The streetlights of Tokyo shone in through the window of the expensive car we were being chauffeured in, illuminating the tired face of Hinata, who was leaning against me, an expression of te on her face.

  “Quite the day, huh?” I said with a smile, and she retur.

  “Yes, definitely not what I had expected. To think Miyu was like you. And so stubborn as well. Still, you finally got through to her in the end. I’m gd.”

  “Well, it was mostly you and Aiko, really. That sister of mine, doing something so dumb as burning her hand. I’m extremely angry with her!” She’s definitely going to get a piey mind when I see her. Once I’ve healed her, of course…

  “She is very proactive. I ’t say I don’t uand though. It must be frustrating for her. It is for me. All I do is spend money, and that isn’t even really mi’s grandfathers. That reminds me…” she looked up at me, expression serious. “Do you think you could have removed the ability from Miyu?”

  “A good question. I think… probably. I have my suspis about the queror css that I o test, and if not, perhaps via Chirurgery. Yeah, that might also work, but it’s definitely less likely. I’ve never do before, after all.” Thinking about it makes me worried. queror seems a css at odds with saving the world, in a way, though it’s definitely geared towards being stronger…

  “I see. And what would you have doh it, if you successfully extracted it? I for one would be happy to take it. I’d put it to proper use.” She assured me, and I found that cute, so I patted her head gently, and she squirmed like a cat under my touch.

  “I doubt it’s that simple. Assuming that I could even succeed and that the ability remained free, I expect aptitude pys a big part in it. How good are you at dang?” I smiled then, trying to shake my gloomy thoughts.

  “Not very. I guess I make a poor noblewoman.” She sighed. “I see. Yes, that makes se is a good thing as well, otherwise if people found a way to transfer such powers, the world would fall into anarchy.”

  “It’ll still happen. Though I suspect it’ll be more a case of didates hunting each other down rather than normal people trying to gain powers, though there still could be a of that. It’s easier to do what we are doing though, and train from scratch. Look at my sister and Eri, they’ve done all right.”

  Hinata agreed. “Yes, I’m quite jealous. Not of the fighting, or your sisters’ recklessness.” She ched her hand reflexively, perhaps imagining the feel of fire, and shuddered. “But I’d like to do more. Besides, the more I uand about this other world and how it affects and is affected by this ohe more I do for you. Motoko and Natsumi will obviously wish to fight, but me… well, I’d do it to gain these levels, but…”

  “Yeah. Miyu is the same. I don’t think she has the temperament for battle. Though who say how things will ge whes used to it? But her gifts are simply too good to waste. Gaining her as a vassal was huge.”

  “Are they really that impressive?” Hinata asked, still happy under my stroking, and I nodded.

  “Yeah, what’s the only thing you ever buy with money?” I asked, and Hinata answered immediately.

  “More time.”

  “Good girl. Well, in the Boundary, that’s ly true. You buy time, in a way, but the cost gets ever more ludicrous. But Miyu’s da’s still weak and the be is small, but she speed up the formation of a Territory and the buildings within with her Dance of the Returning Dawn. If she trains hard and dances… well, the more time we save, the stronger we’ll be overall.”

  “I see. And if someone does try to take your power, if you are to, then it doesn’t matter as they’ll simply fail.”

  “Exactly.” I agreed. “I’m still a bit worried, so I o firm my suspis, even if doing so… isly a good act. I gave Miyu enough resources that her Territory should be safe for now, but until she grows stronger, I’ll have to protect her. Well, she is my vassal now, so that goes without saying.” Three vassals. So ting myself, that’s four Chosen from Japan w together. I’d like to increase the number, but the easiest way of doing that is winning the support from the Shrines and Temples at their cve, whehey get around to it.

  “So, are you going to marry Miyu?” Hinata asked impishly, and I shook my head, not even surprised by the question.

  “No way. Firstly, I’m happy enough with who I have now.” Hinata made a pleased that, so I tinued. “Sedly, I agreed to help her find love with who she wanted, and I may not be the sharpest when it es to love, but the retionship between her and Michiru-san… it seemed to me there was something there, right? Lastly, I doubt Fujiwara-san would sent. He accepted the situation with Miyu being my vassal, but he didly have much choice. I bet I pissed him off by my handling of it.” Though less than if my experimenting hurt or killed her, of course.

  “Well, yes. It isn’t unusual. Motoko and Natsumi have that vibe going as well, right? We attend school with irls, rarely see any men but our brothers and fathers, it’s only natural affe develops, and as long as it is discreet, well, it isn’t like it disgrace a family like getting pregnant, is it?” Hinata shrugged. “Still, that doesn’t mean that they have no i in men. Motoko and Natsumi are quite taken with you too.”

  “What about you?” I teased, and she flushed, hitting me in the arm gently.

  “Me and Kazumi? No way, she’s my friend, but I’m into…. No, I guess I’m not into men. I’m into you!”

  I answered with a long kiss, more fortable with physical affe ever since our bath. As we separated, breathless, she tinued. “So, not ied in Miyu huh? Well, so long as she pays her pensation for your kindness I don’t care. Use her as you see fit.”

  “I sure will. I’ll have her dang until she drops.”

  “Great. So, did you want to e over to my home?” Hinata asked. “Grandfather would be happy to see you, and I’d like to spend some more time with you.”

  “Tempting, but I want to get the preparations done fing my new Heroes back to the Material.” I grinned, imagining the reas to some of them. “But I definitely io visit aime. I probably o visit Motoko’s parents, Natsumi’s too.” I still don’t know how Natsumi’s parents took her request. Motoko messaged me to say that both es have been approved by the nobility, but Natsumi is from the Three-Hundred, so they might have just bowed to pressure. Another worry, but a minor one for now, I guess…

  “A shame. Oh well, perhaps another kiss for pensation then?” she ughed, and our faces moved clether, our breaths hot…

  ********

  Opening the door to my room, I wrinkled my he smell unpleasant. “Yeah, o up first. Oh well, luckily I am prepared.” When Hinata’s driver dropped me off, I visited a store that was still open, buying a number ss bottles, as well as buckets and ing products. Might as well get to it, this mess won’t itself..

  From there, it was just a case of scooping up the impurities into the y bottles. I inteo keep them, in case they served any useful purpose. Mopping the floor, I removed the soiled bedding, which were totally ruined and unsalvagable. In doing so, I revealed that Shaeu and her yukata were also covered in my filth.

  “This is totally not weird, she’s my fiancée.” I muttered, stripping off her yukata. O was fully off her body it disappeared, the impurity soiling it dropping to the ground. I then ed that up too, as well as wiping down and ing the still, naked Material body of Shaeu. Yeah, I’m pretty sure this could make one hell of a creepy doujin. Once I was done I ed Shaeu carefully in a fresh sheet, expeg her to likewise soil it wheurned.

  “Right. No more diving into the Boundary in our bedrooms. I’m definitely getting a room set up with suitable garments for this. I’m tired of getting blood and worse everywhere. Oh well, there’s too much to dht now, I’ll get Karen- to look into it.” With a quiet prayer for my overworked secretary, I ehe Boundary.

  It didn’t take long before I found Azuki, who was kig her legs gently as she sat on one of the lower steps around the Rhyming Tree. Asha also appeared, smiling happily, me some fruit, which I took and bit into, appreciating the tart taste.

  “Azuki, how’s the situation at the Spring?” I asked her, as the Zashiki-Warashi was our effective go-between for the Material, Boundary and Fae Lands at the moment.

  “The princess speak for herself.” Azuki shrugged. “But it seems to be going well. She met her father and some other important Fae. After they left, she seemed happy though.”

  “Her father, huh? Damn, it isn’t just Natsumi’s parents I o speak to. I have to speak to Prince Shaetanao too. Hopefully I won’t have my head spiked owilight Gate or o that tree like Shaeu used to joke about.” Not that I was seriously worried about that. Shaeu would and for it now. “Anyway, do you know if Grulgor, Hyath, Shirohebi and Suzuki-san are doh their levelli? If so, you fetch them for me?”

  “Hyath, huh?” Azuki shuddered, still finding her hard to deal with. I guess they are both house-spirits in a way, so it makes sehey’d have a rivalry. “That crazy… she was done quickly.” Azuki ged what she was about to say with a grimace. “From what some of the weasels told me, they almost felt sorry for the monsters and enemies who she entered.” She wrung her hands like she was using a washcloth. “Squeezed until they burst.”

  Well, she does seem to favour strig attacks with her nature element. Oh well, it all ts towards levelling up. “Great, so you get her for me?”

  “She’s with the princess, she said she needed a maid.” Azuki nodded, hopping down, dusting off her little velvet dress, and rushed off towards the Ring Gate. As she left, Asha bowed to me, eyes damp.

  “I thank you. My sisters have been avenged, haven’t they?”

  “Yes. The Myids were destroyed, and Duke Myrcoxriath perished with them.” I assured her. “We io repnt the dead forests too, so perhaps one day you return, if you wish.”

  She shook her head, green, grass-like hair flowing. “No, my Tree is here, and here I shall remain. But perhaps I shall visit, in time, to wash aways the memories and sorrows of the past.” Sorrows of the past, huh? Yeah, Suzuki-san…

  I spent a while chatting with Asha before doing a bit of Territory Maintenance. We had accumuted nearly three huhousaher, which while it ittao the massive amount we’d earned from taking the Myid Territory, showed that our iments would pay off in time. The first thing I o do was clear a Queue, so I finished off the Defensive Empt to Rank 2, which had only about six days left, so it wasn’t too expensive. Right, what do I want then?

  At Rank 3, the Warehouse was able to store a volume of a cube of six metres per side. That was a total area of 216m3, whereas before it was only 27m3. At forty thousaher, and a hundred and twenty thousand more rush-build costs it was steep, but it would let us store the parts of Myrcoxriath, so I spent the money. Damn, I’m beoisie now, I spend recklessly.

  Adding aherite Silo by Shaeu’s old Territory and pushing it quickly to Rank 2, allowing the ste to be a hundred and fifty red Etherites and fifty es ones, and upping the Treasury to Rank 2 so it could store mems and preetals, blew through another modest amount, though it was less thay thousand. I then decided to improve our defences a bit. We had four points of defence, being the Shirohebizumi shrihe Dark Rhyming Tree, Hisuikomushi shrine, and Shaeu’s old Territory. At each of those I added another pair of Defensive Empts, one of which id-Fire Empt, the opposite of a Sniper Empt, with the range and damage much lower, but the firing rate dramatically increased. I notice that I also build Earth Elemental Empts now, but I want to save my earth energies for an upgrade of the Earth Altar, so maybe ter…

  That set me baother thirty thousand, leavih enough ether to rush-build one Sniper Empt to Rank 2, and refresh the queue with a third, also towards Rank 2, further increasing our defences. Ideally I’m getting all of these turrets to Rank 2 for peaind aerrence.

  With that done, I waited for everyoo arrive, enjoying the pany of Asha and a few weaselkin, ratkin and kobolds who were taking a break, enjoying the gde that had sprung up around the Trees. Suzuki-san was the first to appear. She was still floating, apanied by her ghostly sisters, but she was in a totally human form, looking like she used to, I supposed. On seeing me, she looked at me with a mixture of resped trepidation, and I liked the look in her light brown eyes. Yeah, she looks calmer. Still afraid, but the madhat had haunted her seems to have faded. I observed her status, and leased to see she had gaiwelve levels, signifitly boostiats, and most importantly, her Resilience, which was above a hundred, so her mind should have stabilised. Although all the stats in the world are useless if the bearer doesn’t have the will to utilise them properly.

  “Well done, you’ve got stronger, haven’t you?” I said, and she nodded, nding beside me, taking a fruit from Asha, biting into it, marvelling that she was able to enjoy it now.

  “Yes, it was… it was a bit scary, but I wasn’t alone, so I managed. I’ve been practising my Telepathy, like you told me to, as well. I’m… I’m ready to help you.”

  “Great, I’m gd to hear it. And it helps you too. If you have the strength to protect yourself, you’ll never suffer like that again. In any case…” I said, broag the subject. “… it’s time to fulfil my promise to you. We are returning to the Material world.”

  At that she flinched, but she then shook herself, shuddering, before nodding, eyes meeting mine, damp with emotion. “I… I want to see daddy, but I’m afraid he won’t accept me, that he won’t think I’m me, but an imposter. I… I died after all.”

  “No, you are definitely you. You know that, and he will too.” I promised. Her father seemed a man who loved his daughter, there’s no way he won’t be overjoyed at her return, no matter how it happens. “I’ll arrange a meeting with your father, although I’m afraid it will likely have other partits too. The Prime Minister for one.”

  “Really?” she cocked her head, and I ughed at her y.

  “Really.” I promised. “You don’t think your return is a big matter? Besides, apparently he is a friend of your father, and he wants to see him shake off his sadness. But first, why not savour all of the things you used to do? I’ll get you a new phone, and you go shoppi desserts, take in a movie, whatever. Just take a day to remind yourself what you have regained, and why you o fight to keep it.”

  “That does sound… wonderful.” She agreed, the dampness being full tears, though her smile was happy. “Even so, when I think about going back, my heart races, and my breath es fast, and I sweat and I feel faint. Ironic as I am dead, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, it’s uandable. But now… you are an Onryo now, physically harming you would be difficult, and you’ve grown far stronger. And you know you aren’t mad. Enough practise and you’ll be able to shut out the voices of others. But I know all I’m saying is words. I think… I think you need closure, to see he ’t hurt you anymore.” I’m not going to pressure her, and hell, I’m no expert on these matters, but… I think it could give her some peace.

  At my words her face screwed up, and I told her I had no iion of f her. Finally, she sighed. “I’ll… I’ll think about it. Nothing seems real yet. When I’ve seen my daddy again, when I know I’ve truly e home… I’ll see.”

  “Fine, in the end, it’s your call.” I promised. It was then that Azuki returned, leading Shirohebi and Grulgor. On arriving, she hopped back up onto the steps.

  “Ixitt says he will return when he is done, he is w on something with that dwarf.” she said, before snuggling dowask plete.

  “I see. That doesn’t surprise me. Well, he’s already had a brief orientation to the Material, so it’s not a big problem.” Anything he’s w on probably bes me anyway. “Right, you two, we are heading to the Material soon. Grulgor, I need you to get acquainted with how things work there. There won’t be any fighting, it might be b for you, but long-term I’ll find you some fun.” If he keep his rage under trol I roster him in to protect Miyu’s Territory, as well as where we set up Suzuki-san’s.

  “Grul uands.” He said, sounding… surprisingly patient. When I checked, I noticed he had capped his levels at fifteen, and his mental stats were now actually high, probably outg the average person! Still, it wasn’t like that would suddenly pump him full of knowledge, but even so, I could tell the difference. “Grul is curious about the world the prialks about, anyway. Grul also trusts you.”

  “Great.” I said, pleased. “As for you, Shirohebi, I want you to meet those of your Shrine, as well as our other religious allies. It’ll prove my words true, and should push them further towards supp me at their cve.”

  “It ssshall be done.” it promised. “It hasss been too long sssince I walked the mortal world. I am curiousss to sssee how it hasss ged.”

  “I think you’ll be surprised.” I smiled. “As will the Izumi’s. I know Kana has been here already, but hearing from her won’t match seeing you in person.”

  I outlihe itinerary. They would all be photographed so that Fujiwara-san could get them dots and a valid Japanese identity, to prevent trouble and allow fn travel if necessary. Being able t them to the Material meant I could also take them back to the Boundary far distant, opening up options of farming areas of signifit value for experiend resources. Damn, I have almost too many options now.

  “Master, we have returned!” Hyath called out, skipping towards us, followed by Shaeu, who looked tired but happy, surprisingly enough in her Kamaitachi form, Velna, and… Shaeraggo and Selensha. On seeing me looking, Shaeraggo snorted sourly, but said nothing, merely nodding at me iing.

  “I have missed yooou! But Hyath has dooone well, right?” She giggled, rushing up to me. I checked her level, and she was at thirteen, which apparently she had achieved rather quickly, acc to Azuki, who was asding the steps of the tree, staying out of Hyath’s line of sight.

  “Yes, you have.” I pulled her into a hug. She stiffened moarily before returning it, smiling, before her usual perversiourned and she started sniffing me, her hands groping. I allowed it for a moment, before patting her head and disengaging. “Later. All right? We have guests it seems.”

  “Yes.” Shaeu came for her own hug, her fur warm. It’s been a while since we’ve hugged in weaselkin form. I suppose it’s nice occasionally. I still was definitely not a furry, and obviously was attracted to her human form, but she was a weaselkin, so I had no problems with a little skinship like that. “My brother and his wife have decided to visit. The Price-Price of Trial in that regard is meaningless now. For I have met my father and my sister again.” She smiled, her form returning to that of a mortal, bringing another wry snort from her brother, though Selensha was looking on fondly. “It was good to see them again, though I did-did wish you were with me.”

  “Well, I daresay I ’t put it off forever.” I said, relinquishing the hug. “Shaeraggo, Selensha, what brings you here?”

  “It’s true then.” Selensha decred, peering at me. “I feel an equally strong water element from you too, that which lingered in the Spring. Sister-in-w did say, and I didn’t doubt her, but even so, I’m shocked. Your presence is so much more powerful than before, and so quickly too.”

  “Yeah, that reminds me.” I thanked her for her pliment, then spoke to Shaeu, who was holding my hand now, much to the irritation of her brother. “When you get back be careful, as my body went crazy and poured out all this bck impurity crap. I mean, I’ve definitely beed heavily from that, but… well, it ruined our bed, and you got a bit messy. I ed you up though, so don’t worry.”

  “You share-share a bed?” Shaeraggo asked, and Selensha shook her head, embarrassed.

  “Of course we do, brother. Surely you must-must accept it now. Akio and I are to be married, even father must yield on that. Of course we share a bed, and use-use it too.” She grinned wolfishly at his disfort. I could hear Hyath muttering enviously, and hid my own grin. Soon. Soon enough.

  “Listen well, Akio.” Shaeu began, incredibly excited, which made her look shogly cute. “Primal Forest, my father, the Prince of the Elves, they…”

  ********

  “… so I will require Grulgor to fulfil his promise and stand with us against Duke Formor, should he oppose our settlement.” Shaeu finished her lengthy tale, expining to me that she had successfully swayed signifit support to our cause, from the Way-Wardens to three of the Princes of the Seelie. Her cim to the Spring was likely to be grahough there was still work to do. What was most important was that she made up with her father and sister though. Her other brothers are still absent, on the borders, but in time… she have everything back. “I want my maids back too. I must rescue she who was loyal to me-me, and as for that traitor Risha…” I felt a faint tremble in the spirit lights around me. “… I must have retribution.” At her fury, Grulgor nodded his massive head, agreeing to hold to his Oath.

  “She will indeed pay-pay.” Shaeraggo snarled. “Thanks to her the mansion I gifted you is-is ruined!”

  “We’re rebuilding it.” I said. “Besides, it was a necessary sacrifice to deal with those two idiot cats from the Night Parade. I’d pay a house to take out a few strong enemies every time.” Again there was a trembling, this one more intense and angry.

  “Yes, the Night Parade has crossed a line, aiming for my beloved sister. Father and Shaeranna are both most-most wroth.”

  “Sister-in-w was raging, wasn’t she, U?” Selensha giggled.

  “U? Cute niame.” I stroked her hair as she looked embarrassed at the memory, before turning my attention to Selensha. “So, what brings you here then?”

  “I am here to teach you and Shaeu water element, as I promised.” Selensha decred. “My darling is here because his sister is watg the Spring right now, along with a force of Way-Wardens, so he finds it more fortable to be away from her. She’s still very angry he hid this all from her.”

  “I still ot believe you would be so reckless as to attack the Spring. Though results do-do speak for themselves.” He peered at me, eyes glowing a fierce green. “If I was to battle you now, perhaps I would lose again. Shaeu, sister, you… yrowth has been-been monstrous.”

  Yeah, while I’m here I o take a look at that.

  ”Impressive, no?” Shaeu grinned, seeing me looking at her with my Eye glowing amber to match hers. “You have grown much as well.”

  “Yeah.” I had to agree. I did notice that instead of Spiritually Pure Body, she had a skill called Enhanced Spiritual Form, which was very simir but seemed to apply more to spiritual lifeforms. Turning to her brother, I asked him a question. “So, I promised that your sister would grow strong enough to silence her critid recim her p the Seelie Court. It didn’t even take three moons, did it?”

  “No, it did not.” He agreed sourly. “I suppose I must-must thank you. My sister… she is happy now. Both of my sisters. Father too. And my brothers will be pleased as well-well. I may not like it, but I must-must accept it. Brother-in-w.” His face twitched as he said it, but I held in my mirth, imagining the day when I would have to say the same to Aiko’s fiancé. Well, so long as he isn’t trash and treats her right I’ll smile and shake his hand. If he’s no good though… I’ll bury him…

  ShipTeaser