Also dagnabit, I just lost the opportunity to send an actual image of Dr who didn't I?

---

[X] Hey hold on a minute, why are you playing along with this girl when she could be responsible for your ‘being here’? Yeah, no, she better have some words justifying that or you’re getting out.

Your body tenses up a bit as you realize the youkai did not in any way explain your sudden presence, instead diverting the conversation to something of their own interest. Classic youkai move, sure. But it also reeks of manipulation, something you don’t have the time to fake-fall for.

“So where am I anyway?” you ask, and before she can answer, you add in another “And what brought me here? If you’re the one that somehow summoned me, well, I’d call that a kidnapping.”

“What does a sleepy chi-” a glare her way stops Seija from deflecting again, instead the smile on her face doesn’t change at all as she takes another step closer. “Fine, let’s answer the second one first.” then another step, both of her backs held behind her back, she starts circling around you.

“That little circle behind you is a summoning ritual, one of the kinds that keeps pouring out as many yummy humans it can so us youkai outside this cave don’t starve. It doesn’t seem to discriminate either, as people of all ages and all jobs can end up here as long as nobody else would miss them.”

“Plenty of people would miss me.” you interrupt a bit defensively, then internally scold yourself as the youkai just gives you a ‘sure buddy’ in response, such a detail shouldn’t matter after all seeing how you’ve made sure not to end up too close to anyone on purpose. “And I miss her a lot.”

“Her, me, you. It’d be a bit more polite if you gave me your name after my own introduction.” Seija shrugs then stops a few feet from you, always making sure she’s not in melee-range to either not scare you or make sure you’re not going to suddenly attack her now. “But let’s go back a bit here.”

“So..” she says while leaning against a wall, the exit now unblocked. “Long story short, you’re yet another meatbag thrown into the ruins of an old hell. Your only way out of this to ascend each layer if you ever want to see daylight and grass again. Of course, everyone else but a few want to eat ya.”

That sounds a bit too simple to be true, then again you’ve seen stranger things. “So, what do you want from me again?” you go ahead and ask again, but the youkai just raises an eyebrow back.

“That’s. a. secret~❤️” Seija winks, then gestures with one hand at the exit. “I can’t tell how strong you are but you clearly have enough cunning to not do something impulsively dumb, the wisdom to withhold whatever trump card you have and the perception to not be easily led along the nose. It’s not like raw strength is the only thing needed to be strong but for now, I’d say you’re not that bad.”

A very questionable way to compliment someone, but you ignore her assessment for now.

Not that it made you self-conscouis in any way, for even the slightests of seconds.

“So, I’ll change things up for now.” Another gesture to the exit. “Go ahead and leave, once outside keep going north from this point and you should find some trashy shop. If you manage to survive up to that point then I’ll gladly tell you anything you want to know alongside offering my support.”

‘Though if you happen to die along the way, I won’t do anything’ is what you believe her unsaid statement to be. Again, a very cruel thing to do but one any other youkai would agree with.

Still you don’t make a move yet, eyeing down the girl leaning stomach to wall as if doing so would let you read her mind. She’s been nothing if not polite and slightly whimsical but even so…

She looks and gives the vibe off those girls and boys your parents don’t want you talking to.

But enough about her, what’s really important is what you’re going to do now.

[ ] Leave, as dangerous as she makes the outside sound it’s not like you could stay here forever. Maribel is somewhere out there and the moment you find that shop is the moment you get answers.

[ ] Introduce yourself and shake her hand. As dangerous as the latter may be, the youkai hasn’t shown a desire to rip you to shreds yet and as fake as their politeness could be, playing along with it could be more beneficial for you if not make her more willing to divulge more info. Who knows?

[ ] Observe the circle where you came from some more, you’re not sure if that’s a really useful thing to do but maybe another look could give more info. It’s not like you’re going to lose anything.

[ ] “I don’t trust you one bit, so tell me where Maribel is, right now.” you say as you threaten, not threaten, say things with an intense flair to the youkai. She did say she likes moxie so maybe that would work….or it could antagonize a youkai inside a small room. Yeah, that’d be really risky.

[x] Leave, as dangerous as she makes the outside sound it’s not like you could stay here forever. Maribel is somewhere out there and the moment you find that shop is the moment you get answers.

You decided to leave after all, and did so with quite the ease. No goodbye or last minute comment came from the youkai who remained where she was while you made your way through the cave.

It took you only a few seconds of walking before you saw bright light coming through a passage and….

You find yourself outside, warm summer air greets your skin immediately and the smell of rotten eggs is replaced by that of old ash and sulfur then again sulfur already smells like rotten eggs so the only change here is that the smell of rotten eggs has been replaced by a smell of ashy rotten eggs.

Pedantic aside, before you lies what can only be called a crimson-tainted wasteland. Flat plains of black rocks and small mountains of a similar color-scheme make up your current terrain, but far further ahead, in the vast distance you can see a gigantic crimson-coated sea of trashing flames.

Magma would be the more precise term and speaking off it, it’s not only there for several of the ‘small mountains’ you saw actually have rivers, waterfalls and even pools of lava on them as decoration. The sheer amount of heat all these things gather makes you wonder how you’re still alive as the law of thermodynamics demand you turn to ash regardless of your current distance.

Even more outrageous is the massive sun in the sky. A red ball that illuminates it all, yet looking at is actually less uncomfortable then giving a glance at the sun back home...but why is that a thing?

Perhaps it’s not a sun at all then, you wouldn’t be surprised if it is some big magical fireball put in the sky to act as the replacement for one, but to think someone is capable of that is scary on its own.

“Ah. So I’m really in hell.” you can’t help but state dumbly at the sight. Some of your hope going down the drain when inflicted with this kind of truth. “This isn’t a dream or even a joke, I’m really stuck inside a realm fit for monsters...and I’m the prey.” not to say the first thing that comes to mind after that are a bunch of intrusive thoughts of you being attacked by a bunch of youkai, but it is. Still you shake the image away and repress the natural fear you feel as best as you can. “Still…”

“I have to keep moving. The moment I stop, the moment I slow down, is another moment that our distance increases and I can’t allow that to happen!” so with some resolve restored, you move on.

***

You idly kick another rock that’s in your path, and kick it again when it happens to end up just a few feet away to where you’re going. You’ve been walking aimlessly for about ten minutes and most of your worries about how you’re a sitting duck to anyone who happens to fly by have been reduced to minor background thoughts rather than the constant sense of caution you had for a while.

Then again it’s not like you’re super visible either, if you have the slightest suspicion someone is approaching. You could just lie against a nearby stack of rocks and hopes the angle hides you from sight. You’ve done so multiple times by now, yet not once, not once has anyone actually appeared.

So much for the ‘everyone outside this cave wants to eat ya’ line that the youkai told you, not to be ungrateful but if you were a youkai and knew your lunch would come out here then you would have gone ahead and camped the spot for an easy meal. Like cats do with mice-holes, it’s only logical.

The sound of a giggle, plural. Stop you right in your track, unlike the stereotypical horror movie logic the laugh did not come from behind you, but further ahead. Just past the large boulder in your path, you can hear the sounds of several young girls giggling, laughing and having a good time.

Common sense and logic demand you just turn around and make a detour for the sake of safety.

Curiosity and their twin curiosity, suggest that you just take a closer peek to see who could have possible have fun in these drab surroundings. Who knows perhaps they’re a friendly sort?

You highly doubt the latter, but go ahead and move to take a look anyway. Before anything else you still have a duty to investigate the paranormal, yes that’s why you’re doing this, it’s not an excuse.

So with your back against the boulder, knees bend so you can do the standard sneaking crouch, you poke part of your head out to see what this is all about and are surprised by what you see.

Three figures, three pale small girls in pale small dresses, no ravening monsters, sure, but you’ve already learned to fear those with human shape the same. With a silver halo on their head and four fluttery insect-like wings on their backs, were kicking a round white object towards one another within a small circle. Every successful pass met with a girly cheer and a flap of victory from their sleeves that are a little too long for them. One could almost ignore their eery purple aura in their joy.

Or in other words, three cute fairies are playing the closest thing to football here and the way they enjoy themselves is one of the, if not the most cutest thing you’ve ever seen so far in your life!

“Ah, hey that’s far too strong!” one of them shouts as the other kicks the ball too hard, causing it fly past the fairy and land a bit closer to your location. As in so close if one of them were to come pick it up then they would definitely notice you as well. Also, now that you’ve got a better look at it.

The ball isn’t a ball at all, it’s a human skull.

Shit.

The sight alone makes you jump up in fright, and you hold one hand against your mouth to wisely hold in a scream. Still things refuse to get better as the moment you move to back off some more.

The skull floats up ominously, a blue flame surrounds the thing alongside a ghostly body, then just as swiftly, a hail of burning red bullets bursts out of it, forcing you to drop to the side as some of the orbs barely graze your skin. Their mere proximity feels strangely more like being hit by electric shocks but it pains you regardless. And as you leap away from it again, you lose your cover.

“Ah! It’s a human!” one of the fairies shouts as they approach you as well, keeping their distance instead of flanking you immediately, to your luck and their idiocy. “Aren’t those a delicacy?”

“Yeah they are! Let’s catch and sell her!” yet another one says and they immediately come to the agreement that you’re some valuable product instead of a living being. The fairies then nod all together and raise their hands in unison to summon most likely a similar cloud of small lights your way.

:: Battle start! ::

(Transitioning to battle map, please wait warmly…)

“HOLD UP!” screams a familiar voice, interrupting everyone.

It’s the youkai called Seija, standing on top of a short mount. Hands crossed as she looks over you and everyone else with her back turned and a cocky smile on her face. “I just realized something…”

“Hey human!” that’s you, “In case you didn’t know, here in HELL, battles are handled in a different way than those from up above. You look like a cool cucumber and all, but be honest here...”

“Do you know how to handle this or shall this humble and helpful youkai give you a little guidance?”

Tutorial? (Y/N)

Objective: Defeat all enemies OR reach the green zone to escape.

Status:

You/Usami Renko – Level 0 Ex-student – HP: 20/20 MP: 5/5
|Atk: 5| Hit 95%| Crit 23% | (EQP: Bare hands/knuckle type)
|Def: 2| Evd: 20%| Will: 10% | (EQP: Basic girl clothes)

Main actions left: 2

[ ] Move (Move anywhere up to 5 spaces/ free first time every turn for all chars, additional move cost 1 main action)
[ ] Attack (Choose a target/1 main action)
[ ] Defend (Halves all dmg, restores 25% hp and ignores weaknesses/ 1 main action)
[ ] Pick up and throw (Need a foe or ally nearby/ 1 main action)
[ ] Magic (You have nobody capable of using magic in the party)
[ ] Item ( X1 Flashlight (Inflicts BLIND on all foes 3 squares in front of you once per fight ; X3 small survival kits (Heal 5 hp each)/ using any item costs 1 main action)
[ ] Flee (You cannot escape the very first fight this way.)

Additional info: Knuckle type weapons have low base dmg but high hit and crit rates, also they get to attack twice per main action spend. You can change class and weapon later on, this is just a freebie.

- Enemies have a red mark, neutral parties green and allies are blue.

- The BLIND status dramatically lowers hit accuracy and evasion.

- Clarification: You can only move twice at the max per char per turn. (So you can't move like 15 slash 30 spaces at once later)

- Moving diagonally counts as taking 2 steps, instead of just 1. (There are skills to bypass this)

Enemies:

Zombie Fairy A- Level 1 Fodder – HP: 10/10 MP: 10/10

Zombie Fairy B- Level 1 Fodder – HP: 10/10 MP: 10/10

Zombie Fairy C- Level 1 Fodder – HP: 10/10 MP: 10/10

Vengeful Spirit A- Level 1 Fodder – HP: 4/4 MP: 40/40

All enemies listed above can only move about 3 spaces each per movement.
They all have their own main action too (As in they have 1 compared to your 2)

***

Congrats if you read all that, there won’t be any more walls of text after this.
But as you can guess, this takes more than just an inspiration from disgaea.
As in you actually get to fight in it, it’ll be a bit slower for the first fight but the ones past it will have a much faster pace, as in I’ll let you use multiple turns at once until something noticeable happens. But not this one! Oh and if you choose yes to the tuto then I’ll explain everything in detail.

Oh and you can press on the red/blue file thingy to make the image bigger.

[x] Move (Move anywhere up to 5 spaces/ free first time every turn for all chars, additional move cost 1 main action)
-[x] ...into a tile above a vengeful spirit. Three tiles total.
[x] Attack
-[x] ...the vengeful spirit twice.

Seeing the vengeful spirit as the weaker link of the bunch, you quickly make your way over to it with an impressive stride. One that in the earlier days never saved you from being late but one that has proven itself quite useful in the recent days and continues to do so even now. But enough.

Clenching your fist as hard you can (thumb out), you grit your teeth and swing your arm like a jack-hammer towards the flaming skull. Surprisingly you barely feel the impact as your hand goes through it’s skull like it’s made of hot butter, hot enough to mildly burn your fist as you extract it.

The evil spirit in response, just glares at you with it’s half-caved in skull, seeming unaffected overall but their body clearly has been damaged to a heavy extent….if that even is their body.

You ready your arm to finish the job, confident that one more punch could make it blow up like jello or maybe puff into smoke or whatever it is as long as it stays dead, but a voice interrupts again.
“Hey! That’s a nice punch you threw there!” Seija says but clearly has something in mind. “But speaking of throwing, why not actually throw the thing? I think you’ve got in you to do so and besides once thrown, these skulls tend to explode!” for a moment the sentence sounds absurd.

But then you remember where you are and what you are doing, so never mind.

“I don’t think you can throw it all the way to the fairies in your spot, but don’t worry about it! I’ll give you a freebie here, just throw it and I’ll make sure the thing will explode right in their mugs!”

She sounds clearly amused by the possibility, more so than a real desire of wanting to help out.

“Oh, but don’t think throwing is only useful for that. It can also help by picking up an enemy so they can’t attack (at the cost of fixed dmg), or you could throw an ally to a place you can’t reach (though if you throw them too far down or like in lava that would really hurt them), it has plenty of uses!”

Well that’s an option then, one you can take or you can just finish the thing off and continue the rest.

-----

*Evil Spirit takes 3 damage (it RESISTS non-magical physical attacks, still all dmg is upscaled making 2.5 dmg into 3 dmg)
*Renko takes 1 damage (Fire damage from punching a flaming skull barehanded)

-----

[ ] Finish off the Evil Spirit (Take another 1 fire dmg, costs no action)
[ ] Take the offer and throw the evil spirit. (1 main action.)

If you choose to finish the thing off, then you still have 1 action left. So you can use it on moving again or doing literally anything else, the choice is yours anon.

[X] Take the offer and throw the evil spirit. (1 main action.)

“Okay, I’ll do it!” you shout with some gusto, part of you almost feeling a bit fantastical as you seriously move to pick up the flaming skull and throw it as far as you possibly can for the sake of it.

Grabbing onto the evil spirit, you immediately wince at the hot sensation it’s carving into your fingers as it desperately tries to squirm out of your grasp. Even so, you tighten the uncomfortable grapple, lift it above your shoulders and then with all your strength, throw it...where to?

“The right! Throw it as far as you can right!” Seija shouts in response, so you do.

And you throw it surprisingly far away, as the spirit is about to hit the ground it instead stops in mid-air, glowers your way and seems completely unaffected by your rough way of transport.

That is until it swaps places with Zombie Fairy A, to both their confusion, but not your own. For now you’ve finally seen it, only for a moment, but seen it you did, this isn’t teleportation at all.

Within less than a second or two, both enemies have been flipped around in a clock-wise arc and so forced to change positions. The reason for doing so becomes obvious once the spirit turns red in it’s new spot, inflates mildly in height to it’s and the other zombie fairy’s horror and finally explodes in a dramatic show of smoke, fire and more crimson lights. Harming all within 4 squares off it.

“Hehehehehe, that serves em right.” Seija’s friendly grin becomes a bit more toothier at the display of damage, “Acting all friendly with each other only to be forced to harm one another, what a joke.”

“B, C!” the one unharmed fairy A shouts their names in horror, then clenches her tiny little fists in anger. “How dare you make them poof!” she says to you with a childish pout, one on the level a child would give you for denying them a candy bar. “If you played nice, then so would we have! But nooooo, you just had to fight huh? Well guess what? I can play it tough too, you jerk!”

Faster than expected, the fairy moves towards your face and hits you with a punch that contained all of their momentum, bitter emotions and determination...and it didn’t hurt even that much at all. It was like having your hand slapped away by your grandma with a fork, but nothing too painful.

“A, don’t give up!” one voice within the smoke says, “We’re still alive!” the other says and both owners of said voice reveal themselves to be the zombie fairies, covered in soot from the explosion and their clothes all messed up, but still the same zombie fairies. “So keep fighting, ya hear!”

“We’re not going down that easy!” one of them continues as both of them fly upwards by 3 squares, then one fairy lifts the other and throws them 3 spaces to the left. “Come on A, feel my power!” the one thrown shouts at the fairy in front of you, before a light leaves them to empower the other.

“Huh, aren’t they feisty?” Seija comments at their whole display, acting a bit stoic for once. “Anyway they’re just an eyesore at this point, so go ahead and get rid of em already.”

-----
*Renko takes 1 damage (fire dmg)
*Renko takes 1 damage (Fairy punch)
*Fairy B and Fairy C take 6 damage (explosion)
*Evil Spirit takes 6 damage and vanishes
*Fairy C blesses Fairy A (they gain ATK+)
-----

Enemies:

Zombie Fairy A- Level 1 Fodder – HP: 10/10 MP: 10/10 (ATK+)

Zombie Fairy B- Level 1 Fodder – HP: 4/10 MP: 10/10

Zombie Fairy C- Level 1 Fodder – HP: 4/10 MP: 6/10

Vengeful Spirit A- Level 1 Skull Bomber – HP: 0/4 MP: 40/40 (DEFEATED)

-----

Your turn again.

Status:

You/Usami Renko – Level 0 Ex-student – HP: 17/20 MP: 5/5
|Atk: 5| Hit 95%| Crit 23% | (EQP: Bare hands/knuckle type)
|Def: 2| Evd: 20%| Will: 10% | (EQP: Basic girl clothes)

Main actions left: 2

[ ] Move (Move anywhere up to 5 spaces/ free first time every turn for all chars, additional move cost 1 main action)
[ ] Attack (Choose a target/1 main action)
[ ] Defend (Halves all dmg, restores 25% hp and ignores weaknesses/ 1 main action)
[ ] Pick up and throw (Need a foe or ally nearby/ 1 main action)
[ ] Item ( X1 Flashlight (Inflicts BLIND on all foes 3 squares in front of you once per fight ; X3 small survival kits (Heal 5 hp each)/ using any item costs 1 main action)


Does this help as a A B C, 1 2 3, chart? Cuz if not, I could look how that works.

Sorry for the late reply, was outside all day.

---

[X] Attack B3 fairy by punching her in the face (twice).
[X] Move to E4
[X] Attack E3 fairy with a running haymaker as you pass by her (finish her with free attack if whiffed).

The way the fairy in front of you sparkles with an energetic aura mildly worries you, but there’s no time to worry in a fight and in a fight you are, so instead you put up them hands and throw them her way! One punch hits the fairy straight in the stomach and the other winds upwards onto their chin, the average uppercut causes the fairy to fall back and comically explode with a loud poof!

“A, NOOOOOOOOO!” the two remaining fairies bemoan her fate, but it’s not like anything else could have happened. Had they powered her up and THEN have her attack then that could have been troublesome, instead you punched out the fairy and will go now to do the same to the others.

Well, go is kind of a humble word, as in truth. You outright side-step and jump like you’re possessed by the spirits of retro platformer mascots of yore, landing right behind yet another fairy who barely has the time to turn around, open their mouth in shock before a haymaker with all your strenght-

[ -- Magical Astronomy - Track 2: Greenwich in the Sky plays for 10 seconds -- ]

Smashes against the fairy’s face with such immense force that the momentum carries the two of you a few feet into the air. “W-what!?! how are you this stroooooooooo-” the fairy’s question dies in their throat, or well within another explosion that takes it out as you land back on the ground with your hand sizzling with smoke, as if it was set aflame from the speed and power of your blow.

*Renko learns a new Fist move! Usami Hook!

“I...what? How?” you can’t help but stare at your own fist for a while longer, not only did you jump higher than any famous basketballer you know off, but that kind of power isn’t something your body should have. Did...did that circle do something to you? Or is this one of those scifi things where lower gravity makes you a superhero on other planets? Then again, where is hell in the-

The sound of outrage from the last fairy alongside slow clapping from Seija get you out of your amazement funk, for now it doesn’t matter how you did that, but you feel like you can do it again.

You don’t even know why you feel that way, but you just know on an instinctual level that you could do it again, as if some piece of an unseen puzzle has been unlocked to you now. That’s the odd feeling.

“Hey, not to be a buzzkill.” You turn around and see that Seija has closed the distance now, standing a respectable distance away from you with an appraising smile, that same smile that hasn’t left their face since you’ve known them by the way. “But the fight’s over, so now it’s time to talk spoils!”

“What like gold and xp?” as dumb as the question sounds, that’s the vibe this fight gave you. You’re stuck in a fantasy world of your dreams, and solve problems by beating them up, just like an rpg.

“As if some dumb fairies would have anything that valuable.” The smile turns from appraising to condescending, then with a single glimmer of one teeth, it becomes mildly menacing. “But gold aside, what matters is here is that you’ve defeated all of your opponents except for one…” she points at Fairy C nearby, who instead of looking ready to fight, now looks more apprehensive and ready to just bail. “Which is prove enough you’ve got some balls on ya, but you’ll need numbers.”

“What are you implying?” you reply, more interested than you care to admit out loud.

“Recruitment.” Seija says loud and clear, then waves her hand in such a way it could be considered cute if it wasn’t to wave off your skeptical frown. “Look, girl. Hell is a big place filled with big monsters where everyone with even a hint of power sees you as nothing more than a can of meat. Sure, you’ve got some outsider toys, some good hands and a strong will to live but sooner or later that won’t be enough anymore. You really want to survive in this nightmare? Get some muscle.”

“I don’t think she’ll be eager to join my team even if I asked her nicely.”

“Then don’t ask nicely, ask meanly, that’s how we work here after all. Sure, these gals don’t fear death but if she believes for even a moment that you’ll inflict something worse on her, then she’ll be more than willing to bend over in whatever way you tell her to. Though there’s no loyalty, true.”

“But that’s the best part ya hear?” Seija clicks her finger and points it at her own skull, as if what she’s about to say is utter genuis. “You don’t care for her and she don’t care for you, which means you can run her dry and ditch her when she stops being useful. Cause she’ll pull the same trick on you if you get your ass handed to you in a fight. Ain’t no honour in hell, only power and abuse.”

“That sounds more like enslavement…” actually it totally sounds like slavery to you.

“I guess?” and Seija admits that fact, then tilts her head a bit as if she doesn’t see the problem. “So what? The strong rule the weak, if you don’t like that then you’ll need to become strong enough to overturn the whole world itself. But that’s not your main goal now is it? You want something else.”

That’s...not wrong.

“Look, think of it this way.” Seija continues, looking real intent on selling this concept to you. “If it helps you survive and get where you want to be sooner...is compromising your 'human' morals in an 'inhuman' world not the best choice here?”

*The talk! Command has been unlocked, use it as you see fit or don’t.

[ ] You don’t want to compromise anything, just finish off the fairy and let’s move on.

[ ] If you’re in hell, do as those in hell do. Besides extra help, even coerced would help you.

----

*Fairy A takes 5 damage (Punch)
*Fairy A takes 5 damage and poofs! (Punch)
*Fairy B takes 16 damage and poofs! (Crit plus new skill learned)
*Fairy C now out of allies, becomes AFRAID.

----

Enemies:

Zombie Fairy C – Level 1 fodder - HP: 4/10 MP: 6/10

----

Your turn again, the fairy skipped their own as the fight has become predetermined now.

Status:

You/Usami Renko – Level 0 Ex-student – HP: 17/20 MP: 3/5
|Atk: 5| Hit 95%| Crit 23% | (EQP: Bare hands/knuckle type)
|Def: 2| Evd: 20%| Will: 10% | (EQP: Basic girl clothes)

Main actions left: 2

[ ] Move (Move anywhere up to 5 spaces/ free first time every turn for all chars, additional move cost 1 main action)
[ ] Attack (Choose a target/1 main action)
[ ] Tech ( -Usami Hook! (Deals ATK+50% dmg and hits all foes in a 1 square circle / 2 mp)
[ ] Talk (To who? / free once per turn, has a range of 2 squares.)
[ ] Defend (Halves all dmg, restores 25% hp and ignores weaknesses/ 1 main action)
[ ] Pick up and throw (Need a foe or ally nearby/ 1 main action)
[ ] Item ( X1 Flashlight (Inflicts BLIND on all foes 3 squares in front of you once per fight ; X3 small survival kits (Heal 5 hp each)/ using any item costs 1 main action)

---

Just to clarifiy, 50% of your ATK stat would be 2.5 raised to 3, so the dmg is 5+3 aka 8. This was also doubled because of the crit, hence the 16 damage in total done. Anyway here's your choice.

I won't spoil things but will admit that yes, you can choose to stay true to your morals, occasionally take compromises or even slowly but surely get corrupted into more drastic measures as things go on. I won't judge you for any of it, of course. That'd be counterproductive to having choices.

---

[X] Talk to the remaining fairy, say she's free to leave in peace as long as she doesn't pull anything.
If that doesn't work out
[X] You don’t want to compromise anything, just finish off the fairy and let’s move on.

You look at the fairy, pretty sure that they’re the one who confidently said the words ‘let’s sell her!’ with an innocent smile on her face. The mere thought of them casually manhandling you and selling you off as some dairy product adds some extra temptation to Seija’s words about recruitment. After all, if you look at the deal in a different light then...you still see the slavery in it and are against it.

After a loud sigh, you take one more step in their way, but before you can open your mouth.

“Please...please!” the zombie fairy backs off the same distance, her body completely rigid and her wings beating faster than needed. “Please let me go! I was just joking!” her teary eyes and cute expression don’t make that any less of a blatant lie, but at least the fight is out of her. “Mercy!”

“Hmm. I don’t know.” Seija interrupts, one hand on her chin as she shows a sly smile. “They were awfully invested in fighting you...so either they’re really good actors or this girl is one bad liar~”

“N-no!” Her eyes caught in some head-light, the fairy starts to stutter now. “T-that was…”

“That was what?” Seija leans in, clearly enjoying herself. “Come on, try another excuse.”

“...Go.” you reply before the fairy can do anything drastic, causing both youkais to look your way with either a raised eyebrow or a shocked look. “Just don’t pull anything or I’ll know.”

“…!” The fairy doesn’t say anything back or even gives a nod, the moment you give her permission to leave, she turns around and flies off far faster than any man-made drone you’ve seen on media.

“How soft.” Seija says with a bored tone, one distinctly lacking a feeling of disappointment behind it, not that you would care if there was any behind it. “You do realize she’ll bring more trouble?”

“I do.” you reply, fully aware of the fact that the girl could, once she regained some of her bravery, tattle about you to other fairies, who will tell other fairies, who will tell other people and sooner or later the rumor fest will catch the attention of someone’s who you want to stay out of the radar off.

“Then why? Fairies can’t die, so don’t talk to me about mercy.” She questions, half-interested.

“I’ll tell you what you want to know, once I’ve reached this shop you spoke off.” you reply.

“Touché.” Seija admits, then starts walking away. “Let’s go then, there’s quite the distance left.”

“Go, as in go together?” you ask, but follow her anyway when she doesn’t reply. She walks a bit faster the moment you’re right behind her, then slows down whenever you’re not, how annoying.

Anyway you give your surroundings one last look, before the two of you head further north.

(Girls are traveling, please wait warmly...)

“Oi, you done dreaming? The next part is about to get tricky.”

“Huh?” you state dumbly, part of your head must have started reminiscing out of boredom, seeing how you’ve done nothing but walk straight ahead for yet another twenty minutes. “What is it?”

“Take a closer look on your surroundings.” Seija casually states, so you do. After which you immediately realize that your surroundings have changed from only having black rocks and the occasional puddle of lava, to you now being on top of several hill and cliffs of rock while constant streams of the deathly red liquid are pouring a few feet under you. The youkai’s standing at the edge of one with you just a few feet behind her. “See that red stuff? I bet you already know what it is and what will happen if you were to take a tumble in one. So let me give a fun fact instead: Did you know these baths were once used to torture the souls of sinners? Yeah, unlike what you might believe, you won’t instantly melt the moment you fall into one of those, nah. Slowly but surely the water will keep you afloat while burning you from toe to top in an unnatural slow manner.”

You did not need to know that and she knows it, if only for the way she smiles after. “But don’t worry about that, all you need to do is not mess up this jump and we can continue.” she point at another rock a few feet away from your point, where if you managed to jump to it, you could continue traveling. The fact you’re like 7 or 8 feet higher up should only make it easier, but…

“Can’t beat your fear, huh?” Seija guesses and before you can reply, she takes a single step forward then leaps the distance like it’s nothing, landing safe and sound at the other side. “I’m not surprised, beating up tiny girls is one thing but jumping over a pool of lava? Oh, that requires real guts.”

She’s taunting you, blatantly trying to rile you up and she doesn’t even hide her smile, one of her shoes taps against the ground repeatedly to show a mocking impatience and for a moment, just a single moment, the thought of jumping and hitting her face with your boot by accident tempts you.

Then the moment passes and you realize the complete recklessness you’d need to have to even try such a thing. There are so many, so many ways this could go wrong that it isn’t even funny.

“Oh, don’t be a coward!” Seija taunts again, “It’s not like you can even be hurt by getting close to it, only actually touching the lava will harm you, so make the jump, or go rot up there forever.”

[ ] No, nuhuh, nada, no way are you making that jump. There must be a detour, right? Look for that.

[ ] Try the jump, yes it’s insane but so is this entire world. You can’t falter here of all places.

[ ] Call Seija out, you know she can fly and she’s obviously enjoying making you choose.

(And there's your choices, I'll go post the bestiary tommorow too as I lost it in my files, anyway til then)

[X] Try the jump, yes it’s insane but so is this entire world. You can’t falter here of all places.

You take in a deep breath to calm your nerves, as much as you like to be casual and cool about this, the primal fear of falling to one’s death isn’t something you just turn off the moment you want it to.

Even so, that doesn’t stop you from taking a few steps back and doing some stretches. After all, if you’re going to jump, then you’re better off not getting a cramp from it afterwards. This definitely isn’t a stalling method and even if it was, it doesn’t work because shortly after, you stand straight.

And make a dash for it, the edge comes closer way faster than you’d like but when the final moment comes for you to stop and change your mind, your feet push off the ground and sky-bound you are.

You don’t see the lava looming beneath you, you don’t even feel yourself roll after hitting the ground after a second or two. No, nothing out of the ordinary happens as you simply register the fact that you made a jump, succeeded at it and are now at the other side, completely unharmed.

It was like jumping over a small river, nothing too difficult. Very mundane even, but eventually the moment ends when Seija walks over to you and says, “Attagirl, was that so hard?” as faint praise.

“It wasn’t, now was it?” She continues, then tends a hand your way, making you realize you were sitting with one knee against the ground after all that. You just stand up without her help and reply:

“It was okay.” and not wanting to linger on that, “How did I do that thing earlier?” you change the subject and repeat the whole ‘Usami Hook’ move you did earlier without actually doing it for real.

“Oh, that’s a whole pickle of cans better off answered where I promised you’d get them...answers I mean.” Seija deflects the question again, then turns around, keeping up the pace, only to stop.

“Though…” her face turns thoughtful for a moment, then returns it’s no-good smile as she spins around to face you again, hands behind her back as she moves her body in a whimsical rhythm. “I’m sure you know about the occult yourself, so allow me to ask: What makes fantasy reality?”

“Belief.” you immediately answer, having long studied such things, witnessed such things and are no less surprisingly, very willing to talk about them. It makes your guard drop slightly, “The whole world is a product of human cognition and belief. Things come into existence because humans believe them to be so, then stop existing once humans no longer believe in them and instead, start believing in other things.”

Seija doesn’t look too impressed, simply nodding contently to your answer. “I knew it, your calm demeanor and strange clothes were one thing, but your lack of typical reactions towards being stuck in a hostile world tells much more as well. I’m not dealing with the average human here, am I?”

“You got me.” you shrug back, putting your hands in the air for a moment as if you’ve been caught to be some criminal, then stop when you remember that’s acting too familiar to her. “What of it?”

“Eh, nothing. It’s just the majority that end up here tend to be no smarter than brats, regardless of age but let’s not talk about their morbid fates, yet.” moving on, she makes another point. “Have you ever considered the possibility that you yourself are not immune to the belief of the new majority?”

“I doubt it, because if that were true, then anyone’s belief could alter me if they had enough numbers.” and that’s something that’s never happened to you, human world or otherwise.

“Well, if you want to look at things that way. Then don’t let me change your mind,” A shrug comes out of her as she turns and moves to walk again, “But if you’ll let me speak plainly…”

“I’ve never told you to speak in a specific way, but go ahead.” you follow both her steps and words.

“The longer you stay here, the more this world’s rules will affect you, call it a curse, call it miasma, but this world isn’t meant for the likes of you. So if you don’t end up eaten along the way and linger on far too long, then the odds of you becoming a youkai or something worse aren’t below zero.”

“That’s fine by me.”

“Is that so? Care to elaborate on why?”

“Simple, in the hypothetical scenario I lose my humanity, whatever that means, I would gain several boons in exchange, such a great boost to my physical and spiritual strength, the ability to heal from most wounds and even the capacity to fly. Rationally speaking, it would be more of an upgrade.”

“Oh, well. If that’s your decision.” that tone is too similar to the one you’d give to someone about to inflict a catastrophe on themselves but not caring enough to stop them. “I’m sure she’d love it.”

“What do you mean?” you ask, half-weary and ready to dispute the moment she throws out one of the usual arguments, but also half-curious what an actual youkai’s perspective about this matter is.

“You’ll lose your freedom alongside whatever makes the current you, you.” She replies with a tone that this isn’t a big deal at all, very carefree despite the serious words she lets out. “So whoever your friend, lover or sibling is. They might get alienated by this ‘new’ you, if anything the most likely scenario would mean that you’re now a threat to their life as well. Forever having to hold in the urge to rip off their throat, something you’ll find to hard seeing how you’re a newly born, and thus something you’ll eventually fail at too. Waking up one day, feeling completely satisfied only to realize that the yummy thing in your mouth is their cadaver yet unable to stop yourself from swa-”

She doesn’t finish the sentence, because your hand grabs onto her arm. “Stop, I get it.” and you take a moment to swallow some spit before continuing. “I don’t need a horror story stuck in my head.”

“Boo.” A pulled out tongue is Seija’s answer, then a small push forces you to let go of her as she walks again, outright skipping even as if something great just happened. “Fine, long story short.”

“Humans are defined by the fact that though weak and fragile, they can do anything. Youkais no matter how strong or unique, are defined by what they’re supposed to do. The change from one to another is irreversible, so go ahead and try it on a whim, I’m sure you’ll be happy.” She ends the conversation with a bold-faced lie, a lie so straightforward you can’t possibly take it the wrong way.

Does that make the lie a warning? It sounds like that to you, but the youkai makes a show off ignoring any further attempts at conversation as the two of you continue your northward march.

(Cue the transition…)

“We’re here.” Seija finally says, then points at something just several feet ahead.

On the side off a cliff, just one earthquake away from falling into the sea of flames below lies a metallic castle that clearly has seen better days. It’s steel like pikes for legs have attached itself into the ground and even now look sharp enough to cut in half anyone who dares touch them. The castle itself has obvious eastern origins, with it’s torii gates set before and after a flight of stairs alongside the tiled roofs on the upside off it. The walls are made of a black stone and a long description made short, the atmosphere of the place made it feel more like a gigantic torture dungeon than a magnificent castle or resilient fortress. All in all, calling this a shop is like calling a cat a dog.

It could be an illusion or just the intensity of the place, but the smoky reddish tint to the sky was now a crimson-blood color, the smell of brimstone now covering all directions as if the world inside and out of it should have been on fire, yet no flames whatsoever can be seen except those below.

Finally, you see silhouettes in the red distance, flying figures. Indistinct, lacking the bulging ugliness of most feral beasts, but clearly humanoid and not dissimilar to Seija standing next to you, they have wings like exaggerated versions of ravens and hurtled with controlled carelessness, as if in a great wind. They were clearly patrolling the place while also having their own mix of fun.

“Hell ravens, evil spirits, and other gutter scum that can’t or doesn’t dare live on the upper layers of hell...those are the kind that reside in the ‘The Shop’” Seija explains and reveals at the same time that the castle’s name really is ‘The Shop’. What an uncreative name, “I’d like to call it a hive of scum and villainy, but really it’s just the ruins of an ancient torture prison now used as some place where losers who end up feeling lonely or afraid of the world tend to just gather and sell stuff.”

“Ancient torture prison?”

“We’re in hell, or what used to be it. What do you think happened to sinners here?”

“No need to say it that way.”

“Uhuh, anyway more importantly. Here’s a head ups.” Seija pauses for a moment, to gather her memory, “Ok so, avoid any floor stone marked in white. It is a trap that will kill you. Do not accept any free food from anyone. It has a drug that will kill you. Do not let yourself be led into dark alleyways because some child asked you to, they’re a youkai that will kill you. Do not under any circumstance wander off on your own until we reach my spot or I’ll assume that something has killed you, which it most likely will because the place is filled to the brim, with hungry weaklings. Make no mistake though, this castle hates everyone in it. I’m more than reasonably sure that it could be sentient, that rather than some curse, the castle will try everything in it’s power to slowly destroy anyone who enters it...to prove that it can. So, don’t be weak-minded or it’ll kill you.”

“...So the entire place is a trap and you want me to enter it, because…?”

“Because I have a cozy office in it, or well room, which happens to have food and drinks that you can actually consume. Something’s that’s quite rare here and I’m sure you’ll appreciate when I afterwards show you the map of hell that I posses and show where your friend most likely is. Whose name and your own you still haven't given me.”

[ ] Fair enough, let’s go in then. Not like you’ll be safer anywhere else for that matter.

[ ] New plan, how about she gets those things and brings them outside, while you wait here?

---

Bestiary comes first thing tmrw, for now, have the choice of entering your first 'town' zone or not.
The thought of punching the air to go higher is hilarouis though ngl, and I would just allow it since this world works more on rule of cool anyway.

Don't mind the trio postings, it was a web problem thingy.

---

[X] Fair enough, let’s go in then. Not like you’ll be safer anywhere else for that matter.

As you follow after Seija yet again and head towards the fortress, the lithe figures in the sky take notice of your presences and promptly fly down, landing in a way that bars the road and surrounds the two of you with their weapons raised, “State your business!” one of the raven girls shouts.

Raven as in the bird to be precise, the three girls wear ponchos and jeans like one does in a western, the only exception being the holes in their back put to make way for their dark-colored wings. Guns are visibly holstered on their belts, but before you can ponder on why they would need those…

“I’m here to enter the shop, what else do you think, dumbass?” Seija says with confidence, earning a glare from all the crimson eyes staring her way until they all widen in sudden recognition.

“Oh, it’s you…” The raven girl that spoke first, most likely the boss of the group, lets out a sigh as she sights along her own gun, albeit halfheartedly, as if she wasn’t particularly planning to fire it; the others gave Seija of all people a lazy salute or wave of the hand. “I don’t know how many times I’ve told you this, but you gotta pay the toll if you want to enter. I can’t make exceptions, Sei-”

“And every time, I pay the toll with a nice, ripe, can of whooping your butts, right girls?” Seija’s grin, always reeking with mischief turns dangerous as she exposes one tooth again. “And I’ll do it again as usual, really girls, I’d assume you know what pattern recognition is by now.”

Another sigh, followed by a fancy twirl of her gun is the girl’s answer to that, “Fine, let’s head to the sky-hold on, who’s that behind you?” she stops her words and stares once she notices you.

“The Hakurei.” No hesitation or the slightest hitch to her voice comes out of Seija as she blatantly lies about who you are, to the belief and immense shock from the raven trio as they slightly back away, one of them looks ready to just bolt immediately, so feared is that name even underground.

“What? They’re still alive to this day?” asks the boss with some skepticism, narrowing her eyes to scan your appearance to memory from a safe distance. Part of you is offended by the blatant lie but if it lets you pass through her without a fight, then you can hold your tongue for the time needed.

“That’s the point of having generations, duh.” Seija just scoffs, then leans with one shoulder against you, using the opposite to point at your face. “Blackish-brown hair, golden brown eyes and a troublesome personality? Isn’t that the trademarks of all them shrine maidens, am I wrong here?”

Another squint of the eye, followed by a sense of horror, no that’s not it, this is more, this is primal fear. “N-no, I guess that’s accurate.” the raven replies, so easily fooled it almost feels like you’re watching a show. “What’s her business here?”

Seija opens her mouth, ready to unleash yet another lie.

“Actually, I’d like to hear it from her.” but the raven interrupts as all youkais look your way with scrutiny, fear, and a distinct lack of hunger. As for Seija, she just looks at you with the same smile.

“I’m looking for someone.” you plainly state, because the best lies have truth in them but also because you don’t think you could truly convince anyone with some other story. “It’s private.”

An additional glare is all that’s needed to make the girl back off even more and outright stammer some apology before all three step aside. Their fear and nervousness gives you a slow, luxurious sensation but you quickly identify it for what it is and shake it off, instead moving into the castle.

You take a few more steps, then stop as you turn around, awaiting Seija with crossed arms, as successful lie or not, putting you on the spot isn’t something you don’t want her thinking to be a thing that she can easily get away with. Besides, you might obtain the Hakurei’s god ire for this.

Of course, being a slimy person, youkai or not. She instantly gains an apologetic smile as she approaches you, hands slightly in the air to convey pacifism. “Sorry, guess you’re the honest type?”

You have half a mind to kick her in the shins for that, but you don’t. Not sure how she’d react to it and in no hurry whatsoever to test boundaries with help that could leave as quickly as it came.

Glaring at her and poking one sharp finger at her chest makes do for a substitute, “Never again?”

“Not without telling you beforehand.” She has the gall to haggle, but you agree to it anyway. As dirty as it is, deception is a fine tool when properly used, one you can’t discard out of silly pride.

Still, whatever tiny inch of your guard she managed to get down, has been re-raised if not set far higher than before. Mischief is one thing, but being able to lie as one breathes is extra suspicious.

Patting your once made useless left hand, you calm down some of your worries and keep moving.

(Girls are traveling, please wait warmly…)

The inside of the former torture dungeon was sparse by youkai standards, which is to say that it looked bizarrely high to you as the interior was two malls larger than what the outside implied.

Several stone stairs that lead to somewhere further in the distance, a greenish tint in the air making look everything look drab and depressive. Several beds made of rags put on the corners of each room on which lie malnourished or indifferent figures not moving their heads at your proximity. Passages etched into the walls that one could fly up to which would lead them to more halls in some sort of bizarre labyrintine geography. Dark corners under the stairs and alleys where one could feel sharp gazes coming from, discouraging them from approaching those spots lest they be grabbed and dissapear forever. The place is a fitting one for those who wish to lay down and just dissapear, like insects hiding under rocks or the very depth of the dirt. Filthy and scary, that’s how it all feels.

“I’ve got a pretty sweet setup here, human,” said Seija as you continue to take it all in. “If you follow those red crosses signs into those alleys then you’ll eventually reach the Nurse. She fixes up wounds here, kind of a cheap gig though since most youkai bodies can just heal by themselves, so her bandages and sugar only tend to speed up the process a bit. It could be useful to you though so…” her voice trailed off, or more likely you’ve started to ignore it, because the further you two went, the more lively youkais appear in the surroundings. Walking around, trading and chatting with each other and stopping whatever they’re doing to raise their heads your way the moment you’re within sight. But none of them come your way and some even lower their head the moment they register Seija next to you, contending themselves with low murmurs and occasional glances.

You refuse to think about how they would act if you were on your lonesome, instead returning your attention to the youkai who loves her own voice next to you, who naturally continues listing down places of interest to you as you both make your way to her so called ‘sweet up’. Those being….

Some candy/weapon store called Rosen-something. That has the unique quirk of only selling weapons that fit the customer rather than the customer getting to choose what they want. A strange business tactic for sure, but one that seems to work if the hundred person long row says anything.
Part of you wants to actually enter the shop, but the temptation is swooped aside for a later date when you remind yourself that ‘the talk’ you’re about to have soon is of a much higher priority.

“Anyway, see that gal over there?” Seija speaks up again, then points to an insouciant-looking cowboy-ish youkai with scarfs for crimson wings. “That’s the…” She dramatically pauses.

“Youkai recruiter.” The cowboy perked up, filling the silence as they hurdle a wall of weapons such as nets, whips and those sticks with which you catch large felines strapped on their back. They add in a rakish salute that’s so overly familiar that it almost feels irritating. “Reckon I can expl-”

“See, this gal can turn your POWER (P), the energy one builds from combat, like bloodstains on the souls, into a bunch of vessels to summon ‘generic youkai’ – totally loyal creatures who’ll follow you into and out of hell without complaint as that’s the very reason they exist, like having a familiar sort of. Though they’re always kind of weaker compared to more ‘unique’ youkais, right?”

Seija waggles an authoritative hand at the cowboy, wait, I meant cow gal, who seemed faintly put out by being preempted in her own tutorial. “More or less, yeah.” She then offers a hand, “Wanna summon some servants now, buddy?” Seija coughs unsubtly, “Ah, sorry, milady…?”

“She won’t be able to afford anything you’re offering.” Seija speaks again, then shrugs when the recruiter looks mildly surprised. “She was in like only one fight, no way that got her enough P.”

“Ah, so she does have some. In that case, that’s fine.” the cowgal continues, a merchant-like smile appearing on their face as they turn to you now. “See here, milady. The first purchase in my humble store is and always has been 50% off! I’m sure that with those prizes, even you could get one.”

“Huh.” Seija scratches the back of her head, then looks at you mildly disinterested. “So what’ll it be?” she doesn’t seem to care for these products or how you want to spend your earned money.

[ ] You need to think about it, let’s go see this map and important talk first. Know your priorities!

[ ] Hmm...okay why not? This is more 3d, uh, 4d printing than slavery, you always wanted a mon.

[ ] If you’re going to buy anything, better weapons are the priority, to the Rose-something.

[X] You need to think about it, let’s go see this map and important talk first. Know your priorities!

“Shucks,” the youkai recruiter replies in disappointment, “Oh well, ya know where to find me.” before moving out of the way and returning to their own spot. To await other customers.

“Let’s go then.” you comment to Seija and she moves ahead after, not bothering with a reply as the two of you make a few more turns around some alleys before finally going up some stairs.

And stairs, and some more stairs, with a spice of stairs. Oh and some more stairs for the flavor!

Not to say that such movement is enough to exhaust you, but it’s draining enough to make you tempted to use the hand and feet method of climbing up like a wild animal to make it pass faster. Your youkai companion on the other hand simply flies instead and fully understands your suffering but does nothing about it, except for the occasional glance and grin that comes your way to taunt.

Finally after reaching one more hall at the higher floors of the place, Seija stops to fiddle around with a wall, eventually pressing down on a specific stone tile to reveal a secret passage leading to...

What else but a secret room? One more shaped like an office of sorts, with it’s stone table in the middle of it around which are four chairs made of stone. On the side of the room lies a closet made of stone and if it wasn’t for the lack of a bed, you’d have assumed this is the hidden place for someone to slack off at. A small window leads to a balcony outside, whereby lies yet another smaller table of stone on top of which lies a tea-set. The angle of the castle hides it perfectly while the lava from below and the sun above heat up any water that lies within the thing...you, uh think?

Long story short, the room is uncozy and only serves one purpose: To hide and chat within.

“Welcome to mi casa.” Seija says as she flies over the room to open and fiddle with the closet. “Take a seat and I’ll be right behind you,” obeying those words, you pick a random seat and wait.

“Nice room.” you say without believing it, not sure why you even said something that unnecessary.

“Why, thank you.” A polite reply comes out of Seija who still seems to look for something, then before you can even lean to take a closer look, she slams a long scroll on top of the table. “But let’s get to business now, so as I promised, here is the map of Hell that I’ve been talking about.”

She doesn’t say more, clearly waiting for you to unfurl it. So you do so with a careful hand, the oddly smooth parchment clearly displays several landscapes in a vertical manner, the most notable areas noted down from numbers 1 to 8. Every detail within the scroll is masterfully drawn as well.

“Number 7 is where we currently are, Former Hell. And between it and 8 lies the sea of flames that you’ve seen in the distance, that being called the Remains of Blazing Fires. I’m sure you can tell why it has that kind of name behind it. But...you know what, let’s make this far simpler.”

She takes in a deep breath, then takes a seat at the chair opposite from you, both of her hands intertwine and rest over her mouth as she shows a kind smile. “Not to throw random accusations, but you seem to be the quite the withdrawn type. So I don’t believe that just telling you everything I know would be particularly beneficial to either of us in the long run, hence my new offer…”

“For every question that I answer, you must answer one of my own.” She points out the very moment you raise your eyebrow, “See, there you have your suspicions once more. A smart but regrettable instinct, for sure. But one I’ll simply have to keep in mind to keep our chats fluid.”

“You think that if you tell too much, I’ll just run off without telling you anything?” you plainly state, not really offended but frowning all the same. “I’ve come this far with you, haven’t I?”

“Yes, yes, but any positive relationship needs to have an equal amount of give and take.” She stops there for a moment, as if that explains anything. “So it’s only fair for you to humor me as I do you.”

“…” part of you wants to refute that, but another part is starting to wonder whether you truly are being unfair here. As shady as the youkai is, she is helping you and you’ve given her nothing for it.

“Is that a yes? Or a no?” Seija prompts again, “I’d like to have verbal consent here.”

[ ] “Yes.” you’ll answer some questions, to an extent. As long as they’re not inappropriate.

[ ] “Didn’t you have an offer for me? I’m here now, so start with that.” Deflect the subject.

[ ] “No.” you refuse, knowing you’re burning ‘good’will here but you just can’t trust her at all.

---

That part when you expect someone to monologue and exposition, but then they demand you do the same back. Fr, fr. Well the next updates are going to be super quick, seeing how this is really a case of seeing how much info you're willing to give away to her. Oh and the map will come back in more detail later, image included.

BOTW2 and struggling to make a speech that doesn't have too many or too little red flag turns out to take more than a few days after all, my bad lol.

---

[X] “Yes, but...” you’ll answer some questions, to an extent. As long as they’re not inappropriate.
-[X] See if she'll agree to a system where you get to vet her questions first before answering.

“Sure. If that makes you comfortable,” Seija agrees surprisingly casually with the vet system you’re proposing. “Everyone has some things they don’t want known after all, but it’ll mean I get to vet your questions as well. That would be only fair, am I wrong?” she’s not, but the way she phrased it…

Never mind, maybe your nerves are getting to you, “So, what’s your first question?” you ask.

“What’s your name and if you can’t answer that, what can I call you by?” Seija replies.

Oh, that’s an easy question, hardly harmful and makes sense to ask. “….” still you hesitate.

“Are you serious?” she does not say, but the way she raised her eyebrow implies it, still she doesn’t seem offended by your non-answer. “Are you perhaps under the impression that giving me a name, true or not, would give me some sort of supernatural power over you?” she asks calmly again.

The answer to that is no, but kind of yes. You’ve read folklores about how certain devils are capable of making those whose names they know, obey every little command that comes out of their silver tongues. Not to forget the similar tales fey tend to have, giving you overall a big don’t do that sign.

And Seija is definitely not an oni, the way she speaks and moves has a charisma behind it that lacks a rough and straightforward edge to it. She looks more the type to persuade you into doing drugs and other illicit activities, but perhaps you’re simply projecting an unfair image on her because of it.

“Renko.” you say after some more deliberation, trying not to make it sound like a curse. For a moment, this makes Seija’s smile turn a bit brighter, she sure knows how to convey a lot with it.

“Renko, Renko, Renko…like a lotus child?” she repeats three times, as if to burn it within her memory. “Thank you for sharing this with me, I can tell it wasn’t the easiest decision for you to make.” again, a smile. You’re not sure why she keeps showing one, is it an attempt to look kind?

Like you’d believe a person who’s name means ‘Good and Evil’ or “Right and Wrong’ would be kind. At best you’d assume they’re either a neutral party then, if that is even her real name.

“My turn, then.” you reply, wanting to ask something for a long while. “What race are you?”

“If I answered that, you would lose any and all trust you have in me, so I won’t.” So a veto.

“Why is that?” you continue anyway, “It’s not like I particularly trust you right now either.”

The youkai visibly rolls her eyes at that, “And in whose office are you sitting right now?” but she doesn’t let it end there, “Tell me, have you ever been looked down upon? Assaulted and cursed for what you are rather than who? I hold no good recollections about sharing this fact, so I will not.”

Even as she says that, there is no edge or glare on her face. Still, you don’t push it, not a fan of burning whatever goodwill you’ve still got in her. “Another then, why are you helping me?”

“Are you sure want to ask something like that this soon?” Seija answers the question with another question, a very rude thing to do if she didn’t continue. “I kind of hoped for that to be the climax.”

You don’t think you can feel at ease around her until you do know what she wants. “Yes.”

“Curiosity, anger, because of a promise and because it’s subversive, those are my reasons.”

“Oh?” you lean a bit more forward, interest grabbed and sensing a monologue. “Go on.”

“Human beings are such fragile creatures,” She does, smile dying down as she leans backwards on her own chair, feet now on the table. “Get hit by a fireball and suffer a burn that won’t heal for weeks, fall down the rocks wrong and die instantly or break your legs. Seeing no challenge in hunting such prey –even if it is necessary to keep up the faith-- the strong all gained an idea.”

You blink, then realize that she went from polite kindness into a stoic monologue just like that. Disgust clear in her eyes as she speaks.

“What if we gave them a handicap? An opportunity to rise their strength faster than they could on their own in years? Thus making them worthy adversaries! And so, a system came to be.” Seija narrates her tale a bit dramatically, like pausing here for dramatic effect before announcing…

“The Power Battle System! By letting anyone obtain immense power through repeated straightforward fights, the brittle humans and other weaklings will finally have a way to amuse the strong without breaking into tiny bits after a single slap. The system that’s supposed to give an equal chance to those who want to see the surface again is in truth nothing more but a condescension of the strong! Seeing how they made it, turning it off would be just as easy!”

Those words are enough to give off a dreadful image: That of you losing whatever gathered strength you have the moment the so called strong no longer feel like playing around. Then to be shredded into pieces when you’ve gotten so close to your goal, like the whole journey was meant for failure.

Where the Spell Card rules give everyone a valid way to blow off steam, this is nothing more than cruelty...or at least that’s how Seija is coating the narrative to you now, regardless it sounds horrible.

“I’m not a mind reader but whether you believe me or not, you’re still going to have to try and play the game if you want to get even remotely close to where your important person could be.”

“So you don’t know where she is?” you interrupt, a bit hastily, but you have to know!

“I’ll answer that soon enough, just wait.” But she waves you off and continues, “Nor do you have anywhere to go back to but up, those are the circumstances you’ve been put in. Throughout your journey you will face many difficult decisions. There’s no right or wrong in them, just paths that will lead to different outcomes. However the obstacles of this adventure, are no joke either.”

“Those being?” You ask, knowing she’d answer it anyway, getting engaged to her energy.

She points at the map again, this time on point 7. “From the Kasha that damns all humans she grasps into eternal damnation, her control over the undead unmatched by all.” point 6 is next, “To her master, the dreadful Satori. The one who can read your every secret and revive any trauma.” next is point 5, Seija’s voice turns darker as the number goes down. “To the mightiest of Onis, the one who could engulf several villages into a never-ending blaze by just rubbing her hands…”

“Those three on their own have been the end of many of your kind,” that statement alone makes you visibly wince, noticing this, the youkai ends her tale abruptly. “My apologies, I didn’t aim to up-”

“Keep going.” you interrupt, taking in a deep breath as is usual for upsetting news. Opening your eyes once more with a sharp gaze when the latter doesn’t. “I can take it, thanks for worrying.”

“Ah,” this throws Seija off, you immediately note down the use of courtesy for later uses. A small victory that may one day be obtained again. “Well, okay….” another pause, “So where was I?”

“Something about an oni destroying villages by rubbing her hands,” you helpfully reply.

“Ah, yes, yes indeed!” She nods to you with a bit more energy than usual, making you wonder whether she’s put on the spot when you return her ‘kindness’, not knowing why the change came.

Or maybe she expected you to be a one-liner only type of asshole, it’s not like you’ve done anything to give off another image in hindsight, but she recovers quickly enough. “Exception being those who actually manage to garner the last one’s favor. Oni’s respect the strong see? And one’s race or origin doesn’t matter in the slightest if you’re capable of breaking their nose the way they can your entire body.” Seija explains half-heartedly, face twisting into a grimace as she continues. “Of course this doesn’t mean you’ve earned your freedom either. As instead of being killed on the spot by any stray youkai that feels the urge for an afternoon snack. You will instead be relocated to an autonomous region of the Underworld where they keep their other ‘respectable’ humans.”

“Like pets put in a zoo?” you garner a guess at what that really means. Dread building up.

“Oh, it’s far worse than that, Renko.” She answers as she, strangely enough, leans over the table to touch the red tie around your neck. Not even bothering to ask for permission for once as she eyes you with a pitying expression so well-made it’s either genuine or she’s the greatest actress ever.

“As much as they like to see themselves as stalwarts of honesty, even onis can be deceitful. Calling it an autonomous region to give it a good reputation but in truth...they’re imprisoning the citizens like domestic animals, making them do slavish jobs while harvesting their fear like a fine wine.”

“They wouldn’t do that, onis are honorable forces of good, you’re lying.” excuses and such pour out of your mouth, the hostility of which don’t make Seija back off in the least, nor do you push her off.

“In other words, your precious person, if she is still alive, is located inside a concentration camp.” A slight pull of your tie against the back of your neck puts you back to reality as one moment you heard her words and the next, your imagination did a fine job for you. “And so…” Seija trails off, now on her face a smile that conveys no real emotions. Reminding you again, that she’s a monster.

“Before the real battle starts, we must save them...your compatriots!” she conc-wait what the fuck?

“What the fuck.” you repeat, because come on, not in a million years did you expect her to say that!

“Well, humans.” a deadpan response fires back, then a tilt of the head as she lets your tie go. “Then again, that’s kind of a bother on it’s own. Seeing how long it takes for any of your numbers to grow….sure, 9 months and 15 years may be nothing to the long-lived youkai but that is still a ti-”

“No, no, not that!” it’s safe to say that you’ve gotten heated here. “What did you mean by save?”

“Well, I don’t mean rescue. More like find their location, then make them free themselves.”

“???”

“By that, I mean revolt. Whatever numbers they have would be too large a group to conveniently sneak out and besides if my gals were to collide with the ‘Strong Ones’ from the front, then there wouldn’t be any chance at victory. Such a factor is strength in war potential, one too overwhelming.” Another parchment is dropped onto the table, this one having statistics that Seija then reads with a serious expression. “Best case scenario, the number of humans would be between 1 to 10% of the population of the Underground, aka they are the minority. Besides Oni consisting of the elite 45% this leaves a potential of 45% various youkais, some work for the Onis, duh, but others have their affiliations unknown.”

“Though if we’re lucky, those could either already hold a grudge against the Onis or be persuaded to join our side, that alongside the humans working with us could make the revolution a reality!”

“Revolution?” Ah, now you get it. Or at least your suspicion says, “You want to flip around the structure of power and live the easy life on the top of it. That won’t change a thing though.”

“What a ridiculous thing to say, but more importantly aren’t you failing to see the bigger picture?” Seija knocks one finger against her forehead, signaling for you to think deeper. “As the minority, your race is experiencing an unfair persecution. You’ve all been taken from the lands where you were born and even had the fact that you are living beings snatched away from you!” she announces with one hand pressed against her chest and the outrage in her voice smooth as velvet, full of care. “To fight against such cruelty is the right thing to do, all for the sake of a better future.”

Another scoff comes from you, “A future that serves your better interest? Why should I believe that you would try to free humans and aid me….just out of the kindness of your heart?”

“Well, first off, why don’t you drop your cynicism and your paranoia for a moment? You know, just because something is positive and hopeful doesn’t make it silly or trite.” your sarcasm is returned by a jab just as sharp, before she seats herself again, looking mildly pissed for once. “If this is the way you are all the time, then I can see why the only friend you have is miles away.”

Before you know it, you’ve stood up and loom over her. “Watch your mouth.” you hi-

“The exit is right behind you.” you’re interrupted again, as the youkai stands up to meet your glare. “I’ve not been the best host, that I admit. But if you’re going to continue acting like a petty child, then my interest in you is clearly misplaced. Cause then you’re not special at all, you’d be just one of a dime a dozen girls out there who got hurt badly one day and decided to lash out like a child.”

“I’m not a child,” you say very unconvincingly, if anything you’re tempted to blame the supernatural here as you’ve never before felt such an intense loathing for no reason at all. A part of you wishes you had enough composure to calm down the moment you realized that, offering a nuanced explanation alongside an honest apology. Instead a silent death-glare is your answer.

“Then apologize and let us set this matter to rest. If you dislike me for anything I did, that’s fine. People have the right to choose how they see things and make their actions freely, but they are also responsible for the result of those actions. Like how your unhidden disdain led towards this.”

“Responsibility? Freedom?” the fact a youkai is saying those words is so bizarre to you that some part of this ‘disdain’ you have towards her makes way for curiosity instead.

“Do you get it? By antagonizing me for no reason, you will eventually burn through my patience and turn me into an enemy. You’d have to accept that reality and move on, is that your intent?”

“...no.” not at all, at worst you had some sensible suspicion about her and some curiosity about what race she is...yet there’s also a part of you that was bizarrely eager to get rude and violent. Could the world be already affecting you? If what Seija said is true, you mean. “I don’t want to be enemies.”

“Then you know what to say.” She crosses her arms, her tone unfriendly and serious.

Again there’s a reluctance, but you know this is the right option so you do it. “I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted.” Seija speaks formally, her tone solemn and blatantly practiced. With those words recited, she returns to her seat as you do mimic the gesture, letting out a loud sigh. “Man, that was a moment, how about we take a break for a small drink and then continue?”

“Let’s.” obviously, you agree to such a thing. Your everything feeling rather dry by now.

(Girls are drinking….please wait warmly.)

“Seija, why do you want to flip society?” you ask once you’re done with your cup of tea, even though you’d have preferred colder water, but alas that is a complete rarity inside a lavaland.

Still the drink did its job, lowering down all of the gathered tension to a point, that, just this once, you’re actually starting to feel mildly comfortable in the youkai’s presence. But just a bit, okay?

Though what’s more surprising is that you’re not afraid of her, sure, you’re ready to fight for your life were she to leap over the table and try to bash in your skull. But you’re also confident that she isn’t the kind of person to do that. She would rather talk, trick, do anything short of straight-on confrontations unless you were to push the limit and force her to do so by shooting the gun first.

And there lies a bizarre sort of safety within that, as long as you act respectful, so will she.

“Hm,” She ponders the question, cup held upside down even when it wasn’t empty as she takes another sip in again, the empty cup. “Other than the obvious morality, no reason, really. I’ve known from the day I was born how much one suffers when surrounded by strong people that mean them harm. Tired of having none, I educated myself to substitute it with cunning and now here I am.”

“So that’s the life you chose?” you ask, knowing it’s technically a second question but eh.

She doesn’t call you out on it, instead she just bobs her head up and down. “Yes. Regardless of what I hoped for, I had to make choices based on those available to me in my environment. I am here right now as a result of those choices.” Another sip before she continues, looking straight your way. “Listen, Renko… your birth… your status… these things are part of your environment, they’re what you’ve been given. People strive for the things they want and give up on the things they don’t want. Choosing not to decide is a choice as well, though then you have no right to complain about what comes after.”

“You sound like a politician, or one of those mentors that always die in stories.” you can’t help but lampshade, because seriously, having a youkai discuss this kind of things with you is exciting as it is alien. Right out of a book that you’d want to be in. “But really now, how do I fit into this?”

“Two reasons, A) Because it’d be hilarious to have the people responsible for having those drunk bullies hide underground be the reason they’re kicked back at the surface.” her toothy grin come out at that, mischief all over her face as she continues. “And because every revolution without a just cause and a champion behind it is doomed to failure from the start. There’s only so much I can do with my face as I’d be rightfully called to be nothing but a trouble-causing youkai. But with you…”

She stands up, calmly walking towards you as she removes one of her golden bracelets, then tends it to you with one knee against the ground. A smug smile showing she knows what the pose looks like, at least human culture wise, “That can all change, if you and I were to work together, then not only would you be reunited with your mob cap wearing friend but all the humans could finally lead a peaceful existence as well, be it within the underground or outside of it. So, what do you say?”

“Wanna be a hero, Renko?” she offers the bracelet as a gesture for this alliance. And with it the guarantee that you won’t be lacking in food, water or directions to follow. The only price for it being that you officialize the fact you’re going to face anyone that’’ll try to eat you in exchange.

That and...you’ll most likely will have to do a few favors for Seija, if not more than that. Perhaps it’s best to just say your thanks after all and be on your own way, if only that it’ll make you less of an obvious target...or would that be the opposite? You don’t know what the safer option here is.

“What would that entail?” you ask instead of saying ‘I refuse’ on the spot. Though unlikely, if this is a genuine heroic thing to do and it serves your own goals, then you don’t really see a reason not to.

“You’d be my sword of justice, leading the front of our flag in battle and represent the hope that even weaklings, be they man or youkai, have the ability and right to live in the underground.” Seija dutifully explains, pose perfect still and looking up to you, to perhaps give you a thrill for power. “In exchange you’ll have my full support in your own quest, alongside all the info you need to efficiently travel through this world and the ability to rest and plan things amongst many of the hidden bases that I’ve planted throughout every layer of this despair-filled landscape.”

“I’m not a hero though…” you reply with less coldness, because fuck it, the way she phrases everything to you sounds like an exceptional offer, too good to be true, but exceptional still.

“Then bring truth to the lie with your own actions! I’ll ask you again, Renko! Be my comrade!”

The excitement in her voice is enough to carve an image into your imagination: that of you bravely heading into battle like a hero that many people fantasize about, growing stronger and stronger with each conflict to the point that nothing could harm or stand in your way of finding your friend again.

It’s a childish thought for sure, but the visual is enough on it’s own to make your heart skip a beat, beat in the same way it always did during your Sealing Club activities. And that scares you.

Because it means you’re tempted, which means she played her cards well and seeing how you’re now in a drab place with no idea how anything works.... Her making the offer this soon is a simple way to make you think about the consequences of rejection, but now you’re actually thinking the opposite.

Dammit.

[ ] She’s playing you....but a path that gives you power and Maribel is one too tempting to not take.

[ ] Refuse the offer. Going to war against an entire world? That’s just too much, even for you.

[ ] Hold on, you still got x questions (Cuz I couldn’t fit all of them, go ahead and ask them here if you want. Oh, but do choose a yes or no to the offer too, this is more me being polite)

[x] She's playing you... but a path that gives you power and Maribel is one too tempting to not take.

“I’ll join you.” you reply after a moment’s thought, aware that you’re most likely involving yourself into a big mess now, but still too tempted to take it instead of the harder path. “In your revolution.”

“Good.” Seija responds with mirth, her smile turning sweeter as she softly pushes the bracelet around your left arm, which makes for a surprisingly perfect fit. “Once again, you’ve made the right decision while keeping your circumstances in mind.” she stands up, to let you admire the gift.

The golden bracelet is just that, a small accessory made of pure gold as far as you can tell. Yet as it lies wrapped around your wrist, one can feel a small trace of warmth behind it, a proof of energy.

But even more than that, it is a seal, as in, a reminder from hereon whose side you’re now on. You could call it a symbol of your newfound alliance, but let’s have philosophy rambles at a later time.

“This, Renko, is no more than an accessory.” Seija speaks once you’re done pondering it, clearly about to explain why she gave it to you. “Though it has no special power behind it, it has been in my possession for a long time, thus it reeks of my presence. Which should be a good enough repellent to most of those in the shop, as nobody gets to survive touching what is mine.”

“I’m not your pet.” you reply a bit defensively, because c’mon. She did just call you hers.

“Of course you aren’t.” She easily agrees, waving her feet around as she’s seated on the table. “But it’s best that your average youkai doesn’t know that. Lest, they’d want a piece out of you far more often then necessary. They’re stubborn like that, but let’s move on for I have other things to say…”

“Go on,” you reply hands on your own hips, a useless statement as she obviously will ‘go on’.

“...And many things to do.” She replies, a wink your way to show she did hear you. “But first off, I have to say that the more time I spend with you, the more and more you impress me, Renko~” your name is said so kindly and gently it almost gives you whiplash, but you pretend not to notice it, to her further bemusement. “Which is why I’ll keep the remaining questions I have for a later date and will now personally take the time to help you get your feet wet, before meeting some allies of ours.”

“And what will we be doing then? Grocery shopping?” you ask, curious and braced for adventure despite the deadpan tone. Who knows what you’ll get to see after all, and who you get to meet?!?

“Bingo.” Seija states at she moves to the door, stops midway, then talks with only half of her body faced your way as she tends out a hand. “We have many things to do, so many things to do…”

“So let’s start with…”

Before you knew it, the longest part of today began.

(Girls need a scenery transition...please wait warmly.)

“So which one’s prettier? The black and red one? Or the red and black one?”

Seija asks, while holding two dresses that look exactly the same. Then again, dress is an overstatement as neither of them protect the majority of one’s chest and stomach, only leaving a small bra and some pants without sleeves to protect one’s virtue. Clearly meant for seduction and titillation rather than protecting from any weapon or the climate outdoors. “Eh, you can have both!”

“No way!” you respond, deadpan again, instead of fidgeting and blushing in place as Seija would have wanted, seeing how the latter lets out a small ‘tsk’ and moves on to seek another pair for you.

“Oh come on!” once again, Seija takes the time to grumble in a comment. “Everyone knows that real adventurers wield big swords and skimpy leather skirts. It’s common sense, you know?”

Common sense is making you wonder why the two of you are now inside a clothes store, inside an ominous torture dungeon, inside the very depths of hell. Though observation can’t help but admit that as far you can care to see, this place looks no different from any other market-cloth selling one.

There’s coat-racks, stacks of shirts, pants and even armor everywhere. And the shop itself even has some of those figurines that you put clothes on for demonstrations even though the rooms themselves are obvious empty spaces in what was once a ware-house or bar re-appropriated.

“No, it’s not. And more importantly, WHY are we here?” you ask, even though part of you can already guess why. After all, if you’re going to be spending lots of time here then it’s only normal that you get to posses clothes your own size, lest you’d be smelly and dirty after only two days in this very warm place infested with might makes right philosophies. And you don’t want that at all.

“To change your class, dummy.” Seija did NOT answer, instead the voice came from above, followed by the sound of someone dropping right behind you. “If using weapons frequently gives you access to new skills, then wearing the proper clothes will naturally give you access to powers as well. Don’t think too hard about it.” the soft voice responds with a cheery manner, belonging to-

An absolute dwarf of a girl with brown eyes and blond hair tied in a bun with a ribbon, her dress is black and yellow but also absolutely poofy and though you don’t know why, you can’t help but feel like she’s your every day neighbor kind of gal. The type of person you could have a friendly chat with before you move on with your day without any further commitment and she wouldn’t mind it.

Oh and she’s looking at you upside down, a trail of web coming from the ceiling. “Kurodani Yamami, nice to meet you! Miss…?” and now she’s waiting for an introduction as well.

“Renko.” you state, rather politely. As you rightfully assume she owns this store. “And likewise.”

“A real darling.” the spider-youkai notes with amusement, before moving from the ceiling to the floor without losing eye-contact with you, a jolly smile painted on her face. “So, what brings a-”

“None of your business!” Seija interrupts with a stack of clothes, then promptly drops them all on the ground between you two. To her own pleasure and Yamame’s opposite. “Don’t bother trying to get a piece of her, spider. She’s already one of my own if you couldn’t tell, nice try though.”

“Oh, but I wasn’t.” The blond-haired girl replies as she scratches the back of her head with a casual smile, “The bracelet on her was proof enough of that. But can you fault a girl for wanting to say hi-”

“Yes.” Seija interupts with a cocky smile. “Yes, you can.”

“-hi to a newcomer, be they human or youkai?” but, as if used to her, Yamame simply continues the question and then looks your way, as if the rude girl doesn’t exist. “Oh and how has hell been treating you? I hope you haven’t had too much trouble coming here, people can be so rude.”

As nice as the girl is, you’re about to dismiss the interaction for what it is: Useless small talk.

But then, the questions ring back in your head again, like a gong bashing against a bell.

How has Hell been treating you? “Nothing too special really, other than the change of scenery and one or two attacks my way.” as brave as that sounds, that’s too apathetic to be true. “It’s a wonderful place?” and that would be an outright lie, for as unique as the place is, such a word is overkill.

“It’s an acquired taste.” you reply in the end, “I’ve only been here for so long so my opinion could change.” you add in afterwards, which seems to be the right spider-you mean answer as the girl…

Well, she beams up. “Wonderful. I’ve heard that answer only three times so far.” and moves cl-

She tries to move closer, only for you to be pulled back by the back of your shirt by Seija, “Back off, get any closer to her and we’ll have problems.” the warning in her voice alongside how she moves herself like a wall between the two of you makes you wonder what in the world is posses-

“Geez, you don’t have any faith in me do you? I don’t eat all of my customers.” Yamame interjects, her smile turning a bit more daring in response to Seija’s glare. “Oh, well, not anymore I mean.”

“You better don’t make an exception for her.” Seija warns her again, the heat in her flaring down before she lets go of you. But then her gaze turns your way, “Listen, if you start to feel even the slightest of discomforts in your body, mind or wherever else, let me know immediately, okay?”

You just nod to that, a sight that makes the spider-youkai raise an eyebrow to, before she lets out a small sigh and pokes her forehead with her ring-finger for some reason. “Maaaaan, trust is such a hard thing to obtain these days. But let’s get to business girls, is there anything I can help with?”

“Get this girl a class change, alongside clothes that won’t make her sweat bullets whenever we get close to any river of lava. Oh and some long-lasting shoes too. As much defense as can be put in.” Seija states her request with a neutral tone, before taking out a small pouch whose insides jingle from the mere motion. At the sight of said pouch, Yamame’s eyes glisten with interest as she nods.

Then turns her glance your way, obviously looking your body up and down, “Sounds like you’re going to go for a custom work then, right? In that case the total cost would be about 25000 P.”

“I doubt whatever you’ll make has 25000 molecules in it,” Seija scoffs, “You’ll get 10 grand at the most.”

“20000 as long as you don’t mind my children starving.” Yamame replies right back, smile and all.

“You don’t have children, and even if you did, no way any respectable youkai would actually take care of them.” Seija replies, hands on her hips as she returns a guarded smile. “14 thousand.”

“16000P and I’ll dye the clothes in whatever colour scheme you want for free.”

“Done!” Both youkais shake hands afterwards to seal the deal, the two of them looking content to haggle and prepare clothes without even asking for your input. Wait no, maybe you’re being hasty.

“So what kind of class will you going for?” and you were, for the spider turns your way in order to ask that. “If you want to be seen as the magician type, then some robes and a poofy hat could help.”

“Though if you want to be martial artist or a gunner.” Seija adds in, “You’ll need to wear a bandanna and gloves or some western outfit that gives cowboy vibes, all is in the appearance.”

Oh, so the reason both the youkai recruiter and the hell ravens from before looked that goofy was in order to posses abilities they otherwise wouldn’t have? That kind of sounds like magical cosplaying.

“Hmm…” which in hindsight, it totally is. “That’s kind of a hard question to ask on the spot,” you reply, as honestly, you can see many ways that this can turn out. Were you to wear a cowboy hat then you’d be capable of shooting trick shots like in those movies, or maybe if you were to dress in green caps and a hood, your sword skills would be like those of wuxia novels, what to choose?

“Don’t think too hard about it.” Seija advises, “You can choose whatever class you want as a first time privilege and besides, as long as you still have the necessary clothes (As in you unlocked it before) then changing classes won’t cost ya a dime. In other words, choose what’s fun to you!”

Even if she says that, the fact she’s paying for you makes it feel all the more important. What if you choose a class only to find out you don’t like it? Would she pay the price again? Is that even fair?

“It’s really that simple.” Yamame adds in before you can ask, “Though keep in mind all classes have a max cap of 5 levels. Which after you max it, lets you keep some skills on other classes too.”

“Alongside unlocking other classes which you can’t use, until you’ve mastered the necessary amount of classes. Like how a Spell Blade needs you to have 3 levels in Warrior and Mage each.”

“Or how an arch-mage needs you master all magic classes beforehand. But go on, choose one!”

“Yeah, just say whatever comes to mind, be it swordsman, berserker, anything will work here.”

Though the two of them make it sound that simple, you’re not sure if you can make such a decision care-freely, sure it’s heartpoundingly exciting, but it also has sense of commitment behind it. Specialization would be the better word, as you don’t know of the best way to get maximun pr-

…

Hold on, that’s just min-maxing. Geez, you really are the type to look up a guide online to see which class is the strongest before you make a decision. What a nostalgic feeling to have, but alas, there’s no guide out there, so instead you’ll just take in a deep breath, think for a second or two.

And then choose the class that appeals to you the most.

[ ] Warrior – Fighter-man! Figher-man! Overall the class is fairly bland. Swing your sword, swing it some more. Outside of combat, you’re quite a bore. Look out! Go choose the figher-maaaaan! Hammer, bow, sword and shield. There’s no limit to what you can wield! Plenty fights, you have fought. A princess of hell? Just an afterthought! This class! Great for a newbie’s first time, plenty of damage to chime, that’s what’s a fighter-maaaaaaaaaaaan! (High ATK, High DEF, Low Crit, Low Move, Decent Hit, Low Ev.)

[ ] Martial Artist – The monk class of every game, who needs a weapon when your fists are hard and swift enough to send a flurry of blows within an instant? Create tornadoes by clapping your hands, set your feet aflame with a blazing kick! There is nothing, NOTHING a monk can’t punch! And if there is, well then, my friend. Have you considered punching the thing EVEN HARDER?! (Ok ATK, Low Def, High Hit, High Crit, Ok Mov, Ok Ev.)

[] Mage- Evocate the elements to burn or shock or freeze your friends. Burn through SP to heal the dying or wait for them to die to resurrect em. MULTI-TARGET, because why punch one when you can lightning strike four? ABUSE POTIONS, because when your sp reaches 0, you may as well lie on the floor and have a snore. But until that happens, you may as well call yourself a god, because nobody in 10 spaces, can say you’re not, before they’re stunned, burned and all by a thundershot. (High ATK, Bad Def, Ok Hit, Ok Crit, Bad Ev, Ok Move)

[ ] Rogue- Steal someone’s wallet, steal their weapon, steal their armour, steal their buffs, move faster than anyone else on the map. For a rogue is someone who’s not afraid to play dirty, use plenty of tricks that nobody else has access to and uses offensive items better than any other class can. (High Move, High Crit, High Ev, OK everything else but Def which is bad.)

[ ] Shooter- Masters of all ranged combat alongside some affinity for blades and stealth, the shooter can wield bows, crossbows, nets and guns like no other and from any distance. Capable of crippling foes without moving a single space, they truly are masters of the zones in their range. Then again this leaves them with the lowest defense of all units, so you better know never to enter melee again. (High Hit, Ok Atk, High Move, Low Def, Low Ev, High Crit)

[ ] Alchemist/Scientist – People tend to see you as the healer of the group, the one that sits back and only jumps in occasionally to heal the boboos….they couldn’t be more wrong! While it is true that you’ve got the highest recovery ability of the bunch. You also posses a mastery over status conditions, be it inflicting them or curing them. Alongside better using supportive items, no group can call itself truly long-lasting without one of you inside of it. For no heals heal better than yours. (Low Atk, Low Crit, High Move, High Def, High Ev, Ok Hit)

[ ] Jack of all trades/remain an Ex-student – They say a master of none can never beat a master of one, however that is not always true. While it is fair to call the Ex-student one of the weaker classes due to it having no special characteristics short of being able to equip any weapon, armor and accessories. Their main strength is that unlike other classes, they can also equip the unique abilities of classes that you have mastered and gain all innate abilities without needing to make up space for them. Combine this with the fact that any weapon skill obtained under this class is obtained three times faster than others. The Ex-student has the potential to become the most powerful with time. (Ok everything)

---

After this, you’re free to do whatever again, be it visiting the weapon shop or youkai recruiter, or straight up pressing the plot button to continue with the story. (Which naturally leads to lore plus more combat) Also I just realized something goofy...imagine you had bought a weapon your class can't use, that would have been a waste of P, my bad.

In case you're wondering: Why not show all shops at once? Well, it'd be cluttery and I don't want you to get choice paralysis. Anyway, I'll await patiently for your choices, and if you have questions, lemme know.

[X] Martial Artist

“You look great!” and “Not too shabby.” are the remarks your nearby youkais give you once you’re done dressing up. For some reason, both of them are looking you upside down in the process. Not like it matters why they do so, just that it’s a bit strange and utterly harmless but anyway that aside.

Your own opinion is kind of a meh, sure you’re absolutely rocking the whole robes and black belt attire without even trying. But the clothes themselves, as in their fabric feel far softer and more comfy than any other clothes you’ve worn. Like you wouldn’t notice their presence with your eyes closed kind of comfy. And that’s a good thing, it just makes you wonder whether this actually has more defense than your previous clothes.

And why are your clothes white when you’re in an environment where they’ll most likely get dirty real quickly?

It’s just not...efficient, you think.

“Ah, she hates it.” Seija casually calls out, sitting upside down with one hand under her chin. “See the way she fidgets one eyebrow there? That’s her ‘tell’ spider. And right now, it’s telling me that either you’ve lost your touch or she’s one picky pickle. So which one is it, hmm?” her tone is blatantly taunting, far less subtle than before even, as if daring the other to do something about it.

“Hmm.” Unfortunately for her, Yamame makes no motion of hearing her, instead focusing her gaze over your body as she slowly flies around to get a good view of it all, “Try doing a kick, Renko.”

“Hm?” you turn your gaze her way at the request, “Why? To see if I have monk powers now?”

“Yes.” her answer is to the point and obvious, so naturally you take in a deep breath, put more energy in your left leg and try to swing your leg up for a simple and basic front-kick.

Instead, you find yourself a few feet in the air again, the unwilling drag-along of a beautiful rising kick, the one-in-a-million kind of attack that combines practice with sheer luck and even then is only seen in fighting games. The rising arc of it is perfect, one drawn to easily kick an opponent into the air in order to continue the beatdown in mid-air. Unfortunately your opponent ends up being the ceiling, which refuses to crack against your heavy blow and instead has you fall flat on your ass after another second, leaving you stunned on the ground with a hurt posterior and pride.

A mocking whistle comes from above you and when you open your eyes again, you see Seija and Yamame loom over you, neither of them give you a polite ‘Are you allright?’ and instead contend themselves with looking down on you with wise-looking nods to hide their shit-eating grins.

“As...unique as that was.” Yamame finally continues while you move to stand up, “The promised effects have shown it’s magic. So, the clothes are working and so, are you all ready to pay up?”

“Hold on.” Seija again, rubs her chin in order to look thoughtful, “As much as I like to see myself as the positive type. I’ve seen her achieve a similar feat without the suit on before. So…” A no-good smile appears on her again, “I’m afraid we’ll need more than one test to really see if it’s working.”

“Ah,” Immediately, a similar smile appears on Yamame. “I guess I have no choice but to let you do so, the customer is king after all.” finally, she quits the upside down-bit and lands on her solid feet, then moves to block the only door with her figure. “Though for the sake of safety, I’ll remain too.”

“A wise choice, wouldn’t want the human to crack her skull by accident.” Seija agrees again, and as much as you’re annoyed by them blatantly talking about you like that, a part of you’s also confused on why she’s acting affably with someone she clearly showed dislike to earlier.

Moodswinger much? Then again it doesn’t really matter, both parts don’t matter.

And honestly you don’t mind trying more moves, because come on! You just kicked the ceiling! If that doesn’t give anyone a rush of power, then they’ve never been alive before. Besides the sooner you get the hang of it, the less likely similar accidents will happen later on.

Also it’s fun.

Very fun.

And that is why you spend the next five minutes punching and kicking the air in front of you, like you’re facing down a bunch of angry mobs in those old-school Jackie Chan movies. Whatever embarrassment you feel from doing so in front of other people pushed back by the sheer fun of it.

For a moment, just a moment, life is good.

[x] She’s right. They’re here for you, so the best you can do is leave at once. Even if you fight these ones, you don’t know how many others are out there. Sorry, but your own well-being goes first here. You can only hope that whatever fight happens isn’t something that ends too badly.

“Smart girl,” Seija whispers as you take her hand and climb through the window to escape. Leaving Yamame to fend off against the intruders on her own in order to keep your own hide intact…

“Relax, once they realize you’re not there. They’ll be on their way.” another comforting lie comes out of her when she sees you giving the window another glance. But there’s no need for those words, no, you’ve made your decision and so, you will follow through by leaving this alley.

And Seija will swiftly bring you to a safe space. Speaking of the gal, she’s currently pressing her back against one of the corner walls in order to sight any incoming threats ahead like in those stealth games. Then she rises onto the air in order to do the same roof-wise, analyzing everything.

“We’re surrounded.” She concludes with a casual tone, one you would have given a flat what to in any other situation but right now, you wisely substitute with a "So what do we do?" instead.

“Don’t worry though,” She continues, her tone turning more confident as her grin turns full-toothed once more. “I’ll have you know I was once hunted for 10 days and still lived to tell the tale.”

“So you can sneak us out of here?” you whisper-ask, more to confirm her words than doubt. She absolutely looks the type to cause trouble and then hide away, so you can perhaps rely on that skill.

“In the midst of dark alleyways? While we’re hunted by tiny immortal morons whose sight don’t have even have dark vision? Believe me, girl. That kind of challenge is like breakfast to me.”

SNEAKING MISSION START!
Vibe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMy-4BNRtWI

Uh oh, looks like there’s too opponents for you to fight here. Lucky for you, your companion is an expert at getting out of sticky situations. Now I’m sure all of you know what will happen if you are to enter the blue vision cones, you’ll be caught! But don’t worry, you’ve got more than one way to get past these troublesome ruble-rousers. Those being…

A) You can now use Seija’s ability to flip positions with anyone and anyone within 10 spaces. (It cost 1 MA though and if used on an opponent will temporarily confuse them, before they head back to their own spaces eventually, so you better slip past fast!)

B) Any opponent that’s instantly killed doesn’t count as having detected you. (As in swiftly killed, it doesn't have to be ONE exact blow per se.)

Those are your options, yes, it’s only two but it’s clearly more than one so I was being truthful!

Oh and the one fairy to the left of the dead crow will be able to see you if you just cross, I just messed up the cone vision for them. And going up is NOT an option either, you've gotta find an exit at the west, south or east. Not North cause that's where more foes are coming from.

That said good luck!

Status:

You/Usami Renko – Level 0 Martial Artist – HP: 20/20 MP: 10/10
|Atk: 6| Hit 120%| Crit 30% | (EQP: Bare hands/knuckle type)
|Def: 1 Evd: 20%| Will: 18% | (EQP: Basic Monk Clothes)
|Move: 5 (Walking) ; 3 (Jump) (That's high enough to reach the roofs)

Seija Kishin – Level 0 Trustworthy Youkai – HP: ??/?? MP: ???/???
|Atk: ??| Hit ??%| Crit ??% | (EQP: Bare hands/knuckle type)
|Def: ?? Evd: ??%| Will: ??% | (EQP: Basic Youkai Girl Clothes)
| Move: 6 (Walking) ; 6 (Flying)

Main actions left: 2

[ ] Move (Move anywhere up to 5 spaces/ free first time every turn for all chars, additional move cost 1 main action)
[ ] Attack (Choose a target/1 main action)
[ ] Tech
> Usami Hook! (Deals ATK+50% dmg and hits all foes in a 1 square circle / 2 mp
> Flip Positions! (Tell Seija to flip positions with anyone/anything within 10 squares/ No mp.)
[ ] Talk (To who? / free once per turn, has a range of 2 squares.)
[ ] Defend (Halves all dmg, restores 25% hp and ignores weaknesses/ 1 main action)
[ ] Pick up and throw (Need a foe or ally nearby/ 1 main action)
[ ] Use Item (1 main action)
> X1 Flashlight (Inflicts BLIND on all foes 3 squares in front of you x1 times per fight
> X3 small survival kits (Heal 5 hp each)

---

If you're not gonna fight, then you gotta sneak your way out.

The first move oughta be easy, so have at it, anon.

“So far, so good.” Seija quips as she easily skirts the two of you past the first patrol, unlike what you might believe, the darkness alongside the constant shifts of the roofs make for a prime sneaking route as long as you keep your head down. Though since you can’t see much either yourself, you’re currently being guided by her voice and hand through the landscape, until she suddenly stops again.

“What is it?” You naturally ask, but the many flickering halos ahead says it all.

“Looks like we’ve ran until another bunch heading their way to the store...our way.” Seija observes and indeed they are, for though slowly, they surely are moving to the left now, still unaware of us.

“Whatever, this still ain’t nothing.” Seija scoffs, “Just gotta keep their movement in mind and we’ll be dandy. Come on now, now isn’t the time to daddle.” And that said, the sneaking continues!

Status:

You/Usami Renko – Level 0 Martial Artist – HP: 20/20 MP: 10/10
|Atk: 6| Hit 120%| Crit 30% | (EQP: Bare hands/knuckle type)
|Def: 1 Evd: 20%| Will: 18% | (EQP: Basic Monk Clothes)
|Move: 5 (Walking) ; 3 (Jump)

Seija Kishin – Level 0 Trustworthy Youkai – HP: ??/?? MP: ???/???
|Atk: ??| Hit ??%| Crit ??% | (EQP: Bare hands/knuckle type)
|Def: ?? Evd: ??%| Will: ??% | (EQP: Basic Youkai Girl Clothes)
| Move: 6 (Walking) ; 6 (Flying)

Main actions left: 2

[ ] Move (Move anywhere up to 5 spaces/ free first time every turn for all chars, additional move cost 1 main action)
[ ] Attack (Choose a target/1 main action)
[ ] Tech
> Usami Hook! (Deals ATK+50% dmg and hits all foes in a 1 square circle / 2 mp
> Flip Positions! (Tell Seija to flip positions with anyone/anything within 10 squares/ No mp.)
[ ] Talk (To who? / free once per turn, has a range of 2 squares.)
[ ] Defend (Halves all dmg, restores 25% hp and ignores weaknesses/ 1 main action)
[ ] Pick up and throw (Need a foe or ally nearby/ 1 main action)
[ ] Use Item (1 main action)
> X1 Flashlight (Inflicts BLIND on all foes 3 squares in front of you x1 times per fight
> X3 small survival kits (Heal 5 hp each)

---

Actually the south, west and east paths each lead to different patrols, but you’re also right about the crow part. Sadly you won’t see what caused it on the east path.

Anyway to be clear, the gimmick of this map is that every foe with a red arrow will move one space to where it points once you’re out of actions. So keep that in mind!

I wonder if this is too high a difficulty spike...but hey, you can always thin the numbers through violence!

I was genuinely tempted to allow one to throw someone past their vision cones before...so hey, tell you what? If this is too hard, then you can use that as well as some cheat of sorts. (Your throwing range is 4, Seija's is 4 too) So go ahead and use that if you want, but keep in mind this wasn't intended with that in mind!

Oh and turning back IS an option, but I'll feel very jockblocked if you do. Just making sure you don't think the maps are an one way street.

>>69010

Never mind my words and never trust them schedule wise again.
That said, your strategy looks legit, is legit and definitely works sooooo...

Update time.

---

Sneaking isn’t as easy as media makes it look like. People don’t have convenient vision cones after all, nor are there bright shadows that make you outright invisible by crouching next to them. In most cases, sneaking is part caution and part luck, because who knows if somebody is at the corner?

Seija doesn’t seem to care, instead of crouching or doing anything to lower the sound of her footsteps. She boldly runs and jumps across rooftops, turns alleys right before someone can sight, swaps places with others before they can notice her and continues her pace unabated, clearly she memorized the entire area to heart, where to turn, how to run, where to escape. That’s why she’s fast. You’ve got no doubt whatsoever that this is an impressive feat, but seeing how your stomach ends up in the brunt of all these sudden movements. You’re not eager to do these kind of runs again.

“Easy, girl. We’re almost there, so don’t go vomiting on me now.” The horned youkai teases after yet another sudden flip. This time having flipped the very direction a squad of fairies was heading towards, to their confusion and our easy passage. Easier for you as you’re seated on her back.

Not that you’re lazy or nonathletic. This was simply deemed to be the simpler solution when you happened to lose sight of her more than once. “Why say that when I’m not even sick?”

“It’s just a fair warning.” She replies mid-jump, then stops at the roof of a specific trashy building, jumps down to street-level and easily opens the half-destroyed door. “And we’re finally here.”

Here being the so-called safe house you assume. Said safe house is more of a dirt house when you look at all the garbage piled haphazardly around the ground alongside the muck and dust growing in every corner. “We’re not staying here for long, are we?” you ask and stand on your own two feet with reluctance, part of the ground already sinking from mere contact with your shoes in a gross way.

“No, we aren’t.” Seija thankfully confirms, then points to a door leading to the next room. “I bet you can tell from the fact there’s a village in the fortress that’s bigger than its inside. But this place doesn’t exactly obey common laws of architecture. As it should, as how else would the place fit hundreds of sinners, their torturers and other management? History lesson made short, this place got passages that lead to other passages. Call them shortcuts, and one of them is right in that room.”

“Well, that’s good news.” you let out a sigh, posture turning more relaxed as you no longer need to worry about being zerg-rushed by a never ending stream of enemies. “Why so many of them?”

“Hm?” Seija makes a humming sound, to confirm she heard and prompt you to continue.

You do, “I mean, I can guess it’s because of that one fairy that got away. But even if she came back, it’s not like she could bring more than a bunch of her friends, right? Yet there are dozen around…”

“And they’re well-armed, patrolling and showing off a level of discipline, which means…?” Seija asks as she awaits your answer, clearly knowing the answer herself and knowing that you do too.

“I’ve gotten the attention of someone I’m better off without.” you conclude. “Do you know who?”

“Rin Kaenbyou. It’s the Kasha I talked about, master of all spirits in blazing hell and also standing outside our window this very moment.” Seija notes with a smile as she looks at the outsi-wait.

She’s kidding, right? She has to be, there’s no way either of you were noticed. But even so, you quickly move to the window as well, ready to be dissapointed and annoyed when you see nothing.

Turns out, you don’t get to be dissapointed. The hell-cat can clearly be seen at the next rooftop, seeming occupied with some green-haired girl while her fairies watch by the sides. You don’t know why either are here of all places, but at the very least your luck isn’t so bad as to make them allies.

How do you know they’re not friends? Easy, the green one in a bucket is shouting while the catgirl just takes the cacophony with a smile on her face. You’re not sure of the context of things here.

But it kind of feels like the banter that comes before a telegraphed fight, like in movies.

“Hey.” Seija regains your attention by tapping your shoulder. “You’re not being subtle here.”

“Oh,” you wisely back away from the window then, not wanting to be caught gawping.

“Let me help with that,” she moves some hole-covered curtain in front of the window. “Ain’t much of a hiding thing, but at least now you can look your heart out without being seen in return.”

“Hm, I half expected you to tell me to hurry up and enter your secret entrance.” you respond, as even if that’s kind of a pain to hear, it would have been the responsible option in this situation.

“I’m not your parent, or your boss.” Seija just shrugs the comment away, “I’m your partner now, and if you want to gain some intel on your enemy before facing them one day, who am I to stop ya?”

Oh, gaining intel. Yes, you suppose it can be seen that way rather than indulging your inherent curiosity. But even so, is now really the time to do so? You’ve already got a convenient sack of info inside a person called Seija who can tell you about the kasha from a far safer distance.

But then again, if a fight is about to break out. Then seeing the abilities of your opponent first-hand could be far more valuable than just hearing about it. And not to be an optimist, but if the bucket girl is the enemy of your enemy, then she could potentially be your ally in some way, you guess.

So then, the question is: Between curiosity and safety, who wins this encounter?

[ ] Curiosity, you want to see the fight with your own eyes. So you can later face the cat prepared!

[ ] Safety, you can always get that info far away from here, don’t risk being exposed for it.

---

Funny enough, the sneaking had a part 3, but I figured since I was gone for a few days, may as well skip that part and head straight for plot again. Though if you can tell me how you felt about it, I'd apreciate it.

[X] Curiosity, you want to see the fight with your own eyes. So you can later face the cat prepared!
-[X] (Seija can) stay alert for flankers.

Too tempted to NOT take this opportunity, you go ahead and put your hands behind the curtain again, intensifying your gaze so you can properly see more about them through the hole.

You can hear Seija’s footsteps moving away from you as you do so, but you feel no worry, as you’re certain that she’s simply taking the initiative to stay alert for any sudden visitors or flankers that may come. Perhaps another day, you’d feel a bit worried about entrusting your own back to her.

But right now, there’s a fight about to happen and there’s no way you’re going to miss it!

(And with that comes a change of perspective…)

They stand fifteen meters apart, a distance that can be easily closed by either of them.

In other words, the distance might as well not be taken into consideration in this fight.

“I’ll only say it one more time, you’re being too noisy. So leave or I’ll make you.”

The green-haired girl’s gaze remains firmly on the cat-girl as she says so, her eyes betraying the slight discomfort she feels at the latter’s presence. And her voice is now hoarse from prior shouts.

“But I know you won’t. So let’s hurry along and face each other.” the girl drawls as she takes a slight hop forward, the frown on her face and the heavy tone in her soft voice lowering the humor of such a whimsical action. A greenish flame-like aura appears around her body as she gathers power.

The grin on the Kasha’s face on the other hand, grows larger and more predatory in response.

“That’s right, Kisume. Or should I call you…Bucket Girly?”

“Hmph, your silly taunts won’t work on me, Orin. I’d ask why you even bother, but that much is obvious.”

“Are you implying sadism?” The so-called Orin scratches the back of her neck with an innocent smile, yet her claws are already extended. “My, it’s nothing like that! It’s just that this is the only way to have fun with weaklings like you! Besides, the fight would end in less than a few rounds.”

Kisume growls in response, her hands firmly clenched around the edge of her bucket. “Oh, you’ll be surprised to see what new tricks I’ve learned thanks to this system of yours!” the last part wasn’t a shout, but the way she waves her fist at Orin implies an unsaid one. “Besides, you’re small fry too.”

“Not compared to you.” Orin replies in a sing-song voice. “I don’t know what kind of lame excuse being too noisy is, but I like to consider myself a good girl. So hey, how about we make a deal?”

“Oh? Really now?” Kisume raises her eyebrows at that, “You, being reasonable, just like that?”

Orin’s red eyes narrow in excitement as she puts her hands together in an iconic merchant pose. “Oh, yes, yes, surely you’ve heard there’s a new human around? If you help me find her, then I’ll let you have an arm and a leg once I’m done playing with her. And after that we can watch her burn!”

A thoughtful hum comes of Kisume. “That...explains everything nicely, and doesn’t sound too bad.”

“See? Kisume, you have n--”

“But,” she cuts in, smoothing her pigtails with her left hand, “Why go for a hand, when I can have it all?”

“…”

“You seem to be having a misunderstanding here. I couldn’t care less about why you’re here. Or who the human is.” Kisume clarifies, taking out a bone and pointing it straight at Orin. “Hell is a place for the wicked. A home for sinners, bla bla, we all heard it a thousand times.” she pauses only for a small roll of the eyes before she continues. Pointing her bone lazily at the surroundings. “Wherever you go, the strong will trample on the weak. The famous youkai are valued more than their lesser known counterparts. You, being who you are, will never understand what it is like to have a place where one can be themselves. To be met with a smile in the disgusting, dingy, dark cave filled with other losers that you strangely have never felt more at home at than anywhere else.”

“So you’re defending your home, is that it?” Orin guesses, body swaying calmly as if carried by a nighttime breeze. “Yet, the way you speak of it...I can’t help but wonder who you’ve been talking to. Surely you haven’t led a certain delinquent’s sweet words poison your brain with false honey?”

“What I’m saying is.” Kisume replies flippantly, her childish voice reaching for more steel. “This is my turf and I don’t like the way you’re walking around like you own the place, so GTFO, bitch.”

Orin pauses her swaying for a moment. Then--

Another smile appears on her voice, “I’m sorry, Kisume. But no can do~” not one to stop there, she looks up for a moment, as if staring at the moon instead of a dark void in the sky. “I brought these girls all the way here so having them leave for no reason isn’t something I have the heart to do.”

Kisume nods to herself, then tenses her body into a more aggressive posture. “Then, if you’re truly the head of this army and not a pawn for once….All I’ll need to do to quiet things down is CUTT OFF THE ONE BETWEEN YOUR SHOULDERS! C’MON!!”

“Well then, let’s play everyone~”

:: Battle start! ::

Battle Theme: https://youtu.be/5waQy5A70gE

(Transitioning to battle map, please wait warmly…)

“Take this!” you shout as you bravely close the distance, spear in hand.

You swiftly thrust said spear out to hit 2 fairies in a single motion, sadly it fails to skewer either of them. As the first one has the sword skill to actually deflect the attack while the latter is mildly grazed, only unable to do the same due to surprise.

You ‘tsk’ in displeasure at the anticlimax.

“Don’t go thinking the fairies I hang with are just your average joe.” Orin replies with the same sing-song voice, not a worry in the world even though she’s close enough to be attacked too. "I have standards after all~"

“Don’t go thinking that’s all I have in me either!” you shout back, nowhere close to done.

With a flick of the rope attached to your bucket, you’re flung straight into the air.

Higher than the roofs belows, while the people below are forced to witness your ascension. Some of the fairies swing their swords where you once where to no avail, while others shoot and fail to do more than make your bucket sway slightly from the impact. A useless miracle on its own.

Even so, your ascension doesn’t stop.

This is not a good thing.

>>69033

There are indeed no side or back attacks, due to this not being an isometric meduim it'd be far too complicated yeah. Of course, there's still the iconic 'gang up on someone to beat the snot out of them' that's available.

And yes, flying lets you ignore most terrains and units, like horses in chess.
---
[X] Move (Fly) D3 > F4 if possible
[X] Attack Orin
[X] Defend
[X] Talk to Orin

“I’ll show you more than that!” you shout again, then with an acrobatics nobody ever expected from you, your bucket flies over your opponent and lands right behind her. Orin looks surprised at such an action, but there is no time to delay. Having let her guard down, having underestimated you…

You jab your spear straight on, intent on piercing it through her beating heart!

Her tail swiftly comes your way as an attempt to deflect the blow, but it’s little too late as you instead twirl your spear around, changing the attack from a stab into a slash that grazes her left shoulder. You smirk as some of her hair falls to the ground, for this was not an easy move to do.

“Not bad, not bad.” Orin comments as she turns your way, observing your defensive posture as she puts one paw where her new, small, but still bloody wound now is. Then rubs it onto her dress, “You actually managed to hit me this time~. But then again, anyone can be lucky can’t they?”

Your first through is to not even bother replying, but then an idea comes to mind.

“Indeed they can, which is why you won’t be dodging the next strike either!” you state with confidence, turning her own statement right back at her and reaffirming your resolve to win.

“Hm, confidence sure is a fickle thing. On one side, having it can make one quite admirable...”

“!”

You are already bracing for impact before she even finished her statement. From your experience, when an opponent trails off their monologue, it always, always means that they’re about to do something very dangerous. You duck downwards, just in time to see a red slash cut into the space where your head was just a second ago. And before the air is even done whistling from its insane speed, two more attacks come your way, to which you barely have enough time to deflect with your spear by spinning it like a helicopter. (For lack of a better word, the writefag doesn’t know any better spin-spin objects)

“On the other side, it sure does cause a lot of people to grow big heads, until they meet bigger fish.”

“Guh!”

At the cost of it feeling like both of your arms have been torn off.

“But, to think you could actually see the attack….even if it was half-hearted, but…” Orin mutters just loud enough for you to hear her, hand comically on her chin. “Was it because of your instincts?”

You don’t answer, ready to charge at her again. But then, she interrupts you again.

With a bizarre sentence and another smile, “Well, I’m starting to gain a liking to you!”

Having confessed that she doesn’t even see you as an opponent, but more like a temporary playmate. Orin tends out a hand with a friendly smile. “So, how about we stop this now, huh?”

“It’d be such a shame if I have to trounce you for some silly reason.”

[ ] Glare at Orin.

[ ] Smile at Orin.

[ ] Ignore Orin.

Because you chose the Talk option and Orin isn’t a mid-battle recruitable enemy. You get the boss only privilege of having to choose the right option in this conversation. Do so correctly and you’ll gain a buff, fail and it’ll be a debuff. Or you can just ignore her to not risk it at all.

---

*Kisume hits Orin for 7 damage!
*Orin hits Kisume for 3 damage!
*Orin hits Kisume for 3 damage!
*Kisume regains 13 hp and 6 mp! (The Defend restores always comes at the most convenient moment)

---

Kisume - Level 3 Bucket Lord - HP: 50/50 MP: 25/25

2 main actions left (Act again, anon.)

---

“Man, that looks boring as heck.”

Seija’s sudden voice almost makes Renko jump, but the human has the composure to instead hold onto her left arm and turn around with an annoyed glare on her face. “Don’t just jump on me like that.”

“Sure, sure.” Seija replies apologetically, but Renko knows she doesn’t mean it. “And anyway I came to warn you that the moment their skerfuffle goes all fire-works and big booms. Every single fairy and whatever flunky the catgirl has will be making their way here. Aka, it’s time to bail, bub.”

“Just let me watch a little bit longer.” Renko replies, still attached to the window and through her face shows no clear emotion, her eyes glimmer with curiosity. “This is all for the sake of research.”

“Oh, so you want to know who will win?” Seija inquires, lowering the hand she was about to put on the girl’s shoulder, and instead moving to their side, a bit too close for comfort. “The Kasha, d’uh.”

That sounds like the obvious answer but even so, “What makes you think that?” Renko asks.

“I highly doubt, that some nobody could beat a BOSS character, all on their own.” Seija scoffs.

“Boss?” Renko echoes back, “Are you saying this Orin has been made super strong on purpose?”

“Ayup, some people have had the ‘honour’ of getting some classes that are better than most in order to do their job more easily.” her saying the word honour like it means mud, aside. “Orin here is one of those, seeing how she’s the one manages all the undead spirits and keeps the blazing fires, blazing. If some evil spirit managed to become stronger than her, then all hell would go down.”

“So if I were to fight her now, my odds of winning are effectively nil.” Renko concludes. Part of her shivers at the thought, and some of the excitement makes way to more wariness and caution.

“Well,” Seija replies with the exact same vibe as ‘um actually’ , “Individual strenght is meaningless when you compare it to the sheer bloated numbers that BOSSES unfairly tend to possess.”

“So unless you’re someone with an extreme amount of power…” her tone darkens, and a visible edge comes into her eyes despite the smile never leaving. “That completely defies all logic.”

“Then don’t bother.” She concludes, the overall message being very pessimistic for once.

“…” It’s enough to give Renko pause for a moment, but soon enough, she has a question.

“Do you...I mean, how could you even get a ridiculous power like that?”

“Dumbass.” is Seija’s curt response, “A revolution can’t be won by something as simple as that, sure, the cat is strong as hell. But even so, there are many more things you can substitute strength by.” Her left hand shows three fingers, “Besides, haven’t I said you can rely on me already?”

“Well, I would do so...more.” Yep, that’s a statement that makes sense. “If you told me one of those.” Renko asks, her voice a whisper of course, so the combatants can’t overhear them.

“Attack.”

“….eh?”

“First Phase: Attack 15, Defense 0, Hit 70, Evasion 40, Crit 25, Will 30,” Seija says slowly. And then walks over to the side of the room that contains the exit, a frown on her face. “Resist Fire, Weak Ice and Light.”

Renko’s eyes widen as she realises what Seija is talking about.

‘She knows Orin’s personal stats…? But how?’

“Her first phase gimmick,” Seija continues, paying no attention to Renko’s shock. “Is crowd control, not only can she summon zombie fairies and evil spirits, but she can combine both of them to create even more powerful allies. Additionally, for every ally that’s adjacent to her, her stats increase by another 10%. Making her virtually unhittable as long as she has mooks to stand next to.”

“Of course I don’t know her hp or mp. Seeing as she’d need to be beaten in a fight or actually run out on the latter to know them. But I am confident that with the right strategy, she will fall to us.”

“But to even start on that, we’re going to need to make you stronger, which is something we can do once I’ve introduced you to some allies of mine, given you some time to rest and regain your bearings in a place you can call safe. Afterwards, it’s training time, but first, we need to leave.”

“So...because she’s on her own. Kisume can’t win?” you conclude. “Unless she’s lucky?”

“Unless she has allies to flank the cat with in order to increase her atk and hit through battle formations, is capable of inflicting the paralyze status effect, can use Ice or Light skills/spells or has the durability to last 10 turns after setting the cat on-fire. A time during which even more fairies will come her way. She won’t be able to do jack shit without some help her way, you satisfied now?”

Not sure where this comes from, Renko voices the intruding thought. “So, if you helped her…?”

“I’d waste our cover, risk your life and overall screw everything up for the sake of a feel-good feeling inside the organ you call a heart.” Seija deadpans, then pauses, “Wait, oh, Renko, Renko, Renko. Don’t tell me you’re about to ask the impossible from me. It’d be very unfair if you did.”

[ ] Fine, you won’t ask it. But you still want to see the conclusion. What if the Catgirl tries to really badly maim the Bucket girl and you did nothing to stop it? You can’t have that on your conscience.

[ ] Well, can’t she help the girl in a subtle way? And even if not that, you could just enter the passage in advance while she helps out. Ok, in hindsight that’s a bad plan, but...it’s the right thing to do?

[ ] Let’s just leave then, if the fight is out of your mind, then it won’t come back, hopefully.

---

There you have it, folks. You can continue the fight and fight the odds, or do whatever.

Also yeah you did overthink it a bit as her first phase gimmick is bassically the zombie fairy passive but stronker.

[X] Smile

You smile at Orin. One lopsided and full of sharp teeth. It was a smile that screamed recklessness, blood lust, madness. You wouldn’t be surprised if your eyes looked empty now, leaving only red.

“What a filthy smile…!” Orin replies, smile faltering a bit as she tilts her head in cutesy intrigue. “It reeks of hypocrisy, like you’re trying to pretend to be some monk. Have it leave at once, before it blinds me.” Oh, somehow it does lower her mood, as if she wanted something else and didn’t get it.

“Wipe it off your face at once. Don’t look at me with those empty, rotting, eyes…!”

---

Orin’s stance faltered slightly!

Orin’s defense decreased!

But it’s already 0 and can’t go lower!

Your attack increases by 50%! (As in maximum Atk, after buffs for the most impact.)

---

Using the opportunity and your newly-received boost, your clash with Orin actually happens to sway in your favor now. For every swing you throw, she has to deflect the second one and for every feint you make, she dodges a bit further away than need be, letting you easily regain your breath.

Even so, you’re not satisfied with this banal dance, no, if you don’t go all-out here and now, then you may as well pack your bucket and go home. So, with a glint of resolve in your eye and heart.

You pull out a spell card, “Horror “Tsurube-Otoshi!”” is what you’d say to activate it.

And you can do so, quite easily.

You know the scope of your power quite well. Having well-honed arms muscles from vigorous climbing activities. A durability obtained from taking many blows, and an understanding of how the legend of your race can empower you even further if you were to condense it and then release at once.

However doing such a thing is a two-edged sword. For in exchange of all this power, you abandon any and all ability to mitigate any damage that comes that your way, so in the worst scenario -

[x] No. Summon the Final Bucket, it’s your only chance!

The answer is obvious to you. You are youkai. She is a youkai.

Only one of you will remain after this, regardless of your reaction.

You charge all the energy you have with the most speed you can muster, the wild energy feels like it’s burning your skin when you pour so much of it in so little time, but you have no choice. For at the same time, you flip and steady your spear to barely deflect three more blows your way.

“Too easy.” Orin comments, already standing beneath where you were going to land, but she is wrong to assume you’re helpless in that position. For you easily flip around and swing your spear across her neck in a swift arc…!

But just as perfect as your attack is, she parries your weapon with one of her own.

You realise that in her hands are two pink shovels, almost as if they were drawn out of thin air.

“-You!”

“Haaah!”

She does not give you time to think. She attacks you with the right one first. You barely manage to dodge it, yet blood is drawn as it skims your neck. As you ready your spear for payback, you hear a sickening sound.

*swish*

The left shovel in Orin’s other hand stabs straight through your chest and out of your back. As you watch the world turn around you and your vision grows dark, one single thing dawns upon you.

*I’m about to die for nothing.*

“GIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”

And with that final scream, Kisume runs out of hp.

Aye, cool. That confirms it then, no mech fight for y'all!

---

[x] Stare firmly at her, then have your shoulders sag and glance away, take the out.
-[x] Feel an [Appropriate amount of] sad for Kisume.

The swaying of the mine-cart is surprisingly relaxing. Though the surroundings reek of ash, stone and sulfur as per the usual. The air itself noticeably becomes colder the further your primitive transport dives into the dark caverns Seija called a shortcut. Even so, the constant grind of wheels against metal continues to be buried by sounds of conflict happening a few feet above, occasionally shaking the whole ground when the unimaginable sound of missile fire strikes the land. You doubt that they’re actual missiles though, but whether they are or not doesn’t change one simple thing.

“So, like the ride? It’s moving entirely on it’s own, no fuss or muss. Pretty cool, huh?”

That being the fact that every noise, every shake, has an intent to harm behind it. Harm that comes the way of others for reasons that are entirely your fault. And who you do not have the strength to correct...as usual as one might say. For no matter the world, you always had a knack for this.

Not that you ever mean for it to happen, no, of course not. Most of the times you simply poke your head where nobody else should have looked. And when those who didn’t want to be seen inevitably catch wind, they retaliate in ways that always cause pain to others. Sometimes it gets bad enough for you to disavow your passion entirely, only to return back to it a week or so later once the worst of the slump has passed on. Because in the end, you must keep moving, you have to, and you will.

“Um...hello? Earth to Renko, your supreme leader is addressing you, y’know.”

‘And so Renko is now responsible for the vandalizing of several shops, including one of a friendly Spider Youkai alongside the savage beating of another Youkai that looks like a small green-haired child. While she herself, bravely escapes during the distraction. What a hero, ladies and gentlemen.’

“Oh, well, if you’re going to keep frowning and saying nothing. Then…”

An ethereal force stretches around your surroundings, followed by a sudden motion that shocks you out of your revelry, as you realize you are...no, what was once up and down have swapped places.

“May as well turn that frown, upside down.” A soft giggle escapes Seija’s lips after the bad pun, her hands now put on her side to give a confident pose. “Oh, and that actually woke you up?”

You were never asleep, even so she mutters the word ‘nice’ to herself when the only answer you give her is that of a blank look, alongside a straight to the point, “What do you want now?”

“Many things.” She explains, most likely rhetorically. “The power to protect my loved ones, the right to walk around without being sneered at or assaulted. To make my dream of letting the weak surpass the strong become a reality, but as of right now, in this moment, I want only one thing.”

“That being?” you ask dryly, face filled with skepticism and weariness.

“Why, to make you happy!” She proclaims with cheer, shortly spinning her body in the air before she comes closer, now holding eye-contact with you upside down with a dumb smile on her face.

“A-”

“Nope!” you’re interrupted by a soft tap on your nose, followed by her smile turning into a grin again, it’d be almost psychotic if that’s the only emotion she ever shows, but it is simply the one she shows the most, fake or not. “Don’t worry, I know how these situations work. You’re feeling guilty, and what human doesn’t? Always so sensitive but somehow also very withdrawn. For it’s obvious that were I to say things like ‘it’s not your fault, Renko’ or ‘Blame the culprit, not yourself’ you’d still have a vestige of guilt hidden deep within that red, beating organ you all call a heart.”

“Therefore…” she trails off, while one of her hands reaches behind her cloak.

===> Accept the doll.

Hm, knowing that there’s no reason to refuse such a gift without causing a dramatic reaction from Seija, most likely the crocodile tear kind of reaction, oh, how annoying those are. You accept the doll. Still wondering whether this is anything but a straightforward mood-lifter, yes, but accepting it still. As no matter the true intent, it fails to make you feel anything. Other than mild interest.

===> Examine the doll a little closer. With care, of course. It's still a gift

Ignoring Seija’s swift cue of “I knew you’d love it!” you instead, scratch your itch by putting the doll closer to your face, before turning it around left and right, up and down, for a moment you’re tempted to lift the clothes that the doll is wearing but obviously the gifter would call you a pervert.

Still on a closer look and touch, you realize that the hair of the doll is completely natural, not to say that the doll grew it’s own hair, no that’d be silly. It’s just that it wasn’t made of any synthetic material nor can you pull the thing off like a wig. No, the hair, is rooted into the skull of the doll.

The horns on the other hand are rocks shaped like them that are glued against it. Like a last-minute accessory that’s been put on a finished product. Likewise the black and red streaks of it’s have the slight smell of dye behind them. As in, the few strands of purple that are within the mix were the doll’s original hair color. Finally, even the doll’s clothes aren’t a perfect size, all of which means…

Seija didn’t make this doll herself, all she did was change it’s aesthetics. One could compare this to installing a tail-wing on a car and recoloring it. So in the end, the effort she put into this is minor.

“Guess you saw through me, huh?” Seija speaks up, her smile turning a bit wry when you glance her way. “Oh don’t be coy, there’s no grand deceit behind this. I just preferred my own style more!”

That’s...so simple it could be truth, then again, what’s the point in questioning this further? She gave you a doll and sure, even if it’s a second-hand gift. It still shows in a way that she cares in...hold on.

Second hand. Though there’s no mark of ownership on it, like under a foot or the back of it’s head, you can still see slight amount of damages all over the doll, like it’s been dropped, thrown, held, used repeatedly overall. Who knows how many people have been given this thing before you?

...Oh, that is an ominous question. Still, it’s the kind of thing you can’t just ignore for later. Else the idea festers in your mind and grows more and more ominous over time. Like in all those tv dramas.

==> If there's time afterwards ask Seija about her intel: just how much does she know? Could she share more of it going forwards? Not gonna push it, though, they'll be other opportunities later.

“Hey, Seija.” you start, tone serous but not too accusatory, lest the questioning ends before it starts.

“Yes, that’s me.” She nods, back on her cart by now, the swiveling thing continues to turn and move on it’s own and even now you can’t see any end to the tunnel ahead. “How can I help you, Renko?”

“How do you know all of this? Like Orin’s stats and stuff, it’s as if nothing escapes you.”

“Ah, that’s just silly, of course things escape me. I’m not omniscient.” Some bemusement is in her voice as she lies seated in her cart, hands over her shoulders in a pose of absolute comfort. “Street scum, vagabonds, orphans and those irreparably crippled. There’s plenty of those even in this world, combine that with a few bribes and my charisma. And being the first to hear a rumor ain’t hard.”

“I doubt it’s to such a small extent, you’ve mentioned allies and hidden bases before, so how large is your influence actually?” you’ve half a suspicion that her connections are anything but non-criminal but even so, what can you say about that? Rebels aren’t exactly the lawful types.

“It’s large enough for me to make sure you won’t meet your end at the claws of the Newbie Killer Orin, and perhaps even find your beau in the human zoo, all alive and intact if we don’t linger.”

“You’re not giving that many details though.” you realize that came off a bit too aggressive, seconds after it left your mouth. Seija doesn’t seem to mind, but you dial back anyway. “So much for trust..”

“Funny you say that, because you’re right: I don’t trust you, not on that kind of level, yet anyway.” Seija confesses, care-freely. “Don’t let it break your heart though, given time that trust will come.”

“Fine, then at least tell me how many humans have you given this doll to?”

“Just you.” She responds slyly, and you can’t detect any lie behind it. Then again you can’t tell for certain whenever she’s being truthful either. “I bet it’s my horns that aren’t doing me any favors.”

Nah, it's clearly her looks and personality/faking off one that are the problem. “Then, how many huma-”

“Too many have come, too few manage to ascend. You don’t want to know more and no, I don’t have some list that notes down the most notable deaths. I’m not some human obsessed creep.”

“…” That’s an awfully specific denial. “Is there anything more that you can tell me?”

“Sure, I could tell you what’s awaiting you further ahead. But I won’t tell you who I’ll be introducing you to as I want that to be a surprise. Other than that, go ahead and make your shot. I don’t mind sharing the non-incriminating stuff with you. Not that I care for the law, but you get it.”

Ah, in that case, may as well ask-

“Hold it.” Seija interrupts with a flat tone, waggling one of her fingers in a ‘tsk tsk’ motion. “You’ve asked several questions already, so now it’s my turn. That’s how we do this, remember?”

“Fine...so what do you want to know?” you ask.

Seija’s smile dies the moment you say that. And as she slowly stands up, her purple check-board patterned cloak grows larger and more twisted as an ethereal glow covers her body. Her now sharp nails dig into the handrails of her cart as she starts to stand on the edge of it, looking down at you like a vulture ready to pounce for flesh. Killing intent reeks in the air, “What if I just killed you?”

“Huh?” you reply with no amusement nor fear at the blatantly bad bluff. “Stop messing around.”

“What if I’m not though? What if all I wanted was to mess around a bit with some dumb girl before putting her in a position where she can’t possibly escape from me? And even if I didn’t, how would this girl possibly survive an encounter against someone who’s far, far stronger than her? I wonder.”

“Seija, stop.” you warn her, nowhere in the mood for any jokes or quizzes. And stare her down.

“Ah, geez, fine.” Her tone turns casual again as she obeys by returning to her own cart yet none of her aura dissapears. Even her face is hidden in shadow now, typical youka act. “Lemme ask something else then-”

“How will you deal with Miss Catgirl? A foe that a dozen you, as you are could not hope to beat.”

[ ] Level grinding? You just have to get a whole bunch of levels above her and she’ll be easy. That’s how the numbers work, just get some that are so bloated that the catgirl can’t do anything to you.

[ ] Why ask that when it’s her job to help change that? Seija’s the schemer here and it’s not like you know. Actually, with your lack of info, there’s no way you’d find the right answer to this!

[ ] Cheating, you guess. Figure out her weaknesses and abuse those, make her unable to use her gimmicks too and in the best case scenario, that would lower her every odd of winning then.

[ ] Write in, (Always an option I guess.)

---

Found a nice Seija with a cape pic that makes her look a bit like Spawn, felt like sharing it even if right now she's doing nothing menacing noteworthy. Just doing the ol youkai acts spoomy for no reason, anywya cya.

[X] Level grinding? You just have to get a whole bunch of levels above her and she’ll be easy. That’s how the numbers work, just get some that are so bloated that the catgirl can’t do anything to you.
-[X] With a healthy dose of creative strategizing where necessary.
--[X] Ideally planned thusly using intel from Seija.

"Aren't you a smart girl?" Seija replies again with a bemused tone, her dark aura vanishing as swiftly as she violates your personal space. One of her arms now around your shoulder as she points a thumbs up straight at your heart. "But that's a good enough answer, a really good answer, even. Yes, you are amusing me quite grandly. And I can see much potential in you."

"So you know what? Allow me to confess something..." she trails off, and though you're tempted to gently push her away from you, such a thought is interuptted when she whispers to your ear.

"That dollie I gave ya ain't just for decoration. Nor is that golden ring a simple accesory to show one's alliance." Her smile and eyes transform into a smirk that you recognize as between cups of condescension and curiosity, increasing your discomfort. "They're item of powers, my knight."

"What's this?" She remarks at your silence, still grinning. "You don't look like you believe me."

She'd be right on the money, because part of you doesn't. After all, if they had anything unique to them, then what would it say to your investigator pride if you were unable to see a smeck of it? In hindsight that's a silly thought to have because you can't absolutely know everything there ever is.

So, instead, you defend yourself by saying. "Can you show me what kind of powers they have?"

"No," Seija simply answers. No additional explanation as to why, she simply doesn't want to.

What an asshole. You grit your teeth together and refuse to say anything back as well, just glaring at the offensive creature standing in front of you, acting as if she has precouis that she knows you need, but refusing to straightforwardly share out of some desire you've got no time to decipher.

"Come now, Renko." Seija begins, letting go of you as she shows both of her empty palms. "Do not mistake my questions for teasings, know that everything I do is for the sake of making you bloom before others can pluck you."

You narrow your eyes at that. She has way too much fun for her every action to be of such a pragmatic nature.

"Clearly, I am starting to approach the limit of your patience." Seija remarks, her good humour unchanging. "In that case, let us continue our quest now, not that we can't anyway, the minecart will move regardless of what we do."

"Wait..." you start to realize a problem with that. "Are you telling me this cart doesn't have any brakes?"

"Why do you think there are spikes at the front and back of it?" She asks instead of giving a direct answer.

It’s more the fact that Seija didn’t bother to warn you about the fact that the two of you are heading into that kind of neighborhood. Which, if you want to, you can interpret as her disrespecting you.

Anyway, update time!

---

===> Okay, now you're partly confused. What kind of twisted views does she have on humans for her to not think this would unnerve you? Is this a culture clash or something? Is their normal? Are you the weird one here?

Doubt starts to wash over some of the hot brimstone that are your thoughts, is Seija playing dumb or does she truly not understand what the matter here is? Did she not withhold this info so she could watch you guffaw with a dumb look on your face? With some confusion, you ask her about it.

“Huh?” she responds dumbly, one of her eyebrows rising with her disbelief. “What do you mean?” The insufferable smile is no longer etched on her face, replaced with a neutral look that betrays nothing. But if anything, says more than enough. “Like I’d waste both of our times doing that.”

“Well, why didn’t you say anything then? Do you think this is some normal place to be at?” you ask, less rhetorically then you’d like. “Whatever image you have of humans, it’s clearly wrong.”

“Is that so?” She responds, not asks, it’s more something she says to herself as she muses her thoughts, before looking back at you. “I suppose I’ve mistakenly projected onto you then.”

“Projected?”

“Yes, after all it doesn’t mean anything to me or my fellows wherever we go or what we do, us youkai are creatures of wants. So, anything they do for the sake of satisfying their itch is good.” She notes, then awkwardly scratches the back of her neck. “I must apologize, I’ve forgotten that the majority of you aren’t so straightforward and tend to embrace virtues chosen by the majority.”

Speaking in such a smarmy way doesn’t really make her sound smarter to you, but even so, that’s a clear and hard to misunderstand apology you got there. “Can you elaborate on your values more?”

You ask because you want to understand her more. Why wouldn’t you want to? When at this point you’ve decided to tag along with her. It would only make your life easier along the way. That’s all.

“Hm?” Seija tilts her head at the sudden question, but sighs soon after. “I get why you’d ask that, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It’ll give you a very negative image of those around you in your current disposition. And there’s honestly no sugar-coating it either. Do you still want to know?”

“Of course I do,” you respond, but first, there’s something else you need to get out the bag first.

==> Swallow your indignation, tune out the unpleasantness around you and simply explain why this situation has made you uncomfortable. Yes, you're not happy about it, but there's no reason to get mad.

You take in a few deep breaths, before explaining why this place makes you feel very uncomfortable. You don’t really elaborate on what made you feel that way as that’s none of her business, but in the end. You make a clear and point case on how this has made you feel.

“I see…” Seija notes with the same nuetral look, “Once again, I apologize.” she adds a polite half-bow as she says that, before looking at you with eyes tinged with regret. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Or at the very least, not completely unsafe. I will try to do better.”

“Then, I’m sorry too.” you reply back, most of your heat reduced to a negligible ember. “For acting too harsh and uh, everything.” not content with just that, you try to continue. “It’s just that I-”

“Not a fan of compromising with your own values?” Seija guesses, half-smug. “Eh, plenty of people are that way so it’s easy to understand.” she waves one of her hands, to non-verbally say this isn't a big deal. “Just, hm, hey why don’t you tell me yours once we’ve got the time? Can’t say I can get everyone to respect em, cause hell. But I’ll make an effort to keep your butt warm and comfy. Like it’s sitting on a soft pillow, of respect.” She trails off for a moment, her face looking a bit like she swallowed some disgusting lemon or something sour. “Cause I respect...your rights!”

“Great.” you reply in a better mood, not outright skipping in your steps, but a good enough that you’re willing to turn a blind eye to her obvious disgust for saying those words. Perhaps it’s considered ‘weak’ of youkais to say such things like that. But just to be sure. “So, values?”

“Sure, sure. I love the sound of my own voice so let’s do this.” Seija confesses a thing you’re more than willing to believe even if she didn’t coat it with sarcasm. “But we can have that at a better…”

She doesn’t elaborate. Just pointing at your disgusting surroundings, but also making you realize that anyone who would monologue on the open street would look like a crazy person and get unwanted attention. “So, bar, meeting allies, elaboration on how to take down the Catgirl and then a good night of rest of you, where we can have nice long talk before you snooze, does that work?”

You nod, as long it happens you’ll be satisfied. And frankly, being listened to feels very good.

“Then let’s go.” She says then nods to the open street, “Oh and stay close, don’t want to get robbed or stabbed out of nowhere. Not that that always happens, just that it could.”

“I’ll be fine.” you reply, and actually believe it as you get closer. Ready to follow her.

And so, the two of you move once more.

(Transition….)

“Oh wait.” She suddenly stops moving and you only have a second to not bump into her.

“What?” you ask, and watch as she takes a moment to fiddle with her coat again. Strangely enough you don’t see anything special about the gesture even from this side, so you can’t help but wonder how it is that she pulls out items that her clothes couldn’t possibly pocket on their own like that.

The answer never comes, but an item does.“No...never mind.” except it doesn’t, Seija returns with an empty hand instead, alongside a shrug. “You wouldn’t be comfortable wearing it and I’m-”

“Hey, hold on.” you interrupt, a bit curious. “Don’t just assume things for me, if you’ve got a good reason then I promise I won’t get mad.” even so you brace yourself for whatever it could be.

“Really?” She asks, and oh boy doesn’t that make it sound like a bad idea.

“Really.” you confirm anyway.

“Okay then. But first, I want you to know two things: One, the majority of youkais here are as perceptive as your average 10 year old and two, you’re going to need a disguise lest you’ll be assaulted every 10 seconds the moment you’re not in my peripheral vision. Thus…”

“Ah, so the disguise’s humiliating.” you conclude, completely deadpan.

“That...depends on how one sees things.”

“Just take it out.”

“Alright.”

(Real transition...)

[X] "Yo, that's a sick-ass pumpkin mask!"... "But really---"
-[X] Interrupt her, this is literally nothing. If it works, it’s the youkais that’ll look dumb, not you.

Not one to just be made fun off, you quickly join her momentum by growing a sly smile and letting out a small whistle as you pick up her gift. “Yo, that’s a sick-ass pumpkin mask!” you reply, smile growing a bit wider when she looks a bit surprised at the reaction. “But really…”

“This is nothing, I can wear this no problem.” you finally clarify, voice back to normal. “So, go on.”

“Oh, well, aren’t you awfully nice right now!” Seija recovers while you put the thing on, after which she just puts one hand around your arm and keeps moving as instructed. “But you’re right, time is off the essence, so let’s waste no more off it and be on our way!”

(Transition…)

The first thing you notice about the inn you’re lead into is that it is packed.

People or to be more precise monsters of all kind are chatting amongst each other, music is playing from somewhere above, and though the mood is very festive, there is only one clear path to the bar while the sides are cluttered with tables and chairs. Which meant that everyone could easily see whoever had the gall to enter this place, thus causing you to become the unfortunate target of a few curious glances.

Your eyes naturally dart back to them in response, which ain’t the best thing to do when a few of them answer to the eye-contact by gaining frowns on their faces or outright putting their maces on the table, though that only comes from the left most group of four...things. The mood now somber.

You have half a feeling that most of them aren’t fooled at all by your disguise, but your mouth doesn’t have the time to say anything before a firm grip on your shoulder, courtesy of Seija puts you closer to her side as she gives the whole room a mock salute and says, “Sup, fuckers. Miss me?”

What follows is something you can only call a display of charisma, for the somber mood immediately returns to a festive one in a matter of moments. Seija looks like she knows pretty much everybody in the room and has no difficulty being the center of attention. A bit of laughter here, handshakes and hugs there, she is playing the crowd and even the ones glaring your way seem to return to their own business.

Of course, she kept you close at all times and even introduced you to a few of them as being a ‘jack o lantern gal’ with a smile on her face before the two of you finally take a seat by the bar.

“Ah, there you are!” The barman, some masked monster, shoves a mug between Seija’s hands before glancing your way. “You want one as well?”

“No, thank you,” you reply, not wanting to test your liver this soon. “I’m not one for alcohol.”

“I’ll pick something else for you then! On the house!”

Now that you couldn’t outright deny, seeing how happy the barman seems to be. At least, you didn’t get a mug, but a clay cup with what looked like a harmless fruit juice. You thank them with a nod, though you’re still unsure whether or not you want to take more than a sip of two of it.

Seija chuckles under her breath at the sight, then lifts her mug. “Hey, why not have a cheer? To the lucky event of you meeting me and getting to be under wise and oh so helpful guidance~”

At that, you do not comply, instead circling one finger around the upper side of your mug while you give her a flat look. “Speaking of guidance, where are those friends of yours?” your answer is her clicking her cup against yours anyway before she takes a sip. Blatantly ignoring you, “Seija…”

“Sh, sh, shhh. Just let me enjoy this.” She tuts, enjoying her drink like a man drinking water after a trip in the desert. A few more sips and seconds after, she finally puts it down. “They’re upstairs.”

“Oh, okay. So we just take those stairs over there.” you quickly notice them being at the bottom right, standing right next to a bunch of stairs that also lead downstairs. “After you, then.”

“Nah.” Her casual rejection is quickly followed by an explanation, as it should. “See, the thing here is...if I just waltz in there with some weak and defenseless level 0 human, well, the worst thing that would happen to me is that I’d be laughed at. And for you, well, you’d look like a very easy snack And I don't mean the sexual kind...not that some wouldn't look at you that way.”

“Oh.”

“Which is why we won’t let them know that!” Seija whisper shouts a bit too loudly, but nobody seemed to notice as most people amused themselves in their own circles, the atmosphere warm and friendly but still composed of monsters that will try to shred you apart the moment your mask is off.

“So you’ll lie about me? To your allies of all people?” she’s really willing to do that for you, huh.

“Nah, you’re having a misunderstanding here. See, the word ally to you means someone you could work with to achieve a common goal. But to us youkai, it means a whole different thing entirely. To us, it means someone’s who you haven’t gotten the chance or time to back-stab yet. Shit’s wild here. You’re an exception of course~ But enough politics, I’ll make this real simple to understand: We need to make you look tough. And I mean ‘you mess with this girl, you’ll wake up staked to a cross on fire’ kind of tough. Get me? I think you do, hence it’s time to fake-your-backstory-for-profit.”

“Faking a backstory? So what, am I supposed to say I’m some elite demon hunter?”

“That’d be helpful. Personally I’d like to go back to the Hakurei lie we used earlier, names like those have real power within them after all. And well, making it seem like a goddamn Hakurei spawn is out to wreck the Oni’s shits in...that will really get you respect, deserved or not, far faster than you, Renko, the not so average outsider could do on her own in like... ten or so years.”

“I feel like there would be a massive risk if we did that, what if I got outed as a faker?”

“Everyone who joined you for that reason would most likely leave or immediately turn hostile, but don’t you worry about that. You kind of look like her already and besides…”

A red-white ying yang ball is set on the bar, it’s own aura reeks with an intense amount of blood lust. You don't try to touch it, nor does so she seem to have wanted you to, as she soon retrieves it.

“We can fake the little details~ Besides, maybe it’ll unlock a special class or something? Who knows...the risk could be worth your while, though if you’re really against it. Then I guess you’ll have to share some tidbits of your real backstory with me and we’ll see how it can be improved.”

“That’s quite a leap to make, why not just make another lie?”

“Because the best lies have hints of truth in them, besides, haven’t I amassed enough affection points out of you already? What more do you need to trust little old me? Some flowers?”

[ ] ...Ok, fine. You’re totally a Hakurei. Just because it makes things easier.

[ ] You’ll share some facts about yourself, it’s not like most of it is that exciting anyway.

[ ] Wait, wait, if you’re going to share anything. She’ll have to share her own story first!

[ ] Affection points, how the hell does she know a dating sim term, demand answers!!!!

I have no excuse other than that being forced to do garden shit made me too tired to do pc stuff for a long time. That and my dreaded procrastination. Either way I'm back and ready to rumbble.

=====> Affection points, how the hell does she know a dating sim term, demand answers!!!!

"Of course, I'm aware off your silly mating rituals, Renko~" Seija replies, the same smile that promises nothing good returning to her face the moment you show any inkling of interest. "Well, ritual wouldn't be a proper term now would it? Nah, it's more like fetishized expectations of romance put into a tool that displays fiction for its user so they can have the ideal romance within their hands without ever needing the courage to obtain the real deal. That's a dating sim, no?" Already used to her words, you just nod in response, mostly surprised at her 'modern' knowledge to which her smile grows larger. "In that case...."

"What kind of dating sims have you been playing?" She asks.

"None." you reply bluntly, then hold in a groan when you realize that sounded like a deflection.

"Aw, you little prude. Does even the slightest tittilating thing offend you somehow?" she says as she slowly moves one of her feet under the table above your own before you kick it away, to which she giggles again. "Oh, can I guess why?" She continues regardless of your answer, "Is it because daddy was overprotective? Nah, you're a smart girl. I bet you know plenty of things already. Ehehehe-" the following five seconds are filled with similar shitty jokes aimed at you.

You wisely tune them out.

She finally relents after you stop her sixth attempt at foot-fucking with a hard stomp. "Fine, fine....!" she drawls out as if in agony as she leans back on her own stool, clearly unhurt. "I guess if you don't want to talk about whether you like little boys or mature old men in the carnal ways. Then how about something more girly? Like la romance~❤️❤️"

Uh, that sounds like it's too good to be true. Besides, "I thought we were talking about more important things...?"

"Oh, we were." Seija admits. "But you're the one that changed the subject. Besides, some banter is fun, hmm?"

You frown at that, and clutch the table a bit harder. Even if it's true, it's not like you have time to waste here.

“Hey, hey, it’s fine, if you don't want to, I won't force you.” Seija wavers like a flower stalk, then pulls a revolver out of nowhere, putting it on the table . “I don’t need to know anyway. I got no interest at all. Any time I want a little romance I just put this baby between my legs. A little powder-action action, ha ha.” You stare in judgement. “Sometimes I keep it loaded, just for that extra thrill.” You tense in worry. “I’m fucking with you.” You relax a bit. “Or am I?”

Seija throws back her head and laughs. She trails off into hiccupping giggles, one hand over her eyes, the other smacking the gunbutt on the table as if calling for order. The other youkai's don't seem to notice or care about this behavoir, as they're all still in their own little social groups.

“Sorry,” she says eventually. “No, really, I’m sorry. It’s just been a while since I met someone who wasn’t sick of my shit by now.” She sniffs and wipes her face. “Hey, be honest. What do you think of this place?”

You take a while to answer. Empty cups are replaced with full ones. The light flickers in the room, the cause of which are balls of magical light.

“Everyone seems tired,” you say. "I mean, catgirl and spidergirl aside. Everyone seems really tired."

"Is it like that outside? Whatever's happening on the surface world, beyond the border. I mean.”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t go outside without some monster trying to shred me apart. But sometimes it felt like the people I did know had just given up.” Images of finding dead people into locked houses come to your mind. “Or were trying really hard not to." Alcohol, and alcohol, and a very vivid someone come to mind. Also alcohol. All for her to consume without getting sick. "Here it’s different. It feels like everyone’s waiting for something.”

“They were waiting for you. And now, here you are.” Seija's voice is deadpan. “The Hakurei has cometh.”

“Is that why you brought me here?” you ask. "Because I happen to look slightly like her?"

This time it was her turn to pause, genuinely pause. Seija sucks at a tooth as if trying to dislodge the answer. When she speaks her voice is quieter than usual.

“You’re someone new,” she says. “That mattered more, to me.”

“Oh.”

“It’s nice talking like this. While it lasts.”

“Same,” You say, and Seija perked up. “I mean, usually, any youkai I meet is more concerned with acting overly mysterouis or standoffish. It’s nice to meet someone who doesn’t really care about impressing me.”

“Well, fuck you too, bitch,” Seija says, and you stiffen in reflex until you see that she is smiling again. “You gonna finish that?”

You hand over the new cup and Seija takes a swig and puts down what was left. That being nothing. She stands, and despite her apparent drunkenness (most likely faking being a light shot) she doesn’t appear unsteady on her feet.

“You still owe me one,” she says. “Remember?”

“I remember.”

“The person you're about to talk to. ” She twirls the gun, then sheathes it into a pocket into which it dissapears. “She’ll probably make you some kind of offer. Meant to see if you're smart enough to know when someone's trying to fuck you over and I probably won't be alone to haunt both of your sides during your 'talk'. She calls herself the 'Black Baronesss' but her real name's Cyerra. That alone tells you she's the kind of dumb bitch that thinks herself a bigshot pimp or something. But between you and me? She's an opportunistic coward, so long as it looks like siding with you is safer than letting you roam around free she won't be any problem to you. So capitalize on that once we go up, you get that?”

“So it will be all up to me?”

“I’ll stick around if you need me. Even if it might piss her off. This place just got a little more bearable with you in it.”

"Thanks." that's kind of soothing in a way.

"Yeah, you better be grateful." And she ruins the mood instantly. "I mean had you appeared tomorrow then right now I could be doing something productive. Like sneaking into the home of some maiden. Even better if she's married. While her husband is out of the house. I'll take care of her food. Help her take baths, make her wear the clothes I like. Take care of her bathroom trips. Take care of her nightlife too. That kind of NTR just feels right~"

"That kind of 'taking care' is over the top and disgusting."

"Wait, you don't understand?" Seija's face turns confused. "How is that even possible?"

But she's pretending of course, she has to be. "I'd sooner be dead than understand that."

"Ehhh--- isn't that kind of harsh? Isn't it obvouis that while being embraced and told "Please become my true husband" by a married woman. Getting to say "Shut it. Filty whore" makes for a happy ending? If it doesn't reach that point, then why live at all..???"

"Do you think this is funny to me?"

Seija is given momentarily pause, as your voice turned quiet and full of ice. Like she got hit by whiplash.

“No,” she admits. “None of this is funny. That’s why you should laugh.”

You stare uncomprehending. Seija's face is solemn and she grasped her side of the table with both hands, such force in them that creaks are visibly made. That unmarked face. Those intact and half-lidded eyes. Creature of ruin, acting so young and yet verging on some age that had never been. That or she's secretly a cat in disguise.

“It’s been like this for as long as I can remember down here,” she continues. “Everyone miserable and miserable to be around. They always act like they’re in mourning. They’re always thinking of the world they lost.” Her teeth flash. “The world that me and you never got to see. But that means we’re better off, get it? We don’t need to be so depressed over everything. We never knew the world that was lost and what you never knew you can’t lose. We’re not chained down to any sort of past. We’re floating free.”

She rests her head against her hands and her lips peel back in a grimace or grin; it was hard to be sure which.

“Most of them hate me for that. Oh, do they ever. I think they hate me more for it than surviving to be the very last 'me' that exists. Don’t think I can’t put two and two together. You know how those Onis are always honest and fair? Even though some stories depict them as cruel monsters? Guess what they sacrificed in order to become as 'pure' as they are now.” She points at your chest, at where the heart is. “Now that their little hiding spot is running low on faith juice, it's only normal to put humans through this little game of survival. Every youkai from the top to the bottom of the Underworld to will try to get you, if only to get that 'keep existing' juice that's somehow constantly being created by you all simply believing in us.”

"If that's all they want from me, then why would anyone follow me as you earlier sugggested?"

"Because the morons around us are desperate to believe in anything, be it the start of a new age brought by a human that somehow defeated the entire underground or something else unlikely. Not that that changes the truth at all."

"And what's that truth?"

"That what they want can’t be recovered,” Seija says grimly. “Can’t be mended. Can’t be put right again. If that’s what these people have been living for then they’ve been living for nothing. The past is empty. The future is broken. All that matters is today.”

Her voice is low and crisp and without a hint of humor. Your hands dig into the rock of the table as you hold the thing tighter. If these were the thoughts which frothed in Seija's mind then it was maybe no small wonder why she often kept them drowned with stupid nonsense.

“So don’t let it get to you,” Seija went on. “Whatever happens to the other humans here, the youkais, your lovely princess, you’ll keep going. Someday there’ll come a time when you’ve lost everything you knew. And when that happens, laugh. Because if you can laugh at that, you can laugh at anything.”

“And what about you?” You ask. “Has that time come?”

“It came as soon as I was born,” She replies. Then giggles “Ow, fuck, the edge of that actually cut me! But who knows? You can always sink a little lower. Maybe someday I’ll get a chance to take my own advice.”

Chatter and cheer still surround you both. If anyone inside was eavesdropping then they were being exceptionally stealthy about it. Still, you hunch over, and speak quietly.

“What should I say to this Cyerra?”

“You tell me. Just act tough and kind of bitch-like like a fine Hakurei and you should be fine?”

You're not reasured by that flimsy response. “I don't think I've got enough charisma to pull that off unrehearsed. I'm not some trickster like you. I might say something wrong and if she sees through me, then what's the point?”

“She might. But yeah, we can rehearse things if you want.”

"We can?"

"Sure shit, you can. We can reserve a bedroom, lock the door and roleplay some tomfoolery. I'll be the dumb bitch crow, and you'll be the Hakurei. And once you're confident you can pull off the act, we go up and confront our destinies!"

"..."

"I mean, if you want to that is."

[ ] I'd like to rehearse things then. (Tuto for the next minigame/OPTIONAL)

[ ] I'm ready, let's just do things.

[ ] One more thing... (Ask your question now, or we'll move things along.)

[x] I'd like to rehearse things then.

“Great, follow me then,” and that is how you end up being led upstairs by Seija. The space ahead consists of a hall and several doors that each lead to their own room. Wisefully ignoring any groan or noise that sounds suspiciously like a moan, you stay right behind her as she leads you to the second to last door on the right, room number 02 to be precise.

Finally, you enter the room.

Whatever expectations you had off the room, you’re still disappointed. Hold on, that sounds too unpleasant, you mean nothing extravagant is in it. It’s the classic hotel room with a bed, some place to put ones clothes and a lamp set on a tiny desk in arms reach of whoever sleeps. Seija immediately jumps belly first onto the bed and then shakes her legs in order to drop her flip flops to the floor.

“What are you waiting for? Come lie with me,” she beckons at you with a lazy wave when she sees you stay at the edge of the door. Her smile just as low energy as she teases you with a, “I won’t bite and besides, I’ll let you have the covers too~”. Clearly challenging your ‘prude’ status.

You’re not the type of person to fall for that, but you’re not the kind to be flustered over one bed either hence you find yourself walking over, removing your own shoes before sitting on the edge.

The mattress sinks in a bit when you do so, surprising you with its softness. That alone almost convinces you to lie down since it’s been a while since you’ve had a soft bed. But you’re certain that if you did, Seija would inevitably joke about how the two of you slept in a bed together to someone and you wouldn’t be able to fully deny the claim as it’d be technically correct in a way.

Your thoughts end up interrupted when you feel two hands set upon your face, blocking your eyesight and enhancing the touch of the youkai who is now leaning on your back. “Alright, let’s begin shall we?” Seija says as if talking about the weather, fully aware of her breath on your neck.

“Seija-”

“Ahah” Her voice scolds you, “It’s Cyerra remember? And you’re the Hakurei right now. Imagine an office, any kind. With two muscular bodyguards on either side, race doesn’t matter, finally-”

“Seija.” you speak up again and put a firm grip on the hands covering your eyes. “I’m not in the mood for some silly game-”

“Oh, but it’s not a game.” she replies placatingly, “Haven’t you heard, Hakurei? The mind becomes more active when deprived of it’s vision. So, this should help you. Besides, don’t you trust me?”

“That’s-”

“And another thing..” She interrupts again, then pulls a little on you to have you be the one leaning instead. “I get you’re a tough girl, but everyone needs some time to let their body rest. It’s not like I’m planning to snap your neck or do something outrageous. So...come on, and ease up a bit~”

[ ] ….Fine. But the moment she tries anything suspicious, you’re getting up.

[ ] If she won’t let go of you right now, you might actually push her off.

AN: I’m back, and yes, it’s totally essential to include this.

Noted Anon, is this enough bait for you?

---

[X] ….Fine. But the moment she tries anything suspicious, you’re getting up.

“There you go,” Seija says with a pleased tone, shifting a bit so she can get a better grip on your back which ends with you basically sitting in her lap now. “You won’t regret this, I assure you.”

“I’m starting to already feel like I should,” you reply, deadpan, “Just no wandering hands.”

“I’ll have you know,” says Seija, removing the decorative black belt and starting to poke your back with a nail or two. “There are plenty of men who’d tell you all about how nice my hands are.”

“Is that so,” you keep up the deadpan tone, refusing to flinch when she starts drawing circles.

“Women, too.” Seija offers, helpfully. The groan you let out in return is flat exasperation.

“Are you going to actually help me unwind? Or keep teasing me for no reason?”

“I suppose I should start,” she relents, “Try not too moan too loudly, okay?”

You don’t reply to her crude joke. Then her massage begins and you realize it wasn’t one.

Seija starts with broad strokes down your back. It’s like she’s spreading non existent oil, not even digging into the muscle yet, but it’s like every nerve in your body fires at once, and you realize how skin-hungry your body truly is. The only touches you’ve had in a while were to meant to hurt, or impersonal. Nothing meant just to please you, nothing this… alien.

Endorphins flood into your system and you feel like your body starts floating off the bed.

As time goes on, Seija works on the muscles in your back and shoulders in a firm, steady pattern. Time passes in a dust-scented blur. Maybe you do let out an embarrassing noise, or a grunt or two, maybe you don’t. It’s not worth noticing, for either you or her. Though you definitely do.

Grunts when she hits a particularly sore spot, restrained moans when she works it loose, little huffs and snarls like a dying cat when she applies extra pressure and pushes the air right out of you. You don’t have it in you to be embarrassed and Seija doesn’t draw any attention to any of it.

Any pain you have or have had drains away, and you melt down onto the bed like butter. Screw whoever sees you like this, those hands are sinful. And she could open a shop with them.

You don’t even realize you’re close to dozing off when you notice that Seija has gone from a deep massage back to long, light strokes of your skin. At last, she rests her palms on the middle of your lower back, right where the pain used to be the worst, and just holds them there for a minute.

“We’re done,” she says softly. “Did you remember all that?”

“Huh?” you blurt out like some drunk, too blissed to make words.

“That’s what I like to hear,” Seija says, and you can hear the smile in her voice. You feel a sheet being tugged up over you, all the way up to your neck. “Tell you what, I’ll let you doze off for a little bit, so if you want to snooze for an hour or so, go ahead. When you’re up or once that hour is over, just head back to where we sat earlier. Consider this a reward for doing well so far.”

There’s the sound of the door opening and closing, and then there’s just you, floating in space.

Eventually, you roll carefully to your mostly intact side and you’re amazed to feel no pain in the movement. You sit up and your back gives no more complaints. There’s a bit of residual tightness when you bend down to pick up the fallen belt, but compared to the little flashes of pain you were willfully ignoring a minute ago, now you feel like the recipient of a genuine miracle.

After you fix your disheveled clothes, you exit the room, and head back downstairs. Seija is sitting back on her chair with yet another drink beside her. She pushes it aside and then smiles at you before saying:

“So, do you understand the importance of resting now?”

You nod with no hesitation, knowing she’d want a greater reaction. “Sure, I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Good, and hey-” a shit eating grin returns on her face, “If you want me to make you feel go-”

“I’ll keep it in mind.” you interrupt, then take an additional step to enter melee range. She doesn’t finish her sentence, realizing your unsaid threat. “So, what now? Do we still rehearse things?”

“Nah.” She replies flatly, one hand picking the drink again before she quickly gulps it down and waves with one hand for another. “I’m no longer in the mood for that,” indeed, for some reason it looks like she’s suffering from a headache or something. “So one last drink and off we go.”

“Go where?”

“Why, to the bitch we were talking about earlier.” she says calmly instead of dramatically shouting it as you would have expected. “In hindsight, I don’t think you can act for your life so let’s just go straight in and seal the deal with your grumpy girl charisma that screams Hakurei to all.”

That’s not how things were supposed to go. And why is she acting so differently now?

“Look,” she speaks up again, seeing the doubt on your face. “I’m the girl with the plan and it’s not like I’m throwing you into some trap. Just sit down already and like, have a drink too if ya want.”

…

[ ] Don’t comment on her attitude. That can be done at a better time, just sit down and get ready for yet another trip. (TLDR: Skip even more talking and swiftlly transition to the next location)

[ ] Why just sit when she offered a free drink? Take that offer and maybe she’ll start blabbing.

[ ] Write in.