I release a sigh and open my eyes. I can see the entire underground tomb has changed. It has been three days since I got the Gate of Babylon, and I never thought this place would be like this. Plants bloom, and I can see creatures flying around them.
"What are those?"
"They are Gaia's Eyes. They are some kind of spirit that is tied to the world. They are not very powerful, but they are very sneaky. Not only that, they can suck the blood out of humans without them noticing once they latch their body into their target."
"What's with all the blood-sucking creatures?"
"Because blood is very rich with pure mana, and Gaia needs them. A large portion of those mana will go to Gaia. That is why most creatures of Gaia are blood-sucking creatures."
"Right."
As expected from the Nasuverse. They might have the best waifu selection, but their world is dangerous, maybe even more so than DxD. DxD, as long as you are not entering the hub of the supernatural world, you are good. Here? Even a civilian is not safe because all of the magus are merciless, and the creatures of this world that roam freely are blood-sucking creatures.
"Anyway, we should probably go to Japan now. Even though the Gate of Babylon is empty, I want to fill it up immediately."
"What about UBW?"
"It is more mana-consuming than GOB. I will only use it in an emergency."
"Good choice. Also, you are right. Gaia agrees that I should create a workshop here, and I need to borrow some of my apprentice gems to build the basics. Let's go to Fuyuki."
He opens a portal, and we walk through it. As we step through the portal, I immediately flinch at the stench of curse emanating from the ground and the air.
"Holy shit. Just how this place is not purged?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you not feel the curse from the air and the land?"
Zelretch frowns and focuses. After a few seconds, he looks at me and says.
"How can you feel that subtle curse?"
"Subtle? To me, this entire city reeks. I thought you were taking me to a dumpster or something."
"I need to investigate it. However, first things first. Oi, Rin! How long do you want to stand there and not greet your master?!"
I look to the side and see Rin standing in front of a mansion. She walks forward and bows.
"Greetings, Master Zelretch and Lord Ryan."
"Do you hear all of that?"
"Yes, master."
"Then, can you feel it?"
"No. I cannot sense the curse without the help of specialized tools."
Zelretch nods his head and says.
"That means this is related to Angra Mainyu. Even though he is not the real deal, he almost reached Godhood, and that must be the reason. Anyway! I need to investigate this matter. Take care of him. Tell Shirou to cook. Ryan would love eating his cooking."
"Of course, master."
And with that, Zelretch is gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|3rd POV|
Rin doesn't know what to do. She quickly leaves her home and walks to Shirou's home hastily. At first glance, Ryan looks like a regular man. However, as a magus, she knows that he is anything else but regular.
Even after Ryan holds back his mana as far as he can, the one leaking from him makes Rin nervous because it is two times the amount of what she has in her entire body.
Combined with the fact that she watches him doing his sage duty, she already knows what Ryan is capable of doing.
After Zelretch leaves her mansion, she quickly asks Ryan to wait in the living room, and she is relieved that he is a reasonable person. She encounters many nobles, and most of them are assholes. You cannot say anything but give a flowery speech to them, or they will mark you as an enemy.
"Rin?"
Rin snaps from her thoughts and looks to the side. She can see Shirou with Sakura and Rider while carrying groceries.
"Shirou! Perfect! You need to come with me!"
She grabs him and starts to drag him.
"Woah! Woah! Why are you pulling me? Did I do something?"
"There is an important guest at my home, and I need you to cook food for him."
"I don't think I can do that, Rin. I need to feed Taiga before she gets even angrier. For some reason, she is in a bad mood."
"This is more important! Do you know the person that we met in Zelretch's office? He is in my home."
Shirou looks at her in understanding and says.
"Ah. But why me?"
"Look, it was the recommendation of Master Zelretch, okay? When he says something like that with that serious tone, you don't ignore it."
Shirou looks at Sakura and Rider, who nod their heads. Sakura smiles and says.
"You go ahead, senpai. I will be the one cooking tonight. Ah! Please bring Rider with you. She can help you cook."
Sakura already knows about the man and worries about Shirou's well-being no matter how Rin tells her that this man is not dangerous if she does not do something to him. However, she is still worried and hopes Rider can take Shirou and her sister away from danger if the worst happens.
Rider nods her head in understanding and says.
"Leave him to me, master. I shall protect him."
Rin rubs the bridge of her nose and says.
"Just don't start anything. This is probably the most important thing for me and the rest of Japan."
Shirou looks at her with concern and says,
"What do you mean, Rin?"
"Angra Mainyu's curse is still around the city and seeps into the land underneath us. At the moment, Zelretch and Lord Ryan are fixing that problem for us."
"Is there anything I can help?"
"Not at this, no. I cannot even feel the curse. Can you smell the curse with your nose, Shirou?"
Shirou frowns and focuses on his surroundings. After a few seconds, he sighs and says.
"No. I cannot smell or feel the curse."
"And that is why you cannot help in this situation. For now, help me make something for the guests to eat."
"Fine. Let's go."