Soldier Boy and Angel Girls

by Dalubhasa69420

The GSC President wished for a kind dependable and reliable adult to lead the many students of Kivotos as a teacher, who knew what to do at every situation, who had the integrity and responsibility to fulfill their obligations, one who never abandons his students... unfortunately, she has to settle for an ex child soldier with heroin addiction.A03crosspost

17. Chapter 17

Soldier Boy and Angel Girls

Levi P.O.V

Watching the orange hue of the sun up the sky from inside the Millennium Student Council building, it's light refracting from the glass making up the structure, as it lowered and sunk down in the horizon. The weak yet bright light of the stars and the moon replacing the light of the sun in the night.

I couldn't help but wonder, with how things went so fast after arriving here and being pulled by the GDD girls to the clubroom of the Veritas club which was dark with vibrant blue lighting from all the computers, why didn't I try to talk them out of this? They're about to attack and steal something from Seminar, from Yuuka's group.

I met Kotama, a girl with long blonde hair with a light purple halo, wearing a white uniform under a black jacket and wearing eyeglasses. She was very much shy... and she was grumbling about Yuuka taking something called a... I think it was called a wiretap from her, whatever that is.

There was also Hare, a girl with silver hair tied to a ponytail with a green halo. She's wearing a long white coat, like the kind that doctors or smart people, scientists is what I think they're called. She was mostly reserved, eyes focused on a computer as she typed away. Her desk was a mess, filled with empty plastic snap wrappings and empty canned drinks.

Maki was also somehow there, having reached Millennium earlier than I did... somehow, she was heading Millenniums opposite direction when I last saw her. She was apparently the one in charge of finding the G.BIBLE's password, but she couldn't as she grumbled about Yuuka taking something called the Mirror.

She was grumbling and muttering, imitating Yuuka's voice as she mentioned "illegal equipment" and "disgraceful".

... I'm beginning to see a pattern here. I don't see why, but a lot of girls here seemingly either hates or fears Yuuka. I wonder why?

Boom!

The sound of a distant explosion, somewhere inside this building, echoes throughout the entire place. That... must be Aris initiating the plan... no going back now.

Aris should be getting restrained and brought away, the security forces entire focus being on her... for now that is.

"First phase is done." I heard Hare's monotonous voice in the earpiece they gave me earlier.

"The Trojan Horse is in." Utaha? Oh, right. They were invited to join in on this operation, to which they agreed without a hint of hesitation.

"Everything good, Sensei?" Hare asked me. And so, I brought my hand up to the earpiece to press the button to talk back.

"Yeah, so far so... good." I paused midway, turning my head to look on ahead at the sounds of near countless mechanic steps. "I see machine boxes and armed drones." I said, staring at the swarm of small machines moving as one.

As to not get in their way, I walked to the glass wall and turned my back to it, making sure that the small robots moved past me and went on their way instead of addressing me.

"They're ignoring me."

"I see. Then they should be going for Momoi and Midori, along with... Zero-Three of the Maids." I know they have courage, but that won't do anything against pure skill. You're sure your plan is gonna work? "Of course, that's why I had Aris attack the security headquarters in the first place." Hmm, alright.

"Arona, can you show me what's happening?"

[No problem, Sensei!] Arona cheerful said, voice muffled from my bag as footage of what's happening with Momoi and Midori appeared in my peripheral vision.

"Sensei, did you say something?" No, you're hearing things.

"Hmm... well, we've been doing all nighters for days now..." I heard Kotama mumbling out with a hum.

Anyway, I watched my peripheral vision where Arona's hologram is showing Momoi and Midori moving across a hallway.

Wait, what's with that distorted flickering mid footage? Momoi and Midori are both back where they just-

"Levi-Sensei, we did it!" Slowly, I turned my head to look at the source of the voice along with two pairs running steps and huffing.

"We juked Akane!" Momoi proudly and confidently bragged with a grin. It's the twins... how'd they get here? The camera back there is still showing them...

"Oh, that? Both the security hardware and software came from Veritas and the Engineering Department!" Interesting...

"Yeah! It's like we're two steps ahead of C and Seminar, they just had prerecorded footage playing!" I see, that's clever use of mundane technology.

I feel a smile forcing itself on my face, thinking about all the advantages we have over the maids and the Millennium student council. Putting a finger on the button of my earpiece-

"Why didn't you girls tell me? We've already basically won." I said, amusement leaking out as I followed Momoi and Midori, who's gesturing for me to follow them, to the elevator going up.

"Huh? Sensei?! You're with them? That explains this." I heard Akane's voice laced with surprise and frustration in the earpiece radio.

"Nah, they were on their own with planning this operation."

"That's... utterly unbelievable!" This time, it's Yuuka exclaiming with fury. "You're the master strategist here, Sensei. There can be no other explanation!" To that, I let out a small giggle.

Walking into the elevator as Momoi is pressing on the buttons and Midori is looking up at me with worry, the doors slid closed as the elevator went up while we felt the gravity slightly pulling us down.

"Yuuka, you're the one in charge... think. It should be simple enough."

"Huh? What do... you..." Through the small radio in my ear, I hear Yuuka trailing off as she made some noises. First of confusion, then of a slow realization, then... her teeth gnashing and enraged whining of frustration. "Veritas... Engineering Club... your budgets are mine..." Somehow, despite how calm she sounded saying those words... Yuuka's voice was oddly menacing.

"W-what?! But w-why? You already took my wiretaps!" Kotama slightly raised her voice as she meekly shot back.

"You don't need to read Sensei's private messages, much less to eavesdrop on Schale. Kotama!" Huh? So that's what wiretaps are for? "W-wha-?! Yes! Sensei, you're gonna get scammed eventually at this point!"

"Yuuka, you already halved our budget!" This time, it's Kotori voicing out her displeasure. "Besides, we're still making Sensei's prosthetic!"

"Really, now? Then what are those cargo containers outside your clubroom?"

"Uhmm... well, you see..."

"Since you're simply wasting a majority of the budget we're blessing you with, whatever is left will be enough for the projects you're manufacturing and selling en masse. At least you're doing something good for the school with those." Yikes... I wouldn't ever be able to tell that Yuuka, of all people, would be so frightening even with how calm she sounds.

Hearing that, Kotori then whined and cried out to the radio. Begging and prostrating for Yuuka's mercy and benevolence, but... eh, sounds like Yuuka is all out of mercy to give.

The elevator rings, the door sliding open as the twins and I stepped out to the current floor.

"This is it... Yuuka must be mad."

"Well, even more so to keep going then."

The twins said, with Midori looking around cautiously as she walked with her gun up and Momoi casually strolling with a smile.

"Akane's trapped back there, and the Student Council is completely isolated. Like Sensei said... we've basically already won."

"Then... all we need now is to reach the loot."

The twins spoke, one proud and confident while the other is still worried but optimistic.

Boom!

A small blast of gunfire echoed from somewhere, the bullet's whistling getting closer unti-

Breaking through and shattering the glass wall to our side, the orange flash hit the wall in the other side as it detonated upon impact. Small pieces of debris being thrown around as it's shockwave threw us off balance.

"It's Zero-Two of the maid club!" Hare's shouted through the radio.

It's Karin.

"Hah! That damn nigg-"

"I'll deal with her!" Utaha interrupted whatever Momoi was going to say, shouting as she ran with the wind passed her.

I see on the other nearby building's rooftop, several orange flashes that wer no doubt from a gun. Walking to the glass wall and squinting my eyes, I see... Karin going by outfit and skin color, as well as the antitank rifle she has.

Then there's Utaha with her light purple hair color and... a sleek white chair with legs? Orange flashes coming from it which Karin dodged to the side... oh, it has a rotary gun attached to it.

Karin kept on running towards Utaha, really fast as I swore that I could see her dodging the orange flashes of tracer rounds left and right on the way to Utaha.

Karin then dashed to the gun chairs sides and kicked it down. Now, she's staring at Utaha with her antitank gun aimed at her.

"You're calculations are foolish, Utaha." I think that's Utaha's radio picking up Karin's voice. "You're over enginnered chair wasn't going to beat me."

Utaha doesn't respond, she's giggling with an obvious hint of amusement.

"Hmm, what are yo- Huh? That sou-"

Boom!

I saw in the other building rooftop with Utaha and Karin exploding, black smoke filling the place after the detonations yellow flash of flames.

"Things just got all quiet over there..." I turn back to see Momoi, with a frozen expression holding her own earpiece.

"That must've been Utaha and Hibiki, we need to move while they have Karin pinned down!" Momoi being the one to freeze and Midori being the one to take initiative is new.

"R-right! We won't forget about their sacrifice!"

And so, we went on our way towards the objective. Half jogging and half running both in alert and to conserve some stami-

Boom!

The very structure we're standing on rumbled, the explosion was bug enough that I could feel and hear it's force from all the way down in the lower floor... where it came from. Tsk, that must've been Akane breaking out.

The lights from the sides and the computers on the wall just turned off, darkness is now the only thing within immediate sight.

"Ah, that must've been Utaha and Hibiki. They... won?" Momoi questioned, still looking back at the other building rooftop with smoke obscuring the view as we ran towards the Contraband Storage as they called it.

"Winning the war is different from winning the battle, Momoi." I said, keeping my hand on Momoi to make sure she doesn't run to a wall or something.

"Right..."

"There it is! The Contraband Storage!" Midori cheered out, slightly excited. "But everything is so dark..." She said, shrinking to herself as she squinted her eyes trying to adjust to the darkness.

"Yeah... can't see anything."

They're halo's are at least somehow emanating light, it's not a lot but it's still something. If there was another maid agent, then we would easily see them with their halo on... given that it glows.

The only two, or three, maids remaining are Neru and Asuna... that fake maid who stalked me yesterday is probably out of the equation... at least I hope so.

Hmm, I see something that's circular blue glowing in the darkness.

"Asuna?" I asked outloud, both Momoi and Midori halting and looking back at me while making some confused, then worried noises as they turned back with their guns up.

"Oh? It's Master Levi! And the Game Development Department! I've been waiting all this time!" Yup, that goofy and energetic voice belongs to none other than Asuna.

"Asuna?! How'd you know we'd be here?!" Midori cried out, frantically turning her head around cautiously.

"I guessed. I had a feeling that I'd meet Master again if I waited here." ... I'm feeling a little jealous of her luck. "Anyway, ready or not. Here comes Zero-One!" She shouted with a grin as she dashed towards us.

[Gunslinger] [Fast Stance] [Gun Proficiency]

Pulling out my Lugr, I bent to one knee as I aimed and pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I fired thrice, aiming for her gun as she brought it up then-

In an instant, she dropped and slid down on the ground avoiding my shots entirely. Cheery grin still present in her face.

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

Tsk, the twins just froze st Asuna's speed.

[Order, Charge]

"Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!" I shouted several times at once to snap the twins out of their stupor.

As Asuna is still sliding, Momoi aimed down but unluckily, Asuna was already close enough and she brought her lower body up to kick Momoi's gun to the right just as she pulled the trigger.

And the bullets meant for Asuna instead hit Midori, who also tried to aim and fire but was disrupted as Momoi's bullets caused her to stagger and were forced back by the recoil of her automatic fire being unmitigated.

It's like the rest of the world slowed down for the Asuna and I. We're staring at eachother, with her still grinning happily as I aimed again to fire.

Letting go of her guns pistol grip, she brought her right hand to the ground and lifted herself up, twisting her body and legs to gain enough force and momentum to kick my Lugr out of my hand. My hand is twitching from the impacts pain, but... I'm not really feeling it... thanks to the free view of Asuna's plump inner thighs and light underwear.

Then, Asuna flipped herself up and back on her feet. Right hand back on her guns grip. Aiming at Momoi, who in turn aimed back, she ducked down quickly dodging Momoi's shots as her bullets hit Momoi directly on the face causing her to stagger back.

Then, still with a confident grin stretching even wider from excitement, Asuna turns her gaze at me.

[Adrenaline Rush] [Barehand Proficiency]

Throwing my arm forward towards her in a grabbing motion, Asuna jumped back as I-

[Phase Step]

Teleported directly where she jumped away to and-

[Steal]

Snatching her gun out of her hands and throwing it as far away as I could in the darkness surrounding us.

"Hmm, this is how you've been fighting, Master." Asuna observed, still with a smile as she took a step back with her arms up in guard. She doesn't seem bothered the least having lost her gun. "Hehe, I've always wanted to do Kung Fu like Neru!" Huh? What's that suppo-

She dashed with an excited expression, appearing closer with a blur in her trail. Arms up and hands ready to grapple, she jumps with one feet while the other is up to knee me.

[Perfect Guard]

Hunching over to lessen my open spots as I brought my hand up, I brought my elbow down on her incoming knee. The impact throwing my arm up and me being forced slightly back as the same leg the knee came from kicked me in the stomach and forced my body down.

"Gotcha!" Asuna loudly announced as she winded up for an open palm strike.

[Sisu] [Bob And Weave]

Gritting my teeth to ignore the pain in my mid part, I forced my feet and body to move. Stepping left and right as I weaved my body around her strikes.

"So cool! But I'm not out of tricks yet, Master!" Asuna shouted as she threw another open palm strike- no, that's an elbow!

I brought my arm towards it to block the elbow strike, the impact being felt by the bones on my arm and paralyzing it with numbness and pain.

[Double Hurting]

Still being able to move my hand, I conjured a Hurting ball aimed at Asuna.

And lau-! Again, she swiftly dashed to my side as she grabbed my arm with both of hers and threw me into a wall. My back... it hurts.

"I forced you to use magic. I must be good, right?" Tsk. Yeah, you're... really good, Asuna.

Asuna looks like she's savoring my praise, giggling as she rubbed her cheeks on mine... the pain in my hand and back being rendered nonexistent as I felt the warmth of this beautiful, busty, and lethal maid.

[Flesh Puppetry]

The puppet hands shot out of my shadow, gripping her arms tightly as she looked on in surprise.

I hear two pairs of footsteps coming from the darkness, and the twins figures came slowly into view with their guns up.

"Seriously, making me shoot my cute little twin sister..."

"Asuna is scary, taking the three of us on alone... ugh, just trying to imagine fighting Neru is making me tremble."

The green and pink twins spoke, both aiming their guns towards Asuna and ready to riddle her with bullets.

"Eh, busted..." Asuna said awkwardly looking back, amusement still there.

Ratatatatat!

Ratatatatat!

Momoi and Midori both started spraying Asuna, the flashes of orange lighting up the dark place as Asuna's body shook and trembled from all the impact.

Then they stopped shooting, Asuna dropped to my body and arm as her halo disappeared and fell asleep.

Oh, Gods. Her warmth, her breasts! It's... it's...

"Sensei, what are you doing?! You must focus on the mission!"

"Yeah! We must annihilate the MPLA- I mean, recover the Mirror."

Alright, alright. Let me just set Asuna down on the ground. Hmm, what's that?

"Zero-One! Zero-One! Asuna! Pick up!" That's Karin.

"Karin, Asuna is asleep."

"Huh? You, Master... you're using Asuna as a hostage?!"

"You can shoot us through walls?"

"... Good point. Zero-Three, be advised. Zero-One is down. I repeat, Zero-One is down." Huh? Are their radios all connected together?

"Copy, but not to worry. Yuuka-san and I are already there." Akane said in a polite and confident tone, perfectly fitting her maid play.

I hear mechanical movements approaching from the darkness, then lights from drones brightened up the dark place revealing just how many drones there are along with Yuuka and Akane.

"Seriously... you two better get ready for a suspension or two." Yuuka growled out with a glare towards the three of us. "And Sensei... Acting President will hear of this."

I'm not really bothered by that, but Momoi and Midori are looking on at Yuuka fearfully.

"I've been merciful to you two... I've given you many chances to keep your club afloat... and this... is the thanks I get?" Yuuka's face darkened, glare intensifying towards the twins who are both scared holding eachother at the sight of Yuuka being truly pissed off.

"Yes. Maki and Kotori can still be forgiven, but you two have gone too far." Akane said with a frown. She then went to Asuna, who's still unconscious on the ground, and knelt down to shake her away.

"Huh? Morning, Akane." She said as her halo appeared, pushing herself up to her feet and dusting her clothes off.

"Asuna, it's evening."

"It is?"

Ignoring the two maids, Yuuka let out a sigh of disappointment. "Just give up... please." Is she really angry? It's like she's begging here.

"Hikari Yo!" Huh? That's-

Yuuka turned around looking for the source of that shout as she made a noise of confusion, followed by a bright blue light overwhelming the place.

I quickly brought my hand up to cover my eyes, but I still caught a glimpse of Yuuka pulling her phone out. Tsk, there's no way of blocki-

"I'm here!"

I heard Reila shouting in my mind as the blinding light fully engulfed everything.

"Damn... that blast was something... It's all clear now. "

That's great. Thanks, Reila! Opening my eyes up, I see that the mass of armed drones Yuuka had by her side were all reduced to ashes. And Yuuka... is standing unharmed and unscratched as a blue barrier is covering her, her phone on her hand as she turns around to face me with bummed out.

"I wanted to show this off by your side, Levi-Sensei." Yuuka said with a saddened and disappointed tone.

[Diplomacy] [Persuasion]

"Yuuka... let us go, and I'll pretend I never saw that." I mean, I literally didn't see how it worked, only the aftermath.

Hearing that, Yuuka looks at me with eyes with in exasperation. She's shaking, teeth gritted as she closes her eyes.

"Fine then! Just do it!" She screamed out of frustration, a blush appearing in her cheeks.

"Thanks, Yuuka!" I said, seeing Aris run past Yuuka and onto our side.

Then, without another word. We started running towards the supposed Contraband Storage. I made sure to grab my Lugr, which was conveniently enough kicked this way, from the ground and putting it back on its holster.

"Hahaha! I got hit! It hurts like hell!" I heard Asuna screaming out... still amused and giggling as she's twitching on the ground.

That's weird... eh, none of my business. I don't kinkshame.

/

We're on our way back to the elevator down. The twins and Aris already retrieved the Mirror as they'vy been calling it, sticking something called a USB to a computer and storing the thing there like they did back in the ruins with the G.BIBLE.

"Phew, we're lucky that Neru was busy somewhere else." I heard Momoi muttering out with a sigh of relief.

"Yeah, that would be bad... especially since I taught her magic." ... Why did we stop?

"S-Sensei! Neru is the C 's strongest!" Is that so, Momoi?

"Yeah! Delinquents fear her, and she fought the Fox of Calamity off of Millennium back then!" Really now?

"Is this Neru... a final boss?" Aris asked aloud, both in curiosity and a hint of fear.

"Even worse..."

"Our chances of fighting her and making it out alive... is absolute zero."

Both Momoi and Midori muttered out as they shook and trembled, they're explanation seems to have gotten to Aris as she also started trembling with them.

"Unfamiliar emotion... is this fear?" Aris asked herself in a monotonous tone.

"I see, then we're lucky that she isn't here. Let's move." I said, to which they eagerly nodded. Turning towards the path we're taking and moving again.

As we're making our way back to the elevator, the vibrant artificial lights of the countless buildings around Kivotos flashed in the glass exterior of the building.

Our rapid footsteps echoing around the place coupled with huffing and puffing from the burnt stamina.

Then, our earpiece radios cackled with Hare's panicked voice.

"It's her! She just got back!" Hare shouted, all traces of her reserved demeanor gone in the urgency. "Run, just run! It's Ne-"

The sound of a strong vacuum from somewhere below the building, followed by a distorted explosion sound muffled Hare's voice in the radio.

That was... someone casting Hurting.

In the corner of my eye towards the city, I see... a small petite girl with red hair and a jacket designed with flowers and dragons being propelled up, dual submachineguns in her hands with the chains freely waving around, traces of a black and red aura flowing from her feet.

Neru... she used the Hurting to launch herself up?!

We made eye contact, and she let out a wide toothy grin with a glare. Letting go of one of her submachineguns and grabbing the chain attached to it, she spun it around before throwing it towards the building above the floor we're in and pulling with gravity throwing her towards us and through the buildings glass exterior.

Countless shards of glass littered the ground ahead of us as Neru landed and slid on her feet before skidding to a stop, letting out a small giggle through her grin as she turned her head up to look at us like prey.

"Heya, Sensei... gotta say, that magic of yours is... so damn cool!" She exclaimed aloud with glimmering eyes, losing her grin and letting out a cute smile. The way she speaks and act...

"Uwaah, Sensei! Why'd you teach her magic?!"

"We would've been home free by now!"

The twins whined and cried out to me as they brought their guns up with fearful expressions, slowly moving behind me and treating me as cover. Aris though... she looks afraid yet... determination and hope is radiating in her eyes.

"Better give up now, Master." I heard Akane's voice in my earpiece. "Neru is our leader for a reason." Seriously?

"Neru... why maids?" I asked towards her as my eyes are wandering and my mind is scrambling to come up with a plan.

"Huh?" Neru looks at me, humming as she blinked and brought a hand behind her head scratching it lightly. "Dunno. Something, something undercover." Exactly! You don't even act like a maid proper! Don't even look the part!

"Huh?! Ya think I'm just letting you trash talk me without a black flash to the face?!" Neru shouted back at me as she slammed her foot on the ground, leaving a crater bigger than her foot. Hmm... tsk, if she's as good as the twins say then... it's better if she's aggravated.

"Agh! Sensei, why are you making her angry?!" Momoi shouted at me in a panic, using one hand to grip my shirt and shaking me.

"Y-yeah! She's already scary enough!" Midori did the same as her sister, panic overwhelming both of their senses. But Aris looks composed... mostly anyways.

"Now, now president. Remember, maids are supposed to be soft and elegant." Akane said through the earpiece... which is for some reason the same frequency as just about everyone with an earpiece here with Neru's eyes rolling towards the side as her hand went up to her ear.

"Yeah! Shouldn't you be calling me master, little Neru?" I taunted with a grin, which is... probably a bad idea now that I think about it.

Slowly, Neru's eyes rolled back to look at me. She's not shouting, her expression not being morphed by rage, no shaking either. She's calm and composed, lips down in a frown as she's glaring at me... shit.

"Oh, no. Master, Neru is very self conscious of her height." Is that so, Akane? "And she doesn't like people telling her to call them master." Tsk, fuck me then.

Neru then takes a step forward, slowly walking towards us with her eyes focused on me. Asuna said something about her doing Kung Fu, and the way she completely had me outclassed in hand to hand combat.

[Flesh Puppetry]

The dismembered hands flew out of my shadow, the left hand flying up to where my left hand would be if I still had it while the right is behind my shoulder.

"Sensei... you've got the eyes, the posture of a warrior." Neru said, eyes softening slightly as she gave off a small smile. "That's right... I won't hold back, as respect for your warrior spirit." Do I really look that strong? I'm missing an arm and was, until recently, half starved to death.

"But you stayed up and kept fighting... even when a hole was blown through your stomach." Neru said in all seriousness, eyes going back to a focused glare. "So... Sensei, show me your strength." She said as she let her guns hang loosely by the chains within her clothes, and bringing her fists up.

[Barehand Proficiency]

To which I did the same, letting Mister Marcoh's reflexes take over as I hunched my body and brought my hand up with the puppet hands doing the same.

"Sensei, please let Aris-" No. Watch and learn first, Aris. "I... I will, Levi-Sensei!"

"Just so you know, I'm not letting them pass." I gave you your magic, why can't you let me through as a show of gratitude? "Hehe, even if I wanted to... that girl with the railgun, Aris, looks like she wants to throw hands with me." Is that so? Then Aris... watch and learn!

[Adrenaline Rush]

I ran towards Neru with my fist and puppet hands up, as did Neru with a grin as she jumped and brought one foot up for a kick.

I brought my body down and threw myself at her other leg as I mentally commanded the left puppet hand to go for her face, the right moving to hold the foot which she threw a kick with.

With both a puppet hand and my whole body holding down her legs, Neru was slammed down to the ground. The left flesh puppet hand covering almost her entire face, but leaving enough space that she was able to look back at me with her left eye.

Bringing both her hands on the ground, she twisted her body with unbelievable strength which pulled me along and threw away the puppet hand off of her other foot.

Then, she halts as we're somehow both looking at eachother with her other foot ready to kick me away in my peripheral vision.

I'm sure I could tank tha-

Her foot slammed into my stomach, sinking slightly with my internal organs feeling some of the impact. I lost my grip, most of my body being paralyzed by the numbness that followed after the initial pain as I was kicked away.

I feel some of the water I drank earlier being forced back up my throat as I puked it out, followed by some coughing as I held my stomach. I see Neru propelling herself up and onto her feet with just her hands.

"How is someone so small so strong?!"

"Hey! I'll have you know that I'm already a third year!" Neru yelled out as she pried the other flesh hand off of her face, and with an audible crunch, crushed it's bones with her bare hands. Followed by the other one just about to start flying being stomped down on by her feet.

Ratatatatat!

Ratatatatat!

Momoi and Midori then started shooting at Neru, to which... she somehow dodged their entire magazines without so much as a scratch on her clothes.

Then, in the next immediate moment. Neru was by Momoi and Midori's side, with the twins slowly turning their heads towards Neru with a frightened expression.

Midori jumped back, to which Neru threw a chain down in her ankle and pulled, making her do a split as Neru jumped high up, a leg bracing to slam down on Midori's head like a guillotine as Midori herself looked up in terror.

Midori let out a yelp as Neru's guillotine kick slammed down on her head, rendering her unconscious with her halo disappearing.

Momoi was frozen for a moment, then she aimed again and tried to fire but Neru once again threw a chain which connected to her gun.

Momoi's gunfire resonated throughout the place as her bullets hit the ceiling, and Neru dashed to her front delivering an elbow to the stomach making Momoi hunch over.

They looked at eachother for a moment, then Neru jumped up with a spin, kicking Momoi in the head with the force throwing her away. Unconscious as her halo disappeared.

Aris looked on, taking some steps back with her entire focus on Neru.

Forcing myself up, I once again run towards Neru. Throwing a punch just as she turned around and dodged with an excited grin. She then dashes inside my guard, my lack of a left arm letting her do so freely as she brought her elbow up.

[Counter Stance]

I threw my leg up to counter her elbow with my knee, the impact of it being felt down in my bones leaving it numb.

I brought my fist up to hammer it down to Neru, to which she easily dodged to my side punching me in the open flank as she wrapped her left arm around my body.

In anticipation of whatever she has in store for me, I grit my teeth and brace myself for the pain.

Then Neru, somehow someway with her miniscule size, carried me high up... and slammed me down on the ground. Tsk, I'm completely... out of the fight here.

It's all up to Aris now.

"Looks like I underestimated the downside of being one arm down." Neru sighed out in disappointment. "Guts are everything in a fight... but arms are also up there, I guess." With that, she turned away from me and faced Aris... who doesn't look the least bit afraid this time.

She aims her Sword of Light, firing off a white hot blue energy towards Neru-

"Black Flash!" She shouted, the red and black energy of Hurting gathering on her fist as she threw it towards Aris' blue light dissipating both in contact.

"Agh!" Aris let out a noise of distress at the sight, instinctually backing away as she held her huge weapon.

Followed by Neru charging in with fists winding up, black and red otherworldly energy building up on her knuckles, and throwing it at Aris who's using her weapon as a shield.

The Hurting fist connects with the Sword of Lights steel, holding up as the overpressure from the Hurtings impact threw Aris into the wall which was partially obliterated into Aris' shape.

"Oh? You're sturdy for a nerd!"

"Arisu is a hero! And heroes never fall!"

Tsk, we're in the way. She can't use the same power she used back in the ruins to destroy Deca's forces.

[Phase Step]

I teleport to the unconscious Momoi and Midori, grabbing one arm from each and wrapping it around my neck.

"Aris, you can do it!" I shouted towards Aris, who looks at me as her eyes regain the determination it had earlier. "God of Fear and Hunger, bless Aris with your Purifying Black Flames!"

[Phase Step]

And with that, I teleport us dead weights to Aris out of the place. Down in the ground floor, where we first started.

Boom!

The bright blue light of energy from Aris' weapon shot out above us in the floor we were just in, scattering debris that were either glowing orange from heat or were on fire.

/

Aris P.O.V

The final boss of this dungeon, Neru the pugilist, blocked my full MP Blinding Light with her own full MP Darkness Punch. Deflecting some of the blast to the walls and leaving parts of the dungeon open.

Levi-Sensei evacuated Momoi and Midori away with his teleportation magic, giving me the chance to go all out against this very scary boss. He also boosted me, so I can't lose.

"Hah! That was... so damn cool!" The dungeon boss Neru shouted with an excited smile, hand reaching out to grab one of her guns and aiming it at me.

Ratatatatat!

"Agh!" I yelp- no, grunted out in pain as some of her attacks landed a critical hit on me before I could block and parry with my Sword of Light. Hero's don't yelp.

"You're strong, girly!" Hmm, what's with this person? She's happy after I blasted her with my full power, and she's praising me as she's attacking me... oh, I get it!

"Haha! You've fallen for Arisu thanks to my charisma stat!" I announced with a victorious laugh, gesturing for her to continue with her dialogue. "Don't be shy, little maid! Arisu will accept your affection!" My base charisma stats were enough for Sensei, it should be enough for-

"The hell you saying?!" Neru the boss shouted at me angrily, her cheeks turning red for whatever reason. "You're making me lose it..."

Uhm... did Arisu do or say something wrong? I didn't stain her honor or chastity with my words or actions... so why?

"Tell you what, beat me and I'll let you go." I see. Mission start then!

My MP have not yet been restored fully, so I can only-

Neru ran towards me, so fast and immediately being mere feets away from me as she jumped up for a kick

Huh? She's fast! She must've put all of her points in agility! I bring my Sword of Light up to block her onslaught, the force of her kick making me slide back while her bullet barrage kept me from doing anything but guard.

"That blast was something, but you can't do anything this close!" Hah, she's right. That's the on- huh? It's a- it's her chain!

Neru pulls, making me stumble forward as she appeared ready to throw a punch.

Analyzing... processing... all the footage and data of her melee attack pattern...

...

...

[Princess, let one hand off of your weapon and block.]

I heard a weird voice whispering in my mind. Wait... I'm not a princess, I'm a hero! A hero of light!

Nonetheless, I take my right hand off of the Sword of Light and blocked Neru's punch with my elbow.

"Oh?" Neru looks at me with surprise, but then she returns her battle hungry expression.

Hmm, this doesn't actually feel that heavy... is my base strength stat naturally high?

I pull my right hand back, holding my Sword of Light once again with both hands as I swung it towards Neru. Impacting her as she was thrown back, yet... I hear her giggling.

"Impressive... but, you still won't beat me!" She shouted, beginning her onslaught anew with a barrage of her bullets forcing me to block again.

Her chain once again connects and pulls, but I'm prepared this time! Instead of letting myself be pulled forward, I jumped forward to once again parry... her.

Neru didn't charge in this time, she was waiting for me with both weapons aimed.

Ratatatatat!

Ratatatatat!

"Agh!" Numerous bullets landed direct critical hits, forcing me to cover up with my Sword of Light once again.

Neru starts laughing excitedly, running around me as she's still firing and forcing me to spin. Occasionally, she's throwing her chain and pulling me out of cover but I thankfully managed to cover up in time to guard her bullets.

"You know how many people's beaten me this close? No one!" I see... so the win condition against Neru isn't to bring her HP down... it's to survive with our HP not being reduced to zero. Truly, a frightening boss.

My MP is back to full. Aiming towards Neru, I fire a medium power blast to force her back.

"Black Flash!" She shouted as she used that black and red magic Sensei bestowed upon her to block it. "Didn't work the first time, won't work the second!" She shouted as she charged me.

Aris has a plan... utilizing my vast processing capability, I perceived everything slowly.

Aiming my Sword of Light downwards, preparing my full power Blinding Light. We should have enough vitality for this.

"Hikari Yo!" I shouted out, the light of my Sword of Light truly blinding.

/

Levi P.O.V

That's another explosion from Aris, and... is that Aris? She jumped out the building! Her jacket waving upwards because of the air resistance... her skirt! Her panties! Damn wind, staining Aris' dignity as a lady!

She lands with both feet, a small crater appearing where she landed as the earth shook.

"Panpakapan! Win condition, escape. Achieved!" That's great, I guess.

/

They had Maki, along with the support of Hare and Kotama at the Veritas clubroom, do their thing with the G.BIBLE and that Mirror thing we took from up there.

Back here in the GDD clubroom, the twins and Yuzu look on frozen at the computer after getting to see what's truly inside the G.BIBLE thing.

[That's all. Just, love, games.]

The words in the computer said, just some inspirational words about the passion for videogames. Or the development of videogames, whichever one is supposed to be right.

I don't know anything about developing this videogame stuff, much less actually computer stuff but... I think I understand what this G.BIBLE's creator was going for.

"That's it? That's... seriously it?!" Momoi asked in disbelief, keeping her eyes at the computer and reaching out to grab it by its sides.

"Agh... we... never had a chance in the first place..." Yuzu muttered out in despair, her head going down as she held it with both hands.

"After all we've been through..." Midori mumbled out, eyes wide and watery as she read the message of the G.BIBLE.

"Why are you all sad? It's kind of right... we simply have to pour our hearts into the game!" Yeah, what Aris said. That's what the G.BIBLE's creator is saying.

"Sensei... I love developing games but... I made the garbage that was TSC!" Yuzu cried out with a sob.

"The G.BIBLE was supposed to teach us how to make a good game."

"Without it... we're practically worthless."

The twins said as one in a hopeless defeated tone.

"Don't say that! TSC was fun!" Aris... so cheerful, so cute, so sweet. She's not going to let them kick themselves when they're already down.

"But Aris..."

"Don't you girls love games?" I asked, the question making them all focus their eyes on me. "Giving up when you haven't even started, you don't really love games do you?"

"Huh?! That's n-not true!"

"We've been playing games, ever s-since we've been kids!"

"It's fun... that we can't have anywhere else."

Hearing all of their words, their love for videogames is absolute and full of unbreakable passion. I can't help but put on a smile, just as Aris is doing feeling her three fellow club members determination in their voices.

"But... where do we start?" Momoi asked, looking up to me for answers. "Is there anything more about the Monster Hunter?" She asked with eyes in anticipation, and the other three girls looking to me eagerly awaiting more about the man, the myth, the legend.

"There's a lot, so listen closely." I said as I sat down, because this is going to be a long night. There's not much in the famous oral stories, but there's a lot with Mister August's memories.

"There's also some archeological stuff found about him." Reila said, suddenly appearing by sitting by my side. "But first, Levi..."

"Oh, Miss Reila. Welcome to... eh, our place is kind of a dump." Yuzu said, looking mortified around her clubroom.

"Sensei! You should've said that Miss Reila was coming!"

"We would've cleaned up!"

The twins whined in unison, rushing to pick up some things on the ground and stacking them as neatly as possible in the corner of the room.

"Hello, Miss Reila!"

"Hey, little cute Aris!" Reila said with a smile as she reached over to give Aris headpats, which Aris very much enjoyed. "I don't mind, Yuzu, Momoi and Midori. I didn't come announced anyways."

"I see, make yourself at home then."

As they're all sitting back down on the ground, Momoi pulls out her phone as she's looking at me intently.

"So. Sensei, Reila-san... about Ragnvaldr." I see, she's gonna type down her ideas on that phone of hers.

"Sure, but first. I need to tell you about the Mad Yellow King." I said, to which the four GDD members leaned closer while Reila sneered and looked away.

"Long ago, in the Dark Ages when sickness and conflict were common place, when despair was present in the hearts of the masses. A man of prophecy appeared leading an army of mercenary knights." I paused, letting the four little girls admire the story I'm telling them.

"The masses blamed the Kings, Sultans, even the Gods for the way everything was falling apart. The man of prophecy, however, promised unity and prosperity. A world that's far better than the way it was under the current corrupt rulers. And so, the masses were quick to side with him."

"Wow, a chosen one fighting against evil tyrants."

"Kings and Sultans... that means there were many of them..."

"And he was going to lead the resistance against those corrupted leaders... but then, why is the story called the Mad Yellow King?"

"A legendary hero like Ragnvaldr the Monster Hunter appears..."

They look so happy hearing about that guy... I'm almost tempted now to tell them the full story.

"But to go against the tyrannical monarchs, the Old Gods. He needed power, power that was hard to come by." Of course, they're smiles upon hearing that would drop. It's easy enough to connect the dots with the titles name. "He made many villainous moves for that power, desperately assuring himself that it would all be for a greater good once the end comes."

"The peak of which being, the attack on Oldegarde. The attack which murdered the village of Ragnvaldr." This time, it's Reila who continued the story for them. "They had an artifact that he needed."

"To fall from grace like that..."

"He had it all..."

"Power corrupts... that's how it is in some games."

Aris is silent, looking saddened hearing how this story connects with Ragnvaldr. "Couldn't he have just... asked for it before attacking?" Aris... I want to tell her that it's not that simple but... she's kind of right.

"Yeah, they wanted to sell that artifact anyways. And so, his attack on Oldegarde gave the Kingdom of Rondon a reason to go after him." Hmm, I thought he went down the dungeon of Fear and Hunger after that. "After crushing his mercenary army, he was captured and brought down to the dungeons of Fear and Hunger." She continued, giving me a look before turning back to the girls.

Of course, they're totally in disbelief hearing that story.

"Is that why he's called the Mad Yellow King?" Aris asked with both pity and sadness in her voice. "He was supposed to be a chosen hero, yet he became a wicked villain."

"Unfortunately, that's not where the prophesized mans story end. That's where the grand story begins, the birth of the God of Fear and Hunger." Reila told the girls, arms up in a dramatic way with a smile. Oh... that is clever... such a story would be-

"I see... so the Monster Hunter's story connects with such an event!" Momoi excitedly said, eyes focused on her phone as she's typing down the story.

"As in... the same God that Levi-Sensei worships?" No, Midori. I don't exactly worship Funger. "Funger? Wouldn't calling a God that upset it?"

"Such a premise... would be packed with so much stuff." Yuzu said, looking at Reila and I with eyes wide and shining hearing the story.

"Levi-Sensei, Reila-san... are there more on the legend?" Aris asked with a focused tone, wanting to learn more of this story.

For that, I look over to Reila.

"You should know more about this and... well, I'm curious as well."

"Fine, listen well then." Reila then cleared her throat, looking at us to make sure we're ready to listen."

"In the Dungeons of Fear and Hunger. An Oldegarian Warrior hunting down the man who murdered his entire village, a Knight Lady seeking to rescue the man of prophecy, a Dark priest seeking true enlightenment, and... a lowly Mercenary who wishes to provide for his family-"

And so, we listened on. To the story of Ragnvaldr the Monster Hunter, fighting his way deeper down the dungeon filled with malformed unnatural abominations on the way to the man of prophecy's cell. To the story of the nameless Knight Lady who did the same trying to reach the same place. To the story of the nameless Dark Priest who descended down the dungeons for the knowledge and enlightenment it held, which he for some reason thought it would contain. I mean, it's a dungeon for fucks sake. Why would it conta-

"Levi, just shut up and listen." Alright then.

We then listened intently as Reila told the story of the lowly Mercenary who was hired to rescue the prophesized man, but failing to do so as he was already dead when he, the Knight Lady, and Ragnvaldr reached his cell all at the same time.

"But again, that's not where the prophesized mans story ends, we'll get back to him later." Reila said much to our confusion as she continued on with the story. I'm not exactly confused as I know this Yellow King was still alive, but I am curious as to how he's still alive given that... he died in the story.

The lowly Mercenary went back up to the surface, but simply couldn't bring himself to leave empty handed for his family and so... he willingly stayed. Eventually finding... a little girl dressed in rags, on the verge of starvation.

"Who would bring a child to such a place..."

"Definitely a bad person."

"That little girl will at least have a happy ending, r-right?" I hope so too, Yuzu.

While the lowly Mercenary was feeding the child what he could find, Ragnvaldr ventured through a village of literal troglodytes to retrieve what the man of prophecy stole but the troglodytes all attacked and so he slee them in defense as they do not engage with words, even their own people.

"Oh yeah. I should explain Mahabre and the Fellowship." Reila said, as if she just remembered something important.

Hmm, the city of the Gods, the supposed Fellowship becoming the New Gods of the era upon sitting on the Golden Throne. Wait... how come there isn't anything written about this Fellowship?

"Eh, Old Gods stuff. It doesn't nake sense, even to me. Something about them being slain and replaced before they could do anything worthwhile." Hmm... is that so? Carry on then.

/

"The Mercenary received a dream from the New God of the Endless soul, a plea to take her daughter to the Altar of Darkness."

"The Dark Priest found a way to gain true enlightenment and the power of a New God without becoming a pawn of the Old Gods."

"The Knight Lady desperately searched for a way to revive her slain captain."

"Ragnvaldr had already slain every monstrosity with any significant power, and have left by then to hunt more."

That's the Dark Priest and Ragnvaldr out of the equation by now, leaving only the Mercenary and the Knight still left in the dungeons.

Of course, the four little girls with us are very much immersed in the story.

"The lowly Mercenary, despite having found enough artifacts to sell to become part of the nobility by that point, felt compelled to bring the girl he found deeper down the dungeon."

"As he kept descending deeper, he fought with all his might to repel any and all monsters to protect the girl until... he reached the very bottom of the dungeon."

"Then... nothing. The girl could do nothing but look at the Mercenary with gratitude, for letting her feel what having a caring father would feel like. Even if it wasn't that much." Damn... I'm feeling jealous of a story character.

"The girl, the child of the man of prophecy and a New God, was where she was needed." What the-?! Yuzu, Aris, Momoi and Midori all gasped at the reveal.

As did I because... those are the requirements for an Ascended God to be born.

"And so, the Altar of Darkness tore her true nature out of her. Mangling and deforming her body, and the Mercenary could do nothing but listen and watch at the pain being forced upon the little girl."

"Why couldn't she at least get a happy ending?" Yuzu whimpered out with a tear falling down her cheek, having been invested in the story of the girl and the Mercenary about half an hour ago.

"The girl was gone, the God of Fear and Hunger was born."

"How horrible... her own mother sent her down there?!"

"What's the point of all that? The girl could've been happy!"

The twins voiced their grievances, both tearing up at how the girls story concluded.

"The God of Fear and Hunger stared down at the Mercenary looking back in terror, and acknowledged his suffering."

"The Mercenary got a reward for all of his suffering... but was it worth it?" Aris asked with a low saddened voice, looking down to keep herself from crying.

Reila only looked at her with pity. I see... no happy ending then.

"The God of Fear and Hunger could not bear to allow the Mercenary, her father, to suffer any longer. So... she simply ended his misery right there and then. The world would never know of his part in the greater scheme of things, his family never saw him again."

That's... life I guess.

"That's... so sad. The Mercenary did all of that, but... he didn't get anything for it?"

"Yeah! Couldn't Funger have given him power?!"

"Gods can bless people, right? Why didn't she bless the Mercenary?!"

"I see... it's because the Mercenary has suffered so much that his soul itself was scarred and corrupted." We all turned to Aris, with a bitter smile and tears on the verge of tears. "Even if the Mercenary returned to his family... he wouldn't be him anymore." Hmm, that's... interesting coming from Aris.

"I see... so that's why..."

"Such an ending... it's so sad but... somehow, it feels right."

"That's... I see. A story filled with despair and struggle, with a bitter yet sweet ending..." Momoi muttered out as she's nodding her head.

"I said that we would be making TSC2, but then I changed my mind and went with Ragnvaldr's story. Now, we're making the epic saga of the Dungeon of Fear and Hunger!" Momoi, with tears running down her cheeks, proudly announces with determined eyes.

To which Midori, Aris, and Yuzu all cheered in agreement.

"TSC2... eh, it can still be TSC. Terror and Starvation that is."

"That title sounds terrifying, but... it kind of sounds really cool!"

"Reila-san, what about the Knight Lady?"

Reila looks at Aris for a moment, then she once again clears her throat.

"She found a scroll that revives- well, not exactly revives, the prophesized man but... eh, even worse than how he was. Sat down on the Golden Throne and came out a New God dressed in yellow. Then he did some more terrible things, hence why he's called the Mad Yellow King."

"... that's it?"

"To give you girls an idea, the Mad Yellow King lead the Bremen Empire to war for... a bunch of old electronic junk." I interjected, oversimplifying the full story.

"Electro- wait, I thought you said he was from the Dark Ages?!" Yes, Momoi. He's still alive after 300 or so years.

"Huh?! That's... why is he leading a nation then?! Why isn't he behind bars?!" Midori... he's the Bremen Chancellor.

"That's... they trust that tyrant?!"

"That's the thing, Yuzu... they elected him." Reila said with a frown.

"How horrible... a villain winning in the end." Aris muttered out, looking down sadly.

"That aside... I think I already have an idea for the game we're gonna make!"

/

The GDD started their actual proper work on what they prophesized as the game that will put retro games back on the map, asking a few questions about magic, spells, and the Gods for references to better understand how the dungeons would've been back then.

They're gonna take a little while to complete said project, but it will certainly be done soon... naturally because the Millennium Prize event is near.

So, away we went for other stuff. Walking out of the Millennium student housing building, I was greeted by the vibrant colorful artificial lights of Millennium district.

As much as I want to keep on sight seeing, I still need to see another student asking for my help... as well as making to to that Hyakkiyako place for that festival.

So, I kept on moving as I occasionally checked the map feature on my phone and the line towards the coordinates that student gave me.

The roads this night are empty, quiet, peaceful. That's what I thought as I walked around the place navigating my way towards where I'm being called to.

Finally, I see a short dark haired girl with glasses wearing a Millennium uniform with a jacket on in the distance leaning on a wall with a canned drink. Her halo is bright blue, I think it's almost the same color as Aris, or Yume's halo. She's holding an assault rifle.

As she tilts her head up pouring her cannes drink down her throat, she sees me approaching. She widens her eyes in realization, turning around and coughing as she held her drink.

"Sensei of Schale, you're actually here?" The short haired girl said, clearing her throat as she fixed her posture facing me. "I am Kagami Chihiro, president of the Veritas club. It is a pleasure to meet you." Wait a minute, I thought Himari was the Veritas president?

"She was before transferring to the Super Phenomenon Task Force." I see.

"I'm Levi, just Levi. It's nice to meet you too, Chihiro." I greeted back politely, not being able to tear my eyes off of her face. She looks... almost exactly like-

"Olivia?" Reila asked aloud, appearing besides me as Chihiro widened her eyes in surprise.

"The rumored assistant Sensei?" I heard her muttering out. Huh? So that's what Rin labelled her as.

Hmm, Reila's completely frozen staring at Chihiro's pretty face. Bringing my hand to her shoulder, I shook her out of her stupor.

"That's not her, she's back in that place, right?"

"R-right, I'm sorry." She said meekly, offering a small bow of apology to Chihiro.

"T-that's fine. I don't mind. Anyways, I shouldn't take up any more of your time. Follow me, Sensei and..."

"Reila Haas. Nice to meet you, Chihiro."

/

Chihiro is an expert of sort in software security stuff, a profession that Reila would be more qualified to talk about. On the way towards her clients workplace, the two of them chatted about computer stuff like programming and other things I wouldn't know the meaning of until we reached where she's being called and Reila had to go back to her ghost form... or back to the tablet with Arona.

I accompanied Chihiro as we met her client, a fat mechanoid in a business suit that's too obvious too not be an asshole.

I didn't bother with understanding what he was saying about the servers, security system, and whatnot to Chihiro who I can see is an expert in remaining calm. I mean, the way this fatso talks, his demeanor, his condescending tone... there's something he's up to.

Something that he doesn't want Chihiro to find out or anyone at all.

"Understood! I'll get to work!" Chihiro eagerly said, picking up the files that suspicious guy left as he walked out the room after giving her a warning.

"You deal with that a lot?" I ask, moving to her side as I looked at the documents she was reading, completely not understanding a thing once I laid my eyes on it.

"Well, a lot of customers are like that due to Veritas' being the way it is." She explained with a smile, sounding real proud of the fact as her eyes are moving left, right, up, and down reading the documents. "Anyway, I just need a few minutes for this."

/

Outside again, we're back where we first met chugging another canned drink as she's typing away on her laptop, a small foldable and portable computer, as she called it set up on a bench. Reila's watching over her shoulders, completely with an awestruck expression at whatever Chihiro is working on.

"Wow... that's several hundred more lines of code than what Bremens best computers was capable of running." Reila said in wonder as she's leaning down on Chihiro, who's blushing shyly at the praise.

"I don't know a thing about that code stuff, but it must be really good if it has Reila acting like that." I teased out with a smirk, moving closer to Chihiro to get a closer look to what she's working on. "She's considered a prodigy, the best of the best, in computers where we came from."

"Is that so? Still... I'm not that good." Chihiro said in a low voice, the blush in her cheeks getting slightly redder. "And Sensei... you're a little too close." Yeah, what's the matter?

"Uhm..."

"Out the way, Levi. I can't see a thing." Reila demanded with a pout and a glare. Hmm, yeah sure.

"Say, why was that guy so worried about you?" I asked, watching her work over Reila's shoulder.

"Because... of this." As Chihiro said that, she tapped the enter key and stopped typing entirely as some pictures and names appeared on the laptop screen. I think I see some street names and numbers. "Private personal data of their customers. Names, home addresses, Debit and Credit card PINs, you name it." Chihiro said with an unnaturally calm tone.

"Is that any danger? What's a Debit or Credit card?" I asked, not knowing anything about this side of Kivotos' technology.

Chihiro's head began slowly spinning, followed by her body moving to face me. She's looking at me with eyebrows furrowed in a mix of confusion and exasperation.

"Yeah, I don't see how someone knowing my name or where I live would be harmful." Yeah, what Reila said. If dangerous people knew where I live, I can just lock up as best I could. "What Levi said. Besides, we have connections and someone would notice if someone's using our names." This time, it's Reila's turn to be looked at by Chihiro like she's an idiot.

"Levi-Sensei... Reila-san... how do you two not know about these things?" Chihiro asked, menacingly as the shine on her glasses from the laptops artificial light is covering her eyes.

"We didn't have stuff like phones or much of the technologies Kivotos'had, we were still using telegrams back in the Army."

"And computers are kind of a recent thing, our most powerful back in Bremen were the size of a Panzer."

"Telegrams... in this day and age? Computers the size of... like the 1950s kind of computers?" Chihiro muttered out, tone and expression in a mix of absolute annoyance and confusion.

"It was actually 1942 where we're from."

With that, Chihiro just kept on staring at us. Humming along the way in thought, probably thinking that we're both idiots going by how she's looking at us. Then, she just moves on back to her laptop.

"Info like these can be sold, either to large entities like companies or to private buyers. The former can use it to find out when or who to advertise themselves to and raise prices depending on how much they'll be needed. As for private buyers... well, you wouldn't want a stalker breaking into your house now, would you? There will also be risk of identity fraud and you're savings on the bank being stolen or Credit card being used." I see...

"So predatory business practices, and straight up insane people? Got it." Reila said in understanding at Chihiro's explanation.

"Eh, stalkers aren't that bad." I mean, they literally aren't. Marina's stalker could've been reasoned with if we talked to her sooner, and Wakamo really isn't a bad person... what are you two looking at me for?! "If it's a bad stalker, then I can just shoot them."

"Levi... those are kind of the exception with most stalkers." Why, have you ever been stalked? "Well... the spies and guards sent my way..."

"Levi-Sensei... I know that you are a young man and all that, but please... you can't just trust every pretty girl coming your way." Would you prefer if I didn't trust you immediately, Chihiro? "Huh?! That's beside the point, Sensei!"

Chihiro went back to doing her thing, dissecting and analyzing the app thing from her clients. Uncovering their scheme for greater profit, selling the information of their customers to whoever.

She privately leaked the information to the internet, as she can't exactly report it herself. Breaks the trust of Veritas' clients that way, and she still made an agreement with those scoundrels.

Tsk, that's annoying. Having to go against the law to combat this kind of thing. But thankfully, Kivotos' has Chihiro dealing with such thing for it's inhabitants.

Ugh, this late... hmm, I'm gonna take a bus to that Hyakkiyako place. It's slow enough that I can sleep plenty on the way. Hey, Reila. Can you use magic to make it so I just took a bath?

"Yeah, sure... but just this once, alright? "

/

This place, Hyakkiyako Allied Academy... it's like I'm in the far east or something. The architecture, the clothes some people are wearing, the food and merchandise every store has.

The place is crowded, an endless wave of people walking left and right. Automatons, animal people, haloed students all partaking and enjoying the festivities.

Feeling someone bump to me on the side, I adjusted my footing so I wouldn't trip down.

"Ah, oh? Aruji-dono! You're here?" Huh? Izuna? I turn to face her as she's pushing herself up, tails wagging as she looks at me with shining eyes.

"Yeah, I was called here to help and participate with the festival." I explained, unable to hold my urge to bring my hand up to Izuna's head and patting and rubbing it gently.

"Hmm, nin-nin!" She hums, closing her eyes and savoring the feeling of my hand on her head.

"There she is, Mimori!" I heard a voice shout out, and Izuna snapping into attention towards where the voice came from.

I see Izuna making her handsigns, slinging her submachinegun to her side, probably about to do her very own Phase Step. Walking closer to her, I grabbed her by the neck as she gasped and-

[Phase Step]

We're farther away from whoever was chasing her.

"Uwaah, ugh..." Izuna is wobbling in place, holding her head as her body is moving left and right. "Sensei's teleportation jutsu... you didn't even have to do handsigns."

"Well, magic is stored in the mind after all. Maybe it's just the difference with Western magic and Oriental ninjutsu?"

"I see, I see. Interesting!" She excitedly exclaimed, pulling out an ornate looking notebook and scribbling on it. Hmm, where's your scroll? "Each bit of ninjutsu, or in this case, magic is important. They deserve their own scrolls." That's some dedication Izuna has.

"Anyway, you said you were here for the festival. Then, Aruji-dono, let Izuna be the guide for your Hyakkiyako tour!" She happily said, closing her notebook and pocketing it as she held her hand out for me.

"Don't let me down then." I said, smiling back as I took her hand. Then, Izuna dragged me along as she started talking about what the festival has in store.

Excitedly pointing and explaining what a certain shop is selling, what sort of exotic far eastern delicacies are being sold in certain shops. Those kinds of things.

Izuna looked so happy just talking about those things, she was so happy just holding my hand. She's cute... really cute.

"Over here, Aruji-dono!" Not like I could deny Izuna here, her grip on my hand is tight.

She pulled me along as she run up the stairs of a Wood building, a clear view of the festivities from this high of a view and...

That gigantic tree with pink leaves... it's eyecatching, mesmerizing... I can't take my eyes off of it.

"Yup! That's Hyakkiyako's pride and joy, there's nothing like it anywhere else in Abydos!" Yeah... that's something to be proud of... "Heehee, this place is nice right? This is Izuna's favorite place, where the bustling streets and the festivities are in clear view.

"Izuna... why do you like ninjas so much?"

"Huh?" Izuna looks at with wide eyes, totally not expecting those words from me. "Well... ninjas are cool! Thankless and always in danger, they're devoted to upholding justice and protecting their lord no matter what!" Izuna explained eagerly yet nervously, slowing herself down probably as to not stutter her words out.

"And they have really cool and powerful ninjutsus, like Aruji-dono's magic!" Really now? What are their ninjutsu capable of? "Well... they can breath out fire, form a rasengan in their hands, summon mythical beasts in a fight, summon shadow clones, the list goes on and on!" I don't know what a rasengan is, and I certainly don't know about the other things. What's important is Izuna is happy.

"That's great... if you're that enthusiastic about it then... ninjas must truly be amazing."

Izuna's fox ears twitched as her expression is frozen. "That's the first time I've ever heard that... Levi-Sensei... I am overjoyed to know that you support my dream!" Hmm, are those actual tears of joy?

"Levi-dono, let's enjoy this festival!"

/

Another message from whoever asked for my presence here in Hyakkiyako, telling me to meet them at a place called the... Momoyoudo.

I asked around for directions which a lot of people were happy to give, all talking about how some one named Shizuko had the brightest most sweetest smile in the known world.

Their enthusiasm was something, but I did arrive here so that doesn't matter.

Looking through the windows, I can see that it's a modest place. Hmm, what are those mechanical looking boxes... Millennium symbol... probably an import or something. Opening up the door, the bells above rung out as a blond girl came to greet me.

She had a red halo with wings at the side, wearing an exquisite far eastern dress with huge sleeves with her breasts... being wholly exposed to the world. She's holding... ugh, it's one of those weirdly designed Rondon machineguns. It has a circular magazine placed horizontally on the tope.

"You're here, Boss! Welcome!"

[En Garde] [Adrenaline Rush] [Fast Stance] [Perfect Defense] [Counter Stance] [Gun Proficiency] [Gunslinger] [Bob And Weave] [Barehand Proficiency] [Melee Proficiency] [Intimidation] [Killing Intent]

"Uhm... did I do something wrong?" Mobsters can't be trusted, absolutely not! Criminals and scum, that's what they all are! I felt my pulse rising as I grabbed my Lugr, head pounding as my instincts kept shouting at me to shoot. I'm wheezing as if out of breath.

"Pina! I told you to stop talking like a mobster before, didn't I?" I heard another girl shouting.

I look past the blond girl, and see a girl with long brown hair tied to twintails wearing an oriental dress with a pristine white apron and a small trench gun slung behind her back. She has a pink halo.

"Someone was gonna get the wrong idea at one point... and it was the Gun Mage Sensei of all people." She said with a disappointed sigh, then taking a breath as she approached me. "It's pleasure to meet you, Levi of Prehevil. Sensei of Schale. I am Kawawa Shizuko, president of the Hyakkiyako Festival Management Committee." The one everyone's been calling cute?

"And welcome to the Momoyoudo! Nyan!" She, Shizuko, eagerly announced followed by... I think she's imitating a cat. I don't really see the appeal... no thanks to the pedo cat, but it is cute. "Pina, it's your turn... and no, I don't think Sensei likes gangsters... not even a little." The blonde girl snapped into attention, then she cleared her throat.

"I am Asahino Pina, an employee here in the Momoyoudo. And I'm aspiring to be the worlds greatest vigilante!" Pina politely, yet roughly proclaimed.

"Nice to meet you both." I muttered back, slowly holstering my Lugr. "S-sorry about that, I had... a terrible meeting with a mobster." I meekly told Pina.

"Oh? I see. Uhm... what was it like?" Pina asked curiously, leaning closer as she looked at me with anticipation. Huh? "I only know about them from movies and dramas, that they're all truth and loyalty." ...

"Kind of, but only to themselves. Everyone else is either a victim, a hostage, or an enemy." I don't want to bring Pina's mood down, but I'm not about to say anything even remotely good about those "people" if they can even be called that. "Mister Marcoh and his sister can attest to that."

"I see... real life is vastly different from movies I guess." Pina mumbled with a sigh of disappointment, leaning away with her head down.

"Ahem! Enough with being gloomy, it's supposed to be a festival!" Shizuko shouted out with a hint of anger. That's... completely unexpected coming from how tiny she is. "Anyway, Levi-Sensei. This must be your first time in Hyakkiyako Allied Academy, so you must no doubt be curious."

And so, Shizuko began telling me about Hyakkiyako. Built up and developed solely for tourism. Festivals, hot springs, good food, all sorts of entertainment. A place with many cultures mixing and somehow not imploding like some countries back in Europa.

"And so, as the Festival Management Committee, we're tasked with... well, organizing festivals and such." Shizuko proudly, yet modestly explained the duties that she is trusted with.

"And the Momoyoudo is our clubs hideout!" Hmm, I think Shizuko's eye twitched because of Pina's words.

"So, we've been working day and night to prepare for this years Cherry Blossom Festival." Yeah... I could see that everyone has been enjoying the festivities so far. "Of course! That is the power of the Festival Management Committee!" Those people were right, Shizuko's smile is truly precious.

"But still... there's this one small problem, troublemakers trying to-"

Boom!

An explosion from outside interrupted Shizuko, making her freeze for a moment until rage began morphing her expression as she processed the explosion.

"Ah, president. It's those jerks again!" Pina shouted in alert as she peeked out the window.

"Again?! They just wreaked havoc earlier!"

Sigh, here I go again...

/

A large group of girls with weird masks in yellow outfits are scattered around the streets, all armed with rocket launchers. Loudly talking about being ordered by their client to cause mayhem for whatever reason.

"Is this perhaps part of the festival?" Red Winter had weekly coups, so thi-

"Of course not, they're saboteurs out to ruin the festival!" Shizuko shouted in exasperation as she held and cocked her trench gun. "And don't compare us to those crazies in Red Winter!" Oh, so that's just them then.

"Boss, you're orders?!" Hmm...

"Pina, fire bursts and aimed at their hands and weapons. Shizuko, one shell to either of their knees then to their face to knock them out." I said as I cracked my neck and stretched my arm, grabbing my Lugr and eyeing the hostiles and the whole place.

"But Sensei, I'm just a frail and cute idol..." Shizuko said in a low shy voice. "But... oh well, I've wanted to stomp these troublemakers down anyways!" Hmm... is that what philosophers are talking about when they mention a mask to society?

"Got it, boss!" Pina said excitedly, cocking her gun and aiming as she fired in periodic full auto. The orange flashes of her shot hitting the masked troublemakers in the hand or weapon causing them to let go, their hands trembling from the sudden vibration from the impact.

"I've had enough of you troublemakers! Taste my wrath!" Shizuko shouted and laughed maniacally, charging their lines and shooting one on the knee causing her to fall to one knee. Then, Shizuko finished her off with a point blank shell to the face.

The two girls in yellow and masks look on frozen, then they jumped back as they aimed at Shizuko.

Bang! Bang!

I shot at their weapons, causing one to drop hers and the other staggering as I hit her in the neck.

"Oh? Thanks Sensei!" Shizuko happily shouted, then she turned to blast one away, cocking her trench gun then turning to the other to also blast her away.

"Wow, president is always in the backlines. But Sensei managed to turn her to a force of nature that fast..." Pina muttered in wonder, eyes filled with admiration as she looked at Shizuko. "But we're not done yet, the rest of them are coming!" Hmm, yeah. That is a lot of them.

"Gah! What do we do, Sensei?" Don't worry, Shizuko. This is supposed to be a festival... let me add to the festivities with magic. "Oh... Sensei, shouldn't magic be used for... you know? More important stuff." You don't want to witness magic?

"Huh? Of course I do!" Then watch.

"Sensei's magic... and we're getting a front row seat..." Pina muttered, keeping her eyes on me in anticipation.

Alright, let's get this over with.

[Double Hurting]

I felt a slight pull in my mind, ill will taking form in a red and black energy forming into a ball in my hand.

"So cool..."

"It feels menacing..."

I heard the two girls by my aide muttering. The approaching group of troublemakers paused at the sight of the Hurting ball, legs trembling as they aimed their weapons up.

[Phase Step]

And in a moment, I'm right infront of them. The troublemakers in yellow and masks all stumbled back as they yelped, and I launched the Hurting ball in the middle of their ranks.

For a split second, the spiraling Hurting ball slightly pulled some of them towards it then-

Boom!

The distorted explosion sound echoed around the place as the troublemakers all got throw and scattered around. Hmm, this one is still awake.

Bending to my knees to her level, I grabbed her by the neck to keep her down.

"Who's your client?"

"Huh? Why would I tell you?!"

[Mind Read]

We're the Street Mouryo, we might be troublemakers but we still have integrity! Date Meowsamune might be a jerk, but he's still a client.

[Intimidation]

"Where is this Date Meowsamune hiding?" I growled out to the Mouryo, as she called herself, who just froze at my words.

"Huh? H-how... did you... know?" With a terror stricken voice, she could only mutter her words out.

How did he know? The Gun Mage Sensei... what sort of unholy magic did he use... I didn't say anything... could he perhaps... take the knowledge from my soul?! Or... are the rumors actually true?! That he can read minds!

"Exactly, now tell me where your boss is before I melt your skin off." Of course, I'm not actually going to do that. But I just need her scared."

"Aaagh! Help! Where are you, you damn ninja?!" She screamed out to the sky, struggling and squirming in my hold. Huh? That would be-!

I let her go as I jumped away and... something blew dark obscuring smoke around the place. I then felt someone bumping into me and then jumping back in obvious caution.

"Huh?! Aruji-dono?! What are you doing here?!" Izuna?! Why did dissidents call for you?! "Dissidents?! Sensei, they're my comrades! And you're the one with troublemakers!" Huh? You mean Shizuko and Pina?

"Yeah! Sensei... you said all those great things about Izuna's dream yet... here you are siding with evildoers!" Izuna shouted at me in an accusatory tone, finger pointing with a furious expression. So this... this is your dream, Izuna? To ruin a festival that everyone is enjoying? "Absolutely not! That should be Izuna's line, Sensei! You sweet talked Izuna, seducing her with your sweet words!" I wasn't... well, she is cute. I can't deny that.

The Street Mouryo's began recovering, pushing themselves up from the ground and running away. One of them stops by Izuna's side, telling her that they need to retreat.

"I see. Say no more then!" And with that, the Mouryo girl began running away once again with Izuna facing me. "Fate is such a cruel mistress, putting the Sensei that supported me on the opposing side." Is it a ninja thing to be overly dramatic?

"But a ninja's life is naturally rife with conflict, so I'll never give up! Just wait, Sensei. I'll be strong enough to match the fearsome foe you once dueled!" She proudly announced, and then she left. Running so fust and jumping high up a building.

Yeah, Phase Step is not going to match that... neither will Izuna ever match Mister August in terms of strength and skill.

/

After all that commotion, we went back to the Momoyoudo. For now, Pina and I are just listening as Shizuko talked about the Mouryo girls and the festival. They were never as organized as they were today, ramping up their attacks just as the Cherry Blossom Festival was starting.

Apparently, Shizuko and Pina didn't have much trouble fighting them off until recently. With Shizuko whining out, questioning why they would even want to ruin the festival.

"Perhaps they simply don't like the festival." Hmm, who said that? It's... a cat person.

"Oh, you're the president of the Hyakkiyako shopping district merchant guild." Shizuko said with a smile, walking closer to him with a greeting.

Hmm... that Sergal was one thing, these people are another thing entirely.

"And you are?" I have a feeling that this person will be important later on.

"I am Date Meowru, president of the Hyakkiyako shopping district merchant guild." Any relations to someone named Date Meowsamune? "... No, never heard of someone with that name." He paused a little too long for my liking.

"Sensei, who's that supposed to be?" Shizuko asked, walking closer to me with a curious expression with Pina looking on the same way.

"I used Mind Read on one of the Mouryo, that's their clients name." As I explained, Shizuko and Pina both let out a gasp of shock at once. And the cat person just... froze with widened eyes.

"Sensei... you can read minds?"

"Such a terrifying power..."

The two members of the Festival Management Committee mumbled out in a mix of awe and fright.

"And you suspected me of being that person, young Sensei of Schale?" I mean... it's not exactly my fault that you Orientals have similar sounding names. "... Pardon?"

"I mean, back in Prehevil there was a far eastern visitor named Kida. Then, here in Kivotos I meet a girl named Kuda. Isn't that a little confusing?" Then there's Tomoe and the other Tomoe.

"I see, that would certainly be confusing for outside visitors."

"We're getting sidetracked!" Shizuko shouted, arms frantically waving around. "We're talking about the Mouryo here. What they're trying to accomplish and all that."

"Ah yes. The festival traditionally ends with fireworks, but I hear that you have something different planned for this years festival Shizuko-chan?"

"Yeah, I borrowed some special equipment from Millennium." Oh, so that's what those boxes are for.

"Oh, yeah. I've heard about those, it can make holograms of fireworks, right?" Pina said with a smile, looking at the boxes with Millenniums sigil.

"It must've cost a fortune... well, it may be because some people just hate change." Hmm, why does it feel like the cat person is talking about his own thoughts.

"Is that really enough of a reason to disrupt the festival?" Shizuko asked in a dejected tone with her head down. "I prepared all of this because I thought that everyone would like it."

"It was just a guess... I can't say for sure, but some people are just stubborn like that." The cat person concluded.

Hmm... past traditions... people not wanting change and actively trying to prevent it. It could just be old people being stubborn, or...

"Maybe someone has a reason to actively attack the festival." Letting my thoughts out to words, the three people in this conversation all turn their heads to me. "My birth town was stubborn about traditions. I mean, they were still doing Dark Age rituals and stuff."

"That is certainly interesting, but the Cherry Blossom Festival isn't a religious event Levi-Sensei." Shizuko dismissively said, but her tone and body language is showing curiosity.

"The two are completely different, but they have similarities. Maybe Sensei is up to something?" Hmm, sounds like Pina has a similar thought to me.

"That would certainly be interesting, practices that should've long been abandoned still being done..." The cat person hummed out with a hand on his chin. "So, young man, how do you think this all connects?"

"The clergy of Prehevil wanted the human sacrifices to stay, as that was the most common way to be blessed with magic back in the Dark Ages." Hmm... as much as I want to move away from that, I don't think that place will ever leave my mind.

"Seriously... how despicable." Shizuko mumbled out, covering her mouth as her eyes watered slightly. She hunched over, gulping... probably her guts back in.

"Sensei... you didn't get magic like that... right?" Don't worry, Pina. Common doesn't mean it was the only way to get magic. "I see... that's great then..."

"The circumstances and reasons are... vastly different from one another..." The cat person said.

"But in the end, it's all about not losing what the traditionalists have a monopoly to." I followed up for him. "Whoever is ordering the attacks, they don't want fireworks being phased out. So, probably fireworks manufacturers." I'm not sure if this is Miss Karin's deduction skills or if it's my own developing, but I'm still very much proud of myself.

"I understand, but times are changing and the festival must evolve. I would know, I'm the president of the Festival Management Committee!" Shizuko sounds both pissed but sad.

"Yeah! Festivals have to be better than the last." Pina eagerly followed up with a cheery expression.

"I suppose I can't argue with that."

/

After that, Shizuko brought me along to complain to the group known as the Yin Yang Club leaving Pina to take care of the Momoyoudo in her stead. Shizuko... had nothing good to say about the Yin Yang Club, only that they're somehow always avoiding problems. Insisting on dealing with problems through writing or some such.

This group... was headquartered in a huge ass castle. It's exactly how I imagined a grand far eastern castle would look like going by what few imports from that region that I saw.

Much to Shizuko's dismay, the Yin Yang Club was not present. They only left one of their members, a girl with blue hair and red horns, a blue halo wearing all white and armed with a grenade launcher. Shizuko called her Chise, she was talking all weird. Like her mind was somewhere else all that time, I think Shizuko said something about her being a poet of sort.

Shizuko wasn't pleased, but she did get a suggestion from Chise. Something about getting help from other groups with the same objectives in mind.

/

"So... the Inner Discipline Club. How do I say this?" Shizuko asked herself as we're walking, closing her eyes and humming in thought. "Eh, they're kind of weirdos."

"Interesting, what kind of weird are we talking about?"

"Oh, you're actually interested? Well, I've heard that thay solve puzzles in their sleep. They take out thugs to improve their street cred." That's a sentence I never thought would come out of Shizuko's mouth. "I also heard that one of them can read minds, like you Sensei." ...

Processing what I just heard, I stopped walking entirely.

"Sensei, I'm sure it's not that important so cheer up-"

Boom!

Another explosion, the same one from the Mouryo's launchers earlier.

"Shi- shoot! Again?! How many times will I have to teach them this lesson!" Shizuko furiously exclaimed as she grabbed her trench gun, baring hee teeth and glaring towards the group of girls in masks and yellow.

"Shizuko, try keeping your trigger finger pulled and just keep cocking your gun." I don't know if the slam fire method works with Shizuko's trench gun model, but can't hurt to try.

"Oh? Okay!" She then charged the Mouryo, aiming her gun on the still unaware Mouryo until she blasted one on the knee. Shizuko pumps her trench gun, and a shell instantly blasts the one on her knee away. "Oh, it works!"

And with that, Shizuko aimed and peppered the Mouryo several more times. Pumping the mechanism of her trench gun as her shells firing echoed throughout the place. Ugh, watching the cute little Shizuko pumping the cylinder that is her trench gun is...

"Ugh, more are coming!" Shizuko shouted in frustration as she backed away to me whilst reloading her trench gun. Yeah, a lot of those girls in yellow are approaching.

Hmm, maybe I should just Black Orb these-

"That's enough! You're evil ends here, Street Mouryo!" I heard an eccentric voice from somewhere. Everyone, including me, are turning their heads towards the source of that voice.

...

There's a small, yet... well endowed girl wearing a white and red robe. Her halo is pink and shaped like five leaves stuck together at its rear end. She has dark hair and raccoon ears. Is that... a double barreled flare gun she's holding?

She's waving her arms around, and making a pose. Then two more girls dressed in a color scheme similar to hers appeared.

The one to her right is... thick. Her armpits are exposed along with the side of her breasts. She has a red hexagon for a halo, short dark hair also with raccoon ears. She's holding a shield and a small submachinegun... she looks to be on the verge of falling asleep.

Last but not least is a pink haired girl who's hair is tied to a bun in the side. She has a pink halo with circles overlapping in the middle. She looks to be dressed in a uniform. She's holding a really small pistol.

Hmm, they're all making a weird pose. Talking and acting like... they're live in a theatre or something.

"Yeah... like I said, weirdos." Shizuko said, cringe is audible in her voice as she, I, even the Mouryo all froze looking at this new group of girls.

Hmm, which one of them is the mind reader?

[Mind Read]

Heehee, they're totally struck with fear. Those lowly street Mouryo. And... is that the Gun Mage Sensei I see?! He's totally awestruck with us!

That's the short girl out.

Hmm... maybe it's safe to fall asleep for now...

The girl with the shield is out, really out as she's resting her head on her shield and... she's already asleep.

The poor Sensei of Schale is here... he looked so bloody and beaten when I first saw him in the news, but fortunately he looks to have improved. Hmm, the way he's staring at me... it's as if he could see my inner self. Read my mind even... no, his magic is unbelievable yet real. Mind reading however, is most hard to believe.

Oh, thank Gods. The pink haired girl isn't a mind reader, she's just really good at reading people... like Miss Abella.

"Three gorgeous girls fighting for peace and justice as one, prepare yourselves!" The short one proudly shouted, waking up the one with a shield as she yawned.

"Kaede, everyone is staring." The pink haired one muttered looking around shyly.

"Tsk, these weirdos... and Schale. Where's Izuna when we need her?"

As if on cue, smoke bombs that could only have come from Izuna blew up. Obscuring the entire place just as she did earlier.

"Perfect! While they're distracted, it's time to attack!" I heard one of the enemy girls shouting.

Tsk, I don't think so!

[Double Hurting]

A mass of ill will manifested in my hand as I aimed it towards where I heard those girls.

"Aruji-dono... Izuna has returned!" The dust settled in front of me slightly, revealing Izuna standing with a resolved expression. "You can't be a bad guy... I can tell. So that's why... I'll win, and show you the truth of this situation." She then got into a hand to hand stance, legs bent slightly as she prepared to charge me.

"Here comes Izuna!" She shouted as she began charging me, and I launched the Hurting ball.

She dodged, just as I wanted, and the Hurting went towards where her Mouryo comrades are.

Boom!

The distorted sound of the Hurting echoed and partially cleared the obscuring smoke as the Mouryo who were hir screamed out in pain.

Now, it's only Izuna.

[Barehand Proficiency]

I dashed towards Izuna to throw a hook, which she just dodged and-

A punch to my stomach, making me hunch over as I gritted my teeth. I threw my arm towards her in a grabbing motion, to which she dodged and locked it with her left arm. Taking a step back and pulling me along, she jumped up and spun with a kick which I barely managed to block as I pulled my arm back.

"I may never be able to match your ninjutsu, but I still have my Taijutsu. Sensei!" Izuna proudly declared, getting into a formation with her right arm winded up and left infront to guard or pull.

[Flesh Puppetry]

"Impressive... very impressive, Izuna." Never would I have imagined that such a cute and small girl would be so skilled in hand to hand combat. "It's time to get serious." I think I've had enough of being beaten down by cute girls at this point.

"Then come, Sen-"

[Phase Step]

"sei?" Appearing ar Izuna's side, her eyes slowly turn towards me as panic began to take her expression.

I mentally direct the hands to grab her feet, making her stumble down as she tried to jump away.

"Lesson number two, Izuna. Go for the limbs first so your target can neither fight back nor run away."

Izuna doesn't respond, only looking at the two puppet flesh hands holding her by the ankles.

"I see... even now, you're still giving Izuna guidance. Sensei, you're truly kind." She said, looking up to me with a smile. "Even with all of my training and preparations... you still defeated me this quickly..."

"Izuna... why are you with the Mouryo?"

"Well, it's a job from my client and... a ninja is supposed to be loyal." She's fully committed to this ninja thing, isn't she?

"Izuna... I thought I was your lord?"

"Well y-you are! Just that... this is a job for my homeland, to preserve the culture when evildoers seek to erase it." Is that what Date Meowsamune told you? "Aruji-dono, y-you know about my c-client?!"

"Shizuko and Pina doesn't seek to erase the Hyakkiyako traditions, only to evolve it. It just so happens that their plans for doing so involves your client losing money or whatever." That's just an assumption, but even Date Meowru looked like he was agreeing with that sentiment.

"B-but... but he said that... it was for Hyakkiyako." It can both be true, Izuna. That's how the world is. "I see... but I will still not betray my current employer. Ninjas are supposed to be professional." Izuna said with a pout.

I command the puppet hands to let go of Izuna and to disappear back into my shadow.

"Aruji-dono... you're letting me go?" Izuna said in disbelief, wide eyed as she looked up from her feet and on to me.

"Yeah, I trust you a lot, Izuna. I trust in your dream."

"Aruji-dono... then, I will see you later."

/

Izuna P.O.V

Back here in the abandoned building long past in disrepair, I along with the Mouryo are listening on as our employer is once again getting all grumpy.

Levi-dono have brought us down twice now, almost and literally single handedly. The Mouryo were ready for the Festival Management Committee and the Inner Discipline Club, but Levi-dono being there was beyond their capabilities.

"Izuna, is there anything you can tell us about the Sensei of Schale? You two seemed to be well acquainted." Huh? The boss is asking Izuna?!

"Well... I know that he's a great warrior and he has magic." I've only talked to Levi-dono thrice at this point, so I still do not know much about his personal stuff.

"Obviously, I can see that. Is there anything he as told you that's unknown to the public?" I mean, he's good enough that he was an instant celebrity in AngelGram so that wasn't much help. But...

"He did tell Izuna that he won a duel against a fearsome foe, a descendant of a Monster Hunter!" I couldn't help but let out my excitement, the fact that this supposed Monster Hunter was a real person!

"Is that so? Any more details?" Of course, even the boss would be curious!

"That he had a gun, and his foe had a bow and arrow but this foe was still scary, running and jumping around buildings as he slew... I think Levi-dono called them moonscorch beasts." The next time I meet Levi-dono, I need to ask for more details regarding this epic duel. I mean, there's no way that such an event wouldn't be epic!

"Interesting, you think he won?"

"Of course! He's still here, right?" Hmm... wait a minute, Levi-dono used the word for slaying so casually... and duels almost always end in someone... no, that's not possible. Levi-dono isn't a bad person.

Is it just me, or did I see the boss trembling? Huh? What's with everyone being scared?

"I see, that will be all Izuna."

"Oh, one more thing, boss." I blurted out. I still have to ask about... what Levi-dono said. "Levi-Sensei knows about you... somehow. He said that you're not doing this for Hyakkiyako, but because change means you're going to lose something." That's the exactly how he worded it out, but...

"Yes, he is correct." Huh? I couldn't help but let out a gasp as my boss admitted it. "For hundreds of years now, we have created and used fireworks for the Cherry Blossom Festival. You could even say that it is a part of Hyakkiyako life." I could feel the boss' devotion in his voice.

"Not only is it a living, it's also part of what makes Hyakkiyako whole. I cannot accept the fact that they're planning on replacing such a tradition with fakes using Millennium technology, a foreign technology!"

I see, that is... truly admirable. Undeniably so.

/

Levi P.O.V

Meeting the members of the Inner Discipline Club, Tsubaki, Kaede, and Mimori was fun. They're now patrolling the streets along with Pina and Shizuko, the latter I dealt with some Sukebens just earlier with.

I kind of left on my own, following Izuna as I saw traces that's obviously from her. Call me an idiot for leaving Pina, the one supposed to be my guard and escort, but I kind of want to be with Izuna at the moment.

And here we are, just like in my arrival this morning, Izuna and I are back at it again taking part in the festivities. Izuna, just like this morning, was enthusiastically pulling me along into stores and such for some food or delicacies as well as some other things uniquely from the far east. Or in this case, Hyakkiyako.

"Sensei... I want to spend the festival with you, but... I still have my duties with my employer." She said, conviction radiating from her eyes. Then, she disappeared again.

Izuna... she's a little naive, but she has dedication. That's something the Mouryo or Date Meowsamune will no doubt use. Now, I just have to wait until a Mouryo takes me away.

It won't be long at this point, I just have to wait.

/

Ah, that was fast. A pair of girls in masks and dressed in yellow had me follow them to a secluded and abandoned building.

Damn, their boss didn't have enough for a proper hideout.

"Ah, the young Sensei of Schale. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." That must be Date Meowsamune... wait, that voice! Slowly, from the darkness appeared a small cat person dressed in a black robe wearing an eyepatch...

Goddamnit, I got too used to Kivotos' weirdness that I didn't even consider it.

"Date Meowru?" I asked, to which the cat person chocked and cleared his throat.

"I thought you already heard of me. I am Date Meowsamune." ... Sure you are. "To be so calm in such a situation, you must have a secret up your sleeve." I have... a lot.

"Too bad, I have it right here." He said, bringing up something in his hand... is that my phone? "You have magic, yet you're still reliant on your students most of the times. That much is obvious." Hmm, should I tell him?

"Back to the topic, I must admit. You are correct in the sense that I would be losing something if the Festival Management Committee's plan came to fruition." The cat person explained, slowly walking left and right for whatever reason.

"Let me guess, having Shizuka and Pina reliant on your fireworks gives you capital and influence." I hate to say it, but the mobster bastard inside of me is proving to be useful.

"Nah, it's just money." ... what? "Those kids are annoying, I just want money." ... Okay, boomer. I think I saw his eye twitch.

"The Cherry Blossom Festival being such a big yearly event for Hyakkiyako, could you imagine how much cash flows through it?" I don't know, a fuck ton? "A metric fuck ton to be exact!"

"Yet the ones in charge of such an event are those two! Can you imagine how much they wasting in the name of fun? They're not being optimal, they just keep losing more and more capital after every year!" Is that how businesses men are, or is he just an asshole? Or is he perhaps a mix of both?

"State sponsored festivals doesn't put profits as it's top priority, even Bremen under Kaiser knew that. "

Really now? I heard some of the adult conscripts back in the Army talking about how they were forced to "donate" a lot for a bunch of planes that didn't even work.

"Well, it's not like state mandated festivals are any good anyways. Too much propaganda and stuff. "

"Why should they be able to spend without limit? They're just kids! The festivals would be more efficient, more profitable under my supervision!" Oh, so that's what this is all about?

"You don't really care about that, do you?"

"... Watch your tone, boy. You have no ri-"

"You're just jealous that they're so happy, aren't you?"

"What... is that supposed to mean?" The cat person growled out as he started hissing. "The way they're going, Hyakkiyako will be deep in debt in the years to come! I can't just let kids play around with our future!"

"You can just tell Shizuko and Pina. You know that, right?" Date Meowsamune actually gasped, backing away slightly at my words. "They trust you a lot, they would listen to you." If it was just making the festivals better in your own Image, they would've trusted you as the president of the Hyakkiyako shopping district merchant guild.

"That's... nonsense." Really now?

[Persuasion]

"Why do you sound like you doubted yourself there for a second?"

"I did... no such thing."

"Us kids... we trust proper grown ups like you. That's why we trust your guidance, why we do what you people say most of the times." Even if no one offered even a finger to help before the war started, I felt that some people cared... somehow, that was enough for me. "What about Izuna?"

"... Izuna? The wannabe ninja? Cheap, yet she was worth over a dozen Mouryo's." It took him a moment to register my question about Izuna, looks like I got to his head. "She was childish, speaking a lot of nonsense about ninja's but... she proved to be useful."

Wannabe... ninja?

"It took some effort resisting the urge to just laugh at her antics." You... shouldn't proper adults be supportive of the precious young ones? "Tsk, if she's gonna have a dream then it should be something more realistic!" It is realistic.

"Huh? Young man, don't tell me you're actually supporting her nonsense?!"

"It's not unrealistic, being a ninja. She was just born in the wrong place."

"Tsk, I see that you're just as childish as her." Assassination, protecting a Noble or a Lord. It was the norm back in the Dark Ages. "So? It's a time long past! Both of you brats need to grow up! Besides, I caught you no thanks to her nativity." No, you caught me because I wanted you to.

"If being like you, realistic, is so great then why are you so miserable?"

"Y-you... how dare you?!" What's wrong? A proper grown up shouldn't easily lose their composure, am I right?

"I can't let you mock Izuna's dream. After all, no one is as dedicated as Izuna is to being a ninja as everyone else is to their jobs." If she's that devoted to being a ninja, then it's an admirable dream no matter what everyone else says.

"... Tsk, I expected better from you. Sensei of Schale. I expected you to understand me, but no... you're just as childish as that brat Izuna." Hehe, he was so composed and confident just a minute ago. "You know, Izuna told me something... that you dueled someone." What's he on about this time?

"You killed someone, didn't you?"

"Yeah, duels usually end with someone dying. Why are you bringing it up?" Kivotos might be devoid of killings, but it should still be know what duels were about.

"... That doesn't bother you? Just imagine the outrage once all of Kivotos find out!"

"So?"

"... what?"

"The GSC President entrusted Kivotos to me, to do as I see fit to ensure the safety of my students and anyone else." The thought of being hated is a little unnerving, but... if that's what it takes to protect my students then so be it.

[Greater Black Orb]

I brought my hand up, the black and blue sphere of destruction manifesting in my hand and growing in size.

"Behold, my ninjutsu." I said as the blue light of the spell slightly brightened up our faces, with the cat bastard backing away in fear.

I launched the Black Orb up, the concrete breaking apart and debris dropping as the entire building was obliterated from here in the inside.

/

Izuna P.O.V

The old abandoned building that was my employer's hideout... is no more, Levi-dono had reduced it to mere ashes in just seconds. Numerous Mouryo's are scattered around unconscious, some are struggling to push themselves up to their feet while some are stuck under ruble.

Date Meowsamune... to think that he was merely using me... to hear him mocking my dreams is...

Thankfully, Aruji-dono... just knowing that he supports me so much... is the greatest gift the world could offer.

And... he said that was his ninjutsu... that was a Rasengan... it could not be anything else. A Rasengan so powerful that it disintegrated an entire multi story building in just seconds.

That's... so cool!

"Izuna? You were here?" I hear Levi-dono asking in surprise.

"Y-yes... Aruji-dono, Izuna's here."

I see the Festival Management Committee duo along with the Inner Discipline Club trio rushing over with panicked expressions, then slowing down and halting as they got closer and saw how everything was.

My employer, former employer at this point, took off his eyepatch and tried to say something to the Festival Management Committee president. I think her name was Shizuko.

But without hesitation, Shizuko furiously ran towards Date Meowsamune and threw her fist along with her entire body's weight behind it, slamming it down upon the cat mans face.

/

That was that, Aruji-dono convinced the Festival Management Committee to forgive me and the Inner Discipline Club to make an exception for me.

Now, I'm here in my favorite spot watching over Hyakkiyako and the festivities awaiting the fireworks... and Sensei as I'm staring at the vibrant and gigantic pride of Hyakkiyako the gigantic cherry blossom tree. I caused so much trouble for him, yet he's still supportive of me.

He's talking to the duo of the Festival Management Committee, I think he's teaching president Shizuko how to properly throw a punch with the other member, I think her name was Pina, laughing cheerfully at Levi-dono's display of a proper punch as Shizuko watched intently.

"Hey, Izuna." Hmm, Aruji-dono was by my side in an instant. Truly, his teleportation jutsu is top notch. "Sorry I took a while." He apologized with a smile.

"It is of no concern, Aruji-dono." Truly, it is not. My Lord had me in his top priority all this time... that was supposed to be my duty as a ninja!

"Levi-Sensei..." I have something to say, regarding my dream being a ninja. But... I'm not sure if I should ask out...

"I can read your mind, Izuna." Huh? That's... no, Sensei is amazing. Something like reading minds would be a cakewalk for him. "As your Sensei, your lord. You can trust me." ...

"Levi-dono... do you think my dream is childish?" It's taking my all just to let those words out. I mean... he defended my dream from Date Meowsamune's insults but... he never once denied it.

"No... everyone has the right to dream... no matter what everyone else says or thinks." He answered, traces of sadness and longing lacing his tone and expression as he stared blankly forward in the distance.

"How about you, Levi-Sensei? What is your dream?" To be as wise and grand as Levi-Sensei, he must've had qui-

"I don't know..." Aruji-dono muttered out, then... he sobbed and sniffled. Aruji-dono is... weeping? Sorrow overtaking as it morphed his expression. Why? "I never... I've never dreamt." How... how could he not?!

"I didn't have the time to dream... it was always starvation and beatings in the orphanage." Levi-Sensei silently cried out as he brought his head down, tears falling and staining his right sleeve wet as he wiped his tears away. "The frontline trenches... weren't any better." He sobbed out.

That's... horrible. I felt my heart skipping a beat and breath hitching as I threw my arms around Sensei's neck and pulling him into my embrace.

"Izuna... I'm... feeling a little jealous of you." Levi-dono muttered out with a pained laugh, his arm going up to hold me in the shoulder as he brought his head up to look at me with a smile. "You have a dream to dedicate yourself to, and you look so happy doing it."

"Now, now. Aruji-dono! You're a strong, you shouldn't be crying!" I shouted at him, my loud voice being lost across the cacophony of countless peoples joyous laughter as I held Sensei's head and connected our foreheads together. "Izuna... Izuna would've given up if not for you!" Levi-Sensei gasps at my declaration, eyes widening slightly.

"Sensei is the first one to truly support my dream other than Michiru and Tsukuyo! Everyone else... they mocked and ridiculed Izuna for talking nonsense!" I always tried acting as if everyone's harsh words didn't affect me, but... it did. My former employers lies was the reason I joined him, and... if not for Levi-dono I would've truly lost myself.

Aruji-dono is completely wordless, staring on as he slowly brought his only hand up to my head and... patter... rubbing softly... and comfortably... this is... very relaxing. I feel myself leaning into Sensei's affection, yearning for more as-

Boom!

Oh?! I turn around, hearing the pop and seeing the bright vibrant flashes of the fire works.

"It has begun!" I happily announced as I watched the fireworks which this time is somehow... more vibrant, and less smoking debris coming from the remains of the fireworks.

"Shizuko imported a hologram machine from Millennium, she said so earlier." Yes, that's what Date Meowsamune blamed his schemes on. He said our attacks were to preserve and defend the culture, but... he was the only one who wanted to disrupt the festival. He wasn't doing it for Hyakkiyako, just for his own pockets.

"Wow... hologram technology looks so cool!" Huh? Who's that woman? She... she appeared out of thin air. A haloless, dark short haired woman wearing pink clothes watched on in awe at the vibrant hologram fireworks.

This lady... didn't she appear in the news by Levi-Sensei's side? What is she doing here? She... she appeared just like Levi... dono. She has the same magic.

"Oh? Nice to meet you, little Izuna. I'm Reila?" The haloless woman in pink introduced herself as she turned her head to look at me.

Being haloless... having the same magic as Levi-dono... appearing by his side on her first public appearance... could she be?!

Immediately, upon realizing what grave mistake I have committed. I bowed my head and my body down.

"Eh? What-?"

"I apologize! Please forgive me!" This is... humiliating, however I mist still commit to it as a true ninja.

"Y-you have nothing to apologize for!" Truly, Reila-sama is benevolent.

"As a ninja, as a lowly servant. I've made the grave mistake not immediately recognizing Levi-dono's consort!" As much affection as I feel for Levi-dono, my heart shatters at the fact that I... never had a chance with him.

Hmm? Why is Levi-dono laughing? I felt two pairs of hands gripping me by the shoulders and pulling me up, to which I nervously brought my head up to meet... Reila-sama's blushing expression with a glare.

"We're not together! Why do people think that?!" She whined out in exasperation as she shook me.

"Well... you're both adults, both haloless, and... you first appeared in public by his side." Reila-sama paused as she looked at me, I think she is perhaps on the verge of tears.

"That's enough of that, let's just focus on the festivities for now." Of course, Levi-Sensei.

I couldn't help but put on a smile that felt permanent on my face. This is perhaps... the best Cherry Blossom Festival I've experienced.

/

Levi P.O.V

And I'm back here with the GDD. They didn't sleep, they spent the entire night finishing Terror and Starvation Chronicles and they just submitted it to the Millennium Prize. Damn, I knew they could work hard when they wanted but... that's something.

"We did iiiiit!" Momoi, with dark spots under her eyes, groaned out as Yuzu sighed out in relief.

"Now we just have to wait for the results." Midori said.

"This game... is radically different than everything else in Kivotos... there's no guarantee that it will win us a spot on the top 7." Momoi said with a hint of uncertainty, staring at the message saying their submission has been accepted. "Why don't we make an open web version?"

"Huh?/ Why bother?" Yuzu and Midori asked as one.

"Does anyone actually listen to the Millennium Prize judges verdicts?" Momoi said, to which Yuzu and Midori shook their head left and right. Wait, shouldn't their words be really important? Why are you girls ignoring it? "Because they're out of touch with the common players!" Is that so?

"But what if they say it's bad?"

"We aren't doing this to please our haters, it's to see if some people will like it!" Looks like Momoi has them convinced.

And so, they spent a few hours doing exactly that. Yuzu doing basically all the work, typing some things I didn't understand the least bit in the computer.

At least Reila's enjoying watching whatever Yuzu is doing, she's gushing on about how she's such a talented programmer.

After a short while, they were set. Aris is sitting infront on the computer, watching and waiting intently. As were Yuzu, Momoi, and Midori watching over her shoulders.

[Helmet0021: Yo! Worst Game Of The Year Awards are back with a edgy looking trash!]

Let's just ignore that.

[Kotaha0507: TSC was an absolute flop, but it did have interesting ideas. This game... seems to take inspiration from those Skin things. Interesting, I'm gonna see the game for myself.]

Well, that's one who's willing to witness what the GDD have made.

[QueenC: Just knowing who made this is scary enough, even the games title is scary. But... it sounds cool at the same time. I'm giving it a try I guess.]

Hmm, interesting. Most people would avoid what they fear, but this one is curious about what she fears.

"There are horror games and movies, Sensei." People here are entertained by what they fear? That's impressive.

[KirakiraNO1: Their first game made wanna quit games forever lol, like srsly it was cringe. This reboot tho? Title is fire, dats the only rson I'm trying it.]

What the hell are with those spellings and abbreviations? Eh, at least they're happy reading that.

[Cat0808: It sux! There's no tutorial and I got absolutely destroyed by the first enemy! Get this, you get a coin flip to decide wether you live or die! Even the saves are coin flips!]

Hmm, I think that's what the internet people would call a skill issue.

"Gah! I told you that feature would be a bad idea!" Midori cried out as she brought her full weight down on Momoi. "There's realism then there's unfairness!" Life itself is unfair, Midori.

"That's why we play videogames!" I see.

[HelmetFrappolo94: This game is actually awesome! It completely revolutionizes RPGs! Each fight is like a puzzle, it perfectly balances survival, horror, and combat!]

"Woah! Someone genuinely liked it!" The girls gasped out, widening they're eyes and leaning even closer to the computer and taking in that persons comment.

[Tips: There's a free save if you take the entrance on the left instead. Avoid fights, it's survival horror keep that in mind. The enemy limb which attacks will flash white, target that first. You can guard against coin flip attacks once a prompt appears, and free saves if you slay all the enemies in a floor.]

Wow, that person managed to figure out the game this quickly.

"Whoa, we're already at 2k downloads." Momoi muttered out in awe as she stared at the computer. "But how?" Aris seemingly doesn't care about why, she's just happy.

"Nee-san... a famous Kivotuber is streaming Terror and Starvation Chronicles." Midori muttered out in disbelief, her eyes staying on her phone as Momoi, Yuzu, and Aris rushed behind her to watch along.

/

Kivotube

A helmet gangster, going by her dress up, with a purple knights helmet with the cage like visor down and covering her eyes leans towards the camera perspective.

She introduces herself as HelmetFrappolo94.

She proudly welcomes all new viewers in an eccentric tone, introducing Terror and Starvation Chronicles as the title screen appeared and the view of the Kivotuber was minimized in the side.

She starts talking about each of the four playable characters, choosing the Mercenary with a leather armor and choosing the backstory of the Mercenary.

Then, the game starts proper as she takes control of the Mercenary. She rushes into the left entrance going down instead of the proper front entrance.

In it, there were floating squid enemies which HelmetFrappolo94 all avoided and went past.

"Avoid those creepy squid things, they drop nothing."

She kept on exploring the basement, using the lockpick skill on a door to go through it and encountering... an ogre looking monstrosity armed with a sword and a mace.

"Oh, that's new." HelmetFrappolo94 said as she rushed into the enemy and combat ensued. "Guys, don't do what i did. It's supposed to be survival horror."

[Millenniumstudent2610: If we aren't supposed to do that, then why'd you do it stupid?]

Followed by more comments exactly like that.

Reading those comments, the helmet gangster Kivotuber laughed.

"That's what makes this game unique! There's no tutorial, ho handholding, every new game and death is a learning experience! There's nothing else like it in Kivotos!"

And with that, she picked the attack option which then showed one of the enemy limbs flashing white. With a few presses of a key, the flashing limb changed from left and right legs, to the torso and head, and eventually to the other limb holding a sword.

"Enemies with swords or similar weapons can remove our mans limbs, the mace isn't as much of a problem."

HelmetFrappolo94 said as she pressed confirm, and the Mercenary did a slashing animation as it hit the enemy limb showing the damage done but... the enemy limb holding the sword wasn't cut off.

"Oh, I'm dead."

HelmetFrappolo94 said as the deformed abomination of an enemy began it's attack. Slashing with one limb and-

[Mercenary lost his right arm! He drops his scimitar!]

Losing an arm along with a quarter of the Mercenary's HP. Followed by the mace, which reduced the poor Mercenary's HP to a mere ten and receiving a status effect with an image of a broken bone making it fairly obvious what it means.

[Heads/Tails.]

"Tails never fails!" HelmetFrappolo94 shouted as she pressed a button and the coin flip animation played.

It dropped, being lifted up and showing... heads.

An animation showing a flurry of attacks appeared, reducing the Mercenary's HP to zero and then dropped down to the ground.

[Mercenary was defeated]

But instead of a game over screen, it went back to the overworld. And the enemy that defeated HelmetFrappolo94's character then began bashing his mace on the Mercenary's head. A sickening splat sound coming from each hit followed by pixelated gore, then finally... the game over screen showing the games title.

"... That was... something." HelmetFrappolo94 was shocked, no words could express it. "Next game then." The chat thought she meant moving on to another game... she's trying out another character, as if the Mercenary she just played wasn't brutalized.

[Gehennastudent1894: Wait, wait, wait! Why are you playing again?!]

[Trinitystudent1449: Yeah, I'm with the Gehenner. Why are you going at it again?!]

"Why? Because... are there any other games in Kivotos that shows the consequences of failing? Is there any other game that doesn't treat us like dumb babies? No! Terror and Starvation Chronicles... this game is special! I can tell that it will have a lot of lore and secrets, and I'm gonna find it all!"

/

A/N: We had a long weekend thanks to holidays in Friday and Monday(when I'm posting this in my time zone 11:43PM) so, I figured I might as well finish up Volume 2 chapter 1 and Hyakkiyako event to make way for what I have planned in the other half of Volume 2. Of course, the epilogue for the first half of Volume 2 will be in the next chapter.

Also, yeah. I just straight up took Frapollo94 and turned him to a cute anime girl with a knight helmet.

Anyways, I skipped a lot in the Hyakkiyako event. Particularly with the Inner Discipline Club and Chise, I preferred doing their interactions with Levi once their bond story happens here. And... I think it kind of sucked since I just wanted to get over that part like I did with the first half of Volume 1. I think I may have revealed a little favoritism for Izuna since I didn't skip a single scene with her.

Anyways, next chapter might take a little longer than a week for what I have planned for the Volume 2 chapter 2 climax.

Say, are there any other sites I can upload to? I was hoping to try uploading in Fanficnet but... this being a funger fic kinda made me kind of hesitant and the failed timeline dream probably erased all possibilities of it not getting deleted like Beiyang_01's azurlanexarknights fic(which wasn't even that graphic in my opinion. Also, yeah. I borrowed a little from Beiyangs BAxFGO fic where Merlin Dickwizard was the Sensei)

So yeah, I hope you guys like this chapter.