Chapter 19

After weeks of training under the Sword Sovereign's very painful guidance, my time in the Vatican is finally reaching its end a bit earlier than intended due to some unexpected circumstances. Both Gasper and Valerie would stay here for another extra month as it was initially agreed upon while I pay the land of the raising sun a visit. 

"This Junior is thankful the kindness Elder Strada has showed me over the last few weeks." I politely bow toward my latest benefactor. "Your pointers and training will help me to attain an absolute victory over my supposed peers." 

"There is no need to be so polite, Young Riser. I wish you luck in the tournament." 

Due to the small vampire genocide carry out by Crom Cruach in Romania, the surviving vampires and some other factions affected by the devastation he caused had migrated to Japan in hopes of rebuilding their power from the scratch. Because of the numerous problems this caused for the Japanese factions, several youkai factions have decided to hold a tournament for the younger generation in order to make a statement about their power. The only requirement to participate is to be capable of using either senjutsu or touki and being twenty years old or younger. 

The one who shared this valuable piece of information with me was none other than my very filial sister...through Junior Brother. 

… 

Majestybirdlady: how does a holy devil even work? 

Majestybirdlady: (╯°□°)╯︵┻━┻ 

Bloodymolly : Valerie explained that she simply eliminates the command that makes the devils weak to the Holy . It seems that the god of the bible patched that weakness into our souls, so extracting it isn't as dangerous as modifying the whole soul. 

Majestybirdlady: …I know that you're new at writing and stuff, but relax, this a chat. O.o 

Bloodymolly: But Mister Strada said I should practice as much as I could. 

Majestybirdlady: I couldn't read that, please repeat it (◣_◢) 

Bloodymolly: SORRY. I will try my best? 

Majestybirdlady: … 

Bloodymolly: : ) ? 

Majestybirdlady: •̮ ̮• much better. 

Majestybirdlady: yeah, tell Riser that there will be a tournament (ง'̀-'́)ง for senjutsu/touki users at Kyoto. Dad said he can join it if he wants. He'd better buy us some souvenirs after he wins. 

... 

I still not know how to feel about the fact that Ravel apparently chats with Gasper quite frequently if the long chat log I saw when he showed me these messages is anything to go by. 

"Not uttering these words of gratitude aloud when they are due would bring shame both upon myself and the teachings you shared with me."

He nods in agreement and extends his hand. "There are words that must be said aloud, and there are gestures that can be used instead of certain words." 

I grab and shake it, ignoring how small I now look when compared to Sword Sovereign. 

If Elder Strada could have been described as a tall and very fit man for someone his age before, the only words that come to my mind when I look at him now are gargantuan muscles. His arms are wider than my waist, making it easy to mistake him for a body cultivator (which I personally assume to be intentional. Nobody would expect that a guy like him specializes in swordsmanship). 

Rejuvenating Vasco Strada as a gift was a risky move, but Valerie insisted that this would turn out to be a great investment in the future given his personality. People like him do not forget this kind of gesture. The Ars Goetia will be furious if they ever learn about this, but I am sure that Senior Sister would approve of this move anyways. She was the one who sent me here for the sake of promoting peace between our factions. 

"The second coming of the famous Vasco Strada will give a good scare to a good number of sects." 

"I am not planning to start a war anytime soon." He laughs as if I had told a joke, which I did not. I fully expect experts like Kokabiel of the Fallen and Ares to shit their pants once they learn about this. 

"People aren't supposed to know that the Graal is back, so I will fake my death. The only people who will know about this besides us are some friends of mine, the archangels and the satans." The giant of a man scratches his chin in deep thought. "This will be the second time that I will be attending my own funeral, only that this time I will be introducing myself as my own secret child, Helck."

Not the name I would personally have chosen, but it works for its intended purpose. 

"I personally recommend cremation. Nobody will question the lack of a body that way." Sending a basket with fruit to the funeral as a gift would probably be considered rude, so the flowers should be enough. "I will ask Kuroka what kind of Japanese flowers I should send to your funeral."

The flowers will also be my farewell gift to the Holy Sect. I cannot say I will miss this place since I barely interacted with anyone here besides Elder Strada and that nice talkative priest who taught me a little bit about gardening and taking good care of plants, but I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to grow in safe environment. 

The now young-looking elder shakes his head in amusement. 

"Young Riser, I can't say I fully know you or that Ican understand some of the things you say on a daily basis, but I decided to have faith in you. I may be proven wrong in the future, but right now I feel jubilation believing that the young man in front of me will not become a monster like so many others I have cut down in the past." He sighs with a small smile on his lips. "I am aware that you see praying as a form of training rather than an act of faith, but I ask you to continue praying regardless because that is also an act of love. Even if you can't love God and humanity as I do, I have faith that you can love this world and share that love with others." 

Did he think that I was a nihilist or something? It is not like I am a sociopath who does not care about the world, but I suppose that is not quite the same as loving it either. They say that indifference is the true opposite of love, and yet my feelings toward the world in general cannot be called love.I do not even know whether or not I should call my feelings for the girl I'm courting love. 

Just like Xenovia Quarta, I do not really fully understand myself yet despite knowing that there are things I simply want to do. 

"The price for having the strongest Sword Saint officiating my futures weddings is certainly cheaper than I expected." I hope this small joke is enough to brighten the mood...or at least brighten my mood.

"I honestly love being a priest way more than working as an exorcist, so it will be my pleasure." Nobody would deny the sincerity in his words as he speak. "I will be very busy for the next decade or so, but I will try my best to make some time for that. After I asked his eminence to let me put this gift of youth to good use, he allowed me to clean the house so to speak." 

I stare at him in bewilderment as his smile gradually withers aways in slow motion, leaving him with an expression on his face that could make an enraged evil dragon look kind in comparison. 

"There will be no mercy for those that decided to make a mockery of our faith in the Father's love, for the sins we allowed to happen in our passiveness and arrogance are… unsightly."

I feel like I made the right choice by building a friendly relationship with Vasco Strada. 

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Japan, the land that gave birth to dozens of legends and heroes that most cultivators nowadays admire, the country that boasts of hosting the third largest number of spell cultivators in the whole world, only being inferior to the ancient lands of China and India. 

For the youkai to host a tournament of this magnitude all of a sudden speaks volumes of the political turmoil that the land must be experiencing at the moment. Youngsters from all over the word have gathered here to compete in the First International Senjutsu Tournament, FIST. 

Since a good percent of participants are from Korea and China, the only requirement to enter the tournament is to be able to use either senjutsu or touki. This of course means that most of the participants will be youkai from influential families in the region, lesser Young Masters for me to dominate. The only thing that could prove to be a challenge for me would be to meet an MC, but I can always drop off the tournament in that case since the prize for winning the whole thing is just money anyways. 

"Want a candy apple?" 

"Nya ~ sure, it has been a while since the last time I had one." Kuroka shrugs as we aimlessly wander around Kyoto, enjoying the sights and numerous stalls. "I will need all the extra energy I can get if I am to make sure you don't start a fight against anyone who could destroy a country by himself."

I roll my eyes, barely holding a snort. That only happened twice. 

"It will be fine. Valerie gave me this handmade amulet to keep me safe."

"Adorable...and quite frightening since I'm pretty sure that should count as a dangerous cursed object. I can feel the malice it is oozing just from looking at it." She cautiously pokes the apparently cursed brooch. "I really should seal this away." 

"Please don't. Valerie worked really hard in making this brooch for me." 

"Yeah, sure." The nekoshou agrees in the driest voice imaginable. "She totally didn't make two dozens of similar amulets just in case." 

"Three dozen actually; she gave me twenty and kept the rest with her in case something happens in the Vatican. Regardless, it would be cruel of me to throw away any of her gifts." 

Kuroka rolls her eyes in exasperation before carefully examinating my appearance and approaching me in a playful manner.

"I have to admit it; you look good in those robes." A seductive smile blooms on her lips she hugs my arm into her generous cleavage. "I would prefer you without them, though." 

It is hard not to preen under the well-deserved compliment. For the first time in my life, my parents allowed me to wear my peerless robes outside the mansion. Such high-quality cultivation clothes would offer me an unfair advantage at the incoming tournament, which can only be considered a good thing. 

"I would love to have you close to my heart." I whisper into her ears as I go for a kiss.... which she easily dodges with her feline reflexes and grabs my crotch instead. 

At this point, this has become a game for us. Kuroka would flirt and allow me to fondle her soft body, but the moment I said something corny or try to kiss her lips, she would immediately avoid me. We both want each other.... just in slightly different ways. 

It is somewhat frustrating, but the hunt is part of the fun. 

"It hurts my heart to see that you keep rejecting my advances." I lament in an over-the-top manner. "But really, is there any reason why you insisted on coming here with me?" 

"Nothing important if I'm honest. Just wanted to let Yasaka know that I'm still alive since she helped me a lot in the past." She smirks but puts some distance between us when she notices my hand caressing her silky smooth hair. "Would you like to meet her? Maybe those melons of hers will be enough to defrost your balls." 

"I probably should." I almost inmediatedly agree with her idea. "That way I can convince her of not sending assassins after me when I inevitably destroy the youkai participants and win the tournament." 

Now that I think about it, I do not know a lot about the leader of the West Youkai faction. I am aware that Kuroka is somewhat close to her, but we never had a reason to talk about the kitsune before. There is something I must confirm before meeting her in person. 

"Are they as big as the rumors say?" 

My Dao Companion's expression turns solemn. 

"Bigger." Ah, that is indeed something that should be taken seriously, and yet there is another equally, if not more important question to ask. 

"What about her tails?" 

"Fluffier." She reveals with a self-assured nod, leaving me shocked. 

Would they be as fluffy as Kuroka's cat ears? Kuroka may have bitten me the last time I petted them (and not in the fun way), but I can confidently say it was worth it. 

We stare at each other in silence for a moment, before chuckling at our conversation. I missed this kind of moment with Kuroka. 

I am ready to face Lady Yasaka