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The road was dark, skies stained with dark red seeing the crimson room.
She glanced around searching the streets of Fukui. Only 3 lamp-posts showed light. As if the entire area was abandoned.
Despite the time being only 9:10 many people had already gone to bed, with multiple shops closed.... was this the norm in this world?
Hori took about 5 steps from a rusty shack she passed.
Immediately, a shiver ran through her spine.
Someone was following her.
This feeling!
She turned her back quickly with a furious face,ready to kill on sight.
"For the wages of sin is death!"
It cried out, ignoring the once quiet scene.
Hori followed the sound and their eyes met.
"A sinner! Of racism!!"
Once again, she easily identified the species.
Hori continued as if answering a quiz.
"They can easily be identified because their skin is perfectly divided into 3, the 2 sides red and the remaining section black!"
"Representing their ideology of a color of species being superior to another!! That is wrong!!! We must all love each other despite our colors or traditions!!"
She screamed at the top of her along as if angry.
Narrator - Oh my God, Hori stop yelling, it's past nine!
The Sinner of Racism ignored her preaching and mindlessly charged towards Hori. As if their only purpose was to devour flesh.
"I'm sorry but I don't have time for you right now!"
Hori quickly threw Haruki's phone incredibly high in the air.
She tackled the Sinner, recreating her sparing with Haruki. Compared to his speed this was laughably slower.
Her hands held that of the creature.
She grunted from its pathetic struggling and BROKE them backwards!
"For the wages of sin is death!!!!"
It cried, even their kind felt pain.
She swiftly caught Haruki's phone as it finally left the sky.
Her hands tightly held the Sinners two broken arms as if arrested.
"Oh goodness. Only 5 percent left!"
She exclaimed as she brought the screen to her eyes.
The Sinner yelled trying to escape from Hori's impeccable grip.
"What will I do with you now?"
She asked the Sinner with an annoyed face.
I can't release it because it might eat someone...and I don't know how to kill it because I'm not a member of SHO yet.
"Come on Inori, think!"
She rubbed her forehead with her unoccupied left hand.
"For the wages of sin is death!!"
It shrieked, still trying to escape.
"Stop yelling, I'm thinking! plus it's late!"
Hori was still wondering what to do when she saw an empty shack with woodwork supplies.
I have an idea!
She thought upon seeing the shack.
Hori dragged the Sinner by hand to the empty shed, and picked up a piece of rope.
"Haruki-san taught me how to bind opponents I can't or don't want to kill."
She smiled as she recalled his lessons.
Her head replayed the exact moments.
"Okay, you gotta make it tight so they can't wiggle away! Also make the knot super complex so they can't loosen it."
He lectured Hori.
She attempted and showed him her knot.
"Hmmm, make it tighter!"
He yelled.
"Understood! Haruki-san!"
She replied.
She smiled from the memory while tying the Sinner.
The knot was almost done so she spoke out loud.
"Mr Sinner, racism is wrong okay? Differences should encourage diversity, not discrimination. Try remembering that in your next life."
She lectured.
The Sinner however just yelled their usual phrase whilst trying to escape the knot. Hori had forgotten they didn't understand Japanese.
There, all done!
She exhaled looking at her well tied knot.
"What do you think, Narrator?"
Narrator - ...it's pretty good....
Hori grinned from the complement.
"Alright! Time to continue searching for a circuit."
She pressed on! Dragging the Sinner on the floor with the rope she tied, looking like a hunter with a scapegoat.
Narrator, why is everywhere so empty? Is it that late?
Hori said worriedly, the atmosphere was too erie for her liking.
Narrator - The streets are always empty at night. You see, Sinners as well as Sins are more active during the night.... sometimes even rumored to be 'stronger'.....
Narrator - After all, 'Works of the flesh' are best done in dark....
"What an ominous message Narrator, are you perhaps trying to scare me?"
Narrator - For the love of, I wasn't talking to you!
Hori scanned the streets, All the stores were closed.
Would it be impolite to knock on someone's door and ask to burrow their circuit?
She was actually considering it .
Narrator - That's not impolite it's straight up creepy!
Hori walked for some time and saw the store where Haruki and her always shopped at. Tengokyu's Family Shop.
"Ah! Cashier-san!"
She called out to the old man who owned the store and also worked as the cashier.
"Hori?! What are you up and about so late for? It's 10 Pm!"
The old man scolded, he was just closing for the day.
Narrator - You sure have a lot of old friends. First a pregnant lady, now an old bum.
Narrator! Stop being rude!
Ahem!
"Cashier-san, it's good to see you!"
She greeted, happy to see him doing well after the attempted robbery incident.
"Kid I have a name, please call me Tengokyu."
He grumbled, what the heck was Cashier-san?
"Ah, Tengokyu means heavenly in English! What a lovely name"
She casually complimented him despite their age difference.
"Aww shucks, Oh my Goodness, is that a Sinner?????"
The old man widened his mouth upon seeing the Sinner of Racism Hori had tied, dragging around like load.
"That is correct Tengokyu-san, I didn't know what to do with it so I tied it up."
She said calmly.
"What are you doing?! get that thing away from here!!"
He yelled, quickly withdrawing.
"...but...If I release it, it might end up eating someone."
Hori replied with a sad face.
"Tch!... your right, and we can't call a priest for a single Sinner....!"
He scratched his head with a worried expression as well.
Narrator - Priests don't usually show up for ONE Sinner, so people still end up getting eaten.
Think of it like calling the cops for loitering, but in this case, loitering kills people.
Hori quickly remembered her reason for coming this far.
"Excuse me, Tengokyu-san. Will I be able to charge this phone?"
She politely asked showing him Haruki's phone and charger.
"ah yes, the stores still open, just look for a circuit in the back."
He replied, trying to remove his gaze from the Sinner, it was quite rare seeing one so up close.
"Thank you very much!"
She appreciated and was about to enter the store.
"Okay, now you stay here!"
Hori tied the Sinner to a strong rod. And signaled it to stay still as she walked into the store.
"For the wages of sin is death!!!"
It cursed Hori for restricting it's movements.
She quickly ran to charge the phone, it's battery only in 1 as she finally plugged it.
Phew~
A sign of relief.
Hori came back outside to were Tengokyu-san was sitting.
She neatly sat by his side and bowed her head in appreciation for a charging space.
The old timer brought up a conversation.
"So, That is a Sinner of what? I wasn't good at, whatcha call it again?"
He scratched his chin.
"Jittai? Yes, that subject. About Sins and Sinners"
He snapped his fingers.
Hori raised a brow in confusion, what was "Jittai"?
Narrator - Jittai 実体 is an official subject in Japan that teaches the ontology of this world. It teaches students about the designs and characteristics of Sins and Sinners. As well as safety precautions when encountering either.
Narrator - You could say Hori is exceptional at this, being able to identify almost any type of Sinner.
I did not know that. Father never included such subject in my home lessons!
Narrator - Since your the daughter of the rumoured "Almighty Father Jiro" I'm sure he found it pointless in teaching you about Sins and Sinners.
Narrator - Thinking you might never encounter them, how unfortunate for your current predicament.
Hori didn't reply.
"uhhh Hori? I was asking about the Sinner."
He tapped her shoulder.
"Oh sorry!"
She quickly answered.
"That's a Sinner of Racism! Notice the uneven colors on its body? It's for representing its ideology, that a specific color of race is superior."
Hori replied like a scholar, all correct. She was very knowledgeable in the appearance of Sinners.
"Wow, you sure are smart. Real sharp kid!"
Tengokyu complimented while drinking from his canned beer.
"Hehe, it's nothing impressive Tengokyu-san, my father was a priest that's all. So I usually read his books about their designs.
She smiled.
Narrator - What do you mean dad was a priest?! FATHER JIRO is the head of SHO Japan! AND, currently the strongest human alive!!
Narrator! I can't tell anyone that!!
"So your father was a priest? What happened to him?"
Tengokyu asked with a now serious voice.
"Oh... it's a long story"
Hori honestly didn't know how to explain her situation. I'm actually the Prime Minister's daughter, but I'm still alive! Yeah right. Only fools would believe such nonsense.
The elder didn't impose any further, he must've concluded from Hori's sad expression that her father was deceased.
So quickly changed the subject.
Ahem!
"About that pretty boy, who is he anyway?"
The old man said with a slightly irritated face, he really didn't like Haruki.
"That is a good friend of mine, Haruki-san!"
She answered with a chirpy attitude. Dismissing the earlier topic of her father.
"...friend?"
He raised a brow in doubt, as if Hori just told a lie.
"Yes? Friend!'
She replied innocently tilting her head in confusion.
"Okay, 'Friend' but you two aren't living together right?"
He asked about to take a sip from his drink.
"Oh, we are!"
pfffhhhh!
He choked on his beer. The booze leaked from his nose as he smacked his chest.
"Tengokyu-san?! Are you alright?!"
Hori tapped his back.
"Ain't you guys just kids?! Everything is so different now."
He rubbed his chest to cease the coughing.
Hori was obviously confused.
"Just be sure not to get pregnant or anything."
He finally took another sip of his beer.
Hori furrowed her brows
"Pregnant? But that is between husband and wife Tengokyu-san!
Although I am not sure how it comes to be....maybe I'll ask Mrs Akane..."
She said with her palm on her chin.
What a strange girl....
Tengokyu thought to himself.
"If he ever does anything to you be sure to tell me! You see, he's quite popular amongst girls in this area. So if anything bad happens, your old man will knock him flat!"
"I've got a daughter so I'm really protective about girls."
Tengokyu declared proudly.
"That is so reassuring! but Haruki-san is not that kind of person...He's very respectful of women."
Hori said with a warm smile looking at the night stars.
The time was now 10:50 PM.
"...but Tengokyu-san, is it not lonely staying alone at the store?I haven't seen any employees."
She said looking at the old man.
"...it's very lonely, I miss my children, I have 2 boys and a girl see."
He bragged, dropping his beer on the floor.
"The Yuna's the first. She'll be giving me my second grandson this year!"
He delightedly said scrolling through his phone.
Hori stared,then blinked.
"...wowwwwww!"
Her mouth gaped.
"What's with that pause?"
He asked.
Hori sincerely said.
"Your really old Tengokyu-san!"
"You picking a fight with me?"
----------------
Their conversation flowed naturally as Haruki's phone was charging.
"That reminds me, you sure are strong for a kid"
He remembered how Hori decimated those poor robbers.
"Haruki-san and I plan on participating in this year's Sabbath Exams!"
She answered.
The man was shocked and asked again to confirm.
"It's true! Haruki-san has been training me ever since. I guess I've gotten a little bit stronger."
Hori said admiring Haruki's huge help in her growth so far.
Tengokyu was amazed. The age limit for joining the Sabbath Exams was 15. Meaning Hori was about that age. Such a kid shouldn't knock out armed me.
"Be careful out there....I heard the Sabbath Exams are very tough."
He cautioned.
Hori noded, appreciating him for his concern. This was the first time someone else wished her luck.
Tengokyu stood up and dusted his brown shorts.
"You should get going Hori, I want to close for the day."
"Of course!"
Hori stood up and ran to unplug Haruki's phone, it entered 32 percent.
She came outside and untied the Sinner, and were about to leave.
"Tengokyu-san, is it not dangerous staying out this late?"
Hori said worriedly, she just met a Sinner but she could deal with it. The same couldn't be said for an old man.
"...there's this thing I heard a long time ago, that Sinners don't just eat anyone. Unless their very hungry of course."
Tengokyu said hauntingly.
"Yes,I have heard something like that before, something about preference?"
She said, remembering a similar topic she read from her father's books.
"Yes, some people say they prefer some people over others. To put it simply, a Sinner of Theft will most likely eat a thief, or someone who steals more than usual."
"Then you just apply that logic to every Sinner."
He spoke as he locked the door to his shop.
"I remember now! That's how it went"
She snapped her finger, remembering what she told her self to calm down when encountering that Sinner of Sloth.
'Sinners don't just kill irrationally'
Tengokyu added as he stepped away from the shop.
"So it means the more pure of heart you are, the more likely you'll survive in this cursed world."
"So that Sinner of Racism was definitely just starving, cause I'm sure your not a racist, right?."
"I would never discriminate a race!"
She yelled almost offended.
Tengokyu smiled and was about to begin walking away.
He yelled as Hori went the opposite direction
"Be sure to pass the Sabbath Exams and show me your cross!"
A Golden cross, the form of licence used to identify Priests.
"I'll make sure to give you something, kids love snacks right."
Hori brimmed with excitement.
"I'll do my best Tengokyu-san!!!"
She waved the man good night and finally went home.
She skipped quickly dragging the Sinner forward. A new wave of confidence glowed within her as she remembered the seniors words of encouragement.
Narrator - I'm surprised you know your way back.
"Haruki-san and I have come here many times, of course I would have memorized the road by now."
"For the wages of sin is death!!!"
It annoyingly reminded Hori it was still alive.
Hori reached the small forest where her and Haruki lived
She tied the Sinner to a tree and went inside.
I can finally continue watching!
She hummed with glee.
Narrator - Wait your not going to sleep?! The time is 12 in the night!
"Why would I sleep? If I were going to, then I wouldn't have charged Haruki-san's phone!"
She argued....I guess that made sense...
Now where was I?
Hori relaxed behind a wall and put the next episode.
Narrator - 5 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE SABBATH EXAMS.