Laurentina felt as if somebody was talking about her right now, while going through the files. Shrugging her shoulders, the shark lady assumed it was that black haired handsome man thinking about her.
Guilty as charged, though—the Abyssal Hunter also had that stranger going through her mind constantly. His cold demeanor that was more fitting as a front, his strange aura, and that wheel halo. Normally, Laurentina would be able to know danger from her instincts and senses, yet Fushiguro Megumi seemed to both provoke and calm it.
If that divine wheel hadn't existed, the woman was sure she would have kept attacking him when the both of them had woken up. After all, that small yet still barely detectable lingering 'negative' energy grated at her senses in the worst way possible. It spiked up whenever he woke up, and then hampered down right after.
Strange, completely and utterly strange.
She wondered how somebody with such a decadent feeling could possess such a beautiful and heavenly accessory, one that provoked her keen senses as a sculptor. Ironically enough, Laurentina couldn't help but think the black haired man was a kind of allegory for corruption and divinity—a contrast and contradiction that existed as one.
However, human beings were far more deeper than simple art pieces, despite how much emotion and expression the latter could give off. Some people could be interesting or disinteresting in Laurentina's eyes, and she found Megumi to be very interesting.
Aside from all she knew about him, that single good look into his eyes seemed to reveal everything about the man... yet at the same time, brought up a million more questions.
Taking a look outside the window, the Aegir saw a beach not too far away. The waves that crashed upon the shore were tantalizing, and felt as if they were calling out to the woman. However, Laurentina knew better than to foolishly exit this room and risk being caught by the Church who worshipped those ocean-hogging beasts.
After all, she would keep her word to Fushiguro Megumi, and Laurentina also sure hoped he'd keep his words to her.
Taking a glance at the files neatly piled on the desk, the lonely woman let out a sigh and stretched her arms. There was quite literally nothing else to do, and neither could Laurentina find anything interesting. One thing that came to mind though, was to tease that black haired princess the moment he walked back into this room.
"Perhaps I could have a little dance...?" Laurentina glanced towards the roof while leaning back on her chair, it was but a passing thought. "Perhaps the melody of the ocean can guide me," despite the condition she was in, and the long departure from such activities—the memories and practice were deeply rooted in her blood.
Standing up, Laurentina decided that would be a good way to pass by time.
Maybe a small melody wouldn't hurt either.
***
Megumi was sure that visiting the tailor shop and meeting their strange owner would be the end of visiting these run-down places... but he found himself distracted once again with something else.
Those words were from Gojo Satoru quite a long time ago. It was when they had discussed Cursed Tools, something that had interested the black haired man a lot. Using weapons was something Megumi liked, something that became evident after he got to experiment with his current armory.
It all started the moment he picked up that jet-black blade, and that shortsword he brought with him to the Culling Games. Having something that could make up for his lacking physical department was always something Megumi would welcome with open arms, so this blacksmith he found himself at was intriguing.
Taking a small breath, the Jujutsu Sorcerer stepped forward and placed his hand on the door, opening it up. Instantly, a wave of heat hit his body, but didn't do much to perturb him. The smell of ash and coal continued to fill his nostrils, making Megumi vaguely cover his mouth and nose to block it off.
Glancing around, Megumi was met with a fairly late middle-aged Liberi man staring at him with a discerning gaze. The black haired man probably looked out of place in a grisly place such as this, with his flowy and 'expensive' attire, "hello? Are you a blacksmith?"
"What's a kid like you doing here?" The Liberi raised an eyebrow, his dirtied and stained industrial apron being marked with multiple signs of wear and tear. "I didn't expect some... Aegir to come walking into my store with a strange object above their heads."
"I'm not an Aegir," Megumi shook his head, "I don't even know what my own race should or would be called." The black haired man took another glance around the place. It was like any blacksmith would be... or what he would assume a blacksmith place would look like.
Compared to every other store or shop, this place definitely beat them all out straight of the gutter, and it wasn't even comparable.
"Well, Aegir, Liberi, Iberian, it doesn't matter," the man lazily moved his hand in the air with an exasperated speech. "What do you want from me?" He could feel some sort of strange eminence that seemed to be radiant coming off from the other party, piquing his curiosity far more than he'd like to admit.
"...Could you make a weapon for me?" Megumi decided to get straight to the point, wondering if he could use the materials made in this world to create a Cursed Tool.
"Seriously? Sure, sure," the Liberi coughed into their gloved fist, "what do you want? I'll be generous this time around, seeing how this shit-hole of a town barely gets me customers nowadays. Wasn't like this during the Golden Age..." the last part of their speech was slightly muddled.
"Can I have a look around?" Megumi pointed, having spotted a few things that had caught his eye, "it might require a specific material to be made."
"Whatever, go ahead," the blacksmith called out, "what's your name anyways?"
"Fushiguro Megumi, family first, given last," Megumi replied.
"Name's Antonio," the Liberi casually propped her elbow on his desk, tapping his foot on the floor. "Strange object you have on your head, but I won't question it. Probably some weird Arts this generation's been getting up with."
"Yes," Megumi lied while walking around the room, finally glad that somebody hadn't pointed out his name belonged to that of a female's. His gaze continued to linger, going across the displayed weapons that had been evidently collecting dust, along with unused materials laying about.
The materials were about as ordinary as he could sense from them, either Terra's version of iron, steel, bronze, and the like. All in all, they seemed to be good items to be made into Cursed Tools, but that was all there was to it. Megumi remembered learning very specifically that materials were important when it came to creating Cursed Tools, taking up about 70% of its effectiveness.
The other 30% was the Cursed Technique and Cursed Energy quantity imbued—
—His thoughts were pulled straight out of his head, when his eyes met something glistening. "...Gold?" Megumi had wandered a bit deep into the shop, and saw a glint in a barely closed cabinet.
"Hey!" Antonio moved up from his seat, after seeing where Megumi's sight was at, "that area is off limits!" The Liberi grabbed Megumi by the shoulder and pulled him back, "just so you know, these materials aren't gonna be used for whatever you want—no matter how much you pay!" He held a greater deal of a defensive look than before.
The Sorcerer blinked a few times, genuine curiosity present in his gaze, "why not?" If it was actually gold, then it could be extremely useful for what he wished to create.
"Ugh," Antonio shook his head, "you wouldn't understand." A hesitant look was on their face, alternating back and forth between the area and the neutral faced Megumi. "Tch, what's the point? You saw what the material was, right?"
"...Gold? Is it rare?" Megumi was sure that gold wasn't something that wasn't too rare back in his world. Expensive, sure—but still affordable to a certain extent, especially if a Sorcerer had enough connections to get it.
"No, no... this is why I dislike you damned tourists," Antonio placed a hand over his face, "fine... I'll only tell you this once. This isn't any ordinary gold, it's something far more special than that." The late middle-aged man paused their words, as if they were fighting off an urge whether or not to reveal it.
Megumi didn't know how to reply, not wanting to cut them off from whatever process they were going through.
To some degree, the Liberi seemed to slightly calm down after taking in a slow and deep breath. "Listen closely, alright? It's the same material as the special gold used to make a portion of the Golden Dreadnought—the Stultifera Navis."
Megumi felt the need to ask what that was, having never heard of it before. Thankfully, the Sorcerer knew it would be a stupid question to ask considering how angry the man was before when he didn't know how special the gold was. "Then I assume that it's a really good material to use?"
"Compared to other gold," Antonio huffed, "beats them out in every way possible. What? Do you want me to use it to make you a weapon? Not a chance, it's terrible for bladed weapons."
"An Arts conduit, then?" Megumi tilted his head.
"I'm not making Arts staffs either," the Liberi moved his arm annoyingly, as if shoo-ing off the other man. "I'm not using those materials, buddy, no matter how much you try to convince me. This is the only reminder of the Golden Age I have, and I doubt I could make anything that wouldn't tarnish those materials in the first place—"
"I can do it." Megumi replied, not a hint of hesitation present. The gold, if it's as special as he said, could make it so that he could channel Cursed Energy through it more efficiently. Although there were far better materials than gold back on Earth, the object still held great conductivity for Cursed Energy.
Changed by Terra's strange chemical make-up, it could even be better than the ones back on Earth. Besides, gold was a really good conductor for electricity, something that Megumi was also looking into as a factor.
"...You know your resting bitch face is quite annoying, huh?" Antonio puffed his chest, straightening his posture, "the hell do you mean you could make a masterpiece? Do you even have any experience in it, you look too young and soft to be that type."
"A masterpiece—" Megumi drew his voice out "—is what you wish to create, and I can do that in your place. Name the price, and I can do it." After all, the Dharmachakra divined him with a crown fit for a sovereign.
"What are you gonna do? Create another one of those stupid wheels above your head?" Antonio turned upwards to look at the golden object, "looks nice, sure, but it probably doesn't mean shit in the first place." His pride felt hurt when being confronted with this damned Aegir who acted as if they knew smithing better than him—who had been in the industry for decades!
"Name the price," Megumi's arms stayed resting and obscured by his black haori. His head slightly tilted to the side, continuing his speech, "any problems you have, and I'm sure I can fix it."
Antonio let out a grunt, placing his hands on his lips and scrunching up his lips. His teeth drew on them for a second, before turning around and starting to pace across the room. The Liberi's head gazed all across, turning upwards, downwards—then to all other places in between. A deep and unsettling silence overtook the area, only the sparking sound of flames could be heard.
Mumbling was heard from the distressed man who was constantly shaking his head. Yet at the same time, another voice of reason seemed to be tugging at him, heeding him to follow the beatific feeling that the other party was giving off... and Antonio still didn't know whether he could follow it or not.
Primavera was a sack-of-shit city to live in. Yet the Liberi found himself staying, unmoving despite the Golden Age of Iberia having passed by already. It all happened in a brief flash, becoming nothing but a memory and painting deep within Antonio's mind. Yet here in his shop was a material that would be sought over by all blacksmiths that walked Iberia, a chance to revive even a glimmer of the Golden Age having long since gone by.
...Why did he even reveal this to... to whoever this stranger was? Was it because he felt as if he could trust him? Was it because the Liberi saw that blasted wheel and its grandiose splendor? Or was it just the sheer confidence and indomitability that radiated off from Fushiguro Megumi?
It was all so confusing for Antonio, yet the Liberi decided to follow his instincts. The very same instincts that had left him to stay in Primavera for so long instead of migrating to other—greater places.
"...I'll only let you forge this... masterpiece you talk about under two conditions," there had been many times his friends had told him to make something out of the gold. His father hadn't pressured him as they have, but Antonio could feel their words consistently repeating themselves in his head.
"What are they?" Megumi was fully willing to hear them out, as long as they weren't too absurd.
The late middle-aged Liberi let out a shallow noise, "first of all, I want to oversee and be part of its creation. As much as your words seem so far up your ass that I want to believe them—I doubt anybody can trust... what? A 20 year-old like you to make a 'masterpiece'?"
"...18 years-old."
"By the Saint..." Antonio was wondering why he was even heeding this juvenile's words, "second condition... second condition..." he needed to calm down, "clear out those Church bastards ruining this town. If you can't get those monsters out, then this deal is—"
"I'll do it," Megumi declared. "I'll clear them out, cut off their chain of command, and leave them as nothing but headless chickens wandering Primavera."
"What are you?" Antonio scoffed, "the entire Penal Battalion?"
"I'll do it," Megumi repeated, "that's all you need to know." Taking another look around, the Sorcerer saw a few blueprints laid here and there. "Do you have any clear blueprints? I want to sketch out what I want."
"This kid... this kid..." Antonio was finding himself becoming more incensed by the passing second. "Fine, fine... you can have a clear blueprint from the upper shelves up there..." his finger shakily pointed upwards, while taking meditative measures to not break out in an outburst. "You still have to clear out those bastards. Good luck with that."
"I won't forget that," Megumi reached upwards and casually grabbed a blueprint, before placing it on the table and unfurling. Just as the blacksmith had said, it was completely empty, "you weren't lying."
"Of course I wasn't," Antonio walked to take a look downwards at it with scorn, "what are you even attempting to make anyways, kid?"
"...Have you ever heard of a Vajra?"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The Cursed Tool utilized by Ryomen Sukuna, Kamutoke—the Supreme Martial Solution. Fushiguro Megumi was going to make his own inspired creation in the form of its weapon type... a Vajra.
***
Megumi skulked across the area of the high church, the main building that the people from the Church gathered around. There were a few people in robes wandering around, but not doing much. Either they tended to the grounds or were there for simple prayers, nothing too extravagant from the looks of it.
Usually, on Sundays such as today, there would be a large gathering that would come here. That was what he had heard from Antonio while making the blueprint for his Cursed Tool, but the time length of when people gathered here didn't match the Sorcerer's current arrival time.
This should be perfect, considering how there weren't many innocents or people not fully affiliated with the Church gathered around, making this mission much easier than anticipated. However, Megumi wasn't so foolish to let his guard down.
He was only going to scout the area and see what they have in store, and then clear them out with Laurentina. But then at the same time, there was this urge in Megumi's body that told him to get this over with as quick as possible...
...Having thought it over, Megumi was just going to see where his whims took him. If he truly wanted to clear this place out right here and right now—then Laurentina wouldn't be too angry, right?
He'd just have to see for now.
After deliberating it through, Megumi decided to take the next step.
The shadows would keep him well hidden, and he knew that for a fact.
***
Laurentina walked out of the shower, having taken a pretty long winded bath from before. Taking a glance upwards at the clock while drying her extremely lengthy hair, the Abyssal Hunter felt her mood start to sour.
'How much is that princess going to keep a woman waiting?' Laurentina thought to herself. It had already been nearly 2 hours, about 1 hour and 45 minutes based on what she had been keeping track of at the moment.
She wasn't one for pessimistic thoughts—maybe a little bit—but somebody like him wouldn't be foolish enough to get caught by a Church, right? Even then, he looked and seemed capable enough to deal with those dirty folks.
Honestly, the Abyssal Hunter didn't know what to do. Whether she should just break out of the window to search for him, or to search for her other comrades—who she didn't even know was alive or not.
There were many factors and questions she wanted answered, yet at this moment, she was merely a sitting duck in a lulling pond. One that sat right next to an ocean, and said ocean could heave a tidal wave that could rupture the pond completely. It just didn't fit her, nor did it feel right.
Patiently waiting, patiently waiting... that was all Laurentina had to do at the moment. Yet at the same time, such an activity went against what she was made for, forged for. The purpose of a weapon was to be as sharp as ever, and the Abyssal Hunter had certainly kept herself sharp by recovering from this Oripathy.
Yet this lengthy bid of time seemed to be a few minutes too long for her tastes, as the genes in her bodies were basically screaming to get outside and on the action. Was what Fushiguro Megumi doing right now even productive? Could he even find a skilled enough tailor for her drawn clothes?
Letting herself fall to a temporary lull, Laurentina glanced at the clock once again. '10 more minutes,' she dryly remarked in her mind. Moving to place the towel back in the bathroom—one that was terribly unadvanced for her tastes—the white haired woman moved to the case that stored her gigantic buzzsaw.
The weapon had been tended to slightly yesterday, much to the wariness of the other resident of this apartment. Laurentina had found it quite amusing, seeing this land-dweller be so wary of such an... admittedly fantastic weapon in her eyes. Out of everything she had the pleasure and displeasure of experiencing on dry land, that singular man was the most intriguing.
Nodding to herself with satisfaction, Laurentina brought the weapon along with her and sat on one of the wooden chairs. It creaked under the weight of her held tool of violence, but soon settled down. Pulling out a pure white handkerchief, the Abyssal Hunter began sweeping the weapon's bladed edges. However, even if the accumulated dust eventually fell off entirely, it still needed to be sharpened and refined.
That could be remedied later.
With those thoughts, the shark lady closed her eyes and began humming to herself. It was a melody of a home now long far away, serenity overtaking the room she was alone in. Laurentina remembered doing something like this in her free time, after a mission back in Aegir or the like, but the room quality was definitely far better than it was here.
Seriously, how do these land-dwellers even live with these standards?
Click
Laurentina felt a small smile break off on her mouth, eyes still closed. Hearing and feeling the front door starting to open, she spoke up "you do realize you're five minutes late—"
—The Aegir opened her eyes, a smile still present on her face. However, her expression shifted to neutrality with the scene in front. From the Abyssal Hunter's sight, she saw a bloodied Fushiguro Megumi. His side had a hole going through it, and his forehead was soaked with blood.
The black haired man's arm gripped the gaping wound while standing up straight, causing a strong waft of blood to permeate into the air, tickling Laurentina's sensitive nose. "...I'm back, sorry... for being late..."
***
"Ugh..." Megumi slightly winced, feeling the great pressure Laurentina applied to his side, "could you be softer?" The Dharmachakra had only spun two times, alleviating him of the wound getting worse or infecting, and then slightly healing it. However, a third spin hadn't occurred, and neither could he use Reverse Cursed Technique to fully heal himself.
"Haha~," Laurentina laughed to herself, applying the bandages and alcohol wipes to the black haired man laying on her bed, "oh my~, you come in five minutes late with a gaping hole by your side and ask me to be soft?" The woman was right in her assumption—this man was massively fragile. "I wonder what trouble you have gotten yourself in."
"Church," Megumi confirmed whatever suspicions she had, "had a run in with them. Turns out they have some sort of weapon—one that shot a gigantic bolt. A ballista harpoon, I think?" He slightly winced when Laurentina applied more pressure. "Far more advanced than anything I've seen, though."
"An advanced ballista harpoon...? Now where have I seen something of the like?" Laurentina pondered while treating his injuries. "Aside from that, I'm sure this accentuates my point of you land-dwellers possessing fragile bodies." She'd see the weapon for herself.
After all, Abyssal Hunters could handle those kinds of weapons with relative ease, due to their great resilience and regeneration.
"I wasn't focused on fighting them," Megumi dryly said, "it's unfortunate that I was spotted, but my first goal was getting out of there. Barring their weapons, I doubt they fully saw me." The black haired man slightly wished to see the limitations of Mahoraga's Shadow Extension, so he didn't pull out any Shikigami or weapons.
If it weren't for the Dharmachakra, the Ten Shadows user was sure he would have to stop all processes to focus on Reverse Cursed Technique after being hit by that harpoon ballista. Megumi's Cursed Energy reinforcement hadn't helped himself either, considering the weapon came in a complete blindside.
Laurentina clicked her tongue, grabbing a roll of white bandages from the medical box. "Certainly, you've bit off more than you can chew," the shark lady was even more disappointed that he hadn't brought her with him. "It would have been a different story if I stood foot with you."
"You're still in no condition to—" Megumi was about to refute her words, but found himself wincing again when Laurentina applied the bandage to his forehead.
"Shush," Laurentina stood up from the chair to wrap the bandages around the Sorcerer's head, "from what I assume, those dregs are utilizing stolen Aegir technology, how they have received such a thing in their slimy tentacles I do not know."
Megumi felt the woman's fingers trace around his head softly, keeping the bandage in place.
"Heh, it makes me want to crush those coral infested faces of theirs." Laurentina's eyes darkened, showing her sharp teeth in an angered smile. "Us Abyssal Hunters have undergone training courses that require avoiding them—even in my current state, I believe I would be able to swat one away with relative ease."
"What is an Abyssal Hunter?" Megumi ignored the change in atmosphere. Although he wasn't confident in TIger Funeral performing a feat such as that, the Sorcerer could imagine his Totalities being capable of such a thing—this was leaving out Mahoraga, since it wouldn't even be a competition between the other Shikigamis.
"You ask that now, princess?" Laurentina tapped the bandages one more time, before moving back to her seat. "Mmh, I'll keep it simple—we simply fight off the horrors of the seas. I'm not in the belief that I should say more than that." She gave a cheeky smile. "Do know that we are incomparable to your own kind."
'Maybe that's why they experimented on her,' Megumi remarked in his mind. "I forgot to mention, the Penal Battalion chased me around after I escaped from the Church. Probably thought I was involved with them."
"Those military folk?" Laurentina put on an amused look, "they see you get nailed by a harpoon and assume you to be with them? Certainly, I would have expected them to be brighter than that."
"They only heard a loud sound, probably thought it was caused by me," Megumi attempted to clear up any misunderstandings. "They're not at fault, and besides—I made it out without much difficulty."
"Yes, yes, without much difficulty," Laurentina glanced at the bandages wrapped around the Sorcerer. "So, when do you plan to make your move? I've been itching to head back out there anyways."
"I received a request," Megumi cut in, "to clear out the Church that had been 'infecting' Primavera. The objective already aligns with my goal, so I might as well get to it as quickly as possible."
"Oh? Pray tell, who did this request come from?"
"A blacksmith, he said he'd help me create something only if I fulfill it." Megumi pivoted on an axis from the bed, letting his body sit up straight. The injuries stung with a burning pain, but the black haired man didn't think much of it.
KLNK
"Hm?" Laurentina turned upwards when the object above Megumi's head turned.
"Ignore it, it does that sometimes." Planting his feet on the ground, Megumi grabbed his black haori from a clothes stand and tossed it around his arms, letting his arms enter the sleeves. "I've already recovered, so don't worry about me."
"That quickly?" Laurentina narrowed her eyes, trying to discern any peculiarities from him. "I would have never expected that. What's this little secret now?"
"I just heal fast. That's all there is to it."
"Not at the level of an Abyssal Hunter, but it would be quite impressive amongst you land-dwellers, wouldn't it?"
"It's subjective, impressive for some people, others not so much."
"...Do you have no words to describe yourself highly?" Laurentina bemusedly pointed out. "I speak of myself more than I thought I would have—but I don't believe you've reciprocated much aside from those... brain scans."
"I don't think there's anything interesting to talk about," Megumi admitted, "aside from dealing with the Church."
"...You lack self-love," Laurentina closed her eyes and rested her hands on her lap. "That is a problem of yours.."
"...What?" Megumi glanced towards her from his position.
"I've learned self-love—ever since I found myself in the solitude of my own thoughts." Laurentina placed a finger in the air, and then pointed to herself, then to Megumi; "you sorely lack such a concept, quite evident of all the gloom coming off."
"If that's what you believe," Megumi tugged at the collar of his white gi, "then I guess you could be right."
"Oh~? You're agreeing with me?" Laurentina chuckled, "and here I thought you'd be as stubborn as you have before." Fushiguro Megumi was like a deeply rooted coral stuck in a sea cave in her mind.
The recipient of her humor hummed in agreement.
"Come on, we're going to go now," Megumi motioned for the sharky lady, "you said you wanted to see the outside, right?"
"Of course." Laurentina stood up, with more pep and certainty than before. The woman didn't care if the streets of Primavera didn't match Aegir's splendor in the slightest, she was merely thankful to step foot outside and be unconstrained to anything else.
With that, the two departed from the building, their next course of action taking place.
***
"Don't get spotted," Megumi moved through the alleyway, Laurentina tailing him from behind. "The Penal Battalion is more mobilized than usual, probably because of that harpoon firing off."
"Did they have a clear view of you during the chase?" Laurentina darted her gaze across the decrepit scenery. The city she ended up in could have been better, but just being outside and breathing the fresh—yet salty air— was enough.
"Compared to the Church, they'll recognize my clothes. But I think I can hide well enough..." Megumi halted his steps and narrowed his eyes, grabbing Laurentina by the hand and moving to another casted shadow. "My wheel isn't a factor either, since I can black it out."
A decent distance was made.
Laurentina let the process happen, being drawn away from the scenery she was observing. The way he grabbed her arm was rough and wholly insensitive towards a lady, so she decided that she'd lecture him on these matters.
"I know these paths—" After moving a safe distance away from the Penal Battalion members moving around, Megumi found that he was having a difficult time budging Laurentina. "...Laurentina?"
"This isn't a way to treat a lady, you know?" Laurentina easily broke off his grip with a huff. "Look and listen closely—this is how you do it." She moved upwards towards the bewildered man, grabbed his shoulder and hand. "Put it like this, palm facing forward as if you're offering something."
Megumi's arm moved to the other's own volition, putting it up in the pose as the Abyssal Hunter had described.
"There," Laurentina said with satisfaction, "so when you offer your hand like this..." the woman reached her own hand outwards while turning her body to the side. A beautiful smile graced her lips while palm faced downwards, "...a lady can graciously receive it."
Both their hands met.
Despite the mellow alleyway he was in, Megumi could have sworn a light was bleeding through despite that. It shone on the other person, the wind kicking up and making her hair billow in the wind.
"What? At a loss for words?" Laurentina teasingly called out.
"Loss for words? Probably," Megumi turned away. "We should... continue on."
He resumed pulling Laurentina with him, this time in a different way, the one that Laurentina had forced—suggested for him to do.
With how fast they moved, the both of them could feel the wind brush against their hair, crossing Primavera's streets and alleyways without being seen.
Megumi kept his stoic expression on at all times, moving with a practiced and soldier-like movement.
On the other side, Laurentina follows along with a careful yet graceful gait. The Aegir smiled, feeling the rhythm of their march to be more in tune than last time. "Now that's more like it."
"Are you sure you're ready?" Megumi asked one last time.
"This body of mine was made for only one sole purpose—so of course I am. I should ask you that question instead." The scenery continued to pass by. "Especially as the one who took an artillery harpoon to the side."
"I'm ready yes,," Megumi breathed out tirelessly, "and thank you for applying the bandages."
"You are very welcome," Laurentina beamed.
***
The rest of the journey was not long at all. Megumi glanced back, noting how Laurentina was able to keep up with his pace with extreme ease, and no signs of exhaustion being present. The Sorcerer was received with the same smile and hum as before.
"So~, this is where their main Church is, hm?" Laurentina felt Megumi's hand leave hers, the both of them now standing on top of a building that overlooked a high church. "So depraved and uninspired, it makes me wish to tear it down even more."
The sounds of both preacher and prayer made the Abyssal Hunter sick to the core. All they did was worship some trench-sucking beasts which knew nothing of art nor emotion, only instead the bestial urge to consume and survive.
Utterly uninspiring.
"We'll need to clear out all the people who aren't involved," Megumi continued observing with the excited shark lady. "Here's your weapon." Right after, he materialized Laurentina's heavy buzzsaw from the shadows and handed it to her. It was like an oversized pizza cutter.
"Impressive Arts," Laurentina received it gratefully, "how convenient it is to have such a vast place to store things."
"It really is," Megumi gave her a glance. "How do you want to do this?"
"Asking me first? Well, I wouldn't mind just charging straight in, it's as straightforward as I'd want it to be." She held her buzzsaw weapon, cleansed and gleaming under the pale sun. "What's your idea? I hope it won't be boring."
"Go in, cause a scene, and then everybody who isn't involved will leave," Megumi replied. "Make it fast so the Penal Battalion won't arrive and see us. I don't want to deal with their questioning, or their extreme methods."
"About the same thought we have, then." Laurentina moved towards Megumi, scooping her free left arm under his leg and then pulling him into a princess carry.
"You—"
"Then let's fashion a scene we won't forget, princess~!" Laurentina grinned an exorbitant one, before leaping off the high church with blinding speeds.
***
A prayer, a sermon given to the masses that had gathered. The Bishop of Primavera had heard there was a test subject transported to this city temporarily by another Bishop named Amaia. Although he didn't care much about her, the subject brought here was definitely of interest.
But alas, there was no use delving upon that matter much longer. Here he was on a Sunday preaching the teachings of the Church of the Deep towards these hapless masses. They were truly ignorant of their place in the world, and entrapped in their stagnant evolution.
However, today he would truly convert all of them to join a greater cause, far beyond the bounds and limitations of their human bodies.
Despite the current intervention and action of the Penal Battalion, they couldn't act upon anything meaningful unless there was solid evidence available—which there was—but a warrant usually took much too long to arrive.
There was also that stranger who had lurked around their Church, but the weapon they had newly installed dealt with them easily. It was almost pitiful, seeing them immediately retreat from the scene with their tail between their legs.
So when he stood upon the pedestal granted by the sea, the Bishop could truly feel the waters of the ocean bask him at this very moment.
His wrinkly and rotting fingers continued to incessantly twitch while placed on the pedestal, both due to excitement, and due to the calling of the sea. "It is a beautiful sight, to see all of you gathered here and amongst the shifting waves," his voice echoed out before his eyes took in everybody gathered in the church.
"It is of my highest honor as the Bishop to spread this divine message to all who lay here," his voice was full of passion—something that couldn't be said for all other priests standing behind him. "The sea sings to us all indiscriminately, unlike the cruel lands which have continued to bear their weight upon us..."
The Bishop's eyes analyzed the people gathered. There were some in the audience who were already slightly assimilated, some who gathered out of obligation after receiving their help, and some who were merely curious about these Sunday gatherings.
A reflection and refraction of the dark green laned light behind the Bishop continued to tint brighter. He spread his arms as if including everybody who raised in this room with great fervor, unstoppable in his reigns of this Church.
"...So we are brothers and sisters, and it is merely of our own fault that we fight amongst each other as savages. There is nothing which separates us from the Wild Beasts which walk these desolate lands nor the Catastrophes which battered our structures... Yet there is a way to break this notion," his voice lowered down at the last part.
The crowd was listening, either out of curiosity or desperation with how Primavera had become.
Neither of it mattered for the Bishop since the result would be the same.
"So with an open heart to you all—"
CRASH
The window pane behind the Bishop shattered, the filtered light vanishing completely. Instead, a giant shadow cast over them akin to that of an overbearing beast.
Panic filled the hall of sacrilege. Priests, believers, and visitors alike jolted upwards from their position, watching as a voice filled with laughter slammed into the Bishop.
Their features became clear, a madwoman with white hair and piercing red eyes carrying a black haired and emotionless man in a princess carry. By her hand laid a gigantic buzzsaw attached to a long handle, whirring and producing a terrifying sound that sent a chill down everybody's spine.
Springing off the Bishop, Laurentina springboarded and did a backflip as the rest of the glass settled and shattered on the ground. "It's been a long while~," Laurentina settled Megumi down with a vicious smile, her saw still buzzing with such speeds that it superheated the blade.
The Bishop who had been launched forward hit his pedestal, before he and the object were launched off their spot and into where the seats were.
Megumi pulled out his glock with a tired expression and sighing, "all of you, LEAVE!" He yelled out in a vibrant fashion, firing off three shots into the ceiling while doing so.
BANG
BANG
BANG
The cracking sound of bullets flying through the area left the sane visitors in a bout of hysteria, immediately screaming and turning around to exit the Church. Those who stayed behind held despondent eyes and pale skin, no signs of life present in them at all.
"I-is it the Inquisition?!"
"He has a firearm, of course It's the Inquisition!"
"Agh!"
Multiple screams continued to echo forth, before dying out as the rest of the sane people fully made their way out.
"Couldn't you have been more graceful~?" Laurentina turned to him, covering her mouth amusedly with a free hand. She didn't mind the multiple priests gathering around them, ready to attack the two if need be.
"You're one to talk," Megumi felt peeved from her drastic and unplanned action, but opted to focus on far more important matters. "This should be all of them, right? Kill the strongest one and they'll disperse like ants." Just like weak Cursed Spirits when a powerful one near them died, but such a sight was usually rare. He hoped it applied to these people.
"Y-you!" The Bishop stood up, covering their bleeding face. "You're the scoundrel who snuck around our sacred Church...! A-and you! The experiment!" Their sights turned to the other invader, "what has Amaia done?!"
"Oh, that pathetic Liberi?" Laurentina smiled even wider, "well~, this 'scoundrel' here killed everybody in that miserable laboratory, so you have him to thank." The buzzsaw she held whirred much faster as she spoke, sparks flying off. It served to instill a primal fear in the priests converging on their positions, making them halt dead in their tracks. "I'm simply here to repay a favor to all of you, are we clear~?"
"Lay waste to them!" The Bishop had enough of her words, standing up frantically while yelling for the priests to take action. "Slaughter them, and present them to the sea as offerings!"
"Oh, so we'll be dancing already? Perfect," Laurentina never liked those who monologues for too long anyways. Turning to Megumi, she asked a spirited question: "will you take my hand?"
Megumi gave her a glance, before speaking.
"Divine Dogs."
Unstable forms of the Shikigami formed in a large and macabre puddle shot upwards. The priests who are approaching the two with tentacles sticking out of their robes were immediately assaulted by claws and bites, enhanced by the main body of Rabbit Escape—hidden elsewhere to stay out of danger.
"How pleasant," Laurentina found the sight both interesting and lovely. It was always a sunny day whenever insects like these were crushed, "let's see who can kill more of these worms, hm?" She deduced that Megumi wasn't a physical fighter as seen by his control over these 'Arts.'
"It isn't a competition," Megumi watched as the priests got into a dirty brawl with their deformed bodies against his Shikigamis, "but I'll humor it."
Laurentina grinned, before bursting forward, "I'll take this one, then!"
"Nue."
Megumi felt something approaching him from behind while watching Laurentina make her move, so he responded by raising his finger upwards. There was no need to chant, a convenient means had already been provided.
The priest who had their stomach split open to reveal a large mouth with eyes inside was immediately assaulted by lightning, three shadow cloaked birds shooting out from the ground. Eventually, the Shikigamis flew through the air swiftly and rounded back to dive bomb them from all sides.
Megumi was glad that unstable summonings meant he could summon numerous Shikigamis of Divine Dogs, Toad, Great Serpent, and Nue. All others were sadly off limits, "to my side, huh?"
He rounded around and ignored the transformed priest being assaulted by Nue, before concentrating the movement of the unstable Divine Dogs to gather to his side. Right after, a tentacle was bitten from all angles, Megumi's Shikigamis following the movements of his arm.
Reaching his right hand outwards—which was free—Megumi formed Playful Cloud near instantly, with a shadow puddle appearing below him. "Perfect," his training with quick-swapping had paid off.
Flourishing it a few times, Megumi ducked under and spun, letting the three-section staff glide across the ground. Right after, another transformed and mindless priest had their head blown off when it ripped across the air.
Their head exploded like a watermelon, splattering blood in a wide arc.
Moving quickly, Megumi moved his head to the side, before swinging Playful Cloud again and impacting the outstretched tentacle. It broke off easily, making the black haired man enhance his legs with Cursed Energy and burst towards the source.
Two other priests moved to intercept him, but two Nues came to his aid, flanking him from both sides. They crashed into the priests, sparking purple lightning and keeping them stunned.
Grabbing one end of Playful Cloud while crossing his left hand over his body, Megumi blurred into motion—leaping and spinning in mid-air during his approach. Right after, the priests had their heads flying off just like their previous friend.
Feeling a whirring feeling in the air, Megumi palmed with his free hand after landing on the ground, redirecting a strike from a vicious looking priest. Their mouth was frothing, a bulbous and bloated head gurgling with some sort of strange blue liquid inside.
Responding to their attack, Megumi lashed out swiftly with Playful Cloud, countering every hit that they sent towards him while backing away. Right after, the almost dispelled Divine Dogs rushed with their maws open wide, leading a back-up charge for Megumi.
The priest attempted once more to claw through Megumi's defense of a whirling Playful Cloud, but immediately found themselves being scratched and bit by three Divine Dogs. One at their left leg, one at their right leg, and the last one at their right shoulder—halting their strike entirely.
The Divine Dogs dispelled right after, before arcing bolts of Nue stunned the priest's body even further, letting Megumi form another weapon from in his hand after recalling Playful Cloud, the Inverted Spear of Heaven.
Flipping the dagger into a reverse grip, Megumi darted forward and jammed the object into the priest's throat, pressing his other palm on the end hilt of the blade. Right after, he pulled it downwards and opened their chest and stomach, spinning around right after to deliver a roundhouse kick towards their bloated head.
It exploded in a mass of viscera, ending their life entirely.
Stamping his feet on the ground, Megumi turned towards Laurentina. From the looks of it, the Aegir had everything in control, seemingly playing around with her food. Around her laid the chopped up and maimed corpses of some citizens who had already turned into Sea Terrors.
Grabbing the chain attached to the Inverted Spear of Heaven, Megumi extended it and started spinning it, glancing around to make sure he didn't miss any other priest.
On Laurentina's side...
"Is running away and sending creatures all you can do~?" Laurentina laughed out loud while shifting in a way that looked like a dance movement, slicing her buzzsaw across a literal wall of compressed Seaborn. "I would have expected more from a Bishop like this!"
"Geh!" The Bishop let out an unruly sound, wondering why their weapon of stolen Aegir technology still hadn't been turned online. Raising a staff held in his right upwards, a swarm of Seaborns converged and blocked another vicious blow from Laurentina.
"Great Serpent."
Right after, a gigantic serpent flew past Laurentina, the latter looking upwards with a slight smirk this time, "cleared them out already?" She watched the creature open its maw wide, and the Bishop widening their eyes in panic. What a sight it was.
The Shikigami wouldn't find itself lobbing off the head of the Bishop however, as a gigantic Seaborn burst upwards from the church grounds, a mass of coiled tentacles bashing Great Serpent away.
Right after, the serpent swiftly rounded back and moved to coil around Laurentina's vicinity, leaving enough space for the woman's weapon to swing against the new Seaborn.
"Hah!" Laurentina one-handed the weapon, crossing it through the air and ripping it across the creature's bare flesh. Once that was done, she leapt backwards without a hitch, flowing through the air—just as a tentacle had slammed where her position was.
Megumi rushed past her as she backflipped behind him, catching a barely perceptible sight of Laurentina flashing a smile towards him. Ignoring it, he swung the extended Inverted Spear of Heaven, the chain lashing against the skin of the already damaged Seaborn.
Laurentina in turn landed on the ground, seeing Megumi start to break out in a relentless barrage from his weapon. Running forward, she maneuvered her way through the storm of chains, taking note of the sort of 'dance' he was performing.
In a cursory movement, Laurentina then jabbed her buzzsaw to the side, killing a small swarm of Seaborn which had burst through one of the church's windows, letting the rotational movement of the buzzsaw casually clear them all out. When that was done, she leapt upwards with a perfunctory way.
She was completely out of the way of the storm of chains, finding her sight once more on Megumi—who was running across the church and leaving slash marks all across. 'A unique way of wielding a weapon, brings back memories,' with those thoughts, she somersaulted in the air with glee.
Right after, Laurentina shot down vertically with her weapon pointed downwards. Like a missile, she crashed into the mass of tentacles, making the Seaborn screech out in pain.
Megumi took the opening she created to recall the Inverted Spear of Heaven and pull out Playful Cloud once more. Great Serpent, his Shikigami which had been waiting for an opportunity to strike—finally had one!
The Shikigami sprung forward and latched onto the flesh of the Seaborn, leaving a gigantic bite mark which spurted blood.
Right after, Megumi leapt into the air just as Laurentina had, and spun in a sideways position, building up momentum for Playful Cloud. Once his body barreled downwards, he unleashed a powerful bash which rammed against the Seaborn.
The floor of the church broke, blood being spilt all across the ground. It was a miracle how it hadn't collapsed yet.
Laurentina and Megumi leapt backwards when the Seaborn scrambled once more, all of its tentacles turning into spikes which formed as a defensive and offensive measure.
Great Serpent was dispelled afterwards, Megumi not wanting to risk his Shikigami taking any damage from the attack.
The two opposers landed side by side, bending their knees in a ready position.
"Take this," Megumi folded Playful Cloud and tossed it towards Laurentina, "it'd probably be better in your hands."
"Not my weapon type," Laurentina received it with her left hand, while her right carried her buzzsaw. "But I'll take it with pleasure!" She ran forward, body breaking the sound barrier.
Megumi ran alongside her after forming Dragon-Bone, entering a katana stance while charging forth. The engines on the Cursed Tool erupted while he approached the squirming Seaborn, dodging to the side and slashing a group of tentacles that had sought to impale him.
Laurentina swiped away more tentacles, making her way towards its main body. With how much the two had cut up, the Seaborn was starting to lose all of its limbs needed to defend itself, and it made the Hunter even more excited!
"Splendid work, princess!" The Abyssal Hunter swiped with her buzzsaw once more, in a rightward path. Then, she let the three-section staff pass by the path the buzzsaw had previously gone through, the object blasting through the already severed tentacles.
Moving through the pulverized body parts, Laurentina's eyes left a crimson trail while she waved through all other obstacles in her way. Making it to the main body of the gigantic Seaborn, she ducked downwards and let Playful Cloud drag across the ground, before going upwards for an upwards vertical strike.
BOOM
The hit—quite literally sent the Seaborn airborne, burst through the roof of the high church.
Laurentina looked upwards, blinking a few times before her mouth opened into a fit of laughter, "HAHAHA~! What a sight~!" She stomped on the ground, sending debris flying upwards before she took the opportunity to leap on them to make her advance upwards.
Light and refined, Laurentina poised herself on the last piece of rubble that was in the air. With a final movement, the Abyssal Hunter had also been sent airborne. Glancing to the side, she watched as Megumi stood on an elephant sized bird—another animal of his versatile ability.
"Catch," Laurentina mouthed to him while tossing the three-section staff towards him. It was a truly splendid weapon, but she much preferred her buzzsaw.
Megumi grabbed the weapon, with his left hand, his right still holding Dragon-Bone. Right after, he imbued the latter weapon with Cursed energy, getting the engines roaring before tossing it upwards, flying past Laurentina and nailing the Seaborn's body.
The white haired woman decided to redirect her course, landing on the bird alongside Megumi, prepping her weapon for another strike. "Dance with me, would you?" She extended her free hand towards the man.
"Of course," Megumi responded, receiving it. "Let's get this over with."
The two launched upwards, past Nue and the Shikigami sent bolts of electricity curved in a way where it avoided the two ascenders and hit the wailing Seaborn.
Amongst the flashing and sparking violet lights, Megumi and Laurentina reared their weapons back all the way, and then struck forward. They both came together to create a magnificent spark, before ripping through the body of the Sea Terror like a knife through tofu.
It had been split in twain, the two fighters making their way through it and floating in the air for a moment—then falling down along with the Seaborn's two severed parts. Strangely enough, the spilt parts started shriveling up and losing color, just as they crashed down on the high church once more.
Megumi and Laurentina, hands still connected, landed on the ground. The latter did so with a light step, before performing a formal bow, crossing one of her legs over the other and placing a hand over her chest.
"A lovely dance partner, you are," she opened one of her eyes in a small wink towards Megumi, "I wouldn't mind another one such as this." Laurentina was glad that this was the one of the first things she did after recovering her senses.
Megumi glanced downwards at his hand, before replying, "I wouldn't mind either. You're pretty good with teamwork."
"Huh? That's what you think of when I say I wouldn't mind dancing with you again?" Laurentina shot him an annoyed look.
...What is she going on about? Dance was a connotative word for 'battle,' which perfectly fit their scenario.
Whatever.
"Let's get this over with, we don't want the Penal Battalion—" Megumi was about to speak, but thinned his lips. "Oh, they have it already prepared."
A creaking and metallic sound entered both of their ears, the two turning towards the source. Megumi found it first, having already experienced it, "I probably should have destroyed or disabled it when we made our way here, but somebody has us flying through a window and alerting everybody." Summoning Tiger Funeral was an option, but Megumi was attempting to conserve Cursed Energy.
After all, the Dharmachakra took quite a bit of Cursed Energy while being active.
"Certainly, but it would be different with me around," Laurentina smirked, "honestly, with your skill earlier—it's baffling how you were hit with a crude weapon such as that... one made as a mockery of Aegir's art." She narrowed her eyes towards a glinting object, which stood on the rocky platforms closeby the beach.
A harpoon ballista was fully loaded and baring its fangs.
"Don't worry, I already adapted," Megumi dryly remarked. Stepping forward, a confused Laurentin was about to speak to him, but the black haired man dropped his weapon and pointed a finger gun.
KLNK
DISMANTLE
Just as the projectile had been fired off towards them, black markings crossed Megumi's face while his eyes bled red. An invisible slash was sent off his fingertips, the distortions in the air barely making it palpable.
The Dismantle sliced the object straight in half, the steel harpoon separating off and divulging in different paths—left and right. With a rupture of the wind, the two split objects spread out enough where it passed through without even reaching one feet of Megumi or Laurentina.
A crashing sound was heard behind them.
...Honestly, an adaptation for the harpoon wasn't even needed, a normal Dismantle could have destroyed it without much effort. All the Dharmachakra turn did was make the course of his Cursed Technique being sent off more accurate, something Megumi could have already done precisely with his skills.
A new thing to note, the Dharmachakra when using Shadow Extension could recognize previous dangers and provide him the temporary adaptation it would usually grant.
"..." Laurentina watched from the side, slightly gripping her buzzsaw tighter. When she felt... no, what she was feeling right now was completely unnatural. It wasn't like Megumi's usually divine aura, or the faint bloodied one... but a whole valley of corpses!
If she had met the man at first sight, the Abyssal Hunter was sure she would have already pounced to slaughter him.
'Strange markings, change in eye color...? How bizarre,' Laurentina didn't even care about the harpoon that had been split, and instead walked around to take a better look at him.
"Is something wrong?" Megumi noticed her arrival, tilting his head towards her direction while asking his question. "If it's the markings, it happens when I use that Arts ability." He pointed towards them with a finger.
"Mhm?" Laurentina gazed at them curiously, wondering if that horrendous aura was coming off from them. "Has anybody ever called you a bag of mysteries, princess~?" She glanced upwards to take another look at his wheel. It had to do something, considering how it rotated at the very moment the Sorcerer had countered the harpoon.
"Maybe," Megumi shrugged, his 'cruel' eyes turning elsewhere. "We still have the Bishop." The black haired man's piercing red eyes met the cowering man in the distance.
"That one?" Laurentina shook her head to ignore Megumi's change in demeanor and aura, "ah, he was quite a boring one. Look at him swinging his staff to call more of those wretched Sea Terrors, it almost looks comedic." However, from what she could tell—he had already expended all of which he could control.
"I'll deal with him then," Megumi lifted his right casually, and then immediately stomped it down and rushed to where they were. They were by the side of the harpoon, perhaps believing the object was the safest place they could be at the moment, but the Sorcerer was going to prove that wrong.
"W-what?!" The Bishop reeled back, his bulging eyes and crooked mouth opening wide, just as Megumi's palm touched his face. Before he could fully convert—
CLEAVE
—Multiple red and white slashes appeared around the Bishop's body, flashes of crimson and altering monochrome slights distorting the scene around them.
The Bishop screamed, their body being reduced to nothing but mince meat. It was at that very moment they could no longer utter as much as a word, as Megumi's hand completely passed by their body that had been turned into drops of blood.
Megumi breathed a large sigh, feeling his reserves burning from the excessive output of Cleave, but it needed to be done. From what he remembered, their full transformation into disgusting sea creatures provided an enormous boost in strength—not unlike that of a Vengeful Spirit.
Finishing his handiwork, the Ten Shadows user knew it was time to leave this place.
***
A large squadron of the Penal Battalion marched their way to a battered and ruined Church, one that had been left in such a state far too quickly for direct mobilization. If all of them remembered correctly, it was one that held mass gatherings for worship towards the sea—one that they had been desperate to get a warrant against.
The people in charge with all the Penal Battalion members stationed in Primavera had always had this singular church in their sights, believing it to be some sort of grounds where those Sea Terrors had been birthing from.
So when they finally came to the location, all of the soldiers were surprised to see that there had been a massacre. Multiple slash marks marred the Church interior, the roof of the building having been blasted off—along with many dried up corpses of what they assumed to be Sea Terrors.
Off in the distance, a harpoon ballista which nobody had ever seen before was stationed by the rocks of the beach. It was ripped apart, like some animal had put the entire thing into their mouth and chewed it to bits.
Confused and disoriented by the sight, the Penal Battalion could not make heads over tails what had happened.
***
"Tired?" Laurentina held a wine glass in her hand, filled with a red liquor. The color matched her eye, which was the first reason she had picked it out, "hm... it's average—at best." Despite taking a sip of a well and skillfully aged wine... for dry land standards, the Abyssal Hunter could make the comparison that Aegir's was far superior.
"...Yes, I am," Megumi wondered if the Penal Battalion had detected his Sukuna-bathed Cursed Energy, but such a thing wasn't something to worry about. The two had made it out of there before they arrived, and were walking the streets of Primavera to go pick up Laurentina's 'tailored' clothes.
"I could tuck you in bed and read you a bed-time story~," Laurentina gave a small wink while taking another sip of her wine, "how about this? A story where the princess is saved by a dashing prince~!"
"...Gojo-sensei..." Megumi groaned out in a low breath, making sure the woman didn't hear that name.
"Come again?" Laurentina tilted her head. Her buzzsaw was no longer in her hands, the woman trusting the black haired man enough to keep it safe in his shadow inventory. Ah, she would question those strange abilities of his later.
"Nothing, nothing," Megumi quickly replied back, hoping the Aegir wouldn't push the matter any further. "We're close by the tailor shop anyways—"
"Aw~, are you not going to tell me?" Laurentina leaned closer to his face with a smile, "come one~ what did you say just earlier?"
"...It's a secret," Megumi rolled his eyes, "nor do I have the energy to explain."
"Hmph," Laurentina gave him a small pout before turning away, "looks like somebody doesn't want to be read bedtime stories, now do they?"
"Where..." Megumi gave her an exasperated look. "...Forget it," he sincerely hoped that Gojo Satoru and Laurentina would never meet.
***
The two entered the shop, Laurentina in particular taking a look around, "it looks devastated, couldn't you have chosen a better one?" She mirthlessly spoke out, setting down her emptied wine cup on a nearby table.
"It was the best one I could find, honest," Megumi raised his hands into a shrug, "we can probably find a better one outside of Primavera if—" His words paused, his eyes taking in the sight of something behind closed doors.
"You caught sight of it too?" Laurentina tapped Megumi on the shoulder, her eyes vested with interest. "Well, what are we waiting for?" The woman dragging the Sorcerer along with her.
"Wait, that could be a private room," Megumi winced at the gorilla woman's strength, feeling far too exhausted to try and fight back against her. However, he wasn't exhausted enough for the Dharmachakra to do an adaptation for himself.
Laurentina, not heeding his words, opened the door and was presented with the sight of, "wow..." the woman was honestly at a loss of words. Who knew this dingy old place filled to the brim with dust could actually tailor what she made, "do you have an eye for talent or something, princess?"
Megumi looked around, not seeing anybody. His gaze turned towards the dress in the middle of the room, just as shocked as the Aegir herself, "I... have no clue." The old man who worked—or ran this tailor shop didn't look to be the most mentally stable person.
"Ah, I need to try it on," Laurentina smiled and grabbed the clothes, before pausing and turning to Megumi. "Oh, and if you want to watch me change, just say so~, " she shot a smirk towards Megumi.
"..." Megumi didn't respond, just letting his eyes slightly rest and grabbing the door. Right after, he stepped outside and closed it, giving Laurentina all the privacy that she needed.
"What if I told you I actually meant it?" Laurentina's muffled voice from the other side could be heard alongside the sound of rustling clothes.
"I wouldn't believe it!" Megumi called back with a deadpan expression.
"Oh really~?" Laurentina responded in kind. "I finished wearing them, would you like to see them now?"
"Sure," Megumi crossed his arms, "as long as you don't come out naked." He remembered that the note had measurements written on them, so the clothes should fit if the... lost resident of this store could actually read them.
Click
The door opened.
Stepping outside, Laurentina spread her arm outwards to show her outfit fully towards Megumi, the recipient processing it. She wore leggings with a three parted skirt, the skirt in particular a white first layer of fabric. The second layer was slightly separated from the first layer, holding a light black color in contrast.
Other accessories included her new hat, the forehead portion looking as if it were shaped to form vague shark teeth—something somebody wouldn't notice unless they focused on it. There were blue long fabrics which cascaded off the dress. Overall, Laurentina looked...
"It looks nice," Megumi replied.
"Ah?" Laurentina blinked a few times, having stopped her momentary spinning when hearing his words. "Is that all you have to say?" The woman gave him a neutral look, her red eyes seemingly becoming a touch... shinier under the dark.
"...It looks gorgeous," Megumi reiterated his words, this time sounding more genuine than last time.
"Heh~, that's more like it," Laurentina simpered and giggled, placing a hand over her mouth. "Now that my debt is paid, what is it that you wish to do next?"
That kind of question? "I'll probably just explore Terra," Megumi replied, giving an off-handed wave. "It's what I've been wanting to do."
"You know," Laurentina placed a finger under her lip, "I quite enjoyed the time we spent together. And what? Haven't we only spent a single day mingling?" The woman mused out loud.
Megumi kept silent, wondering what she was talking about.
"To be fully honest, I don't know where to go," Laurentina shrugged with a nonchalant look, "I do not know where my allies reside," or if they were even alive, "where my home is, and I am completely lost of direction."
The black haired man nodded slowly.
"So pardon me, if it is selfish to ask," Laurentina placed a hand over her chest, "would you accept me as a companion on your journey?"
Megumi paused, not knowing how to answer her words. Letting the words pass him by, the black haired man had to reiterate the fact that he was friendless in this world. The people in Lungmen were at best well-known acquaintances, and Laurentina was only somebody he had been acquainted with for a single day.
However...
Megumi sighed, "I'll accept it," he reached his hands out to grab Laurentina's shoulders, but then remembered what she had taught him not too long before. Instead of grabbing her shoulder or arm, he presented his palm upwards—almost as if it were on instinct.
"Oh my~," Laurentina gasped, unknowing to Megumi if it was a faux one or not, "since when did you become such a gentleman?" She coquettishly said.
"You're the one who taught me this," Megumi dryly remarked, "might as well put it to good use."
"Truly," Laurentina placed her hand on his outstretched hand, "then when shall we depart, my savior?"
'...Savior?' Megumi tried the word in his mind, wondering if it even fit him at all. At best, he was sure he would be called a failure back at home. But hearing this woman's words... "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Laurentina smiled, the two basking in the brief silence.
In his eyes, Megumi felt as if the woman in front of him was... how should he put this? Free? Unchained? Was it because of her outfit that he felt this way? Or was it something else?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
'Maybe this wouldn't be so bad...' after all, she sort of reminded him of Gojo Satoru.
Megumi hadn't realized how much he really missed the white haired man, until now. What a strange feeling it was.
***
A/N: I did that Rabbit Escape Binding Vow because writing chants for EVERY SHIKIGAMI was getting tiring. So I'll only use chants for dramatic moments/big attacks.
Also, hopefully Megumi's and Laurentina's interactions don't seem to be too... quick?
Also also, I've been fumbling by calling Aegirs, Aegirians instead of Aegir, and have been stuck on that ever since my Gojo fic. Everytime I write Aegirian now, I just have the urge to fix it, and so I did. But I'm not going through hundreds of thousands of other words.
Although I prefer writing 'Aegirian' because it differentiates from 'Aegir' the city, 'Aegir' in Arknights applies to both the race and city when used to describe them. I only realized this after rereading SN, and I felt as if a big ass mandela effect hit me.