Chapter 18 - Sexual preference questioned

"I would say there's about 50% chance they know it as Marc and Rofta has used magic multiple times on the stone site. As for why it's not higher is because they haven't worked here more than a week." Antonio said unexplained why he thought so to the Major.

"Then this might work. I plan to rile the assailants up and force them to attack again. Though this time we will have people undercover, so when they attack just kill them if they are too strong, if not catch them." Explained the Major.

"Why do you think they are stupid enough to attack again? And they might have fled the city already." One of the surrounding people asked with skepticism.

"Because I can see from the corpses that they take great pride in their work and someone even took time to create jokes as messages. All we have to do is make a few scapegoats and mock them in public for how sloppy their work was. I'm sure they will think of attacking again when they hear it. This will also appease the anger of the citizens and make them work again." Explained the Major while looking at the man who just asked the question.

"So Marc and Rofta will be bait?" Asked Antonio with a frown.

"Yes, they are the most suitable targets for the killers if we look at the corpses. Lady Heartfilia you can use high-level Transformation Magic right?" The Major explained before asking Lisa a question.

"Yes, I can. You want me to play bait too?" She was back to her previous self that everybody knew, except Marc and Rofta. A calm and dignified person until you make her angry and she turns into a raging beast that blasts everything away without a second thought with her Celestial Spirits. That's why she got the nickname "The hound of the Heartfilia family" around the Kingdom of Fiore making her friends and family have wry smiles when they hear it.

"Yes, I want you to play that kid's mother." The Major said while pointing at Marc and when Lisa saw it she couldn't help get a red hue on her cheeks and trying really hard not to break her character again.

That was until Marc couldn't help teasing her again by running over and hug her with his head in her bosom while saying "mother" with an innocent voice and expression., making her completely red in her face and smoke began coming out of her head. No man has ever dared to be so brazen as Marc with her.

The others around couldn't help giggling a little because of Marc's antics, but Lisa saw it otherwise. She thought they were laughing at her, so her embarrassment disappeared and she glared at those giggling making them flinch and stop giggling.

"Seems you have no problem with it. Genno, I know you can use high-level Transformation Magic too so you will go with Rofta and act as his wife." The Major didn't want to step on a land mine so he quickly moved the attention away from Lisa to Genno, who silently came back after selecting the imprisoned scapegoats they will use.

"Wi-wife not father?" Rofta exclaimed bewildered with his eyes wide open, afraid he heard wrong.

"Hahahahaa…" Marc couldn't help releasing his hug around Lisa and fall on his ass, laughing at Rofta's misfortune.

The Major ignored the laughing Marc and explained with a serious expression "Yes you look way too old to be a child, so you will play husband and wife with Genno. He will transform into a woman and play your wife."

"Hahahaha…Rofta I always thought something was wrong with your preferences. " Marc continued to laugh and mock Rofta which made the latter blow over the top and run over to Marc and throw a fist in his face sending him flying beautifully a few meters while yelling "Shut up!!" And thought "Why can't I have a beauty with me too instead of an old goat?"

Then suddenly Rofta felt a chill down his spine like no other and looked behind him where Lisa glared daggers at him, making him think "Never mind, this lady is obviously too much for me to handle…I hope I will meet a quiet and reserved girl in the future.." Then Rofta quickly ran over to Marc, helping him up from the ground, and began dusting him off to defuse the bomb that threatened to explode and kill him.

After he was done he said to the Major "I'm fine with going with Genno," making Marc question Rofta in a whisper "Ey, why would you rather go with an old fart than a beauty?" He truly began thinking his best friend in this world was having issues that needed to be solved as fast as possible. That's what a true friend does, helping each other when they get lost in life.

"Shut up!! She's dangerous, I feel like I would die if I do one more thing she finds wrong. That's no beauty, she's a demon!" Whispered Rofta so only Marc could hear it.

"You must have a screw loose Rofta…" Marc said in disappointment while shaking his head before continuing "Open your eyes. Very long blonde silk-like hair that almost reaches her knees in a ponytail, shiny yellow eyes, a fantastic buxom figure with gigantic breasts, and big lips. Although I can see she's trying to downplay her breast size with that blue robe she wears, I guarantee her breasts are bigger than they look. If you still don't think that's a beauty, you don't deserve to have your little junior!" Marc preached with a serious expression that Rofta only saw when they found the mutated corpses earlier.

(A/N: Check comment for reference.)

"I'm not talking about her appearance. It's her personality there's something wrong with. Can't you feel she's dangerous? There must be something wrong with her, just look at how the other people around us are scared of her." Rofta defended and made Marc look at Lisa again. Nobody dared to stay closer than 8 meters around her.

"Personality? Dangerous? I don't feel a thing other than my little brother is getting a little excited…" Marc tried to feel it but felt nothing Rofta complained about. Though his hormones are acting up.

Rofta placed a hand over his face with frustration and thought "I forgot his sense of danger is somehow warped."

"Hey, we are friends, right? You can just tell me if you are into men. We will still be friends, though I will begin to stand 2 meters from you at any time. And sleep with my eyes open at night…" Rofta was about to puke blood up after hearing Marc.

"I'M NOT INTO MEN FOR GOD'S SAKE!!" Roared Rofta with frustration so everybody could hear it.

"…"

Silence took over the place and everybody looked at Rofta with pity. Genno was the one breaking it by coming over and placing his hand on Rofta's shoulder before saying "It's okay Rofta young-in. Young people get easily confused and led astray so don't mind it. You can still change."

Although Genno had good intentions, it just made it even worse and Rofta began shaking like crazy with anger before suddenly stopping and exclaimed "I give up. Think whatever you want"

Genno then clapped his shoulder and said "Don't give up Rofta young-in. Young people should fight," before he turned around, walked back, and stood beside Antonio who thought "I thought Rofta was a great kid, but it seems he has his own problems."

*Cough*

The Major once again coughed to get everyone's attention again with a twitching stoic face before asking Marc "Can I proceed?" With a glare that quickly disappeared when Lisa glared at him. "Can somebody please demote me so I can return to the frontlines? It's way easier than dealing with this woman."

"Sure, but you sure take your time huh?" Marc said nearly making the Major cough blood like Rofta.

After a deep breath, the Major said "Now we only need one thing and that's a speech that will mock the assailants. Everybody has 30 minutes to write it on a piece of parchment. We will use it for a public speech tomorrow morning and you also begin acting as a family from tomorrow. Dismissed."

30 minutes later, the 'best' speech went to none other than Marc that nearly made everybody hide their face in shame, though a blushing lady began thinking of things that will make her family question her sanity and blood relations.

After a day full of surprises, the people went home to get some sleep before the operation begins the next day.

***

(A/N: This may be a little silly chapter, but it was fun to write so I don't regret it. Hope you liked it.)

(A/N: I have been thinking of other magic Marc and Rofta should learn in the future but I'm not sure. I think Marc needs something that will boost his defense, just like Kuma was made a cyborg. I don't want to spoil my 1st choice, but my second choice is something like the Kira Kira no Mi (Diamond Fruit). Do you have any opinions or suggestions?

(Words: 1546)