Around the trade town what after the event what the historians will only scribe in their books as the Battle of Italica. Three factions shared the newly announced neutral city of Italica. Giving a common ground to negotiations. Myui Formal the young Countess of Italica and her remained forces. The forces of the Sorcerous Kingdom and the forces of the JSDF. True they were defeated in the battle of Italica. But after Italica became a natural city. The leadership of the Sorcerous Kingdom allowed the JSDF to represent themselves and has a little embassy in the city as well a minimal amount of military presence in the case if they needed to discuss something and of course to not only the Soldiers of the Sorcerous Kingdom and its economy bear the burden to safeguarding the city.
Both the Sorcerous Kingdom and the JSDF forces guarded the town against the scattered bandits and Imperial attacks, repaired the damage what the town suffered under the battle, reinforced the walls, the defenses, and performed humanitarian tasks. Of course, the Countess and her advisors were a little bit wary first seeing the foreign forces who had invaded the city. But their concern was without avail. The citizens were glad of the presence of the invading forces after a first few day. Naturally, they were a bit wary from the monstrosities of the Sorcerous Kingdom and the soldiers from different races what they never saw or heard of their short life.
People from races what they never ever saw or heard about. But seeing under the protection if the invaders the city thrived more than ever under the rule of the Empire. The trade quickly flowered, and the prices went low thanks to the goods what flowed in the city. The people quickly became accustomed and glad for the invading forces. The people of Italica has no loyalty towards the Empire. Aside from the yearly tax collection the Empire never really protected the city from bandit attacks that task fell to the Count of Italica and his forces. Maybe the Empire sent a few soldiers if the Count begged before the Senate. The fact in the middle ages the common people did not really care who ruled them until the government did not drastically intervene in their daily life also helped accepting change.
The criminal activity drastically dropped thanks to the constantly patrolling forces of the JSDF, the Sorcerous Kingdom and the forces of the newly named Countess.
Deep inside of the town of Italica. A lonely, young girl with shoulder length smooth black hair strode the streets. The time could not be more than three o clock. At least. According to the alignment of the stars and the few young rays of the sun what managed to slip away from their heavenly father's loving grasp.
The said girl seemed around her early teens. Ok... very early teens. In truth, she does not look more than eleven years old. At least. Anyone who looked at her most likely thought she is only eleven years old. Because of the thin, small frame of her body.
Because of this, people often mistake her as a simple child and offered her sweets. In one way... she liked this kind of discrimination. She could acquire her precious sweet for free without the necessity of spending money on them using her adorable childlike appearance, in another way... it irked her and made her start to shout the good citizens of the Sorcerous Kingdom who tried to appeal her this way.
But because of her childish frame and adorable face, this only make her cuter and earned her more sweets as well more face pinch. Usually, after she reveals her real age, the people did not believe her and just tweak her face even stronger. Saying... 'Oh! Of course! Of course! Such a big girl you are?" then stuff an another lollipop in her mouth. What was the said girl favorite sweet?
Usually, after this, she starts to grumble something under her nose, something unintelligible about how stupid those people are. And simply strolling away swallowing her rage with her heavenly melting ambrosia in her mouth. But there were occasions when she had enough and simply used her 'Art' as she called her gift and blew away her offenders. Causing a big amount of environmental and financial damage to the environment around herself.
That usually follows by the arrival of the nearby peacekeeper units or the nearby Death Knights. In this case, her small frame and childlike appearance came in handy for the escape or bribe herself out from the custody.
But let's continue the story. Her classical witch like attire such as a black cloak with gold border, choker, wizard's hat, fingerless gloves, and a black staff flung on her back as she explored the city searching new source of her favorite thing. Sweets... any kind of sweets. Jelly candies, caramel, any type of chocolate, gummies, licorice, sours, chewing gum and of course her favorite… lollipops! The list of the things what she was able to do to get her hands on even a piece of sweet was endless. Her sweet-toothed went in such degree she was even able to business with lawless individuals to get her hands on them or in rare cases even steal.
It was since midnight since she consumed her last piece of her heavenly candy what she brought with herself from her home. Carne. The Capital of the Sorcerous Kingdom. And now the only thing what kept her sugar addiction in line was the last piece of the emergency lollipop in her mouth.
How should she know this world not have any kind of edible sweets aside those brown, sour abominations that those traders wanted to sell her on those ridiculous prices!
Two gold for a piece of that trash, atrocious, abomination, a monstrosity that these people call sweet!? Unacceptable! She just can't take it! If she can't find any normal candy in this thing what these people mockingly call a 'trade city.' She will use her 'art' and cleanse the earth from it! Even if it means the nearby Death Knights and Nephalem Guards will pursue her through the country.
Slowly but steadily she reached a road junction what led in two ways. Once. She could follow her usual path on the main road of Italica to find edible sweets. Two. She can turn right to a dark alley. Normal girls would normally never consider choosing the second options. But as an adventurer, she never backed down from the challenge.
Aside from that... her usual sweet dealer used to reside in such dark alleys like that before her. Knowable the newly developed sweets that the cousin geniuses of the Sorcerous Kingdom mixed together in their kitchen was quite expensive and usually were not in arms reach in the first few months after their release. In other words, In the beta period.
But as a sweet fan. The girl can't let such blasphemy unanswered. So, she sought to get her hands on every piece of sweet what she can. As fast as she can.
As she turned the corner. A few suspicious looking individual recognized this. They turned in her direction and started to follow her deep inside of the alleyway. The girl strolled and strolled. Her crimson eyes seemingly were completely lifeless.
At least the eye what was not covered with her eyepatch. The visible one seemed lifeless due to her sorrow what she felt because the life of her lollipop was in its end. As she reached the end of the alleyway, she looked around. Then sighed in a disappointed tone.
"No sweets..." she mumbled in a flat tone. Turned around and found herself face to face four menacing looking individual. One was a fat man. Fatter than the fattest noble that she ever saw. The second was a thin man with ragged clothes and a dull looking knife in his hand.
The third was an average man clothed little better than the previous two. And at last. A small dwarf sized man with a smug expression on his face.
"Well, well, well... what do we have here?" smirked the small man.
"It is a little girl boss." clapped the obese one out of his joy on his face a dumb expression settled.
"We all see that... idiot." mumbled in a bored tone the well-clothed man. And wiped away his long blonde hair from his face.
"You!" the big man raised his hand to slap his comrade, but the dwarf stopped him by raising his hand. "That's enough!" snapped the small man. Then turned to the crimson eyed girl. He stepped closer to her. A honeyed expression settled on his face. "Well hello there... little girl... are you lost? Did your parents forgot about you? We can help to find them... of course... for a small fee..." he raised his hand and rubbed three of his fingers together expecting for payment.
The girl did not seem impressed. No. Her bland face rather seemed quite expressionless and bored. Not fit for her cute face of her. "Are you a sweet dealer?" she asked in an emotionless tone.
The four men looked at each other with a surprised expression. Then a grin crawled on their faces as they turned back to the thin girl. "You could say that." said the dwarf sized man. "Do you have money?"
The girl reached to her waist and raised the leather pouch what was firmly attached to her black belt. She opened it slowly. When the four-man saw its content. They almost melt away in an orgasmic drolling.
The thin and the dwarf sized man collected himself then grinned out of satisfaction. The obese one looked the sky and wondered how the clouds might taste. The average build man inspected his polished nails with a bored expression. The thin man just played with his knife. Throwing in the air flipping multiple times in the air before catching it again.
"Hand it over me." he stretched out his hand.
"Where are the sweets?" the girl asked.
"You will get them after we get the money. I promise." Unknown or not for the girl. The leaders of these ruffians crossed his fingers behind his back. The fat one started to giggle seeing this. His companion bopped his head to stop, and he stopped.
"Sweets first." answered the girl firmly. It seemed it was not her first deal. No fear only professionalism can be heard out from her voice. However, her face remained completely motionless.
The dwarf-sized man gritted his teeth. Then his calm demeanor moved back to his face. "Money first." he stretched his hand out again.
"Sweets first." retorted the girl as she closed the purse and pulled it away from the man who stood before her... In her other hand, she rested her staff on the ground.
This little crimson eyed witch started to bug the leader who because of this slowly but steadily started to lose his composure. Then his mouth curled into a sadistic smile again. Before they stood a little girl. A little girl who most likely came with the invaders. A little girl who most likely the daughter one of the officers of those monsters. They most likely get a great amount of ransom for her if they manage to capture her.
Because of these newly arrived individuals and their constant patrols and security measurements, many the said man friends and comrades died. Not speaking about those monster that seemingly invulnerable to all kind of attacks so they can't even get revenge on them. No seriously! Invulnerable. In the first few days, the crime lords of the city tried to force these newcomers to cooperate with them through bribes then with force. Force them to work with them and play their rules. Pay for protection fees and similar things.
But every bribing attempt failed, and every attempt to force them through sheer brute force was retaliated with bloodshed what ended almost all criminal activity in the town. Despite the invader's small number. It did not matter they had the numerical superiority. Every attempt to hurt those dark armored dreadful creatures failed. Simply brushing off every ranged or close ranged attack what the criminal lords threw at them. Even the magic what the few rogue mage conjured amongst their rank was simply washed over their armor then disappeared.
The golden armored soldiers and the soldiers in green skills without par. The boss of the little quartet saw one of those massacres. He was present in it. It was horrific. Most of the present criminals who resisted have been killed, and the remained ones were simply taken into custody. He only managed to slip away because he knew most of the hidden escaping tunnels what crossed across the city.
He did not even want to think about where those soldiers take them. To make the matters worse. Last day the forces who resided in the city got further reinforcements. That means more of those terrific creatures, more mages, and simpler but equally trained soldiers from various races arrived.
He never saw before such people who came into the city. As expected. Being a criminal became much more difficult in Italica what led the drastic drop of the criminal activity in the town. He wanted to leave the city with his band, but he still had a few unfinished business in the city what he had to take care before he was leaving.
What was surprising, The few officer who considered accepting the bribery started to show a terrified face when his or her comrades made them remember what kind of punishment entail accepting bribery. After that, the person who wanted to bribe the officers has been either captured or simply let them go with the warning to never cross path with them again.
The leader of the ruffians rolled his eyes. He doesn't have more time to the little girl before him. The patrols around and inside the city get more and more common after each day, and he did not want to experience how these invaders treated their prisoners. "Get her boys. Take her money," he ordered his subordinates.
The dumb looking fat man stepped forward and cracked his fist. "Sorry..." he said dumbly with an innocent expression.
The Crimson girl raised her eyebrow and bopped the tall man's head suddenly. "Bad..." she said.
The obese man grabbed his head. "Awww... why I got that?"
The girl pointed at him with her staff still up keeping her unimpressed expression. "That's not how business works." The four individual before her stared at her like they never saw such thing before. "Everything equivalent of exchange. To get something. First, you must give something." she quoted the certain famous alchemist words. (Who was so pips...) The certain alchemist entered the scene and rolled up his sleeves with an angry expression. Got a big breath and started his rant.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A PIPSQUEAK-MIDGET WHO CAN'T EVEN GO TO THE BEACH BECAUSE HE'S SO SMALL HE'LL SINK INTO THE SAND AND WHEN THE TIDE COMES IN HE WOULDN'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT DROWNING BECAUSE HE'S SO SMALL HE CAN BREATHE OXYGEN ATOMS THROUGH THE WATER?!"
"Ok... no one said that... but okay..." the author blinked three times out of his surprise. Then turned back to the readers. Cleared his throat and continued.
Well then. As I said... "DON'T IGNORE ME!" The certain alchemist in the red coat shouted.
Please... I am in the middle of the story. Later we can argue who is smaller. You or an atom.
The alchemist raised his hand and started to shake it. Then shouted something unintelligible. The author sighed. Snapped his finger. A huge silver-colored gate appeared out of nowhere and opened after a moment. A multi-colored pupils eye appeared, and black colored long arms kidnapped the alchemist. After this... the certain alchemist meets his old friend. TRUTH.
Now then... let's continue.
The thin man raised the dull knife in his hand and pointed at the girl. "How dare a little shit like you speak with the boss like that! Now! Show some respect to your elders and give us your money before we got angry."
The girl swung her black staff with a swift motion and knocked out the knife from the thin man's hand. Who because of the sudden pain started to massage the pulsating limb. Then he got a bop on his head. "Bad..." the girl pointed her black staff at him.
The well-clothed man tried to get away her staff from her hand using his strength to overpower her. But the girl was faster and knocked the bump of his head with her staff. Again. Just like she did twice before. "Bad... that's not yours..." she announced in her flat tone.
The dwarf-sized man gritted his teeth and stepped closer to the short girl. It seemed he is an at least a half head shorter than the barely 145 cm girl. "Now listen to me you little shit!" he poked her chest. Or the place where her breasts should be. The girl looked down at him. Usually, she had to look up to others. But it seems, in this case, it was the contrary.
"Either you give us your money, or we will beat the shit out of you!" the man started to prattle it took one full minute. The girl answered simply using her flat tone.
"You are mean..." the girl answered to the threat meanwhile tilted her head with an uninterested manner. "If you don't have sweets. Let in my way... I need to find sweets..." she took out the lollipop from her mouth what seemingly did not prevent her from speaking perfectly clear. And inspected it like a professional. "So small..." she mumbled.
The candy on the stick painted in the seven color of the rainbow. Each color flavored differently. Such as a culinary masterpiece of the Sorcerous Kingdom best candy maker specialist. This exact piece of lolly actually made exactly for her personal order. And it was not cheap. It cost five full gold coins. Five gold coins what can feed a normal family for two months then from the remaining money the husband can buy something nice for the whole family.
The man clenched his fist before her and gritted his teeth. "You... little..." he tried to figure out some menacing word what can unbalance the girl before him. The girl who answered every threat with a sarcastic retort stood before the man like a sturdy stone wall.
He grinned and poked her chest. "You flat little girl. You are like a desk." The girl gasped, stepped back and went completely pale. Seeing this momentary imbalance, the dwarf sized man swung away from the candy from her hand grabbing the stick at the end of it.
"Hmm... It's pretty nice..." he mumbled as he put the sweet in his mouth. "Now... Give me your money flat chest..." The girl did not answer. Her pointed witch hat completely shadowed her eyes. She trembled out of her rage. Out of her frustration.
The air started to ripple around the girl as a massive amount of magical energy start to build around her. The air started to ripple around her as she trembled. "Flat chested? Looks like a desk?" she shuttered trembling.
She glared at the man before her under her hat as she started to tighten the grip around her black wooden staff what because of this started to crackle out of the sudden raised pressure. Because of the shadow what her witch hat cast to her eye line. Her crimson eye looked like it glowing demonically.
The three out of four men backed feeling this sudden change of air. Their leader turned to them. "Guys! Don't be afraid. This is just a simple magic trick. Even the weakest of mages can do it. Look at her!" he pointed at the girl. "Do you really think such flat chested girl can be strong? She is not more than ten years old. Do you really fear a ten years old flat chest?"
The three ruffians straightened themselves. "You are right." said the thin man.
"Now you say..." placed the average build man his hand to his chin. "I once heard from Jimbo, the Sorceresses of Rondel storing their magical power in their breast. So that means. Bigger the rack. Bigger the magical power."
"Jimbo is smart." interjected the fat one.
The dwarf looked back to the girl's chest and poked it again. "Well, then... we had nothing to fear." the four-man laughed.
The girl trembled. No one before humiliated her this much. She raised her staff.
"Darkness beyond blackest pitch
Deeper than the deepest night" The magical energies started to build up around her hand and the staff what she used as a mediator for her attack.
The four-man looked at her with a dumbfounded expression. They did not yet realize their impending doom. The monster what they have faced. The girl who got the epithets such as dulcis-dentatis, Crimson Maniac witch, and terrorist bomber.
"Lord as vast as the largest ocean
Colder than the coldest ice
King of Darkness who shines like gold upon the Sea of Chaos."
"Oh... how scary..." the short man acted as he was frightened. His companions followed his example.
The girl gritted her teeth and poured every inch of magical energy in her attack.
"I call upon thee and swear myself to thee.
I stand ready to bear the strength you give me.
Let the fools who stand before me be destroyed."
Orange magical runes appeared on the top of her staff and under her.
The four bandits looked at her with a surprised expression. She continued her chant. Of course, in reality, usually, she did not need such long chant. But she liked to terrify her victim's malevolent sounding chants. Aside from that, she thought such things were cool.
"By the power you and I possess!" she pointed her staff to the four molesters.
"GIGA SLAV..." her chant was abruptly disrupted by a shadow. A shadow what towered more than two meters above the girl. Before she could finish her chant, she felt an absurdly strong bopp on her head. And because of this, she grabbed her head painfully.
She turned to her assaulter with an impossible speed. "Stupid Pops! Why did you disturb my chant!? Do you know how dangerous is to disrupt an incantation in this stadium!"
"Are your insane brat?! If you would have finished that chant it would most likely be left nothing more from this district than a smoldering crater!" the owner of the coarse, deep voice was a Beastman. With snow white fur that stripped with black tiger stripes. Two long twisted horns sprouted from the top of his head and it was most likely he could rip apart anyone with the long canines what peeked out from his mouth.
A long bow strained on his back as well two short swords that because of his massive size he used as daggers. The said daggers rested on the two sides of his waist. Crimson eye meet yellow eyes and the two side head-butted. "They insulted my chestiness and took away my precious sweet!" she pointed accusingly at the four men meanwhile looked in the eyes of the beast before her. Most people would be terrified even in the presence of such creature. But she showed no fear only anger.
The four said a man already trembled seeing the towering beast before them and shook like jelly. The four gentleman saw many things under their lives. But they never saw such big menacing furred creature as the one who towered before them.
"And it is enough reason to blow up the whole district! You know what happens when the guards get you?! You were already in custody three times!" he showed a three in his clawed hand. Then shook it to give weight to his words.
The girl looked away and huffed. "Not as if they could keep me down long enough to forget my art..."
The menacing looking creature tried to reason with the girl why not blow up her assaulters as well the district. But the girl was decisive, and the only thing what stopped her was the elder before her.
The small bandit timidly raised his hand. "Can we run away now?" The two of them turned to them and roared in unison. "Shut up!"
The four-man deadpanned. "Ok..."
The veteran Beastman massaged his nose temple. Under his more than one hundred years. He meets a few problematic children. But the one before him was the worst. She only joined a year ago to their little band of misfits. But they had more problem with her than with the other group members combined. True she was a strong, talented mage who grow astoundingly and according to her master Fluder Paradyne. One day she maybe even able to surpass him. Still, she used her talent to cause problems and to satisfy her infinite hunger of sweets and food.
"Whatever..." the Beastmen turned to the four assaulters. "You four are better to get away, or this little piece of energy bomb might blow you up..." the Beastmen veteran coarse deep, commanding voice seemingly completely froze the four assaulters. "Go before I change my mind." he waved them away lazily.
The four bandit had enough. They could handle a crazy Loly somehow. But a menacing looking armed Beastman. Now that what these four did not sign up. They turned around and started to run.
The girl turned away and huffed her face. "Stupid Pops always ruin my art..."
The Beastman shook his head and chuckled. He patted a few times the petite girl's head flattening her pointed hat. The girl glared at him angrily due he ruined her perfect headgear and treated her like a child. Again...
"Come Meguminoi. The boss is already waiting for us."
She shook herself back from her sudden wave of rage, and a surprised expression moved on her face. "Do you mean Zeno-dono?"
The Beastman nodded and headed outside of the dark alley. The girl catches up with him. "Pops?"
"Hmm?" the huge creature raised his brow.
"By any chance... accidentally? May you have some sweets?" asked the small mage. The Beastman growled showing his frustration. "Kids these days... just the sweets and the sweets..."
He looked back to the girl who showed her the most adorable face what he ever saw. For a moment he stopped and backed down because of the sudden overload of cuteness. "Please! Slapstorm-dono! Can you pity such young creature as I am with a little sweet? I need it for my survival! Can't you see? I could disappear at any moment..." her hand folded together in a praying position. "If I didn't get some... I fear I may die... worse... I disappear..." she slumped to the ground weakly.
Her crimson eyes radiated her infinite cuteness. The elder Beastman heart can take so much.
He rolled his eyes frustratingly meanwhile growled in his head. "Damn kid! She knows the soft spot of this old man ice cold heart..." he started to search in his backpack. As he searched, he grumbled under his nose. "In my grandfather's time she would be on the table as a delicate... but now... such young gals can rule over me... where are the proud nation of the Beastman people sunk..." finally he found some sweet and threw to Meguminoi. Who jumped for it like a dog and greedily put it in her mouth.
The joy on her face was indescribable. She looked up to the old man who watched her with a grinning expression. "What?" she asked.
Slapstorm shook his head meanwhile chuckled. "Nothing..." with that. The two of them continued their way.
A few minutes later the strange duo reached the inn where they stationed while they were in the town. It was not the best Inn in Italica nor the worst. It looked quite normal compared to the ones where they usually reside.
The due entered the bar attracting the crowd attending a moment in their direction. Slapstorm looked around searching the man and the little group what he is looking for. After a moment of gazing, he found them.
On the farthest corner of the bar, there was a table around it three people sat. A crazy looking dwarf with the crazies red beard and hair what the people of this world saw. A girl with long prismatic colored hair and two Sapphire colored horn sprouting from her head. And a handsome male with brown hair, french mustache, goat's beard and blue eyes. He held a strange guitar like an instrument in his hands and in the exact moment he busy to fine tune his weapon and instrument even more.
The two adventurers headed in their direction and sat down. The first who welcomed them was the merry drunken dwarf who had a severely burnt mark on his face. "Aye lads! You are finally here!"
"Hey, guys..." welcomed them the bard of the little group. "What's up?"
The Beastman veteran nodded. "Nothing really... nothing aside from a little accident thanks to Meguminoi." he looked strictly to the small mage who sat beside him. "Noted." that was her only emotionless comeback.
"Where is the boss?" asked the Beastman.
"He will be here soon! Come drink with us!" the redhead dwarf raised his ale. Slapstorm nodded and raised the mug what the redhead dwarf ordered his friend. Then clung jugs with the dwarf.
"So... what happened our little hot head again?" asked the dwarf.
"Molesters..." answered the girl shortly as she licked her lollipop and signed to the bartender to come and bring food. "By the Forty One! I hope you are all right Meguminoi!" gasped the prismatic haired girl with the backward spouting horns on the top of her head. As she grabbed the little mage to inspect her. Under her robe, a few prismatic sapphire colored scales can be seen on her forearm.
"Those molesters did not have any sweets..." grumbled the girl.
The seventeen-year-old looking girl sighed. "Then I am relieved." The little group continued their little chat. About an hour later the one or the ones who they have waited finally arrived.
One broad elf man with golden hair clamped together to a horse tail. Encased in a legendary looking golden armor. And a white mantle wearing figure. A mantle what almost completely hide her face. Only her sharp red eyes, caramel colored skin and silver hair were visible under the mantle what she wore.
The duo headed towards the four adventurers.
"Ah... our prestigious leader finally arrived... how joyful!" announced the Bard as he spotted his leader.
"Hey, boss!" Raised his sizable paw the Beastman. The petite mage did not say anything just enjoyed her sizable meal. "Zeno! My man! How are you doing!" blurted the dwarf accompanied with a light-hearted chuckle.
Zeno smiled his friend enthusiasm and nodded to him. "Merryforge! Old bastard! It's good to see you!" he welcomed him with a similar manner.
"Heh! Speaking the one with more than 200 years behind his back..." he chuckled then turned back his ale.
"Z-Zeno-sama..." shuttered the prismatic haired girl with an entirely red face. "It is good to see you..."
Zeno nodded. "It is good to see you as well again Medhirth." The girl started to blush even more.
"Master Dandelion! I hope the girls in the town still virgin!" he gave a quick wink to his companion.
"You know me too well Master Zeno! No girl is safe from me!" he chuckled announcing his achievement.
The elf hero turned back to his guest. "Oh, I am sorry... it was several hours since we parted..." he laughed wholeheartedly. "They can be rather sticky..."
"Like fungus..." interjected the little crimson witch sarcastically as she continued her meal.
"Yeah... short off..." Zeno chuckled at Meguminoi's antics. "You know something girl..." the girl did not react her leader words. Instead...
"You owe me ten candy..." she retorted. "Business first. After candy," shot back Zeno.
The small girl nodded. Then the golden armored elf turned back to the woman behind him. "Let me introduce..." before he could introduce their client it stepped forward. Removed the mantle what covered her face and her head. She opened her mouth and started her introduction.
Scene Change: Japan:
The train slowly pulled into the subway station under the National Diet Building, on the Marunouchi line.
The combination of the train station's location and the office hours of the government employees meant that they started to head home around this time.
A lot of these workers had secretly watched the National Diet broadcast during their working hours, and they couldn't help but sneak peeks at Lelei, Tuka, Rory, Momon, and Raidyn who stood out due to their eye-catching appearances.
In any case, every single look directed at the girls and the dark warrior was like a physical stab to Itami.
His JSDF uniform was long gone, replaced by a gray coat given to him by one of Komakado's men, who told him to take the train instead.
In his current outfit, Itami resembled an average salaryman, but anyone would be wondering "Who the hell is this guy?" if they saw him standing next to these four lovely ladies with their blonde, black and white hairs. And the impressive looking muscled gentleman with the always stern look on his face and that elegant black suit what he currently wore. Anyone would think Itami and the group have nothing to do with each other.
(Momon looked like he stepped out directly from some kind of anime or manga directly made for the ladies.)
It would be hard to say "They're my relatives" or "They're my daughters" given their different hair colors. Maybe he could try, "They're my girlfriends, you jelly?" and given the circumstances that might even work, but Itami was not the sort of person who would dare to say such things. The only one he could accuse he is his relative was Momon. Even then. Very far away relative from the other side of the world. What most likely the ladies who're in the train wagon eyed Momon most likely say. 'Such bland looking guy can't be the relative such fine gentleman as him!'
It was a literally total loss for the First Lieutenant. He sighed in defeat.
A kindhearted third party seeing Itami might think that he was part of a criminal organization which kidnapped foreign girls for nefarious purposes and Momon is a Yakuza bodyguard who is safekeeping the girls until the transaction has been made. It was a natural conclusion to reach.
It might be possible, but it would also be difficult to pass them off as a group of tourists visiting Japan (with Itami showing them around the country) or with Itami as a producer bringing four idols back to his office. Among these three options, the first and the third would be eliminated first.
If he wanted to improve his disguise, he should make a tour guide's flag and wave it while saying "Hihi~ please walk this way~," taking them to high-class restaurants and hotels, and posing them in front of ads which read, "For illustration purposes only." That way, at least onlookers would think this was some sort of unethical tour agency.
Itami had been following the plan to board the train in front of him, and in the instant the door opened, he swiftly darted aboard, as though to escape people's eyes. Lelei and Tuka joined him, and then looked around in curiosity.
Rory, on the other hand, looked afraid. It was an expression he had never seen her before.
Raidyn quickly jumped in the train car with a satisfied expression on her face. "This is so retro! I only saw such metro wagons in the museum when I was a kid!" she squirmed.
Momon pushed inside the car the reluctant Rory who were wary to even take a step inside of that hellhole. It needed a little push, but in the end, Momon managed to push the poor girl into the car. "Wow! This is so old fashioned! I am sure if Yamaiko-san would see this she would start to lecture us about this old tech and how important this was..." he remembered his former guildmate who was an archeology teacher in an elementary school.
A quick glance around the cable showed that Bozes and Piña were looking uneasy on Beelzebub's face curiosity settled as he looked around as they entered the underground area of the metro. Kuribayashi and Tomita were beside them as their escorts.
"Yo."
Itami raised his hand in greeting, and Tomita nodded to him.
"We were supposed to take the bus to the hotel, but we were suddenly told to alight at Yotsuya and take the subway over. Time was tight, so things got a bit hairy."
"Well, at least you boarded without a problem, right?"
Itami looked at Bozes, who was clinging to Tomita's arm.
Although everyone expected Tomita to bear a grudge against Bozes, the way the two of them were attached to each other made him think," Oh, congrats, you two!"
Tomita wore a jacket and leather boots, and he stood tall, radiating an air of masculinity similar to Momon. In contrast, Bozes was a noblewoman who looked like a piece of intricately-carved gold jewelry, but his visual impact was no less than hers; in fact, they even complemented each other. The only flaw in this display was the frightened look on Bozes' face. As a single male, this lack of a romantic atmosphere was the only thing he could be happy about when he saw them.
Piña was not clinging to someone like Bozes, but she stood stock-still beside Beelzebub, who wore his ceremonial outfit and the red golden waved cape on his shoulder. What made them, even more, stick out from the crowd. Her nerves all wound up. If there were a loud sound and a power stoppage, the Imperial Princess most likely would shriek and tightly hug Beelzebub's arms.
As he thought about this, Itami was tempted to scare her, but he decided not to for fear of making everyone angry.
"They call this the Marunouchi line, but it feels more like we've gone into a catacomb. At least, it feels just as uncomfortable. Even if everyone says not to worry, what if the ceiling collapses? What if the lights go out? Are we going into the depths of the earth like this? It's kind of scary."
Beelzebub looked up and raised his brow. He fondled his chin as he inspected the ceiling. "I think it will not collapse..." Pina sighed in relevance. "At least for now..." Hearing these cruel words leaving Beelzebub's face Piña stiffened. As the blood left her pale face, she glared accusingly to Beelzebub.
The first heir laughed. "Don't worry. It will surely not collapse.". Piña looked at him questioningly. "How can you be that sure about that Prince Beelzebub?" she stuttered as she looked around warily.
The heir of Ainz smile only widened. "I don't know... just a feeling..." he pointed at his forehead mysteriously.
The princess snarled. "That's not funny Prince Beelzebub! What if we die here?" such words left her beautiful face.
"It's just common sense. I don't think Sir Itami and his people would let their citizens travel in these things if they were dangerous. Don't you think?" he glanced lazily to Piña.
The Princess looked at her thoughtfully. "Yes... you are right..." she nodded thoughtfully. "after what I saw... I know... Sir Itami people are caring about the wellbeing of their citizens as much." she mumbled. "Still... it's better to be safe. Then regret later!"
Beelzebub nodded. "Wise words." However, as a being who can teleport and wore his reinforced uniform. Even if the ceiling collapses unto them. He would not be squished like a bug. He knew that. He felt that.
They had boarded from Yotsuya Station, so the train was still above ground. When it plunged into the earth halfway during its journey, it gave Piña a huge shock and started to grab into Beelzebub arms tightly.
What after a first bump she immediately let go with an embarrassed red face. But after the second bump, she was back on the position what she left a moment ago. In other words, she clung to Beelzebub arm like she was his lover the whole time under their travel.
She could not calm down no matter how people tried to explain things to her. After all, this might have well been the most shocking experience in Piña's life to date. The train car's lights were bright, but outside the window, she could only see the jet black of the underground. It was like taking the public response, but Piña had no frame of reference for this at all, and she had no idea where they were headed while underground. Asking her not to worry in these circumstances was an impossible task.
"Are your ghost houses called 'catacombs''? (This was a new word, so he had to scribble in his phrasebook). Well, between the noise and the ringing in the ears, it's no wonder you'd be scared. But you know, the Marunouchi line is much better now. Used to be, the train lights would cut out while the train was in motion and the whole cabin would go dark."
Just as everyone was chatting like this, the train horn blew, and the cabin doors shut.
The noise frightened Rory so badly that her body was trembling uncontrollably. She nervously reached a tiny hand out and tightly clutched Momon's muscular hand. Momon looked at her with a dumbfounded expression. "What, what's wrong?"
Esdeath just grinned under her disguise and almost burst out of laughter. If Albedo or any other woman from Ainz's personal little harem would saw this. They would skin this girl alive. Or even more Ainz's creation. Pandora's Actor. He would do his over exaggerate ridiculous dance and spoke something gibberish in the German language out of his joy about his master found a new mate. Out of Momonga's shame. Fortunately... she made sure no one knows about this little 'Incident.'
Aside from that. She recorded the whole thing with the hidden camera what she put in her costume. Blackmail material. Who know when you can use it.
Was Rory frightened like Piña was? However, there seemed to be a fundamental difference between Piña and Bozes' discomfort, and Rory's abject terror.
"The, the underground is Hardy's domain…" she muttered.
"Hardy? Is he a friend?" asked Itami.
"She's bad news. If we met her here, I'd be snatched away to become her wife. Hardy's been like that since 200 years ago, always, always, always, always…"
As she said that, Rory squeezed Momon's left hand with her own even more rightly.
Her right hand was holding her canvas-wrapped halberd. Although he was not too sure what she was on about, this God called Hardy (since she lived underground, could she be some sort of demon lord?) seemed to frighten Rory into a child-like state.
She looked up to Momon with a pleading expression. "Momon! Please protect me from her!"
Momon nodded. "I can certainly try. But I can't protect you meanwhile you are hugging me..." he deadpanned.
"I need to embrace you. Hardy hates men, so if I had a man nearby, Hardy might stay away." Rory looked around with a terrified expression.
"This Hardy guy is a weird one..." Raidyn deadpanned. Then straightened herself and started to pose like a smart ass. "But don't worry. We... my little humble self and the great Momon the Black! We! The adamantine adventurer group. Darkness. Can easily take care for such pesky deities such as the Hardy guy you spoke about!" she laughed with a tone of the victor.
Rory looked around with a frightened expression. Like a lamb who spotted a wolf. "Do-don't say such things! We are in her domain! She might hear you! You can't kill a god!" she trashed out of her fear. "You should be wary to Raidyn! She detests men, but she loves woman! If you make her recognize you! She may take you too!"
"Bah!" she threw her hands in the air. "What is a god to a non-believer?" she announced. Rory tilted her head out of her surprise. Raidyn started to smirk. Momon face palmed. "Not again..."
"Challenge!" she announced. "Persons full with themselves always announce themselves as Gods or deities. Until they taste their own blood... then they start to plead. Until they taste my fist!" she raised her fist to the air. "Shannaro!" she shouted. Many people looked in her direction. Giving her confused looks.
Rory looked to Momon with eyes of disbelief. "Did you really killed gods?"
Momon scratched the back of his head. "Well... under our long career we killed plenty of monsters and persons who called themselves such title..." then looked back to his goth loli companion. "But I don't know if they were like your gods or not..."
Raidyn scoffed and threw her long white hair from her face. "They were really full of themselves." she sighed and shook her head. "Whatever... let's speak something else just thinking about this irking me..."
[Message]: "Momonga-san. Did you got the reports about those people who follow us?"
[Message]: "Yes... where is Zero!? His task should be to take care such things!" frowned the Undead Shinigami.
[Message]: "Well... I tasked him with a special task..." she explained.
[Message]: "And the task is?" Momonga raised his illusionary brow as he turned to his companion.
[Message]: "Collect the things from the list what I gave him. I already said to you before... I will not say anymore. You will see the results when we arrive back in Nazarick..."
[Message]: "I hope he did not do anything drastic..." said Momonga worriedly.
[Message]: "Don't worry. He is my creation. I ordered him to do not cause any ruckus. Aside from that. We are being chased like some criminals. Isn't this exciting!" she announced joyfully.
[Message]: "Well... it's certainly more interesting than being under constant surveillance. It is annoying back at home as it is. But here too? No way!" expressed himself the undead lord meanwhile he frowned sourly his illusionary brow. "By the way... did. G.O.L.D.I.E. reported you?"
[Message]: "Yep..." the white-haired woman nodded. "She reported. And found some interesting stuff. But let's discuss that later in a calmer environment."
Momon nodded physically. [Message]: "So be it... but I will expect a full-scale report."
[Message]: "Oki-Doki bony! By the way... did Pandora-kun ready to replace you meanwhile you will be away to introduce yourself for the UN?"
Momonga turned to his friend. [Message]: "You don't want to come?"
Raidyn scoffed expressing her physical disgust. [Message]: "Me and those politics!? Pffft... Don't be ridiculous! You know hot headed can I be. In the end, I may blow up their moon."
Momonga hummed. [Message]: "Hmm... I see... still... you will come with me. I already prepared your dummy."
[Message]: "What!?" Raidyn turned to Momon with an accusing expression. For the others, it seemed Raidyn was just frightened because of the newer bump of the car. "You can't be serious!" she accused her companion through their shared mental channel.
Momonga chuckled maliciously. [Message]: "If I suffer... you will suffer too... that's right. A bodyguard had to near the protected her king."
[Message]: "Why don't you just bring Albedo, Demiurge or anyone else who would even enjoy such political bullshitting?! OR even Beelzebub? The kid most likely learn from this little negotiation! You know I can't be bothered by such things!"
[Message]: "Exactly that's why... cause I am on vacation mode... and I need a little break from our precious friend's precious children's. However, I love them... even my fragile mind can take as much."
Esdeath sighed announcing her defeat. [Message]: "Fair point..." then she turned to Momon Meanwhile up kept the mental connection. "But I will not speak. I will not do anything political scheming and bullshitting! I will put my headphones on put my shapely arse on the couch and sat in silence meanwhile listening to my remix and drink my cocktail! You know what happens to those who disturbs me meanwhile I have my headphones on!"
Momonga sighed remembering the last poor victim who frightened her meanwhile she listened to her music. It did not end well for the said person.
Momonga sighed in defeat. [Message]: "Yes ma'am..."
Esdeath nodded victoriously. [Message]: "That's the spirit!"
[Message]: "I only ask you to keep a little bit of your attention on the discussion. In the case, they may ask you something..."
The white haired, dark elf impersonator scoffed in disgust and turned away. [Message]: "Fine then... I will be your escort... ass!"
The dark knight chuckled under cover of the mental connection. [Message]: "Kukukuku... you are adorable when you are angry. I wonder why you are not found a good husband yet..."
Esdeath's face reddened and started to trash Momonga. [Message]: "I am a guy stuck in this body you sick bastard! That's why! Asshole! Even now I like more the companion of women! Even if I had some urges..." she mumbled the end of the sentence.
The conversation continued as every look were pointed toward the not so ordinary company on the end of the car.
Teaching people from the Special Region about the ways and customs of this world seemed like an uphill task, but as a true otaku, Itami still wanted to hear the girls say those clichéd lines. Itami secretly resolved to educate the girls in these matters thoroughly. He even thought about that he involves Momon deceiving him. Saying... it is a Japanese custom and as a fellow man, it is his duty to help him fulfill this righteous task. He snickered inside his head as he waved his sinister plan.
The next stop was Kasumigaseki station, and Komakado boarded with a "yo" as a greeting.
"What happened?" Itami asked as the man before him disturbed his train of thoughts.
"Turns out we've been followed, and they knew we were leaving from Ichigaya Park. I think they even know we're taking the train. So far, we've got at least two possible suspects for the leaks. We need to take care of those guys following us, or at least, shake them up a little."
By "taking care" of them, he meant finding out who the people following them worked for.
"And the two people who might have leaked the info?" Itami raised his brow as he suspiciously glanced the senior man.
"We'll leave them be for now. It's all part of the plan." waved away his concern uncaringly the man before him.
"Wouldn't catching them be better?"
"There's no need for that. We've known they would leak secrets for some time now. Our plan is to have the enemy rely heavily on them before catching them all in one fell swoop. They should be linked to some ideological organization, or maybe they've been honey-trapped and made to work for the enemy. They'll be dealt with sooner or later, but for now, we'll keep an eye on them. Our main concern now is the rumors about cultist started to crowd the streets. Blabbing about the Apocalypse and the appearance of the Anti-Christ. This makes our work a lot harder than it should be and cause traffic jams in the choke points of the city."
"Really?" Itami turned to Beelzebub as he nervously started to scratch the back of his head. "Well... It was not the best idea letting those worshippers approach the Prince... hehe..." he laughed nervously.
Beelzebub laughed nervously as well. "Hahahaha! Indeed! I did not expect the thing turn out like this.
Kuribayashi turned furiously her superior. "First Lieutenant! Be more serious! This is not a joke! People can be hurt!"
"Hey! No one expected it is turning out like this!" Itami tried to fend off the brunet.
"A honey-trap, huh…"
Komakado sighed but kept his usual calm controlled expression. "It cannot be helped. Fortunately, this also made the enemy information gathering considerably harder. Also... If they reported that they were honey-trapped to their superiors, we would have prepared some suitable information for them to pass on. So they can enjoy their cash, women, or hobbies to their hearts' content, as long as they keep their superiors informed, they can do whatever they want. And when the enemy gets mad and threatens to reveal the secrets they have, since we're already aware of it, all we need to do is mock them. Of course, it's annoying that not everything goes this way."
The enemy would obviously prefer to pick people who would not turn on them. The problem was that Japanese moral values did not emphasize national security, and given that nationalism was treated as a dirty word nowadays, it would seem the enemy could pick and choose who, when and where to strike.
Komakado knew that any country in the world could easily honey-trap Japanese citizens, and he laughed coarsely.
"Well, we wouldn't have to worry about Mr. Itami being honey-trapped, at least."
"Really?"
"Don't you think so…"
As Komakado said this, he looked at Rory who was clinging to Momon's left hand, Lelei who was standing on Itami's right, and Tuka behind Raidyn, who looked like a US high schooler in her T-shirt and jeans. Komakado had not seen the Diet telecast, so he did not know Rory, Momon, Raidyn and Tuka's ages.
"Well because most countries haven't trained operatives of this age, no, wait…"
If enemy nations started mass producing Loli operatives, Japan would be in grave danger. "No, no, wait. Recently, there have been a lot of call girl agencies recruiting young girls. Maybe we should keep an eye on those…" Komakado started thinking seriously as he said that.
"Call girl agencies?"
"Ah, well, these—"
Komakado made sure the ladies around him could not hear him before whispering to Itami.
These were known to provide female companionship to highly-placed officials who were sensitive to scandals or first-rate businessmen. Of course, the girls they supplied were of the highest quality, dressed from head to toe in branded goods. The actual "transaction" would take place in a five-star hotel, to create the impression that they were family members going on holiday together so as to avoid the suspicion of bystanders.
If these organizations were actually run by some country's intelligence organs, they would have people record the indecencies which their targets would perform with their partner. After that, they would threaten their target with exposure of these deeds to the media, and nowadays they might even just upload the relevant images or video to the Internet and wait for it to go viral.
Perhaps their targets might still be able to explain it away as a simple love affair if their partners were adult women, but if they were caught engaging in lewd acts with an underage girl, there would be no way out of it. Therefore, anyone blackmailed like this would go along obediently for fear of being socially and financially ruined.
"No way, where would they get little girls like that?"
"Some dictatorships can manage that." explained Komakado.
They could select attractive young girls from their population, brainwash them into obedience and then send them out. People could do anything if they received the right training, just like the way suicide bombers could fearlessly blow themselves up, or how child soldiers could unflinchingly gun down their fellow man. All these things were simple enough to achieve in a country which laughed at the concept of human rights. History also told of women like Da Ji, Bao Si, Xi Shi and Diao Chan, all of whom were beautiful maidens, and weapons that brought powerful nations to ruin.
Itami watched quietly as Komakado whipped out his phone and sent an SMS to all his active officers conducting searches. He could not send the message right now because they were underground, but he could finish typing it up and send it once they reached the surface again.
"It's a bit ahead of schedule, but we'll be heading to Hakone now."
Komakado told Itami of their travel plans as he typed on his phone. However, Rory interrupted him. She was sweating profusely, and her skin was as pale as death.
"Hey~ could we get out of here right now, please?"
"What's wrong, are you carsick?"
"I don't know, I just feel really uncomfortable, and I can't calm down."
"We'll be getting off two stops later. Can you hang on a bit more?"
Rory's fingertips sank forcefully into Momon's illusionary arm. For a moment Momon worried the illusion what concealed him will break off because of the suddenly appeared inhuman force what the Goth Loly produced. But fortunately, it held firmly. He sighed in relevance as Rory gasp eased. The girl who looked no older than a twelve-year-old looking high schooler looked miserably as she looked around.
Just at this moment, the train reached Ginza Station.
Momon tried to pry off Rory from his arm gently, but it seemed his every attempt were unsuccessful. He did not want to express too much force what could hurt the Gothic Lolita. Of course, as she and Lelei explained. She could regenerate from about any injury. Still, it left a sour taste in his fleshless mouth to hurt a girl. He was the ladies' man after all...
Itami looked desperately as Lelei clings on his arm. But seemingly Beelzebub and Raidyn did not mind Tuka and Piña's affection. But Tomita seemed to sweat bullets as Bozes pressed his arm between her sizable assets.
Komakado did not seem to understand what the gesture meant, so Itami continued looking around. Lelei locked eyes with him, and her expressionless face seemed to convey her approval, and Tuka shrugged to show that she wanted to get off the train.
Momon and Raidyn showed a neutral face like it was an everyday thing for them. Komakado eyed them suspiciously. He read the reports that said... they meet 'weird' things (as the First Lieutenant quoted the two adventurers) every day. So it was the normal behavior from them. Still, it was strange to him. He needs to keep his eyes on them.
The station was flooded with office workers heading home and shoppers who were done for the day. And then a brief window opened — the instant when the passengers on the train had finished alighting, but just before the incoming passengers came aboard —
"Mr. Komakado, we're going to get off the train here."
"Coming through~," Itami said as he led his group off the train like a father minding his family. Because he was selfishly going against the flow of traffic, all the incoming passenger shot dirty looks at him. However, once they saw Piña and Bozes, that resentment evaporated. The feeling Japanese had about "not being able to read the atmosphere" only applied to their fellow countrymen. When they saw people from another culture, all they could do was say, "It can't be helped" and try to be more understanding. But when they spotted Beelzebub demonic horns, golden irises and vertically split pupils what made him resemble a demon lord. Most of the people suddenly get him as far they could.
Some of them even held up either their cross, prayer beads or other various religious symbols to fetch off the devil amongst them. Beelzebub only sighed and shook his head seeing this kind of reaction. He knows very well. Such symbols are useless without a faith-based magic caster blessing them. Even then. The descendant of the Guardian Overseer and The Overlord of Death cannot be repelled by such pesky tricks. It was almost insulting to his undead as well his devil side.
"Hey, wait, what are you guys trying to do?"
Left on the train, Komakado tried to catch up with Itami and the others. The gasp around Itami and the others quickly closed leaving Komakado alone. Since he was Japanese, the crowd was only too happy to press him back, and into the train, so he looked like a swimmer flailing desperately through choppy water before he finally managed to squeeze out of the train.
"This is good too, right? Besides, we're only one stop away."
Ginza Station was right in front of Tokyo Station, and they would only need to walk a little further to reach it. However, as Itami and his gang crossed the ticket stand, they heard that the train on the Marunouchi line — which was to say, the one they had just gotten off — had been halted halfway between Ginza and Tokyo Station by a line fault.
Rory sighed in relief, glad to be outside of the underground train station and back under Ginza's night sky. She stretched her arms out and exhaled deeply. Although the air here was filthy, to Rory it was still better than being under the earth. She was happy to be out of Hardy's clutches. Piña and Bozes also seemed relieved and overjoyed to be above the ground once more finally.
Piña still clung to Beelzebub's arm tightly aside her perception. Realizing this she immediately released his hand and jumped back in an embarrassed manner. Beelzebub looked at her with a confused expression. "What's the wrong Piña?"
Piña's face was like a tomato. She was so embarrassed. Not only as the representative of the Empire but as a woman as well. "Not-Nothing..." she stuttered as she turned her head away to hide her embarrassment.
"Ok..." deadpanned Beelzebub. The Prince was one of the best fighters in the Kingdom. Versed in tactics and for his distaste somewhat in politics and negotiations. But when it comes to women. Well, let's just say he was unable to separate the wheat from the chaff. In another word. (despite his mother was a succubus) He was innocent and simple who can't recognize when a woman looks at him 'that' way.
Everyone looked around at night-time Ginza. Unlike in the day, there were lights everywhere, and in readiness for the fierce mercantile competition of Christmas, the shops everywhere sported a huge variety of illuminated decorations, turning the night into a sea of multicolored light. Several people stood holding billboards in their hand. Saying. 'The Apocalypse is near! Pray for Lord Beelzebub for absolution!' or 'The Shinigami made his appearance! Is it the end of the world? Gather brothers and sisters!'
Kuribayashi and Tomita had already realized the abnormality in the train stoppage, and as they realized the machinations at work, they scanned their surroundings with wary eyes.
Beelzebub wondered where his father secret services are. Of course, he was in an another world where he did not fully understand the customs. But to stopping so many times to reach point B? Something is not right. And when something is not right around him or any member of his family the Secret Services of the Sorcerer Kingdom will make an appearance sooner or later.
But strangely he did not detect any Hanzo, Eight Edged Assassin or other stealth units from his father agency. Either they did not make it here, or they were busy to deal something else. That meant something is not right. First time under their time here he started to worry. First the appearance of that strange structure, then his father sudden introduction for this world.
"Father... just what are you planning this time?" he narrowed his eyes.
"What does the enemy gain by doing this?" Itami's questions made Komakado's eyes narrow into a line.
"They're probably trying to prove something. They might also be trying to probing our strength, which means this is a recon in force."
"They" had already tried isolating and following the microbus, on the hunch that there might be otherworldly visitors aboard.
"They" had even gone so far as to engineer an incident to force a train stoppage.
Although none of them had been put in danger so far, this string of incidents had everyone on their guard. Could it be that "they" just wanted to let Itami's side know and fear their power? In other words, this was a warning along the lines of "Mark my words; you will not escape the palm of my hand."
However, all their schemes had failed so far; the microbus surveillance was foiled by Komakado's plan, while they had evaded the train stoppage because of Rory and sheer luck.
Still... the fact remained that very few people knew that they had changed from the bus to the train, so Komakado was still trying to track down leaks even though his mind was whirling with confusion. Who on earth had revealed that information? Itami kept looking over his shoulder as a result.
"The enemy must be worried because they've got two strikes against them. One more and they're out, so there's a high chance they'll take direct action this time." Komakado suddenly turned to Beelzebub and looked at him suspiciously. "Something in my face?" Beelzebub scratched his face nervously.
Komakado shook his head. "No... nothing... Mister?"
"Beelzebub. Beelzebub Ooal Gown First Prince of the Sorcerous Kingdom." He introduced himself properly.
A sly smile moved on Komakado's face. "Oh! Then Prince..." he bowed his head respectfully. "We need to get you some sunglasses and a hat big enough to cover those horns." he pointed at Beelzebub headdress.
"Something wrong with them?" he squinted his eyes accusingly. "I am proud of my heritage... why should I hide them?"
Komakado placed his hands into the pocket of his gray raincoat. "Prince Beelzebub. Your 'unique' appearance made the people uneasy around you. Please don't take it as an insult." he looked with his sleepiest look to the Prince.
"Right..." Beelzebub looked around. "I have noticed."
Komakado nodded. "I am glad you see it in my way. You see. Our people are not accustomed to such things... I am sorry but can you tell me what race do you belong?"
"I am a hybrid. My father is an Overlord one of the highest ranked skeletal creatures and my mother is a succubus!" he puffed out his chest proudly.
Komakado leaned closer and inspected the Prince. Then nodded humming. "I see... so that's why are you look like a charmer..." chuckled the sly looking man.
Beelzebub said nothing. Komakado did not get away his gaze from the young heir. "Itami. Please get a sunglass and a hat what can cover our guest 'assets.'"
"Yeah... right..." Itami replied.
"That will be not necessary." he waved his hand before his face. His horns started to fade away, and his eyes changed. However, they remained golden colored. Everyone looked at him with wide eyes.
He shrugged. "What? Simple illusion magic..." Lelei watched him with wide eyes. She still tried to figure out how these new people magic works. True she got a fast course from Raidyn when they shared rooms, but for the small mage, it was far not enough to satisfy her curiosity. She often thought that maybe she asks Raidyn, Momon or even Prince Beelzebub to let her visit their world to learn more about their magic.
"When you say direct action, what do you mean?" Interjected Tomita disturbing Komakado's train of thoughts.
"Well, for example—"
Just as Komakado began to speak, Rory was attacked. A man who looked like some sort of punk tried to snatch away the wrapped-up halberd she was carrying.
"Grabbing an item and forcing a chase in order to lure people into a trap is a traditional method, but what the hell is that guy doing!" he pointed to the thief.
However, in the instant that the punk grabbed Rory's halberd, it squashed him to the ground and left him unable to move. Itami and the others knew what was inside, and they had knowing looks on their faces as they looked on the poor punk in pity. However, Komakado knew nothing, and all he could do was find it strange that a punk could be pinned under something a little girl was carrying so easily.
Komakado reached out to grab the canvas-wrapped package, and in that moment, a loud cracking sound came from his waist, like a tree branch being broken.
"Gwaaaaah!"
It was an acute lumbar muscle sprain… in other words, he threw out his back. Worse, he might have given himself a lumbar disc hernia. Intense pain coursed through his torso, and Komakado could not help but collapse to both knees, and then fall to the ground on all fours.
"It's so damn heavy, is it a barbell or something?!"
Komakado collapsed on the ground. People around them were flocking around to see what the excitement was all about, and the distant sirens of an ambulance carried over the commotion. At the same time, some people who had watched the National Diet telecast, and they whipped out their phones to take pictures of Rory, Tuka, Momon, Raidyn, and Lelei.
Of course, Raidyn could use her magic or Momon one of his healing potions to heal him. But why waste resources for such trivial things. The man will be better for a day or two. Not their problem. Aside from that. The application of magic of every possible situation may sound good and make life a lot easier. And that was the problem... Magic made life too easy. So, out of this reason, the two Supreme Beings tried to use it as less as possible and sought to solve their problems through simple methods what does not require the usage of magic. In this way, they made their lives more interesting and colorful as well not slacked as much as they did if they used magic for everything.
Back to the current scene. There was no way the enemy could act covertly with so many eyes on their intended targets.
And so, the third attack by the unseen enemy was foiled by the sacrifice of Komakado's body.
Raidyn raised the covered Halberd and flipped a few times in the air masterfully. "I don't understand... It is light as a feather." she threw it to Momon with a flinch of her wrist. "Catch Momon!" Momon caught it without even glancing to the direction of the flying weapon. He measured it. Raising and lowering the bandaged weapon in the air. "It is really light..."
Rory chuckled. "That means you are blessed by Emroy!" she wrapped them in a tight hug then looked up to them with a bright face. "Only the chosen of Emroy can raise his blessed Halberd!"
"Or we have the magic resistance to invalidate the enchantment on the weapon or the skill to use the weapon or both..." rolled his illusionary eyes Momonga as he looked at the weapon.
"I used [Appraise Magic Item] spell on it when we were the other side of the gate, and that weapon are only a level 55 legendary class weapon enchanted with a medium amount of data content... lame!" scoffed Raidyn. "I expected at least artifact level weapon from a demigod... sigh... what a rip-off..."
Suddenly Momonga looked in the direction of the nearby building. He felt something flaring up. A similar presence. A similar yet unknown. It was like a sun appeared suddenly amongst the forest of small candles. [Message]: "Did you felt that?" He asked his companion.
Esdeath nodded. [Message]: "Yeah... someone is following us... and I don't speak about the CIA or the lackeys of the other nations... this is something bigger..."
[Message]: "Keep your eyes open... we don't want any kind of unfortunate accident."
Scene Change: Carne the Capital of the Sorcerous Kingdom:
It was since two months after the appearance of the strange edifice in the middle of Carne. The Capital of the Sorcerous Kingdom. Since then around the structure, a quite a sturdy magical and physical barrier emerged thanks to the tireless work of the Kingdom's workforces.
High-level vassals of Nazarick patrolled and stationed in the scene in the twenty-four hours of the day. A few of them using their abilities locking the space around the area to fend off every attempt of teleportation.
Of course, they had to rotate each other after a while due; the ability to lock dimensions for a long time was a costly ability. The vassals needed to change each other after a while out of mana exhaustion.
To minimize the security risk, only the selected few allowed in the area using teleportation methods and only after discussing it with the higher ups long before the transportation happened. So when the time of the teleportation came, the vassals can lower the dimension lock. And only with delayed teleportation or otherwise, the security measurements will come to life. This gave a small window to the person to teleport in the area.
You don't have to figure out. In such event, the alert level increased drastically in the area, and the officers mobilized every offensive, defensive and detector units to minimize the security risk.
The freshly built barrack near the structure gave home thousands of fresh soldiers. Various creatures and Gryphon Knights regularly patrolled in the air. Keeping in check the air traffic. In the underground. Spectral Wraith Guards patrolled constantly searching for possible grooves and traces of tunneling.
The area all around the air, ground, and underground became a restricted territory.
Only a few selected individuals and the Kingdom's military units could pass the border of the structure. Of course, the traffic was constant as the military units, the new adventurer groups, magical researchers, and the traders who dreamed to find their fortune on the other side passed the gate.
Of course, only those who had the clearance from the mayor of Carne or any other higher ups can cross the borders of the structure. But as in every system, the governing regime of the Sorcerous Kingdom has its loopholes. Despite the tireless work of Albedo and the vassals of Nazarick no system was perfect.
Bribes and corruption happened time to time. It cannot be helped it is the part of living in a community as the essential thing what accompanied the thing what the people called free will. As long as free will exist such thing as greed and ambition will exist. Of course, the corruption was a lot less than in the Empire or in Earth (mainly in the circles of the high nobility), but it runs much closer to the surface than in other countries.
Ten-meter-tall undead and other creatures stood constant guards around the structure holding their huge weapons. Such as weapons what emitted dreadful black fog and energy based bows and close ranged weapons. Amongst the freshly built trenches and magical wards, the units of the Sorcerous Kingdom patrolled constantly. A few magical researchers stationed not far from the structure taking measurements.
Not far from the structure the traders who managed to acquire goods from the other side offered their wares. Mostly exotic spices, food, and items what contained the magically recorded pictures and recording of the other side. Such items were quite popular in the circles of the nobility. Fortunately, there were such recording items for the lower class citizens as well who can't afford such expensive things. Of course, such items quality was lower.
Outside of the locked area, the life of the Kingdom's capital was the same as every day. The people thrived, and each of them went to their own way. Lived their lives. As it was the corresponding day of Sunday on Earth. The whole square was so crowded it was almost impossible to get through the crowd without accidentally stepping on one or two people's foot.
Such as in such day the nearby guard units' patrol were more frequent than in other days.
But the strangest thing was not this. No. The most bizarre people stood not far from the gate under layers and layers high tiered illusion and invisibility magic hidden from the naked eyes. A few white lab coat, mage robes, and hazmat suit-wearing figures stood near one of the pillars of the structure. Just outside of the magical ward what separated the edifice from the outside world. They were accompanied with their weird looking machines, consoles and other otherworldly looking equipment. On the left shoulder of their strange uniform, an odd badge can be seen.
It was the symbol of Achnologia... the secret magical research and development branch of the Sorcerous Kingdom's Research and Development department. Founded by Esdeath herself with the purpose of investigating anomalies and found the answer why they exist and how they can be reproduced and controlled.
Naturally, only the best of the best and among them only those who can be trustable are invited to the organization.
Only the selected few high ranked individuals knew the existence of the organization and even them are strictly forbidden to share any information about it.
The order to investigate the strange structure came approximately one and a half month ago from the higher ups. From the Supreme Beings themselves. After that, the researchers immediately set up their mobile research station to monitor the situation.
Under one and a half month the scientist and magical researchers could found out a few things, but most of the mysteries of the strange structure were shrouded with secrets. This is why they were called. To solve this riddle that was the external structure.
Among the white uniformed people, three stood out. A stern looking white-headed man in his thirties with a neatly trimmed mustache and beard. A grizzled old looking veteran with circles under his eyes.
And a blonde youngling around her eighteens.
The first mentioned was Fluder Paradyne the head of the Magical Research Branch of the kingdom and the principal of the prestigious Magical Academy of Carne. He was more than four hundred years old. Still. He looked like he was sin his thirties. This was due around two hundred years ago the Sorcerer King used his special ring [Wish Upon A Star] and gave him back his youth. And the fact he used a Forbidden Rituals to substantially reduce his aging process make him look younger than he is.
The second veteran looking grizzled man was Daidre Bareare the head of the Practical and Alchemical Research Branch of the Kingdom. He was more than one hundred years old. The third one was his great- grandchild. The great-granddaughter who shared her great-grandfather passion and talent towards science and other similar things.
Harumi Bareare. As said she was the youngest amongst the grandchild of Daidre and the one who resembled him talent and passion-wise the most. Being a half-elf, her long elf ears peeked out under her long silk-like blonde hair. Her brown eyes shined in the early rays of the sun.
Just now she stood near one of the strange machines that task was to survey the magical interference what the structure produced. "Fluder-dono. Grandpa. We got the new readings." she walked to the senior mage and her great-grandfather. The two of them nodded. "Very well..." Deidre nodded approvingly. "Combine option two with delta measurement method. Start to bombard the isolated area with gamma rays."
She bowed her head. "At once!"
Daidre turned back and glared to the structure. "Just what are you..."