147 Konosuba Side Part 32.
"Here, there, and here…" Faint sounds were echoing inside an empty room in the mansion.
Because the mansion is big and has a lot of rooms, so even if nine people are living here, a lot of rooms are still empty and unused. But today, in one of the rooms at the end of the hallway, an atmosphere that seemed to come from a horror movie was radiating.
The room from the inside was tidy and considerably clean from dust while the window curtains were closed, which made it slightly gloomy and the only light source was some candles around. However, the strange thing is that all the furniture has disappeared and left an open space in the middle.
In the middle of the room, something similar to a magic circle, yet it was different from the usual western style of magic. It was more of the style of Japanese Onmyoudou, the way of yin and yang.
At the center of the ritual, a broken arrow was fixed on the ground by a yellow talisman.
"Hmmm…" Kaguya was holding multiple talismans and putting them around the circle.
Each talisman varied in writing and words, but they only had four forms of colors, which are blue, red, black, white. Putting them in the four directions, north, south, east, and west around the arrow, Kaguya took a step back and observed her work.
Onmyoudou is a Japanese tradition of divination and enchantment. Like Japanese spirituality in general, it is highly syncretistic, combining knowledge and rituals from Taoist alchemy, Feng shui, Buddhist sutras, Shinto kami-worship, and other sources.
"Now, slowly injecting the spiritual power…" Putting her hands together in the first form of kuji-in(Nine Hands Seal), Kaguya began to inject the ritual with her spiritual power.
Step by step, the spiritual power attached itself to the ritual via the talismans. The power flowed through the circle lightning all the talismans with their respective colors before it reached the arrow.
"Last step…" Controlling her power with anticipation, Kaguya focused closely on the arrow before she launched the ritual as the whole place shone.
However, before Kaguya even thought that she succeeded, the spiritual power went berserk. The whole energy inside the ritual swelled like a balloon before the talismans began to burn with sparks and electric arcs.
"...…" Kaguya waved her hand instantly before she and the ritual vanished from this place. Then in the next instant, she appeared alone holding the broken arrow in her hand.
*Boom!*
A faint noise was heard from far away in the forest outside Axel as some smoke rose to the sky.
Kaguya landed slowly on the ground as she looked at the slightly blackened floor before she took a deep breath and… "WHY?!"
Holding her head in pain as she rolled on the ground, Kaguya lost all the temperament of a princess and the most beautiful woman in an instant.
With its complex history and myriad influences, Onmyoudou is a spiritual path that tries to find a personal balance with the world. It has a lot of uses from alchemy, exorcism to divination, which Kaguya is trying to use now.
Divination is the process of acquiring insight into questions or situations such as the foretelling of future events or remote and unseen circumstances, through the use of means like magic or occult. Kaguya wanted to use this method to get information about the location or at least the identity of the arrow user, but the ritual directly gave her the classic ending of explosion in the face scenario.
"I did everything correctly and yet… ugh!" Kaguya stopped as she wanted to smash the arrow in her hands.
Well, Kaguya has to admit that her skills and knowledge in Onmyoudou aren't that great, after all, she only used them for convenience and nothing important.
Despite that, Kaguya is still the Princess of the Moon! What 'basic' for her is already advanced for the humans' Onmyouji. She called her skills basic because she saw what Eirin can do!
To be honest, if it was Eirin, Kaguya is sure that she'll wipe the ground clean with anyone who called himself/herself an Onmyouji and send them to cry in the toilet… after she makes them eat some weird(Gender Bending?) medicine for annoying her.
"*Sigh* If it was Eirin, I'm sure she'll directly use divination to find those players easily… But to think this sort of practice can be used in this world " Kaguya looked at the ceiling and sighed.
Usually, she wouldn't think of using her 'basic' skills in Onmyoudou in divination, but what to say, this mission and World's Will already made Kaguya so angry, also, she remembered it after Leo talked about his spells and rituals.
Despite that, there was another reason why Kaguya didn't attempt to use it. Onmyoudou divination relies a lot on the balance with the world and connection with its laws and nature. This includes philosophy and astrology for example, but here is Konosuba, a different world with different astrology and myth.
Such a world can really render a lot of balance and laws-related abilities useless, for example, Toaru's Idol Theory that is based on religions, belief systems, mythologies, or even folklore and fairy tales, which is why Kaguya wasn't optimistic about Leo's ritual.
However, her ritual now activated a little, well, even if it almost exploded in her face the next second, but it really activated. It seems there is a lot to learn about the power systems between worlds, even if Kaguya still complains that World's Wills won't just send a simple explanation document.
Sighing again, Kaguya floated in the air slowly. To be frank, she also has to admit that she never bothered to learn other conventional techniques, except for the classic card bullets of Gensokyo. After all, for the princess, her ability and immortality were always enough and Eirin always helped her… even in the middle of the chase by the Lunarian.
"Maybe if I tried more carefully I can make it work. I should ask Eirin to teach me some tricks when I go back… fufufu, I wonder how the look on her face would be" Kaguya smirked just from imagining Eirin's cold face collapsing into shock.
"No, wait. Even with my level, the ritual shouldn't explode in my face for no reason…" Kaguya lifted her eyebrow for a moment before her expression changed.
In Touhou, magical arts has six important components: Ability, Temperament, Substance, Space, Time, and lastly Fortune, which is the most important… Does that mean she was so unlucky that her ritual decided to suicide bomb on her?!
"...…" Kaguya started to doubt life at this moment.
*Ding*
However, her questions about if this was some sort of a sick joke didn't last for long before the chat screen flashed.
"Hm?" Kaguya remembered that she kept it on because of the continued Leo's live stream, but now she got a message notification.
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): I ALMOST DIED!! TWO TIMES!!]
A missing member of the Chat that didn't log in for a while appeared with an announcement of her near-death experience. And of course, she met a very supportive response.
[Annihilation Maker(Admin): Tch, almost…]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Uh, excuse me?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Oh, don't mind me human, I'm just lamenting the diversity in the uncountable possibilities and outcomes, and no, you're not excused]
"...." Looking at the new shenanigans in the chat, Kaguya sighed before a small smile formed on her face.
She threw the broken arrow away and, of course, decided to join the fun, especially because she waited for so long, the legendary clash between the Last Master of Humanity and the Evil of Humanity, and also… the reunion of the 'Master' and 'Servant'.
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Uh, the possibility of what?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): You can guess it yourself]
[NEET Princess: Oh, isn't it Ritsuka. Long time no see, it seems you had an interesting time offline]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Well, if you can consider near-death situation interesting then yeah, very interesting]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Sounds like the usual]
[NEET Princess: Believe me, that's better than what we have here]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Um, I didn't see you here before. Are you a member of this Chat]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): As far as I know, yes ]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): *Cough* This is awkward, you're also an admin. Sorry, I just joined so I'm not familiar with the Chat Room members yet. Hello, I'm Ritsuka]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): I see…]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): ...]
[NEET Princess: Is this a way to talk with your 'Master'? Smh]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Oh? Dear Kaguya, are you meaning that you want to teach me manners?]
[NEET Princess: Oh? Dear Leo, does that mean you want to learn manners?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): I personally don't mind, but I wonder if you have any, to begin with]
[NEET Princess: Is that so? That's rich coming from someone like you]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): I know right? Hahaha…]
[NEET Princess: Indeed, fufufufu…]
{What is this fearsome aura… Did I trigger some old grudge between these two?!} Ritsuka was sweating slightly while looking at the laughter in the Chat. She has all the reasons to say that those were more creepy than joyful.
Shaking her head to clear those thoughts, Ritsuka looked at the messages before she noticed something that made her blink.
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Um, Kaguya-san. Is Annihilation Maker Lucifer?]
[NEET Princess: Yes, didn't we say this before? We don't even have a lot of members anyway]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Although it's a common name, yes]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Lucifer?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Yo]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): …. Hello]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Hello]
Ritsuka is feeling really awkward. Her main reason to join the Chat Room was actually here talking with her, but she had no idea at all, and to make it worse, Leo played along until she realized on her own, so Ritsuka doesn't know how to proceed in this conversation at all.
[NEET Princess: So, what happened to you in that near-death experience?]
Kaguya broke the awkward atmosphere because she started to get bored.
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Oh! Um, Reality Marbles clashing, explosions everywhere, Noble Phantasms all over the place, a giant flesh pillar and lasers flying everywhere, Caster laughing like a battle maniac, and Excalibur… several attacks of Excalibur… I almost evaporated twice]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Hm? That sounds like the usual Monday, I don't know why are you overreacting]
[NEET Princess: Near-death battles are normal every day? It seems that your understanding of normal has been altered again, huh?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): What do you mean? She has it easy. Do you want to experience being chased by a stalker prince charming(Proto-Arthur) and his glowing sword(Proto-Excalibur) across multiple realities and timelines? I told him multiple times that I'm not into this and I don't want to be involved, but that goddamn stalker is set on forcing his hot glowing sword on me]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Uh…]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Wait a minute! Wording Leo, please, mind your wordings]
Kazuma only wanted to lurk in the Chat and shoot pigeons in peace, but those almost made him drop the gun.
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): What are you thinking? The heat on that Proto-Excalibur is 'conceptual'! Do you want to get hit with that Planet Saving (Gaia's fuck you all) sword? No, you don't!]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Ah! You meant a Noble Phantasm?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Indeed, but what were you thinking about, human? Your mind seems to be wandering into some questionable places]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Eh? No, no, no, you got it wrong!]
Ritsuka was blushing because she really thought of some…'things'. She proceeded to cover her face immediately despite making Mash feel weird.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Yo, does that mean you met, Manaka?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Kinda, but fuck her and her simping target! Seriously, we Beasts have it tough. Not only that simp(Manaka) is after me, even her simping target(Arthur) is chasing me, why? Why don't they go and kill each other far away from me]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Suck to be you]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): I swear if I saw that Manaka I'll Abaddon her dumb face to the Land Of Steel immediately]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Welp, this became dark, but this Type-Moon, so…]
[NEET Princess: Wow, you can send people to the edgiest place in that world? Impressive]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): I'll bury her six feet under with Gaia!!!]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Yes, yes, let the edge flow through you]
[NEET Princess: Show them the might of the dark si-*cough* I mean, the Evil of Humanity]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Shut it!...….. I'm not your father]
[NEET Princess: Correction: Daddy OwO]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): What did you bring upon this cursed land?!]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: This went from 0 to 100 real fucking quick!]
Looking at the degenerate trio, despite some change, kept throwing insults and jokes at each other, Ritsuka blinked her eyes as she recovered from the 'embarrassment'.
{They are really getting along well, even with Lucifer…} Ritsuka didn't even find a chance to interfere in this conversation.
[Big Sister Lion is Online]
[Big Sister Lion: I found something!! What the… I'm working my ass off and you guys are having fun?!]
[NEET Princess: What do you mean? My ritual almost exploded in my face a few minutes ago! Although I'll not die, it's still painful, you know?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): What do you mean? I almost linked my world into another Mecha reality]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: What do you mean? Those little fucking pigeons are really tricky! Why do I feel they have more luck stat than me?!]
Just by looking at the same format of answering, Leone, who was in the capital, face palmed herself before sighing.
[Big Sister Lion: *Sigh* Just be silent for a moment. I found that something happened in the neighboring country, Elroad. Their royal castle and vault got breached by someone, who used some means beyond the regular Jobs' power…]
[NEET Princess: I see…]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Oh, right. How is the preparation going for the ritual? I need some progress to trial test the ritual and see if I can at least connect with it]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Some materials are already available, but those things like Lotus Staff won't be here that quickly and we just started! Can't you just make one and send it here?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): No, the materials of the ritual on your side need to be 100% from your reality to act as an anchor and guide]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Hm? What are you talking about?]
[NEET Princess: Oh, it's about this mission of the Chat Room that we're currently stuck with]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Ah, you mean the job that we need to do after joining this Chat Room? Remove the external threats from the worlds, right?]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Yeah, something like that]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Exactly, this is our Mafia's job in this Chat, or if you want, you can also count this Chat as a Church, there's not much difference]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Uh, but the church isn't mafia…]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I can't! This is the funniest thing I heard all day, hahahahah!… Human, you might want to pay a visit to the church in your world, just take a peek and rejoice]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin):..... I think I'll pass]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): You're no fun]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): The last time you took us to the church, the whole Fuyuki almost got erased from the map]
[NEET Princess: Although I would like to hear that story, I'm going to focus on my ritual and this mission, so bye]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Pigeons to kill, no time to waste]
{What is this guy's problem with pigeons?!} Ritsuka thought that Servants and Heroic Spirits were the weirdest, but now, she has to take that statement back.
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Did they all leave?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Most likely still lurking, like usual]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): I see…]
Then, a period of silence hit the Chat Room because no one spoke for a while and Ritsuka didn't know what to say at all.
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Um….]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Do you have something to say, human?]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): I….]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): I see, there's nothing to talk about, and even if there is, I believe that even yourself realize that it isn't that important]
Ritsuka was tongue-tied immediately by those words. She really had a lot of say, but when thinking about it, nothing could come out, exactly as he said.
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin):…..]
The Chat Room went silent again before Ritsuka was startled because she's not used to the flashing holographic screen right in front of her face.
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): I see you're still 'struggling', human]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Ah! Well, what I can say, near-death situations and being at a complete disadvantage isn't helping that much, ahahaha…]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Will you continue?]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Eh?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Aren't you tired of struggling? Don't you want to give up?]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin):...]
Ritsuka was taken by surprise because of the sudden question, but without even notice, her fist was already tightly clenched.
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Will you?]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin):... Yes, I'm tired, but… I won't stop]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Don't you feel this should be carried by someone else? You're just a single human. The burden of saving humanity, the whole Human Order… this burden on your shoulders might even surpass mine.]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): *Sigh* To be honest, I really asked myself that question a lot of times… Why it has to be me that goes through all of this to save humanity… but I won't stop]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Despite that, you wish to continue to struggle?]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Yes. I know this isn't just about myself, yet… I also want to do it for myself]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin):...]
Looking at the chat screen, Leo closed his eyes for a moment. Ddraig inside the green orb was unusually quiet.
For some reason, when he sees Leo like this, he gets the feeling that even he, The Red Dragon Emperor, that lived for so long, is like a child facing a wise being that experienced the world more than he'll ever do. It's such a weird feeling.
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Very well, continue to struggle, Master of Chaldea. Let's see how far you can take these ideals of yours, will you reach it or not…]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Just watch! Also, why do you ask me sudden questions every time we meet?!]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Dunno, ask yourself]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): That's not an answer!]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): *Shrugging*]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin):...]
Ritsuka sighed at this reaction, but she should have expected it. However, gazing at the messages on the screen, she had the same feeling as earlier, like she had a lot of say, but in the end, nothing will come out. This didn't stop until a new notification arrived.
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): You might have thousands of words to say, but you'll not be able to say them, after all, no matter how many words increase, their meaning will stay the same, and even then, they might not mean anything. So, do you have something to say?]
"...…." Ritsuka closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she loosened her clenched fist.
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Indeed, nice to meet you again, Lucifer]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Although I'm still feeling complicated about this, hello, I guess]
A small smile appeared on Ritsuka's face, but before she said anything else, two ancient lurkers appeared from the shadow realm.
[NEET Princess: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): What?]
[NEET Princess: Nothing, I'm just admiring the touching moment between a human and a Beast]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Bruh, only now I believe that you're a Beast. This was so Type-Moon style that I felt I'm reading a Fate Novel. But at least, you finally decided to embrace the edge]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): I'll remember this the next time we meet]
[Advocate of Gender Equality:...…]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Anyway, I'm leaving to do something. Don't waste time and start to prepare that ritual]
[NEET Princess: Are you preparing from your side?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): No, I'm taking the groceries that my mother wanted back home, then I'm going to bother with the ritual]
[Advocate of Gender Equality:…..]
[NEET Princess:...]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): What?]
[Annihilation Maker (Admin): Oh, right. If any of you comment something about this, next time I meet you… I'll murder you]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: I didn't see shit!]
[Gudako (Chaldea's Admin): Uhhhh…]
Ritsuka's mind almost stopped functioning. Who is this mother? She can even make a Beast, the ultimate threat to humanity, buy groceries. Is she some ancient god of chaos or something?!
[Big Sister Lion: Did you finally finish?]
Ignoring the confused Ritsuka, everyone finally remembered the forgotten Leone, who was waiting for this conversation to be done for a long time. Sometimes, she wants to ask if these guys even care about this mission.
