Extra 16: Gate (10)

"You have a point" - nodded Piña as she thought it was an interesting way of looking at the actions of the strange white-haired god - "[Samsara], the city of reincarnation."

"As for the city itself, it is divided into 6 different zones" - continued Mizari as she pulled a sheet of paper out of her bust and placed it on the table - "These zones are, [Naraka], hell, the place where criminals are punished depending on their crimes."

"Hardy-sama won't like this" - Bozes said with a frown when she heard the name of the zone because it sounded very similar to the underworld.

"Relax, Kurama-sama's hell domain is just a transition, not a final place like Hardy-sama's" - replied Mizari calmly.

"How are you so sure?" - Pineapple asked in surprise.

"Direct information from Kurama that was corroborated by a priest of Hardy who came to talk with him" - replied Mizari with a small smile - "A lot has happened since the creation of [Samsara], but let's get back to the point, the next area is [Asura], the place where the police forces and our defense army inhabit"

"Army?" - Grey repeated with a frown.

"Of defense" - repeated Mizari as she narrowed her eyes - "Let's face it, it's better to be prepared for attack rather than to receive it without us being able to do anything about it."

"I understand the point, but it's worrying that you're creating an army, no matter what the motives are" - said Piña with a frown.

"I know, but it's not like other kingdoms don't do the same" - replied Mizari while shrugging - "The third zone is [Petra], the zone of the hungry, oh, and before you ask if this is where the poor dwell, no, it doesn't refer to that, but here are all the merchants, entertainment places, or restaurants, basically it's a joke by Kurama-sama to say that they steal all our income and leave us unable to eat"

"It's kind of hilarious, but that makes me think of something, aren't there any poor areas in this place?" - Bozes asked in surprise.

"No, Kurama-sama created jobs for everyone, there are even light jobs for the children, like sending messages between the different zones of the city" - replied Mizari calmly - "We'd better continue, the fourth zone is called [Animal], and well, I don't think it needs explanations."

"Livestock and agriculture" - muttered Piña while the former prostitute nodded.

"The fifth zone is [Human], this is where the homes of all the city's inhabitants are" - Mizari continued while marking on the sheet, the different zones of the city, this one being so far, the largest - "And finally, the last zone, and honestly the most important"

Mizari quickly drew a small circle on the sheet as a small smile appeared on her lips - "[Deva], the home of the gods, this is where Kurama-sama dwells, in the outer area are the temples of the different gods"

"Different gods?" - Bozes repeated with surprise because she had understood that the gods were capricious, they did not like their devotees to worship other gods.

"Yes, Kurama-sama has the doctrine that one can worship whoever they want, he does not restrict religions" - answered Mizari while watching how a group of Hardy's devotees, walked towards the [Deva] area together with Emroy's devotees - "Mind you, to prevent problems or accidents, the devotees have to wear an identification with their religion, so they don't get confused about the shrine."

"The gods don't have a problem with this?" - asked Piña with a frown.

"Not at all, or at least that's what their apostles have said, they've even been debating if this is a good idea to expand it to other kingdoms" - Mizari replied. She had seen how the apostle of Emroy, was discussing with the apostles of the other gods who had arrived a few days ago about this situation.

"This is interesting" - muttered Piña as she nodded calmly - "This city is much better than I thought, you could even say it's a miracle itself."

"I think so too" - replied Mizari with a huge smile - "We were always excluded, or we were treated as pets, decorative objects, or simple slaves, but Kurama-sama gave us a new place, one where we can live in peace and harmony."

Piña felt a little embarrassed that it was the empire that was abdicating for human superiority.

"At first we were a little confused, why Kurama-sama allowed humans to enter after all they had done to us" - said Mizari with a frown, ignoring how the bodies of the empire knights, tensed slightly - "But then we understood, Kurama-sama is a benevolent god, he not only gave a new chance to us, but also to you, that's why he did not restrict entry to any race"

Mizari began to giggle like a child experiencing her first love, only to cough to calm her heartbeat - "Sorry, I got carried away with my devotion."

"More than devotion, it seems you were dreaming about your beloved" - Shandi replied, only to notice how Mizari's smile grew slightly.

"Well, he's the person who saved me, no, saved us, it's obvious that I'm going to have feelings for my knight in white armor" - smiled Mizari while shaking her head - "Anyway, is there anything else you want to know about the city?"

"Is there anything we should know?" - Piña asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"Let's see, there are some rules you have to follow, but they are not restrictive and only affect people who commit crimes" - replied Mizari while handing them a document - "There you will find the punishments for infractions, as for other rules, let's see, the stores not only accept money, but also barters"

"Barter?" - Bozes asked with surprise.

"Yes, Kurama-sama decided that there were other ways to be able to get what they wanted and that was by handing over something of similar value, although obviously, you can't trade with stolen items, people, or with counterfeit items because that would be a crime"

"Makes sense" - nodded Pineapple as the others understood the situation.

"Well, now it's your turn, I want you to tell me a bit about a certain incident that is happening in [Alnus] Hill" - said Mizari seriously.

"How did you know about that?" - Piña asked with a frown.

"Many people go through [Samsara] to learn the truth about our god, and rumors are hard to contain" - replied Mizari honestly - "We are not quite sure about the general situation, but Kurama-sama detected a huge magical signature concentrating on that place"

Piña was silent for a few seconds before looking at Grey, who only nodded, after all, there was no need to hide the truth now that Kurama knew about what was going on, even this information could be a good way to improve the relationship between the two parties.

"According to a prophet of the empire, a great change is about to appear in our world, and it will all start on the [Alnus] hill" - replied Piña while closing her eyes - "We have been thinking about sending a team to keep an eye on everything, but let's just say we have encountered certain problems in the process."

"I understand" - nodded Mizari while thinking as fast as possible - "Could you go a little deeper into the prophecy or the general situation?"

"The prophecy is as vague as I mentioned, I'm not withholding information" - replied Piña while shaking her head - "As for the general situation, everything was normal before I left, but I could sense a tense atmosphere during the last general council my father did, although I wouldn't know what they discussed because I wasn't granted access"

"I understand, thank you very much for this information" - Mizari nodded as she asked them to order whatever they wanted, and it would be on their tab before quietly leaving.

"Was it a good idea to reveal that information, Piña-sama?" - Norma asked as she looked at the princess.

"Yes, this is the first step, not to mention that I feel that things are not as simple as we thought" - replied Piña while biting a finger - "Besides, I feel that my brother is about to make a stupid move with all the troops he is gathering, maybe he will use this opportunity to take whatever is forming on the [Alnus] hill."

"The problem is that we don't know what kind of changes will be born in [Alnus]" - Bozes said with a frown - "They may be favorable for us, or it may be our end, and Zorzal-sama is not measuring the consequences of his actions"

"That's exactly what I think" - replied Piña while frowning - "My brother is only looking at the possible gains, but he does not measure the consequences of his actions, a single bad move could put us in such a deplorable state that the empire could disappear at a moment's notice, not counting clear hostility for Kurama-sama"

The group continued to converse quietly, but their words were still loud enough for the person spying on them to hear - "Interesting, this information could be of use to Kurama-sama."

Mizari let out a small smile before quietly retreating.