Happy with how things were going, I tested out my ability to move between the Boundary and the Material, and it worked as I expected, I quickly found myself in a dark alleyway in south London. Moments ter I was gone again, leaving behind only a spray of prismatiergy which rapidly faded away. I did learn it was costly in terms of aether, so wasn’t something I could do trivially over and ain, but as my geion had increased signifitly retly, a few times wasn’t too much of a burden.

  After that I spent some time helping Eleanor, David and Raidre push out further into London, expanding the Territory away from the Tower and its stant absorption of ether and adherence. We were joined by Sir Arthur, and Aditi and Mary-Jahe pair were still hesitant, worried at their ck of strength after their Favours were torn from them, but I spent a little time coag them, further expining what training was on offer in my Territory.

  “You should take him up on his offer.” Eleanor had said, surprising me a little. “I would feel better if they retired, sihey fought honourably…” she fided in me, and I realised that despite our differences, our shared battles against Mary Stuart had bridged the gap between us, and we were certainly close enough to be rades now. “…but sihey seem to be determined, please look after them, and at least give them the strength to defend themselves. That coupled with their treasures from the Tower should be enough. I hope so anyway.”

  She had been troubled, so I resolved to do my best, and sihe training school was easily reached through the Ring Gate on Bermondsey Isle, taking them under my wing would be easy enough. As we tio push outwards, expanding the Territory, the first mobile Silos began to arrive, dumpiher into Eleanor’s Territory, surprising her. I chuckled remembering the way her eyes had gone wide, shocked at the bounty she was receiving. I did think Eleanor’s Territory, and by extension, David’s and the others, were all awful. It seems a bination of unlucky factors was holding them back, but now… there’s nothing to stop them flourishing. Apart from… I had gnced in the dire of the Territories still owned by the two traitors, led too close to the heart of Eleanor’s. That’s something they’ll have to deal with sooner or ter. Before it causes another problem…

  New Barracks and Spawning Spires, as well as Defensive Empts, had popped up all over Eleanor’s nds. Just Rank 2 for now, but ter she would improve them. The wasteful spending of rush-building had left her pale, it was something they had never really sidered or uood before, nor been able to afford it if they could, but I had merely ughed, telling a humorous tale of my own early struggles, Sir Arthur gratuting me for my drive to push past it, and David sarcastically cursi for the unfairness of Asha’s Tree. Of course it’s unfair, but it’s also a series of ces, such as Asha managing to survive despite her suffering, us saving her, Shiro managing to gain a Favour from a ese invader with the help of Tan, for the buffs which did indeed work, and stly, saving Eleanor and gaining access to the adherence of the Tower. If it wasn’t overpowered after all that, life just isn’t fair!

  With my experiments done, I had returo the Material, and now I was running an Astral body in the Boundary as well, which was causing me a lot of disfort, but using all my Split Thoughts I could hedge it. I’m still not at the level of using it for anything more thale training or information gatheri, but it’s certainly good practise for Split Thoughts, and the set used to this and the differing time flows, the better. I never know when I’ll really …

  Shaeu had decided to sleep for a few hours, so iumnal dawn of the m I got up, the fusion of hoppiween time-zones a little disorientating. It’s something I’ll have to get used to though. I do wonder about breaking the ws of physics, travelling faster than light between locations, but there’s a definite moment of dislocation, journeying through the Ring Gates, so I don’t think it applies, at least over these distanerely a few thousand miles…

  “Right. So today I want to start formuting the Pilgrimage route. I’ll o swing by the Ministry and sult with Saionji-san.” I said quietly to myself as I quickly washed up and ged. “After that, it’s time to start the stage of the Territory build.” The Tree had been accumuting great tides of ether, and Haru-saher Spires would all be Rank 3 shortly. The stage was to get all of mio Rank 4, as well as Haru-san’s, sihe Spires would pay for themselves and their ludicrous rush-build costs over time, so the quicker they were in, the quicker we’d be in profit.

  Haru-san’s also been saving up for that sed Throne. She wants to get it quickly to Rank 2 so she aodate all three of the surviving ghost victims of Kiku and Kondou Kazuo. I feel bad I’m takiy pert of her wealth, but then, I’m paying for everything, and she doesn’t mind. But for my sce, I’ll not say anything about her using a Throne on them. Hopefully it’ll help ease some more of her lingering traumas.

  Fourteeher Spires each was twe, though one of mine was already partially pleted. Half the cost of it is already ed, give or take, so call it twenty-seven and a half. The rush-build total for the whole lot was a touch over fifty-one and a half millioher. At that point though, the additioher, while not a sce, was likely to be around one huhousara ether per astral day, closer to a one hundred and twenty thousand, perhaps more, wheher Spire-enhang Anchor Spire was taken into at. So five hundred and ten astral days, it seems a lot, but it’s only a bit lohan I’ve been fighting for so far, and then we’re in pure profit. Plus there’s the opportunity cost we save not tying up queues, and the extra stockpiling of elemental energies and adherence…

  Sh calcutions based on a Rank 8 Tree showed that assuming we were in reasonably average depths of the etheric tide, averaging two and a half astral days per day here oerial, then we were pulling in somewhat in the region of four millioher in total. It’s embarrassing just how little all our other Spires and Trees pull in pared to Asha’s, though sidering such a Tree would be the peak of a Rank 4 Territory in its buffed state, that makes sense. I should feel proud that even without it, I doubt Haru-san’s and my Territory is inferior to many, if any here oh right now. Ohing I’m fident of is my Ether geion!

  “So, around thirteen days to upgrade all the Spires, if nothing goes wrong.” I mused, pleased. We should have some spare ge too, and even giving another pile to Eleanor, we’d be fine. I had po expand the Silos to start st ether for the push to Territory Rank 4, but that was with an expected Tree of Rank 7 and a buff, rather than funing as a full Rank 8. I now had twice as much ether to py with as pnned, so even keeping to the same schedule which was already ludicrously aggressive with the scale of the ether involved, I had leeway to spend on other things.

  “I’ve a pressing need for a Thro Rank three.” I said as I started cooking breakfast, knowing that the early risers of the house would be up soon. It was a mixture of cssic Japanese dishes, such as miso soup, rice balls and tofu, as well as a more Western style, such as fried ba and bread. I’m actually getting quite good now. Me, a househusband. I smiled, amused. I pictured Asha, here as well, and the ten million for a Throne rush-build seemed money well spent. In just over a fht, she’ll be able to take her first steps into the Material world. I wonder what she’ll think…

  I also wanted some luxuries, such as the Armoury to Rank 4, and at least one Barracks likewise, to see if we could get leader-css troops geed such as Kamaitachi. More importantly though, I o buff the Elemental Silos, and then when we had enough earth element, push the White Snake Earth Altar to Rank 3. It’s too useful not to. We have to leverage what unique bes we .

  After that, pushing the Silos and gatheriher ready to keep the period of dormancy for the Territory as short as possible would proceed. It might also be worth pushing the three Anchor Spires to Rank 3 as well beforehand, as I’m not sure whether the cost of doing it would go up when the Anchor itself reaches Rank 4. It isn’t clear from the description, and I’d hate to waste ara twenty-one millioher for the three of them…

  As I pohat, the delicious smell of the food wafting through the house, my ph. I picked it up, surprised to see it was my father calling. He doesn’t usually call, it’s mostly my sis. “Hello, good m.” I greeted him cheerfully. “It’s rare to get a call from you.”

  There was a momentary pause, before he chuckled dryly, surprising me. “Yes, it is. You and Aiko take after your mother, both being a pair who talk incessantly. Perhaps that is for the best though. It seems you have a great deal of talking to do.”

  “Yes, endlessly. Eveoday I have meetings about a Pilgrimage route. See, I was legitimately doing business with the shrines and temples, I wasn’t lying to you.” I joked, remembering our earlier cshes, before I told my parents and the Mori’s everything.

  “It seems so.” Father agreed, still jovial. “But a father not call his son who lives away from home? I hardly only speak to you when I want something.”

  “I see. Sorry.” I said, and my father actually ughed, not a mere snort of chuckle, but genuine mirth.

  “As it happens, Akio, I did have something to talk about. But soon it might not be su effort to speak to you.”

  I cocked my head while listening, waiting, and he tinued. “Son, the family with be moving to Tokyo. Junpei, Hana and her parents too. Please look after us.”

  So that’s it. That makes sense, I did worry, which is why I brought Jad Evelyn back for now. But father didn’t want to move before… “I see. What about Aiko and her schooling? And her friends ba Nishimorioka?”

  “Aiko is a little sad to leave, but excited to see you, Eri-san aher friends she has made again. As for school, she do remote work just like Eri-san has been doing. And if she wants to return, Fukumoto-san has promised to make arras.” He paused, before saying meaningfully that I was quite the iial, rich man nowadays.

  “I see. So where will you be living?” I asked. “There’s still a little room at the shrio put something together, and the training school has rooms in the meantime, but…”

  “We have a p mind already. As do you.” Father said, surprising me. “Are you unaware?”

  “Yes, it’s the first I’ve heard of it.” I said. “Wait, you said Fukumoto-san, you mean Hinata’s grandfather?”

  “That is correct. Here.” A moment ter my phone beeped, and I had mail. It was a series of dots on a substantial estate, made up of one huge mansion, a smaller one and several other homes, iral Tokyo. Sure, they look magnifit, but…

  “I ’t say I haven’t sidered moving at some point, but…” I began, only for father to interrupt me.

  “If you are ed about leaving the shrine and what you have built, I do not believe you have to worry. Us old men are hardly fools, Fukumoto-san has sidered it. You be there rapidly. After all, the site es with a helipad, and you have a number of capable pilots, do you not? There are also… other measures.”

  I looked at the pns. They were insanely ambitious, on the level of what Ixitt was attempting with our factory, but on a Tokyo-wide scale. It would take a whole army of earth elemental users to create. But if just some was focussed on, it might be possible to prioritise a few features…

  Hearing my silence, father spoke again. “Such a decision is not oo take lightly. I know. I have always advised you to act prudently, to make no rash decisions. You must not fet, you are not a secret anymore. Trouble will follow you everywhere, and your family too. I hardly have the uanding of the other world, unlike Aiko, but I gather that you have to hold certain areas. But you have allies for that, no? Use them properly, and make sure you and those you care about are safe. Fukumoto-san cares deeply for his granddaughter as well. I believe she has expressed a desire to live together with you all.”

  That surprised me, though perhaps it shouldn’t have, she was a very proactive girl. Father’s right. I do like to be close to my Anchor. But I nning to move it once we Ranked up. Having it o the Ring Gate Hub and Asha’s Tree is too risky, all s in one basket… So it’s quite possible. I do worry about Nishimorioka though. I owe the Brown Dog kami, and I don’t want to disappoint Marika-san after she’s been through so much. Hmm, what to do?

  Pting up the first of the breakfasts while I talked to my father, the door opened, and my eyes went wide as Eri came in. Seeing my gaze, she smiled at me triumphantly, dark eyes fshing. She’s walking! Not well, but…

  “Oh sorry, you’re on a call.” Eri said, walking on a pair of crutches. Her legs still moved slowly and clumsily, and it was a bit painful to watch, but she reached a chair beside me and sat down, moving her previously paralysed arm clumsily to grasp a bottle of tea. Her hand shook and it was difficult for her to uncap it, but she did it, her face flushed with pleasure.

  “Father, get Aiko. Mom, auntie and uoo. I’ve got big news!” I said, excited, and my father made seemingly another joke.

  “I warned you about pregnancy, son. Now isn’t the time!”

  Eri must have heard because she nearly spat out her tea, flushing. I smiled, my eyes damp, before ret jovially. “Not that, father! Now hurry!”

  As he called out for my mom, I turned back to Eri, reag out and grasping her hand. It was still painful to see the tremors in her body, and the terrible stiffness of her limbs, but being able to use both arms, even clumsily, and walk unaided, even if it required crutches, was such a huge improvement and it gave me hope that Eri’s recovery had turned a er. “I see it worked.” I said, remarking on st night’s efforts, and she smiled.

  “It seems so. I feel great. It’s strao say that when I’m still shambling about like an idiot.” She giggled. “But being able to do things for myself again, it’s like I’m reborn.”

  “Hey, bro, what’s up?” Aiko called over the phone, and I o Eri. She grabbed her crutches, and I turhe call to a video one. “M Eri, you’re with my bro, uh… wait, you’re walking?” She saw Eri shuffle around slowly, and her voice choked up. “Quick, auntie, uncle! Eri’s on her feet!”

  “Little Eri, you move!” auntie Hana said, her voice trembling. “I know little Aki said you would recover, and I believed him, but… oh, you still look so frail, it breaks my heart, but…”

  “Mother, I’m fine.” Eri insisted. “We promised you I would get better. I’m not there yet, I know. But you see me improving before your eyes.”

  “I always believed in you Eri, bro!” Aiko said stoutly. “By the way, Eri, you could be seeing me soohan you think…”

  As our family celebrated over Eri’s slow recovery, I watched them talk, making sure that breakfast was oable, a smile on my face. While nobody could see me, I wiped my eyes, just as happy as ahat Eri seemed to be rec…

  ********

  “So I see-see.” Shaeu said, grinning. She had joined us at the table after getting up, as had Hyath. Shiro was still in bed, but the se was still lively. We had routed the call through one of our ptops, so we could clearly see the whole family as they talked to us. “A move? I see your s. We came too-too close to losing our Territory when we left to go to Las Vegas. But that-that was then. This is now. The situation is quite-quite different.”

  “I want Aiko to live with us too. Just like the old days.” Eri said, and before her parents could pin, she smiled wryly, arg one eyebrow. “You too, mother, father. But a childhood friend is precious. Especially one who has been through so much with us.”

  “Besides, it wouldn’t be living with us.” I said, and my father shook his head.

  “Teically you are correct, son. But a house on the same fortified estate, only a few hundred metres away. Such is the same as merely poppi door. As for hoill spend our time… Akio, you run a signifit enterprise nht?”

  “That’s right.” Eveing aside my job as the special advisor to the Ministry, I have a hotel , healing business, industrial partnerships with Ichijou house, a project to build a puterised Fortune-exploiting mae and more.

  “In that case, why not let me work for you? Junpei here as well. It will do him some good to be productive for a ge.” Father said, and as Junpei protested , pretending to be offended, Shaeu, Hyath, Eri and I all looked at each other, pleased that Eri’s recovery was lightening the mood.

  “All right. I’ll have a talk with Fukumoto-san and decide. I admit, the site does look beautiful. That view over the bay aral Tokyo… and it’s a short hop to the fun parts of Tokyo…” I ceded, and as I was going to say more, Hyath’s ph. Again? That’s twiow… but why Hyath? Obviously Hyath had a phooo, she wasn’t just a mere servant, but I wasn’t sure when she had learo use it. I guess with her stats it’s not hard…

  “Hellooo? Oh, mistress Daiyu. Yes.” She nodded, listening. “Oooh I see. Yes.” She brightened up. “Hyath will e straight away. I shall heat up the bath, have nooo fear!”

  As she hung up, my sis asked what , and I suddenly uood. “That’s kind of cute, that she didn’t call for me.” I said, and Shaeu snickered nastily.

  “No-no female would ever wish the male she likes to see her in such a state. I remember my own mess, and it was not-not as severe as yours, no?”

  “Is there a problem?” father asked, and I de.

  “No, it’s just Daiyu was undergoing sorous training, which was finally successful. The side effect is… well, to put it bluntly, it purifies the body and spirit, like ing off dirt, but the scale is… disgusting. She’ll need a good scrub, there’s no question.”

  “I shall apany her.” Shaeu stood, washing dow of her breakfast with some juice. “I dare-dare say this will take some time, so we shall see you ter.” As Hyath and Shaeu trooped out, Eri and I exged gnces before bursting into ughter.

  “I’m gd you are both in such high spirits, Eri, Aki.” Mom said, smiling. “So, things are going well?”

  “I’d tell you if there were problems. Speaking of… sis, what are we going to do about Chairoakitara shrine? Yae and Rika-san too.” It’s not like they veo the Boundary safety alone, or be much if they could…

  “That’s a good question. I’ve been thinking about that.” My sis admitted, stumped. “I’ll certainly take ideas. But it was going to happen sooner or ter. I ’t stay tied down in Nishimorioka forever. Unless you’re trying to keep me out of your way so you enjoy your lovey-dovey harem life in peace?” she said snidely, though I knew she was joking.

  “You knoant you here.” I said, and Eri nodded. “But … hmm, I ’t really justify setting up a Ring Gate there, but… huh.” Arisu-san might be the answer. Ugh, I have a meeting about the fundraising cert ing up too soon. So busy. My thoughts turo my other half, busy practising the Tsumura Arts moves in the Boundary, w out which elements synergised with whis, and adding in my own fvour. Damn, I need like six more of me, but one is bad enough for my brain…

  “I might have some ideas. I guess we discuss it. Perhaps in person.” I said, and my sis bounced up and down on the s.

  “Oh e on bro, don’t crush your adorable, cute little sister’s dreams of living like royalty in Tokyo! I thought you’d moved past y bro moonstone phase!”

  With that quip I hadn’t heard for a while, we all ughed, and after a little more discussion, it was time for me to leave. As I stood up to go, Eri waved at me. “I want to keep talking to Aiko and my parents some more. Father-in-w and mother-in-w too.” She said before my mom could joke she wasn’t wanted. “So I hope everything goes well, and when you e back, I hope you have good news.”

  At the weight of their expet gazes, all I could do was nod. If I look at it as a small series of issues, they probably all be resolved…

  ********

  “So what brings you here, Kudou-san?” I asked the old man, who erched on a chair, sipping tea cheerfully.

  “Oh, do call me Yasuhide, Akio-kun. I’m no lohe head of Tsukuyomi fa, but merely an old man of faith who wishes to see how everything pys out.” He paused for a moment, his eyes looking into the space above me. “How is Tsukiko-? Does she rest well?”

  I hope so. She deserves a break from her bours, before she choose her own life. “I think she does. One day soon you’ll see her again.”

  “And so will you.” He gri me, before turning to the other old man in the room. “Oh, my pardons, Fukumoto-san. I am merely here waiting fin-kun…” the way he had addressed his old rival of faith had ged. “… to get here. A Pilgrimage route. A fasating idea. I’d like to add my old wisdom to it. It will be just like a days gone by.”

  “There’s no problem.” Fukumoto Kenji-san said, also enjoying the rather ea served at the temporary Ministry building. “After all, I have other business here as well.”

  “You’re referring to the dies alemen iher room?” Yasuhide-san asked, and he nodded affirmation.

  “That’s right. It’s a mixture of wealthy, iial businessmen and lesser nobility amongst the Three Hundred. Some have illhey would like you to heal. Nothing as serious as the others.” He reassured me, before tinuing. “Even so, there are a lot of people who would like your healing. Why suffer bad hips, old niggling injuries or weak internal ans when mere money fix them? As for the others… well, there’s the thing. A lot of them want to doo curry favour. Free money is always wele, but the strings attached be ties that bind, or worse, strangle.” He chuckled. “I have faith that any attempt would be futile, but even so, I don’t like borrowing trouble. So… sider it an insurance payment, promising future healing, at a suitable price of course, should they have the hat way, they make a tie, but ’t demand.”

  I see where Hinata gets her business sense from. She sure takes after her grandfather. “Fine. I have enough aether, I’d say.” Even with half of it being used up in the Boundary right now… “So, about the new mansion…”

  “That, huh? I expected you to call me, since I spoke to your family. I don’t see the problem though. Nishimorioka shrine is det, you’ve done good work, and from what Hinata tells me, it ’t be relinquished, but you o stantly push onwards. sider this both a prototype of what we do to prepare for the dangers you and the other Chosen say is ing, and a reward for your as so far. Someone as famous and powerful as you has to be seen to show it. Modesty is praised here in Japan, but the people still expect the powerful to look and act like it. And the Hero of Britain is someohe people are proud of. Even more so now talk of your as at Kyoto are being carefully edited and disseminated.”

  “It’s not that I don’t get that.” I said. “Although some of the pns are rather… ambitious. Underground bunkers and supply caches, deep tunnels for transport, including access to Tokyo bay and an uer dock for hidden warships. The same with helicopters. The cost of that, Japan’s budget couldn’t even begin to cover it without the popution voting out the current gover in anger…”

  “True, but we afford to do nothing?” Fukumoto-san said, smiling. “And Hinata had some iing ideas. Yes, it’s not viable for the scale of the building works we need, but your troll…” he pulled a face, perhaps amused, a serious businessman having to discuss mythical creatures. “… Hinata says he has a wonderous ability. He assimite and shape stone ah, no? Coupled with your already admirable pns for your factory project with Iayumi-san, and… well, certainly the hill under your estate, and the estate of many other important people, could be established with less effort and cost than one would expect. But even so… yes, it isn’t cheap. The mansions and nd alone will run you several billion yen. But then… why else do we have the wealthy here? I know you pay for it, as could I, but our assets should be better used elsewhere. No point turning down free money.” His grin was wicked.

  “I quite agree.” Yasuhide-san said happily, enjoying the show, kig his legs, rexed aertained. “That’s politics, get others to foot the bill. Besides, a shrine Pilgrimage route is hardly going to be cheap. A lot of older shrines have fallen into disrepair or could use substantial s…”

  “To quote my good grandfather-in-w here…” Fukumoto-san looked pleased at that. “…why suffer from ck of power when money fix it? Spending to get the favour of the kami and their adherents, as well as improving and gaining csses for those who hem is no problem to me.”

  “Well said. So, I trust I have your sent? After all, my Hinata, she dearly wishes she could live with you too.” He sprung that on me, surprising me.

  “Oh, she came back sdalously te st night. Fortunately you are her fiancé, and also only a few know about it.” He said, his grin back. “And what she told me… you’re ready to take your retionship to the clusiht? Like with the Tsumura and Hirls?”

  I did say that, yes. What with Daiyu pressing for Dual Cultivation, I feel that Hinata being the only o out is cruel, so long as she’s ready. It makes me feel somewhat guilty, but such is the price I pay. “Yes, but isn’t she splittiime between your home and the Takatsukasa house?”

  “And she still will. Hinata’s yet young. She needs her family, and we would miss her. But half the time she would spend in your home. I dare say the others too. The mansion is very nice.” He said dryly, and Yasuhide-san snorted, enjoying my disfort.

  “Fine, you win.” I ceded. “Though I have a number of issues to work out first.”

  “Excellent. I do so adore winning. And Hinata will be overjoyed. She is also very precious of your public opinion. I’ll go ahead and finalise the purchases.”

  As we tio hash out the details, the door burst open with a crash, hitting the wall. A third interruption in one day? It was a harried-looking Saionji-san, followed by Akai. On seeing us, he spoke hurriedly. “Akio-san, have you seen the news? There’s been a worldwide broadcast, and…”

  Suddenly Akai, who eering at me nervously, cocked her head in fusion. “Wait, who are you? You look like him, the scary one, but you smell different. But you have so many elements, Deep space too, like a dark hole…”

  “I’m still me. I’m just closer to what you are now, Akai.” I said, trying to soothe her. Before anyone else could speak, she looked me up and down again, face going pale.

  “No, do me, Akai doesn’t taste good!” and with that she promptly fainted, hitting the floor, while we all looked on in stunned silence.

  Oh great, so what now? There was something about a broadcast? I guess Saionji-san tell me about it while I wake the little phoenix up…

  ShipTeaser