"Ahem!"
Chrysus woke up and we transferred this girl to another room. This room looked more like a throne room to me. It looked far cleaner and well-kept than the one Chrysus and I fought in.
The girl was now sitting on the throne, clearing her throat and crossing her legs.
"I am so sorry!"
She bowed her head.
"Oh no, it's fine. I mean, I did look like a completely different person."
Due to my cosplay.
"But I do have some questions."
I looked over at Chrysus, who was at her side.
Seemed like she was his master. A girl like that controlling a Seraph...
"First, let me introduce myself. I'm Mashiro, spelt with the kanji for truth, 真, and with the kanji for white, 白."
She announced with a grand smile.
"This suit of armour next to me is Chrysus, she's my attendant."
"She?!"
Ah, I voiced my thoughts out loud.
"S-sorry, when we were fighting I had been referring to Chrysus as a man."
I apologised.
"I don't blame you since she's always covered in armour but that's to seal her power."
I nodded.
So, if Chrysus had fought with her armour unsealed, then I would've been killed. That's a good thing.
Chrysus turned to Mashiro; she gave Chrysus her ear.
"Chrysus says that she went all out with her power sealed that fight and you won. She said she had fun."
"I guess... I can say that I had fun too."
I enjoyed that last part more than anything, though it was a battle to the death.
"Okay, Mashiro, I have some questions."
The girl nodded.
"Firstly... I don't want to make this sound weird but... What are you?"
"You mean my ears, don't you? I'm what'd you'd call a yōkai."
"A yōkai? So, you're not human?"
She shook her finger.
"I was human. I've been alive for a long time and in this incarnation, I just so happened to be born in a yōkai's body. I'm a kitsune and I can take human form and talk."
I nodded.
That explains her ears. They're not cat ears but fox ears.
"Next question, why did you summon me here and what is this place?"
Mashiro blushed and grinned.
"Well, I summoned you here because I wanted to meet you, Shoya! I've been watching you since there's nothing to do here. All I can say is that you're so cool! I mean, the burden of being the Black Emperor was pushed upon you only two months ago and now, you're stronger than almost anyone! That's why I love you!"
The girl spoke grand words toward me. I felt slightly touched. Though that 'I love you,' I won't be able to return.
"What is this place then?"
"Oh, this place is a dungeon."
I stayed silent for a second.
"A dungeon?!"
"Yeah. It's the Miasma Dungeon, or its other name is White Halloween. As the name suggests, it's only open on Halloween and I can teleport anyone of my choice here or the dungeon does it for me."
"So, you teleported me?"
"Yup, and because I did, I can leave the dungeon whenever I want now."
That must've been lonely. Now I can tell why she didn't want me to kill Chrysus. Not that I could.
"Next question, what is Chrysus?"
"Chrysus..."
The golden armour bowed. Mashiro sighed.
"Chrysus is a primal creature called a Seraph. They've been bestowed special powers by God. There are 7 in the world, including Chrysus."
How powerful is Chrysus truly? I mean, she was able to match my best with her sealed best. If there are 6 others like her, I guess they're all monsters.
I wonder if any Emperors could take on a full-power Seraph.
"Is that all?"
"Yeah. Those are all the questions. At least the ones I can think of from the top of my head."
I said, rubbing my non-existent beard.
"Now, my turn to ask questions!"
Mashiro shouted, almost falling out of her seat. Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks became red.
"Oh, okay. That makes it fair, I guess."
I said.
"What's your name?"
"Shoya Sasaki."
"Age?"
"16."
"Height?"
"5'9."
"Favourite colour?"
"Black."
"Crush?"
"WHAT ARE THESE QUESTIONS?!"
I shouted.
"Are you interviewing me for a job or something?! Why are you asking about my height and age?"
"Why? Because I want to know more about you. Isn't that natural for someone who loves someone else?"
"What? Aren't you like... old?"
"My overall age is 7,679."
"So what's your body's age?"
"15."
She's the same age as Kei physically.
I sighed.
"Instead of asking me, why don't you find out for yourself?"
The fox girl tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
"You've never been to the outside world, right?"
"Not since 7,000 years ago, no."
"Then, in early March, there'll be an Altheria Academy entrance exam."
Mashiro furrowed her eyebrow.
"Altheria Academy? Isn't that the school you go to?"
I nodded.
"If you pass that, in April, you will go and learn at the school as a first-year."
"I'll be able to go to the same school as you?"
"Yeah."
Anyone else would've thought that I wanted to ask her on a date. I already have Anastasia and Akane on my tail, I don't need another. For now. Not that I'm saying that I would date Mashiro. She looks like Kuro so I'd feel weird if I did.
"That's not a bad idea..."
I heard her mutter to herself.
"Chrysus!"
She shouted and Chrysus bowed in front of her.
"Find out all you can about the outside world."
Then, Chrysus dashed away.
"You know, I could always help you--"
I felt my pocket for my phone but I couldn't find it. I patted myself all over my body and yet I still couldn't find it.
"No..."
I groaned.
"What is it?"
"I lost my phone..."
God, I got that phone as a graduation present from middle school. Ai-nee will kill me.
"Electronic devices don't work in dungeons."
Oh, really... We still haven't learnt about dungeons so I know nothing about them.
"Well, Shoya, it's been fun meeting you. I'm sure the next time we meet, we'll both be students."
She smirked.
Suddenly, a violet magic circle appeared under me. It slowly became brighter and brighter.
"See you in April, Shoya!"