Mutagen

Day 234- 9:38 PM - Red Light District, Shinonome, Koto City, Tokyo

Mark remained sitting on the ledge of the building overlooking the Red Light District of Shinonome, although his attention was now focused on his unexpected stalker as he stared at her.

Since the first time Mark saw this person, he already felt suspicious. During Mark's encounter with the members of Dawn outside the restaurant, she appeared as that Shito Priest. At that time, it felt like she appeared out of nowhere, as his detection could barely detect her at all. That was more the reason he closed his doors on her without hesitation, aside from the fact that he had no intentions of interacting with the Temple. At least, not too early.

But as Mark saw that Shinto Priest as she transformed into a teenage-looking girl, together with her extremely expensive clothing and accessories, Mark began to have thoughts about who this stalker was.

It was no surprise Mark could barely detect her. This girl's aura and energy enveloped the entire Reclaimed City.

The Reclaimed City was this young-looking girl's territory.

"So, what does the Priestess want with me?"

Mark asked, voicing his assumption.

And seeing that Mark recognized her despite this time being their first meeting with her true appearance, the girl, no, the Priestess bloomed with a childlike smile.

The Priestess. She was a mysterious entity in the eyes of the common people within the Reclaimed City. She was a symbol of worship and was rumored to be a magical entity even before the outbreak. But since she barely interacted with anyone in public, almost no one knew her outside the Temple.

However, it was no secret that the Priestess was responsible for the Reclaimed City's safety during the recent catastrophe. She was the pillar of Japan's last line of defense. Even if all kinds of schemes and troubles happened within the Reclaimed City, no one would try to offend her or the Temple she led.

It was known to those with enough status that the Priestess was recuperating. Protecting the Reclaimed City was said to have weakened Priestess' strength. That was how the information circulated.

Mark continued to stare as he waited for her answer. As he could see, this girl was in no state that needed recuperation. Was it false information so she could lay low while roaming around in disguise?

"You are really asking me?" The Priestess responded with a question as she tilted her head and bent her shoulders sideways in a cutesy manner. "You and your people stirred up the hornet's nest the moment you arrived. Everyone is focusing their attention on your group. There is no way I can ignore it, can I?"

And then, the Priestess vanished from Mark's eyes as the continuation of her words entered his ears.

"Especially when it turned out to be someone powerful. Furthermore, a Demon."

As those words echoed in Mark's ears, he stared at where the Priestess initially was, although he already knew she was standing on the ledge he sat on just a step behind him.

"A [Shukuchi], huh?"

Mark murmured as he nonchalantly turned to face the Priestess as she looked at the situation below.

"It's unexpected to see a Demon capable of utilizing dead souls. You really did them nasty."

The Priestess said with a laugh while watching the commotion below.

At this point, Mark could only look at the Priestess with a strange expression in his eyes.

The Priestess, the protector of the Reclaimed City, was laughing at the murder of the people living inside it. It was strange, not to mention that her behavior so far was way different from what one would expect from someone called a Shrine Priestess and the head of a religious temple.

It felt more like Mark was talking with a bratty delinquent.

"I just killed people inside your territory, and you're actually laughing." Mark could not help but ask in curiosity. "Aren't you supposed to protect the city?"

The Priestess turned to Mark with that cutesy tilt of her head that would make one question how the heavy ornaments on her head had not fallen yet.

And then, the Priestess replied.

"I am protecting the city. But not the ruffians living in it."

Due to the Priestess' posture while replying, Mark's eyes locked stares with hers. And from those eyes, Mark could feel a state of serenity. She was calm. There was no anger or hate from her towards him even though he killed people in front of her.

Those eyes told Mark that the Priestess cared for the city and those who were living peacefully inside it. However, those who had no respect for the peace and protection she had brought had no right to expect anything from her.

The Priestess was like the sun for good people, while she was the darkness for evildoers.

"Amaterasu..." A sudden shocked voice inside Mark's head made him snap. "Be careful about the person in front of you. She carried the aura of a Goddess."

Mark listened to the warning inside his head. It seemed that Magwayen had checked on him only to see the current situation. Still, it was quite a surprise.

"Is she an incarnation?"

Mark asked Magwayen inside his head.

"No, her soul is of a human," Magwayen immediately replied. "But it seemed that her bloodline carried a direct connection with that country's gods."

It was another surprise. The Priestess was likely the same as Mark, having a bloodline directly connected to a God of the past. However, unlike Mark, who was connected to an unknown evil god, it seemed that the Priestess carried the bloodline connected to a major Deity of the Shinto Religion.

"What's wrong? Why are you silent? Is there something on my face? Do I look cute? Did you fall for me, perhaps?"

Mark's sudden silence caused the Priestess to barrage him with questions, some being utter nonsense.

This girl... She was annoying.

Mark did not respond to her stupid questions. Instead, he continued the previous conversation.

"You didn't mind me killing those pricks. You don't really seem to care that I'm a Demon, either. Then what are you here for?"

"Hmmm..." The Priestess tapped her chin. "Yep, I don't care if you're a Demon. Anyone is welcome to enter the city if they don't desire to create evil within. Demons, Spirits, everyone is welcome as long as they bring peace. But it is far rarer to find Demons who want peace. You and your people might be causing waves, but you haven't done any evil. Your group also helped during the previous hornet attack. It prevented many casualties and circulated materials needed by the people. So far, you haven't done any evil."

"I just killed people."

Mark retorted.

"Killing evildoers might be wrong, but that is not evil. If you ask me, you are contributing to the peace of this land by removing the roots of evil. It might stir some chaos. A storm among the people. But it is just like nature. After the violent storm, the saplings will begin to grow."

"If it's peace you wanted, can't you just deal with guys like those?" Mark asked. "You have the power and status. Yet, there's the Blood Lion Troupe, Dawn, and those businessmen and politicians scheming around."

The Priestess turned at Mark with puffed cheeks. That expression told Mark she wanted to do that but could not.

"The Temple is forbidden to be involved in such trifle matters involving humans. That had been the rule since ancient times."

The Priestess said.

"And you're trying to get involved with me since I'm not human."

Mark stated the intent with the Priestess' words.

"You got my meaning. Good!"

The Priestess seemed to be delighted. However, there was more reason why she better not interact with humans, although there was no reason for her to share it with Mark, whom she had just met.

As some novels had described, the top was lonely. Being the strongest would make one stand on that peak alone. It was the same for the Priestess.

Being a member of the Temple and as the core, she was forbidden to meet anyone without authorization. She could not involve herself with most humans as they only saw her as a stepping stone to pull their ranks upward. A connection with her meant a great deal to these people. It was very rare for her to meet people, much less get someone she could call a friend.

It was already a fortunate thing that the Priestess had a good old friend, although he died several years ago due to old age. He left his grandaughter, however. And that girl was more or less her grandchild, too. It was a pity that the Priestess could not meet that girl recently now that she was all grown up.

"So, you only want to have someone to talk to?"

Mark was appalled by the Priestess' reason for meeting him.

"That is just a part of it?" The Priestess tilted her head again. "I actually wanted to request something..."

The Priestess jumped forward closer to Mark. And there, she uttered two words.

"Fight me."

Mark could not help but stare even more at the Priestess after hearing her request. One would think that she was trying to pull something off. However, Mark could not detect any kind of hostility or ill intent behind her childish face. There was no facade. She just wanted to fight.

One might assume that the Priestess was a battle junkie. But it did not seem to be the case.

"I said it before. I know you're powerful." The Priestess continued to speak. "I don't know how powerful, but you might be far more powerful than any other person in my city, human or not."

"That is why I want to test how strong you are and how far I have gone."

In other words, the Priestess had no other people to test her strength. It might be because of the restrictions placed upon her due to her status or just that she never met anyone else within her level of strength. And now that she met Mark, who she deemed strong and not a human, she decided to take the opportunity to measure Mark and her strength.

Mark stared at her for a bit before slightly shaking his head.

"Not interested," Mark answered her request. "There is no merit for me to do so."

It was not like Mark was not really interested. However, he would not reveal his strength to someone he met for the first time unless it was a crucial fight. Furthermore, he would not get anything out of it, and his strength would end up getting measured instead.

Not to mention that the Priestess carried the aura of Amaterasu. Magwayen was sure about it. It could end up being an annoying fight.

"What if I gave you a merit?" The Priestess began to make a proposal for Mark to fight her. "I'll give the Temple's protection to your group. It should stop those ruffians from trying to mess with you and your people. And..."

The Priestess began tapping her clothes, looking for something. And she found it soon. It was a small ornate box about the size of a ring box.

"I'll also give you this. This should be of use for your [Sylph]."

The Priestess opened the ornate box, revealing its content. A small marble-sized crystal with a greenish color.

Mark was appalled. This girl sure gave him a lot of surprises in the short time they talked.

What was that crystal inside the ornate box? It was a [Wind Elemental Energy Crystal], a small crystal that contained wind-attributed magical energy.

And what was surprising about this?

Well...

Mark raised his right hand without saying a word. Between his fingers, four crystals, the same as what the ornate box contained, showed their luster in the darkness of the night.

The Priestess' jaws fell. She sure showed funny expressions.

"I'm pretty sure that also came from me."

Mark said as he pointed at the crystal in the Priestess' hands. He was quite sure that it was one of the three crystals he sold to Val Flora in exchange for information. It was quite a surprise that it ended up in the hands of someone who would try to offer it back to him.

The Priestess retracted her hands.

"I made a mistake. Not this one." The Priestess then took another box of a similar size from her clothing. "This."

The next box contained a not-so-good-looking gemstone. It was not polished, its shape was irregular, and its color was even cloudy.

Mark was not interested.

But at this time, Magwayen's voice echoed inside Mark's head.

"Accept her request. You will need that gemstone."

Mark was confused. However, Magwayen had been helpful to him so far and would not say anything without a proper reason.