Chapter 37 My Kingdom for a Rug

*Actually system? Is it possible for me to just, make a Sigil at a later time? You said this wasn't a true beacon so can I just have something as a placeholder?*

THAT IS A VALID OPTION FOR USER KAT, AS IT IS CORRECT THAT YOU ONLY NEED A SIGIL FOR A TRUE BEACON. HOWEVER IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT USER KAT'S FALSE BEACON STILL CONTAIN AT LEAST SOME REPRESENTATION OF USER KAT.

*Ok, I think I can work with that. Creating a Sigil should be something I do after thinking about it for a while. It seems like my Sigil will follow me for the rest of my- *

"Demon, are you willing to give my Granddaughter a beacon? I'm more than happy for you to leave right now" said Grandma Maemari

"Kat don't listen to her you can stay as long as you want" said Minor

"No, it's fine Minor, it's just that I am unable to create a true beacon. I can make a weak version that you can only use once, if that is acceptable. If you summon after some time has past I will hopefully be able to provide you a real one" said Kat

"That's fine, whatever it takes to summon you again is fine" said Minor

"Fool" said Grandma Maemari pressing her aura into Minor. Kat tried to push her aura against Grandma Maemari to give Minor some room to breathe but her attempts were for naught. "Don't you ever say something like that to a demon you are lucky I can't see the chains of contract binding right now else I'd be sorely tempted to kill you myself. Never ever promise anything to a demon. If they accept your offer it can be just as binding as an official contract" said Grandma Maemari

"Leave her alone" said Kat eyes glowing and aura push still ineffectually against Grandma Maemari. "She doesn't know any better, she's just a girl, she doesn't need you putting such fear into her" finished Kat. At this point Minor was trembling eyes starting to roll back up into her head before Grandma Maemari dropped the aura and let Kat's crash into Minor.

"She deserves that and worse you fiend. A promise like that could put the whole realm at risk. I don't care how much she trusts you that sort of power should never be given to anyone least of all a demon" said Grandma Maemari

"How can you do this to her, she might look like a young adult but remember Minor has been unable to talk to anyone for years! Plus nobody ever told her the dangers of demon summoning, how was she supposed to know" said Kat.

*Heck I didn't even know, so I can just accept things people promise me and force them into it? Is that a thing I can actually do?*

Grandma Maemari clicked her tongue, clearly unhappy with the development but willing to somewhat concede Kat's point. "It was just a bit of killing intent, nothing to worry about. Much more standard then your strange 'calm aura' that isn't how these things are supposed to work" said Grandma Maemari trying to shift the conversation away

"You know what, give my Granddaughter the beacon and I'll even let you ask for a gift, a bit of extra payment, if you leave afterwards. Is that a deal?" said Grandma Maemari

"I don't need anything extra, I'm happy to give her the beacon regardless" said Kat

"I said, a beacon, extra payment, then you leave" said Grandma Maemari pressing her aura into Kat. *Fine, if this is how it's going to be, have it your way. System how easy is it for Minor to summon me if she has my beacon?*

INDIVIDUAL MINOR (SHIZUKA) MAY SUMMON USER KAT BY CONCENTRATING A MODERATE AMOUNT OF MANA INTO THE BEACON WITHOUT ANY NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS. DO NOTE HOWEVER THAT IF NO PAYMENT IS GIVEN TO SUMMON USER KAT IT WILL NOT COUNT AS USER KAT'S WEEKLY SUMMON QUOTA AND IF SUMMONED REGULARLY USER KAT MY BE REQUIRED TO COMPENSATE D.E.M.O.N.S

*Ok, so I'll just give Minor the beacon and worst comes to worst she can summon me somewhat soonish with basically nothing as long as it doesn't happen to often. So what do I want my temporary beacon to be? Hmm-*

"Have you had enough time to think on my offer hmm? What gift do you wish for" said Grandma Maemari glaring at Kat already. *System make it a glass copy of the spade on my tail. That's good enough for now I don't have time to think about it.*

UNDERSTOOD USER KAT PLEASE HOLD OUT YOUR HAND AND FACE INDIVIDUAL MINOR (SHIZUKA)

Kat followed the instructions and in her hand a glass spade tip manifested in her hand with a faint purple glow inside of it. Gently handing the false beacon to Minor, Kat turned to face Grandma Maemari again and said "I'll take the best rug you are willing to give me"

"A… A rug?" said Grandma Maemari. She was extremely confused at this answer. Grandma Maemari was under the impression Kat's moments of staring off into space was Kat thinking of ways to extort her for an extravagant gift. Now she didn't rightly know what to think.

"Why in Everfrost's name would you want a rug of all things?" asked Grandma Maemari

"Gramps collects rugs and I need to apologise for being away so long without telling him" said Kat

"Why would your Grandfather want a rug as an apology gift?" said Grandma Maemari

"Oh no, please don't misunderstand, Gramps isn't my Grandfather at all. And as for why a rug, well he collects rugs, you should see his office, it's covered in them" said Kat

Grandma Maemari looked at Kat like she was speaking in tongues.

"If he isn't your Grandfather then why in the name of Everfrost do you need to apologise to him instead of your parents you unfilial child" said Grandma Maemari

"My parents are dead, I grew up in an orphanage and Gramps runs the place" said Kat.

Grandma Maemari put her hands on her temples and rubbed them vigorously she desperately wanted to leave the issue there but each answer of Kat's only served to confuse her more.

"Demons have orphanages?" asked Grandma Maemari scared of the answer

"I have no idea" said Kat

Grandma Maemari stood up and walked towards the door.

"I give up, I don't even want to know. Follow me I suppose, I have some rugs somewhere I'm sure and just… I mean… I don't even" said Grandma Maemari trailing off into a mutter towards the end.

Minor and Kat got up to follow her and as they were walking Minor spoke up "This beacon is really pretty Kat, thanks for giving it to me. I'll take good care of it until you can give me the real one" said Minor

"No problem Minor, no problem at all" said Kat. *Well one problem… Grandma Maemari but I mean who's counting*

"It's going to be strange with you leaving Kat. I mean, I'm thankful that you brought me here and all, and it's nice to see Grandma again but, even though I've been… awake I guess? For a long time, you will always be the first person I ever talked to and all Grandma's grumblings won't change that" said Minor.

"Thanks Minor, that means a lot" said Kat

As Minor and Kat continued to follow Grandma Maemari, Minor was focused on the beacon in her hands, before she turned over her left hand and slowly pressed the beacon into it. Kat was facing forward making sure to keep up with Grandma Maemari and missed what was going on. Grandma Maemari as well was quite lax in her observation of her Granddaughter as she was still trying to puzzle out what scheme Kat was pulling with her strange answers. Kat's beacon sunk into Minor's hand leaving behind a large tattoo of a spade. After this Minor quickly hid her hands in her sleaves to avoid anyone noticing. Several twists and turns later through the house they came upon a room full of chests. They were simple in design just large wooden rectangles with iron bandings on the sides. The room was small and yet it still had three large chests against each of the walls except the one with the door.

*These look more like treasure chests then rug chests. Though I guess considering Gramps' thoughts on the matter perhaps they are…*