Sora sighed; he felt as though he were taking on Watanuki’s role right now.Currently, Sora, the skeleton warrior was wearing a maid’s apron and sweeping the floor. He was being held responsible for destroying the entire room and breaking the celestial orb. Secretly, Sora was weeping. He knew nothing good would come from associating with this woman yet he went against his instincts. Sora was inwardly cursing himself – ‘Why? Why? Why? Why? Did I have to take the test…’

Sora took a deep breath; what he had experienced wasn’t too bad though. He knew immediately after seeing those dots of light that Mizuki hadn’t told him everything about mana and spirits. Either this was intentional or ignorance on Mizuki’s part

“Sora, you will be the gate keeper for the fifth floor.” Mizuki spoke as she lay on her tidied divan.

“Eh?” Sora barely reacted – too much in shock. Where the hell did she come up with that? “Not interested.”

“You will have to maintain order and discipline.” Mizuki began counting on her fingers. “Beat intruders and…” Mizuki seemed to be stuck on the last one.

“..Handle all administrative tasks!” Kuro happily shouted as he jumped up into the air.

“Which includes counting monster population, housing and food requirements, filing invoices, planning budget, attending council meetings, regularly reporting to the floor master….” Blanche spoke like a running train.

“Wait a minute! This is absolutely ridiculous! Why do monsters even need to fill invoices and plan budgets? Heck! I am not interested in anything of this! Don’t dump this one me!” Sora angrily shouted – they were already thinking of him as one of them…more like one of their servants.

“Then it is decided.” Mizuki said as she rested on the divan.

“Nothing is decided!” Sora shouted as he threw the broom on to the ground. In the first place, Sora had no idea why did he even agree to sweep the messy room?

Kuro and Blanche shot a cold stare at Sora, the moment the broom hit the floor.

Sora felt shivers running down his spine – he remembered the *many* experiences he had in the monster sewage…he was terrified. He certainly did not want to experience that anymore.

“Then, I shall take this matter as settled.” Mizuki replied with a smile. “Now, go get me some sake.”

“Don’t go about making decisions for me!” Sora complained. “There is something far more important that I need to do!”

“Like what?” Mizuki asked with curiosity.

“You know…save the world….isn’t that why a hero is summoned to another world?” Sora asked.

“Hohohoho….” Mizuki broke into her usual high pitched laughter.

“Nevermind…” Sora replied – he just made a fool out of himself. However, wasn’t that reply more appropriate than saying ‘I have lost my *precious*, and I think it is being *exploited* by a *saggy wart infested hag*?

Mizuki wiped away a tear on the corner of her eye as she finally calmed down. “Sora, you must certainly, give up on that idea of being the blessed child of the star.” She said.

That wasn’t a reply Sora was expecting – he never once considered himself as the blessed child of the star but he never denied himself the possibility that he could be ‘the one’. Being told that it couldn’t be him made Sora want to be him – reverse psyche?

“Why?” Sora bluntly asked – half in curiosity, half in anger.

“Because only those untouched by ‘Malice’ (Author note: the evil mana) meet the criteria for becoming the blessed child.” Mizuki asked. “As you are you can never be the blessed child.”

“Then, why have I been ‘summoned’ here?” Sora asked angrily. Sora knew he hadn’t been summoned here, but for the sake for ‘game play’ dynamics he had to ask these questions – otherwise there was a chance he would draw up a blank reaction from Mizuki if he asked - what is the purpose of this game?

“I wouldn’t know that…” Mizuki replied.

Sora felt a moment of disappointment but recovered the moment he heard the next part.

“Though…I can do a divination for you.” Mizuki offered.

Sora looked at Mizuki doubtfully – what could she be up to now? Sora didn’t believe in mumbo-jumbo things like divination in real life but would still get them done for an ego boost however in a game a divination can work out to be something very favourable. In Royal Road, if one met the correction person then they could be guided towards the correct profession or a valuable weapon. Sora believed that Mizuki doesn’t always casually offer divination readings…so he needed to confirm this…

“And you are doing this for free?” Sora asked her full of suspicion. He treated her guilty till proven innocent.

“I haven’t asked anything yet, have I?”

“And you won’t do so in the future?” Sora double checked.

“I am curious just as you are, about what the future holds for you. This is only basic divination – I am not an expert. Also, I cannot see the future but can read one of the many possible outcomes. So, whatever I read may never happen. There is also a great chance that this divination may leave you with more questions than answers.” Mizuki truthfully replied.

“Okay!” Sora replied as he finished checking her words for double meanings – you can never be to sure with her.

“Show me, both your palms.” Mizuki said as she sat up and took out reading glasses from her cleavage – ‘seriously what all does she keep there?’

“You do realize I have no lines running on my palms…I don’t even have palms…All bones, see?” Sora said as he walked over to her and displayed his fingers bones.

“Yes…but it would be a mistake to think that divination requires lines on ones palm to read.” Mizuki replied as she stared up at Sora with a look that said – you really don’t want to act smart with me.

“Divination can be done for any creature, dead or alive. Evil or good. As long as they exist in this plane, it can be done.” Mizuki continued as she held Sora’s hands and brought them closer.

Sora was in somewhat of a precarious situation – since he was standing and she was sitting, dressed flimsily as ever… “The valley sure is deep” Sora muttered to himself as he ‘tried’ to avert his gaze.

“You should cover yourself…” Sora spoke – whilst pretending to be a gentleman.

However, Mizuki paid no heed. Her face was pale and terrified.

Sora picked up something was not right.

Mizuki let go of Sora’s hands and then stared up at him. Her eyes were teary.

What had she seen, that made her cry?

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Author's note:

1. Despite being unwell, I forced myself to write. T_T now I am seriously going to go rest.

2. This chapter is dedicated to Mek!

3. Happy reading.

4. I just realized I posted wrong chapter's teaser. Meh, whatever.

5. Those who were on the chat, when I posted the spoiler - keep it to yourselves!