Okage Densetsu - Lookit the Fancy Japanese
Chapter 11 - Does This Deserve a Title?
Before the Tilly, the killer secretary, could hurt anyone, and before anyone drew their weapons, Rin had leapt out of Ari's arms and moved to the corner, 'pulling' along her unseen friend. The little girl watched, as the fight suddenly started raging, slightly impressed with how strong the woman was. Then Rin spoke, face turning into a bit of a naughty smirk, "Look, again the faerie tale. The princess stands to the side as her hero and his team attacks Evil in the name of good. This time, however, they will manage themselves. Hehehe..."
She watched them with that devilish grin, speaking lowly, "So it all still fits… but he must still be erased… they don't suspect a thing… and you, Fayth… speak as you may, scream if you must… they cannot hear you. Hehehe…" Rin suddenly dodged out of the way of Ari who was flung at the wall. "Oh no! Are you okay, Ari? Grampa?"
"Get up, Slave!"
Ari stumbled upright, then growled. Diving back into the fight, Ari brought his sword down sharply on the secretary, almost enough to cleave her in half. Jumping back, he watched as she fell to her knees…
"Sir… we… have a problem…"
"Ack! Tilly!"
"…I believe… you need a new secretary." She fell onto her face, quite dead.
"Hah!" Rosalyn suddenly pointed her blade at the Evil King of Chairmen, "Now, what do you say?"
"…You! You bastards, you killed Tilly, my best secretary! She… she could file, was pretty, and had easy morals- er, I mean… uh… GOTTA CATCH ME FIRST! Nyehehe!" He suddenly bolted, leaving a silhouette of dust behind.
"Oh god damn it!" Rosalyn stomped her foot, "Every single one of these guys are annoying as HELL!"
"Not as annoying as the pathetic parasol woman! Bwahaha!"
"Stan! Rosalyn! This isn't the time! Where did that guy go?"
"Hm, a good question." Kisling thought for a minute, "Well, according to my studies, he is probably heading somewhere secluded, dark, damp, and dank. Perhaps check that intriguing map of yours."
"Alright…" Ari fished it out and opened it, then read aloud: "'In an abyss that's endless, resides a king gone friendless. Attack in the deep so lost spirits can sleep…' Huh. It says there's a place called 'Endless Abyss' just outside of town, on the way to Rashelo."
"Then we must head there and get rid of that stupid guy! Come on!"
"Alright, Rosalyn, don't explode…"
Ari suddenly froze, a shiver running up his arm. There were a pair of cool, pale arms wrapped around one of his own. Though those arms were cold, his skin slowly felt as if it was wrapped in a warm blanket. "…"
"Let us go, Ari, before something happens." Marlene started walking, dragging him along. "Come, everyone. We have an Evil King to demolish."
During the entire trip, Ari could think of nothing but how Marlene was attached to his arm. He didn't much like it, yet… somehow… at the same time, it was comforting. Perhaps comforting just knowing she was starting to feel new emotions, but it was awkward… He didn't say a word the entire way.
"We are here, Ari. Ari, are you listening?"
He suddenly shook his head, suddenly peeling his arm from Marlene's. "Uh, yeah… Alright. I don't know if I should bring everybody in… but… these fields are so full of ghosts…"
"Ari," Rosalyn spoke up clearly, "We have enough people to both guard the Princess and defeat the Evil King inside the abyss. So let's bring everyone with so we can keep track of everyone."
"Yeah! We'll be with you, and right behind Grampa!"
"CUT IT OUT!"
"Plus, the research… of, think of it!" Kisling was excited beyond words, "A natural haven for the paranormal!"
"…I think it's third period… why?"
"Yeah, I guess. Okay, everyone, come on. We'll clean him out together." Ari slightly winced when his arm was again taken, but he simply gave in and walked into the Abyss, Marlene on his arm…
"Yes… this is working exactly how it is suppose to…"
Heading in, it was the usual of ghost-slaying and heading down floors. Nothing too much to note, except for the fact the author must admit the original dungeons kind of sucked- moving along, they walked and fought for some time before finally coming upon the big bad one himself.
"Blast, you came much quicker than I thought you would!"
"Of course! We never let evil go unchecked!" The heroine smirked something terrible.
"That is," Stan added, "The fake, wishy-washy kind! My kind is the only kind permitted!"
"Besides, sir," Kisling stepped forward, "You… you can't rule the world with your soul-sucking politics alone."
"True… I'll start with killing you all! How's that?" He suddenly summoned up reinforcements- a whole army of Tilly-the-Secretaries.
"Holy SHIT! How many of those people ARE there?" Ari readied his sword, staring in horror at the sheer number of Tillies. "RIN! CUT THEM DOWN!"
"Okay!" She suddenly skipped to the center of the room, just before the secretaries were to charge, bringing up her magic circle. However, she did it different this time- raising her arm up, a huge blast of light suddenly surrounded her, making a column that touched the floor and ceiling of the room. Just as they sounded the charge, Rin snapped her fingers- the column exploded out, the heroes diving to safety, as the wave of electricity suddenly split the room asunder, electrocuting every single one of the Tillies, only leaving one or two alive. Rin ran back to the corner near Marlene who was even staring in horror.
"MY ARMY OF SECRETARIES! THAT'S IT! I'm bringing out the big guns!" Inhaling a breath of the cigar, he suddenly blew out smoke- instantly the entire field set on fire, the shrieks of the party raising to the ceiling.
"Oh yeah? You play with fire- but can you dodge it?" Stan BURST into demonic laughter, the magic level in the room instantly skyrocketing. Before the Evil King of Chairmen could respond, his side of the room became a literal inferno. All the while, Stan laughed demonically, a sinister silhouette against the billowing flames. When they died down, Stan laughed at the roasted 'Evil King', "How's THAT feel, eh?"
"…en..enough…" The man suddenly collapsed to his knees, his magic being absorbed by Stan, "Ugh… can… can someone tell me where I am?"
"Not another one…" Ari walked to the man, "You were just saying how you were going to take over the world."
"Take it over? Hah, no! I don't want to take it over- OWN it, sure, every business man does! I vaguely remember it…" The now-Former Evil King of Chairmen blew out a puff of smoke, "And something about the sewers…"
"Interesting, interesting, repetitive behavior in all of the cases…" Kisling was busily writing.
"Hey, I'm sorry I dragged you guys out here. Uh, I probably can't make it up- oh, wait! Here," The big man handed a stone object to Ari, "This… This thing is suppose to be a key to the 'Outside World'."
"Outside World?"
"Yeah… where demons roam unchecked or something. Dreams and fantasies. You know, stereotypical things." He blew another puff of smoke, "There must be something worth it there otherwise I wouldn't have picked the stone up. The entrance is just a little south from here, on the canyon face. They look like big statues- one's actually the door to the pathway 'out'."
"…Corona's door?" Ari kept this question internal, not a word of it escaping his lips.
"Well, you kids enjoy yourselves. Oh. And-" He hacked and coughed something terrible- "Don't start smoking."
"We won't." Marlene stepped forward, "You are free to leave."
"Hey! Maybe –I- wasn't done blowing him up, you stupid woman!" Stan growled, "Why should he go?"
"The same reason… why you… are still allowed… in a shadow." Corona let out a long sigh, falling asleep.
"…Whatever. I don't care."
Everyone watched the Former King of Chairmen leave, then looked at Ari's key. It was discussed for the longest time, and it was finally decided they'd take a look at the so-called outside world. Rosalyn was sure it was nothing more than the Momijiian Mountains, but didn't say or suggest much else. They got themselves ready, then headed out and south, to the big stone statues. When the smaller stone idol was placed into the larger, everything shook… then the stone doors creaked open, dust falling, revealing a dark and damp tunnel.
"Hey… that's kind of cool…" Ari cautiously stepped in, Marlene not far behind him, "It's so long…"
"Well, to see what is on the other side, we must travel there."
"Right, Dr. Kisling. Alright, let's go."
Taking cautious steps, everyone headed for the other end, the doorway letting in a cold light. A bit of snow had drifted in, and as they got closer, they could see out the door at a field of snow. Finally, stepping out, everyone gazed at the seemingly endless valleys of ice, complete with snow-covered trees and giant snowmen. From above, light flakes twirled down and melted upon contact with everyone's warm skin. Just to the left was what appeared to be a chalet, right next to an open hot springs that gave off light steam. It was a beautiful sight, from the valley, to the shores of what appeared to be the ocean off to the west.
"Oh wow…" Ari spoke breathlessly, not disturbing the snowflakes' flight, "I've never seen so much snow…"
"Hmph! Reminds me too much of mountains. Mountains with stupid bottled fat Evil Kings on them!"
"Mountains remind me too much of big fat women lying around!"
"WHY YOU!" Losing a fit of anger, Rosalyn's blade was once again against Ari's neck, "I WILL do it this time!"
"You will NOT!" Marlene scolded, "Put your blade down and control your temper!"
"…Yes… your highness."
"Hahaha! You got scolded by the princess." Stan laughed, "Stupid woman."
"…" Corona suddenly separated from everyone, plodding into the white. She slowly spread her arms out, as if reaching for the heavens. She spun around once or twice, staring up into the endless gray sky. "It reminds me… of the winter festivals…"
"Does this look a little closer to home?" Ari looked at her with a faint sense of hope.
"…yes."
"Good, that means it can't be far off! You can go home then, Corona! … Rin, you too?"
"I guess so…" She sighed. But then she looked up at Ari, "But… I like being with you and Grampa and all our friends a lot more."
"UGH! STOP NOW OR DIE!"
"Stan! … Stan, she likes you. You should appreciate that." Ari sighed, "A child's trust is a precious thing."
"…Whatever."
"Grampa's so funny! Hehe!"
"Grr…"
"Well, this IS impressive," Kisling was making a sketch of the scenery around him, "I've certainly never been anywhere like this. Ah well, who cares what I think? Nobody! Heh."
"So… where do we go from here?" Rosalyn shook her parasol a bit, knocking the snow off it.
"Well-"
"HEY HEY, LOSERS!"
Everyone suddenly looked at the area the voice came from- standing atop the drift of snow, the round, though somewhat lanky (as far as legs went) figure laughed. He had a pair of sharp, devilish horns… a tail that ended in the shape of a spade… and most of all, he had the muscles to do anything he pleased. Or at least, that's what he thought. "You came here looking for a fight, right? RIGHT? Well, guess what! I'm the Big Bull Evil King! Hah!"
"Another one? We just fought one a few minutes ago!" Rosalyn groaned…
"Well, clearly you are worthy opponents! I have been awaiting the perfect challengers, the ones who can give me a REAL fight! If you are manly enough… You will… FOLLOW ME!"
"Oh god…" Ari shook his head, "Not another hidey-hole."
"One in the same! The Big Tree Hole, to be exact. It's in Tenel, a bit down the road from this fugly old house-"
"Hey! I LIVE in that house!"
"Oh! Sorry you do. ANYHOW, come and defeat me if you can! Hahaha! …yeah. Bye now!" The Big Bull Evil King suddenly sped off, leaving nothing behind but footprints.
"Well, that gives us something to do. Okay guys," our hero sighed, "Let's head back to Tenel."
