We reach the church and are greeted by a priest, probably one of the surviving ones. He looks glad seeing Gio but he didn't exactly spare me any glance.
"I'll go take a look around." I say to Gio and leaves.
Hmm… Investigations… Never really been a fan of them but back in my previous life, if I want to survive, I have to be able to do it.
Hey Slayer, do you think I can use
[Answer. It depends on the host.]
Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.
I enter the church and I immediately see the damage. If my calculations are correct, it has been a month since the abduction, but the place doesn't look like its ready to be renovated. Maybe because it's still under investigation.
Still seems very wrong though.
Activate
Opening my eyes, I can see auras, or at least residues of them. Using those auras, I can pinpoint to at least what kind of creature we're up to.
Dark red... dark red auras with flecks of black in them…
Demons?
So we're really up against demons? Why would they abduct nuns and teenagers? And kill priests?
Well those priests are probably not exactly normal priests either, but still.
Hmm? I can see another aura… I've only seen them quite a few times ever since I arrived in Japan. Well, I probably won't be able to see them fully even if I want to since they seem to avoid me at all cost.
I can see the residual aura of a yokai, no, should be plural, I can sense multiple ones in here.
So does that mean demons and yokais are working together? Aren't demons generally called yokais in Japan? But somehow, the demon I can sense through the residue feels… out of place – for the lack of word.
"Hmm? A visitor?"
Who-? How did he get so close without me sensing him with my perception?
"Ah, so you're one of them. I thought you're one of the regular kids, I suppose I'm mistaken.
The boy who just popped up all of a sudden looks the same age as me, I mean physically. He has a bundle of white daffodil flowers in his hands and he has the strangest set of eyes and hair; purple and white respectively.
"Who are you?" I ask, my guard obviously rising up with his sudden appearance.
"I'm someone who lives around here. I'm a regular worshiper of this church."
"Don't you think you should pray somewhere else considering the state of this place?"
What is he smiling about? There's also something off about his smile. It's almost like… a sad smile.
"I think with the church like this, now is the time to be here even more."
There's totally something off about the kid. For one, and which I'm certain, he's not human. My
"Who are you? No, what are you?"
He only smiles and it's really unnerving. I can sense no ill intent from him and that's what making it even more unsettling.
In a blink of an eye, he's suddenly in front of me with a hand on my jaw. His eyes are on mine and I can't seem to move away from his gaze.
"You're the host of the Heart of the Primordial?"
How does he even know that?
"I just do. After all, the Heart is a big thing on our side."
Eh?
"You… did I say that out loud?"
"On the contrary, I can read your mind."
Shit.
"It's not good to curse in the presence of an Archangel of the Lord."
The what of the who now? Is this guy serious?
"It seems like things are about to become interesting."
"What are you-"
"Listen vessel,"
"My name is April."
"Fine. Listen April, the servants of the Lord does not take kindly to our human retainers as well as the innocent being taken. Unfortunately, we do not have much power in this country after all you have your Shinto gods. We can only rely on this country's means of dealing with something like this."
Just who is this guy?
"I told you, I'm-"
"Please stop reading my mind. Don't you know the term 'privacy'?"
What is he laughing at?
"I am an Archangel, I can take a peek at a person's mind on a whim, but if that is what you wish then fine. But you have to help the Paladin in solving this mystery and save the ones taken."
Is he serious? Isn't that what I'm here for? Well Shizu and Nik too.
"This is something more than just a mere abduction."
"I kind of figured that out since there's a residue of demon and yokai auras. As for why they're doing this, you think you can give us a hint?" I question.
"Unfortunately I can't. Even I don't know what is really going on. You'll figure it out anyway. And isn't this a good thing? You become stronger the more enemies you defeat, right?"
How did he know that? Nobody knows that. Not even Sylvia and Klint know that. Does Sakura-nee know it as well? I'm pretty sure I never told her but considering the kind of person she is I won't let that pass her.
"I know a lot, but not as much as you think. I do know you're the host of the Heart of the Primordial."
"I-"
"You want to know what the Heart of the Primordial is."
Yes.
"Succeed in this and I'll tell you a hint that can get you started. Maybe I can even tell you why April Nera has become April Frost."
I am speechless. This boy, no he called himself an Archangel of the Lord, probably holds the answer to my questions.
"It will be dangerous but it's part of the journey, don't you think?"
"Seriously, who the hell are you?"
"I am a servant of Heaven dear one, do not use the word Hell on me."
Is he going to answer my question or not?
"My name is Metatron. And I can't wait to see what kind of events I will have to transcribe because of you."
There's suddenly a blinding light and I have no other choice but to close my eyes or else my eyeballs will burn. The faint voice of Metatron lingers, "Be aware of the patterns little one."
When I open my eyes, I'm alone inside the church, like there was no one but me in the first place, but the daffodil flowers arranged neatly on the altar looks suspiciously the same as the flowers Metatron had in his hands.
What did he mean by be aware of the patterns? That does not make any sense.
And wait… Did I just get the attention of a super powerful being? This is not going to turn out into something troublesome right?
Ugh. Did I just raise flags for myself?