| SPARKLE SONG - "Entertaining" | HalaCG (Honkai Star Rail) [Official MV] #MultiverseVistas
A bit more time passed by after a certain cat decided to visit the late lord in his residence.
Within a completely unrelated izakaya (essentially a pub), not even in the same domain, a relaxed atmosphere developed despite being bustling as everyone enjoyed their time after work. Most of the people there were those who worked hard labour or crafted. As such they didn't have much energy to waste on being rowdy.
At least that was the case for most as there was one particular corner where most of the noise was coming from. They couldn't be quite sure if it was a man or woman since their face was covered by the rim of the hat they wore. Their voices were beautiful but androgynous as they sang songs no one recognised.
To be more accurate; it wasn't that they hadn't heard the songs before in their small community but instead that they couldn't understand the very words spoken. A language they didn't hear. In fact they did not even recognise the language however they didn't find that particularly unusual.
No one even really found it troublesome as it was almost refreshing due to being new and the singer being far from incompetent.
One had to wonder if they'd think the same if they knew the meaning of the song.
"My legs are dangling off the edge~♪
The bottom of the bottle is my only friend~♪
I went 'n' slit my wrists again~♪
And I'm gone, gone, gone, gone~♪"
Regardless, the mystery figure was left by their lonesome as they sat by the door to be as far away from any of the service areas as possible.
The upbeat tune (even if not in meaning) was enjoyable enough for nobody to judge that the figure used a hand mirror to study their own face. In their other hand was a simple brush that they dipped into white face paint all in order to apply to their face. Specifically focusing on their eye & mouth from the positioning.
Legs resting on the table as they used their closeness to the wall as back support.
Of course this song did little to dissuade others from discussing various topics. Some were the usual boring stuff revolving around their various professions; from the rising cost of materials to the growth of the crops this year making food costs go down. There was one topic that made the singer's head rise.
"Did you hear about the problem down by the sea city just due east?"
One man asked another as he took a small white bottle to pour into a white bowl - soon placing the bottle down to pick up the bowl instead.
In his place the other man at the table took it to pour himself another drink.
"Oh yea, I did hear about that, huge series of explosions happened throughout the city so the government is now looking into it potentially being an attack from those cowardly Koreans."
Putting the bottle down with a clack without realising that the singing had stopped.
The first to speak took his sip from his cup only to meet the eyes of his friend with a clear knowing smirk only barely being hidden behind it.
"That's what they want you to think-"
"Here we go again!"
"Nah, nah, nah this one is for real!"
That first man tried to convince her companion by leaning into the table with his arm resting on the table and began to slap it repeatedly. Though his companion didn't seem to believe him. Merely shaking his head as he enjoyed his drink for a moment before stating his well founded thoughts.
"You said that about your last conspiracy, what was it, there being 5 major and hundreds of smaller ninja villages that use the power of chi to use magic?"
"It's chakra and ninjutsu but enough of that; this one is definitely true!"
"Go on then."
Nonchalantly waving his hand as if telling his friend just to get on with it - no intention of evening trying to stop that conspiracy crazed friend of his.
"Well we both know that there was destruction that went from one side of the city to the lords manor but a friend of mine said that this is where it gets strange. The destruction started from inside the lords manor rather than the outer wall. So chances of it being an attack from outside are… Unlikely."
Leaning forward as even the one who promised himself not to listen to this nonsense couldn't help perk up an ear at his words. Eyes drifting towards the smirking Japanese man. A carpenter by trade who most certainly serviced more than a few carts that travelled to that city in his time.
This is where things get really interesting… Months before any of this happened, shortly after the previous lord died to unknown causes, the entirety of the old manor was completely abandoned. Even those rich ladies didn't take more than a handful of belongings!"
"That's impossible unless-"
"Unless there was something scary enough inside the manor to make them not think twice; it also just so happens that proof of such a thing exists. Since they left with just their clothes on their back that meant all the wealth of the city was left behind. A city can't last long like that, can it?"
"Yea so what happened?"
Not even realising he had already been dragged into the story which made his friends smile grow wider while both ignored the looming shadow behind the one telling the story.
"At first the lord made dealings with the local gangs then the yakuza, rinsing the lower class for everything they were worth, but that wasn't sustainable. Didn't bring in nearly enough since those guys were already poor as it was. So the lord sent his strongest samurai into the old manor to raid the vault…"
"..."
".."
"..."
"..."
"Well?"
"Well the thing is… He only came back out with a small bag of coins and injuries!"
"What does that even mean?"
"It means… The old lord became a vengeful spirit who refuses to give anything to the bastard son who may have had a hand in his death. His connections with the underground are now obvious. However, that new lord must have called in some shinto priests or something, causing that spirit to run away!"
Throwing his hands out wide as his friend's face grew past disbelieving to become straight up disinterested as he turned away in favour of refilling his drink.
"Fine be th-"
"I'm quite interested in your story and specifically where that spirit may be~."
An androgynous sing-song voice echoed out from right behind the storyteller; causing him to jump from his seating position to look towards the source.
There stood the one who had previously been singing merrily - their true height towering over all the other people in the izakaya. Their tall figure caused the man to be nervous. However he soon broke out of that at the realisation that it was probably just a freakishly tall girl that was interested in his story.
He wasn't opposed to trying out his luck so looked at the "girl" lecherously.
"What can you offer me in return, my information is valuable, and not sure you have much on you."
Their clothes seemed to actually be worth quite a lot however a carpenter like him obviously wouldn't know much about that. He was more focused on the fact that she was sitting there singing. Not someone wealthy would do in his opinion.
"I can offer sweet release~♪"
"Wha- ARGH!"
Interrupted by the sounds of his screams as that sadistic wanderer reached down to interlock fingers in a seemingly flirtatious manner. Yet, before he could reach, they twisted their hands to dislocate all of his fingers in a brutal fashion. A move that took an unrealistic level of strength.
"Y-YOU BITCH, DO YOU THINK YOU'D JUST GET AWAY WITH THAT!"
He screamed while cradling his hands in his chest, nevertheless, that sadist just offered a punchable smirk as they pushed their hat up. Revealing their mouth to be a half ashen frown & half white smile. Soon revealing pearly white teeth in the makings of what should have been a beautiful smile.
"Well I judged that nobody would pay any attention to us~♪"
"Are you-"
His desire to question that obviously stupid statement was cut off as he looked around to see that not even his own friend paid attention. Instead focusing on enjoying his drink. Making him miss as that terrifying cough up some crimson mist that they promptly wiped away with the back of their hand.
"Just you and me now~♪"
To the man's horror; he turned around just to see a hand reaching towards him.
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Within the centre of the village, with a weary sigh, the local doctor stepped up from the skiness flayed corpse that lay in front of him. Only his face was left untouched. One may think it was to make the body easier to identify but the horrified face showed that it was more likely to be for amusement's sake.
Wiping blood from his hands as he turned to look towards the guards.
"I judge there was no chance for it to be anything but natural causes."
His choice of words obviously weird even if one ignored the actually declared such a scene of cruel torture as a natural death.
What was stranger was the agreement everyone had with him.
"Truly a shame but there is nothing we can do."
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Evidently they were a terrifying monster of multiple talents.
After learning everything that the carpenter knew and sending the man on his merry way to the afterlife (even if they chose to take their time in doing so) they began their hunt.
Fortunately that supposed spirit wasn't exactly difficult to track as they made sure to leave a good trail of destruction behind themself. Catching up may have been a problem if not for slurping up all those peoples' spirits when he first was born. Thinking of their screams caused the bastard to lick his lips.
"I could really do with another self care session~♪"
"GrAwR!"
In his left hand he held the paw of that fearsome beast to reveal that it was kind of shaped like a bear if it was drawn by a little kid. That undead bear did try to swipe it's other paw at the "man" however he just batted it aside. Slapping it away like one would do to an annoying cat.
"Now, let's talk about you. I admit that I heard the term "spirit" and couldn't help running in hopes to find an old friend of mine. Yet instead I find a big bastard like you who is closer to an undead corrupted by demonic energy but perhaps we could help each other out~?"
All they got as a response was another growl as it seemed that the bear was far more confident than when it first found someone who challenged its might. That masked face dripped with saliva as it tried to reach its mouth forward to consume the arrogant human. Although the real monster easily stopped its head.
Reaching forward to grab its face.
"Fine… I'll just see what is under here~!"
Hand tensing moments before they pulled their arm back with flare; tearing that mask with so much ease that it became reminiscent of a plucking a berry from the stalk.
If not for the monster's pension for drama.
"Y-you underestimate me as I can't die to mere morals!"
"Should have guessed there was a human face under the mask, just makes sense, but what makes you think that not dying is beneficial~?"
His lips curled up as even that immortal beast couldn't help trembling while attempting to scurry away with that man surprisingly letting them do just that. The evil spirit was so confused that he let it go. Although the man just shook his head while lifting his hands in a shrug.
"I think we have a lot to learn from each other; you are a man-eating monster and I just love to see people suffer in endless despair. Why do we need to even be enemies? The only thing I want to do is meet with a friend who has a six or so month advantage on me; it depends on the gestation time of cats."
That strange comment about cats caught that beast's attention only for that Monster to suddenly slap them aside with such force that they found themselves rolling across the floor.
Initially thought they'd been tricked however turning around revealed the truth.
A man in black robes stood with their neck within the grasp of the Monstrous being who looked amused as his gaze fell upon a simple looking katana.
Their gaze not turning away even as the strange human spirit moved their hand in a strange motion at the same time as forcing out a strange chant. For a moment the lord wanted to warn the monster however the instincts of a hollow told him better. Whoever that tall man was…
He wasn't human, shinigami or hollow.
He was a manifestation of hell itself.
"Push back, repel the vile knave! Hadou #1 Sho!"
A sudden gust of energy came out from the black robed "human" as they finished their strange movements by thrusting their hand towards the monster in human skin. At that moment the terrifying entity felt their attempt to make their body freeze. The human spirit took advantage of that to escape.
Grabbing their sword and jumping away before pointing their weapon back at the monster
"Are you a quincy who has sided with hollow?!"
Their question was met by an innocent tilt of the head which the Shinigami didn't pay attention to the terrifying meaning behind it.
"No matter; I'll just take your body back with me to the Seierietei after I slay you both!"
"Interesting~♪"
That Shinigami didn't even realise when but their own weapon ended up in the hands of that man who then thrust it through the back of their lower spine. The soul reaper unable to begin comprehending when that monster even approached let alone stole his own weapon. A smile gracing that bastards mouth.
"Perception is a scary thing when I judge it to be~♪"
Lifting that bloody sword up in front of his face as all three of them watched real time as it changed.
"Converting your own spirit into a weapon so it'll take on unique properties as well as it's own consciousness according to both your mind & soul. Creating a perfect weapon for yourself. Truly an impressive feat from a bunch of weaklings jehehehe~♪"
The grin of the bastard growing to become like a wolf who had secured its prey as that plain katana straightened into an english bastard sword. It still had the Japanese detailing but the sword itself could no longer be called a katana. A fact that caused the Shinigami to shudder in fear.
"H-how did you instantly unlock shikai?!"
"Ah~ yes, that is indeed what it is called according to this silly little weapon of mine, but I'm afraid this is still a sealed state of great grandeur~!"
Skillfully spinning the bastard sword in his hand as the blade almost seemed to glow with heavenly light.
It was that which made the dead feduel lord made up his mind
"I may know where your friend is…"
"And the day keeps getting better~♪"