80 Chapter 77

[HAHAHAHAHA]

"Gods dammit."

[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]

"It's not that funny!"

[It's fucking hilarious.]

"I hate you so much right now."

[This is the best day.]

"Raaah!" I threw the washcloth I held in my hand to the ground.

[She got you good.]

"Fuck me, she did." Honestly, I couldn't even be mad.

Annoyed? Sure.

But not mad.

Who knew Yasaka could be so petty. Well, add in a splash of mischief and here we are. Was it pay back for not playing around with her 'seductions'? Honestly, they didn't' seem 'genuine' more so her just messing with me for the hell of it.

I looked at myself in the mirror, a bright pink lipstick mark on my forehead, where she gave me a 'going away kiss'

"She fucking cursed me." I threw my hands up.

[You didn't even notice until we got back! And people were staring at you the whole way.]

"I was preoccupied!"

[Yeah, it seems someone found your weakness. You better watch out in the future, some voluptuous woman may take advantage of you.]

I was not distracted by her boobs, even if my face we pressed firmly between them.

Nope.

Clearly, she is a master at misdirection and took me be surprised.

She did something with her Touki and magical energy that 'cursed' the spot she kissed me, making it so I can't wipe it away.

Completely harmless, except to my pride.

My knowledge of Touki is…. minimal. I would need time to unravel what she did, trying to force my magical energy it just made it violent and essentially absorb my mana to strengthen itself.

Perhaps I should seek help from an 'expert'?

I thought for a moment before tearing open a hole back to Yomi, right onto a familiar doorstep.

I didn't even get a chance to knock before Izzy swung the door open, surprised to see me.

"Yo."

"Hello, Wilhelm." Her eyes staring right at my current issue. "Do I want to know?"

"Yasaka can be mischievous." I shrugged. "So, what do you know of Touki?"

"A bit." She answered, stepping away, and gesturing forward. "Come in."

"Thank you." I was polite, it was my first time truly 'visiting'. I would say that previous time didn't count as it was more of an emergency.

"I admit, I did not expect you to willingly come back…." She said quietly.

"Why?"

"Don't play coy." She rolled her eyes. "You know why."

"Mmm, nope." I shrugged, plopping down on her couch. "You're my friend." I shot her a smile.

"….you can be infuriatingly wholesome sometimes." She sighed. "Would you like refreshments?"

"Tea would be lovely." I answered taking my hat off. Honestly, I missed Japanese tea. Not that I hat some English variants, but variety is the spice of life. "Do you want Sir. Wiggles to come out?"

She looked back at me, the way her house was designed, I could see her in the kitchen from the living room. "Yes, please."

I just smiled, tapping on my hat and Sir. Wiggles happily came out to greet the goddess of death. Knowing who she was now, I could understand why she acted the way she did when she first met him. No doubt it was the first time an animal allowed her to touch them in a very long time.

He happy joined her in the kitchen, almost reading my thoughts.

A few minutes later, she walked out of the kitchen, rabbit hugged closely, and two cups of tea floating right next to her as they slowly set themselves down on the table infront of me.

"Smells wonderful." I couldn't help but admire the aroma. I picked it up and took a sip, my eyes widening slightly at the taste. "Gyokuro?" I asked, it was a very expensive tea….though I suppose money doesn't have much value to people like us. "How generous." I laughed.

She looked away with a small huff, taking a sip of her own. "It's not like I have anyone else to make it for."

"This is nice." I sat back, enjoying the peace.

"You are in the middle of Yomi." She deadpanned.

"Honestly, the Land of Shadows was worse…..somewhat. Atleast the air here doesn't cut you from being so cold."

"Do you have a habit of staying in lands of death?"

"Well, I intend to keep visiting you, so maybe?"

"Who said you would have permission to keep coming here?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Who said I need permission?" I smirked.

Her lips curled up into a small smile. "What exactly happened to you? You haven't been gone even a day and here you are, marked by the fox herself."

I rubbed my forehead, frowning slightly. "I didn't react to her playing. Who knew she could be petty?"

"That actually explains just about everything." She pursed her lips. "I had hoped there would be a more amusing story."

"What, hoping you could post something more juicy online?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Her face gave nothing away as she took another drink.

"Uh huh." I don't believe you. "By the way, Yasaka wanted me to pass on my thanks. She says you're welcome in her home whenever you want."

Izanami paused, staring at me incredulously. "That foolish woman, does she not realize what could happen by 'inviting' me into her home?" The goddess scowled. "I have free rein now to come and go whenever I wish! I could simply go there and steal her daughter, did she never think of that!?"

"Are you going to?"

"Of course not." She crossed her arms with a huff.

"Then why are you even bringing it up?" I rolled my eyes. "Drama queen. She obviously doesn't think badly of you, take the good will, stop thinking the worse of yourself."

She 'harrumphed' but didn't argue. "Do you require help with that curse?"

I just blinked for a moment. "You could tell it was a curse that easily?"

She rolled her eyes this time. "Who do you think I am?"

"Fair." Yeah, I forgot for a moment. "Oh great goddess Izanami!" I held my arms out. "Please remove this lipstick mark from my forehead."

"I'm regretting offering my help."

"Help me, Izanami, you're my only hope."

"Are you sure? The darkness I wield is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be…..unnatural."

My eyes widened and I couldn't help but start laughing, I even caught Izzy let out a small giggle at the amusement.

"Fine, fine." She composed herself. "Before you start quoting anything else." She walked up to me, raising her hand. "Be aware though, I do have to push my power into you briefly to dissolve this."

"It's fine." I smiled at her. "I trust you."

She paused briefly, her hand shaking slightly. "Is that so…" she lightly pushed her finger against my forehead and I felt her invade the area that was cursed and her power briefly pulsed around my body. "Why do you have Odin's blessing?" Her tone turned sharp.

"Err…..reasons?"

"That wrinkled…..perverted…" She growled. "I told him to go away!" She huffed, glaring at me. "Did he do anything to you?"

"Um, no?"

"Good." Her nostrils flared. "I suppose I won't need to castrate him this time then."

Thankfully, I did have a mirror on me to check out the spot. "Thanks for the help."

"Of course." She gave a small smile. "….I did notice another blessing you had."

"Meridia's blessing." I nodded. Still don't know how she snuck that in me without noticing. And Ddraig hadn't been much help.

"Artoria spoke of her, I did not realize she was a goddess." Izanami seemed deep in thought for a moment. "It did not like me, I felt as if it would attack me if I did anything malicious."

"I guess that's to be expected, she is a goddess of life." I explained.

"I see, that makes sense." She muttered. "Though I have never heard of a goddess by that name….and she appeared quite powerful if a mere blessing was that potent."

I just shrugged. "Yeah, she's pretty great."

"Would you….." She paused. "Nevermind."

"Izzy." I said gently.

"What?"

"Don't 'what' me." I crossed my arms. "Finish what you were going to say."

"It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me."

"Fine!" She scowled. "Would you like my blessing too?"

"I would love your blessing."

She didn't reply, but took a step forward and quickly placed her lips against my forehead. I felt something warm flow through my body before settling down.

"There."

"Thank you." I said sincerely.

"Whatever." She tried to look uncaring, but I could tell she was happy.

How many people had willingly sought out Izanami-no-Mikoto's blessing in the past?

It should provide a small bit of warding against evil spirits and deathly powers, among other things. Basically the smallest touch of her authority provided.

It made me curious what Odin's blessing did….even if I did not particular like receiving it, I still was curious. Not to mention Meridia's…..no idea how that is working. Perhaps it's so alien it's something I cant' recognize?

I looked up, her eyes were glowing slightly. I couldn't help but stare for a moment.

She just blinked and they were back to normal.

"Pretty." I blurted out

Her cheeks turned slightly red.

Seeing her act like that just brought a smile to my face. "I need to head out, got a couple things to speak with my grandfather about." I stood up. "Would you like me to leave Sir Wiggles here with you?"

She looked down where the rabbit had taken up residence on her seat. "Can I…..?"

"Of course."

"Thank you." She mumbled, scooping him up once again and holding him close.

I'm glad she gets along well with him.

Emotional support rabbit?

------

I walked through a portal back into Zelretch's workshop. "Hey old man – " I stopped, he turned around, staring at me and I stared back. "What are you doing?"

He looked down at his hands. "Oh…..just dealing with some stuff."

"I see." I nodded. "What requires the use of water balloons?" He was filling them up at the faucet.

"Some brat made a move against Rin."

"Ah, say no more." I raised my hand. "Need help?"

"Why not?" He nodded. "Can you add this to the ones filled up already?" He passed me a small vial.

"Oh, what's this?" I eyed it curiously.

"You know those dye packs that usually sit inside large stacks of cash for when it get stolen?"

I couldn't help but smile. "Neat, so I assume it reacts with the water to produce a similar result."

"Indeed." He smiled.

Hmm, curious to see who thought it was a good idea to fuck with us. "Oh, by the way, I have something I want you to look at."

"I figured it was something like that." He tied one of the balloons tight. "Give me the cliff notes."

"Mmm, I wanted to make my house overlap on several world lines so anyone can come and go there regardless of which world they're in."

"Oh? Ambitious." We loaded the balloons in a bucket. "Lets speak more somewhere else." He waived his hand and a new portal opened up.

We walked through and we were on the rooftop of a building I didn't recognize off the top of my head.

"So what exactly did these idiots do?"

"Tried to strongarm Rin into some nonsense or another." He stood at the ledge, casting his gaze. "They didn't push too far past any lines…..but I don't appreciate my apprentice being used in such a way."

"I see." I muttered. "I suppose it doesn't quite warrant a death penalty then. But still, such a thing cannot be allowed without recompense."

He nodded along with a smile. "Ah, there they are, you see that Rolls Royce flying down the road?"

"The one ignoring the speed limits?" I squinted and reinforced my eyes. "Well, I guess it doesn't really matter, this is still clocktower territory."

"You want the honors?" I asked.

"Oh, I would be delighted." He picked up one of the balloons, staring for a moment before reeling his arm back and throwing it with impressive power.

The balloon didn't pop until it collided with the car's windshield and splattered into a sticky blue liquid that covered their vision. The car swerved a few times across the empty street before slamming into a light pole.

"What issues are you having with your little project?" He asked, staring at his handiwork.

"Not so much an issue, but I wanted a second opinion before I took the next step." I took out my notebook and handed it to him. "I would rather not waste resources if it won't work, and this is just a fun project at the moment."

He flipped it open, stroking his beard for a few moments. "Hmm, I see your train of thought." His flexed his fingers and grabbed a pen from the air, writing a few things here and there. "You're turn, by the way."

"Oh, right." I nodded, picking up my own balloon. I reinforced the outer layer so it wouldn't pop with the velocity I would be throwing it with. I closed one eye to get a good idea of the distance and with a shutter step, I threw it as hard as I could.

The red balloon soared through the air as a man wobbly stepped out of the car. It collided with his head, knocking him off his feet and completely covering him in the blue dye.

"Good hit."

"Thanks." I smiled brightly. "So, thoughts?"

"I like it." He inspected a few more pages. "I'm glad you're also enjoying your time." He started writing a few more things. "Ah, I believe you missed a step here, honestly it's an easily forgettable step." He circled something with a red marker.

"Jeese, feels like I'm being graded back in school."

"Hah!" He abruptly stopped and let out a laugh.

"What?" I looked at him in confusion.

"I just remembered, you technically didn't finish high school"

"Oh, fuck me." I facepalmed. "Rin will never let me live this down."

Zelretch cackled, grabbing another balloon. "Oh look, more targets."

"Hmm, seems there are a few more for each of us?" Yeah, a few more got out of the car and were trying to either help the other man up or search around for attackers.

Honestly, we were a surprising distance away for tossing water balloons.

"Want to see who gets the best hit?" I asked.

"Hmm, loser buys dinner?"

"You're on, old man."

***

I'll start on another chapter sometime later, but need to get some stuff done today and I wanted to play some Genshin.

Anyways, if you want to read 5 chapters ahead or support me, check out my pat.reon.com/@astoryforone. Mc finally met Okita in the recent chapter.