Binary Soul

> Ellie PoV <

“I have to say, Madam, this is something I never thought ya would actually do.”

Old Boisterous Uncle was giving Kira a lecture.

Kira did something bad apparently.

I’m here too.

Because I’m the wife.

“Guard Captain, you know full well there’s no way I could predict that!”

Kira complained at the unfair treatment.

“Any kid in this town could tell ya that would happen when ya fire a spell like that in the city!”

It’s true, I saw it all.

The [Grand Solar Flare] was magnificent.

It came down like Phalanx-class orbital bombardment!

It hit the unaware High Dragon full on.

A leg and a wing fell somewhere outside the city.

The rest of it was vaporized.

“I understand, you know? Nobody wants to shovel wagon-fulls of dragon dung out of the city.”

Right, that dragon was notorious.

It’s the same one that pooped on the keep some years ago.

Apparently it did it to several other towns too.

Why would it aim at towns with its poop?

What kind of degenerate behavior is that?

Did it want to be a pigeon or something?

Or just was it just a moron?

Either way, I think Kira was too soft on it.

How can it repent properly when it doesn’t have any bones to heal?

“But because ya failed to control that spell, ya incinerated half the western quarter!”

Well, orbital bombardment like that is hard to aim.

The whole point is you wouldn’t need to.

“Still, nobody died right?”

That’s right, the city was mostly empty.

These people ran away really fast when the dragon showed up.

They must practice a lot.

“Well yeah, but 30,000 people lost their homes ya know?”

Oh, that’s actually kind of terrible isn’t it?

So Kira did a bad thing after all.

“The city can’t pay for that since the cause is someone acting in her own interest.

Especially since that same someone extorted His Lordship about a month ago.”

“Ah… something like that… did happen, didn’t it?”

Kira’s face is cramping up.

Hmmm?

I know that look on her face!

It’s the ‘not-actually-my-fault’ face!

As the wife, this is something I can not overlook.

Dishonesty is bad after all.

“This is clearly Kira’s fault, so don’t try to escape!”

“Ugeh!”

“See, even Ellie admitted yer clearly the culprit. This is the first time you’re completely at fault, so I can’t let this one slide!”

“Uuuuuu…”

As expected, Kira is weak to combination attacks.

“So there you have it, C- *cough* Madam.”

Old Boisterous Uncle, good job!

You actually corrected yourself!

What is this weird sense of pride I’m feeling?

Right, Nano said rewards are necessary at times like this!

I take out a piece of candy from my pocket and toss it.

*Nom*

Old Boisterous Uncle magnificently catches it with his mouth.

“*Munch munch* Yer punishment *munch* is actually *gulp* pretty lenient. Since ya took down that Bone Dragon, the city owes you.”

“Hmm, but wasn’t Kira the one who released it?”

That doesn’t seem particularly a good deed you know?

“Was there somethin’ like that? Well, the details are unimportant. In the end, you just have to partly compensate the city for the damage.”

Kira’s face is now completely pale.

Kira really likes money, so she hates parting with it.

Oh, Kira is hesitating again!

Time to attack with a stern warning.

“Kira, please take responsibility properly.  Otherwise our whole family will be in trouble.”

“I’ll pay! Right now! Cash is good yes?”

Instant reply, as expected.

Because I applied pressure with the F-word.

It's important and shouldn't be used lightly.

However, there are times when it's necessary.

Like this one, thus it was used.

This is also one of the duties of a wife.

We made a lot of money lately so we should be able to cover the fine.

Barely.

* * *

We’re enjoying a walk around town.

Kira still looks really depressed.

{I think Kira took more damage just now than when that drunk werewolf flipped her skirt up.}

“Nano! Please don’t remind me of that! Also, wasn’t it Ellie that broke all his ribs?”

Well obviously.

I'm sure he's carefully reflecting on his behavior.

I was even being generous since Kira’s underwear wasn’t seen.

Otherwise I would have gouged his eyes out with a toothpick.

The punishment has to fit the crime, after all.

{That may be so, but you didn’t need to incinerate half the bar because of that one guy.}

{What I’m saying is, you tend to lose control of your magic when you’re upset.}

{This is a potential problem and something I want us to work on.}

I see, I see.

“I agree with Nano. Kira lacks discipline!”

At least my outbursts are focused and relatively harmless.

Kira’s can destroy part of a city.

“... what’s with this all of a sudden. This is unlike you, Nano?”

{Haha, you saw through me, huh? I actually have a big favor to ask from you.}

{I want all of us, including Kelly, to hunt down the missing [Starshards]. And soon.}

{There’s some really bad things that are unaccounted for.}

Also some really fun things.

But I keep quiet.

This is a serious discussion, so I have to be serious.

Since I’m the wife.

“I’m a bit worried about our home when you say that. Should we be hoarding that much dangerous stuff there?”

{Let me put it this way, the things we’re keeping are enough to, at most, level a city.}

{The things that are missing are much much worse.}

{We will be disposing of such items to make sure they’re never put to use.}

“I see. So that’s why you’ve been bugging me about getting stronger lately.”

{That’s right. If those things fell into the wrong hands, there’s no telling what can happen.}

{Ah, speaking of dangerous things, Kelly has a few she would like to show you.}