The Fearsome Threat

In Densetsu, it was uncommon for strange events to occur every so often. There was once an angel who sought to destroy the heaven. After that, flowers covered the whole entire land of Densetsu. Another time, spirits were possessing the innocent. All of these events were caused by one party or another. These so-called events were known as "incidents", and it was the Shrine Maiden's job to solve them.

Kotaro felt the forcible energy pulling him elsewhere which he found himself transported back to the shrine. Picking himself up from the ground, he met both Riku and Noel who seemed surprised by his sudden appearance. "Why am I here again?"

"Great timing! There's something important I wish to discuss with you," said Riku.

"With me? What is it?" He wondered about the discussion, the many possibilities that the shrine maiden would talk about, and the request she would ask of him to fulfill. However, he sensed a serious mood around the shrine maiden--something that caused him to question this odd feeling that growled within his guts. Perhaps a gut feeling? He wasn't sure of it though.

"By Densetsu law, you are classified as a S-Class Criminal. This means wherever you go, regardless of country, you will be wanted dead or alive. Due to being granted permission to exit Densetsu after discovering its existence, you have broken Densetsu's most important law."

He froze in shock, gawking by the new information. "Did you know about this?" The shrine maiden shook her head in response; her frowning visage was filled with disappointment. Kotaro quickly reacted by turning around, and he sprinted to the gate. I can't believe this. Why is this happening to me?

"Noel..."

She summoned her bow, and Noel took aim at her target. Hesitant, she paused on her decision.

"Immobilize him, but don't kill him..."

Her hesitation recovered into confidence, and she fired a swift projectile at her target. The arrow struck a piece of clothing, causing him to hug the gate as he remained hanging above the ground.

"Don't get the wrong idea that we're going to turn you in, Kotaro. We may have met you just yesterday, but that doesn't mean your story ends here," the shrine maiden approached him, and she removed the arrow. "Our enemy is Joe Jones, the new Sylvan Supreme, or what the people of Densetsu refer to him as the Corrupted. It's a coincidence that he learned of your existence since yesterday. The news hardly mentioned anything about you, so the fact that he knew about you before the news meant he only wished to dispose of you. That only leads to questioning what his true intention to remove you out of the picture. And, threatening my image as a S-Class Criminal is also a treacherous reason for me to get involved."

She lent her hand to Kotaro, who hesitated a little. "You're not alone. Everyone you met was affected by this too." The maid alongside her mistress seemed to appear so stealthy next to Kotaro; Victoria carried a parasol for the vampire as to protect her from the sun too. Frightened, he jumped from his spot--and he hid behind Riku. Suddenly, Riku began melting into a pool of white; the puddle later took shape of a man who patted Kotaro's shoulder. "Remember me?"

"Victoria, Lulu, Gouki, where's Riku then?"

"Up here." He raised his head to see a levitating shrine maiden and a black-and-white magician sitting on her broom. Riku descended to the ground, approaching the timid Kotaro, and she offered her hand to him. "Like Gouki said, you're not alone. Joe Jones has affected us by declaring us as S-Class Criminals if we associated with you. He has served as Sylvan Supreme for far too long, corrupted with the power to rule over the weak, and he has targeted you for his own schemes."

He put all energy into the memories he made from the previous day discovering this unknown world, nearly facing death's door, meeting new faces, ridiculed as a fool in front of a crowd, and regaining his lost memories hidden away within this world. All of them standing in this shrine were prepared to set foot to anew, a pathway filled with dangers and wonders alike. Although hesitant at first, he came to conclusions in embracing this new lifestyle.

Pressing his lips, he accepted Riku's hand. "Let's do this then!" Under the new sun, Melissa carried Kotaro into the sky with her broom--and everyone began to fly to their next location.

The pure, snow doors opened to a crimson path, leading to a circular room. In the middle of the room stood a table, dirtless and smooth, and a youthful man sat in anticipation as he observed through his violet orb. He grinned in menacingly, waiting for his next hefty cards to play on his targets all the while stroking a stainless dress to his left. "I see you wish to speak to me, Lord Yuuki."

"Oh please, stop it with the formality. You're flattering me, Sylvan Supreme Jones."

"The same goes for you," he countered with his deepest voice.

Yuuki's pink parasol slammed into the carpet, placing both hands onto the handle, and he smirked. "You seem to enjoy touching that dress. It's a shame the lucky girl is forced to be your bride. Whether or not it is justified, you're going to create enemies everywhere."

"Is this some kind of threat? Perhaps a sermon? I thought you aren't supposed to involve yourself to human doings."

"I'm not. This is more like fortune telling. I understand your intentions is to protect my daughter--,"

"Adopted daughter. Then again, you don't have rights to claim her as your daughter since you've only taken her in as your disciple. There's a difference between daughter and disciple. She is merely your disciple."

"My apologies. I understand that your intention is to protect my disciple from those people, but I find it difficult why you also need to involve Kotaro."

"You see, gap yokai... his real name isn't even Kotaro. You know that. Not that it bothers me. It's that ever since he's discovered this world that I fear I would be forgotten within the shadows for that man's future, and the fact that he's only one to enter the Barrier of Makai without being harmed has bothered me through these passing hours. It makes me disgusted that I can't do the same."

Yuuki scoffed, "Perhaps that was your fate, to be forgotten as to advance one's prolonged journey."

"What are you implying? That all of this is bound to fail?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. After all, I am one of the Legends of Densetsu. And it is my job not to interfere."

"You say otherwise, but you're doing quite the opposite," Joe remarked. Yuuki said no more, causing Joe to smirk. "Did I hit a breaking point?"

"No. I was just thinking about the infinite possibilities of you being a feed fodder."

"Why is it that you jest all the time, but you hardly take any actions as a Legend? Surely, you're more than capable of conquering everything under your hands?" Joe cackled.

His parasol laid to his shoulder as he grew closer to the youthful man. Unblinking of his sight, his stare alone created silence among the room. "You see there's a difference between holding responsibility as a tyrant for the people and a god amongst all men. Don't mix them together like you would in a blender. Much like comparing your capabilities and mine, I've taught you how to fight--but had I known you strove another path elsewhere, your potential would've surpassed. Right now, I'm merely speaking to a pig. It's too bad I don't get to hear you squeal once you fall."

His dazzling looks distorted to its truest form, revealing the devilish appearance of rage. Releasing all the energy, he aimed to strike Yuuki with a single hook to the head. The window behind Joe cracked into many pieces, and the walls were tarnished and crushed into many pieces by the impactful block. Only the door remained within the area, causing a nine-tailed woman to rush into the destroyed room in concern.

"Sylvan Supreme, are you alright? What just happened here? And this reiki energy? Who is this?" She reached Yuuki's shoulder as she threatened him with her sharp claws.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Understand that I'm only here to speak with my former student in important manners," he maintained a smile that caused the nine-tails to take no further action. He wiped off the dust in his clothing as much as he could, and he was kind enough to do the same for Joe. "My apologies for causing such a ruckus. That was not my intention. I take my leave right about now. This is our last discussion, and probably the last time we'll ever see each other."

"Because the next time, I'll have your head," declared Joe.

"Oh please, cut the tough act. You've barely seen my true form. What makes you think you can defeat this form of mine?"

"I know all of your tricks, gap yokai--or should I say, Kotaro Nishiki? Oh wait, I know a method that'll anger you. I've decided that I'm going to kill him. The fake Kotaro Nishiki. To-," he paused as he observed Yuuki performing a karate chop in thin air. Exposed to the outside, several buildings began to crumble around his surroundings. Joe turned around to witness the disastrous phenomenon. The calamity created deaths amongst the innocence, removing all pure status within the gap yokai. "You truly are a monster."

"You're a hero to these people. Start acting like one," and he left through his created portals.

The End of Book One