Narrator - Recap, Hori is taking on 3 sinners of idolatry!
"No I'm not!!!"
She refused, clearly showing their location to the Sinners.
"C'mon, I'll step in if I see your in trouble!"
Haruki tried encouraging her.
Hori refused again. Causing Haruki to threaten not feeding her throughout the day.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
She now has no choice.
Hori dropped his luggage and slowly walked towards the damaged inn.
The truth is I wanna see if she can recreate what happened during that time.
He was referring to the dark frame Hori got when she caved that NPCs nose in.
Hori was now within the Sinners line of sight, she called out timidly.
"Ehm.. hello there."
Her hands trembling as she waved to the Sinners of Idolatry.
She couldn't believe she was doing this.
"For the wages of sin is deeeeeeaaaathhhh!!!!!!"
It screamed after noticing Hori, causing her to flinch.
She was scared.
This was Hori's 3rd encounter with a Sinner.
1st was a Sinner of Sloth
2nd a Sinner of Addiction
3rd a Sinner of Idolatry.
Narrator - Considering she has been missing for about 8 days, encountering 3 Sinners was quite rare. Almost as if she attracted them....
"The ominous message isn't helping!"
She snared at Narrator.
"For the wages of sin is death."
Its shoulders sank. Signaling the other 2 Sinners to surround Hori.
Here they come!
She took a terrible fighting stance.
Hori had never fought someone before.
That punch against that thug was the first time she did something so brute.
As the Sinners now surrounded her, she gave up from fear.
"Ahhh!!!"
She started running.
The Sinners immediately chased after!
"Why are you running?! Just punch it!"
Haruki ordered from the bushes. Imitating what a punch looked like.
"This is way too scary!!"
She yelled whilst maneuvering her way past the three Sinners.
They didn't seem to threaten Haruki, perhaps him being a Sin was why.
One of the Sinners jumped! About to strike Hori from above with its hunch back.
"Hori don't be scared! You wanna become a Priest right?! Well this is what they do!"
Narrator - Haruki's words made sense. To speak with her father, Hori would have to perform astonishing feats to get a single meeting.
Narrator - So three human sized
Sinners should be childs play given what she aims for. A Bishop lives to their name. The best of the best.
In that moment, Hori's first day of disappearance played through her head.
She needed to find answers, reunite with her father, make sense of it all!
And so with the quick pep talk from Haruki and Narrator. Hori stopped running.
Dark Frame
The backgrounds saturation reduced to zero leaving only the Sinners of idolatry and Hori with color.
"Yes!"
Haruki cheered on! Hori recreated it. Another Dark Frame!
With fear and hesitation now absent, she rapidly swung her fist.
As soon as Hori's right hand landed on the Sinners face, its entire upper body was ripped to pieces.
Plop
The lower half falls to the floor.
....woah.
He thought in awe, if that was a human they would be dead.
"For the wages of sin is death!"
The remaining 2 Sinners immediately run away after seeing such strength.
Haruki comes out from the bushes. To get a closer look.
Did I just do that?!
I knew i always had strong hands, but this strong?!
Hori panicked, she just one-shotted a human sized Sinner.
"Well done!"
Haruki tapped her shoulder.
The Sinner of idolatry's lower half was still twitching as it was still alive.
Surprisingly, normal looking blood flowed from its body despite no longer being human.
"Oh no, I couldn't finish it off!"
Hori said with a remorseful face seeing the corpse still struggle in pain.
"Don't worry."
Haruki squats down and quickly eats the corpse. Hori stared with an uncomfortable expression as he devoured its flesh.
burp
"Urgh, gross."
He tapped his chest.
Haruk stood up and lifted a finger as if making a new discovery.
His voice, excited.
"I was correct!"
Hori asked what he meant by that.
His face now turned serious.
"Your hands aren't normal."
Haruki said, pointing.
Hori replied, as if this not being new.
"Yes... know... their strong."
"Yeah no shit, but it's not just ordinary strength. It's almost as if their indestructible or something."
Haruki said cleaning his hands on a handkerchief.
Hori looked confused from Haruki's observations. What did he mean.
Haruki then dumbed it down by simply saying.
"Here, try punching my face!"
"Absolutely not!"
Hori staggered back. Her face shocked from his proposal.
Haruki bent down, now the same height as Hori. He tapped his cheek.
"It's alright, I'm a Sin, so I can regenerate!"
"I would never hit you Haruki-san!"
Hori stated, not after everything he had done for her. She deemed laying hands on a friend extremely wrong, although she had never actually had one until now.
"Ugh! Stop being such a pussy and just hit me!
"I am no cat!"
Hori argued.
"Just do it!"
He yelled, Haruki needed to prove his theory of her hard hands and Hori was wasting precious time.
"...fine, if you say so."
Hori leaned back clenching her fist.
She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the result.
At last she gave a clean jab to Haruki's face.
As her fist tore through the air, Narrator finally explained.
Narrator - When Hori decides to inflict harm on an entity, her fists gain 3 properties. Firstly her hands gain the hardness of 10 mohs, the equivalent to actual diamonds....Secondly, because of such density, her fists also become EXTREMELY sharp, piercing through flesh, muscle and bone as easily as a knife cutting cake.
Narrator - Thirdly, also because of such density, her fists gain weight, about that of a medium sized bowling ball, greatly increasing the destructive force of the punch....all the listed factors will end up completely CRUSHING Haruki's skull!
Black blood stains the green grass of the forest and Haruki's head is no longer visible. Replaced disgusting gore stacked on his neck.
His neck seemed to be steaming as the smell of roasted flesh filled Hori's nostrils.
Plop
His headless body falls to the ground as black blood gushed through the tip of his neck.
Said black blood had no smell despite Hori's impressive senses.
Haruki's brains were scattered on the floor along side pieces of his skull.
Hori stood there in terror with her heart racing.
The sticky, realistic sensation of his flesh on her hand made her nauseous.
bleugrrrrhhheggg~~~~~
Hori threw up whatever food she had eaten, she was still new with seeing such disfigurations. This was far worse than the punch she delivered to the thug.
She could've killed him...
Hori quickly wiped her mouth, still silent.
Her fingers tapped against each other with worry.
He should heal by now!
Her brain reasoned, Haruki was a Sin, they were immortal to normal human attacks.
Please~ Heal!
His neck let out a bubbling sound and the bleeding stopped.
Haruki's head slowly healed even his long blood red hair returned.... but he was still unconscious.
"Narrator! Why isn't he conscious?!"
She yelled as she panicked.
Narrator - Don't ask me.
Hori squats down to check his pulse but remembered.
Oh that's right, Haruki-san said Sins have no pulse!
She sat properly and placed her arms on her laps.
...so what do I do now....
She peeked at Haruki's face, a faint blush on her cheeks.
...he's so beautiful.
She thought to herself.
Narrator - I hope your not going to assault him while he's unconscious right?!
Wh— what are you saying?!
5 minutes pass and Haruki was still asleep.
Her stomach growled, like an annoying notification.
Hori was starving and Haruki promised breakfast.
She dismissed her hunger and stood up.
Okay! I'm a maid for Haruki-san! I should stop thinking about food and carry this luggage inside!
She did so and as well brought Haruki into the damaged house.
--------
Narrator - Despite healing, Haruki still remained unconscious. When will he wake up... will he wake up?
"Stop saying such negative things! Haruki-san is going to wake up!"
Her brows furrowed annoyingly at Narrator as she lad Haruki from her back.
----------
gasp!
"H—Haruki-san! Thank goodness— your finally awake!"
Hori was laying Haruki's head on her lap, via a lap pillow.
"... it's night?!"
He yelled seeing the sky through the window.
Haruki slowly raised his head, touching it to see if he regenerated properly.
He was unconscious for a whopping 10 HOURS.
He was about turning to see Hori but was suddenly enveloped in a tight hug from behind.
Hori stammered.
"P—please don't look at me... At least not now"
Her voice was breaking, as if crying.
"You should have told me you'd take time waking up! I was so worried!"
Her grip on him tightened almost hurting.
"I'm... sorry about that, I didn't think it'll take this long, it's freaking night!"
He said trying to lighten up the mood.
Hori released Haruki, and cleaned her tears.
".... here you go"
Haruki handed her a handkerchief, she blew her nose and took a deep breath.
"Better?"
He said trying to look at Hori who was hiding her face.
She was a little bit angry at him.
growl~
Her stomach exclaimed loudly! And I mean loudly!!
The scene once again ruined... but... wait a minute.
"You haven't eaten?!"
Haruki placed his palm on her face.
"Yes,"
She answered clearly.
"Why?! It's so late already! That means you haven't eaten throughout today!"
He panicked while turning on his flashlight and laying it down.
"That's true, I mean I drank some water I found in your bag but.... I'm really hungry..."
Hori said with a lifeless face as if crossing to the other side.
"Oh my God you must be starving!! I'm so sorry!!"
"No, I should be the one to apologize Haruki-san, it must have been painful having your head blown apart."
Hori bowed apologetically, if Haruki were human, he would have been long gone from that blow.
"Screw that! let's get you something to eat!"
He stood up dragged Hori's hand.
She held her stomach trying her best not to pass out.
"It's already late so let's just order pizza."
Pizza? Hori thought, she tugged at him and asked.
"Is that a food?"
"Nah, it's more of a wait what?! You've never eaten pizza?!"
Haruki pulled back.
"I've never heard of it..."
She said calmly with no strength to fake knowledge of it.
Narrator - That's just...sad...
"Well, Father always cooked for me, so my meals were strictly healthy..."
Hori slowly closed her eyes from the hunger.
"Well you're gonna love this! I'm ordering plenty since you eat A LOT!"
How shameless of me!
Hori scolded her self.
Haruki quickly places the order and walked to a hidden spot behind a chair.
He brought out a small case and opened it, revealing some fresh unopened snacks he had hidden for an emergency.
"In the meantime, you can have this."
He handed an Anpan to Hori.
It's a sweet Japanese short bread, typically a light snack.
She accepted it and bowed her head once again.
Munch
"This is delicious!"
Her eyes brimmed to life.
"Okay, until the pizza gets here, tell me about what happened."
"Oh! You must be referring to the punch!"
Hori took another bite, and chewed.
"Well, at firsch shour head...shcattered, buch it shealed shortly after!"
"Don't talk while chewing.
He wiped some crumbs from her mouth.
"So I healed pretty quick? Then why did it take so long for me to wake up?!"
Haruki was confused.
Munch
She took another bite but spoke before chewing.
"I'm not sure, oh! but Narrator explained why my hands are so tough! Oh my God, This tastes sooo good!"
"Narrator?"
Haruki furrowed his brows.
"Oh it's some woman that keeps talking in my head."
Narrator - How rude!
hmmm the hunger must've gotten to her head...
Haruki nodded slowly, pretending Hori was making sense.
"Anyway, she said my hands get, hard, sharp and heavy, equivalent to natural diamonds....I think"
She took another bite from the Anpan.
"Woah, seriously?!"
Haruki was impressed, was Hori just an ordinary human?
Hori continued.
"I didn't believe it at first but I tried testing it while you were asleep."
Hori pointed outside to a large tree opposite the inn.
----------------
The two, now standing there. Haruki faced his flashlight at the tree.
It was broken down with its roots having holes resembling fist marks.
Freaky....
Haruki thought whilst touching the marks to confirm if they were real.
"I guess that explains everything."
He turned off his flashlight as they headed inside.
"But wait,"
Haruki grabbed Hori's hands
She immediately blushed as the nylon for the Anpan fell to the floor.
"Your hands feel normal."
He said slightly pressing them.
Just like any girl, Hori had such skin, especially on her palms.
"E—ehmm, Narrator also said it happens only when I want to harm something!"
Hori said with a flustered face Haruki still holding her hands, playing with it.
"E—ehmm you could let go of my hands now?"
Her face was red.
"Huh... your getting embarrassed from just this?"
Haruki teased Hori, holding it even more passionately.
"Wah?! Th—th— there's nothing to get embarrassed from! It's not anything inappropriate now is it??!"
Hori said trying to avoid Haruki's gaze.
-------
Meanwhile, the pizza delivery man approached the inn.
He peeked into the house which had a damaged front from that Sinner of Addiction.
He knocked at the side of the wall to notify them.
Haruki let go of Hori's hands and went to answer.
"Yo."
He waved.
"Hello... Did you order this? "
Haruki paid for the pizza and collected them, 10 in total.
"Would you like to add a tip?"
"I WOULD RATHER DIE, buh-byyyye!!"
He turns and locks the door.
Haruki skipped, excited to introduce Hori to pizza.
"What is that smellll??!"
Hori crawled towards Haruki, curiosity written on her face.
She leaned in closer as Haruki arranged the food.
"Now I know you're hungry but try not to rush it and choke okay?!"
He said with a smile as he opened the first box.
"Wooooow, what is this?!"
Hori was astonished, it was a pineapple toped pizza. Hawaiian style.
The aroma and design were both firsts for her.
"Dear God, thank you for the food."
She said a quick prayer.
God?! I'm the one who paid for it!
Haruki thought to himself, also surprised Hori was Christian.
She gives Haruki an informative look, saying "Can I really eat this?"
To which Haruki gave a simple smile.
Hori carries a slice, and touches it with the tip of her tongue.
Tiiiiiiiiiing~
Something snapped, it was simply delicious.
Her teeths sunk in and she took a big bite.
With a Muffled voice she said
"Oh, my God this is delicious! It has so much flavor!!"
She tried describing the taste, slightly sour from the pineapple but still salty and pepperish.
"Yeah it's pizza, now stop talking and eat"
Haruki said while wiping sauce from her mouth.
------------
2 minutes later.
We see someone crying in pain.
A paralysed Hori wailed with a cartoonishly big stomach.
"That's what you get for eating that much! What kinda anime ass character eats 10 packs of pizza under 2 minutes?!"
"Ahhhh.... I'm sorry...I didn't leave any for you..."
Hori said apologetically, trying to bow despite her huge belly.
"It's cool, anytime I regenerate my stomach gets full for some reason."
"Oh yeah.... Haruki is a sin...I always forget that-
buuuuurp~
A huge burp echoed through the inn.
"Ahhhh i feel much better!
Hori stood with a completely flat stomach.
"Wait what?"
Haruki cleaned his eyes, her belly was huge just now.
"Oh, I have really fast metabolism Haruki-san! That's why I get hungry so easily. But don't worry, this food should last me till tomorrow."
Hori said cleaning her hands.
Honestly speaking, how did she last 7 days homeless?
"That's good to hear, yeah Hori there's something you should know."
Haruki said with a suddenly serious tone.
"What is it?"
Hori sat down.
"You can't fight with those hands."
Hori asked why.
"I'm no expert like you, but I'm sure the Sabbath Exams has a tournament section, where applicants will face each other or something like that."
In other words a 1 v 1 tournament.
"Yes, that makes sense, although only members of SHO actually know what the Exams are like, it should have a tournament section us civilians might not be aware of!"
Hori agreed Haruki's suggestion.
"So if you use those hands against ordinary people, THEY'LL DIE."
Haruki said bluntly, causing Hori to shudder.
She would never wish for that to happen, the last thing Hori wanted was becoming a murderer.
Haruki opened a bottle of water to drink while Hori digested the news.
"Then in that case, I'll fight without my hands!"
She came to that conclusion.
"Figured you'd say that! Then from tomorrow, I'll start teaching you fighting styles that don't involve using your hands."
Hori yelled in agreement, ready for some training.
"Now let's get some sleep, tomorrows a busy day."
Haruki stretched and headed to bring out the futon.
Hori sat quietly before saying.
"...Haruki-san, thank you."
She bowed her head to the floor.
"For what this time?"
He asked with a light chuckle. Hori appreciated too much.
"For everything thing you've done for me so far."
Hori said honestly, bowing her head as low as possible.
Haruki froze.
At first, he only took her in because he was EXTREMELY bored with his life.
Killing people, being an assassin. Ignoring moms calls, sleeping, he did it so many times he lost count.....but since she came into his life, he felt like he had a purpose.
Perhaps this was the reason he has showed her such kindness.
"... I should be the one thanking you Hori. So raise your head already."
He said scratching his head.
She complied and they both smiled at each other.
-----------
Haruki brings out a futon and spreads it on the floor.
Hori's eyes widened.
There's only one futon!!!
Hori was set to panic mode.
"...well... I'll be sleeping outside, please excuse me-
"No you don't!"
He dragged her back.
Haruki brought out some pillows and dropped them on the futon.
"You'll catch a cold if you sleep outside."
He laid down patting his side of the bed with a serious look.
"Now get over here!"
He ordered Hori.
".....then, please excuse me."
She slowly laid down trying to be as far away from Haruki as possible.
He chuckled softly seeing her adorable innocence.
They both wished each other good night.
Haruki scrolled down his phone and saw some missed calls from his mom, the usual, he ignores it and turned off his light.
Some time passes by when he notices Hori shivering from cold. She was too far from the bed sheets and the front wall was broken down, allowing cold air to directly enter.
The season was Autumn after all.
Haruki shuffled closer to her facing opposite sides.
"Haruki san?"
She called out half awake.
"You looked cold, so I'll warm you up with my back."
"oh.... that's so kind of you"
"Stop being ridiculous."
They both laid down for some time.
Hori tried speaking up.
".... I noticed some missed calls on your phone from your mother."
"....huh?"
"I know it's non of my business but I think she might be worried about you."
"If it's non of your business then stop talking.
Haruki cut her off with an irritated expression.
"....my apologies...."
Hori shuts up and tried to ignore the atmosphere.
She closed her eyes and tried to sleep but couldn't.
Narrator - Awkwaaaaard!!!!!
Shut it!
Some time passes by and they eventually sleep.
Narrator - NINE DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE SABBATH EXAMS.