Micchi Versus the New World - Chapter 109

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Chapter 109

"Well, ain't that a bitch." I sighed.

We were standing outside of my mansion that got just as wrecked as every other place in the city. The roof was caved in, most of the windows were shattered, the right side of the building collapsed, and most of the courtyard was burned to a crisp. Kain was going to have a bad surprise once he saw all his hard work go up in flames.

"A couple of demons ran this way and ransacked the mansion," Ethel said in tears.

"We tried to barricade the front door, but they broke through the windows. Ethel and I had to run away. We're truly sorry there wasn't more we could do." Roma apologized deeply.

"Ah, don't sweat it." I shrugged, kicking some dirt into the wind. "Our place can be rebuilt, but if either of you guys get offed, then I lose my best maids."

"Lady Micchi… You're the best employer we've ever had! We'll work for you forever!" Both of them teared up and latched onto my sides.

Loraine rode in on Kawa's back, staring at the ruins of our home. Even I could tell just at glance that she was more relieved to see Ethel and Roma alive. The chukashca were probably goners though, so there went my stress relievers.

For the time being, we were going to be living at the guild hall until the place is fixed up. I had nothing important in there anyway.

When Loraine hopped off of Kawa, the big baby of a wolf started whimpering and brushing her nose against the ashes on the ground.

"Oh, sweetie." Loraine knelt down to hug Kawa's head. "I know you will miss home, but we'll only be gone for a little while."

We were about to leave when Kain galloped in on a horse to survey the destruction.

"My flower beds!" Kain cried, dismounting and falling to his knees in front of the courtyard.

This was probably going to take a while.

"You guys go to the guild first. I'll catch up later," I told Loraine and the others.

Loraine squeezed my hand and nodded, then the three of them mounted Kawa to ride off.

"I spent months nurturing these lilies. They're all gone!" Kain plucked one flower only to have it crumble away into ashes.

"You can gripe about that shit later. What'd your pops say?" I asked.

He got to his feet and frowned. When I had told him that it was time to go to war, I might as well have kneed him in the balls. It didn't matter if it was on Earth or in this world, there weren't any winners in a war. People fought so that they didn't lose more than they already have.

Punks like me, Yui, Anya, Kaoru, Ririko, and even Chika… ours were gang wars that normally sent someone to the hospital for a day. It was different here. Lives were at stake. I wasn't too much of an idiot not to realize that.

Before coming here, I razed shit up for fun. Just another dumbass who didn't know any better. Now, when I look at other people around me, crying because they lost their homes, their jobs that put food on the table, and loved ones they lived most of their lives with, it suddenly wasn't fun anymore.

"Declaring war is no easy decision." Kain knelt down to grab handfuls of dirt and trembled. "My father is too old to shoulder the responsibility, so it is up to me. I don't know if I have what it takes to—"

I kicked Kain to the ground.

"Hah? What the fuck is this weak shit that I'm hearing?" I growled.

"Y-You just kicked the prince and future king of Scoth?" Kain stammered, staring at me in shock and frozen as if he couldn't believe it.

"Hey, my bad. Foot kinda just moved on its own. Here lemme help you up." I extended a hand to Kain, but as soon as he grabbed it, I shoved him back down to the burnt flower bed.

"Am I being bullied here?" he asked from the ground.

"We going to war or not? Ain't no one wants a future king that can't make a damn decision. You're turf just got sacked, and you're crying about some stupid flowers. What the fuck are we gonna do, Kain? Answer the fucking question!"

Kain bit back his hesitation and stood up on his own. I threw a punch that knocked him back down. This went on until that pretty boy face and hair of his was caked in sweat, dirt, and soot. When he finally got to his feet, he was struggling to stay standing. It was probably the most messed up he had ever been.

I spat on my knuckles and winded up for another punch, but Kain caught it with both hands this time.

"Finally fighting back, huh? That's how it's supposed to be. Someone fucks with you, you fuck with 'em right back. While we got our thumbs up our asses, Chika, Ririko, and that shit stain of a sultan're all scheming. Answer the question, Kain. We going to war or not?" I asked again.

"You're… right." Kain put all his strength to move my fist away so that we were looking eye to eye. "To war it is, Lady Micchi. As you would say… let's fuck them up, shall we?"

"That's what I'm talking about." I smirked.

When I retracted my fist, Kain dropped to his ass again. I took a seat right down next to him and we both faced the mansion.

"It's going to take a lot of work to restore the city to its former glory." Kain sighed.

"Speaking of rebuilding," I began. "Think you guys can rebuild the bathroom but with a sauna this time around?"

"Before we get to that, there is the matter of you releasing criminals from the dungeons… Do you have anything to say about that?" He squinted at me.

"Uh. Free grunts for your army?"

While Kain made preparations to go to war with Amarinth and Mou'nan, I headed to the guild hall. Kaoru was outside with her Jinwan guards and carriages, getting ready to leave.

"Leaving so soon?" I asked.

"While Scoth is a few steps behind, I already have armies in place that I must return to Jinwa and lead. After what happened last night, I am convinced it is no longer safe for Yonnu and Theo. I intend to bring them back to the safety of Taiq'ae. Prince Kain has already permitted me to leave with his little brother," Kaoru explained.

Now that I think about it, Kaoru had been moving her armies around left and right, which was making Amarinth uneasy. It sounded like she was expecting this.

Both Yonnu and Theo peeked out of the carriage window to wave at me.

"Please take care of my big brother," Theo said about Kain. "He probably feels really guilty about Cynderace being attacked."

"Don't worry about him, kid. I squared him up good." I grinned.

It looked like this was shaping up to be a pretty big war, but we were starting out on the losing side. Aside from Chieftain Breila and Kaoru, the kingdom of Scoth's other allies weren't really big players. Fighting against Chika was hard enough already, now we had more to worry about.

I went inside the guild hall to find it a lot more crowded than usual. In addition to the guild members, there were also other civilians whose homes were destroyed taking refuge here with families.

Over the next few days, we helped to rebuild parts of the city. Yui mobilized the guild to pitch in where they could. Since Amarinth was an enemy now, Anya didn't want to go back, but her reputation of having been the viceroy of Ash'tar didn't earn her any love from the citizens.

"Look at her," someone muttered off to the side. "How does she think she can waltz around like nothing's happened."

"Sh. I hear she's friendly with the guild leader." Another hushed their friend.

I let a stack of lumber drop from my shoulders. The crash startled them, and they quickly went back to work without another word.

"Looks like you ain't so popular," I teased Anya, who was on the roof of a building's wooden frame.

"I see that as a perk. Had a couple of guys pick a fight with me last night and got to rough 'em up for fun." Anya pulled up the massive piece of lumber I handed to her from the ground.

All this carrying stuff around worked up a sweat despite how cold it was getting. We had been helping to frame broken buildings since morning. Well, the actual builders were building. Anya and I just carried the lumber in for them.

In the distance, Rugal and Kain hollered to us as they rode in. Anya jumped down and landed with a heavy thud.

"Lady Anya, the people may not respect your presence, but you have my sincerest gratitude for all that you have done so far." Kain bowed.

"It ain't nothing. You guys still treat me better than those stuck ups in Ash'tar." Anya brushed off his thanks and smiled.

"Whatcha come down here for?" I asked them. "I doubt it's to just tell Anya thanks."

Kain nodded for Rugal to take the floor.

"With the spires destroyed, our method of detecting demons has been hindered. Our forces are in disarray, and no doubt Amarinth, being a neighboring kingdom-turned enemy, will take advantage of that weakness. Before we can even think about mounting an offensive, we must bolster up our defenses along the border. Kain believes you two are the best candidates to command Garrison Arackus and Fort Allo at the Frescian Pass that leads straight to Ash'tar. What do you say?" Rugal looked each of us in the eyes.

"Think fighting there's gonna be the fiercest?" Anya asked.

"Our spy network tells us Amarinth may launch nightly raids alongside demon monoliths," Kain said.

"Well, shit. Don't tempt me with a good time. Better than playing Bob the Builder back here. I'm in!" I cracked my neck and knuckles.

It wasn't just me and Anya. Yui and Frey were also going to be sent to shape up their own garrison but deeper within Scoth's territory. Every member of the Cynderace Branch would be split up to perform quests and tasks at smaller cities. We were supposed to be a second army after all.

Unfortunately, Loraine and Kawa refused to let me out of their sights this time around. They were going to be coming with whether I liked it or not. Ethel, Roma, Bogart, and Daisy would also join us to provide their services to the Garrison Arackus. Meanwhile, Anya recruited Pino, Hurai, Thelesia, and Naka to Fort Allo which was several kilometers away as a secondary outpost.

When we arrived at Arackus and hopped out of the carriage, a pitiful sight was there to welcome me. I'd pass through here before when we first went to Ash'tar, and it looked a helluva lot better than this. Built on a narrow canyon pass and next to a modest berry village, the garrison was supposed to serve as an entrypoint between Scoth and Amarinth. The watch towers were in shambles, the battlements on the keep were broken, and there were holes in multiple parts of the stone wall.

Only half a dozen soldiers welcomed us, and among them were orcs who Rugal had reassigned to this position after I had them conscripted. The rest were milling about.

"Uwah… There's so much to clean…" Ethel mumbled.

"This place is worse than the slums of Ash'tar. I'm supposed to fit my arms and equipment on these soldiers?" Bogart coldly asked.

Several of them overheard and shifted uncomfortably on their feet.

"You're telling me," I groaned. "Guess I'm gonna have my work cut out for me here, too."

"C-Commander, welcome to Garrison Arackus!" a jittery human man who had his leather helmet on crooked greeted.

The other five behind him looked like they didn't want to be here. Just looking at them was ticking me off.

"Micchi, Kain said to be gentle with them," Loraine warned.

"Yeah, well, Rugal also told me to be as brutal as it takes to get them working." I walked up to the six soldiers and was disappointed at how skittish they were to even stand in front of me. "Where's your other commander?"

Just then, a fair-skinned elf dressed in fine embroidery sauntered up to us like a flamingo. "You're here at last! Forgive me, I was finishing up quite a delectable meal. I am Lord Bryon. You must be the new commander here to replace me, yes? Shall we go inside and talk over some fine wine?"

"You're the bitch that left this place in such a sorry state?" I picked him up by the collar of his coat and threw him towards the stables where he landed in a feeding trough.

Suddenly, all the soldiers came running up to stand at attention in front of the keep. There were maybe a hundred in total. Some of them orcs, a lot of them humans, beastlings, and elves. But all of them were going to need a whole lot of retraining.

"If you guys thought Rugal was bad, I hope you're ready to get to work. When I'm done with you monkeys, no one's gonna think twice about messing with you. Until then, it's time to start our first training session— Me versus all of you."