Chương 38: An Afternoon of Relaxation & Questionnaire

Galan plunged into the hot spring, the warmth melting the fatigue from his bones. He waded through the water, ignoring the curious stares of the oni and the giggles of the cervitaur women, until he reached Shuten Dooji and sat down ahead of him.

"So, how's it feel?" the champion asked.

"Feels just like home," Galan sighed in contentment.

"That's the best compliment I can give."

"Hah! You hear that, Iba?" Shuten Dooji slapped the water, splashing his second-in-command.

"You owe me fifty kogan!" Ibaraki Dooji mumbled a curse, avoiding his boss' gaze. Just then, Ootake Maru slipped into the water with a quiet ripple, his expression stoic.

"Hey, look everyone!" Shuten Dooji announced.

"The second most powerful oni in Japan has arrived!" The crowd cheered, a hint of mockery in their applause. Ootake Maru bowed, unbothered.

"Thank you for the invitation. I am truly honored."

"Hahah! Classic Mountain Goat!" Shuten Dooji grinned.

"Alright! Let's get this party started!" He stood up and cleared his throat, his voice booming across the bath.

"Listen up! In honor of my fourth glorious victory and in honor of the Foreign God who gave me a real fight... the seal on the Oni no Namida shall be broken! Aged in cedar for ten years just for this occasion!" The crowd roared with genuine excitement.

"In the meantime," Shuten Dooji declared, "let's catch up, starting with our dearest Foreign God!" He sat back down.

"Ask him anything! I'll go first." The murmurs grew hushed and intense.

"Tell me." Shuten Dooji leaned in.

"How did you get so powerful?"

"Are you serious?" Galan asked.

"I'm just a god."

"Oh, come on!" He splashed the water.

"No god in the stories fights like you did!" The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Galan thought for a moment.

"It's just 'cause I fought a lot. So... I had to get creative to get the edge in."

"And have you ever lost?"

"In a fair match, yeah. But if I can go all out, the result is usually the same as what happened to you." The crowd nodded, murmuring in agreement.

"So a god's power can still take a tumble if they're bound up tight enough, eh?" Said a guest dwarf in Old Irish.

"Interesting," Shuten Dooji mused.

"Alright, I'm done. Iba, your turn." All eyes shifted to Ibaraki Dooji, a bearded veteran with a scar that encircles his left shoulder joint.

"How do you treat your subordinates?" he asked, stroking his chin.

"What?" Galan raised an eyebrow.

"Did he abuse you or something?"

"No... just wondering," Ibaraki said. Galan looked down, memories of Gaius, Cang Cu, and Lucilla surfacing in his mind.

"I treat them like everyone else under my rule," he said finally.

"With guidance and help. I spend time with them to learn who they are as people. But if they want to be left alone, I give them space. I'm... quite a laid-back guy. As long as they don't cause problems, I won't treat them as problems." Ibaraki nodded slowly, impressed.

"That answer is very clear. Thank you, Dear God."

"I don't understand a word of that," Shuten Dooji laughed.

"But I'm sure it's good. Next!" He scanned the rowdy crowd.

"The deer girls! Starting with the youngest." A collective gasp came from the corner where the cervitaurs were soaking. The youngest, Daphne, looked down shyly as her friends whispered encouragement in Greek. She took a deep breath and looked up, her expression determined.

"Greetings, Potamos Galenaios. I would like to ask you… whether or not you will expand the Peacekeepers' operation to Japan." Her friends burst out laughing.

"What? Really? Is that it?" Galan asked. Daphne nodded.

"You know… after all that buildup… I thought you were going to ask me out or something." Daphne's composure shattered. She hid her face in her hands, blushing crimson.

"Look, it's alright," Galan smiled.

"To answer your question: I'm leaning towards 'yes.' I still need permission from the Greek Council, but with what I've seen here, I'm confident." He grinned teasingly.

"And yes, Daphne, I'd be happy to go on a date with you once the intermarriage laws are fully settled. Don't worry." Daphne let out an embarrassed whimper, hiding behind her hands again as her friends giggled.

"What were you talking about?" Shuten Dooji asked in Japanese.

"I explained that I might expand my effort to unite humans and magical creatures to Japan."

"What does that even mean?"

"It just ensures that you guys will stop killing each other. Don't worry about it." He gave him a thumbs-up.

"Really? You think you can solve Japan's eternal conflict on your own?"

"Sure. I've done this for decades at this point." Galan stretched.

"Besides, didn't the Council already achieve that in parts of Central Island?"

"Hahah! Then I'll trust your judgment," Shuten Dooji laughed.

"Maybe you'll also be able to do whatever you said that made her shy while you're at it."