Chapter 66: The Aztec Chief God and Her Questionable Taste
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I took a few hours of sleep and then woke up when the sun did. The filming began with breakfast, to my annoyance. I endured and told myself this was just how this game worked. Selling privacy was how this kind of show sold tickets.
After breakfast, we were given free time. We probably got ten minutes' worth of content with the filming. We're supposed to spend the rest of the day trying to make the other fifty minutes.
After breakfast, we went to roam the town a little. Looked around the local culture, met some foreigners, and had an overall good time trying to mingle with others.
"Ano, I-" Kengo Morimoto, the third-year senpai, was trying his luck on a local girl. His broken English seemed to charm the red-haired young lady.
We watched and laughed in the back as Mem-Cho recorded with her phone. That was a fun clip, I'm sure it would end up in the episode.
To our surprise, the ginger girl really took a liking to Kengo. Her name was Chloe, and she was a fan of Japanese culture. Once we told her about our show, she grew excited and decided to show us around the towns, which started with her own living quarters. She was pretty rich, it turned out—looks like Kengo struck gold.
"This is my hometown, I grew up here, but I don't live here anymore. I'll leave for my current home in California in a week." The girl, Chloe, explained as she showed us around.
We secretly patted Kengo on the back when she wasn't looking and soon we ventured deep into the island. There was a forest in this part with multiple mountains and caves, and the filming crew captured quite a nice scene.
However, the director came to Mem and whispered a plan. "Mem-Cho, you record on the phone. Since it's an adventure-type scenario, it's better to do a portrait shot. That'd give it a more real touch to the scene." The director said and the filming crew heaved a sigh. It seemed annoying to carry heavy cameras deep inside a forest, so they decided to stay behind and dumped all responsibilities on Memmy's shoulders.
"Wow, so responsible they are," Mem said with an annoyed grunt a few minutes after we left the crew behind, making me laugh. "Don't laugh. Help me take some shots."
"Yeah, sure," I agreed and took the phone from her. "Let's- ah."
"What's wrong?" Mem-Cho asked, raising an eyebrow at me.
My eyes locked on the scene ahead, there was a small cave opening at the bottom of a large green mountain. We were at the cave's entrance, led by the local girl.
My [Jade Perception] sensed a bunch of interesting mana signatures inside.
'Finally, Mermaid Meat.'
Er, I mean Mermaids. There were a bunch of Mermaids inside.
"It's nothing," I lied to Mem. "I'll record for now, this seems interesting."
"Thanks~" Mem tip-toed and kissed me on the cheek before she quickly ran ahead to gather with the group.
I stayed a few steps back, and one of the girls, Akane, slowed down to join me. She smiled, "Want help with the recording?"
"I'm fine, thanks." I smiled back and said. I looked ahead at the ginger girl, listening to her words carefully.
"This place is haunted, we locals believe," Chloe said. "At nighttime, strange sounds like songs come from here. There is a water path inside that connects to the sea, so it might be dolphins or some other fish, but we don't take the chance to go in. Occasionally, men are drawn inside by the songs and don't return for a few days at a time. When they do return, they are a lot skinnier and they also don't remember anything that happened inside. I don't suggest we go inside, but it should be an interesting story for your show."
Ah, so Sirens. Delicious.
At first, I half expected this girl to lure us inside, but she was really just giving us a tour instead. Good decision.
"We should head inside," I suggested just as everyone turned to me. They wore two different expressions, part of the group was excited and another part looked skeptical. "She said the songs happen at nighttime, so it should be fine since it's still daytime."
I lied. There were Mermaids, or Sirens more accurately, inside right now. With their enhanced hearing, they should be able to make a run for it by the time we reach there, but I was hoping to take at least a silhouette. That'd help start some controversies which would help me in the long term to expose the existence of magic in this world.
"I, uh, don't think that's a good idea," Chloe rubbed the back of her head. "Even if it's not some ghost or Siren inside, it can be dangerous if it's a scary fish."
"It's fine, we'll manage," I insisted.
"Why do you want to endanger us when we already had a situation in Fuji?" To my annoyance, Sen Kaibara stepped into the conversation.
This guy…
"Come on, it's going to be fun. What's the worst that can happen anyway?" Mem-Cho raised a red flag in an attempt to support me.
Silence fell on the area as we pondered what to do. In the end, I was about to open my mouth to agree, but right then a person dropped from the mountain above.
The figure dropped from very high above, though thanks to the trees that obscured the view, the others must think they were just around the corner. But I knew the truth as long blonde hair flickered across the air and the person dropped to their feet.
"Whoo!" The woman cheered and looked up, shooting her hair to the side and shooting us a grin. "What are you kids doing so deep in the forest?"
"Whoa…" the kids couldn't hold back a gasp of appreciation at the beauty of the woman.
She had long blonde hair coupled with her jewel-like green eyes that went well with her emerald gem chin piercing. She wore a sleeveless shirt and countless emerald gems on her hair, fingers, and wrists. She looked like a modern Mexican Goddess.
[Image Here]
A few of the kids, namely Sen Kaibara, even had to quickly cover his pants with his hands. I shouldn't judge since he was the youngest guy here.
'A real jade beauty,' I couldn't help but think. Normally, I would have snickered to myself, but my senses didn't let me.
I also stood frozen but for a reason much different from the kids. I recognized her, that face, right away. If my memory isn't playing tricks, that was Quetzalcoatl, from Fate Grand Order.
My [Jade Perception] notified me that the appearance wasn't the only thing they had in common. I could sense this woman's Dragon powers; the imminent aura she had as a Chief God.
I suppressed my [Tiger Icon] from acting up in response to her presence, as I also realized that this was the same dragon I saw under the sea last night. No wonder it was such a strong creature.
But what is the Aztec Chief God doing in the mortal world like this?
She laughed as if she enjoyed our silently stunned expression, "This cave isn't safe for you kids, listen to what the locals say. Even if… some of you would be fine, the others might not." She looked at the non-magical kids and then shot a look particularly directed towards me. She blinked and then gasped, and I could tell it was fake. "Hey, I know you!"
Huh? Shit, did she recognize me from last night? She shouldn't since I hid myself in time, but…
"You kids are from that Japanese show!" She yelled like an excited little girl, with her hands clasped. "I am a fan!"
Oh.
What?
…Why the hell would a Chief God ever watch a kids' dating show?!
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The cave, or maybe the mountain– well, perhaps the entirety of Hawaii as a whole, was under her protection. That's why she didn't allow us outsiders to go bother the Sirens inside the cave. We had no other choice but to listen to her and leave the forest.
Of course, Quetzalcoatl came out with us. The others didn't mind her at all, and once we reunited with the filming crew, they didn't see a problem either. No, instead, they looked happy to have a mega-beauty on the episode. Greedy bastards.
None of them realized that, if provoked, this large woman could dismantle Hawaii in a matter of seconds.
"Are you a local, madam?" Deciding to figure out her true motives myself, I went to her and spoke in clear English.
The others were buying ice cream from a vendor nearby, while I and Quetzalcoatl stood a bit far from them. She was staring at the sea when I approached and talked to her.
"Oh," she turned to me, revealing a very charming smile. "I guess you can say that. I'm a local to all the nearby regions. These days it's mostly Mexico."
Okay, I have to admit she's beautiful. Hm, should I hit on her? Will she cave my head into the floor if I try my luck?
"You are strong," she suddenly said, with her emerald eyes glinting. "I didn't expect this when I was watching the show."
"Uh, I see." I was at a loss for words. Well, not really. I wanted to say a lot, as much as my Tiger side wanted to clash with her, my Venerable part wished to humiliate her, and my Sorcerer side wanted to see her giggle and then some more. I wasn't sure what to say about the many things I wanted to say.
"You're strong too," I finally decided that was the response I should go with. And it was true, she was much stronger than both Bishamon and Sapphire.
Oddly enough, she raised an eyebrow at that, as if I shouldn't be able to tell how strong she is.
"Interesting, you can feel my strength?" She laughed. "How much exactly? Don't answer that. Tell me, what faction do you belong to?"
"Nexus of Eternity," I told her the name of my Sect, earning another curious look. "Not very popular, I imagine, but I am not making it up."
"Must be a strong group if such a young member of it is this strong," she put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing suddenly.
Is this harassment?
"Now this is odd. I came here for an autograph, you know? But now I'm meeting a Demigod instead of the cute young man." She said in a pondering tone.
"Well, that's how acting works," I told her as I endured her squeeze, which was strong enough to melt steel. "And I can still give you the autograph you came here for. I can write it anywhere you want, with any kind of… ink, too."
"..." She stared at me. Then she let go of my shoulder and began to giggle. "You can't be serious. That is a bad pickup line."
And it worked if you're giggling. "Is it? I'll keep that in mind. But, who are you anyway?"
She stopped laughing and looked into my eyes with a smile. "It's better the less you know of the details."
"You said you're a local of Mexico, and you called me a DemiGod yet you act casual. Which means you're at a position where meeting a Demigod doesn't bother you, so that means you are a God yourself, a Mexican one," I said, acting as if I was a detective. The act reminded me of my Sorcerer days.
"Hmm, since it's Mexico, you're a part of the Aztec Pantheon? You have beautiful blonde hair and green eyes, it doesn't ring much of a bell. But your emerald eyes are silted and your tongue is super long, don't ask when I noticed, so you are most likely a Snake-type Goddess. And you were protecting the Sirens in the cave, so you have a good relationship with the sea. So you are a serpent that doesn't mind salt water. You are also physically super strong. All of these narrow down the snake-type Goddesses from the Aztecs by a lot. In that case, let's see… Quetzalcoatl?"
The woman simply stared at me with her smile ever gentle. The glint in her eyes found the guessing game amusing as she let out a short chuckle.
"Charming analysis. I shall not lie as a sign that I am impressed. Yes, I am the Chief God of Aztecs, the Feathered Serpent." She said and let out a bit of pressure. I didn't bulge, making her raise an eyebrow. "I expect people to bow around this time, but I'll let it pass since you're not my subject and I like you."
"Sure. Why watch Japanese teen reality romance, by the way?" I asked suddenly and saw her arrogant face freeze. "Kind of creepy, not gonna lie, for someone who is most likely thousands of years old." Her face went red and she avoided my eyes, looking to the side and suddenly her fingers began to play with her hair.
"Just curiosity," she said, making me hum.
"You just said you like me. I am 15."
"...."
"And you were just squeezing me until a moment ago."
I stared at her. The Chief God couldn't find her words. A minute later, she drew out a breath, her jaw stuttering. Funny that this woman could punch me and send me flying from one country to another.
"I…"
As if to save her, the kids returned with ice cream and looked at us.
"Hey, what's the heavy atmosphere? Chill with some ice cream!" Mem interrupted us by giving both of us two cones.
I accepted it with a snicker while the Chief God did so while shooting me a dirty look.
'It's cute when strong women are flustered.'
The sun soon rose in the high sky, and the main part of the episode began. All of us changed into swimsuits, even Quetzalcoatl, as the beach episode truly began.
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