ShipTeaser

  “Should we really be sitting here doing nothing?” Kana asked, as the feasting and revelry tinued. “The waiting is starting to get to me…”

  Smiling, I reached out and patted her on the head. “It’s all right. Worried about missing school?”

  She s that, her tension lifting a little. “Hardly. Though Mio- and Asami- might worry about me. Or think I’ve just pyed truant to go on a date with you.”

  “It is rather like a group date.” Haru-san said wickedly. “Though of course, I’ll leave the fun to you and yirlfriends, Akio-kun. Don’t worry, I’m not here to spoil your fun.”

  “Is it me, or have you lightened up a bit, Haru-?” Kana asked, face red with embarrassment. “I mean, that’s a good thing, knowing what… happened… and all…” her voice trailed off, getting smaller as she tihe subject hard for her to touch.

  “It just hit me, watg this mess…” She looked at Haanōbō, who was sat o me, her boisterous brother Arangbō seated opposite her, as all of the champions to face the rift were on e table in the shadows of the temple and the sacred fme. “That most of my fears are groundless. And that the path I’m following now is right.” She ched her fists by instinct, before f her hands open, pig up a mug and taking a sip of sake. “…I died, but the fear didn’t die with me. It grew inside. Fear is like a great dark tree, spreading branches, making us cower underh it. I did my best, and I was happy, but I always felt frightened, not being alone in my own head, remembering…” everyone was listening to her now, even Haanōbō, who knew nothing of Haru-san’s past struggles. “… but seeing how far we’ve e, and the stupid, amusing farce of Akio-kun g a new sister, it all seemed to melt away. It’s strange…”

  Just what do you really want to do, Akio-kun? Her voice sounded in my head suddenly, showing the greater trol she had over her gifts. The Tengu are very fused. Although at least one seems to be having a good time. She ined her head at Arangbō, who despite supposedly resting, gathering his strength, was ughing raucously, another massive mug of sake being poured down his throat, quite the feat sidering the long-nosed crimson mask he wore. Poor Haanōbō doesn’t know where to look or what to do.

  I know. If I’d have just challenged her brothers ahem into the ground anyway without the wager, this would have all resolved itself. But I got rather pissed off. I guess Resilience wasn’t doing its job properly. Really, there’s no harm in it though is there? We are all going to be allies after this…

  Tell that to your actual sister. As for allies… don’t you still have to fight Tarōbō when all this is done?

  Yes, possibly. I cast my gaze over to the powerful Tengu, whose strength was certainly on a par with mine, by the feel of his League. But first we have to deal with the dungeon… Our mental versation cluded, taking a mere fra of a sed, Haru-san tinued speaking to Kana.

  “… the death of fear is humour. That and strength. I’m strong now… and so is Akio-kun. And he’ll protect us… so…” she took a deep breath, despite being an Onryo and in the Boundary, where such things were merely a matter of reflex. “…I decided to be braver. I ’t stay afraid forever.”

  “And to answer your question from before, Kana…” I ged the subject, as evee Haru-san’s brave words I could see some darkness hidden in her eyes still. Yeah, I’m gd she’s taken a step forwards, but despite what she says, letting go of such a traumatic fate as she endured will take many such steps… “We used a lot of effort during the trials, so we’re recharging. No point taking risks. And speaking of risks…” I turo look at Yasaka-san, who sighed.

  “Time for another question then? I’ll see what I do.” He pined, and that drew the attention of the Four Dires too. Seeing everyog, he groaned, only to be reassured by Prince Shōtoku, who was also staying behind. With some kind words, Yasaka-san waited for the question.

  “We’ve established that the Lost Fme Of Naraka is something else that has leaked through the cracks in the Boundary, drawn to a simir fire already inside. And that it funs close to a Spawning Spire, in a way…”

  “The questions to get that far hurt my head.” Yasaka-san pihough this time there was no blood or damage to his Chakra work, merely exhaustion, the levelling and training he was doing obviously paying off. “So, just ask it.”

  “…how we destroy the dungeon below the sacred fme, and if we do, will it have a ive impa the fme and mount Atago?” That was important, I had no wish to destroy the very fme we were here to save.

  “That one.... ugh, my head.” Yasaka-san’s face twisted into a pained expression, and this time there was some blood, a trickle leaking from one nostril. The book appeared, only visible to Yasaka-san and those of us with special eyes, and he read the words. “The source of the fme… it’s eaten into the space within the mountain, causing the duo spread and intensify the creation of the damned spirits of fire…” he read. “And as the Lost Fme spreads, causing further expansion, it’s leaking into the fme already here, corrupting it. To banish it, we o remove every scrap of the Lost Fme, and if it is removed safely from the sacred fme, it should do it no harm, even stre, perhaps…” The book closed and vanished in a cascade of aether, and he slumped down. “Is that it? Any more questions?”

  I looked around, my expressioioning, and nobody had anything to add, as we had gathered enough information, until Arangbō spoke up. “I have a question, knowledgeable one.”

  “Oh really. What a lucky break for me…” Yasaka-san groused.

  “Yes, will my dear sister Haanōbō find happiness iure with her new family?” he guffawed loudly, clearly either drunk or in good spirits. As Haanōbō’s wings dipped, her screech of annoyance ringing out, I couldn’t help but notice that Fungbō was gring at me, eyes filled with bitter feelings. Grow up, you lost, live with it. Your other brothers have… even the arrogant Shungbō seemed to have put aside his anger and was gathering his strength for the mission ahead.

  “Hah, not even Minerva ahat one. And I’m not stupid enough to ask. Toug oure hurts.” Yasaka-san ughed, tearing into a k of boar meat still on the bone. “Ask Akio-san that, not Minerva.”

  “I think we hardly he power of the Gods for that.” Motoko said happily. She and Natsumi had used little of their strength, so were eager to get started, and had been cheg over their ons again and again, making sure they were in perfect dition. “Akio does not abandon those he chooses to protect, and like us, she too find fort in being cherished and defended.”

  “That is quite enough.” Haanōbō said bitterly. “I am grateful my pride and honour is restored, but this talk of being a sister… it is a mistake, a misuanding…”

  “I see. Aiming for met to the back of the line.” Bell ughed. She was examining her arrows, and also the several quivers full of shafts the Tengu had brought, trimming the fletg ahers to her taste.

  “No, this is all a mistake!” Haanōbō’s wings shook as she protested yet again, and ughter filled the air. I closed my eyes for a moment, cheg my elemental resources. I recovered many of them quite quickly, due to having a lunar chakra, several csses reting to the elements and other bes, but I was still far from my peak. It should be enough though. We don’t have to rush, slow and steady wins the race…

  “Silence, Haanōbō of the Winter North.” Tarōbō boomed out, and his staff smmed down. She immediately cmped shut her mouth, and I opened my eyes to see him looking out over our table. “It is time. The hrows te, and the corruption spreads.” Several Tengu had returned, injured, and brought word that more of the burning spirits had been spilling out of the cracks in the mountain. Haru-san closed her eyes, and then spoke.

  “Yes, some have reached the border of my Territory. The barrier keeps them out, and the forces within hahem, but if it keeps esg…”

  “Eventually all defences fail. The growth of these poor tormented fragments of spirit, ed in a sad, lost fme, is ever-increasing. A million fire ants bring down a bear, they not?”

  Many of the girls shivered at the image, and I didn’t bme them. “All right.” I agreed. “We’ve recovered somewhat, though a little more wouldn’t hurt too…”

  “Are you afraid?” Fungbō sneered. He had ged his robe, the ripped and muddy white robes now repced with a pristi, and he had hastily ed his wings, but my keen eyes could still pick up some mud amidst the feathers. “If so, you need not participate. Wait here, gather your pitiful strength, and wait for us Tengu to triumph! Mount Atago is ours, the fme our charge, outsiders!”

  “Pitiful strength that ground him into the mud…” Kana whispered to the others loudly. Natsumi and Motoko mao hide their smiles, as did Daiyu, but Bell burst out ughing. Offended, Fungbō went to speak further, but Shungbō stopped him, grabbing his arm and shaking his head.

  “I uand caution.” Arangbō spoke up. “Bravery is all well and proper, but caution should never be fotten. We have lost brave Tengu learning the dangers, but… as Great Tarōbō says, the danger grows even as we speak. A baween caution and haste is necessary. Besides… tell him, sister.” He turo Haanōbō, who sighed.

  “Five the interruption again, Great Tarōbō, but they do not know the power you have stored.”

  “Isn’t it just a way to vert ive emotions into an attack?” I said, and all the Tengu froze. Oh, yes, they never said, I got that from my Eye…

  “That is not all…” Tarōbō decred, detag the brilliantly glowing gem from his staff. “The jewel also gather other stronger, positive emotions, and vert them as well…” my Eye shone, and I could see the difference from before.

  Gem Of Muted Desires [Item Css: Noble] [Item Type: Artifice]

  This gem draw out and supress extreme desires aions of the bearer or those it targets around them. Suergy then be verted into Aether and Light Element and used to restore strength to others, rant a blessing of Light Element.

  “I see. So the staff turns it into a on, but inally it’s kind of like a battery, vertiions to power. Hehe trials and the revelry. I see…” Uanding the purpose now, and Tarōbō’s earlier talk of blessings and power, I nodded.

  “Your eyes are keen ioo keen, some might say.” Tarōbō replied. “Now, I shall tinue.” As we all settled down, he spoke, raising the jewel up high, the light falling on us. I experimented drawing in a little with my third eye chakra, just a trickle, and found it quickly started replenishing my lost aether. Iing, but theher perform light element attacks, if with poor efficy, so the reverse is true, just that the efficy here is great…

  “The corruption spreads!” The leader of the Tengu repeated, starting from where he had left off before. “Now, I do not know this Minerva, God of a fn nd, but the words her servant speaks…” Yasaka-san grumbled at that, though he had the good seo do it quietly. “…match my own fears. Fragments of the dead, brought together by fme, granted a bitter existence… such goes against all our sacred fme stands for. Brave Tengu, heroes all, have fallen, scouting these rifts, this dungeon…” he said the word with some disgust. “… and it only grows, spreads, rotting the very mountain we have long protected, cimed for our own. But no more. Mount Atago, the Tengu, we shall never yield!” With that everyone was r, wings fpping, and a few more fireworks were set off. The gem absorbed some further energy, and Tarōbō held it high.

  “All of your despair, your hurt, yrief, your pride, yer, your bitterness, ye, your joy and love, your loss and hatred… all your emotions are our strength!” The gem fred, and suddenly rays of light pierced all of us who were selected as champions, to ehe dungeon. I felt energy boiling within me, and amber letters surged through my vision, even as my body started to shiver, exuding dark, vile fragments of impurity. Oops, Eri just got a nasty shock…

  Daiyu too was arched over, seeping simir dark ooze. On seeing my expression, she mao speak. “Unfortable? I too am feeling rather unpleasant… yet it is not so bad as the first time.” She sniffed. “But I would dearly like to wash before entering this pce of danger…”

  Kana giggled, waving her hands in front of her nose, saying that the pair of us stunk, and at the slightly offended expression on Daiyu’s face, she apologised, saying she was joking. Everyone was looking at us, so I put on a smile, lightening the sudden tense mood. “Don’t fet, I’m not just here. I was having… a moment with Eri right now, and… well, she’s goo rinse her mouth our after being sick all over my… uh… torso?”

  Many of those here seemed fused, but Haru-san looked a mixture of gleeful and horrified. “She wasn’t? Really? At that timing?”

  “She was.” I said, embarrassed. “She swallowed something she wasn’t expeg…”

  “That’s hideous. You owe her!” Haru-san warned, and I told her I khat, and was already phoning for a reservation at a el for the evening. As the light tio fall, bathing us all with the stored and verted energies of the biengu and indeed us, Haanōbō, whose wing had narrowly avoided being spttered as some more dark slime exuded from my flesh, asked what was going on.

  “The energy is great. And it’s resonated with my Spiritually Pure Physique. Daiyu’s too. I guess good deeds don’t go unrewarded. Karma, I suppose.” Apt, sidering the skill that rose and what the jewel does. At least I’m finding it less difficult to exist oerial as well as here now. All thanks to…

  Your Skill, Spiritually Pure Physique has advanced from Rank 2 to Rank 3. Your resistao curses, misfortune, poisons and impurities further increases signifitly, and your body has been sed of ive Karma by abs purified energies stripped of their ive aspects. Your ability to gee Spirit Water has strengthened signifitly. Yht Moons Chakra work now funs with less resistao the flow of Aether, Elements and Adherence, and your Silver e is better able to haransmission of self.

  “Good deeds? Hardly…” Haanōbō narrowed her eyes. “I would almost suspect you were seo pgue me.” She crossed her arms under her slender chest, yellow-gold eyes fixing me warily.

  “You sound like my sister. My other sister.” I corrected cheekily. “If you prefaced that with a cute ‘wow’ it’d be just perfect.”

  “Here es the sis…” Kana ughed. “I have to say though, I feel fully refreshed, it’s as if all of the struggle before was days ago.”

  “Not just that, but…” Bell held up her arrows, and the heads were glowing with light element. My Eye shone, and it seemed that they had temporarily been imbued with a purifying light. I then turo Haru-san, expeg her to have beed as well, and she nodded.

  “You’re sharp as ever, Akio-kun. At least in matters that don’t rete to the feelings of girls.” Her smile robbed that of its sting. “Yes, the light, I’ve mao absorb it. It has strengthened my Mind Healing Light and transformed it. Take a look…” She’s right. Mind Healing Light is gone, and in its pce…

  Light Of Muted Emotions Rank 6 – This Unique Light Element has evolved and passed the first bottleneck, and it absorbs strong and harmful emotions, verting it to a benevolent, gentle Light that soothe the mind, drive out possessions and curses, and temporarily increase the Resiliend Determination of those this Light touches. It ow also affect the bearer of such Light, though the effect is signifitly reduced. At higher Ranks it may allow perma increases to Resiliend Determination, helping to cure mental ailments. An overflow of excessive emotioher positive ative, be verted into Aether and Light Element, aed exposure to such verted Light will strehe Third Eye Chakra Of Light. [Css: Imperious] [Type: Principle]

  “That is different…” I agreed, impressed. “It … affect you now?” I asked, and she seemed to uand.

  “Yes. Though I assure you I am fine. Didn’t I make a breakthrough just before this, Akio-kun? I don’t… need a crutch. I’m living my best life, despite being dead.”

  “I know you are. But if you ever do , isn’t it a good thing to have it?” I said gently, and she nodded, pouting a little.

  “You could be right.” Her brown eyes were solemn. “But the best thing is the strengthening. And I also ge the light to darkness element through my Ghost of Light css, ’t I? I wonder if I strengthen my throat chakra and learn darkness element that way?”

  “It must be worth a shot…” Now that I had stopped expelling impurities, the energy that was slowly beginning to fade from the gem in Tarōbō hands filled me up, and my elemental energies surged, chakras raging. I may not be fully topped up, but I’m certainly full enough to feel fortable…

  The light finally diminished entirely, and Tarōbō slid the gem bato his staff, the jewel now clear and sparkling like a diamond, almost entirely devoid of the brilliant glow. He looked at us all with satisfa. “The gathered power refreshes, strengthens. The tormented, cursed spirits that pgue us ot be destroyed by mere force of arms, only by purifying them they be released. Take the ons blessed, and make every arrow t, every bde strike true.”

  As the Tengu cheered, those of us at the head table looked at each other, resolute. Prince Shōtoku stood, saying a few words. “Tarōbō, lord of mount Atago, from the kami of Kyoto, who bear you no ill-will, despite your lora, I offer prayers for your success, and for the fme to burernally. As neighbours, we should aid each other, and e to a fruitful allian times of trouble. I wish you to remember that.”

  Tarōbō nodded. “Shōtoku, it was likely Fate that brought about our meeting. Should these outsiders who have braved our challenges fairly help se the fme, then I shall look favourably upon them. After all…” his gaze turo me, and I wagered he was smiling behind his mask. “….Did not he fight for the sake of the Winter North?” As Haanōbō ducked her head, embarrassed, the Tengu tinued. “… but alliance is only sealed by deeds, aengu have little love for outsiders, nor their interference. Your words have been proven so far, however… should… no, when this accursed lost fire is banished, for we ot fail, I shall raise my staff against your sword. If you think me easy to defeat, you are a fool. I am not my errant children. Should you seek access to our mountain, you must prove you have the strength to force us to yield, which even the kami ot!”

  “No, I imagi’ll be a fierce battle. One for filling up that staff of yain, no doubt.” I grinned. “Prince Shōtoku, Yasaka-san, we’re off. If there’s any problems…”

  “Yes, I know. I’ll be keeping an eye on your progress and any danger with the Book of Providence. Kyoto is just down the mountain…”

  “You would allow us t further aid if required, arōbō?” the Prince asked, and Fungbō spoke up again.

  “More outsiders? You thihe proud and mighty Four Dires, ot handle…”

  “Silearōbō boomed, his staff smming down.

  “But, Great Tarōbō, they insult us…”

  “I said ENOUGH!” Tarōbō roared, his League surging. His son bowed down, wings drooping. Tarōbō then addressed the Prince. “If the situation bees so dire, it means that the Four Dires, and he who bested them, are all defeated, or beaten back. If so…”

  “I uand.” I chimed in. “If that happens, you wonder what difference a few extra people make. All I say is, listen to Yasaka-san. He hopefully identify whether some aid will be useful or more is only a lost cause. But…” I said proudly, not showing any weakness. “… I’m fident we ha. So…” I looked at my party. “You all ready?”

  “Always.” Daiyu was first to decre, though the effect was someoiled by the remains of the expelled impurities across her fad clothes. With a smile I jured a little water, washing the worst away, and she flushed a little under my touch.

  “I too am ready. Finally, a true battle at your side.” Motoko decred. Beside her, Natsumi was grinning too, clearly excited.

  “Me too. And I ’t wait!”

  “I uand your excitement.” Bell said, lightly spping the backs of their heads, calming them down. “But this is a serious life-or-death battle. A moment of carelessness or ina…”

  As Motoko and Natsumi bowed, apologising to her and to me, Bell smiled. “That said, I remember my first battle as a Way-Warden, so I do sympathise. As for me… I am also prepared. These poor tormented spirits are pitiable, so let us put them to rest. It will make a ge from those bastards from the Wild Hunt…” her ugh was wicked, and I found myself smiling.

  “I’m quite scared.” Kana admitted, taking my hand. “But I khis was ing when I took the Divine Favour.” She took a deep breath and then put her other arm around me, giving me a hug, her chest pressing against mine, her hair tig me. “And you’ll be with me, won’t you?”

  “Yes. He’ll be with us all.” Haru-san added. “I sympathise, I’m an Onryo myself. But that won’t stop me from putting them to rest.” She promised, before turning to Na. “And with Na-san here, we have our defence covered. We won’t make the mistake of splitting the party, will we?”

  “Nope.” I shook my head. “I know time is of the essence, but safety first. We’ll adva a measured pace, all together.”

  “And which group will Haanōbō be joining?” Kana said suddenly, and the Tengu iion seemed a bit fused, before her brother Arangbō spoke, ughiily.

  “I hate to separate you two, but as the Four Dires, our strength is magnified when we fight together. So as, Haanōbō must e with us, as Winter North.”

  She nodded. “Yes. We Tengu fight best together. But…” she dipped her head politely. “I wish you safety and good hunting. Despite our ill-fated first meeting… you have been generous to me. I will not fet it, even if your deliberate misuandings irk me greatly.” She seemed uo resist a final pint.

  “If you say that, you spit on the word of Great Tarōbō…” Arangbō tinued, clearly enjoying her disfort, as the group of them headed for one of the dark rifts seemingly carved out of the mountainside. Shungbō turned back to look at me, before sighing aing his sights on the hole in the mountain, a number of fmes suddenly bzing around him to light the way, while Fungbō merely growled a bitter curse, the set of his shoulders angry. As they led the other chosen Tengu into the darkness, I watched, ed.

  “You worry for them? You may have defeated them, but my children, they are not weak.” Tarōbō said calmly.

  “No, I’m just strong.” I replied. “But eve es to me, there are stronger foes out there.” The golden-eyed devourer, Tan … and more. “And… I have a sudden bad feeling.” The prickles of Fht where starting up again, and I knew better than to ig, not this time. “Before we enter, Yasaka-san, a quick question or two, if you would…”

  ShipTeaser

  Firstly - why all girls. Easy. Shaeu hates Chirurgery on guys with a passion, and she is the one who does have hopes Akio will end up bagging a load of girls.

  Shiro thinks its cool, and knows they'll have to gather guys Akio oo, but that's for ananisation.

  Hinata... she knows that she uands wome, and what makes them tick, so is far more fident of finding the women she needs. Besides, as a daughter of nobility, she's used to women being bargaining chips, and she doesn't like it. That may seem at odds with some of the restris here, but in the end, all the members of Adamant will end up with power and options beyond what they knew before, if her pn works.

  So... the sort of person they want. That's easy. Those repared to sacrifice of themselves for the cause. They may have been pushy and a little coercive to some, but at the end of the day, everyone has a choice to agree to Adamant's rules or not, and Shaeu especially believes if you agree something, you agreed, so keep your word, and all is fair if both parties gain. It would be easy to say 'Swear loyalty to Akio, put him above your family..." but that's the wrong sport of person. They don't want that, but they do eople who will put Akio above themselves. And for a woman, what better way to do that than to pledge to have no lover, and be his if he asks, which...

  *hint one - not subtle - Why aren't they telling Akio about this? Hardly just for fun. It's because, as both Miyu and Kazumi pointed out, Akio isn't going to hit on them, so the provisions will never activate. However... not everyone knows Akio that well. So what's the point of it all? Is it just a loyalty test? ly, here's the rub...

  *hint two - Hinata thinks Eri would agree in the end after being annoyed. Now, Eri has accepted the irls, and she secretly ments the fact she believes they might double before Akio is done, but there's no way she'd accept a hundred or however many more, right? Especially ones with such thin feelings as an anisation member. hehere's more to it.

  Then why? What's behind it? Actually... it's maniputive, but also clever. It's t unity and camaraderie to Adamant, as well as keep Akio stantly ihoughts at the first stage. Adamant is a group that will enpass military strength, political and social influence, and maybe even dabble in industry and more, as the three of them envisaged. They are going to i a ton of effort and resources in them, and expect a return on iment. (Hinata in profit, Shiro in loyalty, and Shaeu... well, she's hoping for what you fear lol, but also early wishes a strong group to aid both Akio and his wives with their needs aures.) They do expect Adamant to have turnover, but...

  *hint 3 - There is the exit cuse, and also a lot of other cuses and provisions weren't mentioned. Akio is able to cel obligations at his whim, and Adamant themselves, with sent of the Numbered leaders, also mutually agree ges. I know this wasn't said, and it's probably the least hint-y hint, but since I mentiohe exit cuse and not most of the others... this ties in with people saying Akio would and for or approve of this... and we know he wouldn't. So how does that be anyone, especially the girls?

  Imagihe sario... Adamant is rewarding. Problems the members have are solved, sick family members healed, finances shored up, for example. They work hard and train hard, together, growing and blossoming, but there's always the question of whether Akio might call on them. Some might be into that, or even hoping for it, but a lot will be relieved if he doesn't. Everyone who agreed knows the risks, and judged it worth it for what they gain, but even so it's a big, shared sacrifice, ohe members bond over. Imagine if they were an actual army, they might joke about getting blown up, shot or killed, here they'll make jokes with each other of 'this is the day Akio will call me to his bed' or 'You dress that provocatively and Akio will take you away...' Girls from many different backgrounds, with different talents and motivations... all united, growing closer over a shared experiehat is always above them. The gallows humour desensitises them to it, and coupled with the fact that they are getting many bes, their resistao the idea softens. Now, some might leave, but they'll always be a part of Adamant, as the reserves. There's army parallels here, as well as a mentor/mehing with the Numbers, who to start with will be girls who already love Akio such as Hinata, Shaeu etc. They sulted with Motoko on this, who gave them ideas on how the military and martial arts ends up indoating members.

  So yeah, it's a bit maniputive, but versely again, it's all by agreement of both parties. sure, some have less choice than others, so I 't say this is a pletely pn... but look at the girls involved. Shaeu, we all know her proclivities. Shiro would have sacrificed the world for what she wanted. Hinata is pragmatid Motoko and Natsumi were set fed marriage so don't see the issue. Daiyu likes the Sect-like elements of it, the loyalty to the lead, and Hyath and Asha... well, Hyath goes without saying, and Asha has little issue. Kana and Eri were left out of the pnning, but again, Hinata believes they'll approve when they uand the true aims.

  Hint 4 - Akio wouldn't agree ... not sure if this ts as a hint, although its certainly written that people correctly poi out, coupled with the fact it's clearly set up for it to fail... what is likely to happen is Akio will be angry and cel that part of it, though he'll have to admire the effort Adamant has put in. And how will that impact the members of Adamant? Relief, sure, for some. Yet because this will be a shared core of their experiehe ohing they always thought of every day, there might even be regret that cuse is gone. But they'll all see Akio for what he is, a nice guy who cares about them and won't force them, even if he could. Sure, some of the earliest members might get that he didn't know, but how they be sure that Hinata didn't tell him earlier? Likely after this, Hinata and the others hope this will kindle a shared fervour, making them even more loyal to Akio, if the training works as pnned. Really, it's using a lot of psychological tricks that the military uses, but instead of loyalty to a try, or to an ideal, it's all set up to be focussed on Akio.

  Now the three of them know Akio will be mad, but they all believe he loves them enough to not stay mad for long, and to uand their aims. Of course, Shaeu hopes for some new sisters this way, and hell, it could certainly work, but we all know he's not going to be taking advantage of this. As to why...

  *hint 5 - e on lol, underage girl alert! Several people who signed, including two who bsp;read minds uhe proper circumstances aren't of an age for this. I'm not getting the story banned by venturing into that territory lol. But yeah, okay, Adamant is a long-term project, so yeah, they'd all age in, but it goes to show that getting Akio some bedmates isn't the true aim of the pn. Though starting building loyalty young is a part of Sect life, so it isn't at odds to have people with skills join in. Yeah, they would be too young for the army in real life, but this is a private army, and everyone will be a precious asset, not to be wasted.

  *hint 6 - as people have pointed out, why would Haanobo go the route she has and then this? Answer...because again, it's not the point to pad the harem for most of them. Now, again, I'm not saying that aspect of Adamant es to nothing. It's almost certainly going to lead to at least one I'd imagine, probably even a couple or few over the Act 2/Act 3 loerm. (and that's looong term) but with Akio's character we all know that he's not going to e in one day, look at Lua and go, 'hi hot knife-babe, let's screw...'

  Now, why no lover? And why would they say love within Adamant is okay?

  *hint 7 - Miyu - The answer is loyalty. Miyu's already a Vassal, so she has the loyalty, so her love doesn't matter. They even talked of marriage in another subtle hint. It's not like they could say Miyu could find love outside as it breaks the camaraderie, but Miyu is a smart cookie, she gets it, as she said, hehe jokes.

  So yeah, this got long, and I could go on... but in general, at it's core it's a modified army special forces loyalty creator, with a huge helping of setting it up to make Akio the biggest figure in their hearts and minds. Maniputive? Sure, though all the girls involved in the pnning believe in giving back fairly, so those in Adamant will truly be part of a family as well as an anisation, and you trouble a member of Adamant, you trouble them all. Is there a less skeevy way? Yeah, likely so. But... look at the personalities involved. I don't think you say this is a pn they wouldn't e up with? It's logical, in character, if rather ruthless.

  So yeah, even if you don't like it, I hope you give it a ce, as for it to go in a bad way, it'd take some serious out-of-character a from the people involved. In the end, Adamant is po be the golden grains sifted through the powerful filter of this shared experiend the relieving of it, which should end up with fanatically loyal members if it all goes to pn...

  Will it all go to pn? Now those are story spoilers and I'm not giving those. But here's much of the i behind it... which was half a damn chapter ih so cut me some sck lol

  [colpse]