“You had no right to interfere!” Crayford shouted at Claire. His eyes were red and slightly swollen. “This was a matter between him and me!”

“B…but Master! He was stepping on you! He was ridiculing you!” Claire’s voice trembled in fright, but she rigorously defended herself.

After Sora left, she was completely stunned by what Sora said. She did not understand in the slightest what had happened. Before she could even analyse the situation Crayford began scolding her. She did not expect Crayford would be angry with her.

“SO?” Crayford sneered back. “Did you consider the possibility he was merely testing me!”

Claire was stunned – she did not consider that possibility. On the surface she (and the other three warriors) accepted Sora as Crayford’s master to appease Crayfrod. However, in reality she only viewed Sora as a lustful and evil skeleton warrior. It was because of her preconceived notion she was already biased in her thinking and never considered the option that Sora was simply testing her Master. After all, aren’t all monsters evil? Why would they ever test someone?

Claire hung her head low in shame –interfering was her mistake. “But isn’t it too cruel for a test; to humiliate someone like that?” She asked while breaking up into tears. “Shouldn’t Master reserve a shred of his dignity….you are the greatest genius of the Vallione continent! A council member of the Alliance and the King of Alberta! To readily accept such ridicule…Claire cannot accept it! What is so good about that monster that Master is willing to submit himself to him? What power do you need to borrow that Claire cannot give? Claire is far stronger than that weak skeleton!”

“Can Claire assure me victory against the Empire?” Crayford asked in a dark and serious tone. “Can Claire promise me, with her power we will win over the Empire? Can Claire promise to avenge my wife and child?”

Claire hesitated to answer. She knew that this was something she couldn’t promise him. She was well aware of the limits of her own strength. She would be lying (and Crayford would know she is lying) if she said that her power would be enough.

Seeing no response, Crayford aggressively asked, “To borrow even a fraction of his strength…to have any hope of winning against the Empire, I am more than willing to submit to him. Do you understand?”

“No!” Claire responded with a pout. “Master is too esteemed and great! If Master falls to someone else….it will destroy Claire’s image of Master! Master is Claire’s everything! And so if Claire can help even a little, she will willingly sacrifice herself for Master!” She declared firmly with her eyes now brimming with tears.

“Gah!” Crayford cried out as he gave up on using logic with Claire. “Stupid girl, do you even know whom you are involving yourself with?” Crayford asked as he assumed a more irritated tone with Claire. “Now that he has set his eyes on you, you will be reduced to nothing more than an animal circus to amuse him.”

“Claire will be okay! No lustful monster can hurt Claire!”

“Lustful?” Crayford asked with confusion. “That person doesn’t have a single inkling of interest in women. He is only interested in absolute power and dominating over other people. He enjoys making people into his slaves! He is more terrifying than you can ever imagine!” Crayford’s voice was charged with emotion and despair – as though he had personally experienced Sora’s terror.

It was now Claire’s turn to be confused – the skeleton was pretending to be lustful? Could it be that I am mistaken? Or has Master not noticed…

***

“Make preparations to leave.” Sora instructed as he walked past the three warriors who remained silent spectators to the entire drama – of Sora stepping on their begging Master’s head.

Tulda beefed up his chest and clenched his fist in anger seeing Sora approach them – as if to say who do you consider yourself to be that you can order us around! However, he was refrained from acting out violently by the sensible and level headed Boze.

Boze had been paying attention to Crayford scolding Claire – although he didn’t approve of his Master begging the skeleton and then willingly accepting the ridicule, he understood this much that the skeleton was important for Crayford’s vengeance. If this meant that they too had to have their head stepped on, he would accept it.

“Do as he says for now!” Boze whispered under his breath. “Master will be unhappy if we do anything to annoy the skeleton.”

Tulda ground his teeth in anger and swore silently. One day I will make you pay for humiliating Master.

Sora looked around oblivious to the tension in the air. He glanced as though he was searching for something. That’s strange….where did my minions go?

***

“Any stupid goblins here?” Sora called out as he roamed across the empty streets of the fifth floor.

Where have they all gone?

Sora’s consciousness flooded the fifth floor like a tsunami, as he scanned the entire floor for any signs of life.

Annoying hiding idiots….wasting my precious time….

After walking along the zigzag streets of the fifth floor for a few minutes, Sora found himself in front of a massive spire.

“I am only going to say this once. Come out or I will make you regret it.”

In an instant, several hundred goblins came running out of the cave entrance of the spire. They immediately prostrated themselves on the ground before Sora.

“F…Forgive us great benevolent almighty!” They stuttered in fear. Normally, monsters would address gatekeepers by name or simply as ‘Gatekeepers’ or ‘Lords’. However, Sora took all the monsters, of the fifth floor, through a crash course of etiquettes. Sora’s intense ‘teachings’ left a deep impact on the minds of the monsters – which is why they were very obedient when they attacked Crayford’s party in waves. Those monsters which had been killed were considered amongst the luckier ones by the remaining survivors as those who died were not part of the full-time etiquette course which ran for a duration of six days. This ‘coincidently’ overlapped with the time when Crayford’s party was stuck on the fourth floor for six days and Sora had nothing better to do.

Sora stood proudly, with his arms crossed, as he inspected the goblins prostrating in front of him with disdain. “Looks like my training was not effective enough…” He muttered to himself.

Hearing Sora’s words, the already terrorized goblins felt their inwards churn in horror.

“Oh! Generous Almighty, why do you grace our humble abode! We would have heeded your summon at once!” The goblin bowed (kowtowed) in front of the pack spoke.

“Well…I came to say good bye….” Sora answered.

“Goodbye?” The goblin squeaked in delight. The goblin trembled in excitement while maintaining his kneeling-bowing posture.

Even the other goblins were struggling to contain their excitement; with their ears twitching in excitement. At long last they would be freed of this terrifying tyrannical monster. Even though he was the gatekeeper for a mere nine days, Sora left a deep ‘scarring’ impression on them. Gatekeepers come and go but even someone as the even unchanging floor master didn’t leave such a strong impression on the monsters of the fifth floor.

“You sound happy?” Sora asked contemptuously.

“You are mistaken, peerless Almighty!” The leader goblin hastily replied in alarm.

“I am mistaken?” Sora assumed an arrogant tone – how could your God be mistaken?

“No!!” The leader goblin cried out in greater panic over his folly. “How can the flawless Almighty, ever be mistaken!”

“Oh…”

“Unfortunately, we lowly monsters have pitiful voices that can neither express happiness nor sadness with any difference. In our hearts, we are bereaved by the news of your departure, sacred Amighty! No one here disagrees with me…”

Hearing their leader asking for their opinion, the other goblins vigorously nodded their green skulls in agreement.

“It is a stab to us in the heart!” The leader continued.

“Is that so?” Sora asked thoughtfully.

All the goblins nodded their tiny green skulls, once again, vigorously.

“Soka…you all will be very saddened by my departure…”

Lots of nodding.

“You all worship me so much; you can’t bear to be apart from me.”

Lots more strong nodding but an ambiguous hesitation began building up in the minds of the goblins…

“Then that settles it! I had initially planned on leaving you all behind. But seeing your dedication towards me has moved me. Feel honoured to know that you can cherish my presence longer! All of you will accompany me to the lower floors!” Sora declared.

:panda:

The goblins collapsed on the ground hearing this. They were all gripped with dread, terror and fear of having to serve Sora even longer.