"…Damn it, what are they doing?"
Alice was nervously pacing back and forth in front of Tamamo's installation. While the kitsune had told her that they could start without them, Alice considered that it was basic courtesy to at least wait for everyone.
An intrusive thought even told her that it was actually yet another test from her mentor to measure her patience and manners, one she would dearly pay if she failed.
In truth, however, she was just worried. Tamamo and Micaela had been shaken by the representation of Morrigan in the game and had decided to check if the real deal was going to be free any time soon.
A part of her wanted to go check on them, but she didn't want to betray their trust. Besides, if what they said was true, she was at risk of being a load in a fight that she couldn't handle. Even worse, Alma Elma had somehow found a way to make herself impossible to reach at a time where she was needed. She sighed again when she felt Luka's hand on her shoulder again.
"Don't worry Alice… I'm sure that they're alright."
"Mmh. I don't doubt them." Alice softly smiled. "I only wished they were here so that we could get started. I'm sure they're doing fine and are just taking a bit more time to ensure that we won't suffer any issue with those Lilith Sisters whatsoever, but..." Alice wanted to tell Luka how she was concerned for the life of her surrogate mother when the latter took risk, but refrained herself if only because Tamamo would tease her about it afterward. Then her brain guilt tripped her as she remembered that no one really helped Luka after his mother was dead. "Don't mind me. I just hope we won't have to face a new threat."
Granberia and Erubetie nodded in agreement. As the confidence boost from Alice's little speech waned off, she decided that she could as well use a spell to check on them. There wouldn't be any harm in doing so, would there?
She didn't have the time to start her spell that she felt a discharge of energy close to her. The air was instantly filled with a black, acrid smoke that was just as quickly dissipated by a gust of wind to reveal the soot-covered silhouettes of Tamamo, Micaela and Alma Elma. Alice couldn't decipher their expressions under the black layer of grime covering them, but she could feel the simply murderous aura coming from them.
"…Did it go well?"
Alma Elma raised a finger. "One moment please." Alice grimaced when she saw the massive tail of the Succubus Queen bulge in an attempt to spit something stuck inside. Alma Elma herself groaned in apparent pain.
"Come on, I don't say that often but you have to get out of me before I kill you!"
Alice and Luka looked at one another in confusion, then at Alma Elma again as Tamamo and Micaela were helping her force out whatever was stuck in her tail. A gooey mess came out before waddling away at high speed in a ridiculous strut.
"Oh no, don't even think you can run away!"
Alice barely had the time to recognize Amira that Micaela tackled the unfortunate lamia with a violence that surprised her. Amira cried out in a desperate death rattle that echoes through the whole continent of Hellgondo.
"Help me! Help meeeeeeeee! I'm the unjustified victim of an ungrateful persecution at the hands of a dictatorial authorityyyyyy!"
"Consider that the lesser of the two evils you can suffer today!"
"Can I get to know what happened?"
"She did-"
"My dear hero! I-"
"That idiot-"
"I was doing-"
Even Alice's superior senses couldn't decipher anything in the sheer mess of people talking over one another. A quick look on her side confirmed her that Luka and her other subordinates were just as dumbfounded as she was. She politely tried calling out to each person until she could no longer hold herself back. A sudden flash flood erupted and tossed the group back, incidentally cleaning them. As the quartet slowly got up, each of them utterly drenched, Alice's tone became an authoritative grumble.
"I want a report. A short, synthetic one. From one person. Now."
Tamamo went first. The kitsune glared at Amira with the force of the sun.
"Alma Elma had actually contacted Witch in Succubus Village yesterday to find out if she knew anything about our seal. As it turned out, the Purple Sabbath brought back the wrong succubi because their seal was buried over the one of the Lilith Sisters. Also Succubus Village has this namesake because it's the place where they were sealed."
"Tamamo. No history lesson now. Keep it short."
"I'm coming to it." She sarcastically grinned at Amira, making an unusual effort to fully display her canines to a terrified lamia. "Amira convinced Witch with the absolutely wondrous idea that she could keep on the ritual to harvest energy from men to export to other cities, which already had the expected but somehow unnoticed side effect of making sex less fulfilling for succubi, something that should have been obvious to her and her partner Eva!"
Amira haughtily clicked her tongue. "Tsk! It was only pure business. And besides, I'm not the one who panicked and detonated that energy!" She glared at Micaela. However, she quickly folded when the seraph bore her glare back without flinching in the slightest.
"No. Neither was I. It just went out of control in my very presence because my light reacted with its darkness, something that would have never happened if you knew anything about magic or had any common sense about how storing a huge orb of raw energy in the middle of a living room is a bad idea. Succubus agreed that Eva should have known that, given that the latter is going to be judged for domestic terrorism. Also Amira and her friends are no longer welcome in Succubus Village."
"These are all lies! You wanted to make me look bad and silence me! Or why else would you have tried to devour me without restraints?!"
"If I devoured you without restraints, you would have been turned into boob fight by now. I did that because Succubus explicitly wanted you out of her sight and I had the feeling Micaela and little Tamamo had slightly more definitive solutions in mind."
"I was considering it."
"I was about to do it."
Alice slowly exhaled while she passed her hand over her face. She would also have to present at least some apologies to Succubus later down the road herself.
I'm reigning over idiots.
"R-really?" Luka's mouth was agape.
"No. We just all wanted her to stop her yapping and trying to run around. Alma Elma's tail was the first to catch her, beating Tamamo's seals to the punch."
"Tch!"
Alice groaned again. "Just have servants bring her back to Iliasburg and let's be done with it."
Amira's expression and voice suddenly turned meeker. "…I wish to petition the Monster Lord and ask for a temporary residence in the Monster Lord's Castle until… some troubles get resolved."
"She's in debt to the guild after overspending." Tamamo fanned herself, jaded. "It turns out, she's not as good managing money as she is managing information. Also her latest scheme for quick riches attracted the attention of the security branch of the guild who'll break her legs if they get their hands on her."
"That's… harsh. I feel sorry for Amira. She spent so much time helping us, maybe we should help her Alice?" Luka pleadingly looked up at his wife who relented after a heavy sigh.
"Fine. We accept to host you for a few days. However, if you disregard proper protocol, you will be kicked out. Is that clear?"
"Thank you! I will show myself a good, respectable monster! I will accomplish your very will!"
"Start by keeping silent. Let's find yourself a room."
"Once again, stand you for your august generosity! And you, my hero, let that maiden heart thank you with all of her grace!"
"Amira? Please don't make us regret it."
[…]
An hour later, the aggravated crew sat themselves in their usual seat. Tamamo periodically threw furious glares at Amira.
"Alright, just WHAT did you do to everyone to be refused service?! After what happened with Alice, I thought my handmaiden were above letting petty resentment get in the way of their work, but it's clear people don't have as much goodwill for you as they have for everyone else!"
"…I plead the fifth." Amira timidly looked away.
"…What does that even mean?" Tamamo slowly breathed in and out, angry. "Nevermind. I'm taking today's turn, that will keep me busy from doing something regrettable. Someone explains Amira the gist of the game while I start."
"Awww, we're not waiting for little Rami?"
"She said that she wanted to rest for this one. I suppose Amira will have to fill for the role of the candid idiot."
"Hey! I'll have you know I've followed the hero and been more loyal to him than any of you ever was!" She quickly felt the need to correct herself. "S-save for his marvelous wife, the Monster Lord Alice herself of course."
"Mmh. Let's resume our adventure."
Mermaid: "Oh my, you've woken up? Don't worry, we healed all of your injuries."
Luka: "I guess we survived. Actually, it looks more like we were rescued."
"Oh, right, I had forgotten, we just had been nearly killed by Zion and Morrigan…" Tamamo sighed. "By the way, the seal on the Lilith Sisters is still as strong as ever. The mess woke up Astaroth who was a bit… disoriented seeing me and Micaela together. I asked Witch to keep an eye on it and note every interaction."
"Thank you Tamamo. And you too Alma Elma and Micaela. Sorry for my outburst earlier, it's nice to know some people unconditionally support me."
"Feh! I did support you during your adventures, didn't I?"
Alice didn't deign look at Amira before answering her. "Yes, and you also tried to, and I quote your person, upstage me as the heroine."
Ilias: "To have been saved by monsters... I'm not sure I'll ever live this down."
Erubetie shrugged. "You learn to live with it."
Ilias: "That said, I don't know of a seraph named Zion. She is, without a doubt, an entity from another world. The same mostly goes for that succubus, Morrigan. She has already been killed in this world. Perhaps she came from another reality's past."
"As hindsight is setting in, I wonder just how much Ilias came to believe her own lies?"
"Too much, Tamamo. Just too much."
Ilias: "In any case, we shall eliminate anyone standing in our way, even angels. For them to oppose me is unthinkable."
"Case in point… ten minutes in, and we're already pushing it."
"Ilias is a hypocrite!"
"Mmmh… I think I can make myself a fortune making those if I can make them say…"
"What was that Amira?"
"Nothing. Please ignore me. Kekeke…"
"(Well that's ominous if she's already getting excited on that.)"
Ilias: "Let's go to the theocracy of San Ilia first. […] The people of that country are practically my servants. Naturally, I would not object to any lavish worship and adoration they may heap upon me when I arrive.
Luka: "(Somehow I doubt they'll believe you're their goddess...)"
Alma Elma chuckled. "Who's more reasonable? A Goddess who might be as old as time herself, or one country boy who didn't reach his twenties yet?"
"Alma, please. This isn't fair for Ilias."
"Huuuh, I'm actually... never mind."
Mermaid: "Um, before you go, I have a request. Port Natalia is currently dealing with some mysterious circumstances..."
Ilias: "Luka, please ignore her."
Luka grimaced. "In hindsight, I wondered how she was feeling about just how much time I spent helping monster on the side?"
"Probably angry. Let's find out."
Mermaid: "A mermaid called Meia went to the Undersea Temple on an errand, but completely vanished on her way there. […] Several mermaids went to the Temple to look for Meia, but they all disappeared as well. So far, nearly 20 mermaids have gone missing."
Ilias: "It's just my intuition, but the Undersea Temple sounds suspicious. When one considers that all mermaids who approach it disappear, it practically reeks of villainy."
Even Granberia was caught off-guard by just how obvious the statement of the goddess was. "You don't say?!"
Ilias: "I think the most likely cause is the Queen of the Southern Seas. Perhaps she's finally revealed her true nature as a cruel monster?"
"This is one is for all the people you made disappear out of pettiness."
"Ilias is a hypocrite!"
"Speaking of Meia, I wonder how she's been doing? I didn't see her since the invasion."
"Why, are you missing her for a reason?" The air suddenly turned cold. "Would it because you'd want one of her rewards again?"
Tamamo shook her head while remaining focused on the screen, a mischievous smirk on her face. "The mouth is the source of all disasters."
"Did you pick those words on purpose you sly fox?"
"Ooops."
"(Let's move on to the Southern Sea Temple before another disaster happens... hoping Meia doesn't try rewarding Luka like that again.)"
[…]
The chest was a mimic!
"Did they spread from Ilias Continent?"
"You got it wrong Luka. Mimics originally come from another region altogether."
"Strange… mermaids imprisoned by the Queen of the Southern Sea? I wouldn't imagine her being cruel enough to imprison innocent ones."
Alice snickered. "I don't imagine her even having the mental capacity to keep track of who she imprisons."
"That's rude Alice. But unfortunately not unfounded."
"(Tch. I learn new things every day…)"
"(And if they reach the wrong ears, you will meet the wrong end…)" Alma Elma's tail threateningly caressed Amira. "(Your words aren't as fast as the wind I ride on.)"
"(Ghhhhh…)"
Mermaid: "Meia's the one who imprisoned us and the fishermen!"
Luka: "Whaaaat!?"
Boy: "…"
Luka raised an eyebrow. "Ok… this is getting weird again…"
Tamamo herself froze ever so slightly at the current sight on the screen. "Soooo… why did Promestein gave Meia a harem of young boy? This… is not that I can object to that in good faith given my own past. It's just that… this is really creepy given that she's a mermaid who likely used her blood to keep them young. Which is…" The kitsune started blushing uncontrollably. "I mean… I did enjoy them young and filled with energy but…"
"Tamamo, do you want a shovel to dig yourself deeper or are your tails going to be enough?"
"Sorry everyone, I just realized how wrong I sounded. Why is Erubetie red?"
"…I like them cute too."
Tamamo sighed. Her ears fluttered ever so slightly as she identified a scratching noise that stopped the moment she turned back. Then it resumed when she looked back at the screen, only to stop again when she turned around.
"Are you alright?"
"Sorry, I thought I heard something…" A closer look showed a sheet pointing at the culprit. Tamamo grabbed the paper before its owner could do anything.
"How are you even taking notes Amira?!"
"Feh! The same as you! With a pen!"
"But… but…" Tamamo pointed at Amira. "How do you write with no hands?!"
Amira somehow shrugged.
Alice talked "Tamamo. It doesn't matter. Focus on the game. And make sure you don't accidentally miss something important."
"But…"
"Focus. On. The. Game."
Defeated, Tamamo returned her attention to the current goal that made for Meia.
"(I'll keep an eye on her. At least to make sure that she doesn't try sneaking anything out.)"
"(Thank you Alma.)"
Meia: "Welcome to the Undersea Temple. I'm Meia, Queen of Southern Seas."
Ilias: "The true Queen of Southern Seas should be huge and wriggling, you impostor. Is this some sort of coup?"
Meia: "Eh? I'm not the Queen...? N-no, you must be wrong. I'm Meia, Queen of Southern Seas."
Luka: "Where did you get all these boys from? And where are the fishermen you kidnapped?"
Meia: "These boys are the fishermen you speak of. I wanted them a bit younger..."
Mini: "S-she's a pervert!"
Ilias: "Let's thrash her. Purely to bring her back to sanity, of course."
Erubetie once again looked disappointed in the small Goddess. "Ilias didn't have to say that with a smile… but I guess it's par for the course by now."
Alice grimaced. "She ordered the slaughter of this world with a mad laughter, are you actually surprised that she would ask to beat down a perverted mermaid to the curb? I know I'm going to enjoy it."
"(I wouldn't say it out loud, but so do I…)"
"So much cruelty… is the Monster Lord as cruel as the reports of Ilias said?"
Everyone ignored Amira, leading to a quick and brutal beatdown of Meia on the screen.
Meia: "Uuuh... What was I... Why am I on a throne?"
Ilias: "If you have returned to sanity, I suppose Punishment Time is over... Now, tell us what happened here."
Meia: "It's all coming back to me now... A few months ago, I visited the Temple to deliver my marriage registration papers..."
Meia: "Um, who are you?! Where's the Queen?!"
Astaroth: "The Queen of the Southern Seas is right here. If you want, I'll even give her to you."
Astaroth's eyes shine strangely!
Meia: "I'm... the Queen of the Southern Seas..."
Astaroth: "That's right, you're the Queen. Do as you please. Do as your desires compel you to..."
Meia: "I'm the Queen... Do as I... Desire..."
Astaroth: "This way, we aren't committing Class Three Cross-World Contact. So feel free to go nuts doing whatever it is you want."
"Great… here comes the second-born of the Lilith Sisters." Micaela glared at the screen. "Luka's adventure is in deep trouble if he actually has to deal with her."
"Why, she's that much more powerful? I wouldn't mind facing her in the colosseum."
"No, she's the rational aspect of the Lilith Sisters." Micaela found herself staring at the exposed breasts on the screen for uncomfortably long. "So she wouldn't accidentally destroy Luka's adventure. Emphasis on accidentally."
Tamamo nodded in confirmation. "Morrigan's the one who creates messes. Astaroth is the one who cleans up afterward. Don't be anywhere near her when she gets angry."
"(She's kinda sexy… I better not say that though.)" Luka shifted himself. "Wait, is it me or it's getting cold?"
"Everyone heard your thoughts, Luka."
Luka slowly turned toward Alice to see the Monster Lord looking down at him with a cold rage tempered within the well of patience she had for his remarks.
"(Looks like Luka is in deep trouble here as well…)"
"Tamamo?" Alice's voice sounded surprisingly calm, which made her even more unnerving. "I think you need to teach me about THAT spell if you don't want me to be in the oriental food section of the kitchen next time I get hungry. It would be a shame if the first food I found and ate when angry was all that scrumptious tofu."
"Oooh, boy…" Tamamo's ears flattened on top of her head. "Sorry, Luka, I can't beat an argument like that."
"Don't worry my hero! I'm still loyal to you! I would never fall low enough to threaten you! In fact, join me so that we can escape those vile women together!"
"Amira, if you don't want to get booted from the castle in the middle of Hellgondo, please cut it out with the insults."
"Long live the imperious Monster Lord and her fluffy lieutenant! I am fully dedicated to your cause!"
Luka grimaced and abandoned the current subject. Luckily, Granberia wanted to move forward just as much as him.
"Can we just move on from this mess of perversion please? As surprising as it may sound, some people are interested in the story."
"Huuh, just one last question." Luka timidly raised his finger. "Did Meia make herself a harem of young boys because she was brainwashed to do so or is it just…"
"It is because Astaroth's spell just completely removed her inhibitions. So it's a fifty-fifty situation."
"Ah…"
"Let's check on her in case she has more to say or an extra sweet reward… calm down Alice, I'm not talking about that kind of reward!"
"Grrr…"
Meia: "The weakened state of the Queen of the South Seas is being kept secret. Please, take good care of her."
Dried Squid acquired!
Ilias: "How kind of you to provide us a snack for the road. Let's immediately fry and eat her."
"Mmmh, it's been a while since we got Takoyaki. Can the cooks prepare some for lunch?"
"Sure! Good idea Alice, I'll pass the instruction!"
Erubetie grimaced. "…That's surprisingly tasteless from both of you given that it is currently Kraken."
"Actually she wouldn't mind. When she meets with Poseidoness, they eat parts from each other."
"What."
"Tamamo… are you playing another prank on us?"
The kitsune shook her head negatively. "Go check the Northern Undersea Temple next week if you don't believe me. Alright, let's grab her just in case and close that chapter once and for all."
Mermaid: "We're all really thankful. All of us wish you luck in your adventure."
Meia: "I'm really sorry. Because of me, everyone was terrified..."
Mermaid: "No, you aren't responsible for that. Sexual preferences are your right, as long as they don't "trouble people.
Meia: "I see... My sexual preferences are my right, so I shouldn't be so worried..."
Mermaid: "As long. As they. Don't. Trouble. People."
Luka could compare the effect that dialog had to the exposition released in Enrika. Everyone he looked at barely glanced at him before awkwardly looking back at the screen without a word.
"Let's…" Tamamo gulped, and then announced in a voice that was neither childish nor as energetic as she wanted. "Let's get to San Ilia…"
Melon Girl appears!
"I've never seen any monster like that on my travel." Luka leaned closer, examining the unfamiliar girl.
"You only notice that now?"
"No… it's just that I notice just how many different type of monsters I didn't meet during my trip around the world."
"And so far, save for those apoptosis, all that we've seen do exist. Melon Girls are just quite shy in general. I had felt some watching us from afar when we were travelling in the region."
"(Probably because you would have taken a bite out of them, you gluttonous heartbreaker.)"
"(I would take a bite out of them in the other sense~.)"
"(Good grief Alma Elma…)"
Slime Bess appears!
A blue spear suddenly impaled the screen, stopping everything into an explosion of electrical sparkles that alarmed everyone. Alice and Luka tightly clung to one another while Tamamo reflexively summoned the power of the earth. Behind them, Alma Elma assumed the stance of a martial artist and Granberia tightly grabbed the first thing in her hand while Micaela was using an armchair as a shield.
And at the center of the scene, Erubetie was growing gradually darker as she retracted her arm and melted in a puddle.
"Sorry… I'm absolutely sorry."
"It's okay…" Tamamo's voice trembled slightly as she talked. "We should have seen that one coming. I just thought that we would face her later since… since she didn't do anything before when Ilias attacked."
"Tsk!" Amira clicked her tongue. "If your informant network was remotely half as good as my own, you would have known that Slime Bess was originally wandering the Natalia region before joining Undine's Spring!"
"I. Knew. That. Thanks Amira." Tamamo examined the screen, a slightly murderous aura pouring from the kitsune.
"(You think that she would have learned to keep silent after making a fool so often… you'd be wrong.)"
"(Given how often she helped us, that's harsh, Alice. Remember the Garuda Girl ritual?)"
"(Luka, she built herself several mansions with the money she got from writing about your adventures. Adventures during which she kept trying to attract your pity by saying that she was badly treated even as we kept seeing the obvious.)"
"(…)"
"(I don't say that she's a bad monster. I only say that she's never been as much a victim as she makes herself out to be, and this is why a lot of people don't like her.)"
"(Yeah… I guess my head is still full of sugar and rainbows.)"
"…I'm really sorry Tamamo."
"Don't worry Erubetie, I have another screen like that in stock." Alma Elma and Micaela reassuringly patted the puddle that made for the queen slime. "We'll get back in our adventures toward San Ilia in no time!"
[…]
Luka: "Wow, amazing... So this is San Ilia."
Sonya: "Impressive, right? I've always wanted to pray here at least once."
Luka: "Oh, that's right. Sonya, you're a priest, aren't you."
Sonya: "Why did you say that like you forgot?! Even if I wield a club, I'm a goddamn proper priest of the church first and foremost!"
"I wonder if it will get as awkward as our first visit together?"
"It reminds me I never asked you about what happened there… I only got ridiculous second-hand information about you sending the king in catatonia, Granberia attacking the place and the library being set on fire. I know the second is true, but… what happened?"
"…" Alice awkwardly looked away without answering. Naturally, this only piqued Tamamo's attention, and the kitsune turned with her most severe maternal gaze, the one she usually kept in reserve to force any young'uns up to her lieutenants to confess their misdeeds. The Look was critically effective against Alice who could only bear it for a minute.
"I was getting tired of the king's rambling and shattered the Goddess's sword because it was an overhyped, mediocre weapon."
"Mh. And the library? They never held anything against us, so I suppose they have a share of responsibility as well."
"…I was getting hungry, tried to cook a potato and lost control of my fire."
Micaela snorted as she tried to stifle an explosive bout of laughter. "Sorry… It's just… so undignified for everyone involved. I regret not seeing the face Ilias made at that moment."
"(Mmmh… I'm sure this information can sell well in the right circle… or maybe as a rumor that will give me a chance to get my beloved hero back.)"
"(Try it, I now have your scent and the world is not large enough for you to escape…)"
"(…wow Alma. Just wow.)"
Guard: "Do you desire an audience with His Holiness the Pope? If you have been baptized, please tell me the name of your hometown and when your baptism took place."
Luka: "Luka, born in Iliasville, baptized on the 1st of May, 1455."
Guard: "Looks like you're on the list. Wait, what's this? Special permission for an audience?!"
Guard: "Um, this way, please. His Holiness considers your audience a top priority."
Alice smiled. "Let it be known that you easily reached the king not thanks to the useless goddess accompanying you, but on your own successes."
"And thanks to a good administration!" Tamamo turned back to see sour faces. Apparently, she was the only one to enjoy her last trait of humor.
King of San Ilia: "I am Peter the 14th, the ruler of San Ilia. I have heard that Ilias herself descended during your baptism."
Alice's expression further soured. "Ah, right. Ilias is still to thanks for that I guess."
Ilias: "Leave the sophist greetings for later. King of San Ilia, do you know anything concerning a white rabbit monster?"
"…and it's not thanks to her that we'll go anywhere further."
Ilias: "Then, how about Luka's father, Marcellus? He was a famous hero a few decades ago so he should have left some records behind."
King of San Ilia: "The hero Marcellus... We've investigated him quite a bit, actually. After all, there was a chance he was connected to my attempted assassination a few years ago."
"Wait, what?"
Sonya: "Oh right, after that assassination attempt, Uncle Lazarus became a suspect so his friends were investigated as well ...Of course, Uncle Lazarus is innocent. People just easily misjudge him."
King of San Ilia: "Marcellus was a man of high morals, and he helped many people during his journey. There was nothing suspicious about him. A model hero, so to speak. Recently he's been sighted in several far-flung places. The east of Ilias Continent, the Tartarus north of Sabasa... The man has made a number of curious appearances."
Promestein: "As we thought, he's moving between different worlds. But why?"
King of San Ilia: "There was also one sighting that may concern you directly. Some have reported seeing him in this castle's Underground Library."
Luka: "Eh?! Here?! When did that happen?"
King of San Ilia: "A year ago. Moreover, it seems he donated a book to the library, or at least left it behind. It's an old tome called [Worship of the Four Spirits]. I honestly couldn't tell you why he left it, though."
Ilias: "A book about the pagan faith in those abominable spirits? What was he doing with that..."
"Actually trying to give Luka the boost he needs instead of giving a useless blessing that just made heroes taste bad." Tamamo grimaced.
"Damn, Tamamo…"
"No, no, she's entirely right. If Ilias spent resources on giving the heroes a tenth of the power the Four Spirits would grant rather than a useless baptism and a quest to fetch jewels to get a somewhat good sword, we might remember more heroes today for their success than just Heinrich."
"Damn, Micaela. Damn…"
"Can anyone aside from Tamamo name one hero that isn't a parent of Luka?"
"…Point taken. Alma Elma?"
"IIIIIIIIIIII will pass on the matter."
Luka: "Er, wait a moment. After all he's done for us, shouldn't we also ask the Pope if he could use our help as well?
Mini: "Pooope needs something? Go on, say it, I'll listen."
"Cuuuuuuuuuute…"
"Calm down Erubetie. Don't hug the screen again please."
King of San Ilia: "Mm, there is actually something I would like to request of you, but you should finish your own business here first. Return after you retrieve your book, and I will tell you the details of my request."
"Mmh…" Tamamo's ears and tails drooped slightly.
"What, are you feeling bad for what you've done against him?"
"No… why are you asking that?"
"Your ears and tails betrayed you."
"…Knowing more about the last pope make me regret some of the things I did against him in the past years. That's it."
"(Kekeke… the value of the information I am acquiring cannot be compared to anything.)"
"Anyway, let's see the library and… not put it on fire. It shouldn't be too hard, should it?"
Alice groaned but didn't further comment.
[…]
Page 17 appears!
"Is this a library or is this a maze? I appreciate that the real library didn't look like that… granted, it looks like there's even more books here than there ever was, but I'm feeling a bit lost."
"I think I recognize Cornelia is the top right corner out of sight."
"Our target is in sight… let's get to it I suppose."
Micaela chuckled. "A normal and sane strategy would be to avoid the obviously more powerful enemy… unless it's too obvious in which case it's a trap… but it could also be a double ploy and indeed be the bigger danger around without support, unless…"
"Huuuh, auntie Micaela?"
"…I'm overcomplicating it, ain't I?"
"My apologies." Tamamo raised a hand.
"Why is Tamamo the one one apologizing? Unless… Ow."
Tamamo soberly nodded. "What mind game I inflicted on all of you cumulated cannot compare to a tenth of what I did to the angels."
Page 65537: "I know what your objective is. You're looking for [Worship of the Four Spirits], aren't you?"
"Yes, and thank to your huge, visible appearance we could find it from afar."
Boss starts playing
Page 65537 used Page 4 of fire!
"Ooof. That hurts. Also luckily what happens in combat doesn't affect the world or this place would be screwed."
"(Also I'm glad that she was busier trying to rape me rather than attacking me with her real powers… I never imagined I would say anything like that.)"
"(Say that again to me?)"
"(Hiih! Alice!)"
Page 65537 used Page 8 of ice.
Luka took 567 damage! Luka is unconscious!
"Eeeeh… that's starting to hurt a bit… luckily we still have people in the back row that can see some fight."
Page 65537 used Page 16 of lightning.
Ilias is unconscious!
Sonya is unconscious!
"Huuh, okaaaay… calm down game! Calm. Down."
"Mmh." Alice smirked, her tail wagging happily. "I never imagined you wanted to see Luka getting violated by Cornelia."
"I don't want that! It's just a bit of bad luck, nothing more!"
Luka uses flaming decapitation! Critical Hit! Page 65537 takes 3249 damage!
Page 65537 is defeated!
Tamamo sighed in relief, slightly wallowing on her chair.
"Ok… I guess even in normal, we'll need to take a look into making our characters good."
"I'll take a look into it if you want."
"A small one Micaela. Please."
Ilias: "So she's lost consciousness. Shall we finish her off? Or perhaps defile her?"
"Do you think she will stop being so petty?"
"No."
Luka: "This is the book dad left behind... What on earth is it?"
Luka flipped the book open. There's something written on the first page!
Luka: "This is dad's handwriting!"
"Luka, form contracts with the Four Spirits. By following the correct history, you'll suppress the chaos in the flow of time."
Luka: "Four Spirits, contracts? Following the correct history? What does this all mean...?"
Ilias: "The Four Spirits are abominations that haunt four places on this continent. They manipulate the forces of nature and bestow mighty powers upon the ones with whom they make a contract. Why is Marcellus encouraging his son to form these contracts? I imagine there is more to it than just wanting to make him powerful..."
"Maybe it's because, you know… heroes shouldn't be that weak!"
"I didn't think this game would have riled you up that much Micaela…"
"I apologize again for that outburst, but the more time pass and the more I realize just how harebrained and self-destructive her plans were."
"I can't blame you for that. Between relying on a psychopath, someone that wants you dead after imprisoning her for eternity while not trying to further push the growth of the heroes…"
Luka: "Suppress the chaos in the flow of time"... It sounds like the chaos in spacetime must be causing these anomalies."
Ilias: "In the correct history, Luka must have formed contracts with the Four Spirits. Marcellus means for us to reenact those events."
Ilias: "...I'm against it. I categorically refuse to allow you to form any contract with such abhorrent entities as those Spirits."
Luka: "No... I will contract with them. It's probably one of the ways we can help fix this world."
"Let us point out that everything pushes Luka to recruit the Four Spirits. The boost in power. The idea that he will follow true history. He would be more effective at protecting her. And even then, Ilias still refuses to entertain the idea that Luka should recruit the spirits."
"Are you really still surprised at that point?" Tamamo sighed as she fought another group of monsters. "Let's see what the church needs help for. And Micaela, before you say that it might be the first time I say that, I want to point out that I did help some of them in the past if only to curb the most radical people, to say nothing of our current mutually beneficial book exchange programs."
Micaela raised an eyebrow. "I didn't intend to say anything."
"(Your body language told everyone the exact opposite...)"
"(Shush Alma Elma.)"
Knight Commander: "Your Holiness, my apologies for intruding, but going with these people is far too dangerous!"
"Nevermind! They still suck here!"
"I agree it's rude."
Knight Commander: "My apologies if I've soured your mood. However, this is an extremely dangerous mission. Normally, at least an entire platoon would have been assigned this task. To do it with less than ten people is... It's merely my opinion, but, if they are to stand any chance, they must at least have Mithril equipment."
Knight Commander: "First of all, I apologize for my discourtesy. We are the ones asking for aid, so my interfering and insulting you was the epitome of rudeness. A permit is required to mine Mithril ore, but I will handle the formalities so you need not concern yourselves with that. If you've skill enough to do that, then I'll be put at ease and able to leave this mission to you without any concerns."
"Nevermind again… he really has a point and will actually help us more than we need." Tamamo remorsefully looked down. "All those that did worse and regretted it raise their hand…Oh right, sorry Amira, you don't have a hand to raise."
"Tch! You're the rude one now. And I certainly am the only person that does not need to raise their hand or any other limb at this very moment."
Luka groaned. "After what happened at Iliasburg… you disappoint me Amira."
"No!" Amira threw herself at Luka's feet, making the hero awkwardly shake his legs to clear her away while Alice gawked. . "My hero! I'm sorry! I was wrong to treat you badly! Please forgive me!"
"(I think Luka-boy got more than what he bargained for…)"
"(Right… let's get that mithril and continue on.)"
[…]
Ilias: "Wait, what is this...? I can feel great power coming from the summit. Furthermore, this surge is... like that of a high-ranking angel."
Luka: "So there's a high-level angel on the summit? We should go check it out once we are done gathering Mithril."
"…Am I the only one having a bad feeling from this music?" Alice shivered. "I can't say why, but it reminds me of the first time we explored the ruins of Remina with Luka."
"I agree that it's a poor choice of a soundtrack for what looks like an aside gathering mission… Oh, well. Nothing we can do about it."
Sister Lamia appears!
Succubus nun appears!
"…Didn't Ilias say that she hated succubi more than any other monsters? I mean… in hindsight I understand why some monsters followed Ilias, but here…"
"Mmmh. I heard of them. Maybe Promestein did too. They're rare but they exist. Just wait a minute…"
"I only serve the Goddess. I don't have sex with men or anything like that! However, I need to relax every now and then. Oh, Ilias. Just this once, please don't watch over me."
Alma Elma pouted. "This is why people should honestly acknowledge their desire. So that they don't turn in frustrated messes instead."
"I don't think I'll ever get acclimated to a succubus sounding reasonable."
Alma Elma glared at Micaela after her remark. However, before she could say how much she tried to improve herself, Tamamo beat her to the punch.
"Do you think six months of doing your duty and Succubus correctly managing her pleasure village balances out the whole history of your kin?"
"…Touché."
Luka: "What?! Everything went dark all of the sudden!"
Ilias: "The powerful magic is affecting the climate and weather. Considering the scale of this storm, it must be the work of a seraph class angel."
"You think Promestein would have been vicious enough to put an absurdly strong boss in a random sidequest?"
"…Only if Ilias requested it, and given what we saw of the way she was treated so far, I don't think Ilias had anything to do with it… anything but praise would have been unthinkable to her."
？？？: "Uuh...uuuhn..."
An angel fell here. She seems to have suffered a serious injury...
Micaela silently leaned forward as she recognized herself. "No way..."
Luka: "N-no way... This angel is... Micaela?!"
Ilias: "That is her for sure! Micaela...? Just what in Heaven's name happened to you?!"
Micaela: "Luka, is that you? It can't be... To think that we would meet just before I meet my end..."
Ilias: "Truly, I never imagined anything like this could ever happen to Micaela. It should not have been possible... Who could have done such a thing to her?"
Micaela: "Don't let your guard down... She's... still here..."
There's a deformed angel floating overhead. Without a doubt, the strong magic enveloping the area is coming from her.
"What the FUCK are we looking at?"
"Oh sweet Dark Goddess… I challenge you to say that this one didn't straight out came from Promestein's mind!"
"(The worst part is that it might actually not… still, ewww.)"
Gnosis: "I am Seraph Gnosis... My duty is to carry out divine retribution to sinners."
Luka: "Are you the one who did this to Micaela?!"
Gnosis: "I am half responsible for this incident... But she must bear the other half of the blame, for she brought this upon herself by the life she led on earth. Choosing to walk amongst the mortals on this impure land, she forsook her heavenly power as she lived out her many days on earth... Over time, her power dwindled. Had she the power from when she was in her prime, I would have had no chance of winning... How sad. It's pitiful, really."
"It looks like Promestein got that high circle angel mentality to a T." Micaela growled between her teeth. "And I know what I speak of."
Ilias: "While it is true that Micaela lost much of her power after living on earth for so long, that should not have been enough for any other angels to rival her. In addition, I do not know any seraph by the name of Gnosis. Are you a seraph who came from a parallel world?
Gnosis: "Goddess... Please forgive me, as I am unable to assist thee presently. Sometime in the future, I will undoubtedly become thy strength. Until then, please excuse my insolence..
Micaela: "So she left... That's good to hear. As you are now, you would have stood no chance against her.
Luka: "Micaela, stay with us! Sonya, please heal her!"
Sonya: "I'm already using healing magic, but it's not helping her..."
Micaela: "That won't work... This body has already lost most of its life force... I have only one regret... Luka, I am sorry that I didn't do anything for you... So at the very least, with what little strength remains in me, I will grant you the power of a Hero...
Ilias: "So you chose to baptize him, huh... Micaela, with the last of your strength, you made Luka a true Hero."
Micaela: "This is all... I can do... Luka... Please... the world..."
Micaela died right in front of us... Feelings of sadness and helplessness well up in my chest. However, sadness isn't the only feeling in my chest...
Luka: "Micaela, may you rest in peace. I will become a hero who will live up to your expectations!"
Ilias: "You grow stronger as you embrace human feelings, don't you? That is the source of your power."
Ilias: "At any rate, why did Gnosis do this to Micaela, a fellow seraph? Also, Luka, you should not have been acquainted with Micaela. How did you recognize her with just one glance?
Luka: "...I felt like I knew her. For a brief moment, I was having visions flashing through my mind..."
Ilias: "I do not believe there was any spiritual connection between you. It must be connected to your power to traverse worlds."
Luka: "In any case, let's go! There's still plenty to do!"
I inherited strong feelings from Micaela. The will to save the world. I was entrusted with that conviction and the power to do so. Even with sadness in my heart, I need to keep pressing on... My adventure still continues. I take another step forward!
"…And we're going to take a break ourselves." Tamamo unsteadily placed the pad on the table. "We'll probably work on a guide or a map to track scenario and characters at this point… you're alright Micaela? That's probably painful to see yourself getting killed, even in a silly game."
Micaela was slowly breathing in and out, clearly uncomfortable. However, when Luka reached for her hand, she returned his tender gesture with a sad smile. "I'm mostly fine. It's just… the deeper we get into Promestein's game, the more questions I ask myself. I mean… I'm even surprised that she wanted me dead given how little she visibly knew about me back then! But then, why would she present me in a positive role? This is just… hurgh, sorry." Micaela tried to gather herself to show a happier smile, but she could only show a sad smile again. "I'm having difficulties reconciliating what we see in the game with what we know about its creator."
"Bah! All of this was probably a mere attempt at schadenfreude! But do not worry! I, Amira, will personally investigate this and get to the bottom of this mental quagmire-"
"Huh, that's surprisingly thoughtful of you. Maybe-"
"-For the modest sum of fifty thousand golds! It's a steal!"
"…Why am I not surprised?"