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.
Kashka leaned forward as they walked. "It might be wise to stay in the dark about this. It doesn't really affect you and could cause an uproar if word gets out. Less chance to slip up and say something you shouldn't."
"But you know what they're talking about?"
Kashka nodded. "Kal and I have a magical bond that lets us see each other's thoughts."
The pika's eyes lit up. "Ohhh, that sounds interesting. Does he ever have to ask you to fuck, or do you just bend over in front of him whenever he gets hard? Wait... does this mean she can help you during your matches?"
"That feels like cheating," Ichiro chuckled. "But magic is allowed for their fights, so I imagine it will pass."
"While we are on the subject, do you know what is and isn't allowed as far as magic?" Kal asked.
"Nothing long range and nothing that causes destruction over a large area. But combatants are supposed to be using magic to enhance their battle prowess, not lobbing spells at one another. If there are any other rules, you will need to ask Nao."
"Maybe I just need to go by the stable and get a refresher on all the rules before I accidentally make an ass of myself or get disqualified."
They chatted until coming upon the prostitutes with painted faces.
"Disgusting," Ichiro muttered.
"I have some very good friends who are whores," said Kal, his voice terse.
"Oh, I have no issue with them plying their trade but to paint their faces in such a manner." Seeing Kal and Kashka's confusion, he continued. "My father occasionally hires women to come and entertain him or a visiting noble. These women are of the highest quality. They can play many different musical instruments, have wonderful voices, are experts in calligraphy, and more. During their performances, they paint their faces and do their hair similar to those women," he said, gesturing toward the human women who were stoically ignoring the two men walking with monster girls. "That common whores would mimic suck fine women is what I find disgusting."
"I guess I can understand you not wanting your entertainers thought of as prostitutes."
"Make no mistake, the women I speak of are prostitutes. Men will give a small fortune for the pleasure of breaking one's maidenhead. However, as with their performances, their skills in bed are unmatched."
"And you've slept with one of these women?" Yua asked.
Ichiro nodded. "A gift at my coming of age ceremony from my father to keep my eyes from wandering toward women like you."
The pika peered over at Kashka and flashed her a grin. "I feel challenged," she giggled.
"Not until after the tournament," the brother warned as they left the prostitutes behind and approached the road that brought them into town yesterday.
As they crossed the road, a haze of campfire smoke hung in the air carrying the smell of various cooked meats and vegetables. People carrying bowls formed lines leading up to large cauldrons filled with meaty-smelling broth. For two coppers, a nearby table put cooked noodles in your bowl before filling it with the soup. Logs split in half became makeshift benches as contestants, supporters, and staff alike sat around slurping broth or bringing the noodles to their mouths with two bamboo sticks while chatting excitedly about the upcoming matches.
After weaving through the tents, the mage and his companions finally arrived at the three brother's camp. The guards by each tent's entrance dipped their heads toward Ichiro before continuing to scan the area for threats. Kal wondered how they could hope to determine what was a threat amid such a multitude of people.
