A tall and handsome man stood before the hotel receptionist, exuding confidence with his perfectly styled black hair, which was meticulously arranged: the front layers cascaded in gentle waves, the sides had a slight semi-wavy texture, and the back fell straight and neat, enhancing his effortlessly striking appearance.

His physique was slender and athletic, with well-defined muscles that resembled a character from a romance novel.

He was dressed nicely in a black full-sleeved shirt and cut black trousers, with an expensive-looking black overcoat.

His polished black leather shoes finished the elegant look.

He didn't appear to be carrying any bags.

"Hello, sir," the receptionist said, intrigued by the man's appearance. "How can I assist you today?"

The man pulled his wavy hair back with his right hand, strands streaming between his fingers as he locked eyes with the receptionist.

With a lovely smile, he said, "Well..." He leaned in little. "I want to book a room. Do you have any availability?"

"You're in luck; we do have a room available," the receptionist said with a returning smile. "How many days will you be staying?"

The man smiled, then gently placed his hand under her chin, bringing her face closer to his. In a soft voice, he said, "How many days would you like me to stay?"

The receptionist blushed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. Fortunately, the hotel lobby was rather empty, with only a few staff members present.

The man was amused by her reaction.

"You're too gorgeous to work in a place like this... Don't you believe you deserve to be treated like a queen?

The receptionist was stunning, with her wavy brown hair cascading in lovely curls over her face and down her shoulders. Her lovely tan skin and voluptuous, buxom shape were accentuated by a basic white full-sleeved shirt, a black skirt, and red high heels. She stopped collecting her thoughts before responding slowly, "I... I..."

The man let go of her, slipped his left hand inside his coat's inside pocket, and pulled out three enormous gold bars, which he handed to the receptionist, who gazed at them with wide eyes.

"I don't carry yen with me," the man remarked, shrugging. "I generally carry these gold bars. One is for you, and two should pay the cost of my stay, which is more than sufficient. You may verify them if you wish... Actually, it might be best to contact the management or the owner. I would like to speak with them directly."

The receptionist was taken aback when she saw the gold bars, but she recovered fast. She regained her calm, looking around the nearly empty lobby, before speaking. "Fortunately, the hotel owner is here today in the manager's office, discussing her approaching birthday with the management. They're both present right now."

"Great, then please let them know a special guest is here to meet them... with a surprise."

The receptionist discreetly hid the gold bars under the desk and immediately called the manager's office to notify the hotel's owner. After disconnecting, she returned to the man and stated, "The hotel owner is interested in meeting you."

"It's my pleasure," the man replied with a nod. "Shall we go?"

....

The man was now seated in the manager's office. The hotel owner stood in front of him, a woman in her mid-30s with a trendy purple bob cut that brushed her shoulders in sleek, precise lines. Her face was fully covered in make-up, with strong eyeliner and rich red lipstick accentuating her sharp features. She wore an attractive, form-fitting A-line V-neck dress with subtle shimmering fabric under the office lights, accented by a brilliant diamond necklace that highlighted her lovely neckline.

With one hand, she held a tumbler of orange juice.

The receptionist stood to the right of the owner, and the only other person present was the hotel manager, a man in his late fifties who was slightly obese and had short black hair.

"You seem like a person of great interest," the hotel owner murmured, leaning close and resting her face on her hand. "Tell me, what brings someone like you to my humble establishment?"

"Mis—"

The hotel's owner interrupted him.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Don't call me Miss. It offends me when someone as attractive as you refers to me in that manner. Call me Shoko. "

"Then, Shoko, I'm here for what many others are: enjoying Hokkaido."

Shoko leaned back and took a measured drink of her orange juice, savouring it before setting it down on the table.

"Very interesting... but how are you going to enjoy Hokkaido without carrying yen? And it doesn't explain how you got here without them."

"Well, it's true I don't carry yen, but I do have gold, lots of gold, and they are a form of currency, aren't they?"

"They are... but we tend to prefer paper money in the modern era."

"Perhaps... but that doesn't mean they are worthless."

"True..."

"So, Shoko, how about that? Will you give me permission to stay? I am not doing anything illegal; I am simply taking a holiday. If you accept, I will overload your home with gold and jewels."

Shoko thought for a few minutes before responding.

"That's certainly an intriguing proposal... We are currently suffering financial challenges, but if you can do what you say, perhaps we can make some arrangements." Shoko then looked at the manager and the receptionist.

"I hope you two won't spread any words outside, will you?"

"No, we won't," they both said.

Shoko then looked at the man and stated, "It would be grateful if you could pay in advance. Well, you did it already, but given the nature of the arrangements, we require more. I hope it doesn't pose an issue for someone who owns a few gold mines."

The man smiled as he reached inside his coat and pulled out a crimson drawstring pouch made of fine cloth. It shone with silver details on the drawstrings.

"Here are a hundred gold coins."

Shoko opened the pouch and looked at the coins within.

"How did you fit so many gold coins into your coat?" she said, intrigued.

"Eat the grapes; don't ask where the branches are coming from," the man said with a wicked smirk.

"If that's the case, then I want to eat a lot of grapes. They're good for your life, aren't they?" Shoko explained, delivering the pouch to the hotel manager.

"They are," the man agreed.

He then reached into his coat again, revealing a beautiful diamond ring. The ring's centre diamond was huge and flawless, surrounded by a halo of lesser diamonds that sparkled in the light.

"The receptionist mentioned that your birthday is coming soon, so I thought I should provide you with an advance gift."

The man handed Shoko the diamond ring and watched as she studied it intently, praising its complex decorations and the smaller diamonds that covered its outer layer.

She promptly slipped the ring on her right index finger.

"Thank you for this wonderful gift."

"You're welcome."

"You know, I'm going to invite you to my birthday celebration... Not just you, but everyone who stays at this hotel.

"That is extremely generous of you. It would be an honour for me to come. Tell me what the actual date is.

"It's on Sunday, but there will be three days of advance celebrations with lots of enjoyment and entertainment for the guests, now even more so thanks to your contribution."

"No, it's not much."

The man shrugged.

Shoko then asked the receptionist, "Shinomiya, would you personally take our guest to his room?"

The receptionist nodded.

"Well, there's one more thing I'd like to tell you, Shoko." "

And what is it?"

The man leaned forward quickly, stunning everyone there, and gently kissed Shoko on the lips before hastily pulling away.

"Oh my, that was quite unexpected," Shoko exclaimed, blushing. "Sadly, it ended quickly."

"Well, if you want more, I'm always available for that."

Shoko chuckled.

"By the way, what should we call you?"

"Avesta, if you prefer," he replied with a smile.

.....

Satan entered his hotel room, examining the medium size and the king-size bed in the centre. The walls are ornamented with a few paintings, with a mat in the centre. A television hung on the wall beside the bed. He tossed the keys to the ground and flung himself into the bed, arms and legs splayed, staring up at the ceiling.

"The performance went without a hitch. This is going to be a ton of fun. These people... They are so easily swayed by appearance and money."

The second act begins with combing the hotel for clues to find the Satanists, their goals, and Maria, assuming she was still alive. He decided to start the hunt after midnight, when most of the guests would be deep sleeping.

"Let's hope there aren't any unexpected variables."

....

The sky over Sapporo City had darkened dramatically, whirling with heavy clouds that cast an eerie shadow on the cityscape. Winds raced through the streets, howling ferociously and carrying the scent of oncoming rain. Thunder rumbled loudly, rocking the buildings, and jagged bolts of lightning flashed blindingly across the sky.

A thunderstorm was approaching.

"Well, it looks like we've arrived at the wrong time, haven't we?" Tamamo-no-Mae stated, standing atop a building and staring at the dark sky.

"We're here at the right time," her friend insisted.

"I am aware that... Can I ask you something?

Her friend stared at her and asked, "What is it?"

"Could you perhaps make this time less chaotic when dealing with those Satanists? You went overboard with that David guy, and you almost ruined my dress."

Her kimono had been a gift from the emperor, the last one before his illness, the subsequent hunt, and eventually the sealing by that onmyoji.

"Fine. I'll finish them off swiftly."

"Great... What are we going to do with the human children?" Tamamo-No-Mae inquired.

"We get rid of them. Everyone there," her friend stated resolutely.

"Do we really have to?"

"We must. The Curse of Cain would have already left its mark on the children by now. It would be a compassion to kill them now; otherwise, they will face a slow and agonising death, spreading sickness and misfortune."

That was true.

The Curse of Cain was a malignant mark that Satanists revered for its power and used to send the souls of young people to hell. If the children were not sacrificed, the curse would guarantee their victim's death within a week.

Little was known about its beginnings, except that Cain was thought to be the first to use it, sending his brother's soul to Hell and spreading the curse down through generations.

"I guess... Let's do it."

Just then, a massive flash of lightning filled the sky, followed by torrential rain.

Tamamo-no- Mae quickly built a barrier to shelter herself and her friend from the rain, preventing her kimono from becoming saturated.

"I've already made a reservation at the hotel beforehand," her friend said.

"That is wonderful... Let's wait until the storm passes."

"Let's wait, then..."