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"Alright, Keilee, you have a point. I'm sorry. We're all a little bit antsy to get out of here. You're right. At least we can all get some fresh air before the sun sets so let's look forward to that."

Serena grumbles and mutters under her breath.

"Yeah, well, you'd complain if you found statues of the Great Wiggler with smelly poops drawn all over it everywhere you went!"

The party, eventually, loads up on the wagon, Milly clambering onto the front to get on the reins.
....
As the party begins to pull out of the terminal, Milly at the front pushing the horses forwards, a loud voice echoes across the terminal.
"Wait! I got a message, from Jerry! You ain't leavin' without a thank you from the boys!"

Milly stops the wagon long enough to have a basket pressed onto the ledge against her.
"'Ere, luv. Just a lil' somethin' from the lads at the trainin' center. We owe ya for gettin' our pay reinstated. We can go 'ome and feed our families fer the first time in two weeks, so....we figured we'd give summat back."
Received 500 rhea!
Recieved Primero Loaf x1!

"T-thank you so much! I-I'll be sure to give this to the group..."

"And by the way, luv, you better make it out of 'ere soon. Ya don' wanna get stuck outside with all them monsters around, ah?"

The goblin runs back into the terminal, and Milly frowns, checking the monster forecast on the road ahead on her tablet.
"....Falkar flocks are scheduled to be migrating across from the north and there's been a sighting of a.....Mavenus reptile up near Chilcenne....."
"Well....I-I guess we better get moving then. Ya!"

Cracking the reins, Milly sets out of the terminal, beginning the journey to Exsten Town and, hopefully, their next Adventurer Emblem.

---

A short while later....
"Sorry. We don't take your kind. Wannabe Kiritos....get out of here."
"Screw you too, asshole."

Kazuto glares at the back of a leaving swordsman and his group, flipping them the bird as they left. This was the third group that had rejected him on the basis of being a Revivian.

He groans after the group goes out the door, leaning back in his chair.
"Well. That was a bust."

Kazuto was sitting in the Initia Adventurer's Guild, one of the older buildings in the city. The place had tables and chairs for adventurers to sit at, organise quests and raids and generally socialise. The bulletin board was overflowing with quests, raids and recruitment posters for various adventurer groups.

And so far, Kazuto was having absolutely no luck getting a party together.
"Dammit. How the hell am I supposed to get to Freya if I can't even get a damn party? Should've gone with that blonde chick, the Wonder Twins and the wannabe John Cena."
"But then that Rio chick would've probably murdered me."
"The best shot I got at finally getting MY wish fixed and it goes down the drain because some chick wants the exact same thing I do. I'd say I didn't deserve it, but..."

Kazuto groans, whipping out a flask full of the finest Begninese brandy and taking a swig. Chances are, he'd drink, find himself a place to sleep, find himself a way out of Initia, and then figure it out from there.

That was always the plan, and had been for the last few months. The chatter around Kazuto almost faded into background noise. It was the best way to deal with people pointing him out.

Then something piqued his interest.

"...Taro, I-I'm sorry."
"Stay close, alright? I don't need you making trouble. Seriously....I thought it'd be easier looking out for a Goddess."
"I was trying my best...."
"Getting us kicked out of another party because you told the innkeeper that you were a Goddess and wanted some discounts isn't doing your best."

A Goddess. That piqued Kazuto's attention. He wasn't originally convinced the Goddesses would be bothered with Generia, but after seeing Serena, and seeing a potential lead to the Goddesses, he wasn't going to pass this up. He whipped around to the source of the chatting as a brown-haired man looking like a certain protagonist from a certain isekai (definitely Revivian) and the tallest, most voluptous woman he'd ever seen, hair as green as a forest full of pines covering one eye and a necklace with a brilliant green gem, dressed in a long, plain verdant dress.

"I promise I won't do it again..."
"Dammit. Alright. Just....don't do it again, Borea."
"Okay. I promise, I won't mess up next time! So...how are we going to get a new party?"
"Man, I don't know. I'll figure something out, alright? Just leave it to me."

Borea. As in Borea Ventea Zephyrea, Goddess of the Air, Queen of the Four Winds, Lady of the Zephyr, Mistress of the Sky; Kazuto had done his reading on the Goddesses when he first arrived. Now Kazuto was definitely interested.

Taro -the Revivian, presumably- and Borea sat down at the table, completely oblivious to Kazuto's existence.
"Damn it. Alright. There's a few people recruiting at our level so if we find a new group before sundown, I suppose we can get somewhere to sleep and something to eat tonight."
"You....mortals don't just eat food off the land? Why can't we just take some from the bakery?"
"Well, we don't have money, and that would be stealing, Borea. I'll see if I can't scrounge something up...."
"I guess you two are rejects too, huh?"

Taro lifts an eyebrow towards Kazuto, suddenly interested in his fellow Revivian's existence. He scoffs.
"You're a Revivian, huh? One of those Kirito wannabes, definitely."
"Hey, I'm just like you, trying to make my way in the world. Besides, what does that make you, a cheap Kazuma wannabe? Got your Aqua right there too."
"Aqua? What the hell are you talking about? That ain't a Goddess-"
"I heard you call her Borea, so she's either delusional or the Goddess. And given I just met Serena two hours ago, maybe both."
"Oh, you two know each other? Are you two friends?"
"No."

Borea recoils a little bit, as if stung verbally. She frowns.

"Hmph. Anyway, touche, Kirito. I suppose I deserve that."
"That you do. Quit calling me Kirito and I won't call you Kazuma."
"Fair enough. Call me Taro, Taro Akiyama."

He extends a hand across the table, which Kazuto gingerly takes.

"Kazuto Kirishima. And your friend?"
"I am....um....Kayla. Yes, Kayla!"
"Borea, don't worry about that. He's a Revivian, he definitely believes the Goddesses are around, no need for cover names."
"O-oh. Um, in that case..."
"I am Borea Ventea Zephyrea, Goddess of the Air, Queen of the Four Winds-"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Goddess of Wind, I know. I'll keep my mouth shut. You two looking for a party?"
"Yeah, we are. We're trying to sort this mess out with the Goddess Freya, you see."

Kazuto smirks.

"Oh, a coincidence, so am I. So....I know you're definitely not one of the Goddesses who deals with Revivians. What are you doing here?"
"Um...I-I suppose Freya made a mistake and um....she accidentally sent me down here when one of her wishes backfired. I-I'm sure it was a mistake."
"Considering you don't remember what happened shortly before you got sent down here, I'm still not convinced it was an accident."
"Accident?"
"Well, for whatever reason, Freya sent Borea down here; I'm thinking there's something fishy going on up there, considering how she described it. I ran into her when she was chasing butterflies out near Lindblum in Cornelia. She and I came to an arrangement."
"I help Taro, he'll take me back to Freya and hopefully we'll get this all sorted out!"
"...yeah. She helps me finish my quest, and we'll get back to Freya and fix this and my wish, while I'm at it. And....you said you ran into Serena, earlier?"
"Yeah. These bunch of jokers up at Initia Palace, they're the ones who cleared it. They had Serena with them. Met a Demon General too. She was nice."
"That was you? And it's like that, huh? Goddesses everywhere in Generia....wait, did you say Demon General?"
"That storm earlier....that must have been it. I knew that wasn't one of mine."
"...alright. I might as well tag along. I've got no party and....well, you saw how quick we cleared that Palace, so you know I'm not just one of those wannabes."
"I'd still say no, but....beggars can't be choosers. I suppose....we'll just have to take you."
"On one condition; as long as I can take point. 'Sides, you two aren't having much luck, considering it's just a rogue and an airhead."
"Thank you! I appreciate the compliment, Kazuto."
Taro pointedly ignores Borea's complete failure to comprehend an insult.
"Except if you were such a smart guy, you'd realise we still don't have enough of a party to qualify to even get a name to do quests with. We can't even get us three registered as adventurers, and we can't get anywhere NEAR Ultima without one."
"Yeah, like you were getting anywhere in that department before you ran into me!"
"Y-you two, there's no need to fight...."

The discussion is interrupted by the sounds of arguing nearby.

"Ugh. Miria! Do you mind? That's the fourth group you've gotten us kicked from!"
"What? I wasn't doing anything wrong!"
"You know, telling the group about your fantasies of what you want a whole camp of goblins to do to you isn't nothing, Miria."
"They asked, Fantine, and...well....I couldn't help it. I can't imagine how delightful it would be to have so many people gripping at me, tearing at my clothes, wanting-"
"T-too much information! I-I told you that h-how many times already and we've been travelling together for THREE years!"

The three on the table turn towards the arguing pair, a tall, blonde elf clad in skimpy, green armor showing off more than enough of her figure to be almost violating Begnin elven modesty llaws, and a white-haired girl in red, a large hat with a purple flower tied to it with purple fabric. Kazuto shoots Taro and Borea a look.

"....you two thinking what I'm thinking?"
"That that elf chick is totally a Revivian who tried to make herself look like Leafa and it totally worked because she's kinda hot?"
"That that fairy girl's hat is really nice and I'd like one for myself?"
"Keep it in your pants, Casanova; Leafa's shit-tier anyway, I would know. And....that IS a bitchin' hat. But no. This is what I was thinking. Ladies!"

The pair turn towards Kazuto, shaken out of their argument.

"If you two are looking for a new group, we're looking for new members."

The two girls share a look, before nodding. The smaller one smiles.
"So, you would call upon the services of me, the most powerful wizard of the Sage Demon Clan? Me, Fantine von Allia, of the von Allia bloodline that runs through my veins and pulses with dark energy!? I'll blow your enemies away with my sheer, destructive power, born from the depths of Hellrealm itself!"
"Please, take us! And bring us to an enemy, any enemy! Especially a monster with tentacles. I can't imagine what kind of heavenly, delightful tortures such a thing would have for me...."
"....oh boy."
"You know, I said beggars can't be choosers, but-"
"Shut up."
"I don't know, you two. Maybe these two will be good friends of ours! You know what they say, fortune favours the bold!"
"Aaaaand right out of the frying pan and into the fire for me. Perfect."
Kazuto groans.

He was going to need the whole flask of brandy tonight.

---

Meanwhile, in Ultima....
"And....you're certain...they are not a threat?"
"Certain. That group who was at Initia....they are not a threat. It was a mere fluke that they won. I found nothing of importance, Lord Mammon."

Mammon turns away from Thanatos, looking out over the craggy wastelands of Ultima from the balcony of Ultima Fortress, a gauntleted hand rubbing his helmet absentmindedly.

"You told me you sensed something about them, a great....power among them."
"The intelligence I acquired was wrong, courtesy of Lucifer's advice. That fool never takes anything seriously. Chances are, they just picked up a sympathetic archbishop as an ally. They pose no real threat to us."
"That fool Lucifer....he never does. Fine. You are dismissed. Continue surveillance on the Heavenly Emperors and report to me when you have something."

Thanatos nods, turning away from the armored General. Mammon's attention wavered somewhat, and the mysterious being disappeared from sight, as if he had never been there. Mammon growls, the moment he was sure Thanatos was out of earshot; he didn't need him to hear Mammon lose his composure.

"Lucifer....you vex me. One of the strongest amongst us....and you waste your time seducing Succubi, gambling and leading us on wild goose chases. A waste of power, when given to a man like him."
"My love, is something troubling you?"

Mammon turns back to see Leviathan, a serene expression on her pale face.

"Leviathan. As long as you are around....nothing can trouble me, my beloved."
"Always carrying the burden of the world on your back, Mammon."

She approaches the armored knight, taking one of his hands in both of hers, rubbing it comfortingly. Mammon, in return, tenderly holds his wife's cheek with his hand.

She felt cold most of the rest of the time, but now, in this moment, in this time....

Leviathan felt warmer than she had ever been. It was always like this with Mammon, really. But then, that was love, right?

"You know you can always tell me what troubles you. My heart is always open to you."
"My apologies, my love. I....I just do not want to trouble you with my problems. You deserve better."
"So do you, Mammon. Both of us....we're doing this for each other. Remember that."
"You're right, my dear. We do this so we can create a world where we can both live in peace, without being persecuted. Where we can be a family."
"....one day, my dear. One day."

The pair separate gingerly. Tenderness would have to wait. There was business that needded doing.

"....so, what of your quest to find Belphegor?"
"That woman is in the wind. The task force didn't find her, before those adventurers showed up and I haven't heard from her since. I knew she would be incompetent, but....."
"I see. I'm working on negotiations in Kaisei, and my contacts in Midgardia and Wybernia tell me that Asmodeus and Satan are en route."
"What of Beelzebub? Where are they?"
"We're still looking for them. Blobbonia is...not an easy place to search."
"...and of course, Lucifer. That fool.....we can't get him to behave. He's a child in a man's body."
"We do our best with what we are given. At least he isn't a traitor."
"We can only hope. In the meantime....I will do my best in Penultia. We can only hope that the others can keep up."

---

The next day, in Damdamia....
"....and that is my dream! That Bastapa will return to greatness, as the great economic power of Generia! The reforms I have suggested will bring our economy back from the brink, return money to the pockets of the common people! We are Bastapans, the greatest people in all of Generia! Our people should not be starving in the streets because those elites in Methiant believe in our system. Today marks a new milestone in our journey back to being greater than we could ever imagine!"

The cheers of the crowd drown out Baron Airmladre's speech, as the large nobleman stands before a crowd of assembled Damdamians. The city center had flooded to see Baron Airmladre's speech; the man was one of the most trusted, popular leaders of the people, among a populace known for voting against anyone on a whim.

Airmladre basks in the adulation of the crowd. He loved this.

"Together, we can pave a new, beautiful future for Bastapa and Generia!"

As the crowd reaches fever pitch, the baron takes his leave, taking a bow and leaving the stage. His aides came up to him, dabbing at his face with a towel and offering him wine and something to eat.

"Sir, you did great!"

Not really. He told them what they'd wanted to hear.

"Milord, Baron Luathbas wants to arrange a meeting!"

Baron Luathbas, the Weathervane. Airmladre figured he'd want to make an alliance with him, seeing how popular he was.

"You have a meeting in Methiant next week, do you want me to reschedule?"

The elites in Methiant wanted to rein him in for sure, probably to put him back at the mercy of the whims of the people.

His eyes were elsewhere. The baron waves his aides away.

"A minute. Leave me be."

Specifically, his eyes settled on an unfamiliar blonde man in silver armor, something about him seeming utterly familiar, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

 When his aides clear out of the backstage, he finally approaches the man.

"....I noticed you in the crowd earlier, but I don't know how you got back here. You have some balls, sneaking back here."
"Think of it as....one of my many talents, Baron. Like speechmaking is one of yours."
"Think of it as an investment in good speechwriters."
"Shrewd. Just what I like to see. Not like some of those porkers."

The baron laughs. A ballsy one indeed.

"You know, I could have you executed for accosting a nobleman."
"But you won't."
"Really? And how do you figure that?"
"....you didn't mean a single thing you said back there, did you?"

Airmladre thinks a minute. Lucifer smirks.

He knew he had the right mortal.

"...the elites in Methiant haven't known a day of hard work and our system is diseased and rotten to the core. I don't dream of making a better economy, I dream of making a world where you FIGHT for what you believe in, where those too weak to fight for their dreams are left in the dust!"
"And if I can help you achieve that?"

Baron Airmladre chuckles.

"....that's a hell of an offer, General Lucifer."

Lucifer grins. Now it was getting interesting.

"....figured me out, have you?"
"I do my reading. And no....I don't need your power or whatever you're going to offer to achieve my dreams. You feel free to stick around and watch. I know what I'm capable of."
"If you know who I am, you know that I am the Lord of Pride. And I will enjoy watching your exploits, Baron Airmladre."
"Pride implies overconfidence. I'm not overconfident. You watch me, demon. I will win."

Lucifer shrugs, getting off the wall.

"Alright. Fair enough. I'll see you around, then. My offer's always on the table."

The Demon General walks away, Airmladre's eyes following him. A squirrely aide approaches Airmladre, after a few moments, prodding the tall, muscular baron.
"....who was that? Why did you send us away?"
"....keep an eye on him. Nobody will get in the way of my plans for Bastapa. Nobody."
Not even the Demon Lord.

"I-I see. And you went to assist, right?"

"H-huh? B-back when I still had a shop, there was a club right next to my shop and....i-it always had so many people coming in and out of it. What happened?"

"In hindsight, I could've spent the money I used on t-this on better business ventures, but....well, I guess things turn out for the best, right?"

The party gradually makes its way across Initia. Initia, of course, is one of the biggest cities in Generia, and it takes a fair bit of time to get to where Milly has parked her wagon.

Initia, of course, has several terminals where wagons are parked for adventurers, merchants and other assorted travellers. The Northern Initia Terminal, where Milly's wagon was parked, is a giant stone building, built in the same style as the Initia Palace; it was one of the first buildings built in the new city plans for Initia, built the same time as the palace, used to take in travelers from the north of Begnin, whether heading in on the large Crosswind Road winding westwards throughout the countryside of Initia, passing through the towns of Exsten and Chilcenne, with intersections linking other settlements such as Morcia, Govitz and Vitterine through minor roads, before crossing into the city of Primero in the north and then subsequently eastwards towards the Bastapa Gate linking the Crosswind Road to the Fireheart Road, the major road connecting settlements in Bastapa.

The Northern Terminal is a bustling hall divided into two halves, one half being the entrance hall and the other being the wagon terminal. The entrance hall contains stalls of all sorts; stalls buying passage to various areas in Begnin, stalls hawking monster parts of variable authenticity, various street vendors selling heated peanuts, grilled meats on sticks and other foods for a quick bite, and other merchants selling assorted knick-knacks, souvenirs and delicacies. The northern half is filled with the sounds of horses and pegasi neighing and wheels turning, wagons pulling in and out. As you walk past, an irritated Revivian curses in what the Revivians recognise as Japanese at another adventurer for dropping what appears to be a box full of posters of some random fictional girl, Milly leading the way to her wagon.

"W-we're here!"

The wagon Milly has stopped at is.....far greater and better looking than someone of her apparent income should have. The wagon resembles more a metal box, strips of metal formed into a box and riveted in, the back entrance made of strong oak and the wheels reinforced with metal. The horses at the front -what an equestrian-inclined Revivian might recognise as a Shire horse, what a Generian recognises as a Bastapan Farrier breed- are eating out of a trough of hay, and several metal-rimmed windows peer into the wagon, opaque from the outside.

"I-it's bigger on the inside, b-before you ask. I-I sprung for a Size Expansion Charm; I-I was planning to start a business turning this into a m-mobile shop before the Annas cleaned me out of business. I think we should all fit in here; there's some camping supplies and we should have enough space in here, but i-it'll be a little cozy."