Luckily, Lil kept Kingsley from going full-on Public Headache. Wonder got a glimpse of a very anime-like high-kick before his kids ran for him, in a successful distraction. Wonder hugged them both tightly and checked for injuries. Both were just fine, thankfully.
Wonder brought the kids to the campfire. Neither seemed willing to want to leave him alone. Then again, this was probably their first serious action. All of Wonder’s other trips resulted in bunnies, deer, and wolves. Stuff easily hunted or Tamed. This event with humans was probably terrifying to the poor dears.
Mids disappeared behind a carriage. He soon emerged. His clothes were still bright pinks and golds. However, he was now wearing a shirt, trousers, and… bright pink sneakers.
This world had sneakers.
Wonder glared at his own footwear, which was more like a hard slipper. To be fair, this was easy to get on. But he definitely had blisters for the first few days…
Mids sat down. He smiled sadly. “So… I don’t know where to begin.”
Lil said, “Why not explain why a Prince is out in the woods?”
Mids groaned. “Don’t do that. I’m no Prince. I just like dressing in pink and frilly stuff.”
Kat said, “Yet you’re the King’s son.”
“Adopted son. And I’m 90% sure it’s so I can be a baby-popper. No thanks.”
Lil said, “Baby-Popper?”
Wonder said, “I’m taking a wild guess here, but back in my birth land, there are marriages which are specifically for the goal of creating offspring. Most of the time these are arranged by the parents, and the children are forced to go along.”
Kat, Lil, and Kingsley all looked horrified. Score for Hosekin culture!
Mids smiled warmly. “Exactly. And while I know Hoseki isn’t exactly ex-LGBT+-un-friendly, nor does there seem to be any problem with adopting, I’m not in the mood to be a pawn piece to extend the royal family.”
Lil said, “Hold. LGBT+?”
Wonder said, “I can’t remember exactly what each letter stands for, but it’s basically people who don’t just love the opposite sex. For example, I love both genders… and more, if there is a sentient species in Hoseki that has more genders I’m unaware of. Since I don’t just love women, I’m considered part of the LGBT+ group.”
Wonder rubbed his chin. “I have the acronym wrong. There’s a Q in there somewhere…”
Mids said, “That would be on me, then. Sounds like our birth lands are similar in that respect, though. I do call it a bonus of Hoseki, though, that all sorts of love can be accepted.”
Kat said, “Now I wonder why Wonder doesn’t flirt with every eligible person in a 50-mile-radius.”
Wonder laughed nervously. “Maybe I’m too busy being a daddy.” He hugged his kids, earning giggles.
Wonder said, “More seriously, it’s probably habit as well as having kids. You guys have been super-accepting, but I’m considered a freak back home. I have… survival habits relating to my character.”
All three Hoseki-born paled. Another points to Hosekin Culture!
Mids smiled at Wonder. “Know how you feel. It took Tome… my butler a long time to get me to feel comfortable walking around in a dress in public. And no one cared shit. Well, except the tailor when I got caught on a table corner. Heh heh heh…”
Mids’s face dropped and he looked towards the woods. Wonder said, “I’m sorry for your loss. We can go give him a proper burial if you want.”
Kat said, “Um… maybe I should mention…?”
Mids said, “It is normal procedure to leave the bodies in the woods and let nature take them over. The body is probably gone already anyway... taken by the trees or animals. But… I appreciate the offer.” He smiled warmly at Wonder.
He then sighed. “Actually, we weren’t even supposed to be out here. I heard there was a festival in town, and since we were only a few days away… but only so many green-haired men in pink dresses, I guess, because those guys suddenly came at us.”
Wonder said, “Well, that is scrapped up.”
Sakura said, “Scrap?”
Izuku translated, “Trash metal!” He was used to Wonder’s cuss workarounds.
Lil said, “Agreed. But you should be out here with a full regiment! You are a Prince of Light, after all!”
Mids said, “No I’m not.”
Wonder said, “I sense a roundabout argument coming. I don’t want to get involved in one of those ever again.”
It was definitely something in Customer Care. You tell a customer no, and even give them a legitimate reason why. Customer states their argument again, clearly ignoring the representative to try and make them break the rules. Even if you restate in different rules noand the why, the customer would just do the same thing. The customer would keep going on and on until you either broke, or ran out of time IRL. Those were headache calls, and usually some of the longest anyone ever had to deal with. And 100% not pleasant.
Wonder stretched, forcing the bad memories from his mind. He said, “But why would a group of wannabe ninjas try to capture you? Is there even a point? It’s not like there’s a legit war going on.”
Mids shrugged. “Probably just wanted ransom.”
Kat said, “Or… an attempt to get an official end to the war.”
Wonder raised his eyebrow at Kat, who shifted and looked away. Someone was hiding something. Maybe two…
Suddenly, Wonder thought he saw a brilliant green eye behind Kat, but it was gone as quick as it come.
Wonder blinked, and checked around. Lil asked, “Wonder…?”
Wonder said, “Hmm… Sakura, sweetie, can you throw up a shield real quick?”
Sakura nodded, and held up her hands. “Shield!”
A glittering shield of stars surrounded the camp. Kat said, “Wooooonder?”
Wonder said, “I’m hoping I’m overreacting. But random disembodied eyes? Eeeeeeeh, not taking chances.”
He looked at Mids. “I’m gonna guess you want to tag along until we get you home?”
Mids nodded. “Please. I will work my way, I promise.”
Lil sighed. “We’re heading towards the Capital, so might as well.”
Wonder said, “Settled. Kat, a word?”
His words dripped with power, and his mana bar appeared to show it drained a quarter. Wonder mentally pushed it away. He didn’t use mana for any of his attacks or Taming, so he didn’t need to worry about that… yet.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Wonder and Kat went to the side. The kids followed at first, but then one of Izuku’s wolves began to whine, so they went over there. But always kept Wonder in their sights.
We need a better evacuation plan. The kids are still freaked out.
Once they were behind a carriage, Kat said, “I’m more than willing to keep a shield up. Problem is going to be mana drain.”
Wonder said, “Not what I was gonna talk about, but fair enough. Are there any tickets that we can pick up… or, wait. I don’t think my carriage uses as much mana thanks to the fact it’s basically in choo-choo train mode.”
Kat said, “What…?”
Wonder said, “Basically it only has mana flowing to connect it to the next carriage, and handle the living functions inside.”
Kat thought. “That’s not a bad idea. Problem is, by the time we get to the Capital, you’ll need a major recharge. The carriage does have a self-replenishing function, but that will only be for life support inside the carriage.”
Wonder said, “Damn… do the other carriages have a battery?”
Kat rubbed his chin. “Kingsley’s might, but with how many Beasts he’s got, it may all go to care of the creatures. No matter what beef I have with him, I can admit he adores and probably spoils his Beasts a little.”
Kat sighed. “I’ll ask Lil more details.”
Wonder nodded. “Now spill. What are you actually doing out here?!?”
Kat blushed. He sighed. “All right… It’s not that top secret anyway. We’ve talked about how the world is actually at peace. But there is a problem. The Light Kingdom is dragging its feet on signing an official treaty.”
Wonder said, “Whyyyyyy do I sense a recurring…”
Wonder blinked and squinted, suddenly realizing something. Kat looked suspiciously like a certain manga character. But the aged-up version. The one in Wonder’s head.
Like a certain god’s mesmir!
“DARK?!?”
Kat instantly went full red, and looked around in a panic. Only seeing the kids playing with wolves and undead bunnies, he returned. He shushed, “QUIET!!!”
Wonder cracked his knuckles. A god in the party? Not only was that insta big-ass target, it meant bigger shit that Wonder didn’t want to get into! Or get his kids into! “Explanation.NOW.”
Kat said, “OK, OK…”
He sighed. “Actually, I kinda already told you. You were summoned by an unknown third party. Not by me, not by Light, and not Malchon. Even worse, this third party is somehow blocking themselves from our sights. Even Light’s lazy ass is concerned. Since it’s very logical that this third party is gonna keep an eye on you, I pulled a few strings and got my mortal body over here.”
Wonder groaned. “You said to Izuku that you would leave once we hit the Dark Kingdom. Was that a lie?”
“That’s a I don’t know. As a Paladin, I am pretty low on the ladder—more of what your world calls a policeman than anything. But as a god? Handling not only my workload but Light’s? I hate to say it, but I cannot do it all in my mortal form. If something major happens, I may be forced to wink out for a bit. But I’d come back.”
Wonder said, “So… you’ve said it a few times. Light’s not an intruder, but a freeloader?”
Kat gave an exhausted smile. “Yes. I don’t know what horror world she came from before Hoseki, so I do try to be fair. But basically once I had Hoseki stabilized, she did the god equivalent of showing up, dumping everything at my feet and said, ‘Your problem, not mine’. And I cannot tell you how many tired and broken warriors or warrior species there were. As far as I’m aware, the only ones she even keeps an proper eye is the main Fasis Lightwraiths.”
Wonder said, “Yeeeeeet she did not leave?”
“She’d be in very big trouble in the multiverse if she did so. Also, there is also one major core problem: I am still a Dark god, and her alignment is Light. As a Tamer, you’d understand there is a major type mismatch. I do my best, but I still cannot handle her Afterlife or some core elements without damaging myself. She still has to do it. Actually the only thing she doesn’t make a fuss about.”
Wonder groaned. “So she’s basically using you as a vacation resort.”
Kat smiled in exhaustion. “Pretty much.”
Wonder looked over his shoulder. “Where does Mids end up in all of this?”
Kat said, “I have to send a few messages, but I suspect it’s that it relates to my last order. I’m quite sick of this stupid war, especially since we’re at a false impasse. But… politicians.”
He shrugged helplessly. “I told them that I had to investigate a rising matter, but work on a way to get the Light King to sign a treaty. As peaceful as possible.”
Wonder said, “Forgot humans interpret things differently?”
Kat sighed. “…yes.”
He rubbed his eyes. “But the eye you mentioned? As far as I’m aware, no magic can do that.”
Wonder blinked. “So the third party is near?”
“Or has a new remote spell. I did a scan the moment you said it, but once more I cannot find anything.”
Wonder suddenly remembered something. Something from a horror podcasts. Or technically a few.
“…could it be a god more powerful than you? Did you call for help with Light?”
Kat blinked, and seemed to think. “…no. But I will admit I am working in an inhabited unknown part of the multiverse. The SIIN… uh… an intelligence ring for gods and immortals… suggested this area as a clear, safe place to create Afterlife worlds. I don’t really have any allies outside anyway, so I figured I could operate in peace.”
He shuddered. “…maybe the gods ruling the Sector finally picked up on me.”
Wonder said, “That explains what I suspect is going on. At least partially. The ‘eye’ is a trope for knowledge gods… or ones of watching. This world is definitely being monitored. But it doesn’t explain why I got thrown into the mix.”
Kat shrugged. “I don’t know. Especially since… well, most of the time when a god wants to interfere, they get someone who actually interferes.”
Wonder said, “The traditional isaeki plot, I gotcha. But this is definitely not.”
He rubbed his neck. “…I feel there is something we’re missing here. But I cannot connect the pieces. Stupid bra…”
Kat said, “Don’t go down that thought process, Wonder. If a god, who is used to having to think a million things a day, can’t figure it out, a mortal definitely can’t.”
He patted Wonder’s shoulder. “Do feel free to let me know if you think of anything, though. But hopefully, it’s just some knowledge god being nosy.”
Kat sighed. “I should get working on that shield before Sakura runs out of mana.”
Wonder said, “Fair. One last question… why are you in mortal form?”
Kat’s smile turned ages old, and sorrowful. “That’s… a personal question, Wonder. I’d rather not go into my origins.”
AKA, you were human before.
Wonder asked, “Can I then ask if the thing with Kingsley was legit? Err… wait…” Using Kingsley as an example was probably a bad idea.
Kat laughed, his face brightening a little. “Yes. Most of the time my level of gods still fall in love. But thankfully, we’re not as insane as Zeus.” He shuddered.
Wonder said, “Let’s not talk about that asshole.” He had to laugh.
They walked back out. Lil looked up. “Everything all right?”
Mids said, “The ninjas hmm?”
Wonder said, “Nah, thankfully. But he heard rumors back at HQ that Dark High Brass or whatever they call themselves was trying to ‘peacefully’ make the King sign off on a treaty.”
Mids facepalmed, and Lil rolled her eyes. Kingsley was very deep in feeding his… big caterpillars. Maybe had been the whole time, for all Wonder knew. Kingsley apparently worked off polar opposites: either loud and boisterous or quiet and shut off.
No wonder Kat couldn’t handle it. Poor guy.
Wonder sat down. “We may also being remotely scoped out. So to be safe, we’re gonna rotate a magical shield. Since my car is being… my carriage is being dragged along I’ve already volunteered the extra juice.”
Lil said, “We could also use Kingsley’s. He’s got, like, 20 extra mana generators hooked up so his main mana battery is not touched.”
Kingsley looked up and nodded. Oh, so he had been listening. Guy was worse with social batteries than Wonder during his drain mode.
Wonder nodded. “Great.”
Mids said, “I also have a big mana pool that’s unusued.”
Kat blinked. “What’s your Class?”
“Don’t got one. But I dabbled a lot in survival magic. I, heh heh heh, also enjoy outdoor activities. There’s a set of woods near the capital that I would go camping. I have a to of backup spells, so also have a big mana pool.”
Wonder pushed what he liked to lovingly call his appraisal ability. A status pop-up box came up.
[Blocked Block Blocked]
Nickname: Mids
AGI: Max
DEF: Max
ATK: Average
Mana: 75,000
REP: Lighteon-High, Neutral-High, Dark-Average
Alignment: Light, Eligible for Change
Class: None, Eligible for Knight & Hunter based on EXP
Mids smirked. “Did you just appraise me?”
Wonder smirked. “Still trying to figure out how magic works on Hoseki exactly, so got curious. Got a blocker skill, huh?”
Kat blinked. Mids laughed. “Well, I have an artifact that blocks it. Not everything, but enough.”
Wonder decided not to mention that the only thing blocked for him was the name. Maybe there was a title there. And it wasn’t important now anyway.
Or was it?
Was a knowledge god giving him secret boosts?
…nah. People in general seemed to know stats, and Malchon gave the same speech to everyone. So this was all Wonder and other “Players” point of view. Mids probably appraised Wonder already. Wonder didn’t necessarily care on that front. It was probably the same courtesy as checking each other’s usernames.
Kat sighed. “Anyway, I’m going to go work on the shields.”
Wonder went towards the wolf pack. “And me, I’m checkin’ the kiddos. Let me know when dinner’s ready.”