Extra 16: Gate (14)

"I see" - Kurama muttered with a frown - "I guess Zorzal is more erratic than we thought, I had budgeted that he would make his move a few days before the mana stabilized, but such seems that the pressure is too much for him."

"What are your orders, Kurama-sama?" - Delilah asked, who had been summoned after Mizari told her the purpose of her return.

"I want you to take your best subordinates and watch what's going on from a distance" - Kurama replied with a frown - "We don't know what will appear in that place, but we can't let that potential danger, fall into the hands of that idiot, not because he can be lethal to us, but because he could hurt our subjects."

A small smile appeared on Delilah's face before she nodded - "Permission to move and attack if necessary?"

"Permission granted, though I want your safety to be top priority" - Kurama replied seriously.

"Okay!" - Delilah nodded before retreating.

"You've done a good job, Mizari" - said Kurama as he saw that only the beautiful blonde-haired woman remained.

The former prostitute blushed at the praise as she averted her gaze - "T-Thank you for your kind words."

"It's not kindness, it's the simple truth, tell me, what is it that you desire?" - Kurama asked simply - "I can give you anything you want, you just have to ask for it."

"I don't want anything at the moment" - replied Mizari with a slightly red face.

"Hmm, ok, though I want you to remember that you still have this reward, whenever you want to tell me what you want, you just have to come and see me" - replied Kurama while closing his eyes.

Mizari nodded and withdrew, but not before giving the white-haired man one last look.

"What the fuck is wrong with me?" - Mizari muttered with a frown - "I am much bolder and braver than this, did regaining my purity turn me into a child again?"

* * * * *

Yao slowly entered through the huge black gates of Hardy's church, observing everything around with excitement because this was the most beautiful church of her goddess she had ever seen in her life.

"Daughter of Hardy, it is a pleasure to see someone of your race in this beautiful place" - said the high priest of the church as he watched Yao look around the place like a little girl who had just walked into a toy store.

"My lord!" - Yao exclaimed as she knelt down in front of the high priest.

"Please stand up, you can only kneel in front of a god, not a mortal" - replied the high priest with a small smile.

Yao was surprised by the humility of this clergyman, after all, no matter the religion, all the top leaders of the different churches, had a horrible personality because of the enormous power they possessed.

"Our goddess told me that you would come and regarding your objective" - said the high priest while looking at Yao - "And as you have deduced, she wants your people to come to this city"

"Why?" - Yao asked, that was the question that had been confusing her ever since she had talked to Lelei and discovered the possible truth.

"You may not feel it, but this city has a huge concentration of spiritual power, thanks to Kurama-sama, that's why the gods have decided to ignore their past fights and live in "harmony", although this is only on the table" - answered the high priest while closing his eyes - "Under the table, all the gods seek to expand their domain to other races, and this place is perfect for that."

"You mean the law of freedom of religion?" - Yao asked with surprise.

"Exactly, with this law in place, believers can worship other gods without fear of being punished, or they can even worship more than one god" - replied the high priest - "This makes the power of our gods increase slightly, but it is not enough, that's why the gods have been trying to get their tribes to come to this place to increase their influence"

"I see" - Yao muttered as he nodded - "But why are you telling me this? Wouldn't it be better if you simply told me that Hardy-sama ordered us to come?"

"Yes, that would be much easier, but if I deceived you, and then you found out the truth, it would only make you, a loyal devotee of Hardy-sama, turn away from her" - replied the high priest while closing his eyes - "And if you turn away, the members of your race who come to this city, or future generations, might turn away from Hardy-sama"

"I understand" - nodded Yao earnestly - "I promise that I will inform my race about this, and we will come immediately to support Hardy-sama with all our hearts."

"Hardy-sama is happy with your words, that's why she has decided to give you her blessing" - replied the high priest as he raised his staff and placed it on the woman's forehead.

Yao felt a new flow of energy invade her insides before letting out a small, almost imperceptible moan.

The high priest raised an eyebrow before shaking his head - "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some things to do, and a meeting with the priests of the other churches, today is shogi night."

"S-Shogi?" - Yao asked with difficulty.

"Oh, it's a game Kurama-sama taught us, it's one where intellect and strategy shine" - replied the high priest as he let out a small laugh - "Oh, I already want to see how that bastard from Emroy's church squirms before my intellect!"

Yao was silent as she watched the high priest withdraw. She was about to get up, when she heard the sound of a woman's voice in her ear.

"Go to Kurama-dono, you may find the ones you seek there."

Yao opened her eyes, surprised by this as she looked around. She was confused because that voice felt familiar, as if she had known her for many years.

She quickly shook her head before walking over to a nearby guard and asking him if there was any way to contact Kurama.

The guard was silent before walking to his partner and telling him what he had heard.

His partner looked at Yao, then walked towards the inside of his cabin.

Yao was a little scared because with her bad luck, she wouldn't be surprised if the guards arrested her for an unknown reason, though to her surprise, five minutes later, the guard returned, telling her that Kurama would receive her.

She was surprised because she hadn't expected it to be over so quickly, not with her bad luck.

"Tyuule-sama just informed me that Kurama-sama was waiting for you" - the guard replied, surprising the silver-haired woman even more.

"He was expecting me?" - Yao repeated, confused and surprised that this was strange because this was the second time it happened in less than 30 minutes.

"Don't ask, the gods are much more mysterious than we think" - replied the guard while shrugging his shoulders.

* * * * *

"She came faster than I thought, I guess Hardy intervened" - muttered Kurama as his eyes widened slightly, though he could swear as he heard the sound of a female laughter in his ear.

"It's possible" - replied Tyuule calmly as she closed his eyes - "The gods are capricious and erratic, they can do whatever they want, without fear of reprisal."

"You're right" - nodded Kurama calmly as he started to think - "Anyway, I think it's time we met our guest."

"She's already here?" - Tyuule asked with surprise - "Ok, she's either fast, or she's excited to meet you."

"No idea" - replied Kurama as he shrugged his shoulders.

Tyuule quickly walked towards the entrance and opened it, only to see a beautiful woman with brown skin, silver hair, purple painted lips, and a rather well-proportioned body, large breasts, slim waist and hips ready to give birth.

"Uh" - Yao muttered with a red face because it was obvious that she had been trying to hear what was going on inside Kurama's office, out of simple curiosity.

"Hello, please come in" - said Tyuule while raising an eyebrow.

"Sorry" - Yao muttered as she fixed her clothes and walked to where the throne was, only to freeze at the sight of the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life, and it had to be taken into account that elves, no matter the ethnicity, were handsome by nature - "Uh."

"It's a pleasure to see you, I guess your goddess guided you to me" - Kurama said with a small smile - "My name is Kurama, and I am the god of this city."

"It is an honor to stand before your presence, Kurama-sama, my name is Yao Haa Dushi, daughter of the clan leader of the dark elves of the southern mountains" - Yao replied as she knelt in front of Kurama with a serious expression - "Hardy-sama communicated to me to come to see you because you would have the answers to my doubts."

"Ho ~?" - Kurama raised an eyebrow in surprise when he heard this because it wasn't something he expected to hear - "What doubts?"