Unknown place, time ???
???: You two, give me your report.
??: My lord, my assistant has been in search of the old man who keeps the wind crystal, however, she discovered that a group of weaklings had two crystals in their hands, the crystal of mother earth and the crystal of eternal fire...
???: Did you get them back?
Shiro Hannya: Two of the custodians are not conventional, they were the ones who destroyed Jigoku, your fifth demon, o great lord...
???: Jigoku was an idiot, it was obvious that he would die for any hero that was in the way...
??: He wiped out almost the entire Hi no shita clan, but he ran into the current keeper of the Usui temple, Hekima Usui... likewise, she was accompanied by the last earth dragon of the hi no shita clan and a human from the another world...
???: It was to be expected that that idiot did not finish his job well, but tell me... Did you mention a human from the other world?...
Shiro Hannya: He did, that human is weak, but he has a brave heart, if they were to find the old man, he could become a potential risk for us...
???: That's stupid! Here nobody is a risk before my magnificence.
??: You are correct, lord Behemoth, I must mention that I have a plan...
Behemoth: Go ahead. I hear you.
??: They are still in the kingdom of Gingetsu, we can separate and assassinate them one by one, thus stealing the two crystals they have...
Behemoth: Well thought Asmodeus, you are a brilliant demon who knows how to manipulate people to the point that they lose their ethics and morals. Execute your plan as soon as possible and get rid of those insects.
Asmodeus: I appreciate the compliment, my master, we are retiring now to carry out the plan quickly, we will return with what you need and you will be satisfied with our work.
Behemoth: I do not expect less, Asmodeus.
The large figure and the silhouette of a slim woman disappear in the dark...
Asmodeus: Listen to me well, Shiro Hannya, your role is simple, take off your mask and mix between them, you will guide them away from the kingdom where I will finish them in the blink of an eye.
Shiro Hannya: Wouldn't it be more convenient for you to use your persuasion? If I take off the mask, the woman I am possessing will regain some control of the body...
Asmodeus: It is a risk that I am willing to take...
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Log of September 7, 1945
Our plans were delayed due to a blockage on our way, apparently, a storm left the road in deplorable conditions for our trip, so we had to stay in the kingdom a little longer, we will leave at dawn, so while, the knight that the queen assigned for our day gathered us in a place, with the style of a bar...
Shigeru: This is the Gingetsu bar, adventurers pay half the price of each drink!
Tokage: What are we doing here?
Shigeru: Well, I was surprised by your calmness when talking to Queen Margaret, you seem like unconventional adventurers, you made the queen ease fears, I respect that and we're going to be partners in this long trip, so I wanted to buy you a drink...
Tokage: Oh it's okay! So, I want the strongest drink in the house!
Hekima: I think I'll also ask for the same...
Shigeru: (his face showed concern) I won't not lie to you, the alcohol they prepare here is something strong, it could get you drunk in a matter of seconds...
Tokage: No problem! Hey, Giorgio, what are you going to want?
Giorgio: Huh... Do you have Jägermeister?
Employee: Sorry, we have never heard of a drink like this...
Giorgio: I see, well, give me the same thing that the two ladies asked for, please.
Tokage: Ladies? Don't be like a grandpa, we are all friends now so you can use our names!~
Hekima: (She turned her head in a friendly way) I agree, if we will be together in this walk then we should relate as colleagues.
Shigeru: Haha, I think the same. You can refer to me as you like...
The three of them made big smiles at me, however this does not change my way of thinking.
Giorgio: I apologize, but where I come from we respectfully refer to people, i can't deny my manners.
Employee: Here are your drinks.
The man who took note of our drinks arrived with four huge jars whose content was the specialty of the house, it had a color between brown and black in the sunlight, like a certain soda, I think it was the drink of the American Patriots... when tasting the drink, it had a somewhat salty taste, but interesting, in my war years I had not tried any other alcoholic drink than Jägermeister, so this was a surprise...
Tokage: (She didn't seem to be affected by alcohol at all) Would it be wrong to order this drink again?
Shigeru: (Who looked truly affected by the drink) No, go ahead, I invite the second round!
The rounds continued, as they progressed, the three of them were getting very drunk, literally they could barely stay conscious...
Tokage: (Who didn't even know what she was talking about) And then... I said... that chicken is not mine...
Shigeru: I lost count, how many drinks have we had?
Hekima: (Who looked more affected than the rest) Mr. Lombardi... Giorgio, how come you are not... not... drunk?
Giorgio: Very easy, do you remember the drink I mentioned?
Shigeru: Jäger... Jä...
Giorgio: * sigh * Jägermeister, the fact is that during the war, the army for which i served supplied this drink as an anesthetic to us. The fact is that in my quadrant we did not have medical personnel, so it was our only remedy to ignore the pain of the bullets, but it was almost impossible not to get drunk with something like that, so over time I had to adapt and endure the effects of alcohol or else i would die.
Hekima: (trying to get up) I think my head hurts...
The girl almost fell to the ground in her weak attempt to walk, but I held her firmly to avoid that, however I did not notice that we were left in a position where she was hanging from my arms...
Hekima: That was close...
Giorgio: The best thing would be for you to stay here while all of you lose the effects of alcohol.
Hekima: But before... p-please accept this as my thanks...
She gently pushed my lips against hers, but she lost the scale again, I grabbed her and put her back to her seat. I also made sure that Hekima did not do anything similar to her previous action, i was not willing to take advantage of a girl in a drunken state, nobody should.
While sitting with them, waiting for them to recover, a strange woman, dressed in a kimono approached me...
???: Would you allow me to sit next to you?
Giorgio: The seat is all yours, miss.
???: How polite, I like it, let me introduce myself, I am Shiro. May I have your name?
Giorgio: Giorgio Alessandro Lombardi Dallacosta, but you can refer to me as Giorgio.
Shiro: So you are one of those adventurers who is going to save the kingdom?
Giorgio: I don't consider myself an adventurer, but an outsider who wanted to support the cause to avenge his home... My life is not that important right now and i don't have nowhere to go...
Shiro: Your home was also affected?
Giorgio: That's right, whoever did it must pay for the hundreds of innocent lives he took from my hometown, those people had nothing to do with the confrontation that was taking place here.
Shiro: (The Hannya mask is losing control of the body, so the girl takes control in a limited way) That is horrendous, but if you are a human without abilities or powers, how do you plan to face it?
Giorgio: We will gather the crystals that are supposed to destroy the demon... I'm sure I'm useless against demons bit i'm willing to give my own life, because I'm not someone important....
Shiro: Aren't you afraid?
Giorgio: I have uncertainty about what will happen. But still, even at the cost of my life i will do whatever i can.
Shiro: (The demonic mask has regained control) If you are afraid do not do anything, only the heroes must act, they are not afraid of anything, why you do a favor to a place that has no relation to you?
Giorgio: Excuse me, miss, but you are wrong, heroism does not consist in lacking fear but in overcoming it. Also, may my death bring myself redemption for my mistakes.
Shiro: I see...
Giorgio: Similarly, there are people suffering here, that is something that I am not willing to contemplate... my life should be the prize for the end of that pain.
Shiro: From what I understand, these demons claim to belong to this earth for a longer time than humans, is it wrong to want to recover what is yours?
Giorgio: It is not, however, when it is claimed that something is yours but it is not, it is bad. The demons in their different mythologies, at least where I come from, are not of this world, so this land does not belong to them.
Shiro: And you tried to talk to them?
Giorgio: Of the two vague opportunities, I only discovered their contempt for humanity and to a certain extent, only my anger was awakened.
Shiro: And why would that be?
Giorgio: There are people who try to feel superior, they want to have something that makes them the pinnacle of existence and things are not like that, everyone should have the same goods, possibilities and freedoms.
Shiro: I think so... but I insist, why do you fight for a world that is not yours, a world full of vile people and affiliated with itself? A demon is not so different from those people, and has its own honor...
Giorgio: As a main point, I have nowhere to go... I will not bend my will to evil beings. In addition, just as there are atrocious people, there are also people who strive every day to give their best, people who strive to support others, people who you respect... people like them gave me opportunities to live and I'm grateful for that, even if i don't deserve it...
Shiro: You have nowhere to go? You despise your own life? Follow me, I can show you the right way...
Giorgio: No thank you, I am sorry to have this rudeness, but you lady, you have very misaligned ideals and I cannot absolutely trust that you know which path is suitable for me... anyway feel free to ask me if you need help.
Shiro: All right... pardon me sir but i have to go...
The woman stood up with an expression of annoyance, I had no idea that my words bothered her that much but I could not make up for the damage that was already done. The woman walked away, but hide beyond a house, it was strange...
At dusk, the three people who accompanied me regained consciousness and we returned to the inn and prepare for the start of the day.
End of the log...
Shiro Hannya: My attempts to confuse his mind and bring him here did not work.
Asmodeus: Your failure only served to collect information, I will forgive you for this occasion, so while we have to continue with plan B.
Shiro: As you wish my master, i shall prepare beasts, when they start heading towards wherever they went they will be overhelm by beasts and will have to divide to run for their lives...
Asmodeus: Excellent, that way i'll crush their little bodies until their last scream goes out.
To be continued...