I bring you a new story. I never thought of doing this story, but I couldn't let go of the idea that came into my head. I thought it was going to be a short prologue, but it took longer than I thought. Also, I reread and rewrote several scenes because I was not completely convinced. In the end, I was satisfied with the results.
The idea to write a crossover like this was a bit strange. But I come to like it. I found the story of Michael Afton quite striking to the point of liking and sympathizing. And since I was recently reading about the events of Danmachi in the dark ages, this unconventional idea came to me. Also, there are a few fanfics of this.
And since FNAF is mostly alternate universes and theories, I have a lot of room for creativity. Not to mention that there aren't many accounts of the Dark Age except for its major events. So having Michael Afton as the lead dropped it into the dark age of Danmachi. It gives me a lot of free reins, so I have to be quite creative when creating the plot. So I will take it as a challenge to continue improving my writing.
I want to clarify that I don't speak English, so I'm working with an app to improve English grammar and a translator. I try to correct as many pronouns as I can, but I could always miss one. So I would appreciate it if you understand me.
By the way, the story takes place 1 year before the events of the Astrea Record.
When I, Michael Afton, felt myself come back to consciousness, the first thing I felt was a great exasperation, I was tired, very tired. To the point that I imagine feeling numbness in my body rotten. This should not be possible, since my body cannot perceive pain because its receptor nerves any longer work.
I didn't understand what was happening until the numbness turned into a sharp pain, the kind of pain get from electroshock. An involuntary cry of agony escaped my throat, before turning into a cough. At the same time that I involuntarily let out the cry, my body shot upright, realizing that I was lying on something hard. Probably concrete.
I opened my eyes to determine what the hell was going on, but all I could manage to catch were flashes of light that blinded me, my vision was blurry to the point that I couldn't make out anything in front of me. My mind though confused, immediately notified me that I should not have been able to open my eyes, due to Ennard ripping both of my eyeballs out of my eye sockets.
My soul involuntarily shuddered at the memory. A second later I realized I was breathing, not in a way that I used my breath to calm myself down when I got too nervous or anxious, especially when I was trying to keep robots possessed by the murderous spirits of children from destroying me, my undead body. Since they couldn't murder someone already dead.
And even though I didn't need to breathe because I was no longer alive, taking breaths I could do thanks to muscle memory, even if my lungs had collapsed and shrunk. It helps me calm down and focus on "surviving." So realizing that I could breathe, with my fucking lungs working perfectly, was kind of shocking, but mostly confusing.
As my vision began to clear I tried to remember the last thing that had happened, I was in a daze for which you can't blame me for forgetting that it was the last thing I had done before finishing, lying wherever I am now.
For a few moments, he thought until a wave of memories hit them abruptly.
Static on the restaurant speakers, My sister's voice, Fear. Then the Fire started, Static on the speakers again; Uncle Henry's voice. Relief, sadness, regret, happiness, and then peace. I can still remember the paragraph that was dedicated to my presence in the speech.
"And to you, my brave volunteer, who somehow found out that this job offer was not intended for you. Although there was an outing planned for you, I have a feeling that you are right where you want to be."
So why was I still alive? Why couldn't I finally rest?
It was supposed to end for all the trapped souls that had wandered desolately. That included me. I had nothing left, I had nothing. I was alone, hiding in the shadows.
So why does my soul refuse to leave the world of the living? Is it the price of my sins? Was I cursed to wander for eternity without ever being able to find peace?
A wave of anger washed over my soul. Not just any anger, it was unbridled anger. Which I could rarely feel as a spirit. I knew that I had to be careful with these types of negative emotions, especially strong and unstable emotions. I don't want the wounds on my body to start secreting tar or black dust. More commonly called AGONY.
My fists clenched hard enough to dig my nails into my skin and pierce them. Feeling the thick liquid, I froze. Unbridled anger was replaced with confusion, fear, anxiety, and restlessness. My mind seemed to catch on that something was wrong.
I blinked several times to get my vision completely clear before looking at my palm, the moment I looked at my hand, I froze in disbelief and shock.
The hand was previously rotten purple, as well as being rough and stiff. It was normal skin color now, but a little too pale, plus the feeling is soft and smooth. The liquid ran and fell into my soft palm. It was blood. Which I was pretty sure I shouldn't have after my entire body stopped producing it the moment I died from the Scooper. Being my blood gradually replaced by black tar.
Although, I didn't have much AGONY inside my body, because I never liked using the substance, to begin with, the feeling that AGONY exudes. It is wrong in many ways. It is corrupt and twisted, in a way that if you don't learn to control it, it can indirectly control you.
An explanation to which I have desperately clung, to find a reason why Elizabeth my sister had killed me, by removing my visors, in addition to breaking the entire sternum on my chest, only to use my corpse as a puppet. The AGONY along with the corrupted AI of Circus Baby. They managed to twist Elizabeth's kind but bossy soul and personality. And although it has nothing to do with Elizabeth. This is only proof, of the theory of corruption. Since the missing children who were killed by my father, not counting Charlie. They lost themselves in bloodlust and revenge, killing all the night guards that appeared.
It was only because of my intervention that they did not manage to kill more people. And that was because I thought I could find my father at the pizzeria so I could make him pay for his crimes.
Shaking my head to force myself out of my thoughts, I stood shakily on my legs using my hands to support myself on the brick wall that was close to where I woke up a few seconds ago.
My head looked up at the clear sky with a few clouds in the way. I used my tongue to try and get rid of the dryness that was occurring in my mouth, even though I couldn't do anything about my damn dry throat. My hand indirectly moved up to my face to touch my cheek like I have many times since I became a fucking zombie.
The texture I was familiar with on my Undead body was different from what I felt right now, my new skin feeling soft and supple, compared to the scratchy, semi-flexible cheek I had before. That's not to mention the stitching I've done so the teeth won't show because Ennard broke the skin on my cheek with his wires when he mouthed out of my body.
A shaky breath escaped from my body. I was still tormented by nightmares from that night.
I checked my entire body to see if it possessed an active illusionary disk. I didn't find anything, and when I was looking for my eye I detected a mask that was on the ground. It was the white bear mask that was inspired by Freddy. With which I hid my face. Since I would rather cover my entire Undead body with clothes than use the same illusionary disks my father used to torture Evan with nightmares. The sick even of my father even put cameras in my little brother's room just to see how Evan reacted to the illusions.
Gods, how I disliked my father's actions. If only my father didn't have a twisted and sick mind, then maybe the Afton family would have been happy. But I guess that was just a dream because the Afton Family was cursed and will always remain cursed.
I picked up the mask quickly. I wanted to put it on my face, but I stopped myself. Something didn't feel right in this place, where he wanted this could feel the gloom and ominousness in the air. A different feeling, but so similar to what I've gotten used to when working at Fazbear Entertainment, Inc. I looked towards the exit of the alley I was in and began to leave with cautious steps. My instincts were on high alert. I didn't want to get a surprise attack.
I can feel my stomach turn threatening to expel something. My heart starts pounding to the point where I'm going to explode. When I'm about to walk out of the alley, I just poke my head out of curiosity and tense my body muscles in case something dangerous happens. When nothing happens I leave the alley.
It doesn't seem like there was anyone in the streets where I was, curiosity took over my heart (which was working again pumping blood throughout my body) and I tried to look for any sign of life while looking at the houses and the area around me.
Everything seemed so... old, like from an ancient time. More specifically medieval times. I would expect myself to notice this right away, being someone who was born in the 60s and started my teens in the 80s and was able to see technology develop until 2023.
While walking towards a place where I thought I heard voices, I stopped briefly to look at myself in the window of a house, it was my face before it was ruined by the decomposition and the damage that the Funtime caused to my body. I frowned when I noted that I still looked too much like my father. Although now, my eyes were not silvery blue. Its were a deep, unnatural purple. The color and brightness of my eyes made me uncomfortable. I made myself seem almost inhuman looking if you looked deep enough into my eyes.
I didn't understand how I had come back to life, but there had to be a reason for what was happening to me. I could only pray that it wasn't my father again, but knowing the fate of the Aftons, then my hopes were pretty low.
An exasperated sigh escaped my lips, whatever the reason my SOUL had refused to rest, I just hope I can finish it quickly, I was tired of continuing to live when I had no goal beyond freeing the souls of the missing children and my siblings Evan Afton and Elizabeth Afton, as well as making my father pay for his crimes.
As far as Michael was concerned the souls of his siblings, Charlie's soul, and the souls of the missing children, Gabriel, Susie, Jeremy, Fritz, and Cassidy were released. And if I was lucky my father's soul was burning in hell.
Even so, I couldn't get rid of the feeling of stomach upset, besides that, my Soul could feel the gloomy atmosphere of this place, to the point that the hairs on my forearms were standing on end as if I were Spiderman. It's not like he can become a Super Hero, not with the sins I had committed.
I couldn't avoid a self-deprecating laugh at the absurd comparison that my brain made. As I kept walking I could see that most of the people were taking refuge in their homes. Almost like... almost like people did the day Ennard left my body.
When they left my corpse to rot on the sidewalk while they escaped through the sewers. If it weren't for the Remnant of the Funtimes (especially the one about my sister Elizabeth). Which did not let me die, otherwise that same day I could have rested in peace.
I couldn't help but run a hand through my long hair (I'd let it grow so I could distinguish myself from William, gods I hate being compared to him) as I clucked in frustration. At times like these, I would start chewing all the gum I could. Since this is a habit that I have not let die since I began my adolescence.
But to my bad luck, which I was getting used to having in my life. I didn't have any gum with me, nor did I have any of the weapons with which I defended myself against the killer robots, the Taser at full power, the flashlight, and a metal bat were something I always clung to. Now I had none of my tools and I felt naked and vulnerable. The tools I put aside when the fire started to spread in the pizzeria and Taser I lost in my fight against Molten Freddy.
As I kept walking I looked at the tall tower that seemed to be in the center of the city. It was tall, but I wasn't impressed, when you live in countries like the United States where tall towers like that abound, there isn't much to be impressed by, besides I wasn't in a good mood since I didn't know what happened to me.
I hope Old Man Consequences has a reasonable explanation for what is happening to me. Because this place looked like a fucking maze. I was 100% sure that I had seen that utility pole twice. And I couldn't ask anyone, because the people outside looked at me suspiciously and others didn't look kindly at me, as if they were planning to rob me.
Not that there were many, since almost all the people were in hiding. I kept walking for what seemed like hours (when it was minutes) before I stopped wide-eyed as I watched a mother and her daughter walk into what looked like her home.
Were those tails and ears of cats? Just to make sure I ran my hands over my eyes several times before looking at them again. I have seen many strange things, killer robots, shadows made by AGONIA that make you hallucinate, Golden Freddy's teleportation, killer living toys, and cursed objects. But I never saw someone special to mother and daughter have ears or tails that looked very real and not some kind of cosplay.
I shouldn't have been surprised, but I couldn't help but be surprised and I see my fidget. While my brain made a damn connection with everything I've seen. The old houses, the old clothes that people wore, the air was not completely polluted and the light poles did not have any type of cable. It seemed like...it seemed like...
As if I had traveled to the past, and not only the past, but also to a fantasy world to begin with, like those books I read just to find out which of my brothers would have liked it better.
I didn't know how long I stared at the door through which the mother and cat girl had entered. But I knew that my spiritual aura was beginning to be felt in the air. Anyone close enough could feel my AGONY and anguish.
Was this some sick joke on the world? Or was it hell and it made my mind hallucinate everything? I couldn't quite comprehend what was going on, if this was hell, then why would I have to hallucinate this kind of scenario? I've never been too interested in these kinds of books, I just read them for a reason other than liking me.
I could feel my body shaking with anger and frustration. If this wasn't hell or a hallucination of some kind. So, my mind can't think of what would be the reason for ending up in some fantasy place.
"HELP! Someone, please help-! Hmm!"
The cry for help snapped me out of my spiritual frenzy, my instincts kicking in, my muscles tensing before I ran in the direction I heard the cry for help before it cut off abruptly. Instinctively I put the mask over my face and did my best not to bump into my new body which is much less rigid and more flexible.
I kept running before entering an alley, one of many that seemed to be in this maze-like place. I stopped abruptly looking at the three men, two of them were holding a child who can't be older than 8 years old and the other bigger and more intimidating man was glaring at the men holding the child.
The three men, sensing my presence, stopped what they were doing to look directly at me.
"You'd better leave that kid alone" I spoke with a soft but firm voice.
The bigger man glared at me and clicked his tongue before looking at his minions "If you idiots had caught that kid without making a sound, then this idiot wouldn't have come close" The man stopped looking at his minions, before taking a step in front of me with an intimidating look "I'll give you a chance to get the hell out kid and forget you ever saw this if you don't want to suffer serious consequences"
I clenched my teeth in frustration, it was obvious these guys weren't going to give up no matter what I found out about them, if being in a medieval world was any indication of what I had seen then threatening them with the police wasn't going to work, Furthermore, I did not know if there was a police force or how good the police were in this place.
So I was probably alone in this situation and the kid who was about to be kidnapped by three men, of whom I was sure had no good intentions with the kid, so I was the only thing that would stand in the way of the cruel fate that awaited the underage boy.
I couldn't leave him if I wanted my conscience not to feel more guilty than I already did. I couldn't let any more kids get hurt, not after I couldn't do anything to stop my dad from hurting who knows how many kids. My guilt would not allow me to turn a blind eye to a situation like this.
I also knew that my AGONY would not be satisfied if I got out of the way of these evil men. I could feel my soul shuddering with the thirst for revenge that I had craved since I had died.
"I said leave the boy alone, I won't do it again," I said in a venomous whisper, my voice coming out hoarse, unnatural, and shaky. Even I could feel the waves of anger and hate coming out of them.
The man's two minions flinched at my voice and the anger I sent out in it, but the big man didn't flinch, instead giving me a wary look before smirking. "Either you're a brave guy or you're just a stupid idiot who's plagued by his rage. I'll tell you, we occupy guys like you in our forces, if you join us we can give this guy some neglect you say, child, what do you think guy?"
That comment only served to infuriate me "I'd rather die again than be like you. You're the kind of person I hate the most"
If the big man caught my slip, then he didn't show it. Instead, he shrugged before tensing his muscles and looking at me with a gleam of sadistic glee. "Too bad then, I guess I can have some fun with you before I kill you."
Before I could prepare to do anything, my survival instincts screamed for me to get out of the way. But it was too late, even if I had reacted in time my body wouldn't have been able to move so fast.
Before I can blink. The criminal leader removed the 15-foot distance in a second. Managing to stay in front of my body. Although my body unconsciously tried to dodge the attack, I was too slow.
The man hit me below the sternum. I could hear a sickening crack before feeling like a truck hit me hard, my eyes widened under my hidden mask at the agony, shock, and disbelief I felt. My feet lifted off the ground and I began to feel my body go flying from the impact. Until it stopped abruptly when my back hit a wall of one of the houses.
My body forced me to spit out blood, which filled the mask that covered my face. I could feel the blood that spilled from my mouth, it stained my face. Before I feel my face slammed into the ground.
I was stunned for a few minutes while a sharp pain ran through my stomach, I also tried to recover the air that was forced out of me. Tears stung my eyes making my vision blurry.
And although I did not know how I could know it, I can describe that the heat that I feel in the damaged part of my body was my AGONY trying to repair all the damage that this man had done to me with a single blow. This guy was not normal so trying to fight him without my "spiritual powers" as I called them would be foolish.
"You know, that was quite disappointing for your bravery, I thought you were a level 1 rookie adventurer, but now I know that you're just a foolish civilian wishing to play the hero, with a foolish sense of justice." I could hear the man sigh in disappointment "And I thought I was going to have fun breaking you, but you just turned out to be a cockroach that needs to be squashed." The man paused briefly "Take the child away I'm going to finish this quickly because I overestimated this guy we caused a commotion, probably some of the Familias will check out this place soon, so we have to leave quickly"
With trembling hands and legs, I slowly rose to my feet while with my right hand, I was holding where the psycho bastard had hit me, I raised my head to look at the big man who was getting closer and closer to my body—a badly injured who was desperately trying to make amends for the damage done.
I couldn't let these bastards get away with kidnapping that child, so even though I didn't like using that substance, right now I needed to use it to defeat this man who far surpassed human strength, that kind of power. in such a man. I couldn't help but feel a chill all over my body.
From what the man said, there was a police force that kept order and if those men were stealthily doing their illegal work, it meant that they couldn't fight them despite the supernatural strength just shown to me by this man.
That left two options, either the police force would overwhelm them with numbers to the point that they would be forced to leave the child behind to escape, or the police force in this place were people far stronger than these malicious men, so they couldn't figure it out. in luxury to fight them.
I did not know, if even fighting with my AGONY, I could against them. But now I knew I didn't need to win, I just needed to delay them long enough for the police force to arrive on the scene and apprehend them. It was not an easy task, nor a simple one, but... When were the tasks or objectives that I had in my life easy? Never.
I willingly let AGONY start coursing through my entire body (basically unleashing all the frenzy and negative feelings that souls get from dying horrifyingly and cruelly), but I would have to be careful not to lose myself in the bloodlust as they had made the other spirits.
When I was looking for my father, I was able to discover that if you could dominate AGONY (Strong negative feelings, which accumulate in a living or inanimate object, in this case, my human body) you could acquire supernatural abilities to a certain extent, as was the case from Golden Freddy and it teleportation or its power to control people's dreams, or as in the case of Puppet and her ability to give "gifts".
When I discovered my supernatural ability, I was quite scared by how strong and dangerous it could be. Unfortunately, I didn't work much with spirits, since they could repel me to a certain extent, so I didn't use it too much, only to the point of "dominating" it, if I can call something that comes naturally to you like breathing dominance.
"I'm not going to... allow you to... take the kid" My voice came out static and inhuman, to the point of resembling that of a robot that is doing a murder. " I will not repeat it... leave... That Kid!" The last sentence that I pronounced as my inhuman voice due to the rage that was exerted by my AGONIA emitted an ominous and malicious feeling. When I looked at the three men directly they froze.
"¿?"
"¿What?"
Only one of the henchmen was able to express his fear, the other was unable to utter a word because of the waves of bloodlust and malice that the Man in a White Bear mask was expelling.
"What the hell are you?" The criminal leader did not freeze in fear but in caution, but the abrupt change on the part of the meddler took the leader of the criminal mission by surprise, the feelings that that guy who thought he was a hero gave off, put his level 2 adventurer instincts into overdrive. maximum alert.
The sockets of the bear mask that covered the guy's eyes with black lenses now glowed with an inhuman and malicious purple tone. That together with the smile on the mask and the malicious feelings that the boy emitted. He gave the criminal mission leader a chill all over him. Wanting to end the ominous feeling that the boy produced. The level 2 criminal adventurer moved.
"!"
But before he could rip his head off with his hidden blade. A pressure hit him hard forcing him to his knees. The force of the pressure was so much that he caused cracks in the ground because his Level 2 adventurer's stamina prevented him from getting injured.
The minions who were Level 1 Adventurers weren't so lucky. Both of them were forced to let go of the child as the invisible force hit them hard. Their bodies fell hard to the ground at an awkward and extremely painful angle.
The criminal leader looked in surprise at the nosy boy who had raised a hand in his direction. Did the civilian have magic? That wouldn't be weird if he was an elf, but because of his ears, he could tell that he was a human. The criminal leader gritted his teeth in anger and frustration, just as lucky for this meddlesome bastard. He could tell that this boy didn't even have a skirt from how weakly he resisted before a show of force from a low-powered level 2, if he had hit him with all my strength I probably would have killed him.
Now the criminal leader of the mission that Evilus had entrusted to him could fail. He didn't know why the evil organization wanted to kidnap children, but he didn't care what Evilus did with those fucking brats. The criminal leader tried to stand up using all the strength of a level 2 adventurer that he possessed, but when he was about to get up, he could only feel that the invisible force increased the weight that it exerted on him forcing him to prostrate, his forearms and knees were the only things. that prevented his face from hitting the floor hard.
Damn magic, the criminal leader thought. Worst of all, the criminal leader didn't hear any kind of chant, not even a short one like most prodigies had or like people who read a grimoire. Although he cast long spells, he could also cast short ones. The criminal leader could tell that this boy would be very dangerous if he was allowed to stay alive.
He had to kill him so he wouldn't become a nuisance in the future. He only had to wait for his mind to exhaust himself before delivering the fatal blow. Because even though the criminal leader didn't move, the guy with the mask didn't either, it was just a matter of time.
I could feel my hand tremble as I tried to hold them back. The invisible force exerted on the larger man was twice as strong as the force I exerted on the thugs accompanying him.
Gravity check.
That was what I had called my supernatural ability. And although it couldn't affect the gravity of the world, it could affect the gravity of the bodies that occupy a space in the world. It didn't matter if it was a living being or a non-living something like an object, if it was in my spiritual range, then I could affect the body's gravity, either increasing or decreasing it.
The only problem is that the more bodies or strength I exert, the more AGONIA I need to use, therefore it means that I have to release all the negative feelings that my spirit has, unbridled rage, resentment, hatred, and deep sadness are the feelings that but they feed my AGONY.
AGONY is something I am very careful and wary of even though I can easily control my supernatural ability. If I'm not careful with this spiritual substance, it can escape me and inject negative feelings into targets. Like Golden Freddy did with the Toys. Especially the RAGE that could turn into a harmless object, one of a malevolent and aggressive nature.
Not to mention that it can negatively affect my ability to think and turn me into nothing more than a wild animal with an unbridled thirst for blood. That is why I had to maintain a balance in my AGONIA and not exceed myself to the point that my AGONIA dominates me.
I winced in discomfort, I wasn't used to using AGONY, on a living body. Also, I'm not supposed to be able to use my AGONIA if I'm alive. But, I guess that the Remnant (will I still have if I'm alive?) who keeps (kept?) my soul tied to my body, is the one who should keep AGONIA (it may also be that my AGONIA joined my soul)
Do not try to exert more pressure, something told me not to. I didn't know if my new body could handle it if I exerted more AGONY to my ability to increase its power, but I didn't want to find out what would happen if my body couldn't handle the AGONY. It was not my Undead body that I could exert as much AGONY on as I pleased.
I could feel that a sticky liquid was beginning to escape from my eyes, I clenched my teeth at how hot it felt, even the smell it emanated was unpleasant (in these moments I wish my smell would not come back). I couldn't identify the scent of the substance escaping my eyes, but I was able to make a guess.
AGONY. It meant that I was getting close to the limit, if I didn't cut it, the AGONY could start to escape from my body. I didn't know what state my new body was in, but I knew that the agony could open my scars to escape the excess that I poured into my body. If this body had no openings to get out, it could create new openings, like a piece of clothing would do when it is stretched too much and breaks.
But what terrified me the most is that someone would discover what AGONIA is and how to use it. Since anyone can create AGONY. Knowing about the existence of AGONIA is difficult and learning to use it is even more difficult. I don't want any more cases of "living" objects to happen. Like the Funtime or the Toys.
I could go on and kill criminals at the cost of my health. But... I don't think I can kill someone, not after what I did to Evan. I still had nightmares about it, not counting how many tears I'd shed.
I knew that each time I became more insensitive and I began to feel a stronger and stronger feeling of emptiness and I feared that if I were to kill someone, I would begin to behave like vengeful spirits or worse, I would become like my father.
The hesitation within me briefly ended all the negative feelings that I was unconsciously expelling, that brief moment of hesitation and the loss of the AGONY that enabled my supernatural ability made the ability stop working for a few seconds.
Those seconds that I gave away were enough for the criminal leader to suddenly get up and close the distance. My survival instincts kicked in against my will again and instead of increasing the gravity weight of the criminal leader, I removed all gravity from him. I also had to lean my body back as far as I could without touching the wall behind my back to prevent the blade from piercing my skull.
The criminal leader widened his eyes as his feet cleared the ground as he approached me, even though his balance was thrown, he attempted to pierce my skull with his hidden blade. Due to the inhuman speed at which he was going and the criminal leader's abrupt loss of gravity, he went at a higher speed and he could not prevent his body from crashing against the wall that was already damaged by the shock from before.
The wall broke without resistance, and the small house trembled, looking like it was going to collapse, but managing to resist. Although I was sure that the house would need to be repaired or it would collapse sooner or later.
I took several steps back to a distance that could be called safe but with the speed of this criminal man. Not entirely sure, as I waited for any movement from the larger man I glanced over my shoulder to see the minions stand up and draw knives.
The tension grew even more when the big man came out through the big hole in the wall. As he gave me an expression that screamed bloody murder. "I was going to let your death be quick and painless you fucking bastard, now I'm going to enjoy hearing you scream"
I didn't answer, I just glared at him. I was not afraid of dying, certainly, that was a goal I was looking for to be able to rest in peace and reunite with my siblings. But if I had to die I was going to do it my way, not because of some fucking psycho bastard.
But before either of us could make a move. A new voice made its presence known to it.
"Ara-ara. What do we have here?"
All at the same time we turned our heads where the voice came from to see a woman on top of the roof of the house that was to our right.
She was a rather beautiful woman with Asian features. I have never seen a woman as beautiful as her (Not that she had met many women), The girl had fair skin, her black colored hair was loose and long, and she also wears what looks like a kanzashi in her hair. She is wearing a kimono as the Japanese do at festivals and on top of the kimono she was wearing a robe (I asked briefly if she wanted to simulate her robe as a cloak) I didn't know what shoes the girl was wearing, but it was the traditional Japanese one they wear. with the kimonos. Her soles seemed a little too big for my liking, so I couldn't help but worry that she was going to trip off the ceiling, fall, and die.
Spoiler
Although I had a feeling that this girl was not a normal human either.
"Now, who's the nosy bitch?" the big man spat angrily.
"Boss. She is one of the members of the Astrea Familia! The vice-captain no less!"
"Goujono Kaguya a Level 3 adventurer!"
I tilted my head curiously and couldn't help but comment "Astrea Familia?" my voice came out as a hoarse whisper.
The criminal leader began to sweat bullets on his forehead "Dammit! Why did these idiots have to interrupt? This is exactly what I wanted to avoid!"
I didn't know what they meant by Astrea Familia (I briefly wondered if they were cultured), but from the way these bandits were talking about them, it seemed as if they were the police force of this place. I just hoped he wasn't wrong in that assumption.
Also, something that caught my attention that said that she was a level 3 adventurer. It was not a high enough level according to the video games. I briefly thought about whether it was a ranking rank you were moving up before dismissing it. Remembering that the leader of the criminals had talked about how he thought I was a level 1 adventurer, not in a way to describe a rank, but rather that made it sound more like someone's physical strength or how powerful a person was (since I classify myself as a mere civilian).
And from how fag these assholes became, I conclude that someone ranked as level 3 strength. It was someone strong and dangerous to the point of taking precautions.
"Hmm?" The girl the criminal morons called Kaguya spoke again as she narrowed her purple eyes dangerously at us. "You seem to know me, but I don't know you. Then you should introduce yourself. Right?" The girl's smile turned dangerous and dark, not taking no for an answer.
My muscles tensed if she attacked me since I was the only one wearing a mask, therefore I was the most suspicious of all. Not to mention that he was still wearing the formal security guard clothes he wore at the fake pizzeria that was used to lure souls who refused to be free and leave the world of the living into a trap. Thus I came to suspect that the clothes I was wearing would make me stick out like a sore thumb in a less advanced world, the world I came from.
When I was about to give a "witty" answer, the criminal henchmen interrupted me, when they began to run with their tails between their legs, abandoning their goal to escape the new nosy that arrived on the scene.
Before they could take the third step, a shadow that came from the left lunged at them, grabbing each criminal's arm and twisting it around to smash the criminals' backs to the ground.
Despite being surprised I couldn't help but make a sympathetic face, although they didn't receive much, the bastards deserved it.
"Another one!" the criminal leader who was about to escape also stopped in surprise.
When I got a good look at the new figure I couldn't help but be surprised.
"A kid!"
My goodness, even a small child was stronger than me (although that wasn't a new trend considering robots possessed by murderous children), I couldn't help but feel uneasy at my uselessness knowing that a child (who was still alive) was so much stronger than me. And my strength is nothing that a normal person can underestimate, I was stronger than average people and also taller.
That's why I had to look down to see the face of the little girl who had just knocked over two grown men like sacks of potatoes. I was sure my mouth was hanging open in disbelief.
The girl with short pink hair glared at me with her pink eyes (I'd never seen that kind of eyes, but I could tell that her hair was dyed) "How did you just call me masked bastard?" The girl said with a dark voice (for a moment my mind replaced her with Cassidy) so I couldn't help but shudder and comment nervously.
"I mean…you're short," I said awkwardly as she made a face at how short she was. It wasn't the right thing to say because her expression got angrier.
"Listen to me, good sir," the little girl said with the most sarcastic voice possible while gritting her teeth to contain her anger "For your information I'm 15 years old so I'm not a kid, besides it's not my fault that my race is abnormally low"
Michael doesn't say anything stupid to piss off the little girl who beat up two grown men like it wasn't some amazing achievement and was commonplace for her.
"You don't look like a Hobbit to me." My stupid mouth dropped open before I could think. "You look like someone who didn't eat vegetables when you were young," I said with a hint of scolding.
Stupid brain! Do you want them to kill us?
I mean my brain wasn't wrong, since she didn't look anything like the Hobbits that were the abnormally short race that I knew. She didn't seem to have huge feet, so I ruled out that she was a dwarf or a person with a disease. Those people tend to be more robust in their legs and hips. This girl looked graceful with a lovely soft body.
Luckily the girl on the roof stopped the girl who was about to murder me in cold blood (do these people move or teleport?).
Kaguya placed one hand on the pink-haired girl's shoulder while hiding her mouth with the other with a certain grace of a princess "Fufufu. Now, Lyra let's not do anything rash. Even if I agree to hit before asking the bastards. No, we know what the situation is for these guys." Kaguya was amused by the exchange I got with the girl now called Lyra. But once she stopped laughing, she turned to face us in our direction. The criminal leader and I tensed simultaneously. "Now Mr. Masked as funny as you are. I'll give you both a chance to clarify what's going on with both of you voluntarily, but if neither of you is willing to talk then…" Kaguya gave us a sickly sweet smile "I'm going to start breaking some bones"
Michael did what any man with hair on his chest would do in this situation.
I immediately pointed out the culprit and confessed "This bloody bastard, along with his henchmen tried to kidnap that unconscious child. But I tried to stop them." I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible, but a bit of my inner panic seeped through and I ended up adding "Besides, it wasn't me who broke the wall, it was them." Fearing that I would be charged for property damage. That was the biggest fear I had, especially because I burned down all those pizzerias.
The criminal bastard snapped out of his paralyzing fear and started speaking in a panic "T-that's not true, the masked bastard ambushed us and that kid got injured as a result of our combat."
What... You'd think this bastard wouldn't tell such a blatantly obvious lie, considering he was going to run with his tail between his legs and call the girl a bitch a few minutes ago. So it was obvious who was telling the truth, so they wouldn't be stupid enough to believe the bastard... I think.
Kaguya tilted her head before moving at a speed much faster than the criminal man. I closed my eyes waiting for my premature death.
As my death did not come and I heard the criminal bastard let out a cry of pain. I opened my eyes and watched as the woman kneed him in the lower area (Ouch) before grabbing him by the back of the skull and smashing him into the ground with enough force to leave a crack.
Shit. I trembled in fear at the girl's show of force. I still can't get used to the abnormal speed and strength of this fantasy world. And that was something I said so that he was used to paranormal things.
"Did you kill him?" I couldn't help but ask. I didn't know what to think of seeing a man murdered in front of me, even if he was a criminal. Though I hoped that wasn't the case and she would have just been knocked out.
Kaguya gave me an amused look "Unfortunately not. I only knocked him out, but I gave him a very painful gift" She smiled my way before looking back at the unconscious body. "So Mr. Masked, why don't you please this dear lady and take off your mask and introduce yourself" She licked her lips enjoying my nervousness.
Should I take off my mask? I only put it on for comfort, since I was an Undead. Besides that, I always did it unconsciously so that no one would see my face. But now that I wasn't a walking corpse there was no need to hide my face. That and the criminals were already knocked out so he had no problem showing them what was underneath.
I raised my hand and showed them my finger, I indicated, indicating that they give me a few minutes. But just in case I commented at the same time I made the gesture. "give me a moment"
I quickly turned my back to them before reaching into my mask and wiping anything off my face, even lifting my mask over my head and using my shoulder to wipe off both the tar and dried blood. Once I thought I was clean I turned while taking off my white bear mask and showing my face to the two girls who had helped me a few minutes ago. I kept the mask on my belt hook that I added as an addition.
And before I could speak and introduce myself, the same girl who placed the order spoke again.
"Oohh. She seems to hide quite a view under that mask if that turns out to be your face. I wonder what you hiding behind that outfit" Kaguya commented giving me a mischievous smile.
"What?" I couldn't help but gape as my cheeks flushed red from the embarrassment that the girl's shameless and cheeky comment caused me. And though I appreciated the compliment on me. I couldn't help feeling uncomfortable, especially since I hated my appearance, especially because I looked so much like my father.
"Meh. Finn is much cuter than this guy," the petite Lyra commented with a sly smile. "I guess we have you to thank for helping that little one. As much as I hate to admit it, without your intervention they probably would have been kidnapped before we could help him." She changed her sly smile to one of thanks, before smiling slyly again.
"Ah. It was nothing, I just acted before thinking" I said as I put a hand on the back of my neck somewhat embarrassed, I wasn't used to compliments "Besides, I'm sure anyone would have done what I did" I said to play down her thanks, even though you see several people running in the opposite direction from where the child called for help.
Kaguya shook her head as her smile changed to a sad one. "In these times, good sir. Most people turn a blind eye out of fear, so you are an outlier."
Lyra clicked her tongue "It's not that you can blame people, normal civilians can't stand up to people blessed with Falna. They would only end up getting hurt or killed."
"Blessed people?" I couldn't help but ask my question curiously.
Lyra looked at me as if I had grown a second head "You know?... People with falna are people blessed by the grace of the gods when they join their Familia"
"Wait, gods?" I couldn't help but let out a laugh in disbelief, I stopped laughing when they made a serious face with a raised eyebrow at my reaction. "Are you serious?! Like literal gods? Like beings of great power far beyond imagination"
I expected them to be joking, but that didn't seem to be the case. The gods existed in this world. He didn't believe in gods and Old Consequences didn't count because he wasn't one.
Kaguya tilted her head with puzzlement on her face. "Don't you know about the gods, my good sir? It's kind of strange because they descended thousands of years ago."
Lyra looked at me like I was an alien (Which was true, in a sense) "Forget how weird that is, where you've grown up all your life not to know about the gods, under a rock?" she commented in exasperation throwing her arms up dramatically in the air. "And that something if I say so"
"Hey! I lived in a place very far from here, besides I got to live isolated most of my life" I yelled defensively. I wasn't lying either way, this place was a long way from Hurricane, Utah. And since Evan's death, I spoke to people to a minimum, the contact I made with people got worse when I died. Since I was a literal zombie, only aware of my actions. So I stayed away from people like an outcast.
Lyra frowned thoughtfully. "Wherever you came from you must have been too isolated not to know the gods existed. Were you troglodytes?"
I was about to retort because of how offended I felt, but Kaguya spoke first.
"The gods, my good sir ... They descended on Gekai thousands of years ago. Because they were bored and looking for entertainment" Kaguya shrugged at my disbelieving face "Their words not mine. Also, the gods blocked their powers as one of the laws to be able to stay on the mortal plane. Although they can still bless people with the falna"
He supposes that these... blessings?... are the ones that make people much faster and stronger. So the criminal leader must have been blessed. Why would the gods bless a bastard like him? I no longer knew whether to feel angry or sad. Although he shouldn't be surprised that the gods don't care about mortals like us.
Michael looked thoughtful as he shifted uncomfortably "I'm not quite sure what to think" I said with a sigh "Oh. And stop calling me sir it makes me feel old." Although if we think about it carefully I am old in mind, even if my body looks young. I gave them a hand in greeting. "You can call me Mike... Mike Schmidt"
The greeting was shaken by Kaguya. Her hand felt soft and smooth and warm. I didn't have much physical contact with people, so I didn't have much to compare it to, so I didn't know if that was how most people's hands felt.
I had to let go of her soft hand because I doubted she would let go of my hand, especially with that sly smile she gave me.
I hesitated to give one of the many names I use in my life. But I guess I won't have legal problems in a fantasy world, so I expressed the name that I liked the most. I certainly wasn't going to give him my real name. I hated my last name from my father, so I took my mother's. I would later discover that my mother had a cousin named Mary Schmidt.
I still remembered when I met Mary Schmidt's daughter... Marylin Schmidt by pure chance when I was investigating the abandoned Rowboatics Corp. factory. And it was just a coincidence that I investigated the abandoned factory and because of my desperate search for my father I heard a rumor about that factory (just thinking about that factory and the problems it gave Marylin and me makes me shudder)
And although my name did not bother me, I prefer to be called that way. Because I remembered Mikey's nickname and in memory of everyone I decided to use a similar name, but without sounding too childish. Well, that and that my father cursed the name of Michael a lot.
Kaguya seemed to want to ask a question from the look of confusion and curiosity that came over her face but was interrupted by her partner.
Lyra looked at her partner "Kaguya as much as you are curious about Mike here. We still need to inform the Ganesha Familia what happened here."
We all looked at the unconscious criminal and the kid who had now woken up and his mother was holding him in a rather intimate hug as they both cried with relief and joy. I knew it was wrong of me, but I was envious of the kid. My mother never gave me a hug when I was a child.
Kaguya sighed as if she was disappointed. "I guess we've got work to do Mike. We need to get this riffraff to the cells for questioning later. I'd like to talk to you again though."
Kaguya carried two men like a sack of potatoes and Lyra carried one of the men, as they were about to leave. I had to stop them because I had a big problem right now.
"Wait!" I half yelled making them stop "I think-" Before I could ask for help it interrupted me.
"Lyra, Kaguya"
A new female voice was present in the place. Even if I only heard a girl's voice. The girl who spoke was accompanied by another girl. They both stopped near Lyra and Kaguya without even noticing me or maybe they did but chose to ignore me to talk to them.
I felt frustrated that in my eyes those new girls seemed out of nowhere. My instincts of which I was proud were fooled again. If they hadn't spoken I probably wouldn't have noticed them until they were on my side or it was too late for me to do anything to defend myself.
"Ujum. I told you they'd be fine Lion. Kaguya and Lyra have done another job worthy of justice" The other girl made a dramatic gesture towards Kaguya and Lyra who were charging the criminal bastards.
"I guess, even so, the energy that could be felt from afar. What was it that caused such a feeling?" The girl now introduced as Lion commented on her concern.
Kaguya blinked. "Now that you mention it, the malicious energy disappeared just as I arrived" Then she turned to look at me "Do you know anything about it?"
The two new girls who were there turned to me, looking at my face, the reactions of both of them made me feel uncomfortable.
The red-haired girl was one of the most beautiful people he had ever seen. Her green eyes full of life and optimism met my unnatural purple eyes full of loneliness and pessimism. Despite her aura of positivity, her eyes looked at me in a way I couldn't describe before her positivity returned in the blink of an eye. If I wasn't that I had to live with a psychopath and had to learn to pick up on his cues so he wouldn't kill me because of his bad temper, I probably wouldn't have noticed.
The girl who looked younger, she was an elf with blonde hair, scared me a little, but mostly made me uncomfortable (her long ears were strange to my eyes) she was narrowing her blue eyes, evaluating me to detect if I was a threat or not which one had to end luckily she left the hostile look when she detected me as harmless.
If I started giving thanks to God, would the other gods get angry?
As I was about to introduce myself, the beautiful girl with red hair (which was a bright, natural red. Just a color you'd see in fantasy stories) gave me a big smile and got a little too close to my personal space for my big discomfort. Her green eyes practically sparkled with excitement that made me feel amused.
Kaguya's question was completely forgotten by the red-haired girl's enthusiastic demeanor.
"Oh. And who are you, honorable sir? I suppose you must be a new one in Orario? An adventurer? New blacksmith?" Then the red-haired girl snapped her fingers as if she concluded "A new vendor!"
"Alise, maybe you should give him some space" Lyra commented giving me a smirk "You're making him nervous and shy, plus he's an adventurer... I think"
"I'm not shy" I quickly denied hiding the embarrassment on my face with my hand.
"Ummm! I see!" The red-haired girl, now named Alise "Don't worry adventurer-san the embarrassment will be a thing of the past. Because the great maiden is pure and beautiful. Alise Lovell, the captain of the Astrea Familia is here to help." She pointed at me with a dramatic smile, "Due to my great sense of justice, I can't help but help a needy person in his great moment of need. Then adventurer-san. That embarrassment you have will be gone in a few days for my fabulous me"
Seeing that girl radiating positivity made my eyes cloudy as I remembered a positive girl who always tried to help others as long as she could. The girl even though she was able to rest her soul when she died, decided to stay to stop William, but she ended up protecting her and keeping the corrupted spirits of the children at bay.
The red-haired girl was replaced by a brown-haired girl before she returned to normal. While Michael was having a brief flashback. The girl named Lion hit Alise on the head.
"Alise. You overdid it again with your introduction, that's why you always end up scaring them" Despite Lion's scolding words, she had a smile on her elf face.
"Bah, nonsense, nobody can be scared of someone as holy as me" Alise smiled at Lion.
"Going back to the topic Alise" Kaguya spoke catching the attention of the girls "These guys who are unconsciously tried to kidnap the little one who is now with his mother" Kaguya nodded elegantly towards the little one who was saved by the new adventurer in the bear mask. The children were holding his mother's hand as they approached Mike to thank him for saving him. "If it wasn't thanks to Mike, then we probably wouldn't have saved him" Kaguya commented with a sad smile but resigned to acceptance.
Lyra crossed her arms with a frown. "Besides, we wouldn't have known about the altercation if it hadn't been for that malicious energy. We were two districts away from the streets of the Daedalus," she pointed out.
Lion's eyes narrowed in fury, her mask wrinkled indicating that she was frowning "These disgusting beings. Not only are they causing a lot of commotion in the city and hurting innocent people, but now they tried to kidnap a child"
Alise sighed in disappointment, her dazzling and dramatic happy smile was gone and now she only had a sad smile "It can't be helped. We were lucky this time. We should be more careful with the children. We don't know what Evilus is up to with them" Alise for a few milliseconds narrowed her eyes looking at the tattoo on the neck of the criminal leader "But whatever it is. It must not be anything good"
"We also have to find out what that energy was," Lyra commented with a shudder. "The emotions that emanated gave me chills and that was only felt for a few minutes."
Alise, Kaguya, and Lion agreed, even though all three of them were level 3 adventurers. That energy felt wrong and twisted in various ways. The four girls looked at Mike, who might be the only one who can answer that question.
As the girls talked Michael had been pulled out of his depressing thoughts by the mother of the child he had recently helped. And even though these people were thanking him, he felt bitter and cursed again his uselessness. If it weren't for the girls, another child would probably have died... Again.
"Thank you adventurer-sama" The boy's mother gave me a grateful smile.
"Don't worry. I couldn't help someone innocent from getting hurt" I gave the mother a soft smile, then turned to look at the kid, crouching down and ruffling his brown hair. "Remember to ask your mother. And don't separate yourself from her again so you don't scare her again, okay champion?"
"I promise" The kid nodded enthusiastically, and I got up to give him the space. As the mother and kid were about to walk out of my vision, the kid turned to face me and waved at me, and yelled "See you, Mikey!"
My eyes widened and my breath hitched. I took a step back in surprise at the nickname. I clenched my fists to calm myself and took a deep breath. The girls were behind my back so they couldn't see my face, but something told me that even then she could tell.
"So...your name is Mikey, huh?" Alise peeked over my shoulder with a smirk.
"My name is Mike Schmidt," I said with a tired sigh, at this rate, I was sure that I was going to get gray hair and these gray hairs wouldn't be due to old age.
"No" Alise chanted adding the "p" at the end "Scmitd is very hard to pronounce and Mike is not such a funny name. And Mikey is, so that will stick" she laughed childishly to herself.
"Please don't" I gave him an awkward smile while sweating comically. She hadn't even made the effort to pronounce my last name correctly. Also, names are not supposed to be funny or they will make you laugh.
I wouldn't admit it out loud, but Alise's enthusiasm and positivity were kind of nice and refreshing. A nice change of pace in the depressing life I have.
"Aaahhh" Lyra gave a dramatic sigh, "I think you should give it up. Alise isn't going to stop so you better get used to it. Mikey" Lyra gave him a sly grin full of teasing. (At least I'm not a dwarf. I wanted to say, but I better keep it to myself.) "And even though you already know our names. Since I haven't introduced myself I will, so you better not forget. My name the Lyra, A member of the Astrea Familia and a level 2 adventurer. I will also be Finn's future wife."
"Idiot. Finn hasn't accepted your proposal yet. Poor man" Kaguya shook her head looking amused.
"Meh" Lyra waved her hand dismissively "He'll accept it's a matter of time"
Kaguya looked at her blankly but didn't comment, instead turning to me with a mischievous smile. "Goujono Kaguya vice-captain of the Astrea Familia and a level 3 adventurer. I hope we can see each other very often my good sir" Kaguya cheekily licked her lips causing me to blush in implication.
Lion, who until now has been quiet, mostly since she was handcuffing the captured criminals and making sure they don't wake up. She looked me straight in the eyes and nodded and I could see her mask wrinkled into a smile "Ryuu Lion, a member of the Astrea Familia and a level 3 adventurer. It's good to see a fellow justice"
The four girls looked at me expectantly with different smiles (although I can't tell what kind of smile Ryuu's was due to her mask.) It took me about 30 seconds to figure out what they wanted. These women were blessed people and the criminals were also blessed by malevolent gods or idiots who didn't care about good and evil. So it is natural that they think that I am also blessed.
But the problem, in this case, is that I was not a blessed person like them. And even though I wasn't an ordinary person, I couldn't tell them that. So my only option here is to say something that wouldn't raise too many questions about my nature. Especially because they felt my AGONY. Something I didn't feel comfortable sharing.
"Well, I'm not in a Familia" I began carefully. From what I understood of the concept of Familia thanks to the manner and tone of their introductions, it is a group of people together who receive the blessing of a certain god. In their case it is Astrea "I came to Orario for certain circumstances" Luckily for me, Alise mentioned the name of the city in her chatter. The circumstances of why I came to this place were not clear to me. But I had a suspicion that it has to do with the only tall tower in this place. "I don't know Orario's culture very well due to my isolation, so I ended up getting lost" I had already made the mistake of revealing my ignorance, but I couldn't do anything but move on.
Lyra gave me a skeptical look. "Aren't you in a Familia? Are you sure you don't have a blessing?" Lyra, seeing my face, just sighed in disbelief "Of course, you're not in any Familia. You didn't even know that gods existed"
Ryuu blinked before narrowing her eyes suspiciously at me. "So you faced these criminals without a god's blessing? That...is something I can't fully believe. I can tell that this dumb..." Ryuu gave him a not-very-strong kick the criminal leader as if it were kicking garbage. "He is an adventurer that many level 1s would have difficulty fighting, if not impossible"
I raised my hands defensively "Yeah maybe I didn't think very well about that part. I acted rashly. But I wasn't completely helpless."
"Oh~. I can tell you're about to say something interesting Mikey" Alise's eyes sparkled with excitement "You will tell us how you were a brave knight and persevered through justice and will" She smiled broadly.
"Oh no. Nothing that incredible. I just held on until you guys saved me" I chuckled.
"Ah even though that sounded pathetic and you made me lose my emotion" Lyra crossed her arms rolling her eyes "It took us about three minutes to get there. Enough time for these adventurers to have killed you"
Kaguya rested a hand on her chin. "Not to mention that you managed to hurt the minions. And if what you say is true, then for someone without falna it's pretty impressive. Now I'm much more curious about you... Mike" Kaguya spoke and at the end, I pronounce my name slowly and seductively.
God this girl wants to give me a boner? Now that I thought about it, I didn't remember if I had ever had one in my life. But if I looked back and remember everything that happened to me. Then it would be too obvious that I didn't have any and in the 80's when I was a teenager and I was beginning to understand those issues. There were no such things as adult videos or smartphones. And never pick up an adult magazine. If William were to find me with the one I was sure he would have thrown me in the trash with everything and a magazine.
I shook my head to put those thoughts away. There was no point overthinking it. Now I needed to say something that wouldn't leave me looking suspicious. "The reason I managed to hurt him and hold him until you girls got here is something I won't tell you. It's a personal secret and we only just met." I went straight for the brutal honesty.
I could tell that they were good people. But that didn't mean I was going to tell them about my life or tell them the secrets that awaited me.
Alise was the first to be disappointed, pouting. "Come on Mikey~. No, leave us curious. You don't want this beautiful and pure maiden to be sad right?"
Ryuu stopped Alise who was making a look that puppy kicked "It's not good for us to meddle in people's business Alise." She hit her to make her stop. "I'm sorry about my friend. Schmidt, she may be curious, but she assures you that she means well." Ryuu bowed apologetically.
Kaguya sighed, shaking her head in loving exasperation "That's our captain for you." Kaguya looked me square in the eye. "I guess we'll take your word for it then, Mike. You don't seem like a person who wants to hurt others and I can see kindness in you, so we won't press the issue."
Lyra nodded "It wouldn't be very fair if we demanded someone who saved a child's life at the cost of risking his own even without a blessing"
Alise put both hands on her hip "Besides, we are a fair and caring Familia. So it's natural for us to let some events slide. Unless it puts the integrity or safety of the population" Alise then gave me a grateful smile and a look full of kindness. "Thank you for helping us. If you need any help from the Astrea Familia, please know that you can count on our support. Mike"
I didn't know how to feel about the girls' behavior. Despite my rejection of them, they were not offended and although their curiosity remained, I was sure that they were not going to interfere. So for that, I could say I was grateful.
I had forgotten how good it felt to talk to other people. Being an embittered spirit with the sole objective of stopping my father and freeing souls. I had made myself forget how nice it was to talk to other humans and other races. Now that I thought about it I didn't know what race Lyra was. But I wasn't going to ask out of embarrassment.
As I still needed to get out of this place that seems like a maze. To at least seek refuge somewhere where I can't easily get lost and which is close to the tower or at least close to the path that leads to the high tower. So I might as well ask for some help.
"Now that you mention it. Is there a place where I can get information about Orario? And help newcomers?"
The four girls looked at each other before Kaguya answers.
"You can get help with the information in the Guild and depending on the reasons you came to Orario you may have a permanent residence. So you should probably head there. But since you are new I can accompany you there if you want good sir" Kaguya looks to the Northeast, where I assumed the Guild was located.
Lyra sighed "There is still work to finish so Kaguya will be the only one accompanying you." Lyra looks at the unconscious criminals with a frown before making an annoyed snort.
Alise nodded wisely "That's right. As allies of justice, we have to finish our work. And I still have to brighten the day of many people with my perfection and purity"
I nodded, fully understanding how important the job was. Although working in a city police force is very different from what a security guard does at a restaurant. Especially since the night watch job I took was not normal at all, since I had to survive vengeful spirits. I was able to understand the importance of taking work seriously.
"I understand. And thanks for saving me without you intervening. I'm not sure what would have happened if the fight had gone on." I gently bow to myself as the Japanese do. Though I wasn't sure if I did it right. Since I tried to imitate what they did when they thanked me.
Ryuu shook her head, smiling under her mask "We are the ones who are grateful to you. So don't try to minimize your actions. I would still recommend joining a Familia before attempting something reckless again, even if you have a method of defending yourself."
Alise gave a dramatic sigh "Yes and we still don't know how you were able to defend yourself" she grumbled childishly before giving me a serious look "I would recommend caution. Especially in this time of high crime. Many people have been hurt by an organization called Evilus. So if you come across them, act with extreme caution and caution. You can notify us immediately or the Ganesha Familia so they can take care of them" She gave a 180-degree turn and smiled again optimistically. "So take care Mikey~, I hope we meet again in a better situation"
Lyra put on her naturally cunning smile again. "See ya, big guy." She placed two of her fingers on her forehead in greeting and flicked them forward. Ryuu didn't say anything instead he nodded in appreciation in my direction.
Three of the four girls from the Astrea Familia left faster than I could keep up with the three criminals in tow. Alise's words were still on my mind, so I felt wary of the seriousness with which that optimistic girl's words were said.
Whoever Evilus was I didn't swallow a good feeling. My ghostly instincts resounded throughout my Soul. So I would have to take her warning very seriously. Not for nothing had I prevented the vengeful spirits from tearing my Undead body to pieces. And the only time I'd ignored my human instinct was before I died. When the Baby Circus which imprisoned my sister's soul had tricked me and then murdered me in cold blood.
Once they left, Kaguya and I walked at a slow pace in the direction of what I thought was the Guild.
"You know. Since you don't have a Familia. I would have invited you to the one I'm in, good sir" Kaguya commented starting a conversation while we walked. "I'm sure you'd be a good addition and the goddess wouldn't mind if we explained your situation properly. But there are eight other people besides the four of us and we're all girls so some of them wouldn't react well. And though none of them have dislike by men would feel uncomfortable with the presence of a man in the Familia." She explained.
"Though I appreciate your concern. You don't have to worry, I'm sure I'll figure it out." I looked up into the clouds "I always do..." I muttered with slight bitterness before shaking my head "Anyway what is this Evilus? I have to be careful of"
Kaguya frowned and narrowed her eyes making her look menacing. Luckily the expressive gestures of the girl were not directed toward me. "They are disgusting beings who enjoy the suffering of others, supported by equally disgusting gods. We don't know what they are after. Apart from destroying all of Orario and slaughtering people just for fun" she expressed her disgust for the organization.
Hearing the frown I clenched my teeth and my hands forming them into fists. An organization specialized in harming and hurting people? That sounded very bad. Because of Kaguya's hateful way of expressing herself and the warning that Alise gave me. This Terrorist Organization was very active in Orario. Besides the leader of the criminals I faced recently, he didn't seem like someone inexperienced and I remembered that he invited me to join his criminal group. So it could be that that criminal worked for Evilus.
If I was right then why would an organization be busy kidnapping children? What evil goals or plans do they have for such helpless people? No child should be victimized by disgusting and disgusting people. I was most infuriated by this situation reminded me of William and Elliot.
Whatever this stupid organization is up to, I was going to stop them. I felt had an obligation to stop them. My guilty conscience would not allow me to turn a blind eye to this situation.
What gave me a lot of chills and fear, is that in children, the Remnant was much more prominent than in adults. God forbid, and that terrorist organization discovers the Remnant.
Nobody wants a repeat of Poppy playtime. And although fortunately for my peace of mind. The creation of such sentient and intelligent toys (to the point that those are made of literal meat) cannot be made entirely possible without the combination of Remnant and the special poppy flower (which had properties similar to AGONY for unknown reasons). I didn't want to find out what would happen if they found out about the Remnant or AGONY.
When I found out what happened in Poppy playtime I was horrified, but most of all my vengeful soul screamed with unbridled murderous rage. Elliot Ludwing was one of the most disgusting human beings that have existed in humanity. He was way above William in terms of cruelty. He was another psycho obsessed with immortality. An imbecile who said that he was going to revolutionize humanity and that he would make humans reach the ultimate evolution.
Although it was never known what happened to him. I have a suspicion that the vengeful spirits inside the toys had something to do with it.
The vengeful spirits of the Poppy Playtime toys were the hardest to release. Especially for that damn doll that somehow got the help of experiment 1006.
To defeat them it took four experienced people who dealt with the supernatural. Mary Schmidt who had faced vengeful spirits before I was born and her daughter Marylin Schmidt, Edgar the former employee of Poppy Playtime defeated all the toys that were in the abandoned factory except the aforementioned. And I was a useless boy who, unlike them, had died in his first confrontation with vengeful spirits and it was only thanks to the Funtime Remnant that I survived.
And while Poppy wasn't much of a threat, she was very cunning. That's not to mention that experiment 1006 was a pain in the ass, especially considering that that toy used several of the most effective parts of the toys that Edgar destroyed.
I shook my head away from the depressing and frustrating thoughts "I see. I'm not too sure since I don't know much about Orario or his situation. But I think the people they captured talked about being involved with an organization. So that may be this Evilus." I commented to Kaguya.
Kaguya looked at me for a few moments before nodding. "Then, we will take this information into account. Mike" then she gave me a flirtatious and curious look "Now that we are alone, my good sir, would you like a snack while we head to the Guild? Take it as a token of thanks"
I thought about it for a few moments. I haven't eaten for over 40 years, because I couldn't do without my stomach. Although that did not take away my desire to cook to improve (the food that I always made was given to orphans or animals on the streets), I felt that I was not mentally prepared to eat again. But I can't go without food, not if my new, living body was any indication. So it would be nice to get the food and eat it when no one was watching me. In case of suffering a vomiting attack.
I shuddered, Ennard had made a mess of my mind, mostly because I still remembered the sensations of having him inside me and then the horrible feeling in my throat, when Ennard was forced out of my body through my mouth.
So you would have to be half honest. "I'm not hungry right now. But if you still want to buy me food to eat later, then... I won't turn it down."
Kaguya smiled widely. "I'll take it. It's better than nothing, plus we spend more time together" Kaguya smirked elegantly with a hand on her face enjoying my embarrassment "And it will also serve as a tour for you, so take advantage of every moment. Fufufu"
I could only giggle as I felt my cheeks heat up. I was not going to turn down the invitation of a beautiful woman. And this girl was a daring oriental so I wouldn't know whether to say I'm lucky or completely unlucky. But something told me that I had both.
We were walking for a while without any conversation. But mostly with Kaguya introducing some places in Orario, with her explaining as a tourist guide. The path was very long, and I was curious about some things such as the high tower. Which I now know is called Babel.
Babel was the same size as the rest of the buildings. But it was destroyed by the gods when they came down to the nether world. Gekai... That's the name of the planet I was on, unlike my world where it's called Earth. And, the sky, or where the gods live is called Tenkai.
The gods then built Babel to prevent the monsters inside the dungeon or dungeon from escaping. Yep...literal monsters created by the dungeon to kill all who navigated within it. And the dungeon was alive and hated any existence that entered the dungeon. Especially the gods that's why they weren't allowed to enter the dungeon. Since the thing would do its best to kill them, unleashing the irregular monsters. Which are much stronger than normal monsters.
I don't know how to feel about everything she told me. But I was no longer surprised. I mean. The gods came down to the normal world, so it wasn't surprising that monsters exist. So I wouldn't be surprised if magic exists.
Despite everything and how dangerous it sounded, I was in the dungeon. I couldn't help but be curious as to how alive the dungeon was. From the description Kaguya gave me, the dungeon's operation was similar to how a human's immune system worked. When an adventurer enters the dungeon. This considers us as a pathogen and acts as a defense by sending the white blood cells or monsters in the case of the dungeon.
Also, Kaguya warned me to be careful with some gods because most of us are just toys for their entertainment. And that he chose carefully which Familia I would join, since most of them, despite seeming harmless, can take advantage and force people who have caught their attention.
So I had to be cautious and evaluate very carefully which god I am going to join. The gods in this dark age occupied more adventurers. Since many did not become adventurers for fear of Evilus. And if I choose a bad god they can treat me like cannon fodder or worse use me as a training tool for their sick pleasure. I don't mind being cannon fodder, but I wasn't going to be treated like a toy. Even if the dark voice in my head told me I had it coming.
Despite having several conversations, we barely reached a place where a merchant was selling Japanese-type food. Kaguya bought a food called Okonomiya, Hashimaki style. She was speaking Japanese for a few moments. Which I could only see with a confused look.
But it is supposed to be a dish based on a pancake as a base and added leftover tempura (it was a type of fish) vegetables as a seasoning and fried pork strips on top of everything. The smell that the food gave off was pleasant. Even though she offered to buy one for me I had to politely decline and let her buy the food that I would eat for me later. Since she was an expert in Japanese food.
As we continued walking, Kaguya ate her fish cake with a certain grace and elegance. If it wasn't for how cheeky and shameless she was, one might mistake her for some kind of noble or princess. We were both in a comfortable silence that neither bothered to answer, even after she finished eating.
We had both plunged into our thoughts. Though I could feel the adjacent concern that Kaguya was projecting. But I don't say anything, deciding to respect her privacy. It took another long time until we reached the main building of the Guild, which is called the Pantheon.
"This is the guild. I would recommend joining a family though. Since to register as an adventurer you need to belong to a Family. Only people registered in the guild can exchange their magic crystals and dropped items for monsters you get in the dungeon for Valis" Kaguya explained as we stopped at a large building.
Valis was the currency used in Orario. The food Kaguya bought for herself cost 45 Valis per pancake. And the food that I bought cost 50 Valis. Because I did not have a frame of reference I did not know if it was cheap or expensive and since I never traveled to other countries and did not check the value of the currencies of the other countries. It meant that it was going to take time to get used to the normal values for selling items and food in Orario. I just hoped they didn't rip me off.
As far as I knew, the Guild was the only place where magic stones could be exchanged for Valis legally. Trading elsewhere within Orario was illegal. Also, Kaguya mentioned something about a resting floor in the dungeon where he could change them. But I wasn't strong enough to get there because was on the 18th floor. Besides, even if I could get there I would be seriously ripped off, not to mention how dangerous it was to go there with Evilus around.
So joining a Family and registering with the Guild would be my next goal. Then enter the dungeon and become stronger if I want to stop what Evilus is plotting with those children.
Nodding with grim determination (which I could feel echoing through my entire soul) before turning to Kaguya, "Seriously thanks for everything. I guess we're even with this. But if you need any help don't hesitate to ask me. I'll do my best." I can" I said to Kaguya.
Kaguya looked at me impressed before nodding "You too. If you need help, don't hesitate to call me or someone from my Familia" Kaguya looked at the sky that was starting to darken "See you soon. I hope we meet again my good sir " She bowed briefly and gave me a sweet smile.
I returned the smile. And I said goodbye to her "See you soon... Kaguya" I decided to use her name since she had insisted while we were walking and I called her by her last name.
Kaguya winked at me before it disappeared in a brief blink. I just snorted still in disbelief at the speed people could get just by being blessed by a god. I was sure she did it on purpose to impress me.
I wasn't going to admit that she certainly impressed me.
Then I sighed looking at the building in front of me, narrowing my eyes at it. I clenched my fist as I resigned myself to being in the world of the living. I know Evilus is not my responsibility, but... maybe... just maybe... I could cleanse my sins if I stopped this organization.
I could feel my SOUL, my AGONY strengthened with my determination. Once again it wouldn't be Mike Schmidt, but instead, I would be the cold and methodical night guard who battled various vengeful spirits.
When I was about to take my first step to find information in the Guild library, a voice interrupted my epic moment.
"The Astrea Familia is someone to look up to despite their naivetés. Don't you think?"
I looked in the direction of the voice surprised by the new person who was approaching me. Since I was not emitting any malicious intent toward myself, my instincts did not act accordingly. But I made a mental note to pay more attention to my surroundings.
"I think the world has a lot of pessimism, so it's always good to see people trying to keep the world happy and optimistic despite how cruel life can be" I commented to the person who gave off a different aura to most people. I detected three types of this same energy on my walk with Kaguya from what I knew it was. "What do you want?... goddess" I went straight to the point analyzing the goddess that was in front of me.
The beauty of the goddess was very impressive. The skin of a pale white color, her skin appeared smooth without any wrinkles, or blemishes to the point of looking unnatural. Her eyes were a blood-red color that matched her red attire perfectly. And to add to her her hair was a raven color she seemed to stand out even more thanks to the brightness of the lights, not to mention that it complemented her red eyes well.
Her body was also perfect. The perfect size of breasts that a man would want. Not that big, but enough to fully play with both hands. Her waist, her buttocks, her thighs, and her legs were not far behind. It was the definition of absolute beauty.
The beauty of this goddess far surpassed the most beautiful woman on earth.
"Eh... Direct and concise. You know, most men would have shown more respect to a goddess like me. But you are different from all the men who have fawned over me. Even though you are drowning in darkness, you don't seem to give up." defeated no matter what the world throws at you. I can see it in your eyes." The goddess narrowed her eyes, studying me with an amazing curiosity she wants to quench.
I frowned at the precision of her words. I felt as if this goddess was looking into my very soul. "I have no idea what you're talking about"
The goddess smiled amused "You know that a mortal can't lie to a god right? But it's okay I won't comment if you don't feel like it. After all, I'm interested in you, mister Ghost" The goddess's eyes shone with intrigue.
My lips pursed into a thin line and my purple eyes gave off a dangerous glint.
The goddess raised her hands to appease me "Now... Now, Mr. Ghost. I'm not here to bother you. Surely you're thinking about how I know what you are, right?"
I didn't move for a few seconds, but after thinking it over carefully I nodded stiffly. "I guess" my voice came out in a hoarse whisper.
The goddess gave me a smug smile. "Well, then I'll oblige you mortal. Since you're the only one who's caught my eye in decades." Despite her conceit, she praised me. "The reason I know what you represent is that you emit the same energy that a soul emits once it...well it perishes" The goddess's eyes clouded briefly, disappearing as quickly as she came "Maybe many gods don't fully recognize the energy. But I would recognize that kind of energy after all I was in contact with a lot of it in my time in Tenkai"
My eyes widened, understanding what she meant. "May I have your name dear goddess?" I asked with a tilted head, this goddess has completely won over my curiosity.
The goddess smiled haughtily "Rejoice mortal. For you are in front of the Goddess Persephone. Queen of the underworld and the secrets of the underworld." Then she pointed at me, and my soul trembled with intrigue and joy. "And you will be the first member to join my Familia."
She has the confidence to utter such a bold statement. And even though Kaguya warned me about exactly this. I didn't feel any malicious or ulterior motive. She simply has a curiosity that wants to be satisfied and it was integrated by my presence or rather my existence. For her to meet someone like me in Gekai, it must be extremely rare or it may be a unique case.
Despite his offer, I couldn't help but be curious about something else "You know I thought that a beautiful goddess like you would already have several members in your Familia."
The goddess now known as Persephone snorted scornfully, "I never found a mortal worth making a Familia for. And though many men and women wanted to receive my blessing, none of them were worth it." The goddess looked at me and smiled excitedly "That is until I found you"
I gave her an amused smile and raised an intriguing eyebrow. "I guess I should be flattered."
Persephone crossed her arms behind her breasts lifting them. "No, you shouldn't... you should be flattered mister ghost or should I say... Mike"
"You know you're making me think you're a stalker," I said with amusement.
Persephone made a dismissive gesture. "I would never lower myself to such a level. I was around when you started releasing such a beautiful aura. Such a corrupted and malicious aura is used for the sake of protection. Something that I respect a lot... just by looking at you I can tell that you're new. I've been in Orario for several decades, I know most of the inhabitants and someone like you would certainly remember it. From what I thought you would look for information and since you met some of the girls from the Astrea Familia, I deduced that they would take the Guild out of all the places in Orario. So I went ahead of you and once I got there, I just had to wait for them."
"I see…" I was impressed by her deduction, but I guessed that it was pure logic that the Astrea Familia that works as the police force in Orario would take me to look for information in the Guild. Since they are mutually collaborating with the Guild along with the Ganesha Familia. "Very well. I will be the first member of your Familia and I will receive your blessing. But I have some conditions" I told him firmly without accepting any refusal.
Persephone hummed in agreement. "Very good. That's fair."
"First I will be the one to decide, who are the people who join our Family. And if you find another person who is interesting to you, they have to get my approval to join. Also, I don't want anyone to know my true nature unless I agree that the person knows it. And lastly, I don't want you to insist on my personal life" I told her my three conditions to accept joining her Familia.
Persephone sighed "Very well. I promise to fulfill your conditions. But even if I won't reveal you're true nature, I still want to show off you to other gods" The goddess smiled mischievously for a few seconds before smiling much more normally "I want to erase the smile of some conceited gods "
I shrugged accepting "Meh. I guess I don't mind you showing me off as long as you know what you're doing and don't reveal my true nature, then I don't have a problem with that."
Persephone smirked and delighted. "Wonderful. We should go to my home so we can have some privacy, plus we're already drawing a lot of attention in this place."
I looked around and the goddess Persephone was right. We were sticking out like a sore thumb, I could hear the whispers of the people watching us. I then looked at the goddess and nodded "Very well. Lead the way, goddess Persephone"
Persephone smiled before turning her back on me and starting to walk, turning briefly to look over the man at me. "Only Persephone is fine. Mike... I can tell you will do great things in Orario" She turned away from her and started walking to her home (ours?) after giving me a cryptic look.
I gave her a curious look before starting to follow her. It didn't take long to get to a small house, but it would satisfy people who live alone.
The goddess Persephone opened the door "It's not a very big and luxurious house compared to the bigger Familias in Orario. But I have all the essentials for survival and this is comfortable enough for most mortals. Fortunately for you, I have a room for guests, but it was never used so you can keep it as your room."
I nodded in agreement, according to Kaguya the Familias act like a Family to a certain extent. So it is natural that the Gods and their members blessed by their grace live in the same house. Although I believed that was not always the case. I was not going to pass up a place to stay. I would rather live with a stranger than sleep on the street.
It would be like a roommate from a private school or certain departments.
"By the way, Persephone, where do I put this?" I picked up the bag of food Kaguya bought me, which must have gotten cold.
"The kitchen is in that room" Persephone pointed to one of the rooms in her home "You can put them on the dining room table and once you're done. Visit my room I'll give you my blessing."
I gave a thumbs up as I watched Persephone walk into what I deduced was her room. Once the goddess was out of sight I couldn't help but sigh.
I guess this will be my new life. I wondered grimly how long it would take for things to go wrong again. With those dark thoughts, I head towards the dining room and kitchen of my new home.
Persephone found the presence of Mike Schmidt very intriguing... When she detected the malicious aura that was given off in the Daedalus. At first, she thought it was Evilus, but then after fully analyzing the unknown being's aura, she was shocked because despite the raw negative emotions it gave off. The intentions displayed by those same negative emotions were not malicious, but rather warm. A clear contradiction.
The very contradiction of that aura was something very beautiful that left her stunned and impressed. And when she discovered that a mortal gave off those intentions, she left her even more amazed. So it was natural for a queen of the underworld to take an interest in a mortal who gave off the same feeling as the souls that perished in the mortal realm and ended up in the underworld before the soul was cleansed of all history, then used the cleansed soul to the reincarnation process.
Persephone with great interest, curiosity, and integrity, watched Mike as he talked to the naive girls from the Astrea Familia. And once she was satisfied she made a plan to have him as the first member of her Familia. Her instinct as queen of the underworld told her that Mike was going to be one of the most important people in the future dark events that were coming to Orario. So helping a mortal with great potential was the best option for her. And she wanted to show off her new child to the other gods and mock them for missing out on a chance to obtain a valuable person.
And though she admitted that part of the reason she invited Mike into her Familia, was that she turned away many people. It wasn't entirely because of the contradictory aura about him. What completely convinced Mike to be the first worthy member of her Family were his eyes.
Unnatural purple eyes that shouldn't be possible in a mortal. Mike's eyes showed that he had seen the darker side of mortals. Darkness is so deep and vicious that it scarred him. Even though his eyes emitted kindness, kindness, and warmth. She could also feel the dark experience, the coldness, cunning, and some sense of indifference.
Persephone wasn't sure what Mike had to go through to get those eyes. But it was something that captivated her completely, besides she couldn't deny that Mike was someone physically attractive and quite tall for a person. Not to mention his strange accent that gives it a certain exciting charm.
Mike despite the feeling of naivety that he emits on occasion. He was far from true. Persephone was sure the reason why Mike didn't question her when she told him to accompany her to her home, was because he could read all her intentions towards him. A terrifying and interesting skill. That can only be obtained through certain experiences in life.
An interesting mortal.
Mike interrupted the room after he knocked on the door and politely asked her permission.
Persephone looked at Mike with a raised eyebrow. She sighed before telling him to come in when she saw that he wouldn't enter without her permission.
Mike coughed uncomfortably into a fist in his mouth. "So…how do we do this blessing thing?" He asked nervously. "Do we have to do some kind of ritual or make an offering or...?" He twisted his wrist in her direction. A gesture to tell her to confirm.
Persephone just laughed at the comment. She before giving Mike a fake shy smile "Okay. For that, you'll have to undress so I can give you the blessing."
Mike's nervousness was gone completely and gave way to a tense silence. He didn't take the comment well, but it was for a different reason than what she thought.
Persephone was flustered for causing her new member discomfort and quickly clarified "It just has to be your shirt. I need to put some of my blood on your back so I can give my blessing to you." She noticed that Mike's eyes were looking at the floor with an unfocused look and he was holding one of his hands on his stomach. Persephone was uncomfortable with the situation, her voice clarified, capturing the attention of her new member again before calling him softly. "Eh... Mike?"
Mike shook his head. "Excuse me. I was thinking about something. I'm sorry I worried you. So I'll take my shirt off quickly so we can get this over with."
Persephone despite not detecting any lies. She could tell that the new member of him remembered something that bothered him. She did not comment on it because it was one of the agreements that she made with him. If Mike wanted to talk about it then she would listen to him. But if not then she wouldn't meddle despite her curiosity.
Persephone watched as Mike removed his tie, then stripped off his vest and smart suit until he was bare to the waist.
Mike looked down at himself looking surprised and stunned before he breathed a sigh of relief. Mike felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders as he saw that all the scars and ugly seams that had been on his previous rotting body were gone.
Persephone smirked at the sight of Mike's bare chest. He had perfectly proportioned musculature throughout his entire body, biceps, shoulders, arms, and forearms, and even had a great eight-pack on his abdomen. Persephone has already found handsome men, but Mike has an appeal that no other man can have.
Persephone motioned for him to lie down on her bed and Mike quickly complied. She took a small knife and climbed on Mike's back. He was quite tall compared to her. She then cut herself on her pointed finger before dropping drops of her divine blood onto Mike Schmidt's back.
Mike shuddered at the sensation but didn't move as the goddess completed her work quickly. It isn't long before a great warmth seeps into Mike's soul, like a warm blanket before fading away.
Persephone watched as Mike's back emitted a blinding light before disappearing as her blessing was complete. She could feel the new connection she had with the first member of her Familia.
The feeling that Mike's connection gave was not as the other gods described it, but since she only has one member, then she couldn't compare it so she will have to wait until someone else joins her Familia. She for the moment was satisfied with the only worthy member of her new Familia.
Persephone began to transcribe Mike's Status and when she looked at his Status. Her eyes widened in disbelief and astonishment.
=======================
Michael Afton
Race: Vengeful ghost.
Familia: Persephone.
Level 1.
Strength: I0
Endurance: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
AGONY: S
Skills:
Grim Determination: Exponentially increases the amount of exile gain. The effects of the increase will be based on strong negative feelings or the fulfillment of any goal of the user. The user becomes immune to mental effects and curse-based magic.
Cursed Body: Denies the soul leaving the user's container. When the container is damaged and enters a critical situation, the regeneration capacity increases, and its healing abilities will be affected by the amount of AGONY of the user. Damage caused by fire causes triple affliction to the user's container. The soul inside the user's container can be destroyed by excessively high temperatures.
Gravitational Control: The user can control the center of gravity of the body. The amount of AGONIA increases the strength of the effect. Causes serious internal injuries from overuse.
Curses:
Remnant: The user can resurrect any living being. At the cost of a part of the user's soul. Resurrected users gain the effects of Cursed Body and the ability to use AGONIA momentarily.
"Your soul is mine. My soul is yours. Let the hate flow into your body, Let the sadness out of your body. Rise and cause grief to the people who tormented you"
Persephone shook her head in shock. Before her joy and pride took over. Persephone looked at Michael Afton aka Mike Schmidt (she would have to have a reason to change his name because she didn't detect any lies when he introduced himself ) with childlike wonder and she couldn't help but let her lips twist into a smile of triumph.
She had hit the jackpot.
Such an interesting mortal... Indeed.
.
.
Information was given by the author:
Michael Afton: in his adolescence he was someone embittered by the unfair treatment of his parents, coming to feel envious of his brothers. Even though he was an intelligent person, he did not try at all, preferring to get bad grades on purpose to annoy his parents. After his sister's disappearance, he became more aggressive towards his little brother due to all the stress caused. After Michael accidentally murdered his brother. He got trauma and fell into a deep depression, two months later he found his mother hanging in the bathroom with a noose on her body. The suicide of his mother only affected Michael mentally and the death of his best friend Charlotte only made it worse.
His father William abandoned Michael at age 16, leaving him to fend for himself. Michael in the time of his solitude became more mature and changed his behavior to a helpful and kind one. He died at the age of 18 after his father sent him into a trap where his sister turned vengeful spirit would murder him. But his soul filled with rancor refused to leave his body.
Michael hates being compared to his father and hates the last name, Afton. To the point that he grew his hair to differentiate himself from his father and changed his last name. He measures 192 centimeters becoming quite tall. His soul was trapped in his corpse for 40 years as he dedicated himself to freeing any soul trapped in inanimate objects until they found peace.
Despite the time, he still regrets what he did to his brother to the point of thinking that his sins cannot be cleaned. When Michael confronts spirits he undergoes a radical personality change, going so far as to be spiteful towards some vengeful spirits.
Persephone: She is a goddess who came down to the Gekai world several decades ago because she was bored with her work in the underworld. At first, she thought of forming a Familia since her arrival, but she was quickly disappointed by the behavior of mortals, she is a goddess very loved, especially by men. But she always refused any advance or any attempt for "uninteresting and useless fame seekers" to receive grace from her. Thinking that it would be a waste to bless people who did not have a future.
She is arrogant due to her cunning and intelligence, but she can easily admit when it's time to back off. She cares for mortals, even if her behavior disappoints her. She is not afraid to speak her mind and she can easily detect people's moods. So she avoids most of her conversations from becoming awkward. But when she messes up she can get nervous.
Astrea Family:
Age of main members.
Ryuu Lion: 13 years old, Alise Lovell: 15 years old, Gojouno Kaguya: 16 years old, Lyra: 15 years old.
