Chapter 54: Calling

It seems that I skipped a lot of studies in school, and I had plans to drop out of school altogether, but my mother strongly rejects it.

"You'll have to get an engineering AND a law degree minimally."

is what she said, no wonder nii-san is ... well let's just say he's coping with it in his own way.

"Bye Yomi-chan!"x2

"Bye Nanko! Bye Haruka, if you ever come to tokyo let's play together again!"

seeing the girls interacting melted all my sorrows away. I mean I just united a few clans, improving our social standing, and eliminating future troubles. I thought that would be enough to satisfy my mother.

"Why the long-face, Akira-nii?"

"Ah! It's nothing Haruka, anyway how's today's food? Did you enjoy it?"

"Hmmm! I like it very much, especially the salmon!"

A smile creeps up from the edges of Haruka's mouth.

"Yeah! The eel is also delish!"

"Of Course it is Nanako. Ah! you seem to have something on your mouth Nanako."

Uncle Dojima wipes Nanako's face with a wet tissue. Now we're waiting for our car. I have to say I'm impressed by Hideyoshi's resourcefulness.

"Ah! Akira-kun, Thanks for the meal today"

I simply nodded my head and smiled towards the investigation team, as they got in a black SUV that's driven up the walkway. They are riding in a separe car from us. except for Yu, Yu's coming with us.

"And here's our car."

A young man with blonde hair opened the door to gesture at us in. I think I've met him before in Tokyo.

"Joshua-san?"

"Ah! Maou-sama, It's good you still remember me."

Of course, you're in my top 5 beings not to disturb or get noticed by list. Ugh I have a bad feeling about this.

"Are you our driver for tonight?"

"Yes I am Anee-sama."

And so we get in the SUV.

"Ah, Joshua, are you familiar with the area?"

"Please call me Josh, and yes I'm quite familiar with the area of Dojima-sama."

"Ok then I'm going to doze off for a few. make sure to drive safely."

"Of Course Dojima-sama..."

Not long after the start of our trip I noticed everyone except me and Izanami were asleep.

"So, what do you want to talk about 'Joshua'."

Inquiring about Izanami, I'm sure that even Izanami is expecting this. Can divine beings sense one another?

"Oh it's nothing much Anee-sama. I'm just checking how our Maou-sama is doing. Last I heard he did spend a lot of mana. It seems that my worry is unneeded."

"Oh you're still calling me 'Anee-sama' even now?"

"Of course, I wouldn't want to be erased by the Demon King"

"Surely you jest, how can I even hurt you."

"Oh? I'm sure that I sensed anti divinity from you. Still, it's good that we're on the same side."

What do you mean?

"Ah! you might have noticed the reddening sky a few months prior have you not?"

Ah that... Don't tell me.

"Yeah, that's the work of an angel. it's been taken care off as of now, but I still need your help. He's not working alone you see..."

"What makes you think I'll help you?"

"Ah that's the right question to ask now isn't it...

but well you see Maou-sama, if you don't help me now, I don't know if there's any kingdom left for you to rule after this...."

"Hahahaha! Tell me 'Joshua', what is so important, that you, the 'Composer', have to personally come and tell us."

Izanami's eerie voice got me thinking, if she knew about Joshua being the Composer that means that she's also aware of the 'Reaper game' right?

"Well about that Anee-sama, I'm not a Composer anymore..."

"!"

"Explain!"

"Somebody Hijacked the game and kicked me out, thankfully I was more than capable of handling myself in the Real Ground.

And as fate would have it, I met Maou-sama on the first day of my new job...."

"Does that mean..."

"Yes, it does, maybe Father has also had... "

"!"

".... To kill a chief god? is that even possible?"

"It is Anee-sama, but fortunately, Father hasn't died.... yet... I still feel his presence... it's just faint... and fading..."

What's with this pantheon business ? I don't understand ....

[You better pay attention to this matter partner, as you see if someone can kill or even beat a chief god in his own domain, your opponent must be quite formidable.]

"It is as you say, OH, Chief God of the Roman Empire."

[Roma?]

I swear Romulus, one of these days I'm going to find a pokeball for you.

"It's fine Romulus, He's friendly.... for now...."

I can sense that Izanami is still weary of our new 'friend'

"Can you tell us the situation from the beginning?"

"Well of course Ane-sama.

It started out early this year, with a new batch of player(s) for the 'Reaper Game'. It's all going like it always does, find someone worthy of a second chance, develop them into a better vessel for themselves and society, and finally put them back into society. These are the players of our game.

But that batch is strange, you see, each conductor can specify game masters. and each game master has their own rules.

In Shibuya for example we have the rule of pairing players, to develop both at the shortest amount of time.

Whereas Shinjuku Game Master believes group exercises are better for the individual involved.

Kansai Game Master is a maniac and likes to bring the best and worst out of people in a desperate situation by pitting players against each other in a twisted battle royale game.

you get the idea."

"You and your game masters ...."

"Guilty as charged... "

"So, It's business as usual for you, then what's the problem?"

"Ah! I was getting there Anee-sama.

You see, last month I noticed something strange.

There is a player that is able to come in and out of the Reaper Game."

"Well then 'Joshua', I'm sure that your subordinates are less trustworthy than you think."

"I also think that way hence I eliminated them all."

"!"

"Oh don't worry their souls are forfeit to begin with if they are to cheat in a game of goodwill. "

I feel like that's the most reasonable approach as he didn't know when or where he may be stabbed in the back.

"I see that Maou-sama agrees with me."

"I can confirm that without any citizen, a kingdom cannot function, isn't that so?"

"Yes, and hence I re-opened the game with new faces I personally selected. Conductor, Game Master, Reapers, and players too."

Reapers are the NPC(s) of the game if you will, they are doing their job the Game Master assigned them, and will either help the players or outright eliminate them... but wait did he select players already? So that means that Neku's in this mess too?

"And that's when the problem happens?"

"Yes, after I had an insider in every level of the game I finally came to a conclusion. there's an outside force that's openly targeting us. most probably from another pantheon.

He managed to sway most of the reapers. and even a few players to break the game.

They initiated a coup of sorts, eliminated the Conductor, and placed a puppet Conductor at its place.

That's when they openly ask for more 'support' in terms of power and then use that power against us..."

"Tch, how can someone do that under his influence?"

"Well you see the realm above is also facing a few problems lately... "

"Oh you mean the Tartarus incident?"

Wait, Tartarus? you mean Persona 3's Tartarus?

"Yes, we're still currently repairing many broken pathways and leylines. Thanks the Messiah who softened the blow for us, The Damage we sustained is barely manageable, although it's a shame I can't do anything to help as of now."

"And because of that you have no spare manpower nor the ability to monitor the Reaper Games ?"

"Yes, even though I'm ashamed to admit that, we need to keep the Reapers Game running to recruit more manpower."

"Sigh.... you also had it rough huh?"

"Well said Maou-sama... but I have to say I'm impressed by your efforts. you built all this yourself did you not?"

"I didn't, it's the efforts of those who came before, I merely gave them an opportunity. nothing more."

"If only I was as sharp as you. I may have prevented the loss of a friend."

so Neku's done huh, but he did say friend and not proxy so maybe...?

"But you can still right your wrong, can you not?"

"I can do Anee-sama, but not now, with my powers dwindling. It's a miracle that I manage to stay this long."

"Hmmm. I think I may be able to help, well not me, but my darling right here."

"I also hope that is the case Anee-sama."

....

"Ok, let me get this straight, you want me to die, infiltrate the reapers, take over as the Conductor and stabilize the whole Tokyo district?"

"Well, you don't have to die, I can send your soul instead. and I can directly promote you as a Reaper, My contact's still active on the inside."

"As for your job, I'll leave it to you, I'm sure Maou-sama already has plans for this."

"Believe me, I don't"

---

"Yawn. That's a good sleep. Huh? we're in Inaba already? How long did we sleep?"

"Around half an hour Dojima-sama."

"It's a good nap though, what'll you do after this Joshua-san?"

"I have heard that Maou-sama needed to settle things in Tokyo the next Day, so I'm going to escort them back."

"Hmmmm? didn't your mother ask you not to skip school Akira?"

"It Couldn't be helped Uncle Ryo, Hideyoshi got the deal, and I need to oversee the production for some time, and I'm confident I can graduate early if I wanted to ---"

"Hhhhhhhh! That's not the point Akira, You're young, you should enjoy your youth, Right Joshua-san?"

"Oh certainly Dojima-sama. You can't waste your youth in your office everyday. That's what us old timers do everyday. hahahaha."

"You Said it! Oh by the way, our house is over to that side Joshua-san, take this left, and then another left."

---

"Finally Back Home."

"Yeah! Welcome Back Onii-chan"

"Welcome Back"x4

"I'm back."