Monsters, beings that while typically described as being large, ugly, and frightening, have no defining trait attributed to them. Elephants have their tusk, trunk, and big ears defining what makes them the beings they are. Alligators have their reptilian scales and where they’re usually located in that defines them, as well their jawline and snout being what makes them different from crocodiles.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29AAGPAetx
It goes back to the most generic grouping of animals, where everyone can tell or have a reference to decipher what a fish, mammal, reptile, or amphibian is.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZDe9oEnZO
Even creatures the mortal plane finds as imaginary such as cyclopes, manticores, and unicorns have their species-defining traits everyone recognizes.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxKymD5DdS
Yet none such features exist for monsters.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovPonIds0a
Everything one could say defines a monster is extremely subjective, a preferential take on how they view a being that has no definitive form.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSYGG6Bua1
But throughout all iterations of monsters that exist in people’s minds, there’s one common denominator that connects them all in the minds of people; Fear. The mind-curdling emotion that is fear drives humanity’s view of what a monster is. Being sparked from a creature’s appearance to their origin, or what they’ve done and are capable of. Regardless of how fear could erupt in a person, it’s a piercing instinct they’ll instantly recognize when faced with it no matter what form it takes, which is why anything can be determined to be a monster.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK781CkWQP0
“Hey!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCeTzG9Dmj
The loud silvery voice snatched Kokoro’s attention, who found himself staring down at a steamy bowl of tantanmen ramen.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrFnGXSMi7
“You ok over there?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFBlypyLFm
Confused that he was looking down at a delectable meal, the pale-faced soul remembered hearing someone call out to him and turned toward where the voice came from. There, sitting next to him at the table counter, he found the ruby-haired woman who had been kindly dragging him around purgatory; Seodra.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VPQEebOIo
“Oh good you’re alive… well sorta,” she said, tilting her head at him, “Although we’re both already dead you were extra looking like a corpse just sitting there.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOcorTnah3
Seeing the woman with her own bowl of noodles cured Kokoro of his amnesia and he remembered where he was and what he was doing here.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNDabpGfXo
He was enjoying a meal at a noodle shop Seodra recommended.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0vB97Jcnk
“Must’ve zoned out again,” Kokoro concluded, steadying his mind. He looked slightly irritated setting his attention back on his company, telling her, “You know, I can do without the constant jabs at my appearance.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIIxXMZqkL
“Then stop looking like such a ghoul,” taunted Seodra, chuckling that the first time she has seen him show an expressive display of emotion was him looking grumpier than usual, “Geez, I can’t help making the comparison when you’re sitting still staring into space like that, you look as if you have no soul; and we’re literal souls right now.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf35ksFDscO
“I get it, I look horrible but it can’t be that bad from all the carnival appearances here. Come on, there gotta be some worse-looking people than me here.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t3w7GmumF
“You’re right but usually those aren’t the kind of people who starts off in purgatory.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudPiHl9sjd
“Eh?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg1Fzs6agP
“Oh, you better eat your noodles while they’re still hot,” Seodra told him, picking up her fork to enjoy her bowl of japchae. Jabbing a thumb toward the direction of the counter, the ruby-haired woman told him, “The chef here doesn’t like it when you let his food get cold.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08qFXVUeHq
Looking over the counter, Kokoro saw the well-fit form of a blue-haired chef standing tall in his kitchen glaring down at him. The store owner spoke in an exuberant voice like he was in an action character, with such vigorous movement he states, “Food is one of the key essences of human existence equal to breathing, not only does it nourish the human body but also the soul. It’ll be a disservice to the dish to not eat it right and what’s a better way of doing it than enjoying the meal when it’s at its best! So eat up while it’s still hot and fresh!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQyYbrN8ck
Picking up the chopsticks provided to him, Kokoro groggily replied, “Please stop yelling I’ll eat, see?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnXwB7iNMQ
He glanced up for a second to see the store-owning chef was still intensely staring at him, obviously waiting for him to have a taste. After slurping some noodles, enjoying the tang of flavor, Kokoro looked up at the store owner hoping it’ll be enough validation for him to be left alone. Though he didn’t facially express anything, his attempt was successful as the chef smiled at him before turning around to continue his work.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5nlHSFQLz
As Kokoro let out a relieved sigh, Seodra discretely asked him, “If it’s not to your liking, you don’t have to pretend. Zhi here can take the criticism and likes tailoring food to people’s preferences.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JO6AO2BEk
“Oh no this is fine,” Kokoro told her, taking a second look at his bowl, “Well…maybe a bit more of a sweet tang than sour but it’s actually really good. How did you find this place?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVr7aFZPIQ
“Same as most other places, usually I go by recommendations but I liked this place’s emblem and decided to try it out. Risk well worth it since I keep coming back!” Seodra states, giving Zhi a gesture of appreciation for his craft. She then took one of the menus off to the side and slid it over to Kokoro for him to look at the noodle-based emblem for the store.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX8xHvEphn
“You went to a restaurant just because it had a pretty picture, isn’t that a bit childish?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hrv3vji8I
Seodra simply giggled at his comment, “That’s how people prefer to identify themself here. It works better to entice customers.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIb7OFZv7c
“Eh? Now that you mention it, when we went to the market place almost none of the stores we passed by had any names on their signs,” Kokoro said, looking down at the menu again. On a second look he noticed that while the menu was mostly all stand-out pictures, there seemed to be a few written words next to each picture in a language he couldn’t read but recognized. It was Mandarin, a traditional Chinese language.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oOzKV08hu
“Despite being able to understand what everyone is saying, you still can’t read a language you don’t know.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoKRNv4F8I
“That’s inconvenient.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBNgYCFuSO
“You have no idea but people manage to get by. Most store owners still name their store but rely on stand-out symbols to be recognizable as to not isolate potential customers. While niche stores that focus on a certain culture or time period have their market, there’s no telling where you’ll end up in Purgatory, and hoping your area’s demographic will include enough people that’ll like a certain culture at a specific time period isn’t the smartest move. If you see words or letters from a written language on a store’s emblem then it’s usually flavor text to look unique and to signal the kind of culture style they mainly cook in. It makes it a lot easier to figure out which place will cook in the way you like.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVtA0jgPu0
Taking in this information, Kokoro nodded his head, thinking to himself, “That’s actually interesting, I wonder what else people do here to adapt. Guess it was lucky she took me to the market.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqyOUEKcqF
As the silver-haired ghoul continued to stir his utensils in his bowl, he eyed the lengthy noodles floating in the broth, and his mind wandered back to what happened earlier. It’s been weighing on his mind like a sack of bricks since.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeh07r9AcP
More importantly, it’s what he encountered at the market that won’t leave his mind.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVhOD3OUMY
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA2gopeIpS
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbL7yVnYW9
There were many things in Purgatory Kokoro didn’t know, it was like when he first attended university by himself where everything felt familiar but he barely knew how to work through it. Yet without a doubt, seeing the discordant silhouette of the creature through the dust cloud he knew it was a monster; his body reacted to it as such.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiMYO93GOh
That’s why he was frozen while the creature freely moved toward him through the blinding puffs of smoke.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjngDs6Qjc
This monster, a being radiating with ill-intention, was reaching out for Kokoro yet the silver youth couldn’t move his body; only staring at the monster’s palm closing in.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWAeNwiDAz
Yet, not one gnarly finger of the monster laid itself upon Kokoro’s gloomy hair. Before contact was made, Kokoro heard something cut through the air as a long metallic weapon flew over his shoulder and stabbed the center of the monster’s hand.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtZrqHTP8R
The shriek of pain from the monster broke Kokoro out of his unmoving trance, allowing his first reaction to be looking to his side for whoever had come to his aid. All he was able to get was a glimpse of a red blur that leaped forward before there was a chance to identify who it was. Through the dust, Kokoro watched a human figure as it drove its long weapon deeper into the monster’s flesh before mounting the creature and taking it to the floor; disappearing beyond the thicker smoke.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk996lOtqcG
A cacophony exploded beyond the dust cloud from the monster screaming to the rapid stabbing before going silent almost as soon as it started. When the dust cloud had mostly cleared up Kokoro started seeing the crowd’s silhouette as they believed the silence meant it was all over. But Kokoro has yet to see the person who confronted the monster rise from the ground.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSReRgDTAFx
“Shikata!?” Seodra’s voice rang out from the approaching crowd.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvInsumzyoy
Kokoro looked behind him about to answer her but then the ghoul-looking soul snapped his head back, sensing movement among the thicker part of the dust cloud. Still being conscious he moved forward, relying completely on his instincts before reaching out into the unknown space. Suddenly his hand felt like it was carried away by the current of a river, moving out and managing to grasp something in blinding smoke.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnXWBXvzG9
Feeling it in his hand, Kokoro could tell it was a soft material; like fabric. With his mind focusing solely on what it was he grabbed, he yanked it toward himself to examine it; finding a red cloth with gold markings tucked into his grip.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXZUS52Rxb
He might’ve been a bit too concerned about examining it as when he pulled the cloth toward himself, he dragged a whole nother body along with it as well.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXLSRFMIkD
Remembering that whatever he grabbed would most likely belong to the person who came to his aid against the monster, he preemptively said, “Sorry I just wanted to–”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr8bL7G3de
His words were cut off when emerging from the dust cloud, his surprise savior revealed themself but he wasn’t met with a friendly face; it was a masked one. Through the mask’s eye holes piercing neon blue glared at him, despite recognizing the mask its appearance looking pretty demonic from the horns sticking out on top and their eyes that looked at him similar to that monster from earlier; he became speechless.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3l6pWg5m3
The Masked Stranger seemed perplexed as well, staring back at him before their sharp eyes trailed down to Kokoro’s hand grabbing their red cape. Snatching it away, The Masked Stranger gave one last lingering look at the silver-haired man before jumping away; disappearing from view without a trace.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPafobnoPE
It was only after the Masked Stranger left that the crowd became fully visible from the dust cloud.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISOV50p0iU
“Shikata, are you ok?” Seodra asked, approaching him as soon as she found him. Thankfully the dust cloud had almost entirely dissipated by now making it extremely easy to see each other.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupDaK0JXQg
Kokoro didn’t answer her, he was still staring longingly in the direction he last saw The Masked Stranger. Something felt weird when Kokoro laid his eyes on them and he couldn’t get his mind off it, his mind just seemed uncontrollably drawn to the subject like many of his other obsessions. Once he gets into it, it’s annoyingly hard to pull him out.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kQCh23xjA
“Hey! Mr. Silver Ghoul!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfcVJR7i30
That did the trick.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdQ0HMDPBJ
Looking more disgruntled than usual, Kokoro told her, “What!?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NwoBuyROR
“Oh good, you’re alive,” Seodra casually responded, she smiled before asking, “So uhh… you’re hungry right?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG5aSiVS99
…
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKYQekNfaF
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fArjXsHqt
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYCF1oinOT
“Who was that person?” Kokoro thought to himself, stewing over the issue, “That was obviously a mask on them so they didn’t actually have horns, which means they can’t be another monster. Well, then again all sorts of appearances can happen here. I’m human yet I’ve experienced a dramatic body change, not to mention this freaking chain on my arm. Hmm, if she needs a mask to look that way then she should be fairly regular, I doubt anyone here would put in extra effort in looking abnormal.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaltqjhIKke
“Hey, you’re zoning out again,” Seodra called out to him.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdzCTjRKoO
Kokoro jerked back to full awareness, stating, “Huh? Oh, fuck. Guess I was.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKrmNO9VyN
The Irish woman leaned against her fist on the table, sprouting a soured expression as she mops, “Are you so disinterested in me that your attention can’t help but be constantly fleeting.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtTkjnTkdx
“Ah… no it’s-–”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3LA3xiqp3
“I know I’m not the best at being coy for a guy like you or whatever you’re into when you speak to a girl but like damn at least have some consideration for a lady’s heart. Be subtle and let me down easy.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdeefb94Kx
“Dear lord stop it, you’re fine,” groaned Kokoro, it’s always a headache when his demeanor fuses with his contemplation habits; especially when it happens around a girl. After mindlessly stirring his ramen bowl, he turns to the red-haired Irish woman to explain, “There’s… something I can’t get out of my mind.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE39MotHi9G
Seeing his expression, Seodra looked saddened, saying, “It’s what happened at the market, right?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvb9F4SX2T
No answer came from Kokoro as he continued poking at his food but it was obvious what the issue was, it was written all over his face. Granted his face already looked distraught but now it went even beyond the normal levels.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIofjths5Qa
Sighing, Seodra gloomily says, “Sorry that happened on your first day, and here I was stupidly hoping some food would help you forget about such an encounter since no one got hurt but it seems that thing made a bigger impression than a bowl of ramen. Wish I could do more to prevent this kind of stuff from happening but unfortunately, this sort of thing is something you need to get used—...”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR30BedcYe
“What was that monster anyway? Just being in its presence… I haven’t felt that way in years. Why does Purgatory even have creatures that can crash into the middle of a city?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKAo0owuIn
“DUDE!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vUWosAGtH
“Huh, what?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6J56GYx1mg
“Couldn’t have waited till after my heartfelt spiel to blank out?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaiWnJPgKm
“Sorry, I promise it’s not completely intentional.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVrjSz57Gl
“Well, I can’t be mad at you for being absent-minded considering what you- Oh for fuck sake!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdePrd7ltC
“Even in the afterlife, there are still things I have to look out–”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllVdnhLc3b
“Can I finish a sentence, please!?” exclaimed Seodra, yelling loud enough to regain Kokoro’s attention.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiGkcVPgl9
The stoned-face individual awkwardly scratched his neck at his actions before asking, “Well, can I ask you something?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Npujc2z71
“If that’ll keep your mind here, then sure,” grumbled Seodra.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9PJxvznuy
“What was that creature that crashed into the market, where does it come from?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadzH3HmJZP
“Something that–,” Seodra stopped for a moment to check and make sure Kokoro was still listening. Her glare pressured the silver ghoul to continue eating. After receiving a gesture that he was actively engaging with her, she continued to explain, “What you saw in the market. That was a demon, and they came straight from the realms of hell.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWJgZehHZZ
“Hell!? How are demons from hell roaming around in Purgatory? Shouldn’t there be some force to prevent that or something?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTDWUKLdpz
“Remember Purgatory’s place in mythology, it’s not the most accurate but it’s a decent guideline to start with. Purgatory is the middle ground between a fate of damnation or bliss, while it’s usually written to be metaphorically placed between those two ends of a pendulum, it’s a lot more literal.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU3c8rhyam
“You mean, below our feet–”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEXywW9qie
“Underneath the ground we’re standing on is the realm of Hell.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPSNWaTb3x
Her last words echoed in Kokoro’s mind like a boom in a cave. Hell, despite all different iterations and interpretations of what hell is, there’s no question that the common consensus is that hell is a dreadful place to be in.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii2Z7X335n
“Just being near it and demons can still jump out to attack the public,” thought Kokoro, staring at his bowl, “What kind of hectic place did I end up in? Demons that can just drop in on public places? I thought the point of not going to hell is to avoid such creatures. Then again, if this is supposed to be the compromised place to end up, like a scale weight on both sides will be placed.“
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfWITOtaHw
His eyes leisurely trailed to the side to see Seodra gawking at him, making him sigh, “Oh give me a break, I’m allowed an inner monolog after that tidbit.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDg47FZPbW
“You should start a memoir since you like monologuing to yourself so much!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg502mRmYr
“I did have a memoir when I was alive. Well, more like I had stacks of paper containing my hodgepodge rambles put together in a binder I kept in my drawers.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbu3dZbhaj
A chuckle came out from the ruby-haired woman, trying to talk through her excitement, “That’s a good one, can’t believe how spot-on that is! You know, I’m a bit of an academic myself. If you start one again, let’s trade notes sometimes.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6FsIYE4pt
The only response the silver ghoul gave was a low grunt, “...I’ll consider.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQufXhnL62K
“Ah come on, don’t be shy,” Seodra tells him, patting his shoulder, “Whatever you’ve written can’t be that bad.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAtsrKqURx
Silence fell over Kokoro, his mind ran by the numerous times he wrote some unadulterated opinions and theories involving some of his clients. Those were logged with the expressed purpose of never seeing the light of day, EVER. Prompting him to reply, “It’s just… extremely rough to read. A waste of time I stupidly committed to.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OQjeCChBF
“Everyone has embarrassing notes they’ve jolted down.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbio2uWBbL
“Yeah…” was all Kokoro could respond with, hoping to quickly change the topic by asking, “What did you work as anyway?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqk8aavA8n
Before an answer was given, a sudden arrival into the restaurant caught their attention.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJnur4y09p
“Oh thank the lord, you’re here,” stated Mary, the angel Kokoro first met when he awoke in Purgatory, and who he ditched soon after getting his clothes on. Her wings were arc down as she was panting heavily, speaking between gasps, “I was looking all over for you?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH38egDuaZH
“Did you run here?” Seodra asked, eyeing the angel’s choice of wearing heels. While fashionable to gawk at, the Irish woman’s ankles were aching just thinking about what this woman experienced.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjOjKAo4ph
Mary answered her with a nod.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrrUGlo0jJ
“Why didn’t you fly, you have wings,” Kokoro pointed out, nonchalantly continuing to eat.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNKH8ZFl7x
“I wanted to keep my relatability,” gasped Mary, taking deep breaths to recompose herself before continuing, “And not be overwhelming by overexposing you to the supernatural.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35BmoGyqUk
Wiping his mouth and turning to the angel, Kokoro responded, “I’m from the age where stories of regular people ending up in worlds filled with magic and other mystical concepts are a dime a dozen. After all the stories I’ve read, seeing an angel fly wouldn’t be that mind-blowing.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP0iUEHWAu
Mulling over his words, Mary mumbles, “I guess you’re right.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLSujPX3bD
“Plus he got attacked by a demon so that bandaid got ripped off pretty quickly,” casually added Seodra.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7YfFUnTPR
“WHAT!?” exclaimed Mary, nearly falling over herself.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWz77SL02Y
“I wouldn’t say attacked, more like encountered one when it crashed into the marketplace we were visiting,” corrected Kokoro.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRqBfWJXA0
Panicking, Mary was reinvigorated with energy as she rushed over to Kokoro, placing her soft hand over the silver ghoul’s face and torso asking, “Are you ok!? Did you get hurt!? Is there anywhere you’re feeling pain!? Are you feeling well!? I hope you didn’t encounter anything too scary!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6q7YDXv7t
Kokoro simply blinked, “I’m fine.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VIqbs1RTv
Thankfully that response, along with his stone-face glare, was enough to get Mary to stop checking him, “I-i see.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGwIpJoBhl
After clearing her throat, the angel continued, “Well, I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj9RxiMUU9
“Obviously,” Kokoro thought but kept it to himself.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUJAPmA6g0
“If you’ll follow me, I’ll gladly answer them,” suggested the angel, giving a formal gesture leading to outside the restaurant, “And maybe along the way we can continue our previous conversation.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukGxPsZV50
“No.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXwIesLxHq
“What?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQZ2uJgcWO
“I’m good,” the silver ghoul responded, turning back to the table to finish his meal.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpAIYtbsfQ
“But- uhh, I– you sure?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof99bMc8cu
“Yup.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNULC3g4TeH
“There are no questions you want to be answered?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb05Nebe33
“Oh there is, I just don’t want what’s attached to it.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw43npgNJv1
“You don’t even know what I’m going to ask!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vXE2AYdBJ
Curious, Seodra asked, “I thought you had to leave him early?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhfx0j9pUl
“Is that what he told you!?” the angel exclaimed, snapping her head toward the silver ghoul to give him a crabby expression.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaSZe31D7M
“Oh yeah, I did say that,” was the nonchalant answer Koko gave, “Well, it was more like I jumped out a window when she was talking.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4oaV26IpK
“Right as I was able to pitch the opportunity of an eternity!” Mary added, sounding irritated but more hurt that a highly anticipated opportunity was snatched away from her on a whim, “And I was so nice to him too!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1CyQEXoIV
Seodra snickered, “That’s rough. How can you be so mean to Mary, Shikata? She’s pretty cool.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPzNgSO6xJ
“I didn’t feel like listening to a job pitch when I just woke up,” Kokoro snapped back, “Who wants to hear about working after dying?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKgFMMAWhW
“...Huh, can’t argue against that. Yeah, I’ll run away too,” the Irish states, stretching her arms, “You two mind if we take this outside? I wanna stretch my legs out after a meal?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe25iSLOEl
“But… I just got here,” murmured Mary, after how far and long she had been running, she could use a seat.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj03LuCGN2L
Unfortunately for the kind angel, she was outvoted and the three of them ended up outside the restaurant. It gave Kokoro one more chance to admire the exterior as he questions the logic behind putting a noodle restaurant on top of a giant plant vine bigger than the building itself.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbztRJXx0B
“What was this place called again?” Kokoro asked, making a mental note of how they got here again. Though with the giant vine it’s on top of, he thought it might not be that hard to miss.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4VW0sv9fP
“Noodles From The East,” answered Seodra, enjoying the fresh cool breeze of air. Looking up at the sky, she noticed how late it has gotten since the sky had darkened to a cold purplish-blue; one of the few times during the day where the soul residing in purgatory can look up and feel like they’re alive back on earth. After taking in the dazzling view, Seodra turns to Kokoro to say, “Apparently it’s some kind of pun on a- oh for fuck sake!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rQFYTfkSf
The ruby-haired woman let out a grunt of annoyance when she saw her silver-haired guest once again staring off in the distance as if he wasn’t listening.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SyHBD2WGy
It was by pure coincidence that Kokoro turned his head to see a very angry Irish woman glaring at him like she wanted to wring his neck.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2r8Qqea8R
“What?” he asked, confused by the daggers being thrown by her fierce shining eyes.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zShQhLlX6
Sighing, Seodra turned to Mary, shaking her head before stating, “Can’t imagine what you want with him, it just seems like a lot more trouble along with the rest of Purgatory.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR1Et3SVfm
“Oh don’t worry, he may not look promising but he’s what I need for the plans I have in mind.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaAksI2VQx
“I doubt it’ll do too much, not much can shake things up here; Purgatory got its reputation for a reason. But hey, congrats on your passion project.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYAjWuVS7i
“Trust me, his talent is the component I need. I just need to convince him to use it!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJNUcI9nJl
“Good luck, he’s not even paying attention even now,” Seodra pointed out, gesturing to Kokoro who was again staring off in the distance.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLNwnGeFSx
Still not facing the girls or actively engaging in their conversation, Kokoro asked, “How deeply populated is this area? Like, does anyone live around here?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEyFvFPFnD
“I bet he didn’t even hear what we say,” commented Seodra, placing her hands on her hips.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRoXnyi19S
Not looking back, Kokoro replied, “I did, it’s nothing new I haven’t heard before so I opted not to care.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzW1OUDqLFe
“Not to interrupt but should we be heading over,” Mary suggested, trying to lure the group into following her.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyy0Pq2WzV
Taking a final look into the surrounding vines, Kokoro meanderingly started walking behind Mary saying, “Alright, hopefully it’s not too far of a- wait a minute.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr37pZMkrCF
Sending his steely-eyed look upon the angel, whose guilt riddled her body down to her wings, he scolds her, “I haven’t agreed to anything yet. How are you an angel yet so deviously sneaky?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A8hZHhFAt
Pressing her fingertips together, she mumbled, “My goal wasn’t to be deceitful, just to guide you toward a great idea.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xQADLbdwR
“Then offer what may entice me enough to hear you out like a normal person, or angel.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdrZMAXCA8
“I did but you rejected it!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwcPAlyh2a
“Then step up your game and bring something better.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB56gFFqpw6
“Like what, you’re hard to read at times.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY41s4knIEg
“Ok, but how is that my problem though?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr3JRPb3yH
“You could at least throw me a bone,” the angel moped, finding a respectable offer for such a detached person was a far cry from what she was expecting their whole meeting to go, “Usually the new arrivals I greet are more cooperative. Well, guess I’m getting what I wanted. Now how do I nab him?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJI1EQltO0
As the angel pondered over it, Seodra looked back to the restaurant with an estranged look before slapping her forehead and stating, “Oh shoot, I forgot to give something to Zhi for the meal?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l3m4RUEFW
“I thought you said it was on the house?” questioned Kokoro.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mgBgZuGCQ
“It was but this is more of a friendly thing, don’t worry about it,” Seodra told him while searching on the ground for something.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgM2bjtUVM
“What are you looking for?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcdMcQppE9
“A couple of- ah come on, I know I saw some here when we entered; where are they,” she mumbled to herself.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7SI7dcJEb
The other two would watch helplessly as neither knew what she intended to get until finally, the redhead rose back to her feet with a couple of small stones in her palm. After clasping her fist shut, she brought her hands close to her lips as she mumbled words Kokoro wouldn’t hear. It was a magical reveal when Seodra opened her hand and showed a single sparkling gem.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqs38t72Ut
Seeing Kokoro’s longing glare at the supernatural occurrence, Mary’s eye lit up as bright as the jewel did as her mind became enlightened with an idea, “That’s it!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRZrMzI1EA
Flying swiftly toward Kokoro, the angel made her offer.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKW52nKZM8
“You’ll listen to my idea and I’ll teach you how she’s doing that,” Mary exclaimed, pointing to Kokoro’s chest, “I’ll rev up your soul and help you learn how we fight against the demons from hell.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQEfBnWTeY
TO BE CONTINUED
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1Xygztqr6
