I returned to Mirfield and spent the night with my lovely brides. Tomorrow will be a 'go for broke' type of day. I either negotiate a truce with the demons or things will get really gruesome.

I'm looking up at the roof of the Viscount's personal chambers. I feel like I am in a medieval themed hotel. I know this is my room, but doesn't feel like it.

Marcy cuddles by my side, "And this is one more of those 'last nights'..."

"I guess so. I need to make sure Mirfield and Willow Hill are safe before going in search of a cure for the soul vessel. I need to go to the demon realm as my true form." At my other side, Helen is restless. "What is the problem? Are you uneasy to sleep in this place? We can go to the Hill if you want."

"No, it is not that. I want... never mind."

"Please say it. What do you want? I would do anything for you."

"No-nothing. Last night, right? Let's enjoy it together." There is not an ounce of excitement in her voice. It actually killed the mood.

"It will be hard tomorrow. These demons were strong enough to kill seven of my own puppet clones before I could demolish the fort. Not only they are strong, but they also trained their techniques for centuries. Compared to them, I fight like a wild beast. I fight..."

"... like a monster, is that what you were going to say?" Marcy propped on her shoulders finishes my phrase.

"Yeah. I will need to do my best there and even that might not be enough."

"And you'll take that succubus bitch with you again."

Marcy really has a grudge against Ranna. That aside, I have to discover what is bothering Helen. But it is hard to find an opening if she doesn't want to talk. Why do I feel like things are breaking apart? Marcy is obviously jealous of Ranna without a good reason, and Helen is too skittish. I just stop and stand still gazing at the ceiling. Am I doing something wrong? I feel them next to me, but nobody is moving. They are awake and this silence is awkward. It doesn't feel like they would refuse me if I were to touch them, but it wouldn't feel right. I can even hear them breathing.

This won't do. I can't just stay here. "Petal, where are you?"

"Silly master, it is soooo late! It is not time to talk but time to sleep, dummy! I'm at the guild sleeping with Mercy and Zahariel right now, what is up?"

"Do you know if there is something bothering Helen or Marcy?"

"Yes, of course, I do! I know many, many things! That is piece of cake for me!"

"And what is bothering them?"

"Oh, dear Beowulf, are you blind? It is not 'what is bothering them', it is 'who is bothering them', you know?"

"And by 'whom' you mean 'me'. Right?"

"Tehe! Of course! I indeed do! See that wasn't a hard conclusion at all to reach, was it? It is eve-ry-thing your fault, naïve boy."

"Sorry for my idiocy, but how is it my fault exactly?"

"You see, it is because you..." But petal was cut off.

By a pissed off and sleepy Shraaizar, "Oh, for crying out loud! You leave the human girlsss behind and go have an adventure with the flaccid and meaty sssuccubusss with the huge butt and fatty breastsss, of courssse they will be upssset! Now ssshut up and sssleep!"

The wonders of powering up enough to make the telepathic link go all the way to the Hill... But there was no way I could take them with me, was it? They would choke on the high-density mana. Unless I used Earthkeeper first, maybe...

"You know, I won't go to the demon capital tomorrow. I am thinking of doing something else. And when I do go there, I'm taking you two with me."

Marcy props herself up from the bed, "What are you saying? You can't take us there!"

"But you are upset for being left behind, right?"

"A little, but there is not much we can do about it, right? And being in town after a while feels good. There are not many people left behind, but all of them treat us really well."

Helen rolls and climbs over me. It seems some of the awkward mood has vanished. "Yes, some of our old acquaintances even honestly apologized for some things that happened in the past." But I think that your social standing made them do so, not their own regret.

"Yes, but I think I should dedicate some time to you two and to this town... The demons will need some time to digest the news that their fort was demolished. There are things I could do in the meanwhile."

She makes her best Cheshire Cat impression, "Anything?"

And there was no way I could escape. Not that I wanted. Note to self: pick your words better. "Anything, love."

* * *

Morning came, and we ate breakfast at the manor. All three of us. I leave them to instruct the maid squad and retreat to a back room I set up as a workshop.

I should prepare some clothes for the ladies and I. I search the item box for suitable dresses and a set of lord's clothes. I have some fabric and assorted accessories. I must hone my production-based skills.

From level 4 to level 10 costs 45 points, Craft Speed, Craft Quality, and Aesthetics maxed out. 135 SP. Batch crafting is already 4, no need to level it up. There is little time to waste.

Craft Speed: Reduces time required to craft an item by 15% per level. (80% reduction at level 10). Aesthetics: Increase the perceived value of craft by 15% per level (405% at level 10) Craft Quality: Grants an 8% chance per level of improving quality of craft by one rank. (56.5% +1 / 18.7% +2 / 4% +3 / at level 10) Batch Crafting: When working on several items of the same type, can craft one additional item per level increasing the base time by 25% per extra item.

And let's get to work.

A couple hours later and they find me. I am pretty sure Sebastian ratted me out. "What are you doing? Where were you? Why the dresses?"

I bite my own finger off and drip a few drops of blood on one mortar and pass the other two to the girls. Blood on the mortar, please.

The iridescent shells of the crystal thornbugs will become decorations for the clothing. Cut, cut, facet, sew, sew, bind and enchant!

Viscount of Mirfield's Vestments [C]: Item automatically self-cleans and repairs using MP. Drains 5% of wearer's MP when full to power up. Adjusts up to 30% of size to fit the wearer. Regulates temperature for the wearer to a comfortable level of up to 20 degrees up or down. Impossible for the wearer to trip on the hem of the tunic and cloak. Never entangles. Item randomly sparkles. The wearer can change the color of the item by using MP. Soulbound.

Sparkles. Who would've imageined? Random item buffs FTW.

Marcy peeks over my shoulder, clearly interested in the high class couture. "When are we putting these dresses on?"

"When an official occasion presents itself. They have zero defensive abilities, so it is better to hold back on them. I will visit several places today. I'll go to the commercial association, the guild and the mayor's office. And later I think I'll renovate some parts of the town. I want to get some other empty houses."

"We will go with you."

At the commercial association I discovered that the ruling lord doesn't visit, he inspects. I got a report about the outbound caravans. It seems half the remaining population left with the first caravan and there are more people scheduled to go. Both north to Strawford and west to Whiteridge. The king's envoy is still in town. He is scheduled to leave with a caravan tomorrow, along with around two hundred people. And there are no caravans scheduled to come here.

And next, we went to do a 'surprise inspection' of the guild.

We got near the place and there were loud music and singing. "What is going on?"

Helen's sensitive ears also picked it, "I don't know, but at least it is not a fight."

We entered the guild and found the adventurers were drinking this early in the morning and singing and dancing. What was the source of the commotion? There was a faerie dancing on one table. Several magic lights and images were floating around her. Are these illusions? Right, she can use any spell I can except for Pyroclasm and Gravity magic.

"You surely are having fun, Petal. Good job!" I tell her over our telepathic bond.

"Oh, wow, hey Viscount, join us!" Some adventurer I've met once or twice pulls me into the ring. I don't budge though. Oh. They are Growald and Brunn. Fancy seeing you around.

The song stops at the word Viscount. "Hey, how are all of you doing?" Cheers erupt and they seem happy to get some attention from me. The girls look excited to join.

"Take us to hunt, Beowulf!" Some adventurers shout.

"Stop kill stealing our wolves. The eastern forests are so calm I could live there!" This might be a problem.

"I'll talk to the guildmaster and sew what I can do." And I retreat to the office area. Helen and Marcy stayed behind talking to the receptionists.

Beowulf: Mercy, I am outside your office, can I enter?

Mercy: Sure! Please do.

This party chat is convenient. I need to learn how to whisper and chat with a single person. If Helen can send emojis I can do whispers too, just need to figure out how. So far all the chat messages are open broadcasts.

How the heck can she send emojis?

I enter and find Mercy and Zahariel going around some quest papers.

"Hey, guys, I don't want to take much time from you, How is the guild doing?"

"We are holding it, but some adventurers want to leave. They aren't finding much prey now in the northeast area and the other areas are also dry from overhunting. The merchants aren't coming, so we don't have where to sell our wares. The previous guildmaster also embezzled almost all the gold and we are low on funds. At this rate, we won't be able to pay for the quests."

The town economy is collapsing. I know that the reports waiting for me at the mayor office will be bad too. "I think I know what I can do to spice up the revenue and the hunting grounds. I'll make a dungeon near this town. I need a dungeon master though. I think I know where to find one."

Beowulf: Alvus, I was thinking of visiting the town hall, but I can guess finance is bad, right?

Alvus: It is as you thought. The town is running at a loss because we lowered the rates and are not collecting as much tax as before. The guards are also complaining about the rations.

Cloude: Some guys are complaining here at the guard, but honestly they are scum.

Beowulf: Something just occurred to me. Cloude, send word to all guards that I am going to inspect the garrison later today.

Cloude: But what about manning the gates and the walls?

Beowulf: What about it? Who or what is coming to attack my town? If it is about keeping monsters out, they already failed miserably.

Cloude: Guess you are right. Your call, boss.

Hey, bold and italics. that is some start.

"Mercy, I want to do a quest. I'm paying a silver coin for each adventurer to man the gates up to four on each gate. And another eight to patrol the walls. Any rank."

"As you wish, my lord." She says in a mocking tone.

I return to the tap room, and now there are four girls and a faerie dancing on tables. I don't know the other two.

Beowulf: I am teleporting out of town for an hour. I gotta get myself a new pet.

Marcy: Where to?

Beowulf: Beelzebub's place. I'm going to tame and steal some monsters from that dungeon.

No response. Let's hurry up. Teleport.

In the dungeon, I don't feel the consciousness of Beelzebub like I did last time. I can feel his presence and his power inside the dungeon, and confirm that it was him that cursed me with bug bait.

Bee level. Several harmonic bees buzzing around. I'll possess one and fly up. Terror level. Burn wicked beasts.

Willpower level 8. {Resist Domination} learned. Grant an extra attempt to resist domination type effects on casting and one extra attempt every day.

Back at the geode level. There is no phoenix butterfly anymore, but now there are some crystalline thornbugs. Very pretty.

And they are eating the quartz. There are some rows of eggs on the quartz spikes. Is this quartz growing back? It doesn't seem so.

I go to the place where I cut my pieces before. It is still the way I remember. There is no crystal growing on the geode walls. Time to wipe the thornbugs and harvest more quartz. It is a finite resource.

One hour later I had the fanciest thornbug corpses and cubic meters of high-purity magic quartz in storage. I got close to leveling but no cookie. But it is still not what I was looking for. Up one floor.

The spider area. Finally, I will be able to put my Dominate Arachnid skill to a good use that is not removing dust mites from bedding.

There is no ice widow around. Too bad. I should dominate the spiders here and just kill them for the skill training.

Dominate Arachnids level 7

Back to Mirfield. B-guy didn't even try to host a telepathic chat.

Beowulf: Back in town. Found nothing worth of note. A total waste of time. Helen and Marcy, meet me at the garrison.

Helen: Really? I'd rather not go there.

Marcy: Same thing. That place is creepy. No offense, Cloude.

Cloude: None took.

Beowulf: I need you two there. I know it will be very uncomfortable, but I need it done. For the good of the city. Can I count with you?

Helen: Yes, I guess. If you put it that way it is hard to say no. I'm going with Marcy.

Beowulf: Cloude, did you line up the troops?

Cloude: We are ready and awaiting, My Lord.

Beowulf: Cut the crap.

I go to the front of the garrison and wait for my brides. I also set my title to 'Man Eater' even though I'm only having my next meal at night.

Marcy calls my attention, "Beowulf! Over here!"

I grab Helen's right arm like a gentleman should carry a lady, and Marcy walks at my side a bit to the back. I glance at her and she winks at me, shaking her crimson hair. She has a mischievous smile on her face, I think she figured out what I am going to do.

"Helen, I need you to inspect the guards with me. Do not avoid your gaze." I tell her while we go inside.

Cloude sees us coming and shouts, "Attention!"

The garrison guards rank up and stand in formation. I trigger remote senses to get a birds' eye view of the same location. I also get a generic bow from the item box and hand it over to Marcy. She smiles again.

I talk to them, "Gentlemen. As you know I am the Hero Beowulf, Viscount of Mirfield. And at my side is Lady Helen, my wife, and Lady Marcy, my wife." As I speak, I walk across the line of garrison guards, closely watching the faces of both the guards and Helen. "Mirfield is going through troubled times, with the orc invasion and the mad lord. We are short on food, short on hands and more and more people are leaving. I need to make changes if this town is to survive. I hope you understand that."

I time my speech to reach the end of the line at the same time I finish speaking. There are fifty guards plus Cloude in the town garrison.

I turn a little and put my hand on Helen's left shoulder, "My dear, please stand right there with Marcy. I need you to be strong there. Don't flinch." And back at the soldiers.

I walk down the line pointing at some guards. Eight in total. "You that I pointed out, step forward. Line up here, side by side, now!" They reluctantly form a new line in front and some twenty feet away from the others.

Cloude: What are you going to do with these old time veterans?

Beowulf: Justice. Keep silence over the party channel now, please.

I point at eight other guards, "You, step behind the other ones." They move and the looks of the first eight I sorted out become filled with fear. I address them, "Gentlemen! Mirfield..."

Before I can give my speech one of them screams, "The monster bride is back, run for your lives!" The 'old time veterans' scatter and run. I realize I'm scowling. Maybe they read my bloodlust.

"Marcy, can you please do the honors?"

She raises her bow up and draws the empty string. "Homing Thunder Multishot!" Eight arrows of light appear and fly up, veering down and hitting all the eight running men in their backs. Right over the hearts. They twitch for a while as the lightning charge does its job, and stop moving altogether.

Helen has gained 11 levels (4-Druid 1 > 12). Cloude has gained 3 levels (4-Magic Swordsman 34 > 37) Marcy has gained 1 level (5-Guild Master 73 > 74). Beowulf has gained 2 + 2 + 2 levels (4-Racial: 42 > 44, 3-Warrior 50 > 52, 3-Scout 50 > 52). +42 SP

The other guards are restless. Cloude rallies them, "At ease men. The show is over, and now comes the lecture. Reform the line! My Lord, if you please."

I walk the line again, this time with a relaxed expression, "Soldiers. These men that were in your middle were criminals. They lynched the Lady over there for no good reason to please their own cruelty. This is inadimissible in this garrison, in this town. If you do not agree with my policies, you can ask commander Cloude to be discharged, and we will allow you to join the king's envoy tomorrow when he leaves for Heorot with my recommendation. For the ones that choose to stay and serve the town, I will give you a new motto to live under."

I don't need goons. I need cops. I give a little time for my last words to sink in, "Your new motto is 'To Serve and Protect'. You are not above the common citizen. You are their guardians. Think of yourselves as bodyguards, for the people that chose to remain with us during these hard times, for the town you all call home." I can't help but play the song in my head. 'Be not afraid, thy help is here...'

I don't need guards, I need a police force. Serve and protect. One that will look after the people and not impose on them. I hand Cloude a bag of coins and walk back to the side of my brides.

Cloude again takes the lead, "Those that want to be discharged and go to the capital with the envoy, step forward. You will be paid your wages and receive a discharge with honors."

With this, I will remove the bad apples from the town garrison and shrink our expenses. Not with coin, but food. The guards most likely to betray me are also gone.

Talk about derailing a day's plans. The demons got one more day to live.