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.

11. Ain't No Ordinary Conflict

Gymnasting this bitch, baby!

While I was doing the backhand springs on the floors (still waterlogged and flooded), avoiding a series of rapid fire shots, the goblins in my pelted a shot at the right moment at our enemy.

Needless to say, they're very good at it, and this is kind of amazing actually. They have a noticeable body weight, there were eight of 'em on me, yet they didn't even bother the momentum, I'm Flicking my feet just fine.

So far, our progress into apprehending Marisa was sound, but slow. Throughout the fight, I was certainly learning the kind of badass Marisa was, what she could actually do beneath the exterior of infinite energy of rudeness and brashness I usually see the last few days. There's practically an army trying to shoot her down, beat her down, or were just aiming to put her down. And she's not showing the slightest sign of having any struggles.

"Yeah! Yeah! Keep flippin', Eman!" Shouted she as she pelted my backflipping form in a fly-by, completely dodging the bullets sent her way by my goblins and a Meiling Spirit Ball.

Holy hell, was she a fighter. More than a few goblins had been nailed by her and are not waking up. Patchouli got shot multiple times as well, her garbs becoming more and more tattered and shredded with each individual star hitting her. Meiling was having the short end of it all: she got smashed with giant stars, got the blunt end of the broom slamming against her abdomen and driving her to the wall (full of edges due to the books that was once there gone), and she even received a mini-version of that Megaton Laser blown to her face.

It is officially safe to say that she is beating the shit out of all of us.

I'm really making friends with the most dangerous people, aren't I?

Well, it sounds good either way. If I had such friends, I'll be protected from even the worst people if I can't deal with them myself.

…well, right now it's kinda off that I'm trying to beat up my dangerous friend. It doesn't help that she's my enemy at the moment.

And why am I her primary target!?

"Stop! (Flick) Trying (Flick) To! (Flick) Hit (Flick) ME! (Dive to a corner in a roll!)" Why is she pelting on me all the time and only going for the others when they try to hit her!?

"No way! I wanna see how long yer gonna keep flippin' it up!" And she instantly came to the corner, facing me with a vial in hand.

"Boys!" I shouted, and the goblins that were packing charged danmakus in hand amidst my flicks finally threw their attacks towards my pursuer.

Again, she just dodges them like nothing and throws the fucking thing she's holding at me. I ran away from its trajectory in a panic, I could even feel the boys in my person feeling the same way.

*BOOOM!*

I underestimated the blast force of that thing: I was literally blown off my feet by the force of the explosion behind me, the boys ended up getting thrown off me as well, I even got them crushed under my weight as I failed to roll properly on the ground and only ended up rolling like a barrel. As a shower of exploded water rained down on me, I found out (once again) that I'm really the most underprepared in this bullshit. You can't fly or shoot danmaku, ya can't do nothin'. I'm being the worst vehicle for these boys too.

Choosing to ignore the floating incapacitated bodies of the goblins spread out around my lying form, I quickly shot up to my feet, using my adrenaline as a good boost and bolted to another row of shelves, trying to zigzag in between just in case she's behind me and decided to ignore the goblins.

Looking behind me: Giant cyan star coming my way.

[AAAAIIIII!] Roll to the water!

The comet-esque projectile whizzes by where my upper body was before and it slammed against a bookshelf, apparently tipping it over, spilling its knowledgeable contents to the ground with a big splash along with a loud thud.

We're really making a mess here, aren't we? At least we're not scattering paper all over the place like that library scene from League of Extraordinaire Gentlemen. What are these books made of, steel? Or are danmaku bullets harmless also to the environment?

"Nice dodge-ze!"

Taking a glance at the witch that was there floating above, I grabbed a drenched book that was on the floor and ran to the side, away from her view. "Meiling! Patchouli! I'm in need of assistance!" I seriously don't like calling for help in this situation but it's desperate times: Fuck my pride and use some allies to get away with it.

"Yer calling for help!? Too low, man! I thought you be a guy who'd rather do things on his own!"

Behind a shelf, I leapt up and grabbed onto the edge with one hand, the random book in my other hand, "It's desperate times" [You dumbass!] And I throw the damn book towards her flying form as I pulled myself up, not trying to make an effort to hit her but hoping to at least do some form of retaliation on my pa—

*Pak!* "Aah!"

…

Did-did I just hit her in the face!?

*Crash!* I even sent her off-course towards a shelf!

YES! Now THAT is what I like to call: FACEBOOK, Dear Sister! That's like the fucking second time I did that to ya!

Gotta take the chance. "Boys, now's your chance!" I roared, and the other surviving squads formed up for the pyramid formation for the giant danmaku ball from their positions clinging onto the shelves at the far wall, aiming to nail her down while—uh oh.

Marisa had a spell card raised.

"Duck for cover!" I shouted.

"«Ritual Sign—Orreries Sun»!"

Boom! From the power of creation comes out 4 globes the size of basketballs floating in the air in a circular pattern above her like a halo as she gets up to her feet, then they began to float around her like a solar system with her as the sun as she flew up to the air as well.

Some kind of protection spell perhaps?

*BBZZZZZZZZ*

No it's not!

Out from those globes came out individual lasers of painful power and it was directed at the squad, one laser per goblin, and they fell down like flies from the shelves to the ground, their red-skinned forms smoking, the giant danmaku ball they made not even given another second to exist.

The lasers have stopped coming out of them but was replaced with white stake-like bullets, shot towards Patchouli that was floating above, towards Meiling that happened to be in the open, and even more on the surviving goblins scurrying around as they dove for cover. She's flying all over the place just for the sakes of nailing all of us.

She's a one-woman army, she is.

And she's coming after me!

RUN!

Dropping from the edge, a few white stakes whizzed right where my head had been (you're really tryin' to kill me, aren't ya!?) and embed themselves to the floor. The form of a black/white riding a broom whizzed by above before disappearing from my view. If I'm her primary target at the moment, I should keep running.

I'll just keep zigzagging these shelves until I get an opening. Thank God the water level on the floor is ankle-deep, the amount of fire magic Patchouli and Marisa used sure evaporated quite the amount, I could run like usual now. I just gotta make sure that I don't slip and humilia-expose myself.

I kept hearing more of those red electric danmaku bullets whizzing by above, trying to nail the flying criminal in the best of efforts. Keep it up boys, I'll be there in a sec, just don't fucking hit the area I'm running on, you'll fry me! I also noticed a few lasers and yellow orbs being thrown about, that's definitely Patchouli. I think I heard rapid footsteps go by at a little distance away with a blur of green and a little bit of scarlet. Meiling?

"Hey, Eman!" Marisa's voice sounded like it was coming from the end of the library, which was far from here by a couple of meters. How did she end up going to the far end of the hall that fast? "Where you at!? You an' I got unfinished business to do-ze!"

[That's my line, you dumbass!] I instantly clamped my mouth after I said that. I just stupidly exposed myself by screaming.

IDIOT! EMAN, YOU GOTTA LEARN TO SHUT UP IN A FIGHT!

"There you are!" Holy shit! Where the hell did you come from!? Weren't you a 100 meters away just a second ago!?

[Ain't gonna get me!] And so, I hauled-ass onwards in-between two rows of shelves. She still had those globes revolving around her so I need to keep zigzagging to avoid getting skewered by those stakes. Rule of running away from gunfire: don't run in a straight line.

Worst-case scenario: she uses those lasers on me and bore a hole in me!

Left! Sharp right! Right! Feint left and go right instead! Straight! Straight and curve right! Left! Right! It's so hard turning without slipping!

I'm in a state of adrenaline right now, the rush making my exhaustion imperceptible. Thinking that she was gonna kill me or hurt me so bad activates the surge so I'm sort of outrunning her. But I know that she's being deliberate with her slow speed (catching up to me with no problem, I mean), I already had, like, more than 6 and a half hours of riding experience on that broom and I'm fully aware that it could go faster than that.

She's toying with me. She's definitely enjoying the amount of chaos she's creating rather than just finishing me off.

Let's do something crazy, shall we?

Dash! I swerved to the right, heading towards a shelf. Upon close-contact, I executed the wallrun with each edge the shelf has. Naturally, I had it tipping over because of my weight but it's just what I wanted. When it got halfway tipping, I quickly ejected off backwards and twisted in the air to land atop the next shelf behind.

Daredevil time.

Shaking my head to whip out the water stuck to my hair, I looked over my shoulder to see the maniacal witch with a manic smirk on her face that passed by me was making a U-turn and was currently heading back over to me, globes revolving around her vertically at a rapid speed that they became blurry, giving the impression of an airplane propeller, broom point poised to strike me in the abdomen.

Bring it on, Marisa….!

What I'm gonna do is definitely gonna guarantee falling off this shelf and earning possible bodily damage but it's worth a try. I never done this thing before anyway: the Webster Drop Kick.

Tunnel vision, slow motion, sounds deafening all around me, my body couldn't get any stiffer than it is as I watched Marisa get closer and closer, awaiting my chance. This has to be quick and well-timed. If I mess it up, I'll get a fracture from being struck by that broom point. If I don't, I'll end up falling on my back to the flooded floor.

The second one sounds nice so I'll settle to it.

Come on! Bring it!

"EEeeeeeeeeeeee—" Here she comes a screamin'!

[AAAAaaaaaaaaaaa—] I scream too!

"—eeeeeeeeeeee—"

[—aaaaaaaaaaaaa—]

WEBSTER DROP KI—

"HHHAAAAAAA!" A foot came slamming into the side of the witch's face.

*CRASH!* And she was sent flying off with her broom and into a far end wall lined with books.

….Holy shit, Chun Lee out of left field. She just fucking Dynamic Entry-ed Marisa in the face!

Breaking out of the pre-Webster flip position and into a casual standing position, crossing my arms as I faced Meiling who stood at the floors with a mock expression of displeasure. [I had that, y'know.]

"I noticed," She told, wiping her forehead with a tired smile. "But I saw an opening so I took the chance and broke her spell card."

'Broke' her spell card?

I looked over to the fallen witch (she's still conscious and getting up): her orbiting globes are gone.

So you can break an active spell card by hitting 'em hard, eh? Interesting, I'll take note of it for future purposes.

"Ow….." Marisa rubbed her head, other hand grabbing an edge of the shelf-wall behind her to try and pull herself up to stand. Even from here, I noticed a single visible eye underneath the damp hat locking on Meiling, a lot of 'I'm'a kill you' vibes coming out of it. Oh dear, she didn't like that foot to the face. Good, I had enough of being chased anyway. Go for her, not me.

"It seems the fight isn't over." I warned, lowering to a crouch, my hand holding on to the edges of the shelf like a predator.

"Hmph." Huh, never thought of Meiling to hmph like that. That's not very noble warrior-like, you know. "Let her come, I'm prepared at any moment. With Patchouli, Jergo and you, we could win."

What makes me happy about what she said was that she included me. I'm actually acknowledged as a fighter now. Thank you, my friend.

Alright, let's push aside the mushiness and time for some kickass!

I steely glowered on Marisa, "Must you persist for a single book, Marisa? Wouldn't it be easier to stop and be civil?"

"No! Not yet!" She finally forced herself to a stand, heaving in breath. Despite the state she's in, she's got a really confident grin on, close to being the resemblance of madness. She's really not the type to give up, huh? If anything, I should give praise. I really should. Nobody could've stayed standing after all the punishment she went through, she even gave us a hard time as well. "Ain't gonna stop 'til I feel like it or when ya put me down, Eman!"

I could only smirk in pure delight. I sure as hell DON'T want this fight to end that quickly!

I stood up, "Then we shall let this conflict last until one side falls, my Dear Marisa!" Stomp the shelf for emphasis! "BOYS!‼ Annihilate this heathen!"

Receiving my shout, the boy's scattered all over from the floors in several places all the way to the walls clinging onto them, they began to cast magical orbs in their single clawed hands and increased them in size.

A purple light flashed by just a few meters away from me before the figure turned out to be Patchouli, a card in-between index and middle finger. "Let's see how you can escape being cornered, Marisa." She taunted in a casual soft tone, the book in her other hand opening and fluttering their pages in a rapid speed, the sign of an incoming powerful spell.

I snapped a look to Marisa. She had a really unnerving grin, as if she had this thing in the bag.

"Begone!" Patchouli shouted (or shouted as she could in that weak voice), throwing the card to the floor directly beneath her. "«Fire Metal Sign — St. Elmo's Pillar»!"

"HHHHAAARRRRGGHGHHH!" My goodness, that was Jergo roaring! This time, it was deeper and more demonic than I ever heard before, how in the hell was he having that deep of a baritone in that small body!?

In accordance to that roar, all giant electric danmaku orbs conjured by his crew were pitched towards Marisa in a horrifying speed.

The last thing I saw was something yellow glowing below Marisa's feet and about to blow up, 28+ red electric orbs coming towards her.

And a spell card in her hand.

*BBRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMM!‼‼*

...

Needless to say, the blast force of the explosion that came afterwards got me flying off the shelf. I gotta be honest, my bones felt like they were being pushed inwards. The feeling was so strange and mildly painful. It was also hot from the fire pillar that was definitely St. Elmo's Pillar and the giant flash of red that came from the goblins' charged danmaku mixed together to form a powerful blast blinded me. And fuck if my ears didn't ring from that.

*Catch!*

…

Don't tell me you got me in a princess hold, Chun Lee. Please don't tell me you just caught me in your arms and not let me fall to the floor.

I looked to my right: Meiling's face was there.

"You alright, Comrade?"

I got my ears ringing so I can't hear you at all.

I patted her shoulder before I struggled out of her grasp and I was on my feet to the wet floors again. It's not that I appreciate it, I just don't want to be caught like that. Being held like that, by a woman out of all people, was the most painful blow to my manly pride. I was prepared to face the floor with my back for the ninth time.

I covered my wet face and wiped it upwards to my hair. Damn it, this is seriously going to hurt me in my future days.

Horribly undignified, I ran over to the site of the explosion. With Patchouli floating above me, I made sure to not look up beneath her dress and focus on the smoking impact zone. I'm not a pervert and I swear to that until I get myself a wife.

Okay, the impact zone was sizzling underneath the waters, the floor blackened by the fire pillar and the wood of the shelf caught by collateral was singed off good, (the books survived though, just how? Seriously, I wanna know), but there was no burnt, smoking body of a black/white kleptomaniacal witch floating on the waterlogged floor.

…..

She escaped, I know it. She had a card in her hand, she probably used it to run away. She's around here somewhere, probably taking advantage of Patchouli's obliviousness. Where is she?

"Where did she go?"

I turned to Meiling, [Meiling, you sense her anywhere?]

She closed her eyes with the opening just a slit. They suddenly shot open, the look of horror on her mien agitated me, "*Gasp!* Ms. Patchouli, behind you—"

*TTNNNKKLLLLL! POP!* Too late.

Meiling's shout was cut short as the answer to Patchouli's query in the form of a giant star slammed against her back, propelling her to the same spot Marisa should've been and crashing in a sparkle of colors and water.

How ironic.

"Ha ha! It's not over yet-ze!" Marisa the Ordinary Magician was aloft in the air, apart from her previous damages caused by the Dynamic Entry, she didn't have a trace of any burns on her clothes at all. Just tatters and shreds, she somehow escaped that splosion.

I really wanna know how long this thing'll end.

Thank God I always expect the worse out of situations like this, otherwise I'd lose my focus by thinking about how she got out of that explosion in the middle of the fight.

"STOP!" I held up my hands. Meiling looked stupefied at my actions, but I ignored her and maintained my hands up and hopefully have Marisa comply.

"What? You surrenderin' or somethin'!?" Marisa asked, her excited grin (she's really enjoying this, ain't she?) never seeming to go anywhere from her face, throwing her hakkero up and down in her hand. "Even if you are, I'm not gonna show ya any mercy-ze!"

"None of that is my intention." I admonished, lowering my hands and spreading them. A signal for the boys to come on over. "Before we continue, I simply want to say that I was very impressed with how you managed to escape that." I clapped slowly, and that cued a sizable number of goblins to come out of their hiding spots and hopped on to me, looking for positions. "I never knew that my dear kindred could be so greater in skill than expected." The goblins had already taken positions, now they just had to take a little adjustment in their places.

"Gee, thanks-ze!" She blushed and looked away, scratching her head beneath her hat.

"And so, with no further ado," I slouched down until I rested my forearms on both my bent knees. The goblins huddled on my back adjusted positions and gathered near my shoulder blades and shoulders. I could already hear the characteristic buzzing of their blood electricity orbs. "Let us finish what we have started on the Human Village." I sneered, borderlining a smile, the glee of this fight running through my veins.

"WITH PLEASURE!" With a wild grin, she held a spell card in-between her fingers and hopped off her broom, landing to the floor with a slam. "«Star Sign — Eccentric Asteroid»!" She threw the card up to the air and began to spin her broom so fast that it's becoming a circular blur in her hand.

Ain't running no more now!

I charged forward, keeping my body low so the boys could have an aim. When I got into jumping distance, I quickly executed a backflip, not going any further than where I am. And it paid: what came out next was giant stars revolving around Marisa like an asteroid belt, coating her in a wide ring of galactic protection. If I went any closer, I would've been blown apart getting hit.

Okay, they're starting to expand and I have no way of getting in. So I will have to…. "Boys, aim at the stars!" And they did, charging up danmakus while I try to back away from the nearing stars.

Even Meiling couldn't get close, Marisa's asteroid belt of stars was becoming a globe. I could barely see her through the clusters, spinning that broom like no tomorrow.

"BAM!" She slammed the blunt point of the broom to the floor.

HOLY SHIT, THEY'RE BLOWING OUTWARDS!

*PAK‼!*

I got myself struck from one red giant star in the ribcage and got blown away, rolling on the waterlogged floor, wetting my clothes again before I got to a stop, groaning in agony. This could only compare to a soccer ball the size of a gymnast ball with the mass of a fucking anvil slamming against my chest. And motherfucking hell, I cannot fathom the amount of pain that gave me.

If I wanted to groan or cry in pain, I don't think that's possible. My lungs felt like it was pushed inwards. Tears leaking out of my eyes, I held on to my aching chest as I rolled to push myself up with one hand from the slippery ground. The force of impact was real, the pain was real, but my ribcage didn't feel like it was shattered to several pieces.

But the pain…..

….the pain…..

"Eman! You alright!?" Someone had a hold of my shoulder and rubbed my back. "Hang in there, Comrade. The pain will sap out in a few moments."

I nodded, breathes coming out in sharp heaves before coughing out dryly. I patted my chest, earning a wet smack from the wet fabric, as if doing so would ease it. At least it does, doing so doesn't spike the pain, I only feel my hand slapping against my damp shirt. So pain coming from a Danmaku bullet isn't affected by exterior sources, huh?

I took note of the boys: they got blown off my back and few were knocked unconscious, even fewer of them were standing on the flooded floor beside me, sunk from the hip-high as they pelted Marisa with large danmaku bullets, charged for 3 seconds in their hands before pitching them—

Oh no.

She's going to create another one. Even the charged blasts aren't doing much from destroying the revolving stars. More just keeps coming up to replace them.

"Meiling, be cautious….!" I forced in a growl, the pain is too much that I can't maintain my voice properly. "I'll recover in a few moments….." I paused for a sharp breath intake, "….Focus on the enemy. I'll manage on my own."

I managed to stand up (with her help) just fine. There was absolutely no part in my body damaged by that star, what my body took was just powerful bouts of pain to the chest. In other words, my mind was the only thing affected, not the body.

I'm starting to see the standard of a Spell Card Battle.

While the body will not be broken in any way, I will still feel pain either way. Master, if you are the one who really created this system like you say you did, then you are a Genius. People could fight violently in this bullshit and not die, get broken bones, or bleed, or all at once.

That means I could still move efficiently with a pain similar to a gunshot spiking my chest if I just ignore it.

Convenient. Not really helpful for the nerves, but convenient.

Smacking my chest, feeling the impact of my hand in the midst of pain, I slowly began to ignore it.

"Can you still move?" Meiling asked, keeping hold of my shoulder while she looked at me worriedly.

"Probably…." I breathed with a nod, rubbing my chest. Then I urged her forward with a free hand against her back, "Go. I'll be joining you shortly." I punctuated with a big slam of my palm to my chest and not flinching. The smack doesn't hurt, just the lingering pain of the star hurts (like they say, as long as one thing hurts the most, the rest won't be so significant since it doesn't hurt as much).

She looked conflicted, then she nodded. "Shi. Be careful, Comrade." She bolted off towards the enemy, looking for an opening amidst the revolving clusters of stars.

Oof.

Something landed on my back. I looked over shoulder and it was Jergo, his blue cape giving identification. He had a red palm with a small geometric circle revolving around it then….

*slap*

…he slapped it against my back.

What is he trying to do—

…!

….….

The pain is….weakening?

"BAM!"

Oh no! She's doing it again! And they're being directed to me instead of outwards!

Shit!

They're homing in on me!

Double Shit!

I turned on my heels and ran like hell, kicking up water as I looked for anything that could serve as my cover. The sounds of buzzing electricity behind me seemingly exploding signified that the boys that stayed behind are trying to intercept the giant stars.

"AAarrrgg!"

"YOW!"

"EEAARRRHH!"

Sounds like they failed. Gotta find cover, and quick! But how!?

More than a dozen shelves had fallen over, the ones left standing are too far off over there, and I don't think one shelf could even withstand the barrage. I bet it could manage one blow from a giant star but 14 of 'em? I doubt it.

Looks like I'll have to direct the homing stars into hitting a surface instead of dodging them.

"Jergo, how many behind us!?" I asked, running across the surface of a fallen shelf before jumping off, landing to the floor with an oomph then bolting a sharp turn to the side by grabbing a standing shelf's edge to pan my momentum. I heard a zapping explosion afterwards, I directed at least one to it. That's one star down and how many left?

"10 and 6!" I heard the familiar fizzle of an electric blood orb zap out to the distance behind me and an explosion followed afterwards. "10 5!" He's shooting the stars behind me in tandem, nice!

"Good! Keep doing that! And hold on!" I now found out that the powerful ache on my chest is gone. His healing magic had actually worked. Thanks, Jergo. I owe you one on this.

I bolted to a sharp right using a standing shelf's edge and not one but four stars slammed against its surface before I heard it topple down.

"10 1!"

Ahead are two shelves. One was standing upright, the other was leaning against the other, shaping like a lame asymmetrical triangle. There's a small tunnel in-between the shelves, but the floor within is packed with fallen books. If I slide through the tunnel, the stars will slam against the shelves and make them topple, crushing me inside in the process. Plus with those books on the floor, it'll deter my speed, I won't be able to slide out before it falls over me.

If that's not gonna work then…..

[The wall!]

I bolted over to the wall, curving around the shelve tunnel, and heaved a breath.

Oh Wet Nike, don't fail me now!

"Hold on!" I slammed one foot against the wide wooden surface in-between two wall shelves, ejecting upwards, then another step, then another, then BACKFLIP UPON THE LAST STEP!

I was so thankful to God that my wet shoes (so, fucking, wet) did not slip and hurt myself.

The stars that were nearest to me got directed to hit the surface of the wall, sparkles and loud smacks reverberating upon impact, blowing the books out. Twisting in the air as I jumped over a cluster of 'em that were the furthest from the pursuit. Once I passed by them, they curved upwards to the air, changing directions from up then probably down to me again once they finish the turn. Upon my landing, I rolled from my shoulder to waist, Jergo, quick as a rat, swerved to my midsection and clutched my waist to avoid getting flattened in the process.

Not a perfect roll, no momentum hop. Rolling on hard surfaces is never my favorite.

Down on my hands to the floor, Jergo swerving around my midsection to post himself to my back again, I looked up and the remaining 4 stars are coming in.

There's one coming close, and the final 3 are still making a curve in the air to change their direction.

Wait for it.

Wait for it.

And…

NOW!

Frog leap to a stand!

*PZZHHHP!* The star slammed against the floor where I once was.

Then run like hell!

Turning sharply with a shelf to the right, I gathered enough distance before I looked behind me to see the stars finally giving chase, their distance from me to them slowly closing. Even for the best of my speed, they're still catching up to me.

"Jergo!"

"Hrrgh!" He threw the brewed-up danmaku orb towards the nearest one.

*PRWZZZZZZZ!* A clash between the two projectiles… *BSSSHHH!* Then explosion.

Two more! Now we'll just gonna have to find another wall and—

*SLAM!* [PPUUUUAAAA!]

"Uuwaaaah!" Jergo got thrown off my shoulder, bouncing on a wooden surface before disappearing in a corner. What did I hit? What did Jergo land on?

…

…..

…..!‼!

FFFFffffffucking TABLE!

I consequently crumpled to the floor, curling with both my hands holding my abdomen, accepting the wet touch of the waters as the stars that had been chasing me whizzed right above where my back was supposed to be, disappearing from view because of the table.

I can't believe I just violated one of the most basic rules in running….! This is the real pain right here….! Inside and outside, I think I just pushed my intestines within even further….! I feel like I'm gonna vomit. And that's odd, considering I haven't ate much in my breakfast. Just rice cake and tea and all. But the pain….! Yeah, this is the pain that's ultimately original in a fight like this.

But I can't wallow in it right now. Those fucking stars are still flying! Come on! Ignore it! Stand up!

Reaching up to the edges of the table, I pulled myself up with my other hand gripping my middle, crumpling it as hard as I could to hold down the pain. I got my head up above the table, "Jergo…!"

A giant blue star is coming to my face.

Drop!

*Slam!*

…..

FFFFFfffffff….!

Fucking nine…..! This is the ninth time…!

And this time, it was me who put me in it! I did it to myself! And I fucking slammed my head to the floor! AGAIN!

Fucking! Fucking! Fucking! Fucking!

Grab on to the fucking table, lay a fucking foot on it, stand on top of the bitch, and look at the fucking star that's about to curve my way…..!

Anger, don't fail me now and divert my pain with your fury!

Looking behind me: the second star was actually aiming at Jergo who stood on the table as well. He must've dodged it as he's still standing and the star's curving around to come his way, likewise to mine.

I think…..there's something ridiculously unnecessary and stupid to do here….but it'll be the most awesomest thing I'll ever do, the stupidest and awesomest thing I'll ever do in my last and final year as a teenager before I become a 20 year old Young Adult.

"Jergo…!" I growled through my aching stomach. He looked at me in a sideway glance, wary of the star that's coming in closer. Then he fully looked at the star that's coming behind me. Then he looked at me, a look of recognition and realization flashing in his eyes. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

He nodded stiffly.

Fucking Perfect! I love these guys!

He looked away, I likewise did, and I faced the star that is now through curving and is coming in.

One step back….

32 meters.

Two steps back…..

12 meters.

One more step back.

2 meters away.

[NOW!]
"Now!"

In unity of our shout, I pinwheeled my arms to build up the momentum, then transferred it to my dominant right foot, and I jumped to the air for a double B-Twist.

Thank God for all the practices I did beforehand in the shrine 'cause the jump height I achieved is above 4 meters high. The Star zoomed by below me, and slammed against the other Star that Jergo successfully dodged with a simple diagonal flip.

Both of us landing on the table at the same time, we watched the two galactic danmakus grind against each other violently, sparks of sparkles springing off themselves. They started to get brighter, blue light mixing with yellow, turning into a white sphere….

It's gonna blow!

SHI—

*ZZZZZZZZZZZBBBRRRSSHHHHHH!‼!‼‼‼!*

Since I was almost too close to the supernova and likewise Jergo was, we all got blown off the table.

Slamming against the hard cement covered by the carpet, I ended up rolling on the wet floors again and I rolled with the momentum of my fall, letting it take me to where it wants to.

Then the momentum was now gone, I end up laying on my back. The feel of the ankle-deep waters on the back of my head, which damped my hair, and my entire behind was actually comforting and cool.

…..

Holy…..

Holy shit!

I did it! I actually did it! Not only did I just did the most epic dodge of my life, I even escaped the astronomical equivalent of a missile chase without a vehicle! YES! SOUND THE VICTORY HORNS!

Toot to to Toot to TOOOOOOT!

[AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *Gasp* WHOOOOOOOOOO!‼ Ha ha ha!] Best. Victory. Ever. I wanna stay like this and rest it out. Never slept like this since the last time I went on a pool party, relaxing the lunch time away.

*nudge*

What the? Can't you see I'm takin' it easy here, Jergo?

"What is it?" I asked.

"Kirisame." He grunted with a scowl, "Job not done."

Le sigh. I guess I can't celebrate just yet, of course that maniac is still alive and had to be handled.

"Hold on." I lifted myself up first with my elbows, then to my hands. Now I'm sitting upright, then the pain on my belly finally decided to make itself known as it spiked me hard, making me growl on my throat and breathed a hissy breath. The adrenaline must've sapped out from the victory cry. I slammed that table with my waist way too hard. Ow.

"Rgh." Jergo moved up to my side and laid a red palm against my midsection. After a second, a red geometrical circle formed up and…

….Ah~~

This is healing magic, and damn does it feel so good~

I never felt it since I was running away but this kind of healing magic (without the burns just like Patchouli's laser finger) feels so soothing. It feels warm, comforting and something much more pleasurable that I can't describe it. It's like the muscles in my belly are massaging itself, or a very soft hand was pressing gently against the surface of my skin. Damn, this feels way too greeaaaat~

"Up."

Wait, it's over?

I looked down and his hand was no longer there. I looked at Jergo and he's just standing there, looking at me impatiently, and crossing his arms.

Okay, up we go.

Hup!

…

No more pain.

Huh. Wow. Magic is so dope, especially in practical applications. Along with a fireball spell, I gotta learn a healing spell too.

"Thank you, Jergo."

"Urrghh." He just rolled his eyes, a sign that he was too used to the sentiments.

I cracked my knuckles, heaving a deep breath before sighing, wiping my wet face and my damp bangs, "Come on. Let us finish our business." And I bolted off to the last known location of Kirisame Marisa, Jergo was instantly latched up to my shoulder after not more than 3 steps, an red orb of electricity in hand, growing in size and zapping in anticipation.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

[Hey!] As I jumped out behind a bookshelf, what met my eyes was Marisa floating on her broom, legs on one side and cross-legged, one hand on the shaft to support herself, the other holding the hakkero and aimed to her face….it looked like there was a tiny gust of wind blowing from it, making her wet hair flutter slightly.

It kinda looked like she's holding a handheld fan.

Never before have I seen such careless use on power.

A smirk slowly made its way to her face as her fancy blue eyes leered at my own hazels, she sure is excited to beat the ever loving shit out of me whenever it's my turn to trade blows with her.

And damn, look at the work she's done below her elevated feet. In an impressive pile were bodies of red-skinned hobgoblins, with Meiling as the one at the bottom. The matching characteristics among them, they were all bruised and singed black from danmaku.

I took a moment to marvel in awe at her achievement of beating a group of enemies, Jergo at my shoulder just growled. He clearly didn't like the site of his dudes being beaten along with his red-haired friend receiving the shorter end of the stick by being crushed by all of them.

Heaving for breath, I slowly straightened my tired slouched back and crossed my arms. In a certain perspective, I would've looked like I didn't run a fucking mile just to get here. "Impressive work, Marisa." I began, gesturing to the pile below her subtly with right hand.

Smirking even widely and wickedly, she put her hakkero down to her lap, "Yep! Think you could show me somethin' a little better than China here?"

The goblin on my shoulder growled at that, the back of my neck prickled at how feral it was. It was like there was a fucking sabertooth hanging on to me. I didn't look away from Marisa as I growled along with him, soaking in the feeling that I was a very angry monster that had black hair and white skin.

"Why don't we find out, Dear Marisa?" I taunted with a smirk, gripping my right wrist and curling the fingers into a claw before becoming a fist. "Why don't we finish what we started before Patchouli's intervention?"

She slowly drifted away from the body pile below her, slowly lowering her feet to the flooded ground and resting her broom to her shoulder, hakkero stacked in the apron pocket for now. "Waiting on you, Eman." She goaded, the energetic expression that betrayed her calm smirk that I knew her by more than anything else making me even more excited.

"Remember…" I raised a finger, "No spell cards."

"Wha?" She raised an eyebrow, then she remembered and adjusted her hat. "Oh. Yeah. Right. You can't cast any spell cards yet. Gotcha." She composed herself and smiled to me, "So, yer gonna have the Boss Goblin as a danmaku shooter for ya?"

"It was indeed unfair to be the only one unarmed." I nodded. Then I put up my dukes like a boxer but my legs were ready to charge at her at any given moment.

"One question?" She requested.

[What?]

"Still didn't find yer knife yet?"

"No."

"Oh. Well, sorry for yer loss-ze."

"No need. I'll find it afterwards once they clean this place up."

"Makes sense."

"Okay." *STOMP!‼!* UGH! STAMP THAT FLOODED FLOOR!

That was all I had to do to get Marisa into gear, making her jump as the splashed water kinda got thrown to her direction, thinking it was an acidic offensive move. While she did that, Jergo spared no time as he threw an electric danmaku the size of a gymnast ball towards her. As expected she dove to the right while throwing a spray of danmaku as a counter. I dodged as well, doing a quick cartwheel to the same direction she went to. The goblin on my shoulder swerved around my body, shooting danmaku in any place around my body as he could.

As Marisa got to her feet, she didn't stop firing stars at me nor stopped moving, I likewise didn't stop dodging in the form of backhand springs, Jergo also didn't stop shooting back. This went on for a bit, me and hobgoblin against witch, constantly moving and shooting, dodging and countering. I alternated between back flips to side flips while my turret kept firing, she continued to dodge, shoot, and run in the same pace at me at the same time.

We never got to hit each other along the way.

When I was nearing the end of the wall, I executed the final side-flip and did a wall-run (I don't know how my wet shoe didn't slip), ejecting towards her with a fist ready. She didn't falter as she saw what I was about to do, she quickly stopped moving and fired a massive barrage of danmaku towards me. Before I could panic, I found out that Jergo was hanging on from my abdomen and he created a red magical barrier in front of me, soaking the bullets like a sponge. Mentally thanking him for the assist, I reared my fist back and struck a hammer to her head.

…..

It would be great if I had actually hit something! I would've broken my knuckles if the book I just punched that was right below the area where Marisa used to be did not happen to be there.

The next thing that happened: Marisa rammed her ass into my fucking chest.

Well! Look who's using an improbable part of the body in a fight! I am starting to LOVE THIS BLONDE BITCH EVEN MORE!

Jergo got lucky to avoid that, he scrambled to the top of my head before he got sandwiched on my chest and I got slammed to the floor by her weight. My head really hit the floor, and I felt dizzy, the thud actually rattled me from the inside. My goblin was smart enough to start shooting danmaku, making Marisa move away from me.

The moment the goblin slapped my face with a claw, I was barrel-rolling to the side before I even ordered myself to do that, and I ended up dodging a big star that slammed my last position on the floor in a loud boom, sending smoke and water everywhere.

Ignoring the sting of the scratches, I quickly splashed some water to Marisa's direction and slammed an open palm to her abdomen, placed my other hand to her back, then I began spinning around, keeping my grip firm on her before I threw her diagonally upwards. Jergo added the finishing touch by blasting a fast danmaku to her ass in mid-air, sending her a few more meters away before landing in a heap.

I don't know if that was payback but good shot, Jergo.

"Good one." I gave him a fist and he bumped it with his own on my shoulder. "Now for your move." I warned and he nodded in understanding. Settling himself to my back, I heard the buzzing of electricity. Soon, I felt his danmaku orb getting bigger, getting louder, getting stronger, even if I wasn't looking. I could actually feel the magic coming from it, it's like feeling the outer heat of a fire without touching it, except that it's not hot but more like lukewarm, neither hot nor cold.

When I felt his danmaku orb starting to actually burn, starting to create a bright scarlet light like a gigantic light bulb, he ejected off my back and launched it towards Marisa with this: "WOOAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHGHHH!"

Holy almighty, that was a hell of a roar.

And I forgot that I was supposed to run away like we just planned! SHIT!

*BOOOOOOOOM!*

We agreed to have Marisa lured away from the bodies, we agreed to let only me to handle it in a no-magic fist fight, we agreed to fight her with danmaku just to draw her away from the bodies, we agreed to let him create one massive danmaku bomb to settle the deal, and I was supposed to run away when that happens.

Well, I just fucked up our well-timed preparations. I got caught in the blast and got blown backwards, at least the explosion was too far for actual damage to my body. I merely got sent off my feet by the blast force and fell on my butt, which I controlled and did a fluid backward roll, ending up in a crouch.

That felt so good to do, because I felt awesome at that moment.

That didn't go well for my ears. That splosion was too loud, ow. Rubbing my ears, I looked around me to look for her. She's gone. Now where the hell did she go? I'm sure she didn't get hit by that, where did she run off to just to avoid the boom?

"Wait, what am I s'posed to do here again?" A distant feminine voice asked.

There you are. 49 meters away, right behind that fucking bookshelf.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

Marisa hovered down near ground level, not getting off her broom. No way is she going to ruin these books by stepping on them, she'll need them for future reference whenever she needs to borrow some more.

Now all she's going to do now is to look for Eman, beat him up, put him down, pull him back up and beat him up some more, then…..then…

She scratched her head, "Wait, what am I s'posed to do here again?" She found herself asking to no one, exasperated at her own forgetfulness.

"Shouldn't you be searching for your opponent at the moment?"

She scoffed at the obvious question, "Yeah, I'm gettin' to that. I'm asking about what I was supposed to do when I first got here."

"Hmm, given by Patchouli's rant while she fought you, she mentioned about a tome full of eldritch magic powerful enough to level an entire country. Is that what you're looking for?"

Her eyes widened in remembrance, "Oh yeah, that!" She bopped a fist to her forehead. "Stupid. But I don't think I could find that thingy in this mess. There's books everywhere-ze."

"Could this be it you're looking for?" A book completely lined with aged, darkened steel and a glowing geometrical circle found in its cover along with an inscription of unknown runes was presented to her face from above.

"Hmm." She grabbed it from the pale hand and examined the cover. The runes inscribed on the cover are beyond her knowledge, the book is also sealed firmly well with chains and a magical lock is placed on a skull padlock. She could even feel the amount of energy it contained just by holding it, and it's practically overflowing. This isn't the one, and the contents inside it is probably beyond a magician of her level to learn anything from it. But it's nothing a good studying won't help, and Reimu's good at unsealing things so she might as well make do with this.

"This ain't the one but I'll be borrowin' this for a while." She declared, stuffing it in her apron pocket.

"Be sure to return it. Can you describe what book you're specifically searching for?"

"It doesn't look fancy or anythin'. Just some leather in its covers, with steel hinges in its binder. It's just makes you feel like it's a 'Stupid ordinary book' when ya look at it-ze."

"Would this be it?" The leather book with steel hinges in its binder and a very unassuming texture was finally put in her view.

"Oh yeah! This is the one!" She snapped it out of the pale hand, hugging it tenderly like it was the greatest gift she ever received. "Thanks, man."

"YoU'rE wElcOmE." A guttural voice drawled behind her.

Marisa then froze.

Who the hell was she talking to?

Who the hell was behind him?

How the hell did she not notice that somebody was talking to her when she was going solo for the entire few hours in the fight?

How in all hells did she did not realize it until just now?

Slowly, she turned her broom around. The book still clasped to her chest, her eyes slowly met a black shirt, rising up her view she finally realized that Eman has been walking behind her the whole time, and now he's standing there imposingly with his tall height, his hazel eyes bearing down on her with an intense flare, his mouth holding a smug line, one hand resting against his hip, the other simply hanging by his side (and was bulging with veins).

"Hello, Marisa." He greeted warmly, a secret iciness lacing the line of his voice.

"Shit."

A hand instantly slammed itself to her gut, faster than she could expect him to move, pulling her out of the broom, dropping the book, blowing out all the oxygen she didn't realize she held before she felt another hand grab on to a fabric of her dress behind her back, spinning her around one time before she was thrown several meters away, landing on a pile of books that cushioned her body impact.

She felt a sensation of déjà vu.

Had she eaten breakfast, she might've lost them right now because of that slam. But Eman's strike seemed…controlled, it felt like it wouldn't even be enough to send her vomiting. Marisa could take a lot of blows, a million danmaku fights held its testament by granting her a strengthened body and a mental fortitude strong enough to endure pain, and his blow was comparable to a light pat.

Was it a failed strike or something?

She looked over to him and a brown blur was coming in. Her body acted first before her mind and her hand shot upwards to catch whatever was thrown her way. When she looked, she held her broom in her hand.

Did he just pass this to her?

She looked towards Eman once again as she sat up, he held in one hand the tome she was looking for before he threw it carelessly over his shoulder and a red blur seemingly snatched it out of the air before it could hit the ground and disappeared to a corner.

"Hey, why'd you throw it away!? Where'd it go!? What was that red thing!?"

He didn't give a reply, he only cracked his knuckles. "Now, Marisa. Let us properly begin this, Jergo's starting explosion might've been excessive." Eman stated, flexing a free right arm. "Only you and me. The two of us alone, we will fight and have at it. No more interference. Jergo had already cleared the bodies to make sure they will not be struck in collateral."

Bodies? She quickly looked behind her, where the last location of the incapacitated bodies of China and the goblins were.

They were all gone.

Wait, the fight earlier…was just a plot to lure her away from the bodies? And the bomb was something to distract her from noticing the Boss Goblin doing the cleaning?

Clever.

"Also—" She quickly snapped her attention back to Eman the sooner he continued, worried that he had snuck up on her distraction. But he didn't go anywhere, he simply stood there. "—the books. They make an inconvenience in my footing so I asked Jergo to have them cleared up before we begin."

She looked down on the floor.

The scattered books were all gone, the carpeted floors made known and visible once again.

"What the!?" She jumped. She was caught off-guard by this. How did she not notice this!? "Where'd they all go!?"

"Look behind you and observe." He simply instructed, pointing behind her.

She looked behind once again, and surely enough, the scattered books behind her were disappearing one by one, half a second by half a second, every piece of valuable magical knowledge packed in paper inside covers of varying materials practically disappearing one by one. The most conspicuous detail she noticed was that there was a red blur moving back and forth from the mess in front of her to the neat pile of books on the far side which seemed to be having growing more and more taller with a new book placed on top.

It was Jergo trying to reorganize.

"You're a...quick li'l fella, aren't ya?" She found herself commenting, dumbfounded by the small fry's speed. She faced the tough bastard more than a few times, but she never knew that he was ever that fast. Sure, he was the toughest amongst his gang but how come she never saw him move that fast whenever he tries to stop her from burrowing something?

"Marisa, please focus. I want to get this over with, right now."

Oh yeah, right, she's got a fight to do. Never mind the speedy small fry, first task is beat up Eman then go home with the book (once she finds it). "Ri-right, sorry. Got sidetracked there. Never seen the li'l guy move that fast before."

"His potential as a butler is clear as day." He turned his back on her, making five steps forward before he turned around in a snap, posing a stance and firmly laying his eyes on her. "Now, come at me. Let us finish our business that Patchouli interrupted."

Finally.

"DON'T MIND IF I DO!" She quickly jumped to her broom and propelled forward like a jet. Not intending to slam into him with the broom point, she held up a fist and she swung it towards his face upon passing. He narrowly moved his head out of the way to dodge it, her fist grazing only his hair.

With efficient maneuvering and practiced ease, she swerved her directions in a small loop, riding her broom like a board and ejecting off in a backflip, letting the broom drive forward towards him like a guided spear. He shifted his body sideways and her broom struck where his right kidney would've been, letting it graze by and he quickly charged forward.

Willing the broom to come back, she quickly stepped back several steps, watching out for an incoming strike from her sprinting opponent and for the broom, hoping to catch it and block with it. Her broom quickly coming back and snapping to her grasp, Eman executed a side flip and Marisa quickly blocked a quick kick that was ejected to her face upon his landing, sending her sliding backwards on her feet.

The broom merely bended but the impact nearly sent her off her feet, and she quickly swung it in return towards his head. He had blocked it with a forearm and swung a right cross. She leaned her head out of the way—

*Grab!*

She was suddenly yanked forward by a free hand grabbing her other arm, causing her to yelp in surprise. When she was about to quickly return a jab to his side, a sudden flow of heat brushed past her body behind her and an explosion quickly followed.

She looked over her shoulder and she beheld a blackened floor, evidence of a large danmaku orb or a fireball being thrown at her recent position.

Did he just pull her out of the way?

She looked back at him, wanting his confirmation but his focus was lost on her and instead looking at above him. She followed his stare and was shocked to see who it was.

"Pa-Patchouli!?"

The Unmoving Great Library was floating in the air, conscious and awake, and still the worse for wear. And she already had her palm pointed at the both of them.

"You can take the other books, but I will not let you have that one...!" Her voice was very lethargic, but lined with the determination to fully kick her out of the mansion. Why can't she just get it? She'll be careful with it and she'll return it once she's dead.

[HRRRRR! Damn it, Patchouli! WHY ARE YOU STILL ALIVE!? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO INTERRUPT THE SECOND TIME!?]

"Silence! I can no longer leave you to the task! Marisa is far stronger than you are, you should be aware that you could never—"

[OH SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU STUPID NUT!] He shouted back without losing the guttural octave of his voice, words almost lost from being comprehensible. [WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEST, HUH!? ONE AGAINST ONE OR TWO AGAINST ONE!? CAN'T YOU JUST PUT YOUR FUCKING FAITH IN ME THIS ONCE!? I WOULD'VE DONE YA A FAVOR IF—]

A white, shining blur flashed at the corner of Marisa's vision. Purely out of instinct: she pushed Eman back as fast as she could, sending him to the floor on his ass and the blur that happened to be a shining (and undeniably sharp) knife that would've nailed him in the back had buried itself to the carpeted floors.

Shocked at the sudden occurrence, she looked at the certain angle from which the knife possibly came from. Up and floating in the air was the familiar knife wielder and handmaiden of the Scarlet Devil.

Izayoi Sakuya.

[Aaaaghck!] She heard Eman growl, his hand coming up to claw on his own face, the veins at his backhand showing, especially his temple. [Not another one…..!]

Ooookay, that's the signal for her to start hauling ass out of the Maid's general view. The Scarlet Devil is going on her whims again, and she does not want part in it.

"We're not done yet, Marisa!" She could already feel Patchouli's spell card about to be activated behind her.

Marisa sighed. Back to square one, I guess.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

One after another, they just. Keep. Fucking. COMING! WHY CAN'T THIS FIGHT LAST FOR EVEN LONGER THAN 45 SECONDS WITHOUT SOMEONE INTERRUPTING IT!?

I shot an angry glare at Sakuya, "Where on Gensokyo have you been, Sakuya!? Should you not have been here sooner!? [Why'd you have to interrupt me!?]

"For your first question: I was attending Milady's needs so I cannot leave her side. There's also the fact that you seem to be handling the problem yourself." She gave a polite bow midflight. "I thank you for dealing most of the handiwork for me."

[Oh.] Uh…okay. I'm doing a pretty lady a favor without even knowing it, not only that: she trusts me on the task and she thanked me, too. That kinda makes me happy, like, really happy. Now I feel bad for questioning her absence. [Uh, no problem. Glad to be of use.]

"As for your second question: it's because Milady has not given me permission until now."

I scoffed, [Oh come on. I don't see a reason why you shouldn't stop a ruckus. This her home, isn't it?] I'm serious here, look around me. Can't you see this? [This library is starting to look harder to clean up.] There's books everywhere on the floor and a lot of shelves had fallen over. Even for the entire staff to help, I think it'll take long.

"I am a Maid, Mr. Eman, one of my duties is to maintain the cleanliness of this mansion. This is barely the messiest state of the mansion." You sounded really earnest there. "A mess such as this is no problem for me, even if I have to deal with it all on my own."

She's smirking and still hasn't blinked, I guess I should trust her word on this. She is the Head Maid for a reason, and I forgot that she had time-stopping abilities. That alone has awesome perks. If she stops time, it would take at least one second to clean this place.

[Okay, I believe you.] Now that she's here, I guess this ruckus will be over with in a second. [So, are we gonna stop those two over there…] Just as I said that, something exploded behind me. A shockwave made my hair flare forward and a surge of heat to cover me. Holy shit, I nearly got hit in collateral. Still, I didn't miss a beat as I continued, [….or are we gonna sit back on this?]

*Wshk*

She teleported to the floor, standing a few meters away. "Neither."

What?

"Right now, I am under orders from the Mistress, and she told me to keep you fighting."

Um….okay?

[Does that mean I should butt in on those two?] I throbbed a thumb behind me, where the magical chaos is going on. I don't know where Jergo is and I haven't heard from him since.

She shook her head. "No." Then three knives flashed to existence on her hands. Despite holding such dangerously sharp objects, she still maintained the air of elegance in even the simplest movements. "You asked me a third question, and I paraphrase: 'Why did I interrupt the spat between you and Patchouli-sama'?"

That's the one.

"It is because I have received the permission to do my orders, and that is to keep you in a state of conflict, and I will do so. No matter what it takes."

….….

….no.

No…..fucking way.

No.

Just no!

[You're kidding.]

She took a step forward. I took one step back. "No, I'm not."

My nerves grew cold, and a very old dreading feeling was coming over to me, [Please, tell me you're fucking kidding.]

"I do not fool around my work, Mr. Eman." She coolly said in the same, elegant tone. "And I do not want to disappoint my Mistress."

[Then why do you need those knives?]

"Her orders do not deny me from using them." She's coming even closer.

This is not happening. This is not happening!

My breathing is starting to hitch, and I think I'm paling. What is that Draculina thinking? Why is she telling her Maid to do this?

[Don't use them, Sakuya. They could kill me.]

She stopped moving forward, lifting an eyebrow at me as if I had just said the stupidest thing ever, "I believe I already mentioned it before, didn't I? I am ordered to make sure you don't stop fighting, and I will see it done. If I have to approach you with the intent to kill, so be it." She didn't even sound sympathetic with her words, they came out so naturally that she didn't even flinch at it. "Don't take it personally once you die."

My breathing getting even shorter to be normal and my legs are losing the will to move. I'm almost rooted to the spot. She's going to kill me.

There's a shelf beside me. I grabbed on to the edge without looking hasty and I tensed my legs in preparation for a bolting sprint. I just gotta move as fast as possible if I want to not get hit by those knives.

Wait, hold on?

[One question. Spell Card Battles will not allow death, right?]

"Yes." Oh thank God! I completely forgot about that. "But I'm not sure about you."

[What? What do you mean?]

"Do you know how to cast Danmaku on your own, without the help of the goblins?"

I shook my head.

"Do you even have any spell cards?"

I shook my head again.

"Then you will be the only one who will be bleeding. In a Spell Card Battle, one must possess at least one spell card, otherwise you are susceptible to dying to the most lethal danmaku projectile."

BOLT!

I heard enough. I heard enough. I'm not staying near this place. Or to be specific, near that horrifying maid!

*Tak! Tak! Tak!*

That's the sound of a knife burying itself on wood behind me. I looked behind me and she was already there (fucking time-stopper!), throwing arm already arched for a throw!

I went down to slide on the floor on my back and the three knives flew right in front of me, their flight so quick that it's scary and they embedded the wood up ahead. As quick as I could, I pushed myself off the floor and ran to the general direction where there were lots of bookshelves still standing.

My destination not really far, I ran towards one side of the shelf then I bolted a sharp turn to the right—

"Where do you think you're going?"

She's right in front of me!

I didn't let go of the edge as I ejected, causing the shelf I was holding to tip slightly forward and my fingers burned from the exertion.

"It isn't manly for a man to run from a fight." She stated, looking at me with icy cold eyes. That's murder, right there.

For a moment, Sakuya, you just pissed me off. [Why should I hear that from a person who is THE ONLY ONE WITH A WEAPON!? You're not making this fair, you damn maid!] I ended up shouting the last few words, using whatever means to get this fear out of me.

Surprisingly, her voice didn't lose its momentum. "If you're talking about your knife," She reached behind before she pulled out a black knife in her hand. "Isn't this yours? I found it underneath a shelf."

*TAK!*

I slowly turned my head to the direction of where she threw, and I beheld my survival knife puncturing the wood of the shelf I was still holding, in-between my fingers. Oh my goodness. She just threw the damn knife without me even expecting it, faster than I thought possible that I would've already died had she aimed for my eye.

Snapping myself out of my shock, I released my hold of the shelf and grabbed on to the hilt, yanking it out of the wood—

"And it's dangerous to take your eyes off your enemy." Her voice was right next to me.

SHIT!

Pure reflex and instinct kicking in, I ducked as fast as I could, successfully dodging a swipe that was aimed at my neck. Not wanting to remain helpless, I quickly made a grab for her wrist. Managing to have it in my grasp, my other hand (still holding the knife) quickly threw a punch to her side. Managing a hit, I followed up with a knee to her abdomen, making her bend forward and blowing her oxygen out. Not breaking momentum, I kneed her face as hard as I could, making her throw her head upwards. Her face in plain view, I yanked her towards me and I head-butted the fuck out of her as hard as I could, putting more effort into blowing my fear out of me instead of dealing bigger damage. Releasing her wrist, she staggered backwards while holding both her abdomen and face. Not satisfied yet, I jumped to the air, tucking my knees in, both my feet pointing towards Sakuya and I kicked forward as hard as I could, hitting home on her forearm that was holding her face and her right shoulder.

The result: both of us hitting the ground. I simply fell, she got thrown 5 meters or so away.

Primal fear rolled in my entire form, the supreme desire to stay alive, no matter what it takes, but I had enough composure to feel the adrenaline, take what remaining composure I have and not run away.

She was quick to rise up to her feet, I barrel-rolled away as she threw even more knives. Rising up to my feet, I quickly took cover behind a shelf—I quickly ducked down.

A knife sunk into the shelf, right where my head was supposed to be. Even more primal fear rolled into my mind from that near-miss. I was panicking and terrified, my entire body was rattled and my state of mind was shaken. Sakuya was right in front of me, and the next thing I did when I saw her: I punched her straight in the abdomen, right as another thrown knife shredded the top of my shoulder.

I didn't how strong my punch was, but given that Sakuya was actually blown backwards into a shelf, my measurement is that I hit her very hard. *Wshk!* She quickly vanished afterwards, the last I've seen of her was her holding her stomach in pain and coughing.

Looking around me for the specific place she teleported to, I quickly clambered up a shelf when I didn't see her anywhere. She probably hid in a place I wouldn't expect but close enough to not be far from me, I gotta keep my eye out. She'll have a knife thrown buried in me if I get careless.

Standing atop this shelf with the fear and adrenaline still rolling over me, I quickly ran to a far direction, more into the areas dense with isles of bookshelves. Makes it convenient for me to skip-jump them one by one.

Managing 14 skips and a good distance away (away from the magical duel of Marisa and Patchouli), I jumped down to ground level and ran forward, my exhaustion completely imperceptible as I passed in-between 9 shelves and bolting to the right, bypassing 3 before I turned a left and rested my back against the side of one shelf, holding the open wound she left on my shoulder, hissing when I hit a sensitive spot.

Resting is very suicidal in a fight but this is not resting, this is just me trying to calm down. She just tried to kill me and I'm still shaken by it. I still have my eye out on all directions: above, left, right, forward. She probably knows where I am and is taking her time on me. I might as well use it.

My breathing coming in quick inhales and exhales, my grip on my knife tighter than ever, I didn't even realize that my heartbeat was faster than before, I could feel it in my throat, I could even hear it.

This can't be happening. I'm about to be fucking killed. I have no certainty of my victory. I wasn't fighting an inexperienced idiot that didn't know any better, not a drug addict that was too high to even fight properly, not even a skilled person who could match up to me, I was fighting a Time-stopping Woman.

A maid is my enemy, but not just any maid that just slaves for a rich stuck-up, she was a maid with skill, had probably killed before, and she serves a motherfucking Vampire. She could also throw a knife with precise accuracy that she hit the space between my fingers without any effort. I never fought someone like her at all, and I'm not even sure if I could win, or even live.

This is seriously fucked.

Sakuya is trying to skewer me with her knives, and I'm not even sure if she's going to kill me or not. That's even worse than direct killing intent. It's not clear what she's doing besides the fact that she's trying to impale me. And she said this was just an order?

Does she not care for my well-being doing this!?

So much for all that hospitality they gave me.

It all seemed like it was an act.

…..

…

HA!

Like hell am I gonna let this get the better of me!

If she's going to come at me with the intent to kill, then I'll do the same and hurt her just as much!

Jump across a building that is typically 50 meters away? Oh please, that's not even a challenge! Climb a fucking 100 meter tree without any safety precautions but with my own hands? I climb trees higher than that! Fight a group of people holding knives and bats on my own? Not the first time! I even won, for fuck's sake!

What's a single maid that could throw knives, could teleport or stop time, and could fly gonna be different from every other events in my life that could've killed me!?

This is just going to be another chalk up to the list of the most insane things I ever done in my life. Once I'm through with it, I'm going to make do with my vow: go back to Master's shrine, tell all about it in fine detail while eating rice crackers and drinking tea. I'll make fucking sure of it. I swear I will. I'm just gonna make sure you don't nail me in the fucking eye, Sakuya.

I placed my hand to my chest, crumpling the shirt and grasping for the rosary underneath.

†Dear Lord, hear me.

I am put in a situation where I have to fight for my life. And I'm frightened. So I ask you, oh Lord, to watch over me. Guide my hand, make my eyes quick, make my footwork perfect, and my mind clear. I wish to defeat the enemy before me and neutralize her. I will deliver pain but I will never deliver myself to spill blood. I ask for your guidance and you shield me from death.

Amen.†

Opening my eyes, I quickly ducked downwards, not taking any risks and letting instinct kick in. There's no way Sakuya didn't take this chance to throw a knife me. I was completely open and off my guard.

*Tak!* A knife struck where my head would've been.

Fucking called it again.

Sighing inwardly in relief, I looked forward and Sakuya was there. Already having six knives ready, three in each hand.

"Nicely dodged, Mr. Eman. You were completely open and yet you still managed to evade at the last possible second." Sakuya, your oh-so-elegant murder tone is seriously sending a lot of chills down my bones. You really killed someone before, didn't you?

The fear in me was gone, only caution and tension. Either because my prayer for confidence was granted, or it's because I already resolved myself to fight back. Whichever is good, because I'm not going anywhere now.

Narrowing my eyes, I stood up, never taking my eyes off her for even a second. Once I got into full height, I reached behind me, grabbing for the knife that got stuck to the wood and I yanked it out (it took almost half my strength to pull it out). Now, I have two knives in both hands. One that's hers, and one that's mine.

Sakuya's knife though….

I shook the new arsenal lightly, testing the weight before I rubbed my thumb across the texture and the cutting edge, not looking anywhere but the foe before me.

Good balance, fine sharp edge, and superb craftsmanship. A fine choice for a knife-wielder. As expected of Aristocracy, always going for the best stuff. And Sakuya has more of these.

[You're not gonna care even if you got me bleeding profusely or close to death, Sakuya, so long as you do whatever the fuck you're told to do?] I asked, probably for the final time. I needed her answer, and depending on the answer, I will measure the amount of effort I will blow out for this.

She nodded, no hesitation at all. [The orders of the mistress is absolute.]

Hmph, nice English. Your accent's thick.

[Then I will not show you mercy.] I promised, steeling myself and letting my senses take over. Shortly, I felt the adrenaline rushing through my system; the urge to jump, climb, or charge forward and attack plaguing my mind like an unquenchable lusting. The feeling is a killer.

The amount of effort to be put here: No Holds Barred; Broken bones; Bruising skin; and Cut wounds.

[Hmph!] And I sidestepped early, prompting the killer maid to throw her right hand batch of knives. I ducked, letting the pieces of steel hazardously pass by above my head before I jumped back inward the isles, needing as much distance as possible from her. Looking over my shoulder, she threw the next hand, three knives aimed for my entire upper body. Kicking the nearest shelf beside me, I dashed towards the opposite shelf and the knives stabbed themselves to the books of my last position.

Time to run.

Using a knife, I stabbed whatever is beside me (sorry, Patchouli) in a reverse grip and catapulted myself onwards to the opposite direction with a strong pull and yanking it out just as quickly. Once nearing the turn of a corner of a shelf, I curved to the right, kicking a nearby shelf just to kill the turn momentum and have myself go straight forward.

"You won't get away!"

I dove to another isle, feeling a jumpstart in my body as I heard them whiz by right behind me.

OMPH! I never really liked dive rolling on hard ground.

Getting up to my feet, I held the silver knife with my mouth and I began climbing a shelf as fast as I could, my black knife staying in my other hand. Seeing a blur of movement on my peripheral vision and a flash of steel, I quickly jumped off halfway in the climb and latched on to the shelf that was behind me, gripping the edge and quickly bringing myself to stand atop it before skipping over to the next shelf.

Expecting the worse, I looked to the side and I see Sakuya, standing top of a shelf and had thrown a—Dodge!

That one nearly nailed me in the face!

That gave me shock, and that shock gave adrenaline, using that adrenaline, I began skip jumping from one shelf to another in a fast pace without any regard to a hazardous falling, zigzagging my directions to avoid being an easy moving target. Sakuya is probably firing non-stop, I kept seeing the knives flying past me, through my recent positions and the heavy majority of the ammunition were shredding my skin and shirt!

FUCK!

Jump down!

I motioned my body like I was head-slamming a table and that resulted me to tip my upper body forward, off the edge of the shelf and had myself front flipping towards the floor. That gave me a rush, good for extra surges.

The cut pains on my shoulders and arms slowly waning because of adrenaline, I pulled the knife out of my mouth and ran forward, looking for an extra place to climb.

Gotta keep Sakuya in mind. She can teleport, catch up to me no sweat, and had good accuracy at long range. I looked over my shoulder, Sakuya was giving chase.

Good. That saves me the effort of dodging every time.

*Wsh!* KUH! One sliced by my left arm, and a large gash was left there!

You're so gonna regret that!

Making a turn to the left with a kick to a nearby shelf for a sharp turn, I quickly made another turn and continued doing so, maneuvering with kicks to nearby surfaces and stabs with the silver knife. I made sure to maneuver with the silver knife, I don't want to damage mine, I must use it for the kill.

I'm not trying to escape her, I'm making her get into cutting distance.

The only way to do that is…

Once after making the final turn, I ran towards a shelf, wall-running a backflip and a twist in the air to face behind me upon landing, Sakuya appeared via teleportation, breathing in labor, and she was caught off-guard as I instantly charged towards her, left knife arcing towards her chest. When she dodged with a back step, I spun around and followed with a swing of my other knife in a jump, executing a 540 kick.

I didn't hit her shoulder or her head but I slammed her extended left arm, making her lose grip in the held knife and it fell to the floor with a clatter. Maintaining fluidity, I followed with a back kick using my other leg, and I nailed her right in the gut!

That's for cutting my arm and my shirt!

Once she fell to the floor, losing grip on all her knives, I snapped my grip on the silver knife to hold the cutting end and I threw it towards her fallen form.

Her eyes widening, she had a knife instantly appearing in her hand and she—

*Ting!* She deflected it!?

Not stopping me!

[RAAAGGHH!]

I leapt to the air, holding my black knife with an inverted grip and holding it with both hands, raised it above my head and bringing it down on the Maid as I slammed my knees to the floor on either side of her waist.

URGH!

She blocked it with a forearm. Grunting in exertion, her hands shook as she held my hands holding the knife back from burying itself to her throat. She removed the hand holding her own knife from the clash and—

No!

*Grab!* I caught her wrist and stopped her from nailing me in the eye.

Now, this is a predicament. We had each other by the end of each other's knife and we're not making any progress. Sakuya isn't as strong as Meiling, I could tell, but she's managing it: I could barely hold her knife back and is coming near, and my knife isn't going any further down. Even for a woman, she's strong (should I have expected it?).

But not for long!

I tightened my grip on her wrist, digging my nails in, growling all the while. All thoughts of malice and harm going through my head, I wanted nothing more than to see this Maid suffer! She nicked my shoulder, she shredded most of my skin, she was intent on killing me, and I plan to show just how much I felt about that. I could feel her losing grip on her knife, my crushing grip doing its magic. Pushing all of my weight on my upper body, my knife began nearing against her throat, she was starting to look like the loser here.

Oh no, I will not end this here, you damn maid!

[HHHRRRAAAA!]

*BAK!* I head-butted her.

"JJjggh!"

[UWAACCCKKKK!‼!] She kicked me in the gut! HARD!

That had me thrown off her fallen form and landing on my back. Reflex kicking in, I ended up rolling backwards on my back upon landing and into a stand. I quickly crumpled my abdomen and stiffened it to kill the pain, stepping a few steps back until I was in-between two shelves.

Unlike me, she took the worst of it. Her head was lying over cement ground or wood, and I head-butted her inwards to it. Only one could imagine how much that would hurt, especially with the intent to break your own head and not the enemy's.

Something wet is flowing down my forehead.

I reached up and wiped it with a fingertip before I brought it to view. Blood. I reached up again, I felt something fleshy, and it stings.

I opened a wound on my forehead. Great.

Sakuya was slowly coming to her feet, holding her forehead while so, glaring at me with dull blue eyes. There was no bleed on her forehead as well, nothing red running down or hand or anything except a plaster of my blood there.

So that's what it means? I'll be the only one bleeding because I don't have a spell card of my own?

…..

No matter. I can stab you in the heart and not worry about you being dead! That's what the Spell Card System rules says. If you're going to kill me, I might as well kill you first! If my theory is right, every physical pain could only affect the mental structure under the influence of the Spell Card Battle. If I were to 'kill' Sakuya, she would pass out to unconsciousness.

Sounds like a plan.

The cuts on my sides and arms (especially this long gash on my left arm) were starting to sting really bad, but I'm not letting that bother me. I faced worse, and this wasn't the first time I got sliced by someone. I only have to worry about her shredding my shirt.

I think I'll look good with a few scars. I hope Lord Above doesn't mind me having them on this body after just receiving it not a few days ago.

Sakuya shook her head and she was back into her element, her eyes showing clear murder and a silent storm of rage. She brought her wrists together in an X in front of her chest and three knives flashed to existence in each hand.

A large hand-shaped bruise was on her right wrist.

Unsettling. Very unsettling, Sakuya.

I pointed a knife to myself.

I….

I pointed the knife at her.

….will have you...

Then I motioned a slit throat.

….dead and dying….

Then I motioned a thumbs-down.

…..on the ground, Fair Maid.

She narrowed her eyes, I slouched and lowered my haunches a little, readying a jump or immediate sprint to a certain direction. There's a long isle on my right for an escape route, there's a bookshelf on my left to hide for cover, there's forward where I could go in close-quarters with Sakuya, or behind me where I could bolt out for another place to settle the fight.

Which action should I take?

She jumped to the air, I got myself staring in awe for a second as she reached 20 meters high, then my instincts kicked in as she swung both her arms outwards, throwing the—

SHE JUST THREW A HUNDRED KNIVES AT ME!

[LEFT!] And so I dived to the bookshelf to my left, disregarding the roll and instead slamming my arms and knees to the hard cement (I really drove her head to this kind of floor, didn't I? No wonder she's mad).

Continuous sounds of steel sticking in wood, I remained in my spot while the knife rain goes on. I watched an endless stream of knives fly through where I've last been, and the amount of knives that came by gave me chills. That's not a hundred knives, that's a fucking thousand. What could've happened had I not moved out of the way?

*Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!*

This shelf's back might've became a pin cushion by now, and the knives still hasn't stopped. How many knives do you even have, Maid?

*Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!*

Anytime now…

*Tak! Tak! Tak!...Tak!*

…..

It's over.

*Tak!*

Um…..

…

Okay, it's over. What's my next move here?

Jumping straight out would be stupid, I can't go out the other side either. She's probably flying and is keeping an eye out on this general direction. The sooner she sees me, she'll end up throwing a knife at top speed. I can't sneak around either, doing so otherwise would just expose me. She's getting even more vigilant in this round.

…..Vigilant?

…..

I think….I think I could use that.

Sorry for this, Patchouli, but my life is at the state of forfeit.

I reached behind me and I pulled out one single book. Let's see here: thick and leather cover, unknown inscriptions in the title. I opened it up: it has a foreign language, and judging by its pictures, it's about experimentations regarding crystals and other stuff.

Close the book: Irrelevant.

Tome of Knowledge shall be taking one for the team.

I have to go to the isle of the right, then zigzag afterwards. Make distance from Sakuya after then, make her come close and engage her when the chance is right.

Here we go.

Silently, I scooted over to the edge of the shelf, the book of stones in my hand, not exposing myself in Sakuya's view just yet, not even a peek. Lastly, I neared my Survival knife to my mouth and I held on to it in-between my teeth. This is gonna take both hands on this one.

Okay. Okay. Deep breaths first, steel the nerves, and when you finally got the balls, boldly invite hell to your doorstep.

I threw the book out into the open—

*TAK!* HA! FOOLED YA! YOU THOUGHT THE BOOK WAS ME!

And away I go!

Sparing a quick glance to the floating knife-crazy lady as I go: she got a baffled face for being played and is already drawing a few knives already. Yeah, that's what you get, perfect Maid. You're so gonna get punished by Patchouli for even nicking that book~

Okay, save the gloating for later, focus on getting as much distance as possible without getting shanked.

While doing so, I make sure to make my movement patterns unpredictable, the isle I'm running through is giving me an advantage. The shelves are giving me lots of cover. Sometimes making a sudden turn around behind a shelf, throwing more decoy books before bolting (add more to your punish pile, Dear Maid~), making quick turns and going the opposite direction before turning around, this kind of tactic seemed to be frustrating the servant, as she ends up flying after me, throwing six at a time in one hand.

Her movements are getting wild, her aim going a little off. Doesn't mean it's not dangerous though and something to be carefree about, those knives are going through the wood. Her aim was starting to become true in each individual throw, one shredded my left shoulder.

The smell of copper is getting thick!

Left. Right. Right. Forward. Feint left and go forward. Left.

Come on, Maid….! Come down and fight me by hand!

*Wshk!*

Wish granted, she teleported right in front of me, with arms at the throwing.

Jumping a pounce was hazardous so I slid on the floor just as she throw a dozen knives, one nicked me on the edge of my forehead, one left a gash on my right elbow (I didn't notice the left side of my chest bleeding till now), but I gritted my teeth and curled one leg back to my chest, closing my distance to her with the momentum. Once I got the closest, I ejected the curled leg and slammed my foot to her midsection, throwing her off the ground and a few meters away.

Pushing myself up to my feet, I spat out the knife out of my mouth before I caught it by the hilt mid-air and charged Sakuya. My enemy quickly standing up, I swiped a slash to her face. She parried it with one hand and returned a stab towards me. Of course, I parried and I sent a counter to her forehead, specifically a head-butt.

Her head was hard, and the kickback hurts me as well, but it doesn't daze me just like Meiling's. As she staggered, I quickly followed up with a thrust of my knife—

OOF! She kicked me!

Staggering backwards, I rubbed my chest frantically, trying to relieve the pain. She removed the dizziness of her head and was composed. Not giving her a moment of rest, I charged forward, trying to ignore the still throbbing pain on my kicked chest. Instead of stabbing, I threw a fist with my knife hand towards her face, she ducked and swiped a cut to my abdomen.

Nonetheless, I yapped in a hiss. That fucking stung! I swiped again with a backhand, she ducked under it and swiveled her position behind me, slashing my back diagonally.

[RRRggh!] I growled, holding my bleeding abdomen. The cut wasn't deep but it's a gash. And it is spilling my blood. I could already feel it running down to the waist of my pants!

The gash on my back is likewise the same, and it stings. Being aggressive won't work, I have to be cautious. I spun a swipe towards my back, she back stepped and I quickly charged, keeping mind to not be careless. I swung a small swipe, she dodged and quickly advanced on me with a knife. I jumped back with a panicked swipe, she stopped midway before she could get hit.

Time for the unexpected blows.

I sideflipped towards her, taking chances as I didn't try to eject a kick: she backstepped it. I followed up with a Scoot: she didn't see it coming and I ended up hitting her ankle with my foot as she jumped back again, stumbling a bit. Not letting her get a chance of recovery, I executed a Gainer flip, my stationary foot aiming an axe kick to her head: she sidestepped it.

Good dodge, not a lot would've survived on the first try. But I'm well-prepared for mishaps, and your mistake was that you're right next to me.

I punched her midsection without losing the fluidity upon landing, making her buckle over. Following it up, I grabbed her collar and spun her around me once before I let go, kicked her shoulder and sending her crashing her back against a bookshelf. A rush rolling into my head, I quickly charged forward and aimed a knee for her face.

She moved her head away and my knee hit the books. She kicked her feet up and struck my standing foot's thigh, making me topple to the ground. She disappeared and was suddenly standing a few meters away, throwing a knife at me. I kicked the shelf to make myself slide backwards, the knife missing my legs by the hair.

Rolling backwards to my feet, I ran quickly away, hoping for the next clash to involve more on close-quarters than stupid knife throwing. Zigzagging the shelves, I eventually reached the reading area of the library, a spot where long tables and chairs were around, most were scattered, some had black spots that signified a stray bullet hitting it and even more were toppled over. Isn't this the place where I ran into a table with Jergo before?

*Wshk!*

Behind me!

I instinctually swiped my knife behind me in a wide arc—

*SHK!*

[AAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!‼!‼] MY ARM! MY FUCKING ARM!

A knife buried itself to my left bicep, and it hurt unlike anything I ever felt before in my life. I lost the grip of my knife, and I could see the end of the sharp point sticking out of the back! I was in a blank, a sudden urge to vomit threatening me.

*SHK!* Above my heart!

*SHK!* One to my wrist!

[AAAAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!] MOTHERFUCKER!

I quickly grabbed a nearby table with my one good arm, quickly yanked it close and held it up like a shield, its underside facing me. That followed with knife points poking out as Sakuya continuously chucked more of those damn knives.

*throb*

Rrgh. The stabs are throbbing. My saliva spilled as I gritted my teeth in sharp inhales, I looked at the three knives buried in my person. One on my bicep, killing my left hand's movements. Another on my wrist, ultimately killing all motion of my entire left arm. The last, buried above my heart. It's strange, I can't feel it, but I'm both shocked and relieved that she missed the heart. What would've happened to me if it did?

Would I have gotten unconscious? Or worse…..

Dead.

No. No. No.

This can't be happening….!

Panicking, I pinned down one table leg with my foot to hold the table up while I pulled out all the fucking knives off with force, screaming in pain in each pull until I winched out the one on my chest. Now, they were leaking blood, I could see within: pink, fleshy muscle, I could even see a severed tendon on my bicep. I can't raise my arm up, the smell of copper was thick to my nose that I could feel it in my teeth, and my stomach is coming close to fully throwing up all that I ate.

I'm going to die.

I can't fight anymore.

I'm scared.

Sakuya struck you.
She hurt you.
Pay it back.
Yes, pay it back.
Pay back pain a hundredfold.
Hurt her.
We agree. Shatter her pride.
Make it worse.
Disproportionate damage.

I can't advance when she's gonna keep throwing those damn things. She stopped nicking the table but I don't know if she's still waiting there. What if she's above me? What if she's behind me? What if she's just toying with me? What if she's just waiting for me to cower and despair before she strikes?

What do I do?

What the fuck do I do!?

Pay. It. Back.
She wanted you dead.
She didn't want to play.
She wanted you gone!
No mercy!
PAY HER BACK!

….What can I do?

I'm losing….….consciousness.

You will not stand anyone who wants you dead.
She's doing it out of orders and she's not sympathetic in the least.
Do not tolerate this, host!
Make her suffer for this!
Kill her!

…..

Show an example.
Show her what happens when someone treats your life like a disposable.
Nobody will treat you like this without dying!
Remove her arms for this!
Stab her with her own knives!
Drive one in her spine!

She's doing this out of orders. And she doesn't give a particular fuck about it. She treats like she was just doing the dishes.

Nobody puts you through hell without suffering.
No one!
We agree, nobody!
Not one.
Not now.
Not ever!

You don't care. You really do not care. You aimed one at my heart. You simply want me dead. All because Remilia told you to.

Show her pain.
Make her cry in pain!
Agony! Give her agony!
Destroy her image!

Fuck you. I will not let this give her what she wants, Sakuya. I'll see you bruising and bleeding on the fucking ground and I'll drag you by your pretty white locks to your mistress…..!

Show her suffering.
Break her.
Let her fear your name!
Let her know the consequences.
Make it a fine retribution!
Send a message to her mistress!

I'll show you, Sakuya…..! You tried to kill me, I'll return the favor by taking your hand!

PAY IT BACK!
PAY IT BACK!
PAY IT BACK!
PAY IT BACK!
PAY IT BACK!

[RRRHHHAAAA!] With a roar, I kicked the pin(knife)-cushioned table forward, sending it flying towards my enemy's last known position. The speed of its flight was faster than I ever thought. How? Was I really that strong?

Don't care.
KILL HER!
Use your hate.
Hate! Hate! Hate! Hate!
Let your heart burn in rage!

She finally came into view, jumping out of the flying table's trajectory in a roll. She exposed herself.

Good.
She's exposed.
She cannot hide!
She won't hide from us!
She will not run away!
She will despair!

Without any fucking care about the danger at all, I charged her forward. In her move, she begins to throw three knives at a time towards me….?

What is this?

The flight of the knives was….visible.

Their speed was just as quick but I could see their flight and their trajectory. They're not blurring in flight, I could see them in pure detail.

Yeeess.
Quicker eyes!
Let no human weakness stop us!
No more limits!
No more humanity!
Let the world move as if it were walking.

Adrenaline rush. This was an adrenaline rush.

With control and careful movements, I weaved through the knives just by twisting my body to either side or sidestepping. The process continues, her furiously throwing clusters of them, and not a single one hits me. Not even a graze, she's not hitting me. Her eyes show surprise and shock, flabbergasted of my feat. The elegant and perfect Maid's knife-throwing skills was being outmatched.

She cannot hit us.
Tables have turned!
We are dominant!
Who's weaker now!?
Weak! WEAK!
We are stronger!

Got you now, you bitch!

I grabbed her swiping left hand with my good right hand then I kneed her in the belly, making her buckle her upper body forward before she could swing the other hand. Following up with a second knee to her face, her head is thrown upwards and I head-butted her again with a yank.

Crush her! CRUSH HER!
BREAK HER APART!
FOR OUR SATISFACTION!
SHATTER HER!
MAKE HER SUFFER MORE THAN SHE DID US!
DON'T LET HER HAVE TO BREATHE!

I'm not letting you go that easily!‼

I yanked her again, my forehead slamming to her forehead again. Then again. Then again. Then again! Then again! Then again! Then again! Then again!

BLEED, DOG!‼ BLEEEED‼!‼
YES! YES!
BREAK HER!
SUFFER! SUFFER FOR US!
FEED US WITH HER PAIN!

No. She's not bleeding on the forehead.

That's my blood.

I'm bleeding on the forehead.

I kicked her thigh, making her topple to one foot while I held her up with my grip, her wrist beginning to turn purple from my fingernails digging into her delicate flesh. Then I released her, grabbing her hair before she tries to escape, tugging with utmost prejudice and pulling her up to my level. Both her hands came up to grab at my hand and pull it out, stupidly forgetting that she has knives to use.

RGH!

I kneed her stomach again, letting go of her locks and making her bend over my thigh, spill out her saliva out of her mouth. Growling, I snapped my grip on the back of her collar, lifted her off my leg and kicked her chest, making her qwork before landing on her back on the ground.

Look at the pain on her face, I never thought I would find satisfaction in it. She's even looking up at me in a new light. I see fear, surprise, and shock all over her mien. She never expected me to be like this, didn't she? Did she expect me to have barriers that I won't cross? Oh no, she doesn't know me. I'm the worst, especially when someone goes too far.

Trying to kill me? You crossed the fucking line. Sakuya will no longer receive mercy.

I grabbed the front of her collar, lifted her off the ground, dragged her over to the nearest upright table and slammed her on the surface. I heard a crack along with the slam, I must've used too much strength. Odd, I didn't strain my arm on lifting her or anything.

If that's the case…..

I arced my fist back and swung downwards on her abdomen.

*CRASH!*

That. Was. Satisfying. The table actually broke apart and the sound she made when it did….

That was not even close to how I felt when she sunk that knife on my arm.

I grabbed her leg from the shattered woodworks, dragged through the possibly sharp pile, hoping she cut herself on them, then I spun her around me twice—

She's light.

—before I literally threw her body towards a shelf, her back slamming against the edged surface, tipping the bookshelf back as she fell to the floor convulsing and writhing before the shelf steadied itself.

She needs more.
NOT ENOUGH PAIN!
WE DEMAND SATISFACTION!
NOT ENOUGH SUFFERING!
LET US HEAR HER SCREAM!
MAKE HER CRY!

I'm not done with you, you fucking bitch.

Stomping, I treaded towards the side of the shelf, grabbing on to the edges. Sparing one little leer to the fair maid looking at me with a horrified light, I slowly tipped the shelf towards her fallen form, books slowly falling off and landing on her.

The shelf is light.

The shelf now at a dangerous angle, Sakuya was starting to retreat, crawling away to avoid the crushing death.

I stomped on her ankle. "Aarghh!" Don't you go away now, you still haven't felt it all.

*SLAM!*

….

Now, I'm finished.

Well done.
You did well.
You satisfied us.
She received her just rewards.
Revenge is sweet.
Gratifying.

….….

….….….

…..….….….

….….….….….

….….….*exhale*….….*inhale*…..….

….*exhale*…..*inhale*…..….

…..I'm exhausted. I want to lie down. I want to sleep. I want to rest…..

….My arm. My arm.

I could feel it move.

The cut wounds, the stinging. I don't feel them anymore.

I looked down on my left hand and my eyes widened. The gaping wound on my bicep was shrinking and closing, my wrist wound literally vanished, all that remained was the blood trail running down. I could twist, curl my fingers, clench it, bend the elbow, I could flex the bicep.

My other cut wounds around my arms were closing too, as if time itself was rewinding. There used to be 30 or more of 'em around my arms, especially the long gash and the one on my elbow, now there're just 6 cuts and were closing at a good pace. My arm's back to condition again. As for my chest stab: I could only feel wet blood as I touched it experimentally, but no open flesh. The cut on my belly: it was wet but no flesh wound.

The only thing left was the cuts on my shirt, the smell of copper, and the trails of blood that flowed down, especially to my pants.

What is happening to me? What's happening to me? Do I have self-regeneration now?

Wait a minute…..

The Spell Card Rules. 'No injury' and 'No death'.

Sigh. Looks like I owe her again. Reimu, my appreciation for you grows. Your Spell Card System has saved me. Master had just saved my life here, and she's not even around. Damn it, she's doing way more for me than I did for her. How am I going to pay her back for this?

So wounds will heal once the fight's finally over, huh?

….

I don't know what to say about Sakuya over here. If her wounds healed, would that apply to the weight currently crushing her? The only thing from her that's in view was the foot I crushed and the unmoving limp hand sticking out underneath the heavy bookshelf, the bruise I left there with my grip not seeming to disappear. Is she saved by the System as well? Is she simply unconscious underneath there? Can her body take up the weight?

You don't care.
You don't care.
You don't care.
You don't care.
You don't care.
You don't care.

I. Don't. Care.

Now for the last and (hopefully) final problem.

Patchouli and Marisa, who had been fighting their own duel out of view or out of my attention, was still alive, and afloat in the air. They were almost out of breath, their forms are even worse than what could be tolerated anymore: Marisa's outfit was shredded, holed, blackened and I could already see exposed skin. Patchouli was nowhere different, her pajama dress was starting to become colored black, one of her sleeves was missing, revealing a very slim, smooth, pallor-ish, petite limb of an arm.

Okay, I don't know why but looking at that exposed arm when it's usually covered turned me on.

No, bad Eman. That's not your woman. Save the lustings for the one who'll be needing your undivided attention. Patchouli is cool and silent and all but her attitude gives off 'Less love, more Knowledge'. It isn't impossible to be successful but she's not my type.

Alright, love interest matters later, fight now.

New task: Stop This Bullshit. I'm starting to get tired of this thing anyway.

But how will I do it? Hmm…

Oh, what's this book? Looks interesting.

Let's see: Old, weathered cover. Six pointed pentagram laced in old ink. Not sealed or locked. Could be a very old book, judging by its extremely rough surface. The contents: it's all in English, nice vocabulary though. Makes me think of Diablo 3. Let's see what's written here…

Okay, I might end up getting a nosebleed from all these methods and explanations of complete Einstein nonsense but I got the gist that this book is about dispelling and unsealing thanks to its fancy illustrations. In other words, it's a Spell Breaker book.

Okay, let's do the math:

Two magicians above, flying around each other like flies while throwing stars and elements + Book of Spell Breaking in hand = Might possibly render them both in a 'Mana burn', completely halting their fight to a stop.

The way to go about it: Throw the book at them.

…Sounds like a plan.

But first, lemme get my knife.

…

Alright, just slide that back in there, okay. Now for the nearest bookshelf…..this one.

Hup! And up we go.

Okay, all I need is a target and a right moment to throw it. I only got one shot at this so I gotta make it count.

A stray fireball is coming my way. Time for a little see-through on what this piece of literature has!

Shield!

*BSH!*

When I expected to be wrong on the thought I have in mind, to use the book as a shield and be blasted off the shelf and maybe, get a few burn scars in the process, the worse didn't come at all. What actually came was the fireball sapping out upon contact with the book, like it just hit a body of water, even steam came out. Nice.

Still felt the burns though, and a little recoil shook my shoulder when the fireball slammed in. Owch. Thank God my fingers didn't singe off.

My theory's right, I could use this book to separate those two.

Okay, how're the girls doing?

…..

…

What's with this intense atmosphere?

Unlike before, where they just come at each other with light prejudice, this is the feeling I would feel when someone among two people or both really wanted to kill the other. I encountered it before, and I know the feeling very well. The two were in a standoff, unmoving from their places in the air.

Marisa was stood on top of her broom, her form stiff and heaving, her fists clenched tight in her sides (one hand holding the hakkero), and there was a very dangerous grin on her face. That's the look of sadistic murder, a completely maniacal look, further making her look like the perfect image of a genocidal kleptomaniac that kills the victims before stealing the goods.

Patchouli had her hands held up and curled beside the floating book in front of her. She was sneering, the scariest visage I'm ever seeing in this library, worse than Sakuya's knives. She was heaving as well, her mob cap was gone, showing off purple hair to glory, and there was an odd blurring in the air around her form. There was a giant geometrical circle behind her, and that thing's creating an 'air' around this library. I could feel it seeping inside my nerves, like feathers tickling from the inside.

What is this feeling in the air? It's like there's something unseen or invisible flying around the air like smoke, and it could 'touch' people. I could feel it from my skin, like the smoothest fabric of cloth brushing past my arms. Except that it's hot, unseen, and it's not pleasant.

This feels so much more like…..

…fire?

"«Sun Sign — Royal Flare»!" Patchouli's arms came up, a yellow orb of blazing fires forming above her like a miniature sun.

"«Perversion — Sure-Fire Master Spaaark»!" SHE'S POINTING THE HAKKERO AT HER! AND IT'S A MASTER SPARK!

THEY'RE THROWING THEIR WORSE AND MOST POWERFUL SPELLS AT EACH OTHER! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! WHAT DO I DO!? WHAT DO I DO!? OH SHIT, WHAT DO I DO!?

Wait, I got the book! I just gotta throw it!

But how!? HOW!? SOMEBODY GUIDE ME THROUGH HERE!

Who do I throw it at!? If I throw it at Marisa, Patchouli will end up pointing her anger at me! If I throw it at Patchouli, Marisa will fire that laser and bore a hole in this place, ensuring my 'vouch promises'!

What do I do!?

What do I do!?

*ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ* The laser's already forming its blast circles!

*FFFSSSSHSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH* That fucking sun is starting to look like the actual sun! And it's getting hot in here!

WAAAH! FUCK IT!

EAT BOOK, YOU TWO!

Came out from the point of the hakkero that was once a tiny laser is now a GIGANTIC rainbow laser, the mere sight of its blinding light is evidence enough of its obvious firepower strong enough to destroy a mountain to nothing but cinders. The miniature sun that was starting to make the sun above look like a laughingstock because of its appearance looking like a molten ball lit on fire was instantly propelled forward with the speed of a thrown basketball. Each of the strongest spells were finally shot in full destruction towards the opponent—

—hitting the book that fly by in the space in-between the both of them, their offensive spells doing exactly nothing to it.

Even the two magicians were shocked at the sight.

"Oh no."

"What's goin' on?"

*BRRRRRRRRSSSSHSHSHSSHSHSSH!*

The book sends out a circular nova of white magic, utterly killing both of the most world-breaking spells I ever saw in my life to simply…...nothing. That was it, the book just rendered the two W.O.M.D. spells to nothing, and it sent the both of them flying backwards out of its shockwave.

The shelf I was standing on toppled precariously and I nearly fell because of that shockwave. Thankfully, it held on and I managed to stay upright.

Patchouli slammed her back against the wall of the library, bouncing off of it and rebounding back to the last place she was been before disappearing from view behind a bookshelf, the reminiscent sound of a body slamming to the floor following. The Spell Breaker book above that had been floating for a bit had suddenly realized that gravity existed and promptly fell down to the floor.

Right on where Patchouli's landing zone was.

"Mukyuu!"

….….

What the hell was that noise?

Muk-yuu? Whua? Huh….? Who the hell makes that kind of sound?

"AH! OUTTA THE WAY, BRO! THE MAGIC OF MY BROOM IS LOST! AAAAAAGGGHH!"

[CCRRAAAA—AAAGGGHH!‼!]

She slammed into me. Why am I not surprised? She totally aimed for me on purpose, I have a gut feeling she did.

At least she didn't slam the butt of that broom to any part of my body, she simply smashed her body to mine. And damn it all if it didn't hurt. Because ow. With her slamming into me, she crashed me off the shelf, my back slamming against another shelf behind me, Marisa was lucky to have me as a living air bag (or meat cushion) as she pressed her absurdly hard body towards me in the momentum of our fall, saving herself from powerful bouts of pain.

Did I say that the book self I landed on fell over to the floor upon my landing? Feel the impact of that passing to your own body, not pretty. What's even more shocking to me is that it doesn't hurt. Not like it didn't hurt at all but it wasn't bone-crushingly painful like I thought.

Did I end up creating a hardened back thanks to all the recent mishaps before? This thing is edged with shelf stacks, front and back, the edges should have caved my bones in. Did the books actually cushion my fall?

[Uuurrgghh…..] Ow. Never mind. Even if it doesn't hurt as much as I had expected it, it still hurts.

Come on, sit up—oh wait, never mind, Marisa is right on top of me, shifting a little.

Come on, off you go. I rolled to the side and she slipped off me, laying on her side of the shelf. I don't know why but laying on this toppled shelf is really comfortable. I feel like sleeping on the spot, here and now. Since the fights over and all, I could take it easy. Pretty much everybody in this library was promptly knocked out, the only exception here would be Jergo.

But I can't sleep yet. There's still something I gotta…I gotta…..

With a grunt and numerous spikes of pain hitting my back, I sat up shakily before I held myself up with an arm beside me. Turning to Marisa, I looked at her clothes: her outfit is literally broken down to shreds, the bottom-half of her apron was gone, black edges at the rips telling the story that it was burned off. The only solace is that it's still holding up and making her look reserved, none of the holes in her dress showing any places not meant to be seen.

It just makes her look like she just went through a World War III of magical warfare. Her big-ass witch hat lying beside her head was (amazingly) the only survivor, not even the smallest trace of damage was found on it. The necronomicon she took was probably lost in this mess, she had it in her apron earlier, now that apron is burned off.

Speaking of the mess, just look at the library now.

….….

There is no way for me to describe the state of this place besides the fact that it's going to take the entire staff of fairies and goblins and more than half a day to clean this place up: 60% of the standing bookshelves had fallen over, 89% of all books had fallen to the floor, scattered and unorganized, half of the residents were lying unconscious somewhere, and there's practically a mountain of books at the walls, the knowledge that were placed in the wall shelves having fallen off.

Is this gonna go on my 'vouching promises'? I hope not. The librarian is part of the cause of the damage as well.

"Ugghh, ow…."

I applaud you, Marisa, I applaud you. Just…..bravo. even after that bullshit, a danmaku battle, a fistfight between you and me, another danmaku battle but with more opponents, another fistfight between you and me, yet another danmaku battle between you and Patchouli, you're still conscious.

Bravo.

I held out a hand for her, her tired eyes meet it and she took it with a weakened grasp, pulling herself up with a shaky effort. Scooching over to her side, I propped one leg up and reached over to her hair to fix it, pulling on a few frizzes to straighten them before I ran my hand through her gold locks down to the end, fixing it back to its usual curliness.

She faced me, raised a limp fist and—

"eh…!"

—bopped my cheek with it. Really?

"I had that, you know?" She whined lethargically, her expression showing disapproval.

I raised an eyebrow, then I pulled my hand out of her hair and bopped the top of her head with a fist, my exhaustion not making a good blow. "That's for leaving me for the second time and for causing a ruckus."

She gave me a glare, "We're not finished yet, ya hear?" She paused for an inhale. "Next time, when we go at it again, I'm gonna kick your ass" A breath. "so hard" Another breath, "and I'm gonna spark the hell outta ya….!" Then she rested her forehead atop my propped up knee.

I could only chuckle, "I will keep that in mind." I ruffled her head gently afterwards. It's kinda off-putting that they're smooth and sliding through my fingers easily. For a rough demeanor, she sure takes care of her hair. "But I'm tired, let us rest for now."

She nodded on my knee, shaking it in the movement, "Yeah." She breathed.

Kinda funny how close we've gotten, especially after the last few days. Look at us, she's lying her head on my knee while I have my hand on her hair. It's kinda like we're a brother and sister pair, constantly fighting over something only to forgive each other afterwards.

Speaking of which….there was something that's bugging my mind during all that fighting. When I fought Marisa, when I fought her alongside Meiling, Jergo and the boys, and Patchouli, when I faced off against her with or without danmaku…I had a sneaking suspicion about something.

"Did you do it on purpose?" I asked.

"What?"

"Did you cause the conflict on purpose, just so you could give me a chance to experience the game you and everybody else plays? Was the taking of the book just a masquerade?"

Every moment when I fought, especially when I went one-on-one against Marisa, it was the greatest fun I ever had in my life. Even with all the shouting and the cursing and the hating and the hurting, it felt like that was something natural from the game. I never played like this before: having a goblin on your shoulder, dodging bullets, running up walls just to traverse the obstructive environment, fistfight in unnatural means (using the butt as an attack), nearly getting killed, throwing magic at each other….it was….thrilling.

She looked up at me incredulously, "Wha-ha-hat? No." She denied with a smirk, I noticed the twitching on the right corner of her lips. "I really wanna get that book-ze. I got new materials to play with and I ain't got the right archive to reference 'em with."

"Riiiiight." I drawled in a smirk.

"Seriously! As if I just come here to give you a lift! Don' just presume things on yer own-ze!" She frowned, smacking the side of my knee.

Despite what she said, I still chuckled, "Okay, I'll believe you." I don't totally believe her, of course. I still think she caused this bullshit just to have me experience some Gensokyan custom called the 'Spell Card Battle'.

My thoughts as a Filipino-American Outsider: Best Game Ever.

I remember the look on her face when she saw me joining in the fight for the very first time: it was the biggest and the proudest smile I ever saw since the day I met her. She was clearly overjoyed when I decided to join in.

She looked up at me with an unsettled look, "Uh, you got a little uh…." She gestured to her forehead.

My free hand reaching up to my forehead: wet, and crusted. There was a trail of blood running down my face from the recently closed wound on my forehead. I probably looked crazy, talking to her with this kind of face. That's embarrassing.

I wiped it off with my black shirt. Huh, I didn't notice that it's still wet from the water. Looking at the floor now, the water seemed to have finally dried up, small traces of wetness here and there. Not the two of us, of course. Marisa's hat was still wet, I could still feel my underwear being wet from my (seemingly) dry pants.

"What a splash fight." I chuckled, touching my hair to check the wetness. Seems dry, but the roots aren't, even the back of my head. Damn.

"Yeah." Marisa grinned, wringing her loose braid to squeeze out some water, "Me and Patchy never get this wet in our usual fights before."

"I'll give her my thanks for it." I told, shaking my head like a dog to shake off a few droplets, "I've been needing a bath since last week."

"Even though you seemed so sour to me earlier?" A monotone voice dully asked.

Whoa, Patchouli. Didn't know you were in front of us the whole time. I can see that the same book I threw to end the fight is under your arm.

"Hey, Patchy!" Marisa greeted cheerfully with a friendly smile, "Good to see ya still holding up, even after that bang you got with the wall!"

"Your usual intrusions do serve as a form of exercise for me when I make the effort to stop you." She replied. She turned to me, and this time her stare wasn't so scrutinizing or sardonic anymore, "And I'm honestly impressed that you still have the energy to sit down instead of falling into unconsciousness out of exhaustion after all that."

I nodded in agreement, [I know, I'm shocked too.] I snickered when I looked at the unreadable expression on Marisa's face in a side-glance, Woman's probably getting lost here. [Good to see you in action, Patchouli. Watching you throw those spells made my day.]

"Your input is appreciated." She bowed and a chair seemed to be floating towards her from behind. Once it was behind her and placed on the floor upright, she slumped down on it in a relieved sigh, glad to be finally off her feet. "And it was quite the pull you took when you threw this tome in-between two spell cards."

"Yeah, nice one-ze." Marisa added, patting my shoulder.

I kinda winced from her strength, "I couldn't suffer another moment of you two clashing so I had to stop it. I wasn't so eager to put up with another hour in a Spell Card Battle anymore."

Patchouli was starting to frown, "Why are you alternating between Japanese and English?"

[Um…] I looked at Marisa, she looked back at me, I looked back at Patchouli, "Since Marisa's here?"

A blank stare suddenly formed on Purple's face, Marisa was starting to snicker, I was slowly beginning to feel that I was made a fool. "Eman, Marisa knows English."

…

[….what?]

"PPPPPBBUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Marisa already lost it.

[Wait-wait-wait, what? WHAT!?] Are you kidding me!?

Patchouli sighed an almighty sigh, I almost heard a groan when she did, "Marisa's a magician, who steals my books, which most were written from me, a Western magician with the name Patchouli Knowledge, which resided from a Western Mansion called the" [Scarlet Devil Mansion.] "How could you not figure out that most of the old grimoires are first written in Latin and other primitive languages? I had to translate them to common English to make them decipherable, and sometimes I have to improve them into various runic linguistics to add to the aesthetics and magical relevance for them."

[Do-do-don't ask me that, Patchouli! I'm not the magic expect here!]

"AhAhAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

[And Marisa, shut the hell up! I've been cursing for the last few days with you around and I didn't even realize that you actually understood me the whole time! You really make me feel like a whole pile of shit here, y'know!]

"BUUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Oh dear, I just made it worse.

[I said SHUT UP!] I wrapped my hands around her neck and squeezed, turning her guffaws into raspy cackles. That didn't stop her from losing her shit though.

"It's quite odd that you two used to be physically brutalizing each other a few hours ago." Patchouli commented, idly tapping her finger on the book resting on her lap.

I turned my stare to Purple, my eyebrows squinting as I released Marisa's throat, her laughter dying down, [And are you to judge?] I asked back.

"Yeah!" Marisa agreed, mirth still filling her tone of voice, "You 'n Eman were really going at it earlier as well-da ze!"

[She interrupted us, remember?] I asked, gesturing to the culprit with a displeasured look, [If it weren't for her, I would've beaten your ass.]

"Ha! As if-ze!" She shot back, giving me the unholy look of arrogance to me with her eyes, "Yer a couple o decades too early to be beatin' the Ordinary Magician's ass, Eman!"

You little…!

I backhanded her side.

She punched my side back. Ow.

"Regardless of the outcome, what matters is that we've showed our efforts." A feminine voice nobly said behind us.

Marisa whipped her head behind her, I'm kinda surprised that she didn't snap her neck at such a speed, "Oh hey, China! Jerg."

I leaned my head back, literally hanging from my neck as I faced an upside-down Meiling behind me. [Hi, Meiling. S'good to see you up 'n about.] I turned to the small red figure that seemed to be perched on her shoulder (or hanging on to it). "You too, Jergo."

"Hrrgh." He replied, crossing his arms.

Lifting my head back up, I turned to face over my shoulder and I noticed that all of the goblins, finally awake and conscious, are starting to rearrange the place. Lifting up toppled shelves in groups, placing books back to their respective places, and Koakuma's helping out too. I totally forgot that she was around until now.

"Best you two move away now," Meiling lightly chided as a couple of goblins gathered to the fallen bookshelf me and Marisa sat on, "The boys are going to pull the fixer upper for this place."

"Nah, I'll stay here 'n let these boyz carry me like a queen-ze." A red orb that was supposed to hit her head if she had not dodged it suggested that Jergo would rather destroy the entire mansion than let that happen.

[Come on.] I urged her, pulling her arm as I stood up and stepped on the floors. [I'll get ya a chair.]

"Gee, thanks!" And she gets off it. Once she did, the bookshelf was quickly lifted up from the ground before it was carried away by tiny scurrying red feet underneath.

Watching those goblins do stuff is such a treat for somebody who never saw mythical beings, especially me.

My steps were lethargic when I walked, looks like my exhaustion is starting to show itself. At least I still got energy to get a chair. Here's one right here, I'll be needing you, Mr. Chair.

Marisa seemed to be shaking on her feet as she stood, and the bravado of cheer and energy aren't doing much to hide her exhaustion. Here, sit down. You can't keep that up forever, y'know.

"Ah~ That's heaven...!" Marisa moaned, sinking into the thing like a bean bag (Geez). She turned to face beside her, "Hey, Patchy! We're in the same boat!"

"Without the book." The other magician added, tapping the book on her lap. Tattered clothes, bruised skin, wet hair, exhausted eyes, but no book. Marisa's not fully in the same boat as Patchouli. I slumped down on the armrest of her chair, resting my arm atop the backrest, making sure to not cramp the occupant.

"My goodness, Comrade. What happened to your arm?" I turned to Meiling as she stepped close to inspect my arm, or the dried blood staining the pale surface.

I tried to scratch them off, they were crusted so that makes it easy to peel off, [Sakuya and I got too….violent when we fought.] Damn it, I failed to hide the stoic line on my voice, I just gave it away. Now they're not gonna stop questioning.

"What happened?" Damn it, even Marisa. And Patchouli too.

I sighed a big sigh, I'm getting really uncomfortable now. All the rage and the blind haze as I fought her, every hit I gave her, the satisfaction I felt….I want to forget it. I don't want to remember any of it. [I'd rather not talk about it.] I dismissed, reaching up to crumple my hair. I don't know why I do this whenever I felt ticked off.

The worry on Meiling's face was so apparent, "Whe-where's Sakuya now?"

She's right over there, crushed under a fucking a shelf with a broken foot. I could still see the bruise I left on that wrist. I could feel myself smiling on the inside when I see it.

Meiling followed my stare and gasped, "Ms. Sakuya!" She quickly ran over to it.

I lowered my head and crumpled the sleeves of my pants, taking a seething breath. If that Sakuya's still conscious underneath that thing, I don't know what's gonna happen once we get face to face.

Without any visible effort, Meiling lifted the shelf back upright, finally relieving that Maid from the weight. Well, what do you know? She's still conscious, writhing shakily as soon as the light of the room shone down on her.

I pulled a few strands of my bangs down, letting them hang down to hide my eyes as I peeked through them, glaring the whole while.

Taking her hand, Meiling steadily lifted the Maid's upper body up, a couple of goblins gathering around to remove the books piling atop Sakuya's back as she rose up to kneel. "Are you alright, Ms. Sakuya? What happened?"

My friend showing concern for my killer. Tch, have I seen everything now?

Fucking….

Well, look at that. There's still that smudge of my blood on her forehead.

Through my bangs, I saw her turn her eyes to me. I stiffened from her gaze, a very wary look present on her eyes, but I dared not move, my body language implying that I was ignoring her.

After a couple seconds of staring, she sighed, "I lost, that's what happened." Then she tried to rise up to her feet, using her good leg to rise up. Meiling quickly assisted her in the movement when she noticed that she was shaking.

Now she's walking over here.

My icy glare intensifying underneath my bangs, my fingers already crumpled to tight fists as she was getting nearer and nearer in each limp step. A silent growl rolled out of my throat, sneering as I took the guts to raise my lowered head up and stare back at her.

Once she was in close-distance, we were looking back at each other, eye to eye. The way she looked at me was nothing but stoic, emotionless and nothing else, she was almost studying me with those eyes. I defensively glared at her, resisting the pressure she was probably putting on me by sheer eye contact.

This staring contest continued for a few dozen seconds, the atmosphere between us getting tenser. We never broke away from eye contact, I'm a little surprised that she wasn't showing any sign of cowing down. I'm not moving a damn inch either.

After a full minute, she finally said something, "You do not hold back, do you, Mr. Eman?"

The hell are you talking about, woman?

"Even if your opponent was a woman, you hold no reservations in striking your blows."

[Wrong.] I was holding back from killing you, [Could've been worse. I should snap your neck for even trying what you just did.]

I stood up from the armrest on Marisa's chair, and this time the height difference between me and Sakuya was now big. The last time I measured, she was on the level of my eyes along with Meiling's, now she's as tall as my chin. Just a slight distance away between her and me, I glowered her down. [Do you hate me now, Sakuya? Huh? Now that you failed in killing me, what are you gonna do next? Hm? Assassinate me? Kill me when I'm alone just to finish the job? Are you gonna keep your pride up by starting another duel the next time I visit, hoping you'll beat me next time?]

I should give this woman some credit by not quivering, despite everything I've said. She kept looking at my eyes with the same emotionless and scanning look, blue orbs never twitching to face at any direction except my own. I could see Meiling's unsure body language from my peripheral vision, trying to calm us down but unable to.

After two dozen seconds, Sakuya just huffed, closing her eyes and giving me a humble smile, one that shocked me, and somehow ticked the fuck out of me, "No. I can't carry out the intent of killing you anymore, now that I lost." She took one step back, her usual elegance ruined by the limp I gave her, "As per Gensokyo custom: the losing party of a Spell Card Duel cannot carry out their objective, regardless of the intent or importance. Commonly, both the winning party and losing party would settle down for a cup of tea and forget all grudges afterwards."

My body stiffened even more that it shook, the anger in my heart burning to extreme levels. My fists were close to stabbing the palm of my hand with my fingernails, so close to just straight up punching her in the face just to shut her up. She's expecting me to forgive her?

EXCUSE ME!?

Despite the exterior signs of my displeasure, she continued without missing a beat, "I will not blame you if you hate me, considering what I have attempted, but please be aware that I am sincerely regretful of my actions." The next thing she did just baffled me: she curtsied. She was displaying submission, it was not what I expected her to do.

"Spite this lowly maid if you must, but I beseech you to not spite my mistress for giving me my orders to fight you. She held the regard that you could possibly entertain her in the midst of the spell card duel and sent me as your opponent."

So you admit that Remilia ordered you to kill me, because she was bored, and did it regardless?

Just what are you playing at, Sakuya? What is it? What do you want me do, huh? How am I supposed to react here? What am I supposed to say as a response?

WHAT?

….….

….….….

….….….….….….Motherfucker.

I lightly spun on my heel and went to the nearest table. The chairs were either far away or just straight up broken, I just went to choose the nearest woodwork: this stupid table that was overturned to its side. Fixing it into an upright position, I lifted up one side and lethargically dragged it with me towards Sakuya, making a grating sound between chipped wood and wet carpet.

Once I reached her, I simply released my grip on the table, letting it slip off my fingers and slam to the ground in a loud thud, literally filling the silence of the entire library with that echoing boom of heavy wood hitting floor. I noted that Meiling, Marisa and Patchouli flinched from it. Sakuya merely creased her forehead.

[Sit.]

Sakuya blinked owlishly, "Pardon?"

I glared at her, [Sit. Down.] I demanded, through gritted teeth, [You clearly not conditioned to stand, especially with that foot.]

"…huh, I thought you were gonna pound her into the table-ze."

Fucking shut up just this minute, Marisa!

I stood aside, giving her passage to the table without looking away from her.

She gave me a bow, "Thank you." My eyes followed her as she limped towards the table, laying her good hand on its surface before turning around and hopping on to it. I noticed that she was being careful with her other arm, the same arm I crushed. Look at it, the bruise on that wrist is bloating badly.

….….….

Sometimes….I really….really hate myself for being kind. I really do. There are some days that I wished I didn't have morals, just so I wouldn't feel bad for the things I did. This is one of those days.

I felt guilty for doing that to her. I feel horrible for breaking her ankle. I didn't like the fact that I ruined her perfect look. Even after what she did, the simple fact that I hurt her really makes me feel like a prick. Even worse, I feel embarrassed for going wild on her.

I really hate myself.

I pulled out my tubular bandanna out of my pocket, rolled it in my hands, held her shoulder, and begun wiping the smudge out of her forehead. All without breaking eye contact. [Hold still.] I ordered firmly, cleaning the blood off as gently as I could. I kept my arm from being stiff and it shook because of it. I'm trying my hardest to make sure I don't lash out while she was in the likeliest position to be punched in the neck.

Whether I forgive her or not, I don't give a fuck at the very moment. I can't hold grudges for more than one day. I'm just doing what my mind wants me to do.

After the smudge was done, I took a step back, [Meiling get over here. Give her back a massage. Jergo, heal her hand.]

But you're not off the hook yet, Sakuya. Don't even think for a second that you are because I'm doing this.

I didn't look away as I heard footsteps coming closer behind me. Meiling quickly took a spot on the table behind Sakuya and knelt down, placing both hands on her shoulders. "Excuse me."

"Excuses." Jergo set himself on her right side, both hands (or claws in his case) laced in geometrical circles, healing magic at the ready and placed them on the damaged part. Gliding his hands across the bruise that I left on the perfect pale flesh on her right hand, I could see the stiff muscles loosening beneath and the bruise losing its black and blue coloring.

After a few moments, Sakuya began to look like she's getting high. Her blue eyes glazing over, her expression loosening to a euphoric visage, I felt firsthand that Meiling's massaging is really good, and the feeling of being healed with healing magic for the first time is a completely different feel but it still feels great.

I took a spot on Sakuya's free side and took her free hand in my own, kneading her palms and rolling my thumbs across the pale flesh. The reason why I'm doing this: I got nothing. Again, I'm just doing what I felt like doing.

I do massages myself, it's something that came with my talent for running and climbing. Back in the years when I wasn't a criminal, my friends always have me massage their stiff backs whenever practice or playtime was over. And their input says that I got really good hands, even made them fall asleep at some point. Whenever they got a bad back or a really hurting joint, they always turn to me and no one else.

Doing this….it takes me back. There was once a time when something got too south between me and another tricker, and he was a very experienced fighter, knew a lot of martial arts. It was lunchtime, it was just the two of us and the others weren't around that day. After a few minutes arguing, we ended up lashing out at each other. He kicked me high and low, gave me more blows than I could hit back. The only reason I won was because I could take a beating, I couldn't stop getting back up whenever I hit the ground, and he was already getting tired when I decided to fight back.

We really got into trouble with our superior that day, we were left off with a warning that if it happens again, we're out of the team. The guy didn't want to see my face that day, but I didn't leave him alone. I felt guilty that day, I thought that I was in the wrong, I thought I could make it up to him. When I caught up to him, he felt the same way, saying that he thought that he was in the wrong, even apologized to me. I reciprocated his apology and massaged his back that I drop-kicked as my way of saying sorry, hoping what just happened won't happen again.

And then, we became friends that day. We started relying on each other, helping each other, we taught the other in the proper execution of flips and tricks—in fact he was the person who polished my martial arts and made myself capable of beating up anybody who stood in my way. I knew a lot about flipping and other things, I taught him the proper steps. Give and take. I even massage his back every time we get to take a break, and one thing lead to another created the trend of our group: if you got a stiff back or an aching shoulder, turn to the nearest therapist, Eman Letitia. Everybody wants a piece of my massages. Fucking bastards.

It was hard on the hands and fingers, but I never regretted it. It was how I managed to get along with everybody.

I actually feel calmer now. The memory really cooled my anger. In fact, I don't feel so mad anymore and instead found myself enjoying giving Sakuya the treatment everybody in my group used to love.

Sakuya's actions are not excused but it's my choice to forgive or not. I found myself leaning to the former the longer I keep kneading her hand. The nostalgia keeps distracting me from making any excuses to hate her even more.

…..

…..…..

…..…..…..

I need to learn magic soon. Sakuya told me: as long as I don't have a spell card, I am the most susceptible to getting killed by the most lethal danmaku. To play in a Spell Card Battle, you need a Spell Card. I know that now. I need to make one soon. The entire thing did teach me a lot of things, a few that I will take care to remember: violence is employed, people are bound to get hurt, it's as risky as if you're fighting for your own life, you can't do anything once you lose, and you need to be more than just being capable of defending yourself before you consider joining in.

The Spell Card Battle was a violent game. Similar to wrestling, do not join in unless you know how to escape a grapple or even take a blow if you don't want to die. Once you join in, you accept the risk that you will get hurt. If you end up making enemies, you accept that, because it came with the risks. I got lucky to survive Sakuya; I nearly died, and I was saved by my own rage.

Sigh. Gensokyo sure plays a different set of rules when it involves fighting. I'm still not used to Gensokyo's bullshit, aren't I?

….oy.

Looks like a lot of Outside World principles don't belong here. I guess I should start abandoning a few of them, and soon.

Okay…swirl a spiral on the palm while tugging on one finger. After that, I press the end of each finger with a pinch while my other hand glides across the palms in a swaying pattern.

"Aaaaahhh~" Stop moaning, Sakuya. It's weird.

"Hey, could ya do me next on that one?" You really can't shut up, can you, Marisa?

"Wait until it's your turn, Kirisame." Well, color me surprised. Meiling's actually going to? "I won't be as gentle with you as I am with her."

"Ergh!" Jergo likewise has the same thoughts.

"What~? Come on." She whined.

Tch. I shook my head in resignation. These people were going at each other's throats not more than an hour ago, and they banter like my past friends afterwards? What is wrong with these people?

[You just wait there, I'll do you next.] I reassured, not looking away from my work.

"Or I could just heal her and she won't be needing it anymore." Patchouli drolly objected.

"Wait, don't!"

Too late, Patchouli's hand began to glow and she held it out towards Marisa's seated form, a green (typical) outline beginning to glow off of her body. Marisa's face was getting high as well, and, look at that, the bruise on her hand and cheek is disappearing. Signs of a hundred bitch slaps no longer evident.

Then the glow was gone. Marisa quickly shook her head to wipe off the high feeling and frowned at the fellow magician. "Aw, really, Patchy?"

"You're welcome." And she closes her eyes, it looks like she was trying to sleep while seated.

Hmm…..should I learn a healing spell first? Or maybe the fireball spell should be first? Hmm…..

*Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.*

…..!

…..…..…..

Heh, 'bout time you showed up, brat.

I slowly turned around and stepped aside, letting go of Sakuya's hand. I wasn't surprised to see Remilia Scarlet walking towards us, clapping her hands in a slow (yet still regal-looking) pace, showing her fangs in her usual ominous smirk and those blood eyes she have is always the thing of wonders.

I just can't stop looking at them.

"That ended far too differently than I have expected, but it was worth the sacrifice of my slumber."

"Milady." Sakuya stood up from her seat on the table and bowed. I see you putting all your weight on one foot there, can't you just bow from your seat? Jergo didn't even heal that part yet.

"Good afternoon, Milady." Meiling stood straight and bowed as well, a fist against a palm in front of her. Remilia allows that custom?

"Milady." Jergo stood in-between both women, bowing to the waist.

"Hey, Rems. Didn't know you're still up in this hour!" Since when were you calling her 'Rems', Marisa?

"Good day, Remi." Patchouli sighed, opening her eyes just a little.

"Good morning, all." She smoothly replied. Then she turned her stare to me, "That was by far the most unorthodox Spell Card Battle I ever witnessed."

"Indeed." Sakuya agreed, "More roughhousing and less finesse."

Don't think I didn't see you sneak a glance on me, Maid.

"Yes." Remilia concurred gleefully, turning to me, "Eman and Marisa's duels were quite hilarious." She turned to Marisa, "I'm surprised you could take up that amount of punishment to your face."

"Hey, I could'a beaten him-ze!"

Why is the Draculina sneaking glances on me?

"You're such a killjoy, Patchy." This time, Remilia turned to the Purple Magician, "Why should you break the fight between these two ruffians? I was enjoying myself."

Rgghk!

"I had better concerns besides letting you enjoy yourself, Remi."

Why the hell does she keep turning glances to me? Was she purposely antagonizing me? Is that what she's doing? Because it seemed to be working, but I'm keeping myself stiff and still. She's goading the reaction on purpose. She's gotta be. I will not satisfy her with it.

This time, her attention was fully on me. Her smirk was both devious and wide, it was so irking to look at. "Why so silent, boy? Cat got your tongue?"

You spoiled, unsavory, unruly, cunt-sucking, BRAT!

[You lost all of my respect, Remilia.] Me using your first name without any formality fitting for rich people is a sign of the way I see you now, Draculina. [What you just did is just….unforgivable.]

"Oh? What have I ever done to deserve it?"

Your fucking smirk, I really wish I could punch it out of your face. If you weren't a vampire in the first place, it would've been sooo easy to just throw you across this fucking library.

[Ordering Sakuya on killing me, that's what you did to deserve it.] I controlled myself from snapping, I relayed such words as calmly as I could. Though, everything came out as emotionless. My true feelings are essentially exposed just by that, not that I could hide it from a vampire in the first place.

"I—"

[No.] I held a hand up, [Let me just say what I got on my mind, then you can tell me your reasons.] Without any waiting for her permission, I took a deep breath and said it, [That was not funny. That was not cool. And lastly, I'm not letting that go. The last time you did it, it was because you wanted proof. Yeah, I can forgive you that much. But this? What the fuck was your reasoning? Because you were bored? You sicced your Maid to try and kill me, just so you could watch me be pushed to fight seriously? So I could fight to the point of killing my enemy? To the point where I could get killed? Excuse me?] I wasn't able to hide the incredulity of my voice when I asked that. Now, my fuse was getting short, [I know that you know what happens when I don't have a spell card and join the fight. I could get killed. Yes, Sakuya told me. Yet, you still did it. Don't tell me you didn't know, how could you not if Sakuya does?] My voice was no longer stoic, there was some emotion in it now, and I could feel the heat in my rage growing hotter, [There was a problem.] I pointed to Marisa, [She broke in, destroyed your property, and tried to steal Patchouli's belongings. I wanted to be a responsible person and tried to stop it. So, I tried to stop it. I nearly had it the first time, I would have done it the second time, BUT YOU JUST UP AND ORDERED SAKUYA TO KILL ME!]

"Mr. Eman, enough!" Sakuya's hand grabbed my wrist in a vice grip.

[FUCK OFF!] I twisted her grip around, now I coiled my arm around hers, grabbed her collar with my other hand, yanked her and head-butted her forehead as hard as I could, so hard that my vision actually blurred, so hard she was down on her rear on the ground, holding her forehead, [This is between me and her! You stay the fuck down and stay the fuck out of it!]

"Regardless whether I'm involved or not, I will not let your uncouth behavior sta—"

"Sakuya." A mature voice, low and powerful, cold and firm. When I turned my head to where it came from, that voice actually belonged to Remilia. She glared at her Maid with the most monstrous red slit eyes I ever seen in my life. "Stay out of this. This is a business between a Host and her Guest, a servant like you has no involvement so let him speak."

A shameful look quickly crossed Sakuya's face, her head lowering so deeply that it looks so pathetic.

I snapped my focus back on Remilia, [Just why did you do it? Why? There was a shitstorm going on, and I wanted to help stop it. Why did you just make it worse? Is entertaining yourself even more important than stopping a ruckus from worsening inside your home? Look what I did!] I pointed to Sakuya's kneeling form, which made her lift her head up to look at me in confusion, [Your orders just got her hurt! I broke her ankle, I bruised her wrist, I damaged her abdomen, I threw her to a fucking shelf, and I left her to die when I crushed her with one!]

I heard Meiling gasp, probably from the revelation why Sakuya was under that shelf earlier, but I ignored it and kept my eyes focused on Remilia's dull scarlets. [Before I even did all that….She stabbed me in the arm, she stabbed me in the chest, she tried to fucking turn me into a fucking pin-cushion. Damn it! I WAS THE ONLY ONE BLEEDING IN THIS BULLSHIT‼ YOU PUT MY WHOLE LIFE IN DANGER‼] This time, I was starting to lose it. Hyperventilating, heartbeat increasing, my eyes widening to the point of bulging. I was going into a hysteria, a mix of anger, fear, frustration, and paranoia fueling my every word as I clawed at my own head like I was going crazy, [WHY!? WHY!? WHY DID YOU FUCKING DO IT!? I'VE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED BEFORE!]

My voice echoed throughout this library. It was at this moment that I realized that it was very quiet, the bustling sounds of goblins fixing the entire place up was no longer happening. When I took my eyes away from the ground and looked around, every goblin was looking over here, each of their faces open-mouthed in shock and flabbergasted. They were obviously shocked of me acting this way towards their mistress, exploding at her face was something that could warrant my own death.

But I didn't care. I was mad. My life was played, my life was put at risk for someone else's enjoyment. Nobody puts my own life at risk….except me.

"Are you done?" Remilia asked dully, cross-armed and giving me a very unimpressed look.

Still heaving in my breath, I shook my head. I placed my hands on my knees to get my energy and composure back. After a few seconds, I slowly stood up straight and looked down on her, [Yeah. That's it. I'm done.]

She closed her eyes, took a big breath, her wings expanded to a full span, their leathery size spread out in full grandiose that it made me took a step back from her, before she sighed, making them flap before folding behind her back.

She opened her eyes and regarded me in a condescending glare, "I will not deny your presumptions, because they were all correct. Yes, I did put your life in danger. Yes, I did prioritize entertainment over the safety of my Mansion's Library. Yes, I was aware that you had no Spell Card. Yes, I am aware that you could have died from the ordeal. Yes, I did 'sic' Sakuya on you, in spite of any outcome that could have befallen you or her."

[Then—]

"Silence." She snapped, and I flinched. "You had your fill of speaking, it is my turn so be silent." She reprimanded harshly, her glaring red eyes starting to glow, "The reason why I did what I did is not just because of my boredom, it was to teach you."

What?

"Boy." This time, her glare was gone but the intensity in her eyes remained, "It is clear to me that you still haven't fully grasped the reality of Gensokyo. You may have once lived in a life in the outside world being carefree or lacked a moment of having your life in danger, but in this world you can never rest easy unless you are truly capable of defending yourself, especially against Youkai. Don't even think for a second that your physical capabilities could save you.

"In this world, Eman, only the strong can live another day. For outsiders like you, life is much, much harsher. Someday, a Youkai will have the gall to hunt you down and kill you just for the fact that you're human. Do you think you could survive the encounter? I say No. You cannot defend yourself with your fists alone, not even magic could save you. You need wit, skill, and cunning.

"I used the Spell Card Battle as a means of showing you that. Heed my words, Boy: Give up the mentality that everybody around you does not have the gall to kill you, because they do, especially when you play danmaku. Spell Card Battle's are never bloodless and treated like a magical equivalent of a physical argument between friends all the time. Many use the Spell Card System to settle disputes just to prevent bloodlust, but the outcome is not always pleasant. Had you lost to Sakuya, you would have died. Have you won, you will learn that Gensokyo is not a friendly place for powerless humans.

She then gave me a very expectant look, her left eyebrow rising upwards, "And I assume that you did learn, yes?"

…...Yes. I did. I couldn't deny it. Yes, I acknowledged it. From the bullshit of a Spell Card Fight, I learned a massive lesson: Not even Marisa would hold back just to get back at me for hitting her on the back of the head. Once somebody gets violent with me, they will get violent and try to kill me. Not only that, not every Youkai is civil, and anyone of them will eat me.

That's one hell of a way to drive a point home on me: Violence and actual experience. Well played, Draculina. Well played.

"I hear your complaints, and I will admit that my hospitality deserves a poor mark, but I promise you this." She took the hem of her skirt in both hands and performed an elegant curtsy, "This incident will never happen again, I swear to that by the name of Remilia Scarlet. Do forgive me."

An actual apology, coming from the culprit. An arrogant vampire, so high and spoiled, so devious that she nearly got me killed because of her boredom, was apologizing to me.

I think my jaw just unhinged from its skull and hit the floor at the sight before me.

When she opened her eyes to look up at me, she was greatly amused, smirking. I closed my mouth and steeled myself before she could see more, "You seem tired….and famished. Care to stay over for lunch? It is the middle of the day."

Once she said that, I felt the edge of my jaws ache and my empty stomach expose itself through my nervous system.

"If you want, I could offer you a guest room to rest your weary head. Surely the Spell Card Battle must have been so exhausting to you."

And now I felt my exhaustion bore down on my shoulders.

[I'd greatly appreciate it.] I met her in eye contact, her sincerity particularly showing in her eyes. Dammit. [Lady Scarlet.] I finished, bowing courteously.

"Splendid!" She delightfully said, turning to the Maid that stood beside Meiling the whole time, "Sakuya, as injured as you are, I want you to join Jergo in the kitchens and prepare their dishes. Consider it a just punishment for the rash treatment for my guests."

Says the person who instigated the fucking thing in the first place.

"Yes, Mistress." And without any questions, Sakuya complied. How loyal is she, really?

"Yes, Mistress." Jergo echoed before he bolted off towards the entrance like a bullet, passing by his Mistress's feet.

She's attacking me with my conscience. She's nagging me at my conscience. Her hospitality hurts me more than it consoles. This is one of the reasons why I hate being kind. The weight of my Guilt would always hit me in ways that really hurt the most when somebody pays me back with kindness whenever I did something wrong. Fucking dammit!

"Finally some free food!" Marisa exclaimed happily, hopping off her chair with a kick of her legs and began walking for the entrance. "I've been starvin' since this mornin'-ze!"

"Give me a moment to change before I join you." Patchouli said before she blinked in a flash of light and disappearing from the chair. She teleported.

"You all enjoy yourselves for now." Remilia told, smirking so widely that it threatened to split her head in half, "I've seen what I wanted to see so I will head back to my bedroom and sleep." When she turned to me, her eyes became predatory, the friendly look earlier almost seemingly nonexistent in the first place, [Have a good day, Eman Letitia.]

She ruptured into a cloud of bats and the swarm retreated to the entrance.

…..

…..…..

…..…..…..

I absolutely have no idea what the hell just happened.

Something soft but firm held on to my bicep, I turned and I met Meiling's bright aquamarine eyes and dazzling smile, "Let's go, Comrade. Jergo makes the best dishes."

With an almighty sigh, I nodded and let myself be reined in to the prospect of food.