"Yeah that makes sense."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKJiQYDWRF
"Yeah Yeah.." They both began to follow Konkitsu as he led them outside of their home — a short walk later and they saw someone — hard at work striking steel on steel — he looked up at them and began to speak.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifx1oppbfB
"Hello, how may I help you?"
He was a soft spoken young man with black hair kept in a ponytail, upon further inspection — he didn’t wear the most ideal attire for a smith — but he seems to feel fine this way.
"This is Eryx. He's an outsider who's been welcomed into the village thanks to his expertise in forging. I've aided in sharpening his skills."
"HA! HA! Aaaaah forging joke." Ibaraki laughed sarcastically — wait no it was a definite genuine laugh.
"Heh...I didn't catch it. I'm the one you come too if you've got demon parts to spare and need some new armor made for the battles ahead..." Eryx finished as he bowed his head to them.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3AWOFI7Hz
"I'll have your armor....and weapons forged before...nightfall. Come by again when you've become proper Fiends for the village....thank Konkitsu here...he's paying for this." Konkitsu’s screws and machinery whirred as he turned his entire body towards Eryx.
"No I'm not." Eryx reached into his robe and pulled out a letter handing it to Konkitsu, ripping it open Konkitsu would start reading over it.
"The Scientist told me that it was you who were paying. "So.....who's paying me?" Eryx looked over at the trio as he awaited a response. Reluctantly Konkitsu took out some coins and paid him.
The trio together began to head towards stairs that led up to a large building, Ibaraki and Xenthos started to walk up the stairs but stopped — turning around they looked at Konkitsu before ascending further.
"You alright there bud? Need one of us to carry you?" Ibaraki asked as she walked back and put her hands out, crouching and grabbing him.
"Eeuah! Hey!” Kicking and squirming Konkitsu kicked free, landing he pointed up at her sternly.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r0N4uX2Q6
“For your information I can easily walk up stairs like the rest of you can, so it's not that. It's the fact that I'm not allowed anywhere near the maiden. Comes with the body ya know."
"Shame. We've got Demons running around and a defender of the village can't even come greet a woman." Xenthos looked down at Konkitsu with a bit of pity.
"Hey, she's a child. More reason they want me away. Don't make those long faces just get in there and introduce yourselves." The two nodded at Konkitsu and then ascended the stairs.
"Ten..full years. How the hell do we go about making life up from that without causing that glow to come and try to nab us again?" Ibaraki groaned, annoyed by this.
"Don't know but we've got no choice but to figure this out as we go." As they arrived at the top Xenthos banged on the door.
"Enter!"
A voice called out and upon hearing it they entered — spotting two different groups of people. One with various people in suits and proper attire and another in armor.
"Hm? You two are new faces, however one should enter at a time I'm afraid you'll have to separate." A man stood nearby them looking over at the new entries, he was of average height with golden-brown eyes, dark brown hair tied back but the ponytail was spiky and a five o'clock shadow beard.
"I'm Xenthos and this is my partner, Ibaraki." He says as he looks at the one speaking to them.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoLE7KAb98
"Separation isn't something that we would very much appreciate at this time."
"Ibaraki and- So you two are the ones The Scientist spoke of." The Man commented looking towards them — Ibaraki was trying to hold her breath.
"The lost ones.” Looking ahead Ibaraki and Xenthos spotted the Maiden, she looked down at them with a smile.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxDJHB4vgB
“Greetings, my name is Kagura. I'm the Village Maiden. I handle the blessings and the protection of the people. " The Young Maiden spoke.
“Nice to meet you, we’re hoping to become proper fiends for the village if that’s okay with you.” Ibaraki nudged Xenthos and the pair knelt down before her.
“Don’t worry about that, we don’t do that here.” Ibaraki and Xenthos rose their heads as another man stepped forward, unlike the other man he his hair was slicked back and he wore a purple formal vest, a white pinstriped button-up shirt with the sleeves folded into cuffs and a red neck tie as well as black formal pinstripe pants with a blue belt around his waist. Helping them up to their feet he began to introduce himself. 342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GYlKcSWZb
“Dallas, Dallas Trigger. I’m the stand in Village Chief, these two are our captains. The Exiles Leader step forward and introduce yourself.” Dallas motioned to a young blonde haired boy to his left.
“Lord Takai.” A woman in the lineup of people spoke, she had blonde hair and seemed to be taller than the rest of them — he began to speak.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW57mNPR3z
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“Vergil Takai Chii, Leader of The Exiles. Anything and everything dealing with the Exiles is to be reported to me.” He then steps back, the other man stepped forward with a bow.
“Hiashitori Nari, I am the Defenders leader. Anything at all you need don’t be afraid to ask, The Defenders are very competent and effective we’ll have it to you in mere moments upon asking.” He spoke in a loud and proud manner before stepping back.
“Anything you wish to ask?” Kagura asked the pair.
“None at a-”342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99nb94nJhQ
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“Why does your hair look like a shuriken? That style is not it, it makes your forehead stand out too much and it’s very shiny.”342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ybLAC5F5W
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“Y-You said what…?” Hiashi froze and looked at her, a vein showing from his clear anger while Xenthos just groaned and covered his face, a snicker was heard and Hiashi glared at Vergil.
“I told you that style was unnecessary and far from stylish.” Vergil continued snickering.
"Tch. I'll leave you under the care of that hag, the scientist woman, we'll have things set up and send Utsukushī to accompany you two for the test." Hiashitori hissed annoyed that his choice of style didn’t do as well as he’d thought it would. Xenthos and Ibaraki nodded and stepped out, beginning to descend down the stairs.
"Well that went smoothly, anything else we need to do?" Ibaraki asked.
"Just report to Konkitsu and we should be done." Xenthos told her as they reached the bottom of the stairs — but there was no Konkitsu. Looking around they were pretty confused, who was supposed too-
"Heya!"
"Gah!" Ibaraki shouted — there was suddenly a guy appeared in her face..hanging upside down...from a bow staff?
"Sup names Wukong, Utsukushī sent me to retrieve you two since Konkitsu kinda botched it by ya know, leaving. Unless you two aren’t Xenthos and Ibaraki." He smiled and flipped, landing on his feet and grabbing his staff.
"So. Are you two ready to become official Fiends?" Wukong was very cheery and much more carefree than one would expect from living in this world — Ibaraki instantly gave his energy back.. tenfold.
"YEAH LET'S KICK SOME DEMON ASS!" She shouted, thrusting her fists in the air — despite the initial shock Wukong joined in.
"YEAAAAH!!!" People were staring and Xenthos just rubbed his temples.
"Idiots. Where are they kid?" Xenthos asked.
"Whoa whoa man, I'm not a kid..I'm nineteen." Wukong corrected.
"I'm twenty-seven." Xenthos told him.
"Actually thirty-seven due to what’s happened. Which makes me thirty-five and I look goooood." Ibaraki smirked before Xenthos bonked her on the head. Wukong was confused but he led the way. They returned to the front of the village like before.
"Big Sis, job is done! Found them, which wasn't as hard as I thought it would be." Wukong walked over and the pair were introduced to their caretaker.
"Thank you Wukong, my name is Utsukushī Sānzu. I'm one of the Legendary Fiends, I'll be watching over you and my verdict will be the final word for if you two are proper or not. Even though I've already seen your skills, it's the rules. Now the mission will be-"
"Hey. So what's your story huh?" Wukong nudged Ibaraki intrigued.
"Hm? Oh I'm just a lost gal finding my way, thinking of becoming a road warrior ya know?" Ibaraki told him, looking at him smirking.
"Oh yeah? What if ya had a friend to back ya up huh?" Wukong implied while leaning against his staff.
"What? You? Alright prove yourself in a big battle to me and we're out of here yeah?"
"Sick!"
"You two weren't listening to a word were you?" Xenthos looked at the two — all they did was smile and laugh.
"Oye can't you two focus? Last thing I want is Sānzu here on me because you idiots get hurt." Another man came walking over, his name was Lee as explained by Utsukushī he was a former brigand but that's as far as she spoke on his behalf.
"Hehe alright everyone let's leave, Takata. We're leaving." Everyone turned and saw no one at the main reception desk — next thing they notice four white tails emerge as a boy's head pops up then the rest of his body — a kid?
"Understood. May The Light Of History's Greatest Warriors Light Your Way."
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