One Piece : Wild Hunt

Exhaling a sigh, Koharu replied, "Of course..." before enveloping herself with her tails, similar to a flower blossoming in reverse. Moments later, rather than revealing a woman with monstrous features, her tails parted to reveal a large, predominately golden-brown fox. Its face was lighter than the rest of its body, giving it the impression it had been snooping around in a pile of ash, but there were red markings around and above its eyes, making it clear it was no ordinary fox. It also had a thick mane on its back, bell ornaments tied around its neck, and what looked like an obi, fastened together with thick, blue, and white rope.
Further exemplifying the fact she was no ordinary fox, Koharu narrowed her golden eyes and asked, "How do we look~?" in a distinctly feminine tone.
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas answered, "Incredibly fluffy. I prefer your previous appearance, for obvious reasons, but you look pretty regal and kind of badass in this form. Thanks for showing me."
Surprised by Thomas's response, as most people rightfully viewed her true form with fear and reservation, a very human smile developed across Koharu's face as she mused, "It seems we've found ourselves a kind, or, at the very least, open-minded Shujin..."
Though she preferred her true form, Koharu punctuated her words by reverting to the appearance corresponding to Thomas's preferences. She didn't mind being treated like a pet in her human form, but it bothered her quite a bit when people 'looked down' on her true self. Her karmic deficit would also clear quicker if Thomas 'mistreated' her a bit, so maintaining a form that excited him was preferable.
Instead of pouncing on Koharu and helping her pay off her debts, Thomas returned his attention to Benienma, questioning, "So, what now...?" with an increasingly intrigued look on his face. Benienma's remark about everyone in the Enma-tei being sinners trying to pay off their karmic debt made him a little apprehensive. Nevertheless, his Otaku heart couldn't help feeling excited by the prospect of encountering unique, interesting, and beautiful yokai.
Nodding her head, Benienma explained, "Now we summon the Waka-okami and Nakai-sans that will attend guests. If you choose to allow the Enma-tei to provide 'additional' services, we will also need to summon or hire several Oiran as well."
As he was familiar with the term Oiran, Thomas's smile became a little awkward as he remarked, "It would certainly help us gather information, but I'm not sure I want the Enma-tei to become a proxy for a brothel..."
Though she understood Thomas's concerns, Benienma maintained a neutral expression as she said, "Many of the people we summon into such a position are the type of yokai that feed off the desires of others. Anyone else would be looking to pay off their debts as quickly as possible, so you would be doing them a favor by allowing them to work here. They perform the same services in Hell, but the clients there are a lot less...agreeable..."
"..."
Hearing Benienma's explanation, Thomas was seized by the realization he might be getting in over his head by opening a chain of bathhouses linked to Hell. The notion of becoming an 'Underworld Emperor' had crossed his mind, but he never imagined it would be so...literal.
Inserting herself into the conversation, Koharu asked, "May we offer our input~?"
Shifting his gaze to Koharu, Thomas paused for a moment before giving a curt nod. In response, the purple-haired kitsune stated, "As Oo-okami-sama pointed out, you would be doing a tremendous service to women in a similar situation as ourself. Yokai are not humans. We are creatures born from powerful human emotions and desires. As such, we are not afforded the same 'rights' once we reach Hell. So long as their living relatives offer prayers, humans are permitted thirteen chances to repent over a 32-year period. They need only demonstrate genuine remorse during a single one of their Trials to escape Hell and return to the cycle of reincarnation..."
Taking a long drag from her pipe, Koharu exhaled a large plume of smoke as she added, "Yokai are afforded no such mercy. Instead, we are forced to pay 'penance' for each human life we harmed before our exorcism and sealing. If people discover and willfully pray to our statues, the duration of our penance can be reduced. However, many of us are serving terms exceeding tens of thousands of years. Unless we demonstrate a sincere desire to repent by willfully serving others, we are forced to spend our days having our minds and bodies ripped apart by people like your little friend over there..."
Furrowing her brows, Benienma asserted, "You have no one to blame but yourself for your crimes. Do not attempt to deceive our Master into pitying you."
Looking up at Thomas, Benienma revealed, "The reason yokai are given such lengthy sentences is because they retain their memories and egos between incarnations. If they allowed themselves to be purified and their memories erased, they could reincarnate whenever they wanted. In other words, they 'choose' to suffer, clinging to the power they stole in order to become lesser deities once their karma has been balanced..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Koharu maintained a relaxed smile as she replied, "She's right. And that's why Goshujin will be providing a great service to anyone who works here. Hell is a bureaucracy where money, specifically gold, can buy you just about anything. It can even reduce your sentence, so manifesting in the mortal world is an opportunity all yokai are desperate to receive. If we can find a 'benefactor' willing to pay our debts, we can be free overnight..."
Out of curiosity, Thomas asked, "And how much gold would it cost to free you from your penance...?"
Not expecting Thomas's question, Koharu's ears and tails twitched, her yellow eyes gaining a fiery glow as she replied, "A kilogram of gold can shave approximately 25 years from a yokai's sentence. If Goshujin were generous enough to confer us 1300kgs of gold, we would happily serve your nine generations as a Kamidana..."
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "I can't give it to you now, but if you don't cause me too much trouble over the next 4-5 years, I'll consider it. It's a considerable sum of money, but once I achieve my goal of standing at the peak, I should have more than enough to free you."
While Koharu's expression looked like she wanted to pounce on Thomas then and there, Benienam exhaled a sigh at his side, remarking, "Master is too kind..." in a faint, nearly inaudible tone. She didn't think it was fair that some sinners could receive pardons using their appearance to guile men or women into settling their debts. However, it was a policy implemented by her mother and approved by her venerable Chichiue, so Benienma had no choice but to accept it...
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After conversing for a few minutes longer, Thomas, followed closely by Koharu, entered a room with a large, blood red, and incredibly complex magic circle inscribed on the floor. Just looking at it caused him to feel like he was going to be sucked inside. Fortunately, a ring of lit candles formed a magical barrier around the perimeter, keeping outsiders from falling in while preventing anything summoned from breaking out.
Interrupting Thomas's reverie, Benienma revealed, "This is a summoning circle known as 'Desire Samsara.' Using your blood as a catalyst, you need only express your desire, and it will provide a suitable candidate. If there is something about their appearance or personality that does not suit your preferences, you can dismiss them at your leisure..."
Realizing there was a possibility that Thomas would turn down certain types of women, Benienma looked up at him, advising, "Please do not make any hasty decisions based solely on appearances. The clientele in Hell are 'expected' to torture and treat sinners terribly, so you would be providing relief to anyone fortunate enough to appear..."
Understanding what Benienma was trying to convey, the expectant look on Thomas's face morphed into a frown. He wasn't surprised to learn that Hell was a fucked up place(obviously), but the notion of hiring yokai that looked like children to protect them seemed so...he didn't even have the words to describe it...
Shaking his head, Thomas suppressed his apprehensions and said, "Fine. But I don't want to see them serving guests in an amoral capacity. I don't care if they're hundreds or thousands of years old...if they can't at least assume a mature form, they'll be stuck cleaning the baths or helping out in the kitchen..."
Nodding her head, Benienma replied, "So it shall be." At the same time, though Thomas wouldn't find out about it until later, the board within the lobby updated to reflect the updated rule/prohibition. After that, Thomas began a 'very' long summoning session, starting with a young but not 'too young' kitsune girl with golden-blonde hair and a single fluffy tail. Yokai of differing species rarely got along with each other, so the person selected to serve as Koharu's attendant/junior was naturally another kitsune...
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After an exhausting afternoon, Thomas politely refused Koharu's invitation to help him 'cut loose' and instead descended the lift to check on Vivi and the rest. As much as he wanted to go to town on Koharu's human form, he wasn't exactly hurting for female companionship. Their time would come; of that, Thomas was absolutely certain. It just wasn't right then and there.
On their way down to the bottom level of the Enma-tei, Benienma tugged Thomas's sleeve, softly reminding him, "You haven't asked me about the disappearance of my verbal tick..."
Adopting a wry smile, Thomas asked, "Mind telling me? I'm guessing it had something to do with the appearance of your mom..."
Instead of answering Thomas with words, Benienma surprised him by removing the sparrow seated atop her head, an action that was 'taboo' previously. Then, while hugging it to her chest, she adopted a faint smile and explained, "I believe you were already aware of it, but this little one 'was' my true self. My human form was gifted to me by my Chichiue, who took pity on my circumstances. After my recent promotion, my spiritual power increased enough that I was able to transfer my consciousness to this body. Now, I no longer have to use my Ventriloquism(EX) to make it appear as though I'm speaking from my human mouth..."
Squatting down, Benienma placed the round sparrow gently on the ground, patting its head as it stared up at her with its emotionless red eyes. When she stood back up, a ruddy hue spread through her cheeks as she added, "I can't sustain it for more than a few minutes right now, but I can also do this..."
Following her words, Benienma's height began to increase as her body 'swelled' ever so slightly. She didn't become a buxom beauty on the level of Vivi and Caenis, but she appeared markedly older as she asked, "Is this enough for Master to let me wash his back...?"
As he was expecting Benienma to propose something far more 'intimate,' Thomas couldn't help smiling as he extended his hand to caress the petite sparrow's head, replying, "After all the help you've provided, I would have to be a pretty massive dick to say no..."
Inhaling deeply, the first 'noticeable' breath Thomas had ever seen her take, Benienma's eyes were practically sparkling as she said, "Thank you so much! Beni&mdash;I mean, I promise to do my very best...!"
Exhaling a light chuckle, Thomas continued to caress Benienma's head as he softly replied, "I know you will..."
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(A/N: Benienma is such a hard worker (O w O)...)

As Benienma was aware of the location of everyone within the Enma-tei, she guided Thomas directly to Vivi's location. Unfortunately, she and most of the other girls were relaxing in a hot spring on the ground floor. It was a communal facility with a mixed-bathing policy, but Thomas decided to wait outside, relaxing with his eyes closed as Benienma voluntarily gave him a foot massage.
Around twenty minutes after Thomas began waiting, Vivi, Nami, Chloe, Illya, and Ruby emerged from the bath wearing yukatas provided by the Enma-tei. When they spotted him waiting nearby, Chloe immediately adopted a teasing smile, asking, "How long have you been waiting out here? You know it's a mixed facility, right?"
Before Thomas could respond, Nami furrowed her brows and answered, "Because, even if he's a pervert, he isn't a complete idiot."
"..."
Resisting the urge to argue, Thomas asked, "How was the bath? And have you used any of the other facilities...?"
Adopting a radiant smile, Vivi happily replied, "This place is amazing! The design of the rooms is a little odd, but I haven't felt this relaxed in years."
Nodding her head, Nami added, "Before we took a bath, we had our nails done and hit up a massage parlor on the second floor. Now, we're about to grab a late lunch before checking out some of the other facilities listed on the map."
"Then that's perfect," replied Thomas, adding, "The Tenno(Imperial) Suite on the top floor has a banquet hall, a gallery, and several guest rooms. I had Beni assign each of you 'exalted' status, so feel free to claim one of the rooms as a permanent residence if you want. When we establish other Enma-tei in the future, you'll be able to access the suite and your private rooms from any of them."
Though Thomas's words sounded nonsensical to Vivi and Nami, Chloe, Illya, and Ruby took them in stride, the latter eagerly questioning, "Does that include me? If so, I'll finally have a private atelier to mix and brew potions~!"
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "I originally had you staying with Illya, but I don't mind you claiming another room. Just don't blow anything up..."
Puffing up pridefully, Ruby asserted, "Nonsense! Despite my appearance, I happen to be one of the greatest alchemists in the world! You've nothing to worry about~!"
Resisting the urge to comment, Thomas returned to the original topic, suggesting, "Why don't the five of you make your way up to the suite and get settled? After that, Beni can introduce you to Koharu before explaining some of the unwritten rules not listed on the bulletin board out front. As impressive as the Enma-tei and its facilities are, it's still linked to Hell. Not everything is as pleasant as it appears on the surface..."
Crossing her arms, Nami remarked, "Way to kill the mood..." with half-lidded eyes.
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas justified his actions, stating, "As much as you annoy me, I don't want anything bad to happen to you."
Without waiting for Nami's retort/response, Thomas directed his gaze to Benienma, stating, "Look after them for me," as he extended his hand to caress the petite sparrow's head. His actions earned him a mischievous leer from Chloe, but he ultimately ignored her, parting from the group to meet up with Caenis and Atalanta before leaving the Enma-tei to explain the situation to Usopp and locate the remaining Straw Hats...
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With Atalanta choosing to remain indoors due to the heavy snowfall, Thomas and Caenis bounded over to the Going Merry to find Usopp shivering within the galley/lounge. He had the stove turned on, but the interior temperature was still freezing since it was close to -70 degrees outside, and the Merry wasn't particularly well-insulated.
Seeing Thomas enter the lounge, Usopp stammered, "W-w-w-welcome back, Tom. Did you come here to help me watch over the M-m-m-merry?"
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "Not exactly. I wanted to tell you that the Merry would be fine and convince you to come and rest at the Enma-tei. I know you feel obligated to protect this ship, as it was a gift from Kaya, but she wouldn't want to see you like this."
Hearing the first half of Thomas's words, Usopp opened his mouth as if to argue. When he heard the latter half, however, he found himself at a loss for words, easily able to imagine Kaya chastizing him for putting himself in danger.
While Usopp was at a loss, Thomas spread his Magical Energy out like a warm pulse, bringing the interior of the cabin up to a cool but comparably balmy 4 degrees. Afterward, he took a seat across from Usopp, revealing, "You remind me of my past self, albeit a lot more...animated."
Raising his brows, Usopp asked, "Where's this coming from? Is it because you're about to leave the crew...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas asserted, "I'm not leaving. Not in the truest sense. I'm just going to be following a different path for a while. Meeting Vivi changed my perspective on a lot of things. Manifesting the Enma-tei affected them even further. Now, I just want to gather information, enjoy my life, and help as many people as possible..."
Regaining a wry smile, Thomas added, "No offense, but sharing a cabin with other guys and sleeping in a hammock aren't exactly my idea of fun. Especially when I have several people who would like to share a bed with me..."
Exhaling through his inordinately long nose, Usopp remarked, "That's one of the things I'll never understand about you, Tom. Haven't you heard the saying that a real man only needs one good woman?"
Though he was tempted to retort that there weren't a lot of good women, Thomas shrugged his shoulders and replied, "You're right. If someone like Vivi were to ask me to settle down, I would consider it. Until then, I intend to live my life freely and satisfy my curiosity."
Rising to his feet, Thomas added, "If you haven't noticed it yet, a massive bathhouse popped up on the shore. If you mention it to the staff, they will check you into a room with a balcony overlooking Merry. Sitting inside like this isn't going to prevent the Merry from freezing over or getting stuck in the ice."
Without waiting for Usopp to respond, Thomas stepped outside to rejoin Caenis. The moment he opened the door, a rush of cold wind entered the cabin, replacing the warmth that had pervaded it in his presence. Shortly after that, albeit after he and Caenis left, Usopp reluctantly left the Merry to warm his body within the Enma-tei...
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Though the blizzard was getting progressively worse over time, Thomas found the whistling wind and tempestuous snow strangely 'beautiful.' He would probably have a different opinion if not for the warm barrier veiling both himself and Caenis, but being able to walk casually through a storm without feeling its effects made him feel...powerful.
After passing through several snowed-in towns and villages, Thomas and Caenis found themselves in a village called Gyasta. Most of the buildings had been buried beneath the ever-deepening snow, but, as such blizzards were fairly common in the area, spire-like chutes could be seen poking up through the snow like the tops of evergreen trees. It was a peculiar sight to behold, but it was also a testament to how 'adaptive' the people of the Grand Line could be.
Passing through Gyasta, Thomas and Caenis eventually found themselves at the base of a massive tree. Unlike the evergreens in the surroundings, it resembled a giant ash tree, a deciduous tree typically only found in cool to moderate climates. Such trees weren't suited to snowy climates, but, as if to spite this notion, this particular tree grew taller and broader than every other tree in the area. Large enough to hollow out and construct a three-story house within its trunk...
Before Thomas could begin to melt the snow around the tree's base, a snowy eruption occurred as Lucy burst out of the snow, shouting, "It's Tom and Caenis~!"
Darting past Lucy, Astolfo, as usual, leaped at Thomas, burying her face into his chest. At the same time, a woman with a remarkably curvaceous body but the face of an old crone appeared from the clearing Lucy had created, shouting, "Get back inside before you idiots freeze to death...!"
Spotting Thomas and Caenis, the old woman's brows perked up as she remarked, "Oh, great. Two more idiots have appeared..."
As Caenis was wearing an outfit more suited to sunbathing than walking through the snow, she stood out like a sore thumb. Thomas at least had on a thick winter coat, giving him an almost bear-like appearance due to his height and the breadth of his shoulders.
Responding to the old woman's words, Lucy firmly asserted, "Tom isn't an idiot! He and Caenis are my friends...!"
Though she had on sunglasses, the old woman gave the impression she had rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms and said, "Yeah, yeah. Now, stop blathering, get inside, and close the door. This blizzard is only going to get worse before sunrise."
As he was curious to see what Chopper looked like in his current setting, Thomas picked up Astolfo in a princess carry, encouraging the others to follow him inside as he made his way into the surprisingly warm abode. It didn't have a hearth or any visible heat sources, but the tree's interior was at least 20 degrees.
Instead of focusing on the temperature, Thomas's eyes zeroed in on the tiny fur-covered creature 'hiding' behind a desk. It was around 90cm tall and had antlers that looked like the individual branches had been fused, making a u-shape. It also had large circular eyes, a distinctly blue nose, and two-pronged hooves for its hands and feet. More notably, it had on a pair of maroon shorts and a fuzzy pink top hat with a tilted medical cross on its front, resembling an x.
Though Thomas was 'really' curious to know how the little furball was able to get its antlers through the hat it was wearing, the first thing he said was, "If you're going to hide, you should focus on concealing your body..."
Like in the anime/manga, the tiny furball, Tony Tony Chopper, was lacking in common sense and terrible at concealment. When Lucy burst out of the tree above, he immediately attempted to hide. However, instead of hiding properly, he hid just a small part of his face behind the desk while the rest of his body stuck out, effectively drawing attention rather than avoiding it.
Demonstrating he hadn't fully opened up to Lucy and Astolfo, Chopper shouted, "I-I wasn't hiding! I just thought I saw a termite on the desk and wanted to get a closer look at it...!"
Smiling wryly, Thomas set Astolfo on her own two feet, patting her head as he stated, "My name is Thomas, though you can just call me Tom. It's nice to meet you."
"Eh...?"
Tilting his head to the side, Chopper asked, "You don't think I'm weird or some kind of evil monster...?"
While the elderly woman, Dr. Kureha, stared at him with narrowed eyes, Thomas shook his head and replied, "Not really. You look more like a stuffed animal than an evil creature in your current form. Besides, once you reach the second half of the Grand Line, you'll find plenty of people with animalistic traits. There is even an entire tribe of anthropomorphic animals known as the Mink. If I didn't know your appearance was the result of eating a Devil Fruit, I would have assumed you originated from the country of Zou."
Opening his already round eyes even further, Chopper exclaimed, "Is that true!? Is there really a whole tribe of people that look like me...!?"
Answering in Thomas's stead, Kureha replied, "Indeed. The real question is, how did this brat learn about them? While Minks aren't uncommon, the existence of Zou borders on mythical. Most people don't even consider it to be a real place..."
Inserting herself into the dialogue, Lucy adopted a massive grin as she said, "See! What did I tell you? If you come with us, you're guaranteed to meet lots of interesting people and have a ton of fun!"
Though he had been refusing until now, Chopper's expression revealed his internal conflict as he looked between Lucy and Dr. Kureha. His dream was to become a Pirate and cure every disease, but he had never set sail because of his deep mistrust of humans. He assumed he would be treated like a monster everywhere he went, but if there were others like him in the second half of the Grand Line, he 'really' wanted to meet them...
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(A/N: Thomas just needs to show Chopper a picture of a Reindeer Mink...)
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While everyone else stared up at the massive building in shock, Benienma had a proud, almost smug look on her face as she crossed her arms and puffed out her chest. She had been waiting to demonstrate the splendors of the Enma-tei from the moment Thomas first summoned her, so she was happy to have finally been given the opportunity.
Just as Benienma was about to urge everyone into the front lobby, the doors to the Enma-tei opened to reveal someone she hadn't expected to encounter. The smile on her face immediately vanished as she surprised everyone present by muttering, "Hahaue(Honorable Mother)..." in a sober tone.
Despite standing a mere 149cm tall, the woman Benienma had addressed as 'mother' exuded equal parts femininity, regality, and 'menace.' She had bone-white hair styled in a complex oiran hairstyle, a complexion akin to fine porcelain, and piercing golden eyes that could give a snake a run for their money. Her outfit consisted of an ornate crow-themed headdress, while her body was garbed in a predominately white jūnihitoe-style dress with crimson trim, accented by black and gold feathers.
Instead of acknowledging Benienma's words, the petite woman directed her gaze at Thomas, freezing him in place as she adopted a sly smile and said, "You're quite the generous man, entrusting such a large sum of gold to this one's daughter. Tell us, what is it you 'desire'...?"
Without conscious thought, Thomas opened his mouth, his voice a lazy monotone as he answered, "I want to stand at the pinnacle of everything. I don't want to be ordinary..."
Narrowing her eyes in amusement, the woman mused, "And ambitious to boot..."
Directing her gaze to Benienma, the woman's expression became severe as she revealed, "Due to the size of your offering, His Majesty, King Enma, has bestowed you the rank of Oo-okami(Grand Proprietress). Continue to work hard, and serve your Danna well..."
Finished with what she had to say, the white-haired woman briefly eyed everyone present before settling her gaze on Thomas. As she did so, her body abruptly dispersed into a murder of shadowy ravens, disappearing moments later.
Feeling as though a tremendous weight had been removed from their bodies, Thomas, Nami, Vivi, and Illya exhaled the breaths they didn't even notice they were holding. The woman that had appeared was Datsue-ba, one of the very first denizens of Hell and King Enma's wife. She was the second-highest-ranking Oni in Buddhist Folklore, Benienma's adoptive mother, and the woman considered to be the origin of the Japanese term for 'money grubber.' More importantly, she was 'very' powerful...
Needing to vent her frustration, Caenis manifested her spear and threw it toward the horizon as she shouted, "Fuck...!" at the top of her lungs. Since the Enma-tei was considered a 'Domain of Hell,' the power and abilities of Spirits were drastically reduced. This was especially true for Spirits whose 'origins' stemmed from a foreign Pantheon, so Caenis had effectively been reduced to a mortal in Datsue-ba's presence.
Looking at Thomas with crimson eyes, Caenis growled, "You need to give me permission to use my power on the Enma-tei's grounds! Right fucking now...!"
Raising his hands, Thomas replied, "You have my permission..." without hesitation.
Exhaling a frustrated sigh, the crimson hue gradually faded from Caenis's eyes as she responded, "Good..." in an uncharacteristically faint tone. She hated feeling powerless more than anything, but she also recognized she might have gone overboard by 'snapping' at Thomas. She would never say sorry, but she at least 'felt' apologetic.
As he had gotten pretty good at ascertaining Caenis's thoughts, Thomas lowered his hands, adopting a faint smile as he suggested, "Shall we head inside...?" Trying to console Caenis would have the opposite effect, so he chose to change topics and divert everyone's attention away from her.
Recovering from the shock of her mother's appearance and sudden promotion, Benienma perked up and replied, "Allow me to show you the way, dechi...!"
Though she could ordinarily move faster than the eye could see, the default rules of the Enma-tei limited Benienma's running speed to that of an ordinary human child. As a result, she appeared to scamper forward excitedly, passing through the entrance of the Enma-tei before turning around and dropping to her knees, sitting in seiza with an expectant smile on her face.
Suppressing his 'many' questions, Thomas's smile broadened as he led the group into the Enma-tei. The interior was spacious enough that even someone of Whitebeard's stature would be able to wander around freely, but the first thing everyone noticed was the statue of a fat, happy-looking sparrow and a large bulletin board listing various rules.
Bowing forward and placing the tips of her index and middle fingers together, Benienma's voice was calm, level, and courteous as she said, "Welcome, esteemed guests. Though we ask that you follow the rules, please make yourselves at home."
Removing his boots, Thomas donned one of the many pairs of getta-like slippers present. The interior of the lobby was divided into two parts, an area of low-lying ties and an elevated region of highly-varnished wood. To step on the latter, guests had to remove their shoes, don a pair of sandals or walk around in their socks. Barefoot was also an option, but there was a notice on the board advising against it.
Following Thomas's example, everyone but Caenis removed their shoes and donned a pair of sandals. Fortunately, she didn't attempt to enter the elevated region in her metal greaves. Instead, she changed into her usual black bikini top and blue jean shorts, leaving her feet bare. The interior of the Enma-tei was very warm and cozy, so she felt completely comfortable while everyone else was starting to feel hot in their thick winter clothing.
Borrowing a page out of Caenis's book, Nami promptly removed her coat, inciting everyone else to do the same. Once they were finished, Benienma clapped her hands together and stated, "There are rooms nearby where you will be able to change into the attire you will wear for the duration of your stay. Please, follow my attendants..."
In response to Benienma's clap, the mouth of the sparrow statue opened to reveal a purple vortex that caused Thomas, Nami, Vivi, Illya, and even Chloe to feel incredibly unnerved. At least, that was their impression until a group of incredibly fat sparrows wearing different colored aprons rolled out of it, bouncing as they hit the ground.
Following the initial nine, a veritable waterfall of sparrows, similar to the one sitting on Benienma's head, rolled out of the statue's mouth. Some wore little outfits that made them look more 'official,' but the vast majority were naked as they quickly dispersed, presumably spreading throughout the Enma-tei while their larger and chubbier counterparts flittered over to Thomas's group.
Seeing the confusion on everyone's faces, Benienma revealed, "These little ones are Gokan, Shinkou, Shokou, Soutei, Henjou, Taizan, Byoudou, Toshi, and Godou-Tenrin. Together, we make the 'Ten Best Sparrows,' an elite group of yokai that serve the Ten Kings of Hell. Since Master has yet to summon any other attendants, they will assist you in checking into your rooms and familiarizing you with our many facilities."
Before the others could say anything, Thomas, no longer able to suppress the urge, asked, "What happened to your verbal tick?"
Bringing her hands to her face, a faint blush colored Benienma's cheeks as she replied, "Please ask me again when we're alone..."
"..."
Taking advantage of Thomas's silence, Chloe whispered, "Lolicon..." in a teasing tone. Her comment gave Thomas the urge to smack her, but she quickly departed, escorted by a chubby sparrow wearing a purple apron...
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Once everyone else had split off to check into their rooms, Thomas got on a lift that carried him a Beni up a total of sixteen levels, each at least 10m from floor to ceiling. Above that were two more levels, forming a massive private bath and several private rooms, so, if he included the sloped, red-tile roof and the giant horns protruding from the top, Thomas speculated the Enma-tei to be at least 200m in height.
Never imagining that he would own a skyscraper-sized ryokan, Thomas was a little muddleheaded as Benienma shepherded him to the massive chamber that would serve as his private quarters. Within was a bed that could easily contain a dozen people sleeping side-by-side, but the thing that dominated Thomas's attention was the voluptuous woman lounging off to the side, staring at him while smoking from a long and ornate pipe.
While the woman's yellow eyes and purple hair possessed an allure that made them impossible not to notice, the things that really drew Thomas's were the vulpine ears protruding from her head and the nine tails she was using as cushions to support her posture. She also had a pair of massive tits and tantalizingly plump thighs, readily apparent beneath her loose red kimono, but Thomas had gotten better about gawking, managing to avoid staring directly at either.
Breaking Thomas from his trance, Benienma flatly remarked, "Don't let her appearance fool you. Kitsune always adopt the form most closely attuned to their prey's preferences. As the Shujin-okami, you need not fear anyone in your employ. However, if you succumb to her allure, you may develop a dependency on her."
Exhaling a plume of smoke that took on the shape of a heart, the purple-haired kitsune practically purred, "Don't be like that, Oo-okami-sama. As the Okami of the Central Branch, don't you think it's appropriate that our Goshujin-sama rely on me at least a little~? After all, we live to serve his every need and desire..."
Ignoring the kitsune's remark, Benienma looked up at Thomas and said, "You need to bind her with a name before she gets too out of hand. After that, I will show you how to summon additional servants and employees. This branch of the Enma-tei has 163 individual rooms and baths, sixteen kitchens, three communal facilities, nineteen banquet halls, and a theater. The Hell Sparrows can handle the menial labor, but we need at least one attendant for every private room."
Inserting herself into the conversation, the purple-haired kitsune said, "We also need a personal attendant to train as our junior. As we are also charged with 'guarding' Goshujin's bedchamber, we'll need someone to manage the Enma-tei and its personnel while we're indisposed..."
Raising his brows, Thomas questioned, "Why would you need to 'guard' my bedchamber?"
Answering in the kitsune's stead, Benienma revealed, "The waters of the Enma-tei serve as boundaries between the mortal world and Hell. Certain kinds of yokai can cross over these boundaries, and they have a penchant for possessing humans to feast on their psyches. That's why it's important to have an attendant assigned to each room. They serve as eyes and ears to prevent any 'strays' from doing as they please..."
Nodding her head, the purple-haired kitsune added, "And we have the duty of exorcising or devouring any who appear. We hold the rank of myobu, so your chambers serve as consecrated ground so long as we're 'enshrined' within."
As he had no idea what a myobu was, Thomas exhaled a tired sigh before shaking his head and asking, "Are you fine with any name...?"
Adopting a naturally seductive smile, the purple-haired kitsune replied, "We would be honored by any name our Goshujin gives us, so long as he also calls us his..."
Interrupting before Thomas could speak, Benienma warned, "Be careful. She is attempting to bind you with a secondary contract to afford herself greater freedom. Any yokai that enters into Master's service through the utilization of my Skill is currently serving penance in Hell. Even if you skin her alive, boil her, and serve her to the guests, she will neither die nor will the weight of your sins increase. If you go easy on her just because of her appearance, you will be affording her mercy she had yet to earn..."
Clicking her tongue, the purple-haired kitsune averted her eyes from both Thomas and Benienma. She was currently serving a 32,418-year sentence for impersonating Inari, the Goddess of Foxes, Fertility, and Rice. She had used that status to devour the spiritual energies of more than a thousand men, so she was fated to serve others in increments of 32 years until her karmic deficit was balanced. Then she could become a true, albeit lesser, Goddess.
Crossing his arms, Thomas tried to recall the names of a few famous fox girls from his previous life before garnering the purple-haired kitsune's attention as he asked, "How about Senko? Or maybe Holo...?"
Regaining her alluring smile, the purple-haired kitsune replied, "Either is fine by us. It is ultimately Goshujin's decision to make. Even if he were to name us Gomi(trash), we would cherish it."
Though he had no idea what Gomi meant, Thomas got the impression it was something profane or inappropriate. Thus, after several additional moments of deliberation, he said, "Then let's go with Koharu. You remind me of a nine-tailed fox woman named Kohakuren, but I'd like to give you something more unique. I'm not entirely sure what it means, but it sounds nice enough."
Narrowing her eyes in amusement, Koharu replied, "It means Small Heart or Late Summer. It's also surprisingly close to our true name, so we would be happy to receive it, and anything else our Goshujin deems appropriate to give..."
Moving her right leg in a way that gave the tiniest glimpse of her panties, Koharu made it clear she was prepared to serve Thomas in any capacity. What she didn't expect was for him to directly request, "Can you show me your true form? I'm curious..."
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(A/N: (O w O)...)

Chapter 72: Hellish Nature