[5:38 P.M.]
No one was coming along so I began with the initially coming up of an idea for the new painting. Hopefully a live demonstration would bring in some people.
[6:02 P.M.]
I decided to paint this place, from my perspective. Specifically, I'd paint the memory of me first stepping into this place. I'd like to put into colour the scene of my caution turning to awe as realisation of this place's purpose was finally known to me.
A painting like that, wouldn't it make the others here feel nostalgic about the time they first set foot here?
Setting my colours in their places, I began to work on the draft.
[6:19 P.M.]
Gotta strike while the iron is hot, or in this case, while the inspiration is still fresh.
Using a rather large canvas, I finished the draft and began working on the framework and background of this piece.
I'm getting a little excited about this myself.
[7:05 P.M.]
I got hungry.
I was so focused on the work that I forgot about why I came here in the first place. However, that was the too bad either. During the time that I was completely focused on my art, I managed to gather a few people that took interest on my work that they began to view my other pieces.
Anyway, I sent another head out to but some food for me while I put down my brush to 'take a break' by interacting with the those that were here. I also took the opportunity to advertise the custom portrait service to see if there was anyone interested.
After all, a good painting takes time.
Time where the model sits still. Sitting still will make them bored and the silence can even pressure the thin-skinned ones to make small talk just to fill the air.
A kid took the offer.
Or rather, it was the stuffed animal in the sleepwalking child's arms that took the offer for the both of them.
[8:24 P.M.]
I got to work on their portrait immediately after eating.
It took a dozen or so minutes but I managed to subtly steer the conversation towards the topic I wanted.
My hopes weren't high to begin with because of the failures so far but the plush toy just so happened to be more well-informed than I would have thought.
The toy was actually had an agreement with the kid. As it turned out, the child came from a family of lawyers and that he would take over during boring matters in exchange for borrowing the child's body when he wanted to, like today.
It wasn't the information on this side like I wanted. however, the information that I did gained was about the suspicions of a collage and some smaller organisations collaborating with the 'Terrorist'.
Considering that it is info from the mundane side, then it would be safe to assume that Nedzu has or is already in the works of acquiring this same information. What I can do with this input, however, is to investigate those groups that may or may not have a connection to this side.
Something new to add to the mental checklist.
Gained: Information about potential Neo-Shintoists subgroups and ten thousand Yen.
[9:06 P.M.]
After the toy and the child where done and paid for their portrait, another pair showed their interest to purchase my service after watching me work.
It was a potted plant floating half a meter off the ground along with a worm on the pot.
The two of them saw my work and decided to wait a bit to haves their done as well. It didn't take a genius to see what kind of personality they had with the worm being a complete simp and the plant being completely aloof about it. --Not a tsundere, I checked. Worm has it rough--
Even when I tried to slow down a bit and steer the conversation, the portrait was still finished relatively quick due to how simple their appearances are.
Worse still is how much of a pain it was to work with that plant. My efforts to gleam information was completely shut down due to how dumb and apathetic her responses are, even the worm was struggling to talk to her and the only replies he got were either grunts or insults. Honestly, I don't know what that guy sees in her but I really wish him the best of luck.
At least they paid well...
And I think I now realise why the worm was trying so hard.
Gained: A small pouch containing three berries that are bursting with life energy.
[10:32 P.M.]
Other than a few of the smaller pieces, business died down after that which allowed me to return to the other piece of art that I was working on before I did the portraits.
I was taking my sweet time with it down to the finest detail. After all, it is supposed to be a sentimental piece so it must be carefully made with the utmost attention.
...Then I saw Cen packing up.
I paused my work and went over to asking if she's going to turn in for the night.
"Yup. Figured 'ah couldn't leave Rei alone fa' too long, eh? Wouldn't want one of 'er stalkers bangin' down our door."
"Wait, she has another one? Is it a persistent type this time?"
"Seems like it." She snorts. "Now, whaddya need?"
"Nothing much. Just wanted to ask if I can come out from your side of the corridor."
"That? Didn't even need ta' ask. Pack 'er stuff and let's leave, aye?"
"Sure! Thanks!" I nodded and got back to putting my things in order.
A few minutes later, I found myself stepping into the office of Dusk's Grace.
"Woah~ now that is a rare face around here~~"
"Good to see you too, Mugi-chan. How've you been lately?"
"Oh, y'know~ just the usual~"
"And by that, she meant peeping." "Hey!" "It's nice to see you again, Aniki. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"I was just stopping by before I have to head out tonight. I got this investigation going on."
"Oooh? What's it about?"
"You know the attacks recently? The Neo-Shintoists? Someone asked me a favour for it and I figured why not, since y'know, they attacked my school and all." I shrugged. "Speaking of which, you guys wouldn't have happened to catch a few rumors or such about them, have you?"
"Nothing at all, I'm afraid. We have just returned from our mission in a desert-" "The sand sucks!" "-and we haven't gotten a chance to parse through the local situation as of yet. In fact, Reiko-san is currently organising the data she received from our network."
"I see. That's understandable." I nodded. "I guess I have to go out and fish for info myself. Do you mind if I leave my stuff here for a few hours?"
"Not at all, please feel free."
"Sweet. Thanks."
Dropping off my things and taking a quick bathroom break to refresh myself and change my appearance a bit before leaving, but just as I stepped through the door of their office a crumpled piece of paper rolled towards me.
Opening it, only the words "I'll help" was written on it.
The note didn't feel malicious, and expanding my senses didn't seem to find anyone that close to me right now.
Invisibility? Another teleporter?
The answer is at the tip of my tongue but I just can't seem to remember...
No matter. If it isn't a problem then I can just push the questions for later. I still have other places to be.
I hopped and flew and landed softly on nearby heights, a route only accessable to the free or bold. It was here, while basking under the ever-dark night, that I contemplated my next destination to investigate.
[11:13 P.M.]
The shady nearby areas were naturally prone to lower-income people in pretty much every city. They weren't totally shunned, per se, but the denizens of these unpaved streets wore dirty rags and lived in buildings that were only a step removed from slum houses.
I flew over to someplace unfamiliar to me, hoping to use my anonymity to my advantage. Wearing a full cloak that covers me top to bottom, dyeing my hair and even wearing makeup to sharpen my expressions, I'm confident that no one would recognize who I am.
I remember how the Naishoten paid special attention to Manga, on how she commented about how I'd be a good addition to their cause.
That's why I thought that even if I couldn't gleam much information, I should have something to fall back on at the very least.
Dangling a sign labeled "The Faraway Gust" out front was a pub that fit its surroundings all too well. To call it well kept would be undue flattery, and the clientele out front pointed to this being a tavern for the local beings.
That two men were napping in the dirt absolutely wasted was a nice touch to bring the outskirts atmosphere together.
Despite this air of villainy, the flight to this point had been surprisingly unnoteworthy. However, almost as soon as I landed nearby, what I had noticed was a heavy, analytical gaze. They'd eyed me from head to toe, watching for the slightest undue movements, as if they were trying to put a number to my value. What they were interested in was what I was worth.
They almost seemed beckoned me through the door as if insinuating that the filth would deter me and I obliged, only to be met with the pungent odor of alcohol. Strong, sour fumes of cheap booze lingered in the air.
I visibly recoiled from the stench. Deliberately. And reached a hand to grasp a pouch on my side, one full of small items.
Then I swivelled my gaze around like an unknowing tourist, as if trying to pull the scene of the place into my memories.
This was a bar fit to open its doors to the ends of all earth. Cleaning was an unfamiliar custom here, evident from the sticking sensation on the soles of my boots and the liquors lining the shelves without rhyme or reason, something I wouldn't have expected from the Akaname just lounging about. Tables and chairs were strewn throughout at random, as though no thought had ever been given to how the space ought to be used.
The patrons, for their part, were no paragons of dignity either: for most, I couldn't even guess at when they'd last bathed. Anyone used to the tidiness would have immediately backed out and pretended they had seen nothing.
Booze and puke and grime mingled together into a noxious haze, their fumes alone would be enough to intoxicate someone who couldn't hold their drink.
Silence.
I attracted the gazes of the patrons and staff alike. A fresh new face like mine certainly attracted attention, not to mention that I was clean.
Perhaps too clean.
There is no doubt that I now appear similar to a fat lamb waiting for slaughter. Someone who looked small enough to not be of age, clean, and innocent. A juicy prey with just enough fat to chew on.
And yet they kept eyeing me with caution and didn't immediately resort to violence, a correct choice for being confronted with anything unfamiliar. The brave and bold have become a dying breed after all. Only those that were a tad smarter survived past The Downfall.
But that isn't what I want. I needed conflict for my second plan to work, but at the very least, I needed information.
I leisurely strolled to the front of the Barkeep's counter. "A glass of ginger ale, please." I ordered, deliberately speaking in an airy whisper.
The Barkeep eyed me suspiciously as he prepared my drink. A moment later, my order was brought to me.
Now... How should I start this?