30 Fully Prepared

Mina popped up beside Melody, nearly shocking the woman into falling over. Mina saw her Sword Body in Melody's hands, being treated like an ancient relic, then up at her eyes.

"M-Master... er... forgive me. I thought you were asleep."

Mina saw that there was a really expensive looking cloth laid out on the desk. She gave a grateful smile, letting Melody place the blade down.

"Did something happen Master? I had believed you would sleep for some time."

Mina gave a dazzling smile, one she wasn't aware of.

"I was... talking to someone. I may have made a mistake and not asked the right questions, but I missed her. Can't help what the heart wants."

When she looked over at Melody, she noticed that she clutched her chest.

"Melody?"

"Master is just... too cute! How can you do that?"

Mina shook her head.

'Smiling... the bane of all.'

A few hours passed, the sun now high in the sky. Mina watched as her friends got to their feet, stretching and yawning. The smallest, Chisana and Suriza, were still sleeping. Mina was a little alarmed, but they were sound asleep.

Taking the initiative, Melody placed the two of them on top of Fubuki. With a delighted smile, she went off to a side room. She reappeared a bit later wearing decent leather armor with sturdy steel plating. Leaning against the wall, an ornate spear glistened as the sunlight shone into the room.

"Family heirloom. Father told me to only use it if I find an important reason, and well... here we are. I know, I know. Not the nicest thing to do, inviting myself along..."

"No worries, Melody. I'd be glad to have an escort."

Mina's own armor, her Swordsman gear, formed over her small dress. She held her blade, the dark metal glinting. The glint caught her eyes, a tiny smirk on her face.

'To think you were so useless when we first got here.'

She looked up, a sudden question popping up.

"How the hell do we get to the dungeon? I don't think killing all of the people in this town is a good idea."

Melody nodded, tightening her gear as she spoke.

"Many of the people here, none of the ones from yesterday, have ties to either strong people or families. If they disappear and it was noticed, which it would be, someone from these families would come out here to find out why their little rats were disposed of. To some it's a grand idea, ridding the world of nasty pricks. To me, it's a bad choice. Greater evil always tend to back lesser evil. I can't mark them off as K.I.A. or anything like that either. It'll be examined, then we could be found out. I'd rather live as your slave than whatever held me captive before."

Mina blinked, her own thoughts on the same wavelength.

"Those ones yesterday, I killed out of protecting what's mine. I wasn't fully thinking of their backers, but as you said, that could be why they didn't care to get their hands dirty. This leads back to the initial question, how do we get down there?"

Melody gave a cute smile, her eyes gleaming.

"I posted a notice yesterday. The dungeon has been labeled off limits due to recent disappearances. A squad of adventurers never returned, so I'm going in to find them. I'm probably one of the strongest people in this little town. Now this squad really did vanish, though now that Rin is gone I'm not entirely sure of how long they've been gone. She did most of the paperwork about adventurers. I focused on everything else, so uh... I did use her to aid my stress from time to time."

Her face fell into a frown, though Mina had no intention of telling her that what she did was fine.

"Melody, that look in your eyes. I can tell you regret it, and I'm glad you feel that way. What you did to her was wrong. Maybe some day she will forgive you, though as you have not wronged me... and I do not owe anything to Run, I hold nothing against you. Fight by my side and follow my orders. I'll treat you well enough... though you'd jump at the chance for me to punish you. It's cute... almost."

Giving a small wink in Melody's direction, Mina was ready to face this dungeon.

-

"Dyna, you know telling her so much can only lead to disaster."

"Shut it Miracle! I didn't intend on falling asleep like that. I had planned to hide, leaving her to think I was a dream... but it felt so right! Having her in my arms, the feel made me so sleepy!"

"Hehe. You're too much. You know what that old bastard will do, as well as why he wanted you here. Sure he may not know that she's the girl you've been so fond of, especially since he's been trying to make you submit to him for so long, but the more she knows the more she may let slip."

Kat slumped, her eyes barely open. She looked over at her comrade, a somewhat buff man wearing the attire of a blacksmith.

"As the God's and Goddesses you have chosen, we will fight alongside you. You pulled us from our dreary lives, finding our true purpose. We regret nothing except for the sadness we have seen on your face. Even I was surprised to see you smile so much when she appeared, nor have I seen grief so potent when you realized she died in her world. You molded this realm to fit her more suitably, as well as to build her up strong enough to be by your side in case of the worst scenario. If that old bastard attacks, we will need her. Especially you."

Kat glared at Miracle, the God pushing his glasses up slightly.

"She is no pawn in the War of the God's! I only wish for her to be qt my side. If it were up to me, she would be here. She would be in my arms! She wouldn't be a damn sword!"

Kat put her face into her palms, sobbing softly.

"She was supposed to live out her life on Earth. She should have gotten old, fallen in love and lived happily! Yet here she is, toiling away in this world. Miracle, do you think she would be happy if I told her the truth? Would she be upset with me if I told her why that bastard brought me here, or that it was his fault I died?"

"Dyna, if that girl loves you as much as you believe, she would stab that man until his soul bled into oblivion. His obsession... it's disgusting. You've suffered for too long and he will pay for it. My blessing over Mina, as well as the others she has and is sure to get, will make sure of that. That girl... she would shield you with her very soul if you asked, wouldn't she?"

Kat seemed uplifted, yet crestfallen.

"I'd never ask such a thing. I just want her to live, even if it's not at my side."

--

Thank you,

JScott and croix!