> Yuri PoV

We’re gathered for morning assembly next to the obstacle course. I look over those of us that are left. Nine people in total, divided into three teams. Almost everyone has dead fish-like eyes. Mine are probably the same. The only one who seems to be doing fine is, oddly enough, that female elf with the bow. I thought elves were supposed to be frail, so how come she seems so damn energetic?!

“Well done for making it this far!” (Ellie)

Ellie suddenly appeared in front of us. Of course I didn’t see her arrive - I never do. I gave up on getting startled by that after the sixth time it happened, though.

“As you maggots should well know, you’ll be under my care for one more week. Congratulations on making it this far!” (Ellie)

Oh great. I wonder what it’s going to be this time. Dig up a well with just our feet? Build a castle using only a toothpick? Crush a rock by staring at it? Cut trees down with our nails? Lick our eyebrows? All of the above at once?!

“Soon you will graduate from being maggots and be worthy of being called cockroaches!” (Ellie)

“How is that any better?!” (Marv)

Marv, the bald-headed axe wielder, speaks up. He hates being called an insect the most out of everyone here. It’s also that sort of attitude that gets him in trouble all the time.

*Fwit THUD*

“GYAAAA!” (Marv)

Yep, she threw a knife at him and hit him in the shoulder. As expected. This is his fourth stab wound already. Marv really should have learned his lesson at this point…

“Do not underestimate the cockroach’s ability to survive, maggot! Even if the world ends, those little bastards will be the last to go! Actually, it’s highly likely they’ll survive even that much! Unlike yourself, if you dare to interrupt me again!” (Ellie)

“AARGH!” (Marv)

“Oh suck it up, you big crybaby. Be quiet unless you want me to call Ariel over!” (Ellie)

Wow, he shut up instantly! He’s gritting his teeth and breathing roughly, but not making a peep! Well, I can’t blame him. Things get… weird… whenever that bird lady shows up. That strange glazed look she gives me whenever she heals my injuries is way too creepy! Pain I can live with, but that woman is bound to give me nightmares!

I see someone raise their hand in the corner of my eye.

“Yes, what it is, Russ?” (Ellie)

“So does that mean we’ve graduated from that obstacle course, ma’am?!” (Russ)

“You don’t ‘graduate’ from basic training, maggot! The fact that you still think of it as something different from everyday life means you’re already a failure as an adventurer!” (Ellie)

“Oh…” (Russ)

I think a small part of him just died. On the inside that is. Ellie starts looking over the rest of us with sharp eyes, like we’re livestock and she’s sizing up which one of us will be slaughtered first. I can just barely make out the outline of what is undoubtedly an evil grin underneath that black mask she always wears!

“You all came here to become proper adventurers. However, some of you still fail to realize what it is adventurers have to deal with. Therefore, in addition to your daily training, I will now also be working on fixing all of your faults.” (Ellie)

Really?! NOW we get to the actual instruction?! Isn’t that completely backwards?!

“First of all. Marv! You’re way too prideful! I’d hoped my gentle guidance would have taught you some humility, but your stupidty truly is Rank A! So I’ll be taking fitting measures to beat it out of you!” (Ellie)

Marv’s face slowly turns a shade whites. I don’t think that’s due to blood loss. Not this time anyway.

“Synthia! The bow is a good weapon to use on small fry, but it becomes useless when facing anything Rank B and above.” (Ellie)

So the female elf’s name is Synthia? She barely ever speaks so I had no idea. And Ellie actually has a point, I don’t think arrows would do anything against a cyclops other than tickle it.

“However, your eyes are good and your movements are light. No more monster subjugation for you. We’re going to focus entirely on scouting for the forseeable future.” (Ellie)

“But scouts are- *Fwit* Uwah!” (Synthia)

Wow, she just barely dodged it! Isn’t that amazing?! I couldn’t even see that projectile!

“Don’t you dare say scouts are worthless in a fight! If anything, they have the most important job of letting their team know if they can win the fight before it even starts! So what if you lack killing power?! Learn how to create openings for your team! Poison, fire, smoke and traps are all things you need to learn about! I’ll be personally educating you on their use and creation, so be grateful!” (Ellie)

Wow, she gets to receive personal attention from the best scout on the continent!

“Y-y-yes, ma’am.” (Synthia)

I hope she survives this! Fight, Synthia! You can do this, Synthia! I believe in you, Synthia!

“Luke, I know you want to help people, but you need to be more suspicious of others. You accepted everything I told you as fact without even questioning a single bit of it! What person in their right mind would believe eating crushed grass would make them grow taller overnight?! An adventurer needs to be at least a little bit suspicious of others, otherwise you’ll only be taken advantage of!” (Ellie)

“... Yes ma’am.” (Luke)

“Oh! You actually doubted my words for a second there! Good, we’ll work on that. Next, Grom! You rely too much on your training. It makes you inflexible! You can’t adapt to rapidly changing situations at all! You need to let go of such preconceptions before you end up dead in a ditch! Got it?!” (Ellie)

“Yes, ma’am!” (Grom)

Wait, since when did she see Grom fight?! We’ve only ever had combat at night when she’s nowhere to be seen!

Could it be she’s actually stalking us?! No, she’s definitely stalking us! All nine of us! No idea how or why, but I’m sure she’s capable of it!

“Russ. No complaints, keep up the good work.” (Ellie)

“Wait, what?! But I was constantly falling behind! Grom and Yuri had to basically carry me through the obstacle course every single day!” (Russ)

“So? You pushed yourself as far as you could, did you not? And then, rather than being stubborn and reckless about it, you gratefully accepted help when it was offered. You focused on doing the things you could do and relied on others for the things you couldn’t. I see no fault in that sort of behavior.” (Ellie)

“I… I see. Thank you, ma’am.” (Russ)

“On second thought, there is one thing. You might want to work on being a little less shameless. Trying to feel up Yuri’s breasts while she’s carrying you on her shoulders is bound to earn you a broken hand one of these days!” (Ellie)

“...” (Russ)

Huh? Really? That’s what he was doing? Does he like these things that much?

“Speaking. Of. Which.” (Ellie)

Eep.

“Yuri. Where do I even begin!?” (Ellie)

What?! Does she really hate me that much?!

“You plow through everything without using your head! You don’t listen to your teammates as much as you should! You don’t pay attention to your surroundings or your environment! You rely too much on your nose! Honestly, I don’t know what to even do with you! I’ll just have to instruct you directly over the next week. Maybe even beyond that!” (Ellie)

Okay, she definitely hates me.

> Kira PoV

“Here you go sweetie!” (Kira)

I gently guide the spoonful of baby food in Aura’s mouth. She gobbles it up while waving her little arms and legs around. The way she flails around in her high chair is just too adorable!

“Ugh… I still can’t get used to that…” (Kelly)

“Would you rather I breastfeed her instead?” (Kira)

“What, at the dinner table? Come on Red, be real!” (Kelly)

“I think I’d prefer that, to be honest...” (Lara)

“Lil sis is amazing! To be able to eat that glowing green goop!” (Sophie)

Well yeah, when I seriously put my mana into the food it turns extra weird, but it can’t be helped. Otherwise she won’t eat it!

“Munyaa! Amm!’ (Aura)

“Alright, alright, here’s some more!” (Kira)

I feed her another spoonful and she giggles with delight. I do hope we find out another way of feeding her as she grows older. I don’t want my daughter to grow too dependent on this stuff...

“Alright. I’ve had enough. Thanks for the food, I’m going to go check up on Stompy.” (Kelly)

“Your precious Stompy isn’t going anywhere, Kelly. You know full well it can’t just get up and leave.” (Kira)

“Yeah… You really should let me take him out for a walk more often you know? Make sure everything’s working right and all that!” (Kelly)

“Thirteen meter tall Titansteel golems do not need to go on walks, Kelly. It’s a war machine, not a puppy.” (Kira)

I feed Aura some more mana-enriched puree while refuting Kelly’s claims. I know that meat-head is excited about the thing she put together with Nano, but she needs to be more reasonable. That four-legged walking calamity should stay put until it’s needed!

“Besides, you’d wreck everything in sight. You already gouged out a 40 kilometer stretch of forest when you went out to catch a cyclops for Ellie.” (Kira)

Also, supplying that thing enough mana to move around is a full time job, even for me! I already have to split my reserves between cooking for Aura, keeping the tower afloat, magic practice and charging Mana Stones for the Ministry’s research. My mana pool isn’t limitless you know!

“I know but… it feels like such a shame. We put so much effort and resources into that and now it’s just gathering dust in the basement...” (Kelly)

“Alright, alright. Tell you what. Nano, you needed some help with establishing that railroad to Ecebis right?” (Kira)

Something about making a straight line through hills, cliffs and mountains.

{Indeed. I was just going to hire a bunch of laborers like usual though.}

“Would it be cheaper to have four, no, five mages keeping Stompy running and have it do all the work instead?” (Kira)

{Oh, use it as heavy-duty construction machinery, huh? … Yes, it should be considerably cheaper if we use Stompy. We won’t even need to hire guards if it’s around to chase off monsters.}

“How’s that, Kelly?” (Kira)

“Mmmmm… What I really want to do is use it to punch something big in the face… Still, it’s something! Thanks, Red!” (Kelly)

Kelly walks out with a spring in her step. Her odd fascination with making bigger and heavier things is a bit worrying, but she’s still got a good head on her shoulders. Mostly anyway.

I keep enjoying the rest of the meal with my three lovely daughters. Lara is too enthralled by her steak to even notice Sophie’s been prodding her cheeks for the last two minutes. Aura’s just being a good girl like always.

…

Something’s missing. Someone to be precise. I wish my wife would be done with training those guys so that I can get to hug her and squeeze her and-

*Slam*

“Kiraaaaa!” (Ellie)

“Ellieeee!” (Kira)

I run at her the instant I see her come through the door! She meets me halfway by jumping straight into my open arms!

*Glomp*

I catch her, spin her around and kiss her lips! After reaffirming her presence in my arms all my worries disappear instantly! To fulfil my selfish wish before I even get a chance to say it out loud - as expected of her!

“Wow. Every time, huh?” (Lara)

“Hehehe, Mommy looks funny when she spins Mommy around!” (Sophie)

“Dabuuu!” (Aura)

Aura, you don’t have to join in if you don’t want to.

“Nnnna!” (Aura)

“Kiraa! *Sniffle* It was horribleee!” (Ellie)

She looks up at me with teary eyes while burying her chin into my cleavage.

“Oh, there, there Ellie. I’m here now.” (Kira)

I gently stroke her hair and comfort her. My daily stress build-up seems so insignificant compared to what she has had to endure every day for the last few weeks.

“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” (Kira)

“*Sniff sniff* Okay…” (Ellie)

“Ah, Nano, can you bring Aura up to our room later?” (Kira)

{Leave it to me. You just focus on consoling Ellie.}

I put an arm around her shoulder and guide her out of the room and up the stairs. She’s covered in dirt, mud and soot like usual. No matter how hard she pushes those guys, she’s still the one who has to do the most work.

We get into the bathroom, undressing each other along the way. Ellie just sits there sulkily while I rinse all that filth off her beautiful skin and wash her soft hair. Then we climb into the bath together. I lean up against the edge of the tub and Ellie nuzzles her head into my collar.

After about ten minutes of soaking in the hot water, she’s finally calmed down enough to speak up.

“... I had to hit her again today. I really didn’t want to.” (Ellie)

“I know.” (Kira)

“But I did it anyway. For her sake.” (Ellie)

She probably hurt herself way more than she did Yuri.

“I know.” (Kira)

At least today doesn’t seem to have been as bad as that time she ended up breaking Yuri’s tail. Ellie said those screams of agony gave her nightmares for a solid week. She’s slowly getting over them, but her restlessness still wakes me up in the middle of the night sometimes. Seeing her whimper in her sleep while drenched in cold sweat like that makes me feel terrible.

“Thank you, for going along with my selfish whim.” (Kira)

“It’s not like that at all. Kira was right. That girl needed help badly. She never opens up to others and bottles up everything until it explodes.” (Ellie)

“But you said she found some reliable comrades, right?” (Kira)

“Yeah. They seem to get along. Although that little runt needs to keep his fingers off her!” (Ellie)

“Well, he’s fifteen. What did you expect?” (Kira)

Russ is someone that only recently graduated from the Magic Academy. This is his first taste of the real world and he has to watch that practically naked woman move around all day. Honestly, I’m surprised he hasn’t tried anything more extreme than that.

“And what about that dwarf? The one that quit the Legion to explore the world?” (Kira)

“He does a good job at protecting both of them. Though he is getting on in years. He’ll probably have to retire in less than a decade and will be left behind.” (Ellie)

“I’m sure she will have made a lot more friends by then, though. Just look at us.” (Kira)

A year ago we only had ourselves. Now we have a family so big we barely fit into this tower.

“Yeah. I just wish we could do more for her.” (Ellie)

“We’re already doing plenty though. Any more and we’ll end up spoiling her.” (Kira)

We’re showing her how to effectively use that stupidity-powered strength of hers, how to judge when to fight or flee, what it means to trust others and how to direct her rage. She’s soaking up all of our teachings like a sponge. Even if Ellie’s the only one she sees, she’s the combined experience of everyone in [Black Flame] beaten into her.

“We could always invite her to live with us.” (Ellie)

“Then she’d get caught up with our particular brand of trouble though. She came here to seek self-improvement and freedom, right?” (Kira)

“Yeah…” (Ellie)

Something about wanting to escape an arranged marriage. Apparently her future husband was a real piece of trash that already has 20 wives and just wants her because she has big breasts. That guy is like the enemy of women everywhere! I really want to go stomp his face in! But then I’d probably cause a war. He is the Emperor of her home country after all.

“Still, I didn’t think she’d be the one to come to us.” (Kira)

We didn’t even get a chance to start looking for her in the first place!

“That newspaper really helped after all, huh?” (Ellie)

“Ugh… don’t remind me.” (Kira)

She came because of our reputation. Nano spotted her heading into Runetap while scowling at everything that moved. We already knew she was out there somewhere, but the fact she wasn’t human was still a bit shocking. But since she came to us wanting to learn, I wanted Ellie to teach her precisely what it means to be in this dangerous and unpredictable line of work. She was a bit conflicted, but did her duty anyway.

Since she’s the wife.

“She is a lot like you.” (Ellie)

“Well… How could she not be?” (Kira)

“No, I mean on the inside. She worries about everything and refuses to give up on her goals. Now if only I could do something about that ‘smile’ of hers...” (Ellie)

“Right… How did she even think that was a proper smile in the first place?” (Kira)

I could barely recognize Ellie’s face when she mimicked Yuri’s expression at first! To think such a thing was even possible!

“Not sure. It seems to be a habit she learned in her childhood. It might just be the way salamanders smile.” (Ellie)

“Well, we’ll find out eventually. I do want to visit that country of hers and steal- acquire the secret behind those runes.” (Kira)

A magic tool that can produce a High-tier spell after being charged with mana. The possibilities such a thing opens up are almost limitless! It’s sure to be a huge help to Nano in particular! But from what Ellie has learned it seems to be a sort of state secret.

“Maybe we should just go overthrow that Emperor guy and solve both problems at once!” (Ellie)

“Easy there, Ellie. Remember what I told you about taking over countries we don’t like?” (Kira)

“Yeah, yeah. Still, fantasizing about it makes me feel a bit better.” (Ellie)

We spend a few more minutes soaking in silence.

“Are you sure you don’t want to meet her?” (Ellie)

“Yeah. She’s still green. Let her climb up the Ranks on her own, she’ll find out about us eventually.” (Kira)

“I’m sure that won’t take too long though.” (Ellie)

“If what you keep telling me about her is true, then she might even beat our record!” (Kira)

“Hehehe! It wouldn’t be weird at all if that happened, huh?” (Ellie)

A lonely person with a bad temper and trouble trusting others. I hate to admit it, but she’s almost exactly like I was. Ellie had Nano. I had my Dad. But that poor girl seemed to have nobody but herself. Why is it all of us have to suffer in some way? Well, I’m sure she’ll overcome it.

She is me, after all.

The third one with the same face - Yuri Teleila.

She is her own person though. Making her tag along with us just because we share a face isn’t something I have any right to do. The way she is now, just revealing this connection will probably make her latch onto us. If years down the line we end up working together, then so be it. If our paths never cross again and she finds happiness on her own, then that would be fine too.

I just hope there’s at least one version of me out there that has led a normal, peaceful life so far...

End of Act Nine - Trinity