Chapter 88: The Bond of Spirits

"Kurogami Masayuki, my elder brother, today I am feeling very sorrowful, shall we go have a few drinks?"

"What's the matter with you, Snow Sky-Dog? You look quite peculiar today, Snow Sky-Dog!"

"My elder brother, Kurogami Masayuki, indeed something terrible happened to me yesterday! Let's go for drinks, and then I will slowly tell you the story!"

"Haizza, Snow Sky-Dog, is the cause of your sadness related to the love affair between the two beautiful girls, Mizuchi Haruka, and Seraphina Frostwind, handsome god?"

"Elder brother, I wonder if anything can conceal itself from your discerning eyes in all three worlds? Kurogami Masayuki, you guessed it right! Haizza, elder brother, today is truly a miserable day for me, so I need you to join me for a few drinks. What do you say?"

"Alright, Snow Sky-Dog! But before we have those drinks, could you perhaps hint a bit about the secret veil regarding your troubles, Snow Sky-Dog? Between the two beautiful women, Mizuchi Haruka, and Seraphina Frostwind, who are you having trouble with, and specifically, about what?"

"Haizza, elder brother, Kurogami Masayuki, this is the pain in my heart, so I don't want to speak of it here! Therefore, Kurogami Masayuki, please don't waste any more time, let's go have a few drinks! It's been a while since we drank together. Today, I want to experience again the feeling of drowning in alcohol, a sensation that I seem to have forgotten for a long time."

"Alright, Snow Sky-Dog! If you're truly feeling down and you want to alleviate some of that sadness by having drinks with me and letting out all that weighs heavy on your mind, what makes you sad; then I, as your close friend, and as a comrade who has fought many fierce battles with ruthless and cunning enemies, adept at taking the lives of the weaker ones with skill; I will be ready to listen to you share what you find hard to say when we're intoxicated and our emotions are heightened. So let's go, Snow Sky-Dog, this time I'll foot the bill! Conveniently enough, Snow Sky-Dog, I also feel like inviting you for some drinks! You inviting me for drinks first is truly fortunate for me!"

"Mm, my elder brother, Kurogami Masayuki, I feel that sometimes you say things that make me quite uncomfortable, but in the end, after all, you're still my elder brother, my close comrade! So let's go, Kurogami Masayuki, tonight you and I will sink into alcohol and you, I, will make the most of tonight by just drinking and confiding in each other!"

So Snow Sky-Dog and Kurogami Masayuki went to their familiar tavern in the World of Gods to drink together until the end of a long night. Snow Sky-Dog drank like water. But what he drank was alcohol, not water, so after he had drunk too many glasses of high-alcohol-content liquor, he began to get drunk. And he cried like never before. This was truly a rare sight. Because up until now, in everyone's impression around him, Snow Sky-Dog was a mighty god. He feared no pain, and he always knew how to overcome the fear of death. It would be incredibly strange to see a mighty god-like Snow Sky-Dog cry uncontrollably like an adolescent.

"My elder brother, Kurogami Masayuki, Seraphina Frostwind, she... she... she broke up with me!"

"Snow Sky-Dog, my younger brother, I'm very sorry to hear that! Why did this happen, Snow Sky-Dog? You're known to be a god who knows how to indulge women and you understand the psychology of women very well, especially beautiful women, right, Snow Sky-Dog?"

"The Rainbow Goddess Aurora came to Seraphina Frostwind's house to let her know about that secret - the secret that I've always kept hidden, and it's also the secret that I'm afraid Seraphina Frostwind would know: Seraphina Frostwind found out that our master assigned me the task of approaching her, and I did that by becoming her lover!"

"Haizza, Snow Sky-Dog, it's really unfortunate for you! So do you know who asked the Rainbow Goddess Aurora to reveal that secret to Seraphina Frostwind?"

"I don't know, my elder brother, Kurogami Masayuki!"

"Snow Sky-Dog, think about it! Who benefits the most from this in this situation? Who wants this to happen the most? Besides Seraphina Frostwind, which woman loves you the most?"

"It's Mizuchi Haruka! Do you mean Mizuchi Haruka is the one behind this?"

"Snow Sky-Dog, I know that after I tell you this, you won't punish Mizuchi Haruka with violent actions! Because Mizuchi Haruka is also very distressed in this love triangle. On that night, when Seraphina Frostwind broke up with you when the two of them met at the human world restaurant; Mizuchi Haruka wandered in the cold, lonely night like someone who had lost everything she deemed most important. Perhaps after Seraphina Frostwind broke up with you, Mizuchi Haruka felt happy, but in fact, Mizuchi Haruka had been trying to bury her extremely painful sorrows for a long time. But her sorrows always rise again tomorrow morning, even though she has tried her best to bury them!"

"Mizuchi Haruka..." Snow Sky-Dog whispered, his tone becoming even sadder. "I didn't expect her to do this..."

Kurogami Masayuki tilted his head to look at Snow Sky-Dog, his gaze penetrating the sadness that enveloped Snow Sky-Dog's mind.

"Yes, my younger brother. The truth is sometimes bitter and more unbelievable than we think. Mizuchi Haruka, used to be a part of our lives, but the harsh truth is sometimes a girl who truly loves you will act very cruelly towards her love rival. Because she wants you to be hers alone. And that also means she won't care how much pain you suffer in this love story. Maybe now she thinks, 'Oh! I managed to drive Seraphina Frostwind out of this battle, a battle that caused me so much pain and loss, but now Snow Sky-Dog is also in pain! But forget it! I will compensate Snow Sky-Dog with all my sincere love!'"

"So, my elder brother, Mizuchi Haruka, I can't believe she could be so heartless?" Snow Sky-Dog questioned, uncertainty creeping into his mind.

"Mizuchi Haruka never wanted those magical items, but she wanted you more than the rebellious youkai wanted the 8 most powerful magical items, the 8 rarest magical items in all three worlds. That's undeniable! She's also a woman, she also has intense emotions that can't be completely buried. And she also craves love. Her love for you is part of her, and she sacrificed the love between Seraphina Frostwind and you to achieve her goal. But you should ask yourself, my dear friend, how many times have you unintentionally hurt Mizuchi Haruka? While you casually bestowed affectionate gestures upon Seraphina Frostwind, if Mizuchi Haruka isn't the one suffering the most, then who else could it be? In this love story, if Mizuchi Haruka isn't the girl bearing the most pain, then who could that girl possibly be? Snow Sky-Dog, they say in a war fought in the name of love, as long as you are the one who has suffered deeply after loving sincerely; then as long as you win, you can use whatever means necessary. Because when you win, you have become the embodiment of righteousness in love. At that point, your purpose and the suffering you endured will justify your less noble means!" Kurogami Masayuki explained, his eyes cold yet profound.

Snow Sky-Dog looked up at the ceiling, the lights sparkling in the tavern like distant stars, but in his mind, a tumultuous emotion was swirling.

"I... I feel like I have failed, elder brother. Failed to protect the ones I love and failed to truly understand the people I thought I knew."

Kurogami Masayuki placed his hand on Snow Sky-Dog's shoulder, showing empathy. "We can't control everything, little brother. Life always brings challenges, and bundled within them are both joys and sorrows. But most importantly, we need to learn to accept and overcome them."

Snow Sky-Dog looked into Kurogami Masayuki's eyes, where he found support and belief that his elder brother always held for him.

"Thank you, elder brother. Regardless, I can't give up. I will find Seraphina Frostwind again, even if she puts me through the toughest challenges."

Kurogami Masayuki nodded, showing encouragement.

"Yes, Snow Sky-Dog. What's important is that you never give up hope and love. We will overcome all challenges together. But what you should do most at this moment is to choose one woman whom you will marry between the two women, Seraphina Frostwind, and Mizuchi Haruka!"

With renewed determination, Snow Sky-Dog and Kurogami Masayuki spent the rest of the night, drinking and talking about memories and hopes for the future. Rain or shine, wind or calm, they always had each other to share and overcome all challenges.

Although the night was slowly passing, the deadlock in Snow Sky-Dog's soul had not dissipated. He felt like he was lost in a vast ocean of pain and regret. In his dreams, the images of Seraphina Frostwind and Mizuchi Haruka still lingered, causing his heart to ache endlessly.

In the early morning, as the sunlight began to shine through the small window of the room, Snow Sky-Dog opened his eyes and felt like a lone wolf in the vast desert. He sensed the support and encouragement from Kurogami Masayuki, but there were still many doubts and worries in his mind.

Life continued to flow, and Snow Sky-Dog decided he had to do something to free himself from the pain and regret. He remembered Kurogami Masayuki's advice about never giving up hope and love.

With a newfound determination, Snow Sky-Dog stepped out of the room and looked out at the beautiful scenery of the World of Gods. He decided that, despite life being filled with difficulties and challenges, he would not give up his love and hope.

Gradually, Snow Sky-Dog felt himself becoming stronger, with determination and patience helping him overcome all hardships. He knew that on the road ahead, there may be many challenges waiting for him, but with love and hope as encouragement, he would overcome all difficulties.

And so, Snow Sky-Dog embarked on a new journey, a journey not only to find Seraphina Frostwind again but also to discover the meaning of life and the meaning of love. His story did not end here, but rather it was a new beginning, a beginning full of hope and belief in the future.