Ch 190: Departure, and…

"Akeno, Rin, this is Minami-chan." said Miyuki as she introduced the girl with short wine-colored hair who bowed politely.

They stood inside First High's gymnasium.

"Nice to meet you, Minami." nodded Rin.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Minami. I assume from the suitcase behind you that Tatsuya-kun and Miyuki told you?

"Yes, Akeno-sama. They have told me. I am very grateful for their willingness to help me, and for yours as well."

A little farther away stood clusters of people. The disciples were saying goodbye to their families who had come to see them off. Some of them were glaring fiercely at Akeno and Rin.

Akeno decided to just ignore them.

Tatsuya-kun, Miyuki, it's not too late, you know? If you wish to come as well…"

"Thank you, Akeno, but Onii-sama and I will stay. The army cannot afford to lose him, and dealing with… with our family is our responsibility. Once I become the head, I will reform it, I promise you."

"Very well. I wish you luck."

Kyouko came and gave a quick hug to both Miyuki and Tatsuya, in a rare public display of affection.

"I will miss you a lot, Tatsuya-kun, Miyuki-chan. I know you will guard and protect each other. Never let the ugliness of the world get to you, okay?"

"Yes, I promise, Kyouko." nodded Tatsuya with a smile.

"Tatsuya-kun, before we leave, I have a little gift for you. I worked hard on this, and Noah helped as well." said Akeno as she gave him a data stick.

"What is this?" asked Tatsuya as he took the stick.

"It is about your magic to recover injuries, and how you have to experience immense pain when you heal yourself or others. If Noah and I are correct, the magic sequence in this stick, added to your own spell, will place a maximum limit to the pain you'll feel without interfering with the restoration process. You may need to customize it a little to make it work, though."

"…That is a great gift, Akeno. Thank you very much." smiled Tatsuya.

"Akeno!" exclaimed Miyuki as she abandoned all decorum and hugged her tightly.

"Yes, yes. I hope it will work." smiled Akeno, patting Miyuki's back.

"Well, I've got other people to say goodbye to".

"Yes, If you ever come back, come visit us." smiled Miyuki as she released her.

"I will. Farewell, Tatsuya-kun, Miyuki."

After a final nod at them, Akeno walked to Leo.

"Well, this is it, Leo-kun. I wouldn't have minded if you came as well, even if you're a man."

"Eheh, that's a strange way to compliment someone, you know? But it somehow feels like high praise, coming from you."

"It is." chuckled Akeno. "Be careful to keep your temper in check, okay? Vengeance is best served cold, and all that."

"Yes. I'll work on my temper." grinned Leo. "Good luck in your mission."

"Yes. Farewell, Leo-kun."

Rin was going from one group to another, to tell the disciples it was time, and they all gathered at the center of the Gymnasium.

Akeno took Sanctuary from her inventory, and transferred everyone save Rin, as well as their luggage inside. Ignoring the gasps of the relatives, she put Sanctuary back in her inventory and used her smartphone to call Chaldea.

"It's Akeno, we're ready."

Seconds later, Akeno and Rin disappeared in a flash of light.

…

"Welcome back, Akeno, Rin." smiled Da Vinci as she waited for them in the room used to Rayshift people to and from alternate timelines. She wasn't the only one waiting for them, as all the Heroic spirits and Masters who weren't currently in operation had gathered. Romani was waving at them from the control room upstairs, with Alaya and the avatar of Type: Moon floating beside him.

"We're back, everyone." smiled Rin, echoed by Akeno.

It took both her and Rin a while to greet and hug everyone when she was done, Asuka cleared her throat.

"Surely you two didn't return alone, right? Knowing you, that's impossible."

"You know me so well, little sis." grinned Akeno as she took Sanctuary again, and let everyone out. the newcomers stared curiously at the large chamber and the people gathered. Rachel and Clara were out as well, dressed as normal maids, aside from a few details. Akeno still had them wear black latex gloves and stockings, as well as black leather chokers and chastity belts under their skirts.

"Wow. As expected of my perverted big sis." snorted Asuka as she took in the number of people Akeno and Rin brought back.

"Hey! I don't know who you are, but no one insults Akeno-nee-sama on my watch!" declared Izumi as she stepped forward, right before being bonked by Mayumi and Kasumi.

Akeno and Rin made the introduction, then gestured for Romani to join them.

When he entered the room, Akeno turned to Da Vinci.

"I did promise you a good surprise upon my return, right?"

"Yes. Is it not the number of interesting people you brought to reinforce us?"

"No, it was something else." said Akeno as she took from her inventory the two golden tickets, and showed them to Da Vinci.

"I didn't tell you before, because we didn't really have much time before Rin and I departed. But my boyfriend, Noah, can resurrect the dead."

"Resurrect? You mean?" hopefully asked Da Vinci.

Akeno nodded and tore the two tickets in halves. Two flashes of golden light appeared in front of her, and suddenly, Takina and Olga-Marie stood there, both clad in the black and gold uniforms Noah had decided for his faction.

"Olga…Marie…" stuttered Romani, completely stunned.

"Yes, I am back from the dead, it seems." smiled Olga-Marie. "Your days of lazing around are over, Romani. I will take the reins back."

"How terrible…" said Romani with a fake sad face.

"Those ticket fragments, please give them to me, Akeno." pleaded Da Vinci, her inner scientist completely fired up. Akeno grinned as she handed them over.

"Well, we're going to need to prepare more rooms for everyone." said Rin, pointing the obvious.

…

It took a few hours before everyone was settled in. As most people were having a welcome party, learning to know each other while sharing foods and drinks, Da Vinci, Romani, Akeno, Alaya and Olga-Marie gathered around a table. They started by bringing Olga-Marie up to speed with Chaldea's current status, talking about many technical things Akeno had little interest about.

Then the discussion switched back to the teams currently in operation, and those who would be sent soon.

"What are your thoughts about it, Akeno?" asked Olga-Marie.

"Before I answer, I would like to ask, Alaya. Is it faster to send a few strong teams, or many smaller ones?"

"Searching for the Demonic Pillars will take me more time if I have to do many simultaneous searches, but it is still faster overall than sending only a few teams."

"I see. Then I suggest small teams made of one Master and one or two Heroic Spirits. But at least one among them should share Noah's abilities, if only to be able to generate foods and drinks, and to have someone immune to poisons and diseases who could cure the others."

"They should also have a Sanctuary with them, as the time dilation feature is simply too useful to pass on. The downside is that it would limit us to seven teams. The rest of the Masters and Heroic Spirits would be a reserve, ready to be sent to several worlds. The reserve should be big enough to respond to multiple requests for reinforcements."

"I approve of this proposal." said Alaya. "Seven teams investigating the timelines will allow for the recovery of all the world fragments while still having a comfortable security margin and offer adequate rest time for the field agents."

"Before I go explore another timeline, I need to solve the issue of Mash's declining lifespan. Noah told me how to fix it, but he didn't tell me about the cause. Why does she have a lifespan problem to begin with?"

Olga-Marie fidgeted in shame.

"This, is my father's fault… He wanted to create Masters who would be able to infuse themselves with Heroic Spirits, gaining their abilities while still having complete control. Mash was created with artificially modified DNA. The problem is that her cells replace themselves too fast, as the result of a mistake the scientists under my father made."

"I see. I'll work on solving that starting tomorrow. Are there news for the other teams?"

"They are doing well, and are in no immediate danger, as far as I can tell." said Alaya. "The team commanded by Chisato Nishikigi is set to bring more people as well."

"Hum, good for them." smiled Akeno.

"If they bring as many people as you did, we'll soon have to convert some of the warehouse space to expand the living quarters." chuckled Da Vinci.

…

Back in the world where Chisato and her group were currently in, Hitomi finally came to a decision. She gathered her belongings, sighed, and turned to a corner of the room, mostly obscured by the cabinet's shadow. The shadow manipulation powers were limited, but she still could vaguely feel a presence.

"What is your name?" asked Hitomi, wondering if she would get an answer.

"…Mitsu. Juri's mother." replied Mitsu, getting out of the shadow.

"I will return to Aquecia. I need to tell Kojiro and Umeka, to stop them from harming even more people. And since I can't reliably use the shades, I need to go in person."

"You will be killed by Maki." warned Mitsu.

"I have to risk it. And I'm not that easy to kill." said Hitomi.

"You should tell Chisato. It may increase your chances."

"…I do not dare to face them." admitted Hitomi with her face lowered in shame.

"…Tenno says that if you go alone, Chisato and the others will likely chase after you. He thinks they are getting bored, now that most people in the city are healthy and that there are almost no more rapists to kill."

The remark caused a smile to appear in Hitomi's face, but it disappeared in seconds. She silently considered the possibility of going to Aquecia with Chisato and the other Ladies. It would dramatically increase her chances, but at the same time, it would mean that confrontation between them and her own companions would likely happen. And when it did, she would have to make a choice, however painful.

Even if the choice was already made. She had carefully considered Chisato's words over the last few days, and was now completely convinced that this world was real. And that meant she simply couldn't oppose Chisato and her group.

"…Thank you for the advice, Mitsu. I will go see them. And I can't leave without apologizing to Milti. And to everyone as well. I am sorry, Mitsu." said Hitomi as she bowed deeply.

"Good. I forgive you." nodded Mitsu. "Tenno would like for you to live, too. You made mistakes, but your willingness to try to correct them had earned you his approval."

…

"Of course we'll go with you!" grinned Chisato.

"Thank you very much." said Hitomi with a bow.

"We may as well. The three Aquecian heroes need a good kick in the butt, and they'll keep doing more work for us and kill more people if left alone." said Sakura. At times, it irked her that she was wasting time here while knowing more women were raped and mutilated by a Nazi monster and a so-called Hero that reminded her of Shinji Matou.

"But before we leave, we need to save that Imperial Princess, and the otherworlder from Lustonia. And that evil prince of Lustonia hasn't been punished yet." said Darkness.

"Yes. We were waiting for her sister to contact us, but since she isn't… let's deal with that right away! Medusa, Nero, Saika. There is an exclusive secret club somewhere in Raelera, probably not too far from Stormgarde. One with a lot of bouncers or guards. There should be a lot of students and teachers going there. Can you please find it?"

"I will question the merchants who trade luxury beverages and foods." nodded Saika.

"Thank you. Please do not be violent in your questioning."

"I will track the movements of students and teachers in and out of the campus, and ask them." said Medusa.

"Yes, thank you. Please do not make them think they're victim of a shakedown."

"Umu! I will trust in providence and search the streets randomly." procclaimed Nero.

"…Okay, thank you, Nero." chuckled Chisato.

…

As it turned out, all three Servants found the club's location within five minutes of each other, and Nero was the first.

Chisato, Sakura, Darkness, the Heroic spirits, as well as Edelys, Alote and Hitomi had gathered in front of what looked like an average bar, in the part of the city where teachers and a lot of students lodged.

The bartender, a young woman, had seen them gather and gulped as they entered, no doubt recognizing at least some of them.

"M-May I help you?"

"Yes." smiled Chisato. "We have business with an Imperial Yangxu Princess down there. Would you mind letting us pass?"

"…Do you have an invitation?" uneasily asked the woman.

"We don't. But our business is urgent, and we would appreciate if we didn't have to force our way in."

"Please let me ask someone first. I'll be in a lot of trouble if you do that."

"We will wait for a little while." nodded Sakura, and the woman darted into the back office.

Less than two minutes later, she came back holding a box full of animal masks, the kind that left the lower part of the face bare.

"The manager has agreed. Please do not kill anyone in the premises."

"I understand, thank you." smiled Chisato, selecting a white cat mask, and once everyone had one, they followed the woman to a trapdoor behind the bar. Stone steps led down, to a basement that wasn't supposed to exist. After going through several heave door clearly meant to serve as sound insulation, they found themselves entering a very large room, furnished like an approximation of a disco club. A few musicians in a corner played some catchy tunes.

Their arrival wasn't unnoticed, and masks or not, most of the people present recognized them and gave them a wide berth. Some were clearly afraid of them, and some were showing outright hostility.

Chisato chose an empty table and they sat down. A nervous maid wearing little more than underwear came to take their order, and they chose a few drinks.

"Should we search the place for the Imperial Princess?" asked Darkness.

"No. The people from Yangxu probably care a lot about face. They might feel offended if we come in like guards trying to arrest criminals. Let's give them a chance to seek us first." said Chisato.

They got served, and waited as they chatted. After a few minutes, a girl with long black hair and wearing a swan mask almost ran to them. She was followed by a man with short blonde hair and a Lion mask.

"Please, I need your help. I ask for asylum." pleaded the girl.

"Join us at the table, then." agreed Chisato. With a bit of luck, or maybe a little nudge from Susanoo-sama or Lilith-sama, this girl would turn out to be the otherworlder they wanted to meet.

"Thank you."

"What are you doing, Helena?" demanded the Lion guy. When he moved to seize her wrist, Medusa gripped his own arm.

"Are you deaf? The lady is under our protection for now. Leave."

The Lion man apparently didn't know who they were, or his anger overwhelmed his reason, because he slapped Medusa, causing her snake mask to fall.

The watching crowd gasped in horror.

Medusa could have avoided or blocked if she wanted. But she wished for an excuse. She squeezed with her hand, and the man howled as the bones of his arm broke. Medusa then threw him at the feet of the bouncers who were coming. They picked him up to throw him out. They had seen him make the first move, and their club didn't tolerate violence.

"Wow, that… thank you very much." said the girl as she bowed her head. "I am Helena Lehnne. I heard that you came from another world?"

"Most of us, yes." nodded Chisato.

"I heard about some of the things you have in your world. Like that large coffee house chain, Moonbucks."

"I know a chain named Starbucks. But maybe this is different in the world you have learned about. there are many that look similar." shrugged Chisato.

"Really?" frowned Helena, confused.

"Among our little group, four different worlds are represented. Five, if you include this one."

"Do you have a proof that you come from another world?" asked Helena intently.

Chisato took her smartphone and turned it on, showing it to her.

"Do you recognize this?"

Helena obviously did, as she started crying.

"Thanks gods, I'm not alone… I'm not alone..."

Medusa offered her a handkerchief and gently patted her back.

"You must have it hard, being stranded alone in this shitty world…" said Chisato with sympathy.

"Yes… I…" getting her nerves back under control, Helena took a deep breath. "Let me start again. I am Elizabeth Carter. It is so nice to meet you all."

"Likewise. Do you want to join our group, Elizabeth? We have a way to get off this world. However, if you come with us, there's almost no chance you will ever return to your original world, so if you have family, you should take your chances with John Barton."

"I don't have any close relatives. You say you can leave this world?"

"Yes. But we have a mission to fulfill before we can leave. Like killing the end boss of a video game." smiled Chisato.

"The world you can return to, it is Earth, right?"

"Yes, but there are many Earths. Have you ever heard of the parallel worlds theory? It's something like that, although I'm making it sound simpler than it really is."

"Well, as far as I'm concerned, any world should be better than this one. It's been a fucking nightmare from the instant my soul was summoned to this body. My first moments here were me being attacked by dogs, can you believe it?"

"Attacked by dogs?" wondered Sakura. "Ah, please forgive me, I should introduce myself first. I am Sakura Tohsaka, it's nice to meet you."

Elizabeth and the girls quickly introduced themselves properly before she replied.

"Yes. It's all that perverted prince's fault. This psycho wanted a Varlskif, that's the name they give otherworlders in Lustonia. Varlskifs are sort of celebrities over there. And how do Varlskifs appear? Most of the times, in life-or-death situations. This crazy psycho set his dogs on many commoners, choosing women with a pleasant appearance. Whenever one somehow managed to repel the dogs, he would question her, asking questions about what the other Varlskifs mentioned about Earth."

"If the woman couldn't answer, she would be treated for her wounds, then raped until they grew bored of her, and sold to slavers. And because I could answer those questions, he started treating me like a prized pet. He's not going to give up on me just because of a broken arm."

"It's fine. We agreed not to kill anyone in this club, but outside? Medusa won't be so lenient." shrugged Chisato.

"Princes and Kings tend to love statues of themselves. Maybe I can help him with that." smiled Medusa.

Elizabeth was quick on the uptake.

"Are you saying that you can turn him into stone?"

"Yes."

"It may start a war. The prince had a spell put on him that will let them know how he died, and who killed him."

"We have a way to deal with that, too." said Sakura. "Medusa, draw a rune on him in his sleep. And then, you can do whatever you want with him."

"Yes, Master." nodded Medusa.

Elizabeth was about to retort when someone came closer to their table. A man looking like an Asian, wearing a robe with golden dragons. he bowed his head to them.

"The princess Tiang Li Zexi request your presence."

"Great." nodded Chisato as they stood.

…

The man led them through a secret door to what was essentially the most luxurious condo in Tourin, maybe even the whole continent. Aside from the lavish Chinese-style furnishing, the most breathtaking feature was the huge glass window taking up most of the western wall. They were under the sea level, and Chisato could see a lot of fishes, attracted by the lights from the condo. There was even a big sea turtle hanging around.

Chisato wondered just who could have created this place, and how much efforts had gone into it.

A dozen servants like the messenger stood nearby, their expressionless faces no doubt hiding contempt at the uncultured barbarians gawking at the view.

A door at the back opened, and three more people entered, one of them being the princess.

One of the servants took a dep breath.

"Presenting her Celestial Highness, Tiang Li Zexi, of Imperial Yangxu! Royal Princess of the Sky Dragon Clan, Divine Consort of the Heavenly Mysteries. Jade Wushan of the Immortal…"

the introduction went on…

"…Deliverance of Lao Chen Province. Heavenly Agent of…"

…and on…

"…Conqueror of Chong Pi…"

…and still on…

"…Matriarchate of…"

Chisato listened in amazement as the servant took almost two full minutes to finish her introduction. As he did, she observed the Princess. She was a very beautiful oriental beauty, with black eyes and lustrous black hair so long they would likely reach her ankles, if not for part of them being bundled in elaborate buns held by two jade pins. They still reached her waist as it was. Her body was very attractive as well, with a slender hourglass shape, and slits on the sides of her Chinese-style, white and gold dress, hinted at long legs.

Then he introduced Chisato and the others to the Princess, only calling them Ladies and not giving them any specific title. Sakura muttered something about deserving a few titles of her own, like 'Liberator of slaves' or 'Bane of Metia's Church', making the others smile.

When the servant shut up at last, Chisato grinned at the Princess.

"Princess, you have my sympathies. It must be pretty tiring, right?"

All the servants looked outraged, but princess Li chuckled.

"You have no idea. Thank you for accepting my invitation, everyone."

"The pleasure is ours. How may we help you?" asked Chisato, already knowing the answer.

The princess didn't answer immediately. Instead, she kowtowed, getting on all four on the ground with her head bowed.

"Highness!" "Your Majesty!" freaked out the servants.

"Please, Imperial Highness, remember your position…"

"We do remember our place, mandarin Hanyu. As you should remember yours." shot back the princess. "Besides, is it not customary for the party seeking favor to honor their benefactor?"

"Please raise your head, Princess." hurriedly said Chisato. "We do not doubt your sincerity."

That seemed to do the trick, as the princess stood, and the servants calmed down. The princess gestured toward a servant, and he disappeared in the room she came from.

"I humbly request the help of Lady Sakura, Lady Darkness and Lady Medusa. My elder sister, Princess Zi, is… in a very bad state."

The servant who had left returned, holding a stretcher with another one. On the stretcher laid a young woman who seemed to be Li's twin.

She also seemed to be a corpse, with her sunken cheeks, pale complexion, and somewhat atrophied limbs.

Sakura slowly approached her, and touched Zi's hand, activating her Greater Healing for a diagnostic.

"She is alive, but just barely." sighed Sakura. "Her internal organs are heavily damaged, from drug use, I suspect, and she's been slowly wasting away despite the care you gave her."

"Could you please save her? I would be willing to do anything…"

"I already started, Princess." cut in Sakura, and Li's eyes watered as she noticed the signs. The muscles on her sister's limbs were gaining mass, her skin tone starting to become healthier.

It took almost a full minute for Sakura to be done. When she stepped back, Zi opened her eyes and slowly lifted her upper body, watching her hands in wonder. But she didn't seem to look happy.

Li almost jumped to her sister and sobbed, crying her sister's name.

"Little Li… why did you save me? I wanted to die... I deserved to die." said Zi with a low, ashamed voice.

"No! I will never accept that!"

"I am the person who healed you. Can you tell us what happened?" gently asked Sakura.

Zi slowly nodded.

"Yes… I should not hide my shame. That will be my punishment."

The princess, still tightly held by her sobbing sister, began her tale.

How she felt lonely, imprisoned in her role of an Imperial Princess, and had sex with a servant, then being found out by the prince her father wanted to marry her to. How she was exiled to Stormgarde with only a few female servants, and suffered more from both shame and loneliness. How a fire mage from Stormgarde, the very same one john Barton had executed for using a charm artifact, had noticed her weakness and exploited it.

How he used sweet words and fake tenderness to lead her down a path of debauchery and despair, to the point that she couldn't imagine living without him.

How the fire mage used her to reward some of his students for good test results or gain favor from his fellow teachers. How he introduced Zi to his wife, suggesting she become their shared labor and sex slave. how she had fallen so completely by that point that she was willing to accept, to not be thrown away by that man. How the wife chased her away after a few weeks.

How her despair next led her to start using a very addictive drug called Thavira's Milk, wishing both for the momentary burst of happiness, and to satisfy her self-destructive impulses. Knowing very well the drug would eventually kill her, and wanting for it all to end.

When she stopped, Li spoke to Sakura.

"As soon as Father lifted her exile, I came to escort her back to Yangxu. But it was already too late."

"I am so sorry, Little Li." said Zi, tears flowing from her face. "You are the one I least wanted to cause pain to… I am so proud of you, Little Li…"

Zi was surprised when Sakura took her hand.

"Princess Zi. I, too, was raped. More than once. A lot more. I know what despair is like. What living like a living corpse is like. I have spent years being treated as nothing more than a tool for evil men. Until my sister and Medusa and someone else saved me. Now, I am happy, and I help other people. I have become strong, and I save other people's lives. You, too, can be happy, if you only forgive yourself. And if not for yourself, at least do it for your sister."

Zi and Sakura stared at each other for long seconds, until Zi slowly nodded.

"Yes. I will try to forgive myself. Thank you, benefactor."

"My name is Sakura." smiled Sakura before introducing her friends.

Zi rose to her feet, and both Princess kowtowed, despite the protests of the servants.

"Please ask anything you wish from us, benefactors." said Princess Li.

"Please raise your heads first, it's embarrassing." said Sakura. "Rather than a reward, I have a proposal for you both, and I won't mind if you decline it."

"A proposal?" asked Ji.

"A bit of context if needed first. We work for a young man named Noah, who is the newest Champion of the Goddess Lilith. Lilith isn't like Metia or the other gods you may already know. Metia is a planetary goddess, her influence limited to this world, while Lilith has created hundreds, if not thousands of worlds, and she has complete authority over them. Noah, as one of her Champions, rules over several of her worlds in her stead."

Both princesses and the servants looked suitably impressed, as they should.

"Would you both be willing to work for Noah, like I am? You would gain great power and authority as well as an unlimited lifespan. Our role is to help innocent people and punish criminals, and help stop the worlds overseen by Noah from devolving into chaos."

"Unlimited lifespan?" wondered Li. "Are you a cultivator?"

"No. Eternal youth is but one of the many gifts Noah bestows to his subordinates in return for their loyalty. We are, however, able to cultivate and reach even greater heights. And with unlimited time in our hands..."

Sakura shrugged as she didn't need to say more.

In all Xianxia novels, cultivators were in a constant race against time. They needed to reach a high cultivation level to extend their lifespans before their potential for growth was spent, and their bodies started declining. That mindset also meant that they craved the power and honor that came with high cultivation. So, if one were to offer them a way to not have to worry about time…

She could see from their expressions that the two princesses were already going to accept.

The servants could also apparently see it, as they vehemently protested, until Princess Li ordered them to shut up.