Mutagen

Day 326 - 11:21 AM - Sayama Park, Tamakocho, Higashimurayama, Ruins of Tokyo

"Ren-sama, the herd of deers is coming at ETA seven seconds."

The voice of one of the Black Lotus scouts echoed within Ren's earpiece, informing her of the targets of their current hunt.

Ren stood in the middle of a narrow cliff created by the geographical shifts after Earth changed. In a second, she could hear the hooves of the herd of deers clop with the ground. Seven seconds was quite short, and the herd was still far. However, their speed as [Evolved Animals] was much faster than a speeding racecar.

As the herd entered Ren's sight, her eyes narrowed. The herd was composed of only five deers, but the smallest was the size of a golf cart, and the largest was a small truck. Their terrifying horns branched like clustered vines filled with thorns instead of looking like tree branches.

And that herd was rushing in Ren's direction. Ren was alone, and the herd was not afraid of her.

However, the herd failed to notice the thick scent in the area, making the surroundings look misty and blurry. And all of it centered on the human before them.

THUD! THUD!

One after another, the members of the deer herd fell to the ground, causing their bodies to slide across the dirt, scattering a cloud of dust and torn grass.

The first one to fall was the smallest one, and the other three followed, leaving the largest one to stagger. It tried to resist, but its body slowed down before falling unconscious in front of Ren.

It might have taken longer due to the size, but the largest deer still fell due to Ren's poisonous scent.

After the herd was subdued, Ren stopped releasing the scent from her body. However, it would still take a while before the scent she released in the surroundings to dissipate completely, making it unsafe to immediately retrieve the game they hunted.

But as the misty scent finally vanished, all that was left was Ren and the five unconscious [Evolved Deers]. The other members of the Black Lotus immediately approached the place to check.

The game was still alive as the hunters intended.

Since they would be here in a few days, it would be nice if they could transfer the hunted animals as fresh as possible. As such, capturing the animals alive in the first few days was necessary. It was also the reason why Ren's presence in this expedition was the key to this hunt.

Meat from animals that changed after due to Mutagen was not as perishable as animal meat from the past. Even if they killed everything they hunted, the meat should still be fine after a few days without refrigeration. Nonetheless, fresher meat still tasted better.

Ren prepared for the next hunt as her subordinates captured the unconscious deers and tied them with thick chains. These animals would be transported alive if possible.

"Ren-sama, here."

Mako approached Ren with her weapons. It was a black-colored katana, and its craftsmanship was something to behold.

"Let's go."

Ren accepted her weapon and commanded.

"I'll take point."

At this time, another member of the Black Lotus Group volunteered.

It was a woman with a rather voluptuous body. However, her loose clothing covered that charm of hers. Furthermore, she had quite a tomboyish demeanor in her body movements.

"If you want to. Just be careful, Keiko," Ren replied. "Seriously, you just returned from Kanagawa. You should have taken a break like the others."

"Don't worry, Ren-sama," Keiko smiled as she flexed her arm like a bodybuilder. "I'm not that weak."

The expedition from Kanagawa returned two days before the hunting expedition of the Black Lotus Group kicked off. And sure enough, it was a tough fight for the members. Many soldiers from the army died in the process.

Fortunately, no death was incurred among the members of the Black Lotus Group, although some of their members received some serious but non-fatal injuries.

Among the leaders of the Black Lotus Group participants of the Kanagawa expedition was Keiko. And as said, instead of resting like the rest of the members of the expedition, Keiko jumped in to join the hunt.

And as she had said, Keiko was not weak. In fact, despite her gorgeous feminine physique, she was the strongest in the Black Lotus Group in terms of physical strength.

"Just don't overdo it."

At this time, Tadashi chimed in, telling Keiko to be careful.

"I know, I know," Keiko shrugged. "Don't act like my dad or something."

Keiko then walked forward to lead the hunt.

Everyone looked at Tadashi, who was seen sighing. It was not wrong to treat Tadashi as the father figure of the Black Lotus Group. After all, he was already old enough to be a father when most current members of the Black Lotus were still tottering in their training as children.

With Keiko in the lead, the members of the Black Lotus Group continued the hunt.

***

Day 326 - 11:30 AM - The Sanctuary, Toyosu Center Building, Toyosu, Reclaimed City, Ruins of Tokyo

"Priestess."

A ninja-looking man knocked at the doors of the Priestess' room.

"Come in."

The Priestess responded, making the ninja enter her room.

Inside the room, the Priestess sat on her bed in a meditative position. She had her eyes closed as if she was in the middle of meditation.

Aside from the Priestess, her relative, Tsubasa, was also inside the room.

Knowing the relationship between the Priestess and Tsubasa, the ninja knelt down and proceeded with a report.

"The members of Evernight had returned. We still have no clue as to where they went after losing their tail yesterday."

But the report made the Priestess open her eyes with a frown. Even so, she looked dignified despite her annoyed expression.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Priestess asked. "I am sure that I ordered you all to stop trying to spy on them. Who ordered you to do this?"

The ninja was a bit nervous. But as the Priestess had asked, the ninja was obligated to answer.

"Priestess, it was the Head Priest Akio. He instructed us to continue. He was also the one to instruct me to report to the Priestess about our findings."

"And the reason?"

The Priestess asked.

"My apologies, but I have no idea."

The ninja respectfully replied.

With a deep breath, the Priestess ordered the ninja.

"Once again, I order you all to stop any interaction with the members of Evernight. They are under my protection, not as followers but as equal allies. Break my order one more time. And you all will have to answer my wrath. Understand?"

"Y-yes, Priestess." The ninja replied hesitantly and asked. "But what about the Head Priest?"

"Whose order takes priority here? Tell me?"

The Priestess asked in an imposing tone.

"It's the Priestess."

The ninja replied.

"Since you know the answer, then follow it. You may go."

The Priestess commanded, and the ninja hurriedly left the room and closed the door.

"Seriously, that Akio is at it again. Can't he just sit still? What an idiot."

With the unwanted guest gone, the Priestess was done pretending. As her real color came out, Tsubasa could only sigh.

"The Head Priest was just looking after you, grandmother," Tsubasa spoke. "Anyone would think that that Evernight group is suspicious, given you suddenly put them under your protection after that event a few days ago."

"Does he take me for an idiot?" The Priestess harrumphed. "His grandfather wasn't even born when I became the Priestess. How dare he disregard my order and continue investigating the people under my protection?"

"Tell me, grandmother," Tsubasa sincerely spoke. "What is special with that group? Is that group perhaps..."

"Well, they wore masks that night, so you won't recognize them, but the Evernight is a group centered around a family of Demons. The two Demons that night are the leader of Evernight and his wife."

"But... Isn't that strange?" Tsubasa was surprised as she tried to analyze things. "The Head Priest sent out people to spy on them but didn't find out they were Demons?"

But as Tsubasa said those words, the Priestess gave her great-great-granddaughter a question of her own to contemplate.

"Try to recall. Did you even feel those two were Demons, to begin with?"

And there, Tsubasa froze.

That night when the Priestess fought the Demon, they only identified him and his wife as Demons because they had those wings. But...

Tsubasa never felt their presence as Demons.

"That group is using some unique method to conceal their demonic presence. If you don't have enough strength and perception, you won't find them strange unless they purposely reveal they are Demons. That itself is proof of their strength. One of the reasons I would rather not make them our enemies."

"But that Akio..." The Priestess continued. "What he is doing is unnecessarily provoking them. If the Evernight turned on us due to Akio's stupid actions, I will gladly offer him to take all the blame."

"Grandmother, you can't say that," Tsubasa sighed. "He just respects you too much."

"If he really respects me, he better listen properly."

The Priestess was really annoyed.

At this time, a presence appeared inside the room. In a second, Tsubasa felt suffocated, although the feeling vanished almost immediately.

"You girls seemed to be having something exciting talking about! Can I join in?!"

The Priestess could only sigh as she turned to a little girl in a priestess robe. The girl had a so-called hime haircut. She looked all normal, aside from the fact that if she opened her eyes widely, one could see three pupils in each eye.

This girl was not just some human, Demon, or even a ghost. She was a godly being and a guardian of this world.

An [Eye]. Sixteenth, the [Eye of Excitement].

"Sixteenth..." The Priestess spoke. "What is the reason for you to appear this time?"

"Do I have a reason not to?" Sixteenth replied. "You are my candidate. Of course, I'll check on you from time to time. It's good that you are doing pretty well. Now, what are two talking about?"

The Priestess shrugged as her sigh turned into a smile. She and Sixteenth had pretty similar personalities. It was not wrong to say that they clicked on each other. Two girls in temple clothing, always looking for excitement.

"Hey, speak," Sixteenth turned to Tsubasa. "What are you two talking about?"

With a bit of difficulty, Tsubasa shared what happened in the past few days. All while Sixteenth was sitting on the Priestess' bed.

"Heeh," Sixteenth was amused as she looked at the Priestess. "A Demon withstood your attack? Say, Hikari, what's that Demon's name?"

Hikari, the Priestess, answered the Sixteenth's question.

From what we know, he called himself Mark in the registration.

At that point, Sixteenth froze a bit.

"Say..." Sixteenth seemed to hesitate. "Does that Demon have three pairs of wings? And his wife having rainbow ones?"

"What? How did you know?"

It was the Priestess' turn to be surprised. It was definitely surprising if an [Eye] could recognize a person, especially a Demon.

"Wahh..."

Sixteenth was definitely taken aback.

"I have something to do. I'm going."

Sixteenth then jumped off the bed and ran to the window, where she vanished in the blink of an eye.

"W-what is that all about? Do you have any idea, grandmother?"

Tsubasa was totally confused. She was already used to the presence of an [Eye], although she was still a bit nervous. Even so, Sixteenth's reaction just now was clearly unexpected.

"It seemed that Mark is not just some Demon," The Priestess replied. "For the eyes to recognize him, it could only be one of the two. He's a Demon hunted by the [Eyes], or Mark is someone they were observing."

Unfortunately, the Priestess was wrong on both guesses. She would never expect that Mark was also a candidate under another [Eye]. After all, she had no idea that the [Pureblood Demon] she fought the other day was a former human.