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«Can you really turn people into demons? Like forever?!
«Yeah, we, uh.
«Please! - Ichika stood up and made a ninety degree bow. - Make me part of your entourage!
Emeric rubbed the bridge of his nose. He had assumed, of course, that the recruitment would go well, but why did the situation seem wrong?
«Maybe," Emeric signaled for Akeno to sit the girl down. - We'll tell you the whole story first? Doesn't it bother you that you'll turn into a demon? As if, - he couldn't even find the words. - Doesn't it bother you that demons are known for eating people's souls?
«Oh," Ichika rounded her eyes. - You eat other people's souls?!
«No it's...
«Then make me part of your entourage!
«... out of fashion," he decided to ignore her for now. - It's already, you know, um, not cool....
«King," Valerie addressed him. - Can't you see that this dumbass isn't listening to you?
«What did you say?!
«So you're deaf, too? - The queen smiled mockingly. - Let's see, you're as dumb as you are deaf, and a total wimp. King, are you sure we need her on the team?
«You got a problem, goat? - Ichika furrowed her eyebrows menacingly.
«What did you say?!
Emeric sighed. Apparently, he had really underestimated the overall impact of their opposing artifacts. Like ice and flame, Ichika and Valerie instantly started bickering, though the latter had never suffered from such a thing. In similar situations, Valerie preferred to silently start pissing on people she didn't like.
After pairing up with Akeno to calm the raging couple, Emeric began to bring Hiedo up to speed.
«Ichika, you don't mind me calling you by your first name, do you? That's fine," Emeric nodded at her confused confirmation.
Those Japanese with their sensitive attitude to names. And these eternal honorifics with their annoying "san", "kun", "huyun". As a kid, watching various anime shows, it all seemed cool and self-sufficient, but at a more mature age he realized this cultural layer of differences, which he just stupidly did not want to observe. His limit was "sensei" for teachers.
«So, Ichika, have you re-invoked your artifact yet?
«Ah! - Ichika slapped her fist on her palm. - Right! What's his, there," she hovered for a second. - The sacred Carburetor!
«Sacred Mechanism! - Valerie exploded.
«Who cares?! - Ichika was also, on some subconscious level, venting her aggression on Valerie. Maybe it's also their dragon essence at play? - I don't know about computers!
«What do computers have to do with it, you idiot?!
«What did you say?!
«... try summoning him right now," he interjected into their just-beginning argument.
«Ah," Ichika looked back uncertainly. - How?
At her question, Emeric turned his head toward his queen with a suggestive raise of his eyebrow.
«What are you looking at me for? - Valerie snorted. - King, in case you've forgotten, I awakened my Separation at an almost precocious age. I have no idea how to awaken it in a normal person, but," Valerie put a finger to her lip. - She's already awakened it, I don't know, but it's something huge and powerful.
«Huge and strong... - Ichika furrowed her eyebrows thoughtfully. She raised her right hand and began drilling her with her gaze, only to immediately turn towards him afterward with an unhealthy glint in her eyes. - Emeric-sama, take off your pants immediately!
«You'll be fucking fine! - he couldn't take it anymore.
"Huge and strong" and she's got a mind of her own! Her young and virgin mind was not ready for his "huge and strong"! Emeric was afraid that no one here was ready for it. What if they went crazy and started raping him right there? No, all the women of the world are not ready for that! It'll start a new Great War among the women of the entire supernatural world! Not just the supernatural world, but World War III on top of it! His "big and strong" could destroy the world!
Valerie shifted her gaze with a twitching eyebrow from one virgin stuck in her fantasies to the other. She was surrounded by idiots!
She sighed irritably and stood behind the dumb horny fool. Placing her hands on her shoulder blades, Valerie concentrated....
«It worked! - Ichika looked at the red armored glove with delight. - Emerica-sama's "huge and strong" really works!
Valerie suppressed the urge to bang her head against the wall and sat back in her seat.
«Can you hear something? Can he talk to you?
«Uh, no...
«I see," Emeric scratched his head and began to explain. - Ichika, since ancient times, humans have been His most perfect creatures, but those were absolutely powerless against other representatives of the supernatural world.
Hiedo obediently sat down as Emeric began his lecture. Historical references start to seem a lot more interesting when you realize there's truth behind them. Especially a mythical one.
«And He created what are known as Sacred Mechanisms. Tools that allowed their bearer to go far beyond their limitations. It allowed them to stand out among the weak majority and stand up for the rest of the people," Emeric wet his throat with tea and continued in a quieter tone. - But later, among the pile of Sacred Mechanisms, there were special ones, ones that not only allowed them to transcend their limitations, but to leave their imprint on history. The owners of these special artifacts were so powerful and extraordinary that they made the rest of the supernatural world reckon with humanity. They were bypassed, they were respected, but most importantly, they were feared. And the name of this type of Sacred Mechanism is Longinus.
Ichika listened to the whole story with her mouth hanging open. Could it be that all of human history was permeated with such incredible and, most importantly, true stories? Did she, Ichika Hiedo, have this Sacred Mechanism?! No! She remembered what those fallen ones had said before she sent them into the stratosphere. She had Longinus! A special artifact that everyone else feared!
«Ichika," he turned to her. - Have you read the Bible?
«Um, no," she replied embarrassed.
No wonder. Who in today's society, with their trendy culture of atheism and fast food, has actually read the Bible? Much less the average Japanese schoolgirl? Emeric had roughly expected such an answer.
«Well, do you even know Jesus Christ? - He saw Akeno wrinkle her nose a little, out of the corner of his eye.
«Of course!
«So, Jesus, the Son of God, was crucified on the cross about two thousand years ago. A singular event in the history of our world," Emeric contemplated thoughtfully, looking at the surfaced tea leaf in his cup. - And as he hung on it, his side was pierced by an ordinary Roman soldier whose name was Longinus. That spear with the blood of Jesus on it was reworked into a full-fledged Sacred Mechanism. And considering its power and significance, it became the first Sacred Mechanism with the ability to kill gods, called the Spear of Longinus, or the Sacred Spear of the Setting Sun," he exhaled. - The artifacts of similar power that were created after that were called Longinas, Weapon Killing Gods.
Ichika looked at her gauntlet with trepidation. Could it be that this red glove concealed such incredible power?
«And me?
«Yes," Emeric nodded. - You have a Longinus as well, specifically the Amplifying Mechanism, or as some call it, the Mitten of the Red Dragon Emperor. You can potentially infinitely increase and transfer power, well...'' - he threw a thoughtful glance in Valerie's direction. - Anything you can imagine. Not just ordinary physical power, but magical power, or some not-so-obvious phenomenon. Like 'amplify' rain to make it rain longer or harder, or 'amplify' a headache. Although, given that you can only do such things with allies or yourself, the second option wouldn't be the most appealing.
«Ah," Ichika just didn't know what to say. Just two days ago she was just an ordinary human, but now a demon from Hell says she has a tool to kill gods! - So, am I in trouble? - With slight fear, she asked.
«It depends on how you look at it," he tilted his head slightly. - Many historical figures have successfully used their Longines and become famous. But yes," he looked her seriously in the eyes. - You won't be able to hide anymore. Longinus users had always been treated with great apprehension. Because, according to extensive experience, they always bring big events. And they are not always for the benefit of those around them. You're destined to be in the thick of things, Ichika, especially with your artifact.
She sipped nervously from her cup. Somehow, the Twilight spin-off she'd already made up in her head seemed less and less appealing by the minute.
«But, me," Ichika shrugged nervously. - It's not like I'm anything...
«It's always like that," he shrugged. - Haven't you heard the many stories of heroes who were nothing as children? King Arthur raised as an orphan in the woods, Robin Hood, the poor boy who made a name for himself. All modern heroic prose is based on that kind of story. People love that kind of story.
He leaned back and tried to put his hand on Valerie's thigh, but she instantly shook it off. Okay, we have unfinished business here.
«I'm sorry, Ichika.
«No, no, it's not your fault," she quickly began to shake her head. - But still, are there many like me?
«There are thirteen Longinus in total," Emeric scratched his chin thoughtfully. - Of the confirmed carriers, that makes five with you. So, let me remember," he began to curl his fingers. - The Church has a bearer of one of the strongest Longinus, Zenith Storm, otherwise known as the Prison of Bright Heavenly Thunder. Grigori has one, seemingly even your compatriot, the wielder of Canis Lycaon or otherwise the Dog God of the Black Blade. Next to him often hangs around the wielder of Absolute Doom, alternatively, the Eternal Ice Princess, she seems to be a member of the Grausauberer, a society of wizards. Well, now we're counting you, and...
Emeric gave serious thought to how she would present the information that her historically nemesis was across the street. And certainly how to get her to join his entourage afterward.
«Hello, Albion," a loud, growling voice alerted them to the presence of the red-gloved Ichika.
«He's talking! - Ichika shouted in exasperation, waving her glove. - Is he broken?! Or maybe he has built-in artificial intelligence? That's so advanced! Siri, what time is it?
«Yeah, shut up, you lunatic! - Valerie shouted at her, standing up from her seat.
«What did you say?!
«Hello, Dryg," Ichika stared even more dazedly at the suddenly blue wings behind Valerie. From which someone also spoke! - I see you have a rather interesting partner.
«Who's to say, Albion, who's to say....
***
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