Yesterday was a fine day of personal progress, in term of business and emotional. Today i walked around solo, because i woke up before everyone. Well - not everyone, the man who sold steam buns near the entrance of the town was up and ready.
"Morning." I greeted him.
"Good morning, what can i get for you?" He replied with a wide smile.
"Twelve of the big steam buns." I ordered, already pulling money to pay.
"Do you want something to carry them in?"
"No, i have my own." I said reaching both hands forward, one with the money and the other empty.
"O-kay?" The man looked at me weirdly as he placed the first bun on my hand, which quickly turned into information. "Ohh, now i get it!" The man laughed as the placed the rest, before taking the money.
"Have a great one!" I said.
"Farewell!"
And so i went back to the guild and opened the door, my friends were still asleep. So i made a makeshift board to place the steam buns on.
Then i left to take a walk, with my car. The people would bother me less if I'm in the safety of my own creation. I already see them as redeemable - I don't need to test them more.
And so i drove and drove, no particular direction.
Though it is quite loud... And i don't know how good it is for the street... When it's ground, it's understandable to use metal tracks, but in town... I took a sigh and got out. Walking it is then...
Of course people began to try to convert me.
Nothing interesting going on, except the idea of making an exosuit which would work with the same mechanism as the first version of the steam blade.
Why am i unable to stand still for once. This is supposed to be vacation and I'm just ruining it.
Dinner eventually came and i was drained from having to run from those people for so long.
As i laid down for a little break i could hear Aqua whining through the floor. About how her own follower - the leader of the church - snorted at her as she tried to explain that she is their goddess.
The pattern of insecurity repeats.
The next morning the conversation continued.
"This town is in serious danger. Remember the guy who snorted at me yesterday? He said that they have been having issues with pollution. The devil king is behind this - he knows my followers will beat him back if he attacked this town. So instead, he is going after our source of income - the hot springs."
Kazuma didn't believe her and Megumin commented "Everyone thinks the Axis faith is annoying, so i can see why he'd want to. But that's such a roundabout way to destroy a cult."
Aqua slammed her hands on the table, the plates clattering slightly. "I'm going to defend this town and all of my disciples. And i know i can count on the four of you to help me, right?"
Kazuma and Megumin found a way to excuse themselves, but I and Darkness stayed quiet.
"But i need your help! Who cares about your dumb sightseeing and stuff!" She began to slam her hands against the table repeatedly. "My followers are really nice once you get to know them!" She turned to me. "Svetislav, how about you?!"
"I will need to hear your plan first, if it's good i will follow." I said.
She then turned to Darkness. "Darkness?"
"Oh, uh - I would have to think about it."
"Please, please!" Aqua grabbed her with one hand and with the other ruined Darkness' grape juice.
And so Darkness agreed, because she was kind of forced to do that.
The plan she gave me was plain and simple - she would go out and warn the people that their hot springs are polluted and that until the source has been found that they would not take baths in them. And also that this is an attack from the devil king.
"This is a bad idea. They are as prideful as you, and they will close their eyes to all, if it means that they are right."
"Please, please!" She cried and begged, even on her knees.
"No, you know how people are, they will treat us as enemies."
And so i went to search for Kazuma and Megumin, since they were those who were just chilling and i found them, resting at the lake.
"Y'all alright?" I said, making them jump.
Once they recognized me they calmed down. "Don't go sneaking up on us like that." Kazuma said, with a hand close to his heart.
There was a man at the dock, covered in applications, holding bags of the same stuff. He yelled "I can't EAT IT!!!" As he tossed the bags into the water.
I looked in his direction and he looked back.
In that moment Wiz also came, running to us, hand high as she waved.
Stay strong. I encouraged myself to look away.
"Guys!" She yelled sweetly.
"Hey Wiz."
"What were you looking at?"
I stared at the lake thinking to myself.
"Svetislav?" Wiz said pocking me.
"Uh, yes. What?" I snapped out of it.
"What were you staring at?"
"Some dude having a breakdown. But he left." I said looking at her.
Suddenly a familiar voice rung out. "Slay the demons! Defeat the Devil King!"
I knew what was happening - Aqua went through with her plan even though I told her it's a bad idea.
We quickly rushed there. A large group of people had gathered around the fountain of the town square as Aqua stood on boxes yelling.
"Gather around, beloved disciples of Axis. I have come to warn you that the Devil King is plotting to destroy your town."
"How?" Darkness asked timidly standing beside the boxes Aqua stood on.
"I will tell you how. He and his minions are putting some kind of poison in the hot springs. This is no hoax - I have personally confirmed that several of the baths here have been polluted."
"I just got back from a soak and I didn't notice anything wrong with the water." The girl who i burnt said.
"Of course you didn't. That's because I have gone to all the baths in town and purified them. But we are not out of danger just yet, so i'm asking for your corporation. Until i find the source of this pollution, please don't use the hot springs."
"This won't end well, i can feel it." I murmur to my friends.
"What are you saying, hot spring is what this town is all about?" The male actor said.
"Why would the Devil King go through all that trouble anyway?" The woman actor added.
"Because he wants to cut the church's source of income. Yes, The Devil King fears the Axis faithful that much. And for the record - I'm not saying all this just because I'm upset over the fact that I'm the only one not allowed in the baths anymore. Now disciples of Axis, go hom-"
Suddenly she is cut off by a man. "There she is! The vandal! That blue haired pain in the ass is the one who's been turning all our hot springs to hot water!"
Immediately outrage spread.
Aqua tried to calm them down, and also tried to involve Darkness to continue with the plan, even though she seemed pretty awkward standing there.
In the end, she said. "That does it! I will reveal my true identity. Honored disciples of the Axis faith. My name is Aqua... yes, the same Aqua you worship. Aqua, the goddess of water. I have come to this world, to help you in your time of need."
For a second it seemed to be working... Then it all went south and the people wanted to toss her in the lake to see. She was called a witch, a demon and all that.
I decided to take my leave and go rest. Sitting around is just worthless... I might like rest occasionally, but now I just wanted to get started with my exosuit, because i was bored.
Even in my meditation i could hear Aqua whining and crying from underneath my room.
In the end it was ready, a mechanical masterpiece of brass, very compressed leather and steam. It had two small containers which served as a light brass engine. The heater goes above the necessary. It's a little over kill, but for intense movements(like wall running) i would be in need of it.
I tested it all out in the meditative world, so it's alright. I also had to make a new enchantment for it to work properly without it severely burning me. And the feeling, it's like none others. The armor has the ability of moving in all directions, up, down, left, right, forward, backwards. And it was insanely satisfying as I ran on a wall while steam bursts out from beneath my armpit. I will give it a soul... I just need to realize it in the world.
And so i came out of my meditative state and placed the schematic down in my perspective. I clapped my hands together, compressing mana into a body and then a piece of me in them. My little workers were ready. Go on and build it, all resources are available to you.
They reluctantly got to work, pressing themselves against the information schematic which only I and they can see.
One of them floated to me. "I wonder what you can see, little one."
I gave it a light poke with my index finger, and like magic, i saw it. Empty world in which only the information of the schematic exists... They are my workers in the astral.
I looked at my hand, it's glowing orange, just like the astral appearance of my extensions.
I pulled my finger away and blinked this way of seeing away. Now i understand it... All I see is information translated from light, my creations cannot see the physical, because i have not given them the ability to transform the light into information...
A wide smile formed on my face, one of pure euphoria, one brought only when you have found satisfaction in your answer. It's beautiful, truly beautiful. My gaze seeing nothing.
And before i knew it, my suit was ready.
Suddenly many voices intertwined as one called out. "Slay the demons! Defeat the Devil King!" again and again. This was the crowd that Aqua provoked. I looked out the window - a large crowd had gathered in front of the building.
I looked around for any escape routes, the windows. "The imposter is escaping!" One called, pointing out to the side.
I look through that window and see that Aqua was holding onto a big ass balloon.
With a deep breath, I clap once and make another artificial life, before placing it in the suit. I dematerialize it after which rematerialize it on me. Without hesitation i turned to the window and jumped out, spreading my arms out and flexing my back muscles, which opened the way for steam to burst out, shooting me forward.
"Go get them, sonny!" The old woman from whom i learnt the recipes from cheered.
From there i went full parkour, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, wall running as steam pushes me back against the wall, it was intense for my muscles, because it forced me to keep myself balanced.
I nearly fell a few times on my head, but with smart manoeuvres i kept myself on my feet. Eventually i found my friends in an alley way. I slid on my ass and fell next to them, transforming sound into mana to not give away our position.
"What's the plan?" I ask.
"The pollution must be at the source."
The crowd quickly found us, and we were forced to flee again.
We went on the path which was blocked by a gate and two guards. Aqua tried to persuade them, but that quickly failed. "Gents, one million, each of you. Will you open the door?"
They both stared jaws falling open. "Yes sir!" They both say, opening the gates for us.
And so we continued on. The first pool we saw, had dark purple water around one of it's pipes.
"Hold on, i see someone." Kazuma warned crouched behind a rock. After taking a closer look, me, Kazuma and Megumin concluded that it's that guy who couldn't eat whatever.
"He looks like he is thinking about jumping in." Aqua commented.
"Maybe all your followers bugging him to convert finally got to him." Kazuma replied indifferently at Aqua.
In that moment the man looked like he was going to fall forward, Kazuma quickly rushed forward.
"Don't do it! You are too young to die!"
The man would look at his confused.
After we all came out he said "H-hey there? You are here to see the springs? They are the perfect remedy for lower back pain, stiff shoulders exhaustion acne, depressi-"
I materialize my stead sword and point the edge at him.
"Woah!" He raised his hands in front of his chest. "Please, put that down, i'm just the manager."
Wiz seemed thoughtful as she looked at him. "Haven't we met somewhere? Ah! Of course! Hans!"
"Wiz, stay away from him... Those guards at the gate said that the manager doesn't want anyone in... Why would the supposed 'manager' be so welcoming." I said, placing a hand in front of her. Everyone prepared.
"Wiz, Who's this man? Give me details."
"He is Hans and he is a deadly slime."
"You shouldn't have said that... You are not supposed to interfere in our work. That was your deal with the Devil King - stay out of our way." Hans yelled.
I tilted my blade and pointed it at his neck. Resisting the idea of cutting it off.
"Who are you really?" I ask.
"So you wanna know? Fine! My name is Hans, I'm a deadly poison slime, and one of the Devil King's generals."
Kazuma immediately shrunk in presence.
"Among all generals, he is the one with the highest bounty on his head."
"Cool."
"I thought slime are weak." Kazuma said timidly.
"What gave you this idea? They are nearly impermeable. If you get into one you are going to die, either from getting digested or from getting crushed." Darkness explained.
"And not only that - he poisoned all the hot springs, so he is very toxic. One touch means instant death."
I stop holding Hans on the edge of my blade and back away.
"That's right." He said dangerously. He looked at the others.
If i die here, then i would get to meet Eris and prove my suspicions... If not, then i will have to wait for another opportunity... Am i ready to give my life in search of truth? Yes... Aqua will revive me.
In that moment all my friends ran away.
"Afraid, boy?" He smirked, with spread arms.
At the thought that this will be an all out battle, my body began to pump adrenaline, my heart reaching an bps like never before. My head shook slightly as i grinned like a maniac.
Without hesitation i dashed forward and cut Hans in half, severing his top and bottom half.
He reformed and laughed. "Didn't you listen? I'm impermeable to physical attacks."
"I did," I hissed, holding the blade in place and releasing hot vapor. "Do you like heat, you slimy, greasy bitch? I can kill you in a single touch. Not even that - just being near me will end you. So how about we make this interesting... like my fight with Vanir."
Hans' eyes bulged. "You... Killed Vanir!?"
"Yes. And you are next. Unless you entertain me. That fight was staged... mostly. This one will also be."
"Why should i play along?"
"Because if you don't, I'll murder you anyway."
"Then try me!" Hans lunged, aiming for my face. His hand turned into slime, but before it could hit me it froze solid, turning brittle with frost. He ripped free with a snarl, shifting into his true form - a towering mass of writhing slime.
I dismissed the sword into data. "Come at me, you grease!" I spread my arms flexing my chest muscled to dash back.
He began throwing a bunch of his mass, polluting the waters and hitting the ground. Every piece that came near evaporated into harmless steam.
"You are weak!" I bellowed, laughter bubbling up. "Soft-ass bitch!"
We danced like that - predator and prey, though he couldn't tell which was which. I toyed with him until my friends returned, watching from the sidelines, except Aqua, who ran to purify the waters.
The angry mod that Aqua provoked came and saw this, stunned, Aqua was right.
Hans rushed me, but midway to my previous position, he met my fist. I grinned like a madman even through the pain. My plan - this slime seemed pretty animalistic, wonder if it's soul is infinite... I inserted artificial life in the slime, one which gave me the detonation button. Slime somehow got through the exosuit, melting my flesh, until nothing remained, but bone.
Hans wailed as his body boiled into vapor. A cloud of steam rose where he once stood.
I staggered, turning back to my friends. With my skeleton hidden under the steam-suit, I gave them a thumbs up.
Priests rushed in, chanting, pouring mana into me - but i blocked it. Denied it. This was the chance i wanted.
"I'll take a break now," I said softly. My body gave way, collapsing in a clatter of metal against stone. Darkness rushed in to meet me.