Escribo, the smug fishman maybe god thing is drinking. Ralphos the dragon man with the bulletblade is drinking. Ralphos is thinking of  the two girls who were with him but were not his, he complains to the fishman. Despite his best behavior and the time he spent with them, he was worried. There is only one man, fishman or not, that can help him. He is lonely in this world this day, even with two beautiful girls so close to him.

“Escribo…” Said the dragon man whining. He had done this several times.

“Yes, yes. I told you before. Open up to them. Juno’s just a little...mad. That’s all. A lot happened. Saten’s with you because of the job, Juno’s with you because of how she is, you’ve got them right where you want them. Don’t underestimate harems, Ralphos.” The fishman said, smug.

Ralphos made a groaning sound and drowned himself again. Juno was giving him the cold shoulder since the Cruci fight, he didn’t know why. Maybe it was ‘that’ time of the month. He didn’t want to think of it like that though. A thought occurred to him.

“Do catgirls have ‘that’?”

“I suppose as the adult I need to answer here. Yes.”

“Oh no...I forgot that existed. Even in another world?” He groaned and drowned. “How old are you, anyways?”

“Twenty-one. Eternally.” Escribo stated.

“How many years have you been 21?”, Ralphos gave him the evil eye. He drowned himself while doing so.

“Time, such a silly little thing. You think beings like me worry about such things? Why, I can’t remember the last time I worried. Except, over ‘her’”, Escribo said. He sighed.

“Out with it, old fishy man. Who’s ‘her’.”

“Afraid I won’t be telling you. Just accept that I have experience losing out on love. You, you need more time with them. You’re a smart kid, little strange, little dumb, but those girls, all you need is honesty. Why, that Qurbur you’re going after, he’s honest. That bastards after money. Learn something from him,” Escribo said.

Qurbur, a black man with a genie costume and fluffy pants squishing is watching a picture at that moment in his lair. Surrounded by fine things, gold, myrrh, frankincense, incense, anything that sounds like it is made of money. The picture, he is holding fond with a smile on his face. His genie hat flopping about his head, the picture is revealed to be one of a pile of money. Qurbur sighs, he puts the picture down as a knock on the door is heard.

“Come in, Chanterise,” he says out loud. Chanterise his secretary, she’s white, opens the door. The name was given by Qurbur as a fond recollection of his time with his favorite lover, an old lady with a lot of money. She had taken ill.

“Sir. Cruci is in Lord Ros’s jail. His armor in their possession, his title as a paladin revoked. It was the work of Satin Saint Saten.” Chanterise said. Her voice is comparable to an accountant.

“You do love to keep me in the loop. Such a beautiful woman. Any other details that are amiss?”, Qurbur said. Chanterise fidgeted, knowing well that when he says that, she had better tell him the part that she omitted as part of her habit. She never wanted to tell the whole truth, but Qurbur was generous with his time as long as it made him more money.

“Um, a catgirl with a lord-class drill was seen standing over him in the streets after he was defeated. She had a sword too, witnesses said it looked like obsidian. High quality.”

Qurbur’s smile changed to a sneer. Chanterise made a sound.

“Sorry. It seems like we’ll have guests soon. Make arrangements for defensive procedures. Thank you, bitch,” Qurbur said with an affectionate tinge to his voice. Bitch was a term of endearment for him. Someone like him, a font of confidence and many years of tricky business deals that he had navigated with personal power and clever turns of phrase, was not afraid of any criticism. Qurbur had taken them all on, won, and was vital to the war efforts both past, future, and present. A merchant, a true merchant, gives more than he takes.

He walks to the window overlooking his riverside warehouse, breathing in deep and closing his eyes before exhaling long and opening them. Qurbur twirled flames in his hand to steady himself, making patterns in the air.

“A bitch like that one. Saten. If she’s involved with that catgirl, they’ll want me next. The puzzle expands. How I’ve waited for a Saint like that to be my enemy. That one, her past, it’s unfortunate she’ll meet her end here. Or, should I just comply this time? If she’s moving, that one, who doesn’t get involved in such actions...an open hand. That simple. Violence is not necessary. How much will I have to pay to settle this one? Is her grudge and the catgirls the same?” Qurbur laughed.

“I’ve made an unfortunate enemy! Yet again…” A grin settled on his face.

Qurbur’s battle potential was well tested. However, to bury a Saint especially an infamous type like Satin Saint Saten, would be ridiculous. The political weight was too much, the royal capital would take notice, go to his competitors. He was not worried in the least he would lose in a straight fight. This wasn’t the first time he had run awry of a Saint.

Ralphos went back to the inn, after wandering the city by himself, trying to get his wings to work.

“Damn things, I bet there’s all sorts of crazy secrets to how to work these things. Ah, whatever. The durability helped a whole lot. I’ll be able to hang around Saten at least. Lord, huh. This is going to get a bit crazy, huh. I hope Juno talks to me soon…” Ralphos mumbled as he returned to their room in the inn. Juno was there, giving him a stone look with those emerald eyes. He was uncertain why she hadn’t responded to him since they fought Cruci. It was like she was in a sort of robot mode, and it unnerved him. He had a conversation with Saten that ended with a “Ah, don’t worry, okay? We’ll get Qurbur later. He’ll probably just shove money in our faces once we reveal that you’re going to be the new lord, so don’t worry about Juno now.”

Needless to say, he was worried. He opened his mouth to say something, Juno was keeping busy as usual with housework. Even though it was a hotel. Looking at Juno, his heart almost gave out again, but in a burst of courage he approached her from behind. Honesty, Escribo said.

“You’re worrying me. Are you okay? I’m...uh, I want to get closer to you. When I saw that you came to me for the bulletblade, I was happy, I thought, ‘hey, maybe we’ll get to know each other, finally’. That was reckless. You’re going to get hurt if you pull that again, talk it over with me or Saten next time, okay? I don’t know why she just let you do that…”, Ralphos rambled.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Juno froze, hanging some laundry. There was some processing time as his words lingered in the air, then she got back to work.

“Is that how you’re really like?” Juno said.

“Did I give you the wrong impression? No. I lie a lot. But I’m lost here, in this world too. I don’t know enough about you, I just told the truth. I won’t do it often, maybe. You’ll find out!” Ralphos said.

She made a disappointed noise.

“Leave me alone. Don’t expect me to explain every little thing to you. You smell like fish.”

Ralphos rubbed his head, relieved and confused, as he left to take another walk. He grumbled to himself something about avoiding her. Saten wouldn’t be back until later, she was a good barrier. He wandered out to the streets, saying to himself something about how he didn’t get it kicking the ground.

Saten came back later that day, she arranged things with the Sanctus Sancti for the events to come. Brutus would be tomorrow if things went well, she was educating Ralphos for that purpose on politics.

“He’s doing well, too well. Did I make the right choice? I don’t think he can be worse than Ros, hopefully.” Saten had said that to herself, worrying as usual.

Saten noticed that Ralphos was on edge with a sour look on his face, slumped over a bed with his wings out in another unfortunate accident. The townspeople had spread some unfortunate rumors, but neither of them knew that then.

“Ready? For Qurbur?” Saten said. Ralphos snapped up, he was waiting for this all day, putting down a book.

“Ah, great. I hope he’s going to fight.”

“He won’t.”

“Can I make him fight?” Ralphos said.

“He’s strong. Out of the three, if we had to fight him even I would lose, you know?’

“Oh, come on. He can’t be that good…” Ralphos said, trailing his voice off. If Saten said that, it was true. She wasn’t the type to misrepresent facts. Ralphos sighed.

“Can you help me get these wings back in?”

Juno followed them with her drill, mute. Saten had a light smile on her face, hair blowing in the wind. Ralphos had a scowl. They weren’t able to get the wings back in.

“Isn’t someone going to say something?”

“I’m afraid we’ll have to risk it. Without you in front of Qurbur with that bulletblade, he might just kill me, you know?”

“Ahhh, this sucks. Everyone’s looking at me,” Ralphos complained.

“Why am I even a dragon. I never asked for this. For any of this.” He sighed.

“Don’t get down before we even talk to him. Qurbur can read your intentions on body language alone. Even with me backing you, and that weapon, you won’t be able to do well if he thinks he can take advantage of you…” Saten said.

“No, I’m not in character yet. You’ll see, if there’s one thing I got going for me, it’s ‘that’!”

“You are strangely confident with ‘that’. Ancient magic from another world, I’m interested. Show me some time, okay?”

Juno pulled on Ralphos’s coat.

“It’s just ‘that’ Juno. I’m not going to leave you behind…” Ralphos trailed off with a pout. Saten smiled.

Qurbur’s warehouse by the river was silent. The workers had gone home for the day, and Qurbur was leaning against the warehouse door. He had lookouts. If he wanted to, there was a small army of his old pirate friends still hanging around Locos working for the company. Business under Lord Ros was good, but Qurbur was the type who understood that politics is an ever changing landscape. He would have never been able to shift from his old line of work otherwise. He twirled a fireball aimless, walking out to meet them. Destroying the warehouse would cost him far too much.

“Saten! You’re as beautiful as they say. How about you ditch that guy, let's spend the evening together? Surely, you don’t think he can beat someone like me?”, Qurbur said. He wouldn’t joke at a time like this.

“I’ll pass. My only love is justice, but I don’t think you could take the punishment I deal anyways. It’s unfortunate.”

“Don’t be like that. You haven’t tried me yet. I’ll show you a good time, I swear. You pay though, for dinner.” Qurbur said.

“I don’t like it. The man should always pay, you know?” Saten said.

Qurbur’s face stiffened.

“Who’s the kid with dragon wings?”

Ralphos stepped forward, pulling out his bulletblade with a dramatic flourish.

“I’m the next lord. Lord Ralphos. Ros’s time is at an end. I enlisted Saten’s aid. This weapon,” Ralphos showed off the bulletblade with a dull shine on it, “the royal capital will accept me immediately because of this. You’re going to miss out, after all, you stole from me. Don’t you remember?”

“Huh. Afraid I’ve never seen you before. You’re nuts,” Qurbur lied.

“Well. Then we have nothing to discuss, Qurbore. I’m sure there’s someone else you can get business from, maybe you can move your operation?” Ralphos said.

Qurbur observed him. Confidence, exaggeration, proper conduct. The only thing he was missing was experience. Vital experience. There couldn’t be a better deal for him.

“What do you want me to do? Why are you here then?” Qurbur said. Dodge the blame first, get him to bring it up.

“Admit you were there, that time you beat me and Juno here up. Then, you’re going to make things easy for me when I take power. I’m generous. I won’t starve you out. Although things got off to a bad start, it doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, right?” Ralphos said. He had his arms wide.

Qurbur was liking him more and more. He smiled, and a tear, a single tear came to his eye. He thought this kid was dumb and lacked experience, but he was also naive as well as ambitious. Fantastic, he thought. The amount of money he could make, the connections he could bridge even if this guy blew up, Lord Ros didn’t compare. Qurbur smiled, knowing what he had to do next. He made full body contact with the ground, his pants fluffing.

“I’m sorry. Juno, is it? I made the wrong decision. Sorry for letting them do that to you, bitch-”

“Wait, did you just call her a bitch?” Ralphos was more confused than judgemental. He thought Qurbur was the type to watch his words. Qurbur’s head snapped up briefly.

“Term of endearment. You understand, right? I’m sorry, Juno. I mean nothing out of sorts, a verbal tick of mine. I’m sorry. Hanging out with a paladin and a noble was the wrong decision, they corrupted me! They’re bad people, I was lead astray! I regret everything. I’ll return the money, as soon as I can, plus interest!”

Ralphos looked at Qurbur, sure that he was putting up an act but also sure that given what he knew about him there wasn’t any reason for him to lie. He glanced to Juno, who was zoned out staring off into the distance.

“Juno, you okay? This guy called you a name, want to beat him up? I’m sure he can take a drill or two,” Ralphos asked with a look on his face.

“Ah, sorry. I wasn’t paying attention, what did he say?” Ralphos told her.

“I don’t care. I didn’t want revenge anyways.” Juno said.

“He’s right there. Just drill him a little? For me?” Ralphos implored her. Saten looked excited for some reason.

“...no,” Juno said. It was unexpected for Ralphos. He turned away, starting to wonder if back then that fishman told her something when they talked and he gave her a fish. Along with what Saten said, he remembered what Escribo told him this morning. “Takes time.” Just like it would take time to trust Qurbur. He’d ask anyways.

“Saten, you believe him?”

She was smiling, her blue eyes looking at Qurbur on the ground.

“He’s lying. It’s just a matter of how much. He’ll turn on you if you don’t watch him. Isn’t that right, Qurbur?”

Qurbur readjusted himself to a cross-legged sitting position, chin resting on his hand.

“You’re everything they say. Don’t worry. I like him. He’s perfect. You give me a chance, I’m sure I’ll make this work out. As long as there’s money, there’s me.”