>>204722
I leave the kitchen and head into a different room. I open a door, and I see a bathroom. Except it looks like it hasn't been used in years. I can see dust from here. I think I hear Averna's footsteps headed toward the kitchen.

so... averna doesn't bathe or has no need to.

>>204726
He doesn't bathe? That's kind of disgusting. I know I bathe almost every day. I think I've explored every room Averna has. Well, except for the one he went into to get the food. I'll need to ask him about the marks on the wall. What should I do now? Should I just wait on the couch in the main room, or help Averna with the soba noodles?

probably doesn't need to bathe. doesn't sweat, and any dirt falls off every time he changes form so in spite of his lack of bathing he does not get dirty.

>>204784
Hmm. I guess I should ask Averna more about demons and his house and what he's like. I walk into the kitchen and I see him rifling through the papers on the desk like he's looking for a specific one. He's mumbling to himself.
Torus:"Averna?"
He turns to me, which causes the papers he was looking at to topple to the floor. Averna looks a bit angry for the first time.
Averna:"Damn it."
He looks at me, then does his tilt.
Averna:"Sorry. Can you help me clean this mess up?"
I go to help him. While I do so, I ask him some questions. He tells me the wall with the marks on it is to keep track of people he helped. He says there should be way more marks on it, but he usually forgets to mark the wall.

He also says the silverware being in the wrong place is because that's where he thought silverware was supposed to go. And he doesn't use the bathroom at all because he says there's no use for it at all for him. It looks like your theory was correct. Are there any questions you want me to ask him, or shall I teach him how to cook soba noodles? Or is there something else you want me to do?

>>206374
I guess there are no more questions for him. We finish cleaning up the mess that he made, then I go about teaching him how to make soba noodles. He says they taste good. After a bit more chatting, we go to sleep. When we wake up, we eat some breakfast and test the musket out. I use a small explosion spell to shoot the bullet out of the gun. It worked perfectly, except that it jerked upward. We'll have to fix that.

Should I test out the musket a few more times, or go and get whoever wants to come to the coronation?

Recoil is natural for firearms.

keeping it steady in spite of the jerking is part of the training. is why the bigger guns need to be hooked to some kind of stabilizer.

>>206988
>>206989
Oh. I had no idea the jerk up was natural. I thought you made some kind of mistake. Sorry for doubting you. I guess I'll practice firing a little more. Averna looks like he likes this musket. I load it up again and fire at the same spot I shot at the wall. The jerk upwards is hard to get used to. How much longer should I practice until going back to Jathura?

when you can get within a foot of your first shot 5 times in a row would be good. want extra good get with a half foot. of course since you are using magic you have much better quality explosion. main problem with the first model of these was the powder exploded with different amounts of force because of poor quality control. you may be able to hit the exact same spot several times in a row.

>>207001
Okay. It takes me 8 shots to get it down, and I shoot a couple more just to be sure. I think I've got the hang of this. I've grown to like this musket. I'll leave the plans at the blacksmith's place so they can make more. Averna talks to them one last time, possibly to say goodbye, then we head out of the town. Averna pulls me to an out-of-the-way hiding spot. Then he dies his tilt.
Averna:"I think I may be able to fly you directly to your base. Would you like that?"
Hmm... I could either go alone with Averna, or I can pick Des up. Make sure he's okay.

The recoil should be more moderate when you use powder with it. Using the explosion spell, you're putting much more force into the gun than I ever intended. That's a good thing, that gun is of much higher quality than I anticipated.

When you have time, we can modify the gun to vent gases from the end of the barrel in such a way as to help lessen the recoil. If the recoil is still bad after that, we can modify the stock to have a built-in spring to help absorb some of the energy.

>>207100
Okay, it's nice and all that you're telling me that the musket is high-quality, and that I may be able to modify it to be more efficient, but it still doesn't answer my question as to whether or not I should go to Andorra to pick Des up. I ask you because you whine about how you don't get to do so much of anything, so it's up to you.

Des will probably get a kick out of the new gun, go ahead and pick him up on the way back. See if he's interested in mastering it and becoming your primary firearms instructor for your troops.

>>207737
It's settled then. I explain this to Averna. He transforms into a dragon, red this time, and we head on over to Andorra. He drops me off at the dragonkeeper point, and I head on over to the inn Des is at. I left my musket with Averna to be guarded. I arrive at the inn, and the innkeeper tells me someone was killed. I rush to Des's room. It looks like he's okay. That was worrying. Des looks at me.
Des:"Hey -chie. What's up -chie?"

>>207753

Show him the basics of using the gun, and then ask if he wants to try mastering it so that he can train your troops on it.

Does Des have magic, or will he need to use powder to use the gun?

Ask him who was killed.

>>207773
Torus:"Who was killed?"
Des:"...I don't have a clue -chie. I didn't even know someone was killed -chie. What happened?"
Torus:"I really don't know. Forget it ever happened."
Des:"Done -chie."
>>207771
We walk back over to the dragonkeeper point. I introduce him to Averna. I don't mention he's a shapeshifting demon because he probably wouldn't like that.
Torus:"Des, I want to show you something."
I show Des the m- gun. I'm guessing a musket is a type of gun. I kind of like the name gun. Des eyes it with curiosity.
Des:"What's this thing -chie?"
Torus:"It's a gun. You can use it to shoot people. It's better than a crossbow. It shoots faster."
Des:"Can I... try it out -chie?"
Torus:"Can you use magic?"
Des:"No, I can't use magic. WHat happened? Did Raul make you lose your memory again?"
It looks like he has to use the powder.

>>207797

Explain to him about the powder, and then help him get a feel for how the gun works by using your explosion spell for him. When you meet Murelle next he'll be able to use the weapon without any magical help.

>>207824
I explain to him a lot of things about the gun. I tell him about the powder, how to hold the fun correctly, how it jerks upward, how the recoil is natural for it, and a few other things. I load the gun with a bullet for him. He then takes it and aims at a wall. I warn him when I'm going to use my explosion spell. I Fire off the gun. Des nearly drops it in surprise.
Des:"Damn -chie. That's really loud -chie."
He repositions the gun to get a better look at it.
Des:"This... This seems really powerful -chie."
He looks at me, and offers me the gun.
Des:"Shoot it at me. I'm going to take my limiters off -chie. I think I may be able to catch the bullet -chie."

>>207989

Make sure he gets a good look at what the bullet did to wall before you shoot at him. If he thinks he can deal with that kind of damage if he is wrong about his ability to catch bullets, go ahead and shoot him.

>>207999
Torus:"You might want to take a good look at the wall before you do that."
He quickly glances at the wall, then back at me.
Des:"Okay, I looked -chie."
He offers the gun to me again. Uggh... I think I'll be able to cure him if he gets hurt. I take the gun and aim at him. His leg. Gods damnit, if this hurts him too much, I'll break this gun! Des takes off all of his strength limiters and gets into a ready stance.

I start to count down, but he says not to. Gods damnit, I'm going to hurt my friend! I can't look... I close my eyes and use an explosion spell. The gun jolts up like it should.
Des:"Ah!"
I look. Des shows me the bullet that I shot out of the gun. There doesn't appear to be any blood coming out.
Des:"That stung a bit -chie."

huh, so it's no good against imps. but i say that the fact that a mortal weapon managed to hurt him at all shows you how powerful it is.

i doubt he could of withstood a 50 cal titanium sabot round though, they are supposed to be used against super heavy armor, that is much much later though.

anyway, congratulate him on being super tough and tell him about the crowning thing.

>>208209

Wasn't he present for most of the drama involving the King and Prince Haru?

>>208153
"So, how would you rate its effectiveness?"

>>208209
>>208275
Yes, Des was there for that. Even if he wasn't, he slept over. He'd have a good chance of hearing the story. I'm glad he's okay.
>>208334
Torus:"So, how would you rate its effectiveness?"
Des:"It seems somewhat effective -chie. But what I don't get is why you're using this instead of your magic -chie. What happened? Did you take a vow of Rimmer Dall?"
Hmm... how extensively should I tell him about the potential of these guns?

>>208391
tell him it's a range and ease of use thing. once we get the powder then anyone can use it with minimal traning. it is much more powerful then any bow can be. and can hit targets much farther away. also tell him that the model is one of the weaker ones. for Des you can also make a much bigger more powerful one that only his imp strength could handle without having his arms ripped off.

>>208398
Des puts his power limiters back on.
Torus:"It's a range and ease of use thing."
Wait a minute...
Torus:"And it's also good for anti-magic fields. Enemies who may try to trap and kill me in them will be blown away by superior firepower."
Des:"Heh. You've certainly though this out -chie."

Des and I hop onto Averna and he takes off toward the general direction of my base. You know, a name for it would be nice. Give it a little more flair.
Torus:"This model is one of the weaker ones. Once you get used to this gun, we may be able to build a more powerful gun only imp arms can handle."
Des:"Damn, woman! Have you replaced Torus? Are you some sort of superintelligent doppelganger -chie? Who the hells are you -chie?"
He's looking at me with a confused face. I can't tell if he's serious or not. I'm going to guess he's sarcastic. A few minutes pass, and Des keeps onlooking at me.
Des:"So, what's your real name -chie?"
I can't believe it. He somehow doesn't believe I'm the real Torus.

"Why don't you believe I'm actually Torus?"

>>209488
Torus:"Why don't you believe I'm actually Torus?"
Des:"Sure, she's caring and all, but she doesn't seem to plan out every small detail like you do -chie. I have to admit, you look exactly like Torus -chie. The scar looks perfect as well -chie. You also seemed to have tortured her for the information regarding our base. It's also a common imp tactic to mimic other imps -chie."

He pauses for a second.
Des:"Unless you're planning to take me to YOUR secret base -chie. Yeah, I've got it all figured out -chie. You and this dragon are partners -chie. Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now, doppelganger."

>>209587
Facepalm, then send us over. We're proof enough.

>>209595
I put my hand to my face. I hope you guidance spirits can convince Des. I'm a little worried. Des is my friend, and I want him to trust me.

...

...

[#Kill this fake now!#]
No, I want her to give her reason first. Then I'll kill her.
[#The fake is planning a surprise attack!#]
I'll take that chance. I'm an imp.#]

hey Des, it's us guidance spirits. since we are here to you must admit that the odds of a fake torus with prefect mimicry with guidance as well is very very low.

>>209742
Yea, she's not any smarter than normal. We told her how to do all this, and even gave her all the plans.
Too bad you can't put the kebash on that [#Voice that talks like this!#]. That thing is really annoying sometimes. And by sometimes, I mean constantly.

>>209752
Oh, hi again. I think this proves that this Torus is the real one.
[#It proves nothing.#]
Her guidance spirits recognize you, voice.
>>209775
This explains a lot. I'm sorry. I need to stop listening to the voice.
[#You'll only die#]
It's made for common sense where I'm from, but I think it's useless here.
[#I am never useless. You are being dumb.#]
Des:"Sorry, Torus. The guidance spirits told me you're the real one."
Averna:"Guidance spirits?"
The dragon tilts his head.
Averna:"Why wasn't I told about this?"

"need to know basis, at the time you didn't need to know."

>>209782
Naw, don't be sorry. You can't control it, and we know how hard it is to ignore a voice screaming in your head.
It wouldn't be so bad if it was at least insightful, but it's just a simple little ball of spite and hate. You have our sympathy; we understand what it's like all too well.

Anyway, I'd suggest turning to him and saying "Did you ask?"

I suggest saying "Oh, we're so used to them that they're easy to forget sometimes." That's more polite.

>>209798
That little ball you talk about was helpful when I was in Ifrit's realm. I'm starting to think I'll never be compatible with this realm.
[#To be compatible, you have to kill the weak.#]
>>209826
Des:"Oh, we're so used to them that they're easy to forget sometimes -chie."
The dragon tilts his head. Why does he do that?
Averna:"Very well. If these guidance spirits reveal it, I'm afraid I'll have to kill the both of you."

just say "reveal what?" should calm him down.

>>209959
Des:"Reveal what -chie?"
The dragon's silent for a few minutes.
Averna:"Either they said it and told you not to tell me..."
It tilts it's head.
Averna:"Or it hasn't told you anything. I'd like to confirm whether or not. Please send them to me."
Okay, what is this dragon talking about?

just send us to it. hopeflly we can convince it to tell you.

>>209970
Send us over.

Averna: We didn't tell him anything. Have a little faith in us, 'eh?

>>209972
Okay, I'll send you over. Hopefully you're successful. I wanna know what it's talking about.

...

...

I sure hope the guidance spirits never told anyone but Torus.
>>209990
Oh, Hi. I assume you're not lying to me, correct? Very well. I don't want this imp to know I'm a shapeshifter.

>>210019
Here's where faith comes in.
Well, that and us having no motive to betray you in the first place.

>>210034
You want a reason? Demons are hunted in this realm. If more people know that there's a shapeshifting demon on the prowl, it would make people search for me more closely. They would have a better chance of finding out I'm a demon. Therefore, I would die more easily.

Actually, to tell you the truth, I'm very afraid someone would kill me if I'm found out. I was terrified when Torus figured it out. And another thing. Averna isn't my true name. That's all I'm going to say.

>>210049
Er... I just said we have no motive to break your trust. What could we possibly gain from it?
Also, we figured-out your motive for keeping it secret awhile ago.

>>210052
Oh. Sorry, I must have missed that. I'm a little ditzy sometimes. It's why I was never the leader of my clique. You did hear about that, did you? I certainly hope you did. I kind of forgot what it was. It'll come back to me eventually. Anyways, what do you guidance spirits wish to do at this moment, hmm?