[PARTY MEMBERS BIO]
Garith Gremory(Riz-kun): Our protagonist who is a bit mental has the habit of ripping off pages of his favourites moments in books which made his mother angry all the time. (Lvl. 87)
Rosinante (Rosey): A centaur girl whom Riz met and befriended in Spain. Despite being a centaur, she's really cute and polite, speaks like a madam and is very friendly. (lvl. 60)
Hello, everyone! Garith Gremory here!
At least, that's the name I go by nowadays…
It's a festival! A festival!
It's a festival, festival, festival! Ahahahahahah!
"You seem to be very excited about the bullfights, sire Gremory." As we walk across the streets of reverse Madrid, the supernatural side of the real human Madrid, with me riding the back of this centaur girl Rosinante, she comments flashing a smile at me, trotting happily among goblins, elves, dwarves and other local supernatural creatures, equally excited to see the unfolding of today's main event. I turn to her and respond in kind.
"Well, of course. Not only it's natural to be happy in the middle of a festival, it is the first time I go see a local celebration in person! I have lots of reasons to be this… exhilarated!" I laugh loudly once more, attracting unwanted attention from my peers who start to give me askance, nasty looks. I know I might be exaggerating, but I just the good vibes all around me, makes me feel freer than ever before, especially considering I was a prisoner not too long ago. Regardless, I'm not the only one excited for the event, as confetti flies all over the place and people dance, laugh and clap all around, never worrying about tomorrow. Which reminds me… "Say, miss Rosinante, how does these bullfights work, anyway? I have a rather peripherical perspective of them, but I have no idea how they proceed. If you mind explaining to me…"
"Oh, that is no good, sire Gremory! Allow me to explain the bullfights in order to avoid a certain disaster!" She gasps as she whips her stare at me, and taking a moment to breathe, she lifts a finger and starts a small lecture, her… ponytail wagging as doing so. "The tourada bullfights are simple and direct, as we follow tradition as such: First, we proceed with the corrida, the race, as we run from the release minotaur until the bullring at the end of the road. We can run from it, but in order to be accepted as bullfighters, we must escape from the beast's grasps before it can maim or hurt us, those who are not sure to confront it can escape from the barrier and are disqualified. And we reach the bullring, then we can proceed to fight, subdue and then finally kill the minotaur, in which we can claim its prizes, its meat and some other goodies. Pretty straightforward, don't you agree?"
"Pretty much… Wait, did you say 'kill'? I thought the bullfights were just subduing and taming the bull." I inquire, blinking in surprise. I heard about those touradas in some books back when I was 'Ichirou' in a tourism pamphlet, but I thought it was just about taming and making fun of the bull as an extreme sport. Miss Rosinante turns to me and blinks, surprised.
"Oh, well, the first part indeed includes subduing the minotaur until it is either too tired or hurt to go on, but then, as the coup-de-grâce, we strike and kill the bull like in the original touradas." She exclaims, shadowboxing again with an excited smile. "Once we reach the bullring, we fight the minotaur for spectacle and then subdue and kill him! This year, I am sure I won't back away and claim the ultimate prize as mine! I've been training for quite a while to master it."
"…" Holy shit, I thought it was a normal extreme spectacle from Spain, but those tourada bullfights are something completely different. They're… They're cruel, they're inhuman! Torture and kill a minotaur for the enjoyment of the masses, that is horrible!
…
Nice!
"Hahahah! Now, I'm more excited than ever! The prospect of a good fight always makes a young man's blood boil even hotter!" I exclaim with another heartful laugh, attracting even more attention and nasty looks. Now, I feel truly motivated, as they say, meat taste better when you kill it yourself. A bit morbid yes, but a new experience is a new experience, specially following such singular tradition! I draw my sword and like a conqueror, swing it forward to draw attention and charisma. "Now, onforward, dearest miss Rosinante! To the unseen but sure victory! Tonight, we feast on minotaur meat!"
"Hey, hey, hey, devil boy. Arms are forbidden during the corrida! Put those down, yer gonna poke someone's eye out!" But then a hobgoblin so politely calls for my attention and points a finger at my blade, his usually ugly face contorting into an even uglier frown. I was taken back a bit, but then bowed politely with an apologetic look.
"Oh, pardon. I didn't know." I respond with a low tone, sheathing my katana back as he nods back and shifts his attention elsewhere to another pair of troublemakers. With a laugh, miss Rosinante turns to with and smiles.
"Pardon my absentmindedness, sire Gremory. We are not allowed to retaliate or fight the minotaur before encountering him at the bullring. Considering the festivities and main event are saved for the crowd, to kill it so earlier would be spoilsport." The centaur girl explains, adjusting her glaives and twitching her ears a bit, shadowboxing yet again. "We are allowed to flee from it and even leave the corrida if things get out of control, but direct conflict is forbidden. Moreover, the wisest decision is to tire it for a quicker and easier kill."
"I guess that makes sense. If we're going to kill, might as well make a show out of it and pay its respects, senseless mayhem is low even for me." I shrug while now laying on the back of her horse half, both my swords hanging low and ringing as she trots on the cold concrete. Killing is still killing in this case but might as well end it all with a bang instead of just a public execution. Huh, riding a centaur is very comfortable, who would've thought. "I've never tried minotaur meat, if I may. I wonder how it tastes?"
"The highest of delicacies, it is! The meat is juicy and supple, and if prepared correctly, it might turn the dullest of dishes into a five-star worth serving! Some compare it to soft fatty beef from the eastern lands!" The centaur girl turns to me with starry eyes practically glowing, a small string of water dripping from her chin as she salivates without control. Seeing from here, she looks like Toriko in some way. "Moreover, if cut and sold as a whole, it might be able to feed an entire family for months! It is so delicious and precious, tournaments are held before, during and after the touradas for it! I've never experienced the taste of it, but the fame behind it makes me just imagine, and now that I can earn it, I shall not lose it!"
"I see, I see. That enthusiasm of yours… It's endearing, I like it!" I declare with a smile, and from her, a small, stunned silence followed by a shy blush. She probably now notices her exaggerated salivation and is quick to close her mouth and wipe the spit from her lips with her sleeves. I guess the [PLAYBOY] skill is working as it should! I hear a syren coming from afar, and the cheering and screaming becomes louder, so much so my [MIGRAINE] started to act up. I shield my ears with my hands and turn to an undisturbed horse girl. "By Lilith, that's loud! I assume the festivities are about to start! Miss Rosinante, I assume that you're as ready as one can be, no?"
"I surely am, sire Gremory! Be ready to run for the bullring, for the minotaur spares no one!" She claps her hands and hooves, excitement clearly shown on her hazel eyes.
Another syren sound from afar, and hearing yet again another commotion, I turn around only to see a massive, dark-furred, not-all-that-friendly-looking beast whom was half man and half bull, being restrained by golden shackles sealed with magic and practically oozing steam from his nostrils and mouth, bright red eyes emanating hatred and madness that tells me he's not here to make friends. A small daring yet nervous whistle out of yours truly lips, the spirits leaving me for a bit.
"Well, I suppose we should bid ourselves until the end of the corrida, no? I refuse to slow you down considering how eager you are to participate, therefore we better part ways for now." I declare with a shrug, dismounting from her horseback and giving it a light pat. She turns a curious look at me, and then nods with a sad pout. A reassuring smile and a thumb up to not leave ourselves in bad terms. "Like I said, don't worry. We see each other at the bullring, and whoever wins, let's share some delicious minotaur meat. I know a chef who can make the best out of it!"
"Hm… Understood, sire Gremory! I shall have faith in thee, and whether happens, we shall feast kingly! I will await you at the colosseum of spectacles!" she exclaims with her spirits back, and rearing one last time with a heartful laugh, she trots full force forward, but not before patting my head and touching foreheads with me in a gentle gesture, something I'm not used to. "Do your best."
"You bet." I respond in equal kindness, and away she goes, leaving me alone in the spacious crowd of supernatural beings around. What a cute lass, I guess it is only natural for a Gremory to bump into interesting personnel like that. Now, now, what can I do? I look around, and seeing some beings around me running and laughing, I feel a bit livelier for this event! I stretch myself, and take a deep sigh.
[QUEST ACCEPTED: A lotta bull]
*OBJECTIVES: Time to spend some quality time with the local customs! Survive the bullfights and gain the respect of a true matador to slay the beast of the hour, the minotaur!
*FINISH MISSION:
-Increase in XP;
- Randomly generated armament.
- Maybe a new girl to ogle for?
- [MINOTAUR MEAT]: A refined, valuable delicacy of the supernatural world, the meat of a minotaur, delicious and tender much more like Matsusaka beef. –[CAN BE EXCHANGED FOR CREDITS-; -MASSIVE POWER BOAST/HEALTH RECOVER-]
*FAIL MISSION:
- No MINOTAUR MEAT.
- Possible death.
- PETA will probably cheer for your death.
"Alrighty, time for action. Now, what should I do? I should appreciate the view for a while before starting to r-…"
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!"
*DON!*
…
"Ah…" was my only response to my sudden ability to fly, the blood gushing from my mouth and the acute pain on my side. My vision is disoriented, my senses fail me and before I knew it, I give the rocky ground a deep and wet one, probably tasting like blood, saliva and bile. One, two, three seconds… And the pain takes place, the shock wearing off, but the it is so great I can only groan and twitch like a legless cockroach. "Ow… Owowowow… Owowowowow… What the hell was thaaaaat~? I feel like I will reincarnate again after that one… Maybe a master in Fate, those are popular for some reason…"
*BAM! BAM!*
"I was just joking!" I declare with a swift dodgeroll to the side, avoiding a stomping that undoubtedly would obliterate my body since it opened a crater where it landed.
Another step from a clearly bovine leg with pretty human feet, another hole, and I could only roll further and further to not become a piece of pavement as screams of excitement and terror resonate around and a furious bellow comes next to me. I look up from the shadow lingering above and saw, with its black fur, red furious eyes and golden chains broken wearing a toga the main event of this tourada, the minotaur, angry and hateful as always! It roars and runs in a furious frenzy, and I was quick to kick myself up and stand to start running away from it, seeing people fly and be crushed by said monster, some even crying and leaving the corrida to regretfully avoid it! I laugh nervously at it, what a crazy event!
My hands instinctively reach for the swords hanging from my belt, but I slap those thoughts away and tried to stay literally on the game. No, all forms of offense are forbidden until I reach the bullring, so no swords for now, Riz! Just focus on gaining distance and staying away from the sharp, vicious horns of the beast! In this narrowed corridor sealed within by magic, I see people flying around, leaving or being massacred by the ox monster as almost a head taller than me and twice as large! I cough, I gasp, and some blood comes from it, that tackle affected me more than I've imagined, and it still hurts!
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!"
*DON!*
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…!" I scream as I feel another hit from my behind, launching me upwards towards the skies, losing my ground and flailing around without a sense from left to right! I feel sick, everything is spinning so fast, my [MIGRAINE] not making this any better! Eventually, gravity shows its ugly face and I fall to the ground, only to meet another powerful, painful hit from the side, hurling me far away. I was quick enough to soften the pain by turning around and make it hit my arm, but it doesn't mean it didn't hurt! I slide across the now empty streets, everyone either too tired, retired from the arena or serving as pavement pancake, and in another burst of energy, jump myself up and restart my run to the finishing line! I turn around, and seeing the big black monster behind me… Feels exciting! I blow a raspberry at him! "Bleeeh~! Come and get me, ugly bull!"
I laugh as the creature roars in fury, but then I cough again and a bit of blood flies off my mouth. Oh right, I probably fractured something in the way, that hurts like a bitch!
I blink forward, and I can hear it, the cheering and the sounds of feasts, and even further, I see a stadium which also is the place where this corrida is leading to! I made it, I've reached the bullring! I see the doors wide open to receive me, and after passing across the dark corridor, I'm greeted by light and confetti hailing from above and the cheering from the masses occupying the seats around this Colosseum-like arena! I've done it, I've reached the bullring!
"Hahahah! I did it! Now, it is time for me to shine!"
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!"
*BAN!*
"…?!"
"Like I said…!" I laugh while licking the blood coming from my lips, my face turned to the monster which was terrorizing everything and everyone up until now as I lock my now unsheathed blades against its horns! Its red eyes widen in shock and surprise at my reaction, and I open a sly grin seeing that, both Ichimonji-R and Keraunos barely struggling to its horns! "… Now it is my time to shine!"
The bull roars, but I use the momentum of its strength to push myself back and jump backwards into the air, doing a few spins and flips as the beast almost trips on itself after losing balance! Eventually, I land on the place I was expecting to land, almost losing my balance because of the sudden movement and finally getting a footing!
"A spectacular entrance indeed, sire Gremory! You made it!" I turn to my sudden mount and smile, Rosinante trotting around the arena with me on her back after quite a show. What can I say, we Gremory are known for their flair for the grandiose and shiny, and I'm no different! The minotaur pushes itself to one side of the bullring while miss Rosinante and I run towards the opposite one. The crowd cheers at us! "Now, it is time for the main event! Unleash the better judgement of your sword and go for the kill!"
"Gladly!" I say, sheathing Keraunos back and now focusing only Ichimonji-R at the bull monster opposing me. Make it a decisive stab to make it not suffer that much and then collect the rewards like a good game! "Say your prayers, bull monster!"
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!" It roars once more, and I could only sigh at that. Man, sometimes a good in-fight banter makes things a bit more bearable and fun, especially since I'm going for the kill. Oh well, there's always the next shmuck that I accidentally cross paths with.
[BOSS BATTLE!]
[THE BOVINE ABOMINATION, GUILLERMO]
[FINAL MATCH!]
[ARE YOU READY? FIGHT!]
Hah, Guillermo. That's cute.
"Here it comes, sire Gremory! En garde, and strike!" The centaur girl warns, and truly, the beast charges at us with uncontrollable fury, steam oozing from its nostrils! I jump away to avoid another painful encounter, but Rosinante simply stays and takes a stand!
"Miss Rosinante! Watch out!" I warn her, taking some distance but then closing it with my sword at hand ready to help. To my surprise, the centaur girl simply poses and reaches her hands forward, into the direction of the charging bull!
"I appreciate your concern, sire! However…!" She exclaims with a kind smile, before opening a grin and picking the literal bull by the horns, the sheer impact causing a small shockwave around and even pushing her back, but she stood her ground and gripped harder on the minotaur's main weapons. In one kick, she lifted her front legs and started a barrage of kicks against her enemy! "I apologize to state that it is unwarranted! For my position in this whole affair…!"
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!"
"… Is very stable!" She quips, and when done in covering the minotaur in bruises and cuts, she puts her legs down to find some standing before flexing her entire body to lift the bull by the horns, its massive body flailing pathetically in the air as the centaur girl giggles and finally drops the beast like a sack of potatoes a few meters, its weight and size making the entire place tremble and lift a dust mushroom, and the crowd to cheer louder! She turns to me with a smile and winks with fingerguns. "Olé, puns!"
"…"
"Oh… Whoops. Mayhap a bit too uncalled for and tacky? I apologize for such gaffe, sire."
…
I want to marry this girl.
Ah! I mean, I want her to be part of my peerage.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!"
"Hm…" I snap out of trance hearing that annoying warcry, and cleaning up the dust from its landing, the minotaur emerges, bloodied and hurt but still wanting some violence. Not as scary or intimidating as before, I walk besides miss Rosinante and point my chin at it. "Say, miss Rosinante, how do we finish it? I feel like if I were to use my usual method, it might be not satisfactory enough for the masses around us. But, uh, that beast is kinda bugging me like a lot, so I want to kill it as soon as possible, y'know."
"Well, the touradas are a show of skills, finesse and performance after all, sire Gremory." She explains, scratching the sandy grounds with her feet in anticipation. "Killing it outright might cause it to go on a rampage; Minotaurs are known to be cruel, raging and frenetic creatures, therefore we need to weaken it before dealing the fatal blow, otherwise it might become even more berserk out of fear and go on a panic frenzy. Hopefully we won't destroy any delicious parts…"
"Hm, I see." I nod. That means for her sake, I can't use my Power of Destruction otherwise the precious minotaur meat will either be destroyed or tainted, therefore we need to tire and harm the creature until it can no longer move while also avoiding it going berserk. Aaaaaah~, I feel the headache of my migraine coming, thinking is so hard~. I shake my head despite the throbbing pain in it and turn with a smile to the centaur girl, sheathing Ichimonji-R back and now picking Keraunos instead. [CHANGE CLASS]! Hah, just kidding! "Then I please ask for your assistance, miss Rosinante! Let us slay the beast together and help each other in our endeavours! I am… Rather violent in how I deal with stuff, so please guide as you would!"
"But of course, sire Gremory! Let us make a spectacle out of it!" She smiles, and with a jump, I land on my feet on her back once again as the crowd cheers again and the bovine monstrosity screams still bleeding from Rosinante's last assault. Confetti and flowers fly everywhere in the ring, and as the stars of the show, I bath in the glory and cheers around as the centaur girl trots at the borders of it.
"I'm sorry for making you all wait, dear viewers! Now, let us begin the show and demonstrate how to deal with wild, misbehaving animals!" I claim as the crowd louder, almost bursting my eardrums and losing my balance on the back of the horse girl. In order to divert some of my lingering attention, I start to play with Keraunos a bit and draw an infinite sign with its blade, only realizing how light this sword is, almost like I'm handling a plume. I turn the tip of it to the raging minotaur and grinned. "Now, to send this foul beast into the abyss!"
Another roar, another cheering, we ran towards the foul monster for another clash at high speed, I steadily standing on miss Rosinante pointing my sword at it, seeing the bloodlust in its red eyes! Closer and closer we come to a clash, and as we were about to, miss Rosinante swiftly dodged the incoming tackle, having enough time to kick the minotaur on the shins, making it lose balance and moan in pain.
"Olé!" I exclaim, jumping off miss Rosinante's back and landing a swift cut on the creature's shoulder, crimson liquid splattering everywhere while I land on the sandy grounds with the grace of a ballerina, showered in cheers and praise! By Lilith, this sword is not only light and swift, but also very powerful! The minotaur turns violently at me and tries a powerful strike, but I was faster to grab onto a running miss Rosinante and take another ride on her. "And again, right on time! Thank you very much, miss Rosinante!"
"Anytime, sire! Our combination attack was indeed perfect! Let us continue towards victory!" She claims loudly, running circles around the bull monster which was holding its bleeding wound, courtesy of yours truly, and spitting blood. Getting it weak enough for stop moving and then strike. Once in a considerable distance, she charged at it once more, and I draw my sword. "Onwards, once more!"
"Yes!" And we reach for the minotaur, with me jumping off her back to place a stab on its other shoulder as she kicks him on the jaw, drawing even more blood! I land with another twirl and pose, the crowd going crazy and the bull getting even madder! A jump to escape its grasp and another skip for distance, and when it tried to pursue me, one of its legs failed and it kneeled on the floor, confusion and dread shining in its crimson eyes. I draw a smile, spinning my sword from its crimson ribbon on the pommel. "Tell me, monstruous bull, have you ever danced with the devil under the pale moonlight? You better bring your good shoes, because that shall be your last flamenco with me!"
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!"
…
This is not working, is it? It is not for me, at least. A good banter between opponents spices a good fight and killing it won't make it any different than a slaughter. Oh well, it only means I must be double as showy! It's showtime!
"Whatever. Well then, have at thee, minotaur! Let us make this exciting!" I say finally stopping my sword and picking it to point at him, his own roar trembling the entire arena and making his poise even more menacing while tinted in red and black. But I fear nothing nor anyone, I just went forward and prepared for the clash. "Prepare and before, for here I com-…!"
*ZING!*
"Gh…!" But then, in the worst moment possible, my [MIGRAINE] attacks, the sheer throbbing, pain and shock in my brain making me see only white and lose control and balance over my body. The grip on my sword fails and it escapes my grip as my face makes out with the sand and I drop like a sack of potatoes, completely immobilized by the feeling of my head feeling like splitting into two. I hear the cheers dying and gasps of horror coming, alongside a scream.
"Sire Gremory, what's the matter…?!"
"It's nothing, miss Rosinante! I got everything under contr-…!"
*GRIP!*
Oh, no.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!" I hear another roar and the beast grabs me by the ankle like a vice, the grip around the area making me yelp even louder combined with the headache I was currently feeling. I didn't even have the luxury to scream, the minotaur lifts me and the slams my limp body on the floor with a loud *SLAM!*, creating quite a crater there as blood flows all over my orifices. And for that, I have only one response.
"Ow." I whimper, coughing some sand out of my lungs. Didn't had the time to process, he lifts me once again to slam me on the floor with another *SLAM!*, this time even louder and harder. Another response in: "Ow."
*SLAM!*
"Ow."
*SLAM!* *SLAM!*
"Ow. Ow."
*SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!*
"Ow. Ow. Ow."
*SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!*
"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow."
*SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!* *SLAM!*
It's enjoying this, ain't it?
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!" And it moos again, tossing me into the air only to punch me square in the stomach and practically hurl me to another dimension, my body weak and limp from all the abuse being a victim of the elements as I flew across the sandy grounds, the crowd, the beautiful skies and then…
"Sire Gremory…!" I land on a firm yet soft and warm embrace, my body too damaged and shocked to do anything and my vision blurry because of all the sand and blood and stars flying around my head~. Am I dead again? Feels like it. My vision becomes a bit clearer, and I see… A horse girl! "Egads, my dear sire! Not just the windmills, but you dare to play around the uncontrollable minotaur? Clear, your mind is not in the right place!"
"Oh look, I died and reincarnated in Uma Musume this time~. How's going, horse lady? Wait, this ain't Tracen. Heheheh…"
"Sire?"
"Hmmm? Ah!" I shake my head to get rid of those delusions and blurry thoughts and then back to reality, which is still hurting by the way. I spit a bit of blood, cough a few times to get rid of the sand in my lungs, and finally turn to miss Rosinante's radiant face, clearly in distress. "H-Hello miss Rosinante. I'm sorry, what must've been quite a shameful display, no? Allow me to… Cough, allow me to compensate it by assisting you as I can."
"Are you insane, sire?! Your state is indeed grave!" She exclaims in a mix of disbelief and distress for me, what a nice girl. "I shall call the rodeo clowns to distract the beast and then have assistance come for you! Even as a devil, you might survive any more encounters with the beast!"
"D-Don't worry, miss Rosinante… I won't… Back away… After all… Unlike the minotaur…" I say, coughing and gulping words to spit what I am trying to do, and with both pointer fingers up, I put my hands on the side of my heads to simulate horns. "I'm not a… Coward…"
"…"
"Heheh… Olé, puns."
"Oh… Olé, puns!" She cheers, still a bit worried but calming herself down. We hear a scream coming from the crowd, and trying my best to turn to that direction, I saw the minotaur growing bored of us and now trying to reach the seats from the bullring, everybody trying to flee from it as fast as possible. "No good, the minotaur is going on a rampage! Sire Gremory, if you wish to assist, I won't stop you, but please don't push yourself!"
"No… Worries, I have an idea." I say. "Now, please… Pick my sword and use it to strike the bull. It is very light and swift, you might have no problem in using it. And then, I want you to use me, my hair and bloodied clothes… As a muleta!"
"Understood!" She nods, reaching and picking for the fallen Keraunos and adjusting it to her grip, her expression showing me that she's quite surprised about its weight and power. "Right, first; pick the sword for offense, and now, use you sire as a muleta to draw the… Wait, what?"
"Hey, stupid cow!" I scream as loud as I could, coughing a bit of bile in the process, to draw the attention of the minotaur. He stops on his rampage on the crowd and, turning to me, I started to headbang back and forth to entice it, my bright crimson hair and bloodied clothes surely making it angrier! "Look at all this red! Look at it and despair! Huh, you like that?! Bet you hate it, don't you?! Bet you want me to stop, don't you?! Then come and get it, you walking BBQ!"
"Sire, are you sure you're sane and sound?" The centaur girl asks with a deadpan yet low tone.
Me? I haven't been sane for the past decade or so, and I won't start being now.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!" And as I hoped, the creatures jumps from the seats back to the bullring, its crimson stare turned directly at me and full of rage and anger. Still a bit hesitant, miss Rosinante stiffs up and she reaches for the back of my collar to use her strong arms to lift me next to herself like a true muleta, shaking me as little as possible. The beast, on the other hand, starts to kick the ground, and once ready, charges at full force!
"Are you sure about that, sire?" She asks me one more time. I turn to her, and smile as warmly as I could.
"Yes, so please trust me as well." I nod, and turning back to the bull, I smile daringly, I tease and taunt it even further! "Come on, you dead bull walking! Let's end this and turn you into a delicious steak!"
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!"
*FLIP!*
"Olé!" Miss Rosinante and I say at the same time as I am flipped away from the minotaur's reach and the centaur girl stabs its side and kick it away, her strong legs enough to make it lose balance and fall! She jumps away from its reach and prepare herself once more, but not before turning a worried look at me. "I hope I weren't too brusque in my movements, sire. If it's too much, please inform me!"
"I'm fine, just… Focus on the beast…" I cough a bit, but soon recomposed myself to continue to headbang my head. Come on, you stupid cow. Another roar, and then it charged at us only to receive another cut on the side and a kick in the middle of its snout! It tries to stand, but a moment of weakness makes it kneel. It's working, the beast is being subdued! "We're doing it, miss Rosinante… Just a bit more and… we can do it!"
"Y-Yes. Please, hang it there a bit more, sire!" She exclaims, her enthusiasm and power coming back as she gently shakes me and I headbang like a metalhead, only making my headache get worse, but all for the sake of this match! Another offense, and another flip of my body in high speed followed by a counter! "Olé!"
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!" It roared, and eventually, we followed the same pattern in taunting, countering and avoiding its horns.
More and more the beast weakens, and more and more confidence grows, and eventually, bloodied and tired, the black minotaur stops on its tracks, hard time breathing and no forces to even stand up. As for me? I feel like my head will split open at any second, but the brusque movements and the possible concussion caused by the back and forth are making me lightheaded. Miss Rosinante feels tired as well, so we can only end this right here and right now. I grit my teeth.
"So, miss Rosinante, ready to make this quite a spectacle?" I ask her, and with a tired yet confident look, she hesitates for a second before nodding, gripping my collar tighter.
"Yes, I am, sire Gremory." She grips my shirt and sword, and turns to the bull, who is ready for a all-or-nothing offense. Like a knight, she takes position, both weapons at hand, and sharpens her eyes, fire in her brown orbs indicating determination, a fiery determination. "Let us end this quite a fabullous show!"
"Heh…"
"Olé… PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSS…!"
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!" They scream at each other probably not minding my splitting migraine and went for the kill! Horns against blades and… Me! A final clash to decide the victor and the dead! The bull screams at the top of its lungs and then…
"Sire Gremory, now!" She screams, and with her hands in the air, she discards her weapon and me and reach for the minotaur's horns, stopping it on its tracks and holding in place. I am a bit dazed, but in a moment, I saw a small tint of light, and reaching for it, Keraunos is once more in my grasp! "And now…!"
"… Checkmate!" I exclaim, aiming and the stabbing the bull monstrocity on the back. A quick yet deep stab, from the middle of its back to its exposed chest. Not just that, I small layer of Power of destruction covered the blade of my sword and from it, I fired it towards with my sword, as if creating another of pure annihilation, destroying everything in its path and turning its heart into nothing! "[Sagitta]: the arrow of the end!"
The beast gasps, I use the blast to get some altitude and, with the grace only I can muster right now, land on my feet, only to fall on my ass and then on my back, exhausted. And after that, silence once more. The crowd stopped screaming, the beast stopped roaring, and miss Rosinante no longer struggles.
The minotaur stops on its tracks, immobile… Only to take one last gasp and go limp, the centaur girl simply letting it fall on its front, no light on its eyes, dead.
-BOSS SLAUGHTERED-
-THE BOVINE ABOMINATION, GUILLERMO: DEAD!-
Heh, since you on the other side, Guillermo.
One, two seconds, and the crowd restarts their cheering, clapping and tossing confetti everywhere. My [MIGRAINE] no longer affecting me, but I'm too tired to go on and do something else. Eventually, the bullring clowns and other members of the staff congratulate the centaur girl in the heart of it all, and despite her surprise and shock, she smiles brightly, lifting her ultimate price and spoils, the horns of the fallen minotaur.
The people cheer and call for her name as the bull is taken away to probably become beef, heh. Me? Like the piece of rug I'm supposed to be, I lie on the floor as Miss Rosinante takes all the glory, well-deserved I must say. I am just a muleta, and I also need some rest here. I think I still have some Phenex tears to use, I'll be okay, I just need some rest, or some help from the people…
And they are taking miss Rosinante away, probably to celebrate her victory and show as she tries to inform others of my current predicament, all in deaf celebrating ears. Good for her. I'll just… Wait here for help or something.
And… And they are leaving the bullring, the stadium emptying as the day closes… And nobody is here to help me, the abandoned living muleta… I mean…
Aaaaaaand… The lights go off, I hear the last rings of the metal locks closing and just the… Neighbouring sounds of festas and songs around… While I'm still here… All hurt and unable to move much… In total darkness…
…
… Hello?
Anybody there?
Please, help.
Hello~?
Anyone?
…
Unbelievable.
[QUEST COMPLETED: A lotta Bull]
*OBJECTIVES: Time to spend some quality time with the local customs! Survive the bullfights and gain the respect of a true matador to slay the beast of the hour, the minotaur!
*FINISH MISSION:
-Increase in XP;
- A new girl to ogle for.
- [MINOTAUR MEAT](10x): A refined, valuable delicacy of the supernatural world, the meat of a minotaur, delicious and tender much more like Matsusaka beef. –[CAN BE EXCHANGED FOR CREDITS-; -MASSIVE POWER BOAST/HEALTH RECOVER-]
-LEVEL UP!-
The skill, [POWER OF DESTRUCTION], has leveled up to lvl. 66!
+POWER
+ACCURACY
+DEXTERITY
-LEVEL UP!-
The skill, [FEATHERED FEET], has reached MAX lvl.!
+SPEED
+DEXTERITY
+CHARISMA
+LUCK
"A gourmet hunter, you say?"
"Umuh. Quite something like that." The centaur girl responds with a smile as we eat together a part of her share of the minotaur meat.
Once she was able to rescue me from my abandoned predicament and almost melt my ears in apologies for apparently leaving me all alone at the bullring (she had to have a press conference and wait for her spoils and share of the meat), the centaur girl Rosinante invited me to eat with her in this fancy restaurant which prepared a special meal just for her as a prize for her first tourada. I am still a bit sore, but thanks to the last Phenex tear I had with me, I was able to be good as new, even though some bandages were necessary to hold myself together and ease the pain.
Is this a date? I thought it was a date, so we shared a small moment between us to talk, share some ideas and maybe give her an invitation. In the middle of it, I shared my goals as to why I was here, all the intricacies regarding my rage against the windmills and my goal to now slap my bestie in the tits for deceiving me. For her side, she shared what she was doing in Spain in the first place and in the middle of the touradas: she was a gourmet hunter.
No, she didn't have gourmet cells or kicks and punches like kitchen utensils, it was just her way to say that she was a food explorer. Left and right, up and down, no matter when, how or why, she wanted to taste all sorts of delicacies around the world, and savour them as she could with her legs as fast as the wind. Be meat, vegetables, beverages, fruits, she wanted to explore the world of palate with her own tongue and teeth, even if it meant to go deep and dirty into the unknown and dangerous, as she's shown this morning.
A simple goal for a simple (centaur) girl. It was cute and, seeing today's events, quite ambitious in a way. Even so, she smiles sheepishly and scratches the back of her head…
"I apologize for such a mundane goal, compared to yours, sire Gremory." She laughs nervously, taking a bite out of the minotaur beef steak and almost melting in delight. "But the world has so much to offer in the culinary side. Not just ingredients, but also dishes, recipes, methods of cooking~… I just wish to taste them as I can, the more exquisite, the best!"
"Well, I can't say that it's an easy dream, if a bit… simple." I laugh taking a bite out of my own piece of meat. Hmmmm~, it melts in your mouth, and the texture is so smooth and soft, feels like it changes flavours for the better in each bite! I recompose myself, and smile at her nervous laugh. "But don't worry, miss Rosinante. It is quite admirable. To see the world through your mouth out of curiosity, even with all the dangers that might entail like shown today… That's nice."
"Heheh… Thank you very much. It means a lot, sire Gremory." She smiles. So cute, I think I'm so used in hanging around stoic people, finding a pretty lax face once or twice makes me vulnerable. I shake those thoughts for a moment, and then turn to her.
"Say, miss Rosinante. You know, my family is very wealthy and has a good name and reach within the Underworld." I start, drawing her attention enough so that she can stop chewing on her piece of meat. I try to sound friendly and welcoming as possible as father taught me. Her strength, her poise, her power… its perfect for a nice [EVIL PIECE], and her amiable personality just makes it easier to approach her without violence like I'm used to. Calm and collected, just go with the flow. "If you want, if you're willing to be part of my peerage, maybe I can…"
But suddenly, out of nowhere, I feel a chill down my spine making me unable to end my sentence. This presence of complete and utter dread, as if every cell of my demonic being is telling me to get away as soon as possible. My body couldn't respond in time, so I turned to the corner of my eyes to see a lingering yet tall and imposing figure approaching, soon reaching our table, miss Rosinante being ignorant of my sudden distress, turning to the new figure.
"Hello, my beautiful miss. I couldn't help but notice that you have a share of minotaur meat, which so happens to be one of my favourite dishes." A rough, deep and powerful voice call for it, the soothing, calm and charming tone making me lose a bit of how dangerous it sounds. "May I take a nag out of it? I have money to pay for it, if must."
"Not at all, good sir. Good food is supposed to be shared to spread their deliciousness! Have a knack, why don't you!" The centaur girl smiles, still completely clueless of the situation. The taller figure bows, chuckles to himself and reaches for a small piece of the delicious meat, the fork he lifted making me shiver out of sheer scare. He takes a bite out of the minotaur steak and hums, satisfied.
"Hmm~, that hits the spot. The tenderness, the softness, the flavour, only the famous matsusaka beef can compare to such delicacy." He laughs and the centaur girl claps and laughs, clearly agreeing with everything he says. Suddenly, I feel like stare pierces me like arrows, and approaching my figure and shifting his attention to me, I can't no longer ignore his presence. I turn my head around to face him. Yes, him, who clashes stares with me and grins. "Don't you agree, Garith Gremory?"
I nod to the man. A tall, imposing, roguishly handsome man who feels like he's on his thirties or something of black hair with blond ends, a snazzy black goatee and piercing violet eyes, wearing only what I can describe as a business suit. However, at least for me, the most noticeable thing about this man was his dark, respectful, imposing and heavy aura, even from a species opposes to him like myself can only be at awe and dread for his immense power and poise. There is no mistaking it, my gut feeling can't go wrong now. There he is…
The current governor general of the fallen angels faction and the de facto leader of the entire Grigori, the most powerful fallen alive, the arrogance of God himself...
[AZAZEL]
[LEVEL: ?/?]
…
I smile at him.
"Hmm~… And who you might be, kind sir?" I ask innocently, and from here, he widens his eyes a bit in amused surprise. That must've caught him off guard. I know who he is, I must know who he is, as the brother of the Lucifer Demon Lord, but I rather not get involved. He chuckles, adjusting his head to the side.
"Ohoh? You don't know who I am? Really?" He asks, his grin showing he's being humoured by my fake ignorance, while I continue to smile dumbly at him. I lift my hands in the air as if being found guilty.
"I'm sorry, was I supposed to? If so, I apologize, my head is not in the right place now." I continue with my act, and he laughs challengingly, ready to burst my bubble in the next sentence or so, thinking I within his grasp or something. "You do look familiar, though…"
"Is that so?" He muses, tilting his head to side to make himself look clearer. I only smile.
"Yes. You look like a certain fallen angel who despite his outside charms, achievements and swag, deep down is a sad, weak, clearly-in-a-midlife-crisis excuse of a leader who tries to hide his insecurities, traumas and failures in cheap, quick shots of dopamine like women, video-games and whimsical yet ultimately useless inventions and tries to paint himself as 'cool' by immature measurements like how many girls he's slept with; who also gets their best friend's wives and innocent high-schoolers killed by preventable miscalculations and is unable to control from their lowest subordinates to their closest warmongering companions and surrogated children and no matter how much he tries, his intellect will never equal those of like Ajuka Beelzebub from the devil faction so instead rather be praised by things only horny teenagers would find it praiseworthy."
"…"
",,,"
Ah, the tension in the air, so deep and dense you can cut it with a knife, but I stay my ground with still a smile on my face. From a grin, his expression shifts to a sombre, shocked expression that mixes wrath and sadness, his pupils narrowing to the point the shine in them was completely gone and there was only a blinding sense of murder.*DRIP! DRIP!*, I hear the sound of something dripping on the floor, and looking down, I see his hands held in fists, blood coming from the gaps of his fingers as his knuckles pale, clearly holding his wish to obliterate me for calling him out like that.
Yeah, I know you, Azazel, I've literally read about you, and I seriously don't want to be wrapped in your schemes as amusing as they'd be. There is another horny interesting teenager for you to try to pull, and the reason as to why you'll want to stay around Kuoh in the first place. I have nothing interesting for you, not now or ever, so you better go be a professor and go help/bother my sister and her future boyfriend…
"E-Excuse me… Sorry to bother you, I'll be taking my leave…" His voice cracks and grunts of rage escapes his lips, but he still retains his composure and turns away from me, the vision of me, Garith Gremory, now being enough to act him up in rage. If his dream of an unite and peaceful world is true, then he won't, he can't kill me, for it'll cause a political scandal and subsequently a war. He knows that, and he won't lay a finger on me, and I need to make sure he'll never try anything else and instead focus on Issei and Rias. He turns to a still clueless Rosinante, bowing. "It was delicious, my dear, truly delicious. I'd like to… Stay and have more pieces, but I must go… I really need to go."
"Really, what a shame." I fake being upset, and he sees through it, tossing me one final poisonous, dreadful stare before turning around to leave. "Are you sure you don't want to stay, maybe even bring some friends? Those who are not painted on a wall, at least…"
"Kh…!" I hear a crack and a grunt of sorrow and anger, seeing from the corner of my eyes the pained expression of the general governor of the fallen angels, his face contorted in rage and a string of blood running down his lips. He must've bitten so hard his teeth cracked, how fun. Now he's the one on the defensive, and I like that. "I really… Need to go."
"Fine, then. Good riddance…" I smile brighter, waving him a good as he not even turns around to face, he probably will kill me if he sees me again now. Once he was a good distance away, ready to leave, I stand up from my seat and shout. "Hey! Say 'hello' to Shuri for me!"
*DON!*
And the whole restaurant tremble as the fallen angel literally storms away in a rage, the last remains of his presence being a clearly wrathful punch on a nearby wall that left a mark of a bloodied fist and light particles in it. For that, I sit back down and laugh to myself as I take another bite off the minotaur steak…
Heheh, messing with people's traumas is fun.
I'm doing it only for the sake of others though, of course.
"Sire Gremory, who was that?" Miss Rosinante turns to me and asks.
"Hm? I dunno." I shrug and lie, and with a curious blink and a smile, she let that one slide. Yeah, he's not that important, at least not for me. Once the subject slowly died down, I turned to her with a smile. "But anyway, miss Rosinante, I was thinking to myself… Would you like to be part of my peerage? You might and determination will be precious assets for the underworld, plus, you'll have a lot of advantages and coverage from my family."
"Hmmm…" She takes a bite off her steak and looks at me, munching on meeat before swallowing and cleaning herself to talk. "A peerage, you say. You mean those groups of devils led by devil royalty turned into such by magical items known as [EVIL PIECES]?"
"Yes, exactly." I nod. "I shall use one of its pieces to turn you into a devil and one of my servants. You'll fight for me and in exchange, you'll have coverage for all your needs in the underworld and even the opportunity to use devil magic and climb up the rankings and become quite a high-class devil and get your own lands and stuff."
"Hmmm… Tempting, but no offense, the intricacies and implications of such deal does not align well with yours truly." She pouts, clearly trying to not offend me and sorting her own thoughts on the matter. "Please wait a few, sire Gremory. I need to ponder my thoughts before this important decision. Hmmmm…"
"You can taste all the dishes our chefs can prepare. The culinary in the Underworld is quite exquisitive."
"I accept it!"
"Really? Yay!" That was fast, but I'm glad for it! I reached for her hands and hold them closer to mine to cup them, as she blushes immediately, drawing a surprised but bright smile. "Thank you very much, miss Rosinante, and welcome to my peerage and the world of devils! I promise, you won't regret this decision!"
"Umuh." She nods with a smile. "Coming from you, sire Gremory, I am quite… Centaur. Olé, puns!"
"Hahahah…!"
"Heheheheh."
Today, I fought a mad bull, got its meat, make fun of the governor general of the fallen angels and lived to the tell the tale, got a date with a cute centaur girl and I got myself a new [EVIL PIECE].
Today was a good day.
I'm still gonna slap Seek-chan's tits when I come back, though.
ACHIEVEMENTS UNLOCKED:
-[DON'T ROOK BACK IN ANGER]: Recruit your first [ROOK] Piece.
-[ TITILLATIONEM DORMIENTIS DRACO]: Use [EDGED SPEECH] on a being way more powerful than you… And live.
-[JUST LIKE A HANMA]: Win a boss fight within an inch of your HP.
The Gallant Centaur ladyknight, [ROSINANTE], has joined the party!(-1 [ROOK] EVIL PIECE)
[PARTY(EVIL PIECES)]
- King: Garith Gremory
- Queen: Hippolyta
- Bishop 1: Ulysses
- Bishop 2: [EMPTY SLOT]
- Knight 1: [EMPTY SLOT]
- Knight 2: [EMPTY SLOT]
-Rook 1: Rosinante
- Rook 2: [EMPTY SLOT]
- Pawn(x8): [EMPTY SLOT]
And that's a wrap once again.
Hello, DxD fandom, how are you doing this time? Man, it has been a while since I wrote a new chapter, and this being just the first chapter of this year kinda… Makes me embarrassed for such a gaffe and gap between chapters. I have been doing great as of lately though, and after a binge watch in my Tokusatsu phase (currently watching KingOhger)I had the spirits to continue this fic and maybe others more in the future.
This chapter was hard, but actually very fun to write, and finally I am able to bloom the sheer zaniness and crazyiness of this story with no string attached. After all, Garith did hit his head as a child, and for Rosinante, we all know another Rose who turned herself into an Evil Piece because of health insurance and other benefits. She was a Valkyrie, but turned into a devil anyway, which makes me wonder how many servants were made with deals like dental, huh. But anyway, new piece getto, and now to celebrate, a small trip to the Land of Shadows with the centaur girl!
I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and had a wonderful new year and stuff. Don't forget to R&R and Greetings from houki Minami~.
Garith's stats are going to be updated by the end of the arc.
