Outsider

Without beating around the bush, Yuri Mariya directly stated the purpose of her visit.

"Lady Liliana, is there something specific you're here in Tokyo to deal with?"

"I'm after the Sun Wukong."

Similarly, Liliana didn't engage in pleasantries with Yuri. With Eriri's assurance, she was certain she would handle the Sun Wukong, and the History Compilation Committee couldn't stop her.

"Why? The Monkey King has been sealed for over a hundred years, and there's been peace ever since. If the new Godslayer goes after him, it could bring great disaster to Kyoto!"

Yuri's face turned grim. She knew Campione were beings of sheer willfulness, and they would fight Heretic Gods without caring about the destruction or death they caused. Voban had been like this, and now the new Godslayer appeared to be no different!

However, Yuri misunderstood Liliana's meaning. She thought the new Godslayer had sent her to scout out information on the Monkey King in preparation for a future battle.

"Yuri, you've misunderstood me. It's not Erica who's going after the Monkey King—it's me."

Liliana corrected Yuri's misconception, but this didn't ease her worries. In fact, her concern deepened.

"Lady Liliana, do you realize what you're saying? Heretic Gods are not something easily dealt with. Even for a Campione, defeating one is no simple task."

Yuri hurried to Liliana's side, grabbing her arm. Her trembling hands revealed the intensity of her inner turmoil.

In her mind, Liliana wasn't the type to be reckless or unaware of her limitations. Then, as if recalling something, Yuri seemed to relax slightly.

"I'm sorry, Lady Liliana. I overreacted. You must be joking."

Yuri remembered what she had learned during her training as a Hime-Miko: the seal on the Monkey King at Seitenkyuu would be extremely difficult to break from the outside.

In the past, the Martial Queen, Luo Hao, had been enraged to find that Japan had taken Sun Wukong, a figure revered in China, and used him as a tool. Feeling that this was a grave insult, she had traveled to Japan over a century ago to punish him. She even destroyed temples and shrines in her efforts to break the curse seal but ultimately failed because she couldn't breach the Corridor of the Netherworld.

Yuri didn't believe Liliana had the power to gather the necessary elements to break the seal, even with the mysterious Holy Knight by her side. Moreover, the new Godslayer had only been a Campione for a few days—surely there hadn't been enough time to prepare all the necessary conditions to lift the seal.

"There's no joke here," came a voice that didn't belong to Liliana.

"Huh?" The unfamiliar voice left Yuri momentarily confused. She looked away from Liliana, blinking in surprise at the girl standing in front of her, her expression blank and innocent.

Eriri didn't dwell on Yuri's surprise. She sized up Yuri, noting that she wasn't wearing her Miko attire. An idea began to form in her mind.

"Hey, you're a Hime-Miko, right? You must be a Tokyo native."

"Yes…" Yuri responded cautiously, not entirely sure what Eriri was getting at.

"Then you must know where to find some good breakfast spots around here, right?"

"Um… I usually prepare my own breakfast. I don't really eat out, so I'm not too familiar with any places…"

"Ugh, useless. Fine, we'll just find something ourselves," Eriri said, clearly disappointed. She waved it off and decided to stick to her original plan. "Liliana, go ahead and check us out of the hotel."

With that, Eriri took Shinobu and Athena by the hand and sat down on one of the sofas in the lobby.

Although she had been dismissed rather coldly, Yuri didn't feel offended. Instead, she felt a bit apologetic for not being able to help. She was also extremely curious about Eriri's identity. From her spiritual sight, Eriri appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary human, yet her authority seemed unshakable. Even the young girl who seemed to possess Holy Knight level strength obediently stayed by her side, as if she were nothing more than an accessory.

Liliana, too, seemed to follow Eriri's every word without question. It was becoming increasingly clear that the twin-tailed blonde before her was someone far from ordinary.

Could there be a connection between this girl and the new Godslayer, Erica Blandelli? As Yuri considered this, her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Liliana's voice addressing Eriri.

"Yes, my Lord."

Liliana respectfully responded to Eriri and headed off toward the reception desk, leaving Yuri frozen in shock.

"W-Wait… Lady Liliana called you 'my Lord'? Could it be… Are you the new Godslayer, Erica Blandelli?!"

Yuri's face paled as the realization hit her. The words she had been about to speak got stuck in her throat, and she stared at Eriri, her heart filling with dread.

"No wonder… no wonder that little girl with the strength of a Holy Knight is so obedient… no wonder…"

The memories of her abduction by Voban five years ago came flooding back. The fear she had felt toward the Campione hadn't faded with time—it had only grown.

"Hmm, you've got it all wrong. I'm not Erica," Eriri said with a playful smile. "The name's Eriri Spencer Sawamura. Nice to meet you. And for the record, I'm Japanese, though I am half-British."

Hearing Eriri deny her assumption, Yuri let out a long breath, feeling a rush of relief. Her legs suddenly felt weak, and she slumped down onto the floor, her energy drained.

"Ka ka, you really are timid," Shinobu said, letting out her signature laugh and flashing her small vampire fangs.

Shinobu, having watched the memories of the Campione world through the chat group, understood why Yuri was so fearful. But such emotions were foreign to Shinobu herself. Fear? That was something she never experienced.

Athena, on the other hand, sat quietly by Eriri's side, uninterested in the ordinary human girl.

Yuri blushed at Shinobu's teasing but quickly composed herself. "I'm sorry for embarrassing myself. May I ask your name, miss?"

Shinobu, intrigued by Yuri's curiosity, answered with her usual flair. "I am Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. Don't be fooled by my appearance—my age far surpasses yours."

"Huh? You're older than me?" Yuri blinked, confused. Though her instincts told her Shinobu was telling the truth, it was hard to accept that the small girl seated before her, with her playful demeanor, could be far older.

"This form? I've taken it to cater to someone's preferences." Shinobu shot a glance at Eriri, making it clear exactly whom she meant.

"Hey," Eriri interjected with a mischievous smile. In a quick motion, she scooped Shinobu into her arms and wiggled her fingers, tickling the small vampire's sides.

"Ah! Hahaha—stop it!" Shinobu burst into laughter, squirming in Eriri's arms. The two continued to play, their carefree behavior filling the hotel lobby with laughter.

Watching the scene unfold, Yuri's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red, unsure whether to stay or excuse herself from the sight.

Meanwhile, Athena looked on, silently observing the playful chaos. Seeing Shinobu laughing uncontrollably, she hesitated for a moment before a mischievous grin crept across her face. She extended her hand toward Shinobu's armpit and began tickling her as well.

"Ah! Athena—stop!" Shinobu cried, laughing even harder as Athena's fingers joined the attack.

"Hmmph, I refuse," Athena retorted, her tone haughty but playful. She intensified her tickling, unwilling to back down.

Seeing the opportunity, Eriri smirked and wrapped her arm around Athena, pulling her into the fray. With one hand, she began tickling Athena's sides, and soon enough, Athena's own clear laughter echoed through the lobby.

As the playful chaos continued, Yuri stood awkwardly to the side, feeling like an outsider. She lifted her hand hesitantly, as if to speak, but the laughter drowned her out.

The trio's antics finally came to a halt when they noticed Yuri standing there, looking flustered.

"Oh… you're still here?" Eriri said, sounding a bit surprised.

"…"

Yuri's face turned black, feeling a surge of frustration rising within her. For a brief moment, she considered giving them a piece of her mind. But, of course, she lacked the courage to voice her thoughts aloud.

Even after hearing Athena's name, Yuri didn't make the connection to the mythological Athena. After all, many people named themselves after gods, and she hadn't sensed any divine power from the girl sitting beside Eriri.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Yuri refocused on the main issue at hand.

"So, Lady Eriri, your goal is really the Monkey King Sun Wukong?"

"Of course. Didn't Liliana already tell you that?"

"But…"

Before Yuri could finish her sentence, Eriri cut her off.

"I know what you're going to say. The seal isn't a problem. And as for your concerns—none of those disasters you're worried about will happen. It's just a monkey, after all. We can deal with him in a matter of seconds."

"Ka ka, that's right. Little girl, this whole matter isn't even worth considering a hassle for Eriri," Shinobu added with a laugh.

Faced with their dismissive attitude toward the Monkey King, Yuri found herself at a loss for words. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.

"Can I… trust you?" she finally asked, her voice uncertain.

In that moment, she forgot that her original task was simply to find out Liliana's purpose in coming to Japan. Her mission was complete—she just needed to report back to Amakasu. Now, her actions seemed driven by her own anxieties.

Just as Yuri asked her question, Liliana returned from checking out of the hotel. Though she had been several meters away, she had overheard the entire conversation.

"Hmph, Yuri, my lord is the most powerful being in the world. There's nothing she can't handle!"

"Lady Liliana…" Yuri sighed, looking at the girl who had once helped her. She felt a deep sense of helplessness.

It was clear to Yuri that she couldn't stop them from carrying out their plan. Resigned, she decided to trust Eriri's words and let things play out.

As the group prepared to leave the hotel, Yuri made a sudden decision.

"Lady Eriri, you mentioned needing breakfast, right? If you don't mind, I can prepare a meal for you. I'm quite confident in my cooking skills."

Yuri's family ran a fast-food chain, and both her father and grandfather were skilled in the culinary arts. Her mother even worked as an instructor at a cooking school. Growing up in such an environment, Yuri had developed exceptional cooking skills from a young age, often preparing meals for herself and her younger sister. Her talents in the kitchen rivaled those of professional chefs.

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