Steward Of Paradise At Work

by Tall-Gothic-Guy

I didn't come here to meet shrine maidens or monsters. I didn't come here to erect a cross. No one even told me about magic being a thing here. Actually, I didn't expect myself to be here at all. I was simply chasing a woman who created eye portals. But it beats being a runaway thief. I just wish I knew sooner, that this place will never give me a break, not even God...Bring it on.

25. Set in Motion

It was a particularly sunny day, and Eman hated it. His mood has been sour, especially after what happened last night. He was left paranoid the entire evening, afraid of losing his consciousness, and barely keeping his eyes open for any threats that will try to take a chance while he's asleep from exhaustion. He had passed out at some point, and when he woke up in a panic, it was already 9 in the morning. The only thing he's grateful for is that he didn't wake up with horrible body aches due to being thrown to the wall twice, slamming his head, and tanking danmaku shots. The Holy Spirit spared no moment in fixing him up in ways that nearly made him fall asleep due to the warmth and comfort he felt throughout the entire operation.

When he thought of going to bed and getting a proper sleep, he reminded himself that his home remains unsafe until he gets Reimu's anti-Youkai barriers. And he thought of the trouble he'll have to go through, utterly irritating and demotivating him from actually going through them. First thing that'll happen, she'll question his eye bags, question what he did last night, and lastly, the amount of work it'll take to getting her to move it. He can't lie either, she'll just see what the state of his yard is and she'll correctly guess what happened. As an exorcist, her experience on the field could attest to that. There were burnt patches on grass and trees, there's even splatters of blood in certain places. Obvious signs of an attack.

But he will have to. Do it soon, it will save him a lot of trouble later. There's still the part of him serving her sandwiches and beverages after the job, something he has lost motivation in doing but he'll have to grit his teeth and force himself to follow accordingly while in an irate mood. Being sleepy could do that to anybody.

[Fucking bitch…! There you are…] He placed his grip around the hilt and wrenched off the machete half-buried into the ground. The point caked with dirt and stained with dry black blood, especially the sharp side that severed the arm. He got even more irritated; he will have to clean this blade up before the blood gets it to rust even further. Just after the first day of getting these things, there's already a disaster happening to him.

[Hhhrrrghhh….!] He turned around and headed back to his house, the dirty machete in his grasp. He can still smell the sweat, stink, and blood on his shirt. His mouth was the only place he sanitized. Biting people is never safe for the health, but he couldn't help himself when in a blind rage, especially when it could make the intruder suffer horribly. With body and clothing affected by the scuffle, that meant he will have to take a bath, launder the clothing he wore, clean up the blade, and walk a few miles to the shrine. [Hhhrrrrrrggghhhhhh!‼!]

What a fucking day.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

Admittedly, the cold bath was refreshing. It even cooled down his annoyance and anger, making him feel placid and feeling polite today. He even cleaned and sharpened his new machete with the whetstone without grumbling in irritation the entire time. He did so with the diligence he carried whenever he wanted to go for perfect.

Wearing a new shirt and jogging pants, leaving the unfinished laundry in the bathroom for later, his new belt donned on and the machete holster strapped to it, placed at his left hip, he felt fresh and ready to head out despite the lack of proper sleep. When he looked in the mirror, his eye bags are the only thing destroying a normal appearance, but it beats being disheveled. Being able to use shampoo and soap again, even if he used some in the Scarlet Devil Mansion a few days ago, was a nice change of pace.

Yawning as he stepped out of the door and into the small porch, he stretched his arms above his head and began to pray. When he was finished, ten holy orbs emerged out of him, each poking his cheek in the form of a goodbye kiss before circling the entire premises of the Letitia Residence, some even patrolling the forest at a 50 meter radius. Each one carried the mass of 10 lakes, and any intruder that the Holy Spirit suspects of having any funny ideas such as breaking and entering, vandalizing or attacking his home will be put down to sleep or burned to a crisp. Those who came to visit peacefully are spared from the consequences and will be given cheek pokes too.

He chuckled. He was starting to think that he didn't need Reimu's barriers if the Holy Spirit could do this, or maybe even more. But still, he can appreciate 2 layers of defenses. 'Two is one and one is none' after all. Besides, he is eager to introduce the shrine maiden to his new home. It will let her know where he'll be at all times when she needs something of him or if she has a favor to ask of him.

[I'll be going out now. Holy Spirit, I'll leave the house to You, okay?]

The holy orbs within sight flashed in ethereal light twice as a response.

And so, he ventures out into the woods.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

Compared to last time, he was able to reach the stairs of the Hakurei Shrine on the first try. He kept his eyes on the road, remained attentive of any noises behind or beside him, and made the entire trip particularly uneventful, if hot. He wished he brought his hooded vest, it could have kept the heat from burning his head but his favorite wardrobe is currently undergoing the laundry process. Fortunately, the path he took had a lot of shade provided by the trees due to the angle of the sun.

Not only that, the spell card «Divine Punishment—Burn the City of Sin» was now official. He didn't plan on making it today but when he heard the rustle from the bushes in his walk, he had no choice. Whether that was a Youkai or just an animal running away from the presence of a human, the nuke he made will dissuade anybody that had any ideas of jumping him.

It was a massive rainfall of holy energy after the miniature mushroom cloud that preceded it instead of the burst of a geyser. He kept his eyes closed upon detonation, hoping to keep his mind in perfect shape while he was still far away from his destination. Embarrassingly, he found out that he doesn't actually have to smack the holy flail close to him all the time, he could just fling the holy weapon at a long distance as far as a single kilometer, maybe more. That can save him the trouble of facing the discharge of immense holy power up close and blowing up his mind every time.

As he reached the top of the stairs, sweating slightly from the trek, he saw that Reimu isn't alone in the shrine today. It was one of the party guests from the day before, the one with the bandaged arm and Chinese udango hair. The other Chinese Woman. It sounded like she was lecturing Reimu, with the latter starting to get bored. But when Eman arrived, the shrine maiden was quick to turn to him and address him, "Oh hey, Eman. Did you finally get a house? Your stuff was gone after I checked."

It did not escape Eman that she was trying to change the subject. It seemed she had enough of the talk the Pinkette was giving her, "You can say that." Finally within safety grounds, he holstered his machete as he approached the building. He held it throughout the entire trek, lit in holy flames colored red to dissuade any unseen Youkai from coming closer.

"I see you got yourself a new weapon." Reimu remarked as she saw the blade, then gestured to Kasen, "Eman, meet Kasen. Kasen, meet Eman. He's the Outsider who played music at the party."

"I know." The 'Hermit' had a rather clear voice amidst the mature intonation, almost something an elder sister would have. "Who would forget him after the spectacle he made?"

"Which one?" Reimu asked. "The music or the dance fight?"

A smirk spreads across Kasen's face, giving her an aside glance, "Why not both?"

Eman crossed his arms upon reaching their distance, "So I became the icon of the party in my intoxication?"

"Apparently, yes." The hermit nodded, "You should know better than to accept Yuugi's drink. Everybody that impressed her never survives the first night."

That's what she said. Eman did his best to keep his expression leveled. "I've learned my lesson, Ma'am. Thank you for telling me though." He bowed to her, which Kasen returned with a flair of approval. He turned to Reimu, "But I am here bearing a request for you, Reimu."

The word 'request' drew Reimu's attention, "Request, eh?"

He rested his left hand atop the hilt of the machete, "Not much of a bother. I simply ask that you surround my property with your best anti-Youkai barriers to keep the demons away."

"Why? Were you attacked by a Youkai last night?"

…..…..

Eman was not sure if that was a guess or a sarcastic remark. Whichever it is, he was absolutely gobsmacked. Clearing his throat, he barely said it out in a clear voice and not in a soft mumble, "Well, y-yes. That's exactly what happened. I was attacked, but I lived."

"What?" Kasen uncrossed her arms, concern now filling her red eyes.

"In the village?" Reimu suddenly had an uncharacteristic grimace crossing her mien, it was something Eman had never seen of her. "Those damn Youkai, thinking its fine to kill an outsider even though they're inside the village of all places…! Don't worry, Eman. I'll seek out the bastard and beat her to a bruising pulp!"

The Outsider marveled at how much of a different person his Master was, and admittedly it scared him at the same time. "Th-that's very valiant of you, but hear me out first. My house…" He gulped; he's sure that they will not react kindly to this, especially Reimu. "…is not situated inside the village."

The serious air around Reimu dissipated, "What?" She asked in disbelief.

"Could you please elaborate on that?" Kasen requested.

He steeled himself, "It's situated in a forest nearby a path that leads to either the Human Village or to here."

"Why would you get a house in the middle of damn nowhere?"

"Because Yukari gave it to me." He internally winced for blurting it out, then resigned himself to his fate. Yukari told him before that Reimu will not take well to that information for some reason, and he's preparing for the blasting that'll come to his face. Reimu's expression ranged from surprise, fuming, then gritting her teeth, muttering a load of curses that he was shocked to hear from her, including Yukari's name in them. All the way, she was glaring at him, as if he had said something gloriously infuriating.

Whatever reason Reimu had for getting mad, he'll bear with it. "But Yukari specifically said that I must get those barriers from you as soon as possible. She's the one to tell me that my house is completely unsafe unless I have them. I was planning to retrieve them from you while the night was young yesterday but that's when the attack happened. In the aftermath, I was horrified to leave the house until today." He hoped that this explanation will satisfy her and keep any harsh lecturing off his back.

The shrine maiden's response was to facepalm.

Really? Eman was incredulous. How I do satisfy this woman?

"Are you implying that you are too mad to accept my request?" Eman gave her a pointed stare, raising an eyebrow. "If so, then I will leave. I will come back at a time when you are willing. I'll make do with whatever protection I have." As he turned around and began walking away, his smirk was in full-display. He'll leave the protecting to the Holy Spirit Herself. She can fulfill whatever Reimu could not do.

"No, wait." Eman stopped mid-step, turning over his shoulder to face her. "I'll do it. Just let me get them first before we go there." She rose up from her seat on the veranda and headed back to the shrine.

Smiling victoriously, he turned around and bowed to her formally. "Thank you kindly, Reimu." He said in the kindest voice he could muster. "Your acceptance makes me happy. I could not find anyone any more trustworthy in the task."

Even though she had her back to him, he could not stop having the impression that she was blushing. Being a good reader at body languages sometimes end up being useful in situations like this. "I-I'm gonna get them now!" She then rushed inwards to the shrine.

Kasen clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "That girl…she still have a ways to go." She turned to him, "She's really quick to change moods, that sometimes makes her difficult to deal with."

"That means she still has her rebellious spirit." He offered with a smile, walking up to the veranda and leant against it. "But she is still a capable artist in exorcism and incident resolving, yes?"

The hermit sighed, leaning back against the veranda like him, crossing her arms. "No denial. But she doesn't match the personality for it."

"So is Marisa." He told her, "She's a very good fighter despite her personality and habits. I am hoping to take after the both of them, being capable in dealing with supernatural matters, and Incidents."

She turned to him, slight surprise crossing her features, "Excuse me? Are you implying that you, an Outsider, want to be an incident resolver, taking on gods and other powerful beings that have all the power to pulverize even entire worlds into nothing with a single finger snap?"

"That's right." He nodded, smirking internally as his casual response doubled the shock on her face. "I've heard stories of their exploits. Though varied and lacking in detail unless I hear it from the person in question, they never failed to impress me. I see them as role models, Reimu more so, probably because she's the only one with an inherent responsibility unlike Marisa, or maybe because she wields deific powers like me."

"A-are you saying you want to be like them?"

"Wrong." He shook his head, facing the torii gateway. He was probably confusing her with his responses, too contradictive. "I carry immense power within me, Ma'am, and while Incident Resolving is one of the things my powers would be made bountiful in use, I'm not ready for such a thing yet. I still deem myself incapable of dealing with wide-scale matters that are mainly handled with danmaku and spell cards." He held up a hand at chest level, lighting up a ball of magical fire, then replacing it with holy fire. "I can contribute in my own little way when Incidents happen. It's never too late to practice and train. And if I ever want to resolve an Incident, I must have either Yukari's or Reimu's permission."

"Smart." The latter in question happened to have come back, placing her hips at her sides as she looked at him. The blush on her face, however, did not escape Eman's sight. The implications nearly made him snicker. "You're the first Outsider I've met to have more sense than the rest I've met before you."

He chuckled, "It is merely an act of knowing my limits, Reimu." Placing his elbow atop the veranda and resting his cheek against his fist, he continued, "Besides, you are the expert here. I'd choose your judgment over Marisa's. That girl is built on Recklessness it's literally her arsenal."

While Kasen did laugh, relieved in knowing that the Outsider is far more responsible than she first thought, Reimu's blush began to brighten. She had never been relied on this much, and admittedly, she liked the attention.

"Tha-thank you…for choosing me...over hers." She squeaked in a soft voice, her head inclined humbly.

If Eman could, he would gush over the shy little lady for being cute, but he lacked the willingness to do so. Smirking over it is enough. "You're welcome. Now…" He stepped away from the veranda and held out a hand for Reimu to take, like a gentleman helping a lady step down a high perch. "…shall we go?"

While he expected her to not take the hand, Eman was completely surprised when she did take his hand to step down on the ground from the veranda. Even Kasen looked bewildered. His personal image of Reimu was somebody who could deal with things herself, not needing other people's help too often but it seems he can't expect her to uphold the impression when she's blushing and flattered.

"I'll come with the both of you," Kasen said, recovering from her shock as she stepped up beside Reimu heading towards the torii gate. "I'll overlook Reimu's conduct."

"Good enough." Then a memory clicked, widening his eyes. "Oh! Wait here for a little bit." He told the two before bolting back to the shrine, fishing his hands in his pockets. When he got it all in hand, he dumped the 1000 yen consisting of many 100 yen coins into the donation box. Nodding in satisfaction at the cluttering noises it made, he returned to the duo.

Reimu was frozen again.

A light slap to her arm was all that took to defrost her, courtesy of Eman's pale backhand. "Ah! Uh…uh…!" After a moment of the shrine maiden struggling for a bit, she quickly bowed courteously to him, her head practically below the level of his waist. "Thank you for your patronage! I'll surround your home with the most unbreakable barriers I could ever make!"

The reason why she didn't hear him laughing was because he covered his mouth with the back of his wrist, barely stopping his throat from croaking. Kasen stared at Reimu disapprovingly for her willingness to take action was due to money but she couldn't hold back a laugh as well.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"Are we there yet?"

"Compared to the hundred times you've asked: Yes we are! Just a couple hundred more steps! We are literally walking through the path I've personally made in case you didn't notice the cut shrubs and fallen bushes." That was from the courtesy of my new machete. Sharp stuff. Clearing a path didn't take long. "If you notice any burns or scorches or dry blood, that would the remnants of the attack last night."

"Found one." What? Already? As soon as I said everything, Reimu finds a fallen leaf splattered with dry and scorched edges! What are the odds!? "And I can see it's not your blood. I can even feel the Youkai auras through here."

So you can detect evil, eh? No less from Number One.

"Now I'm feeling very interested in seeing the 'mess' you are talking about." Kasen informed, looking at a patch of black charcoal on the base of a tree. Well, I didn't notice that one before. "Your details were vivid but seeing it for myself is far preferable."

"You will see. Come, we are very near. Come on! Keep up!" And I began jogging.

I can hear you whining back there, Reimu! Shut up! Have some exercise like Kasen there! Don't make me turn this car around by complaining!

I insisted on the jogging trek, because I'm the only one here who can't fly. When they took flight as soon as they passed the archway, I shot fireballs at them for leaving me behind. While they did dodge my shots (meant to hurt and hit them in the back), they did not miss the fact that I was literally about to blow up. When they complained about my actions, I had to yell the revelation to them that I don't have invisible wings! They were incredulous, especially Reimu when I got all this power in my hands and I still haven't figured out how to fly, the most basic magical act of all of Gensokyo.

…until Kasen pointed out that Reimu herself was shit at danmaku and flight when she was young. She even had to ride on a flying turtle to get by.

Yeah, shut the fuck up, you hypocrite. We're taking this my way since you're caught red-handed!

I kept the trip interesting with stories of the attack last night, and it recently ended before we were even half-way. And Reimu could not stop asking the same question when it was over. I tried to tell other stories, such as my two new spell cards, but she didn't show much interest in it as the first one, and that just lead to the repeat of the question 'are we there yet?'.

I swear I was losing my mind. At least Kasen was polite and quiet the entire time, asking interesting questions at proper intervals. Sometimes she pointed her lecture straight at Reimu, pointing out proper behavior and conduct as a shrine maiden and other things. When Reimu had enough, it happened again, 'are we there yet?'

Motherfucking hell….just when technology is taking away people's diligence, flying takes the fucking cake in this fucking timeline! Walk more often, all of you! Add some more muscle tone in the fucking legs! Add more oomph in your kicking attacks! Failure to comply will only result in me showing an example, a painful one.

[Ah.] Look! It's the Holy Spirit! Looked like She was going about Her patrolling business until She found me. Now She made a beeline towards me, poking my cheek endlessly. Geez, [Okay, stop. I'm here, I know. Now I got guests over, let's ready the bread when we get in.] I looked over my shoulder, "We're close!"

"You've been saying that for the last five minutes!" Oh my fucking shit, Reimu! "My legs are starting to hurt!"

For the love of…! "Then start flying!"

"…..Oh."

….You gotta be kidding me. You gotta be fucking kidding me.

"Why didn't I thought of that?" And then she began to float behind me, with Kasen reluctantly following suit.

[Ooyyyyyrrrrrrrgghhhhhh!‼] This is fucking RIDICULOUS!

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"Welcome to my Residence. Excuse the mess of the yard, the scuffle was not very pretty when it began last night."

Understatement, people. The mess mainly consisted of a large patch of dried blood on the grass with a trail that led to the spot I lied on when I was thrown against my house the second time, a charcoal imprint of my body on the wall when I was thrown there the second time when my body was on fire, patches of burnt and scorched plant life on certain areas of the tree line and yard when I began to fight back, and there's even the 10-inch cut on the tree when I tried to behead that Skinwalker Bitch.

Basically, they're all telltale signs that the scuffle was very violent when it happened. I told Kasen and Reimu of the intensity, and here's my evidence. I wish they seen it firsthand, I wonder how they'll take to somebody going batshit crazy and self-combusting.

"My gods, look at this place." Reimu commented, looking over every foreign element in the forest scenery such as the blood and burns. "And the Youkai got away?"

"Probably never to come back." I answered; now lemme unlock the door. The Holy Spirit's been poking my cheek nonstop since I arrived. Not that it's a bother but it's just too much contact. "If I try not to be so modest, I would say that I scared her off. Losing her arm will not be the worst she will get from me."

"Where is it?" Kasen asked. "Where's the arm?"

"Gone." I shrugged, unlocking the door and pushing it open. I turned around and addressed the Pinkette, "I left it there burning on the grass, and when I came to check the next morning, it was gone." Amputated limbs can't turn to ashes that easily…unless it only applies to Youkai. They are spiritual rather than physical in essence.

"Might've crawled away, or the owner picked it up." Reimu deduced, closely looking over the burnt punch outline I left on the bark of a tree when I pinned her there. "Very certain she's not coming back."

Hmph, "She better not, otherwise I will finish what we have started." I won't kill her. I'm keeping Yukari's instructions, I didn't even receive Reimu's permission yet, but I'm gonna make sure she will never think of coming back here or facing me again.

She will understand that she's not the monster here once she sees me.

"I'm very glad you survived," Wait. Did I just hear her say that? Reimu's glad? "This would've looked bad for me if you died on my watch."

Oh fucking hell. Just when I thought it was a selfless notion, but noooo! It's not! [Oy…!] You're concerned about your fucking reputation. Sigh…

Kasen gave me her sympathies, giving me a pitying look before sending the girl a hard stare on the back of her head. Just when I was starting to get very comfortable around her….

"So, shall we have the perimeter set up?" Might as well get it over with before my bad mood turns into a boiling point. "Looking over the damages will not do anything."

"Yes, you should start now, Reimu." Kasen agreed, crossing her arms admonishingly, "Make do of what you were here for."

I dictated that it shouldn't be placed at the edge of the tree line. No, that'll make the safety zone too small. The safety zone should not be obvious, it should be wide enough that it could be reached quickly instead of running all the way to the yard to do so. So, I say that it should span all around the forest surrounding the clearing at a 50 meter distance.

I need more elements for my training grounds, and I need more space for my privacy and protection. With this, at least I'll know that I'll have the chance to make it, even though I haven't reached the yard yet.

"I say this is rather genius. Widens your property at least." Reimu gets the idea. "And if anybody like a villager or outsider passes by, they'll quickly reach the safe zone instead of running all the way to your yard first."

The idea of giving refugee to the lost is also open for me. Those guest rooms gotta get some use, after all. "That's the general idea for this parameter. But only this much." I pointed out, looking at the tag she placed on the tree bark. "The rest of the forest belongs to the animals."

"Commendable." Kasen seems to like my notion.

The anti-Youkai barrier was just an A4-sized piece of paper drawn in elaborate symbols and shapes, with the giant prominent kanji of 'safeguard' at the center in red ink. Its placement was very simple, just stick it into the trunk like tape. I couldn't believe how many Reimu brought, there was practically 20 or more as we circled around until we reached the end.

"With this, you'll have a wall put up against any Youkai that thinks of having any funny business with you." Reimu informed.

I nodded. "But what if they try to shoot at the tags? With an arrow or a danmaku bullet?"

"Try." Oh? "See what happens."

A challenge, eh? Okay, then.

Unbuttoning the fastener of my knife, I whip it out of the holster, flipped my grip around so I'm holding the blade, feel the weight, reared my hand back, and throw!

*Tig!*

I didn't hit dead-center at the 'safeguard' symbol but at least I hit the corner. Wasn't satisfying, however, my knife didn't stick long enough. It just slipped off to the ground after vibrating for a few seconds. "Well, that was pathetic."

"No, no, that was a good throw." Reimu assured, patting my shoulder. "It's just that you can't actually break the paper. If it's easily broken, then it's not a good barrier tag."

"There's also water, wind, rain, and even humans who might tamper with it." Kasen added. "The material of the paper was specifically made to endure many elements, either manmade or natural."

"So….." I'm liking the details of the tag. It guarantees that I don't have to call for Reimu every time one slips off. "…it cannot be removed."

"I specifically picked the tags that can only be taken off by me, or you. That way, you don't have to worry about some curious fairy thinking it's something to draw on. So long as it's a perfect circle, the barrier will stay up even if the tree's cut down."

Very nice to know that Reimu brought the equipment that's specifically made for any scenario when she accepted my request. It shows that she got her experience backing her up. Admittedly, it makes me happy. With these tags made from the Number One Human of Gensokyo, I can finally sleep easy for the coming days.

As I picked up my knife from the ground and holstered it back, I turned to the duo, now opting to follow up with what I was supposed to do afterwards. "I assume the job's over, so would you two like to come in for some sandwiches and hot chocolate?"

"Let's." Reimu was quick to voice out her response.

That was actually kinda funny, "Hehe. Well, come on. Let's get inside, I'll handle the heating and the pouring and the serving in exchange for your service. I hope you all can handle the wait."

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

Didn't actually take very long to heat up the water. Since I forgot to include 'teapot' on my list, I had to go with heating up water on a steel pot. Instead of me waiting for the portable stove to boil the water, I just cheated and used my fire magic to hasten things up. The guilt was quick to get into me afterwards so I vowed that I will never do this again and start using the fucking stove since it's right fucking there!

It won't make me human otherwise.

I got comments that my house was simple, lacking any aesthetics. And I replied that it's the main idea. I'm not one for the fancy layout, I just go for practicality. If it's useful, it's in. The elaborate curtains on the windows serve a purpose too, including the crucifix.

Oh yeah, three fairies tried to break in when the door's unlocked while we were setting up the barrier. They were incapacitated on the kitchen floor, being overlooked by a holy orb who saw them come in to steal something and knocked them out good with a well-placed explosion of holiness.

So I just got my first break in, and it's from a group of fairies. How nice….

What Reimu did? She punted them the fuck outta here, straight into the horizon, literally, while they were still in a comatose state. I was absolutely amazed, looks like the jog actually had an effect on her legs! She knew those three brats by name and they were practically the cause of her irritation the last few years. Well, if they come back then I'm ripping their heads off one by one. It'll be revenge on her behalf.

"If your holy fires could knock down those punks like that, then why'd you need the barriers anyway?" Reimu asked.

"Because a thick wall is greater than a thin wall." I stated sagely, "With your barriers, there is extra density in the concrete."

"More like a 20-inch steel wall and a group of well-trained bodyguards." I see Kasen's being friendly with the Holy Spirit, letting Her bounce in her physical left hand. "The manifestation of the Christian God, I never thought it possible."

[Oh….] That's surprising, "So you know Jesus Christ." No wonder you bowed to Baby Jesus earlier when you saw Him.

"Indeed I do." Now the Holy Spirit is bouncing across her arm, all the way to her shoulder and kinda 'rolled' back to her open palm and repeating the steps. "The Christian faith is not lost to Japan in the 1500s, but later prosecutions drove them into hiding, exile, or executions." She turned to me with a cynical look, "Political power was petty back in the day."

Hmph. I looked to the side, looking out the window to see that another Holy Orb is still patrolling the premises, even though I'm already home. "I'm glad that Christians are not the only foreign elements that suffered from you people."

"Who else did?" This time, it was Reimu who asked. Funny, she's sandwiched by two holy orbs on either side of her who looked like They're observing her or checking her out. She didn't seem to care about Their presence, though.

"My people, back in the Second World War." The texts about it that I've read still irks me, even now I'm holding on to the hilt of my machete, hoping to stab a Second World War Japanese Soldier with it. "The Death March was not the worst the Japanese had done to us, especially to our women….no matter how young they were. For people known for politeness and honor, the level of your savagery is somehow unsurprising." Still monsters, like the majority of humans. "But enough about old history." Let's not lose our appetites here. Now, lemme just bring the plate of sandwiches over, then I'll get your drinks. "Let us have a long talk of what Yukari and I have talked about, especially about Incident Resolving. I will hide no secrets, I assure you." I placed the plate on the table and slid it forward to their direction. Reimu instantly snags one for herself as soon as it was in reach. Ahem, "Dozo."

Shooting a disapproving but resigned glance to the shrine maiden, Kasen takes a sandwich demurely. "Itadakimasu."

Bless you. Now I'm gonna go get your drinks. "To start: this house, along with everything else inside it, is her birthday gift to me. Mind you, I didn't ask for it." Here's your chocolate drink, Kasen. "That party two days ago was a gift in of itself, I needed no more. In fact, I would be happy even without gifts. Celebrating it, especially with you, Marisa, and her is enough." Here's yours, Reimu. "But Marisa couldn't stop herself yesterday and brought all of my clothing, especially my underwear to the Scarlet Devil Mansion to be made unbreakable as her birthday gift." I extended my arms, smiling goofily as I place emphasis on the clothes I'm wearing. "Now I wear a suit of armor everyday!" I could take over the whole fucking world with it!

Reimu only huffed but I could see her smirk, somehow a little amused. Kasen was chuckling freely. "Now it is 10-inches of steel, a group of bodyguards, and full body protection. I think your safety is pretty guaranteed now. Redundant, I might add."

I know. Overkill, right?

"Due to the efforts of the Two Greatest Humans in Gensokyo, I pass my reverence to the one nearest to me and to the farthest other." I bow to thee, or Great Reimu, protector of this land. Once I hear a chuckle (don't know whose), I then rise up and grimace, holding my cup that's resting on the kitchen counter. "This adds to my debt, however."

"I'm sorry, what?" Kasen's the furthest one from me here from the table to the kitchen, and yet she heard me mutter. "What's that about….debt?"

I rolled my eyes, taking the cup to my lips and blowing into it before taking a sip. Good as always. "Tomorrow, I'm going to seek labor from the Human Village, some form of work to earn pay." That load of cash underneath the floor needs to grow, not dwindle. Long-term uses could spring up anytime, and I need to be prepared as much as possible. "I will live ordinarily, compensate for my crimes in the Outside World with a healthy way of life compared to the one I once lived by. The powers I have will remain dormant, unused unless they are greatly needed."

Kasen paid close attention, Reimu barely showed any interest, showing more interest in what's inside the sandwich.

This will definitely get her attention, "But if an Incident happens, then I will take action. Resolve it if I have to."

Never mind Kasen's frown and clear disapproval in her eyes, Reimu immediately shot her attention to me, looking at me the same way a commanding officer sizes up a recruit with experienced eyes. I didn't move, staring back at her neutrally but defensively. I got counters ready and loaded inside my head, preparing to be used once she says what I expect her to say.

She swallowed her bite, "….alright, just be careful."

KKghK! WHAT!?

[..I..I…] Ahem, "I expected you to object."

She frowned, "Why would I? I know you're not dumb enough to do something you can't do."

"Wait! Wait! Hold on!" Kasen exclaimed, holding her hands up. "Reimu, are you saying you approve letting him put himself in danger?"

"Yes." Wow, straight up, Reimu? "What about Sumireko? She could handle herself, even if she's a little naïve." Reimu gestured to me, "Unlike her, Eman here knows what he's doing, and he's not doing anything unprepared. Given from what he's been telling me after going to the Mansion, it's clear that he can handle himself in a fight."

"No, no! Not even Sumireko would try to solve an incident, you even tell her don't. Why are you letting him? He's not even inside the village. He's not bound to the same laws protecting the humans there!"

"What about Sanae? She's an Outsider too, and she's been handling Incidents herself. She's getting stronger each year. Eman's gonna fall on the same category, I don't even need my intuition to know that."

"But…but…" What the fuck, Kasen? What's your deal with me handling an Incident? "Did Yukari put you up to this, Mr. Eman?"

"Yes." You're shocked because my answer's quick, but shut up just for a bit. I'm not finished. Let my finger tell you to hold up because I'm taking a drink from my cup. Okay, continuing: "And no."

There goes your confusion. Geez, Marisa's really right. I really am contradictive….I guess if I wasn't putting any context into it then I am.

Lemme explain the 'no' part, "I was given the choice to bear the responsibility and I accepted. Even if she has not given me the choice, I still would have done something amidst the Incident anyway. Besides, doing nothing and being useless when I have all the power to do something about it is part of the many things that severely annoy me. The Holy Spirit has no argument for my decisions too." And She will keep me safe in that ordeal.

"But still, I don't know if—"

*Clap*

There was blinding light everywhere. Good thing I closed my eyes to make sure my mind doesn't break itself again.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

What happened after me clapping was every holy orb exploding into a Nuke. An impressively contained explosion. By my request, the Holy Spirit surrounded the house in a dome made out of holy fire, not any wider than the clearing, and all of it seeped into me after several seconds.

It was all done just to shut Kasen and her concerns up. I was starting to get annoyed, vexed, and the Holy Spirit quelled all that hot emotion down like a bonfire being doused by a waterfall as soon as I clapped. I was instantly calm. As I opened my eyes, I see that Reimu was a little fazed, surprised at what happened but immediately calmed down afterwards. The Hermit looked….traumatized. And her bandaged arm…it's gone, all that's hanging from her shoulder are the cloth. After several seconds, black smoke seeped out of her cross-section and formed the outline of an arm, then it was quickly wrapped up by bandages, good as new.

Hmm…..interesting.

"With practice and time, all this power can be used for the good of Gensokyo. I could even stop an Incident all by myself if I am ready." I still haven't moved from the kitchen, and my cup's still right here. I took a drink (still warm) and I set it down, now empty. "If you are concerned for my safety, Kasen, then I appreciate them. Thank you. But even then, you cannot stop me. My choice to head into danger is my own, and the consequences that come afterwards is my own."

I walked around the counter and finally joined them at the table, seated beside Kasen. "But I'm not willing to die." I gestured to Reimu, "I have an agreement made with her to always come back with a fresh story to tell after every mess I put myself into. But it would be redundant when I tell her a story about a battle that we fought and experienced together so I might as well let her do all the work for me."

*Punch*

Nice reach, Reimu. You don't have much length in that arm but damn, you hit me right in the shoulder really cleanly across the table. I saw you smiling though, and that's good enough for me to not get annoyed by it.

"So, Kasen." I rest my elbow on the table and support my cheek, "What do you say? Will you accept my decision and let the outcomes, either good or bad, be mine to bear?"

She blinked owlishly, then she recovered from the holy shock and kneaded her forehead. I just realized that her left wrist is manacled, with a broken chain. What did this woman go through, and why didn't she take it off? "You do realize that Yukari had a very manipulative streak, don't you? All this?" She gestured around her, "This house? The choice she gave you? And whatever else she gave you? Don't you think you're being manipulated? Kindness has been one of her techniques to control others, Mr. Eman. I would know."

…what?

"Don't you realize? If she told you that you should not let others take advantage of you because you carry such incredible power, that means she won't allow anyone else to do so except herself. She cannot control the Holy Spirit, so she will control you instead, who can." Kasen warned, the dire tone she carried was starting to scare me. "Every action you'll make is exactly what she planned. Even if you act against her plans, that is what she predicted too. Because of you accepting her offer, you are nothing but a puppet to her plans."

"Then I will protect him."

….…..

…..…..what? What did you say, Reimu?

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Kasen asked.

"I said I'll protect him." Reimu repeated, nonchalantly eating the last sandwich. I put five in the plate, and I only remember Kasen eating only one. Did she eat it all? "I knew he was being manipulated before so I might as well have him as my responsibility."

This time my facial expression wasn't intact. I was gaping. But I was quick to shake myself off, fists clenching on the table. "But you had enough responsibilities, Reimu. What makes me worth above the rest?"

"I got Marisa to help me with Incidents. She's literally the first one to act whenever one happens. The village can protect itself; Keine, Kotohime and her 'police force' could do a lot of things to keep it secure without my help. The Youkai have been behaving lately, so I'm not worried about them. But you?" She pointed a finger at me, "You're just one man, and you should know that you can't do everything on your own. And you're still my property. My responsibilities are also yours, including Incident Resolving."

…..…..

….…..…..…..

"You're taking advantage of me again."

"Shut up!" Whoakay! She just shoots up from her chair and doubled the emphasis of the almighty finger point at me. "You've made your vow, make do with it. If you wanna revoke it, beat me in a Spell Card Fight first."

….You motherfucking cheat. Using your experience and rank to put me in a cage!

….…..a cage that doesn't have a door to keep me in or out. The entrance is not even there, it's hidden in a way that only I could see and no one else could so they couldn't get to me once I get in. I have all the freedom to leave anytime I like, and my master will take action when things are starting to get unbearable for me.

Agh, fucking shit, man. This girl…she sure had a knack to do the most unexpected things. From the look on Kasen's face, she looked flabbergasted. If I were to guess, not even she saw that coming from her.

Oh well. I'll take it. Looks like even if I'm out of Reimu's hair, I'm still bound to her.

Fuck. Here we go. "Shake on it then." I extended my hand to her. Unlike before, she took it without a moment spared. And she even shook it correctly. This girl's learning! "It seems I will have to remain a burden to you again, Master."

"At least there's not an extra mouth to feed in the shrine that's not Marisa."

[Kkkkhahaha!] Oh geez! "Why not force her out? You have all the power to do so."

She shook her head, but I can't miss the rise of the corner of her lips. "I can't. Nobody can."

While I laughed again at that, that was a cue for Kasen to sigh, resigned to this outcome. "At least that's reassuring for me. In your hands, I'm sure he'll be okay."

"I agree." I nodded, letting go of Reimu's hand. "But I hope she doesn't have to protect me all the time. I still have things to do without her watchful eye bothering my focus."

"Likewise, don't make me keep an eye on you all the time, okay? I got better things to do."

"Like what?" Kasen gave Reimu a very critical eye, "Sleeping and doing literally nothing in the shrine?"

"Uh…"

[BHAHAHAHAHAHA!] My fucking goodness! This girl! I like her! I seriously like her! Being the strongest woman in the land, yet the shittiest in terms of productivity! Absolution is right before me!

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

It's already settled that I'm not resolving any Incidents unless Reimu says I'm ready. And I don't plan to do so once I see one either. I need more control with the Holy Spirit's power. Shooting Nukes everywhere won't cut into the Spell Card System. It doesn't fit the bill of 'Beauty'. It will come off as 'unfair'. If I don't follow through, then everybody won't be fair with me back. So I asked for hints on how can I turn a Nuke into pistol bullets.

As it turns out, the patterns and density matter more in terms of practicality, in the sense that it could corner or confuse your opponent before eventually hitting them out of the air. Visual appeal is more like a personal preference, as a lot of people are far more interested in beating the opposition instead of putting extra-emphasis in the Beauty aspect and kick ass at the same time. But it's practical in a way too, dazzling and distracting is also a common tactic in danmaku fights. Like Marisa, Reimu would prioritize practicality over the visual appeal since she's not that artistic and the former is far more interested in overpowering anybody with lasers and firepower.

Emotions are a big factor too. The amount of bullets you throw out is very reliant to your current mental and emotional state. Reimu tells me not to be surprised when the number of bullets you throw out reach the millions or even billions when you're exploding, as many Youkai who pissed her off could attest to. Being in a positive mental state apparently makes your bullets look very beautiful, and you don't have to be consciously doing it too. Another play of 'Feel, not Think'.

Thankfully remembering, I asked Reimu if she had ideas of any practical use I could have for the Holy Spirit since she's an exorcist herself. Turns out the stuff she thought up is very little, and the stuff I could think up could get numerous, the Hermit in the room pointed out. Caging or trapping a demon? Check. Depower magic and magical beings? Sure. Sealing them? Totally possible. And due to Kasen, the Holy Spirit could potentially empower humans, making them energetic, confident, and tireless in a battle. Will it apply to Youkai if ever working alongside one? Unsure. The point is that I just need to be creative and experiment nonstop, make their uses purely self-made. Reimu quoted it the 'magician way'.

So what? Magicians are scientists around here?

At a non-specific time, it was time for the both of them to leave. As I send them off the door, walking on the grass of the yard, I'm not allowing Reimu to leave unless I do this.

"Before you go…" I began.

She turned around, "What?"

I then embraced her in a bear hug. Due to her not being that tall, I had to lift her up from the ground as soon as I have my arms around her torso. Crushing her head against my chest would be off. Unlike most bear hugs, I stayed gentle, making sure my grip isn't tight enough to hurt and patted her back tenderly, making it as warm as possible. This was a gesture of appreciation.

I don't have a fancy for useless words of concern, but when you commit to protect someone with the full intent of acting accordingly, that's different. The fact that Reimu's respecting my freedom at the same time really helps too.

"I couldn't thank you enough for taking the initiative to put me under your protection. In any way I can, I will pay you back, okay?"

I could hear her stuttering, struggling with her words, even her attempt to hug me back was a complete effort to do. But she managed to spit it out, "N-no, it is nothing. I-it is my job after all."

I smirked and let her down gently, setting her feet on the ground before releasing her instead of dropping her outright. Taking a few steps back to give her space, I folded my hands behind my back and say, "I'll see you again soon." I said in a neutral tone, reducing our status back as guest and host.

Reimu didn't seem to follow, still flustered as she nodded meekly and took flight.

With her gone, that leaves Kasen behind me. I turned around and address her, "Do you plan to stay for the night? I will have the bed ready if you are. No dinner or breakfast, however. I do not have much for food yet."

"Oh I would not wish to impose." She waved me off politely. "I will take my leave as well." She bowed courteously. "Thank you for the sandwiches and the delicious beverage. Pardon me for any trouble I may have given you."

I nodded, and bowed as well. "I will see you then."

"I-if you don't mind…." She reached out towards me head, "May I?"

I leaned downwards so she could reach it.

Then she placed her left hand atop my head. She pulled on a few strands, then began to run her fingers through them, kneading my scalp in the process. "So soft…" Her hand was gentle, I ended up leaning to her grasp afterwards, trying to make her aim for the part above the forehead. She chuckled, "You like this, don't you?"

"What do you think?" I replied. I'm pretty sure my head's gonna be a hand magnet soon.

"It seems doing this to you will expose your soft side." Her red eyes scanned across my form, "Tall, lean, mean, very little would notice that you would like being petted like a child."

"Now that is just patronizing."

She chuckled again, stopping the pets and patting my shoulder. "You take care of yourself, Mr. Eman."

"Well noted."

She nodded approvingly, "See you then." Then she departs, walking to the tree line and disappearing in the clusters of tree barks and shrubs, her form disappearing entirely.

…..…..

….…..…..…..…..

….…..…..…..…..…...so now what?

…oh? A little Holy Orb is drifting towards me. [I thought You blew up like the rest.] Come on, get back into my spiritual core and merge back with the Holy Spirit. We're gonna have a long lazy day—

…..…..…..

….…..…..…..…..…..…..…..

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..what?

The Slenderman Motherfucker was here?

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

The Pit Hole to Old Hell was beginning to churn, slowly crawling to an active state. The vengeful spirits within have sensed the immense presence of Holiness and Purity in the outskirts of the Forest. Few had noticed the detonation of the holy orbs that lead to the brief creation of the Dome that surrounded the Letitia House before it disappeared, but one managed to escape into the Surface World, the Burning Skull chanting in a compelling voice before heading off to find the source.

Only to be caught by Kasen's bandaged hand.

"I don't think so." With a tightening grip, the vengeful spirit was no more, cut off from the Reincarnation Cycle.

She looked at the tiny little hole, hidden underneath a small boulder, looking more like a mouse hole at the first glance, and easy to escape anyone's eyes. Those with a keen nose will recognize the smell of sulfur, taint, and impurity as a sign that this place is a very bad place for both humans and Youkai.

A gathering spot for vengeful spirits.

But this hole was relatively clean, lacking the stronger indicative scents and likely have never been active till now.

Somehow, it is only a hundred meters away from the Letitia Residence, and the house had been placed there by Yukari of all people?

She is not liking the implications here.

"I hope Reimu's barriers could keep the spirits away from him." It's clear that the boy could defend himself against apparitions like them, especially when a special god is watching over him, but it's a different story when they attack him in his sleep, even if they are simply nearby and barely even touching him. They have a mean reputation to alter personalities and turn once-righteous men into horrible monsters.

Whatever else Yukari was planning worries her more.

With the help of her own sorcery, she plugged the Pit Hole with earth, stone, and a seal just for good measure. Nodding in satisfaction, she headed out back to her home.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

The Holy Spirit could record things. The holy orb yesterday that didn't blow up wanted to relay what it saw to me, and it did so in a way I did not expect. Right after absorbing the orb, all the information it gathered was shoved into me in a single second. Getting out of the trance was far difficult than processing what the fuck just happened.

Every sound, every scent, every living thing that lived and breathed nearby (even the trees), even the temperature and the time of day, every little detail the holy orb gathered, it was shoved straight into my brain in one swoop. I could even tell that the intruder was there when Reimu and Kasen was still around. It was extremely disorienting and confusing I couldn't even properly process them. It took me a single hour before I managed to catch the gist that the Slenderman Motherfucker got too close to the safety zone. When that fucker saw the Holy Spirit watching him, expecting him to trespass and be blown up as punishment, it immediately ran off growling.

The holy orb even knew what he was thinking. He was there because he smelled a hermit and immediately turned back because of the smell of holy, and because the shrine maiden was there. I even felt his hunger. From what the holy orb gathered, the bastard didn't even know I was here. The smell of a hermit must've overpowered mine.

Holy…wow…

All-knowing…..omniscient…now I understand what that means…and it's apparently something a human brain cannot hope to have so easily.

To take in so much information, from the number of dirt particles on the ground present at a one thousand meter radius to the amount of magical energy that lingered in the air at a five hundred meter radius in a single second. It served a practical use too: reconnaissance and information gathering; everything down to the last darkest secret, especially the thoughts of my enemy will be exposed and known without any use of extortion, blackmail, torture, or interrogation, no matter how hidden or how secret it is….

…too dangerous….very dangerous. There was so much information I don't need than the ones I needed. People don't want to know about the number of organisms that existed underneath the ground. If I were to count them, there would be one hundred zeros. And that's the roughest estimation I could think up compared to what the Holy Spirit counted. Her numbers were monstrous.

The Holy Spirit and her 10 dimensional recordings….I'm not gonna do that again unless I wanna risk destroying my brain without any Nukes. Her fucking power…it is not meant for human hands…because it destroys them…completely. Corrupting them is never going to be the worst of it.

Hoo boy…..the Holy Spirit's power….now I'm getting really scared. She was kind enough to comfort me and dissuade my fears once I was back inside my house and ran for my bed. She comforted me, kept me calm, helped me rationalize things carefully and fear it no longer by making sure my stress levels didn't go over the top. It led to a completely different thought:

All Her power was mine to use, freely and without price, and She didn't even give me any warnings or rules either….sigh….

It made me cry. The thought of it….the thought of a supremely powerful being giving me all wonders despite having no right to have any of it nor deserving any of it…it's unthinkable. But She gave it to me anyway….all because She loves me and wanted me safe. She didn't say that to me, but I could tell just by feeling her mere presence.

…..fuck….

At least going too far with them is dangerous to my own health. That way, I can keep myself from using excessive amounts of Her power and remain close to my neighbor. But right now, I gotta start the day with a little visit to the Place of Worship. Don't know how long I'll be praying though, I'm feeling rather down at the moment. Shit's been happening the last few days, and I'm not liking it. It's more than the fact that I nearly got eaten. It's just that….

….I have been questioning my faith to Yukari since yesterday…and that saddens me greatly. She had her moments to make fun of me but I respect her, much so because of that celebration for my birthday and for the house, and now to know that she's been manipulating me and wanting to control the Holy Spirit's power through me….

…fuck.

Can I even trust a Youkai now?

A-actually, I don't know who to trust among them anymore. Flandre I can trust wholeheartedly, Jergo and Meiling included, but they're just three people. I can't trust her elder sis. I'm neutral to both Sakuya and Patchouli, but who else is there I can't? I just can't believe it had to be Yukari out of all people.

…sigh…..fuuuuucking…..shiiiiiiiiiiIIIIIIIIT!

{HAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHHH! YAWA!} I hammered the dirt with both my fists and I fucking exploded, breaking apart the ground, throwing chunks of earth all around me, creating the noise of a thunderclap, and scared off more than a few birds in the neighboring trees around me. {AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!‼!‼!‼!‼!‼!} After that, the Golem rose out of me and blasted the fucking heavens with a powerful red-colored St. Elmo's Pillar from both hands that would've put Marisa's colorful Master Spark to shame.

….oh…..fucking…..shit…..that felt fucking gooood~

Phew….okay, all calm now. No more stress building out on me. I'm just gonna stand up from the ground in my Hulk-smash position and continue walking to the Place of Worship. Holy Spirit, if You don't mind, please extinguish any rogue flames I left behind. I don't want to cause a forest fire due to a breakdown.

Thank You.

Geez….I'm thinking way too hard on this, and I'm basically letting it get into me. So what if Yukari's manipulating me? Of all fucking people, Suika was the first to tell me that on the FIRST FUCKING DAY. It was already long established before Kasen even said anything. All she did was remind me of the fact. I've already resigned myself to such a fate already days ago. Fine. Let her. Let her manipulate me all she likes. I'll go about it the same way it's always been in my fucking two years: expect the worst, skirt around the bullshit Life throws at me as much as I could, and make it out alive while saying 'fuck you' to everything I've been through behind me.

Besides, I got somebody to back me up. The light truffle of warmth in my chest tells me that She will, and always will be.

That was enough to make me smile and lift my spirits up. Why don't I exert all this happy in me with a little jog, eh?

Here we go! Hup two three four! Hup two three four! Hup two three four! Hup two three four! Hup two three four! Hup two three…..

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

Well! Look at this place! It just got even lusher! What the hell!? In this clearing, there are more flowers than before! More below the foot of the Cross and even more lining the tree line. Interestingly, there was a gap left open just for me just at the edge of the clearing. Is it me or did the trees just got a lot 'fatter'? In the sense that their shrubs of branches and leaves got bulkier compared to the last time I visited in the middle of the day. They were big enough to grant shade on parts of the clearing from the sun but not enough that there are still sunbeams poking through them.

The Cross isn't an exception either, it got even leafier. Damn!

There wasn't any rhyme or reason in their growing places at the monument, however. It didn't really look pleasing to the eyes. I guess that means I will have to snip them off later, keep the entire thing clean and bare. I'll need a ladder though. Scaling it would feel wrong for me, not to mention that it will topple because of my weight.

Just by existing, the Cross was making the entire place very fertile with plant life, huh? One year later, this place is gonna be flooded with so many vines that it's gonna be difficult to pass through and pray here.

You gotta slow down on the gardening, God. Make sure it doesn't obstruct Your worshippers from entering.

Okay, let's begin. I already got my shoes off so I'll place them beside me as I kneel down before the Cross. With a deep breath, I then begin.

…..

…..…..…..I snap my head to look over my shoulder. There was nothing, but my instincts were going haywire; something was watching me. I don't know what or who, but I could tell that it was not friendly. I've hiked through forests before, sometimes do parkour through one just for fun, and I memorized the sensations I'd feel at certain intervals whenever I pass through an animal path. There was the feeling of uncertainty, the feeling of being watched, and the feeling of being stalked.

The third one was primarily reserved for animals.

Now that I've looked over the place the second time, I just realized that there were scratch marks on some of the trees. My first thought was bear, but I didn't think so. The 4 or 5 lines that belong to claws from a single paw are too spread out for a bear's. It must've came from something larger than it, but what? I am familiar with the lines Kodiak bears leave, and this isn't it. Tiger paws are slightly smaller or matching in paw size.

If it's a dire bear, I swear…..

I looked at the tree tops: no birds of prey. Not even their caws or cries are heard. I only hear small birds. That means nothing has died here; it is not a hunting ground where a deer or some prey has died nearby for the carrions to eat. It could mean that the animal responsible for those claw lines might just be passing by, I don't even smell anything that relates to territorial markings like fur rubbings or urine.

Yet….why do I still feel like I'm being stalked?

I slowly rose up to my feet, making no sudden movements as I looked around me very carefully and critically. I kept my back facing the cross, making sure I'm covered in that direction and also not visible from there so I could primarily focus on everything in front of me in a 180 angle. Through each gap of the trees surrounding the clearing, I scrutinized everything in the forest very closely without moving a muscle.

I checked the shrubs, I checked the branches of the trees outside the clearing, I even checked behind me for anything furry, scaled, or huge. When I saw nothing throughout the stationary search, I became even more paranoid. The birds were getting loud. Their songs were very tame when I arrived, and now they're screaming bloody murder. I don't see any within sight but they were somewhere outside the clearing, hidden in the shrubs. The winds were getting wild too, carrying thousands upon thousands of bird songs to resonate from every fucking direction. The whooshing wind is also grazing my ears, mixing with the shrills, and I could not hear clearly.

Fuuuuck…!

Now I really feel like I'm in complete danger. This is not natural. What's happening is not natural. All this was deliberate, somebody's controlling what's going on. It's making me incapable of hearing what's coming very clearly, making me lose my focus amidst the noise, and making me lose composure.

…..I grabbed behind me and felt for the wooden texture of the Cross, closing my eyes briefly for a quick prayer. †Watch over me, O Lord. Grant me pardon for this brief indiscretion† I stomped a few steps forward, meters away from the Cross, and enforced my fear into desperation.

I took a deep breath, then, [HUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHH!‼!] My body immolated red with fire.

Down on my knees, clutching my head dramatically for my situation. My breath was nothing but heaves, guttural and desperate, oozing out my fear.

…No more fear, let it burn.

Fear will kill you, slow you down, make you an easy target. You can't think right, you can't fight right, and you can't do anything right. All because you're scared. So don't be. The strong always rule by fear, and sometimes without any good behind it. Whoever was doing this….wanted you to feel weak.

LOOK WHO'S WEAK NOW!?

[HAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHHHHH!] GOLEM, COME OUT AND FUCK EVERYTHING OVER!

With a deafening thunderclap, the guy bursts out of my back explosively like a volcanic eruption with smoke and hellfire, flailing its arms wildly, causing the grass around me to burn, causing a massive heat wave around me.

Aaaaahh, so HOOOOT! It's like the fucking desert around meeeeeee!

[AAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!] Golem began to stretch from its flaming tornado-leg straight upwards 30 feet into the air and let out a violent supernova: a fiery ring that expanded outwards, hitting nothing but air, but the heat it gave off will affect everything around it.

«Roaring Spitfire—Dancing Titan»

A new Spell Card, contributing to the one thing I'll always do when I feel threatened, cornered, or afraid: and that is to Lose it.

The Golem was now three times its normal size, and its flailing got even more violent to the point where I started to think it was destroying itself trying to swat at a swarm of bees that I couldn't see. It was shooting fire balls everywhere, but in accordance to my will it did not try to burn the forest. Left and right, front and back, but never downwards.

There was no pattern of its shots, but it was shooting streams of fire danmaku from its four fingers. If I look closely, they look like the extension of its claws trying to strike at something from afar. Flamethrowers were also there too, bursting out of its mouth to give the impression that it was screaming or roaring, and both its shoulders were letting off periodic bursts of flame and smoke, like the crater of a volcano.

There were also giant firebombs, and they come out of its claws like grenades, lobbed upwards at every angle. But as soon as they lose momentum or even come close to the trees by 10 feet, they explode. What I've learned before: the shrapnel of a grenade will be the one to kill you, not the explosion. But those firebombs don't have shrapnel, I don't even see them shake the trees nearby them to indicate that they have a blast wave. I think they're just giving heat and noise. I could even see the ripple of the air near them very vividly from this distance.

The result: every bird flew the fuck outta here. There were so many species, so many I couldn't recognize one I knew among the thousands of them.

When the Spell Card was finally over, the Golem vanishing entirely, everything was now silent.

Yeah, that's right. Keep quiet, there are people praying. Do not disturb them.

Foooo…..okay. Stand up. Gotta bring Her out; come on, Holy Spirit. I need you. [Mind extinguishing any flames out there?] She did, and she targeted the scorching spot below me. Same place I was while screaming my head off. Seems the only damage found was this spot, and whoa, man. I'm surrounded in a circular patch of burnt grass.

This sure is one way to fuck over Holy Ground. [Hehe…] I turned towards the Cross and inclined my head apologetically, {Sorry for this, Bro.} I might have to leave some holy orbs around here. While I can trust that no Youkai could walk on Holy Ground, they could still screw with me from afar. I'm gonna have to ask Her to patrol this place at a 50 meter radius, just like Reimu's barriers 'round my home.

*growl*

…..

….…..…..about time you've come around. But it struck me odd though…no predator would make a noise when it comes to hunting prey. Whoever this animal is….it's not an ambush predator. Could be trying to scare me off due to trespassing. That sure was a deep growl. Was it a wolf? Whatever, I've dealt with worse. Let's get you out of this place, pooch. This is a place for prayer, neutral grounds that belong to everybody, not something to claim as your personal own. A little fire will make you go away.

I turned my head slowly before I turned my body—

—what the fuck?

What the fuck? What the fuck!? What the fuck!? What The Fuck!? WHAT THE FUCK!? HOW IS THAT THING HERE!? WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT THING DOING HERE IN JAPAN!?

IT'S A MOTHERFUCKING LION!

Not just any lion, but it's a BIG one! It can't be. That thing can't be here! Lion's aren't native here. A forest is not even their best habitat! They can't hunt prey in a forest environment—they can't even climb trees fast enough to catch a monkey! How the fuck is that thing here!?

This fucking guy….he's almost as big as a fucking car, almost larger than a Kodiak bear. Gold fur so shiny it even glinted against whatever light that hit it. His mane was something else entirely, it was pure red. Unlike the lions I've seen on TV, this big one was clean. He had no dirty spots on his face, his plumage isn't even rugged or rough, it's slick and smooth-looking as my hair. His eyes were a bright yellow, and they did not look friendly.

If the Nemean Lion ever existed, then I'm seeing it now.

As soon as half his body was into the clearing, his other half still within the tree line, another growl erupts behind me.

ShiiiiiiiIIIT! THERE'S TWO OF THESE FUCKERS!?

I did my best to never look agitated, making sure I don't trigger any attack instinct they naturally had. The lion didn't move, merely sizing me up from his spot, so I slowly side-stepped, making sure I don't get sandwiched by these—

The one behind me is charging!

I faced the other predator and JUMPED as soon as it pounced towards me. [HA! SHIT!] HOLY SHIT! I NEARLY GOT SWIPED BY THOSE FUCKING CLAWS!

OOF!

HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! I JUST DIVED OVER A FUCKING LION! OH SHIT! OH SHIT! HOW DO I GET OUT OF HERE!? RUNNING IS POINTLESS! THEY COULD JUST OUTRUN ME! HOW!? HO—

Wait, Holy Fire! I could use holy fire! It could incapacitate the—

*ROOOAAAR!* SHIT, IT'S CHARGING AGAIN!

[GAAAHHAAAAGGHH!] GET UP! GET UP! GET UP! GET UP YOU FUCKING IDIOT! STOP SLIPPING AND GET THE FUCK UP! OH SHIT! SHE'S POUNCING AGAIN!

ROLL!

*BAK!* HOLY FUCKING SHIT, I HEARD IT SMASH THE FUCKING GROUND WITH ITS PAWS!

*ROAAAAR!* OOOOH FUCKING GEEZ! THESE THINGS ARE FUCKING SCAAAAARRYYYYY!

HOLY FLAMMENWERFER TO YOUR FUCKING FACE! [GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!] HOLY FUCKING SHIT, I SOUND LIKE A FUCKING LITTLE GIRL!

YES! YES! IT'S STAGGERING BACKWARDS! YEAH! BACK AWAY YOU FUCKING BITCH! YOU CAN'T MATCH UP TO THE LORD'S POWAAAAAH!

Quickly rising up to my feet while both hands kept blowing the flamethrower to keep her down, I slowly advanced forward as she slowly backed away into the tree line. Yes, back off! I would've used the real flames but I don't wanna burn this place apart! This is my place to pray, and I'm not destroying it for your sakes!

Spell Card. Yes! Gotta use the one!

"«HOLY SPIRIT»" I instantly felt warmth swarming across my entire form, destroying all of my fear and filling me with zeal. "«LET THE FIRE—GHUA!"

The Nemean Lion smashed into my side, sending me to the ground rolling and making me unable to cast the Spell Card. The collision alone was painful, something that big hitting me could've broke bone! Miraculously, I only felt my ribs get winched. Better than having them shattered.

Now my panic has reawakened, sending me again into the dose of adrenaline as soon as my disorientation was gone. The lion that rammed me was at the edge of the clearing eyeing me, the other lion, a white lioness, was charging again with a roar. For the last time, surely.

[FUCK OFF!] My emotions were a mess. I couldn't stop the paranoia and hysteria rolling around my mind. My state of mind was in a seismic shock. I was no longer thinking. Instead of the holy flamethrower, I instead let out the St. Elmo's Pillar.

And I missed. My aim was true, but the lion swerved out the way.

As soon as the lioness lacerated my outstretched left hand with a vicious swipe, leaving two lines of deep wounds as the focus of my magic was cut off, shutting down the fire pillar, I knew that I was about to die.

And I suffered tunnel vision, seeing nothing else but the beast that'll kill me. The roaring face of a lioness, giant teeth lining its jaws from up to down ready to sink into my throat. She slammed a paw with outstretched claws into the shoulder of my newly-enchanted shirt, poking but not piercing through it. It didn't stop it from hurting like a bitch, I even felt it sinking into a gap in the bones underneath my skin and muscle. I held my arms up, not even hoping that it'll stop her jaws from coming close or even take my left hand instead of all of me at that point, because I know that it's hopeless to stop an animal. Whether she takes my arm or not, I'm gonna fucking die here.

Animals have evolved in order to kill, and a human who have evolved to be civilized could not hope to match. This lion's blue eyes bore into me, and now she's rearing her head back, ready to take my arm or rip my face off.

Suddenly….I was suddenly blinded by a flash of bright white light.

…..no, I was not blinded. I was looking at something that was glowing bright, and was not able to blind me at the same time. The pressure on my right shoulder was gone, I couldn't see the lion anymore.

I watched it all happen right in front of me as I lie on the ground.

It was a bright and glowing humanoid, tall enough to outmatch Yuugi, and it was basically nothing but made of pure white light. But certain details were clear: it had worn long robes, including a headdress that hid the hair, and it had wings. Six wings. They were gigantic as they were fully spread outwards, each one nearly touching the edge of the clearing, and it was screaming in a high-pitched tone. It was at a frequency that could've rendered me deaf or explode my ear drums, but I wasn't hurt. There was no discomfort. Nothing.

I felt peace. I was not afraid. Not anymore. It felt like the fear and panic earlier was nothing but a brief episode, a sensation that's easy to forget. I didn't look anywhere, I was captivated at this angelic being who came to save me.

It continued to scream without a stop for breath (if it even had any), it was flailing its arms around, but unlike the Golem that did it violently, it had the grace of a ringmaster cowing a lion with its whip. Staying with the image, it had long tethers lashing out of its fingers, whipping the ground around me with a very audible snap. Its giant wings remained spread out, almost angled towards the lion to appear imposing or intimidating.

It never moved away. It stayed hovering above me, guarding me.

It suddenly rounded on its back, the light of its wings getting brighter and brighter as its shrill screaming rose higher in pitch, whipping at something above my head. I looked up and it was the Nemean Lion being forced to back off by the many glowing whips striking the ground before it, creating thin trenches on the grass. The beast didn't roar, but it took the quick message that as long as the being of light is here, I am off-limits. So it ran away, out of the clearing and into the forest, followed by the lioness.

Yeah, keep running.

The angel slowly floated to the side of my prone form. With arms that belonged to a giant woman, it placed a hand on my opposite hip. Unlike the Holy Spirit and her fires, I felt it. The hand was solid, tangible, I could feel the shape of its hand and the amount of pressure placed. Its other hand slowly scooped me up from the back, making my body shift upwards and I was gently pulled up to my feet.

Gracefully, it knelt before me, folding its wings behind it, now making her seem…small, life-sized. I just realized that it's a she, and she really isn't a giant at all, she's just taller than me by a single foot. Then it finally clicked to me:

This was the Holy Spirit Herself. She looks exactly like the representation I've had for Her in mind last Sunday. Don in long robes that Mother Mary wore, cloak and headdress included, and Her pure white body was slowly regaining color, returning into the image of a colorful night sky. Just the way I designed Her to be. Not a trace of darkness was found in Her, only a mixture of many colors that side-scrolled gently across her entire form.

Hesitantly, I reached for Her hand that hung on Her side. To my surprise, I could touch Her, feel Her. I could even interlock fingers with Her. Smiling over this, euphoria steadily filling me just being in touching contact with my Guardian Spirit, I said to her, [Thank You.]

With Her free hand, She reached for my head and pulled me close to nudge where Her mouth would be towards my forehead. She didn't have lips to pucker, but Her warmth is enough. After that, She parted our interlocked fingers and pulled me close for a tight embrace, my face buried into Her warm, cottony chest.

I was crying. I literally couldn't stop crying. I'm hugging the closest thing that is Jesus and God, right here, in my arms. This is something I could never hope to have happen to me Outside, never. It'll never happen. People Outside can feel the love of Christ, but have they ever touched Him? I'm the lucky one here. I'm actually hugging my Guardian Spirit, and I could feel all of her emotions: She loved me. She adored me. She prized me. She treasured me. I was the whole world to Her. I was everything to Her.

I have never felt so much love before. Never. Even if every mother in the world would combine their love together, they still wouldn't match up to this. The Holy Spirit loved me unconditionally, no question. She simply does. For all the things I've did, She still loves me. I have hurt, harmed, stolen, cursed, and even killed. Yet She didn't care about that. She only cared about me, me alone. That's all that mattered to Her.

I'm so full of love I could die happy right now. I want to stay here forever….

…..…..

…..…..…..…..…..

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..what the?

What? What? Huh!?

What the fuck happened!? WHa-what?!

The fuck?

…..O-okay, I'm confused…..I'm standing at the Place of Worship…..and what? What am I doing here?

I-I mean I know why I'm here, I'm supposed to pray here for today before I go to the village to get a job but…what happened?

….Why do I smell copper?

Hold on, why does my arm sting so much—

[WAAAAGH!] WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO MY LEFT ARM!?

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

Reimu didn't mind the pillar of fire that shot into the sky earlier, she didn't give a damn about a hulking humanoid on fire shooting danmaku and bombs in every direction around the nearby forest just moments ago, but this time she couldn't ignore the sight that graced her wide brown eyes from the torii archway.

Eman Letitia, heaving in breath from the trek up the stairs, was holding his lacerated left arm with his free right hand. He was bleeding a bloody mess, barely suppressing the drips on the cobblestone floors with his grasp around the open wounds. Despite his predicament, however, he was smiling awkwardly and sheepishly, even his pale face was visibly flushed in embarrassment, as if he had done something she specifically told him not to do.

"Um…" His voice remained steady and nonchalant as always, slightly raised so she could hear him from his distance. "…may I once again request for a little bit of assistance?"

The tea that slipped out of her grasp and scalded her thighs in her seiza position was enough to snap her out of it. As she was yelping and cursing at the stain on her skirt, she did not miss the fact that Eman was laughing his ass off at her mishap.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

The artificial cave was impressively wide, Dispatcher mentally admitted. From what she can smell, the strongest minerals were uprooted from the deep earth and were reshaped into pillars to hold up the cavern ceiling that reached heights of 50 feet from caving in. There were no stalagmites or stalactites, and the ground was as smooth and even as the surface of a grassland. There were no light sources besides the hidden opening she and Queen slipped through to enter, and they have left the entrance long ago, venturing further into the imperceptible darkness.

As transcendent beings, they were above the use of eyesight and echolocation.

After a long venture that lasted for nearly 12 hours, Dispatcher and Queen finally reached the end of the artificial cave, nothing more than a smooth wall that curved upwards to the high ceiling. For once, Dispatcher found a different detail besides pillars and earth: there was an elevated part of the cave near the wall, raised upwards like a stage.

And there was a human-shaped form knelt atop it, motionless and facing the wall. She nearly thought it was a giant cobra at first, but quickly deducted that it was merely wearing a human fur called a 'cloak' with a wide hood, making the entire figure ambiguous in physique. The Japanese character of 'Pride' was strangely but elegantly inscribed at the back of the hood.

Dispatcher was quick to be suspicious. For one thing, the figure carried the scent of driftwood, carrying the mark of being ancient. She didn't smell flesh, anything in particular that belonged to the living. Whoever this stranger was, it clearly wasn't a living being in essence. Just like Youkai.

Queen did not seem concerned, gliding towards the knelt stranger without any sign of caution. Stood just before the edge of the stage, her tranquil and dulcet voice echoed throughout the entire silent cavern. "You must be the Adviser that was called for service?"

The 'Adviser' turned its hooded head just slightly to the left, a mere 10 degree turn, but it was enough indication that the Queen was heard. "Indeed I am." The voice was smooth, youthful, and ambiguous in gender. "And you must be the Queen he so boasted about."

"That is correct." The Lioness replied, "I am his mate, permanently his in life and in death."

"Hmm." In grace that nearly matched a snake raising its body upwards to square against a predator, the Adviser stood up sophisticatedly and turned face towards them.

Dispatcher discovered that this stranger had the face of a human underneath the black hood, a pale complexion mixing the features of both feminine and masculine that it's impossible for her to identify if the individual was either male or female. The smell of ancient driftwood does not helps matters either. Plants don't have genders.

"It seems his boasting is not farfetched. You are beautiful, far above the standards of the humans in this land and ones Outside." The Adviser's androgynous voice resonated once again, the smooth inflexion gracing Dispatcher's ears like a melody.

"I thank you for your compliments." Queen bowed to the hermaphrodite in gratitude, then gestured to the short girl beside her. "I introduce to you the new servant. A temporary enforcer to Lady Yakumo Yukari named Dispatcher."

As soon as the Adviser's jade eyes turned towards her, there was the fire of disgust and loathing that Dispatcher did not miss. His/her lips curled into a malicious sneer, an unsettling hiss echoing around the caves as he/she seemingly took a sharp inhale of breath. "I seeeeee." The dragged bowel nearly sounded like a shrill growl, "That pompous cur's ego knows no bounds that he would acquire another servant to do his will instead of his own fucking paws because it is beneath him."

Dispatcher immediately growled at the stranger who would dare assume the intentions of the King.

"You are mistaken." Queen's voice remained even and calm, her honeyed voice unwavering at the words said about her husband. "She is initiated into ascension and service due to my will and no one else's."

The Adviser didn't turn his/her eyes away from Dispatcher even as he/she was spoken to, taking stock of her form from up to down with very calculating eyes that intermingled with the malice in them. "Another Chimera, I see. And one that's of One Mind." With gracefulness that perfectly matched Queen's movements, he/she glided towards the short woman, his cloak dragging across the smooth cavern floors without any sound of footsteps reaching supersonic ears. As soon as he/she was in arm's reach with her, the hermaphrodite suddenly grabbed her jaw in a vicious motion with a black gloved hand and forced her to come practically face to face with him/her. "Fascinating. This cub seems to be taking after him, having a head the size of a boulder. She even has the same stench as him."

Dispatcher's antagonistic growling was loud enough to become a roar of its own right, strong enough to shake the entire cavern. She was taught to never lash out on anyone, even if insulted unless attacked, to better illustrate herself as a being that's above beast and man. But this infuriating bastard had all the nerve to grab her chin and force her to look straight in his/her eyes, as if she was some Stupid Human that gets forced around by the strongest of their kind. His every movement and all the words he said basically drove her frustrations all the way to the boiling point that she wanted to murder him straight away.

She tried to pull away, hoping to subtly shred his/her fingers with her teeth in the motion, serving as the lightest payback she could give for having her identity as the Perfect Hunter being compared to something that's visible and detectable. Instead of removing herself from his/her grasp, she ended up pulling the Adviser with her, making their bodies smack together and furthering the contact between their faces. She was very up-close to the domineering flare of his jade eyes, their noses colliding and she could practically taste the venom dripping out of his words. "Ha! This Nine Headed Cat actually thinks she's perfect! She's not even above Pride! Look at her! She can't even control her emotions! She's boiling with rage! She's supremely obese with self-importance! This girl is no different than that Fuck of a Lion!"

Dispatcher couldn't take it anymore.

She threw away all her subtlety, all her capabilities, as well as her skill and finesse when she finally lashed out, thrusting a claw that moved quicker than any light towards his chest, hoping to rip his heart out and splatter it on the surface of the cave's wall.

"Oh…" The Adviser was suddenly behind her, stroking her extended arm as if he/she was feeling the texture of a sculpture. "….so fast it outpaces even light itself."

To her shock, her face was suddenly pushed into the ground with enough force to create a crater, sending rocks to fly in multiple directions. She wasn't hurt in anyway but something else was horribly mutilated within her. "….yet why did you miss me? Could this mean that you aren't so perfect like you think you are? Could it mean that despite all the Nine Minds that constitute your own to turn you into something beyond the concept of natural reality, you still cannot hit me, who is of wood and bark?"

Roaring a storm, her entire second spine that was her tail unsheathed itself from her back and began lashing at everywhere. The intensity of her strikes were so violent it created a violent sandstorm in the cavern, the temperatures of the air rising up merely by the speed of her bony appendage and causing a cave-in in certain areas.

Despite this, she wasn't able to hit the Adviser. He was too fast. Faster than her. He/she simply stood afar from the chaos, laughing at her with his/her narrowed eyes and malicious leer.

The indignance of it all made her rage become nigh-uncontrollable, and as this cannot stand for her pride as the fastest among all living things, she decided to simply damn it all. She will not be denied. She destroyed her physical body; bone, sinew and tissue melting, crumbling, reshaping, and destroying itself. Her true body, the unnatural body, the unspeakable body—the monstrous form that cannot grace the minds of man and beast has risen out of her feeble flesh. Concept of space and time completely violated, her gargantuan form fitting the limited space of the cavern, her murderous tail causing the entire ground to melt, opening the core to the earth, she—

"Child?"

Dispatcher was snapped awake. For the second time, her orange eyes were wide in complete shock and disbelief, unable to comprehend what was in front of her. Queen, concern and worry crossing her features, placed a finger below her chin tenderly. When she looked around her, she realized that nothing had changed. She had lost control and lashed out at everything, but everything in the cavern was at the same state before she released her true body.

For the first time as a transcendent being, she started questioning what was real.

"You were becoming agitated," Queen remarked, peering closely at her face. "And your shell began falling apart on its own. What happened to you?"

Internally gasping, Dispatcher looked down on herself and realized that she was still in her human body, free of any signs that she broke it apart due to her own wounded pride. But her left arm had formed into a monstrosity, a mixture of obsidian texture, raptor claws, and the anatomical structure of a dragon. The right side of her head had grown three horns and a wing. Her second spine was hanging from the back of her head, waving in a hypnotic sway while the end rattled side to side, causing any sound to become distorted.

A sly chuckle broke the silence, coming from confused directions thanks to Dispatcher's tail. The latter turned her eyes to the artificial stone stage and saw the Adviser, still in the same position he/she was before stepping down to ridicule her to the point of murder. "She still has much to learn as an advanced species."

The Lioness turned to him/her, then turned to the short girl. After a moment of silence, realization flashed across her enchanting blue orbs and faced the Adviser again, "You forced her into an illusion."

Another chuckle, one that wasn't any malicious. "He boasted of your intelligence, it did not disappoint." He/she nodded slowly in approval, "If I can destroy the pride of man-made gods, then it will be no trouble for me to bruise a chimera's self-importance."

Queen had enough patience to let such a transgression done to her servant/child pass. Dispatcher was having none of it, however, growling even more to show that she will definitely kill him/her if it ever happened again, her increasingly frantic tail causing the temperature to rise, bothering no one. "That's what you can do? You destroy pride?"

"Not just destroy, I can devour it too." His/her voice did not hint a boast, only a mere statement of the fact. "Vanity, immodesty, conceitedness, arrogance—so long as you carry none of them, I will bring even the haughtiest king to the pigsty by your command." He/she stepped down from the artificial stage, practically floating in motion as he/she glided towards Queen and bowed humbly before her. "Oh ye who is without pride, I shall serve and accomplish thy will. What is your command?"

Dispatcher wanted to let out the command to 'commit suicide', but she could only sneer and growl subtly, hiding her misshapen anatomy underneath the shell of her human body. This could only mean that she will have to work alongside him/her, and she will never enjoy even the slightest second the sooner they are alone together.

"Your service will be appreciated." Queen acknowledged, gesturing the Adviser to rise up. "The task I have for you will be beyond the capabilities of any man, can you truly hold up to our expectations?"

"I am no man nor beast, my Queen." He/she rose up, practically matching in towering stature as the Lioness. "I am nothing but wood and lumber, my capabilities are many."

The aura of elegance and grace disappeared from Queen's form, the demeanor of authority that stood above all creation began to emanate out of her. She merely stood still, staring back at the Adviser's eyes, but Dispatcher was quick to see the subtle shift of the Lioness's deportment. She instinctively bowed her head in the presence of the Supreme Alpha. "As we herald our advent to my Sweet Master's Paradise, I ask that you plague the land, but never to the extent that it cannot be mended. Let the suffering you bring to the inhabitants be bearable."

"Plague…you say…." The Adviser contemplated the command, brow slightly creased in thought. "Hmm…." He/she turned around, facing away from the Queen to ponder over it carefully. The Lioness gave him/her all the time he/she needed, likewise Dispatcher, and they waited. As five hours have finally passed, allowing night to arrive outside the cavern, he/she turned around once again, and his/her form was drastically different.

What was once a loose-fitting dark cloak was now a completely snug wardrobe, hugging his/her form to the point that he/she practically shrunk from a once-baggy robed form. His/her physique had been ambiguous, now it was known that he/she actually had a slim build, neither masculine nor feminine, neither lanky nor muscular. The once baggy sleeves shrunk, morphed into a stretchy material that gripped the arms tightly, ending with grey leather gloves that resembled claws at the fingertips. A belt was worn above the hip, exposing a slim waist. A long slit is now present at the lower front of his attire, the slight crack in-between exposing tightfitting pants of jet black leather, ending with pointy black steel-toed shoes.

The most prominent feature was the dark crow mask obscuring the Adviser's face, reducing any visible flesh into concealment, not even hair is visible underneath the large hood. The material of the face wear was unidentifiable, neither steel nor plastic, the smell of aged driftwood increasing its ambiguity. The beak was particularly sharp in its slanting shape, no longer than 20 inches from the face. Two round clouded ocular lenses are found in the place of eyes, and Dispatcher could see that it was not made of conventional glass.

With a new state of wear, the Adviser's air of mystery has developed to higher levels, the stillness of his/her unmoving form and lack of breathing further contributed to the enigma. No visible emotion, life, or even expression, it practically made him/her resemble a statue. Or a corpse. An uncanny corpse that stood perfectly upright.

In a voice that was lowered in octave to the tiniest extent, reverberating, soft, but maintaining the silky smooth and youthful diction that ever came close to be identified as male, he finally replied to Queen's command five hours ago. His body never made the slightest movement as he spoke, the gravely intonation of his speech only made him more frightening.

"That can be arranged."