to be in charge! The master narrowed his eyes at Claires aggressive proposal that could not be imagined coming from her usual frightened appearance. Hmm. Can you do it? I can do it! I understand. Then, Frau. I will calculate the estimate based on the approximate design right away, so you will have to pay half the fee to the Construction Guild up front. Please pay the remaining half once the job is finished. Ellis made sure to add on a further condition to the master. If you do not mind, we will provide one room to be used as a work room, so Claire can stay on site and do her design work at our mansion. There is no real reason to turn down such favorable conditions. This means you can stay on scene. In other words, it means that design modification can be done on site each time something goes wrong or if one partys request alters the project in some way. When the master looked over to confirm with Claire, Claire puffed out her chest and nodded confidently. I, I will go! The master was satisfied with Claires response. Alright. First Claire will complete the designs outline. Once its complete, bring it back to the workshop, and we will calculate the estimates based on her design. And so the provisional contract is successfully completed. ? Ellis took Claire to the citys center afterwards in order to buy goods for Claires magic tools. Claire will have to prepare a favorite bag. Ellis came up with a few other ideas as well. Well, maybe Frau and Claire could use weapons as well? I use a dagger, and Reeve has her shamshir as you can see. Then Frau showed an expression she had never shown before. When I go adventuring, I am part of the Morning Star and Kite Shield faction. Morning star? Frau did not notice the expression that had donned on Ellis, and she replied with a smile. Yes, it is an iron ball with thorns connected to a stick with a chain. What do you mean by a kite shield? Reeve had the same what are you talking about expression as Ellis did, but towards Reeve, Frau laughed and turned up her nose. Im not sure what youre imagining it to be, but a kite shield is a rectangular shield. It is a durable piece of equipment compared to other flimsy weapons like shamshirs. Reeve immediately reacted to Fraus provocation. If so, then why dont we try it out? Right, knock it off. Why does Reeve always blow her top off toward all of Fraus provocations? As for Frau, she always remains calm even when she gets passionate. I wonder what would happen if she ever became enraged. Ellis sighed while working her way between the two of them. On the other hand, Claire had a troubling look as if she was chewing on some dirty linen. I have never held a weapon before. Since I never became a member of the Magicians Guild, I never received a magic wand. Apparently the magician guild is not a pyramid-shaped commercial organization like the thief or adventurer guilds but is rather a magicians mutual help association. What does a magic wand do? The magic wand is a magic tool that reduces the mental power needed to use spells, and it can also shorten the spells casting time. Frau supplements here. Magicians can reduce the needed mental strength by increasing their affinity with the magic. In the case of fire bullet the basic MP needed to cast is 5, but a master class magician could cast the spell for as little as 1 MP. Are wands the same as a Magical Ring? It has a similar effect of a magic wand, but why does Ellis know about them? Actually, Ellis found a Magical Ring when they were looking for tools to help Reeve prevent her assassination. However, since that effect had little to do with Ellis or Reeve directly, we passed it by at the time. As Ellis told this to Frau, Frau panicked. Most rings have higher capabilities than canes, so lets quickly go look before its gone! Ellis hurriedly headed to the stall she had visited that day. Although she saw a few lightly shining objects on the way, she ignored them and went straight towards her destination. Oh good, its still here. Ellis was relieved to find a silver ring set one place higher than a mountain of other rings at a street stall. Magical RingCWhen the wearer uses magic, it reduces the required MP by 2. However, the cost cannot become less than 1. Does not work on magic tools. Necessary MP: 0 Autonomous type. Little lady, it costs quite a price. Looking at the complexion of Ellis who was heading straight for the ring in question, the young shopkeeper smelled an opportunity. How much is it? When Reeve calmly asked, the shopkeeper replied grinningly. Its a satisfactory total of 20 thousand ril. You cant beat that price. Buy it! Ellis responded immediately. The shopkeeper was overwhelmed by the momentum of Ellis pushing upon a swordwoman like Reeves back. Also, please give us one extra ring from the mountain underneath it. Ellis moved her body in front of Reeve and picked out a random ring from the pile while Reeve handed over 20 thousand ril to the shopkeeper. Oh, okay, whyThis is usually the part where we negotiate the price. Then, when they had reached a few steps away from the stalls, Reeve handed the Magical Ring to Claire. Claire put it on one of her fingers. Yup. It looks nice. By the way, why didnt you activate your ability over there? Couldnt you copy the Magical ability onto one of those other, cheaper rings. As the person with the longest social relationship with Ellis, Reeve knew how Ellis usually operated, and Ellis had to smile in spite of herself. Because this one was my favorite, I wanted to leave quickly. While chuckling, Ellis held up the poorly made ring that she had grabbed as a freebie in front of the three. This funny looking ringmaybe!! Frau talked with doubt at first, but she soon felt a faint, magical power being transmitted while gazing at the ring. As expected of the veteran receptionist Frau from the adventurer guild. Yes, this is an Ice Ring. Ice RingCCovers the surface of one object with ice damaging it and preventing it from moving for a time. Basic damage: 10. Frozen duration: Depends on the opponents resistance. Required MP: 5. We also grabbed an amazing magic tool that would be worth at least 20 million ril from a specialty shop. Reeve clapped in amazement, but Frau continued with Elliss words. So you wanted to grab it and leave quickly? Yes, I do not know who might be paying attention if Im charging in to grab a ring decorated like this, and I want to avoid duplication on the fly in that kind of place. In other words, you can think of it as us throwing away 20 thousand ril to get a treasure worth 20 million ril. Just to be safe, we should duplicate it and have everyone equip it. After that, they walked around the street stalls, but they could not find any other remarkable magic tools. After Claire had picked out a backpack, they went back to the store they had eaten lunch at the other day. Ellis was the first to sit down and as she did, she mumbled, We will use about half of our money on the construction of the property. As the former member of an aristocratic house, spending large amounts of money like this drives a nail into Reeves heart. Yeah, thats right. I would like to avoid increasing the cost as much as possible. Then Frau put out a proposal that everyone could find fun. Then while Claire is designing, how about the three of us go exploring together. Wow. Is there a place that we can go to for only a day trip? Yes. If its Aidas Labyrinth, three people can go there and be back in half a day. With our Bags of Gluttony, we can carry an unlimited number of mushrooms, too, so we can make back some of this money. Then lets go home and organize our equipment tonight. Reeve nods to Elliss proposal. Oh, yeah. Claire, not to be left out, chimes in as well. I will go with you once construction is over. If we have a heavy fighter, a light swordsman, a thief, and a magician in our party, we can go for a high level in labyrinths, but a healer would become essential to us. Ellis hurriedly responded to Fraus analysis. Oh, I forgot to tell you, since Reeves shamshir has the [Inhalation] ability, she recovers any damage she deals. The second Ellis said the word Inhalation, Frau had become rigid. She licked her lips and said, If you duplicate that onto my morning star, it means I will recover as much damage as I deal to my enemy. That is true. Fufufufufufufufufu. Frau leaked out a laugh. Frau is scary. As I thought, she is the opposite of Reeve. If she ever blows her top, it will be an emergency situation. I must be careful. So the four people who finished lunch arrived home early. CH 14 Should we all put our adventurer equipment on? Reeve and Frau nodded to Elliss suggestion and returned to their own rooms to grab their equipment. Because Claire didnt have any equipment yet, she stayed in the living room and acted like the audience for a fashion show. Ellis also returned to her room and put on her favorite black clothes. After awhile, the four women returned to the living room. First was Ellis. She was wearing her usual black thief clothes along with her Flying Swallow dagger. Her dagger was hidden inside her clothes on her left thigh. Other magic tools include her Intelligence headband, Sacrificial doll, Ring of detoxification, Ice ring, Flash bracelet, and a Mimicry brooch. She also had a new Bag of gluttony thiefs purse tied to her waist. Reeve was wearing her favorite cotton lined chainmail along with her leather breastplate, boots, and belt. Her Flying Swallow ? Inhalation shamshir was in its usual place at her hip. Her other equipment included the Intelligence piercings, Sacrificial doll, and a Mimicry brooch. Her usual Bag of gluttony pouch was already suitable for dungeon travel and was tied to her belt. And for the first public appearance of Frau, the outfit was an exquisite half plate armor and a long rectangular kite shield in her left hand. In addition, the weapon in her right hand was a morning star thats iron sphere was loaded with thorns and dangling from its chain. Other equipment would end up being similar to Reeve and Elliss. Ellis watched the morning star seriously. On the day that I am beaten with an iron ball like that, I will find my place in the empty stars above. Meanwhile, Ellis felt a strange incongruity in Fraus appearance. You know, half plate armor with a tote bag really doesnt suit you. Reeve is throwing out more jabs again, but with them, Ellis finally realized the reason for the incompatibility. It is because Frau was wearing her stylish black tote bag despite being equipped with heavy armor. Fraus face went red from Reeves teasing. Because when Ellis told me to grab my favorite bag, I really did grab my favorite bag, but when I explore, I have another backpack I take with me! What is this stupid girl. Ellis sighed and ordered Frau to go back to her room and bring back the backpack. Oh, and leave the scary thing behind. Frau, who guessed the next development, carefully placed her morning star in front of Ellis with a joyful look, and skipped back to her room. . I guess I should get started. First copy the Flying Swallow and the Inhalation from the shamshir to the morning star. Then transfer the Inhalation from the morning star into Elliss dagger. Next, taking out a bunch of rings from her shoulder bag, Ellis duplicated 3 Ice rings, 2 Spirit rings, and 2 Rings of detoxification. Furthermore, she made two more Mimicry brooches. Unfortunately, there were no extra bracelets lying around, so she was unable to make any extra Flash bracelets at the moment. Ellis then brought out five Sacrificial dolls from the second copies that she had made in large quantities. Night after night, Ellis had crafted more and more extra dolls after her first one was shattered. Claires explosion felt really dangerous. I should buy more dolls. Afterward would be Intelligence items, but those werent especially necessary. Then Frau returned with her backpack. Here it is, Ellis. It was a mortar backpack that fit perfectly over Fraus metal armor. Ellis made sure that there were no items in either bag before copying over the Gluttony ability to Fraus backpack. She continues and copies the ability again from Fraus backpack over to Claires. Claire was impressed by merely opening and closing her backpack. Wow, this is amazing! Claire replied happily to the pride of Ellis. However, she suddenly muttered with a serious face, I really cant use this out in public. Youre right. Thats where I am in trouble. Ellis shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. We can probably just pretend that theyre Adventurers bags. As soon as Frau absentmindedly made such a suggestion, her face once again became dyed red. Ellis, who notice her change, squinted her eyes and stared at her. Frau, if you have something to say, then say it. Fraus face became weird as she quietly explained. Im sorry, I completely forgot about Adventurers bags. Theyre magic tools that can store items, but while a Bag of Gluttony has unlimited capacity, the Adventurers bag can only hold up to one cubic meter. Adventurers bags are relatively expensive because of their convenient ability, but it is not unusual to have one as they appear regularly in dungeons. In Fraus case, the knowledge probably just flew out of her head because of her surprise over the Bags of Gluttony. Conversely, we can say that Claires levelheadedness which quickly noticed the problem is precious. Claires levelheadedness will continue to be helpful from now on. I wonder if everyone is ready? Ellis distributed two Sacrificial dolls to each person. One to wear and one to keep as a backup in their bags. They each received an Ice ring as well. Everyone besides Ellis also equipped a Spirit ring as wellCEllis didnt need one as she was able to cast magic tools without spending any MP. All three weapons had become magic tools as well with the Flying swallow and Inhalation abilities. Everyone looks so cool! Claire clapped her hands while comparing everyone. Ellis wore jet black clothes, dropped her golden hair straight down to her shoulders, and turned her calm emerald eyes towards Claire. She clearly had the atmosphere of a cold assassin. Reeve was wearing her leather armor and had her thin shamshir equipped at her waist. Her short blue hair and unwavering sapphire eyes complemented each other and the words rich and lively did not do her justice. Frau was equipped with her heavy armor and a kite shield in one hand, and her morning star in another. Her burning red wavy hair and fierce red-colored eyes made one think of a battlefield goddess. It feels nice. x3 All three of them were satisfied with their appearance. Since we need to buy a search tool from the adventurer guild, should we head out tomorrow morning? As Ellis suggested, Reeve and Frau both agreed, and Claire showed a slightly envious expression. After that, Frau finished the dinner preparation as usual, and once everyone was finished eating, it was bath time. I cant wait to bathe in that new bathhouse. It will be a pleasant thing. It will be a time for women only. I will design it to the best of my abilities. While exchanging such conversations, Ellis wiped down her body. She then wiped down the bodies of the other three as well. Ufufu. And then it was night. Hey, Miss. A badly oppressed Reeve suddenly called out to Ellis. Whats wrong? As Ellis prepared to move on to the next room, Reeve made a funny request. Will you embrace me gently like you do Claire? I dont mind, but I dont think you will be satisfied by it. Please try it. I understand. Ellis took Reeves head into her arms and hugged her gently. Conclusion. Reeve was absolutely unsatisfied. I was right. You arent satisfied. Sorry, Miss. Its alright. Now, what are you? I am the Ladys toy. And next. In Fraus bed. Hey Ellis? Whats wrong? After thoroughly bullying a certain pig woman, Ellis was about to move on, but Frau also had a strange request. Could you talk to me like you do Claire? Hey, hey. These girls are just lumps of jealousy. I can, but I dont think it will be enough for you. Id like to try it. I understand. Ellis leaned in and gently whispered in Fraus ear. Conclusion. Frau was also unsatisfied. Is it not enough? Sorry, Ellis. Its alright. Now, the usual line. I am a pig owned by Ellis. Yes, next. Ellis, could I ask for a little favor. While being pressed into Elliss chest, Claire called out. Ellis had a bad feeling. Because at it is said, everything that happens twice, will surely happen a third time. Whats wrong? I want you to treat me the same way you treat Frau and Reeve. It came after all. I absolutely dont want to.. Alright, but Claire might die. Is that so? That is so. I wont die, so just a bit. Then I have no choice. Claire was shown a smile that she had never seen Ellis make before. Hii Claire let out a small scream from the expression that she believed could only come from a demon. But Ellis wasnt done. Here, Claire. You are my toy. Beg me to call you a pork girl. I want you to say it. IWat Claire was already about to cry. See, I scared you. Im sorry, Ellis. Its okay, Claire. And Ellis wrapped her arms around Claires head. And next. Well, I guess its Reeves turn tonight. Rotation must be properly protected. And another satisfying night for Ellis was over. ? And the next morning. As usual, Reeve and Frau woke up with glossy skin and begin preparing breakfast and the laundry. Ellis is once again performing experiments on the living room carpet. Once Claire woke up and made her way downstairs, the four gathered together in the dining room. Today, we will go to Aidas Labyrinth. Meanwhile Claire will work on the design for the bathhouse. Yes. By the time everyone will be back, the first draft will be completed. Afterwards, I will adjust it depending on everyones wishes. I am looking forward to it. It will be a pleasure. Reeve and Frau have also begun to look forward to the completed bathhouse. While Frau, who has recently been appointed to full-time food officer, is preparing breakfast, Reeve was washing everyones dirty laundry with the previous nights bath water. Clare, I just put your clothes out to dry. Thank you, Reeve. Breakfast is ready, everyone. This conversation was exchanged naturally. Yup. Everyone has become familiar and friendly with one another. Ellis was also having fun. After having finished breakfast, the three girls put on their equipment and headed to the adventurers guild. On their way there, men would stop in the street and stare at Elliss group. Three people of gold, red, and blue, move down the highway without worrying about the eyes of such people. It was not long before the presence of these three beautiful girls became a rumor throughout the city. Oh, Ms. Frau. Welcome back. When they had finally arrived at the adventurers guild, the receptionist greeted Frau. Hello. Im afraid Im not here for a homecoming. We are off to explore a labyrinth. Is that so? Which one? Aidas Labyrinth. Yes, maam. The party leader is Ms. Frau, right? As if to answer the question, Frau and Reeve turned to Ellis. I understand why No, Ellis is. Frau swiftly responded to the receptionists question to try and appease the slightly discontent Ellis. Certainly, would you like to use a Ring of return? Yes, please. Then I will just ask for the 10,000 ril deposit. A Ring of return is a magic tool that can return a party from a labyrinth to their adventurers guild. Since the destination of the ring is limited to a receiver in the adventurers guild, there isnt anyone who would want to steal the ring, but there is sometimes a fool who drops the ring in the labyrinth. That is why it became necessary to ask for a deposit on the ring. By the way, since the ring also has a function of transmitting a partys location to the adventurer guild, it can be easily collected. The labyrinths of this world are said to be passages through the spirit world, and they suddenly appeared one day. The most mysterious thing about these labyrinths is that even if someone cleans out a labyrinth, monsters and treasure chests will continue to respawn. Luckily, the monsters do not necessarily resurrect quickly. For the adventurer guild, because they are trying to grasp the situation of nearby labyrinths and the restoration period of monsters, they will usually not send out a search request immediately after a labyrinth is cleared. In other words, the fact that the adventurers guild puts out a search request for a labyrinth indicates the labyrinth is active. Aidas Labyrinth consists of mostly goblin nests, but you will run in to hobgoblins the further back you go in. On the way to the labyrinth, Frau started to explain everything she knew about the labyrinth. There will always be a trap on the doors and the treasure boxes, and two monsters will come out at a time. Thats why unless youre very confident in your abilities, you should always challenge it with at least two people. While Frau was providing labyrinth guidance, the three women arrived at the entrance to the labyrinth. Ellis took out a torch from the exploration set they had previously bought and lit it with some flint. She then passed the torch to Reeve. As they stepped into the labyrinth, damp air enwrapped the three as if it had just rained. Ellis took the forward position, with Reeve in the middle, and Frau serving as their rear guard. With the ability given to her by God, Ellis carefully searched for any traps. When they reached the first door, Ellis made sure to check the stone pavement in front of the door and the nearby walls before checking the door itself. When she checked the keyhole, Ellis found a hidden poisonous needle trap. Pulling out her tools, Ellis carefully worked the trap while confirming the internal structure of the lock. *Click* The trap was successfully disabled and the door was unlocked. Once she was done with her work, Ellis was unexpectedly sweating and had to wipe her forehead with the palm of her hand. Next is your twos turn. As previously planned, Reeve first puts the torch at the center of the door, and Reeve and Frau line up in front of the door ready to charge in. Ready? Frau nodded in silence. Reeve gently touched the door, and slowly opened it. Ellis entered first through the doors gap and hid in the darkness. Frau jumped into the room with her kite shield at the ready for any preemptive strikes. Finally, Reeve slipped in with her sword drawn standing behind Frau and her shield. Two goblins were lurking at the middle of the room. Go left! Roger! Frau charged down the center towards the two goblins, and from the right side, her morning star was swung and smashed in a goblins head. At the same time, Reeve moved to the left of Fraus shield and cut the neck of the other goblin with her shamshir. It was an instantaneous victory. That was amazing. Ellis, who saw the whole fight from the shadows of the room, honestly admired the skills of the two. They were strong. Well, this much is elementary. Despite her words, Frau was clearly pleased at the praise of Ellis. They didnt even put up a fight. Reeve on the other hand, looks a little disappointed at how easy it was as she grabbed the torch from the door. As they advanced further into the room, Reeve waved the torch over a wooden treasure box found off to the side of the room. Its your turn, Miss. Ellis carefully examined every inch of the box. Its circumference, the handle, keyhole.. Found it. There was another poisonous needle trap located in the treasure chests keyhole. Ellis had already gotten used to the trap and was easily able to disarm it and open the box. Several coins were scattered inside. A little less than 300 ril. 300 ril. Aida is a beginner labyrinth. When Ellis frowned, Frau had to lightly laugh. Elliss party continued to break through the labyrinth. Ellis was able to easily work through every trap in the labyrinth while the goblins were not even a proper match for Reeve and Frau. After breaking through ten rooms, they had apparently reached the last room. By the way, every enemy had been killed with only one blow, and the total earnings was less than 3,000 ril. Not only Ellis, Reeve was also becoming dissatisfied with their earnings. They would need a little more before they could make up for the 50 million they had spent. However, Frau was still moving forward with a smile. Lets see what we get when we take the last room. Although the last door was much more luxurious than the others, it was taken the same way as the others. Ellis carefully checked the area for any surprise traps and then took out the one on the door before Reeve and Frau took their positions. By now, their movements had become natural, and they were confident. Reeve opened the door, Ellis slid into the rooms darkness, and Frau stood in front. But this room looked a little different. The three girls faced a large, golden goblin that was exceptionally bigger than the goblins they had faced before. He was equipped with a sword and a shield and took a similar stance as Frau. We got a hit. Frau was getting excited and swung her morning star, but the goblin took it with his shield. Meanwhile, Reeve slipped to the left of Fraus shield and took a swing with her sword, but the tip slid off of its thick golden hair. This guy is a gold hobgoblin! Its a medium grade monster, so be careful! Fraus cries called Ellis and Reeve to attention. At the same time, Elliss magic tool begins to shine. {Freeze} The hobgoblins whole body was covered with ice in an instant, and its movements completely stopped. I got it! An enemy who is unable to move could do nothing to protect itself. Reeve calmly slit a vital point of the hobgoblin while Frau accurately smashed its brains in with her morning star. CH 15 Frau shook her hand, trying to get rid of the numbness from crushing the Gold hobgoblins skull with her morning star. It seems that the double damage from the Flying Swallow ability also increases the blades sharpness. Ellis nodded as she threw aside a piece of the goblins golden body hair that had been cut through like a piece of paper. Ellis was happy with hobgoblins death, but at the same time, she was dissatisfied. She looked at Frau and Reeve who were full of vitality with smooth, glossy skin from all the energy they sucked out from killing the Gold hobgoblin. Meanwhile Ellis had spent the whole adventure by herself, cancelling the traps on chests and doors and watching the fights from the shadows one step away. While Ellis was brooding, Reeve mirrored the motion she had been doing in every previous room and swung the torch over the chest she had found in the back of the room. I understand. Let me do it. Even while complaining about her role, she still approached the trap cautiously and prudently to release the trap. When she finally managed to open the treasure box, there was a glowing silver ring along with a few coins. Sleep ringCPuts one target to sleep. Required MP: 3. Command word: {You are sleepy} To be honest, the ability was underwhelming. After all, the Ice ring was already able to confine an enemy for a certain amount of time. Ellis, what type of abilities does the ring have? Its a Sleep ring. Frau looked surprised. Is something wrong? No, its just that this is a very rare item to find in this labyrinth. If it is a Sleep ring, we can sell it for 500,000 ril at the adventurer guild. Apparently the Sleep ring had a similar demand as the Silence rings that were seen at the magic tool store before. Unfortunately it is useless for us. But Reeve disagreed with Elliss judgement. I think it will be a great help to be able to disable opponents without hurting them. Oh, now that she mentions it, thats right. Freezing the opponent will do 10 basic damage to them. In the case of freezing, the target will be immobilized, but if its asleep, we can rob the opponent of their consciousness. Well, it is just as you said Reeve. Lets be sure to use it properly. Afterwards, the three began to collect Aida mushrooms from the corners of the room. When they were finished, they had collected 25 of them. Since each one could be sold for 4 thousand ril, they would make 100 thousand ril on the request alone. We got a good haul. Frau was clearly happy with the end results of the exploration, but Reeve was left standing to the side muttering to herself about how boring it had been. Next time lets go someplace with more monsters. Ellis couldnt help but agree. Ellis decided to duplicate the ability from the Sleep ring onto one of her spare rings and sell the original to the adventurer guild. She slipped the new one onto her finger before turning back to Reeve and Frau. Well then, should we head back? After confirming that Reeve and Frau were both ready, Ellis activated the Ring of return, and they returned to the adventurer guild. The three of them ended up being teleported to a stage set up in a corner of the guild hall. When they tried to make their way over to the reception desk, though, they were stopped by three unfamiliar men. What a surprise! Warren has little girls like this as explorers! They are pretty cute. Why dont you three come play with us? Little girl, how about feeling good with this uncle? Since they are making passes at Frau, who is the daughter of the Adventurer Guild Master, they were probably newbies. On the surface, Ellis calmly analyzed the three even though on the inside, she was absolutely disgusted with the three old men. They are wearing the same equipment. Are they private soldiers from somewhere? The men, misunderstanding the girls silence for shyness, began to grow excited and a slightly crazed look entered their eyes. One of the men took a step forward and grabbed Elliss arm. Dont be shy little missy. This uncle wont bite. Everything moved at once. Frau suddenly cried out, Appropriate Defense Confirmation Application! Almost immediately a worker from behind the reception desk responded, The guild has confirmed the application as legitimate self-defense! In an instant, Ellis activated her new Sleep ring and knocked out the man clutching her arm. Reeve moved behind the first man who had called out to them and struck the back of his head with her shamshirs handle and knocked him out as well. Frau was much less gentle and bashed in the face of the last man with her kite shield, knocking him flat on his back. To that sight, everyone eating in the guild hall started to cheer and laugh. A guild official came out from the back of the hall during the ruckus and looked down at the three unconscious men. So, what are you going to do to them? Ellis thought about it for a moment before a brutal smile crossed her face. Reeve was also thinking up some mischief and crossed her arms in front of her chest while considering various punishments. It seems that since this used to be Fraus home, they would allow just about anything. After gathering together and debating about it amongst themselves, the three finally came to an agreement over a punishment that would satisfy all of them. The Adventurer Guild Master, whos precious daughter was also attacked, signed off on the punishment while laughing. First, the three mens clothes were peeled off of them, and when they were completely naked, Ellis tied them up with a rope. After that, they were hung upside down on the guilds eaves outside and had reddish dye thrown on them from up above. A butterfly knot with gold, blue, and red ribbons was carefully tied to them, and it was decided that these people would be left in this embarrassing position for a whole day. This sight would eventually become a specialty of this city, but that is another story. The three women made their way to the reception desk and began to arrange their spoils from the exploration. Besides the mushrooms they picked, they also had to set out the cash from the treasure chests and the Sleep ring. The receptionist turned to Ellis. Did you appreciate the ring? Frau jumped in and answered on Elliss behalf. I appraised the ring. It is a Sleep ring. Alright. Just to confirm, can you please tell me the command word? You are sleepy. The receptionist nodded and then began to liquidate the gathered loot from the countertop. The sum of the mushrooms and the ring is 600 thousand ril, but the three suspended men outside had their equipment confiscated from them and it was all bought by the guild. The total amount was 150 thousand ril which will go to you, so the reward will be 250 thousand ril per each person. Ellis was starting to feel a little grateful to the disgusting old men outside. By the way, I am a thief adventurer, so could you issue a payment certificate to the thief guild for me? Of course. The receptionist quickly filled out and signed a document before handing it over to Ellis. With the payment certificate of 250 thousand ril, the three girls next headed over to the thieves guild. Ellis, its been awhile, nya. Katie was at her usual spot behind the receptionists desk and greeted Ellis at her arrival. Im here to pay my dues. Ellis gave Katie the payment certificate along with the ten percent cash payment of 25 thousand ril. They look like theyre having fun, nya. Katie unintentionally leaked her soliloquy watching Elliss back as she happily chatted away with two beautiful women. By the way Katie, is the guild master in today? Ill go check, nya. Katie took Elliss payment certificate and cash to the back of the guild, but she returned almost immediately afterwards and told her that the master was indeed in the back. Thanks, Katie. Then Reeve, Frau, please wait for one moment. Ellis moved past the receptionists counter and made her way to the far back of the guild house into the guild masters office. Oh, I heard you were here, Ellis. Yes, master. Ellis sat down across from the master and made two reports. The first was about the the odd men she had hung up earlier. If they were just new adventurers it would be fine, but it could get messy if they were mercenaries or soldiers from some place. But the guild master told Ellis not to worry about it with a large laugh. Even if they were from somewhere, there is no way they would report that they had been beat up by some young girls, strung up naked, and had ribbons tied to them like some landmark. It would just end with the adventurer guild giving them some hemp shirts, and they would be on their way. It sounds fun though, so I will be sure to go take a look later. Ellis noticed that the master was in a good mood and decided to ask him about another problem she had. This was about the opening of the womens bathhouse that she was currently working on. Ellis thought that this facility shouldnt be dedicated for her exclusive use, but rather be opened up to the public for a small fee. But from the viewpoint of security and safety, Ellis figured it would be better to just have the thief guild take care of it. The Guild Master listened to Elliss business proposal with great interest, and when she finished, he immediately responded. Well do it for 50% of the sales, and I would like one person from the thieves guild to work there as a teller. 50% of sales, not profit? Of course. We will also send in an extra dispatch fee for the teller. It was a classic case of profiteering, but Ellis did not intend to make any profit off of the business anyway, so she readily accepted. With this, the bathhouse would gain the Thieves guild as its bodyguard. Well then, thank you for your time. Yes, feel free to visit the guild in the future. As Ellis made her way back to the two girls waiting for her, Frau had an epiphany and suddenly shouted out. I forgot to prepare Claires lunch! The three of them had eaten a mobile meal that was included in the exploration set, but Claire was left without. She had probably starved by now. It was not a good idea to have Frau go out and buy groceries or visit a butcher shop while wearing her thick armor, so Ellis bought some sandwiches and fruit from stalls as they made their way back to the mansion. Were home! As soon as Ellis had entered the mansion, Claire jumped out of the guest room as if she had been waiting for them. Ive been waiting for you. I have the overview design done! Claire, what about lunch? I forgot! Claire came running down the steps with a momentum that would not have suggested that someone hadnt eaten anything all day. Wait a moment Claire. We are kind of sweaty from the labyrinth, so before looking over the design, lets take a bath and eat something first. Alright, lets take a bath! Claire raced ahead of Ellis and made her way to the washroom. By the time the other three had taken off their equipment and made it there themselves, the already naked Claire was waiting for them. They were rushed by the excited Claire to finish bathing and changed into their sleepwear. Then while eating some sandwiches, they looked over the general design that Claire had drawn. After a bit of time, the three of them became as excited as she was. Great, Claire! This looks fun! I cant wait! Claire basked in the praises of her roommates and then placed her finger on one part of the drawing. This is the part that I would like to consult with all of you about. Claire wanted to confirm with everyone about where the entrance of the bathhouse would be and the location of the changing room. At Elliss suggestion, a reception counter would also become necessary. Furthermore, because she could only install so many toilets due to the amount of water drawn from the stream, she wanted to know where to put those as well. The four girls gathered around the design and each one put forward their own ideas for the bathhouse. Ellis suggested that they keep one toilet separate from the customers for the familys private use. Even if it was probably said unconsciously, the other three became overjoyed over her use of the word family. If I set up the building so that it is adjacent to the east side of this mansion, I can set a toilet that can only be entered from over here, and if I make the toilet for the customers at a place next to it but separated with a wall, there would be no waste. Reeve asked just for confirmation. Do we also enter from outside? Claire pointed to a part of the mansion. If I set up a door in this part of the mansion and put an aisle to this side of the reception counter, we can use it like an employee entrance. Then it would be best to put the customers changing room on the opposite side of the door. The four people forgot the passage of time and continued to voice their opinions for the design. Once all the ideas came out, Claire stood up with the drawing and declared that she would redraw it. She then hurriedly made her way back to her room. After seeing her off, Reeve and Frau looked at each other. We also have to maintain our armor. Yes, and Id like to get rid of any blood that might still be stuck to my weapon. In the state of these three people, Ellis decided to take a rest this evening. Each of the three returned to their own respective rooms, and Frau turned off the lights in the living room. For Ellis, it was the first time in awhile that she had been alone. Ellis laid on top of her bed and imagined all the different events that had happened that day in order and sighed. .. One person is lonely. Feeling quite a bit of embarrassment, Ellis quietly left her room and made her way to the next room over. Hey Reeve, can I have a knee pillow? Ellis walked into Reeves room and asked her that question while Reeve was applying wax to her armor on the carpet. Are you asking as a girl, or as my mistress? Reeve gently smiled at her. Elliss cheeks became a slightly darker shade of red as she murmured, As a girl. Ellis did not get in the way of Reeve cleaning her armor and set her head on top of Reeves knees. Good night, Reeve. Good night, Miss. Ellis had a long sleep for the first time in awhile with a warm knee as her pillow. CH 16 It sounded in the mansion immediately after dawn. FINISHED!!! Three people who were peacefully asleep in other rooms jumped up as Claires declaration echoed through the house. Ellis groggily looked up from where she slept and peered out the wooden window, but no matter how hard she looked, there was no indication that it had become daytime. Wow. I didnt know the sun could be this dim. Then Ellis noticed where she was. Certainly last night she had fallen asleep while Reeve was giving her a lap pillow, so why was she sleeping in a bed? Good morning, Mistress. When Ellis turned toward the voice, she found that Reeve was lying in bed next to her. Did you carry me to bed? As Reeve nodded, Ellis began to become slightly more awake and aware of her surroundings. Hm? Why is Reeve naked? Huh? For some reason, my whole body feels cold. Somehow I am also naked damn it. Mistress, your pajamas fell off. What a satisfying expression so early in the morning. By the way, why are you also naked? Rather than them falling off, are you sure you did not take them off? You shouldnt mind the fine details like that, Mistress. ..I cant accept this. Ellis regretted her carelessness last night and decided to make the highest priority for tonight to be forcing Reeve to cry until morning. Ellis threw on her pajamas and jumped out of Reeves room. Claire was waiting in the dining room with her drawing spread out on the table. Ellis, morning! I have finished the modified design for the bathhouse! Apparently Claire was okay with whatever room Ellis jumps out of. Okay Claire, so please calm down a bitLets have some fruit and morning tea first. At Elliss recommendation, Frau jumped up and began preparing tea while instructing Claire to move her design from the dining room table to the one in the living room. This was a consideration as she did not want to defile Claires design with food. Then Reeve finally came out of her room as well and entered the dining room as if nothing had happened. Good morning Claire, Ellis. Reeve looks weary this morning. Damn it. While sipping awakening herbal tea with four people, Ellis was seriously examining the design Claire had laid out. It was a perfectly balanced blueprint that incorporated all the ideas and suggestions they had talked about the previous night. Regarding the waterway construction, design ideas had evolved from what Ellis had originally suggested. The branch point between the stream and the waterway had been designed to to take water from the center of the stream to avoid contamination as much as possible. She had also incorporated partitions to eliminate any foreign substances. The long drainage route to the wetlands had several deep holes added in to increase the purifying process, and there was now a main kettlehouse to help disguise the fuel source as firewood. Two bathtubs are prepared. A large bathtub is prepared on the side of Ellis s mansion and an elongated bathtub is arranged on the other side. The elongated bathtub is meant to act as the kakeyu() and is where the customers would shampoo their hair etc. It is meant to be the washroom and is where they will douse themselves with hot water. Since the hot water here will contain perfume oil and dirt, it is sent directly to the drainage groove. The other large bathtub is the tsukariyu(ꜫ) where the customers will soak after cleaning themselves. The bathtub has a two step structure creating a shallow area and a deep area. This way people can enjoy a half bath or a full bath depending on their preferences. If you can make this, then the bathtub should be able to fit 20 people rather than just ten. The warm water which is spilled out from the tsukariyu will flow into the waterway for the toilet. Furthermore, there is a thin waterway that branches from the heated portion of the main waterway thus allowing a sink to be made so people can wash their hands after using the toilet. The toilets are arranged by family and bath. The toilets themselves are right next to each other, but the one for the customers is only accessible from the bathhouse while the one for family can only be accessed from the mansion. With this, both toilets were separated by a wall. The reception counter was installed on the left side of the entrance, and it has space for small items to be put on display on the countertop and on inner shelves. Moreover, there is a door behind the counter that leads to an area between the bathhouse and mansion where inventory of items is possible. The changing rooms are to the right of the entrance, and it is made so that the receptionist behind the counter can overlook it for security reasons. The changing room has 30 lockers with simple wooden locks to keep ones personal possessions secure. Between the changing room and the bathrooms, a resting place has been designated for people to calm their bodies after they are finished bathing. The building itself will be made of stone and wood, and Claires design will make it possible to balance the looks of luxury along with humidity control. Wonderful, Claire! Claire smiled shyly while scratching her head as Ellis praised her on everyones behalf. If its like this, we should be able to turn in the design for estimates as soon as today! Then Reeve asks a simple question. By the way, what are you going to use for light? Oh. Thats right. It would be pitch dark in there. If it is a bathhouse, there will be moisture and ordinary lamps cannot be used. If we use something like torches, the smoke will smear and ruin the precious scent. Claire was quick to despair. I had not thought about that! But Frau put her hand on Claires shoulder and calmed her down. There is no problem as long as we prepare some Luminescent stones. Frau turned to Ellis and winked. Luminescent stones are magic tools that are similar to Fever stones. As long as we get one, it wont be a problem after that. Thank you, Frau. Ellis was once again impressed. To Reeves insight which noticed the problem of lighting to Fraus calmness and knowledge which easily found a solution to the problem. I also have to push Claires back here. Claire, do not worry about the problem of the lights. Lets just ask the boss to make an estimate on this design first. The four people quickly finished the breakfast prepared by Frau, and they headed towards Claires workshop. Ellis, however, received an unexpected response when they got there. Firstly, spreading the design out, the master glanced at the drawing for a brief moment before turning on Claire with a furious momentum. Claire, you. What are you thinking!? The bosss sudden reprimand caused Claire to shrink back, and her brain began to race as the boss continued to angrily rant at her. Why? Ellis and the others were puzzled in spite of being pushed back by the bosss threatening demeanor. After a moment the boss began to take several deep breaths to regain his calmness before once again turning to Ellis. Little Miss, do you have any idea how much this would cost? Claires master began talking as if Ellis was about to do something stupid. It is certainly important to dream, but taking actions that do not take reality into account are just idiotic and meaningless. Apparently the boss had already completed an estimate based on the assumption that they would be building a structure based on the first design he was shown. A bath space only big enough for Ellis and her family with a simple waterway. So thats it. Ellis smiled and tried to act as innocent as possible to the boss who was trying to remain calm but whose face was still beet red. Is 50 million ril not enough, boss? Huh? This time the bosss face became blank. Wait a moment, if its the first drawing, construction would cost 2 million ril at most! But the budget is 50 million ril. The boss reexamined the drawing given to him by Claire once again and mentally calculates the approximate cost once again. However, basic doubts remained on his mind. Is it really possible for you to pay for this? The creditworthy Frau decided to take over the explanation for Ellis here. We will first issue the initial 25 million ril through the Adventurer guild exchange. Would you like us to pay the remaining 25 million ril after construction through the same exchange? The adventurer guild exchange is a certificate issued by the guild that lists the amount of money an adventurer has deposited into the guild for safe keeping. Its creditworthiness is high. When issuing a credit exchange order, the guild will freeze the account making it impossible for even the adventurer themselves to withdraw money. On the other hand, the adventurer guild exchange has a validity period stated, and it will become invalid if it is not turned in with that period. A final confirmation is done with the signature of an adventurer guild employee and the amount of money agreed upon is transferred from the adventurers account to the account of the new principal. When someone says that they will pay with the exchange, it is already a safe transaction, but this time the customer is the daughter of the adventurer guild master himself. It can be said that there is no further guarantee. I understand. Ill fully calculate the estimate, so can you come tomorrow, Frau? Claire, walk me through this design. Everyone besides Claire then left the workshop with a cold sweat traveling down their backs. Ellis starts talking without thinking. What shall we do today? By the way, why are all the magic tools Mistress finds at stalls small items? Even for weapons and armor she only finds daggers and needles. Frau explained with a knowing face. Its because appraisal is expensive. For any appraisal, the first step is to make a judgement about whether an item has an ability in the first place. This is done by sensing the items magical power. Any item that has magical power is some sort of magic tool. Then you discover the items ability with [Analysis]. [Analysis] is a type of enchantment magic that can be learned by magicians or even experienced merchants with a keen sense for items. However, spiritual concentration and a certain amount of time are necessary to be able to sense the magical power. Unlike Elliss [Sense Item], it takes training and intuition. [Analysis] is a pure magic that cannot be learned. It is something that is acquired through experience and a little luck. It takes 5 MP to cast, and since an ordinary person has 10 MP on average, it is a spell that can only be cast once a day. To tell you the truth, I can also use analysis. Frau says. When Ellis picked up the Ice ring, and when they found the Sleep ring in Aidas labyrinth, she had actually cast [Analysis] to see what Ellis saw. If I wasnt able to cast [Analysis], I wouldnt have been allowed to become a receptionist at the guild. But, I am only able to use the spell once a day, so I am no substitute for Ellis. As you can see, it takes a certain amount of time to detect magical power, and [Analysis] cant be used that often. When an adventurer wants to confirm the state of an item, it costs 10 thousand ril to have the item checked for magic power, and it costs 50 thousand ril to have [Analysis] used on it which means confirming a magic tools state would cost 60 thousand rils. So in the case where an item would be sold for less than 60 thousand ril such as most rings and props, it would become a huge deficit even if the item is a magic tool, so unless an item is from a boss room or a superior dungeon, theyll usually sell it as is. Items the adventurer guild buys do get checked for magic power eventually, but it takes time. The adventurer guild also makes money by selling a lot of the excess equipment to street vendors, especially items that were found in low rank dungeons. This is one reason why big ticket items sometimes find their way into stalls. Another reason why Ellis can discover such bargains is because of the clearance of inventory from fallen aristocrats. Here a lot of goods are thrown out together, and even items that were appraised before can end up mixed in. Unidentified items would certainly find their way in there as well. Big items like weapons and accessories are sold at reasonable prices no matter what, and when adventurers buy them, they will most certainly ask for them to be appraised. If these weapons arent a magic tool, then it only cost a little extra money, but if it is one, then thats their profit. Even if they werent appraised, they would still be sold off to the adventurer guild or weapon and armor shops rather than street stalls. Hmm. Then lets check out a luxury weapons shop and a high-end armor shop. At Elliss recommendation, the three decided to spend their time window shopping. First was the luxury weapons shop. Ellis looked around and noticed that many of the items on the walls were glowing lightly. They took a look at a longsword hanging near the stores entrance first. Flying Swallow longsword: 10 million ril eh? Ellis rubbed both of her eyes and then counted the number of zeroes again. Ten, Hundred, Thousand, Million.. So many zeroes. Inhalation short sword: 50 million ril eh? Huh? Elliss was happy to see that Reeve and Frau were also having trouble believing the prices attached to these weapons. As all three of them were caught in an endless loop of rubbing their eyes and recounting zeroes, the store clerk came over. Lady Frau, are you looking for something? Apparently the clerk knows Frau. As the daughter of the stores largest supplier, it is probably only natural. Ellis thought of it as a good opportunity, so she used her childish body to drop the clerks guard and have all her doubts erased. How much is a Flying swallow dagger? The clerk smiled and talked down to Ellis with a tone someone would reserve for speaking with children. Flying swallows ability allows a weapon to deal double damage, so the more damage a weapon can deal, the more expensive it would be. A dagger would be worth about a million ril. On the other hand, if its something like a Minotaurs mace the price would go up to 20 million ril. For Inhalation as well? Any damage-dependent weapons tend to have that rule. Are there weapons that arent damage-dependent types? The clerk was completely caught up in the little girls flow. There are critical type weapons and special attack types, both of which depend on the ability. Thank you. Once they had left the store, Ellis began bouncing ideas off of Frau. If you pick up a mace from the Minotaurs labyrinth and it has the Flying Swallow ability on it, is it a really rare thing? Yes. Since their appearance has happened before, you could justify finding one, but it is a super rare thing to find, and the adventurer guild would take great interest in it. What about Inhalation then? Here, Frau shook her head. Inhalation is difficult since there arent any labyrinths around here that drop items with that ability in the first place. It seems that that Inhalation short sword was purchased from some other city. Next was the high-grade armor store. There was nothing interesting here. Most of the abilities were damage reduction or special attack ineffective. Damage reduction is not very meaningful for Frau right now since she just heals any damage with one swing of her morning star, and Reeve doesnt take any damage in the first place. With that, Ellis judged that it was not necessary at this time to raise the level of their armor. As the three people left the armor store and decided to start making their way home, a horse passed them by. What is that? Hey Frau, what was that monster that looked like a straw horse from earlier? That was a Magical horse. It is a horse magic tool that runs on magic power instead of food. Is it expensive? It is 1 million ril? It is convenient to carry goods, but it uses up a lot of MP. Its a tool that is sometimes dropped from a demon horse called a Sleipnir. I heard something good. That horse, it would be convenient if everyone had one. Frau and Reeve noticed Elliss point. There is a girl in front of them who has infinite MP. If everyone has one, our range of actions will become wide. Reeve smiles. I guess our work up to the completion of the bathhouse has been decided. Frau also smiles. So it has been decided to intensively hunt cattle and horses until the bath was completed. And the next day. Two people with very good skin condition and Ellis head back to the workshop to meet with Claire. Were back. Frau called out as they entered through the front door, and they were greeted by an exhausted Claire and boss. Looking under their hunched over bodies, it seems that they had carried on their calculations and plans throughout the night. Oh, I just finished accumulating. The boss groggily responded to the threes presence. Im a professional, so I will not cheat on the construction contents or the expenses. If we do the usual construction according to the blueprint, it will cost 40 million ril, and it will take 45 days to finish building. Before Ellis could object, Claire moved forward and covered her mouth urging her to listen. We can prioritize our tiles for the waterways, and we can separately create the bathtub related facilities at the workshop. If we do that, we can shorten the construction time to 30 days, but it will end up costing 50 million ril. Ellis responded immediately. We will pay the 50 million. Frau jumped in. We will prepare the currency exchange from the adventurer guild and deliver it today. The boss nodded. Claire, you will be the on-site manager and civil engineer starting tomorrow. Thus the contract was completed. Construction begins tomorrow! CH 17 Ellis, its dangerous there! While shouting out her warning, Frau mercilessly crushed the head of a Bipedal Bull Minotaur which had looked at Ellis. Mistress, leave it to me! Reeve swiftly swung her shamshir and cut off the head of a Sleipnir which had turned to face Ellis. Ellis, are you okay? Mistress, are you okay? Ellis sighed. Annoying. ? The construction of the large public bathhouse had begun in earnest, and Ellis and her family had decided to spend this period of time until its completion as follows. In the morning. Frau prepares four breakfasts and boxed lunches for Claire and the other craftsmen. Reeve does the laundry. Ellis makes magic tools while yawning. Claire holds a morning assembly as the field director with the other craftsmen. Noon. Frau, Reeve, and Ellis go to labyrinths where Minotaur and Sleipnir emerge. While continuing on-site supervision, Claire hands out Fraus boxed lunches to the craftsmen. After that, she brings in the laundry Reeve had hung out to dry. Evening Frau starts preparing dinner in the kitchen. Reeve prepares the washroom for bathing. Ellis begins copying experiments and organizing the magic tools acquired during the days exploration in the living room. Claire makes her final rounds at the construction site and produces the workers daily wage. Night Everyone enjoys the dinner that Frau prepared before jumping into the bath that Reeve prepared. After that, everyone changes into their pajamas, and everyone enjoys Ellis making her rounds. Peaceful but boring days pass. While Claire is building the bathhouse, the other three set up two goals. The first is to acquire a two-handed mace that is sometimes dropped from killing minotaurs in labyrinths. If Ellis copied the Flying Swallow ability onto that mace, a super rare Flying Swallow Minotaur Mace would be completed. Once they collect it, they can sell it to the adventurer guild for a large amount of money. The second goal is to mercilessly and maliciously kill every sleipnir they can find to collect a Magical horse for everyone in their party. To complete these goals, the three have been going around to the Ox Labyrinth, where a minotaur is the boss, the Stallion Labyrinth, where a sleipnir is the boss, and the Gozume Labyrinth, where the sleipnir and minotaur can both appear as middle bosses. (Gozume: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox-Head_and_Horse-Face ) To be honest, as long as no more than four monsters come out, in these intermediate level dungeons at least, these monsters are toothless before the blue dragon girl with her sword and the red tiger girl with the scary iron ball. You can do whatever you want. If one monster appears, Frau quickly beats its brains in with her morning star. A second monster would die the same instant with Reeves Shamshir separating its head from its neck, and a third monster would not be able to accomplish anything because it would be instantly frozen by Elliss ice before being brutally beaten to death. Even if four or more appear, it is still not necessarily a match because the girls will remain calm, and the instant they realize too many monster have appeared, all three of them will activate their Ice rings and reduce the numbers. There is nothing to stop the morning star and shamshir from ripping apart the rearguard which cannot move to defend itself. This is the power of three innocent looking girls having Ice rings which are supposed to be super rare by themselves. Add that to the two girls carrying Spirit rings and the situation becomes ridiculous. With Ellis who can continuously refill those Spirit rings, the monsters of the labyrinth had no hope of survival. This seems to be fun for Reeve and Frau, but Ellis found it boring. This continued on for 30 days until the bathhouse was finished. Once the month had passed, the three of them had managed to kill fifteen Minotaurs and received five Minotaur maces. They had killed 15 sleipnirs, and received 5 Magical horses from them as well. The three had also received two rare magic tools during the exploration. A [Mourning Mace] drop from the Ox Labyrinths boss and a [Purification bastard sword] from the treasure chest located behind the boss of the Gozume labyrinth. There were some other magic tools as well, but since they were all variations of abilities that they had already collected, they were all sold for a total of 3.6 million ril. Ellis further sold off four Minotaur maces which had the Flying Swallow imparted to them for 9 million ril each leading to the grand total of 39.6 million ril. Elliss share of that money is 13.2 million ril, but as a thief adventurer, she pays 1.2 million ril as her 10 percent dues to the thief guild. While sewing through labyrinths, Ellis also looked around and purchased a Luminescent stone and a Cooling stone for refrigeration from the magic tool shop. The Luminescent stone cost 100,000 ril while the Cooling stone was a little more expensive at 500,000 ril. Ellis picked up a number of stones from the construction area and experimented with [Copy Item] after dinner, and all the lights in the mansion had now become Luminescent stones. In the kitchen, Frau was enjoying her new stove that had replaced the firewood dependent one with one that uses Fever stones to warm up a plate-like stone that they picked up from the construction area. Ellis had also brought one of the treasure chests from a boss room to the mansion. After disabling the trap and carrying it home in her Bag of Gluttony, she put in a few Cooling stones to turn it into a fridge. Every Luminescent stone and Fever stone appliance in the mansion is also equipped with a Spirit ring. This way anyone can take the mana from the Spirit ring and use it to activate the appliance instead of using their own. All Ellis has to do is make a round through the house to refill the magical power in the Spirit rings. As a result, Elliss mansion has now become completely eco-friendly. Meanwhile, the day of delivery came. The boss and Claire guided the other three from the northern stream to the southern drainage, explaining everything that was built in order. There is little worry of anyone sabotaging the water sampling port as its entrance is well disguised. Additionally, the port is designed diagonally so as to not go against the flow, and a stone fence is applied. This way it can prevent foreign matter from entering to the utmost, and any stray aquatic creatures can return to the original flow. A wooden fence has been set up 5 meters to the east and west of the entrance which extends to Elliss mansion showing that this is within the mansions premises. The water from the stream is drawn in and travels down the waterway, and it is filtered by a net and charcoal before heading to the kettlehouse. The water warmed in the kettlehouse flows into the two bathtubs. From there, the water is either directly ejected in the drainage port or it supplies the water for the toilet, and it is finally drained into the wetlands. The waste water passes through several deeply dug holes to help purify the water before it is ejected. The top of the purification facility is covered with wood boards and surrounded by wetland plants. With this, the dirt from the bathtub will not damage the environment too badly, and there is no worry about attracting perverts who would be interested with the used bathwater. Is this OK? The three people could not complain. It was a perfect job. On behalf of the three, Frau thanked the boss. Thank you. I will come by tomorrow to pay the second half. The boss nodded satisfied. It was a fun job. Then the boss briefly grasped Claires head who was standing behind him, and dragged her up casually in front of himself. You girls are hiding something, right? Four people, including Claire, have their hearts skip a beat at the bosss observation, but he kept talking while pretending not to notice Elliss reaction. I wont pry into it further; just do me a favor and take care of this one. While saying that, the boss took his hand off of Claires head and pushed her towards Ellis. Huh? Claire became restless towards the sudden parental behavior from the boss. She was planning on moving on past the boss, but now he was pushing her forward before she had the chance. Claire. Will you need any extra hands taking care of the hot water or lighting the interior? Everyone became stiff at the bosss question, and Claire couldnt allow herself to look at him. As I said before, I dont need to know. However Claire, will you be able to do this alone? Oh Everything was overlooked by the boss. Claire was touched by this sentiment. And she started to sob. Master.. Claire squatted down and cried into her lap. Ellis bent low and whispered into her ear, What are you doing, Claire? Times like this, shouldnt you thank your master with a kiss? After that, Claire jumped up and kissed the boss on his cheek. In this way Claire officially became a member of Elliss group. ? That evening. Can you hear me Reeve? No problem mistress. Can you hear me? Ellis and Reeve were using the Intelligence headband and piercings to communicate over a long distance. Oh, its convenient. Claire was impressed and stared at the piercings Reeve was wearing. Reeve smiled back at Claire. It will be great if Elliss voice could be transmitted to us at any time. Currently, Ellis and Frau were next to the kettlehouse while Reeve and Claire waited at the bathhouse. Then I will go little by little. Okay. I will report on a case by case basis. After hearing Reeves reply, Ellis began creating Fever Stones, and Frau sunk them into the water in the kettlehouse. Once a number of them were submerged, Ellis took out a special tong and touched one of the stones. {Turn red}. Then as the first stone began to change its color, the water around started to bubble up. Reeve how is it? Reeve and Claire were left in the bathhouse to check the temperature of the water flowing into the bathtub. A little more. Ellis created two more Fever stones and added them to the water tank as well. The steam rising from the boiling water was steadily becoming more intense. Oh, its a nice feeling. Come here and try it once. Following Reeves reply, Ellis and Frau moved from the kettlehouse to the completed bathhouse. Yeah, it feels good. After confirming that Ellis and Frau were satisfied with the heat of the bath, Claire asked them to turn the heat down so that they could easily clean out the bathtub. Agreeing to her request, they headed back to the kettlehouse. They deactivated the Fever stones as Claire requested, and they added in two more dormant Fever stones to be activated once it becomes winter. In the bathhouse, Claire and Reeve temporarily blocked the drainage of the bathtub and monitored the state of the running water moving through the bathtub. They watched the water overflow out of the tub and bring with it any dirt that had accumulated during the construction. They concluded that this method should work to clean the tub in the future, and it should be find to just leave the water hot during any other times. Well then, shall we prepare the lights while the bath warms up? The girls pulled out Luminescent stones that were placed in rattan baskets in advance. The rattan baskets were used as a shade to dim some of the released light after Ellis activated them, and they were all hung up one by one on clasps that were tailored to the ceiling of the room. The Luminescent stones light seeped through the rattans mesh and gently illuminated the room. With the lights properly working, Claire told Ellis she could reheat the water through the piercings. While the four waited for the tubs to reheat up, Claire checked the bathrooms to make sure the water was flowing correctly in the toilets and that the water was still a comfortable temperature. Since we all have so much free time, shall we all take a bath? Three people nodded happily toward Elliss proposal. Everyone returned to the mansion through the door behind the reception counter to take off their clothes. After grabbing the towels that were prepared by Reeve in advance, the four headed back over to the bathtub. It was a fantastic space upon reentering where the light leaking from the rattan baskets beautifully showcased the polished stone while the sound of the running water made the four naked women naturally relaxed. The four sat on prepared low chairs in front of the elongated bath to begin wiping themselves down. They took out hot water from the bath and rinsed each other off before turning to the larger tub. The four gathered together and decided to enter at the same time. This is paradise. Reeves body grew weak and it almost looked like she would melt in the tub. The fatigue of the day seems to be just falling off. Frau narrowed her eyes in pleasure and relaxed her shoulders. Ellis, it feels so good. Claire happily chatted away with Ellis. Oh how I missed you. Ellis was remembering the bath she had before her incarnation. In those days, I had a narrow tub that I didnt care for, but it wasnt so bad looking back on it. The bath was so pleasant. While watching the three beautiful girls feeling weak, refracting, and forgetting their worries, the hikineet laid back and enjoyed the bath with them. CH 18 It was a little after evening. After being satisfied with her cruel physical punishment, Reeve whispered, Why dont we sell towels at the bathhouse? After being satisfied with her shame and humiliation, Frau whispered, Why dont we sell soap for washing your body and perfume for shampooing? After being satisfied with her gentle and caring treatment, Claire whispered, Why dont we provide fruit juice to be enjoyed after bathing? You three.this isnt the time to be thinking about business. There are several guilds in Warren. The Adventurer Guild manages the labyrinths, registers and supports adventurers, and operates vigilante justice within the town. The Workshop Guild is composed of craftsmen including blacksmiths, carpenters, masonry etc. They allocate work orders and job assignments for large-scale projects. They also perform research to equalize and improve on the quality of infrastructure. The Merchant Guild is a cooperative which contributes to protecting Warrens economy and regulating the distribution of illegal items and unjust dumping. They also perform tax collection on behalf of Warren. The Magician Guild is a mutual aid group that monitors their magicians and strives to improve magic. They are currently inactive. The Thieves Guild has the premise that it takes care of all Warrens dirty work. They work behind the scenes to facilitate the operation of the city, and everyone sees them as a necessary evil. Due to the nature of the guild, it is the strongest pyramid type organization. Ellis belongs to the thief guild, Frau to the adventurer guild, and Claire has a relationship with the workshop guild respectively. Regarding the sales of the bathhouse, Ellis already entered the protection of the thieves guild, but if she wanted to provide merchandise like the three had suggested, she would need to make a deal with the merchant guild. So Ellis decided to go to the thieves guild to get a referral from the guild master. Hello, Katie. Hello, Ellis, nya. What are you doing today, nya? Is the master here? Wait a bit, nya. Katie retracted to the back of the guild, but like usual, she was back in an instant with a smile on her face. Hell see you, nya. When Ellis knocked on the masters office door, a familiar brilliant voice echoed from the room. Oh, come in! Excuse me. When she opened the door, the master was sinking into the rooms sofa with his usual Mr. Doughboy appearance. Ellis sat in the usual chair next to the masters desk and turned it to face the couch. Oh Ellis, Im glad to see that youre doing well! Master seems to be in a good mood. In that case the story should go quickly. Master, the bathing business should start soon. Alrighty then. Ill pick out a dispatch manager and send them over right away. Its a womens only bath so send over a woman. Gotcha. The master already had an inkling on Elliss tastes and started laughing restfully again. So, did you need anything else today? No, I actually was thinking about selling some bath supplies while managing the bathhouse. The master understood Elliss intentions. Well, if you do, then youll have to register with the merchants guild and buy your supplies from them. Ill write you a letter of introduction. After receiving the letter, Ellis bid her farewells to the master and Katie before heading out to the merchant guild building. It was placed in a corner of the citys center where the luxury shops stand. Hello. The merchant guild had a large wooden door, and when Ellis passed through it, she immediately headed towards the reception desk in this needlessly large lobby. The receptionist was a nervous looking middle-aged man. He was writing something down at first, and didnt look up at Ellis until shed reached the desk. When she stopped walking, he looked up and spoke softly. Are you here to pass a message? Ellis handed over the letter of introduction from the thief guild master and began to explain about the bathhouse and how she wanted to start selling bath products at the facility. Once Ellis completed her explanation, the man took out a sheet of paper from the bottom of the counter. Then please list the items you plan to sell first. Once Ellis had written down all the items Reeve and the others had suggested, she handed the form back to the receptionist. The receptionist gave the form a once-over before beginning to write on it himself. This figure is the purchase price for the items from the guild, and this figure is the minimum selling price of the items. The man began to explain that if you are going to start a business in Warren, you have to buy your goods from the merchant guild. Commission and guarantee fees along with taxes are included in the procurement fee. On the other hand, when selling goods, they require prices to not fall below a certain level. This is a measure to prevent price dumping. What do I do if I want to buy goods from a workshop or plantation? If you dont want to have a dispute with the merchant guild, your best bet is to sell the goods you purchased elsewhere to the guild once and then repurchase them back from the guild. This is the simplest and safest way. The term safety here means that you are able to prove that you payed your taxes to Warren since the tax on goods is included in the merchant guilds procurement fee. No matter what world you live in, tax collectors are scary. Ellis only had one more question. Is it possible to do a consignment sale? ? The man was curious over a term he had never heard before. What is consignment? It means that the merchant guild would take direct control of the sale of goods and they would then pay a commission of the sales to the bathhouse. Ha. The man was impressed. This girl had a head for business. According to the letter of introduction, the bathhouse belongs to the thieves guild, so the receptionist understood that Ellis would have to pay a significant amount of the sales to the guild. That would include product sales as well. Since there is little cost in bath management, profits will still remain even after the guild takes its cut, but the story changes if that includes the sale of goods as well. If it is this then it would be better to have the merchant guild directly sell the merchandise, reap the profits, and pay the fee to the bathhouse. Then she can just hand over a portion of that fee to the thief guild. And theres nothing the thief guild can do about it without coming into conflict with the merchant guild. The secretarys smile loosened. It depends on the sales record. Ellis then returned home after finding out about the purchase place and ordering/transaction method. Thats why. Ellis explained the situation to the four at the dinner table. We need sales records for the time being, so I will handle the sales at first. After that, Frau raised her hand. In fact, applications from the adventurer guild are finally being sent out to start accepting residents to the girls dormitory next door. Because I have to prepare their meals, I would like to use the mansions kitchen. Then Claire puts up her hand as well. Id like to open up a design office here since my masters office will take care of the post-construction. Apparently, Claire intends to commence full-scale building design work on behalf of the office at the mansion. Even though Claire is talking like the boss will be taking over construction, Ellis was pretty sure he fully intended to sub-contract the design to her new office. However, Ellis likes to avoid saying unnecessary things. Then Reeve also raised her hand although she looked a little embarrassed for doing so. Since we no longer clean ourselves in the washroom, I would like to use that room exclusively for laundry. This is equivalent to Reeve declaring that she would take care of the laundry for all four of them. Even though she looked a little embarrassed over it, this is perhaps the most important thing for the other three workaholic people. You guys are full of motivation. Ellis was overwhelmed. Ellis and Reeve decided to work together and obtain the first delivery of goods and observe the merchant guild. They both take out a palm sized straw horse doll from their respective Bags of Gluttony, and cast the command word. Magical HorseCPerforms the same actions as a horse by the command of the rider. Required MP: 3. Command word: {Come along race horse.} To return it to its miniature size: {Sleep well, race horse.} After activation, the straw horses grew to a normal horses size, and Ellis and Reeve rode them to the merchant guilds purchase site. Since Magical horses move according to their riders will, there is no need for the rider to have the normal skills required to ride a horse. The only drawback is that the horse cant perform complex movements. If you were to compare it, it would be similar to a moped from Eijis world? When the two arrived at the purchase site, they put away their Magical horses and found the manager of the warehouse. Ellis handed over the the merchant guild issued sales permit and item statement slip, and the manager checked the contents of the paperwork. Please wait one moment, the uncle told the two of them as he disappeared into the warehouse. After awhile, the manager returned with a wheelbarrow carrying the goods. Would you like to check the goods? The manager handed Ellis the item detail slip. She took out a pen and asked Reeve to confirm the product name and the quantity in the wheelbarrow. 100 sets of large and small towels. Yes, one set for 250 ril. 100 bottles of perfume. Yes. 100 ril for each bottle. 100 pieces of soap. Yes. this is also 100 ril each. Lastly, one barrel of fruit juice. Yes. One barrel for 5 thousand ril. Everythings here then. It comes to 50 thousand ril, right uncle? Thats correct. The manager received the payment from Reeve and filled out a receipt-like document. Do you girls want me to prepare a Magical horse to carry the baggage load? To the managers kind offer, Reeve and Ellis shook their heads. Thank you, but I think we can store it if its only this much. Answering the manager, Reeve opened up her pouch and sucked in the baggage loaded on the wheelbarrow. Luckily, the manager did not seem particularly surprised by the sight, and he instead seemed a little impressed. Oh, it is unusual to see a pouch type Adventurers bag. It looks nice. He seems to have misunderstood and assumed that Reeves pouch was just an Adventurers bag. The fact that they didnt have to explain anything left them both feeling grateful. Once everything is taken care of and Ellis and Reeve had remounted their Magical horses, the manager waved farewell to them. Its cash only right now, but if you build up some credit, I can even offer you girls a bargain. Good luck out there! Thank you! After bowing their heads to the kind warehouse manager, Ellis and Reeve rode off back to the mansion with their purchases in tow. On that day signboards were set up around Elliss mansion. The first sign advertised Claires design office built beside the entrance of the mansion. Secondly, there was a sign that showed off the Adventurer guild womens dormitory located at the entrance of the mansions neighboring house. And lastly was a sign put up at the entrance of the newly built public bath, Female private washroom: Lily Garden. Everything begins tomorrow. ? Well, the next morning. Katie, the receptionist for the thief guild, was dispatched as the accountant manager on behalf of the thief guild. She is a beastkin with cat ears on her head and pure, fluffy white cat fur. Everyones regards, nya. Everyone besides Ellis had a bad feeling run through them as Katie lowered her head to Ellis with a carefree smile. Lily Garden has begun to operate safely. On the first day Ellis and Reeve acted as receptionists behind the counter. As a matter of course, no advertisements were done in advance, so it was impossible to know how many people would come, but one customer ended up arriving earlier than Ellis had expected. The first customer was a beautiful woman of about middle-age, but because Ellis was not interested in milfs, she did not get excited. Welcome. When Ellis and Reeve gingerly welcomed the guest, the woman turned to Reeve and talked to her as if to confirm something. This is a womans only bath. A-Aa. *Gon!* *Tsu!* Reeves inconsistent and nervous answer was quickly met with a swift kick from Ellis behind the counter. Yes, it is for women Although Reeves expression had scrunched up with pain for a moment, she cleared it up with a smile for the customer. Ellis also added in a smile. All men are banned from entering. As she was satisfied with their answer, the woman paid Ellis the 1 thousand ril bathing fee, but Ellis noticed that the woman had not prepared any items for bathing here. Oh, I came empty-handed. Ellis immediately jumped into the sales talk. Perfumes for shampooing are 300 ril. The soap is 300 ril. We have large and small towel sets available at 500 ril, but what would you like? Then I will buy one of each. Thank you for your purchase. Ellis has received an additional 1100 ril in addition to the bathing fee, and she made sure to log the purchase on the sales statement. Ellis then handed the woman a wooden plate that had a number engraved onto it. This will be the key to your locker. Once you have finished changing your clothes, return the key here. We will keep it safe until you are finished with your bath. Okay. Is it alright if I put any of my valuables in there as well? It will be fine. With the key here, we will take responsibility for any lost possessions. Happy with the reception, the woman stripped off her clothes in the dressing room and returned the key to the desk. Continuing on with the small towel in hand, the woman opened the door. The woman let out a sigh of admiration for the sight in front of her. The bathhouse was elegantly illuminated piercing through the steam. A lot of hot water is constantly being drawn into the tubs, keeping the cleanliness of the water. The woman followed the instructions from a sign placed on the wall on how to wash herself with the rinsing bath and the soaking bath. Before entering the soaking bath, the woman carefully observed the inside of the hall. Then her body slowly immersed itself into the soaking waters. While forgetting her original purpose in coming here, the woman was in the tub for awhile before realizing how unguarded she had left herself. That is right. The woman understood why this bathhouse was under the control of the thief guild. I enjoyed it. The woman who had fully enjoyed the hot water smiled at Ellis and Reeve behind the reception desk with rejuvenated skin. If you dont mind, you can cool yourself off in the waiting area over here, and since you just got out of the hot bath, I recommend a cold drink of fruit juice. The woman became interested at Elliss recommendation. If that is so, then I will have one cup. Ellis opened the lid of a container placed behind the reception counter that looked like a treasure box and took out a pottery cup from the inside. One cup is 200 ril. Ellis hands over the cup with a smile. Oh. The comfortable coldness is transmitted from the cup to the womans fingers. Well then, bottoms up. The woman put her mouth to the cup and slowly moisturized her throat. Well! The woman was surprised. Fruit juice itself is a simple sour taste, but it can only be expressed as fresh when it is moderately diluted and chilled. It is the best drink to cool and tighten the body. The woman instantly placed her left hand on her hip, stuck her chest out, and drank the rest of the juice all at once. Then the woman trembled for awhile. Oh, how embarrassing. Ellis watched the womans reaction and pointed to the other side of the hall. There is a washroom prepared over there. Oh, its unusual for a toilet to be indoors. The woman opened the door she was directed to by Ellis. Well. There, a flowing toilet was installed that looked almost as if a small brook was flowing through the floor. On closer inspection, the water was actually faintly hot. Next to the toilet, there was more water flowing and a sign indicating this was where you would wash your hands. The woman couldnt help but to admire it for a moment. It wouldnt be crazy to pay 1 thousand ril just to use this toilet. After leaving the toilet, the woman put her clothes back on and called back to Ellis as she left. I will come again. We will be waiting. As the woman left the building, another group walked in. What is it? It looks interesting. These were a group of female adventurers who had just entered the adventurer guild womens dormitory. ? A woman sighed as she got on the carriage that had been waiting for her. The lingering feeling of the bath could still be felt on her skin. How was it master? The woman gave a serious look to the middle-aged man sitting in a seat across from her. This bathhouse will definitely be popular. Immediately check the surrounding land ownership situation, and then head to the thief guild afterwards. Certainly. The Lily Gardens first customer rode in her carriage back to the city. CH 19 Lily Garden ended up becoming much more popular than Ellis had expected. Apparently there were a lot more women dissatisfied with the state of the public bath than she had thought. In addition to that, it seems that the new residents of the female dorm were huge fans of it, and they spread the news to other female adventurers. The bathhouse now had many female adventurers as regular customers. Because of this, Elliss eyes were busy everyday. The bathhouse had just closed for the day, and four people stretched out in their favorite positions in this after hours private bathroom. Oh, it feels good. The hot water and the lights of the bathhouse never stop due to the sustained effects of the Fever and Luminescent stones. Thats why Ellis decided to add a new page to her nightly menu. It was the time when everyone had retired to their rooms. When Ellis entered Reeves room, she gave a cold look to the girl who was excitedly anticipating whatever kind of cruel treatment she would receive tonight. Ellis lifted up her hand up and beckoned her to come forward. Ms. Toy. Come over here. There was no reason to oppose for Reeve. Yes, Mistress. Ellis took Reeves hand who obediently followed her downstairs. They crossed through the pitch dark living room, and they returned to the large public bath. Sit here. Ellis sat Reeve down on a small chair next to the hot water and then grabbed some soap. She makes sure to get enough on her hands, and she rubbed her hands together to create plenty of bubbles. Then coming from behind Reeve, Ellis began massaging Reeves breasts with her soap covered hands. After exhausting her body, Ellis helped lay Reeve on her bed and then headed for the next room. Ms. Pig. Follow me. There was no reason to resist for Frau. Okay Ellis. Ellis took the hand of the obedient Frau, and they returned to the bath once again. Stand here. Ellis made Frau stand in front of the hot water as she filled her hands with bubbles. Ellis gently grabbed Fraus chest from behind and gradually worked her way down. Ellis continued to wipe down Fraus body even after Frau couldnt stand anymore. She didnt stop until right before Frau was about to lose consciousness. She then helped Frau return to her bed. Then Ellis made her way to the next room. Claire, come here. There was no reason to doubt for Claire. Yes, Ellis. Ellis took hold of Claires hand, and they slowly made their way back to the bath. Lets play together here. Ellis and Claire both began to build up some bubble in their hands. Claire imitated Ellis, and Ellis imitated Claire. They both stretched out their hands and moved them in a way to make each other happy. Ellis carried Claires body who had been rendered unable to stand back to her bed and laid her on her bed. Afterwards, she left to sleep in Reeves room. And so, Ellis had added a soap game variation to the night section activities. As a result, four peoples skin were more polished than ever. Every day passed in such a way. Lily Gardens management was doing fine. The number of customers increases every day, and the sales increase with them. However, if you are busy with work every day, you will get bored with it. Ellis wants to go find some bargains around the stalls. Reeve wants to go cut up some Sleipnir. Frau wants to go smash a Minotaur. Claire wants to go out exploring with everyone. Thus the lives of the four were brought to dullness due to the curse of obligations. ? This was the regular meeting of the Warren Council. Todays topic is about the treatment of the womens bathing facility Lily Garden that had just started business in the outskirts of East Warren. In response to the merchant guild raising questions, the thief guild master, Baltis, spoke first. That is my territory. Are there any complaints? The adventurer guild master Theseus agreed. My daughter seems to be having fun, and more than that, the female adventurers all say it is a reputable business. Its a nice place that everyone loves. The workshop guild master, Flint, nods. But for seemingly different reasons. It was a worthwhile construction job. Each councilor representing their own guild had a questionable face to whether there was any problem with the bathing facility. By the way, the guild master of the magicians guild was not present at the moment. However, in an atmosphere where everyone approves of Lily Garden, Maria, the merchant guild master, called for doubt. Isnt that facility abnormal? Among the troubled room, Maria cites questionable points. In order to keep the water as rich as it is, the fuel consumption should be enormous. Its also strange that the facility can keep the lights on in such a humid bath. Maria continued to question the guild masters, Arent there way too many magic tools in that facility? Flint became intrigued. It would be a problem if you asked me such a thing because we didnt put any in there. Theseuss interest was also piqued. My daughter told me that it is a facility reserved for only women. Baltis was the last to join in. The dispatch manager we sent out was also designated as a woman. Is that so? I see. Flint continued on while looking at Maria. They also made a request that any craftsmen we send out to perform maintanence on the facility would be female as well. In other words, among all the members of this council, only Maria had been in the facility. The woman who had visited the establishment on the first day it opened. She had received a report about a new business buying items from the merchant guild in advance and had decided to see the state of Lily Garden. Baltis began laughing. Well if we are talking about unnatural things, then the amount of money Ellis pays to the thieves guld is certainly abnormal. Indeed. Theseus laughed as well. When my daughter brought in four Flying Swallow Minotaur maces, I almost had a heart attack. The both of them laughed for a moment before suddenly giving Maria a tough look. But they havent deviated from any rules. This should be true for the merchant guild as well. The room suddenly became cold under the twos harsh expressions. Marias face turned grievous, and she put up both her hands as if to surrender. I understand. For their cute daughters, its only natural for their fathers to get desperate. Maria gave them both a serious look and continued on. Does that mean you dont intend to share that treasure with the rest of us? Maria did not intend to attach complaints to the facility itself. The opposite, she saw the benefits and money Lily Garden could bring and wanted that wealth to benefit all of Warren. In that situation, Flint stuck out his tongue in a gesture that didnt suit his large body. Actually, the workshop guild already opened up a branch office over there. ? Things started early the next morning. Katie, who was acting as the accountant manager for Lily Garden, brought a message from Baltis while everyone was eating breakfast. In the evening, after the bathhouse has been closed, we will come over for a visit, so be sure to prepare four snacks and some alcohol. Ellis had a bad feeling about this. The business of the day had passed. It was a time where, after the bathhouse had been closed, the four girls would gather around the table and make merry conversation while eating the dinner made by Frau, but today was different. Everyone was feeling uneasy from the thief guild masters message. Then a luxury carriage pulled up in front of the mansion and four shadows came out. Ellis, who confirmed the appearance of the thief guild master, suddenly wanted to run away. Frau, who confirmed the appearance of the adventurer guild master, started to scowl and scolded her father with her eyes. Claire, who confirmed the appearance of the workshop guild master, instinctively hid her face with her hands from embarrassment when she remember how she cried the last time she saw him. Reeve, who confirmed the appearance of the merchant guild master, was surprised to see the figure of the first customer who had come in when the bathhouse opened. Ellis, its good to see you! Baltis crossed into the house and passed the girls without any hesitation. Frau, I hope youre doing your work as a manager well. Theseus followed closely behind Baltis calling to Frau over his shoulder. Oh, thats a cute signboard. Flint paused for a moment to admire Claires signboard before following after. Sorry to intrude. Maria was the last to step into the mansion. Ellis guided her four guests to the living room and encouraged them all to take a seat on the sofa. Once everyone had taken their seat, she asked without being able to hide all of her tension, Everyone, what can I help you with today? But the four of them just sat there smiling. Then Baltis sat up from the sofa, and acting as the representative for the four, gave off his usual laugh. Well, dont mind it right now. Lets bring out the food. Ellis brought out a spare table to the living room while Frau arranged the dinner she had prepared. Todays dinner was fried chicken with cooked potatoes set on a large plate placed in the middle of the table. A bowl filled with coleslaw was set up next to it for anyone who wanted it. Desert included a variety of fruits cut up into bite sized pieces, and fruit liquor was poured for the four masters while Elliss group settled for juice. Once everything was set out, Ellis realized that there was one more person than she thought. Somehow Katie had blended into the gathering and was making herself at home. The meal went on with nothing occurring but friendly chatter. Of course, most of the chatting was done by the four masters while Ellis only sat there with a cramped smile and nodding in agreement every now and then. Then once everyone had started eating desert, Theseus spoke. Well, about the reason for todays visit. Maria put her hand out to stop Theseus and took over the conversation. Girls, would you let the city get involved in this project? Marys proposal was unexpected for Ellis. The merchant guild would take care of the sales of the bathhouse. On that basis, they would pay Ellis 10% of the product sales as a fee for using the facility. The adventurer guild would run a ferry service delivering ladies from the center of Warren to Lily Garden. Like the merchant guild, they would give Ellis 10 percent of their sales as a parking fee. The Thief guild would take over management of the facility and would handle staffing receptionists and the accountant manager. Ellis would no longer have to pay the wages for these employees and still receive 50 percent of the sales. With this, Lily Garden would formally become under the jurisdiction of the thief guild. This is the first stage. The second stage is a joint plan between the merchant guild and the adventurer guild to build eating facilities and nursery facilities around Lily Garden. In addition, the house formally belonging to Kevin would be renovated turning part of it into an adventurers inn. They would continue to add facilities as needed afterwards. The design of these facilities will be done through Claires design office. If so, then construction will obviously be done with Flints construction company. I dont think its a bad deal. The four girls could not immediately reply to Flints statement. None of them could imagine such a rapid expansion. But then Ellis started to have a thought. If they take care of the construction, then I will be free from responsibility and be able to play again. So on behalf of the other three, Ellis agreed to the deal. Once everyone was in agreement, Maria asked Ellis to appear at the next regular meeting of the Warren Council. That way, the deal can be approved in an official capacity. By the way Ellis, I want to see the bathhouse. Ah. I thought so. Ellis tried to resist Baltiss request as best she could. Master, Im afraid that admittance to Lily Garden is forbidden for men, but Yeah, I know. Damn it. No choice. Ellis reluctantly guided the masters to the bath. She was afraid that they would have doubts about the facility and ask questions about the Fever stones and the Luminescent stones. On the contrary though, the rattan baskets were highly praised by Flint who had never seen the technique of indirect lighting. Also, the idea of providing cold drinks by having a chest filled with Cooling stones impressed everyone. In this way, nine people were having fun talking in the bathhouse, and Baltis whispered into Elliss ear so that no one else could hear. In reality, along with this Lily Garden project, the public bath in the center of the city is supposed to be redeveloped for mens exclusive use. So the ideas you show here, will be incorporated for that renovation. Thats why, you dont need to worry. This deal isnt only for your benefit. So thats what it is. Then Im relieved. In short, the men of the city are being persnickety, and they dont like their wives and daughters going off to the suburbs while they sit around being irrational. ? After the masters went home, Ellis decided to take a bath. Here, Ellis noticed that the number of people was different than usual. Hmm? Why are there five? When she looked closely, she could see a large white ball of hair floating at the center of the bath. Suddenly, the ball of hair grabbed Ellis. Ellis, I want to live with you too! Ellis flinched from the violent attack of the hairball, and she was dumbfounded by its sudden declaration. But then Ellis felt the wet fur that was soft as cotton rub against her breast. Katie was so soft. Behind the furball, a tail was sweeping back and forth in the bathtub. She had no body hair on her tight stomach, but her backside was covered with short white fur. Before this lovely, cute, and adorable appearance, Ellis awoke to the appeal of a beast-girl for the first time. Ellis took a deep breath to suppress her rising excitement, and she pulled away the clinging Katie to look her in her gray eyes. Is the thief guild okay with this? I already re-registered as a thief adventurer. The master instructed me to become a member of Elliss party. Oi. Are you really a member of the thieves guild? Thats a little too honest. Are you okay with that? I want to live here as well. Everyone was being really close with you and I got really jealous and nobody invited me over for supper. Katie looked like she was about to cry. Well, if it bothered you this much, why did you stay silent until right now? Instead of you being lonely, we couldve been spending this time having fun together. I understand. Katie, I have one room left in my mansion, so feel free to sleep there. Watching the state of Ellis and Katie, the other three all looked at each other and sighed. Then they turned toward Katie and gave her a bright smile. We welcome you. x3 In this way, Elliss house became filled to capacity. CH 20 Ellis brought Katie over to the changing room and wiped down her body with a towel until her fur regained its volume and became fluffy again. In the meantime, Katie has been crying ever since Ellis had told her she could stay. Once Katie was all dry, Ellis took Katies hand and pulled her out towards the door behind the receptionists counter. Well then, I will show you to your room. Reeve, Frau, and Claire watched the two leave without saying a word. Once they confirmed that the two had disappeared through the door, Reeve and Frau started moving first. They started to gather their clothes, and Frau made sure to pick up Katies clothes that were left behind. Well, shall we get prepared in our rooms? Yes. Itll be Katies first time, so we will probably have to wait a while longer. Claire was surprised at Reeve and Fraus actions. She was feeling jealous of Katies sudden inclusion, so why were they acting like everything was normal? Hey Reeve, Frau, are you two okay with Ellis being taken by Katie? Then Reeve and Frau gave Claire a vague look. You shouldnt have to worry about it? Dont worry. Is that so? Yes. Thats right. Even so, the two could tell that Claire was still dissatisfied, but that was how Ellis has always been. If she doesnt visit someone one night, then she wont visit anyone, and if she does come, she comes to everyone. There was one exception, but Ellis had not gone in with those intentions. Also, the perpetrator of that incident was sufficiently punished the following night. I see. The two of you felt the same way as I do when I first came here. There was a little more room in the house back then, though. Ufufu. Claire is still young. With Claire convinced, the three finished putting on their pajamas, turned off the lights in the house living room, and returned to their respective rooms. Ellis had guided Katie to the last open room in the house other than the guest room upstairs, and Katie was still crying on her new bed. I want to stay with here; I want to be with you.. Ellis lit up a Luminescent stone that was in the corner of the room. Katies body reflected the light before Ellis. Katies head looked human. The only things of note were her pure white hair that reached her shoulders and the two cat ears placed on top of her head. Cat hair started from the nape of her neck, down her shoulder, and continued on along her spine to the tail. On the other hand, there was no hair on her abdomen or her hands. All you could see there was the same white skin as a human girl. However, under her naval was hidden with pure white hair. Katies body was supple, and her skin as white as pure snow. The breast size was between Reeve and Fraus? It was a body with an exquisite balance. Katies expression was the charm of a cat itself. Small lips with dull gray eyes that were shining slightly from the tears. An incisor tooth reminiscent of a fang peeped out. Ellis reached her hand out to Katies throat and began rolling her fingers across Katies neck. Nyan. Oh? Ellis did it once again. Nya-nyan. Katie fell over onto her back as Ellis continued to pet her allowing Ellis to start petting the pale white skin on Katies stomach. Katies purring became a little louder as her arms and legs stretched out. Ellis continued to play with Katie as if she was just a large house cat. Then, as if all her crying until then had been a lie, Katies worrys melted away, and she started to relax. And then Ellis got started. Ellis continued to caress Katie until midnight switching off between cat-brushing and different techniques that Eiji had brought over. Funya. When Ellis confirmed that Katie had completely passed out, she quietly left the room. She felt bad for making them wait, so she made sure that Reeve enjoyed her cruelty, Frau her abuse, and Claire her comfort. Once she was done, Ellis returned to Katies room, and she began to pet Katie again. Katie slowly regained consciousness from the pleasure that had sprung up again. Nyan. ? The next morning began with a call from Frau that breakfast was finished. Ellis brought in the set of clothes that Frau had laid out for Katie, and when she was dressed, took her hand and lead her to the dining room. At the table big enough for six people, Ellis took her usual spot at the center. Reeve sat across from her, Frau sat to Elliss left, and Claire sat across from Frau. Katie checked the vacant seats and took the seat to Elliss right believing that she had gotten lucky. A good seat is available. If you really think so, then it must be true, Reeve muttered quietly enough that Katie couldnt hear. In reality, Reeve and Claire are two people who want to see Ellis, so Reeve took the spot in front of Ellis while Claire took the spot to Reeves right. Frau is part of the faction that wants Ellis, so she took position to Elliss left. Since Frau takes care of setting out Elliss food, seasoning her dishes, and wiping Elliss mouth with a napkin when it gets dirtyCEllis inevitably ends up turning toward Frau more often. All three people have chosen their seats based on the situation. Meanwhile the seat to Elliss right could be seen as the worst seat because as mentioned earlier, Ellis has to turn toward Frau often during the meal. In other words, Katie spent most of the meal staring at the back of Elliss head. Halfway through the meal, Katies ears began to droop, and three people couldnt help but smile. They had become a cat family, and Katie was slowly becoming accepted in her own way. After breakfast, Ellis urged Katie out of the house. You have to go get your luggage to move in! When hearing what Ellis said, Katie became excited and ran out of the mansion. Once she confirmed that Katie was gone, Ellis turned toward the other three. Since Katie has also become a friend, Id like to explain to her my ability. But Frau shook her head. Ellis, I think it would be better if you wait for a bit. Why? Because right now, we dont know about the relationship between Katie and the thief guild. Ellis was convinced. Baltis was acting a little weird when he visited Lily Garden yesterday, and Katie herself admitted that she was here because Baltis ordered her to be. Its possible that Baltis allowed Katie to come here out of his own good conscience. For Katies sake and Elliss. The master couldve recognized Katies feelings and allowed her to come. Even if it wasnt for entirely selfless reasons, his intentions could also just be to have Katie work with Ellis as a thief adventurer thus increasing the amount of money the thief guild makes whenever they go out exploring. Unfortunately, as a former elite within the thieves guild, Ellis couldnt deny the possibility that Katie was here to gather information. And if Ellis couldnt completely convince herself that Katie was safe, then convincing Frau would be impossible. I agree with Frau. Lets observe Katies situation for awhile, Reeve chimed in. According to the meeting from yesterday, the thief guild and the merchant guild will both be sending over new dispatch managers today, so we can watch how the situation progresses from there. Youre both right. Lets do as Reeve says. However Claire was unsure about their decision. I dont really feel right doubting people I understand, but lets think of it a different way. We arent doubting her; we are just confirming her trust. With Elliss words, everyone came to an agreement. The carriage from the adventurer guild arrived shortly after. For each employee from the thief and merchant guild that came off, Ellis taught them about managing the bath, sales rules, and product shipments. The reception counter is decorated with various bathing items from the merchant guild, and the robust safe brought over from the thief guild was installed in a blind spot from the customers. By the way, Ellis and Reeve confirmed with the merchant guild employees that all the products they brought over were bought at purchase price. ? The days went by quickly as Ellis transferred management duties over to the council. Ellis met with the council again at their regular meeting and explained the transfer of management for Lily Garden. Of course, since Baltis, Theseus, Flint, and Maria were already adjusted to the situation in advance, this explanation was for the benefit of the people who represented the regular citizens. Elliss proposal, which was just the councils proposal made to seem like Elliss idea to avoid suspicion, was approved, and the first step and second step for the Garden Expansion Project was begun in Warren. Next, Maria proposed a similar project be applied to the already existing public bath for mens use. Once everything was settled, a proposal was put forward to have Ellis become a member of Warrens council. Ellis was naturally surprised by this. Who the hell would want an 8-year-old girl to be a member of the city council? However, it seems that this plan was already agreed upon by each guild master. Ellis is the owner of Lily Garden, so it is only natural, Theseus explained. It wouldnt be right for the thieves guild to monopolize the central figure of this business. So Elliss ascension to associate member was unanimously adopted. Baltis taught Ellis later that she didnt have to worry. Associate members are only honorary, and they do not have any voting rights. You wont have any added responsibilities, but you will be able to obtain information on the citys movements in advance. Oh, thats it. This man is watching out for me. Ellis realized once again that Baltis is a reliable person. Ellis decided to leave the bathhouse under the patronage of the thief guild without any worries. Even if the guild will receive a huge payout from the deal, this decision is correct. At least in the current Warren. More than anything, Baltis was interested in making this 8-year-old girl involved in the management of Warren. What will this intelligent girl do from now on? So Baltis decided to set her free and break her ties with the thief guild. Instead, he decided to let Katie take Elliss place and have her become close to Ellis. Dont worry. Katie isnt tied down to the guild. Ellis was convinced with Baltiss whisper. This old man supports me. A few days later. At the center of the city, a carriage arrived at what has been called the Lily Garden front stop. Here, if your luck is good, the women can enjoy a fun sight. Men whose whole bodies are dyed red with paint, hanging naked upside down from the eaves of the adventurer guild with colorful ribbons tied around them. The landmark know as Scarlet Laundry. This is one of Lily Gardens specialties. This is the fate of all men who are caught trying to intrude where they are forbidden to go. By the way, the color of the ribbon is used to indicate who caught them. The member of the adventurer guild who was in charge of driving the carriage waited for the ladies to get their fill of watching the men dangling from the tops of the carriage. Then, once theyre all satisfied, she untangles the ropes and drops them from the carriage. Next, male members of the adventurer guild tie them up to the adventurer guild eaves for further humiliation. The perpetrators belongings that were stripped off of them are unloaded from the carriage, and they are made the property of the adventurer guild. Once the men are cut down, they will be given a hemp shirt before they flee from the guild. All possessions repossessed by the guild will be sold, and half of the profits will be given to the girl who caught them. Currently, blue ribbon is in the lead followed by red and white. Black ribbon is rarely seen, so certain maniacs refer to the men caught by her as vintage items. The place that the ladies next set foot in after leaving the carriage is the Lily Garden. The ladies will pay the entrance fee to enter and receive their locker key. After stripping down naked, they will soak their worries away. Truly a paradise. Another hot topic is the hot water toilet which always has a line formed in front of it, and ever since the merchant guild took over commodity sales, cold drink variations have increased. After enjoying a refreshing sweat and relaxing enough they will soon be able to enjoy an elegant lunch from a neighboring restaurant that is currently under construction. Thus Lily Garden will become a landmark of Warrens eastern outskirts, and is the name of the bathhouse that will lead Warren to be known throughout the continent. The five people in charge of this historical landmark are currently lazing around at home complaining. Ellis, I want to go rampage. Reeve is currently playing with her shamshir while entreating Ellis. I want to try out this mace. Frau is currently examining the one Minotaur mace that they hadnt sold to the guild. Take me with you. Claire has been interested in going exploring ever since she started listening to Reeve and Frau brag about how much fun they had genociding those horses and cows. I want to join too. Katie, who just recently joined the group, was excited to perform a team activity with everyone else. It was here that Ellis realized that she didnt know how Katie fought. How does Katie fight? Im a Cat Fighter. Cat fighter? Looking around, no one had any idea what that meant. It would be faster if I showed you what I mean, Katie stood up. Katie came back from her room as quickly as she had gone up wearing some type of metal armor on her hands and legs. These are my Crow Gauntlets and Crow Guards. The Crow Gauntlets were metal armor that reached from Katies elbow to the back of her hand while the Guards covered her knees and wet down to her toes. There were also three metallic nails that probably served as cat claws gleaming on each. Katies fitted armor was a pair of shorts and a bra top. Both were white, so they awkwardly blended into Katies skin. We are weak to heat, so we are not good with full body equipment and armor. Instead we only protect ourselves and attack with these gauntlets and guards. What about luggage? Katie pulled out a cloth bag that was set next to the sofa. It was a large drawstring bag made with sturdy cloth. I usually use this. I take it off and leave it to the side when Im fighting though. Ellis got caught up in examining the rough stitching in the bag, but Katie ignored that and continued. Well then, let me show you some of my moves. Katie took a fighting pose on the spot. Here I go. Katies movements truly embodied the idea of agility. Both her arms and her legs flowed together like water until she mixed in a light jab or kick that would have dug her claws into her imaginary opponent. It was a mixture of light body work that looked like she was dancing. The unreasonable postures and positions would be impossible for a normal human, and it could only be understood as her long white tail busily moved about to keep her balance. This was the close-combat type that the owner of the armor store had told her about. Frau is an attack-oriented type. Reeve is a universal type. Katie is close-combat. Ellis simulated the battle in her head. With just Reeve and Frau, since the battle was generally fundamental, there were some difficulties with collective warfare. But with Katie, we can cull the numbers. Frau restricts the movements from the front, and Katie can move around while kicking away the small fries. Meanwhile, Reeve makes a strong blow from an accurate position. This could work. This is a wonderful thing. Reeve was also impressed by Katies footwork. It will bring a breath of fresh air to our battle plans. Frau was also thinking about different strategies that could work. Ellis was getting excited. Well then, shall we make plans to go out to the labyrinth? Reeve and Frau nodded their heads with vigor, and Katie stopped her dancing to join in. However, there was one person who had taken some distance from this atmosphere. Everyone, dont forget about me Ah. Ellis had completely forgotten about Claires equipment. CH 21 Ellis forgot that Claire had no equipment other than the Magical ring they bought her. Everyone, dont leave me. Claire was quickly becoming teary eyed. Ellis began to panic. She turned to Frau asking for help. What kind of equipment do magicians use? Frau was also looking troubled and her words just started to tumble out of her. Magicians dont really use much equipment. They wear cloth and tools to increase their affinity with magic, but metal or leather armor interferes with the exercise of magic. What? Its a stupid story, but, magicians uniforms are just made up of their hobbies. Apparently magicians wear robes because they think they feel nice. Thats kind of disappointing. So the point is that anything goes? Ideally it would be clothing that could raise their magic. I see. Well money has been accumulating from the overfishing of cows and horses, and income has stabilized with Lily Garden. We should be able to afford getting some spare equipment. The upper labyrinth is said to be dangerous because undead appear right? Thats right, but we have already taken countermeasures, Frau delightedly laughed. Undead cannot be damaged by normal weapons, but the Purification bastard sword was the prize from the Gozame labyrinth. PurificationCCan deal damage to undead. Undead receive twice as much damage. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. Along with that, a Stupor mace was also obtained. StuporCAn opponent struck by this has a 50% chance of having their movements be constrained for a time. Required MP: 1. Command word: {An Obstacle}. It was already confirmed through some experiments that an autonomous type ability and a command type such as Inhalation and Flying Swallow can coexist in one weapon. If they prepared normal damage weapons and weapons for undead, will everything be fine? Alright everyone. Lets go shopping! ? Each person prepares to go out. Ellis puts on a white blouse with a sky blue jumper skirt. She picks out a red brooch and pins it to her chest. Reeve wears a thin red shirt over a black tank top. She decided to go with an unusual choice for herself and selected a light brown long flare skirt. Although the belt armor and shamshir were attached to her waist as usual. Frau decided to go with a forest green Chinese long dress with slits on both sides. She combined it with a pair of white long pants and ties with a thin red crimp on the waist to add in an accent. (TL Note: Im learning a lot about clothes from this novel.) Before equipment, we need to fix this. Four people carved these words into their hearts. Take this off quickly! Claire isnt allowed to object or ask questions as the other four stripped her down to her underwear. First Reeve picked through some of her own clothes. The top should be fine with this black tunic. Ellis prepared a skirt. The bottom will be a red flare skirt. Instead of clothes, Frau focused on the shoes. Frau picked up Claires construction boots and threw them behind the shoe box. Please wear construction boots only when you are on site. Ill make a few adjustments to my sandals so that Claire can wear those instead. When Claire stood up again she was fully dressed. A red flare skirt that exposed the knees and a slightly too large tunic that had its own charm with the string adjustments. Frau attached a leather strap to the sandals and tailored them to fit. Long black straight hair with jelly-like boyish eyes wrapped in cute clothes. Great job. Ellis and the other three were all satisfied with their work and gave each other congratulatory handshakes. Meanwhile Claire was pulling on her skirt as she was embarrassed about being able to see her knees. That irritated look of hers only served to light the fashionable hearts of the four even further. Today we are going clothes shopping for Claire! Ellis took point to the city followed by Reeve and Frau. Claire was held by the twos arms and was being dragged backwards without room for objections. Katie took up the rear. While carefully watching the figures of the four people heading towards the town, Katie unintentionally murmured, Will I also be part of the group someday? Claire heard Katies quiet whisper, and as she was dragged backwards, gave Katie a wink. Katie is fine. I was anxious at the beginning too, but look where I am now. Yes, Claire was being dragged out by Reeve and Frau, but she was enjoying it. Naturally Reeve and Frau who were doing the dragging felt the same way. Such a thing Katie didnt really understand the situation, but gradually, she started to have fun. They headed straight for the citys center. Lets first check out the performance for magic armor and clothing at the high-end armor shop. Following Fraus proposal, everyone headed to the shop that Ellis had gone to when she was first investigating magic tools. Oh, come on in. The shopkeeper who noticed Ellis invited her in. Ellis had already become a celebrity in Warren. Besides her beauty and cuteness and high income as an adventurer, every man knew her as the cute little girl who could inflict the Scarlet Laundry punishment with a calm expression. The five girls looked around the store carefully. It seems like the abilities granted to armor were largely dependent on the material the armor is made of. For instance, metal armor generally has enchantments that increase their defense while the leather armor increases mobility. So welded armor and sewn armor are considered different things, Ellis muttered. Ellis, Claire, there is some interesting armor over here. Ellis and Claire were brought over to the clothing section that Frau was at, and she pulled out a jet black high-neck one piece. Guidance dressCBy casting a spell in advance, the spell can be stored in the dress. The accumulated magic is activated immediately by the wearers will. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. Price: 3 million ril. Because its exclusively for magicians, the price is cheap for the effect. While listening to Fraus explanation, she took a good look at the designer one piece dress. This is a really cute dress isnt it? Then the answer is obvious. Claire, try this on for a bit. Oh, but its embarrassing. Ellis put forward a merciless condition to the shy Claire. If you dont try it on, I wont come over tonight. Horrified, Claire almost ran into the dressing room designated by the clerk. After awhile, she came back out and shyly asked, How is it? The black fabric came up to her neck and went down to her wrists and ankles. Only Claires head, her palms, and her feet could be seen. Her black hair held a contrast with the jet black dress and wonderfully complimented each other. Really cute! Ellis held back the sudden urge to hug her. Frau and Reeve came forward having already prepared some similarly colored boots beforehand. The size should fit you. Then Katie came out with a black triangle hat. The boots hid Claires feet while the triangle hat hid her expression. The only parts of Claire that would peep out were her milky white hands and her thin red lips. With this, the Raven Witch Girl was complete. Claires battle uniform has been determined with this. It is decided. x3 Claire, who was checking out her appearance in front of a mirror, was also fascinated by her figure. It is important that Claire feel comfortable in her outfit in the labyrinth as she not only has the highest attack power but the lowest defense as well. She checked herself from every angle. Even though the enemy could only see her fingers and lips, she made sure that the hat didnt also obstruct her vision. When she was satisfied, she turned back to everyone else, picked up both ends of her skirt and did a curtsy. Everyone, thank you. Once seeing that Claire was satisfied, Frau took Elliss hand and brought her over to another corner of the store. How about this outfit for Ellis? Shadow clothesCcreates an alter ego of the caster for a certain period of time. Necessary MP: 5. Command word: {Come out shadow}. The costume hanging up before her had a design similar to the black clothes Ellis usually wore, but this outfit was made of soft leather instead of cloth. It also had a black and white color scheme to it. The price is 10 million ril. It is probably this expensive due to the versatility of the ability, but the ability is very attractive. If it is copied, it would continue to be used in the future. I will try it on. Ellis took the outfit to the dressing room that Claire had just been in. When she came out, Ellis looked a little awkward. Its a bit big. The outfit was made for adults after all. As soon as she came out, the clerk got to work adjusting the clothes to match Elliss body size. Since the leather is thin, you can adjust the size by folding back the main points like this. Apparently the size can be adjusted by adjusting a belt that was sewn into the wrist, elbow, ankle, knee, waist, and chest. The people selling these expensive outfits are certainly prepared to not allow anyone to say no because the size doesnt fit. Ellis wearing her black clothes stood beside Claire for comparison. The shopkeeper let out a great sigh at the two girls posing before the mirror in front of them. Because reflected in the mirror were two black bisque dollsCone with golden locks and another with black. The shopkeeper couldnt believe that there was such a sublime cuteness before them. They wondered if these two sets of clothes were set out for these girls specifically, so they made a proposition. If you purchase the one piece, I will throw in the hat and boots for free. A prompt decision was made. Ellis took out 10 million ril for her own outfit while pulling out an additional 3 million for Claire since she hadnt been exploring yet, and she paid the shopkeeper on the spot. Then both of them changed back into their original clothes and put their new battle outfits into their bags. Next the five people went around to take a look at other armor shops. Since Reeve had acquired the bastard sword and Frau had the Minotaurs mace, no new weapons were really necessary. So the five of them were looking for preliminary equipment for Katie. However, it could not be found easily. Whenever asking either weapon shop owners or armor shop owners for cat warrior weapons, they always just gave out a quizzical look and asked, What is that? After awhile, they had one hit with a weapon shop owner. He took one look at Katie and nodded his head. Sorry about this. Claw equipment is over her. The shopkeeper guided them to the back of the store to a set of white silver claw gauntlets and claw shin guards. Despite them not having an ability, the price was an expensive 1 million ril. The store owner explained that it is expensive because it is rare. The claw type weapons dont sell well, so it is only natural that it would have a higher price. In short, there is no supply because there is no demand and the price goes up accordingly. Meanwhile, Reeve is eagerly looking at another item being exhibited. A set of ten throwing knives. If you gave Stupor to these, it would be great for keeping enemies in check. Frau agreed. Even on there own, throwing knives are a versatile secondary weapon set that could help out in emergencies. This one set is 500 thousand ril. It could be a surprisingly good deal if you consider it as one knife for 50 thousand ril. Then Claire called to Ellis from another part of the store. Hey Ellis, I found something unreasonable! Claire pointed to an estoc. A sword with a blade similar to a thin needle. Berserker estocCThe damage to an enemy increases 5 fold for a certain period of time. Required MP: 10 every attack. Command word: {Annihilation}. What a messy performance. The ability is awful too. Reeve and Frau were astounded by the terrible weapon, but while the MP cost is outrageous, the high offensive power is also insane. If the average mental power of a person is 10, then an ordinary person would faint after just one attack. Depending on the person, they could very well end up fainting before they could swing the estoc. The price here is also 500 thousand ril. The reason for the cheap price is undoubtedly due to its lack of practicality, and there is no meaning to owning it other than for collection purposes. Even if it was used as an assassination tool, it would almost be essential to have a Spirit ring along side it. And if you have 100 million ril to afford a spirit ring, then there are better avenues for assassination available to you. It was an item that only Ellis could use. Ellis got the shopkeepers permission and pulled the small needle sword from its black sheath. Its weight and size were perfect for an eight year old girl. I will buy this. The shopkeeper looked like he wanted to say something, but he stopped himself. It is a fact that he was finally able to get rid of a troublesome item. By the end of shopping there, Ellis had spent 500 thousand ril, Reeve had spent 500 thousand ril, and Katie had 1 million ril. Ellis paid for Katie since she didnt have that kind of money yet. Katie, do your best to earn 1 million ril quickly. The interest is exorbitant. Why is Claire treatable while Im in debt? Work well and quietly. By the way, Elliss interest rate is a 10 percent increase every ten days. The type of rate where one could be accused of robbery. Then the five people made their way to the regular clothing store. At this store, Claire was forced to spend 1 million ril on new clothes. All the while, she was made into a victim as four other people treated her as their own life size dress up doll. CH 22 After returning home from shopping, everyone ate dinner and took a bath before confirming their equipment one more time. It had also become time for Ellis to explain about her ability to Katie. So far Ellis and Frau had been observing Katies situation, and they had not found anything suspicious. What they had come to understand from living with Katie was that her mind was a flower garden. In short she is simple. So they decided it would be fine to explain it to her. First of all, they made sure she understood the severity of the situation. Never tell anyone about this. Not even the thief guild master. They threatened Katie and told her that if she ever told anyone, they would hang her the same way as all the peepers. Watching them go this far, Katie squatted down and hugged her tail to her chest in fear. They explained to her the usual things about the Bag of Gluttony and Elliss ability, but Katies response was rather slow. Compared to Frau and Claires response, it would be closer to Reeves? So whats the big deal? Arent you surprised? Katie didnt know what to say, so she just shrugged. Ellis felt like she tasted something bitter. Its not good to get full of yourself. She decided to remind Katie one more time. Just dont tell anyone else. Especially the thieves guild master. Should I just not talk about it? Thats right. Then Ive already forgotten about it. Simple people are a convenient thing. Ellis then took out some accessories from her shoulder bag and prepared the general magic tools that everyone carries for Claire and Katie. She also made sure to back up the Shadow and Guidance abilities from the two outfits that they had bought today. Next were everyones weapons. The weapons everyone is currently carrying is as follows: Ellis: Berserkers estoc and a Flying Swallow/Inhalation dagger. Reeve: Flying Swallow/Inhalation shamshir Frau: Flying Swallow/Inhalation morning star + Kite shield Claire: None Katie: Claw gauntlets and Claw shin guards Since everyone would need a new set of weapons to deal with undead enemies, Ellis took out some general weapons that they had accumulated from past explorations and set them out in front of everyone. Choose a second weapon. Frau moved first and picked up the Stupor Minotaur maul. It was a silver two handed hammer with cow horns replicated on the head of the hammer. It looked very painful. Well, do you need Stupor? I dont need it. To Elliss question, Frau answered while holding up the maul in both her hands, dazzled by its beauty. Scary. Stupor is an ability that has a 50% chance of restricting the opponents movement, but if its a maul like this, the damage would probably leave the enemy unable to move anyway. Its better to have the damage be multiplied with Flying Swallow instead to just further ensure a kill. Once you put Purification on this, Ill smash those skeletons and zombies into a bunch of tiny bits! By the way, Inhalation doesnt work on undead. Because they dont have any life to suck out in the first place, so its not a pity to drop the Inhalation for Purification. In other words, the weapons for dealing with undead will have the Flying Swallow, and Purification abilities. Stupor had a great compatibility with Reeves knew throwing daggers that can attack from distance, and it also would go well with Katies claws. Reeve picks up a slim bastard from among the lined up weapons and checked the balance while performing a few basic swings both one handed and two. This is good. What should I do? Ive never held a sword or anything like that before. As Claire was making a troubled face looking at all the lined up weapons, Frau picked up a small two-handed mace. Couldnt you use this like one of your construction hammers? Claire took the mace from Frau and started swinging it like she was pounding in nails. This is nice! Frau, thank you. Good. Katie decided to keep the claws she had originally brought with her. Between those and the set she bought today, she was good to go. When everyone had picked out their weapons, Ellis started shifting abilities around. What was completed went as follows: EllisCBerserker/Purification estoc. Flying Swallow/Inhalation dagger. ReeveCFlying Swallow/Purification bastard sword + Stupor/Purification Throwing daggers. Flying Swallow/Inhalation shamshir + Stupor/Purification throwing daggers. FrauCFlying Swallow/Purification minotaur maul. Flying Swallow/Inhalation morning star +kite shield. ClaireCStupor/Purification mace. Stupor/Inhalation mace. KatieCStupor/Purification Claw gauntlets and leg guards. Stupor/Inhalation Claw gauntlets and leg guards. Ellis handed back everyones weapons and told them to make sure that the abilities would activate. It could be fatal if she had made a mistake. Once everyone had confirmed that their weapons were good to go, Ellis was finally satisfied. Lets go to bed early today. Tomorrow we will head out to the labyrinth. After everyone returned to their rooms, the usual night activities began. Ellis wondered who to bully tonight. Ellis decided to start with Kathie tonight. Ellis, please dont bully me. Such a line only served to sparkle Elliss fire to bully the cat even more. Kaite, I will warn you again, but you cant talk about today to anyone. Katie nodded with absolute confirmation. Keep it a secret. Keep it a secret. Kee But Katie could no finish her reply to the end. Her words got caught in her throat when Ellis suddenly started petting her. Ellis came close and whispered into her ears, I cant trust you. Please forgive me. I want you to forgive me. *Purr* Next was Claires room. Ellis, Im a little scared after all. Ellis wanted to tease Claire, but she decided to be honest for the sake of the exploration tomorrow. Well, are you going alone tomorrow, Claire? No, I will go with you! Ellis pulled her in and embraced her. Claire was just too adorable and irresistible. Ill protect you, Claire. Ah. Next is Frau. As Ellis crawled into Fraus bed, Ellis showed an upset expression that Frau had not seen all day. You. You grabbed the maul first! Frau shrunk back more than Ellis had expected. Was it no good? Ellis. I was going to use that weapon, Frau. Frau was surprised from the bottom of her heart. A little girl like Ellis using such a large two-handed weapon, she had never imagined it. She was overwhelmed by her fatal mistake. Sorry! Im sorry Ellis Then came the final blow. I wont forgive you, you pig woman. Ah ahh.. Today Reeve was last. Ellis, who thought about having another bath, came to Reeve and said, Carry me to the bath. Reeve was lost for a moment in Elliss expression. As a girl, or as a mistress? What the hell are you talking about? Stupid toy. Im sorry, mistress. And Reeve was forced to repent for her mistake through bullying for the rest of the evening. Uuh. So the next morning, everyone woke up fresh and ready to tackle the new morning. Frau woke up early and started working in the kitchen. Ellis, who notice the sound, popped her head into the kitchen, and Frau greeted her with a smile. Good morning Ellis. Did I wake you up? Its okay. What are you doing? Making boxed lunches. Its boring to just always have those portable meals from the adventurer guild. Yes, today they were going to try an advanced labyrinth. It seems that upper level labyrinths consist of at least fifty rooms, so depending on the party composition and strength of the enemies it can take days to explore. Perhaps Frau was preparing some long lasting food to keep everyone from getting sick of the portable meals. With that, they could relax a little during dinner time. There was one more important thing that Ellis had been putting off though. I have to buy a magic tool for recovery. In the labyrinth so far, all of Frau and Reeves small injuries were healed through Inhalation, and Ellis barely participated in fights in the first place. However, in advance dungeons, priority has to be given to Purification against the undead. With that, maintenance of physical fitness will become inevitable, so a recovery tool is essential. Frau, Im going to the magic tool store for a moment. Frau smiled and grabbed Elliss hand before she could rush out of the house. It is not open this early in the morning, and its not necessary for you to go anyway. As she says that, Frau pulls out a ring from the pocket of her apron. Full Recovery ringCRestores the physical strength of the subject. Required MP: 7. Command word: {Work}. What a cheat recovery ability. If this was a video game, its the type of item that would appear right before the final boss. Frau explains to Ellis while she is still surprised by the appraisal. This ring is like an amulet for my house. Because the required MP is quite unreasonableits a good luck charm for us. Then Frau gave her a wink. But its not a problem for Ellis, right? Is it really okay? Yes. I dont mind if its you. Thank you! As expected of Frau. Ellis was already starting to feel an itch this early in the morning. After everyone enjoyed the breakfast made by Frau, the five activated their Magical horses and rode them to the edge of the city. They made the rest of the way to the adventurer guild on foot. Frau made a suggestion on the way there. By the way, should we decide a name for our party soon? Registering the party name and members in the adventurer guild makes it easier to process search orders, and it allows rewards to be automatically sorted into each party members account. Ellis decided to listen to everyones opinion. What kind of name is good? How about the Bloody Crusaders? Scary, Reeve. How about A Heavy Fighter, Swordsman, Thief, Magician, and Cat Warrior Party? Claires name is more of an explanation. Nya, Nyaa. Katie isnt paying attention and is instead just trying to catch some dragonflies. Yuri Explorers. How about that? Oh! Frau came up with something decent. Is Fraus name okay with everyone then? Reeve and Claire didnt look satisfied, but Fraus name was decided through majority vote. In the meantime, the five arrived at the adventurer guild. In the guilds hall, various other adventurers and uncles welcomed them. Good morning, ladies! Looking good today! You caught him again? Most of the members of the adventurer guild were familiar with Elliss work from the Lily Gardens first stop, so they were quickly shaping up to be celebrities. On behalf of everyone, Frau headed to the reception counter and greeted the receptionist. Today we will be challenging an advanced dungeon. The receptionist was caught off guard and started yelling in their surprise. Milady! Dont you know that normal attacks dont work on undead!? Naturally the other guild receptionists who overheard started getting worried as well, but Frau just kept smiling and calmed them down. Its okay. We have already taken countermeasures. The female receptionists were relieved to hear Fraus words while the other male receptionists became interested with the different meanings of measures. If youve taken measures against an advanced level labyrinth, that means youve prepared yourselves for dealing with undead. However, since one of the members of the party saying such was the daughter of the adventurer guild master, it wouldnt be that far of a stretch to think that they had gotten some sort of under the table backing. As a matter of fact, this was most likely the case. Thats why many receptionists began playing the, Guess what the doting master gave to his daughter guessing game. The receptionist talking to Frau was meanwhile looking through the list of advanced labyrinths. A good one should be the Wight Labyrinth. It is the easiest advanced labyrinth around. Okay. What kind of place is it? Ellis asked Frau. The number of rooms is small, but it is large and has many enemies. It has mostly skeletons and zombies, but you will find some demonic ghouls mixed in as well. The final monster is a wight which no one has defeated yet. Actually, its not that uncommon for the bosses of advanced labyrinths to have never been killed. By the time a party makes it to the boss, their packs will already be stuffed with loot, so there isnt much merit in further risking their lives. Thats why most parties just go home with the Ring of Return. Lets do it. Ellis looks back at everyone for agreement. Frau and Reeve look excited and are ready to go. Claire is a little nervous, but she looks prepared. Katie has just been nodding the entire time, so shes probably okay? Well then can we register our partys name now? The receptionist gave Frau a funny look. She suddenly started to look really uncomfortable and then began to speak slowly. Youve already registered. What? The receptionist took a deep breath before switching on a business-like smile and bowing to the five. Warrens Jewelry Box. Its a pleasure to meet you. Whats up with that party name!? Nobody has ever heard of such a thing, and no one here has any remembrance of registering already. It was the guild master who registered. The words hadnt left the receptionists lips before Frau rushed into the back of the guild, her face as red as her hair. Oh, you all look like youre doing well. The guild master, Theseus, came out of his office and greeted them with a smile. Frau was standing behind him. It was unclear if the red on her face was from anger or embarrassment. By the way, the four of us already decided your partys name, but are there any complaints? The four. Theseuss smile suddenly resembled a demons to Ellis and the others, and they could imagine that smile being worn by three other people as well. .There are none. Honestly, you girls are lucky. The presence of, five pretty young girls has been spread to not just Warren, but to neighboring towns as well. Everyone loves the Scarlet Laundry. So we decided to allow you girls to use Warrens name for your party. You should be grateful. The five were directed to the Wight Labyrinth with a guide riding on a Magical horse provided by Theseus after great care. He stated he was also working on their party flag, so they had that to look forward to as well. Well then, shall we take a moment? Everyone gathered around Ellis, and they started talking about strategies. Ellis would search for traps and release any locks. Reeve had done it so far, but this time, Frau would open the doors. The instant that she does, Claire will drive her magic {Fire Bullets} into the room. In that gap, Ellis, Reeve, and Katie would jump into the room and take the initiative on the enemy. This was the basic strategy. When Ellis entered the labyrinth, she moved carefully examining everything. As expected of an advanced labyrinth. There were traps all over in an area that was just an ordinary passageway. Ellis relied on the light from Reeves torch and disarmed every trap she came across. Following Ellis and Reeve was Claire and Katie with Frau taking up the rear. After Ellis had released 3 traps, they had finally reached the first door. Ellis carefully investigated and found a trap she had never seen before. It was an electric shock set to the door knob. Once you touch it, it would mean instant death. Ellis released this first trap slowly and surely while looking over the mechanism to ensure that there were no mistakes. *Click* Good. Once the trap was taken care of, Ellis took a deep breath to calm herself and tried to sense the presences behind the door. An unusual negative aura flushed over her. Big catch. Responding to Elliss claims, the four got ready. Reeve placed the torch on the door and then stepped away. Frau took her place in front of the door while Ellis, Katie, and Reeve lined up behind her. In the meantime, Claire had already loaded a {Flame Bullet} into her Guidance dress. Frau put her hand on the doorknob and waited until everyones breaths were brought together. Go! The next moment, Frau threw open the door! CH 23 When Frau opened the door, Claire dashed forward and cast her {Fire Bullet} that was loaded into her Guidance dress. {Fire bullet} = launches a ball of fire with attack power 10 to one enemy. Required MP: 5. Besides the fact that this spell sends out an attack with enough power to kill an ordinary person, it can also serve as a light to illuminate the room. Following the trajectory of the fireball, Ellis, Reeve, and Katie jumped in after it. Katie took the center while Reeve and Ellis followed closely by her side. Frau jumped in afterwards providing cover and protection for Claire. Claire stood back and would cast the appropriate spell when the need arised. Theyre skeletons! When Katie confirmed the identity of the enemy, she shouted out to alert everyone else. There were dozens of skeletons all closely knit in the room, and they were all marching toward Elliss group. Claires spell had punctured the leading skeleton causing it to light up a bright orange. Using that light, Katie ran into the herd of skeletons. It looked almost as if she was dancing the way she moved past her enemies. Activating Stupor, Katie nicked every skeleton she passed by, resulting in about half of them being unable to move. Subsequently, Reeve and Frau followed through with their bastard sword and maul to plow through their forces. Ellis stuck to the shadows and observed the whole state of the battle. Sneaky. When she discovered a skeleton parting from the rest of the group, she soundlessly snuck up behind and cut it with her estoc. The skeleton collapsed after one blow. Claire judged that the others should be able to handle the mob, so she decided to take a support role and cast {Light} to brighten up the interior. Katie exited out of the other side of the mob and stopped her dance-like movements. She began to take careful blows to kill the skeletons one by one instead of the suppression she had done up until now. Meanwhile Frau was just swinging her maul at random and killing every skeleton in her reach. Reeves bastard sword aimed to claim one skeleton after another, making sure that no skeleton took Frau from behind. After all that, in a short amount of time every skeleton was annihilated before these five girls. Well, I guess its my turn again. Ellis replenished the magic power in everyones Spirit rings. As long as she makes sure to do this after every fight, Frau, Reeve, and Katie should never run out of magic power. Thats why a large determinant factor for how fast they proceed through this labyrinth relies on the amount of MP Claire ends up having to spend. After everyone was refreshed, Ellis moved on to the treasure chest in the corner of the room. This is a little excessive, isnt it? This time its an explosion trap. Unlike the electric shock on the door, this is a trap that would prove fatal to everyone nearby. Truly an advanced labyrinth. Every trap is powerful. Ellis instructed everyone to back away from the treasure chest just in case, and she proceeded to cancel the trap carefully. The air in the room became heavier than it was during the battle. *Click* With the sound of the lock releasing, Reeve and the others gathered back around Ellis. After wiping away the sweat that accumulated on her brow, Ellis slowly opened the treasure chest. Truly an advanced labyrinth. The chest was practically overflowing with money. Almost 30 thousand ril. In addition, Ellis noticed a faint light shining from within the chest as well. It was a Silence amulet. Silence amuletCSeals one opponents magic. Required MP: 5. Command word: {Shut up}. Ellis put on the Silence amulet for now just in case. And already a magic tool. How auspicious. Everyone smiled at Fraus words. There were several groups of zombies and skeletons after that, and each one was cleared in a similar fashion. There were treasure chests in each room, but they all only held money inside. They were now on the fifth rooms door, and the pattern decorating the door is clearly different from those in the past. As soon as Ellis had released the trap, Frau put out a word of warning. This is probably a mid-boss room. Everyone nodded to Fraus speculation. As a precaution, Claire cast {Shell} for everyone. {Shell} = Reduces magic damage by 1 once. Required MP: 2. Since Claire had not yet increased the affinity of Shell, the required magic power had not gone down at all. Since she had to cast it on five people, it would put a heavy strain on her. Luckily this can be supplemented with a Spirit ring. Once Claire was finished casting her spell, Ellis replenished the magic power in Claires ring. Is everyone ready? Frau opened the door once everyone got in place. At the same time, Claire fired off a {Fire Bullet} into the room. Her spell went through an arc in the air and landed in the center of the room. Ellis, who had already moved into the shadows of the room, could feel the enemy, but she could not find its location. Claire cast {Light} at the back of the pack as everyone slowly inched forward into the room. By the time they all made it to the rooms center, every inch of the room was illuminated, but there was no one around. Silence filled the room. Suddenly the swordswoman slit the air. There! Reeve suddenly threw her throwing dagger to an empty spot in the room. Then, the dagger suddenly stopped as if it had hit an invisible wall and began floating there. Ellis activated her Ice ring towards the dagger. No, to be more precise, the air where the dagger was stuck. When the cold wind struck, a humanoid ice sculpture was left standing where nothing was before. Afterwards, Fraus maul shattered the ice without question. I saw a chance. The white frost humanoid that was crushed by Fraus maul changed its color to a crimson reminiscent of blood on the floor. Eventually, it turned black and then vanished. The boss of the fifth room was a Transparent Assassin. That was awesome Reeve! Elliss straightforward praise forced Reeve to smile slightly with pride. The throwing daggers were really helpful. The treasure box in this room held 50 thousand ril plus a Purification short sword. A group of undead similar to the previous rooms will probably continue on from here. The traps are also the same as before, so the burden on Ellis is shrinking. Ellis was able to clear each room while humming a little song. However, if it was a normal party, especially one that relied on magic power, this would be a much different story. This labyrinth would normally take several days because the members would have to take breaks to restore their magic power. Frau, who was aware of this, had prepared several boxed lunches to prepare for a several day long exploration. But even she was swinging her double damage maul around while humming a little tune. So without realizing just how much of a cheat-like existence these girls really were, they made it to the fifteenth rooms door. The 15th room. The decoration on this door was also different. As Frau opened the door the same way she had before, Claire launched a {Fire Bullet}. This time the spell made contact with something, but the bullet only lightly burned the monsters flesh. The slowly fading flame revealed a huge shadow in the room. The five girls were in awe at the existence that stood before them. It looked almost like any other zombie, but it was several times bigger. Rotten Giant.. The moment Frau muttered such, the monster addressed Katie who the first person to appear before it. Katie blocked its massive blow with her gauntlets and even jumped back to regulate some of the damage, but she still received an enormous shock. She was blown away, and she cried out in pain as her back slammed into the caves wall. Ellis immediately used the Full Recovery ring. {Work}, Katie. Once she regained her physical condition, Katie immediately got back up and moved to the giants rear while Frau distracted it from the front. Frau smashed the monsters left knee with her maul. Once the monster fell to its knee from Fraus blow, Reeve ran in and cut off its left arm right at the shoulder. How do you like that!? The giant whos arm was sliced off immediately picked up the severed arm with its right hand. Then he placed the severed part back to its shoulder, and bubbles started to form. In no time at all the arm was reattached. It can regenerate! Pin it down! The left knee that Frau crushed was also restoring itself. But the five did not let up. Katie attacked the giants back while activating Stupor on her claws. She swiftly carved her claws through its back with a four hit combo that had a 50 percent chance of restricting its movement with every blow. Even if its a large flesh giant like this, the effect of the magic still works. Now! Everyone concentrated their attacks on Reeves signal. Frau breaks its left knee once again while Reeve cuts off its right arm after the fall. Claire lets out her largest magic {Explosion} for a direct attack on the giants head. {Explosion} = Does an area of effect attack for 20 damage. Required MP: 10. As the monsters head was billowing smoke, Ellis jumped into the sky and pierced its heart with her estoc. The giant slumped over before tumbling down completely. Even when they kicked it, the giant did not move. Just to be sure though, Reeve chopped up its body, and Claire burned the parts with {Fire Bullets}. In the treasure chest, the reward was a total of 100 thousand ril and some black plate armor. Resistance plate armorCMagical damage reduction of 10. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. Ive never even heard of such armor! Frau looked back at the four with excitement. Ellis was also surprised by the Resistance ability. Reducing magical damage of 10 would mean completely invalidating {Fire Bullets} and {Freezing}. I wonder if it will work on Frau and Reeves armor. Ellis tried copying the ability on the spot. The result was that not only Fraus half plate armor and Reeves leather armor, but Katies bra top was also able to have the ability copied to it. Ellis didnt try to copy the ability to her and Claires outfits because she hadnt done any experiments with armor before. She did not want to take the risk of invalidating the abilities their armor already had at the moment. Ellis and the others decided to take a break in this room. They all sat in a circle, and they started eating the lunch Frau had made. We got a huge reward from the boss just now. Reeve was saying while gazing at the massive amount of money they had already made. The giant was fun. It seems Katie was drunk off the pleasure from the four consecutive blows she pulled off on the giants back. Im looking forward to the last boss. Frau was eating while playing with her maul. But not everyone was overjoyed with how things had gone. Ellis. I guess Im no good Certainly Claires doubts and anxiety were understandable. In the last fight, she had to use her {Explosion} magic which she had sealed away. But she has to get over it. Ellis finished her lunch while holding Claires hand and listening to all her worries. Come now. Its time for the second half! Even in the following rooms the labyrinth continued to throw out undead enemies without ever getting sick of it. Apparently this labyrinth enjoys cutting down on the partys spirit. Annoying. Unfortunately for it, Elliss party was a group with infinite magical power and boundless optimism. Before them now was another luxurious door. Ellis released the this doors trap as she had done all the others. It was a melting trap. Whoever opened the door would have acid poured on them and be turned into a puddle. Terrible. And seriously overkill. This is probably the last bosss room. As Ellis started her work canceling the trap, Frau began explaining. There isnt much information about the wight. It fights using mostly magic, so watch out for that. It also apparently has a resistance to physical damage. Watch out whenever you hit it. Claire cast {Shell} on everyone the same way as before. Lets go. Everyone moved on Fraus signal. Claires {Fire Bullet} traveled in a straight line and made direct contact with a humanoid figure. Even though Katie moved through the shadows, her attack was dodged. The dagger Reeve threw passed right through it. The blow from Fraus maul ended up crushing the stone directly below the shadow. A silent pressure filled the room right before it was dyed a bright red. {Flare Burst}. At the same time that Reeve, Frau, and Katie were blown away by the intense flames, Claire and Elliss dolls shattered. Ellis quickly released Silence from her hiding spot in the shadows. [Shut up]! Ellis felt a sense of resistance, but she instinctively knew it worked. She immediately started to shout out her instructions. Everyone besides Claire, [Freeze]! Moved by Elliss words; Reeve, Katie, and Frau endured the pain of their burns and unleashed the magic of their Ice rings. The spells were concentrated on a single point, and the movements of the shadow eventually ceased as it was encased in ice. Claire, NOW! Claire kneaded together her magic power for the strongest spell she knew. {Explosion}! The frost covered shadow was dyed in crimson. After the smoke cleared, the shadow slowly dissipated, and in its place an object was left behind. The wight is immune to all physical attacks. Including Purification. Ellis felt a cold sweat run down her back. Ellis went around healing everyone with the Full Recovery ring and gave Claire a new Sacrificial doll while she thought about what would have happened had the Silence amulet not been in that first treasure box. And if that Resistance armor wasnt in the second chance, then the entire party would have been wiped out. Even with {Shell}, the three had only barely survived. While holding back the urge to vomit, Ellis picked up the object that the wight had left behind. Demon Lords MarkCRestricts the behavior of the Demon lord. Unique. What is this? Ellis walked over to Frau who was looking how Ellis felt. Unique means that there are no other items like it, but I have never heard of a demon lord before. Ill ask my father about it when we get back. Ellis continued looking around the room and opened up the treasure box. There was a million ril inside along with four silver bracelets and one gold bracelet. Bond braceletCAny supporting magic cast on the wearer of the gold bracelet also affects those wearing the silver bracelet. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. Unique. We got something amazing. As Ellis put the gold bracelet on herself, she handed over the silver bracelets to everyone else. Then she continued to cast [Full Recovery] on herself. The four others were wrapped in the same gleam as her. This is incredibly useful, isnt it? Frau can recover rather quickly, huh? This is also unique. Okay, lets head home for today. Thats right. I agree. I want to go bed. While there were three people who recovered rather quickly, there was still one person who could be considered normal. Ellis. Can we take tomorrow off? Claire asked with tears in her eyes. As soon as we get home. Ellis hugged Claire close to her chest and then activated the Ring of Return. CH 24 Elliss group returned to the transport area inside the adventurer guild safely thanks to the Ring of Return. As soon as they had appeared, though, they overheard a fierce dispute with the receptionist. Please! We are in a hurry! A group of young people wearing gaudy armor were appealing to one of the receptionists. The receptionist they were talking to was clearly bored from having to repeat themselves to the young adventurers. I have already told you many times. There is already a party currently exploring the Wight Labyrinth. Please wait until they return. But the young people didnt back down. If they only entered the labyrinth this morning, it will take them days to return! We need to seal the Demon Lord as soon as possible. You have to understand! Wight Labyrinth? Seal the Demon Lord? Ellis became interested in the words of the young man. She silenced the other four from saying anything and observed the situation for a little while longer. A large man standing behind the one arguing with the receptionist stepped forward. Gray, lets just go straight to the labyrinth without the guilds permission. However, on behalf of the young man called Gray, another lanky man objected. Dams, do you know the location of the labyrinth? A woman with high skin exposure spoke up. Gise is right. If we dont have the adventurer guild supply us with a guide, we wont be able to find the labyrinths entrance. How about Cliff tries and persuades the receptionist? Then a strange fairy-like guy who seemed really unreliable shook his head against the woman. Peach, thats asking way too much from me. The first young man tried appealing to the receptionist again. Please! At least tell us where its located! Gray. Dams. Gise. Peach. Cliff. Ellis repeated the names of the group, etching them into her brain. Then she motioned the four that she had previously stopped to take action. The five took a detour around the reception hall to approach the counter without the receptionist seeing them. They made their way to a table nearest to the space where the argument was taking place, and they all sat down. Then Ellis waved to the receptionist from where she was sitting. Ms. Helen. We came back. When the receptionist Helen noticed Ellis waving to her, she showed a relieved expression knowing that this headache would finally end. She then put on a business tone and addressed the arguing explorers. As the leading party for searching Wight Labyrinth has returned home, it is now accessible. Would you like to hire a guide right now? Then, the lanky man called Gise noticed Ellis and stepped out of the group to talk to her. Did you go to Wight Labyrinth? Yea. Ellis consciously made her answer very simple. Gises companions, who were until now completely ignoring everything else in the adventurer guild other than the receptionist, suddenly gathered near Gise as if they were following him. If that is so. Before Gise could ask any questions, though, the giant of a man called Dams interrupted. Whats this? If a little girl like this is going to explore the labyrinth, then it will be an easy victory for us! However, the young man Gray reproached the giant and began talking to Ellis. This rude way of talking must be stopped! Please, forgive our rudeness Mademoiselle. Uwaaa. This makes me feel gross. This was the general feeling of everyone in Elliss party. The young man is wearing flashy armor, but the head on his shoulders clearly belongs to a bumpkin. At best, hes simple. At worst, hes filthy. Ignoring the meaning of Elliss silence the flashy woman Peach stepped forward and started speaking. Gray, in your information, doesnt it say that it will take days to explore Wight Labyrinth? Then Gray, who looked like he returned to his normal self, asked Ellis while still using that nauseatingly sweet tone of his. Mademoiselles, could you tell me about that labyrinth that you wonderful ladies tried out today? It really was a nasty way of speaking. This was the common impression owned by all the girls, so Ellis decided to deal with this on her own. Who are you? To Elliss question, the giant answered with a booming and powerful voice as if he was announcing it to the world. We are traveling the world in preparation for the battle once the Demon Lord awakens! Theyre battling the Demon Lord. They might be the Braves. Ellis decided to show off for the time being. Im sorry. A lot of skeletons attacked us in the first room, so we ran away. Ellis dropped her line of sight and made as if she was going to cry. Her performance was joined by Reeve and the others who also turned away as if to hide their shame. Arent you ashamed of relying on information from these little girls!? While taking the abuse from Peach, Gray bowed to Ellis. Im sorry, Mademoiselles. Gray continued to the receptionist. Can we go now? I will provide a guide if youd like. If youd like. Although the receptionist Helen took the time to repeat the phrase, If youd like, nobody paid it any mind and Grays party members all left the adventurer guild for Wight Labyrinth with a guide. The members of the hall silently watched the Brave group head out for the labyrinth, and the silence pervaded the guild after they were gone. Pffft. Someone couldnt hold it in anymore. And with that as the signal, the whole guild hall erupted into laughter all at once. Every adventurer in the guild knows that Ellis, Reeve, and Frau were able to easily kill minotaurs and sleipnirs by themselves. Ellis was the daughter of the former head of the infiltration unit, Angus. Reeve was rumored to be a daughter of a fallen aristocrat, and Frau was the daughter of Theseus, the adventurer guild master himself. These three alone had the resources and skills to murder those monster cows and horses. In addition, they now had Claire, the daughter of two famous magicians who worked under the workshop guild master Flint, and the beastgirl Katie, who was said to be Baltiss secret weapon. So the guys of the adventurer guild had come to believe that these girls could accomplish anything. At the very least, they knew right away that the line, we ran away in the first room, was a complete lie. One of the people who knew Ellis from her job of driving the Lily Garden carriage called out to her from her table. So Ellis.How was it really? Of course, we cleared it completely. From Elliss words, the laughter in the guild hall only increased in volume. If what she said was true, that Wight Labyrinth was completely cleared, then you wouldnt find anything there if you went now. Just an endless number of traps in every hallway, door, and empty treasure chest. As everyone in the hall was laughing, Frau made a serious face. The Wight Labyrinth was very different from previous information. I would like to talk to my father about it, if possible. Please wait one moment. Helen nodded to Fraus request and excused herself to the back of the guild hall. She came back soon after. Please go ahead to the interior room. Thank you, Helen. The five girls gave Helen a bow and then went to the back room of the adventurer guild. Ah, our jewelry, you came back already. I will hit you. After Frau and Theseus finished their traditional father-daughter exchange, Frau began to explain the situation with a serious look. First of all, there were never any records of a transparent assassin or a rotten giant ever appearing in that labyrinth. The wight last boss was also much more powerful than it was in past accounts. The wight should have been able to cast spells at {Fire Bullet} level at most, but this one suddenly cast {Flare Burst} and almost wiped out the party. Flare Burst = Required MP: unknown. Causes an explosive heat wave centered around the caster that deals 20 damage. There were also some absurd magic tools. Following Fraus instructions, Ellis lined up the magic tools they had received in order in front of Theseus. Amulet of Silence. Purification short sword. Resistance plate armor. Demon Lords Mark. Bond bracelet. Whats with this? Theseus appraised each item himself and voiced his surprise over the abilities of each item. He examined each item in turn while thinking. That reminds me, those noisy guys from before were yelling about it. Whats a Demon Lord? It seems that he overheard the entire disturbance from back here. What a tough old man. It might be that you girls entered a unique labyrinth. Theseus eventually explained. Unique dungeons are said to be labyrinth mutations. And as soon as a unique dungeon appears, someone aiming for that dungeon will soon come forward. In one opinion, they are the work of the gods themselves. In another, the devils. It is said that every time one appears, the incident is left in history. I have never seen a unique labyrinth before, but with these powerful and unique magic tools, I think that explanation is our best bet. Then Ellis suddenly had a realization. Perhaps this dungeon was originally set up for the Hero to clear by chance? Hahaha. Ellis accidentally let out her laughter. The other four heard her. Whats wrong? Ellis gave them a later on wink and turned back to the adventurer guild master. So what are you going to do with these items? Because the Resistance plate armor is unfortunately for men, we will sell it to the guild. Likewise, since no one in our group uses short swords, we will sell the Purification short sword as well. As for the other three, we will hold on to those. However, I have no idea what the Demon Lords Mark does. I understand. Unfortunately, I have never seen this Resistance plate armor before either. Let the adventurer guild hold on to it for now, and I will get your money to you after I consult with Baltis, Maria, and Flint. After their talk with Theseus was finished, the girls returned to the reception desk to receive the money from their liquidation. The Purification short sword sold for 4 million ril, and Katie made sure to receive a payment certificate for her 800 thousand ril share. On their way home, she would have to pay 80 thousand to the thief guild. Once everyones business was taken care of, the girls bought some food for dinner and made their way home. I am tired today, so there will be no night section! After the five girls finished their dinner, they all decided to take a long, relaxing bath. While soaking in the bathtub, Reeve started to happily laugh. What do you think those guys are doing right now? Following that, Frau also started to laugh from her corner. Monsters and treasure take awhile to revive, but traps reactivate pretty quickly. In response to that, Claire looked interested. You mean the traps on those doors and empty treasure chests. The ones with the electric shocks, explosions, and melting traps? Thats right. Terrible. Katie continued to swim around in the water not giving any thought to the party from before. Ellis, on the other hand, felt untold pleasure different from usual pulsing through her from fulfilling her purpose. The Heros party was harassed in the best possible way upon her first meeting. Ellis was satisfied with a sense of accomplishment. Meanwhile, at night in the adventurer guild. Whats going on!? Dams complained loudly. Did you really send us to the labyrinth? Cliff seemed dissatisfied. Hey you, you guys deceived us. Peach was obviously trying to pick a fight with Helen. Stop Peach. But we cant be satisfied with this. Can you give us a satisfying explanation? While holding Peach back, Gray also started to complain to the receptionist. In the fuss that restarted at the guild reception desk, only Gise was thinking about the possibilities of why the labyrinth was empty. Perhaps its because we dived in after that female party? However, the receptionist did not oppose any of their arguments, and she calmly gave them the facts alone. If there are no monsters or treasure within the labyrinth, then you have no choice but to wait until they all reappear. Gray drops all polite language in favor of getting some straight answer from this receptionist who so clearly shows that she doesnt want to deal with them. If so, how much time until it revives? Helen however, is a professional, and she keeps her administrative tone as she deals with Gray. If it is an advanced labyrinth, it usually recovers in about 3 days. Its late, though, and Helen wanted to go home, so she continues to say, Well then, receptions hours are over. Declaring so, Helen, in a professional manner, puts up a closed sign and ignores the rude people in front of her. CH 25 The new morning came. After the receptionist told them that Wight Labyrinth would take three days to reset, the Braves party had to discuss what they were going to do to kill the time. There is no other choice than to train in the inn. The strangely serious hero announced this to his comrades. I will investigate the city of Warren. There are a few things Id like to ask the thief guild here. This kind of decisive action plan was put forward by the partys thief Gise. There were three non-serious actions as well. Im going to try out this Lily Garden that I heard about. The magician Peach declared as such. It seems that Lily Gardens name as a garden of women was getting around to the neighboring cities. It was already becoming the type of place that is said that all women should visit at least once in their lives. The warrior Dams and priest Cliff laughed together upon Peachs declaration. We will also go to Lily Garden. The two obviously had a vulgar interest at the sound of garden of women. In this way, the five were divided into three groups, and each one took action. ? At Elliss mansion, as Ellis had declared the night before, today was a free day for everyone to spend their time however they wished. On such a day, Ellis and Claire were still working. While walking from the river along the waterway, they were checking to see if there were any issues with the contamination prevention fences. They were both wearing matching boiler suits. These were jumpsuit-like clothes that Claire had ordered to work in while she was at her workshop. For the record, Elliss was pink while Claires was a sky blue color. There doesnt seem to be any problems with the waterway or the heating device. It may be a good idea to leave the running water amount where it is. While checking the equipment and sharing their opinions with each other, Ellis noticed a strange sight. It was near one of the ventilation shafts next to Lily Gardens back door. There were two men trying to hide in the grass squirming along like worms. Do you see anything, Cliff? Give me one moment Dams. Do it quick! I want my turn! It seems that Cliff and Dams were trying to take a look inside the bathroom using the ventilation shaft. Ellis and Claire shared a look between each other before quietly approaching the duo from behind. In succession, they both activated the Sleep rings they had on their fingers. Awesome! All of their equipment are magic tools! Ellis examined and admired every piece of equipment she stripped off the sleeping duo. Yeah! As expected of the Brave party. Claire was half impressed, half disappointed as she took notes on all the items Ellis appraised. Usually these items would be carried to the adventurer guild and sold to them, but then this equipment would just end up in weapon and armor shops through the guild. Then the Brave party could just buy all these magic tools back since they probably have a large financial backing. That would be so boring. Fufufufuu. Ellis turned to Claire when she came up with a wonderful idea. Ehehehehe. Claire leaked a chuckle on hearing Elliss proposal. Claires behavior has recently begun to resemble Elliss. It took awhile, but Ellis and Claire were eventually able to finish their preparations. Just in time too, as the carriage had just returned on its second trip with ladies on board. Oh.We have laundry out hanging pretty early today. The female driver saw the tied up men as she pulled up in front of Lily Garden. As the carriage came to a stop, she called back to her passengers inside the carriage. You ladies are lucky. This is one of our gardens specialties, the Scarlet Laundry. The driver was almost like a tour guide helping the tourists watch for whales. The ladies observed the suspended men while pointing and laughing. Then the driver realized, Oh, its a rare item today. After making sure that the ladies had adequately enjoyed the laundry, she hooked the men up to the carriage and placed a special bag next to them. Once she returned to the adventurer guild, she shouted out, Laundry has arrived! Please help me out! At the drivers request, men from inside the adventurers guild came out to help. As soon as they did, they noticed that these were two of the men involved in the incident with Helen the day before. And another thing. The ribbon on the men wasnt just black. It was a double ribbon of gold and black which is considered super rare. The adventurer guilds workers laughed and carried the naked men to a newly installed clothes stand. When Lily Garden first opened, men were released shortly after arriving at the guild, but since the number of villains needing punishment never went down, it became necessary to strengthen the effect of the discipline. Not only that, but the requests to see the infamous Scarlet Laundry were on the rise as well. So the rules for the laundry were changed to, Leave them to dry on the clothes stand until a guarantor comes to pick them up. Continuing into the guild, the men talk to the receptionist as usual while carrying in the luggage. This time its black and gold. Helen, the receptionist, nodded to the report, and she quickly opened the bag to begin pricing. Right on top of the bundled items; there was a letter. Pfft! Helen casually opened the letter, and she spewed laughter as soon as she read its contents. Whats wrong Helen? Seeing the guild master give her a strange expression after her sudden reaction, Helen coughed and worked to bring herself back to normal. What is it Helen? Master. Its this. Helen motioned for Theseus to come closer to the counter, and she pointed to the letter that was in with the equipment. She could then hold it back no longer and started laughing again. Whats this? After watching Helens reaction, Theseus also read over the letter. Pfft! Urged by the contents of the letter, Theseus began to laugh harder than he had ever laughed before. Watching the guild master and Helen, other adventurer guild employees started to gather around. Us too. Please tell us as well. On behalf of everyone there, Theseus raised his hand to quiet everyone down. Okay then. Helen, can you read it? Theseus handed the letter back to Helen and then added, As elegantly as possible? Well then. Helen took a deep breath to recover from her laughing fit, and she worked herself up into her most business-like attitude. Dear Adventurer Guild Master Theseus. We, Gold Ellis and Black Claire, are always in your care. The scary people who bullied us yesterday came to the garden today. We were really scared, but we did our best to capture them. We got lucky, and we barely managed to subdue them. But when we caught them, we found out that they have some amazing equipment. They must also have a lot of money. I must be honest, we are really terrified of these people, and we worry about what they could do with such dangerous tools. So we would like your help to spread the magic tools out so that these awful men cant just buy it all back with their money. P.S. I have already noted the appraisal results and each items command word on every tool. Thank you. The inside of the guild hall was filled with laughter. Among the ruckus of laughter and merriment, Theseus stood on top of the counter and started to shout out his instructions. Tonight is an emergency bingo tournament! Call every member who is on assignment to gather here in the evening. And do not forget to invite Ellis and Claire! ? Back in Lily Garden. Peach had fully enjoyed the bathhouse, but when she came out, she realized that Dams and Cliff were nowhere to be found. Did they go home early? Peach did not particularly care about them, and she decided to just enjoy the other facilities in this Hundred Gardens by herself. ? After receiving a direct summons from Theseus, Ellis and Claire prepared themselves to head over to the adventurer guild that evening. According to the message, they would prepare dinner. Will it be only us three? When Ellis invited the other three to join them, only Katie raised her hand. Apparently Reeve doesnt like such gatherings, and Frau wants to avoid meeting with her father as much as possible. Then were off! Reeve and Frau looked at each other after seeing Ellis, Claire, and Katie off. We can occasionally drink some alcohol together. That sounds fine. Reeve and Frau are actually two people who can drink, but because Ellis is around, they try to refrain. Tonight, though, they decided to visit the restaurant that was attached to Lily Garden and enjoy a late lunch. Would you ladies like a seat? Upon hearing a womans invitation, Frau noticed a familiar face. Oh Maria, hello. That woman was the merchant guild master Maria. Thank you for all you help running the facility. Reeve gave a business-like response as Maria urged them both to take a seat. Its no trouble at all By the way, what is Ellis doing? The other three went to the party at the adventurer guild. So us two decided to stretch our wings here. Reeve and Frau enjoyed an amazing afternoon making conversation and drinking liquor with the merchant guild master. After a few shots, Reeve started to feel a bit tipsy and started to sing a little song. Maria heard the melody and brought it up. My my, that song is Requiem for the Deceased Princess isnt it? Yes, you know it? Reeve nodded to Marias question with a smile she wouldnt normally show, and she started to sing in a louder voice. Maria listened intently to the song with her eyes closed. Frau listened to the song while resting her cheek on her elbow. Ladies who were sitting near the table and making conversation overheard the song and quieted down to listen to the tune. Fuu After finishing her song, Reeve let out a sigh. Im sorry that I soiled your ears. For the humble Reeve, Maria shook her head and excitedly praised her. Yes. Since that song is paired, I just need to change my voice a little. Maria continued to pressure Reeve. Could you please sing it? However, Reeve shook her head while looking slightly troubled. Im sorry, but that song would be a little loud for this place. Although it was just like Reeve to hold back, it was true that she was happy to be praised for her singing. But Maria wouldnt take no for an answer, so she rose from her chair and addressed the other tables. Everyone! I would like to have a friend of mine sing Ballad of the Fallen King. Is everyone okay with that? The surrounding ladies answered Marias proposal with applause. Maria hurries Reeve along. Please do, Reeve. In truth, Reeve loves to sing. She held herself back until now, but when there is an audience impatiently waiting for her, how can she say no? Well thenI will most likely soil your ears. When Reeve stood up, she began to sing a cappella acoustically. The song she sang was famous in society, for it was considered an extremely difficult song that had to be sang by a woman using a bass that normally only men could reach. Such a difficult song was sung by Reeve flawlessly. After she was finished, Reeve bowed to her audience, and the restaurant was filled with applause. Many of the audience members had to wipe the tears that had begun to form out of their eyes. Did you learn that from somewhere? Maria had suddenly felt herself becoming shy after watching that performance. My grandfather was a hobbyist, and I learned somehow. By the way, this grandfather was the principal reason why Reeves family fell, and they had to start marrying away their daughters. Meanwhile Peach, who had a previous occupation as a songstress, had taken great interest in the song she had just heard. No way. I never expected to hear such a difficult song in this country restaurant. Moreover, it was so beautifully sung.. Her pride would not allow her to back down here, so she beckoned a nearby waitress to come over. Is it okay for people to sing freely at this shop? Peachs annoyed voice reached Maria, and when she heard it, she turned toward Peach and bowed her head. Im sorry. I made the request, please forgive me. Peach did not withdraw. Please dont apologize, but I also wanted to sing a song. May I? Although she was asking Maria for permission, Peach was also a customer of this store. Neither Maria nor the waitress had any authority to refuse her. Well then, please do. Emboldened by Marias words, Peach moved to the front of the store and addressed her audience. My name is Peach, and I am a songstress from the Kingdom Sky Castle. Peach started singing after giving a bow. Extravagant voice. Enticing vibrato. Sensual gestures. Her performance was beautiful. Peach, however, didnt understand her customers. The song she sang was one that played to men. A song about seeking a man and finding love. The ladies here, however, have all come to Lily Garden and this restaurant to enjoy liberation from men. The lyrics of the song Peach sings, reverses the feelings of those ladies. Im done. When Peach finished her song, there was no applause, and no one spoke out. Peach misunderstood this attitude from the audience as them being so awed by her singing that they couldnt say anything. So she decided to start singing a second song. The one most annoyed by Peachs song was the mischievous Reeve. She quietly left her seat in the restaurant and returned to her house. Then she returned to her original seat. Maria, who had been listening to the song with a bitter taste in her mouth, saw the serious look in Reeves eyes after she changed clothes. Peachs second song finished, and once again nobody moved. A momentary silence filled the room. And so Reeve stood up. She was wearing a mens ceremonial black suit decorated with gold and silver embroidering. Without saying anything, she began to sing. The name of the song was Corset Woman. It was the tale of a woman who became a female knight to protect women from the men who preyed upon them. A few ladies start to tear up right as the song begins. Reeve sings. Clearly. Indiscriminately. Powerfully. Until it abruptly ends. Once the song was finished and Reeve gave a bow, the audience rose to give her a standing ovation. Peach couldnt handle the atmosphere that was choking her, so she secretly escaped. Dont you feel popular? When Reeve retook her seat, Maria gently placed her hand on Reeves knee. Her cheeks were dyed a deep red, and she was shaking her head as she tried to wipe away the tears that wouldnt stop. Ms. Reeve, I was really impressed.. At this moment, the Reeve fan club was born. The leader of that club was the merchant guild master Maria. ? Meanwhile at the special bingo venue at the adventurer guild. First of all is Claires signed plate armor. It is an excellent piece of equipment that reduces damage by 2! While moderating the event, the master was turning the Bingo wheel. No. 35! YOSH! BINGO!! Strangely, the first person to win a prize was the man who had helped bring in the items in the first place. Ellis threw her arms in the air, and Claire acted as a presenter and brought out the plate armor to the winning member. Congratulations! And thank you for all your help! The crew members face flushed red as he received the plate armor from Claire. Next is Elliss autographed Flying Swallow long sword. Lets keep this game going! The master flew through the bingo tournament. And just like that, magic tools and mage equipment with a market price of almost 300 million ril were given away as prizes for free. The expensive equipment worn by Dams and Cliff was thus scattered so far apart that it would be impossible to recover. CH 26 This was a time just before the bingo tournament started. Before the adventurer guild employees and acquaintances could gather together, a crowd had already formed in front of the guild. Hey, its the rare black ribbon. Thats right, this is the first time Ive ever seen it paired with a gold ribbon set like that. There were two bundles of Scarlet Laundry that were peacefully hung up to dry, and everyone was amazed at the color of ribbon that was used to decorate them. Then the two who had been magically put to sleep, woke up. The giant cried out first. Why am I being hung!? A man who didnt know what was going on quickly started crying. Hey, isnt this a crime? Then a member of the adventurer guild who was in charge of watching them until now told them to quiet down while poking their butts with a stick. Until someone comes to guarantee your identity, just keep reflecting up there. But the giant immediately started yelling at the guard showing that he wasnt reflecting in the slightest. We are the Brave party members Dams and Cliff. Bring us to the Hero Gray at once! To this appeal, both the guard and a carriage driver shared a look. What do you mean youre a Brave? The Heros companions are laundry? Whispers ran through the crowd, and everyone shuffled around. The carriage drivers were annoyed with these guys constantly shouting out how they were Braves and commanding them to let them down. Let us down now! Quickly release us! Ah, screw it. The guard who was really getting annoyed with their grandiose attitudes stuffed a large fish into each of their mouths shutting them up. In addition, because this was an adventurer guild show, they werent going out of their way to find these guys guarantorsCnot that theyd mention that. While this was going on, the third carriage of the day returned from Lily Garden to the adventurers guild. There was only one passenger. While caught in a sense of defeat, she descended from the carriage while sighing. I was sick of that place anyway. Yes, it was Peach returning after being shamed at the restaurant. When she got off the carriage, she noticed a large crowd gathered in front of her stop. When she tried to see into the center of that crowd, she saw two large red objects hanging up that were not there when she left this morning. What are you guys doing? There were two naked men covered in red paint hanging upside down from the adventurer guild eaves. Moreover, the only thing covering their important bits was a butterfly knot of gold and black ribbons. This was a little embarrassing. Youwhy are you guys hanging up? Dams and Cliff noticed Peach when she ran up to them in a hurry, but with the fish gags filling their mouths, they could only make their pleas by twisting their bodies around. Do you know these people? Huh? Peach was caught in the stupid sight before her. If she took custody of these two, it would be very embarrassing. However, the keeper judged that Peach was at least acquainted with these two and removed their gags. The two men began shouting at once. Get us down quickly Peach! Im gonna die! The blood is rushing to my head and Im gonna die! Peach doesnt know what to do in this situation. The guards and the drivers arent giving her any advice either. Then Dams cried out Go get Gray! Even though theyre saying that, it would be over if the girl just said, I know these guys.'' Although the keeper is disgusted with Peachs hesitation in acknowledging them as her friends, he decides to stay silent. Peach left Dams and Cliff there and started to run as if she was escaping that place. Then after a bit of time had passed, Gray arrived in a huff. What are you doing!? Resenting the treatment of his friends, Gray unintentionally put his hand on his swords hilt. The intimidation he gave out was overwhelming for the keeper and the horse drivers. I would like you to explain this! Gray approached the keeper with his hand still on his swords hilt. The guard took a step back without thinking. Get us down Gray! Quickly cut the rope! To meet the demands of the two, Gray was about to pull out his sword. However, a voice of restraint called out behind him. Oops, are you going to become a criminal as well? Gray looked back with fire in his eyes to the person who had suddenly thrown out a question to him. There was an older man standing with his arms crossed before him. Who are you? The old man was picking his nose as if to make a fool of Grays glare. When you ask for someones name, dont you know its only polite to introduce yourself first? Grays whole body trembled with anger. He rose his voice and exuded as much killing intent as he could to intimidate the old man. I am Gray of Sky Castle and the two people hanging there are my friends. You will release them immediately! However the old man did not react to Grays threats. I am Theseus, the Warren Adventurer Guild Master. Its nice to meet you Gray of Sky Castle. You said those two criminals are your friends; does that mean you guarantee their identity? Did you say criminals? Astonished by the words of the old man, Grays hands reflexively came up in surprise. These men were caught peeping at the bathhouse Lily Garden. What did you say? Have you been convinced? Why are they naked? Because that is Warrens punishment for peeping. Having explained the situation to Gray, Theseus began giving instructions to the guards in the area. The guarantor has come to pick them up. Take them down. After being taken down and untied, Dams and Cliff unraveled the ribbon covering their privates and became bullish. You better be prepared! Its not just the moonlit night! (TL Note: A Japanese saying which equals to watch your back at night.) Theseus ignored the threats of the two, and he instead gave a meaningful suggestion to Gray. If you walk around the street naked like that, this time you will be picked up for public indecency. If youd like, we could sell you a hemp shirt for 10 thousand ril. Although Gray wanted to punch him for obviously gutting the price, it was true that he did not have any clothing, so he had no choice but to go along with Theseuss proposal. Get 2 for me, Gray was finally able to say through gritted teeth. Theseus accepted the 20 thousand ril from Gray and then threw two hemp shirts over to Dams and Gray. While Dams and Gray were still complaining, Gray stopped and stared at Theseus. The Adventurer Guild is supposed to be fair to everyone. This is the Warren Adventurer Guild. Come by anytime, and we will welcome you. When the group of three finally left and could no longer be seen, Theseus scratched his head and began muttering to himself. WellI guess I should probably report this to the rest of the council. On the other hand, at the same time at the Thieves Guild. Thank you for giving me the time to meet like this. Gise was greeting a lump of flesh that was sitting on a couch in front of him. Such an old man disgustingly distorted his lips. Is the Thieves Guild at Sky Castle always so stiff? The guild master there isnt always disguised. Baltis, Warrens thieves guild master, laughed satisfied with Gises response. By the way, if youre only introducing yourself to the guild, talking to the reception would be enough. No, I would like to buy some information today. Are you sure? My fee is rather high. Yes. Its information that only the guild master probably knows. Gise visited the guild not only to do his greetings, but to buy information as well. I dont know if I can help, but what is it you would like to know about? Details about Warrens Jewelry Box. Hmm. In the Braves party, Theseus had written that this was the only guy to be wary of. While remembering that fact, Baltis answered without changing his facial expressions. The information fee is 10 million ril, but I will warn you, from the Warren Thieves Guild to Sky Castles Thieves Guild, it is meaningless to ask. Gise thinks for a moment. There is no useless information. And there will be no lies when it comes to information exchanges between Thieves guilds. But Gise hesitates. Baltiss words are bothering him. Thats fine. If possible, I would like you to tell me about the party as a whole and each member. As he made his decision, Gise took out a jewel from his coat pocket. This should be worth 10 million ril. Baltis took the jewel while smiling, and he began telling Gise everything. ? When Gise returned to the inn with a difficult face, Gray was furiously arguing with the Dams and Cliff pair for some reason. Peach was sitting on a bed making a face similar to his. What happened Peach? Dams and Cliffs equipment were taken from them. Legally. What? Gise waited until Grays anger had subsided. The next two days were spent acquiring new equipment and magic tools for Dams and Cliff who had lost all theirs. Purification is indispensable for exploring Wight Labyrinth where an oracle Gray had received told him to go. Moreover, Grays sword cannot damage the physically immune wight, so they would have to rely on magic tools and the spells of Peach and Cliff. In the end, they eventually spent 200 million ril in Warren just so that these two who lost their tools would be decently equipped. Even then, it was only the bare amount of equipment and security. They also couldnt get some tools that were currently out of stock such as Adventurers bags. On the next day, Gray resumed the exploration of Wight Labyrinth that had recovered. They had poor magical attack capabilities, so it took them a few days to explore the whole thing, but no matter how hard they looked, they couldnt find the important Demon Lords Mark. They repeatedly covered every inch of the labyrinth over a number of days, but they couldnt find it. Only a few common magic tools and ril were obtained. As a result, everyone besides Gray became exhausted. Especially Gise who was constantly having to disarm traps and use up all his gear. Finally Cliff broke. Gray, lets give priority to another oracle. You might be right. Lets try hitting some others first. Gray made his decision with Cliffs weeping. Gods revelation cannot be wrong. With that being the case, the reason why they cannot find the weapon against the Demon Lord must be because the search order was wrong. So the party decided to move to a different town, follow another oracle, and come back after visiting other labyrinths first. While getting ready to leave Warren, Gise suddenly remembered the information that the Thieves Guild Master had given him. Gise had not doubted Warrens Jewelry Boxs claims on that first night. From their appearance, Gise could not see anything other than a group of young and cute girls. But as he started to examine them, their existence became more and more abnormal for him. Is it because they blend in so naturally to the streets of Warren? No one in the city seems to have any doubts about them. It is true that Lily Garden and the surrounding facilities are managed and operated by the Thieves guild and the Merchant guild. The Adventurer guild and the Workshop guild are also involved in the maintenance and transportation of the area. It is a product of the public works of Warren. There is no doubt there. But who pushed the switch? Gise recalled the information he had bought from Baltis. One is the daughter of the Adventurer guild master. One is the apprentice of the Workshop guild master. One is the secret weapon of the Thieves guild master. One is the favorite of the Merchant guild master. One is the associate member of the Warren Council. The second name the city gave to these girls. Warrens Jewelry Box. Its that kind of thing. Gise muttered to himself. Each of their origins comes from a representative of Warren. Thats why their party name has Warren in it. Because starting a fight with them would be the same as starting a fight with Warren itself. There is no useless information. However, there is information that cannot be helped even if you know it. So Gise didnt tell Gray. Rather than starting a war, he tucked the information into his back pocket and left for the next town quickly. ? At the Lily Garden public bath, three people learned about the song Reeve sang from Frau. Id like to hear it. I want to make a request. I want to hear too. In this way, Reeve was forced out of the bathtub and made to sing naked in front of them. The four other girls were thrilled with the appearance and singing voice of Reeve, and they pleasantly listened to her song. When she was done, everyone else wanted to sing as well. This was a large public bath. The acoustic effect was outstanding. Next is my turn. Ellis was too impatient to wait her turn, and as Reeve reentered the tub, she quickly took her place. Such a thing would have been impossible before for the Hikineet. Sing happily in a public bath. Before she knew it, Ellis-Eiji had come to enjoy normally spending time with the four other girls. CH 27 One morning on a certain day. Lets go on a trip! Ellis suddenly made such a declaration while enjoying Fraus specialty french toast. Actually, Ellis could not forget the pleasure she felt when she had harassed the Hero and his party. It was a sense of accomplishment that Ellis-Eiji had never felt in their life. I want to feel more of that pleasant feeling! Ellis was caught up in that impulse. I have discovered the existence of the Hero. I also already made my first strike. Then the next is the Demon Lord. If the Demon Lord wont come here, then I will venture out to him. Elliss proposal was met with a positive reaction. Yeah, its important to broaden our horizons. Reeve nods with folded arms. We might find a new type of magic tool. Frau is thinking about new discoveries. Traveling is fun. Katie is interested in the journey itself. . One person isnt joining in to the conversation. How about Claire? Ellis tries to get the only remaining persons opinion, but she is just staring down at her lap. Does Claire hate traveling? Claire silently shakes her head to Reeves question. Are you worried about your health? Frau is worried about Claires frailty, but Claire once again shakes her head. Are you bad with carriages? Katie thinks it might be because of motion sickness, but Claire rejected that as well. Claire, whats wrong? Ellis gently asks for more information, and Claire eventually raises her head with a look of determination. Everyone, what about the toilet and bath? Ah. Four people became rigid at Claires point. Claire continued shyly. In the Wight labyrinth When I saw the rotten giant I leaked a little.. Ellis remembered. When everyone was having lunch after that, Claire was sticking by herself away from everyone else. I see. Thats why Claire wanted to go home after that fight. So Claire was enduring cold underwear. Claire goes on. If everyone stays in the mansion, we will be able to stay beautiful and enjoy the toilet and clean baths. But what will we do while traveling? I cant live without a toilet and bath anymore! Shouting so, Claire fell to the floor sobbing. It probably took a lot of courage for Claire to tell her shameful story. Reeve bent down and started stroking Claires back. We werent thinking. Frau also stretched out her arm and brushed away some of Claires hair. We had no idea. Katie nodded her head. The toilet and bath are really pleasant. I have to manage this. Ellis racked her brains, going over every piece of knowledge she had about her previous world for the petite Claire. Oh. I got this. Ellis spoke gently to Claire as she picked herself up. Lets make a bath and toilet for traveling. I know we can do it. Claire finally raised her face on Elliss encouragement. First is the toilet. Make a wooden private room of vertically elongated rectangular sides. Set a toilet and a a large water bottle inside. In front of the toilet hand a funnel shaped barrel at eye level when crouching down, and connect a water intake pipe from the funnel to the toilet. If you scoop out the water from the water bottle and pour it into the funnel, the momentum will carry along the waste. Prepare a lot of thin cloths and sanitize them thoroughly after squeezing them with water from the water bottle every time you use them. It is very hygienic. Incidentally, the used cloths will flow gently together. The sewage flow is pooled into a barrel in a separate room that can be removed for disposal. Next is the bath. When she thought about it, Ellis concluded that it was indeed impossible to set up a bath in the carriage, so Ellis decided to set up a shower instead. This should be as easy to set up as the toilet. First of all, warm the water to an appropriate temperature with a fever stone, and pump in as much water as we need into an overhead cask. Afterwards, if we twist a plug attached to the base of a pipe, shower shaped hot water will be poured onto the head. Both the toilet and the shower can be installed into a horse-drawn carriage if there is about a 1 x 2 x 2 meter space. How about it, Claire? Can you design it? Claire responded with a large smile. Yes! I will make it up as soon as possible! Thank you Ellis! As she watched Claire go, Reeve was filled with hope. The toilet and bath were certainly a blind spot. Frau nodded. And the Ellis who instantly thought up a mechanism for Claires point was also wonderful. Katie looked happy. Will it be possible to travel in comfort with this? While Claire worked in her design office, Ellis and Frau went shopping for lunch, and Reeve and Katie patrolled Lily Garden. Since Claire will jump out with her drawing, how about we having something simple for lunch that can be eaten with one hand? Good thinking Frau. Lets do that. When Reeve and Claire returned from hanging out the laundry with blue and white ribbons, Frau had just finished making some stuffed cheese balls(p?o de queijo) and vegetable sticks. As they started eating, Claire jumped out right on schedule. Everyone, how about this? The paper laid out on the table had detailed drawings of the toilet and the shower room. Claire, who had regained her spirit, threw a stuffed cheese ball into her mouth before proudly describing her work. This drawing is a drainage storage type that can be used by anyone, but if you have Elliss ability, it will be even more convenient! The problems with such facilities lie in water supply and drainage. To solve this problem, Claire boldly suggested using a Bag of Gluttony. You can see that you can put as much water as you want into a Bag of Gluttony for the water bottle. The four girls nodded in confirmation to Claires claim. Then, what would you say if you installed a Bag of Gluttony here? Claire pointed to the toilet and showers drain. Oh, I see. You can leave the bag open. Reeve put out a question here. But you cant put a Bag of Gluttony into another Bag of Gluttony. Reeve was thinking that they were going to carry the toilet and shower in a Bag of Gluttony. It would greatly decrease the amount of luggage they would need to carry, and they would never have to leave the carriage behind. The fact that you cant put one Bag of Gluttony into another was something Ellis had already concluded from her experiments, so if the design incorporated a Bag of Gluttony in it, they wouldnt be able to carry the product in a Bag of Gluttony. But Ellis realized Claires plan upon looking at her confident look. We would just need to erase the Bag of Gluttonys ability before packing it away! Thats the correct answer Ellis! Claire nodded. Ellis had already performed quite a few experiments with the Bags of Gluttony. One of those experiments was what would happen if a Bag of Gluttony had items inside it when it lost the Gluttony ability after it was copied twice. The answer was, items will never return. Thats why whenever copying Bags of Gluttony so far, Ellis always made sure that the bags were empty. But Claire has thought up a way to make use of that advantage. If the waste bag loses its ability, then all the waste inside would cease to exist. Wonderful Claire! Then the design for the portable toilet and bath is ready for construction! But Ellis stopped her. Lets create a spectacular carriage for traveling anyway! In the half a day thereafter, Claire tailored together a plan for a carriage that reflected the hopes and tastes of all five people. The next day, Claire brought the luxury horse-drawn carriage with toilet and bath blueprint to Flint. When he reviewed the design and went over the details, he said, Something like this could probably be regularly produced and sold. Ill get you the estimate, so show it to Maria at the adventurer guild. Then, when the estimates and plans were delivered to Maria, Maria confirmed the design with Claire and asked that the prototype be delivered to her upon its completion. In this way, the story of the mobile toilet and shower goes on. A few days later, the model room for the Claire Flint brand Luxury home toilet, Luxury home shower, and Luxury horse-drawn carriage with toilet and shower opened. People could now own a tiny piece of the Lily Garden experience. It was a product sought after largely by wealthy people. The reputation of a household toilet and shower coupled with Lily Gardens renown spread to every city in the country. Thus, in addition to the initial design fee, Claire would receive an ongoing payment from the patent she holds. Claire is now classified as one among the wealthy. A few more days later, the customized carriage was delivered from the Workshop Guild to Elliss mansion. There is a high class toilet and shower installed at the back of the carriage. It is loaded with a wastewater treatment tank as camouflage for any third party viewers. In the center of the horse-drawn carriage, two rows of three-tiered beds were arranged so that everyone could enjoy a good nights sleep. Roll type awnings are installed on both sides of the carriage. Once they are stretched out, it will create a large amount of shade and cover for any picnics or meals. Between the bed and the toilet is a kitchenette set with a Fever stone stove put in at Fraus request. Hey, hey. We can finally start our journey. Four people unanimously agreed with Elliss statement this time. Then Claire asked a simple question. By the way, where are we going? Ah. Three people went rigid. Ellis was excitedly designing with Claire, so she didnt think about it. Frau was absorbed with everything she was going to cook in the newly built kitchenette. Katies mind was always drifting away anyway, so she never even tried to think of a destination. Then Reeve, who had not gone rigid, raised her hand. Maria, the merchant guild master, invited us to go to the Citadel. What is the Citadel? Citadel City Marsfield. It is the city of the lord who rules this area. What are you going to do there? She invited us to go see their theaters opera. Ah. It is an activity of the Reeve fan club. Does Reeve want to go? Ellis wanted to make sure of Reeves feelings on the matter, but before Reeve could answer, three others interrupted her. Marsfield is a cornucopia of rare ingredients! Frau is excited. Marsfield has a tremendously large mechanical watchtower! Claire is also excited. There is a beastkin district! Katie is also unusually excited. Shut up you guys. So what about Reeve? Although I would like to watch the opera, Maria and I alone is just a bit.. Yes, then. Ellis wrote a letter to Maria and entrusted it to Katie. The contents are as follows: If you want to go to the opera with Reeve, please bring all of us with you. When Maria received the letter from Katie, she roughly looked over the contents. I can deliver your reply for you. As Katie said this, Maria looked up at her sitting on the Magical horse and said, Im still pretty young. Maria immediately wrote a letter to Ellis and had it delivered. Please bring everyone. Once Katie was gone, Maria then wrote another letter. The escort was successfully caught. This letter was addressed to Flint, the workshop guild master. As she sealed this letter, Marias grin broadened. CH 28 The adventurer guild has a function similar to a bank. The merchant guild has a similar mechanism, but their scale is overwhelmingly larger. The advantage of using the adventurer guilds system is that the guild exchange is shared throughout guilds across the country. This solves the problem of adventurers carrying too much money whenever they move from one city to the next. For the guild exchange, the only cost of moving money from one guild to the next is a 20 thousand ril fee. For example, when traveling from Warren to Marsfield, have the Warren adventurer guild issue a transfer document for 10 million ril at a commission of 10 thousand ril. Once you bring the document to the Marsfield adventurer guild, you can create an account there and deposit the 10 million ril at another 10 thousand ril fee. In short, the document is a seal exchange, and the guild exchange is a passbook. For Elliss group who all own Bags of Gluttony, the guild exchange is unnecessary, but if they dont use it, third parties would definitely find that suspicious. So the five girls transferred some money to Elliss account, and Ellis had a transfer document of 30 million ril issued. By the way, Elliss revenue sources are now as follows: The money obtained from Lily Gardens entrance fee is about 200 thousand ril every day. After subtracting the Thieves guilds 50% along with the money for the payroll fee, 90 thousand ril still finds its way into Elliss pockets. Goods and fare sales entrusted to the merchant and adventurer guild add up to an additional 100 thousand ril each day. After the Thieves guild takes a 10% commission on Elliss portion of those sales, Ellis still receives 9 thousand ril each day. That means that Ellis earns about 100 thousand ril every day. A tidy sum of money. This income is kept collectively in a treasure chest taken from the Wight Labyrinth kept inside the mansion. It is left for everyday expenses and any of the five can use it, but it is mostly spent by Frau for food expenses and by Claire to pay the Flint Studio for general repair to the mansion. On the other hand, 50% of the profit from stripping equipment off of the victims of the Scarlet Laundry is put directly into the accounts of whoevers ribbon decorated them. The remaining 50% is paid out to the adventurer guild, transportation fees, management, and other commissions. The stripped amount can range anywhere from almost zero to several million ril. When hanging the two members of the Brave party, the amount would have definitely been over 100 million. Though all of that equipment was given away for free at Elliss discretion. Claires design office receives about 5% of the commission fee on all construction projects that she has as a design fee. In the future, Claire will also receive an additional 100 thousand ril for every unit of the Claire Flint brand luxury toilet & shower from the merchant guild. Finally there is the income from exploring labyrinths. They can receive anywhere from a few thousand ril from searching elementary labyrinths to hundreds of thousands or even millions of ril from searching advanced labyrinths. The income earned is distributed evenly among all members. Since she is a thief adventurer, Katie has to pay 10% of her income to the thieves guild. Ellis used to have to do that as well, but she is supposed to not have any relation to the thieves guild at the moment. Thats why they have more than enough money to travel. Then lets make a plan for our trip. Ellis proposed over dinner. Wed better prepare a few more toiletries. In such a way, the five enjoyed making plans for their journey to Marsfield until a messenger from the merchant guild arrived at their door. The messenger delivered a letter straight from Maria. ? After 7 days, I will head to Marsfield, and I will take a carriage from the merchant guild. ? It takes 3 days to reach Marsfield, so it will be necessary to prepare enough food for a 6 day round trip. If youd like to prepare your own food, that is fine, but if you want us to prepare your shares as well, tell the messenger. It will cost 10 thousand ril for every day. ? On the way to Marsfield, I would like to hire you as escorts, so please prepare combat equipment as well. As an escort fee, I will pay you 50 thousand ril per person per day. ? We will stay in Marsfield for 3 days, but the accommodations will be prepared by the merchant guild. ? Day one of the three day stay at Marsfield will be a free day. The messenger will have a map of Marsfield for you, so make plans in advance. ? Horses and drivers will be prepared by the merchant guild, so have a Magical horse carry your carriage until then. Finally ? I wanted to ask that we have a Reeves Dinner Show at the Yuri Garden Restaurant the day before the departure. Reeves Dinner Show is a periodic activity of the Reeve Fan Club. It is a dinner party where ladies of the fan club enjoy renting out the restaurant in the evening and enjoying her songs along with their meals. The dinner show has already become one of the premier events in Yuri Garden, which was already a fancy restaurant venue, so Reeve volunteered to appear herself. Naturally Reeve does this for free, but Reeve has received some gifts from the ladies instead. She already has 10 new sets of clothes and a mountain of different jewelry and accessories. Unfortunately, almost all of these gifts were men-wear. Ellis told the messenger that she would prepare their food, and from that day on, the five prepared the horse-drawn carriage for departure in full swing. The horse-drawn carriage is 2.5 meters in width and 6 meters in length, and it has an entrance in the front and the back. When entering the front entrance, you see a 2.5 square meter space of carpet. This is the space that Ellis will spend most of her time. Beds are tied in the back. There are two vertical rows of triple beds on the left and right with a passage running between them. There is a 1 meter wide storage space on the left side of the carriage, and a kitchen space on the right. In the kitchen, there are two Fever stone stovetops and a simple sink. Finally the toilet and shower room take up the remaining space. Ellis put three Adventurers Bags instead of Bags of Gluttony in the storage so that no problem occurs even if a third party investigates the carriage by chance. It has already been confirmed that Adventurers Bags can be put inside of a Bag of Gluttony. The first bag is for food. The second bag is for sanitary goods for the toilet and shower while the third bag is for drinking water. Once she had confirmed the inside of the carriage, everyone went out to the town and bought bed sheets and toilet cloths. The topic on the way there is mainly about what they will do in Marsfield. It seems that Frau, Claire, and Katie have already decided that they would definitely take some time to visit the grocery store, the large clock tower, and beastkin district. There is still the matter of the trip itself, though. We have to buy enough food to last us for six days, so please make any requests for meals in advance. As soon as Frau said that, everyone raised their hands. I would like to eat pasta with some shrimp. The risotto from that time was delicious. I love meat stew. Fried chicken was my favorite. Fried things on a horse-drawn carriage. But if I bake the surface crisply, it should be okay. While talking about that, five people were already on their way home. The next day, after breakfast, the five girls went to the Wight Labyrinth to make up for their recent lack of exercise. It was different than when they first visited. There were less than 10 skeletons and zombies in each room. With those numbers, it usually ended with Katie, Frau, and Reeve sweeping them away. The boss of the fifth room was a ghoul. This fight ended with one punch from Katie after it took Claires {Fire Bullet}. The boss of the fifteenth room was a zombie golem. This fight ended with Reeve and Fraus simultaneous assault after Katie paralyzed it with Stupor. The last rooms boss was the same as the previous time, a wight. However, this one didnt have the kingly aura that the last one had. This one was similar to just an ordinary human. Frau charged through the monsters {Fire Bullet} with her Resistance armor. Her Purification maul passed through the wight, so that part was the same however the fight still ended with the wight dying after taking Claires {Explosion}. The enemies were all much weaker than the previous time, but this was still considered an advanced labyrinth. Even though Ellis didnt take part in a single battle that day. All I did was open doors and treasure chests. The total treasure of the day was one million ril in cash. Magic tools were a Amulet of Silence, {Lightning Shower} scroll, and a Poison Nullification necklace. {Lightning Shower} Gives 10 damage in an area and additionally gives out paralysis through electrical shock. Required MP: 10 I could deal as much damage as Claire by reading this, Ellis realized. Poison Nullification necklace Poison will not affect the user for a certain amount of time. Required MP: 3. Command word: [Finish the poisoned meal].1 By combining this with the Bond Bracelets, everyone will become immune to poison. Finally, Warrens Jewelry Box has nothing to fear from poison. When they returned to the adventurer guild, they sold the Amulet of Silence for 400 thousand ril and the original Poison Nullification necklace for 800 thousand ril. While Katie went to the Thieves Guild to pay her 24 thousand ril fee, Ellis decided to take a break and wait for her inside the Adventurer Guild. Then another party came back with a *Don*. Recently the prices for Fever stones have jumped up. The reason for this is the large amount needed for the luxury showers. Big ones can especially sell for a large amount. As a result, Fever stones have become the most popular item to hunt for right now among adventurers. This is made especially appealing because Fever stones are dropped by salamanders C the boss of the beginner labyrinth Salamander Labyrinth and a regular enemy in some intermediate labyrinths. It has come to the point where even employees of the Adventurer Guild have started to frequent the labyrinths in their spare time. Since beginner level labyrinths and the regular enemies of intermediate labyrinths respawn after about half a day, this doesnt cause any conflicts with regular adventurers. One of the uncles from the party that had just returned then noticed Elliss group and waved to them. Claire, I need to thank you. The armor you gave me saved my life twice today! The man who had won the first prize at the bingo tournament bowed his head. You too, Ellis. I was only able to kill that salamander because of the Flying Swallow long sword you offered. Another adventurer smiled graciously to Ellis. Ellis and Claire shook hands and happily chatted with such people. The receptionist Helen watched this scene with a warm smile on her face. Its gotten a lot brighter around here, she thought to herself. Then Helen pulled out the Light Emission stone she won from the bingo tournament. She liked to play with it and activate it every once in awhile. The light it released was much more dazzling than a regular Luminescent stone. Time passed and eventually it was the day before their departure. Today was Reeves Dinner Show, and of course the other four were invited. Ellis changed into a dress for every dinner party. Today, Ellis and Claire were both wearing cute dresses. Elliss was a light red while Claires was a kerria yellow. Frau and Kattie decided to go with sensual evening dresses with a wide open back. Fraus was white while Katies was an unusual black. It is not hot in the evening, so I am fine wearing black, was what she said. When the four entered the restaurant, the eyes of all the other women gathered on them. Sighs are heard from here and there toward their appearance, but those sighs immediately ceased. Reeve appeared. She wore a gold button and crimson silk short jacket with sewn yarn patterns overtop a white dress shirt, long black boots, and white slacks. Her blue hair and sharp eyes shined in her outfit. Everyone was in awe of her dignity and grace. Then Reeve started to sing. Every gaze in the store focused on her, afraid that if they looked away, she would vanish as if she was only ever a dream. Every girl would continue to watch her even if they were to be killed. Maria, the organizer of the event, looked like she had died already and was in heaven. As a service, Reeve went around the tables as she sang. Every woman sighed or swooned as she walked by. One woman started to cry in delight. In the meantime, there were four people eating their meals without minding it too much. They imagine how Reeve is when she sings opera at the bathhouse every day as the Fully Naked Monarch. How many people would actually faint if they saw Reeve sing in that form? Maybe someone would actually die? Ellis was thinking about the desperate, fallen form that Reeve showed every night. When Reeve looked at Ellis, Ellis nodded her head and moved according to Reeves eyes. While gracefully dancing, Reeve silently threw one of her favorite throwing daggers. Nobody noticed the woman who had been hit. Ellis put a dagger to the womans throat before knocking her out with the Sleep ring. She then used Full Recovery right after she pulled out the dagger from the womans breast. The painted knife that the woman had held dropped from her hand. She was sitting next to Maria and was aiming for a woman sitting at the same table who was brought to tears out of the admiration she had for Reeves singing. Reeve rose to the top of the stage, bringing everyones gazes up to her and off of Ellis. Meanwhile, Ellis and the three others quietly carried the unconscious woman out of the building unnoticed. CH 29 Reeves Dinner Show finished successfully. While all the satisfied ladies boarded the carriage to head back to the city, Frau walked up to Maria and told her about the incident. Weve caught an assassin who was aiming for a woman who was with you.1 The culprit was bound with a rope and rolled into the rest of the already closed bathhouse. Katie had already confirmed that she was at least not related with the Warren Thieves Guild. Ellis released her from her magical sleep to confirm whether she was a member of a different thieves guild just in case. This is because if it was a job taken by another thieves guild, then the incident itself could be squashed by an exchange of ransom between the guilds. But the culprit was not a member of any thieves guild. At least she herself did not claim to be a member. If this is the case, then the assassin will be disposed of according to the law of Warren. That is why Ellis decided to hand her over to Maria who is also the chairman of the Warren Council. Why dont you torture her and see what she says? Ellis smiled and laughed. Maria looked interestingly at Ellis who was showing a deep and malevolent smile that one would think unthinkable for an 8-year-old girl. Because the purpose and affiliation of this assassin can be roughly guessed, Maria laughed back as she took custody of the pirate. Thank you for helping me. Please continue the good work tomorrow. Continue the good work tomorrow? Then Ellis remembered. On the way to Marsfield, they were instructed to act as escorts for Maria. In the meantime, everyone finished their preparations for tomorrows departure. They will be gone for awhile starting tomorrow, so they decided to really really enjoy the public bath and night life. Nyan An.. Ahn Uuh And the five girls woke up feeling as good as can be. Frau put together various kinds of luggage in the kitchen early in the morning. There will be times where Maria might join us, so I will prepare a lot of food for meals. Im looking forward to the outdoor picnics. Just leave it to me. Ellis also has fun with the overconfident Frau. For breakfast today, Frau had already prepared some sandwiches and dipping gravy with caffeinated tea on the table. After everyone finished their breakfast while laughing among each other, next was the last minute preparations for the adventure. Katie helped Frau carry any foodstuffs from the kitchen, and Claire stored them into the Adventurers Bag. Ellis and Reeve filled ten or so barrels with water and carried them to the carriage in a Bag of Gluttony. I wonder if this will be enough. I dont know how much we will end up using on the road. Lets bring a little more. After securing food and water, next they finally started checking their luggage. Elliss Shoulder Bag of Gluttony had no problems. There were also no problems with Reeves Pouch of Gluttony. Fraus Tote Bag of Gluttony and Backpack of Gluttony was okay. Claires Rucksack of Gluttony had no problems. Katies Carry-on Bag of Gluttony had the final okay. Bags of Gluttony are really convenient. Reeve folded plenty of towels and toilet cloths in advance and put them into their own bag. Claire made a final confirmation of the water supply and drainage facilities connected to the toilet and shower. Katie loaded the water barrels that Ellis and Reeve brought into the designated Adventurers Bag on the carriage. Frau arranged the small bottles of seasonings for dishes and meals onto the shelves of the kitchenette. Ellis activated their five Magical horses one after another and connected them to the carriage. Because of the letter that Marias messenger had given them, they were each wearing the equipment that they would use when exploring labyrinths. However, in the suburbs in the middle of the day, the black clothes looked inconspicuous and funny, so Ellis and Claire decided to put on their boiler suit uniforms instead of their black outfits. Naturally, Ellis had already copied the Shadow and Guidance abilities into their respective suits. By the way, Ellis had received a rare color minotaur maul as a present. It was given to her by the old man who was thankful for her signed Flying Swallow long sword that he had won during bingo. He apparently got it after killing a minotaur during his quest of killing all salamanders that he saw while searching for Fever stones. It shined in the light and let out a thin crimson gleam. It didnt have the scary image that a normal minotaur maul had at all. In a certain sense, this looked much more similar to a Magical girls wand. Ellis, who noticed Fraus obviously jealous gaze, duplicated Flying Swallow and Inhalation to the maul, and she handed it over to Frau, for escort use. From now on, we are going to be particular about the color of our equipment. Everyone laughed while watching Frau almost cuddle up to her new crimson weapon. Well then, lets go! Katie jumped into the carriages driver seat and started manipulating the reins of the five Magical horses. In this way Elliss dedicated carriage started its maiden voyage to the merchant guild. When Elliss group arrived at the merchant guild, the middle-aged man Nicole who was the receptionist that Ellis originally met, was already waiting for them at the entrance. I was waiting for you. Nicole returned to the guild building after telling some workers to tidy up the Magical horses. After a while, two women emerged from the building. One was Maria the Merchant Guild Master. The other person was the noble woman who had been targeted by an assassin yesterday. Please wait one moment. I am having some equipment being picked up from the Workshop guild right now. As Maria had said, after a few moments a caravan of four carriages were driven into the Merchant guilds yard. The first one is a luxurious horse-drawn carriage that was obviously tailored for comfort. This one was probably for Maria and the other woman to ride in. The second one was a open top cart with no roof. It had twelve wooden boxes of 2 meter height that looked familiar to Ellis. Yes, they were Claire-Flint brand luxury toilets and showers. The third carriage was the same as the second and just carried more luxury toilets. The fourth carriage had a simple roof over top of it and a mountain barrel of feed for the horses inside it. Maria explains as the carriages are all lined up. Actually, one of the objectives of this trip is to expand the sales channels in Marsfield for the Claire-Flint brand products in partnership with the Workshop Guild. Then the air was suddenly torn apart by a scream. Kyaaaa C C C C C!!!! Everyone looked back in a hurry to Claires sudden cry. Uah! Uuh! Hii! Reeve, Frau, and Katie all unexpectedly screamed as well. Ellis recoiled to the sight that had appeared before her. Because there were five short-haired macho men wearing nothing but loincloths lined up with their arms crossed. The girls are screaming at us. Only people who have no common sense shout out like that. It is because of these sinful muscles of ours. Even so, screaming is very rude. These little girls cannot understand our supremacy. Maria, who had not stopped looking at the five new arrivals, didnt say anything until she noticed that Reeve had drawn her sword. Stop! They are members of the Merchant Guild! We are the Muscle Brothers aka the Muscle Dharma Corps! They are the Merchant Guild Delivery Committee more commonly known as the Muscle Brothers. They are the group who is in charge of transporting goods between Warren and other cities. Their reputation is well-known, and they are credited as being prompt and clean. They are reliable contractors who undertake not only the delivery of goods but also installation work and trial operation. But such things have nothing to do with Ellis. Its no good! Forgive me! Ellis screamed like she was dying. Who would work with these guys!? Reeve pulls her bastard sword out of its sheath. What would you do if something happened! Frau took a step forward while brandishing her new crimson maul. Im scared, Im scared, Im scared. Claire falls into a panic and hides behind Frau. Fu-nya!! Katie makes like a cat and hisses at them with her fur standing on end. Maria hurriedly tried to ease Ellis and everyone else who were starting to release a dangerous atmosphere. Its alright everyone! Theyre all gay. Huh? Then one of the brothers who seemed to be the leader complained to Maria. Maria, how many times do we have to correct you for you to understand? We are not such a weak word as gay. We are Descended from Heaven Super Gay!2 Ellis and everyone else froze from the dignity these men had from saying something that sounded so ridiculous. My name is Ichiro Tamon. I am not gay. I am super gay. My name is Jiro Hyoe. I am not gay. I am super gay. My name is Saburo Tayu. I am not gay. I am super gay. My name is Shiro Tokisada. I am not gay. I am super gay. My name is Goro Meiko. I am not gay. I am super gay.3 As each one introduced themselves, they each pulled off their own muscle pose. Together, we are the Muscle Brothers! The eyes of four people are left swimming, and they all feel a little dizzy. But Elliss eyes shined. That pose is so cool! Lets do that next time! Then Ichiro stepped forward to Frau as the representative of his group. Mm. You have the same odor as us. While listening in to Ichiros words, Ellis had a bit of a bad premonition, and she turned to Maria. So what will they be doing? They will serve as a man on each carriage. But you only have four carriages. What are you talking about Ellis? With your carriage, dont we have five? Now all weapons were turned on Maria. When it came to Claire, she had already started to recite the {Lightning Shower} spell she read the other day. Maria was pushed by the overwhelming premonition of death and hurriedly corrected herself. Because Elliss group will run parallel with Magical horses! Can we trust a stranger with our cart? Ellis could claim that they could just have their carriage driven by Magical horses, but this would unfortunately be rejected for sensible reasons. Cooperation between carriages is vital in caravans. It would be inefficient and dangerous to mix together Magical horses with one car while others had regular ones. Ellis decided to obey Marias persuasions. I understand. Well run alongside on Magical horses for the time being. Finally a horse was connected to Elliss carriage, and the reigns were taken by Goro Meiko. Mu. It is a pleasure to be working with you young ladies. Well, they are pretty polite. There are no dangers on the road, but please take precautions just in case. Everyone in Warrens Jewelry Box. The mood quickly returned to normal as everyone laughed at Maria blushing a little. No matter how many times she or anyone else says it, its still an embarrassing name. Then Maria took out a package she just remembered about. By the way, Theseus told me to deliver this to you all. What is it? Ellis tore open the wrapper on everyones behalf, and opened up a thick cloth that was folded inside. The five girls admired it. Because it was a Flag embroidered with the spiritual dance between a black and white fairy. The five people remembered that the Adventurer Guild Master promised, I will give you a flag. In this way, they each realized that the love from the guild masters was included in the name Warrens Jewelry Box. Ellis hung the beautiful flag on their carriage, and each of the five took a moment to admire it swaying in the wind. Lets head out. By Marias command, the caravan departed from Warren. Next stop, the citadel city of Marsfield. 1. They actually call the assassin a buccaneer or a pirate, but as much research as I did, I couldnt find out why, so I just went simple with assassin. 2. Υۥ Tenka gomen no gachihomo. I wonder if this sounds as ridiculous in Japanese as it is in English. 3. All of their first names are numeralized, so it is 1-ro, 2-ro so on. CH 30 The caravan is traveling smoothly towards the citadel city Marsfield. The beginning of the line is Elliss carriage. Next is the marvelous and decorated carriage that belongs to Maria. There are two carriages carrying toilets and showers behind that with a carriage carrying the horse feed and supplies taking up the rear. Ellis is riding a Magical horse and running parallel to Marias carriage with the other members of her party in similar positions. In brief, they are acting as Marias escorts and are running a defensive perimeter. Marias carriage holds Maria, Marias mysterious guest, and the merchant guild receptionist Nicole. It seems Nicole is acting as an attendant for the two ladies. All the other carriages are unmanned except for the driver, so with the three passengers, the five members of Warrens Jewelry Box, and the five Muscle Brothers, there are a total of thirteen people in this caravan. As the journey progresses, Frau, a proud member of the adventurer guild who is used to dealing with all kinds, becomes the first to become acquainted with the Muscle Brothers. Frau is usually running as an escort on her Magical horse as well, but she must regularly return to the carriage to prepare meals. At one time when Frau was preparing the soup stock, the driver Goro mentioned the ingredients of the soup. Huh, is that shrimp head? It smells good. As a chef, Frau was interested in Goro who was able to pick out the shrimp simply from the fragrance of the soup. You are familiar with it? Cooking is one of our specialties, and we love to try out the local cuisines when we travel. Todays lunch is risotto cooked with shrimp soup. Whenever the caravan takes a break, the five girls will return to their carriage. Reeve and Katie will prepare the dining sets while Ellis and Claire extend the tent mounted on the side of the carriage. Thanks for waiting. A fun lunch begins when Frau brings out the pot. For some reason, Maria doesnt leave the carriage. Perhaps it is just another precaution. There are some delicious smells coming from their carriage, so their is no need to worry about them eating. Meanwhile, the Muscle Brothers sit on the seat of a different carriage and are eating something in their hands. What is that? Frau had already built up an immunity to the brothers strangeness and looked at their meal with interest. They were eating large rice balls and something similar to dried vegetables. The rice ball looks like it is made with just plain white rice. Though the dried vegetable looked plain, their luster was beautiful, and they made a crunchy sound when the men bit into them. Frau became interested in those vegetables and walked up to Goro from behind who she had become familiar with. What is that dried food? Despite being suddenly spoken to from behind, Goro did not jump. Perhaps he was already aware that Frau was behind him. These are tsukemono.1 Tsukemono? This was the first time Frau had ever heard of it. It is a type of preserved vegetable that you see mostly in the east. A preserved vegetable. Frau was becoming more and more interested in this tsukemono. Probably aware of such a situation, Goro broke off a part of the tsukemono and stabbed a toothpick into it before presenting it to Frau. Would you like some? Thank you. It was surprising to see that Frau did not even hesitate to take a bite. A complex taste spread through her mouth, and she could not tell if it tasted salty, crispy, sour, or sweet. This would be absolutely perfect for rice dishes! Thank you Goro. Thanks are unnecessary. After lowering her head in thanks to Goro, Frau returned to Ellis with a satisfied expression. By the time the sun was about to set, Frau had started preparing dinner. Is that saffron? Again Goro was able to pick out the splendid aroma. Tonights dinner was boiled beef and vegetable stew with a little scented saffron. The five girls are talking to each other and enjoying their stew with bread, but Frau was also once again interested in the brothers meal. Frau left her seat and snuck up behind the Muscle Brothers gathering to take a quick peep at what food they were eating right now, and she saw that they were eating the same rice balls and tsukemono as they were during lunch. Frau wondered why such gourmets would eat the same type of food so much. Goro, why are you eating the same thing as you were for lunch? Goro laughed at Fraus question and answered with a carefree smile. Because we are men. It takes time and effort to move food during transit, so it is more convenient to have portable meals of rice and tsukemono because they last awhile and are filling. Does that mean that this will be your meal until we reach Marsfield? Of course. Frau began to think. Her dissatisfaction with the brothers had already dissipated, and the words that Goro said about their meal bothered her. And those tsukemono were really good. She made her decision. Say Goro, if you guys give me ten rice balls with tsukemono, I will prepare you all a hot breakfast and lunch tomorrow. Mu. Is that alright? And then the next morning. Frau delivered some plates of spare meat and vegetables with cooked beans seasoned with garlic along with a few side dishes to the muscle brothers. Thank you for the rice balls and tsukemono yesterday. It would be fine to return the pots and dishes once youre finished. Four of the brothers couldnt hide their surprise from Fraus sudden offer. Mu. Mumu. Mumumu. Mumumumu. Only Goro, who knew about the circumstances beforehand, received the food gratefully and fully enjoyed the smell of the cooked food. Thank you. The five brothers scarfed down the food, enjoying a warm meal after a long absence. Meanwhile, Fraus actions cause Ellis and the three others to frown. Next is lunch. Frau finely minced the pickles she picked up from Goro and sautd the rice balls that were washed and loosened in advance. Another pan was already prepared with some clear soup and chicken bones. Once everything was prepared, Frau called over the muscle brothers. Everyone please come here. Elliss four jumped at Fraus sudden call. Frau! What are you thinking? Reeve was the most vocal of her objection out of all of them, but Frau refuted her with just a smile. These guys arent bad people. With Goro in the lead, the brothers look apologetic as they walked into the tent. Please sit here. Frau sets up a spare table next to the one where the girls are already sitting and directs the men to take a seat. She then continues to pass out bowls containing fried rice and chicken to everyone. Incidentally, the portions of the brothers meal is just as large as everyone elses. After everyone had received their bowl, Frau poured out the soup broth onto the dish. Please enjoy. Mu. Mumu. Mumumu. Mumumumu. While his brothers were busy devouring the delicious meal in front of them, Goro made sure to give their impressions to Frau. Frau, it is delicious as expected. Ellis ate her rice without saying a word. The sweet and sour vegetables tickled her teeth while her tongue lapped up the crispy and soft fried rice. Furthermore, the boiled chicken meat and the delicious taste of the soup complimented the rice perfectly making a tender and gentle meal. Ellis-Eiji enjoyed the taste of the tsukemono after a long time. I see, there are tsukemono in this world too? Moreover, I think these are actually more delicious than the ones that I had when I had ordered in soup. Frau, this is delicious! Its really tasty! Yummy! It was a meal that was popular among everyone. Frau stuck her chest out with pride. For dinner of that day, everyone had sandwiches and rice balls that they made themselves. All ten of them sat in a circle trading their own creations and drinking a cup of hot soup. Even Claire who had a preexisting condition of being frightened of large men came to recognize these muscular Dharma as kind gentlemen. That goes for Reeve and Katie as well. Now it is evening, the day has gone, and everyone has gone to sleep in their carriage. Ellis was quiet on the first night, but there really isnt any reason for her to have to endure and hold back. So after the lights were turned off, Ellis suddenly left her bed, and she climbed into Fraus without making a sound. Huh? Shh. Ellis put a finger to Fraus lips. She whispered into Fraus ear loud enough that the other three could hear. Thank you for today Frau. Thats not. So I will give you a reward. .Really? And so Frau enjoyed being treated as a pig woman for the first time in two days. The other three listened in from their beds with heated cheeks, but they didnt say anything. They understood. If Ellis doesnt visit one person, she wont visit anyone, and if she visits one person, she will visit everyone. The other three quietly waited for their turn. The next morning came around. Five people woke up feeling more refreshed than they had the day before. Hoh. It looks like you also enjoyed your night. While ignoring Ichiros needless comment, Elliss group enjoyed their breakfast together with the gentlemen. After everyone was done eating, they mounted their Magical horses and continued their escort job by running parallel with Marias carriage. Shortly after their departure, Nicole popped out of the carriages window and beckoned Ellis over. If the everything goes well, we will arrive at Marsfield by evening today, but from here on out is the real trip. Today is the last day. If everything goes well, we will be sleeping in Marsfield tonight. Suddenly a cold chill ran up Elliss spine. Frau, sorry! Raise your maul to the sky! Following Elliss instructions without question, Frau pulled out her crimson maul and pointed it to the heavens. Immediately after, a lightning bolt came crashing down from the sky and struck her maul. It was originally heading for Marias carriage, but Fraus maul acted as a lightning rod and diverted the bolts direction. Ellis immediately casted Full Recovery on Frau before looking to Reeve for directions. Claire has already loaded a {Lightning Shower} spell into her boiler suit. Katie is guiding her Magical horse around to be able to charge at any direction. Enemies at 10 oclock! Once Reeve located the presence of the assailants and shouted out their location, Ellis turned her Magical horse in that direction and got ready to charge. Muscle group, wait here! Meanwhile the group of magicians who had cast the spell had yet to adapt to the battles sudden development. What!? {Thunder} has diverted off target! A beastman magician with the head of a dog cried out in surprise. The ones who attacked were a group of Anubis-like beastmen. The {Lightning Shower} that Claire had stored was released upon the would-be assassins. As the static shock paralyzed them, Katie charged into the group, jumping off her Magical horse into the center of the five. With one strike, Katie dug her claws into one of their chests, killing him. The other four all ended up with a cut, and they were rendered unable to move again because of the effect of Stupor. Keep one of them alive! Ellis yelled that as she shoved her estoc up from beneath one of the assailants, going through his bottom jaw and entering his brain. Its too late! Thats impossible! By that time, Reeve had already decapitated another assassin while Fraus maul had rendered the fourth ones head into a scrambled egg. All of you are so impatient. Claire switched from an {Explosion} spell and switched her chant to {Bind}. Elliss group bound and gagged the only surviving member. Thus the Anubiss attack was successfully put to an end. The title of this chapter is originally Gachi Gachi Hello. Gachi being Japanese slang that I translated to Super last chapter with the brothers being gachihomo. 1. Japanese preserved vegetables. Similar to pickled vegetables. CH 31 The caravan successfully arrived at the castle gate of the Citadel City Marsfield. The gate they stood before was not the one that other people were lining up at. It was slightly further out of the way, and it looked much more luxurious. Frau pulled her Magical horse up besides Elliss as Ellis compared the gate before them and the other gate where every other traveler lined up at. Is this Elliss first visit to Marsfield? Yes. Frau once again served to explain things to Ellis. Citadel City Marsfield, as its name implies, plays the role of a fort guarding the capital Sky Castle. Sky Castle is located to the north of Marsfield, and there is only one road leading from Marsfield to Sky Castle. So Marsfield keeps well-maintained castle walls and gates that are not found in other cities. Oh, I see. Ellis understands. If Marsfields role is as Frau explains it, then she can understand the roles of the gates somehow. The gate over there with the long line is for the general public who probably get checked in. This gate is for those who possess a certain level of privilege with them, and since Goro led the caravan right to this gate, that must mean there is someone in this caravan who qualifies as a special individual. Elliss expectation was high, and sure enough, the mysterious woman who Maria was escorting turned out to be Madame Mirei Marsfield. In other words, it was the current wife of Lord Marsfield. I am sorry. I intended to travel in secret, but our caravan was still targeted and you five had to fight. Maria honestly apologized for the trickery, and she once again introduced Mirei to Ellis who, as anyone could see, was looking down on Ellis with a high-handed smile. It was a horrible smile that that said, you people are beneath me. Ellis was irritated by such a look. In short, Mirei obstinately insisted on visiting Lily Garden, and she made the head of the Warren Council Maria escort her. What mature women seem to have in surplus. This was the honest impression of all five of Elliss group. However, Mireis expression abruptly changed to that of a female. Miss Reeve, you were just as Maria described, and I would love to have you do a dinner show here in Marsfield. Apparently Mirei has been poisoned by Reeve.1 Everyone besides Reeve was able to calmly analyze the current situation, but it took everything the person in question had to just smile and nod instead of outright complaining. So Ellis changed the topic. By the way, shall I torture that dog beastman I caught for information for you? Ellis made the same proposal to Mirei as she had given to Maria in order to give the impression that she was a little girl who liked torture. While this womans hear did give a little, she endured the scenario and didnt budge on the outside. That wont be necessary. The confession of a beast does not count as proper evidence, and the culprit is already known anyway. Maria who was standing besides Mirei looked as surprised as everyone else. Who is the culprit? It was probably because Reeve was the one who asked that Mirei ended up giving a prompt reply to a question that she probably shouldnt have answered. The concubine Anna, Miss Reeve. Mirei didnt seem all that excessively worried that someone was targeting her life, and she ended up spitting out a few extra words. Well, I am also sending out thugs against her, so its okay. Is it something like that? In other words, the Lord of Marsfields legal wife Mirei, and his concubine Anna are aiming for each others lives. However, neither fear nor impatience can be seen in Mireis expression. Perhaps these women Ellis pondered a thought and added it to a list of possibilities, and then she reiterated her past question. What should we do with this anubis? Please kill him. Madame Mirei with an immediate answer. But Katie cut in. If you dont have to kill him, then dont! Katie continued to try and protect the anubis. These were probably just guys from the beastmen district. They are probably just some sad people who were hired for money! Hmm. But we already killed four of them. Katie swung her head left and right to Elliss argument. That could not be helped; it was legitimate self-defense. But I dont want to kill someone who cant even resist. Even if we release that beastman here, wont he just end up being eliminated later on by his employer? Thats. Katie cant help but groan to Reeves calm analysis. Theres something bothering me here. Miss Mirei. Do you really want this beastman executed? Mirei confirmed Elliss suspicions with a tremendous smile. I do not intend to guarantee that such an insignificant life is taken. Then we can leave him alive? Why should I care about the lives of such people? In short, this dung lady wants nothing to do with the lives and affairs of beastmen. Ellis took a small breath to keep her cool and then smiled to Mirei. If that is so, then we will discipline this beastman our way. Four other people instantly understood Elliss proposal. If that has echoed into this town, then everyone would be able to understand this mans punishment. Muscles, please help me strip this beastmans clothes. Those who were soldiers charged with defending the castle could only stare with their mouths slightly agape, and those who had heard the rumors about Warren had a big laugh about the situation. An anubis dyed red was tied up naked and hanging off of the carriage of Mirei, Lady of Marsfield, and if you look closely, you could see five different colored ribbons hanging off of him. This was the way that Ellis entered through the gates of Marsfield for the first time. Well then we will deliver the assassin. Maria smiled when she noticed Elliss intentions when she bowed to her instead of Mirei. Since Goro knows the schedule for the plans after this, please follow his instructions. See you all later. Saying that much to Elliss group, Maria brought Mirei back to their carriage, and they quickly left the caravan. The rest of the caravan slowly made its way through the city to visit Marsfields Adventurer Guild and Thieves Guild with Goro driving. Ellis dared not to ride inside of a horse-drawn carriage. She and her companions rode alongside the carriages on their Magical horses, to show off the five colors of Warrens Jewelry Box to the entire city. Ellis is a straight bob-cut of gold. Reeve is a shaggy short blue. Frau is a long and wavy crimson. Claire is a long straight black. Katie is a white cat cotton. Their hair each flutters in the wind in their own way. At the same time, the five colors of their flag flashily waves asserts itself on top of the carriage. Voices carry over from people in the city. Who are they? Are they from the rumors? The ones from Warren? Ellis had heard from Mirei that Lily Garden and Warrens Jewelry Box had gained a reputation inside of Marsfield, so she dared to show it to the people of the city. Their existence. Let the Thieves Guild and the Adventurer Guild know of their presence before they even reach them. First of all we visit the Adventurers Guild. When they headed to the reception desk, Ellis handed over the transfer document for the guild exchange that was started in Warren. They were going to open a 30 million ril account in the Marsfield Adventurer Guild. Then, while the receptionist was performing the procedure, the expected person appeared from the back of the guild. Are you girls the jewels of Theseuss place? We are that jewelry Would you happen to be the guild master? Ah, right. Warrens Jewelry Box, that was your party name. Marsfield welcomes you. The Adventurer Guild Master then walked outside and laughed at the sight that was most likely reported to him. So this is the Lily Garden special, the Scarlet Laundry! If its okay, would you please hang him from the eaves of the guildhouse? The guild master nodded while laughing to Elliss request. The share of the guild is 50 percent, and we provide him with a hemp shirt when he leaves, right? Thats it. All right then. The mans punishment stops here. As expected, the situation has been examined, but Ellis had already assumed that. Thats right. Im counting on you. Elliss party made a large spectacle of punishing this beastman with the Scarlet Laundry in order to erase any lingering grudges on him. Mirei, the targeted party, has no interest in his life. Even Anna, the one who hired him, has most likely lost all interest in him as well. With that, the only grudge left to handle is the one from his fellow beastmen. The largest fear for him would be the exposure of his participation in Mireis assassination, yet he escaped without injury while the others died. Some people would want to punish him for that. Perhaps that would mean death. So Ellis created an alibi and a punishment. The beastman was captured by Warrens Jewelry Box, and he suffered the punishment of the Scarlet Laundry. Ellis did not believe that this would be enough to smooth over all hostility, but she at least believed that Katies hope of him, not dying in vain, would be protected. Ellis placed the anubiss belongings onto the reception desk. The receptionist had already known about the Scarlet Laundry proceedings and informed Ellis that half of the proceeds would be deposited into their newly opened account. The next stop was the Thieves Guild. Katie, who is a member of the Warren Thieves Guild, headed to the reception desk and offered their greetings to the guild. Oh, they cannot see it. Ellis and Reeve noticed the gaze on them, but they didnt say anything. Instead, Ellis just directed her sight to the left, and threw just one wink to someones portrait which was hung up for decoration. Once the girls had finished their greetings and left, the Marsfield Thieves Guild Master muttered to himself, Those are Baltiss secret girls. Im pretty cursed. He then started to laugh happily to himself from within the wall behind the portrait. ? Once Ellis had finished her errands inside the city, Goro led everyone to the accommodations that Maria had booked. There was an extra super attached to this exclusive accommodation. At least, that is how Goro described it, but Ellis was impressed by the gorgeous lodging inn that she would never have seen in Warren. Well then, here we are. Nicole was waiting at the entrance of the hotel to take over the role of guide. The schedule for today will be dinner and a visit to the opera afterwards, so please wear your evening dresses for the night. The five were guided to their rooms by Nicole, and they were surprised once again. What is with this size!? We had a party room prepared since there were five of you. The luxurious room that they had received had a separate bedroom to the side, and a living room so large, it wouldnt be an exaggeration to just call it a small hall. Please hurry then. As Nicole left the room, Ellis quickly began preparing for the party. I suppose it is to be expected. After Reeve had finished exploring their room, she came back disappointed. There is no choice. Fraus shoulder also began to droop. No matter how luxurious this room is, it is only natural that it wouldnt have a bath or toilet. Then should we go back to the carriage once to take a shower? Claire nodded happily to Elliss proposal. I thought that something like this might happen. Claire braggingly brought out her favorite rucksack that she was carrying on her back, and she brought out five private rooms in succession from her bag. They were five luxury shower rooms. Do not worry. I brought toilets as well. Thanking Claire, everyone quickly finished showering, putting on their favorite perfume, and picked out their dresses for the evening. They each decided to go with the dresses they had bought for Reeves Dinner Show a few days ago. Reeve, who was a coward and catered to her audience, wore an evening dress sewn with silver thread. Incidentally, this was also a gift given to her by her fans, but this one was unusually tailored for a woman. After awhile a the sounds of knocking echoed through the room. Come in. Ive come to pick you. Nicole gasped. The vibrant figures of the five girls before him overlapped with the fairy colors that had adorned their carriage. ? As Ellis was guided to their dinner table, she was surprised to see who else was there. Sitting at the head of the table was none other than the lord of the town himself, Duke Marsfield. Sitting beside him was his wife Mirei, and who Ellis assumed was the concubine Anna. Duke Marsfield was an older man with graying hair and a beard that had started to turn white. His body still looked lean and fit, though, and he had the eyes of a hawk. Maria introduced Elliss group to the Duke as a few friends of the merchant guild, but then Duke Marsfield unexpectedly opened his mouth. Which one is Claire? Suddenly called out by the Duke of Marsfield, Claire became a little scared. She timidly took a step forward and raised her hand. The Duke took a long look at Claires face before smiling and nodding satisfied. Please enjoy the city of Marsfield by all means. After that, dinner was finished without any awkwardness or any notable conversations coming up. Once dinner was finished, Nicole brought the carriage around, and he brought Elliss group along with Maria to the theater. We have arrived. Nicole guided the carriage to a bellboy of the theater who opened the door to let the six out. Wow. Claires inhibited an unexpected sigh as she walked into the theater. While she dreamily looked around at the architecture of the building, everyone else freely walked around and observed some of the displays they had set up. Then Katie reacted to something. Nya? Whats wrong Katie? Everyone gathered around Katie and took a look at what had grabbed her attention. On the platform that Katie pointed to, there was a display table cordoned off with rope. Sitting on it was a shining golden gauntlet with claws being shown off as if it was a trophy. It was more delicate and beautiful than Katies normal claw equipment. Funya Katie was clearly in love. When Ellis looked at it, she did not see any light shining off of it like if it was a magic tool, but as gazed it, she felt a familiar feeling well up in her chest. Nicole, who saw Katies situation, explained. This is the prize for the winner of the Art Competition that will be held in two days. Art Competition? It is a competition where people compete to show off their artistic expression during a set time limit. Artists from various fields will come to participate. Hmm. Come now, there is no time. While Katie was dragged backwards away from the gauntlet, Ellis found herself in deep thought as Nicole rushed them all into the venue. The opera wasnt very interesting to anyone besides Maria or Reeve. The band was splendid and the songs were good, but it wasnt very fun. Just being beautiful does not emote an emotional and pleasurable reaction. This being the case: Frau, Katie, and Claire started whispering to each other about having a singing contest when they returned to Lily Garden. Reeve was eagerly watching the opera, and Ellis-Eiji sitting next to her making a plan. First of all, we have to make the stage. The size of the stage, curtain placement, positioning, and the brightness of lighting. This is it. Ellis smiled. The opera theater also finished safely and the six girls tried to leave the venue while riding the flow of people. But Katie stopped her feet. Her eyes moved back to the claw gauntlet that was being displayed in the lobby. Ellis turned to Katie. Do you want it? Funya Then we will compete in the Art Competition the day after tomorrow! What? Hm? Huh? Reeve, Frau, and Claire were surprised by the sudden proposal, but Ellis ignored them and asked Nicole for information on how to register for the competition. Please register us with the name Warrens Jewelry Box. Ellis asked everyone after they had returned to the inn and changed into their pajamas. Did everyone notice? Four people nodded at the same time. This is related to the Hero or the Demon Lord. After Ellis had made a sudden declaration to participate in the competition, the four had been told by Ellis to feel the gauntlet better. When they did, they all felt the same aura coming off of it as the Demon Lords Mark they had found. Itll be fun if we grab it. Reeve smiled. You already have a strategy, right? Frau laughs. What are we going to do? Claire is anxious. I want to equip it. Katie just really wants those claws. This is the program. Everyone turns pale when they hear Elliss explanation. I will hear no complaints. Rehearsal begins tonight. 1. This is a pun on Reeves name. Reeve and love in English are spelled the same way in katakana. ` Ive been waiting 31 chapters for this joke. CH 32 It was now the second day in Marsfield. Maria told the girls that she would be absent most of the day due to negotiations with Marsfields Merchant Guild. Since Nicole and the five muscle brothers would be joining her, this would be free time for Elliss group to spend together. Maria invited them to join her for dinner, so they just had to return to the inn before then. As they had talked about before leaving Warren, the girls would travel around Marsfield shopping. Lets enjoy breakfast in the city as a change of pace. Following Elliss proposal, the group left their inn in the early morning to enjoy the tastes that Marsfield had to offer. Ellis ordered a cold drink called starch ball milk.1 This is a dish that is fun to eat with its chilled bubble-like beads that can be chewed and release an explosion of flavor at different times. I will order this and drink it immediately. Hah, its fun. At the moment when she carried up a transparent color bead on her spoon with her milk, Reeve looked greatly surprised. Is it something like that? Frau was seriously trying to guess the ingredients of the mixture. The milk is also really sweet and tasty. Claire liked the milk which melted lightly in the mouth. Nyau Nyau. Katie also seemed to be enjoying it, but she was content to not give out a detailed impression.2 Reeve ordered a salad consisting of cold, leafy vegetables and thinly sliced meat. The vegetables were fresh and chilled to perfection while the meat was fragrant with a slightly pink center and added to the meal perfectly. The softness of the meat was probably the most surprising thing about the dish. Meat can be delicious even when it is cold. The four others nodded to Reeves words while finishing off the rest of the salad. Frau was a little more adventurous and ordered a cold pasta with fish pickled in oil. Oh, its surprisingly refreshing and tasty. The body of the fish that was soaked in oil was not sticky, and while it tangled well with the pasta, it fell apart in your mouth. The oil itself tastes delicious. Katie was an especially big fan of the oil pickled fish. Claire ordered an orthodox cream pancake. However, surprisingly, it was not butter but actual frozen cream that was attached to the pancake. In other words, it was a combination of a warm pancake and cold ice cream. It was very popular not only with Claire but everyone else as well, and everyone ordered seconds. Claire alone decided to try it with frozen jam instead of the ice cream. This was also very tasty as the frozen jam slowly thawed and soaked into the pancake as time passed. Katie ordered a straight boiled chicken. This was a dish that minced the chicken, mixed it with some vegetables, and had its own special sauce. The chicken itself was crisp, but the sweet and sour sauce poured over top added its own flavor and complimented the vegetables well. By the way, this dish was also cold. They are all cold dishes. As usual, Frau provided the explanation for Elliss inquiry. There are many ice monsters in the dungeons around Marsfield, so this city gets plenty of Cooling stones from those slain monsters. Using them, the Marsfield Merchant Guild made cold dishes the specialty of Marsfield. I want Warren to have a specialty too. This was Claires impression. Everyone at the table tried to remember something that could be counted as Warrens specialty, but they could not come up with anything in particular. We must learn from Marsfield, Ellis sighed. Everyone else agreed, but in reality Ellis and the others were completely oblivious to the real situation. Already they themselves and their facility had become the specialty of Warren. ? After filling their stomachs, the group went around to the armor and weapon stores around the city. Hoh. The first thing Reeve picked up was a slender saber that had a light blue sheath. This was another one of the so-called rare color. Reeve tried pulling the saber from its sheath to take a look at the blade. The handle was a calm gold color, and the blade had a slightly bluish tint inside the silver that shined dully. Yes, this is fine. While taking a few practice swings with her right hand, Reeve nodded after finding that the balance suited her. If you wave around such a beautiful sword, the members of your fan club will be pleased. Reeve felt a little embarrassed to Elliss light jab. I do not care about the fan club Miss, can I ask you to copy later? Ellis nodded with a bemused smile as Reeve asked her with pleading eyes. The price of the saber was 2 million ril. A fair price for a sword that has no magic power in it. Next is the armor store. Frau has put on a half-plate armor for women that shines with a slight pale color, and she takes out her minotaur maul in worry that the two slightly different shades of red might clash. The half-plate armors peach color is not painted; it is a rare color that was imparted to the metal during the molding. So when you adjust the angle of the armor or move around in it, a variety of textures and color could be seen. The color itself was slightly brighter than the maul, and if you were to wear the armor while raising the maul up, it would definitely shine. Hey Ellis, what do you think about this? In a way, it is a ceremonial question when going clothes, er, armor shopping. No matter how much of a hikineet Eiji was in the past, Ellis had enough common sense to know that any negative words were absolutely no good. You should buy it. It suits you! Ellis gently pushed Fraus back towards the store clerk. The price was 3 million ril. Another fair price. Because there was nothing that especially stood out for Ellis, Claire, or Katie, shopping at weapons/armor shops finished with this. Next were the stalls lining the city streets. Even at these stalls they may find some magic tools, although only a few. This time Ellis picked out some old sandals and a small brooch. It was much cheaper than items at the shops at 2000 ril and 1500 ril each. Earth sandals Damage reduction 2. The opponents attack will not topple you over. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. Magic Guard brooch Magical damage reduction 5. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. Awesome Ellis! Claire was surprised by the effect of Magic Guard. That was because if you combined the effect of Magic Guard with Resistance, then 15 magic damage will be reduced. This would nullify most intermediate magic. On the other hand Frau was impressed with the second ability of Earth. The fact that an opponents attack cant knock us over will be really useful. Frau does a devastating amount of damage, but she is not as fast as Reeve or Katie, so she relies on delivering one, solid hit. With this ability, she can eliminate one of the things that could prevent her from performing that one hit and deal with more enemies. On the other hand, for other members, the Earth ability isnt really needed as taking an attack from an enemy is already a scary thing in and of itself. Nonetheless, because Earth can be copied to footwear, and there wasnt any downside to having it, Ellis copied the ability to everyones footwear. As for Magic Guard, it could only be copied to other jewelry, so Ellis took everyone straight to the luxury jewelry shop to have everyone pick out their own brooch. As a result, each got to buy a brooch with their favorite gem embedded in it. Ellis picked out a golden tigers eye stone. The total price was 2.5 million ril in all. After picking out some jewelry, the girls got in the mood to go try out Marsfields dress shop. Apart from the evening dresses that everyone wore to the theater yesterday, everyone hoped to pick out a matching dress. This is nice. Frau was eyeing a luxury pret-a-porter long dress with a band shaped cloth wrapping around the upper body. It was a design that had two silk strips spread the pleats of the dress from the chest to the shoulder and then crossed on the back and connected to the waist. The skirt was a basic design that draped down to the feet. The brooch I purchased earlier would go so well with it. The brooch would definitely stand out in a good way if placed on the chest of the dress. Then a woman who seemed to be the shopkeeper came over to give some advice. Since we have a variety of sizes and colors, would you like to pick out a dress with a specific color? For example, since you already have those lovely brooches, how about choosing a dress with a contemporary color to those jewels. Ellis decided to take the owners advice and each of them chose out a dress with a color opposite of their normal color. Elliss tigers eye went along with a purple-blue dress. Reeves kyanite was paired with a light-orange. Fraus garnet went well with an emerald green dress. Claires obsidian meant she would wear an ivory white dress. Katies moonstone was put with a darker grey dress. Each girl tried on their dresses along with their brooches, and each one was surprised at just how well the shopkeepers advice went. Each brooch matched the color of their hair, and the combination of the brooch and hair made the dresses stand out all the more. Even though all the dresses had the same design, the gold and black girls ended up looking adorable. The blue girl was challenging and chic while the red girl was elegant and looked like she had finesse, and the white girl looked fierce with a beastly charm. Affected by their beauty, the shopkeeper pleaded with them to buy the dresses. Customers, we will sell them cheap, so please buy them. Since the fixed price of 200 thousand ril was discounted down to 100 thousand ril, the total amount spent was 500 thousand ril. While the other four were changing clothes in the fitting room, Ellis whispered into the shopkeepers ear. Did you learn their sizes when they changed into the dresses? The shopkeeper curiously nodded her head. Well then, please make an outfit with this design for each of us. The store owner took a look at a design that Ellis had sketched previously and smiled. Is this your hobby? Theyre stage clothes. And just like that, an extra 250 thousand ril was spent. Since it would be fine to just have a late lunch at a stall, the girls next started touring the grocery stores with Frau. The first thing she ended up buying was a portion of starch balls that had been inside the drink that Ellis had ordered earlier. Claire was the next one to shout out. Hey! Ellis! This! When Ellis turned to what she was pointing at, she saw a sign that read, Ice cream. It was a tool that could make ice cream, and since it had a Cooling stone inside, it was a reasonable 800 thousand ril. Claire looked at Ellis and the ice cream machine alternately. After a few more seconds, Ellis thought that holes would be bored into both of them. Again? Ellis could only sigh before Claires pleading eyes. She really isnt giving a second option. I think its necessary, so we should buy it. The second that Ellis had given her approval, Claire immediately ran to the store clerk. ? In the end, the five ladies had spent a total of 10 million ril shopping that day. Miss, is your wallet okay? A trait cultivated from her time as a fallen aristocrat, Reeve looked worried about the excessive spending, but Katie waved off her worries. We can easily recover this by running ten laps through Wight Labyrinth. While everyone, including Reeve, laughed at Katies joke, they finally arrived at Claires requested destination, the large clock tower. When you come near, you can see a large timepiece embedded into the top of a tower. Claire immediately ran up to it, and stared up at the timepiece from the base of the tower. Apparently there seems to be a concept of time in this world. It was Elliss first time ever running into a timepiece since Eijis death. The length of an hour in this world is the same, but there are no smaller increments. At best there would be people who would say in half an hour as a guide. In other words, at best people would live their lives half an hour at a time. The large clock only has one hand on its face. The hand will make one full revolution every day. When the sun is at its peak, the hand will point to heaven, and at midnight, it will point down to the earth. Ellis-Eiji unexpectedly enjoyed this slow passage of time. She vowed to continue to enjoy it from now on. Lets go home with that. While looking at the time listed on the clock, Ellis realized it was about time to meet with Maria. What about the beastkin district? Sorry. We are out of time. Nya Seeing Katies downtrodden expression, Ellis made another vow to visit the beastkin district with her sometime in the future. After everyone returned to the inn: they all took a shower, put on the matching dresses they had just bought, and waited for Marias pickup. It was only after a short while that a knock sounded on their door the same as the night before. Go ahead. Is everyone ready .. Nicoles words got clogged in his mouth as he walked in the door and saw the beauty before him. It really is the same as the night before. When Nicole led everyone into the lobby, this time it was Elliss turn to have her breath stolen from surprise. The muscle brothers were there waiting for them, but instead of their usual loincloths, they were all dressed in jet-black tuxedos. Their appearance was a combination of elegance and a certain ruggedness that could only be pulled off from the bulging muscles filling out a full tux. Ichiro took a step forward as the representative of the group, and he laughed bemusedly at the shocked and awed faces that everyone else was giving to the unusual sight before them. Of course even we have common sense of dress code. Goro also started to laugh graciously. We always emphasize functional beauty. Of course, there are always those shops that do not truly understand functional beauty, so it becomes impossible to enter with our usual attire. In such a situation, we will wear the appropriate clothing in order to eat. The loincloth is functional beauty. What dishonor is this? As Ellis and the others talk amongst each other, Maria alternately compares the members of Warrens Jewelry Box and the Muscle Brothers. Ufufufufufufu And she seemed to have come up with a sort of plan. She called over Ellis and Ichiro, and she whispered into both of their ears. How about 5 million ril per person? Since they were both living on a temporary income, the leader of the super gays and the leader of the super lesbians both nodded in a business-like manner.3 ? The party arrived at the same high-class restaurant that they had had dinner at the night before with Duke Marsfield. When they entered, Nicole escorted Maria through door as a companion. It was a normal sight to see at a restaurant like this, but that was where the normalcy ended. All conversations occurring inside the restaurant became hushed as the next group entered. Ichiro entered the dining hall shortly after Maria, lightly carrying Ellis in his arms. Jiro stood side by side with Reeve, and they made a dashing duo. Saburo continued the line while walking hand-in-hand with Claire. Shiro was also holding Katies hand when they made their entrance. Goro finished the line while walking arm-in-arm with Frau. No one could look away from the beautiful sight of five burly and fearless men escorting in five beautiful maidens. While everyone admired their beautiful appearance, someone somewhere muttered, Warrens Jewelry Box.. In this way, they quickly gained control of the restaurant. Naturally, none of the customers nor the clerks knew that this atmosphere was created despite every single one of the ten being gay. Everyones attention was eventually drawn to Maria, who had led them in. Maria enjoyed the gazes for a moment before laughing to the group behind her. Ohohohohoho. Well everyone, lets eat. Yes, Madame! Ten people answer in unison to Marias command. The other guests were stunned by such a sight, and throughout the night, everyone kept stealing glances toward Maria. Naturally, the question of, who is that woman? kept being raised in the surroundings. Warrens Merchant Guild.. She visited for some negotiations. Wasnt she selling something called a toilet and shower for your house? While listening to the talk spread around her, Maria took a sip of her wine with a smile. She was grateful to Marsfields finest restaurant. Truly a gathering place for the wealthy and successful. With this, the objective of introducing the Claire-Flint brand to the rich in Marsfield had been completed perfectly. Truly a merchant who understands how to use the resources you have on hand. ? At the same time, an event was taking place in the alleys of the beastkin district. Even though it takes time to do such a thing, cant we just take it with brute force? I dont want to draw any unneeded attention right now. It is better if we obtain it through the proper legal means. Now, the bad guys have started to make their move. 1. I had to look this up myself. starch balls are the pearls you get when you have bubble tea. 2. This is why we like Katie. She makes things easy. 3. God this sounds so weird in English. For the record, in Japanese it is gachihomo and gachilezu. CH 33 Claire! Do not delay! Reeve! You have to put more energy in there! Katie! Youre being too wild! You need more control! Frau! Elegance is not enough! Elliss rebukes rebound inside the inns party room. On the other hand, there are four people who are receiving guidance while working up a sweat. Oh no! Thats not it Claire! Kyaaa! This movement is so troublesome! Reeve, emphasize the feeling of wanting to curse and kill everyone! Frau, bring out more sex appeal! Actually, including Ellis there are five people practicing. They are going over the routines for their performance at the art competition that would be held tomorrow. Elliss special training continued on until late at night. I wonder if this is enough. We have the foundations down at least. Well, I will take a shower and go to bed, so that will be it for today! Four people were finally released from Elliss Spartan training. Taking deep breaths, each one lent out their shoulders to each, and they somehow managed to take a shower before collapsing in bed. Well then, I have to heal everyones fatigue. And so Ellis began patrolling this evening. Tomorrow will also be our last day in Marsfield Ellis. Ah I really want those claws. Nyan. I wonder how I can improve my sex appeal. Ahn. Lets do our best for Katie tomorrow. Uhhh. And so five people woke up completely refreshed the next morning. Once everyone had prepared their outfits and costumes for later, the girls went out to have breakfast at the same store they visited yesterday. After enjoying the famous cold breakfast, they then headed towards the theater where the competition was being held. They had to wait for a bit at the theaters entrance, but Nicole and the muscle brothers eventually arrived wearing the same clothes they had on last night. Maria had some last minute business to take care of, so she will come by later. Elliss group of eleven people then performed one last meeting and rehearsal inside the contests waiting room prepared behind the theater. Afterwards, Ellis headed towards the lottery venue prepared in a separate room as the groups representative. Organization name: Warrens Jewelry Box. The order of appearance is twelfth. You will be the last act in the competition. The performances will soon begin, so please wait your turn at the fixed seats. We are auspicious with the birds.1 Ellis murmured such to herself as she traveled alone back to the waiting room where everyone else awaited her. Today is a holiday for the citadel city as the art competition sponsored by the Marsfield Merchant Guild was being held. It is a time where artists throughout Marsfield compete once a year to show off their skills. The judges are a combination of Marsfields celebrities and common people randomly picked from the crowd. Sitting at the center of the judges table was Mrs. Mirei Marsfield and the adventurer guild master. Well then, let the Marsfield Art Competition begin! The competition began with such a declaration from the moderator. The program progressed smoothly. Elliss group also appreciated the performances of other competitors from special participant seats set up in the spectator stands. Once again, Ellis thinks that Marsfield performers are good, but they are not interesting. In the end it has become a competition of height in a certain field. There is no spread or point of intrigue. To put it badly, I am able to do something really difficult. It is something that enthusiasts might enjoy, but common people like her could not see the entertainment. Until some performers shattered those thoughts. Entry Number 8. Loves Ruin by the Wolf Pack Couple. The announcement flowed through the hall. Not only Ellis, but even Maria and Reeve were amazed by the dancing and singing being performed on stage. It was a bold yet delicate dance being performed to a majestic song by a fearless male a cappella and a beautiful woman. The mans voice was powerful and resonated to the very last beat while the woman danced brilliantly with flowing movements that one would think to not be humanly possible. The only word to describe it would be masterpiece. As the mans song ends, the woman slowly collapsed to the stage. And it was over. The whole audience gave the couple a standing ovation. This could be trouble. Ellis suffered from it. She did not anticipate that there would be such an overwhelming appeal. Can they win? However, any adjustment to the current set-up would involve considerable risk. Ellis clicked her tongue. Am I only able to rely on Reeve in the end? Next is number 12: Warrens Jewelry Box and the Muscle Brothers performing War Maiden Rondo. As soon as the announcement was finished, an invincible male voice echoed inside the venue. Uwahahahahaha! We have occupied this venue! At the same time, a handful of muscular ligaments appeared on stage, and each man performed their own different pose. It mimicked the sight of a bodybuilding contest in Eijis world. A strange smell that was a combination of something sweet and greasy began to permeate from the stage. What is happening on stage? The spectators watching this happen began to work themselves up into a half panicked state. A very small number of spectators had already bitten into it and were moving towards the stage. Then the girls voices echoed as if to crush the muscular feast of the group. Muscle Dharmas! We wont let you! At the same time, a gong was rung from the back of the audience seats. The audience was surprised by the sound of the gong, and the scene on stage changed the instant that they all looked away. What appeared on stage were maidens draped in long maid wear. I will punch and kick all evil! Lily White! The first girls white hair shook and dazzled the audience as she showed off a slew of impressive kicks and punches one after another with her Claw gauntlets and guards. A roar rose from the men who could just barely make out the outline of white panties from underneath the loose skirt every time the girl performed a kick. To all evil I will strike like lightning! Lily Black! I will knock away all evil! Lily Red! The red girl waved her crimson hair back over her shoulder while spinning a crimson maul overhead, and she finished it off by striking the stone floor and creating a loud BANG throughout the hall. Her rich breasts shook fairly freely through the maid wear. The gazes of all the young people were captured by her feminine charm. I will slay all evil! Lily Blue! She drew her sword out at the speed of sound, and she performed eight smooth practice slashes before taking a pose with her drawn sword in the middle of the stage. The eyes of the spectators began to shine with amazement, and a celebratory scream arose from a certain wife in particular. Evil will be annihilated! Lily Gold! At the end, a girl suddenly dropped down from the ceiling lighting and struck a pose with an estoc in front of the other four. Oh! And the audience seats exploded in cheers. Continuing on, the five girls joined together and made one united group pose. We are! *Shakin* Yuri Yuri Sentai Lily Rangers! Damn it! We will remember this! The Muscle Dharma retreated from the stage. At the same time, several flashes occurred, blinding the audience. The sound of gongs rang throughout the hall. When their vision returned, the audience saw the appearance of five girls each wearing a matching one-piece dress. Yes, the past couple days worth of intensive special training was mostly used to practice quickly changing from the maid wear into the one piece dresses. They used flash bracelets to temporarily blind the audience, and in that moment, they changed their clothes. The five girls were in a formation with Reeve at the center, Frau and Claire to her right, and Katie and Ellis to her left. Standing in a row, all five girls started to sing in unison. The title of the song was Warrior Maidens Rondo. It is a rhythmic song and dance about warriors running through the battlefield. Actually, this is a song that Reeve taught the other four while they were all playing around naked in the bathhouse, so at the very least, it is a song with memories for the group. Because the five were singing while dancing rhythmically, the audience, especially the men, were really getting into it. The boys were looking at Claire, the young men had eyes for Katie, the older uncles were taken in by Frau, and Ellis charmed any doting grandpas or stray loli lovers. But this was still only half the audience. Finally the trump card. Everyone besides Reeve took a knee while Reeves solo began. The lyrics were arranged to fully demonstrate the yuri yuri in full. This caused Reeve to grasp the hearts of every female in the audience the other half of the audience. The endings chorus included all five girls again, and right when the song had hit its peak, another gong was rung to signal the end. Incidentally, all the gong work was taken care of by Nicole. Good work. Elliss group also received a standing ovation from the audience, and the competition ended. Yes, Ellis-Eiji challenged their lofty art with modern day vulgar entertainment. The original source material was the Muscle Brother Pose that the muscle brothers showed off when they first met them. Well, what can you do? After time was given for the judges to review, an award ceremony was to be held. The performers of the competition were each lined up on stage waiting for the ruling. Because Elliss group had a lot of people, only the Jewelry Box was on stage, and the muscles had to wait in the audience seats. Alright. I will now announce the winners. This years choice was difficult, and the judges held a heavy debate about two of our participants, but unfortunately, there can only be one winner. *Dourururururururururururururururururururururururururururururu* The tremolo of the snare drum reverberated in the hall. Then the moderator shouted as loud as he could towards the audience seats. The winner is Warrens Jewelry Box and the Muscle Brothers!!! The venue was filled with crackling applause. Elliss group was given intermixed blessings from the other participants, but amongst all the noise, the girls calmly stared at them. Next, review from the chairperson began. The judges were very split between numbers 8 and 12. Whether to go with the artistic choice or the entertaining one. No judge was sure of themselves. Crackling applause filled the venue once again. Subsequently, the Marsfield Merchant Guild master brought out the shiny golden gauntlet like a trophy. Tch. So we should have attacked from the beginning. The end result will be the same. Lets go then. The number 8 entry, who were being watched by Elliss group, started to move. Their muscles began to bulge out and swell while patches of dark grey hair grew out here and there. They gained a slightly crazed look in their eyes as their faces slowly morphed into that of a wolfs. They were lycanthrope beast demons. Unlike beastkin or monsters, these are a species of demonic beings. When the wolf couple finished transforming, they stretched out their nails and stole the gauntlet away from the merchant guild master. They then jumped with an incredible amount of power out into the audience seats in order to escape the venue. This will get you! However the salesman did not make the sale. Look out! The male wolf who was holding the gauntlet was caught by Elliss Ice ring. He stupidly dropped the gauntlet, tripped over it, and made a splendid parabola through the air as ice encased his body. Reeve threw one of her throwing daggers which pierced the female wolf in the thigh. The effect of Stupor momentarily paralyzed her, and she fell right next to the male wolf. Hostages The beast demons were not held down long, and they managed to break through their momentary binds. As they stood up to try and make a member of the audience their hostage, Claire unleashed a lightning shower that crippled them again. Katie jumped forward with about as much power as the wolves had, and she reaped the consciousness of the two before they could get up again with four consecutive hits to their heads. During this time, Frau had taken a stance in front of the merchant guild master to ensure his safety. The spectators who misunderstood this flow as an encore collaboration with the wolf couple gave another standing ovation to Elliss group. In this way the art competition came to a close. I never thought that the muscle brothers and Nicole were involved. Maria shook her head to the left and right with a tone of admiration at the dinner table. How was it, our stage? When Ellis asked, Maria turned around and gave her a fascinated look. Id like to ask for a performance in Warren. We can show it off as the winning performance of the Marsfield Arts Competition. I dont mind. Ellis and Reeve were excited about the thought. Er. Meanwhile, Frau, Claire, and Katie wanted to be excused from doing something that embarrassing again. Once the five had finished their dinner, they returned to the inn in order to appraise their winnings. Ellis picked up the golden claw equipment in her hands. Again, its name would not come up unless she concentrated on it and applied a level of coverage above her normal magic tool appraisal. Appraised name Hero Ripper? The other four girls overheard Elliss muttering. So its the Demon Lords equipment? Ellis nodded with a subtle expression to confirm Reeves question. Maybe. .. Pffft! After a moment of silence, all five girls began laughing at the same time. Kaite, can you equip it? Of course. Unlike the normal claw gauntlet, the Hero Ripper can be equipped by anyone just by passing your hand into the tubular part. There are no belts or clasps to adjust the size. The shining claws can be retracted at the will of the wearer, and when the claws are stored, it looks like just a normal cover that reaches from the back of your hand to your elbow. In this way, there no sense of incongruity even if you were to wear it all day. This is mine. Then lets write your name in it. Once Ellis removed the Hero Ripper from Katies arm, she wrote Katies name inside the gauntlet in black ink. She went over it a few times just to make sure that the name would really stick. Four girls laugh as one other is satisfied with a job well done. Lets go back to Warren! 1. This is a rough translation of this idiom. In Feng Shui, birds are considered good luck. CH 34 Today is the day we return to Warren from Marsfield. Breakfast is some soft bread that was bought before dinner a few nights ago. Ellis and her friends left their lodging early, and they used Magical horses to drive their carriage to the meeting spot Maria set up. Once they arrived, Maria, Nicole, and the Muscle Brothers were already there waiting for them. The caravan had the same number of carts as when they first arrived with Marias special cart in the lead. The carriages in the middle had changed somewhat as Maria had successfully sold the shower/toilets to the Marsfield Merchant Guild. The carts now had an oil-dampened cloth placed on top of it. Maria told them that she had bought some product from Marsfield, and she was shipping it back to Warren. The final cart meanwhile was reloaded with horse feed and supplies for the return trip. While smiling, Maria walked up to Frau. Id like to have a meal together with everyone on the way home. Apparently Maria heard about Fraus cooking from the muscles. Nicole, who was in charge of making Marias meals until now, seems to not really enjoying cooking, no matter how good he was at it. After confirming the situation, Frau smiled. If you tell me what you want to eat, I can prepare the ingredients before we depart. Then Goro raised his hand. I would definitely like to try some of that fried rice and tsukemono soup you made on the way here. Goros four brothers all simultaneously crossed their arms and nodded in agreement. I want to eat some of that pasta with oil-pickled fish that Frau ordered when we visited that cafe. This was Katies request. The cold fish dish eaten at Marsfields cafe had quickly become her new favorite meal. Ellis, Reeve, and Claire all nodded to her request. After the return menu was finished like this, and when all the shopping was completed at the market, the return trip home began in earnest. Unlike the three days there, the three days back were a jolly journey starting from the very first day. Maria spent the whole day sticking to Elliss group as she was constantly trying to get Reeve to come with her to her carriage alone. Frau was talking about the different seasonings and ingredients she experienced on her journey with Goro who was driving Elliss carriage. Claire confirmed the installation situation and issues for all the luxury toilets sold and installed in Marsfield with Ichiro. What!? Youre the Claire from the Claire-Flint brand toilets? Ichiro was surprised to say the least. He obediently expressed his respect for the craftsman who managed to pull off the splendor of the luxury shower and toilet. Other members all struck up conversation with each other, and it turned out that nobody ended up going out and acting like an escort. If you think about it, they were two groups of super gays and super lezs, so in a way, there were no safer traveling companions. The only problem was Maria who kept reaching for Reeves thighs, but Reeve learned several defensive strategies from Ellis bypassing Marias attacks. The party finished their three day journey to Warren without anything exciting happening. It was truly a leisurely journey. Thats why, everyone, we had a lot of fun. And the caravan was dissolved by Marias order. Lets have dinner together again. On behalf of the Muscle Brothers, Ichiro said his farewells. Lovely Muscular Dharmas, please take our best regards! And Claire in turn said farewell on behalf of their group. After nine days, Ellis had finally returned home. Lets take care of the carriage tomorrow. Lets take a bath and then head to bed early tonight. After a long absence, the party was finally able to relax in the large bathhouse once again after stripping off all their equipment in their own rooms. Oh, after all the big bath is so comfortable. Reeve stretched out her whole body, and she immersed herself in the hot water. Traveling is tiring. Frau soaked her skin carefully in the half bath. Ah, all my strength is leaving me. Claire was sinking down in the bathtub until only her face was above water. Her black hair spread out across the water surface, and she started blowing some bubbles. Funya. Katie was enjoying the hot water of the bath while adjusting the temperature by having the upper half of her body rest on the cold surface of the bathtub. Its heaven. Ellis enjoyed the half bath with her arm next to Frau as if to mimic the muscle brothers. The appearance of Ellis made the other four laugh as they relaxed. That night the five girls were tired, so Ellis made them all go take a sleep without any fun nighttime activities for the first time in a long time. However, except for Ellis, everyone woke up the next morning and greeted each other with a feeling that their fatigue had not been whittled down. Ellis was the only one who woke up energetic. Apparently the other four have been conditioned to the point that they cannot wake up peacefully without a little extra exertion the night before. While Frau prepared breakfast a little later than usual, Reeve started doing some laundry, and the other three tidied up the carriage, the bright blue sky suddenly began to darken. Is it a total solar eclipse? While Ellis was calm, Katie and Claire started to work themselves up into a small panic. Reeve, Frau, and the other guests at Lily Garden all began to exit from the various facilities and looked up to the sky with uncertain expressions. Then suddenly, a golden presence was reflected in the dark heavens. Everyone was caught by the large existence drawn there. Subsequently, the voice emitted from that figure sounded directly into everyones heads. To all humans on the Almerian Continent, this is an announcement from the Demon Lord. I have been dispatched from God himself to rule over you. Soon I will make my move to conquer all. I will kill all who resist. If you value your lives, then kneel before me. Your only choice is slavery or death. You are free to choose whatever you like from now on. Peoples hearts froze from the heavens solemn vow. The Demon Lord is coming. An absolute evil existence had appeared before them. Terror itself that you would only hear about in fairy tails. But only Elliss five noticed. Mr. Demon Lord, we can see your arm. Yes, although the whole body of this devil was wrapped in golden armor, only on his right arm could you see pale white flesh from his elbow down to his fingertips. It was Katie who first noticed the inconsistency. Katie nudged Elliss shoulder and pointed to the beings arm. Ellis spontaneously blew out some laughter when she saw it. The other three in turn started laughing as well when Ellis pointed it out to them. Katie then pointed to the arm, pointed to the golden gauntlet she was currently wearing, and then started waving to the Demon Lord in the sky with the gauntlet. Pffft. Then, feel free to cower in fear until my subordinates visit you. As the shining golden entity gradually faded away, the sky returned from darkness to the normal blue sky. ? Afterwards, at the Demon Lords castle. Ah, I am so embarrassed. Someone absolutely noticed A demon responded to his Maous complaint. Dont worry. There is nobody who would notice such a small detail before the terror of the Demon Lord. But the Demon Lord felt dissatisfied. Why is it just here? I was so embarrassed. It couldnt be helped. Nobody could find it. Then it wouldve been fine to wait until we had found it. That wont do. We have a deadline to meet. Whats with that? Once the Demon Lord sighed one more time, his adjutant decided to proceed with talks about the future. Oh well. Until someone finds this last gauntlet, Im not leaving this castle. Before the adjutant could say anything, the Demon Lord himself announced his decision to become a hikikomori. However, this experienced office worker would not be beaten. We will search for it with all our resources. By the way, what will you do if the Hero attacks first? He was a superb subordinate. However, the Demon Lord paid it all little mind. {Meteor} While casting his spell, the Demon Lord swung his arm down towards the ground. At the same time, a comet struck the earth. The area where the comet hit was evaporated along with any living things that may have existed there. In succession, Demon Lord made a serious expression, and he turned to his assistant. Dispatch our forces to wherever the Hero is likely to appear and obstruct him at every turn. ? The Warren Council had an emergency meeting after the announcement of the Demon Lord that morning. As an associate member, Ellis was also meant to attend, but as an associate member, she had the right to speak but no voting privileges. The trade city Warren is located on the inland western side of the Almerian continent. Since there are cities to the north, west, east, and south with a highway to Warren with troops that could protect them, it was highly unlikely that they would be the first one of the first cities to be attacked by the Demon Lords army. Also, once the Demon Lords army does make its move, instructions would come from the capital Sky Castle. First of all, they would wait for the appearance of the Devils army. In the meantime, they would confirm the formation of the Warren militia and secure weapons. The Adventure Guild would take care of gathering troops while the Merchant Guild would handle the weapons. The basic policy was to survive. Thus the council meeting came to a close. Following the closing of the Council, Ellis asked Frau to invite her father to secretly visit their mansion. Theseus would then in turn invite the other three members. For the time being bring out the food. According to Baltiss usual tone, Frau brought out the prepared dishes. Todays main dish is rice croquette along with Katies favorite oil pickled fish. The cold meat had a few raw vegetables added in as a garnish. Once Frau finished preparing the table, Claire turned the handle of her favorite ice cream maker that she bought in Marsfield. So why did you bother to summon us like this? Theseus got directly to the point. Everyone, did you not feel an inconsistency with the Demon Lords form? The four looked at each other a little puzzled at Elliss question. That reminds me, for some reason one of his arms wasnt covered in armor. As expected of Maria. When Ellis confirmed Marias observation, the other three also started to vaguely recall the sight. The Ellis pointed to Katie. Katie was wearing the golden claw gauntlet at the table, and when Ellis pointed to her, she drew out the claws. The appraised name of this is Hero Ripper. On Elliss words, Maria recalled the incident in Marsfield. The two demons were aiming for that gauntlet. On the other hand, Flint moved forward towards Katie with excitement that could not be suppressed. Lady, could you possibly show that to me for a moment? Katie nodded with a carefree smile, and she removed the Hero Ripper from her arm giving it to Flint. Mu. Flint was breathing rather heavily in his excited state, and he could barely form any words as his whole body trembled slightly. Guys, this is dark mithril! The other masters were surprised by Flints words, and the three of them started getting excited in turn while the five girls had no idea what was going on. Flint continued after regaining a portion of his calmness. Dark mithril, aka the devils metal, is a metal that cannot be processed by anyone. Flint goes on to say that dark mithril is only rarely found as an item drop from killing bosses of ultimate rank dungeons. It seems that there is only one dark mithril dagger that is secretly kept inside the Warren Workshop Guild. Why was such a thing a prize in Marsfield? Baltis asked the obvious question, and Theseus tried to come up with an explanation. There are very few people who could appreciate dark mithril. Besides Flint, you would have to go to Sky Castle, and claw gauntlets are such a rarely used weapon that very few people would bother. Most likely it was picked up and used as a trophy simply because of how beautiful it looked. During this conversation, Flint continued to examine the claws. He examined every inch of that gauntlet until he came to the inside portion, and he saw Katies name etched in their. All of the sudden Flints serious expression relaxed and he lightly chuckled. OK, so this belongs to Katie. After Katie gave a satisfying smile to him, Flint turned back around, and his serious expression from before returned. As long as he doesnt have this, the Demon Lord probably wont move. There are most likely some special abilities that the Demon Lord can only display once he has finished collecting all of his equipment. So what should be done with the gauntlet? Even if we put it somewhere, it will most likely end up stolen by some demon. While the masters were discussing this, Ellis made a declaration while pounding her small breasts. Because that is Katies, we will protect it. At Elliss words, Theseus suddenly remembered. You girls have the Demon Lords Mark. The five girls nodded in unison. Ellis took out the Demon Lords Mark from her shoulder bag, and she showed it to Baltis, Maria, and Flint. So with this, these girls had successfully delayed the Hero and the Demon Lord. Well, whether it is a Hero or a Demon Lord, they are both enemies of Warren. Baltiss words followed Theseuss. Do you want to show off the power of the common people? Just being hostile is not the answer. We need to make sure that we can come out ahead in the end. Flint nodded. We will have to make proper preparations. The masters once again confirm the final policy. They will not bask in their victories. They will not attack from the front. We will show those who are aligned with either the Demon Lord or the Hero proper Warren hospitality. This will be the policy of Warren from now on. Then Claire made a declaration during this heavy mood. The ice cream is done! The air was significantly lightened after having enjoyed Claires homemade ice cream. CH 35 {World of Gods} God of Warriors God who controls physical force. Loves muscle brains. He loves with the main character from Hunter x Hunter ? in Eijis world. God of Mages God who controls inner power. He loves people who strive for power by any means. He loves the main character of Buster ? in Eijis world. God of Thieves God who controls confusion. He loves people who can incite chaos and trickery. He loves Stop! Hibari-ku? from Eijis world. {Human world before reincarnation} Yashiro Eiji The king of scum who died when he accidentally stepped in front of a 44 ton truck and got smushed. The God of Thieves took a look at his internet history and decided that he would be the perfect guy to have harass the God of Warriors and God of Mages. By the way, the God of Thieves left some evidence behind implying that Eiji had actually committed suicide. As a result, the driver of the truck was deemed completely innocent of the matter. Truly a god of the common people. {Warrens Jewelry Box} Ellis The reincarnation of Eiji. 8 years old. Usually lives as Ellis, but every once in awhile, the voice of god sounds like a hikineet.2 Beautifully shining gold hair with emerald green eyes. Thin lips that are as pink as cherry blossoms. The doting father was right. She is a transcendental beauty that slave traders would sell at very high prices. She is still a little girl. In addition to the natural talent and ability Ellis already had, she was also gifted with increased agility and power over magic tools from the God of Thieves. Battle style is a thief. For the time being, she remains mostly hidden. Or rather, she doesnt fight. Because without the Sacrificial doll, she would have already died twice. Her strongest weapons are the ferocious techniques she knows to use on her sexual partners from her PC. Oh, and other information too. Reeve The daughter of a fallen aristocratic house. A cool beauty with short shaggy blue hair, thin lips, and eyes the same color as her hair. 16 years old. She is a so-called slender beauty with a B-cup chest. She set off on her own after her family arranged a marriage for her with a disgusting man. Her swordsmanship and singing are both talents she picked up from her grandfathers hobbies. She is actually a huge man-hater. Although from the viewpoint of the world she appears to be Elliss guardian, since there are time where she is economically supported by Ellis, Frau has taken to occasionally calling her Winnie the Pooh. Frau A former receptionist for the Adventurer Guild. An orthodox beauty with passionate eyes, thick lips, and wavy red hair. When she appeared Ellis guessed she was 18, but she is actually 16. Her G-cup breasts always shake when she is angry. Although she is a glamorous beauty on the same level of Reeve, she actually has some thick muscles, and her body fat percentage is very low. There is a gap in her personality where she can actually be very calm, and the sight of her grabs the hearts of adventurer guild members. Especially any young children. She is good at cooking and food arrangement. She does a good job of acting as the responsible parent of the group. Her battle style is as a heavy fighter. For the time being, she takes the beatings and beats the opponents in turn. Before joining Elliss party, she used a morning star and kite shield while focusing on defense. Now she enjoys using a two-handed maul and running wild. With the benefits from Elliss magic tools, she is slowly becoming a human fortress. She awoke as a masochist and became a self-proclaimed pig woman after experiencing Elliss ferocious techniques while thinking Ellis was cute. Claire The daughter of a magician husband and wife. She is 13 years old. She has long black hair, but she usually like to tie it up. She is the type that tickles paternal feelings, and her dark black eyes can give off a boyish look. She was traumatized when her uncle tried to assault her, and she was covered in his brains after blowing his head off with an explosion. Ellis helped her move past her trauma, and now Claire is an A-cup sorceress who boasts the highest offensive power in the party. She is slightly afraid of men, especially if they are showing any sexual desire. She was the one most afraid of the Muscle Brothers, but learning that they were all gay helped her in getting along with them. She is a student of science, and she loves building things. After falling in love with baths and toilets, she developed the Claire-Flint brand luxury toilets and showers so that shed never part from them. After being saved by Ellis, she became a genuine maiden in love. She enjoys spending her nights flirting and being spoiled by Ellis. Katie A catgirl who used to be a receptionist for the Thieves Guild. She is 15 years old. Katie has cotton like hair peculiar to the cat family that is all white and feels so soft. Her eyes are vertical like a cats, and they shine gray giving a sense of fascination and mystery when her head is actually just full of flowers. Although her past is a mystery, her boobs are undoubtedly a C-cup. She uses a rare battle style called a Cat Fighter that makes use of both her hands and her feet. In Marsfield she obtained the Hero Ripper, and her combat power and intimidation factor only increased more. She is extremely dexterous and is able to pull off a series of combos to overwhelm her opponent. She is vulnerable to the heat, but she loves baths. She enjoys letting her bottom half soak in the tub while her upper half cools off on the bathtubs cold surface. http://www.snowmonkeyresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Main2.jpg Her weak point is right below her chin, and she enjoys Ellis treating her like a pet while Ellis attacks her. {Thieves Guild} Baltis The Thieves Guild master. After he was inaugurated as the Thieves Guild master, he started disguising himself as a Mr. Doughboy-like character, but he will partially remove the costume whenever Ellis kisses him. He is a gentleman with scary eyes. He believes that Ellis is cute and it cant be helped, but he is cautious as well. Angus Elliss father. Although he was skilled enough to become the leader of the infiltration unit, he was set up by Kevin and killed. His daughter is too cute. She is so cute that he ended up teaching her everything he knew about being a thief and made her join the Thieves Guild so he could watch her. He was a typical doting parent who blew everything out of proportion. Kevin and his wife Alicia The leader of the intelligence unit and his wife. They are both deceased. They wanted to sell Ellis to a noble so that they could use her as part of their intelligence unit. Uwahaha is the natural way of thinking for a member of the Thieves Guild, but murdering a comrade was no good. Kevin had his head cut off and delivered to the guild by Reeve while Alicia was disposed of by the guild for her role in the crime. As a result, thanks to the inheritance that was left to Ellis, she was able to start off her entrepreneurial life. {Adventurer Guild} Theseus The Adventurer Guild master. A fairly ordinary man, and the father of Frau. He seriously wants Frau to just remain as a member of Warrens Jewelry Box and the female dorms forever so that no filthy men can touch her. He is also the man who saved Claire and brought her to the Workshop Guild. When the Hero released his pressure, this old man did not back down, so he might actually be really strong. Helen The girl who became a receptionist after Frau left. She received a Light Emission stone from bingo. She may show up more in the future. The uncle who received Elliss Flying Swallow long sword, and the uncle who received Claires plate armor from bingo Combination of adventurers who won the first two prizes from bingo. These comedians wont phase out like this. {Workshop Guild} Flint Workshop Guild master. He is a veritable giant of a man with bulging muscles, and he is one of the few people who can appreciate dark mithril. He is also the caretaker for Claire that Theseus chose after the death of her uncle. Despite his appearance, he is probably the kindest and most gentle member of the Warren Council. The Claire-Flint brand was tagged as such due to the unique designs from Claires Design Office, but many people just see it as Flint doting on his protege. {Merchant Guild} Maria Merchant Guild master. An accomplished merchant and a milf. She is a clearly beautiful woman, but her maturity and age take her out of Elliss strike zone. She is also the head of the Warren Council. She is probably the most ingenious of the Warren Council members. She is also the leader of a manic group calling themselves the Reeve Fan Club. Nicole Marias butler. Little is known about him at the moment. Muscle Brothers The Merchant Guild special delivery battalion also know as the Muscle Dharmas. They are the men who are responsible for transporting goods outside of Warren. They are quick and reliable at their job, and people say they are, brothers that you can rely on. Their holdings are as follows: My name is Ichiro Tamon. I am not gay. I am super gay. My name is Jiro Hyoe. I am not gay. I am super gay. My name is Saburo Tayu. I am not gay. I am super gay. My name is Shiro Tokisada. I am not gay. I am super gay. My name is Goro Meiko. I am not gay. I am super gay. {Marsfield} Duke Marsfield The lord of Citadel City Marsfield and the surrounding areas. A middle-aged man with graying hair but eyes as sharp as a hawk. He doesnt seem to know about the violence between his two wives, but he does know about Claire somehow. Mirei Marsfield Duke Marsfields legal wife. Had Maria escort her to Lily Garden. She was completely unaffected when a human and a group of anubis beastkin tried to assassinate her. Anna Marsfield Duke Marsfields concubine. The legal wife is constantly sending assassins at her, and she sends them back in kind. {Brave Party} Gray The hero. He has a decent face but some disgusting parts to him. Strangely serious. Dams The brave partys self-proclaimed warrior. A big build reminiscent of barbarians. A Scarlet Laundry experienced person. Cliff Probably a priest. He is an unreliable man with a large amount of sexual desire. A Scarlet Laundry experienced person. Peach The brave partys self-proclaimed magician and a dancer from Sky Castle. Extremely busty. Her pride was broken by Reeve at Lily Garden. Gise Definitely a thief from the Sky Castle Thieves Guild. He is the only member of the braves party that Ellis and Baltis are cautious of. He seems to be having a hard time. {Demon Lords side} Demon Lord An unhealthy looking white arm. The rest of him is covered in golden armor. A powerful guy who can create nationwide broadcasts and a comet with his magic, but he has decided to temporarily not leave his house. Demon Adjutant A man adept at office work. Details are yet to come. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf Pack Appeared in Marsfield. A husband and wife pair of performers. The husband has a wonderful singing voice while the wife is an expert dancer. They were actually a pair of lycanthropes. At the end, they became acquaintances of the Jewelry Box, and no one knows where they went to after that. 1. The diamond is meant to represent some blurred out text. Anyone who can figure out what the second one is supposed to be wins the golden loli. 2. Im honestly not sure what they mean here. Reading through it in Japanese, I think what they mean is that its mostly Ellis acting, but with Eijis memories, and sometimes Eijis will. Its a little weird how the author phrased it. CH 36 The northern side of Lily Garden. Here, Lily Gardens heating device warms up all the water that flows in from the northern stream for the large baths and toilets. A large number of Fever stones are kept inside the device, and a tremendous amount of steam billows from out of the top of the devices ventilation shafts. Ellis was staring at this device intently. Apparently, she was having another idea. Do we still have some of the pancake ingredients Frau? Ellis returned from the heat generator to the kitchen and asked Frau. I have a stock of the mix and some sugar inside the smaller treasure chest. Frau pointed to the wooden treasure chest in the corner of the kitchen. Ellis brought more than the contents of the treasure chests from the labyrinth, she brought the whole treasure chest back as well. These treasure chests had a unique preserving ability that made them perfect for storing food. There was one wooden treasure chest from an elementary labyrinth, and there was one iron treasure chest from a boss room in an upper labyrinth. This was only really possible thanks to the Bag of Gluttony. Without it, no one would bring back a heavy box rather than the valuable drops. Thank you Frau. Ellis measured out some of the pancake mix from the treasure chest with some milk in a bowl. She then poured the solution into a pottery cup before arranging the cup into a wisteria basket. What are you doing Ellis? Experiment. Usually experiments are done between two people, Ellis and Claire, but Claire was off playing with Katie at the moment. Do you want to come see Frau? Curious, Frau obediently followed Ellis. Ellis returned to the heating device, and she placed a lid on top of the wisteria basket while hooking up the baskets handle to a long stick with a hook at one end. Manipulating the stick, she slid the basket into a ventilation opening, engulfing it in the expunged steam. What are you doing Ellis? Ellis replied to the question the same way she had before. Experiment. Actually, Ellis did not want Frau to get too curious until the experiment was successful, so she decided to remain quiet on purpose. Is it almost ready? After waiting for a while, Ellis manipulated the stick again and brought the basket back out of the steam into her hands. Careful so as to not burn herself, Ellis removed the baskets lid, and a sweet scent drifted out. Some white and fluffy was overflowing from the pottery cup placed inside the basket. Ellis took a piece of the fluff from the cup and popped it into her mouth. Yup. Ellis nodded satisfied. Its a success. Dont hold back Frau. Taking Ellis up on her invitation, Frau pinched off a piece of the fluff herself. A sweet and fluffy feeling spread out into her mouth as the new food melted on her tongue. Aah, its so moist and fluffy and delicious. Right? Ellis had successfully produced a steamed cake. A crispy pancake cooked with butter on both sides is also delicious, but the steamed cake is more moist, fluffy, and best of all, does not use any oil. To think there was such a method of cooking. Frau was admirably impressed. Before now, there was no method of steam cooking, at least not in Warren. Satisfied with the experiments results, Ellis returned to the kitchen with Frau, talking about the future. ? Today, Claire took Katie to visit the master of the Workshop Guild. Katie was wearing some white leather boots that she had bought at an armor shop yesterday. Master, are you here? Oh, welcome. As soon as Claire called, Flint immediately stuck his head out from inside the his workshop. I want to ask you to take a look at this. Taking the white boots from Katie, Flint examined their shape and size. Hmm, based on this Yosh, come on in. Flint brought Claire and Katie into the smith inside the Workshop Guild. Well then Katie, would you show me that work of beauty? Here you go. Flint received the Brave Ripper and set it on top of a table next to the boots. Well then, let me just go over these. Flint looked like he had actually gotten younger right before Claire and Katies eyes as he held the Brave Ripper and compared it to the boots. He confirmed the weight of the gauntlet before checking its internal structure, especially its ability to retract and draw out its claws. Can you do it? To the question, Flint gave a slightly troubled look. Id have to adjust the weight of the claws, and the boots would need to either sacrifice some of their defense or their attack. The base long boots are light enough, but if you were to add metal to make adjustments, the weight would go up accordingly. The reason why Claire and Katie were visiting the Workshop Guild was to balance out the Brave Ripper with the other portions of Katies equipment. A pair of claw gauntlets and claw shin guards are equipped on both hands and feet, so a balance is required. Unfortunately, the dark mithril that Brave Ripper is made out of is significantly lighter than her usual equipment, so whenever Katie performs her usual movements, she is almost sure to lose her balance. Her dance-like movements have been restricted. Flint anticipated this problem and offered his help back when he first saw the Brave Ripper. If we equip the boots with the same size claws as the Brave Ripper, you will end up needing ballast on the heels, and the weight will go up accordingly. If we try to raise the defense of the boots, then we wont be able to afford the weight of the claws. Flint had a serious expression, and even as he was saying those words, he was sorting through all the knowledge and experience he had to try and find a solution. Katie made all the consideration pointless. You can build it for attack-only. Defense doesnt matter as their attacks dont hit me in the first place. Flint was a little taken aback by this answer, but Claire was standing behind Katie, nodding her head and mumbling, Thats right. Ah, I see I see. You sure are cheerful girlie! Flint let out his trademark booming laugh and passed off the boots to a smith to start the order. The smith who took the order just had one question. By the way, the mechanism to eject and withdraw the claws, what is it? Can I run a few experiments with it? That should be fine. Its not like Claire and Katie invented it. It was true. They just found the gauntlet, and that fact gave Claire a disgusting idea. Hey master, about the Brave Ripper. Do you think we could mass produce some poorly made copies? Flint immediately noticed Claires intentions and smirked. Are you asking me to sprinkle around some poor quality products to towns and cities across the country? Hehehe After giving each other a wink, Claire and Flint returned to the topic at hand. The boots will be finished in three days, so you can pick it up then. Unfortunately, Ill have to borrow Brave Ripper until then. We understand. Once everything was taken care of, Katie and Claire waved goodbye and decided to take a stroll as they left out of the guilds back entrance. ? Reeve is visiting the Merchant Guild at Elliss request because according to Ellis, Reeve gets a lot more information when she goes by herself rather than when Ellis comes along. All this information comes from Maria directly too. Miss Reeve. Welcome! Compared to Marias haughty atmosphere, Reeve was feeling rather melancholic. Because Im just here for work today, you can just call me Reeve. That wont do. Greetings are important and should be done with energy! Reeve somehow managed to agree with Maria, but she could feel her face tighten up. Lets go Miss Reeve! About todays request. Maria had two requests today. The first one was about help with mens bathing house in the city. They had adjusted it in accordance with the management style of Lily Garden, but business was not increasing. They decided to ask Warrens Jewelry Box for their help with this matter. The second request was about Warrens Harvest Festival that was coming soon. They wanted Warrens Jewelry Box to help out with it. Because we are girls, if you let us inspect the mens bath, Im sure something will come up. Reeve continued. By the way, what does the Harvest Festival entail in particular? It is an event mostly enjoyed by tourists. We try to drum up business so that more people will travel here throughout the year. For Warren, the harvest festival isnt so much a celebration of the years products so much as an event to draw in more tourists and have them spend their money. So do you want us to set up a booth? That could work. If you apply in advance to the Merchant Guild, Ill make sure to reserve you girls a good spot. Alright. Ill be sure to tell my mistress. Reeve repeated Marias request in her head. Seeing such a serious expression on Reeves face, Maria couldnt help but blurt out outrageous things, By the way, Miss Reeve, cant you stay here a little longer today? but Reeve has already become accustomed to such things. Im sorry, but I dont have those types of hobbies. Your feelings are more than enough. While adding, at least not with you, in her head, Reeve quickly mounted her Magical horse and left the Merchant Guild while ignoring Maria from then on. Aan, Miss Reeve Apparently abandonment play was something that excited the Milf. A happy ending. ? While eating Fraus homemade oil pickled salmon with cold tomato pasta, Ellis listened to Reeves report. Should I go check it out this afternoon? Ill go with you. Ellis judged that if anyone was going to go with her, it would be better for her to go rather than Claire. Should I go? Although Claire offered to do so, there were other things that Ellis thought, so she switched the story. I have an idea about what we can do for the Harvest Festival. She then turned to Frau. That thing from this morning. Certainly, it can be made easily and cheaply. Its also delicious, even if it gets cold. The three people not in the know were curious to what it was Frau was praising so passionately. They are sweets. Ill teach you three how to make them. After finishing lunch, Ellis and Frau prepared some pottery cups, pancake mix and milk on the table. When Ellis placed the cup in front of them, Frau measured out some milk and mix, and placed it inside the cup. Mix gently so that you dont make a mess, but be sure to remove any clumps. The three copied Ellis and Fraus movements using tiny spoons to mix everything together. Once all the powder had melted into the milk, it was ready. Next you will fix the cup into a wisteria basket. Ellis arranged everyones cups into a metal cage and placed them into a basket that was prepared this morning. Frau made sure that all the cups were secure, and Ellis grabbed the long hook pole that was resting on the kitchens wall. Now lets go. With Ellis in the lead, the five headed towards the heating device. Upon arrival, Ellis took the basket from Frau, and she placed the basket inside the steam the same way she had done that morning. What are you doing? Cooking Reeve. Claire should already understand the mechanism. I understand Ellis. If you put it there, the steam will make it hot. Correct Katie. Unfortunately, Ellis really didnt know how long she should keep them in there. I wonder if it finished awhile ago. Ellis took the basket out of the heat generator, and Frau took a peek underneath the lid. Three people were surprised by the sweet scent that wafted out. When they looked inside, five white fluffy cakes had formed. These are called steamed cakes. Ellis pulled out her own cup after waiting for the heat inside the basket to dissipate a little. Oh, its so soft. Its moist and fluffy and tasty! Since there wasnt any oil, doesnt that make this healthy!? Katie is normally an air head, but she seems to notice the important things rather easily at times like this. We can sell these at the Harvest Festival. But Ellis shook her head and wagged her finger in front of Fraus lips. Sweet Frau. We will sell more if we make a few adjustments. Ellis quietly addressed the four girls. Lets each perform an experiment. Then, we can have a competition and try selling our experimental cakes at the at the festival. In the meantime, Claire, come up with a design and submit it to the Workshop Guild so that we can mass produce the cakes for selling. This was the task Ellis had for Claire. Next is the bath. Reeve, lets go quickly. As Ellis and Reeve leftFrau, Claire, and Katie all watched them go while thinking about their own experiments for the future. ? Ellis went with Reeve to greet Maria, and the two of them then walked on foot to the bathhouse which was currently closed for cleaning. What is this ..? Ellis didnt know what to say when she saw the state the the bathhouse was in. First of all, the impression around the building was bad. Women who were clearly street prostitutes were hanging around the front entrance, and it created an atmosphere that would prevent any ordinary man from approaching. When the girls entered through the side entrance to avoid them, an unfriendly old man was there to greet them. Who are you young girls? Did you come to take a bath? Reeve walked up to the old man who was currently laughing about his own vulgar implications and coldly addressed him. This is Ellis from the Warren Council. She is visiting today on behalf of the Merchant Guild master Maria. At last the man at the reception desk put on a serious face and stood up straight. Oh, guide. Ellis interrupted the panicking man. This is a surprise visit. Well walk around ourselves, so you can just wait here. We do not know how long we will be. There was nothing glamorous with this bathhouse. The bathing for men had just opened up the facilitys structure and expanded the kiosk like Lily Garden, but none of the ideals were copied at all. Ellis couldnt count the number of times shed already sighed. I dont understand, I dont understand at all. Maria! When she returned to the Merchant guild, Ellis mercilessly pointed out all the issues that had to be fixed. Even Maria was pushed back by Elliss words and passionate attitude. So what should we do? Elliss smile spread across her face to the confused Maria. Well will go with this. Ellis licked her lips. Something like that Poison can also be a medicine if its a small amount. Maria hesitated. She wasnt entirely sold on Elliss suggestion. We will help you, so please allow us to do it this way. With Ellis saying so much, Maria gave in and silently nodded. In this way, the Merchant Guild master had gone in bed1 with a hikineet dressed up as an 8 year old girl. 1. This is an idiom. Maria did not actually sleep with Ellis. To get in bed with someone means to become involved with illegal activities, so a corrupt cop is in bed with the mob. The last sentence is just an allusion to the fact that whatever Elliss solution to the bathhouse is, its less than moral CH 37 The night that we visited the mens bathhouse. Kuu.Mistress. Ellis was thinking calmly as she tasted Reeve. It would be counterproductive to show off Reeve who is popular amongst women. Aah.Ellis.. Ellis was thinking calmly as she tasted Frau. Most of the townsmen have known Frau since she was little, so it might create a few problems. Its embarrassing Ellis Ellis was thinking calmly as she tasted Claire. Claire and I make a good pair, and we do better at looking cute from a distance. Ellis, there nyan. Ellis was thinking calmly as she tasted Katie. After all it would be best to leave it to Katie. The balance with her equipment is good. And so a fresh new morning came about. Breakfast today was everyones favorite of pancakes with Claires homemade ice cream as a topping. When everyone had finished, Ellis gave out orders to have everyone try out their experiments as she went to town alone. Ellis first met up with Maria at the Merchant Guild, and they visited a luxury clothes shop. Ellis asked the manager to rework an outfit she had brought with her while Maria ordered an extra just in case of an emergency. The two then headed to the mens bathhouse. The Merchant Guilds Nicole came with them from this point on. Well then lets do the recruitment drive. Nicole, thank you for your help. I understand. Leave it to me. As Nicole had already been informed of the situation by Maria the previous day, preparations had already begun. Ellis and Maria would be in charge of recruiting the new talent, and their first stop was in the back alleys behind the bathhouse, talking to the pros. Hey you. Have you ever thought about getting a cleaner and safer job? Even the street workers knew who Maria was. After all, she was the chairperson in charge of the entire city, but they were scared nonetheless. Because their work was illegal and not done through the Merchant Guild. Until now their work was overlooked as a necessary evil by the Merchant Guild, so they had passive approval. But Ellis had other ideas. Look. Ms. Maria has no ill intentions here. Ellis tried to put the ladies worries at ease. Why dont you try going for a safer work environment? A little later, Flint of the Workshop Guild came directly to the bathhouse to plan for the buildings renovations. Flint. I would like you to remodel the bathhouse like this. Flint looked at Ellis dumbfounded. Were these really the types of plans an 8-year-old would come up with? Are you sure about this Maria? Flint looked over towards Maria, but she only nodded and confirmed the plans. If you say so, then lets do it. And so Flint also jumped on board Elliss plan. Meanwhile, in the room at Elliss mansion dubbed Claires Design Office, Claire was doing some work alongside a female craftsman from the Workshop Guild. Claire, what is this? The female craftsmen looked over the strange design before her and couldnt make heads or tails of it. In response, Claire threw a steamed cake into the craftsmans mouth. Its a tool to make these. As the fluffy and sweet taste spread throughout her mouth, the craftsmans interest rose, and she quickly got started on work. The remaining threeCReeve, Frau, and KatieCwere also busy with their experiments. While Claire left to grab some materials, they were brainstorming ideas. While Claire was building her device, the other three were hanging wisteria baskets with a fishing rodCgoing out, returning, sighing, and rejoicing. Claire was getting a little impatient at such a sight. She also had to come up with a few ideas. Two days passed like this in a flash. During this time, Ellis had given the alley workers a devilish special lesson, and made Flint carry out the remodeling at a rapid pace. And then the day that Katies special order equipment was finished. However, Claire was too busy constructing tools for Ellis while Frau and Reeve were busy conducting their own experiments. Nobody could go with her to pick them up. So Katie went crying to Ellis. Ellis, please go to the Workshop Guild with me. Uhm. Please dont say that. Ellis hadnt spent a whole lot of time with the others since she had given them their homework, and while a fire had been lit under her butt since she had started making progress on her plan, she did not want to turn down a request from KatieCsomeone she has relied on so heavily. Also, if she helped Katie out here, it would make things convenient later on. So Ellis decided to kill two birds with one stone and grabbed the outfits from the dress shop after going with Katie to the Workshop Guild. Flint welcomed them both when they arrived. Ah, today Ellis is with you. Hello master. I heard about your plans from Claire. Flint let loose an evil smile when he heard Elliss words and answered without hesitation. To keep our feet on the ground, Ill have Theseus distribute the goods to the other Adventurer Guilds throughout the country. No one will ever know that they came from Warren. As expected of you Flint. The old man and little girl simultaneously exchanged a villainous smile and laughed. One more thing. Since the mens bathhouse will be reopened starting tomorrow, Id like to thank you for all your hard work. Theres no need. It was an easy job. Thats right. Starting tomorrow, the mens bath would emerge in its newfound glory. While Ellis and Flint were talking, a blacksmith brought out the Brave Ripper and Katies new modified leather boots.1 I went ahead and changed the laces on the boots to gold string in order to match the color of the Brave Ripper. Flint didnt seem too happy about such a useless modification and grunted next to Ellis, but Katie looked pretty happy admiring the golden lace on the white boots. Then the smith gave Katie a few instructions. I was somehow able to recreate the retractability function of the claws. Could you try them on and tell me if the weight distribution feels right? I will put it on immediately. The short pants Katie was wearing were the same ones she had worn the day before. They complimented her new long boots that went up to her knee while her monochromatic white color made the Brave Rippers gold color stand out all the more. The gold lace accent on the boots likewise added a splash of color that brought out a perfect blend of white and gold. Hou. Flint couldnt help but be impressed by the appearance. Its quite pretty.. The smith was a little more vocal about his admiration. Well then, I will try it out now. After taking a second to check the weight on both her arms and legs was fine, she tried extending the claws on at her fingers and toes. Uwa, fiendish.. This time it was Ellis who was caught by surprise. The Katie who was a splendorous beauty before had disappeared, and she had turned into quite the heinous looking existence. There were five sharpened nails coming from her fingertips, but the construction looked amazing.2 Instead of normal blades, the nails had a more conical shape that ended in a point similar to a pyramid. Rather than cutting an opponent, it would more likely scoop out their flesh. With the nails out, Katie tried out some of her Cat Fighter moves and swung a few combos. Her increased speed and smoothness of movement was apparent to even Elliss eyes. Theyre good and light. While Katie was happy with her movements just now, it had left a cold chill on her three person audience. Ellis, Flint, and the blacksmith all swore in their hearts to never make this girl angry. With their business there finished, Ellis left the Workshop Guild and headed over to the dress shop to pick up the revised outfit she ordered. While she was there, she went ahead and confirmed the status of the order Maria had placed as well. Because it was an emergency, I mostly re-sized some ready made goods, but I finished everything you needed in time. The shopkeeper flexed her arms in triumph, and Ellis was overjoyed at the news. Thats great! Apparently all the preparations were going well. Meanwhile, Katie felt a sense of foreboding looking at the package Ellis had just received. What is that? A little fun for tomorrow. Ellis gave a not so subtle grin, and she made Katie hold the package. When Ellis and Katie finally returned to the mansion, they found Reeve, Frau, and Claire lying on top of the table with their stomachs full of experiments. Ellis and Katie panicked at the situation and quickly started eating up the leftover experiments themselves. As a result, everyone skipped dinner that night. Once all the experiments had been eaten up by Ellis and Katie, the five headed over to Lily Garden to take a bath. Since I am going to go help Maria in the morning, we will start off with an early breakfast tomorrow. I will distribute everyones outfits for the day at that time, so be sure to enjoy them! Reeve was the only one who had a bad feeling about the words, outfit for the day, but since the other three seemed to not notice, she decided to keep quiet for now. Yosh. Time to bring up the mood. I will be singing Reeve No. 1 Dawn of the Knight. From there on, the throat boast tournament went on inside the bathhouse late into the night. Then the next morning came. Indeed, everyone had eaten too many steamed cakes the night before, so Frau prepared a small breakfast of just some fruits for everyone. It only took a few minutes for breakfast to be finished, and Ellis ordered everyone to gather in the living room. It was there that she handed out everyones special outfits, and she told all of them to change immediately. It turns out Reeves bad feeling was spot on. Yeah. What they were handed was the set of maid wear that they had worn at the Marsfield Art Contest. Of course aprons and maid headbands were included as part of the set. Reeve and Fraus long skirts that reached their ankles were the same as last time. Because Reeves skirt squeezed tightly around her legs, it contrasted with Fraus skirt which spread out more extensivelyCenhancing their physical characteristics and making them both look elegant. Ellis and Claires skirts cut off at the knees with white frills sewn on the edges. It created a cute impression that was very different from Frau and Reeve. Miss. What kind of joke is this? To be wearing this again Hey Ellis. Did you shorten the length of this? To the threes complaints, Ellis only had one thing to say. If you have any complaints, you can always wear that. Ellis stuck out her thumb over her shoulder to Katie who had sloppily thrown on her adjusted outfit. Why am I the only one wearing a mini skirt!? Katies maid wear had been cut short to the extent that even her thighs were visible. A few heavy ruffles had been sewn in as well tailoring the skirt to be more fluffy and lifting. While everyone else had sleeves that reached their wrists with white cuffs, only Katies had those removed showing off her shoulders. White frills had also been sewn there. Her white tail stretched out of a hole tailored to overlay cloth at waist height. In short, both her arms and legs were completely exposed. Put on your equipment. Alright. Katie obediently followed Elliss instructions and slipped on her gauntlets along with the tailored boots that she had just received from the Workshop Guild. Hou. Oh dear. Uwa. Everyone was unconsciously taken back by the appearance. By wearing the equipment, the skin exposure was reduced. The knee-length boots stretched up her slender legs emphasizing the area between her thighs and knees. The gauntlets likewise went up to her elbows showing off the upper arm creating a contrast between the gauntlets golden color and her white fur.3 Her appearance was lovely, elegant, and beautiful. But it wasnt just that. Start a performance. Nyan. Following along with Elliss instructions, Katies cat fighter show began. The four girls watched her move breathlessly. Even Ellis who knew what it would be like was shocked at just how much more wonderful it looked than she expected. Katies moving limbs flowed smoothly and effortlessly in the short maid wear, and her moves that cut through the air as if she was dancing gave the perfect picture of fearlessness. After finishing off one round of moves, Katie stopped and shyly murmured to Ellis. You can see my panties this time. Show them. Or rather, wear misepan.? I dont have anything like that. Oh. Then youll just have to make do with white panties. Nyaaan. As a result, everyone understood what Elliss intentions were with Katies mini-skirt. Three individuals thanked Katie for her sacrifice in their hearts before thanking their own luck that it wasnt them. Now that Elliss group was ready to go, they all began walking to the mens bathhouse that was being reopened by the Merchant Guild. Naturally, the appearance of the five ladies in maid clothes gathered public attention as they walked down the street. Uwa, its Warrens Jewelry Box! What, What, What is with that wonderful appearance!? The rumor that the five were walking around in such attire quickly spread out across the city to every guild. Milady Frau is walking around in maid clothes! In the adventurer guild, all the men immediately made their way into the city. Katie is exposing herself in an awesome mini-skirt! Even in the Thieves Guild, the men quickly ventured to the citys alleys and back streets. Claire is walking around in a tremendously cute outfit! In the Workshop Guild, a rare half hour break was carried out. However, the highlight was the last one. Reeve is wearing a rare set of clothes nearby! What was that!? Arrange an emergency carriage immediately! Reeve mobilized not only the Merchant Guild, but also every rich woman and housewife in Warren. Fufufu. Its all going according to plan. While Ellis was smiling evilly, the party arrived at the mens bathhouse just before the opening. A few guests were accompanying them as well. As soon as they had arrived, they all quickly hid themselves inside the bathhouse. Ellis went ahead and checked the inside of the bathroom and confirmed that Flint had properly adjusted the facility. Meanwhile, the former street prostitutes and the girls who had been forced to wear maid clothes continued to wait for the bathhouse to open. Its finally here. Some of the women started to look a little anxious when Ellis had returned from her inspection. Ellis had the girls go through a few basic gestures that she had taught them as a sort of final confirmation and to ease their tension. Until now, these were women who could only live by engaging in prostitution in the dark. But now Ellis had given them the safety that comes with working for a proper organization, and they would do just about anything she says because of it. Well then, lets go! At Elliss signal, the women moved out. Welcome to the mens private bathhouse, Masters Hideaway! The attention of all the men that had gathered from Elliss parade was taken by the bright calls of the emergent women. They were all beautiful ladies wearing matching maid uniforms to what Warrens Jewelry Box was wearing, and each one reached out towards them, inviting them in with full smiles. Here, one courageous man stepped forward. Can I take a bath? To the mans question, all the women breathed in at once. Welcome back! Master! While releasing such a shout, the man was directly led into the store by one of the maids. The receptionist behind the counter also greeted the man with a loud, Welcome home master! and a large smile. Ah, Aah, How much is it? The bathing fee is 1 thousand ril. There are also perfume oils, soap, and towels, so just say what you need. After the man had received his key from the receptionist, the guide woman, who had not yet let go of his hand, guided him to the changing room. Well then please excuse me. The guide woman finally let go of the mans hand and disappeared as the man entered the changing room. The man tried taking a look around the store as he took off his clothes. He felt that it was a good, clean environment. The lighting was a little dark, but the indirect lighting was easy on the eyes and was comfortable. After leaving the key to his locker with the receptionist, the man stepped into the bathhouse and was surprised at how different it looked now. The man followed the signs lined up on the walls and first headed towards the rinsing bath. Sitting down in front of it, he scooped out the hot water and began to rinse off his body when a signboard posted on the opposite wall stopped him in his tracks. Back wash?1,000 ril. Soap cost separate. Shampooing 1,000 ril. Perfume oil substitution. A little nice thing 10,000 ril. Very nice thing market price. The man immediately returned to the reception desk to confirm what was written on the wall with the receptionist. The receptionist greeted the man with a glossy complexion that was slightly different from the bright smile she had earlier. The bulletin is real. Then what is a little nice thing and a very nice thing? Ufufufu. The man was just getting more and more excited by the receptionists suggestive smile. The little nice thing will be offered in a partitioned room at the back of the bathhouse. The very nice thing will be given in a private room at the back. No, I would like to know the content of the services. Then the receptionist again let out a small laugh before giving a small wink. Our store is called the Masters Hideaway. The services waiting for you are what you would imagine a master should be catered to. The services could not be put into words, yet the man listened intently to everything the receptionist said. The man took a second to gather his bearings and calm his heart. He purposely convinced himself while speaking in a calm tone. Okay, then I would like to try a little nice thing today. Certainly. A wise decision. The man once again returned to the changing room and paid out the fee of 13 thousand ril to the receptionist which included the cost of the soap and perfume oil. After all the charges were taken care of, the woman who had escorted him before came up from behind and whispered in the mans ear. Are you fine with me serving you? Aah. Aah, Ill leave it to you. Which do you prefer, a maid outfit or underwear? Aah aah. Well then, um, underwear. Certainly. The guide immediately appeared in front of the man. She was already wearing nothing but glossy black underwear. Follow me then. The man was guided to another hot pot located at the back of the bath. Each seat was cordoned off by a wall, so the state of each seat was not visible to the other seats. When the man took his seat, his whole body was carefully wiped down with soap as his hair was washed with perfume. The guides hands covered every inch of the mans body while he was continuously stimulated by the rich chest that was resting on his back. Is anywhere itchy? Aah aah aah. Actually The man tried to work up his courage, but he couldnt say it. There was a place that was so itchy it hurt, but it was in an unspeakable place right below his naval. Ufufufu. I understand The guide woman leaned further on the mans back. The guide womans breath gently tickled on the back of the mans ear. The guide womans hands slid down the mans chest heading closer and closer to between the mans thighs. And a little nice thing. Aah aah aah aah. Well then, please take your time. The man who had finished his little nice thing felt rejuvenated and bright after having his whole body cleaned off and sufficiently enjoyed relaxing his whole body in the soaking bath. This is heaven. After being completely fulfilled with the steaming hot water, the man took the receptionists recommendation and drank a chilled fruit juice. The taste and temperature were perfect. He put his clothes back on in the dressing room feeling better than he had his whole life. When he came back out, the guide woman was waiting for him next to the reception desk already dressed back up in her maid uniform. This is an opening day service. As she murmured such, the guide put both her hands on the mans shoulders and quietly kissed his cheek before once again whispering in his ear. I will be waiting for you to come back. The courageous man stepped out from the bathhouse as its memorable first customer. The men who were too nervous to go in gathered around the emerged warrior and bombarded him with inquiries about the store. But the man with new, glossy skin would only answer with one phrase. Its heaven. Soon, other men began entering one after another, attracted by hands gesturing them inside. How is it? Maria could not respond to Elliss smile. Certainly with this, men who only want to take a bath and men who are looking for a good time could both enjoy using the bath. The more customers who use the facility and enjoy it, the more stories that will spread and bring in more new customers. With that, Maria understands it quite well. But can she let such a store exist? Maria who grew up without any real inconveniences had a psychological disgust with Elliss proposal. But the answer is obvious in a way. For women, those who offer such happy times in this store can at least guarantee that their customers wont renege on their promises, and it provides a sanitary environment for them rather than some dirty alley. Besides, Ellis had told the ladies over and over again until she was blue in the face. In this store, even with a very nice thing, any real acts are absolutely forbidden. So Ellis eliminated the unwanted pregnancies from street prostitution. Maria did not think that this was the correct decision, but there is the fact that street prostitution had been seen as a necessary evil for awhile. It would be better to at least offer some protection for these women at least. Then to peel off the noisy ladies from the store, I will be borrowing the Merchant Guilds hall as promised. Ellis confirmed with Maria first before leaving with Reeve. Maria, who had been told about what was going to happen previously, went ahead to grab the best seat amongst the audience seats in the hall. When Ellis returned to the crowd gathered around the mens bathhouse, she began talking to all the woman who had started making a fuss towards the maids lined up in front of the shop. Today, we would like to apologize for any inconvenience created by the opening of the mens bathhouse. We are holding a limited women only Reeve live concert for free at the Merchant Guilds hall right now. Would you guide them? OK got it. Everyone who wants to come, gather around me! This was an unexpected gift for the women gathered around. It was a great opportunity to take a walk together with Reeve all the way to the Merchant Guild. Moreover, it was a super rare maid servant dressed Reeve. While all the women in the crowd calmly gathered around her, and as if she was the Pied Piper of Hameln, Reeve led the women away. The remaining men who were being held back by the gazes of the gathered women picked up their courage and decided to enter the bathhouse. In the blink of an eye, long lines were formed in front of Masters Hideaway. Now let us go to the hall as well. Ellis gathered Frau, Claire, and Katie to leave as well, but before they could, a voice called out to them. What? Are you not going to show us the bath Ellis? The one to call out to them was Theseus, the Adventurer Guild Master. You sure can say some funny things in front of you daughter. Fraus face became as red as her hair from her anger, and her eyes filled with absolute disgust. Oh Katie, those are some cute clothes you have on. Standing behind Theseus was Baltis, the Thieves Guild Master. Its a little embarrassing. Katies cheeks were died red at having her skirt pointed to, and she tried pulling on it as if that would make it longer. Well Claire, is that an image change? You look nice. The Workshop Guild Master Flint also popped out his head. Please dont. The sudden praise from her teacher left Claires cheeks red as well, but she felt it was unnecessary. Did you uncles come here to sweat as well? Ellis, who did not have any guardians to come embarrass her, felt a little leeway and giggled at the embarrassed expressions on the three girls. In such circumstances, Baltis approached Ellis and bent down to talk directly into her face. The women working at this store were originally under my guilds protection even though they are now affiliated with the Merchant Guild. They paid us for our protection. Do you understand what I mean? In other words, the women who work for this store had belonged to the Thieves Guild. The world isnt just those with power. Being able to do whatever they want, Warrens Jewelry Box is abnormal in that regard. This is because each member has their own individual strength that is further augmented by Elliss ability. Women who do not have such power usually have no other option than to seek asylum from someone with power. I understand. Im not running a charity either. Ellis was able to talk to Baltis with an atmosphere as if such worries were beyond her. But our actions may make us look like a charity as a result. Is that so. After all, this girl is interesting. Baltis once again became interested in Ellis. 1. The author always just referred to Katies foot claws as just footwear, so I called them shin guards because I couldnt come up with a better word for them. Now the author is using boots, and Im here slapping myself for not realizing that was an option. 2. A little Japanese lesson for you. The word the author used here was which is Japanese slang. It means amazing, but a closer definition would probably be something like gnarly or radical. 3. Im pretty sure the author made a mistake in this chapter as they often refer to the Brave Ripper as covering up both arms implying that there are two gauntlets. In previous chapters, there was only one gauntlet, and that trend stays true in later chapters as well. 4. I cant find an English equivalent to this. Theyre underwear that you can show usually made for idols or waitresses with short skirts. I have no idea how theyre different from regular panties. CH 38 Now that the mens private bathhouse, Masters Hideaway, had safely opened, Ellis decided to have everyone show off the results of their experiments. Well, have you guys done your homework? Although I had difficulty with my coloring, it is okay. I am quite confident with mine. Mine differs between taste and appearance. Im looking forward to showing mine off. Everyones homework was to dye a steam cake with their color. Maybe I should apologize to Reeve though? Actually, Ellis had done a bit of self-reflection after giving out this assignment. The problem was that Reeves blue color was often associated with a loss of appetite, and it is rarely seen as something delicious. That is why such a color rarely exists in edible dyes. Well there is no fixing what I said in the past. Lets see the results of your efforts first. The five girls redistributed five small cups of the steam cakes beforehand. The steamed cakes differing colors were beautiful lined up together. Well then, I will go first since I made us do this in the first place. Elliss theme was gold. She initially had the idea of sprinkling gold powder on top of the steam cake, but she gave up pretty quickly since the cost of that would be unsuitable for just a hobby experiment. Ellis then decided to use egg yolk while she was mixing the powder. The result was that the cake had become a pale yellow color and the elasticity of the texture had become stronger. Moreover, she tried mixing in walnuts for an accent. It might be a stretch to call this gold, but you all can consider this as me lowering the hurdle right off the bat. Still, Ellis was proud of her creation and urged everyone to take a taste. It has a strong taste. The crunchiness of the walnut is a nice accent. Reeve and Frau seemed to really enjoy the gold steam cake. Next was Reeves turn. Honestly, blue was impossible. With those humble words right off the bat, Reeve introduced a steam cake that was dyed a bluish purple. I finely adjusted the color tone with the fruit juice of a blueberry. It would turn completely purple if I had put in more juice than I had. Because the fruit juice alone didnt do much to season the flavor, I had to mix in the whole fruit. It also made adjusting the gradation easier. Wonderful Reeve! This gradation is also nice! The acidity from the berries is really delicious! This cake was well liked by Ellis and Claire. Next was Fraus cake. The color is dyed red with raspberry just like Reeve, but I did mix in the corners of some boiled purple yam. Its a wonderful red color and looks delicious. Next was Claire with her black cake. The coloring is mostly from black sesame with another added ingredient. Try a taste. While being urged by Claire, everyone took the black mass that you would normally never want near your mouth, and the first thing they tasted was the sesame seeds. Furthermore, a fragrant and sweet smell passed through their noses, and a bittersweet taste was left in their mouths. What is that bittersweet taste? Claire pounded her chest when Ellis asked. This is caramel. After burning some sugar, I mixed it into the dough. As expected of Claire. The idea was wonderful. This is a really unexpected taste. Lets say it is an adults taste. This one seems to have become the favorite of Reeve and Frau. The last is Katie. Katies is special nya. At the recommendation of Katie, the four carried the last cake to their mouth with great expectations. Four people tilted their heads and took another taste. On behalf of the four whose faces had scrunched up like a foxs, Claire gently prodded Katie. Im sorry. I dont know what you changed. I didnt add anything. Huh? Katie puffed out her chest in pride. The steam cakes were already pure white. Because Im providing the basic taste, the ingeniousness of the other four will stand out. Ellis was impressed. Really, sometimes she does come up with good ideas. I actually tried adding some boiled white beans, but it completely covered up the taste of the cake, so I quit. It certainly wouldnt blend well like Fraus purple yams. Everyone passed. Rather, mine was the most common. It was no such thing. The crunch of the walnut was wonderful. By the way, why did we do this? While appreciating Reeves follow-up, Fraus tsukkomi made Ellis remember the important points. It was. Ellis explained the reasons for the homework to everyone. These will be called Five Color Steam Cakes, and they will be a specialty product of Lily Garden. I have already obtained consent from the Merchant Guild. We will first sell them at the upcoming Harvest Festival. Aah! Active advertising. However, the next tsukkomi would come from Reeve. What are we going to use as a container? Ah.. Ellis stiffened. The price would certainly be expensive if we used a pottery cup. Why not apply some oil to the inside of the cup before steaming? Then we can easily take the cake out. But that would ruin its no-oil appeal. This was truly a blindspot. There is paper in this world. However, it is made of hemp and is closer to cardboard paper or washi.1 It is too thick for work like lining a small cup. Naturally, it is also not suitable for wiping down the important places after using the toilet either. Then Katie came up with a decent idea. If its like this, how about we steam them up in a big batch, and we cut it up into bite size pieces like a loaf of bread? Katie continued to build off her idea. If we put a knife at the end of the container, we can make sure to divide the big loaves into certain weights. Then if we put on another knife, we can cut off the parts that dont look as good and sell only the good-looking parts. The cut off ends can be sold cheaply to the guild for their tea ceremonies. Katie was truly on a roll. And she just kept on rolling. Then, if we arrange the five different colors of the cake in appropriate cut up pieces on a small cloth, we can sell them as souvenirs. We could also just arrange them on a plate and have the customers eat them right away. Well then lets go! Ellis confirmed the size of the large steamer Claire had made with the female craftsman and bought five square pottery pots with Frau. These had flat bodies with 500 mm in length and width with 100 mm in depth. After spreading the dough thinly and widely in this, they deposited it in the steamer. At the bottom of the steamer, a large metal pot was installed. There were regular stones gathered at its base with one large Fever stone placed underneath so that the heating would not be applied directly to the pot. On top of it was placed a square wooden frame with a bamboo steamer sort-of-device made from a rattan-woven net. It was completed with a rattan lid on top. After starting up the Fever stone and pouring water into the pot, it started boiling immediately and steam was vigorously generated. They girls placed a thin cloth at the bottom of the container so that the cake would be easily peeled off before pouring the dough from above. Ellis added her walnuts, Reeve her blueberries, Frau her scarlet mixture, at intervals of 50 mm. There would be a total of 100 pieces made with each one 10 mm in length and width. Each section was cordoned off by an edge. After everything was filled, it was placed in the Claire special steamer, and extra air placed underneath the fabric was blown out, flattening the fabric. Steaming time was about a quarter of an hour. Push in the skewer to make sure that the cakes were solid before taking out the entire container. Slide a knife around the edges and gently raise the corner of the fabric to let out any heated up air still between the cloth and the container. Then flip the container upside down. Continue to run the knife on the bottom of the container and peel off the cloth completely to take out the cake. Here Claires handmade carving machine appears. This is a square box with fine steel wires crossed at equal intervals. By pushing this down on the rectangular cake, it can be cut equally down every side. With this, a cube made up of 5 rectangular parts was cut up into 100 equal sized pieces. The cakes were then arranged in a checkerboard pattern, and the Five Color Steam Cake set is complete. Frau prepared the extra bits in another bowl afterwards. Next is a container. This is done by cutting the hemp paper into 200 mm squares, forming a bottom plate, and a 400 mm square cloth to wrap it up. We can order thin cloths and cut up hemp paper at the Workshop Guild. We can also have a print made on the paper. Frau came with a suggestion upon Claires new infromation. How about getting our flag printed on it? Sounds good! Ellis and Claire immediately left to go consult with Flint. Of course bringing souvenirs. Is Mr. Flint here? Ellis? Give me one moment. A young man who seemed to be resting to be resting underneath the eaves immediately got up and left to go call his boss. After a while, Flint came up from the back. Oh, how are you doing today? Do you have time for a small consultation? Ellis and Claire handed over the souvenir steam cakes to Flint and immediately got down to talking about their operation. Hm. So each color is one of your girls symbol. Then Ill eat Claire first. Old man, what is with that expression? Oh, this black one is sesame and caramel. Itd go great with some tea. Then Ill eat Ellis next. Thats why Im saying you should stop using that vulgar way of speaking on purpose. Aah, this one has crispy walnuts. Well, I understand that you came here asking about designer paper and such, but Claire, you shouldve thought about this a little more. While gently striking Claires head with his fist, Flint added a new idea. Make the bottom paper plate larger to encompass the height of the cake as well. Then fold the paper to completely protect the cakes. This would prevent the cakes from collapsing through the cloth, and it would make for a better presentation. Then just adjust the cloth to make a dedicated drawstring bag. It would be costly to have your flag printed on with all five of your colors, but if it was dyed in one color, it could be done immediately. 10 ril for each mount paper and another 10 ril for each piece of liner paper, and you would have to order them in sets of 100. The drawstring bag will be 200 ril for a set, and itll be an additional 180 ril to have single color prints sewn on. Truly an ossan.2 If thats the case, selling the cakes with a single bag for 600 ril will give enough of a profit. Thank you, Master. Ellis and Claire bowed their heads to Fling. Next the two headed for the Merchant Guild. Just like before, they gave a set of cakes to Maria for tasting. Then I shall eat Madame Reeve. The adults in this city are seriously disappointing. Yeah, thisll do. This product is just as good as what you told me about the other day. Yes, we will be selling them at the Harvest Festival for 600 ril. Isnt that a little expensive? They will be coming with a drawstring bag with the flag of Warrens Jewelry Box embroidered on it. Change it to 1000 ril for the Harvest Festival. Truly a merchant. After confirming everything with the Merchant Guild, Ellis visited the Adventurer Guild and the Thieves Guild as well to have all the other masters try out the cakes. This way she doesnt have to hear about any complaints or whining later on down the line. When Ellis had finished traveling to the guilds, she made her way home, but for some reason, Frau was there waiting for her with a smile while Katie was off in a corner looking dizzy. Whats wrong? Here, please eat this. Fraus offering was a small dish made from the cut up edges of the steam cake. It looked like they were made into a larger cake by having the leftover steam cake organized into layers with custard cream gluing them together with a topping made up of whipped cream and scattered fruits. Just spread out the cream with a spoon and then serve. These sweets are sometimes called trifles. Oh, something delicious came out. We already gave some sweets to the guild nya. By the way, Katie had volunteered to make some more sweets as presents for the guilds. I wonder what Frau said to her to make her look like this. Katie, come have some of this. Really? Is it okay? This one can be enjoyed by many people. Katies eyes instantly began to shine. Thats right, isnt it. Thus Ellis had finished another peaceful day. Meanwhile, the Brave party was wandering the kingdoms dungeons, as usual, and the Demon Lord continued to crush and throw all bronze claw gauntlets that they kept bringing him. CH 39 Ellis and Claire, who had gone to check up on the septic tank installed in the marsh, came back with a strange souvenir on their way back. It was a man who had collapsed on his horse. His hair was done up into a mohawk, and he was wearing some vulgar shoulder pads with spike decorations. He was also wearing some shameful-looking armor with spikes, sleazy pants, and cheap-looking boots that had even more spikes. While dragging along such a man, the horse was walking toward town looking quite exhausted itself. The employees and ladies of Lily Garden want nothing to do with a seedy looking man as a matter of course, so the obvious solution is to just ignore him. However, if left alone, the horse will most definitely end up piercing the city. If that happens, and it causes some problem, the guild masters would definitely do something annoying since she overlooked it. Perhaps something interesting will happen. There is no other choice. Ellis murmured to herself taking hold of the horses reins. As no men are allowed to enter the Hundred Gardens1, Ellis and Claire guided the man to a grassy area between the mansion and the city. Then the man cried out in a weak voice, I need something to eat.. It seems he is unable to move due to hunger. Claire noticed Elliss look and returned to the mansion. She immediately returned carrying a tray with a cup and dish on top. It was bread soup which boiled extra bread portions with soup stock and eggs. When Frau heard about Mr. Mohawk from Claire, she whipped this up saying, it is a tasty dish that is easy on the stomach. Enticed by the smell of the soup Claire was carrying, the man fell from his horse and collapsed onto the grass. There is no other choice Muttering the same words as before, Ellis propped up Mr. Mohawks upper body from his back while Claire squatted down next to him and offered up the soup. Mr. Mohawk took a spoon into his hands and scooped out a large portion. Lightly blowing on it to cool it down, he then slowly started to sip up the soup. Delicious. Delicious! Mr. Mohawk started to eat up the soup while crying. Does he have his own circumstances? As Ellis tried to piece together the situation, Katie suddenly appeared wearing the mini-skirt maid uniform which had recently become her favorite outfit. Thanks for the meal. Ellis, look at this nya! At the moment that Mr. Mohawk had finished his meal and looked up to thank Ellis, Katie had flipped up her mini-skirt in front of Elliss face. Katie proudly exposed a set of black string panties to Ellis. She had exposed herself gorgeously, showing off everything up to her navel. At the same time, Frau had come charging out of the house, his face completely flushed red. Kya! Katie return them right now! But Katie tried to escape from Frau while still having her skirt pulled up. This must be the show show panties that Ellis was talking about right nya? Because there is no doubt that Frau called these lucky panties nya. By the way, these string panties are really nice because my tail doesnt get caught up in them at all nya. I have decided I shall wear these from now. Bullshit! Frau threw her minotaur maul at the escaping Katie which delivered a beautiful knockout blow to the back of Katies head. At the same time the Sacrificial doll hanging at Katies waist exploded upon impact while the Stupor effect took hold and bound Katies movements. And somehow during all this, Mr. Mohawk had fainted. When Mr. Mohawk opened his eyes, heaven was spreading out before him. Five beautifully divine angels had surrounded him and were gazing down upon him. Aah, they have come to pick me up. Mr. Mohawk, who realized that the end of his life had come, closed his eyes once again. However, someone was calling him. Mr. Mohawk. Mr. Mohawk? Mr. Mohawk was a little confused. Was Mr. Mohawk referring to him? When he opened his eyes once again and looked closely, he realized that one of the five angels was the black haired girl who had given him food earlier. Hm? Mr. Mohawk returned to sanity. I was surprised. These were the first words that Mr. Mohawk said. I saw a girls panties for the first time in my life. I dont care about panties now tell me who you are. Mr. Mohawk, who was scolded by the little girl with gold hair, began to talk about his dramatic circumstances. He says he is a member of a certain organization. Their job was to search for a certain item. Its a golden gauntlet with claws that can retract. I imagine it looks quite awful. The five girls naturally noticed. This man was a servant of the Demon Lord. Although he seems to be pretty far down on the totem pole. Mr. Mohawks story continued. It seems that he was from a remote village. He lived as a poor yet happy farmer in that village. One day, however, his village was attacked by someone. The attackers killed everyone who resisted and the elderly while plundering all of the villages property and took the women away. All the nonresistant men left behind had their heads shaved to mohawks and were forced to wear these ugly uniforms. And then they gave out their orders. Go searching for the golden claw. The attackers were the army of the Demon Lord. The men dispatched from the Demon Lord had decided to ransack some villages to form squads, and the men would organize these squads to search the entire continent. The captives only received a jewel. Their equipment was called Hyaaha Armor2. It offers zero defense, and the spikes lining the clothing are really only good for looks. He does have a Hyaaha bat with spikes though that does look like it would be really painful. Unfortunately, when you are dressed like that, everyone would naturally run away from you without hearing what you have to say. He couldnt order any meals or even buy any food because he didnt have any ril. The squad just continued to scatter out until he was alone. He spent the last couple days without any food or water until he reached here. It really was a sad, terrible story. But Ellis was honestly more interested in the words at the beginning of the story than the storys actual contents. Would you show me the jewel they gave you? Mr. Mohawk pulled out a small pouch from his pocket at Elliss request. Here it is. Frau instantly appraised the jewel that Mr. Mohawk held in his hand and whispered the value into Elliss ear. It should be worth almost 500 thousand ril. Roger. Ellis quickly started running the calculations in her head. What is your budget for purchasing these claws anyway? Mr. Mohawk got really depressed when he heard Elliss question. I dont know. Its be best if I could just exchange it for this jewel I suppose. Mr. Mohawk continued to tell them extra things. To be honest, I could bring back just about anything. The leader only wants some achievements. Since the other teams keep delivering golden claws one after another, the leader is getting restless. Are there more of these jewels? The leader has a lot of them. He says that I can bring as many as I want, but I only brought this one for now. Fufufufufufu. Policy decision. Ellis quietly discussed things with her colleagues in a group circle for a moment a little ways away. When they were done, Ellis came back alone to talk to Mr. Mohawk. I can show you where to exchange the jewel for ril. That way you can buy some food, and it will be more convenient later on. Ill help you find some information about these golden claws as well. By the way, what is Mr. Mohawks name? This was a very generous offer, and Mr. Mohawk was genuinely moved. He couldnt show his gratitude enough and gave himself over to her. Thank you. Oh, and my name is Ken. Ellis and Ken first headed to the Adventurers Guild. Hello, Helen-san. Hello Ellis. The receptionist Helen welcomed Ellis in as usual. As for Ken, she didnt seem to pay much mind to him at all. Ken was truly relieved by this, and he released some of his tension. I would like to sell a jewel, but I wonder if you could appraise it for me? Ellis urged Ken to take out the jewel from his pocket and hand it over to Helen. Helen looked it over very carefully while holding the jewel up to a light before giving them both a smile. It is worth 400 thousand ril. Helen smoothly presented an offer lower than the actual price, but since Ken was very unlikely to know the actual market price of a jewel like this, immediately and graciously sold the jewel to the Adventurers Guild. For a former poor farmer like Ken, 400 thousand ril was a lot of money, and he was thrown off a little from having so much money in his hand. Ellis continued the negotiations while Ken was still like that. By the way, this person is looking for a golden claw, so is there any information about that? Helen pretended to think about it for a moment before giving them another smile. Oh, I think the Thieves Guild said something about that, but Im afraid I cant say for sure. I understand Helen. We will head over there right now. Ufufufu, 100 thousand ril down. The Adventurers Guild, which had just recently come into some extra income, would share some of those profits with Ellis later. Ellis and Ken next stopped at the Thieves Guild. Karen, its been awhile. Ellis, it has been too long. Karen was Katies replacement as a receptionist for the Thieves Guild, and she was actually a girl that Ellis knew from way back. This one is looking for information about some golden claw weapon. Does the guild know anything about it? Karen instantly started looking troubled. Do you know about it Karen? Is it something interesting? Ellis noticed the look Karen was giving, and she instantly pushed forward on it. Karen took a second as if she was coming to some impossible decision before finally deciding to tell Ellis. Actually, I havent told the master yet, but a traveler brought this in earlier. She then pulled out a golden gauntlet with claws. The traveler seemed to have been in desperate need of money, and he begged me to buy it with tears in his eyes. I ended up giving him all the money that he asked for. The master was absent, so I took full responsibility for the transaction, but Im honestly really troubled. Then Ken went into business mode. Hey, can I see that for a bit? Sure, here you go. Ken took the gauntlet from Karens hands, and carefully looked over it. Upon observation, he discovered the words Bravo Rippa3 written in black marker inside. Oh, Ohhh, Ohhhhhhhhhhh! I think I got a hit! Please sell this to me! But Ellis sighed and tried to reassure Karen who had started to get a little embarrassed by Kens overenthusiastic response. Just have Ken by it for the same price that you bought it from the traveler, and then say that he bought it directly from the traveler. That way Ken gets his gauntlet, and no damage comes to the Thieves Guild. How much was it? 300 thousand ril. Ken has 400 thousand rils on him. So Ken happily bought the Bravo Rippa for 300 thousand ril. I can avoid getting scolded by the leader with this. Ellis, Karen, thank you really. Im glad youre happy, just remember that if anyone asks, you bought it from a traveler. Of course! Karen watched as Ken left alongside Ellis with a huge smile plastered across his face. Meanwhile, Claire and Katie had started rolling on the floor behind the counter laughing. The Bravo Rippa is obviously a cheap imitation. By the way, the production cost for one of those from the Workshop Guild is 30 thousand ril. That means that there was a total profit of 270 thousand ril that the Workshop Guild, Thieves Guild, and Ellis would all be splitting as extra income. Ken thanked Ellis while holding the golden gauntlet close to him. Ellis, I cant thank you enough for today. Ellis smiled and patted Kens leg. By the way, Ken said that today was the first time hed ever seen a girls panties right? The mention of the incident from before caused Kens face to dye a deep red. Ellis pushed on. If youd like, I can show you a really great secret place. Ellis took Kens hand who was still red as a beet and pulled him towards Masters Hideaway. Please wait here for a moment. Ellis left Ken in an alley a little bit away from Masters Hideaways entrance. In the shop, Reeve was already there waiting for her. Hello Ellis-ojousama. And next to Reeve was a woman chewing a sweet-scented tobacco pipe in her lips who greeted Ellis politely. Hello Margherita-neesan. Ive been waiting since I received the instructions from Reeve-sama. Whats the story this time? Margherita is the leader of the maids. The girls had been trained into maids using Ellis-Eijis Demon Home Delivery Techniques before opening the new bath. Until then, the girls were all prey trying to live while being kept like animals at the whim of strangers in dark alleys. But in the bathhouse, it was the opposite, and they were making full of the techniques they learned to lead the men who come in along the nose. Even though all the customers can get when they visit are a little nice thing or a very nice thing, it is still very well received by the customers, and they have many repeaters. I brought a goose today. Ellis told Margherita about the situation with a smile. Hes a virgin with a regular income. He currently has 100 thousand ril. Ive confirmed it. Margherita laughed alongside Ellis. Eat the eggs, and leave the chicken meat huh, Ojousama? Taking a quick look around the store, Margherita beckoned to a girl who had just recently been hired after coming from the countryside. Hanna, I will introduce you, so please do it well. At the same time, Ellis returned to the alley and took Ken to the front of the bathhouse. Well then we are here! Ellis had returned. Ken was with her who had been left behind. Making a U-turn like this would normally look really suspicious. However, Kens head was filled with thoughts about Mr. Panties which completely drowned out any possible alarms. Ken walked into the shop with bated anticipation. Then a woman greeted him. Welcome home, Mater! Hanna was standing next to the reception counter and welcomed Ken in. On the other hand, Ken had yet to move a single muscle since Hanna called him Master. Then the receptionist leaning against the counter next to Hanna broke Ken out of his head with her laugh. If youre here to take a bath, itll be 1 thousand ril. When Ken payed the 1 thousand ril fee, Hanna took his hand and led him along. Unlike when Ellis took his hand, Ken could feel his hand get clammy when Hanna took hold of him, and he started to sweat as Hanna led him over to the dressing room. As he started to take his clothes off, he started to calm himself down. Its just a bathhouse. I will go and refresh myself. After finally relaxing himself inside the dressing room, he was guided to the tubs, and he started to really relax as he washed his body with the hot water. Then a sign posted in front of him made him freeze. Little nice thing ? 10,000 ril Very nice thing ? market price This was far too stimulating for a young man who had only seen a girls panties for the first time a few hours ago. Ken realized he had staring at the sign for a few minutes, and took another few minutes to talk himself into standing up. He hid his crotch behind his towel and waddled back to the reception desk. Um, what is a very good thing? Though it was not the receptionist from before who was waiting for him but Hanna. She took his hand again and led him back towards the dressing room and whispered into his ear. For example. Aauaau Kens face was bright red when Hanna brought him back to the counter, but he worked up his courage and asked. How much is the market price? Er.. On behalf of the Hanna who had frozen up herself, Margherita butted in from behind the reception desk. Today its 98 thousand ril for an all-inclusive package. For the record, the price for a very good thing is usually 50 thousand ril, so it can be said that they were taking it easy on him comparatively. There is currently 99 thousand ril in Kens hands. Even if he orders a very good thing, he will still have a thousand ril in his hands. And in this way his virginity will end. I, Id like to order a very nice thing. Ken worked up his courage to push forward, and Hannas face turned red. Ye, yes would you prefer my maid uniform or underwear? Aauaau It, its up to you. Certainly, yes. Ken was guided into the back by Hanna in her maid uniform who started to wash his body very carefully. His already red face brightened up even more as the scented perfume was blended into his mohawk, and another part of him was getting excited. Excuse me. Hanna gradually extended her arms down from behind Ken. First of all, a little nice thing. Aauuu. With Kens body and mind having been wiped clean, Hanna who herself was already a little blushed, invited Ken to join her in one of the private rooms. Excuse me. Red, she took off her maid uniform piece by piece in front of Ken. Aau. Hannas hands reached down to her last piece of clothing. Aauuu. In front of Hanna who had completely bared herself in front of him, Ken met the wise man for the second time that day. Youth is that type of thing. Hanna slowly climbed into bed with him and quietly whispered into Kens ear. Excuse me.. Aauaau Aauaau Aauuuu Ken redid his mohawk to perfection and securely fastened his Hyaaha armor back together before turning back to the reception desk. I will return Hanna! We will be waiting, Master! Ken left the building with Hannas bright smile saved into his memory. The sun is truly dazzling today. Ken walked confidently back to Elliss house. While watching him go, Margherita spoke to Hanna. Its okay. To kill a few so that others can live, we have to make regular contributions. Hanna. I understand. Margherita-oneesan. This is a catch the weasel while it sleeps kind of world.? Hey Ken, welcome back. I have your horse all rested up and ready to go. When Ken saw Ellis, his smile broadened even more, and he felt nothing but the utmost gratitude. Ellis, this entire day has been perfect thanks to you. No, you give me too much credit. Please tell all your friends and return to Warren some time. Ken resolutely nodded his head and looked off somewhere in the sky. I will definitely come I will absolutely meet Hanna again! Please accept this as a thank you from me. While declaring so, Ken handed over his last 1 thousand ril to Ellis. I will accept it gratefully. Then I will see you again! Farewell Ellis! Then Ken mounted his horse and left as swiftly as the wind. A few days later, Ken returned once again as promised accompanied by several of his friends. Ive come back, Hanna! Ken and his colleagues exchanged jewelry at the adventurer guild for an amount lower than the market price. They then purchased Bravo Rippas from Thieves Guild members disguised as travelers. They were served only the finest meals at the restaurant, and they payed the market price at the bathhouse. All of this was done in accordance with Elliss instructions. The news spread across the city, and it quickly became known as the Mohawk Price. But Ken and his friends did not care that the majority of money was being swindled away. Because they have plenty of gems to trade away. Most importantly, they are now happy. Aauaau Aauaau Aauuuu In this way, the Demon Lord army became one of Warrens biggest customers, and they pioneered the success of the city. 1. Just because I dont think I made it clear in past chapters, Hundred Gardens can be referred to as the womans only district they created. For now, it only includes Lily Garden and the affiliated restaurant. 2. This is a reference to Fist of the North Star. Theres a gang that wears armor like this, and the armor is named after their distinctive laugh. Thanks to all the guys who helped me figure that one out. 3. Instead of katakana, this name is written in hiragana. 4. The literal translation for this idiom is so weird. It was to pluck out the eye of a live horse, and I had no idea what it meant. Turns out there is a similar idiom in english. They mean that you have to attack when the opponent is weak. CH 40 Katie has the Brave Ripper equipped on her arm. The performance of the dark mithril material is currently unknown, so Ellis decided everyone would travel to the Wight Labyrinth in order to verify its magical abilities. Just to be safe, Purification and Stupor had been copied on all the rest of her equipment which had been modified by the Workshop Guild to match the weight of Brave Ripper. Lets do this. First of all, they would start with a general room filled with skeletons. As with the previous tactic, Katie broke through the skeletons formation from the front. As a result, it was discovered that dark mithril was able to inflict damage to undead as it was. Not only that, it also showed offensive power that already surpassed the Flying Swallow + Purification combo without any enchantments. In other words, every skeleton that was hit by Brave Ripper was pulverized in a single blow. Amazing. Reeve let out a sigh as Katie crushed a skeletons skull in her hand without any mercy. Against the first mid-boss ghoul, Ellis cast Anti-poison on everyone beforehand just in case, but Katie decided to set a timer. Although the result did not go as far as ending it with a single blow, it was still Katies overwhelming victory. With the ghouls attack speed, it was completely overwhelmed by Katies agile movements, and it was one-sidedly cut down and ended. It looks like fun. Frau, who was covering Ellis and Claire at the door, smiled at Katie. In order to ascertain the defensive power of Brave Ripper, in the next boss room, zombie golem, Katie crossed her arms in front of her chest and ate the zombies punch. The result could be called as expected at this point. Without creating even a dent in Brave Ripper, Katie completely absorbed the shock of the punch with a back step. The defensive power is also quite good. It seems like it will be able to handle just about anything. After Katie took the attack from the zombie golem, Claire blew away the golems head with {Explosion} and gave Katie a nod. Lastly, Katie challenged the last boss, a wight, alone. The {Fire Bullets} that the wight shot out were completely nullified by by her Resistance bra top and Magic Guard brooch, so she bulldozed her way through them. She released a flurry of blows onto the wight, cutting through and tearing apart parts of its body. It seems that even though the wight is originally impervious to physical attacks, the Brave Ripper is still able to damage him. However, the damage from the cuts were still reduced and minimal, so the fight ended with Claire striking it with her own {Fire Bullet}. Yosh yosh! With results like this, if we give it Resistance and Inhalation, it would be a perfect weapon for a vanguard. Ellis rejoiced as she quickly released the trap on the boss treasure chest which no longer posed even a slight threat. Elliss group returned to the adventurer guild satisfied with the gold they received from finishing the labyrinth and more-so with the results of the experiment. But when they returned, they noticed a large group gathered around the reception counter. Curious, Ellis walked towards someone she knew nearby. Is something wrong? Oh Ellis. In fact, a nasty guy showed up in the Salamander Labyrinth. A nasty guy? Yeah. Do you know what a Metal Eater is? When Ellis shook her head, the man started to explain. The Metal Eater is a rare monster that can randomly show up in any dungeon. It has the ability to instantaneously eat an adventurers metal weapons or armor. The worst part is that he has absolute physical and magical defense, so its impossible to kill them through ordinary means. In exchange, the Metal Eater has zero attack power, so even if a Metal Eater randomly spawns inside a dungeon, it is usually not a big deal. As long as you leave it alone, it will go away after awhile, but the labyrinth this guy showed up in was a problem. It appeared right before the boss room door of Salamander Labyrinth. Currently, the demand for Fever Stones are at an all-time high due to the ever growing popularity of the Claire-Flint brand showers and toilets. Thats why Salamander Labyrinth, with its boss that reliably drops Fever Stones, is the most popular dungeon to explore right now. Hearing the story, Ellis could honestly say she didnt care about the Salamander Labyrinth. She did not need to hunt any salamanders to obtain her Fever stones after all. But the idea of a rare monster definitely got her curious. Since she can just copy Fever stone abilities, she could just pop in, take a look, and run away without fighting the salamander boss if it looked dangerous. Why dont we go take a look? The other four all agreed to Elliss invitation. Things might get bad at this rate. Im sure we could think up a countermeasure. Lets take a look at the very least. Nya. As a result, Elliss party got permission in advance to take a look on behalf of the guild and made their way to Salamander Labyrinth. The Salamander Labyrinth is an elementary class labyrinth that consists of ten rooms. Moreover, since the entire dungeon had already been cleared until right before the boss room, the only thing the girls had to do was walk there while Ellis deactivated the few traps that had respawned. The treasure chests had their traps reactivated as well, but not enough time had passed for the contents to reappear. Even if they did, it would only be a small coin, so the girls ignored them and moved on. As a result, the girls arrived in front of the boss room in the blink of an eye. There it is. Before Elliss eyes was a small monster that she could probably carry in her arms sitting in front of the boss room door. It had the body of an anteater with the armor of an armadillo on its back. Its whole body was white except for the upper part of its belly and chest which made it look like it was wearing a tank top shirt. Still, its armadillo armor shined brightly in the torchlight. The guy was just sitting there in front of the boss room door. It was seriously cute. It has no attack power right? Ellis murmured such before stripping off all her armor and making herself naked. The only thing she kept was the small Sacrificial doll which was tied around her waist. Just in case, Ellis gave Claire her Full Recovery ring and told her to heal her immediately if she took any damage. Ellis then took out an ordinary metal dagger from her Bag of Gluttony, and she slowly approached the Metal Eater while holding the dagger above her head. The Metal Eater soon noticed Ellis. Rather than her, though, its black eyes focused on the dagger. When Ellis had finally reached about ten meters away, the Metal Eaters elongated tongue shot out towards the dagger. The moment that the Metal Eaters tongue touched it, the dagger started to erode away. With that momentum, the tongue wrapped around the dagger and stole it from Elliss hands. The dagger was carried right before it, and the Metal Eater held the dagger to its chest underneath its forelegs before beginning to nibble away at the metal. To be honest, the appearance of it eating the dagger really was quite cute. Ellis got closer to the Metal Eater while it was eating. Ellis was able to easily get right in front of it. The Metal Eater continued to nibble away at the dagger while only glancing at Ellis. Soon the entire dagger had been eaten and drawn into its stomach. Gepuu After letting out a cute burp, the Metal Eater looked squarely at Ellis, and its eyes seemed to be asking, Isnt there more? But Ellis didnt have any more dagger for the Metal Eater. *Whack!* Instead, Ellis slapped the Metal Eater squarely on its right cheek. *Whack!* Next was the left cheek. The Metal Eater couldnt understand what was suddenly happening. It was completely confused, but Ellis completely ignored that reaction and continued to slap it around while looking down on it with cold eyes. *Whack!* *Whack!* Physical attacks cant deal any damage to a Metal Eater. But that doesnt mean it wont hurt. The Metal Eaters mind was falling into chaos as both of its cheeks turned hot with pain. *Whack!* *Whack!* Trying to escape from Elliss relentless beating, the Metal Eater tried to escape while crying out, Pi~ Pi~ But alas, along with its absolute defense, Metal Eaters have zero attack power. As a result, the second it turned its back on her, Ellis took hold of its shell and forced it to face her. She made it look into her cold eyes as she continued to beat it. Why am I being beaten? Have I eaten too many things so far? Did I bother various people? Is this a punishment from God? *Whack!* Finally the Metal Eater hid its head underneath its forelegs and tried to make itself as small as possible on the ground. Then suddenly, the Metal Eater felt its body suddenly floating in the air. The Metal Eater was embraced into the chest of the nude girl who had been hitting it so far. It was a hug so warm, the Metal Eater thought it was going to melt. Oh, this feels so good. Then the naked girl whispered to the Metal Eater. Im sorry. I dont hate you; I only do this because I love you. Hey, why dont you come to the outside world with me? The Metal Eater was surprised by the sudden confession from the girl. Oh, this little girl loves me. I was in the wrong, and she was just correcting me. I will follow this girl. Deciding thus, the Metal Eater quietly rolled itself up in Elliss arms. The four who had watched all this play out felt a chill run down their spines. This was the beginning to a typical case of domestic violence. In Eijis world, by mixing in both violent and loving treatment, yakuza would abuse and brainwash the women who would work the streets for them. Reeve, Frau, Claire, and Katie were all stunned by Ellis who was merciless to even monsters. Were back! It is now possible to go to the Salamander Labyrinths boss room. When the people waiting for Elliss return heard her call out from the transport area, every breathed a sigh of relief. But when they looked up at her, their gazes all gathered towards her arms. For some reason, there was something that looked an awful lot like a Metal Eater there. Hey, hey. Did you seriously take it? A few people amongst the stunned crowd could only laugh. If we bring it here, then it probably wont end up burdening the dungeon any more. It is true that this would be a good long-term solution. Metal Eaters are rare monsters, and it is said that two of them will never spawn at once in a dungeon. Even if this isnt entirely true, the fact that the odds of a Metal Eater spawning in Salamander Labyrinth again would be reduced if the one that already had was still alive. So we decided to keep it. Everyone in the Adventurer Guild Frau as if she was about to tell them all it was just a big joke, but Claire jumped in and tried to reassure them all. Its already been trained by Ellis. Itll only eat metal when Ellis says it is okay. Trained? What did you do? Hey! The boss room is all open now! Shouldnt you guys go clear it quickly? Katie quickly changed the subject. Oh, um, thank you very much. While appreciating that Ellis had left them the boss, the waiting party headed back towards Salamander Labyrinth. Helen, the receptionist on duty who watched the entire exchange, decided to go talk to the guild master to see if it would be a bad idea to have a monster live in town as one would expect. What? Are they fancying themselves monster tamers now? Following Helens report, Theseus let out what was probably the deepest sigh of his life and entered the guild hall. His eyes immediately moved to the Metal Eater resting in Elliss arms. Its cute when you look at it. So, what are you going to do with it? Keep it. When Ellis answered him straight on like that, there wasnt much Theseus could do. If thats the case, then be sure to take good care of it. But please report this to Baltis too. You can tell him I already gave my consent. In this manner, Elliss group returned to the mansion after introducing their new pet to each of the guild heads. Ellis and the others took the Metal Eater into the bath with them that night. As to be expected, he couldnt be brought directly into the public bathtub, so they instead filled up a laundry basket that they brought from home with hot water. The Metal Eater was left to soak in it. Pihyaa The Metal Eater stretched itself out in the hot water and raised a cry as it exhaled all its stress. The girls became excited hearing such a cuddly cute noise. Ellis, what are we going to name it? Ellis thought about Reeves question. I wonder if there are any good names. Oh, what about Metal Chewing Suicide Cheeks Devil-kun? Way too long Reeve. And its not cute at all. How about Monster-kun with the Tongue that Degrades Metal? Thats more of a commentary on what a Metal Eater does Claire. Nyaa. Stop enjoying the bath for a minute and think Katie. How about naming it Pi-tan since it keeps making that noise? Ah! It sounds a little bit like a ducks egg1, but it feels good Frau. Yosh. Lets go with that. From today on, you are Pi-tan! As if it understood Elliss voice, the Metal Eater called out Pi~ and splashed in its bath a bit. Just like that, the girl with the ability to make magic tools obtained a mascot with the ability to destroy magic tools. CH 41 In Warren, the preparations for the harvest festival had begun in full swing. The agenda for todays Warren Council meeting was about confirming the harvest festivals schedule and dividing the duties between the guilds. Of course, even though its a harvest festival, its not like this is an event to celebrate Warrens harvest. Since Warren is an autonomous trade city, it does not produce any crops of its own. As a matter of fact, the production of crops is prohibited by Warren in the first place. This is because if Warren permitted the production of agricultural crops, the base price of living would change, throwing off the market price guidelines that all stores have to follow when starting up a store.1 With that being the case, the main purpose of the harvest festival is meant to be to provide a place where the various neighboring cities and villages can compete with the quality and quantity of their own harvests. A large amount of food gets traded and sold this time of year at a higher price than what they would usually get. Therefore the stage for this event became Warrens harvest festival. As a trade city that didnt produce its own food, it provided the perfect neutral location. During the festival, various stands would be lined up throughout the city displaying their crops. The buyers and sellers of these crops naturally gather here, but the event also brings in a large number of tourists and people who are interested in Warrens goods and services. Warren street vendors aim for these tourists, and they always try to bring out their most expensive and impressive goods during this period. The length of the festival is seven days. During this period, in addition to the already existing accommodation facilities in Warren, temporary camp housing is set up in residential areas, simple tents stretch out in the suburbs, temporary hostels are built in the plaza, etc. etc. The biggest event of the harvest festival is the auction which is held on the last day. The inventory for all the items put on sale are advertised the day before the festival begins meaning there is an eight day gap between when people see the items, and when they are sold. For all the participating cities in Warrens harvest festival, the furthest one away takes eight days to reach by carriage. In other words, there is just enough time for any spoiled princes or rich nobles who found some stupid, fancy commodity to send someone back with a fast horse and grab some extra money. In the auction, only cash and guild exchange notes from the Merchant Guild and Adventurer Guild can be used. Payment with jewelry or bartering is impossible. Obviously credit is also out of the question. For the Warren merchant guild, 10 percent of the winning bid is given as income, so they decided to extend length of the festival in order to maximize the profits and take as much money from those rich guests as possible. The requirement of cash only settlements and immediate purchase is to prevent the winning bidder from reneging from their purchase. All purchases are non-returnable. During the harvest festival, the Adventurer Guild and Workshop Guild are basically closed. The Adventurer Guild exchange is temporarily adjoined to the merchants guild to still allow people to withdraw their money. Public security of the city during the harvest festival is done through vigilantism from adventurers while the Thieves Guild watches things from the shadows. However, they are only here to crack down on violence. It is the citys stance that loose pockets are beneficial during the harvest festival. In such a point, the harvest festival is also known as the Harvest Festival of Cat Burglars and Pickpockets. The Thieves Guilds main objective is to catch the rats who scurry around without greeting them first. The security work is more of a side job, and the members of the Thieves Guild acted more as messengers while the more overreaching security work is handled by the regular Warren residents. During the festival period, stalls will be gathered in the central square to provide food. Since an application must be made to the Merchant Guild at least 30 days in advance, the merchants from every city visit Warren beforehand and receive a list of the food served in Warren. After examining the applications, the Merchant Guild decides where to place each store, and they post everyones positions and their scheduled sales items at the city square 10 days before. Another one of Warrens residents enjoyments is to pull up a schedule for eating tours during the festival. During the council meeting this time, the following items were newly decided. The mens bathhouse Masters Hideaway and the womens private bath Lily Garden along with their incidental facilities would be suspended during the day. Instead, they would allow business from sunset to the morning. The daytime business will be built and handled by the owners of the two bathhouses Warrens Jewelry Box and the Merchant Guild. It will be a small, open-air shop. It is a lovely street venue that is perfect for squeezing out money from gullible tourists during the day and at night. The business guarantee is quite the nominal thing. As Warrens Jewelry Box had to run a shop anyway, the Merchant Guilds offer was good, and they were more than happy to use them. In addition, this time the Workshop Guild has doubled as a high-class toilet and shower trade fair. It also set up chargeable toilet and shower facilities at each of the open-air bathhouses. Although it annoyed Ellis that she would be cut off from her private nightly baths, it couldnt be helped since she had no voting rights with the council. Since the guild masters were going to be handling all the extra work and she was sure that she would be having more than enough fun with everything else though, she decided it was fine. After the meeting ended. Baltis and Theseus stopped Ellis before she could return to the mansion. Well, I have evaluated the Resistance plate armor at around 300 million ril. I decided to put it up for auction at the Thieves Guild. The plate armor will be put on display as an item from the Thieves Guild, and its source will be kept secret. Perfect. The Thieves Guild will take 50 percent of the winning bid, and we will put out an exemption for Katies membership fee. The would come out to at least 150 million ril which is a 30 million ril split per person. Its a good idea to not be too greedy. Deal. Ellis gave the two a smile and nodded in satisfaction. It will be the highlight of this years auction, thats for sure. Then Flint called out. The Workshop Guild had already set up a special stage in the city square for any special events that might be held during the festival. Are you girls planning something again? Will you be paying us? Your payment will be the money the audience throws at you. Youre sure money will come flying? Bet my life on it. Ufufufufufu Kuukukuku The two began to make plans while smiling as if they were friends who had known each other for a century. Really? When she returned to the mansion, Ellis immediately relayed the plans for the festival to the other four. Although setting up the shops will be nice, it will be difficult to run everything with just five people. Frau naturally voiced Elliss worries. Since I already arranged for a couple people to handle things, we only have to take care of the preparations and the opening. Who did you ask? Ellis answered Reeves question.2 By the way, what kind of items are usually exhibited for the auction? Frau answered Elliss question. It seems that the auction mainly consists of antiques. weapons and armor can be sold, but in those cases the starting price is 10 percent more than what a store would be selling it for. For example, if you were to take the Flying Swallow long sword, the basic selling price is 10 million ril, so its starting price at the auction would be 11 million ril. Since the store would buy it from the adventurer for 4 to 5 million ril, the seller makes a profit if bidding is made, but it doesnt make sense from the buyers point of view to get it at a price higher than what the store would be selling it. As a result, only weapons with rare colors, special features, or those with extreme performance will be sent up. What about a great sword? An ordinary great sword without any magical abilities was picked up when everyone had explored Wight labyrinth the other day, but because the usability was bad for them, it was stowed away in Elliss shoulder bag. I dont think the store has anything that big, so if you copy Flying Swallow or Purification onto it, it might sell really well. Then lets try it with Flying Swallow and see how it goes. By the way, all the metal eater Pi-tan had done since he had been brought home from the labyrinth the other day was basically sleep. Even now, it was sleeping wrapped up in a towel inside a bed brought out by Frau. Because Pi-tan is also a demonic beast, perhaps meals arent actually necessary. This was Fraus analysis. Perhaps the reason why he eats metal is not because he is actually hungry but as a monsters instinct instead. When Ellis struck Pi-tans armor with a light hit, the monster awoke and stretched out its limbs. When Pi-tans eyes had fully opened, Ellis took out a dagger, and he stared at it curiously. But he just looked at it, and he did not instantly stretch out his tongue like when he first met Ellis. However, when Ellis pointed to the dagger and said, Go!, Pi-tan instantly stretched out its long tongue and touched the dagger, causing it to instantly degrade. With the next command, Yosh!, Pi-tan rewound its tongue, bringing along the dagger, and started eating the dagger while holding it to its chest with its tiny paws. The hardness of the metal when it is first deteriorated by Pi-tans tongue is about the same as a ceramic bowl. Although it is still uncertain how quickly and deeply the deterioration effect will affect an opponents armor, if it is applied to an enemys weapon, then it will certainly crumble if blows were to be exchanged. Ellis is teaching Pi-tan techniques to have him quickly stretch his tongue out for the purpose of deterioration only. After he was done eating, Ellis embraced Pi-tan and gave him the same instructions to a dagger that Reeve was holding. Go! As Pi-tan stretched out his tongue quickly as he was instructed, he instantly withdrew his tongue after he degraded the dagger. All five girls embraced him and trained him this way. That way Pi-tan will obey the instructions of all five of them. The thought process of Pi-tan on the other hand is quite simple. Being embraced by the girls is the best. Each of the five girls hold onto me, and each one feels a little different. The sound of a gentle heartbeat can sometimes be heard close by, and sometimes I am wrapped up in something plump and fluffy. It is hard to say which one is better. In the evening I get a warm, hot bath. I can sleep as much as I want in soft linens all day long. The girls gently pet me when I wake up, and when I am called over. They also praise me when I stretch out my tongue and touch stuff. The metal eater has fully integrated himself in being Pi-tan from now on. He no longer has to curl himself up in a cold, dark labyrinth. People no longer look at him with eyes of aversion, if they dont ignore him completely. This is heaven. Pi-tan decided to obey all of their orders faithfully so as to not let this fortune go. 1. Just in case anyone forgot, the Merchant Guild sets a minimum and maximum price for all goods to prevent price gouging among other things. 2. Full honesty, I was confused when translating this paragraph. Im pretty sure they are holding back names to be mysterious, but since Japanese likes to drop the subject in sentences anyway, it can be a little confusing when they decide to play the pronoun game. CH 42 Ten days before the harvest festival. The list of street vendors is posted in the city square, and the residents of Warren gathered around. Elliss group naturally also joined in to review the bulletin. Their shops name is simply Jewelry Box, and their five-colored cakes is listed and described next to their entry and placement. The only worrisome thing was the neighboring store. Its name is the Manly Dynasty selling pork daruma rice. Ellis knew who would be operating that store immediately. On the other side of their store were some volunteers from the Adventurer Guild who would be selling fruit juice. While preparing for the festival and wandering around the bustling town with everyone else, a rare person called out to Ellis. Ellis-ojousama, may I have a consultation? She had beautiful blonde hair that extended down her back, eyes that seemed to be able to look right through you, and luscious red lips. The top button of her white blouse was undone, allowing her black bra and part of her cleavage to peek out. A garter belt was fastened overtop of a tight miniskirt along with black leather stockings and red pin heels. It was Margherita, the head maid at Masters Hideaway. Neesan is looking well. Why are you still wearing that outside of the shop? I already had it on. Besides, the pin heels are popular. Is that so. Apparently, the Head Maid of Corruption was also starting to play around as the Secretary General Manager of Arousal and Advertising as well. Then lets have some fun talking while enjoying a cup of tea. The girls followed Margherita into a nearby cafe and listened to her worries. The consultation was about the new girl Hanna and Mohawk Ken. It seems that every time the Mohawks come in after trading in their gems, Ken always requests to see Hanna. When he does, Margherita noticed that Hanna always brightens up for a moment before turning back to her usual business-like smile. So it seems that Hanna has started to return Kens feelings after being visited so often. However, the other day, Ken had revealed some important information to Hanna. The consumption of jewels by Ken and his friends has been too intense, so demons from the Magus army are being sent to investigate. The leaders who had been supervising Kens group so far will be replaced and return to the Demon Lord. Then, as before, Ken will be unable to freely travel to Warren. Hmm. According to Hanna, Ken wants to escape from that life. Well, he was originally an ordinary farmer after all. Is it the same for Kens colleagues? It sounds like it. Ellis took a minute to think. Is it time for the tide to change? Perhaps, Ojousama. Without the jewels, having the Magus army nearby is unnecessary. If anything, the possibility exists that they make a move on Warren and disrupt the harvest festival. Mohawk sized fires need to be extinguished. Ellis made her decision and turned back to Margherita. Next time Ken comes, can you tell him to stop by? Have you thought of something good? Ill think its fun. In this way, the five girls finished their tea and parted from Margherita. Then the next day. Ken and Hanna came over while the girls were enjoying some 5 colored steam cakes and inspecting the prototype drawstring bag that Flint had sent over. Hanna had taken the day off from Masters Hideaway apparently. Because they could not allow Ken to enter the mansion, which was now in an area where men are not allowed, Ellis decided to meet with him in the grassy area where they had first met. Ken told the girls that his groups hideout was currently south of Warren. There are about ten people there who are from the same village as Ken. They gather up information and resources to the leading demons in wait. The Demon Lords subordinates seem to be able to get in touch with the Magus army headquarters somehow. The new demons are being dispatched from headquarters, and they want to see the claw gauntlets that Kens group keep bringing. The replacement demons are scheduled to arrive from the Magus army tomorrow. From that point on, Ken will no longer be able to use the jewels as he sees fit. If something goes wrong, he may even receive orders to attack the city. Ken and his colleagues would prefer to live in peace, but their village has already been destroyed by the Magus army. They have nowhere to go back to. Ellis listened to everything that Ken told her carefully, and when he was done, she laughed. Guess we have no choice but to kill you. Huh? Ignoring Kens puzzled reaction, Reeve nodded her head along with Elliss suggestion. Yes, that would be the easiest way. We can deliberately let some of the Demon Lords subordinates get away. Why dont we have the Heros subordinates take care of it? They can make a declaration while they attack nya. Ellis turned back to Ken who clearly had no idea what anyone was talking about, and then she repeated the plan to them one more time. This time Ken and Hanna both understood her meaning. Think about what you want to do after your death. On that day, Ken returned to his hideout just like normal. He first went around to his friends and told all of them about Elliss plan, and once everyone was brought up to speed, he left to make a report to his leader. It sounds like some good fighters are out looking for us. The leader couldnt hide his amusement. Interesting. I will let the head know at headquarters immediately. The leader ordered ordered most of his troops to stay inside the hideout tomorrow. Other than defending, he instructed a few men to patrol the surroundings. If they find any suspicious people lurking about, they are to pull back and lead them to the hideout. Defend and then counterattack. This is the correct strategy. That is why Ellis knew exactly what they would do. Ellis, meanwhile, went to report the plan to the Thieves guild and the Adventurers guild. This was to deal with any leftovers that they may miss by chance. Besides that, she also wanted a little advice from her elders. Ellis received the approval of her plan from Baltis and Theseus along with some subsequent advice, returned to the mansion to go over the plan one more time with everyone else. With this being their first fight in an open field for the first time, a sense of tension had spread among everyone. And just like that, night came along. Ojou-sama, please stay behind me tomorrow. Alright. Then tonight, I will bully you from the front. Ellis, lets make the Demon Lords armies cry out in defeat tomorrow. Then I will make the pig woman in front of me cry as well. Lets rampage a lot tomorrow nya. I hope the plan works out alright. Everything will go perfectly Claire. It was a rather intense night where the only other sounds in the mansion other than those reverberating in the darkness was the gentle sleeping breath of Pi-tan. So a pleasant morning came with everyone feeling their best. Now, lets do our best today! The five girls went over the plan once again while eating breakfast. They decided to change up their equipment a bit from the usual. Frau is equipped with the morning star, kite shield, and silver half-plate armor that she had used from before. Katie was wearing some new bear knuckles and bear boots that were similar to her usual weapons with no nails attached. The only ability Ellis copied on to these were the Stupor effect. Reeve had her Flying Swallow/Purification bastard sword hanging at her waist just in case there were undead. Ellis and Claire had the same weapons as usual, however, everyone was wearing a black cloak and black bandanna over their equipment. Come on! The Heros Hand heads out! Riding Magical horses for a few minutes south, Elliss group found the Magus army just as planned. Ellis chased the demons subordinates which started to escape as soon as they noticed her. Soon, Ellis was drawn towards a very conspicuous cliff. I guess the prepared ambush is in wait over there. Claire, get it done. Right! {Paralyze Shower}! This magic is similar to Claires other spell {Lightning Shower}. The big difference is that this one put more emphasis on the disabling effect than the damage. Claires magic shot the back of the cliff, reaping the consciousness of the Mohawks lying in wait. Mohawks were waiting with weapons when the girls emerged past the cliff. Ellis jumped off her Magical horse here and gave the men a smug smile. She waved them over, provoking them to come at them. Ken stupidly ignored his leaders orders and charged at his assailants. Damn it! Attack! With Kens actions as a trigger, the rest of the Mohawks all charged at Ellis. But Katie brilliantly slipped through the gaps of their formation. Before any of them could react, Ken and all the other Mohawks were mowed down by a flurry of Katies blows. Who are you From some tents behind Kens defenses, an ossan wearing proper armor appeared. The party of five slowly approached him. We are a brigade underneath Leader Gray, and we have come to stop you. A fit of laughter began to echo from behind the ossan as soon as Reeve had given their rehearsed greeting. Funny! What a funny bunch of humans! What appeared from the tent was a typical-looking demon from Eijis world. It had a human shaped body with goat legs and the head of a goat as well. Aah. Sangel-dono! The demon walked out as if the ossan calling his name had summoned him, and it stepped in front of Reeve. The demons inorganic eyes that had vertical slits looked down on her, but Reeve did not flinch and started right back at it. She looks delicious. Lets eat her alive. Then Sangel suddenly activated {Ice Fog}. It is an ice magic with the same effect as an Ice ring. Reeves entire body was covered in frost and dyed white. Chilled Little Girl is now ready to be served. Sangel then slowly extended his finger towards Reeves face. First off, Ill have an eyeball. Thatd be a problem. Reeve, who should have been frozen solid, opened her mouth. With a smile floating on her face, she quickly drew out her bastard sword and cut off the arm that Sangel had extended towards her. Reeve can reduce magic damage by 15 thanks to Resistance and Magic Guard. On the other hand, the basic damage of {Ice Fog} is only ten. Because it does not cause Reeve any damage, the additional freezing effect never came about. The spell only resulted in a thin film of frost covering Reeves skin. The goats face lost all expression as it did its best to understand what had just happened. Unfortunately, Reeve was not willing to offer that courtesy. Dont worry. Id never eat something as ugly as you. The bastard sword cut through the goats neck as if it were butter. Thats for sure. Muttering that under her breath, Reeve then shoved her sword into the demons heart before the whole carcass eventually gave way and crumpled down on the ground. While Reeve was taking care of the trash, Frau had already slipped past the fight and approached the defenseless man from behind, surprising him when she began whispering in his ear. We will head to the east, join with our comrades, and challenge the Demon Lords main forces. If you can, run away The man was taken aback. What do you mean? Do I need to explain it to the end? I am a subordinate of Peach-sama, and I am a friend. The next time we meet, treat me like we are enemies, but I will see you again. The old man nodded dumbly before running away as fast as he could. He pushed another man off his horse, and jumped on himselfCriding away as fast as possible. Thus the battle ended. Phew. All the Mohawks including Ken gathered behind the girls and watched as the man rode off into the distance. Ellis turned to them and gestured towards the tent that the demon had come out from. Oi, quit dawdling and grab any jewels or gold inside. Thats all the money you all will have to live on from now on. At Elliss words, every Mohawk swarmed the tent, tearing it down while pilfering every last jewel and weapon they could find. Once it was completely looted, Claire burned the last dredges of the tent. Erasing any evidence about what really had happened. Lets go home then. Ellis led the Mohawks forward to Warrens Adventurers guild. When they arrived, the guild members who were waiting there immediately got to work shaving off the mens mohawks until every single one of them was bald. They then collected all the Hyaaha armor and spiked boots, and distributed out leather trousers and shirts which would be beginner armor for adventurers. Ill talk to you later Theseus. When Ellis lowered her head in thanks, the guild master responded with a simple thumbs up. No problem. Ill put these guys through the ringer and get them all trained up. Ken and his friends are now junior members of the Adventurer guild, and they will be spending their time performing odd jobs around the guild hall. Recently, the Adventurer guild had become so starved for basic workers that they were making the veterans sweep the floor, so this whole affair worked out well for them. Then should we head home? Hmm. Its just about time for lunch, so how about we treat ourselves to lunch in town today? Yeah, eating out sometimes is good as well. Lets go get Pi-tan too! I want fish nya! The busy morning inevitably gave way to a relaxed afternoon. As for the Magus army ossan who had escaped on a horse, he did not stop riding until he was back in the Demon Kingdom territory. He stopped by the fortress nearest their border, and he made his report over a communicator to the Magus army communications department. I am from the Warren area advance team. Unfortunately, the entire group was slain other than me. Please elaborate. We were attacked by an entire squadron of enemies and overwhelmed. In the battle, Sangel also fell. Are you sure!? Zangel is a powerful demon! There is no doubt; his opponent was very skilled. After the battle, they intend to head east, meet up with the hero, and then march on the Demon Lords castle. You were able to get quite a bit of information. Well. The communication department issued their orders after commending the old man. The claw gauntlets delivered from that region were all fake and inferior products. Since we will concentrate the exploration in the east, you can return to the castle immediately. It was a long ride back to the Demon Lords castle, and on the way, the old man had time to think. Lets give that woman a reward for her information once the Demon Lord has killed the Brave party. She said she was a subordinate of Peach for sure. She smelled really sweet. Yes, you will be saved, and it will be all thanks to me. Like this, the old man let his imagination run wild. And all the while, he still has not realized that everything is going as Ellis predicted. As soon as he returned to the castle, the old man was allowed an audience with the Demon Lord. Lucky. The old man knelt down before his lord, and he repeated everything that he had told the correspondence department about what he had learned to the gold plated Demon Lord. Hmm. So the Hero is coming from the east. Yes. The old man had the utmost confidence in his information, and he proudly raised his head. The Demon Lord nodded once and raised his hand. Good job. In the next moment, the old man was bleeding on the floor with a hole in his chest. A fire started on what remained of his back and scorched away the remains. The Demon Lord spoke aloud without any change in his expression. There is no forgiveness for those who fail on the battlefield. Of course, milord. Move the western armies to the east and kill the Hero and this brigade of his. As you command. Good. Now I shall retire to my quarters. After giving out his orders to the servants around him, the Demon Lord retired to his harem. 1. The actual title for this chapter would be cleaning the lees. It is referring to the process of cleaning lee plants before processing them into sake. I changed it to an English saying that has a similar meaning. CH 43 Warren was lively the day before the harvest festival. A tremendous amount of people had gathered in the town square reading the auction list that the Merchant Guild had posted on the bulletin board. Everyones attention was naturally drawn to the Resistance plate armor that the Thieves Guild had apparently put up for auction. Its amazing abilities soon spread across Warren. Magic damage reduction of 10 is seriously awesome! Its a Legendary class armor! Forget {Fire Bullet}. You could survive a {Fireburst} with that! It starts off at 300 million ril at auction, but theres no way it ends there! How much will it end up being worth? Amidst the rumors and excited chatter, the neighboring wealthy who were visiting Warren had already sent men back to their hometowns. Naturally, their aim was to procure funds to win the new Legendary class armor. Meanwhile, the Adventurer Guild which would be closed starting tomorrow, had become quite crowded as well from all the adventurers gathering money from their guild exchange accounts. Surprisingly, the Flying Swallow great sword that Ellis had thrown out on a whim was also gaining a lot of attention. The starting price was the same as a Flying Swallow Minotaur Maul at 22 million ril. Flying Swallows ability is double damage, so its compatibility with large weapons is phenomenal. Since the Minotaur maul and a great sword are both two-handed weapons that can deal similar amounts of damage, it is natural that their standard prices would be the same, but Flying Swallow Minotaur mauls can be found on occasion at the Minotaur labyrinth. This makes a Flying Swallow great sword a much rarer find. The winning bid will also rise considerably. Well the Merchant guild was who decided the starting price for it. If Elliss group were to sign it as well, then you would get certain maniacs to throw their hats in the ring as well. People anxiously waiting for the harvest festival to begin while spreading rumors and opinions like so. Ellis had already started setting up her store at the Central Plaza. Reeve and Katie were also there helping her out. Ellis had hired two part-timers to help out during the festival. The first was Hanna who would be selling the cakes, and the second was Ken who would be helping out behind the scenes. At first, Ellis had planned on asking for some help from the girls at Masters Hideaway. But since Ken had managed to free himself from the Demon Lords army, Hanna had left the store. So Margherita sent them both her way. Ellis recalled Margheritas words. I really appreciate everything Ellis-ojousama had done. Until now, we have been treated like female dogs, hiding in back alleys and enduring the disgust of men. We were terrified of an unwanted pregnancy, and the only thing we would ever think of was how to secure a meal for the day and what happy families were probably eating in their comfy homes. We were all women who had fallen to the bottom of the barrel. Thanks to jou-chan, everyone is able walk around with their heads held high, and there are no unwanted pregnancies with the little nice thing or the very nice thing that you taught us. The store is clean, and the customer base is solid. The shop also has implicit rules that help us. I like my current job. I am good at making men feel pleasure and making them moan. But Hanna doesnt. For a woman who has fallen in love, this work is torture. Do you understand? Jou-chan. Ellis ran a few calculations in her head. The material costs to make 100 steam cake sets is 10,000 ril which is 100 ril for each set. At Marias recommendation, the special takeaway set will be sold for 1,000 ril. Factoring in that the packaging and Jewelry Box brand brand will cost 200 ril from Flint, then there is still 700 ril in profit from every set sold. If they manage to sell all 100 sets in a day, then that is a total profit of 70 thousand ril. Hanna. Ken. I will pay both of you 10 thousand ril each day respectively. The two nodded enthusiastically when they heard how much they would make. Since the harvest festival is a full seven day period, then if they combine their total wages, then they will walk away with 140 thousand ril. On the other hand, Ellis, who would be easily making 50 thousand ril a day while leaving all the hard work to her two employees, had a smile that would not lose to them in intensity. All together it would add up to 350 thousand easy ril. I should consider continuing operations after the harvest festival, Ellis muttered to herself. At the mansion, Frau and Claire were working by themselves, steaming up 100 sets of steamed cakes in the large-sized steamer that Claire designed. You can cook a variety of dishes with this steamer. A number of new recipes and dinners were running through Fraus head. When the festival is over, lets play around with it and see what we get. Claire agreed with Fraus interests. They cut the steamed cakes with a special cutter that was also designed by Claire before they are placed in a wooden bread box in preparation for tomorrows sales. The leftover edges after everything has been cut are collected, and Frau adds plenty of cream and fruit to them inside a bowl to make trifles. She keeps them chilled in the fridge so that Katie can bring them over to the Thieves Guild later. With the preparations for opening the shop over; Ellis, Reeve, and Katie decided to take a leisurely walk around town before heading home until Reeve suddenly tried to hide behind Katie. Whats wrong? There is somebody over there I would really like to not see. Following Reeves line of sight, Ellis and Katie saw a niisan dressed in bright, flashy clothes and surrounded by other, similarly dressed men and guard-like looking followers. Suddenly, the niisan caught sight of the girls and immediately walked up to Katie. You, the pure white girl there. How would you like to join my personal guard? Nya? Behind Katie who was puzzled by the sudden invitation, Reeve turned around and tried to slip away, but she could not escape the inevitable. Wait a minute, is that Breastless Reeve? Its the runaway girl Reeve! Are you Reeves acquaintance? The niisan laughed and turned to Ellis who was starting to feel a little irritated for some reason. Lovely little girl, I am Lake Durkfienance. I was the fiance that Reeve ran from! Fiance? Ellis couldnt wrap her head around a certain word. As a result, Reeve turned back around and stood before Lake. Lake, I am sorry about that time. Lake took Reeves apology and responded with a sneer and a look of disgust. Hmph, its not like Im interested in some homely girl with zero tits, but it is a fact that I was shamed because of what you did. Although, hasnt your family completely fallen now? Lakes own words made him laugh. What about compensation? Lake continued talking after he noticed a twinge of unease in Reeves face at the mention of her family. Naturally, when some country bumpkin nobles daughter abandons her engagement to a lords son at the last minute, the matter cannot be just chalked up to a bit of rudeness and an apology. I just want you to appreciate how much of a disappointment you really are. Realizing that Reeve wasnt going to give him the reaction he wanted, Lake dismissed her with a wave of his hand. This is all irrelevant to a girl who abandoned her house though right? Ellis and Katie had had enough by now and stepped in front of Reeve, ready to pull out their weapons at any second. Hey, lets go already. Reeve Ellis softly called out to Reeve. Ah, sorry. I made you feel worried. Reeve tried to force a smile, but no matter how you looked at it, it lacked heart. But Katie had an idea. We have earned a ton of money from hanging out laundry, so how about bringing some of that to your parents house nya? When the harvest festival is over, everyone can travel to Reeves home nya. I dont know how much the reparation money is, but 100 million should be able to help nya. After one-sidedly accumulating money this whole time, the realization that they had the ability to spend some of that money hit Ellis like a lightning bolt. Reeve, lets go home. Sorry. Lets go. In this way the three girls arrived home as if nothing had happened. When she returned to the mansion, Ellis invited Claire over to the studio and began business negotiations. Claire, how much would it cost to build a bakery store? If its just a store, it would cost about 5 million. If you are adding living quarters to it, then it would go up to about 10 million ril. Hmmm. 10 million ril. If you make a profit of 50 thousand ril every day, then you can make your money back after two hundred days. How long would it take to build it? If it is a log house, then the standard is usually 30 days without any added interior decoration. Additional costs will be added in so that the construction period can be shortened more though. Thanks. That was helpful. Is Ellis planning something? Claire understands me too well. Fufufufufu. The two girls were on the same wavelength. From here on, everyone would see the true value of the black and gold combination. Dinner was made early that night in preparation for tomorrow. As everyone was getting prepared for bed, Ellis stroked Pi-tans head. Pi-tan will be busy starting tomorrow as well. Pi~ And then late that night at the Adventurer Guild. Open up! I want to go to the Wight Labyrinth! Before the Adventurer Guilds massive closed doors, the Brave party had returned making the same demands they had before. But the guild was already closed. Lets give up for now. We can come again tomorrow. The Hero Gray only relented at Gises intervention. The Brave party who had given up on their labyrinth search for the night began a new search for an inn to stay in. Unfortunately, there is no way any inn would have a room available the night before the harvest festival. Everywhere they went was full to capacity. In the end, the party had to spend the whole night out in an open field out in the suburban area of the city. The Brave party with order straight from capitol Sky Castle is sleeping on a hill! Dams complained. This clearly was not planned well. Peach also complained. Do you have the wisdom to investigate in advance, my hero? Cliff skipped directly to some sarcastic criticism. Knock it off. Its not that bad. The three of them went silent after Gise rebuked them, but Gray was already depressingly hugging his knees in a corner of their tent. This is the Hero charged with slaying the Demon Lord. All muscle, and no backbone. By the way, unknown to anyone in the Brave party, the Adventurers Guild was closed due to the harvest festival. A festival that would continue for the next seven days. Seven days where they would be unable to go to the labyrinth no matter how much whine and yell. My condolences. And the night ends. Warrens harvest festival is now open! CH 44 Lets get going to the harvest festival! Elliss group skipped breakfast that morning, and they brought out their supplies to the shop as soon as the sun broke free of the horizon. Their products are the five-colored steam cakes with a drawstring bag carrying Warrens Jewelry Boxs logo on it. They plan to sell 100 sets a day with the aim of selling 700 total sets. Hanna was wearing the same maid outfit that she wore when working the mens bathhouse. All the support work is being handled by Ken who has slapped on a pair of gray trouser pants which could be said to be the standard uniform of the Workshop Guild. Ellis threatened Hanna and Ken to kick things off. You know what will happen if any remain unsold, right? Yes! Hah! Both of them were quite fired up. By the way, Ellis had decided to unify everyones outfits for the harvest festival. Their tops were a brown jacket with a white blouse. The bottoms were matching brown long boots with white slacks. The only difference among them was that Katie was wearing her Brave Ripper and Crow boots. This was a measure to try and make sure that the five of them stood out as little as possible in town. The stall to the left of them was busy making preparations of their own. As expected, it belonged to the Muscle Brothers who were setting up shop in the same way. We received a tax-exempt status from the Merchant Guild, so we decided to open our own store. Goro said such to Frau while setting up a steel plate and grill in front of their store. The pork daruma rice they were offering was a type of stir-fry cooked on top of an iron plate. The grilled pork is dipped in plenty of sauce and wrapped up in leafy vegetables. The price is 400 ril a serving. The grilled fish cooking on the iron plate that would be mixed in the rice later quickly created a good aroma that spread throughout the area. The smell was so good, that Frau had unintentionally started to drool. Ellis, we should try this! Frau noticed that the Muscle Brothers were using spices not commonly found in this area. Without giving Ellis a chance to reply, Frau had immediately placed an order. Goro, give us seven helpings now! It will be 2800 rill. Frau paid for the meal out of her own pocket money, and she returned to the stall with seven plates of daruma rice on top of a large tray. We didnt have breakfast yet, so lets all eat together. Oh! It smells really good. Ellis raised her voice in spite of herself when the moisturizing fragrance was brought near. Ah, this sweetness might become a habit. The sauce used in the dish had quickly become a favorite for Reeve. The meat is so soft! The first one to finish, Frau walked back to Goro carrying her plate with her. Where did you get these beans? Do you really want to know? Goro and Frau started laughing while talking about the meal and their plans during the harvest festival. Ellis chimed in here and there as well while finishing off the last bits of her meal. Once everyone else had finished their daruma rice as well, Ellis addressed her troops. Alright everyone. Breakfast was delicious, but that is in the past! It is currently the present, and the present demands work. So get to it! Right!!! The six others voices combined together and acted like a gunshot, kicking off Elliss harvest festival. Pi-tan was sleeping inside his usual basket. However, his basket was not inside the mansion like usual. Instead it was placed at the back of the tent Ellis was using for her store. There was a back door inside the tent, and Pi-tan was placed right next to it. An ossan from the Adventurer Guild entered the tent through that door and called to Ellis. We have a bug. In response to the Adventurer Guilds request, someone from inside the tent was to hold Pi-tan and take him outside. This time it was Elliss turn. Following the man along for a while, Ellis and Pi-tan were eventually directed to a man a short ways down the street. That guy. The ossan pointed out a man with a shaved head who could not be described as anything else than a hooligan. Roger that. Ellis nodded once to the old man before quietly approaching the hooligan-looking guy and giving a command to Pi-tan. Go! Pi-tans tongue instantly jumped out on command, and the hooligans weapons and armor were degraded to porcelain in a second. Of course this was all done without the hooligan noticing. The truth is, when Ellis had introduced Pi-tan to the leaders of each guild and declared to each one of them that she was keeping him, she convinced them by showing Pi-tans ability to help maintain public order. As a result, the Adventurer Guild gave Ellis and Pi-tan the job of disarming any armed people who appear to be a threat politically, economically, or securitally.1 It is up to the patrolling members of the Adventurer Guild and Theives Guild to decide whether a person is a threat. Following along with their judgment, Ellis would bring out Pi-tan and disarm the suspects through his degradation power. Wouldnt it be bad if there were false charges? When Ellis asked such a question, Theseus and Baltis erupted in laughter. The Adventurer Guild fruit juice store which is on the opposite side of Elliss tent from the Muscle Brothers is currently being manned by the receptionist Helen. Every once in awhile, one of the adventurers that Ellis often sees inside the guild hall will walk out from behind the tent and wave before heading off somewhere else in the city. Actually, the back of their tent is actually the base for the city patrol. They are hanging back and relaxing right now, but they will be ready at a moments notice if something happens in the city. Meanwhile, the sales of the steamed cakes did better than Ellis expected. Rather, its too good. The initial goal was to just sell 100 sets a day, but they ended up selling out during the early morning on the first day. Its good, but also a little annoying. The girls only have enough drawstring bags to sell 100 sets every day. While the harvest festival is ongoing, the workshop guild is also closed, so it is impossible to order more drawstring bags or medium boxes. Any time after they sell out is time wasted. A waste of opportunity, Ellis grumbled to herself. Tch. Claire, please go get the steamer and bring it here! Frau, go get the cake mix from the treasure chest! Hanna, Ken, Im going to teach you how to make the cakes! Ellis decided to kick everyone into action. As soon as the steamer was brought into their tent, Ellis started instructing Ken and Hanna on cake production. The only thing that was difficult to produce was the blending required for Reeves Blue, but everything else could be easily hand-crafted. Do you understand how to do it? I understand. I understand. Then lets go! Hanna and Ken started working the cake mix according to Elliss instructions. The end result was surprisingly good. Kens cakes in particular took Ellis by surprise. Ken could see those feelings in Elliss eyes, and his chest swelled up in pride. In my village, I bakes a couple pastries as a side job for some extra money. We can use that. After the second day, there would only be 500 drawstring combos left for the 1000 ril. For now, Ellis decided to sell the cakes individually with Katies White at a slightly cheaper price than the others due to it not having anything extra. If nothing else, Ellis was at least released from cake selling for the time being. In a different part of town, a special stage was set up in the plaza by the Workshop Guild. On this stage, Reeve was wearing a black ceremonial dress adorned with black and gold thread along with Frau, who was facing Reeve while wearing a set of shiny pink body armor. Reeve was holding her favorite blue saber in front of her while crouching down close to the stage floor. Meanwhile Frau was holding her crimson maul in both of her hands as if it was a spear. Reeve, are you sure you want to do this? Frau, youre terrible at bluffing. A small smile spread across Reeves face for a moment, but it soon disappeared as she became serious once again. Then, lets go. Frau slowly rose up, swinging her maul vigorously overhead. Reeve, who was aiming for the mauls tip, adjusted her stance. Hah! The maul that was spinning with all of Fraus spirit was swung towards Reeve in a wide arc from the right. Reeve managed to take a half step back and diverted the blow with her saber. She planned to strike Frau from the side. However, Frau was aware of Reeves plan and blocked the strike with her gauntlet. Reeves saber ended up sliding off of the gauntlet, and Frau ended up behind Reeve. Frau took this opportunity to plant her feet firmly on the ground and thrusted her maul at the back of Reeves head. Reeve barely managed to avoid the attack by forcefully pivoting off her foot. Rotating her entire body on an axis, she swung her saber and brought it right to the edge of Fraus neck. The two stopped here. Reeve and Frau both took a deep breath, returned to their starting positions, and bowed to each other. Cheers rose up from the crowd who had been watching them in utter silence until now. Next.2 Frau started immediately and swiftlyCswinging her maul downwards in an arc. Reeve dodged it with another back step. Fraus maul hit the stage, but she used that recoil to forcefully bring the maul back up to eye-level. The downward swing turned into a thrust aimed at Reeves head. The mauls two violent edges came right in front of Reeves eyes. Once again, they stopped here. The cheers from before disappeared, and the audience sat there in stunned silence for a moment. Then, the cheering a clapping grew in intensity three-fold. This is part of the participation that Flint asked Ellis to take part in. Ellis planned a martial arts demo between a maul and a saber, two weapons that could not be more different. Reeve and Frau did not mind, and the demonstration barely acted as a warm up for them. Between adventuring through dungeons with Ellis and chasing down Katie whenever she did something stupid, the two girls were in top physical condition. While the two girls were enjoying the fun little bout, Ellis was standing underneath the stage, calling out to the audience with a smile. Right! Please direct any offerings you have over here! Money was thrown towards her bit by bit as a matter of course. The enthusiasm from the Reeve Fan Club and fans of Frau from the Adventurer Guild were at an all time high. Then an obnoxious young mans voice cut through the venue. Heh. Its just a breastless girl playing around with some countryside boobs girl. The residents of Warren gathered around those young people who caught those words turned cold. Such words could be considered a declaration of war against the city of Warren. People began to spread information amongst each other. That rude ass is a son of the Durkfienance house, a country noble family from Wheat Grace. It seems like he was originally in an engagement partner for Reeve-sama. Cheeky bastard. A typical idiot living off of the achievements of their parents. I cant forgive him. There must be something wrong with the parents who would raise such a brat. Both the parents and the son deserve a little pain in their lives right about now. Thus the Reeve Fan Club, which includes ladies of aristocrats, merchants, etc. such as Lady Marsfield and the Warren Council Chairperson watched the children with icy glares. Who the hell is calling our Frau a countryside boobs girl? For now, lets kidnap him after cutting out his tongue. No, lets humiliate him by stripping him and stringing him up like a pig. Something like that isnt enough. A nobleman can hide something light like that. Then we need something that will rock the Durkfienances boat. Do we just kill his entire family? Someone who can casually insult another mans daughter should be prepared for retaliation against their own family. In this way, the member of the Adventurer Guild, who are all people of rough dispositions and dark mentalitiesCincluding the guild master who had started polishing his knifeCbegan making their own plans. The agricultural city, Wheat Grace. The city is located five days south of Warren when traveling by carriage. It was at this moment, that the lord felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Meanwhile, the Hero who had visited Warren once again in order search the Wight Labyrinth once again, was horrified to learn that the Adventurer Guild would be closed for the next seven days due to the harvest festival. But nothing could compare to the shock he received when he saw the auction list hanging up in town. Why is one of the legendary three armors being auctioned off!? Naturally, he was talking about the Resistance plate armor. The Hero doubted Gods revelation for a second, but he quickly cast aside those thoughts. Clearly this was just another challenge bestowed to him by God. Hero Gray made the resolution to win the Resistance plate armor no matter what. On the other hand, there was a slight problem with the Brave Partys warrior Dams. He had an extremely scary face, and he was clearly up to no good. It was the Adventurer Guilds opinion that he was, clearly an awful guy, so Claire brought Pi-tan over and degraded all of his equipment and weapons. Thus the first day of the harvest festival ended successfully and without any real incident except for a few unfortunate people. 1. Im not sure if securitally is a real word, but YOLO. 2. This kanji is meant to be used in plays or acts. It essentially means that they are moving to the next scene. Im not sure if there is a good equivalent in English. I am a terrible actor. CH 45 Warrens harvest festival is going at full speed, and it is already half over. The five colored maidens have left the steamed cake shop entirely up to Hanna and Ken so that they each can contribute to the festival in their own way after receiving various requests. Frau was currently operating the Muscle Brothers pork daruma rice stall while the five of them were appearing for a stage event. While Frau was running the store, the many people who hesitated to buy some pork daruma rice due to their fear of the mens rippling muscles and strong personalities lined up in droves, and a large queue quickly formed up. As a result, on that day, the pork daruma rice had its highest sales. On the special stage inside the plaza, the Muscle Brothers were wearing their signature loincloths and beating on a stupidly large drum releasing a strange order. The stage was filled with stubborn people who were attracted by that manly smell. Osu! Osu! Osu! Osu! Osu! That staggeringly sweet scent of theirs scattered across the stage, and even the people at the farthest reaches of the audience were drawn into the performance. Underneath the stage, Claire, who had become used to the brothers and agreed to help them out, was holding a basket out and shouting, Throw your donations here! to the audience. On the other hand, Reeve was totally stunned by the stages stench, became nauseous, and had to retire to a back room. The Merchant Guild master Maria agreed to watch over her. Katie was next door helping the Adventurer Guild fruit juice store. The other day, word about the trifles Katie was bringing over to the members of the Thieves Guild got out, so she, Helen, and the Thieves Guild receptionist Karen were all over there playing together and having a good time. While holding Pi-tan to her chest, Ellis was out taking care of rogues on behalf of the Adventurer Guild. Suddenly, someone called out to her. Ojou-chan. Long time no see. When Ellis turned towards the direction of the voice, she saw the thief Gise standing there with his hand raised. Ellis smiled as naturally as she could. Who are you? Damn. Do you remember Sky Castles Gray? Gray? Ellis pretended to be confused at Gises question and started to scratch her head, but Gise did not give up. We were the party that traveled to the labyrinth after you girls ran away that night. If he goes into that much detail, it becomes impossible to disagree, so Ellis let out a sorry smile as if she just remembered. Oh! You were part of them were you? Did you remember? Gise, who kept a relaxed expression, continued talking. By the way, ojou-chan. Let me get straight to the point, you girls cleared the Wight Labyrinth that night didnt you? Wow. This guy really is pretty good. Elliss intuition was telling her to be careful around this man. No, we ran away in the first room. Ellis tried to repeat the lie from before, but Gise was able to deal a direct hole into that claim. I dont think so. If you left that early, then why did you come back to the guild so late at night? A seriously troublesome guy. If this conversation were to go on for too long, then he could probably poke holes in just about any lie that he is told, and to be honest, it is still way too early for the Brave party to be engaged directly. What should be done? Okay, lets do that. Ellis immediately decided on an appropriate course of action and executed it mercilessly. Uwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Gise was not the only person surprised by this action. Everyone else around the two were also taken aback at Elliss tears. Hey! Hey you! What the hell did you do to Ellis!? Ellis hugged Pi-tan close to her chest with her left arm as her right hand was brought up to wipe away some of the tears pouring down her cheeks. Uwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Ellis sharp cry brought in all the surrounding people. What, what? Is Ellis crying? Bastard! What the hell did you do!? In this way, along with Gise and a few adventurers who knew Ellis, a large crowd gathered in the area. Then, one of the people in the crowd recognized Gise. Hey, isnt that that thief from Sky Castle? Yeah Yeah he is one of those guys going around calling themselves the Brave Party! Hah! What a Brave man, going around and making a little girl cry! The crowd was starting to work themselves up, and all of their hostility was being directed at Gise. No, thats wrong! Hey, um, why are you crying? I dont know whats going on. Gises eyes were pleading for help. Uwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaa! But Ellis just kept crying. As a matter of course, a vigilante corps quickly formed. However, this group was made up of members of the back alley Thieves Guild rather than the public Adventurer Guild members. Many of these people still saw Ellis as one of them. Hey, we want to talk to you for a bit. No, I just wanted to talk to this little girl a bit about some business. And what kind of business are you asking of a little girl!? Youre coming with us! In this way, Gise was dragged off by members of the Thieves Guild. Unfortunately, he was so busy insisting his innocence, that he completely missed Ellis slipping away into the crowd while sticking her tongue out at him. Back on top of the special stage. The Muscle Brothers were performing in a collaboration with Reeve singing, and music performed by the orchestra Stone Walls led by the Merchant Guild member Nicole. By the way, all of the band members of Stone Walls perform wearing clothes made entirely of black leather. Black leather vests, black leather pants, etc. To tell the truth, Nicole is also a gay man. All of the members of Stone Wall are also gay. However, as evidenced by the differences in aesthetic values, they were different from the Muscle Brothers, and the two groups did not necessarily get along. Reeve got along a lot better with Stone Walls than she did with the Muscle Brothers at least. She appreciated their style a lot more, and she was wearing a black leather dress to match with the band members. The song they were performing was not an opera aria like what she had sung at her fan clubs event but a high-tempo song like Dawn of the Heavy Infantry. Besides the usual Reeve Fan Club members and Stone Walls fans, the performance brought in a lot of other spectators who were interested in the music they heard while passing by. Meanwhile, Claire was still under the stage, accepting offerings and gifts from the audience on behalf of the band members. While she was still nervous around men, Claire was able to somehow intuitively understand that the gay men were not scary, and she was more than happy to help them out. On stage, Nicole and Reeve were singing their hearts out. Their breathing was in sync, and their words were in perfect harmony. Watching their dynamic forms, Lake Durkfienance had a small itch at the back of his mind. Slowly, he is starting to understand his mistake. And then there is an event in one of the citys back alleys. Whats this crap!? It was the Brave partys warrior Dams who had brought a goon that he had discovered into a back alley to threaten, but when Dams went to hit the man with the flat side of his sword, the sword broke when it came into contact with the goons leather armor. What a bother. Even though it looked really scary, it turns out to be a worthless piece of crap. The goon, who had been terrified of Dams two handed sword and massive body, regained a modicum of confidence after watching the sword break apart. But Dams would not be stopped by something so small. Well, Im not sure what happened, but this will be enough for you. Dams formed a fist and brought it before the goons eyes. He started to make some exaggerated movements in order to further threaten and belittle the goon. Shut up! The goon pulled out a small knife from his back pocket and tried to stab Dams in the stomach. The only problem was that Damss body was covered in metal armor. Hah! If you think such a puny blade can hurt me, then go ahead and try! Dams stuck out his belly, showing off his polished armor and egging the goon on. And an unexpected result occurred. *Pakin* Pakin?1 Dams could not understand what had happened for a moment. Because his armor had been crushed and shattered as if it were pottery, the knife blade had easily passed through the metal, and it lodged itself deeply into Damss gut. What is this!? This time Dams couldnt remain calm and shrug it off. Damn! Meanwhile the goon had realized that he was in over his head and sprinted off as fast as he could. Oi someone! Please doctor Dams called out with all his strength, but it faded fast. He collapsed onto his side, and his entreaties for help degraded to nothing more than moans and whimpers as blood poured out of the knife wound. After a time, enough blood had left him that Dams found his sight blurring and darkness surrounding him. This sucks.. Are you alright? As his consciousness started to fly away, the last thing that Dams saw was a beautiful little girl with blonde hair. That was seriously dangerous. He was in a place that he would have died alone if I had not been passing by. Ellis, who had rounded a corner and found Damss bleeding body, was counting her blessings as she made her way back to the shop. As soon as she had found Dams, she used her Sleep ring to knock him out before immediately using the Full Recovery ring to heal him. Once there was no more danger of him dying, Ellis got to work on cleaning up the broken bits of armor and sword in order to hide all evidence of what happened there. His wallet was snatched as a clean-up fee. What are you two doing!? Gray was holding his head, fighting off a massive incoming headache. One of his party members had been arrested by the Thieves Guild, and he had had to pay a ransom to get him back. Another party member had passed out in some back alley, losing all his equipment and money. The first one was Gise, who Ellis had framed. The second was Dams, whose equipment was destroyed by Ellis and wallet liberated by her as well. I can say nothing in my defense Ah, I dont really remember what happened. Gises shoulders dropped apologetically while Dams was scratching his head feeling like he was forgetting something important. This was bad. If things were to continue like this, then the Brave party would burn through the funds that the king supplied them with in no time. Especially since it was believed that the winning bid for Resistance plate armor would go over a billion ril, unnecessarily throwing away money like this hurt in the worst possible way. And in such a situation, Dams was able to say with a straight face, Oh, because it is a good opportunity, let me buy that Flying Swallow great sword at the auction. This muscle brain Gray once again found himself holding his head. Regardless of the three fools, even the only trustworthy Gise was causing him trouble this time around. He did not know who to trust anymore. It might be easier to just fight the Demon Lord alone. With these worries bopping around in his head, the Hero Gray decided to spend the rest of his day hugging his knees and staring at a corner of the room as usual. Peach, who physiologically dislikes such a pathetic looking figure, shook her head at such a Gray. Hes started again, this sad excuse for a hero. Peach ended up leaving the room while complaining. Cliff, who really does not care much for other people, kept sitting in his chair while acting like none of this had anything to do with him. Just like this, the Brave party splendidly falls apart. Ellis, meanwhile, had returned to the steamed cake store wearing a radiant smile. Youre in a good mood, Ellis. Elliss cheerful expression made Frau smile as well while Ellis made a declaration. I got quite the extraordinary amount of extra income today, so I think we should all eat together and treat ourselves to something nice. Hanna, Ken, you two are coming as well. It should go without saying that the extra income was Damss wallet. After cleaning up the shop, the group of seven made their way through the citys busy streets. Shall we eat here? The shop that they ended up choosing was Marias favorite high-class shop. Following after the enthusiastic Ellis, Hanna and Ken nervously forced their feet to trudge along while looking all around them at the shops interior. This type of delicious and expensive restaurant was a first for the both of them. Order whatever you want! Ellis declared such with her chest puffed out, and the ladies got to work picking out their favorite dishes from the menu. Meanwhile, Hanna and Ken were not sure on what to do. They didnt know what half the stuff on the menu even was. Katie, who noticed their nervous states, ended up throwing them a lifeline. When you dont know what to order, just start from the top nya. Then, lets go with that. Even though they were still anxious, they were both able to order normally. Ellis started to think about Hanna and Kens situation. Right about now would be the perfect time to rope them in. And a man should be especially helpful for the hard labor. Ellis got to work. Hey you two, would you like to open up a shop? Shop? Actually, Im thinking about open up a shop that would permanently sell the steamed cakes that we are making right now. Claire joined in on the conversation. I have been talking with Ellis, and we both wanted to open up a shop between Lily Garden and the city. The only problem is that we are so busy that we would be able unable to actually run it. No men are allowed near Yuri Garden, but if the shop is set up in that grassy area where we first met Ken, then there should be no problem. At the sound of having their own business, the two only gave each other a sideways glance for an instant before making their decision. Please, let us do it! Please, let us do it! Ellis nodded, satisfied by their replies. In this way, Ellis had taken her first step to commercializing the steamed cake shop. On their way home after having dinner with Hanna and Ken, Reeve voiced some doubts she had. Not including Hanna, is it not tasteless to let Ken into the group? Ellis let out a nasty laugh when she heard Reeves question. So, does that mean you want Hanna to live with us? No, thats not, I mean, um That would be even more troubling. It would be a large problem if more members were to gather. Because the wait at night would be too long. How cute. Ellis continued to tease Reeve, enjoying her anxious and embarrassed reactions. Hanna and Ken will have a house attached to their shop. They will run the shop themselves, and they will owe us a favor doing it. Frau had already figured out what Ellis was planning had already had her own ideas of how to use Ken. Ken seemed to be quite handy as a craftsman, so I think I will have him build me a few things I want for the kitchen. Ellis confirmed her thoughts. From now on, we will have a mans hands to help us out. Well leave it to him. Reeve still wasnt sure, but if Ellis was going to say that much, then she decided she would believe it. Meanwhile, Katie was a few steps behind everyone else, watching the moon with a smile on her face and while rubbing her stomach after the feast she had just ate. The entire previous conversation had completely gone over her head. Thus, Ellis had finally obtained her first convenient servant. CH 46 Tomorrow is the last day of the harvest festival. Once evening rolled around, all the shops running in the central square were cleaned up and a large space was cleared away. Next, some lounge chairs without backrests were set up making sure that there were spaces just big enough to move through. In front of those organized lounge chairs, a special stage was set up. Yes, tomorrow the biggest event of the harvest festival, the auction, would be held. How much will the Resistance plate armor sell for? At dinner, while Frau was passing out tonights meal of beef stroganoff, Ellis brought up the topic to everyone. The Merchant Guild thinks it will sell for 1 billion ril, and it probably wont sell for much less. This is information that Reeve had acquired, so it was unlikely that Maria would have lied to her. If it is like that, then our share should be half a billion ril, so we will each get 100 million ril per person. With something like that Reeve, paying back your parents debt should be a breeze. Yes. Sorry to worry you all. Reeves parents live in Wheat Grace. It is a town five days away by carriage from Warren to the south, and its lord is the Durkfienance house. Reeves family is also a noble lineage who live in that area. Despite being nobles, it sounds like Reeves father struggled to handle the familys debt and affairs after her grandfather sold most of their land and spent most of their money on his hobbies. In the meantime, I need to have a little fun with that rude bastard Lake. Ellis kept her soliloquy to herself. Well then lets go to bed early today. The five girls had already wiped themselves down with a bucket and some water, so they all returned to their respective rooms. Starting tomorrow, the bathhouse at night would return to being theirs alone. Now, who should be first tonight? Ellis, Id like to buy a matching tea set for everyone. Ahn.. Ellis, I want an eastern Karakuri doll. Ahn.. Mistress, I hope the Flying Swallow great sword sells well tomorrow. Ahn Ellis, I dont really care about the auction nya. Nyahn Theyre all cute girls. In the meantime, Pi-tan was tired from all the work he had been doing keeping the city safe from potential troublemakers and had fallen into a deep sleep without the need for his usual nightly lullaby. The morning for using money came just like that. Five women woke up feeling refreshed, and Frau quickly whipped up some ham and vegetable sandwiches while wearing the same dress that she had worn in Marsfield. The auction was cleanly divided into participation seats and auditorium seats, and there was a certain dress code for the people sitting in the participation seats. Once everyone was ready, they decided to venture to town inside their luxury carriage instead of just walking or riding their Magical horses. Ken put on a good suit, and he acted as their coachman. In this way, the five members of Warrens Jewelry Box arrived at their destination in style, using elegance and grace as they descended the steps and took their seats. Hau A collective sigh escaped the lips of people sitting in both the participating and the auditorium seats. The girls controlled this place with a noble air. Everything was going just as Maria, the auction organizer, had wanted. Maria, who had used this glittering beauty of theirs at the Marsfield restaurant, had put in a special request to have them make another appearance like this at the auction. The purpose was to create a sort of high-class feeling that would create a special mood and loosen the pockets of those people participating. Elliss group had already received 50 thousand ril per person for their services. Hoh, its quite the flashy appearance. Flint immediately walked up to the girls scrunched up his butt into the seat between Ellis and Claire. The plan is going well. Maria gave a satisfied smile as she naturally took a seat between Katie and Reeve. I didnt expect you all to show up so early. Baltis appeared out of nowhere, surprising the people nearby before taking a seat between Claire and Frau. Tch. I wanted to sit next to my daughter. Theseus let out a small word of complaint, but he ended up taking his seat between Ellis and Katie without anything else to say. What are they doing? Thanks to these guys, the audiences attention became even more focused on Elliss group during the auction. As time went on, more and more people continued to fill out the participation seats with most of the incoming participants taking their seats near where Elliss group had sat down. Apparently, many of the people taking part in the auction were acquaintances of the guild masters, and they took their seats nearby after giving a greeting. How are you doing Flint? Today, I brought my granddaughter with me. So Maria-sama. I see you are monopolizing Reeve-sama.. Not at all. This was just a coincidence. Ohohohoh. Baltis!? Wheres your costume? It was unpopular with the ladies. So they finally managed to pry you away from your daughter, huh Theseus. Shut up. Numerous rich-looking men and women came and went. Eventually, the participating seats were filled with women who wore multicolored dresses with men wearing straight black suits. And once it was time, The harvest festival has entered its final day. And so, let the auction begin! It was the Merchant Guild that would handle the auction. The Thieves Guild watch over things from the shadows while the Adventurer Guild took care of securing the venue. To kick things off, we have a Karakuri doll drinking tea! Starting bid is 100 thousand ril. 200 thousand ril! As it was exactly what she wanted, Claire immediately screamed out an off higher than the starting bid. Nobody else reacted. After all, Claire was clearly giving a look that said it would be impossible to beat her. Flint, who was sitting next to her, was a little rattled, and so shaking slightly, he leaned over and whispered, If you just look at it a little, you can easily figure out that dolls internal structure and make one yourself. Claire ignored him. Rather than any sort of trick, the dolls unusual look was really cute, and she wanted it. Sold at 200 thousand ril! As soon as the auctioneers gavel hit the podium, a collector made their way over to Claires seat in order to collect the 200 thousand ril. Do you wish to pay in cash or in an exchange certificate? Cash! Claire excitedly pulled out the ril from her wallet, and she forked it over to the collector. I have confirmed the payment. Your product will be at the reception desk. Do you want your receipt now or at the end ojou-chan? Please do it at the end. The Merchant Guild takes full responsibility for the items put on sale, so most people choose to have the receipts filled out at the end as there is very few worries about being cheated. Next is this beautiful painting. The auction proceeded. Frau was able to make a successful bid for five sets of teaware that she liked. Once it was all over, Frau was all smiles as a result. Tea time will be even more elegant from now on. The auction continued on until the Flying Swallow great sword that Ellis had thrown up there on a whim had come forward. The starting bid is 22 million ril! 30 million! 35 million! 38 million! Its selling so well, Claire said to Ellis from over Flints lap. Flint inserted himself into the conversation and added, This could very well go up to 50 million. However, a voice called out shattering Flints estimate. 100 million! It was Dams that shouted out. As everyones attention was drawn to him, Gray panicked and pulled on Damss arm. Hey! What are you yelling without permission? Where are you getting this money anyway? But Dams shrugged him off and said, Dont we have plenty of money from the king? Naturally there were no more bids after that, and the crowd got quiet. It was certainly an unusual situation, but it is true that Flying Swallow is one of the best abilities to have on a great sword. During this ambiguous atmosphere, the auctioneer called everyone back to attention. Sold! At 100 million ril. The Flying Swallow great sword was sold off for twice what Flint thought it might reach, and the collector made his way over to Dams. Will you pay the 100 million in cash or guild exchange note? Hey, pay attention. The collector is here, and there is no way that the Hero would refuse to pay him, right? Despite the aggravating behavior from Dams, Gray complied and pulled out 100 million ril from his Adventurers bag for the collector. Once he had confirmed that everything was in order, the collector then turned to Dams. Would you like to confirm the Flying Swallow ability in this place? This question was really just a ceremonial question that the collector had to ask. The Warren Merchant Guild guaranteed the abilities of all items sold at the auction, so there was no reason to worry. All anyone ever said here was, No, go ahead. Ill do it on stage for all to see. Certainly, yes. When the collector received the answer from the barbarian sitting before him, he hesitated for only a second before nodding and setting up some armor dolls that were prepared in advance just in case. Alright, lets do this. Dams headed on to the stage, waving to the crowd as if he was some great entertainer being welcomed before their bit. Taking the sword in hand and repeating the command word, the armor dolls in front of him were easily separated in two after a single slash. Any problem? None at all. Dams shook his head at the collectors question before raising the sword high above his head. Thus the thrown away Flying Swallow great sword was bought for 100 million ril by the Heros funds. Ellis was clutching her sides using every last bit of willpower she had not to break down laughing. Hey Ellis, lets have a drink this evening. Feeling a little mischievous, Claire tried out a joke to see if she could push Ellis over the edge. Meanwhile, Flint was a little annoyed that his prediction ended up being so far off the mark. The last item that appeared at the auction was the center-piece item: the Resistance plate armor. The starting price is 300 million ril! As soon as the auctioneer started the bidding, 400 million! 500 million! 600 million! 650 million! There were far more people gunning for this item than any other item in the past. Everyone wanted it no matter the cost. 700 million! 750 million! 800 million! 810 million! 820 million! 1 billion! The bidding quieted down at this point. One billion was what the item was projected to sell at. Will it be determined at this? Or will someone go beyond expectations? By the way, it was Gray who had called out the 1 billion ril bid. He was willing to spend everything he had for the sake of Gods revelation. But, reality is sweet. 1.2 billion! The venue fell into silence. The Hero rifled through his adventurer bag before turning towards his party members. Guys, hand over all the money you have! Only Gise was as frantic as Gray was, pulling out every single ril he had. Hey, do we have enough? Gises face was a pale blue as Gray counted up all the money. Dams, Peach, Cliff, put out everything you have. But the three of them were nowhere near as worried as Gise was. Oh, I lost my wallet. Why do I have to spend my own money on this? Thats my drinking money for tonight. Gray and Gise turned pale. Altogether, the two of them only have 1.1 billion ril. They are short of the 1.2 billion, and right then, the heartless declaration from the auctioneer echoed across the audience. Sold! at 1.2 billion ril. The Hero Gray was defeated at the auction. Ha ha ha! Let me try on that Resistance armor! It was Lake Durkfienance who had made the successful bid for the Resistance plate armor. Lake delivered the 1.2 billion ril worth Merchant Guild exchange slip to the collector, ignoring ceremony just as Dams did, and took the stage. However, unlike Flying Swallow, nobody thereCwith a few exceptionsChad ever seen the Resistance ability in action. As a result, there was not the level of annoyance as had been before, and the spectators were excited to see what would happen. Lake fastened the Resistance plate armor. By the way, who will be casting the spell for the test? The old magician who had been prepared beforehand took the stage, and he was about to cast the {Fire Bullet} spell. That old geezer is boring! That black-haired ojou-san over there is a magician right? Hey little girl! How about attacking me for the test? Lake nominated Claire. The venue became even more excited for this. Just about every youngster in the city knew Frau, Reeve, and Claire from their appearances around the city, and they would take any chance they could get to see those three up on stage. On the other hand, this action made every single member of the Workshop Guild into an enemy of Lake. But Lake, completely unaware of this, continued to call up Claire. Come! It is a test of my new Resistance plate armor, so it requires a gorgeous lady such as you to give off a show. Truly a man with plenty of room upstairs. Claire gave Ellis a sideways smirk before standing up from her chair and giving Lake a large grin. Should I shoot you with the magic I am best at? Hmm. Lake snorted. I dont mind. {Fire Bullet}, {Ice Fog}, {Lightning}, or {Earth Javelin}. Use whatever you want, but forgive me when it does nothing. All right. Claire nodded once again before going up the stage. I will go with that. Bring it. To Lakes chagrin, Claire slowly started casting her spell. Wait a moment! Stop this! When Theseus and Flint hear the spell Claire was preparing, they both stood up to rush to Claires side, but her party members stopped them both. You ossans are quick to act. Just watch. Claire has already become an adult. Nya. Claires spell was completed. Lets go! {Explode}! {Explode} does basic damage of 20, and it costs 9 MP in order to cast. It is Claires strongest attack magic. Through her Magical ring and self affinity, Claire is able to reduce that MP cost down to only 5. Because it takes time to knead the spell together, and because of a limitation of range, Claire has typically replaced it though with {Lightning Shower}, which has a longer range, covers a wider area, and can still kill or at least gravely injure someone with its basic damage of 10. By the way, {Explode} is also the spell that a young Claire had used to blow off her uncles head to avoid his attempted rape. Theseus and Flint knew about these circumstances and how it had become a trauma for her, resulting in her joining the Workshop Guild. What they did not know was that Ellis had already assisted her in overcoming that trauma. Along with the tremendous roar of the explosion, Lakes whole body was engulfed in hot air and flames. The Resistance plate armor certainly stopped exactly 10 magic damage. But the remaining 10 damage from the spell. Fufufufufufufufu Oh, hes still alive. Damn! Claire-chan is the best! Amazing. To still be standing after such a beautiful explosion. Its not him but the plate armor thats amazing. Indeed. Hit him again! Angry yells and loud laughter permeated across the audience seats. The boy who had disappeared inside a hot cloud finally emerged from the smoke. He survived due to most of the damage being shaved off due to his armor, but there was still a little charring and smoke rising from his hair. I have confirmed the Resistance The moderators rushed to Lakes side once he had lost consciousness after confirming his armors effect. Huh? The moderators noticed once they were by his side. Lake had not taken too much physical damage. It seems that he was more in shock due to the explosions noise rather than any real injuries. But Claire would not say anything and left the stage while twirling her staff. I do not know anything. Once Claire had left the stage, the auction ended successfully. By the way, Claire had confirmed with Ellis beforehand to reduce {Explode}s power beforehand so as not to kill Lake yet. Damn it! Now the Resistance equipment is completely out of our grasp! After the auction, Gray had gone into a rare rage. Lets just think about trying to buy the armor back from that aristocrat, Gise said to try and calm him down. But after Dams had said to him, You didnt have enough money? You suck, Gray was feeling a little too stressed to be able to just calm down. We could have bought it if you hadnt insisted on getting that great sword! Dont go turning this on me. You just didnt get enough money from the king. Arent you the one in the wrong here? Damss complaints were unfair and unfounded, yet they still disheartened the emotionally unstable Gray. Resistance equipment are a set of legendary armor composed of a chest piece, gauntlets, and boots. When these three pieces are together, it will create a bonus effect that will provide physical reduction of 10 along with the magical damage reduction to every member of the party. Gray had already acquired the Resistance gauntlets and the Resistance black metal boots. After that, the Resistance plate armor was all that was left, but Gray never imagined that he would be obstructed by something like this. Damn it Walking towards the alley wall, Gray hugged his knees and faced the corner in his usual habit. Killing me, Peach muttered under her breath, wanting to throw up. Gray, pull yourself together. Gise was starting to get worried. Dams and Cliff started eating some kebabs that they had picked up from a street stall, completely uncaring towards Grays predicament. Then a man with a shaved head stepped forward, interrupting the Brave partys internal strife. Heya folks. How bout listening to a story from a brother bandit? What? I dont think itll be a waste of time for you all. Gise was naturally wary, but he did not wave off the skinhead immediately because there was a possibility that he might be from the Thieves Guild. So the skinhead cut to the chase. A little birdie told me a bit ago that you all are in need of some Resistance armor. Yes. Were you also at the auction site? Oh no, but I do have something here that you might be interested in. The skinhead took out some spikes from a bag he was carrying over his shoulder. It was a set of Hyaaha armor. A very vulgar set of armor that consisted of a metal ball and chain over the chest which connected two spiked shoulder pads and covered nothing else. Is this some kind of joke? The stranger rubbed his bald head and smiled. There is someone among you who can appraise right? How about giving this a little look-see. Gise stared at the man for a long time before beckoning Cliff to step forward and appraise the armor. As soon as he was finished, Cliffs face distorted in shock. Whats wrong Cliff? Gise. This is Resistance Hyaaha armor Gise couldnt believe his ears. What did you say!? There is no mistake! Gises eyes immediately snapped back to the skinhead stranger. You, where did you get this? But the skinhead remained calm, and gave the Brave party an apologetic smile. Actually, I am a fugitive from the Magus army. I stole this from the Demon Lord when I escaped to the streets, but I am scared of what will happen to me when I am found. Thats when I saw you were willing to buy that other armor for 1 billion ril. If you were to buy this, then I could use that money to escape from my pursuers, and you would get that armor you so desperately wanted. Gise dragged the still sulking Gray away from the wall, and he urged him to try on the Hyaaha armor. Oh, what a cool looking piece of armor. Just put it on. Gray changed out of his shirt and slid on the Hyaaha armor. A light began to wrap itself around Gray, completely enveloping him before wrapping itself around his four companions as well. The bonus effect of reducing physical damage by 10 had certainly been activated. Gise started to think. If they were to do away with this skinhead here, then this armor would be theirs. But amongst this group, there was a single honest man. fool Thank you! Please take this 1 billion ril as our thanks! Gray stepped ahead of Gise and happily handed over the money. Thanks! The skinhead then immediately took hold of the bag of money and disappeared into the darkness. In this way, the Hero continued on his journey in a majestic form of wearing only black gloves and black, spiky shoulder pads on the upper half of his body. It seems that the man in question did not care about the appearance so long as he had the three legendary armors effects. And then in front of Elliss mansion. You did well, Ken. Ellis praised Ken who had obediently moved according to the scenario she had put forth. Ken had acted as the enigmatic skinhead, and the Resistance Hyaaha armor was her own product made from Kens old armor that was about to be thrown away. Ellis had successfully maderipped off 1.1 billion ril from the Brave party. As Ken obediently handed over the cash with a smile, Ellis made a small note to herself in the back of her mind. Ken and Hanna do good work. CH 47 Reeve had regrets. The question of just how much trouble she had caused her home when she ran away was weighing heavily on her. To be honest, she had never expected her desertion to cause any problems. Lake had always derided her as a breastless girl. Although they have gotten a little bigger recently thanks to Ellis. At the very least, Lake had clearly made his displeasure to the engagement well-known, so the knowledge that her family had to pay reparations to the Durkfienance house came as a shock. There are four others at her family home. Her father, mother, little brother, and the grandfather who had spent all their money in the first place. She also had two older sisters who had already been married off to nobles at Sky Castle. Whats going on there right now? She has already worked up quite the fortune for herself. It would be all too easy for her to pay off her familys debt to the Durkfienance house. The only problem is that grandfather of hers. Giving that old man is just asking for trouble. At least, that is what her two older sisters had always told her. Hah Reeve sighed. Should I return to my parents home once? she thought to herself. Then Ellis returned home and disrupted her melancholy. What a Reeve. You look so serious. Mistress, Im sorry. Can I get some time off? Are you returning home? Yes. Okay. We are going too. Ellis made her decision, and there was no room for argument. The harvest festival had ended and restlessness had returned to Warren. Claire had already finished the design for the steamed cake shop that she and Ellis had talked about. As soon as the Workshop Guild had reopened its doors, the two had taken it to Flint in order to begin construction. Since Ken did a lot this time around, lets build a nice living area for him and Hanna to raise a family. You did really well Ken. When Ellis told the two of them this, Hanna and Ken were both brought to their knees, shedding tears while squeaking out words of thanks. In actuality, this was Elliss plan to have two dedicated employees tied to her new store, but if they are happy, then thats good too. Claire was also apparently fooled by Elliss kind words though, and she promised to make the two of them some new furniture. In the meantime, Ellis had to come up with new ideas for what would be sold at the store other than just steamed cakes. The only question Ellis had left then, was how she was going to profit off of anything Ken made. Thats why she decided to alter the deal. How about doing things like this? Ellis smiled while presenting her proposal to Ken, Hanna, and Claire at the construction site. It was Hanna and Kens choice to make with Claire acting as the witness. I will give this shop and residence to the two of you free of charge. You two would be able to sell the steamed cakes along with anything else Ken creates. In exchange, I will get the sales rights and 10 percent of what you sell. Everything else will be yours to live with. Its a dreamlike story for Ken and Hanna. It is possible for them to start a store of their own right out of the gate. In addition, their first product is the five-colored steamed cake which had sold very well during the harvest festival. For Ken and Hanna, Ellis truly was the benefactor of a lifetime. All according to plan. Binding people with money can only get you so far. Now binding people with grace, thats forever. Besides, its not just the sales rights of the steamed cakes but also any new items that Ken ends up creating. In other words, 10 percent of everything they take into the store will flow directly into Elliss pocket. As Ken develops new products and his fame rises, so too will Elliss profits without her having to do anything. What is especially shady here is the fact that it is 10 percent of sales and not profits. At first glance, Ken and Hanna might think this is a really good deal, and by working harder, their profits will increase as well. In reality, it means that they will both have to shoulder the cost of purchasing goods while Ellis will end up making money no matter how well one of Kens products ends up selling. In some cases, the two of them might have to work days without sleep in order to ensure that no mistakes are made. What looks like a paradise is actually a ball and chain with no room for escape. In this way, Ellis had made an investment for future profits along with binding a servant to do her bidding. And so Ellis declared her decision at dinner over Fraus special tapas. We will all be going to Wheat Grace. Is this really alright? Reeve was a little embarrassed and hesitated to drag everyone along, but she couldnt stop them if she wanted to at this point as everyone had already gotten in the mood to take a trip. Ill be able to pick up some of those agricultural products that Wheat Grace is so well known for. I want to meet Reeves family. Traveling is fun nya! Then we leave the day after tomorrow! During the harvest festival, Lily Garden operated during the night. Now that the harvest festival, the large public bath was being monopolized by Elliss group for the first time in awhile. Five girls enjoyed the hot water with outstretched limbs and sighs of genuine comfort. And Ellis broke it. I shall sing Elliss number one hit, The Breast Clause! Kathie jumped out of the water and joined Ellis. I will sing too nya! The Breast Clause is a song that a certain comedy singer sang on top of the harvest festival stage. It made for a wonderful addition to Ellis and Katies repertoire. The other three didnt quite have the appreciation for it though. Still, the large public bathhouse was able to regain its usual atmosphere as everyone competed in the first Throat Boast Competition in forever. Today again, the evening ended peacefully. The next day, Reeve headed to the Adventurers guild to confirm the balance in her account. The receptionist Helen was more than a little surprised when she saw the amount. Thatscertainly a lot. The balance was a little over 200 million ril. Much of it came from the fact that the Resistance plate armor sold for 1.2 billion ril. That alone meant that Reeves share would amount to 120 million ril. Then there was the tens of millions of ril she earned from searching labyrinths and selling off the equipment from the scarlet laundry she hung up to dry. Make a guild exchange note for 200 million ril. Certainly. Helen was able to regain her composure rather quickly, and she produced the guild exchange note at Reeves request. The commission will be 10 thousand ril. Thank you. Youre going to Wheat Grace tomorrow right? Ah. I hope something fun happens. Hmm? When she saw the confused look on Reeves face, Helen laughed and gave her a meaningful smile. With that, Reeve walked over to the Merchant guild. Are you going to Wheat Grace then? Yes. Please enjoy various things. Hmm? Maria also gave Reeve a small laugh and a meaningful smile. When Reeve returned to the mansion, she sorted out everything she had from her Pouch of Gluttony. There was 200 million ril in cash from the Resistance Hyaaha armor that Ellis sold to Brave party. That was set right next to the 200 million ril guild exchange note that she received from the Adventurers guild. Lastly, there were 10 cut gems that had been given to her by members of her fan club. If its this, I can manage somehow. Frau was preparing some ingredients. Claire was directing the construction of the cake store. Ellis was at the Workshop Guild getting the carriage prepped. Katie was at the Thieves Guild to inform them about her trip to Wheat Grace. Reeve was alone for the first time in a long time. She sat down on a chair, and she started to think. Every day has been exciting ever since she arrived at Warren. Outsmarting Kevin and his followers, overhunting all those cattle and horses, cooperating with her friends to take down the monsters in the labyrinth, and even the silly little singing competitions held in the public bath. She had become acquainted with a lot of strange people. All thanks to Ellis. I can no longer picture my life without her. Suddenly, Pi-tan made one of his rare ventures outside his basket. When Reeve picked him up and stroked his shell overtop her knee, his eyelids started to quake, and he could feel his afternoon nap calling him. He stretched out his body and fell asleep in Reeves tender embrace. Reeve watched Pi-tan with warm eyes. Youre just like me. We are definitely happier now. By evening, all the girls had returned to the mansion. Frau quickly started prepping dinner. Since they would be traveling starting tomorrow, she whipped up a delicious deep-fried meal to make up for the easily prepped food they would be eating on the carriage. The five girls confirmed their itinerary while enjoying some crispy white fish fries. It takes the carriage five days to travel to Wheat Grace. The number of days they would be staying was still undecided, but they wanted to return by the time that the cake shop would be done. Alright. Lets go to bed early tonight. Today, after everyone had finished their bath, they made their way to their rooms. In Reeves room. Mistress, Im sorry to bother you like this. What are you talking about? Arent we family? Well, Im glad to hear you say so. Dont cry like this. Im sorry. Because Im going to make you cry in a different way. .. The other three girls waited anxiously for their turn. If Ellis doesnt come to someone, then she wont come to any of them, and if she comes to one of them, then she will come to all of them. When Ellis left behind the fallen Reeve, she went around to everyone else like usual and slept with all of them. Then she returned to the start. There was an uncomfortable feeling inside todays Reeve. Ellis would burn it away. She dove into the second round with Reeve who was about ready to drown in happiness. Today as well, the morning was cheerful When Reeve woke up, she saw Ellis resting on her chest looking up at her. Mistress. Good morning. Reeve, your eyes are red. Ah, sorry. Such a child will be treated like this. Ellis gently kissed Reeves eyes. Ah The moan that Reeve released was completely unintentional. Still, it acted as the start, and for the first time in a long time, Elliss early morning exercise was started. Its morning. Its definitely morning. Its morning nya. Three girls having just woken up, were waiting in a line outside of Reeves doorCarms jealously crossed. After ending their decisive battle, Ellis and Reeve hurriedly dressed themselves and opened the door. Ellis decided to completely ignore the eyes of the three people and said, Come on! Lets go! They head south towards the city of Wheat Grace. CH 48 Katie and Elliss new signature song. The melody is to the Coal Miners Song.1 *Opening Melody* (Tsucha ~ rakka chan chan. Tsucha ~ rakka chan chan.) The Boobies came out, came out. The boobies came out, came out. Breasts. Breasts. Chi chi ga deta deta chi chi ga deta a ? paipai The next door Nee-chans boobies came out. Because the Nee-chan was too erotic Anmari nee-chan ga eroino de This Nii-chan will sit back and watch. Breasts. Breasts. Nozoi teta nii-chan koshi hiita sore paipai Big boobs. Busty boobs. Tanky boobs. Breasts. Breasts. Ki ~yonyuu baku ni ~yuu chi chi tanku a ? paipai The mens eyes are overjoyed Otoko no mesen ga kokochiyoi Because there are so many huge boobs Anmari oppai ga dekainode Its too much nutrition for the mind. There are breasts. Breasts. Otsumu ni eiy ga ikanai no sore paipai Small boobs. Tiny boobs. Washboards. Breasts. Breasts. Hin ni ~yuu bini ~yuuni sentaku ~uitaa a ? paipai Nevertheless the nipple is number one Soredemo chikubi wa ichininmae Because the nipple rubs a lot Anmari chikubi ga sureru node It is up from rubbing the bra. Breasts. Breasts. Buraj shite mitara ui chatta sore paipai Boooooooobs. Booooooooobs. Booooooooooooooooooobs. pa ? i ? oppi o~tsu oooooopaipai Breasts. Breasts. Booooooooooooooooooooooobs. Oppai oppai ? i ? pa ? i pai So many breasts. Boobs and breasts. Anmari, oppai oppai pai Breasts and boooooooooooobs. Booooooooooooooooooooooooobs. These are breasts. Oppai i o ? o oppai pa ? i pai sore paipai 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPGIgnn3evA CH 49 Nyan Nyan Nyan. With Katie singing away while acting as the driver, the carriage was heading south towards Wheat Grace. Of course, even if you call her the driver, it is not like there is much to do with the Magical horses leading the way. This was the road between Warren and Wheat Grace known as Vegetable Road. Grains such as wheat are primarily grown north of Warren in the Marsfield area which consists of mostly plains areas. In comparison, Wheat Grace has mountains and marshes along with their plains, so they end up producing a wide variety of agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, and beans. These farm products have freshness as a priority, so Vegetable Road has several relay stations along it with lodgings and other facilities. In normal circumstances, the journey from Warren to Wheat Grace takes five days. However, that is only taking normal day travel into account. Both Warren and Wheat Graces Merchant guilds provide transport services and fresh horses at those relay stations, so someone could make the journey in a little more than two days if they wanted to. Wheat Grace also takes on the burden of gathering the specialty crops of the surrounding villages to be delivered to WarrenCallowing Warren to gather a wide variety of products and secure its name as a city of trade. With all this emphasis on ease of travel, there is also the fact that they were using Magical horses as well. Elliss horse-drawn carriage ended up overtaking numerous carriages from behind as a result, destroying the usual Warren travel schedule. Elliss group ended up making it to the first relay point in the afternoon of their first day. There was a space to park ones carriage and a trough for horses to drink from. Its a little early, but lets stop here for the day. At Elliss decision, Katie moved the carriage toward the relay point and parked the carriage there. While Ellis deactivated and gathered the Magical horses, Reeve and Katie stretched out the awning, and Claire set up the table and arranged the silverware. Frau had already started dinner before the carriage was parked. When the sun finally started to set, the five girls enjoyed Fraus special cooked chicken and baked potatoes underneath the Light stones embedded to the awning. What kind of special products does Reeves family handle? To Fraus question, Reeve became a little timid. It used to be beans and tea, but its only beans now. Reeve explained the story. Wheat Graces aristocrats each had their own specialty product along with their main agricultural exportsCrice and beans. The rice and beans are collectively bought up by the Wheat Grace Merchant guild, and the Warren Merchant guild buys all the product at once. In this way, a cooperative was formed among the local aristocrats. In the past, the aristocrats special products were handled in the same way through a cooperative system, but the current leader of the Durkfienance house switched it over to a direct sales method. As for the Lorenburg family, which was Reeves family, their ancestors had been producing their own tea ever since their family was first founded. The quality of Lorenburg tea was quite high and very well known. No other aristocrat in Wheat Grace could compete with them, so it provided them with some stable income. However, Ferdinand Lorenburg, the predecessor of the current head of the family, had many hobbies, and at one point, he talked about building a permanent theater in Wheat Grace. After using their tea industry as collateral, the whole affair proved to be a magnificent failure. As a result, they lost all claims to the family business including the rights to their tea ceremonies, the tea fields, and the production methods for their tea. Currently, this business was held by the Durkfienance house. The brand, however, remains as Lorenburg tea. Frau was more than a little surprised by this story. Lorenburg tea is famous for its sweet taste and sent! Youre family is that Lorenburg family!? Whatever timidity she had was blown away as Reeve burst out laughing by such an overexaggerated response from Frau. Still, as evidenced by such a reaction, the brand power of Lorenburg tea was certainly powerful. Most likely, the entire reason why a marriage was arranged between Lake and Reeve in the first place was just to keep the Lorenburg name. Ferdinand had almost lost the family home of the Lorenburg family as well to the head of the Durkfienance house, Acoms Durkfienance. Instead, before things reached the point of no return, Ferdinand was forced to retire, and his son Leopold took responsibility. Leopold, now in charge of the family, made his first priority the survival of the family through frugalityCusing his father as warning. Currently, the only thing left to them was a single bean field, and the only people working it were the few servants who stayed in their service due to long-standing loyalty. Claire and Katie listened in to Frau and Reeves conversation full of interest. Could it be that Reeve was actually supposed to be a refined ojou-sama? Theres nothing refined about belonging to a fallen house. Reeve killed any delusions they had before they could even really start. Ellis, on the other hand, was more focused on the content of Reeves story. The Durkfienance house purposely undercut the other aristocrats and stole their profits under the excuse of direct sales for the special products. This caused Reeves grandfather to have to rely on them in order to start into a new business venture which resulted in them claiming all of Lorenburg houses assets. It was a typical hi-jacking and black market lending scheme. There seems to be various things going on in Wheat Grace, Ellis mused. Ellis had already heard several stories about the citys state from Theseus and Maria, but they did not know how it really was out there. There was no way to know without arriving and seeing for herself. Ellis ran through all the little information she had picked up from that special rectangular box from the other world. The next four days were spent traveling at a very leisurely pace. The surrounding landscape of Vegetable Road was rich in variety as sometimes the girls would find themselves surrounded by a bamboo grove, sometimes in a wide meadow, and sometimes by paddy fields. Soon enough though, there journey was over, and they arrived at Wheat Grace. At first sight, it was more like a town rather than a city, and it suited the idyllic, rustic landscape. It wont be long now. Replacing Katie at the head of the coach, she steered everyone towards her parents house. Here we are. Reeve stopped the horse-drawn carriage before a large, stone house that exuded history. The grand hall was surrounded by an iron fence, but its gate was open, and there was no gatekeeper. When Reeve pulled the carriage in front of the main entrance, she hopped off her seat and headed straight for the door. As expected, she stopped just a short distance away, awkwardly shifting her weight between her feet until Ellis pushed on her back. You shouldve made up your mind a long time ago. Reeve slowly picked up the familiar knocker installed onto the door, and she took a deep breath. *Gon!* *Gon!* After waiting a while, a small voice could be heard from the other side of the door. Who is it? Its Reeve. Open up. Big sis? The sound of iron grating against iron resounded as the latch was lifted, and the old wooden door swung out far faster than you would think possible. A single, small boy stood before the party. Reeve! The boys name was Hymel, Reeves younger brother. As Hymel rushed out to greet his returned older sister, another voice could be heard further inside the house. Everyone, Reeve has returned home! It was Reeves mother, Lux, who had raised the call. Before things were taken too far, Reeve cut the both of them off with a sharp bow. Mother. I have caused you all trouble. Its a little embarrassing showing off a room with nothing in it. With a small word of apology, Lux directed them a couch in the middle of the room. To put it simply, the room was far too plain for a room belonging to an aristocrats mansion. It had the bare minimum for furniture, and there were no paintings or statues that aristocrats seem to love located anywhere. Are Father and Grandfather here? Luxs smile gave way slightly at Reeves question. Theyre currently meeting with Acoms. There was a slight problem with some monetary transactions. Trouble? A heavy air descended down upon the room. In that kind of atmosphere, Reeve stood before her mother. Mother, how much was the remuneration for breaking off the engagement to Lake? You dont have to worry about something like that. Lux tried to laugh off Reeves question and gave her a reassuring smile. But Reeve would not relent. Listen to me, Mother. Thanks to Ellis, I have succeeded as an adventurer in Warren. Lux took another look at the friends her daughter had brought with her. She was surprised to hear that all these young girls were adventurers, but she was even more shocked to learn that Ellis was an associate member of the Warren council. Reeve took a step forward and grabbed hold of her mothers shoulders, looking more serious than she had her entire life. I have secured a good life and a good sum of money. Please. Please, let me help. Lux couldnt say no. Its 10 million ril. Really? The fire burning inside Reeves heart quickly burned itself out. A debt of that size was nothing to her. But then she remembered, for the current Lorenburg family, it might as well have been 100 million ril. I will give you this for the time being. When Reeve said the command word {Meal Time}, her favorite Pouch of Gluttony opened up, and she handed over the 200 million ril adventurer guild exchange note to her mother. Lux stared at the note in her hands for a long time. More specifically, she stared at the number printed in deep, black letters. Um. Right when Reeve tried to bring her mother back, Lux ended up collapsing onto the sofa behind her. Mother! Are you alright!? Lux had unexpectedly started to cry, and when Reeve ran up to her to see if she was okay, Lux tried to fight her off. What is this!? What did you do!? Oh no, my daughters a criminal! Calm down Mother! This is all legal! It took awhile for Reeve to calm her mother down enough in order for her to explain how she got the money. She had to go slow in parts to make sure her mother wouldnt get worked up again, and she sat close to her on the couch holding her hands in order to comfort her. She told her almost everything. She became an adventurer after running away from home. She became Elliss legal guardian and began living with her in the mansion. And all five of them earnestly searched the citys surrounding labyrinths. I now jointly run Warrens Lily Garden bathhouse along with Ellis. Lily Garden? The name struck a chord with Lux. Of course news about Warrens latest facility that attracts wealthy ladies from all over had reached Wheat Grace as well. There were two pieces of gossip that Lux managed to recall. The first was that the bath was supposedly run by five beautiful differently-colored maidens. Maybe you five are Warrens Jewelry Box? I have never once called myself by such an embarrassing name. Lux was able to infer the truth, contrary to Reeves immediate denial. That means. The second rumorCmale-dressed lady who occasionally appears at Lily Gardens restaurant to sing. The Blue Beauty.. Reeve gave a slightly ashamed laugh. It sounds ridiculous, but thats probably me. This time, Lux really did faint. Its to be expected in a sense. Her daughter who ran away somehow became a ridiculously famous celebrity in only a few months. CH 50 Weve returned. The current head, Leopold Lorenburg, pushed open the door himself sounding weary from the days events. Behind him, Ferdinand Lorenburg, the previous head who had cast the family into ruin, followed after looking half dead. Welcome home Father, Grandfather. When Hymel welcomed the two home, a funny look passed over Leopolds face. Because his beloved wife greeted him home with a strange smile that he had never seen in their long time married to one another. It gave Leopold a bad feeling. Hymel, whats wrong with mother? When Leopold asked, a troubled look marred Hymels smiling face. Actually, Reeve-neechan came back home. She and Mom were talking about something, and Mom broke. Ferdinand and Leopold were both understandably confused and speechless by Hymels explanation, but Ferdinand was able to gather his bearings first. Reeves back! Leopold came to his senses a second after, and although his words were the same, they were tinged with anger versus Ferdinands joy. Reeves back! Obviously, Leopolds tone was much louder than his fathers. Where? Hymel shrunk back from his fathers booming voice. Drawing room. That idiot daughter! While Leopold immediately headed towards the drawing room at a breakneck pace, he made sure to stop and take a deep breath to calm himself. Once he was ready, he knocked and threw open the door. There, Leopold faced five elegant girls waiting for him. Leopold stiffened for a moment at the sight before him, and Ellis did not fail to take advantage of that gap to cut in front of him. It is an honor to meet you Sir Leopold. I am Ellis, a member of the Warren Council. As expected, Leopold completely froze up after this little girls words. In addition, a few extra blows were thrown his way immediately after. Your honorable Leopold, I am the daughter of the Warren Adventurers Guild, Frau. Master Leopold, I am Claire, the head of the Warren Workshop Guilds design office. His Excellency Leopold, I am called KatieCa member of the Thieves Guild working directly under the Thieves Guild Master Baltis nya. Leopolds thought process completely stopped after the barrage of introductions. This was when he was at his weakest, and when the final blow was struck. Father, I am sorry to drop in like this, but I wanted to introduce my friends. You might know them as Warrens Jewelry Box. Ferdinand, who had stiffened up at the stream of unbelievable self-introductions behind Leopold, became animated at once. You girls are the famous Warren Jewelry Box! But I heard that there were five girls in the Jewelry Box, and there are only four of you here.No way. Reeve answered with an embarrassed smile, and Ferdinands eyes went wide with surprise. You are getting a little ahead of yourself, Grandfather. I am the least important member. Leopold and Ferdinand were guided in their shocked state over to the sofa where they silently took a seat. After sinking into the sofa and giving himself a moment to think, Leopold took a deep breath and spoke slowly. So, why are you girls here? Reeve leaned forward to directly face her father. I heard from Lake when he was in Warren. He told me that the Lorenburg family had to pay compensation for me abandoning the engagement to the Durkfienance family. I came here to pay it. Leopold snorted. And? Did you hear about the amount? Yes. I heard from Mother. Then what will you do? There was no way a runaway girl could manage that amount of money. However, Reeves answer was completely different from what Leopold was expecting. I can handle it. .. Whats wrong? It was then that Lux had returned to her senses and had come over to sit next to Leopold. With a slightly shaking hand, she passed over the guild exchange note to her husband. Leopold thought he was going to have a heart attack. Whats with this amount of money!? I earned it all legally, Father. .. What did you do? Bath management, labyrinth exploration, festival participation, and so on. What about..shameful acts? Absent. Ellis didnt pay her for those. Leopold thought to himself. When he finally looked back up, he was sporting an enormous smile. Reeve, you really are my fathers grandchild, participating in so many ventures. Ferdinand laughed darkly. Thats wrong my boy. Shes actually making a profit! Oh, Grandfather. For the first time in a long while, the Lorenburg laughed together, as a family. Once everything had settled down a bit, Ellis cut in to get to the matter at hand. Was your meeting today about a boycott? Elliss question made both Leopold and Ferdinand frown, but then they quickly remembered that this little girl was a member of the Warren Council. It isnt weird for her to know about the circumstances. Yeah, thats right, little miss. What Grace is pretty much cornered. This is what Ellis had heard from Maria and Theseus about this citys harassment. They were not talking about the harassment from the Durkfienance house towards the Lorenburg house. Maria and Theseus were actually talking about the ongoing harassment from the Reeve Fan Club and the Warren Adventurers Guild towards Lake Durkfienance. As Leopold kept on explaining the situation, Ellis was able to pick up that the plan was advancing quicker than she thought it would. So did the Durkfienance family tell you that there is a boycott going on for all Wheat Grace products by Warren citizens? Leopold and Ferdinand both nodded to affirm it. But Ellis frowned. That explanation has an error. To be exact, the boycott is being done by both Warren and Marsfield citizens, and they are boycotting only against the products produced by the Durkfienance house. Leopold and Ferdinand both shared a look before turning their attention back to Ellis. Why is that? Thats because Lake said a few things he shouldnt have and managed to anger every single woman from Warren to Marsfield. He angered some women? The two men clearly did not understand what Ellis meant from her explanation, but she did not really care to explain further and just continued her story from before. Also, soon an official will arrive here from Sky Castle to perform a tax investigation on the Durkfienance house. Before that, I would like you to summon all the aristocrats in Wheat Grace for a meeting. This was some harassment on behalf of the Adventurers Guild. Neither Flint nor Theseus were too pleased when Lake called Claire up on stage the way he did, so they sent word to the royal family that the Durkfienance house was possibly cheating on their taxes. It was a type of harassment possible because Warren was the only trading partner that Wheat Grace had. As a result, she would have records for all the product that gets shipped out from there. Elliss expectations came true. At the word of Leopold, every Wheat Grace aristocrat gathered at the Durkfienance family home. At his seat, Leopold introduced Ellis as an associate member of the Warren Council. My daughters friend was worried for us, so she ventured here from Warren to explain about Warrens circumstances. All the nobles gave Ellis an incredulous look, some became openly offended that Leopold would try and pass off this young girl as someone of importance, but the Merchant Guild master of Wheat Grace had attended the meeting as well. He had met Ellis several time previously when he was visiting the Warren Merchant Guild. Her identity was proven. Once they were sure of her identity, the nobles took no time in trying to find out what was happening with Warren and Marsfield. A boycott is currently being held by Warren and Marsfield citizens against all products under the Durkfienance name. And one more thing. In addition, a tax investigator is being sent directly from Sky Castle to investigate the Durkfienance house. A tax investigation!? Most of nobles were taken aback by the news that the boycott was not directly affecting their products. Why at this timing!? The one person who was more concerned with the second piece of news and throwing a fit was the head of the Durkfienance house, Acoms. At that time, Katie suddenly came up from behind Ellis and whispered into her ear. The man standing behind Acoms, he is a demon nya. Leopold, who is that man? Leopold cued in to Elliss tone and whispered back to not let anyone else aware of their speaking. He seems to be a recently hired moneyman.1 Sketchy. Eventually the meeting on that day ended without a solid conclusion among the aristocrats. Then its time for me to go. Be careful, mistress. I look forward to what you find. Finish quickly. Watch out for demons nya. Ellis activated the Mimetic ability before shoving off. There was a constant link using Intelligence between Reeves piercing and Elliss headband as she snuck into the Durkfienance house. After spending so much time as a warrior, she was surprised by how easily all the old infiltration techniques came back to her. Had the practice been ingrained into the body since long before? Regardless of some boycott, the tax investigation is bad! Acoms was shouting at the moneyman in the back of the building. Completely ignoring his employers frantic behavior, the moneymans response was quiet and cold. Pull yourself together. In the worst case, youll just have to pay a little recompense in taxes. However, the head of the Durkfienance house was already of the mind that he wanted to pay as little in taxes as possible. Ive already paid you so much money! Its the basic of basics to pay your bouncer a fee upfront. Then do something about this case too! If we do, then theyll just send another tax official. AHHHHHH!!!! Why am I surrounded by fools!? Acoms turned his back on the moneyman before storming out of the room in a fit of rage. Then late at night. Acoms felt a chill run down his back while lying on his luxurious bed. When he noticed it, he realized that he was unable to move his body. Even his neck was stuck in place, so all he could do was have his eyes, blankly stare at his beds canopy. He couldnt even let out a squeak. Then suddenly, something brushed up against his ear. Acoms, the cute little subordinate of our beloved Demon Lord. A soft-spoken, sweet voice whispered into the paralyzed Acomss ear. The Demon Lord will aid you. Listen carefully. The voice told him to return the rights to all of the special products he had bought up from the surrounding aristocrats. If you do so, you can reduce the total sales record on your books. Plus, if you run goods through the other families, you can bypass the boycott on Durkfienance family goods in the meantime. I can transfer the rights only for the duration of the investigation, while the Sky Castle official is here. The revelation is like a sign from God to Acoms. The basics for tax investigations means that you always check the sales records first. From there, it would be just a few odds and ends. Instead of hiding the money, spread it out. That way, even if the tax investigator does discover a discrepancy, it will be divided among all of the nobility, and the Durkfienance house can avoid a cumbersome situation. Truly the work of God, er, the Demon Lord! The voice continued to speak to Acoms who by now was listening as closely as his paralyzed body would let him. Next, all Ill do is provide you with the mark of the Demon Lord. As it said such, suddenly a sharp knife was thrust into Acomss breast. It drew a bit of blood, but before he could cry out in pain, he fell asleep. The next morning, Acoms awoke without a scratch on him, wondering if everything that had happened last night was just a dream. That was magnificent, Mistress! A wonderful quadruple combo of Stupor, Silence, Sleep, and Full Recovery! I almost believed that it really was the Demon Lord. Terrible nya. Acoms summoned all the nobles of Wheat Grace together once again, and he announced to all that he was temporarily returning the business rights of each familys business rights. Naturally, this meant that the Lorenburg family regained control of their famous tea. This is a strategy so that we all may still profit while this silly boycott continues! Acoms boasted with his chest puffed out, pretending that this wonderful idea was all his own. To that end, the moneyman remained silent. Actually, the moneyman had listened intently to Acoms story about the previous nights incident. He originally did not believe Acoms story and had started to believe that someone was trying to trick him, but then he remembered the execution that the Demon Lord had bestowed upon a commander who had failed him. There was blood everywhere. Perhaps Acoms being stabbed the way he was last night was just the Demon Lord playing around. The moneyman reflexively shook with fear towards the thought of his Demon Lord. On the afternoon of that day, the tax official from Sky Castle arrived at Wheat Grace while being guarded by members of the Warren Adventurer Guild. He was being escorted by two people, the Mr. Coachman Buzz and Mr. Flying Swallow Longsword Doug.2 In fact, these two were skilled adventurers. Two of the best that the guild had to offer. Buzz and Doug jumped off of the carriage and joined Ellis on the side of the road. She did not say anything to them instead going for just a small smile. The two smiled back in turn giving a slight nod to let her know that they understood. Acoms came out to greet the official personally, feeling at ease and with books in hand. Please, look to your hearts content. The tax official then calmly told him, Then, please give me the records about the group rice and beans exports. .Hm? The inspection is not over the total sales? Acoms felt like someone had splashed him with a bucket of cold water. Whats wrong? I am here to compare the amount of product that Warren bought with the amount that the Durkfienance house reported. The tax official truly did not understand what was so confusing on this point. Its just that, if someone were to spread out their special products to, say, other nobles, then the total sales would definitely be thrown off. However, that would have absolutely no impact on possible fraud if you were to only look at the collective rice and bean crops. 1. For those who dont know that moneyman is a real thing, theyre kind of like a cross between an accountant and an economic advisor. They are pretty just people who specialize in money. 2. Theyre the two adventurers who won the good weapons from when Ellis and Claire washed Dams and Cliff. If you dont remember them, dont worry. They were really insignificant. CH 51 Why does the amount of rice sales not match up between the two books? The tax officer dispatched from the capitol Sky Castle continued to point out the discrepancies between the Durkfienance family books and the records that Warren provided. It could be due to the gap in time of delivery Every time a new question was asked, Acoms struggled to come up with a new pitiful excuse, and a nervous sweat had started pouring down his brow. Watching this nervous expression with cold eyes, the tax official did not let up on the questioning. In this book, the Warren Merchant Guild states they paid you a billion ril here, but I dont see any record of that on the Durkfienance side. The record may have ended up misplaced. But its not even mentioned on the next page! Perhaps it was omissible The tax official sighed deeply at the pathetic excuses that Acoms continued to just babble out. After taking a moment to pull himself back together, the tax official gave Acoms a strong look. By the way, accounts state that your son Lake bought a piece of armor being auctioned off in Warren for 1.2 billion ril. Could you explain to me where that money came from? What!? This was news to Acoms as well. So naturally he couldnt give an answer. But this could be a chance. If he pushed the investigation back until Lake returned, Acoms could buy himself a little extra time. At least until Lake returned to Wheat Grace. Completely ignoring that hope, Lake kicked open the door to the reception area. Pops, look at this! Its some armor that I beat the Hero and a bunch of other nobles in an auction in order to buy! The worst. Naturally the tax official turned his attention away from Acoms and onto Lake. I wonder Master Lake, where did you get the money to win that auction? Lake turned to the tax official and sneered, What business is it to you? He is a man that is completely unable to read the moon. In front of such a rude and arrogant youth, the tax official became even more annoyed than he had been with Acoms, and any warmth in his demeanor completely disappeared. A tax official dispatched from the capitol. Im here today to investigate the Durkfienance family expenses. Tax official? Even this idiot was able to comprehend the implications of a tax official directly visiting your home, so when the official repeated his question from before, it took on a whole new meaning for Lake. Where did you get the resources to purchase that piece of armor? Lake couldnt answer him. Because that 1.2 billion came from the secretly stashed away 3 billion ril that he had helped his father divert away into their pockets. The tax official lazily shifted his gaze between the brat who did not know what to say, and the father who was wearing his guilt on his sleeve. It was a case so easy to solve that he actually wasnt sure what to do. The tax official let out his umpteenth sigh at this point and said, I will need to see records for every cash payment and deposit you have made. However, at that moment the tax officer saw something that truly surprised him. Meena! Why are you here!? Meena was the tax officers daughter. She had disappeared a few months ago with no evidence to where she might have gone nor what could have happened. The tax officer had searched everywhere in Sky Castle for her, and he had hired dozens of agents to search for her in the outside cities. He was so worried for her that he had completely neglected his duties until now in his ongoing quest to find her. The only reason he had traveled to Wheat Grace like this was so that he could earn some more money to continue paying the agents he had out looking for her. And now here she was in front of him; his beloved daughter had miraculously appeared before him. The truth was, Meena had met Lake when he was visiting Sky Castle and had fallen in love at first sight, so she went along with him to Wheat Grace while doing nice things with him. Meena was born to the tax official and a wife who was frequently doing nice things with other men while the tax official was away on business, and while the tax officer always had his suspicions, he was never able to gleam the truth. Meena was a hopeless romantic like her father which was why she had gone so far for a man she knew little about other than her love for him. Still, after growing up in the environment that she did, and watching her mother for all those years, Meena knew what she had to do now that her father was here. Meena suddenly started to cry and shouted at Lake. This person forced himself on me! It was a beautiful example of shifting the blame. If you were to think about this situation calmly, then you would be able to easily see the truth. But a hot-blooded father who dotes on his daughter too much could not be asked to think calmly in this type of situation and would believe her claim one hundred percent. You son of a bitch! The tax officer grabbed hold of Lakes collar and threw him up against a wall. Lake, only saved from falling on his butt because he managed to grab hold of some curtains, was left scrambling away on his hands and knees, trying to escape from the screaming tax official. Meanwhile, Acoms had turned deathly pale as the worst-case scenario just kept getting worse and worse. Eventually the tax official got tired of chasing/beating Lake around the room, so he turned his cold gaze back towards AcomsCspitting out his words with his shoulders still trembling in anger. Your son shall be brought to Sky castle under charges of tax evasion and kidnapping! Okay. Acoms was completely overtaken by this entire situation, so there was nothing he could do but quietly agree and dumbly nod his head. Lake was taken to a separate room and locked up by Buzz and Doug who had acted as the tax officers muscle from behind. Well then, lets continue. The tax officer pushed aside his mounting rage in order to continue scrutinizing the books. After awhile, the tax official shook his head and turned back to Acoms. Just by this one year survey, between the money that was withheld and the fines, you owe up to 3 billion ril. This was bad enough, but the tax official coldly continued. Furthermore, from what I have seen from past years, it seems like this has been a recurring trend. With the past five years, I suppose you owe 15 billion ril? Since this case of tax evasion was obviously not a result from negligence but a willful act, it will most likely end up with a prison sentence in the event you cant pay. But a prison sentence form 15 billion ril in taxation would equal of life sentence! Acoms didnt know what to think. He didnt have that kind money, but he certainly didnt want to spend life in prison. *SNAP* Something broke inside Acomss head. Dont look at it as you have to pay 15 billion ril or else go to jail. Look at it like all you have to do is pay 15 billion ril, and you get your freedom. It was just one joke too far. After that, Acoms called out to the moneyman who had been silently watching everything from behind until now. Zabinas! Kill this guy! I shouldve done this from the beginning after all. At the same time, the moneymans appearance warped into a true demon. I will take care of things here, so just remember to obediently pay my fee at the end of this. Zabinas slowly approached the tax official who was frozen stiff from the sudden appearance of a demon. Dont worry. Ill make it painless for you. Zabinass claws seemed to shine as they were brought down towards the tax officials head. But they didnt reach. Too bad nya. At the moment of attack, a pure white cat-eared girl had slipped her body in front of the tax official and prevented the attack with a shining gold gauntlet. The cat-eared girl grabbed the tax officials hand, and she ran out of the room along with him. Kill them before they reach the street! Acoms was screaming like a madman, but Zabinas agreed with him chasing after the cat-eared girl and the tax official. But when he left the safety of the drawing room, Zabinas was suddenly hindered from advancing further by a stone spear shot from the floor. What, what? The city inhabitants who had gathered to witness the ongoing situation with the visiting tax official were taken aback by the sudden development. What the hell!? Its a demon! The people whove seen? When Zabinas gave a quick look over the surrounding people, he loudly called back to Acoms. The eyewitnesses are expendable! We can kill them later! Roger! The frenzied Acoms was screaming at the top of his lungs. So the demon known as Zabinas began to grow larger. His bulky muscles surpassed that of the rotten giant. He was 4 meters tall, and there were no eyes in his skull. Only empty, black eye sockets. Razor sharp fangs poked out of this large grin reaching from ear to ear His whole body was dyed as black as a bat, and a large pair of wings were attached to his back along with four, hulking armsCcausing all the surrounding witnesses to fall back in fear. It was a being known as a high daemon. A big one came out Ellis readied her blade while guarding the tax officer. After guiding Katie and Claire back into formation, she instructed Frau and Reeve to charge forward and get behind Zabinas. We will help too! Buzz and Doug from the Adventurers Guild also tried to follow after Reeve and Frau, but a sudden flame blocked their path. Damn! Is this the same spell the wight cast? Reeve and Frau were wrapped up in a {Fireburst} released by Zabinas. Ellis hurriedly launched Full Recovery to treat Reeve and Fraus wounds. These two were able to withstand the damage to and extent thanks to the Resistance and Magic Guard abilities. But that would not be the case for the other two. Buzz and Doug, hang back and attack from a distance! Ellis screamed out her orders to the two men, but under her breath, she muttered to herself, This might be really bad Ellis was getting impatient. But she had to stop the demon that was in front of her. Frau aim for the left, Reeve the right, Katie aim for his back and Stupor him, Claire {Explode}! The four girls spread out according to Elliss instruction and began their assault. Although Frau and Buzz attacked Sabinass right foot with Reeve and Doug assaulting the left, barely any damage was given. Claire had finished refining her mana in the meantime and had successfully released an {Explosion} right on Zabinass head. The daemons head was engulfed in flames and noise, but once it all cleared away, his head was still there. He resisted it! Leave it to me nya! As if to respond to Claires despair, Katies pressed in her claws and gouged out Zabinass back. Kuwaaaaaaaaaaa! Katies attack went through. With, black blotchy blood pouring from his back, Zabinas turned around making his target. Bad! Katie will be done for at this rate! Elliss brain was spinning with everything it had to try and figure out what to do next. Then a voice shouted out from behind. Everyone near the demon, get down! All the girls and their helpers instinctively threw themselves to the left and right. They recognized the voice, but right now was not the time for harassment. Everything was over in an instant. Brave Slash! At that instant, a flash of light passed before everyones eyes. When Zabinas was hit by that flash, his movements were completely halted. Right until the left half of his body started to fall forward while the right side fell back. Black blood flowed from the bisected demon, but everyones eyes had already been directed to the direction that that blade of light had come from. There, the Hero Gray stood tall wearing his Resistance gauntlet, Resistance black metal boots, and Resistance Hyaaha armor. Amazing! What was that light? Such tremendous power! I cant believe he cut that demon in two! That Brave Slash was incredible! With the exception of the cat-eared girl, none of Elliss group were able to damage the demon that the Hero had just killed. They had fought with everything they had, but the Hero ended it with one attack. It was quite clear that if they got into a fight with the Brave party, they would definitely be annihilated in an instant. So Ellis worked up her resolve. She would try and get along with the Hero on the surface. Ellis struck Reeves leg to get her attention, and when Reeve lent her ear, Ellis whispered out her plan. Nodding once, Reeve rushed over to her father and whispered in his ear the same way. So you are the Hero Gray! I am Leopold Lorenburg, a noble of this city. Today, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my city. Thank you. So Leopold expressed his gratitude to the Hero with his head bowed as low as it would go. The residents of the city gasped at the situation of a noble bowing their head to another, but they quickly regained their composure and began bowing their heads following Leopolds lead. The Hero was not quite sure what to do in this situation. No.I felt the presence of a demon, so.Im just glad I made it in time. The Hero was blushing. It was his first time ever being truly welcomed to a city like this. Completely different from all the misfortune he had met in a city a little north of there. Have you finished yet? Dams droned on as if nothing had happened. Lets hurry up. Peach also had no admiration for the Hero. Im tired. Cliff had not even realized there was a fight. Gray, thank you for your help once again. Gise was the only person who was happy for Grays intervention. Now the question is, why is the Brave party here in the first place? There was a good reason for that. The Brave party had once again dived into Wight Labyrinth after the Warren harvest festival, but they once again came up short. So while the labyrinth was restoring itself, they decided to venture to Wheat Grace in order to obtain the Resistance armor that the Durkfienance family had managed to outbid them on to replace the Hyaaha armor he currently had. In the worst-case scenario, Gray was prepared to acquire it even if he had to abuse the royal family name. Because when the wight which was the last boss of Wight Labyrinth sprung out, the monster had unintentionally started laughing when it saw the armor the Hero was wearing. At that point, not only Gise but Peach, Dams, and Cliff had all sympathized with the embarrassed Gray. That is what brought them to the current situation. Acoms and Lake were once again grabbed by Buzz and Doug and dragged over to the Adventurers Guild. Still a little shaken from the true horror of the Heros power, she decided to confirm the fate of Acoms and Lake first and ran over to the tax official. What will happen to these two? They are definitely guilty. While expressing his appreciation to Ellis for saving his life, the tax officer was clearly suppressing the anger he held towards the two nobles and was completely cold-hearted to their future fates. When he wasnt looking, Ellis performed a guts pose. Alright. Then Ellis turned towards Gray and shouted loudly. Mr. Hero! Your armor is over here! Ellis pointed to the Resistance armor that Lake was still currently wearing. No, he won that in the bid fair and square. Even though Gray was trying to hold back during this current situation, Ellis kept talking in her most girlish sounding voice while twirling her hair a bit. I saw the auction, and when I saw this suit of armor, I thought it would be perfect for the Hero. Besides, this person won it with fraudulent money. Isnt that right? Ellis drew the tax official into the conversation who readily agreed that Lake was at fault, even without the knowledge that it benefitted the Hero. Then, dont you think this armor should go to its legitimate owner? What about everyone else? Reeve was the first to recognize what Ellis was doing and began to start a round of applause which quickly spread to the rest of the onlookers. Here Ellis made eye contact with Doug and Buzz. They received the message loud and clear, removed the armor from Lake, and handed it over to Ellis. Ellis pretended that the armor was quite heavy in her delicate arms, and she gave off her biggest, cutest smile while struggling to hold up the armor to Gray. Come on, please take this from me, Hero. Gray was touched while graciously taking the armor from Elliss outstretched hands. Thank you. It had suddenly become an award ceremony. Gray was wrapped in applause from the surrounding residents as he removed the Hyaaha armor and put on the jet black armor with Elliss help. Thus the Hero Gray finally started looking like a decent hero. It looks great! This is what a hero is supposed to look like! The residents clapping grew louder and shouts of acclaim rang out. With the city completely enveloped in this blessed atmosphere, Ellis quietly approached Gise. Sorry for the festival. I was surprised. Gise was completely thrown off by the sudden apology and could only nod his head in silence. Ellis then softly whispered into the still confused Gises ear. Thank you for helping everyone today. No, well In this way, Gise was completely taken in by Elliss acting. For some strange reason, the tax official has the mistaken belief that Leopold is the second man in charge after Acoms, most likely due to him taking the lead in thanking the Hero for saving the city. The tax official asked Leopold to take over lead duties for the Durkfienance family since Acoms and Lake would both be taken to Sky Castle to face trial for their crimes. May I continue to trade agricultural products normally? Worried about the damage done by Acomss tax evasion, Leopold acutely asked the most pressing question for Wheat Grace. Satisfied with the competence shown by this new leader, the tax official hit him on the shoulder to let him know it was all right. Feel free to start a new book. Just make sure to keep it accurate during tax time. Before Ferdinand ran them to the ground, the Lorenburg family was a well-off, highly respected house, so there were no complaints from the other nobles about them taking over. And since the rights to their special products were permanently returned from the Durkfienance family, most of the aristocrats had actually come ahead from this whole affair. In this way, the harassment against Lake and the Durkfienance house plan perpetrated by the Reeve Fan Club and the Warren Adventurers Guild was a rousing success which had also inadvertently resulted in peace returning to Wheat Grace and Reeves family becoming the new lords. CH 52 The Durkfienance family will be dissolved. The family head and its successor Lake will be taken to Sky Castle. The charges lodged against them are tax evasion, abduction, and espionage due to Acomss communication with Demon Lord forces. The sentence for collaborating with the Demon Lord will almost certainly be capital punishment. At the very least they will be banished from the kingdom. As for those left behind, Acomss wife Aiful and his daughter Credia, they will be left without a penny to their names since the royal family would be repossessing everything Acoms owned. Aifuls parents home was a lower aristocrat family of Wheat Grace which was forcibly and illegally crushed by Acoms in order to force Aiful to marry him. So they have nowhere to turn to. And there is nobody drunk enough in Wheat Grace to take in the family of the worst criminal in the citys history. In other words, their future will only consist of living in dark alleys at the mercy, contempt, and curiosity of the random strangers who cross their path. Acoms and Lake were scum. However Aiful was an innocent woman forced into a loveless marriage through Acomss machinations. In a sense, she was the largest victim among the Wheat Grace nobility. Meanwhile Credia was a pleasant young girl who took after her mother as opposed to her scum of a brother. At the very least, they werent tyrants who had cheated, derided, or swindled others. Their plight played on Reeves heart. Mistress, can I have a consultation? Whats wrong Reeve? Could you use Aiful and Credia in Warren? Ellis looked directly into Reeves hopeful eyes. Are you stupid? Um Elliss sudden abuse caused Reeve to recoil. Her face twisted as if she had just been burned by a branding iron. Ellis let her squirm for a minute before going on. You dont have to ask me, just do it yourself. What do you mean? The right to manufacture and sell Lorenburg tea has returned to your family, so you should be able to set up a Lorenburg tea shop up in Warren. Putting it right next to Hanna and Kens cake shop would be a good idea dont you think? Either way, it would be better for you to bring this up to the Merchant Guild than me. The scales fell from Reeves eyes, and Ellis gave her a little wink and a pat on the butt. Yes! Ill do that! After drawing up a rough plan, Reeve ran over to consult the design with Claire. Letting out a small sigh, Reeve watched her go with a smile. She then started to think up her own plans for Aiful and Credia. A seat of honor was set up for the Brave party in Wheat Grace. The Merchant Guild Master and the Farmers Guild Master along with a few other aristocrats including Leopold set it up to properly welcome the Hero and his friends. Incidentally, Wheat Grace has no independent Adventurer Guild, Thieves Guild, or Workshop Guild. This is simply because as an agricultural city, they simply have no real need for the fleshed out organizations. So at Wheat Grace, the Merchant Guild also takes over the duties usually associated with the Thieves Guild and the Adventurers Guild while the Farmers Guild takes care of the few odds and ends that crop up with not having a proper Workshop Guild. In the event that something goes awry or the two guilds cannot handle a situation, Warrens guilds will come in and lend their assistance. The Farmers Guild is a coalition composed of the free landowners, and as its name suggests, they specialize in efficiently setting up irrigation channels, transferring seedlings, and breed improvement. You really saved me this time. The tax officer who was given a special seat as a sign of hospitality thanked Gray once again. It was just a coincidence that I happened to be walking by, but its good that nobody was hurt. The unique magic of the Hero, {Leap City}, is a high speed traveling magic that allows the Hero and his companions to teleport to any city they had previously traveled to. So if the tax officer were to temporarily join the Heros party, he would be able to instantly travel back to Sky Castle. Cmon, theres a party going on here. These guys are giving us whatever we want. Lets stay here overnight. Im tired. Gray frowned at the usual selfishness coming from the three idiots, but when they get like this, they would not budge. So Gray gave up in vain and listened to the three idiots suggestions. Alright. Lets take it easy for tonight. But Ellis didnt miss the disgusted look that passed across Grays face. When the feast was finished, the Brave party was brought to the highest class suites in Wheat Graces highest grade inn by the Merchant Guild master. Meanwhile, at the Lorenburg family guest house. Well, I will be going then. Ellis had just finished slipping into her black uniform. Be careful. I hope to hear about something interesting. The Brave party was pretty disgusting today dont you think? I think the Hero thought so too nya. Ellis was heading towards the inn where the Brave party was staying. Her purpose was obviously to discover the weakness of the Hero who could not be fought directly. Back at the lodging inside the inn, each bed had luggage strewn upon it, and each member of the Brave party was relaxing in their own way. The suite was composed of six rooms, three of which were bedrooms. In one room were Gray and Gise, another was Dams and Cliff, and Peach had the third room all to herself. Currently, the five of them were enjoying some tea that the inn mother had brewed and had delivered to their room, but Gray was fidgeting for some reason. After some time had passed with Gray sitting on his hands with a restless appearance, it looked like he had come to a decision and walked over to Peach. Hey Peach, can I ask for it? So Peach wrinkled her nose and smiled as if she was expecting this very thing and stretched out her back as much as she could. Hmm. So you cut down the demon and now your crotch is burning? It cant be helped, being your favorite person. As Gray stupidly followed Peachs lead, they both disappeared into the washroom. Dams and Cliff shared a look and a large grin before taking off while Gise just held his head. Locking the door to the bathroom behind her, Peach pushed Gray to the floor on his back and immediately straddled his hips. Here. Take your pants off quickly. Ye-Yeah. Ill do it. Gray raised his waist and took off his pants in a hurry to expose his lower abdomen to Peach. Ahhh Ahhh Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhn Peh! After everything was done and over with, Peach spat something out into the wash basin, rinsed, gargled, and repeated before silently leaving the washroom. Its our turn after the brave! Not to brag, but Im pretty good. While three people lazily lounged around the living room, Gise silently left them to their devices and spent the rest of the night alone in his bedroom. The only one of them left was the Hero who was left embracing his knees without anything covering his lower waist while staring into the corner of the bathroom. Ellis watched everything with great interest. Also disgust. Sympathy. A little anger at being made to watch that in the first place was mixed in there as well. Overall, the shame that the Hero displayed once everything was finished was what caught Elliss interest the most. It looks like this party has a few secrets. Ellis vigorously shook her head to the left and right to get rid of all her little emotions other than the interest, and she once again made an evil smile before leaving. Ellis made her way through the dark city streets, taking a few detours here and there in order to give her a little extra time to erase any unnecessary emotions. By the time she made it back to the Lorenburg mansion, she was cold, tired, and still annoyed. This calls for some work. So the girls who greeted Ellis once she returned agreed to listen to her report in the morning and immediately went to bed. Hey Katie, your fur is so white and fluffy. Its really beautiful. Nyan.. Hey Claire, your hair is always so straight and cute isnt it? Ahn. Hey Frau, I really love your chest. Auu Hey Reeve, your eyes really are beautiful. Uuh This morning in Wheat Grace was bright and filled with cheer. Hero Gray flew to Sky Castle with his current party dropping off Gise, Peach, Dams, and Cliff. Once he returned to Wheat Grace, he reassembled the party to be able to deliver Meena, the tax officer, Lake, and Acoms in his next trip to Sky Castle. Prior to that, the tax officer had a brief discussion with Leopold. I will be sure to deliver to you good news. You have my thanks. That good news would be the imperial decree to have Lorenburg take over as the ruling house now that the Durkfienance home would be no more. While the tax officer and Leopold were talking business, Ellis stealthily approached the Hero Gray and requested a handshake from him for his help. When he took the offered hand, Gray was secretly passed a piece of paper. Taking a quick glance at it, he looked back up to see Ellis cutely smiling. Gray-sama seems to be exhausted, so please use this by all means. Watching Ellis retreat away, Gray looked down at the piece of paper passed on to him. What was written there made his body freeze. The note had two parts. The first part was just a normal advertisement. Masters Hideaway notice of business hours and contacts. Little Nice Thing: 10,000 ril Very Nice Thing: Market Price Gray had heard about the services when he stayed in Warren during the harvest festival, so the card itself wasnt too surprising. The thing that truly made his cheeks go red was what was written on the back. Hey wait, what is this!? Gray grabbed Elliss wrist before she could get away and whispered into her ear a little louder than he had intended. And so Ellis in turn whispered in her ear with a smile youd only expect from the devil himself. Its just as its written. I am a manager for the two bath houses in Warren, and I can tell you that the Twin Healing Hills Marilyn is great at healing both the body and the mind. Please give it a try. Ellis continued to press the issue when Gray started to look unsure. Its a lot more enjoyable than something like last night. Last night? Bathroom. That one word from Ellis was almost enough to make Grays heart burst. Why does this little girl know about that!? Thinking about it calmly, the Hero should realize that Ellis had been spying on him seeing not just thatactivity, but everything else they had said and done last night. Unfortunately, Gray did not have the luxury of thinking calmly in this situation. Embarrassment aside, there was also the fact that his sexual desire and libido were both increased along with that seemingly infinite vitality he had received when he became the Hero. In his current state, he was far more interested in Twin Healing Hills Marilyn than the mysterious young girl in front of him. And so Ellis struck the final nail in the coffin. Please come visit Warren again once the tax officer is settled. Like an obedient dog, Gray nodded his head. Well then please take good care of me. Thus the tax officer was hurriedly rushed out of Wheat Grace by the Hero Gray. At Warrens center. The Hero Gray had teleported himself away as soon as he had dropped off the tax officer. Borrowing a set of apprentice thief clothes from Gise before secretly shoving off, Gray had hesitantly made his way to the building standing erect before him. He took several deep breaths before working up his courage and advancing through Masters Hideaways heavy doors. There, a cheerful and sensual voice welcomed him inside. Welcome home, Master! With the receptionists beaming smile laying into him, Gray had some issues getting his hand out of his pocket. Completely overcome with a combination of anxiety and excitement, Greys folded hand clung to Elliss ticket in almost desperationCalmost ripping his pants when he forcibly pulled his enclosed fist out of the pocket. The receptionist was still giving the same smile as he gently placed the crumpled up ticket onto the desk. I have this. Can I use it? The receptionist accepted the ticket without a wasting a breath. She gave the front a quick once over before taking a look at the reverse side. Reading the inscribed message, the receptionists salesman smile finally changed growing even larger. A guest brought here by Ellis-ojousamas invitation is always welcome! The receptionist suddenly advanced on Gray who had stiffened from the unexpectedly warm welcome. Marilyn will get ready and meet you as soon as she can. Please enjoy the bath until then. Gray felt all his anxiety release itself at once when he saw how easily the ticket was accepted, but he was surprised at the same time to hear Ellis called ojousama. Gray..No, its Gise. Gray was hesitant to give out his real name, so he decided to in turn use the name of one of his companions. He was sure the real Gise wouldnt mind. Gray received the key to his locker and a towel from the receptionist, and he headed towards the bath after stripping off all his clothes the way the signs indicated. First off, the rinsing bath. Gray read every sign posted to make sure he followed the proper procedure, so of course the sign depicting the business prices popped up in his view. Back Scrub Shampoo Little Nice Thing Very Nice Thing Gray had to lean forward and cover his crotch with the towel the receptionist provided him. The delusions just would not stop. Gray wasnt sure what to do, and just as he was about to decide whether or not to take care of the issue himself, he heard the receptionist call out to him. Mr. Gise, Im sorry to keep you waiting. Embarrassed at what he was about to do, Gray wrapped the towel around his waist and quickly ran back to the reception desk. Welcome, Master. The woman who greeted him there was more beautiful than any of Grays previous delusions. A gentle smile made by soft-looking lips and brown hair tied back behind two rosy red cheeks. Although the long maidware barely showed any skin, it still accented every curve on her emphasizing her sensual body. Furthermore, the descriptions that Ellis had secretly passed on to him about her two healing hills proved to actually have been a disservice to the subjects in questionCprobably due to the added fact of an obvious lack of underwear being worn. Marilyn approached the frozen Gray slowly, giving her most sensual smile. Mr. Gise, would you prefer I wear an outfit, or just the underwear? *Gulp* It was a situation far surpassing Grays limited imagination. Was the real world truly this magical? H-How about the white gown? Certainly, my Master. As soon as Marilyn switched to a white nursing gown and once again appeared before Gray, Marilyn took Grays hand and lead him to a dedicated hot spring, moving in all the right ways to show off the tight fitting outfit and exposed thighs. Marilyn slowly and gently scrubbed Grays back, rinsed him off, and then started to run the shampoo through his hair while holding his head. As time went on, the white gown she was wearing became more and more wet from the splashing water. Is it itchy? The sudden question whispered in Grays ear resulted in the first gunshot for today. Ahhhhhn Marilyn continued to wash Grays body as if nothing had happened, but Gray could feel his whole body burning red from embarrassment. Please do not hesitate to speak up if you have any problems. Gray was able to calm himself down through Marilyns soothing words. Due to the soft feeling of the twin hill cushions that Grays head was resting on, his lust quickly outgrew his overall embarrassment. Here then please. Just like that, Marilyn took Grays hand and led him to a back room. Ahhhhhhh Ahhhhhhh Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhn When everything was done and gone with, Gray was wrapped up in Marilyns twin hills. She was gently stroking his hair. It was truly comfortable. Tears started to fall for some reason. Come and visit whenever you have a problem. Marilyns gentle voice and soft breasts put Gray at ease and allowed him to relax. This kindness and comprehensibility is the reason why Marilyn is known as the Twin Healing Hills. From that day on, Gray felt a tightness in his chest whenever he thought of Marilyn and became her most regular customer. CH 53 The Demon Lords castle on a particular day. Hey, adjutant. My Demon Lord. Once again, my name is Berudeus. Oh, sorry. Hey, Berudeus. What is it My Demon Lord? Im bored. Until just recently, werent you having fun with all the girls you gathered. I got tired. Okay. Ask me why. Why? Because theyre all just dead fish. What do you expect from a group of girls who have never had sex before. Who was it that ordered his minions to gather up only virgins? I am sorry about that. Then please reflect while enjoying your virgins. Dont say that. Because my harem is like an adult doll expo. There are no changes in expressions or responses amongst any of them. Isnt there a mania to enjoying the minute differences in their features? Sorry, but Im no maniac. Then you should strive to be one from now on. The only thing I have to do around here is eat and enjoy their weak personalities. I want them to expand more to my imagination. If so, then why not ask these poor ladies to try out these delusions of yours. I already did. I just wanted one thing from them. What is that? I asked them to step on me for awhile. They ended up just chewing on their tongue for a moment before breaking down and crying a bunch. Im sure they pictured all sorts of torture that would be inflicted upon them for daring to stomp on the Demon Lord. There is no way that I would ever allow my personal preferences get out to the general public, but she was so scared that she ended up getting too nervous and biting her tongue. I had to quickly use healing magic to save her life. How compassionate. Dont praise me. I wasnt. Unfortunately all the women who werent virgins were taken by your subordinates. Your orders were followed faithfully. Only dependable when it suits them. Oh yes, they were quite into their work. Ill just have to hold back in the future. From the beginning, wasnt it My Demon Lord who broadcast across the nation saying a ridiculous thing like how the humans only had the option to choose slavery or death? I am sorry about that as well. I should have told them that all beautiful women would be an exception. Come on, lets do another broadcast. Please no. Do you know how many demons we would need to sacrifice in order to do that? Not to mention the effects on my mental health. Dont say that. Useless things are no good. Tch. It cant be helped. Ill just make do with my dead fish. If you think of those poor girls as a dead crab instead of a dead fish, then their moans will sound differently. Really? Probably. The Demon Lord and Berudeus finished their daily comic routine and continued to check out the golden claws that their subordinates had gathered for them from across the country. But it seems that once again they did not get a hit. Why are there so many questionable products out there on the market? Why are you asking me? I know as much as you My Demon Lord. The sheer amount of equipment piled up before them was a sight to before, but after sifting through dozens of fake bronze claws, they finally voiced the question that was plaguing their minds. Whats this? The words Masters Hideaway was printed in large letters across the top. It was listed as a bathhouse on the front, and its business hours were written underneath that. Hmmm. The Demon Lord absentmindedly read through the leaflets advertisement while sitting back on his thrown. It listed the following. These maids are awaiting Masters return. Chief Maid of Immorality Chief Secretary of Pride Healing Twin Hills Tsundere Lolita Girl Enchanted Mother-in-Law Night Shift Nurse Small Breasts Invitation1 !!! This Chief Secretary of Pride! The creative instinct of the Demon Lords imagination was captured by these words. He quickly hid the leaflet on his person to avoid his adjutant from seeing it. After some time had passed and all the work was done, the Demon Lord made his move. Well Berudeus. Please take care with your fish. No, I actually thought about heading out for a bit. The Demon Lord said these words as if it was the most natural thing in the world, but the adjutant grabbed hold of his Demon Lords arm looking completely shocked. Theres no way a hikikomori like you would head out anywhere! Dont you think youre a little too rude to your boss? So what, are you not going to let me go out? Are you heading out to confront the Brave party? Where are you going? Secret. Is that alright? However, your look as a Demon Lord stands out a bit, so I must insist that you change your clothes. Do we have some? If its the Hyaaha armor, we have plenty. I think Ill go for something a little less embarrassing this time. Well then I guess you could go with this. What was handed to the Demon Lord was a set of farmers clothes that were taken away when the villagers were caught and had their heads shaved into mohawks. A straw hat was given as well for a touch of fashion. Is there such a thing? There is only such a thing. If I get attacked like this, wont I die way too easily. With your magical abilities, only a direct attack from the Hero could pierce through your barrier. Oh right. I forgot. When the Demon Lord removed all of his golden armor, he switched it for the farmers shirt and trousers. Finally, with the straw hat placed on top of his head, his disguise was complete. Its perfect. When the Demon Lord cast the magic {Skyliner}, he was able to rush forward from his royal palace to Warren through the clouds. The Demon Lord flew to his destination and canceled his magic when he got close. Making sure nobody saw him land in the city, he made the rest of the way to the shop on foot using the map drawn on the leaflet. It was not long before he saw the erect building in the distance. With his lucky clothes that did not draw the attention of anybody, the Demon Lord quickly arrived at the door. Is it here? He stepped inside without a hint of hesitation. Welcome back, Master! A bright and cheerful voice welcomed the Demon Lord inside. When the Demon Lord arrived at the front reception desk, he took out the leaflet that he had until now clutched closely to his chest. Id like to ask for an appointment with the Chief Secretary of Pride. Unfortunately, when the receptionist heard his request, her face looked a little troubled. Margherita is fully booked today. What? The Demon Lord fell deep in thought. The Chief Secretary of Pride is full of reservations today. What should I do? Should I ask for the Night Shift Nurse here then? But a nurse isnt really above her patients. On the other hand, a chief secretary would be above their subordinates. Moreover, that bit about pride clearly shows a love for brutality. There is a clear scene of bullying there. Meanwhile a night-shift nurse is a person who takes care of children and the sick. Definitely not a bully. Im in trouble. Watching the farmer before her give such serious thought to the current situation, the receptionist decided to speak up. If it is tomorrow or later on, you could make a reservation. How about that? What? Once again, the Demon Lord fell deep in though. Keep calm. Do I settle for today? Do I keep my expanding expectations growing until tomorrow? It was an easy choice. Lets do tomorrow morning. Your name? ItsBerudeus. Mr. Berudeus, Margherita is only accepting reservations for a very nice thing. Is that okay? Naturally. Ms. Margherita is expensive. Once the man had reserved the Chief Secretary of Pride, the Demon Lord returned to his castle. Welcome back. Would you like to take a bath, have a meal, or enjoy some fish? I will go to bed early today. Completely ignoring the jabs from his adjutant, Demon Lord headed straight to his bedroom. Yet he was completely unable to sleep at all that night. Despite that fact, the Demon Lord was able to get out of bed the next morning without a hint of fatigue. Good morning. Would you like to have breakfast here, or a fish picnic today? Completely ignoring another jab from his adjutant, Demon Lord slipped on his farmers attire and immediately flew to Warren. Welcome back, Master. The Demon Lord tipped his straw hat to the welcoming receptionist behind her desk. Then from behind his shoulder, a sweet and sticky voice spoke to him. Are you the one who made a reservation for the Chief Secretary of Pride? The Demon Lord, who reflexively looked back, instantly pressed his hand down to his crotch. A stretch of long, beautiful blonde hair draped down her shoulders and lustrous scarlet lips. The white blouses buttons were daringly undone allowing breasts and a black bra to peek out. A black garter belt ran across her milky white skin above an area that consisted of a tight leather mini skirt and thigh-high black stockings. Bright red pin heels adorned her feet. From the appearance alone, the Demon Lords imagination was wiped clear, blowing out any and all of the delusions he had cooked up the previous night. Y-yes. I think so. Would you like to start now? Please. What should I call you My Master? Yes, then, how about Demon King? It was right about here that Margherita started to consider her customer a weirdo hobbyist. But she is a professional. Now, My Demon King. Come over here quickly. Now, My Demon King. Strip for me. Now, My Demon King. Lie down here and let me wash you. Despite being ordered around with a strong, commanding tone, the Demon Lord felt his heart pounding in excitement as he did what he was toldCeventually entrusting his leg to her lap so that she could wash his hair. Is it itchy? Auu The Demon Lord was brought asunder quickly. But this was the professional Margherita. While the Demon Lord was still reeling from the previous experience, Margherita took the opportunity to break character this one time. Lets go to the back room, can you still go on? Rather than just a simple yes, the Demon Lord verified Margheritas question by blurting out all the delusions and desires he had built up until now. Of course. Also please call me a lazy bum while blaming me for all your problems, and be sure to accuse me of never being able to succeed at a job and. What? The Demon Lord was able to work up his courage and demanded from Margherita a creative play straight from the bowels of his imagination that he was never able to perform with his harem. Can you step on me? Margherita made sure to respond promptly, gouging out any of the Demon Lords anxiety. Ill dig my pin heels right into your flesh. The Demon Lord was ready to go at pin heels2 and faithfully followed Margherita to the back room. Now, My Demon King. Now, what the hell are you whining about? Are you really a Demon King or perhaps an Idiot King? Auauhhhh Now, My Demon Lord. Perhaps if I step on your crotch, your head might start to work a little better. Well? Is the blood in your pea-sized brain circulating a little better? Whats with your eyes? Is my underwear that unusual? Auauhhhh Now, My Demon Lord. Since it seems too hard for you, Ill help you out a bit. Aaahhhhhhhhhn. Thus the Demon Lord was brought down for a second time that day. This time, he was satisfied. Then its time. Thank you. The Demon Lord wholeheartedly thanked Margherita who had returned to her usual self. Everything was satisfactory. Here is my payment. Its 150 thousand ril. Yes, the rest is my tip. The Demon Lord handed over the one million ril from his wallet. Margherita looked at the money handed to her carefully and chose her next words to not offend her customer. Is this really okay? Its no problem. I will come again. When I do, please insult, abuse, and punish me more. The Demon Lord became entranced with a goodbye kiss from Margherita and returned to his castle in a good mood. Welcome back. Would you like to have lunch, or perhaps a visit to the fish market Im taking a nap. Rushing past his adjutant, the Demon Lord returned to his room, lied down in bed, and enjoyed the afterglow radiating from his entire body. And he started to think. Should I conquer Warren? But then he reconsidered. If I conquered it, will Margherita lose her vitality and become a dead fish? I want to avoid that as much as possible. I definitely want to avoid that. This was the heartfelt decision of the Demon Lord. Lets conquer Warren last. In the meantime the afterglow slowly started to wear off. With his head clearing, the Demon Lord then made a horrible realization. I forgot to make a reservation for next time! The Demon Lord hit himself for his foolishness before returning to his throne to have lunch and make plans for next time. 1. I wonder if these names sound better in Japanese to Japanese people than they do to me. 2. Just in case you didnt realize, pin heels was the first words she said in the previous sentence. CH 54 Wow! It smells so good! Frau raised an unexpectedly adorable voice when she smelled the tea fragrance wafting through the building. Ellis, who had made quite the name for herself after the Wheat Grace incident, was guided by Ferdinand to the factory in charge of producing Lorenburg tea where sweet scents and calm atmospheres were the forte. The manufacturing process itself was simple. After the tea leaves are sufficiently fermented, dry them out overtop a roaring fire until theyre finished. However, each newly produced batch of leaves requires sound judgement and a precise handling in order to ensure the taste it is so famous for. Mr. Ferdinand, good morning! Loud and cheerful greetings rose up from the factory workers as Ferdinand passed by. Apparently these workers were quite pleased that the right of ownership for this tea was back in the hands of its true owners. Under the Durkfienance family, the production volume was prioritized over the quality, so the craftsmen would often receive complaints from the shops who were not satisfied with the product they were receiving. On the other hand, Ferdinand was actually the person who had made Lorenburg tea as renowned as it is across the county. He always carried a quality first principle and praised his workers for their hard work. Because the craftsmen know this, they were putting their all into properly welcoming him back. Lorenburg tea will return to its former glory. The tea leaves are harvested three times a year. Once in the spring, once in the summer, and once in fall. The most fragrant leaves come during the summer, then the fall, and finally is spring. By the way, they were currently harvesting fall leaves right now. Hm? Ellis-Eiji felt a little strange at that explanation just now. From the information she had pulled out from the square box in Eijis world, spring should have the highest grade tea while summer tea would be slightly coarser-ranking second, and finally fall with the coarsest tea. Recently the night-activities had been going in top form resulting in a stress free environment, so it took Ellis a few minutes to realize the discrepancy. Oh, is that the difference between black tea and green tea? Ferdinand, do you know about green tea? Ferdinand gave Ellis a strange look. No, I have never heard of it. Is it a brownish-green color? Ferdinand, can you share a few tea leaves with me? Sure. Take as much as you want. Ellis then turned to Claire. Claire, did you bring a steamer? At the realization that Ellis was planning something again, Claires interest was piqued. I did. Is it an experiment? Hit. Claire followed Elliss instructions, and after removing the steamer from her bag, she filled it up with water and began preparations. Ferdinand looked down at the steam with curiosity from behind her. In the meantime, Ellis grabbed some freshly picked leaves from the workshop. Was it like this? Ellis put the tea leaves into the steamer after it warmed up and started to emit high-temperature steam. The steam began to give off a good scent almost immediately. Ellis then immediately took out the tea leaves, placed them flat out onto a warmed up wooden table, and began to unrelentingly massage them with both hands. What are you doing? Ferdinand watched Ellis work with a weird look on his face. Experiment. Ellis continued to rub down the leaves on the heated wooden table.1 Eventually the leaves started to gradually roll around. I wonder if this is good enough. Frau, could you prepare the tea? Reeve, Claire, and Katie, could you make up some steamed cakes? Ellis gave out some instructions while continuing to massage some more leaves. Ellis didnt take a break until Frau finished the preparations to make the tea and the other three finished up the steamed cakes. Its just a prototype, so its not perfect. The tea leaves were rubbed down until they rolled into a needle-like point. Ellis gathered the tea leaves in both hands and brought them over to the prepared vessel and handed them over to Frau. Frau, can you add in these tea leaves and make tea like you normally do? Bon appetite. While surprised at first at the strange new color, Ferdinand brought the tea up to his mouth. I feel unsatisfied, but it is refreshing. This was Reeves impression. A faint delicious taste lingers in the mouth. This was Fraus impression. Its a bit awkward for me. Claire. The only comment that came from Katies mouth was, Too hot nya. Hmm. This is quite the thing. Ferdinand continued to taste the tea time and time againCrolling the new concoction in his mouth. Ellis began to explain her methods. This does not ferment the tea leaves like traditional tea instead opting to steam the leaves and massage them. You avoid fermenting them to preserve the moisture inside the leaves although without the fermentation process they cant be stored as long. This is a prototype, and I dont have the resources or the time to perfect it. Although, Im sure you could perfect the process, cant you Ferdinand? This was surprising to Ferdinand. It was already surprising seeing an 8-year-old girl give an in-depth description for the professional procedures, and his first ever viewing of the steaming process certainly tickled his curiosity. Then Frau held out a small cake laid out on a dish to Ferdinand. This was also made with the steamer. This was the steamed cake made through everyones help. Grandpa, this is also delicious. Ferdinand brought the cake to his mouth and Reeves urging and gently narrowed his eyes after taking a bite. Its a gentle taste. Baked goods are better for the past tea, but this cake might fit better with that green tea of yours. Then Reeve came out with her proposal. We will be selling these cakes on the outskirts of Warren, but I would like to sell Lorenburg tea in a shop next to it. I will take care of talking it out with the Warren Merchant Guild. Reeve continued on before Ferdinand could say anything. I will be taking Aiful and Credia to Warren with me, and the two of them will manage the shop for me. Ferdinand frowned at the second claim Reeve had made. Ferdinand did not feel an ounce of sympathy for Aiful or Credia, but he also did not have any hostility either. Until Reeve had brought it up, he had honestly not even thought about their banishment from Wheat Grace. Alright. You have my blessing as the former head of the Lorenburg house. Ferdinand bowed his head to Reeve with a serious expression across his face. However, that seriousness quickly gave way. Re-boy. Im starting to understand how you were able to work up 200 million ril. In Ferdinands heartfelt and boisterous laughter, Reeves face took on a slight blush, and Ellis welcomed the interaction of the two with a round of applause. Thus the last concern of Wheat Grace was also resolved. Ferdinand and his craftsmen repeatedly studied the process to make green tea and had already started gathering the raw materials to sell what would be called Emerald tea. In accordance to that, the traditional tea would be newly named Ruby tea. In addition, Ferdinand received Elliss advice and succeeded in putting up a proper plan for developing spring tea as the highest quality product for Emerald tea. Thus the profits of spring tea, which had until now the lowest quality of tea until now, would increase from now on. In this way, Lorenburg brand tea would become known as the foremost tea in the entire Almerian continent. Mother Lux welcomed back the five girls after they returned to the Lorenburg mansion. How are Aiful and Credia doing? Lux gave a troubled look towards Reeves question. Neither of them have come out of their rooms yet. Aiful and Credia are currently staying with the Lorenburg family. Since the Lorenburg family was in charge of cleaning up the mess Acoms and Lake left behind, the responsibility for dealing with these two ladies fell on their shoulders. The idea of having them becoming tea shop managers prepared by Reeve was to help them avoid life behind the alley, but it also meant completely abandoning their lives as nobles. So it was necessary to confirm the intentions of Aiful and Credia. What do they want to do now? But when Reeve knocked on their doors, the two did not even voice a reply. Troubling. Frau gently patted the sighing Reeves shoulder. Feel calm, things will work out. Frau tried to comfort Reeve by letting her know that something like this was inevitable. Lets try visiting their rooms again tomorrow. Meanwhile Ellis was watching this whole situation with a strange look on her face. Hee Hee Hee. Its my turn. She was decisive. Oyakodon2 was every mans dream. Although she was no longer a man. Aiful was a slender, mild-mannered 40 years old. Credia was a young 12 years old yet had developed quickly. This was her chance. And she decided to keep it a secret. Ellis snuck into Aiful and Credias room that night while everyone was sleeping. Ellis sat in silence after making sure that Credia wouldnt wake up. She then Silenced Aiful so that she could not scream out and then Stupored her so that she wouldnt try to run away. Once everything was prepared, Ellis whispered into the ear of the frightened milf who wasnt sure what was going on. You are safe. I will surely save you and Credia; you just need the courage to open the door when they knock tomorrow morning. Now, strongly release. Aifuls fright gradually melted away along with the gentle whisper. While observing the easing tension, Ellis released the Silence and Stupor to free her from her restraints. She then continued to use every technique she knew to completely work Aiful over. Ahn It was a feeling Aiful hadnt felt since Credia was born. Ellis continued to work her over several times until Aiful finally fainted. In this way, Aiful was able to have a happy sleep. Next was the young ladys turn. Ellis whispered into Credias ear just as she had done like the mother. You are safe. I will surely save you and your mother; you just need the courage to pen the door when they knock tomorrow morning. Now, strongly release.. The 8-year-old Ellis continued to use her devilish techniques to completely take advantage of the 12-year-old Credia. Ahn. It was the first time that the sheltered Credia had felt such a sensation. She was able to last a couple rounds under Elliss barrage of attacks before collapsing as her mother did. Thus Credia was also able to sleep peacefully. On her way back to her room, Ellis did a bit of reflection. Well.. It was unsatisfactory. Apparently oyakodon was not as good as it sounded. Honestly, Ellis thought, it was a little boring. Would it have gone differently if I did both of them at the same time? No, probably not. Compared to the usual passion and sensuality from Reeve, Frau, Claire, and Katie; tonight was much too tame. Perhaps I should pay a visit to the others? Ellis regretted that she challenged the oyakodon and made her decision. Well I suppose I should visit them after getting fixed up. Ellis quietly returned to her room so that nobody would notice. However, as soon as Ellis slipped in through her door, a Luminescent stone suddenly switched on. Elliss body was exposed by the light. And a string of assertions drilled into her. Where have you been? Reeves saber glowed a silver light right before Elliss eyes. You wont be forgiven this time. Fraus maul radiated red as it hung overtop Elliss head. I am angry. Claire had already cast a {Bind} spell which restricted Elliss movement. Punishment to the point that the Sacrificial doll doesnt activate nya. The claws on Katies Brave Ripper shone brightly even in the dimly lit room as they coldly lifted up Ellis chin. Ellis, who could not move due to {Bind} broke out into a cold sweat as she came to a horrifying revelation. Ellis was the weakest among all five of the girls. Wait, I can explain! Ellis tried to entreat the four. But the four didnt look very merciful. Ah? What? Ha? Nya? Sorry. I apologize. Ellis wholeheartedly apologized. But the four would not let it end like that. Strip. Strip. Strip. Strip nya. Eh? Ellis wasnt quite sure she heard correctly, so the four told her again. Take it off. Take it off. Take it off. Take it off nya. . I will do exactly as you said. There was no other answer Ellis could give. When Claire released her binding, Ellis reluctantly took off her clothes piece by piece. The four girls grew delighted seeing this rare display of shyness from Ellis, and a distorted smile crossed each of their faces. I wont let you sleep tonight. Tonight I will make you moan for me. Tonight I will pay you back for everything. Im interested in various places nya. Ellis was passively overruled and played with by Reeve, Frau, Claire, and Katie all throughout the night. Until at last morning came. Elliss skin looked a tad yellow from the suns light. Four other girls looked tired after clearly not having gotten enough sleep the night before. Each of them was lined up in the Lorenburg dining hall waiting for breakfast with a dissatisfied expression on their face. Mother Lux, who had no idea what had happened the previous night, greeted each of them with a large smile saying, I had a great night sleep last night. The five girls could not reply to such an honest Lux. It was not out of embarrassment. It was because if they were being honest with themselves, they were all unsure if they would describe last night as fun. Each of them silently came to a decision. Lets take it easy on the riba. Riba being a technical term meaning acceptance of change.3 In such a delicate air, Reeve rose up from her seat and cleared her throat. I will go visit our two guests for a moment. We will go as well. The other four chased after Reeve partly to give her emotional support, and also partly to not have to endure the innocent smile of Lux. When Reeve arrived at Aiful and Credias room, she once again gently knocked on their door. Yes? Then, unlike yesterday, although looking a little awkward, Aiful and Credia opened the door and welcomed Reeve. Reeve returned a smile to the both of them. There are no innocent people here, so lets enjoy some breakfast together. The two girls left the confines of their room, shedding silent tears against the invitation from the gentle Reeve. Regarding the future of the Durkfienance family members Aiful and Credia, Leopold and Ferdinand had already persuaded the other nobles and gotten their consent. Aiful and Credia would be kept at the Lorenburg mansion until the messenger arrives from Skycastle. Along with the Durkfienance houses discontinuance which will almost certainly be handed down by the kingdom, the two shall discard the last name Durkfienance. At the same time, the nobles caution against the two will be dropped. Together with Aiful and Credias personal belongings approved by the messenger sent from the kingdom, the two shall be sent to Warren under the Lorenburg familys protection. All of the Wheat Grace nobility was convinced with that. To be honest, none of them held a grudge against Aiful or Credia. And they certainly did not wish any evil on them. If the two of them could find happiness in another town, then that would be for the best. And eventually, the day for Ellis to return to Warren came. Well then, sorry to keep you waiting. Reeve greeted the arrival of Aiful and Credia with her usual smile. They both had all their belongings packed and gave Reeve a dignified smile back. You girls really are angels to us. On behalf of the Lorenburg family and the other nobles who had come to see them off, Ferdinand gave Ellis their thanks. Ellis also gave her farewell to Ferdinand and everyone else. Thanks for all your help. Please visit us if you are ever in Warren. Ellis then turned around and issued a command to all her colleagues. Come now. Lets return home! 1. In the process of making sure I was translating all this correctly, I have learned so much about tea. Its amazing how much there actually is to this. 2. Having sex with a woman and their mother. 3. Riba or is Japanese gay slang which means versatile. Think of it as you are a top, a bottom, or are versatile. CH 55 The Jewelry Box carriage has now hit the halfway point between Wheat Grace and Warren. Claire and Pi-tan are now occupying the residential space with the carpet inside the carriage. Claire is designing a Lorenburg tea retail shop that Reeve had requested at the living room table. Meanwhile Pi-tan was resting next to her inside a basket twice the size of his one at home. He is intently chewing on a snack dagger that Ellis had given him while rolling around in his oversized bed. In the kitchen at the end of the carriage, Frau is preparing some ready-made meals and experimenting with some new spices to try and make the simple food tastier. Katie was serving as the coachman for the carriage. Ellis and Reeve were busy organizing information atop a narrow bed. Will Reeve take over the Lorenburg family then? No, everything will be fine there. Hymel will be taking over. Hymel was the younger brother of Reeve who welcomed Elliss group when they first arrived at the Lorenburg mansion. By the way, he was quite the 10-year-old shota. Well, Ellis wasnt interested in shotas though. Would it be better for you to register the store as a member of Warrens Jewelry Box then instead of under the Lorenburg name? It would bring in less trouble from the Kingdom. Thank you. On the Almerian continent, the king is the absolute law. Especially for the nobility. All nobles belong to the king whose power is monitored by the royal family. So if Reeve were to directly open a shop in Warren under the Lorenburg name, there is a possibility that the royal family would interpret that as Wheat Grace making a move on Warren. In the unlikely event the royal family were to seize the store, it is not possible to know what kind of relationship would be created between the royal family and the Lorenburg family when the Lorenburgs had just gained control of Wheat Grace. Guilty of the crime of being suspicious. That is why the royal family acted so quickly after the report from Warrens Adventurers Guild and quickly sent over some tax officials to the Durkfienance family. Well, Maria would give you permission no matter what. YesI can feel the importance of human relations although it makes me feel slightly uncomfortable. Ellis inched closer to Reeve who was obediently expressing her gratitude. Ellis had been played with all night the night before, so her frustration was quickly building up. In this way, she found it difficult to hold herself back, and her hands started to wander. Keep it a secret from everyone. Ah, Mistressthe suns still out Thats why Ellis and Reeve have been together in the horse-drawn carriage until midday. Well, the daytime battle was successfully finished. And Ellis whispered once again in Reeves ear. Good right? Thisll be our secret. However, it is impossible to keep a secret within such a narrow carriage. Fraus cool voice rose from the kitchen. Katie, were having lunch soon. And Katie quickly replied back. The bedroom curtains were pulled open all at once by Frau. In front of her, Ellis and Reeve were lying down pretending to sleep on top of one of a bed. But the three girls would not be fooled by such an obvious lie. Well, what were the two of you doing when its still so bright out? Frau glared down at the both of them. The suns still shining, yet you two are playing around? Claire glared down at the both of them. Nymphs with too much energy nya. Katie glared down at the both of them. Ellis slowly raised her head and tried to play dumb. Huh? She knew it wouldnt work, but after what had happened before, she wasnt willing to just give up. Reeve was much more mobile, jumping out of bed and slamming her forehead onto the carriage floor. Im sorry. Reeves was an honest apology. Then the facial expressions of the three changed at once. No, theres an order here, Frau smiled. Im looking forward to it, Claire also smiled. Shall we enjoy the rest of our day nya? Katie smiled as well. Today, the horse-drawn carriage was pulled over early today, and camp was made in the afternoon. While the other three were enjoying Ellis, Reeve cleaned her armor and enjoyed the afternoon sun. But her merry time was interrupted when Pi-tan started making a different cry from the usual. Kyu Whats wrong Pi-tan? Reeve worriedly rubbed Pi-tans back while he squirmed around in pain. Reeve was about to go get Claire, the person who spent the most time around Pi-tan, when the small Metal Eater suddenly spit something up. Ptew! At the same time, Pi-tan returned to his original calmed temperament, and he looked as surprised as Reeve was at what he had spit upCa small pearl loaded with magic power. Is it about time? After holding her ear to the sheet, Reeve confirmed that she could not hear any moaning from her friends, so she peeped inside the curtained off bedroom. Whats wrong? Theres something I wanted you to take a look at for a moment. Everyone put their clothes back on and met Reeve out in the carriages living room. Pi-tan spit this out. Can I see? Ellis appreciated the small bead Reeve had been holding. Flying Swallow magic crystal? Whats that? Ellis was able to identify what the gem was called, but she had no idea what it meant. How does a bead inflict double damage? Slingshot ammo? Is that a magic crystal? It was Claire who responded first. According to her, magic crystals were meant to be the physical forms of the abilities embedded in magic tools. When a magic crystal is brought into contact with a tool that can meld with it, the tool will suck in the crystal and gain that magical ability. They are rarely found inside labyrinths, and depending on the ability embedded within, they can be traded in for a large amount of money. However, until now, although magic crystals would sometimes be discovered, nobody knew how they were created. Magic crystals are made by Metal Eaters. Frau held Pi-tan in her arms and watched him lazily nap looking impressed. By the way, why did Pi-tan suddenly spit out a Flying Swallow magic crystal anyway? Claire question made Ellis remember something from a few days ago. Now that I think about it, I accidentally gave Pi-tan a Flying Swallow dagger a few days ago to snack on. Could it be from that? Lets experiment. Ellis nodded as Claires excitement rose. She took out a metal bat from her bag. The dagger Ellis had given Pi-tan before had Flying Swallow attached to it, Right, Pi-tan. When Ellis held the bat in front of her, Pi-tan stretched out his tongue like usual to deteriorate the bat, and then started to munch on weapon while holding it close to his chest. And now we wait. The girls decided to watch over Pi-tan for awhile. The party arrived at Warren two days later. Frau and Katie immediately got to cleaning up the dust in the mansion that had accumulated since theyd been gone. Ellis went to the highway in order to confirm the progress of the cake shops construction accompanied by Reeve and Claire. Hanna and Ken were already over there when they arrived. It looks like its going well. When Claire looked over the scene, all the workers from the Workshop Guild stopped and greeted her with a smile. Hello Claire. It looks like we will be finished ahead of schedule. Ellis, on the other hand, was busy confirming the situation with Hanna and Ken. How is your training going? The both of them smiled simultaneously and held their heads high. Its going better than I thought. Yes, everyone at the Hideaway is pleased. Hanna and Ken have been perfecting their trial-runs of the steamed cake and trying out some new products while borrowing part of the Merchant Guilds facilities. The test subjects have been workers at the Merchants Guild, Masters Hideaway, and Lily Garden who have all given positive feedback. The trifles which were a by-product of the steamed cakes were also very well liked. Ellis and Reeve then started to inspect the surrounding land. If it is on the side closer to Warren, then there should still be some room left. Or maybe it would be better to build it on the other side of the road, facing the cake shop. No, I think itd be better if we put the next to each other. Ellis and Reeve bounced ideas back and forth about the tea shop until Claire caught up to the two of them. It would be fun if the number of stores in the area continued to increase. This casual comment from Claire got the gears turning in Elliss head. If you were to open a few stores around here, you can use it as a relay point between the city and Lily Garden. *Ding* A bell rang in Elliss ears. Thats it! Whats wrong, Ellis? Elliss sudden shout surprised Reeve and Claire, but Elliss feet were already marching towards the city. Nothing yet, but lets go to the Merchant Guild and the Workshop Guild. _____ They arrived at the Merchant Guild first. So the Lorenburg family was Reeves parents! The Merchant Guild master Maria was surprised to hear such important information about Reeve that she hadnt already acquired elsewhere. Yes, so Id like you to let us directly sell the tea in the suburbs. Reeve wrapped up the whole explanation to Maria. Naturally she told her all about the Durkfienance house and about Aiful and Credia as well. Sorry, direct sales arent allowed like that. So its no good? Maria. Maria gave a gentle smile to Reeves discouraged appearance. If you want it to work, Aiful and Credia will first have to join the Merchant Guild, and you have to allow the Merchant Guild to buy Lorenburg tea. That way, the two of them will become fine Warren citizens. Could you? Thank you so much. Reeve bowed her head deeply which made Maria squirm a bit in her chair. If so, then how about you stay over for a night tonight? Thanks, but no. I dont have that kind of hobby. But, let me thank you in some other way. Ellis decided to interject herself into the conversation there. How about Reeve spends the whole day with Ms. Maria while wearing ceremonial clothes? Oh yes, lets do that. And so a deal was smoothly struck that satisfied everyone besides the person in question. _____ Next was the Workshop Guild. To start things off, Claire showed her initial blueprint to Flint. If its just a store/residence combo, we can get started on it right away. We already have material incoming for the cake shop, and because the waterway from Lily Garden is right there, the construction for a toilet and clean water will be easy. We have the manpower to get to work on it as well. If so, could you get the completion of the cake shop to match up with it? Yeah, leave it to me. Well slow down the cake shop and divert resources to the new tea house. Who owns it anyway? P-please do take care of me. Reeve raised her hand sheepishly and began explaining about what had happened in Wheat Grace. Once her explanation was finished, Flint surprised everyone by immediately breaking out into laughter and started slapping his leg. Serves that bastard right! Flint was apparently still holding a grudge over the auction. I love drinking Lorenburg tea. Well put everything we got into this store for you. _____ That evening, Pi-tan spit out another pearl. When Ellis inspected it, it was an Inhalation magic crystal. Although, everyone was already expecting that result. Claire was the most excited out of all of them. What happens if we let Pi-tan eat two different magic tools at the same time? Experiment. Ellis began preparations as soon as Claire asked. A Flying Swallow dagger with Inhalation. And a Purification dagger with Stupor. Licking up these two daggers together, Pi-tan degraded them both and turned it into a sandwich. Once Pi-tan was finished eating, the five girls picked him up and walked over to the bathhouse after a long absence. Reeve was singing an operetta while soaking in the hot water. Frau was sitting in the half bath letting the steam work up a sweat for her. Claire had fully immersed herself in the water allowing her black hair to spread across the surface like a spiders web. Katie was two seconds away from falling asleep with her upper half resting on the cold concrete as her legs danced in the water. Pi-tan stretched out his limbs inside his personal tub. It was the usual sight after a long time. Today, while soaking in hot water up to her shoulders, Ellis dreamed about the night portion of her relaxation period. Ah, this is happiness. _____ And then the next morning. A letter arrived from Wheat Grace and was delivered to Ellis. Dear Reeve, the family will be visiting Sky Castle to formally receive our appointment from His Majesty. We will be bringing Aiful and Credia with us, and we will be stopping by Warren on the way. We cant wait to see you. Say hello to the other members of Warrens Jewelry Box for us as well. The sender was Leopold Lorenburg, Fraus father. CH 56 The next day came quickly. Ellis had finished eating breakfast first before heading off to Masters Hideaway. She had some business with Marilyn. The reason for visiting was to pay the price for the invitation ticket she had handed out to Gray and to find out how the store fared with the Hero visiting. Hi! Can I talk to Marilyn? Yes, please wait a moment. Once the receptionist headed to the back of the store, two new women came out almost immediately. One was wearing a creation tunic with a flare skirt that most town girls wear. However, the tunics chest was opened up, and the rich valley was exposed underneath. Furthermore, the twin hills were the perfect size peaking out that made tunic tight fitting even though the top was undone. Furthermore, the cloth was slightly transparent, and a slight shade of pink could be seen underneath. Thats right, it was everyones favorite no bra. On the left side of the flare skirt a long slit had been cut into the fabric causing a little skin from the toes all the way up the thigh to be visible when she moved. The whole body was a large mass of eroticism. The other woman was wearing a full-body black leather suit with the front zipper undone down to her navel. Once again the suit was tight enough that it barely fit the woman even with the top so far down, but she was wearing a similarly colored thin black bra. And wrapped around the waist? Obviously it was a riding whip hanging down. Marilyn-neesan, as usual your eros is in full bloom. Its because Im a naughty woman. Im pleased as long as my guests are as well. Marilyn says the most outrageous things in response to an eight-year-old girls simple greetings. All from the woman known as the healing twin hills. Margherita-neesan, have you changed your taste recently? No, just adapting to the customers request. The reputation for my whip is becoming quite well known. Margherita eagerly answered Elliss question as if she was waiting to be asked that very thing. This was the Chief Secretary of Pride. These two were Masters Hideaways two best, most trusted workers. Marilyn is an all-rounder. Margherita serves as the den mother. Out of respect, those in the know avoid calling them by their pseudonyms and have another name for them. The Antlion and the Queen Bee. Marilyn and Margherita are so popular that they only accept very good business. Moreover, since their services cost the most, and an appointment has to be set up, the threshold is very high. This was all done on purpose. In this way people wont concentrate on just the two, and they coordinate together in order to provide business for the other girls as well. It is for exactly this reason that every worker here trusts the two of them so deeply. By the way, did the Hero stop by? Yes, Ellis. Ill tell you everything. While acting under the pseudonym of Gise, Gray had told his story while wrapped up in Marilyns breasts. He was born in a rural village near Skycastle where he grew up as a farmer. One day, a sudden revelation came down to him from God. Step forward as the destined Hero and defeat the Demon Lord! Step forth and meet with the King. At that moment, overwhelming power flowed through his body. And so, Gray was reborn. This new power of his allowed him to tear up trees with his bare hands, and his strong body would quickly heal even after being cut by a bears claws. Gray followed the revelations ordersCleaving his family and village behindCand headed to the Kings palace on his own. This would call for a change of strategy from her, so instead of robbing him, Peach accompanied Gray to his inn. Gray was just an innocent youth then, and he was easily pushed down onto his bed. It was the very first time in his na?ve life that Gray experienced a moment from heaven. But that heavenly time was instantly crushed. Because suddenly Dams, one of Peachs friends, stormed into the room shouting at the top of his lungs. Gray had been caught with his pants down after being completely set up by Peach and Dams. Once they had grabbed hold of Grays weakness, Peach and Dams forced themselves on him as a self-styled magician and a self-proclaimed warrior. Gray had no choice but to welcome them as friends. Gray was determined to be Peach and Damss golden goose. Anyone would think that as a Hero, he could easily liquidate such a joke relationship and toss them out. But Peach and Dams took great care to tip-toe around Gray and played it safe at first. Peach invited Gray to her room regularly, and while paying attention to the expressions on his face, she made him drown in pleasure. That is, Grays body was completely trained to be unable to live without Peach. After the audience with the King, Cliff was dispatched from the Skycastle Merchant Guild to join the Brave Party. He came highly recommended as a member of the party capable of appraising items and using healing magic. But this was also part of Grays bad luck. Cliff was a half-decent appraiser and healer, but he was completely useless otherwise. But Cliff did have a good enough head on his shoulders to become an upper-level member of the Skycastle Merchant Guild, and he was able to quickly spot the abnormalities in the party and who was really leading it. Cliff continuously humbled himself before Peach and acted spiritedly with Dams in order to ingratiate himself with the two. This was the origin story of the Brave Partys Three Idiots. Gise, on the other hand, was recommended by the Skycastle Thieves Guild. Naturally he also quickly noticed the anomalies in the party. Unlike Cliff though, Gise was loyal to his guild and held pride in his role. Thats why Gise advised Gray to truncate Peach and Dams. But Gray rejected this idea while chewing his lips. The reason was unknown. Until now. Gray had referred to Gise by name while moaning in Marilyns chest. Even if I encounter the Demon Lords army, hes the only person really fighting alongside me. Marilyn held his head between her famous twin hills, and while he was sobbing, she had silently stroked his head. I felt sorry for him and ended up giving him a little extra service, but dont worry. When he made his reservation for next time, I charged him a little extra as a principle to Ellis. Marilyn was the type of person who always moved at her own pace. Nevertheless, it seems like the Hero was completely infatuated by her. Then Margherita jumped into the story. I also had an interesting customer recently. This interesting customer was a farmer that insisted he was a Demon Lord. He paid a million ril after the first visit. From the second time onwards he always left behind a 150,000 ril tip. An oddly wealthy farmer. Margherita continued on after catching Elliss interest. So, whats the content of his play? Masochism. He likes being stepped on in particular. A masochistic Demon Lord. Does that even exist? The odds of this farmer actually being the Demon Lord is looking a lot less likely all of the sudden. So Ellis decided to temporarily mark this farmer as a person of interest. Tell me if there is anything else of note, and please tell me if the Hero and the Farmers reservations end up coinciding. Marilyn reacted to Elliss request with a small chuckle and a smile. I have a reservation with him for this afternoon. Subsequently, Margherita reacted in the exact same way. I also have a reservation for this afternoon. Ellis scratched her head. Its obvious that the Brave party is scattered. The thief Gise is the only competent one of the bunch. Meanwhile the Hero has become addicted to Marilyn. If what the Hero had cried out to her was true, then his love for Marilyn would mean that Peach would no longer be needed. Thus it would become possible for Gray to truncate Peach at any time. But would Peach and Dams let go of their golden goose so easily? On the other hand, this self-called Demon Lord could also be a problem. It is obviously abnormal for someone to be able to pay a million ril up front on a farmers salary. At the very least it is best to assume that there is a powerful figure behind the farmer. The farmer should be handled first. Ellis returned to the mansion once, and after she had everything prepared, returned to her hiding place in the store. Inside Masters Hideaway. Although it was before noon, a young man dressed as an apprentice thief was sitting tall in his chair. Then a man appearing to be a farmer wearing a straw hat came in. The two sat side by side inside the waiting room. Silence filled the air. The air was heavy. Thick with tension. And embarrassment. It was the farmer who broke the silence first. Hey brother, who are you here to visit? Oops. I suppose its only polite to introduce yourself first. Im here for Margherita. The apprentice thief was a little thrown off by the apprentice farmers sudden question, but he quickly got over it and answered. Im here for Marilyn. The farmer nodded his head. Marilyn is quite expensive isnt she? The apprentice thief nodded his head as well. Margherita is as well right? At this point the two men had their faces close together, speaking intimately between one another. Yes she is quite high. But Ive become addicted. I know what you mean. I have a few hobbies. That can make things difficult. Over time, the two of them talked about their experiences, and they argued about who was superior between Marilyn and Margherita. While doing so, they started to accept each others assertions. It was a refreshing exchange between two men that revealed their tastes and personalities. Thus, in their hearts, a splendid friendship began to form. Towards these two men happily explaining their own propensity for pleasure, an indiscreet receptionist watched on with an increasingly incredulous look. Gise, Berudeus, sorry to have kept you waiting. Then two women walked into the waiting room. The woman standing before Gise wore only a mens white shirt, a pair of white shorts, and her feet were bare. The shirt was pressed down in order to hug the womans skin to better show off the silhouette of the twin hills underneath. There was also a faint pink color showing through at the tips. The woman standing in front of Berudeus wore a garter belt with fishnet tights and black shorts the same hue as her bra. On her feet were a pair of glossy crimson stiletto heels, and in her hand was a black horse whip. While Gise and Berudeus were stunned with the sight before them, the two women each held out their hands and lead them to the baths in the back. AhhAhh Ahhhn Ahhhn AhhAhh Ahhhn Ahhhn Both men left the store at the same time. Well done. You too, brother. The apprentice thief and the farmer shared a handshake before amicably splitting into separate directions. Ellis, dressed in her modest receptionist outfit, followed the farmer as scheduled. The farmer made his way to the outskirts of the city on foot. Nobody took notice of him or stopped himChe was just a farmer after all. Upon arriving at an area with nobody around, the farmer cast a chantless spell. Then the farmer slowly lifted up into the air. {Levitation}? Ellis tried to remain calm and analyzed what she was seeing. But then the next moment Ellis wasnt able to believe her eyes. Because after raising himself a dozen feet off the ground, the farmer sped off into the distance like an arrow. He was gone in an instant, and if you werent watching him carefully, you would have completely missed it. So there is a Demon Lord with those kinds of interests. Ellis had regained her calm demeanor and started to smooth out her next plan while smiling. Ill have to ask Margherita to do a little information fishing. Ellis turned on her heel and then returned to her lair. Gray made his way home as well. As he did, he started to think. With Marilyn here, there will be no more moments of shame. Marilyn is above Peach after all. Even if that woman makes a ruckus and whines, there is no need for me to give in because Marilyn is always gentle with me. Gray made up his mind. Thats right. Its time to talk to Gise. When Gray returned to Skycastle, he headed to Gises room to speak with him. Ive been thinking. We should release Peach and Dams from the party contract, but what do you think Gise? Gray thought that Gise would agree with him immediately. However, the man sitting before him shook his head back and forth with a frown. You didnt notice the special clause placed in the contract the last time you renewed it? No, what was it? Its a penalty clause. What? Youve been wrapped around her finger so completely that you never even bothered to read the party contract. Gise held his aching head while looking down at the confused Gray. He felt a little pity for the Hero, but he was too annoyed to give it to him gently. Take out the contract and read it carefully. Gray was starting to get annoyed as well with Gises attitude, but he did what he was told and read through the contract. . A cold sweat ran down Grays back. If the Hero cancels the party contract at his convenience before defeating the Demon Lord, then the Hero shall pay 5 billion ril as a penalty to said member. Gise coldly recited out loud the passage that had stunned Gary. You have power, but youre blind to the affairs of the world. Even if you were to make a new party now, it would probably end with the same result, so we might as well keep moving forward with what we have. But Gray wasnt going to give up. No, its different now. I dont have to lower my head to Peach. Hmm. Gise silently admired Grays new resolve. At the very least the Hero was no longer a dog at Peachs beck and call. So Gise decided to remain Grays ally. If so, there is a solution to our problem. We keep the three of them as members of the Brave partyCand everything that comes with it. In short, the plan was to work them until they drop. I understand. Lets do it. Gray nodded his head, confident that his future would be a bright one. But things wont necessarily go as Gise and Gray think it will. Gray hasnt escaped his dependence on PeachChe has transferred that dependence to someone else. Gise misjudged this point because he wasnt aware of the whole story. Now Ellis has an eye inside the Brave party. The three idiots have lost their power, and they are easy enough to trick. And Gray is willing do to anything for Marilyn and Ellis by proxy. In this way, Ellis was able to influence and manipulate the Brave party from the shadows. CH 57 For the first time since everything beganCwith the exception of the Warren Guild Masters Baltis, Theseus, and FlintCmen were allowed inside the mansion. The three men of the Lorenburg house: Leopold, Ferdinand, and Hymel were visiting. Along with them was the wife of the family, Lux, who was standing by along with Aiful and Credia. Because Father, Hymel and Grandfather already have accommodations in the city, they are just stopping by for now. A slight breach in the rules was fine for family. Um, as I understand it, isnt entry for men strictly prohibited here? Leopold was somewhat nervous as he danced about in front of Reeve. Id like to see how this toilet of yours works. Ferdinand was much more curious about the rumors hed heard. There is a toilet at Masters Hideaway that uses the same mechanism as ours, so just look at that, Reeve replied. Leopold didnt know what to say while Ferdinand was clearly looking depressed for some reason. Was this the difference in personalities showing? 11 people ate dinner together at a restaurant inside the city after which Leopold and Ferdinand left for their inn while Ellis returned home. So, what should we do with him nya? Katie pointed Hymel out. According to the plan, he was supposed to leave for the inn with his father, but he followed his mother Lux instead. His appearance was a cute shota. Unfortunately, there was no room for any shotas in this house. Hes a child, so dont bully him. In response to Reeves words, Ellis turned towards her and whispered back, Im a child too though? Reeve looked away and didnt respond. In the living room after returning home. Ellis was sitting in front of Hymel. Hymel was sitting there looking like he wanted to say something. Ellis aimed for Hymels right cheek. *WHACK!* Reeve, Frau, Claire, and Katie fell into a panic. Ellis aimed for the left cheek of Hymel who was trying to figure out what he had done to deserve to be hit like that. Do you know what it means to have a lone man here? Ellis cried out. Or is he not a man? Hymel couldnt answer Elliss question. Luxs panic grew deeper. Ellis, what are you talking about? What are you talking about!? Hmph. Ellis smiled while looking down at the boy. What about it? Are you going to keep clutching to Mommy, or are you going to go back to the inn in the city? Everyone went rigid. What are you asking Mistress? Dont be so unreasonable. Reeve pleaded with her. Reeve, why do you allow this girl here? Hymel is still a child. Forgive me! Lux, who still had no idea what was going on, was shaking while holding Hymel tightly to her chest. Aiful and Credia also had no idea what was going on and decided to remain quiet. But Frau, Claire, and Katie understood what Ellis was doing. Therefore, they didnt stop her. Hmph, if hes a child, then I guess he can handle this sort of thing. He can take a bath with Reeve. Dont forget to bring the pets pail. And at the bath. Lux, Aiful, and Credia were honestly surprised. This place was the fit of luxury. Reeve was also surprised. Surprised at Elliss cruelty. Hymel was crying. He was ashamed of himself for crying. His tears, rolling down his cheeks were hot. He cried and cried, until finally he started to really think about why all this abuse was being thrown at him. Am I being hated? Wrong. Did I do something bad? Wrong. What do I want to do? Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Why is a flat-chested girl like you acting so proud about!? I yelled out as loud as I could. And I felt refreshed. Here we go, bring it on! Ellis smiled. Correct. Hymel became the youngest Scarlet Laundry on record. After being dyed red and formally hung, Frau quickly drove the Magical horse towards the Adventurers Guild. Lux left after them riding with Katie. Hymel, hung from the eaves of the Adventurers guild house laughed alongside Theseus. Oh, its the youngest record to date! Buzz yelled out. What a fine spectacle! Doug declared. And Hymel was brought down along with the arrival of Leopold and Ferdinand who Reeve had called. Hemp shirts are 10,000 ril. Leopold laughed at Theseuss declaration. Oh, its cheaper than I heard! Hymel was ten years old, and he was wrapped up with gold, black, red, and white ribbons. He was decorated with four different colored ribbons, dyed red, and strung up. It served as proof that he was a man in Warren. Alright, lets go take a bath Hymel! Ferdinand was practically singing as he said the words. That sounds nice. Leopold was almost as excited as his father. And like that, the three Lorenburg men spent their night in Warren thoroughly enjoying what the city had to offer. Ellis is kind. Claires words resounded in the living room. Today, Claire would be sleeping in Elliss room to allow Aiful and Credia to have a bed to sleep in. Hmm, I did something boring. The hikineet felt that she had done something unnecessary. It was because she had seen herself as a child inside the young Hymel. Always wandering around alone, just blankly staring forward as people did as they pleased to her. Hmph. Then, sat herself down next to Ellis. Ellis, I love you. A sudden kiss. Ellis froze. She was the passive one again. Then, Pi-tan interrupted them with a sudden moan. Kyu~ Kyu~ Pi-tan then spat out two beads. They were Flying Phoenix1 magic crystal and an Exorcism magic crystal. Ellis became excited once again. Flying Phoenix magic crystal C For a certain period of time, damage is tripled. 25% chance to bind the foe on damage. Required MP: 3. Command word: {Fang of the sky}. Exorcism magic crystal C Can deal damage to undead. Undead receive twice as much damage. Twice the amount of damage dealt is restored to the user. Necessary MP: 0. Command word: none. Autonomous type. After everything was explained to her, Claire also began jumping for joy. These were names for magic tools that she had never heard before. And there was also the obvious bonus. The effects of the two same type magic tools were not only combined, they were amplified. Flying Phoenix = Flying Swallow + Stupor + Exorcism = Inhalation + Purification + The ability to be able to fight that high demon might be just around the corner. Ellis nodded to Claires words. Well have to strengthen all of our equipment from now on. And Ellis and Claire nodded together. They would continue to conduct even more experiments from now on. Meanwhile, Pi-tan was giving them both a sideways glance clearly asking them, Does that mean I get more snacks? Like this, Reeve, Frau, Katie, and Lux returned to the mansion. Lux would be sleeping with Reeve in her room. Good night. Tomorrow would be another busy day. 1. This is a reference to a Japanese saying. The saying goes something like, how can a small bird (like a swallow) understand the aspirations of a great bird (a phoenix); Only a hero can understand a hero CH 58 The next morning, Ellis and Reeve took Lux, Aiful, and Credia out to the city. There they met up with Leopold, Ferdinand, and Hymel who had been waiting for them. Ellis, good morning. When Hymel reservedly greeted Ellis, Ellis returned the gesture. Good morning Hymel.1 It was a well-mannered greeting to an elder. Though the elder part was slightly overmasked by Hymels blushed cheeks. Frau passed this on to me. You can have this instead of breakfast inside the carriage. Reeve handed a stack of sandwiches over to her mother. And please give my regards to Big Sister Bizon and Big Sister Gurre. Bizon and Gurre were Reeves two older sisters. The were both married off to nobility in Skycastle where they were heading now. Yes, well let them know. Well make sure they know how well Ellis has been taking care of us too. Ellis nodded her head to Leopolds praise. We already arranged to have a shipment of tea sent over to the Warren Merchant Guild. Heres a sample. Ferdinand handed over two pots to Ellis. The first sample was held inside some white pottery. The other pot was very similar to the first, but it had the Jewelry Box flag baked onto the white pottery. The contents are the same, but by casting your symbol on the pots, you can express yourself inside the shop in ways not possible through words, Re-boy. This was a pleasant gift to receive. This way, the girls could differentiate their products from others sold in different stores. Compared to Eijis world, branding was still a new idea even in trade cities like Warren. Grandpa Fel, thank you. I appreciate the help. Reeve and Ellis both bowed in thanks. Well then, the carriage is here. We should head to Skycastle now. The family of four boarded the carriage waiting for them and continued on waving farewell until the carriage was no longer in sight. Well then, should we have breakfast and then head over to see Maria? The remaining four girls shared breakfast at a nearby caf where Ellis filled in Aiful and Credia about what would happen in the future. The tea shop would soon be completed, and Reeve would be handing it over to them. However, this was to remain a secret from other people. Until it is finished, they would be staying at an inn inside the city. There job would be to travel the city, become familiar with the current products being sold, and prepare themselves for running their own business. For the time being, the tea shop would be selling the Lorenburg tea that Ferdinand would ship out, but they would have to consider future merchandise to sell as well. Reeve would receive a 10 percent sales commission. To everyone else, the story would go that Reeve financed their shop with funds she borrowed from Ellis. The two ladies nodded in understanding. Im sorry to have caused you both so much trouble. Ellis, I will do my best and work hard. Aiful and Credia both continuously bowed their heads over and over again in thanks. Thus Ellis succeeded in acquiring two more servants. Welcome Reeve, Ellis. Inside the Merchant Guild, Reeve was held in higher esteem than Ellis was. These two are Aiful and Credia. Reeve returned Marias greeting with a nod and introduced the two women following behind her. This is Maria, the Merchant Guild master. Shes been working to accommodate us with the business, and she has helped us in various ways. Nicole is the one standing beside her, and if you ever have to make a purchase or order some supplies, I recommend doing so through him. By the way, Nicole is gay, so dont worry about dealing with him. Although they werent sure what it was that they would be worried about, Aiful and Credia both graciously greeted Maria and Nicole. With that type of elegance, its like you were made to sell tea. Nicole had gained a positive opinion of the two. As expected of former nobles, he mused. Then thanks for all your help. Ellis smiled while bidding farewell. Yes, please come again. Ellis and Reeve left the two women in the Merchant Guilds care. Aiful would be put through a rigorous training course over the basics of book entry by Nicole. Considering her husband and son were dragged off for tax evasion, this level of preparedness was natural. Then shall we visit Hanna and Ken next? Ellis stopped by Hannas prototype production site, and she explained to them the same story she was having Aiful tellCthat the store was being built with a loan Ellis had given them and not to tell anyone about the truth. Although they were unsure why Ellis was being so obstinate about the truth not getting out, they had no reason to go against what she was saying, so Hanna and Ken readily agreed. Mistress, what are you planning? Secret. Hmm. Well, since its you, Im sure its not something that will hurt us. A few days later, both stores were completed. Elliss group along with Hanna, Ken, Aiful, and Credia all gathered together for the grand unveiling. People from Flints studio were also there to gather everyones impressions. If you ask me, Id think we did a pretty good job. Ellis smiled at Flints self-praise. It looks wonderful. Both the cake shop and the tea shop were standing tall, built with a mixture of stone and wood with a carriage parked right in front. When you pulled open the door, a beautiful *ding* from a cowbell resounded, announcing the arrival of a new customer. I kept the interior work to a minimum. There were no decorations inside the store yet. It would be up to the owners own preferences as to how the store would look and operate. At the very least a counter was installed from where they could set up and display their goods. For the cake shop, there was a workshop in the back where a special kiln had been installed for the steamer. There was plenty of room for a stove to be added if needed, and a sturdy table carved from stone was set up from which to work from. Area where they could store charcoal and firewood had also been set up. Incidentally, the steamers fuel source for Claire-Flint brand steamers was adjusted to consist of charcoal and firewood. This was because the market demand for Fever stones rose too much, and the supply could never reach the demand. Not to mention the fact that chefs would always run out of mana too quickly using the steamer all day. In the far back of the building was a living space with a kitchen, washroom, dining room, and three bedrooms. One is the family bedroom, another is for guests, and the third is for bed creaking2 as requested. Hanna and Ken turned red at Flints in-depth explanation, but Elliss group paid them no mind as they honestly did not care. For the tea house, instead of putting in a workspace, they instead put in a large storage room and a secondary room right next to the cake shop. Whats this room for? Cant you tell by looking!? Claire puffed out her chest in pride to Fraus innocent question. Obviously its where the customers can have their cake and enjoy tea too! It was Claires idea. You can extend an awning from here to the cake shop and enjoy some sunlight while you relax. They had put in an open deck that connected the two shops. If there was a customer who wanted to enjoy some cake with their tea or vise versa, it would be easy for them to order both and enjoy themselves. Youll both probably share the same first customer! Flint shouted with a laugh. Ellis was also impressed. She hadnt thought things this far ahead. Now that she thought about it, cake aside pots of tea wouldnt take up that much room. That means that Aiful would have plenty of space to serve her customers. Thank you Flint. Now everyone, lets buy up the furniture, materials, and uniforms. We open shop in 3 days! At Elliss word, everyone headed off to the city with a light step. Hannas furniture was gifted to her by Claire while Aifuls was a gift from Reeve. Frau designed the uniforms for both stores that the four would be wearing. Hanna would be wearing long maid wear while Ken wore a cooks uniform. Aiful and Credia flare dress uniforms that could compare to a regular aristocrats clothing. Katie for some reason gifted them two sets of fish oil pickles. Theyre delicious nya. Finally Ellis handed over 1 million ril each to Hanna and Aiful. This is a loan. I expect 1.1 million ril back. Four people nodded their assent. Thus, in front of Elliss mansion, a second sign popped up next to Claires Design Office reading, Ellis Finance. 1. In case it wasnt obvious, Ellis uses a much more formal way of saying hello to Hymel. 2. The word they use in Japanese is or gishian. Its an onomatopoeia that was meant to imply sex. Its meant to be a combination of the sound of a bed creaking and a woman crying out in pleasure. The things I have to look up for this novel CH 59 Today was opening day for the tea and cake shop. Everyone had an early breakfast before heading over on foot. Its been three days. Im looking forward to what the four of them have done. It seems that Kens been working hard for both shops. Its good that theyll be in walking distance for us. Looking forward to it nya. The five girls had fun taking a walk while chatting amongst themselves. And then they ran into people. Both the cake shop and the tea shop already had customers lined up at the doors. Jewelry Box-minasama, have a good day. Good morning Jewelry Box. The lines were made up of the regulars for Lily Garden. Each one of them showed their respect for Elliss group by formally referring to them as their team name Jewelry Box.1 Their city had begun to change recently, and the need for the citizens of Warren to worry about their future was disappearing. As for the women of the city, the presence of Lily Garden had started to give them an inner feeling of pride due to its popularity with women in other cities. While this fact did not really matter to a hikineet, it did mean that these older women were willing to drop more money. Oh Claire, youve arrived. Flint welcomed Elliss group on their arrival. They met up with him atop the deck that connected the two stores. There, the four usual guild masters had all gathered. Ellis always had a bad feeling whenever these guys gathered together. Well, lets sit down. At Baltiss word, Ellis sat down at the prepared table. And then the opening. Inside the cake shop, it was 800 ril for a 5-color cake takeaway basket while individual cakes were sold at 100 ril. They currently had ten takeaway baskets that you could buy individually for 300 ril if you wanted to. The baskets were durable enough that they could be used multiple times. Upon your second visit to the store, you could use your pre-bought basket to carry away your cakes. In addition to the five colored cakes, other baked confections were also available at 100 ril a piece as well. The inside of the shop was unified with a bright interior with a central floral design. The flower patterns was cute and very popular with the customers. Meanwhile, at the tea shop, pots were sold at the planned price of 5,500 ril for the limited edition pots and 5,000 ril at the ordinary ones. There was also a mechanism where they could sell just the contents to you for 3,000 ril if you brought back your own pot. Today was everyones first time visiting, so they all had to buy a pot. The popularity this time was mostly centered on the limited edition one. Hold on, Im writing these down. Explain them one at a time. Theseus had pulled out a pen and had furiously started scribbling down some notes. At the bathhouse, reservations for Marilyn and Margherita are for very good business only, so lets move all that business to a different bathhouse that way the children and elderly can enjoy using the one already built. What about the management? Hmm, it might be better to just fully transfer the management of the new bathhouse to the Thieves Guild for this. If we were to just fully welcome Margherita and Marilyn into the guild, they could act as members of the intelligence unit. From there, it would be best to leave the management to the girls from there. Baltis nodded with a smug smirk on his face. Whats the nightclub for then? Theseus immediately advanced the explanation. In short, itd be a place for information exchange between customers, something like a social gathering. Youll want to serve things centered around sake. The purpose is for them to have a place where they can gather and talk about anything from how proud they are of their kids to what they do in bed. The important thing is that the men have a sense of solidarity inside the building. It will surely prosper. It might be a good idea to put a gambling table in the store as well. Ellis paused a moment as another thought hit her. Better yet, if Marilyn and Margherita acted as hostesses and there was a connecting hallway from the nightclub to the bathhouse, Im sure the rich would gather and the sound of ril hitting the table would echo throughout the night. Alright then. What about the live house? When the Merchant Guild transfers the rights of the bathhouse to the Thieves Guild, this will obviously mean that the Merchant Guild will have a loss of income. This should supplement that. Although we held a live show at the guild hall the other day, if we open up a stage there shows like that can happen more often. We dont need a large theater like the Marsfield Opera House, but it will become a popular spot for the girly gay men if Nicole handles it. For the management of the live house, she added that Ferdinand Lorenburg could provide some helpful advice at running the live house. Im curious, it was Reeves grandfather who had taught you to sing right? Right. The four masters almost choked on their tea. Shoulder length blonde hair, bright emerald eyes, and cute lips of a cherry color. What type of implication was coming from such a small girl. Ominous girls. In the end, Flint was only able to choke out those words. The redevelopment of Warren began like this. 1. The ladies all refer to them as Jewelry Box-minasama which is a formal way of saying everyone or -sama for a group. 2. I checked this out nearly 50 times because I dont know how a dice shape is meant to be cute, but that is definitely what it says. Am I just out of the times? Have I become old? No wonder my mother always tells me I suck at giving gifts. 3. Just in case you dont know what that is, think of it like a comedy club except with music. CH 60 Fufufufu. Ill take the pot this time. Hmm, Im in deep already. I will give up on getting rich quick. Its a strange game, but I should have a 1 in six chance of getting it. Nya! I will bet one as well nya. Ellis was teaching her four companions what is said to be the ultimate gambling game: TehonbikiCthe simplified version. In a nutshell, it was actually a pretty simple game where the child just had to match the number of the parent. The rules are as follows. You are now ready to play. The point of the game is for the children to try and read the parents habits while the parents are to try and misdirect the children. The parent can choose to select the same number twice or even three times in a row, but being able to hide the fact that you are doing so is difficult for most people to hide. Still, if the parent is good at what they do, then they are able to completely control the flow of the game. There is an ante that the child must put up once the game starts that is separate from their wager. Usually, this money is left unattended, but there are two cases where the parent can collect the antes as a fee. The first is in the event of an All Out. This is when no child was able to get a hit off of the landmark. At that time, the parent is able to collect the antes along with the wagers. The second is in the event of a Bad friend. This is when two players who put forward three bets each, or three players with two bets each put forward an out of the way complimentary hand. If the parent suspects that there is a case of children working together in such a way, they may ask to have the players in question reveal their cards. Should the players indeed have complimentary hands, then the hit is rendered invalid, and the parent gathers the bets along with the players antes. For example, if the landmark it is revealed that one child placed down the numbers 1, 2, and 3 while another player placed down a 4, 5, and 6, then the hit would be declared invalid and their antes gathered. This is a measure against any players who might coordinate to try and avoid an All Out in the worst case. It also acts as a way for each child to remain vigilant of other children giving the game another factor to keep in mind. Ellis named this game Warrens Numbers.1 Another game uses two dice: one red and one white. It is meant to be a combination of street dice2 and roulette. In this game there are no parent or children, and the dealers serve as the shop. This game would go by the name Warren Dice. Thus Ellis had developed two different games for the nightclub. For now, two of each game would be set up with the possibility for growth depending on how things played out. Warren Dice was an easy game to pick up and there was little to the game other than luck. Warren Numbers was much more competitive. If they could get a good parent to run the table, then men who hate to lose would come forth in droves. Ellis licked her lips just thinking about all the money she would get from the game fees. While acting as the parents for Numbers, the habits of the four came out. It might be said to be as expected, but Reeve is able to plan out her moves. It was almost impossible for Ellis to accurately read her. Frau had the habit of starting with low numbers and then gradually working her way up. Claire was slightly more complicated tending to constantly switch off between odd and even numbers. When she put forward two consecutive numbers, she tended to have the next number be consecutive as well. Katie was just out of the question. For a member of the Thieves Guild, she wasnt able to lie to save her life, and sometimes she would mouth the number she was choosing as she was placing the handkerchief over top of it. Ellis informed each of them of their habits to have them work on it in the future because from now on, they would be teaching these games to the members of the Adventurers Guild and Workshop Guild who would end up being the nightclubs main visitors. Warren Numbers would be handled by Reeve, the girl who had learned all sorts of techniques due to the hobbies had by her grandfather. Claire, who was cable of learning from her losses, would be assisting her. It was decided that Frau would be handling Warren Dice mostly due to her own frustration and indignation at having been so utterly bested by Reeve at Numbers. Katie would be assisting her since even though she was completely unable to do anything else, she could still roll the dice. Well then, lets get started right away. Ellis, Frau, and Katie headed towards the Adventurers Guild while Reeve and Claire left for the Workshop Guild. While they were there, Reeve and Claire were also put in charge of ordering more dice and the slates which would be used in place of paper cards. At dinner, the girls gathered back together and talked about the adventurers they had grabbed before they could jump to the labyrinth and about the large amount of money they had put out as advance payments to the Workshop Guild. Meanwhile, the results of the Pi-tan ability synthesis experiments were broken down. As part of the conclusion, it was deemed that experimentation would be slow and difficult from now on since none of them were able to eat armor or weapons other than Pi-tan. This killed every idea Katie had tried to put forth. The first result showed that after Pi-tan ate a piece of equipment that had Exorcism placed on it, it did not matter whether he was given another piece of equipment with Flying Swallow, Stupor, or another piece of equipment with Inhalation, or Purification, the end result was always Exorcism. As a result, even with combined abilities it was ruled that an item can only have one command type ability and one autonomous type one. As a secondary result in this experiment, it was discovered that the same ability applied to different parts of armor whether they be armor for the body, arms, or feet exhibit different effects. For example, the heros equipment Resistance could now be applied to gauntlets and boots. The results were as followed: Resistance guantlets C Impossible to restrain. Required MP: 0 Autonomous type. Resistance greaves C Poison immunity. Required MP: 0 Autonomous type. Resistance half plate armor C Reduces medical damage by 10. Required MP: 0 Autonomous type. Earth gauntlet C Physical damage reduction of 2. The opponent cannot repel wearers attacks. Required MP: 0 Autonomous type. Earth boots C Physical damage reduction of 2. Opponent is unable to knock the wearer over. Required MP: 0 Autonomous type. Earth plate armor C Physical damage reduction of 2. 25% chance to completely invalidate the opponents attack. Required MP: 0 Autonomous type. And then todays featured item. Somehow, Resistance and Earth had been an exception to the previous rules and Pi-tans synthesis of the two abilities was successfulCperhaps because of the similarities and natural cohesion of the abilities. The name of this new ability was Interception. Interception gauntlet C Physical damage reduction of 3. Impossible to restrain. The opponent is unable to repel the wearers attacks. Required MP: 0 Autonomous type. Interception boots C Physical damage reduction of 3. Immune to poison. Opponent is unable to knock the wearer over. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. Interception plate armor C Physical damage reduction of 4. Magic reduction of 10. 25% chance to completely nullify an opponents attack. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. With the new equipment, the whole party was able to acquire a sum total of 10 physical damage reduction. Unfortunately, Katies claws seemed to count as weapons, so Interception could not be copied to them. As a matter of fact, Interception could not be equipped to leather armor at all, so it ended up becoming a Frau exclusive ability. She now was able to reduce physical damage by 20, reduce magical damage by 10, and that wasnt including her ability to straight nullify one out of every four attacks. It was almost impossible to kill this glamorous beauty. One other eye-catching ability was the combination of Berserker and Splendor.3 The resulting combination came out as a new ability called Mad God. Mad God estoc C Increase physical damage twenty fold. For a certain period of time, there is a 25% chance that an attack from this blade will cause instant death. Necessary MP per attack: 20. Command word: {Lunatic}. If you are hit by this weapon, you will almost certainly die. If anyone other than Ellis were to use this weapon, they would almost certainly die. Please, keep out of reach from children. 1. Tehonbiki is a complicated game, and the fact that it is hard to look up because its a Japanese poker game doesnt help. For those who dont know, gambling for money is illegal in Japan which made some of the information on Tehonbiki hard to find. 2. The actual Japanese name for this is Saihonbiki. I couldnt find out much about the specific games rules, but Im pretty sure its referring to a dice game where the dealer rolls the dice in a cup and you guess whether the total will be even or odd. 3. I dont remember the ability splendor being in the story. It might be a new ability never mentioned before, or I might have just missed it and forget to add it to the magical ability sheet. Either way, I can guess what it does based on what it synthesizes into. CH 61 An impromptu song that Reeve invented when putting Pi-tan to bed. The melody is to Schuberts Lullaby.1 I really hate myself Watashi wa Jibun ga Tottemo Kiraida Because everyone hates me Nazenara Minna waTashi o kiRaukara I am probably bad Watashi wa warui ko tabun wa rui koda I do not have anywhere I belong Watashi wa Dokoni mo Iba shoganainda I am over there and over here, but I am a monster Then one day a gold girl came Aru toki Kiniro Musume ga Kitanda She showed me a dagger Watashi ni DagaC o SashidashiTandayo I snatched it away and ate Watashi wa DagaC o Ubatte Tabetano The girl looked at me and smiled Musume wa Watashi o Mitsumete Hohoemu Then the girl suddenly hit me Musume wa Watashi o Ikinari Nagutta It didnt hurt much at all Itaku wa Nainda Itami wa Nainda However it was the first time I was hit Dakedo waTashi wa haJimete naGurareta But it was the first time someone met my gaze Mesen o AwaseraReta no mo Hajimete I became deeply afraid of the girl Watashi wa Musume ga OsoroshiKu natta The girl did nothing but hit me Musume wa Hitasura Watashi o Naguruno My eyes saw nothing but her hitting me Watashi no Me o mite Hitasura Naguruno Then the girl took me in her arms Soshitara Musume ga Watashi o Daitano I am thrilled to be in her heart Sokode wa Tokutoku Shinzou Natteru The girl gives me love Musume wa Watashi o Aishite Kuretano I felt love for the first time Watashi wa Hajimete Aishite Moraeta The place I belong is a big basket Watashi no Ibasho wa kina Kagonano I like lying here Koko de waTashi wa suKina you Ni neruno Sometimes someone cradles me Yoru wa daReka ga waTashi o daKko suru And then I enjoy a bath Soshite waTashi wa oFuro o taNoshimuno I am very happy now Watashi wa Tottemo ShiawaseNandayo Gold, Blue, Red, Black, Kiniro Aoiro Akairo Kuroiro White, everyone pets me gently Shiroiro Minna ga Watashi o Naderuno I am happy. I am happy. Watashi wa Shiawase Watashi wa Shiawase 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd_6fNLpPQ8 2. Just in case, I wanted to make sure everyone knew that arms here meant weapons. Pi-tan was not eating anyones actual arms. CH 62 Its boring right? Its because Mistress overdid it. Youre the one who finished them off. Ellis and Reeve had been banned from entering either the Workshop Guild or the Adventurers Guild until the restructuring of the city had been completed. The reason for this was due to all the money that had been taken from guild members due to them being challenged at Warren Numbers. I guess we should be aiming at tourists and countryside aristocrats after all. Mistress, please, endure those feelings. Frau hadnt taken to the game herself, and Claire was more than content to steadily gain wealth from the proceeds of the Flint-Claire brand steamers, meaning she was living a more frugal lifestyle. Katie had always been living a carefree life doing whatever she wanted, so the thought of getting rich quick had never even crossed her mind. Honestly, until the new male-only street Cross Town was finished, there was nothing to do. Cross Town had already begun construction in the citys center while a shopping mall was being moved to the area between Lily Garden and the city. How about visiting the Demon Labyrinth? Frau licked her lips while wiping down her Flying Phoenix and Exorcism Minotaur maul with a soft cloth. The Demon Labyrinth was the highest level dungeon around Warren. The monsters that spawn there have a number of resistances. Magic and physical attacks do little to them while they hit hard and are able to produce powerful magic. Its a dungeon that is left almost completely unattended. Ellis thought about it for a moment. Frau has already become pretty much a heavy tank. She had also been wanting to fully test out Flying Phoenix and Exorcism, so challenging this upper level dungeon would seem to be the right choice. The trouble was that none of the new abilities had benefited Claire, so she had not been strengthened at all. For Ellis as well, even though she had acquired the Mad God estoc, her defense had not improved at all. She should be able to kill most enemies with a single attack, but they should be able to do the same to her as well. Mimetic, Sacrifice, Shadow: these were the three abilities she could use to increase her defense. Frau, if things get dangerous, can we still use the Ring of Return to retreat? Frau gave a thumbs up. Although, Katie and Reeve had already started getting dressed since the moment Frau had first proposed the idea. Muscle brains. Ellis and Claire shared a look and sighed before slowly putting on their own equipment. Really? Helen asked surprised. Really, Frau smiled. Okaybut if things start to go bad, please return here right away. The Adventurers Guild receptionist was naturally showing some concern for the daughter of the Adventurers Guild master. Well be using Magical Horses, so a guide is unnecessary. Helen reluctantly nodded her head before handing over a ring and map over to Ellis. Right. Well do our best. And so, they were off to the best Warren had to offer. After all, I have the most painful role. Eliminating traps, unlocking doors, and holding her breath, all of the work Ellis had to do was starting to stress her out. Unlike Wight Labyrinth, Demon Labyrinth is more orthodox. It is a long labyrinth with 50 rooms. And from the very beginning, six Zangel class demons stepped forward. The formation started with Claire loading a {Lightning Shower} into her Guidancedress and Ellis unlocking the door. Frau and Katie would take positions in front of them while Reeve would be the one to open the door. At the instant that Reeve would open the door, Claire would release {Lightning Shower} in the center of the room. Ellis would take the opportunity to dive into the room and hide in the shadows. Katie and Frau would then rush in. If there are a small number of enemies, Katie would pass through them to apply status effects to hamper their movement while Frau would charge from the front and crush them. Finally, Reeve would dispose of any small fry that that survived and were trying to surround Frau and Katie. For the six normal demons of Zangel class, Ellis did not plan on changing their usual strategy. On the other hand, if there was only one opponent, Ellis would not hesitate to mercilessly dispose of them. One room contained a rotten giant that had been a mid-boss back when Wight Labyrinth had been a unique labyrinth. It was completely immune to Claire {Lightning Shower}. It resisted the Stupor from Katies claws. But when Frau hit his leg with her maul, the rotten giant fell to his knee. That was when Ellis shoved her estoc into its back. That feels good Treasure chests in each room averaged to be about 20 thousand ril. A total of 1 million ril for 50 rooms. Not bad, but no magic tools had appeared either. Weve been kind of unlucky so far huh? Frau let out an unusual complaint as the fights so far had been disappointingly easy. Is this just the case for the early stages of the labyrinth? Either way, the fully equipped girls continued on through the demons. As they advanced further, Zabinas grade high demons also appeared. Frau was able to counter the high demons {Ice Fog} before striking his left knee. Reeve aimed for the right one while Katie aimed for its back. Things were different this time. Their attacks went through, crushing the high demons knees and gouging out his back. Although Claire took this opportunity to blast his head with an {Explosion}, it did very little damage. In the end, Ellis stabbed it with her Mad God estoc to finish it. Claire gave Ellis a displeased look, looking not satisfied in the least. This looks like the last room. Four girls had their fighting spirits raised at Elliss words. Frau, the boss her is unknown isnt it? Yes, I have no idea what will come out. Hmm. Trap cancellation is complete. Claire, use {Explosion} this time instead of {Lightning Shower}. Yes, Ellis. Well then, Ill open it. At Reeves signal, five people rushed into the room. This time Ellis ran straight into the room, measuring the distance away from the boss and using Silence. But, there was no response. It was resistant. When Ellis moved her body to the left, Claire released her {Explosion}. The central figure was enveloped in a large ball of light. Using that light as cover, Katie ran in, circling around to the bosss right while Frau stood squarely in front of it. In the center of the room, a Rotten Demon wearing luxurious clothes stood before them. {Bind} The demon started off by trying to restrict Fraus movement. {Flare Burst} And then with a single spell, the demon had blown away the double that Ellis had created along with shattering Ellis and Claires Sacrificial dolls. The other three were able to survive but had been burned. Now, youre first. The demon drew out its claws and approached Frau. Dangerous! Ellis realized she wasnt going to have enough time to use Full Recovery. However, the truth was that {Bind} hadnt worked on Frau. She saw the demon coming, scoffed, and charged forward as well. Thats the way it is. A woman who had already become a human heavy tank that is immune to bondage, poison, 20 physical damage and 15 magical damage along with a percent chance of completely nullifying the enemys attack. Yaaugh! Frau released a battle cry as her thin, crimson maul pounded into the side of the demons head. Gah.. Nevertheless, the demon remained standing. Until Katies Brave Ripper, Reeves saber, and Elliss estoc all found their way into its flesh as well. This is actually a little frustrating. Elliss weapon was truly ridiculous having most likely been the reason that the demon had fallen when it did. But things could have gotten rough there. Ellis and Claire would have both met their ends if the demon had decided to cast another spell instead of charging forward with its claws. Something would have to be done about this. For now, lets open the treasure chest and rejoice. Ellis confirmed the trap. It was a corrosion trap that would destroy everything inside the treasure chest. It was an obnoxious trap that did no physical damage to a person, but the mental damage might be unbearable. This trap was carefully canceled. When the chest was opened, a pile of gold coins, a ring, and a scroll were sitting there. Claire immediately jumped at the scroll. Ellis appreciated the ring. Grand Magical ring C When the wearer uses magic, the required MP is reduced by 5. However, it cannot become less than 1. Magical tools are excluded. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. The title of the scroll was Spell Encyclopedia Part 1. Ellis wasnt sure what the contents would be. Ill take this. I will not allow anyone to have a dissenting opinion! Ellis sensed an awkward feeling with the other three girls who were unaware of why Claire was being so forceful here. Of course, Ellis had never seen Claire this unusually excited before either. Then shall we head home? Wait just a second, little girls. A cold shiver ran down the fives spines. They had been careless. .. Little missies, are you a Hero or a Demon king? Ellis struggled to answer before being finally able to choke out, Were neither. And then Ellis turned around. A resurrected demon was standing there. Dangerous! DangerousDangerousDangerous!!! Seeing the desperation and anxiety in Elliss expression, the demon puffed out his chest and released a fit of rattling laughter. Relax, its you missies victory this time. If you challenge this labyrinth again, after a certain point you should receive a lot of rewards. Ellis didnt know what to say. The demon was making a strange face, saying strange things. And then the demon realized their circumstances. Ah, nobody from the back of a labyrinth has ever told you why labyrinths exist. I suppose time serves as the best piece of evidence. ??????? Katie, who has little time to dwell on absurdities or shyness, spoke up. Mr. Demon, why do labyrinths exist? The demon answered while still releasing his rattling laughter. Its to purify the remnants from the last divine war. ??????? The purpose of labyrinths is for them to act as devices to cleanse the chaos born between the Demon Lord and Hero the last time they appeared in this world. They gather up the dark energy soaked into the ground, and adventurers slowly disperse it every time they clear one. Ellis was starting to understand. Then, does that mean that a labyrinth will stop working after its served its purpose? Yeah. If the treasure is gone, then the labyrinth will disappear. Its only about ten clears for mine, but itll take hundreds or even thousands of times for beginner or intermediate labyrinths. Treasure? Theyre magic tools we used back during Demon/God war. We put them in as further incentive to permanently clear labyrinths for those too lazy or selfish to do it otherwise. By the way, who are you? Nobody really. Im just another demon who served the Demon Lord during the Demon/God war. Thats a little more than just a nobody. Why do the Demon Lord and Hero fight? Dunno. They just show up every once in awhile and start killing each other. Its a physiological phenomena. What will happen to you now? After you missies have here 10 times, Ill die and become a Buddha. Ah, I suppose Id be a Devil instead of a Buddha. Though thats a bit of unpleasant talk. You missies should head home already. But even if you missies remember me, all my memories will disappear once you leave. Just because Im the same demon youll meet next time doesnt mean you should hold back. And then Elliss group was forced to activate the Ring of Return and returned to the Adventurers Guild. There are a few things we will have to plan out. Ellis went about organizing all the new information that had just been unloaded on them. But in the back of her mind, one thought continued to nag at her. If the Wight Labyrinth were to be permanently cleared and disappear, what kind of faces would the Brave party end up making? Ellis broke out into an ecstatic grin. CH 63 Ellis, lets go to the labyrinth! Claire was unusually excited. Whats wrong? At Elliss question, Claire held up the scroll from the other day and explained while chuckling to herself. What was written in the scroll was apparently an ancient lost magic technique. {Distraction Needle} C Invalidates the opponents magical resistance ability. Required MP: 7 The modest sounding effect confused the four girls, and they gave each other a strange look. Claire was the only one of them who was smiling. Oh, I get it! Then Ellis noticed what Claire meant. This will let magic affect even demon-based enemies with a high number of resistances! Thats right Ellis. The combination of my {Distraction Needle} and your Silence will reign supreme! Thats right. If you were able to reliably silence an opponents magic one hundred percent of the time, then you could just leave it to the three muscle brains to finish up everything else afterwards.1 Do you mean we can afford to conquer the Demon Labyrinth with this? We only ever received any real damage from that magic spell from the boss after all. We beat it once, we can do it again nya. Ellis started to think. Rather than erasing the Wight Labyrinth, it might be better to try and increase their strength in the Demon Labyrinth. Besides, the stupid faces the Brave party would make if they erased the Wight Labyrinth themselves would probably be way more funny. Alright, lets play in the Demon Labyrinth for awhile. Thus the five girls decided to kill some time in Warrens highest ranking labyrinth. Then the Brave party. The party had returned to Wheat Grace in order to try and gather some information about the Demon Lords Mark, but so far the results have not been promising. They had followed Gods revelation and cleared Warrens Wight Labyrinth several times now, but they had still not yet found it. They had returned to the city of Marsfield and went through several labyrinths there, but all they had gotten was another set of Resistance gauntlets and Resistance metal boots. Therefore they decided to go around to other cities and explore their surrounding labyrinths. There are no labyrinths around Wheat Grace though, so there is no Adventurers Guild. However, it is an agricultural city, and its food is quite tasty. Plus, due to visiting a number of cities and completing their labyrinths, the partys equipment has improved, and their pockets have been lined. Gray, lets spend some time here in this town. Dams put out this proposal, unwilling to move forward. Yeah, we are treated like heroes here. I have been working too hard recently. Cliff, who had done no work at all recently, followed behind them riding a horse. There are no cities south of Wheat Grace. If they are traveling on foot, then their only option is to head east towards the autonomous city of Warren. We are heading east. Well perform an exploration and aim for the city of mages afterwards. Gray completely ignored what three of his party members wanted and told them what they would be doing. Gise silently nodded his approval. Are you serious? Why are you pushing so hard? This is rough on amateurs. These three people just end up following Gray and Gise inside labyrinths. It would be fine if the three of them just waited at an inn, but they are as stingy as they are lazy. They prefer to confirm the contents of treasure chests to make sure they arent being cheated and to take any magic items found that they could use. Leader, its me. Didnt you hear what we said? I heard what you said. Were just not going to do it. Gray did not give in to Peachs provocation. *Fuun* He just laughed through his nose. Peach was thinking that this attitude was just a little bad luck for her. Everyone accidentally discharges every once in awhile, but youre still my favorite Hero! Completely ignoring everything that Peach just said, Gray ventured further east. Repeatedly searching Warrens Wight labyrinth is indeed reasonable behavior for the Brave Party. But Gray wanted to avoid having his party stay in Warren as much as possible. There was only one reason for this. After arriving at the city of mages, Ill have to hurry and leap back to Warren to set up an appointment with Marilyn. Yes, if his party were to stay in Warren, it would be difficult for him to take a bath. Peach has already completely fallen from the Heros sight. The Brave Party continues to become stronger, but rather than for the sake of defeating the Demon Lord, it is more due to the Hero constantly dragging his party away from Warren so that he can see Marilyn. Then here is the Demon Lords castle. The Demon Lords imagination was joyfully filled with creative pin heels and horse riding whips. Margherita, would she become for my exclusive use? But then the Demon Lord thought about it. If I were to force her to submit, then it would be a dead fish all over again. Yes, it would be good to keep it as an occasional occurrence. And so the Demon Lord began preparing to head out and make the next reservation. My Demon Lord. What is it Berudeus? Before you head out, I regret to inform you that one of the executive demons is currently taking some arbitrary actions. What kind of actions? He is currently collecting soldiers and planning on attacking one of the human cities. Alright. Is it really okay? In short, their frustrations have built up, and they want to let loose. Theyve never seen the Hero, so they feel that victory will be easy. If they do attack, Im sure the Hero will show up. We can use this opportunity to gauge the Heros strength, so no, there is no problem. If so, should I supply them with some orders? Leave it. If you say something theyll say, Please show us the overwhelming power of the Demon Lord, and I dont want to move out until we find that last claw. Sounds pretty irresponsible. Isnt that suitable for someone who will be leading the irresponsible masses? Certainly. Ill leave them be. If they fail, the punishment is execution. Naturally. By the way Berudeus, give me some money. Again? Recently, our finances have been rough. Dont say such things to the Demon Lord. Its not like Im asking for 100 million ril or anything. Well, okay. But by the way, if you keep going out like this, should I prepare a servant to regularly attend to you? No, theres fine. I mean, theres fine.2 Is that so. I suppose if you ever need anything you can just buy it yourself. Yes, here is 1 million ril. Thank you. And so the Demon Lord quickly changed into his farmers clothes and flew off to make an appointment at Warren. And then we return once again to Warren. Hey, I wonder if its alright to make a mistake every once in awhile. Please dont say things like that. I will make Elliss favorite risotto for dinner tonight, so please do your best. Lets move quickly and finish the last boss! Nya. The battles have gone smoothly so far. The only thing that has been inside the treasure chests have been ril, but they did not mind that. Against Zangel level normal demons, magic has already become unnecessary. Even if those demons do send out a spell, Elliss groups three advance guards are able to block up to 15 magic damage. As for physical damage, Frau can block 20 while Reeve and Katie both block 10. Of course, its not like Reeve and Katie ever get hit by a physical attack in the first place. During the battle against the rotten giant, Claire tried out a combo of her {Distraction Needle} and Stupor. The end result was a paralyzed lump of meat that had to stand there and take Frau, Reeve, Katie, and Elliss beating. Too bad. For the Zabinas class demons, how about Claire and I take them on together? Ellis made this suggestion after seeing how bored Claire was getting having nothing to do. Once they arrived at a room containing those high class demons, Claire started off with an {Explosion} right away. Afterwards, she used {Distraction Needle} to seal off their resistances. Ellis immediately followed up with Silence to prevent the demons from countering with any spells. Claire cast a second {Explosion} directly at the demons head. Like last time, the spell did not seem to do much damage, but the force of the explosion did stun it for a moment. After that, Ellis shoved her Mad God estoc right up its crotch. The end. It really is amazing. As long as she can get in close, Elliss blade really is the strongest. That last one looked fun nya. Now only the last boss was left. A demon executive grade great demon. How is the bondage effect? Claire thought for a moment before shaking her head. Its effective, but the effect disappears quickly. This was the result Claire came up with after analyzing her {Explosion}. {Distraction Needle} only affected the results of a magic spell such as status ailments. It was unable to eliminate the targets damage resistance or extend the duration of those effects. That being the case, it is probably better for the two of us to remain in the back. Yes, the moment either of you make contact with the enemys claws, your sacrificial dolls would surely shatter. Leave the front to us. Please dont let it hit me. Ill scratch him with my claws nya. Ellis slowly released the trap on the final door while Claire loaded a {Distraction Needle} into her dress. Reeve put her hand on the doorknob, and after sharing a look with everyone else, threw open the door! Ellis was the first one to rush in. After confirming the position of the great demon, Claire released her spell with Ellis immediately using Silence while blending into the shadows. And then the three vanguards rushed in with Frau taking up point. Claire cast a follow-up {Bind} spell. The demon was able to shatter the spell through brute strength almost immediately, but it bought enough time for the three advance guards to get in close. The demon swung down its claws on Frau, but she did not fall. On the contrary, she was able to repel its blow away. A surprised expression spread across the demons face followed by a one of pain as a maul made direct contact with its knee. The Brave Ripper sunk into the demons neck that had just lost its balance. It tried swinging its arms around wildly to give it some room, but Reeve and Katie were both able to avoid being hit. And then Frau slammed her maul into its head, dealing 6 times the normal amount of damage due to the effects of Flying Phoenix and Exorcism. The demon collapsed and fell forward. Just in case, Ellis jumped on its back and stabbed her estoc directly into the demons heart. The second fight with the demon executive class boss ended without incident. And so they moved on to the treasure chest. Inside was a lightly shining golden stiletto.3 The stiletto had no mark on it, but its shine was the same as the Brave Ripper. Maybe, maybe its the same. Ellis hesitated to call it Dark Mithril. But Claire was thinking the same thing. This might be Dark Mithril. The five girls all shared a look with each other. And then a shared smile spread across their faces. Lets keep this a secret from the guild. For this second time, the boss never resurrected, nor did he say anything. They did not know the reason for this, but they assumed that he wouldnt resurrect after being beaten anymore. Todays total earnings were 2 million ril, 400 thousand ril per person. Because there were no magic tools, at least none sold to the guild, there was nothing for Katie to declare and pay to the Thieves Guild. Thank you for your hard work. 1. They do explain this later, but this means that the opponent can no longer resist status effects. It does not mean that their magic defense decreases at all. 2. So the word 졯 spelled are in romaji usually just means the word that in English, but it can also mean down there as in someones genitals. So the first time he says theres fine he misspoke and says that down there is fine, so he doesnt need a servant to service him sexually. The second time he corrects himself in saying that the place he is going to is fine, so he doesnt need someone to accompany and just serve him. 3. A stiletto knife. CH 64 This is Cross Town. An open deck tea room. Elliss group of five are currently enjoying some Lorenburg tea and some tarts which are Kens newest creation. The tarts use an abundant number of macadamia nuts, pistachios, dried cranberries, rum raisins, cashew nuts, and finished with some distilled liquor. He calls them Jewelry Box Tarts. Steamed cakes do not have a long shelf life, and they cannot be used as souvenirs because they would go stale if you were to take them while traveling. This is the case for most of his baked goods like his cookies. So Ken developed these for the specific purpose of allowing guests to take them as souvenirs. Nuts and dried fruits are the main ingredients used. Because they use distilled spirits and syrup as a finishing touch, they should be good for around 10 days if kept at room temperature. They adapted the Flint factory special string purse to form a stronger container suitable for travel. The end result was a big hit. It has already surpassed the steamed cakes and is their highest selling item. Although the cost to make them is a little more expensive as well, but Ellis makes 10 percent of all sales, so she profits no matter what. Ken, its a good one. Frau, who was the first one to discover Kens talent, was quite pleased with these results. And then Ken came out of the store and walked up to the five. Ellis, actually, I have a favor to ask. What? Please ask away. Actually, I was thinking about making this with the steamer. What Ken held out was the so-called Chinese manju. It is cooked meat and vegetables wrapped up in dough and cooked with steam. You really put a lot of thought into this Ken. Ellis was honestly impressed. And so Ken continued. I think it will go well, but the problem is the smell. Yes the Chinese manju certainly smelled nice, but it was not the kind of smell you would want at a cake shop. So, Hanna and I talked with each other, and we decided to give the idea to someone from town. He is actually a friend of Hannas. If it is okay, could you supply a loan? Do you mind becoming a guarantor? What is a guarantor? Its the person who takes responsibility if the business fails. Oh, thats no problem. In the worst case, Ill just run the store myself. He was already prepared. Then please consult the matter of being the guarantor with Hanna. Also, please check to see how big the store would need to be and find a good place to put it. Ken nodded his head and was almost skipping as he headed back to the kitchen of his confectionery shop. Isnt that guarantor thing overkill? Ellis cut off Reeves words. What kind of stupid thing are you saying? Aiful and Credia would not have been able to open up their store without your guarantee. Human relations are important. To start up a business casually is a problem nya. Four girls seemed to be convinced with this. And one girl was left smiling by herself. The cormorant fishing was doing well and drawing in more fish.1 When they were done eating, the girls started talking about the main subject. The Demon Labyrinth. As they were told, the entrance to the Demon Labyrinth had disappeared after beating the boss ten times. The Adventurers Guild was currently investigating the reason for the disappearance, but Ellis would not report the reason to the guild. After all, she wanted to make sure Wight labyrinth was destroyed for the Brave Party. The spoils were as follows. First time: Grand Magical ring C When the wearer uses magic, the required MP is reduced by 5. However, it cannot become less than 1. Magical tools are excluded. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. {Distraction Needle} scroll C Invalidates the opponents magical resistance ability. Required MP: 7 Second time: A Dark Mithril stiletto. Mad God had already been copied onto it. Ellis used this weapon to defeat the rotten giant that appeared during their next lap in a single blow. Third time: Spell Encyclopedia part 2. {Runaway Dungeon} C Escapes a labyrinth and returns you to the front entrance. Required MP: 1. Fourth time: Darkness Dress C Halves the magic damage received from the opponent. Converts the half-depleted damage into MP and absorbs it. Necessary MP: 0. Autonomous type. Unique. It was a jet black gothic dress. The design was similar to what Claire had worn so far, but the waistline was squeezed like a corset and the skirts length was a little short. Because it was unique, the ability could not be copied. By wearing it, Claires sacrificial doll wouldnt explode even if she was hit by an unexpected {Flare burst}. Fifth time: Sixth time: Falcon long leather boots C Doubles the number of attacks. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. Unique. A pair of brown leather boots that cover the upper knees. The guard stretches up to protect the thighs above the knees as well. Reeve will wear the original. Because it is a unique, it is impossible to copy. Seventh time: Spell Encyclopedia part 4. {Homing Missle} C Tracking bullets that send out multiple {Flame Bullets} against the target. Basic damage: 10. Necessary MP: 5 per shot. It was a spell that allowed you to shoot out multiple {Flame Bullets} at once. With the effect of Grand Magical ring, it is possible for each shot to only cost 1 MP. So with the Awakening ring and the Spirit ring, Claire could send out thirty tracking bullets without using any of her own mental power. If the opponent has zero magic resistance, they will take a total of about 300 damage from one blow. On the other hand, they will end up taking zero damage if they are equipped with Resistance armor. Eighth time: Dark Mithril long single-edged sword. It was a so-called katana. Flying Phoenix and Exorcism were copied on it at Reeves request. During the next lap, coupled with the Falcon long leather boots, Reeve was able to kill a Zabinas grade high demon in the blink of an eye. Ninth time: Dark Mithril halberd. A two-handed weapon with a deadly-looking axe coupled with a pointy spear end, it was a weapon even more violent looking than the Minotaur maul. Frau used it with the Flying Phoenix and Exorcism abilities on it as well. In the next lap, it was Fraus turn to kill a Zabinas grade high demon with one attack. Tenth time: Abyssal leather costume C It is possible to instantaneously move from one shadow to another visible shadow. You can move anywhere inside the dark. Required MP: 1. Command word: [Melting]. Unique. It was a round black leather garment. It covered the whole body in jet black material. Ellis put it on, and it instantly changed to fit Elliss size. Because it was unique, the ability could not be copied. Ellis is now able to instantly move out of range of the opponents magic. We might be able to fight even the Demon Lord or the Hero now. We were already able to take on a demon executive class great demon without any problems. After clearing the labyrinth ten times, 20 million ril had also been accrued. With a 4 million ril split between everyone, things were going well. These girls, have they become the strongest? That was the feeling spreading through each of them. But those ideas were quickly dashed into fantasy. Suddenly, a number of shadows, too many to count, covered the sky above Warren. At the same time, countless grotesque and strange creatures popped up from the city back alleys. It was a sudden invasion from the Demon Lords army. Spawned demons attacked the people of the city at random. Their strength was about the same as an ordinary person, but there is no way a person taken completely off guard could win against a malicious demon prepared to kill. Residents were attacked one after another. They screamed, they ran, they begged for help. Member from the Thieves, Adventurers, and Workshop guilds ran out to help, but the numbers were not in their favor. In the meantime, the demons that were flying in the sky descended down to join in on the attack. Their power far surpassed the pawn demons that had come up from the alleys. Residents were continuously frozen in ice or knocked down by some claws. Hey, dont fight alone! Let the citizens escape first! A loud roar echoed over the peoples heads. What appeared was a stronger demon. It was bigger than a normal demon. Its body was reminiscent of a giant. Lets go! Buzz yelled, lightly tapping his sword to his armor. Defeat them! Doug responded. There were some skilled adventurers as well however. Charging forward with their friends, they were able to concentrate their attacks under the high demons knees and the five of them were pinning the one demon down. Ellis rushed in on top of her Magical horse. An opening! Following Elliss orders, Reeve, Frau, and Katie scattered around to face the numerous high demons. Claire prepared 30 {Homing Missiles} and thinned out the normal and pawn demons. Ellis immediately refilled Claires Spirit and Awakening ring allowing Claire to fire off another volley. Reeve truncated the normal demons in her path and headed straight for a high demon. Frau wielded her halberd and crushed everything in her path. Katie was also aiming for a high demon and was moving through the back alleys in order to ambush it from behind. The Thieves Guild master Baltis held a dagger in each hand and cut out the demons jugulars one after another. The Adventurers Guild master Theseus wore a pure white set of armor and shield, cutting through the demons with a one-handed sword. The Workshop Guild master Flints body grew from his expanded muscles and decapitated every demon he could get to with his huge battle ax. The Merchant Guild master Maria was hanging back, rescuing injured citizens with healing magic and directing medicinal herbs and recovery potions to those that needed it. But there was just too many demons. The citizens couldnt escape. And then the great demons appeared. Theyre dangerous! Everyone, run away! Even though Claire and Ellis screamed at the top of their lungs, these were members of the Adventurers guild and Thieves guild. Theyd sooner die than run away. Danger! Danger! Danger! Elliss brain was running at top speed. There was a way out of this, she just need to think of it. She could easily save herself, but the city of Warren would fall. For Ellis, Warren had already become home. There were friends here she refused to lose. Think. Think! Think!!! But no answer would come. Despair was clogging her throat like a giant clump of peanut butter. Katie was surrounded by multiple high demons. Frau was using herself as a shield to guard the citizenry. Reeve had moved to rescue Buzz and Doug. A great demon was moving in on Claire. THINK GODDAMMIT!!! 1. A cormorant is a type of aquatic bird. The Japanese used to use them to fish by tying a rope around their neck. When the bird would leave the boat, the chord would prevent them from swallowing large fish which they would spit back up on the boat. So basically, Ellis is funding numerous specialty shops instead of larger general stores. CH 65 Ahhh Ahhh Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhn The Demon Lord greeted his second wise man period of the day. At the same time, he was cursing himself for being unable to think up a creative idea for Margheritas outfit today despite his usually vivid imagination.1 However, that technique, the chicken wing face lock was simply wonderful. With her boobs on his back, the arms hitting his face, and her hot breath on his ear. Moreover, the flow that followed where he was dragged down and brought into the combined body scissors technique was equally wonderful. His lower abdomen tightened right alongside the tightening of her thighs. How truly suitable for a refined nee-san character like her. She was always pushing the boundaries. He would have to try harder to keep up. For now, he was happy to just spend his time as a wise man2 with her while taking a bath together. Mr. Beru, thank you like always. The Demon Lord had already become a regular. Because of that, it became possible for Margherita to call him by a nickname. Unfortunately, Berudeus was not his real name, so it was a nickname from a pseudonym. No, today was wonderful. I want you to survive the Demon Lords invasion that is coming up no matter what. Margherita had long ago figured out he was at least a member of the Demon Lords army, and it was at times like this that she wondered if he had actually intended to really hide the fact in the first place. Well I should tell you Beru, this area will soon be redeveloped into a male area of the town. What do you mean? We will be building a private bathhouse over there, and a new night club will be opening up as well. Is it a place exclusively for Margherita? No, but it is a place that will only be serving very good things, so Marilyn and I will be moved there automatically. Will the service change? Now that there are no ordinary customers eyes getting in our way, I am going take you much deeper than ever before. The Demon Lords wise man time was instantaneously blown away. The one word, deeper was lingering in his ears. So what is a nightclub? Fighting back the rising urges, the Demon Lord moved to sate his curiosity instead. Its a place for gentleman to hang out socially. It will serve alcoholic drinks there along with other snacks. It is a shop where customers are allowed to grab a drink, talk amongst friends, and they will be able to walk over to the new bathhouse if they so desire. Really? A certain thief who resembled a bandit popped up in the Demon Lords memories. The exchange they had at the time was very fun. It was 100 times more fun than being picked on by the real Berudeus. They might meet again at this nightclub. The Demon Lord thought that he would love to share a drink with him. By the way, what kind of clothing will Margherita wear in this new store? Im thinking of asking the customers to put in some requests. You always think up some nice ideas. The Demon Lord could no longer handle himself. He wanted to go another round. The Demon Lords shoulders dropped. However, he knew that there was a pleasure in being made to wait as well. I understand. I will come back after making another reservation. I will also try to think up a uniform for the nightclub that Margherita will love! Thank you Mr. Beru. This was a service for the Demon Lord regular who waved his arm farewell as he moved to leave the store. At this time, Margherita was wearing the default maidware. Farewell, Mr. Beru. Yes, I will come again. Then suddenly, the expression on Margheritas face turned severe and she cried out. Watch out Beru! Margherita suddenly embraced the Demon Lord, swapping her position with his and pushing him down onto the floor. She took on the full blast of a burst of light intended to hit the emerging Demon Lord. Aggh! A groan rose from Margheritas lips. A set of demon claws had struck her. And she fell forward, straight into the outstretched demon claws of the Demon Lord. Margheritas entire back was soaked with blood. Im all rightalwayswelcomeBeru.. Margherita had completely lost herself protecting the Demon Lord. What the hell have you done!? Without giving them a chance to answer, the Demon Lord cast magic to blow away the two demons heads that stood before him and cast a full recovery spell onto Margherita. He picked her up into his arms before carrying her back into the store. Take care of Margherita! The Demon Lord entrusted the unconscious woman in his arms to the receptionist and barreled back outside. What have you done to my Margherita!? For the first time since he was born, the Demon Lord was overcome with an anger that could not be contained. My wings, come to me! {Fly}! With the figure of an ordinary farmer, the Demon Lord ascended to the sky above. First he read the situation. Its that fool Zavnat, After the last demon was killed, the Demon Lord took a breath. Okay, that should do it.. A Demon Lord that had just wiped out a fourth of his army by his own hands. I should return home and debrief Berudeus. He was worried about Margherita, but if he were to descend down now and everyone were to realize his true identity, it would be problematic for him to return to Warren againCor so he thought. And so the Demon Lord kicked off the sky and flew back to his magic castle. Ellis was confused. Before her was the edge of despair, but the demons she was facing were burned, turned to ashes, pierced by a comet, and devoured by dogs floating in the sky. And only Ellis and her four companions noticed it. The farmer with a straw hat floating in the sky. That is the Demon Lord Ellis didnt know. Why did the Demon Lord destroy his army? Were the demons and the Demon Lord hostile towards each other? Is the demon army on the side of the Hero? Did the demons originally come here to kill the Demon Lord? The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. There was, however, one fact that she knew for sure. The Demon Lord is dangerous. Margherita woke up with a start. And she was convinced. That farmer calling himself Berudeus was a powerful presence. He may be the Demon Lord just as Ellis had suspected. She certainly remembered a demons claws gouging out her back. She also remembered the sound of bone breaking as her spine crumbled. She thought her life was at an end, but now here she was, awake. She didnt know if he was a demon or an angel, but he saved her life. That was a fact. Sorry about that. For the first time in her life, Margheritas heart was doing a leap. I have to report this to the ladies immediately. After all the previous ruckus, all the scheduled appointments would be canceled. Margherita began running to Lily Garden in her bare feet. Is this alright, My Demon Lord? What is Berudeus? Zavnat lost an army of thousands of soldiers. Thats, the fellow who was complaining about how bored he was the other day? Thats right. Well then how about you call him to me. Yes, he will be here soon. Soon, the demon executive class great demon Zavnat was kneeling before the demon Lord. This time I performed an action without my approval in a fit of impatience, butdid you bring me the Heros head? A truly unfair Demon Lord. The demon Zavnat went rigid, but he was able to desperately squeeze out a response. No, Im afraid we were defeated. We never even saw the Hero coming. He was able to manipulate thousands of {Flare Bullets}, purified our demons, called down comets from the heavens, and summoned demon dogs straight from the pits of hell. There was nothing we could do. I see. Such a thing, I could easily do as well. Zavnat looked up at the Demon Lord with a look that sceamed, Seriously?3 Unfortunately, Zavnat was unable to voice a decent response to this fact. Berudeus, would you gather our executives here now? Certainly. After awhile, a couple of demon executives gathered together in the palace hall. Well Zavnat, please explain to everyone what you saw. Zavnat retold the story of what had happened during his invasion of Warren that he had just explained to the Demon Lord. Have all of you guys properly heard his story? the Demon Lord asked. Every demon executive obediently nodded their heads. Well, some of you have been talking about how you want to see my power. So be it. A wave of killing intent was released with the Demon Lords ruthless smile. Well then, lets begin. {Bind}. The Demon Lord robbed Zavnat of his ability to move. The price for death, is death. Zavnat furiously shook his head back and forth trembling in fear. Well then, shall we do this one at a time? The Demon Lord floated Zavnat away with telekinesis and guided him out of the castle. And then, {Homing Missiles}. {Death Scythe}. Since Zavnat was on the verge of dying after just that, {Perfect Heal} was used next. Then {Call Comet} was used, but it was purposely directed to not hit any vital spot meaning the worst damage that Zavnat suffered was only a gaping hole where his shoulder used to be. I believe you said that he used dogs to finish things right? After confining Zavnat in {Closed Dimension}, {Hungry Brother} was used to lick up every last remaining drop of blood that remained. See, I can do it too, but I like to think that I add a little more flare to it. Would you like to see it again? The demon executive unanimously shook their heads no. Alright then. Taking the initiative is something to be lauded, but just remember that the punishment for failure is death. And one more thing. If any of you try and touch Warren, Ill kill you. Even if he hadnt said anything, none of the demon executives wanted to go near the city where Zavnat had been so utterly crushed. Good. You are all dismissed. The Demon Lord sent all or his men away. Well then, I suppose now I should use the full extent of my imagination to figure out a good costume for Margherita to wear. For the first time in a long while, the Demon Lord found himself unable to sleep. His thoughts were too full of the nee-san like woman who had risked her life to try and save a Demon Lord. 1. This first part is a little weird because it is mostly in the first person for the Demon Lord, but it eventually switches back over to third person. I decided to just switch it all to the third person so that there would be no confusion with who is talking later on. 2. In the Japanese, it uses this term a lot, but I always avoided it choosing to cut it out for something a little different. This time is a little more specific though, so for anyone who doesnt know, wise man time is the period right after sex where you are completely free from sexual thoughts because you just did the deed. 3. Another piece of wordplay. The word maji in katakana is what the Japanese refer to as the seriously? pose. In the title, instead of using the actual word for seriously, they use maji, probably to reference the fact that not only is the Demon Lord seriously dangerous, but also the utter surprise at the fact that he is going to kill a fourth his army and then say the Hero did it. CH 66 After the raid by demon forces, an emergency meeting was held by the Warren Council. Prior to that, two actions were immediately taken. The first of which was an emergency warning sent by the Adventurers Guild to the capitol Skycastle first and then to the surrounding cities of Wheat Grace and the Citadel City Marsfield. Things may have died down in Warren, but there was no guarantee that there would not be subsequent moves taken against nearby cities. The next was the collection of weapons and tools left behind by the slain demons, but this was mostly taken care of by the Thieves Guild. The main topic of this emergency meeting was less about this attack from the demon forces and more about the second one. After the Demon Lord made his declaration in sky, the Adventurers Guild had promptly beefed up security enforcement, restructured the military, and confirmed a proper evacuation route for the citizenry. To be honest, none of that was any help during this past event. In short then, the objective for this meeting was how to minimize the damage of a second attack in the future. Eventually, discussion made its way to the mystery magic and the person who cast it that ended the fighting. It was a show of mythic proportions with numerous {Flare Bullets}, a mysterious wave that turned demons to ash, flashing lights falling from the sky, and magical dogs appearing out of thin air. The spell {Homing Missile} is a long dead spell, but since it is basically just multiple {Flare Bullets}, it was a spell that the council could understand to an extent. But the other three, along with whatever magic was used to create that translucent barrier, so those four spells were completely unknown in Warren. The spells themselves are disconcerting enough, but the fact that the person who cast those spells is a mystery as well just complicates things even further. We need an explanation from the city of mages, and if necessary, put in a request for support, Merchant Guild master Maria suggested. The Magical City Wisdom is an academic city located to the southeast of Marsfield, oftentimes called the city of mages. Unfortunately the direct road from Warren to Wisdom has not been maintained, so in order to get there, you would have to go around and travel to Marsfield first. I would like to ask about that ridiculous magic at the very least. Mmm. Whether or not that magic was from the Demon Lord or the Hero, either case could be bad for us if we mishandle things, Baltis nodded in agreement. Well, if so, who will we send? Flint asked this question while directing his gaze to a smiling Ellis, clearly already having an idea in mind. Ellis reflexively looked away, but the other councilors all started to laugh at how easy she was to see through. Because all of Warren is still in a state of emergency, I dont think any of us guild masters should go. People familiar with the situation should voluntarily raise their hands if we put out a request. We are busy reorganizing the weapons and preparing in case of another attack, so Id like to avoid sending out any adventurers out right now. Its a troublesome matter indeed. I heard that during the battle, there were a couple girls who looked really cool fighting off the demons. Who were they again? Game over.1 Ellis reluctantly raised her hand. Please allow me to speak. Yes, associate member Ellis, what is it? Maria looked like a balloon, her cheeks all puffed up from holding back her laughter. All of you Oji-samas and Oba-sama are a bunch of bullies, was Elliss response. Having been called an Oba-sama, Marias laughter immediately died out, and her eyebrows knitted together. Meanwhile, the men could hold their laughter back no longer. The five of us will go. We can deliver incident reports to Wisdom and Marsfield too if necessary under the name of the Warren Council. The councilors all eventually nodded their assent. Elliss group would once again go on a trip. Thats the story. Ellis had just finished explaining the situation to her four roommates. Their mission this time was to deliver an incident report letter from the Warren Council to Lord Marsfield, head to the Magical City Wisdom, and deliver a second request letter to the magic university asking them to analyze the magic seen at the end of the demon raid. The {Flare Bullets} the Demon Lord used for the first time had a similar performance to Claires {Homing Missile}, but the number of bullets were on a completely different level. As for the other spells, Claire had no clue. The Magical City Claire had a rare, unusual look on her face. Whats wrong Claire? Claire didnt immediately reply to Reeves question who had noticed that look, and she made a troubled look like she was not sure what to say to her. Is it because you hate the idea of going to the magic university? Claire did originally hate mages nya. Claire reluctantly nodded to both Frau and Katies words. Those who try to learn magic at the university tend to have a moreprivileged state of mind. The headquarters for the Magicians Guild is located in Skycastle, but the research itself is actively conducted in Magical City Wisdom. Their findings flow from Wisdom to Skycastle where the information is sorted by relevance and finally reported to the royal family. And this large facility earns its research funds by acting as a university. The point is that the university makes most of its money by gathering tuition fees from noble house that send over those third-born and below sons and the daughters who cant be married off. Well, well hardly see any of the students at the university, so we can finish our business in Wisdom and depart quickly afterwards. Yes, Im looking forward to the completion of Cross Town. First, Ill need to prepare some ingredients for the three day trip to Marsfield. Because we arent acting as escorts, we can use some of the accommodation points along the highway. Then, there was a knock on their door. It was Karen, the new receptionist for the Thieves Guild. Ellis, Frau, Claire, I could use your help. Karen needed a little indiscreet help from the five girls. I need an appraisal of the weapons the dead demons left behind. The master told me to bring them here and have one of you who can use {Appraisal} take care of it. Using {Appraisal} was natural for a former Adventurers Guild receptionist to know, but the knowledge that Ellis and Claire could use it as well was something that they had never told anyone. It seems that time they stripped off Dams and Cliffs equipment and provided a list of every item to the Adventurers Guild had come back to bite them. Claire didnt learn {Appraisal} until quite recently, but thanks to her qualities as a magician and the effect of a Magical Ring, she was capable of casting the spell while only using 1 MP. Frau could cast it with 1 MP as well, but that was only thanks to the effect of a Grand Magical Ring. I guess it cant be helped. Reeve, Katie, you two should prep the carriage with the exception of our meals. Mmm, Ill take extra special care to make sure the bathroom is fine. Ill make sure Hanna and everyone else knows we will be gone for awhile nya. Ellis, Frau, and Claire reluctantly followed Karen out the door while Reeve and Katie quietly gave each other a high five having successfully avoided being roped into some seriously troublesome sounding work. Theres nothing good here. Elliss shoulders drooped even more. This was the waiting room of the Thieves Guild although it was more of an appraisal room at this point. Most of the weapons left by the demon army were unmarked, and the occasional ones that did have something were not worth much. Poison C Add 2 points of poison damage to any opponent damaged. Ineffective on people with a resistance to poison. Required MP: 0. Autonomous type. And another one that boosted offensive power. Beak C Increases attack power by 1.2 times. Required MP: 1. Command word: [Come Beak]2 They were mostly long swords and short swords. As far as armor was concerned, they were almost all blank, but they were well-made with good materials. The weapons and armor of the great demons pierced by light from the sky were able to make it relatively unscathed, so the three of them saved those pieces for last. Would this one work? Claire brought over a great demons pure black battle ax that she had just appraised. Along with Flying Swallow, it had an autonomous ability called Man Eater. Man Eater C Deal double damage to humanoid organisms. Necessary MP: 0. Autonomous type. Ellis secretly copied over the ability to a spare dagger she had to bring it home. If the opponent is human, will the double damage from that combine with the double damage from Flying Swallow to deal 4 times the amount of damage? Flint would turn into an oni. Flints already an oni. Frau and Claire laughed together. Meanwhile Ellis walked over to buy a little goodwill with Baltis and the other guild masters. Choosing two black daggers, she duplicated Flying Swallow and Inhalation onto them. She then copied Flying Swallow and Purification onto a black longsword. And then she told Karen that the appraisal work was finished. Oh, how was it? Was there anything good? Baltis randomly popped out from the back room. There was something perfect for uncles. Ellis put on her best flattery smile when pushing forward the two daggers, the longsword, and the battle ax in front of Baltis. These two daggers both have Flying Swallow and Inhalation, the longsword has Flying Swallow and Purification, and the battle ax has Flying Swallow and Man Eater. Everything else was mostly Beak or Poison. I see. Baltis gave a wide smile and nodded his head once before beckoning Ellis to come closer. When she was standing right next to him, Baltis whispered in her ear so that Frau and Katie could not hear what he was saying. You have the ability to make magic tools, dont you? The world stopped short. Baltis had his doubts in the beginning, but the question of why Elliss group was so powerful always nagged at the back of his mind. So he decided to set a small trap. It was easy. All he had to do was have Ellis appraise some magic items that had already been appraised. And Ellis fell for it perfectly. Baltis continued on with a disgusting grin on his face. If your ability were to become well-known, it would be very troublesome for you wouldnt it? In terms of both market price and power balance. I promise to keep this locked in my heart, so tell me, are you able to add more than these for abilities? Whatever do you mean? It may have been pointless, but Ellis tried her hardest to keep as much of her secret a secret as she could. Exorcism and Flying Phoenix look like two wonderful abilities. Everything is out in the open. He must have appraised Katies claws one day without her knowing. But Ellis wasnt about to roll over. Uncle can use {Appraisal} too right? If so, then how about taking a look at this. Ellis pulled out her shining gold stiletto dagger from her bag. Baltis casually held the dagger in his hands and used {Appraisal}. As the reality of the situation sunk in, Baltiss face turned a deeper and deeper shade of blue. Yo- You can use this? I would very much appreciate if you keep my affairs a secret. I will add however that recently I was made quite aware of the fact that I am the weakest of us five, so if it ever comes down to it, do not worry about it too much. I am sure I will be just fine either way. Baltiss expression melted away into something far different than it was before. Yes, some secrets should remain secrets. Please dont tease this old man too much. However, because I would like to prepare for another attack, please make those four strong. Something like that is cheap. In that case, lend me your leather armor. Giving Ellis a suspicious glance, Baltis walked back to his room and grabbed his armor. Meanwhile, Ellis selected two plate armors left behind from demons attack. One was normal sized while the other was a little larger. Alright then uncle, please leave the room for a little bit. If you peek, Ill scratch you with the stiletto you saw earlier. Baltis obediently left the room with his arms raised up. Then the copying began. The first thing she did was upgrade the two daggers, longsword, and battle ax with Flying Phoenix and Exorcism. Then she moved on to the armor. Baltiss leather armor and the two plate armors each received Resistance. Uncle, its okay now. When Baltis re-entered the room, the first thing he did was appraise his leather armor. The results made him drop it on accident. I didnt want uncle, Theseus, and Flint to fight over it, so I got you all the same thing. Now all of you can be the Hero. Baltis realized that by trying to get this girl into the palm of his hand, he ended up rolling around in the palm of her hand instead. The realization brought an unexpectedly bitter smile to his face. Alright. Well get used to these new weapons quickly so that there will be nothing to worry about even when youre gone. Then I will leave it to you. Finally, Ellis gave Baltis a smile that looked like it was a passageway straight to Hell, and she went on her way. 1. The word they use here is ԑ, tsunda, which is Japanese internet slang. In short terms, it means that there is nothing else a person can do. It derives from the Japanese equivalent to checkmate. 2. I want you to know I tried looking this up. I thought I was reading the kanji wrong, but I wasnt. This is one of things that I imagine sounds a lot more threatening in JapaneseProbably. CH 67 Come on, were leaving! The five girls left on a lone carriage, heading first to Marsfield. Their trip progressed much more smoothly this second time around. Since there was no one to escort this time, each member was allowed to do whatever they wanted during the trip. Reeve acted as the basic coachman, and she took care of any small issues that cropped up. Katie provided support and switched off with Reeve when necessary, but Reeve spent most of her waking hours in the drivers seat. Katies job was to watch over Pi-tan. After all, since Pi-tan loves to spend most of his time napping in his basket, then the person watching over him should be someone with an equal love for catnaps. In the carriages living room, Ellis and Claire were looking over drawings for Cross Towns current shop arrangement and future plans for expansion. In the kitchen, Frau was cooking up some steamed dishes and experimenting with some sweets. Regarding the sweetsCthanks to Elliss hintsCFrau had mixed together eggs, milk, and sugar to create a splendid pudding. When it comes to cooking, the hikineet only really knows about Chinese food and mushrooms, so she mentioned some of the cooking techniques from there as well, and so Frau began steaming a few new meals together as well. What truly hit the jackpot was her whole stuffed chicken. It was so tasty that Frau could not help but give it praise. The meat is so savory, and its only made more delicious thanks to this sauce! Frau says that unlike baking, it is convenient to make delicious soup stock left over as steamed juice and cook it with chicken bones left behind after eating the meat. It was the steamed fish that Katie praised extensively. It was a large salmon steamed alongside a bed of vegetables all at once. The mixture lets you have the best of both worlds nya. Ellis and Reeve also had to give their praise to the freshly steamed meal. They thought it had a stronger taste than the chicken. Ellis carved out some of the requested Chinese food that Frau had made. It was delicious. Claire stood out in that she did not particularly take to any of the new dishes brought out, but the words, unbearably delicious, were the only thing that any of them could make out inbetween the spoonfuls of pudding she kept shoveling into her mouth. Pi-tan was holding a longsword a demon had left behind in the living room. By the way, although synthesis did not go well for Beak, Poison, or Man Eater, it was not really a problem since the performance of those abilities were not something to write home about anyway. Thus, the path to Marsfield was paved with steamed dishes. Then the day where they arrived at Marsfield came. First of all, they visited Lord Marsfield to deliver the letter on behalf of the Warren Council. It was Mirei, the noble lady wife of Lord Marsfield, who greeted them. Ah, you came. We already heard what has happened in Warren from some messengers sent on horses. If you have not eaten yet, how about telling me all about it over a meal? The five became honorary guests to the Marsfield nobility. The assault by countless demons, how the invasion was easily repelled, and the mysterious magic used to do it. They then explained that they would be making their way to Wisdom after this to put in a request for an investigation into this mysterious person. Hearing all of this, the Lord made a difficult expression. Citadel City Marsfield was a defensive city for the capitol Skycastle. That was why they had put so much stock into their fortifications. Their large walls would not be that much help though if all their enemies could just fly over them. I understand the necessity to go to the Magical City. I know not of this mysterious man, but I doubt that he is the Hero nor do I think he to be one of the Kings men. As far as the general story goes, the main characteristic of the Hero is his overwhelming power, but most of his magic has indirect effects. He is capable of buffing party members and the like, but manipulating an infinite number of {Flare Bullets} would be beyond him. Well, the Hero is a pretty ridiculous monster in his own way. The lord mentioned Gray with a slightly unpleasant look on his face. By the way, when will you all be departing? We were thinking about staying overnight in the city today and departing around noon tomorrow. When Ellis answered for the five, the Lord ordered them to visit the castle one more time before leaving. Id invite you to stay at the castle, but Im sure you girls wouldnt have any fun staying with a middle-aged man like me. Ill provide you a guide and a room at a nice inn, so I hope you enjoy everything my city of Marsfield has to offer. In this way, Elliss group left the castle and followed a public servant to the best inn in town. Naturally, their room was a top floor suite. After taking out and unpacking their luggage, the five girls were finally able to take a breath. Lets enjoy Marsfields cold dishes to their fullest today. Fraus words served as a jumpstart to her other four party members, and Katie excitedly started jumping up and down with her hand raised up. This time I want to go to Beastcity Street nya. You sure are obsessed. My friend lives there nya. Say that kind of thing sooner! By the way, is Beastcity Street a dangerous place? Its no problem nya. Its just an ordinary slum nya. Katie can say some pretty outrageous things. Well, its not like anything would happen to us, and Im sure nobody would really bother us as long as we dont look too flashy going in. Should we wear the brown jackets we wore during the harvest festival? The other four all agreed with Reeves proposal, but just in case, Ellis was left in charge of carrying Pi-tan. The five girls confirmed the location of Beastcity Street at the front desk before heading out. The front desk clerks words, Please be back before it gets dark, should provide a pretty good idea of the public order there. But that is partly to be expected. The street is located in the lowlands of Marsfield, and there are no small number of homes damaged and dilapidated from the water damage. In the meantime, Reeve never took her hand off her sword. Completely ignorant of such an attitude, Katie was running from person to person asking about her friend. And eventually, she found it. Mati, are you here nya? Katie loudly called out her friends name while pounding on the door. At first, it almost seemed like the building was empty, but the door slowly began to creak open and a horribly hollow face soon peeked out from inside. Mati, long time no see nya! Its Katie nya!1 Meow! Katie! Long time no see! What are you doing in a place like this nya!? Nyam on a trip. I missed you nya. Nyelcome to my home. Its a shabby place, but please come in nya! Hm? Who are these people nya? My friends nya. Ellis, Reeve, Frau, and Claire nya. Oh, and Pi-tan. Four completely bewildered girls bowed their heads in a panic when they realized that the conversation had suddenly moved to them. Nice to meet you nya. Im Mati. Mati closely resembled Katie, but the color of her hair was a combination of white and brown. Her eyes were more slender than Katies. She was very pretty. The five girls were all invited into Matis house for a cup of tea. Katie and Mati did most of the talking. The other four were not too sure what they were talking about as they were using a very strong dialect. However, because of the expressiveness between the two, it was fun just being allowed to watch them go. Then the sound of knocking could be heard. Mati hesitated for a moment before heading to the entrance. When she returned after talking to her visitor for a moment, her entire aura had done a complete 180. Katie, everyone, Im sorry its so sudden, but I need you to go home now nya. Whats wrong nya? Its nothing nya. Katie and your friends should just leave this city and enjoy your trip nya. With a single sound, Ellis caught hold of the situation. She turned to look directly behind Mati. Her blood began pumping, but Ellis knew that none of this was aimed at herself. Ellis quietly handed Pi-tan over to Claire before releasing the magic power in her blouse. [Melting]. Ellis soundlessly disappeared. She then instantaneously reappeared on the other side of the room, her dagger pointed directly at someones back. Mati, who is this? Trying to kill Mati is a terrible thing nya. If its like this, nyou wont complain even nyif we kill you nya. Katie was giving off a very dangerous aura watching this new mystery girl. But not just the mystery girl, even Mati wasnt saying anything. Slowly, the five girls moved to one side of the room with Mati on the other alongside the mystery girlCan anubis beastman. Things were quiet for awhile, but eventually, it was the anubis woman who spoke up, her eyes opening wide with realization. You, arent all of Warrens Jewelry Box? You saved my brother! The five girls remained quiet, so the anubis kept talking. You spared my brothers life and hung him up from the Adventurers Guild! Thank you so much for saving him! This girl was apparently the younger sister of the assassin they beat the last time they came to Marsfield. If its alright, Id like to ask why you just came in here and tried to kill Mati. At Elliss words, the anubis girl collapsed down onto the ground and spilled out the whole tale inbetween fits of tears. What a terrible story nya. Katies fur was standing on end from the indignation. To sum things up, Beastcity Street was receiving repeated assassination requests from Mirei and the concubine Anna. To be fair, Mirei and Anna were actually sending assassination requests to Marsfields Thieves Guild. However, there is no way that Marsfields Thieves Guild could just send out assassins against the wives of a Duke, especially the one in charge of their own town. So, the Thieves Guild decided to subcontract the assassinations to Beastcity Street. Even if it succeeded, there would be no evidence linked back to the them. The guild paid a deposit to the head of Beastcity Street and promised a reward for any successful assassins, but the truth of it was that the deposit was actually meant to pay for the assassins funeral. So, this time Mati and this anubis girl were elected to be this times assassins due to the lottery that the Beastcity Street chief had made. Mati is a cat fighter, and the anubis girl was a magician, so they both had adequate killing ability. But so had all the other dead would-be assassins. So the lottery was deemed a death sentence for any who won. Its that old woman again. Since they love to play this game together, do you think they would enjoy dying together? If Lord Marsfield knows about what they are doing, then things could be really bad. Ellis, can nye somehow save nyem? Ellis only had to think about it for a second before giving her four friends a devious smile. What we did to Acoms, shall we do the same for Mirei and Anna as well? Four girls mimicked the same smile they saw before them while the other two were left wondering what was going on. I see, I like it. Please come back quickly. It will be even more effective if you leave a letter behind. Thank you nya, thank you nya. Katie moved over to explain things to Mati and the anubis girl. Once the story was finished, both girls sat there stunned. By the way, is there a reason why Mati has recklessly stayed in this city nya? I have no reason to stay, but my nyamily is dead. I have nowhere else to go nya. If so, then you should come to Warren nya. I can find you a job nya. Now that we have a plan, lets all go out for some dinner. Would the anubis girl like to come too? Dont be shy about coming nya. By the way, whats your name nya? My name is Labra. Everyone. Well, Labra, introduce us to some delicious shops. Ill bring my wallet. Five girls along with Mati were guided around for dinner by Labra. The shop she chose did not look like much, but it was very delicious. The dishes werent the cold ones the girls expected though. All things considered, it was very ordinary. It seems like the cold dishes were more for tourists. But Frau was very interested in it, especially with the seasoning, and she was already making plans to go out to the city tomorrow for some shopping. After the meal was finished, all seven of them returned to the inn. The two extras were introduced to the front desk clerk as a couple of friends. The front desk clerk nodded his head and let them in. Obviously. These were the special guest of the Duke of Marsfield after all. Ellis took off her coat and blouse, trouser, boots, and slipped on her favorite cloth shoes and silk garb. Ellis, I wrote a letter. Claire handed over two letters. The floor plan for the inside of the castle was something the Mati already had. Well, Im going. Yes, be careful. Make sure you arent seen. Dont kill anyone. Thank you nya. Meanwhile Mati and Labra were watching Ellis as if they were praying to a god. Please help us. And so Ellis released the Abyss, and she faded into darkness. 1. The author always just symbolized the cat-talk by adding nya at the end of the sentences. Well, he just upped the difficulty for me and has started combining words with nya for advanced cat-talk. CH 68 Chanting [Chameleon], Ellis proceeded to move through the darknessCAbyss and Mimetic making it impossible for anyone to locate her. Due to this fact, she was able to rush headlong into the Marsfield castle. First lets deal with Lord Marsfield. Ellis moved within the darkness, jumping from shadow to shadow. And eventually, she made her way to the Lords study. Guards, butlers, and maids were completely unaware of Elliss presence. After confirming the location of the study, she made her way outside and peeked in on the Lord from his outside window. Fast asleep. The Lord of Marsfield was lying flat on his desk. Without opening the window any more than it already was, Ellis slipped in through the shadows and materialized right next to the sleeping nobleman. [Be Quiet]. [Freeze]. The Lord woke up with a start at the biting cold stabbing him all over, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not move his body an inch and no sound would come from his trembling throat. Today, I would like to lecture the Lord of Marsfield a little. Ellis drew in close and whispered into the Dukes ear. The Lord had clearly still not grasped the situation as his eyes showed a mixture of confusion and fear. Pay better attention to your wives. People in Beastcity Street are suffering and dying because of their little games. And then Ellis put him back to sleep. As he slowly drifted away, Ellis kissed the tip of his ear, We are expecting good things tomorrow, Duke Marsfield. Once he was completely out, she put a letter on his desk before leaving the room. Well then, what should be done with the last two? The next room over was Mireis room. Ellis saw Mireis lamp was lit from her window, and when she peeked in, she could see Mirei combing her hair in front of a mirror. Her appearance was a little rough as she was just about to go to bed. I guess shell be first. Ellis immediately robbed Mireis consciousness with Sleep. At the same time, she used Ice to keep Mirei in an upright position in front of the mirror. And finally, Abyss. Ellis jumped behind Mirei, the flame of the lamp flickering for a second. After using Silence as well, Ellis woke Mirei back up. There was a mirror directly in front of Mirei. She could see her reflection quite clearly in it, but behind her, a dull dagger shined in the moonlight held by a black shadow. Good evening. I have a message for you from the Demon Lord. Ellis whispered in the trembling womans ear while running a dagger across her cheek. A line of blood ran down Mireis cheek from the slight cut before Ellis cast Full Recovery on her. Do you understand? The tears pouring from Mireis eyes were answer enough. Well then, I will allow you to speak, Ellis whispered while releasing the silence. You, what is your purpose? Ellis responded with a cold laugh that stoked Mireis fears all the more. Its an assassination for the Madam. Arent you and your concubine sister constantly hiring assassins to kill each other? The thought that she would end up being the one overtaken like this surprised Mirei to her very heart. She had never thought that she would be the one ending up under the knifes edge. Can I not offer something for my life? I dont mind. What do you want? Its money Mademoiselle. How much do you want? How much can you offer me? If its 1 million ril. Ellis interrupted Mireis desperate plea with Silence before cutting her once again. Theres not enough digits there, Ellis whispered into her ear. This time Ellis made sure that the blood continued to flow, dying Mireis cheek red before pulling the blade away and healing the wound completely. Then the silence was released. Mirei was beside herself, but she was still unable to move. Finally Mirei was able to choke out some words with a soft, trembling voice. I dont have such an amount of money here. Ellis once again cast Silence and stabbed the dagger into Mireis right breast. Full Recovery was then used again. If thats so, then I suppose youll just die like this? The safe! Theres a safe in the living room. Please, please let me go get it, its not that far! Mirei started to beg inbetween her blubbering. Alright, but all of your guards are taking a nap, so please be quiet. Itd be rude to wake them. Ellis cast Silence once more and released Mirei from her frozen state. And when Mirei jumped up and tried to run away, Ellis stabbed Mirei in the butt. Mirei started rolling around on the ground in pain. Your whole body is going to turn red at this rate, Madam. Mirei was convinced. When she entered the hallway, she was shocked to see all her guards standing upright yet not moving or making a sound. There was no doubt in her mind that this little girl was an agent from the Demon Lord. And so they made it to the living room. It took several tries for Mirei to open up the safe as her shaking hands caused her to screw up the dial. But once it was finally open, Ellis cast Sleep one more time. The woman wearing a dress decorated with holes and red splotches collapsed onto the ground. These are the digits I was talking about. Piles of ril, gold, jewels, and guild exchange notes were gathered before Elliss eyes. Everything was stuffed into her bag, and Ellis was on the move once more. Next was the concubine Annas room. Anna was sitting on the bed, facing the door as if she were waiting for someone. If Ellis wasnt invisible with Mimetic and teleported in with Abyss, she would have been found. A feeling of discomfort began to settle in for Ellis, and when she focused, she could feel someone else in the room. It was a familiar presence, and it did not take long before Ellis realized she had felt this same feeling once before when she was in a labyrinth. Hoh, this witch has a big guard on her roster. It was a Transparent Assassin.1 Ellis switched over from her normal dagger to her Mad God stiletto. Then she began to quietly investigate the signs. Thanks to Annas movements through the room, Ellis was able to slowly narrow down hiding spots logically while also trying to sense the enemy hidden from her eye. Found you. Ellis moved like a flash to one corner of the room and stabbed her knife into the window curtain. A red stain began to spread with the hole made from the knife at the center. Finally a quick Sleep knocked Anna right out. If she has a Transparent Assassin, why not have him attack Mirei? Ellis wondered to herself out loud. Ellis tried to think up of a possible answer while fixing Anna down with Ice and waking her up after using Silence. Anna woke up with a start with Ellis once again holding a dagger to a womans cheek from behind. Good evening. Like with Mirei, Ellis cut Annas cheek to threaten her not to shout before releasing the silence on her. Are you Mireis hand? If I am? I wonder if youd be willing to let me go. I never wanted Mirei to die, but I also really dont want to be killed. And then the story began. It turns out Anna really did never want Mirei to die. Becoming the main wife would involve a number of troublesome duties she wanted no part of. But Mirei continued to send assassins against her, so Anna followed suit to convince Mirei that this was all some game. So long as Mirei never became serious about killing her, Anna would remain relatively safe. However, now the Transparent Assassin she had been using to deal with all the assassins Mirei was sending had been dealt with. If youd like, I can introduce you to the Demon Lords army as well. Anna was able to say something outrageous before negotiations really even began. What proof do you have? Its here. After regaining her ability to move, Anna took out a piece of parchment from one of her dresser drawers. Inside was a contract with a demon. I want to be able to enjoy the life I have now. The demon can take my soul after my life is over. Hmm. Ellis was starting to like this woman. She was a sleazebag. A big sleazebag. Ellis could not wait to see what this fellow sleazebag would do when she was cornered. I understand, Miss. Then Ellis reapplied Sleep and laid Anna down on her bed while picking up the contract. Im looking forward to tomorrow. Ellis put Annas contract down on a desk where Lord Marsfield could easily find it. The next morning Marsfield Castle broke out into a ruckus with the first early rays of the sun. The Lord recalled the dream he had the previous night, and in order to confirm the matter about the repeated assassination attempts between his two wives, he sent out one of his servants to get the Thieves Guild master. Furthermore, the parchment that confirmed Annas contract with a demon was sitting out in the open on his desk. The Lord immediately jumped out of his study. Lord, the Madam is in a terrible state! Mirei was found in a bloody mess in front of an open safe. An empty open safe. And while Mirei was bloody all over, there was not a single mark on her. Dear! I was attacked by some hoodlum! What about Anna!? Holding Mirei close to his chest, the Lord called out to his second wife Anna. Anna walked into the room a few minutes later after being called. Anna! What is the meaning of this!? Annas eyes turned into saucers upon seeing the demons contract in the Lords outstretched hand. And then she broke down on the spot. In order to protect my Lord, I had no choice! And she continued to cry while telling everyone a story. Mirei was aiming for the life of Lord Marsfield, but Anna thought that nobody would believe her if she tried to tell anybody. Thats why, even if she had to sacrifice her own soul, she would make a contract with a demon and protect her husband. Even if my soul will burn in Hell for it, I will protect the Duke. And then Anna finished her performance by falling to her knees. Its a lie! Everything she is saying is a lie! Mirei started shouting hysterically. Then why was Mirei like that without a single wound on her? Anna calmly came up with a comeback. That is And Mirei was at a loss for words. In an atmosphere like this, there is no way she can say that she traded the contents of the safe for her own life. That was when the Dukes messenger returned with the Thieves Guild master at his side. Is it true that these two have been repeatedly putting in assassination requests to the Thieves Guild? Yes, my Lord. It is a fact. The Thieves Guild master answered truthfully with his head hung low. Why was I not informed? Lord Marsfield was quickly becoming more and more fed up with this entire situation. Because it goes against the Thieves Guild code. So why werent assassins of the Thieves Guild sent out? The guild master gave a pained expression and took a minute to respond. That..it was because we had no intention of killing either the Madam or the Miss, so.. So you used people from the Beastcity Street! Yes. How many people have died? Around ten or so. Duke Marsfield slammed his hand against his desk, face redder than Mireis blood-stained dress. You bastard! Do you think the beastmen are a toy for you to just play with!? The guild master couldnt say a word while Mirei and Anna were both scrambling to their feet. Take Mirei and Anna into custody. The charges of attempted murder! Guild master. If you want to keep your Thieves Guild safe, then you will retire immediately! Following the instructions of their lord, the guards quickly grabbed hold of Mirei and Anna, and escorted them out of the room. Just like that, Anna and Mirei were caught while the guild master swiftly fled the castle. Hoh. Ellis watched Duke Marsfield pace back and forth for awhile after everyone else had left. She had remained inside the attic during the whole ordeal. With Reeves Intelligencepiercings, everything that had been said was perfectly broadcast to her party members. If its like this, we shouldnt have anything to worry about. Satisfied with the outcome, Ellis confirmed the feelings of everyone else before slipping all the treasure she had snatched from the safe the night before back into the Dukes bedroom. When the five girls visited Duke Marsfield that afternoon, they were met with a strange sight. The Duke welcomed them all with a smile on his face and in a calm, orderly demeanor. But there was no Mirei next to him. Ellis decided to poke the sleeping bear. How are things with your wife? Then, the Duke answered without pausing for a second. Ah, she wont be appearing publicly anymore. The Lord started laughing wildly as if his wife were just a piece of notable news he had heard while walking down the street. As a man in charge of running somewhere known as the Citadel City, Ellis supposed that this must just be something to be expected. It looks like things would be okay from here on. By the way, Claire, youre going to the Magical City after this, arent you? The Duke suddenly turned the topic of conversation onto Claire. Yes, Claire immediately gave an answer despite looking a little confused. Your parents should be there right now due to a royal decree. There have been some circumstances going around, so communication was completely cut off after the Hero appeared. However, if you are going there, meeting them should be possible. Saying this much, the Duke passed a letter over to Claire. Your parents work at the university, so if you hand this letter over to the principal, you should be able to see them. Claire was completely dumbstruck. Im sorry, but Im afraid I have some urgent matters that I must attend to. Please enjoy your trip and be sure to visit on your way back home, Warrens Jewelry Box. And then the five girls left the castle, practically being driven away. Back in the Beastcity Street, Mati and Labra were given an order to halt their assassination attempts. In addition, it seemed that the families of those who had perished during the ordeal had received a direct apology from Duke Marsfield and enough compensation money for them to live off of. Well, should we head for Wisdom now? Yes, lets leave the clean-up to the Duke for now. I would like to pick up some ingredients halfway there. The Magical City. Ellis, thank you nya. And so with a mix of emotions and sentiments, five girls began the second half of their trip to the Magical City Wisdom. 1. For anyone who doesnt remember, the Transparent Assassin was an invisible monster that they killed back when the Jewelry Box first attacked Wight Labyrinth. CH 69 Father. Mother. When I was being taken care of by my uncle, when I was training at the workshop, there was nothing I wanted more than to see my parents, but now they are little more than memories to me. Would that be enough to say that I have grown mentally independent? I do not know. But if the opportunity to meet them does pop up, I think that I should probably try and talk to them. However, if the choice of whether or not to abandon my current life to live with Mother and Father or whether to keep the life I currently have ever comes up, I would never choose the first. Is it okay to meet them then? Although it was a bit chaotic, this was line of thought running through Claires mind. The road from the Citadel City Marsfield to the Magical City Wisdom was well maintained, and apart from accommodations, there were even entertainment stores where people could have a holiday at. This was because the Wisdom C Marsfield C Skycastle route was frequently traveled by the aristocracy and even royalty. The Marsfield C Warren C Wheat Grace route was similarly shaped, but it was known as a commoner route. The party tried entering one of these holiday stores that they thought looked interesting as they passed by. What was sold were sweet yet salty seasoned dumplings. Ellis-Eiji was able to understand. These were Mitarashi dango seasoned with soy sauce and sugar.1 However, this was a brand new taste to the other four. Frau was impressed saying, So you can use bean sauce for something like this as well. Id like to try eating some of these dumplings with just the bean sauce. What about caramel? Sufficiently delicious as is nya. The other three were showcasing each of their respective tastes as a person with a strong sense of taste, a sweet tooth, and a straight shooter.2 The shopkeeper had been listening in to their conversation and interjected himself into the group to give each of them his own recommendation. Reeve received a dumpling set just the bean sauce. Claires dumplings were covered in chilled syrup. Katie received a second portion of what she already had. Ellis and Frau decided to have one bite of each. Mmm, this saltiness is delicious. This syrup is so sweet and tasty. This first one is the best nya. Frau made a particularly pleasant reaction to the syrup on Claires portion of dumplings and immediately left to ask the shopkeeper about the materials. Ellis-Eiji was only left with the thought, Its maple syrup isnt it? though. Please stop it! Suddenly a scream echoed from outside the store. Frau noticed the troubled frown on the clerks face as she quickly rushed out of the store to see a large bull dyed completely black. It was about twice the size of a Magical Horse, and after a second of watching it move, she realized that its black finish was due to it being made completely out of metal. The other four girls soon joined her outside the shop. The rampaging bull was charging this way and that, causing travelers to scatter around. Soon the bull made contact with the store on the opposite side of the road, splintering wood and flinging debris. I beg you, someone please stop it! The clerks had already escaped. Was it the owner who was shouting? Wow! That moving cow is made of metal! Claire was getting worked up from the scene laid out before them, but the tension in her voice was slightly different than the people fleeing in terror. Hurriedly holding Claires mouth to prevent her from saying anything else, Ellis turned to Frau. Frau, why not beat the cow with another cow? Got it, Ellis. It seems like this rampaging bull was made of metal, so it would be better to smash it than to cut it. And now, Fraus crimson Minotaur maul had Flying Phoenixand Exorcism attached to it. Frau removed her maul from her bag and slowly walked towards the rampaging bull. Hey, its dangerous over there lady! Dont be unreasonable! That things a Gorgon Golem! Worried voices called out to her in an attempt to get her to run away, but Frau ignored them all and stood tall before the bull. The bull soon noticed Frau as well and turned on her. And then, it charged. *GONG* When Frau countered the bulls reckless charge with a strike from her maul, a sound similar to a bell being rung cried out loud enough to almost split a persons eardrums. After being stopped dead in its tracks, the now calm bull soon collapsed to the ground with a loud creak of metal scraping against metal. A large dent had appeared where the bulls face had once been, and the cow never moved again. The surroundings were dead silent for a moment. And then the cheering came. Awesome! That girl, she just took down that Gorgon Golem with one shot! What is with her strength? Were saved! And then an old man ran up from the ground while apologizing to his surroundings. After bowing low to the shop owner whose store had been destroyed, the old man came up to Frau. Thank you, you have saved me. I never thought it would rampage like that and run away. The old man was a magician who belonged to the Wisdom Magicians Guild. When asked, he politely answered all of Elliss questions. That black bull was something called a Gorgon Golem. It was a cow-shaped metal golem developed by workers from the Wisdom Magicians Guild. They analyzed the mechanisms behind the Magical Horses and imparted that research into building this cow doll made of metal. When completed, they were cable of following orders to: leisurely walk around, leisurely turning right, leisurely turning left, and leisurely coming to a stop. So why did this Gorgon Golem suddenly go on a rampage? Well, the Gorgon Golem is basically a combination of a Magical Horse and a command operated golem, so you could call it a Command Gorgon Golem. This magician tried to add some speed to this, turning it into a Command Speed Gorgon Golem. From the Magical City up until this point, this golem which could only do things at a leisurely pace up until now had been running with a speed equivalent to an ordinary horse. Its just, there seems to have been a bug specifying the golems destination. When the golem was ordered to return to the city, it threw the old man off its back and became a runaway. So riderless and operating off a magical source like an ordinary golem, this bull ran amok with no clear destination in mind. Consequently, the old man hypothesized that Fraus blow may not have completely destroyed the golem, and he thought that it was possible that the bull had just completed its function and thought it arrived when its head met the business end of Fraus maul. This was mostly only a guess on his part though. The magician went on to give a bunch more technical information, but all Ellis really understood from him was, The command golem went out of control, so I couldnt stop it. Claire continued to listen on to the magicians explanations, eyes glittering with fascination and excitement. Ellis remained standing next to Claire, eyes slightly hollow watching Claire act so out of character for her. Frau had gone with one of the shop clerks who had offered her some of their syrup as thanks for putting a stop to the bull. Reeve was back in the original shop eating dumplings as if nothing had happened. Katie had gone to the carriage and brought back Pi-tan to allow him to eat the Gorgon Golem. Pi-tan degraded the Gorgon Golem splendidly. Ellis didnt notice what was going on until she saw Pi-tan nibbling the corner of the bulls behind. When she did, she hurriedly pulled Pi-tan off the golem and returned him to the carriage. Pi-tan gave a loud cry of disappointment of Pi~ Pi~, so she gave him an Exorcism long sword to eat before leaving. Practically sprinting back to the scene, Ellis remonstrated Katie for her actions with a quick kick to the head. Nya! That hurt Ellis nya. This idiot, what would you do if people around here found out about Pi-tans ability!? E-Ellis saw that big cow too, so dont you want to see the tiny Pi-tan eat that huge cow nya? Its no good. Ellis slapped Katie in the back of the head once again to silence her before returning to Claires side. Fortunately, the magician was so preoccupied with Claire who was listening in to everything he had to say with extreme enthusiasm that he had apparently not noticed Katies mischief. My name is Alphonse, and I am doing golem research in Wisdom right now. Since I am also selling golems to the general public, please drop by some time. And Alphonse then tried to take his Gorgon Golem home only to notice that some alteration had been made to it. Ladies? Did you do something else to this? Five girls all shrugged their shoulders. Okay. Ill research this more when I get back. Alphonse then said a command and released the golem. With a poof of smoke, the Gorgon Golem turned into a doll about the size of three beets. After putting it into his bag, Alfonse used a {Fly} spell and flew off into the distance. Wow. Claire watched him go with a sparkle in her eyes. Meanwhile Ellis had a bad feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. Claire, are you going to make a golem? Itd be impossible for me. But Claire was making a twisted smile as she denied Elliss question. It was the smile of a madman. Lets get going! Now that Frau had secured a bottle of the syrup for her role in beating the rampaging golem. It seems that Reeve had also secured her own small portion of bean sauce from the shopkeepers as well. Meanwhile Katie had resurrected from her beating and was eagerly sitting at the coachmans seat. Dinner that day was sauteed chicken that glistened in a strange way underneath the light. Ellis was amazed upon seeing it, but she didnt say anything out loud. This food is beautifully cooked. Frau, did you do something? Please try it and guess. The five girls each bit into their own piece of chicken. Uwa, its so sweet and good! Claire had the largest reaction and continued to praise Fraus cooking with no end. I could eat this until I explode nya! Katie also really took to the chicken and started eating one piece after another. Hmm, theres no sugar, but it still tastes sweet. Three girls were all trying to figure out why the chicken tasted like it did while Frau had her chest puffed out in pride. Ellis continued to remain silent while smiling to herself. Ellis, do you know? This was the time to act like an adult, so she shook her head and told them that she didnt. Actually, I used this! What Frau pulled out was some of the syrup she had received earlier. She had been experimenting with it after they had left and had successfully created something very similar to teriyaki sauce. Three girls watched looked at the sauce in amazement and clapped their hands to praise her while the fourth raised her hand up and shouted out, I want this on fish next nya! And then night rolled around. Frau, werent you afraid today? Ellis whispered into Fraus ear. No, even if its the Demon Lord himself, I dont feel like losing anymore. Frau answered while holding Elliss head close to her chest, lightly laughing to herself. Just remember to know your limits, although, I suppose its only right that a cow woman like you were the one to stop a cow golem. And then Elliss demonic abilities released all at once, and Frau was able to enjoy this evening as well. A sharp gasp and a soft squeak echoed inside the carriage. Three other girls waited in order, blushes covering their cheeks, as their excitement continued to mount. They all wanted Ellis to come quickly. The girls eventually arrived at Magical City Wisdom at a leisurely pace while enjoying the trip. 1. Oh my god I am so hungry right now please kill me. 2. The actual word they use is Хåbaachikoi which is supposed to be the Japanese equivalent of swing batter. I couldnt find out too much more, so I figured they probably just meant that she was someone right down the middle or in this case, someone who likes things not too sweet and not too salty. CH 70 Magical City Wisdom is located around the center of the continent, and like Marsfield, its outer borders are surrounded by high stone walls. But this city differs from Marsfield in its purpose. Instead of serving as a shield for the capitol, the city was a place for so-called magic guidance and fostering magicians. Experiments were carried out, and the residents were mostly magic-related persons or visiting merchants. Also, because there were an abundant number of labyrinths in the area, there were many adventurers stationed there as well. As a matter of fact, most of the magic tools sold in Marsfield and Warren are said to have come from Wisdom labyrinths. Lets complete our errands and head back quickly. Ellis wanted to get home in order to oversee the construction of Cross Town, so she tried to get everyone to scramble. Lets stop by the hotel first. Well, we should only need a night. Lets head over to the university and hand over the guild masters letter as soon as possible. I want to eat rice nya. Ellis decided to take things slow and let everyone stretch their legs a bit, so they started out by looking for an inn. It did not take them long. Now, lets find out where the university is. Ellis headed down to the inns front desk in order to ask about the magic university. Because the day was still young, it would be possible to get all of their errands finished that day, so the five girls headed out immediately. The clothes they were wearing consisted of dress boots and pants along with a matching brown jacket. This was the uniform worn by many of the students roaming around the city. Oh girls, you have already arrived! A voice called out to them from behind. It was Alphonse. Youre going out dressed like that? Yes, at least until our business at the college is finished. Well alright. Then how about I guide you around a bit; I was on my way there to submit an accident report anyway. He was an extremely cheerful old man. He spent the entire time heading over to the university talking about his golem. Claire had started walking beside him, eyes sparkling once more. The two of them continued to say some outrageous and slightly creepy things as if it were a normal conversation. It seems that her fetishism for work outweighed her phobia for men. Frau then broke in on the conversation from behind Alphonses shoulder. This is quite the lively city, isnt it? The old man answered with a sneer and spoke with a tone as if he were talking about a bunch of idiots. These people dancing around are the sons and daughters of the rich. Theyre students in name only. Serious students would be studying and not playing around in town. Thats why there is a cafeteria, simple clothing store, and a grocery store located on campus. While Alphonse was ranting about the work ethic of those students they passed by, they reached the front gate of the university with ease. Weeellllll, were here girls. Greeting the gatekeeper with one hand, Alphonse passed through the gate without any problem. Ellis, meanwhile, had to pass on the letter from the Warren Council to the gatekeeper and ask for a meeting with the principal. Please wait just one moment. One of the gatekeepers ran off somewhere, but he was back after only a moment had passed. I will guide you. This gatekeeper spoke to the girls in an overly respectable tone, and he carefully guided them to the principals office. Even here, the Warren Councils name held meaning. Pardon me, the gatekeeper said while knocking on the principals door to announce the arrival of visitors. Please come in. The voice that came from inside the room was quiet and sounded very weary. Excuse us. Elliss group entered the room in a single file line. Inside, sitting behind a desk, was a template magician. His skin was like paper wrapped around a skeletonCan old man who looked like he was going to die any second now. We are messengers sent over from the Warren Council. We are here to deliver a report on an attack from demons on Warren today. I see, but first.. The principal motioned to some chairs positioned in front of his desk, so Elliss group took a seat sitting side by side each other. Excuse me, is this also good? Claire handed over a letter from Lord Marsfield addressed to the principal. Hmm, this is Marsfields familial crest.: The principal scanned the outside of the envelope before opening it and easily identified Lord Marsfields crest with his encyclopedic memory. Im sorry that the order is reversed, but Im afraid a letter from Lord Marsfield takes priority, the principal apologized while opening up the letter. Although the principal had an awkward look on his face as he was forced to open this letter first, his eyes quickly opened wide in surprise as he looked back and forth between Claire and the letter alternatively. After taking a minute to allow reality to sink in, he leaned back against the chair, and a large smile spread across his leathery face. I see, so youre the daughter of Ares and Izerina. The name of Claires parents was revealed. Thats right, lets have Ares and Izerina talk about Warren. The principal motioned towards an aide he had on standby to go call for the two. Claire was taken aback at the sudden mention of her parents names while the other four had trouble understanding the current situation. It wasnt long before the sound of hurried footsteps and erratic breathing was heard in the corridor outside the room. And then the door burst open. Claire! Oh, Claire! It was Claires parents, Ares and Izerina. Father, Mother! Everything that Claire had been thinking about from the moment she heard they were heading towards Wisdom was blown away in an instant. Without thinking, without pause, she flew out of her chair and wrapped her arms around their wastes. Claire began to cry, loudly, and so her two parents wrapped their arms around her in turn. It was a long awaited family reunion. When Claires cries started to cease, the principal started to explain the situation to the other four girls. It was three years ago that Ares and Izerina were summoned by the kingdom as masters of magic. The Magicians Guild Master had publicly ordered the summoning. The purpose of this gathering was to develop kingdom-wide defense magic. From records discovered about the previous Demon/God war, the royal family was able to predict a level of the danger and fell into semi-hysteria. They forced Ares, Izerina, and numerous other professional magicians to Wisdom to start researching counter methods. For each magician, a veiled threat against their families was delivered to assure compliance. However, a few months ago the Hero suddenly appeared before the king. The royal family had obtained a monster big enough to completely alter their previous policies, and the research expenses that were being poured into Wisdom were redirected to the Brave Party. Meanwhile, the neverending research of Wisdom had started producing some results. Representative examples of these were the [Magic Boundary] magic produced mainly by Ares and the [Magic Grafting] developed with Izerina at its center. The former is a wide range barrier spell capable of covering the royal castle to prevent the invasion of any demons. It would also serve as a warning bell in case someone tried to force their way through. The latter was a technique that allowed a person to produce magic tools that could previously only be found in labyrinthsCwithin a certain level of course. If it was a low level spell though, it would be possible to synthesize them in the future. With these achievements, plus the rise in military strength, the kingdom was considering releasing the captive magicians. Or at the very least, loosening their reins. This was the contents of the letter sent by Lord Marsfield to the principal. Soon, the news of their release shall reach the ears of our magicians. The old principal sat back in his oversized chair with a small smile spread across his lips, but Ares made a face like he had suddenly remembered something. By the way, wheres Dulles at? Claire went rigid, and Ellis reacted almost completely on instinct. Frau, explain! Ellis called on Frau, the person who knew the most about it of anyone here. Meanwhile, Claire had started spasming. Claire, whats wrong!? Claire, whats wrong!? Although Ares and Izerinas continued to call out Claires name, she was unable to hear their words, and her body would not stop trembling. Im sorry.Im sorryIm sorry.Im sorry..Im sorryIm sorry..Im sorry. Claire kept messily repeating the same words, her face pale from a lack of blood. Ellis was at her side in a second, standing between Claire and her parents, hugging her tightly. Its alright. Everythings alright Claire! And then Ellis turned her head to the side and barked out her orders once again, louder than before. Frau, explain things already! Claire cant! Seeing no other way, Ellis used Sleep on Claire before she gave herself a heart attack. Like a doll whose strings had been cut, Claire collapsed into Elliss hands. Meanwhile Frau had finally gotten up out of her seat and started to explain things to the bewildered parents. Dulles was Aress younger brotherCthe source of Claires trauma and fear of men. Frau told them everything. Dulles had hit Claire, and then, he tried to do more. In self defense, Claire had used {Explosion} and became covered in the blood of her dead uncle. The Adventurers Guild protected Claire, and then, she was taken in by the Workshop Guild. Now, she was living with Ellis having established a successful business in Warren. That bastard! Ares began trembling with anger, and his face boiled redCa stark contrast to Claires earlier stateCbut Ellis grabbed his arm and tried to calm him down. Its done and over with, so calm down! Its best if we just dont return to the issue again. Claire has moved on and is happy now. Ellis was greatly appreciative of Reeves assist. Something like that was going on for three years Izerina looked like she was about to cry as she took both Claire and Ellis into a deep embrace. Please forget about Claires past. Later, Ill tell you about all the fun things weve done since she moved in with us. Frau continued the efforts to calm Ares down. Its almost time nya. Ellis, Claire is about to wake up nya. Noticing what Katie was saying was true, Ellis urged Ares and Izerina to quickly take a seat as she helped the slowly waking Claire to her feet. Its alright, we explained everything. You dont have to worry about anything anymore, Claire. Claire still had tears silently running down her cheeks, so Ellis wiped them away with her finger before guiding Claires hand over to an empty chair. Well then, we will explain everything that has happened in Warren then. CH 71 Ellis explained everything that had occurred in Warren to the principal and Ares. The demons had sent out a raid party and attacked. Pawn demons with abilities similar to an ordinary humans. The Zangel class normal demons with a mastery over attack magic. The Zabinas class high demons bearing a huge body and an equally large magic resistance. And those executive class demons, with a number of resistances, they were great demons with a mastery of advanced magic and continuous assault. Thousands of them had appeared as if rising from the shadows. Even if the soldiers were able to manage and defeat one of the high demons, nobody stood a chance against great demons with the exception of Elliss group. And with several of those monstrosities mixed into the enemys forces, Warren was facing a crisis. Then, the city was bathed in enormous magic. Firstly, the sky was dyed red with the countless {Flare Bullets} descending from the sky as if it were rain. It incinerated all the pawn demons while leaving the normal and high demons with massive burns. Then was a magical ring that passed over Warren, fading through people and buildings alike. When it had passed through Ellis, she felt the magic power, but there was no change in her. However, when the ring made contact with any normal or high demons, they let out a cry of anguish before turning to dust. Continuing on from the sky, a bright, white light descended upon the town. These lights pierced every remaining great demon, killing them instantly. There was one demon left floating high above, but space had distorted around him creating a translucent rectangular box. Grotesque demon dogs materialized out of thin air inside the box with him and proceeded to tear him apart while devouring his flesh, blood, bones, and all. After every last spot of blood had been lapped up, the demon dogs disappeared as suddenly as they had come, and the distorted space returned to its original state. The three scientists listened to every small detail, interrupting only to ask a question or two. The fireball rain was most likely a spell that allowed the use of multiple {Flare Bullets}, but I dont know any spell capable of making so many, Ares muttered. White light, that might be the {Call Comet} I read about in literature describing the last Demon/God war, Izerina mused to herself. The spatial distortions were probably a stronger version of barrier magic; those monster dogs were most likely just an advanced summoning magic, were the principals hypotheses. Unfortunately, nobody had any idea what the spell that had rendered so many demons into ash could possibly be. It seems it will be necessary to investigate the literature covering the last Demon/God war once again. The principal nodded his head once at Aress suggestion before turning his attention back on Elliss group. By the honor of our title as the Magical City, I swear to you we will find out what occurred in Warren. At that time, we will send out an immediate letter. For now however, I am afraid that this is all I can do for today. Claire, Ellis, and everyone else, please come visit our house. Izerina spoke slowly and calmly as if she were afraid the girls would run away like frightened rabbits if she were not careful. Claire turned her gaze towards Ellis looking uneasy. But Ellis just gave her a wink and grabbed hold of her hand. Frau promised Claires parents that she would tell them all kinds of fun stories, so lets spare them some of our time here. Ares and Izerinas house was a condominium complex built on the premises of the college. It was more than big enough for two people, but with five visitors things became a little cramped. The clutter and disorder of various materials and magical research papers strewn across the floor did not help matters. I am sorry things are a little messy, Izerina blushed. Ares was completely unconcerned about the mess however and immediately made the girls take a seat. Now, you were going to tell us a fun story? From then on the girls all joined together to talk about the happy days in Warren while sharing a cup of tea that Izerina had poured for them. Ares was especially taken with the time that Claire had blown up Lakes face while he was wearing the Resistance armor. Meanwhile Izerina wanted every detail she could get about the Lily Garden which her daughter had helped make. And both of them were surprised to find out that the tea they had been drinking was made by Reeves family. Then, while everyone else was laughing over something Katie had done, Izerina asked Claire a question as gently as she could. Do you hate using magic now? If its for my friends, then I will gladly cast magic! Claires instant reply made gave Ares and Izerina both a happy smile. Then the discussion of what kinds of magic she could use was brought up. {Explosion}, {Bind}, {Light}, {Lightning Shower}, {Bind Shower}, {Fire Arrow}, and {Earth Javelin}. After saying this much, Claire hesitated for a second and looked over at Ellis. She wanted to tell her parents so much, but there were certain spells they may have been better off not knowing about. Ellis may have wanted them to keep their trump cards absolutely secret, but there was also the fact that {Homing Missiles} greatly resembled the spell the Demon Lord used to consider. What if you showed your parents the scrolls you got while exploring labyrinths? Claire immediately brought out the three scrolls held within her pouch, overjoyed that Ellis had understood her feelings. We found these while traveling through the Demon Labyrinth. Her parents were amazed before they even saw what she had brought out. The Demon Labyrinth? Isnt that the most dangerous dungeon around Warren? Claire simply nodded her head. The five of us beat it. The contents of the scrolls were the spells: {Distraction Needle}, {Runaway Dungeon}, and {Homing Missile}. And I believe that this last one, {Homing Missile}, might have been the first spell that had been used during the incident in Warren. Claire explained everything to her parents in detail, but it was not obvious whether or not they heard her with their faces buried so deeply in the three scrolls their daughter had just shown them. They were silent and motionless for awhile, but once they were finished, the both of them sank deeply into the sofa. This is some outrageous magic. In these twos professional opinions, it was surprisingly {Runaway Dungeon} that had the most useful application. After all, if they were able to analyze its structure, it is possible that the spell could be applied to things other than dungeons. It was widely known that the Hero had an ability that could produce a similar effect. There have been many studies done on this, Izerinas eyes had sharpened, giving her the face of a researcher. But then Izerinas eyes softened, and she once again took on the face of a loving mother. Claires knowledge in magic is biased. You need to learn elementary and intermediate magic evenly. She was a master at beginner magic, but things started to fall apart with the more advanced and less straight-forward spells. Ares closed his eyes and started thinking at this. Claire, how about staying here and studying magic with us? No. Claires response was short and immediate. But Ares and Izerina shared a look as if they were expecting that very answer before turning their gazes back on the five. After us magicians are released, Izerina and I will remain here for a little while longer to continue researching the previous Demon/God war. But, I need to judge whether or not my Claire has become an adult. Claire nodded her head with confidence, four girls sitting next to her nodding right beside her. If the outcome is good, then we will definitely return someday to enjoy the bath our daughter has built. Ares had a serious look upon his face, but then Izerina cut in. Ares and Izerina brought the girls to a nice restaurant located on the school campus. The two of them were both well known for their experiments and the results they pulled, so it was very easy for them to get a private room where everyone could chat in peace. And then the girls split off with a farewell and returned to their lodgings. Arriving at the inn, Claire did the usual and withdrew some portable showers from her Pouch of Gluttony. The five girls enjoyed their shower while one animal relaxed in hot bath. And then tonight as well was a night for fun. This times suite consisted of a single and two twin bedrooms. Ellis got the single while Katie and Claire shared one double and the other double was shared by Frau and Reeve. Ellis, thanks for today. For what Claire? For Father and Mother. I didnt do anything. Thats not true. You pushed my back when I needed it. Well then Ill push here as well. It tickles! Then Ill return the favor! Today there were three people patiently waiting their turns. Some time had passed since Claire had gone into Elliss room, but none of them were worried. Everything is OK. If Ellis visits one of us, she will visit all of us, and if she doesnt visit one of us, she will not visit any of us This was repeated on the lips of each of them as if it were a magic spell. Katie, thank you for waiting. Claire called out to Katie as she left the room. Nyaa! The second Claire opened the door, Katie rushed on into Elliss room. Meanwhile Claire felt refreshed and made for her own room with a pleasant exhaustion taking hold of her. And then she thought to herself. Mother, Father, I, I am very happy now. Good night. Katie ended up fainting inside Elliss room, so she decided to invade Reeve and Fraus room instead. After making the two of them watch as the other was subjected physical or emotional violence respectively, Ellis slept inside Claires room since Katie was occupying hers. Claire participated in a second round with Ellis as an unknowing sleeping partner. Claires dreams were filled with moaning and pleasure. And then the morning in the Magical City came. The rising sun spilled out across Claires bed. Good morning Ellis. Good morning Claire. I actually forgot, I have a request for Ellis. What is it? I want to go visit the golem studio. Ellis groaned. There was no way Reeve, Frau, or Katie would find any enjoyment in accompanying them to such a place. I guess it cant be helped. The other three will run free, and the two of us can go take a look. Thank you! Ellis. As the early morning sun rose, the five girls each got changed, and after sharing a breakfast together at a nearby cafe, they split up into two groups. Two of them left for the golem studio while the other three enjoyed themselves with a little sightseeing. CH 72 It didnt take long to find Alphonses shop. It was in a prime location at the heart of the city. It was also very big. Good morning. When Ellis and Claire peeked into the store, there were numerous four-legged animal dolls and statues of various designs and sizes lined around the entrance. Welcome. A young man looking to be the shops clerk came out from the back of the store. Is Alphonse around? If you are looking for the master, then Im afraid he left to attend the morning guild assembly. I believe he should return soon. Master? Alphonse, is he a master of something? Claire asked the question both she and Ellis had been thinking, but the clerk only stared at them both wondering why they were asking something so obvious. When you girls say Alphonse, youre talking about the Magicians Guild guild master right? Ellis and Claire shared a look. That was it huh. Two and two were beginning to equal four. Why was he able to smooth things over so easily after his out of control Gorgon Golem went berserk and destroyed a store? Why was he able to enter the university so easily with only a wave of his hand? And then the two had remembered something. Pi-tan had used his ability right next to a very important person. Shall we head home? Thats right, homewards. There is no question they would be interrogated in this type of situation. Their only hope was to escape. Well then sorry to bother you. The two girls turned around and almost ran out of the store. But that just led to a meeting. In front of the store, Alphonse was there with his arms opened wide and a smile spread across his face. So, which one of you two is Claire? Claire reluctantly raised her hand. Thats right, youre daughter of Ares and Izerina. Alphonse was talking to them both with a smile that never wavered or changed. Despite herself, Claires eyes were sparkling at the invitation. Elliss looked tired. So, he knows. And then it came. What did you two do to my golem? Although Ellis did take a little offense for being blamed of something that Katie had done, she knew there was no use in lying to the guild master of the Magicians Guild, so she told the truth. A metal eater had appeared in one of Warrens labyrinths. Because it was getting in the way, the took it outside. In addition to training, it was also taught to follow commands and became an cute yet obedient pet. Theres no way I can just believe that. Alphonse chose to go with the natural response. Then Ill bring him here to you. In the meantime, please tell Claire everything she wants to know about golems. Ellis took steps to quickly leave this place, but she made sure to look disappointed and sound like it just couldnt be helped. Ellis, are you sure!? Ah, its useless. Shes too far gone. Claire already has a look in her eyes on the verge of fetishism. Yeah, hes probably wrapped up in Katies arms right now, so I will go bring him. With those words, Ellis was released from having to hear a bunch of magical and mechanical talk that would just be painful for an amateur like her to hear. Ellis was walking around the city on her own for the first time in awhile. Looking up at the people walking past her, she saw no pretty women. For the most part, every there were young delinquent-looking people who were having fun or older people with thinned out hair. Now that I think about it, all the noble girls and students should be at the university right now. Ellis solemnly shook her head out of boredom. Theres was nothing else to do other than to quietly look for Reeve. Then a noise echoed out from the distance. The signs of activity piqued Elliss interest, so she decided to go take a peek. There, the Hero Gray along with Gise stood on one side facing Dams, Peach, and Cliff. The Brave Party was split in two and were fighting. Ellis was aware that things generally worked out for her when it came to the Hero and the Demon Lord, and she was more than happy to reap the benefits. Still, having a fight in the middle of traffic, it is a very undignified way to act. This was the thought running through Elliss mind as she eavesdropped on them. So, once I return to Skycastle, I can get more funds from the king. Until then, Damss group should do some caretaking quests here. Thats it, so, you guys should just listen to Gray! Were practically penniless in this dull city! Thats right. At least leave us some extra ril. Gray, arent you just doing like you did in Wheat Grace and acting on your own for awhile? No, to be honest, its just that the kings impression of you three could not be lower. Indeed, it was as Gray said, and the three members of Damss group had no choice than to remain silent. After acquiring the jet-black Resistance plate armor, Hero Gray has been putting pressure on the three idiot party members. He has not asked Peach to visit him, so there are no more weaknesses of his for Dams or the others to take hold of. Gray and Gise have been setting up Dams and the others and had been hanging them out to dry when they got in trouble to make them quit the party themselves. This was the plan Gray had come up with when he read the 5 billion ril penalty clause. Of course, Ellis was still unaware of the details behind the idiots status. A little more, I want the Hero to hang those three idiots. It might be time for him to break away from Marilyn, but I think Id like to keep the Hero on a leash as he is now. Find a new way to draw money out of the Hero through the three idiots. Or, create a situation where the Hero has no choice other than to drive those three away. Either way, Ellis was happy to have some dark homework for her. She shouldnt get bored again for awhile. After awhile Ellis found Katie who was walking the streets alone. Pi-tan was inside her arms. Katie, where are Reeve and Frau? Oh Ellis, I was looking for you nya. Reeve said she was bored and went back to the inn nya. Frau didnt want to go back until she bought enough ingredients from the store nya. Well then should we head to the golem studio? Would that be fun nya? Maybe? Ellis and Katie started walking together at a leisurely place for the time being, but then Ellis started thinking that this was probably the first time the two of them had walked around alone like this. Is there anywhere that Katie wants to go? I have fun anywhere nya. Even at a golem studio? I dont know how it works or how it moves, but its fun to watch Pi-tan eat it nya. A cat girl who enjoys life more than anyone. Oh, a beastman, how unusual. Oh, some filthy men, how unusual nya. You have stupid faces at least. A cat girl who is not afraid to start a fight. This beast has quite the mouth on her. What, are you the pet of that blonde-haired girl over there? Crap, hes half right. Yeah, Im a pet nya. Katie didnt deny the claim and instead answered with some pride. Thats right, then how about we make you a little cuter. One of the men grabbed Katies arms and spoke as if the matter had already been decided. Id like to get a little cuter nya. Katie was dragged away just like that. The second man followed after them both with a disgusting smile spread across his face. Little girl, she agreed to this. Shell be back soon so wait over there. If that cat girl starts calling for help, thats perfectly natural and it cant be helped. Leaving those lines behind, three people disappeared into an alley. It cant be helped. Ellis shrugged her shoulders and waited for Katie while rolling on the balls of her feet at the main street. The man was right, and Katie did in fact return rather quickly. You didnt kill them right? They are not dead nya. They were definitely twitching nya. Then Katie held up the two mens wallets in her hands, and Ellis released a long sigh. You didnt steal from them right? The two of them voluntarily gave these to me nya. A cat girl who is living her life to the fullest. Well we had our fun. Lets hurry to the golem studio before something else happens. Inside the workshop, Claire had been receiving instructions from Alphonse about the mechanisms behind golems, looked over some designs based off how golems are constructed, and reviewed several different methods to creating golems. The key is what the material the doll is made out ofCthe doll being the construct that is eventually turned into a golem. The most important thing is to make sure the dolls joints are adequate. Magical Horses are made out of straw, so they dont have any joints to speak of, but Gorgon Golems are traditionally made out of a hard, heavy metal which can make joint construction and function difficult. Were here! It was at this point in the lesson that Ellis and Katie walked through the front of the workshop. Alphonse, this child here is the metal eater Pi-tan, Ellis said, gesturing to the creature sleeping in her arms. Hoh, this is my first time seeing one. So, does it really eat metal? We can give it a try if you dont mind losing another Gorgon Golem. Interest piqued, Alphonse left for a moment to grab one of his golems from the back of the studio. After repeating the command word, the miniature cow doll slowly grew to become a large black bull. Ellis raised Pi-tan up and recited a command word of her own. Go. Pi-tans tongue shot out of his mouth and touched the golem. The Gorgon Golem made a sound like a pumpkin dropping immediately after. Its four legs snapped in half, and the brittle lump of metal collapsed underneath its own weight. When Ellis placed Pi-tan on top of its bull-shaped head, Pi-tan started nibbling off the horns making a sound similar to someone eating some chips. So bizarre. Alphonse was astonished. Pi-tan was the natural enemy against any metal magical creature. No matter how big a golem it was, if it was made of metal, it would be destroyed after a single lick. Madame, can you give me this creature? I think if I did that, this entire workshop would be full of degraded materials and your studio would go out of business. *Sha*1 All of the sudden, Pi-tan started acting unusual and threatened Alphonse with a jab from his tongue. It flew right past Alphonses cheek and was quite impressive coming from a monster with zero attack power. He clearly knew exactly what Alphonse was saying and had promptly given his opinion on the matter before starting to crisply eat once again. Katie was standing next to him with a satisfied look on her face. By the way, can Claire make a golem? Ellis asked the question she knew she would have to eventually ask with a half-tired look on her face, and as expected, Claires eyes were shining. I can probably do some amazing things! Ellis had already prepared herself beforehand. Maintenance on Cross Town will be delayed. Lets quickly make a golem. Well, its about time for us to all meet up. Lets all head back to the inn. Allowing Pi-tan to take the head of the broken down bull back with him as a snackCEllis, Claire, and Katie all waved farewell to Alphonse and left the studio behind. 1. A sound effect that represents something slicing through the wind. CH 73 You over there, is there a white-haired cat girl with you? Shortly after all the preparations to return home had been completed, three men approached Elliss group right before they could leave. They claimed to be the city of Wisdoms vigilante corps. Ellis was content to leave things to Reeve, but Katie immediately popped her head out from inside the carriage. Im a white-haired cat girl nya. Oh, so you are. Well then, there have been claims of assault and blackmail lodged against you. Come with us. The vigilantes each drew their swords and raised them in warning. Things had quickly become troublesome. Perhaps, those brats from before were friends of this vigilante corps? Well, the way they were looking at Katie was certainly the same. What happened? Ellis tried to intervene since she was the only witness as the little girl who stood there and said nothing, but the men completely dismissed her. Just hurry up you stupid animal! Being called out, it was not Katie but rather Claire who jumped out from the carriage and faced the men. Who are you guys!? If Katie is a stupid animal, then youre all a bunch of damn old men! Ah, things were spiraling into troublesomeness. Youre a cheeky little girl. Fine, well drag this bitch with us too. Humans are the type of animal that cant help but to get carried away. From the very beginning Reeve held no interest in the men when they showed up. Frau had been smiling politely this entire time, and Katie was acting like her usual self. Claire was the only one who had gotten worked up over this. All that built up energy was in stark contrast to Ellis who was already far too tired of this. Ah, excuse me. I am Ellis, an associate member of the Warren Council. That black haired girl is acquainted with the Wisdom Magicians Guild guild master and the daughter of Ares and Izerina. The three men took a step back at the sudden pronouncement of authority, but they werent about to trust such a bold claim so easily. So there is a bald-faced liar among you too! Youre all coming with us! Two of the men drew close to Claire and Katie, but two others moved immediately afterwards. Frau grabbed the arm of the one trying to go after Katie and tightened her grip like a vice. For the one who went for Claire, Reeve pressed one of her throwing daggers up against his throat until blood started to drip. Ellis took care of the last one, stabbing his sword hand to disarm him. Youre terrible businessmen! Alphonse, Ares, Izerina, ask any of them and they could verify out story! But the man was too busy running away while clutching his bloody hand to hear anything Ellis had said. Mistress, should we have them sleep for now, or forever? Hohoho, your arm is making quite the interesting noise, I wonder what it would sound like if I squeezed your head instead? Two girls who enjoy saying scary things, but it was enough to leave the captured two men flustered and compliant. Alphonse soon arrived to preside over the scene as the guild master of the Magicians Guild. Everyone, its been too long. After dragging forward the two sleeping, yet still very much alive, self-proclaimed vigilantes, Ellis explained why they had tried to arrest them and a brief overview of how that went for them. So you girls extorted money from students? If by extortion you mean kindly requesting their wallets as compensation for losing a duel involving two men forcing a lone woman into a back alley, then yes, we extorted them. Elliss response was calm and measured. Alphonses response was a boisterous laugh capable of shaking rooftops. Oh, is that so? Then Im sure the lesson they learned from you was worth every ril they spent on tuition! After clearing the crowd that had gathered around, Alphonse beckoned for Ellis to follow him to the side where no prying ears could listen in. Ellis followed him with a shrug, but she made sure to keep her knife at her side just in case. Actually, I was hoping you girls might act as a little moxibustion for some of the idiots infecting the university. What do you mean? Like I told you girls yesterday, the only people who hang out in the city this time of day are delinquent idiots and the spoiled children of nobles who bought their way here. Ellis didnt remember him using quite those strong of words, but she did not interrupt Alphonse as he went on to add about the nobles strong pride in strange places. So Id like it if you could just break off their long noses1 a bit. We might kill them. There is a magical exercise barrier around the city at all times, so go wildCitll heal any and all nicks or bruises those spoiled brats receive. What about something that would cause instant death? Please refrain from anything that would instantly kill them. Well alright, give me a moment. Ellis returned to her four waiting party members to explain the request. And thats how it is. A demon-like smile simultaneously spread across the fours faces. We can avoid killing them. Breaking their arms and legs are fine right? As long as theyre still attached, were safe nya. I can try out the new spell mother taught me. Ellis returned to Alphonse without anyone objecting and nodded her head. Thank you. I really cant wait to see those brats faces go red with shame. Meet me at my studio at one oclock. Looking at least fifteen years younger, Alphonse left the inn with a skip in his step. One more time Ellis arrived at the golem studio. All of the girls changed into their normal equipment inside the carriage however Ellis decided to put aside her Mad God stiletto for this fight in favor of her Flying Phoenixand Exorcism needle dagger instead. It wouldnt cause anyone instant death, but it sure was pointy. And when the store clerk from earlier came out and guided the girls to the central square, there were a countless number of people already there. At the center of the city square was a special ring drawn out in white chalk. Angry shouts and jeers were lodged at themCmost of them geared towards Ellis for some reason. Alphonse seems to have gone to an awful lot of trouble to thoroughly gather all the idiots together. Well then students of our prestigious university, I have here before you some people who have used violence against some of your senpais. A round of anger rose up from the crowd. Ellis decided it was about time she had a little fun with this too. Ill kick the ass of any shitty nobles son incapable of succeeding their parents or illegitimate girl who cant even be used for a political marriage that you send at me! And then an eight-year-old girl gave a middle finger to everyone who was watching. The venue was quickly becoming chaotic as hatred flared and innumerable claims of Let me do it! or Ill kill her! rose up among all the still echoing boos. The fights will be all one-on-one bouts. Does that sound fine? Alphonse made sure to stress this point. Naturally. Ellis didnt really mind either way. Then lets bring out our first participants to the circle. Ill go first nya. Katie volunteered to be the advance guard. Make them bleed as much as possible. And Reeve gave her some horrible encouragement. One of the men who had initially dragged Katie into an alley walked out to face her, but this time he was wearing the traditional robes of a magician. You caught me by surprise last time, but this time Ill show you the true horror of my all-powerful magic. Ill enjoy your screams as your body roasts in my flames! MATCH, START! With Alphonses words, Katie swept to the side and struck her fist into the back of the mans head, knocking him flat on the ground. The man and the crowd itself were completely silent. Even Alphonse was speechless at the speed she had shown. Boring, lets go again nya. Katie left the man with just a bruise on the back of his neck and returned to her original starting place. Try using some of that magic youre so proud of nya. The man was completely unaware that Katie could have taken his head off if she had used her claws instead of just her fist, so where fear should have taken root, hatred and humiliation surged forth instead. In a rough voice, he immediately started reciting an incantation. You, Ill kill you three times over with my first spell. Katie responded by taking a seat on the ground and yawning. Damn it! Die! The man finished his incantation and released a {Flare Bullet} as large as he was. It was clear that the man had little skill in the spell as the flames appeared as a chaotic surge compared to Claires cohesive projectiles. Still, the flames were hot, and they were headed right for Katie which was really all that was required of them. Of course, Katie knocked away the flames with her claws anyway. They had zero effectCalthough unbeknownst to the audience that was due entirely to her Resistance bra top. Was that it nya? Neither the man nor the rest of the crowd knew what to say. Rising up from her spot on the ground, Katie moved forward once again. With a few slashes of her claws, she had sliced off all of the mans clothes. In an instant a naked man was left exposed in front of a large crowd. Now, should I cut it off nya? Seeing Katies all too serious smile, the man kneeled down and declared his defeat. Katie sure is nice, Frau called out full of motivation. If I did too much, nobody else would volunteer nya, Katie replied with a smile. Elliss group: 1 win. Then Ill go next. Out came the heavy tank. As Frau approached the circle, her appearance was gentle and graceful to the last, but what came from her mouth was nothing less than terrifying. Since golems are this citys special product, bring me a strong one to fight! The booing once again started to wind up. Alright, then Ive got something for you. Another, larger, man stepped forward in the ring this time. Feel free to fight with your golem, I wont call you a coward. Heheheh, Ill be able to do all sorts of things when I get my hands on a pretty lady like you. The promise of a different kind of show was quickly making the crowd as excited albeit in a different sense than before. Ill wait until your golem is ready, so please take your time. Frau held out her halberd in both hands. While her words and tone made it sound as if she were calm, the excitement and joy staining her expression proved what she was honestly feeling. Alright girl, but dont cry to me when you regret it. The man activated a golem imitating a Minotaur as tall as two men. Its fists were the size of anvils and its carved muscles bigger than most of the real Minotaurs that had appeared in the labyrinth. Come on, dont you have something bigger? Dont be stupid! The Minotaur golem threw out a punch before Alphonse had even called for the match to start. *CRICK* Ill ask again, cant you bring out something bigger? The fists of the Minotaur golem shattered without being able to put a dent in Fraus armor. With her opponent unable to say anything, Frau sighed. So its over just like that? Frau knocked over what was left of the Minotaur golem with a single slice from her halberd. With it out of the way, Frau dug the blade into the ground and delivered one solid punch to her opponents gut. The man was blown away back into the surrounding crowd with filthy liquid sprinkling from his mouth and lower abdomen. Sorry Im not as gentle as Katie. The crowd was deathly silent once again. Elliss group: 2 wins. Were going to need to give the other party some hope soon, or nobody is going to want to play anymore. Ellis had prepared her equipment and decided it was her time to play. Upon seeing that the opponent this time was a brittle eight-year-old girlCand a rude one at thatCthe waiting men started fighting on who should be allowed to go. In the end, a magnificently handsome, muscular man emerged from the crowd. Im a mage who specializes in reinforcement magic. Your little knife wont be able to pierce my skin. Hmm. Please go easy on me. Hah! If you didnt want to get hurt, you shouldve never come up here in the first place. The signal for the match to start sounded, and the man leisurely began to cast his strengthening magic. Ellis deliberately waited for him to finish. Alright, this is your defeat, the man laughed while pulling out a long sword. Ingrain this pain into your heart! Ellis side-stepped the mans downward swing with room to spare before firstly jabbing her knife into his right palm. The scream of pain the man let out was by far louder than anything that the crowd had produced, but when Ellis withdrew the dagger from his flesh, there was not a speck of blood as the wound immediately healed. Please dont cry. If you didnt want to get hurt, you shouldve never come up here in the first place. Next Elliss knife found its way into the instep of the mans right leg. And then the instep of his left. The left palm was next to make things symmetrical. Left ear, right ear, right arm, right thigh, left thigh, left arm The man continued to scream without any chance to catch his breath, without any hope of escaping. Left shoulder, left cheek, right cheek, right shoulder.. Stop! Please forgive him from anything further. When he had finally returned to his senses, Alphonse came onto the field to try and stop Ellis from going any further. Stop? Uncle Alphonse, Im already finished. Elliss opponent had finally collapsed from the pain, his body giving him the sweet release of unconsciousness at last. Meanwhile, Elliss expression was a shining example of what an angels smile would look like, yet it made the heart of everyone who saw it freeze. This day every delinquent student of the magical university were taught the meaning of the word despair. And things would continue for a second half. Elliss group, 3 wins. 1. To have a long nose in Japan is to mean that you have a lot of pride or are boastful. Im sure most of you knew that from manga or anime. So whenever you see a character breaking off or cutting that long nose, it means to put them in check. CH 74 Well then, I suppose Im next. Reeve made her way up to the circle with a bit of a kick to her step. But this time, no men would step forward. Whats the matter? Arent there any men here who want to fight? But still no one would face her. Then, from the back of the crowd, the dignified voice of a woman called out. Students unwilling to take a chance, are you all underestimating the importance of learning? Standing in the far back of the crowd was a man dressed in a jet black robe and a woman adorned with robes of pure white. It was Ares and Izerina, Claires parents. Students, these are the skills of people who have experienced real combat before! Walking forward while making declarations in a bold voice, the two stopped in front of Elliss group and bowed their heads. The blunder of the students is the blunder of the teacher. Would you fight us in their stead? Reeve shuddered. Claire was stunned. Ellis thought about what was being asked of them this time with a little more thought than when Alphonse had made his request. Finally, she shrugged her shoulders and looked back at the two members who had yet to fight. So, can the two of you fight Claires parents? I dont have any problem with a fight, but what about Claire? Claire had an anxious look on her face. The truth was that her father and her uncle looked very similar. When she thought about casting a spell at him, it made her want to vomit. But she swallowed it down and gritted her teeth. Ill do it! Ill kill him dead! She was a daughter who was able to casually say some terrible things. Then its settled. Alphonse, will you continue to referee? Ares called out to Alphonse who was actually a good friend, and Alphonse responded with a smile. Then the air in the venue grew tense. It was Izerina and Reeve who faced each other inside the circle. Reeve, youre thinking about being serious against me right? Madame Izerina, I hope youre doing the same. Reeve felt an oppression far different from the men who had stepped forward until now. She could tell instinctively that it would be foolish to rely solely on her armor. So, she placed her dominate hand on the hilt of her katana. Izerina meanwhile was calmly observing the situation. Nobody in the square moved, but the air suddenly started to freeze. At the same time, Izerina had already strengthened herself with chantless magic. {Agility Burst} {Paralyze Claw} There was a sudden explosion. The explosion itself was not aimed at anyone, but because of the sudden noise, Reeves attention lapsed for an instant and her built up tension snapped. Izerina used that opening to blast forward at an incredible speed. She wrapped around behind Reeve and tried to cut Reeve with her Paralyzing Claw, but Reeve was able to barely avoid it. The two women became interlocked with both of them trying to cut the other. Izerina continued to recite her ice spell in order to dull Reeves reaction time. All it would take was a single cut from her claw to stop Reeve in her tracks. But Reeve wasnt slowing down. Her blade started to glow in an incandescent light, and then it was as if time had stopped. For the crowd, for the referee, and even for Ellis. Thanks to the effect of Falcon, there were two consecutive cuts layered on top of each other. Izerina was instantly cut down with a cross strike from Reeves katana. Reeve had invalidated the ice fog thanks to the ability of her armor. Izerina crumpled down on the ground on the spot. Youre strong. With this I can understand how you could beat the Demon LabyrinthWow.. But Reeve shook her head and kneeled down to apologize in Izerinas ear. No, I only won thanks to my equipment. Izerina replied with a smile. Having good equipment is also part of your skill. Its all about proficiency Elliss group: 4 wins. Now, lets show these people a bout between a parent and child. Father, I wont lose. The game had been briefly interrupted for Izerinas treatment, but it was quickly gearing up for the climax. Father, I will use all the tools in my possession. Yes, I would expect nothing less. As expected of a parent and child, they both had the same look in their eyes when pulling out their respective magical items. That parent and child combo was currently facing each other. Without taking his eyes off Claire, Ares threw out a doll next to him. After a brief chant, it transformed into a large bull. The Wisdom specialty, my own custom Gorgon Golem. Careful, its been strengthened. Claire laughed as the bull charged at her. With a swipe of her hand, 15 balls of flame spread out in front of her. Ill make some golem yakiniku. {Homing Missiles}! Flame bullets poured onto the charging golem, melting it down into a malformed puddle in the middle of the arena. It was obviously overkill. Ares along with everyone else had predicted a serious exhaustion in magical power after that. You are still just a child. Ares sidestepped the puddle of molten metal and attempted to {Silence} Claire. She was able to resist it, but a frown spread across her face. Father, using {Silence} in a duel between magicians is cheating! Yes, youre right! Please forgive me! Ares continued his assault with a {Thunder Lance}. Claire countered with her own lightning spear creating a crackle of explosive energy in the air between them. A basic damage of 15, the resulting combination had burned hot enough to leave the stone pavement underneath it to char black. Ares thought things had ended there, but when the smoke cleared, Claire was still standing. Her Darkness dress and Magic Guardbrooch were doing their stuff. Father, it worked! Claire released a massive {Explosion} on Ares. Basic damage of 20. But Ares was able to spread out the resulting explosion around him, and the little burning hot air he was unable to completely divert away was completely nullified by the resistances he had prepared beforehand. But Claire had expected that. Not yet! Ares had thought he had made himself some room to breath after the explosion had ended, but he soon felt a massive shock go through his body that he had never felt before. It was probably the worst shock for a magician. {Distraction Needle}! Aress magic resistances were completely stripped away. And so, {Bind}! . Ares was completely bound. He was unable to move even a finger. {Valkyria Lance} Claire cast the new spell her mother had taught her, creating a shimmering spear made of bright white light. Claire slowly approached her father and set the tip of the spear to the top of his forehead. Father, I win. Placing her hand on her fathers chest, she cleansed her spell and allowed him to move from the rigid standing position he was forced to take. Yes, its my defeat. Ares felt his daughters body temperature through her hand on his chest and proclaimed his defeat with a smile on his face. In this way the parent/child game had come to an end. Elliss Group: Complete Victory. Its unfair, even though this was all this old mans idea, I never got to join in. Even though Alphonse walked over laughing at his own joke, no one else was saying anything. The square had gone eerily quiet. Well, it was about that time. Ellis decided to play a small trick. Hey, over there, isnt that the great Dams, Peach, and Cliff from the Brave Party? Everyone started to move after Elliss sudden outburst. Mistress is doing something again. Maybe she is just that sociable? I dont know. Im going too nya. The three idiots had just come over to see what all commotion was about to kill some time, but here they were suddenly being called out by a young blonde-haired girl. Ah, Aah, Aaah, long time no see, little lady. He, he, hello. Elliss cries had completely thrown the three of them off. The way we fought just now, everything was all thanks to the great teachings that the Brave Party had so generously imparted to us. The fact that we were able to make it this far was all thanks to them! Ms. Peach, thank you! Dams, thank nya! The three of them were being thanked for something that they really couldnt remember doing, but being praised by the people who had just one-sidedly won their fight was something that felt really nice. Then, Ellis suddenly turned and faced the now buzzing crowd. Everyone, these three are members of the Brave Party, the heroes who are currently doing everything in their power to oppose the Demon Lords army! When Frau and Katie took the initiative to start clapping, the crowd soon followed suite and a row of cheering quickly came after. Only Claire had sneakily moved away to whisper in her parents ears. Please do not hesitate to ask Dams for teaching! Peach is also wonderful! Cliff is there too nya! The audience moved to surround the three. It didnt take long for the three idiots to try and turn this sudden popularity into some easy money. It was decided that they would take tuition fees and impart their superior skills onto the next generation. This was exactly what Ellis wanted. If the three idiots could start to earn their own money, then maybe they would be more willing to leave the Brave Party. And if not, then the resulting chaos from those three having their own money without Grays help would be fun in its own way. Claire told the truth only to her mother and father. Were lying. Those three are a bunch of useless idiots. Ares and Izerina both decided to play along. Getting tricked like this could prove to be some good medicine for these students. Alphonse did his best to try and regain control of a crowd that was quickly getting out of hand. After receiving quite a bit of money as down payments, Dams and the others were trying to break free and scatter to get a little breathing room. While avoiding the bustle and the noise, five girls and two parents expertly made their way to the golem studio. The only person to notice them slinking away was Alphonse, who gave up on the crowd and decided to follow them without question. Ellis, it might be too late to ask but, do you have some kind of grudge against the Brave Party? Ellis answered Alphonses question with a smile and nothing more. The girls carriage had been ready to go since the early morning, and it was only now with the afternoon half over that they were able to leave. Father, Mother, Ill be waiting for you in Warren! Alphonse, well be sure to come visit you again! And so the girls were seen off with three hands waving farewell as they waved back. Their stop in Wisdom wasnt as boring as they thought it would be, but Warrens Jewelry Box was happy to finally be on its way home. CH 75 The drawing inside the store looks something like this. More customers might come nya. If its too wide, it might delay the food being delivered. Thats troublesome nya. By the way, where were you planning on selling the pudding? The dango were delicious too. Because dango are Wisdoms specialty, it would be a problem if they were to suddenly be sold in Warren. So where will we sell the pudding? For the time being, grilled fish is best nya. I wonder if we should brand the pork buns1 with our flag? Dango are no good? What about the pudding? Sweet and salty pork buns would sell well. Quiet down. When these girls start talking about food, their usual personalities fly off somewhere, and it is difficult for anyone to get a word in. Whats more, because nobody is really listening to what other people have to say, the conversation ends up getting more and more derailed. Right now we are talking about the food shop Katies friend will be opening, everyone understands that right? I know. I understand. I am aware. Yes nya. But the dango is regrettable. What about the pork buns? I just want to know where the pudding will be sold. Steamed chicken would also be delicious, and thinking about it is making me hungry nya. Ellis gave up. She realized now it was stupid of her to try and get everyone together to do this. She should have had Claire here to talk about construction and then one or two others to bounce ideas off of. While the fours arguments over food-talk continued to blossom, Ellis sat behind all of them scrubbing Pi-tan down until the other girls tuckered themselves out. Pi~ The return trip from Wisdom to Marsfield went smoothly. After arriving safely, the girls found an inn to stay for the night, and Elliss group walked to the Marsfield castle on foot. Ah, so youve returned safely then? The Duke showed as much dignity as ever upon welcoming them back, but there was one thing different from his usual greeting. There was no Mirei standing next to him. Since it was rude to touch upon the same topic twice, Ellis pretended to not notice Mireis absence and made a detailed report about what had happened in Wisdom. Hmm, so even Alphonse wasnt sure about the magic used in Warren? They had ideas, but he and the principal both thought they might be able to pull up some new information if they looked over records from the first Demon/God war. I see. Then Ill give them some time and see what can be dug up. And then Duke Marsfield turned the talks towards Claire. And were you allowed to meet with Ares and Izerina? Yes, and they even taught me some new magic. Well that is good, but I must admit I am surprised to not see them with you. Are they not returning to Warren? No, they said they would remain in Wisdom and help research what had happened in Warren. Father said he would definitely report back as soon as he found something! The Duke narrowed his eyes slightly and watched Claire closely. Most likely, he probably saw Claire as part of his problem since he was never able to talk the king out of his extreme methods of holding the magicians captive. By the way, we met with the Brave Party in Wisdom too. Ellis decided to report this as well just in case. The Dukes response was one of obvious displeasure. Does something worry you? Ah, they are, they have made some achievements. Even though it took months for them to discover where the Demon Lords castle was. It could be called a collected response, but then the Duke muttered under his breath a little louder than he probably intended and with a lot more spite in his voice than before. Weve already invested over a billion ril into them, but theyve still only done this much. What in the world are they using it all for? Hearing this Ellis started to squirm a little where she stood. Over 100 million of that was funds she had tricked them out of, but that was a secret she didnt feel like revealing. What does your Lordship think about the Hero? The Hero and the thief aside, I am of the opinion that the other three should just be disposed of right now. The Dukes response was immediate, and after voicing it, he gave the girls a small wink to signal that they should keep that part a secret. With that being said, it is almost impressive how the stupidity of the idiot trio had resonated even in Marsfield like this. Although Ellis couldnt help but wonder if this was somehow a trap that Duke Marsfield was placing for them. Nevertheless, a smile spread out across her face. Noticing it, Reeve leaned over and whispered in Elliss ear. Mistress, are you up to something again? I wont do it here. Then why are we still here? Ellis looked back towards Reeves face and the two shared an evil smile as if they were both two pranksters waiting for the eraser to fall before returning to where they originally stood. Ellis was always very lively whenever she was planning some mischief for the Hero or the Demon Lord. But Reeve didnt dislike that figure. So she decided to remain silent and just enjoy the beauty of Elliss smile. After leaving the Dukes castle, next on the girls list was Matis house. Mati, nyare you there? Ah, Katie, welcome. Everyone please come inside nya. The five girls were ushered into Matis house, and after taking a seat, they were finally allowed to learn what had ultimately happened after the assassination incident. It was true that both Mirei and Anna had been arrested. Unfortunately, they were both released soon afterwards and sent back to their parents homes. Well, for them both to become the brides of Duke Marsfield would mean their families had a suitable standing, so them receiving a severe punishment could have meant problems in the future. There was also the fact that the Duke was an overly caring man. No matter what they had done, disposing of the women he loved would have been an extraordinarily difficult thing for him to do. The situation with the Thieves Guild guild master wasnt much better. The guild master had resigned as he was instructed. It seemed though that there was nobody suitable to replace him, so he was kept on to make sure the guild continued to run without issue. As things stood, he was still the guild master in all but name. Ellis was convinced that this was just how the world of adults worked. It was an awful truth for those who had died and their grieving families, but the Duke had to think about the welfare of the city and the country as a whole. By the way, when was Mati moving to Warren nya? Katie, I dont nyo2 what steamed cooking is. If so, then how about preparing a steamed dish now for dinner? Before anyone had said anything towards Fraus suggestion, Claire had already pulled out some portable steamers and was getting things prepared. Thats right, actually having you cook and eat some would probably be for the best. In that case lets all go pick out some food together nya. So that afternoon was spent with the six of them going to the market. Since this was a spur of the moment decision and they didnt have too much time to spare, they picked up some already carved white fish, chicken, assorted meats, and a mix of vegetables and mushrooms. After they had enough for a meal, the girls headed back towards Matis house and got things started. For some reason Claire had returned earlier than everyone else, and when the others walked in, they saw her pouring a mixture of milk, sugar, and eggs into cups and steaming them before anything else was prepared. It wont taste good if we dont give it time to cool. Claire was sticking to her pudding until the very end. Katie took charge of the white fish, Frau the chicken, and Ellis made sure the various meats bought off hunters were all good to go. Reeve stuck to what she knew which was doing the dishes when all the cooking was done. When the preparations were done, Frau moved to the carriage to work on some sauce for each dish on her own. Claire followed after her carrying the finished products of her steamed pudding. She looked positively giddy as she carried the cups over to be chilled with the coolingstones. Now, its time to steam it! At Fraus signal, each of the dishes were put into their own steamer, and in moments the air became rife with an assortment of delicious smells. Mati, you should invite Labra too nya. Mati had been brought into a trance when all the wonderful smells coming from the steamers hit her nose, but Katies suggestion brought her back to reality. Not wanting to be gone too long though, she raced out of her house at top speed and returned almost dragging Labra behind her. And then everything was finished. Steamed white fish fillets with a side of vegetables and mushroom bean paste. Steamed chicken wrapped in leafy green vegetables and a sweet sauce. Steamed meat slices combined with a sweet bean sauce. Garnished with some sugar-less crepes made of mushrooms cut into long, thin strips. Dessert was Claires special pudding. She had also whipped up some special caramel as a topping. Alright lets dig in! With Elliss voice as the catalyst, everyone started devouring whatever they liked on the spread out table. Mati, eat lots nya. Mati was taken in by the vast assortment of food before her and had a late start in eating. Labra had heard about what was done to produce everything before her and was amazed at how easy it had all been to prepare. So good nya. Delicious. Mati, are you going to open a shop and sell this nya? Are you good at cooking nya? Its good, but why doesnt Katie open a store herself nya? I am busy playing with Ellis nya. But, I dont have any money to open a store nya. That was Elliss cue. Mati, if youre motivated, I could finance you and help build the store and buy everything you would need to get started. Finance nya? I would lend you some money. You would pay me back with the money you make from the store. Its okay nya. I will give you the shop as a present, so give me 10% of your sales nya. Ah, Katie was being flashy with her money. Well, Ellis didnt mind. This was Katies friend after all, so it was natural that she would want to help her out. It was a shame that Mati wouldnt owe her any favors, but Ellis decided to withdraw her business offer. Alright, Ill do my best nya! But Labra had been listening in on this talk as well, and when things looked like they were coming to an end, she cried out, Can I come too? Of course nya! It would be impossible for one person to run a store alone! Flashy Katie struck again. Ellis was starting to wonder if she had rubbed off on Katie too much, and her pet cat was starting to become a playgirl. Nonetheless, it was decided that a heavy steam restaurant would be opened in Cross Town. By the way, whos going to sell the pudding? Claire refused to let some things die. 1. I originally translated this as just Chinese food. It turns out chukaman is a specific Chinese dish which the Japanese refer to as nikuman. We just call them pork buns in English. 2. On the one hand, curse cat-speak. On the other hand, imagining it in English is kinda fun. CH 76 As I thought, our bath is number one in feeling good right! Claire was talking like a drunkard while chewing on watercakes and having her whole body float on top of the water as if she were in a pool. The five of them had returned to Warren earlier, but because the sun was already about to set, they had a light supper at the citys center and made it home a little after the public bath had closed. They were able to time it perfectly so that they could immediately jump in after parking the cart. The trip this time was pretty long wasnt it? Frau was sitting in her usual spot in the half-bath, her breasts floating on the waters surface. I know its bad timing with how tired everyone is, but Id like to take a drawing to the Workshop Guild tomorrow nya. Katie couldnt help but be concerned about the new building she was going to give to her friends. Well, with the mens street and Cross Town still being built, things are going to start being busy again tomorrow. Three of the girls each nodded their heads before simultaneously sighing at the somber truth to Elliss words. The fifth one wasnt paying attention and stood next to the bath fully naked. And so the opera was on. Everyone was exhausted from the long trip, but Ellis wasnt going to allow a small detail like that from interrupting her nightly fun. The only question was, who goes first? Reeve, you sang really well today in the bath. Ah Mistress, it was fun singing after such a long time. By the way, Reeve, you didnt say anything during our talks about tomorrows schedule. Were you paying attention? Umsorry. I wasnt. Such a stupid toy is going to have to be punished. Mistress, please forgive me, forgive me, forgive.Ah Ellis and Reeve were then able to successfully create several new types of hymnals. Hey Frau, you, when that Minotaur golem hit you, it must have hurt. Thats not true Ellis, it didnt bother me at all. Hmph. I dont believe you. Youre a perverted pig women. You got hit on purpose just you could show off to everyone how much you like getting hit. Thats not true, forgive me, Im Elliss pig woman. Ill apologize as many time as it takes, so forgive me. Hm, I wont. Instead, Ill do this. Ah, thats. Ellis and Frau were able to come up with a few variations to their games thanks to the one-on-one fight incident. Did your fathers heart sound like this? Claire? No, it was bigger and louder, but I like Elliss chest more. Pretty Claire, Ill treat you gently tonight too. Katie, you, those men called you pretty, and then you went nya on them after following them into the alley right? Yes, whats wrong with that? If so, then does that mean that Katie will follow any man who calls you pretty? Ellis, there is no way nya! I will always be Elliss pet nya! Katie, then Ill pretend to be a good pet-owner. Now, hows right here? Ellis! Eli-cruel nyan. Nyan. Ny- Ellis and Katie were able to come up with a few variations to their games thanks to the extortion incident. And then once the sun rose as morning broke, all five girls woke up feeling refreshed and ready for a new day. The girls decided to have a light breakfast that day using up some of the ingredients left over from the trip while confirming each others schedules. Katie and Claire would go together towards the Workshop Guild to put in another store order, this time for the steamed food shop that Mati and Labra would be running. While they were there, they were to confirm the progress on the manju shop, boutique, and cafe that Ellis had issued loans for. Reeve would be checking in on Hanna, Ken, Aiful, and Credia to make sure everything was still working fine at the teahouse and cake shop. Afterwards, she would be heading off to the Merchant Guild to confirm the current state of the live house and exchange information with Maria. Meanwhile Ellis and Frau would report to the Adventurers Guild about the results of their trip. They would then report to the Thieves Guild to find out how the management of the males-only part of town was going. Everyone should eat out in the city for lunch today, but we will all meet back up here for dinner. Everyone nodded their heads towards Elliss final confirmation before each heading out in separate directions. The first stop was the Adventurers Guild. Ellis and Frau kept their report on the matter at hand, informing Theseus about their meeting with the principal and the lack of clear answers on what type of magics were used at the end of the raid on Warren. They did however make sure to add that Ares and Izerina had stayed behind in Wisdom to continue collecting information. Hoh, how were Ares and Izerina doing? Theseus was actually friends with the couple from long before they had been sent to Wisdom. Uncle Ares had a magical contest with Claire, and she kicked his ass. Ellis made the story short and sweet making Theseus break out into a round of laughter that filled the entire guild hall. But then as quickly as it started, the laughter came to an end, and Theseus continued the serious talks with a straight face. Alright, Duke Marsfield will report directly to His Majesty. Until we receive word back, well do business as normal again and pray that the demons dont jump us again. I guess so Uncle. There is really nothing else we can do huh, Father. Ellis and Frau agreed. Well then we are going to head over to the Thieves Guild after this to talk about the changes being made across town. What is Uncle Theseus going to do? Hmm, after doing some routine check-ups, it would be good for me to file a report. Afterwards, Ill need to find a replacement for Shin since you took him. This is the third employee youve taken from me, how about messing with someone elses business for once! Shin was Kens good friend who had joined the Adventurers Guild after being led away from the Demon Lords army. He was the man who would be taking over the manju store with Ken co-signing. Dont you understand the beauty of choosing your own occupation Uncle? Towards Elliss words, Theseus made a bitter smile. Then I guess I have no choice but to work harder. Work harder towards a bright and cheerful workplace where everyone in the Adventurers Guild is happy working here and wont be stolen away by Ellis. Being accused of some shady tactics as if she were the head of a shady black company, Ellis hid the utter offense she felt with a mischievous smile and departed from the Adventurers Guild. Next up was the Thieves Guild. Baltis, Marilyn, and Margherita were all waiting for them when they arrived. Marilyn and Margherita were both looking extremely intense and welcomed the girls like rusted machines. Having been forced to wait beside the Thieves Guild guild master for so long seemed to put them on edge. You explain whats happening to these two from now on? Are you sure? Is it okay if I tell them what we had agreed on from before? Yes, if there is anything wrong, Ill clamp my hand over your mouth without any hesitation. Understood. The initial conversation between Ellis and Baltis wasnt doing anything to allay Marilyn and Margheritas fears. Ellis recognized their tension and took some small pleasure in it as she turned to talk to them both. Marilyn, Margherita, we would like the two of you to become official members of the Thieves Guild from this day forward. The twos fears quickly turned to puzzlement. Milady Ellis, its impossible for me to be a thief, Marilyn slowly replied. Milady Ellis, I as well. What do you mean? Margherita was as dumbfounded as Marilyn. So Ellis gave them a more in-depth explanation. The night club being built in the men-only street would be under the jurisdiction of the Thieves Guild. They wanted two people to manage it. The nightclub, Masters Hideaway, a very good thing: they wanted to leave the management of the new mens bathhouse to women who knew what they were doing. Whoever ended up managing the nightclub would need knowledge in all three of these, so Ellis decided that the two of them would be the best candidates. Ellis laid everything right out on the table for them, and they ended up more confused now than before she had started. Ellis, if you explain everything at once like that, nobody would understand what you mean. Frau was starting to feel a little pitiful towards the two grown women, so she decided to give them a hand. Ellis took a long sigh before turning back. Alright, Ill explain everything in order once again. First of all, we are establishing a new entertainment area under the Thieves Guild. You two, Marilyn and Margherita, will be put in charge of three buildings: the nightclub, Masters Hideaway, and a new bathhouse that only sells very nice things. You will be responsible for the businesses and the employees, but dont worry. Any management decisions will still be taken care of by the guild itself. Margherita nodded her head in understanding, but Marilyn was back to looking uneasy. The girls at Masters Hideaway, including you two, have always been under the Thieves Guild until now, but we were hoping to bring the two of you on in a more official way to have a specialized unit in charge of entertainment. Ellis took a second to make sure they were still following along before continuing. The nightclub will have two clearly distinguished employees: an attendant who offers alcohol and an assistant who manages the games. The attendants will be dressed in maid-wear and also work at the neighboring bathhouse. Its okay for them to guide and entertain a customer over there, but the assistants will be completely separate. The attendant will carry around classes of alcohol on trays and hand them out to customers. Of course they will try to strike up a conversation and gain your attention as they do. Their end goal is obviously the new bathhouse for some very nice things to pass the time. The assistants would be the dealers and rollers for Warren Dice and Warren Numbers. Their goals would be the exact opposite of the attendants as they were to remain cold and distant from any guests. If it was ever even suspected that an assistant was familiar with a customer and may aid them in the game, they would be immediately removed. Do you understand everything up until here? Lady, I enjoy working with my customers, Marilyn softly apologized. Me too Ellis. I dont intend on increasing the number of customers I take on anymore, but I would like to respond to the good people who have supported me until now. Hmm. Then lets try this. Ellis made the following proposal. Margherita would handle the night club while Marilyn oversaw the baths. The two of them would keep in touch and control the placement of the girls while making sure all of the customers were happy. The two of them would operate through bookings only so that any absence from the night club would be planned, and they can find a trustworthy person to be a lead assistant and take charge during those absences. Would that work? You two, you should be convinced with that much. Baltis offered the best help that he could. Margherita, Marilyn, think about the offer and what type of situation it could put the other girls in. Do you understand? Frau spoke with a much kinder tone, and her words caused Margherita and Marilyn to share a serious look. Finally, they simultaneously turned towards Ellis and nodded their heads. Understood Milady. I will do my best. Okay Ellis. But really, its not like I could say no to you anyway. Alright, then well have a more detailed meeting tomorrow. Go home for now, rest, and think about suitable candidates for the lead assistant. The two women nodded their heads once again before the entire meeting dissolved. Just as planned, the five girls met back up again for dinner. Mistress, actually today, I had a consultation with the Muscle Brothers today at the Merchant Guild. What was wrong? Apparently they have some younger brothers who were fighting performers, but it sounds like their squad was dissolved, so they are out of a job. They were asking if there were any job openings in Cross Town or the male-only street and if you could introduce them. What kind of people are they? A masterpiece of muscles was what I was told. Theyre definitely gachihomos. Also, while theyre strong in one-on-one fights, they are weak in the head, so they wouldnt last long as adventurers. Elliss head started to hurt. Their definitely wasnt anything for them, but it was true that she had been thinking for awhile now that the city needed something more for entertainment. Alright, find out more about them, and if its a small group, invite them to Warren. Ill think of something. Ill do just that. Thank you, Mistress. Ellis, the manju store is finally finished. I handed off the management to Ken, and his friend has already started planning on how hes going to decorate it. This was what Claire had to report. Yeah, how was it? The two people taking over seemed okay. They said their names were Shin and Nonna. I already talked to them about the 10% of sales and the development of new products. Yosh! Ellis did a mental fist pump. Alright, were going to be really busy tomorrow too, so lets go to bed! Ellis jumped off her chair excitedly, but everyone else curiously watched her go wondering what had gotten her so worked up. Without looking back, Ellis called back to them. Hey, were going to be really busy tomorrow, so lets take a bath and work up a good sweat before bed. Ah! The four remaining girls jumped up from the table as fast Ellis had and followed after her. A small slit formed as Pi-tan slightly opened his eyes. He saw everyone moving and wondered who would be bringing him along to enjoy that bath this night. This was the benefit of being a member of Warrens Jewelry Box. CH 77 Lady Ellis, allow us to introduce you. This is Machel. Walking into the lobby, Margherita and Marilyn introduced a slender woman. Silver hair that reached her shoulders, it was accented with two pigtails near her ears. She kept her eyes half closed and moved as if her body were liquid. A so-called cool beauty who looked better with a frown than a smile and constantly looked down on you from the bridge of her nose. What was your second name at the store? Night-shift Nurse. Machel answered all of Elliss prepared questions with little effort and no confusion. She quickly showed to have a forward way of thinking. She answered many of the questions Ellis had with little shame and a strength to her voice. Have you already heard about what this job entails? Yes, Ellis. I liked the ban on tempting men most of all. Ellis, Machel is actually the daughter of a fallen aristocrat. Margherita jumped in here, providing some information that the person in question probably never would have added herself. You, are you ready to throw away all the income you get from Masters Hideaway to start something completely new? Ellis, I came here because I was told I could make a living without needing to have any romantic feelings involved. Im sorry to my regulars, but if there is an opportunity to escape this job, Ill do it. Machel answered resolutely and never broke eye-contact with Ellis. But Ellis didnt fail to notice the pain in her voice and the beads of tears forming in the corner of her eyes. Aiful and Credia popped up in Elliss mind. The two of them had been saved from this type of life thanks to Reeves interventions. Machel wasnt so lucky. Alright, Ellis nodded. Then lets start the exam. What is 36 times 500 ril? 18,000 ril. She was certainly capable enough in calculations. Ellis nodded her head once more. The girl had the right personality for the job, and she was good enough in arithmetic to be able to perform. There was just the final exam. Machel, what kind of life have you been living up until now, and can you tell me about it with your own mouth? Machel froze, her eyes locked with Elliss. But Ellis didnt move. She didnt say anything. Ellis calmly looked back at Machel, her eyes looking as cold as Machel felt. Alright, Ill tell you. What Machel spoke of next was her familyCa group of common aristocrats. A power struggle heard all too often in noble circles. And the dark, filthy life in an alley. Do you want to hear about what men did to me too? Machel asked Ellis in the end. It wasnt a barb or some show of dissatisfaction. She genuinely wanted to know if details like that were necessary because if so, she was more than willing to recant everything she remembered in as much detail as she could. Ellis immediately shook her head. No, I dont need that. You passed. So Machel, are you willing to become the sub-leader of the Thieves Guilds new entertainment unit? .Huh? For the first time since her interview had begun, Machel was confused. Machel, it means you will be working right along side us, Marilyn came in, patting her shoulder. Machel, youll be our subordinate in name-only. Everything is going to be just like usual, Margherita continued. Alright then. Well leave the management to the male-only street up to you three then. Margherita, Marilyn, Machel, do your best. Ellis wrapped up the interview there. Machel clearly didnt know what had just happened. Thanks to Ellis and Masters Hideaway, she had become able to start thinking about her future for the first time since her family had fallen, but this was something else entirely. Like being visited my a magical godmother in a fairy tale. I understand. This is a plan to have women completely dominate the mens portion of the city. Even Im getting a little excited when I think about it. Towards Elliss off-hand comment, Machel gave little reaction other than her eyes finally opening wide and a small smile spreading on her face. The outline of personnel was settled after that. There would end up being three men-only stores. The nightclub, Masters Hideaway, and the new bathhouse that would be connected to the nightclub. Margherita would manage all of them as the leader of the new entertainment unit. Working as the head attendant at the nightclub and the general manager of Masters Hideaway and the new bathhouse would be the first sub-leader Marilyn. She would see customers only through reservations. Otherwise she would be spending her time in the nightclub, making sure all the girls were doing all right and all the men were worked up. All of the bankers, dealers, and assistants for the casino games at the nightclub would be under Machels supervision. Baltis had some objections to this part at first, but he eventually relented when Ellis convinced him that fixing the games was not a good idea. In addition, there were a few more subordinates that Ellis had for Margherita. You guys, come on in, Ellis called out to a back door behind where Margherita and the others were sitting, and four large, muscular men came through. Margherita, I hired these four to work in the nightclub with you. Theyll be your subordinates from now on. A crimson blush rose to Margheritas face, and a devilish smile came to Elliss. These men will be your bellboys, bouncers, announcers, and whatever else you need them to be. You guys, introduce yourselves. Each of the four men stood tall and at attention. I am Nobuhiko. I used to be a fighting performer, and I am proud to be super gay! I am Kazuo. I used to be a fighting performer, and I am proud to be super gay! I am Masakatsu. I used to be a fighting performer, and I am proud to be super gay! I am Minoru. I used to be a fighting performer, and I am proud to be super gay! The blush on Margheritas face had completely disappeared. So how about it Margherita? A group of gachihomos should be easy to use right? These men were the four brothers that the Muscle Brothers had requested help for. There had been no problems with Masters Hideaway so far, but Ellis thought that with the male-only street expanding with the inclusion of alcohol and gambling, some extra muscle would be needed. So when the Muscle Brothers request came in, it had actually been the perfect solution. Alright, then you four will act as my limbs from now on. Ha! The four men would serve as the perfect subordinates for Margherita. They were strong, loyal, and there would be zero problems with them associating with the women working the bathhouse. Cross Towns progress was also going smoothly. Frau was currently visiting Shin and Nonnas store to give them a few tips on cooking. Ken and Hannas cake shop was becoming famous in the city, but they were making sure they gave a hand to their friends new shop as well. In the neighboring tea shop, Buzz and Doug had become regulars and spread its name among the other adventurers. The two of them had actually started receiving a discount for 100 ril a cup, and they would often have fun sharing conversation with Aiful and Credia when they were refilling their tea. Several of the boutiques and cafes had already started operation as well. With several shops opening up, tourism had increased, and the number of people making their way there on carriage and on foot had both increased along with it. Meanwhile Hannas younger sisters Rhonda and Hanna had started helping out with their store. Things had gotten to the point where they couldnt keep up with their increasing customers, so they needed the help to keep rolling out the cakes. And as agreed, Ellis continued to receive ten percent of the sales on all those cakes as a collection fee. Elliss plan was picking up profits faster than she thought it would. When she returned home, Ellis waited for the others to come back while playing withpicking onPi-tan. Im home. Claire was the first to come back. Katie was next, followed by Frau, and Reeve wasnt far behind. Dinner will be ready right away, Frau said with a smile already on her way to the kitchen. Then, Reeve walked up to Ellis wearing the same expression she had on the night before. Sorry, Mistress, I am just no good. Ellis figured that something must have happened at the Merchant Guild again. But, its not like the matter this time was a problem. It had actually been quite the fortunate turn of events. Still, the Merchant Guild had been dumping too many of its problems on Reeve. Whaaaaat Reeve? It was Nicole this time. He asked me to find a place for the Stone Walls to work. The Stone Walls was the band Nicole led. Including Nicole, there were five members in total. They were all gay, but they were different from the Muscle Brothers. As a matter of fact, it sounds like the two groups didnt get along much. Although you listened to those muscles wishes, are you going to let my wish go unheard? was what I was threatened with before being subjected to high-pressured harassment. Recounting it all made Reeves shoulders droop low and a tear come to her eye. Ellis was sensing a bit of prejudice here. The gays didnt want the gachihomos from expanding their power, so they wanted their own place too. The constant conflict between men broke Elliss heart. But it did giver her a good idea. *Ding* Okay Reeve. The next time you see Nicole, can you tell him and his four band mates to come meet with me? Of course, but are you sure? Its fine Reeve. Dinners ready! The conversation was suddenly interrupted by Fraus voice calling from the kitchen. Neither Ellis nor Reeve minded. Between talking business and eating dinner, the better option was obvious. Today, too, five girls and one pet would enjoy a fun dinner eating and talking together. Thats right, it sounds like the live house should be finished soon Ellis. Ellis, they rushed the construction on the steamed food store. Its already finished. Well, tomorrow I will have to go see it. And as usual, everyone enjoyed taking a bath together while Pi-tan puttered around in his large tub. So tonight I end things my mofumofuing1 Katies fur. Ellis fell asleep that night with her face buried in warm, fluffy furCfeeling a sense of accomplishment that could only be reached thanks to four different helpers. 1. There is honestly no non-weird way to describe mofumofu in words. Its like digging your face into a furry animal and just cuddling the hell out of it. Any pet owner/animal lover has done it, but describing it out loud just sounds.weird. CH 78 This was the Nightclub (tentative) on the Male Street (tentative). Even though the building was complete, interior decoration still held much to be desiredCsomething Ellis had learned long ago to not rely on Flint for. So instead she asked him to create a few game tables and chips in advance. The purpose was to quickly train up some dealers, bankers, and assistants for Machel. Whether they had heard the details from the Workshop Guild or the Adventurers Guild, the word had gotten around and many volunteers had gathered. Well Machel, Im going to explain how each of these games are played, so lets train against some of these expert old men from the guild halls. Understood Lady Ellis. Everyone here should remember what the young lady has to teach us clearly. Machel addressed her future subordinates before taking her seat. The women nodded their heads once while watching as the volunteers showed off some serious faces. At the game table, there was one seat prepared for the dealer and then six seats to their right and six seats to their left. In total, there could be twelve people playing at one time. There is a green cross affixed to the surface of the table with white markers adorning it to indicate where antes are to be left, bets are to be made, and where cards are to be drawn. To the left of the dealers seat is the bunker. It is there that extra chips for dividends and boxes for storing game fees. On their right side is a card holder from where the dealer can draw cards without any of the players being able to take a peek. First off was Warren Dice. In Warren Dice, the dealer will roll the dice and control the bunker. There will be two assistants standing to the left and the right of the dealer providing security and performing menial tasks such as collecting the winnings. Receiving Elliss instructions, Machel sat down in the dealers seat while two of her fellow employees took a spot beside her. Well then Machel, now you roll the dice the way I showed you before. Understood. Machel threw a red and white die into a clay cup and slammed it on the table after rattling the dice inside for a second. Alright men, place your bets. The table today has a minimum of a 100 ril bet and a maximum of 1000, so lets see your chips. Machel immediately started to pressure the men while acting talking like a yakuza. Ellis wasnt sure where she got the idea from, but she liked it all the same. Ellis, is this for real right now? On behalf of all the other volunteers, Buzz wanted to make sure that the betting done for this test run would be real. Yes, I will personally handle the bunker today, Ellis responded with a smile. The fact that all the game fees paid today would end up going directly into Elliss pocket was something she left unsaid though. Alright Machel. Make sure everyone has placed their bets and lock down the board. Machel took a quick look over between each of the players and confirmed their bets. The assistants were also meant to serve as an extra set of eyes to make sure that nobody tried to change their bets afterwards. Next raise the cup and declare the results. Be careful so that the cup doesnt touch either of the two dice. Nodding, Machel slowly lifted up the cup directly off the table. The end result was a six for the red die and a one on the white. Last call! Now, I say red six and white one right? Machel started off with a strong declaration, but she took a quick second to make sure she was doing it right with Ellis. Yosh! Im great! Buzz jumped out of his chair and fist pumped into the air. He had bet a one or a six for the red and a one or a six for white as well. His end payout was nine times. Then the assistants will collect the money and pay out the dividends to the winners. Everyone else should wait patiently for the board to be cleared. The two assistants who had been silently standing at the wing until now nodded their heads and started grabbing the chips off the table. Once all the chips have been returned to the bunker, you pay out the money to the winners. Since Buzz had bet 100 ril, he should get 900 ril back total. Since the game fee is ten percent, that means 90 ril is paid forward. Taking out 710 ril from the bunker and adding it to the 100 still on the table, for a 810 ril payout. The assistants should start from one end of the table and work your way over to the other paying people one at a time to make sure nothing gets messed up. Since Buzz was the only person to win this roll, there was little need to worry about that this time. Uncle Buzz, when getting your money, its usually considered stylish to give the assistant who pays your winnings a tip. Buzz laughed at Elliss shameless plug there as if it were just the innocent ramblings of a little girl. It is only right that I share some of this happiness with the girl giving me that happiness, he laughed. Grabbing one of the 100 ril chips from his pile, Buzz tossed it back to the assistant girl who received it with a smile. Coincidentally, a smile had spread across Elliss face at the same time as the assistant. It may not seem like much but with this, the perfect atmosphere to suck up all the ril the guests had was complete. Several more games were played afterwards. Since the ante was relatively small, the losses were light all around, and things progressed harmoniously. The assistants, if the guests accumulate a lot of fractional chips, dont hesitate to ask if the guests want to consolidate them into larger amounts. In this case, guests had already started to acquire numerous 10 ril chips. The assistants nodded their heads once at Elliss recommendation and started to ask around the table to see if anyone wanted to switch their chips over. Its easier to spend a single 100 ril chip than a handful of 10 ril chips after all. Machel, are you getting used to it? Yes, Ellis. I, I think Im actually having fun. It was like the cold, dead look she had worn the other day had never existed. Compared to then, there was a fire in Machels eyes, and thin as it may be, the small smile playing across her lips was as bright as the sun. The thought that this was the expression that she had originally worn crossed Elliss mind and made her smile once again. This type of expression would be far more effective at getting the men to continue betting compared to the cold princess look. Then shall we have you switch off with one of the assistants? Everyone needs to get used to this. I understand. Then Ill work on being the assistant. Machel obediently listened and vacated her spot at the dealers chair. From there, rotations were regularly made, but things continued to go smoothly. Like a steady stream, the ril lining the mens pockets continued to flow out. Even when they won, the game fees and the tips for the assistants meant they were still being bled dry. Haha, Ive been in good shape ever since you started helping me as an assistant Machel, Doug laughed while handing over a small tip to her. And then, Flint and Theseus appeared. Yosh! Ive come to join the war! Hello everyone. We came to see how everyone was doing. Margherita and Marilyn came in soon after. The two shared a small smile upon seeing the joy in Machels face. You guys are all just playing around! Baltis was the last person to come by. With him added, all twelve seats were filled. Well then, lets switch to Warren Numbers now. The minimum here will be 100 ril again. The dealers jackpot here is 50 times the maximum bet so 50,000 ril. Ellis had already started cleaning up the dice and bunker chips to make room for Numbers. Warren Numbers is a game played between the guests, so Machel will be providing support only. Ellis opted to be the first parent and motioned for Machel to take a position next to her. Next the parent declares the total winnings. This time I will use the maximum and put forward 50,000 ril. Ellis took out 50,000 ril worth of chips and placed them on the table. Machel will act as my banker, distributing the chips to the winners and collecting money as needed. With that the game began. To start things off, everyone put forward their ante of 100 ril to demonstrate their ability to play. Ellis declared beforehand that she would play a set of six hands before transferring the parent role to someone else. Ellis then placed her first card underneath the special handkerchief. Once she was done, the other players all put forward their bets. Close. Once everyone was done betting, Ellis signaled the end of the hand and put a tag on the 3 for the specially made show card. She then pulled back the handkerchief, flipped over the card, and revealed the 3 card. The number you mark on the show board and the card you placed down has to match. If they are ever different, then the parent is the only loser of the hand. Ellis continued to advance the game forward while explaining the rules to Machel. I got a hit. Flint was the first to raise his hand having chosen three numbers with a 100 ril bet. I also hit. Theseus was next having bet 500 ril on two numbers. Well Im sure this is frustrating for everyone else. Baltis meanwhile had successfully won with the maximum bet of 1000 ril on only a single guess. Nobody else at the table had guessed the number to be 3. Then just like with Dice, the assistants will go around collecting the lost chips. Once everything is cleaned up, we pay out the dividends. Since Theseus had a one in two chance of winning, he gets 80 ril back with the subtracted 10 percent game fee. Theseus had a one in three chance of winning so he gets 850 ril back after 150 is collected as the game fee. Baltis had a one in six, so he gets 4,400 ril back after subtracting 600 as the game fee. Whatever it is, I guess you dont get much if you bet on three numbers. Flint aside, dont forget to tip your assistants Theseus and Baltis. The two guild masters nodded their heads and obediently handed over a chip to the girls aiding them. Theseus handed over one of his 100 ril chips while Baltis gave out a 1000 one. Well Baltis is being quite generous today, Ellis laughed to herself. Well then, lets go for round 2. And so the game continued. Ellis went with a 2 for the second round. Alright, I got a hit! Buzz had managed to win with a 1000 ril bet over three numbers. Im two in a row. Meanwhile Flint had won a 1000 ril bet off of two numbers. Nobody else ended up calling a win. Doug, Buzz and all the other members of the Adventurers Guild had bet on three numbers while Theseus, Marilyn, and Margherita had all bet on two. Since nobody got a single hit, I think Im going to declare Naughty Friends. Towards Elliss declaration, everyone was forced to reveal what numbers they had bet on. Buzz had bet on the numbers (1, 2, and 3), Doug had bet on the numbers (4, 5, and 6), and one other guild member had bet on the numbers (3, 4, and 5). A Naughty Friends has been established between Buzz and Doug. As such, Buzzs winnings will be claimed along with both of their antes. As the two assistants went about claiming the money pile that had just formed, all Buzz and Doug could do was watch on with a pained look on their faces. Unfortunately, there were the four two number bets to look at as well. Flint had bet on (2 and 5), Theseus on (1 and 3), Marilyn on (4 and 6), and Margherita on (4 and 5). A Naughty Friends has been established with Flint, Theseus, and Marilyn as well. Collect their winnings and antes. The look on Flints face wasnt much better than the one Buzz and Doug had worn. What is this? Betting on 2 or 3 numbers is pretty high risk as well, Baltis muttered under his breath. When Ellis overheard him, she frowned a little on the inside. She thought it would be longer before anyone discovered the biggest pitfall in this game. For the third round Ellis once again chose 3. The choice was a model example of deceit, but it was something hard to guess at by amateur psychologists. Between that and everyone still being put off by the previous rounds two Naughty Friends, nobody had guessed the correct answer. The round ended with an All Out. Everyones bets and antes were collected up by the assistants. Now everyone had gotten serious about playing this game. But Ellis wasnt about to give up the ground she had so easily taken. She played her next three rounds with no tricks and then gave up her position as parent just as she said she would. Her total winnings was 30,000 ril. As a general rule, the parents should give up about 10 percent of their winnings to their banker as a tip. And then just as she said, Ellis scooped up 3,000 ril and passed it over to Machel. Now, who will be the next parent? Flint, Theseus, and Baltis all simultaneously raised their hands to volunteer. Alright, then we will change the parents per turn going in a clockwise direction. Hahaha, then Ill show you all how its done. Ellis left the dealers seat and made way for Flint to take the lead. As she walked away from the table, Machel quickly ran up to follow her. You never even have to play the game yourself. You should have already realized that as long as you remain quiet, the chips will all be drawn towards you. Lady Ellis, I really appreciate you introducing me to this kind of work. Machel responded with clear, cold smile. Both of the girls took a second to look back at the game that was still going on. Lass over there, Id like you to work as my banker. Flint nominated the assistant who had helped him out as a player to work as his banker. From there, the game began once again. Ellis, youre home late. Claire welcomed Ellis at the door with a slightly worried look on her face. Yeah, the training took a little longer than I thought it would. Here, I got this for everyone to make up for it. What Ellis set out on the kitchen table was a rather large basket of fruit that Claire had never eaten before. Arent these rather expensive? Its fine every once in awhile. I got some extra income, so I thought Id splurge a little. It may have just been Claires imagination, but she could have sworn that when Ellis smiled as she said that, she could hear the sounds of old men yelling in the night sky. CH 79 Hey, Im here. One day, completely ignoring the rules of no men allowed, Grandpa Ferdinand stopped by to visit the mansion. The truth was that he had been invited there by the Merchant Guild who was hoping to get his unique advice on the live house being built in Cross Town. Gramps, sorry to bother you like this. No this is for my cute grandchild, so dont worry about it. Besides, this sounds interesting. Then shall we go see Maria right away? What? Why not share a cup of tea first? Grandpa, this place is forbidden to men. Isnt it fine though? No! Ellis had thought a simple cup of tea would be fine, but she decided to remain quiet after Reeves vehement denial. Ferdinand, Aiful is selling tea in Cross Town. Ill buy you a cup there. Ah I see. Ill be looking forward to it then. Oh Ellis, Katie and I want to go check on how the construction is going, so we will leave partway through. Nya. Then Pi-tan and I will house-sit today. The five girls each confirmed their plans with one another. Then with Frau staying behind to watch the house, the other four left the mansion alongside Ferdinand. They made a quick stop at the steamed food shop where Katie and Claire diverted before the remaining three left for the teahouse. Welcome, Ferdinand. Aiful and Credia both gleefully greeted the three as soon as they walked through the door. Aiful, please prepare three sets. Ellis quickly submitted her usual order for three before guiding Ferdinand to the outdoor terrace. Well, it certainly has a nice atmosphere. Yes, it lets me do business with a good feeling. Aiful had quickly brought out the tea sets and thanked Ferdinand for his compliment with a small laugh. She brought with her some extra sweets as well: Jewelry Box tarts specially made by Ken. Hoho, you brewed this quite well. After tasting the first sip of his tea, Ferdinand had nothing but praise for the Lorenburg tea Aiful had brewed. Its thanks to everyones help. The truth is, right now, my daughter and I are living better lives here than he had in Wheat Grace. A light laugh and a brilliant smile played across her lips. Hey, Aiful, two tea sets please. Right around then Buzz and Doug came in through the shop looking particularly exhausted. When they did, their eyes were immediately drawn towards Ellis. Hey, Ellis. You did pretty well last night. You two, you sure are good friends. I never thought Id see a series of Naughty Friends like that. Yes, despite having never done it intentionally, Buzz and Doug had repeatedly used complimentary numbers resulting in them losing all of their money. As a result, the two had just gotten back after diving into Salamander Labyrinth. Well, we just need some Fever stones and well be back on our feet. Their response sounded very shady, and the fact that they wouldnt meet Elliss eyes just made them seem all the more suspicious. Ellis decided to help the two of them out a bit before it became a problem, so she walked up to them and whispered into their ears, Should I tell Aiful and Credia about what happened last night? I bet theyd love to hear about you two losing all your money gambling. All the blood immediately drained from their faces. No, were fine now. Ill tell Aiful myself. Later. Buzz and Doug insisted they would talk about it themselves. Satisfied, Ellis threw one of the blue tarts into her mouth. Draining them dry was fun, but things could become difficult later on if they ended up homeless because they kept doing it. A light talking to from Aiful should be enough for them. Finishing off the last tart, Reeve and Ferdinand rose up from their spots at the table as if they had been signaled, and after Reeve settled up their bill with Credia, Ellis once again started guiding Ferdinand down the highway. The group of three soon reached the Merchant Guild. Reeve! And Ellis too, welcome. The person who greeted them at the door was Maria, the Merchant Guild guild master. Also the only person who treats Reeve as if she was above Ellis. Well, Ellis didnt really care, so it was fine. Maria, Ive come by to introduce my grandpa. This is Ferdinand Lorenburg. Grandpa Ferdinand, this is Maria, the Merchant Guild guild master for Warren. Reeve politely introduced the two of them to each other. Lorenburg tea is often considered to be the best tea in the country, and knowing that you were the one who taught Reeve much of what she knows, it is truly an honor for me to meet you Ferdinand. I have been told that you are here this time to aid us with the live house our city is currently building. Please know that you have our sincerest gratitude with this matter. No no, the knowledge this old man has is something I acquired over my long life. If it is in some way useful to you, then that is more than enough to make me happy. With the greetings out of the way, Ellis got around to explaining the dimensions for the live house. The hall serves as the foundation for the building. The seats are movable, so seating can be adjusted depending on what type of show is booked for that night. In total, they were hoping to make 300 thousand rils every night it is open. If the event seats 100 people, then tickets will be sold for 3000 ril, and if the venue can seat 300 people that night, then tickets will be sold at 1000 ril. They were hoping to hold an event every two nights at least. Hmm, its a good reference for the sales. Although the actual numbers will depend largely on the performers you book. Ferdinand started comparing some of the already planned shows with the floor plan that Ellis provided him. While he was deep in thought by what he saw, Ellis took the time to talk to Nicole. Nicole, can you go grab the other members of Stone Walls? Grab the muscle performers that the brothers introduced too please. Nicole looked at her with a stupid expression, but there was no reason for him to refuse. Okay Ellis. Just give me a minute. While he was running off, Ferdinand was busy giving various advice to Maria. Things to advertise, where to advertise, how best to communicate with the entertainers, and the best way to use the Thieves and Adventurers Guild were just some of the topics he was rattling off. Building the live house itself is your biggest cost. Upkeep doesnt cost much, so you should start seeing profits as soon as you start putting on shows. By the way, do you have an idea for some Warren performers already? Maria had already picked out a couple of groups, but Ellis had an idea for two groups as well. It was then the Nicoles band members arrived. My name is Ramon, a stylish rock gay. My name is Amon, a stylish metal gay. My name is Simon, a stylish punk gay. My name is Damon, a stylish pop gay. My name is Nicole, a stylish reggae gay. ..Annoying. Please stand aside Nicole. The four muscled performers had also arrived. Nicoles group took a step back, glaring at them, but the fighting performers matched their glares and stared right back at them. The fighting performers and the music performers seemed to know each other, and it looked like there was more than a little bad blood between them. Ellis got between the fighting performers and Nicoles four bandmates and addressed the eight of them. You guys, from now on you eight are part of the Thieves Guilds entertainment branch: male division. Ellis then turned towards Maria. These eight will normally work at the nightclub. However, their real job will be performing at the live house. Do you have any objections? Maria didnt say anything, but the eight men all seemed rather excited about the idea. Can we fight again? Although the stage is a little small, you should be able to perform once every seven days. Ill try to get you guys a good ring later. Can we play on the live stage as well? I saw just how popular Nicole and the Stone Walls were at the harvest festival. Sometimes Reeve can participate with you, make sure you dont do anything to embarrass her. Maria and Ferdinand were left stunned as Ellis continued to advance the situation on her own. What a girl, Ferdinand wearily sighed. Alright then Reeve. Im going to bring these eight to the Thieves Guild, so Ill leave Ferdinand to you. And so without waiting for a reply, Ellis made her way out of the Merchant Guild hall like a passing typhoon with eight men trailing behind her. Hello Karen. Hello Ellis. I came here to see Margherita. Is she here or at the store? Shes here with Marilyn actually. Theyre having a meeting with Machel in the back. Great! Can you call her for me? Sure just give me a second. Just like usual Karen disappeared into the back room, but she was back out front after only a second had passed saying that the women would be right out to meet them. Ellis had always thought it never took long for the receptionists to return because Baltis had always been watching the lobby when she entered, but she had now officially become curious about how the receptionists pass their messages. And sure enough, just as Karen had said, Margherita and her coworkers appeared. Morning Ellis. Thank you for the extra income last night. Thats right. In last nights gambling practice, Margherita and Marilyn had emerged in triumph. Although having received tips for every winning hand, Machel could be said to be the winner overall. Im glad I could help. By the way, can we change the way we use the Gachihomos for a bit? Ellis re-introduced the four Gachihomos and four gay band members, and she proposed that rather than having them be simple employees at the nightclub, they would be better off becoming the new members of the entertainment division Margherita had recently been put in charge of. Generally speaking, six of them could work at once while another two took the day off. On the days that they are fighting in the arena or performing on stage, the other group can pick up the slack. And since they wouldnt be getting by on just the nightclubs income, we should be able to keep costs down. Alright Ellis, it sounds fine to me. By the way, do you have time after this? It should be alright. What is it? Oh, its just about the uniforms were going to use. Right, we will have to decide on that early. Alright Gachihomos, Gays, break! The eight grown men were being ordered around as if they were a bunch of low-thugs by an eight-year-old girl. But when she told them to break up, they nodded their heads and obediently left. She was an important lady who had just gotten them stable work and a venue to ply their trade after all. Alright, theyre gone. Lets talk. The management policy inside the nightclub had almost been completely decided. Everything inside the building could be paid for using poker chips. The customers would deposit their luggage at the entrance, purchase the necessary chips at the front counter, and they would then use those chips for playing, eating, drinking, among other things. It had already been decided that servings of sake would be 500 ril and that snack foods such as nuts would be served for 1000 ril. Guests who wish for a lighter time or are just visiting for a short while can enjoy some fruit juice instead which is also sold for 500 ril. Its chip on delivery throughout the store. Settlements are done on the spot. For the people in charge of the games, I was thinking of having all the assistants, bankers, and dealers wear the same uniform. Something simple yet sexy would be best, so a white blouse with a black vest overtop it and knee-high pencil skirts. This was Machels proposal. It was something cute yet simple, but since the assistants werent supposed to seduce the customers, Ellis thought it was perfect. I was initially thinking about having the attendants use the same long maid wear we wore before, but then I thought of something else. Margheritas plan was to change Masters Hideaway and remove a little nice thing and a very nice thing from the menus. They would mark down the services to a more suitable cost, and the name of the bath would be changed accordingly. Meanwhile the new store would serve a little nice thing and a very nice thing exclusively. The uniforms there would be more direct, consisting of a black one-piece dress that the girls could customize as they see fit. We can make the current bath more wholesome, allowing men to use it without suspicion from their wives being thrown on them. Meanwhile the new store would carry a more adult atmosphere to compensate. But the dreams. Its for the best, Ellis. Ellis thought about it for a minute. As much as she hated to admit it, Margherita had a point. And the maid uniforms would certainly look out of place in the atmosphere she was describing. But were black one-piece dresses really the answer? With a heavy heart, Ellis relented. She would have to temporarily withdraw the grand bunny girl wear plan that she had devised beforehand. Well, Margherita and Marilyn are able to show off their appeal no matter what dress they wear. So were fine to place the order? What do you mean? Youre the leader. You decide. Margheritas face flashed a bright red, and Ellis got to have a small laugh after having her soul momentarily crushed. But with that, the state of things was finally established, and the three former back-alley women got to work. The Male Street (tentative name) would soon be open for business. CH 80 Ahhh Ahhh Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhn Marilyn, you were great today as well, the Hero Gray gasped out while leaning on Marilyns chest. She responded by stroking his head and giving him a small smile. Mr. Gise looks like he is doing well. Yes, and its all thanks to Marilyn. By the way, Gise, the full-blown renovations done to the male-only street will be finished tomorrow. Ten days later we will have an open event at the night club. Please feel free to attend if you want. What kind of clothes should I wear for that kind of event? Generally, I believe most people will be wearing a tuxedo. Gray instantly became embarrassed. Although he had certainly accrued a good bit of money, he had never worn a tuxedo before. He didnt have a clue where he would go to buy one. Where can I buy a tuxedo? If you dont mind, would you like to let me guide you after this? Is that really alright? Well, Ive actually finished all my work for the day with this. Afterwards, Marilyn gave Gray a little extra service before the both of them left to get dressed. It took Gray only a moment to get changed into his simple clothes, and he waited for Marilyn in the lobby. Sorry to have kept you waiting. Today as well Marilyns Eros was in full bloom. Gray had no idea why an ordinary blouse and semi-long flare skirt could look so erotic, but he was starting to wish his appointment had just started instead of ended. Well then Gise, lets head out. Marilyn invited Gray to go out by grabbing his arm and holding it close to her. A dirty smile spread across his face as his arm pressed into her chest, and his mind became mud. Soon, the sight of Marilyn almost dragging Gray along could be seen in the city streets. Marilyn began to explain to him that after construction had began, all of the mens specialty clothes shops moved from the city square to the men-only street. Master, this person is looking to buy a complete tuxedo! Hoh Marilyn. Thanks for your hard work as always. When Marilyn walked in while dragging along Gray, she greeted the store owner with a wave of her hand. Then, leaving the Hero behind for a second, she walked up to the owner and whispered into his ear, Do you remember the Mohawk price? Please use that. Well then Gise, you should be fine with this. Yes, thank you for everything Marilyn. I will definitely see you in ten days. In this way, Gray was lucky enough to acquire a nice tuxedo..at twice the market price. Ahhh Ahhh Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhn Margherita, you were great today as well. The Demon Lord going by the name of Berudeus breathed out a sigh of relief while thanking Margherita. Did you like the camel clutch Beru? Ah, it was great. By the way Beru, the full-blown renovations done to the male-only street will be finished tomorrow. Ten days later we will have an open event at the night club. Please feel free to attend if you want. And then Margherita continued. Actually, that black one-piece dress that Beru recommended has been adopted as the uniform for the new bathhouse attached to the nightclub. Really? The Demon Lord had been lying down with his face buried into the mattress until now, but he decided to flip himself over and lie on his back instead. His lower abdomen would hurt otherwise. Beru has actually helped me out quite a bit, so I prepared a gift for you. Would you wait in the lobby for me while I get it? Sure. Ill quickly change my clothes. The farmers clothes the Demon Lord wore slipped on with ease, and he waited for Margherita in the front lobby while wearing his usual straw hat. When she came out, she was wearing a white blouse underneath a black vest and a tight black skirt. Did you wait long? This is the uniform for the games department of the nightclub. Do you like it? That is way too erotic, what is with that cleavage? I should hire the person who designed that as my head torturer. That slit in the back should be a crime! After a few seconds, the Demon Lord was able to reset his brain. Hey, can we extend todays time? The Demon Lord was a slave to his urges, but he knew that he couldnt force Margherita to do something she didnt want to. He wouldnt. So, he would endure. By the way, this was the present I was talking about. I think it will suit Beru quite well. What she held out was a fine black suit, fresh pressed and ready to go. Is that okay? It looks expensive. You saved my life. Something like this is quite cheap compared to that. But if its okay with you, I would be very glad if you would come to the opening event while wearing this though. Margherita found herself feeling just a little giddy, and a rosy blush rose to her cheeks for the first time in a long time. However, the Demon Lord wasnt the type of guy to notice something like that. I understand. I will most definitely come again after ten days. And so Margherita grabbed hold of the Demon Lords left arm and pulled him in close. She slowly guided him to the entrance before reluctantly pulling back. See you again, Beru, Margherita said while lightly waving her hand in front of her chest. Ah, I will definitely come again. The Demon Lord gave a short reply before turning around and walking out of town. When he was out of sight, Margherita allowed herself a small sigh. This isnt like me, she muttered to herself while slowly making her way to the Thieves Guild. Katie, thanks nya. Katie, thank you. Mati and Labra had both safely arrived in Warren. They had learned where Elliss mansion was at the Adventurers Guild and immediately gone over for a visit. The five Jewelry Box members warmly welcomed the two inside. Well, three actually. There was someone hiding behind Mati, but before they entered inside, Mati took her hand and pushed her in front. This kid is Ravi, the daughter of a rabbit family I know nya. I brought her with us to be a server nya. Im Ravi nano. Nice to meet you nano. The young rabbit girl did her best to give a proper greeting with outstretched ears. She was coated in thin brown hair that was pretty in the sunlight, yet the way she was ever-so slightly trembling while introducing herself was childishly cute. Because its a restaurant, its better to have more hands nya. But until profits start coming, expect to get more sticks than carrots nya. Katie has become a champion of saying terrible things. Well then, since you all are new here, this time all of us can guide you. The other four all nodded their heads, and after a few minutes to get ready, everyone was ready to go. Currently there were six stores in total in Cross Town. Hanna and Kens cake shop was on the same side as Lily Garden on the north side of the highway. Aiful and Credias teahouse was next to it with an open deck connecting them both. Furthermore, there was a womans boutique that had already opened thanks to Elliss loans. There was an opening next to the store large enough for several carriages to park. On the south side was the manju store that Shin and Nonna would be running. They were placed right across the street from the cake shop. Next to them was the live house. The building itself was already quite large, so a road was made going alongside it to the back. A large parking lot for carriages was designed expanding back. Lastly was a cafe that also sold takeaway snacks built next to the live house. This was secretly Elliss favorite shop, and she ate out there more than anywhere else in Warren. It had also opened thanks to a loan from Ellis. Matis shop, the steamed food restaurant, would be on the end next to the cafe. Construction had already finished, and the main entrance welcomed any who wanted to enter. Katie looked quite proud of herself standing in front of it, and as she unlocked the front door with her key, she urged the three visitors into the store. There were a total of three round tables capable of seating six people, two tables that fit four, and four two person tables. The kitchen was in the back. There were a total of six Claire-Flint brand steamers, 3 burners, and a kiln off in the corner. A large cooking table sat in the middle of the room, looking ready to be used. Frau explained the presence of each. Because some of your steamed dishes will require you to make bean paste and sauce at the same time, youll need a large stove, and with the kiln, you can immediately bake crepes after putting them together. You should be able to pull in all sorts of customers with this. If you ever need help with the menu, just ask Frau. Mati, Labra, and Ravi all nodded their heads simultaneously at Elliss advice while looking around the room dumbfounded. Then they came to the living space in the back. I used Hanna and Kens room as a reference, so everythings perfect nya. Apart from the kitchen, there was a living room, a washroom, and three bedrooms. Katie explained that she had used Ken and Hannas requests as a baseCone bedroom, one guest room, and one room for future children. Considering the extra addition of Ravi, this meant that there was enough rooms for each of them. It was a happy surprise for the three ladies who had been prepared to share a bed with each other. Well then, Im going to buy uniforms and furniture nya. Frau, I want you to come with me nya. It seems that Katie wanted to take care of everything herself. Well, this cat girl had a hundred million in assets and was currently giving away a building as a gift, so she could afford this much. It was here that the five girls would split up. Katie and Frau were headed towards the city square, and Ellis would join them into town before heading off to the Thieves Guild. Reeve and Claire were going to go home after treating their new neighbors to a cake set and some tea at Aifuls shop. The entrance fee can all go to the Merchant Guild while the Thieves Guild receives 10 percent from the performers paychecks. How about that? Ellis was currently in the middle of negotiations with Baltis. Margherita, Marilyn, and Machel were all there as well, but there was no way they were getting involved in this. Arent you being a little too greedy as just an advisor? Ellis had argued on the Thieves Guilds behalf before, so maybe Baltis was thinking she would give him a better deal. There was no way she was going to so blatantly cross Maria however. The Thieves Guild is honestly stepping into Merchant Guild profits here. Besides, the Thieves Guild has already gotten two bathhouses and a nightclub from this, or are you forgetting that Uncle? Baltis began to laugh as if a great joke had just been told. Yeah, youre right Ellis! Youve been doing really great for the Thieves Guild. All right, new deal. Become my daughter and take over for me. I refuse. Dont you want to think about it? Uncle, if you keep trying to do things in such a round-about way, youre going to make the Adventurers Guild and the Workshop Guild your enemies. Oh, itll be no problem as long as Frau and Claire succeed them too. Ill think about it after all you old men are dead. Ellis could spin the story in whatever way she wanted after that. So, we need to decide a name for the store. Does anyone have any ideas? Ellis brought the discussion back on track, and surprisingly, Margherita raised her hand. I want to change the image of the bathhouse, and I think the name Masters Hideaway suits the nightclub more. Since the current bathhouse is becoming more for general use, I was thinking about having its name changed to Healthy Paradise, and the new bathhouse meant for good things only can be called Dandys Shangri La. Then how about just calling the men-only street Gentlemans Street? Hmm, it sounds good at least. I think its good. What about everyone else? Baltis had no objections. As for the other two, it seems like they had already talked about the idea with Margherita before, so they just nodded their approval. Then Ill report it to Maria at the Merchant Guild in advance just in case. If she says its okay, Ill talk to Flint and have him prepare a sign and a few fliers. Cmon, Im begging you Madame Advisor. Ill stab you Uncle. Aah, scary scary. Baltis put his hands up in surrender, but nobody was buying it. Well then, I am off. And so Ellis next headed towards the Merchant Guild with four others watching her off. CH 81 Today was the Eve of a new chapter for Masters Hideaway. With Gentleman Street opening, the original Masters Hideaway would now be called Healthy Paradise. Meanwhile, the new bathhouse, Dandys Shangri La, would be opening in another three days. This was to allow the women time to move over to Shangri La, get settled, and feel comfortable working there. Besides, they were expecting an extremely large turn-out for the first couple days. By accepting reservations in advance, they were also aiming for a huge blowout for the opening day. Today was the pre-event that also served as the final check. All the guild masters and several of their top executives gathered at the nightclub minted as the new Masters Hideaway. Elliss group were all wearing matching dresses for the occasion. They had hired Ken to act as a coachman for them, and they road to Masters Hideaway in style. Welcome. Two of the fighting performers, Nobuhiko and Kazuo, were standing by at the entrance. They had both gotten gussied up for the night and were wearing a clean suit with a bowtie. Ellis waved to them both as she walked by with the other four following her into the store. Next was the coat-check. Ellis and the others were each carrying small Adventurer bags that matched their dresses with them, so there wasnt really anything for them to drop off. The money exchange counter was right around the corner from there though. Two of Nicoles band mates Ramon and Amon were standing there wearing the same suit and bowtie that the fighting performers were wearing. For the time being, give us 200,000 ril per person. Break it up a bit for tips too. Ellis had already explained the rules to the others beforehand, so they each had their chips split up in the same way. 19 10,000 ril chips, 5 1,000 ril chips, and 10 500 ril chips. Ellis had had Flint make five dedicated chip cases made to help carry their chips. It was an unnecessary expenditure. But Ellis was planning on running into some extra income in the near future, so it was fine. Welcome Ellis. Margherita came out to meet the girls when they finally got inside. She was wearing a black Camilla long dress that she had bought specifically for tonight. The dress itself stopped right above her chest and was lined white artificial flowers. The shoulder strap looked very sexy, and she wore a red ruby necklace around her neck. When she goes outside, it seems that she has a small white jacket to wear overtop of it. Each of the five sighed in spite of themselves at her beauty. Sister, youre more beautiful than usual today. Oh, thank you. Margherita led them over to the bar room. There were a number of other women there wearing dresses very similar to what Margherita was wearing. This was actually something that Ferdinand had proposed. Those workers who will be dressing up in more adult attire should mingle around the first couple nights. The key to any successful business is good advertising after all. Meanwhile the last two fighting performers, Masakatsu and Minoru, were standing guard in the corner. Just in case. Traveling through the bar room, the ladies finally made it to the game room. Four tables in total had been set upCtwo for Warren Dice and two for Warren Numbers. There was a 100 ril table and a 1000 ril table for each. There was an extra room in the back for VIP players looking to play Warren Numbers. This was where the more expensive games would be played in the future. Welcome Ellis. Ellis was being welcomed by just about every man and woman she crossed paths with tonight. All of the workers came forward to give their greetings when she walked into the room. They were all wearing the uniforms that Machel had picked out consisting of a black vest over a white blouse and a tight black skirt. Even their shoes had been unified to be pairs of black low heel shoes. The atmosphere created was very orderly, and it was a good fit for the upscale uniforms. Simon and Damon casually disappeared into a back corner after giving their greetings to Ellis as well. The full black uniforms they were wearing helped them to blend in to the shadows, and it was easy to lose track of them if you didnt know they were there. Then lets play a bit here until the event starts, Ellis called out while taking one of the player seats for Warren Dice. Machel, if you dont mind, could you roll the dice for us until the party starts? Machel was already halfway to her spot behind the table before Ellis had even asked. Oh, its a table made just for Dice. Ill play with you. I should do fine if its just dice. I suppose I should join in too. I bet on 1 nya. Each of the girls pulled up a chair and took a seat. Assistants took a stand behind each of them just as Ellis had taught them. Close enough that they can be of help whenever they need to be, but not so close that they distract people from the game. Watching how smoothly they were all able to perform the way she taught them, a small smile spread on Elliss lips. Please change this to 1000 chips. Ellis handed over two of her 10,000 ril chips and got back 20 1000s. Alright then. The players are the five members of the Jewelry Box. Game start. Machel made sure everyone was ready before gracefully rolling the dice and slamming the cup onto the table. Each of the girls then took their time placing their bets. Well, besides Ellis. With the excuse of, Im feeling lucky, she had already put down 1000 chips onto red one and white one before the dice had even been rolled. If she was right, that would be a 36 times payout. Closed. Machel declared the end of betting and then lifted the cup to make sure it didnt touch any of the dice. The final result, Red 3, White 5. Everyone was out. The assistants collected the chips, and then it was time for the next game. I was feeling generous and donated. The next several games were played the same way. Then, right before the event was about to start, when each guild master and most of the guild executives accompanying them had gathered, Red 1, White 1. Hoh. Nice job Ellis. The people who had gathered around the table after seeing the girls play got excited at Elliss large payout and started to talk about their own plans when they started. Meanwhile, Machel prepared Elliss dividends with a smile, and one of the assistants carried it over. Congratulations. The assistant made sure there was a total of 32,400 ril sitting in front of Ellis, but Ellis quickly undid her careful counting by immediately pulling out two 1000 ril chips. With a flick of her fingers she tipped one of the assistants and Machel. I had fun. Machel and the assistant both responded with an elegant smile and bowed their heads as Ellis rose from her seat. Alright, now then, should we go find some old men to beat? Ellis and the others picked up their chips and headed towards the bar room, but before they left, Ellis made sure to tip Machel and all five of the assistants who had been helping them an additional 10,000 ril. Today, we thank you for gathering here with us. Baltis, as the guild master of the Thieves Guild which was in charge of the two newly opening shops, stood before those who had gathered and greeted them. Standing behind him was the leader of the entertainment unit Margherita along with the sub-leaders Marilyn and Machel. Ellis was up there as well since she served as an advisor for the projects, and Katie was standing beside her as the Thieves Guilds most highly earning thief adventurer. They were both considered to be hosts, not guest. Baltis continued his speech. Everyone, this is meant to be our final check before tomorrows grand opening. If you ever have any problems, dont hesitate to let me know, but dont let that stop you from having fun. Margherita took a step forward here and took Baltiss place. Everyone, for those of you who dont know me, I am Margherita, the one in charge of running this nightclub. Please, enjoy tonight with all your heart. A formal greeting from the beautiful woman running the shop. Ellis had hoped allowing guests to see that a beautiful was in charge rather than a stuffy old man like Baltis would make people drop their guards and feel more relaxed inside the club. The alcohol that was currently being distributed to every guest from an endless stream of girls wearing black one piece dresses should help with that as well. When all the alcohol had been passed out, Baltis turned around and looked at Ellis. Hey advisor, please give us a toast. What is this bastard saying? Why are you trying to get an eight-year-old girl to do a toast? Why was an eight-year-old girl served alcohol in the first place? These were all valid questions that Ellis held herself back from asking as she took center stage and forced herself to smile. Everyone, for the continued development of our city. Cheers! Cheers! The more proper atmosphere that had pervaded the club until now vanished once the speech was done, giving way to a hustle and bustle of differing conversations, laughter, and people moving to take their favorite seats. Meanwhile, five people gathered in one corner of the room to discuss what they would be doing from now on. I want to study golems, so Im going home. I will also return. Ill make sure dinner is finished by the time you come back. Im going to go play with Mati and the others nya. Thats right, none of the girls had thought that there was any reason for them to stay past this point. Ellis and Reeve also saw no real reason for them to stay any longer either, but right when they were about to leave, they were ambushed by Flint. Hey you bastards, you think you can runaway while youre ahead. Frau and the other two aside, Ellis and Reeve have built up quite a bit of resentment you know? Now, just give us a minute of your time. Buzz and Doug had joined in with the resolve to become kidnappers if necessary. Because its like this, go ahead and have dinner without us, Ellis said with a sigh. Please look forward to some souvenirs, Reeve smirked having entered serious mode. And so, the remaining three waved their hands farewell as Ellis and Reeve were almost dragged to the 1000 ril table for Warren Numbers. Baltis was already in the dealers seat when they arrived, and Machel was serving as his banker. The players included Ellis, Reeve, Flint, two executive members of the Workshop Guild, Theseus, Buzz, Doug, Maria, and Nicole. 11 players in total. Nicole and Ichiro were both sitting awkwardly together, clearly wondering what they were doing in this place. Conversely, Maria was high tensioned and was looking almost as excited as when Reeve was about to have a concert. Im lucky today. Im walking away with that 1 million ril jackpot! This guild master was in a good mood. And so, the game began. In the end, all three members of the Merchant Guild were robbed of all their money. One after another: Maria, Nicole, and Ichiro each flung themselves onto the table, their souls escaping through their mouths. Of all of them, Maria had received the most damage. Noticing the dealers advantage rather quickly, she had immediately volunteered to become the dealer herself. However, she was targeted by the more veteran players of the game. Especially in the second set of the second game, everyone besides Nicole and Ichiro had correctly guessed the card she put down. After having put out max bets. The payout was obviously the highest of the night, and the 1 million ril jackpot was quickly eaten through. Nicole, call up all the available people from the guild! All of the blood was rushing to Marias head. That, please spare me. Honestly though, Flint and the other men hadnt done much better. As the games progressed, they regretted more and more at having forced Ellis and Reeve to play. A lesson they would remember for the future. Augh, say hello to Claire for me when you get home. Flint was always a big man, but on this particular night, he was looking puny. With that, Ellis and Reeve were both released without ever even having to act as the dealer. Alright then. Margherita, Marilyn, do your best. Ellis bid her farewells after tipping the three leaders, all of the black dress group, the assistants, and the bouncers 10,000 ril each before heading to the front counter and exchanging the rest of her chips in. On their way home, Ellis and Reeve used some of their winnings to buy up some specialty fruit like they had promised. They kept all the fruit in a basket that Reeve carried in her right arm. Alright then Mistress. Shall we walk home? Hmm. Its still early. Lets take a walk down Gentleman Street a bit before heading back. Ellis reached up and took Reeves empty left hand into her right. While wearing matching dresses, the two then took a leisurely walk as they slowly made their way homeCReeves song lightly filling the cool night air. And then the next afternoon. The newly christened Masters Hideaway had a spectacular opening day. CH 82 When you take a step forward here, stab your sword forward at the same time. Your opponent will misjudge the distance of your blade that way. The Hero Gray gave a full display of what he was saying as he taught the students surrounding him about thrusting. In order to adequately discover traps, you must have awareness over all five of your senses plus a wealth of experience. By nature traps are cleverly hidden so as to be difficult to find, but that is precisely why you will find traps in unlikely places as well. Always be aware. Gise was teaching the students how to discover traps. This was the Magical City Wisdom. The three idiots: Dams, Peach, and Cliff, were made into teachers thanks to Elliss efforts and started taking money for lessons without thinking things through. However, there was nothing that those three could teach. Cliff had acquired only the preliminary techniques as a priest which most of magic school students had already known. As a result, Gray and Gise had come back to a large mess when they returned from Sky Castle and had been forced to give lecture upon lecture until the students were satisfied. This is because you didnt leave us some money in the first place, Dams spoke up a short distance away. We are quiet so long as we can continue to eat and drink, Peach could not help but to chide Gray from the bottom of her heart. On that note, how much money did you get from the king this time? Cliff was shamelessly digging through another persons wallet. Two people continued to give out lectures while trying to ignore the pulsing vein on their foreheads. At noon, Gray and Gise left on their own to talk about the three idiots and the future for the party while the other three were off having lunch. Its dangerous to leave them alone in this city again. Well have to keep them close from now on. Gise didnt like the idea, but he knew it would be the best option to them. When he suggested it though, Gray told him it was impossible. When asked why, he started babbling, giving inarticulate excuses that a child could see through. For a long while now Gise had been allowing Gray free reign, but he figured it was about time that he asked him the question. You, why do you want to be alone so often? The sudden question left Gray speechless, but it made him start thinking. What would happen if he told Gise about Marilyn? Would Gise look down on him? However, it would be better than bringing the three idiots with him every time he had to go to Warren. Dams and Cliff would most certainly frequent the bathhouse where they would certainly learn about Marilyns existence. So, Gray steeled his resolve and told Gise the whole truth. Afterwards, the two would have a lengthy talk about the future. Hey, Berudeus. What is it, My Demon Lord? This, does it suit me? Hoh, Berudeus was pleasantly surprised at the cleaned up Demon Lord. His wore a fine black suit with a clean white dress shirt along with a respectable silver bow tie. He had correctly folded the handkerchief plugged into his breast pocket, and even the shoes he was wearing were custom tailored and polished. It suits you very well. Did you buy that yourself? Berudeus had to stop and think for a moment here. He didnt understand why, but recently the Demon Lord had been in high spirits lately, and he wasnt constantly complaining about dead fish. Perhaps it was necessary to try things out himself for once. Certainly. Please call me when you decide to head out. Today was the grand opening for the new Masters Hideaway. With Gise at his side, the Hero Gray flew to Warren thanks to the magic of {Leap City}. Gise, to be honest, I used your name to hide my identity. Gise was more than a little upset to learn that his name had been used as an alias so that Gray could make reservations at a special service bathhouse. But when he thought of it like he was making a sacrifice for the sake of his party members mental health, he supposed that it couldnt be helped. So, he decided to never speak of it again. Then Ill avoid using my name anywhere near the bathhouse. Ah, Id appreciate it if you did so. Then, what is today? Oh, its the opening day for something called a nightclub. If its alright with you, would you like to go enjoy the bath. Okay, Ill do that. The first thing the two of them did as they reached Gentleman Street was head over to the mens specialty tailor to get the real Gise a tux. The store owner met them both at the door, but when he looked into Gises eyes, he knew it would be a bad idea to try and rip him off. He offered them instead an elegantly designed tux at regular price, not the Mohawk price. Luckily, Gray hadnt paid any attention to what he had paid for his tux, so the price difference went completely unnoticed. Well then, Ill go to the nightclub opening event, so Gise should enjoy the bath. Ah, after two hours, lets meet back up here. And so, the two men split up. Berudeus, give me pocket money to go out. The black suit had already was worn and ready to go, so the straw hat wearing Demon Lord found his secretary to gain some extra money. If you are wondering why he was still wearing the straw hat, it was because he was a farmer, and farmers wear straw hats. No suit changed that. Yes, here is one million ril as usual. Thank you. Ill be back after a while. After confirming that the Demon Lord was indeed gone, Berudeus cast the magic {Find Marker}. This was a spell that was able to track items that had been magically marked beforehand, like the Demon Lords coin purse for instance. Well then, lets make like the dog and give chase. Berudeus then activated his own flight spell and flew after the marker that had appeared in his mind. Welcome. Two muscular men wearing their own tuxedos greeted Gray at the door. Feeling a little self-conscious, Gray rushed into the club after giving them both a small nod. Since he didnt have any baggage to deposit, he was able to go straight towards the exchange counter. Welcome. Because the inside of the store uses a chip on delivery system, please exchange your money at the exchange counter inside the store. Chip on delivery system? Money exchange? Gray stood there wide-eyed like a frightened animal before the employee, so the woman behind the counter gave him a brief description of the chip system and what he needed to do. Okay. Then how much money should I exchange? It depends. Drinks inside are 500 ril, but for any chips you dont use, you can exchange them back here for no charge. For now, how about starting off with 10 thousand ril? Then please do. Gray took out 10 thousand ril from his wallet and exchanged it for 5 1000 ril chips and 10 500 ril chips. When he moved past the counter, he found himself inside the bar room where food and drinks were served. Gray looked around a bit until he saw Marilyn. With a small skip to his step, Gray immediately headed towards her, calling out her name. Marilyn, Im here. When Marilyn noticed Gray approaching, she greeted him with a smile. Welcome Gise. Marilyn wasnt wearing her normal clothes but was wearing a formal dress for the evening, suitable for her new status as the sub-leader of the entertainment unit. Yet even in formal dress, Marilyn exuded Eros as if she bathed in it. Gray tried to strike up a conversation with her, but before he could, Marilyn had already walked away to talk with some other guests. Ah.. Gray deflated, but then another woman came up to him from the counter. If youd like, please enjoy this cup of sake on the house. Since our game room is in the back, feel free to head there and enjoy yourself as well. Gray took the cup into his hands and plucked up his courage to ask the woman. How can I make a reservation for Marilyn? If you let them know at the exchange counter, they can process you request. I understand. Thank you for your help. Gray immediately headed back to the exchange counter and booked a reservation for Marilyn. It wouldnt be for another three days, but his was the first one in the afternoon. Yosh! Gray took a guts before before returning to the bar and taking a seat on one of the stools. Lets head back after drinking this. Welcome. Two muscular men wearing tuxedos greeted the Demon Lord at the door. After staring at the two of them for a moment, the Demon Lord walked by them and entered the club. Since he had no baggage to drop off, he was able to head straight for the exchange counter. Welcome. Because the inside of the store uses a chip on delivery system, please exchange your money at the exchange counter inside the store. Well okay then. Not fully understanding what the woman was talking about, the Demon Lord decided to drop off his wallet onto the counter. The woman got a little excited when she saw the Demon Lord throwing all his money down like that, but then she counted just how much money it was. Honorable customer, are you exchanging all 1 million ril in full? Is it too little? No, thats The woman decided it was best to remain silent on this and obediently pulled out 99 10,000 ril chips, 9 1000 ril chips, and 10 100 ril chips. Thank you. Shoving them all into his pocket, the Demon Lord headed further inside the club. Margherita noticed him as soon as he walked inside, and she immediately started walking right for him. Beru, you came. Im happy. Ah, I came. By the way Beru, you came in wearing a straw hat? Of course. The look on the Demon Lords face clearly conveyed he was wondering why she would ask him that, but Margherita decided to let it go before taking his hand. Then she took off the cloak he was wearing and dropped it off at the deposit counter. You should leave extra items like that here. Its that kind of place? Yes. By the way, you look very nice in a black suit Beru. Margherita honestly praised him after giving him a good once over. Rather than that, you are looking almost lethal tonight in that dress. Thereupon, while still holding the Demon Lords hand, Margherita rose up on her tiptoes and brought her lips to his ear. She pressed her breasts against his arm. Then with an evil smile on her face, she teasingly whispered into his ear, Is that the only kind of compliment a dirty pig like you can give, Beru. Ahhh By the way, will you be making a reservation for our new bathhouse? The Demon Lord quickly nodded his head. Well then, please do so here. Without him realizing it, the Demon Lord had been brought right back to the exchange counter. This customer will be making a reservation. Have Mr. Berudeus come in first thing in the afternoon. The Demon Lord obediently nodded his head once again in confirmation. With this, the Demon Lord was also able to safely make a reservation. Margherita, you have a visitor. Called by one of the other girls, Margherita reluctantly released the Demon Lords hand. Im sorry that I cant thank you adequately right now, but I do hope you enjoy the rest of your night. And so the Demon Lord was left alone. Not knowing what he was supposed to do, the Demon Lord wandered the club aimlessly for a bit before finding a counter seat he could take. It was there that he ran into someone he knew. Oh Gise, isnt that you? Well if it isnt Beru. Long time no see. Thus was the reunion between the (fake) apprentice thief Hero and the (fake) farmer Demon Lord. CH 83 The thief of the Brave Party, Gise, was born in the capitol Skycastle. He was a so-called guild elite as both of his parents were high ranking member in the Skycastle Thieves Guild. Since early childhood he was trained by his father who specialized in infiltration and a mother who specialized in trap research. There were many opportunities for thief adventurers in the capitol, and the majority of requests that are put in to the capitols Thieves Guild are for adventurer assistance. He was able to quickly produce spectacular results. Trap Killer Gise was his second name. He had earned the trust of the Thieves Guild master, and there was no doubt in anyones minds that he was to become the guilds heavy hitter. His future was looking bright. If only the Hero had never shown up. A young man calling himself the Hero suddenly appeared at the castle and demanded he see the king. Behind him was a dim, shady-looking behemoth and a sketchy, devious-looking woman. Naturally the gatekeepers would not listen to them and tried to stop them from entering the castle. But the young man displayed outstanding physical abilities, and after forcing open the gates through brute force, he knocked out every guard who stood in his way without once injuring himself as he moved forward. Before arriving in front of the kings hall, the man had been attacked by nearly 100 soldiers and had bounced all of them back. The royal family, which had become hysterical after discovering the lost records of the past Demon/God war three years before, recognized his arrival as the coming of the Hero. In order to support the royal family which had recognized the hero, the Thieves Guild sent over their up-and-comer Gise to help. Meanwhile the Merchant Guild, who did not trust this supposed Hero, sent over Cliff as a way to sabotage himCgetting him out of their hair was an added bonus. From here all the troubles in Gises life began. Dams and Peach quickly proved to be amateurs that had no experience in an adventurers lifestyle in any way. Cliff was just incompetent. And then he noticed the abnormal relationship between Gray and Peach. What the hell is this This was Gises honest impression. This wasnt a party; it was five distressed people flailing around. But even in such an environment, the Hero Gray continued to barrel through explorations. Inside the labyrinths, so long as Gise disabled the traps, there were no enemies that could stand against Gray. The only reason they ever needed to rest inside the labyrinths was to allow Cliff time to recover his MP. Every time a magic tool comes out, the other three would appraise it like a pack of hyenas jumping on new prey. Even the smaller accessories like rings are immediately checked. Its no wonder Cliffs MP would quickly run dry. And of course there was no one in their party that had the ability to restore mana, and apparently holding the items and checking them later was not an option. So delays in their searching appeared. Dams and Peach do not want to do anything, but if a piece of equipment catches their eye that you are unaware of, then it would be like that piece of equipment never existed in the first place. Every time they request further aid from the king, his aides show visible disdain towards GrayCno matter what the kings opinion on the matter is. And so slowly, the Heros simple personality twisted and he became narrow-minded. Gise continued to report the situation to the Thieves Guild every single time. However, at least Gray has revealed his secret to Gise and has consulted with him about the future. The badger game blackmail scheme that Dams and Peach had caught him in and the woman he is addicted to at Warrens special bathhouse. Gise recognized that Gray had just traded his reliance on Peach for another woman, but for Gise the most important part of that sentence was the fact that Gray, no longer needed Peach. An addiction it might be, but Gise considered it a necessary sacrifice to improve the situation in the future. The straw to break the camels back. Gise had looked up to his parents. The fact that his birth was the crystallization of their love was a point of pride for him. Therefore, he was never interested in chasing his libido like other men seem to be. If he could find one person to fall in love with, thatd be enough. Peach always seemed like a useless idiot whose only skill was being somehow able attract men. And in Gises opinion, Gray was a foolish man who man who had fallen into a stupid girls trap. But that idiot is the Hero. An idiot may be an idiot, but as long as that idiot is steered in a direction that will lead to the Brave Party doing its job, then everything will be fine. So Gray decided to accept Grays invitation to Warrens bathhouse. He needs to know what exactly he is dealing with. Welcome. There was a pretty girl behind the reception desk. He had heard the workers here all operated while wearing maid wear, but this woman was wearing ordinary clothes. The bathing fee is 500 ril. If you would like shampoo and help washing your back, it is 2000 ril for the soaps and perfumes. Well, maybe I should splurge today. Certainly. Then allow me to show you to the changing room. A middle-aged woman with a little more weight on her than the receptionist came out. She had a kind smile that relaxed even Gises vigilance slightly, but at the same time he found things a little curious. He didnt feel this was the type of woman the majority of men would be interested in. There are other customers here, so please leave the keys to your locker at the reception once you are finished. As he was told, Gise stripped naked and locked his clothes away in the locker before leaving the keys with the reception girl. Then, the big woman from the previous time reappeared wearing a one-piece dress that looked like it would be easy to dry out, and she directed him to the washing area. There she helped him to wash his hair and did a good job of washing down his back as well. It almost felt like he had received a back massage rather than a simple washing. It all felt comfortable. As in a nice relaxing comfort. Youre done dear customer. Please enjoy a nice, quiet soak in the tub. Gise was guided to the soaking tub where he slowly immersed himself, and after a few seconds to get adjusted, he felt all of his worries and aches wash away. It felt amazing.. Hm? Isnt this a little too different from the story Gray told? Maybe he had picked the wrong option? Well, it doesnt really matter. More importantly, this hot water feels really good. Gises plans stopped right about here. After enjoying the warmth to his hearts content, Gise left the bath and borrowed a towel from the reception desk. Would you like some cool fruit juice? Its only 100 ril. Hoh, thats pretty cheap. Well, we are aiming for a bathhouse where everyone can enjoy themselves. Even children or our older patrons. What a wonderful sentiment, Gise thought to himself as he pulled his wallet out of his locker and got 100 ril. The woman received the money with a small bow before retrieving a cup from a small box in the wall and handing it to him. Gise naturally noticed the cup was cold to the touch before he put it to his lips, My, this is really delicious. To see something like this for only 100 ril is quite rare. The womans sunny smile lifted the whole room. Yeah, this is definitely a great place, Gise thought to himself. It took only a few seconds for him to throw on the rest of his clothes, and he made sure to wave his farewell to the reception girl as she bid him farewell. Well if its like this then I dont mind coming by regularly. Gise had been completely satisfied. There is still a bit of time before Im supposed to meet up. Should I take a little walk? Gise casually started heading in the same direction as Lily Garden. The small town-like area that was a little ways off from the rest of the city spread out before him. Well, I didnt know there was an area like this in Warren. There was a store like this.. He arrived at a teahouse that sold Lorenburg tea. When his mother was still alive he had drank it almost every single day. But after her death, it was something that faded from his mind. Before he knew it, Gise had already entered the store. What he found was someone with a striking resemblance to his mother. Welcome. The woman approached him with an elegance in her step, but in her eyes, she had an iron will that showed she had overcome hardship. Ah, um, is this place a teahouse? Although Gise was more than a little upset, he still managed to choke out enough words to ask the woman about the store. Yes, we sell Lorenburg tea and some tea ware as well for those who wish it. You can also choose to enjoy the tea here if you like. Looking around, Gise noticed a number of tables and chairs to his right side. There were several people sitting down, enjoy a pleasant chat while snacking on some confections. Well, how should I drink it? Please allow me to show you. Gise was guided to his seat while following a gentle smile. His eyes never parted from the shopkeeper. The woman noticed his gaze, and taking just a small step away, asked Gise, Did I do something? Gise had not realized his staring until she said something and internally scolded himself for being so disconnected. No, Im sorry. You justremind me of someone I used to know. No dont worry about it, please come take a seat. Today is a set with a fruit cookie. Would you like one? Ah, please. The woman left and brought back some cookies and tea already brewed in a pot. Gise poured the tea into his cup and took a bite from her cookie. Nostalgia. Chewing the cookie while drinking the tea. His childhood days came rushing back to him. Ah, so much time has gone past, how many years..? Gise did his best to fight back the tears, rapidly blinking his eyes, just trying to enjoy the tea. And then the pot was empty. It would soon be time for him to meet with Gray. Are you leaving? Gise stood up and headed towards the hostess. Rather than answer her question, he asked his own. Please tell me the name of this shop, and if you dont mind, yours as well. The woman answered with an elegant smile. The name of this teahouse is the Jewelry Box Tea room. I am Aiful. Please come again. Yes, yes. Gise nodded and gave his answer, I will definitely be back. It was all delicious. Gise left the store feeling as if all the problems he had faced since joining the Brave Party were just idle things. And as he walked back to the meeting place he and Gray had decided upon, he thought to himself, Lets accompany Gray whenever he goes to Warren. We can spend some time trying to figure out how to make the three idiots be quiet while we are at it. Thus, even inside Gises mind, the mater of suppressing the Demon Lord became a lesser priority. CH 84 Berudeus. Real name: Beruiel He is both a man and a woman; he is an angel. Not a fallen angel, an actual angel. Because, a fallen angel is an angel that has gone through a metamorphosis after being swallowed up by negative feelings like loneliness. Beruiel was just an angel who didnt like to do anything, so he eventually suffered Gods wrath and was thrown down to the earth. But for Beruiel, this place where he did not have to do anything was his Shangri La. To learn that a place without God telling him he had to do things was a point of enlightenment for him. He was in paradise. And thus Beruiel, not knowing he was on the Almerian continent, not fully knowing if he was awake or simply dreaming, began living a satisfying life. It was the God of Mages who dragged the poor happy angel into his game. Originally gods were supposed to choose their proxies themselves, but this time around the God of Mages had an idea. If a heavenly agent on the ground was to perform the selection ceremony, then the person chosen would be more in-tune with the world, thus boosting their powers, was the gods logic. If the power of the heavenly agent was added in as well, then all the better. And so, the God of Mages use Beruiel, to call forth the strongest Demon Lord. The will of God then started burning in Beruiels consciousness. The summoning ceremony With the wisdom of the world in hand, with the reason of the heavens you have, have he who would conquer all that there is appear in this land. Armaments Unbreakable armor that can guard the Demon Lord from any attack, a helmet that delivers onto the Demon Lord magic knowledge beyond comprehension, claws that allow the Demon Lord to tear through any enemy. Following Gods will I deliver onto you the power to unite all demons. From now on, you are to be the deputy officer for the new Demon Lord. And then Beruiel awoke. Oomph With a loud groan, he rose up from his resting place. This was an old abandoned castle on the southeast edge of the Almerian continent. How long, he wondered, since his body burned with the feeling of having to accomplish something. Was I so aggressive? he asked himself, not fully understanding the reason why for his sudden urge to perform his mission. Yet even so, he still asked himself, Well, shall we try hard for once? Beruiel drew a magic circle thats design appeared in his mind and performed the selection ceremony. The summoning ceremony With the wisdom of the world in hand, with the reason of the heavens you have, have he who would conquer all that there is appear in this land. The air chilled around them, and the lanterns lighting the room flickered. In the instant of complete darkness, a man appeared at the center of the magic circle. The massive amount of magic power exuded by this man made even Beruiel take a step back. This man, who was wearing nothing but an athletic shirt and boxer shorts while sitting cross-legged on the floor eating a bowl of rice. The man sipping up tea in his rice bowl glanced at Beruiel, causing a shiver to run up his spine. For awhile, all the man did was stare at Beruiel, but after completely emptying his meal, the man finally put down his bowl and asked, What is this? No, I certainly heard a voice, but by all means, why did you summon me when Im looking like this? Use some common sense dammit. I am terribly sorry, My Demon Lord. Beruiel then took a knee before the now complaining man. If you would allow it, I would summon your equipment. By the way, that, are those wasabi teacakes? Are you complaining? I have no complaints, but the smell is certainly powerful. Please just summon that equipment you were talking about before. Certainly yes. Beruiel activated the arming technique. Armaments Unbreakable armor that can guard the Demon Lord from any attack, a helmet that delivers onto the Demon Lord magic knowledge beyond comprehension, claws that allow the Demon Lord to tear through any enemy. The magic circle began to shine, illuminating the room as if it were the middle of the day. The light continued to shine brighter, blinding both of them for a second, before disappearing in an instant. What appeared there on the floor was a lightly shining suit of armor and a helmet made from dark mithril. Please, try it on. Soon, a Demon Lord of pure golden color rose to his feet, but then he stretched out both of his bare palms towards the angel.1 What is this then? What is what? Isnt this not enough? Ah, it isnt enough. . . Can we hold back any type of invasion until we finish this suit of armor? Nodding his head, Beruiel then asked the man, By the way My Demon Lord, shall we make the world quake as you declare your intentions of dominating all and the spread of violence? Eh, I dont really want to. . Mistakes were made. It was then that Beruiel became aware of an important point. His magic had influenced the selection ceremony just as it was supposed to. As a result, a Demon Lord with magic power beyond anything imaginable was summoned as planned, but the twos personalities ended up being similar as well. The Demon Lord was created as someone that did not want to perform even the most basic things that were expected of him. And so Beruiel descended into his own thoughts. This man who has become the Demon Lord has no motivation, and I am not motivated enough to try and get him to change. So then lets pass the buck. The domination of the Almerian continent is the work of the Demon Lord. then we will just have nothing to do with the actual invasion. Beruiel is bound to two rules. He must be a subordinate for the Demon Lord and Conquest of the continent by the demon kingdom must be broadcast nationwide. He has to obey the Demon Lord, but that means he doesnt have to actively participate unless the Demon Lord tells him to. For now we can perform the national broadcast. All of the annoying things can be solved by the demons that end up gathering together. They will rage and do the work that neither the Demon Lord nor I want to do. And so, the angel Beruiel became the Deputy subordinate Berudeus. The greatest mistake the God of Mages ever made was not ordering the angel Beruiel to conquer the Almerian continent and just assuming that that is what any Demon Lord would do. In this way the comic duo of the Demon Lord and Berudeus was formed. This was the city of Warren. After chasing the Demon Lord this far, Berudeus landed on the outskirts of the city and hid himself. Here it seems better to remain in this figure. Berudeus has an angels ability {Style Change} which allows him to switch between a man or a womans figure. He usually prefers to travel, wearing clothes similar to what a butler would be wearing to better blend in with humans. By the way, originally angels were meant to be split down the middle, being a man on the right half of their body and a woman on the left, but after seeing what it looked like to have the lower regions split in half like that, that design was for an angels body was quickly scrapped. Then lets commence with the tailing, Berudeus chuckled to himself as he re-located the Demon Lords signal. Welcome. Having arrived at the building the signal was coming from, Berudeus was greeted by two large, muscular men at the door. He stopped for only a second to look the two over before heading inside. As an angel, he was both sexes. Both men and women are good, and the two men at the front entrance were rather good looking. When he entered the shop, the first person he ran into asked him how much money he wanted to exchange. Having still not known what type of shop this was, he was wary for a second, but figuring if worst came to worst he could just blow everything up, he decided to just play along. Should 100,000 be enough? The beautiful expression of Berudeuss smile as he politely asked made the receptionists cheeks blush. I think itll be alright. Thank you bambina.2 Berudeus walked further inside the store with 100,000 ril worth of chips in his hands. It didnt take him long to locate the Demon Lord. He was sitting at a bar counter having a fun discussion with a strange man next to him. When Berudeus listened in, he found that the whole things consisted of the two men talking about women and their different preferences. Was it something like that? Berudeus remembered the dead fish women the Demon Lord had stopped complaining about recently. He now knew why. If he is enjoying himself then I suppose theres no problem, but that man next to him.. There was something about the man the Demon Lord was talking with that put Berudeus on edge, but after staring at him for a moment, Berudeus waved his hand. Well even if there is something wrong with him, the Demon Lord will handle it some way or another. An angel brought from the depths of slovenity. An angel who is truly indifferent to anything that doesnt interest him. With his initial mission completed, Berudeus decided to take some time and strolled around the store. He saw numerous men and women he wouldnt have minded becoming better acquainted with, all the more so after drinking a little of the alcohol they were serving. But what ended up catching his eye in the end was a game some of the humans were playing at one of the tables. What is that? Asking a nearby employee, Berudeus was told that this was the 1000 ril table for a game called Warren Numbers. With another glass of alcohol he bought from a woman wearing a black dress, Berudeus watched the game unfold and soon, he was able to pick up on the rules. Hm. So its a game where you must read your opponent. Berudeus continued to watch the game with growing interest until at one point he noticed an empty seat at one end of the table. Politely asking one of the employees there who was working as an assistant if he was allowed to join in. The woman was a little taken aback by being called out by such a beautiful guy, but she quickly regained her professional air and recommended the man sit down. Thank you miss, might I ask you your name? Matilda, the woman could once again feel herself getting a little embarrassed. Matilda, thank you for your assistance. Things should get busy now. The current dealer was the Adventurers Guild guild master Theseus. The jackpot was 500,000 ril, and Theseus is already 100,000 ril ahead. As the game has moved forward until now, Theseus has dominated the winnings ending six out of seven hands with more money coming in than he is giving out. That was when a new man with hair as black as the night and skin as white as porcelain took a seat. Hmm, Theseus instantly wanted to test him out. Alright my turn as dealer will end with this set. By the way, the fellow who has joined us, would you like to take a whirl at being the dealer next? Berudeus was taken aback. He had never expected to be called out and receive such sudden provocation from a human. But, Yes, if you wouldnt mind indulging me. the smile he gave when he was called out was much more similar to a demon than an angel. After Theseuss set was finished, Berudeus took the dealers seat. Matilda, would you mind being my banker? If he was going to ask anyone for help, it might as well be the cute assistant who had helped him before. He tried to remain calm, but there was no hiding the wicked smile he had on his face. I am supposed to determine the jackpot here, so I guess Ill get some more chips and have it be a full million. Berudeus handed over some more money to Matilda and asked her to exchange it at the counter for him. A tension quickly ran through the table. Everyone there was a veteran at the game who had been playing ever since Ellis first introduced it to them. Most of them were actually guild executives who had been there the night before for the pre-evening party. They all had confidence in themselves, and more importantly, they had confidence that they would be able to strip away every last cent from this newbie overconfident dealer. Well then, my number was this. After the first hand, Berudeus revealed he had placed down a 4 for his first hand. An unorthodox number that most amateurs wouldnt have picked. Thats why none of the players had guessed it. And so the first hand of this disturbing dealer was an all out. The end result was an overwhelming victory for Berudeus. Out of everyone who faced him, the only person that ended with more money than he started was Theseus. For someone with such a white face, you sure are a colorful guy. Whats your name friend. Me? Well..just call me Beruiel. The Angel of Roses? Hah! Thats a good joke. Gathering up his chips, Berudeus gave Matilda 10 percent of his winnings just as he saw Theseus had done, which totaled to about 200,000 ril, and gave her a kiss on the cheek before finally returning home. Although Berudeus did not know it at the time, this was to be the birth of the Masters Hideaways Rosen Angel. Thus, even inside Berudeuss mind, the mater of suppressing the Hero became a lesser priority. 1. Well 50 chapters ago I was wrong. I was wondering if it was just one arm or both that Katies claws covered, and I guessed it was just one. Now here we are and I was wrong. Its a small detail, but for all of you who like to picture things as they happen and have been imagining Katie fight with a single golden arm, Im sorry. 2. Kind of an older expression. The only reason I know about it is because I used to watch a lot of mafia movies, but it is Italian and you can think of it like someone saying Baby Girl. Those Italians and their flirtiness. CH 85 A character memorandum for the people who appeared after the first one plus a little setting. The character bios for the Jewelry Box have also been updated. {Warrens Jewelry Box} Ellis C The queen of humbleness and the reincarnation of Yashiro Eiji. Her second name is the Golden Mistress. A girl with straight blond hair that reaches her shoulders, emerald green eyes, and cherry red lips on the outside. A dirty piece of scum on the inside. She is 8 years old. The God of Thieves has burned into her mind the need to harass the Hero and the Demon Lord. All she does is make use of the knowledge she gained off of her previous life from sitting in front of a computer all day and playing adult games she had delivered to her home. Yet somehow she is living larger than life and is beloved by all of the citys residents. Especially the women. She comes up with the ideas, but more often than not she does whats needed by exploiting others and getting them to do her dirty work. Her weaknesses include: being passive, ordinary yuri play, the four guild masters of Warren, especially Baltis. Her specialties include: domestic violence, sadism, kya kya ufufufufu, animal abuse, dispatching underhanded ideas, bullying heroes, and bullying demons. Reeve C The daughter of a fallen aristocrat turned daughter of the Lord of Wheat Grace. Her second name is Blue Beauty. A slender beauty with long eyelashes, thin lips, and blue short, shaggy hair. She is 16 years old. Her breasts were originally B cups but they have gotten a little bigger thanks to Elliss help. Her relationship with Ellis is one that revolves around domestic violence, often referring to her as Mistress. Thanks to her involvement with Ellis, her life has gone into numerous unexpected turns, and she can now confidently say she is winning at life. She boasts tremendous popularity with the women of Warren who all refer to her reverently. Her weakness include: cooking. Her specialties are: Domestic violence reception, singing, laundry, gambling, sleeping with Pi-tan, murder. Frau C The former receptionist for the Adventurers Guild, she is the daughter of the guild master Theseus. Her second name is Crimson Beauty. A glamorous woman with fierce eyes, thick lips, and wavy red hair. She is 16 years old. Her chest is an insane G cup. Her masochistic tendencies have bloomed since she met Ellis, and she is often times called a pig woman in the evening. She is usually a clam and nice-looking older sister character, but when battle begins she becomes a heavy tank that enjoys bathing in the blood of her enemies. She is incredibly popular with the regular adventurers who all refer to her as Our Lady. Her weaknesses are: Her father. Her specialties are: Being a masochist, cooking, cleaning, tricking her father, splitting someones brains open. Claire C The daughter of two of the most accomplished wizards in the country, Ares and Izerina. Her second name is Jet Black Lady. Her boyish short black hair has been growing out a little recently. She is a cute that brings out a persons motherly feeling when they see her. A fact that frustrates her due to her more boyish personality. She is 13 years old. Her chest size is a developing A cup. The bra she recently bought does not fit her, and all the empty space there is starting to trouble her. Her relationship with Ellis during the night is more equal than the others and involves a lot more tickling and laughing. She has a fear of men, but gachihomos are fine. She loves manufacturing, and Lily Garden along with all of the buildings in Cross Town are designed by her. A witch that specializes in high-fire spells, she was able to beat her father in a one-on-one fight. She also has a secret popularity among the youngsters of the Workshop Guild, a fact she would not like if known. Her weaknesses are: Men as previously stated. Her specialties are: kya kya ufufufu, design and construction management, experimenting, ice-cream production, and scattering cerebral plasma into the wind. Katie C A cat-eared beastman. A former receptionist for the Thieves Guild, she is now a thief adventurer working for them instead. Her second name is Pure White Catgirl. Hair as soft as cotten, she has a pure white fluffy coat of fur that feels good to pet. Her gray eyes resemble that of a cats, and she often has to dress in light clothing to avoid getting hot. She is a beautiful and elegant woman on the outside, but the inside of her head is a little hollow. She is a sexy beauty that Ellis often spends the night cuddling. She is 15 years old. Pi-tan C A unique species of monster called a Metal Eater. Its about 50 centimeters in length, has the shell of a turtle, and the tongue of an anteater. Its body hair is white, but the rest of it is a darker gray color as if it was wearing a shirt. The shell itself is a light soil color. It was named after the cute sound it makes. It is able to instantly deteriorate metal weapons and armor, but after that, it enjoys munching on them like a chipmunk chewing on a nut. Physical and magical attacks deal no real damage to it, but it did succumb to Elliss mental attacks and was obediently trained. Not to be overworked, it spends most of the day resting in its special basket. In the evening it enjoys having its body washed, and it also enjoys going on trips with its five owners. Even humans would be envious of the leisurely way this monster is allowed to spend its life. {Cross Town} Ken and Hanna C Shop owners of the Jewelry Box Cake Shop. Ken was formerly forced to work in the Demon Lords army, and Hanna used to work at Masters Hideaway in order to support herself, her younger sisters Nina and Rhonda. Unbeknownst to anyone else, Ellis decided to help them out so that she could use Ken as a servant whenever she needed him. This created the situation where Ken ended up being the only man close to the Jewelry Box making him the most envied man in the city, but something like that never bothered Ken or Hanna. Ken was also the man who Ellis had sell the Resistance Hyaaha armor for 1 billion ril to the Brave Party, a secret he would never reveal. The two of them took over a shop and the rights of sales for steamed cakes from Ellis while agreeing to pay 10 percent of all their sales to Ellis. They spend every day doing their best. Shin and Nonna C The shop owners of the Warren Specialty Steamed Bread Store. Shin is a former colleague of Kens and Nonna is a former colleague of Hannas. They are both straightforward people who started selling manju thanks to Kens introduction. Although their position of debt to Ellis is the same as Ken and Hanna. Aiful and Credia C The mistress in charge of The Jewelry Box Tea Room and her daughter. The former wife and daughter of Acoms Durkfienance, but they were exiled when Acoms and Lake were both executed. It was Reeve who saved them both, and at that time, they were given the teahouse. Credia was a sheltered girl growing up, but after moving to Warren, she is being exposed to a number of new experiences. Aiful regained her sense as a woman for the first time in years after a small incident with Ellis, and after experiences the aftermath of the sudden changes happening to her life, her heart became strong. She is a milf who is popular with the older customers, and her elegant demeanor leaves many in awe. Credia meanwhile is an older little girl, and many adventurers who visit their teahouse would fight to protect her as if she was their own daughter. Mati, Labra, and Ravi C Co-owners of the Steamed Kitchen. Mati is Katies childhood friend while Labra and Ravi are friends of Mati. Katie invited them to Warren after the assassin incident in Marsfield. Mati is another cat-eared girl, Labra is a black haired anubis, and Ravi is a brown rabbit. They are probably the best candidates to ask for any future favors. {Thieves Guild/Entertainment Unit} Margherita C Entertainment unit leader. She goes by the names Maid Chief of Virtue and Chief Secretary of Pride, but her true second name is The Queen Bee. A true sadist. Blonde hair that stretches down to her back, a tight gaze, and plump lips. She is keen on trying new techniques and is constantly trying new plays with the Demon Lord calling himself Berudeus. Gentleman Street, the fighting performers, and the musicians are all under her direct control. Marilyn C The Entertainment unit sub-leader. She mainly manages the women working the baths. Having long brown hair, she is the gentle and soft type with soft lips. She is known as the Healing Twin Hills in the shop, but her real second name is the Antlion. She is all around stylish, and the healing twin hill effect is tremendous winning over countless men. It is her that the Hero Gray has completely fallen for. However, her soft and gentle personality is mostly an act for the men, and she is always trying to think about how she can maximize her pleasure and the ril she is getting from them. She was able to score a lot of ril from Gray again today. Machel C The Entertainment unit sub-leader. She mainly manages the women working in the game room. Silver hair that reaches her shoulders, her hair is accented with two pigtails at her ears. She always walks around with her eyes half closed and is considered a cold beauty who always looks like she is looking down on those around her. Her former second name was the Night-shift Nurse. She is the daughter of a fallen aristocrat who experienced misfortune upon misfortune afterwards. Although she dislike working at the bathhouse, she did what she had to do in order to survive. Ultimately, she would jump at the chance to escape that life thanks to Elliss help. Expectation for the future: Success. Matilda C One of the games room assistants. She served as the banker for when Berudeus came in to play. Expectation for the future: Success. The Fighting Performers C Juniors to the Muscle Brothers. They are part of the entertainment unit working directly under Margherita. They used to belong to a small group that performed in Marsfield, but they will be regularly performing at the live house from now on. Their bodies are strong, but they are a little weaker in the head. They are usually working as bouncers inside the new Masters Hideaway. I am Nobuhiko. I am a fighting performer, and I am proud to be gachihomo! I am Kazuo. I am a fighting performer, and I am proud to be gachihomo! I am Masakatsu. I am a fighting performer, and I am proud to be gachihomo! I am Minoru. I am a fighting performer, and I am proud to be gachihomo! The Stone Walls C The Merchant Guild member Nicoles fellow band mates. They are part of the Entertainment unit working directly under Margherita. Ellis saw that they were popular during the harvest festival and has promised them regular appearances at the live house. They are usually spending their time at the new Masters Hideaway working as bellboys. They are all gay, but their stylish and cool personalities are the complete opposite of the gachihomos. The two groups fight like cats and dogs. My name is Ramon, a stylish rock gay. My name is Amon, a stylish metal gay. My name is Simon, a stylish punk gay. My name is Damon, a stylish pop gay. Karen C The receptionist who replaced Katie. A 15 year old girl who done her best to not screw anything up. {Merchant Guild} Nicole C One of the executives for the Merchant Guild, he overlooks the procurement price and wholesale price for every good brought into Warren. It is not a stretch to say that he controls Warrens markets. {Adventurers Guild} Buzz and Doug C Two friendly uncles. Buzz won some plate armor that reduced physical damage while Doug won a Flying Swallow long sword from the first game of bingo. Buzz was the carriage driver during the early days of Lily Garden. Normally the two of them are a couple of silly uncles who love to goof off, but they really are a pair of experienced adventurers who are among the first Theseus looks towards in case something happens. When they have no pocket money, they dive into Salamander Labyrinth to pick up some chests. They were among the five man party who defeated a high demon during the assault on Warren, but it would not be a stretch to say that the two of them did most of the work. Currently they are crazy about Aifuls beauty and Credias overall purity. By the way, they are absolutely terrible at Warren Numbers. Helen C The receptionist who replaced Frau after she left. 15 years old and is waiting for a larger part in the story. {Wheat Grace} Leopold Lorenburg C Reeves father. Following the collapse of the Durkfienance house, he became the lord of Wheat Grace. Ferdinand Lorenburg C Reeves grandfather. He is the reason for the Lorenburg familys initial decline due to his interest in a number of outrageous hobbies, but he is also a genius who brought Lorenburg tea to the fame it has today and is knowledgeable on a number of different things. Reeve was able to learn a lot by watching this mans mistakes although he did also teach her how to use a sword. Whenever he starts to call her Ree-boy, she knows he is trying to get her to do something. Currently he is also serving as an advisor to the Warren live house. Lux Lorenburg C Reeves mother. Because she married into the falling Lorenburg house, many of her noble friends started calling her a loser. Theyve recently started changing their tune. She is a loving mother who wants nothing more than to have her children live happy lives. Hymel Lorenburg C Reeves younger brother. He has a weak personality, but he has started fighting back whenever Ellis starts to bully him. He is the youngest person to ever receive the scarlet laundry punishment, a feat which was made even more famous after being tied up with four different colored ribbons. This record would continue to follow him well into his adult years. Sister Bizon and Gurre C Reeves two older sisters. Bizon is a frank girl who never lies. Gurre is a bit airheaded yet will occasionally surprise you with a smart turn. When the two of them realized that Reeve resembled their grandfather, their worries tripled. Acoms and Lake Durkfienance C Warren had long ago noticed the peculiarities in products coming from Wheat Grace, but it wasnt until Lake attitude during the harvest festival angered all four of the guild masters that their family was put in danger of being exposed. The end result was a sentencing for tax evasion, abduction of a minor, and acting as a foreign agent. The sentencing was the death penalty. Sayonara. {Wisdom} Alphonse C The guild master for Wisdoms Magicians Guild. Although he is an authority on golem research, sometimes he performs a few unreasonable experiments and causes trouble for those around him. When Frau traveled around the city during her free time, she started to suspect that that wasnt the first time something like that had happened. He indoctrinated Claire into his love for golems. He dislikes many of the noble students who dont take their studies seriously and greatly enjoyed having Ellis teach them a lesson. Ares and Izerina C Claires parents. After visiting Wisdom off of an invitation sent by the royal family, they were forced to stay there under the name of performing magic research. Ares specializes in barrier magic while Izerina specializes in enchantment magic. They both praised Claire and Reeve after their one-on-one fights for their superior equipment. After the fight, the two healed up their injuries, the two of them embraced each other for the first time since they had been taken captive. They are currently waiting on the test to see if Claire is going to have a younger sibling. {Brave Party} Gray C The Hero. Gained an insane amount of power after receiving Gods revelation. Can fight over 100 soldiers without getting a scratch on him. The Brave Slash can easily cut a high demon in two, but it cannot be used repeatedly. Because the base is just that of a simple farmer, he was easily captured in Peach and Damss trap. He has been causing Gise problems ever since. Marilyns favorite sugar daddy. Gise C The thief. He is an elite thief adventurer born in Skycastle. A serious and highly capable man, his second name is Trap Killer Gise. He is a hard worker and now greatly enjoys washing away all the worries procured from watching over Gray and the three idiots in the bathhouse. He is also one of the men who has gotten caught up in Aifuls elegant noble atmosphere. Dams C A rough person. He came tacked on with Peach and cannot even really be called a warrior. He is the man that Ellis uses most often to harass the Brave Party, and that is not going to change anytime soon. Peach C Her official role is that of a magician, but her real job is a dancer. After acquiring the large prey called the Hero, she is able to get all the ril she wants. However, she has recently become suspicious since Gray has stopped asking her for her services. Cliff C An amateur appraiser and elementary priest. Skycastles Merchant Guild sent him to, Skillfully support the Hero, while perfectly knowing that he would do more harm than good. He almost immediately jumped on Dams and Peachs team to form the three idiots. He does everything halfway. If he were to disappear, the Brave Party would be better off. {Demons Side} Demon Lord C Although he has an insane amount of magic power, Berudeuss overall lazy personality interfered with the summoning ceremony, so there is zero motivation forr him to use it. But when Margherita pushed him out of the way and almost died, his anger overcame him, and he destroyed almost a fourth of his own army in the blink of an eye. From this point on Margherita would try to get closer to him, but he is too dense to notice. His favorite phrase is, Imagination full of Creative Designs. Berudeus C Real name is Beruiel. He is an angel not a fallen angel. He is more than comfortable with his title as The Slovenly Angel. It is his fault that the Demon Lord is such a shut-in, but to be fair, even he was never the type of person who would laze around in a t-shirt and boxer shorts lazily munching away on wasabi crackers. He has skin as white as pottery and hair as black as the night. He is both male and female. Angels like him have the ability to appear as half and half, but the nether regions look gross, so no one does it. Since his mission is to aid the Demon Lord, if the Demon Lord doesnt tell him to do anything, he doesnt have to do anything. Although recently he has gotten interested in Warren Numbers. Before he knew it, people were starting to know him as the Rosen Angel. CH 86 By the way, did you make a reservation with Margherita? The Hero dressed as an apprentice thief was having a casual conversation with the Demon Lord dressed as a farmer calling himself Berudeus. Ah, of course. I have to wait until the afternoon three days from now though. The Demon Lord was casually giving away his plans to the Hero. How strange, I also made a reservation for Marilyn three days from now first thing in the afternoon. And the Hero was casually giving away his plans to the Demon Lord. Well then I look forward to seeing you there. Yes, Ill look forward to it. By the way, the other day, I asked Margherita to do this great skill called the Camel Clutch, and it felt so good I thought I was going to die. The Demon Lord was more than happy to talk about his little plays. Rather than that, if Im going to die, then it would be best to be smothered by Marilyns chest. The Hero responded to the Demon Lords little provocation with his own story. And in this way, rather than going home like the two of them had originally planned, the Hero and the Demon Lord sat down at the bar counter keeping each other busy. Hm, you, what are you doing in this place? As he was about to leave, the Demon Lord noticed Berudeus at the entrance of the shop. He had already said farewell to the Hero and Margherita had seen him off with a smile. I took off after you My Demon Lord. By the way My Demon Lord, I hear that you have been using my name while you are here. Berudeus whispered into the Demon Lords ear so as no nearby humans could hear them. The Demon Lord apologized shortly after, but judging by his tone, he didnt really care. Yeah sorry. I cant remember my real name. I dont mind. Instead, call me Beruiel while we are here. .Whats up with you? I thoroughly enjoyed myself with the games inside, so if you dont mind, I would like to come with you whenever you come down here. Thats fine, but I wont be coming here next time. Ill be at the bath next door. Then Ill wait for you here when Im finished. Thus, in three days, it was decided that Berudeus would be accompanying the Demon Lord on his trips to Warren. Keel, did you wait long? The Hero loudly called out to his party member when he saw him in the distance, calling him the pseudonym they had decided on earlier. No, I just got here as well Gise. Gise called back to the Hero, calling him by his own name. How was the bath? I think it is far more comfortable than the pleasure you were describing, and I found a good store nearby. I see, thats great. Gise then brought his face closer and started whispering in Grays ear. Hey Gray, would you let me come with you whenever you travel here? I promise not to disturb you. It would actually be encouraging for me if you came with, but what about the idiots? I might be able to find a guard to babysit them. Well, at the very least, they should be able to keep themselves busy so long as we give them a little money to play with. Alright. Then how about the next time we have to spend the night in a labyrinth, the two of us sneak out when we are making camp? In this way, the Hero Gray and the thief Gise would leap back to Wisdom having decided to return to Warren in three days after throwing some pocket money at the three idiots. A few days later. It was the Steamed Kitchens opening day, and Ellis and the others were heading over to visit. The cat-girl Mati, dog-girl Labra, and the rabbit-girl Rave all met them at the front door. Welcome nya. Be sure to eat lots today nya. Welcome everyone. I will carry your food to you momentarily. Hello noda. Eat a lot noda. The five were guided to their table in one corner of the store. Their first dish came out almost immediately as if they had been expected. Thinly cut chicken strips arranged with raw chopped vegetables. It was accompanied by several muffins crepes as well. The steam fish fillet dish came along with some bean jam. The steam meat fillets were ground together with vegetables before being covered with sweet and sour sauce. We worked with Shin and Nonnas shop and made this as well nya. What Mati pulled out was a bun-sized manju that could be eaten in one bite. Product name: Warren specialty steamed bread. When you pop one in your mouth, warm soup spills out from inside. As the five of them started sampling the dishes, Labra started explaining a few things. We talked to Ken and Hanna and along with all the other shops in the area, and we decided to sell main courses for meals mostly here. Yeah, thats good, Ellis told her. As more and more shops begin to open up they, especially the food shops, will end up competing against each other if they dont consult with one another in advance. It is a system where they can cooperate together and avoid direct competition. Then you should put out pudding as dessert at the end of the meal! Claire rose up out of her chair and started yelling with her hand held high. If you promise to let me eat it once a day, I will give you a cooling box for free! After one-sidedly throwing out an offer, Claire made a face as if she suddenly remembered something. Moving closer to Ellis, Claire leaned over and started whispering in her ear. Cooling stone please, she whispered. I guess it cant be helped, Ellis sighed. If Cross Town grows, Ellis Finance should grow right along with it. While the five of them were enjoying their meal, a large group of women walked into the store. Can you seat 12 people? The one at the head of the group was Machel. We can prepare two tables for six people each, Labra told them with a bow before guiding them to their seats. Evening Machel. Ellis called out to Machel as the ladies started taking their seats. Machel was surprised at first when she saw Ellis and the others, but she quickly walked over to them and greeted them with a large smile. Good evening members of the Jewelry Box! Because the shop is closed today, I came out to have a meal with all the other assistants! Matilda received a 200,000 ril tip on her first day from a customer, so today is her treat! Machel spoke a little louder than Ellis ever thought she she could, and her bright smile never budged. Matilda was sitting in a chair behind her, nodding with a somewhat sorry look on her face. Ellis nodded her head and laughed. This would be a good trend she figured. Apart from Machel, none of the assistants were members of the Thieves Guild, and Masters Hideaway paid them relatively low wages because of the tips they get from the games. This will naturally cause variations in paychecks, and too large of a gap could leave some girls in the lurch. So a few parties like this should help those girls out a bit. The courses here are really healthy and tasty. Im sure youll love it. Frau spoke up here and praised the stores cooking. The fact that the menu was entirely made by her was something she conveniently forgot to mention though. Well, the 12 women looked like they liked what they were smelling at least. Hm? Something finally hit Ellis. If Matilda received 200,000 ril, that means she received 200,000 ril worth of chips. In Warren Dice, the highest possible bid is 10,000 ril, so the most money you could win is 360,000 in one hand. So she got it from someone playing Warren Numbers? Hey Matilda, was that tip from someone playing dealer in Warren Numbers? As expected of Miss Ellis, youre right. It was my first visitor, and everyone besides Master Theseus lost. Hoh, besides Buzz and Doug, its surprising to hear that the other veterans were so thoroughly beaten. Elliss interest was piqued, but Matilda had more to tell. I actually saw him again four days ago. The place was quiet, so I thought I was going to go home disappointed that day. But that one person won so much after just one game and then gave me 30,000 ril worth of chips. Ellis was convinced. Did you get his name? Yes, he uses the same name as the Angel of Roses, Beruiel. Although, other guests have started calling him the Rosen Angel. If he comes to the shop again, could you let us know? Sure Miss Ellis. But, is there a problem? Machel broke into the conversation looking a little worried there might be trouble. Oh dont worry. It sounds like a wonderful thing, I just thought that it would be interesting if he and Reeve played one another. The assistants broke out into jubilant cheer at the thought. Well, if its Reeve, she just might be able to win. I mean, I want her to win by all means. It would be painful for us if he stopped coming because Reeve beats him too bad thought. They were a nice group of girls, but they loved to blurt out arbitrary things. Thank you for waiting nano. In the meantime, all of their food had finished cooking, and it was time to eat. Mother, whats the matter? This was the Jewelry Box Tea Room. It was past closing time, and Aiful and Credia were busy cleaning up the place. Its nothing Credia. Well, how about we finish up the cleaning quickly today and splurge a little. Well eat out at the Steamed Kitchen tonight. They invited us over after all. Aiful was just a little off, and it was worrying Credia. The truth was, someone had actually asked Aiful for a relationship under the premise of marriage. It was Buzz. A nice adventurer, but he was eight years younger than her. Im embarrassed, even though Im still just getting used to my life here. Aiful was talking to herself, but she didnt hate the idea. She had been forced into her previous marriage, and after Lake and Credia had been born, she had been mostly forgotten. This would be the first time she saw someone due to love if she accepted. First as friends, right. Although she was more than a little happy at the idea. In this way, Cross Town continued to move forward. CH 87 Mistress., already.my limit.lets return Uuhhhh Reeve was begging Ellis with a pale face and tears in her eyes. Well alright, I guess I can take you home. Frau was showing little interest in what was going on around her and hugged Reeve while rubbing her back. I got a physical rejection response a lot quicker than I thought I would, Ellis mused. This was the live house. Today was a pre-opening event to celebrate the buildings completion, so the fighting performers were all fighting inside a makeshift ring. The crowd was comprised almost entirely of gachihomos. Nobuhiko!!! Masakatsu!!! Exuberant cheers were filling the building and spilling onto the outside streets. Frau looked completely annoyed by all the clamor and left it all behind while supporting the emotionally drained Reeve. Meanwhile the other two, Uwa! Grapple nya! So fun nya! Grab and pin him nya! Katie was in the crowd excitedly cheering away, Hey, shouldnt there be more room underneath the ring for someone to collect the twists? and although Claire showed no interest in the event itself, she was thinking about the construction of the ring. She had collected twists from underneath the stage during multiple events at the harvest festival, so it had become an issue etched into her mind during things like this. Ellis looked at the scene around her. Since it was a pre-event, admission was free. Even so, the place was just a little too lonely. Only a handful of fans had come to cheer on Nobuhiko and the others. As far as Ellis was concerned, the fight happening in the ring was interesting. For those who knew how to fight, they could sit back and enjoy watching the technique here without any of the bloodlust. But thats it. There are no flowers here. Of the five members of the Jewelry Box, the only one who really enjoyed watching was Katie. Another two held zero interest in it, and Ellis was pretty sure the fourth one had vomited outside after watching for only a few minutes. It just needs a little support. And so Ellis began searching her mind for memories of the square box back in Eijis world. The next morning. Everyone had just finished breakfast. Claire was in her office drawing up a design for an apartment complex, Ellis and Frau were handling some accounting work for Lily Garden and Cross Town, Reeve was washing Pi-tan, and Katie was patrolling Cross Town for trouble. It was a calm, sunny morning. Until Ravi from Steam Kitchen burst through Elliss kitchen door. Dreadful nano! Quarrel nano! You need to help me! The four girls remaining in the house all jumped to their feet and ran up to the girl waiting by the door. Where, who, and whom against? While throwing on some clothes for heading out, Ellis was the first to reach Ravi and loudly asked her what was going on. Katie and Mati nano! Labra is too stunned to move nano. In front of the store nano! Ravi had started to cry and jumped into Reeves outstretched arms, being held close as she shouted out the answers to all of Elliss questions. The five girls ended up rushing to Steam Kitchen as fast as they could, but a crowd of people had already gathered there. Sorry, please move a little and let us through. The crowd half voluntarily and half forcefully parted to the side to allow the girls to pass until they finally arrived to see Katie and Mati wrestling against each other. Take this! Arm lock nya! Katie grabbed Matis arm and forced it back. Too little! Counterattack nya! Mati managed to break free, and this time she was the one holding Katies arm back. Katie! Do you give up? Labra called out to Katie a short distance away from the fighting. .. Claire, do it. Ellis muttered while massaging her temples. Understood Ellis, Claire nodded her head with a fed-up look on her face. {Lightning Shower} Bigyaah! Hiyaah! Gyaah! Things finally started to calm down after a trio of loud shouts of agony, but the faint smell of singed fur would persist in the area for another couple of hours. Three people were left kneeling on the floor as another five looked down on them with their arms crossed. Whats wrong with a cat fighter cat fight nya? It was having fun and almost made Katie tap out, why do you interfere nya? Katie and Matie both started complaining to Ellis despite their kneeling posture. Frau, do it. Ellis muttered while massaging her temples once again. Understood Ellis, Frau lightly replied. *Gong!* *Gong!* A straight fist swung down on top of Katie and Matis heads. The two of them both fell to the ground and started rolling in pain while clutching the tops of their heads. I am terribly sorry. Katie told us she learned a new technique at the live house last night, and things got a little heated while she was teaching us. Labra was the only one who seemed to be seriously repenting for her actions as she bowed low to the ground while apologizing. And you all regret that you made Ravi cry as a result? Reeve was particularly hard on them while still holding Ravi in her arms. Regret nya. I also regret nya. I deeply regret my actions. This time all three of them were bowing. If nothing else, they knew to apologize after making a little girl cry. Ellis watched the three of them try and apologize and began scratching her head while angrily sighing. Girls just starting a fight and not thinking about where they are.. If you three like fighting so much, Ill prepare a nice place where you can all beat each other as much as you like. Puzzle pieces were starting to fall in place. I was wondering why you had come down here again. Well, I guess the principle is nice. Ellis, please give us all the details. This was the Thieves Guild. Currently, Baltis and Karen were gathered together for a meeting with Ellis. Actually.. It certainly sounds interesting. Shouldnt it be fine so long as it at least turns a profit? Ellis, did you already have an idea? This was the Adventurers Guild. Sitting before Elliss eyes were Theseus and Helen. Well need a large reception. Because of that Why should we do such a thing? Nicole immediately started complaining to Ellis. His four bandmates were all perfectly in tune and started simultaneously nodding their heads. Arent you all a bunch of brainless gays. You should make your decision on whether or not youll make a profit on this. Ellis new she had to be rough here if she was going to convince them to help. Listen carefully because if you all use your heads, youll realize this will be good for you too. Well print these out and distribute them to Warren, Marsfield, Wheat Grace, and all the other surrounding villages. Yes, thank you Uncle Flint. But as usual you think of some pretty funny stuff. I can already smell the sweet smell of ril. So you understand Uncle? Flint and Ellis were able to share an unprecedented mischievous smile. Well, eventually the day of the event came. A crowd had already formed in front of the live house, and the tickets were sold out. The leaflets Flint had printed and distributed out had a huge tagline sprawled across the top. Things had already been explained to the Thieves Guild and the Adventurers Guild beforehand, but the title still generated a lot of heat. Many spectators from both guilds had come to see the show. And of course when it got out that the Pure White Catgirl of Warrens Jewelry Box was going to be fighting, fans of theirs came from all over. Especially those who live in Beastcity Street from Marsfield. Some of these fans would have probably shown up no matter what she had started Ellis started to think. Ellis stood at the center of the ring. Claire had used magic beforehand to help her voice reach the entire crowd. Gathered spectators, allow me to introduce, the fighters for our first match! The hall filled with the resonating timber of the Stone Walls beating on drums as the days participants entered the stage. In the blue corner, Helen stood tall wearing only a set of bikini armor consisting of a bra top and belt armor equipped with a sword and shield. Following behind her were both Nobuhiko and Kazuo wearing full plate armor. In the red corner, Karen was wearing full black leather bondage armor with thigh-high boots and carrying a dagger in both hands. Masakatsu and Minoru were wearing leather equipment behind her. Helen and Karen took a step forward and met each other at the center of the ring. They both also had magic cast on them to increase the volume of their voices. Helen pointed her finger out towards Karen and started shouting for all to hear. Ive never like the Thieves Guild even long before. Youll be crushed here and now! Karen put her hand on her waist and broke out into a fit of laughter. I always you knew people in the Adventurers Guild were all a bunch of muscle brains with no sense, but I never knew youd be so dense to think that we wont win this day! As a side note, Baltis the guild master for the Thieves Guild and Theseus the guild master for the Adventurers Guild had been laughing in their seats near the ring ever since they saw the outfits Helen and Karen were wearing. Laughter that was only amplified after hearing the twos dialogue. Squeeze those Adventurer Guild bastards! Show those Thieves Guild cronies what we can do! The audience on the other hand was getting into the show with cheers and shouts ringing out across the room. Meanwhile the four fighters had stripped off their armor and made preparations for the fight. Nicole took center stage to act as the referee. *Kahn!* Everything started moving with the ringing of the gong. The first match between Nobuhiko and Kazuo against Masakatsu and Minoru began. The crowd got even more fired up when the first punch was thrown. Helen and Karen stood back in their respective corners, acting as managers and coaches. Yelling out orders and cheers as the fight continued to progress. The excitement continued to build up until finally, at its peak, the fight had a dramatic finish. A tie where fighters left in the ring got a ring out at the same time. The large boos rising from the crowd brought a smile to Elliss face. The second fight starts now. Dont throw anything. Please stop throwing things. While Nicole was yelling at the audience, Ellis entered the ring again and called out as if nothing was wrong. Then, the second battle, Warrens representative Katie, the Pure White Catgirl, and Marsfields representative Mati, the calico assassin! The Stone Walls once again started began the beating of the drums, and the crowd started cooling down when they remembered the second fight. From the blue corner, Mati appeared wearing a black bra top depicting the coat of arms for Marsfield on it along with some black short spats. Labra and Ravi came in behind herCLabra crossing her arms looking tough and Ravi scrunching up her face in a scowl, trying to look tough. The booing picked back up again from the audience. The three were perfectly well received heels.1 From the red corner, sporting a bra top adorned with the five colors of the Jewelry Box and striped spats of the same color, Katie came walking down to the ring with her arms stretched above her head. Frau and Claire came down accompanying her, although they looked just a little less into the show than Labra and Ravi were. Katie!!! The inside of the hall was filled with the crowd calling Katies name. Fans were rising out of their seats, singing their fists into the air, and yelling out all the horrible things she should do to Mati until she finally reached the ring. When Katie finally arrived at the edge of the stage, Mati pointed at her from the center, and the crowds loud cheers quickly died away. Once everything had gone silent, and a tension settle in the room, Mati was able to squeeze out, Good evening. The crowd remained silent for a second more. Then, when the tension finally snapped, rows of laughter louder than the peoples cheers from before filled the room. Yes yes, good evening to you too! That lady, isnt she a really nice person? Yeah I know her. Shes that girl who owns Steam Kitchen! What? Then maybe I should be cheering for Mati instead! Many of the fans there started to recognize Mati from before, and there were some who were already turning on Katie. Soon, the people cheering Matis name were a match for those calling Katies. *Kahn!* Once again the fight started with the echo of the gong, and the two fighters became locked together in a fight reminiscent of their street brawl from before. And once again the fight ended with a double ring out. Dont screw with me! Return my money! You bastards, shape up! Nicole was able to calmly receive the jeers from the crowd, and while receiving everyones complaints, calmly said, Todays games are over. Everyone, please take care on your way home.3 At an unprecedented 5000 ril a seat, the 300 tickets for the next performance quickly sold out. Everyone wanted to see a proper conclusion to the story Ellis had crafted. The Merchant Guild receives 1.5 million ril in sales. Even if they paid the fighters 100,000 ril, twice what they would normally pay an entertainment act like this, and then also pay off the girls acting as coaches for the fight, the Stone Walls for their music, and the flyer distribution fee to the Workshop Guild, the profit margin is still 600,000 ril. Ellis receives a 30 percent cut from the gross margin for her work as a promoter which comes out to 180,000 ril. That means that by doing almost nothing, the Merchant Guild just received 420,000 ril of profit. How is it Maria? Absolutely delicious Ellis. Ufufufufufu. And just like that, Ellis Finance was able to add the Live house box office to its list of jobs. 1. The bad guys in wrestling. CH 88 Today after breakfast, each of the girls immediately headed out to finish up their work for the day. Claire was off to the Workshop Guild with a blueprint she made for an apartment building. Shes recently been finding quite a few excuses to head out to the Workshop Guild lately. She must be planning something. Frau and Katie left for Cross Town together. Frau had been doing consultations with all of the established stores for their menus. Ken and Hannas caf especially has been asking for her opinion on some of the new creations they had been pumping out. Katie meanwhile played the all important roll of taste-tester. After Reeve finishes the laundry, she takes Pi-tan outside, and the two of them enjoy basking in the sun. The sun was shining bright and comfortably warm. While everyone else was working, Ellis was clearly up to something lying down in her usual spot in the living room scribbling something down onto a piece of paper in front of her. She had been working on it ever since breakfast had ended, and when Reeve saw she was still there after getting back from her sunny nap, she became curious about what scheme Ellis was planning now. Mistress, what is that youre writing? An angle for the next fighting performers box office. Angle? Something to get the crowd wound up before the fight starts, a rough overview for how the fight will progress, and how it will end. For a second, Reeve didnt know what to say. Mistress, isnt this supposed to be a serious match? Reeve, if you really think that, then do you think 300 people would pay 5,000 ril to gather and watch you fight? Reeve started to feel a little self-conscious. But still not quite convinced, she asked something that bothered her. Deciding the results of the match, are you fixing the fights? Finally Ellis looked up from her paper and gave Reeve a small glare. Good Reeve, a serious fight will just escalate into someone eventually killing someone else. Then, the audience will just show up hoping someone gets killed. But thats amateur stuff. What matters is the story of the fight and the fight looking good. This is a show thats sole purpose is for entertaining the audience, and as long as it can do that, the ril will keep rolling in. Do you understand? To be honest, no Reeve didnt understand, but the pressure Ellis was giving off made her not want to ask any more questions. Good? The results of the fight will be decided beforehand, but the content of the fight will be completely left up to the skills of the fighting performers. They are experts who trained for that very purpose after all. Ellis turned back to her paper on the ground and continued. After a fierce battle, the Hero finally manages to overcome the Demon LordCis how the story goes. The catharsis of the fight will leave a refreshing feeling behind after a come from behind fight and appeal to the peoples morality. Thats what the audience wants. Well, something like that would get boring after awhile, so we will have to switch it up some. Ellis repeated the general outline for the story she had scratched down. It was something simple drawn from real world events. It wasnt very creative, but it would suffice for a first time show. Or so she thought until she noticed something inside the story. Oh? Oh hoh. This angle should be just right. Ellis began to furiously move her brush once again, with a still curious Reeve looking over her shoulder. Ellis had managed to complete her angle. Reading it over again, she nodded her head. It turned out better than she thought. With it finished, she immediately headed out to the Thieves Guild and explained the contents to Nobuhiko. Ellis, for this angle, what if we were to wear masks as well? As expected, Nobuhiko gets it. Do you think Helen and Karen would be willing to help out again? Masakatsu was also all ready for it and asking about the show. Well, it looked like they had fun last time, but Ill let them know and ask to be sure. Ellis didnt have to go far in order to get secure Karens help with the show, and after a short little run to the Adventurers Guild, Helen was brought back on board as well. Uncle Flint, what do you think about going this way this time? I think Ellis is a genius. Right now Ellis was at the Workshop Guild. New fliers needed to be made for this fight, and she was currently talking with Flint about how to best arrange them. Why not go with the Merchant Guild for the opening performance? Yes, but I wanted to get Uncle involved too. I doubt that. After joking around a little more at the Workshop Guild with Flint, Ellis then made her way over to Gentleman Street. Her aim there was Marilyn and Margherita. And once again the day of the event came. And once again banners of thanks fluttered in the wind to celebrate the full house. Because the last two fights left such a bad feeling with those who watched it, a number of repeaters had shown up again hoping for a cleansing. The contents of the flyers were as follows: Ellis stood at the center of the ring. Gathered spectators, allow me to introduce, the fighters for our first match! The Stone Walls began beating their drums once again. Compared to the previous match, the crowd wasnt as on edge as before. They had a bad taste in their mouths from the last event, and all they were hoping for was something decent enough to satisfy them. Even the newcomers had heard the stories from previous patrons and were anxious to see what would happen. Much of that changed when the audience saw Flint himself walk into the blue corner. He always looked big, but when he walked onto the stage wearing a set of chain-linked armor with a cross-shaped cut on the chest, he looked truly gargantuan. Added on his famous battle axe he was carrying that had bisected numerous demons during the Assault on Warren, and the audience was left in awe of him. Right before their excitement got the better of them and their cheers started echoing in the hall. His thunderous reception completely overshadowed the appearance of a masked person in the red corner. There was little detail to them other than the fact he was wearing a white mask with a large Dealer symbol on the forehead. Master! Kill em! Old man, cut them down! Almost the entire audience was cheering for Flint, but it was still important to show a sense of fairness in the ring which was why the adventurer Buzz was acting as referee. *Kahn!* The game began with the ringing of the gong, and before its echo even had a chance to fade away, Flint was on the attack. Dealer mask was barely able to block his attacks and was soon forced back into a defensive posture. Old man! Kill him! The cheers for Flint were starting to turn towards jeers against Dealer mask. Good. After one of Flints punches, Dealer mask staggered a bit and lost his balance. Flint didnt miss the opportunity and unleashed a devastating lariat knocking him to the ground. Old man, the finishing blow! Finish it! Flint picked Dealer mask off the ground and threw him to the ropes, charging after him with another lariat. But Dealer mask was able to just barely avoid it the second time. Twisting his body just in time, Dealer mask managed to get behind Flint and wrap his arms around Flints waist. Before he could fully understand that his feet were no longer on the ground, Flint found himself upside down and his shoulders slammed onto the mat. He was held in that position for a moment, and One, two, three! Dealer mask was able to win in a surprise reversal. Flint was let go and allowed to vacate the arena while Dealer mask waved to the audience from the center. the audience ate the under-dog up, their cheers not caring that Flint had lost. This is pretty interesting. The Demon Lord had watched the entire fight his seat next to Margherita. Im glad you are having fun. Hiding the fact that she herself had thought up that final inversion technique, Margherita responded to him with a smile. These kind of things are fun too. The Hero Gray was really getting into the show from his seat next to Marilyn. Im glad you are having fun. Hiding just how much she hated the fighting and the screaming crowd, Marilyn answered the Hero with a smile and hoping that she could soon leave. Then for the second fight, we ask that everyone be on your guard, because the Demon Army is here! Ellis shouted out from her position at the center of the ring, and from the blue corner, Karen emerged. She was wearing a black leather bikini with something akin to bat wings on her back, and a large, muscular man wearing golden body armor behind her. From the red corner, Helen came out to meet her wearing pure white bikini armor leading a man with pearly body armor. The two men waited in their respective corners as the two women met each other at the rings center. The succubus Karen was the first to speak and taunted the Heros side. Foolish Hero, we will end this tonight! But the valkyrie Helen paid her no mind. Evil demons, today you shall be destroyed! It was a simple plot, but in a city that had been attacked only a few weeks ago, it was one that generated a lot of excitement. The cheering from the crowd continued as the fighters took their positions in the center of the mat, stripping away their steel armor. *Kahn!* And so the fight began. Helen and Karen continued their roles as before, acting as managers in the corner and working to excite the crowd. But whether or not that was necessary could be called into question as the crowd never once stopped intense cheers. And in the end, after a climatic and tense battle, the Hero managed to come from behind and force a double ring out. Next time the Hero will win for sure! I think I really became a fan of that Demon mask guy. But unlike the last time, the reaction of the crowd was far more positive. When the match had finally ended, there were more than a few people whose throats were sore after how loudly they were cheering. Todays games are over. Everyone, please take care on your way home. As they were leaving, Margherita overheard the Demon Lord mumble something to himself. The demon following the Demon Lord isnt such a cute little demon like that, but a gambling obsessed sloth. Yes, Margherita was able to successfully pull a little new information. As they were leaving, Marilyn was able to overhear the Hero mumbling to himself. The valkyrie assisting the Hero isnt someone so nice. Shes a conniving magician that cant be peeled off. Reality is too painful. Yes, Marilyn was able to successfully pull a little new information. After seeing off their respective guests, Margherita and Marilyn both immediately headed off to Lily Garden to share a cup of tea with the waiting Ellis. How was it Uncle Flint? Ah, as expected of a pro, you were able to bring out quite the flashy attack to defeat me. Sorry, I was actually a little afraid there, Nobuhiko laughed. Yes, the mysterious Dealer mask was just Nobuhiko. Flint had made his attacks simple and allowed the pro Nobuhiko to direct the fight, but even for an expert like Nobuhiko, having a man as large as Flint throw a punch at you is still scary. So was my defeat a good angle? Flint laughed confirming the status of things with Ellis and Nobuhiko. And as if to answer him, Uncle, if you dont mind, I want to write even more angles with Uncle in it. Next time I bring you in, Ill give you 10 percent of the gross profits. This was the inside of the Workshop Guild. A place where ideas are made with ril not too far behind. If you are going to go that far, then I promise to do my best! Flint laughed once again. As for Ellis herself, she is able to leave the fight with a total of 20 percent of the box office profits. All with her not having to life a finger. Thus the second box office fight was a rousing success. 1. I thought it would be important to note that or shou here is usually a suffix. I figured dealer would be the best word for it, but you can think of it as more largely representing sales in general CH 89 The day of the wrestling match, Reeve moved separately from her four party members. The reason was because word had come in from Masters Hideaway that the rumored Rosen Angel was visiting again. Well, that was the excuse at least. In reality it was because she really didnt want to go watch that wrestling match, so whoever this Rosen Angel might be, Reeve held nothing but gratitude towards them. Well, I should make sure that my outfit doesnt overlap with the other shop women. Reeve arranged the numerous gifts and dresses she had received from her fans and wondered which one she should wear. Naturally all of the suits and other mens wear she had been gifted was properly disposed of after a courteous thanks. Maybe something like this? She eventually chose a red wine colored jacket along with some black pants. The inner blouse she was wearing underneath the jacket was also black as well. For accessories, she decided to keep things simple and only wore the kyanite brooch she had bought from Marsfield. Alright then. Ill ask you to hold down the fort Pi-tan. Pi~ Reeve gave the little Metal Eater a small pat on the head right before she headed for Masters Hideaway. Today Kazuo was acting as the gatekeeper in front of the store. Kazuo is usually a man of few words, and he normally greets those who enter with a simple, Hey. Obviously though he would never dare to show such disrespect now, and politely greeted Reeve with a proper, Welcome, as she walked by. Today Kazuo was the only fighting performer not wrestling, so he was put in charge of some young Adventurer Guild members who were hired to act as bouncers and control the inside of the store. Kazuo grabbed the door knob and as a proper gentleman, held open the door for Reeve with a small bow. Ah, Reeve, welcome! The receptionist sitting at the welcome desk immediately stood up from her post and ran forward to welcome Reeve inside. Reeve and the other girls of Warrens Jewelry Box have already become celebrities in the city, and there isnt a single resident of Warren who doesnt know their faces. Ah, you dont need to get up just to meet me. By the way, I heard that he was here. Yes, the last time he visited, he came along with a man wearing a straw hat. The straw hat man came here this time as well, but he soon left with Margherita. Reeve confirmed the receptionists report with a nod, and after exchanging 100,000 ril at the exchange counter, she was off to the game room. Welcome Reeve. Hello Reeve. All of the black dress women greeted Reeve with a smile as she walked by. Meanwhile all of the gazes from the men sitting in the bar room naturally gathered on her as well. Annoying. Being looked over by men had always made Reeve felt uncomfortable, and she hated it. So, she picked up her pace and quickly headed towards the game room. Welcome. Machel personally greeted Reeve as she entered with several of her associates standing beside her. Reeve replied back with a small nod before turning her gaze to the dealers seat at one of the Numbers tables. Sitting there was a man dressed up in a black suit with hair as black as the night and skin white as porcelain. Matilda was acting as the banker standing next to him. Is this spot free? Reeve motioned to an empty seat at the table, but before her sentence was even completed, Machel had pulled out a small brush and swept away any possible traces of dirt that may have marred the seat before motioning for Reeve to sit down. As she did, Machel whispered into her ear, Currently Beruiel is six games in on the first set with a one million ril jackpot declaration. Participation halfway through a game can be arbitrarily decided by the players themselves, but nobody had any objections. Reeve quickly confirmed the arrangement of Beruiels show cards for up to the current game. Close. Beruiel moved his hands gracefully as if he were putting on a show. Flipping over his face down card with one hand while collecting everyones money with the other. One person had managed to triple their bet, but everyone else was out. The second set began with nobody ahead. Reeve spent the entire time putting down the minimum bet of 1000 ril on a single card. As the games continued on, she managed to win several times, but any profit she made was lost later on. There was one hand with an all out, so everyone lost their bets and their antes. Thus the second set was an overwhelming victory for Beruiel again. Well then, now that weve hit the third set, I will continue to act as dealer. Beruiel made a declaration. He would act as dealer for another two sets amounting to a total of twelve games. Unbeknownst to him, Reeves eyes were glowing. 2nd set: 1st game. Beruiel placed the handkerchief over his face down card. At the same time, Reeve placed the maximum bet of 10,000 ril down betting on two cards. Beruiel revealed his card to be a 4. Reeve revealed one of the cards she had placed down to be a 4. In total Machel gave Reeve 27,000 ril in chips. 2nd game. Reeve once again wagered 10,000 ril on a two card bet. Beruiel revealed his card to be a 5. Reeve revealed she had also bet on a 5. This time Beruiel called out a Naughty Friends, but when Reeve revealed that her other card was a 3, none of the other players who had bet on two cards had used cards that complimented hers. In other words, Naughty Friends was not established, and Reeve made out with another 27,000 ril. For the first time Beruiel turned his attention to Reeve. The elegant beauty was smiling, but her welcoming expression didnt quite make it to her eyes. The smile Beruiel returned likewise looked forced, as if someone had carved it onto his pottery-colored skin. 3rd game. Reeve bet 10,000 ril on a single card. Youre pretty good at this, Milady, Beruiel called out to Reeve as the massive amount of chips was still being moved. No, it is just a coincidence. But the blue maiden showed nothing but modesty to her rosen counterpart. 4th game. Reeve bet another 10,000 ril on two cards. Beruiel revealed his card to be a 1. Reeve revealed her card to be a 1. Since there was only one other person who had bet on two cards, it was impossible for Naughty Friends to be called. Another 27,000 ril entered Reeves pocket. Beruiel was watching Reeve with the utmost curiosity at this point. He wanted to talk to her, but she kept chatting away with Machel as if she were trying to ignore him. For games 5 and 6, Reeve bet the minimum of 1,000 ril and lost both times. This made Beruiel ponder for a moment. Had it really just been luck that she won four times consecutively like that? Even a fool would doubt that. Well then, I will shed of the dealership after this set, so since its going to be our last bit of fun, how about raising the maximum bet to 50,000 ril. At the very least, the aristocrats and merchants who had gathered to watch the game unfold cheered. Last set: 1st game. Reeve bet the minimum of 1,000 ril on a single card. Beruiel revealed his card to be a 2. Reeve was out. One person who had bet two cards managed to win, but everyone else lost. 2nd game. Reeve once again bet the minimum of 1,000 ril on a single bet. Beruiel revealed his card to be a 1. Reeve was out. As a matter of fact, everyone was out. With an All Out, everyones antes were collected right along with their bets. Blood began to rush to the other players heads. 3rd game. Reeve made her move, betting the maximum 50,000 ril on two cards. Beruiel revealed his card to be a 2. Reeve revealed her card to be a 2. Nobody else had bet with two cards, so Naughty Friends was impossible. 135,000 ril was moved all at once,. Again Beruiels gaze fell on Reeve, but she mostly ignored him. 4th game. Reeve pushed forward with another 50,000 bet on two cards. Beruiel revealed his card to be a 5. Reeve revealed her card to be a 5. Another 135,000 ril was going her way. This time, there were a few other players who had gotten a hit off a 5 as well. Of course, nobody had actually bet the maximum amount like Reeve had. 5th game. Reeve bet another 50,000 ril, this time on only a single card. Beruiel revealed his card to be a 5 again. Looking down at his card, a small smile formed on his face as he looked back up to Reeve. However, after taking a short breath, Reeve turned over her card as well. It was of course a 5. 270,000 ril would be swept her way. Beruiel wasnt smiling anymore. Last game. Reeve once again bet 50,000 ril on a single card. Beruiel watched her closely for a single moment before pulling off the handkerchief. He had chosen to go with three consecutive 5s. Every player and audience member let out a sigh. Since it was the last hand, a tension had wrung itself through each of them, but nobody had expected him to use the same number three times in a row. Everyone was shaking their heads and commended Reeve for the thrilling game so far. Until she shut them up flipping over her card. 5. Another 270,000 ril payout. For the first time since he started coming to Masters Hideaway, Beruiel would be leaving with a deficit. Youre pretty good at this, Milady. What? No, it was just a coincidence. Reeve returned Beruiels simple greeting with another touch of modesty. They were both wearing their polite smiles that didnt reach the rest of their expression again. The man sitting next to Reeve had declared himself as the next dealer, so Beruiel inevitably ended up taking his spot next to Reeve. Nonsense, I never thought I would be done in by a beautiful woman such as yourself. Its gambling. No matter how good you are at it, beginners luck is a killer. Im sure. If youd like, I see an open seat over there. Would you care to share a glass of sparkling wine with me? My apologies, but Im afraid Im not good with men. It was here that Machel broke into the twos conversation. Customers, the next set will soon begin. But Beruiels thoughts were already on something else. Yes, next time he would just have to come in the form of a woman. Ah, then I will just have to excuse myself here. By the way Milady, pardon my impoliteness, but might I ask where you bought that lovely outfit? I think it would make a wonderful present for my sister. Hoh, Reeve began to admire the man just a little bit. She didnt know what to make of Beruiel at first, but its possible he might actually be a nice guy. Down the street from here is another section of town called Cross Town. There is a boutique there that sells clothing very similar to this. Thank you Milady. Then, I will excuse myself for today. Beruiel stood up as gracefully as he played cards, and he left with a wave of his hand, and as everyone saw him off, even Machel, who normally doesnt wear her emotions on her sleeves, did a small guts pose. Well, I should finish around here today. Reeve stood up herself to leave as well, but not before giving Machel a 50,000 ril tip. Take everyone around Cross Town again. Yes, on behalf of everyone, thank you Reeve. And so Reeve was on her way home, thoughts about polishing Pi-tans shell occupying her immediate thoughts. Meanwhile, Beruiel had gone straight to the boutique Reeve had told him about. He bought himself a pants suit along with a few other dresses for his female form. Next time Ill visit in my female form. Oh, I really want to see that girls crying face! For Beruiel, the enemy to overcome was no longer the Hero, but the famous Lady Bluegreen. Berudeus licked his lips while smiling in the dark of the night before returning to the meeting place established with the Demon Lord. The rumor of the duel between the Lady Bluegreen and the Rosen Angel quickly spread throughout the city, and all of the Guild Masters who had gone to watch the latest box office fight, especially Maria, all bemoaned the fact that they had missed it. CH 90 This was Masters Hideaway. A place for gentlemen to meet ladies. Recently however, a sensitive problem has grown. Fights have started to occur between customers, and sometimes even the clerks end up getting involved. Whether it be a fight over men, or women, or a game, the bouncers or Margherita could break it up unless Baltis was there in which case him just looking at the offenders would be enough to get them to back down. However, this time the trouble isnt going away, and even if they put out the fires, the embers are still roasting underneath. Ellis, are you in? It was Margherita who ended up making the visit to Elliss mansion. She had timed it well as Ellis had just finished lunch and was about to start thinking about what games to play next. Oh, how unusual. Margherita, how is the shop? Ellis welcomed Margherita into the living room and offered her a cup of tea before asking how things were going. The sales have been going well, but recently some problems have been popping up that Im not sure how to fix. So today a consultation..I was hoping to borrow a little bit of your wisdom. Margheritas words piqued all five of the girls curiosity. Her story went as follows. Recently, with the popularity of the events in the live house growing, the number of people visiting the store in order to visit Nobuhikos group or Ramons group had increased. Naturally most of those visitors are fellow fashionable gays, but a few fujoshis1 had also mixed in. The problem is that the two groups are starting to get assertive in various ways. For instance, some of the gays are getting annoyed. They call the gachihomos ugly, gross, and other such insults. There have even been some more problematic guests who have started insulting the girls working under Marilyn, calling them dirty. An insult that strikes as ignorant when they inevitably start complaining about discrimination with a lack of options for them at Dandys Shangri La. Overall Ramon has taken responsibility with disciplining the more problem children while soothing the underlying tension. The gachihomos on the other hand are usually quiet, but after a couple drinks, they become chattier than a group of housewives. They will go on about how, just like how a woman falls in love with a mans muscles, they fell in love with mens muscles, and how the fashionable gays are just men imitating women. This would all be annoying enough, but then they inevitably start taking off their clothes to show off their muscles and everything goes downhill from there. Nobuhiko always steps in to ring these guys in, but it oftentimes shows just how much the gachihomos look down on the fashionable gays. Hmm. Ellis thought about it. Most of the more problematic behavior could be attributed to alcohol and explosive anger, but the gay male discrimination was a problem. Of course, having the store be filled with gachihomos would cause its own problems. Reeve wouldnt be able to use the game room after all. I understand. Ill go talk to Uncle Baltis and Auntie Maria. As she told Margherita so, Ellis had already jumped out of her seat and began preparing to head out. First off was Uncle Baltis at the Thieves Guild. Thats why, I was wondering if I could proceed like that, Uncle. Ah, increasing the number of members would cause problems of its own for the guild. Still its quite the problem. Unfortunately I have no idea what the gachihomos or the gays are going to think about it. Next was Auntie Maria at the Merchant Guild. Thats why, could I just borrow Nicole and Ichiro for awhile? The Auntie is unnecessary. But if thats the story, I dont mind. But only on the condition that Reeve teaches me some tips for Warren Numbers. I understand. Maria. From there, Maria called out the gay Nicole and the gachihomo Ichiro. After a quick explanation of the plan from Ellis, they both nodded their assent. Great. Next is Claire and Uncle Flint. Ellis returned home looking to pick up Claire, but when she arrived, she found that Claire was already at the Workshop Guild. Recently Claire has been spending an awful lot of time there. Well, Ellis could kind of guess the reason, so she already knew there was nothing to be done about it. Turning on her heels, Ellis headed back to town and headed straight for the Workshop Guild. She found Claire in one of the metalworking stations, completely immersed over a blueprint she had most likely made herself. Claire, sorry to disturb you, but could you help me out with that Margherita thing from awhile ago? Okay. Give me one moment to put my things away. Claire still had some oil smudging her cheek when she came back. Ellis thought she looked a little cute like that, so she kept the fact a secret as the two of them headed further inside the guildhouse to find Flint. Thats why, can I ask you for this favor? I suppose. I should check the site over once. Thats right Master. We should be able to get it done with just a little remodeling. And so the three people began exchanging their opinions while planning for the next step. Ten days later, two abnormal groups showed up at the same time on Gentleman Street. On the one side was a group of men all wearing white loincloths, rippling muscles on full display for anyone to see. On the other side was a group of men all wearing tight, leather pants that accented their relatively slim, shirtless figures. Both groups stood across the street from each other, glaring each other down until the sun had risen high and enough people had gathered. The white loincloth group shouted out to the gathered audience. From today onward, I announce the glorious gachihomos personal club Revitalizing Home open for business Todays guest will be the honorable Nobuhiko! Once they were done, the leather pants group shouted out as loud as they could so as to not lose. Today we have started the long-awaited fashionable gay hangout Mercury Bar. Join us and our special guest, Ramon from the Stone Walls! Yes, Ellis didnt need any fancy plans. If the two groups were going to fight like children, she would separate them like one would fighting children. And if the end result was two lucrative new businesses, well, the more ril the better. Nicole and Ichiro had taken care of most of the heavy lifting gathering together a group of gachihomo and gay cooks, sommeliers, and bartenders to open up their own clubs right across the street from each other. Hopefully the two groups acting as neighbors could gradually wear away at the discrimination. All stock for the two stores would come directly from the Merchant Guild. The management of the stores would be carried out by the Thieves Guild like the other stores, but the management work itself would be handled by Nobuhiko and Ramon respectively as subordinates under Margherita. And additional employees can just be hired by the store directly. Most of the individuals who had been frequenting Masters Hideaway had already been gathered there for the announcement. Nobuhiko and Ramon had met together beforehand and agreed to work together to avoid any future problems.2 Suddenly, Ichiro and Nicole walked up to Ellis at her spot in a cafe, overlooking the whole gathering. In the games room, the assistants are banned from forming a relationship with the customers. But, we dont want to pose those type of restrictions on our workers. Ellis, what do you think we should do? An image suddenly popped into Elliss head. If she were to be honest, Ellis didnt like men. It wasnt at the uncomfortable fear that Claire felt nor was it at the level of physical rejection that Reeve had, but it was at the level that she really didnt want to think about men engaging in any type of personal relationship whether that be with a woman or another man. She made sure any details on Margherita or Marilyns part were left unsaid, and she still felt a small chill in the back of her head whenever she saw Peach or Gray and remembered what they had shown her at Wheat Grace. But Ellis kept such thoughts to herself and forced a smile as she answered. Love whoever you want. Its free love, but just be watchful for any problems that might crop up. For now the discrimination incident had been settled. Or at the very least put on hold. With a little luck, Ellis hoped any future problems could be settled simply with Ramon and Nobuhiko working together. That evening, Elliss group visited Gentleman Street again to see how things were going so far. They arrived to find the streets filled with more vigor than ever. The five of them decided to head over and see the Hideaway first. Someone must have seen them coming though, because Margherita was already standing outside to greet them. Ellis, everyone, you really saved me this time. Plus, the sales for the whole street have grow as well. I have nothing but words have gratitude for you. Ah, its fine. We just came by to see how things were going so far. Reeve took a step forward here and gave Ellis a serious look. Mistress, Im sorry, but I would like to stay in the game room. Im already feeling a little sick. Frau joined her and started patting Reeves shoulder. Im also not really that interested, so I will just stay here and have a few drinks. I got it. Then just the three of us will go on ahead. With an understanding nod, Ellis took Katie and Claire with her towards the newly established Revitalizing Home and Mercury Bar. First off was the Revitalizing Home. Right away a rhythmic chant of, Osu, osu, could be heard while walking up to it. When Ellis opened the sliding doors, the thick smell of oil and sweat mixed into the air stung her eyes, and the sight of numerous men all striking poses with their shirts off left her speechless.3 Ellis immediately slammed the sliding door shut. Taking a peek over at Katie and Claire, she saw that the two of them were about as pale as she felt. Just now, I feel like I saw something I shouldnt have. If there were any women inside there, they would definitely be seen as a pervert nya. It was collectively decided that they would avoid Revitalizing Home in the future. Up next was Mercury Bar. Walking up to it, it was a lot quieter than the last bar had been. When Ellis pulled open the door, a cloud of tobacco smoke billowed out making her eyes sting once again followed by the sight of numerous talking with close skin-on-skin contact. A shiver ran up Elliss spine as she quickly shut the door. Taking a peek over at Katie and Claire, she saw that the two of them had started rubbing their armsCtrying to warm up after the sudden chill that had overcome them. The world sure is vast. There were women in there too nya. Why were they just staring at the guys from a corner nya? It was collectively decided that they would try and avoid Mercury Bar in the future as well. Lets go back. Ellis, with Katie and Claire at her side, thus finished her inspection much quicker than originally planned. It goes without saying that the Ellis vs Claire and Ellis vs Katie activities that night were more intense than normal. Reeve and Frau ended up feeling some intense regret, but it cannot be helped. Its a womens world in the mansion, and any lingering male images need to be properly forgotten. Thus another night in Warren went by. 1. First off, in case you dont know, fujoshis are women who like to ship men together. Secondly, did you know that the direct English translation for a fujoshi is Rotten woman? I never did, and all of the sudden so many jokes in so much anime makes sense to me. 2. Warren has the weirdest gangs. 3. I keep imagining an army of Alex Louis Armstrongs all doing poses at each other, and I cant stop laughing. CH 91 *Gathunk!* *Gathunk!* *Gathunk!* One day, a large silver monstrosity that looked like a super-sized metal spider came walking onto the girls front lawn. It had 8 long legs that extended out to form a nearly 3 meter long diameter black ball with a large ^ to symbolize its face. Ellis, Reeve, Frau, and Katie were standing in their front doorway, staring at it with mouths wide open. Ellis was the first one who regained her sense of reasoning first, and so she took up the task of addressing Claire who was standing with her chest puffed out in front of this monster. Hey Claire, what is this disgusting looking thing? The question took Claire aback a little, but she angrily responded, How rude! This is the first golem I created, 8 Legged Wasteland Traverser Mogemoge-kun Number 1! Reeve put the name aside for the moment and asked, So what does this monster do? Claire puffed out her chest in pride once again and answered, Its eight legs work in conjunction, and it is able to traverse over any wasteland or wetland! Frau had guessed that from its extremely long name, but there was one question that was bugging her. Why would we ever need to traverse over any wastelands or wetlands? The sudden question made Claire falter a bit. Eh, we would traverse because And then Katie delivered a hard truth. Engineers egoism nya.1 That last word was the tipping point, and Claire threw herself over and hugged 8 Legged Wasteland Traverser Mogemoge-kun Number 1 with tears rolling down her face. After waiting for Claire to stop crying, Ellis asked her how she made a golem in case she ever needed assistance. About two sentences in, Ellis put her hand over Claires mouth and told her to, Dumb it down. Claires revised explanation was as follows. Three procedures are necessary to building a golem. The second is the magic, {Create Golem}. According to Claire, the more complicated of movements the golem will need to make, the more magic power that is needed in order to create it. Even with the magic tools Ellis had given her, it took Claire days to create the golem in secret. Still, with Mogemoge-kun, rather than each of his legs working as individual limbs, they work more intermittently as a process to produce an effect similar to walking. It wont be able to perform any complex functions, but the necessary magic power to create it was low. This was the standardized production method for Magic City Wisdoms Gorgon Golems. The third procedure is the creation of the activation device. This would be the medium for giving commands to the golem. Generally the activation device for a Gorgon Golem is a ring, but it seems that just about anything can be used. However, there can only be one. There is a link between the motion program of the golem and the activation device, and a second one would disrupt the process. Alphonse, the Magicians Guild guild master in Wisdom, had been working on Gorgon Golems and had been working extensively with activation devices to get more basic golems to do moreCwith often disastrous results. On the other hand, the Gorgon Golem Ares and Izerina made was strengthened from the second stage on to create a stronger, simpler creation. If thats the case, then you can say that the basic Mogemoge-kun is finished. So now you can start adding on the bonus features. Ellis was actually starting to get excited about this as well. Thats right, Ive already thought of several upgrades I can give him. By the way Ellis, his name is 8 Legged Wasteland Traverser Mogemoge-kun Number 1. Dont omit parts. Troublesome. Well, lets all think about what Mogemoge-kun can be used for. Ellis completely ignored Claires objections and passed the question onto the other three. Reeve raised her hand first. How about placing chairs on the ball and riding it? A substitute vehicle? Ellis nodded her head and turned towards Claire. Lets try it. Alright Ellis, Reeve. Claire ran into the house to grab a chair, and after a few minutes, it was securely fastened to the top of the golems ball. Then after a short effort to climb up it, she sat down and activated it. Advance! 8 Legged Wasteland Traverser Mogemoge-kun Number 1! *Gathunk!* *Gathunk!* *Gathunk!* Mogemoge-kun began moving forward. . Claire quickly activated Mogemoge-kuns emergency stop function and jumped down to the ground. No sooner had her feet touched down than she was running towards the wetlands down the street. Guessing what had happened went inside to get her some water. .ride, the worst. Claire trudged back to the mansion with a blue face and was barely able to groan out her impressions. Frau promptly handed her a glass of water and patted her back as she drank. What if we use it to draw the carriage? This was the proposal Frau brought out. Okay, lets try it. The resurrected Claire nodded and started hooking Mogemoge-kun up to their luxury carriage. Advance! 8 Legged Wasteland Traverser Mogemoge-kun Number 1! *Gathunk!* *Gathunk!* *Gathunk!* Mogemoge-kun began drawing the carriage. . Well, it was doing it, but it was only about as fast as someone walking on foot. Like this, its obvious to anyone that the Magical Horses are superior. Claire quickly became depressed. Its a piece of an engineers egoism after all nya. Katie mercilessly twisted the knife, and it looked like Claire was about to start crying again. Alright then Claire, how about trying this? Ellis whispered something into Claires ear, and after a moment of thinking, Claires eyes lit up like a lighthouse. Ellis, thank you! Im heading back to the workshop for a bit! Claire ran back to Mogemoge-kun and returned it to its miniature doll form and dropped it in her pocket. She then pulled out her Magical Horse and rode it in the direction of town. After watching her go, the four other ladies went back to their own work for that day. Claire ended up not returning until supper-time that night looking a tad odd. What is it Claire? You look like youre in a good mood. Did something happen? Claire gave Reeve a large smile before shaking her head. Secret. Reeve was taken aback a little by the enormous smile Claire had, but after recovering, she turned her eyes towards Ellis. Asking her the same question when Claire wasnt around, Ellis unfortunately gave her the same answer. Secret. The two shared the same indiscreet reaction and refused to elaborate. Well, it was pretty easy to imagine that it had something to do with Mogemoge-kun, so Reeve didnt bother pressing the issue. And so from there dinner continued in peace. Then came bathtime after that followed by, Nighttime Thanks to Ellis, 8 Legged Wasteland Traverser Mogemoge-kun Number 1 will grow to be an active player. Alright, then in reward, please let me shorten his name. I guess I dont have a choice. Just Ellis then. Alright, then lets skip right to this. A, ah, thats.Aaahn.. The other three girls became agitated hearing the louder than normal workout taking place, but they were properly knocked out when their turns came around. Then the chilled morning air came. Claire made her way to her workshop at the crack of dawn. Frau was to make her rounds to all of the food shops in Cross Town to give feedback on any new recipes made. Katie was running security on behalf of the Thieves Guild and currently patrolling through Gentleman Street. Reeve had cleaned her sword after doing after some rudimentary sword practice and then took a nap under the sun with Pi-tan. Ellis was plotting something somewhere. In other words, it was business as usual. And then a few days passed. *Gathunk!* *Gathunk!* *Gathunk!* A large sleek spider-like golem came walking on their front yard with its eight legs, but this time it looked a little different. Ellis, everyone, come see at the wonder I have built! Claire ran into the house calling out Ellis and everyone else to introduce them to the large monstrosity that had returned. This time around a large joint had been affixed to the top of Mogemoge-kuns center, and after observing it for a moment, it became clear that it was actually meant to be a base which would allow somebody to attach various other instruments to it. What Ellis had advised Claire to make was a construction machine. Or so Claire proudly declared. Behold: 8 Legged Wasteland Traverser Soil Preparation and Transportation Mogemoge-kun Number 1 Revised! The name has gotten even worse. Mogemoge-kun was now pulling something similar to a plow, and it almost looked like a dragonfly with the way the metal base and cables came off of it. Now we can safely level and work with the land in wastelands or the wetlands. Besides this attachment, she had also apparently created several more which could be used to carry away rocks or trees as well. Hearing her describe it, the other four became honestly impressed. Even four amateurs like them could tell how much help an invention like this would be for land development. Well, Ive already decided to give this guy to Master. He was so happy! Claire laughed while telling everyone that her newest invention had already made a sale. Ellis could feel Claires joy. She placed deep affection and love into whatever she built. Now, if only her naming sense was a little better. Well, I think next time Ill build another golem with everyones ideas in mind! . What kind of monstrosity is she going to bring with her next time? This thought played through each of their heads, but rather than voice their concerns, each of them forced a smile and nodded their heads as Claire continued to dance around overcome with happiness. By the way, Mogemoge-kun would go on to become the hottest new product to be sold in various places under the Claire-Flint brand. CH 92 Hey, Berudeus. What is it My Demon Lord? Is this a joke or something? Doesnt it suit me? No, it looks very nice, but why are you wearing a red dress? More than that, why do you have a pair of large breasts? About that, I1, didnt I explain that I could switch between both genders? I have never heard anything about that. But details aside, do you want to step on me? I do not. In the future, when we are at the nightclub in Warren, I will go by Berunal, Beruiels sister, so I would thank you to call me as such when we are there together. Okay, but is there a reason for this? Not really. But I would like to get used to walking around in heels, so I will be staying this way for awhile. I see, then I will just call you Berunal from now on in order to get used to it. You have my deepest gratitude. I will go ahead and explain this figure to our other demon executives as well in a bit. Very good Berunal. By the way, I will repeat myself but, would you like to step on me with those heels youre wearing? I do not. That was the story inside the Demon Lords castle. The fact that the Demon Lords right hand man had changed his name and gender for a stupid reason like to make his nemesis Lady Bluegreen cry out in anguish, was something that only the person in question was to know. Gise, sorry I made you wait. No, I dont mind. The Hero had dragged Gise along with him after he had been invited to watch the wrestling match for a bit, but it was what the person in question had wanted which meant there were no problems. This time Gise decided to visit the live house and watch over the newest wrestling match followed by a visit over to Masters Hideaway. After a large game of Warren Numbers, he would inevitably end up at the Jewelry Box Teahouse for a little relaxation. Now this is comfort. Gise was what could be described as a cool man. No matter who would approach him and with what intent, he would never drop his guard or a modicum of doubt. And he would never talk about any unnecessary things. He was always serious and made sure to always carry himself professionally. On the flip side of that, if he were to ever find a place where he did not have to worry or if that string of tension he always hangs himself on is cut, then his demeanor becomes quite.slovenly. Beloved customer, how was your tea today? And when it came to the exalted smile of the mature feminine spirit of Aiful, Gise easily melted. A, ah, todays tea was so fragrant and tasted superb. By the way, I realize I never introduced myself, Im Gise from Skycastle. Even Gise wasnt sure why he was introducing himself here, let alone why he was adding extra things like the fact he was from Skycastle. Yes, I remember Gise was a member of the Brave Party right? Aiful replied to Gise in a gentle tone and with a small smile. But that fact mattered little as the words she said forced Gise to refocus. Why does Aiful know that I am a member of the Brave Party? was running through his head at a million kilometers per minute. However, Aifuls next words would make everything grind to a halt. I am indebted to you for what you did in Wheat Grace. Gises mind fell into turmoil. What the Brave Party had done in Wheat Grace was expunge a secret high demon that had been working with the then current lord in the area. But why would that affect Aiful who owns a business in Warren? Gise remembered instantly. At the time after the death of the high demon, While there was a congratulatory conversation between the tax official, the man who would end up becoming the new lord and Gray, Gise had handled arresting the Durkfienance family men for their trip to Skycastle.. Yes, Gise remembered now. At that time, the wife and daughter of the lord had been crying by themselves in one corner of the room. At the time, he had held no interest for them and barely spared a second glance. Gise was one of the foremost thieves inside Skycastle. There was no mistake in his memory. That was why he knew any attempt to doubt the connection between the woman in front of him and the woman at that time was pointless. How hard had she and her daughter suffered to get to this point? He had never cared about such things before, so why did it suddenly feel like someone had punched him in the gut now? Gise, is there something wrong? No, I was just remembering something from my past..Its a little embarrassing, but would you let me cry for a bit? Aiful said nothing, but she did softly pour out another cup of tea into Gises cup before leaving him be. Gise started to rub his eyes in order to limit the amount of tears he was shedding as much as possible. He tried to take a sip from the tea Aiful had poured him, but he noticed the gaze of his own reflection in the drink. What on earth are you doing? it asked him. For the first time, Gise doubted himself. The way he lived his life, and the way he thought about the world. Gise remembered, the happy smiles of his mother and father. Gise thought to himself, he was convinced that he was a heavyweight inside the Skycastle Thieves Guild. He felt it was his duty to continue working with the Brave Party despite every nerve wracking headache. But was that really all there was to his life? Was him being a member of the Thieves Guild his only reason for living; so important that he couldnt even confess his love to the woman in front of him? Was that all there was to his life? Gise continued to cry by himself for a few minutes before eventually wiping them away with his sleeve and rising from his chair. He took a moment to walk over towards Aiful. I will come again. It was delicious today as well. Thank you. We will be waiting for your next visit. And then Gise silently left to meet back up with Gray. Gray, a persons happiness, what on earth is that? Unusually, Gise started up a conversation with Gray first. Whats the matter? Gise? No, nevermind, its nothing. Just, I guess Im just tired of waiting for a Demon Lord who might never show up. Gises words did little to abate Grays rising confusion. But there is a Demon Lord! Warren was actually attacked by demons not that long ago! Gray, you should also know how that attack ended. Perhaps there is a Hero out there aside from us. The story of thousands of demons all being slaughtered in an instant had quickly spread across the country. Gray, are we really the Brave Party meant to defeat the Demon Lord? Gises question had hit a sore spot for Gray. Because recently he himself had started doubting Gods revelations. There were things like with the Wight Labyrinth that had not been happening like what the revelations had predicted, and to say that his journey so far had been unlike what he had imagined a Heros journey to be would be a gross understatement. All the same, Gray stood resolute. I believe that we are here to save the world from a crisis. If not, then why does a guy like me have this bogus power? Yes, Grays words brought Gise out of his funk just a bit. Thats right, Gray had inhuman power unheard of except for the most fantastical tales. Youre right. Your power must be for the sake of wiping out evil. There is no other explanation. This ridiculous power was gifted to the man in front of him. Just imagining what would have happened if this power had fallen into the hands of someone rotten made Gise shudder. It had instead fallen to a good, yet naive farmer, and guiding that farmer with insane power was the mission he had been given. Gray, lets hurry back to the three idiots. Gise was able to regain his calm, and with it, he once again started giving out sensible instructions. Yes, Im worried about what those three might have gotten themselves into in Wisdom. Gray nodded his head once with a smile. And so the two of them leapt towards Wisdom, but a bit of anxiety had taken root and there was no sign of that dissipating. Meanwhile at Lily Garden. According to Beru, the Demon Lords deputy officer is a demon with a bad character who really likes gambling. Margherita was reporting to Ellis about the conversation she had overheard during the other days wrestling match. Gray, the Hero using Gise as a pseudonym, mentioned that there really is no wizard in the Brave Party and it seems he is trying to drive the dancer claiming to be one away. Marilyn was also there reporting what she had learned to Ellis. That Rosen Angel is almost assuredly that deputy officer on the Demon Lords side. Reeve put in her two cents about the report having played against the man in question. That thief party member of the Brave Party was been visiting the Jewelry Box Teahouse an awful lot lately nya. Katie meanwhile was able to pass on a report she had heard from the Thieves Guild. Hmm, so the two biggest members of the Brave Party and the Demon Lords army are here, and each one is visiting Warren for a different reason. Ellis tried to calmly assess the situation. It the Hero and Demon Lord were here, they should have started killing each other long ago. So why werent they? The only possible reason is because they have not yet started to recognize each other as enemies. Then, it should be possible to play any number of tricks on them like this. Ellis began making plans with a smile on her face for the Hero with an insane amount of strength and the Demon Lord with untold magic. Intelligence was power, and in that regard, she was far stronger than the both of them. 1. As you probably guessed, Berudeus starts using feminine pronouns here. CH 93 A girl with emerald colored eyes and cherry-colored lips, she had golden blonde hair that reached down to her shoulders. Her pale naked body had skin so white it almost looked transparent with the exception of her two cherry blossom tinged cheeks. One girl next to her was wrapped in fur white as snow, a single fang poking out of her closed thin lips underneath a pair of sharp gray eyes. Her naked body was supple, with her white fur moving to cover much of her more secret parts to appear as if she were still clothed at first glance. These two ladies were joined together beautifully nude. Their lips parted simultaneously and a voice echoed out, The bra didnt fit and kept rubbing our nipple, theres too much space in these breasts, breasts! Gyahahahaha! Ellis was laughing loudly as she sang her and Katies newest classic. Its awful! Both of you are awful! Apparently the song did not sit well with Claire who started to angrily yell at them. Why are you getting angry? Is it because the song reminds you too much of when you bought a bra? The cat girl went out of her way to provoke the long black-haired girl. Claire, that space inbetween your breasts and the bra is like a fine painting for some maniacs, so be careful not to be gobbled up like a bunch of side dishes! And Ellis was right beside her cat saying something horrible. Meanwhile Reeve was seriously worried about what song she should sing next while the red-haired Frau was silently sweating out all of her worries half submerged in the bath. This was the public bath Lily Garden. After business hours end, this large bath became open for the five girls private use. Gentlemans Street and Cross Town had finally started operating smoothly on their own, and a second phase of construction had begun, spreading Warren outward into the plains next to Lily Garden. Much of these new buildings would be residential sections mainly designed by Claire. In the last council meeting, after talking about further developing the mens street, it was also considered on whether to expand the city to accommodate tourists. It was decided that a former apartment complex would be redesigned as a luxury hotel while the former residents of the apartment would be relocated to cheap homes in the suburbs. The main inhabitants of those apartments were people who worked in commercial facilities. This also doubled as a solution to the housing problem which had become lacking after Lily Garden, Cross Town, Gentlemans Street, and other tourist attractions were all built into a row. Ellis Finance owned the initial apartment complex, but in order to avoid any complaints from the guilds, the finished hotel was sold to be managed by the Merchant Guild. In addition, the Workshop Guild had opened up several hardware and accessory stores in Cross Town. In the suburbs, they would also be constructing a material storage site from where they would continue to build multi-family housing for Workshop Guild employees. By the way, a joke has recently started running through the guild members, and at Claires annoyance, they had started nicknaming 8 Legged Wasteland Traverser Soil Preparation and Transportation Mogemoge-kun Number 1 Revised as just TS-kun which was short for Transport Spider. With a new name, it had already started gaining great success in the field. The Adventurers Guild had started expanding a carriage network to help facilitate travel between other cities. At the same time, funding for the security was subsidized by the Merchant Guild. As long as all the guilds are in a win-win cohesive relationship, any complaints should remain nonexistent. And with increase in businesses, the more variations in jobs the people living in the residential areas can take up. Consequently, the being a game assistant at Masters Hideaway became the number one sought after position for the local girls. Well, what should we do now? While trying to console Claire, who was half crying from all the bullying, everyone left the bath. Nightly exercise. Ellis is awful saying that! All right Claire, Ill take things a little more gradually from now on. Its a promise, every day! Ah, rough, ahhhn. Claire was half crying, it was great nya! Such a bad cat, I should make you cry. Thats no good nya, please forgive me nya! Nyanyanyanyaaan. I would be in serious trouble if they got any bigger. Okay, then lets stop here. No, Im sorry! Please bully this pig woman. By the way, you werent listening to our songs. Sorry, I was distracted. Fine then. Ill just have to grab your attention back with something else. Uuh.. HahAh, Aaaa.. Followed by a refreshing morning. Todays breakfast consisted of some readily made grilled fish fillets. It was another delicious breakfast, but a question suddenly popped into Elliss head. Where do we get the fish? The local expert on all things fish, Katie, was the one who answered. Warren fish mostly come from lakes and rivers east of here nya. Marsfield and Wheat Grace, they get fish from the sea too nya. Ellis realized that that was what was bugging her. She hadnt noticed until now but all of the fish served in Warren were fresh water fish. Where is the sea? There is a fishing village to the west of Marsfield and to the west of Wheat Grace nya. They can get fish from the sea because it is only a half a days carriage ride there nya. There is a village to the west of Warren too, but there is no direct road there nya. Hmm. How do you get to that fishing village? Through Marsfield or Wheat Grace nya. But it is a long ways away from both, so the village is really poor nya. How come there is not direct road to there? . Frau put her elbows on the table and crossed her fingers together. If its the last boss of an advanced labyrinth, weve killed those before, so would that mean we could handle it? . It stands to reason. Reeve was perfectly in sync. . We could definitely win. Claire nodded in turn. Then Katie jumped in, her eyes shining. Thats right nya, we should get rid of it nya. Then that village will be wealthy too nya! . For now, lets gather some information on Land Dragons. Ellis was the only one of the girls who was showing some caution to this expanding plan. It was a dragon after all. No matter what world you come from, it would be dangerous to try and fight one. Ellis headed towards the Merchant guild first. It was important to find out about the demand for saltwater fish in Warren before she risked her life to open a road for it. According to Maria, Warren had gotten by just fine with only freshwater fish so far, but with tourism expected to increase in the future, the demand would most likely increase. So it would be good to secure the market if they could. Next was the Adventurers Guild. Here was the best place to gather any information on the Land Dragon that they could. The Land dragon was as expected a lizard-type demon that was typically 5 meters long. It had strong scales that a simple sword could never even scratch. The tip of its tail was actually coated in a nerve poison, and after an adventurer had been made numb by it, no amount of armor would save them from being swallowed whole. Ellis had her doubts about the swallowing whole part, but she did read into the other information provided and applied it to what Katie had told her about the area. From what she could figure, Ellis thought that this dragon was like Pi-tan. He was not there hunting for prey, he was simply living there out of personal preference. In that case there should be no creatures there that would act as a natural enemy for a Land Dragon. If so, there will be no adverse reaction in the environment to killing it. Lastly came the visitation to the Thieves Guild. Here, it would be best to find out about the influence of the western fishing village and if there would be any problems in connecting them. As expected Baltis gave the okay, but it is always best to make sure. The Thieves Guild guild master Baltis laughed loudly when he was asked though. Are you planning something again? Well, with the weapons you showed me, Im sure something like a Land Dragon will be no problem. Ill keep any information on a need-to-know basis, so be sure to get rid of it properly. If you do kill it, I can handle disposing of the body. Ellis had asked the Thieves Guild to manipulate the information on who had exterminated the Land Dragon. It would be bad if people knew about the real level of military strength her and the other girls wielded. Evidently, Baltis agreed. So in conclusion, we will be getting rid of that dragon shortly. Four girls boiled over in anticipation at the news Ellis shared with them. Katie in particular was extremely pleased. Im so happy nya! Im so happy nya! Ellis, thank you nya! The extreme joy coming from Katie threw Ellis off a bit. Why are you so happy about that Katie? That western fishing village, thats my parents home nya! What do you mean, say something that important first! This cat had butterflies flying through her head like usual. But that didnt change their destination. With preparation for the trip already underway, they would be heading towards the hilly western region. Their prey this time, Mr. Dragon! CH 94 I have no idea what is going on The Land Dragon was officially confused. A little while ago, some new prey popped up in front of him. It had been decades since the last time prey had shown up before him, so he took the natural course of action and tried to swallow it whole. Despite his large figure, he is actually surprisingly fast, so the scene should have gone with him swallowing said prey, him digesting said prey, and then him relaxing for another couple decades until more prey came. So, why is it that his scales which he always takes such pride in have been plucked from his body, the venomous tail capable of paralyzing a horse after one sting has been cut off, all four of his muscular limbs have been crushed and twisted in weird directions, and the rest of his body has been frozen to the ground like some pickled vegetable? There was a level of disconnect here he was having trouble bridging. And then in front of him was some small human girl, one he could usually easily swallow by the way, pointing a sharp looking stiletto at his right eye. Well then, shall we have a chat? The blonde hair of the small girl lifted up along with the breeze as she gave him a particularly evil smile, and rather than curiosity, the Land Dragon suddenly started to feel fearCan emotion he hadnt experienced in hundreds of years. This was a story that took place shortly before the five heroines met the Earth Dragon. To summarize up the information Frau and Katie dug up, it seems like nobody has seen the Land Dragon in a few decades. Also, it had been seen giving orders or yelling at the monsters that normally live in that area although nobody was able to confirm with it what it was doing there or why it attacked people when they passed by. So Ellis started to think. Perhaps it might be a subject of purification like that demon executive that spoke to them the first time they had cleared Demon Labyrinth. Or maybe it was sealed there, unable to move because of someone elses will. Do Land Dragons like that have intelligence? Frau looked like she had suddenly remembered something with Elliss question. Actually, in myths and legends, dragons are usually told as being far wiser than humans. Although Ive never met a real one to confirm that. Then Katie hopped in with a bit of her own tale. One of Marsfields advanced labyrinths, the Ice and Snow Dragon Labyrinth has an Ice and Snow Dragon as its final boss that can use human language nya. Although it normally just says things like Die or Prepare yourself nya. Hmm. Whats the matter Mistress, are you planning something again? Ellis called everyone else around her to explain the answer for Reeves question. When she was done, everyone was wearing the same evil look on their faces. Around here nya? The surroundings looked to be an ordinary hilly area. There was no road that cut a path through, and there were no special chartaristic features that would signal if they were close to the point Katie had told them about. The five girls leaned on their Magical Horses looking around lost before advancing on foot with Katie and Ellis taking the lead. It amounted to quite the peaceful walk. There was a gentle breeze that passed through the grass, and it would have made the perfect place to relax and sunbathe. But there was work to be done. I found it. Ellis was the first of them to locate their quarry. And because of the way the ground tilted, the Land Dragon had yet to notice her in turn. Who was it that said they were only 5 meters? Claire sighed as she looked up and down the dragon. The Land Dragons head by itself was at least a meter long with a body of 5 meters down capped off by a 5 meter long tail. In total, it was 11 meters longCtwice the size they had been expecting. Looking at it, it was like taking an ordinary lizard, making it huge, and then beefing it out with muscles. Its body was covered in ocher scales, and its lips were pulled back revealing rows of sharp teeth lining both of its jaws. There was also a bulge at the end of its tail with several needle like spikes sprouting out from the end. Ellis was having flashbacks to the first time Frau had showed off her morning star. Well, should we stick to the plan? Ellis activated the Poison Nullification necklace she was wearing. And thanks to the effect of their Bond bracelets, the effect of the poison immunity was spread out to all of them. After confirming everyones readiness, the girls charged forth towards the Land Dragon. Katie jumped in front of the Land Dragon, and as it tried to swallow her, she tore up its nostrils with the claws from the Brave Ripper. Distracted by the sudden pain, the Land Dragon tried using its large body to crush Katie, but she was able to cleanly dodge it. Meanwhile before it could even realize what was happening, the Land Dragons venomous tail was severed by the combined attacks from Fraus halberd, Reeves katana, and Claires {Wind Blade} spell. From there it received multiple hits all over its body. Without its tail, the Land Dragon completely lost its sense of balance, and it was unable to utilize its agility or even move the way it wanted to. Katies nails tore in and gouged out the Land Dragons nostrils once again as it tried to turn around, but it decided to ignore and focus on the other threeCusing its full body weight to crush them. Unfortunately for reasons it could not understand, its right hind leg suddenly went limp, and his right side collapsed into the dirt. Guoowooooooon!!! The Land Dragon let out one powerful roar from the back of its throat, but it was too little, too late. The five girls each used their Ice rings to freeze its body in place, completely sealing any freedom the body had left. The dragon suffered its first defeat in hundreds of years. The strategy of the girls was a simple one. Katie was to catch the dragon off guard and distract it while the others focused everything they had into cutting off the tail. After that, it was just a matter of good communication to break its limbs wherever it wasnt looking and seal away the remaining leftover pile of meat. It was a simple strategy, yet an effective one. Well then, shall we have a chat? The blonde haired girl spoke up while pointing her stiletto towards the Land Dragons right eye. The dragons reply was one delivered directly onto the girls consciousnesses. I have no idea whats going on. Ah, what a surprisingly frank guy. Ellis nodded her head before continuing on without his consent. If you dont want to die, then answer our questions. There is a one in four chance of you dying when I stab you with this. By any chance, is that stiletto made from Dark Mithrilwith the Mad God ability attached to it? Well, my, what kind of seriously stupid thing is that! It seems that the Land Dragon was capable of making an appraisal on his own. The rumors about him having high intelligence were true. Im glad you understand. Now then, why are you attacking humans here? It cannot be helped, I am under the will of the Demon Lord. Humans taste disgusting, so I always try to swallow you whole to minimize the taste. Ellis had to think about that. Something seemed a little off. The Demon Lord did..when? Lets see, it wouldve been quite some time ago. Shouldnt your job be done already? Ellis handed the floor over to Claire who started reciting some facts about the previous Demon/God war to the Land Dragon. It is said that the previous Demon/God war concluded about 300 years ago. Records say it ended with the Hero having successfully banished away the Demon Lord. The Land Dragon stared at the girls for a few minutes before finally saying, So, are you possibly telling me, that for the past couple hundred years, I have been working for no reason? Since the main battleground at the time was around Wisdom, I guess the news never made it over to you. Claire answered his question as delicately as she could, but as soon as the words left her mouth, the Land Dragon completely collapsed. For the first time as the girls looked down at this dragon with four broken legs, a severed tail, and body frozen to the ground like a pickled vegetable, they started to feel a little pity. Hey Mr. Land Dragon, can you live without eating people? Just to make sure of things, Reeve asked him the all-important question, I am able to live off of latent mana in the air coupled with sunlight. My mouth is completely vestigial. and he gave back a favorable response. But Ellis wanted to make sure. For instance, would you be fine if we tied your mouth closed with a ribbon or something? Thats right. I usually only open my mouth if Im fighting something, I The Land Dragon stopped for a moment, interrupting whatever else he was going to say. Well, it doesnt matter. I accept my defeat, and wellit hurts, so please end it for me. Ellis heard the Land Dragons solemn plea, and she promptly ignored it. Alright, so you accept your defeat. Then will you become our companion? The other four were surprised by this sudden change in plans, but Ellis kept going. Currently, a second Demon/God war was brewing. She already knew who the Demon Lord and Hero were and what they were like, but there was almost no chance that the fighting would subside after the two of them finished. There was no telling how much damage the two sides could bring in the future. Come with us, and help choke out the Hero and Demon Lord. Hmm, it sounds interesting. But humans would never accept me, so why would you? You shouldnt have any problems with. Pi-tan has already become a normal part of everyones lives. Whats a Pi-tan? A Metal Eater. Really? Really. Elliss words had the Land Dragons mind running in circles. That most hated creature, a Metal Eater, was accepted by humans? And why was it called Pi-tan? It really was boring always moping around here. And the Demon Lords curse on me really has disappeared. Would following these girls along really be the correct answer here? Alright, Ill do it. You can bind my mouth with a mark of obedience, and you probably want to cut off the venom glands in my tail right? Good, then the negotiations are complete. Though you dont have to obey others, at the very least you arent allowed to attack any humans. From there, Ellis used Full Recovery to completely restore the dragon to his former glory. After which, Reeve took care to cut out only the venom glands in the tail before Claire burned them with magic. Ellis made the decision to take the Land Dragon and return to Warren with him immediately. They were going to report that the threat to the fishing village was gone, and bringing the real thing home would be the most convincing evidence. Well also need to bind your mouth, so lets use this. The five girls wrapped the Land Dragons mouth up with the ribbons they had on hand before knotting them all together in a neat bow on top. The Land Dragon stood up with five differently colored bows wrapped around him like an under-wrapped present. It was a surreal sight, but he seemed to like the look. Then, to mark our approach, get on my back. I will take you home. Thus, the five girls rode the Land Dragon back to Warren after a successful mission. Later, Claire would become jealous of how comfortable riding the Land Dragon was, and Ellis had to scold her for the trouble she caused in trying to develop a new golem to match him. That, however, is another story. CH 95 The girls shook back and forth as they rode the Land Dragon back to Warren. As they calmly relaxed on his enormous back, Frau absentmindedly asked him a question. Does Mr. Land Dragon have a name? The Land Dragons voice clearly echoed inside of each girls mind. Not right now. By the way, you all, are any of you planning on naming me? ????? The Land Dragon suddenly started snorting around like an over-sized pig. It was like he was trying to confirm a smell in the air. Yes how rare. All five of you have the proper qualifications. ????? What do you mean nya? Katie asked the question plaguing all of their minds, but the Land Dragon reacted as if they had just asked him what color the sky was. You all, youve never heard of a Dragon Maiden? The five of them had absolutely never heard of such a thing. But the term did poke something in the back of Claires mind. Is it like the relationship between unicorns and princesses you hear about in fairy tales? The Land Dragon started laughing at the comparison, but when he realized they werent joking, he had to stop and think. The last thing he wanted was to be forced to fight again by those annoying demons, and he had already bet on these girls with giving him a nice, comfortable life. So if it was to keep these girls alive, perhaps it would be fine to live with a few constraints on himself. And so he came to a decision. That is probably what the story of Dragon Maidens devolved into. Lets focus on the matter at hand for now. Which one of you will give me a name? Ill show you something interesting when youre done. And so the usual round of naming began. How about Huge King Kaiju Land Dragon as a name? The always straightforward Reeve. A Ridiculously Long, Hard, Rigid Lizard With a Total Length of 11 Meters would be a good name. The person with the constant need to describe everything Claire. Myamumu. The nodding-off Katie. Since he is a Land Dragon, how about naming him Ra-chin?1 And the simple yet always likable Frau. Mr. Land Dragon, your name from now on is Ra-chin. Ellis made an executive decision and chose the only logical choice, gifting the Land Dragon with his new name. Ellis, you have named me Ra-chin. But the wording the Land Dragon gave in response was a little weird. Alright then, Ill show you all something fun, so would you get off me for a second? The five girls descended off his back just as they were told before Ra-chin turned towards Ellis. Ellis, I am not trying to deceive you, so could you kiss me? Saying you are not trying to deceive someone is the perfect way to look like you are trying to deceive someone. But, interesting things are interesting. So throwing her suspicions to the side, Ellis stood on her tiptoes and kissed the tip of the Land Dragons nose. The world spun for a moment as if a rug had been pulled out from under her. A warmth entered Elliss body, as if a piece of the Land Dragon had entered her and was now searing its presence into Elliss mind. Two command phrases flashed in her mind, forcing her to shut her eyes tight. When she finally opened them again, the Land Dragon started appearing to her like a magic tool. It seems like it recognized you after all. The contract has been completed with this, so first, how about you use {Change Human}. Ellis was still reeling from the sudden pressure that had flashed over her, but she was able to work past the small headache throbbing in the back of her skull and muttered out one of the two phrases that had appeared in her mind. {Change Human} Ra-chin was then enveloped in a flash of light, a light that slowly began to decrease in size. Soon the ball of bright white light had shrunken down from the size of an 11 meter long dragon to that of an eight year old human girl. And once the light had faded completely, a naked girl stood before them with the same hair and eye color as Ellis. This is {Change Human}. When its used, I can mimic the body of the person who cast it. The only difference is that I have no sex, so there are no breasts or other holes. Do you see? The naked little girl did a spin, and the sight left the five feeling a little perturbed. As the dragon had said, he looked exactly like Ellis, but his chest was a complete washboard along with a lack of any sex organs. Although the girls didnt care enough to find out if that included the hole on the buttocks as well. Well then next is to use {Reset Body}. Ellis did as she was instructed, and sure enough, the dragon returned to his normal enormous self. Also with this contract and so long as Ellis doesnt forbid it, the ability {Permission Size Change} has automatically been granted to me. This should prove useful to all of you as well. As the dragon spoke, his body gradually shortened until he was only about a meter long. Only {Change Human} requires Ellis to activate the spell. I cant turn human whenever I want, but I will be able to change my size. It should help me get around in this city of yours. He slowly returned to his normal size as he explained so. The size alteration should be useful, but the second group of command words should be what really interests you. Ra-chin gave Ellis the signal to use the second command group after confirming that Ellis had enough MP to actually pull it off. The first spell {Share Sight} which as it name implied allowed Ellis to see things through Ra-chins point-of-view. A dragons eyes are better than a humans, so Ellis found that while using this spell, she could see farther and observe the landscape in even greater detail. After that was the spell {Lock-On} which helped focus her gaze onto a single point. The last spell was the most flashy of the three. {Summon Volcano}. After activation, the ground she had locked onto split open, and a massive amount of boiling magma exploded out in a deafening roar. The crimson pool spilled out around the area, soon calcifying into a large pillar of solid rock. Ra-chin continued to talk while the girls stared at the newly created erection in awe. Dragons and other monsters are made up of not just the power of demons, but of nature as well. So when certain conditions are met, they would be able to demonstrate that power over nature like what they had just seen. Those conditions are probably what led to the creation of fairy tales about unicorns and maidens. By fulfilling those conditions, the girl and dragon would become conscious of each other, and the full capabilities of the dragon could be released at the girls will. The hardest hurdle of all to overcome would be the strong spirit. This would mean having the strength of mind to be able to exist on equal standards with a dragon. All five member of the Jewelry Box have this strength of mind built up after numerous ventures into advanced level dungeons. Ordinary people would never qualify. On the other hand, the girl had to make a sacrifice in order for this bond to be made. That sacrifice was the purity of the maiden. If ever a girl who had made a contract with a dragon would try and lie with a man, then that man would come down with a curse of instant death. But if you were to use {Summon Volcano}, you could easily blow away even a great demon! Ra-chin nervously tried to gloss over the unmentioned sacrifice he had tricked a little girl into giving up, but Ellis was already under the idea that this deal had nothing but positive points. As a matter of fact, her thoughts had already moved on to something else. Hey Ra-chin, a while ago, you muttered that the contract was completed. So with this deal, does that mean the Demon Lord cant put any new restrictions on you? Absolutely correct! Ra-chin yelled out happily at the mere thought. Yes, so long as Ra-chin has a contract with Ellis, he doesnt have to do what the Demon Lord says. He has successfully changed his occupation from guard dog to pet-with-benefits. Ra-chin, can other dragons do the same thing? The story about those conditions should apply to us all Ellis. But you are only able to make a contract with one dragon. Fufufufufu. We still have four other girls good to go, so that means we can have four other dragons. The other girls were more-or-less able to understand the meaning behind Elliss wicked smile, but it was Ra-chin who shared a consciousness with her that was able to really see those thoughts. It sent a shiver down his back. I found an interesting partner, he thought to himself, but isnt her belly a little too black?2 Now then, how are we going to explain this to the council? Wouldnt it be fine to just bring the Land Dragon back with us and explain the situation from there? But it will be inconvenient for people to know we did something about it. What should we do? Cant we just tell everyone we became friends nya? That..that might actually work. Ellis prepared the following story. First of all, the girls had decided to go to the western hills without knowing about the dragon that lived there. Thats when they accidentally ran into the Land Dragon. The girls tried to quickly escape, but the dragon stood in their way at every turn. That was when the Land Dragon started to speak to them. The orders placed onto him during the previous Demon/God war had already been lifted, and he wanted to live in a world of peace. So Ellis suggested that he introduce himself to the Warren Council after having his mouth sealed with a special ribbon. The Land Dragon evidently agreed to that proposition. He would travel and make peace with Warren. I wonder if that sounds convincing enough? The other four remained silent, not completely convinced. It would be impossible for people to not ask questions, and holes would eventually appear. What about telling Father and Baltis beforehand about the contract with Ellis. If its them, they should be able to easily help us keep the secret. And Frau was able to come up with a correction that was able to abate some of the more pressing concerns. So plan correction. First, Frau would secretly visit the Adventurer and Thieves Guilds to talk to Theseus and Baltis. Until then, the other four would wait with Ra-chin at one of the nearby marshes. After explaining the circumstances to Theseus and Baltis, they would assume the story of Ra-chin wanting peace would be convincing enough with the five colored ribbon tying his mouth shut and the cut-out poisonous portion of his tail acting as evidence. It would be best to introduce him during an emergency council meeting. He can come in while in human form, and his true appearance can revealed while out in the open afterwards. The other council members might panic, but things should be okay as long as Theseus and Baltis hold it all together. Is how it should hopefully go. Well, Ill do what I can and hope for the best. Following the plan, Frau activated her Magical Horse and proceeded on towards Warren alone. After awhile, she returned with Theseus and Baltis in two. The two of them had decided it would be better to see things up-front beforehand. The two of them listened to the story from beginning to end, interrupting only to ask a question here and there. The end result, well, they were guild masters after all. If they thought it would benefit Warren, they didnt see any problems with it, and the fact that the Jewelry Box had facilitated the deal would make it just credible enough that ordinary citizens would start to believe it as well. The official story would run as Ra-chin having become a guardian dragon for Warren under a vague covenant. Of course they would figure some excuse along the lines of, He is tied to the area, to fool any messengers sent from Skycastle and Marsfield. With the plan laid out, Ra-chin turned into his human form. Luckily the resulting naked appearance problem was forseen by Frau who had brought a spare change of clothes from the mansion. Standing beside Ellis, the two of them would have passed as twins. Its a little unsettling Ra-chin. Hmm, maybe if I try to use my size alteration while in human form.. It took a minute of concentration, but the fake Ellis-body soon went through another change. Ra-chins hair soon shortened a little bit, stopping right above his ears while the rest of his body grew to be about one size larger. Is this okay? No problem. And so, five girls, two men, and an undersized dragon resumed their journey back to Warren. 1. Friendly reminder that Ls and Rs are the same in Japanese, and La-chin would have sounded like a musical note. 2. Kind of an uncommon idiom. It means someone is sly or mean-spirited. CH 96 This was the meeting place for the Warren Council. An emergency meeting was being held today. The theme for the days meeting was, The application by a Land Dragon to become the citys guardian deity. It was a terrible title for a meeting to have that served to only confuse the council members not in the know. To start things off, the Adventurers Guilds Theseus explained about the current situation to his fellow councilors. People have been living in fear of the monster in the western hills since before any of them had been born despite nobody having even seen it in the last few decades. And now, that Land Dragon had suddenly made contact. Supposedly he had been under orders by the previous Demon Lord during the last Demon/God war to guard those hillsCan order that, so he says, was only released a short time ago. Recently however, he has become angered about a new Demon Lord suddenly declaring himself the ruler of the continent. In order to help protect this peaceful land, he was seeking to strike a peace accord with the humans through a treaty. Only a fool would trust such a shady sounding story that just suddenly pops up like that. So Theseus brought up the next point of the story. The Land Dragon was currently on his way hear. The meeting room quickly broke into an uproar. Regardless of their worries, Theseus turned towards a door leading to a waiting room. The Thieves Guild Baltis walked in with someone else tagging along beside him. That person had blonde hair done up with five differently colored ribbons, emerald green eyes, and cherry-colored lips. Hm? Thats Ellis, isnt it? Flint was surprised upon seeing that individuals appearance. No, theyre taller than Ellis with shorter hair. Also, thats a boy isnt it? Maria was able to quickly pick out the differences. Everyone listen. He is not, no, she is not.this is the Land Dragon. The Land Dragons voice echoed inside the consciousness of each person inside the room. Diminutive humans, I am the Land Dragon. Thank you for accepting my offer at this time. The Land Dragon spoke as if the the matter had already been settled. A very effective strategy for negotiations. Everything up to this point was working exactly how the Jewelry Box girls had thought it would. So now came the Q and A portion of the plan. Everyone held doubts about whether the dragon really wanted to protect Warren. This could be a trap to get them to lower their guards so he can strike, and even if the dragon really did mean what he said, how were they to know whether the dragon would actually be able to resist the new Demon Lords orders or not. For this, Baltis would take over as the leading actor. Everyone, has nobody stopped to consider why the Land Dragon has taken the form of our associate member Ellis? The room fell silent until Baltis spoke again in a sad voice. Ellis made a covenant, and in order to ensure that the Land Dragon would never again fall under the thrall of the Demon Lord, she was forced to dedicate her chastity to the dragon! Once again the room burst in an uproar. There were voices calling for more information coming here and there, while others were shuffling around trying to find the real Ellis, while others started crying over her misfortune. Ellis decided that this was a good time to show herself. When she did, the turmoil grew even louder, but Baltis beat them all back until they quieted down. Ellis started to explain with a subtle look on her face. She told them all in order to secure the dragons help, she had to dedicate her chastity to him in order to protect her purity, and that it was her decision to do so, not the dragon forcing her to do so. Thanks to this covenant, the Land Dragon would never be forced to enter into another contract. In other words, as long as Ellis kept this contract with the dragon, the Demon Lord would never be able to take him over. She explained it all as the same fairy tale told about unicorns and maidens.1 Crying a little bit after the explanation, Ellis was able to settle into her role. The others in the room all remained silent. Some had even started to sob along with her. Taking Elliss hand in his own and helping her to stand straight up beside him, the Land Dragon once again started speaking directly into each council members mind. Allow me to show you my power. We should all go outside. There was nobody who resisted his words. This was the towns central square. In addition to all the council members, there were a large number of ordinary citizens gathered as well. Men from the Adventurers Guild hung up a fence to wall people off from the spectacle creating a large circle 15 meters in diameter. This was the size Theseus had ordered in advance. The Land Dragon lie in wait at the circle center still in his blonde-haired human form along with Theseus, Baltis, and Ellis at his side. Now then, I shall show all of you my true figure here and now. And so, the Land Dragon started taking off all the clothes he was wearing. The spectators were shocked by the sudden case of stripping. This was also the case for Theseus, Baltis, and especially Ellis, but if they were to move to stop Ra-chin now, the balance of power might end up revealed. They were stuck. The Land Dragon removed his shirt and trousers, gradually making his to the underwear he was wearing. He folded it all very carefully before handing it over to Ellis. He then moved to address the crowd. This body imitates Ellis, but I am neither a man, nor a woman. As such, I have no breasts nor any other sexual organs. I dont even have any holes on my bottom either, you see? There were a couple maniacs who pushed their way to the front of the crowd as the dragon bent over to show his naked behind. Ellis meanwhile was trembling in embarrassment. It was such a genuine reaction that even the most cynical critics in the audience were convinced that this wasnt an act. Honorable Land Dragon, about that body.. Ellis was still able to keep up the facade as she moved to talk to the dragon, but when she got close enough that nobody else could overhear, she whispered into his ear. If you do not get on with this, I will break every single one of your limbs, gouge out your eyes, and leave you partially frozen underneath Warrens sewage! The trembling Land Dragon quickly returned to the center of the circle. Ellis then loudly cast the {Reset Body} spell as loud as she could, causing the Land Dragon to be overcome in a bright light. When that light disappeared, where an imitation of Ellis had stood before, now stood a large lizard with beautiful golden scales too radiant to now call an ocher color and five magnificent horns on its head. A different colored ribbon was wrapped around each horn, marking his affiliation. As a demonstration, some full plate armor were brought before the Land Dragon. With a single stroke of his tail, it was crumpled down to scrap iron. The next demonstration had the ever reliable Buzz and Doug thrust into the spotlight, Minotaur mauls in hand. The two men looked nervous as they approached the dragon at first, but they were able to show some gumption as they raised a shout and swung their weapons down. *Gong!* *Gong!* The ends of the mauls shattered upon impact, but there wasnt a scratch on any of the Land Dragons scales. Does anyone else want to try? The Land Dragon tried provoking his audience, but nobody stepped forward. Well then, behold my magnificent figure! With those words, the Land Dragon changed his size down to about a meter in length, causing his horns to disappear and the ribbons adorning them to fall off. Seeing him like that, the audience was united with a single thought, This was supposed to be magnificent? It was just a lizard. The Land Dragon returned to his normal size once again, and seeming to misunderstand everyones silence for amazement, he shrunk down again to show off his glory. Ellis in the meanwhile, took on the job of explaining things since he clearly wasnt going to do it himself. The Land Dragon would wander the city while either in his human-copy form or in this diminutive state. With the covenant made, he hoped that the people of the city would all refer to him as Ra-chin from now on. The whole presentation left much to be desired, but Ra-chin was still somehow able to pull off becoming the guardian dragon of Warren. When the news circulated, outsiders would see this as a historic pact made at the most trying of times, but for the people in the know, they could only see this as a playful recluse wanting to move to the city. The Council formally recognized Ellis as a subordinate to the Land Dragon, and so Ra-chin moving into Elliss mansion was seen as the obvious ending. The first obstacle to this arrangement occurred almost immediately after they arrived, meeting Pi-tan. Honestly, Pi-tan was freaked out. Why was there such a large lizard here? Ra-chin..was also freaked out. Why was a Metal Eater taking a nap here with a soft blanket laid overtop him inside a basket? *Sha* Pi-tan immediately went for the self-defense approach. My scales are made of organic dark mithril. Your metal deconstruction has no effect on me. In seconds, the scene broke down into a case of a lizard and anteater turtle trying to provoke each other. A standoff that eventually devolved into the two just glaring at each other. Yes yes, thats enough of that. Frau interrupted the twos heated battle and picked up Pi-tan in a hug. But while he was held into Fraus chest, Pi-tans eyes turned down, clearly showing off how he was the winner. Mu Ra-chin didnt understand where this sense of defeat was coming from, but he still found himself groaning as Reeve came up to him from behind. Is Mr. Dragon not good with hot water? Hot water? Our bath. Cmon, try it out. And so Reeve picked him up. Pi-tan tried to protest, but his objections were soothed with Fraus gentle pets. As far as Ra-chin could remember, he had never been hugged like this before whenever he had made a contract in the past. It felt surprisingly good. Ra-chin decided to remain silent as he was taken away to this mysterious bath. And after taking his first bath, This is heaven, was Ra-chins honest thoughts. Another tub about one size large than Pi-tans tub was placed next to it was where Ra-chin was allowed to relax. He had originally thought about turning into his human form and bathing with Ellis, but he stopped when he noticed just how euphoric Pi-tans expression was. And as Ellis washed his scales while Reeve took care of Pi-tan, he understood why. By the way Ra-chin, you said earlier that your scales were like dark mithril. Thats right Ellis. Its a substance that can be used for dark mithril after Ive molted, so you can use them for weapons afterwards. A shocking new perk. Ellis tried to pretend to be calm as she tried to pump him for more information. So, when will the next time you molt be? Not sure. Ellis came to a decision then and there. Ra-chin would receive an extra helping of rice every day. She would see just how long it would take him to molt after being sufficiently fattened up. After everyone was finished in the bath, Claire reworked a wooden treasure chest to prepare Ra-chins bed. Like Pi-tan, he was given a soft cloth to use as a blanket. Ra-chin, you will sleep out here. I cant sleep with Ellis? Ellis is busy at night as well. Feeling like he shouldnt press forward after hearing the tone of Claires voice, Ra-chin rested inside his treasure box. And then the night descended. Ra-chin immediately knew what was going on. And when it was over, he told himself, Because yuri lets them keep their purity, there is no problem. And afterwards he enjoyed the nicest sleep he had had in a long time. Thus the sanctity of Elliss nighttime fun was preserved. 1. I know its a little late at this point, but I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware that the common folklore for unicorns is that they would only allow female virgins to ride them. CH 97 By the way, what about my familys home nya? As expected of the dull cat girl, she quickly noticed that the topic of the fishing village where her parents lived had not recently been talked aboutCdiscarded for the more interesting matter of the dragon this time around. Ellis quickly laid the record straight. Its all right. Ive already received a request from the Merchant Guild, so as soon as the first carriage and a few other logistical concerns have been taken care of, we should be able to head right on over. Yes, this was a complete and utter lie. The truth was that everyone besides Katie had been having so much fun playing with the Land Dragon Ra-chin that they had completely forgotten about the western fishing village. Claire had asked Ra-chin to decrease to about a three meter long size and rode him all around Warren. The other citizens were able to quickly get used to Ra-chins appearance as a result, and soon the sight of the two melted their hearts. It also became a popular sight for children who loved to play around with his swinging tail or run up alongside them. It was quite the positive result, so it couldnt be helped that he had been reduced to Claires personal mule. Frau enjoyed sparring while wearing full protective armor against Ra-chin in his 2 meter long size. Well, it allowed Ra-chin to learn how to fight in narrow spaces while Frau learned how to properly judge the strength behind an enemys attack, so a little pain cannot be helped. Ra-chins worst memory had to have been while he was playing with Reeve though. She took him while he was in his human form to Masters Hideaway to teach him gambling. As a result, the guardian dragon of Warren suffered one humiliating defeat after another and lost all of the money he had been given. He even lost against Buzz and Doug. Having been exposed to the red-hot shame of being a massive loser, Ra-chin had sworn to never go back to Masters Hideaway ever again. So in order to cover for Elliss tiny white lie, Reeve came to the Merchant Guild. Is Maria here? Whats the matter Reeve? I have a request, as soon as possible, I need you to prepare a carriage for the sake of visiting the western fishing village. I wonder, will you being going as well Reeve? Of course. Ufufufufufufu. If you would accompany me inside the carriage, I can use a mandate as the guild master to have a carriage prepared right away. Maria threw a blatant invitation right towards Reeve without thinking about her age. But Reeve thought about it. From Warren to the fishing village, Katie said it would only take about half a day if they traveled in a straight line. That meant they would arrive during the day and could leave early next morning. And there is no way Maria would try something funny while the sun was still out. I understand, that condition should be acceptable. Could I ask that we be prepared to depart early one morning? Maria had never thought that Reeve would agree, but she soon got over her surprise and started barking out orders all around. Nicole, I shall take care of directly purchasing new marine products, so find a place to distribute them! Ichiro, immediately prepare the wagons and my horse-drawn carriage! We depart tomorrow people, so lets go! Huh? Maria, we are leaving tomorrow? Reeve tried to confirm. Fortune favors the quick Reeve! Maria shouted out her reply while still barking out more orders to her guildlings. Thus, as usual, Reeve was forced to return home from with Merchant Guild with drooping shoulders. Mistress, sorry. Were leaving early in the morning.tomorrow.. This was the confession Reeve made when she returned right before dinnertime. Katie jumped up in excitement at the wonderful news, but the other three shared a not-so-eager look. They had made zero preparations for any kind of trip. So Katie was the only one who moved forward to thank Reeve for the news. Thank you nya, Reeve. Its all right, we are already ready to go nya. Although this was a lily garden, the cat girl was the only one who had flowers growing in her head. She truly believed that all the preparations had been finished without her noticing. Then the next day inevitably came around. In order to show the people in the fishing village that it was safe to travel to Warren, Ra-chin had to come along with them as proof. Thus it was also necessary to bring Pi-tan along as well or else have to deal with his pouting and burning jealousy. Ellis and Claire confirmed with each other that it would be necessary to extend the length of the carriage in the future, but there should be problem this time since it was just a half days journey. And so they linked up their carriage to Marias caravan. Although it wasnt much of a caravan this time around as Maria had prepared only two carriages. The first was Marias personal deluxe carriage dedicated to leisurely trip for her. The second one would be for the carrying of products which was being driven by Goro. Goro, its been a long time, Frau immediately moved to greet the driver. Mm, too long, Goro greeted her back with a smile. The two of them had been cooking friends ever since the very first trip the girls had taken to Marsfield. A gachihomo and gachilez. It was a rare relationship where a man and a woman could talked intimately between each other with a zero percent chance of any romantic emotions popping up. So Frau took a seat next to him and started catching up. Reeve, over here. Meanwhile Maria started calling out to Reeve from within the luxury carriage. Reeve left her spot as the driver of her own luxury carriage and started heading over having completely given up. Sorry nya. Dont worry about it. A cat girl who didnt know what else she could do other than apologize and a noble daughter who had a headache from thinking about her future shared a short exchange while sleepily staring at the sky. As a result, Elliss carriage had Katie acting as the driver with only Ellis, Claire, Ra-chin, and Pi-tan riding as passengers. But none of the other three held any worries as whenever it was just those two girls together, their talks usually end up steering in a more serious direction. Sure enough, no sooner had the carriages started off than Ellis and Claire had started to busy themselves talking about the second phase of constructions projects currently underway, the management of the new apartment housing, new improvements that could be done to their luxury carriage, and an extension plan for their mansion. Ra-chin meanwhile rushed over and climbed on top of Elliss knees. Ellis unconsciously began stroking his back leading Ra-chin to look down on Pi-tan as if to declare his victory. Not one to suffer such an indignation, Pi-tan climbed on top of Claires lap and laid down on his back. Claire unconsciously started to pet Pi-tans stomach whose upside down line of sigh declared his reverse victory. Understanding this provocation, Ra-chin turned over onto his own back and had his belly rubbed as well. Ellis and Claire were so engrossed into their own conversations they were left completely unaware of the ongoing battle happening right under their noses. Thus until they arrived at the fishing village, the sight never before seen of a guardian dragon and an invulnerable monster constantly showing their bellies to a couple of little girls continued to unfold. When the scent of seawater started to fill the air, everyone peeked their heads outside of the carriage windows. What spread out in front of them was a blue shining sea. Ellis hadnt visited the sea since her elementary school excursion back in Eijis world, and she had never felt any need to go back. As far as she was aware, there was nothing fun there she wanted to do. But right now was different. Excitement started to well up in her chest as she muttered to herself, Lets really enjoy the ocean! It was only a short while later that the carriage was able to arrive at the naming fishing village where Katies parents lived. It had some spectacular scenery that was the exact opposite of how the ocean looked from a distance. There were numerous flimsy looking huts that looked like they would collapse after the first strong wind spread out around the muddy ground. A few small fish and other dead animal carcasses lined the streets creating the unique smell of the beach and old fish for everyone to enjoy. Ellis couldnt help but frown in spite of herself. But Katie didnt seem to notice her friends reactions or the smell as she immediately headed towards a specific shack. Pa, are you still alive nya? As she started banging on the door hard enough that Ellis thought she was going to knock it in, a large cat man soon came out looking irritated. The hair covering his body was as black as soot and his expression was engraved with a number of deep wrinkles. What gya, why are you back here now Katie gya? Her father spoke gruffly and didnt give the warmest welcome he could have, but Katie didnt seem to mind it and started talking regardless. Since the dragon in the hills is gone, I came here to do trade for Warren nya. I came to tell you about it nya. You should go grab the other villagers now nya. Gya! Is that true!? It turns out Katies father is the village chief for this village. Katies father Gatis1 immediately spread the word to the villagers and instructed them to all gather at the beach. Elliss group looked out over the ocean while they waited. The white sandy beach was fine to the touch and spread out with an almost 300 meter width. At its north side was a steep cliff and to the south was a more rocky area. Maria, does everything look all right? Ellis walked over to try and get Marias impressions, but the guild master remained silent. Instead she looked out over the gentle movement of the waves while blocking some of the sun off her face and enjoyed that cool ocean breeze. She might not have said anything out loud, but in her heart, Maria was thinking, Ellis is a genius. Soon all of the villagers had gathered with them on the beach. Even though they say all of them, their total number amounted to less than a hundred people, and every single one of them was a cat-like beastman. On behalf of those villagers, Gatis tried to confirm with Katie. Was the dragon truly dead? But Ellis replied for her. She explained to him that they had actually chosen the path of coexistence rather than destruction. She then placed Ra-chin on the beachs sand and chanted out {Reset Body}. The Land Dragons body shimmered white and regained his gigantic size, but almost predictably, a panic ran through the crowd of villagers. Gatis looked like his black fur was about to turn white, and the only reason why nobody had started running away yet was because they were too afraid to move. Everyone, look at this nya! To try and calm them all down, Katie yelled out as loud as she could. She had jumped on top of Ra-chins head, straddling him like you would a horse. Unfortunately at the same time, a voice spoke directly into each villagers consciousness. I am sorry for any problems I have caused. I have made a contract with this blonde-haired girl and become a guardian dragon to Warren, so I beg for your forgiveness. It goes without saying that it took quite awhile to gather all of the fleeing villagers back together after that. 1. I feel like right now is a good time to just point out that in romaji, the cat people Katies name looks like Kyati, Matis name looks like Myati, and Gatiss name looks like Gyatis, so there is a running gag there with all of their names sounding cat-like. CH 98 When the villagers finally calmed down, Nicole got down to business and started explaining how the Merchant Guild wanted to start buying fish from the village. From the group of villagers, all of the fisherman ran forward and crowded around Nicole. The Land Dragon Ra-chin meanwhile had started sunbathing on the beach in his original size. The villages children gathered around him trying to take a look, but they were all too scared to get any closer. When Ra-chin yawned, the children freaked out looking like they were about to run away again, but Katie tried beckoning them to come closer instead. Its alright nya. We can climb on him a bit nya. Even when the children hesitatingly approached, Ra-chin did not move at all. Even when their trembling hands touched his hard scales, there was no reaction other than the small movement from him breathing. And so, the exchange between the children and their new favorite jungle gym, the guardian dragon, began. Frau and Goro were wandering around the village together at the same time. They were checking out some fish heads and a few small dried fish. In Warren, the two of them had often cooked freshwater fish, but they were worrying together about what to do with the seawater fish that would surely have a stronger flavor. Ellis and Claire had gone for a walk starting at the northern cliff, traveling down towards the sandy beach, and even heading down to the rocky south to better understand each area. Just to be safe, they took a look at the rocky area between the village and the beach as well. They spent their time whispering to each other their business plans in an effort to keep things secret. Reeve was accompanying Maria, sunbathing on the beach. Maria had prepared swimsuits for the both of them along with a pair of carefully selected umbrellas and beach chairs as well. Maria, is this all we are going to do? When Reeve finally broke the silence and asked the question that was bugging her, Maria replied with a suggestive smile. This is also part of Elliss plan. So lets be sure to report everything we find to Ellis after taking in a lot of sun. Reeve was left wondering what exactly it was they were supposed to report, but she eventually decided it was best not to think about it. For now, enjoying her time soaking up the sun sounded like a much better idea. And after some time had passed, As a result of Nicoles negotiations, it was decided that Warren would send some of its chefs and supplies to the village first. It turns out the a larger variety of fish products could be gathered from the village than the Merchant Guild had expected. And then the featured product for the day. Climbing on the back of the still sunbathing Ra-chin, Ellis and Claire led everyone away from the beach. Their destination? A rocky area at the back of the village. Ellis, around here should be good. Alright Claire. Just to make sure Katie, you said that no one in particular owns this land right? Right, I confirmed it with Pa nya. Good, then Ra-chin, youre up. Marias group along with all of the villagers including Gattis started to make noise wondering what was about to happen. Ellis shared her vision with Ra-chins to get a better view, and using {Lock on}, she was able to point out to him the exact locationCat the center of the rocky field. If you would be so kind Ra-chin. Roger Ellis. Ellis cast {Summon Volcano}. The rocks started to bulge upward, gradually rising into the air, but when it finally burst, it wasnt lava that spewed out but a mass of steam and hot water. It was a hot spring. After examining their surroundings, Ellis and Claire were able to confirm that the rocks littering the ground in the area were volcanic, perhaps having formed at some point in the past from a northern volcano. This suggested that any underground springs could potentially be developed into a hot spring. So using {Summon Volcano} to push the water vein closer to the surface, the spell cracked the ground creating a small explosion from the heated underground air pocket. A hole was left in the rock that hot water was gradually accumulating in. Claire watched the water carefully to confirm any irregularities before putting her hand in the hot water to check the temperature. Everythings fine Ellis. Its all hot fresh water. The hot water continued to accumulate overtop the rocks as she was running her tests. Ellis and Ra-chin then moved to another area a little ways away, and another spring burst forth. Ellis and Ra-chin made sure this one was even larger before turning back towards the curious villagers. Everyone, this is a hot spring. Come and try it out. The villagers all rushed forward at once, dipping their hands into the water and enjoying the temperature change. Meanwhile Maria and Gattis left the scene in order to start the final confirmation for their future plans. The first issue had to deal with territory. If the village was already under a territory of Marsfield or Wheat Grace, then the future development of the village could be hindered by bureaucracy and greed. But Gattis shook his head and explained that there were no worries concerning that. Their village had been abandoned long ago. So it was fine to claim it as part of Warren. Regarding the future sales they were negotiating, everything would be fine so long as the Warren Council paid taxes to the royal family through the Merchant guild. Next was the matter of whether to recognize fishing as food production. Any act of food production in Warren is forbidden as per its restrictions as a trade city. However if it is food that is just building off something that Warren already had, then it would be okay. Since Warren never imported fish products from any of the surrounding towns anyway, it is unlikely to cause an issue with any of its trade partners, but it is always good to prepare for the worst. In the first place, it is already a gray area on whether or not fishing could be counted as food production, so it is decided that any small problems with the royal family or other noblemen can be cleared up by using the excuse that they are not selling their own foodCfishCbut rather selling a completed productCboiled fish. The village was also going to need to undergo some development. Ellis was planning on turning this place into a resort-like area to draw in tourists, so it would at the very least require a name. Maria, Reeve, how was the sunbathing? Wonderful Ellis. The only worry I had was taking a bath after we were done, but youve already made the perfect solution in the hot springs. Maria responded in a happy mood. Reeve was standing slightly behind her, nodding while looking a little embarrassed for some reason. Claire then stepped forward. Theyre going to need a facility to provide accommodations, beach chairs to rent out, a restaurant, to provide drinks to the sunbathers, and facilities for the hot springs. Is that all? At the very least they should be fine with just the women from the village running things. Next was Fraus turn. Since Warren doesnt import any shrimp or shellfish, restaurants around here can make them their specialty. Then Goro came over carrying a large tub with him. Inside was a large amount of a single type of shellfish. This is what I was able to catch by myself after a short amount of time over near the rocks. Try it out. Goro then began to remove the shells with a sharp knife, washed the innards with salt water, and distributed the meat to everyone. Ellis was amazed at just how juicy the meat was. The taste was so strong, it definitely would leave behind an impression to anyone trying it out for the first time. The villagers on the other hand werent sure what everyone was talking about. To them, this stuff was just everyday foodstuff. And Maria finally summarized the villages future. The Merchant Guild would handle developing the village, and the villagers would have preferential treatment when it came time to hiring employees. As the village grows, they would also be able to apply for loans and help when it came time for the villagers to branch out and open up their own stores. The villagers let out a thunderous cheer at the news. Considering just yesterday they were an abandoned village destined to rot away, their reactions were reasonable. Pa, does this mean Im not disinherited anymore nya? I guess you are the villages savior gya. It turns out Katie ran away from home after a particularly bitter fight with her father. Well, its good that a father and daughter were able to make up. It involved a lot less work than resolving Reeves runaway problem too. Right Pa, Reeve did this for her family when she went home too so here nya. Be sure to listen to Maria and Nicole on how to use it nya. Its not for gambling nya. Katie easily handed over a 100 million ril adventurer guild exchange note from her bag. For how easily Katie handed it over, Gattis looked like he was about to have a heart attack. Watching them go from the side, Nicole was relieved that so early on in the dealings the village didnt need a new chief. But the village was exuberant, and for the first time in a long time, there were talks about throwing a celebration. In the middle of all that cheer and happiness, Ellis and Maria walked off alone to begin the final negotiations. Ten percent of the money from bathing fees and another ten percent from the sales of everything other than the seafood, Ellis whispered. I dont really have a choice but to accept the ten percent for the hot springs, but I wont budge on the rest. Frau is acting as an adviser to how the seafood should be sold, so you can have ten percent of the sales from the restaurants alone. Okay, then how about this. Ill take the ten percent for the bathing fees along with the ten percent from restaurant sales for Fraus advisory work, but you must agree to employ only Claires design office for any new buildings to be constructed. Maria and Ellis shook hands in a way that nobody else would be able to notice. And the merchants deal was struck. After the talks had ended, Ellis went out for a walk when an old woman from the village called out to her. Young lady who lives with the dragon, do you know the story of the Storm Dragon?1 It was apparently the only that took neither the Heros or the Demon Lords side at the time of the previous Demon/God war, having hidden itself away somewhere on the continent until the fighting had ended. Ra-chin had already told her about its existence. But the old woman knew more. That dragon apparently lived to the south, even farther down than Wheat Graces southern fishing village. It was another place that nobody had visited in decades. The news was something Ellis welcomed with a large smile. She wanted to cut off as much strength from the Hero and Demon Lord as she could. At the very least, going down there to investigate wouldnt bring her any harm. Grandma, thank you. Ellis waved farewell to the old woman with a smile and headed back to the other four. Lets go get us a Storm Dragon while we are at it. The four girls matched Elliss wicked smile, and the plans for another trip south were quickly being made. Their next game had been decided. 1. All of the villagers in this village were supposed to be cat beastmen yet this old woman doesnt use cat speak. The author really dropped the ball here. I am disappointed. CH 99 The girls decided to immediately depart from the western fishing village that day in a forced march. When they finally made it home, the sun had already set long ago, so Ellis and Maria agreed to meet with Flint tomorrow at the Workshop Guild in the morning. Then the next day. Ellis left the mansion with Claire in tow to meet with Maria at Flints workshop. Ra-chin and Pi-tan came with them. Ra-chin wanted to head out into town too, so Take me along too Ellis, he pleaded to be picked up and carried along. Pi-tan wasnt going to take that lying down, and with his sense of rivalry burning hot, he cried out as well until Claire picked him up and carried him with them as well. Ellis, are you trying to kill us? Flint took one look at the blueprints Claire had thrown together for the Merchant Guild and began to groan. Silly Uncle, thats why you need proper construction management. Despite his muscular and youthful appearance, Flint was still over sixty years old, yet here he was being lectured about proper work procedure by an eight year old. And unfortunately she was right, so he couldnt even say anything in response. Warren was currently going through a huge construction boom. Between the ever-growing Cross Town, the maintenance and add-ons for Lily Garden, the new suburban apartments, the refurbished hotels at the citys center, and the renovations to Elliss mansion, the Workshop Guild was officially short on staff. Right now all the people in the fishing village need is a place to trade fish right? As long as they have that, then everything can be a tertiary worry. Any way Ellis tried to look at it, there was no way for any sightseeing or vacationing to begin immediately. The village was still poverty-stricken and what was most important was making sure the people living there would be able to start living more well-off. If somebody were to travel their for relaxation and find a village with dead fish and fish heads littering the street, they would question if they were in the right place. The feeling of soaking in a hot spring or sunbathing on the beach was a pleasant, luxurious act most people wouldnt be able to understand unless they could afford it. To be able to recognize the raw shellfish that Goro had displayed as a delicacy rather than something you ordinarily eat. To be able to say that a hot spring or taking your time to sunbathe is a treat. Until the residents of the fishing village are able to understand this, they will never be able to efficiently separate their rich visitors from their ril. So Ellis argued that the more extensive redevelopment of the village could be put on hold for the moment. I see. Hm? However, would that be possible? Those villagers might end up waiting awhile, so how about getting some outside help? Flint put forward the proposal of hiring out the Marsfield Workshop Guild as a subcontractor. First of all, Flint would finish up the apartments in Crosstown as soon as possible. Using those as a lodging space, the Marsfield workers could stay in town. Then while they were handling the additional construction work for Cross Town and Lily Garden, Flint would have time to finish up the citys hotels and work on the western fishing village. Its all business. Even if we take into account the cost of hiring them, well still turn an impressive profit. Well little lady? Ellis figured if he was willing to absorb the cost, then there was little reason for her to object. There was the development of the fishing village like they had originally planned, but there was also the need for a market, work on the hot springs, new restaurants, incidental facilities.. As it grows, there will be an increasing need for carriage rides from the Adventurer Guild. Grow the fish market at first, then the village can become a tourist attraction, and finally it will develop into its own full resort. Lets build it up Uncle Flint. Ellis then began to negotiate the development process for the western fishing village with Claire and Maria while drawing up a schedule for Flint to work off of. All the while Ellis was petting Ra-chin as Claire unconsciously scratched Pi-tans stomach. Then the afternoon Ellis could not help but be preoccupied with thoughts about the Storm Dragon in the south. Reeve had accumulated a lot of promises with Maria, and it would soon come time to collect. Frau was preoccupied with experimenting the different ways to cook the salt water fish she had brought back with her from the fishing village. Claire has been focused on developing the new Mogemoge-kun No. 2. And as for Katie, Ellis! Today is that comic singers performance nya! No! I forgot! And so any plans Ellis tried to make concerning the Storm Dragon were being hampered by the fun of the girls daily lives. Ellis and Katie left for the live house at a breakneck speed. And so the three people left behind had to think about how they were going to spend their time. Im sorry. I promised Maria I would teach her some tips about Warren Numbers, and Reeve left just like that. So there were two left. Ill have to draw up some more designs for the western fishing village, Claire said while Pi-tan crawled up onto her lap. Then I guess Ill spend today traveling around the city. Thus it was decided that Frau would spend the day with Ra-chin while taking a walk. Mr. Guardian Dragon, do you mind me carrying you? Just Ra-chin is fine Frau. Also, I have no problems with you hugging me. As a matter of fact, Ra-chin quite enjoyed being carried around, and after all of his competitions with Pi-tan, he had become completely engrossed in the pet lifestyle. Their first stop was the Jewelry Box Cake Shop run by Hanna and Ken. Hello, Frau let out a greeting as she opened the shop door, and the sweet smell of cakes and pastries rushed her nose all at once. Oh, come on in Frau. Hm, thats, thats not Pi-tan, is it? Hanna walked up to the front of the store to greet them, but when she saw Ra-chin in Fraus arms, she became markedly confused. I am of the Land Dragon race although you may know me better as Warrens guardian dragon. You may carry on as usual, Ra-chin tried to stoke Hannas curiosity by speaking directly into her mind. However Hanna was more inclined to listen to the first part of what Ra-chin was saying than the second. Jumping into the back, she reemerged into the front of the store dragging Ken, and her sister Nina and Rhonda along with her. The four of them stood in a line before Ra-chin, their voices unified in a single message. Reverent Guardian Dragon, thank you for your kindness in protecting our city! Despite what he was saying before, this type of reception was starting to put Ra-chin in a good mood. Overlooking the whole of the inside of the store, he spotted a stool in one corner. Ra-chin instructed Frau to put him down where they stood and walked over to the stool himself with his chest puffed out. He skillfully climbed up the stool himself, and when he reached the top, he stood up tall like a statue of worship. Ah, the pleasant shadiness of the stop made him leak a pleasant sigh. From now on this will be my seat, and we shall call it, The Guardian Dragons Spot. In this way, Ra-chin secured his seat in the Jewelry Box Cake Shop for the future. Next up was Shin and Nonnas Warren Specialty Steamed Bread Store. When Frau opened the door, another sweet yet salty smell carried over. Ah, hello Frau. Nonna greeted her as soon Frau walked in, running up to her with something in her hands. Frau, Shin developed this himself a little while ago. Please tell me what you think of it. What Nonna had was one of Shins newest prototypes from the kitchen. It was a mass of meat wrapped and cooked inside a thin layer of cow skin. It certainly wasnt the most orthodox dish. Frau hesitated a moment, but she clenched her fists and took a bite, thoroughly chewing to analyze the taste. Yes, the stench of the animals was still sticking to the meat, but if you were to season it properly it could turn out quite delicious. She told Shin and Nonna about her thoughts, but a voice spoke into her mind stopping her. Hey Frau, you have to introduce me. Frau had completely forgotten about Ra-chin, and in a panic, she spun around and introduced Warrens guardian dragon to the two business owners. They both immediately dropped to their knees on the spot and began almost worshipping Ra-chin. Well, you dont have to be so stiff, Ra-chin told them using words he obviously didnt mean. Walking around the inside of the shop, Ra-chin eventually dove into one of the baskets where customers would usually leave their luggage before taking their seat to eat. From now on, you shall call this basket, The Guardian Dragons Basket. Also, be sure to leave a soft cloth on the inside. The third shop they traveled to was Aiful and Credias. Welcome Frau. We will have your tea and sweets prepared right away. Oh my, and youve brought our guardian dragon with you as well. As expected of the former high noble Aiful. She was able to discover that Ra-chin was the guardian dragon right away and showed him a level of respect without downright worship. It was quite frustrating for a certain someone. Mu, All that egotism that had been built up over a short period of time was shot through, and he wasnt sure what to do next. But then the smell of the tea came to his nose, and all of his other thoughts were blown away. His eyes locked onto the tea set Credia was bringing out to Frau. This was comfortable. Frau, put me down on the table for a moment. Frau did as she was told and put him down on the table, and Ra-chin ordered Credia to bring him a cup of the tea she was carrying as well. Credia was shocked to have someone talking directly into her head, but Frau came forward and helped her get through the experience. Does Ra-chin drink tea? Monsters basically dont need meals. The only reason Pi-tan eat metal was from some kind of internal instinct, and Ra-chin only ever ate humans as a form of attack. So Ra-chin is certainly capable of eating, but does that mean he finds the taste of tea agreeable? Apparently not. This fragrance is wonderful. When Credia placed the cup on the table, Ra-chin shoved his whole face into the rising steam and then sat there motionless with his eyes half closed. Frau was able to pick up on the situation pretty quickly and enjoyed her own tea and confections while watching Ra-chin imitate a statue. And when the tea cooled down and the steam dissipated, Ra-chin finally showed some signs of life. Frau, this tea, itd be a waste to just throw it out. Put it in my bath tonight. I want to bathe in it. Certainly Honorable Guardian Dragon, Frau responded with a smile, but on the inside, Ra-chin couldnt look any less like a guardian dragon. Thus, Frau and Ra-chins walk around town came to an end for the day. CH 100 Large butt, large butt, please sit on my back with black panties Lets do it, lets do it, getting together and moaning like ogres, lets do it Lets go, lets go, Ill be your servant anywhere lets go Ellis was standing up naked with her hand raised up into the air singing the new song she had learned at the live house today Large Butt. Gyahahahahaha! Katie was laughing, sprawled out on the floor naked banging both of her hands on the bathhouse floor. After all, comic singers are the best! Should we ask for a private concert next time? Ellis, pay more attention to your surroundings. Ra-chin was enjoying the slight aroma from the tea being placed in his tub of hot water, but he was not so engrossed as to let that slide. And indeed, Frau and Claire were sitting in the bath, unsure of what to actually say about the song they had just heard. Oh Mistress, have you finished singing? Then I and as usual Reeve wasnt paying much attention to the what Ellis was singing in the first place. But as soon as she started to sing, a sense of normality is always able to return to the bathhouse, and the four other women and two animals could enjoy their baths in peace. So we are going to investigate the Storm Dragon. Ellis made a declaration as soon as everyone had finished the baths. The story about Warrens guardian dragon had started to get around and people were making a fuss about it. There had been no word yet, but when the messengers from the country or other cities started to arrive, it would be a good idea for Ellis to be conveniently away. So Ellis planned on being just that. Well Ra-chin, will you be watching the mansion for us, or do you want to come with? Ellis was very serious about checking this matter. Pretenses aside, he was Warrens guardian dragon after all. Ellis, you cant leave me alone while you go off to play. I will go. I will go with as well. And for some reason Ra-chin made doubly sure that he was going to be brought along, all the while eyeing Pi-tan from the corner of his eye. Ellis, what route are we taking? Claires question overlapped with Reeves feelings. Yes, Id prefer not to take the guardian dragon to my home. If they were to go through the normal route, it would take them right through Wheat Grace where Reeves father had become lord. Then what about traveling through the fishing village instead? Good idea Frau. Then we can travel along the sea and enjoy the view. So the girls would first travel to the western fishing village and then head south, arriving at Wheat Graces fishing village without having to stop in Wheat Grace. It would mean traveling for longer in the carriage, but that was exactly what they wanted at the moment. And then the next morning. Just to make sure, Ellis reported their extended absence to Maria who is also the council chairperson. She left out the part of the Storm Dragon however and claimed the reason for the trip was just to keep the guardian dragon away when investigators from other cities came. We are going to go clean up the area where the Land Dragon used to live. This was the excuse Ellis had prepared in advance. It was a vague mission that gave no clear indication of when they would return, so Maria gave it two thumbs up. At the same time, Claire had brought their luxury carriage to the Workshop Guild in order to make a few adjustments. Throughout their travels, it was decided that the living room in the carriage was unnecessary. So leaving just a little space for Ellis and Claire to have their meetings, the rest of it was distributed outward in the remodeling. Part of that space went to a hot water boiler for Ra-chin and Pi-tan. A binder was also built in that completely closed off each persons room from the others. This was built after all of the experience they had built up so far and allowed Ellis a little alone time when it was needed. Then as usual Frau packed up the foodstuffs for the trip while Reeve took care of the necessary sanitary goods. And then by the end of the day, the preparation for the upcoming journey was complete. Also as usual Having taken too long to load up the carriage and then whining about unfair treatment, Reeve was made to cry. Trying to show off during dinner even though she was just a pig woman, Frau was made to cry under a malicious torrent of insults. Here, cant you see it? Claire was made to cry from embarrassment after being decorated in cherry blossom colored kisses all over her neck. Made to purr the whole time, Katie was made to cry Nyan as the chin scratches and belly rubs continued on mercilessly. And so the morning of the departure came before anyone knew it. Frau finished whipping up breakfast with some crepes and fresh fruit, giving everyone a light meal before everyone headed off to the western fishing village. They made a short stop there only to hear the story from the old woman again about the Storm Dragon before heading south along the coast. The Magical Horses could travel over a vast array of terrain that ordinary horses would find difficult, but there were times when they would hit rocky terrains or a forest of pine trees that the carriage would be unable to pass through. At those times the carriage would be placed into a Bag of Gluttony while the girls rode directly on top of their Magical Horses. Ra-chin would take a human figure so that he could ride with Ellis for those parts of the journey, and Pi-tan would rest on the back of Claires Magical Horse after being tied to Claires back with a string. After two days of traveling, they finally came across the southern fishing village, but they continued forward without being noticed. This was Wheat Graces fishing village, and the less people that knew where they were, the better. And then after an additional two days, Elliss group finally arrived at the edge of the cape. Hm, I wonder if hes nearby. The Land Dragon sensed something in the air. He returned to his original size and began looking over the cape with his giant body twisting this way and that. Eventually, he found a cave hidden from normal view. The entrance was over ten meters tall, but moss and other foliage was grew in front of it, blocking the view and at least making it clear that no human had entered there in a long time. Ra-chin, can you take us inside? Ellis thought it best to ride a Land Dragon inside, giving them a sort of grand entrance, but Ra-chin shook his head. Ellis, Ill call the Storm Dragon from out here. You should hide in my shadow in the meantime. Ellis nodded her head, hiding inside Ra-chins shadow just as he suggested. Storm Dragon, HELLO THERE!!! At the same instant that Ra-chin yelled out his greeting, his scales started echoing a dry resonance like a struck bell. He had been hit by a myriad of wind blades from the caves entrance. I knew it. Ra-chin made a small sigh before speaking into the girls consciousness. You five try it this time. Each of the girls took a turn yelling into the caves entrance and each time a swarm of wind blades came shooting out. Right when they were considering giving Pi-tan a go of it, a voice sounded from inside the cave. Are you the Demon Lord? Or perhaps the Hero? Either way I will not help you. If you dont want me to kill all those who follow you, begone from this place. So he responded. Good. Everyone, continue to yell into his cave without stopping. The five girls gave a simultaneous nod, and ignoring the voice from the cave that had spoken directly into their consciousness, they all started yelling, Mr. Storm Dragon~ on repeat together. The voice from before quickly started to speak again. You guys, I want to live in here in peace. Youre being really noisy, so stop that. But the five of them kept going. Hey, dont bother me. Im not bothering anyone else, so just leave me alone! But these girls were anything but quitters. AHHHHHHHHHHHH! Stop bothering me! If you dont, Ill bite off my tongue and die. Is that what you want? Will you be happy if I just kill myself!? Ra-chin nodded his head. The Storm Dragon was becoming befuddled. If you think about it, dragons talk with their minds, and they dont need to eat any food, so a dragon biting off their tongue would be completely meaningless for Elliss future plans. But Ellis still figured it would be for the best to take a step back at the moment. After all, Ellis might not have a lot of experience on this matter, but Eiji understood quite well. Ra-chin, riajuus.1 Roger Ellis. Everyone went back to their carriage and started grabbing some supplies. Soon they had set up a complete banquet right outside the caves entrance. First off will be Reeve, singing her set until dusk settles in! Reeve is reliable in these type of situations. Singing a song that praised the brave dragon, her voice resonated off the cave walls. Any requests to stop or cries of anguish were completely ignored. The Storm Dragon tried covering his ears from deep within the cave. Why did he have to be subjected to all of these embarrassing lyrics like this? The Land Dragon tried extending his voice forward at this time. The Storm Dragon knew about the Land Dragons existence since long ago. Thats why he was willing to try and communicate. Ellis, hes getting closer. Sorry in advance Almighty Land Dragon. . What are you planning this time? Although I suppose thats just the type of relationship between us. Well Land Dragon, its also important to hit the right atmosphere or else we can not be friends. The Storm Dragon continued to inch towards his caves entrance, completely unaware what the conversation between Ellis and Ra-chin meant. He was too busy trying to figure out why he had to be harassed like this in his own home. They were a bunch of kabedon2 brutes. Damn kabedon brutes! Ellis, do you feel it? Ra-chin, if you say anything else, hell notice and our new friend will get away Kill.o The Storm Dragon tried charging out of his cave to forcefully put a stop to this harassment. It was a reaction that was completely expected, which was why Ellis and Ra-chin had locked onto the entrance with a {Summon Volcano}. Yes, if all they wanted to do was talk to the Storm Dragon, they could have easily done so from the mouth of the cave rather than endlessly annoy him as they had done. Unfortunately for the Storm Dragon though, Elliss methods were a little more coercive than that. In this way the Storm Dragons cave was filled with magma and hot steam, making it completely uninhabitable. And after being subjected to some major damage, it left the Storm Dragon completely bound in a cage of cooled rock. 1. A person completely satisfied with their life. The exact opposite of a hikikomori. 2. Its when you corner someone up against a wall, placing your hand in the way to prevent them from escaping. Its usually used as a romantic act between couples, but loan sharks use it to look intimirdating as well. CH 101 You have made me angry! Im dying! Im going to bite my tongue and die! Imprisoned in the hardened magma, only the Storm Dragons head was free to pointlessly flail around. And as for the screams he was broadcasting directly into the minds of five girls and one dragon, they were met with the same reaction from everyone. Then die. Go die. Just die then? Goodbye and die. Die nya. Die. Um, telling someone threatening to commit suicide to die in six different ways, are you guys human? Although I suppose the sixth one of you is a dragon. The Storm Dragon was troubled with what he was supposed to say after being told six consecutive times to die. And by the way Land Dragon, why are you casually throwing out your Ultimate Release like that? Summon Volcano was it? It seriously hurt. Ra-chin puffed out his chest and answered smugly, Me, one of these girls has formed a contract with me and become a Dragon Maiden. So, are you jealous? Seriously? Seriously. For the first time, the Storm Dragon turned his eyes away from the Land Dragon and started seriously looking over the girls who were standing beside him. A large snort suddenly came from his nose. Wha, all of you are qualified! What the hell are you girls? Havent any of you ever run into a playboy before? Just shut up and listen to the story. Ellis, its time for you to make your offer. Youre right. Hello Mr. Storm Dragon. And so Ellis began explaining everything. The struggle between the Hero and the Demon Lord which the Storm Dragon had avoided by hiding in this cave was settled hundreds of years ago with the victory of the Hero. Recently however, signs of a new Demon/God war had been rising up. A person who seems like the Hero and a person who seems like the Demon Lord have already been identified. And Ellis was a third party who sided with neither of them in favor of interfering from the sidelines. So then, would you like to come with us? Elliss words gave the Storm Dragon to think about. After staying inside his cave for the past couple hundred years, he had started to get bored. The truth was even if Elliss group hadnt shown up, he probably would have left the cave on his own after another hundred years or so. Also, it would be nice to use his Ultimate Release again after all this time. But more than anything, harassing the Hero and Demon Lord whose conflict had caused him all sorts of headaches all those years ago sounded interesting. Once again the Storm Dragon looked over the qualified girls, but his eyes stopped on a specific one when he noticed something. The blue girl over there, where did you get those boots? The boots the dragon was referring to were the Falcon long leather boots Reeve had equipped. I got them from a labyrinth in Warren. Is there something wrong with them? Come show me a better look. Ra-chin stepped forward and laid his body over the still heated magma, turning himself into a makeshift bridge that Reeve could use to get closer to the Storm Dragon. Once Reeve had crossed Ra-chin, she raised up one of her legs, bringing her boot eye level to the Sky Dragon. Do you wear these often? Theyre my favorite item actually. Falling into thought, the Storm Dragon lowered his head and closed his eyes. When he finally opened them up again, he spoke to everyone around him. I would like to make a contract with this blue girl. Is everyone alright with that? The other four girls eyes all locked onto Reeve. Its up to Reeve. Reeve remembered the serious look on the Storm Dragons face when he was looking at her boots. He probably wasnt a bad dragon at the very least. Sorry to all the men I never would have slept with anyway. Lets make a contract. Then name me. Ellis, how about this? We call him The Strongest Storm Dragon. Thats no good Reeve. He clearly looks more like a Has Blue Skin and Looks Cool, but he is a Storm Dragon that Lost to the Land Dragon. Reeve and Claires names are rejected. Now ignoring Katie, Frau, come up with a good name. Well he is a Storm Dragon, so how about Su-chan? It has been decided. Reeve, hurry up and name him so we can move on. *Tsk* Clicking her tongue, Reeve got back on top of Ra-chin facing the Storm Dragon. She began the ceremony just as she had seen Ellis do it, calling the Storm Dragon with the name Su-chan and giving him a kiss on his snout. The presence of the Storm Dragon engraved itself into Reeves mind, etching itself like a chisel into stone. At the same time, two sets of command words popped up into her consciousness. {Permission Size Change} With Reeves command, Su-chans body shrunk, allowing him to slip through his rocky cage. I have confirmed the contract between Reeve and I with this. What came out of the cage was a small ultramarine dragon with wings. The head was pointed and narrow with multiple horns pointed towards its rear forming a frill.1 It had a slim body like a snakes with two wings jutting out from its back. It balanced itself on two thin back legs and a long tail. Well well. Su-chan walked off his cage and naturally grabbed Reeves shoulders with his front feet and hanged down over Reeves front side. His wings then spread out, covering Reeves chest. With this he was made to look like a piece of ultramarine breast armor. Now Reeve, get back to solid ground. Reeve obediently followed Su-chans instructions. There was a reason for this. There was a second command word group that had come to her mind. After she was off, Ra-chin returned to his mini size and walked back over to Ellis. So Su-chan, what is this {Summon Hurricane}? Reeve was impatient to get things underway, but considering Su-chan was looking forward to letting himself go for the first time in a long, he wasnt going to hold things up. Thats my Ultimate Release. Why dont we take it for a test run? Reeve moved herself to a wide place as Su-chan instructed her to where he was able to return to his original huge size. He then put Reeve on his back and told her to hold onto his neck. Lets go Reeve! Su-chan stretched out his wings, and with two mighty flaps, he was dancing in the sky. It was a sudden development with no real warning, but there was no room for fear in Reeves mind. Only wonder at the amazing sight from up high. Now Reeve, first is {Share Sight}. Reeve used the {Share Sight} spell just as she was told, and the sight of the sky from upfront made her catch her breath. Next is {Catch Space}. It will give you a rough idea for the lay of the land and where our attack is going to affect. Reeves sight moved along with Su-chans, and a portion of the ground right off the ocean shore became dyed in a slightly dark hue as if it were highlighted. Here we go, {Summon Hurricane}! Reeve activated {Summon Hurricane}. As she did, the wind began to move, and a massive tornado soon whipped up, tearing apart the ground and uprooting trees. The sea water soon came up with it, creating a loud roar of crashing waves as the tornado cut through the water and broke apart the ocean. This is {Summon Hurricane}. The violent turbulence of the winds can cut apart just about anything, and the inside is a vacuum. If theres anything in the middle, theyll become stars decorating the sky. Reeve was speechless, but even more surprised were the four girls watching from solid ground underneath them. There was only one other being there who was trying to brag about himself to Ellis rather than marvel at Su-chans attack, but he went largely ignored. After a moment more of flying through the sky, Su-chan came back down to the four girls and two animals waiting below. Reeves hands were trembling, even as her feet met with solid ground. Thats some tremendous power Su-chan. Well its all thanks to Reeve for becoming my Dragon Maiden. So Ellis, what are we going to do from now on? Well Ra-chin, I suppose well head right back to Warren. Once their heading was decided, Su-chan spread out his wings in pride. Then Happy Birthday. Since Reeve is my Dragon Maiden, with you all as well, I can carry you all through the sky if you ask. The way he was talking was extremely unpleasant. But the other four girls all wanted to fly through the sky too. Was it useless but to give in here? Su-chan, please carry all of us with you? Ellis sweetly asked. Su-chan, would you please take us along with you? Frau entreated. Su-chan, I want to fly in the sky too, Claire begged. Nyau nyau Katie was already hanging off of Su-chans tail. Su-chan, I would ask you as well, Reeve finally spoke up as well. Well~, I wouldnt normally do this, but since its a request from Reeve, I guess I dont have a choice. Ra-chin too, can you put up a barrier? Su-chan asked something a little strange, but Ra-chin still begrudgingly nodded his head. Reeve is naturally under my protection, so she is fine whenever riding on my back. Other people might end up killed from the wind pressure, so be careful. Well Ra-chin, if you would? Ra-chin beckoned the girls over to him and enveloped everyone besides Reeve in a yellow barrier. Pi-tan probably would have been fine, but Claire insisted he be covered as well. In the unlikely event that they may fall off, everyone was ordered curl up on Su-chans back and hold on with their arms wrapped around his body. Reeve meanwhile sat up front closer to Su-chans head. Then lets go. Reeve, please guide me there. As Su-chan talked, he began beating his wings and jumped off the ground on his hind legs. And just like that, they were off. For this journey, it took them 4 days to reach the southern cape from Warren. On their way back, with the high speed flight of Su-chan it took them only a few hours. The only downside to this convenience was that everyone besides Ellis and Reeve were left half-dead from the impact of traveling through that high-speed flight. It turns out that adaptability to high speed flight is one of the benefits of forming a contract with a dragon, so all of the conversation that happened during the flight occurred primarily between Ellis, Reeve, Ra-chin, and Su-chan. In this way, they were able to return home safely. 1. Imagine a triceratops here. That back bone they have covering their necks is called a frill. The Storm Dragon is not wearing a frilly dress. CH 102 Maria had always wondered something. How does Reeves beauty transcend sex? She didnt know the reason. Reeve had always wondered something. Why were Maria and the other women always putting her on a pedestal? She didnt know the reason. It drive up her anticipation as it became a reason to be reamed by Ellis that evening. And so Reeve would always whisper to Ellis in her bedroom that night, Mistress, how was I today? and it would trigger the response from Ellis that Reeve wanted, the exact opposite of what those women would give he CH 103 This is paradise, the Storm Dragon Su-chan leaked out with a sigh. Right? the Land Dragon Ra-chin voiced his agreement right beside him. The place Su-chan and Ra-chin were currently taking it easy at was the large bath inside Lily Garden. Three tubs had been set up in a row with Pi-tan on the far right followed by Ra-chin and Su-chan. They were each being washed by Claire, Ellis, and Reeve respectively. Because of Pi-tans hard shell and Ra-chins scales, Claire and Ellis had to use a towel to scrape away any dirt or grime. Su-chan however had no scales. Thats why Reeve was able to clean him with just the palm of her hand. Great answer. Su-chan suddenly leaked out those words with half open eyes. What is Su-chan? Ah, I was just thinking about how I chose Reeve. It was a tremendous victory. Reeve was a little confused. What do you mean? Reeves boots. Theyre made from leather I shed off a long time ago. They looked like they were maintained very well, and I imagined what it would be like to be taken care of in the same way. Its awesome. At the unexpected revelation, the other four girls attention all suddenly focused in on Su-chan. The dragon themselves didnt understand why though. Ra-chins dark mithril scales would be better wouldnt it? No, Su-chans leather can bring out some outrageous abilities, so maybe? It stands to reason that Reeves boots Falcon ability is because they were made from Storm Dragon hide. But Claire had another question. Dark mithril or Storm Dragon leather, would a blacksmith be able to process them normally? Not a regular one at least Claire. It takes magic power to process our materials, Ra-chin shook his head. As long as they understand the magical flow, you can soften the materials enough that, for a time, they can be molded by even human hands. Ellis looked around her when the term, magical flow came up. It was something she had never heard before, but judging by the look on everyone elses face, neither had any of them. Claire was the one who had to actually voice that curiosity. What do you mean by magical flow? The response from the two dragons was less than ideal. I dont know. Magical flow is how magic power flows through something. ..Im sorry Claire, Im not really sure what it is either. Thus when it came to magical flow, it became the newest homework assignment for Ellis and Claire. After everyone was finished with their baths, Pi-tan and Ra-chin got cozy in their basket beds. Is Su-chan alright with this? Reeve set up her dragons bed in a shallow tub with a soft cloth. Its sufficient Reeve. Su-chan fluttered his wings a bit and made himself cozy in his new bed. He sat back on his hind legs, rolling sideways, and hid his head and tail underneath his wings. Good night then. Reeve waved good night while Frau turned off the living room light. And then that night. Hey Reeve, how did you feel after becoming a Dragon Maiden? Hmm, I think it felt really good Mistress. Then I suppose youre going to be bragging to Claire, Frau, and Katie from now on then. No, I would never do that. But I do feel a little sorry for them. This liar girl is in need of some serious punishment. Wrong.youre wrong Ahhhhhhhn. Mis.tress. auu.. Hey Ra-chin, what are Reeve and Ellis doing right now? Well, Im not sure. Dont go asking Reeve and Ellis about it thought. Okay? Ah, it looks like Ellis is heading to Frau next tonight. So its not something purely between Dragon Maidens? Thus Elliss evening continued. And then the morning inevitably came. While Ellis and everyone else were having breakfast, a message came the Merchant Guild guild master Maria. A investigator from Skycastle has arrived, and they were looking to perform a tax audit on Ellis Finance and Claires Design Office. They would be arriving at the Merchant Guild shortly. Everyone with the exception of a cat girl scrambled to gather the books and records. Whats wrong Ellis? Suspicious for why things had suddenly gotten noisy, Ra-chin suddenly spoke up. Were taking measures to prevent you from becoming an issue. Do you want to go sunbathing in Cross Town while were gone? No, I want to come with you. Su-chan and Pi-tan were nodding their heads right beside him. So the five girls finished cleaning up their half finished breakfast before running to the Merchant Guild. Reeve, Ellis, Frau, just to make sure, theres nothing wrong with your books right? Ellis Finance records were always reported to the council through the Merchant Guild. All of her taxes were paid afterwards directly to the city. Meanwhile Claires Design Office turned in all of their books and paid their taxes to the citys Workshop Guild. So as far as Maria was concerned, both businesses paid their dues. The problem was that this obviously wasnt about taxes. The capitol was finally responding to the news of the guardian dragon. So the books had to be perfect. Any smudges on the record would be another weapon the capitol would use against them. So Nicole and Frau worked together and scanned through both records thoroughly while the others sat on a nearby couch tense. Everything looks fine. Nicoles words caused a collected sigh of relief to run through everyone in the room. And just in time too as a guest for Maria walked in on their own at the moment. Sorry to be rude, but Im from Skycastle, here to perform an audit on Warrens newest businesses. With prior notice, the sudden entrance wasnt a surprise. But what was a surprise was the person who came in. It was Robert, the tax official the girls had met in Wheat Grace along with a second special guest. Duke Marsfield!? Neither Maria nor the Jewelry Box girls could hide their shock. Uwahahaha! The castle was making a move, so I thought Id go on a little vacation! The Duke found the girls reactions hilarious and gave a laugh far more lively than what he usually gave while he was on the job. By the way Ellis, if you manage to pass through this audit successfully, will you show me around Warren? Ah, right. The five girls didnt have any problems with the Duke, so they were all prepared to show the Duke a good time. But then he had to bring up the audit.. We were just organizing the books to make your job a little easier, Maria lied in a sweet voice. But Robert wasnt stupid. Nor did he really care. He was here to do his job, and so long as there was nothing wrong with the numbers, he wasnt going to release any information. Is that right? Well then Ill now be performing a tax examination for the newly form Ellis Finance first. Robert got to work immediately without saying much else. He compared the books the Merchant Guild kept to Elliss own books, making various marks here and there. The five girls waited patiently together with their pets napping on their laps. After three hours, Robert closed the books and began scribbling some notes down into a notebook. The contents were about an additional tax to be placed as a fee for the income the representativeCEllisCmade as an adviser for the Thieves Guild. The amount wasnt much, and according to Robert, it was a natural miscalculation. So long as it is paid, the rest of the books were squeaky clean. Well, since were working together like this, perhaps you could give me a small souvenir? Robert placed his notebook down with a wry smile. In other words, the fact that there had been something wrong was more believable than if there had been nothing wrong at all. It looked much less suspicious which left Robert with nothing else to do than ask directly for his souvenir. Robert corrected his posture and stretched out his arms. Facades aside, the real reason Im here is to investigate the rumored guardian dragon of Warren. Id really like you to tell me the behind the scenes truth. Maria gave the five a troubled look. She wondered what they were going to talk about. But Robert was going to continue directing the conversation. First off, Id like to confirm that your guardian dragon actually exists. The girls werent sure what to say. Ellis in particular was troubled on what to say, but there was no reason to hide the truth. Robert, the guardian dragon Ra-chin is right over here. Ellis pointed a finger towards the half awake lizard who had been enjoying having his stomach rubbed for the past three hours. Ellis, perhaps I didnt make myself clear, but I promise as long as you cooperate with Skycastle, they shall leave you alone. Robert gave the natural response towards the natural assumption that Ellis was screwing with him, but that response caused Ra-chin to finally stir and turn his head towards the tax investigator. What a rude human. Are you saying that you cant trust what my Dragon Maiden is saying? And after Ellis humored you for so long. His voice was directly transmitted to Roberts mind, making both him and the Duke jump. Ra-chin, we should take you to the city square. If Ellis is saying so, I suppose it cant be helped. Ellis held out the little yellow lizard to Robert and the Duke before directing them the square. Ra-chins original Land Dragon form was revealed in the same area that he had made his grand entrance earlier. And this time it was Duke Marsfield and Robert didnt know what to say. Do you understand now, puny pathetic humans? Both of the men silently nodded their heads. However there was one person who wasnt finding this scene very interesting, and he was currently clinging to Reeves chest. Reeve, why are those guys marveling at the bastard so much? Oh, its because Ra-chin is Warrens guardian dragon. What? Isnt that discrimination? Im a dragon too. Oh its nothing like that. Ellis is technically bound to Warren now, but Su-chan and I are free. Maria was standing about two feet away from Reeve, as speechless as the Duke and Robert. But her reason was a little different. Reeve, why are you talking to your breasts? Su-chan peeked his head out from underneath his wings and took a look over at Maria. Reeve, whos that woman over there? Thats Maria, one of our benefactors. Try and be a little more polite Su-chan. I understand Reeve. And although I am a little nervous, lets do this. Maria and Reeve both stiffened at the conversation, but for obviously different reasons. Su-chan peeled himself off of Reeves chest and jumped onto Ra-chins back. After a second of silence, a full-sized Storm Dragon had appeared right on top of the Land Dragon. It was like a large dragon umbrella. Despite the cute imagery, the citizens of Warren were just a little panicked at a dragon unexpectedly showing up in the middle of town. Half of the people crowding the square started a stampede as they fled for safety while the other half got on their knees praying to the Land Dragon to protect them. Duke Marsfield, its dangerous! Forget me, start an evacuation Robert! The Dukes guards moved immediately, turning themselves into a wall between the Duke and the suddenly appeared Storm Dragon. Su-chan, stop scaring everyone! Reeve ran in front of the frozen Maria, wildly waving her hands over her head. Su-chan then made a sudden declaration to everyone who remained in the square. I am a friend of the Land Dragon! Because I will be assisting him in the protection of this city from now on, you may call me, Su-chan! Thus Warrens guardian dragon became a two dragon job. CH 104 This was the Jewelry Box Teahouse operated by Aiful and Credia. Ellis brought Duke Marsfield and the tax official Robert there to help them calm down. Their accompanying guards upkept security a short distance away around at the steamed bread shop. On a side note, the popularity for the steamed bread shop had been increasing lately, and security was a tad lax as a result. The duke and tax official were able to calm themselves with the smell of tea, but they were both halfway through their cup before the duke opened his mouth. My apologies Ellis, but would you please tell us how you met these dragons. And from there explain how they became the guardians of Warren. The real reason the Duke and Robert came was to investigate about the guardian dragons. The Land Dragon becoming the guardian of Warren created a huge fuss, but even the Warren Council were confused about the sudden declaration of protection from the Storm Dragon. I understand. Ellis began to explain everything to them. If by everything you mean a large heaping pile of lies. As far as the encounter with the Land Dragon goes, Ellis told them the same story she had given the council earlierCshe met the Land Dragon while visiting the western hills not knowing he was there. So with the Land Dragon no longer under the previous Demon Lords control, he wanted to make a contract to protect Warren. And so ever since he arrived at the city, he has been guarding it with no worries or falling under the new Demon Lords control. As Ellis told the story, Duke Marsfield shifted his eyes to a nearby table. At the table was a single cup of tea with a mini-sized Land Dragon sniffing it completely mesmerized. Land Dragon Ra-chin, was that story true? The Duke watched Ra-chin expectantly, but Ra-chins tail continued to sway back and forth silently. After a moment of that silence, Frau threw a lifeline to cut through the settling awkward atmosphere. Ra-chin wont answer anyone until the tea starts to cool down. Let me explain how we met the Storm Dragon first. Ellis redirected the conversation back to her fake story. With the Land Dragon in tow, they went to visit the western fishing village. While there, the Land Dragon revealed his true appearance to assure them of their safety. As a result, the Storm Dragon discovered the Land Dragons location and came out to meet him. The Storm Dragon originally came out to fight in the beginning. Rather than a lie, Ellis preferred to think of herself as spinning a fantasy. The Storm Dragon came down wanting to fight, but the Land Dragon argued now was not the time for conflict. The two continued to exchange words, and it was decided that a maiden should be sacrificed to the dragon. That was why Reeve devoted herself to him. Storm Dragon Su-chan, was that story true? The Duke turned his gaze to the miniature Storm Dragon hanging off of Reeves shoulders. Su-chan popped his head from out beneath his wing and looked right back at him. I dont know what youre trying to do here, but if you lay a hand on Reeve Im going to kill you. And then Su-chan hid his head back underneath his wing once again. Although that wasnt really an answer to their question, the threat came across loud and clear to the duke and tax official. So Duke Marsfield continued questioning Ellis putting the matter of the dragons themselves to the side. What specifically is required to form a contract? You have to name the dragon and then dedicate a kiss. Ellis responded reservedly, a little annoyed when she remembered how Ra-chin tricked her into the deal. Reeve too found the whole process irritating and hung her head low. The reaction caused a misunderstanding with the Duke who started to believe the whole affair was difficult emotionally. Im sorry to remind you all of such a painful thing. But please, bear with me for one last question. For what reason, or maybe conditions would be a better word, that allowed the two of you to be chosen by the dragon? Ellis managed to keep a straight face, but Reeve had to take a moment to contain her urge to laugh. When she finally did raise her face, the two both answered simultaneously, I dont know. Su-chan then revealed his face once again. I made my decision because Reeve is my favorite you fucking idiot! The duke reluctantly spoke up, trying to get Su-chan to keep talking before he stuck his head back underneath his wing. Su-chan, what is it about Reeve that you like so much? I beg you, please teach me! Under Su-chans icy gaze, the duke prostrated himself, bowing his head low to the ground. Ellis had done her best to play coy and make them fight for their information, but she had never imagined Duke Marsfield would go so far so quickly. Before she could stop herself, she had jumped out of her seat and tried lifting the duke back up. Su-chan, Id like to know too. Reeve was just as taken aback by the dukes plea, but she quickly asked Su-chan to elaborate to get things rolling. The second she did Su-chan made a face like it just couldnt be helped. Understood. Duke Marsfield, I chose Reeve because I like her, but when choosing a Dragon Maiden, other than them being a girl, they must meet a few other qualities. What are those qualities? The must have a strong mental strength in order to withstand forming a contract with me. You should understand what I mean if I were to give you a demonstration. Reeve, lets go. Reeve nodded her head and left the center deck, walking out to the open undeveloped space just outside of Cross Town. The Duke followed behind them closely. After taking enough of a distance from any buildings, Su-chan leapt off of Reeves chest and returned to his original large figure. So then, lets stylishly take a stroll the sky Reeve. With Reeve on his back, the Storm Dragon jumped high into the air and unfurled his wings. The Storm Dragon started off simple, but as time passed, he increased his speed, throwing in loops and rotations in the air as if he were dancing with the sky as his partner. The dukes mouth was agape as we watched the performance until the end. After a while, the Storm Dragon did flutter back down to the ground. And no sooner had he touched down then he reverted back to his mini dragon form and retook his place hanging off of Reeves shoulders. Do you now see how amazing Reeve is? These are the qualities necessary. The Duke could only silently nod while marveling at how Reeve did not appear even slightly dizzy after having undergone such a brutal ride. And that in turn was Elliss plan here. Even if another city were to discover the location of a dragon, she would make it so they would have no idea what to do by spreading confusing information around so that no other individuals could form a contract. In this case, Reeve would be fine even if she didnt have the qualities to ride Su-chan like that because she would become able to as soon as she became Su-chans Dragon Maiden. Do you understand then Duke Marsfield, Robert? Ellis tried confirming the mens status, but they both replied with just a silent nod. In the meantime, Ra-chin had still not moved from his tea. But soon Duke Marsfield was able to squeeze out something. For example, would it be possible to ask one of the guardian dragons to protect the kingdom? But Ellis and Reeve both shook their heads. Everything was up to the dragons decision, so there was nothing either of them could do. Yes, I guess it was a foolish thing to ask. Im sorry for making you humor me for so long. So Ellis grabbed the dukes arm and tried to cheer him up. Then let us show you around. Lily Garden, Cross Town, and Gentleman StreetCyou showed us your hospitality, now its our turn. Ellis, Reeve, and Su-chan took the duke and Robert with them as they began moving through the city while Claire and Katie went home. Frau meanwhile decided to stay at the teahouse, waiting for the tea to cool down so she could drag Ra-chin out of the store. Well it certainly feels like a trade city. Duke Marsfield marveled at each facility he visited, praising each of them as they walked by. All of the facilities he saw were full of originality, and better yet, none of them directly competed with any of the other cities. The duke could only see Lily Garden from the outside, but he was able to visit each shop in Cross Town, with Gentleman Street as his last stop. Ellis decided they would visit Masters Hideaway first off. When they arrived, they were greeted by Masakatsu who was acting as the gatekeeper for the night. Welcome. Masakatsu gave each of them a courteous bow before opening the entrance for them. Ellis entered the shop with the duke, the tax official, and all of their guards in tow. The Thieves Guild can guarantee your safety from this point on. If youd like, all of your escorts can go enjoy themselves. With Elliss words, the duke and Robert took a moment to consult with their guards, and in the end, it was decided that they each keep one while the others were allowed to scatter. Maria provided the duke and Robert with a complimentary 500 thousand ril in chips for entertainment while Ellis provided each of the guards with 30 thousand so they could have some fun as well. Please enjoy the mens street. With that farewell, Ellis and Reeve entrusted the rest of their reception to Maria before leaving the store. By nights end, the duke and Robert had received an extravagant reception from all of Marias resources. The guards on the other hand quickly lost all of the money Ellis had gifted to them, and soon lost even more after all was said and done. The next morning, still glowing from their little trip to Dandys Shangri La, Duke Marsfield and the tax official Robert left the city of Warren on good terms with all of its inhabitants. And then a few days later, a predictable notice arrived from the capitol Skycastle carrying a decree to each city from the king. It gave out two very simple orders: Search for the dragons and Find a qualified maiden. Naturally this mission was also delivered to the Brave Party with the utmost urgency. Dragon..? the Hero Gray murmured to himself. Has anyone heard any rumors about a dragon? Gise incredulously asked the idiot trio, but to his surprise, Cliff did have an answer. Once in a while I have heard about a crimson dragon around the Pottery City in the east. Its the best lead weve got. Alright, were aiming for the Pottery City next. And so the Brave Partys journey to the east was decided. Ellis on the other hand, The advanced labyrinth near Marsfield, the Ice and Snow Dragon Labyrinth looks suspicious. The conversation had finally turned to the rumor Katie had brought up earlier. If the last boss of the dungeon is an Ice and Snow Dragon thats never been killed before, it might be able to speak like the executive demon when they first cleared the Demon Labyrinth. But Elliss group had already turned into major celebrities. If they were to suddenly show up aiming to clear the citys most dangerous labyrinth, the duke would assuredly catch wind of it. So how about this as a plan? Everyone huddled together to hear Elliss plan as if the walls of their very mansion might spill their secret. And when it was all said and done, nobody had any objections to the plan Ellis had devised. Then lets head towards Marsfield once again. And so the next morning, all of the girls and their three pets began heading north, enjoying the rhythmic sway of their carriage. They were aiming for the Ice and Snow Dragon Labyrinth in order to acquire a new Ice and Snow Dragon for their mini dragon collection. CH 105 The current Ice and Snow Dragon plan was as follows. First off, the dragons would all disguise themselves as adult men. Then as a party of four with Claire and Frau tagging along, they would head to Marsfields Adventurers Guild in order to put in an application to search the labyrinth. Ra-chin would wear some of Fraus equipment and act like a heavy fighter while Su-chan pretends to be a light fighter with some of Reeves. Frau would wear an oversized robe, hiding her vibrant hair and voluminous curves, allowing her to pass off as an ordinary male magician, and Claire would play the role of a thief with some of Elliss clothes altered to fit her. Their purpose was to confirm the location of the labyrinth and make sure there were no other parties there that would get in their way. Ellis and Reeve both had a mental link with their dragons, so they would know where to go after all was said and done. Incidentally, Katie was too conspicuous as a white-haired catgirl, so she was forced to stay behind as well. After meeting up at the labyrinth, Fraus group would head inside while Ellis, Reeve, and Katie waited outside the door. Frau would wait a while before using the Return Ring to head back to the Adventurers Guild under the pretense that the enemies inside were just too strong. The four of them could then meet back up with Ellis, and the real journey inside could begin. This strategy was all thanks to Claires spell, {Runaway Dungeon} which would allow them to flee the Ice and Snow Dragon Labyrinth if things were to ever get dangerous. One of the key rules to being a thief is always having an escape plan, so if it wasnt for Claires spell, Ellis would have grudgingly kept the ring and risked exposure. Ra-chin and Su-chan transformed into Ellis and Reeve respectively, altering their hair and builds to look more like men. And truth be told, Ellis and Reeve made quite the handsome men. They would certainly leave an impression on the receptionists when they see them which should work to their advantage. Im counting on you Ra-chin. Leave it to me Ellis. And for now, you can call me Ellison. Ellis nodded her head proudly. She knew she could count on Ra-chin. Im counting on you Su-chan. Well since Reeves the one asking me, I suppose it just cant be helped you know. By the way, how does the name, Re-chan sound for me? It was quickly decided that Su-chan could not be counted on. It was decided that he would be called Revatein, and he should keep quiet as much as possible. Since Ill be acting as the party leader, dont worry about a thing. Ehehehe. Ellis, your clothes suit me surprisingly well. Frau was going by the name Flare while Claire had named herself Clarence. They were both extremely lazy names that would quickly give them away if any suspicions were pressed. And so as the four party members rode to Marsfield on a set of Magical Horses, the other three were left anxiously hoping they didnt screw up. After a while, Ra-chins voice resonated inside Elliss head. Weve finished our registration. Were are now about to leave through the eastern gate. Passing the message on to Reeve and Katie, the three of them began to move as well. The Ice and Snow Dragon Labyrinth was only about a kilometer away from Marsfields eastern gate. Fraus group broke away from their guide and entered the labyrinth immediately. Once their guide had confirmed that they did in fact enter, he turned on his heels and returned to the Adventurers Guild. Ra-chin, there are probably some traps in the hallway, so dont move too far forward and just kill some time. Ellis sent out additional instructions for Ra-chin to follow, but about a moment later, Reeve cringed. A loud scream from Su-chan echoed in Reeves mind, so loud it brought tears to Reeves eye. UWAAA! Su-chan, whats wrong! Su-chan never sent a reply. Instead, it was Ellis who received a message from Ra-chin. Su-chan stupidly ignored your instructions and touched a doorknob causing an electrical shock to leave him paralyzed and twitching on the ground. Hell probably recover soon, so we will return to the Adventurers Guild when he does. Ellis and Reeve both sighed and looked away. They were both dragons, so why were their personalities and competence so different? Only Katie wasnt able to understand the circumstances and was quietly smiling behind them. It took about an hour for the paralyses to wear off and another fifteen minutes for the four to regroup with Ellis. Su-chan was rarely quiet, standing off to the side on his own. I went ahead and punished him on Reeves behalf. Frau placed her dark mithril halberd on her shoulders and gave Reeve a report. It was a dark mithril weapon that could cut through even dragon scales, so whatever punishment she had given him, it had definitely hurt. And sure enough as soon as he saw Reeve, the Storm Dragon transformed into his mini form on the spot and stuck himself onto Reeves chest over her equipment. He immediately hid his head underneath his wing without saying anything. My my Reeve shook her head, putting all of the equipment Su-chan had been wearing that had crumpled on the ground into her bag. Good job Ra-chin. It was nothing, Ellis. It looks like most of the enemies inside are ice or snow elemental type monsters, but there are probably a few different types of beasts as well. Ra-chin also removed the gear he had been wearing and turned into his own mini self. Ellis then began to reorganize the party. Frau would be in charge of carrying Ra-chin while Claire would watch Pi-tan. Su-chan had still yet to say anything, and it looked like he intended to continue to be worn by Reeve even while she would be fighting. With everything worked out, they all stepped into the labyrinth. The girls were able to move forward relatively quickly from the front entrance at first. The traps were about the same level as the Demon Labyrinth, and a sucker had already deactivated the first paralysis trap. If what Ra-chin said was right and most of the enemies were in fact ice types, then pure fire power1 was a valid strategy. While Ellis got to work on releasing the trap on the door, Claire put Pi-tan down in one corner of the room and began preparing her {Homing Missiles}. There was a small *click* when the trap was cancelled. Katie and Frau got ready to charge forward as Reeve placed her hand on the doorknob. All five girls held their breath. 3.2..1..Go! With Elliss shout, Reeve threw open the door, and as Frau charged forward from the front, Katie made her way around to the back. 15 large balls of flame came rushing down after Claire had confirmed the enemies positions. Three ice sprites and three snow sprites were all turned into water vapor on the spot, and some type of ice creature in the back was torn to shreds by Katies claws, having only enough time to scream before it breathed its last. The whole fight didnt take ten seconds. Heh, you have my sympathies. Ra-chin was suddenly remembering when he was on the receiving end of that assault. And Ellis and Reeve hadnt even had a turn this time. Ellis immediately headed towards the treasure chest. Its similarities to the chests in the Demon Labyrinth made her want to rush through it, but she was smart enough to not let herself get careless. *Click* The treasure chest trap was successfully removed, and the latch swung open. It was an explosion trap. The kind that would have killed every ice type monster in the room if there were any left. The chests contents was 20 thousand ril in coins. There were no magic tools to be had. The girls used this same process on much of the following rooms with repeated success. Every couple of rooms there would be more ice-type beasts in the back that Reeve could cut up, but Ellis was relegated to being an over-glorified locksmith. Until the 20th room at least, where a luxuriously designed door of a different color stood before them. There would be a boss monster behind these doors. After canceling the trap, Ellis and Katie stood to one side of the door as Frau and Claire stood in front of it. Claire prepared a {Distraction Needle} beforehand and loaded it into her dress. Reeve started the countdown, and as she pulled open the door, Ellis ran to the left while Katie moved to the right. As expected, a large monster was standing at the rooms center, but what was unexpected was the fact that they could only see a light silhouette of it from the door. A massive snowstorm was blowing in the room, casting fluffy snow around that disrupted their vision, tiny crystals of ice that felt like tiny needles were being jabbed into their skin, and whirling cold winds that cut straight to the bone. Frau ignored the cold and charged the boss straight from the front while Claire swung around to its rear and cast her {Distraction Needle} to remove any status resistances it had. Frau stopped and stared for a moment, disbelief evident on her face. Her blade should have had Exorcism attached to it and at least done something. Reeve had come in from the side, but seeing the result from Fraus attack, she judged her katana would have the same result and re-aimed her attack on the Snow Queens head. The monsters scream was evidence enough that this attack was far more effective. Katies Brave Ripper also had an effect on the queen, bringing a look of panic to pass across her human-like face. The Snow Queen tried to fight back with some magic, but her voice had already been sealed by Elliss Silence. The Queen began jerking around confused. And then Claires {Valkyrias Lance} shot through the Queens stomach. The spell blew a whole through her, revealing nothing underneath. The dress was made from interconnected snowflakes with no body, spectral or physical, underneath. With the revelation that she had no lower half, Katies follow up attacks were all focused on the Queens head and arms. After that, all that was left of the queen was a pile of snow and blood resting on the ground. The treasure chest in the room had only one million ril inside. Room 35 What appeared inside was a White Giant. It was able to completely resist Claires {Distraction Needle}, preventing any of the girls status ailments from hampering him. Luckily, this type of enemy was where Fraus abilities shined brightest. Frau charged it right from the front, taking its mighty blows. With each blow from the giant taken by her shield, she returned each strike with a return swing from her halberd. Her halberd hacked away at the giants foot, cutting through flesh and bone until the fifth swing completely cut through. The giant stumbled, giving Reeve the opening she needed to run up from behind and slice through the tendon of his remaining foot while Katie gouged out the giants neck with her claws. The final strike came from Ellis who jumped out of the giants own shadow and stabbed him with her Mad God stiletto. Once again, the treasure chest contained only ril. And finally the 50th room. Ra-chin spoke up directly into everyones minds. I have no doubt. The being behind this door is similar to me. It is most likely the Ice and Snow Dragon. Ra-chin then immediately began talking to Su-chan in turn. Su-chan, this will be your time to redeem yourself. The attack compatibility of Ra-chins {Summon Volcano} is just too good against an Ice and Snow Dragon, and the possibility of him accidentally killing it is too high. If it was Su-chans attack though, it should be able to deal a good deal of damage while also cutting through any snow that might be piled up in there. This will be on another level from the Snow Queen or the White Giant. And you wont be able to get the drop on him like you did me. It would be for the best if we took some safety measures. The truly reliable Ra-chin. With his suggestion in their mind, the five girls reevaluated their strategy for the final boss. Ellis carefully released the final trap. Reeve stood in front of the door, Su-chan sitting in her hand. They had already activated {Share Sight}. Frau would be opening the door this time while Ellis and Ra-chin waited next to the door. Reeve, Su-chan, are you ready? The dragon and its owner both nodded together, so Ellis turned to Frau. Go! As soon as Frau threw open the door, Reeve and Su-chan jumped into the room and unleashed their {Summon Hurricane}. *WHOOSH!!!* A tornado exploded out, creating a whirlwind that tore through the room. The boom of the air cutting itself was ear-shattering, eclipsed only by the violent scream that rose from the tornados center. Now Ellis! Ellis jumped into the room at Ra-chins word. She was able to see a large white object through the wind and threw Ra-chin as hard as she could at it. {Change Size} Ra-chins size grew to its original length, and he used all that increased growth to hold down that white object. His hind leg shot out, hitting the white objects head and slamming it onto the ground. The tornado soon gave way, revealing a large snake-like dragon whose body was covered in pure white hair. 1. No, this pun wasnt in the original Japanese, but I saw an opportunity and took it. I wont apologize. CH 106 Im going to kill every one of you bastards! Even if ya bend over and beg for forgiveness, there is no forgiveness for your stupidity at this point!1 Crushed underneath Ra-chins massive body, the Frost Dragon started spewing a stream of threats intermixed with senseless cursing while glaring at Su-chan who had put his own foot down on the dragons head. Thats right, Ill kill all ya. Understand? Youre dead! Get ready to get fucked and killed! He actually had quite the colorful vocabulary. With that being said, with the situation the way it was, the five girls and three animals all had a similar question. How could he act so tough with his head pinned underneath another dragons foot? Katie was just curious enough to ask. She walked over to the dragons head which Su-chan was still pressing into the ground. Hey Mr. Frost Dragon, where does all that over-confidence come from nya? What a fool! Its not over-confidence; its a fact! I have the spirit of a fierce tiger in me, and its going to tear you all apart! Su-chan was sitting on top, not making any moves trying to perfectly make up his mistake from earlier to Reeve, but Ra-chin sitting on the lower half was starting to get annoyed and growled. Ellis soon came up from behind Katie, leading to a new round of abusive and vulgar insults to be aimed at her this time. Reeve, lets put a little pressure on this guys attitude! Su-chan finally broke his silence, adding some strength to his foot causing the Frost Dragons head to squeak a little. Ellis, decide quickly whether were going to persuade him or stab him! The Land Dragon was also getting a little fed up, so he urged Ellis to quickly make a decision. Then heres my decision! Im going to kill all you, so hurry up and die! The Frost Dragon was slowly becoming more enraged, using less vulgar name calling and falling back on to a more Die, die, die strategy. It was painful being held down by Su-chan and Ra-chin, but there was nothing he could do about either of them meaning he had to direct all his rage at Ellis instead. Anyway, the point was he was completely unwilling to have a conversation. Ellis, jump away! This guy managed to get his tail out from under me! The Frost Dragon was finally able to try and make good on his threats having successfully pulled out his tail and swinging it around like a whip. Yeah! DieDieDieDieDieDieDieDie! The Frost Dragon had gone on a mindless rampage. The inside of the room began to shake from the sound of his tail thrashing on the ground, cracking stone while trying to aim for Elliss head. Ellis, Im going to crush him! But at the same instant, another voice was able to pierce the clamor. Frost Dragon, your name will be Ah-nyan nya. Ra-chins scream and Katies declaration overlapped, but afterwards everything went quiet. Everyones focus moved from the thrashing tail to the dragons white head and the white cat girl who was kissing him. And just like that, time stopped. Hm? His brain began to cool off, and an overwhelming power began to grow in his chest. There was a lovely white catgirl in front of his suddenly focused gaze. And then the Frost Dragon began to remember. His days of anger. The cause of that anger. How he was consumed by that anger. His focus moved back to the girl standing in front of him again. This white-haired catgirl was smiling at him, no irritation or anger present in her. And then finally, the Frost Dragon regained himself, remembering everything. I used the same naming pattern Frau did nya. Katie stretched out her limbs, unconcerned about the numerous gazes that had gathered on her. Nobody knew what to say. Katie had, on her own, made a contract with the Frost Dragon without getting his consent. Ra-chin and Su-chan didnt know that was even possible. But the contract was there; she was definitely a Dragon Maiden now. I really want to beat you bastards to death, but before that, I need to kill that damn Hero and Demon Lord! Ah-nyan the Frost Dragons rage had simmered down quite a bit. He was still throwing out threats and using vulgar language, but his tone made him seem more rational. He soon divulged his own story of how he had become like that. During the previous Demon/God war, the Frost Dragon had been persuaded by the Hero to switch sides and stand against the Demon Lord. The Frost Dragon stood on the Heros front lines, and as a result, he was able to decimate the Demon Lords army time and time again. However one day, the Hero sent him out to attack what turned out to be a group of executive suicide bombers from the Demon Lords army. The Frost dragons body was completely destroyed, but it turns out that dragons are almost immortal. So long as they die through normal means by their own will, they would eventually be able to return to their original form. Yet for some reason, when he came back, he found he was the last boss for one of the purifying labyrinths. It must have been because his spirit had gotten mixed together with the mana from those suicide bombers, thus the labyrinths noted him as something that needed to be purified. He couldnt die through ordinary means, but if he were to be completely purified through the labyrinth, that could lead to a true death. Whether the Hero knew or not about his predicament, nobody ever came to save him. The fear of being purified grew as time passed, so his mind soon devolved into something more basic, craving the death of anything that approached him for fear of being purified. By the way Land Dragon, Storm Dragon, arent you both embarrassed? You both have Dragon Maidens, yet the two of you together couldnt hold just one of me down. The other two dragons started to growl, surprising themselves at just how quickly they were starting to miss the Frost Dragon when he was insane. Well, I suppose its fine. Ive been blessed with my own Dragon Maiden now. The Frost Dragons gaze fell back on Katie. She locked her gaze with his and nodded her head. Well Ah-nyan, can I use {Permission Size Change} now? Whatever you like, Katie.2 Katie performed the spell the same way she had seen Ellis and Reeve do it, leading to a reverent shout from the Frost Dragon. Beautiful! I never knew I had such a gorgeous style! After a flash of light, what was left on the ground was something that looked like a white fur scarf. Ah-nyan poked his head out from the bundle and began praising his own fur to anyone who would listen. Katie, try wrapping me around your neck a little. Doing as she was told, Katie obediently wrapped Ah-nyan around her neck as if he really were a scarf. He suited her quite nicely, and Katie started to look like a high class lady wearing an expensive muffler. You feel nice and cold around my neck like this nya. Ill keep the head cold in the summer, and keep Katie healthy. This Frost Dragon needed to cool down his own head first, Ellis grumbled. But that along with a few other things she had tried to say went completely ignored. Katie and Ah-nyan had entered their own little world. Riiight. So then Ah-nyan, will you be coming with us? Ellis finally took a step forward and forcefully inserted herself into the twos conversation. Shut up, Ill kill you dumbass if you ever talk to me again! Ill make you whimper if you keep talking to my Ellis like that! It seems like Ah-nyans more relaxed attitude was reserved exclusively for Katie. Ra-chin jumped forward still in his original size, looking like he was going to bite Ah-nyans head right off, but Ellis yelled at him to knock it off while Katie spoke to Ah-nyan on Elliss behalf. Ah-nyan, come outside with us nya. Alright, if thats what Katie wants. Ellis gave up. It would be impossible for her to convince the Frost Dragon to work for them. It would be impossible for them to come to an understanding. But so long as Katie was there, there probably wont be any major problems. Well then, Claire, if you would. The party was finally able to leave the Frost Dragon Labyrinth thanks to Claires {Runaway Dungeon}. The sun had already began to set by the time the girls left the labyrinth, and the surrounding wilderness had begun to cool off as night started to roll in. Ellis had given up on talking to the Frost Dragon, but she was still curious about his ultimate release. Taking a quick look around, there was nobody to be seen, and she doubted anybody was going to come by. So she passed on her message through Katie. Ah-nyan, we have a request for your ultimate release nya. Anything for you Katie. The Frost Dragon came down off Katies neck and regained his original size. His head was smaller compared to the other dragons the girls had seen, and his body was longer and thinner like that of a snake. It bent and curved constantly making one wonder if he actually had any back bone at all. There were a pair of front and back legs, but they were short, kept his body close to the ground, creating the picture that he was actually slithering across the ground when he moved. But the most catching of his appearance was the fact that he had pearl white fur that shined purity rather than any scales. He looked like a divine beingCthe complete opposite of how he sounded. Alright Katie, first you need to use {Share Sight}. Katie did as she was told, but she was puzzled by what she saw. Ellis and Reeve had both described their experience and stated they were able to perceive where their attack would land, but Katies shared sight didnt reveal anything like that. Her eyesight was a little better through Ah-nyans eyes, but there was no highlighted area like what Ellis and Reeve had described. Next you want to use the ability {Protect Fellows}. This will prevent any of your allies from getting involved in the attack. Katies mind reached out, and while activating her spell, she included Ellis and the others in her thoughts. And then after a quick reminder, she included Su-chan and Ra-chin as well. Alright then, lets go Katie! Following Ah-nyans instructions, Katie used the incantation that had been etched into her mind. {Summon Absolute Zero}! *CHKKT!*. .. There was no explosion of noise or rising catastrophe like what had happened with the other dragons. It was more of a small click, like the sound of glass cracking, and then in the blink of an eye, a world of silvery white spread out before all of them. A world of settled ice and snow was spread out with the dragon at its center where even sound had been frozen. All movement had been ceased. It was a world at absolute zero. How about killing our enemies with this? The Frost Dragon started laughing, breaking the delicate world that had been so carefully crafted. It wouldnt work on me, Ra-chin eventually muttered. Theres no problem if you can just fly away in the sky, Su-chan slowly countered. But there were four girls and a pet who werent listening to those kind of petty complaints, and were instead focusing on warming themselves up from the leftover snow and ice after the attack. By the way Katie, do you know somebody who can open this? Ah-nyan pulled out a treasure chest. Most likely the one they would have gotten after killing the last boss normally. Bring that over here. Katie explained to Ellis that Ah-nyan had confirmed there would be a magic tool inside this treasure chest. Placing it down onto the frozen grass, Ellis immediately confirmed the trap that had been placed on the chest. This trap, its the worst thing Ive ever seen. A part of Ellis didnt want to even touch it. Naturally! Throwing up your own liquefied organs is a small price to pay for having killed me. Ellis frowned, but as there wasnt anything else to be done, she got to work on the lock. Four girls and three animals were gathered around the chest, anxiety keeping each of them from taking a breath. Meanwhile another girl and her dragon were off playing on their own, apparently already having forgotten about the chest they themselves had brought up. *CLICK* Not nearly soon enough, the chests lock swung open. The trap had been disarmed, and after a huge sigh of relief, Ellis opened up the chest. And then she was left sighing again. Katie, get back over you. What is it nya? Come look at this. Its some equipment for you. What Ellis pulled out from the chest was a set of a pure white shorts and bra top woven with soft hair. But just at a glance you could tell they were overflowing with magic power. Ah, so you were finally able to get it open? Its a present I made for Katie. Ah-nyan poked his head in, giddily informing everyone about the Battle magic ability attached to the armor without needing Ellis to use her ability. Battle Always take the initiative. Doubles attack speed. Magical damage decrease by 20. Autonomous type. Unique. This was some of the elementary equipment the Hero used to have! Katie, try it on! Everyone was too stunned to respond to Ah-nyans prideful declaration just as the night fully came in and the stars began to shine on the outskirts of Marsfield. 1. This guy uses a lot of slang and rude language. Translating his lines is actually pretty fun just because I dont know about fifty percent of the words he uses. Even his word for you is an old, rude way of calling someone that I never learned before now. 2. Its around here that I want to point out that all of the dragons call their masters with the same honorific they are given. So Ra-chin uses chin for Ellis and Su-chan uses chan for Reeve. That means Ah-nyan is using nyan for Katie, a fact I feel needed to be addressed because of just how cutesy he is being with Katie. CH 107 Katie took off her Resistance bra top and shorts she was wearing and immediately changed into her new Battle bra and spats. It was like she was wearing a set of sexy lingerie. Furthermore, when Ah-nyan was wrapped around her neck like a scarf, Katie looked exactly like one of those sexy foreign models from Eijis world. A realization that made Ellis bite her lip then and there. Realizing the situation from the atmosphere on her own, a sly smile came across Katies face. She put her right hand behind her head and stuck out her hip with her left hand resting on it. Ellis~ nya. The other three girls grew irritated at Katies obvious intentions, but all of them knew there was nothing they could do about it right now. There was however one person who was even more livid by this seduction and wasnt aware there was nothing they could do about it. What are you looking at! Ill kill you, you chicken-shit! Ah-nyan quickly tried to start a quarrel when he noticed the lust in Elliss eyes. Ah-nyan, dont try to pick a fight with Ellis nya. Whats that supposed to mean? Katie? Ellis is my owner nyan. Thats, does that mean Katie made a contract with Ellis like you did with me? Katie? Something like that nyan. Thats, then if we kill Ellis, wont you be released? *BAM!* Having gone just a step too far, Katie peeled Ah-nyan off of her neck and threw him into the dirt at her feet. She held him down with one hand while the claws of her Brave Ripper pressed down on his throat. Katie wasnt smiling anymore as she brought her face down and whispered in Ah-nyans ear. If you ever lay a hand on Ellis, Ill kill Ah-nyan first nya. It was around then that Ah-nyan noticed. Other than Katie, there were three other people surrounding him as well, giving an atmosphere no less terrifying than the one coming from Katie. In this way, Ah-nyans training was successfully finished. President Ellis, would that be suitable? So, lets get along well together! I hope you liked Katies sexy pose. The Frost Dragon Ah-nyans attitude quickly did a one-eighty, and he started addressing Ellis both politely and reverently. Everyone sighed, knowing this dragons extreme attitude was going to cause them headaches in the future as well. Whatever. Lets get back to Warren quickly before Duke Marsfield finds us here. The girls rode on the Storm Dragon Su-chans back, using his high speed flight to get them home quickly. Ellis, Reeve, and Katie had all become Dragon Maidens, so they were fine with the ride. Ra-chin made a stronger barrier this time, so Frau and Claire didnt pass out this time at least. By the way, the Frost Dragon Ah-nyan couldnt fly either, so he spent this ride wrapped around Katies neck in his miniature size. Thus, everyone was able to return to Warren that night with the moon high in the sky. Is Ah-nyan okay with hot water nya? Hot water? For baths nyan. Me, even if I look like this, Im a hot spring gourmet Ill have you know. As everyone finished the simple dinner Frau prepared for them that night, Katie walked naked to the baths with a maniac dragon shooting of a stream of impressions he had made from hot springs he had soaked in years ago. Pe-tan, Ra-chin, and Su-chan were all in their regular positions with Claire, Ellis, and Reeve scrubbing them down. Katie grabbed her own tub and set it right next to them, but Ah-nyan jumped off Katies neck and instead headed towards the waterfall-like portion of the bath that led to the drainage outlet. Katie, can I use this? Ellis, would it be okay there nya? When called out, Ellis took a look over to where Ah-nyan was looking towards. She had always thought it looked like a waterfall. A miniature one at least. The rest of the water wont get dirty if its there, so its okay. Ah-nyan, Ive often enjoyed taking a seat there myself. I am a hot spring gourmet after all. The three of us wont fit under there as well. Perhaps I should try it out first. Pi~ Seeing Ah-nyan relax under the waterfall, the other three pets all wanted to take a turn themselves. The four of them soon started a fight over the waterfall, slapping each other with their paws and pushing each other over until Frau eventually slapped all of them and got them to knock it off. Starting tomorrow they would all take turns enjoying the stream of hot water. And soon it was time to go to bed. Pi-tan, Ra-chin, Su-chan, and Ah-nyans baskets were all lined up in the living room. Its starting to get crowded, Claire whispered to Ellis while they put their pets to bed. The work for the mansions add-on should start tomorrow. We can move the living room over there, so this room can be dedicated to Pi-tan and the other pets. The next door womens dorms for the Adventurers Guild has changed to a different building inside the city after all the renovations the city had undergone, so Claire was going to build a walkway from the to the building and renovate it as an extension to the mansion. It was decided with Elliss permission that the living room would be placed there along with some new guest rooms since all the bedrooms in the mansion were currently occupied. There would also be a larger room there for meetings and a simple bathroom for men. The bathroom was something decided by the group because nobody wanted Ferdinand to use their toilet instead. Ah-nyan, is this good enough. Its nice Katie. Crawling over the edge of his new bed, Ah-nyan moved on top of his soft cloth and wrapped himself up into a bundle with his head hidden inside. All right, good night. The girls each bade good night while Frau turned off the kitchen and living room lights. And then for the nightly activities. Katie, how does it feel to be a Dragon Maiden? Thank you Ellis nya. Ah-nyan is adorable nya. Hmm. So, have you trained that idiot dragon properly? Its alright nya, he has been disciplined properly nya. In that case, can you wrap that idiot dragon around your neck? Of course nya. Katie quietly headed back down to the dark living room. She made her way over to one corner and quietly whispered, Ah-nyan, are you awake? Im right here Katie. Katie has come back for me, Ah-nyan thought to himself with an elated heart. Ah-nyan, be quiet for a bit nya. Leave it to me Katie. Katie returned to bed with Ellis wearing the Battle equipment she had just received. Ellis slowly pulled pulled off Katies bra off over her head. She then slowly took off her spat shorts from around her waist. Nyaaan.. A wicked smirk crossed Elliss face. She stopped there, leaving Ah-nyan wrapped around Katies neck, letting him hear every moan and whine Katie made as she was mercilessly teased, until she was finally sent to heaven. In the end, Katie passed out with a ecstatic smile spread across her own face. And so Ah-nyan was made to understand for certain this time. This blonde haired girl was the boss here. Ah-nyan, you can go back to your bed. Yes, President Ellis. Ellis offhandedly told the motionless Frost Dragon that he could leave, and doing as he was told, Ah-nyan silently crawled down the steps back to his basket. Hey Ra-chin, what kind of person is your Dragon Maiden? Fufufufufufu Ah, Ellis is heading to Reeve next. The three dragons never necessarily needed to sleep anyway, so this night they were all going to stay up a little later and exchange information in the dark. And the night was able to go with its usual vigor. The next morning was a refreshing one. Yo, Claire, Im here for that expansion construction. A young man from the Workshop Guild came in during breakfast. The expansion work for the mansion was going to start today, and since Claire was going to be in charge of the management, she would be busy for a while now. Ellis, today is the Pain Bamboo troupes public exhibitions nya! Before that you need to put something on over your underwear! Cant you wear your usual bra top over that? Doing that makes my bra rub my nipples and it hurts nya! Frau knows what I mean nya! Well, even if you cover them up with another bra, its not like theyre get heavier. Reeve cant understand! A person with no breasts cant say anything about the pains of us who have them nya! What was that!? Ill have you know mine have gotten bigger recently! Reeve, Katie, stop it both of you! Youre fighting is just making me feel miserable! Claire looked at her own chest mournfully when her cries cut through the Reeve and Katies rising voices. In the end Katie was made to put on some extra clothes before she, Ellis, Ra-chin, and Ah-nyan left the house. They headed straight to the boutique before going to the live house. Claire, I am also going to head out for a bit, Reeve said as she took Su-chan out the door. Frau, Claire, and Pi-tan were the three left over, Ill go on a short patrol of Crosstown, when Frau decided to head out on her own. Ellis and Katie bought a long white dress at the boutique. It was made from a light material so that Katie didnt get too hot, and it had slits on the side so that it wouldnt get in the way of any kicks. She wrapped Ah-nyan around her neck and struck another seductive pose to goad Ellis. It worked, but that really only annoyed Ellis since the two of them were still going to have to go to the live house after this. Reeve was keeping a secret and visiting her family by riding on Su-chans back. After knocking on the door, Lux would invite her in without any suspicions to why she was there or why she was alone. And then the usual comical march of the Lorenburg family would begin. Frau was leisurely making her way around Cross Town. And then inside the Jewelry Box Teahouse, she unexpectedly ran into Gise. CH 108 Frau was leisurely patrolling around Cross Town when she found Ra-chin crawling out of the live house. Curious, she walked over to the miniature lizard and picked him up off the ground. Can I help you with something Ra-chin? You dont need to take a polite tone with me Frau. The programme inside was boring, so I separated from Ellis and came out here. It looks like I timed it just right though. Would you take me to the teahouse? Would you mind if we paid a visit to the Steamed Kitchen first? Not at all, so please carry me. Frau carried Ra-chin in her arms as she made her way around to the Steamed Kitchen, the boutique, and the other shops in Cross Town. People had started getting used to Ra-chins presence, so while they still showed reverence to him whenever he passed by, they werent running up from the back of the shop to bow before him anymore. This allowed Frau to make her rounds quickly, and upon seeing that nothing was wrong, head over to the Jewelry Box Teahouse. Oh welcome Guardian Dragon, Frau. Today Credia was manning the front and greeted them with a large smile. Credia, Ra-chin will have the usual. Could you give me a cake set? Of course. Frau put in the order as she walked inside. Ra-chin had a reserved seat, so there was never any need think about where to sit. Frau moved out of habit without thinking about where she was going too much which was why she was halfway through the store when she realized there was already somebody at the table. Frau stopped for a second and stared, but she quickly shook her head. She didnt want to get involved with this guy. So, she moved to a separate empty table and placed Ra-chin down there instead. Frau, this is the wrong place. That table has a previous appointment. Dont worry about it. Over there will be just right for me. Youll have to share a table. I dont mind at all. Fraus shoulders sank. She eventually gave up, picked Ra-chin off the table, and brought him to his regular seat. As she did, she made a fake smile and sent a greeting to the man. Arent you Mr. Gise from the Brave Party? Im Frau. We met before when you were looking to enter the Wight Labyrinth. Gise felt like somebody had just kicked him in the butt. He had heard that Aiful was out, so he decided to wait here for her. Now one of those suspicious Jewelry Box members was suddenly talking to him out of nowhere. He was completely caught off guard. But regardless of his clearly puzzled expression, Frau continued to speak. Im sorry to suddenly drop in like this. You see this table is actually the favorite of the guardian dragon. Im really sorry but would you mind sharing your table? Gises head was starting to get all jumbled up. Guardian dragon? Favorite? Sharing a table? Gise wasnt sure where to start, but he was still able to squeeze out an answer. Uh, um, I dont mind, but what is a guardian dragon? I am, diminutive human. Ra-chin spoke up as Frau placed him down on the table. By the way, ever since Aiful and Credia were shocked at having someones consciousness radioed directly into their heads, Ra-chin had started talking with his voice instead of telepathically when around strangers. Gise eyed the weird looking lizard in front of him. Ra-chin in the meanwhile had already started to ignore Gise, resting his back legs on his chair with his front legs propped up on top of the table. Sorry to keep you waiting. Credia brought over Fraus cake set and the tea before anything else could be said. Todays cake was one of Kens newest creations, a steamed fruit cake. Well then please enjoy. Seeing Credia off with a smile, Frau sat down in her own chair, moving it slightly away from Gise, and began drinking her tea. Ra-chin in the meanwhile had already dug his nose into the steam coming off of the tea and become as still as stone. Several minutes had passed before Gise was finally able to straighten out his thoughts. Guardian Dragon, might I ask you about how you came to protect this town? Thinking about it, Gise realized this was actually quite fortuitous. The Brave Party had been tasked with acquiring a guardian dragon for the capitol, and although Cliff had an idea about where they could find a dragon, they still had no idea about what they should do when they do find it. But when Gise finally tried to broach the subject, Ra-chin was completely unresponsive. So Gise decided to use extreme measures, got off his chair, and knelt down on the floor. I beg of you, please teach me everything you know! Just from the little information he had gathered, Gise had surmised that Ra-chin was haughty, so going all in on groveling should have brought out positive results. Instead, he continued to receive silence for his efforts. He didnt want to think it was true, but were his initial doubts correct and this wasnt actually the guardian dragon? Mr. Gise, please sit back down in your chair. Frau couldnt bear to watch any longer. She put her hand on Gises shoulder and urged him to get up and quit making a scene. He was bothering the other customers, and more importantly, it was really embarrassing. Ra-chin wont talk to anyone when hes like that. Until the tea cools down, hes quieter than the dead. Frau was stuck there until Ra-chin was finished. With that being the case, she might as well pick up a bit of information on the Brave Party while spreading a little misinformation while she was at it. In other words, its all up to the dragons will? Thats right Mr. Gise. Frau told Gise about the altered version of how the Land Dragon Ra-chin became the guardian dragon for Warren. In other words, the grand excuse of everything was a coincidence. She purposefully left out mentioning Su-chan to avoid drawing any extra scrutiny, but even if Gise brought it up himself, Frau could still hide behind the all-powerful defense coincidence so long as he didnt have any proof. Yes even if he were to somehow find out about Ah-nyan, everything was just a coincidence. What are the conditions for making a contract with a dragon? The person in question must be a woman, must give the dragon a new name, and then give the dragon a kiss. Here most importantly, Frau used the word woman rather than maiden. Gise fell deep in thought. If this information was true, then it would be quite simple to form a contract with the dragon. It may even be possible to force a contract with it. After that it would just be a matter of convincing it to protect the capitol, and if the dragon is able to go against the will of its Dragon Maiden, then Grays strength might provide a good influence in the worst case. By the way Mr. Gise, are there any dragons rampaging around anywhere? Gises thoughts were already focused on the matter at hand, so he absentmindedly gave a reply. Yes there is a legend about one near the eastern Pottery City. Information get. Frau innocently smiled at Gise. In order to save the world, please dont push yourself too hard. Gise found all of his previous thoughts blown away again and began to blush slightly at the sight of that smile. Oh my, welcome Gise. Frau and Guardian Dragon as well. It was then that Aiful returned to the store. Her voice sounded cheerful, and upon entering the store, she immediately walked over towards that table. Gise immediately shook his head and began feeling guilty over how he had reacted to Fraus smile. I wasnt? Aiful didnt notice Gises strange babbling as she immediately started petting Ra-chins back. Thank you for your protection today as well, Guardian Dragon. It was at that same moment that the tea had completely cooled down. Ra-chin blinked and began stretching his joints. Mm, it was great today too. Then Credia, can I bring the leftovers with me today as well? The timing was a coincidence, but from Gises viewpoint, Aiful had woken up the dragon herself. And so clearly dragons had a thing for kindly milfsCa thought Gise could agree on. A terrible misunderstanding was thus accepted as fact. Ra-chin, you can go home with me for today. Frau stood up after finishing off the last of her sweets and downing the last sip of her tea. Oh, you were still here Frau. Hey, when we get back, I have a request. Lets see if Claire will make me a takeout container so I can come and go from here whenever I want. Frau gave a noncommittal, Yes, yes while lifting up Ra-chin in one hand with the cup of tea in the other. It would be nice if Ra-chin could be on his own, but Frau was worried that strange rumors might crop up about him spending all day at the teahouse with no need to have anyone attend him anymore. While wondering if it was fine to have a guardian dragon not doing any guarding, Frau turned back towards Gise. Pardon our intrusion in the beginning. No, thanks for the information. Gises line of sight had already become focused on Aiful, and Frau disappeared from his mind immediately after she had left the building. Meanwhile in Wheat Grace. My Reeve, welcome home. How are you doing today? Mother Lux greeted Reeve with a bright smile, although the usual several day trip between Warren and Wheat Grace was a factor she seemed to have completely forgotten about. Ah, Sister Reeve! Welcome home! Hymel on the other hand was extremely excited to see his sister and immediately ran up to give her a hug. He as well however also didnt think anything was weird with her randomly showing up out of nowhere. Yes, Im home. Real quick, do you know where Grandfather is? Gramps went to go see the tea factory. He should be back soon. Reeve was made to play with her younger brother while talking with her mom for about thirty minutes before Ferdinand finally returned home. Re-boy, youre alone today? Yes, there was something I wanted to ask Grandfather by myself. Reeve had taken it upon herself to try and find out some more information about scattered dragons, and when she thought about it, nobody knew more useless information than her grandfather. Well, I suppose Ive heard a few stories.. Ferdinand began reciting what he knew. OneCThere was a dragon who attacked any travelers moving west. This was probably about Ra-chin. TwoCThere was apparently a dragon lurking around the southern cape that killed any who disturbed him. This was definitely Su-chan. ThirdCThere was a dragon that had fought alongside a Hero long ago, but it had mysteriously disappeared. Ah-nyans past was apparently known to some. FourthCOccasionally appearing near an eastern city, there was a dragon that would appear and then suddenly disappear without doing anything. FifthCThe worlds chaos was apparently governed by a dragon of fear. So the fourth and fifth dragons were new information for Reeve. Thank you Grandfather. Youve been a great help. Will you be staying here tonight? No, Im in a bit of a hurry, so Ill be heading out now. Even though itll take two days for you to get back no matter how fast you travel? About that Grandfather Reeve looked down towards her chest. She was wearing a weirdly shaped ultramarine breast plate. Su-chan, were heading home soon. Reeve started talking to her breast armor, and Su-chans tiny head peeked out from under his wing. Uwa! Wha? Ferdinand and Hymel both jumped forward, staring at the suddenly moving piece of equipment. Upon closer inspection, they noticed that the two clasps holding it to her were actually claws while the strange accent at the bottom was actually a tail. Then the head that had peeked out turned towards Ferdinand and suddenly began talking. Hello, I am Reeves contract dragon, Su-chan. Reeves grandfather, younger brother, it is nice to meet you! Su-chan was a little nervous meeting Reeves family like this, so his greeting ended up a louder than he thought it would be. If Ferdinand and Hymel noticed that nervousness though, their agape mouths didnt show it. This is the Storm Dragon Su-chan. He was the dragon who hid in the southern portions of the continent that Grandfather mentioned. I got here today by riding on Su-chans back and traveling through the sky. The twos mouths dropped even lower before Hymel tried to reach out and poke the dragon as if to make sure it wasnt an illusion. My my, whats everyone doing? When Lux walked out of the kitchen, she saw her son and father-in-law staring at her daughters chest with mouths wide open. She gave them both a strange look before turning her eyes on Reeve as well. Su-chan turned his head to meet her gaze. Greetings, mother of Reeve. I am Su-chan. I am Reeves contract dragon, so please take care of me from now on. My my, its a pleasure to meet you too. Mother Lux returned the polite dragons greeting with a warm smile. In such cases it shows that the women of the Lorenburg family are far more adaptable than the men. Well then, Im sorry to have dropped in announced like this, but I really do have to return to Warren. Ferdinand and Hymel chased after Reeve as she walked out the door. They were hot on her heels as she made her way to the Lorenburgs new wide open backyard, and they were able to see Su-chan return to his original size with their own eyes. Uwa! Hyah! A mixture of fear and amazement were behind those screams of theirs, but the excitement in their eyes rang far louder. Hey Reeve, if you dont mind, could we let Grandfather and Little Brother on for a bit? High speed flight would be impossible, but we could take them around the pavilion a bit. Su-chan had a penchant for showing off, but it was a nice offer nonetheless. Really? Thanks for this. Reeve patted the top of Su-chans head while beckoning Hymel and Ferdinand forward. The two scrambled on top of Su-chans back, Hymel pushing his grandfather out of the way so he could hop on first. Lets go. Su-chan slowly rose up into the air, using a little bit of magic to make sure his two extra passengers wouldnt fall off. At times he would speed up, make a sudden turn, and he even once did a loop de loop. His three passengers were able to enjoy an exciting dance through the air. And after dropping off her family back on solid ground, Reeve was able to fly back to Warren at the top speed of a Storm Dragon. The sun was just about to set when she returned home. CH 109 Ah-nyan, using {Change Human} to imitate Katies figure, was standing beside Katie inside the bath. Hey hey Katie, could you listen to me for a bit? Nyat Ah-nyan? Actually, I went to Skycastle the other day nya. Hoh hoh, that sounds terrible nyan. Then I, suddenly I started croaking like a frog. That so, what do you mean by that nyan? In other words, I was vomiting in the capitol.1 Nyan Nyan! Bwahahahahahah! Uwhyahyahyahya! The girl and her dragon fell over laughing at their own joke. .. The others couldnt be bothered to comment. And what was Nyan Nyan supposed to be there? Ellis was roughly scrubbing her skin, regretting having gone to that Pain Bamboo show and cursing her own fortune at having to listen to these two go on like this ever since it ended. Claire was washing Pi-tan quietly to the side, but her disdain for their act was apparent from the looks she was sending their way. There was however one person who was acting quite strangely to the whole thing. No more, please, Im done. Fraus face had gone as red as a cherry from how hard she was laughing. It looks like such old man humor was her weak point. A gleam shone in Katie and Ah-nyans eyes as they located some juicy prey, and they moved to both sides of her, blocking her in. They stuck out their butts and swung their tails while singing in Fraus ear. Su-chan farts go Bofufufu2 No moreplease forgive me.. Frau was twisting her body around, trying to escape the two cats while catching her breath. Reeve as usual in the meanwhile wasnt paying attention to the other performances and was diligently scrubbing Su-chan down. It looks like theyre finished, so let me sing the next one. She was completely unaware that what Katie and Ah-nyan did was not a song, and she had no clue why Ellis and Claire were giving Katie a dirty look. And so bath time went by like usual. While everyone was gathered around for dinner, Frau and Reeve both made reports about the dragon rumors they had heard. Frau was able to dig up that the Brave Party had already arrived at the eastern pottery city and begun investigating rumors about a dragon there. Reeves information was corroborate the rumor that there was a dragon to the east, but the additional information she had about a chaos dragon gave almost no details. Then should we just head to the pottery city? Ellis mumbled aloud. Ferdinand had also known about the sighting of a dragon flying through the sky above the eastern pottery city. Assuming that the dragon did live nearby, then the Land Dragon Ra-chin should be able to key in to its location and guide them to it. The Brave Party has apparently already arrived at the city, and with their magic {Leap City} they can go back at any time. On the other hand, Ellis and the others could arrive there in a few hours from Warren if they used the high speed flight from the Storm Dragon. Ellis, Reeve, and Katie were all Dragon Maidens, but Frau and Claire would arrive there completely drained if they did that though. Perhaps it would be for the best if they were to stay at the Magical City Wisdom overnight first then. Well, lets head over there and see how things go. Just in case we need to do some covert work, lets bring a change of clothes for the dragons too. And then the next day. While talking over breakfast, Ellis went over the itinerary and iron out any details. In conclusion, they decided to use the same trick they did in Marsfield and have a dummy party made with Ra-chin as the party leader in his male human form. With that all agreed and breakfast finished, the girls got to work at coordinating their dragons. The Land Dragon Ra-chin would be the heavy fighter at an imposing two meters tall with short cropped blonde hair. His name would be Ellison. Together with the full plate armor that was previously worn by an executive demon, he would also be borrowing Fraus morningstar and kite shield. Storm Dragon Su-chan would be acting as the partys light fighter. He would be just a hair shorter than Ra-chin with longer blue hair. He would once again be going by the name Revatein for this outing. He was equipped with the same leather armor Reeve had worn when she first came to Warren and her blue saber. Frost Dragon Ah-nyan came out as the shortest of the three but still large enough to make any ordinary man think twice about picking a fight with him. He was a cat fighter with a platinum colored tinge to the fur that covered his body. His name would be Cassius. His weapons would be some of Katies old cat fighter gauntlets and greaves along with an ordinary white shirt and slim long pants. Something like this, Ellis mumbled. Ellis took a look at all three of the dragons standing together and nodded in satisfaction. By the way, Ra-chin wasnt made to dress as a thief because he simply had no skill as one. If there was ever a time when he was to be made to cancel a trap, it would inevitably blow up in his face. Literally. The three of them would use these forms and pass off as a party of adventurers. The girls also visited Cross Towns boutique to purchase some casual clothes for the dragons as well before heading to the Thieves Guild. Hi Karen. Is Master in? Oh Ellis. And everyone else too. Andum, who are those people in the back? Those three fearless looking men? Karen started mumbling to herself as her cheeks started turning red. I came here to explain just that. Could we see Master? The five girls and their three guests were quickly guided to the back room where Baltis was waiting. Ellis hid nothing as she told introduced the three men behind her to the guild master and explained where they would be going. She didnt get very far before Baltis interrupted her though. Oi you three, you have a third dragon.? What kind of tone is that you shitty old man! If you have some complaints, then look me in the eye and say it! Cassius Ah-nyan was picking a fight like usual and cut off Baltis before he could say anything else. Katie was quick to try and put a stop to him. Stop Ah-nyan! Thats my boss nya! But I thought Katies boss was President Ellis? Wrong nya. This person is the guild master for the Thieves Guild which I belong to nya! I see, then if was kill this old bastard, Katie will become the new leader of the Thieves Guild! Right, Im going to kill you! Baltis was stunned at Ah-nyans forceful interruption, and he was even more taken aback by the words that followed. But soon a smirk came to his lips. He slammed his hands on his desk and rose up out of his chair. Interesting! Come on then, but dont think Ill give up my seat that easily! Dont encourage him nya! {Reset Body}! {Change Size}! *Shurushurushurushurushuru*3 Katie rattled off a number of incantations, releasing Ah-nyan from his human form and causing him along with all the equipment he was wearing to fall to the ground. She then picked him up by his tail, shaking him a little while forcing him around her neck. Baltis looked just a little disappointed. Please forgive him nya. Ill straighten him out later nya. Katie squeezed Ah-nyans tail a bit to punish him some more as she apologized to Baltis. The guild master was looking forward to fighting a dragon, but he knew he had no choice but to nod his head here and sit back down. Since the trouble had settled with just that, Ellis was able to finish her explanation and asked that he spread the word to the other guild masters. You girls are seriously funny. I understand, Ill try to keep your absence a secret. However, there have been some worrying moves from Skycastle recently. Dont be gone long. Thank you Uncle. Ellis gave Baltis her customary kiss on his cheek before everyone left the guild hall. With this their preparations were all ready finished, and they could now head for Wisdom first using Su-chans high speed flight. Elliss group landed right outside the suburbs of Wisdom. It took only a moment for the dragons to take their fully-equipped human forms, and after that, everyone rode in to the city on their normal horse-drawn carriage as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Pi-tan was resting comfortably in Claires arms. Everyone headed straight for the university to meet with Claires parents. However it wasnt that long ago that they had caused a huge commotion in these streets, and they were stopped before reaching their destination. Yo, its been a while. It was Alphonse, the guild master for the Magicians Guild. Hm? Arent there more of you now than before? Yes, you could consider these guys as our guards. Ellis responded immediately and as casually as she could, but Alphonse wasnt the type of person to just obediently believe what he was told. His eyes looked like a hawks as he looked the the three dragons over, and slowly began to speak again. Hmm. By the way, you all are headed to Aress place right now right? They had become involved with the most troublesome guy possible, but there was nothing they could do. Trying to throw him off now would just cause even more suspicions. and besides, if Alphonse was with them, then they could avoid getting embroiled with any other people who might recognize them. Ellis didnt like it, but she decided to accept Alphonses intrusion silently. And then they soon arrived at the university afterwards. Ellis asked the gatekeeper for permission to visit Ares and Izerina, and having recognized them, he quickly gave them permission to enter. Yo, Ellis, everyone, its been too long. How are you all doing? Claire looks like she is doing fine at least. As expected of an adult. They made sure to give the proper greetings and thank their daughters friends before smothering their poor daughter with questions and love. Ares had taken Claire into his arms and looked like he was going to crush her. Seeing that this wasnt going to end any time soon, Ellis tried to ask Ares about his business. The analysis of magic used back in Warren and any possible information he might have had on some dragons. Welcome home everyone. Izerina came into the room at this time. Nobody said it aloud, but everybody was wondering if she was looking just a bit more plump than she had the last time they were there. The number of people in your party looks to have increased. An eight person party, are these men friends of yours? The girls had all ready talked about this. Claire had insisted it was better to come clean and tell Ares and Izerina about the Dragon Maidens if they were going to stay in Wisdom. The problem here was what to do about Alphonse. Alphonse, hearing a secret you can never repeat aloud or quietly walking out of this house right now, which do you prefer? Ellis tried to sound as serious and threatening as she could, but her words only made Alphonses interest increase all the more. In that case, I suppose I better learn how to keep my mouth shut. With nothing else to be done, Ellis and the others began to divulge their secrets. The three men each reverted back to their mini-dragon forms, and they took their usual positions at Elliss knee, Reeves chest and Katies neck respectively. The three Wisdom magicians naturally couldnt understand the situation just from seeing a group of men turn into a group of lizards, so next came the long explanation from Ellis. A feat that was only made more difficult with the fact that there was no way they could have the dragons grow into their regular sizes here. Ellis explained to them all that all five of them, including Claire, had the ability to form a contract with a dragon, and they were doing it so that the dragons wouldnt fall under the order of the Demon Lord again. She then asked them about any information they might have on dragons. Ares calmly listened to their story without interrupting them once, but before answering their questions about the dragons, he first gave them what he had learned so far from the records of the previous Demon/God war. When it came to the magic used in Warren, the {Flame Bullets} most likely had the same power as Claires {Homing Missiles}, but the number of them suggested the prosper using them had near infinite mana. Next was the light that had extinguished every normal demon and almost all of the high demons. Although no records for the spell were found, they were still able to figure it out as an attack that immediately purified the demons mana, thus instantly killing them. Ellis figured it as a surgical strike comparable to a labyrinths purpose in clearing out the previous Demon Lords corrupted mana from the ground. The light that descended down from the sky was actually the easiest spell to figure out. It was something called {Comet}, and there were numerous reports of it devastating armies in ancient texts. The lateral dimension creation and the summoning magic were still unknown. As the research stood, Izerina was theorizing that the dimension creation may be a type of barrier and was looking in to a spell that could break through while Ares continues to pour over texts to see if he can find any mention of those demon dogs. And as for the dragons. In the Demon/God war, it was recorded that there was a dragon on both the Demon Lord and the Heros side. It was also recorded that there was another dragon who was convinced by the Hero to assist him although that dragon never directly confronted the Demon Lords forces. The ally to the Hero would be Ah-nyan, and the ally to the Demon Lord would have been Ra-chin. Does that mean Su-chan was the dragon the Hero convinced to aid them? Su-chan gave Ellis a sharp look, as if the very question itself was insulting. No it doesnt Ellis. I sided with neither the Hero or the Demon Lord. That means it was either this eastern dragon or the horror dragon that showed up in Ferdinands story. Thank you very much Ares. Sure. The rumors about Warrens guardian dragon had all ready reached here, but I never thought them to be true though. Ares, Izerina, and Alphonse all shared a look before turning back to the girls. We will stay in town overnight at an inn and make for the city of pottery in the early morning. If youd like, we could show you what these dragons really look like then. Well if thats the case, then you should just stay overnight here at the school. Wed be overjoyed to have you, and we know a few places that would be deserted in the early morning. We might just take you up on that offer. And so Ellis and everyone else spent the rest of the night at Claires parents home. Telling them all about everything else that had happened since they last saw them. Everyone greeted the early morning inside the university, and after a breakfast together, they all headed to an open space behind the universitys main building. I am the contract dragon for Ellis, Land Dragon Ra-chin. A large dragon covered in golden scales stood large and proud. I am the contract dragon for Reeve, Storm Dragon Su-chan. A bluish green dragon stood on top of the first one, wings spread out like a large umbrella. I am the contract dragon for Katie, Frost Dragon Ah-nyan. What appeared here was a snake-like dragon covered in white fur, coiled around the first dragons legs. Ares, Izerina, and Alphonse were stunned at the majestic sight of three massive dragons standing before them like this. The girls in the meanwhile were wondering why the three of them felt the need to pose like this, and why they thought having Ah-nyan lay on the ground like an ornamental carpet was the best idea. After the demonstration, Ra-chin and Ah-nyan returned to their original sizes as Ellis, Frau, Claire, Katie, and Pi-tan climbed up on Su-chans back and Reeve took her position up near his head. Farewell Mother, Father, and Alphonse too. Im off. Claire waved goodbye just as Su-chan kicked himself off the ground and started rising into the sky. No reply was ever given back to her as all three of the adults jaws remained dropped long after the girls could no longer be seen on the horizon. 1. This is meant to be a double joke. is croaking like a frog and I is vomiting so they look similar, and the pronunciation for throwing up in the capitol is otou de otou de, so there is a sound joke there as well. It is a terrible pun in both content and the fact that it is a pun. 2. Im pretty sure the joke here is just that Su-chan is a wind dragon. 3. The Japanese sfx for loosening a tie or in this case, clothes falling to the ground. CH 110 Hey Gray, are you really sure theres a dragon here? Dams was rudely running his mouth off to the Hero. That guys expected Dragon Maiden must not be me, Peach was scowling, taking a privileged position and insulting the as-yet-to-have-been-met dragon. Hey hey, hurry up and come on out dragon, Cliff smelled gold in the air so he was unusually animated. The Brave Party had successfully arrived at Pottery City Ceramics. Ceramics is a three day carriage ride to the east from Wisdom. While the more western cities have a culture predominately centered on ore and blacksmithing, Ceramics was famous for its work with soil and artistic pottery creations. The Brave Party had received an imperial command from the Skycastle royal family to hunt down and annihilate the Demon Lord. But after a certain incident, the Kings aides gave them a second objective to investigate. It was the direct result of the kingdom discovering that not only were dragons capable of cognitive thought, they could be bound to an area through a Dragon Maiden. In other words, it was because Warren had somehow managed to gain the protection of the Land Dragon. The information gained by the Hero Gray about guardian dragons and Dragon Maidens was as follows: And then it was here that Gise brought back some additional information. Apparently, Dragons are weak to Milfs. It was from this that Peachs earlier pouting came from. Well for now, lets talk to the lord of Ceramics and visit the Adventurers Guild. Gise made a suggestion for the partys next move to Gray while the other three continued to make a fuss behind them. As for Elliss party. Frau had made a suggestion about their camouflaging. The truth was that it was impossible for all eight of them to act as adventurers. An eight person party was too large for a labyrinth exploration team, but it was also to small to act as a mercenary group. So three of them would act as merchants looking to buy pottery while the other five would be their guards. They would have to enter the city through the proper channels and wait in line at the entrance, but it would likewise minimize their presence becoming known to the Brave Party who was all ready inside the city. Ellis decided it would be best to head towards the Merchant Guild first. Their excuse for being in town was to purchase goods for resale after all. When they arrived, an elderly craftsman nervously met them at the door. Well well, are you buying for Warren? Yes, Lorenburg tea has recently been making a comeback you know. Hoh, the Merchant Guild Master murmured his amazement under his breath while eyeing Ellis up and down. For a little girl to so quickly notice the shift in the market and be making a move to capitalize off that change was something to be admired. Just kidding. Big sister Frau, lets come back again later please. Ellis turned the conversation to Frau who was standing silently behind her. And so the guild master started to think. This blonde-haired girl had an associates membership to the council, so she was probably the young daughter to a high noble. Then this crimson haired girl is probably the real merchant in charge of watching over her and handing out advise. And so, the Merchant Guild was successfully deceived. Next was the Thieves Guild. Katie showed her certification proving she was a member of Warrens Thieves Guild to the receptionist and told her she was here for work unrelated to the guild. This was a customary procedure done between guilds so that if a member were to get in trouble in a foreign city, they could expect a certain level of aid so long as it didnt directly threaten the town. Yes, I have finished this procedure. Please take this certificate certifying you. Katie took the document from the receptionist and stuffed it away in her bag. With this, the girls were successfully hiding in plain sight. The Thieves Guild wouldnt investigate one of their own without reason, and any questions about dragons would easily be written off as the colorful curiosities of a noble girl. The matter of the guardian dragon of Warren had barely spread in Wisdom, and those who heard it largely disregarded them as false. Ceramics was even farther away than that, so Elliss group were safe to freely walk the streets of Ceramics. We have eight people and request two rooms. The first room should be as nice as you have. The second doesnt matter, but for escort reasons, we would like them to be adjacent. Ra-chin put in a request for rooms at the nicest hotel in town using the exact words Ellis had made him memorize. Frau was standing right next to him carrying her wallet. To anyone watching, the two of them looked like an extraordinarily handsome blonde-haired heavy fighter escorting a crimson aide. The front desk clerk gave them the keys to the finest suite in the hotel with no questions and would later spread all the right information to their coworkers. All right. For now we will collect what information we can while pretending to sight-see. The four girls each nodded in turn to Elliss words. The dragons in the meanwhile had all ready changed back to their miniature forms and taken their usual places at their masters sides. Ellis, lets go have some dinner. Thats right, I smelled something really good when we were walking down the street earlier. Now that Ellis thought about it, it had been a while since all five of them had gone out together and just relaxed. Maybe there was no need to pretend to sight-see while they were there. Ra-chin, everyone else, can I count on you all to hold down the fort? The dragons themselves didnt need food, so when asked Elliss question, all three of the dragons and one Metal Eater all shook their tails in response. All right then. Where should we have dinner? Reeve and Katie had to change into their casual clothes first, but it wasnt long before the girls were off exploring the city of Ceramics. Each of the girls enjoyed window shopping the many pottery shops lining the streets, but Reeve and Frau were particularly interested. At one point, the two of them stopped and entered an especially fine looking shop. When Ellis looked in as well, she noticed there were mostly tea cups and trays lined up. Reeve and Frau entered the store and thoroughly investigated each piece of earthenwareCtaking them in hand, inspecting their craftsmanship and design, before sighing while putting them back down. If I could bring Aiful and Credia here, this stop would have to restock this whole shelf. The teaware being sold in the attached teahouse is also wonderful. The cups feel soft and cool to the touch when you bring it up to your lips, and it doesnt affect the taste of the tea at all. Plus its fleeting beauty adds on to the visual aspect of the tea, meaning each of your five senses is being appealed to while you relax. Frau and Reeve continued on like this, wrapped up in their own little world as they continued to rave about tea and tea accessories. Ellis didnt understand half of what they were saying, but that didnt stop her from asking the obvious question of, Then why dont you sell them at the teahouse? Its almost impossible for any of these pottery items to be sold in Warren. Ellis once again didnt understand, so she repeated, Why, which made Reeve look a little depressed. Its simple really. The pottery cant endure the shock of the trip, Reeve replied. Unless someone carries them there on foot with the utmost care or is using an Adventurers Bag to transport them, they would crack or shatter completely by the time they get there, Frau continued. Hmm? Ellis wanted to say something, but Reeve and Frau had realized it themselves as the words left their mouths. All five of the girls had Bags of Gluttony, which was an upgraded version of Adventurers Bags. Forget a small shipment, they could take an entire stores goods with them if they wanted to. What did Frau call these when she first saw them? Merchant killers? For the first time, the girls were able to confirm just how fearsome their Bags of Gluttony really were. For now though, they would just buy some souvenir cups to bring home with them. Next came a promising looking restaurant that was down the street. Each of the girls decided to choose something off the menu they had never had before with the exception of Ellis who was able to recognize all of the dishes off the menu as something from Eijis world. Reeve received a pot filled with meat and vegetables boiled in bean sauce. Raw egg was placed in an accompanying bowl next to it. Frau ordered some shrimp and tuna fried in a bed of wheat alongside some fried vegetables as well. An additional dish with bean soup seasoned with salt and other spices was provided separately. Claire got some finely chopped vegetables and mushrooms added to a cut of chicken that was grilled with a glossy sauce similar to what Frau had made previously. Katie had immediately chosen fish off the menu, and what she was given was a tray of fish fillet and rice, beautifully rolled together with some type of sliced pickled vegetable placed on top. Ellis meal looked the simplest among them with not boiled, but cooked rice with shriveled vegetables. There was an accompanying bowl of bean soup as well. Lets eat. Everyone started digging in, but before anyone could take even their first bite, Ellis was on the move. Reeve, give me a bit! Frau, Im taking one! Claire, give me a bite! Katie, Im grabbing that crispy looking one! Ellis stole from everyone, taking a sample from their Sukiyaki, Tempura, Teriyaki, and Ball sushi with ginger garnishment a bit at a time. A small smile came to Fraus face as she saw Ellis digging away at it all. Then Ellis, Ill swipe a piece of yours too. What Frau took off from Elliss plate was one of her pickles. As the others did the same, everyone remembered back to the tsukemonos they had been served back when they first traveled with the Muscle Brothers to Marsfield. They probably picked up the recipe from here. Be that as it may, Ceramic was proving to be its own delicious city. The matter of the dragon which was located somewhere around town disappeared from everyones minds as they continued to pass, share, and steal food from each other. Well, it cant be helped. In this way, the five girls were able to enjoy their first night in Ceramics, returning to their inn with filled stomachs and mirth in their hearts. CH 111 It happened suddenly, in the early morning just as everyone was waking up. A large shadow was cast over Pottery City Ceramics as something flew overhead. Whatever it was seemed to be observing the city, and after seeming to confirm something, it turned back around like it was satisfied and returned eastward. Two people, the Hero Gray and thief Gise both rushed out of their rooms when they heard sounds of screaming coming from the streets. Whats wrong? The woman they came tos lip was quivering as she dumbly pointed towards the sky through the window. It had already traveled a great distance, but the outline of a large bird could still be seen flying away. Did you see what that thing was? Gise tightly gripped the womans shoulders, trying to shock the woman back to her senses. The woman was frozen, but she was eventually able to choke out an unbelievable answer. A huge bird made of crimson fire. So its a bird, not a dragon? The woman silently nodded her head to Gises repeated questions. For now, lets investigate. This bird flew east, so were going east as well. Gise nodded, and the two men hurried down the hall together. This was the home of Pottery City Ceramicss lord. He had welcomed the Brave Party into his city as honored guests. And now that very party was in his home trying to collect information on the large bird that had flown past earlier. Birds are unrelated to us. Dams was jumping to a conclusion. I dont want to agree to some weird contract without the proper compensation. Peach was imagining a life of being pampered in the royal castle after becoming a Dragon Maiden. The birds already flown away. Lets look for a dragon. And Cliff greedily advocated for ignoring the bird, completely ignorant to the gravity of the situation. Gray and Gises spirits fell when they saw their three party members like this, but then with excellent timing, the lord entered the room. Brave Hero, that bird is in fact the legendary dragon rumored to live near this city! Its crimson hue leaves no doubt in my mind! The party received the confirmation they needed, and so Gray turned on the three idiots. I cant say whether that creature is really a bird or a dragon, but it is definitely what we came here for. We will head for the direction that bird flew away towards! Then shall I inform the people that the Brave Party will be investigating the large bird believed to be a dragon spoken of in legend? Yes, I dont mind. And so as the Brave Party began making preparations to head off, a large signboard was erected in the city circle, announcing to the townspeople how they should be relieved as the Hero would be investigating the mornings incident. Meanwhile at Elliss inn. Thats a dragon Ellis. The Land Dragon Ra-chin informed Ellis about the presence he had felt coming from that large bird which suddenly appeared in the morning. Shortly after his report, the news about the signboard in the center of the city made its way back to her as well. And so Ellis had to make a decision. Should she try to find the dragon before the Hero, or would it be better to just follow them? If its just the Brave Party, then there is no way for them to make a contract with it even if that bird is a dragon. But there is a danger of the Hero killing the dragon. Frau and Claire both chimed in their own opinions on the matter. Lets take a look around before we make a decision. Ellis decided to head to town for breakfast and see if she could gather up even a little more information. Ellis, theres a crowd of people over there. After enjoying a wonderful omelet, Reeve pointed out a large group of people gathered a ways away. When the girls got closer, they saw what was probably the signboard and a man who looked like a soldier speaking. We are currently organizing a garrison to defend the city in case that large bird from this morning attacks. The Braves will be protecting our city today, and the garrison will be in charge of defense starting tomorrow. While our troops are defending our city, the Hero will venture forth and take care of this beast once and for all. Everyone, rest assured. Lucky. Ellis gathered everyone together and started explaining the strategy. First off they would spend all day today looking for the dragon east of town until the sun begins to set. If they were to find him, then everything would end like that. But if they couldnt, they would immediately head back to the inn, and Ellis would break into the lords mansion. She would find out everything she could about the Braves plans. If it looked like they were bringing an adequate Dragon Maiden candidate with them, then the girls would resume searching for the dragon even if it meant running the risk of running into the Braves. If there wasnt a good candidate, then they could follow the Braves safely from a distance. Everyone nodded their heads in understanding. Then lets go explore! After everyone had made their way out of the city on a horse-drawn carriage, they moved to a space where people couldnt spy on them. From there they searched the surrounding area on Storm Dragon Su-chans back while Land Dragon Ra-chin tried to sense the dragons presence. Weve got nothing. It cant be helped. The girls continued to search until evening, but they had nothing to show for it. Eventually it came time to return to the city. Well then Im off. Ellis changed into her Abyssal leather uniform and would be using the Intelligenceheadband and earring to keep in contact with Reeve like usual. Ellis, will you really be all right alone? Ill be okay. This is my main job after all Ra-chin. Ellis patted Ra-chins worrying head as she left through their rooms window and faded into the darkness. Reeve, can you hear me? Ah Ellis, everythings loud and clear. Ellis had successfully infiltrated the lords castle. Reeve was waiting outside in the shadows to provide back-up in case anything happened. Thanks to her equipment, Ellis was able to move from one shadow to the next , moving down each hallway while listening in for any information. It wasnt long before she was clued in to a loud voice in the distance. She immediately made her way up to the attic and looked down through a crack in the ceiling into what appeared to be a room meant for hosting guests. Currently inside was the lord, his garrison captains, and the five party members of the Brave Party all sitting down and having dinner while discussing what would transpire the next day. First off well ride our horses towards the east. If we can find any new sightings, well follow them. If not, well keep heading east. Grays was a simple strategy. So simple, its almost like he has no plan at all Also, if the target really is a dragon, we will try to form a contract with it. If it succeeds, we will immediately bring the dragon to the capitol. If we cant form a contract or its not actually a dragon, well kill it. Is this okay? Everyone wanted to point out the large holes in his strategy, but since nobody else had any better ideas, they had no choice but to nod. Gise thought heading blindly east was foolish, but he couldnt discount them getting lucky which was why he decided to leave it alone for a day. Only the three idiots had zero problems with the plan as is. Thus the dinner party ended with almost everyone feeling uneasy for the next days affairs. The Brave Party all began to make their way to the guest room together with Ellis following above them. As soon as they had closed the door, Peach walked up to Gray. If I do establish a contract with the dragon, Ill have to stay in the capitol right? And Gray politely answered back. If Peach does become a Dragon Maiden, the king wont stay silent. We will have to dissolve the party as Peach will undoubtedly be appointed as a royal soldier. Dams and Peach shared a look. They were both weighing their options on a scaleCthe five billion ril penalty fee for dissolving the party on one end and being a royal Dragon Maiden on the other. The royal Dragon Maiden was the clear victory. Well, Ill be said if that happens, but I promise that even with the party dissolved, I will support Gray from the royal palace. Peach had already formulated her plans of becoming a Dragon Maiden, and Dams was clearly set on accompanying her as a guard or some such. Cliff was clearly set on attaching himself as well as the large grin spread across his face showed he wasnt even trying to pretend to be sad about the party breaking up. Of course everyone felt that way inside, so nobody chided him for it. Ellis however was the happiest among the people there. Since she knew the truth, she had to immediately leave the castle then and there. Otherwise she would have definitely alerted them to her presence after how loudly she started laughing. Everyone met with Ellis as soon as she had gotten back to the inn, and they all started laughing just as loudly as Ellis had when they heard her story. There was no way Peach was qualified to be a Dragon Maiden. Just in case, all three of the Dragon Maidens they had there asked their own dragons about the contract. Hey Ra-chin, can a non-virgin form a contract with a dragon? Its impossible Ellis. Su-chan, what if a non-virgin were to name the dragon and try to force a kiss on it? Then they dragon will spew ectoplasm out its nose. Just thinking about it makes me shiver Reeve. Ah-nyan, can you force a contract through by forcibly kissing a dragon nya? Very rarely can a person force a contract on a dragon without their consent, but they do still have to have the qualifications. Isnt Katie a good example of that? Ah-nyans joke gave everyone another good chuckle as the final plans for tomorrow were finalized. They would follow the Braves until they discovered the dragon. They would come to a decision on what to do next as the situation changes. Well get up early tomorrow and tail the Hero. Elliss strategy was as follows. First, theyll have a miniature Su-chan mark the Hero so he wont lose track of him when flying at a high altitude. Reeve will use {Share Sight} with Su-chan so that she can keep an accurate watch on the Braves and direct where the party needs to go to follow them. Elliss party and the Brave Party were both going to move as such. And in almost no time at all, the Hero found his giant bird. CH 112 This golden haired angel, even if she looks like this, her insides are that of a despicable hikineet. With those cute emerald eyes of hers she treats the Blue Beauty like her own personal toy. With a laugh from her button nose, she treats the Crimson Beauty like a dirty pig. With thin modest lips, she makes the Jet Black Lady laugh and giggle until she becomes too tired to keep her eyes open. With her doll-like fingers, she continues to pet and rub the Pure White Catgirls chin and stomach until she collapses. With golden hair like yarn she plays a special part in bath management. She is able to run a rental and real estate business with a delicate body that looks like it could break even now. With a pure and innocent atmosphere, she has recently started traveling around the continent, picking up dragons to work for her. This is the thief girl Ellis. She is doing everything she can to screw with the Hero and Demon Lord. CH 113 A few hours after departing from Pottery City Ceramics, Gise stood up from his horses saddle and saw a large black dot on the eastern horizon right before they were about to take a break for lunch. Something is coming this way! Following Gises warning, the Braves reigned in their horses and hid in the shade of some nearby rocks. Gray, over there! Gise pointed to where he had seen the black dot earlier, only now that black dot had become larger, taking the shape of a bird as it got closer. And it was coming close at a rapid rate. Dams, Peach, Cliff, hide with the horses! Gise, take a position over near those rocks and observe the situation. Worst case scenario we will intercept it! Everyone moved per Grays orders. Dams and the other two idiots stayed where they were, watching the horses and not getting in the way while Gise moved ahead acting as Grays eyes and ears. The shadow continued to get larger as time passed, and soon the once black dot became a magnificent crimson bird. The Hero and thief both narrowed their eyes and became even more on-edge after confirming their targets presence. As the crimson bird got close, it began to slow itself until finally landing right in front of where the Braves were hiding. Upon closer inspection, the creature did resemble a combination of a dragon and a bird. Its head was clearly that of a dragon, but the body was that of a plump bird. The same could be said for its wings, but it did look like there were claws at the wings tips. The legs were exactly like a birds, and its whole body was dyed in crimson. The Hero and thief observed it while still remaining in the cover of the rocks. The Hero stood in front of the thief, christening himself as a human shield while the thief used all his senses to distinguish the creatures characteristics in case a fight breaks out. Then suddenly, a voice spoke directly into each of their consciousnesses. Hey you over there, are you the Hero? Sorry if Im mistaken. Gray and Gise shared a look, trying to communicate on what they should do next without saying anything, but before they could come to a consensus, Dams started shouting loudly. Ah, we are the party that follows the Hero! That idiot! Gray and Gise broke their silence at the same time, but they were at least able to regain their senses in time to not jump out and resumed their wait and see approach. But then the voice began talking directly into their consciousness again. Ah yeah I thought that was the case. You guys hiding over by the rocks, Im not a monster here to attack you. I have only one reason for coming out to you like this. I am not under the influence of the Demon Lord, so I would like to ask you to leave me alone. The crimson birds words disquieted the party, and Gray finally came out of his hiding place to stand before it. Are you perhaps a dragon? Yes is there something wrong with that? Why would you say what you said? The Demon Lord has already started to move, but I dont want to cooperate with him. You neither to be honest. Id like to remain neutral. Gray was taken aback even more by the dragons opinion. But when his mind started to race and he began wondering what he was supposed to do, Gise came up to his side and whispered the Kings command into his ear. Im sorry, but we cant do that. More than that! Please form a contract with us and become a Guardian Dragon! Whats a Guardian Dragon? This time it was the crimson dragons turn to be surprised. How did these humans know about the existence of Dragon Maidens? Where did you hear this story on Dragon Maidens Hero? In a city to the west called Warren, the Land Dragon has already formed a contract and become the Guardian Dragon of there. This surprised the crimson dragon even more. A qualified person capable of forming a contract with a dragon was rare in this day and age. And to think they had made a contract with the Land Dragon, someone famous among even dragons for being extremely hard-headed. If what you speak is true, then bring forward a qualified person to me Hero. At the crimson dragons words Peach stepped out from behind the rocks and came forward. Crimson dragon. I will sign up with you. The dragon only had to take a glance at Peach before snorting and turning his head back on Gray. Hmph. Youre lying Hero. In what world is this decayed woman qualified? Being insulted like she wasnt even there, Peachs face turned red, but the dragons attention was focused squarely on the Hero as he began to speak once again. I will not attack you, nor will I oppose the Demon Lord. That should be fine. Well then you better become a Guardian Dragon! Dams started bellowing from his position behind the rock before yelling, Gray, hold him down for now! Ever since his time as a farmer, Gray had a habit of impulsively following orders without thinking. So the instant that Dams tried to take charge and started yelling orders, Gray grabbed hold of the dragons foot with both his arms to prevent it from flying away. Please wait! At least try to perform the ritual! What are you, stupid? I cant form a contract with her, so let me go! The dragon had become truly disgusted with the people in front of him and tried his hardest to leave that place. But Gray was holding him down to the ground with all his strength, easily regaining every inch of progress the dragon made towards freedom. Please wait! However after one successful yank from Gray, he was able to completely counter the dragons attempt at flight, and the crimson dragon was swung like a bat into the hard ground. The dragons mind was a mixture of pain and confusion, unaware of what had just happened. But then he saw Peach in front of him. She declared to the dragon and for the whole world to hear. Your name from now on is Gorgeous Peachs Dragon, and then a kiss sealed the contract. Stop it! Please dont! Ignoring the crimson dragons screams, Peach kissed the dragons nose without any hesitation. *Bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeegh..* A stream of ectoplasm started spewing from the dragons mouth before his eyes turned to the back of his head, and he fainted. . Peach, did the presence of the dragon carve itself into your mind? No, nothings changed. Peach bitterly replied to Gises question. Even if you had no idea what the contract was supposed to be for you would know that it had just failed. . Perhaps your information that dragons prefer mature women was possibly incorrect? Gray brought up the possibility to Gise, but before he had even said anything, Gise had already realized that the only evidence he had to go by for that statement was his impression that the Land Dragon saw Aiful favorably. And even that impression was probably not reliable considering his own feelings. A young woman?1 Anyway, while the dragons still stunned lets head back to Ceramics. We can grab a girl from town and have her perform the contract! Gise was becoming depressed as he realized his blunder, but Cliff had little interest in that. He just didnt want to let this gold-making opportunity go. Yes, lets restrain the dragon here so he cant get away. Well grab a girl from Ceramics, but we should also consult the lord first before we come back. Grabbing some magical rope that they kept in their bags, the Braves got to work tying the dragon down to the ground making it impossible for him to move. Gray and Gise prepared to head back, and anticipating the fact that they might require additional materials depending on how the situation progressed, Cliff came as well to talk with the Merchant Guild. Dams and Peach decided to stay behind and do guard duty. All right. Securing the dragon will be our top priority for now. Leaving behind an unsatisfied Peach and bored Dams, Gray returned to the city on horseback. Elliss group was informed about the dragons discovery after Su-chan spotted him, but seeing that it was on its way to meet with the Braves, he continued to keep his distance and watched their exchange instead of intercepting. Although it was impossible for them to hear what they were saying, when the crimson dragon started spewing ectoplasm from his mouth, all three of the dragons immediately started giving him their sympathy without fail. Thats too bad. It comes out my nose for me. I honestly just wanted to die the last time it happened to me. The dragon looked like it had passed out, and soon after, the Hero, the thief, and one other person turned around and headed back to the city. The only two people left were the big oaf and the self-proclaimed diva. Hey Ellis, if its just those two, you and I could manage to put them to sleep. Alright Claire. Lets take care of those two and then negotiate with the dragon. Ellis let Claire take the lead in sneaking up on their two targets. Ellis took care of using Sleep on Dams while Claire used it on Peach. They collapsed in a heap right on the spot. Ellison did the dirty work of dragging them behind some nearby rocks. They sure did some terrible things to you. While stroking the fainted dragons head, Frau scowled while looking at the magical ropes that tied him down. Now, how do we wake you up. Just leave it to me! Cassius took a step forward here. As he walked up along the crimson dragons throat, he began plucking a few feathers here and there. About halfway up its neck, Cassius found what he was looking for and gave the poor bird a few pats. Urya! Ultimate Uppercut! Hya! The crimson dragon woke up with an ear-shattering scream. That was how Ellis and the others were able to meet the Phoenix Dragon. Ellis took a stance before the dragons eyes who was still currently unable to move. Hey, what were you talking about with the Hero earlier? And why do your eyes look so terrible? The gentleness of the girl in front of him allowed the crimson dragon to calm himself. The feelings of fear and helplessness he had been driven in to were slowly melting away, and so he told her everything that had happened with the Hero. And so Ellis asked Are you going to be seeking revenge on the Hero who did that to you? The Phoenix Dragon didnt have an answer to this. Then are you going to join the Demon Lords faction and plan on taking over this continent? The Phoenix Dragon didnt have an answer to this either. Then how about teaming up with us and harassing both the Hero and the Demon Lord? The Phoenix Dragon didnt have an answer to this either, but for very different reasons. He never thought hed receive an alternative offer. Then in front of the dragon, two new women and three men stepped forward. Men? There was something off about these men. A fact that became even more apparent when they started to glow. Look! Behold my lovely style! This is my cute style! My pretty style is supreme! In front of the Phoenix Dragon, each of the dragons shed their human forms with a victorious cry. Unfortunately they made the mistake of taking their mini forms, so their big reveal wasnt as dramatic as it might have been. They eventually did retake their normal dragon forms, but Ellis was starting to think she should have a talk with these guys. On behalf of the dragons though, Ra-chin took a step forward and pressed the invitation. How about it Phoenix Dragon? Wont you come play with us? I dont have a Dragon Maiden. Cant I help with that? It was Frau who stepped in front of the Phoenix Dragon this time. The Phoenix Dragon locked his eyes on her. He smelled her to find out if she was indeed worthy, but even more importantly, he thought that he recognized that smell. And then he remembered. This was the woman who had helped free him. If you form a contract with me, you will never be able to love a man. Are you okay with that? I dont care. The Phoenix Dragon stared into the Crimson Beautys eyes. And then, he closed them. Name, and then give me a kiss.. Your name will be Fe-rin And then Frau placed a kiss on the Phoenix Dragon. There was a flash of light, and like that, Fe-rins presence became ingrained in Fraus consciousness. Weve made a contract, so lets completely free you from this! Ellis taught Frau how to properly use {Permission Size Change} to alter the size of Fe-rins body. With that, he was able to work his way out from under the magic ropes and freed himself from their spell. Fe-rin then worked his way up Fraus should, hiding himself underneath her hair. All right, then lets return to the Magical City right away! In accordance with Elliss instructions, each party member began making their preparations, and after half a days rest, they all got ready to leave. A few minutes later, Gray and the other two returned to that spot finding Dams and Peach peacefully slumbering in the dirt. 1. Just for a small Japanese lesson, the word they keep using to describe the warrior woman is an otome which means maiden or virgin, but it can also just mean a young girl or even just a general woman. So even though Im translating it as a Dragon Maiden that doesnt mean it is clear that the person forming the contract has to be a maiden. CH 114 This was the vast spread of wilderness that laid between Wisdom and Ceramics. It was here that Elliss party decided to make a stop in order to confirm the Phoenix Dragon Fe-rins status. The Storm Dragon Su-chan found a good clearing where a lot of damage could be done with little effect and slowly descended to the ground. Ellis and all of the others slid off his back before Reeve jumped to the ground and Su-chan took his mini size. Frau, how is the Phoenix Dragon doing? Ellis asked about the dragon who had yet to come out since hiding himself in Fraus hair. Frau had thought it was best to leave him alone for a bit to get comfortable, so she had left him on his own until now. How about it, have you calmed down some Phoenix Dragon? Fe-rin is fine Frau. I thought I was done for, but Ive been saved. The other dragons all sympathized. Usually, when a young girl ran into a dragon, they would shrink back in terror if not just run away screaming. They could hardly imagine coexisting with that dragon. To accomplish that, they would need a strong will that wishes to stand by those dragons and a strong spirit to not fear them. That was why it is rare for someone to actually qualify to become a Dragon Maiden. By allowing themselves to be named, the Dragons leave their spirits unprotected, giving themselves over fully to their contract partner. This spiritual connection is formed through the pure maidens kiss which serves as a physical connection allowing the twos spirits to connect. In other words, a woman holding a dragon down and trying to forcibly form a connection was something that didnt happen too often. The Frost Dragon was honestly feeling relieved right now. Katie had given him the name Ah-nyan and was a qualified person. She was also a pure maiden which meant that him being forcibly contracted worked out. The Phoenix Dragon wasnt so fortunate. Peach was obviously not a qualified person, and even if she was, that would have meant spending a good portion of time being addressed as Gorgeous Peachs Dragon. He was screwed either way. Thus when Peach gave him a kiss and tried connecting their two souls together, his whole body rejected her, resulting in him vomiting ectoplasm all over the place. The Phoenix Dragon was finally able to calm himself down and popped out of Fraus hair. He really did look more like a bird rather than a dragon. The only things that really stood out were the fact that he had a mouth with a fang peeking out rather than a beak and some claws at the end of his wing. Otherwise he was from head-to-toe covered in bright crimson feathers rather than scales. I am the Phoenix Dragon, Fe-rin. Though I have now formed a contract with Frau making her my Dragon Maiden, my immediate goal is to get back at that Hero. Fe-rin took the time to introduce himself. Afterwards, each person took the time to introduce themselves to him as well. And so Ellis finally asked Fe-rin about his abilities. Fe-rin, can you use you Ultimate Release? Just Fe-rin will be fine.1 Well, mine is probably a bit different than the others, but do you still want to see? Saying so, Fe-rin returned to his original size and asked Frau to get on his back. Alright Frau, first we need to use {Share Sight}. Frau did as she was told and used {Share Sight}, and after confirming that the twos sight had melded, Fe-rin took to the sky. Next up is {Route Fix}. Can you imagine where it is you want to fly? After using the next part of the spell, a small blue ball appeared right in front of where Fe-rin was flying. In her mind, she started drawing a line through the sky with that ball acting as the starting point. Well then, lets go, {Summon Fire Bird}! Frau and the Phoenix Dragon were wrapped up in a circus of flames, and barreled through the sky like a lit rocket. It was a sight to behold, and Ellis and the other girls were all taken in by the beauty and elegance of the dancing flames. After a while the flames did disperse, spreading out into the air and flickering out. Frau and the Phoenix Dragon then slowly floated down retaking their original places on the ground. Frau had grasped the full effects of {Summon Fire Bird} after using it once and started explaining its abilities after rejoining the group. Those flames that Fe-rin wraps around himself are special. They can do damage enemies, heal allies, and have no effect on the surroundings which means no worry of a fire spreading afterwards. Fe-rin continued the explanation after her. Its not a single strike death-blow like the Land Dragons, but I believe it to be an interesting technique. The only drawback is that I have to have Frau on my back to do it, but other than that it shouldnt cause any problems for our allies. Its an ability that the party would rarely ever need, but it would be highly effective if the opponent were to try and get close to exchange blows. And whenever it was needed, the type of attack which can hurt enemies while saving allies is invaluable. And the bigger the battle, the more precious the attack becomes. Well then, Im going to rest for a little longer in my charming size. With his ability explored, Fe-rin retook his mini size and once again started hiding in Fraus hairChis new favorite spot. Alright then. What should we do now? Ellis turned to the group and started talking about the future schedule. With this, high-speed flight should be possible for everyone besides Claire. Reeve didnt mean any harm, but Claire started looking really lonely by herself. Then from inside Fraus hair, Fe-rin started whispering in Fraus ear. Fraus face lit right up after hearing what he had to say. Fe-rin cant fly as fast as Su-chan, but he should be able to fly with two additional people on his back while also providing a barrier for any non-Dragon Maidens. So Su-chan was the speed type while Fe-rin was more of a general purpose? Then Su-chan can fly while carrying Reeve and Katie while Fe-rin carries me, Frau, and Claire. Does that sound okay? Both of the flying dragons nodded their heads here speaking up. Its no problem Ellis. And besides, if Im only carrying two people, I can fly even faster than before. I am also fine with it. Ellis, Frau, please just give me some directions so I know where were going. Su-chan and Fe-rin both took on their normal sizes and got ready for flight. Ra-chin and Ah-nyan meanwhile took their usual spots on Ellis and Katie respectively in their mini forms. Pi-tan was Claires responsibility. Then lets keep flying forward until Claire cant handle it anymore! Su-chan and Fe-rin began flapping their wings, and while Claire was feeling a little uneasy about the groups departing cry, the figures of two dragons darkened the sky as they flew west. Whats the meaning of this? Gise started interrogating Dams and Peach after kicking them awake, wanting to know how the worst had happened. Right now even these two knew that this result was terrible, so they remained silent. This was the wasteland east of Pottery City Ceramics. A few minutes ago, this was also the place where Gray had used magical rope to restrain an enormous crimson dragon. The magic rope was still there, but for some reason it the load it was holding down had significantly decreased in volume. No, when we noticed the dragon was already gone. Dams gave the only answer he could to the three party members who had returned. When we noticed, we realized we were sleeping in a pile right here. Dams excuses were just making Gise want to kick him some more. That sort of thing, where has the dragon gone! Gray was getting impatient. A Dragon Maiden candidate is absolutely necessary! Giving that excuse, he had insisted that the lords young daughter come with him. The lord had no idea what Gray was talking about, but the lord eventually allowed his daughter to go so long as he came with as well. Please explain this to me. Not knowing what the dragons escape truly meant, the lord started pressing the Hero for a proper explanation. So Gray started telling him everything they knew about dragons and Dragon Maidens. The lords daughter was quite surprised to find out that the rumored bird was in fact a dragon, and she was even more stunned to hear that the Hero had managed to capture it. But then came the part of the explanation where the relationship between the dragon and its Dragon Maiden were explained. the descriptions for the overwhelming ability the dragon could display after a contract was formed left the both of them blue. And then the conditions for becoming a Dragon Maiden were discussed, and after finding out the curse that would be placed on a person after they became a Dragon Maiden, both of their faces turned a startling red. The lord was trembling in silent rage as he finally started to address Gray. Hero, did you honestly just try to constrain my daughter to a life where she would never be allowed to find love? Do I have to dedicate myself to a dragon? The young girl was herself trembling in fear. Tears had started to form as thoughts about a cursed life started bubbling in her mind. The absentminded hero, Gray. He knew about the curse placed on a Dragon Maiden, but he had never thought of it as a problem. The members of the Jewelry Box always looked okay with it, but in reality, people who would hear those conditions and say, Okay, were few and far between in this world. Reactions similar to the lords were far more reasonable. Honestly, the fact that Gray hadnt been punched was its own miracle. Gray started grumbling to himself, so Gise took a step forward to try and ease tensions. Youre wrong Milord. We never meant any harm. We were just trying to follow the royal decree If so then you should have started your search by finding a Dragon Maiden candidate in the beginning! Whacking Gises words to the side, the lord started berating the group, digging in insults and points that none of them could argue against until finally, Nothing can be gained if we tell the capitol what happened here today. The official report will be that you people saw the dragon over Ceramics, but it flew away. End of story. The Braves bowed their heads. Gray and Gise noticed Peach clicking her tongue behind Dams, but they remained silent. This was after all their fault for blindly assuming that Peach could sign a contract. No, hoping that she could, so shed be out of their hair. Yes. We will return to the capitol immediately. We will take your advice to heart and advise the kind to search for a Dragon Maiden candidate first and foremost. And just like that, the Braves used {Leap City} to return to Skycastle with a heavy step. 1. Ellis called him with a formal -sama in the previous line. CH 115 Claire, are you all right? Im okay Frau! As soon as it starts to get too hard, speak up Claire. Un! Thank you Ellis. This was the back of the Phoenix Dragon. The girls were currently flying from the eastern city of Ceramics heading directly back to Warren. Ordinary people cant handle the heavy pressure and high-speed winds that come from flying this high and this fast. The Fe-rin was slower than Su-chan, and he could also form a barrier, but it was still a massive physical taxation. Yet Claire endured. While hugging Pi-tan close to her chest, she desperately tried to endure so as to not hold everyone else back. And thanks to her struggle, everyone was able to make it back to Warren before the day ended. The effort left her completely winded though, so with Pi-tan worriedly watching over her as she rested inside the mansion, the other four left to file a report at the Thieves Guild and the Adventurers Guild. I wont say anything anymore. This was the Thieves Guild. Guild Master Baltis could do little more than pitiably squeeze out a pitiable voice as he looked down on four miniature dragons in front of him. So this fourth one is contracted to Frau? Thats right Uncle Baltis. Baltis sighed into his hands, massaging his temples. It took him a moment to finally look back up at the girls with a bitter smile. Be sure to tell your father about this. Im not going to be the one to tell him his daughter can never become a bride. I will do just that Uncle. Well then, could you explain this to me again. This was the Adventurers Guild, and currently, Guild Master Theseus, Fraus father, was staring down the girls with a blank look on his face. For the second time now Elliss group had to re-explain the events that had happened for them to get to this point. Frau had become a Dragon Maiden, a contract that meant she had to remain a pure maiden for the rest of her life. This seemed to be the part Theseus was getting stuck on and couldnt quite wrap his head around. So Frau, this, that, what youre saying about the sacrifice thins Father, it means I will never be allowed to marry or form a relationship with a man for my entire life. Doing so would be an affront to the contract I have made with the dragon. Fe-rin then came out from underneath Fraus hair and took a place on her shoulder. Fraus father, I am Fe-rin. The Phoenix Dragon who has formed a contract with Frau. Do I look like I would do something terrible to Frau? Reflexively rising from his seat, Theseus came around from his desk and got in close to his daughter. He stared at the Phoenix Dragon for a long time before finally turning his gaze towards Frau. This cute little bird riding on your shoulder is a dragon? Well, he was originally 10 meters long, but Frau stuttered. Father is quite honest to call me cute, Fe-rin praised. Theseus turned back around and retook his seat behind his desk. Actually, considering that this meant his lovely daughter would never have with any funny insects coming in off the side of the road, and instead formed a contract with a dragon and got to spend her whole life with a lovable mascot character, shouldnt he be overjoyed as a father? Yes, he should be ecstatic that his daughter was going to have a bright future ahead of her. A bright future that repelled any disgusting insects! I understand. Fe-rin, I ask that you take good care of my daughter from now on. Father, quit trying to marry me off. Thus thanks to the thinking of an idiot parent, Theseus gave his full consent to his daughter being a Dragon Maiden. Meanwhile with Claire and Pi-tan. Im gong to clean up a bit, so just wait here Pi-tan. Claire placed Pi-tan down in his bed and started doing some simple cleaning of the house so that Frau only had to worry about making supper when she returned home. Pi-tan watched her go from inside his pail. While they were riding on top of the dragon, Pi-tan recalled the words Claire had kept repeating to him as she tried to protect him from the powerful winds. Its all right, its all right. She had told him that repeatedly even though it was clear how much she had been suffering. Even though Pi-tan looked like this, he was still a monster. A monster that was completely unaffected by physical and magical attacks. So honestly the pressure from the high-speed flight had no effect on him either, yet for some reason he felt like his body was going to be crushed as Claire tightly held on to him. So yes, rather than taking his nap inside his favorite bed, he spent the time watching Claire work. With their business done, the four girls and their four dragons came back from town. Were home Claire, Pi-tan. I think were going to have Claires favorite teriyaki chicken tonight. Frau was the first of them to come in the house. She thanked Claire for helping out with the cleaning while they were gone, naturally patted Pi-tans head, and then proceeded on towards the kitchen. Fe-rin was diligently riding on her shoulder. Reeve was the next of them to come in. Ill start the laundry while Fraus preparing dinner, so everyone put you clothes inside the basket. Claire, go grab your clothes and throw them in too. Su-chan was still stuck to Reeves chest like he was a piece of armor, and after silently patting Pi-tans head, Reeve headed towards the old washroom which had become their laundry room. Understanding Pine Bamboos comic singingyou dont understand how funny they are nya! I think so too Ellis. Pine Bamboo is the best! Lets settle in the bath for the time being. I want my spot nya! Will you have dinner after you finish your bath Ellis? Yes please Frau. Ellis walked on with Ra-chin under her left arm with Katie next to her with Ah-nyan wrapped around her neck. They both patted Pi-tans head as they walked by as a matter of course, and silence returned. After some time had passed, Frau was the first to return from the kitchen. Dinner just needs time to cook now, but is Fe-rin okay with taking a bath? Un, I love to have my feathers washed Frau. Well, then allow me to show you around. Im a little excited. Thus Frau and Fe-rin started on their way to the bath as well. Just like before, Frau patted Pi-tans head as she was walking by like usual. All right, Ill just put them in for today, and muttering to herself like a solitary fool about the several different ways on how you can effectively wash clothes, Reeve also returned from the washroom. Su-chan remained silent like usual. Claire, we should head to the bath soon too. Okay Reeve! To Reeves call, Claire ended her little cleaning project for today and began heading towards the bath. Su-chan had yet to leave Reeves chest, and Claire picked up Pi-tan from his tub to join them as a matter of course. Inside the bathhouse, Frau had prepared a fifth trough and filled it with hot water for Fe-rin to soak in. He ruffled his feathers beforehand and then sank his whole body in one go into the hot water. Frau, this feels so good! Thats nice Fe-rin. Meanwhile, the battle between dragons for the spot Ah-nyan had discovered had already begun, and Katie and Ellis were getting heated in their argument about Pine Bamboos performanceCand it wasnt just because of the hot water in the soaking bath. Yosh, lets all sing together here. Reeve was the first to get out of the bath and started singing everyones favorite Valkyries Rondo. Katie, a temporary truce! And so after a long absence, the five began taking turns singing their favorite songs while taking an imposing stance in the nude. And watching them as they went, four dragons and one monster cheered them on from their bathside buckets. Todays bathtime eventually ended. Todays dinner was Claires favorite just as Frau said. Todays meal was quite peaceful, each girl talking, laughing, and enjoying their meal together before it was time for bed. Would a perch be better for Fe-rin after all? After placing down a matching tub and soft cloth for the newest member of the house, a sudden thought hit Frau that she was ashamed to say had never occurred to her before now. I think itll be okay Frau. Ill try it out a little. With Frau spreading out the soft cloth, Fe-rin hopped up on top and started moving around a bit to get situated. Un. Its great. Thanks Frau. By now five tubs had been lined up inside the living room, and the lights of the room were all erased as the humans headed for bed. And of course, the night activities. How does it feel being a Dragon Maiden Frau? Ellis, I now belong to Ellis for the rest of my life. So cute. So youre a Dragon Maiden from now on? Ellis, Ill always be your pig woman. Ahn.. Um, I wonder if I should jump in here. No, I think youd better stop with that. Ra-chin straightforwardly told Fe-rin to sit back down. As expected of Ellis, shes heading to my Reeve next! Hey Ra-chin, your Dragon Maiden, what is she trying to do? None of the dragons ever originally needed sleep, so tonight too they killed time while having an in-depth meeting. I was certainly surprised. I looked at Reeve first in my cave, but all the others were qualified people too. You saying that, how do you think I felt when all of the sudden I was getting beaten by their dark mithril weapons? What are the two guys who had to team up to hold me down saying? My meeting was probably the most intense. You all appeared in front of me right after I was vomiting ectoplasm. Youre right about that. There is still one more qualified person though. Was there another dragon other than us? I cant think of any, but there are a few records scattered through history. And then there was the bed placed right next to where these four dragons were conversing. One monster was restlessly lying there. He was a unique creature, but this house was steadily getting more unique monsters by the day. Moreover, they were all making contracts with the girls in the house. Pi-tan couldnt make a contract though. Even if he did, there would be no benefit to his partner. Claire took care of him for now, but she was also qualified to be a Dragon Maiden. If another dragon was found There was a possibility, he might end up becoming a nuisance to Claire. All of the girls are kind to him. But, today Claire was desperately holding on to the Phoenix Dragons back. She had to go through a hard time..because shes the only one who isnt a Dragon Maiden yet. So long as he was there, both Claire and the other girls would happily take care of him. But then Claire would never become a Dragon Maiden. So long as he was there. . The next morning, Claire was the first to find that Pi-tan had gone missing. CH 116 The tip of a cold and shining stiletto made from Dark Mithril was pointed right between a Land Dragons eyes. Supple fingers were wrapped around a Storm Dragons neck, the fingertips digging into its leathery hide. A Frost Dragons tail was being mercilessly held, its body hanging upside down like a sandbag as a set of claws aimed at its exposed throat. A beautiful palm was innocently enough holding on to the temple of a Phoenix Dragon, but for a while now a sound similar to a vice being tightened had been going on. And all at the same time, the unified voices of four different Dragon Maidens all came together in one unified, furious question. What did you all do with Pi-tan? There was one other person there as well. Completely overwhelmed to the point that her cheeks might end up stained with the tears she had been shedding, her jet black hair was being thrown this way and that as she desperately searched for the Metal Eater. The subject in question had decided to return to the labyrinth. Out of all the options he had thought about, that was the one that seemed like it would have the best ending. He had thought the Adventurers Guild might have some use for him. If not, he was sure the Workshop Guild was hiring. But that was when he realized something. Being in human society didnt mean anything to him unless they were there with him. If he werent there spending time with them, then he had nothing. It was a realization that made his chest ache. But what would happen if he didnt leave? When the new dragon appears? It was something he didnt want to imagine. The hatred, jealousy, and despair was something he never wanted to associate with them. So the Metal Eater would head to the labyrinth. He would have a tremendous victory over his own heart and once again spend his time sleeping in the dark. However, his trip was going about as well as one would expect for a cartoon monster with zero attack power. Even though he had departed from Elliss mansion at about midnight, he was quickly caught by Buzz and Dougs early morning patrol. Oh, Pi-tan. Are you out for an early morning walk? Buzz got down off his horse and struck up a conversation with Pi-tan. Hm, is Claire nowhere around? Considering the circumstances, Doug started looking around at the surroundings. As usual, these two werent shy about calling out to another. And with Pi-tan, they were battle friends who had dealt with delinquents during the harvest festival together. Pi-tan greeted them both back by bowing his head and then pointed one of his front legs out to the east so theyd understand. Whats that, youre going out? Buzz and Doug both treated Pi-tan like he was his own, singular presence. They then bade him farewell, returning to their patrol while Pi-tan continued forward to the labyrinth. Around that same time at Lily Garden and Cross Town, a large uproar had been whipped up with one goal in mind. Find Pi-tan. This was the directive issued to everyone in these two neighborhoods. It all started when Ellis came to visit Ken and Hanna while panicking. When they saw the state Ellis was in, they didnt ask any questions. Shutting down their store, the two of them passed the message on to every other establishment nearby. Frau and Katie had thought about the possibility he had been kidnapped, so riding their Magical Horses, they both immediately headed to the Adventurers Guild and Thieves Guild. The two guilds promptly got to work, instructing guild members to search the streets of Warren and its surrounding suburbs. They also requested that all street vendors suspend their businesses until Pi-tan was discovered. This news was immediately transmitted to the Merchant Guild where Maria used her authority as the council chairperson to shut down the entire city of Warren and devote all of its resources for the sole purpose of finding Pi-tan. The four dragons also joined in on the search, using their abilities to turn humanoid and go with the Pi-tan search parties being dispatched by the guilds. For the first time in its history, the city of Warren descended into martial law. Buzz and Doug came back to town right around here. The two of them had been patrolling since the early hours of the morning, and they were surprised to find the town in such chaos after being gone for only a few hours. What is it? Whats happened? The two of them started shouting from the top of their horses looking for answers. Warrens Jewelry Boxs mascot, Pi-tan has gone missing! Pi-tan is, the Metal Eater Pi-tan? Is there any other! The two skilled adventurers promptly turned around and took the correct action. After a while, Buzz and Doug brought the Metal Eater Pi-tan back to the city square where the headquarters for the city-wide search had been set up. They had calmly retraced their steps and found Pi-tan soon after. Pi~ Pi~ Pi-tan was crying out while wiggling around underneath Dougs arm. Ellis and the others were waiting with bated breath for him at the headquarters. AAAaaaaaah! Claire hugged Pi-tan close to her while still crying. Idiot! Worried! I was so worried! The four girls other than Claire had all heard the story when they interrogated their dragons and had all come to know about Pi-tans feelings. However, when it came to Pi-tans thoughts about hiding himself away, it was probably only Ellis-Eiji and Claire who could understand that. There was no choice here but to see the scene through. Soon, the dragons and other residents of Cross Town had all heard while searching that Pi-tan had been found, and feeling relieved, they all gathered together in the plaza. Pi-tan was in trouble. His favorite Claire was crying right before his eyes. She was crying for the useless him. Pi-tan was in trouble. And he was happy for it. So he tried moving his head right in front of Claires. Staring directly into her eyes, he wanted to at least be able to convey his feelings for her. Claire was finally able to calm down. And then she got angry. She was going to complain to this disobedient doggy. She would make him understand just how worried she was. She focused her gaze squarely on Pi-tan and decided to complain. Stupid Pi-tan. Pi-tan raised his head to look directly into Claires eyes at the same instant that Claire was voicing her complaints directly to his face. And as a result, Claires lips ended up brushing against Pi-tans nose. Hm? A jet-black vortex began burning inside Pi-tans consciousness. It was like someone was taking a brush and coloring his whole mind in black paint. Hmm?? The black, swirling vortex of his mind was thinning, becoming transparent. Hmmm??? And thats when Pi-tan noticed. Claire! Throw me into the open space of the plaza! Do it now! A suddenly talking Pi-tan!? Despite her surprise Claire hurriedly followed the voices orders. But rather than throwing him, she quickly dashed forward and gently set him down. And then the released Pi-tan become enshrouded in light, a growing light. And then it appeared. A black dragon. A dragon that looked like a dragon no matter who saw it. It had a large head with thinner front legs, but its two back haunches were thick propping up the rest of its thick body. It had a pair of small wings attached to its back, and from head to toe it was jet black. Everyone in the square froze at its sudden appearance. What a terrible existence. What else comes to mind to describe such a beast other than an evil dragon? That jet black dragon didnt move at all. Nobody who saw the dragon could move. Of everyone there, there was but one person who reacted. Pi-tan? A lone girl with black hair walked up to the sinister looking dragon. Um. The dragon didnt know who he was, just that he was a dragon. Also, his consciousness was connected with the girl in front of him whose hair color was the same as his scales. That was nice. Hey, Claire, you made a contract with me. Thank you. By the way, who am I? Youre a Metal Eater! Um, I look a little different than one of those. Whats wrong? Claire, is there some kind of technique floating around in your head? It wasnt until he said so that Claire noticed. Just how she had heard it described, there were several techniques etched into her consciousness. Are these the Dragon Maiden techniques? I guess they are if Im a dragon. I mean, why then, how did I ever become a Metal Eater? I wonder. Well, the details are fine for now Claire. Youre okay with Pi-tan? Yes. I am Pi-tan. In the leisurely conversation between the jet black maiden and the jet black dragon, everything else was scenery. The outside air was a stain in their jet black world. However, the other dragons had finally returned from their own explorations, and with bloodlust in their eyes, each of them moved to cover their contractor. Ellis, this guy is bad news! the Land Dragon Ra-chins voice echoed directly in Elliss consciousness. Reeve, lets escape first, the Storm Dragon Su-chan sent out a call to Reeve. Katie, draw your weapons, the Frost Dragon Ah-nyan tried to prepare Katie. Frau, allow me to regain my original form and get on my back! the Phoenix Dragon Fe-rin tried moving into action. The four warriors were united in their collective question of, Why? But the four dragons were also united in their answer. Thats a Chaos Dragon! CH 117 Claires sense of place returned to her, and she quickly looked around at her surroundings. The people there were unable to hide their surprise at Pi-tans current form. Meanwhile the four other dragons in their humanoid forms looked like they were ready for battle while guarding their human girls. Pi-tan, does the air feel kind of heavy here to you? The large black dragon crossed its arms for a moment before scratching its head with its claws. To say it clearly, it was scute.1 Claire, for now maybe you should use the {Permission Size Change} on me? Claire pulled out one of the techniques that had been engraved in her mind, and the intimidating Pi-tan quickly changed into a more compact size. Behold! This is my fancy size! The speedy black dragon began flapping his wings, and in the blink of an eye, he had perched himself on top of Claires head. The view from up there allowed him to look over the entire plaza, Hello everyone. I am Pi-tan. I am fine now together with Claire, and then the polite dragon gave a proper greeting to everyone from atop Claires head. The crowd was taken in by the sight. The other four dragons especially had their jaws drawn towards the ground. Ellis was the first to recover from the sudden shift, and running over to the two guild masters Baltis and Theseus, she discussed the best way to recover the situation. We have no choice but to push forward with the fact that hes the same Pi-tan for now. Of the two of them, Theseus thought it best for him to speak, so he took a step forward to disperse the crowd. Everyone, thanks for all the help you have given in finding Pi-tan. Although it looks like hes done a little growing up, right Claire! After being suddenly addressed and having everyones eyes focused on her, Claire started to shake and turned towards Ellis for help. Ellis gave her a confident wink to let her know it was okay. Its just as the Master says. This is none other than Pi-tan! Everyone, thank you for searching for him with me! Claire gave the crowd a deep bow, accidentally knocking off the black dragon perched on top of her. The dragon managed to land on his feet though, and mirroring his master, he also gave the crowd a deep bow. The crowd, especially the womens team, were killed by the sight. They were super cute. And so Theseus started speaking once again. Everyone, thank you for all your hard work. The incident has been resolved, so youre all free to return to work. His words made the crowd move, but rather than dispersing like he said, they all came in closer, gathering around Claire and Pi-tan. Having returned to the top of Claires head, Pi-tan began happily conversing with the residents of Warren. Buzz and Doug, the two people who had originally brought him to the square in the first place, were at the front of the crowd. Yo Pi-tan, so you can talk now. Thank you Buzz. It seems so. Have you become able to fly now Pi-tan? Thanks Doug. Im a little stumped on how, but Im going to try my best to practice and be able to fly faster from now on. In the meanwhile, the other four girls and their dragons were having a talk away from the gathered crowd. Ra-chin, who is the Chaos Dragon? On behalf of the girls, Ellis asked for her dragon to explain things. Ellis, the Chaos Dragon isnt Ra-chin and the other dragons explanation was more than enough to make the girls feel uneasy. The Land Dragon, Storm Dragon, Frost Dragon, and Phoenix Dragon all received their magic from the sun and the elements, but it was believed that the Chaos Dragon was just a lump of leftover mana from a past Demon Lord. His tendency to go on a rampage was the exact reason why they had all jumped forward. There is a large lake to the east. That, is the end result when that guy decides to go all out, and the Frost Dragon forebodingly chimed in. But, that guy wasnt around when the Demon/God war broke out now that I think about it, and the Storm Dragon added on some important information. I wonder if somebody had sealed him, and the Phoenix Dragon was trying to analyze the situation. That guy, he probably received a reincarnation seal, and the Land Dragon began saying something interesting. Ra-chin, whats a reincarnation seal? Ellis, I told you before that we dragons will always be able to resurrect ourselves eventually if our bodies are destroyed so long as nobody does anything to our spirits right? Well, the reincarnation seal is just that. It takes our spirits and forces us to resurrect as a different type of monster. Its a technique more troublesome than simple purification in a way. That idiot dragon probably got into a fight with a God or something. The end result is what we saw before us, he was killed and forced to reincarnate as a Metal Eater. Each of the girls and their dragons crossed their arms. For the time being, they decided to wait for the crowd to settle some and then take Claire and the Chaos Dragon back home. So, what happened? Eventually, everyone was able to make it home to the mansion. Inside the living room, all of the dragons had shrunk down to their cute size and stuck to the sides of their maidens. All of their focus was being targeted at the jet black dragon sitting on top of Claires head. Claire and Pi-tan obediently described exactly what had happened. When Claire had moved to complain to the Metal Eater and said his name, her lips accidentally brushed against Pi-tans nose. By saying Pi-tans name allowed and technically kissing him, Pi-tan turned into a large black dragon. Everything else was as they had seen. Ellis, as soon as my lips touched Pi-tan, he shouted, Throw me into the open space of the plaza!'' So whatever seal that was placed on Pi-tan was broken when Claire kissed him. So then, who are you? Claire and Pi-tan were both at a loss for how to answer Elliss final question. Ellis, Pi-tan doesnt have any memories of ever being a dragon. Im sorry Ellis. The only memories I have before coming here are me peddling around in the corner of that dungeon. So with that timing, the Storm Dragon Su-chan jumped in, itching to insert himself into the conversation. Black!2 You, youre the Chaos Dragon! At his sudden provocation, the Land Dragon Ra-chin let out a magnificent sigh, Frost Dragon Ah-nyan took an adorable little stance like he was getting ready for a fight, and the Phoenix Dragon Fe-rin got ready to fly away if he needed to. What is that name with no sense? Pi-tan asked. That name with no sense is yours, Su-chan replied. Hey blue pipsqueak, lets take this on the table. Bring it on you pitch-black Sorry, Reeve. Im sorry too Claire. Before the two dragons could actually start to fight each other, they were both stopped when Claire tightened her grip on Pi-tan, shoving his head underneath her arm, and Reeve grabbed hold of Su-chans neck, clamping down on his mouth with her other hand. Ultimately, Pi-tan was cleared of all suspicions and deemed a Chaos Dragon with memory loss. There were a total of five beds inside the living room. With the Chaos Dragon taking his old bed on the far right, next was the Earth Dragon, Storm Dragon, Frost Dragon, and Phoenix Dragon. Good night Pi-tan. Ra-chin, thanks for today. See you tomorrow Su-chan. I will see you tomorrow nyan, Ah-nyan. Fe-rin, sleep well. And then of course, the nightly activities. Claire, whats Pi-tans Ultimate Release? Im sorry Ellis. I dont know. Well, lets try to carefully remember it later on. Claire can take her time. No good.Ellis that notchest, please, Ellis.. And after that, three more people were seriously trampled on. And while all of that was going on, one dragon spoke up. My Claire really is the best isnt she? They were words that couldnt just be let go. My Ellis is stands at the top and is therefore supreme you idiot. My Reeve is ultimate, and I am willing to cut down anyone who thinks otherwise. My Katie is the answer! You clearly have never seen her if you think anything else! Me Frau is clearly better! You all thinking otherwise just proves your narrow vision and shit for brains! In this way, while Ellis was traveling between rooms, the five dragons were engrossed in their own conversations throughout the night. 1. The author uses the kanji for scary(Kowai) and cute(Kawaii) together. Therefore, they are saying it is scary cute. Or scute. This is my new favorite non-existent word, and Im going to use it everywhere. 2. As in no good. Su-chan is calling him a liar, but theres an added joke part here because Pi-tan is literally black. CH 118 This was the newly prepared living/conference room created inside the renovated neighboring mansion. And inside it, there were four people who stood stunned with their mouths agape. The Thieves Guild guild master Baltis. The Adventurers Guild guild master Theseus. The Workshop Guild guild master Flint. The Merchant Guild guild master Maria. There were five girls standing before these four people, but they werent what had left the four guild masters so shocked. No, that feat belonged to the five guys hanging off the girls. How is it, my lovely style! the Land Dragon Ra-chin was sitting on top off Elliss lap. My cute style is the strongest! the Storm Dragon Su-chan was sticking to Reeves chest with only his head turned toward the masters. What! Cant you talk now that youe fallen in love with my pretty style! the Frost Dragon Ah-nyan slipped his head out from underneath his body which was coiled around Katies neck. Perhaps, you have all fallen madly in love with my charming style! the Phoenix Dragon Fe-rin came out from his spot underneath Fraus hair just enough so that he could be seen over Fraus shoulder. I am the former Metal Eater Pi-tan. I am debuting once again with this fancy style, the Chaos Dragon Pi-tan carefully bowed from on top of Claires head. Ah. Ellis, a moment. What is it Uncle Baltis? Could you please explain this situation? Even if you tell me to explain, I can only reply with what you see in front of you. Right now, the residents only know about three dragons. Ra-chin, Su-chan, and Pi-tan. The four guild masters had to think for a moment. By the way, do you five honorable dragons have any intentions on causing harm? Each of the dragons answered in their own way. I am Warrens Guardian Dragon. I will allow no harm to come to the inhabitants here so long as you dont make a move against Ellis. Ive also declared myself as a Guardian Dragon. I dont plan on being hostile to any specific resident, but Ill kill anyone who tries to touch Reeve. Im here to harass the Demon Lord and Hero. Anything else has nothing to do with me. Oh, unless somebody lays a hand on Katie. I have a grudge against that Hero, but I wont directly confront him. But, the enemies of Frau are my enemies as well. Ill just keep doing what Ive been doing. Honestly, I dont remember what my ability does, but I wont forgive anyone who tries something against Claire. The guild masters all sighed. In short, there would be no problems so long as nobody tried to oppose Warrens Jewelry Box. They doubted Skycastle would accept something like that though. Anyway, now that youve all been introduced to the Council, Ill have to immediately report this to Duke Marsfield. Well, the capitol wont try and confront the matters of the dragons directly, but we should prepare for some kind of investigation. Everyone, please be good. Yes, leave it to us. At this point, its impossible to avoid Elliss and the other girls names from sweeping across the continent. Thats why is was important to spread information leaving the connection between them and the dragons as arbitrary as possible. The top priority was hiding the girls total fighting power. The nights meeting ended there. During the next gathered council meeting, the girls would introduce each of the dragons to keep fear from the city to a minimum. It would also be imperative to stress that it was the dragons intentions to stay there. For example, if somebody were to come by and insist they become the Guardian Dragon of a different city, then those people need to believe that they need to convince the dragon rather than the girl. After all the masters went home, it was decided between all the girls to keep the Ultimate Release as their own personal secret. And a few days later. This was the temporary meeting spot for the Council. Baltis stepped forward and started the conversation. Everyone, thank you for you cooperation during the Pi-tan search the other day. What we have gathered you all here for today may surprise you, but I promise its nothing bad. As he talked, Ellis and the others stepped before the group. And for some reason, there were a group of men who looked exactly like them standing behind them? These five men soon took front stage. Behind Ellis was a fearless looking boy with emerald green eyes and short blonde hair. Behind Reeve was lanky man with blue eyes and a tied back hairstyle. Behind Frau was a gentle-looking boy with red eyes and shoulder-length trimmed hair. Behind Claire was a rustic boy with pitch black eyes and brushed up hair. Behind Katie was a scowling young beastman with gray eyes and pure white fur covering his body. Naturally the site quickly grew rowdy. Many female council members and some of the more manic males sighed at the brilliance of the boys in front of them. There Baltis continued to speak. Everyone take a look at those standing behind the Jewelry Box. All of them, are dragons. You should all know the Land Dragon and the Storm Dragon, and you were there when Pi-tan himself transformed into a dragon. Right now, a total of five dragons have come to call our city their home. This is the truth. Before anything else, I want you all to understand this truth. Ellis, if youd provide the introductions. Ellis took control of the scene after Baltis handed the floor over to her. She took a deep breath before finally starting to explain. Everyone, the people gathered behind us are each a dragon. You know that I have formed a contract with the Land Dragon Ra-chin, but the other four have signed contracts as well. They will never hurt the people of Warren, including you, and all they want is to stay in this city. Please be understanding. Also, theyll spend most of their time inside the city while in their miniaturized forms, so dont be afraid to talk to them. Then Ellis ordered each of the dragons to return to change their forms, and as they stripped themselves of their disguises, they did just that. The Land Dragon reminiscent of a salamander dragon. I am Ra-chin, the contract dragon of Ellis. The Storm Dragon reminiscent of a winged dragon. I am Su-chan, the contract dragon of Reeve. The Phoenix Dragon reminiscent of a bird dragon. I am Fe-rin, the contract dragon of Frau. The Chaos Dragon reminiscent of an evil dragon. I am Pi-tan, and it seems I have become the contract dragon of Claire. The Frost Dragon reminiscent of a serpent dragon. Im Ah-nyan, Katies contract dragon. Each dragon had transformed into their miniature sizes in front of the council. For them, this was their first time seeing the Phoenix and Frost dragons. Now then, this matter will be reported promptly to Duke Marsfield. Well wait for the eventual instructions from the capitol. Also, we will continue to follow the capitols decree and search for information on any new dragons and a woman qualified to form a contract with it even if we already have five of both with us right now. Everyone, everythings going to be okay. There was nothing to be disagreed with in Marias remarks. The fact that we have five dragons here means weve become a threat not just to our neighboring cities, but to the kingdom as well. From now on, we have to take a more moderate approach in our relationship to the other cities more than weve ever done before. Our biggest fear is that our city will undergo a war of contrition and be starved out. We must avoid that at all costs no matter what. Thank you for listening. Silence festered after Maria stepped down. The other council members all knew what had to be done. In this way, Trade City Warren became protected under the five dragons and left its name in history. This has become pretty big. It cant be helped Reeve. It was bound to turn out this way when we refused to allow Fe-rin to end up in the Heros hands. Fraus right. However, I never wouldve thought that Pi-tan would be the Chaos Dragon. Nyat surprised me too Claire, but well, theres nothing to do about it now nya. Just as Katie says, theres nothing for us to do until we find out how the royal family is going to act. Until Duke Marsfield shows up, lets just live like we always have. Everyone agreed to Elliss words. For the time being, the Dragon Maidens decided to think positively. With the truth out there, they shouldnt have to tiptoe around for the time being. Lets try some of the pickled food we got at the Pottery City for tonights dinner. Fraus words acted like a switch, and each of the girls began thinking about their lives right now rather than the future. That, can come later. CH 119 The Hero Gray and Thief Gise were suffering. The imperial command handed down by the royal family was to search for dragons and search for a qualified maiden. They had managed to find a dragon, but it escaped. As for the maiden, they didnt know what characteristics she needed to have in order to be qualified in the first place. The best option here would be to head to Warren and listen to the stories from the dragons themselves, but Gise had already failed at doing this with the Land and Storm Dragon before. If they are going to talk to the others, that would require a middle-man to introduce them. Whats more, neither of them wanted to bring the three idiots to Warren. There were some very important spots there that couldnt be defiled. So Gise, do you have any good ideas? Why are you asking me? The three idiots have a sharp sense of smell in the weirdest of places. They were two troubled souls. Oh, thats it! We can do that! What is it Gise? Gises plan was to meet up with Duke Marsfield and immerse themselves with the order he had recently received. Theyll act as escorts as part of the Dukes personal guard. Then Gray and Gise would be able to move freely, and they could use the Duke as their middle-man to introduce them to the Warren Council and the contracted maidens. Brilliant Gise, lets go with that! With Grays approval, Gise started giving out orders for departure to Dams, Peach, and Cliff. Those three had been running on a dwindling supply of pocket money for the last month, so they began preparations for the journey as fast as they could with the prospects of being able to play for the first time in a long time looming over their heads. In this way the Brave Party joined up with the messenger for Duke Marsfield, and all six people used {Leap City} to travel to the Citadel City. This was the city of Warren. The second phase of construction had begun for the city, and as Lily Garden and Cross Town grew, more people moved out to the residential housing in the city suburbs. Together with Cross Town and the tourism facilities, the new shops dealing with everyday goods came to operate under the guilds. By the way, the apartment complexes are owned by Ellis Finance, but since the Merchant Guild acts as a management company, it involves very little work on Elliss part. It was the definition of easy profit. The main draw of these apartments were the shared bath and toilets. These were a simplified design of the ones used inside the bathhouse. Although the residents usage of the facility was free in principle, it requires the users to join the management union for the multi-family residences. This would require them to help in cleaning the baths, toilets, and helping to provide any maintenance for the sewer system. Those who cannot agree to these conditions are not allowed to move in, and those who slack off on these duties can have their lease canceled. Of course, if you were to pay 1000 ril to the Merchant Guild, you can arrange for a cleaning agency to do the work for you. Because of these favorable conditions, numerous city residents had moved into the apartments, and the even the game assistant girls had moved into a building together close to work. Meanwhile, the construction of hotels in the city had been proceeding smoothly, and tourism had been gradually increasing. A route had already been developed to procure seafood from the western fishing village by the Merchant Guild, and the menus of the citys restaurants had been enriched. The demand for seafood was especially high in the gatchihomos Revitalizing Home. With all of this going on, Ellis had grown incredibly bored. Maria had nailed her down, not allowing her to go off on her own outside of town. It had been confirmed that an inquiry would be arriving in a few days from the Citadel City, so all of the Dragon Maidens and their dragons were to remain nearby. Ra-chin, should we go get a cup of tea? Lets, Ellis. Thats why Ellis decided to go with what her dragon would have wanted to do, and with him in her arms, she took him to the usual Jewelry Box Teahouse. Meanwhile, in much more serious yet carefree circumstances were the unthinking Lady Bluegreen and the frivolous Storm Dragon combination. Su-chan, this feels great. Right Reeve. The blue duo were dancing through the sky, letting the wind pass them by. Since their minds were connected through the contract, communication between the two was fast and could be done telepathically. As the two of them continued dancing in the clouds, every once in a while theyd take a battle pose and simulate a real battle in the mid-air. As the two continued, the girl and dragon moved further and further northward. It was up there that Reeve noticed a carriage moving at an abnormal speed with a squad of surrounding cavalrymen protecting it. Meanwhile, Su-chan could feel the existence of monsters chasing behind it. The girls voice rang in the angelic dragons mind. Su-chan, were going! Roger! In a downward dive, the dragon shot towards the ground and at the herd of monsters chasing the carriage below. Ellis banned us from using your Ultimate Release Su-chan. Hmm, then how about this. With Su-chans words, a new technique engraved in Reeves mind came to the surface. {Breath Release}. Thatll work great Su-chan! Reeve activated the {Breath Release} technique. As she did, the Storm Dragon opened its jaws, aiming for the monsters in the far back of the herd. There was an second where nothing happened, but then with a flash of light, an explosion cracked through the air. This was the High Voltage breath. A stream of lightning gouged out the earth and the monsters standing on top of it. Due to the High Voltage breath of the Storm Dragon, numerous monsters in the back of the herd were electrocuted, and as for those monsters that the breath missed, they were close enough to the attack to be left paralyzed from the stray electrical currents. Reeve, I cant do anything about the ones too close to the carriage! Please! Even if Su-chan hadnt said anything, Reeve had already jumped from his back. Su-chan had gotten closer to the ground, but it was still a long way down. Yet she held no fear. Reeve fluttered down to the ground like a leaf in the wind, and at the same time, her hands wrapped around the hilt of her Dark Mithril katana. The monsters that had already come upon the carriage, tearing away at its roof, had no choice but to become a cloud of red mist as she took their places. Knights! Take them! The escorting knights regained themselves at Reeves shouts and charged back to finish off the paralyzed monsters. Meanwhile the Storm Dragon had floated closer to the ground nearby. Reeve, everythings okay now. Su-chan, we should try to remain inconspicuous even if we were a little flashy back there. Lets leave this place immediately. Reeve jumped onto Su-chans back. However, her figure was perfectly seen by the two women inside the carriage. The first was a little girl who clasped her hands together as if she were offering a prayer and murmured, Ah, Dragon Knight. The other woman was a bit older, and instead of marveling at the sight before her, she confusedly threw herself out the carriage doors. You! Arent you Reeve! Hey, look over here! With her butt in the fire, Reeve panicked and told Su-chan to quickly rise to a higher altitude and return to Warren. Whats wrong Reeve? Bad, weve been leaked. Reeve would only say that, and so the Storm Dragon silently flew back to Warren, their previous carefree ride now seeming like a lie. Oblivious to what was currently going on with Reeve and Su-chan, Ellis was killing some time with Ra-chin. They traveled to his usual place at the Jewelry Box Teahouse, but when they got there, Aiful had on an unusually serious face. Sitting opposite from her was Plum, the owner of the nearby boutique. The two of them were talking about something on the deck while the shop was relatively empty. It looked like Plum was complaining about something to Aiful. Ellis, lets have some tea. Ellis quit observing the two women when Ra-chin spoke up, taking him to his usual favorite spot and ordering his tea. Of course. Ill get it right away. Aifuls smile was her usual noble one as she headed back inside the store. Hah Plum on the other hand was looking quite depressed. Ellis tried talking to her. Has something happened Plum? No, its okay Ellis. Its not a big deal. Plum said she didnt want to bother her, but Ellis was too bored to let this slip by. I might be able to help you. Ellis tried prying her for more information, but Plum remained silent. Aiful then returned with the tea, setting a cup down in front of Ellis before taking the other one in front of Ra-chin. The dragon took his usual sunbathing position, becoming as still as stone. Aiful meanwhile was able to retake her seat next to Plum. Aiful, I wonder if I could help Plum out, Ellis tried asking her. .. Plum, why dont you try talking to Ellis about it? .. Well, Aiful? Ellis wasnt going to give up on this, so Plum took a deep breath and decided to tell her about himself. Then there was Masters Hideaway. Berunal, the alias Berudeus was using when she was in her female form, had arrived in Warren. She had white skin like porcelain and hair as black as the night. She had eyes that drew you in and thin, bloodless lips. She had an elegant gait to her walk as she approached the receptionist and repeated the same line she had done so many times before. Id like to exchange some money please. However for some reason the receptionist responded so much more differently. The receptionist looked miserable seeing Berunals abundant breasts wrapped up in a stylish dress, and after a single glance, she met Berunals eyes and frowned. Women arent allowed to enter here on their own. Huh? Once again, women arent allowed to enter here on their own. Berunal wasnt sure what to say. When she was in a male form, the receptionist welcomed him with a warm smile, but as a woman, she wouldnt even be let in the store. Berunal though about this for a time before asking the receptionist with a straight face, What if I were to tell you Im a man? Masakatsu will see you out now. With the receptionists cold words, the bouncer showed up like magic. In this way, Berunal was carefully chased away from the store. CH 120 Pay close attention you bastards. Gachihomos love six unit1 long pure whit loincloths. Fashionable gays love pitch black leather. Yo Nicole. And so the Revitalizing Home and Mercury Bar produced a provocative collaboration poster. Their way of life continues forward! 1. This is my friendly reminder that in a way earlier chapter the main unit of measurement in this world was stated to be a decimeter (ten centimeters). 2. Theyre talking about abs you perverts! CH 121 Ellis was in trouble. And she was regretful. Why did she have to insist on listening to Plums troubles? Ra-chin was still as a statue over his tea, and Ellis was sitting right beside him looking just as stiff with her arms folded in front of her. Ellis had thought that Plum was the proprietress of the nearby boutique, but she had made a mistake. Plum was actually the proprietor, of the nearby boutique. Plums troubles were as follows. Originally united as a minorityCthe gachihomos, the fashionable gays, and the okamas1were able to coexist in relative peace. By the way, the gachilezus likes Elliss group had the strong presence of Lily Garden and its surrounding area. However as a result of the maintenance done with Gentleman Street, the power relationship had shifted. While the gachihomos had Revitalizing Home and the fashionable gays had Mercury Bar, there was nowhere where the okamas could gather. What was especially troubling was that the habits and hobbies for this group was extremely diverse. The gachihomos and fashionable gays could bond over a few key points in their respective groups and grow from there. Meanwhile the okamas included men who simply enjoy dressing as women or womanly activities along with those under a sexual disorder such as a woman who wants to love another woman like a man or a man who wants to love another man as a woman. With all of this, it cant be said that everyone would be satisfied with the opening of just one store.2 Upon seeing Elliss reaction, Plum shook her head and murmured, You dont need to worry about it Ellis. .. Dont worry? Oh Ohhhhhhhhh Sorry, I just got lost in thought there for a moment. Just give me a little time to think about it Plum. While waiting for Ra-chins tea to cool down, Ellis continued to wrestle around with the problem she had been given. As time went on, Elliss expression would twist and become difficult, but soon she was making a dark smile unbefitting an eight-year-old girl, something that made both Plum and Aiful take a step back. And then in Citadel City Marsfield. You bastards! Cant you even do your jobs as escorts properly!? Duke Marsfield was about to pop a blood vessel. And the ones who were causing him all this undue aggravation was the Brave Party. It all started when the Duke had received a directive from the capitol Skycastle. Find out the necessary requirements to becoming a Dragon Maiden. However the aristocratic family sent from Skycastle had been attacked by monsters on their way over. That family was Sir Chaffee, his wife Bizon, and their only daughter Mebett. Sir Chaffee was originally a lesser affiliate for a more prominent nobleman, but with the support of his reliable wife, he was able to demonstrate his talents and skills inside the capitol. The couple was able to acquire a higher status through their own efforts, and they swore loyalty to the royal family while promising to take care of all this dragon fuss. While investigating the requirements to becoming a Dragon Maiden, they would bring along their daughter who met at least one of the requirements that they knew for certainshe was a girl. The husband was confident that he could achieve results by personally making a move. The wife judged it would be advantageous for them to go personally as well, but that was because of the location where the rumors had originated. The last time she had visited her father when he had become the lord of Wheat Grace, he had told her some very interesting things about her younger sister. And for some reason, she was confident that that younger sister was involved with these rumors. The only miscalculation on Sir Chaffees part was that he had never thought that the Brave Party was going to magically fly to Marsfield without them. When he had heard that the Hero would be accompanying them, he had lessened the number of his guards to the bear minimum, but when it came time to depart, the Brave Party had given him a smile and disappeared into thin air. There wasnt enough time to recruit new escorts that late in the game, and since there was no way they could just cancel the trip, they were forced to head out which was what had led to them being overrun on their way to Marsfield. Duke Marsfield, it was my mistake for relying on the Braves when they are so often busy, so please stifle your rage, Sir Chaffee tried easing the tensions in the room, but that only made the Duke even angrier. His voice exploding outwards, Duke Marsfield cut into the Braves. Hero, and your party, I am sorry but you will be useless in Warren. Return to the capitol immediately! Thatd be a problem Duke Marsfield; we also need to get information from Warrens Jewelry Box! The Dukes shouts cut through all of Grays grumbling objections. Do you think those smart girls will give out any important information to a bunch of bumbling incompetents like you!? Go explore the remote areas to the South! And just like that the Brave Party was specifically banned from Warren. Although to be honest, this was actually a turn of good fortune for Gray and Gise. This meant they had an excuse to not bring Peach, Dams, and Cliff to Warren from now on. Ugh, it cant be helped. We will obey your command Duke Marsfield. Gray had to bite his tongue to prevent the joy in his heart from bursting forth, and he did his best to look sullen as he knelt before the Duke. It was a show, put on mostly for the sake of the three fools behind him. After the Hero had vacated the castle, Duke Marsfield confirmed the story of the monster incident with Sir Chaffee. As the monsters hounded them, Sir Chaffee was with the rest of the cavalrymen trying to defend the carriage while Bizon and Mebett hid inside. When it looked like all of their struggling was going to be useless, an ultramarine creature suddenly appeared in the sky. The lightning the creature shot out of its mouth was deafening, blowing away a score of the creatures, and immediately after, a blue swordsman appeared on the carriage. The swordsman slayed the leftover monsters clinging to the carriage in an instant before ordering the lord and his men to go finish off the surviving monsters. Sir Chaffee and the other escorts did what they were told, shoving their blades into the paralyzed monsters, and when they turned back around, the swordsman and creature were already rising back up into the air. I was really surprised, Sir Chaffee finished his explanation with a relieved sigh. Duke Marsfield made a sigh of his own, thankful for their miraculous luck. That was probably Warrens second Guardian Dragon, the Storm Dragon, and his swordswoman Dragon Maiden, Lady Bluegreen. Sir Chaffees wife impatiently broke in when the identity of the swordswoman came up. Is the name of that swordswoman Reeve? Duke Marsfield was left completely dumbfounded when the woman brought out a familiar name, but seeing his reaction, the wife pressed forward. My maiden name is Lorenburg, and Im the eldest daughter of the current lord of Wheat Grace. If that swordswoman was Reeve, then that was my sister! The Duke was certainly surprised. So, you are also from the Lorenburg family. Then youre right. That was Reeve, the daughter to Lord Leopold and granddaughter to Ferdinand. She is one of the members of Warrens Jewelry Box, and she was a revered and honored person inside Warren even before she became the Dragon Maiden contracted with the Storm Dragon! The most surprised about this news was actually Sir Chaffee. He had fallen in love at first sight with this Wheat Grace countryside girl, and he immediately proposed without listening to his surroundings. At the time her intentions were considered secondly, and her father had offered her to him. However after they were married, she had steadfastly supported him in everything he did. Sir Chaffee was able to rise up the ranks in Skycastle in no small part to his wife Bizons help. And now not too long ago Bizons father had gone up in status and become the new lord of Wheat Grace, elevating him to a senior aristocracy position in the kings army. Sir Chaffee was already very aware that his success in life was because of the woman he had so fortunately married, and now it is being discovered that her youngest sister is a member of Warrens Jewelry Box. Life had a weird way of working itself out. Sir Chaffee chose to take a step back and cool his head off for a moment. On the other hand was an intelligent six-year-old girl who was getting herself worked up after having heard everything. That knight was my aunt! and a little girls joy rose up to the heavens. Unable to hold herself back any longer, the little girl began excitedly talking. Mr. Marsfield, Father, Mother, I want to go meet my aunt. I have to thank her for saving me the other day! Duke Marsfields eyes narrowed his eyes and smiled at the lively little girl in front of him. Yosh, then lets get going by all means. Ill send an explanation to the capitol myself in the meanwhile. With that, Duke Marsfield and Sir Chaffees family left the Citadel City as early as next morning with an escort strong enough to ensure that nothing would happen. 1. Drag queens. 2. All Ellis wanted was a bathhouse where no men would be allowed, and now shes being tasked with solving every LGBT problem in the greater city area. CH 122 Reeve, Su-chan, could you explain it again? Evening inside Elliss mansion. In front of Ellis was Reeve kneeling on the ground with Su-chan sitting beside her. Frau and Claire were standing behind Ellis with an anxious look on their faces, while Katie was off on her own to the side not caring about anything that was going on. Im sorry Mistress. But there was a carriage being attacked by monsters. It couldnt be helped. So, what exactly happened? Um, Su-chan just released a little bit of his High Voltage Breath bathing the swarm of monsters in electricity, and then I jumped down and took care of the monsters hanging onto the carriage, and then.. Ellis was getting a headache. When she heard the story, she wondered why Reeve hadnt just left the monsters near the carriage to the knights that were already there and have Su-chan finish off the leftover monsters with wind blades or some other long-range attacks. Instead they had a beautiful woman taking charge, working her blade around the carriage and killing the nearby monsters. All while being in perfect view of a score of witnesses. Mistress, there is one other thing I should tell you, and its that one of the passengers on the carriage appears to be my older sister. Your older sister? Big Sis Bizon married and moved to the capitol Skycastle a few years ago. Elliss headache was getting worse. If it were the residents of Warren or even Marsfield they could be convinced to remain silent, but it would be the worst-case scenario if Reeves strength became known to the kingdom. She didnt even want to think about the rumors already possibly floating around. We cant help whats already been done, but next time try not to be so flashy. Ellis made a deep sigh as she gave Reeve a light scolding. But then Katie spoke up. By the way, whats a High Voltage Breath nya? In accordance with Katies question, suddenly a Breath Release was engraved into the minds of every girl with the exception of Reeve. The four other dragons all began to laugh haughtily before trying to sell themselves like usual. Ellis, my Grand Aqua Breath is intense. Frau, my Super High Heat Breath too, its pretty good. Between the sensation of the spell being engraved in their minds and the added words of the dragons being spoken at the same time, the girls were all left eager to see the attacks for themselves. But it unfortunately couldnt be done here. So, the girls all gathered around the dinner table to have the meal Frau had prepared as they used the description of each dragons breath attack to spice up the food. And then it was time for a bath. And then the nightly activities after a long day. Todays top batter as a matter of course was Reeve. For the first time in a long time you need to be punished. Reeve, prepare yourself. Mistress, forgive me. Ah..such, no And the other three obediently waited for their turn while the dragons rested downstairs bragging about their respective Dragon Maiden. It was a peaceful night. And then the morning inevitably came. So Claire, shall we go make the rounds? Understood Ellis, I guess we should start with the Thieves Guild. Claire had already finished her preparations for going out. On her head was the resting fancy sized Pi-tan. The purpose for these two people today was to try and solve Plums problem. First off would be the Thieves Guild. Four people sat before themCMargherita, Marilyn, Machel, and Guild Master Baltis. So thats what we mean. The target audience is a little narrow, but wed like to proceed as soon as weve gotten everyones permission. After fully laying out her plan, Ellis tried to make sure everyone understood. Baltiss viewpoint was the same as it always was, as long as it didnt negatively affect the Thieves Guild, he didnt care. Margherita and Marilyn thought it was a good plan, and Machel spoke on behalf of all her subordinates when she gave her consent as well. Next up was the Merchants Guild. Maria, Nicole, and Ichiro came in to attend this one. I wonder, I suppose it wont hurt the guild at all. Maria had no objections after hearing Elliss explanation. As for Nicole and Ichiro, the two of them had actually been worried about the very same thing, so they promised to provide their very best support. Next up is Boss. Thats right, I suppose well just have to confidently push through. The third stop was the Workshop Guild. With Flint and two of his chief supporters by his side, these three would represent all the craftsmen in Warren. What do you say Uncle? Im honestly envious on how much money youll be making. Just hearing Elliss explanation and seeing Claires drawings had the three hardened craftsman wanting to pass out. Were going to need the Marsfield guys to stay a while. Claire tried to respond to Flints worries. Should I make you another Mogemoge-kun? It would be appreciated if you did so. By the way Ellis, thats a pretty dress you have on. Its great Uncle. And like this, most people wouldnt think hes the Guardian Dragon. At Flints words, Ellis made a full turn on her toes so he could see everything. The Guardian Dragon Ra-chin was tied up like a baby and strapped to her back. While securely fastening him to Ellis, there was also a hole in the fabric that allowed his tail to hang out and not get smooshed. Its effective and comfortable. As expected of Ellis. And the one on Claires head cant be seen as anything other than a stuffed animal. It was useless to try anything else since Pi-tan loves it up here so much. Its awesome up here! A girls touch could make even dragons turn out like this. Flint immediately began preparing materials and plans for further construction as soon as Ellis and Claire left. Just to be sure, Ellis and Claire did make a report to the Adventurers Guild as well before going back to Cross Town and visiting the boutique. Plum, can we count on your cooperation for this? Absolutely Ellis. It appears that my friends were more jealous of the gachihomos and fashionable gays than I had thought. Everyone readily agreed to cooperate. I know that Plums place is also often busy, so thank you. Likewise, I cant possibly thank you enough. Plum gave the both of them a wondrous smile. It was a sight that made Ellis and Claire wonder exactly what part of her was male. But imagining what she would look like when the plan was actually finished made the both of them excited. Well, are you going home now? Thats right. And so Ellis and Claire were able to walk on home feeling confident with themselves. First off though theyd have to drop Ra-chin off at the Jewelry Box Teahouse and give Credia Claires specially made pottery though. And after a while. Hm, I should be leaving soon. Credia, could you pour the tea into that small barrel that Claire made for me? Understood Guardian Dragon. Just Ra-chin is fine. While smiling, Credia poured out the cold tea in front of Ra-chins eyes in the small specially made barrel that Claire had made. She then tightly closed the lid and tied it to a strap hanging around Ra-chins neck. Are you sure you dont want me to see you off? Yes, Ill walk home myself today. This is also part of my role as a Guardian Dragonbut could you help me down? Credia picked Ra-chin up off the high chair and set him down on the ground just like he asked. Well then, I shall come again. Well be waiting Ra-chin. The Land Dragon Ra-chin truly loved the scent of this tea, and he greatly enjoyed the faint scent of it that came when it was poured into the hot water of his bath. And Aiful and Credia of the Teahouse as well, Ra-chin loved them all. Later, the figure of the Guardian Dragon walking home to Lily Garden from Cross Town would become one of the specialties for the highway connecting the two. CH 123 Ellis, I have a favor to ask. Thats rare. What is it Frau? Fraus request was simple enough, just to make an extra Sleep ring and Spirit ring. Well alright, but what are they for? Actually Ellis, It turned out that Frau was having a hard time forgetting all the wonderful china in Pottery City Ceramics, especially the teaware. It had gotten to the point where she absolutely wanted to show some of those superb tea pots to Aiful and Credia. Fe-rin should be able to carry three people easily, and he is capable of forming his own barrier. But that doesnt change the fact that a long flight would be hard for an ordinary person to endure. That was where the Sleep ring would come in. The essential point here would mean giving the two girls a day off. I wonder if its no good Ellis. Its fine, but what about the Teahouse? I suppose it would be closed for the day Ellis thought for a moment. Maria had put her foot down and refused to let her leave this city until the messenger from the kingdom arrived. This could be a good way to kill some time. And so the next day. As per Fraus request, Ellis made the two rings for her trip, but she then went on to change into her own custom-made maid uniform. And then with cord string she strapped Ra-chin onto her back. Shall we get going then Frau? Ellis, whats with those clothes? Ill be running the Teahouse today while theyre gone. Do you have a complaint? Today Frau would be going to Ceramics, Reeve would be acting on Elliss orders to investigate messages being relayed between the capitol and the northern area, Claire was working on building Mogemoge-kun unit 2 for the Workshop Guild, and Katie had been over at the live house since morning. So Ellis decided to run the Teahouse since she was bored. After the two girls arrived at the Teahouse, Aiful and Credia were initially surprised to hear Elliss offer, but they quickly lowered their heads and thanked her for her thoughtfulness. Fe-rin returned to his normal size at the back of the store, and Frau, Aiful, and Credia hopped on after changing into pants and boots suitable for horseback riding. Well then were heading out Ellis. Have a safe trip, and dont forget about souvenirs. Ill be sure to bring back some delicious pickles. And so Fe-rin flapped his wings and quickly disappeared on the horizon. Yo, Aiful, wed like one set please. The first to enter the store today was the Buzz, Doug combo. They had just gotten off their early morning patrol. Please wait one moment. The two men felt something was off though when they heard a different from usual voice respond to them. And then when their tea and cake set finally came out, it was a pretty blonde girl who came out holding the large tray. Geh, Ellis. What are you doing with that stuff? Isnt it rude to go Geh as soon as you see me? Aiful and Credia are out for the day. Thats why Im filling in as the shopkeeper. By the way, you uncles seem to be doing pretty well for yourselves to have tea so early in the morning. Nonono, you look nice Ellis. Super cute. The Guardian Dragon hanging off your back is also a great touch. Why thank you Doug. Thinking that they had found something interesting, the duo quickly ate their cake and drained their tea before leaving the store. After some time had passed, the next two customers were the two guild masters Baltis and Theseus. Oi oi oi, dont worry about it my honorable adviser. We can handle a little part-time selfishness. Hey there, would it be possible to gather up the neighborhood girls and open up shop? It sounds like youve woken to something strange. Ellis wanted to hurl when the two of them came in talking about something disgusting. But she was working now and knew how to keep a business smile. Welcome uncles. What would you like to order? You. You. Welcome back you shitty old men. Ellis set the twos tea down on the table hard without saying anything more. After returning to the back of the store, she came back carrying two pots of Lorenburg tea bearing the Warrens Jewelry Box flag on it. She then placed those in front of the two of them as well, still wearing her business smile on the surface, but you didnt need to know Ellis to notice that her smile wasnt reaching her eyes. Alright uncles, that will be 7,000 ril. My fellow honorable adviser, when did 750 ril plus 5500 ril become 7000? I suppose when it includes a tip? Despite the twos interactions, they enjoyed sipping on their tea while watching Ellis hard at work. After a satisfying break, each of them left behind a 10,000 ril bill behind. Next up were the three masters of Gentlemans Street, Oho, its just like the master was saying. Those clothes suit you Ellis. My my, you look like a doll more than ever before. Id like something to eat Ellis. Ellis in those clothes looks even more beautiful than I could have imagined, Margherita, Marilyn, and Machel each marveled at how Ellis looked in uniform. Welcome big sisters. Will each of you be having a set? Ellis guessed their orders, and after running back to pick up a tray, separated out the food for the three older women. She then walked back into the store to do some washing. Her appearance was cute and funny even from the womens perspectives. Flint and Maria were the next to arrive. As Ellis was still busy washing some dishes, Machel stood up from her chair and walked to the back of the shop. Lady, let me take care of this while you go help your customers. Even though Machel was helping her by doing the dishes, Ellis still forewent taking an order and instead immediately carried over two tea sets to Flint and Maria. Hoh, so its just like Theseus said. There really was something cute at the shop today. So this was that cute thing. I wonder what kind of wind is blowing through today. Two people familiar with Elliss black heart started saying some unnecessary things, so Ellis went ahead and fired back. I wonder if those are words that should be said when a pretty little girl is forced to do hard labor like this, uncle, auntie. Ellis walked back into the store as her two customers enjoyed a cup of tea alongside a rousing round of laughter. Thanks Machel. You saved me. No no, youre always helping us out, so this is the least I can do. Ken walked into the building carrying a box with him there. Aiful, I brought over an additional cake. .! What are you doing here Milady!? Kens surprise almost caused him to drop the cake box he was carrying. Pardon me. Im watching the shop today. Customers continued to visit the shop one after another as the day continued on. Apparently Buzz and Doug were running through the streets telling everyone they passed that there was something interesting at the Teahouse today. Just as Elliss eyes began to roll around in their sockets as the shop became busier and busier, Claire came in with Pi-tan resting on top of her head. She had apparently predicted that just such a thing was going to happen and decided to help out after finishing her work with Mogemoge-kun. I knew it would be like this. Ill help out, so lets continue to work hard until closing time. Thank youuuuu! You saved me! Thus on this day the two girls worked together serving tea in their local tea shop. Unfortunately the news that Claire was also wearing a maid uniform soon spread as well, and the afternoon became packed with youngsters from the Workshop Guild who all showed up at once. Soon both of the girls eyes were swimming in their skulls. Meanwhile in Ceramics. Since Frau had already introduced herself as a member of the Merchant Guild the last time she stopped by, she was able to buy up goods without issue this time. And just as Frau had guessed, Aiful and Credia really did have a wonderful eye. The three of them went around to various shops, browsed the sales, gave their impressions at the teahouses they visited, and picked out their own fine china to have. Mother, wouldnt these be perfect for those old men? Credia picked out a couple of boorish yet somehow tasteful cups. Lets see, it might be nice to change up the cups we use depending on who the customer is. Aiful had picked out a variety of different cups and plates, each sporting a beautiful design on milk-white pottery. Just imagining how the store would shine if she were to decorate it with these was fun for her. Frau was following behind these two with a wide smile spread across her face. Whenever she walked through the city, Ellis was always thinking of new tricks or get-rich-quick schemes to pull, Reeve preferred staying at home, Katie would always wander off, and Claire just had the worst taste. Thats why she always did the shopping by herself, but here she had finally found a shopping group to go along with her. How about we go shopping in Marsfield or Wisdom next time? The two girls happily nodded at Fraus proposal. And so their shopping trip continued until noon. Were back. When Frau and the other two came back to the Teahouse, Ellis and Claire were sitting collapsed on top of each other completely tired out. Sitting next to them were Ra-chin, who had managed to work his way out of Elliss piggyback cord, and Pi-tan, who had hopped off of Claires head, both looking pretty bored. Aiful, that, todays sales. Ellis weakly pointed over towards the register. There was more than three times the days usual sales inside. Ellis, lets do this again please. Due to exhaustion, Ellis wasnt able to reply to Fraus radiant smile. However, that radiant smile showed Fraus strong intentions to go out shopping again. Ellis regretted everything about this. While this day was just supposed to be for killing time, it ended up being the most work Ellis had had to do since she first reincarnated. CH 124 The next morning while Ellis was enjoying breakfast, a messenger from the council came in. Duke Marsfield had arrived with the messengers from Skycastle and wished to have an audience with them before noon. There was no doubt that this was about the five dragons, but this time they werent even playing coy about it as they had given the direct command for the girls to bring them with. Well, what kind of clothes should we wear? Theyre probably going to want to see Su-chan and the others original appearances, so pants would make it easier for boarding. With Reeves suggestion, the girls decided to wear the matching brown jacket, white pants, and tailored boots that they had tailored for the harvest festival. Meanwhile the dragons decided to go in their male forms for the sake of a little mischief. Ra-chin was equipped like a heavy fighter. His name would be Ellison. Su-chan was equipped like a light fighter. His name was Revatein. Ah-nyan was equipped like a cat fighter. His name was Cassius. Fe-rin was to be equipped like a mage. His new name would be Brause.1 Pi-tan was equipped as a thief. His new name would be Crest. By the way, Fe-rin and Pi-tan were actually wearing fake equipment, cosplaying their roles, but they at least had the appearance of great adventurers. And of course they were all quite handsome. Ellis and the other girls, after finishing their bit of early morning fun, all left for the council on foot. Naturally the group of ten drew massive attention from the people as they walked through the city. You came looking dignified. Maria had seen the dragons cosplay before, but it still made her do a double-take. But with Marias words as the trigger, all of the dragons started taking up their usual prideful boasting. Well, I am the best though. I have decided no such thing! Where are you looking you shit for brains Land Dragon! Its already decided that I am supreme! Are your eyes just a pair of black holes you idiot Storm Dragon! You all clearly dont know about my beauty! How bad is the blood circulation to your head Frost Dragon! Im sorry Maria, these stupid dragons are troubling you with their idiocy. Youre the biggest idiot here, Mr. Formerly a Metal Eater Chaos Dragon! Haaah. Frau, if you would. Understood Ellis. *GON* *GON* *GON* *GON* *GON* Each of the dragons took a similar pose, hunched down on the ground with their hands covering their heads after Frau belted each of their crowns with the hammer part of her dark mithril halberd. Not sure how to respond here, Maria decided to keep her mouth shut. After taking a deep breath, Maria ordered Ellis and the others to wait patiently in a nearby room until Duke Marsfield arrived. They all calmly followed her inside with no more outbursts. After a while, the councilroom became loud signaling the arrival of Duke Marsfields entourage. Maria had obtained information in advance suggesting he had brought a large number of people with him, but the number of escorts totaling 100 was far larger than what she had anticipated. Apparently the Duke was mixing business with pleasure, creating plans to go play in the city while investigating the issues with the Dragon Maidens, and all of these people were looking to join in on the fun. Maria called in all the other council members and resident representatives to deal with the crowd while she took care of the official guests. We welcome you back Duke Marsfield, and the capitols emissaries as well. My name is Maria, the chairman for Trade City Warrens city council. The formal greetings are a pain. My names Chaffee, the official the capitol sent. My wife and daughter are with me for the same reason. With the pleasantries out of the way, Maria led the Duke and Chaffees family to the nearby guest room. The escorts werent formal messengers, so the other guild masters and council members ushered them in to a seperate room. As soon as the Duke and Chaffee took a seat in the guest room, Maria began talking. So todays main agenda is about the matters concerning the Guardian Dragons and the Dragon Maidens. Lets begin the arrangements. As expected of Maria, youre so quick to the point. Well then if you would introduce Lord Chaffee to Warrens Jewelry Box. Maria rose with a smile and left to another room. When she returned, it was with another five silent individuals following after her. They were a blond-haired warrior in heavy armor, a blue, short haired swordsman, a red-haired magician, a black-haired thief, and a gray colored cat warrior. Maria remained silent, but Duke Marsfield was boisterously laughing hard enough for the both of them. At this point Lord Chaffee had already risen to his feet and politely greeted the five. This is our first time meeting, but my name is Chaffee, a lower seated aristocrat from the royal capitol. Behind me is my wife Bizon and daughter Mebett. But I must say Im a little embarrassed, Id heard in the capitol that Warrens Jewelry Box was a team of women, but now Im seeing a row of good looking men. Really now, rumors cant be counted on at all. Behind him, Bizon and Mebett were suspiciously staring at the short haired swordsman. Noticing their gazes, he gave them both a wink causing their cheeks to blush. Madame Maria, lets not tease the man too much. And Duke Marsfield finally spoke out against what was going on. Maria on her part clapped the back of her head with her hand like a naughty child before lightly knocking on the door she had entered a moment before. Five girls in matching jackets and pants walked into the room afterwards. Chaffee and his family did a double take comparing these new entries to the men from before. Maria finally explained. Sir Chaffee, these five here are Warrens Jewelry Box. And Ms. Bizon, Lady Mebett, I do believe one of your relatives is among them. Reeve stepped forward at Marias signal. This is our first time meeting Sir Chaffee. And sorry for staying silent Sister Bizon. Chaffee was sucking on his lips after that greeting, but Bizon on the other hand was finally able to come to her senses and return the greeting. Its been a long time Reeve. And when I finally see you again, youre a celebrity with the renowned Jewelry Box. What happened to the little sister I had to take care of? Wait, then who are these men? Chaffee interrupted the twos reunion after suddenly regaining his own bearings. Duke Marsfield didnt provide him an answer directly, instead rising to his feet and bowing to the men. It is an honor to meet with you all again Guardian Dragons. Forgive me for the imposition I must put on you today, and I can do little more than thank you for your cooperation. The messenger family wasnt sure what to say. The men meanwhile rested their hands on their chests and politely returned the Dukes greeting. Maybe we should quit the gag, Ellis. As the heavily armored warrior spoke up towards the blonde-haired girl behind him, the girl in question stepped forward and addressed the messengers. Its an honor to meet you honored messengers. Youre here to see the five dragons, and here they are. At the end of Elliss greetings, the men disappeared from inside their equipment. Afterwards, five miniature dragons came crawling out of their clothes and climbed up on their maidens. Having calmed the others down, Duke Marsfield asked that Ellis introduce all of the dragons and explain what they were all doing in Warren. Ellis gave them the lie they had all prepared in advance. As the Demon Lord started to move, the dragons started seeking out contractors in order to protect themselves from his orders by forming another, stronger bond. The Land Dragon Ra-chin was the first to find Ellis and make her into his Dragon Maiden. From him the news spread, and the other dragons came seeking their own Dragon Maidens. It was just a perfect coincidence that all five members of the Jewelry Box were qualified for the contract. As the explanation continued, Duke Marsfield interrupted every once in a while to ask his own questions. Could I ask what these qualifications to become a Dragon Maiden are? This was the first, most obvious question that the girls knew they were going to be asked. Regarding this, Ellis and the others had decided to respond with the truth this time around. As it stood finding another dragon or a qualified person would be difficult, and all five of them had already made their own contract. It was however decided that it would be best if Ra-chin were to provide the answer. My apologies, I acted rudely when asked before because I was enjoying my tea at the time. I will explain the conditions properly this time. The conditions for becoming a Dragon Maiden involved having a strong mental power and being a pure-hearted maiden. You needed a strong heart to not fear the dragons, a will to walk beside them, and the determination to preserve your innocence for the rest of your life. I wonder how many ladies like that exist among you humans. The Duke sat back in his chair and silently thought to himself at the Land Dragons words. His point was certainly a valid one. Under normal circumstances anyone would fear a dragon. And even if they could somehow get over that fear, a willingly spend the rest of your life in service to that dragon? A person naturally growing that way was impossible. But then the small Mebett rushed forward to Reeve. Aunt Reeve, its nice to meet you. My name is Mebett. Would it be alright if you introduced me to your Guardian Dragon? The indifferent face Reeve had been holding until now melted away into something more compassionate. Oh, its nice to meet you Mebett. My dragon is this little one, the Storm Dragon, thats with me. With Reeves introduction, the mini dragon popped his head out from under his wing and shook his little nose at the girl. He wasnt out for long before he withdrew his head again though. But Mebett didnt care and quickly turned back to her parents. Father, Mother, could I be tested to see if I qualify? The two parents werent able to immediately reply. For them, Mebett was their precious only daughter. Suddenly handing her over so she could serve a dragon for the rest of her life wasnt something they could just say yes to. But Duke Marsfield stepped in and pushed the issue. Ellis, could you give it a try? Ellis and the other girls had expected this development. So it was just a matter of which dragon they would use to administer the test. Claire gave a small suggestion at that. Because shell need to know about the qualities of the dragons, we should head out to the square. Thus the meeting was moved to a more open space. Mebett was sure she could do it. She was the niece to a wonderful Dragon Maiden, and the dragons she had seen looked absolutely lovely, cute, pretty, charming, and fancy. She would gladly accept such a dragon in her life. Well then Mebett. Could you stand right here? Mebett followed Claires instructions and stood at the very center of the city square. Seeing how giddy with anticipation the young girl was, Claire made a wry smile. Now then, if you would Pi-tan. Following Claires instructions, the little miniature dragon did a small dance right off her head. And then with a flash of light, he returned to his original size. It should go without saying that the young Mebett was completely overtaken by fear at the huge and terrifying dragon that suddenly appeared before her and promptly fainted. There was the unfortunate bonus of her leaking as well. 1. Finding an actual name that matched with the katakana the author used was much more difficult than I had originally thought it would be. CH 125 My name is Mebett Chaffee.1 Im six years old, and I live in the Royal Capitol Skycastle. Father is always working inside the castle, and Mother always works at home while telling me to study. I can already do my multiplication tables to the end. Father and Mother praise me for it to no end. Along with everyone else, they all call me a taro2 girl. They say it whenever they brush my head, so Im pretty sure theyre using taro girl for praise. One day Father said to Mother, Were going to Warren, and then he turned to me and said, Mebett, lets go on a trip to the Trade City! Mother was making a grumpy face, but after hearing Fathers story, it seems like she was convinced. Mebett, lets see if you have the qualities to deal with a dragon. Because Mother was saying those kinds of things as well, I made a cheerful answer. Understood, Father, Mother. And then on the day of our departure. Father was ranting about something. We dont have enough guards, the Braves have betrayed us! were the words he was shouting. Is the Hero who betrayed Father a bad person? I asked mother. She responded by putting a finger up to her mouth, The Hero isnt a bad person, however, hes missing a little bit up here. and pointed up to her head. Finally, Lets keep that a secret between us though, she said to me with a mischievous smile. Un, its a secret Mother. The carriage ride was really boring. Mother thought it was a good opportunity to have me study, but it is hard to write and calculate in a bumpy wagon. And then two days after we left the capitol. Well arrive at Citadel City Marsfield soon, and from there is Trade City Warren. While we were riding in the carriage, Father spoke to us from on top of his horse. Father was also helping to protect our carriage. But then one of the escort uncles suddenly started shouting. Monsters are coming! I timidly stuck my head out from the back of the carriage. Hiii! A bunch of scary monsters were chasing after us, some even flying through the air. Looking at them all made me scared, so I hugged Mother. Its all right Mebett. Father and the others will surely keep you safe. Mother hugged me close so that I could feel safe. But I could hear the escort uncles screams through the walls. And when a few shadows came up from behind the carriage, Mother hugged me even tighter. Scary, scary, scary! Its all right Mebett, just stay calm! But then a loud roar cut through the air, and the outside lit up with a dazzling light. All of a sudden the uncles outside started to cheer. Mothers arms slackened around me, and the two of us went to see what was going on outside. Thats when I saw the dragon knight gracefully jump off the dragon flying overhead. The dragon knight cut the monsters that were on the carriage one after another with a thin sword. I clasped both my hands together in prayer, Dragon knight, And then Mother started yelling beside me, You! Arent you Reeve! Hey, look over here! Not being able to hear Mothers voice, the dragon knight re-mounted the dragons back, and flew away. Mother, whos Reeve? Mother answered my question. Thats the name of my youngest sister. That would make her your aunt. By the way, I suppose shed already be sixteen now. The dragon knight could possibly be my aunt! My heart soared to the heavens, and Mr. Marsfield noticed that fact with a smile. He was the one who told me my aunt was a Dragon Maiden. Ah, I want to meet you soon. I want to meet you Auntie. A few days later we finally arrived at the Trade City Warren, and we immediately headed to the council. Mother told me before that Warren didnt have any lords, and everything was decided by the council members. After that we were introduced to some people called Warrens Jewelry Box. These people are, theyre the famous jewelry box people? I continued to just stare at them. And I started to feel uncomfortable. These were all men any way you looked at them. Very handsome men. I thought that the man with long hair was the other days dragon knight for a moment, but his hair style and height were different. But then he noticed my gaze, and Mr. Blue Hair gave me a wink. Oh, so embarrassing. After that, five women came into the room, and Maria introduced us to them. Sir Chaffee, these five here are Warrens Jewelry Box. And Ms. Bizon, Lady Mebett, I do believe one of your relatives is among them. And then a beautiful elder sister with long hair greeted us. This is our first time meeting Sir Chaffee. And sorry for staying silent Sister Bizon. Father was left surprised, but Mother took a step forward to talk to the older sister in front of me. Its been a long time Reeve. And when I finally see you again, youre a celebrity with the renowned Jewelry Box. What happened to the little sister I had to take care of? My aunt was a more beautiful older sister than I ever could have imagined. And then the men that had been brought out before all disappeared. In their places were a group of small dragons; lovely, cute, pretty, charming, and fancy dragons. Father started using some difficult words, but I kept staring at Aunt Reeve. But then I heard the story about the Dragon Maidens, and I was confident. Because Im a taro girl. Besides, this beautiful and reliable looking person is my aunt. As her niece I should also be able to become a dragon knight. I was worried that I wouldnt be able to keep my aunts flying dragons eye on me. And then came the test. When I came out into the square, I stood in the middle like all the other women told me to. There was a fancy-sized black dragon hovering in front of me. He was so cute. But then he suddenly got bigger. What appeared was a huge evil dragon with a horrible figure that Ive never seen before. I got so scared that I could feel my pants getting wet, and then everything went black. I could hear a voice in my ear. Shes a discerning girl, or so we thought, but after all she isnt qualified. That was Mr. Marsfields voice. I woke up. I found that I was being embraced by someone, and when I slowly raised my face, there was the face of a beautiful lady looking down on me. It seems Mebetts woken up. Im sorry to have scared you like this. Theres no such thing. Certainly that evil dragon was scary looking, but it was all worth it to be held by my aunt. Auntie Reeve, would it be alright if I called you Big Sister? I worked up my courage and asked for it. Ah, Im not really old enough where people should be calling me Auntie, so I guess Sister would be better. Big sister Reeve spoke to me with an honest smile. My head was in complete bliss. I love my new big sister. However, an annoying voice spoke up and interrupted my dreaming. Reeve, if we dont hurry up and get ready the day will be over. Sorry Mistress. Ill get ready soon. There was a blonde-haired girl who seemed a little older than me ordering Big Sister Reeve around. Shes cute, but why is she ordering around my big sister? I dont like it. I was promptly returned to Mother and Father. Then Big Sister got on to her flying dragons back with the cute blonde girl sitting next to her. If you dont mind waiting, Ill pick you all up again soon. As she was saying so, Big Sister flew off into the air with another birdlike dragon next to her. 1. So apparently Chaffee is their family name. As far as I could tell reading back they never mentioned the fathers first name, so like with Duke Marsfield theyre just showing their respect for him. 2. Taro root isnt too common in North America, but its actually really tasty. The truth is Im not too sure what a taro girl is in reference to, but since taro is sweet, Im assuming that its a synonym for sweet as pie or other similar idioms. CH 126 I am Mebett Chaffee. This morning I am arrived in Trade City Warren along with Mother and Father. Today was really surprising. The dragon knight who saved me earlier in fact really was my aunt. I also met the 5 dragons who live in Warren. And.I was not able to qualify to become a Dragon Maiden. Im kind of sad. After my exam, the Dragon Maidens all flew away on top of two dragons. The Dragon Maidens really are wonderful. Big Sister Reeve, ah, I was also allowed to call Reeve Big Sister. Im glad. The beauty of my Big Sister really is the best. The person next to her was someone called Katie whose whole body was covered in white fur. I fell in love with her gray eyes. But that Frau really was like a model. She looked kind and full of elegance.and she had the big chest that I yearn to have. Talking to Claire made me feel like she could be my actual sister. I could talk to her freely about anything. I dont know about that other one, the blonde haired girl. She is constantly swaggering about, speaking directly to Mr. Marsfield, ordering around Big Sister Reeve; I dont like her in various ways. Why is such a disgusting child qualified to be a Dragon Maiden when a taro girl like me isnt? The world is so unfair. Mebett, is sounds like Maria is going to guide us around Warren. When Father called out to me, I joined my hand with Mothers and went outside. Duke Marsfield, Sir Chaffee, its a shame, but Im afraid that Lily Garden prohibits men from entering. Please do stay away unless you wish to become Scarlet Laundry. Instead, since a new hotel just recently opened up on Gentlemans Street, I will be showing you there tonight. The Jewelry Box has already prepared a room for Mebett and Bizon, so I will be guiding you there. Maria explained to us what we would be doing tonight. It feels like a long time since I last got to sleep in a bed. Im looking forward to it. Well then lets begin with Cross Town. With Maria in the lead and some of the uncles acting as our escorts, we started south from the large building. After walking for a while, I smelt something good that made me hungry. From here on is Cross Town. On the right you will find Warrens new specialty steamed food at the Steam Kitchen. Well start off by having lunch there today. After saying something to one of the uncles, he continued to run somewhere further south. After that we went into the store with the four of us, Maria, and two more uncle escorts. The shop had a good smell in it. Mati, thanks for having us. Maria called out as we entered the shop, and then from the back, Certainly nya! a reply from a beastman came back. Soon a little rabbit girl came up carrying some dishes. Because its all cooked with a lot of steam, the end product is healthy as all the excess oils fall off. Mother responded ever-so-slightly to the word healthy. She loves such words. The food was some fish and chicken with vegetables. The crepe that it was all bundled together in was delicious. What about the lunch for the other escort uncles? Mebett sure is kind. Dont worry, we have already delivered some bread from the other steamed restaurant so that they can eat while working. Maria praised me. We took a short rest after finishing our meal, but we were soon walking outside again. On our left Ellis Finance is currently building a large-scale facility. It should be completed soon, so please do return on that occasion. Mr. Marsfield asked Maria what kind of facility it was. Then after Maria took a quick glance back at me, she whispered something to Mr. Marsfield. He said that it sounded fun and couldnt wait. I wonder what that means. Next up there was a boutique on our left and a cafe on our right. Both of them were smaller than the ones we have in the capitol, but they looked fashionable. But then I saw a wide-looking building further down the road to my right. That is our live house. We actually used the opera house in the Citadel City as a reference when we built it. Its only a third of the opera houses size, but it can hold 300 people. Whats a live house? But, it doesnt look like anything is going on right now. This time a nice smell began wafting through the air. This is the Jewelry Box Teahouse that sells Lorenburg tea from Wheat Grace. It is one of the Guardian Dragons favorite places. Then as if having just realized something, Duke Marsfield started laughing. Well well, when you think about it I guess a dragon sitting there enjoying tea is just a sign of how peaceful things are! I dont understand what he means. There was the bakery that Maria had mentioned earlier on our right. The name seems to be the Warren Specialty Steamed Bread Store. This time the air smelled really sweet. This is the Jewelry Box Cake Shop, the first shop that opened here in Cross Town. Their specialty is the Five Colored Steam Cakes. Then one of the uncles handed me a basket. Mebett, there are cakes insides, so have some for a snack later. When I looked inside, there was a line of beautifully colored, soft-looking sweets resting underneath a napkin. Im looking forward to it. Cross Town stops here. From this point on is Lily Garden, so if you could courteously refrain. As she explained this to all of us, Maria looked up into the sky. Ah, theyre back. If youd take a look over there. Maria pointed towards the sky to the south, and everyones eyes naturally followed. Then, what had started off as a black dot soon became bigger and bigger. It was the Storm Dragon flying while carrying the Land Dragon in its arms, and the Phoenix dragon was flying next to it. The Land Dragon was slowly dropped on the ground in front of the surprised us. And a voice came with it. Apart from Duke Marsfield here, we also have Sir Chaffee welcoming us. It was Grandfather Leopold and Grandmother Lux who came down from the Land Dragons back. I remember because they visited us when they were in the capitol. The other three were Ms. Katie, Ms. Claire, and the blonde-haired girl. Next the Phoenix Dragon descended. Yo, if it isnt Duke Marsfield and Sir Chaffee, how you doing? Brother-in-law, Big Sis, how are you? Grandpa Ferdinand and Hymel jumped off the back of the Phoenix Dragon. I wonder why the two of them could ride a dragon. Afterwards Ms. Frau descended as well. She was so elegant and beautiful as she fell to her feet. Finally the Storm Dragon landed as well, and Big Sister Reeve dropped to the ground. Mou, shes so beautiful I think Im going to die. Sorry for making you wait Mebett, I had to pick up Grandpa Fel and the others. Big Sister Reeve stroked my head. I wonder if I should stop washing my hair starting today. Alright everybody, lets take a break here. The blonde-haired girl started ordering around all the other older girls again. Annoying. But, because Im a fine lady who wouldnt cause a scene here, I put up with it for now and was sent to a town house. And so tonight the men will be having dinner and looking for accommodations at Gentlemans Street while the women are welcome to eat at Lily Garden. What will Hymel be doing? Dont mess with me Ellis, obviously Im determined to spend the night at Gentlemans Street! Hm? Hymel seemed somewhat unreliable when I met him before, but he sounds confident and looks a little cool now. He is also calling that little girl without any honorifics. Im getting a little nervous. That evening, we left Father and went to the women-only restaurant to the south. There were nine of us including the five Jewelry Box girls, Grandma Lux, Mother, and Maria. We were full of pretty aunts and sisters. Reeve, should you show off as a special service? That little girl is acting all proud around my big sister. Im really angry. But Maria went ahead and agreed with her. Reeve, if you would. Then looking not as annoyed as she probably wanted us to believe, Big Sister rose out of her seat and left the shop. In the meantime, food was carried out. There was no share for my big sister though. I was getting a little worried. Ah, the light in the shop suddenly dimmed. But there was one place that remained bright. Mother and I turned our gazes there, towards the person standing there.. Maria made the introductions for the shops customers. We have special guests straight from the capitol today, so to celebrate, we will be having Reeve sing specially! I hope everyone else enjoys it as well! The inside of the shop was filled with cheers. From various places I could hear people talking about how lucky they were and how they had dreamed about such a chance. But then one voice loudly rang out, and everyone became silent. . I was crying. While Big Sister Reeve was glamorously singing on her own, I looked on and fell in love. My head had gone completely blank. After she had finished her song, my sister gave us a brilliant bow, and she slyly returned to her seat. Grandmother was wearing a bright smile and Mother sarcastically mentioned how she was as good as ever. And then to my great delight, my big sister asked me for my feedback. How was it Mebett? Absolutely wonderful! It was the only thing I could say. I wanted to tell her more, but I dont know the words to describe how I feel. I need to study more. After the meal we separated from Maria, and all the older girls guided us to our room. I would be staying with Grandmother and Mother. It seems like were staying in what was originally a different building that had been connected. We were then all taken to the baths. Mother and I were surprised. I have never seen such a magnificent bath, even in the capitol. Clean hot water kept flowing in, and the bright bathroom lights were fantastic. Grandmother told us about cleaning off with the hot water before entering the soaking water. What surprised me next was watching all the older girls washing their dragons with a whistle. I stood behind my big sister and watched her go. She was gently washing the ultramarine flying dragon with her hands while the dragon had a pleased look on his face. Are there any places that are itchy Su-chan? Everythings fine Reeve Su-chan? I asked my big sister about it. Ah, its the name for the Storm Dragon. Mebett, would you like to try washing him too? I immediately extended my hand outwards. But when the dragon glared at me, I brought it back out of fear. Heh, as expected of Reeves niece. Ill allow you to wash me. Su-chan completely melted for me. Im a little happy. Meanwhile, the blonde girl was delightedly singing a vulgar song with Ms. Katie. Stupid. Why is such a person with my big sister? I wonder if she is some rich girl or something. And that night. After being shown the dragons beds, we returned to our guest room. Ms. Frau kept some of the lights on for us, and she also told us the location of the toilet. I was surprised at this toilet. It felt good and could become a habit for me. There is apparently another type developed by Ms. Claire that comes with a shower which well be getting as a present. Mother was overjoyed. Im happy too. And then good night. Mother was tired, lying down on a bed for the first time in a long time, and quickly fell asleep. Grandmother fell asleep soon after as well. But I was too excited to sleep. Today was too wonderful of a day. Oh Big Sister, I wonder if youre still awake. I decided to act like a wanted man for a bit. As the lights were still lit, I was able to easily move out of my room and quietly crept to Big Sisters. I quietly took a peek through her doors keyhole just in case. Id feel awful if she was already asleep after all. Big Sister was there sitting on her bed naked. But the situation was somewhat strange. I could hear her heavy breathing from here. And her face, rather than the gallant look she made during the daytime, it was now fleeting, crying, weak, yet still so pretty. I watched on fascinated. Then, a small pair of hands came from behind and wrapped around Big Sisters naked breasts. Big Sister leaked out a voice every time those hands moved. Someone was behind her. One of those hands moved from her breast and to her chin, forcing her face to look to the side. Big Sister was embarrassed, but she did as she was told and turned her head. Ah, Mistress. After squeezing out such a voice, Big Sister kissed someone for a long time. That person, it was that pretty blonde girl. And then that girls eyes looked up and met with mine. . I couldnt move. I dont know why. I couldnt say anything. My eyes were absolutely captured by the eyes of that other girl and on the sight of her and my Big Sister. As one hand stayed on Big Sisters breast, the other one gradually made its way down. Big Sister finally finished her kiss and began staring longingly at the girl. But the girl kept her eyes trained on me as she continued her bullying. It was beautiful. It was beautiful to see the blonde girl, Ellis, and Big Sister Reeve hug each other. The staggered breathing of the two was pleasant to the ear. I couldnt move. After Big Sister made a loud scream, she looked completely exhausted. At the same time, I felt myself drifting off, and I quickly fell asleep. This child was peeping. I was aware about halfway through. Its fine. I already used a Sleep ring on her, so help me carry her to her room. Okay. Once you get back, itll be time for round two. I worked up a lot of stress today and need to work it out. Ah, Ill be waiting, Mistress. The next morning I woke up next to my mother. Was yesterday just a dream? When we were all called for breakfast, the blonde girl spoke to me. Mebett, were you able to sleep well last night? When I saw that smile, I was taken captive. Why did I hate Ms. Ellis so much? Shes such a wonderful person. Ms. Ellis has been kind to me since then. She let me ride on the back of the Land Dragon. She also bought me a beautiful one piece at the boutique. I was so happy that I asked Ellis, Ms. Ellis, if it wouldnt be annoying, could I call you Big Sister Ellis? Thats fine Mebett. You can think of Frau, Claire, and Katie all as your sisters as well. I felt my heart soar to the heavens. And then Big Sister Ellis suddenly planted a kiss on my lips, and a shock of electricity ran through my whole body. This is our little secret. Elliss eyes seemed like they were looking right through me, and I couldnt help but smile as my cheeks burned hot. Big Sister, I love you! CH 127 Ellis instructed Frau to give her dragon some training. That was why she paid a visit to Margherita who was a professional when it came to training those under her. Margherita, these clothes, arent they just a little too risky? What are you saying Frau? A dark look is the way to go. Somewhere in the distance, the Demon Lord sneezed. 1. Its the Japanese sound effect for large breasts. 2. In Japanese, this saying actually has two meanings. The first is just like in English, to get started right away, but the second means that it is good to pass things on to someone while theyre young. Margherita is using the second meaning here I believe. CH 128 This was the council room for the Warren Council. Inside were Duke Marsfield, Sir Chaffee, Lord Leopold, Former Lord Ferdinand, the Council Chairman Maria, and the associate member of the council Ellis. Todays agenda was an information exchange about the current situation for the Almerian continent and the effect that the five dragons in Warren was having. Ellis was called in on behalf of all the Dragon Maidens. In fact, we have been able to confirm several reports about monster attacks that seem to be linked to some demonic power. Duke Marsfield continued. The largest attack by far was the massive invasion in Warren. There were still a number of unanswered questions there. Then there was the covenant between the previous Lord of Wheat Grace and the demon that was exposed by the Hero. In fact, weve already confirmed the hiding place of some demons and monsters in Marsfield. According to the Duke, this was the current extent to demon infiltration in large cities, but there have been sporadic attacks and raids done by demons in the surrounding rural areas, fishing villages, and post towns. Especially in the south there were cases where all the residents in entire villages would be taken. Ellis remembered Ken and Shin, but if she were to bring up their pasts here, theyd probably end up punished for them. Maria shared a look with Ellis at the same time, clearly thinking about the same thing. Thats why, the capitol decided to use one of the achievements from Wisdom here. When the duke made a signal, some of his men entered carrying what appeared to be a stuffed bear toy. This is the Howling Plush Toy, and if I remember right, it should be able to transfer the sound around one toy to another over extremely large distances. However the drawback is that communication can only be done one on one through this. Thats why a plush toy will be put inside each city to be used in case of an emergency. Until now, even if you were able to send out a message, it would take two or three days for reinforcements to arrive from another city. It would be meaningless if there was a sudden attack from demons. But now there was the Hero who could move between cities in an instant. In addition there were two dragons in Warren that had the ability to fly. This tool would prove to be very effective from now on against any sudden invasions. But I have to ask, why are they plush toys? After Maria asked, the Duke responded while looking over at Ellis. Its apparently the hobby of the development teams leader. She so happens to be the mother of one of the Dragon Maidens. Izerina! Thats right. Thanks to the achievements that her and Ares have been able to accrue in the world of magic, the couple has already gained the right to freely go wherever they want on the continent. I see, Ill have to go tell Claire right away, was what Ellis was happily thinking to herself. The pair of plush toys were distributed with one pair going from Wheat Grace to Warren, and the second pair leading from Warren to Marsfield. Leopold would be in charge of his plush toy in Wheat Grace while the duty of overseeing the two in Warren would fall to Maria. Things will start to get busy from now on. Sitting between two sighing dragons, Ellis was the only one who was laughing. And after a long time, this is the Demon Lords Castle. Hey, Berunal Hey, Berunal I wonder what could cure this bad mood. Berunal had arrived at the entrance to Masters Hideaway, but the woman at the reception desk refused to let her in and threw her out. Afterwards she came up with a good solution. She would just have the Demon Lord accompany her inside. So she immediately headed over to Dundees Shangri-La and sent out a message asking for assistance. However the Demon Lord never came out. For two hours Berunal was left waiting in front of the storefront to paradise, getting more frustrated as time went on. Seeing the Demon Lords satisfied expression when he finally came out after two hours just made it worse. And then there was the happy-looking woman who came out with him. The last straw was when it became clear that the Demon Lord had completely forgotten about her and returned to the castle alone. That was why Berunal was so angry right now. The upset Berunal had already hit eight demon executives and urged them to hurry up and find those missing claws. That was the reason why the demon army had become so active in their plundering lately. Yosh, I just came up with a good idea. Berunal, how about we go to Warren today? I havent made any reservations today, so I can just quietly sit back. If youre going to say that, then I guess there is no other way. Let me go pick out an outfit. Despite her calm and uncaring words, Berunal returned to her room with a skip to her step. It seems that when changing between male and female, the brain isnt completely reconstructed, meaning that she had lost her usual cool demeanor. Could you step on me like that? And the Demon Lords soliloquy echoed for no one to hear. The stage returns to Warren once again. The inspection party would end up staying another night. It seems that last night all of the men stubbornly argued over how to spend their remaining time with no consensus ever being met. Those on Duke Marsfields side all wanted to go feel good at Dundees Shangri-La while those behind Former Lord Ferdinand all wanted to try their hand at gambling inside Masters Hideaway, so it was decided that they would extend their visit one day. In the shadows, there were also a few guards who wanted to check out Revitalizing Home and Mercury Bar after hearing the rumors. By the way, the more serious Leopold and Lux couple went home with Frau giving them a ride back to Wheat Grace. And so, Team Tuna: Duke Marsfield, the accompanying Citadel City Guild Masters, and escorts. Team Duck: Ferdinand, Lord Chaffee, and escorts. The men were cleanly split into two separate groups. Although it seems like Sir Chaffee would be visiting Warren again sometime in the future, this time without his family. Team Tuna would be left to Marias guidance while Ellis would be left to take care of Team Duck along with the women and children. So, what should we do? Ellis was quick to dump Team Duck into Reeves capable hands however. So then all that was left was to figure out what to do with the remaining Mebett, Bizon, and Hymel. That was when Katie and a humanoid Ah-nyan started a small story in front of their three guests. Hey, Katie, do you know something weird? Nyan has two different ways to be spelled nya? Yes, no, girls have father complexes. Girls have father complexes nya. But boys have mother complexes. Whys it like that? Because they love breasts! Nyahahahaha!1 Bizon and Frau both burst out laughing here. Mebett and Hymel meanwhile took a step back while Ellis and Claire were filled with a mixture of shame and anger. Enough with the Nyahaha funny stuff! Claire, Mebett, Hymel, were going to the Workshop Guild and playing with Mogemoge-kun! Looking furious, Claire and Ellis brought Mebett and Hymel to the Workshop Guild while Katie and Frau took Bizon to the live house. Katies group managed to arrive at the live house just in time to see a Pine Bamboo show. Elliss group meanwhile started a battle royal match with four palm-sized Mogemoge-kuns that Claire had built for testing purposes. The fights actually developed into something pretty interesting, and guild members placed bets on the fights as they watched during their lunch breaks. The rules were simple. They fought each other on top of a cloth stretched out over an upside-down tub. You lose if your Mogemoge-kun tips over or falls off the tub. It is an active game of strategy with irregular movements because of its eight legs, and the way the body moves is unexpectedly important. Originally Mogemoge-kun operated with a ring through the users consciousness, but it was proved difficult focusing on the ring to drive the machine while also paying attention to your surroundings. Thats why Claire turned the controller into a box with two rods that allow you to move it back and forth or side to side. All the operator has to do now is focus their mana into the box, and they can move Mogemoge-kun while also having the leeway to watch where theyre going. These four mini-Mogemoge-kuns were the prototypes for this new operating system. The youngsters inside the Workshop Guild couldnt play for long because theyd use up their mana pretty quickly. Mebett and Hymel on the other hand had been given Spiritrings by Ellis. Since these two have absolutely no idea how golems move, its natural that they dont think that somethings off here with the rings theyve been given however. And with Ellis here theyre mana will never run out, and they can play for as long as they want. Yosh, then next will be a team battle! First will be Hymel and me against Claire and Mebett! I want Ellis! Today Ill make you eat my attack! Thus, while Ellis, Claire, Mebett, and Hymel played with their little robots like a bunch of boys on a playground, the adults around them were gambling their money away on the games results. Ah, sorry, Hymel really is a boy. 1. I worked on this dialogue for at least an hour. It was awful, trying to find out what the punchline here was. Then I finally realized, there isnt one. The punchline is that little boys like breasts, and there was no wordplay or double meaning like what I was looking for. It never pays to overthink things folks, and youll always hate yourself when you do. CH 129 Dont do it, Grandpa Fel Hohoho, this is the difference in our years. This was the Masters Hideaway VIP room. The people inside were currently caught up in a game of Warren Numbers. There were ten people total with Former Lord Ferdinand, Sir Chaffee, the head escort, Baltis, Theseus, Flint, Maria, Nicole, Ichiro, and Reeve at the table. They had all been playing at one of the general tables earlier, but they all moved to the VIP room so theyd be able to play in earnest. Sir Chaffees group were a bunch of newbies, but they were quick to pick up on the game. So, they were able to continue without sustaining any large injuries. The members of Warrens Council were already veterans. And of course there was Lady Bluegreen there as well. But among the group of them there was Grandpa Fel who was a head above. After several hands his granddaughter had given him the nickname, Teaser Eel. It was impossible to fully get a grasp on his habits. That doesnt mean it was impossible to win when Grandpa Fel was dealing, but if you were trying to go in for a large hand, youd end up losing everything. He had managed to remain inconspicuous for a while there until he pulled out a ridiculously crazy win. Inside the VIP room, the tension had set, and nobody said anything unnecessary. Each of them were reading the others expressions. War had begun. Welcome Todays bellboy Minoru quietly raised his right hand and greeted the Demon Lord as he walked into the store with Berunal wearing a fiery crimson dress hanging on his left arm. The receptionist also saw the Demon Lord come in, and with a smile, Welcome Mr. Straw Hat, greeted him. In truth, the Demon Lord was actually quite popular at the Hideaway. It was said that he was Margheritas favorite customer, he had quite the blunt personality, and he was quite free with his money. The reason why everyone kept a distance from him was actually because of the long conversations he had with the man who everyone had already figured out was the Hero. Rumors had started to spread that he was actually the secret child of a lord or some kind of high-level sorcerer, and in the meantime everyone had taken to calling him Mr. Straw Hat to show their respect. Berunal on the other hand was technically a newcomer here. But with her black hair, dark eyes, and skin white as pottery, she was seen as an outrageous beauty. There was nothing the women inside the store could do other than keep their distance. At the reception desk, Berunal finished exchanging her money for some chips and began walking towards the game room while pulling the Demon Lord along. Halfway there they spotted Margherita who was wearing a rare deep purple dress. The fact that she wasnt wearing black meant she wasnt seeing any customers today. Oh Bell, what are you doing here today? Margherita approached them while glancing over at Berunal. The Demon Lord answered with an embarrassed look on his face. I brought this one here to the city before, but since shes a woman she couldnt come in. So, weve come together today. Hmm. Margherita was eyeing the appearance of Berunal wrapped around Berudeuss arm and a small flame sprouted in her heart. Is that so, then would you be happy to come and play with me? Im not scheduled to work today, but I dont mind if its Bell. Seriously? Seriously. You get what you get. This was an unexpected drop of good fortune for the Demon Lord. An offer without a reservation could only be answered with an OK! He really wanted to play around here. With that being the case, Berunal, will you be all right from here on? Berunals heart was already set in the game room. Great, then Ill meet you two hours from now. Thus the Demon Lord left the store alongside Margherita and Berunal made her way to the game room unaware of the animosity the other women in the store were aiming her way. Berunal roamed around the game room. There was unusually no vigor at the Warren Numbers table. There was also no sign of Machel or Matilda anywhere nearby. What she did eventually see however was the door to the VIP room. Berunal opened it without hesitation, and a raging inferno far beyond her expectations met her there. In the tense air, only the sound of the dealers number calls echoed off the walls. Berunal looked over the players faces and recognized a couple people she knew. A ferocious beauty like a lone wolf, Berunal walked over to Reeve and called to her from behind. Good evening. My name is Berunal. And I do believe you are Lady Bluegreen. Reeve was silent. I have heard rumors about you from my brother. You seem to be strong. Excuse me, but could you stay quiet until the end? Reeve batted her away looking irritated. Soon after, assistant Matilda walked over to Berunal. Honored Guest, the present location is quite tense. Please refrain from making any noise while inside the venue, Matilda whispered in Berunals ear before leading her to a vacant seat. Doing as she was told, Berunal silently waited for the game to finish. And once the game had ended, the atmosphere at the table relaxed all at once. Then Reeve called over to Berunal. Some time ago I spoke out and acted inexcusably. I was unable to remember Gramps habits, but I ended up taking my frustration out on you. By the way, are you possibly Beruiels sister? Yes actually. Im Berunal. I came here today on my brothers behalf. Then Baltis interjected himself into the conversation from the side. Is Missy also a gambler? Yes, my brother taught me some things. Theseus came in next with an enthusiastic smile. If its the Rosen Angels sister then would you be called the Rosen Princess? Well welcome. And so the next game was soon underway. Auauhhhh Auauhhhh Aaahhhhhhhhhn. The Demon Lord, after having finished his first round with Margherita after a barrage of her abusive words, was feeling hot from the fruit liquor Margherita had given him. Margherita then abruptly asked him a leading question. So that girl from before, does Bell know her well? The Demon Lord began laughing loudly. Indeed, shes the younger sister of one of my subordinates. You know the black haired guy who likes to come down here sometimes and gamble? Thats his sister. And whats her relationship with you? Even the insensitive Demon Lord was able to notice. Depending on how he answered, Margherita could turn cold on him. Uh, she really is the relative of an associate. For forms sake, Im taking care of her as a favor to that associate, but shes nothing more to me than just the sister of an acquaintance. Margherita was somewhat relieved. But then a message from a receptionist came through. Im sorry to interrupt your enjoyment, but Im afraid there was a sudden call for Mr. Straw Hat. Because the circumstances were a little unusual, we decided to rush here from the reception desk. The Demon Lord became suspicious of the receptionists words and recklessly rushed out while still naked. Margherita chased after him wearing only a thin line of silk to cover herself. When they arrived, they found Berunal waiting at the desk. With teeth clenched, she looked like she was trying to put on a strong front. You, its still early. Whats the matter? My Demon Lord. The Demon Lord walked over and quickly covered Berunals mouth. Leaning over towards her ear, he angrily whispered to have her at least call him Master or something when they were out in public. And then they tried again. My Master. What is it Berunal? Please lend me some money. You, didnt you go in with a million ril on you? But I lost.. Arent you good at this game? A heartless comment that brought a stream of tears careening down Berunals cheeks. Berunal had participated in a game inside the VIP room. She started off small during the early stages of the game betting little more than a thousand ril, but she almost immediately became drunk off the atmosphere in that place. The Teaser Eel Grandpa hit her with an intense thirst for blood. Everyone began reading the looks in each others eyes and the tension grew thick. The fire in her heart became alight. And then came the dealer change. Berunal had already lost a hundred thousand ril, so she recklessly raised her hand and volunteered to be the dealer. The jackpot was the final 900,000 ril she had left. 1st game was her complete victory with a 4. 2nd game she was brought back down to even with a 3. 3rd game was when everything changed. All ten players bet the maximum of 10,000 ril on two different cards. Berunal flipped over her 5 and all the other players flipped over their guesses one at a time. 5s all around. Everyone had bet on 5 resulting in an All Hit, and Berunal lost 200,000 ril in one game. 4th game. Berunal sent out another 5 and it was an All Hit once again. Fel, Reeve, and Maria had bet on a single card while the others went out on two. Berunal lost 290,000 ril this time. 5th game. Everyone bet on a single card. Berunal flipped over her choice revealing another 5. Three 5s in a row. It was a perfect reproduction for the game she had originally had with Reeve. She had lost that time, but this game would fix everything. However, every player revealed that they had also bet on 5. She had been completely read, and for the third time in a row it was an All Hit. Berunal had to pay 500,000 ril, but there wasnt that much money left in the jackpot. It was a Dealer Bust, and her turn at the table came to a screeching end. My Master, I cant return home like this. She had completely broken down. The Demon Lord borrowed his key and a towel from the receptionist at the desk and retrieved his wallet in his locker. He used the towel to wipe away Berunals tears and handed over some money. Here, is 800,000 enough? Thank you My Master! I will win my money back by all means! Berunal excitedly bowed while giving her thanks before returning to the store performing a cute little skip that didnt match the sexy, chic outfit she was wearing. Hm, I guess she might be like a younger sister to me too? Yes, shes really cute. But todays VIP room is like the nest of a beast. Well, if shes related to the Rosen Angel, then Im sure shell be fine. Dont worry about it. Come on, lets continue. For now, Id like you to step on my forehead. Youre always the same. Would black underwear with red, white, and pink heels be okay? Oh yes, please do. And so the two of them returned to their own games. Auauhhhh Auauhhhh Aaahhhhhhhhhn. Ill be sure to come again. Yes, Im looking forward to your next reservation. The Demon Lord took out the remaining 200,000 ril from his wallet, giving 150,000 to Margherita and the leftover 50,000 to the receptionist as a tip. He then returned to Masters Hideaway to pick up Berunal. Now, I wonder how Berunals feeling. After passing the reception desk, halfway towards the game room, the Demon Lord ended up seeing something at a tall table seat. What was there was the figure of a crying Berunal being comforted by Lady Bluegreen. CH 130 Alongside a crying Berunal there was also the neatly dressed Lady Bluegreen sitting in an adjacent chair comforting her. The Demon Lord had a hard time swallowing the situation. Mr. Straw Hat, your friend is waiting right over there. The Demon Lord felt a silent pressure coming from all the women in the store. He was able to understand that the friend the worker was talking about was Berunal. What he wasnt able to understand was the noticeable coldness coming from her words. The Demon Lord decided to put that to the side for a moment and talk to Berunal first. Whats happened Berunal, why are you crying? How about the beautiful lady over here, could you tell me why this girl is crying? You could call me her guardian. The fact that the man with the straw hat was the Demon Lord is a secret known by the members of Warrens Jewelry Box, so Reeve never bothered asking for any explanations from him. Instead she obediently gave a light explanation of what happened. She told him about how the girl had lost a lot of money in the VIP room and left, only to return looking bright and joyful. About a half an hour after that, she lost all of her money all over again. She was left stunned, and then she started crying. Reeve took the Rosen Princess out of the room to try and calm her down. Unfortunately no matter what she asked, Berunal would just keep crying and respond, Masters going to yell at me! That was probably why all the eyes of the women inside the store seemed to be so cold to him. The whole story made the Demon Lord wonder. It was clear that Beruiel had changed after becoming a women and becoming Berunal. At the very least, he wasnt the type of guy to break down and start crying. Thanks beautiful lady. Im Berudeus. Would you mind telling me your name as well? Im Reeve, a citizen of this city. By the way, the ril that this girl has lost cant be refunded since it was done in a fair game. Will that cause any problems? Ah, I cant just ask for the money back that was fairly gambled away. Well, thanks for playing with this girl until now. Reeve was honestly impressed watching the Demon Lord try and comfort the still crying Berunal by stroking the top of her head. Youd think a Demon Lord wouldnt act so casually with a subordinate who had just lost 1.8 million ril. Yosh Berunal, nothing else needs to be said, so lets go home for now. Master, sorry, sorry The Demon Lord wrapped his arm around the apologetic Berunals shoulders and took her hand in his before respectfully bowing to Reeve. Youve taken care of my subordinate until I arrived. Thank you. Reeve was impressed once again. She hadnt expected him to be the type of guy to be able to so sincerely say Thank you. The Demon Lord then made his way out of the store, holding Berunal gently in his arms. The dignity and care he took made all the previously cold looks from the women turn warm. The Demon Lord took Berunal and returned to his castle. After taking a seat on his throne, he looked down at Berunal who was weakly standing before him. Hey, Berunal . Yes, Master Aiya, this girl was still referring to him as Master. Shes lost her mind. The Demon Lord pressed forward trying to not let the little things bother him. Why were you crying back there? Berunal looked surprised. She stopped quietly staring at her feet and finally looked up into the Demon Lords eyes, but no words would come out. Its fine already, so speak honestly. I wont get angry. Berunal finally opened her mouth after the assurance. Its because I lost the 800,000 ril Master gave me after only half an hour. The Demon Lord had figured it was something like that. Still, it was clear that Berunal was far more emotional that Beruiel was. Those humans probably saw her as an easy mark. And why were you with that one Lady Bluegreen girl? Berunal replied, wiping her runny nose. She brought me out of that beasts nest and tried comforting me. Honestly, I did feel a little better after she kept insisting that Master would forgive me. Hmm. That girls pretty nice, the Demon Lord thought to himself. In the emantime, Berunal was still crying while wrapping herself up in her own crimson dress. Ill win next time, Ill win, so please forgive me Master.. Ah, the Demon Lord was able to understand that this girl had gone ahead and already created a goal for herself. Shes more focused on winning than actually getting back the money she had lost. So, the Demon Lord decided to bully her a little. Oi, Berunal Yes, Master You owe me a debt. .. Oi, you owe me. ..yes. So then, how are you going to pay me back? Berunals complexion started to change. Ill loot some of the neighboring villages. Idiot. Anything you loot from a village is mine to begin with. Well then, Ill win it back. You mean like the funds you were going to win back in the last game? .. Berunal, you mean like the funds you were going to win back in the last game? . Berunal, how about I buy your time? ????? Berunal, would you step on me? No. I will consider the 1.8 million ril debt gone if you step on me. His words caused Berunal to shut down. . Can I get another 1.8 million ril if I step on you twice? And Berunal took this farther than the Demon Lord intended. Still, her words served to convince the Demon Lord. After Beruiel turned into a woman, he misplaced a couple of screws during the process. And now as a gambling addicted woman, her thought process was becoming erratic and her values were becoming skewed. At the same time, some strange feeling were beginning to well up inside the Demon Lord when it came to Berunal. It was a rough and sweet feeling, completely different from how he felt for Margherita. The Demon Lord once again looked over Berunals face. While crying her black hair had become disheveled, and her pottery white skin shined beneath the tears. Her dark eyes had become as swollen red as her worn out dress that left part of her chest completely exposed. The hem of her dress stopped just short of her dainty ankles, but what was most adorable to him were the two clenched fists that seemed to be enduring. Hmm. Berunal, come over here. Berunal did as the Demon Lord commanded and walked to his side. Hmm. Berunal, sit here. Berunal once again did as she was told, lowering her waist and taking a seat on the Demon Lords lap. Hmm. Berunal, look this way. Berunal moved her tear-stricken face over to the Demon Lord as she was commanded. Her red, swollen, dark eyes looked into the Demon Lords. A single clear bead of water worked its way down her nose, falling across her blood red lips. It was beautiful. The Demon Lord involuntarily moved his lips towards hers, and enjoyed a long, deep kiss. After a while, the Demon Lord silently lifted Berunal into his arms and took her to his bedroom, throwing her onto his bed. If you resist Berunal, Ill kill you. Yes, Master The Demon Lord slowly ripped off what remained of her dress, and Berunal bared herself to the Demon Lord. This time, it was the Demon Lord who pelted Berunal with a barrage of insults, and she obediently accepted them all. When everything was done, Berunal had left a long scar on the Demon Lords back just as the Demon Lord had left a mark on her as well. Ah, it looks like Berudeus went out with the Demon Lord. We, what should we do from now on? Im going to go find those claws. I dont wanna fight the Demon Lord or that Hero. Im going to go eat some humans. I want to have some fun with some human females. Well Ill just torture some males. I cant say any of that sounds bad. Ah, we can only say that cause we havent lost to the Hero yet. So long as we keep stealing more ril for the army, nobodyll complain. We seriously have a happy, enjoyable life here. Ah, if we move our armies, we might end up like Zavnat. Its better to just play around and make small moves. Right, for now we can relax and spend our time attacking, torturing, bedding, murdering, or eating any humans we come across. Going out just sounds bothersome. Im just going to go out and stretch my power a bit. You want to come too? Yeah, that sounds like itll be fun. Oh, well then, everyone enjoy your exciting lives. On this day, all of the Demon Generals were released from Berunals bondage, and were able to spend their days doing whatever they wanted again. CH 131 A few days after the messengers returned to the royal capitol. Okay, todayll be busy from morning on! With Elliss declaration, the five members of Warrens Jewelry Box wolfed down their breakfast, and with their dragons in their arms, scattered in different directions. Heave-ho! While carrying Ra-chin on her back, Ellis headed over to Crosstown. Her role was to perform a final check on all the facilities and check with the business owners how things are going. This was to be done for every store that had gone under a major renovation recently. Her first stop was the boutique. This store, run by Plum, used to mainly sell womens clothes and other accessories. After the renovation, it has expanded its stock and offers rentals. The store now works under a new name, Masquerade. Plum, are the preparations for your store going well? Is that Ellis? Yes, its all thanks to your ideas. Thanks to everyones cooperation, I was able to prepare a lot of different rental costumes from the most basic of items to a few weird ones. Im really looking forward to tomorrows grand opening. Ellis was relieved at her words, and after waving farewell, headed to a nearby cafe next. What probably surprised Ellis most during this large-scale redevelopment was the realization that the intrepid young man who had run this cafe until now was actually a crossdressing sister. Hello Kaoru, are the preparations for your shop going well? Oh Ellis, everythings going great. I made sure the snacks I serve dont overlap with the Steamed Kitchen or the teahouse using some fish stock from the west to make some new pasta dishes. Im looking forward to what tomorrow will bring. The cafe was actually renamed as well to the Pot and Kettle. She wanted to name it Mr. Pot and Ms. Kettle, but that name was a little too on the nose.1 Ellis kept moving through her inspections with no problems. But, that was just for the redevelopment. From now on was the newly built stores. Elliss next headed to the most northern part of town, right on the edge of Warren. Her first stop was a facility with a flashy signboard hanging on it. Machel, is everything ready? Ah, Ellis, hello. Our preparations are finished. The training for all the new assistants is wrapping up as well. Machel gave Ellis a friendly answer along with a wink. This was a special casino operating separately from Masters Hideaway, Ril Rush. This casino has twice the amount of space the other one does with a total of eight tables insideC4 Warren Dice tables and 4 Warren Numbers. A counter for a bar was set up in one corner of the building, and assistants will still walk around with drinks like before however the atmosphere is much brighter. Im looking forward to tomorrows grand opening Maam. Machel gave Ellis a bright smile, Boss Machel, can you take a look at this? when Matilda rushed over and started asking Machel some questions. Oh Ellis, pardon me. Its okay Matilda. Machel should be prioritizing tomorrows opening anyway. Then I suppose Ill do just that Ellis. Ill be waiting for you tomorrow. A good and caring woman, Machels subordinates had taken to calling her Boss. Hearing these kinds of stories was fun for Ellis. The next stop was a newly built pub located right next to the casino. The two co-owners were Maron and Makoto, a pair of friends who were acquainted with Plum and Kaoru. And as youd expect, they were also transvestites. The name of their pub was Trans Happy. How are the preparations going Maron, Makoto? Elliss voice brought a smile to the twos faces, and they began excitedly explaining how everything was going in preparation for tomorrow. Once they were finished, they both expressed their thanks to her once again. Without your suggestions and funding, we would have never found such a prime location. We really cant show you how appreciative we are. Its fine, youll earn plenty of money taking advantage of Plums rental boutique. By the way, how is the show coming along? Makoto laughed. Tomorrows going to be the grand opening, so well provide you a colorful stage filled with beautiful boys and girls. Thats how it is. Just as there are many good cooks with renowned skills in the gachihomos and the fashionable gays have superb bartenders, there were also many talented singers and dancers among the transvestites who were often overlooked. Ill be sure to come tomorrow. Leave a seat open for me. Ellis then started on her way to the mens only area, looking forward to tomorrows show. This was Masters Hideaway. Welcome Ellis. The construction finished without a hitch. How about it? It has quite the good atmosphere now right? One of the main reasons why the game room in Masters Hideaway was moved to its own building was so that this store could truly become men-only. This place now consists mainly of sofas along with low, box tables and a stage on one end. It was the so-called grand cabaret style. The tip systems been abolished, and the workers here are careful not to bring up the matter of payment too forcefully. The indoor connection to Dandys Shangri-la is the same though. The only difference now is that men would be able to converse with the women before and after playing in paradise. There are two rooms prepared in the back. The first is a place where the council and each guild could entertain VIP guests if they so chose. After some discussion it was decided that the second room would contain another Warren Numbers table where the Gachis could play with guest as well if they wanted. It looks like everythings moving along nicely Margherita. Well, Ill never be coming back here again though. An impish smile floated across Margheritas face. I dont know, perhaps there might be a time in the future where we will just have to abduct you into the back room there ourselves. Please spare me. The two shared a hearty laugh as Ellis made her way out the store. When Ellis arrived home, the other four had just returned as well. Reeve had made one final check with the Merchant Guild to make sure that the registration for all the new stores had been finished correctly. Frau made the rounds to all the restaurants and cafes, confirming everyones finalized menus. She also checked with Trans Happy about their future delivery procedure. Claire worked with Flint today, inspecting the continued construction of some new stores in the mens only district. Katie consulted with each member of the Thieves Guild who was in charge of the shows going on at the live house, Trans Happy, and the Hideaway and helping them make any need adjustments. The day had gone by as each member worked through their own different important tasks . Since the Lily Garden restaurant got some new fish dishes, lets eat there tonight. All that was left was for them to enjoy the evening. Meanwhile, at the Adventurers Guild. The hell did you say!? Explain it Properly! The Hero Gray had foam forming at the corners of his mouth, showing a terribly threatening attitude to Helen behind the reception desk. Gise was standing right beside him, giving the receptionist a glare of his own. But without losing to either of the mens hostile attitudes, Helen fired back. My apologies, but we dont know the reason. The guild only manages the labyrinths; we dont own or operate it! Yes, Wight Labyrinths entrance has finally disappeared. The Hero was now completely unable to acquire the item necessary to kill the Demon Lord that was spoken about in Gods revelation. Gise managed to calm himself down and asked a follow-up question. So Miss, is this the first time something like this has ever happened? Actually no, the Demon Labyrinth, Warrens most dangerous labyrinth, also had its entrance disappear. The guild performed an investigation, but the cause is still unknown. What do we do Gise? Now we have no way to fight the Demon Lord. Calm down Gray. Theres no guarantee that that revelation was correct in the first place. It makes sense. In Gods revelation, the Hero should have obtained the item after exploring Wight Labyrinth. But after several thorough searches, that item was nowhere to be found. It might be in another labyrinth Gray. Lets travel around and explore all the advanced labyrinths that are nearby. This also means that we no longer have a reason to bring those three idiots to Warren, so lets just give it up for today. Rather than wasting his time having a pointless discussion here, Gise would much rather have a cup of tea, no, he would much rather see Aifuls radiant face. I suppose, theres no other way. Grays shoulders dropped, but he obediently left the Adventurers Guild alongside Gise. Gise left afterwards heading to the Teahouse while Gray slumped off in the opposite direction, making a reservation with Marilyn. Meanwhile at the Demon Lords castle. Hey, Berunal What is it Master? Why are you sitting there? Berunal had been sitting on the Demon Lords lap, both her hands rubbing the Demon Lords neck. Sorry about that. Berunal rose up off of the Demon Lords lap, but she remained by his side, giving him an innocent enough look. Well, tomorrow Warrens having some kind of special event. What do you want? Master has a reservation at the baths right? I dont have to confirm something like that. Please take me along. So thats it. You wont cry again? Itll be fine. Ill win ten million ril this time for sure. Oi, get rid of that way of thinking. Keep it at 1 million, the same as before. . Well? .yes Master. For some reason, the position between these two had been completely reversed. Well, everyones looking forward to tomorrow! 1. So its a pun here. The Japanese words for pot and kettle are nabe and kama. Meanwhile the Japanese word for a transman is onabe and the Japanese word for a transwoman is okama, so its just a one letter difference there. CH 132 Alright, line up! At Elliss order, the remaining four Jewelry Box members and five dragons made two separate rows in front of her. For today, the women and their dragons were wearing matching unisex outfits. Ellis and EllisonRa-chin were wearing white blouses underneath brown vests. Their shorts were the same colored brown. Reeve and RevateinSu-chan had on a wine-colored t-shirt with a black jacket with some tight-fitting black pants. Reeve was carrying her katana as Revatein used the light blue saber. Frau and BrauseFe-rin wore a forest green long t-shirt with some white capri pants. Claire and CrestCrest put on an ocher flannel shirt paired with some blue overalls. Katie and CassiusAh-nyan chose their usual pair of of white shorts, but they also chose some white t-shirts with the Jewelry Boxs flag printed on the front. Katie had on her Brave Ripper while Cassius was equipped with some white silver claw gauntlets and greaves. By the way, the Jewelry Box printed t-shirts are an item currently being sold at Masquerade. Today is the grand opening of a new city district. There was a ceremony being held at the live house for all the uncles and aunts who love that sort of thing, and in order to help make everyone understand the concept of this new district, Elliss group prepared these outfits in advance. One by one the leaders of Warren and its townspeople filed into the live house with even some people from the surrounding villages thrown into the mix. Among them were Katies father and others from her village who had gotten trimmed up for the event. Gatis was the village leader for the Western Fishing Village (tentative name), so he was here attending as a guest. And then the opening ceremony began. Ellis stood on stage using magic to raise the volume of her voice with the other members of the Jewelry Box and their dragons standing alternately behind her. Upon seeing them there were many people in the audience who began to sigh or cheer, and even some who left to try and imitate their favorite outfit. It was over this noise that Ellis greeted everyone. Thank you all very much for coming together here. Today this city shall be reborn. This new districts concept is, Dont mind it. Everythings fine so long as everyones having fun, and we tried to put that feeling in our outfits today. While everyone was applauding Elliss opening, Reeve and Frau headed towards a signboard covered in a white cloth. At Elliss signal, that cloth was ripped away. The words Freedom Promenade were printed on its surface. Today, Cross Town is no more, reborn as Freedom Promenade! Thus the new district Freedom Promenade was officially open. Oi oi, its not very lively here. The Hero Gray and thief Gise had stayed up late yesterday due to the disappearance of Wight Labyrinths entrance, so they decided to stay overnight. The next morning though, when they went out to have some breakfast, they noticed there were a lot fewer people out than normal. After asking the nearby An-chan Street Stall for the reason, the owner, An-chan, answered Gise like it just couldnt be helped. Its the grand opening for the new city district, he said. Their interests piqued, the two decided to head over and visit this new district. Heh, this place is bustling. Gise admired the sight. On the other side, this was actually Grays first time in this part of town. Because for Gray, Warren was Marilyn. Theres a good cafe up ahead. Lets eat breakfast there and have some morning tea. Gise invited Gray over to the cafe in the inner part of the city. Heh, the stores changed its name. Pot and Kettle, what a pretty name. With Gise in the lead, the two of them headed inside where a crowd of people had already formed. Coincidentally Gise just happened to notice someone who has continued to stay on his mind. Pardon me, is it alright if we share a table since its so crowded in here? At a table for four, Aiful and Credia were sitting next to each other. Since today was the grand opening, they decided to come and have a light breakfast at the Pot and Kettle before opening the Tea Room. Mr. Hero, long time no see. Gray felt a little nervous when Credia suddenly greeted him. Why does this little girl know me? Gise was quick to explain. These two were the wife and daughter of Wheat Graces Durkfienance family. Currently, theyve given up the Durkfienance name and have opened up a store in this city. Theres no need to feel tense, I know how you feel. However when it came to these two, Gray was more upset that they knew his real identity and that his name wasnt actually Gise. Hey, maybe everyone already knows Im the Hero? I dont think its been leaked to everyone. These two only know you because they met you before, and they have no reason to spread that information around. More importantly, lets order. Gise asked Aiful to make a recommendation for this store and was eager to strike up a conversation with her. What Aiful ended up ordering arrived at just that time. It was seafood soup with raw vegetables mixed in, and a roll of bread. This soup is the shops recommendation, after she made a small introduction for the food to Gise with a smile, the mother and daughter began elegantly eating their meal. The men took a quick look before ordering the same thing. Gise praised his good fortune. Before his eyes he was seeing how this woman kept up her figure. By the time Aiful and Credia had finished their meals, Gise and Grays had just arrived. As the two ladies rose up and bowed, Gise panicked and raised his voice. Is the Tea Room closed today? No, were heading back to get it ready to open right now. And so Aiful and Credia left the store. Thereupon Credia began teasing her mother in a whisper. That Gise, hes been watching Mother for a long time now. But I wonder if hes too late. My my, that would be troubling. Youre going to get in trouble with Uncle Buzz, Mother. Well, this child. The Tea Room was peaceful. Hey, Master What Berunal? Didnt you make a reservation for today? Ah, thats for this evening. Please take me there early. I want to play my game. You know Berunal, sometimes its important to endure your desires. Alright then Ill endure playing my games until later, so embrace me. No good. Im saving myself until I see Margherita tonight. Then please take me shopping in the city. You have a million ril. Im saving my million for my games, so Master should buy me some new clothes with his pocket money. It cant be helped. You get 100 thousand ril. I love you Master Having lost a few screws after turning into a woman, Berunals mind had been all but completely blown away after being bedded by the Demon Lord and becoming a gambling addict. Some troublesome demons saw the two of them fly away, but it was the type of situation that the Demon Lord had zero interest in at all. It looks like the Demon Lord and Berudeus are going somewhere again today. I wish I knew where they were going. Berudeuss Demonic Sense is unusual. That guys fine. Hey, Shadow Stalker, go follow closely behind the Demon Lord. Am I part of a suicide squad? No way. Its fine. Its not like youre going to attack Berudeus or the Demon Lord. Even if they find you, you can just say that you were taking a walk. It wont work. Ill be found too quickly and scurry home. In this way the Demons who were no longer managed by Berunal-Berudeus-Beruiel began to steadily make preparations so that neither Berudeus nor the Demon Lord would act violently if angered. CH 133 Yo, Ellis Ellis looked back after being called to inside the Masquerade Boutique and unintentionally burst out in a fit of laughter. Standing there was one person wearing some bright red lipstick and an equally red dress. Another person was there as well wearing a black cheongsam with a couple dabs of mascara. The only problem here was that their leg hair was laid bare for all to see. As I expected from you Buzz, Doug! Ellis and the Land Dragon Ellison tried to give their best replies while clutching their stomaches. Thats the point, Ellis, Doug replied, wearing his cheongsam with pride. As a couple of skilled adventurers, these two were very good about reading the air. Today everyone was taking the initiative and looked forward to cross-dressing. Ellis, am I beautiful? Buzz struck a provocative pose in his dress on purpose. You two are the best! You have to go visit the Tea Room no matter what. Of course! The two of them were more than happy to show off to Aiful and Credia. The very fact that these two were willing to show off such a magnificent form to the women they love shows just how good-spirited these two old men really were. Ellis and Ellison waved farewell as they saw their two friends off. Katie and the Frost Dragon Cassius met up with Gatis and a couple other visitors from the village. The group consisted of Gatis along with the village vice-headman and his wife. Katie, Id like you to show me around today gya. But first, whos that strong looking brother next to you gya? Ill introduce you to this brother later nya. First of all, you need to try some steamed bread before we head to my house nya. Whats that gya? Katie immediately took the group to Shin and Nonnas Specialty Steamed Bread Store. Ah, Katie, welcome! Nonna, I brought Dad with me today nya. Ill take five piece of sweet bread and 5 pieces of sour bread each nya. Nonna happily put the order inside a carry-out basket while Shin came out from the back and gave Katie a quick greeting. After paying for the bread, Katie quickly guided the group of three back to the mansion, but when they reached the edge where many of the areas visitors were mulling about, she suddenly stopped moving. Whats the matter Katie? Ill be a bit nya. Sorry, just wait for me here nya. Using the stealthy footsteps of a beast, Katie disappeared just ahead of Lily Garden. When the scream of a man resounded in the air, Katie reappeared, hanging up a naked man tied up with rope in front of the door. She covered the man in a bunch of red dye before tying a white ribbon on his nether regions. This is a Warren specialty we call scarlet laundry nya. This is what happens to any man who tries to break into Lily Garden nya. Katie gave everyone an explanation for the scene as she placed down a bag filled with the mans clothes and luggage next to him. She then gave a thumbs-up to a member of the Adventurers Guild who was waiting nearby. They gave them a Roger that thumbs up back after a few seconds. There hadnt been any other laundry hung out yet, so this guy was probably going to hang there for a while and serve as a greeting for the ladies. Already there was some womens yelling coming from here and there. Haunted by the no-questions-asked actions Katie took, the three visitors decided to stay away from that building for the time being. From there Katie guided all of them to the mansions parlor. Dad, Vice-headman, Madame, be amazed nya! Letting everyone take a seat on the couch, Katie stood beside the man who looked almost exactly like her. After a {Reset Body}, the man disappeared in an instant. There was some rustling inside the crumbled clothing in front of the surprised audience, and Katie pulled out a white muffler from the heap. Holding it in hand, she then proceeded to introduce it to everyone. This is the Frost Dragon Ah-nyan nya. Yo, Katies Dad, Im Ah-nyan. Katies contract dragon. Nice to meet ya! Gatis and the others stared stiff at the Dragon Maiden as she told them how she made a contract with a dragon and explained she would now never be able to be with a man. Well, lets leave the matter of Katie and I be. Just keep in mind that well give Dads village priority in protection if something ever happens. It was a line that left Gatis unable to say anything in response. Luckily cat beastmen all have minds like flower gardens, so after Katie passed around the steamed bread to everyone, the topic was able to smoothly transition to those instead. Around that same time Frau and the Phoenix Dragon Brause were a step ahead of any other customers and enjoying the Tea Rooms new interior after their remodel. That first day right after they had gone shopping in Ceramics. All the teaware that the girls had bought during their shopping trip in Ceramics was sold to Nicole at the Merchant Guild. Everything was sold at the same price it had been bought only for Aiful to buy it all back, this time with the Merchant Guild taxes and fees included. These are some unique items this time, so its fine for you to decide to sell them for whatever you decide, Nicole spoke to Aiful as he sorted through the teapots that were to be sold, but his hands suddenly stopped for some reason. He picked up a nearby pale, sparkling blue cup and saucer pair. Over here, you bought them at 15,000 ril, but how much will you be selling them for? Before Aiful could answer, Frau jumped in, giving Nicole her own answer. Its somewhat bullish, but well be selling stock for double their price, so 30,000 for those. Thats a good call. Well then everyone, Ill be buying this tea set, so please act as if theyve been reserved. Theres no need to line this up in your store. Just a little give and take, Nicole told Aiful while wearing an evil-looking grin. In my position, just reserving some goods is already very unfair. Doing so with these goods would be considered a major abuse of power, so Im very thankful to receive your feelings. Like that the formal procedures were finished, and all that had been left to do was to arrange the arrange the Ceramic teaware around the shop. Mother, you can open the shop now. Credia called out to her mother who in turn unlocked the door. When she opened it up, Nicole was already standing there waiting. I couldnt help myself after all. I hurriedly came here to buy them. Aiful wondered if he had rushed here immediately after the ceremony had ended. Nicole walked into the store with a smile, but his breathing was just a little heavy. This way please. Aiful handed over the carefully packed cup and saucer to Nicole before a pair of usual voices boomed from outside the door. Aiful, Credia, two sets! Nicole was just about to head out towards the deck to enjoy a cup of tea when he almost dropped the teapot he had just bought. There were two monsters standing right in front of him. Buzz, Doug, I see its business as usual for you two today as well! Frau and Brause welcomed the two while clutching their stomachs. Ah, Ellis was also pleased in the same way when she saw us. Aiful and Credia almost dropped the tea they were carrying when they saw the proud Buzz. Yo, are you that surprised by my beauty? Doug began showing off to the women. The two took a deep breath, steadied their shaking hands, and bit back their laughter as they set down the mens cups. The cup Aiful set down in front of Buzz was made from hollowed out stone and felt rough to the touch. It exuded a tasteful texture. The cup Credia set in front of Doug had a greater height than normal and was coarse to the touch being made from a mixture of different granules. It was a special item that was pleasing to both your sense of sight and touch. We prepared these thinking it would suit the two of you. How is it? Credia began to boast as her two customers stared at her with slightly surprised looks. If you like them, well prepare your tea in those cups from now on. The men were able to understand what was going on thanks to Aifuls words. Thats great Uncles, now you can leave your own cups here in the shop. Fraus words caused joy to well up in the two. Slow but steady wins the race. Soon afterwards the two men were greeted by the Land Dragon Ra-chin who took his usual position that had become a special sight to those visiting the store. The Tea Room was wrapped in a warm atmosphere, filled with everyones large smiles and upbeat attitudes. There was just one exception, a Gise who was staring at the Buzz and Doug group having missed his chance to place his own order. Claire and the Chaos Dragon Crest were busy themselves checking the water supply and drainage situation with Flint at the newly built Ril Rush and Trans Happy. Master, it looks like we might have to widen the passageway. Yeah, well check it again in the evening to be sure. By the way, how about having lunch together? Does Pi-tan have to eat anything? No, Im fine not eating. Although Claire, how long do I have to stay like this? Apparently Pi-tan doesnt like staying in Crests form for too long. It seems that lifestyle of sleeping through the day as a Metal Eater was still ingrained in him even as a dragon. I think youd be fine by now Pi-tan. Pi-tan immediately used {Reset Body}, returning to his Chaos Dragon Fancy form, and climbed up on Claires head. While putting away his crumpled clothes, Claire responded to Flints invitation. Pi-tanll be fine since everyone in the city already knows about him anyway. Yes, but I dont think this will be okay in another way though. Flints concerns quickly turned into reality. The two of them left to order lunch at the Steamed Kitchen and were instantaneously surrounded by the other customers. All of their aims were the same, the little Chaos Dragon sitting atop Claires head. With Good day Pi-tan, and Hello Pi-tan, and You look good today Pi-tan, coming from every direction, the citizens of Warren were all yearning to see him, and even the tourists crowded their table wanting to catch a glimpse of the loveliness. It was impossible for a person to calm down and eat. The rabbit girl Ravi was also getting caught up in the congestion, feverishly trying to make her way through to deliver the food. Finally Mati and Labra came out form the kitchen. Pi-tan, come here nya. This way please Chaos Dragon. Mati set up another nearby table while Labra set down a cushion. There was a quiet *patapata* as Pi-tan flapped his wings and moved over to the cushion. In this way, the Steamed Kitchen became the temporary venue for a Chaos Dragon handshake event. While the other four were busy working, checking on how all the stores were doing, Reeve was at the casino Ril Rush. The Storm Draogn Revatein had already dropped his human form, and as Su-chan in his Cute form had taken his place hanging over Reeves chest. Together with Machel as their assistant, they were sucking up all of the bets made by the citys veterans. The day portion of Freedom Promenades opening day was going smoothly. 1. The first time she says steamed bread in English, but the second time she uses Japanese. CH 134 It had turned into the later afternoon in the Tea Room. Having gotten bored making the rounds with Ellis, Ellison returned to his Lovely form as Ra-chin, and was enjoying the scent of his tea at his usual seat. Meanwhile at a spot near him, the thief Gise was silently sipping his tea. Gise was jealous. The cups placed in front of those two she-males earlier were clearly something special. Meanwhile the cup he had received was the same one as always. Whats the matter Gise? Having joined him earlier, the Hero Gray asked him a question being unable to read the air as per the usual. Its nothing Gray. You though, sorry you couldnt make a reservation. Ah, but Marilyn told me there was going to be an event this night at Masters Hideaway, so Ill go to that. What will you be doing from now on? Is it alright if we spend another night at the hotel here? With your consent Id like to spend some more time here. Ah, I got ya. Ill go spend some time in the city for a while. While Im there Ill extend our lodgings for another day. Thanks Gray. Dont worry about it Gise. Thus the Hero Gray and the thief Gise of the Brave Party wasted another day like always. On the other hand, there was the Demon Lord and Berunal. The two of them were currently on their way to the boutique that Lady Bluegreen had recommended to them earlier. The Demon Lord is wearing his straw hat and farmers clothes like always while Berunal wore a sky blue tunic and the white, knee-length flared skirt she had bought as Beruiel. Master, this is the shop here. Berunal led the Demon Lord into Masquerade Boutique, wrapping her arm around his and pulling him into the store. Hoh The Demon Lord stopped and stared at a nearby black leather bra top with accompanying corset, lace stockings, and garter belt. Berunal, how about trying this on? But something like that is Masters hobby. Will you be giving me pocket money to wear it? Dont say it like that. It sounds so cold. A shopkeeper-like beautiful woman called out to the two demons. We also offer rentals, so you can try wearing them around town once if youd like. The shopkeeper retrieved a different outfit and brought it out to them. How about something like this? she asked. It was a set of formal clothes with a black stand-up collar and gold lace for the Demon Lord. For Berunal, alongside the bra top, corset, and garter belt, there was a snow white jacket to be worn overtop it with a white, straight skirt. The Demon Lord and Berunal went with the shopkeepers recommendation and tried on the outfits. Yes, I love it. Lets get them. The Demon Lord, who was mainly watching how Berunal looked, decided to buy both of the outfits. The clothes they had been wearing beforehand was put into the Adventurers Bag that Berunal was carrying. From then on, a row of sighs continued down Freedom Promenade. Walking down the street was a handsome man, dressed up in black and gold decorated formal wear, a straw hat serving as his moniker. On his left arm was a woman with jet black colored hair and dark eyes with skin white as milk, looking as if she were made from porcelain. She wore a white jacket with a straight skirt that left the black innards open. The garter belt held up her lace stocking, creating a wonderful, absolute area between the top of her socks and the bottom of her skirt. Finally there were a pair of jet black high heels at her feet. The Demon Lord spoke to Berunal, unconcerned with the sighs and gazes around him. Ill be going to take a bath soon, so youre fine to head over to the Hideaway. Yes, I want to go play my game. Dont waste it all. Yes, Master The two of them rushed to the Hideaway. Huh? But when they arrived, they both let out the same confused voice. Wasnt this a completely different store than before? The Demon Lord walked up to the receptionist, wondering where the game room had gone. The receptionist told him that the game room had become its own building and been moved to Freedom Promenade. The Demon Lord pressed the issue. Was there any way for a woman to enter the store on her own? The receptionist smiled and told him young men, old men, and even women could freely enter the casino Ril Rush. Thats how it is Berunal, can you make your way to the casino on your own? I cannot, Master How bothersome. The Demon King reluctantly accompanied her to the casino, thinking that it just couldnt be helped. Arriving at the casino Ril Rush, the bright and spacious interior of the store left the two demons feeling impressed. There were twice as many tables here as the previous one. Still, the Demon Lord had to be dragged into the store by Berunal. Then the woman saw who she was looking for, smiling and talking with her assistant. The Demon Lord and Berunal immediately headed towards her. Hello Lady Bluegreen. Thank you for taking care of this one the other day. Shes looking to play here again. The Demon Lord politely bowed his head to greet Reeve. At his side, Berunal was bowing as well, making a face that didnt suit the sexy clothes she was wearing. Oh, this table is in the middle of a break right now, so you can hop in from the beginning if you just wait a bit. Was your name Berunal? Perhaps it would be best if you avoided being the dealer for today. Then from the side, having recognized Berunals face, Matilda walked up. Hello Miss Berunal, Ive been looking forward to meeting you. My Brother wont be coming here any more, but on that note, thank you for taking care of me from now on. Berunal smiled, returning Matildas polite greeting. Meanwhile, with the break finishing up, the casino patrons were slowly returning to the table. The old mens line of sight naturally glued themselves to Berunals chest and thighs. All of them wanted to gather around her somehow and immediately began selling themselves. So beautiful, and the inelegance behind the Rosen Princess is something still unknown. In this way Berunal was able to become familiar with Ril Rush. Well, you can play as youd like, and Ill pick you up in two hours. Saying that much, the Demon Lord didnt wait for a reply from Berunal before he started off towards Dandys Shangri La. So the Demon Lord and Berudeus were heading to Warren. A Shadow Stalker was secretly following the two, mentally sending back information to a group of demons stationed back at the Demon Lords castle. Is that so, what the hell are the two of them doing there? How would I know that? Please forgive me from entering the city. I dont want to end up like Zavnat, too terrible to be even looked at. Ugh, I want to go home already. Try to show some guts Shadow Stalker Noisy, be quiet! Irresponsible people should keep their mouths shut. Im going to plunder that village I passed by and then return. You can go in the town yourself and It was here that the Shadow Stalker noticed something, but by now, it was already too late. Fe-rin, Breath Release Here we go Frau, {Super High Heat Breath}! A dragons mouth opened, revealing a line of fangs that didnt fit with its otherwise elegant appearance, and bathed its poor prey in its breath. There was no flash of light or gust of wind, just simple, pure heat. *FWOOSH!* The Shadow Stalker evaporated under the scorching heat not understanding what had just happened to him. {Super High Heat Breath} is a breath attack that focuses all of its energy into just the intensity of the heat. If it doesnt cause the target to evaporate entirely, it at least leaves them as a lump of sizzling charcoal. Even if you can resist the damage of the attack, the intense heat would sap away the enemys strength. With the sudden loss of communications from the Shadow Stalker, the executive demons started feeling a surge of regret. Hey, should we stay close to the city of Warren? No, itd be better to send a number of agents there undercover. Nows the time to start something. Im tired of chasing people who end up just running away. Maybe we should send in a few Doppelgangers. Thatll work. We should have them be disguised as someone suitable. Ill get in touch with you about it later. Ah, this looks interesting too. But, its lacking anything conclusive. Now Im out of good joke material. Things are getting a little more fun. The demons were finally starting to enjoy themselves. We have to be constantly on guard. It couldve disappeared into the city if we didnt have Fe-rins search ability. Thats right Frau. It might be necessary for us to go on patrols from now on. Right after the Land Dragons search ability came the Phoenix Dragons, which allowed them to locate the Demon Lord, the Demon Lords followers, any demon-like existences; and deal with them. Well, although the dragons had already located the Demon Lord and another one of his subordinates, on Elliss orders, they pretended to not notice them. But right now they killed a demon which was probably actually one of the Demon Lords followers. How does he connect to the Demon Lord and his other subordinate? Frau and Fe-rin returned to the city, asking Ellis and Margherita of the Thieves Guild for a status update on the Demon Lord. Hmmm Having just been picked up by Ellis, Ra-chin was also able to listen in to Fraus report, and although he was a little jealous that the two of them had an opportunity to try out their breath attack together, that was put to the wayside as they decided to check on the Demon Lord and Berunal just in case. The Demon Lord was waiting patiently inside Dandys Shangri Las waiting room, and Berunal was innocently playing next to Reeve. From this situation, it didnt look like they were the least bit concerned with that demons eradication. It might be for the best to conclude that that demon was acting on its own for now Ra-chin. Yes, and there are no other demons inside the city right now. The one that Frau killed might be a demon that was hostile towards the Demon Lord. We should keep an eye out for any signs like this. If so, then things would be getting interesting. Lets try capturing the next demon we come across. Ellis and Ra-chin shared a small smile. As the two of them moved to have some more fun in the city, they decided to take a chance. For some reason, something burnt wafted through the air on the evening of Freedom Promenades opening day. CH 135 Gise gave up. In front of him was the Land Dragon who was enjoying the scent of his tea like always. Then, when his tea had finally gotten cold, Credia poured Ra-chins tea into his special barrel, and the blonde-haired girl came to pick him up. The Guardian Dragon had been with those two who had been dressed like fools earlier in the shop. Why were those two treated so specially by Aiful and Credia? Gise didnt know the reason. He didnt know and it was mortifying. So he continued to stay inside the Tea Room, getting several refills on his tea. He wanted Aiful and Credia to be aware of his troubles, so Gise continued to persist. But then the evening sky was dyed a deep orange, and it was time for the Tea Room to close. It was only then that Aiful spoke to Gise with a smile. Is Gise possibly killing time for Trans Happys stage show? Gise tried asking what this Trans Happy stage show was, a question that left Aiful feeling a little surprised. But she quickly began to smile again and told him it was an open event here at Freedom Promenade. And then with an innocent look on her face, Would you like to come with us? Gises tenacity was finally rewarded. Margherita noticed there were scratches lined up on the Demon Lords back. She had seen marks like these before. When she was a child, she didnt own any real weapons, so if she ever needed to hurt someone, she only ever had two options. This wound wasnt made with someones teeth, so it mustve been a womans nails. It was pretty easy for Margherita to figure out how these marks were made. She forced herself to hold back her jealousy from carelessly springing forth in her heart with some false reasoning. Bell, Im going to try something a little more intense today. Yes, Ill leave it all to Margherita. Receiving the Demon Lords permission, Margherita pulled out the whip. The only thing was that this wasnt meant for play, it was a whip meant as a weapon. The woman fixated on the Demon Lords back, carrying a brutal smile on her lips as the corner of her eyes slowly began to redden. She was however delighted to see the marks across the Demon Lords back had been overwritten by her own. Her smile slowly began to grow as she played her whip like an instrument, the Demon Lords groans her concerto. After a round of play, Margherita invited the Demon Lord, who was breathing heavily, clutching his shoulders in a mixture of pain and pleasure, to an event at Freedom Promenade. All the while erasing the previous scratches from her mind, convincing herself that theyd never been there in the first place. Inside Masters Hideaway. The Hero Gray was waiting inside a booth for the event to eventually begin. There was a single cup in front of him, but he was more focused on how strange it was how dimly lit the store still was. It didnt feel like a big event was going to happen in here at all. Eventually Gray did speak up to one of the women inside the store. The girl timidly walked up to Grays seat. She was one of the stores so-called assistants, not a hostess who took in customers. The lovely red-headed girl with freckles quietly asked Gray, Dear customer, who are you waiting for today? No, Im just here because Marilyn told me there was an event going on tonight. The girl thought about Grays words for a second before her expression naturally brightened. Dear customer, Marilyns invitation was surely to the event going on at Freedom Promenade. Seriously? I believe so Gray was troubled. He didnt know that. What was Freedom Promenade again? But then the girl timidly made him an offer. Dear customer, would you like me to guide you to the venue? That would actually be a great help In this way, with the new girl he had just met acting as his guide, the Hero Gray left Masters Hideaway. Ah, its about that time Just as one set was finishing up, Reeve moved to end the current game. Oh, any time now, Well continue this tomorrow, Youve already been cleaned out!, and the other men playing slowly began gathering their things together as well while saying some selfish things. The assistants started helping everyone while Berunal sat still, weirdly staring at them all. Ah, thats right. Sorry Rosen Princess. Were closing up early today since Trans Happy has their open event. Strawhat is picking you up after he finishes his errands right? Berunal began thinking to herself. Actually, I won a little today. Ah, Im so happy. It feels so good to win. Master will be meeting with Margherita, so he shouldnt care anyway. Although I feel like Ive forgotten something important. Please take me along too. Thus Berunal decided to come along to the event as well. This was the special stage set up right outside of Trans Happy. People had gradually gathered from this way and that, looking forward to the event. The girls and all their dragons had each come by Trans Happy early as well. Then in the blink of an eye, a huge crowd suddenly surrounded the stage all at once. As the people gathered, the two owners of Trans Happy, Maron and Makoto, took to the stage to greet them all. Everyone, we welcome you to not just Trans Happy, but to all of Freedom Promenade! This is the city of freedom! The city of anything and everything! And now, its SHOW TIME! With their words an upbeat rhythmic tempo began picking up, and the first performance began. Wearing only the minimal amount of clothing, dancers dressed in bright, colorful ornaments appeared on stage. It was a show put on by men and women wearing whatever they wanted. Gise was enjoying himself. He was a little disappointed because the owners of the cake shop and the owners of the steamed bread shop came with, but Aiful was still there next to him. She was carrying an innocent smile and moving her body in time with the rhythm. So beautiful. So cute. Gise had completely fallen in love with her. Gray was puzzled. Having met up with Marilyn at the venue, he wanted to spend some time with her. But Marilyn had instead given him a carefree smile, telling him, Oh my, Gise. I see you were with Marionetta1. This girls a really good child, so be sure to shower her with lots of affection. Marionetta too, do your best to not be hated by Gise, before she headed off somewhere else with another customer. Feeling troubled, Gray glanced over at the girl next to him, Marionettas face. Marionetta in turn looked back at him, but she quickly diverted her gaze as her cheeks began to blush. The Hero started to feel a little nervous, but before he could think of anything to say, a huge wave of people rushed into them trying to join the rest of the crowd. Ah Marionetta reached her hand towards Gray looking for help, and Gray gently took hold on reflex. Thus they were both swept away by the wave of people together. The Demon Lord was in heaven. Margherita was sticking much closer to him than usual. Their inability to move properly inside the large crowd only exasperated his suffering. Bell, sorry There was also the fact that Margherita continued to sexily whisper into his ear more than normal. Wonderful, ohh, if she wanted to go another round, he was already good to go. Unfortunately it was impossible to move in this huge crowd of people. If he was to move even a little bit, then his pleasant place might no longer be touching Margheritas pleasant place. Thus the Demon Lord was stuck under the pressing of the crowd with a growing, deadly affliction. Berunal was drunk. When she was the angel Beruiel, there was never a need to eat or drink anything, and on the odd occasions that she did, she could always activate {Detoxification}. But right now she was in human form. There was also the fact that she already had a few screws loose right now. But most importantly, the drunk, fluffy feeling was irresistibly fun. Are you alright Rosen Princess? Looking to her side, there was the beautiful Lady Bluegreen. She had been taking care of Berunal this whole time. She had been protecting her from the other old men which was why Berunal had gotten so sweet with her. Sister, I want to drink some more Thus Berunal was able to enjoy her night on the town. Next up is a couples game with a wondrous prize! Hop to it girls! Bring our couples up to the stage! As Makoto screamed out her orders from the stage, several people jumped out into the crowd. As everyone moved, Makoto started to explain the rules of the game. This thing Im holding is a special long cookie from the cake shop! Couples are to eat this from both ends, and the ones with the smallest amount left at the end of the time limit will receive a 100,000 ril gift card to be used anywhere in Freedom Promenade! Now, wont anyone take the challenge!? Gise unconsciously clenched his fist. What a great chance this was, he thought. He had to invite Aiful up there by all means. Hey, Aiful. But when Gise looked to his side, Aiful was no longer there. Bloody fool! We wouldnt be here if we werent going to participate! Way to go Buzz and Doug, as I expected from you both! Instead, Gise noticed a commotion on stage and heard the roar of the audience around him. Looking up on stage, there was Buzz in a bright red dress standing with a confused Aiful and Doug in a black cheongsam with a Credia who looked like she was already having a lot of fun. Gise fell straight from Heaven down into Hell. Brother, what a cute girl you have with ya! Come on down! A nice, body builder transvestite grabbed Grays right hand and Marionettas left, forcing them both up on stage. Gray and Marionetta looked down at the gigantic crowd a little confused. But then from the bottom of the stage, Good luck you two! Marilyn smiled and shouted out her encouragement. That was all Gray needed to get serious. All right, Marionetta. If this is a match, then we cant afford to lose. Lets do this Grays sudden words left Marionetta feeling a little puzzled, but she gave a small nod nonetheless. Well, anything can happen here! For some reason Reeve and Berunal were brought up on stage as well. Kyaa! Whats Reeve doing up there!? Stoooop! You, girl, switch with me! A number of upset cries rose from the audience. Most of them were quite shrill. But upon seeing them up there, Margherita grabbed hold of the Demon Lords hand. We cant afford to lose either! Thus the Demon Lord and Margherita naturally participated in the game as well. Surrounded by roars of laughter, bellows of anger, and shouts of encouragement, the stage featured a great uprush of excitement. In the shadows, Elliss group were secretly using the search ability of the dragons to confirm Berudeus and Berunals existence. That Berudeus guy is definitely the Demon Lord. You cant mistake that magic power. The Berunal girl isnt a demon, but there is definitely something off about her. Ra-chin and Fe-rin then analyzed everyone. Hm? Whats wrong Ra-chin? That girl whos with the Hero, theres something mixed in there. Marionetta? Is it dangerous? No, its nothing like that. It might be some kind of blessing or a curse. Ra-chin felt something strange with Marionetta. Just, it doesnt sound like it has anything to do with any demons. Hmm, well then, let me give the Hero just a small amount of payback. Frau, aim me at the Heros back. Frau realized Fe-rins intentions, but after lightly tapping his head like you would a naughty child, she helped him out, aiming his head towards the Hero who was currently struggling with the cookie on stage. Then for just a moment he released a bit of his High Heat Breath onto Gray. Yeowch! When the Hero suddenly felt a small burn on his back he unintentionally took a step forward. The cookie snapped in two before Gray continued forward, accidentally meeting his lips with Marionettas. Yes! Disqualified! The two of them turned to look at Makoto upon hearing her sudden call. Nearby under the watchful eye of the audience, the Demon Lord and Margherita had already finished their cookie. Margherita had bitten the Demon Lords lip as they did, wrapping her arms around his back and leading to a deep kiss right there on the stage. Obviously they were both disqualified as well. Berunal, who didnt understand what the rules of the game were, was commenting about how delicious the cookie was as she ate it by herself next to Reeve. All the women in the crowd section were able to sigh in relief. In the end, the Doug/Credia team were able to make a come from behind victory after the Buzz/Aiful team fell to their embarrassment. Thus Freedom Promenades long opening day was able to peacefully come to a close. 1. Maria, Margherita, Marilyn, and now Marionetta. I think Author has a thing for girls named Mary. CH 136 The Brave Party that has shown minimal results so far still had the trust of the Royal Family, but pressure has been steadily growing lately from their surroundings. Yet Gray was still doing something to bring even more anger down on his head. Hey Gray, are you sane? Completely Gise. I already dont feel a need to go visit Marilyn. Thats why Im feeling troubled. Why? I like Warrens tea. Oh, well I can still bring you along with Marionetta sometimes. Standing next to Gray was a pretty little girl with red hair and freckles. She was currently tightly clinging to Grays left arm. This was still the night of Warrens big event. Gray and Marionetta, who had somehow worked up a good atmosphere, shared a meal at a nearby cafe that had opened back up again after the event. That was when Marionetta confessed that she, along with everyone else in Warren for that matter, already knew Gray was the Hero. Grays voice rang in shock. Does Marilyn know too!? Yes. But Marilyn told me, If a guest calls themselves Gise, then their name inside the store is Gise.'' Marionetta watched Gray anxiously as his whole face turned red. I see, Im so shameful. No, thats not it at all! Hero is very nice! The two of them finished their meal in silence after that before leaving the store together. Well then here, I have a companion waiting for me at an inn so Yes, thank you for tonight. By the way, where do you live? I actually just moved to one of the redeveloped apartments near Lily Garden just the other day. .. After a brief silence, Marionetta continued, determination in her voice. Hero, would you mind walking me back to my room? Gray didnt have any reason to refuse. Standing on her right, he took her south, through the bustle of the town. Eventually their hands naturally met with each other as they walked, and it wasnt much longer afterwards that they were walking with their arms linked together. Marionetta leaned on the Heros arm. Everything from the tenderness of her chest, to the heat from her body, to her soft breath stimulated him. The two of them didnt say a word, but everything they felt was transmitted through their linked arms. Then in front of her room. She turned to face him. He was caught in her eyes until those very eyes unexpectedly shut themselves. His lips naturally moved towards hers. It was just his lips touching hers. A sweet, kind, pure kiss. Silent, she turned her head away, inviting him into her room. That night, the Hero became a man. The next morning Gray ate the breakfast Marionetta had prepared, was made into a man once again, and then made to leave. As he was walking out the door, he left behind the words, Ill come pick you up. He wasnt gone long before Ellis and the others came to visit. Returning to the inn in the early morning, Gray ignored Gises rebuke for not having arranged a proper hotel room and said, Today Ill be increasing our party members by one. Then leaving the inn, Gise followed him through Freedom Promenade and to Marionettas home. That was when Gray introduced Gise to Marionetta. Since this girl will be a new party member from now on, please give her your best regards Gise. At Grays words, Marionetta quickly lowered her head. That was how the conversation from before began. Marionetta was from the same village as Ken and his friends. She had lived with her father who had been their villages only sorcerer. Her father had used his knowledge and skills to heal the villagers injuries and treat disease. Its rare for a mage to deal with ordinary villagers, so he and his daughter were held quite highly. The girl grew up hearing various stories from her father ever since she was little, so her heart naturally danced when she heard rumors that a Hero had appeared inside the capitol. She acted on those feelings and spoke to her father. If I were to ever meet the Hero, I want to be more powerful, even if its just a little. The father laughed at his daughter, telling her, If you want to help the Hero, then you need to learn magic for the Hero. And so she began learning how to use various types of healing and auxiliary spells. Every day was an enjoyable one. It was the attack from the demons that destroyed that happiness. The village was destroyed, and her father who had fought back was naturally killed. All the young people were taken away somewhere, and Marionetta was made into a sacrifice for the Demon Lord. The mask-wearing Demon Lord was fear itself. When the silent Demon Lord stole away Marionettas maidenhood, she tried to focus more on her fear than the pain in her lower abdomen. Marionetta shuddered, cried, grit her teeth, and clenched her fists. Ah, the Demon Lord is going to torment me after this. He will slowly deprive me of my human dignity bit by bit from now on. Thinking this, Marionetta came to the solemn decision to kill herself. Forgive me Demon Lord. Finally she bade farewell to the Hero whom she had never gotten the chance to meet, and she bit her tongue. When she woke up, her tongue was back. From then on, the Demon Lord never called her. She spent her day simply, inside a white room with no windows. But then one day, the Demon Lord cast a spell on Marionetta. By the time Marionetta had come back to herself, she was left alone on a road near Warren. All memories of the Demon Lord had been completely erased. The first person to find Marionetta, who had just sat herself on the side of the highway doing nothing, was Hanna who had been busy cleaning up the highway since the early morning. When Hanna took the catatonic Marionetta back to her store, Kens surprise caused him to shout. Marionetta! Youre alive? Marionetta came to her senses hearing Kens scream and remembered everything up to the point where the demons had just destroyed her village. Marionetta began sobbing and collapsed right there on the spot. After Ken had brought the matter to Ellis, she realized rather quickly that Marionettas memory loss was artificial. However, there was no way of knowing why she was here. Did she escape? Was this a trap by the Demon Lord? To try and find out, Ellis brought Marionetta close to the Demon Lord. Marionetta was thus entrusted to Margherita, put to work at Masters Hideaway. Naturally Ellis and Margherita informed Marilyn and Machel about Marionettas circumstances and their suspicions about her connection to the Demon Lord. Yet she was able to live a peaceful life from that point on. A few of the guys from Kens hometown, in other words the people who had grown up with her, had approached her favorably. But, the Hero still lived on inside Marionettas heart. In those lost memories she couldnt recall, one had become entangled, filling her with admiration for the Hero. Then finally, the Hero had appeared before her. The Hero she longed for. An adorable, slightly dim Hero. Marilyn had grown bored with the overly honest, innocent Hero. So she had silently passed the Hero off to Marionetta. Then like this, Marionettas feelings could be fulfilled. Gise grabbed Grays arm, pulling him away from Marionetta and hissed into his ear. Oi, youre going to just invite a girl you dont know to become our companion? What are you going to do if she ends up being a spy or something? What are you saying at this point Gise? We already have three shady members as it is. And if I can see Marionetta, I wont need anything else. Im begging you Gise. Marionetta inserted herself into the conversation at this point. I, I can use some basic magic, would that help? For example? Gise asked in an unsettling tone, but Marionetta eagerly replied. Healing, appraisal, and support magic. Hoh, Gise was impressed. Especially since until now they had been a party with no healing system. Alright, but I have a condition. Marionetta, well pay the boarding fee here, so leave this room as is. That way well have to return so you can regularly clean this place up. Now that the Wight Labyrinth has disappeared for some reason, we need a reason to come visit Warren without our other three idiot party members getting suspicious. Also, try and keep your night club activities in moderation. Gises final words caused both of the young lovers to blush a bit. Well then, after making a quick stop back in Skycastle, lets go conquer some high level dungeons, Hero. Thats right. Gise, thanks. Thank you very much, Gise. Thus the Brave Party welcomed its sixth member. Is it alright Mistress? Yeah, its best to scatter the bait here. The Hero was likely to take her home with him anyway. Its better at this point to have her become a wonderful mage and act alongside the Hero. After confirming that Marionetta had spent a night with the Hero, Ellis visited her room after Gray had left. Upon hearing about how she wanted to travel along with the Hero, Ellis gave Marionetta a Grand Magical Ring and a Howling Plush Toy that she had copied earlier. The ring would make it easier to use magic and aid the Hero while the plush toy could let her communicate with them in case something went wrong. Ellis and the others left the room as Marionetta bowed to them several times over, thanking them with tears in her eyes and asking that they send her regards to all the girls at the shop who had helped her. Incidentally, Claire had actually cast the spell {Find Marker} on that Howling Plush Toy that Marionetta had been given. Now Ellis could know wherever the Hero would end up going. And even if Marionetta was somehow a trap set by the Demon Lord, any trouble would end up on the Heros head. It was no longer Elliss problem. Well, lets look forward to it. At Elliss words the other four girls all smiled as if they were children having found a new toy. One day, once the city had calmed down from Freedom Promenades opening, Maria instructed Ellis and the others to come visit the Council Room. She told them it was about a, Call from the capitol. When the five had arrived, they found that all of the guild masters were already there waiting for them. Maria rose up and began giving them an explanation. Just a little bit ago we received confirmation from Duke Marsfield, the five members of Warrens Jewelry Box have been officially ordered to visit the Royal Palace inside the capitol. The contents of their instructions were as follows. First off, the five girls are to arrive at the Citadel City Marsfield today and visit the Dukes castle upon their arrival. The following day they would serve as the Dukes escorts, traveling to the Royal Capitol Skycastle. Lord Chaffee would have everything in order by the time they get there, so they would follow his instruction. How can a mere human think he can command us! Is he stupid or something!? The Frost Dragon Ah-nyan voiced his complaints from around Katies neck, and Maria gave him an ill-tempered smile in response. No such orders have been given to the Guardian Dragons. We would never be so rude as tell our guardians such a thing. This order has only been given to five of Warrens citizens, the members of Warrens Jewelry Box. Although, if Ellis and the others dont arrive at the Citadel City today, then they will have defied their summons, and an appropriate punishment will be handed out. So I suppose its up to what you want. The Land Dragon Ra-chin raised an angry roar from inside the cord carrier on Elliss back. Oi Maria, dont you think youre being awfully impolite using these small tricks. Know that if any harm comes to the girls, we wont hesitate to turn that city into a lump of ashes. Ellis jumped in on the exaggeration train. Right, should we just attack the capitol then? Steal right before the Heros eyes. The girls and their dragons all shared the same look in their eyes. Meanwhile the four guild masters looked like they had just swallowed a bitter bug. The Thieves Guild guild master Baltis grumbled to Ellis. Oi, Ms. Adviser. Are you looking to turn this city into a battlefield? Its just a joke Uncle. But, we might not be able to quell the dragons anger. Please understand at least that. Ellis made just a slightly despondent expression as she lied through her teeth. It didnt amount to much in their mini-sizes, but the dragons each tried looking as threatening as they could, furrowing their brows, letting a small growl echo in the back of their throats, slightly lowering their heads, moving their tails back and forth like a swinging sandbag, and echoing a *Pi~ Pi~* cry to intimidate. So well ride Fe-rin and Su-chan over to Marsfield, and then well take a carriage over to the capitol? Frau posed a rather na?ve question to Maria. But on her part, Maria did hesitate to give her an answer. Please dont be angry. It sounds like the Duke wants to ride on the dragon with you. Thats over our capacity limit. Su-chan can let two people ride on, while Fe-rin can take three. Well, itll be slow going, but I suppose we could have Ra-chin be carried again and have the Duke ride on his back. But Claire proudly puffed her chest, denying Reeves reasoning. Heheheh, youre forgetting that Pi-tan can fly now. He can carry a person. Then its settled. Lets hurry up, grab the Duke, and go to the capitol. Katie, dont forget the greetings to the Thieves Guild. For Marsfield and Skycastle both. Frau, the capitol is filled with interesting food from the northern regions, so be sure to check them out yourself. There are also many skilled craftsmen at the Capitols Workshop Guild, well, the water and sewage system in Warren is better. Still, you could learn a lot Claire. You guys, please dont piss off the Royal Family while youre there. The masters each passed off their farewells to one of the girls. And in this way, Ellis and the others were set up to go meet with the King of Skycastle, ruler of the Almerian continent. CH 137 Oh, youre here! While Duke Marsfield was in high spirits, the members of Warrens Jewelry Box didnt give off the same feeling. This was the Citadel City Marsfield. On this continent there are only two cities named after the families who rule them with the other being the Royal Capitol named after King Skycastle. This should make clear the rank of this noble, but for Ellis and the others, he has already become just a kindly, slightly unusual old man. By the way it seems that Marilyn, who had gotten bored with the Hero, is now regularly squeezing energy, and ril, from the Duke, but since it has nothing to do with the girls, they dont pry. Mister Marsfield, how do you plan on getting to the capitol from here? The Duke returned the answer Ellis was expecting from her question. Well, arent I going to be riding on the back of your dragon? . Frau purposely went out of her way to make a show of asking Fe-rin for his help. Lord Phoenix Dragon, we humbly beseech you. And Fe-rin purposely answered haughtily from Fraus shoulder. Hm, however its impossible for an ordinary human to endure my flight. With that said, I agree to use my barrier. Oh, thank you! By all means! With that done and the Duke warned, the party began making preparations for an immediate departure for the Royal Capitol. The Royal Capitol is more of a castle city, and it involves thorough checks for anyone leaving the city while only the south gate is open for the general public. Naturally they thoroughly check the visas of anyone entering as well. Thats why even when youve arrived at the capitol, it can still take almost half a day to enter the city. However with Duke Marsfield in tow, the party was allowed to use the gates dedicated for nobles. In addition, the Duke already had some visas issued for Ellis and the girls with the Dukes name attached. Duke, do you not need an escort? The chief guard pressed his concern with an anxious look on his face, but the Duke answered with a boisterous laugh. I need no other guards than these. Theyre strong, and beauties to boot. As youd expect, this laughing old man was pretty good at flattery. Feeling just a little better about all of this, the five girls directed the Duke out to the courtyard and prepared for flight. Su-chan would be flying with Reeve, Katie, and Ah-nyan wrapped around Katies neck; Pi-tan would carry Claire; and Ellis would be sitting in the front on Fe-rin followed by Duke Marsfield and Frau. Ra-chin was still strapped on Elliss back, and Frau had purposely worn some half-plate armor for the ride though. Somehow, the feeling to the front and back is quite firm. The unscrupulous noblemans true feelings ended up leaking out. Uncle, you keep talking about naughty things like that, and you might find yourself thrown off. As Frau issued out her warning, the Phoenix Dragon moved to the air. And with the shock of that movement, Duke Marsfield lost his consciousness. Uncle, well be there soon. Were you able to rest up? When Duke Marsfield woke up, he saw the Royal Capitol Skycastle in the distance. Just to be on the safe side, Ellis wanted to confirm with the Duke that it was safe to land near the southern gate. What the, why are we here already? You all are really mean. Ah, theres no problem if we get off down there. Theyll just be surprised at most. Under Elliss direction, the Phoenix Dragon followed by the Storm Dragon and the Chaos Dragon in the rear slowly descended towards the highway near the Royal Capitol. The general public naturally panicked, but the guards should have heard about this in advance. They still had to fight against their fear though as they displayed their orderly movements and calmed the residents. A crowd surrounded the dragons while keeping their distance, and two people stepped forward from that crowd. Those men were Sir Chaffee and the tax collector Robert. Duke Marsfield, with Fraus help, climbed down off Fe-rins back. As Ellis climbed off Fe-rin herself, Katie jumped off of Su-chan, and both girls released their own dragons. The Land Dragon and Frost Dragon lined up with the other flyer dragons with each girl standing next to their respective dragon. This was Duke Marsfields idea, claiming that each girl standing with their dragon before the gates of the capitol would make for the best scene. Wahaha! Thats a good feeling! Another flashy entrance Duke Marsfield? And the guardian dragons, its good of you to have come. I know weve also caused some trouble for Warrens Jewelry Box. Hearing Sir Chaffees greeting, the people of the Royal Capitol began to stir. However that superfluous courtesy from the Lord made Ra-chin snap. That diminutive human there. I never accepted your invitation, so your thanks are meaningless. The other dragons all voiced their complaints as well. What is the meaning of you calling us like this? Perhaps this fucking idiot wants to be torn limb from limb. Its rude to make us just wait outside the castle gate. I wonder if people nowadays no longer know about common courtesy. Ah, lets just go home already Claire. Im becoming violent! Oh, itll be a little trouble for the soldiers there. A little stabbing will be the limit. Thus the situation in front of the castle gates began to fall out of control. Right now the dragons were likely to release their breath and go wild. The people were becoming confused and afraid. There was nothing that Duke Marsfield or the other two officials could do. Then suddenly, there was a feeling of intimidation in the air. The main performer enters the stage. Ellis chuckled to herself. And then, the Brave Party in serious mode appeared. Dragons, calm yourselves! The Hero Gray spit out the exact line the girls had thought he would. He cant really say anything else but that here, the girls murmured to themselves, doing their best to stifle their laughter. Then Ra-chin spoke, emphasizing every pre-planned word. Hoh, whats inside of you humans? Youre giving off quite the air of hostility there. Then Fe-rin interjected himself into the conversation to start complaining towards the Hero. That aside Hero, you sure did go wild on me not that long ago. Have you come up with a good excuse for that since then? Gray shut up for a moment. Meanwhile at his rear, Dams, Peach, and Cliff were giving the crimson dragon a hostile glare. If you cant remember me, then perhaps I should give you a greeting thatll stick in your heads. Frau, if youd please. Understood Fe-rin. Hero, this is a greeting straight from the Phoenix Dragon. {Super High Heat Breath} With Fraus voice came the intense heat of Fe-rins breath attack, vaporizing a rock near the gate in a flash. The strange noise and smell of the stone caused the surrounding crowd to become deathly silent. The Hero prepared for battle. The other members of the Brave Party didnt move a muscle. Sparks flew from the shared glare between the Hero and Phoenix Dragon. . And then Ellis slipped in. Hero, we havent seen each other in so long! At the same time the other three members of Warrens Jewelry Box slipped in talking to the rest of the Brave Party with a very friendly attitude. Well, Gise, you seem to be doing well. Marionetta, are you and the Hero being all lovey-dovey? We havent seen Peach, Dams, or Cliff in a long time either nya. At the same time Frau and Fe-rin worked back hostilities, offering their own polite greetings. Theres no payback needed here. Hero. With Fe-rins words each of the dragons changed to their miniature size and stuck themselves to their maidens. Then Ellis continued talking with the Braves while holding Ra-chin in her arms. Hero, were here today due to the invitation we received from the capitol. We would like to give our thanks in advance for your hospitality. Due to the sudden change in attitude, the Hero Gray had to force himself to smile. Marionetta on the other hand had no problems linking her arm with Grays and happily waved to the other girls with a warm smile. The crowd was puzzled by the sudden change in atmosphere from such open hostility to friendship, but they decided to go with the more relieving thought that the Hero and dragons were on good terms. Elliss group didnt say anything more to go against that hope. For now well sell a little flattery to the Hero while in the Royal Capitol, was the basic policy Ellis had decided beforehand. Then, in the event that something happens, theyll find some way to push all the blame on the Brave Party and run away. The Braves are the ones who have to live in the Royal Capitol, and the girls should be fine as soon as they manage to escape. So then Chaffee, Robert, please treat us well. The two men who had been stunned until now regained their senses and led the girls to the gate for nobles. Meanwhile the crowd of people had begun cheering as they saw off the Brave Party and Jewelry Box. CH 138 The party entered Royal Capital Skycastle through the gate reserved for noble use. There were a number of expensive-looking carriages lined up, and they would end up taking one of these carriages over to the castle. The royal capital was structured similarly to the Citadel City, but the majesty of this place went far beyond Marsfield. Originally the Citadel City was built as a fort to protect the Royal Capital. But as Skycastle grew to resemble Marsfield, so too did Marsfield grow to resemble Skycastle, Duke Marsfield explained. Were already going to be late even if we have our fastest horses fly, so well immediately head towards the waiting room when we arrive at the castle. Once weve established a date and time for the audience, then you can make any additional plans, and then Sir Chaffee explained to the five girls what would be happening. The carriage traveled through the marketplace and rolled down the residential streets. Apparently this area near the castle is where most of the citys nobles live. Sir Chaffees home was actually not that far away from where they were. It didnt take long for the carriage to arrive at the castles gate, but the sheer size of the place left all the girls breathless. The group descended down the carriage steps, trying to enter through the castle gates with Sir Chaffee in the lead, but the castle guards moved to block their way. A man who appeared to be the guard captain stepped forward, confronting Sir Chaffee. Sir Chaffee, didnt you head out earlier in order to bring Warrens Guardian Dragons here? Yes, and now here they are, Chaffee responded, motioning the guard captains gaze towards the girls. Unfortunately the guard captain seemed less than convinced. I know the five dragons had appeared in the suburbs earlier, but werent they supposed to have a moremighty appearance? Duke Marsfield tried to give a satisfactory explanation for the puzzled guard captain. These girls here are Warrens Dragon Maidens. The Guardian Dragons came here along with them. Before the guard captain even had a chance to question the Dukes words, Ellis took a step forward. Pardon me, Mr. Guard Captain, this here is the mighty Land Dragon. As she spoke, Ellis pulled the dragon out from her little string backpack and held the magnificent Land Dragon out with both hands for the guard captain to see. For some reason the guard captain still thought all of this was a joke though. How is this stuffed lizard toy a Guardian Dragon? If youre really a Guardian Dragon, then you should have some kind of special power. Would you mind demonstrating that for us? Honestly, Ellis and the Land Dragon were delighted by the guards request while Katie, Ah-nyan, Claire, and Pi-tan all clicked their tongues in jealousy. Meanwhile Duke Marsfield and Sir Chaffee were quick to grab Elliss arm, begging her to take it easy. Well then Ra-chin, that, lets try that. Alright Ellis. Will that be okay as a target? The two finished their short conversation and headed towards the huge castle gate that had been looming over them until now. The Land Dragon eyed the gate while Ellis activated his Breath Release. {Grand Regal Aqua Breath}! Alongside the chant came a massive amount of mist-like smoke that shot out of the Land Dragons mouth, melting everything it came in contact with. Sadly, that white smoke caused the impressive gate to disappear, replaced by a huge hole in the middle of the entrance. Ah, that white smoke is poisonous too, so be careful not to breathe it in. Ellis nonchalantly threw out some terrible information for the guard captain. The rest of the guards immediately fled away from where the once grand gate had been. Hey hey, now let me have a turn, Ah-nyan tried talking up to the guard captain from his place around Katies neck. Since the guard captain was looking rigid, not answering any of their questions, Duke Marsfield took a step forward to kick him back into action. Stupid idiot, the entire castle wall will be destroyed at this rate, so hurry up and let us in! The guard captain returned to himself after the abuse and gave Elliss party a nervous salute. Please come in and welcome, Guardian Dragons! The rest of the guards lined up behind their captain, giving the girls a similar salute. And just like that Elliss flashy entrance cut through their obstacle, leading them closer to their audience. The supreme ruler of the Almerian continent, the king, Joe J. Skycastle VIII was feeling a little troubled. It is said that the Skycastle royal family goes all the way back to the previous Hero who had fought in the last Demon/God War. In other words, if the Hero and Demon King were to fight for the supremacy of the Almerian continent, if things were left alone, doesnt that mean the Skycastle family would be expelled no mater who won? Thats why the King had been trying to introduce the Hero as a member of the royal family so that when the Hero does defeat the Demon Lord, the story will run that it was the Kings progeny who had saved the day. But things werent going as planned. From the Kings point of view, the entire Brave Party supporting the Hero was useless with the exception of the elite thief Gise. On the other hand, the Demon Lords movements have remained unknown until now. In fact, nobody had seen even a sign of the Demon Lord since that first national broadcast. And with the exception of the raid that had occurred on Warren, there had been no large-scale battles with the demon forces. Now for some reason there were five dragons who had gathered in Warren for some reason. The King was troubled. To end those troubles he decided for now to try and take a look at those Guardian Dragons. If they grew to like the city, then the King would allow them to stay and become Skycastles Guardian Dragons. The guard captain personally led Ellis and the others inside while the guards already inside the castle led them to where they would wait. Hoh, this is the room that was prepared? Does this mean that even the King is intent on respecting the dragons? Duke Marsfield muttered to himself. The room they had entered was the picture of luxury. The floor had rug carpets spread out all across it with a leather sofa sitting in front of a low table carved from white granite. That table was a single, monolithic structure and had a bowl of various exotic fruit resting on top. The furnishings werent anything too flashy, but their was a sense of depth in how everything was decorated. Mr. Marsfield, is this a good room? Ellis asked on behalf of the other girls who had all let their dragons down on the carpet, and the Duke responded with a hearty laugh. Only members of the royal family should have been invited to this room so far. Its the Kings personal living room. Hoh, Ellis took a moment to admire the view. Nearby, Katie and Claire were picking away at the fruit resting on the table. Frau was examining all the liquor that was being displayed on sideboards along one wall, and Reeve had removed a katana from its sheath that had been resting in one corner of the room, marveling at the blade. All of the dragons had been spread out around the carpet as if some children had just dropped their stuffed animals. Watching them all act like that, Sir Chaffee and Duke Marsfield huddled together. No no, shouldnt they be acting a little more bashful here? I suppose they wouldnt be Dragon Maidens if they were like that. Youre not wrong. More than that, we should find ourselves fortunate that these girls are so friendly to us. By no means would I ever have thought my sister-in-law was going to be a part of this. Im never going to be able to stand against my wife again. Dont mind it. Youre a Lord now, and your work is that of a Lords. Im sure Bizon also wants nothing to do with your job. Then, before their conversation could get too off topic, the men were able to relax when a knock came on the door. Pardon me. The audience will be held soon, so Ive come to see if youre ready. Unfortunately there were two groups here who couldnt read the air and started a small commotion. Claire, before you say anything youll regret, take your hand off that fruit nya. Katie, this is my fruit. Or perhaps I should say, you eat too much. Whats going on Claire, you want to have a match with us? Thats great Ah-nyan, lets settle this! Im sorry, would you mind closing the door for a second? Prompted by a blonde-haired girl, the messenger quickly went back outside and shut the door. Then a dull sound could be hear even from out there. *BONK!* *BONK!* Sorry to keep you waiting. The next time the messenger opened the door, there were five breathtakingly beautiful girls all lined up in a row waiting patiently. The messenger didnt care to notice the large bumps on the heads of the dragon riding around the catgirls neck and the dragon resting on the black-haired girls head. Well then please allow me to guide you. Thus was it time for the girls to make their debut in the capital. CH 139 An audience with the King. The girls decided to wear their serious clothing to the event. Just in case. Ellis wore in her Abyssal black clothes with her Mad God Dark Mithril stiletto at her waist. Reeve had on her Resistance breast plate with accompanying Falcon long boots. She chose to wear her Flying Phoenix/Exorcism Dark Mithril katana at her hip for the occasion. Frau wore a full set of Interception armor, complete with half plate armor, gauntlets, and boots. She carried her Flying Phoenix/Exorcism Dark Mithril halberd in her right hand. For Claire it had to be her Darkness dress. On her fingers she wore an Awakening ring and a Grand Magical ring. Katie was wearing a Jewelry Box t-shirt and white short pants, but underneath she had on some Battle lingerie. And of course she wore the Brave Ripper on both of her arms. Duke Marsfield approved off on the garments for the audience. The King desired an audience with the Dragon Maidens. But more importantly, the Duke didnt want there to be an audience with the Dragons. After all, he knew the Dragons certainly didnt want to have one themselves. When it was time for the audience to begin, a solemn retainer opened a pair of magnificent double doors. A red carpet led the way in from the entrance with some pompous-looking people standing on both sides. Lower and higher ranking nobles, all lined up neat and proper. Sir Chaffee was in that line as well now. All of this led up to a large blind on one end of the hall. A spokesman raised his voice as the girls walked in. The Dragon Maidens and Duke Marsfield, arriving on stage for an audience with His Majesty. Hmm. Ellis made a deep breath through her nose. Authority, the people who cling to it, and those who envy the people that have it. Those people are able to stand around a carpet looking all self-important while simultaneously being driven by the impulse to start a fight. For Elliss previous life, a scene that could only be seen in manga and anime now stretched out before her. Then, she saw the Hero standing at the Kings side, and her head cooled off. First things first, Ellis murmured to herself in order to help gather her bearings. This audience was meant to be a simple thing. The King wouldnt come out from behind the blinds, instead just watching as everyone performed the basic courtesies and answered question posed by the spokesman. The main topic for discussion was obviously the Guardian Dragons. But then the spokesman said something that caught Ellis completely off guard. The King doubts the abilities of these dragons. Dragon Maidens, show us the power of your dragons. A general murmur ran down the crowd line. The King was trying to give the dragons a test. However something like that is likely to anger the dragons. Duke Marsfield especially, who had set up this entire meeting with the idea that, I dont want the dragons to get involved, was taken aback and tried talking the spokesman out of it. The only people who were genuinely excited by this turn were two pairs who had no idea how to read the air. Yes, yes! Ah-nyan and I want you to let us do it nya! I insist as well! Wait a moment! Pi-tan can show you something good over here! Everyone should watch us instead! All the nobles who had been confused by the spokesmans words were now even more befuddled by the unexpectedly positive answers from two of the Dragon Maidens and their dragons. But then, the spokesman cut in, somehow able to communicate the Kings silent thoughts to the Dragon Maidens. We wish to compare the difference between a dragons fury and a simple lightning strike. So show us. What an arrogant thing to say. Both Ra-chin and Fe-rin were quietly voicing their displeasure to Ellis and Frau. Meanwhile Ah-nyan and Pi-tan were overjoyed they had the opportunity to try this thing out. During this Su-chan had actually already gotten bored with the whole affair and fallen asleep on Reeves chest by the way. Katie and Claire snuck away to the side to play a game of rock-paper-scissors. All right! I knew you could do it Claire! Nya! Why would you go with paper Katie!? It was decided through fair combat that Claire and Pi-tan would be performing the demonstration. All the nobles with the exception of the King followed the girls and moved to the castle gardens. The King just had his throne moved to a window overlooking the gardens. We planned on demolishing that tower. Use that as your target. Claire and Pi-tan were more than happy to comply with the spokesmans words. Lets get going then. Yes! Pi-tan opened his mouth as Claire repeated aloud the chant that appeared in her head. {Black Ball Breath}! A tiny, pitch black sphere shot out of the mini Chaos Dragons mouth while still being held in Claires arms. The sphere continued to grow in size as it approached the tower until finally making contact. The ball smashed into the towers center, breaking stone and causing the top half of the tower to come crashing down. It must have been a pure lump of mass, a projectile wrecking ball. Amazing Pi-tan And environmentally friendly to boot. Claire and Pi-tan were satisfied with the results. At the same time Katie and Ah-nyan, still upset about missing the opportunity to test out their own breath attack, were stamping their feet in frustration. Ellis, Reeve, and Frau had their own looks of astonishment with this new attack that was so much different from their own. On the other hand, the nobles had generally all lost their voices, eyes glued to the destruction caused by a single breath from the Chaos Dragon. The only person who did raise their voice was the spokesman. By the Kings decree. Hero Gray, take that splendid attack head on! Then, as if theyd known what the spokesman would say in advance, the Brave Party appeared before Ellis. Gray was completely expressionless while Marionetta peered up at him with a concerned look on her face while holding on to his left arm. Gise had his arms crossed, looking as serious as he did the first time the girls had met him. Then off to the side were Peach, Dams, and Cliff acting as if they were about to accomplish something big and mockingly laughing amongst themselves. The rest of the garden had become quiet. Each of the nobles bodies had gone rigid while they waited to see how this would all play out. Rumors have been spreading. Im truly sorry about all of this, but I must ask that you give me your best shot, Dragon Maidens, Gray emotionlessly spoke down to the girls. Hmm. Ellis didnt have long to think. If the rumors about the Hero were to be believed, then even a dragons breath wouldnt affect him. It would be foolish to go along with this ploy and just launch an attack on him. So, what should be done? *Ding* A bell sounded in Elliss head. Claire, Pi-tan, lend me your ears for a second. Afterwards, Claire and Pi-tan took their positions across from the Hero. Ellis, the girls, and the rest of the Brave party meanwhile stood safely behind the Chaos Dragon. While everyone else was focused on the upcoming event, Ellis quietly leaned over to Marionetta, whispering to the worried-looking girl. Everything will be okay Marionetta, theres no need to worry. The Hero is crazy strong. Although, hes definitely going to be depressed after this, so be sure to comfort him. Ellis gave a small wink to Marionetta who was drawn back by her words. Now then Hero, we wont be holding back. Yeah, Ill take whatever you can give. Although feeling a little disgusted by the Heros phrasing, Claire still did as Ellis had told her. All right Pi-tan, lets go! {Black Ball Breath}! The Chaos Dragon once again shot its breath which transformed into an object of dense mass. That mass continued to grow in size as it got closer and closer to the Hero. Grays body moved, sensitive to the power behind the black ball. He dug his feet into the ground, catching the ball with his right hand. The Heros body didnt give out from the force of the attack, but the ball only remained in contact with Grays hand for a second. Afterwards it suddenly veered to the left, changing course and crashing into the walls of the castle. The walls of the castle erupted in a deafening roar, yet it was somehow still possible to hear the spokesmans dismal scream nonetheless. Ellis had known the Hero would have been able to stop the Chaos Dragons breath, so she told Claire and Pi-tan to add a rotation to the ball when firing it. Throwing a straight attack would result in it coming to a stop just like that. But with a little rotation.. And just as was expected, the Hero managed to repel the attack. Right into the Kings castle. The girls had the hardest fight of their lives trying to hold back their laughter, but the Brave Partys blue faces hinted that they didnt quite get the joke. So, after this the Hero is sure to have an enjoyable sermon, please be sure to comfort him over the next night. Elliss whisperings caused Marionetta to make a complex expression, a mixture of resignation that it couldnt be helped and embarrassment for what that meant. And just like that, the Dragon Maidens audience with the King ended in chaos. Big Sisters! Welcome! The girls and Duke Marsfield arrived at Sir Chaffees home. Here they were met at the door by Mebett. Standing behind her with a smile was her mother and Reeves older sister Bizon. By the way, currently Sir Chaffee had gotten involved in the reconstruction of the castle that had been destroyed by the Hero, so he had yet to come home. Bizon greeted the girls as well after her spirited daughter. I received a large Claire-Flint brand shower and toilet from the Warren Merchant Guild just the other day. Its all thanks to you all, so please relax to your hearts content today. Hey Sister, if its not too much trouble would you mind guiding us through Skycastles market? Why thatd be no problem at all. Reeve represented the interests of the rest of the girls, and Bizon gave them a positive response. And so, Ellis and the others were to spend the rest of their day pleasantly enjoying Skycastles specialties with Bizon as their guide. Meanwhile with the Brave Party. As Ellis had guessed, the six eventually were able to leave the castle after being thoroughly wrung out by the Kings followers. A downcast Gray was being held up by Marionetta. Gise followed close behind. And as for Peach, Dams, and Cliff We really had a terrible time all because of the Hero. You should hand over some money to make it up to us. Really, I think the blame lands on this girl who showed up out of nowhere not understanding a thing. We need to go somewhere to drink, play, and have a good time. The three idiots were using this as an opportunity to get some money, as usual. Gise had guessed this would happen though, and he had already told Gray how to handle them. Ive done something inexcusable to you three as well. I hope youre at least able to enjoy tonight, Gray apologized while handing over 300,000 ril to each of them. Hoh, so long as you realize it. Now then Hero, be sure to firmly reflect on what youve done. The large amount of money they were given left the three idiots feeling upbeat, and they gleefully headed towards the downtown area after giving a few empty words. The other three watched them go with a somber look on their faces. At least until the idiots were no longer in sight, and then Gray would joyfully use {Leap City} to cart off the other two away. Their destination was obviously Warren. Gise would have his soul soothed by Aiful, and after Gray and Marionetta enjoyed an afternoon date shopping and having dinner together, they would spend the night together in her room. It should be noted that the numerous times that Gise and Gray had delved into Wight Labyrinth before it had disappeared had left them with quite a bit of money, to the degree where a mere 900,000 ril was of no concern. And so the Brave Party continued to rot away. CH 140 The Royal Capitol Skycastle is located on the northern part of the Almerian continent, and as such it has many specialties unique to its colder climate. It is especially known for its fruits, dried fish, and distilled liquor. The area around the city is perfect for growing grapes, so besides selling the grapes themselves, theyre also great as raw material for alcohol and are widely cultivated. In addition, the sea to the north has an abundant amount of various different types of fish, and their preservation techniques had been adequately refined to keep them. You can drink the grape wine with it as is, otherwise the locals more often distill it so that it can be drank on a regular basis. And then to wrap up the specialties there was also the cooking liquor for use in cooked dishes. I would like to try using it the next time I cook up some shrimp or snails from the western fishing village, Frau said while smelling the alcohol. Bizon gave Frau a smile and answered, Gurres place actually handles grape wine there. Ill be sure to introduce you later. Big Sister Gurre? Reeve repeated aloud a name she hadnt expected to hear, so Bizon gave her an explanation. Yes, Gurre married into the Stewart House which is the main house responsible for managing Skycastle wine in the market. Gurre was Reeves second older sister. She moved away back when Ferdinand was still in charge of Lorenburg tea, marrying into the Stewart House in order to try and expand the familys connections. The girls continued on in this way with Bizon and Mebett acting as their guides, picking up souvenirs as they traveled through the market before turning back to Sir Chaffees home. By the time they got back, Sir Chaffee and Duke Marsfield had returned as well. Along with two other guests. Nice to meet you everyone from Warren. My name is Stewart, a lower noble in the Royal Capitol. Its nice to meet everyone, and its been much too long Reeve. My name is Gurre, Stewarts wife. The man was quite slender, giving off a more meek impression. The woman on the other hand was quite lovely and bore a striking resemblance to Reeves mother, Lux. Well then everyone, lets all head inside, as the wife in charge of the house hosting them, Bizon took the lead, guiding everyone into the dining room. And so the dinner party began. But the Chaos Dragons breath really was something terrifying though. It was the second one that sent a chill down my spine. I never thought that that Hero would end up smashing the castle! And now they want the cost to fix all that damage to come from the grape wine sales. I have a headache just thinking about it. Sir Chaffee, Duke Marsfield, and Sir Stewart were recounting the funny story that had occurred at the castle to Bizon and Gurre. The two women were amazed at first, then they laughed, and finally frowned in the end. Mebett in the meanwhile had taken a seat between Reeve and Ellis, explaining this and that about life in Skycastle. Big Sisters, how long are you going to stay here? Ah, well head back tomorrow after buying some more souvenirs. In that case let me lead you around tomorrow too please! Mebett asked loudly, sounding like she was already have a great time. Frau was spending the meal talking to the servant who had been put in charge of the nights meal. Claire and Katie were once again fighting over some of the fruit that had been brought to the table. By the way, I heard Mr. Stewart was in charge of the wine and distilled alcohol in the market, Ellis suddenly mentioned. The truth is that as tourism has increased in Warren, so too has the demand for alcohol. The main type of alcohol they can bring is the rice wine from Wheat Grace, and while Lily Garden and Freedom Promenade could make do with just grape wine and fruit liquor, the demand for distilled liquor in Gentlemans Street had created a shortage. Also, according to Frau, Skycastle had a wide variety of different types of alcohol with a wide variety of prices to match, so if each store in Warren were to handle a different brand, it would be possible for the various stores to plan out and provide their own various types of drinks. Yes, its mostly wine, but I am in charge of the market for any alcohol made in Skycastle and the surrounding area, Stewart answered with a smile. In that case would you mind hearing this proposal I have from the Warren Council? Ellis finally brought up the real issue that Maria and the other council members wanted her to ask about. It was a proposal for regular deliveries between Skycastle and Warren. Namely, a trade between Skycastles alcohol and Warren furniture such as the showers and toilets. Carriages would travel between the two cities, carrying cargo in both directions for the sake of efficiency. Shower and toilets? Bizon took on the honor of proudly answering Stewarts query. Its a couple of revolutionary facilities developed by the Dragon Maidens Jet Black Lady Claire! We might be in the middle of a meal, but would you like to see? Stewart and Gurre had their interest piqued at Bizons words, so they rose up from their plates and followed her out of the room. After some time had passed, they did eventually come back with flushed faces. And everyone already knew about this? Everyone smiled and nodded at Stewarts question. Reeve, however, didnt move, and her face suddenly looked a little green. Yeah, I have some set up throughout my castle. Both the shower and the toilets are comfortable! I heard there were some set up in Mother and Fathers house in Wheat Grace as well..according to Grandpa Ferdinand at least. Duke Marsfield and Bizon added on some unnecessary information to just make the situation worse. Gurre took this time to savor that feeling of being the only one left out before pointing a very kind, gentle eye towards Reeve. A chill ran up Reeves spine. She tried giving her older sister Gurre an excuse as sweat began flowing down her neck. Sorry big sister Gurre, it just slipped my mind. Only, a little, now. Gurre made a small, scornful laugh. You always were like this. Important things always slipping your mind. Never sparing a thought to those people you always forget. Well then everyone, I just need to step away from this wonderful meal for a moment and have a small chat with my foolish little sister. Hey Gurre, lets stop for today, hey, everyone else too As Reeves begging turned into babbling, Gurre grabbed Reeve by the ear and forced her to her feet. Who do you think you are, doing this to Reeve you damn, stupid hag!? Su-chan poked his head out from under his wings while hanging over Reeves chest to try and pick a fight with Gurre. However Gurre wasnt perturbed in the slightest. My my, what a cute Guardian Dragon. Im Gurre, Reeves sincere older sister. How about I teach you how to watch your mouth while Im having my talk with Reeve. Sister Bizon, Im going to borrow your other room for a bit. And so Reeve and Su-chan were dragged away by Gurre who had yet to drop that small, bright smile of hers. Bizon went ahead and offered a small explanation with a laugh as Ellis and the rest were left too stunned to ask themselves. Gurre has always lectured Reeve since she was young. That little sister of ours and GrampsGrandpa Ferdinand would always spend time together, so we had to be strict with her sometimes. They wont be back for about an hour. Steward alone was nodding his head, quietly repeating, Yep yep, to himself. Everyone else offered their silent sympathies, knowing he had gone through some hardships of his own. We got a little sidetracked, but how about it Stewart? If youre interested, well send an emissary from the Warren Merchant Guild immediately. Yes, please do so. The Royal Capitol is an old city, and as such, its sewer system is honestly saturated. If its this mechanism, wed be able to start up a new industry collecting and cleaning those waste boxes too. Thank you very much. And so with the business out of the way, the girls were able to sit back and enjoy talking to everyone. After an hour Gurre came back in, looking neat and proper with a disheartened Reeve and Su-chan trudging in close behind. It was a peaceful end to the day for the girls. But in Skycastles downtown area. Peach and the other two idiots were having fun at their favorite store. Seriously, what is a Dragon Maiden anyway? Boasting like that, ah I feel irritated. Dont be like that Peach. The Hero will find another dragon again eventually. Cmon Peach. If you become a Dragon Maiden, you wont be able to play with us anymore. No, at that time the dragon can take human form, and all four of us can play together. The dragon could take the form of a man, or a woman. Either way would be fun. As the threes conversation slowly started to take a vulgar turn, a stranger suddenly took an interest in what they were talking about. He grabbed a bottle of fine liquor and took a seat with the three idiots. It sounded like you guys were talking about something interesting there. Let me in too. Well, arent you a good man. Please, by all means. Thats some good drink. Well take a seat. Welcome to the table. And so the talk of dragons and maidens carried on until the man drew close to Peachs ear and spoke in a soft voice. In that case, what would you do if there were a free dragon in this city right now? By now the high-class alcohol was really starting to affect Peach, and she gave a very loud answer. Ah, Id form a contract with them right away. The dragon would get stronger from the contract too. Actually, I, am a free dragon. The mans words were more intoxicating for Peach than any wine. Dams and Cliff were already finished and had moved on to having fun asking out the shops women servers. Can you show me? Alright. Peach slapped the other two to get their attention, bringing their alcohol ridden minds to focus, and then they all followed the man out of the store. The four eventually came to a vacant space where the strange man turned around and made his declaration. I shall now show you my true form. If it is to your liking, let us form a contract. And as he said, the man slowly changed shape. At first the three Brave Party members thought he was just a black horse, but then they saw the wings on his back and recognized the head as that of a dragons. I am the Nightmare Dragon. Peach, name me Nightmare Dragon, and then kiss me. Peach unsteadily approached the waiting dragon. Then, Nightmare Dragon, she mumbled the dragons name, and gave it a kiss. In that instant, Peachs mind was completely overtaken by someone elses. Oi, Peach, whats wrong!? Dams and Cliff noticed there was something strange going on with Peach and tried to rush to her side, but then someone grabbed them from behind, holding their arms behind their backs. The last thing they felt was the unpleasant sensation that something had just entered their bodies. The next morning, Peachs group visited the castle with the dragon in his horse form at their side. I am the Dragon Maiden Peach.1 I come with the Guardian Dragon of Skycastle. The guards knew Peach as a member of the Brave Party and immediately left to report that there was a Guardian Dragon inside the castle. The King gave them orders to, Bring them in secretly. And so Peachs group was allowed into the castle to the knowledge of only a very select few people. 1. So when Peach say I here, she uses (ga). The same way that the dragon was referring to himself earlier. In Japanese its an archaic way of saying I, used more by older men in formal settings. CH 141 An introduction to the main characters of the story and the dragons who came in halfway. For more information on Ellis and everyone else, please refer to Character Memorandum 1 and 2. {Warrens Jewelry Box} Ellis Her second name is the Golden Mistress. Dragon Maiden for the Land Dragon. Associate member for the Warren Council. Adviser for the Warren Thieves Guild. President and CEO for Ellis Finance. Her main source of income comes from real estate and financing through her company Ellis Finance. Shes like a dangerous drug, taking money away from people, and having them be happy shes doing it. Her insides are made up of a loli-loving, 30 year old hikineet woman. Quite possibly the number one whimsical person on the Almerian continent. Reeve Her second name is Lady Bluegreen. Dragon Maiden for the Storm Dragon. Currently unemployed. Her main source of income is her winnings from the casino Ril Rush. Oftentimes working with her own grandfathers sinister plans, shell mercilessly strip her opponents of all their money. A girl who radiates the Yuri element, showing off even a little makes womens hearts jump out of their chests. She might look focused at first glance, but in truth shes not really thinking about anything at all. A typical case where somebody cant really be relied on for anything except for making sure something gets dead. She always makes a sweet voice whenever Ellis rubs her finger across her neck. Frau Her second name is the Crimson Beauty. Dragon Maiden for the Phoenix Dragon. Head accountant for Ellis Finance. Adviser for Freedom Promenades restaurant association. Restaurant Construction adviser for the Western Fishing Village (tentative name) on behalf of the Merchant Guild. Main income is from her advisory fees. A ray of hope for employees whose motto is that profits will surely increase so long as they continue to do their best. A woman who acts like an older sister you can count on. She is usually the one left cleaning up after Ellis and the other girls. She is also in charge of disciplining the dragons. But at night she is a filthy pig woman. Always lets out a sweet voice whenever Ellis bites on her earlobe. Claire Her second name is the Jet Black Lady. Dragon Maiden for the Chaos Dragon. President and Chairman of Claires Design Office. Manager of the Workshop Guilds Freedom Promenade branch office. Her main income is the money taken in from the above-mentioned businesses along with patent fees from the Claire-Flint brand product line. Second richest person behind Ellis. Even though she is a super talented staff officer whenever she is alone with Ellis, she turns into an enthusiastic little sister who cant read the air whenever shes paired with anyone else. Whenever Ellis licks her nose, she always makes a cute noise. Katie Her second name is the Pure White Catgirl. Dragon Maiden for the Frost Dragon. Unemployed. She has no steady source of income. Shes someone who doesnt care if she has any money, but will celebrate and spend it haphazardly while she has it. She has a track record of moving through the city wearing just her underwear, so Ellis bought her a dress to wear. At first glance she looks like a cool beauty, but her head is actually an empty flower garden. Completely unable to read the air. However, shes a catgirl who will occasionally mercilessly cut right to the truth of a matter. {Dragons} Land Dragon Elliss dragon. He is called Ra-chin. A salamander-like dragon whose scales would make someone believe he was actually wearing a set of lightly shining golden armor. In the last Demon/God war his honest nature was taken advantage of by the Demon Lord, and he fought on the demon side of the war. However because he never made it to the battlefield, his only contributions to the war was attacking any travelers who were unfortunate enough to cross his path. When he surrendered to the girls, he revealed he could grow his scales back like an octopus can grow back its arms, and theyve been using those scales to make new armor. The truth is that he had already noticed a black spot on Elliss soul when they first met. This could have been perceived as an impurity when the contract was formed, but he had already decided that having Ellis as his Dragon Maiden would be a point of pride for him. If he was wrong, then there is a high probability that ectoplasm wouldve spewed out of his nose and mouth. Hes level-headed in times of emergency, and very vigilant. He has a search ability that allows him to pick out individuals who stand out among the rest, but he also has two weaknesses in that he cant fly and is rather loud. He is also particularly lazy, so while all the other dragons hang off their Dragon Maidens, he needs to be carried. At first Ellis always carried him under one arm, but because she needed to make sure her hands were free, she modified some straps to create a makeshift bookbag to carry him on her back. He loves the smell that comes from the tea that Aiful and Credia prepare in the Jewelry Box Tea Room. He will stay inside the shop until his tea cools off, taking the leftover cold tea back home with him afterwards since it would be a waste to toss it out. Originally it would be Elliss job to take that tea home with her, but after Claire made a dedicated barrel that he could wear around his neck, he became able to carry it home himself whenever Ellis is busy. He does almost nothing but laze around, requiring Ellis to take care of him, a trait that all the rest of the dragons admire and respect. He is the face of Warrens Guardian Dragons. His motif would be a Thunderbirds Jet Mole.1 He kind of looks like a cute version of an Akamturm from Monster Hunter.2 Storm Dragon Reeves dragon. Goes by Su-chan. Covered in ultramarine leather, its a thin Pterosaur-like dragon with wings that could make someone believe they were wind made solid. He already carried some bad memories even before the previous Demon/God War, so he hid himself away in a southern cave to avoid both the Hero and the Demon Lord. However because of Elliss trick he was drawn outside of the cave, and he was successfully captured by the Land Dragons attack. At that time he noticed how well Reeve took care of her boots which were made from his leather, so he decided to make her his contractor. He is capable of carrying Reeve and one other Dragon Maiden while still being able to go at his full speed, but because he is unable to form a barrier, ordinary people cant ride him alone. The end result if one tried can be found in the Ultraman section in your Fantasy Science Textbooks.3 Frost Dragon Katies Dragon. His new name is Ah-nyan. A snake-like dragon that gives off a noble feeling covered in its pure white hair. In the last Demon/God War he deemed that the Hero was at a disadvantage, so he dared to side with the underdog. He rampaged through the Demon Lords front lines, but after being brought down by some of the Demon Lords suicide bombers, he was trapped in a purification labyrinth. Whats more is the fact that the Hero who he had once aided decided to leave him in there. Inside the labyrinth he grew a hatred for both sides of the conflict and attacked everything for fear of being permanently cleansed. In the end, he lost before the combo attack of the Land and Storm dragons. Even the other dragons had to admit how beautiful he was on the outside. Unfortunately the inside is completely dirty, vulgar, and hostile even by the other dragons standards. He constantly throws out insults in a dialect that is a little hard to understand at times. He calls himself a hot spring gourmet, but that really only equates to him acting like an old man. But he fits in perfectly with the airheaded Katie. The two have already become a self-proclaimed comic duo. Hes also like Katie in that hell put in much more effort than youd expect in trying to find the spot in a bath that has the hottest water. His motif would be the Thunderbirds No. 4. He is very similar to Dragon Balls Shenron if that dragon was covered in white hair.? Phoenix Dragon Fraus dragon. Named Fe-rin. As its name would suggest, he is a bird-like dragon with the body of a bird, head of a dragon, and covered in crimson feathers. In the previous Demon/God War he declared himself neutral, lending his aid to neither side. However the real reason why he made this choice was because, I hate scary things. He is actually quite timid. This time around he saw the Demon Lords national broadcast and appeared in Ceramics to try and declare his neutrality as soon as possible. That was when he was captured by the Hero. He barfed ectoplasm from his mouth after the Heros party member Peach kissed him, trying to force a contract with him. It was impossible for the other dragons to not feel a level of sympathy for him. He was later freed by the girls and formed a contract with Frau in order to achieve some small level of revenge on the Brave Party. His cowardice is outstanding compared to the other dragons. Because of this he will usually end up hiding himself in Fraus hair, rarely showing himself. For that reason it is very rare for any of Warrens citizens to ever see him. In addition to Frau, he can carry two other people on his back without it impeding his flying, and since he is quite proficient in making barriers, even an ordinary person can enjoy the ride. As a result it has become the situation where he is often treated as a sort of handyman by Frau who is in turn often treated as a handyman by the rest of the girls, but he doesnt mind since those jobs usually involve going shopping with Aiful and Credia or picking up that sneaky old grandpa which he greatly enjoys. His motif would be the Thunderbirds No. 3. He looks similar to Final Fantasys Phoenix if it was more red.? Chaos Dragon Claires dragon. Goes by Pi-tan. An evil dragon with a vicious figure and pure black body, he is a being to be feared by anyone who lays eyes on him. Originally he was picked up from a labyrinth as a Metal Eater where he would chow down on any swords and spears thrown his way, enjoy being caressed in different pairs of breasts, and could be said to have all around won at life. His only job was to occasionally spit out a few magic crystals for the girls. Elliss contract with the Land Dragon however turned his life completely over. A dragon had yet to appear in front of Claire, but he knew that she loved him and if a dragon ever did appear before her, she would assuredly choose him over that dragon. But that would make Claire the only one to not be a Dragon Maiden, putting her future at risk. Knowing all of this, he decided to leave the mansion, taking him out of the equation. He was originally seen as an invincible monster that should be run away from without fail before. But now everyone knew the truth. He was just a monster with zero attack power, and as such, he was captured almost immediately and brought back to the girls. Then by chance, Claires lips brushed against his nose while she was scolding him, and then like the fairy tail where the princess kisses the frog, his form as the Chaos Dragon was restored. When his true form was revealed, all the other dragons shouted, Chaos Dragons are dangerous! while giving out evacuation orders to their maidens. Its natural that a Chaos Dragon with no memories would be a target for bullying by all the other dragons. However when he regained his Chaos Dragon form, he still had the same mind as when he was a Metal Eater. Gradually some of his old memories started trickling in, and he was able to pick a fight with the other dragons as well. His time as a Metal Eater with the Jewelry Box Girls, spending time with Frau and being picked up by Ellis, has left as being the most loved of the dragons by all of the girls. His motif is the Thunderbird No. 2. He looks like Lars from Bastard if he was completely black.? 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbirds_machines So each machine has its own job like No. 1 is used for reconnaissance. https://thunderbirds.fandom.com/wiki/The_Mole_(TB2015) This is the machine Ra-chin is referenced to. 2. 3. In case you didnt know Ultraman is a Japanese superhero. And the Fantasy Science Textbooks, or ѧi, is a pseudo-science series where the author uses made up science to show how silly the made up science in science fiction works are. 4. Monster Collection is a Japanese card game apparently, so unfortunately the best image I could find was of the card itself. 5. I know you probably dont need this image, but here it is anyway. 6. 7. So Im afraid I actually couldnt find a picture that this references. Bastard is a manga series thats been ongoing for years, and Lars is a dragon knight who turned into a dragon among other events. Heres a link to the wikipedia page in case you want to do a little research. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastard!! CH 142 With Mebett acting as their guide, the girls once again visited the Skycastle market in the morning with their dragons in tow. Frau took a walk through the various stalls selling alcohol, smelling and taking a small taste from the samples set out in front of each cask while taking careful notes. Based off of my notes Ill ask Nicole to order some wine and distilled alcohol, Frau mentioned as she continued having fun moving between each store. On the other hand, Reeve had already gone ahead and bought some strong liquor kept in porcelain pots. Oh my, I didnt know Reeve liked alcohol that much. I dont. Its a souvenir for that Teaser Eel old man. Ill get that shitty old fart drunk, and then take him for all hes worth. That, wouldnt that be a foul? If Im not willing to go at least this far, I will never beat Grandpa Fel. Ellis was watching with an amazed look on her face as Katie and Claire were troubled standing in front of two fruit sellers. The two of them were worried about how they were going to take all the fruit they had bought home. Its good to buy in large quantities, but it would be too sad if they were to end up rotting. Dried fruits were tasty too, but they just couldnt compare to the savory, juicy taste of a fresh fruit. Ellis couldnt bear to watch them for much longer, so she offered them a bit of advice. Leave the apples and other citrus fruits as they are, and freeze the grapes. Then you can half-freeze the strawberries to use as storage. She had them both pull out one of the wooden chests they had taken from the labyrinths. If you use an Ice ring to freeze the grapes, they can be used as a convenient substitute for some ice. She also taught them to not mix the fruits together as the apples can cause the other fruits to ripen more quickly. Ellis is so well-informed, Claire sighed in admiration. Now we can eat as many strawberries in Warren as we want nya. And so the two girls did as they were told, pulling out some treasure chests from their bags, and used either an Ice ring or the chill from Ah-nyan to start processing their fruit. As their shopping continued forward like that, Ra-chin started speaking directly into Elliss mind. Its completely mixed together. Ellis and Ra-chin came to a mutual understanding over what they were conversing about. That was the numerous presences of demons that had slipped in to the Royal Capital Skycastle. There were quite a few demons throughout the city, but they hadnt shown any large movements so far. I suppose telling Sir Chaffee and Stuart would just promote more chaos. I will give Reeve instructions to tell only her two sisters the truth. After that. Ellis took a look around the market, and after finding a doll shop, she bought up as many hand puppets and small plush toys that she could. Meanwhile, the magician Marionetta and Hero Gray, after spending a night of thorough reflection together in Warren, they joined back up with the thief Gise to return to Skycastle. They headed straight for their base afterwards, but the usual sight of the three idiots werent there to greet them. Are those guys still playing around? Gray, lets head for the castle for now. Agreed Gise. We need to get approval for any of our future activities. Gray wanted to give up his search for a dragon, instead moving to conquer each areas strongest dungeons to try and find the item necessary for defeating the Demon Lord. In order to do so, he would need the Kings approval. When Gray arrived at the gates to the castle, the chief guard immediately ran up to meet him, spitting out everything he needed to say without pausing for breath. Hero, where have you been until now!? His Majesty is waiting for you, hurry! Pressed on by the captains angry look, Grays group moved towards the inner part of the palace. And then in the audience chamber. Hero Gray here, I have come according to the Kings summons. Youre late Hero. Hurry inside since we could no longer wait! One of the nobles rushed Gray further. Pushed by that momentum, the three members of the Brave Party stepped into the audience chamber at the same time as someone announced their arrival to the rest of the room. Inside was the usual scene. The only difference from normal was that there was someone else standing where Gray had once stood during that previous audience the day before. In other words, the position where one would be protecting the King. That spot was taken by the songstress Peach. Furthermore, standing beside her was a dark-skinned man wearing pitch black clothes, hair as dark as coal, and a sharp glint in his eye. Ah, Hero Gray, youve come. Sorry to trouble you. The King gave Gray a very good-humored greeting. Before any of the three could swallow the current situation, the King continued to speak. Our Guardian Dragon search has turned out splendidly! As such the Brave Party shall be temporarily disbanded. More and more information continued to come, and these three members of the Brave Party found it harder and harder to grasp what was going on. Soon a public relations officer gave some more information. Peach has become a Dragon Maiden after forming a contract with the Nightmare Dragon, thus becoming the Royal Capitals Dragon Maiden and will henceforth live here. Dams shall work here as a guard directly under Peach, and Cliff will be given a room here in the castle where he will work as a civil servant. Just a moment! What do you mean she became a Dragon Maiden? Peach floated a daring smile at Gises question. Weve been part of the same party for a while now, so Id be happy to share in the profit with you if you were to become my servant Gise. The man dressed all in black standing next to her made an equally fearless smile. On the other hand, Dams and Cliff were standing further back behind them and had yet to change their blank expressions at all. Thats how it is Hero Gray. This will be the perfect defense for the castle. Meanwhile, you will recruit new members for the Brave Party and continue your efforts to defeat the Demon Lord. Thus Gray and his two remaining companions were made to leave the audience chambers still not having fully taken in the current circumstances. Thereupon Grays group was stopped by a group of nobles. Thats obviously strange. Did you really make a dragon your companion? My younger sister-in-laws Storm Dragon sure was intimidating, but he never exuded such maliciousness! In the first place, does Peach even clear the conditions to becoming a Dragon Maiden? Sir Chaffee was leading the group that stopped Gray. The rest of them were all nobles who had witnessed the dragons demonstration yesterday with their own eyes. No, to tell you the truth, we havent fully grasped the situation yet ourselves. What exactly happened? Grays simple question got an angry response from Sir Chaffee. Those three brought that dragon into the castle early this morning. The King was quick to give his approval. However we cant think of that ominous creature as a dragon at all. However another group of nobles started talking it up to the King, saying things like, It might be an evil dragon, but a dragon is a dragon, so there shouldnt be any problem making it into our Guardian Dragon. Come on! However right now theres nothing we can, so please calm down. For now, shouldnt we take a wait-and-see approach? All of the nobles quieted down at Gises words. Yes, they also knew the reality of the situation. Only the King could reverse a royal decree. Everyone should please be cautious for now. We shall return here right away. In the end, this was the only thing Gray could tell the nobles. Something like this Before returning to Warren, Ellis borrowed a room from Bizon, and with Claire by her side, the two became busy with work. They were preparing the large number of hand puppets and small plush toys Ellis had bought earlier to be turned into magic tools. 5 sets of four different colored stuffed animals were tied together with a string. Each one had the name of its user written on it. Each bundle was a set of Howling plush toys that Elliss group would use to keep in contact with one another. Elliss bundle also had a Howling hand puppet hanging off of it in order to contact Marionetta if she ever needed to. Reeves also had an extra plush toy hanging off of it as well. Another necklace was made up that had a doll and a plush toy attached to it. Something like this should be fine. Now then Claire, could you call everyone else and Mebett in here? Doing as she was asked, Claire left for a moment to grab Reeve, Frau, Katie, and Mebett. Now, Mebett, listen carefully. Everyone else too. Ellis explained to everyone how demons had slipped in to the Royal Capital Skycastle. Their current goals were still unknown. They also couldnt understand who or when these people were being possessed. Mebett, keep this on your person at all times. Ellis gave Mebett a ring that wouldnt look out of place being worn by a six-year-old girl and a necklace with a small doll and a plush toy the size of her pinky finger hanging off of it. Good, Mebett. Inside that doll is a stuffed bear that acts as a Howling plush toy. If you ever talk into that toy, you will be able to get into contact with Reeve. Use it to call Reeve if you ever feel like you are in danger. The other doll and the ring are both amulets. They will surely protect you. Okay? Ask for Reeves help as soon as something happens. Also, what were talking about right now is something secret form Father and Mother. Theyll just get worried. Promise. Ellis then turned to Reeve as Mebett dumbly nodded her head. Youre the most mobile out of all of us. If Mebett asks for help, make her your top priority. Reeve gave a silent nod. The other three had also remained quiet this whole time. Reeve gave Mebett a hug while looking a little uneasy. Itll be okay Mebett. Youre our cute little sister. I understand. Ive been reassured, Big Sister. Mebett gave a firm response while her head was still buried in Reeves chest. The other four all began to gently stroke Mebetts head. And so the preparations were completed. The girls picked up their passenger Duke Marsfield, and they rose to the sky to return home. CH 143 Peach, Cliff, and DamsCand then there was the Nightmare Dragon in his humanoid form there as wellCwere rustling around in the room given to them inside the royal palace. And then you skillfully slip in like this. Furthermore here, is the best position. So then should we just torture, kill, and eat for the time being? Fuck-wit, then well just end up right back where we started. We should remain as inconspicuous here as we can. We went through a lot of trouble to get this much power at hand. We first must prepare the party. You want to live a long, steady life then? Of course. The Hero and those dragons in Warren, our enemies are the ones who could have crushed Zavnat and his army. Itll be an easy victory if we can just get the humans around here to fight each other. I suppose. Then we should avoid showing ourselves. Theres nothing more enjoyable to pass the time than having something to eat. Well start off by using the King to influence domestic affairs. Humans are inherently stupid, so well increase fear among them through their attachment to laws. Yes. Then should we start by legalizing the Magical FeastSabbath? Oho, thatll be great. Sacrifices are important. The gouged out heart of a little girl wouldnt be half bad right about now. Well then lets leisurely enjoy ourselves from now on. Meanwhile, the members of Warrens Jewelry Box and their dragons had all made it safely home. Ellis and Reeve reported their status to Maria, Frau talked with Nicole about buying some liquor from Skycastle, and Claire went to work at the Workshop Guild to try and redesign the Claire-Flint brand toilets and showers. She was trying to make it easier for the specialists who would be called in by the upper nobles to take care of the wastebaskets, and so they could wash, replace, and sell the contents as fertilizer to the more rural areas all for a fee. She was also adding on a separate trash basket from the one that held excrement for the wiping cloths based on the suggestion Stewart made in Skycastle. Warren wasnt exactly a water-rich city, but Skycastle had the resources to fully realize a recovery business for the used rags. With Flints help, Claire also went ahead and designed a wagon dedicated to the recovery of those wiping cloths. She was sure to become even richer from now on. By the way, usually Katie would have gone off with Ah-nyan to watch some of the wrestling matches in the live house, but because she had gotten so much fruit in Skycastle, she was instead spending her day visiting some of the people she knows. I gotta show my face around Pas place every once in a while nya. Im going too. Thus the two used their Magical Horses to visit the western fishing village. It should be noted that Ah-nyan is the only one of the dragons who has made it an active habit to move around in his human Cassius form. It was convenient for when he was playing at the live house. He would borrow Katies old Platinum Crow Gauntlets and Crow Greaves for the occasion. And so the Dragon Maiden and her dragon straddled their Magical Horses, pushing them to their absolute limit so that Katie was able to make it to her village in less than an hour. The fishing village was already well-underway in its development, and the hot spring near the villages entrance had already been finished. From a distance you could see that this village full of shanties and huts transformed into one of structured buildings, and you could also see one building with a large roof that was the towns marketplace. When she arrived, Katie noticed that a great many of the villagers were standing together on the coastline, along with another group of people she didnt know. It had already become common for strangers to be seen in this village, but Katie felt like there was something wrong going on here. Pulling Ah-nyan with her, she headed for the coastline herself. The villagers who were there were the male cat beastmen, while the people she didnt recognize turned out to be a group of seal beastmen. The two groups were glaring at each other, weapons in hand. Pa, what going on nya? Being abruptly called Pa in the middle of this situation took the village head Gattis by surprise, and he instinctively turned to look at Katie, but he just as quickly turned his gaze back towards the seal beastmen. These guys are attacking gya. Then from among the seal beastmen came one with a particularly large physique who spoke for the rest of the group. We are not here to attack you I promise. We are here to tell you that you must find shelter. From whose mouth is that coming from as you show yourselves with tridents pointed at us gya!? Once again both groups of beastmen started giving off a threatening aura. Both sides looked like theyd rather bite than bark. In the end it fell to Ah-nyan to be the voice of reason and get between the two groups. Oi you seals, why do you want us to go find shelter? Then as if they had just remembered they were in a hurry, all of the seal beastmen started rapidly talking all at once. Thats right, thats right! Soon some demons with a group of monsters at their side will attack! Theyve already swept through our great village! Say that sooner gya! In one go the cat beastmen all had a fire lit under their butts, and after helping the seal beastmen get out of the water, the preparations for war began. Women and children retreat to Warren gya! The men will stay here and defend the village gya! Its fine to run if things get too dangerous gya! Gattis began shouting out orders, and the villagers did as they were told. Meanwhile Katie and Ah-nyan shared a look. Should we tell Ellis and the others nya? That should be okay. Even if we call them, and they fly here as fast as they can, thatll still give us some time to play. Right nya. As the two were talking to one another, tens of pawn and normal demons rose to the oceans surface and began advancing to the mainland. Hyaaha! Were getting cat and seal meat for dinner tonight! The demons moved together feeling pretty cocky. Meanwhile the cat and seal warriors prepared to meet them with the resolve to die. A moment of tension ran through the air as the two opposing sides were about to clash. Then a white streak flashed by. It was like somebody had had turned a light switch on, and then flipped it back off just as quickly. And with that flicker of a light each of the demon soldiers fell flat on their faces, and the beach became died a bright crimson. What, they cant even respond nya. Katie, its a foul to take them all yourself. Its my turn next time. The light in the demons eyes had been extinguished by Katies claws before they even had time to react. The eyes of the beastmen were glued to the metallic sheen that covered both of Katies arms and legs, and they couldnt find the right words to say as Ah-nyan casually chided Katie for jumping ahead. It wasnt much longer after the other demons deaths that some aquatic-type high demons began emerging from the water as well. Hoh, looks like there are some people with skill up here. Here, how about you come play with us. The high demons were just as cocky as the others. They released some magic, and the area around Katie and Ah-nyan became bitterly cold. What on earth is this? It looks like magic nya. Oh, I thought they were trying to give us a shower. Well, Katie, leave it to me this time! This time Ah-nyan in his human form ran forward, weaving in and out of the high demon horde. The high demons each tried countering with a variety of magic spells, but Ah-nyan was able to nullify every last one of them. With his pure white fur, it was like he was a beautiful dancer continuing one, constant dance. By the time the demons wanted to get serious about this fight it was already too late. The heads of the high demons fell from their necks to the beach, the panicked looks on their faces as they died still frozen across their lifeless faces. Ah, as expected of Ah-nyan. So elegant nyan. Just leave it all to me! The seals and even the villagers were left stunned as these two continued to act as if this were all just a game. It was a full minute before one of the seal beastmen finally regained enough of their senses to talk to Gattis. Sorry for the late introductions. Im the village headman of a nearby island village, Selkis. With that out of the way, who are those two snow white guys over there? Ah, Im this villages headman Gattis gya. Im a little troubled over those two gya, that womans actually my daughter gya. Your daughter!? Gattiss words caused Selkis to open his eyes wide in shock. But then, something important finally came to mind, and in a fluster he began shouting as loud as he could. A huge monster is going to be coming next! Its being controlled by a demon so look out! But his words were meaningless, for as he said them, the surface of the ocean broke creating a crack as loud as thunder that drowned out his words. What appeared from the ocean froth was a monster 20 meters in length, larger even than a dragon. It was a Whale Beast, a monster that was similar to its namesake but with four massive limbs growing out of its side. It was a monster that originally had a more gentle disposition and lived in the depths of the ocean, but there was something obviously different about now. Your hope ends here! This villages annihilation has already been decided! the demon began threatening the villagers from his spot up high. The cat beastmen lost their voices before the size of their new enemy while the other seal beastmen had already worked up their resolve to fight. And then.. Luckyyyy! This is our chance Katie! a certain two people were off celebrating on their own with a complete disregard for everyone elses feelings. It was only then that Katie finally turned around and acknowledged Gattis and the others. You all get to see something fun nyan! Alright Ah-nyan, {Reset Body} nya. Okay Katie! The beautiful cat beastman that had been standing there only a moment before disappeared without a trace, replaced by a pure white snake-like dragon. The shine of his coat was so beautiful youd be forgiven for mistaking him as a god. Alriiiight! Katie, its our countryside debut! Katie jumped up onto the Frost Dragons head, setting her sights on the monster that had just started making its way out of the water. Breath release! Ah-nyan go nyan! Leave it to me! {Extreme Cold Breath}! With Katies cry, a straight line of white powder shot from the Frost Dragons mouth. The instant that white line made contact with the hulking monster, a dry sound like glass cracking echoed across the beach. The Whale Beast and the demon riding it were frozen solid from the ultra-low temperatures and stood there near the water mid-step. The villagers were so still youd think they had been hit by the attack themselves. Then the Frost Dragon slinked out into the water and pulled the rest of the huge whale further onto the beach. It wasnt until he had separated the frozen demon from the whale and shattered it that Ah-nyan changed into his pretty size. Pa, what should we do with this? Gattis finally started moving again after Katie asked him an innocent question. Unfortunately he had no idea what should be done with a large, frozen whale. It wasnt until Selkiss senses finally returned that Gattis finally got a clue on what could be done. Actually, this monsters meat is quite delicious. We could dismantle the whale if youd like. Sure, but can you disassemble it when its frozen and covered in ice like that gya? Ah, I can thaw it. In exchange let me borrow a hot spring. Im sticky from the seawater. Katie, can you wash me? No problem nya. Well borrow a womans bath nya. Then with just a touch Ah-nyan was able to thaw the Whale Beast as if he had turned back the clock, and free from its icy prison, the monsters corpse collapsed down onto the sandy beach completely. Well then Pa, seal guy, we leave the rest to you nya. Leaving those words behind her, Katie started off for the hot spring with Ah-nyan in tow. About an hour later. Katie and Ah-nyan came back from the hot springs feeling energetic and refreshed while the dismantling of the Whale Beast had gone smoothly. To put it simply, the amount of meat was ginormous. There was no way the cat beastmen and seal beastmen could eat all of this on their own. It was honestly wasteful. We should share the goodwill nya. Pa, can I have some of this meat? Sure, but how are you going to carry it? Katie brought out a bundle of dolls that were hanging at her waist and brought them in front of her face. She then began talking to the dolls as if they were real people. Reeve, Frau, are either of you free nya? A quick reply came back from the bundle. What, do you feel like the odd man out Katie? Ellis was the one who ended up responding. Katie and Ah-nyan were both feeling impatient, answering Ellis at the same time. They kept talking over one another, creating a confusing mess, but at the very end Ah-nyan was able to add a follow-up. President Ellis, we harvested a lot of whale meat here at the fishing village, and we want to bring some back to Warren. We want your wisdom in how to do that! . Wait there. Everyone else will be heading there now! After that it didnt take long for Ellis and Reeve to arrive on the Storm Dragons back with the Phoenix Dragon and then the Chaos Dragon following soon after. CH 144 This might be a little unpleasant Katie. Whats the matter nya? Ah-nyan. Were probably the targets of President Elliss preaching when she gets here. Nya. Katie and Ah-nyan remembered when Ellis made Reeve and Su-chan kneel on the ground while being forced to listen to a lecture. If they remembered correctly, that was also after Reeve had gotten into a fight with some monsters. I wouldnt mind the preaching, but Id prefer to be spared from having to kneel on the ground so long nya. In that case lets come up with a cover story Katie. Ah-nyan returned to human form, and before Ellis and the others got here, they kindly asked Gattis and Selkis keep their mouths shut. Simply put, she wanted to get their stories to match so that it would seem like the Whale Beast had been captured without incident thanks to everyones help, and the warriors were allowing Katie to bring the leftover food back to Warren because there was just too much. Unfortunately, the rest of the girls ended up arriving in the village earlier than had been expected. Gattis and the other warriors went out to greet Ellis and the other girls feeling a little flustered. The arrival of three new dragons left the seal beastmen especially dumbfounded. From there, one by one a group of young girls jumped down off of the dragons backs, and the youngest of them all, a small blonde girl who looked like a doll, politely greeted the cat beastman mayor. Chief Gattis, thanks for inviting me. What happened? Gattiss face cramped up a little, but he still did his best to lie on his daughters behalf. No problem Ellis. Thanks to the help of these seal beastmen, we were able to safely capture this Whale Beast gya. As you can see, its a lot of meat, so we called you for help in transporting some of it to Warren. This guy, he was a god awful liar, and the girls were able to figure him out immediately. Pretending that they didnt notice for now, the girls turned their heads to the other seal beastmen. How do you do? My name is Ellis, from Warren. Thank you ever so much for sharing your days catch with Katie. Well now, my name is Selkis, the chief for a village on an island not too far off shore. And Katie helped us out a bit, soum Selkis was babbling and eventually just shut his mouth. Unfortunately for him, a young seal beastman boy with a flushed face popped his head in from beside the village chief and finished the story. That white girl and her dragon were amazing! They killed those demons like they were nothing and then froze that Whale Beast in one shot! The boy would have probably said more, but Selkis quickly covered the boys mouth. Chief, Id like to borrow one of your huts for a bit. Ellis pointed at a nearby fishing cabin before she and the rest of the girls made their way over before the village chief even had a chance to answer. Oh ? Ka ? tie. Come sit over here. Ellis called Katie over, visibly angered. Its been leaked nya. We were exposed. And so Katie and Ah-nyan were made to kneel before the other girls inside the hut and explain exactly what had happened in the village. Okay nya. Im ready for the all-night sermon nya. That night when Reeve was getting lectured, Katie remembered Ellis persistently chiding Reeve on and on. This time around Katie planned on listening to what Ellis was preaching. Although Ellis probably would have continued going on regardless if Katie was paying any attention or not. We need to keep our fighting strength a secret. I wonder what would happen if one of those demons didnt participate in the fight and got away. The strength of an unthinking blue-haired girl and a catgirl with a head filled with flowers leaked to the world. Why didnt you just leave it all to that dumbass Frost Dragon!? Dumbass dragon is a nice name for him! Ra-chin laughed loudly. Dumbass, dumbass, Haaaah! Su-chan started to tease the Frost Dragon. So you went right for some more dumbassery eh, Mr. Dumbass? Fe-rin piled on with the ridicule. Ellis, calling him a dumbass is a little cruel. Just calling him an idiot should be good enough, Pi-tan finished it all off. Why shouldnt I kill all of you!? and so Ah-nyan started losing his temper. Frau, if you would. Roger Ellis. Each of the dragons were saying just a little too much like usual, so Frau had each of them eat a little physical punishment from her hammer to calm them down. Meanwhile Katie timidly tried giving Ellis an excuse. But Ellis, we already showed off our strength in those one-on-one fights in Wisdom, so I thought this time would be fine nya. Oh that. That was fine since our opponents were a bunch of lazy, idiot students. We wont create much of a buzz beating kids like them. And the fights we had with Ares and Izerina were both close. Almost stalemates. But now a girl was able to turn a whole group of demons into a bunch of red stains on the ground in an instant without a second thought. Now dont you think people would want to get their hands on a girl like that? Katie was at a loss for words. Unexpectedly receiving a little bit of damage from Elliss point as well, Reeves body went rigid. Theres no question that we will never be strong enough to match up against the Hero or the Demon Lord. Thats why it would be dangerous if we were to end up directly involved with either one of them. Understand? Reeve and Katies faces both started to turn pale as the seriousness of what they had done gradually became clear. Ellis started to feel a little sympathetic seeing them look like that, so she continued with a softer tone. But well, we cant do anything about whats already been done. And its a great thing that all the villagers are safe. That one line was able to give both of the girls a bit of relief. Now then, should we go grab some of that free meat? Nyes, there is a stupid amount of meat out there nya! Everyone should eat nya! Thus the girls lecture time ended a little sooner than expected, and they all left the hut towards the newly formed mountain of meat. This is amazing. The girls stood in mute amazement at the literal mountain of meat in front of them. Its our first time dealing with a Whale Beast this large. This could feed hundreds of people a couple times over. And thats not including what could be done with the organs, fat, and leather. The seal beastman Selkis began talking beside the dumbfounded girls with a happy albeit slightly overwhelmed look on his face. Ellis took a moment to think about it. It would be unreasonable to think that all this meat could be handled even with the seal and cat villages working together. But then again it would be impossible to just bring all this back to Warren as well. So what should be done? Hmmm. Ellis talked to the Land Dragon that was strapped to her back. Hey Ra-chin, you said you were good at digging holes right? You could say its my strong point. I used to move almost exclusively through underground tunnels I built myself. Thereupon Ellis turned on her heel and invited the two village chiefs to follow her to where she had built the hot springs the last time she was here. After checking some of the nearby bedrock, she whispered something in Claires ear. Claire nodded her head once and started circling around the rocky area. Soon she called back to Ellis after examining an especially large portion of solid rock. Ellis, I think right around here should be fine. Then Ra-chin, if you would. With that size, my human form would work better. Ellis, could you use {Change Human} and get me a change of clothes? Ellis walked away and hid from the others behind some large rocks, dropping the Land Dragon from the bookbag on her back, and using {Change Human} to turn Ra-chin into his Ellison form. He put on a spare set of clothes that Ellis had started carrying around with her regularly before both of them appeared once again in front of everyone else. Well then, lets begin. Ra-chin put out both of his hands in front of the spot Claire had pointed out. Ra-chin cast the spell {Excavate Arm}, and an innumerable number of fine grains of minerals began rotating around both of his arms. It looked like they had become a pair of drills. Both arms were making a thunderous roar, and as Ra-chin placed his hands on the solid rock, bits and pieces immediately started flying behind him. Make the entrance narrow and the inside a wide room, Ellis spoke directly to Ra-chins mind since she was sure her voice wouldnt be heard over the noise of the drills. It didnt take long for Ra-chin to dig out a cave large enough for an entire house to fit into. One more step to finish it up. Ellis beckoned over Katie and Ah-nyan. Before telling them what to do, she asked just to make sure what Ah-nyans breath could do. Its just as you think President Ellis. My breath is just pure coldness. Its a much more elegant breath than some other stupid dragons that can only break stuff. Hey Claire, it sounds like even a dumbass dragon can have an elegant breath. Ellis clicked her tongue, knowing that if left alone these stupid dragons would each hop in one after another to pick a fight with each other again, so she motioned towards the cave, cutting off any more responses that would waste her time. Well then would you go ahead and release your breath into that cave there? Thats easy! Katie and Ah-nyan followed Elliss instructions, firing their {Extreme Cold Breath} into the dug out hole. The inside of the cavern froze over without the shape changing at all. Thats good enough. Thanks. With that, a huge freezer kept at a couple dozen degrees below zero had been made. Ellis called over the two chiefs Gattis and Selkis and had them store the meat in the villages newly crafted warehouse. She also told Gattis he would want to craft a door to be set at the entrance. This should remain cold for a while. And you can use it from now on as cold storage to keep the fish and shellfish you catch. The two men looked down on Ellis astonished, but she ignored the looks they were giving her and returned to the mountain of meat. Ellis next began whispering in Fraus ear. Afterwards Frau stepped forward inspecting the whole pile. I think it can go Ellis. Then Frau will head back to Warren first. Go to the Merchant Guild first, and then talk to the Workshop Guild. After giving an enthusiastic nod, Frau grabbed a few small samples of the meat and returned to Warren on Fe-rins back. Meanwhile Ellis once again engaged the two village heads, discussing how exactly to handle the bounty. It was decided that Selkis and the other seal beastmen would handle the quick to rot organs and hard to manufacture leather, beginning work on processing the two ingredients immediately. As for the fat, it was said that it could be used for anything from a cooking ingredient, to tallow, to a wonderful fuel source, so it would be split in half with the seals taking one portion and the cats taking the other. For now it would be kept inside the freezer until it was ready to be moved. As for the meat, both chiefs agreed to the proposal Ellis made to them. Well then Gattis, Selkis, be sure to eat your fill of whale meat today. The girls left those words behind as they got on their Magical Horses, and headed home. By the time everyone had made it home, Frau had already started using the sample meat she had brought with her to cook dinner. Ellis, Maria and Flint both gave their enthusiastic approval. I also gave a sample to some chefs in Gentlemans Street, Freedom Promenade, and Lily Garden to have them cook something up and give me a report. All we have to do afterwards is make a decision based on the details and adjust the schedule accordingly. Thanks Frau. How are you seasoning it today? I thought Id start off simple, using just a little salt and a few extra spices while cooking it alongside some of the Whale Beasts fat. And then it was time for dinner. Each of the girls were licking their lips after tasting some Whale Beast Meat that was far more delicious than they had been expecting. Eventually, it was time for the long-awaited nighttime activities. Katie waited for the inevitable sermon Ellis was sure to give her tonight, trembling with excitement. The catgirl strained her ears, doing her best to listen in. Yosh, Reeves done nya. .. There goes Frau too nya. .. Claire is almost done, so its almost my turn nya. .. However no matter how long Katie waited, Ellis never showed up to her room. .. Katie strained her ears even harder. In doing so, she was able to just make out a conversation between Claire and Ellis. Hey Ellis, why arent you visiting Katie tonight? Shes being punished. Its the so-called neglect play. Im going to make that stupid cat cool her head tonight. .. Mrooooooooowr.. Mrooooooooowr.. Mrooooooooowr.. Katie continued making a strangled cry as the night wore on. Mrooooooooowr.. Mrooooooooowr.. Mrooooooooowr.. So noisy, that idiot cat! Ellis, go. Shes too pitiful like this. Yeah, I suppose. Then Ill head over right now. Ah, please, before you go. Ellis made her way to Katies room after Claire had been kindly knocked out. Mrooooooooowr.. Shut up you stupid cat! Ellis burst through the door, raising Katies chin up and forcing her to look directly into her eyes. The catgirls grey eyes were turning red, tears running down her cheek. Nyam sowwy Ellis, nyam sowwy Ellis Ellis cut off Katies babbling apology by plugging up Katies lips with her own. After a moment, Katie began to calm down, and Ellis whispered in her relaxed ears. Tonight, youll be physically punished all night long. Phew, thats good. Katie will be happy to have Ellis vent her anger until tomorrow rolls around. Good. Ellis sure is tolerant. I was ready to hear that cry all night. Its good that everythings calmed down. Be sure to give Ellis your thanks dumbass dragon. Lets take this to the front. Thus another another night passed into day, and all was peaceful inside the mansion. CH 145 Joe J. Skycastle VIII was in a state of confusion. He had lost his queen consort early on in their marriage and was unfortunately not blessed with the treasure that is children. Since then nobles from all over have been incessantly trying to push their daughters onto him as new candidates to become queen. But truthfully the King had difficulties when it came to loving women. Thats not to say he was in the mens camp. To put it bluntly, he was just inept at sex. That was why the King had not set up any kind of inner sanctum for consort(s). With all of that, right now the very King in question was caught against his expectations and exposed from the very finest, to the most horrid types of pleasure. This was the Kings chambers. And on one side of the King was a naked Dragon Maiden, and on the other, another naked man. These two were each respectively whispering into the Kings ear, taking turns violating the Kings senses from his left and his right, and performing various acts to try and squeeze the Kings spirit. The man and woman duo continued whispering into the Kings ears, even as he was completely exhausted out. Milord, the King has dominion over this whole continent, so Milord should enjoy the full benefits of his position. Milord, the King has dominion over this whole world, so Milord should be more open to the pleasure. The King moaned. From then on, the King was once again made to feel everything from the highest of pleasures to the lowest until finally blacking out. This was the Merchant Guild. The guild master Maria and the Workshop Guild guild master Flint were both having fun listening to Elliss explanation. How about it Maria, Flint? Both of the guild masters gave Ellis a favorable reply. Between preparations for accepting applications for each store that wants to open a booth, and thinking about advertisements for every city, we would need at least ten days to get ready. Its easier on us since we still have all the equipment from the harvest festival. Two days would be enough for us to finish building the venue. Satisfied with their responses, Ellis rose up out from her chair next to them. In that case, please hold a meeting to make it official. Ill go explain everything to Baltis and Theseus after this. Ellis did as she said, immediately leaving to give an explanation at the Thieves and Adventurers Guilds. Hey Claire, Ill carry the carriage, so take off the wheels so that it can be nicely affixed to my back. Do you have a fever Ra-chin? Ellis was caught completely off guard by her dragons offer. What was this lazy Land Dragon who always insisted on being carried in a backpack so as to not have to walk saying? Ra-chin called out to Ellis using his telepathy so that nobody else would hear. Su-chan and Fe-rin are just really annoying. Ellis burst out laughing. Yes, Ra-chin was still Ra-chin. Its just that in his own way he was jealous of those flying dragons who could dance through the wide open sky. So this was his way of showing off his own specialties in mass transit. Still bemused by that irritation, Ellis shared an explanation with Claire and the others, keeping Ra-chins real thoughts to herself. Ill back up Ra-chins request. If its him, he should be able to carry a carriage with around twenty people inside. With that being finalized, Ellis and Claire spent their afternoons at the Workshop Guild, preparing group seating for the Land Dragons back. Frau and Katie headed towards the western fishing village, checking on the current state of the meat and determining around how much they would end up using. Reeve and Su-chan meanwhile flew to the neighboring cities, handing out flyers to each citys Merchant Guild that the Workshop Guild had hastily done up. Hoh, isnt this quite the view. Flint gave his honest admiration at the support platform being set up on the Land Dragons back before his eyes. Ra-chin, feeling any pain in your back? Its fine Ellis. Feels no different than if a mosquito had landed on me. Want to ride a little and test it out? Is it fine to fill it up? Ah, I suppose since it is a test run. Ellis invited Claire, Flint, and all the other members of the Workshop Guild there to hop on for a test drive. Flint and the other executive members were more than happy to jump on board. However Claire and a few of the other younger members hesitated to join in. Is everything fine Claire? Ehehe, just a bit. Ellis recognized the face Claire always makes whenever shes planing something. But generally her machinations dont lead to any problems, so Ellis left her be without asking anything. All right Ra-chin, if you would. With Elliss words as the signal, the Land Dragon started on his way. From the Workshop Guild Ra-chin gallantly dashed to the center of town. Naturally that huge, flashy appearance of his provided a good show for the townspeople who all cheered as he ran past. Having ventured out due to the loud cheering going on through the cityCthe guild masters Maria, Baltis, and Theseus were all invited on board as well before Ellis and Ra-chin finally started towards the western fishing village. The Land Dragon was easily able to match the top speed of a Magical Horse all while carrying twenty people on its back. Plus, rather than running, it might be more apt to say he was gliding across the ground making the ride the epitome of comfort. Flint and the other Workshop Guild members wouldnt stop with the praise. Thus after an hour long trip, Ellis joined with Frau and Katie in the western fishing village. This village of cat beastmen with heads filled with flowers had already gotten used to the presence of a dragon, and most of them were helping Frau who was inspecting the meat that had been moved to the freezer. Selkis and the other seal beastmen were still there in the village as well. Seeing this as a good opportunity, Ellis introduced Selkis to Warrens guild masters. By the way, it is said that its currently quite difficult to get into the seal beastmens territory. Then, Selkis cut through Elliss thoughts. Hey, Miss Ellis. When those demons attacked our village, we were unable to stop them from destroying our homes and even had to leave the bodies of our fallen behind. I understand this is quite selfish of us to ask, however, would you please allow us to immigrate here? Ellis never gave a response to Selkiss plea, instead turning to Maria who addressed Selkis with a nod. I am the chairwoman of the Warren Council, Maria. I would be happy to hear more about your situation. The seal beastmen were entirely self-sufficient, eating mostly fish and other marine animals for their meat with kelp being their staple vegetable. This times attack from the demons however caused massive damage to not just their homes but much of their fishing equipment as well. They had fallen to dire straits where it would be difficult for them to even put food on the table. They still had their share of the meat from the felled Whale Beast, but they had no plans for the future after that was all used up. Their request was one born from necessity. Ellis tried making a suggestion as Maria thought on it. Why not just have them help out with the fishing villages tourist facilities while helping out with the fishing? Yes Ellis, I was thinking the same thing. However, we will need Gattiss approval for that. Maria brought in Flint and the other council members to talk with Gattis as the cat beastmens representative, and at the village heads home they all held a meeting concerning the seal beastmens immigration and how best to move forward. As a result, it was decided they would take in around 200 seal beastmen. The Workshop Guild would quickly throw up some temporary housing as they begin the building the tourist facilities in the fishing village as their third wave construction plan. Until that time though the seals would temporarily lodge with Gattis and the other cats homes. Were going to be needing the guys from Marsfields Workshop Guild for quite a while now. Having already gotten used to this always busy lifestyle, Flint let out a hearty laugh signaling an end to the meeting, Then shall we head home? Having originally come to the western fishing village just to give Ra-chins transportation service a little test ride, there was no reason to make this a longer visit and so she made to climb up the Land Dragons back once again. Until a black shadow appeared in the sky coming from the east. Whatever it was, it was coming in fast and growing larger by the second. After a moment, it was revealed to be Pi-tan, carrying a very large barrels in both his arms. The Chaos Dragon slowly dropped down, gently putting the barrel down in front of Ellis and the others. From inside those barrels came those several younger members of the Workshop Guild who hadnt boarded Ra-chin before, each one beaming with pride. Afterwards Claire jumped down off of Pi-tans back. Ellis, I made a transport platform for Pi-tan too! A long bench was installed in what was essentially a barrel shaped cart. Small windows had been installed on the sides with a cover placed overtop to guard against the wind. And then Pi-tan can put up a barrier to protect transport platform too. Claire proudly stuck out her chest while boasting to Ellis. The other Workshop Guild members were striking a similar pose, proud of their roles in helping to build this little project. Actually, Claire and these other young craftsmen had taken to calling themselves the Claire CarpentersCa name Pi-tan had chosen from a list of possibilitiesCand they had actually been working on some form of transport vehicle for the Chaos Dragon without telling their superiors. This was where the idea for Ra-chins transport platform had originally come from and why the design and construction had been finished so quickly. This will be perfect for when we need to move family. And with that the girls had acquired a group land transportation service along with some improved air travel for several people. Su-chan could carry two people. Reeve plus another Dragon Maiden. Fe-rin could carry three. Frau along with another two ordinary people. Pi-tan could carry Claire on his back along with another five people in his barrel for a total of six. Ra-chins transportation stand was able to carry a total of twenty-one passengers including Ellis. So, what about Ah-nyan? Elliss question received an absentminded response from Katie and Ah-nyan however. Were fine, thanks nya. We, what were you talking about? Not sure what she was expecting from the empty headed duo, Ellis sighed while shaking her head, and pretending she hadnt even bothered asking, gave everyone else the order. Well, lets just head back to Warren. 1. Just for those of you who live in the sticks like me and dont immediately recognize what an open top means, here you go. CH 146 Hey Master . Hey, Master . Heeey~, Master Going hey, hey, Berunal, you, just where are you sitting right now? On top of Masters lap obviously. Berunal replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And it made the Demon Lord sigh deeply. After the last event in Warren, the Demon Lord took Berunal into his custody when she had become so drunk she had become blue in the face. But before leaving, Margherita had put him completely on edge, so when the two of them had made it back to the castle, he immediately took Berunal to bed. Drunk and clad in black lingerie, Berunal was beautiful, cute, charming, and lacking any form of judgement. Sadism sprouted in the Demon Lords heart. The Demon Lord was caught in sweet and gritty desire, thinking once again about what it would be like to trample over Berunal. And so whispering, Ill kill you, into her ear, the Demon Lord ripped off her underwear. Berunal fell into an abyss of pleasure, the night echoing with her moans. And then starting the following morning, she had become even more strange. Her new favorite phrase had become, Lets play, Lets go play somewhere. As youd expect, the Demon Lord was starting to get a little worried. So Berunal, you, youre properly managing the army right? I commanded all the demons to keep searching for your claws and plunder more ril. So, I want to go to Warren. Master, please put in a reservation with Margherita as soon as possible. If you arent going to make a reservation, then hurry up and embrace me. Afterwards, please buy me some new clothes. And, this was how she always sounded. It seems like she was still doing her work, but she had grown strangely attached to the Demon Lord. Yes, entirely like a sweetheart. However she didnt care in the slightest that the Demon Lord was still going over to Margheritas place. Just the opposite, she was rushing him to make reservations as quickly and often as possible. Yes, Ill go to make a reservation soon. Master, please take me along as well. Ah, fine. Well go there to buy replacement clothes for the ones I ruined the other day at that time. Im so happy. I love you Master With all that said, the two of them used the magic spell {Skyliner} to head towards Warren. Gray, breakfast is ready, a sweet voice whispered into the Heros ear. This was the outskirts of Warren. A recently emerging residential area lined with remodeled apartments. The Hero welcomed a new morning inside a tiny room. Somehow the three idiots had been appointed to new roles inside Skycastles royal palace. This meant the Brave Party could dissolve without any type of penalty fee having to be paid and allowed the three remaining membersCthe Hero Gray, the thief Gise, and the magician MarionettaCto continue their activities. By royal decree they were to annihilate the Demon Lords army. In preparation for that, the party was travelling to all of the upper-level labyrinths in search for the Decisive Anti-Demon Lord Item that had been revealed to them through a revelation from God. With the three idiots in tow, clearing one of these labyrinths took several days, but now that it was just the three of them, they could run through one in just a day. The thief cancels out the traps, the Hero mows down the monsters, and the magician restores the thiefs stamina. The magician then appraises any tools obtained after returning from the labyrinth. Any necessary equipment is kept, rare items are sent back to the Royal Palace, and all the rest are sold off for extra operating funds. This was how the thief and magician became properly equipped. However the decisive item never appeared. But the three of them were fulfilled. When their explorations were finished, they would use the Heros magic {Leap City} to return to Skycastle. Once there, they would report the days activities to a clerk and hand over the rare items. After that it was just a hop, skip, and a jump to Warren. The group of three would break in two. The Hero and the magician would head to the magicians small apartment, and the thief would rent out a room from a hotel he had come to favor in the citys downtown area. It had been decided that this particular day would be a holiday. Marionetta, morning. The Hero Gray felt blessed. Waking up and seeing the smiling face of a beautiful women who had breakfast already prepared for him. He had never believed such a day would come for him. And so the Hero easily forgot his purpose and the very meaning of his existence. Gray, what shall we do today? Gray thought about it for a moment. And in that moment he realized, for all of his love for Warren, he knew almost nothing about it. If everyone already knows Im the Hero anyway, how about we just enjoy the citys sights? Marionetta gave Gray something of a shy smile before answering. All right, I would like to say hello to everyone in the Jewelry Box again. And thenGray was also indebtedto Miss Marilyn. Ah, thats right. Marionetta was unsure if it was the unease in her heart that made her purposely use the past tense when talking about Marilyn, but Grays simple nod brought her relief all the same. Afterwards the two of them enjoyed a pleasant meal together. Gazing into each others eyes, the two took a moment to get over their own bashfulness before the Hero took the magicians hand, and directing her over to the bed, the days first battle began. Now, this was Ellis and the other girls. Since yesterdays Land Dragon bus had been such a great success, today the girls gathered cooks from around the city for a Meat Inspection Tour to the western fishing village. Ra-chin would carry them the whole way there. The Land Dragons back was filled with faces Ellis recognized. From the Merchant Guild there was the gachihomo Goro and the fashionable gay Simon who were the respective cooks for Revitalizing Home and Mercury Bar, Mati from the Steamed Kitchen and Kaoru from the Pot and Kettle, and Shin from the Warren Specialty Steamed Bread Store. Frau was riding on the Land Dragons back at the moment as well with a charming sized Phoenix Dragon in tow. The sample of meat you gave us was of shockingly fine quality. Im looking forward to whats to come. Yes, the variety of meat should also be substantial. This will take some skill. Goro and Simon were naturally in conflict as gachihomo and fashionable gays, but still they were able to recognize each others cooking ability. They were spending the time sincerely exchanging information about cooking. Meanwhile Mati, Kaoru, and Shin were amazed at the Land Dragons speed and were busy enjoying the trip itself. After an hour, Elliss group safely arrived at the western fishing village. Then suddenly, Ah-nyan rose up from inside the sea. The unexpected appearance of the Frost Dragon took everyone off guard. However completely unmindful of the effect he had, Ah-nyan continued his way back onto dry land. His arms were each holding lines of thick rope tied off to boats dragging along their own fishing lines. The seal beastmen ran forward to meet the Frost Dragon, and as if all of this were the most natural thing in the world, tied off the boats to some stakes they had dug in the ground beforehand. Ellis, you sure took her time getting here nya. Katie was there straddling Ah-nyans head. Also, even though she had just emerged from the open sea, there wasnt any sign of her being wet at all. Katie, whats the meaning of this!? Were helping the seals move nya. Not that, how arent you soaked!? Ah, thats because of Ah-nyans barrier nya. Why are you asking such an obvious thing President Ellis? It should be clear that I created a barrier using a water-resistant coating. Now, lets go again. As he gave a passing explanation, Ah-nyan brought Katie back out to the sea to pull along some more boats. No one ever told me.. To think there was such a convenient thing. Ellis started to feel a little tired. But what else was to be expected from the air-headed duo? They were the type to take everything at their own pace, and fighting them on it was a waste of effort. And so Ellis quickly switched her way of thinking, instead making the hard decision on Ah-nyans behalf to allow them all to enjoy a comfortable stroll on the ocean floor. The cooks were all guided over to the freezer, and being allowed to look over the various types of meat stored inside, they each started going over their own menus with each other so that there was no overlap in their dishes. Frau, Goro, and Simon took the lead in these efforts. Ellis, everythings been sorted out. Well have to make some preparations tonight, so we should head back soon. Ra-chin, if youd please. When Frau left the cold storage she immediately headed towards Ellis was waiting. Ellis, eagerly awaiting Ah-nyans return, felt like cold water had been thrown on her when she realized she was out of time. Tch! This isnt over. My underwater stroll is just being put on hold for now, she muttered to herself. But still she nodded her head, helping all the cooks get back on board, and obediently headed back towards town. This was the Jewelry Box Tea Room, and the Hero Gray and magician Marionetta were currently troubled in the stores interior. Marionetta was pondering on what pair of tea cups to buy while Gray was suffering after the cups he had chosen were rejected in an instant by Marionetta before his very eyes. By the way, the pair Gray had chosen were an auspicious red and white design meant for special occasions. Special occasions here holding several different meanings. From the side the shop owners daughter Credia came walking out, calling over to Marionetta. Marionetta, are you looking for something to use regularly? Yes, Credia. But I cant decide on which one I like. Credia left for the back of the store with a nod before returning with a pair of teacups and a teapot in hand. They were a pair of extremely thick, white mugs. A silhouette design was baked onto the side of them both. One held a mans figure, and the other a womans. And then on the pot was the beautiful black print of a woman being held closely by a man. Marionetta, we recommend this to all our lovey-dovey couples. Credias slight tease went over Marionettas head, too focused on the cup she had already taken in hand. There were subtle differences in the mens cup and the womens cup as well. The mens design was more crude and rustic while the womens was more delicate and detailed. Marionetta took a great liking to the set. Hey Gray, how about we use these cups to enjoy our tea when we have a day off? Being suddenly talked to while still glaring at the red and white cup set for making him feel like a fool, he reflexively turned around and nodded his head. As long as youre happy! Credia packed away their tea set while continuing to happily carry a conversation with the couple. A very awkward Hero and a joyful magician, after this Credia would take the time to teach them both the proper way to brew some tea. On the other side of the store though, Aiful was providing some tea for a more unusual pair of customers. This was for the man they call Straw Hat, a regular over at Dandees Shangri-La and a companion of his. Master, this is the tea house that everyone recommends to me. Hoh, to think there was such a nice store here. The pair were relaxing at a table, enjoying some tea and sweets together. And, as the Hero and magician were busy having fun enjoying their tea together, the came into the Demon Lords line of sight. Yo Mother-con, the other day was chaos, the Demon Lord greeted the Hero. Oh Straw Hat, it sure was fun though, the Hero similarly greeted the Demon Lord with his nickname. These two truly had no idea that the other was their true born enemy while talking about the event they had both participated in together at the Freedom Promenade grand opening. What the heck, so you ended up together with that girl after all? Yes, so Im afraid you wont see me around the bathhouse anymore. I see. Well, to each their own. I just made a reservation myself. Youre saying such a thing, with such a beautiful woman accompanying you? Stop, this ones something of a little sister to me. Seeing her up close, the Demon Lord felt there was something familiar about the red-headed girl enjoying some tea next to the Hero. But he soon banished the thought from his mind. Ever since he was summoned to this world, he had never once seen a woman with such a happy smile on her face. So immediately writing it off as just a misunderstanding, he sat back and enjoyed some delicious tea with Berunal. Taking a glance at the sexy woman sitting next to the Demon Lord, the Hero started to think she really didnt suit him after she started cutely trying cool off the hot tea cupped in both her hands by blowing on it like a small child. Even though she wasnt Margherita, surely she wasnt stepping on him as well? But after all this was another persons business, so he decided to drop the issue and ask Marionetta to pour him another cup. Marionetta and Berunal exchanged greetings with each other as well. Though the both of them were able to sense a strange magical energy given off by the other, Marionetta didnt show any concern since her lover and Berunals companion were friends, and Berunal just didnt care. Thus the group of four were able to enjoy a leisurely tea party with one another. Meanwhile at the next table over, having been released from his busing duties, Ra-chin was spending his time as usual, frozen on top of a table enjoying the smell of his tea. Of course the Land Dragon had already noticed the Hero nearby, and obviously he was aware that the Demon Lord was sitting right next to him. However, for the Land Dragon, enjoying the smell of this tea was far more important than something so trivial, so he paid them no mind. By the way, Ellis was currently absent at the moment, currently spending time at the Merchant Guild to help plan Warrens next event. On this day, only the Land Dragon knew that the three powers which held the fate of the entire continent had gathered together. Oh, it should also be noticed that at this time Gise was also at the Merchant Guild, discussing with their renters department about getting an apartment as close to the Jewelry Box Teahouse as he could. Another peaceful day in Warren. CH 147 Teaser Eel. Thats the nickname held by Ferdinand Lorenburg, previous head to the Lorenburg family and father to Wheat Graces current feudal lord Leopold. The name comes in two parts. Teaser is shortened from tea seller, an acknowledgment of how he had made Lorenburg tea so widely known during his time as head of the Lorenburg family. As for the Eel part, that was because he turned into a slippery, shitty old man that nobody can ever manage to get a firm hold on whenever he goes gambling. There were others who just sarcastically called him Grandpa Eel as well. Lord Ferdinand lives in Wheat Grace, but he also held a certain status in Warrens Merchant Guild thanks to his position as an adviser to Warrens live house. In order to have an easier time traveling between the two cities, he reworked the highway popularly referred to as Vegetable Road; specifically the relay stations that carriages had to stop at for maintenance during the two day journey. Until now you had to change carriages once every twelve hours, for a total of four carriage changes over the two days. He talked to Warren and Wheat Graces Merchant Guilds and convinced them to build extra relay stations, meaning travelers now switched carriages every three hours instead. With this, the horses could put more energy into pulling the carriages, traveling faster and shortening the travel time to a day and a half. In addition, simple rest facilities and cafeterias were set up in the relay stations due to a request from the leaders of some nearby villages. Here the farmers would be allowed to sell some of their crops directly at the relay stations, scoring them a little extra money. In addition, this old man was able to easily return home thanks to Frau and Fe-rin being willing to give him a ride when he needed it. Thanks to all this, the Teaser Eel was able to move freely between Warren and Wheat Grace without issue. On a side note the granddaughter who had so lovingly called him Grandpa Fel not that long ago had recently taken to just calling him old man behind his back. Girls in their rebellious phases sure are cruel. That granddaughter took things a step further though, deciding to give her grandfather some strong and expensive alcohol in a scheme to strip him of everything he owned. Its exactly what youd expect from that old mans granddaughter. This was the casino Ril Rush. Finally released from her never-ending meeting spree with Ellis, Reeve strode into the building filled with confidence. Her Grandpa Fel was there just as she had hoped, currently enjoying himself with a little lively banter with some of the assistants at a games table. The other players gathered at the table were all looking relatively relaxed as well meaning they were probably just tourists here for a little fun. Reeve sat down at a nearby counter and waited for her moment. Her purpose now was to strip that old man of the shirt off his back, so the other players would all need to be veterans as well. Grandpa Eel! Todays the day I make you cry! and sure enough, eventually the veterans gathered. Hahaha, youre not the first person to say that to me, the old man laughed, patting his assistant on the butt while flipping her a chip as a tip while switching over to the thousand ril game table. Reeve stood up at the same time he did, trading her counter seat for one at a game table. She did her best to put on the smile of a loving granddaughter as she came close to the old man. Grandpa Fel, I visited Skycastle the other day, so I went ahead and bought Grandpa a present, Reeve said coolly while pulling out several ceramic bottles from her bag. Hoh, and did you choose them out yourself? Ree-boy Ah, I made my decision while properly asking for Fraus opinion. I didnt know what Grandpa would like. As I should expect from my granddaughter, you made a really good choice. This type of alcohol is a favorite among the experts in Skycastle. Im sure it was expensive though. Yes, but I just love you so much. So I splurged a little. Now, how about having a taste and then we can enjoy a game together? Lord Ferdinands eyes were shining. All right, lets do this! Come sit next to me Ree-boy. Oiii, Machel, I need two glasses over here. Ah, no, I.. Reeve quickly became flustered trying to turn down the offer, but Ferdinand kept smiling as if he hadnt noticed. Now now, its nice enjoying a fun game with my cute granddaughter every once in a while. Consider this a humble request from an old man. Just like that Reeves expectations were completely thrown off, and everything began moving at the old mans pace. Master, I want to play a game. Then Ill go put in a reservation. Berunal walked further in wearing her usual sexy clothes coupled with her childish smile. Yo Rosen Princess, its been a while, several voices from this way and that began calling out to her as she walked by. Each of them were coming from older men. She may have heard their voices or she may have not, either way she would have reacted the same, immediately walking towards a woman she recognized. That woman was the Lady Bluegreen whose figure she would recognize anywhere. Big Sis, please play with me today too. It was obvious just by looking at the two that Berunal was older, but for some reason she had taken to calling Reeve that. Before Reeve could give an answer however, Berunal started sniffing around. That smells really delicious, she finally whispered to herself upon discovering Reeves glass of alcohol. Her words didnt get by Ferdinand who promptly asked the assistant to grab another glass. Rosen Princess, would you like a cup? the old man asked while holding out the already filled cup to Berunal. Taking the cup in hand, Berunal excitedly stared at the amber colored liquid inside. She brought the cup to her lips, allowing the drink to slowly roll over her tongue to savor the taste as she downed the glass. Mr. Teaser Eel, its really delicious, Berunal happily replied with both hands still wrapped around the glass and a smile spread across her face. Oi Ree-boy, dont you think youve drank too much and cant really play anymore? How about we go have some fun somewhere else? The old man turned Reeves way and asked a question making it very clear he was only going to accept one answer. He then turned back around and invited Berunal as well. Princess too, would you like to enjoy a different type of gambling today? Youll be able to drink have some delicious alcohol too. If we are going to have some delicious alcohol, Id like some delicious cookies to go with it. All right, sounds like a plan! Machel, settle up my chips. As he asked the head assistant Machel to exchange all of his chips, the old man put what remained of his bottle of alcohol into his knapsack. He wrapped his right arm around his granddaughter who was fruitlessly trying to object while wrapping his left arm around the Rosen Princess who was looking forward to having some fun, and the group of three left the store. The other veteran players left at the table all rose up and liquidated their chips as well. Every single one of them was giddy with anticipation thinking, Something fun is going to happen. The old mans destination turned out to be Trans Happy. Yo Maron, Makoto, Ree-boy gave me some good alcohol today, so lets drink together! We picked up some sweets from the cake shop while we were at it. This shitty old mans clearly played here before, Frau mumbled shocked to see how familiar her Grandpa Fel was with the shop. Then, Welcome Ferdinand. Please entertain us today as well, Maron greeted them with a beautiful smile. Entertain us Reeve started to have a bad feeling about this. Normally wouldnt the phrase be, enjoy yourself? What was Maron talking about? Now now, we should begin with a toast, the old man laughed while pulling the bottle back out of his knapsack, putting what remained of the bottle down onto one of the stores tables. He then pulled out a couple of different dried fruits, one of Wheat Graces specialty products. Maron and Makoto looked between the bottle and fruit. The alcohol is a souvenir from Ree-boy when she visited Sky Castle. My granddaughters husband is apparently going to start trading this stuff with Warren, so I thought we could try getting used to the taste before the two of them get here later. Strong drinks like this are perfect for dried fruits and baked sweets. Hold on a moment Grandpa Fel, what are you talking about? Huh? Gurres husband wants to run a few experiments concerning regular carriage rides between the two cities, so he and Gurre are heading to Warren. Bizons husband sent a message through Marsfield and Warren to Wheat Grace about it. Didnt you know? In truth, Stewart had grown a keen interest in regular carriage rides between Warren and Skycastle thanks to Elliss suggestions, so he was personally travelling to Warren in order to more appropriately calculate the cost of the trip and how long it would take. He should actually be arriving any day now. Maria had already told Ellis all of this, and Ellis had in turn passed the information down to the other four girls. So, up until right now, that was all Reeve had heard. She had never been told anything about her most terrifying sister come along with him. Reeve sobered right up. Hey Grandpa, if Big Sister Gurre were to find out Im drinking like this, what do you think is going to happen to me? Beats me. We wont find out until she gets here. The irresponsible reply from this old man was only make Reeve more troubled, but before she could say anything more Berunal blocked her mouth with some baked goods. Its delicious Big Sister, Berunal happily proclaimed while chewing on her own crispy sweet. Youre right, well just think about it when it happens, Reeve decided to not think about it as well. Afterwards Su-chan poked his head out from atop Reeves chest. Reeve, I want a drink too. Do dragons drink alcohol? Its not like we need it, but I like the taste. Its troublesome to drink when Im like this though, Su-chan explained while gliding over to the table. He nudged one of the cups with his head before starting to tap his wing against the table. Maron was a little surprised at first, but she was a pro. She quickly prepared a saucer on their table and filled it up with alcohol. Su-chan plunged his whole head into the drink, sucking up a mouthful of alcohol before pulling his head back out of the saucer and swallowing his swill. It was cute, like watching a little woodpecker bobbing its head back and forth in the water. While enjoying the sight of Su-chan in his lovely form for a while, everyone enjoyed sipping on their expensive alcohol while munching on snacks. Oh, and of course the alcohol was quite strong as well. So everyone was starting to feel quite good about themselves. Meanwhile up on stage a row of male transvestites wearing extravagant clothing were having a grand time singing and dancing, building a paradise atmosphere. This place is slowly starting to warm up. Those simple words from the old man brought up a strange reaction from the okama Maron and the onabe Makoto. Should we make our way up then? Im ready to go. Lets get ready. Leaving the others out of their conversation, Ferdinand, Maron, and Makoto all shared a nod before disappearing backstage, leaving Reeve, Berunal, and Su-chan behind. Berunal had a wide grin spread across her face as she continued rotating sweets, dried fruits, and alcohol to be shoveled into her mouth while Su-chan asked Reeve to use {Change Human} to turn him into his human-form Revatein so that he could share a toast with Berunal. With that Reeve was left on her own. Suddenly, all the lights inside the store went dark except for the stage which became as bright as day. The voice of the emcee then filled the air. We have a very special treat for everyone here today, so please, put your hands together for this Trans Happy special! As the emcees voice faded away, the stores interior was dyed with some primitive-sounding drums. It was a simple yet dynamic beat that really got the heart pumping for everyone who heard it. Three dancers hopped up on stage at the same time. There were Maron, Makoto, andthat Teaser Eel old man. The question was about what the three of them were wearing. Each of the three were wearing different colored bras, and on their nether regions was a large phallic pipe nearly a meter in length. It was a so-called penis case attached to flesh-colored underwear. At the end of the phallis was a small ring with a string attached that connected to a necklace around their necks to keep the phallis pulled upright. They werent wearing any other clothes besides that. The three of them started excitedly dancing on stage just like that with the old man performing his own trademark wild dance he always called Elephant Fever. With their clothes like that hiding their breasts and their and/or penis, it was impossible to tell which ones were men and which ones were women. This no-holds barred dancing excited a lot of people in the store, and especially after seeing how lively Ferdinand was the first time he had stopped by, it had become a famous event for Trans Happy. The boutique Masquerade ended up immediately securing some of these padded bras and penis cases to be sold to all the interested parties. Which all lead to right now. One after another the stores regulars put on their own bras and cases that were stocked in the shop and jumped up on stage as well. The stage quickly turned to chaos. Before anyone knew it, the Rosen Princess was up on stage as well, dancing with a rose-colored bra and penis case that Maron thought suited her voluptuous body. Dancing beside her was Su-chan, who still looked almost exactly like Reeve, not wearing any clothes at all since her human-form had no sex organs to begin with. It was all an extremely life-like, never-ending nightmare. Reeve was left completely unable to follow along with what was happening, staying in her little dimension seperate from everything that was going on around her. Along with one other person. What the hell is going on After making a reservation with Margherita, the Demon Lord had entered the store looking to pick up Berunal, but after taking three steps inside, he hesitated for only a second before turning around and promptly leaving. Warren has two lucky events guaranteed to bring great fortune for any who get the chance to see them. The first is if you are ever so lucky to be dining at Lily Gardens restaurant and get to hear Lady Bluegreen sing for you. The other is to see the Rosen Princesss majestic dance at Freedom Promenades Trans Happy. As the night progressed the party cooled down, and everyone separated to return to their respective homes. After asking the people in the store to help her change out of the weird bra and penis case outfit and thanking them for that help, the Demon Lord took the slightly floaty Berunal to his castle. But the Demon Lord was quite weak to Berunal whenever she was like this. He thought it was quite natural though to want to bully a woman when she was all floaty and sloppily drunk like this. Try taking care of yourself just once, the Demon Lord muttered underneath his breath before ripping off the clothes she had just bought and making her scream all night long. So you had a lot of fun today then? Miss, do I smell like alcohol? Badly. Sorry Its fine. Just be prepared to move until all that alcohol works its way out of you. That night in the mansion, seeing Reeves slightly flushed face stimulated Elliss sadism as well. By the time morning came Reeve had screamed much more than usual. CH 148 And then a few days later. Today was the day when the city would hold a special event to use up the extra Whale Beast meat the western fishing village couldnt finish. They decided to call it a carnival. Various shops from Gentlemans Street and Lily Garden were allowed to set up stalls around Freedom Promenade. The day before, a carriage carrying Stewart and his wife Gurre arrived in town. With them was a large shipment of wine and alcohol straight from Skycastle. The whole stock was immediately brought to the Merchant Guild and promptly distributed to all the participating stores. Thanks to all of the advertising done in advance and the redevelopment of certain highways, Warren was bursting with tourists since the day before. Well, our role here will be the same as always. Ellis and the other girls were all put on patrolling duty just like with the harvest festivalCthe sole exception being Frau. For now they were wearing their simple white pants and boots with the usual brown jackets so as to not stand out. However, this was just in the morning. Come the afternoon, they were to get changed for a special event. Frau and Fe-rin in his Brause form were dressed up in chefs clothing, standing at the ready in one corner of a line of stalls. The food from each shop was neatly arranged. C Frau and Fe-rins shop was serving up some Whale Beast meat loin steak sandwiches. C Ken and Hanna had prepared a large amount of fried bread for their steak and veggie sandwiches. C The Jewelry Box Cake was serving up some cinnamon balls and mint balls. They were meant to be a palate cleanser for those people who get tired of just meat dishes. C Warrens Specialty Steamed Bread Store had cubed Whale Beast meat manju. The Whale Beast meat was cooked til tender and wrapped in a fluffy manju bun. C The Tea Room didnt have a stall, but they were open just like usual. However for the day they were offering mostly herbal teas to help with digestion. C Pot and Kettle cooked up some hearty soup. They processed the whale meat into bacon and cooked it with some soup stock and a bunch of vegetables. C The Steamed Kitchen pulled out some steamed meat crepe wraps. They steamed all the fats and oils off the meat, soaking it in sweet and sour sauce afterwards and wrapped it up in a thinly toasted crepe. C Mercury Bar brought some Whale Beast barbecued brisket. They deliberately cooked the meat until it was a bright rose-red color and added on their own special sauce. C Revitalizing Home cooked up some minced Whale Beast meat. They really only fried the meat for a short time, so while the outside had turned a wonderful golden brown, the inside was still mostly raw. C Representing the western fishing village, the mayor Gattis along with the new deputy mayor representing all of the new seal beastmen Selkis had mixed together and simmered some roots, herbs and the Whale Beasts tongue, cooking thin slices of tanyaki1 at the venue. This list of different meat dishes continued to go on and on. Another highlight is the cosplay couple parade. Couples would pair up in vibrant costumes, and with several transsexuals dressed in their own rainbow colored costumes in the lead, they would all march around town. It was fine for anyone to jump on in. At the boutique Masquerade, a number of unusual costumes all labeled carnival style could be rented, and tourists would choose out their favorite ones to wear around the city. Plum, Masquerades proprietor, had actually done Ellis a favor, and per her request, prepared two special sets of outfits in secret. Ah, just as I expected. And it didnt take Ellis long to find the Hero Gray and the magician Marionetta stuffing their cheeks with meat at one of the stalls. Hello Gray. Oh and Marionetta, I know a nice place to rest while youre eating. Ellis randomly stepped into the twos date, and with a little overbearing incitement, brought them along with her while their mouths were still stuffed with meat. Plum, Ive brought Marionetta and friend. Oh my, Ellis, youre early. Plum left the customer she was currently helping to one of her clerks and greeted Ellis at the door. After the pleasantries were out of the way, she started looking Gray and Marionetta up and down. Hey there, Ive been waiting for you both. This way please. They were two people who had no idea what was going on as Ellis pushed their backs further into the store. Then all of the sudden Ellis cruelly declared, Marionetta and Marionettas boyfriend, wear these clothes for the rest of the day. If you dont Ill drive you out of that apartment. The sudden oppression threw the two for a loop. Hold on Ellis, isnt it way too terrible to suddenly spring this on us? Naturally Gray tried to argue. Shut up. If you have any complaints, give them after you see Marionetta put the costume on. Ellis was completely writing Gray off. Instead, she was motioning Marionetta to hurry up and get changed. For those who lived in Warren, going against Ellis was as dangerous as going up against one of the guild masters. Thats what Marionetta believed at least, so she obediently followed Plum with no objections. Um Ellis, is this a joke? Cosplay is always a joke. Ellis batted away Marionettas flimsy protest. Marionettas costume. Her red hair was tied in the back with her bangs left alone, and her breasts and stomach were covered with a black bra and corset with bat wings stitched to the back. Black short pants with knee-length boots of the same color. A small trident accessory in her right hand brought the whole thing together. It was the figure of the infamous succubus. An upgraded version of the costume Karen had worn when she announced the first ever wrestling match all that time ago. So, Gray, do you hate it? Gray was too absorbed in Marionettas out-of-character sexy outfit and couldnt give Ellis an answer. He wasnt able to say anything when one of the male clerks dragged him over to a changing room either. When the Hero finally returned, all you could see of him was his face with the rest of his body wrapped up in pitch black, sinister-looking armor. Its an imaginary Demon Lord cosplay. You two need to spend the whole day dressed like this. Youre the Demon Lord and a succubus. Youll have to participate in the parade too of course. The deposit for renting the costumes is 200,000 ril. If you return them before the day is through, I will reimburse you 190,000 ril, Plum quickly added. And just like that a couple of kids born out in a rural village got shanghaied by a couple of businessmen into putting down a 200,000 ril deposit and thrown out onto the street wearing a Demon Lord and succubus costume. Meanwhile with Reeve and Su-chan. Ellis had made it very clear that the two of them were to, find the Demon Lord and Rosen Princess and bring them to the Masquerade boutique to matter what. And so Reeve had her boots on the ground, desperately searching for her charges while a cute-sized Su-chan frantically flew through the air. Then, Su-chan was abruptly pummeled by a shockwave and almost blown clean out of the sky. Uhyaaa! Su-chan made a stupid sound that was broadcast directly into Reeves mind as he came fluttering down to the ground below. What happened Su-chan! Reeve hurriedly asked telepathically. Ow, Reeve, just now, two people with a lot of magic power just got close. They look like theyre swinging back around. They blew past me like some trash in the road though. As he told Reeve everything, Su-chan continued spiraling down, following the wind trails of those magical powers that had blow him away with his eyes. The pitiful Demon Lord and Berunal approached the two cautiously, worried that when they had battered Su-chan, it was actually another demon theyd hit and their secret was exposed. *Plop* After hitting the ground, Su-chan immediately reached his mind out to reestablish a mental link with Reeve, but before he could say anything, Reeve started shouting at their two visitors. Ive finally found you Rosen Princess! Now come lend me your body for a bit! Reeve, you might want to reword that a bit. Su-chan climbed up onto Reeves chest while offering her a bit of advice. After getting situated, he then turned his attention to the two lumps of magical power before him. Ah, Berudeus, Berunal, hello. I am Su-chan, Warrens Guardian Dragon. The Demon Lord had turned back thinking there would be a fight, so the sudden self-introduction left him unable to think. Berunal on the other hand offered the duo a large grin, patting Su-chan on the head as she returned the Hello. In the end, the demonic duo had no reason to turn down Reeves invitation. This is for you two. Plum and one of her male clerks took the Demon Lord and Berunal in back to get changed into their costumes. The Demon Lord was equipped with a complete set of stark white armor complete with helmet, gauntlets, boots, and a gaudy sword at his hip. Berunals was a chalk white armor with a mini-skirt and a slender prop lance. Attached to the side of her helmet were also a pair of feather wings. The Demon Lord was a pretend Hero while Berunal was cosplaying as a valkyrie. Im begging you. Just for today, trust that Im not trying to trick you and wear these around town, Reeve was on her hands and knees, entreating the two with tears in her eyes. The deposit to rent these costumes is 200,000 ril. If you return them before the days through, youll get 190,000 ril back, Plum was ignoring the pathetic looking girl meanwhile and was focused on business. And please join in on the parade, Su-chan quickly added on the part of Elliss order that Reeve had forgotten in her desperation. Berunal felt a bit of familiarity with the costume she was wearing. She felt like she had worn something like this before long ago.but her thoughts were interrupted by the Demon Lord. I dont know what kind of joke this is, but Ill play around for now. However, Ill be sure to give you a proper response if I dont like it. The Demon Lord was in a bad mood, but Reeve and Su-chan brushed it off like a summer breeze, patting each other on the back for a job well done. Master, lets go confirm your reservation. Right. I almsot forgot something really important. Thus the Demon Lord and fallen angel were to spend the rest of their day pretending to be a Hero and a valkyrie. 1. So originally they just say some of the whales organs, but since tanyaki is a dish with beef tongue in Japan, I rolled with it. CH 149 Now then, its time for us to dress up as well. Ellis let out a suggestive laugh. Standing beside her, Claires lips twisted into something slightly disturbing as well. Today was the carnival. Frau and Fe-rin had been cosplaying as chefs since the early morning, having fun selling their loin steak sandwiches alongside all the other street vendors. Reeve and Su-chan were wearing some showy yet intimidating light soldier uniforms while running patrols, on the lookout for any unsavory characters looking to cause problems. Katie and Ah-nyan were wearing matching dresses with a long slits down the side. Ah-nyan was also wearing a pair of pants underneath resulting in the two looking like a pair of beautiful ghosts who were supposed to only aimlessly roam around town without saying anything. And then there was Ellis and Claire. To start, Ellis and Ra-chin had dressed up as two members of a military police unit. Ellis carried a small whip in one hand and having a grand time cracking it in the air. Claire and Pi-tan were also wearing military uniforms but with a white coat draped overtop. They were a pair of military doctors. Ufufufufu Ehehehehe The two girls and their dragons seemed to be thinking something strange, laughing the whole while as they walked back out into town. Oh Ellis, youre dressed up kind of scarily today. Claire feels a little dangerous too. Everyone in town called out to Ellis and Claire, complimenting them on their costumes. In reverse, the two girls would always reply back with a large smile on their faces, saying things like, If you make me angry, Ill arrest you, or, Im going to turn you into materials for my experiments. Seeing them act like that, everybody in town thought they were just having a grand time with their cosplaying. The two girls and their male-form counterparts continued roaming the city acting like a couple members of the secret police and some mad-scientist military physicians, having admiration and praise rained down upon them from all the citizens and tourists they brought a smile to. The city had a good atmosphere going, and everybody was enjoying the revelry. But then, Ra-chin sent Ellis a message. Him At the same time, Ellis gave Claire and Pi-tan a signal with her eyes. The four of them then slowly began to surround one man who looked like a tourist, and when they were all in position, Ellis suddenly started shouting. You! Youre under arrest! Suddenly being yelled at, the tourist-looking man jumped. Before the man could say anything, a gag was shoved into his mouth while Ra-chin and Pi-tan took a piece of cloth, quickly wrapping it round and around the man until he was completely unable to move. There we go! Ra-chin then easily tossed the man onto his shoulder. Everyone who had seen the scene began to murmur, and that part of the city started to get noisy, but when Ellis turned to all of them, smiled, and did a little bow, everyone was convinced this was all just part of the act, laughing about it before giving a round of applause. Ellis and the others left the crowd behind, waving farewell as the applause and laughter continued. And so they headed straight to the Thieves Guild. Welcome to the Thieves Guild exclusive torture room. This was a special room Baltis had given Ellis permission to use beforehand after she had explained what it was she was planning. Now then, lets get started. Ellis slowly removed the gag on the man who had been tied down to a magic torture chair. As soon as it came off the man started to scream. What is this!? Do you just suddenly abduct tourists in this city!? I want to file a complaint! Ufufufu. What a good voice. Lets test that out to start. Hehehehe. Lets start out forceful. Claire took something out of her bag. It looked something like a large folding fan. It was the so-called harisen, and while it did make a loud, flashy sound, it didnt do much for damage. Now, how about this? Haaah! Claire slapped the mans head with the harisen with an excited expression. GYYAAAAA! and the man screamed, obviously in far more pain that what youd guess. Ehehehe. So it was effective after all. Then next would be this. The next thing Claire pulled out from her bag was a small mallet. If you were hit by this, itd probably hurt, but itd be pretty hard to kill someone with it. Claire squatted down in front of the man and lightly struck his knee with the mallet. GYYAAAAA! and the man once again let out a shriek as the hit leg jumped up from the hit. Ufufufu, well it doesnt look like you have beriberi at least.1 You all, what is with that harisen and mallet!? Why do they hurt so much!? Ellis gave the man an evil smile while answering his shriek. Well you see, this harisen and mallet are equipped with the Exorcism ability. Do you understand, Mis-ter De-mon? A cold sweat formed over the mans whole body when he heard Elliss words. Yes, in the girls morning patrol, they had already noticed that several demons had infiltrated the city disguised as tourists. This mans true identity, it had been leaked since the very beginning. As for Exorcism, it was a magical ability that could be said to be the bane for demons since it does double damage to both them and undead. However, such a deadly ability being attached to something as silly as a harisen or a small mallet had never been heard of before. Next Ellis took out a crop whip for horses. And then with a lovely smile, she poked the tip of the mans nose. Now this is my personal Flying Phoenix and Exorcism crop whip. It should deal five times as much damage to demons. How does it taste? Ellis continued to hit just the tip of the mans nose. It was really not much more than a simple tap. And yet the man was screaming as if it were a hot iron searing his flesh. Hey, are you going to show yourself soon? Mister Demon I get it, I get it so please stop! While begging for the pain to end, the demon revealed his true form. It was a figure Ellis had seen before. It was the so-called Zabinas-class high demon, similar to the one that had been disguised and worked with the Durkfienance family in Wheat Grace. As he transformed, he tried to make himself larger and break free, but the magic torture chair kept him held down to a manageable size. Good boy. So then lets now have a nice little chat about why you came to this town. The demon was completely overwhelmed by these two little girls with their mallet and crop whip, and so he answered any questions they had while being slapped around a bit here and there. Its surprising to hear that the Demon Lord has been drawing away from his minions. Its even more surprising to hear that Berunal governs over all the other demons. Rather than that, its putting that always smiling face of hers in a very suspicious light. But that, I really dont think shes acting. Shes so happy and earnest. After finishing their little round of torturing demons, Ellis, Claire, Ra-chin, and Pi-tan were all gathered around and sharing their impressions with each other. I just want the demons to quit their plundering. Perhaps it would be best if we had Reeve try and manipulate Berunal. Thats too heavy a burden for someone so clueless. Youre right. Its be wiser to have us do something ourselves. They were saying some pretty awful things about Reeve, but when you have a certain track record, it just cant be helped. Hey Are you still not going to release me? The demon who had been left on his own for a bit crawled his way into the conversation. And in response, Claire gave him a smile reminiscent of a mad scientist that would make you question which one of them exactly was the demon. Mister Demon, were not monsters. Of course we arent going to kill you. Thats what she was saying, but as Claire touched the demons forehead, using the spell {Distraction Needle} to completely do away with any magic resistance he had, she slowly began to recite her next spell. A spell that made the demon turn pale. Because inside that long chant, he clearly heard the spell {Explosion} embedded inside. DONT! the demon cried. But Claires smile only deepened as she continued her chant. After half a minute, Claire finally finished casting her spell. No change could be seen in the demons body, but that only made the demons fear grow as Claire kept her sunny smile on show. Mister Demon, this spell is something I like to call {Keyword Explosion}. Simply put, this spell only activates when you say the keyword. As soon as you say it, you can expect a BOOM! But its fine. So long as you never say that word, youll be able to live a normal life. Hey, youre kind of blessed in a way. Ellis continued acting worried for the poor demon. Oh whatever could that keyword be? Could it be Warren? Little girl? Dragons? Or maybe even something like Demon Lord? Ohh, Im so worried. I got it, I got it! I wont tell anyone about you, so please just forgive me already! the demon continued his begging. All right, we forgive you. Thank you for all the information youve given us Mister Demon. Now have a nice day. Thus the demon was released from the tortures of hell and scurried back home to the Demon Lords castle as fast as he could. Now then, lets go catch the next one. Once again Ellis and the others went back into the city to run their patrols with playful smiles on their faces. The special stage in Freedom Promenade. On stage, different couples were acting out various different types of improv based on the cosplay they were wearing. The event on the stage wasnt a contest this time, but everyone who participated did receive a small prize like some specially made whale beast meat bacon from the Pot and Kettle, a special whale leather hat from the western fishing village, or other such accessories like mufflers which could be given away as a present. Currently standing on stage was Katie and a Katie-lookalike Ah-nyan. Their program was a catfighter performance with their claw gauntlets and greaves already equipped. The two bowed to each other at center stage before taking an upright fighting position. Both of them took a strong step forward as the audience watched in bated anticipation. Ah-nyan abruptly took a crouching stance, pushing off his back legs and lunging right into Katie. It was the standard posture for a catfighter punch. Katie avoided the attack by pulling a back step. Thereupon Ah-nyan took a position even lower than he already had and tried to tackle Katie right from the front. Katie read through the attack, stepping to the side and dropping her elbow right on Ah-nyans head. However Ah-nyan was able to lower his head, avoiding the hit and then jumping off of one foot to spin around to his left. Katie tried to intercept his movement with a low kick straight to his gut, but this time Ah-nyan was the one to pull off a back step, grabbing Katies foot in midair and tossing it away. However Katie used the momentum from Ah-nyans throw to her advantage, pulling a full rotation slightly above the ground, she managed to kick his legs out from under him. She then quickly mounted him, and the air stood still for a moment. With things finished, the two fighters stood back up in the center of the stage and bowed once again. The two then turned to face the crowd, and everyone in the audience rose out of their seats, applauding and singing their praises. Hey Katie Nyat Ah-nyan? Do you know a riddle? Does it take a Dad to bridge nyan with nyan nya?2 And so the two started a small comedy routine up on stage, inevitably having to be dragged off to the sound of a couple laughs here and there, but for the most part it was a cacophony of boos. Inside the Demon Lords castle. Having scurried back as fast as he could, the Zabinas-class high demon that Claire and Ellis had caught rushed to a nearby magic circle in an attempt to return to the demon realm. He thought for sure that the spell would be canceled there. But before he could make it, he was stopped by a couple of other demons calling out to him. Hey you, whats the hurry? I cant talk. What are you, you went with the others to infiltrate Warren right? Tell us what you found out. No! I cant talk. What are you even saying? Me talking about not talking is still me talking! Its fine to say you dont care, but I dont know anything BOOM!! The demon who had so quickly scurried home had his head split open like a watermelon on the beach. Without a head, his lifeless corpse collapsed onto the ground as all the other demons were left unable to understand what had just happened. What was that!? That was an {Explosion}! Who cast the spell!? And just like that the demons grew to suspect even those they called allies. Ellis and Claire had designated I dont know3 as the demons keyword. They had thought that someone would surely use it when the demon was confronted by his allies. In other words, from the very beginning they had no plans to let him live. From then on, the two girls continued to apprehend several more demons and subjected them to the {Keyword Explosion} treatment before sending them back to the Demon Lords castle. One of the demons they captured was able to leave behind just one bit of information before he popped. They were more like demons than actual demons. I dont know anymore And then BAM!! The demons were left horrified by the words he left behind that somehow echoed louder than any explosion. 1. A disease that affects your nerves losing the ability to use certain muscles. 2. I hate their jokes so much. So this is meant to be a tongue twister-like joke that goes like Nyan toka to kakete nyan toka toto kutte yatsuda nya. I had a hard time reading this, but the joke here is that nyannyan as one word is slang for making out. So once again, its a dirty, stupid pun. 3. Just a friendly reminder that I dont know is one word in Japanese. CH 150 This was the venue for the special carnival cosplay couples event. Yo Mother-con, youre looking pretty austere today. Your lady friend is looking very cute and sexy as well. Oh Straw Hat, you almost look like a Hero straight from a childrens bedtime story wearing something like that. Your companion looks wonderful though. As usual it was a light, fun atmosphere between the Demon Lord and Hero. Their two companions also greeted each other with a bright smile. So, whats got you so worried? The Demon Lord answered Grays question with a slightly embarrassed look on his face. Actually, this woman is throwing a fuss, wanting to get that Whale Beast Muffler theyre handing out up there. Unfortunately it doesnt look like theyre sold anywhere. That muffler looks cute, so I wanted it. Also, that hat up there would look really good on you Marionetta. Berunal pointed up at the stage where a cute, round hat was on display next to the muffler. Seeing it, Marionetta started to want it a little. Thereupon Katie came down off the stage, dragging a Cassius-form Ah-nyan behind her. Why do you look so troubled Marionetta nya? Ah, Katie, we were actually talking about getting that muffler and hat, but Then just get on stage and do a performance nya. You say that, but I have no idea what we would do. The other three all crossed their arms alongside Marionettas words. So Ah-nyan stepped in with his own idea. Since the two of you are cosplaying as the Hero and the Demon Lord, you should act out a battle between each other. Simple, right? Thats it nya. And since your two groups will be working together, you can get the hat and muffler in one act nya. The Hero-cosplaying Demon Lord was the first one to respond. If were going with that, then we should paint a story where the Hero, me, loses. But the Demon Lord-cosplaying Hero had the opposite mentality. No no, wouldnt you normally have the Demon Lord, me, lose here? It turned into an argument over who would get to be the loser. Meanwhile the succubus and valkyrie were left unsure about what to do next to them. So, Then just do this nya, Katie came out with her own ending. Honestly, the Demon Lord-cosplaying Hero and Hero-cosplaying Demon Lord had some mixed feelings about the scenario she described. But well, when considering who their audience was, they relented. Then go over there and apply for the event nya. Do it for the prizes nya. Hero! Were settling this now! The Demon Lord-cosplaying Hero covered in abyssal black armor shouted. Demon Lord! This place shall be your tomb. Prepare yourself! the Hero-cosplaying Demon Lord decorated in bright white armor yelled back. The two men were confronting each other up on stage. Standing behind them were the valkyrie in chalk white mini-skirt armor and the succubus in black corset armor, both staring at the mens backs anxiously. The cosplaying Hero and cosplaying Demon Lord slowly circled around each other. The tension on stage was matched only by the tension held by the audience. And then, Now! the succubus suddenly screamed. Gua! the cosplaying succubuss trident dug into the Demon Lords back. Uwa! the cosplaying valkyries slender spear pierced through the Heros armor as well. W-why my succubus. My era was soon to come. Y-you betrayed me valkyrie..i-is this, truly Gods will? As the men fell, the succubus and valkyrie turned towards the audience with a bright smile on their faces and shouted to watching audience. The nuisances have been vanquished! Now, let us move towards our promised utopia! Yes, our goal is the fabled Lily Garden! Sakkyun, I love you! And I love you, Warukyun! The two girls then took each others hands and disappeared off the side of the stage. The audience was left stunned with the sudden development of the story. And then exploded into laughter. As for the Hero and Demon Lord, they rose up and left the stage after giving the audience an insincere smile, feeling a mixture of different feelings at the crowds eventual reaction. When the Demon Lord and Hero arrived at the foot of the stage where the prizes for participating are handed out, they found Berunal and Marionetta in good spirits, already wearing their Whale Beast muffler and hat while boasting to each other about the good job theyd done. Seeing them like blew away any grievances the two men had and made both the Hero and Demon Lord think about how cute the two of them were. Alright Berunal, Im heading over to Dandys Shangri La. Try not to get yourself too drunk this time. Yes, Master. Im happy with the muffler, Berunal replied holding her muffler with great delight. Marionetta, what should we do for dinner today? Lets splurge a little today and order a full course meal from the Steamed Kitchen. By the way Gray, do you think this suits me? Marionetta replied, ecstatic with the hat that was even more beautifully crafted than she had first thought. Thus the group of four split as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Leaving only Berunal who was in an exceptionally good mood alone. Hey, youre Reeves friend, the Rosen Princess right nya? Katie called out to Berunal since the beautiful valkyrie was just standing there, smiling on her own. Yes, Big Sister Reeve is always playing with me. Berunal gave Katie such a simple, homely smile while dressed in such a sexy dress. Katie was getting a little interested in this girl, Lets get some fruit wine together nya, so she took Berunals hand and dragged her over to Trans Happy. Katie and Ah-nyan sat Berunal down in one of the booths at Trans Happy. Berunal started off having a nice conversation with Katie and Ah-nyan over a cup of tea, but things got a lot more boisterous when they all switched over to some sparkling fruit wine. Just like that you had two overly excited, giggling airheads. It didnt take long for Katie and Ah-nyan to start their little two-man comedy act. The fact that their act centered around making fun of the Demon Lord gave Berunal a little something extra to laugh at. Hey Katie, isnt the Demon Lord an idiot? Why do you say that Ah-nyan? Because the Demon Lord, doesnt he earn his ril through pillaging? Thats what I heard nya. Hes a real nuisance to our farmers nya. Thats why hes an idiot. What do you mean? He has all those demons serving him, but he has them stealing chump change from paupers when he could have them dive into labyrinths instead. Hoh, Ah-nyans a genius nya. Youd have demon warriors, demon thieves, demon magicians, and even a demon Hero! And then theyd get so much treasure nya! Thats right, and then he could make a mountain of ril selling it all. And then the Demon Hero could finally Finally.. could finally defeat the Demon Lord nya! Nyannyan Huh? Having been laughing so hard this entire time, Berunal suddenly stopped, putting on a serious face as she pondered something. Well, even if you were to call it serious, it was more of a cute/serious hybrid than anything. Berunal stopped Katie and Ah-nyan from telling their next joke in order to ask them a question. This labyrinth treasure, where would I sell it? The Adventurers Guild would buy all of it nya. Somehow, Berunal was overcome with a feeling like she had just heard something good. And it was there that Elliss group appeared. Katie and Ah-nyan, you look like youre having fun. And, youre talking to Miss Berunal, hello. Ellis and Claire greeted Berunal with a smile. The dragons had returned to their miniature sizes already with Ra-chin riding on Elliss back and Pi-tan planted on top of Claires head. Berunal greeted the two girls with her own radiant smile. Hello. Just now, Katie was telling me something really interesting. I learned a lot. Berunal really was smiling brightly. Ellis and Claire quickly confirmed what exactly it was that Katie had been teaching her, but to their surprise, it wasnt anything damning, and instead made them both perform a small guts pose. Before arriving here, Ellis and the other three had been worriedly discussing the best way to get the demons to stop their looting. However to think that Katie and Ah-nyan, two people whose heads were filled with nothing but flowers, would come up with the idea to, have the demons clear labyrinths, and then feed that idea to the equally empty headed Berunal. This called for a relentless sales pitch. So Ellis and Claire took seats around Berunal and spent the rest of their time whispering into her ear about how, Theres so much treasure in the labyrinths, and they sell so well. This continued on getting even more help from Reeve when she came over after finishing her patrols, and supplemented by Frau who had closed up her food stand. By the time the Demon Lord came back to pick Berunal up, the girls had completely brainwashed her. Hey, Im here, so lets go back Berunal. Margherita had tortured him today as well, so the Demon Lord was feeling quite refreshed when he called Berunals name. I had a lot of fun with everyone today. Please play with me again next time too. Berunal quickly bowed her head, giving everyone an adorable farewell before running over to the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord offered his own small bow to Ellis and the others in thanks before heading back with Berunal. .there is absolutely no way she is in charge of the demon army. But we received confirmation from multiple demons, so theres no doubt. Ellis countered Reeves natural response. But even if the evidence said otherwise, everyone still found it hard discounting Reeves opinion. Meanwhile at the Demon Lords castle. Hey, Master. What is it Berunal? I, came up with a wonderful idea. Lets hear it. To earn some ril, lets have our demons stop looting villages and start clearing labyrinths instead. I dont care, but will the demons be fine with that? Theyll do what I tell them to. I can just give them the excuse that theyre searching for your claws in the labyrinths while theyre at it. Alright, then aside from the ril you find in the labyrinth, what about the magic tools. Well sell them in town. But wont that make the humans stronger? As long as well sell them to Warren there shouldnt be a problem. Master has no intentions of attacking them anyway right? Then Ill leave it to you Berunal. Understood. Im so happy Master. Embrace me. Todays no good. Ive been completely drained. Okay. Then lets have some of this together instead. Berunal held out some of the high-quality wine Reeve and Ferdinand had given her. Well fine. If its just a little, then it cant be helped. And so the Demon Lord and Berunal enjoyed a spot of alcohol. But just like always Berunals drunk appearance stimulated the Demon Lord, and with the alcohol breathing second life into him as well, the Demon Lord found he was unable to control himself. Naturally the two of them tore off each others clothes. A habit they are unable to break and is proving to be very expensive. Later on the Demon Lord would move to actively adopt Berunals policy. It should also be noted that the two of them had forgotten to return the costumes they rented, and after tearing each others off and ripping them apart, the Demon Lords Hero cosplay and Berunals miniskirt armor went from being a rental to a purchase. CH 151 Demons across the continent were suddenly bound by a compelling force. Uwaa! Seriously!? Arent we in danger of being a bunch of losers like this? Damn! If Id known it would be like this, I would have followed the Skycastle team! Impossible impossible, its unreasonable to think that us in the muscle head Hyaaha group wouldnt die of boredom being forced to help the Skycastle team! No way. Are we supposed to divert the monsters we trained too? So at this point they want us bullying goblins!? No, but I could attack some adventurers while theyre exploring instead. Uwa, now thats a good idea! These were just some of the responses that the demons raised. Berunal had demonstrated her ability as the lieutenant of the Demon Lords army for the first time in a long while. It was a ceremonial order that would compel every demon across the continent to follow her will. The contents of her order were as follows: All demons searching for the Demon Lords claws by attacking human settlements are to stop immediately, instead searching for them in nearby labyrinths. Any ril and magic tools discovered are to be sent straight to the Demon Lords castle. So the question is, why did the demon forces separate themselves into losers and winners with this one command?1 As the lieutenant for the Demon Lord, all demons were forced to obey whatever command Berudeus gave, but Berudeus was now Berunal. And when the Demon Lord completely trampled over her, the supreme power she had over the other demons was released. This was a very important point that slid past Berunals attention. So, whenever Berunal was venting her anger out on any of the lesser demons, they werent actually under her control. The demons only ever obeyed her commands out of habit until now. And so with Berudeuss transformation, two sets of demons were formed. One group who continued looting after being set free and the others who started making decisions based on their own selfish purposes. Berunals new compulsory order just now should have wrangled all the demons back under her authority once again, but there was an issue with how Berunal worded her order. All demons searching for the Demon Lords claws by attacking human settlements So in other words, this new order only applied to the continued looting demons. The others were still left to their own devices. A small number of demons couldnt be bound. The Demon Lord was confused by what she said for a moment, and ended up misunderstanding, thinking she was just talking about a situation similar to when he had to slaughter those demons that attacked Warren. Well, dont worry about it. They wont try anything until the claws are found. But then the Demon Lord started to wonder. Hey, Berunal. What is it Master? So our first order on the demons was released during our first night together right? Yes, it appears so. Thats why, just for example, if I were to play with you tonight, wouldnt the order you just gave be undone the same way? No, its fine. Okay, but why? Thats because Master raped me that first night which released my hold on the demons. However, ever since that night Ive voluntarily been playing with Master, so any new orders will hold firm. So feel free to hold me in peace from now on. As a matter of fact, hold me right now. That, quit trying to sell yourself so cheaply Berunal. It starts to lose its fun. The Demon Lord was left utterly amazed at how largely Berunal could smile while pushing something so important to the side. At the very least, from this day on no demon would loot a village anywhere on the continent again. Today was the second day of the carnival. Ellis and Claire had finished up their demon hunt from the first day, so at Reeves request, they spent the first part of their day retrieving the rest of the Lorenburg family from Wheat Grace. They decided to use Pi-tans specially made barrels crafted by Claires Carpenters for the occasion. It had been a while since Gurre had seen her family, and Stuart wanted to greet his in-laws as well. The couple had arrived in Warren two days ago, but on their arrival, they spent the whole day at the Warren Merchant Guild, confirming the different amount and types of Skycastle alcohol they had brought with them and how much it all would cost with the purchasing department. The husband and wife spent the next day holed up at the Merchant Guild again, scheduling a number of transports for toilets and showers that were slotted for delivery, confirming the dates of delivery, and arranging various other minor details. After all that, the two didnt really have the energy to properly enjoy the festival with what time was left in the day. But today was a free day for them. So for the first time in a long time, the married couple was able to enjoy some time alone together, and in the end, Gurre decided to use some of that time to enjoy a meal with her parents. This was actually an idea that Reeve suggested to her sister after careful consideration. To be honest though she was just afraid of what Gurre would do if left alone like that while she was off having fun. Today too couples were performing on the special stage set up in town with various different souvenirs set up as prizes for anyone who tried. Gurre was watching some of the performances while wearing a court dress like the ones they wore in castles long ago that she had rented. Hey, how about we go up on stage too? What would we do? Lets dance the waltz. But theres no instruments. Its all right, we have one right here. Gurre pointed behind her where a docile Reeve was wearing a palace guard costume, a meek Su-chan clinging to her chest. The both of them had been instructed by Gurre to act as guides for her for the entire day. Naturally the eyes of the women in this city followed after Reeve dressed up as a palace guard, but as a result their gazes ended up falling on the slender man and froufrouy woman she was guiding. The ladies began to whisper and quickly the gossip that these two were pushing Reeve around spread across the city. However Gurre was still able to enjoy the city without any worries. Reeve, give us a song we can waltz to. Ah, okay. At this point Reeve had mostly stopped thinking for herself, and so she readily agreed, walking up on stage with the married couple after a stop at the reception desk. Our next performance will be done by Sir Stuart and his wife, showcasing a waltz to a song sung by the ever-wonderful Reeve! After the moderators voice passed through their ears, the audience immediately started to get noisy. They hadnt expected to suddenly get a live performance from Reeve. And with it being a not-yet disclosed song you could waltz to, the ladies rushed to the stage. Not even being aware enough to notice this was all going on, Reeve started to sing after receiving a signal from Gurre. She and her husband stepped in time with the song, marking the start of a beautiful waltz. With the song and dance happening concurrently, the audience wasnt sure what to focus on, so they were left in awe, letting the experience wash over them. The song and dance ended, leaving behind a moment of silence at the venue. And then it all exploded into a chorus of cheers. In that bustle, Gurre turned to the audience, calling out to them all with a clear voice that could be heard over all the noise. Everyone, thank you for all your help with my little sister Reeve. Im Gurre, Reeves second older sister. I will be visiting your wonderful city a lot from now on delivering Skycastle alcohol. Its wonderful to meet all of you! All of the ladies who heard that this woman was Reeves sister breathed a sigh of relief. And that sense of relief was more than enough for all of the ladies there to welcome Gurre as a friend. And so, using Reeves fame, Gurre was able to sell herself to the people of Warren while simultaneously publicizing the Skycastle alcohol. As expected of a shrewd merchant. In short, the eldest daughter Bizon had the ability to greatly focus on a goal, the second daughter Gurre had a head specializing in business affairs, and the third daughter Reeve inherited a talent for various different art forms. All three daughters inherited one part of their Shitty old man grandfather Ferdinand. And so as the married couple and Reeve quietly descended off the stage, they were met with the wild jostling of an excited audience. Hmm Gise was bored. It seemed like he was the only man in the city with nobody to cosplay with him. He wanted to try inviting Aiful, but she and Credia were busy running the Tea Room. Even today they were hard at it, so he was currently just killing some time before leaving in a bit. The Hero and magician had enjoyed the carnival yesterday to its fullest, but today they were heading over to Ceramics. Apparently there was a type of seasoning that could only be obtained from there. His only real company was Ra-chin, but he was in his usual spot, still as a statue with his nose stuck into the steam of his tea. Hmm Gise was wasting his time away, sulking with his chin resting in the palm of his hand. And then, someone spoke up to him. Is this seat taken? Yes, despite Gises loneliness, the store was actually jam-packed, and all the rest of the chairs had been taken. When Gise looked up, he found that the person who had called out to him was Plum, the proprietor of the Masquerade Boutique who had finally found some time for a break. Gise was flustered by the sudden presence of a mature, attractive woman, but he somehow managed to squeak out a, Go ahead. Aiful, one set for me please. Sorry Plum, Ive got my hands full right now, do you want to go on back and grab it? Aiful gave Plum a relaxed response to her order that would make anyone think the two of them were a couple of close friends. And so entering the back of the store, Plum came back with her own tea set and a large smile. And then, Here, she poured some of her tea into Gises cup. Aiful seems pretty busy right now, so since you shared your seat with me, I thought Id share some of my tea with you. The sudden warm hospitality through Gise for a loop. But seemingly having not noticed, Plum struck up a conversation with a smile. The Hero isnt with you today. Ah, Aah, thats because Marionetta took Gray shopping. I see, well its good to hear that Marionetta is enjoying herself. Oh, excuse me! My name is Plum, and I run the boutique down the street. Im Gise. I travel alongside the Hero. From there, the two of them continued to enjoy talking with one another until Ra-chin stirring from his trance let them both know how much time had passed. That was fun, lets talk again if we get a chance. Gise watched silently at Plums elegant back as she made her way back to her store, her break finally at its end. Hmm Gise had a little fun there too. From there he placed his charge for the tea down on the table and made his way back to the party headquarters he had just rented. Perhaps he would go take another walk around the city later, he decided. And maybe he would try renting a costume after all, just before Masquerade closed. 1. When they say winners and losers here, they mean at life. Like this guy won at life. CH 152 This was the Warren Jewelry Box annex, formerly known as the Adventurers Guilds female dormitory. The mens camp were ok living there, so Leopold and the rest of the Wheat Grace family were staying the night here this time. Stewart made a very smart decision here. The former lord Ferdinand was in a good mood, and was acting surprising polite while complimenting his granddaughters husbands actions. No, since alcohol production in Skycastle has been increasing lately anyway, were grateful to have this new market in Warren where we can unload some of this extra product. In addition, the reputation for Claire-Flint brand toilets and showers have been gaining a lot of popularity among the nobility lately. We already have several dozen units on reserve, and Gurre has already drawn up plans to start a filth clean-up service. Stewart never missed an opportunity to praise his wife. Gurre, dont bite off more than you can chew. No no, shes just doing as she pleases. Be sure to live with no regrets. Meanwhile her father Leopold started to give her a warning while her mother Lux tried to encourage her. At the same time, Stewart, please let me see how Skycastle brews its alcohol, Hymel was pulling on Stewarts pants leg. Gurre was especially taken aback by this. Of course it would be good for the future lord of Wheat Grace to see how Skycastle brews its alcohol and how it differs from the rice-centric method Wheat Grace uses. But to think that her shy younger brother who would always hide by his mothers legs and cry over the slightest issue would step forward and ask a favor like this on his own. Gurre secretly wiped away a tear from her eye without anyone else noticing. By the way, Reeve and Su-chan were left sitting quietly in a corner of the room. These two, especially the dragon, were bad at dealing with Gurre, so it couldnt be helped. It was only the other day that Su-chan was exposed to a human girl endlessly lecturing him for over an hour, something he had never in his whole, long life thought would happen. And he absolutely didnt want it to ever happen again which was why he was currently shamelessly hiding himself by clinging to Reeves chest. So just like that the Lorenburg family was able to enjoy a catered meal together while tasting the delightful alcohol Stewart had brought with him. But then, a small doll Reeve was wearing on her person began to shout. Big Sister! Help! By the time the voice had faded into oblivion, Reeve had already made her way out of the hotel and into the main mansion next door. Reeve immediately made a report to Ellis and the others who were enjoying their own meal together. Mebett just sent an SOS. Im leaving now and will ask for details when I get there. Ellis instantly started handing out her own specified instructions. Claire will be going with Reeve! Claire can pinpoint Mebetts signal and direct Reeve to her location. Pi-tan will stay in his fancy form and ride on Su-chan as well! Frau, go find Maria and ask Sir Chaffee whats going on at Skycastle through Duke Marsfield! Katie is on stand-by with me! Following Elliss instructions, Reeve and Claire climbed on the Storm Dragons back, disappearing into the nights sky northward after a few flaps of its wings. Frau used her Magical Horse to head straight for the Merchant Guild. Ellis and Katie headed back to the hotel to explain the current situation to Ferdinand and the others. Whats happened to Mebett!? Leopold shouted out the question all the rest of them were thinking. Were having someone at the Merchant Guild ask Sir Chaffee about the situation through Marsfield right now. So please calm down a bit. Ellis tried to soothe everyones worries, explaining to them all that she had given Mebett a Howling Plush Toy so that they could immediately help her if anything ever happened. She explained that the main reason for this was because they had confirmed the fact that demons had already infiltrated Skycastle the last time they were there. Sure enough, the Lorenburg familys faces twisted when the demons were mentioned. They all knew the terror that came from dealing with them. But, how were you able to afford to give Mebett such an expensive magic tool? Ellis had tried to be honest with them up until now, but there were some secrets she wasnt willing to share so easily. Claires parents Ares and Izerina worked together with the Wisdom Magicians Guild guildmaster to develop these tools in the first place. So we were able to get our hands on some of the surplus dolls they had developed. The first part of what she said was true at least. But it was that first half that would be harder to believe, but it made sense at the same time. They had already seen the toilets, showers, and golems Claire had made by herself after all. In the meantime Frau had returned, her the complexion on her face a notably different shade. Maria was with her having ridden on the back of the Magical Horse. Kidnapped! Ellis! Mebett was taken by someone! Sir Chaffee has already started the search! Dont make that face. Cmon Frau, Katie, were going too! Just a moment Gurre called out to Ellis before she had a chance to charge out of the building. She then handed over a small key. When something doesnt smell right, its better to take care of it out of the publics gaze. Use our home if you need to hide yourselves. Thank you Gurre. Im sorry, but please take care of our home while were away! And Ferdinand, Ill give you this. If you ever need to speak with us, you can use this doll. Saying that much, Fe-rin returned to his normal size, flying off in the same direction Reeve went after Ellis, Katie, and Frau had climbed on his back. Maria and the Lorenburg family saw them off as Duke Marsfields voice echoed out of Marias doll. The Kings gone mad! According to Sir Chaffee, hes just announced an unthinkable royal decree! That decree was the lifting of a ban on Sabbath. The sacrifices for this Sabbath would be mostly adults, but as long as they have a parents permission, then children could be freely sacrificed as well. The Kings lost his mind. Ferdinand was at a loss for words when hearing the cruel contents of this new order. Saying that its only if someone agrees to it is all well and good, but what if the King ordered them to agree with it? The person in question would have to agree. Choosing to disobey the Kings order was a death sentence anyway. In other words, just being nominated meant you were as good as dead. There were more holes in this decree than could be counted. Ellis, can you hear me? Not even two minutes after they had left, Ferdinand was using the doll Ellis had given him to try and calmly explain everything that was going on. Skycastle. The Hero Gray, magician Marionetta, and thief Gise were standing stunned before a signboard that had been sit up in the royal plaza of the capitol city. This, why is Skycastle lifting a ban on Sabbath, the demons feast? Good question. Ill go to the Thieves Guild and buy some info. You two, dont do anything to stand out until Im back. If this royal decree is real, then itll be the end of your lives if the King orders you to, Agree to be a sacrifice. Gise immediately noticed the flaw in the Kings announcement as well. His decision to collect information first and make a move after analyzing the situation was a logical one. Which was why Gray and Marionetta followed his directions, returning to their headquarters until he returned with his report. As expected of a king, you act on your decisions so quickly, a naked woman whispered into the Kings right ear while he lie on his back inside his bedroom. As expected of a king, people always follow those orders, a naked man whispered into the Kings left ear. The King was staring vacantly up at the ceiling while begging the two around him. I did what you told me to. So please, forgive me from anymore squeezing.. His two bedmates replied with a smile. What are you talking about my King? Theres still so much more to go before we reach our goal. What are you talking about my King? Theres still so many ways I can serve you. Joe J Skycastle the VIII shut his empty eyes. And so once again he was attacked from his left and his right, his consciousness overcome with a feeling of pleasure coming from a skill youd never believe belonged to a human. Reeves group arrived at Skycastle a step ahead of the others. The girls arrived under the darkness of the night, the Storm and Chaos dragons staying in their respective cute and fancy forms while they searched for the captured Mebett. They refrained from calling Mebett themselves in case she was with her captors, hoping for her to be able to call them instead. Instead it was Elliss voice that came out of Claires doll. Well be there soon. Everything will be fine, so dont go rushing in. Reeve with a little more irritated than she had thought when she replied back. You say that, but she could be killed if we wait! Its fine. She has one of Claires dolls, so if anything happens, shell definitely be able to buy herself some time. Claire, tell Reeve about your dolls until we arrive. Understood Ellis. Well find out where theyre holding her while we wait as well. After giving Ellis the roger, Claire explained to Reeve what they were talking about with these dolls, all while carefully pinpointing Mebetts signal. CH 153 What is Sabbath? In short, its an all-you-can-eat buffet, but its nothing like the gachihomos white loincloth parties, the fashionable gays cigarette parties, the transvestites frenzy dancing, or the gachilezes fun bath parties. Its an anything goes free-for-all suitable for the worst that the demons have to offer. Naturally there will be an orgy going on, drugs will be aplenty, there might be a few strange summoning rituals here and there, exceptionally excited individuals would bring in their own food, whatever that might consist of, and in the end, theyll bring out the sacrifices they kidnapped and do what they want to them just for the fun of it.. Even demons arent supposed to be allowed to hold one without the Demon Lords approval, so for a person, no, any living creature that would attend one would be described as the absolute worst. That is what a Sabbath is supposed to be. The fact that Sabbath has now been legalized means that any of those actions would now be allowed as well. Honestly, anybody sane would never allow this. Making it the perfect decree for a now insane king. The ban on Sabbath has been lifted, and For the Sabbaths sacrifices, adults can volunteer, and children are fine so long as they are given with parental consent. These two decrees spread through Skycastle like wildfire. Nobles throughout the city crammed themselves into the castle to try and find out the Kings true intentions with this. Unfortunately the situation was at a standstill because the only person they could talk to was the Kings spokesman who didnt understand the Kings goal in this either. When the Dragon Maiden and her dragon first arrived at the castle, they offered to act as the personal guards for His Highness along with their two companions as attendants, a proposal the King happily accepted. After that, the spokesman never heard from the King again. All of the royal decrees passed since were delivered on paper in the Kings handwriting. When the spokesman first received the Kings decree from the larger of the the two new attendant men, he naturally started questioning His Highnesss sanity just like everyone else was now. That was why he decided to ask the King forgiveness for his insolence later and barged into His Highnesss bedroom to find out the real story behind this mess. But, Its my decision, was the only response the King gave from his bed. My oh my, Mister Spokesman, this type of insolence isnt allowed, and then a womans voice came out from the Kings bed as well. The spokesman recognized it immediately as the voice of the new Dragon Maiden. But this left the spokesman even more confused than before. Werent Dragon Maidens supposed to devote themselves to their dragons completely? And well, thats all he was able to get from the meeting. Before he could work through his confusion and ask anything else, the two attendant men came up from behind him, picked him up by his arms, and carried him out of the room. From behind, he could hear the King lifelessly called after him, Ill overlook it this time, but dont do it again. So when the nobles bombarded him with questions, the spokesman could only repeat back to them what the King had told him. Its a royal decree. There were a number of nobles who left after that saying, Its the will of the King, some even going as far as voicing their approval. The situation has already deteriorated to a point where there was little a noble could do. That created even more chaos than I expected, the naked Peach murmured. It seems some of that lot have started to act recklessly as a result, but thats part of the fun, a naked man muttered back. The King was lying unconscious on his back between them. Oh, you already have a sacrifice? Yeah, doesnt she look delicious? So you grabbed her because you really wanted to eat her yourself then? Im really looking forward to sinking my teeth in the heart and liver. Ive always been more into a persons eyes myself. Shes young, so her uterus and ovaries will be tender. I think Ill lap up all her blood in one go. Were a pretty good group of friends dont you think? Yeah, its good that we all have such different tastes in food. By the way, did you get consent from this girls parents? Whats that? Oh no, you cant do that. The bosses clearly said we had to get consent from any kids parents before we eat them. How are you supposed to get that? Its easy. All you have to do is tell the parent, The King has ordered your girl to be a sacrifice. Are you going to give her up, or are you going to go against the King? and thatll be the end of it. Sounds troublesome. Well, wont it be fine as long as we get consent afterwards? Yeah, lets just eat first. Itll be really annoying trying to find her parents on an empty stomach. Mebett was forced to listen to such an outrageous conversation, yet still she stayed brave while waiting for her elder sister and the other girls to come save her. But, there was a limit. All right, little girl. Come on down. Mebett tried tearing through her gag with her teeth, and the rope binding her wrists and ankles cut into her skin as she tried to break free. But with her petite limbs failing her completely, she was left unable to do anything as her kidnapper lifted her off the ground. She was carried over to a stone pillar at the rooms center lit by candlelight. Mebett had her limbs spread out, bound to the stone column and put on full display for the monsters surrounding her. Now then little girl, be sure to let out a nice voice for us. Well make sure this hurts as much as possible. If you could listen to my most sincere request, please live survive as long as possible. All of the men put into their own small requests for Mebett to follow. Now lets shed these. One of the men pulled off Mebetts gag. As he did, Mebett could no longer hold herself back, raising a hellish scream. Good, GOOD!! Each of the men sprouted claws from their fingers, taking turns tearing away at Mebetts clothes. The cute blouse she was wearing was shredded, exposing her immature body to the starving demons. After Ferdinand and the others had informed Ellis about the legalization of Sabbath, they knew there was a high probability that Mebett had been kidnapped to act as a sacrifice. With that being the case, then the kidnappers should make some attempt at contacting Sir Chaffee. And so, Sir Chaffee was to send a message to Duke Marsfield who would then tell Ferdinand, who would then tell Ellis the moment that the kidnappers made contact. For the time though, Chaffee was a mess, sending message after message to Duke Marsfield, all essentially boiling down to, I dont care what it costs me, I just want to save Mebett! Its no good. Hes likely to get him and his daughter killed acting like this. Duke Marsfield spent most of this time trying to talk Sir Chaffee down, trying to convince him to wait for Ellis and the other girls. Claire, still!? Its just a little further, so calm down Reeve! I am calm! Claire was desperately tracking the signal from {Find Marker}. Finally she was able to lock onto a specific location, a nobles mansion that the two girls had just passed by. From the outside, all the lights were off and it looked like nobody was home. Reeve, there! After getting Claires confirmation, Reeve shouted into the Howling Plush Toy in her hand. Ellis, we found it! Understood Reeve. Well be there soon, so wait just a little while longer! But at that moment, Mebetts scream reverberated through her doll. Were out of time Ellis! Were going now! If youre going to change the strategy, then dont hesitate to kill all of them! Dont miss any! Claire too! One of the men slowly moved his claws to Mebetts chest. No, shell die right away if you stab her heart first. Thats right. Start with her stomach. Her abdomen, no, her eye would be the least lethal. We have a winner. The man moved his claws towards Mebetts eyes instead. Here we go. The mans cold words overlapped with Mebetts screams. But as the claws moved in, craving blood, a light suddenly began to shine at Mebetts finger. And then a shadow spread across her whole body. Besides the Howling Plush Toy, Mebett had another small toy tied around her neck. This was a golem Claire had put her heart and soul into. Defense Doll-kun. That large shadow was the gallant figure of Defense Doll-kun rolling into action. Defense Doll-kun is made up of two parts, a ring and the doll itself. When the life of the rings owner is in danger, Defense Doll-kun activates automatically, and does everything in its power to guard its owner. A Sacrificial Doll would naturally be more efficient when saving someones life. However, if Mebett was ever in a situation where her life would be in danger, then a second life would probably not be enough. It would be easy to imagine an attacker giving a second or third killing blow immediately after. Thats why Ellis and Claire worked together to build Defense Doll-kun as a way to protect the general public. The doll repelled the mans claws with one of its arm while the other ripped off the ropes holding Mebetts limbs in place. While the demons were all left stunned at the sudden appearance of an enemy, Mebett jumped off the pillar and tried to make a run for it. Wha-What is that!? Its, wait, the girls trying to run away! The men were surprised for a second, but they came to their senses soon enough and started chasing the doll down. They shot arrows, threw spears, shot magic at the dolls back, but that was perfectly fine with the golem. It allowed the demons attacks to shave away at its body, the whole time using its fully grown mass to guard Mebett as she climbed up the stairs out of the basement she was being kept in and made a break for any exit she could find. But then the continued attacks caused one of its knees to buckle under, forcing it to fall to the ground. Even as it did though, it still used its body to take on any and all attacks, falling in a way so as to fully cover Mebett. Even as its arm was ripped from its shoulder, it only moved to tighten its hold on Mebett. The doll huddled up like a turtle, using its whole body like a shell to guard Mebett from any harm. Not a single arrow or stray flame would get through. This bastard! Suddenly appearing out of nowhere! Just break it open already so we can get at the girl! The demons were finally able to catch up to the turtled doll, determined to get their meal. One of the demons had brought an ax with him and lifted it up high in the air, ready to dig a hole straight through the dolls body if it meant getting at the prize underneath. But as the ax swung down, dozens of small lights formed inside the pitch-black mansion. {Homing Missile} Claires spell shot out, pelting the demons with flames and knocking them away from the hunched over doll. Then from within the doctors, a shadow jumped out. Good job enduring Mebett. Reeve rushed towards the gathered group of men while whispering to the little girl still hiding underneath the broken golem. Along the way, Su-chan leaped off of Reeves chest, soaring high above the demons heads. The truth was that Claire had pulled her spell back so that it wouldnt kill a single one of the demons that had chased after Mebett, but that wasnt because of anything even resembling mercy. Tonight was different than that time during the carnival. The girls didnt need any information from these demons. They didnt need them for any harassment either. All these demons needed to do, was die, and after all the stress she had worked up until this moment, Reeve really needed this chance to kill them herself. So Claire held her own anger back, silently watching as Reeve dug her blade into the first demons eye and out the back of its throat. From their Reeve pulled out her sword, slicing another demon down the middle, its blood forming a pool under its lifeless corpse. It was over in the blink of an eye, but with each of the demons having been blown over by Claires {Homing Missile}, none of them could even try to fight back as Reeve subjected each of the hapless demons to a one-sided execution. After flying over the other demons, Su-chan made his way down to the basement. Lacking the need to offer such a personal touch, he finished his work up faster than Reeve even though he started a little later. A few seconds after Su-chan flew into the basement, the whole mansion was filled with the surprised demons screams. The echo of his wind blades carving through stone and flesh echoed inside the mansion long after the basements stone walls had become awash with blood, organs, and limbs. The slaughter ended only a short time after it had begun. Reeve returned to Mebetts side. Pulling her out from under the golem, Reeve gently held her niece close, having her rest her head on her chest. You endured so well, good job Mebett. Big Sister, I, did my best..I did my best.. despite the tears lining her cheeks, Mebett did her best to act bravely, even as she fainted in her aunts arms. You did your best, Claire confirmed Mebetts words while stroking the top of her head before removing the ring on her finger. She then crouched down, carefully picking up every single piece of Defense Doll-kun that had broken apart and scattered across the floor. You did your best too. Ill fix you right away. Not long after, Ellis and the others arrived at the mansion, joining up with Reeve and Claire. CH 154 Sir Chaffee and Bizon secretly left their home. Shuffling through the citys dark streets and narrow alleyways, their end-goal was Stewarts mansion. A blonde-haired boy could be seen waiting for the two of them at the entrance underneath the light of the moon. The young boy knew they were coming immediately and focused his consciousness behind them both. After verifying they werent being followed, he motioned them to come inside. Mebett! Father! Mother! The tension in the air was finally alleviated just a bit as a father and mother were allowed to wrap their arms around their crying daughter. Waiting inside the front hall of the mansion was Mebett, the girls and their dragons. Ra-chin had been acting as a lookout in his Ellison form due to his excellent detection ability. Sir Chaffee had been told by Duke Marsfield to join up with Elliss group. The family may end up having to go in hiding for a prolonged period of time, so Bizon had also been told to pack appropriately. After allowing the family a short time together, Ellis got down to business and explained to Sir Chaffee about the mansion Mebett had been taken to. Every demon in the building had been slaughtered by Reeve and Su-chan, and after a thorough sweep, they confirmed that there had been no demons left in hiding. They hadnt been expecting anyone to disturb their gruesome ritual at all. Unfortunately the original inhabitants of the mansion couldnt be found either. There was an altar-like stone pillar erected in the basement, and according to Su-chan, there were signs that humans had been recently killed there. The royal capitol might be more infested by demons than we had thought. Ellis was being extremely candid with Sir Chaffee, giving him her honest opinion. Meanwhile he could only nod in agreement. In truth, immediately after the decree had been passed a number of nobles headed to the castle to confirm the current circumstances. Unfortunately nobody was being allowed to see His Highness and could only speak with his spokesman. And even when the spokesman himself entreated the King, the only response he received was a Its my decision. Sir Chaffee paused for a moment, suddenly recalling something, and asked the girls a seemingly unrelated question. By the way, shouldnt a Dragon Maiden being found in the Kings bedchambers have invited her dragons wrath? Everyone stared at Sir Chaffee in mute amazement wondering what the hell he was talking about. Even the dragons were left speechless, unable to respond when the answer was painfully obvious. Um, Sir Chaffee, what the hell are you talking about all of the sudden? Such a foolish thing would never happen. Finally Reeve gave voice to what everyone was feeling. Seriously old man. I mean, if the King had so much as come-on to Reeve Id have probably left this whole city a burning wreck you know? In the face of a question too ridiculous to consider, Su-chan was able to give an equally ridiculous answer with a disturbingly calm manner. So, why even ask such a question in the first place? Frau nervously asked the question you would think would be obvious to ask, but everyones surprise and obliviousness to the situation came as a large shock to Chaffee. Well you see a Dragon Maiden and her dragon appeared at the royal palace not that long ago. It didnt take long for the two of them to agree to act as the Kings personal guards after that. You should all know her. The Dragon Maiden is that dancer from the Brave Party, and the big guy with the sword and that other one from the Merchant Guild came along with her. IMPOSSIBLE! Fe-rins voice shook the room, the absurdity of what had just been said being far too much for him to bear. He continued on in a half-crazed state like a scientist who just heard that the sky was actually yellow. That woman, youre talking about that rotten woman Peach? That woman tried to join with me, and I was left vomiting ectoplasm feeling like I was about to die! There is no way that woman would ever in her entire life be qualified to be a Dragon Maiden! Supposedly, what kind of dragon did she come with nya? Um, if I remember right then they called it the Nightmare Dragon. It apparently has a large body like a horse with its head looking like a dragon. Oi uncle, theres no such dragon here on the Almerian continent. Ah-nyan immediately rejected the answer Chaffee gave to Katies question. Are you sure its a Nightmare Dragon and not just a Nightmare Demon instead? Oh, I heard of those. They were Nightmare Incubuses or something like that. Claire made an educated guess on the matter, but according to Pi-tan she probably wasnt too far off the mark. Whats a Nightmare Incubus? An ill-natured demon. The monsters discover a persons truest desires through their dreams, destroying their victims hearts so they can manipulate them however they wish. Ra-chin answered Elliss question with clear disdain. Well then, its probably safe to say that the three idiots are being manipulated by this Nightmare Incubus. Probably. And now the Nightmare Incubus has taken the King as well. Everybody fell silent for a moment. It was easy for them to figure out that the King had fallen under the Nightmare Incubuss influence. But, there was nothing they could do after that. The girls couldnt just barge into the castle and attack the demon when on the surface it was acting as a personal guard for the king. Itd be pretty easy to imagine how such an act would be misconstrued, and Skycastle would be sending troops towards Warren before the day was through. That just left proving that the Nightmare Dragon wasnt a dragon at all, but an evil demon that was sucking away the Kings lifeforce in a diabolical plot to secretly control the country from behind the scenes. Unfortunately, nobody had any idea how they were supposed to do that. Lord Chaffee reluctantly pulled out his Howling Plush Toy, and contacted Duke Marsfield. He explained every detail of what they had discovered then and there, leaving nothing out. There was a moment of silence on the line, but when the Duke finally did respond, it was with some quite unusual orders. Well wait for the Kings royal decree to make its way to Marsfield, and Ill head over there claiming to want an audience with him. When that time comes, Ill have you Jewelry Box girls accompany me. Sir Chaffee nodded his head, responding that he thought that course of action was the best move as well. Ellis and the other girls on the other hand thought it was pointless. Even the Kings spokesman wasnt able to get an audience with the King right now. Somehow able to guess the faces that the girls were making even though he wasnt actually there, Duke Marsfields boisterous laugh echoed out from the plush toy. Thats right, I never did tell you ladies. Duke Marsfield is just a title. My real name is Jack J. Skycastle, the Kings younger brother and first in line to succeed the throne. As you can probably guess, my brother wont be able to turn me away. Ellis and the rest all stared at the little plush toy as if looking at it long enough would make the impact of this outrageous claim hit a little softer. With a tentative plan in place, Ellis and the girls started working through the details of what to do until then. Sir Chaffee and Stewart are Skycastle nobility. They should remain in the area in case any problems arise, and more importantly, its their responsibility as nobles to try and reign in the Kings ambitions. So Sir Chaffee would have to remain here, and Stewart would have to cut his vacation in Warren short to rush back. But with how things were right now, Bizon, Mebett, and Gurre could be ordered to act as sacrifices at any time. So the safest option was to have them live with Ellis and the other girls in Warren for now. The first time the girls visited they had flown to Skycastles western gate to enter the city. Next time they would be flying to Marsfield first, traveling alongside the Duke, and entering through more normal means. Okay Sir Chaffee, we wish you the best from here on. Yes, everyone, please take care of Bizon and Mebett for me. And tell Stewart to not hurry. He should return to Skycastle using a regular route and arrive back here as if nothing is wrong. The fact that the other nobles know he and I are close to Warrens Dragon Maidens is already a step against us. But before this I went ahead and spread the information that Gurre is returning home with my wife. Theyre both sisters after all, so no suspicions should be raised if they hear that the two of them have headed to Wheat Grace to visit their father. Sir Chaffee rattled off a few additional notes to Ellis and the other girls with a smile while giving his beloved wife and daughter a farewell hug. Everyone moved through the citys suburbs just before dawn had risen, avoiding any wide open spaces or prying eyes that could cause even more of an incident. Bizon and Mebett would be traveling via Pi-tans barrels along with Ellis on their way to Warren. This method left the least amount of strain on a normal persons body and would allow the two of them to get some rest on the way there. Ellis would be riding with them to act as some extra moral support for Mebett who was still shaken from the nights events. Frau would be riding her dragon while Reeve and Katie would be riding Su-chan. And then contrary to how everything had started, the dragons slowly flew off into the sky so as to not make a single sound. CH 155 Fortunately the efforts of Duke Marsfield to link up each city with the Howling Plush Toys had never been reported to the castle. The current network ran from Sir Chaffee in Skycastle to Duke Marsfield in Marsfield, then down to the Warren Councils Chairman Maria for Warren, and Leopold hanging on the end for Wheat Grace. Finally there was Ares and Izerina for Wisdom connected to Marsfield. Only these four lines were up and running. There were also the private lines between all five members of the Jewelry Box and Mebett, but those were only set up because of Elliss copy abilityCa fact that would remain secret. It would take at least a day and a half for the Kings royal decree to reach Marsfield normally, and then an additional two days for the news to reach Warren, Ceramics, Wisdom afterwards. So at the very least until then, Maria and the girls had to go about their days as if they didnt know what was going on. As a matter of course however the other guild masters Baltis, Theseus, and Flint were all clued in to the situation as well. Once the girls had returned to Warren, it was decided that theyd keep Bizon, Mebett, and Gurre hidden as much as possible, so they would continue to stay inside the annex for now. Meanwhile Stewart had immediately understood the meaning behind Sir Chaffees instructions, so he immediately gathered up his subordinates and headed back to Skycastle by carriage while acting as if nothing was wrong. A six day trip awaits him. News of the decree should make its way to Marsfield in a day and a half, and in a normal situation it would take the Duke a full day to get all the preparations together to leave. After that would just be the three day trip to Skycastle. If it was just the girls and their dragons by themselves, then they should be able to arrive at Skycastle in just a quarter of a day. So they had around five days to themselves to prepare as much as possible. When everyone arrived home, Gurre came out from the guest house to greet Mebett and Bizon. From there Ellis gave the three of them a grand tour, showing them around Elliss mansion, the annex, the toilet, their personal entrance into the bathhouse, and told them all to act as if it were all their own home. Is it fine to act a little spoiled then? Big Sister, Im so happy. Thank you for the offer, but I have to ask, whats the reason for all this? Considering that had happened over the night, it would be too much to just tell all of them to enjoy a nice vacation. So Ellis gave them an answer. Its really important that we have the three of you live a leisurely life. Right now you arent here for protection or to hide. Youre enjoying a fun-filled vacation in Warren. This is all part of your husbands cover stories and will help with what they have to do in Skycastle. Bizon and Gurre were transfixed by the serious expression on Elliss face. To think this was a face made by an eight year old girl, not to mention their surprise about her way of thinking, the accuracy with which she handles directions, and her extraordinary attitude in the face of danger. The two of them were starting to understand why she was the leader in a group of dragon riding warriors. Then I shall do just that, Ellis. Understood Big Sister Ellis Thank you for your help, Ellis. The three girls were convinced and were willing to put everything they had forward in trying to seriously enjoy their time in Warren. All of the sudden, Ra-chin started yelling in a hysteric voice. Ah, its coming off! Ellis, take me to the western hill so I can change back to my normal form! What are you shouting about when were busy!? I need to go back to my original form soon, and everyone can see what Im talking about then! Although annoyed and doubtful of what he was saying, the girls still accompanied Ra-chin over to the western hill. Ra-chin continuously urged them all to hurry it up all the way there, and when they finally did, his patience could no longer hold out, immediately transforming back to his original, giant form. There, so Ellis, take a look underneath my left arm. While wondering what the point of all this was, Ellis got on her hands and knees and crawled underneath Ra-chins front right leg. And, hanging off of Ra-chins body was some translucent, light gold object almost a full square meter in size. Ive started molting. Anyways, it itches, and I want your help getting it off. Ellis, peel it off. The other girls and dragons joined Ellis underneath the giant lizard and started tearing away at the Earth Dragons scales. The dragons especially were very talkative during this rare sight and kept speaking up to their respective maidens. I think its amazing that this guy chose now to do this dont you Reeve? This Dark Mithril looks like it might disappear if you take your eyes off of it Frau. Annoying, without any magic flowing in it this stuff is just a lump of stupid, stiff scales Katie. Ah, Claire, I just remembered how to manipulate the flow of magic. Every last one of them with the exception of Pi-tan at the end had their eyes bugging out. .. So, perhaps, this, can we even process this? Ellis tried calmly asking Pi-tan while holding up the pile of translucent metal in both her arms. Pi-tan took a small glance over at Ra-chin who had now returned to his lovely form before giving everyone a response. When you really think about it, its all just a lump of magic. None of the girls really knew what he was talking about, but the dragons were nodding their heads like it was natural. So, after molting Ra-chins scales will become Dark Mithril, but when theyre a lump of magic like this, we can change the magics flow to mold it into whatever form we like before it settles. The dragons all continued nodding their heads, convinced with such an easy explanation. The girls meanwhile were left to their own, clueless selves. So then, I can just run magic from my right paw, to my left paw, and mold it. Do you get it? AH! Then it was you! Youre the criminal who used my scales to make a bunch of annoying weapons and armor! Ra-chin suddenly started angrily shouting at Pi-tan. It makes sense though. The only thing capable of piercing the Land Dragons hard scales is Dark Mithril. However, no human knows how you would ever fashion Dark Mithril into usable equipment. And yet somebody had to have made Elliss stiletto, Reeves katana, Fraus halberd. Not to mention all the added magic that seemed to have been added to Katies Brave Ripper. Well lets not mind such small details Ra-chin. So then any ideas on what we should have made with this Dark Mithril? Perhaps a magic wand for Claire? The dumbass dragons fallen silent! Well maybe you want to take this outside! *GON!* Ellis and Frau shared a look before nailing Pi-tan and Ah-nyan upside their heads before they could start a fight. Pi-tan quietly started talking to the other dragons while rubbing the sore spot on top of his head after being forcefully calmed down. Ra-chin, Su-chan, Fe-rin, Ah-nyan, did you guys notice about Mebett? Meanwhile the girls were busy talking among themselves not paying any attention to the dragons whispers. So then, this Dark Mithril Each of the girls had managed to at least understand the conclusion from what Pi-tan was saying, and they were all brimming with anticipation at the possibilities. Claire more so than any of them. Both the dragons and the girls were completely engrossed with what they were talking about, yet they were both able to wrap things up at the same time. Awesome Pi-tan. So, I suppose Claire and Pi-tan will be spending most of the next five days holed up in the Workshop Guild? Leave it to us Ellis! Naturally Ellis. Claire, we have a big job to do! And so everyone scattered to make preparations for what was to come. Meanwhile at the Skycastle Thieves Guild. So thats how it is? The Skycastle Thieves Guild guild master gave Gise an annoyed nod. We were too late in noticing. The Thieves Guild no longer has any control over the darkness in Skycastle. But what about Peach, Dams, and Cliff? And how much information were you able to grab about that Nightmare Dragon? Not enough. We know theres something there. But whatever it is, it keeps slipping through our fingers. Theres nothing there on that woman Peach who calls herself a Dragon Maiden. She really is just some dancer from a bar, although she was apparently quite good at spinning a yarn that was pleasant to her clients ears. But now any interaction between the King and the castles spokesman goes through her. Honestly the Thieves Guild has just about given up hope on this. So then people are going along with this royal decree? It seems like most of the nobles are at least. And, this royal decree is dangerous, even for us who live in the shadows. If you think about it rationally, then this decree shouldnt give any benefits to the King or the royal family, and it could very easily lead to the King being overthrown. But until that time comes, the Thieves Guild will have to choice but to pretend to obey at the very least. You should avoid doing anything rash in the meantime as well. I understand, but I cant tell you how the Hero Gray is going to react when he hears all this. Ah, I dont have much in the way of expectations for that idiot muscle brain. But try and get him to avoid opposing the Sabbath out in the open at the very least. Gise nodded towards his masters words before making his way out of the Thieves Guild. CH 156 Please think of this place as a vacation home. Ellis once again told Gurre, Bizon, and Mebett to act as comfortably as possible before bringing them down to meet Ken and Hanna. Ken and Hanna here are the two people who have lived in this neighborhood the longest. The two of them run the cake shop down the street, but we also trust them to act as caretakers for our house from time to time. If ever there is a problem while we are away, dont hesitate to ask them for help. Ken, Hanna, greetings. Welcome everyone Ken and Hanna politely greeted the three after being introduced. Currently Hannas grandmother Rhonda and little sister Nina were helping in the store and with the morning prep work for the cakes finished, the happy couple were experiencing a little extra free time in their day to day lives. Especially Ken now that there was never any need for him to act as a coachman for the Jewelry Box. In the afternoon you could often see the two of them traveling to the different stores in Freedom Promenade, helping them to make any needed adjustments. Kens hair had finally started to grow back from his Hyaaha days, and he was beginning to look like the fine young man only wanting to help out his city that he was. Hanna was the only person the Jewelry Box girls trusted with a key to their mansion, and she would be the one to make their beds or tidy up whenever they were away. From Elliss perspective, these two were her first servants, but to the rest of the people in the neighborhood, Ken and Hanna were the first success story brought on by Ellis Finance. Big Sisters, since its a good opportunity, how about having a walk around the city and enjoying a meal together? Youll have a fast pass anywhere inside Lily Garden or Freedom Promenade, although I suppose that wont really apply to anywhere further in town. Here, take this money with you in case you need it in the rest of Warren. Reeve handed over her wallet to Bizon and Gurre. But there was one part of what Reeve said that didnt fully register with the two sisters. So Bizon just came out with it and asked Reeve. What do you mean, having a fast pass? Reeve turned towards Ken looking a little troubled. And not being nearly as reserved as she obviously was on the matter, he had no problem answering their question on Reeves behalf. Everyone who lives in Lily Garden and Freedom Promenade owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to all the Jewelry Box girls. Thats why we would never do something as absurd as asking for payment from one of their relatives. Reeve quickly added on looking embarrassed. But Grandpa Fel got a little too excited once which is why it became a set in stone rule that he must always pay. Thats why, if youre ever with him, theyll probably make you pay as well. Gurre and Bizon unintentionally spurt out a small laugh while wondering what their grandfather could have possibly done. And at the same time, any thought that their prodigal younger sister would end up like him faded away. We understand. Ellis, everyone. Well be sure to enjoy a fit of luxury suitable for nobles of Skycastle. Gurre answered the five girls with a smile. And the girls gave her a smile in kind. It would be some time later that Bizon and Gurre would end up completely dumbfounded at the amount of money that was in the wallet they had been given. The next day Bizon and Gurre went out into Warren and enjoyed the sights together. Gurre was already pretty well known around the city as the woman who had promoted Skycastle liquor up on the special stage during the carnival. But even then, as Lady Bluegreens older sisters, granddaughters to the Teaser Eel, and most importantly of all, the Golden Mistresss guests, every store they visited treated them like kings. The two of them were constantly being surprised no matter where they visited. Not just because of the reputation that the Jewelry Box held, but because of the high acclaim these stores held for the members of the Jewelry Box themselves. For instance, at the cafe where they enjoyed breakfast in the morning, a tough looking male shopkeeper passionately praised the taste of Fraus cooking to them. They saw a morning stand-up routine at the live house, and the comedian ended up calling out to the two of them after the show had ended. He spun them a yarn all about how he had picked up his comedy act after watching Katie pulling jokes wherever and whenever she could. According to the catgirl owner, their lunch set at the Steamed Kitchen would apparently have never been possible without the machines Claire had built. They stopped by a casino that had looked interesting, and a woman wearing a tight skirt, white blouse, black vest, and a bow tie came out to thank them for all the help Reeves regular patronage there had created. At one point they took a break at a tea shop to try and get out of the heat for a while and talked about just how big of a presence Ellis and the other girls held in this city. At a nearby table was the Land Dragon that had formed a contract with Ellis, but it wasnt moving at all, apparently too preoccupied with basking in the steam that wrapped around his nose. Reeve and her friends sure are loved. And Im sure they love this city too. Bizon and Gurre, they had grown a little jealous of their delinquent, runaway sister who had come to this city instead of getting married. But, those thoughts didnt last long. They both knew it would be impossible for them to help a city to grow like this one has. In addition, they were both quite happy with the lives they had managed to build for themselves by leaving home to be brides. By the way, what about Stewart? Are the two of you looking to have any children? Im still only 20 after all. Im hoping to have two of them. And you? Yes, I hear its ideal to have a girl first and then a boy, so Im aiming for a son soon. And so the two sisters happily enjoyed their talk over a cup of tea, laughing about their good fortune. Now the only person left was Mebett. The six-year-old girl had bluntly told her mother at the time, I want to spend time with my Big Sisters, so Mother should enjoy the city along with Aunt Gurre. Bizon was a little worried, but seeing Mebett cling to Ellis and the knowledge that Reeve would be with them too allowed her to relax. Is everyone in the Jewelry Box sure about this? Itll be just fine, Ellis gave Bizon an answer while making an innocent smile, but for some reason the other four girls didnt look too sure. However, Bizon was unable to tell their anxiousness from their expressions alone. On the other hand, Ellis re-awoke to something she had long forgotten because of how busy she had always been ever since waking up in this world so long ago. Lolis are the best Elliss smile was absolutely radiant as she took Mebetts hand into her own. However there were a number of things thatd be impossible to do in broad daylight. And it would be impossible for Warren to start up its own Sabbath. So with Mebetts hand still in hers, Ellis started to guide Mebett around the city. Reeve and Frau followed close behind with justifiably worried expressions. By the way, Claire was completely focused on her work and immediately made for the Workshop Guild in the morning. Katie isnt the type to worry about other people, so she and Ah-nyan in his beastman form staggered off in some other direction when everyone separated as well. Hey Mistress, Id really appreciate it if you remember that Mebett is only six. Ellis, I really dont think its a good idea to try andstimulate Mebett too much. From behind the two smiling girls, Reeve and Frau quietly whispered in Elliss ears. Shut up. I know! With the two of them having seen directly into her soul, Ellis did her best to object at least for appearances sake. As for Mebett. Perhaps because of the faith she put into the hand currently holding her own, she was able to enjoy the sights of the city without any worries at all. The carefree smile of a little girl. Ellis was getting excited having new prey after such a long time. Can I have Mebett returned to my room? and then as if sensing that something was wrong, Claire sent out a message on their Howling Plush Toys. Ellis let out a deep sigh, bringing the doll strapped to her waist up in front of her face, she responded back without bothering to hide her irritation. What is it Claire? Whats with the rudeness Ellis? Youre with Mebett right now right? I need to confirm her aptitude with something, so bring her over here. Claire had shut herself inside the Workshop Guild with their new Dark Mithril. Naturally Pi-tan, her dragon and the only known being able to alter the flow of magic and thus forge that Dark Mithril, was with her. Ive already drawn up the blueprints. I just need to increase the affinity as much as possible now to decrease the amount of MP it will take. Claire was saying a bunch of things on the other end of this doll that Ellis didnt understand, so all Ellis could say in response was, I got it. Well come over now. It took them a while to get back to the mansion and Claires workshop, but as soon as they got there, Claire walked over to Mebett, giving her a ring and a palm-sized prototype Mogemoge-kun. Mebett, would you mind focusing on your ring to move this child? Yes, Big Sister Claire Mebett had played with other versions of Claires palm-sized Mogemoge-kuns before, so she was already adept at moving the small golem using her mind and its controller ring. And sure enough the Mogemoge-kun rattled to life just like normal. As we thought Thats right Claire Yet Claire and Pi-tan shared a confirmation with each other as if they had just figured something out. Claire then handed Mebett a different ring. Mebett, are you able to read anything off of this ring? Mebett took the ring from Claire and tried focusing on it just as she had done with the one for Mogemoge-kun. Almost a full minute had passed before a technique suddenly floated in her minds eye. Big Sister Claire Claire and Pi-tan smiled. Yosh, then well finish up the rest. Ellis, you can go back now. Youre not going to explain anything to me Claire? You can hear all about it when its done Ellis. Look forward to it. Neither Claire nor Pi-tan would give Ellis an inch, but trusting that the two of them knew what they were doing, Ellis left the Workshop Guild with plenty of time left in the day. CH 157 A great chance. The last time Mebett visited the mansion, she was with her mother and grandmother. Back then she was also wary of Ellis as it was their first time meeting, but right now Mebett wouldnt leave Elliss side. Ellis had already suggested that Bizon and Gurre try having fun with the nightlife in Freedom Promenade as well. Mebett had already told her mother and aunt in the afternoon about how she wanted to spend time with her Big Sisters, and the two adult women would naturally want to stretch their wings considering everything thats happened. Ellis tried to use that. You just have to visit Masquerade and Trans Happy as well. Why not go there for dinner after enjoying a bath. I will give you a key to our door, so you can go directly to your rooms when you come back. Well be sure to watch Mebett while youre gone. Bizon and Gurre couldnt find it in their hearts to turn down Elliss offer. Mebett, Mother is just going out with her sister for a bit. Mebett, Im just going to borrow your mother for a little while. Yes Mother, Aunt Gurre, see you later. And so after enjoying the hot water baths of Lily Garden, the two sisters went back out into Freedom Promenade. The two women wouldnt return for a while. Ellis chuckled to herself like she had just won some game. And standing beside her was the adorable girl with light brown hair tied up into two bunches and similarly colored light brown eyes that Ellis was now in charge of watching. That night at the dinner table. Frau was sitting on Elliss left, Katie on her right, Reeve was sitting in front of her with Claire in the seat to Reeves left. So far the seat to the right of Reeve had remained vacant, but Mebett was now sitting there as if it were natural. But Mebett was still just six years old, so it was a simple matter for her to cut through the housess unwritten laws. Dont you ever change seats? Katie was all too ready to jump onto this bandwagon. She was the only one of the Jewelry Box girls who was dissatisfied with her seat. That was because Frau made the meals and was always helping Ellis with her food, so Katie spent most of dinnertime looking at the back of Elliss head. Thats right nya, regular seat changes are a must nya. However the other three girls were satisfied with their seats, so even the idea of switching was ridiculous. Although for Mebett, the seat she had taken was the one furthest from Ellis that shared Katies problem of having to look mostly at the back of Elliss head. For her, any other seat would be better than this one. If you want to switch, then switch with someone else who wants to, Reeve muttered. Thats right. Its important to have free choice, Claire continued. And then Frau finished with the sharpest stab of all. If youd like to switch seats Katie, Im sure Mebett would be willing. No, that doesnt make sense nya. Katie was quick to try and change the subject, but Ellis was currently crazy about lolis and thought it was a good idea. Yeah, Mebett, come on over here. Katie, switch her seats. Nobody can disobey Elliss instructions. So Katie, albeit reluctantly, switched seats with Mebett. The three other girls were all relieved, but two of them would end up regretting their words. Ellis completely adores Mebett. And now with the switch, Frau was stuck looking at the back of Elliss head like Katie was before. And Claires seat had suddenly become the worst seat at the table. On the other hand, Katie could be described as quite lucky now that she was able to enjoy Elliss bright expression as she talked with Mebett. And so, the six girls all finished their supper and moved to the baths with the dragons. And once again Ellis was getting excited. Mebett, do you want me to help take off your clothes? Big Sister, I can take off my clothes by myself. But, I want you to help me take them off. Mebett tried retaining some of her dignity by insisting she could do things on her own, yet she still entrusted herself to Ellis and allowed her to do whatever she wanted. Ellis took her time pulling off each piece of clothing. Each button on Mebetts cute blouse was its own event before pulling back the sleeves. Her lovely skirt was pulled down slowly, and Mebett raised her arms up high so that Ellis could pull up her white tank top. Finally was just the panties. Big Sister Ellis, this is really embarrassing, Mebetts cheeks had gone a vibrant crimson noticing Elliss gaze. Elliss head had risen to the clouds, so she hastily coughed to try and regain her senses. Mistress, Mebett is going to catch a cold. Reeves bitter tone caused Elliss senses to return to her completely, so with Ra-chin in her right hand and Mebetts hand in her left, Ellis entered the bath. The other four girls grew depressed thinking about the future. Meanwhile the dragons really didnt care about such things, so they all walked over and started fighting over the hot spot in the tub like usual. Ellis enjoyed washing Mebetts back so much she decided to wash the rest of Mebett as well using plenty of soap. Elliss excitement rose more and more when she heard Mebetts innocent giggles from how ticklish it was. Lets go to bed early tonight. Ellis spoke to herself quietly enough that nobody else heard her as she finished washing herself quicker than normal. Mebett, do yo want to sleep in my room with me tonight? Id love to Big Sister! Ellis took Mebett over to her room before the other four girls had even finished their own baths. The other girls depression hit an all-time low. Mebett moved around the bed a bit. The way it swayed felt nice. And then, Mebett turned to Ellis and asked her something with a look as if she had finally come to a decision. Big Sister.. Mebett? What is it? UmI.could you do to me what you did to Big Sister Reeve? And there it was. Ellis had dug her own grave. Ellis adored Mebett with all her heart. She was really cute, and Ellis wanted to cuddle up with her like a fluffy teddy bear. But that was it. Its not like she was looking for a relationship like what she already had with Reeve and the others. Is it no good, Big Sister Okay um, when Mebett becomes a woman, Ill think about it. When is that going to be? When you become able to have children. I understand, Big Sister. For tonight Ill hug you, so come get some rest. Ellis gently held Mebett close. Mebett meanwhile wrapped her arms around Elliss back and buried her face into Elliss chest. And after a few moments, Mebett drifted off into her dreams. Cute, so cute Ellis decided to enjoy this warm, cuddly ball of joy all night, praising herself for having mastered the essence of loli love. But. Mrooooooooowr.. Mrooooooooowr Katies strangled cried began echoing inside the mansion. Next, a quiet voice began coming out from the Howling Plush Toy Ellis kept at her bedside. Mistress, do you no longer need me? And then someone began knocking on her door. A thin voice no louder than a mosquitos buzzing reached Elliss ear. Ellis, arent you going to bully me tonight? And finally Ra-chins voice echoed inside Elliss mind. Oi Ellis, Claire is down here crying next to Pi-tans bed. Also, Katie is really noisy, so can you take care of this? Uuh. Ellis carefully climbed out of bed to avoid waking up Mebett. And then she walked over to the doll, Just you wait because Im going to torment you tonight, And then she walked over to the door, If pig women want to be fed, they should patiently wait in their room. She then moved downstairs, and receiving a bitter look from next to Pi-tans bed, Please wait for me in your room, and gently asked for patience. All right then, I suppose I should start by shutting up that stupid cat. And so, the nights normal activities started up. White screamed out, Blue moaned, Red writhed around, and Black flew up to heaven. At around that time Bizon and Gurre returned back. Ellis was just finishing up, so she went over to the other house to greet them. Welcome back Gurre, Bizon. Dont worry, Mebett is sleeping in my room with me tonight. The two women were wondering what such a young girl like Ellis was doing awake this late into the night, but they had such a fun time at Trans Happy that they didnt ponder on the thought for too long and just gave Ellis a smile. After that the three of them wished each other good night and made their way back to their rooms. Now then Ellis giddily returned to her room, this time knowing for sure shed be able to enjoy her small, warm human teddy bear all night long. Just as Ellis was about to climb back into bed, Mebett whispered, Big Sisters, I love you all. Ellis hugged Mebett closer and tighter than before as she slowly drifted off to sleep. CH 158 The vacant lot behind the Workshop Guild. The girls brought Mebett here with their dragons sticking close. Its finished Ellis. After a short wait Claire came out from the guild building with a tiny Pi-tan on her head and something small in her hands. It was a small doll and a ring. Ellis took the ring from Claire and then slid it on Mebetts thumb. If the ring starts to get tight, move it to your middle finger instead. I understand Big Sister Ellis. Claire then put down the small doll in the middle of the lot. The doll was a brilliant, pale gold, and its shape resembled that of a fully grown Chaos Dragon. Claire then turned back around and gave Mebett a few instructions. Mebett, send your thoughts through that ring to the doll the same way you would Mogemoge-kun. I understand Big Sister Claire. Mebett covered the ring on her left hand with her right, the {Command Golem} spell silently echoing in her mind. Thereupon the doll began to glow in a pale light and slowly grew bigger. Oh! The girls voices echoed. It looked just like a slightly slimmer Pi-tan. It was about half Pi-tans size, but it still stood at over three meters in height. Mebett dumbfoundedly stared at the dragon as she mentally sent over an action. Following her thoughts, the dragon slowly began to walk. Mebett turned back towards Claire who was looking at her with a smile. How is it? Ive named this child Mechanized Dragon Shaped Golem-kun Made from Big, Hard, and Shiny Dark Mithril. Claire was still awful at naming things, so Ellis cut into her presentation. Make it shorter. Wouldnt shortening it to just Mechanized Dragon be better? Ignoring Claires complaints, Ellis went ahead and renamed the golem. She then turned to Mebett. Mebett, from now on use this dragon to protect yourself. Yes, thank you! Ra-chin spoke up and asked Claire from Elliss back. Hey Claire, is Mebetts spirit linked to that toy dragon now? Mhm, they were connected just now. Su-chan followed up with a question from Reeves chest. Do you have any weapons Mebett? But Mebett naturally shook her head. Nothing right now. But if this is made from Dark Mithril, maybe itll give me some magical abilities I can use as a weapon? Or else I thought I could just rely on Ellis. Hmm. If its made of Dark Mithril then probably. Fe-rin whispered over towards Claire and Pi-tan who were both making strange faces. Was that idiot dragon even any help to you in there Claire? Id expect not from that has-been Metal Eater. From around Katies neck Ah-nyan tried to pick a useless fight with the Chaos Dragon. Whos an idiot dragon!? Hey, oh!? Pi-tan looked like he was about to fight back, but then it looked like he suddenly remembered something. He turned back towards Ra-chin. So you finally noticed? Ellis, can you put me down? Whats up Ra-chin? Well, just wait a sec. When Ra-chin was lowered to the ground, the other dragons all came down as well and gathered around him. The dragons then had a little meeting. All right then weve all decided. Mebett, have the Mechanized Dragon lie down there for a bit. Following Ra-chins instructions, Mebett brought the Mechanized Dragon back over to their group and set it down in front of everyone. From there, Ra-chin climbed onto the golems head while Su-chan flew up to its back, Fe-rin perched on its nose, Ah-nyan hung down from its chin, and Pi-tan climbed onto its tail. And now! With Ra-chins voice as the catalyst, each of the five dragons started to shine. A sparkling gold Land Dragon. A glittering blue Storm Dragon. A shining red Phoenix Dragon. A beaming white Frost Dragon. An engulfing black Chaos Dragon. The girls watched with bated breath. After a few moments the light began to dim and the shine subsided. And once whatever was going on had finally finished completely, Ra-chin called out to Mebett. How about it Mebett, did any new techniques appear to you? Yes, its really amazing Mister Land Dragon! What? What is it? What happened? I feel some kind of pressure. Perhaps this.. Nya~ Su-chan boastfully responded to the five girls queries. We gave our special abilities to this doll. Ra-chin had bestowed on the Mechanical Dragon a dragons thoughts. This was an ability that would allow the Mechanical Dragon to think and act as Mebetts dragon, in other words the ability to think and act on its own. Su-chan had given the Mechanical Dragon a dragons flight. It would allow the Mechanical Dragon to fly through the air. Fe-rin passed on the dragons blessing. This did nothing for the dragon itself, but now Mebett, who has a spiritual connection to the dragon, would be able to ride on a dragons back while its flying through the air. Ah-nyan passed on the dragons breath. With it, the Mechanical Dragon would now be able to use its own Hailstorm Breath attack. Pi-tan gave the Mechanical Dragon the dragons blow. There was now more strength behind any strikes with the golems tail. Just a minute! Is it okay to put in so many abilities? Wont it put a burden on Mebett!? Each of the girls started shooting off questions towards their dragons. Its fine Ellis. Were just sharing our own abilities, so it shouldnt put a burden on Mebett. Thats right Reeve. And dont worry, Mebett already has the qualities to become a Dragon Maiden anyway. Frau, it looks like Mebetts spirit was strengthened quite a bit after that kidnapping incident the other day. She showed real guts not backing down from those demons. Even if youre worried Katie, she just needs to be able to handle this toy after all. She wont be able to form a contract with it since its not a real dragon Claire, but it should still work out for Mebett since shes connected to the golem with {Command Golem}. And then the Mechanized Dragon opened its mouth. The girls all jumped. Mydragon..? Mebett slowly walked over to the Mechanized Dragon. When she got close, the Mechanized Dragon lowered its head as if wanting to be pet. When Mebetts hand touched the top of its head, the golden sheen of its metal body looked like it started to shine a little. Ra-chin then started talking from behind her. {Change Human} and {Permission Size Change} should be usable as well. Why not give them a try? Mebett did just that and released the dragons size allowing it to shrink back down to a size comparable to its original doll-like form. Come here. Following Mebetts instructions, the Mechanized Dragon happily flew up off the ground and towards Mebett. It grabbed onto a necklace that Mebett had been wearing and settled as if it had become a piece of jewelry. It was a heart-warming figure. Mebett lifted up the Mechanized Dragon in the palm of her hand and stared at it for a while with a bright smile on her face. So, youre going to have to name it. Ka-kun. Ellis went ahead and suggested a name similar to everyone elses dragons, and Mebett nodded her head. Yes, I like it. From there Ellis suggested Mebett try using Ka-kun a bit to see how it moved. Ka-kun, {Reset Body}. When Mebett shouted out the spell, the Mechanized Dragon leaped from her necklace and returned to its larger size. Tail Attack! Under Mebetts orders the dragon swung its tail, crushing some nearby boulders that had been gathered after a single attack. {Hailstorm Breath}! Once again the dragon followed Mebetts command, the Mechanized Dragon opened its mouth and spit out dozens of small spears made of ice. The spears pierced through another boulder, and a second later, ice began growing around the rock, encompassing it in an icy tomb. Next, Mebett climbed up onto the golems back. Fly! The Mechanized Dragon started to flap its wings. Its movements were a little discoordinated at first, but it eventually managed to even itself out and then increased the speed of its flapping. Slowly the Mechanized Dragon finally began to lift itself off the ground. Mebett looked fine from her place on its back, and it didnt look like she was in any danger from falling or being jostled around from the movement. Claire, fire a couple of {Fire Bullets} up at them. Claire called up to Mebett to warn her first, but then she did as Pi-tan suggested and shot off a couple {Fire Bullets} towards the Mechanized Dragon. The spell hit, but not only did it not do any damage to Ka-kun or Mebett, it didnt even cause them to budge from the spot they were hovering at in the air. It should be fine with that. Its flight is stable as well. The barrier it uses to protect Mebett is definitely working as well. It should be able to handle even a Great Demon if it needs to. Each of the dragons gave out their own input while watching the newly build Ka-kun fly around with Mebett on its back. And so Mebett was able to successfully become a sixth dragon rider. She wasnt quite a Dragon Maiden and lacked any form of oath however, so she still had the option of marrying someone of the opposite sex when she gets older. CH 159 Mebett coming over while riding Ka-kun the Mechanical Dragon certainly surprised Bizon and Gurre at first, but as expected, they got used to it pretty quickly. Bizon especially liked the idea of a Dragon Maiden daughter with her own dragon because it meant she, Already has a good enough dowry for her wedding. The citizens of Warren loved Pi-tan in his cute miniature form, so after being shown a new one with a slightly more metallic sheen, they werent going to say anything against it. At most, A light brown was added to the Jewelry Box, there was just a simple recognition of the facts. Of course, the most excited for this new Mechanical Dragon were the members of the Workshop Guild, Flint included. When Claire and Pi-tan had brought in that lightly shining material nearly a meter in area a few days ago, let alone knowing what it was, nobody at the guild could even tell whether it was a rock or a metal. What they could tell was that it much lighter than it looked, yet it was harder than steel. While being worked on it had an amazing elasticity and rigidness to it, and no amount of cutting, whacking, or shaving produced any changes to the material at all. Even when the blacksmiths got Claires permission and threw it in the furnace, there were no changes. The same was true for when they gave it an acid wash and used a grinding agent as well. Claire, could you give us the answer soon. Flint just couldnt figure out what the material was. No, there was one possibility that did come to mind, but he had brushed it off as impossible. And so Claire decided to give the other guild members a small hint to help them along. This is a scale from the Land Dragon he molted off. Well, do you get it now? No way, this is the raw material for Dark Mithril!? Correct! As expected! Claire responded with a smile, confirming that the answer Flint had given, the one he had dismissed as impossible, was in fact the right one. But in response, the other guild members were left speechless. After a moment had passed, Flint asked Claire with a trembling voice. But, you cant process Dark Mithril. What are you going to do with it? We~ll. Thats where I come in! On Claires behalf, Pi-tan let out a proud voice from on top of Claires head. When youre turning a lump of iron into a sword, you have to melt it with heat, temper the edge with a large hammer, shape the mold with a gavel, and then finish cooking. Seeing everyone nodding, Pi-tan was satisfied with the serious expressions on all of the listening guild members. So for Dark Mithril, while you cant melt it, you can soften the raw materials by altering the flow of magic through it. No training required after that. The softened material can be easily cut apart or stretched, so youd shape it to your needs here. The key here is that your raw materials should be about half the size of what it is you want to make. Why is that? one of the members of Claires Carpenters raised his hand. Leave all questions to the end. Now when you go to harden the Dark Mithril raw materials, that will take a much stronger magical flow then what you were using before. Nearly eight times what you were using before which will cause the materials to absorb a large amount of the magic, and it will end up about twice as large in both width and length. This is one of the big reasons why Dark Mithril weapons are so light despite their size. Its also important to know that you cant alter the flow of magic in Dark Mithril again after its already been hardened once, so trying to adjust its size or put on any finishing touches afterwards will be impossible. Everyone get it? The Workshop Guild members were starting to get excited after hearing Pi-tans story, especially the younger members of Claires Carpenters who looked like they were about ready to jump at the scale she had brought in. However Flint alone was standing back, his arms crossed and a frown on his face. I understand the method. However, altering magic flow isnt as easy as you make it sound. Flints point was natural. Although magic flow is the foundation of sorcery, its a mechanism that isnt fully understood. Current day magicians have devised methods to use spells based on records that have survived since days long past, so itd be accurate to say current day sorcery is derived off of older sorcery which initially examined the flow of magic. Most people know almost nothing about the fundamentals of how magic flows. And so once again from on top of Claires head, Pi-tan puffed out his chest in pride. Well actually, my entire body is made of magic. So I have to alter the flow of magic just in order to move. Understand? They didnt. Um, so for me altering the flow of magic comes naturally. So as a test, let me run a little through this and break off a small piece. Jumping off of Claires head and taking his human form, Pi-tan grabbed one edge of the molted off Land Dragon scale with both hands. All right Pi-tan whispered to himself, and the luster in the Land Dragon scale began to fade. Go ahead and hit right along the edge there. With Pi-tans permission Flint struck the material, and to his surprise, it felt as soft as if he were working with pure gold. Its not quite on the level of pure gold, but you should still be able to mold it easily. And with a chunk this big, I think you should be able to do quite a lot with it. Claire pulled out a blueprint as Pi-tan spoke. It was the drawing for a dragon-shaped golem. I dont know how well a Dark Mithril golem is going to stretch, so we should try building some mini Mogemoge-kuns first. Then we can tackle the real project. Claires Carpenters stared at the blueprints as if they were some valuable stolen art. And then all eyes moved to Claire. Claire, let us help too. Of course everyone! Lets do our best until its built! Claire had enthusiasm enough for all the rest of her carpenters. After producing a couple of mini Mogemoge-kuns, the guild members were able to find out just how extraordinary expansion/contraction ratio is for a golems made with Dark Mithril. So when creating a golem using normal metal, the expansion ratio of 8, with your base model shrinking in half after becoming a golem, and then having a finished product twice as big as your base once activated. In other words, a golem made from some kind of metal like iron would have its doll become four times as longer and four times as tall once activated. So for example with a general Gorgon Golem, the base metal would be a meter long. Once it is turned into a golem, it would turn into its little figurine doll form which would be half its original size at 50 centimeters long. But then once that figurine is activated, youd have a cow golem standing 2 meters long. However the expansion ratio for the Mogemoge-kuns made with Dark Mithril ended up being 1000. So in other words if your base materials were 10 centimeters long, then the completed golem figurine would end up being a single centimeter long, and the activated golem would be a full meter. Thus the dimensions for the Mechanical Dragon were able to be determined. Claire decided to have the finished figurine sit at a tiny 3 centimeters while the finished product would stand 3 meters tall. For the record, the mini Mogemoge-kun they made to test out the Dark Mithril wasnt very mini anymore, so it was donated to the Workshop Guild as TS-kun No. 3 Premium And so the Mechanized Dragon Shaped Golem-kun Made from Big, Hard, and Shiny Dark Mithril was able to come into existence through all the efforts of the Warren Workshop Guild. However, Claire didnt give the guild this new technique {Create Dragon Golem} like she had done with Mogemoge-kun. That was because the required mp for this spell far exceeded what almost any human would ever be able to have. It took 40 mp to make this golem, and it would have been impossible for her to have made this without the 30 bonus mp she got from her Awakening Ring and Spirit Ring. Claire, couldnt you sell this {Create Dragon Golem} as a new spell? In a certain sense, Claire managed to work her way around Flints question. This, wouldnt be possible without Pi-tans help. Yeah, I suppose youre right. Its hard to imagine a bunch of these out in the world anyway. Flint showed a convinced smile. Rather than that, its everyones bonus round! The bonus round was when all the members of the Workshop Guild would get to use whatever was leftover from the Land Dragon scale after after it had been punched full of holes for the Mechanized Dragon Golem to build whatever they wanted. Pi-tan had agreed to help them with altering the magic flow, so each member got to decide for themselves what it is they would build. After pondering and discussing things among themselves, they decided to go with a making some mallets and a couple kanna knives. There had never been any Dark Mithril carpenter tools before. After the last tool had been hardened and finished, the leader of Claires Carpenters brought up one last thing for Pi-tan to finish. We wanted to give this to Claire and Pi-tan. This holds the feelings of everyone here. What Pi-tan received was a delicately crafted ring with a black diamond inset. The members who worked on this had clearly put in a lot of time and care to make sure the gem would fit into the finished product. A Dragon Maiden is a dragons thing right? One of the younger members of Claire Carpenters asked a question making it clear why they were giving this to Pi-tan rather than Claire herself. Claire doesnt belong to me. But, Ill be sure to give this to her on your behalf. Pi-tan gave everyone a wink while making sure that Claire hadnt noticed what they were doing away from her yet. Once the material had all been worked through and everything cleaned up, everyone gathered around to watch as Pi-tan slid their ring onto Claires finger. The Workshop Guild guildhall was filled with the cheers of its members. For the people of the Workshop Guild, rather than any kind of battle goddess(valkyria), that figure of Claire holding the ring on her finger close with cheeks bright red in embarrassment was much closer to that of a blacksmith goddess. CH 160 It was a day before they were to meet up with Duke Marsfield, so Ellis and the others were preparing for their departure. Their goal this time was to secure an audience with the King. And then on the spot theyd confront the royal palaces Guardian Dragon and confirm the true identity of this Nightmare Dragon. This time were just confirming the situation. Sir Chaffee had reported that the kidnapping incident with Mebett was treated as the robbery/murder of a noble family in Skycastle. Demon corpses whither and turn to dust after a certain amount of time passes, so there was no trace of them anywhere in the mansion by the time the authorities arrived. The bodies of the attacked aristocrats were never discovered either, probably devoured by the demons. However because of that the incident had an indefinite conclusion and remained on the lips of the Skycastle populace. I dont want to get involved with anything thats going to be too troublesome. To be honest, Ellis didnt really care about Skycastle. Shed much rather be playing over at the Western Fishing Village(temporary name). From Elliss back, Ra-chin spoke up. Well dont say that. Just knowing there is a third power outside of the Demon King and Hero factions is going to shake things up. Knowing what he said was right, Ellis sighed yet relented. While the girls were busy getting everything ready, Bizon came over from the annex and walked over to Claire. Claire, you have a visitor. Okay, Ill head over now. Dropping what she was doing, Claire walked over to the annexs front entrance to greet her guests. And then raised a surprised voice when she saw who had arrived. Father, Mother! How did you know I was here? Ares and Izerina were standing at the entrance to the annex and greeted their daughter with a smile. Ah, we stopped by the Adventurers Guild and heard about this place from Theseus. By the way, Im not going any further than this, Ares said with a laugh. Youre fine coming into this building. But be careful. Men are forbidden near Lily GardenCfathers included. If you arent careful, you might end up naked and hung out to dry! Ares was given a warning about something terrifying from his cute, smiling daughter. After being invited in, Ares and Izerina were introduced to Bizon and Gurre. By that time all the rest of the girls had dropped what they were doing and ventured over to the annex as well. Bizon and Gurre, mindful of the situation, left after a few minutes, saying they were going out for tea together and would be at the Tea Room. And so all that remained in the room were the members of the Jewelry Box, the married couple, and Mebett. Ellis, and everyone, its been a while. After another greeting from Izerina, Ellis invited the couple further inside to the living room. The reason for their visit to Warren was originally to teach Claire some new magic, but on the way, they heard a lot of worrying stories, so this trip would also be for setting up countermeasures. One such story was about the rapid deterioration of security in Skycastle. Also while the frequent attacks by demons on the surrounding towns and villages has stopped, there were now frequent cases of adventurers suddenly going missing inside labyrinths. A couple of things came to the girls minds at the news. The fact that demons had stopped attacking towns and villages meant everything had gone exactly as they planned there, but the news that demons were sticking around in labyrinths to attack adventurers was outside of their expectations. What will Father and Mother be doing in the future? Claire asked her parents clearly worried, and Izerina answered with a gentle smile only a mother could make. To start we are going to set base in Warren again. By analyzing the {Runaway Dungeon} spell you gave to us before, were finally able to understand the structure behind Ring of Return and can now teleport from a dungeon to a specified magic circle. Ring of Return are sets of rings and scrolls that were discovered early on during labyrinth exploration, and while it was discovered fairly quickly that you could use the Ring of Return to teleport to a magic circle made by the discovered scrolls, nobody knew how to set up the magic circle. But that was before Izerina got her hands on the {Runaway Dungeon} spell which allows somebody to teleport to just outside the labyrinth during exploration. Here it is Izerina set out a few rings and scrolls out on the table in front of her. It takes 8MP to fix this scroll into a magic circle at the target location, but once it is set, your whole party can teleport back to the magic circle for just 1MP. We will be setting one of these up in Warren. The spell for this is {Return}, but otherwise a normal Ring of Return would work just as well. Then Ares picked up a specific ring that looked different from the others. And this is a specialization of the barrier magic I designed suited for demons. You can use either the spell {Isolation}, or this new Isolation ring I developed. Once used, any demon-type monsters will be repelled from the user. However it requires 7MP to use, so its not something that can be used repeatedly. All sorts of thoughts were running through the girls heads at this new spell and tools. Since Ellis and the other girls can ride their dragons, the time saved with the new {Return} spell would be less than others, but they definitely wanted it for their families. Grandpa Fel would be especially pleased. But would it be enough for Ellis be the only one with an Isolation ring and just have Claire learn the spell? As everyone continued doing the math in their head, Izerina let out a small cough to gain their attention again. For a moment, the inside of the room calmed down. Well then, on to the main subject. Claire, what are those finger puppets you have hanging around your waist? The faces of the Jewelry Box girls all turned an instant shade of blue. Mebett was the only one who didnt understand what was going on and was still sitting there happily swinging her legs back and forth. Oh, uh, this is. Also Claire, I see youre wearing three rings. What is with those? Claire didnt know how to respond to Izerinas questions. So Ares hopped in from the side. Youve never been one for jewelry before Claire. So then.Ellis. During my research, I found records describing a type of documentary ability. So Ellis, have you ever heard about the Copy ability? The girls suddenly grouped up together, performing a group huddle where Ares and Izerina couldnt see them. But Ares and Izerina followed after them, popping into their little huddle while grinning. Its fine, well keep your secret. I do have mixed feelings about having the stuffed doll that takes a whole day for me to make being so easily replicated though. Izerina started going on about her frustrations, but she was still smiling as she did it and gave Ellis a little wink. And so Ellis started to think. At this point it would be very hard for her to convince them she didnt have the ability to copy magic tools. But in order to prevent her more dangerous ability, the one that allowed her to use any magic tool without expending any MP, from leaking out, she decided to confess just a little of the truth. Yes..I woke up with this ability one day when I turned eight years old.. Motherthese are Grand Magic, Awakening, and Spirit rings. Ares and Izerina were convinced by the face Claire was making. And they nodded. They could understand why the girls were hiding this ability. It would be easy to imagine that Elliss life would be in danger if this kind of ability were to be made public. Plus, the ability was almost useless on its own. If danger were to rear its head, she wouldnt be able to just copy her way out of it. Thats what we thought. So, go ahead and copy as many of these Isolation rings and Rings of Return as you need. Afterwards Claire, Ill teach you the transfixing magic technique I developed. As long as its beginner level magic, you should be able to create your own magic tools, so try it out later with Ellis. Ares and Izerinas words were unexpected for the girls, albeit very appreciated. Why though? Is it really all right to just give away something so important? While Ellis was grateful for the twos kindness, she still needed to confirm their intentions. But Izerina happily replied. We took a walk around Warren before coming to visit you, and we immediately noticed how much more developed this place was since we were last here. We heard this is all because of your hard work, so we think it would be good to have some faith in your knowledge and abilities. The girls were still a little nervous, but the friendliness behind Izerinas kind words broke them down. They decided to trust Claires parents just as they were trusting them and gave their thanks. After that Ellis duplicated two Grand Magic rings and two Spirit rings for them to use. The couple graciously accepted. In addition, Ares suddenly noticed the pendant sized Mechanized Dragon Ka-kun Mebett was wearing over her heart and immediately asked her to activate the golem in the backyard. Mebett did as she was told and activated Ka-kun, and for a moment, Ares fell completely silent. And then, What is this material!? How much MP did {Create Golem} use up to make a golem like this!? Father, I made it out of Dark Mithril. And as for the MP, I was only able to pull it off by using Grand Magic, Awakening, and Spirit rings all at once. After seeing the legendary metal up close, Ares went into full academic mode. Ares started asking all sorts of questions, and Claire did her best in answering all of them. Just like that the man and his daughter entered their own little word based on magical engineering. Behind them, Izerina whispered into Elliss ear. Who else knows about your special ability? Just Baltis from the Thieves Guild. I understand. Its a little too important to have Theseus leak it out. When it was time for Ares and Izerina to leave, they were to head over to the Magicians Guild building which at this point was an empty shell of what it used to be. Now that the couple was allowed to leave Wisdom whenever they wanted, they were going to make bases in both Wisdom and Warren. It was decided by the Magicians Guild Headquarters in Wisdom that Izerina would be appointed as the new guildmaster for Warrens Magicians Guild. For the record, Ares is already the vice guildmaster for the headquarters in Wisdom, so he refrained from taking a position in Warren. When the two had arrived at their new home, they opened the parcel Claire had given them before they left. After ripping away the paper, they found four small bags and a note from Claire. Father, Mother, these are a gift from all of us. Use them to help you move. They were all Adventurers Bags. Thesell certainly make moving easier. Ive had enough surprises today to last me a lifetime. Ares and Izerina recalled the five extraordinary girls once again before giving each other a smile and laughing together. CH 161 This was the Kings bed. As usual Peach, Dams, Cliff, and the Nightmare Dragon were making there plans from here. Hey Peach, since the ban on Sabbath has been lifted anyways, isnt the sacrifices are OK as long as you have consent part just overkill? If the King orders them to be a sacrifice, then they would be stuck choosing between agreeing or going against a royal order anyway. Peach answered the Nightmare Dragons question with a snort. Its good if we have the Kings decree be extreme. Generally, the King wouldnt recklessly name someone to be used as a sacrifice for a Sabbath. That fear of being forced to volunteer to be a sacrifice is a little bonus pressure were putting on the people. Complicated, so then I cant have my fill on young girls hearts? Peach rolled her eyes at Damss dissatisfaction. You wouldnt be able to just eat whoever you wanted even if you were still under the Demon Lords influence. Listen. The King has already allowed Sabbaths to be held, but theres no need for him to host one personally. Cliff, go to the Merchant Guild and set up a Sabbath Proxy Service in a back alley nearby. Got it. I can arrange it on my own. Cliff understood what Peach was thinking, and so he left with a wide grin knowing he was going to get to show his face at the Merchant Guild again after a long time. Yes, the King only needs to give his approval. But theres more to Sabbath than just eating little girls hearts that Dams is so particular about. The people are afraid, but once the initial chill passes, those with more twisted hobbies will start to move. At first theyll all keep each other in check. Theyll worry about what others would think. But then theyd hear about the Sabbath Proxy Service. Under this service Cliff will be able to host whatever themed Sabbath that the citys influential people desire while promising a level of anonymity. It might just start off as an orgy, or maybe it would be a simple SM show. And thats fine, at first. But slowly the requests will grow in severity. You just have to let the public slowly rot away. How long before somebody steps forward and says, I want to beat someone, or I want to cut someone, or I want to kill someone? Theyll start tormenting those weaker than them. Theyll start aiming for their political enemies. And what will arise will be a world of chaos, one where anyone can do anything they want. Dams should take a moment too, try enjoying yourself at someone elses Sabbath. Oh and by the way Nightmare Dragon, is our war potential fine? Yes, that Zakuroma is happily working away in the field even as we speak. When the time comes, we should be able to amass however much strength we need. Sounds good. If it ever comes to that, Id like to go all out anyway. Indeed. And so the days evil plans continued moving forward. Meanwhile in the southern suburbs of Skycastle. The girls had managed to meet up with Duke Marsfields party at the prearranged destination. The dragons had all already decreased to their miniature sizes and were now hanging off their respective maidens. Now then, what should we do? Duke Marsfield just came out and asked the girls for their opinions before they all entered the capitol. After hearing what you have to say about Sabbath, I cant think of it as anything else than the work of demons. In that case, isnt it fine if I just cut them down? Reeve, if you keep saying stuff like that, Ellis is going to scold you again. But, what is their goal here? The demons goal is probably just to create chaos, but I wonder if the Demon King is involved. Whether its a Hero or the Demon Lord, bad things are bad nya. Thats it nya. After hearing what all of the girls had to say, Duke Marsfield posed another question he wanted to ask. In that case, what do you think I should do during this audience. If the demons are relying on the King or his spokesman, then how about peeling them off and rounding them up in one go? Ellis thought about the Isolation ring Ares and Izerina had just entrusted them with. If the demons were manipulating the King or the spokesman to have their plan enacted, then perhaps forcefully separating them will help restore some sanity. And with the King and/or spokesman back to their senses, there would be no mess or fuss to just killing the demons then and there. Could such a move work? As Duke Marsfield allowed his hopes to rise for a moment, Ra-chin responded from Elliss back. Its no good. In short its a matter of mental preparedness. Even if we could separate them once, the demons could easily latch back on afterwards. Putting that aside Duke Marsfield, its more important that we have the Brave Party standing beside you when the time comes. Please make the arrangements. Ah Ellis, Sir Chaffee has already made those particular arrangements for us. They should already be waiting at the castle gate for us. Ellis was irritated. Irritated at the King, the Demon Lord, the Hero, all of them. Why do these guys have to cause problems in her life? Just as a test, Ellis tried asking Ra-chin a question through her mental link with him. What are the odds of us being able to just burn Skycastles royal palace down to the dirt? Ra-chin gave an immediate answer while a little intrigued by the question. One hundred percent if there was no Hero there. With a Hero, that falls to zero. After all, theres that large of a gap in ability? It cant be helped. Our attacks are just ineffective against that guy and the Demon Lord. Ah, no, there is one way. Whats that? If all five of us dragons were to use our full power at once against the Hero while Ellis and everyone else supports us with all your strength, we could hold the Hero down. And then Katie would get her shot to destroy either the Heros brain or heart in a single blow with her Brave Ripper. As long as she manages to actually destroy one of them in a single attack, he shouldnt be able to recover from that. Of course even if we do manage to kill him, well all end up dying from the battle as well. An unrealistic option then. Yeah What about the Demon Lord? The Demon Lords Mark is probably an item that restricts the Demon Lords magical powers for a time. If Ellis were to use it, itd be a gamble on whether or not our full strength would be able to break through the Demon Lords barrier in time. What are our odds? The same as beating the Hero. In that case our only hope is to have the Hero and the Demon Lord kill each other. If Ellis wishes hard enough Hmph Nobody else realized that Ellis and Ra-chin had just held such a conversation between one another. And so the girls ventured through the nobles gate into Skycastle once again. What is this!? These were Elliss true and honest feelings. Skycastle was definitely lively. Although, probably not in the way people wanted. Market prices for goods had already gone through massive inflation. Even the most simple of commodities had doubled in price since they last visited Skycastle. There was also a bunch of shady looking flyers posted around this way and that. They were all invitations for different Sabbaths, recruitment posters asking for volunteers to be sacrifices for a Sabbath. And rather than threatening anyone, they made it look so simple, like they were recruiting for a stage dancer or something. The reward was about the same as what a female hostess would make in a month. As expected Duke Marsfield was frowning as well. Hey Chaffee, whats with this scene? Its spread rapidly these last few days especially. Businesses have stagnated while an air of consumption has permeated. And this is the result. However, wont people quickly start to run out of money? Duke Marsfields simple question caused Sir Chaffees shoulders to drop. Its just as youd expect. In the blink of an eye the land taxes for each territory under the nobles has risen astronomically. Already theyre to the point where farmers wont be able to pay. Duke Marsfield sighed and his shoulders dropped as well. He was currently regretting his own naivety at just how seriously the demons would be able to erode the economy. Lets quickly go meet with my brother. The Duke had completely forgotten about his own position and the position of the King, heading straight for the royal palace simply so he could question his brother. The Hero Gray, thief Gise, and magician Marionetta were already standing in front of the royal palace waiting for the Duke to arrive. As soon as he saw them standing there, Duke Marsfield started pouring on the abuse. Oh my its the Hero Gray and his little Brave Party. Tell me do your hearts hurt seeing how Skycastle is right now!? His words dug in deep. Because the Hero and magician were always having so much fun with each other in Warren, they failed to notice just how bad Skycastle was getting. And the thief was doing what his boss at the Thieves Guild told him and kept pretending to go along with everything. Gray took a step forward representing the his party. Duke Marsfield, we apologize for the slowness of noticing this. But, we still dont know the cause. Which is why Im telling you to follow me now. Now come! The Brave Party meekly followed after Duke Marsfields angry shouting. But then Ellis walked up and approached Marionetta with a smile. Marionetta, long time no see. Are you in good health? Compared to the the Dukes anger, Marionetta was slightly taken aback by Elliss carefree attitude, but she somehow managed to return a smile. Yes, Ellis, every day is truly fulfilling. I see, thats good to hear. Now we should get our stories straight. Halfway through what she was saying, Ellis started whispering into Marionettas ear. Marionetta hardened for a moment after hearing that, but Ellis kept talking. All right, lets go watch a couple of brothers fight it out. Elliss words for some reason allowed all the other Jewelry Box girls to relax a bit. Well, it would be just another audience. CH 162 This is the audience waiting room inside the royal palace. Despite his angry outburst at seeing the disastrous state of Skycastle when he was out in the city, Duke Marsfield was managing to keep his cool now. If my brother really is charmed by a demon, then me trying to persuade him isnt going to do us any good. Thats not true. I think its just a matter of asking the King the right questions. Ellis tried easing the Dukes worries before going on to detail her plan, describing what both the Duke and the Hero should do during the upcoming meeting. Her instructions were sensible and clear which was why she earned such a strong look from Duke Marsfield and the Hero afterwards. Feeling their gazes, Ellis quickly came up with an excuse. Um, is what the Land Dragon thinks. Im just repeating what he said to me. The Hero nodded his head, seemingly convinced with a, Yeah, that makes sense, but the Duke still looked skeptical. But either way, her plan made sense to them, so they decided to go with it. Frau will act on our behalf this time. I was just thinking that was for the best as well. Leave it to me Ellis. For the record, at the time of this meeting Katie, Ah-nyan, Claire, and Pi-tan were once again crowded around the rooms coffee table while picking away at the bowl of exotic fruit sitting on top. Meanwhile Reeve looked like she was paying attention to their conversation while standing next to Ellis, but on closer inspection it was quite obvious she was just staring off into space as Su-chan snoozed away. His Majesty will see you now. It was a little while after everyone had finalized their preparations before the guards finally came to get them. Duke Marsfield took the lead with the Brave Party following close behind, and each member of the Jewelry Box alongside their dragons took up the rear. As each person walked into the audience chambers, they gave the waiting King a respectful bow. Once again there was a set of blinds set up in front of the throne hiding the Kings presence, but this time there was a man and a woman standing on either side of the partition. The Jewelry Box girls instantly recognized the woman; it was the former member of the Brave Party Peach. The spokesman was there as well, standing one step lower than the others looking very anxious. Your Majesty, thank you for granting us the opportunity to see you like this. And so, I would like to do away with the pointless formalities and directly ask my King. Why has Your Majesty legalized Sabbath? The Duke raised his voice with obvious ridicule in his tone. In turn, Peach beckoned over the spokesman and whispered something into his ear. When she was done, the spokesman turned back towards the Duke looking as if he had just bitten down on a worm. I will forgive you only this once for doubting a royal decree from the King because you are my brother. And as for the answer to your question. It is to stimulate our economy and strengthen the Royal Capitols residents. I hope you understand. Now I will answer no more questions. Nobody knew what to say. Despite everything that was happening, they had expected to hear at least a somewhat believable excuse. What they got instead was a complete mess. But as the spokesman said, any further questions were forbidden. The Duke reluctantly knelt back down, By your will, and gave the only reply that he could. Next was the Hero Grays turn, and he took a step forward towards the King. In the same breath Duke Marsfield fell back, taking a slightly crouching position next to Ellis. Gray took a glance at the blinds hiding the King before instead turning to the spokesman. Spokesman, when the Dragon Maidens first visited, it was proposed that we test out the dragons power against my own. As such, I would suggest that we test out the strength of Skycastles newest Dragon Maiden and dragon against my own as well. Im sure all of Skycastles residents would be able to sleep easy if they knew the strength of the dragon that is protecting them. The spokesman instantly understood Grays plan here and turned back towards the King with a light of hope twinkling in his eyes. The spokesman truly believed that the Hero would be capable of cutting away whatever this evil was that had attached itself to the King. But the answer the King gave completely drowned out that hope. Once again the spokesman turned away from the King after hearing his answer and addressed Gray with a difficult look. Hero Gray, this dragon and Dragon Maiden have already fallen under the Kings rule. So then, why is it necessary to show their power here? Dont you think its unnecessary as well? The Hero is our sword, and the dragon our shield..that is what His Majesty believes. But isnt it important to demonstrate that defensive power, if only to discourage an attack from the Demon Lords forces? Grays refusal to let this go caused Peach to frown and once again whisper into the spokemans ear. By now the spokesman had lost any hint of emotion on his face and spoke in an extremely business-like tone. Just the dragons existence inside the castle is already a deterrent to others, especially the Demon Lord. Just as the girls standing behind you do for the city of Warren. By the way Hero, between the royal capitols guardian dragon who serves the King just as you do and those dragons lending their name to an insignificant trading city next to you, whose side do you think you should be taking? Your body might be strong, but your head is clearly lacking. Maybe you should have the thief or magician do the talking from now on while you go ahead and learn a little common sense. Marionetta had to physically hold Gray back when he started trembling in anger, only able to calm him down after whispering into his ear, We have to be patient here Gray. Its all just part of the demons strategy. Despite the Heros current state, Duke Marsfield and Ellis were calm, quietly conversing with each other unnoticed. How is it? The King and spokesman are both human. I cant tell if a demon is possessing them though. Peach and the other man standing next to the King are both demons. The man is dangerous, but the one that has disguised itself as Peach is even more so. The soldiers surrounding us are all either under a demons sway or are demons themselves, but theyre all small fry. Killing them here wouldnt make anything better. So were going to have to go with strategy three here. Or so the Land Dragon says. Ellis relayed everything that Ra-chin was able to sense. Of course Ra-chin was just able to tell the humans apart from the demons. The plan itself was developed by Ellis. As a matter of fact, Ellis had drawn up three plans. The first was for the event that the the Dragon Maiden Peach or the King were being directly possessed by a demon. In that case they would use Elliss Isolation ring and Claires magic to forcefully separate the demons from their hosts. At that time they could kill the demons, restore the King to a right state of mind, and he could withdraw his decree. The second plan would go forward if the spokesman had been possessed as well. Similarly to the last plan, they would separate and kill the demon that had high-jacked his body. For this one, they would be able to get the decree at least suspended for a bit pending an investigation to make sure such a decree hadnt been influenced by a demon acting as the Kings mouthpiece. Strategy three was the least effective plan to be used in case neither the King nor the spokesman were being possessed. In this case they would take this opportunity to mark down every demon that had wormed its way into the castle and mark them down for later eradication. As for the case of Gray trying to provoke a fight, despite Grays best hopes, Duke Marsfield and Ellis had never thought it would actually bear any results. They had always intended it as a tactic to buy a little more time for themselves, so its failure did not bother them any. Its about time to pull back. Indeed. But theres still one last thing we should do. Frau, go ahead. On Elliss signal, Frau called out one last thing for the spokesmans ear. Spokesman, my contract dragon had quite the unpleasant experience when Peach tried forming a contract with it before, vomiting out ectoplasm and almost passing out. Please tell the royal palaces guardian dragon to watch out or else something like that might happen to him as well! It was meant to be a disturbance. Nothing Frau said was a lie. But, her words could be interpreted however youd like. It was meant to be a message for all the humans left in the room. A last minute stink bomb the Jewelry Box would leave behind to help raise doubts about the guardian dragons true identity. Naturally everyone who had gathered to watch these proceedings stirred. But considering how the flow of the conversation had moved so far, Peach didnt have the opportunity to give a rebuttal. Thank you again for sparing us your precious time Your Majesty. Duke Marsfield left after showing his older brother some obviously disingenuous courtesy. He was then followed by the Brave Party with the Jewelry Box girls taking up the rear. All that was then left in the room where groups of whispering humans, demons forced to bite their tongues, and an unresponsive king. CH 163 Duke Marsfield led the girls and the Brave Party to the villa he was staying in while in Skycastle. Well then Duke Marsfield and Hero, well leave the rest to you. Were just going to head home now. Hold on, dont be so hasty Ellis. Cant you at least give us some ideas. Eh~ For Ellis, there wasnt anything that interested her about Skycastle now that Mebett was safe, so it would be really weird to get involved here. But there was no way Duke Marsfield would let her walk away that easily. Annoyed, Ellis turned to Gray instead. Hero, what do you think about how Skycastle is right now? What is the Brave Party going to do about it? Gray was surprised to have Ellis suddenly turn and talk to him, but before he could say anything, Gise stepped forward and answered for him. I know it might not be the smart thing to do, but this is my home. I cant just sit back twiddling my thumbs as my home rots. What does the Skycastle Thieves Guild think about this? Frau asked. Gise hesitated, clearly troubled on how he should answer Fraus question. But after a moment, he nodded his head having resolved himself and turned to Frau. This isnt to be spread around, but Skycastles criminal element is in such a state of chaos that even our guild cant get a hold on things. The guild master believes a malicious third party is the reason for the Kings sudden change. So for the time being, the Thieves Guild will be following his directions only on the surface. Do you think we could get the Thieves Guilds cooperation in fighting against the Sabbath then Gise? I doubt theyd directly fight against it, but I might be able to convince them to give us some support at least. Ellis thought for a moment. Whats the best way to get this situation under control so she could hurry up and go home? If possible, it would be great if she could cause the Hero some extra trouble. And in the best case scenario she could sell a favor or two to Duke Marsfield. . Well whatever. Lets try this. Everyone made a different face when they heard Elliss plan. Duke Marsfield stiffened up. Gray looked worried about whether such a plan would work while Marionetta looked worried for Elliss sake during the mission. Gise was fine with everything and looked grateful for the effort. Meanwhile the other members of the Jewelry Box already had full confidence in any of Elliss plans and instead spent their time confirming their own roles in what was to come. And each one of them were making an evil grin. All right Gise, thank you for all your help in advance. And so Elliss harassment would begin. The next day. Cliff received a tip-off from a rat in the Thieves Guild while running his Sabbath Proxy Service. Apparently the Dragon Maidens of Warrens Jewelry Box were looking to infiltrate this area to find the demon behind all of the recent chaos in Skycastle. And so Cliff pondered on what to do. Speaking of Warrens maidens, it would be troublesome if the dragons they waited upon were to suddenly start acting out. And so Cliff decided to get more information about the situation from the Thieves Guild. That should be all I need. With the information he had bought from the Thieves Guild, Cliff had found out that a girl named Ellis who was an advisor for Warrens Thieves Guild had visited Skycastle for work and stopped by the guild hall. Her job here was just as the rat from before had said, to find out the identity of the mastermind behind Skycastles chaos. She would be heading out tonight in order to infiltrate the office of Skycastles Sabbath Proxy Service. In other words, she was coming right to Cliff. And with the secret nature of this job, it would be impossible for her to bring her dragon with her. After sorting through all the information and becoming confident with his victory, Cliff called Dams and told him about the wonderful idea he had come up with. Dams, how about switching up tonights event? It sounds like fun. Well be able to get plenty of money from those hedonists. By the way, before the main players come, let me get a turn. The girl dressed in spy clothing will be hung1 from the ceiling and left waiting. Anyway. We wont hear any complaints from the Thieves Guild even if we do sacrifice her. Then, I suppose we should save tonights sacrifice for tomorrow instead? Cliff and Dams shared a vulgar smile between themselves before gathering their subordinates and telling them to send a message to all of their customers. The main event for tonights Sabbath will be a wonderful surprise! Who wants to see a blonde Dragon Maiden hung low? The location will be Banquet Hall A. Admissions will be 500,000 ril per person. If youd like to attend, purchase tickets in advance at the Sabbath Proxy Services main office. For the record, 500,000 ril is ten times the normal price for a ticket. So then, should we hide a pawn demon just to be safe? Cliff was going to catch himself a Dragon Maiden and started excitedly planning for the nights entertainment. See you all soon. Hero, thanks in advance. Ellis changed into her Abyss leather costume, reconfirmed the equipment and magic tools with the other Jewelry Box girls, and finished her last preparations for her infiltration. Ellis, is it really fine for me to not go with you? Its fine Ra-chin. It would make me sneaking in way too difficult if I were carrying you on my back. And so leaving behind Duke Marsfield who was still looking a little worried, Ellis headed off for the Sabbath Proxy Services main office. Ellis made her way through the shadows finding herself at the Sabbath Proxy Service office without having made a sound. Soon Ellis climbed on top of the roof of a building three doors down from her target before taking another look at her target. A light was on, and you could see several people inside. Would she be able to hear what they were saying from the attic? Deciding it was her best bet, Ellis carefully advanced on her objective. Suddenly, Elliss field of vision descended into darkness. Welcome young miss. Someone had come up from behind Ellis and covered her mouth with a piece of cloth. The cloth was soaked in anesthetic, so while Ellis had managed to regain consciousness, she couldnt move. What a wonderful spy we have here, Cliff started gloating while tightening the cloth covering Elliss mouth. Oh, long time no see. Its Ellis right? Im glad you could join us today, a vulgar smile had spread across Damss face as he rubbed his hand along Elliss cheek. Ellis was paralyzed and couldnt put up a fight. The only way she could show even a small objection was by shedding a few tears. Unfortunately, those tears only served to excite the two all the more. This was the demons Banquet Hall A. A group of hedonists had already gathered at the venue, completely naked aside from the masks they wore to cover their identities, ready to indulge themselves in their little guilty pleasures. A magical potion had created a thin layer of fog in the room; the fog carrying within it an aphrodisiac effect that fully unleashed the hedonists desires. A brightly lit special stage was set up at the back of the venue with a row of torches lined up on both sides. This was where Cliff and Dams stood alongside a girl dressed all in black. Cliff used magic on his throat and with a voice loud enough to reach every corner of the room, he introduced his customers to the guest he had brought. Thank you for waiting everyone. I have here the wonderful Dragon Maiden that you are all so excited to see. As Cliff spoke, Dams pulled on a rope that had been tightly wrapped around Elliss wrists and raised her up towards the ceiling. As a result, Ellis was left dangling in mid-air in her all black outfit. So then everyone, tonights main dish will be Hung Dragon Maiden. To make sure everyone can enjoy the show, we hung her still clothed. This girl is currently paralyzed, but well be detoxifying the poison now, so please feel free to enjoy her wonderful screams of agony. As Cliff made his performance, the hedonists all gathered closer to the stage, their muddy eyes now glowing. The suspended girls eyes were wet with tears, and perhaps because of the effects of the anesthetic, there was a thin line of drool coming from the corner of her mouth. The hedonists all loved that appearance, and some had already eagerly started the orgy before the show had even started. Then lets get started. First off is the detoxification. The little girls body started convulsing for a moment as Cliff cast his spell. Once the poison had left her system, the suspended girl started to cry out. Please, please forgive me. Somebody help! Dams slapped the cheek of the desperately pleading girl with the flat side of a knife before holding it in front of her eyes. He then started taunting her in a vulgar voice loud enough that the audience behind him could hear. Little girl, this will be the knife that will carve away your flesh tonight. Please be sure to give me your sweetest voice as we go on. This uncle is really looking forward to savoring our time together. And dont think you can save yourself by biting off your tongue either. Well just heal it back on. Those in the audience grew strangely excited. Things were heating up, and calls to Strip her already2 began to echo inside the hall. Well then, heres the first cut! With the cheers of the crowd egging him on, Dams readied his knife to start tearing away at Elliss clothes. But at that moment a different sound came roaring through the hall, eclipsing the cheers from its guests. The front entrance to the hall had been blown open from a huge explosion, and a voice that anyone in Skycastle would recognize came forward. I am the Hero Gray, here to rescue the Kings guest! With those words echoing through the hall, everyone became quiet and turned their gaze towards the entrance. The Hero ignored the peanut gallery however and moved straight for the special stage. Tch, getting in the way at the worst possible time. Cliff clicked his tongue and voiced his complaints towards Gray under his breath. Hero Gray, you dare point your blade towards the good people of Skycastle!? Taken aback by the sudden accusation, Grays feet suddenly stopped. There was a moment of silence there, and Cliff used that hesitation to push forward. Hero Gray, the Sabbath is something the King himself has given his approval for. Its true that we didnt acquire this hung girls approval beforehand. But, in the end she is just some countryside girl. Dont you have your priorities backwards by attacking the residents of Skycastle for this one girl!? Those words left Gray petrified. And seeing that Gray had nothing to say in response, the gathered hedonists all relaxed a bit and started booing him all together. Get lost Hero! The Hero was overwhelmed by the sudden outcry from the people gathered around him. Hero, if you could please leave here. Just pretend you didnt see anything and be on your way. Cliff proudly brushed Gray away, confident with his victory. . Tch, useless. Dams turned around towards the soft voice he heard behind him. The suspended blonde-haired girl was still hanging there. However the tears that were supposed to be there had dried up. The girl was harmlessly hanging there, but those eyes of hers were that of a demon. Dams reflexively swung the blade of his knife at the girl. This girl is dangerous. There was some part of Damss brain screaming something of the such. The blade of the knife dug itself into the girls flesh. At least at first. But then Dams blinked and the girl was nowhere to be seen with not a single drop of blood decorating the knifes edge. At the same time, he suddenly noticed a pale, golden knife embedded into his chest. He could hear the cold voice of a young girl behind him. Were going with Plan B then. Of course Ellis had been caught on purpose. The paralytic didnt have any effect on her thanks to her several anti-poison magic tools. The tears, little bit of drool, beggingCall part of her act. Ellis had used herself as bait. She was famous as a Dragon Maiden and knew her presence would draw out all those who had grown to love the Sabbath. Undoubtedly there would be numerous aristocrats in the crowd. The only question was how would they move when Ellis was brought in front of them. Right now Ellis was the Kings guest. If some of them had tried to stop this, then there would be room for negotiation and understanding. But if the Sabbath were to go on just like that, then the Hero would burst onto the scene and force the event to end using his authority. The organizers and patrons would all be secured before Duke Marsfield himself would drag the culprits in front of the King. This would greatly weaken the growing darkness in Skycastles aristocracy. If you cant get the King to renege on his order, then they would just have to legally cut away the symptoms. This was the strategys main goal. But the Hero was even more useless than Ellis had thought. So there was no other choice but to go with the backup plan. The one where they kill every single person in that room. Ellis had managed to disappear into Dams shadow from her bindings thanks to the Abyss skill of her clothes, and gave the rest of the Jewelry Box girls their orders before piercing Damss heart with her Mad God estoc. 1. When they say hung here, they are actually referring to a way of serving food where the chef ties up the food, like say a spit roasted pig, and then slices off portions of the hung dish and distributes it out to the guests. 2. The word here they use can mean either strip or kill. CH 164 On Elliss orders, Reeve and Frau came rushing into the hall alongside Su-chan and Fe-rin while in their human forms. Ra-chin in his human form followed closely behind and immediately sent out a telepathic message telling Ellis to jump into his shadow. Gise and Marionetta came in last taking up the rear. Ellis yanked out her Mad God estoc from Damss back, clicking her tongue when she realized her weapons insta-kill effect did not proc, and jumped into Ra-chins shadow. She remained hidden inside her dragons shadow as she continued giving specific instructions to the others. Frau and Fe-rin, rush to the stage! Draw the attention of any demons that appear and take them down! Reeve and Su-chan, block the entrance! Kill anyone who tries to escape! Ignore any pleas for mercy you come across! Marionetta, go grab that dumbass Hero! Gise, you stay here and support Reeve! As Ellis was making her plans, demons had already started appearing from among the hedonists. Some of them had been possessing a human and had materialized after releasing their hosts while others were merely masquerading as humans and had now shed their disguises. Up on the stage, Dams had stood back up, brushing off the fatal-looking attack Ellis had dealt him, and now showed his true form as a large, intimidating demon. Cliff once again started shouting at Gray. Hero Gray! Dont you dare put your hands on the people of Skycastle! He then turned his gaze back towards the stage. Dams, we can manage if its just the Dragon Maidens. Ill keep the Hero confused while you deal with those women! Cliff then ran over to where Gray had been standin alone and in a daze since a while ago. He grabbed the Heros shoulders, violently shaking him while yelling in his face. Hero, you shouldnt be here! You are the Kings sword. Everything will be fine so long as you pretend you didnt see anything, as long as you dont ask anything! Do you understand what your duty is? Cliffs words threw Grays mind into complete disarray. Why was he here like this? What was everyone trying to do? What was he supposed to do? As the Hero remained confused and uncertain on what should be done, the demons that continued to pop out from the woodwork one after another had begun rushing Frau. Come at me all at once! Frau freely wielded her Dark Mithril halberd near the stage; the demons bodies putting up no resistance as its blade sliced through anything that got close to her. It was an instant death, unlike the blades of flame Fe-rin was conjuring which burned the flesh of any demons that got close. As the demons were all attacking Frau, the other hedonists who really were human all ran to the entrance, screaming in fear and trying to escape. But there were two monsters even more heartless than a demon standing there waiting for them. Reeve and Su-chan had their blades at the ready. The first hedonist to the door tried offering Reeve a 500,000 ril bribe, but her Dark Mithril katana mercilessly sliced through the mans throat before he could finish his offer. Every hedonist, whether they be from a noble family or a wealthy merchant, were cut down one after another. Su-chan was creating blades of wind, and any hedonists that got close were instantly turned into mincemeat. It was an absolute death sentence. Elliss instructions had been very clear. Kill every single person in that room. Reeve and Frau were both intent on following those instructions to the letter. The screams of the damned hedonists echoed inside the party hall as a picture straight from the bowels of hell was painted with their blood.1 Meanwhile the Hero had yet to move from where he had been rooted since all this began. His mind was still in complete chaos over what Cliff had said. He couldnt figure out what he was supposed to do. He was supposed to kill the Demon Lord, but most of the people here were still human. And they had already seen that the King hadnt been possessed which meant that the legalization of Sabbath was a true royal decree. Didnt he have a duty to follow His Majestys orders? Gray, what are you doing!? Marionetta had arrived at his side and quickly started scolding him. The chaos ringing in Grays ears subsided slightly as he was able to turn his head and focus on the woman he loved. Marionetta, I dont know what Im supposed to do here. Then in that case lets get out of the way and at least not become a hindrance to the Jewelry Box. Miss, Im sorry for the trouble! Its fine Marionetta. I didnt expect anything from that dumbass Hero anyway! Gray didnt feel anything even after being called a dumbass. The only thing he was able to perceive was the girls battle as it unfolded right in front of him. Tch! Cliff clicked his tongue. He had managed to stop the Hero, but those Dragon Maidens were far stronger than he had expected. That female sorceress right in front of him was an annoyance in her own way, but he knew that if he so much as laid a hand on her the Hero would go into a rage. In that case Marionetta, take the Hero with you! Youre under the Kings orders as well, so remember! You didnt see anything; you didnt hear anything! Cliff shouted out his veiled threats to make sure the Brave Party remembered that to go against him was to go against the King before running in the direction of the stage. The party hall had already become a sea of blood. Frau had almost completely cleared away all the demons that had attacked her, and any of the leftover human hedonists were killed by Reeve and Gise. Dams, were retreating! Dams jumped away from where he was fighting Frau and ran forward to meet up with Cliff . Ra-chin, dont let them get away! Ra-chin started shooting out rock bullets towards Damss large frame, but the few pawn demons that were still alive jumped into the attacks trajectory. They sacrificed their own lives to cover Dams and Cliffs escape. When they met each other at the center of the venue, Dams picked up Cliff and grew a set of large, black wings from his back. A powerful gust of wind slammed against the ground after a single flap from his wings, and the duo flew away out from a high window. Its regrettable, but well have to settle this another time! Until we meet again ladies! Cliff gave one last taunt as he disappeared into the night sky. As his voice faded away though, Claires sounded off from the doll on Elliss waste. I have eyes on something that just left the hall. Should I take care of it? No, its fine Claire. We should take care not to shed too much blood out in the open. It stinks that they were able to escape, but for now it would be for the best if you prepare the finale. A few minutes later, the Jewelry Box girls and their associates were the only people left alive inside the assembly hall. Okay Gise, Marionetta, shitty coward Hero, lets get ready to head back to Duke Marsfield. Gise gave Gray a hard glare in line with Elliss words while Frau and Reeve offered him only a passing cold glance. Meanwhile the man himself was numb while Marionetta gently pulled on his hand to get him to follow. All right Claire, were clear. Now give us a show! Roger! Pi-tan was hovering in the air above the venue with Claire riding on his back. The two of them had been waiting there this whole time in preparation to destroy any evidence of what had really happened there that night. This could have been accomplished by simply setting the building on fire, but it really was for the best that it be destroyed as flashily as possible. Here we go! {Lightning Flash}! And there were few spells as eye-catching as {Lightning Flash}. It was a spell that brought down a powerful bolt of lightning accompanied with a flash of light capable of making even the dead of night as bright as a midsummers day. A destructive spell used almost exclusively for sieges, its bright light served as the signal to attack for many famous battles in the past. The bolt of lightning caused the halls ceiling to collapse, filling the night air with the loud crack and explosion of wood splintering and stone cracking to match the spells bright light. And now {Flame Storm}! {Flame Storm} was a widespread tempest that covered a large area in swirling fire. It was another spell used mostly for siege battles that swallowed and scorched everything in its effective range. Thanks to {Flame Storm}, the building hadnt just caught on fire, it erupted into a full pillar of flame that shot up towards the sky, threatening to singe the very air around it. And lastly we need a fire extinguisher. Your turn Pi-tan. Got you Claire. {Black Ball Breath}! Pi-tan released his breath attack, shooting out a small black ball that gained in size and mass as it accelerated towards its target. The impact the ball made from crashing into the ground sent earthquake level shockwaves while extinguishing the flames and crushing what little had remained of the building. The next morning the Skycastle residents would worriedly gather to find a scorched pitCeither the result of a Gods wrath or the Devils scheming. Everyone was able to return to Duke Marsfields home without incident. Reeve and Frau were basking in the adrenaline that came out from getting to go wild and kill some demons after such a long time, so they were feeling a lot more lighthearted and didnt share in Elliss sullen mood. Walking in after the girls was Gray, who was looking like a stone statue with all his blood drained as it was, and Marionetta who was anxiously holding on to his hand as they walked. Gise held up the rear, visibly annoyed. I see, so the title of Hero wasnt enough to put an end to the Sabbath. Yes Duke Marsfield. If the trash Hero had been a little more forceful, we would have been able to force our way through without having to massacre everyone, but because he couldnt do anything when it was really important, our hands were forced. Cliff and Dams managed to escape, but since we already knew about them anyway, its not that big of a loss. Our biggest issue from now on is this rotten Hero. I never knew he was so gutless. Duke Marsfield didnt have a reply as Ellis continued to come up with new insults to mercilessly barrage Gray with. Miss Ellis, our apologies. Marionetta tried apologizing on Grays behalf although her small voice was barely audible. Gise on the other hand wasnt quite so calm. Even if Ellis forgives you, I wont. Gray, retire from being the Hero! Move to Warren and spend the rest of your life living off of Marionettas work. Gise thats. Marionetta wanted to say something, but her voice inevitably trailed off. Moments passed and a stifling silence settled. Until, Were back nya! We have a big haul here Ellis! Katie and Ah-nyan came bursting through the front door full of energy. Ah, welcome back. How was it? Making a complete about-face, Ellis gave Katie and Ah-nyan a wide grin while welcoming them in. Were pretty sure this is a customer register nya. Its a record of every Sabbath held. The contents are a gold mine. The two gave Ellis a large stack of documents. Ellis rifled through them and handed over a list of customers to Duke Marsfield when she found it. This is awful. Nearly half of Skycastles nobles have already become customers. News will spread after tonights massacre that quite a few names on that list will have gone missing. The castle should be fun tomorrow. Youre right Ellis. Well, a little confusion should be inevitable, and hopefully the interest in Sabbath will wane. So what are those other documents then? Different records for the Sabbaths that have been held so far. You can have them, but Ive found something interesting first. After shuffling through the papers and pulling out a specific sheet, she smiled and walked over to Gray. She shoved the document at the top of the pile right in front of Grays eyes and pointed to a specific line on the page. This page gives information about the sacrifices that have been used so far. Do you recognize the name of the village that this little girl was taken from? The Hero was an empty husk with a vacant stare that barely passed over the paper Ellis was holding in front of him. But when Gray realized what it was that Ellis was pointing to, a little light returned to his gaze. No thatswhy.my village? Marionettas face froze when she peeked at the document herself from next to Gray. The page was filled with the names of different little boys and girls who had all been taken from the very same village Gray had grown up in. Gray recognized many of the names written on that list, so he went on to read everything written there following the kids names. Everything from how the children were taken, tortured, processed, and inevitably sacrificed were written there in excruciating detail. The room froze over. But then Katies voice wildly broke through like a pick through ice. I forgot nya! Uncle Marsfield, you have to come with me to the guards entrance nya! Thats right Katie! We wanted to talk to Ellis about something special we picked up! Duke Marsfield and Ellis both followed Katie and Ah-nyan out of the building as the two of them bolted back to the mansions security office. Meanwhile Frau, Reeve, Claire, Gise, and Gray continued reading through the leftover documents Ellis had left behind, each one of them sharing the same grim frown. I can barely stand to look at this. Each one of these kids had consent from their parents, but none of these people would have been able to do anything if a noble had put even a little pressure on them. This is too cruel. Oi Gray, what do you think seeing all of this? Gise tried throwing another barb towards Gray, but the Hero didnt hear him. The pale, wax-like expression he had on before had given way to bright hot anger that only grew with every word he read. Gray Gise, Marionetta While I was wondering what my duty waswhile I was thinking I just had to kill some demons, the kids from my village were Open your eyes Gray! What have we been fighting for? If the Jewelry Box hadnt killed all those brutes, how many more victims do you think there would have been!? Who are you supposed to be the hero of!? Gray started to shake. He jumped to his feet, biting his lip and clenching his fists. He really needed something to hit right now. BIG BROTHER GRAY! And then suddenly a small shadow jumped into the room from the front door. That shadow immediately ran towards Gray and clung to his waist. Eh, what, youre The cat brother and sister saved me! But, I dont know where everyone else is! Big Brother Gray, we have to find them! It was a young girl from the same village as Gray who looked to be about the same age as Ellis. Most likely she was brought to the capitol with all the other children. If Ellis hadnt faked her capture to become the nights sacrifice, then this girl would have probably been in that room instead. We found her crying in the offices basement, so we brought her home with us nya. But we didnt know she knew the cowardly Hero. Big Brother Gray isnt a coward! Hes really strong! The girl had turned into a blubbering mess when she had found out Gray was there, but she was still able to sharply chide Ah-nyan when she heard him bad-mouth the Hero. Thats right, thats right, thats right.. Gray continued to mutter the same words under his breath as if repeating some kind of charm. After a moment he took a deep breath, finally steadied himself, and turned towards everyone else. Ladies, Duke Marsfield, Gise, and you too Marionetta. Im sorry. Today I saw our enemies as people and didnt know what to do. But those things in there werent human, and Ive resolved myself. Im the Hero, and the Hero is supposed to protect the people, not kill whoever the King orders. And I will never forgive them for the people the Sabbath has hurt. Marionetta buried her face into Grays back, leaking an excitedly joyful cry while Gise nodded his head finally satisfied. Well then well leave you to it. Please take care of things here Hero. Ellis moved to make her escape, figuring her work was finished where the Hero was concerned. She moved to where the other Jewelry Box members and dragons were and tried hurriedly pushing them all out the entrance. Ellis, be ready for me to call you as soon as something happens! I cant hear you! Ellis shared one last exchange between herself and Duke Marsfield before she was able to sling Ra-chin across her back and jump on to the waiting Su-chan. Then lets go home! From that day on the Hero would appear at any Sabbath, legal or otherwise, cut down the participants, and save the sacrifice. It was an action that caused the nobles to shake and fear as the commoners grew to cheer his name. Those children the Hero rescued would find protection under Duke Marsfield with the boys supposedly taking up roles as the Dukes guards and the girls training to be apprentice maids. But after all this time, the Hero had finally come to be seen as a Savior to the people. 1. I always love translating parts like this. Reminds me of my ninth grade poetry unit. CH 165 This was an incident that occurred while Ellis and the others were busy in Skycastle and were away from Warren. In front of the Merchant Guilds signboard, you could see a small girl confirming the job postings for the day. Would she be around the same age as Claire and Credia? She had straight gray hair that looked a little messy, a thin body as thin as a bean pole, and ragged clothes that would definitely be difficult to compliment. But, there was something about her eyes, like the strength of a beast on the hunt. When the young girl had finished reading all the offers posted, she let out a bitter sigh. That was because every job listed there had the words Guarantor required scrawled across the bottom. Things had started getting a little dangerous since the Merchant Guild started offering numerous new jobs within the ever-growing Lily Garden and Freedom Promenade, so often times new positions would require somebody to vouch on your behalf as a sort of character test. But this girl had never been told about such a thing before now unfortunately. After all, she didnt have anyone who could have told her in the first place. Haa, Im hungry. The young girl had traveled to Warren all the way from Marsfield on foot. One day she was suddenly told that her Mother and Father had both died. An acquaintance of theirs was ordered to act as her guardian, but for some reason that decree was rescinded not too long after. That person hadnt hesitated for a moment. The second they were able, they abandoned her and went off to Skycastle on their own. The girl tried finding work in Marsfield, but thats not something that could be easily found with her status. However she refused to ask for any type of help or see if there was any other kind of decree her lord could give to help her. She was already fed up these decrees. After all, it was because of a royal decree that her parents had died. So the young girl decided to head to Warren, a well known trade city. Surely there would be a job there for her. The girl sold off the few possessions she still had for the trips expenses. Even after selling everything she owned however, she didnt have enough money to get a carriage ride over, so she was forced to walk the way instead. But the young girl was confident in her physical strength, and despite her young age, she had enough skill to be able to protect herself if a monster attacked her. In the end it took her less than a week to make it to Warren all the way from Marsfield. But reality wasnt as sweet as she had hoped. The girl sat down on the cold dirt and sighed once more. At that same time, Goro Meiko, one of the gachihomo Muscle Brothers passed by. In recent days the fashion style that says, Ive been living out of an alley for a while now, had grown increasingly rare in Warren, so Goro noticed the little girl sitting in front of the Merchant Guilds message board right away. Feeling slightly concerned, he walked up to her. Pardon, but is something the matter little girl? Being so suddenly called out to, the girl almost jumped out of her skin. Turning to look at Goro, she immediately rose to her feet and offered a simple bow. Sorry, Ill leave right away. At the same time, a monstrous growl resonated from the girls belly. Her hands quickly flew to cover her stomach as if that would somehow mask the noise. Are you hungry little miss? Instead of giving an answer, the girls face turned a deep shade of red as her head turned downwards. Okay then, do you like fish? Too surprised by Goros words, the girl nodded without realizing it. Then follow me. I know where we can eat some delicious fish. And so the girl was taken to the Revitalizing Home for a hearty lunch. Revitalizing Home. Its the gachihomos paradise, but that doesnt mean its all gachihomo, all the time. Men like Goro had chosen to live their lives a certain way, full of fire and certainty. They say there isnt a gachihomo out there who does things half-heartedly which is part of the reason why so many of them are so unnecessarily well-toned. But on the other hand, the reputation for Revitalizing Homes fish dishes had become famous, and while there were many people who were interested in trying out these exquisite dishes, most of them werent sure if they were allowed to eat out at a gachihomo bar when they werent gachihomos themselves. As such Revitalizing Home would become just the Revitalizing Fishery during the lunch hours. Goro helped in managing the store and was responsible for creating the stores menu as well. Table for two shopkeep. Oh, welcome Goro! Hoh, and visiting with a woman today, how strange. An energetic clerk wearing a happi jacket greeted the two of them as they entered. Of course the clerk was a true gachihomo as well. Goro guided the young girl to the front counter before taking a seat next to her. What do you recommend today? Today we have fried rice straight from Ceramics topped with either the Miss Ellis special C fried shrimp and white sauce for a refreshing spice bowl, or the Miss Frau special C pickled fish and different seasonings for something a little more spicy. Hmm, okay, which one do you want? Goro turned to the girl and asked her what she wanted to eat, but as the girl sat there with her mouth open, it became unclear if she had heard anything the cook had said. What, do you like fried rice that much? At this question the girl started excitedly nodding her head. All right then shopkeep, get us two of each. For some time a silence fell between the two customers. The girl would glance over at Goro every now and then, but Goro never looked back. It didnt take long for the food to be cooked and two bowls to be placed in front of them both. Careful now. The fried shrimp on the piping hot bowl just came out of the fryer, and I dont want you to burn yourself. The girls eyes became as round as the bowls placed in front of her. A fragrant smell rose up alongside the steam from one of the bowls. Some kind of food had been coated and bronzed before being laid across a bed of rice. The other bowl had dashes of crimson sprinkled throughout and a glistening slice of fish laid out on top. It was the so-called tempura and tekkadon. Mm, they look delicious. Lets dig in. Ah but shopkeep, bring this girl a spoon. Goro noticed how strangely the girl was staring at the chopsticks she had been given, so he asked for her to be given a spoon and waited for her to dig into her own food before he started on his. The girl used her spoon to cut into the fish fillet, carrying it to her mouth. The outside was sour and a little spicy, but the juicy meat in the middle had a sweeter taste. Between how tasty that first bite was and just how much her stomach was grumbling, the second and third bites came much quicker until she was wholeheartedly scarfing the dish down her throat. The bowl was licked clean in an instant. Next up was the one with the fried fish. Once again the girl used her spoon to cut into the crispy fish on top first. The crispy fried outer layer felt just as she had expected it to on her tongue, but the soft, fluffy inner layer that was exposed after she bit into it surprised her. The sauce that had been used to coat the dish was also sweet and delicious, complimenting the rest of the rice well. This dish she made sure to take her time on, savoring every bite and taking the time to chew her food. By the time the second bowl had been emptied, the girl was stuffed. Her nerves finally settled, and she was able to get over her anxiety enough to be able to speak. Finished. That was absolutely delicious. My name is Marcosia. Mister, thank you so much for the food. Goro had been waiting for her to say something first. If there were circumstances to her situation, it would be boorish to just out and ask her about them. If she were to simply leave here after getting a good meal, then that would be fine, but if she wanted to say more about herself, Goro would definitely be willing to listen. Mm. My name is Goro Meiko. Im an employee at the Merchant Guild. Dont be so humble now. Isnt Goro considered an executive at the guild? The store manager gave his own two cents into the conversation from behind the counter, but Goro didnt say anything. Marcosia on the other hand decided to ask Goro a question upon learning about his status in the guild, even knowing doing so was a little rude. Um, Mister Goro. Is there any work in Warren you can do without having a guarantor? The young girl had started to trust Goro. Trust him enough to tell him everything. Everything. Goro was dumbstruck at first when this little girl went so far as to tell him about her origins, but since she had trusted him enough to hold nothing back, he felt like he could trust her as well. More than anything, as a chef he felt like a young girl who could so honestly pack the food away like she had would be pretty terrible at hiding anything. If Ellis or any of the other girls were here, he could ask them for help, but unfortunately they were away from town that day. So what should he do? Understood. Follow me. Goro took Marcosia over to the Thieves Guild. Before making any plans to help the girl, it would be best to inform Baltis about the girls past. But to Goros surprise, Baltis wasnt that concerned about it. Yeah, it will be fine. If anything happens, Im sure our little adviser will take care of it. And in the worst scenario, Mebett and Ka-kun are currently living in Warren. Thank you for your understanding. Next Goro took Marcosia over to the casino Ril Rush. The place was busy as usual, so it took a moment, but eventually he was able to pull aside Machel. He introduced her to the little girl he had met and instructed Marcosia to tell Machel everything she had told him. Marcosia did just that, leaving nothing hidden. Machel was a little surprised to hear about Marcosias origins just as Goro had, but that was quickly washed away by the urge she felt to protect this girl from the same darkness that had plagued her own childhood. There was also the fact that Mebett had become something of an idol the last couple of days, playing in the event plaza with Ka-kun and the other city children creating a small soft spot for kids in a lot of peoples hearts. So when Marcosias story was over, Machel gave her a reassuring smile, letting her know shed be more than happy to help. So with that being the case, Im going to go ahead and act as a guarantor for her. Ill go around, try to find a good place where she can work, so if you could get her cleaned up, give her a bath, Id really appreciate it. Marcosias goal of getting a job had moved forward so fast her head was spinning, and it wasnt until Machel had dragged her halfway out the building before she collected herself enough to remember to thank Goro for all his help. Mm. In Freedom Promenade, we accept everyone. Im sure Miss Ellis will understand. Assuring himself of that fact, Goro headed back to the Merchant Guild. Marcosia was the only daughter of a husband and wife duo who had called themselves the Wolf Pack Couple. They were a duo who were famous in Marsfield for a time for the lovely performance they put on during the Marsfield Art Competition. A competition that ended when the duo revealed themselves to be not beastmen, but demons. They tried to steal the Brave Ripper after they lost the competition and were killed by Ellis. The duo were a breed of indigenous demons that differed from the more common summoned demons, yet they had to obey the Demon Lords orders all the same. Their demon daughter was forced to follow that same order as well and continued searching for the claws even after her parents had died. She didnt know who it was that had killed her parents, nor did she know enough details about their deaths to go looking for their killers if she wanted to. Thats why once the order had been released and she was free to do what she wanted, she immediately set out to find work which saved her from being forced under Berunals order again. By the end of the day, it was decided Marcosia would start working at Trans Happy. CH 166 Ellis and the others had tried destroying any and all evidence about what had happened that night, but rumors still quickly spread throughout Skycastle about the attempted sacrifice of one of Warrens Dragon Maidens and the Hero rushing in to stop it. During that night, someone who had just happened to be walking by had heard the Hero declare, I am the Hero Gray, here to rescue the Kings guest! That person was then scared by the agonizing screams they heard afterwards and rushed home. In the middle of their escape however, they saw a tower of flame jut upwards and light up the night sky. The next morning they returned to the scene and found everything burned black and flattened. Naturally there was no way to identify any corpses that may have been there. While the city guards were doing their own on-site investigations, curious onlookers were busy spreading their own gossip about what happened. There were people there who knew that this place had been used for Sabbaths before, and although they had kept quiet about such a fact at the time, they were now proudly whispering this information into the ears of those gathered around them. People had heard through the grapevines that a Dragon Maiden was going to be strung up, but for whatever reason they couldnt participate. One person had heard from a friend that it was apparently the blonde-haired Dragon Maiden been captured. The person who had overheard the Heros declaration the night before couldnt control themselves anymore after all of this, yelling out for all to hear. The Hero destroyed the Sabbath in order to save the Dragon Maiden! And so the rumors had caught fire. I never expected the Hero to actually start hunting down demons and personally try to put an end Sabbaths. Yeah, to think that imbecile would be this thorough. Cant we dispose of the Hero now that hes gone against the Kings order? Its easy on paper, but actually doing it is another matter. This was the interior of the Kings bedchambers. As usual Peach, Dams, Cliff, and the Nightmare Dragon had gathered together. What if we were to try and somehow draw the Hero away from Skycastle? I just wish we could make that Hero and those Dragon Maidens hate each other. Those Dragon Maidens have been a nuisance. Thats right. During the last Sabbath, it was their meddling that caused everything to turn out so bad. . After a moment of silence, Peach finally came up with an idea. If thats the case, then lets just attack Warren. Dams immediately stopped her. Whoa whoa, the Demon Lord has already made it clear that Warren is off limits. Have you forgotten what happened to Zavnat? Cliff was of the same opinion. Thats right. And even if that werent the case, wed be fools to try and make a move without knowing how that last army was obliterated in the first place. But a cool smile was still floating across Peachs face. Idiots, we wont have to go ourselves. Dams, Cliff, go fetch us an envoy. The two men were left confused as Peach went on. Even if we cant beat the Hero, we can still defeat him. Still not getting her meaning, Peach went on to explain the little plot she had cooked up. It was enough to put a smile on the other three demons faces as well. Zakuromas harvested quite the haul as well. Theyll be lurking in the shadows as well. Yes, the more cards we have to play the better. Keep up the good work. And so once again Peach and the other demons started on their own secret plans. The sight of three dragons dancing through the sky over Warren had already become a normal sight for the trade city. At most the citizens who would see them would remark, Oh, the Jewelry Box girls are back, and then wave at them from the ground below. Once Mebett saw Su-chan, Fe-rin, and Pi-tan circling up in the air, she forced the other children around her to back away. Straddling the back of her own Mechanized Dragon, she flew up into the sky to join them. Welcome back Big Sisters! Mebett, youve gotten pretty good at flying on Ka-kun. Su-chan and Reeve decreased their speed just enough so they could fly next to the much slower Mebett. Before any other greetings could be exchanged however, Ra-chin started yelling from Elliss back. Theres a demon mixed into the city, Ellis. Understood Ra-chin. Lets head home first and see how things are. The girls touched down in their front yard. Bizon and Gurre were already waiting in the mansions doorway clearly wanting to hear about the state of Skycastle. They had gotten regular updates from Bizons husband Sir Chaffee through his communications with Maria, but everything they heard only served to make them even more anxious. Miss Ellis, how is Skycastle doing? As soon as Ellis and the other girls were back on solid ground, Bizon and Gurre ran up to greet them and immediately got to the topic on hand. Everythings fine. The Hero has finally started tying his own shoes for once. Ellis told them about what had happened, how she had used herself to pull in one, large Sabbath, and how in the future, the Hero would break apart any other Sabbaths being held in the futureCwhether they be legal or not. Their husbands, Sir Chaffee and Stewart were working with Duke Marsfield in the meantime, taking some distance from the King and gathering up the resources from those Sabbath participating nobles the girls had killed. They were also gathering up skilled young people and appointing them to positions in the government that had suddenly become vacant to try and undo damage thats already been done. Despite all this good news, Bizon still looked depressed. So in other words, a confrontation between the King and the Hero is inevitable. Yeah, probably. Frau answered Bizons worries plainly. From there Ra-chin spoke up from Elliss back. Right now the King is almost definitely some demons puppet. At this point him being overthrown is inevitable. Whether that will be done by the Hero, the Demon Lord, or some other third party, I dont know. No matter what though, the two of you should prepare yourselves for when that time comes. Once again Bizon and Gurre made complicated expressions. No matter how things are, they both married into Skycastle nobility after all. What would be required of them when that day inevitably comes? Reeve tried to offer her sisters some reassurance. The Hero is an idiot, but hes also really strong. If he were to get serious, then the King and all those demons would be wiped away in a single stroke. We really arent worried about that The problem is what comes next. Gurre suddenly looked a little weary while trying to explain something that Reeve wasnt quite getting. But, is it really a problem you need to think up an answer for right now? And in the first place sisters, we are all in this together, so you can rely on us you know? The two sisters remained silent for a bit at Reeves words. They then both took a deep breath at the same time. Yes, Reeve. Its just as you say. I never would have thought the day would come where Id be lectured by you. Gurre squeezed out her words along with a compassionate smile. Dont worry nya. You can relax as long as youre here nya. Thats right. And the western fishing village will be opening soon, so you wont get bored here either. The two sisters returned a smile as Katie and Claire tried giving their own warm encouragement. Thank you. Well take things step by step as they come. And so Bizon and Gurre felt just a little more well off. So, lets get going. Indeed, for now just Ra-chin and I will be fine. Everyone else should tidy up a bit while you wait. While flying in the sky over Warren, Ra-chin had confirmed the presence of a demon inside Freedom Promenade. For now they would just check on it to confirm what they were dealing with. If anything were to happen, Ra-chin could probably easily handle things by himself, but in the worst case scenario, Mebett was down there as well playing with the other children. With her help Ka-kun could hold the beast down long enough for the other girls to get there. Miss Ellis, welcome back. Oh, Ellis, youve returned? The people who passed her by on the road all freely called out to Ellis. Ellis in turn would continue on her way, offering a wave of her hand in reply. Ellis, that girl there. Ellis went on full alert as Ra-chin pointed towards the demon with his tail, but when she saw who it was he was pointing at, all of her energy left her at once and a dumb, Eh? escaped her lips. It was just a little, silver-haired girl wearing the boys uniform for Trans Happy who was currently putting all her energy towards mopping up the floor. Ra-chin, seriously? Im just as surprised as you, but seriously. That girl is definitely a demon. However, it looks like shes an indigenous demon rather than a summoned one. An indigenous demon? Yes, theyre creatures that were born in this world, yet they are still classified as demons. Theyre often referred to as mazoku as well. Ellis continued observing the girl from a distance where she wouldnt be noticed. Those strong-willed eyes and silver hair, they reminded her of something.. Lets grab some extra info for now. Ellis peeled away from her target, leaving to find Machel who was in charge of the hiring inside Freedom Promenade. Oh, welcome back Miss Ellis. Machel, theres something important Miss, theres something important . Both of them tried talking at once. Ah, you go first Miss. Machel got flustered and tried yielding to Ellis. But Ellis understood that Machel was probably looking to talk about the same thing she was. Machel, is what you want to talk about that silver haired girl? So youve noticed But Miss, that child really isnt a bad girl. I kind of got that impression watching her. However, I did want to find out how much you know about her. From Elliss words, Machel understood that Ellis wanted to know more about the girl than just what kind of worker she was. So she decided that an easier way to handle this was to call over the girl in question and eliminate any kind of doubt. Marcosia, I know youre in the middle of something, but could you come here. Ill explain things to Maron later. Yes Master Machel! When Machel called for her, the girl shouted out an awkward albeit lively reply and rushed over to her. It was like watching a faithful dog being called over by its owner. When Machel sat Marcosia in front of Ellis, she told her to repeat the same story she had told her and Goro before. Goro knows about this too? Yes, Goro is actually the one who found her and brought her here in the first place. Elliss interest was piqued even more. This girl had apparently met with a seal of approval from two of her friends with a good eye for people. Then, I shall tell you the story of my birth. Marcosia did as she was told and repeated the whole, unvarnished truth about herself. Ellis was surprised that Marcosia would so honestly reveal herself to be a demon, but the fact that this little girl was the daughter of two people she had killed was what really worried her. And there was one other thing that grabbed her attention. The order Marcosia had been given was undoubtedly the find the claws objective that Berunal had mentioned. It wasnt that hard to figure out that something had happened with her and the Demon Lord that would have caused that order to be released somehow. But after that Berunal should have ordered all of the demons to search the labyrinths. So why wasnt this girl affected by the second order? Is it okay if I ask you a couple questions Marcosia? Yes, Miss Marcosia felt a weird sense of intimidation from this girl who had to have been younger than her. But considering that Master Machel was speaking so formally to her, Marcosia assumed that this girl must be some kind of special existence. So she made sure to be as respectful as she could as well. To start with, dont you want to kill your parents enemies. I was told my parents were killed when they failed to get the claws they were supposed to get, but I dont know who killed them. But my parents, they wouldnt have wanted to even leave their village if they hadnt been forced. If theres any enemy of theirs, it would be the order to search for the claws. Next question. So there isnt any type of order acting on you now? Yes, I dont feel anything. Ellis thought for a moment. Could Berunal be hiding her influence as part of some future attack here? But Ellis quickly shook away the possibility. She isnt anywhere near as strong as those monsters the Hero is currently dealing with. Hey Ellis, if the Demon Lords order isnt affecting this girl right now, then perhaps those demons in Skycastle are acting on their own wills as well. Perhaps Ra-chin. Well have to check that out later. Ellis turned towards Marcosia once again. That demon who was supposed to take care of you, whats he doing now? The summoned demon my parents knew went to Skycastle after he was invited by another demon. I wasnt allowed to go with since mazoku and summoned demons cant speak telepathically. Would you want to move to Skycastle if he were to come back for you? No, I want to live a respectable life. I want to live in my village again with my parents and all my old friends. But, that village is already gone. These are her true feelings. Ra-chin sent a small telepathic message in support of the girl to Ellis before going on. There are plenty of demon-like humans out there in the world. So finding a human-like demon isnt too hard to believe. I agree Ra-chin. And I cant imagine thered be any nefarious plots in the works that would require letting this girl run around free here. Ellis turned to look at Machel. Ive got the gist of things Machel. This girl is Marcosia, an employee for Freedom Promenades Trans Happy. A commendable citizen of Warren. Ellis then once again turned back towards Marcosia. I should introduce myself again. My name is Ellis, and this guy on my back is one of Warrens Guardian Dragons. If you ever have any problems, dont be afraid to talk to me. Yes, Miss Ellis, thank you very much! Finally able to take a relieved breath at her words, Marcosia gave Ellis a bright, cheerful smile. Ellis was satisfied seeing that smile alone. Thus Warrens first mazoku citizen was born. CH 167 A few days later, Ellis and the other girls received some joyous news from the Workshop Guild. It was a notice that the third phase of construction work in the western fishing village had finally been finished. Ellis, I need to check the restaurant and the resort hotel, so Ill be heading out first. Ah, just wait Frau. I got a request from Master to check on the water pipes and sewage as well. Im going too. Hold on nya. I want to go see Dad nya! And just like that Frau, Claire, and Katie jumped out of the house with their dragons and were on their way. The only people left behind were Ellis, Reeve, and Reeves two older sisters Bizon and Gurre. Mebett had been out of the house since the early morning, playing in Freedom Promenades central square with a bunch of other children who were here as tourists. The Mechanized Dragon was naturally popular with the kids, and Ka-kun belonged to Mebett. Theres no way she wouldnt be having fun. Because the mere presence of the Mechanized Dragon acts as security for the city, none of the adults say anything about it. Most of them would actually stop and watch with a warm smile. And even better, it acted as a free and safe daycare for those tourist parents. Ellis on the other hand had been making a glum face these last few days. Right now it looks like there arent any other Sabbaths being held after the Hero crushed the last several of them. Neither Cliff nor Dams nor anyone else had been seen coming or going from their office either. People have already started saying that even attempting to hold a Sabbath is equal to suicide. Since then the only word from Duke Marsfield is The King has yet to make a move. The Demon Lord is still making regular trips to visit Margherita, and Berunal can often be found playing at Ril Rush with Reeve or enjoying Trans Happy. The Mazoku Marcosia had been told beforehand about how the Demon Lord and his top assistant had been visiting the city incognito. They would do their best to give her a warning as much in advance as possible, so she was supposed to hide whenever they were there. As Ellis expected however, neither the Demon Lord nor Berunal showed any interest in Marcosia. This was a heartless world where the president of a large company and his secretary would never remember the face of a part-time janitor. But it was still a whole lot of work for nothing to come out of it though. A whole lot of anxiety on Elliss part when she could have been relaxing instead. Miss, I said the same thing to my older sisters as well, but dont you think your putting too much thought into this right now? Shut up! Theres no such thing. Rather than thinking theres nothing to be done about it, its much better to predict the future and develop countermeasures for it! Elliss reprimand caused Reeve to back away. So Ellis started to think. What could she do to free the King? What could she do with the information she has? Its always better to be prepared. Ellis let out a tired sigh before turning around and giving Reeve and her sisters a smile. Reeve, Big Sisters, lets get ready and head out west ourselves. After a bit, Ellis, Bizon, Gurre, Mebett, and the five guild masters rode on the Ra-chin Shuttle towards the western fishing village. While enjoying the smooth ride on top of Ra-chins back, Ellis was sitting next to Baltis, Theseus was sitting beside Maria, and Flint was sitting next to the new guild master of the Magicians Guild, Izerina. Together they started discussing the current affairs in Skycastle. And once the full situation had been stated for reviews sake, Maria made a deep frown. No matter how you think about it, Warrens going to be a huge sore spot for the demon that has taken control of His Majesty. Theseus crossed his arms and nodded. The Dragon Maidens would be issue enough, but the Hero also recently set up Warren as a base camp and is frequently seen coming and going. I dont know which one is a bigger draw. Baltis put his head in his palm and sighed. If I was this demon, Id definitely find some way to invade Warren. Flint was scornfully laughing. Let em try invading if they want. Well drive em back every time. We wont even need the girls help with that. Izerina started laughing as well. Its nice to see that Flint hasnt changed at all. But, this kind of thing could be really stressful for the ordinary citizens, so we should make sure our fighters are fully prepared for the worst. Ellis hadnt told the guild masters yet, but the Demon Lord and his right-hand were in Warren at this very moment. But, considering everything that was already going on, she figured trying to explain about the masochistic Demon Lord would just muddle things even more, so she left it alone. In the meantime, the group continued discussing their plans as they arrived at the western fishing village. I was expecting to see as big a change here as when I came back to Warren, but this is so much more! After seeing how much the fishing village had changed, the first person to say anything was Izerina who had spent the last several years living in Wisdom. Ellis told me to make it a place you would want to stay over in. I was unsure of myself when I first started, but Id definitely want to stay here a while now. The next person to say something was Flint who at this point knew every single corner of this town. Then from inside the city, Claire, the village chief Gattis, and villages deputy chief Selkis came over to greet them. Hello hello members of the Warren Council who we are especially indebted to gya. Allow me to guide you through our town myself gya. Gattis greeted the masters on behalf of all the villagers and began leading everyone through the town. The town could be roughly divided into three districts. This first was a shopping area. It was here you would find the towns numerous restaurants and other stores lined up together side by side. Most of the food sold here were the towns specialty seafood products, and you could find many of the specialty goods and crafts made by the seal beastmen. Beyond that there was also the residential area where most of the villagers lived and where foreigners could buy villas if they wanted to move here on a more permanent basis. The second area was the sandy white beach that extended along the coast where tourists could swim and sunbathe. Here you could rent or buy beach chairs, various kinds of drinks to keep cool, and different toys children could play with while at the beach. The third area was the actual resort located on the rocky area near the reef. This was a resort hotel that encompassed the hot springs as well, so a person could take an extended vacation here. Due to Fraus aid, a system was worked out where the villages specialty food would be sold in the shopping area while the resort would sell the same dishes as youd find in Warren. So even if a person were to stay here for an extended period of time, they shouldnt get sick of the food any time soon. Ellis had a three step plan for the village. The first was to set up a fish market and show the villagers how the numerous fish they thought were trash were actually delectable treats waiting to be marketed. The second was to maintain the hot springs and different restaurants and prove to the villagers that entertainment could be its own commodity that could turn a profit. The third step is to create a resort that can capture the hearts of its customers with the quality of its goods and entertainment to get them to stay in the village for an extended period of time. Of course all of this depends on the quality of the hospitality given here which meant the villagers needed more work done than anything else. This was an extremely poor village at first where everyone was going hungry and trash lined the streets. But through hard work, these villagers have gained a boost not just economically, but socially as well. With increased confidence in their futures, the residents of this village can now smile from the bottom of their hearts. And if all the villagers here are smiling, then the tourists who come to visit here will be able to better enjoy themselves as well. Plus that strength of spirit will be necessary for those old aristocrats, leisure-seeking rich, and holiday-seeking aunties who would be looking to come here for an extended vacation. Just imagine those wealthy bourgeois coming to this village to rest and relax. Then during their vacation, they decide to stop by the nearby Warren, dropping a ludicrous amount of money on the numerous facilities there designed to suck them dry. Afterwards they return to resort where their spirits can be healed, and with renewed confidence, they venture towards Warren again. And repeat. Yes, Ellis designed an area where the rich could have an extended stay as they spend their money in downtown Warren. Ellis looked out at the beastmen as each one worked hard with smiles on their faces and chuckled to herself, This is even better than I could have hoped. Well, all thats left is to give the village a proper name. Gattis pulled out a signboard when he overheard Elliss words and laughed. Weve actually already thought about that, and weve actually come up with an answer gya. Digging the sign into the ground, the words WELCOME TO HOPE COAST were now displayed at the villages entrance. Starting the next day, Hope Coast went into full-scale operation. Today, Grandpa Ferdinand visited the beach with Bizon, Gurre, and Mebett in tow. In fact, Ferdinand had already spread the word around, and as such, multiple aristocrats and wealthy merchants from Marsfield and Wheat Grace have already set up future reservations for long-term stays. Some had even already bought villas. In addition, there were some Warren citizens who were planning to buy one of the old, refurbished homes and retire here after leaving their businesses to their children. Because the Adventurers Guild regularly runs carriages between Hope Coast and Warren, it would be possible for family to easily visit each other afterwards or keep in touch through letters. As for the opening day however, most of the customers gathered here were the elderly and already retired creating a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. How is everything Gattis, Selkis? The two men answered Elliss question with a smile. I was surprised at first over how elegant all our customers are gya. Its a welcome sight seeing people enjoy our hard work though. Hope Coast was already living up to its name. After a long time, Ellis was able to relax. Just her, her girlfriends, and their five dragons. The five girls each rested on the beach in their own unique way and enjoyed watching the scenery change color as the sun slowly set. Over time the coasts edge was dyed a bright orange. Thats right, the sun sets on the coast in the west. A beautiful sight. Its captivating. So the way the color works is Shut up nya A happy moment in time that felt like it could go on forever. But, eventually all good things must come to an end. CH 168 A few days later. Claires parents, the Wisdom Magicians Guild second-in-command Ares and the Warren Magicians Guild guildmaster Izerina, burst into the Warren Council Chairperson Marias office completely out of breath. We need to move Maria! Gather the other council members right away! Ares, Izerina, has something happened? We received word right after we woke up! Warrens facing a crisis! After hearing Aress report, Marias face turned a sickly blue, and she rushed out of the Merchant Guild to personally collect the other council members. The door to Elliss mansion received a violent round of knocking. Yes, who is it? Having gotten up earlier than the others to prepare breakfast, Frau answered the door, greeting a messenger from the Merchant Guild who was breathing wildly. The messenger choked out a scream inbetween his short breaths. Associate member Ellis is required for an emergency meeting of the Warren Council! Please come immediately! Whats with all the racket? Ellis came out of her room and walked down the stairs to the front entrance. Mebett was following right behind her, rubbing her eyes as if she had only just woke up. The messengers cheeks got hot seeing two lolis walking out in negligee, but he desperately repeated his message to fulfill his duty. Miss Ellis, your presence is required immediately for an emergency meeting of the Warren Council! Hmph, whats it about? The messenger continued, doing his best to not mind Elliss clear irritation. The lord of Ceramics has dispatched troops on Warren! *CRASH* The plates Frau was carrying shattered on the ground as the messengers words sent a shock through her system. That noise served as a signal, and the other members of the Jewelry Box stirred. Whats their goal here? Reeve asked the most natural question. To get to here from Ceramics, theyd have to travel to Wisdom first, and then head to either Marsfield or Wheat Grace, Frau confirmed the route in advance. But, isnt an army moving a really big deal!? What should we do!? Claire was the one who was panicking the most. Thanks for all your hard work nya, and Katie was acting like usual. At any rate, Ill tell you more after Im back. Ellis wasted no time slipping on her favorite dress and secured Ra-chin on her back. As Ellis rode her Magical Horse towards the citys center, the other girls watched her go from the entrance, an uneasy expression on their faces. The councilroom fell completely silent after hearing Aress report. The content was beyond anything any of the council members could have imagined. The lord of Ceramics was leading the army himself. When the army arrived in Wisdom, Ceramicss lord didnt say a single word to Wisdoms representative, the Magicians Guild guildmaster Alphonse, only passing along a letter from the King. The letter read, The Lord of Ceramics shall mobilize his army and lay siege to Warren. Said army is to travel through Wisdom and then Wheat Grace. Wisdom is to provide a battalion of mages as Wheat Grace supplies additional troops from its peasant militia. The Kings seal clearly adorned the letter along with his signature. Wisdom is under the direct control of Skycastle and therefore cannot go against the Kings order. Nevertheless Alphonse insisted that the Ceramics lord reveal to him the Kings true intentions. The lord had merely made a disgusting smile, and with the eyes of a dead fish, Its a royal order, only repeated what the letter had made clear. In the end, Alphonse agreed to cooperate at least in appearance, leaving Ares as his second-in-command behind to run Wisdom while he headed up the 100-man magic corps himself. But on the day of departure, as the army departed for Wheat Grace, Alphonse made sure to order Ares to let Warren know about what was coming. Baltis was the first to break the silence that had settled in the council room, speaking slowly and clearly as his mind continued racing. So is their goal the Hero, or are they trying to pin down Warrens Jewelry Box? It was the implicit understanding of all Warrens citizens at this point that the Hero was using Warren as his main base. But, nobody was certain if that fact had been leaked to Skycastle or not. If the King was aware this was going on, then there was a good chance that this was the Kings response to the Hero going against his royal decree and smashing any sabbaths being held. On the other hand, the existence of the Dragon Maidens is also a sore spot that would be difficult for Skycastle to overlook. The power of just a single maiden and her dragon is ridiculous, and Warren has managed to gather five of them. Naturally they would be seen as a threat. But, its precisely because of those facts that Theseus was able to have his doubts about this move. But no matter how many men they recruit into their army, they arent going to be able to stand a chance against the Hero and five Dragon Maidens. Are they going to sacrifice as many men as they can just to destroy the city? This was true. Defeating the Hero would require a Demon Lord class monster, and the members of the Warren Council knew just how ridiculous their citys Guardian Dragons were. Flint had another idea. In that case, perhaps theyre trying to bring Warren under direct control of Skycastle. So far, Warren had been operating as an independent, self-governing city. However recently it had been undergoing rapid growth, becoming richer both in resources and its infrastructure. Leaving nobility aside, there is no other city, including Skycastle, where so many members of the general public have access to toilets and showers. So perhaps Skycastles aim was to deprive Warren of its autonomy and turn it into a royal district in order to suck up Warrens wealth and funnel it back to Skycastle. Then, its all over.. It was unclear who was the one who said it, but their words echoed in this quiet room. Ellis was just an associate member and thus had no right to speak on her own. So she sat back silently as all the guildmasters tried rallying the other members of the council. However, nobody could find a good solution to this situation. Running out of patience and starting to fall asleep, Ellis quietly raised her hand. As a special exception, we call on the associate member Ellis to hear her remarks. Pardon. I wanted to ask Uncle Ares, how many men does the Ceramics army have? A thousand cavalry, three thousand infantry, and a thousand men for logistics. And now they have a battalion of magicians from Wisdom. Thats right. The battalion will have a hundred magicians, but since each of them will have a Minotaur Golem with them, you can count that as two hundred fighters. How many men do you think they will get after conscripting the members from Wheat Graces peasant militia? I dont think Ceramicss lord is expecting to get much military strength from Wheat Grace. Their goal instead is most likely testing the loyalty of Leopold, the new lord there. Ellis then turned to the Adventurers Guild guildmaster Theseus. How big is Warrens vigilante unit? We have a standing unit of a hundred men. If we add in our own militia, we could scrape together about a thousand soldiers. Finally, Ellis turned back towards Maria. And then, she gave voice to the terrible thought so many people in that room had been considering. Then if everyone agrees, should we go out and annihilate Ceramicss army? Her words cut through the hanging silence, and everyone started talking at once. One member of the council rose up. If you do that, then Warren really will be destroyed! But another member shook their head. No, with the Dragon Maidens and the Hero, couldnt Warren easily conquer this whole continent? As reality set in, more and more people were starting to grow on the idea. BE QUIET!! Maria brought down her wooden gavel, silencing the hall once again. Maria turned an annoyed eye back towards Ellis, but the little girl took it all in stride. Warren is a town that has completely centered itself on trade and tourism. If we turn a blade against the royal family and the other major cities, then nearly every one of our industries would fail in time. Going to war here would be suicide! Marias voice exploded throughout the chamber. Her words echoed off the walls and rang in the other council members ears. It wasnt until things had settled back down that Ellis took the floor again. In that case, our only move is to wait. Though just in case, while were waiting for their army to arrive at our front door, we should probably start evacuation procedures for the citizens back to Hope Coast. Ellis walked down the center of the meeting hall towards Maria. Nobody even tried to stop her. When Ellis drew close, she whispered something into Marias ear. After Ellis had said what she needed to, Maria nodded once while making an expression that said she understood. Maria then turned her attention back towards the rest of the council. Lets adopt Elliss proposal. We are the Trade City Warren, we will calmly wait for this army with pride. Seeing Marias confident expression, the other members of the council were able to take a sigh of relief, and the venue exploded in a round of applause. Thus the emergency meeting was able to successfully come to an end. But then a ridiculous report came through for Maria from Sir Chaffee in Skycastle. Two reports to be exact. The first was the royal decree that all beastmen would henceforth be stripped of all civil rights, making them nothing more than animals in the eyes of the law. The second was that Duke Marsfield had been relieved of his position as ruler of the Citadel City, and he was now imprisoned inside the royal palace. Hearing this news, even Ellis was left not knowing what to think. CH 169 Complete loss of all rights for beastmen. In other words the sanctity of the law no longer extends to anyone who is a beastman. You could even kill someone if you wanted, and it wouldnt be considered murder. From this point on, you can do whatever you want to one, and there will never be any legal repercussions. Beastmen have always been a minority group on the Almerian continent, so naturally a history of persecution has followed them from the beginning. They were driven from any fertile lands they owned long ago, forced to reluctantly start up new beastmen villages on the unclaimed land of the frontier or otherwise set up their own colonies within the slums of major cities. Either way they are doomed to a life of poverty. The currently thriving Hope Coast began in the exact same way. Nevertheless, the royal family since long past have at least still recognized the beastmen as people. This was partly for the beastmens sake, but more than anything it was for the purpose of preserving human morals. When it comes to someone weaker than you, people can all too easily fall to violence. And once somebody has gotten a taste for violence, there is no quenching that thirst. As a result, it wouldnt be too long before humans started turning against themselves as well. It was for the sake of avoiding this vicious cycle that even the most bigoted of kings allowed beastmen to retain their civil rights. But now those rights have been stripped. Persecution against beastmen is sure to be on the rise in the coming days. Skycastle and Wisdom especially contain a strong sense of discrimination towards beastmen. And then there is the colony built into one corner of the slums in Marsfield. It goes without saying that it will be attacked soon. And then the other anouncement, Duke Marsfield has been imprisoned. So there is no one left who can oppose the King politically. Duke Marsfield had stayed in Skycastle in order to secretly organize a force against His Majesty. With the King completely under the control of a demon, the country was facing a crisis, and it was only a matter of time before things deteriorated into outright chaos. So Duke Marsfield had taken the hard decision of overthrowing his older brother and setting things right as the next in line to the throne. But Duke Marsfields extended stay in Marsfield had created suspicions among the Kings supporters. There was also the fact that he had arrived at Skycastle with the Dragon Maidens in tow, a force already known to be against the Kings policies. Although there wasnt evidence of any wrongdoing, suspicion is equal to guilt with this current administration. Just before being arrested, Duke Marsfield managed to get one last message out to Sir Chaffee. After informing him of his upcoming imprisonment, the Duke also passed along where in his mansion he had hid the Howling Plush Toy for contacting Warren. After being able to safely retrieve the tool without any guards noticing, Sir Chaffee managed to inform Maria of the situation. Cruel nya. Katie had a sour look on her face. But that was natural. The King had announced she was no longer a person. Even after news about the decree had circulated, there werent any incidents of persecution against beastmen in Warren. Security for the city had always been tight, and even without recognized civil rights from the country, the beastmen here are valued citizens. And as for the naughty guys who dont care about things like that, there was the threat of the the pure white catgirlCthe strongest one on one fighter in all of WarrenCand her vicious and horrifying Frost Dragon. Who in their right mind would do anything to upset them? Right now this was the living room inside Elliss mansion. After the emergency meeting was concluded, each of the guildmasters had gathered here. There wasnt any chance of information being leaked that way. Its certainly a heavy-handed, yet effective method. Theseus made an annoyed sigh. Beastmen might not be persecuted in Warren, but in the other major citiesCwith the exception of Wheat GraceCcruelty had set in quickly. As a result, many beastmen had come to Warren as refugees seeking help. Mati at the Steamed Kitchen took the lead in accepting refugees and even provided food. But there are limits to what can be done. A temporary facility was built in the eastern part of Freedom Promenade to help house the refugees. The only requirement to get in was to apply for it through the Merchant Guild. However this facility was a rush job, and compared to all the apartments in the surrounding residential area, it was shabby and looked like it was about to collapse. It wasnt long before some of the refugees started feeling dissatisfied seeing Mati and the other Warren beastmen living so happily. Why do they get to live so happily when they lost their rights the same as everyone else? It was completely unfair. And then, the incident. Mati, Labra, and Ravi temporarily closed the Steamed Kitchen and started cooking meals every day for the refugee shelter with the help of the Warren Council. For three people who originally came from Marsfields slums, they couldnt help but to identify with the refugees situation. Labra had actually already gone to see Ellis about taking a personal loan to help improve the living conditions for them. They were adamant that because Ellis had saved their lives before, it was now their turn to help save their brethren. It was a heartfelt gesture that all of Warrens citizens could appreciate, and it helped integrate the refugees into the city without any discrimination or ill will cropping up. But all that good will disappeared in an instant when of all things, three refugee men tried to rape the youngest worker Ravi in a corner of Freedom Promenade. Labra would cook the food inside the store, Mati would handle the orders and serving people out in Freedom Promenades square, and Ravi was in charge of running orders and taking back empty plates between the two. Three beastmen refugees ended up taking her by surprise during one of these runs. They dragged her behind her own store and shoved her down into the dirt. Hey, you feel sorry for us dont you? If so little miss, then how about serving us something back here? Theres three of us, so your mouth, front, and back will work just fine. Ravi was too scared to scream. All of the sudden, standing over her was a cat beastman, an anubis beastman, and a rabbit beastman. They were a group so similar to the family she had made with Labra and Mati, and now here they were, about to attack her. It was Marcosia who got the great honor of cleaning up this filth. You there, what the hell do you think youre doing!? The men nearly jumped out of their skin when they heard Marcosias voice. But they quickly calmed down when they saw that it was just a boyish, silver-haired girl. Why not. Grab that girl too! And so the men rounded on Marcosia, intent on attacking her as well. As a result, the three men were left half-dead on the side of the road, and Marcosia helped Ravi to her feet. However the screams of agony from the three men had caught the attention of several other Warren citizens, each of them a little confused by what they saw. Because while the three men were beaten half to death, they werent yet unconscious. Theres no crime against attacking a beastman right? So why shouldnt we do what we want? one shouted. Warren lets demons live here too! shouted another. And then standing away from the men was Ravi, crying while clutching the chest of a demon wolf. After that incident, Warrens people could be broken down into three factions First, We dont need to protect some scumbags who would try to rape a little girl! Secondly, These people have just been forced from their homes. We cant judge the group based on just these criminals! And third, Why are those beastmen blessed when were stuck as refugees! Yet for all their differences, the three factions could agree on one thing. Why is a demon here? Demons should be killed! Citizens and refugees alike were able to unite against their common enemy. The demon called Marcosia. The council cant do anything about feelings of hatred on such an individual level. So all of the problems that had been growing until now were all forced on Marcosia. Master, have you gone insane!? Machel was in a rage. Completely. While Baltis was as calm as ever. Marcosia saved Ravi! So why are we talking about what shes done wrong!? Hm? But Marcosias a demon. Arent we supposed to destroy demons? Marcosias a demon, but shes not a demon! You do realize that youre contradicting yourself here right? Master, now isnt the time to joke! Its already been decided. And Marcosia has agreed to it too. Tomorrow morning, she will be executed in the town square. Marcosias punishment for being a demon was for her to be burned at the stake. The next morning, a cross was set up in the middle of Freedom Promenade. A fence had been set up around it, making the districts name feel a little ironic. Marcosia was brought out under the direction of Maria, the chairman for the council. The cross was slanted down, making it easier for the silent Marcosia to have her hands and feet bound to the wood with wire. The cross was then returned to an upright position. Marcosia was crucified with a bundle of firewood resting at her feet. Once everything had been prepared, Maria then turned to the crowd that had gathered to watch. Please raise your hand if you accept the refugees. Between the surprise at being suddenly asked a question and the confusion of why Maria would ask something like this here, nobody raised their hands. Alright then, please raise your hand if you are against the refugees being here. And once again, nobody bothered to raise their hand. Fine then. Raise your hand if you are against executing this girl. At least this question was easy. The people who had gathered here were relieved that they wouldnt have to raise their hands. Not opposing an execution is a world different from actively supporting it. But, a small inkling of doubt started to sprout. Then let us start the execution! Men with torches moved in, placing the open flames at Marcosias feet. It started off as a spark, but the fire eventually grew into a roaring blaze. The flames grew, crawling across the pyre and licking Marcosias feet. Soon the flames had engulfed her entirely, and only the outline of a shadow be made out in the light. It was then that the fence surrounding the execution suddenly fell, and a small shadow darted into the flame. Big sis Marcosia, Im sorry! Im sorry! It was the little rabbit girl Ravi, and she had jumped head first straight into the flames. Her desperate cries served as a signal, and an overwhelming feeling of guilt suddenly overtook the citizens and refugees, but it was too late. The demon had already been burned alive along with the girl she had saved. CH 170 One person mumbled aloud. How did this happen? Another person grumbled. What are we looking at here? The council chairwoman Maria suddenly started yelling at the crowd which had mostly fallen silent before the brightly burning cross. You all, isnt this what you wanted!? Nobody could give her a complete answer. They could only stand there and watch the still rising flames. And so Maria bitterly asked her next question. So then, which one of you is going to be the next scapegoat!? This question actually managed to get a response from somebody. She wasnt a scapegoat! We were just killing a demon! Just as the man had finished shouting, a man and woman suddenly grabbed the citizen from both sides. The man who was holding the citizen then shouted loud enough for everybody to hear. Oi, this guy here is a demon too! The woman started shouting the exact same thing. This man is a demon! Stop it! Where is your proof!? You were happily staring into the fire as a little girl burned just now! Didnt you remain silent as our precious Marcosia was sentenced to death!? The city square started to get noisy. The man and woman throwing out these accusations were well known to everyone in Warren. Because it was the Muscle Brother Goro and Machel. Maria took a simple glance towards the three before turning back to the rest of the crowd. Okay, if two executive members of the Merchant Guild who are also in charge of Freedom Promenade are saying so, then it must be true. So lets burn him as well! Ready the fire! A shiver ran through the crowd. The thought of themselves being accused and burned at the stake flashed through everyones minds. Each person became concerned about their own well-being, and the venue once again fell into silence. Now now, lets not hit them too hard. The Adventurers Guild guildmaster Theseus appeared from behind Maria. He then called out to the waiting crowd. Raise your hand if you enjoyed watching someone be burned to death. Not a single person raised their hand. Okay then, raise you hand if you didnt enjoy watching someone be burned to death. Only a few people raised their hands at first, but once the sense of numbness and shock finally started to ebb away, eventually everyone raised their hand. Now everyone here who regrets burning Marcosia should keep their hands up. Nobody in the crowd even tried dropping their hand to their side. Good, then its your turn Izerina. This time it was the Magicians Guild guildmaster Izerina who stepped on stage. Everyone, never forget what youre feeling right now. And never forget about Marcosia who risked everything to save a child in need. The crowd was deathly silent, the crackle of the burning wood being the only thing anybody could hear for a few seconds. Then Izerina began casting a spell. Soon the roaring inferno began to flicker, and the flames rapidly weakened. The people in the crowd unconsciously turned away from the cross. Images of two scorched and mangled corpses plagued their minds. But when everything cleared away, there were no corpses to be turned away from. Instead, there was Marcosia. Sleeping and still tied to a cross, but obviously alive. And at her feet was a happily sleeping Ravi who seemed completely unconcerned with the charred wood around her. A collective sigh of relief swept through the crowd. A few overjoyed cheers came from here and there as well. But then Maria started shouting at them again. Understand this everyone! Lynchings and private judgments are irreversible and idiotic acts! To fear someone only for where they were born or what they were born as is foolish and blinds you from the truth! And as for you beastmen refugees, if you want to stay here, then you will become citizens of Warren and will work! There will be no more refugees in Warren! Yes, come over here if you want to know more information about any potential jobs~! As Maria finished her chastisement, another voice called out and drew the crowds attention form the stage. Their eyes landed on a breath-taking beauty who was standing next to the village chief of Hope Coast Gattis and pointing towards Warrens live house. At the same time, a few voices scattered around the city square rose up. Take Marcosia down from there first! Thats right! We have to apologize to that girl! The cross Marcosia was tied to was brought down, and she was let go. Goro accepted the sleeping girl into his arms. Meanwhile Machel picked up Ravi who was still sleeping at Marcosias feet in the burned wood. Izerina then released the enchantments she had set on them that had put them to sleep and allowed them to resist the heat of the flames. I wonder if this will calm things down. As long as the root of the problem here, poverty, gets cleaned up. Ellis and Baltis, the playwrights of this little drama, shook their heads while feeling a little tired. Baltis and Ellis had known that problems concerning the refugees and what Marcosia was would erupt sooner or later. And yet they already had their hands full trying to cope with the approaching Ceramics army. But then the incident happened, and both problems were laid out on a plate for them at the same time. So the two of them came up with a plan to handle both problems at the same time. Elliss aim was to eliminate the poverty difference that had made the refugees so sour with the other beastmen who were already citizens of Warren. So she headed over to Hope Coast and asked Gattis if he would be willing to hire some of the refugees. Already struggling with his lack of manpower after formally opening for business only recently, Gattis was more than happy to hire some of his fellow struggling beastmen. He returned to Warren with Ellis, and with the help of the Workshop Guild, they started up an interview event inside the live house. Baltiss aim was to eliminate any reasonless discrimination. He and the other guildmasters set up a play where the citizens of Warren would put aside their differences to join against a common enemyCMarcosia. Then from there, all they would have to do is convince everyone about how foolish that hatred was. Naturally all the preparations for this had to be done in secret, but because members of the gachihomo corps kept barging into the Thieves Guild demanding that Marcosia be set free along with all the people from Freedom Promenade who kept making direct complaints to Maria, Machel and Goro were clued in to the act and became part of their little troupe. By the way, Ravi jumping into the fire like she had wasnt part of the plan at all. Baltis had broken out into a cold sweat when he saw her and could only pray that Izerina had managed to catch her in time. When Marcosia obediently accepted being burned at the stake before we could tell her it was all going to be fake, I was honestly a little frightened. After it was all said and done, I had to honestly apologize to her for all the inconvenience our city is putting her through. That sort of girl is something else. Phrases such as demon-like humans or human-like demons are going to lose their meaning. The two took one last look back at Marcosia who was crying out in joy for everyone in the crowd who was supporting her before turning back towards the live house and entering the interview event with a smile. One after another, each person who attended the interview event managed to find a paying job. What was really surprising was just how many people wanted to join the Adventurer Guilds vigilantes corps. It turns out that many of the men had devoted their time to protecting their families from their surroundings, but they had been freed from these duties now that they had actual homes. For them, Warren was a last bastion. Each of them were on their hands and knees, begging Theseus to let them fight. Eventually, it was decided that 200 of the 500 refugees would join the vigilante group while the remaining 300 took up work on Hope Coast. Ellis, Gramps just called me. Ceramicss army just arrived in Wheat Grace. While Ellis and Katie patrolled the live house, Reeve called in a report from home. As a note, Bizon and Gurre were left extremely worried about what was to happen, so Claire and Pi-tan had flown them to Wheat Grace the day before so they could stand by their parents as the army passed through. What did they understand about the military situation? Ahh, it sounds like morale isnt very high. The Ceramics Lord also told Gramps that the 500 members of the peasant militia theyre requisitioning are going to be positioned at the armys rear near the armys logistics division. Gramps said he was going to be the one taking command of the unit. Thats reassuring. If its that slippery old man, then Ellis expected him to have all sorts of schemes to help out Warren. Meanwhile in the Adventurer Guild, Frau had started handing out armor and various different weapons to the vigilantes corp that the girls had been accumulating over time in preparation for the upcoming conflict. It was only three more days until the army from Ceramics would arrive. In the evening, each member of the Jewelry Box returned home in order to discuss the future. Well, we have to do what we have to do, Ellis started drawing up different plans for each eventuality that might crop up. Even if they are soldiers, Id rather not cut down innocent people who dont really understand whats going on, but I guess it cant be helped, Reeve mumbled while for some reason looking ecstatic as she readied her katana. Im sure there are some demons mixed in there as well, Frau pulled out a cloth from her satchel and started polishing her halberd while looking particularly excited. It looks like Reeve and Frau are enjoying themselves, Claire poked fun at the two while spiritedly testing out new magic she wanted to try her hand at. Why did the live house have to be closed for a day nya, and Katie was still running at her own pace as ever. And so every citizen of Warren hardened their resolve. CH 171 Margherita was troubled. Ever since Freedom Promenades opening event, she hadnt taken a single reservation from any man who wasnt Berudeus at Dandys Shangri La. She had gotten caught up in the enthusiasm of that event, and so she had dragged him up on stage and ended up taking his lips for herself. When Ellis opened the original Masters Hideaway, she gave the girls a method for sucking away ril from their clients without having to worry about getting pregnant, and Margherita always made sure to do her job properly, eventually becoming the true queen of the shop. It was from this reputation that her nickname, Queen Bee came about. However at some point, she realized that feelings aside from her sadism were welling up. No, she knew exactly when this had started. It was that day when Warren was attacked by demons. When a demons claws had ripped through her, and her regular customer desperately used recovery magic to save her. Margherita had been fighting against men ever since she became aware of her surroundings. First with her teeth and nails, and then from time to time with her body. But then the victory conditions changed from just escaping men to getting the money for tomorrows bread from them. Each time she took another man, her hatred for them only grew. For her, men were only a way to earn her bread and subjects for her resentment. So when she had been introduced to this stupid masochist, she had thought him a fun little game she could entertain herself with. Until he saved her life that is. From that day on, she could no longer remain calm as she tormented her masochistic guest. A feeling of pleasure would actually well up inside her whenever she teased him. From that day on, something beyond just pleasure sprouted in the depths of her heart. Thats were the station as leader of the Thieves Guild Entertainment Division came in handy. With the increased responsibilities, she gradually reduced the number of reservations she took. All except the ones Berudeus made. From the other newer girls point of view, it was simply, Big Sister Margherita is gradually handing all the customers over to us, and she was loved even more than she was before. Thinking that Berudeus would be the same, Margherita let them know that, Im keeping one regular customer to appear the same as everyone else, to dispel those expectations. But as a result, Margherita taking only Berudeus as a customer was actually a benefit to everyone else working at Dandys Shangri La. But now its time for it all to come to an end. Margherita knew that Berudeus was often seen lately around town, walking with the beautiful and sweet Berunal. She was also positive that those nail marks carved into Berudeuss back she had seen had come from the Rosen Princess as well. Today, Berudeus would come visit the store. The atmosphere around the city felt like they were under martial law at the moment, but she was sure he wouldnt notice. Fuu Margherita took a deep breath and began to consider what Berudeuss last service would be. A service so satisfying he wouldnt realize how her heart was trembling, how she wasnt playing anymore, and how she wouldnt see him again. That day, the Ceramics army, Wisdom magic corps, and Wheat Grace peasant militia arrived, setting up an encampment along the lake east of Warren. Once they were entrenched, they sent their messengers to Warren. I am here from the Ceramics Allied Forces. You have one hour to bring your council chairman here. The messenger was a knight on horseback, but because the area of the city closest to the eastern lake was Freedom Promenade, he mechanically conveyed his message to the first couple of Warren citizens he came across. His gaze towards these people was ice cold. The ordered citizens immediately rushed over to the Merchant Guild, not wanting to know what would happen if they were late. The Ceramics army wants to see you Miss Maria! One of the citizens ran into the heart of the city towards the Merchant Guild without daring to slow down. He burst into the guilds reception room, spitting out the message while clutching his chest and looking like he was about to keel over. However a spy from the Thieves Guild had already infiltrated the enemy, and he sent word back on the armys intentions. And so Maria was already ready to head out and act exactly as planned by the time the citizen had arrived. She would go out and meet with this grand army. Maria sheathed her rapier at her hip overtop the light armor she had donned and entered the carriage Nicole had prepared for her. At the same time, the carriages and Magical Horses of the other guildmasters followed her lead towards the citys edge. Messenger knight, I am Maria, chairwoman to the Warren Council. What business do you have with us today? Maria stared down the Ceramics armys messenger, trying to feel out their true motives here. I come with a verbal message. On the Kings orders, Ceramicss lord is to set siege to Warren, and thus our army shall make camp here. In accordance with this, Warren is to deliver 18,000 units of food and water every day. And the response. Of course. Well be sure to do just as you ask. With Maria obediently accepting such a ridiculous situation, it was the messenger knight who ended up bewildered not knowing what to say. It was a misjudgment on their part. Every day, men from our logistics division will arrive here with a wagon. Youll load the food on that. Certainly. The messenger was a tactlessly frank man. If he carried even a little wit about him, he would have known that its common practice to make yourself look weaker and throw off your enemy. Warren was to supply the army with rations in a brilliant move to either force the city into going against the Kings order or to speed up the citys starvation, and the messenger was sent here to force Warren into that uncomfortable position. However Ceramics sent an honest, no-nonsense messenger because they were afraid that any type of haggling would put them at a disadvantage against a trade city. If Ceramics were to send a messenger who couldnt handle the task they were given, they might put the army at a disadvantage or even fall into the enemys plan. So they sent a rigid, honest man who wouldnt offer any concessions. But the truth is that Ceramicss army is in a favorable position here, and an honest man cant capitalize on that advantage. The order has been given, but Ceramics knows nothing about Warrens situation or how big of a burden forcing them to hand out that many supplies really is. Meanwhile on the other side, Wheat Graces Ferdinand and his peasant militia will be the ones handling the logistics at this point and operating the wagon. A tactician who most of Warren knows as the Teaser Eel. So in exchange for a little food, Warren had managed to purchase a fount of information about the enemys army. It sounds like there are a few demons mixed in there after all. By Ferdinands estimation, the Ceramics Lord is the most suspicion one of them all. In preparation for the worst case, Maria and the other guildmasters had their vigilante unit set up a battle formation on Freedom Promenades eastern grasslands. In their headquarters at the center of the garrison, the guildmasters were having a meeting about the situation as it had developed so far. Maria started things off by relaying everything she had learned from the secret messengers Ferdinand had sent while his men collected the food. Nearly half of Wheat Graces peasant militia is actually made up of aristocratic children pretending to be peasants who have a modicum of skill with a blade. According to Ferdinand, everyone has grown a hatred for the Skycastle royal family believing Wheat Grace will be the next city to be targeted after Warren falls. So in the unfortunate event that Ceramics does mount a frontal assault, Wheat Graces forces will turncoat and attack from behind. At the same time, Izerina has received word from Wisdoms Alphonse that his magic corps was reluctant to join in on this farce to begin with, and should a battle break out, theyll have their golems attack Ceramicss flank. Between Wheat Graces 500 men and Wisdoms strength of 200 soldiers while counting their golems, Warrens united forces amount to around 1900 troops. Combine that with their superior tactics, and that should be enough to greet the enemys 5000. Soon all that was left to do for the guildmasters was to wait and hear from Ellis and the Jewelry Box girls who were preparing the next step of their plan. And so Maria, Baltis, Theseus, Flint, and Izerina fell into a little idle chat to kill the time. By the way Theseus, Flint, Baltis, whats with those ridiculous weapons and armor youre all wearing? Izerina had to poke a little fun at the men. Oh, these are some of the equipment we managed to scrounge up after the demons attacked Warren. Theyre amazing, and we got enough for all three of us! Flint was wearing some Resistance plate armor along with a Flying Phoenix ? Exorcism great ax. Theseus also had on a set of Resistance plate armor and was carrying a Flying Phoenix ? Exorcism long sword. Baltis had the same set of Resistance plate armor, but he was lucky enough to find two daggers that came equipped with the Flying Phoenix ? Exorcism effects. Flint and Theseus were all too eager to start showing off the wondrous and legendary equipment they had obtained, but Baltis was hanging back and acting rather shifty-eyed. Meanwhile Maria was being as thickheaded as ever. Izerina guessed that Baltis must be the only person here other than her who was aware of Elliss ability. At the same time, she was feeling relieved. With this equipment and this lineup, and then including her magic and Marias healing ability, theyd be the same unstoppable unit they were back when they hunted labyrinths together. For a moment, she started yearning for her youth. They most definitely couldve conquered the Demon Labyrinth like this. The infamous Warrens Powder Keg, a notorious adventurer party known all over until ten years ago when the party dissolved so each member could take over the citys different guilds. Well then, how about we go greet everyone? Lets save some of that energy until its time Izerina. No, I think itd be good if we head out now as well. Yes yes, friendly threats are free of charge. I, really want to go wild. Izerina, Maria, Theseus, Baltis, and Flint each spoke as if they were remembering the good old times. They then left their tent and headed towards the front line. It was already time to break down this stalemate after it had only just begun. CH 172 Warren dispatched a thousand of their vigilante corps to the citys eastern end, facing the united Ceramics army stationed at the eastern lake. Two hundred of these soldiers were former refugee beastmen. At their own request they were placed on the armys front lines as if to put their loyalty to Warren on full display. The five members of Warrens Powder Keg came to the front lines while giving their thanks to the gathered vigilantes. Most members of the vigilante corps belong to the Adventurers Guild, so while the army is formally under the Warren Council, theyre really all Theseuss subordinates. So for them to see Theseus and the other council members moving to the front, it was like watching a lionhearted general take his position. Naturally the morale for the vigilante corps skyrocketed. The Powder Keg took their places on the front lines, standing in front of the rest of the army blazoned in the citys colors. Izerina then used her magic to increase the volume of Marias voice. As such, every word Maria spoke echoed across the plains, allowing the enemies on the other side to hear every single syllable as if she were standing right next to them. Welcome to Warren everyone from Ceramics, Wisdom, and Wheat Grace! We of the Warren Council are honored to have you! Please feel free to enjoy everything the city has to offer! The Lord of Ceramics was taken aback by Marias sudden invitation. The King had issued him a royal order telling him to, Mobilize your army, and station them near Warren. Unfortunately he hadnt received a royal order telling him what he was supposed to do next yet. And now Warrens representatives are telling him to come and enjoy the city. Then suddenly Alphonse, the leader of Wisdoms magic corps and Ferdinand, leader of Wheat Graces peasant militia, were standing next to him. Milord, what should we do now? Alphonse deliberately asked the higher ranked Lord of Ceramics for orders. But without the next royal order from the King, the Lord was stuck. Sir, I have an idea. Would you care to listen? Ferdinand was putting on airs, faking respect for the Lord. The Lord bought the act and gave his consent. For cautions sake, Ill hear what you have to say previous lord of Wheat Grace. So, we should take them up on their invitation. You think so? In response to their offer, well send some of our soldiers inside as customers. The next royal order the King will send will most assuredly be to have us conquer Warren. However as things stand, a full frontal assault will be difficult. Honestly, Im feeling a little uneasy at our chances. But, if some of our soldiers have already infiltrated the city under the guise of customers, we can take the city in minutes after His Majesty finally gives the order. Efficient no? The Lord certainly thought so. It was a marvelous idea, and he was excitedly nodding his head as Ferdinand finished speaking. With that said, the enemy will grow wary if we send in a large number of our forces. So then, how about leaving this up to the peasant militia? In that case, you should let my magic corps enter the city as well. Our golems are only truly effective for city combat. The Lord thought about it. 600 people in total. That includes 500 member of a peasant militia who could never be relied on for combat, and 100 members of a magic corps whose abilities he didnt fully understand. Even if he were to send them out, he still had 5000 able-bodied men in his main unit. And a pincer attack is always an effective strategy. All right then former lord of Wheat Grace, you act as the representative and lead your peasant militia and the magic corps into the city. Ill signal when His Majestys next decree comes in, so take the city at that time. Got it. Ferdinand returned to his unit at the back of the army and arranged his men into ten rows of fifty people each. Two rows of mages then lined up behind them. The soldiers marched in file, never breaking formation until halting in front of Warrens representatives. We are soldiers from Wheat Grace and Wisdom visiting on the Kings orders. The King made it very clear we were to, Stand by in Warren. So well be entering the city now. We do hope you dont mind. Maria shook her head at Ferdinands words. We would never dream of going against an order directly from the King himself. We humbly welcome Your Lordship. With the formalities out of the way, Ferdinand led his men further into the city, breaching its defenses. But as he passed by Maria, both of them took one last glance at each other and stuck out their tongues. What are those guys doing down there? It doesnt matter, so lets hurry up. The Demon Lord and Berunal noticed Ceramicss encampment on their way to Warren. The Demon Lord was a little curious about what was going on, but Berunal pushed him forward not wanting to waste any time on something she didnt care about. The two of them landed on the outskirts of town like they always do and first headed over to Freedom Promenade. However for some reason the city district was a lot busier than it usually is. Just as the two were starting to suspect that something really was amiss, a person they both recognized suddenly waved to them. Yo Rosen Princess, you want to come over and play with me? Hello Grandpa Teaser Eel. Is there some kind of event going on today? No no, I just brought along 600 of my friends to play so they can enjoy themselves. Heeeeey Maron! Bring me some alcohol please! We brought our own snacks to go with it! Grandpa Fel, youre really living it up today! On days like this, rather than secluding yourself in the gambling house, its much more fun to share a drink with Machel and the others Understood~! Oh, the mans uniform looks pretty good on ya silver-haired newcomer. Her names Marcosia~. Marcosia, grab some alcohol for that grandpa over there~! As Ferdinand and Maron were talking about everyones orders, Ferdinands men were all grabbing their knapsacks and pulling out the dried fruit and preserved food they had stashed inside. Okay grandpa. Thanks for always watching over this girl. Theres no need to speak to me so formally. Its fun having her here, so shes always welcome. And thus, Ferdinand started a large banquet on the streets of Freedom Promenade, partying with his subordinates and doing away with any of the tension youd expect to find in a situation like this. Meanwhile the Demon Lord quickly left before any of the drinking started, hurrying to Dundys Shangri La where Margherita was waiting. On the other hand, the 100 men from Alphonses magic corps were all standing stunned at Freedom Promenades Child Plaza. Their eyes were locked on the children in the plaza as they all ran, jumped, and played..all over a giant, Mechanized Dragon. It-Its moving Oi, isnt that dragon a golem? Whos operating this monstrosity? The questions kept tumbling from the mages open mouths. Alphonse included. Izerina was standing right next to the men, a bemused smile on her face. Fascinating isnt it? Dont you go fascinating to me. What the hell is that? Its my beloved daughters masterpiece. That reminds me, you taught her the basics didnt you? Beloved daughter, you mean Claire? Thats Claires golem? Even more outrageous Her smile never disappearing from her face, Izerina called over to the children. Children, Im sorry to interrupt your playing. These customers would like to get to know Ka-kun for a little bit however, so if you could let them get a turn for just a little bit. Mebett, if youd be so kind. Already surprised enough by Izerinas words, Alphonse didnt know what to do when he heard the response. I understand Izerina, well come over. So Ka-kun, lets get moving. [ The dragon was suddenly moving. A little girl was riding on the dragons back. The dragon had responded to what the little girl had said to it. There were far too many things here for the mages to be shocked by. As Alphonse stood back with his mouth hanging open, Izerina did him the favor of explaining how this thing came into being. How the golem was based off a blueprint Claire had drawn up and then constructed from the so-called phantom metal Dark Mithril. Also how it shared the power of a dragon after being blessed by the other five dragons of Warrens Jewelry Box. Its impossible to imagine just how much MP it would take to make a dragon golem of this size in the first place. Stack that on top of the fact that its made of the phantom metal and received the blessings of other real dragons, and once again, there was way too much here for the mages to be shocked about. With Mebetts permission, Alphonse started pouring over every detail of the Mechanized Dragon. Mebett gave him the huge service of shrinking Ka-kun down to his pendent size, and then showed off her dragons moves as it flew through the air when it returned to its normal form. Hey Alphonse, whats your strongest attack magic? Suddenly Izerina was asking Alphonse something in a mocking tone. But at this point Alphonse had gotten so tired of being shocked he had come full circle and gave Izerina an uninterested reply. As you already know, its {Thunder Lance}. And so Izerina called out to Mebett as she glided overhead, asking her the unthinkable. Mebett, were going to try throwing some magic at you in a minute! Okay~. Whatre we doing~? Youre going to be a lightning rod! Izerina then turned back to Alphonse who was taken aback at hearing Izerina and Mebett talk as if they were going to be playing house after this. Alphonse, use everything youve got to try and knock down that dragon. Dont worry, Ill handle the medical treatment, so itll be fine. Now things were getting a little irritating for Alphonse. He didnt have any resentment towards the girl on the dragon, but this dragon golem was really starting to grate on his pride as a golem master. Then I wont hold back. Feel free. {Thunder Lance}! As the spell left Alphonses lips, a bolt of lightning escaped his right hand. The lightning split and loudly cracked as it hit the Mechanical Dragon, creating a bright flash of light as well. It was a direct hit on the Mechanical Dragon..and the end result was nothing more than a makeshift firework. Whoaaaa! Pretty! Again, again! The soldiers from Wheat Grace and Freedom Promenade girls started yelling as if it really were a part of a fireworks event prompting Ril Rushs Machel and Trans Happys Makoto along with all the other employees to come out together. With all the alcohol served, merriment abound, and children still running around, it was like an impromptu festival had suddenly broken out in the city square. The excited atmosphere of the venue mixed together with their injured pride, and soon each member of Wisdoms magic corps was throwing their own strongest magic up towards the dragon. Over a hundred spells began exploding overhead. Time and time again, a loud crack would sound in the sky accompanied by bright red, orange, and blue lights. Uwaa! Beautiful~! So cool Mebett! PARTYYYY! This alcohol is delicious! More, More! Everybody enjoying their banquet and each child in the square raised a shout as the festival continued on. That was fun Ka-kun. [??????, ??????] The words of the dragon and its master echoed as they dropped down from the sky and landed in front of the group of mages. Hey, Alphonse, its always important to calmly think about where youre going to end up in life. Im heading back to my office, but you be sure to enjoy your time in Warren. And thanks for your assistance here Mebett. Izerina patted Alphonses shoulder once before turning around and heading home. See you later everyone. Meanwhile Mebett gave all of the mages a wave farewell before she and Ka-kun headed back to the Child Plaza. Even with the wonderful fireworks display over, the banquet went on with the center of the city filled with Wheat Grace soldiers, Freedom Promenade employees, excited children, and a team of mages whose pride had been thoroughly shattered. CH 173 Welcome The receptionist welcomed the Demon Lord as he entered the store. Margherita will be here in just a moment, so please be patient. Sure, but, its pretty quiet in here. Am I the only customer today? Yes. In truth the store is temporary closed today. However Margherita insisted on waiting here since she knew Straw Hat was sure to visit us. I see, thats pretty awful of me then. I suppose Ive caused you some trouble. No, its all part of my job. Today you should focus on having as much fun as possible. The receptionist was her ever-attentive self putting a smile on Straw Hats face. It really was only a minute before Margherita came to pick up the Demon Lord. She was wearing the exact same outfit she had worn the first time she had serviced him. The buttoned blouse was bold and daring, and her black bra peeked out slightly from the top. Then there was a black garter belt that was just slightly visible between her tight leather mini skirt and long black stocking. And then finally those red high heels. That brings back memories. The Demon Lord narrowed his eyes when he saw what Margherita was wearing. Ill be servicing you in this today. Is that fine, Bell? The Demon Lord unconsciously made a bitter smile as he remembered that first time. That time when his every idea and fantasy he had overflowing in his imagination was completely blown away. Yes, its perfect. Ahhh Auou Ahhh Auou Auuuuu . . For some strange reason completely out of the ordinary, the Demon Lord couldnt immerse himself in the play today. For some reason, Margheritas punishments felt off. As Margherita drove the heel of her shoe into his forehead revealing her thin white lace panties underneath her skirt, the Demon Lord spoke up. Hey, is something bothering you? Margherita responded to the Demon Lords words with just a little more force than she normally would have. What am I hearing from this impertinent mouth? Such children deserve to be punished! Margherita dropped her leg off the Demon Lords forehead and pulled off her blouse and skirt. She tried provoking him while wearing only her bra and panties. She then crouched down. Both of Margheritas hands wrapped around the Demon Lords neck, and she squeezed. This should be Bells favorite play. Ahhh Auou Ahhh Auou Auuuuu Uuuuuu . Lets take a break. The Demon Lord responded calmly from underneath Margheritas butt. Sorry.. You have nothing to apologize for. The Demon Lord sat up, taking a breath, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He beckoned for Margherita to take a seat next to him, studying her expression closely as she moved. Huh? The Demon Lord was finally starting to get excited. But thats strange. They werent doing any kind of play right now. The way the Demon Lords body was reacting confused him more than anything else, so he took another look at Margherita. Ah The Demon Lord noticed. Right now, feelings completely different from the usual arousal he feels when with Margherita were bubbling up. Its similar to the type of desire he feels whenever he takes Berunal. But, there was something else there too. Rather than a sense of sadism or an urge to dominate, there was a heat in him that felt like it was about to explode at any minute. The Demon Lord moved his hand to Margheritas cheek and gently made her face him. Margherita did as he wanted and turned her face towards him, but her gaze was still turned away. Margherita. Hearing her name called, Margherita finally looked at the Demon Lord, seeing herself reflected in his eyes. The Demon Lord slowly inched closer and put his lips overtop hers. His right hand slowly moved down from her cheek and wrapped itself around her back. His left hand meanwhile moved up and supported her head. He pressed his lips more strongly on hers, and the two gradually fell backwards, Margheritas back laying softly on top of the bed with the Demon Lord on top of her. Margheritas mind had gone blank the second she had looked into the Demon Lords eyes. And now just the feel of his lips on hers was swallowing her completely. But then there was the tender embrace of his hand behind her head and then his arm wrapped around her back, keeping her close. She lied back on the bed ready for anything. Right now, the dominatrix Margherita didnt exist. Here she was just a woman who had moved beyond her unfortunate past. The Demon Lord shoved his tongue through Margheritas lips, wrapping his tongue around hers, enjoying the warmth of her mouth and the sweet taste of her drool. After fully enjoying her, the Demon Lord finally released her. He moved his lips to Margheritas ear and lightly bit down. Her whole body convulsed, and a long, hot breath came out. And so the Demon Lord backed up just an inch and whispered into her ear what he would always tell Berunal. Do as youre told, otherwise Ill have to punish you. At that moment Margherita screamed and threw the Demon Lord off of her. The Demon Kings kiss had caused Margheritas whole body to melt. She wasnt used to being the person who got kissed, and the Demon Lords tongue was so sweet, warm, and gentle. She had moved her tongue in turn on instinct, slowly wrapping hers around his. She could feel the power behind the hand holding her head. The strength of the arm pulling her chest closer to his own. When his lips had moved to her ear, a current had shot through her system. There was so much pleasure there she was melting all over again. But then with his words, the past had come crashing down. Every man who had trampled over her, ever injury she took whenever she tried to fight back, each of the myriad of desires that had been hurled at her body. The fear, the resignation, the emptiness that had been engraved on her soul. On reflex she had struck out against the man who overlapped with those from her past, and she screamed. Margheritas breath was short and haggard when she finally said anything to the Demon Lord. Bell, we dont give that kind of service here. Its regrettable, but Im afraid Ill have to ban Bell from ever coming here again. This is goodbye. No.. Yes, now get out! Since youve been such a regular customer theres no need to pay for today! Margherita refused to look at the Demon Lord as she continued to scream, throwing anything she could get her hands on from pillows to towels. Hold on, just what are you saying? Refusing to believe what he was hearing the Demon Lord moved his hand to Margheritas cheek and forced her to look at him once again. And then everything ground to a halt when he saw Margheritas crumpled, tear-stained expression. Its over.. All over..so Even when the Demon Lord tried to find out what was going on, Margherita just kept repeating those words over and over again. Until finally at one point, neither of them would say anything. And then suddenly, it was the receptionists turn to scream. KYAaaaaaa! Somebody! Somebody help me! The Demon Lord and Margherita returned to reality and immediately ran towards the reception desk. At the moment though, the Demon Lord is still naked. Margherita was also only wearing her thin, silk underwear. The receptionist decided on the smart call, and she ran straight for Margherita. She jumped into Margheritas chest, pointing behind her. Those things are all over the city! The receptionist pointed back to the stores entrance where several creatures, each with a head similar to a pumpkin and foul-smelling, rotting bodies slowly advanced on them. Warren was in chaos. Pumpkin headed zombies had popped up all over the city and had started attacking people. Even in Freedom Promenade where the fireworks festival had only just ended. While everyone was still in party mode, guzzling down alcohol, the pumpkin heads appeared out of nowhere and started attacking the soldiers from Wheat Grace. Meanwhile the army from Ceramics had misunderstood the large outbreak of pumpkin heads as a signal to attack. Their march to take the city had already begun. News from the front was immediately transmitted to each member of Warrens Powder Keg. At the same time Wheat Graces peasant militia and Wisdoms magic corps formally resigned from the kingdoms army and offered their assistance to Warren. Leave the city to our allies. Well have to deal with Ceramics here. The other four guildmasters answered Marias instructions and agreed to wait at the war front for Ceramicss army. In town, Wheat Graces soldiers drew their swords as Wisdoms mages activated their golems to meet the pumpkin heads head on. The citizens who hadnt already evacuated to Hope Coast were instructed to hide in their homes as each member of the vigilantes corps who hadnt already been assigned to the front stood guard at each doorway. In the meantime, the pumpkin headss numbers continued to grow more and more. It was like they were sprouting out directly from the ground. And once they were fully grown, they went on a rampage, attacking soldiers at random. It seems like Zakuroma has started making his move. Uuu, thisll be a hell of a show. This was the Kings bedroom. On both sides of the passed out King, a man and woman enjoyed the chaos as it unfolded. CH 174 Bell, at least put this on. Having completely forgotten he was currently nude after the earlier drama, Margherita had to chase down the Demon Lord while carrying a gown underneath her arms. These guys, theyre a kind of plant zombie. After how Margherita had gotten angry and treated him with such disdain, the Demon Lord was thankful that such wonderful targets as these had shown up for him to work through his feelings. Dealing with trash like this here would only pollute the store, the Demon Lord growled, eyeing each of the pumpkin heads, formally called pumpkin zombies, in turn. With a wave of one hand, each of the shambling zombies were frozen in ice, and with a wave of his other hand, he lifted all of them off the ground with telekinesis. Finally he moved the immobile pumpkin heads out of the store, and once they had been relocated onto the street, he shattered them on the spot. Margherita finally managed to catch up to him afterwards and threw the robe over the Demon Lord. She then threw her arms around his waist, pulling the opening closed and tying it off with a belt. Try to be at least a little embarrassed when you run around like this! But the Demon Lord ignored her complaint, turning on her and irritably declaring loud enough for anyone to hear. Miss, no, Margherita!1 Were going to keep talking about this once Ive cleared away all these pumpkins! Im not letting you run away! Ah.. The Demon Lord didnt wait to hear Margheritas reply, running away in the direction the pumpkin heads were coming from. This was Freedom Promenade. A massive outbreak of pumpkin heads had sprouted, and no matter how many the soldiers stationed there killed, they kept coming one after another. Once defeated, the decaying bodies fade away, but the heads shrink down to a pumpkin the size of an adults fist. These pumpkins land at the soldiers feet, disrupting their footing, and making the battle even more dangerous. Wheat Graces soldiers and Wisdoms mages are capable of responding to the threat with their swords and golems, but the problem is it seems like the pumpkin heads are actually growing faster than they can kill them. Mebett is there riding on Ka-kuns back, but because the soldiers are too close to the zombies, the Mechanical Dragon cant use its breath attack and is forced to kill the pumpkin heads one by one with its tail. Marcosia is there aiding in the battle as well with her wolf demon form, but she was having enough trouble guarding Trans Happys entrance where all the normal citizens had evacuated to. And yet despite the situation deteriorating at a rapid pace, there was one girl there who felt completely out of place. Eel grandpa, what kind of game are we playing this time? Sorry little miss, but I dont have time for games right now. Please hurry up and evacuate. No, I want you to play with me more. Should I just erase these pumpkin heads? Well, Id certainly appreciate it at least. Then try saying that earlier grandpa. Until now Ferdinand had been batting away any of the pumpkin heads that had tried attacking Berunal, but he was starting to reach his limit. But that ended when Berunal finally got out of her seat with a smile. She took a step forward, casually standing in front of an attacking pumpkin head. Thats dangerous girl! Ferdinand tried getting between her and the monster, but he already knew he wouldnt make it in time. But Berunal didnt scream, instead only placing her hand over the pumpkin heads pumpkin head. Goodbye. With a simple farewell, the pumpkin head disappeared. A fist-sized pumpkin wasnt even left in its place. It had simply and completely vanished without a trace. Berunal had used her special ability {Deportation} just now. The pumpkin zombies were plants from the Demon Realm, so just like with any other demon, she could force them to abide any order she gave them. Ill go ahead and erase the rest grandpa. Berunal happily turned away from Ferdinand, erasing any pumpkin head that got close to her with little more than a wave of the hand. Disintegrating every single pumpkin that entered into his line of sight, the Demon Lord continued walking towards Freedom Promenade with a frustrated scowl on his face. Margherita silently followed after him while pulling on the receptionists hand. Margherita, when you think about it, its not like you and I had done anything yet. So isnt it strange to have me completely banned from the building!? Bell, how can you talk about that at a time like this!? Thats not important right now! Its important to me! I dont understand whats wrong! I did my best to be kind and gentle! The Demon Lord was getting more and more upset. Before anyone realized, a countless number of fire balls manifested, floating at his back. Ah, Im seriously pissed! The Demon Lord launched the fire balls, each one exploding on impact with a different pumpkin head and killing them instantly. Margherita was flustered, yet she and the receptionist continued chasing after him. The receptionist had been staring at Margherita for a while now, mystified by the expression Margherita was making. Between this never before seen emotion from her boss and the conversation these two were having, the receptionist couldnt help but to think, These two make a cute couple, as the rest of the city fell to pandemonium. On Warrens eastern front. The Ceramics army left behind its lord and his royal guards to begin the march on Warren. The troops thought it was odd that Warrens Guardian Dragon wasnt swooping down on them, but they continued marching as ordered. So then, what should we do? It looks like the back is staying behind to make sure the center doesnt retreat. Izerina, can you still use that one spell? Yes, and I received a wonderful present from the girls as well. Hoh, does this mean theyre expecting something from us? Well, I suppose we can at least hold off these yahoos until they get back. Maria, Theseus, Baltis, Izerina, and Flint instructed the stationed vigilante corps members to hold their positions as the five of them walked to meet the enemy army alone. Once Ceramics noticed the enemy unit, they released a volley of arrows that fell like hail with their superior numbers. {Arrow Protection}! However with their smaller unit, all it took was a single defensive spell from Maria to keep everybody safe. After that came Izerinas turn. {Summon Swamp}! A spring of water appeared right underneath the approaching army, mixing together with the dirt, and dropping hundreds of soldiers into a thick, muddy swamp. Uwaa! What is this!? Oi, those in the back, quit pushing! Oi, stop! It took a moment for those soldiers who hadnt fallen in the swamp to notice what had happened, so continuing to march in line together, those in the back kept pushing more and more people into the water. That spells as amazing as ever. Theseus had on a wide grin with his hand over his forehead to get a good look at Izerinas work. And as for Izerina, Your ring is nothing to scoff at either, she was laughing right alongside him. Well of course. Now here we go. {Summon Electrical Sprites}! Theseus lifted his hand into the air, and after repeating aloud the command word for the ring magical tool he was wearing, over a dozen balls of electricity appeared around him. Yosh, go take a small bath. Dont touch any of the people inside. As if understanding what Theseus was saying, the little electrical balls flew out towards Ceramicss vanguard, landing in the muddy water at their feet. The electrical current ran through, traveling through swamp water in the blink of an eye. And so just like that, each of the soldiers still stuck in the swamp was hit by an electric shock, and they all started to fall, one after another. Looks like we dont have to do anything this time. Someone will need to be terrorized or assassinated eventually. Flint and Baltis were standing in front to protect Maria and Izerina just in case, but as they watched Ceramicss army squirm, they had little to do besides flap their gums. Heeey! Whats happened! A messenger from the army ran back towards Ceramicss lord to report on the recent development. The men hadnt yet reached the enemy army, yet hundreds of them had fallen unconscious after they fell into a swamp with an electrical current running through it. Such a, wake them up, and tell those idiots to advance! As the lord started shouting at his useless subordinates, a voice suddenly echoed inside his mind. Oi, come save me! You lot never told me about this! Whats the matter! I knew setting foot in Warren was a bad idea! My life is over! Just explain whats wrong! Its the Demon Lord and Berudeus! Damn! Gyaa! Zakuromas communication cut off there. The Demon Lord is here..isnt that super bad? The demon disguising himself as Ceramicss lord broke out in a cold sweat. Dangerous, really truly dangerous. Maybe if I keep pretending to be a human he wont notice me? If he were to use any of his demonic abilities poorly right now, he would be easily captured thanks to Berudeuss ability to detect demons. Staying as a human right now should help mask his presence. The lord then ordered his soldiers back, calling off the current attack and instituting a temporary retreat. In the event of the worst case scenario, he had a wall of flesh between him and the Demon Lord to help him escape. Oh, those guys are pulling back. Why? It might be a trap. But well, at least it buys us more time. After seeing the enemy troops withdraw, Baltis and Flint returned to their own army alongside the other three guildmasters. In Freedom Promenade a short time before. Is Master here to play too? Berunal had on a wide grin when she welcomed the Demon Lord after erasing the last pumpkin head. By now Berunal had managed to clear away every single one of them in Freedom Promenade, shocking Wheat Grace and Wisdoms soldiers with her overwhelming strength, especially after how their general had been treating her as just a little girl before. Although when thinking about all the other stories theyd heard concerning Warren before now, the soldiers decided not to mind it too much as they spread out through the rest of the city to kill any other pumpkin heads that remained. Marcosia had already changed back to her beastman form and was sitting down in front of Trans Happy. Mebett was pretty tired herself, and after climbing down the Mechanized Dragon, she started nodding off under the dragons protection. Whos here to play? Anyway Berunal, these things were pumpkin zombies right? Then there should be somebody around here responsible for spreading the seeds, so hurry up and find them. The Demon Lord was able to perform a basic trace while destroying pumpkin heads which is how he ended up back in Freedom Promenade. Berunal was capable of performing a more accurate scan and did so on the Demon Lords instructions. Ah, over there. Berunal turned around and pointed to a stable behind the boutique. Oh, I see him too. Hey you over there, Im not mad, so come on out. After a second passed, a great demon showed himself. So its you then? You planted these pumpkin heads? That is correct My Demon Lord, Berudeus. I am Zakuroma, and planting these pumpkin zombies was my doing. However I never knew My Lord would be here. Please, I beg your forgiveness. The demon fell to his knees and began rubbing his forehead into the dirt. Meanwhile the demons words left all the nearby soldiers along with the women and children hiding inside the nearby buildings in a state of shock. Straw Hat is the Demon Lord? Even Ferdinand was left with his mouth agape at the news. You, so now youre going to just carelessly reveal our true identities? I was thinking Id go easy on you, but your death has already been sealed. The Demon Lords fury reached its zenith, traveling through the air and becoming all too clear for Zakuroma. Eeeeek! Please forgive me! I dont want to end up like Zavnat! The people watching this all from the side were more flabbergasted than ever before. Here was a great demon, strongest of all the demons, bawling his eyes out while digging his head into the dirt as he bowed down to Straw Hat and the Rosen Princess. Just how big of monsters must the two of them actually be? Unfortunately, all this bawling and screaming woke Mebett up from her nap. [???? ??????? ???? ??????] What happened Ka-kun? [??? ????? ???? ??? ? ????? ????? ???? Really? [??????] Mebett jumped on Ka-kuns back, ready for war. Looking around her, she quickly found Great Grandpa Fel, his men, and Marcosia standing next to them. She then saw Margherita and the receptionist standing in front. There was that one guy in his usual straw hat, and the Rosen Princess was there too. Finally she found the demon. Enemy lock on. Ka-kun! {Hailstorm Breath}! In line with Mebetts orders, the Mechanical Dragon fired his strongest breath attack at the great demon without bothering to ask any questions. Scores of ice spears flew out, piercing the demons body and locking down his movements. Then the follow-up Giant Tail Attack! Ka-kun then ran forward as fast as it could, stopping right before the demon and performed a full 180 degree turn. *SQUASH!* What remained of the pitiable great demons body was flattened under the Mechanical Dragons heavy, metal tail. Mebett then turned back to the watching crowd, proudly sticking out two V signs with her fingers to proclaim her glorious victory to all. Amazing Mebett! Berunal broke out into a round of applause, and even the Demon Lord made an impressed Hoh as he admired her gallant figure. Everyone else remained comparatively silent on the matter, unsure of what they should do in this situation. 1. In Japanese, rather than speaking submissively like an M would call an S, the Demon Lords started calling Margherita by her name without any honorifics. Id feel really weird suddenly using honorifics this late in the story, but Ill use them in future works for occasions exactly like this. There are too many people calling other people Nee-san or Jii-san and I feel the constant Sister or Grandpa all over the place is weird. CH 175 This was the Kings bedroom. Any signs of life from Zakuroma have disappeared. That guy was trash among great demons, but he still shouldnt have died that easily. Perhaps there was a repeat of the previous demon slaughter. Maybe so. However, I guess it missed us here. Indeed. So lets do our best to keep this dance going. On both sides of an unconscious king, a man and woman giggled to each other. Meanwhile back in Warren. The turmoil with the pumpkin zombies had finally settled, and Freedom Promenade could calm down. If only that were true. The reality was that nothing was happening here because nobody knew what to do. The rumors had always been there about the famed Straw Hat among Warrens citizenry. How he was the illegitimate child of a lord or a renowned magic teacher. But it turns out he was actually the Demon Lord. Whod have guessed? Certainly the overwhelming power it took to annihilate those pumpkin heads was tremendous. The same could be said for his companion Berunal. But for people, the cold heartless being that announced on a nation-wide broadcast, Your only choice is slavery or death, that is who the Demon Lord is. Its etched into their very souls. And right now, that very man, the Demon Lord is standing right in front of them. And at this very moment, hes.. So why am I suddenly banned!? Obstinate. Those are the rules so it cant be helped! Otherwise Id never be able to show myself to the new girls! Then lets do it once to make it official. What are you saying in a place like this!? Have some shame! Now that you mention it, why are you out here in a sexy outfit exposing yourself in public without my permission!? Youre only wearing a bra and panties! Are you trying to strangle me to death with jealousy!? I dont want to be told that by somebody who was about to run all the way here completely naked! Learn to cover yourself before you go judging others! For Ferdinand, the citizens of Warren, the soldiers of Wheat Grace, or the mages of Wisdom; how could any of them believe the gentle man who had started a lovers quarrel with Margherita before their eyes could possibly be the Demon Lord? And then there was Berunal and Mebett, the two girls standing nearby, completely unconcerned with the heavy air around them, boasting about the number of pumpkin heads they killed. Nobody could move with this kind of atmosphere. Finally, the receptionist made it back to the plaza after returning to Dandys Shangri La, bringing over a change of clothes for Margherita and the Demon Lord along with their belongings. Straw Hat, Margherita, calm down for a second and at least put on some clothes! Reduced to haggard breaths after devolving into a round of cursing at each other, the two bickering adults finally came to their senses after the receptionists scolding. They both took a deep breath. Then they noticed how everyones attention was focused on them, and they instantly felt ashamed. Stop staring! Fall over and die! Quit saying such absurd things! Maron, were borrowing your store to change our clothes! The Demon Lord was still livid about the earlier encounter, but Margherita chided him for his threats, grabbed his hand, and forced him into Trans Happys changing room without a word to the surrounding people. . Well, he doesnt seem like a bad guy at least. After a moment of silence, Ferdinand gave his honest opinion of the Demon Lord. His surrounding soldiers nodded in agreement. Those words acted as a signal, and movement returned to Freedom Promenade. Meanwhile at the vigilantes corps encampment facing off against Ceramicss army. Morale for the soldiers had skyrocketed and cheers of victory echoed through the air when it was reported that all the pumpkin heads in the city had been purged and the great demon that had summoned all of them was killed by Mebett and the Mechanized Dragon. But with the next report, the flame of victory was instantly doused. The Demon Lord has arrived. For a moment, silence encapsulated everything. Then having taken a moment to ready himself for the news, assuming the worst, Theseus asked for a full damage assessment from the messenger. The news was beyond his imagination. The Demon Lord, after quarreling with Miss Margherita in the center of the city where everybody could see, has currently been remanded to Trans Happys dressing room after Margherita dragged him there.. Huh? The worst case scenario. Thats what the soldiers were expecting to hear. Just how many people has the Demon Lord already slaughtered. But when pressed for information, the messengers response was, I dont think hes killed anybody. When you say Margherita, you mean the Thieves Guilds Margherita? The messenger nodded silently at Baltiss question. So what were they fighting about? Flint got a little curious and decided to ask the messenger for a little more information. So apparently it all started when he wanted to have sex with her in the shop which resulted in him being banned. The two of them then ended up leaving the shop while barely clothed after that, and when they got to Freedom Promenade, they started shouting at each other. Then when another girl from the shop brought over a change of clothing, Miss Margherita grabbed the Demon Lords hand, and they both disappeared into a nearby building. So Margherita knew this man already? Yes Miss Maria, he was the unknown man many people have taken to calling Straw Hat. For now, we can only wait and see how the situation develops. Including how accurate this information is. Everyone sighed, forced to follow along with Izerinas words. But then, a ray of light traveled through the air. It was the same effect {Leap City} gives off whenever the Hero fast travels to town. Welcome back Gray! Those who noticed Gray in the city suburbs called out to greet him, but the Hero never responded. He silently passed through the vigilantes forces and headed straight for the Ceramics army. Baltis was the fist guildmaster to notice him and signaled to the others about his appearance. Where is he going? He looks a little off. And that Marionetta girl isnt with him. Flint, Maria, and Theseus spoke their thoughts aloud, compounded Izerinas gut feeling. Hes not coming to meet with us Ive got a bad feeling about this. All five of the guildmasters fell silent. And then those worries became reality. As soon as the Hero joined up with Ceramicss army, he turned on his heels and started walking back towards Warren. At the same time, the entire army restarted their march, closing the distance between them and Warrens vigilantes corps. This time they were careful not to get caught in the still summoned swamp though. After reaching about halfway down the plains, the army halted. The Hero however took another step forward. He then cast a magic on himself to increase the volume of his voice. Slowly and emotionlessly, like he was reading off a cue card he had just been given, Gray recited his demands towards Warren. This is a royal decree. Citizens of Warren. You are to bring me the heads of the five Dragon Maidens and their five dragons so that I may deliver all ten of them to Skycastle. His words caused an uproar throughout the city, but the Hero went on regardless. But if you tell me you dont have the strength to accomplish this, then bring them here, and Ill cut their heads off myself with the strength of the Hero. After a momentary pause, he shouted out in that same emotionless tone. Ellis, for the people of Warren, I ask you to die! The air froze once more. The first to regain his senses, Baltis tapped Marias cheek. She blinked a couple times before using magic to increase the volume of his voice so he could give the Hero a response. Hero! Unfortunately the Dragon Maidens arent in Warren at the moment. Pull back from here. Thieves Guild guildmaster, if thats the case, then bring Ellis and the others here right away! You, have you gone insane? Im completely sane. I am the kings sword, the Hero! And is Marionetta fine with this!? The Hero fell silent as soon as Baltis mentioned that name. Seeing the face he was making, every single member of Warrens Powder Keg immediately realized what was going on here. Shes been kidnapped. Definitely. Well, thats probably right. Hes an idiot. Such a simple guy. Izerina, Maria, Theseus, Flint, and Baltis were all overwhelmed by how easy it was to figure out this Hero. After taking a breath, Baltis gave him an answer. Hero, were looking for Ellis right now, so wait a bit. Okay, be as quick as possible. This guys seriously stupid. That thought rung true in all five of their hearts at that moment. Looking out while not making any effort to look for anybody, they could all clearly see a hat made from whale leather that most likely belonged to Marionetta in the Heros left hand. CH 176 Speaking of which, Bell really was the Demon Lord then Really was, does that mean you suspected me of being the Demon Lord before now then? Yes, Bell did save my life. You were also the one who massacred all those demons when I was attacked. Here, pick up your feet. Inside a small changing room in Trans Happy, Margherita and the Demon Lord had managed to calm themselves down a little bit. Right now they were talking about worldly matters a little more important than just being banned from a building. While they talked Margherita slipped on her clothing as the Demon Lord obediently put on the clothes Margherita laid out for him. Well, it is true Im the Demon Lord. Ah, but, I never said I wasnt the Demon Lord, so I didnt lie or anything. I know. From the first day we met when you insisted on a Demon Lord play I thought what a strange customer I had. When the twos eyes coincidentally met, they both started laughing together. But the laughter quickly stopped for Margherita, and with a now serious face, she asked the Demon Lord a question. By the way Demon Lord, are you really going to try conquering the world? You can still call me Bell. Hm? Conquering the world. Do you want me to conquer the world? What are you The twos conversation was cut off by the resounding shout of the Hero. He was demanding the heads of the Dragon Maidens and their dragons. The order caused Margheritas face to turn a deep shade of blue. This is awful! Whats awful? Do you know about Warrens Jewelry Box? Ah, those are the girls who are always taking care of Berunal. Theyre such nice girls. Well when somebody mentions the Dragon Maidens, theyre talking about them. So why is the Hero suddenly demanding their heads? I need to go see whats going on. Well, then Im going too. When Margherita and the Demon Lord finally left Trans Happy, nobody else was left in the plaza besides Berunal. Just Berunal, Ah, Demon Lord, Ive been waiting for you. Were supposed to hurry up and meet up with Grandpa. and she was standing there with a wide grin across her face. So pulled along by both Margherita and Berunal, the Demon Lord was dragged to where the sound of the Heros shout had come from. Uwaa! The Demon Lord! Just scooch over a bit! Straw Hat, is it a lie that youre the Demon Lord? Beats me! The Demon Lord took the lead with the girls, breaking through the gathered crowds while deflecting their questions, pushing past the assembled vigilantes corps, and taking a spot next to Warrens Powder Keg. Ferdinand and Alphonse had already arrived there themselves. Despite noticing his arrival, nobody there on the front could quite believe that this man in a farmers garb who looked so natural wearing a straw hat could truly be the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord on his part ignored the stares coming his way, only looking at where the voice had come from. Huh!? The Demon Lords voice leaked out in astonishment. He then quickly used magic to increase the volume of his own voice before shouting at the Hero. Oi Mother-con, you, why are you playing around in a place like that!? Suddenly hearing a familiar voice, the Hero found where the voice was coming from and reflexively responded. What, Straw Hat, what are you doing over there? I came here to play with Margherita. By the way, I dont see your beloved red-haired girl anywhere. Shut up! Ah, you let her dump you! You idiot~! You moron, dont go deciding that Marionetta hates me on your own! Be quiet Mother-con. By the way, seriously, what are you doing over there? Knock it off with the Mother-con this, Mother-con that already! Im the Hero, Hero Gray! Really? Really! The Demon Lord turned to Margherita, pointed at the Hero, and made one final check. Hey, is that guy really the Hero? And Margherita silently nodded. The Demon Lord wasnt sure what to do. The Hero is supposed to be really strong, so the Demon Lord didnt want to meet him until all his equipment had been prepared. And he never would have thought the nice Mother-con was the Hero. At the same time, there was one small detail there that irritated him, preventing him from backing down. Hey, arent you embarrassed demanding the heads of a bunch of little girls, or is this what it means to be the Hero? Be quiet, its a royal decree. Hoh, then if the King told you to pull down your pants and do a handstand with your underwear hanging around you ankles, would you do it? Would you break up with Marionetta? Youre a real dumbass arent ya. His words, especially the second half cut the Hero deeply, turning him livid. I told you to shut your mouth! The Hero drew his sword there and then, and with all the rage that had been building up inside him, swung it at Straw Hat. Get down! Sensing what was coming, Baltis shouted out an order to the others to try and avoid the Heros attack. But, in the next moment, they ended up seeing something unexpected. What, how tepid. I was expecting more. The slash of energy from the Hero that had managed to easily cut down a great demon was caught by a man in a straw hat and dissipated into the air. You, what are you! Stopping himself from performing another certain death slash, Gray dumbfoundedly asked his friend for an explanation. And in response, Hmm, I wonder. Let me give you a hint, the Demon Lord started reciting his spell. Ancient evil, distort space and time at my discretion. {Closed Dimension}! The Hero was trapped in a translucent box of light, Watchdogs from Hell, follow your desires and devour everything before you. {Hungry Brother}! and a number of hell hounds were summoned, one after another around him. Each dog showed its fangs, leaping at the Hero intent on devouring him. It was a sight that shocked every single citizen from Warren who had been there during the demon massacre in town. However after glowing for a moment, the extra dimensional barrier shattered into thousands of tiny pieces. Id rather not butcher any dogs. Im an animal lover. The Hero stepped forward as if nothing had happened, but he now looked a little lonely as he spoke to his friend. Straw Hat, youre the Demon Lord. This is disappointing. I always thought of you as a good friend. But, I will put an end to your ambitions of conquering this world! Stupid, what are you acting all high and mighty for? What were you about to do before stopping me from conquering the world? What a virtuous man you are cutting down a group of wonderful girls! Silence Demon Lord! Ill defeat you here and now! The Heros fighting spirit suddenly rose up. You shut up! Im going to enjoy my life with Margherita! At the same instant, a powerful barrier formed around the Demon Lord. Well I want to enjoy a cup of tea with Marionetta you dumbass! The Hero held out his sword once again, and this time with a strength that far exceeded before, he brought his blade down. {Heroic Mega Slash}! The Demon Lord hit back with an accumulated mass of magic power. {Black Longinus}! Two energies of black and white collided against each other in the center of the open plain releasing an explosion of flashing lights and an ear-shattering roar. The very air trembled as the earth shook. The two opposing forces were completely equal. The energy rebounded against itself, exploding outwards eliminating everything around it. The troops from both Warren and Ceramics watching the battle instinctively closed their eyes and grit their teeth as the light swallowed them whole. The singular thought, Im dead, rose into all of their minds. But the Demon Lords barrier protected the people of Warren from the blast while the Heros exuded fighting spirit protected Ceramicss army. In the end, nobody was hurt from the blast. This was all coincidental however. In this situation, if either the Hero or the Demon Lord were to lose, then every single person standing behind them would surely die. But at this point, there was nowhere anybody could try to escape to. What, your barks worse than your bite. The next one will be even stronger! The Hero struck the Demon Lord with a bluff, but in his heart, I still have the giga slash, but if he can stop that one too. he was feeling quite troubled. You call that swordplay? I can counter that all day and not even feel it! The Demon Lord returned the Heros taunt, Dangerous, that guys attacks are simple but way too nasty. Any spells that require a chant are out but he was sweating just as badly as Gray. The two men glared at each other. . The Hero was the first of them to move. Sorry, but Im short on time. Im giving everything I have in this next one. The Demon Lord responded with a smile. Then hurry it up. Youre going to end up bald before this is done the rate its falling out. . . Lets go! Hmph! The moment the Hero moved and the Demon Lord readied himself to intercept the attack, *POP* a small water balloon burst over the twos heads. Water dripping from the ends of their hair, soaking their shoulder, both of the mens brains stopped working for a moment as a resounding, Calm down! echoed in their ears. In the next moment, the Dragon Maidens Golden Mistress slowly descended in front of the Hero. As soon as her feet touched the ground, the little girl turned around and pointed at the Demon Lord. Margherita, Berunal, restrain the Demon Lord for a little bit. Having regained his senses, the Demon Lord realized just how ridiculously he had been acting. He tried walking towards the little girl, but Margherita and Berunal each grabbed one of his arms, stopping him in his tracks. Settle down Bell! This looks like itll be fun Master. The little girl then turned towards the Hero. It was like the girls eyes could see right through him causing the Hero to unintentionally glower back at her. One life for an entire city certainly sounds like a reasonable trade! Take my head then! Suddenly making a declaration loud enough for everyone to hear, the little girl in a white blouse and red jumper skirt turned her back to the Hero and sat down in the dirt. She then pushed up her hair so the Hero could have full view of her neck. Cut me right around here. Please make it quick and painless. Both Ceramics and Warrens armies were taken aback by her words. Just what was she accepting so easily! But after that moment of shocked silence, Warren erupted. You moron! Ellis, what are you saying!? Have you gone insane Miss Ellis!? Get over there you guys! We have to save Ellis before its too late! Warrens army tried marching forward, but they hadnt traveled two meters before the Lady Bluegreen descended down and stood in their way. People of Warren, we appreciate your feelings, but this is the young ladys will. So stop, stay where you are! While saying so Reeve drew out her katana and held it at the ready. Her eyes kept the entire army from moving, and her next words, Just keep quiet and watch, kept them from voicing any complaints. So then you stupid, dim, gutless Hero, please keep it down to a single strike. Ellis stretched out her neck a little more, slapping it with her hand to provoke the Hero a little more. The Hero stared at the nape of Elliss neck to the point that his gaze alone was liable to bore a hole into it. The fight he had prepared himself for had suddenly turned into an execution. He tried desperately to focus all his concentration on that singular point, but try as he might, the Hero saw more than a neck. The girl was too small, small enough that he couldnt see her as anything other than an innocent. Sitting there ready for her death, she was so small, yet her back looked so large. Meanwhile his heart was strangling itself in trying to prepare to lop off this girls head. Yeah, I am stupid, dim, and gutless too. But, what am I supposed to do? Marionetta, Im sorry.. The Hero let his sword fall. There was a cold thud as the steel hit the ground and rolled away from his feet. . Gray barely managed to squeeze out his next words to Ellis. Ellis, Im sorry for the trouble. Ill go back to Skycastle now. You pass. Huh? In the next moment, Marionetta fell from the sky towards the Hero, tears streaking her face and a large smile on her face. Gray, I love you! CH 177 Gray reflexively caught Marionetta as she suddenly fell from the air and held her close to his chest. Marionetta, youre safe..? Yes, Ellis and the others rescued me. Hey Gray, have you forgotten already? The vow you made that night with the Sabbath. Who is the Hero? I am But, Im happy You didnt try to kill Ellis for my sake.. Thank youI want to be with you until the end. Whispering her truest wish, Marionetta hugged Grays head to her chest, tears rolling down her cheeks into his hair. I.I.. The Hero broke down and began to cry into Marionettas breast. It was all he could think to do. We dont have time for your tears. Ellis chided Gray once again and pointed towards Warrens army. At the same time, a break appeared in the armys ranks, and an old man walked forward supported on both sides by Frau and Katie. That man was Joe J. Skycastle VIII himself. Going back in time a bit before the turmoil with the pumpkin heads had ever broken out, Ellis and the other girls had managed to sneak into Skycastle. Their purpose was to rescue Duke Marsfield. They were able to break into the castle with ease, holding their breath and arriving as quietly as possible in the castles waiting room. During that second audience with the King, Ellis had thought she might need to break in here someday, so she and Claire set up a magic circle in the waiting room. Then using a Ring of Return they had received from Izerina, they were able to teleport from Warren to Skycastle with ease. They had also received a confidential sketch of the castles layout from Sir Chaffee to make the operation run smoothly. But then a signal came through. Were changing the strategy. The Jewelry Box left for Stewarts home which they had used as a secret base in the past. From there Ellis changed into her Abyssal leather equipment, and with Ra-chin on her back, she disappeared into the darkness. Meanwhile Claire followed Elliss directions and followed after the signal they had received. When Skycastles Thieves Guilds guildmaster suddenly announced the dissolution of the guild, he became the most wanted man in Skycastle. Thats why while saying, The guildmaster is our benefactor, Gise left the party to try and smuggle him back to Warren. The remaining Gray and Marionetta couldnt head to Warren by themselves, so they waited in their hideout until Gise came back. It was then that the Hero showed his negligence. Im going out for a bit to grab something for my stomach. Ah, Ill go with you. No, Gise might come back while were gone, so you should wait here. But. Its fine. Ill be back soon. It was during this short time Marionetta was alone that she was targeted by the demons. When the Hero returned to his hideout, a note was left on the desk reading, Come to the Sabbath Proxy Service office, sitting next to Marionettas favorite hat. Where have you taken Marionetta!? The Hero Gray burst through the offices front door, the volume of his voice far surpassing the noise of the door splintering off its hinges. I can hear you just fine. Theres no need to make all this noise Gray. The demon posing as Cliff sat next to the demon posing as Dams and greeted the Hero when he finally arrived. Sorry, but the King has a new royal decree for you, and if we didnt go this far, you wouldnt have paid it any attention right? Cliff handed over a letter to the Hero while wearing an irritating smile. The letters instructions were short and simple. Bring a total of ten heads belonging to the five Dragon Maidens and their five dragons to Skycastle royal palace. Who would do such an idiotic thing!? The Hero was getting worked up into a rage, but Cliff continued smiling like usual. And yet what will befall the poor Marionetta if such an idiotic thing doesnt get done? The Hero grabbed Cliff by the collar and lifted him towards the ceiling. I wonder what will befall you if anything happens to Marionetta. Dont you worry, making you an enemy is the last thing I want. Mis ? ter ? He ? ro Cliff went on. An army from Ceramics is currently stationed east of Warren even as we speak. You can meet up with them and attack the city while youre at it. Shut up! Whoa, scary scary. But, if you dont head over quickly, I cant say what will happen to Marionetta. The demon watching her might be getting hungry right about now. Tch! The Hero clicked his tongue and immediately flew to Warren using {Leap City}. Well then, should we head back to the royal palace as well? Cliff and Dams left their office together, heading back to their comrades in the Kings bedchambers. All of this without any of them ever noticing Ellis hiding herself in the ceiling. Ellis had given Marionetta a Howling Plush Toy finger puppet to use in times of emergency. Marionetta had activated the magic tool when she was kidnapped, transmitting everything she and her kidnapper said to Ellis and the others. Thats why the Jewelry Box split in two. Ellis secretly tailed Gray from their hideout to see what the demons wanted from him while Claire used {Find Marker} to determine Marionettas position. All right, from here on its a race against time. Once again Ellis and the girls found themselves in the royal palaces waiting room. Ellis started out by locating the room where Duke Marsfield was being imprisoned. Uncle, sorry to interrupt your vacation, but its time to come out now. Ugh, its that time already? Then I guess Ill head home. The two of them shared a joking greeting between each other before immediately returning to the waiting room using the Ring of Return. Once he was safe, they explained to him the plan going forward with the Hero. Well theres no point in having you girls imprisoned after all! After laughing energetically like a man who hadnt just been imprisoned in a dungeon for a couple weeks, Duke Marsfield gave the girls a solemn bow. Ill leave Skycastles fate in your hands. Ellis continued slinking through the castle until she found the room where Marionetta was being held prisoner. Marionetta was tied up in one corner of the room, a gag covering her mouth with her hands and feet bound. A lower grade demon had been put in charge of watching her. Ellis drew her stiletto knife and silently snuck up on the demon. Not bothering to ask any questions, she slid the blade into its back. The demon fell forward unable to even scream as Ellis helped Marionetta to her feet and removed the gag. Are you fine? Yes. But more importantly, Gray Oh that idiot. He needs to be punished a little bit, so Im going to need you to be patient. ..okay.. Ellis jumped back to the waiting room with her ring and instructed both Marsfield and Marionetta to wait there. Well then, with the Hero gone, nows our best chance! Lets start the main event! Ellis, Reeve, Frau, Claire, and Katie all moved to the Kings bedroom. Cliff and Dams arrived inside the Kings bedchambers just as a conversation appreciating what the Hero was about to do had formed. Any signs of life from Zakuroma have disappeared. That guy was trash among great demons, but he still shouldnt have died that easily. Perhaps there was a repeat of the previous demon slaughter. Maybe so. He wouldnt have stood a chance against the Hero. Indeed. But lets see how the Hero finishes his dance going forward. On both sides of an unconscious king, a man and woman giggled to each other. Suddenly the bedroom door burst open, and several people rushed into the room. One of the intruders shouted at the bed. Demons! Prepare to meet your ends! Arent you being awfully rude in front of the King? The Peach-looking demon gracefully gestured behind her to draw the intruders attention towards the royal hostage she had. But when she turned around, she was met with a sight that caused her eyes to open wide in shock. Sitting right next to her was a blonde little girl holding onto the King. Meeting Peachs gaze, the girl gave a wicked smile capable of making even a demon quiver with rage and fear. The little girl was looking down on her as if she were a fool before saying, After all demons, this is goodbye. Then in the blink of an eye, the little girl and the King disappeared from view. Tch! Peach and the other demons realized quickly how their situation had been reversed. But if that was the case, then theyd just have to start over. For now they only needed to kill the intruders and look for another chance to take power again. Well then Miss Intruders, well just have to reverse the situation back into our favor. Peach, the Nightmare Dragon, Cliff, and Dams all crawled out of bed and returned to their original demon forms. Who will be my opponent? Dams turned into a large great demon and was the first to step forward. Intent on facing him one on one, Frau moved to meet him with an amused expression on her face. Okay Dams, if youre asking, Ill happily cut you down today. I hate fighting though. Saying that despite his wide grin, Cliff returned to his original demonic form and followed after Dams with several {Flame Bullets} floating behind him. I guess I should fight you. Claire activated several of her own {Flame Bullets} and pointed her left hand towards Cliff. My oh my, you humans sure are stupid. The Nightmare Dragon retook his original from as a nightmare incubus with the body of a horse and the head of a dragon. Well Im a clever beastman, and Ill be your opponent nya. Katie happily snorted, putting up her hands and drawing out her claws ready for battle. I am me, and you are you. But, the leftover memory from when this woman lost to you is still quite irritating. Peach shed her skin like a molting snake revealing the true beautiful and bewitching nightmare succubus underneath. Theres no harm done when you lose a singing competition. But this loss is going to leave you dead. Reeves face was expressionless as she drew her sword, readying a stance with her blade in front of her eyes. You could hardly call it a fight. Frau ignored the blade of her halberd, instead using the full force of the weapon to strike a strong blow to her opponents head. Disoriented and unable to move, the demon could do nothing as the next strike shattered his body and left him dead on the floor. Claire released a flurry of {Flame Bullets} to match with Cliffs. Each bullet canceled out the other, but it only took a second for the sheer number of bullets Claire had made to overwhelm the demons attack and burn him to ash. Katie lunged forward before her opponent could move, and with the equipment of a Demon Lord, she gouged out his neck, then his front legs, then his wings, and finally his hind legs to ribbons. The demon collapsed, a pile of bloody shredded ribbons. In a flash Reeve drew her sword and decapitated the succubus. With a second stroke, she cut the demons body in half from the neck down. Its head rolled to her feet, a smile still on its face. Immediately turning on their heels with the trash cleaned up, the girls returned to the waiting room. There, Ellis was nursing the now conscious King as Marsfield urged him to sign off on two new royal orders. Once the last of the preparations had been finished, Ra-chin was made to take his human form, and as Ellison, he was put in charge of carrying His Majesty. Afterwards everyone left the castle, joining up with Sir Chaffee and Stewart who were waiting for them. They had already gathered their forces and were prepared to storm the castle. Duke Marsfield took the helm, leading his retainers back into the castle with both of the recently signed royal orders in hand. In the castles grand hall, he would announce for all to hear about the reinstatement of civil rights for all beastmen, and the declaration of how Duke Marsfield was to be crowned as the next king active immediately. Meanwhile Ellis and the now dethroned Joe J. Skycastle immediately returned to the mansion in Warren using a different Ring of Return to begin the preparations for the upcoming show. All to teach the Hero a lesson. To keep him from doing whatever he wanted. And so Ellis was willing to make a bet. She knelt down and showed her neck to the Hero. Should the Hero give in and turn his blade against Ellis, then Ellis would escape at the last instant and take Marionetta hostage. If she couldnt kill the Hero, she would force him to commit suicide and be done with him that way. Obviously Marionetta wasnt let in on this particular portion of the plan. But Elliss bet had paid off in the end. It was her complete victory. CH 178 A relieved expression on his face despite how weary and haggard he looked, the older man being supported by Frau and Katie made a solemn declaration for all to hear. We are your king, Joe J. Skycastle VIII. Everything we say next will be a royal decree. At his words, everyone with the exception of the Demon Lord and Berunal knelt before the king. The united army of Ceramics, Wisdom, and Wheat Grace will retreat immediately. Once again Wisdoms Alphonse and Wheat Graces Ferdinand bowed their heads. However the lord of Ceramics never showed himself. But the King continued on. Hero Gray. From this moment on, there will be no connection between you and the Skycastle royal family. Young Hero, you may live wherever you so choose. The Demon Lord had held no interest in what was going on until now. At this new order, he turned his head to the King and sarcastically asked, Hey king of the Almerian continent, do you not need the Heros divine protection anymore? The King gave a slow but measured response. Demon Lord, if you truly wish to conquer the world, the Hero will stop you. That fact doesnt change whether the royal family has him under our thumb or not. Is that different from what you were expecting? Hmph The Demon Lord snorted happily. He then turned towards the Hero and gave his own ridiculous decree. Yo, Mother-con The Hero and Ellis both turned towards the Demon Lord at the same time when they heard his voice. The Hero and the King have both moved just as I wanted them to. This guys the last obstacle. Ellis muttered to herself in her heart, waiting for what the Demon Lord was going to say next. And he moved exactly as she hoped he would. Oi Mother-con, stop being the hero. Stop aiming to kill me. Do that, and Ill give up on trying to conquer the world. Eh? The Demon Lords sudden declaration made every soldier in the Warren army, the united Ceramics army, and even the Hero take a step back. Ellis was the only one who reacted differently, doing a small guts pose beneath anybodys notice. The obviously surprised Hero removed his head from Marionettas chest and tried questioning the Demon Lords true motives. Are you really fine with this after making that declaration to the entire continent? Arent you taking this decision a little lightly? Yeah, I never really had any interest on conquering the world. I was more focused on killing you before you came to kill me. Because of my subordinates incompetence, I was summoned to this world without any of my memories. So well, Id really like to spend all my time here enjoying myself. Ellis was gloating to herself. After all the Demon Lord was moving exactly as she had expected him to. But she still had to make sure, so Ellis put on a small play. But Demon Lord, what about all the remaining demons? Ah, Ill release all those guys from being my subordinates. But, I wont kill all of them. Maybe some of those demons will choose to enjoy their lives? But that doesnt apply to these guys here. The Demon Lord answered Elliss question with a serious face before pondering something for a second and raising his right hand. A few soldiers from Ceramicss army started to scream as they floated up into the air. Among these soldiers was Ceramicss lord who had hidden himself within his army. Subsequently, each of them was returned to their true, demonic forms by the Demon Lords will. These guys ignored my orders, so Ill deal with them personally. Making his declaration, the Demon Lord then addressed the demons lightly floating through the air. You all, didnt I order you to not attack Warren? Every single one of the demons floating in the air nodded their heads. Then why have you disobeyed my orders? Thats because, ah, oh yeah, thats right. Its all Zabine and Zaspards fault! All we did was accept their invitation! Ah gotcha. Thats really sad for you. It is right? So please be merciful. Yeah okay. I can sympathize with you guys actually. The Demon Lord raised his left hand. {Disintegrate Demon}! The pitiable demons floating in the air were all instantaneously turned to dust and carried off by the wind. That should be good enough right? I made sure there was no pain involved. The Demon Lord then turned towards Berunal. Just who are these Zabine and Zaspard? Berunal had to think for a moment, but with a clap of her hands, she was able to answer the Demon Lord once she had finally remembered. Zabine is a nightmare succubus and Zaspard is a nightmare incubus. Theyre two of our top executives. Hmph, then they need to be punished as well. Um, Demon Lord Huh? Oh, Bell is just fine, er, Ellis? Is this the first time youve spoken to me? Thank you for always taking such good care of Berunal. Please dont mind it. Its no trouble at all. By the way, please dont get mad. Hm? What happened? So, if Zabine is a nightmare succubus and Zaspard is a nightmare incubus, its possible they might already be dead. Huh? As Ellis shrunk back from him as if she were afraid, the Demon Lord tried processing her words in his head while turning to Berunal. Were they weak? They were more or less my number two and three. Hmm The Demon Lord once again turned towards Ellis. Did Ellis beat them? No, it was the dragons. I see. Well, I dont really care. Putting pointless details aside, the Demon Lord turned back towards the Hero. So if you quit being the Hero, Ill quit being the Demon Lord. But Im not going to apologize or try to atone for the murdering or looting my men have already committed. And Im not going to take responsibility for anything those other demons do once Ive given up control of them. Ill leave dealing with them to the rest of you. So how about it? If you dont like it, we can always restart our fight. Everyone there turned their gazes towards the Hero. But Gray remained silent. He was kneeling down in front of Marionetta, his face once again buried in her chest. Marionettas hands and her heartbeat gently wrapped around his head. The Hero, Gray, was troubled. He couldnt decide what the right answer was. What does it even mean to stop being the Hero in the first place? It was a question that was too hard for Gray to figure out. But then the mage Marionetta lifted the Heros face off of her chest. She knelt down on the ground next to him and looked him right in the eyes. You dont need to be the Hero to be on the peoples side. Gray, youre my hero. She leaned in, placing her lips on top of his, calming the Heros nerves. Afterwards she brought her lips to his ear and whispered a small spell to him. Come, Gray! Marionetta pushed on his back, and Gray rose to his feet. With a puffed out chest, Gray turned towards the Demon Lord. A world without a Demon Lord doesnt need a Hero. Ill be an ally of the weak no matter what. My name is Gray! Complaints be damned! After a moment of silence, the surrounding crowds exploded with delight. So, is this place truly a paradise? When Katie had first been put in charge of supporting the King, she had spent a good deal of time talking up Hope Coast. Now as the King continued wasting away and looking closer and closer to death, he asked her about it a second time to which she replied with a wide smile. I promise nya. Well give the tattered, constantly played with King our best room nya. Well start by restoring your stamina with some fish porridge and a round of sunbathing nya. I see, it sounds fun. Youre not the King anymore, so you should loosen your shoulders and enjoy life nya. Thats right. I feel bad for Jack, but I think Ill do just that. The King made a wry smile for his younger brother who should be struggling to fix things in the capitol even as they speak. Alphonse, what should we do with Ceramics? We can appoint their highest ranking general as the acting commander once things have calmed down. Things would be difficult if we tried anything now. In that case Ill take care of them for the time being. Thank you for doing so, Ferdinand. After a brief conversations, Alphonse and Ferdinand agreed that Ferdinand would take care of the 5000 Ceramics troops who had just lost their lord. Ordering his own 500 men to follow him, Ferdinand took a position in front of the Ceramics army. The soldiers had already been surprised by the long march they had been made to take, and now that it has been revealed that their lord was replaced by a demon, their morale had fallen to the pits. Hmm, they cant return to Ceramics like this. Ferdinand grabbed the doll hanging at his waist and started talking into it. Maria, can you hear me? Loud and clear Ferdinand. Can you prepare enough alcohol for 5000 people? Leave it to me. Itll be a piece of cake compared to making 18,000 meals a day. Im grateful. Once his conversation was over, Ferdinand yelled as loud as he could so that as many of Ceramicss soldiers could hear him as possible. Yosh, were going to rest here for the day! Warrens gone on and prepared us some alcohol! The rest of the day is going to be a no-holds-barred party inside the city! The men from Wheat Grace scattered out, explaining what was going on to all the soldiers who either couldnt hear what Ferdinand was saying or didnt know what he meant. Its been a tiring day, so lets cut loose and enjoy ourselves. Lets start by moving all these supplies. Itll be easy with this many people. That guys our general. Hes an old coot who cant get enough of parties. Thanks to the carefree smiles of the Wheat Grace soldiers, the men from Ceramics could finally relax a little. Everyone was finally convinced that this country-wide battle was finished. The tension in the air suddenly softened. So Margherita, Im going to release the other demons in a bit. Prepare yourself because Im coming by your place later. Ill sprinkle some salt at the entrance. I wonder if I should hang some garlic too. Now that things had calmed down, the Demon Lord and Margherita returned to their bickering. Gray, lets go home. Of course, of course. Sorry, sorry. What are you apologizing for? Starting tomorrow, lets share a cup of tea and think about what to do from now on. Right, right. Marionetta and Gray slowly started back towards their apartment. Well well, thats one problem settled. Ellis took one last glance towards Marionetta and Gray before joining back up with Reeve, Frau, Katie, and Claire. They had all gathered together in the sky, ready to guide the former king to his new residence. But suddenly there was a loud crack in the air loud enough to shatter somebodys eardrums. There was a bright flash of light as Berunal burst apart. Afterwards, a large swirling hole formed in the sky above Warren. CH 179 This was heaven. Just a short while ago the conclusion of a grand Hero VS Demon Lord battle in a certain world had been reached. Oh, how did it go? the God of Warriors walked over to check the display board. Im feeling confident this time, the God of Mages approached the display board full of self-assurance. Huh? Eh? The two gods doubted their eyes when they saw the results posted in front of them. It was showing an outcome that theyd never seen before. The words shown across their display panel were as follows: Because both participants have abandoned the match, both participants will be branded as losers. Match Result: Double Loss Oi, what is this!? Hold on a minute, this isnt right! The God of Warriors and God of Mages both got a bad taste in their mouths. There were only supposed to be three possible endings in this game of gods. The Hero wins, The Demon Lord wins, and A draw from mutual death. In the case where the Hero wins, an angel is meant to bless the Hero, honor his achievements, and urge the populace to come forward and further their development under Gods grace. Should the Demon Lord wins come about, then an angel would descend and vanquish the Demon Lord on the Heros behalf. The angel would then preach to the people about Gods greatness which would further enhance their religion. In the case of a draw, the angel will step forward to the people on the behalf of the deceased Hero and lead them to a more peaceful future under Gods name. However never before in the realm of heaven had they ever heard of a double loss ending where both the Hero and the Demon Lord remained in the world with their superior abilities in tact. The God of Warriors and the God of Mages were getting more and more flustered. Neither of them knew how this world would develop in the future. We dont have a choice. Well, well be fine so long as we keep quiet about it. The Gods of Warriors and Mages went to work right away. That was when the God of Thieves came in to check the display board. Oh, God of Warriors, God of Mages, what are you doing? But then he saw what was in the God of Warriorss hand, the color of his eyes changed suddenly. Oi, you two, what do you think youre doing!? We have no other choice. Be quiet for a bit. The God of Warriors carried in his hand the Horn of the End. Also known as the Reset Switch. This was the plains east of Warren, a place that was a battlefield until just a short time ago. Just beyond was the lake. That was slightly surprising. What appeared was a fearless-looking man with raven black hair and porcelain white skin. He was dressed in pure white armor with a long spear in his right hand and a kite shield in his left. Additionally, ten wings sprouted from his back pointing skywards. You surprised me, but whats with that form? Berudeus? Ah, Demon Lord, it has been a long time. For the record, my true name is Beruiel. Please dont make the mistake again. It doesnt really matter anyway, but before that, is this form some kind of joke? Ah, this? Its the formal dress for every Doomsday Angel. Were you unaware? I was. So, why are you dressed like that now? Its because of that loud noise a short bit ago. And whats that? Thats the sound from the Horn of the End. Its a signal to destroy the world. At its call, every angel is forced into battle formations. While answering the Demon Lords questions, Beruiel kept his ever uninterested tone while pointing to the sky above with the end of his spear. In the short time nobody had been watching, the area above Warren had been filled completely by angels who carried a similar look to Beruiel. The people down below lost themselves within the sublime atmosphere that came from angels filling the sky. All except for the Demon Lord and the Dragon Maidens. Ra-chin, what is that? Earlier that Beruiel said they were here because of the Horn of the End. This is really bad. Whys that? It means those angels are here to destroy the world. As if answering Ra-chins words, a voice resounded down towards the people on the ground. Defeated Hero, Defeated Demon Lord, and all those who support them, perish according to Gods will. A countless number of glowing spears began to rain down towards the city. The people below fell into a panic. Naturally. All of the sudden a bunch of angels magically appeared in the sky telling everyone they were all going to perish. Hey, what is this!? Gray quickly readied his defenses and protected the nearby soldiers from the falling spears of light. In response the angels flew down to the ground, physically attacking Gray with their spears one after another. Gray warded off each of their strikes with his sword, continuously asking, Why!? over and over again. But the angels ignored his voice. They were like dolls emotionlessly moving with a single directive. Kyaa! The Hero turned around when he heard Marionettas scream and beheaded the angel that was trying to attack her without hesitation. The body of the headless angel disappeared into a plume of smoke. Ill kill you. Gray broke. Hey, Beruiel, are these guys my enemies? Yes, my Demon Lord. They look like theyd be your friends though. And yet theyre not with me. I have no connection with some dolls who have no minds of their own. So its death then. The Demon Lord stretched out his barrier blocking every spear of light no matter how many the angels threw down. From there he began casting his spells. This is really serious. Like this well have no choice but to prepare ourselves. Returned to his original form, Ra-chin used his back to keep bouncing away the spears of light as Ellis took cover under his belly. Those guys, theyre really important-looking. But this is our world. Reeve, lets rampage together. Its time for us to join in on the battle Frau. Lets use our ultimate release! Lets invite these angels for a walk by the lake and freeze them all together, right, Katie! Aah! Bring out my ultimate release Clarie! Ellis, its about time to turn the tables on them. I suppose Ra-chin. Im afraid I dont quite care to see an apocalypse. Ellis smiled from underneath the Land Dragons stomach while changing from her favorite blouse and jumper skirt to her Abyssal equipment. One by one the soldiers rose to their feet, perplexed by the sudden battle that had broken out between the former Hero and Demon Lord with the suddenly materialized angels. Were going to be killed if things are left like this. With those words etched into their souls, the human armies began fighting against the angels as well. And at the head of those armies, Warrens Powder Keg stood tall to greet the angel swarm. Youre being too unreasonable telling us to die so suddenly. Someone who attacks without question shall be cut down without question in turn. But this long sword seriously cuts really well. As expected of a weapon adorned with both Flying Phoenix and Exorcism. Ive been waiting for this. My great ax has been thirsting for blood all day! Ahh, this is really bothersome. Cant I just go home? The composure of Maria, Izerina, Theseus, Flint, and Baltis allowed each of the soldiers to calm themselves. It took several soldiers to defeat a single angel, but thanks to the methods they had developed to combat demons several times more powerful than them, they were able coordinate their efforts and crush their enemies. The Dragon Maidens werent about to be outdone. Were meant to be the heralds. Of course Reeve. Reeve was the first to make her move, riding on Su-chans back she laughed as they maneuvered through the crowded airspace and shot off their ultimate release into a large mass of angels. {Summon Hurricane}! A summoned tornado raged through sky, swallowing up angels, tearing them apart, and tossing them to the ground below. Meanwhile Katie and Ah-nyan stood below next to the nearby lake as if waiting for this very moment. Lets go Katie Then in one shot nya. {Summon Absolute Zero}! Concurrently with Katies spell, the lake was frozen over, turning into a pure white landscape openly welcoming the countless falling angels. But the second they touched the lake, each angel froze immediately and quickly shattered under their own weight. Ellis, were going too. Then lets knock them down! Answering Ra-chins shout, Ellis locked on to her targets over head. {Summon Volcano}! The ground swelled before her one moment, and in the next numerous volcanic bombs were launched into the sky. The explosions from the bombs knocked the angels out of the sky as the splattering molten rock burned them to a crisp. Were going to help the other soldiers. I understand Frau! Frau and Fe-rin aimed for the angels hanging just overhead who were already in a fierce battle with the soldiers. {Summon Fire Bird}! With Frau on his back, the Phoenix Dragon was wrapped up in a row of crimson flames. Then just as they were, the two plunged themselves into the heat of battle. As the crimson flames licked past, the soldiers found their wounds being healed as the angels had their flesh seared and charred. Claire, over there would be good! Pi-tan picked out a good location for his attack and sent a telepathic message up to Claire. {Share Sight}! {Fixed Point}! Here it is, our attacks grand debut! {Summon Black Hole}! With Claires shout, a tiny black spot appeared in the middle of a throng of angels. Although it may be small, the truth was it had the mass to create a super heavy gravitational pull. The surrounding angels were sucked in as if their entire bodies were being forced through a tiny hole. Heroic Giga Slash! With a single blow from Grays sword he was able to instantly wipe out a countless number of angels as they tried landing on the ground. Its really nice having the time to cast my spells. Meanwhile the Demon Lord was smiling as he began to cast his most heinous spell. I spit on Heaven, I spit on the world, I spit on life, I spit on death! Doubt the world! Doubt yourself! Doubt everything that ever was! {Dimensional Turbulence}! With the end of the Demon Lords spell, the colors of the angels dotting the sky suddenly reversed like a shadow image. In the next moment, the entire sky was dyed white before suddenly going black, and finally returning to normal. The only noticeable difference was that there were no angels left up there. The Demon Lords worst spell, {Dimensional Turbulence}. It interferes with multiple spaces, sucking away the targets and erasing their very existence in this dimension. Thus, the angels were completely wiped away from Warrens sky. What, they werent that big a deal. The Demon Lord started boasting to Beruiel. Is it really done? After not facing the level of fight he was expecting, Gray turned back towards Marionetta. They were all bark and no bite. Ellis cracked a joke on behalf of all the Dragon Maidens. After a few minutes of peace passed, relieved smiles spread to all the soldiers on the battlefield. But then once again an ear-shattering roar echoed through the sky. At the same time, two beams of light fell through the clouds. Uwa! Ugh! The beams engulfed the Hero and the Demon Lord, emitting a dazzling sparkle before disappearing as suddenly as they had appeared. Only the collapsed figures of the two men were left behind. CH 180 This is heaven. My my. Will this somehow work out? Were dealing with an unprecedented incident, so this was unavoidable. The two beams of light that had hit the Demon Lord and Hero were shot from the God of Warriors and God of Mages directly from heaven. The Demon Lord and Hero of the Almerian continent have been brought low before the overwhelming power of a god. You two, what are you doing!? Have you even considered the consequences of using the Horn of the End and now directly interfering in a world!? There isnt a problem as long as nobody finds out. Youll not want to talk too much about this yourself either. The God of Thieves furiously protested the twos actions, but the God of Warriors and God of Mages dismissed his objections, walking past him as if he had nothing to do with them and left the area. The God of Thieves turned his eyes to the lower world with a worried expression. Like this, the people of this world would be destroyed just as those angels were. Even a god cant be allowed to permeate such acts on innocent people. But things are already in motion. The rest will all be dependent on you. Go for it Eiji. The God of Thieves whispered a few words down to the world below before turning around and leaving himself. Gray! Gray! Marionetta had grown frantic, repeatedly calling out Grays name while holding his still body. He wasnt responding. Although she could still hear his heart beating, it was fleeting and sounded like it would stop any second now. Isnt this forbidden? Marionetta, for now help me carry the Hero and the Demon Lord to a safe place. Beruiel disgustedly muttered something to himself before calling on Marionetta to help him. Well help too. Reeve, Frau, lend a hand. Reeve helped Beruiel in carrying the Demon Lord while Frau helped Marionetta carry the Hero. They brought them over to a nearby cabin and gently set them down as per Elliss instructions. {Work} Ellis used the ability of the Full Recovery ring on the two men. However, the ring didnt look like it had any effect on them. This is the power of a god, the so-called divine punishment. The very fact that their hearts are still beating is a miracle in and of itself. Divine punishment? Ellis, that light came directly from the heavens. Perhaps the gods who summoned the Hero and Demon Lord to this world have decided to take a direct approach. A decision that isnt normally allowed. Beruiel answered Elliss question with a trembling voice, not bothering to even try and hide the rage brewing in him. Yes, Beruiel knew just how insane it was for a god to have a direct effect on an outside world. That was why he had believed the gods would recognize this world once the score of angels had been defeated. And yet the gods have have interfered. Which means.. Suddenly all of the rage clouding Beruiels heart drained away, replaced by an unending dread. Oh no, after this. Screams rose up outside of the hut, completely eclipsing whatever Beruiel was going to say next. A large army of angels! Warrens sky was once again filled with a countless number of angels. All here to eradicate the people down below. The Dragon Maidens and their dragons all rose to meet with the angels once again. But this time the overwhelming presence that was the Hero and Demon Lord wasnt there to back them up. Reeve, Frau, Claire, Katie, dont die okay? Ra-chin, Su-chan, Fe-rin, Pi-tan, Ah-nyan, protect us. Im not going to have any problems thanks to Elliss special power, but the rest of the girls will only be able to use the dragons ultimate release one or two more times. The Dragon Maidens spiritual strength wont be able to last much more than that. Ellis and I will keep raining fire on them with {Summon Volcano}, so the rest of you should stick to your regular weapons and breath attacks. Ellis and Ra-chin relayed a battle strategy to the others as they took off, followed by Ellis shouting as loud as she could to the sky above. Angels! Youre going back where you came from! Her shout acted as a signal to all the rest of the Dragon Maidens scattered across the battlefield. {Summon Volcano}! For some reason Elliss connection to Ra-chin was similar to that of a magic tool, so she was able to repeatedly use {Summon Volcano} without it draining on her mana. So long as her physical strength held out, the volcanic rock would keep flying. And so Ellis and the Land Dragon charged forward on the ground, shooting volcanic bombs up in the air and knocking angels down onto the ground. Su-chan rushed through a flock of angels at high speeds, using the resulting shockwaves to knock the angels down onto the ground. Reeve waited down below, and with her sword in hand, she cut down every angel that came close before their bodies hit the ground. {High Voltage Breath}! Every time he made a new pass through the crowds, Su-chan released another one of his breath attacks and crippled a new set of angels. The angels would fall to the ground paralyzed by the electricity until Reeve walked past and stabbed them in the chest. It was like an angel-hunting demon had risen from the pits. {Super High Heat Breath}! In contrast to the Storm Dragon, the Phoenix Dragon Fe-rin was dancing through the air, constantly using his breath attack on the flocks of angels to cover Frau from above. Any angel touched by the attack would instantly evaporate before the overwhelming heat. Any angels that landed on the ground to avoid the breath attack became good prey for the waiting Frau who was wielding her halberd and standing guard near Warren. Thanks to Fraus Interception equipment, the other girls all received a physical damage reduction of ten. Add that on to her own armors effects that stop an additional twenty physical damage and fifteen magical damage, and she was a human fortress. Pi-tan took up a position right next the Land Dragon with Claire standing right on top of him. {Black Ball Breath}! Pi-tan knew that Ra-chins volcanic bombs would be a vertical attack, so the Chaos Dragon released several beads of breath towards the angel swarm to crisscross their attacks. {Homing Valkyrie Lance}! Claire had figured the angels would be more vulnerable to physical attacks than magical ones, so she modified the {Homing Missiles} spell so that it would fire off multiple {Valkyrie Lance} spells instead. Each lance accurately pierced a different angel, cutting them down after a single blow. Yosh, next Claire pulled off an emptied Spirit ring from her finger before sliding on the next one. Sitting right next to her was a bag from Ellis filled with the things. Claire! If you run out of rings, let me know, and Ill refill them I know Ellis! Then next. {Homing Valkyrie Lance}! {Black Ball Breath}! With their rapid firing bullets, it was as if Claire and Pi-tan had become a fixed turret on the battlefield. Pincer attack nya! Got it Katie! Katie and Ah-nyan have moved to the opposite side of the battlefield by the frozen lake. Hand-to-hand warfare is the best nya. I think so too. So, put some spirit into it nya? You bet. {Extreme Cold Breath}! The Frost Dragon shot its breath, freezing hundreds of angels after one attack. Then with Katie on his head, they plunged into a group of angels that had landed on the ground. Uooooooooooooh! Ah-nyan released a mighty roar, using his entire snow white body as a whip to blow the angels away. NYAA~!! Katie leapt off of Ah-nyans head, using her claws to tear apart any angels the Frost Dragon knocked over. The angels tried to fight back, but they just couldnt stop the Dragon Maiden and her dragons dance. As if she had completely understood the dragons movements as it slid through the large crowd of angels, the Dragon Maiden fluidly moved right beside the snake-like dragon, leaving a trail of dead angels in her wake. Watching from a distance, Ellis saw it as The Dance of the War Maiden and Dragon. With Warrens Powder Keg taking the lead, the armies of Warren, Wheat Grace, and Ceramics continued to keep any angels from entering the city. Suddenly, Beruiel appeared next to Ellis and started casting his own magic against the angels as well. And yet, the number of angels wasnt going down at all. No matter how many angels the girls killed, they just kept on flying down from the sky one after another. It was reminiscent of an endless snowfall. A beautiful yet deadly snowfall. CH 181 The situation was deteriorating. Things were only getting worse with every moment that passed. Its already been three hours since the battle started. The girls attack power far exceeded that of the angels. The dragons are also unable to feel fatigue, so they are able to swing their bodies around or continue using their breath attacks to mow down the angels as much as they want. Reeve cuts, Frau crushes, Claire pierces, and Katie gouges. But they were about to reach the limits of their physical strength. The number of angels capable of breaking through the defense Ellis and the others had built up was increasing, and while Warrens Powder Keg and the other soldiers were holding on, the last line of defense protecting the city was about to be broken. Once that happens, the massacre of civilians by the angels would begin. That was the number one thing to be avoided. But, there was no way to break this stalemate. Before anyone realized it, the five dragons had descended together, using their bodies to protect their Dragon Maidens who continued bravely brandishing their weapons despite their obvious fatigue. Reeves mouth distorted, her breath coming out in shallow gasps as she continued cutting through the oncoming angels. Im really tired of bullying these things. Frau took in a deep breath as if to inspire herself and once again lifted up her halberd. Theres no end to them. Claire squatted down on Pi-tans head, but as a {Valkyrie Lance} appeared at her back and shot through another angel, she gave Ellis a smile. Im really glad I have Elliss ability. Its the only reason Ive been any help. Katie had taken a position in front of the other girls, continuing her dance as usual and defending the others while gouging out any angels that got close. We have just a little more until the finish line nya. But they were all aware. It was just a little longer until they reached their limits. Ellis more so than all the rest. She knew her capabilities, and this tiny body of hers was failing. All she had done in this battle was continuously activate {Summon Volcano} and refill the mp for all the Spirit rings Claire had been using. But despite her special abilities meaning she didnt expend any mana when using these abilities, the tension of a battle that was going on for over three hours had caused a level of extreme fatigue that the body of an eight-year-old girl just couldnt handle. They would break through like this. If they manage to get by, then everything will be lost. Ellis-Eiji started to think. Trying to find some way to break through, a solution to this problem. Their mind desperately ran through every plan they could devise. But there was nothing. No more tricks up their sleeve. Meanwhile the angels had gradually started grabbing onto the dragons bodies. The dragons were desperately trying to protect their maidens, so they couldnt act violently enough to throw off the angels. And just like that, the dragons bodies started to erode beneath the angels touch. This isnt good. Whats wrong Ra-chin? The angels, theyve started taking advantage of the fact that our bodies are made from mana. These guys are going to keep working at the mana and break down our bodies bit by bit. Seriously!? Yeah, were in trouble. Hey Ra-chin, dont you have any last hands to play? Hearing Elliss telepathic message, Ra-chin answered with obvious displeasure. Theres one left, but I dont want to do it. Tell me! After a moment of silence, the Land Dragon finally gave his reply. .Ellis, you recognize me as a magic tool right? Yes. Then as a test, try to reach out and use Su-chan, Fe-rin, Pi-tan, and Ah-nyan as magic tools as well. Ellis did as she was told, joining her mind to the other four dragons whose breakdowns were already producing visible changes. Seriously? Su-chan turned towards Ellis despite being in the middle of a battle. Eh? Fe-rin also gazed over at Ellis while firing off another one of his breath attacks. Whats this!? Pi-tan raised a hysteric roar from right next to Ellis. President Ellis, thats no good! Ah-nyans screams were different from his normal haughty attitude, for the first time carrying within it the unmistakable sound of grief. Youve connected with them Ellis? Yeah Ra-chin Ellis-Eiji fully understood the spell that suddenly engraved itself into their mind. Its effects, and side-effects. Do you understand why I dont want to use it? Yes. Ra-chin, youre really kind. Ah-nyan too. Ellis suddenly became really calm which for some reason made Claire feel extremely anxious. Hey Ellis, whats wrong? Its nothing Claire. Could you get down from Pi-tans head for a bit? Just as Ellis asked her to, Claire jumped down to the ground. Hmm Ellis-Eiji took a moment to double check the spell they were about to use. It was all so much fun. Thats why here, in the end, he would keep doing just as he pleased. He didnt know if his enemy was truly a god, but either way, he was about to burst their bubble. Ellis looked towards the heavens and shouted out, Reeve, Frau, Claire, Katie, Im going to go pick a fight with God for a bit. Ra-chin, Su-chan, Fe-rin, Pi-tan, Ah-nyan, lend me your strength! Reeve and the other girls all turned towards Ellis at her sudden cry. Meanwhile Ellis raised her arms up towards the sky. With Elliss ability to use any magic tool acting as the center, the Land Dragon, Storm Dragon, Phoenix Dragon, Chaos Dragon, and Frost Dragon instantly moved into a pentagonal shape around Ellis. And then Ellis started her chant. A grand one who steps firmly on the soil! Ra-chins body began to shine a rich gold. A grand one who holds dominion over the skies! Su-chans body began to shine a cool blue. A grand one who nurtures all life! Fe-rins body began to shine a hot red. A grand one who governs over nature! Ah-nyans body began to shine a bright white. A grand one who embraces the absurd! Pi-tans body began to shine a powerful black. I shall be your vessel, now come! Lines of light connected the dragons together forming a pentagram on the ground. Elliss body standing in the center began to glow as well. {Final Ultimate Release}! {Summon Dragon Goddess Gaia}! As Ellis finished her chant, each of the five dragons roared into the air. The bodies of each dragon continued to shine even brighter until eventually their bodies started to break apart, dissolving into millions of tiny little particles. The particles of each dragon joined together, forming into a five-colored stream that poured itself into Elliss body. Elliss body gradually began to grow, giving off a rainbow of light as her appearance started to morph. Once all of the dragon particles had been sucked into Ellis, the five colored lights began to fade, and a giant goddess with a long white dress, golden half plate armor, and a countless number of wings growing from her back stood there alone. The goddess placed her hand to her chest and confirmed the will of her summoner. Upon realizing what she had been summoned for and what exactly was going on here, her cold voice issued an order to the angels who were just about to swoop back down for another attack. Hey, you lot, do you know who I am? Unless your orders are coming from Tenjin himself, you should know my will takes precedence. The angels immediately froze at the Goddesss words. So, who is the god that gave you your orders? As the goddess asked, the angels gave her the names of the God of Warriors and God of Mages without any trouble. Hmph, those idiots. The goddess looked stunned for but a moment before offering a new order to the angels. You will all return to Heaven immediately. The angels did as they were told and disappeared from the world. The ten-winged angel there, did you not hear my orders? No, you are. The goddess turned around, but when she saw Beruiels face, she stopped. Yes, Dragon Goddess Gaia. I am here per Tenjins command. I see, well its fine. But, dont you dare get in my way. I wouldnt dream of it. Despite hanging on every word said in their conversation, Reeve and the others couldnt find it in them to say anything themselves. Meanwhile the goddess turned her gaze back towards the sky, and for the first time her beautiful angelic voice rose to a ear-shattering bellow. Show yourselves God of Warriors, God of Mages! Reaching her right hand out, the goddess grabbed at the sky as if she were grabbing some curtain. She wrenched her hand back, tearing a whole into the sky and revealing a world of white for all to see. In that space stood a white-haired god with a beard and a slender, black-haired god standing right next to him. Both of them looked too flustered to speak. You two, what taboos have you committed here? But neither of these all-mighty beings could muster up a response. I see, so that is your conviction. The goddess gave one final glance at the two of them before tearing another space in the sky with her hand. And then she gave a frustrated shout. And is Tenjin too afraid to appear himself!? Come and show your face for a bit if you can! Its so noisy. Oh, Dragon Goddess Gaia, long time no see. What appeared from this second hole in space was a god with a splendidly shiny, bald head and a strong expression that exuded vigor. Dont you long time no see me! You and these idiots have committed taboos on this world, so arent you going to give me some form of retribution? Taboo? They used their powers to directly interfere with this world. They werent just satisfied with using the Horn of the End, they even used beams of light! Tenjins expression which had been carefree and laughing until now suddenly turned harsh. Tenjin glared at the God of Warriors and the God of Mages before once again turning to the goddess. Mm, I understand. These two shall be imprisoned for the next several centuries as punishment. Thats all I ask. Ill be troubled if my territory keeps getting trampled upon like this. I got it, I got it. Ill fix the damage these two have done on your world. And, well reclaim the power of the Hero and Demon Lord these two sent down. Naturally. Also, Ill take the power that dwells in your vessel as well. Ah, you found out. It was now that Tenjin noticed Beruiel standing to the side. Hoh, Beruiel, its been a long time since Ive seen you as well. So, have you learned your lesson? I havent learned a thing. I enjoy my life here. BWAHAHA! You really havent changed a bit. But youre one of the ringleaders involved in this incident. So youll have to come back to me as punishment. Theres nothing I can do if you order me like this. As Tenjin and the ten-winged angel continued speaking with each other, the goddess turned back to the girls. This will put an end to gods interfering with this world. Tenjin also called down from his space in the sky towards the humans below. Those of you who reside in this world, live however you so please. However, in order to rectify the chaos these two idiots have caused, we shall purify the power and magic tools they have brought to this world. Alongside Tenjins declaration, the bodies of the Hero and the Demon Lord began to glow for a moment. So too did Katies Brave Ripper. At the same time, a light formed at the Dragon Goddess Gaias feet. All right then, Dragon Goddess Gaia, that should be it. Beruiel will return to me just as soon as hes decided the former Demon Lords future. With those words, both crevices in the sky closed up, and Tenjin disappeared from view. The Dragon Goddess finally turned once more to Reeve, Frau, Claire, and Katie. I leave the rest to you, young maidens of the world. Goddess, but Ellis, what about Ellis!? Reeve was finally able to choke out what she was most worried about, but the goddess did not answer, only disappearing with a smile. Afterwards, all that was left of the goddess was Ellis, who was left lying there, collapsed in the dirt. CH 182 Huh? Where is this? Hearing Grays clueless voice, Marionetta turned her head around in surprise after watching everything unfold from out the window. Gray, youre awake! Ah, um, I, what happened to me? Marionetta hugged Gray without thinking about it as he started to get up. You were hit by a huge beam of light that came directly from heaven! It sounded like your heart was going to stop back then, and it was going to stop, and it was going to stop, andbut youre fine, youre fine Marionetta wrapped her arms around Grays neck, and burying her face into his cheek, started to sob. Gray looked around himself while rubbing Marionettas small back. Thats when he noticed the Demon Lord lying down next to him. It was at that exact moment that the door to the hut opened up, and an angel with raven black hair and porcelain white skin walked in. Ah, Beruiel right1? Is he going to be okay? Gray asked the angel that had entered the hut while still trying to reassure Marionetta by rubbing her back. Then, almost as if talking about him had served as some kind of trigger, the Demon Lords eyes shot open. Huh, I, what was I doing again? Havent you noticed yet Demon Lord? Ill give you the details later, so lets head back to the castle for now. You dont have any more magic left, so use this. Beruiel addressed the Demon Lord while handing over two rings. The Demon Lord obediently slipped both of them on his right hand. Now then Gray, we have a little work left to do, so well return to our castle for now. Until next we meet. Beruiel gave Gray and Marionetta his farewells before grabbing the Demon Lord. Oi, quit acting like an idiot! The Demon Lord tried to fight back, but his body was still weak. Once he had finally gotten a decent grip, Beruiel left the hut with the Demon Lord under his arm. Reeve, Im sorry to have to leave the hard part to you, but well be heading back to the castle now. Aah Reeve gave Beruiel a short, cold reply as if she hadnt really heard him. Her eyes were almost completely focused on Frau who was holding Elliss body. Beruiels wings fluttered out before flying off towards the Demon Lords castle. Gray meanwhile had only just managed to leave the hut as Marionetta lent him a shoulder to lean on. He took a few steps outside before the sight of Ellis in Fraus arms came into focus for him. What? Whats happened to Ellis!? Gray, Ill explain everything later. So please be quiet for now! Marionetta desperately shushed Gray from asking anything else. Frau lifted up Elliss body, and sending a visual signal to Reeve, Claire, and Katie, silently made back for Warren. They had all heard from their dragons just before Ellis had finished her spell. This technique was guaranteed to take the users life. And yet, Ellis was certainly breathing right now. There was nothing off about her heartbeat either. So the Jewelry Box would just have to wait. Wait for the day when Ellis would definitely wake up. Warrens Powder Keg along with all the gathered soldiers had seen everything that had happened. The large crowd parted down the middle, letting the girls through. They all feel into a silent prayer. A prayer for the safety of their savior, their little Golden Mistress. Gray had lost all his powers that came with being the so-called Hero. Swinging a sword wouldnt create any shockwaves, and any of the magic spells unique to the Hero had disappeared from his mind. Have I lost all value? Gray laughed derisively at himself. Of course not. Gray is Gray. But Marionetta wasnt about to leave Gray alone. It was then that a messenger from the Merchant Guild called out to them. I have a summons from the new king of Skycastle for you two. This here is a Ring of Return we borrowed from Miss Claire that connects directly to the waiting room in the royal palace. Please use this for the trip. A new king? The former Duke Marsfield. Gray and Marionetta quickly used the power of the ring and traveled to the royal palace. Gise was already there waiting for them when they arrived. Yo Gray, I heard you lost the power of a Hero. Ah, Gise, its true. I really have stopped being the Hero. Suddenly, Gise drew out the dagger at his waist and lunged at Gray. What are you doing Gise!? Before Gise could reach him though, Gray managed to unsheathe his long sword and knocked the dagger out of Gises hand. Ouch, Marionetta, heal this for me would you? Gise held out his hand which had gotten twisted when Grays sword had so violently knocked into him. Gray, you mightve lost your powers as a Hero, but you still have the skills you earned through all your hours of training. Youre still a powerful swordsman. Now, lets go meet with the new king. Since Gray wasnt able to completely understand what Gise was trying to say, Marionetta leaned over and whispered into his ear. Gise thinks you should believe in yourself more. I see, so thats it. Gise, thanks. Its embarrassing if you say it so seriously. Come on, the King is waiting. And so the Brave party made their way to the audience room. Three entering: Gray, Marionetta, and Gise seeking an audience. Oh, come in come in! A familiar voice resounded through the door and out the entranceway. The three approached the throne and knelt before the new king. Well theres no need for all the formalities. The new king directly addressed his three guests. Gray, Marionetta, and Gise, if you have a request, well hear it now. Your Majesty, my only wish is to fight for the people. I refuse to help if your goal is any form of oppression. Gray seriously stood against the King, but His Majesty laughed the challenge off. Thats the spirit. Now would you mind killing the rest of the demons still infesting Skycastle? Heres a list weve made. The King waved his hand, and his spokesman handed over a bunch of documents Ellis and the other girls had secretly drawn up. Wisdoms Magicians Guild has also delivered the methods to use the new spell {Isolation}. The guildmaster has assured me Marionetta will be able to use it. Marionetta looked through the scrolls that listed out how to perform the spell. The required mp for it was seven, but thanks to the Grand Magical ring she had received from Ellis, she could shave that down to just two. She could use the spell several times a day and still be able to store whatever leftover mana she had left into a Spirit ring each night. All right, I understand. Itd be a huge help if you could separate a demon from anybody theyre possessing. If the person has already been killed and has been replaced by the demon though, it cant be helped, and Ill leave what should be done up to your judgement. Starting the next day, Gray and his companions took the list and began searching for demons. But Gray remembered the words the Demon Lord had said back then. Maybe some of those demons will choose to enjoy their lives? So every time Gray confronted a demon, he would always give them a choice. Surrender now, and Ill overlook everything youve done. Otherwise Ill enjoy the fight. As a result, almost every demon ended up trying to kill Gray. But although Gray had lost the power of a Hero, he still had Marionetta and Gise. And together, the three of them came out ahead every time. There were however a few demons who did just as Gray asked and surrendered. Those demons summoned here returned to their original demonic world while the indigenous Mazoku either returned to their hometowns or having heard rumors about Marcosia, ventured to Warren looking for a new life. Having already become popular with the public from before when he smashed any sabbaths being held, it wasnt long before Gray became known as a true hero of the people as he continued to steadily root out demons. As the days passed, Gray eventually worked his way through the list and completely cleansed Skycastle of any demons that might mean the people harm. It was then that the new king gathered all the nobles of Skycastle in his grand hall. Also there was Sir Chaffee who had recently been appointed as the new Duke Marsfield and Stewart, who ended up becoming the new Duke Ceramics after the old lord was murdered and replaced by a demon. The King then made an announcement for all to hear. Everyone gathered here today, as your king, we have two royal orders to be handed down. The first is a change in order. From this day forward, we shall be a constitutional monarchy rather than an absolute one. The King shall have the final say on any policy developed by an established council from this day forward. Its a model similar to that currently used in Warren. Understood? The gathered aristocrats were all surprised that the king would choose to limit his own power, but most of the people gathered here hadnt been in their positions for very long. These were the successors who took over their positions after Reeve and the others had massacred most of the nobles. Most of them were soldiers from lower noble houses or well-off commoner houses. So they readily welcomed the introduction of a council system. Then for our next royal order. We, Jack J. Skycastle abdicate the throne to the former hero, Gray. As expected, this one left the nobles a little more shocked. Never before has a king willingly abdicated the throne while they were still alive! And even if his successor was the former Hero, the next king he was going to be of peasant birth! The gathered aristocrats were thrown into a panic not understanding what the meaning of the Kings actions were. What, youre all thinking about it too much. The council will have an easier time getting settled if their King is a guy with not a lot going on up there. Plus Gray is popular with the public. If were going to be serious about instituting a council, King Gray is vital. If nothing else, itll be good for the citizenry. Hes a simpleton that can only use a sword. Use him to help rebuild Skycastle. Some of the nobles finally understood what the king was trying to say. If its Gray, then the new governing system had time to be molded before anybody had to worry about who would be inheriting the throne. And its that simple-minded Gray. In the future he might try and abolish the very throne itself. At that point the King really will be just a figurehead. So the nobles fully accepted the Kings royal orders. Now lets make all the preparations for my immediate retirement and the subsequent ascension. The spokesman started handing out instructions to the gathered nobles before preparing some fast horses to quickly deliver the message to the feudal lords spread across the country. Meanwhile, Gray had been so stunned by the announcement he hadnt said anything until everything had already been decided. Marionetta had fallen into a state of confusion as well. King Jack beckoned the two over to him, chuckling to himself at the faces they were making. Well Gray, theres no need to think about it too hard. So you say, but youre also suddenly saying Im going to be king, and theres no way Im suitable Yeah its fine. Gray, you really dont have to think about anything too difficult. Im leaving it to you to judge if this new council is going to be right for the people. Its that simple. Got it? Also Marionetta, Grays basically an idiot. So if he ever gets tripped up, Im counting on you to lead him through it as his queen. A few days later, an ascension ceremony would be held, and the new king, Gray Skycastle X would be crowned. 1. Gray actually calls him Berunal, and at this point, theyre using the names Berunal/Beruiel interchangeably. Thats really confusing though, so Im just sticking with Beruiel. CH 183 Reeve, Im sorry to have to leave the hard part to you, but well be heading back to the castle now. Beruiel gave a formal farewell to the Jewelry Box girls who had all gathered around Elliss still body. He extended his wings without waiting for a reply and flew to the Demon Lords castle with the former Demon Lord in tow. Ah, I see, so thats how it is. The Demon Lord solemnly grumbled to himself from underneath Beruiels arm. Have you remembered then? Yeah, I remember everything. Thats good to hear. Well be at the castle soon, so lets start out by fulfilling our promise to the Hero first. Got it. When Beruiel arrived at the castle, he set the Demon Lord down in a bed before immediately heading down to the magic formation located in the basement. This was the spot where demons would perform any necessary rituals. It was also here that they would perform their summonings or where they would send anyone back if it ever became necessary. Beruiel activated the spell and took a spot at the magic circles center. This is a declaration to every demon on the Almerian continent. No longer does a Demon Lord walk this plane. Therefore, here is your freedom. Live your life however you see fit, and make the most of your lives as demons. As the magic circle began emanating light, so too did Beruiels body become shrouded in a pale glow. Ah Here was Warren, having just managed to reach a point since the angel attack where people could start to take breath. While cleaning up some of the leftover pumpkins scattered on the street in Freedom Promenade, Marcosia started shaking for a moment. Marcosia, whats wrong? Yes, Master Machel. Just now, the Demon Lords adjutant made an announcement to every demon on the continent letting them know that the Demon Lord is no more and rescinding any orders that would compel us to action. And what does that mean? It means the world is back to how it was before the Demon Lord appeared. Demons are allowed to live freely as demons, and.. Marcosia answered Machels question candidly, but she was a little troubled. If new like this spread, then demons like her might end up run out of town. But, Machels response wasnt anything like what Marcosia had feared. Hmm. Well it has nothing to do with you. Now no more slacking on pumpkin cleaning! Encouraged by Machel, Marcosia went back to picking up pumpkins with a smile. Each of the pumpkins were leaking some kind of liquid, but that couldve just been her imagination. Theres no way shed get so happy shed start crying after all. After finishing the ceremony, Beruiel returned to the bedroom where the Demon Lord was waiting. How are you feeling Demon Lord? Ah, the worst. The Demon Lord could sense that most of his magic had vacated his body. And yet most of his spells, not all mind you, still remain in his head. But intuitively, he knew that he lacked the power to use any of them. By the way, you said you finally regained your memories? I remember everything about myself from before I came to this world. My real name as well. Thats good. On that note, Tenjin has offered you a choice for how youll live your life in the future. And that is? The first is to return to your original world. The other would be to live a fulfilling life in this world here. Whats the flow of time in this world compared to my original one? Virtually the same. Almost 300 days have passed since the day you were summoned here in both this world and that one. In his original world, the Demon Lord was a promising young researcher. However, his advanced ideas were deemed too radical by the academic society he was member of. Dismissed by his peers and given a do-nothing position, he was forced to use experimental equipment to test his hypothesis. The nail that sticks out gets hit after all. The Demon Lords choice was obvious. But just in case, he performed a small thought experiment in his head. Returning to his original world. Would he not have any regrets? It would be interesting to return and crush those people who had driven him away from his work. He broke his plan down to the tiniest detail and simulated how it would play out in reality. The results were completely satisfactory. His chances of success were absolute. But, that seemed like a silly way to spend the rest of his life. There was no need for anything he didnt already have. Beruiel, Ill stay in this world. I see. I suppose I should start referring to you by your original name now then. No, Im fine. Im a different person to how I was back then. From now on Ill continue to use your alias, Berudeus, and live my life in this world as a new man. Understood. By the way, you were really outrageous when you were Berunal, but now youre back to being all proper and polite. Yes, it seems a few screws get knocked loose whenever Im feminized. However, it was fun. But for the Demon Lord to act in such a way, putting your hands on me and doing such things in such a place.. Knock it off! Youre not allowed to talk about it when youre wearing a mans face. So narrow-minded. Are you going to be able to live in a place like Warren that advocates freedom for all if youre like this? How about we lie down for a moment and test it out? Ive gone from two holes to a hole and a stick, but I think a whole new world might open up for you. Will you stop saying stuff like that so seriously with such a beautiful face? In any game I play, one stick is more than enough. That is a shame indeed. I thought a fun little game would make a good substitute for a proper farewell. Why are you dressed like an angel when you talk like a desire-chasing hedonist? Well, I am in charge of the heavenly desires after all. Thats not the same.. .. Now then, lets keep the jokes to around here. The two rings I gave you earlier are a Grand Magical ring and a Spirit ring. Please use the proper judgement in how to use them. You lost most of your magical powers, but there is still a lot of magical knowledge embedded in that brain of yours. Make the most of it. Mm, thanks. Beruiel took a long look at the expression the Demon Lord was making before letting out a meaningful laugh. Are you going back to that woman? It seems the wounds on her heart are quite deep. But, if you tear out those scars by their roots, maybe you can find some room for yourself in her heart instead. Hmph, its none of your business. Then I must be returning to heaven soon. Ill see you off, so you should get ready to go. Youre also free to use the castle however you so wish. Hah, youve thought of everything. The Demon Lord slipped on his favorite farmers clothing and put on his straw hat. Hed already firmly grasped the abilities of the rings Beruiel had given him. With these abilities, hed be able to use {Skyliner} with ease. Thanks for everything Beruiel. Yes, this will most likely be the last time we ever see each other. Farewell, Berudeus. Berudeus gave the angel Beruiel a respectful bow, and Beruiel responded in turn. After raising his head, Berudeus turned around, and using the magic spell {Skyliner}, flew off back towards Warren. Beruiel continued to watch him go until he was nothing more than a dot on the horizon. After confirming that Berudeus was no longer in view, Beruiel spun on his heel. Now then, time to return to heaven. Beruiel muttered to himself before placing both hands on his chest. Beruiel was sad to see the Demon Lord go, but the large tears streaming down his cheeks were undoubtedly from Berunal. So as the two halves of himself held their hands together as some small form of comfort, they reached out their wings and started their ascendance towards heaven. Upon arriving at Warren, Berudeus quickly squeezed himself through the throngs of people crowding the streets and headed straight for Margheritas apartment. Margherita! Im here to finish what we started! This persistent, cant you see the garlic and salt I already threw out there!? Do you only have a bunch of sardines packed away in that thing you call a head!? Shut up! And hear me out! Just for a little bit When Margherita opened the door, she stood there as if to block the entrance, but Berudeus pushed her aside, taking a seat at her table as if it were only natural. Margherita let out a long sigh, pulling out two small cups from a glass cupboard of hers before taking a seat at the table across from Berudeus. Would you like some fruit wine? Mm, Ill have some. Margherita poured a fresh, aromatic liquid from a porcelain container into his cup before pouring herself a glass as well. Youre the first man to ever enter this room. If this was Lily Garden, youd be strung up and hanging upside down right about now. Hmph. Sounds like a fun time. Out of nowhere, the two of them burst into a fit of laughter. They raised their hands up, and clinked their glasses together. So what happened to that girl? Ah, that guys flown back to Heaven. I see, so she really was an angel. Yeah So Margherita What is it Bell? Do you want to move in together? Berudeuss unexpected proposal caused Margherita to freeze. Eh? I said, do you want to move in together? Just what is this man saying? What is he asking of the sullied me? Eh? Eh? All of the sudden, Berudeus was sitting next to her. From last time Berudeus took her glass from her hand, setting it down on the table next to his own. He placed his hand on her cheek, turning her face towards his own. Margherita still hadnt figured out what was going on yet. And then his lips gently overlapped with hers. Once again Margherita was taken to a rose-tinted world. The only thought that tied down her reason was, this man really is the Demon Lord, as the pleasure washing over her body absorbed everything else. But then once again, her nightmares pierced forth. Im going to ravish you. His words once again caused her to fall into a panic. Why would he say that!? Margheritas expression turned frantic as she held back a scream. She bit him, dug her nails into his back, writhed her body around, doing everything she could to be free of him. But he was surprisingly strong. Margherita couldnt get away, accomplishing little more than scratching up Berudeuss back while moaning in his caressing arms. And then finally he moved Margherita over to the bed. It was as if a bolt of electricity exploded in her brain, and her whole body convulsed as the current ran through her limbs. ScaryScaryScaryScaryScaryScary!! Margheritas fears were rekindled as old wounds were ripped open, and she once again tried to escape the torrent of pleasure. However Berudeus was merciless. Margheritas consciousness gradually faded away as the entire world turned a bright white. When Margherita woke up, she was too scared to open her eyes. There had never been a pleasant sight waiting for her in the past when she opened her eyes after a night like last. There would always be a big pile of filth that smelled of rot or the back of a persons neck with numerous spots of blood that had just started to clot. Once she opens her eyes, the long task of having to wash off her body with cold, muddy water from a well off a rundown back alley would begin just like back in those days. She didnt want to open her eyes. But then she noticed. The soft touch holding the back of her head. And the gentle touch supporting her waist. It felt warm. Slowly, Margherita opened her eyes. Yo, You up? What she was greeted with was the smiling face of a man who had clawed his way into her heart. So Margherita noticed. He had done his best to break through. To show her that everything would be all right as he worked his way into her hollowed heart. Margheritas gaze softened as she answered. Youre an absolutely terrible man. You better take responsibility. Naturally Berudeus once again moved his lips towards hers. After a short kiss, Margherita whispered into Berudeuss ear, Please be a little more gentle this time. Right, leave it to me And the two once again drowned together in harmony. After some time passed, the man previously known as the Demon Lord would be favorably addressed as a citizen of Warren. For those who knew the leader of the Thieves Guilds entertainment division, he would also be known as the Queen Bees gigolo. That is the tale of Straw Hat Bell. CH 184 Frau held Elliss small body in her arms with Reeve and Katie walking right beside her. Claire followed closely from behind. Mebett was near Trans Happy with puffy red eyes and the Mechanized Dragon doll in her hands. The size of the Mechanized Dragon had returned to its original size before the {Create Golem} magic had been placed on it. In other words, when it was first cast from Dark Mithril. Everyone had seen Ellis perform some unknown technique. They saw that little girl absorb the dragons into her and summon a giant goddess. Everyone in the city had witnessed her saving the world. So they all silently created a path, allowing the Dragon Maidens through without saying a word. The Dragon Maidens changed Ellis out of her Abyssal equipment and into her favorite negligee. They set her down in her bed and covered her up lightly with her blanket. Nobody said anything for the rest of the day. None of them wanted to hear anything. In that final moment, the dragons had told them all what would happen to Ellis here. The dragons said it all alongside their goodbyes. So the four girls stayed next to Ellis all night long. Praying that the dragons words werent true. Hoping that the tears they quietly shed would wash the pain away. The next morning. The sun shone brightly from the window as if nothing was wrong. Well then, we cant help like this. Im going to go see Maria about how the citys doing. Lets go Su-chan. Ah. Reeve was willing to try and move forward, but that only ripped open a whole other sadness for them. The fact that their dragons had all disappeared alongside Ellis. For the first time ever, Reeve had nothing to say, and so she left the room without leaving Ellis any parting words. Ill prepare breakfast. Frau lifted herself up as well and made for the kitchen. Thats right, we need to clean up any concerns Ellis might have so she can wake up any moment now without any worries. Ill go check the damage thats been done to the city at the Workshop Guild. Claire muttered to herself while getting ready to leave. Im staying here nya. Ill examine her for any problems again nya. Katie would remain at Elliss side. Ellis was breathing regularly, but she wouldnt wake up. Last night Claire had tried using Elliss Full Recovery ring to cast recovery magic, but there was nothing that needed to be healed. In other words, there was nothing physically wrong with Elliss body. Hows Elliss condition? Theres nothing wrong with her body according to Claire. So when shes going to wake up, or whether shes ever going to wake up is Maria stared into Reeves red, swollen eyes thinking about just how hard last night must have been. Well, theres nothing you need to worry about with the city. Almost none of the citizens were injured. Thats a relief. Then I should head back home. Mm, everyones truly grateful for everything you girls have done. I, who am I supposed to report that to When Reeve let slip her real feelings, Maria noticed something for the first time ever. All this time she had been relying on these girls, treating them like they were adults. But the young girl in front of her was still just sixteen years old. So Maria got up out of her chair, and after taking a seat next to the fragile-looking girl without saying a word, held her close, letting her silently cry into her chest. Oh Claire, thanks for everything you did yesterday. I didnt do anything. Ellis is the one you should thank. Thats not true. We saw you taking a last stand atop the Chaos Dragons head. Youre truly the pride of the Workshop Guild. Uwaaaaaaa.! Everyone was enduring, so Claire had held herself back. She would endure as well. But after coming here, all of her hurt burst forward. Claire jumped into Flints chest, sobbing wildly. She cried while praying for Ellis to wake up. The other members of the Workshop Guild never said anything. Only silently listening while praying for Elliss safety alongside her. After finishing prepping the meals for everyone, Frau peeked out the mansions window and saw Ken and the others in the shopping district watching the mansion with worried expressions. Frau placed a towel soaked in cold water over her eyes to reduce the swelling. After making sure she looked normal and slapping her cheeks a couple times to perk herself up, Frau walked out the front door with a smile. Everyone, Ellis is perfectly fine. But I cant say the same thing for everyone else when Ellis wakes up and sees you all shirking your jobs like this. Everyone should already know how dreadful Elliss sermons can be. Frau tried to reassure everyone with her cheerful smile. But, that depressed look stayed the same on everyones faces. After a moment of silence, Ken replied. Well happily take Elliss sermon when that day comes Ah And there it was. Despite doing her best to keep the act going, fresh tears started overflowing. Even though Frau forced herself to keep smiling, she couldnt stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. Frau. Aiful held Frau close, rubbing her back to offer some small form of comfort. Ah.Ahh. The rest of the townspeople stayed where they were, silently offering some small form of support until Fraus tears had dried. Ellis, when you wake up, lets sing a song together again nya. Ill teach you the true depths of comedy nya. And this time, we can plan a chain link death match nya. And.Ellis..Ellis Sticking to Elliss side, Katie continued talking to her nonstop as she slept. She truly believed her words would reach Elliss heart. And then, Ellis would answer her. Ellis..EllisCome back nyaEveryones waiting nya Katie kept whispering, constantly rubbing her eyes over and over again so that no tears could distort her sight of Ellis. Several days passed. Ellis continued sleeping with short, steady breaths without any changes to her condition. The town had gradually started resuming business and even began accepting tourists from other cities again. The tears of the Jewelry Box girls had all but dried up, and now with Mebett joining them, all five girls were behaving more confidently. Well, Im going on patrol. Reeve finished her breakfast a little quicker than everyone else and got up out of her seat. She then changed into her usual equipment and slipped on her favorite Storm Dragon leather boots. After the incident with Tenjin, Katies Brave Ripper had the name Dark Mithril Roll Arm Claws when they were appraised. Perhaps the unusual strength of those claws was due to a gods power. Meanwhile the Demon Lords Mark had disappeared completely. Also, Reeves Falcon long leather boots and Katies Battle lingerie had managed to retain their abilities despite them both being unique equipment. With her favorite pair of boots on, Reeve compassionately stroked the smooth leather before heading outside. And then, a goofy voice echoed in her mind. Uhyoo! Something then plopped down on the ground right at her feet. That little ultramarine object that had fallen out of the sky completely ignored Reeves shocked expression. While muttering a short, Good grief, under its breath, it then crawled up Reeves leg and took its usual spot on Reeves chest. And then as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Im home Reeve Reeve did her best to appear as calm as she could. Youre late Su-chan But her tears gave her away, a testament to how terrible an actress she really was. While Frau was cleaning up the kitchen, a fire suddenly broke out from the stove that was supposed to have only used Fever stones to cook. Frau rushed to grab some water to put out the light. Stop! Throwing some water at me right now would be really bad! Frau froze just as she was about to dump out the water when a voice echoed in her head. After a moment, the flames extinguished themselves, replaced by a small red figure. Im home Frau The little red bird flapped his wings, moving to Fraus shoulder before shifting over to his reserved spot in her hair. Welcome home Fe-rin Feeling that usual sensation at her shoulder, Frau went back to cleaning with a smile as if nothing had happened. As her vision blurred, she kept going while not paying it any mind. Its so dark in here! Suddenly a strange shout echoed in Katies mind while she continued snuggling up by Elliss side without moving. Oi~, Im over here! Katie cautiously moved towards the direction the voice was coming from. It was sounding from the room that used to be a bathroom before being turned into Reeves laundry room. The voice sounded like it was from a barrel where they stored water, and the lid on top used to keep out dust was rattling a bit. Katie cleared her throat before slowly opening the lid. Why are you playing around in a place like this nya? Then something that looks an awful lot like a white muffler floated to the waters surface and responded with a gruff voice. If you plan on making a grand entrance, this is the way to go! Welcome home Ah-nyan. Hold on Katie, Ive got to say Im home first! Now put me in my spot Brushing a few tears from her eye, Katie dredged Ah-nyan from the barrel, and after wringing him out over a drain, wrapped him around her neck. One moment out of the blue, Claire suddenly had a very familiar weight plop down on her head while she had locked herself away in her design office. Claire immediately started tearing up right then and there. Because, she knew exactly what words she was about to hear. Guess who The expected words sounded directly in her mind. Eh, who? Am I supposed to know who you are? The mystery figure was shocked when they received such an unexpected answer. Eh? Huh? You dont know? You really dont know? Eh? Thats a little troubling? Claire was able to tell that what was sitting on her head was trembling without having to look. So Claire slowly brought her hands above her head, and pulled him down before he got even more upset. Eh? Eh? Eh? Claire raised the little black dragon in front of her eyes, Welcome home Pi-tan, and then kissed him right on the nose. Im home Claire Just as Reeve was about to go back to the mansion to tell everyone that Su-chan had returned, a small mound of dirt started to swell in front of the door. Reeve paused for a moment to see what was going to happen. From there, a familiar, mole-like creature popped out of the ground. At the same time, Mebetts shout echoed across the entire mansion. ELLIS IS AWAKE!! Reeve understood the reason in an instant. So she bent over and picked the mole-like critter off the ground. Ill bring you to your master right away. Ah, I appreciate it. The Land Dragon Ra-chin had dug himself out. CH 185 Ellis opened her eyes. But, there was something strange about her. She would respond to Mebett and Katies calls, but her gaze remained fixed to the ceiling. Ellis, I brought Ra-chin Reeve had picked up the Land Dragon at the entrance and now placed him down on his masters chest. Yet Ellis continued staring at the ceiling. Ra-chin didnt say anything. Claire and Frau finally arrived, moving to Elliss side as well. But the silence continued. Then suddenly, a stream of large tears traveled down her cheeks and soaked her pillow as she continued to stare at the ceiling. My other half is gone. Nobody understood what Ellis meant. No one except for Ra-chin. The Land Dragon spoke to Ellis with his actual voice instead of telepathically so that everyone else could hear. That right Ellis, your other half is gone. Elliss tears kept going. Hey, Ra-chin. Shouldnt you be trying to calm your Dragon Maiden down? Isnt she with the rest of us? Ra-chin crawled up Elliss chest and nudged his head against Elliss cheek. Ellis, youre my Dragon Maiden. And I am your dragon. So dont misunderstand. Youre not with us. Were with you. You are the Golden Mistress. If you have the time to worry about something as boring as this, then recover your strength and think about what to do next. In an instant, the other Dragon Maidens and dragons jumped forward in front of Elliss face. Mistress, the council is waiting for you. Ellis, Ken and the rest are looking forward to one of your sermons. Ellis, the former Hero and former Demon Lord are doing some really interesting things. Ellis, lets go play at Hope Coast and tease the uncles there nya. See Ellis. Youre going to be busy from now on, so work on regaining your strength. Frau gently wiped Elliss cheeks after the tears had ceased to flow. I understand. Thank you everyone. Whispering those words, Ellis drifted off to sleep once more. Ra-chin, do you know something? I know you said something. What is Elliss other half? You all should just be delighted that President Ellis for the time being! Su-chan, Fe-rin, Pi-tan, and Ah-nyan were as uncoordinated as ever, but Ra-chin and the Dragon Maidens had long since gotten used to working with their excitable natures. In a way, Ellis was the same as the Hero and the Demon Lord. Nobody understood what he meant, so Ra-chin went on. You know about Elliss ridiculous abilities when it comes to magic tools. Thats probably because of a god bestowing her their power. Which of course leads back to how Ellis survived. That technique is one that completely saps a persons mental power, so the user will always die. But one of Elliss abilities allows her to use magic tools infinitely. No, maybe it would be better to say it allows her to use magic tools without putting a strain on her mind. Would you agree Claire? Claire nodded her head while continuing to listen intently. Thats why Ellis was able to survive even after she had summoned Dragon Goddess Gaia. After that, just like with the Hero and Demon Lord, the gift given to her by a god was taken away. Thats the truth behind Elliss other half. Everyone understood. Ellis was saying that she could no longer use her magic abilities. At least thats what they believed to be the answer. Which was why they came to the decision that there was no problem at all. Ellis was back, and that was the greatest present they could have ever asked for. Then I shall go let the guildmasters know that the Mistress has woken up. Ill go prepare all of Elliss favorite foods right away. Ill go around town and let all the people who are worried about Ellis know whats going on. Nya~ The Jewelry Box girls were finally able to regain their usual smiles. Meanwhile the Mechanized Dragon had rebooted at some point, and without anyone noticing when, it had returned to its usual form as Mebetts pendant. Hey Ah-nyan What Katie? Why did Ah-nyan come back in your pretty form nya? Ah, because back then we were broken down into a bunch of magic particles, so were trying to get used to our new bodies. So well, {Change Human} or {Reset Body} will be impossible for a while. I see. Well it doesnt matter nya. Wrong Katie. You should say its fine as long as were enjoying ourselves. Yo, Eiji Suddenly hearing a voice resounding in his mind, Eiji woke up. Whos calling me? Me, the God of Thieves This was the boundary between the physical world and heaven. And so Eiji remembered everything. Thats right, in order to help the God of Thieves, he had reincarnated into Elliss body. Ah, I guess I died then? No, you were just pulled out of Elliss body by Tenjin along with all the abilities I had given you. Hearing the God of Thievess easy answer, Eiji found himself getting a little angry. Like this wouldnt Ellis die? So you killed Ellis!? Thats what youre worried about? It looks like you didnt notice, but both your and Elliss souls had been inhabiting that body. Didnt you ever feel uncomfortable with being able to suddenly write in a different language or the fact that the way you spoke morphed into how a young child would talk? Now that he mentions it. Eiji realized that when Dragon Goddess Gaia had asked him if he was prepared for death, he wasnt the only one who had answered. Ellis had said yes as well. So then, theyd been together piloting that body this entire time. If thats true, then Ellis is still alive then. Yeah, dont worry. The Land Dragon is there protecting her as well. I see, thats fine then. Eiji was relieved. As long as Ellis was alive, then its fine. Hold on, the storys not over yet. What? Thanks to your meritorious deeds, youve been promoted. Youve been moved on up from the deceased course to the reincarnation course. So, where do you want to reincarnate? Wait, what meritorious deeds are you talking about? You couldve run away, with the overwhelming power of the Hero and Demon Lord, it only wouldve made sense for you to abandon them to their devices. Instead your actions brought about a never-before-seen result. Now we have to keep an eye on that world. Itll be very interesting watching how that world will develop from now on. And Tenjin is furious with the God of Warriors and God of Mages cheap intervention there. I see. Thats a shame. But so I get to decide where I reincarnate? Either your original world where you were killed by a trailer, or the one ruled by the Dragon Goddess Gaia. Eiji was a little troubled. There was a convenient square box in his original world that made everything easier. Meanwhile the other world had almost no technology to speak of. But, because of that, he had sat around in that world doing nothing until he eventually died. So Eiji thought about his answer until finally coming up with a decision. Well, the world with Ellis in it Got it. But the timeline will end up skewed, and your memories will sink deep into your soul. Good, then Ill be able to enjoy my next life from start to finish. Haha, good answer. Well then, I wish you luck No sooner had the God of Thieves wished him well than Eiji had once again lost consciousness. Back on the ground, various changes were rapidly taking place after the turmoil with the angels. The first piece of news that shook the country was the ascension of King Gray. People in the surrounding area had their worries about the decision like whether this idiot was fit to rule, or whether this mother-con was fit to rule, or whether this gutless coward was fit to rule. But it seems that he had massive support from the people who lived in Skycastle. Next was the change in lords for the Citadel City Marsfield and the Pottery City Ceramics. Sir Chaffee became lord of Marsfield and Stewart took over the lordship of Ceramics, so the cities were able to adjust, but this did put their wives into a bit of trouble. The lord of Wheat Grace Leopold Lorenburgs two oldest daughters were married to the new lords of Ceramics and Marsfield. There was also the fact that his third daughter was one of the Dragon Maidens of Warren, and his granddaughter was the user of the Mechanized Dragon. Wont the Lorenburgs come to control the whole world soon? became the common rumor, but the people themselves didnt care about that. The Teaser Eel did have to pull back from Warren for a while, but that was only because it was soon harvest season for the famous Lorenburg tea leaves. No, the true issue that plagued Gurre and Bizon was the fact that with their new husbands positions and their own new responsibilities, they were forced to live far from Warren and were quite dissatisfied with how often they were allowed to visit. Back in Warren, the former Demon Lord Berudeus wandered around the city with a high and mighty attitude as if he had been a citizen here since long ago. Berudeus was impressed by the heating facilities, financial system, and wealth distribution that Ellis had developed. Although they were a little naive and simple, it was precisely because of this that they were so easy to understand and replicate. There was no need to horde the information or argue about rights like this. So now that Ellis had lost her power, Berudeus decided he would take care of these systems on her behalf. On the other hand, in Freedom Promenade, dozens of couples had been formed during Ferdinands banquet between the Wheat Grace soldiers and daughters of Warren. As a result, numerous girls had moved to Wheat Grace to become brides. And so now Freedom Promenade is once again facing an employment crisis. At least, it was until numerous demons who had heard rumors about Marcosia rushed onto the scene to fill those positions. Really, for it to have turned out like this Machel muttered to herself before giving Marcosia some new instructions. Marcosia, youll be present during every interview we have with a demon. Yes, Master Machel Marcosia would naturally go on to become the leader of the demons. Katie had kept the promise she made back when she had first helped rescued him, and now the former king Joe J Skycastle lived in a sunny corner room at a resort hotel. Any trouble he has is taken care of by the wonderful catgirls and sealgirls who work there. For Joe, the cats soft fur and seals fluffy fur offer a fresh feeling. Theres no ecchi actions going on though, just some tender loving care. He repeatedly went sunbathing at the shore while allowing himself to regain his strength with Hope Coasts numerous specialty dishes. Now he was able to move from his room to the beach without needing anyones help. One day while preparing to sunbathe at his usual spot, an awfully gaudy couple showed up. Joe tried not paying them any mind, laying down on his beach chair alongside two beastmen who had accompanied him, but the couple wouldnt leave him alone. Yo bro, I heard you were here trying to regain your stamina and your strength below your navel too. The crude joke was coming from his brother, the former king Jack. Ive grown past those kinds of desires at this point. Meanwhile Im sure Death from sex will end up scrawled across your tombstone. In the end, the former king Jack J Skycastle ended up following through with his abdication and retired to a home on the beach. Hanging on his left arm was Marilyn, the former member of the Thieves Guilds entertainment division and the so-called Antlion who finally gave in after numerous nights of unmatched combat. For this reason, Hope Coast eventually became a retirement spot for numerous members of nobility and royalty alike. Gise was eventually rejected by Aiful. Or rather, Aiful ended up marrying Buzz before Gise even had a chance to confess. But for Gise as he was now, it didnt matter. He had found a better place for himself. Is the manager in? Welcome. Im afraid shes away at the moment, but I can help you. I see, then its my turn to buy something today. Id definitely like some new sexy underwear for Margherita. *WHACK!* Margheritas hand immediately slapped Berudeuss cheek. At least try to pick out your words a little more carefully! Look, dont you realize everybodys staring at you now? Shut up! I dont care about anyone else! I just want to see you in your new bewitching panties stepping on me! Dear customers, if youre going to fight, please take it outside. This was the Masquerade boutique. Plum, who was just enjoying an afternoon tea break with Aiful, returned to the store just as the other two were leaving. Im back. My, did something happen with Margherita? Welcome back. The two of them started another quarrel, so I asked them to leave. Those two never change. As they spoke, Gise gave Plum a kiss to welcome her back home. Yes, Gise quit the Skycastle Thieves Guild and moved to Warren so he could marry Plum. His right hand had always been enough for him, and he had a left hand for Plum. Meanwhile Plum was hooked on how cool Gise was. And just like that, a year passed. This was the Skycastle royal palace. It was the first time Ellis had come to visit in a long time, and she was here now to bless the baby born to King Gray and Queen Marionetta. Its been a long time King Gray, Queen Marionetta. Frau greeted their majesties on behalf of the rest of the group. Ellis hid shyly behind Fraus leg. Theres no need for any formalities or titles here. But Ellis, are you scared of me? Im not scared. Ellis grabbed Reeves hand and did her best to look as strong as she could. Well, over here please. If everyone could give their blessing. Marionetta guided the five girls and the dragons that were sticking close to them over to a basket where a baby was resting. Everyone peered into the basket, and inside was a tiny little baby that looked like it had just settled down. It was making an adorable expression as it snoozed away. . Eiji..? . Ellis suddenly and unconsciously muttered aloud a name she didnt know while looking into the babys face. Eiji? Like A to Z? Reeve repeated aloud Elliss mutterings. So like the beginning and the end? Frau immediately voiced her impressions on the name. From the beginning to the end, so AZ would cover everything. Claire compounded the impression and then built upon it. Agee sounds like a cool name nya. You could say that Katie was the sensible one here. Gray and Marionetta were quick to react. Itd be nice to give the prince a name thought up by the Dragon Maidens themselves. I also like the sound of Agee. So its decided then. And so the name of a prince was decided in an instant. Marionetta picked up the baby from the basket and whispered to him while holding him up close to her cheeks. Your name is Agee, the prince of this country. But, itll be up to you if youre going to be king. Gray, having already done away with the hereditary system of who will rise to be king, nodded his head. And, at that moment, the babys face warped as a smile spread across its face. A smile that pierced the heart of all five Dragon Maidens when they saw it. A nostalgic smile like a demons that had engraved itself into the very depths of their memories. Hmph And yet it was only the Land Dragon who had snorted as if he had realized everything. A few short years later, a young boy would gain the backing of the young Dragon Maidens, have dragons singing his praises, and even have the daughter of Duke Marsfield, wielder of the Mechanized Dragon, supporting him. A few years after that, his name would become known far and wide, not just across the Almerian continent, but across every continent and island across the world. The Dragon Master Agee Almerian I. But that is another story. CH 186 He escaped. Marionetta looked at the note left on the desk and let out a long sigh. The writing there was messy and difficult to read, and yet the message was clear. [Going to Warren] A few magic tools, including the Ring of Return had disappeared from the room as well. He was such a good, quiet child when he was young. Just what happened? Maybe I made a mistake while raising him Marionetta threw herself on the desk exhausted. Whats wrong Marionetta? Ah, you. Take a look at this. Marionetta passed the note over to Gray. Reading it, a bitter smile crossed Grays face as well. We cant say he isnt lively at least. Well, theres a scary lot in Warren, so its not like hell be able to do whatever he wants. Marionetta took a look at the desk and sighed once again. There was a mountain of documents strewn across, all of them complaints addressed towards the prince. Klaus! Ah, Agee. What are you doing today? This was a building near Warrens Magicians Guild. Agee was visiting the home of Ares and Izerina. Peeking his head into a window, he called out to their youngest son Klaus. Ive made a huge discovery! So I wanted to tell Klaus about it right away! Lets go! But I havent finished studying my magic yet. Okay! Lets go after! Papa and Mama will scold. If you keep complaining, Im going to tell everyone what you did at the live house. I got it, I got it Agee. Then lets hurry up and go! Klaus rushed out of his house, chasing after Agee. The two boys immediately headed towards the northern stream. Arriving at the rivers bank, Agee pulled off his pants and underwear before jumping into the stream. Klaus, hurry up and come in here too! Just hold on Agee! Klaus quickly followed suit, pulling off his own pants and trousers before jumping into the stream after Agee. So cold Were in here because its cold! Oh! Oh! Oh! The two boys continued lowering themselves into the streams icy water while shivering up a storm. And then It came! Agee suddenly shouted out. Surprised by his voice, Klaus almost tripped and fell into the stream. Something came Agee? You, look down at your wee wee!1 Klaus looked down like Agee had told him and was shocked by what he saw. Agee, my wee wee has gotten smaller! Thats my huge discovery! Look, doesnt it look like a drill? I call it, the Drill Wee Wee! Uwa! Thats really cool Agee! Youre right! It does look like a drill! And its hard too! Touch it Klaus! Uwa! Its so small yet so hard! And, its attached! So on that, think about what kind of magic we can use with this. Magic? Couldnt we dig holes like this with some earth magic? Ah, the spell {Excavate Arm}! Yeah like that, only its with our wee wee, so itd be {Excavate Wee Wee} instead! But who will we get to cast the spell? Papa, Mama, and Big sister will definitely not let us do it. Times like this are when we have to go see that old man! Ah, youre right Yosh, theyll go back to normal after a while, so lets go quickly! Right Agee! And so picking up their pants and underwear, the two boys ran back to town, their bare ends completely exposed. Uncle Straw Hat, use the magic on us thatll let us dig holes using our wee wees! Agee threw open the door to a house and rushed in without knocking. An older man laying down near a low table about to doze off while reading a thick book turned his gaze towards Agee without moving the rest of his body. Hm? Casting magic on your wee wees is something reserved for adults. And to start with you two, even if you did dig a hole I bet you wouldnt know how to pull out again when youre done. Hey hey Agee, what does he mean by pull out? What? Well, sometimes this uncle ends up saying some difficult things. Times like that we should just not mind it and ignore him! This was the home of the Queen Bee, the leader of the Warren Thieves Guilds entertainment division. And the two of them had come here to visit Berudeus, the Queen Bees gigolo. Hey Uncle, quit complaining and use the magic {Excavate} on our Drill Wee Wees! Berudeus looked down on Agee and then snorted through his nose. And where is this drill of yours little boy? Eh? Agee looked down himself. His wee wee had already lost its drill-like state. At that moment, Margherita returned home from the Thieves Guild. Oh my, welcome Agee, Klaus Hi Aunt Margherita! Aunt Margherita, hello! The two cheerful greetings from the young boys caused Margheritas gaze to naturally warm. You both look full of energy. What are you playing today? Oh, we came to see Uncle Straw Hat so he could use some magic on us thatll let us dig some holes with our wee wees! Margheritas gaze instantly went cold. And that cold gaze was focused squarely on Berudeus. Berudeus started shivering more violently than the boys had in the stream. You, so once again youre filling the boys heads with improper things. No, I didnt have anything to do with this. Im innocent. Auntie, did you want to see our Drill Wee Wees? Well too bad for you! Theyre already out of stock today! . Agee, Klaus, Im really sorry, but this auntie and uncle need to have a nice, long chat, so how about you two run home for today? Oh! Well come again later! Bye bye Auntie, Uncle! Wait, dont go home you two! Please dont leave! But the two boys ignored Berudeuss cries, running back out into Freedom Promenade. After a moment, the sound of Berudeuss screams would echo at their backs. However, that kind of spectacle was normal for Agee and Klaus. Thats just the way life is, and they didnt know any better than that. After putting on their pants and underwear, Agee and Klaus confirmed the results of their experiments. So they get smaller when they get colder. Yeah, thats right. Maybe your sister cools down her boobs every day? Maybe she does. Big Sister is the Dragon Maiden with the smallest boobs after all. Be sure to ask your sister later! Right, Ill do it! Tomorrow, Klaus would spend the entire day bound and naked, hung from the eaves of his house. Then lets save the Drill Wee Wee for next time. Oh, its the Mechanized Dragon! Then Mebett must be close by too That damn woman, thinking shes better than us just cause she can control a dragon. Lets bully her a little Lets stop Agee. If she finds out shell hang us upside down. Well be fine. I grabbed this from Moms room. Agee showed Klaus a small ring. It was a Grand Magical ring. So Agee and Klaus went looking for Mebett. If Ka-kun was hanging out in the town square, then she would surely be close by. Over there! That damn woman! Looking all self-important in that skirt of hers. Oi Klaus, Ill lend you this, so do that thing. Eh!? Do that? Itll be fine, so go for it! Pressured by Agees words, Klaus slipped on the Grand Magical ring over his thumb before muttering a spell aimed at Mebett. {Whirlwind}! Afterwards, a small tornado wrapped around Mebetts body. Kya! The pitiful Mebett had her skirt flipped up, exposing her kitten embroidered panties to all the children, chaperones, fathers, and mothers who had gathered around her. At that exact moment, Agee grabbed the Grand Magical ring from Klaus, and using magic to increase the volume of his voice, screamed. Still wearing cat panties at thirteen years old! Stupid~! Gyahahahaha! Ueeh! Stupid Agee! Mebett immediately sat down out of embarrassment and started to cry. The Mechanized Dragon quickly jumped to her side. Agee, you went too far! Its fine! Ah, crap! Ka-kuns noticed us! Run away Klaus! Agee and Klaus ran away as fast as their legs could carry them. Im hungry. Im hungry too. Yosh, lets go visit Big Sister Frau and have her make us something. And so the two boys ran off to Lily Garden. Big Sister Frau! My, Agee and Klaus. What are you two up to today? Frau, were hungry. Make us something to eat! Hello Frau My my, you two are energetic. What would you like to eat? We want some of your Pork Dharma rice made by a pig woman! Could you repeat that? Pork Dharma rice made by a pig woman! For a second there Fraus smile cramped. Agee! That second half is too much! Eh, but I heard somebody else say it! Ah. Back then. Frau suddenly remembered back to a couple years ago. One night Agee had stayed over and slept in the room next to Fraus. There had been a drought since the incident with the angels, but when Ellis restarted her abuse, it had gotten particularly loud at times. Since he was so young, they didnt think much of it though. Agee, Ill make it for you if you drop that extra part. I got it Frau! Then I want to eat a pig woman! Frau wanted to scream. The other part Agee! Oh, my mistake! I want to eat Pork Dharma rice! Frau let out a deep sigh in front of the two boys before telling them to wait in the other building so she could start cooking. Fraus rice really is great! Mm, my big sister always says that too! Frau narrowed her eyes as the two greedily devoured the meal she made them. Thanks for the meal Sis! It was yummy! Thanks for the meal Frau! The two boys were filled up by Fraus homemade Pork Dharma rice and jumped back out into the streets of Lily Garden. Frau saw them both off with a smile. Yosh, lets go mess with the gays next! No way, Im scared! Cmon Klaus, youve gotta have guts! Uoh! Agee suddenly bumped into something that felt soft yet firm. Huh? Oh its Agee and Klaus. Youre looking as lively as ever. It turns out that Agee had walked right into Reeves butt without watching where he was going. Big Sister Reeves butt is so hard! Its a huge difference from Moms. Klaus, you feel it too! Got it! Ah, youre right! It is hard! The citizens standing nearby all stopped and stared as the two young boys kept patting Reeves butt. The sight had left them all frozen, unable to stop them. To just reach out and feel up Reeves butt like that, theyre finished.. Oi, those kids are going to die. Even so, Reeve felt a small feeling of nostalgia when Agee patted her butt like this. So after letting the two young boys marvel at their new discovery, Reeve gave them a soft smile and quietly instructed them. My butt was trained to be like this. If you two work hard, then you too can have butts hard like mine. I got it Big Sister Reeve! Well work hard Reeve! The two boys once again ran off. Later on, a brave citizen of Warren would be left for dead on the side of the road after trying to pull the same stunt with Reeves butt. Oh, theres a comedy show coming to the live house! Lets go see! Those comedy shows arent very interesting. You just dont get it! That feeling as the air freezes! I dont have any money.. You dont know!? Were just going to force our way through! Agee dragged the unenthusiastic Klaus down to the live houses entrance. If we dont have any money, then we just wont pay! Agee and Klaus squatted down underneath the entrance counter. Yosh! Now! When the lady behind the counter turned around, the two boys made a break for the entrance. But, the executive manager caught them. What do these damn kids think theyre doing? A good-looking man grabbed the two of them by the nape of their necks and picked them up into the air. Drop us old man! Sorry sorry sorry! One of the brats was acting high and mighty even after he had been caught. Meanwhile the other kid already looked like he was already about to start crying. And thats when a young catgirl happened to pass by. What are you two doing nya? Ah, Big Sister Katie! We got caught trying to sneak in to the comedy show! Katie, Im sorry Im sorry Im sorry! What, do you two like comedy shows too nya? I love them! That fall and slip is the best! Im sorry Im sorry Im sorry! Katie purred. Agee was a guy who apparently knew his stuff. Then Ill buy us some tickets, and well see it together nya. Kazuo, I want you to forgive these two nya. The manager dropped the two to the ground with a bitter smile, and that was that. Damn! Comedy shows really are the best! You sure are a smart kid nya! Katie and Agee were off having fun together. Meanwhile Klaus stood alone slightly away from them. Two of them greatly enjoyed the performance while the third thought it was a huge waste of time. Thanks Katie! If you ever want to see a performance again, come see me nya. Ill pay for us nya. I got it! I think Im good.. Katie watched the two kids run off once again while arguing about something, and thinking about days long gone, made a bitter smile. Yosh! Next, next! Agee, Im starting to get tired! Dont start acting spoiled on me! For now, lets race to the western hill! And like this, the sun gradually began to set. So this was where they were. Both of them are sound asleep. Two people approached the boys as they snored loudly after falling asleep from all the playing they did. One of the two picked up Agee. In his sleepy eyes was reflected a girl with blond hair and beautiful, gentle emerald eyes. A nostalgic scent and warm hold soothed Agee into an even deeper sleep. The blond maiden quietly spoke to the black-haired maiden next to her and the dragon on her back as she struggled to get a good grip on the boy sleeping in her arms. Hes suddenly gotten a lot heavier. Claire, Im going to send this kid back to Skycastle. Ra-chin, help me out here please. Mm. Ill drop my brother back off at my parents house. Then Ill see you later tonight Ellis Ellis and Claire both pulled out their own Ring of Return. And just like that, Agee (6) and Klaus (7) ended another successful day. 1. So my little brothers did stuff like this when they were young, and I started getting worried there might be something wrong with them. But apparently this is just a thing little boys do.