A/N: Aw shit, here we go again. Just can't leave poor Koei alone, eh? Welcome readers, old and new to a new story by yours truly! Before we rejoin our cast, a few pieces of admin.

First and most obviously, this is a sequel to Sociopath With a Spellblade. I'll try to be mindful of new readers, but big spoilers for SWaS right off the bat and it is recommended that you read it before this.

'Cus everyone's got time for 240k word fanfiction! Haha. Ha.

Second, this takes place I'll wager up to a month after EX Epilogue: Koei's Katharsis of the original fic.

Third, the format of the story will be changed to something more… Traditional. First person narratives are cool and all but as this will be focused on more than one character, it'll be for the best to take that step. Probably a hell of a lot easier to write.

Alright, enough rambles. We got a prologue to get through.

Gamindustri. A world much akin to our own, yet different in many ways. For instance, it is ruled by four goddesses called "CPUs", who gain their power from the faith of their people.

Like real deities, they change over generations. Sometimes they step down, some are forced from their position by the demands of their people. Rarely, they are slain in battle, either by monsters or the people they swore to protect.

There is one however, who chose to seal themselves away rather than face the reaper.

A single truck drove down a dirt road. Usually the international subway system would be used, but this was precious cargo.

Namely, much needed military supplies provided to Lowee from Planeptune. As the CPU and CPU Candidate were busy, someone else was assigned to ensure the safety of this most precious of cargo.

Trundling to a stop at a junction, the driver opened up his map in order to figure out where to go next. As he was doing this, a hooded figure tapped on the window.

With a sigh, the driver rolled down his window. "Whadya want?" He asked simply and gruffly.

The hooded figure pulled out a simple pistol and pointed it at the driver. "The truck. Get out."

The driver blinked, processing what had been said before the figure felt a hand tap them on the shoulder. Turning around, the figure saw a purple haired tomboy with twintails giving them a look before she clenched her right fist and clocked them with a right hook to the face. The figure fell over as she dusted off her gloved hands before rubbing them on her leather jacket, simply embedded with "PLANEPTUNE" in all caps.

This mysterious tomboy was Uzume Tennoboushi, the recently revived and reformed CPU of Planeptune. Well, former CPU anyway. Regardless, she was now a mercenary for hire, one of the three members of the Planeptune Special Forces.

And as for the Planeptune Special Forces' other members, they weren't slouches either. Idea Factory (Call her that to her face and you'll be hurting for weeks afterwards), abbreviated to IF, one of the greatest spellblades in Planeptune's history and currently the girlfriend of the Hero of Planeptune himself, one of the few males of the world to make something of himself, Koei Tech.

A traveller from another dimension, reincarnated after a tragic accident with a truck, he was the reason behind Uzume's reformation due to his moral code. Most others would simply have taken their chance while she was down. Hell, her conscience had split from her in an attempt to stop her after she fell to her delusional state, Koei had been the only one to vouch for her at the time of her reformation. Well, him and Histoire, which is why she was never arrested in the first place.

Regardless, she inspected the knocked out would be thief, before giving a swift kick in the gut for good measure. "Whoever this thief is, they're out cold." She stated cooly before turning to the driver "Next time, don't just roll down your window like that. If I didn't overhear your conversation, things would have gone south."

The driver nodded. "Apologies, Lady Uzume-"

Uzume sighed. "And cut out the "Lady Uzume" thing, aight? I'm not a CPU anymore. Just a gun for hire."

The driver nodded again. "Apologies, La-"

A look from Uzume cut him off.

"Apologies, Uzume."

Uzume gained the ghost of a smile. "Better." Was all she said before starting to make her way back to the back of the truck, hopping on the back of the truck containing the batch of weapons before the driver started to drive in the right direction towards Lowee.

Road to Rehabilitation

A Sociopathic Sequel

The rest of the journey to Lowee was uneventful, consisting only of literal bumps in the road rather than metaphorical ones. This was good for Uzume, as it gave her time to think about… Most anything, really. Mostly about how people treated her. The older Planeptune citizens generally treated her as if she never left, always bowing and referring to her as "Lady Uzume'' whenever she passed by. The younger ones would do the same, but it seemed they did it out of obligation rather than respect.

As for how the other Nations treated her… About as expected, really. Distrusting of the recently reformed goddess was the norm, for obvious reasons. Uzume didn't really mind, she got off very easily for what was attempted genocide.

She was still trying to figure out if it was Koei or Histoire that ultimately turned the tides in her favour when the truck stopped and she heard the truck's door open as the driver came to the back. "We're here, miss Uzume."

Uzume rolled her eyes as she got out. "Close enough, so will that be all?"

The driver noded. "Yeah, thanks for that save earlier. As soon as Lady White Heart checks the shipment, you're free to go."

As if on cue, White Heart appeared, landing near the truck before starting to approach the truck before checking the contents out.

After a few moments of awkward silence, she turned to Uzume and the driver. "Everything's in order here. Thanks." Was all she said before flying off again.

The driver started to unload his delivery until he saw Uzume still standing there. "Oh, you didn't leave…"

Uzume scratched her head in response. "Ya think she'd help or something, but…"

The driver shook his head with a laugh. "Yeah, CPUs are busy folk, you should know that yourself, La- Uzume."

Uzume sighed. "In my day, I always took time out to help my citizens. It really shouldn't be different now. Let me get a few crates for you."

The driver would have tried to argue, but Uzume's glare gave no room for negotiation as the former CPU started to unload the equipment herself. With a sigh, he joined her unloading.

Some minutes later, the truck was entirely unloaded and the pair were resting on the back of the now-empty truck. Despite her previous immortality, Uzume still had a limited amount of stamina and she had exhausted it lifting such a large amount of weapons.

"Well, thank you for the help." The driver finally said after some amount of awkward silence. "Would have been a pain to move all those myself."

Uzume waved her hand in a dismissive manner in response. "Nonsense. A CPU should always look out for her citizens. Even former ones."

She started to leave, but the driver put a hand on her shoulder. "Look, I know you'll be paid once you return, but I do want to give you a little bonus for being so helpful today. Not just with unloading, either."

Uzume sighed. She wasn't going to get away with just doing her job, was she? "Alright… What do you want to give me?"

The drive headed to the stack of boxes and picked one that more or less matched Uzume's size before heading back to her with a grin. "Oops, seems like I misplaced this box. I'm sure Lady White Heart won't mind." He wryly stated with a wink.

Uzume rolled her eyes, but opened the box anyway. To be expected from a tall box, it was a weapon and to be more precise, an axe. The handle was ivory and well suited for gripping, the rest of the axe being covered in violet metal, leading to the dual bladed head, dark purple and very sharp looking.

Truth be told, Uzume was extremely impressed with the handiwork of this weapon. It seemed that weapon manufacturing in Planeptune had advanced significantly since her time.

Giving a slight smile, Uzume looked at the driver. "Yeah, this'll be good. Thanks."

With a curt nod, the driver started to return to his truck before turning to Uzume again. "Hey. You need a ride back to Planeptune?"

Uzume shook her head. "Nah, the subway should be nearby." She hefted her new weapon over her shoulder. "I should get this registered at the Guild as well. Doesn't hurt to get the red tape out of the way, ya know?"

The driver shrugged. "Regulations have changed. Don't really need to register weapons anymore due to security increases around towns."

Uzume shrugged back. "Still gonna do it. Catch ya later, mate."

With a curt nod and a tip of his cap, the driver returned to his truck and drove away from the depot as Uzume left to get her new axe registered.

"Sunset already? Damn, red tape takes time out of your day." Was Uzume's first thought as she stepped out of the subway in Planeptune, seeing orange light coat the usually white subway as she left, her new axe shining and tightly attached on her back.

Making her way back to the Basilicom, Uzume smiled as she saw the citizens out and about, appreciating the utopia she had once run as she made idle chit-chat to some of the older citizens that remembered her after her reawakening.

The most surprising thing about Uzume's return is just how many people in Planeptune treated her with respect, despite what she did.

Maybe it's because of what she did. Having the determination and resolve to completely do a 180 from how she appeared beforehand. Once the citizens saw how she acted, even away from Koei and IF, they warmed up to her and she did so back. Hell if anything, she was like a second Neptune to the citizens, as when the purple pudding protagonist had some time off, she would also go see her citizens for easy Shares.

Uzume gained a sad smile as she entered the Basilicom. She definitely missed being in the spotlight and having this second chance… It gave her something to look forward to every day.

With a ding, she was in the main part of the Basilicom, where both Neptune and Nepgear laid their heads to sleep every night…

No sleeping was going on, as Histoire was in the middle of a tirade directed at… Koei? The 20 something was desperately trying to ease the fairy's temper. Key word being trying.

"Look Histy, mistakes happen. I didn't know Dogoos ignited so violently… Or exploded when set alight… or that having said exploding creatures in a forest is a bad idea."

"Normally I'd forgive you Koei, but instead of trying to contain the blaze with your ice sword after finding out these facts, you actively helped burn the forest down!"

Koei shrugged. "You wouldn't let me take some napalm, so I had to improvise when I realized that the blaze would be impossible to contain."

"Annnd you screaming "BURN BABY BURN" while actively launching fire spells everywhere?" IF was sat on a sofa, face buried in her hands.

"Semantics." Koei rolled his eyes as he put his arms behind his head. "Point is I killed those Dogoos, right?"

Histoire took the time to bury her own face into her hands. "Goddesses above, Koei…"

"If we're all done marvelling at Koei's stupidity, I've returned." Uzume interrupted the farce that this conversation was. "And unlike certain arsonists, my mission went better than well."

Histoire clapped her hands together. "Excellent, Uzume. I presume the weapons were shipped without incident?"

"Well, one when the driver stopped on a junction and nearly got robbed, but that's where Uzume Tennoboushi came in to save the day!" She fist pumped triumphantly.

Koei rolled his eyes again as he got up to leave. "Whatever. I'm going to Celestia."

Before he could leave however, IF put a hand on his shoulder. "I think you meant "We're going home." You're staying sober tonight, stud. Can't be rewarded for burning down forests… Intentionally." She said very sternly, as if she was scolding a child.

"Awww, Iffy! I did good too!" Koei pouted as the pair entered the elevator and the conversation was cut off as they left.

"Reminds me of me and you." Uzume gave a sad smile as Histoire floated next to her.

"I was always… Gently encouraging you to take breaks, of course." Histoire rubbed her temple. "But I assure you, you're still a joy to be around." She started to float away before noticing Uzume's new weapon attached to her back. "Wait, isn't that one of the weapons you helped deliver earlier?"

Uzume nodded. "Yeah, the driver insisted on me getting something more so I couldn't turn him down."

Histoire put a hand to her chin in response. "Interesting. Do you know how to use a battleaxe?"

Uzume gained a vicious grin in response. "No, but I'm willing to learn!"

Histoire giggled politely. "That's the Uzume I know and love."

The two continued to idly chat for a while, so let us rejoin the other odd couple of Gamindustri…

"Yo, Iffy." Koei finally said, putting his hands behind his head. "I need to head to the store for tonight's dinner."

IF rolled her eyes. "In that case, I'll go and you can wait outside. Don't think you can pull the old "Oh I just need to head to the store" tactic on me Koei." She winked. "I used that all the time when I lived with Compa to sneak some Beers into my pockets. Nice try though." She finished with a wink.

Koei sighed and put his hands in his pockets. "You got me there. Look, I just don't want to be the only one sober at home."

IF put a hand on his head and rubbed it gently. "Don't worry, I'm staying sober myself. Have to set a good example, after all."

Removing her hand from his head, Koei gave a blushing smile. "Thanks, Iffy. Let's head home."

And with that adorable interaction out of the way, the pair headed for their shared apartment building, alcohol free.

Koei and IF were relaxing after a long day of work, both with cups of tea warming their tired hands as they were watching the latest episode of Otome Game Destruction Flag. It was an anime about someone reincarnated as a villainess of a romance visual novel and Koei in particular was pretty invested in it.

Well, they were until a knock came from the door. With a sigh and a dramatic roll of his eyes, Koei paused the TV and got up to answer the door.

"Swear to Goddessess Uzume, if you left your key outside again, I'll-" He opened the door to not his former nemesis turned friend, but his "friend", the busty nurse Compa, holding a boquet of flowers.

"Ko-Ko!" She greeted him warmly. "Just the face I wanted to see."

Koei blinked in surprise. "Ya sure you don't want to talk to Iffy?"

Compa shook her head in response. "Nah, we talked yesterday and… Well can I talk to you outside?"

Koei raised an eyebrow but complied, following the nurse outside before closing the door behind him before taking a cautious look at the nurse. "Well, I had a good run." He said simply before closing his eyes, waiting for his death from the slightly sociopathic nurse.

Compa looked at him in confusion. "Ko-Ko, I wanted to apologise for… My behaviour towards you."

Koei opened an eye and saw Compa's genuine look of concern and finally let his guard down. "I see. What makes you say that?" He asked simply.

Compa hung her head in shame. "Iffy told me off yesterday for how I act towards you. Truthfully… I really like Iffy. A lot."

Koei nodded. "Course. You two have been friends since childhood. Seeing her with someone would probably set something off in you." He reasoned. "You do scare me, though."

Compa nodded, her sullen expression not changing. "Of course. It's entirely unacceptable to act like a jealous lover. I just thought if there was that chance…"

Koei did the unthinkable and put his hand on Compa's shoulder reassuringly. "Hey, it's alright. It's not like I haven't forgiven people who have literally tried to kill me before.A few threats is nothing."

Compa's mood brightened as she handed the colourful bunch of purple lilies to Koei. "Thank you, Koei. Take this as a symbol of our blossoming friendship."

Koei took the flowers gratefully. "Iffy and I are watching some Nepflix… Want to join?"

Compa shook her head "I only wanted to clear things up with you. My schedule is packed tonight. Some new virus has just been discovered and I'm on call."

Koei sighed in frustration. "The fun never ends, huh? Hey, just because I'm the Hero of Planeptune doesn't mean that you're not a hero too." He gave a genuine smile and shot a thumbs up to the nurse. "Keep on keepin' on, Comps."

With that, Koei returned to his apartment, leaving Compa to contemplate her new nickname. "Comps… I like it."

In the apartment itself, Koei got an idea. Sitting back down on the sofa, he handed the bouquet to IF. "Here ya go."

IF was understandably surprised, but took the bundle gratefully. "Heh. Compa had a talk with you then?"

As she got up to find a vase, Koei pouted. "That was meant to be a secret!"

IF turned back to him with a wry grin. "Oh, so you knew that lilies were my favourite type of flower?" After a moment of silence, she giggled. "Course ya didn't. It's a dark secret."

Koei leaned back into the sofa with a content sigh. "Just like the whole yokai thing?"

IF giggled again. "Yes Koei, just like the yokai thing. You haven't told anyone about that, have you?" She questioned as she put thE newly filled vase of flowers on the table, in a way that didn't block the screen.

"Lips are sealed, darling." He mimed zipping his lips. "How's she doin' anyway?"

IF shook her head with a smile. "Very funny, Kopey. I can feel her presence, but I can't exactly communicate with her. Seems to be dormant as usual, anyway. I'll tell you if something happens, k?"

Koei wrapped his arm around IF with a content grin. "Kay."

With that, the pair resumed their anime binge, burning the night away, content with each other's company without any alcohol whatsoever.

Sadly as Koei himself said, the fun never ends and for Koei in particular, two sources of "fun" were heading his way at a rapid pace.

A/N: Short an' sweet. For those who did read to the end of SWaS (I'm so sorry.) you'll know who I'm referring to. For those coming in fresh… Let's just say VII is going to become a lot more relevant than just having Uzume around. (Which may be confusing as she's purple and not orange. Was covered in SWaS, but Kurome fused with her good half just in case you forgot.)

You might be wondering how this is going to go, after all I just reintroduced the main cast, what could possibly-

Tournament arc. Blame Pokemon Sword. Next time on Road to Redemption: People beating the hell out of each other for fun! Who do you think will come out on top and be crowned Planeptune's strongest fighter?

Probably the guy who saved it in the first place, barring any sort of restrictions. Ohoho.