Igor did not respond. As she led the way, his mind hovered on expectations of his pending senjutsu training. He would be training alongside Sairaorg beneath a powerful nekomata. It was…tantalising to think about, and he would make the best of this opportunity. He had to.
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|DxD|- Chapter 114- A New Visitor
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Village Of Nekomata, Devil Territory, Underworld
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The Underworld was home to many races, some far less renowned than others. It was a world of great majesty and diversity, possessing both sentient and non-sentient life.
The nekomata were a race of yokai native to this world. They were felines and a part of the tailed-beast variants whose strengths and age were signified by the number of tails.
The nekomata were very small in number due to the extremely low birthrate of males. An entire generation could pass by without one being born.
Their ancestral homelands were deep in the mountain forests, a secluded enclave that had become part of devil territory in the past several thousand years.
The presence of nature energy was deep and especially pure. Each tree was so tall it could pierce the skies, and the trunks were extraordinarily thick. Flowers bloomed to the size of dinner plates, each petal as wide as a palm.
Far below, the small village sat at the very centre of the dense forest. Each building was simple, yet elegant like a secluded resort. Smooth dirt roads had many nekomata going about their day. Most appeared similar to humans with a few defining feline traits. Some were purely cats walking on four legs.
Outside the village, several paths spread like a web that wove around the trees and shrubs. Young nekomata played in the shade, with some giggling as they climbed the trees. Further away from them, a little girl of six years old stalked through the forest.
Beyond nekomata, there were nekushou, unique evolved nekomata that possessed an even greater affinity for senjutsu and youjutsu.
Little Shirone had followed a scent she had picked up while playing. It was…weird, in a way that she couldn't explain it. But that scent kept drawing her in like an oasis in a desert and a fire in the cold.
She brushed aside shrubs and scuttled through the wet undergrowth. Moist leaves stuck to her soles and flowers brushed her knees. It was still sunrise, and a stray ray of light brightened her snow-white hair.
She stuck behind a tree and waited, and a single golden eye peeked into the distance. Four men were seated together on a cart of goods. She recognised it as the monthly merchant's caravan, but two of the occupants were strange.
[Are they…devils?]
She couldn't be sure. One had white hair like hers and dressed in a funny-looking battle robe. He sat in front with the old man steering two six-legged bulls with thick fur. Behind them were two men seated atop the sacks on the cart. One of them was in tracksuit attire and easily the loudest. He felt strange just like the other with the cape.
[It's that one.]
The one who drew her here was the man with long, blonde hair. He smelled weird. Very, very, weird.
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|DxD|
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Six carts linked together, and all were pulled by two powerful beasts with six thick legs like an elephant's. Their fine strands of fur tussled in the morning breeze, and they steadily trudged forth with their padded feet sweeping up very small plumes of dust.
Igor casually lay atop a stack of sacks filled with salt. Beyond were carts loaded with cement, cloth, and other goods.
"Igor. Are you excited? I am. In fact, I'm fired up!!"
"Stop shouting, Sai. I'm right here."
Igor rubbed the bridge of his nose. It had been almost an hour since Cleria left him under Diehauser's care with Sairaorg. From there, they had travelled to the lands of the Nekomata and 'incidentally' encountered Baraquiel disguised as a merchant.
"I don't understand how you can just sit there, Igor. How are you not brimming with energy?"
Igor opened an eye. Sairaorg had balanced his entire body with one finger on the cart's walls. His confident grin couldn't be hidden nor could his enthusiasm be shadowed.
"I pity whoever marries you."
"Why? Because I'm not a dead fish like you?"
"Because you won't hear her tell you it's the wrong one."
"??"
Sairaorg was so stunned he lost his balance and tipped over the side. He landed on his feet, but his widened eyes couldn't help but remain on Igor. Diehauser also glanced back and spoke.
"Oh? Does that come from experience, King of Kuoh?"
Baraquiel added authoritatively.
"Yes, King of Kuoh. Does that indeed come from experience? Such news must be shared with your aunt."
"Hahaha!"
Sairaorg vaulted over the cart side and sat on one of the sacks. His knuckles supported his cheeks and a smile full of teeth rose to let teasing words pass through.
"Tell us, Igor! I want to hear this one."
"..."
Baraquiel, disguised as a skinny, balding old man, smirked with a missing tooth before facing ahead and steering the caravan. Diehauser offered a nobleman's polite smile with practiced ease. Sairaorg grinned like a rogue, clearly enjoying this situation.
"Tch."
Igor clicked his tongue and closed his eyes.
"Three against one. What can I do except die?"
"You could clarify, brother. Where have you been dipping your sword to know these things?"
"..."
Igor replied grimly.
"No comment, Sairaorg."
"Hehehehehe…hahahahaha!"
Sairaorg slapped Igor's thigh as he laughed without restraint. Igor looked to the side at the trees with a pained expression. Sairaorg was a buzzing fly that kept poking him on the side, and he slapped his hands away in retaliation.
Sairaorg's laughter was the kind that made Igor want to fight him right there. It was annoying and was fertiliser to his growing desire to kill the devil.
Vitality rippled in Igor's body, ready to expunge his annoying friend into a deadly hailstorm of needles. In that moment, the little kitten that had been trailing them suddenly dashed toward them. Igor paused his impending attack and sat up in surprise. His eyes lingered on the forest, waiting for what was coming.
Chapter 114
END