The Shrine Maiden

Silence washed over the group. Both Allen and Sakura were staring at each other, as if they were having a standoff.

“I don’t remember meeting you, sir Allen.” Sakura replied in a nonchalant tone.

‘It’s definitely her!’ Allen thought to himself as his glare intensified. ‘I gotta inform Yuuji and the others soon.’ Allen took a deep breath to calm himself as he knew it would cause trouble if he did something.

“Sorry, you just seem like someone I know.” Allen replied soon after. “Anyways, I’d like for my fortune to be read!” He said with a stiff smile.

“Great, sir Allen your fortune is…” Sakura grabbed a stick from the fortune box, then read it. “Both minor fortune, and misfortune.” She looked at the stick with a deep frown hidden behind her mask.

The group all became confused after hearing Sakura’s words. “What do you mean by that?” Amilia suddenly asked.

Sakura didn’t immediately answer as she stared at the stick for a moment. “That I cannot disclose. Here.” She replied as she shook her head and handed Allen his fortune stick.

“Anyways, is there anything else you want to see?”

“Actually, can we ask you a few questions?” Kazuma asked moments later.

“Questions? Certainly, what would you like to know sir Kazuma.”

“Thank you. Has there been anything suspicious going on?”

“Suspicious? Let me think.” Sakura responded before going silent for a few moments. “Not that I know of, other than your friend looking at me with a gaze full of murderous intent.” Sakura said while motioning towards Allen.

The group looked at Allen silently before looking towards Sakura. “Sorry for his actions, we’ll talk with him later.” Kazuma bowed before going back to questioning Sakura.

A while later, the group left the Shrine.

“Hey, Allen, is everything alright?” Kazuma asked after they got far from the Shrine.

“Hm?” Allen looked at Kazuma with a confused look.

“You seemed to know that Sakura lady, and it didn’t seem like you liked her.” Kazuma responded while rolling his eyes.

“Oh right, I’ll tell you guys when we get back to the tavern.” Allen said with a serious look.

After a while, they made it back to the tavern.

“Welcome back! 2 rooms right?” The woman from before welcomed the group as she saw them entering.

“That’s correct.” Allen responded with a grin on his face. After getting the keys to their rooms, they went to one of the rooms.

After they all got comfortable, Kazuma was the first to speak up.

“Mind explaining your reaction to that lady?”

“Right.” Allen took a deep breath before continuing.”That Sakura, whatever is not actually who you think she is. Do you all remember when I explained the other harbingers and how they acted?” Allen asked while looking at everyone. They all nodded their heads.

“Sakura is one of the harbingers, probably one we cannot mess with. And her real name isn’t Sakura whatever, it’s actually Athena like I said.”

“Didn’t you say she never really spoke? And it could possibly be another person that sounds exactly like her.” Yuuji asked right afterwards.

“Yuuji, I know that voice well, yes she never really spoke but I’ve heard her a few times.” Allen explained. “Her voice is unique as it has a coldness hidden behind it, like she doesn’t care about what’s going on.”

“How exactly do you know how her voice sounds? I’m guessing you tried to fight her?” Kazuma responded.

“Yes…” Allen looked at Kazuma with a stiff smile. “And it didn’t end well.”

Allen took a deep breath before explaining how it went down. “Time after time I asked her to fight me, until one day she begrudgingly accepted the fight. When the fight began, it was already over. Before I could take a step her sword was already at my throat. As she pulled her sword back, she told me “That was pathetic, don’t try to fight me again if you value your life.”

Everyone besides Allen had a dumbfounded look on their face, even Kazuma.

“Wait, if that’s actually her, what are we going to do?” Kazuma was the first to come out of their stupor. “From what you’ve said she can easily dominate the battlefield if we go against her.”

“Man, I don’t know.” Allen said while shrugging his shoulders. “We’ll think of something like we always have, right?”

**BONK**

“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN?! ALL THOSE OTHER TIMES WE HAD A CHANCE! FROM WHAT YOU’VE SAID WE BASICALLY HAVE NONE!” Kazuma shouted after he hit the top of Allen’s head.

“OW! Hey! We’ll think of something, I know it, have faith, man!” Allen exclaimed as he put his hands on his head.

“You’re just a battle maniac, but you’re right.” Kazuma responded as he pinched the ridge of his nose after he calmed down. “Any plans?” He said while looking at Yuuji and Amilia.

“How about we get something to eat and drink before we discuss it?” Allen suddenly said before anyone else could respond.

Everyone but Kazuma agreed with Allen.

Sometime later everyone was seated at a table that had drinks and food on it.

“Amilia, I don’t think it’d be good if you drank that…” Yuuji said as he saw Amilia reach for a certain drink.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Amilia replied with a confused look.

“You got super drunk last time, remember?” Yuuji responded while scratching his cheek.

“Even if I do remember I’m still gonna drink this!” Amilia said while pouting a bit.

“Don’t blame me if something happens…” Yuuji sighed while scratching the back of his head.

However before Amilia could take a drink of the certain drink Kazuma suddenly stopped her.

“Don’t take a drink of that, we need everyone sober for this. Allen can you stop flirting with the waitress? We need to get this discussion done!” Kazuma exclaimed while giving Allen a glance.

Currently, Allen was talking up a storm with the waitress that served them the drinks and food.

“Yeah, yeah sorry.” Allen replied before ending his conversation with the waitress. “Thank you for giving us our food and drinks.” He said while smiling at the waitress.

“Thank you for the patronage, Sir Allen~” The waitress giggled before leaving.

“Anyways, how are we able to stop Athena?” Kazuma asked as he looked at Allen.

“Hm… We can possibly overwhelm her with numbers?” Allen responded.

“That would cause unnecessary casualties.”

“It would stop her wouldn’t it?”

“That wouldn’t be the best solution.” Amilia popped up. “I’m sure we’re able to beat her if we all were fighting her…”

“I sort of agree with Amilia, we have a chance to beat her with just us.” Yuuji responded.

“Why do you think that? You heard how powerful she is from Allen.”

“I think if you guys can stall her, I might be able to do something.” Amilia said with a serious look.

Kazuma looked at Amilia with an irritated expression. “We can’t be optimistic here, our chances are slim to none.”

“I know…” Amilia had a worried look on her face. “But, we can do it. Listen, I have a special spell I can use. It allows me to freeze a certain area until I decide to stop it or I lose consciousness. If you buy me enough time we can stop her!”