Author's note: I hoped that my previous chapter would make a lot of people happy. I am glad that is the case. Thank you for all your comments. It's your support that makes me want to write.
Ishtar and Ereshkigal are avatars: We will have the opportunity to see in this chapter how avatars are perceived in the Campioneverse and the difference between an avatar and a Heretic God. But the plot twist in Chapter 9 was not an off-the-cuff decision and was foreseen from the beginning. Until now, the story follows without deviation the synopsis I imagined before I started the redaction of the first chapter. Yeah, I know this turn of events is seen as pretty clumsy and absurd. Besides, it's REALLY stupid to attack people without trying to understand the situation... but we're talking about Luo Hao, the Advocate of Ultimate Brute Force. Is such an absurd and ridiculous situation really out of character when it comes to China's Freakishly Strong Girl?
But here I am talking about the inner reasons (peculiar to the universe) for provoking this fight. But, why does the author wants such an explosive first encounter for such a silly reason? I figured readers wanted to see the beating of the Campiones by the Ex-Servants... Um, I mean the fight between the ex-Servants and Campiones. First, it made it possible to get a good idea of the power scale before the beginning of the main story... And then... judging by your reactions, you'll never make me believe that you didn't want a fight between the two franchises.
The cause of the confrontation had to be miscommunication, precisely because the fight would have been avoided if they had talked to each other. I know it sounds artificial and awkward, absurd and laughable... But this is also what the Campiones and the Fate's characters will feel after the clash's end. Nobody likes to feel ridiculous... and that's a good reason not to make the same mistake twice, right?
And, without revealing too much of the story plot, the Campiones and the Fate immigrants will be forced to join forces against common enemies.
Can Shirou be taken for a Steel God? No, no Campione will ever take the Faker for a god. The Godslayers have a special sense that makes them recognize gods (and godlike creatures) even if they try to impersonate mortals. They are also able to differentiate 'ordinary' magic and Authorities. So even if a Campione sees Shirou using UBW, he will immediately identify the Faker's Reality Marble as 'ordinary' magic.
What is the Regalia made of? In the Canon of the Extraverse, the Regalia is in fact the lines of code that constitute the administrative access to the Moon Cell Automaton and the system interface of the administrator (the Sovereign of the Moon Cell). In the Seraph, the Regalia appears as a gold ring adorned with three gems. Each of them symbolizes a level of connection between the Sovereign and the Moon Cell (Soul, Mind, and Body). All this is Canonical. Nevertheless, we never see the Regalia anywhere other than in the Seraph... at least in the Canon. It's only in Fanfictions that the Regalia appears in the real universe.
Here's my view of the Regalia in the real universe.
The Moon Cell is a supercomputer made of photonic crystals. Just as a computer of our time is electronic and uses electrons to exchange data, the Moon Cell uses Spiritrons... the particle of the soul. The lines of codes that make up the Regalia are therefore Spiritrons data so it is a kind of 'artificial soul'. The soul is not material... except if you use a certain form of magic called the Third Magic or Heaven Feel. The Third Magic makes it possible to materialize the soul and anchor it to the world, essentially making it transcend to a higher form of existence. It is a magic that realizes true immortality by ascending the soul into a high-dimensional planar being capable of interacting with the material world as a mental body without having to return to Akasha. The practitioner will acquire an unlimited source of magical energy due to the soul becoming analogous to a perpetual motion machine.
For me, the Regalia is a form of soul interface materialized by the Heaven Feel magic that connects Hakuno to the Moon Cell and thus allows her limited access to the Third Magic... including the invocation of Servants.
The gods of the Campioneverse are able to create souls, to endow them with a body, but this is not the same as materializing the soul.
Is Alexander Gascoigne a Hero? No, he is an arrogant and rather self-centered kleptomaniac who runs an association of thieves. However, unlike Luo Hao or Duke Sasha Voban, Alec has always sought to minimize the number of victims. In addition, during the fight against Guinevere, he said to the Queen of the Divine Ancestor that he cannot forgive her for killing his agents. The Royal Arsenal is mainly made up of powerful mages and thieves (who share the taste of their leader for 'the acquisition' of powerful magical objects), but this organization also includes many ordinary humans who have lost loved ones killed by sorcerers.
For me, Alec Gascoigne thinks of himself as a kind of Robin Hood ('prince' 'thief' 'English', it is an easy comparison) at the head of a group of 'merry companions' that 'rights the wrongs' (the text of the Campione wiki is more realistic and speaks of 'revenge') steal from the rich... but giving everything to their leader! Nevertheless, Alec always finds a good reason to steal the objects that interest him (the actual possessor is not worthy of it, he risks triggering a disaster, or misusing it, etc...). He needs that excuse so he doesn't lose self-esteem.
I believe that Alexander Gascoigne considers himself a 'nice' man, a sort of vigilante. But I agree that this is not the case. Besides, a real hero would not attack someone at first sight searching to kill her without the slightest provocation (Ereshkigal), nor would he lock a teenager alone in a maze after having stolen her (Hakuno). Alec believes he is a prince of thieves and a righter of wrongs because he adopts a minimalist moral code. But it's only a thin moral varnish. In fact, Alec Gascoigne looks more like Jesse James than Robin Hood.
By the way, I am surprised that no one noticed Hakuno Kishinami and Extraverse Rin were opposed to the local version of Robin Hood... in a maze... with rules of confrontation finally very close to the Moon Cell Grail War...
I thought it was absolutely transparent and no one made a single comment about it!
The Moon Cell and the Campiones: Without betraying the rest of the story, the inhabitants of Campioneverse will eventually learn the truth about the Moon Cell, the two goddesses Hakuno, the Regalia, Shiro... This will be difficult to hide since the arrival of the 'good guys' from the Fateverse will provoke the arrival of the 'bad guys'.
It's not Godou's lucky day.
Ereshkigal looked at the animal lying on the altar adorned on each face with a bull's head. Despite its small size, about that of a human hand, it looked like a black calf.
"He is the center of the maze."
She materialized her spear and raised it...
But next to her, Hakuno tilted her head.
"Do we really have to kill it?"
The Lady of the Great Land jumped and immediately dropped her spear as if caught in the act. She turned her head, blushed, and began to babble, worthily panicked... the younger girl always did that to her.
"It's not an animal... I mean it's an authority... a fragment of the power of the god Minos... it... it... is not going to die because it's not really alive. In any case, its destiny is to disappear at the same time as the labyrinth. If it makes you feel any better, the next time Black Prince Alec summons King Minos' Labyrinth, the calf will reappear.
The face as blank as always, the Sovereign of the Moon nodded.
"Ok!"
Ereshkigal probably killed the black calf without attaching any importance to the act before she met Ritsuka Fujimaru. But seeing the little animal lying on the altar, she had to arm herself with resolve... it was not really alive, she repeated. What she had said to Kishinami was true. Moreover, the calf really had to be killed to destroy the labyrinth.
"Sorry," she whispered.
Fortunately, it was soon over.
As soon as the scarlet lance had passed through the divine animal, the walls of the labyrinth began to become translucent and lose their colors.
It only takes a few seconds for them to disappear without leaving any traces.
Around Ereshkigal and Hakuno the hills covered with forests had reappeared... But they immediately began to cough, their throat and eyes irritated by a grey and pungent smoke that was standing between the trees.
The air was filled with the smell of a fire. Long orange flames devoured trees within 50 meters. The fire devoured the bark of the trunks, producing easily audible crackles.
Without consulting, the two teens moved away in the opposite direction. But the signs of devastation were everywhere visible. Something had crossed the forest, breaking the tree trunks in its path, knocking them over as if they were simple wooden pins. Nevertheless, its mad race had ended on the mountainside, disappearing at once.
In fact, all traces of its passage had been obliterated by an event of cataclysmic proportion.
In the midst of the smoke appeared a vast red meteoritic crater that disfigured the side of the mountain!
Ereshkigal felt overcome with weariness.
"This is a disaster as recognizable as a painting signed by a great painter..."
But what did Ishtar have against the mountains?
A mountain stole her doll when she was little?
The Queen of the Night shuddered. It was really difficult for her to associate with her sister. Their natures could not be more opposed (1).
Finally, the first sign of a human presence was an argument that was heard in the distance.
Led by the loud voices, Hakuno and Ereshkigal arrived in a clearing born of the recent clash. The trees had been broken and covered the ground.
The scene wasn't really what they expected to find out.
Ishtar, Shirou and Athena watched peacefully the mind-blow... the Mistress of Heaven looked at the scene with a Machiavellian smile that showed her amusement.
In the middle of the clearing, an angry young man seemed to vent his frustration (2). His victim was... Luo Hao. Around them stood several silent women who exchanged darting glances, and... quite embarrassed, apparently daring not to intervene. As for the Ruler of Martial Art, she seemed strangely... shy. As improbable as it may seem, the proud Chinese Campione did not dare to answer. Silent, she seemed stoically waiting for his irritation to dissipate.
The scene was surprising, to say the least.
When Alexander Gascoigne created his labyrinth, Ishtar and Shirou faced China's Freakishly Strong Girl. Obviously, the fighting had ended... but there didn't seem to be any winners or losers. What happened in the absence of the Queen of the Netherworld?
Shirou heard a noise and turned around. He discovered Ereshkigal and Hakuno. This removed a weight from his chest. As soon as the fighting ended, the Faker urged those present to come to the aid of the two women trapped in the maze and facing the English Godslayer. But the 'wifes' of the 7th Campione had managed to dissuade him from intervening.
Patience was not Shirou Emiya's strong point. If he'd listened to himself, he'd have traced a powerful Noble Phantasm and tried to destroy the maze. Nevertheless, the young redhead had finally understood Liliana Kranjcar's explanations about the 'Divine Authorities'. The walls of the Labyrinth of King Minos were not ordinary creations. It was the materialization of divine power. They were much more solid than masonry construction.
In other words, any attack powerful enough to create a breach in the wall would create a powerful shock wave inside the maze... and no human could survive nearby. Trying to pass in force could therefore be very dangerous for those who were inside.
As for going through the entrance, it turned out to be impossible. Yuri Mariya had completed the explanation of the knighted woman by describing the strange Black Hole who guarded the door. Anyone who approached would be swallowed up. A god could survive, trapped inside... but it was death assured for a human.
They, therefore, had no choice but to wait for the winner to come out since Alec Gascoigne had made sure that no one interfered in his fight.
Fortunately, Ereshkigal and Hakuno eventually did not need help.
Shirou stepped forward to welcome the newcomers and smiled at them.
"Daijobu desu ka ?" (Are you okay?)
The goddess and the young human did not seem to be hurt but Saber's Former Master watched them carefully, noting their fatigue.
"How did you manage to get out of the Labyrinth? Where is Alexander Gascoigne?"
Ereshkigal replied with a bright smile to the red-headed question flood. Gloating with pride, she threw her cape over her shoulder... succeeding for once to do it in a regal manner, without getting caught up in a branch and making a fool of herself. The goddess of the dead raised her left arm, showing the cage she was still holding.
A ball of black lightning continued to bounce against the bars.
"As you can see, Black Prince Alec is with us."
She had said her words with a bit of self-consciousness. The goddess of Netherworld then turned to Hakuno and smiled at the teen girl. After all, without her help, the fight could have turned differently. Of course, she had defeated the Erinyes with her own strength, but it was her friend's plan that enabled her to defeat Alec himself.
"The dangers of the King Minos' Labyrinth have been exaggerated by legend. Hakuno and I have experienced much worse. And here, what happened?"
The goddess of love had turned to her sister and her smile was more natural now. Although the Queen of Heaven had not shown it... she was worried too.
"Oh, a lot happened, but the fight stopped as soon as I mentioned that I was an avatar..."
After this brief introduction, Ishtar summarized the latest events.
Ereshkigal nodded slowly, her forehead wrinkled by reflection.
"So, if I understand correctly, the Campiones distinguish on the one hand the Heretics Gods and the Fallen Gods (like the honored Athena), and on the other hand the Divine Ancestors (the gods having lost most of their powers) or the avatars (like my sister and I). The former must be fought and destroyed, while the latter can even be considered allies."
Athena replied with a brief nod of her head.
"Certainly" intervened Erica Blandelli. "Nevertheless, the hostility of the Campiones to the divine beings is instinctive. Even in the face of a non-aggressive god, a Campione had to fight bellicose impulses. In addition, some Campiones may be tempted to kill an avatar or a Divine Ancestor to seize a Divine Authority."
Godou Kusanagi nodded.
"When I was in the Netherworld, I almost attacked the god Susanoo, just because he teased me. The Devil Kings' aggression instinct is often a burden... but it is more or less developed instinct from one devil King to another. But some people don't seem to be doing anything to contain it."
The Japanese Campione had addressed these last words to Luo Hao. The Chinese woman flinched slightly, like a child caught stealing jam, and lowered her eyes.
Erica was very amused by the reactions of the Chinese girl. The Italian also seemed to find it perfectly normal that her king had taken the lead on an older Campione and an invincible one in addition... that is to say, the faith she had in him. Turning to Ereshkigal, the blonde knight resumed her explanation.
"That said, honored Queen of the Great Below, the Divines Ancestors are divinities defeated by their opponents and reincarnated in a diminished form. Most Divine Ancestors are women because... "the Diavolo Rosso smiles." They were reincarnated to serve as wives to their victors. Victors that are often other gods, but also - sometimes - Campiones."
Ishtar had quietly looked towards Athena as Erica spoke. The tsundere goddess saw a slight redness appear on the Greek usually impassive face.
The Sumerian goddess of love hid her amusement. The idea of being defeated and taken as wives did not seem completely displeasing to their ally...
Yuri Mariya spoke, touching her chest in a graceful gesture.
"Honored Ereshkigal, the divine avatars and the possession magic do not provoke so much hostility on the part of the Campiones. To cite my case, as a Hime-Miko, I am able to use Spirit Vision. It is already a form of divine possession, although I do not absorb the essence of a particular god, absorbing the knowledge of the Memories of the Void. My friend Ena Seishuuin's case is more like an avatar."
Ishtar had already listened to this explanation, but she turned at the same time as Ereshkigal to watch the teenager in school uniform. Ena had long black hair and red eyes. Leaning against a tree, the Hime-Miko of the Sword held a cylindrical case against her. Briefly, the object surrounded itself with an aura of a dark purple, particularly sinister, and began to levitate. Ena was forced to tighten her embrace to prevent the katana in the case from escaping.
Seeing that the two goddesses were looking at her, she had a rather provocative smile.
"Esteemed goddess Ereshkigal, noble goddess Ishtar, my sword is the Divine Sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi. My lord, Godou Kusanagi has absorbed this half-god of Steel. Nevertheless, he allows me to use it in combat. I have the Divine Possession power and this divine blade also has this power, it allows us to merge into a temporary avatar."
Ereshkigal nodded.
"And the Campiones don't fight the result of a Divine Possessions?"
Godou shook his head.
"No... I mean, I had to fight Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi... but not because he was a demigod."
Erica Blandelli went on to say:
"Heretics Gods are gods that rebel against their myths and legends and manifest themselves in the world. They are characterized by their own will and determination. A Heretic God brings disaster to Earth, he behaves like a natural cataclysm with a will of his own, a force that has escaped all control and seeks to inflict the maximum possible destruction."
As she sat in the air, her legs crossed, Ishtar nodded.
"Ereshkigal and I escaped the Domain of Immortality, manifesting in the world. However, we are in human bodies and do not behave like natural cataclysms."
Godou nodded, but his eyes hardened.
"True, but I must ask you, however, to explain to me how you acquired the body you occupy, divine Ishtar and you also divine Ereshkigal."
The Goddess of Heaven seemed a moment taken by surprise, and then her eyes folded in an evil way. One hand in front of the mouth, chuckling, Ishtar began to speak with a voice full of mockery:
"Oh... I see... Godou Kusanagi the defender of the widow (if she is pretty), and the orphan (especially if her Three Sizes are B85/ W56/ H87) wants to save the poor innocent victim from the wicked Ishtar? And how are you going to punish Ishtar and save the young victim? We are one and indivisible!
The provocative tone of the goddess of discord provoked sudden stiffening among all those present.
"Rin!"
All eyes turned to Shirou. The redhead had just rebuked a goddess! Most mortals - including the Campiones - looked at him with astonished eyes. Without realizing how shocking his conduct was, the redhead turned to Godou.
"Rin is often like that. Don't blame her. She's not mean. She just likes to tease people around her. In fact, even though she calls me 'moron' more often than 'Shirou', I am proud to say that she is my friend. I've been through a lot of things with her that made me realize that she's an amazing person, a kind and generous young woman who cares about others... but she's also a tsundere."
He had said all this in a tone full of certainties and casting tender glances at 'Rin'... but it was above all the reaction of the goddess that released the tension. At first, she blinked with surprise... then she crossed her arms and turned her head in a way that was meant to be disdainful but... the red had spread on her cheeks and her eyes had become shy.
When Shirou called her a 'tsundere', she turned towards him, her temple wrinkled with anger and brandishing her fist.
"Shut up, you moronic idiot! I'm not a tsundere, I'm a proud and perfect goddess!"
Many of those present began to smile.
While the Goddess of Venus explained that the personality of the host's body was not repressed by the goddess but merged, Godou had several occasions to hear Ishtar's barbed tongues and snarks... For some reason, he and Shirou were her favorite targets, although Ereshkigal was not spared.
Before the end of the discussion, Godou fantasized literally... to tear this impudent goddess from the sky... and to close her mouth with a roll of tape... She'd be a lot nicer to look at if she were mute!
And to complete it all, he would gladly spank her. Just for the fun of it...
The Tsugaru Onsen was an outdoor bath and a hotel 2 km southwest of Kuroishi.
The History Compilation Committee had reserved the places so that the Campiones, the goddesses, and the mortals who accompanied them could relax, and rest.
Of course, the Onsen had been closed to outsiders.
Godou Kusanagi entered the hot water of the large outdoor bath. Although the bath was made of concrete and rectangular, it was embellished with real rocks and the exterior walls had been molded in fake stones that gave the illusion of a traditional Japanese bath.
Lying on his back, the Campione sighed.
The day had been exhausting.
He had a brief smile...
And he wasn't the most pitiful. Everyone had completely forgotten poor Alexander Gascoigne and... it was only when they arrived at the Onsen that Hakuno Kusanagi pointed to the cage that Ereshkigal was still holding, reminding everyone of the existence of the English Godslayer.
The ball of black lightning had stopped trying to escape... waiting for someone to finally care about him.
And then...
Goudou began to blush, plunging his head under water.
(Flashback)
The History Compilation Committee rented two minibusses to take the group to the Onsen.
Goudou and his harem were traveling in the first minibus, with Luo Hao. The Goddesses and their mortal friends were in the second.
Godou took his place first ... and of course, the girls argued until the Campione found itself sitting between Ena on one side and Erica on the other. Liliana and Yuri had lost and had to settle for sitting in the row of seats behind theirs, keeping company with the Chinese Campione.
As always, the blonde Italian knight crowded against her king, smiling and eager. To his left, Ena showed a little more restraint... but just a little.
"You did very well today."
Kusanagi gave Erika a dubious look.
"What? I lost to Ishtar."
"The fight wasn't over my King" vehemently contradicts the blonde. "As always, you would have managed to turn the fight in your favor and win."
Godou shrugged his shoulders. Erica's confidence was a balm for his self-pity, but the Devil King was not deluded... he had lost the fight, fair and square. And Ishtar's mockery made his defeat even more humiliating.
"Anyway, I wasn't talking about that," continued Erica Blandelli.
Without answering, Godou raised a suspicious eyebrow. The blonde knight replied with a bright smile... but not really a sincere one.
"Congratulations on recruiting Athena into your harem, my king."
For a second, Godou hoped to have misunderstood...
"Sorry?"
"Congratulations for adding Athena to your harem, Godou," repeated Erica with a tense smile.
He had heard right...
"Of course, I would have hoped that Yuri, Liliana, Ena, and I would have been enough, especially with the addition of your local wife Lucretia Zola. But you obviously have no intention of stopping there..."
"S... s... st... sop! When did I add Athena to my harem?"
Erica seemed really taken by surprise.
"You didn't realize... while you're a tactical genius, you are often incredibly dense on some other things." She raised her index finger. "First you saved Athena, attacked by King Luo Hao. Then you go with her in your arms, holding her like a princess. And finally, you literally told Her Excellency Luo Hao that Athena was yours and that you were ready to defend her against any aggressor... "
Godou Kusanagi remained for a moment speechless, with empty eyes.
He... he... he really did and said all that. It was... a catastrophe... an absolute catastrophe... because Erica was right.
He had declared before Athena that she belonged to him.
No woman with a modicum of romance could interpret his statement other than... as a declaration of love!
He told a yandere looking like a 14-year-old girl that she was his...
Losing to Ishtar was finally the best news of the day... that was the extent of the disaster.
Stunned, Ena, Liliana, and Yuri had been silent while hearing Erica's statement. But having finally understood what the Italian woman had said, they all started screaming at once.
"Godou, it's time to correct your improper behavior" roars the pure Yuri Mariya.
Hiding her face in her hands, Liliana Kranjcar whispered in a half-voice. "He really wants to build a harem made up of all the beauties of the planet... the mortal... the goddesses... all... and with them in a giant champagne pool..." Fortunately, the rest was inaudible as the Croatian knight turned as red as a brick wall.
In the second minibus, Ishtar wondered for a moment why the lead vehicle was zigzagging on the road.
(End of the Flashback)
Cheeks burning with shame, Godou make a heartbreaking sight.
Why did things turn out this way?
If his sister Shizuka saw Athena joining his harem... she would skin him alive...
At this moment a whirlwind of flower petals appeared just outside the Onsen bath. Stunned, Godou saw Luo Hao materialize. The Chinese Campione was wearing a grey kimono. Intrigued, she looked around and smiled at Kusanagi.
"Young Rakasha Raja, I was looking for you."
She looked at the pool of water and frowned when she realized that the Campione was naked.
"But you are bathing."
The Japanese Devil King tried to speak without raising his voice, in spite of his panic.
"King Luo Hao, an Onsen is a public bath. It's a place where you come to bathe."
"Oh, I see... "
The hands of the young Chinese woman rested on the obi (the belt of her kimono) and opened it with the quiet innocence of someone who did not understand the notion of modesty. Stunned, Godou swallowed as the kimono formed a silk corolla on the ground and Luo Hao slipped into the water to lie next to him.
On the verge of discomfort, trying to think of something else, Godou began mentally reciting the multiplication tables...
"King Godou, your defeat against Ishtar was unacceptable."
"Sorry?"
"As an older sister, I find it unacceptable that a son of Pandora was defeated in battle. Also, I decided to train you personally."
Still anesthetized by the proximity with this naked beauty, Godou took a few moments to recover from his stupefaction... which threatened to become his usual state of mind given the surprises that accumulated since the beginning of the day.
"Sorry?"
The line was not very imaginative... but he was half stunned.
"From now on, I will teach you martial arts and the practice of magic. And..."
Suddenly she looked away and blushed. "From now on, you must call me onee-sama (big sister)."
The mouth open, Godou looked at her with the 'intelligent' expression of a fish out of the water.
At the same time, he felt the urge to burst into hysterical laughter.
He had not consulted his horoscope when he got up... Suddenly, he wondered in a completely dispassionate way that it predicted.
Because if things continued like this, he wouldn't even be surprised if the end of the world was set for midnight.
In another bath, Hakuno had just come out of the water and was drying his hair. The tranquility of the scene was broken by a warning bell.
The teenager jumped, lowered her brush, and looked around her with surprise. A red translucent window appeared above her hand... generated by the Regalia.
A text surrounded by a yellow and black border was clearly visible.
"Level 1 Hazard Alert
Zero Dark's containment is breached.
Several Servants left the Seraph without orders from the Moon Cell.
Hacking by the Umbral Star (98% probability)
Likely target: Hakuno Kishinami, Sovereign of the Moon Cell."
Author's note: A classic transition chapter, a little background information, and humor as a filling to make laugh and smile, to lower the tension... just to end with an announcement effect. And yes, this is what the next Arc has in store for us... the Umbral Star. Sit back, order a coffee and wait for the next chapter.
(1) Ishtar is the goddess who begets life and Ereshkigal is the goddess of death. They represent two polar opposites. Ishtar is associated with the destruction of the revered and feared mountain Jabal Harim. Why? "simply because I am displeased with it", as says the Goddess of Venus... so Ishtar like, isn't it?! This atrocious feat is the origin of Ishtar Noble Phantasm in FGO Babylonia...
But the story doesn't end here. The name Ereshkigal thus breaks down into ERES 'Lady' and KI GAL 'Great Land' in Sumerian which the second term is synonymous with KUR (the name of her underground kingdom). However, KUR literally translates as 'Mountain'. So the mountain represents Ereshkigal herself...
Unsurprisingly, destroying the mountains is not an Ishtar mania that her sister enjoys very much. She must find it a little... how can I put it? ... threatening?
(2) I wonder why he is in such a bad mood * whistling at the ceiling*.