Chapter 932: Escort to the Oni Gate

Vergil watched the bustle of Shibuya for a few moments before turning his attention back to Stella. She had approached the edge of the rooftop to look at the enormous advertising screens mounted on the neighboring buildings, apparently trying to recognize one of the establishments she had researched before leaving home. Since he didn’t know Japan very well, Vergil thought he could enjoy her company after taking care of his business at the Oni Gate.

"Stella, if you want to wait until I finish what I need to do, we could go on a date afterward," he suggested, approaching her. "Since we’re in Japan, we could walk around a little, get something to eat, and visit that pastry shop you’ve been wanting to see so badly."

Stella turned toward him and smiled, as though Vergil had just confirmed something she had already expected.

"Actually, that was exactly my plan."

Vergil raised an eyebrow. "You were already planning our date?"

"Of course. Do you really think I’d travel halfway around the world just to buy sweets?" Stella crossed her arms, pretending to be offended, but soon smiled again. "I mean, I probably would, but since you’re going to be here too, we might as well spend some time together. It’s been quite a while since we went out, just the two of us."

Vergil chuckled and nodded. Stella didn’t usually demand his attention very often, but that didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy spending time with him. In fact, the way she had organized the trip made it quite clear that she wanted to take the opportunity to do something different with him.

"Then it’s settled. First, I’ll take care of the matter with Musashi, and afterward we’ll spend the rest of the day together."

"Great!" Stella seemed pleased with his answer, but soon looked around at the city again. "By the way, how do you intend to get to the Oni Gate?"

Vergil opened his mouth to answer.

And stopped.

He looked at Stella, then at the buildings of Shibuya, and finally at Yamato, which remained peacefully secured at his waist.

’...Shit.’

He knew that the Oni Gate was a dimension separate from the human world. He also knew that there were entrances in Japan and that Raphaeline knew some of them. The problem was that he had never visited the place and had absolutely no idea where the entrance he was supposed to use was located.

Normally, that wouldn’t be a major obstacle. Yamato was capable of cutting through the space between dimensions, but to open a passage to a specific destination, Vergil needed to at least know where that destination was or have some reference he could follow.

And he had neither.

Stella noticed his expression and narrowed her eyes.

"Vergil..."

"I was thinking about that."

"You don’t know how to get there, do you?"

"I said I was thinking about it."

Stella brought a hand to her mouth to hide a laugh. Vergil was about to respond when he sensed a presence appear behind them. There was no attempt to attack, but the spiritual energy that had suddenly appeared on the rooftop was distinct enough to catch his attention.

He immediately turned his head.

Stella followed his gaze.

A small white fox stood a few meters away from them.

Her fur was perfectly clean, and a small golden mark could be seen between her eyes. She had a single, rather bushy tail and watched Vergil with an unusual calm for an animal that had just appeared on top of a building in Shibuya.

The fox lowered her head in a small bow.

"Welcome to Japan, Lucifer-sama."

Vergil stared at her for a few seconds. The feminine voice had come directly from her small figure, although her mouth had not moved noticeably.

"Who are you?"

The fox raised her head and answered politely. "You may call me Yae. I was assigned to escort Lucifer-sama to the Oni Gate and ensure that your arrival proceeds without any problems."

Vergil narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Without any problems?"

"Yes."

"Are you saying that because you think I’m going to cause some?"

Yae remained still for a moment before answering. "I received specific instructions to guide you directly to your destination, avoiding any unnecessary incidents along the way."

Stella chuckled beside him.

Vergil sighed.

"I see. Who gave you those instructions?"

Yae bowed again.

"Inari-sama and Susanoo-sama, as well as Lady Raphaeline and Lady Ada."

Vergil fell silent for a few seconds.

Then he understood.

Raphaeline had arrived at the Oni Gate before him and used her connections to prepare for his visit. Considering the reputation he had acquired recently, she had probably imagined that he would end up getting into some kind of trouble before even finding Musashi Miyamoto. Apparently, Ada had agreed with the idea.

The fact that Inari and Susanoo were also involved was a little more curious, but Vergil decided to save his questions until he reached the temple.

"So that’s what they went ahead to do," he murmured, shaking his head. "Raphaeline really doesn’t waste any time."

Stella looked at the little fox. "Were you waiting for us to show up here?"

"I was informed that Lucifer-sama would be arriving in Japan soon," Yae replied. "As soon as your presence was detected, I came to welcome you."

Vergil looked at her again.

"Well, since you’re here, you can guide us. I was just trying to figure out how to get to the Oni Gate."

"Of course, Lucifer-sama."

Stella moved closer and wrapped her arms around his arm, smiling. "That’s good. I was starting to think you’d have to call Raphaeline and ask for the address."

"I would have found a way."

"Of course you would have, darling."

Vergil chose not to argue.

Yae walked a few steps toward an open area of the rooftop and raised her head. Her eyes glowed gold, and a small amount of spiritual energy began gathering in front of her. Space gently distorted, forming a circle of pinkish-golden light that grew until it became a portal large enough for two people to pass through.

A few sakura petals drifted through the opening and fell onto the rooftop’s concrete, carried by a gentle breeze that was nothing like the wind in Shibuya.

On the other side, Vergil could see a stone path surrounded by flowering trees. Small water channels ran near the path, and farther ahead, part of a traditional Japanese building could be seen among the sakura trees.

Yae stepped aside to let them approach.

"Please, go through. On the other side, you’ll already be at Inari-sama’s temple."

Vergil studied the passage for a moment before looking at Stella.

"Ready?"

She tightened her hold on his arm a little.

"Of course. But you promised me a date afterward."

"I know."

"And the pastry shop."

"I know that too."

Stella smiled, satisfied, and accompanied Vergil as he stepped through the portal.

Vergil crossed the portal with Stella holding his arm and immediately felt the difference between the environment of Shibuya and the place where he had just arrived. The noise of vehicles and advertising screens disappeared, replaced by the sound of running water and leaves moving in the trees. The air was cooler, filled with a concentration of spiritual energy that he could sense before he even looked around.

The portal had opened onto a stone path that crossed a Japanese garden. Sakura trees grew on both sides, scattering pink petals across the ground and onto the small water channels that followed the trail. Farther ahead, several traditional buildings occupied different levels of the mountain, connected by stairways and wooden walkways. The sky had a different color from the one Vergil had seen in Shibuya, with soft shades of gold and violet near the horizon, although a sun still illuminated the complex.

Stella slowly released his arm to get a better look at the place.

"Wow... This is really beautiful." She looked at a small wooden bridge crossing one of the channels, then at the trees around them. "It looks like those gardens in travel magazines, only much bigger."

"It’s a divine temple," Vergil replied, observing the more distant buildings. "I imagine Inari has plenty of space to do whatever she wants around here."

"She certainly does," Yae replied, crossing the portal just behind them. The little fox walked a few steps before turning toward the two of them. "This is Inari-sama’s private sanctuary. Most visitors to the Oni Gate are not authorized to enter this region."

Vergil nodded, but his attention had already turned to two familiar presences approaching along the main path.

Raphaeline and Ada were waiting near a small stairway, accompanied by another white fox sitting beside them. Both wore ordinary clothes and seemed perfectly at ease in that environment, although Raphaeline had her arms crossed and an expression Vergil knew very well.

Ada was the first to notice that he had arrived.

"Well, look at that! He managed to get here in one piece!"

Vergil raised an eyebrow as he approached. "You make it sound like I’d have trouble walking through a portal."

"I was more worried about what you might do before finding the portal," Ada replied with a smile. "Especially after finding out you didn’t even know where the entrance to the Oni Gate was."

Vergil stopped in front of her.

"Who told you?"

Ada discreetly pointed at Yae.

The little fox gave a respectful bow, apparently unaware that she had just revealed that information.

"Lucifer-sama was found in Shibuya, as anticipated. The passage to the temple occurred without any incidents."

Raphaeline let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank the gods."

Vergil looked at her. "Did you really think I was going to cause trouble before I even got here?"

"Darling, you opened a portal to Shibuya because you didn’t know how to get to the Oni Gate." Raphaeline uncrossed her arms and approached him. "If Yae hadn’t appeared, you probably would have started cutting through dimensions until you found something."

Vergil considered that possibility for a few seconds.

"That wouldn’t be such a bad idea."

"Vergil!"

Ada began to laugh.

Stella, who had remained a little behind him, couldn’t hide a smile either.

Raphaeline brought a hand to her forehead before finally moving close enough to embrace Vergil. He returned the gesture, wrapping an arm around her waist, and received a kiss on the lips.

"I’m glad you arrived safely," Raphaeline murmured as she pulled back a little. "Even if you decided to come without knowing exactly where you were going."

"I knew I needed to get to Japan."

"That doesn’t count."

"It was enough."

Raphaeline shook her head but ended up smiling. She discreetly straightened the collar of his coat before looking at Stella, who was approaching with her bag hanging from her shoulder.

"Stella? You came too?"

"I came to enjoy the trip." Stella smiled and greeted Raphaeline with a hug. "Vergil promised we’d go on a date after he finishes his business. I want to visit a famous pastry shop in Tokyo."

Ada immediately seemed interested.

"Which pastry shop?"

Stella took out her phone and showed her a photograph she had saved.

Ada leaned closer to get a better look.

"Oh, I know that one! They make those huge fruit desserts, don’t they?"

"Yes! And there’s a strawberry cake I’ve wanted to try for ages."

The two began talking about the establishment, apparently forgetting for a few moments that they were inside the temple of one of Japan’s most important deities.

Vergil watched them with a small smile before turning his attention back to Raphaeline.

"So you came ahead to prepare for my arrival?"

Raphaeline nodded. "I wanted to talk to a few people before you showed up. Mainly because Musashi is involved in a somewhat complicated situation."

"What situation?"

"He’s going to fight Shuten-dōji."

Vergil fell silent for a moment.

Then he raised an eyebrow.

"Shuten-dōji?"

"Yes. For the title of strongest Oni."

Vergil looked at her with an interest that Raphaeline immediately recognized.

"So Musashi really is strong."

Raphaeline closed her eyes.

"Darling, please don’t start."

"I only made a comment."

"I know that comment."

Vergil chuckled. "Relax. I came to talk to him, not challenge him."

"Good. Keep thinking that way."

Raphaeline took his hand and began leading him along the stone path while Ada and Stella finished talking about the pastry shop.

Yae walked a few steps ahead, guiding the group toward the temple’s main residence. The other white fox accompanied Raphaeline for a few meters before disappearing among the trees, apparently returning to her own duties.

Vergil discreetly observed the buildings around them as they walked. The amount of spiritual energy present in the region was impressive, and he could sense countless presences hidden among the gardens and buildings. Some seemed merely curious, while others watched his movements much more closely.

"Are you sure we’re welcome here?" he asked, looking at Raphaeline.

"Yes. Inari personally authorized your entry."

"And Susanoo?"

Raphaeline turned toward him.

"How do you know Susanoo is involved?"

"Yae mentioned that she received instructions from both of them."

Raphaeline sighed.

"She wants to meet you, too."

Vergil seemed a little surprised.

"Why?"

"Because you wield Yamato."

He glanced discreetly at the katana secured at his waist.

"I see."

Raphaeline tightened her hold on his hand a little.

"Vergil, listen. Susanoo is an excellent swordswoman, but she has a somewhat complicated personality when she meets someone with an interesting sword. So if she starts asking questions about Yamato, try not to turn the conversation into a challenge."

Vergil looked at his wife.

"You’re asking me not to talk about swords with a Sword Goddess?"

"I’m asking you not to fight her."

"Those are different things."

"With you two, probably not."

Vergil laughed but didn’t answer.

A little later, the group arrived in front of a large Japanese residence built on the highest part of the temple. The structure had a spacious wooden terrace, sliding doors, and a carefully ornamented traditional roof. Several sakura trees surrounded the building, and small spiritual lanterns remained suspended near the entrance.

Yae stopped in front of the stairway and bowed.

"Inari-sama is waiting for you."

Vergil looked at Raphaeline.

"Then let’s meet your friend."

Raphaeline hesitated for a moment.

"Actually, I found out something interesting while you were sleeping."

"What?"

She sighed.

"Apparently, Inari is my godmother."

Vergil stopped walking.

Ada, who had just approached with Stella, began laughing again.

"She found out today!"

Vergil looked at Raphaeline, then at the residence, and finally back at his wife.

"You came here to ask your godmother for help and didn’t even know she was your godmother?"

"My mother never told me!"

Vergil remained silent for a few seconds before a small smile spread across his face.

"That explains a lot."

Raphaeline narrowed her eyes.

"Don’t you start, too."

Vergil merely laughed and resumed walking beside her, following Yae toward the entrance of the residence.