Chapter 507 (Patreon)

For some strange reason, the Viking didn’t believe me, he looked at me strangely for a moment, let out a laugh and pat me on the shoulder.

“Thank ya lad, been awhile since I’ve had someone get a laugh out of me like that.” Unnulf replied.

I just smiled wryly because I really couldn’t prove it to him, and maybe I even shouldn’t. For me, Gods weren’t some unreachable vestiges that I could only look up. Nor were they the subject of my worship and admiration like many people.

To most ‘mortals’ Gods were something spoke about, but not really a fact that you could point to.

They wouldn’t ever know if Odin just dropped in and stood next to them.

Maybe I could have proven myself wit an ample display of might, however…..we didn’t actually want to destroy all the ships. All the damage we’ve done so far, well, it could be repaired without too much hassle.

Regardless, the tide turned with our arrival rather quickly.

“Hey Old Man, how long have you been fighting these Fae?” I ducked under a blade, casually countering with a flick of my wrist and piercing ones neck.

The Viking head but one rather brutally, then bashed his head in with the hilt of his blade. “We don’t really keep track of time these days, lad.” He replied good naturedly, despite being soaked in blood. “But we got enough experience. These ones aren’t their best, seems like they sent out a group for their own training.”

Ah, that makes sense. They seemed a bit less experienced than they probably should be.

“I see.” I frowned, catching his meaning. “They’re treating you like a whetstone then?”

“Aye, that’s about right. Using us to sharpen their blades, that’s a good way to put it.” Though his face darkened. “Though they had a few of their stronger ones hiding.”

There was still enough fighting going on that it was going to take awhile to finish up even as the remainder of the ships came to assist and it became a much more chaotic fight.

And despite helping, Unnulf still kept a weary guard up against me.

I couldn’t fault him, how long had he been in the Fae Realm? It was only the smart thing to do to be cautious against anything and everything they come across.

“Give me a moment, I’ll end things.”

Unnulf merely lifted an eyebrow from below his helmet, very clearly skeptical.

My Reiatsu spread out, but I held back on using it to press down, which was more tiring and difficult than I imagined.

I could almost verify that they were all in fact human, despite the oddities in their existence here, and their different seeming origins.

But I didn’t focus on that, I felt every Fae in the vicinity when I focused. I can admit that my ability to sense people through my Spiritual Power was not up to par compared to the  likes of Yoruichi and the Shinigami due to them basically living in those conditions, but when focusing for several moments, I could manage somewhat.

Pinpoint their exact signatures, their location, their auras were remembered by me as I ran some mental calculations.

And I took a deep breath.

“Zun Haal Viik!”

The words bellowed out, overcoming all other noise, even shaking the boats, causing the waves we rested upon to kick up in response.

However, nearly every Fae in the vicinity had their weapons flying from their hands with such force that the vast majority landed into the ocean below.

Easily one of my favorite Dragon Shouts.

It was just so…. versatile.

However, I noticed a trickle of blood down my nose, which I quickly wiped away. A smidgen of a headache coming on from doing that just as well.

Hmm, I never pushed a Shout to that degree before, marking so many targets all at once with such precision.

“Well…..that’ll do it I suppose.” Unnulf muttered, sheathing his weapons.

Not every Fae lost their weapon, some I didn’t notice, or my use of the Dragon Words didn’t reach a high enough realm to precisely hit every single target. But out of the thousands present, 99% were now without their weapons and they were quickly overrun by the humans who attacked without hesitation. Especially with the Iron Weapons I gave out, it was a slaughter at this point.

My own ship along with the Youkai cut a blood swath through their end, slowly making their way towards where I was.

Gradually, this spot became the center of the ensuing conclusion of the fight. I was thankful that even the other people here didn’t seem intent on sinking the enemies’ ships. Well, there were a couple that erupted in flames, and suffered enough damage that they collapsed into themselves and slowly sank, but there were still about a dozen whole and healthy ships remaining.

My ships approached, anchoring right next to the Fae ship I was standing on.

It seemed like Unnulf was acting as an unofficial liaison as he stayed within reach of me as the ships from the human side approached, getting close enough that everyone could see each other.

Nurarihyon silently stepped to me song along with a good handful of the Youkai while most remained on the ship.

On the opposite end of the current ship we were standing on, many more joined at Unnulf’s side wearing all different sorts of clothes and armor.

They were understandably weary, but doubly so because it became rather obvious to them that our group wasn’t human.

Ancient Greeks, Europeans of various assortments, Japanese, Scandinavian. It was a whole small United Nations right here from different time periods.

Though the awkward silence made things difficult.

I gave them a once over and I revised my earlier assessment of them. They were far stronger than they realistically should be for ‘normal’ humans.

That is to say, yes Humans in earlier years were innately stronger, not just in my home but in my birth world. But just existing did not bring about this degree of strength. The average seemed to be about Mid-class in scope, but I noticed several High-Class among them.

Both sides were sizing each other up.

“At the risk of dragging this awkward atmosphere out, how about introductions?” I offered.

No one immediately stepped forward, so Unnulf spoke up. “At the least, they helped.”

They looked between themselves, a silent agreement it seemed.

“Aye, Unnulf speaks the truth.” Another viking, he seemed like their ‘leader’, spoke up in Unnulf’s defense.

“It’s not the first time they tried to gain our trust through despicable means. Let the Lord sort them out.” A Knight wearing a cross on his armor harumphed with a few nods of agreement.

“English?” I spoke up, looking at him. “I was in London a few weeks ago.” I smiled good naturedly, trying to ease the clear tension.

The Knight blinked in surprise. “…..you know of my homeland?” He muttered.

I also realized something, I perfectly understood them and it wasn’t because of my Devil Heritage. The way they spoke, they were all magically speaking fluently in a way that was understood.

I looked at the others. “Forgive me for guessing, but…” I pointed to another. “Italian? And Spanish? You….French?” Of course, there weren’t simply a handful of each nationality, and it took everything inside of me not to poke at the Frenchman.

That seemed to genuinely surprise them.

Ever so slightly, the weariness alleviated.

“To my friends in the back.” I looked at the handful of Samurai and few dozen soldiers wearing older style Japanese arms and armor. “I hail from Japan in the modern day, but I’m not quite sure what time period you come from. Perhaps you recognize Nippon, Nihon, Yamato?”

A flash of realization dawned on the Japanese people’s faces.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Wilhelm Henry Schweinorg.” I politely bowed. “I understand your weariness, but we mean you no harm. These are my companions.” I gestured to Nurarihyon.

“Surprised to see a group of humans in this place.” He grunted. “Especially some from our homeland.” His eyes flashed across the Japanese lot. “I’m Nurarihyon, I rule over half the Youkai of Japan.” He gestured to the group.

Realization dawned on the Japanese.

“Youkai?” The Samurai at the front, the one wearing, well the most prestigious looking armor, he pushed forward. “You claim to be Youkai?”

“Brother Goro, what are these ‘Youkai’?” One of the Greek’s asked, look at the Samurai.

A surprising bit of camaraderie between them considering the social and cultural differences.

“I don’t mind answering, we don’t have anything to hide.” I volunteered as their gazes turned to me. “Some cultural differences, but you can vaguely consider Youkai to be a term for all ‘Demons’ ‘Monsters’ and ‘Ghosts’ that come from Japan.”

The aforementioned ‘Goro’ nodded as his fellows looked to him, not adding anything. Maybe he also felt it wasn’t worth going into further details.

“Well, they ain’t the fuckers from this place.” Unnulf grunted. “If yer some kind of monsters or spirits, how’d you come to this place?”

Well, he took it in stride. I suppose it was easier when it was ‘monsters’ from another part of the world you knew nothing about.

“We were attacked, so in response, we launched and invasion of our own.” Nurarihyon said bluntly. “We didn’t expect the need for a….naval presence, so we’re rounding up some ships in anticipation of our people marching this far. We already established a foothold and they could be slowly pushing out from there.”

A few eyes widened, perhaps in disbelief. I’m pretty sure these were mostly mundane humans before whatever happened to them to end up here.

“We received a little bit of help as well.” I added, looking back at the knights of varying nationalities. “The Church helped us establish a foothold.”

“The Church still stands?” One of them asked, only to receive a smack upside the head from his fellow knight.

“Of course it stands, the Lord’s might can’t be questioned by these heretical monsters!” He harumphed.

“Perhaps introductions?” I offered again, steering it back towards coming to a peaceful conclusion.

Once more, they looked between themselves. “I suppose we have you to thank for the help. And these weapons…” One of the Knights held up one of the Iron weapons I deposited. “You have questions, I assume, but we do as well. If the Church had assisted you, as you claim, then regardless of your origins, you bring the work of the Lord. Sir Aiken Harforde.” The English Knight seemed to be the leader of the ones bearing the cross. “I command the Lord’s Wrath – the Vessel over yonder and the group you see before you.” He pointed back. “All of the Lord’s children are welcome under my banner.”

Probably a bad idea to mention my heritage infront of them for the moment.

The Samurai took off his helmet, revealing a weathered face, but one that seemed about middle aged. He performed an older and proper Japanese greeting. “Yoshimura Goro, third son of the Yoshimura clan. It is not what I expected, but seeing comrades from my home, it brings this old man happiness.”

“You’ve met Unnulf, one of my finest warriors. They all call me Chief, name’s Tollak.” The leader of the Viking gave a big grin, caring less about our ‘origins.

One of the Greek’s at the front also took off his helmet, his age appearing about the same as everyone else. Something I noticed, they all looked about middle age despite coming from obviously different eras.

“I’m Kallon, commander of the ships and warriors here.” He gestured to the other Greeks. “I think you for your assistance, and I don’t care much about anything else if you’re not enemies.”

Straight and to the point.

“Forgive me for being blunt, but how did you all come to be here?” I was honestly confused at their presence.

“A freak storm…”

“We got lost.”

“A strange creature dragged us off our ship….”

“A mist suddenly surrounded us.”

“A damned witch!”

“Woke up here randomly.”

Many different answers, pretty much all by happenstance and none intentionally.

“You all are aware that you come from far different eras, right?” I didn’t feel the need to tip toe around the issue.

“We’re not daft, boy.” Tollak snorted. “We each speak of places and people we’ve never heard of before. Odin’s beard, these ones won’t shut up about their God that I’ve never heard in my life.” He jerked his thumb at the Knights.

“Hmph, heretics.” One snorted in response, but it definitely lacked the usual heat that one would say that with.

“Bah.” The Viking dismissed it.

“You claim to come here willingly, what year is it on the Lord’s Calendar?” Sir Harforde asked.

The Gregorian Calendar, coined due to it being invented by Pope Greogry XIII.

And it seemed like a question they all wanted an answer to, leaning in.

“By the Calendar you’re familiar with, it should be about 2007.” I wasn’t entirely sure their years matched up with ours, but it’s thereabouts anyways.

My words were met with silence.

“Ah, it’s been that long eh?” Unnulf looked wistful.

“You know your time period based on that?” I asked.

“Aye, we figured out enough to get thereabouts an estimate.” He nodded, crestfallen.

Really, the only ones that were sort of…oblivious were the Japanese. Which made sense, they adopted the Gregorian Calendar around the start of the 1900s.

“Would you perhaps know….what period of time that correlates to for us?” The Samurai asked rather respectfully, almost uncaring about our status.

I was growing confused about a great more things as time went on.

“Tell me what happened before you appeared here.” Nurarihyon closed his eyes, letting out a breath. “Should be able to figure it out.”

“The Emperor declared the change of the capital from Nara to Heian-Kyo” The Samurai spoke after giving it a thought.

“Ah, seems you disappeared right at the start of the Heian period.” Nurarihyon nodded in understanding. “Using the Western Calendar, that’s around the start of the 800’s.”

“….1200 years?” The Samurai muttered, taking up a look not dissimilar from the others.

“Young man….” Sir Harforde look at me. “What’s the outside world like?”

“I won’t lie, you wouldn’t recognize it. A person has the ability to travel anywhere in the world in about a day now. Everything has become interconnected, you can see people from Japan – ” I gestured to the Samurai. “ –Over in London and no one bats an eye. Japan is doing well, its people don’t want for much, and it’s considered a world power. The Church is the most popular religious institution in the world, and all your countries still exist.” I looked at the knights.”

The cold realization that even if they left this hell, the world they knew no longer existed. It would be like me waking up one day and suddenly, humanity was now extended towards the stars.

What was I even supposed to say at this point?

“No use crying over it.” Kallon, the Greek commander grunted. “Knew for awhile that my home wasn’t the same anymore. You all are too old to be moping around like a bunch of youngsters.”

That brought up a rather interesting and predominant question.

“….how are you people still alive?” I knew it was rather blunt of me to ask, but it seemed like something that needed answering. “And How long have you been here?”

“How long we’ve been here? Hard to say.” Tollak answered. “You see, Goro over there, his lot came in after us, despite the one’s who won’t shut up about their God coming in first.” He gestured to the Knights. “As for how old we are….?” He rubbed his beard. “I think I passed my Three-Hundredth year awhile back, but most of us stopped counting.”

….what?

How?

Life extension, it wasn’t….well, it wasn’t hard for humans once they reached a certain level. Yasaka even gave Arthur his punishment knowing that the kid would live far beyond a normal human lifespan.

But we’re talking about hundreds of people here all presumedly in the centuries.

“This is all assuming that they speak the truth.” Sir Harforde pointed out. “I trust in the Lord’s will, but we have been led astray before.”

Skepticism was something needed here for them, it was understandable.

“There’s an easy way to check, let’s just take them to see mother.” Kallon spoke with a shrug.

“Aye, that’ll solve the issue of spies.” Tollak agreed.

“Fine.” Sir Harforde seemed a bit more reluctant. “Outsiders, we invite you back to our home.”

“Out of curiosity….how many are you back ‘home’?” Because obviously this couldn’t be everyone.

“A few thousand, give or take.” Unnulf answered as if it were a simple thing.

Once more, I’m taken aback.

A few thousand humans were displaced and living here?

Strangely, they didn’t ask us more questions, about the outside or ourselves or even the whole ‘invasion’ thing, I suppose they’re waiting to ‘verify’ with whatever means they had.

I looked at Nurarihyon who gave me a look that basically read ‘Do what you want’.

Alright, I understood his standpoint.

Frankly, I don’t think he cared overly much about the humans in general, at the end of the day, he was selfish and only really cared about his own people. A sentiment that most shared in the world.

However, there was something going on and I wanted to get to the bottom of it.

“Lead the way.” I agreed.