Extra 16: Gate (11)

"I see, that's interesting" - Kurama said while stroking his chin.

"What are your orders?" - Mizari asked as she looked closely at the white-haired man.

"For now we won't do anything, though I'd like you to keep an eye out for more rumors like this" - replied Kurama as he shook his head - "That aside, you did a good job."

"Thank you" - smiled Mizari as her wings twitched unconsciously.

Tyuule clicked her tongue as Delilah shook her head.

"For now I want you to continue with the royal guard training, Delilah because we will send them to [Alnus] when the time comes, and from the speed at which magic is concentrated there, I'd say we have two to three years" - Kurama muttered with a frown.

The three women looked at each other with different expressions.

Each of them had a different power, and ironically they complemented each other.

Tyuule was the closest to Kurama, and was the one who directly handled everything related to economy and justice.

Delilah was in charge of the royal guard and handling the growing army, which made her the top military power.

Finally, Mizari was in charge of the information department, which made life easier for Tyuule and Delilah because she was constantly alert to the slightest rumor in the city. It was thanks to her work during the last week that the two rabbit girls were able to solve certain problems before things got out of hand.

"You are dismissed" - Kurama said calmly as he closed his eyes.

The three women looked at each other before nodding.

"I think it's a good time for the three of us to talk" - Tyuule said as she looked at her former subordinate, who was no longer in control, and the new recruit in her group.

"Yes, it's pretty obvious that the three of us are looking for the same thing, but I don't think it's a good idea for us to constantly be at each other's throats" - nodded Mizari as she pulled out a long pipe and started smoking - "After all, we'll be seeing each other most of the time"

"As much as I hate to admit it, you have a point" - Tyuule snorted as she frowned - "I'm impressed at how quickly you've adapted to your new identity."

"Surviving on the streets of a hostile place, makes one have to do everything to survive" - replied Mizari with disdain.

"I think we will get along better than I thought" - smiled Tyuule as she noticed something in the woman's gaze, she was just like them, a survivor who would do everything to live one more day, even sacrificing her body - "I would like to talk more about our past, maybe it will give me the inspiration I need"

"We can go now" - smiled Mizari as she looked at the rabbit girl - "You can also join us, Delilah-san."

"I'm sorry, but I have work to do" - replied Delilah as she shook her head - "I have to train my subordinates and hand out the new repertoire to our army."

"That's a pity" - sighed Mizari as she shook her head.

* * * * *

"So this is the place we're looking for" - muttered Cato as he looked closely at the imposing walls.

"Meh, I've seen better places" - replied Arpeggio as she shook her head.

"I recommend you not to say anything else, Onee-chan" - muttered Lelei as she noticed the change in the expressions of the locals. It was obvious that they had not taken her older sister's words in a good way.

Arpeggio also seemed to understand the situation, so she quickly apologized.

"It's impressive the concentration of magic in this place, it's like the world is trying to please someone" - Cato muttered as he walked towards the source of all this.

The two girls quickly walked behind him, but were surprised when they saw an imposing man stopping them midway - "I'm sorry, but you can't pass."

"Why?" - Cato asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"Up ahead is the center of the [Deva] zone, only authorized personnel or people who have made an appointment can pass and see Kurama-sama" - replied the guard seriously.

"[Deva] zone?" - Cato asked with surprise and curiosity.

"Are you new here?" - asked the guard with surprise - "Well, that explains a bit, although I'm surprised that the new gatekeeper didn't inform you of something so important, I guess I'm going to have to talk to my superiors."

"Please, could you explain what the [Deva] zone is?" - Cato asked curiously - "And who inhabits this place?"

"You really are new" - said the guard while shaking his head - "Anyway, the [Deva] zone is the place where the altars of the different gods are and the place where Kurama-sama dwells."

"Different gods?" - Lelei repeated with surprise while watching as a group of pilgrim with different IDs walked around the place - "Are you saying that this city allows the worship of different deities?"

"Yes, that is one of the laws that Kurama-sama passed, complete freedom to worship whoever we want, as well as to respect our brothers" - replied the guard proudly.

Cato was surprised, after all, he knew how jealous the gods were with their worshipers, after all, they were directly connected to their power. The more worshipers they had, the more powerful they would become.

"As for who Kurama-sama is, well, he is our god" - the guard answered simply, after all, this was not a secret - "He fell to the mortal world during the war between the empire and the [Rabbit Warriors] tribe, saving the queen and the few remaining people, after that he negotiated with the emperor our freedom, now we are living in this city, without fear of being attacked or treated as objects."

"God?" - Cato asked with a frown because the name "Kurama", didn't seem to be in any ancient writings - "What kind of god, is he?"

"He is our benevolent god, someone who seeks to help everyone equally" - answered a female voice.

Those present looked at the source, surprised to see a beautiful rabbit woman.

"Tyuule-sama!" - The guard exclaimed as he prepared to kneel down.

"Don't do it, remember that you only have to show respect to our god" - answered Tyuule calmly, to then look at the people in front of her - "I'm surprised to see the great sage Cato in this place"

"You know me?" - Cato asked with surprise because he didn't expect to be recognized so easily.

"Yes, let's say we have information of all the people of great importance that are near our city, a security measure to be prepared for the worst" - answered Tyuule honestly - "Leaving that aside, what is one of the wisest wizards of the human race doing in this place?"

"I came to investigate the huge concentration of mana in this place" - Cato answered while shaking his head.

"I guess that's because of Kurama-sama's new project" - Tyuule replied while shrugging his shoulders.

"New project?" - Cato asked in surprise before watching as all the people seemed to be running towards the outskirts of the city.

"It's best you see for yourselves" - Tyuule replied calmly as she motioned for them to follow her.

The trio looked at each other as they followed the rabbit woman until they reached the city wall, where everything was gathered.

"What do we have to see?" - Cato asked curiously because outside the thriving city, there was only a war-torn wasteland.

"Just watch quietly" - answered Tyuule as he waited for things to start.

"Uh? There's someone outside" - Arpeggio said in surprise, only to blush as he got a better look at the man - "And he's someone quite handsome, I wonder if he has a girlfriend?"

"Pff" - Tyuule let out a laugh when she heard this, as the people around did something similar.

"Did I say something funny?" - Arpeggio asked with a frown - "He's handsome, it's obvious I'm going to ask something like that, I'm a young and single girl."

"Right, you're new" - said Tyuule while shaking her head - "He's the person you guys tried to see, he's Kurama-sama"

"He is Kurama-sama!" - Arpeggio exclaimed in surprise, only to blink for a few seconds - "Well, he has the appearance you would expect from a god."

"I think so too, but now just be quiet and watch" - said Tyuule as she watched the white-haired man walk towards the devastated wasteland and put his hands on the ground.

Lelei watched everything in silence, only to open her eyes, amazed by the enormous power the god was radiating - "This energy is not magic, it is something much purer, and it seemed to be resonating with the world."

Cato was also surprised at this, as his pupils constricted as he watched a sea of trees begin to sprout in the ground - "This is it!"

"He's creating life out of nothing!" - Arpeggio exclaimed as she watched as a small group of trees also began to grow within the city, though far from damaging the buildings, these seemed to be growing in specific locations that added to the beauty of the place.