HP9999999999 - Chapter 33

Hey, that reminds me. What about Ieg and Khiel, huh? Aint they gonna get huntin too?

It is better for Ieg to focus on his mission. And you know Khiel. Anything I might tell him would go in one ear and out the other. We three are the only ones who can collect.

Yeah, I can buy that. But jus the tree of us huntin down a thousand souls? Looks like were gonna have a real workload.

There is one more thing you ought to keep in mind.

Ceal raised her index finger for emphasis.

The Gate of the Beast will only accept the souls of humans who are at the peak of their vitality. If we wish to keep the needed sacrifices as few as possible, we have to focus on humans in their prime. Humans somewhere around their early twenties are preferable.

Say what now? Am I supposed ta check if theyre all in their twenties before I can get to huntin em? What a drag. Cmon, whats the difference? Shouldnt matter how old they are, they could be kids or droolin fogies for all I care.

I do believe, Gabri, that I told you to never forget your duties as an Angel of the Seven Stars. Do not do something that would drag our name through the mud.

Keh. Were out here huntin humans, aint we? Whats our d.a.m.n name worth now?

Did you say something?

Nope. Nothin at all.

Gabris tone betrayed the deceptive intent in his words.

Very well then, we will now move on to the human realms. Remember, we must gather a thousand souls at all costs and undo the seal to the Gate. We must destroy the High King and remove the source of all evil from this world!

And so, they approached the human territories. Ceal took to the South. Gabri had ventured westwards in search of souls, and Micha had gone eastwards. They had all gone their separate ways.

Aint been in the human lands for a while. The d.a.m.n airs as stagnant as its ever been.

Gabri descended and landed on the summit of a mountain that stretched a good thousand meters above the earth, then took in his surroundings. Finally, he set his sights on three villages of his choice.

Kukuh. Guess Ill get started.

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Gabri raised his right hand to the heavens. A large sphere materialized far above, bearing a strong resemblance to a full moon.

Incantation: Moonlight Doubles!

Dazzling light shone from the orb, throwing a long shadow at Gabris feet. The shadow then split in two, and from each part sprung forth an exact duplicate of the angel.

Gotta focus on efficiency, dont I?

Gabri lowered his right hand, and the orb in the sky disappeared as he did. A manic grin sprouted on his face, his iterations mimicking the expression.

Alrighty boys, lets raise the curtains for a good, fun huntin game! Hahahahahaah!

The Human Soul Hunt had finally begun, and Ceal, Micha, and Gabri were the perpetrators.

You never really notice how time flies. Its already been a month since my reincarnation as the High King. Id spent the last few days in relative peace, and not one horde of angels had made an appearance since then.

What am I doing now, I hear you ask? Well, Im at my castle with Anri and Peta. Were playing card games, specifically Old Maid.

Not too long ago, Anri had been the only one around. That also meant that my choice of games had been rather limited. But now that Petas here, the variations to these games are getting better and better. I hadnt invited any other demons over to play, largely because my position hadnt made it that easy for me.

Okay, its my turn now!

Let me brief you in on how the games going. Peta has one card in her hands, and I have two; a six of hearts and a joker. Anri had stepped down not too long ago, so it all comes down to either Peta or me. If I let Peta take the six of hearts, then Im a dead man.

Lets see. I wonder which ones the joker

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The index finger on Petas right hand begins spinning around. The joker is on my right. Take the right one! Take the right card, Peta!

Ah

My prayers go unanswered, and Peta grabs the six of hearts.

Yaaaay! I win!

Ill admit to my loss.

Peta rejoices, repeatedly throwing her hands in the air and cheering, and I just let my head droop down. Thats odd. Was I always this weak? I have the strange feeling that Ive barely even won at card games and Jenga and the like, not since my reincarnation. Did I make myself suck at these games in exchange for the strength that comes with being a High King?

Yuuto-sama, you really need to work on your poker face. You were staring at that card so much you coulda burned holes into it; it was so obvious it was the joker.

Did did I really look at it that much? I hadnt even noticed.

d.a.m.n it all, Peta! If you knew, why didnt you just let him win?! How can you call yourself one of the Four Demons of Ruin?!

It doesnt matter, Anri. Neither status nor rank has any place in these games. The minute you give someone special consideration is the minute you lose the core aspect of the game.

You heard him! Also, Anri, you cant exactly be that convincing when you were the first one to drop out.

Urgh

Anri offers no verbal retaliation, instead keeping quiet in a manner thats almost unpleasant.

I didnt know you knew so many kinds of games though, Yuuto-sama. Whered ya pick them up?

I came up with all of them. Theyre my original creation.

Yes, lets just keep it at that. The following is a message to the people who first came up with card games and Jenga. I am so, so sorry.

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For real?! Thats our Yuuto-sama! Who elsed come up with these amazing games?! I, like, super respect that about you!

Please, thats only natural. Coming up with games is so easy for Yuuto-sama it might as well just be him breathing.

Okay, Anri, it doesnt matter how much you want to spin this, but youre really overestimating me.

I cant wait to teach these games to Yuna and Elitora! Whenre they comin back to the castle, anyway?

Well, I dont have the slightest as far as Yuna goes, but Id prefer it if Elitora doesnt come back just yet.

Anris words are further accentuated by her visibly strained expression. If theres just one thing I can figure out here; is that Anri really doesnt like this Elitora chick.

Yuuto-sama, whatre we gonna play next?!

A good question

Hold on; we really dont have the time to keep playing games. I have to remember that plan of mine; I want to make the public see me in a new light, and bring about an era of coexistence between humans and demons. That said, I cant really recall any recent instance of me even trying something that might help the plan move along.

I have to see this plan through, before the Demons of Ruin can find all four ingredients to make that Black Mist of theirs. I dont really care how, as long as some people someplace out there get into some kind of trouble

!

A knock on the gates to the hall wrench me out of my ruminations. I call for whoever it is to enter, and a lone demon comes in and kneels.

I must apologize for interrupting you in your sacred rites, milord. There is something you ought to hear. May I?

Of course. Speak.

Also, whats this about a sacred rite? What, are they talking about this card game?

There have been repeated accounts of humans falling unconscious all throughout the human territories.

What?

The victims ages range from late teens to their early twenties. Youths, Sire. About three hundred to four hundred of them have been found. Its as if they had their souls yanked right out of their bodies. The reasons for this have yet to be understood, but it is generally suspected that multiple perpetrators are behind this.

There it is, thats the kind of thing I was waiting for!

Yep, this is just it! Ive been waiting! If I can just find a way to resolve the issue, then its practically guaranteed that the High King gets a nice little change in public opinion! Also, I know its a little off for me to get so ecstatic when so many people are in trouble, but I can finally feel fortune moving things in my favor!