"Well, it looks like the night you shared was… Interesting."
Yao hid her grin behind her fan as she trailed slightly behind Alma Elma and Luka. The kitsune was enjoying being on the road after having spent so much time either guarding the Monster Lord's Castle or teaching kitsunes back home. Officially, she was supposed to act as a bodyguard for Luka, but it didn't mean she couldn't tease the hero…
…Or at least attempt to. She knew that the succubus queen was too carefree to react to her piques, but she had hoped that the hero would be a little more fun to tease. Instead, she tried to stay slightly away, as his bloodlust was threatening to overflow from his body.
"Hueeurgh. Can we avoid talking about something so disgusting right now?"
Yao turned toward her interlocutor. "Should you really be one to talk, little miss? You are dealing with dead bodies on a daily basis on your own accord."
Luka also had chosen to bring Chrome with him. When asked, he acknowledged himself that his reasoning was not the most sound: Since he got attacked by a doll last time he was on a boat and would have appreciated having her, he decided that he should bring them on the ghost ship this time. Of course, the necromancer complied as soon as she heard the word "ghost", even if she was supposedly forbidden to practice necromancy.
As to why Alma Elma and Yao were the other ones accompanying him… Tamamo had heard about the beelzebubs on the ghost ship, and wanted her most trusted aide to keep an eye on it, while Alma Elma wanted to keep an eye on him "to get sure that nobody tried anything funny" and he couldn't gather the courage to turn her away. Or maybe it was because she brought up the sweet memories of the sensual moments they had spent together the last evening.
"Bodies and death are a part of nature! I only used the resources naturally provided to help me!"
"And so is sex. The act of rejoicing physically in one another's flesh through a sensual embrace, whether to procreate or simply for the recreational aspect itself, is something that is ingrained into every sapient being, and us monsters more than any others. It is definitively more natural than attempting to bring the dead back to life."
"Still, it doesn't make me fully comfortable…" Chrome fidgeted awkwardly.
Wrong answer. The worst you could have given in this situation.
Luka could see Alma Elma grinning before she turned toward her junior.
"Awww, Chrome-chan, you're a succubus like me!" Alma flaunted her forms. "Didn't you ever take a moment to grab and drain a man to satisfy your physical needs? Didn't you ever…"
Alma Elma continued with lewder and lewder descriptions until the small necromancer groaned.
"Okay, okay, please STOP!" Chrome shivered as she walked faster to escape the trio, and utterly failed in this endeavor.
"…And you know how everybody feel when they hear you talking about creating zombies..
"Fine, I get it. You're all even more naggy than Frederica…"
Alma bowed. "Thank you."
The kitsune then tilted her head. "Jokes aside, what are we to expect exactly? I didn't get much information beyond a message about taking care of beelzebubs… I suppose they're not that dangerous yet if we go in like that?"
Luka sighed. He started to tire of repeating his story repeatedly. "We're going to meet with the ghost of the woman who freed them and died after she managed to seal them on her ship, and we're going to deal with them."
"So we must stop them from escaping." Yao nodded. "Easy enough."
Luka refrained from grimacing, but Alma chuckled and the tensing in the hero didn't escape the kitsune's trained eyes.
"What are you hiding?"
"Nothing really, I just hope that we won't get another monster from the past to surprise us..."
Yao smirked. "Oooh, the way you deviated the issue while staying relatively close to the matter, the downplaying with an attitude… Did mistress Tamamo happen to give you acting lessons?"
Luka shrugged.
"I wished I was there to see it." The kitsune sighed. "But maybe I could get another opportunity later." She waved herself with her fan as she talked solemnly. "Remember those lessons well, boy. They will be of use to you during your whole life."
They don't hesitate to share every detail about their nightly prowess and other escapades as if it was the most natural things, but learning from one of them is apparently a big deal? Just when I thought I saw it all…
They finally arrived in sight of Gold Port, and got instantly accosted by a beautiful looking woman with black eyes and brown hair.
"Excuse me. Have you got a minute? You look like powerful warriors and I could use the help of people like you."
Yao muttered under her breath. "Mmmh. Interesting."
"Please come by my house if you're interested. It's this one."
She entered her house before Luka could answer.
"You didn't tell me the ghost was Selene herself. I suppose this is our call?"
"Yeah…"
"Mmmh." Chrome had already pulled a notepad and a magical pen. "Interesting. But I will have to interrogate her and maybe even take samples. Do you think she'll mind?"
"Yes, and couldn't you have done it with the one we got back at the castle?"
The small necromancer raised an eyebrow. "She's also at the castle?"
"She's hanging out in the casino. Did you ever leave your laboratory?"
"I… Might have failed to notice her."
That's not the only thing you have failed.
As Luka decided to stop beating around the bush, he entered the house with the party. Soon enough, Selene revealed the whole truth as she realized the warriors in front of them had already found out about her real intentions. To her relief, they still accepted to help her to deal with the monsters on the boat.
"We'll have one last thing to check and we'll be good to go."
"Good. My ship will be waiting for you in the harbor."
Luka left his host's house and started making his way to the bar. He didn't think he would see the two dons of the mafia waiting there, but it didn't cost anything to take a look. When he entered, he indeed saw a familiar face, just not the one he expected.
"Micaela?!"
The disguised seraph was leaning on a chair looking at the ceiling, clearly lost in thoughts. She repositioned herself to look at Luka and his company while her nose picked up the overwhelmingly beguiling scent of the succubus queen all over her nephew, the subtle, heady smell from Yao, and the stench of death around Chrome. She still managed to greet them with a gentle smile.
"Good morning everyone. I heard about what happened with Erubetie. Looks like you did a fine job."
"Thank you, but… Didn't you want to be at the Pocket Castle to help Ilias integrating?"
"Well…"
The Pocket Castle was a mess when Micaela entered it. Monsters and angels left and right were cleaning and tidying up the place, removing some gear that had been broken and filling trash cans with shards while awkwardly blushing when looking at each other. The seraph could see Salamander and Undine overseeing the operation. The simple fact that those two were working together and not trying to attack each other each other was alone an indication that something was seriously wrong.
"What happened? An all out brawl?"
"Not exactly…" Salamander grimaced. "You remember yesterday's party?"
"Yes. I was surprised that things worked out so well and so quickly. I mean, considering how fast everything got set up for a feast… "
The Water Spirit got close to her, almost whispering. "Well, as it turns out, we have to thank… A few people that we shall not name for that. Said people had managed to gather information on the angel's state of mind while they were away with the hope to smooth out their return, which was why a feast with a lot of sweet food was prepared, as it was something that most angels were thoroughly missing."
Micaela nodded. She was impressed that someone thought of that and took care of the angel's wants, even if it was for a pragmatic reason. She'd have to thank the fox later.
"However, said people involved other… less reliable people shall we say." Micaela breathed in, and instantly found herself with a slimy hand blocking her mouth. "Yes, you're probably right as to whom it is. I apologize, but keep it hushed please… Anyway, as I was saying, said people got carried away when it came to sweetening the ambiance… And the angels were in the middle of a sugar rush when her plan effectively kicked in, resulting in that mess you're currently seeing."
Micaela raised her hands. "Okay. I see, I get it, and I don't want the details. How is Ilias doing?"
Salamander stepped forward. "She actually accepted to be trained by monsters, and is currently directly taking lessons from Freya in archery in the courtyard. She's not a problem in herself. Still, you might want to check on her."
Micaela nodded and made her way to the aforementioned place. Indeed, Ilias was shooting arrows with Cupi at targets under the stern but benevolent gaze of the elf queen. The latter made her way to the seraph when she saw her arrive.
"Greetings, do you need help with anything?"
"I just wanted to see how your latest pupil was doing."
"She's currently doing fine. While she still has an ego and can be cold, she's willing to change and to learn from us. I only wished I could tell the same about those taking responsibilities for her. As much as their intention to protect the goddess is worthy of praise, they got overbearing quite fast."
Micaela raised an eyebrow until she realized that the Elf Queen was certainly talking about Eden.
"Do you want me to see what can be done about it?"
Freya nodded. "By all mean, please do."
The First Seraph made her way to the chapel, and instantly noticed Eden sulking into the corner like a child. Her younger sister noticed her approach.
"Did you make all your way here to mock me as well?"
"I don't even know what you're talking about."
"Ilias turned me away. I repeated that she had to be wary of monsters at all times. But she's now ignoring me to follow them." Eden turned toward Micaela. "Tell me, you who're supposedly the wisest of us, only second to her. Why would she lower herself to ask for their help?"
"Because she realized she can learn from them?"
"But I can do anything she wants for her!"
"But can you do everything she needs?" Micaela sat on a wooden bench near her. As corny as her statement was, she apparently struck a chord in her sister's heart. "You protect her against the danger of the world like a parent should, but you can't do everything for her, and certainly not decide everything in her stead."
Eden frowned in anger, before gradually calming down. "Wait… You're right. I'm only one of her servant! She should be the one telling us what to do, not the opposite!" She threw herself at Micaela to hug her, and the first seraph was surprised by the sudden display of affection coming from her sister. "Thank you! How could I let my fear for her blind me!"
It wasn't the reasoning Micaela hoped for, but the result was good enough for now.
"It's fine, it's fine, don't worry about it. Also, I wanted to ask you… Have you seen Lucifina-chan and Micaela-chan recently? Nobody has spotted them for a while, and I'd at least know where they are."
"I don't know. Last time I saw her we were still on top of Mt Saint Amos. Micaela-chan left us one day when Lucifina-chan passed by, saying they had some business to sort out to help Luka."
"Let's start taking a look there then."
Micaela and Eden got up and started walking to the front of the castle. Micaela was glad that Eden felt better, but she was worried her behavior would cause more problems down the road.
"Did they tell you anything more? The whole dealing with business aspect is extremely vague."
"No, Lucifina-chan just passed by and said that she wanted her to accompany her for something. I even initially thought that this was just... someone's devious plan to weaken Ilias's forces."
"Lucfina-chan passed by and brought Micaela-chan away… Why?"
Just as the two seraph reached the front doors, two small familiar angels entered.
"Aaand, speaking of the devil, here they are." Micaela sighed in relief. "I was really starting to get worried."
"Where have you been? We were scared that something had happened to you!"
While Micaela-Chan bowed and apologized, Lucifina-chan was holding her hands together back behind her back, looking upward and smiling innocently while swaying left and right. Her attempt to hide a prank was obvious to both adult seraph's eyes.
"What have you done." Lucifina-chan didn't answer her senior, and instead started humming in a sing song voice. "Please, tell me what you've done."
Micaela checked the small, psychotic seraph from head to toes. When her eyes handed on her wings, her worst fears were all but confirmed.
"Is that blood on your feathers? Did you hurt someone? Did you actually kill someone?"
"Noooope…" Her obvious lie and her attitude started to grate the seraph's nerves. She took a look at Micaela-chan, who was completely unresponsive as well when Eden tried to ask her the same question.
Just when I tell Eden to not act like an overbearing parent, we BOTH have to act live overbearing parents. Thank you Lucifina-chan. Thank. You.
Behind them, Salamander and Undine were once again starting to insult each other, even as the clean up operation was still not over. Furthermore, the seraph could start hearing some monsters and angels in the dining room, sharing salacious details that she still didn't want to hear. At least both groups were going well with each other...
Micaela pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed as her analytical nature deduced that she wouldn't be able to extract the truth from either seraph for several hours. She originally came to check if angels were having difficulties reintegrating themselves, and it was clear they had none. Her original goal was complete, with her person not being needed, and she could leave the place with her consciousness clear.
"Look, I'm not fully confident about Luka's companions' abilities to deal with the beelzebubs, can you please try to get those two to spill the beans while I go see him by myself?"
Eden nodded positively. Micaela actually felt bad for leaving them like that as she exited the castle, but she felt that she was faced with insurmountable odds right now. Between the mess, Eden's zaelous mood swing, and the two small seraph hiding a possibly deadly prank, she started feeling overwhelmed by the instinct kicked in, and she unconsciously put into application a plan that had always allowed her to survive, even when she was at a dangerous disadvantage against the ancestors.
And so the Sword of Heaven ran away.
"…Ilias and the angels are doing finer than what I expected, so I didn't want to disturb them. When I remembered what you were headed for, I thought that you might want my help."
"We'll gladly accept it, but… Are you sure they don't need help back at the Pocket Castle?"
"Oh, no, don't worry. They don't. They absolutely don't." She took a large gulp of her Gold Cocktail, emptying her glass in a single shot. "Anyway, when are we going?"
"Well, there's a ship waiting for us at the harbor, so we can go right now."
"Good. I'll pay my tab and then we get started."
Micaela pulled out a large pouch of gold to pay the bartender and left in a hurry.
Yao raised an eyebrow in front of the strange behavior from the seraph, but didn't say anything otherwise. Micaela was walking at a brisk pace toward the harbor and screeched to a halt when she saw the boat.
"Ah. Of course. A ghost ship. Selene's ghost ship."
Wait. Don't tell me she's also afraid of ghost?
"Awww, is the legendary first seraph afraid of a few little harmless ghosts? I would say they're more afraid of you than you are of them but-"
"But they have every reason to be afraid. If I unseal my true power anywhere close to their ship, its existence will all simply be obliterated by holy purification."
"Indeed." Chrome was browsing through a notebook. "Promestein was having that issue when we were working on ghosts. The holy properties of her angelic body naturally weakened the spirits of the deceased to a certain degree.
"Didn't we tell you to stop studying zombies and spirits?"
Chrome shrugged.
"Ow." Yao brought a paw to her mouth. "I didn't think of that. Let's just hope that you don't need to unleash it then."
Micaela closed her eyes as she started talking. "And today I stand in front of hell, ready to bring the light of the goddess into the darkest of night, a torch- Okay, let's stop there before we jinx it." She took a brisk step to get on the bridge and shivered in the process, her eyes closed.
She is. She is also afraid of ghosts.
Yao chuckled. "Is this really the infamous First Seraph who gave so much difficulty to my mistress?"
"Why don't you challenge her and find out yourself?"
"I call first round!" Alma raised her hand. "Everybody who wants to see is welcome. I perform better with a public, and I will make sure the show is enjoyable for everyone…"
"Alma? Would you kindly pretend you're concerned with what's happening in the world for a minute?"
"Oh, but trust me Luka, I am very concerned." The hero shuddered. Her tone was still playful, but there was an underlying threat that terrified him right now. Maybe she just had a different way to show when she was serious...
"Then let's get started." Luka finally climbed onto the boat.
Fortunately, the team's poor record track with boats didn't follow them on this precise trip. They only had to fight off a few sea monsters and a few sirens, which only impressed and reassured Selene as they had dispatched the monster with ease. The only real issue was Micaela being fidgety during the travel, and she was clearly uncomfortable with the ghosts, recoiling each time one of them talked to her. Furthermore, at a moment, Alma Elma's pheromones became almost unbearable for a reason, creating a headache for the necromancer and a certain discomfort for the Seraph.
It didn't take long for them to arrive in sight of the boat. After a little maneuvering, they managed to calmly board it in order…
…Until a rotten plank gave up under Micaela's foot. The surprising appearance of the hole wasn't a problem for the seraph who managed to step away on another plank… That also proceeded to give up, forcing her to relocate yet again. This soon became a fight between Micaela who wanted to remain on the bridge, and the rotting planks that conspired to send the seraph down below. Eventually, the holes won when Micaela finally fell through one after her sixth attempt to find a stable ground failed, leaving behind a passably stunned team.
"Did that just happen?"
Luka moved carefully to the edge of the last hole and cried in the darkness. "Are you okay Auntie?"
The seraph's voice echoed from the darkness. "I'm alright, you don't even need to shout. Say, didn't you say we had intervention teams specifically for the sea?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Then dispatch them now. Not that I am superstitious, but I know how to recognize a bad omen when I see one and I want to be sure we have backup when- GET OFF ME YOU SLIMEBALL!- Sorry, that was a starfish girl. I thought they were more passive than that?"
"They usually are. There's a reason passives are called starfishes. Don't worry, I'm not one…"
"…Was that Alma or Yao? I can't tell from down there. Anyway, slap her for me and get down."
This drew a chuckle from both monsters, who still progressed carefully to not join her earlier than expected. Only then the remainder of the party started making its way down, Chrome muttering all the way that she was no longer feeling bad for not accompanying the hero as often as she could. They joined with Micaela without further issue, and cleared the ship of its loot while pushing back the occasional monster who wanted to try its luck.
Less than half an hour after having set foot on the bridge, the group was standing in front of the captain's cabin, key in hand.
"Alright, so, no matter what happen, we must not let the beelzebubs escape. That's also what happened last time, right?"
Luka grimaced. "Well…"
"They escaped, teleported around, and ended in Yamatai completely traumatized by the changes that happened in the world around them." Chrome was taking notes on her book, comparing the decaying state of the various items present in the environment, unconscious of the effect her words had on several of her partners.
Micaela's expression became an emotionless stone mask. "One of the greatest threats of the Great Monster Wars ended up in the nature just like that and had a mental breakdown. In a way I'm reassured I'm not the only one who thinks the world is a mess."
"Agreed." Yao turned toward the door. "Let us deal with those pests, and move on." She stopped herself just as she was about to push the handle, her spine tingling with a strange sensation. "Am I the only one feeling this?"
"No, you're not." Micaela pointed into a direction. "There are two… things that teleported close to there a few hundred meters away. I can't tell what they are though."
Luka summoned Sylph, a determined look appearing on his face. "I can. We already met one on the trip that brought us to Sentora."