Renya dodged Ichi's blade as it blew pass like the wind. She stepped back, her hand going to her chest and tracing a scar in the black armor.

"See? If you could cut through the armor made from the black goo, you could cut through me easily."

Ichi swung his sword again neatly slicing through Renya armor on the back of her hand. He missed Renya's skin perfectly.

Renya examined the cut in the armor.

"The accuracy is good. Mechanical, even. And this was done by someone without any mathematical knowledge. Must be fun, being a druid."

Ichi shook his head.

"Ignoring laws of world is great, but not knowing how to control it, not so great."

Renya crossed her arms and closed her eyes, nodding at Ichi. The black dome in the distance towered over the two of them.

They relaxed their stances. Renya undressed her armor as Ichi sheathed the black sword.

The sun couldn't be seen from inside the cavern hole of Avalon, but the light still made it in. Renya and Ichi entered the black dome. A green haired robot maid took Renya's armor and Ichi's sword. Ichi followed Renya through still robots sitting at their benches. Last time Ichi came here the place was buzzing, now the sound of silence filled the place.

Ichi cocked his ear putting his hand to his head.

"Nothing?"

"Everything that's working hard is on my the top of my neck."

"That's great. But, no more maids?"

Ichi disappointment in his voice mirrored Renya's tone.

"If I had better matierial, I might bother. I think I did the most I could with the black goo. So repetitive after making twenty."

They entered a small room in the back with a light on and relaxed as the green haired maid pushed in a trolley. Ichi greeted her, and she showed a playful smile as she set down a covered pewter bowl in front of him.

"Master's favorite, tanuki hotpot." The green haired maid said. She lifted the top off and it was just noodles. Ichi's chest sank.

"Hifu, you have one right here, why didn't you use him?" Renya said.

"Then I'd be butting in. I'll butt out."

Hifu bounced out of the room with a smile. Ichi eyed her flapping skirt as he brought the bowl to his face to eat.

"She's cheerful."

Renya stared down at her coffee and took a sip.

"And carefree. Isn't natural to want to hang out with idiots on purpose if you're tired of being intellectual?"

"That's why I'm alive, I guess." Ichi chuckled.

Renya carved up her beef liver, eating faster than Ichi thought was reasonable. If anyone else were here, they might say something, but Ichi politely reminded himself that ignoring her table manners would be best. She never seemed the type to take things slow.

After they finished eating Ichi got around to his main concern: maids.

"So... Fubuki..." He started trying to break through the topic of 'what happened that night' without asking her outright, but the words didn't come to mind.

"She's overpowered."

"Ah." Ichi nodded.

Renya scratched her neck with a finger as she looked away.

"A maid's lap is something that shouldn't underestimated."

Ichi immediatedly got the sense that he shouldn't pursue the topic further.

"And, battle potential?"

"Oh, that? She held back when we fought after I made her. Her skill is high enough that she can hide it without effort, so she might be unstoppable. She was the second maid who held back."

Ichi thought of the strange blue haired maid.

"Wavr?"

"Wavr. I thought the orc sword might turn out someone more rebellious. Instead, she's like a lake. Strange words come out of her mouth. Hopefully, she isn't insane."

Ichi drank the rest of his noodle broth in abandon.

"Hopefully."