"Oi, you in there?" I tapped the glass of what that Jack Frost had called my COMP a few times, somewhat not seriously. It's not like I was expecting an answer considering that the demon was no longer in physical form in front of me.

In fact I was half convinced that the snowman was dead from the process considering the similarities to me assimilating skills from dead demons. That and a physical entity being converted into data for the COMP to take was a bit… Well, it just makes me think that the demon would no longer be sentient after a conversion like that considering it seems to be currently a collection of 1's and 0's based off of this status screen.

≪Hee Ho! I'm inside your COMP!≫

I jumped and my heart rate spiked for a brief second, "Don't scare me like that."

It ignored my complaint, ≪Summon me, ho!≫

Ugh, "Fine, whatever," however this even works.

I went back to the home screen and clicked on the Summoning App. Multiple slots appeared with Jack Frost taking one of them up. Two larger slots were on top of the screen.

Now how do I do this? I click on the snow man's icon and multiple options show on the side of it. Summon, status, skill, and dismiss. The summon option is tapped and the Jack Frost icon is moved to one of the largest slots on top. Does that mean I can only summon two demons at once? I'll test it out when I have more demons.

To my right a collection of digital looking particles gathered making me jump in response to the sudden appearance. I'm still somewhat wound up from fighting, so surprises like that do not help in the slightest. It also appeared from where I was pointing my palm wearing the COMP while fiddling with the apps so that's something to also note.

A moment later Jack Frost formed as the particles converged together, "Hee Ho! The hero Jack Frost is here to save the day!"

I just raise an eyebrow, "Hmm, so 'hero'. How do you suppose we can find the Lamia?"

"I have no idea!"

"Really? You demons don't hang out and gossip about the latest demonic trends?" Actually, what kind of things would they even talk about? I doubt they talk about clothes considering some don't even wear them in the first place. Maybe they gossip about who's the strongest or something.

"Some demons actually, do in fact gossip with each other! So that's how we're going to find the Lamia."

Seriously? I suppose even demonic horrors that potentially bathe in human blood need an outlet to talk about themselves and others like hormonal teenagers seeking validation. Would you look at that, there seems to be some similarities between demons and Riajuus. Namely that they both gossip and that they should go explode!

"Let's ask around then."

Within the inside of the hotel looking building both myself and Jack Frost stood next to the receptionist desk, talking to one more demon out of multiple others that we had spoken to.

"Hmm, a Lamia? That former queen? Yes I know about her," the pink skinned flying demon named Harpy replied to me, "Do you need something from her?"

Thank god, someone has information. From what little time I spent on attempting to talk to demons, it seems that it's a coin flip whether the demon I attempt to talk to would attack me or not. For a while it was either attack me, talk to me then attack after I apparently said something to offend them, attack after refusing to give in to their demands, or they didn't attack but they would have no information.

Well on the plus side I got a few new skills from killing those demons.

"Ho! We ne-hee-d to find her to bring her to justice! And to rescue a victim!"

What he said but with much less heroic flair.

The bird lady smiled sadistically, "Messing with a Lamia sounds like a lot of fun. How about this, for 300 macca and some of your blood, I'll lead you to where she is and even join you to hunt her down. A two for one deal."

Ah yes, Macca. According to Jack Frost earlier, the currency of demons. Somehow they carry it around through… dematerializing the coins? Honestly the whole thing seemed pretty nonsensical to me but it does make me wonder if it's actually something physical in the first place or not. You can carry it physically but through some method they can be carried within one's body by dematerializing the money.

Well the concept of such a thing might not be as nonsensical as I originally thought considering all the previous bullshit I had dealt with these last few days. Magic and monsters in comparison to some weird way to store money? Yeah it's not nearly as ridiculous when thought of in that way.

What do they even use money for? Food? Humans? I don't think I even want to know.

It turns out killing some demons makes it so that the COMP automatically takes their Macca. I'm not sure if in order to dematerialize the money taken it's going through the same processes that the demons use, converts it to digital code to store, or some other way.

On the top right of the COMP it lists my current Macca count. The number being a little over a thousand. How I missed that earlier, well I was a bit preoccupied with the more obvious stuff.

"Hmm, very tempting," but slow down there bird lady, "I can't help noticing that you seem awfully excited to mess with the Lamia. It seems like you're trying to hide how much you're getting out of this deal," I shake my head as I click my tongue, "I don't want to suffer from a scam now so how about reducing the amount of blood to just a drop?"

Yeah I don't want to open up a somewhat sizable but superficial wound to just feed a demon my blood. Making it so that it's just a prick on my finger is much much more comfortable.

I especially don't want to push my luck either, straight up dropping the blood part might just turn the deal hostile.

The previous times I talked to demons today they either demanded my Macca, blood, stamina, items, etc, or were open for a regular conversation. One of those conversations ended up with me getting attacked when that asshole didn't get what they wanted.

"You caught me, causing that Lamia or anyone suffering and trouble is enjoyable for me. The fact that both of us are Greek is just icing on top," she tilted her head and hummed, "Reducing it to a drop of blood is acceptable. I'll join you."

"Okay, I'll fulfill my end of the deal," I raised my hand, "Transfer 300 Macca to Harpy."

A collection of coins shot out of my COMP and into the Harpy's chest.

≪Macca Transfer Successful≫

Blade drawn and a cut was made on my index finger. I raised it above the Harpy and watched as a drop of blood flowed down into her open mouth. I lightly shivered and my apprehension increased at the sight of the Harpy audibly and visibly swallowing my blood. Her smile right after made me even more uncomfortable and somehow her grin widened further as she saw the look I had. You're a goddamn sadist aren't you?

"My name is Harpy of the Flight race, please take care of me now," she turned into a ball of light and then shot towards the COMP.

≪Demon Negotiation Successful. The contract with Flight Harpy is in effect.≫

I took a breath and held it in for a moment, and then slowly exhaled.

It's time to pay someone a visit and gift them with the pointy end of a sword.

"Harpy, I summon you," a collection of digital particles gathered and only a moment later the demon Harpy appeared from them. The top right slot on the screen got filled in with an icon of Harpy, right next to the Jack Frost icon.

Nice, it seems that basically every aspect of the Gauntlet COMP can be controlled through voice control. Hopefully only through my own voice, it's not like I can really confirm it. Am I going to ask someone else to help check? Hell no. That's just going to unnecessarily involve them.

"If you wish to find the Lamia then we need to go where they are most commonly found."

"So I can supposedly find her through here?" I may not have the best knowledge regarding demons but this place doesn't really seem like the place for her type to hang out around. Well maybe if she was a fan of dim enclosed human-made looking spaces underground.

Judging by the look Harpy gave me I'm sure she could pick up the doubt residing within my tone of voice, "Not here necessarily but this will take us to where her kind resides."

"A train station?"

…Would public transportation even work in this demon infested place? Is there even a power source for the train? Who controls it? Other demons? Did they make it themselves? Or did humans make this? Well I don't really know who created the shrines and hotels above ground either.

"Do not dismiss this area yet, for there is an unknown magic running through these tunnels."

"Oh? Really?" does it run on magic or something?

Jack Frost to my right chirped up with it's own input, "I can c-hee-firm ho! It appeared some decades ago. And apparently more and more stations have popped up all over the place as time passes ho! If no one noticed then it had to be some sort of magic!"

The hell? They just appeared at some point? And decades ago… it's possible that they appeared at the same time Japan's trains started running. It's not like I know the exact time frame for either even occurring in my Japan or in this demonic version. Were the creators also Demon Summoners or is it that this alternate dimension mirrors the other in some fashion?

"Technically you could find any type of demon anywhere but they also have a tendency to gather in specific areas or with others similar to them," she flew towards the door of the train as they automatically opened.

Jack Frost and I followed her. Entering through the door and only a second later it shut behind us. Should I be worried about not being able to open the door again? Hopefully it works just like the trains back home.

"As long as the place we're heading is somewhat close this train can reach it."

"Do all you demons use trains to travel around?" I didn't actually see any at the station or inside this hunk of metal.

She shook her head, "Not all of them, there are alternate ways of getting around. This is just most convenient for us. The process is quick so not many hang around waiting for the next train," she paused and cleared her throat, "Destination to Tadasu no Mori," almost immediately after she said that the vehicle started to move slowly.

A forest? That's still in and around Kyoto, rather large too, "That's where the Lamia is?"

"Maybe, their lot tend to inhabit areas with more nature. And that forest is one of the closest ones that I know of."

Hm, I see. Harpy seems to mention Lamia as a collective or part of a group quite often from what little time I've talked with her. Is she talking about it like there is more than one like those two Kobolds or those of the same race as the Lamia? It might be a problem if there's multiple Lamia's and they're somewhat common in the area we're going to. It would make it harder to find the one I'm looking for and killing just one would be a tall feat for me currently.

As soon as the train started gaining substantial speed my vision went black. I blinked my eyes a few times as I stared at the lack of my surroundings and the suddenness of the transition.

My demons aren't here. What the hell is this? I don't think I'm unconscious, I can still see my body as I move it around. Everything about my senses and body seems about right, the only problem is my surroundings. It's just an empty void surrounding me.

"Hello there young man."

Someone's here!? I turned around and saw a grey haired man wearing glasses and a red suit. But one of the most notable things about him was his wheelchair. That is not something you see much, especially in a demon infested area… Well if this black void even counts as demon infested. "Who are you? Did you bring me here?" I'm not sure if there is any other explanation other than that.

"My name is Stephen and yes you are correct in your assertion that I have bought you here," he leans forward in his wheelchair and his fingers intertwine with each other, "Do not worry, I have no ill intentions toward you. I merely wish to offer some words for you to hear."

I rested my hand on the hilt of my sword, "Well sorry if I don't completely believe you," anything with the power to teleport someone elsewhere without them noticing is something to be wary of.

"Understandable, I won't be doing anything except talking though so be rest assured," he smiled, "Be careful on your journey, for you will encounter danger of many types. Demons, Gods, Angels, and humans. You even brought the attention of some rather interesting individuals. I wonder which path you will choose?"

Gods and angels? They're here too? It would make sense considering there are demons. Actually they could be categorized as demons as well if my theory on what demons are is correct. Mythological creatures given form. Humans I'm not even surprised by considering I had gotten my COMP from one, albeit one who wasn't alive anymore. Anyone who can summon demons could potentially kill others much more easily. Human beings have a tendency to enact the worst possible crimes if they so desire.

Some other things to keep note of though that I have no explanation towards…

"What do you mean by path? And the attention of who?"

"It's a bit difficult to explain, it would be easier for you to understand once you have experienced more of your journey," Oi, you're really going to keep me hanging? If you're going to mention it in the first place then try to actually explain it dammit! "Do keep an eye out for those hiding behind a facade. They're likely not who they seem to be."

An oddly specific and seemingly unrelated subject to demons to look out for. Maybe he knows something that could be a cause for worry.

"Even without your piece of advice I would still be doing that," although without Stephan I wouldn't have thought it to be something potentially life threatening or dangerous in some way. What other reason would there be for some person with the power to teleport to warn me about this. I doubt it would be to just say hi.

It's also possible that he's just messing with me in an attempt to prank me into being more paranoid for his amusement. Memories of my earlier school years are coming into the forefront of my mind. Curse you middle schoolers! Don't toy with my middle school version of me's feelings! My heart's too delicate for such cruel manipulation!

Nonetheless, it wouldn't hurt to be a bit more careful and aware around such people.

Stephen chuckled, "Of course. I do not doubt that Hikigaya Hachiman," wha-, "You should be on your way now. Make sure to carefully observe your surroundings in your hunt."

The hell? "How do you know my name!?" And hunt? Does he mean me searching for that Lamia?

No answer comes back to me and a split second later I'm back on the train. The transition was… seamless, one second I was in that void and a moment later I was back to where I was. It's hard to explain, it was as if I never left. In fact that might be the case, or something similar.

"Jack Frost, Harpy, did you notice anything just now?"

The two of them only gave questioning faces and negatives. As I thought, there was no reaction from my demons at all when I was back on the train. Almost as if nothing had changed or they somehow didn't notice me leaving.

That either implies that Stephen had talked to me in my subconscious mind so that I never left in the first place or he somehow fooled the senses of my demons for the whole time I was gone. I'm not sure which option is more terrifying, being able to invade my mind to talk or influencing my demons so that they wouldn't notice if I was gone.

The train slowing to a stop made me forcibly abandon my earlier thoughts. Thinking of the potential things someone like Stephen could do to me is not conducive towards my current goal.

Everything came to a stop and the door opened, "It's time to find that Lamia."

A/N

Word Count: 2914

Date Posted: November 5, 2021

This chapter is shorter and somewhat late. More busy with school this time. And my efforts have awarded me with my grade for one class changing from a B to a C+. Wonderful. One percent off of a B-.

Every other class grade basically stayed the same so yay?

Meant to mention this last time but the meta reason why there's no levels for Hachiman himself is because I don't want to make this story become too much of a numbers game. AKA higher number equals win. Makes it so that I can be more flexible with combat and it's more uncertain on who wins. So only the demons have levels to denote a general strength. Might not be completely accurate to their actual strength.

Was going to make the Lamia fight take this whole chapter but that didn't happen. Would have taken longer to finish the chapter and this way it builds the Lamia up more. Also Stephen was not planned until I watched Tony4you's video on him, and then I remembered the guy. Not sure of my portrayal of Stephen but it's a bit difficult to find videos where he talks except for the Messiah DLC battle for SMT IV Apocalypse. And I don't want to replay games until I find him and hear how he talks and what he talks about.

SMT V is coming out in a week so that's exciting. Actually I'm getting extremely excited to finally play the game. More excitement than when any of the trailers had come out.