“Are you feeling better?” I asked Eri as we sat on the subway train, a few other passengers such as salarymen who worked late or people heading out to party dotted around the mostly empty carriages. In response she gave me a wan smile, dark eyes serious.

“I’m all right I guess. I’m not good with strangers, especially… well, you heard her. Nichibotsu Technology!” Eri’s voice rose a little at the end there, causing her to flush in embarrassment when a couple of the passengers looked over at us.

“Seriously.” She lowered her voice. “It’s been one crazy thing after another today. I can’t take all the shocks.”

“Is this Nichibotsu such a big-big matter?” Shaeula titled her head in puzzlement. “Are we not wealthy ourselves now?”

“We have money sure, but compared to Nichibotsu Technology, we are nothing.” Eri insisted. “They are a global company, one of the top electronics manufacturers worldwide. Even most of the TV’s and other equipment at our school is Nichibotsu brand. And she’s in the owning family… she must be very rich.”

“I see.” Shaeula nodded in understanding. “Still, Eri, you need to be more composed. As first wife, you should not-not shrink from others, but stand tall and proud!”

Listening to the conversation relaxed me, as I pondered my decisions. It was a real risk announcing ourselves like that, but I tried to mitigate it as much as possible. Still, if we could get allies like such a big company, or the… the nobility, I guess… behind them, well… It would open up a whole world of possibilities for us. On the other hand, handling it badly could have disastrous consequences. Still, who knew that we had noble families in Japan still, behind the scenes? I suppose if we have a shrine faction, a noble faction makes sense too…

“I really didn’t like the way that Fukumoto-sama was looking at Akio…” Eri pouted, having finished lauding her company to Shaeula. “… come to think of it, you aren’t brainwashing all the women around you are you, Akio? I mean, I know I love everything about you, I always have, but the way she was staring at you with a red face and moist eyes… it wasn’t normal. You do have a big Charm stat, don’t you?”

“Fukumoto-sama?” Shaeula snorted, annoying Eri a little.

“No, Charm doesn’t brainwash people, according to the description.” In fact, since Self-Examination reached Rank 6 I had further information on it, so I read it out to Eri quietly.

Charm- The ability to attract others revealed. Charm will increase the attraction others feel towards you, people will view you in a more favourable light, and are more likely to offer you affection. Charm will enhance the affect of attributes the beholder will find favourable, and slightly mitigate the aspects of one’s self that the beholder finds off-putting or undesirable.

“You see?” I said after I had finished. “All it does is enhance what is already there. So it’s not really any kind of mind control. I suppose it’s like how you can appeal more if you change your hairstyle or get in shape. Just that it functions all the time.”

“Besides, you have Charm yourself, do you not Eri?” Shaeula smirked. “So do not-not blame Akio for being so attractive. It would be-be base hypocrisy.”

“Yeah but… Akio has filled out with muscle and takes better care of himself. He’s already stupidly handsome, so when you put Charm on top of that… what happens if Fukumoto-sam… err Fukumoto-san really has fallen for him? We can’t compete with that…”

Damn, her lack of confidence is showing again. I thought she was getting over that… Pulling her into an embrace and patting her head I reassured her. “What do you mean you can’t compete? You and Shaeula have way more to offer than her. And as for wealth… well, sure, right now we don’t measure up, but a month ago I was living on cup ramen in a dingy one room apartment, and now look at me. Wealth we can and will acquire. But the bonds, the love we share… that’s priceless and irreplaceable.”

Shaeula looked away, red-faced and embarrassed, and Eri snuggled into my arms, face also flaming crimson. Damn, the two of them are super gorgeous. I mean, yeah, that Fukumoto girl was hot too, but I’m already over my limit for fiancées, so they don’t have to worry.

“That reminds me.” Shaeula changed the subject to hide her embarrassment. “You handled these nobles…” she scoffed at that, probably due to being a princess herself. “… rather differently to Kana and her shrine.”

“Yeah, it’s a difference in power balance.” I explained. “The shrines aren’t powerhouses like Nichibotsu. If we handled them carelessly, well… they could use their power, position and prestige to force us to do what they want, without any gain for us. Or worse.” I didn’t want to think about it, but with that sort of wealth… well, they could probably have us disappear if they wanted. For now anyway. That’s why we need to make strong allies in various influential fields. It starts with the shrines and temples, but if we can use this opportunity without being exploited…

After that we discussed our plans, until we reached the hotel my family (and Eri’s too) was staying at. At the door I kissed her goodnight, and she responded greedily, probably worried about the events at the meal. As we parted, a wet string of saliva connecting our mouths, she looked at me shyly. “Despite everything, I’ve had an amazing day, Akio. Thanks to you too, Shaeula. And now I can be a proper fiancée, doing everything I should. I can even support you in that strange world too. Anyway, are you sure you won’t come in and see everyone? They should still be awake.”

“No, I’ll be back tomorrow before you all head back to Nishimorioka. I’ll spend some time with everyone then. Tonight I have to make some gear and get prepped for our big attack. So you have a good night, and… well, I bet Aiko will bug you about just what went on, but… well, sorry, you know what my little sis is like.”

Eri giggled at that. We exchanged another kiss, further goodbyes, and Eri then entered the hotel. Knowing that she was home safely, I turned to Shaeula, who was looking at me, face upturned. Damn, I get it. I’m not a fool.

After kissing Shaeula as well, I spoke. “All right then. Let’s go home. We have a lot to do tonight. No rest for us I’m afraid.”

********

“Keh-keh-keh. That is truly fascinating.” Ixitt choked out, eyes bright as he observed my repairs to Shaeula’s broken pinwheel. My Ether Crafting was getting smoother and more practised, and tasks I had done before, such as making the bluesteel wires, progressed to completion at a significantly faster pace.

Shaeula ran her own eyes over the pinwheel, before sending wind energy into the wires and blades, allowing it to fly through the air in all directions, twisting and turning on sharp angles, leaving green afterimages behind it. “It works perfectly. Still, I would expect nothing less from you, Akio.”

You know, I’ve noticed she’s not called me master once since… well since we got engaged, I guess. It makes sense, and I didn’t want to be called master at all really, but… I kind of miss it. Just a little.

In addition I had fixed up the dents and missing scales in her armour, and while I was doing it I felt a bit creative, so I inlaid it with some silver and copper we had left over from the kobolds’ bounty, giving it a more regal feeling. It was pretty useless, merely cosmetic, but the pleased look she gave me made it worth it. I also ran maintenance on her batteries, making sure they were in working order. Of course, doing so had used up most of my remaining bluesteel, including a chunk of what I had salvaged from my own destroyed equipment, so I had to do without.

“This bluesteel is, keh-keh, quite the useful material. Keh.” Ixitt looked at the powder and small fragments that was all that remained. “Kobolds are not, keh-keh, well-regarded in the Seelie Court, so bluesteel is, keh-keh, quite rare. I see many uses though. Keh-keh-keh.”

I see where this is going. “You want the leftovers, right?” I asked, and he nodded, delighted I understood him. He then asked me to fill it with flame and wind energy, which I thought was a bit cheeky, but I nonetheless obliged.

“Keh-keh-keh. Most excellent, I can see a way to use this, that, keh, will be most productive! Keh-keh, I envy you, princess. Getting to walk the, keh, mortal plane and see such intriguing ideas. Why if I was, keh-keh, able to do so as well, my mortal engineering would, keh, surely soar to new heights!”

Ixitt waxed lyrical about the delights of mortal ingenuity while I put him aside, thinking about my next task. I promised to make Eri some weapons so she would be safer when she enters the Boundary. Damn, really, I think it’s a mistake. I could level her up to her cap quite easily when I visit her for her birthday in a couple of weeks. There’s no need to put herself in danger right now. But… It probably wasn’t about whether it was necessary or not. Eri was trying to change, be braver, and as a marriage was a partnership, I had to allow her to spread her wings when she needed to. Of course, I’ll be massively overprotective and make sure she’s as safe as possible though…

To that end I managed to create a pair of steel swords, one a rapier type, the other a sabre, as they seemed the easiest to use, and weren’t too heavy, being sized to Eri. I also made her a suit of light chainmail, and for that I had to guess the size, although… yeah, I still remember the shape of her body from earlier… in fact, I doubt I’ll ever forget her and Shaeula in my arms.

“That looks suitable.” Shaeula approved as she inspected my crafts. “Eri will be delighted to receive your gifts.”

“Yeah, but I still don’t know why we keep hold of certain items when we leave and return to the Boundary. It isn’t like we are using an item box or dimensional storage.” That gave me an idea. “Ixitt, do you know?”

Ixitt shrugged, tail lashing behind him in exasperation. “I fear, keh, that I do not. Though I would be more than happy to experiment. Keh-keh-keh!” his coughing became more fierce, bloody phlegm spraying from his burned throat. Shaeula looked at him with disgust and even I took a step back. “Should you grace me with, keh-keh, the ability to walk, keh-KEH, the material as does the princess, I shall, keh-KEH-keh, put my all into finding the answer. Keh-keh.”

Sorry, but you aren’t a priority. Still… “I’m afraid it takes quite a commitment in ether to allow one of the Fae to walk the mortal world unencumbered. And sadly, I have plans on who to choose next.”

At my words his face twitched, but I offered a compromise. “Still, if you can find a way to bring me the ether yourself, I can be persuaded to allow it. Although to prevent problems in the Material you’ll have to behave.”

“I see.” He nodded, tail whipping ferociously as he thought. “Those Spires, they pull, keh-keh, down Ether from the higher reaches of the Astral. Keh-keh. Can I make artificial ones, or… maybe Etherites… keh-keh-KEH!” as he started musing on what works he could perform, Shaeula leaned in and whispered to me, her hot breath tickling my ear.

“Are you sure-sure that is wise? That ratkin seems rather unbalanced if you ask me.”

I held in a laugh, and at her knowing look it burst free. Once I had finished chuckling, I shook my head. “True, but I’m very curious about mortal engineering. Combining Fae and human technology could be a real winner. But I doubt he’ll come up with a way to raise at least fifty-thousand ether anyway… still, enough of that. We need to meet with Ulfuric now.” Scooping up Eri’s new gear, putting aside the question of how it travelled with us, we headed off in search of the badgerkin…

********

“So, we have kept all our forces out of sight behind these salt wards, since the enemy has effective scouts in these ghosts.” Ulfuric rumbled, looking at the map of the area that we had sculpted. “There is no merit in allowing the enemy to learn of our improved circumstances, princess, consort.”

“Yeah, the element of surprise is key. We want to break through fast and hard.” I agreed. “As to the point of attack…”

“While it is tempting to engage one of the weaker areas, I suggest we attack here.” Ulfuric pointed to the shrine at the back of the enemy Territory. “Your probing has allowed us to understand the defences, and there are several points where there is cover against enemy fire.”

Yeah, denying the enemy the chance to use those beetle-men and siege beetles makes sense, plus… There was something going on there, from the information Karen-chan had gathered. It shouldn’t be the heart of the Territory judging by its position and the rest of the sprawl, but even so… the quickest way would be to destroy the enemy Anchor, of course.

“As for the specifics..” Ulfuric continued, and I found it reassuring to have someone so practised in command in our corner. It really took the pressure off me. “… Grulgor and his trolls are largely unmanageable, so I suggest that we allow them to draw attention with their usual rampages. As for our forces, we can swing wide here…”

Yeah, tonight we rest up for the big day. Once I’ve seen Eri and our families of to the station, then it’s time to settle this once and for all. Shaeula was also looking resolute, showing off her dignity as a princess in front of her new kin. Once the threat to the north is gone, we can finally think about our next expansion…