The monster girl camp and magic fighting arena were located on a long but shallow hill to the north of Sayaka. The higher elevation gave Ichiro, Kal, and Kashka an excellent view of the massive human camp and the arenas in the southern fields as they walked back toward town. The three nearly made it to the edge of the monster girl's camp before the pika-girl, who had been riding the eldest brother in Zakku and Dioga's bath, caught up to them.
"I'll cheer you on," she said while struggling to pull her shirt down over her damp breasts.
Kal knew from experience that Dioga could leave you completely dry if given only a few seconds. The girl must have jumped out of the tub to follow them.
Ichiro gave her a questioning look. "Are you certain? I'm not sure I should trust your motives. The sooner I lose, the sooner you get what you want."
"You have a good point, but I don't mind waiting if I get to be with one of the winners after Ikuno has her way with you. Especially if what you said back there is true, and you don't mind giving out daughters to us monster girls," she said, running her hands over an imaginary pregnant belly. The pika pulled a bright white armband from a belt pouch and slipped it on. Last night Dioga began cleaning the monster girl contestants' clothing and strips of fabric for the armbands. She didn't particularly care for being a laundry but agreed that the monster girls deserved to look good as they competed, even if they came from slums or lived alone deep in the forest. "Plus," the pika continued, tapping the armband, "maybe later you can cheer me on."
"You're fighting?" said the brother
"I may not be strong, but I am very quick."
"If you've never fought a monster girl, don't underestimate them," Kal told Ichiro. "They often have abilities and weapons we humans don't. I'm curious what hers is."
The eldest brother gave him a look like Kal had said the most stupidly obvious thing in the world before turning to the rodent-girl next to him. "You can't shoot lightning out of your tail, can you?"
"What? No. Where would you get that idea? Besides, have you seen my tail?" the woman said, twisting her rear toward them and pointing at a tiny lump at the top of her shorts wiggling back and forth. "The mage is right, though. But you'll have to watch me fight if you want to see what my secret weapon is."
"Maybe you two could do some sparring?" Kashka suggested.
"We're both fighters. Sparring with him would be foreplay," said the pika with a mischievious grin.
The mage and assassin shared a knowing smile. "Fair point."
"I'll admit I didn't expect your company beyond the bath. Could I know the name of the woman cheering for me?" Ichiro asked, giving her a half bow as they continued walking toward his camp.
"Yua, daughter of Yui, the mountain pika," she replied.
"And I am Ichiro, first son of Junichiro Mori, head of the second house of Soma."
Kal bowed his head toward her. "I'm Kal, the Runesmith of the small western town of Telsin."
"My name is Kashka. I'm Kal's bodyguard and servant," the cat said with a wave.
"And lover," Kal added.
Yua dipped her head in response to each of them. "That explains why you didn't let any other girls sleep with you yesterday," she said before looking back at Ichiro. "Second house of Soma? You're a noble?"
Ichiro nodded.
"But no entourage? Bodyguards?"
"Bah," said the brother with a dismissive wave. "I leave the strutting about like a cock with new feathers to the other nobles. I'll get more than my fill of posturing and displays of power once father passes on. Until then, I plan on enjoying my freedom from that life and traveling the lands of Azumbaho with my brothers."
"You don't worry about an assassin's dagger?" asked Kashka.
"I do, and that's why I rarely travel alone. Nao is the only one who doesn't seem to care, but he also has magics to protect himself, which is why we left him at camp this morning. Also," Ichiro pointed into the ocean of tents, "we don't leave ourselves completely unprotected."
Following the line of the brother's finger, Kal made out a small camp with three men standing guard over three rectangular tents set in a triangle. Light smoke rose from a campfire in the middle.
Kal glanced over at Ichiro. "You didn't have enough packed on your horses to have three tents that size."
"You're one to talk," the brother shot back.
"You have a point, but my tent is magic and folds up into a tiny square that fits in a pouch."
"And whose to say my brothers and I don't?"
Kal shrugged. "True. I've seen others that fold up in a similar manner."
The brother laughed and clapped Kal on the shoulder. "I'm only joking. While I do enjoy traveling with just my brothers, for an event like this, we send our men ahead to secure a spot and set up camp. I'm not much for the bowing and scraping of nobility, but I will use my family's riches to make my life a little easier if I can. If I could get my hands on a tent, or three, like yours, I would be willing to pay good coin for them."
"Sadly, mine is not for sale. The woman who gave it to me may want it back when she gets here."
Ichiro looked sharply at Kal. "The woman who...? Kal, did Ikuno give you that tent?"
"I said nothing of the sort."
"No, but I can see in your eyes I've hit close to the truth. I'm getting the feeling there's more to your and her story than just helping your mother conceive. Ah... there's that look again. If I'm not right, I'm very close."
"You're entirely too perceptive, Ichiro," said Kal trying to keep his face impassive.
"Your warning about not getting our hopes up if we win makes more sense now."
"What do you mean?" asked Yua, looking between the men in confusion.
