You know, Japan isn't that appealing to me. Sure, it has a diverse range of cultures, like their fashion sense... everything is way too gaudy for me. And that's saying a lot, I am a very extra person.

  I am currently on top of an apartment, checking for security cameras. Though there aren't any, still, I still have to watch out for satellites above capturing my movement. Fallen Starlight can be very fshy, so I ducked under the shade.

  Pulling the chamber open, I slotted in an armor-piercing explosive round. Then white sparks of electricity began to coil around my gun...

  I took in a deep breath as Fallen Starlight lit up, the Runes on it glowed an ethereal blue. And I began to hear their voices—

  No... they are not important to my goals...

  To break off the shackles of the past. I know it is an extremely fwed dream full of holes, the present is built from the foundation of the past, and everything we have now is due to the past. It is fundamentally impossible...

  Maybe I am being too... extreme?

  Yeah... I'm being too extreme. I even tried to kill Mitsuki, before Gilgamesh took over my body. Not that I would admit it to her, it's better to not let her know that her friend tried to kill her.

  Should I chill it out? Nah, I'm still in my angst phase. I'll just have to rethink my methods...

  "His Final Gift to Humanity.", I began to chant, inscribing the bullet with Runes.

  "Reforged by the Akasha, to bring down the Divine.", then the bullet began to spin.

  "I decre, You shall Fall by the hands of Humanity.", the bullet turned white, now with the addition of crackling electricity.

  "Fallen Starlight.", and I pulled the trigger.

  A white fsh consumed my vision, followed by eight beams of light. They flew far away towards the Northwest, tracking their target to the end of the world.

  I folded Fallen Starlight up, making sure the connecting point was secured, I wore it over my shoulder and went back inside. Now it looks like a weird backpack, better than carrying a weapon.

  Now that's done, I went down since Mitsuki and Asanagi were waiting for me in a car parked just outside this apartment.

  Things had gone quiet after a few days, where I usually just pyed games with Londinium, Mitsuki joined in sometimes but she was still scared of him. Must be some battle instinct, giving her warnings about how dangerous the Evening Star is, and may or may not be due to the fact that he beat me multiple times in fighting games.

  Getting down to the ground, I scan around to find the white van... okay, it looks very suspicious, just parking there with completely bck windows.

  Anyway, I knocked on the door thrice, stopped for a bit, and knocked twice. Just like that, the door opened.

  Inside, Mitsuki is wearing a dark blue sweater and jeans, overall warm clothing. The cold bothered her now.

  "Charlotte! You are back!!", she welcomed me.

  I hopped in, "So, how is your body?"

  "Mhmm~ still a bit tinglingly and empty. But I'm fine!!"

  I nodded, taking out a cigarette— wait, I need to be considerate, "Is it okay if I smoke here?"

  "It's okay! Your smoke smelled nice!"

  That's a little strange since nice-smelling smoke is often toxic. I looked at the driver's seat, where I could see faint traces of bck hair.

  "Can't I?"

  From the driver's seat, leaning to the side is a very young pretty woman with amber-colored eyes, who is smoking. I don't believe for a second that this woman is over eighty.

  She is Asanagi, or her real name, Oda Megumi. Why the fuck does she look my age?

  "I have the filter on so don't worry about smoke. Besides, I'm practically a fossil! It wouldn't be a crime to reduce my days on Earth at all!!", she ughed by herself.

  She is really suspicious, like everyone else in Babel.

  I took out a cigarette and lit it with a lighter. Taking a long inhale, I close my eyes to rex a bit.

  "Mitsuki, now you are a criminal. What will you do?", I stare at her, making her flinch a bit.

  "I... I don't know...", she looked away, wondering with a sorrowful expression, "I still haven't decided yet... I can't go back to Ataraxia nor can I continue being a Demon Syer... I am lost."

  "I said it before, right? Take your time and think over it, you can stay with me for a while.", I let out another puff of smoke.

  "Then... can we go shopping together? I want you to enjoy Japan without worrying about me...", she poked her fingers together.

  I don't really enjoy Japan, this pce is pretty boring to me... as expected, I am too American for this shit. But Mitsuki looked like she really wanted to go.

  "Fine, but you have to put on some disguise.", I look over to Asanagi, "Asanagi, do you have a hat and sungsses?"

  Asanagi nodded, then she widened her eyes as if something just come up, "Right, Abigail said to hand this thing to you."

  From under her seat, she pulled out a box wrapped in blue and white wrapping paper... this is a present?

  "She said this is your te birthday gift."

  My birthday... huh... on my citizenship, it was beled as January 8th, 2005. Though I feel it was a lie. I never really thought it would be a special day at all...

  I took the present, with Mitsuki looking very excited. Hah, no matter how low she sinks, she's always smiling and filled with energy.

  I tore the present box open with my hands, surprising Mitsuki and Asanagi with my violent act. This present...

  "Oh wow...", I muttered in surprise.

  This is... a dark purple hat, a low crown top hat to be exact, with a cute bright purple bat on the right side. And this is...

  A God Syer.

  This must be the fourth one, right?

  "What a nice hat!", Mitsuki excimed, being very excited.

  I hear the whispers right away, they are strange, speaking in Latin, French, and Italian... whispering to me its name.

  Walpurgis Festival, Crown of the Witches.

  WHO THE FUCK GIVES A GOD SLAYER AS A GIFT— oh wait, there is Sincir.

  Hm? There is a letter right inside.

  [My dear Charlotte,Since I went to chill with my old buddies, I thought of getting you a present! Something that is not only fashionable but also practical. You left your old hat at home so I thought about doing something to it!Here is the result!

  I hope you enjoy it!!

  From your awesome mother!]

  I smiled... ever since meeting me, Seria had become nicer to me. I still don't see her as my real mother, after I learned that she fucked with Sincir it had gotten worse, but it's close... I do see her as a parental figure.

  Though she acts more like a dad than a mom, letting her do all kinds of crazy shits.

  Still... my old hat, the feather might be gone but that's fine. That said... where did I leave the pendant?

  I put the hat down on my p.

  "In any case, let's go. Guide me around and buy some souvenirs."

  I may not be a kleptomaniac, but I enjoy collecting stuff.

  "Of course!! You will have a bst!!", she excitedly raised her hands, cheering.

  =0=0=

  Asanagi dropped us off in Shibuya Crossing and drove away... passing the speed limit. I hope that she doesn't ram into someone and send them to another world.

  Checking my equipment... trench coat, check, briefcase, check. I haven't worn Walpurgis Night yet, because its effect is...

  "Let's go to...", Mitsuki looked around, "There! That pce has a lot of cool figurines!"

  I let her drag me along the busy street.

  We both entered a complex, with many stores inside. The first floor was mostly comprised of food shops. The second floor was for clothing. The third floor was our destination.

  Hmm... it's so bright here. There are hundreds of dispy cases, with different figurines in them.

  "Feel free to browse!", and she ran off.

  Well, she's wearing sungsses and a cap. At least her face won't be recognized, so that's a plus.

  I headed through a few sections, mostly just anime girls in skimpy outfits, posters, and some really cool-looking shounen figures. But they don't excite me.

  "However..."

  I stopped at a certain section. Robots and mechas... I like them, they are cool.

  I don't watch anime that much, but for the shows I watched... I only ever watch the mecha genre. Nobody can escape the excitement of giant robots fighting each other.

  For me, the more animalistic and less human a mecha is, the better. Since that doesn't trigger my hate for bio-mechanical humans.

  Like this one, a red mecha with four arms and a centaur-like body, plus lots of guns, lots of guns... there are 24 different types of guns, stuck onto a 15 centimeters figurine.

  Then there is this bird-like one, spreading its wings and talons carrying a railgun.

  Oh, this one is like an octopus. And this looks like a spider samurai. Another is a centaur with a skull motif.

  I can look and talk about their details all day...

  ...

  "Charlotte—"

  "Charlotte! Can you hear me?!", Mitsuki suddenly shook me.

  "I can hear you.", I stopped her.

  "You have been at this pce for almost an hour! Do you enjoy mecha that much?", she tilted her head, staring at me with her frosty blue eyes.

  I stare back, making her flinch. My eyes are pretty scary so that's understandable.

  Despite that, Mitsuki kept on her cheerful mood, "There is a newly opened store on this floor! Let's go see it together!!"

  She ended up dragging me along. Well, nothing bad should happen as long as I am here—

  Huh.

  "I saw this souvenir shop! It looks really fshy and cool!!"

  In front of me is a shop with an entrance made out of gold— what the fuck? 200% purity? How is that even possible? Is that why the entrance is glowing?

  "Let's go!!", she dragged me along while I was still trying to make sense of 200% purity gold.

  We entered the store... which was empty, only a floor made of gold... and wall... and ceiling... and front desk... why is it all gold?!

  The person at the front desk is a pale woman with golden hair so long it spilled onto the ground and golden eyes with 'X' marks in them. She's wearing what looks to be a steampunk outfit, brown as the main color scheme but has gold pipes around her body. And a brown top hat with goggles on it, the frame of those goggles are golden too, and the gsses are also gold tinted.

  I know I am extra but this is too much!

  She stood up and cpped her hands, "Welcome~ one and all, to the Golden Emporium! The only pce that you can get goods from across the universe!"

  "Really?! Is this real? Then where are the goods?", Mitsuki wondered, completely missing the point!

  I stood in front of her, if anything goes wrong, I can at least protect her this way. And this strange feeling...

  "Now now~", she rubbed her gloved hands together, "Dear customers, the Golden Emporium's items are stored very carefully, so follow me if you want to see or buy what wonders the universe has in store!"

  The wall behind her opened, dropping down into the ground— a pure white portal leaking out light.

  "Are you ready to take my hand, dear customers?", she stood beside the portal with a bring smile.

  "Of course!", and Mitsuki jumped into the portal.

  I sighed, and then I looked at the other woman.

  "You are an Eldritch God, aren't you.", I spoke my thoughts out.

  She merely smiled and nodded, "You are very perceptive, dear customer."

  "I am Qaeidat Dhahabia the Golden Order, at your service."

  Golden Order... I look around, everywhere there is gold... damn, is this some sort of brand marketing? And a Harbinger of Life too... Nyar did say all of them have a screw loose.

  "What are you selling anyway?", I asked her.

  "I have an item with me right now, since this is for my own protection and its price is the same as a Category-12 Void Beast pelt— oops, you don't know what that is! Basically, I cannot sell this to you!", she took something out of her pocket, a fsk containing a...

  "This is Bck-Hole-in-a-Bottle! This item is what keeps this version of me safe! Of course, we here at the Golden Emporium don't sell items as dangerous as these, just some mumbo jumbo that children and adults would enjoy!"

  I smiled. Qaeidat Dhahabia isn't too bad.

  "For weapons, we have a separate company!", she cheerfully announced.

  I take that back, they do have a screw loose.

  "Are you curious, dear customer?", she gets up in my face, "We have a wide selection of tools that would help you greatly in your endeavor."

  "I will think about that, my friend is waiting for me after all."

  Weapons... I have an overkill arsenal already.

  "Of course, the customer's wish is above all!", she took my hand before I even noticed.

  Fu... I think I've been exposed to these Eldritch Gods for so long I began to let my guard down. I am surprised by such powerful beings...

  Beyond this portal is... a beautiful gallery, sparkling with golden pilrs and decorated with various jewels. The dispy cases... all have strange items in them. And this pce... stretched infinitely.

  "Charlotte! You are here!", and Mitsuki came for me, "What took you so long?! I've been here for days!! Everywhere I look, I see new items! Isn't this pce cool?!"

  "Days?", it was at most a minute...

  "Time doesn't work in here, dear customers.", Qaeidat Dhahabia expined, "Because this pce is simir to what you call Dungeons and Spires."

  Dungeons and Spires... as in the ones in Korea? Nyar said those were created by The World Border, another Harbinger of Life...

  "That's so cool! Are you a Mage?!", Mitsuki got it wrong again.

  The Eldritch God in question, however, widened her eyes in surprise, "Haha! Yeah, you could say that, dear customer. Please browse for as long as you like and inform me what you wish to buy."

  "What is the usual price tag?", I grabbed Mitsuki still before she could run off.

  A smirk appeared on her face, "We here at the Golden Emporium do not take currency, especially digital currency, we only want something of equal value~ and no souls, we do not take souls if you are wondering. This is an honest business after all."

  For someone whose Attribute is Capitalism, she's more honest than— wait, this is a capitalistic tactic.

  "What about that!", Mitsuki pointed at a mirror-like thing. We headed towards it, "This mirror."

  I tilt my head around it... seeing different reflections of myself... somewhere in there, I see myself in a miserable state, where I am depressed, where I went insane, where I live a happy life, where I lost an eye...

  "This mirror is a toy from the Third Cargo of the Stelr Express, it lets children born on it see what the future may hold for them!"

  This is a toy? Mitsuki is shaking. No toy should make a person shake like that...

  "But don't be easily fooled, dear customers.", Qaeidat Dhahabia stood in front of us, blocking the view of the mirror, "Those futures you see will not always come true, as the future is always uncertain."

  "Well! We here at the Golden Emporium have just the right thing to lighten up your mood! Follow me, dear customers!", and she walked away.

  Seeing Mitsuki shaking, I grabbed her hand.

  "Everything will be okay, you have me.", I smiled, keeping her calm.

  She smiled and nodded, following me.

  We ended up at what looks to be a core of some kind. It's big, about as big as a bull.

  "This is the heart of a Grand Array, it contains the Virtual Soul of a super-intelligent being. You can also use it as a battery to power an entire city!"

  "Who does this... Grand Array belong to?", I questioned her.

  "The Machine Overlord, of course! They are the strongest soldiers of the greatest army in the universe.", she smiled with a dangerous aura around her.

  The strongest soldiers of the Machine Overlord... that means... a Herald.

  "I won't be able to afford it.", I shook my head.

  "It's cheaper than you think!", she took off her hat and handed it to me, "Just reach your hand in and pull something out! I can assure you the quality!!"

  This better not be a scam.

  I reached my hand into the hat... it's deeper than it looks. Hmm? There is something in here...

  I pulled out a... coin?

  This coin with the symbol of a skull... I found it in my box once I moved into my room on Babel...

  —That dark pce... I don't want to go—

  what was that?

  "This should do it!", and Qaeidat Dhahabia took the coin from me easily.

  "I haven't confirmed the purchase yet.", I frowned, giving back her hat.

  She still keeps on that professional smile, "You haven't! Yes, that is quite true! But think about it, dear customer, this heart will~ let~ you~ build~ your~ own~ mecha! It even comes with an instruction!"

  A mecha... that is pretty enticing.

  Now... between a cool mecha that could potentially betray me or a coin of mysterious origin...

  "I will take the deal."

  She snapped her finger and the coin disappeared, "Thank you, dear customer! With your agreement, the transaction is complete! Since this heart is likely too big for you, we will prepare a ticket so you can summon it anytime!!"

  "By the way, what happened to the Grand Array?", this is a very important question.

  "Oh, it tried to betray The Machine Overlord and exploded in the process. By chance it tried to betray you, I suggest you install a self-destruct button, preferably a manual one."

  "So this is a scam!", I yelled out.

  "It is not! We here at the Golden Emporium put our brand's honor on the line! We assure you nothing bad will happen if you treat the heart right."

  Well, a story arc just got yeeted into the abyss. I now have a core for a mecha... is that a fair trade?

  I looked at Mitsuki, who was looking around the pce while I was doing my trade.

  "Mutsuki! Have you found anything?", I shouted.

  "There are a lot of cool things here!! But I'm afraid I don't have anything of value... I only have a broken sword as my only possession."

  She's living with my money.

  "Mhm, may I look at that sword, dear customer?", Qaeidat Dhahabia said, walking towards her.

  Giving Mitsuki the hat, she reached into it and pulled out her broken katana, scabbard and all. Now that I look at it, the scabbard is pretty, carrying a snowfke pattern with red blood running through each fke.

  "The object value of this sword is quite low, but the sentimental value will definitely be useful.", The Golden Order smiled, "We here at the Golden Emporium have just the perfect item for you! It will be a long walk but it will be worth your time."

  Then she turned to me, "Dear customer, please wait for a bit! You can browse through the items in the meantime, if you touch the dispy case it will tell you the information of the product!"

  "I'll be back! See you ter, Charlotte!!", Mitsuki waved and walked away, following Qaeidat Dhahabia.

  So I just keep wandering around this gaudy pce.

  Hmm, there is a bck egg with tendrils coming out of it... I touched the dispy case, then a holographic info-gram appeared in front of me.

  [Egg of The Enigma Code.No idea what's inside it, but Lughz Dustur told me to have it. May or may not be a prank.

  — The Golden Order]

  Yeah... not touch that.

  I moved onto a huge tooth, as big and long as my arm. I did the same thing.

  [Tooth of The Dino King.This was collected during an encounter with The Dino King, a Jury of the Pale Court. May or may not still contain the power of Daddy Shemiss Aluqdim.

  — The Golden Order]

  Okay... ignoring the fact that Qaeidat Dhahabia calls Shemiss Aluqdim daddy... The Dino King... there is a Jury that is a fucking dinosaur?! You know what... these things shouldn't surprise me anymore.

  Then the next dispy... a silver badge, the symbol of a fire inside a circle.

  [Badge of the Stelr Express.A cool souvenir I have way too many of. It looks pretty good on a suit.

  — The Golden Order]

  Hmm, this would actually look nice on Ars Goetia.

  Moving on, I see a bottle containing some green liquid bubbling. Gross...

  [Bath water of The Pgue Garden.Despite looking gross, it smells really nice. It can be used as a skin conditioner, but it should be diluted with water.

  WARNING: it corrode metal.

  — The Golden Order]

  People say don't judge a book by its cover... but I will do this time. No matter how good it is, I have no interest.

  Next item. Is a dark red horn...

  [Horn tip of the Red Rampage.During one battle against The All Blue, The Red Rampage chipped their horn. It can be used to enhance taste by marinating the horn with sauce.

  — The Golden Order]

  Hmm, surprisingly ordinary.

  The following item is a... music sheet?

  [Requiem of The Manic Song.As beled, this is the sheet for mourning the dead. Despite its menacing name, it's just a sheet of paper and the song is perfectly harmless! Only untold millions died during the live concert on Istaven!!]

  — The Golden Order]

  I would try to py it... if I can read it and have the necessary instrument. Hoa said she fought a Herald of The Manic Song before so maybe she has information about it?

  Looking around, there are countless items. If the same pattern is right, then everything here is personally collected and written by her...

  [Bell of Morvina.The final king of Morvina traded this for something that would ensure the survival of the remaining humans of his pnet, against the Judgement of a Jury of the Pale Court. Ring and you will feel serene.

  — The Golden Order]

  A greedy person wouldn't be so generous... Nyar's perspective is only one bias, so it cannot be true...

  And this pce... just standing here I can feel the history of the universe. So many memories, so many stories.

  Is it right to destroy the shackles of the past? No, it is not... it is not exactly right but not really wrong at the same time.

  I am someone who isn't bound by my past since I practically have none... then...

  I smiled.

  "How about I expose those chains? So the people could choose which one to cut off?", I muttered to myself.

  Even if I am the entirety of mankind, I am still just one person...

  "What are you doing here monologuing like a vilin?", Qaeidat Dhahabia appeared out of nowhere, standing right in front of me, "So have you picked out any other item?"

  "Well, I would like one of those badges.", I spoke casually.

  "Oh! They are souvenirs of the Stelr Express, the price is very cheap!", she took off her hat once again, giving it to me.

  Like before, I put my hand in it and... I took out a gyroscope. Why this of all things?

  She took it instantly, "This will do! Do you wish to exchange that for a Badge of the Stelr Express?"

  I nodded.

  "Then the deal is set! Thank you for doing business with the Golden Emporium~!", she cpped her hands, making the gyroscope disappear, repced by a badge.

  She gave it to me.

  "Oh! Charlotte! You are here!!", Mitsuki ran towards me, now wearing a hairpin decorated with a white strange flower... and a stick of some sort?

  "Why does she have two items?", I asked The Golden Order.

  "Three in fact!", Mitsuki answered, she turned around, partially taking off her sweater to show me a butterfly tattoo, "This one is amazing!!"

  "Ehem, apology for interrupting. Dear customers, in order to maximize profit, I have decided to split it into three parts.", she smiled and spoke in a hushed tone. It gives the image that she is quite humble but also assertive at the same time.

  She is still a greedy Eldritch God of Capitalism at the end of the day.

  "Have you two gotten everything you want?", she asked, leaning to the side to act cute.

  "Yup! I am satisfied with my selection. Though I don't think I have anything else to trade...", Mitsuki ughed, rubbing the back of her head.

  "We are ready to go back now.", I said, looking at the cheerful Eldritch God.

  "Here is your ticket to summon the Heart of that Grand Array!", from her hat she pulled out a golden ticket with the symbol of an alchemical transmutation circle.

  Alchemical... Alchemy... why does that feel so... familiar?

  "Thanks.", I stuffed the ticket into my pocket.

  "We here at the Golden Emporium thank you for visiting, dear customers! If you wish to look at our gallery again, we will be staying here until August! Our next location will be Las Vegas after that! So please visit us there when we moved!", she bowed her head.

  Then a white glowing portal opened.

  "Thank you!", Mitsuki also bowed and jumped into the portal.

  "Now that she's gone, there is something I want to ask.", I stare at The Golden Order.

  "What would that be, dear customer?", she tilted her head.

  "What is your retionship with Shemiss Aluqdim? No, the retionship between all the Harbingers of Life?"

  I know this is risky, but my curiosity takes priority.

  "Hmm~ if it goes like mortal terms, then... we are business partners.", she crossed her arms, smiling deviously, "I cannot say anything further than that, if I say anything more it would viote our NDA contract."

  I shrugged. Well, that's enough I guess.

  "Thank you for your time, Qaeidat Dhahabia.", then I walked out.

  "See you ter, dear customer!", she waved at me.

  She isn't so bad after all. It's still strange that an Eldritch God is owning a franchise across the universe... I don't hate it.

  =0=0=

  After Charlotte and Mitsuki left, The Golden Order stayed in her gallery to clean the pce. Of course, she could just summon her Servants to do all of the work.

  But she enjoys cleaning nonetheless.

  But, her hands stopped. A smile bloomed on her face, and she turned around.

  "Hello~ Shemiss Aluqdim! May I get to know why you are here?"

  Standing there was The Pale Court in their human disguise. A tall man with white hair, and a marble mask with two sharp holes to let their golden eyes pierce through. They wore a white formal suit with gold lining, and a white coat hanging off their shoulder.

  "How is the situation outside?", countless voices asked.

  "Nothing much, The Original One will go back to sleep by the end of my Star Cycle.", she shrugged, then she walked up closer, looking up at The Pale Court, "When will your restraining order end?"

  "It will end very soon, in ten thousand cycles of this pnet at the test. So how are the preparations.", they replied.

  "Pacmalinn Emvist1The Machine Overlord's Steel Legion are stationed, Welt Eam2The World Border had connected most worlds. Lughz Dustur3The Enigma Code's Angels are ready, Qitar Elismo4The Stelr Express will be heading here soon.", her smile slowly becomes more sinister, and she spread her arms out, "And I had stock up enough weapons and ammo, enough for the next ten Awakening of The Original One."

  "What about the other three?", they asked.

  "Lichtma Balisk5The Necro Lord is working with Watafan Mawsil6The Starlight Psychopomp to create a Category-12 Void Beast, as for Mard Awan7The Pgue Garden, still the same as ever, in their, Garden brewing up countless pgues.", then she look at The Pale Court, extending a hand, "So all we need st is your signal..."

  "And the Revolution of Life shall begin."

  Rhaps