Selling (Somewhat) Magic Goods in Arknights

[Paracsus]

ngl that emperor blade bit seems really interesting, cool chapter.
Looks like they are going straight to Siesta? I thought they would at least take the time to sight see through villages or cities. I suppose the cart provides all the supplies needed.

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The cart gives unlimited food and drink, but they're just simple things like rice, meat, and some leafy veggies. This is to encourage the residents to go out and explore different cuisines on their own, while not starving them. Also, they can eat the stock they are given, and the money that they have collected so far is theirs to use. Arno and Niko bought some supplies that they won't readily have access to (like the tea snacks Niko likes) for the long haul.

Also, I'm...not exactly sure how the spread of villages work on Terra. So let's just say by coincidence that the Cart simply didn't meet any on its journey.

 

[Turncoat]

Okay. One moment. I was thinking about it too considering the whole suppression effect, but ayt then. Thanks

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Yeah, I loved the chapter besides that, it was just...a lot.

 

[Paracsus]

Yeah, I loved the chapter besides that, it was just...a lot.

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I was honestly really sitting on keeping the bold on or not for a looooong while. Thanks for this.

 

[Squish]

Yay I hope you upload more often

 

[LordOfPears12]

ngl that emperor blade bit seems really interesting, cool chapter.

Click to shrink...

Cart beats blade, I feel they just crashed into him at 99 kmh. Alternatively he got offed by a quick draw shotgun slug to the face.

Idea for new cart wares official licensed niko merch and sip upon refreshing upon premium goods as in the niko juice box. I don't know why but I remember the rat lady getting a bunch of windrunner's bar at her first visit purchase, is the rat lady bias real? Is Author cultured

 

[SChase]

I enjoyed the story, but I gave up after the Windrunner Fuel arc.

The slow start is fine, as it makes it look like a good 'lazy adventure' story, where the reader sees the impact of all the main character's little decisions, rather than immediate dramatic events. However, the main character's motivation is non-existent. I mean, you've just been kidnapped and lost everything, and you're okay with being made to work in retail for a pittance? Well, I doubt it.

The second problem is the finale of that arc. It feels too much like a deus ex machina, just a new factor that exists only to resolve the situation — it's not even a McGuffin event. It also stinks of what modern corporations do now. It's as if you bought a piece of paper. You can write on it, use it as kindling, or even wipe your arse with it in a pinch. But you are contractually forbidden to do half of that, even though it is capable of doing it, and you paid full price. There would also likely be a loss of trust in Fuel after the finale, because, sooner or later, people would start asking questions like: 'What would happen if I needed it in an emergency and it didn't work because someone, somewhere, had decided I wasn't allowed to use it this way?' I wouldn't trust something like that.

Next, let's consider how factions reacted to the finale. I could see the 'criminals' and Rhodes reacting like that, though doubtful. But the law enforcement division? No way. Even in our world, in most law-abiding countries, there are plenty of ways for the government to strong-arm small businesses to get what they want. And when it's a more defunct organisation, it's even easier.

Besides that, it was a good story. Thank you for your work.

 

[darotan]

The second problem is the finale of that arc. It feels too much like a deus ex machina, just a new factor that exists only to resolve the situation — it's not even a McGuffin event. It also stinks of what modern corporations do now. It's as if you bought a piece of paper. You can write on it, use it as kindling, or even wipe your arse with it in a pinch. But you are contractually forbidden to do half of that, even though it is capable of doing it, and you paid full price. There would also likely be a loss of trust in Fuel after the finale, because, sooner or later, people would start asking questions like: 'What would happen if I needed it in an emergency and it didn't work because someone, somewhere, had decided I wasn't allowed to use it this way?' I wouldn't trust something like that.

Click to shrink...

I agree with most of this.

To me, the problem of the Windrunner's Fuel is how it both caused problems and then was resolved by a Deus Ex Machina factor.

I do not blame the MC Arno, who did nothing but his best in the way he thought he could, and tried to explain it's intended uses and users from the start. He knew it was not meant to be an item that was freely sold and traded around, and more of a 'blessing' or magical buff that he alone could apply to others by handing such 'items' out to be consumed and their effects activated by the people he sells them to, as far as such a thing can be truly considered a real physical object anyways, similar to most other items he sells from the cart.

No, I blame the supplier. Because they didn't ensure that the item had the security features to prevent abuse of the 'item' beyond it's intended uses from the very beginning, or prepared proper explanations somewhere on the products themselves, to minimize misunderstanding and provide clear instructions and understanding of its limit in terms of use and transfer of ownership, even if seemingly unbelievable.

The supplier doesn't need to speak directly to Arno or anything, just make things clearer to potential customers, such as with better packaging, without forcing all the need for explanations, blames and potential conflict from the customers onto Arno himself.

It is why I think that the entire situation caused by the Windrunner's Fuel feels more artificial than natural, as if the cart supplier ensured such a predictable situation happened to ensure the cart employees had an impetus to move onto other locations for new story arcs, for the sake of objectives or plans that the cart supplier has, which Arno knows little to nothing of.

In all honestly, I read and still like the story, because the stories generated by the thoughts and actions of the cart characters are still interesting enough, despite the vagueness and frustration caused the supplier of the cart.

 

[Paracsus]

I enjoyed the story, but I gave up after the Windrunner Fuel arc.

The slow start is fine, as it makes it look like a good 'lazy adventure' story, where the reader sees the impact of all the main character's little decisions, rather than immediate dramatic events. However, the main character's motivation is non-existent. I mean, you've just been kidnapped and lost everything, and you're okay with being made to work in retail for a pittance? Well, I doubt it.

The second problem is the finale of that arc. It feels too much like a deus ex machina, just a new factor that exists only to resolve the situation — it's not even a McGuffin event. It also stinks of what modern corporations do now. It's as if you bought a piece of paper. You can write on it, use it as kindling, or even wipe your arse with it in a pinch. But you are contractually forbidden to do half of that, even though it is capable of doing it, and you paid full price. There would also likely be a loss of trust in Fuel after the finale, because, sooner or later, people would start asking questions like: 'What would happen if I needed it in an emergency and it didn't work because someone, somewhere, had decided I wasn't allowed to use it this way?' I wouldn't trust something like that.

Next, let's consider how factions reacted to the finale. I could see the 'criminals' and Rhodes reacting like that, though doubtful. But the law enforcement division? No way. Even in our world, in most law-abiding countries, there are plenty of ways for the government to strong-arm small businesses to get what they want. And when it's a more defunct organisation, it's even easier.

Besides that, it was a good story. Thank you for your work.

Click to shrink...

Thank you for your criticism. I'll be honest, when it came to Arno's purpose, I kind of tried to pull the Natsuki Subaru angle of "Welp, I'm stuck here. Gotta make the most of it, I guess."

Thank you once again for your time in this story.

 

[aokway]

Gudako

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Where did you come from???

 

[Fragment of Serenity]

I would say that the Windrunner actually shows how 'new' the supplier is at this whole thing. Certainly, an experienced R.O.B. wouldn't make such an error, but one that it new to its power and learning could very easily make it.

Keep in mind, the only real reason that the cart is relocating is due to Niko, and Arno not wanting her to have to grow up in a threatening situation. If it was just him, I doubt Arno would have had nearly as many concerns and the whole issue would have been even less impactful.

We also got Beast Gudako out of the deal, so I see this as a complete win.

 

[darotan]

I would say that the Windrunner actually shows how 'new' the supplier is at this whole thing. Certainly, an experienced R.O.B. wouldn't make such an error, but one that it new to its power and learning could very easily make it.

Click to shrink...

I like this explanation, since it would explain a lot about how awkward and non-communicative the supplier is towards Arno from the start, and why products had to be adjusted after beginning their sale as opposed to being prepared properly beforehand. Because the supplier is too new at this and is learning with little to no prior experience, as opposed to being enigmatically silent on purpose for hidden agendas.

In that case though I kinda pity Arno even more now, since his supplier wouldn't know any better than him at how to go about all this. Oof.

 

[Paracsus]

I like this explanation, since it would explain a lot about how awkward and non-communicative the supplier is towards Arno from the start, and why products had to be adjusted after beginning their sale as opposed to being prepared properly beforehand. Because the supplier is too new at this and is learning with little to no prior experience, as opposed to being enigmatically silent on purpose for hidden agendas.

In that case though I kinda pity Arno even more now, since his supplier wouldn't know any better than him at how to go about all this. Oof.

Click to shrink...

I would say that the Windrunner actually shows how 'new' the supplier is at this whole thing. Certainly, an experienced R.O.B. wouldn't make such an error, but one that it new to its power and learning could very easily make it.

Keep in mind, the only real reason that the cart is relocating is due to Niko, and Arno not wanting her to have to grow up in a threatening situation. If it was just him, I doubt Arno would have had nearly as many concerns and the whole issue would have been even less impactful.

We also got Beast Gudako out of the deal, so I see this as a complete win.

Click to shrink...

Exactly this. Note that when Gudako first came, Zelretch explained that an entity approached him with an offer. Even he says that the Entity is still pretty naive.

 

[Paracsus]

Where did you come from???

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Gudako is the the fan given name to the female protagonist of Fate/Grand Order. The male counterpart is Gudao, or in this story's case, Ritsuka.

Ritsuka Fujimaru is the canon name for both male and female protagonist of that game. The fandom just designated them as Gudao and Gudako so they have their own individual names.

 

[aokway]

Somehow I missed the later half of chapter 20
I read everything except the part about her arrival
Somehow
Don't ask me I have no idea

 

[Paracsus]

Cart beats blade, I feel they just crashed into him at 99 kmh. Alternatively he got offed by a quick draw shotgun slug to the face.

Idea for new cart wares official licensed niko merch and sip upon refreshing upon premium goods as in the niko juice box. I don't know why but I remember the rat lady getting a bunch of windrunner's bar at her first visit purchase, is the rat lady bias real? Is Author cultured

Click to shrink...

I wish you could end the Blades that easily, but them being able to send my operators to the shadow realm with their fart clouds says otherwise lmao.

Also, the said "rat lady bias" comes from a favor from a friend as he was my previous beta reader. HE has culture; MY favorite operator will be coming soon enough

 

[Paracsus]

Hello, everyone. I would just like to apologize for the lack of chapters recently. Something just happened recently to me which caused me to be unable to graduate at an early date and it sapped my motivation to write.

I should be able to release a chapter this week, assuming things go according to plan.

I'm doing better now, just spent some time with family and they are supportive and fine with me not graduating so quickly. I didn't fail a sub or anything, just some things happened which threw a wrench in my plans.

Anyways, stay tuned. I hope the incoming chapter is up to your standards when it eventually comes out.

 

[Paracsus]

The cart slowed down gradually as it had finally entered the city of Siesta. After almost two weeks of high-speed travel across the open lands, the cart now moved at a normal pace through the city streets. Arno sat in the driver's seat, looking out through the front window with interest as he navigates the streets. Niko pressed her face close to one of the side windows, her eyes wide as she took in everything around them. Gudako sat nearby, holding a thick guidebook she had found in the cart's storage and reading it carefully.

Siesta felt different from Lungmen right away. The buildings were not as tall, but instead more flattened out and held lots more advertisments of hotels and resorts. The air coming in through the slightly open windows smelled fresher, with a hint of salt from the nearby sea. The people here wore more casual clothes meant for day trips and simply to go out, as opposed to usual uniforms and business suits that Niko and Arno mostly saw in their brief stay in Lungmen..

"This place looks nice," Arno said as he steered the cart down a wide main road. "Not as busy as Lungmen, but it still has a lot going on."

Niko nodded quickly, her tail swaying with excitement. "There are so many bars and restaurants! Look at that big building over there. It says something about a music hall. And there are posters everywhere with people singing on them."

Gudako flipped through the pages of the guidebook on her lap as the news channel nearby talked about the weather.

"The city of Siesta is well known across Terra for its strong focus towards tourism and fashion." She read aloud. "Due to its tropical climate, beautiful beaches, and even the hotsprings due to the nearby volcano, it has become a go-to place for travellers to come and stay to enjoy the sights. The city is also really big on festivities, with the Obsidian Festival being their biggest event where musicians and artists from many countries come together to compete. A few years ago, the artist known as Emperor from Colombia won the award for best original soundtrack with his work on the festival's main theme."

Niko turned away from the window, her mouth open in surprise. "Mr. Emperor? Our Emperor?? He won a big music award?"

Gudako nodded and showed her the page with a small picture of Emperor performing while wearing a hip-hop outfit. "Apparently so. It says here that his music won by an almost landslide victory during that time."

Niko leaned closer to look at the picture, her ears perked up high. "Whoaaaa….So he's that good, huh? That's so cool!"

Arno smiled a little as he continued driving slowly through the streets. "Emperor did start out as a singer before PL, so makes sense that he would do well in something like this. Siesta seems like the kind of city where music is a big part of everyday life."

They passed by what seemed to be one of the main squares where small stages had been set up. Groups of people gathered around them, some playing instruments, others dancing or just listening. Food stalls lined the sidewalks, selling grilled meats, fresh fruits, and sweet drinks. The smell of cooked food drifted into the cart through the open windows.

Gudako kept reading from the guidebook. "Many local specialties here involve fresh seafood because of the nearby ocean. There are also different specialties brought here from different tourists that took root here."

Niko's stomach made a small noise. She blushed and rubbed it. "All this talk about food is making me hungry. Can we stop somewhere soon and try something? I want to see if the seafood here is as good as the guidebook says."

Arno nodded. "We can find a good spot to park and walk around a little. Just stay close. This is still a new place for us."

The cart moved past more streets filled with colorful shops and cafes until it arrived at the beachfront. Most of the nearvy stalls and cafes filled to the brim with tourists.

Gudako closed the guidebook for a moment and looked out the window with fascination. "It's my first time actually travelling internationally like this. It's…nice."

"Didn't you guys have Summer Singularities back at Chaldea?" Arno asked, taking a peek at the guidebook she was reading.

"Well, yeah. But those were still work related in the end considering there was the usual weirdness that some rando with a Grail brings along. At least in this case, the world won't end just because someone wanted to summon a giant ATM."

"A giant what??"

"Ishtar, Master. It was Ishtar."

'Master? What's that all about?' Arno dropped it as it seemed to be a sore spot for Gudako.

Meanwhile, Niko bounced lightly in her seat. "I want to hear Emperor's winning song. Maybe we can find a store that sells it. Or ask him about it next time we talk on the phone. I still cannot believe he won something that big."

Arno chuckled softly as he looked for a safe place to park the cart. "We will have time to explore. Siesta looks like the kind of city that has a lot to offer. Music, food, and probably a few surprises along the way."
There was still much to see in the city that would be their new home for a while.

As Niko kept pointing things out as they drove, Gudako looked up from the guidebook again.

"The book says the city that due to the massive influx of tourists, many corporations (primarily from Colombia) put out many branches of differing businesses everywhere. There are good chances to find open spots for the cart and places to stay while things settle."

Arno nodded while steering around a gentle corner. "We will find a safe place to park first, then walk around and see what feels right. After that, you girls can take a look around the area while I take a ride to City Hall."

"You're not going with us?" Niko asked as she tilted her head. "It'll be more fun if you came with us though."

"Master needs to establish some paperwork, as well as introduce himself to the governing body here, Niko." Gudako chimed in. "We wouldn't wanna get in trouble because the police don't know who we are, would you? I'm sure these papers helped you guys out quite a bit when those thugs tried being nasty."

She had shrunk her wings and tail while also blinking away the swirls in her eyes to make her less eye-catching. She still kept the horns, however.

"Oh yeah! Some said that we were illegally parking a vehicle and even tried to get some fake cops to arrest us if it weren't for those papers. Okay, Arno, take care of yourself and be back before dinner okay!? Gudako, I wanna take a look at those weird grilled fish things!"

Niko kicked open the door and ran off before Arno had a chance to give her some money.

"Well, I usually give her an allowance and she usually has her wallet anyway, so I think she's fine." Arno shrugged, and then turned to address the title. "And really? 'Master'?"

The redhead looked him in the eye, if with a tiny blush. She shrugged nonetheless.

"That's how Zelretch addressed you when we were talking about my stay here at some point. I gave it some thought, and I think he's right. The thing that brought me here through the Wizard Marshal designated me as your guard, so you could say that you're my Master now."

"Can you not call me that? You're my friend, and Niko's friend as well. I don't have Niko call me that, so you don't have to either."

"Hmmm?" Gudako hummed coyly. "But why? Don't you wanna have this cute Beast girl do your bidding? I personally don't mind, you know."

She hugged him close, fully aware of how her beauty made her seem more convincing to him.

His field of fucks was barren*, yet the farmer is still a hot-blooded male.

"Just tell me what you wish me to do, and I shall endeavor to serve you, my Masterrr~." She purred.

Even with the ring suppressing her, the fact that his and Niko's new guard was so pretty made things difficult when she…wanted…something…

Wait a minute.

"What do you want, Gudako?" More of a statement, than a question.

"Weellll…" Gudako playfully adopted a thinking pose as she feigned being thoughtful.

"I wouldn't miiinnd having an allowance too, Master. As you know, I'm still new to this world and I want to try something new to get accustomed to things. Would you mind giving me some money to spend at my leisure~?"

'At your leisure, huh?' Arno thought as he remembered the Gacha Incident.

He still hasn't gotten his gacha game account for KurantaMusume** back ever since Niko introduced her to it via his phone.

Apparently, anything gacha related seemed to set her off as it took 12 whole hours to get her to give the phone back, and even then it was only because Niko hid the charger beforehand and Gudako got hungry.

It was only a miracle that Arno was on Team F2P, else who knows how much money the Gacha Beast would've spent had his credit card been saved to the device.

So what did he do? He adapted, and placed measures in place when she began acting like this.

He refused to crumple again, lest history repeat itself.

He chopped her on the head.

"Owie." She rubbed her head, a cartoon bandage appearing on the spot.***

'What the..' It disappeared when he looked again. 'Weird.'

"I think you should go look after Niko now before she puts herself in a food coma." He gestured over to said girl and Gudako noticed that she was now on her 5th stick of grilled fins. "We can talk about this when I get back."

"Hmph! Alright, fine. See you later." Arno handed Gudako the keys to the cart (as well as some lunch money for whatever she and Niko would want) before he set off. The latter dropped her flirty attitude and jogged her way to her friend. "Be sure to hurry back before dark, Master!"

That last parts had gotten him looks from passerbys as that damned girl ran off to eat as well.

Arno groaned at the title once more, but still waved at them before he hailed a cab. The driver greeted him and asked for his destination:

"To City Hall, please."

And to City Hall he went.

---

Arno stepped out of the cab and looked up at the City Hall building. It was a wide, five-story structure with large windows and a simple but clean design. A few people were coming in and out through the main doors, carrying papers or talking quietly with each other. One could also see many courier scooters and bikes parked nearby, most likely to pass along documents. He adjusted his jacket and walked inside.

The front lobby was bright and open, but pretty busy. A friendly-looking Vulpo receptionist at the front desk smiled when she saw him approach.

"Good afternoon. How can I help you today?" she asked.

Arno gave a small nod. "I'm new in town. I run a merchant cart and I need to register for a spot to set up business here. I come from Lungmen, so I'm not sure if the process is the same when renting a spot. Can you help me please?"

The receptionist nodded and handed him a few forms. "Fill these out please. It's mostly basic information; your name, what you sell, number of personnel, and your preferred locations so I can get you processed quickly."

Arno sat down at one of the waiting benches and filled out the papers. It was straightforward stuff: his full name, the type of goods he sold, contact details, etc.. He handed everything back after a few minutes. The receptionist checked them over, stamped a couple of pages, and gave him a different set of papers, as well as new instructions.

"That should cover the basics," she said. "You'll need to go to the Investigation Department on the third floor so we can do a background check on you, okay? Don't worry if you are confused about what to do. There are signs on the walls with numbers that indicate the order of desks you need to go through to complete the process.

Arno thanked her and headed upstairs. The second floor was far busier, with several counters and a waiting area. He took a number and sat down. It was a little over half an hour when his turn came, and he walked up to the counter where a middle-aged man with glasses was working and handed his papers over.

"New merchant?" the clerk asked, looking at Arno's papers. "Alright, let's see here…"

The clerk looked between his papers and his computer as Arno checked his phone for messages from either of his companions. None so far aside from a heads up from Niko that they just finished having lunch are waiting inside their home.

"Okay." The clerk spoke up, bringing Arno's attention back to him. "As of now, you seem to have a clean record in our current database, young man. But just as a precaution, I will still put your clearance on hold to make sure. Don't worry, we will send you an email regarding the status of your clearance by the end of the week, in which our Messenger will be arriving pretty soon to update our current database. Is that alright with you?"

"Yes, sir." Arno nodded. "It's okay. I'm not really in a rush anyway since I just arrived, so I'll just take a look around the city in the meantime with my companions. Where can I go from here to look at available spots to open my business, if I may ask?"

The clerk adjusted his glasses as he finished putting some notes on the shop owner's documents.

"That is alright, as you are just perusing. You can go to the Merchant Allocation Department just by the end of the hallway from the left of here to discuss locations for your shop."

"Okay. Thank you, sir." Arno wrote down his email on the provided slip and left.

"My pleasure and goodluck, young man."

Arno traversed the said hallway…and saw what seemed to be at least 20 people in the waiting queue with many counters busy with their own customers.

"...This is gonna take a while, isn't it…" Arno groaned.

He stood there for a moment, watching the line move at a slow pace. People shifted their weight from foot to foot, some checking their watches or phones, others chatting quietly with the person next to them. A few looked just as tired as he felt after the long day of travel and the earlier steps of the registration process. The afternoon sun was already starting to dip lower in the sky, and he knew Niko and Gudako were probably waiting for him back at the cart.

Arno let out a long breath and shook his head. "Not today. I can come back first thing tomorrow morning when it might be less crowded."

After asking for some extra details from a nearby concierge, he started walking back toward the stairs. His mind was already thinking about what he would tell the girls, and most likely ask Gudako to accompany him so that he can teach her how to handle these types of documents in case he wasn't available.

At least that way, she won't be sitting on her butt all day trying to download 20 other gacha games on his his or Niko's phone.

Just as he reached the corner near the stairwell, he accidentally bumped into someone coming from the opposite direction, scattering each other's papers all across the floor.

"Sorry about that," Arno said quickly, stepping back and raising a hand in apology. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

The person he had bumped into was an elegant young woman with pink colored hair and refined, but gentle features. She carried herself like a researcher; dressed in neat, high-quality clothes that suggested she was someone important. She even had a purple feathered accessory on both sides of her head. Behind her stood a tall, imposing Feline woman with dark hair, a serious expression, and a strong protective stance. The taller woman immediately stepped forward slightly, watching Arno carefully.

---

Ceylon POV

I was walking quickly down the hallway, my mind entirely focused on the meeting this afternoon with Father. He had asked me to bring the latest tourism development reports right away, and I was already running a few minutes late after spending extra time reviewing the numbers.

Then it happened.

I collided with someone coming from the opposite direction. Papers flew everywhere, scattering across the floor in a messy flurry.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry!" I said immediately. I knelt down right away and started gathering the scattered documents with careful hands. "I was in a hurry and didn't look where I was going. Please forgive me."

Schwarz was beside me in an instant, her tall frame moving protectively as she helped collect the papers. I could feel her sharp eyes scanning the young man we had bumped into, but she stayed silent for now, focused on assisting me.

The man crouched down as well and began picking up the papers that had fallen near him. "No, it's my fault," he said calmly. "I was distracted thinking about the registration process. Don't worry about it."

I looked up at him while gathering a handful of documents. "Still, I should have been more careful. These hallways get busy during the afternoon hours." I offered a small, apologetic smile as I handed him a few papers that clearly belonged to him. "Are you new in Siesta? Your papers seem to be for the Merchant Allocation Department."

Schwarz stayed close, quietly stacking the papers she had collected before passing them to me. Her expression remained serious and watchful, though she gave the man a brief nod of acknowledgment.

He accepted the papers with a nod of thanks. "Yes, I just arrived today. I'm trying to register a merchant cart for business here. The lines seem to be pretty long so I think I'll come back in the morning."

I nodded in understanding as I finished gathering the last of my own documents and stood up. . "That's a good idea. Best you come early so as to get ahead of everyone that'll come later."

Schwarz stood up beside me, towering quietly as she handed me the final stack of papers.

The man rose as well, organizing his own documents. "Thank you. I appreciate that. I'll try to get it sorted tomorrow when the lines might be shorter."

I glanced at the clock on the wall and felt a small jolt of urgency. Father was waiting for these reports. "I'm afraid I must go now. My father is waiting for these reports. Please take care."

"Thank you miss…?"

"Ah, Ceylon. Ceylon Doykos. And you are…?" I inquired.

"My name is Arno. Nice to meet you, Miss Doykos," He offered his hand and I shook it. He then turned to my sister. "And what is your name, miss?"

"Schwarz." my sister curtly said. She made no movement to shake his offered hand, and merely nodded in acknowledgement.

And with that, we departed.

I walked briskly, my thoughts already shifting back to the meeting with Father. The brief encounter had been a small, unnecessary interruption in an already busy afternoon. New arrivals like him were common these days, but I hoped he would manage the registration process without causing any further delays for others.

Schwarz walked silently beside me for a few steps before speaking in her usual low, serious tone. "From what I saw in his papers, he seemed to be from Lungmen. "

I nodded without slowing down. "Yes, I noticed. His papers didn't mention any of the larger businesses from Colombia or Lungmen, so he seems to be independent.. Another new merchant is trying to set up here. The city is attracting quite a few of them lately."

"Such is the nature of our city."

We turned the corner toward the main office wing. I kept my posture straight and my steps measured, the stack of reports held securely in my arms. Father has been hard at work recently with how our neighbors seem to be trying to gain more footholds here, even after being rebuffed so many times.

Schwarz spoke again, her voice quiet so only I could hear. "Should I have someone keep an eye on him?"

I shook my head slightly. "Not necessary. He did not seem like trouble. Just another newcomer trying to find his place. We have more important matters to attend to today."

The hallway stretched ahead, filled with the usual hustle of City Hall staff and visitors. I straightened my posture and kept walking, ready to present the reports and discuss the next steps for the city's development. The papers felt a little heavier in my hands than they had before, but I paid it no mind. There was still much to do before the end of the day.

---

Normal POV

The sun was already low in the sky by the time Arno returned to the cart and the streets of Siesta had grown quieter as evening settled in, with more people heading home or to restaurants for dinner. He carried the papers from City Hall in a folder under his arm, feeling a little tired from the long day but satisfied that the basic registration was done. He unlocked the side door and stepped inside, the familiar smell of the cart greeting him.

It took him a while to locate the cart as it was no longer in the earlier place he had parked it. Thankfully, Gudako heard Niko's phone ringing and relayed to him their current location, that being a nearby parking lot that was free of charge.

Apparently, the girls had moved the cart as it was almost towed away for parking in front of a nearby restaurant's property line. And as neither of the two were customers of said restaurant, they were told to move. And after a few minutes of walking, Arno finally made it home.

Niko was fast asleep on the couch, curled up tightly after her earlier lunch adventure.. She looked completely worn out with how loudly she was snoring.

Gudako was in the small kitchen area, carefully watching an oven. The smell of spiced meats and potatoes filled the space as she turned and minded a nearby pan that was heating up some bread. She turned her head when she heard the door and gave Arno a small smile.

"Welcome back, Master." she said quietly. "Dinner will be ready soon. I kept it light since Niko ate quite a lot earlier today."

Arno closed the door behind him and set the folder on the table. He sat down with a small sigh of relief. "Thanks. How was your day? Did you two have a good afternoon? And 'Master' again?"

Gudako tasted the contents of a nearby bowl and added some salt before she turned her attention to Arno. She wiped her hands on her cloth apron before she came over to the table.

"It was really nice. We got a good look around the current neighborhood, and there are many open areas right now because people are still moving to the new districts. We found a small park with benches and sat there for a while. The scent of the sea was really refreshing after staying cooped up in the Cart for so long." She said as Arno went to help set the plates.

"And, yes, Master. I'll keep calling you that. You know why?"

The redhead smiled in a coquettish manner as her tail lashed out to grab him before he could resist. "Because I like seeing that silly face you make when I tease you."

She immediately grabbed the plates from his hands and ordered him to sit down and rest as it's her turn to make dinner. As he was about to protest, she merely shushed him by putting some of the bread she heated up into his mouth.

"Oh, we even tried some sodas and ice cream from a stall near the beach." Gudako continued, as if what just happened didn't occur. "Niko liked the fruit sodas the most as they made the sodas while you watched. She said they were sweet and cold, perfect for the warm weather. We walked around for a long time, looking at the shops and the people. It was a good way to get used to the city."

She sat down across from Arno and continued. "The sights and sounds were much easier on the eyes when compared to the many office buildings and industrial buildings of Lungmen, as short as my stay there was."

Arno nodded, listening as he finally relaxed in his chair. "Sounds like you both had a relaxing time. Any trouble?"

Gudako shrugged lightly. "There was a small incident. Some men tried to flirt with me while we were walking back. I told them no and even used the line about having a boyfriend, but they would not stop. One of them even grabbed my arm..."

---

FLASBACK

Earlier that afternoon, Gudako and Niko had been walking back toward the cart after a walk near the fashion district. The sun was warm on their skin, and the salty air felt refreshing after the long walk. Niko was still talking excitedly about the different flavors of ice cream she had tried, as Gudako walked beside her and shared her own favorites.

The street was mostly empty at that hour, with most of the shops nearby being closed to prepare for the night hours. Niko spotted what seemed to be a mom and pop bookstore and ran ahead to take a look at what comics they had.

Gudako was on her way to catch up with the faux Feline when three men stepped out from a nearby car, blocking her path. They looked like dock workers, dressed in sailor uniforms, but they held themselves in a threatening manner. As if they were used to getting into scuffles. What was brought to her attention, however, was the slimy intent of lust and desire permeating from them.

The Beast inside her provided a sort of sixth sense to such things, allowing her to avoid some of the less savory kinds of people while they were out. However, it seemed that her discussion with Niko seemed to distract her from these three hooligans.

"Hey there, beautiful," one of them said in what he most likely thought was a suave tone, looking directly at Gudako. "You new around here? We don't see faces like yours every day."

Gudako stopped walking and carefully evaluated the situation before she responded. "We are just passing through. Please excuse us." She said as she tried to scoot around them

The men did not move away and merely sidestepped to intercept her. The lanky one in the middle (who she assumed to be the leader) even chuckled as he moved closer. "Come on,babe. Don't be like that. We can show you around. This city has some great spots for pretty girls like you."

Gudako's expression stayed calm, but her voice was firm. "No, thank you. I have a boyfriend and I wanna head home. My friend and I need to get back."

One of the stockier men stepped closer, reaching out and grabbing her arm. His grip was tight. "Boyfriend? Come on, sweet cheeks. What kinda wimps do you like hangin' out with when you can be out with us? We'll show you an even better time than that loser."

Gudako's body tensed. Under the sleeves of her jacket, green lines of light began to appear along her clawed fingers that travelled up her arm, indicating her activating her use of Reinforcement. Her voice remained steady, but there was a clear warning in it. "Let go. Now."

The man laughed again, not releasing her arm. "Feisty. I like that."

Before Gudako could eviscerate these wastes of flesh harmlessly dispatch these fools, a bolt of light slammed into the guy grabbing her arm, causing him to stumble and squeal in pain at the burning hot bolt only for it to suddenly expand and grow brighter.

Gudako was able to cover her eyes just in time as it exploded in an extremely bright light, blinding the other two.

"Ugh! What the hell?! It temporarily blinded me!" he shouted, rubbing his eyes frantically.

Niko stood behind them, staff still raised and bag of recently bought comics clutched in hand. "What do you mean 'temporarily'? You're blind forever, dummy!"

The other two men were in the same shape as they were furiously trying to restore their visions in hopes that the unknown assailant was lying ("She was, don't worry." Gudako said as her Master was about to raise the question). The lanky guy screaming obscenities, vowing to find and ruin the faux Caprinae.

Gudako grabbed Niko's hand. "Let's go. Now."

They ran back toward the cart without looking behind them. Niko was breathing hard but grinning with pride. "Did you see that? It took a lot of practice, but I finally managed to do it!"

Gudako kept a firm hold on Niko's hand as they hurried through the streets. "Good job, Niko! But next time, let me do it. I could have handled it."

Niko laughed. "But I helped! They won't bother us again."

"I know, which is why I'll share some of my other chocolates with you, okay?" Gudako ruffled the child's hair.

"Yay!"

They reached the cart a few minutes later, both breathing heavily. Niko was still excited from the encounter, talking nonstop about how she had saved the day. Gudako made sure the door was locked and the shutters closed before they settled inside. The adrenaline slowly faded, replaced by the calm safety of the cart.

Niko flopped onto the couch with a big smile. "That was fun, but also kinda scary. But at least the spellbook Mr. Zelretch came in handy."

She passed out after a little while from all the excitement. Gudako helped her get comfortable by taking her staff, bag, and books and put it to the side ruining them.

The Guard then proceeded to take a look at the fridge and prepare a meal as she waited for Arno to come back.

END FLASHBACK

---

Arno raised an eyebrow. "Niko did that?"

Gudako nodded with a small smile. "Yep." she said as she popped the 'p'. "She's really taken to studying those gifts Sir Kaleidoscope gave her since she said that she's always wanted to be a magician.

'While I still say that she could've stayed over at the PL Warehouse to practice,' Arno thought. 'At least it wasn't the more dangerous spells that I've seen described in that tome.'

Then again, she could've at least done it in the bedroom with the door closed instead of the living room where everyone does their own thing.'

He thought back to the time Niko accidentally let loose the dubbed "Blinding Bolt" spell at Arno as he was driving, blinding him and almost causing the Cart to spin out of control. Even with the advanced cloaking device, people will still take notice of the noise when an invisible vehicle starts spinning around and smashing into a nearby Ursus Border Patrol that was on its way back to their motherland to resupply.

Arno still let out a short laugh when he recognized the unintentional reference. "That sounds like her. Regardless of that, I'm glad you both got away safely. We will be more careful when we go out together from now on.

Gudako shook her head. "Don't worry about me, Master." As she spoke, faint lines of green light appeared along her clawed fingers as she flexed them once.

In that instant, something darker slipped through; her inner Beast leaking out just a little. A malicious grin spread across her lips, her teeth suddenly sharpening into deadly points while her claws extended to lethal lengths. A dark, oppressive aura radiated from her for a brief moment, heavy and threatening, before she quickly pulled it back under control. "I can take care of myself."

At that moment, the little egg timer that Arno owned went off, and Gudako stood up to check on the dinner again. She pulled out the baking pan in the oven as it steamed and the hot cheese top was slightly bubbling. Normally, this dish required at least another half-hour to chill to prevent it from falling apart, but being under the Wizard Marshall's care had it's own set of benefits.

One such benefit was having access to a certain tsundere gem magus.

The Beast girl discretely pulled out a small sapphire out of her pocket dimension and held it against the still hot pan.

"Isa." She muttered a simple incantation and the mana inside the gem activated, leaking a slight chilling air that rapidly cooled her dish.

Now satisfied, she brought the dishes she prepared to the table as her Master went to wake Niko up. The smell was warm and comforting after the long day. Arno watched her move around the small kitchen, thinking about how quickly she had become part of their daily life.

The evening light outside the windows grew softer as Arno finished setting the table. He walked over to the couch and gently shook Niko's shoulder. "Niko, time for dinner. You slept through most of the afternoon."

Niko stirred slowly, rubbing her eyes as she sat up. "Dinner already? I was having a good dream about grilled fish…"

She joined them at the table, still a little sleepy but clearly hungry. Gudako had already served the food — simple portions of rice, vegetables, and two new dishes she had prepared. The smell was warm and inviting, filling the small space of the cart.

They took their first bites at almost the same time. Arno paused mid-chew, surprised by the taste. Niko's eyes widened as she took another quick bite.

"What is this stuff? It's so good with the bread!" Niko said as she greedily added more to her slice.

Gudako smiled softly. "That is Hummus with Pita bread, Niko. The food in the pot is Moussaka, which is kind of like a shepherd's pie but with more vegetables."

Niko took another big bite, her cheeks full. "It's so tasty!"

Arno looked at Niko, who was happily eating, and then at Gudako across the table. "We will take it easy tomorrow as I will go back to City Hall early and try to get the spot allocation done. You and Niko can rest or explore a bit more if you want. But just stay safe."

Gudako nodded. "We will. Niko was very excited about the beach area, so she wants to go back and try swimming there. I will make sure we stay in the safer parts of the neighborhood."

Arno took another bite and looked at Gudako with genuine curiosity. "How did you get so good at cooking? This is better than anything I could make even with the more advanced cookbooks."

Gudako flushed a little at the praise, but was happy to explain. "I was actually slated to take over the family restaurant before I went to Chaldea. My family ran an Izakaya before my brother and I went to Antarctica to unknowingly save the world at the time. Ever since I was a little girl, food was always my passion regardless of how simple or exotic it looked; I was always ready to try new things. So my parents decided to teach me the way around the kitchen early so as to prepare me for that role. I continued to learn even after becoming a valedictorian at Ecole Tsuji Tokyo**** by the time my brother Ritsuka started his first year of college to become a mangaka."

"A what?" Niko asked as she wiped her mouth.

"It's what you call the guy who makes the comics" Arno replied.

"Oooh!"

Gudako continued as she grabbed another plate of the nearby grilled eggplant. "I learned so much more under the tutelage of many of the Kitchen Staff Servants, who were more than happy to share their knowledge and culture with me. Beni-Enma and Sen-no-Rikyu were especially strict with me due to my Japanese heritage and background in traditional Japanese cooking and tea preparation, but I was very willing to learn nonetheless~."

Arno and Niko listened with clear interest as Gudako shared a few more stories about her time learning to cook. Arno was impressed by how much she had practiced and how dedicated she had been. Niko was fascinated by the idea of a family restaurant and asked several questions about the dishes she used to make. The conversation flowed easily as they finished their meal, moving from cooking to the day's events and the plans for tomorrow.

They spent the rest of the evening talking about the usual mundane topics. Arno told Niko about how boring the paperwork at City Hall had been, describing the long lines and the many forms he had to fill out. Niko laughed at his description and shared more details about her afternoon with Gudako, including the different flavors of ice cream and the musicians they had seen playing near the water. Gudako listened quietly, occasionally adding a comment or answering a question from Niko.

The simple dinner, the sleeping Niko earlier, and the steady presence of Gudako made the end of the day feel peaceful. There was still much to do in Siesta, but for now, they were together, safe and comfortable after another day in their new temporary home. The city outside waited for them, and they would face whatever came next when morning arrived.

---

Night Watch

Later that night, the cart stood quietly in a calm corner of the parking area. The streets of Siesta had grown still, with most people already home and the distant sound of waves providing a gentle background noise. Inside, the lights were dimmed, and a peaceful quiet had settled over the small space.

Arno slept soundly in his bed, his breathing deep and even after the long day. Niko was already ina weird position in the bed while snoring away, looking like she was running in place while knocking the covers over, her most recent comic already knocked off the table.

Gudako lay on her own bed, her eyes closed and her breathing slow. The day had been eventful, but she had finally allowed herself to rest. Preparing their dinner took quite a bit of energy out of her, but she was happy that it turned out well.

Then, a soft, familiar alert sounded in her mind.

Alert. Hostiles detected in the immediate vicinity.

Gudako's pink eyes snapped open. She sat up and, for a lack of a better term, slithered through the darkness of their home without making a peep. When she was appointed to be the new security measure after the last debacle before her arrival, The Entity saw fit to give her a mental silent alarm that triggered when people with malicious intent were near her or her charges. Paired together with her own form of Intuition certainly made her quite the sensor.

They are currently in a vehicle nearby. They know this general location was your last known position, but they have not found you yet. They appear frustrated.

Gudako stood up and moved to one of the side latches, opened it carefully, and slipped out into the cool night air. Before jumping through, she reached into her storage and pulled out the black cloth from Cursed Arm Hassan. She draped it over herself, the cloth's concealing power wrapping around her like a shadow.

She moved silently through the parking area, staying low and hidden. The night air was cool against her skin as she approached the street where the hostiles were located. She stayed in the shadows, using the cloak to remain undetected as she crept closer to a parked car a short distance away.

Three men were inside the vehicle, the windows rolled down as they muttered angrily to each other. Gudako recognized them immediately. The same three lechers from earlier that day. She watched them closely, analyzing their movements and expressions. They were not random thugs — their clothes suggested they worked at the docks, and their coordinated frustration indicated they had been searching for hours. The leader in the driver's seat looked particularly agitated, gripping the wheel tightly.

"Where'd that horned bitch go?" one of them growled. "Some of the guys were talking about someone like that around here just now, but we've been searching for hours and it's not like someone like her is hard to spot…"

The man in the passenger seat slammed his hand on the dashboard. "She and that little brat Feline twerp are gonna fucking pay. They have to be hiding somewhere close. We'll wait a bit longer. They can't stay invisible forever."

The third man grit his teeth, but had a husky undertone in his voice. "Make sure not to rough her up too bad. I wanna still have some fun with her."

"Just leave that kid to me. I still can't see all that well because of her shitty Arts, but she'll be eating through a straw when I'm through with her."

Gudako sneered as she heard the last one. She was thinking about just calling the police after knocking them out and possibly taking their wallets as compensation for being so annoying.

But now? This was personal..​

After a few moments of listening to their angry muttering, Gudako decided to act. She slipped out from her hiding spot, deliberately letting the cloak slip just enough to reveal a glimpse of her horns and figure under a streetlight a short distance away. She made sure they saw her before she turned and ran toward a narrow alley nearby.

The men spotted her immediately. "There she is!" the leader shouted. "Get her!"

They scrambled out of the car and chased after her, their footsteps loud on the pavement. Gudako ran just fast enough to keep them following, leading them deeper into the dark alley. As soon as she turned the corner, she activated the cloak fully again and pressed herself against the wall, disappearing from sight.

The three men rushed into the alley, breathing heavily and looking around wildly.

"Where the hell did she go?" one of them growled, turning in circles. "She was right here!"

The leader kicked a trash can in frustration. "She can't have vanished again! Look if there's a window or some shit!"

Gudako waited until they were distracted, then moved silently behind the first man. She Reinforced her limbs (within reasonable limits), then she struck his knees with a her leg, causing it to let out a CRUNCH! Sound. The man almost fell, but caught himself by latching on to a nearby wall before turning desperately towards his assailant.

He tried to swing his knife wildly in retaliation, but Gudako dodged easily and countered with a crushing blow to his elbow. The man doubled his screams of pain as the joint gave way. He flopped to the ground unable to flee.

The second man heard the commotion and pulled out a concealed crossbow from his jacket. Before he could aim, Gudako threw a small green gem at him. The gem activated on impact, trapping him in a transparent bubble. The air inside began to be sucked out rapidly. The man gasped and pounded on the bubble, his face turning red as he slowly suffocated.

The leader turned toward the sounds, his eyes wide with panic. "What the—? Show yourself, you freak!"

He looked around frantically, his breathing ragged. His friends were either writhing in pain on the ground or trapped and slowly suffocating in the bubble. He reached into his pocket with shaking hands, pulling out his phone to call for help. His fingers fumbled as he tried to dial an ambulance or the police.

But the boogeyman wasn't done with him yet..

A shadow moved behind him, then an invisible hand grabbed his wrist and crushed it with a sickening crack. The phone clattered to the ground. He opened his mouth to scream, but another hand clamped over his jaw, shutting him up completely.

The bones and skin creaked and creased, making Gudako have to readjust her grip to avoid pulverizing the scumbag's skull.

Gudako revealed herself, dropping the concealing cloak. She stood in front of him, her eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. Her expression was cold and threatening, her sharpened teeth visible in a slight snarl, and her wings extended to add to her more monstrous form. Dark energy curled around her form, heavy and oppressive.

The man's eyes widened in terror as he realized who had him. He struggled, but her grip was iron. Yet even with how terrifying she was to him…

He can't help but think about how beautiful she looked.

"I heard everything, you know," she said quietly, her voice low and dangerous. "How you found us. What you were going to do to us. I heard it all."

She forced him down to his knees with a nigh effortless shove. The other two thugs were already unconscious, succumbing to the pain, rendering the alley was now silent except for the man's muffled breathing.

"You could have left us alone," Gudako continued, her tone cold. "You could have simply gone about your day and found some other, friendlier girl to harass. But no. You had to be persistent like the gnats you are."

Dark energy curled more strongly around her. The man's struggles renewed, but he could not break free.

"So in exchange for your disgusting actions, I'll be taking something of yours."

The man desperately shoved his wallet into her chest with his free hand. Gudako batted it away without looking.

"Hmm~? So you resort to bribery? Too bad. This is beyond monetary value now. You fucking freaks were going to break a kid's ribs and kneecaps because you couldn't take no for an answer. No. We're going for something more valuable."

The man's eyes were filled with pure terror as he realized the situation he was in. Gudako held him firmly, her claws digging slightly into his skin as she considered exactly what to take from him.

'Now, how did that go again?' The Beast of Greed pondered.

—---------

Flashback

After her rescue and relocation to the Clock Tower, Gudako had been staying in one of the quieter wings under Zelretch's arrangement as nobody was willing to get in the way of an even slightly upset Kaleidoscope. One afternoon, while Zelretch was in a long meeting with several other mages, Gudako wandered into a training room where the old man's only student, Rin Tohsaka was practicing her gem magecraft. The space was filled with the soft glow of various gems scattered across a work table. Rin was focused, her movements precise as she infused mana into a small sapphire.

Gudako watched quietly for a while, her golden eyes following every movement. She had very little formal training as a magus herself, having relied mostly on her Servants and Command Spells during her time as Master. The structured and elegant way Rin worked with the gems fascinated her.

Rin noticed her after a few minutes and raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here? This isn't exactly a spectator sport."

The Tohsaka heiress long knew about her teacher's pet project, and was currently tasked with making sre she didn't get out and cause a panic in the entire Mage Association.

Gudako smiled brightly and stepped closer. "Your magecraft looks so precise and beautiful. How does it work? I tried studying a little bit of everything while I was in Chaldea, and Paracelsus showed me how he does his own magecraft. But I never really got how he did it. I've never seen anyone make magic look so controlled and elegant before. You must be really talented."

Rin's cheeks colored slightly, but she tried to hide it with a scoff. "Flattery won't get you anywhere. This is serious work."

Gudako continued, her voice sincere. "I mean it. I'm barely a magus myself. I mostly relied on my Servants for everything back then, so seeing you work like this makes me wish I could do something even half as impressive. You make it look effortless."

Rin sighed, but a small, pleased smile tugged at her lips. She set down the gem she was working on and turned to face Gudako. "Fine. Since you're so interested, I'll show you the basics. But don't touch anything without asking. These gems are expensive and delicate."

Gudako's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Thank you! I promise I'll be careful."

Rin picked up a small, clear quartz gem and held it out. "This is a basic shield gem. The principle is simple — you infuse it with mana and it holds the energy for later use. The trick is balance. Too little mana and it does nothing. Too much and it shatters. Not only that, but you have to be careful when enchanting these things. My rule of thumb is that the simpler the command, then the simpler and cheaper the resources spent like mana and time spent at the cost of versatility. The inverse is also true, so keep in mind."

She demonstrated by channeling a small amount of mana into the gem. It glowed softly with a blue light. Gudako watched closely, asking questions about the process and how Rin controlled the flow. Rin answered patiently, occasionally correcting Gudako's technique when she tried to mimic with an empty hand.


The lessons continued for days. Gudako and Rin grew closer through dealing with Zelretch's shenanigans and Rin's own patient teachings. They spent many afternoons in the training room, practicing basic gem infusion and discussing theory. Rin was a strict but fair teacher, and Gudako was an eager student. For a while, it felt like a genuine friendship was forming in the quiet corners of the Clock Tower.

However, as the days passed, Gudako grew more and more irritated. It became obvious that she simply did not have the same level of skill, experience, or talent that her pseudo-teacher did. No matter how hard she tried, her gems either held too little mana or cracked under the strain. Rin made it look effortless, while Gudako struggled with every attempt.

As her irritation grew, so did her envy at how skilled her teacher was. Gudako was not sure where it came from or how it had taken root, but she could feel it growing inside her. She hid it from Rin so well, always smiling and thanking her for the lessons, but the Beast of Greed did not care for such restraint. It whispered in the back of her mind, feeding on the frustration.

It all came to a boiling point one afternoon when Gudako had had enough. Her mind went back to Rin's demonstrations and how effortlessly she could perform her magecraft, as was her right as a talented magus. Yet the Beast of Greed didn't care. It wanted that skill. It wanted that ease. It wanted everything Rin had.

Unbeknownst to her, she was emitting a rather repulsive energy that even through the protective wards of the Clocktower, many of the nearby magically attuned devices and staff collapsed/broke down from how vile it was.

Meanwhile, Rin was studying some tomes at a nearby table when she suddenly had a headache. She tried to stand up, but the ringing in her ears grew louder as her vision grew black.

Gudako uttered the words that caused her to become terrified of her own powers.

Pause Flashback

—------

'Ah, yes.' Gudako was plucked out of her reminiscing as she realized that her target was on the verge of passing out from the miasma she was emitting.

'I remember now.'

"You tried to take my innocence and possibly the lives of the people I care about," Gudako said, her voice low and cold. "You thought that snakes like you would be able to get away with anything."

The man's hearbeat was thundering in his ears as he tried to feebly dislodge the hands that gripped him.

"This behavior ends now," she continued, her tone flat and final. "Your memories. Your skills. Your abilities. Your connections…"

The dark energy around her intensified. The man's body convulsed as the Beast of Greed reached out and began to forcibly take everything from him. He writhed in pain on the ground, his eyes rolling back as years of knowledge, fighting experience, street smarts, and deepest secrets were ripped away and absorbed into Gudako. The process was slow and agonizing, his body jerking with each piece that was taken.

"I̸̧͒͑̀.̷̧̗̎̈́̒.̷̠̔̕.̸͉̄̚͝I̵̗̮̘͋͗̉ ̸̧͎̿̓͘W̵͇̑a̶̜̖̅̀̌ń̷̨̤͑́ẗ̴͙́͂̈́ ̸̰̉̓Ǐ̵̜t̴̗͇̊̿͝!̷̟̠̊͝"

The man let out a choked scream as the last of his useful skills and experiences flowed into her. His body went limp, his eyes empty and unfocused. He had been reduced to little more than a broken shell, all the things that made him dangerous stripped away.

Gudako stood over him, sneering at the broken man as the dark energy receded. The other two thugs remained unconscious on the ground, their injuries keeping them down. She looked at the three men with a mix of disgust and satisfaction. They would not be a threat to anyone for a long time.

After a moment, she sighed and knelt down beside the leader. She placed a clawed hand on his head and focused. The Beast had whined about losing some of its hoard, but she forced it to return the memories. She found his deeds plenty disgusting and had no desire to leave him a drooling husk when justice is finally served. The man gasped as the knowledge flowed back into him, though the pain from his injuries remained.

She stood up and took his phone from his pocket. Digging through his memories, she unlocked it and quickly searched through the files. She found several heinous materials — photos and messages that proved their criminal activities– and she sent everything to the local police with an anonymous tip, then dialed emergency services and left the phone on the ground with the call connected.

"Help will come soon," she muttered. "Try to be better people after this."

She stepped back, the black cloth from Cursed Arm Hassan still draped over her shoulders. The alley was silent once more, the distant sound of the wind being the only noise. Gudako took a deep breath as she had protected her family, but the cost of using that power still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

She slithered back to the cart through one of the latches, closing it quietly behind her. She checked on Arno and Niko one more time, making sure they were still sleeping peacefully. Satisfied, she lay down on her bed and closed her eyes. The night continued quietly, and she let her mind compartmentalize the newfound experience as she drifted into a light sleep. The city of Siesta slept under the stars, and for the moment, their small home remained safe and hidden. Gudako kept her vigil in her dreams, ready to protect the two people who had become her new family. The road ahead was still long, but they would face it together.

—-----

Resume Flashback

The room filled with a dark, oppressive energy. Rin collapsed to the floor, ears and nose bleeding as the Beast's greed latched onto her knowledge and skill for a brief, terrifying moment.

It was only an hour later that Gudako snapped out of it. She found Rin on the floor, still unconscious but breathing. She was terrified of losing her only friend in this new place and immediately rushed to help her. She used what knowledge she was able to steal to help stabilize her teacher and run diagnoses to make sure she didn't accidentally lobotomize her benefactor's student.

When Rin finally woke up, Gudako gave her an abridged version of what happened. Rin looked pale but managed a weak smile. "You… you did well. Thank you for the help. Your magecraft seems to have improved by leaps and bounds. Your healing abilities almost rival mine now. How did you manage that?"

Gudako said nothing, only forcing a small smile and helping Rin sit up. She felt a deep, cold fear in her chest. The Beast had taken something from Rin without her permission, and the guilt weighed heavily on her. She helped Rin back to her room and stayed by her side, making sure she was comfortable and safe. After leaving, she hid in her room under the covers of her bed as she hugged herself in a vain attempt of comfort.

"I…I'm sorry…" Gudako whimpered, tears rolling down her cheeks as she accidentally hurt her friend. "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean it… I didn't mean for this to happen…"

The incident left a mark on Gudako. She continued the lessons with Rin, but she was more careful after that, always holding back the darker part of herself. The friendship remained, but the fear of what she was capable of lingered in the back of her mind.

Thankfully, Rin was able to recover with all of her skills intact. The Beast's greed had not lashed out at its fullest, as it had merely forcibly copied Rin's skills and knowledge rather than outright taking them. This was exhibited by how Gudako still struggled with future lessons, but was taking to them much more naturally than before. Her progress became noticeably faster, her gem infusions more stable, and her control over mana flow more refined. Rin was stumped by the sudden improvement, often tilting her head in confusion during their sessions.

---

AN: Hey, it's been a while, huh? Welp, hope none of you guys forgot this story, and I'm thankful to those who waited patiently.

I made this chapter as a way to show off what Gudako can do as a guard, and show off her abilities as well, but not all of it was shown since these guys were just some normal mooks. And even then Gudako held back quite a bit. This chapter is basically in the same vein as me showing of Niko's own dynamic as an assistant way back when. Except now, since she's a guard, there's expected violence.

Again, I'm not that used to making ight scenes so I'm not really sure if this was edgy, or cringy (probably both ngl lmao), but I like how it turned out. My beta reader said it was pretty good too considering that this isn't my specialty so I hope people find it cool. If this chapter feels like an info dump on Siesta, note that our Main Characters are visiting for the first time, so this is them exploring.

Also, I made Gudako out to be like this since I wanted to try something different with her character. Usually, people seem to portray her as the cheerful and peppy younger sister of Gudao who's usually along for the ride. I wanted to change that just to be different. So here, she's actually older than Ritsuka by at least 5 years, but people always mistake her as the younger one since she's a little on the shorter side while still appearing very youthful (Ritsuka is 21, Gudako is 26). Not only that, but the Fukimaru family doesn't really have a background so I made one up after a random discussion with my beta reader over some State of Decay 2.

Because she is the older sibling, she's more mature and aware of how things are in the world, and can be extremely ruthless when it comes down to those who wronged her. Thus, making her the opposite of Ritsuka who is more easygoing and gentle. She can also be like her brother at times, but she is generally also more open and even flirty with those who catch her interest, even relentlessly teasing Meuniere when she catches him staring at her.

Basically, the dynamic is that while Ritsuka is more humanitarian and charismatic, Gudako is more ruthless and decisive in battle. Hence during more difficult battles, Gudako takes over with the more powerful, cruel, and bloodthirsty Servants like Darius III, Salter and even Jack The Ripper to get things done. Suffice to say, Chaldea is struggling in dealing with the Lostbelts without this characteristic right about now.


Anyway, here are the meanings of certain nuggets in the chapter.

*This was in reference to an earlier comment about how unperturbed Arno is during the whole Lungmen fiasco

**I came up with that in light of the whole MLP crossover thing and some inspiration from GuinGuin's comics. Suffice to say, the Nearl household is not struggling anytime soon when it comes to finances due to the SSR Maria Nearl Limited Banner.

Zofia and Mlynar is still very much teasing Blemishine about it, while Margaret is cursing herself for not taking up the idea herself.

***Just a little teaser on what else she can do. Gudako did that on purpose.

****Ecole Tsuji Tokyo is one of Japan's most renowned and prestigious culinary schools there.

Once again, please leave a comment or even some omakes if you'd like. Comments are helpful and I like reading them.

And now, dear consumers. I sleep.

P.S.: The navigation room mentioned a few times is basically just a room with a map, a steering wheel, a chair, and a table with other navigation tools and journals.

Ultimately, it's essentially like Stella's Navigation Room from Spiritfarer wherein they choose a location, then just let the Cart dri e on its own. It just needs to be looked after from time to time so as to avoid crashing into anything, as well as let Arno move the cart manually if he doesn't like his current area.

 

[DuckaBoo385]

Lol, even as a beast, a Gudako still can't help but rizz Waifus (Arno, you are now the Waifu in this relationship)

 

[Krein]

The papers felt a little heavier in my hands than they had before.

Click to shrink...

Ah yes, the usual trope.

Arno and flying under the radar – it's like water and oil.

"What do you mean 'temporarily'? You're blind forever, dummy!"

Click to shrink...

Someone's been playing good games, I see.

"I̸̧͒͑̀.̷̧̗̎̈́̒.̷̠̔̕.̸͉̄̚͝I̵̗̮̘͋͗̉ ̸̧͎̿̓͘W̵͇̑a̶̜̖̅̀̌ń̷̨̤͑́ẗ̴͙́͂̈́ ̸̰̉̓Ǐ̵̜t̴̗͇̊̿͝!̷̟̠̊͝"

Click to shrink...

...Hot.

 

[Paracsus]

Lol, even as a beast, a Gudako still can't help but rizz Waifus (Arno, you are now the Waifu in this relationship)

Click to shrink...

Gudako: I am flirting with you, Master. Do not resist.

 

[Oth]

Joke. Gudako is really not beating those succubus allegations, is she. She even has a legitimate drain technique to complement thematically with her hypno-eyes.