The Pocket Castle bar was full and the ambiance was morose, as it ended up being the place where most defeated competitor went once they could no longer participate in the tournament. Most of them wanted to forget their ignominious (and sometimes humiliating defeat) in the tournament in a process that involved copious amount of alcohol. However, seeing all the other losers only worsened their mood. It was an endless, vicious circle of depression and alcohol.

Four kitsunes were sitting around a table. Minamo, Izuna, Nanabi and Haruka were looking morose. None of them had managed to pass the elimination rounds, and all left the arena with a feeling of shame. While the other kitsunes were drinking various fruit juices, the kunoichi was drinking straight from a bottle of sake. Nanabi made a disapproving noise and glared at her.

"You shouldn't be drinking that much."

The kunoichi answered with an empty gaze.

"I got beaten by a nurse succubus… in front of everyone. All my years of ninjutsu training was overwhelmed by a few medicine techniques… And then she proceeded to use her tail…"

Nanabi took the tone she usually used to teach the younger kitsunes.

"You should use your defeat as an opportunity to learn. You have underestimated your opponent and got defeated. The best weapons and the most powerful skills are useless if they're not wielded with a serene mind and the stability of the mountain."

Nanabi was looking proud of her lesson, but the kunoichi didn't show a smidge of interest for her senior's lesson. The seven tailed fox let it slide, as the younger kitsune's pride was clearly damaged. She herself could remain proud, as she only got beaten once more by the Hero Luka, who won all his fights.

Haruka took a sip of her drink.

"Oh, come on, at least the worst is behind you! You're going to be fine! It's not like you also were with someone else!"

Minamo hiccupped.

"What are you even talking about?"

Haruka perked up.

"Oh, didn't you hear the rumor?"

Nanabi and Izuna were glaring at her. They didn't appreciate the tendencies Haruka had to still act like a schoolgirl, which included enjoying every gossip and other salacious stories. This didn't deter her in the slightest as she recounted proudly what she heard.

"Well I heard that Samson was caught in Alrauna's flower. Apparently they had been doing it for quite a while when somebody finally noticed. He said he had been lured in a trap by one of the vampire, but everybody can tell that he's lying."

Minamo scratched her chin. "Samson… Wait, is this the royal guard from Sabasa? The man who's hitting on his queen, Sara, who's half succubus now?"

"Yes."

Minamo grinned. "Well it looks like he is going to be…"

Nanabi ineffectively swatted Minamo with her fan. The kunoichi didn't even react to the attack.

"…royally screwed."

She proceeded to pass out on the ground in front of everyone. Izuna's kudagitsune was laughing. Nobody else bat an eye in front of the kitsune's antics.

Nanabi smirked, as she remembered Tamamo's lessons on the damages alcohol could create. At least, she didn't have to be the most ashamed of the group. She finished her drink and declared loudly. "Well, I'm going to need to recover all that energy." She licked her lips. "There are some youths in Yamatai that are waiting to get tasted by my tails."

Haruka exclaimed herself. "Wait I'm coming too!"

The two fox-centaurs left the area, freeing a surprising amount of space in the process. Of the kitsunes, only Izuna was still remaining. She silently finished her drink before vacating the premise, leaving the other warrior's drunken company.

As she made her way to the barracks, she took a quick glance in the chapel. She saw only were a few humans and monsters, none of the usual angels were present. She also identified the rainbow armor worn by Pilate, giving her a reason to wander in. As she took a better look, the fox samurai realized that no one present was actually praying, but people were rather resting on the benches or even on the carpet, a far cry from the usual respect they gave this place.

She approached Midzuki. The Miko Lamia was lying down, her tail extended over several benches.

"What's going on? Aren't there supposed to be angels?"

The lamia shrugged.

"The seraphim wanted to see Enrika by themselves, Victoria left to the Nothern Undersea Temple after her defeat for unknown reasons, Cupi is busy comforting as many people as possible in Grand Noah, and the remaining ones are visiting San Ilia."

Izuna shivered as she remembered the forms of Elciel and Uranus. She wondered how the civilians there would react when they'd see the eldritch looking angels and when they'd have to deal with their bottomless self-righteous hunger. Well, that was one way to limit the growing spread of the faith in Ilias…

"And you? I thought you would still be in Grand Noah, giving a show with Saki."

The lamia answered with a hint of weariness in her voice.

"Everybody is partying hard there, it's near impossible to sleep. And I got tired of all the men hitting on me and looking for a quick fuck." She exhaled, still looking at the ceiling. "In fact, I kept feeling their hungry gaze on me, only looking to quench their hunger with a miko."

Izuna raised her eyebrow. "Did you consider covering your chest and not dancing sexily in front of them?"

The lamia got up, apparently wounded.

"Those are traditional lamia dances. It is my duty to entertain everyone with them. And just because my chest is on display does not mean I am open for affairs. I am a pure maiden of the snake shrine, first and foremost."

Izuna's kudagitsune whispered something into one of her ear. She smiled, her expression concealed by the tail she always kept in front of her mouth.

"Pure? The youth from Yamatai would disagree. Every time I travel there, your scent permeates several of them."

The lamia's face turned red. Eventually getting fed up with the fox, she got up and started leaving the room. On her way out, she tried using her tail to whip the source of her annoyance. Izuna nonchalantly dodged the attack, still smirking behind her tail before her way to the soldier who was still resting.

"Also done with the tournament?"

Pilate took a look in her direction. He answered in a monotone voice.

"I did not expect to pass the first elimination pool. Then I shared the second one with that creepy Spider Princess, Alice, and Hild." He looked back at the wall. "I'm just glad I ended this tournament unmolested."

The fox was getting a little too close to the soldier's taste. He twisted uncomfortably repeatedly.

"And you choose to rest here?" She straddled the end of the bench in front of him.

"I appreciate the tranquility of the place. Grand Noah is a mess right now, and I can't even go back in Ilias Village without everyone asking me how are my adventure with Luka. The price for being popular."

"There are better places to relax. I heard you actually never went to Yamatai. Don't you want to visit it?"

The samurai was trying to look disinterested, but several of her tails were swishing side to side, betraying her excitement. Pilate got up and put his helmet back on.

"I apologize, but it will be for another time. Midzuki is probably right when she said that the arrival of angels in San Ilia will cause a riot, and the local guards will probably appreciate some assistance."

He exited the room. A few seconds later, Izuna's ears drooped and her tails went limp. Eventually, she decided to go check back on Minamo. They could still go to Grand Noah and enjoy watching the final matches together…

As she reached the bar, her friend was still lying on the ground. She effortlessly picked her up and lifted her over her shoulder. As she made her way outside, her cargo started talking in a slurred speech.

"Guuuuuh… I hate this week… my tofu get replaced by tasteless bread thanks to those fairies, then they dance and reduce me to a gnome for an hour, and then I get chased by a nekomata…

Izuna started nodding distractedly. The kunoichi groaned before she continued ranting.

"… and then I end up defeated by a nurse, and then Yao barges into my room during a private moment, and then I get a lesson from Nanabi…"

Izuna kept nodding distractedly, until suddenly her ears perked up as her eye opened wide.

"Wait, WHAT?"