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"Ah, I see." Ayane said as if coming to the same realization you did. She looks at you. "Master-"
"This is a distraction, I know." You said calmly.
"Indeed." She confirms. "It's good to see your perception shine again. Now, how shall we deal with this?"
"I don't think we have to." You say, finally finding the perfect angle to fire a giant bold from the Clocksmith's Ballista. It pierced through the deck as Ayane did a spell that made some embers fly onto the ship, causing parts of it to catch fire—these two actions seemed to be enough to make them turn tail. You suspected they wouldn't try to come back anytime soon.
Though you were glad this encounter was basically decided already, you were close enough that you could use the rapiers and chains of the BoatMech if you wanted to attack further...
>You let them escape. With any luck they'll tell their buddies in whatever employer or pirate haven they stop by next that this place shouldn't be messed with.
>You destroy the ship. You won't risk word spreading and potentially attracting unwanted attention.
>(Write-in)
After that, you decided it was best to come back sooner rather than later.
"Darling," Ayane said. "You were right about pirates turning tail against any tough enemies."
"I know I'm right." You said with some smugness. "Like I've said before: As long as you trust me, everything will work out fine."
"Hm." She hums pleasantly. "It's good to have a man that's both reliable and handsome." You think you see her lick her lips. "Master, once we're back, may we-?"
"Let's save it for when we're done with the bandits, love." You say, though you still give her a taste of what's to come with a kiss. She's been much more lustful recently, given how after magic/physical training you both 'trained' even more with each other.
"Ah." Ayane says, gasping for air. "Though I'm older and you're younger, I feel like I'm the one being gobbled up~" She giggles.
After returning to the mansion, you waited for Mel's update you on what was happening. She'd told you that nothing much had changed, and that all the beguilers did was cover the camps with an illusion.
By nightfall you enact the plan, taking turns to bomb them with the mortars. Mel gave directions about where the other beguilers were and how the bandits tried to adapt against the barrage, and you'd ended up destroying many of their logistics. Mel ended up staying awake for most of the night coordinating with whoever was in charge of the mortars, and to her credit she kept herself positive and didn't complain.
Morning came by and, a few hours after you'd woken up, you were pleasantly surprised that the scumbags that hurt Ayane and countless others threw themselves at the meat grinder, likely underestimating your defenses and overestimating themselves. The clanks, guided by Gerty and yourself, acted defensively—staying behind or in the trenches themselves and using the overgrown foliage and grass as natural covers.
