The morning after the auction was hectic. The house was crowded and some people had to eat on the floor in the living room. There were wary tensions between the elves and the rest.

Kei asked Elen what dullahans and arachnes were categorize as?

"Hmm... Its hard to distinguish for the general public. They both can talk but sometimes dullahans are seen on a rampage and arachnes considers humans as food. If they are docile to public order and live among us, they are considered demons.

But an undead and a giant spider woman would not receive well with human locals. You may find more of them at wherever the demons are hiding."

That's a clue I guess. I guess demons aren't just people with colored skins and horns.

Kei stared at both Kirin and Polin next to each other on the table.

Kei already told Polin that Kirin was her new friend. Polin was happy to receive her first friend to Kirin's dismay, but Kirin can't do nothing against her new master.

On the table, Polin was basically telling her life story. Kirin turned to Kei and said, "I got something to exchange for my freedom!"

"Ohohoho. Tell me what you have to offer?"

"Freedom?" Polin questioned.

"Yes! You see this on my neck. I'm a slave. I'm being forced to be your friend!

Whoever want to be your friend!? You're ugly! You're boring! You're stupid!" Kirin yelled in frustration. A princess of a well-known beastmen clan being friends with a mix-breed hillbilly. That got to be the biggest joke of the century!

She wanted to spend her time with Elen more than anything right now, but she had to be listen to this fool blathering about her life at her village and how great her husband was. Kirin zoned out about the part where Kei killed a bunch of adventurers and summoned undead and monsters to destroy a town. Completely flew over her head.

Kirin thought Elen was the leader of this group and Kei was another lackey. Kei didn't lift a finger in the fight last night, so he must be Elen's servant who can't fight and has lack of discipline.

Elen poorly explained her relationship with Kei and Kei's character, because she didn't want to break Kirin's illusion that she came to save her. Elen really didn't know Kirin was captured or was even there, a stroke of luck.

SNIFF SNIFF

Polin was tearing up. She can't believe her first friend will say such a thing. Even if it was true, why would Kirin would say mean things during breakfast, in front of everyone.

Even Polin found it was strange that this beastman girl wanted to be her friend by choice, but she accepted Kei's kind gesture. Polin thought friends should know everything about each other, so she took the first step and be truthful about herself. But... it didn't go so well. Kirin was barely listening and gave her the cold shoulder.

The atmosphere became colder and suffocating. Polin was still sobbing. Bridget, Jacklin, and Vetros were not affected by it, they felt it was natural. They weren't overwhelmed of this killing intent.

"H-he--hey Kei. It's...It's a misunderstanding! A mistake! Kirin you should apologize right now!" Elen yelled in distress. Not good! I should have teach her when to to shut her mouth!

"Huh? Why should I? It's just some stupid mix-breed."

Kei got up and walk over to Kirin. He picked her up and covered her mouth with his hand. Kirin was struggling but can't compete with Kei's strength.

Kirin was a smart child but also pampered to no end. Her mouth would run and say anything that comes into her head. She believed there will be no consequences due to her prestige. But she did the ultimate taboo!

Elen was about to reach her hand out but suddenly was stuck like those men at the auction!

She can only stared at them going upstairs. The other elves wanted to stop him but were also stunned.

Kei open the door to one of the rooms and slowly closed the door.

Everyone could hear the sounds of something snapping and breaking. There were no voices just those snapping sounds.

Bridget was sipping her morning tea and Vetros was focusing on munching on a pile of meat for breakfast. Jacklin doesn't need food but was able to taste. Jacklin just drinks tea through a straw and created a puddle on the floor like she peed from her neck or something.

With nothing much to do, Jacklin's body got up and petted Polin's head, calming her down.

After several minutes, Kei and Kirin came out of the room. Kirin was being carried with one arm and was calmly placed on the chair she was sitting before.

There were blots of blood over her kimono and her eyes are just moving everywhere, scared of something that might get her. Other than that, she was spotless.

Then the elves were released from their constraints.

"Wha-what did you do?" Elen hesitated to ask.

"Just teaching her lesson. If you worry about her virginity, I didn't take it.

Just bone breaking, very thorough and a lot of it." Kei replied.

Even if the people downstairs didn't hear, he gave threats, lessons on manners, and more threats. Being whispered to her fox ears through the whole bone breaking process. She was lucky that it was just bone breaking, he would do much worse but it was morning and wanted to eat.

Elen got up from her chair and went towards Kirin.

She nudged Kirin's shoulder.

"Ah!" Kirin yelped.

Kirin was shaking nonstop. She stared at Kei and then at Elen. She continued staring at them back and forth for a few minutes. She didn't know if talking to Elen was appropriate or not.

"Manners. You forgot to say something." Kei said.

"Yes master!" Kirin said with vigor.

She got up from her chair and kowtow towards Polin's direction.

"I WAS WRONG! I shouldn't have said those things! Let's be friends forever! Please accept my apology!'

What a certain turn of events. Polin stared at her and then at Kei. Kei just nodded his head and said:

"Sometimes friends fight and mean words are said. As long they realize they are wrong and apologize. Everything should be okay."

"Really?" Polin ask.

"Really, little wifey. If I did something wrong, I would apologize too."

"Okay!"

Polin dropped down to Kirin's level and also kowtow.

"I'm sorry for being a terrible friend! I was just talking only about me! I didn't ask anything about you. I'm sorry!"

Polin had a realization that Kirin acted the way she did because she wasn't a good friend and only focus herself. But really, Kirin didn't care a flying fuck about her and was annoyed.

There was silence in the room. The two young girls don't know what to do. Kirin was suppose to apologize and Polin would accept it and that's that. But Polin also apologizes and created an awkward situation.

Kei shrugged his shoulder and said:

"Look at that, how sweet. This will be the beginnings of a beautiful friendship."

"Okay, everyone is sorry. Let bygones be bygones. Get up you guys and finish your breakfast. Today will be busy."

The activity of the day was shopping, more specifically weapons and armour, and maybe some clothes.

Kei already had a bunch from his purchase with Bagit, but only Jacklin and a few elves can fit in most clothes. Vetros declined because her hair wrapped her body like a X, covering her breast. Kei told her to at least get a loincloth to cover her lower region to be on the safe side.

Going with a large group would be time consuming and will draw too much attention. Well, the demons would draw eyes more than anything. Kei had other errands to do, things to prepare.

Elen, Kirin, and the rest of the elves were in one group.

Bridget, Jacklin, Vetros, and Polin in the other.

Kirin really needed some recuperation by Elen's side.

Polin was a bit afraid to go out but with two new people joining the team, she felt relieved to be among people different like her or someone considered to be in the same race.

Bridget was getting stronger and was able to walk normally to some extent. Bridget was the leader of this group.

Then the two groups went on their seperate ways.

[Bridget's group]

Their first stop will be the blacksmiths.

There was a small established zone of blacksmiths within the commerce district.

Within the largest one, it looks like a generic store but the weapons look extravagant. A large sword with a pure white blade, magic imbued bows, and various other weapons hanging on the wall. There's a counter and can hear the sounds of metal being hit in the backroom. There was a dwarf with black hair and beard and a roundish nose. He was shorter than Polin and was standing by the counter inspecting a short sword and he took a look at the group.

He was stunned and shaking to see these oddballs. The rest of the customers rushed outside without glancing at the group when passing them.

Bridget was at least normal but the people behind her were...

Ignoring the drawf, everyone went to different sides of the room and look at the wares.

Kei wanted for everyone to be well armed. What Kei had in stock was plain and ordinary from Asul.

"Do I really need something like that?" Polin asked while pointing at a golden spear.

"No, something small like a dagger or a short sword." Bridget responded and stared at Polin's petite figure.

Jacklin was also observing Polin's body and said, "Do you know how to fight Polin?"

"Nope!" Polin said with confidence.

Bridget can only feel annoyed by Polin even since the beginning. So childish. I do not understand the appeal of this little one. She is so useless. Even my Lord had to buy two guards.

Vetros pitched into the conversaton, "Learn to fight. Important."

Polin tilted her head. She was just a villager and a simple wife, what can she do?

Bridget smirked and add in, "Yes, all of us can fight or at least defend ourshelves. How about you?"

"But darling said she would protect me." Polin answered back.

"That is true but do you see him here right now? If he would get hurt because he needed to protect you, would you feel good?"

"No! I wouldn't feel good if darling get hurt." Polin started to feel dejected. She feels safe and glad she was loved and protected, but if he would get hurt because of her. Would she live with herself?

Remembering how she was broken down at Asul and the various incidents where she had to return home.

Polin tighten her fists and said with conviction: "I want to help! I don't want to be useless!"

CLAP CLAP CLAP

There was an applause from the other girls. Vetros followed along thinking it was just a culture thing.

"But... How do I fight?" Polin asked.

The other three girls look at each other. Then Bridget and Vetros look back at Jacklin. Bridget was more of a magic user and Vetros's battle style was not fitted for Polin. Jacklin was the one with more sword experience.

"Don't look at me. I was just a simple woman before I became a dullahan. After that it was just self-taught." Jacklin said.

It was decided to just get Polin a dagger and a leather chest armour for now and then move on to a short sword if they were to get a teacher. Jacklin became a temporary instructor and sparring partner. Bridget didn't own a device to measure Polin's magic capabilities to see if she can use magic.

After smacking the drawf's face out of his dazed state, they were ready to buy. Bridget bought a saw-like sword and a morning star. She wanted to get a stave but the ones in shop was not up to her standards. Jackin got herself a light body amour and chainmail, thick leather bracers, steel plated guards for her shins, and leather boots with a steel tip.

Vetros's body was a weapon itself but she specializes in stealth attacks. In frontal assualts she needed to be more prepared. She decided to get a glossy black, round shield and a trident for reaching.

The clothes shopping was short because they really not short on clothes. Kei told them to get whatever they want but they want to get this done, quick and simple. But Jacklin and Vetros were taking their time to sightsee.

They had plenty of time to sightsee because Jacklin and Vetros look like battle-ready monsters about to attack at anytime. This cause everybody running and screaming.

This is to be expected, Bridget thought.

"If you met anybody that meant harm, do not hesitate to kill. Lets make haste," Bridget said.

They took a load of different kind of loincloths in various colors and left.

With the shopping done, they decided to head back.

[Elen's group]

Their objective was to get some decent clothes for the elves that are still in tunics.

While staying in one of the clothing shops Elen had snapped Kirin out of her state of fear. Luckily, she wasn't broken but the experience created a deep rooted fear inside her.

If she continued to stay with Kei's group, how much can she handle under pressure?

"Hey Kirin, after leaving this capital I'm heading straight towards Eluvia. I want you to come along no matter what."

"But master wouldn't like it," Kirin said in a fearful voice.

Elen grabbed on to both of Kirin's shoulders and shook her!

"Snap out of it! We just have to bargain for your freedom!"

She already promised for a large quantity of demon slaves, anything more and different will catch someone eyes. She can trust the tan elves but how about the others? She already explained the situation with vague details and did not mention the secret pact. They already decided to join her cause because they felt they owed a debt.

"What was the thing you about to give this morning?"

"It's...it's the Kitani fruit. If I was return safely home, I will give one of our fruits as payment for my freedom and return. But I don't think master want my fruit no more," Kirin sound disinterested.

"What!" Elen yelled. She look around to see no one was eavesdropping. Good thing Kirin's voice was low for being a bit spiritless. Elen's voice caught a few raising eyebrows.

Kitani fruit was the most sought-out fruit to increase one's lifespan and bring back one's youth and beauty! No matter what race you were, time will catch up to everyone. In someone's last moment, the Kitani fruit was an invaluable treasure. Prolonging the life of an aging monarch or bringing a lady's former youth and increase attractiveness, the cost was only a trivial matter. Also, it was known to be quite delicious and addictive that you can make alcohol out of them.

The snow fox clan are the only ones known to cultivate them due to a special environment within a cave on their lands. But there are rumours that they ran out of them.

Elen: What a minute... Wasn't beast-like demons are at least half the population of the Islands of Kitar? Then the clans rally together and push them out of the islands and massacre them a century ago? Then the snow fox clan certainly obtained a magical fruit...

Elen can't help but asked in a whisper.

"Hey Kirin. How long have your family taken care of the fruits?"

"My grandfather told me it was generation to generation. It's our legacy. But some ugly demons were in our caves long ago and so we had them killed."

"Uh huh... Then why don't your family keep them a secret?"

"My grandfather likes to brag and gave a few away as gifts. Pactically all my family ate them. But then we can't eat anymore for some reason."

"And you think you can give one away?"

"Of course! I think we just ate too many and have to grow them again. I'm sure there is at least one that can be given away. Why you ask?"

"Oh nothing... Don't worry Kirin, I make sure you're be free no matter what!"

"If you say so sister Ele!" Kirin was getting back to her usual self and embraced Elen. Her two tails was wagging left and right in excitement. Kirin believed Elen could do anything and free her from this situation!

With appropriate clothes bought, the group went to the blacksmiths' area. They bought the basic armours for the elves and weapons of their choice. Money was no issue, so they were pretty happy. Elen and Kirin got chest armour and brand new staves.

They are ready to go and look like a group of highly equppied adventurers' party.

While going through the market again on their way home, there were lack of people.

Someone was running towards them. It was a plain merchant.

"You're adventurers right? You gotta help! There's monsters over there! A headless swordswoman and a giant spider!"

Eventually, everyone was back home.

It was dinner time and Kei was going to announce something.

"I think it's time to leave the capital. I think a few of you know what it means."

"Are you sure darling? I kinda like it here..."

"Little wifey there will be a better home than this. A place where you can held your head high." Kei smiled after saying that.

Polin reacted with a blush. "If you say so darling."

"Are we going straight to the castle?" Bridget ask.

"Of course. I would like to see the king's face."

"Please keep him alive for my own enjoyment."

"Of course, of course. When everything is settled, the toys will be ready."

Bidget continued chewing on a piece of steak.

Everyone else had no clue but it's was nothing good.

...

...

The next morning there was a loud banging on their door.

BANG BANG BANG BANG

"This is the captain of the guard! We know you habour monsters here! Get out now!"

There were many men outside of their house, filling the street. Many witnesses yesterday came to their headquarters asking for help. After investigating, they figured out where they are hiding. And here they are in the early morning.

They broken the door and tens of men rushed in and search everywhere!

But there was no one!

"Where are they!?!" Said the captain.

BOOOOOOMM

A couple of large monsters appeared out of nowhere! One of them used it's long arm to strike the street where the soldiers were!

The arm shook the earth like if god's hammer was smashing it!

Everyone in the whole castle town was woken up and ran to their windows to see what the fuck was going on!

King Thomas was no different and ran towards his balcony and saw...

WIGGLE WIGGLE WIGGLE

SNIP SNIP SNIP