Date - 9 July 2024

Place - Sekiro Harmony, Buffet Hall.

Time - 9 : 20 PM

The buffet area was a spacious, clean, and well-decorated spot, available to those who had paid an extra hundred thousand yen. The floor was covered with glossy black marble tiles, and the walls were a pristine white, creating a sleek and modern look.

In the center, there was a large table laden with an abundance of dishes, offering a wide range of options. There were various kinds of meat, including beef, chicken, and pork, alongside an assortment of fresh salads. Traditional Japanese dishes, such as sushi, tempura, and sashimi, were available in large quantities, catering to diverse tastes.

Most guests were well-dressed, some in suits and others in more casual wear. They held plates as they chose their meals.

Some ate their food standing, while others sat at the available tables. And at the table in the far corner was Satan, with a plate of a few chicken pieces, white rice, and tomato soup.

'This is so annoying...' Satan mentally sighed, irked by the stares he was receiving from the other guests.

'What's wrong with how I eat my food?'

Eating with his hands was simply his way, but it seemed that the people around him disapproved

"Bruh... why are you looking at me? Haven't you all seen someone eating food before or what?" He responded calmly.

He simply wanted to enjoy his meal in peace, without turning the entire place into a gruesome scene painted with human blood, intestines, and flesh hanging everywhere, with decapitated heads missing eyes, tongues, and ears on the tables, despite the primal urges from his demonic nature.

He was determined not to do anything that could jeopardize his plans.

Then a chubby old man in his sixties, with wrinkled skin, grey hair, and a neatly trimmed beard, dressed in a simple black and white suit with a top hat, stood near Satan's table, holding a plate full of food.

"Do you mind if I sit here?"

Satan looked the man up and down and said, "I don't mind, as long as you're not grossed out by the fact that I'm eating with my hand."

The old man took a seat and replied, "I don't mind at all. After all, humans originally ate with their hands."

"That is true," Satan agreed as he began to chew a piece of chicken.

"Though, why are you eating so little? There's an abundance of food here," the old man said, starting to eat with his hand.

Satan, surprised by the old man's action, asked, "Well... I'm a bit of a picky eater. But why are you eating with your hand?"

"It's not good to be a picky eater. And for your question, why can't I eat with my hand? If you can, so can I. Everyone has the right to eat their food with their hands," the old man said, taking another bite.

"Well... you know, I kind of like you," Satan said with an amused look on his face. "You are quite amusing."

"I am very amusing, but sometimes people don't laugh at my jokes..." the old man replied with a sad tone.

"Well... everyone has their own sense of humor," Satan said, picking up the remaining tomato soup in the bowl and pouring it over the rice. He mixed it with his hand and began to take a bite. "Tell me, what is your name, old man?"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"My name is Elohim..." the old man said, and a roaring thunder cracked from outside, shaking the room.

'Elohim? If I'm not wrong, isn't that one of the many names of God?'

At that thought, the wheels in Satan's mind began to turn, and he wondered if the man in front of him was God.

'Nah, there's no way this chubby old man is God. What are the chances of God appearing on this island, at this hotel, and at this very table...?'

"Hey, you okay?" Elohim asked.

Satan quickly snapped back from his thoughts and said, "Yes, fine... anyway... you know, it's rare to find someone carrying one of the names of God, especially the one you have."

"Yes, a rare name to use, but still somewhat popular in this current age, though not as much as it was back then. Now, what's your name, son?"

"My name is Sataniel Von Avesta," Satan said with a smile. He decided to give the old man his full name—his character's full name, of course.

"What a strange combo, carrying the name of the Devil and a holy book," Elohim said, taking another bite from his plate.

"Hey, it would have been much stranger if you were actually God and I the Devil, right?"

"True."

And they continued to chat and eat their food.

.....

Time - 10 : 00 PM

Tamamo-no-Mae and her friend had finally arrived at the entrance of Sekiro Harmony. They had also completely changed their forms.

Tamamo-no-Mae had transformed into an elegant woman with an above-average appearance. She wore a white kimono adorned with delicate blue flower patterns and carried a stylish silver handbag. Her feet were clad in traditional Japanese sandals, zōri, with white straps that complemented her kimono perfectly.

Her friend, on the other hand, had taken the form of a young blonde woman with curly hair and striking blue eyes. She was dressed in an ensemble reminiscent of English royal attire, donning a pink gown that flowed gracefully to the floor. Perched atop her head was a stylish hat adorned with feathers, adding an air of sophistication to her ensemble.

"Seriously, Malina, why do you get to use your real name while I have to use an alias?" Tamamo-no-Mae telepathically complained to Malina.

"It's just a short form of your name, now don't make a fuss," Malina responded casually.

They stepped into the hotel lobby, approaching the reception counter.

"Hello, I am Shinomiya. How may I help you two at this hour?" asked the receptionist.

"My name is Tama," Tamamo-no-Mae said, then pointed at Malina. "This is my friend Malina. We have booked a room here in advance."

The receptionist opened the computer to check the list of reservations.

"We have your names, do you have something for verification?" the receptionist asked.

They took out their driver's licenses, created using magic, and showed them to the receptionist, who examined them closely.

"Ah, welcome to our hotel. We hope you two have a wonderful stay," the receptionist said, handing them the keys. "Your room is number 245..."

"Thank you," Tamamo-no-Mae replied politely.

....

Tamamo-no-Mae lay sprawled on the bed, her arms and legs spread out. Her sandals and handbag were tossed carelessly on the floor.

"So, when will we start our mission?" she asked.

She looked over at Malina, who was sitting in a bean bag chair, her eyes fixed on the blue clock hanging on the wall.

"At twelve... when most people are asleep," Malina responded before turning her attention back to the clock.

"I see... What do you want to do about the two unknown powerful presences that are here?"

Since the moment they had stepped into the hotel, they had constantly sensed two powerful entities. Unfortunately, these presences had high sensory protection layers, making it difficult to identify who or what they were.

One of the presences felt familiar to Tamamo-no-Mae, at least.

"We'll deal with them if they're in league with the Satanists. If not, we'll leave them unless they become obstacles."

Tamamo-no-Mae sighed. "I hope it doesn't come to that. It would be better if we could complete our mission without any trouble. Besides, I don't like staying in this form much..."

She slowly got down and looked at the oval mirror near the bed. "This appearance brings nothing but pain to my body and soul," she said, touching her face.

The last time she had taken this form was during her time with the emperor, Konoe.

"Why are you still dwelling on that?" Malina asked. "It's been nearly a thousand years since that happened. Don't let it haunt you."

"And why wouldn't it? I've been blamed for what happened to Emperor Konoe, seen as the one who cursed him. In fact, I was trying to help, but no one listened to me," Tamamo-no-Mae said, her face filled with sadness before it turned to rage. "I begged them to believe it wasn't me, yet they shot arrows at me, wounded me, and imprisoned me, spreading tales of me being a vile vixen. If it weren't for you, I would still be sealed in that cursed rock."

As her anger grew, white fur began to sprout on her face, her eyes shifted to resemble those of a fox, and sharp teeth emerged. Her ears elongated and became pointed, completing the transformation into a menacing fox.

"Calm down, Tamamo-no-Mae. Control your emotions. Don't act like a lowly monster. It makes you look like a disgusting whore."

Tamamo-no-Mae paused for a moment before slowly reverting to her human form. "You know, you could have said that in a nicer way," she muttered, walking towards Malina. "Now let's order some food. I really don't want to go to the buffet area; my legs hurt from standing for hours in that rain outside."

"Don't give me that... standing for a few hours is nothing for someone like us," Malina said, annoyed.

"You are so insensitive..." Tamamo-no-Mae replied, laying back on the bed.

....

Room No : 300

Time - 11 : 58 PM

Satan stood expectantly in front of the black clock hanging on the wall, waiting for it to strike twelve.

'Come on!'

The ticking hands of the clock reverberated through the room, each second feeling like an eternity.

'Just a bit more...'

Finally, the clock struck twelve.

'Yes!'

He reached into his inventory and retrieved a medium-sized tube. Its silver cap gleamed under the light, shaped intricately like a leaf. Inside, a swirling green liquid shimmered with a faint magical aura.

This potion was a rarity, crafted from materials with extremely low drop rates. Consuming it would extend the duration of his invisibility spell twofold, but it also demanded twice the usual MP consumption.

Satan normally didn't use this potion unless he was embarking on a solo dungeon raid.

Without hesitation, Satan swallowed the entire contents of the tube. A momentary green glow enveloped his body before fading away.

"Here we go, sixth-tier magic: Dark Veil..."

Now with the duration of invisibility extended, Satan grasped the doorknob, gently turned it, and slipped through the door.

'Well then... time to get started.'