PHASE 89 - THE GOSSIP SANTAS

December 21.

Dear Diary,

This will be the first war that I will involve myself in. This is a battle between the good and the evil, and no one knows when will I come back home. I’m not even sure if I’ll get home in one piece. I miss my family. If anyone reads this, I presume that I have already died. Tell my parents, siblings, and my friends that I love them.

Just kidding. I just want to set up the mood like those in war movies. We may really be in a war right now, but our job here is safe…

...Probably.

This is a large scale raid we will be conducting in alternate dimension counterpart of Cyprine City, which is one of the largest urban city in the country. Cyprine City is like New York where everything is filled with skyscrapers and noise pollution. But unlike that place, Cyprine City is the home of Red Rooms, as stated in some dark web sources.

It’s no surprise that the place we’re raiding has some hint of these illegal activities. Right now, on Earth Realm, the whole city block is being raided by SWAT, arresting screwed-up maniacs working for the New Order. Those criminals are just normal people who are just unlucky that their minds are corrupted by that notorious group.

And here on Yami, the Black Cross is waging a full-scale war to the alternate version of that city block, with the purpose of containing New Order Cursed Guardians. We are hoping to fight the four dark generals and even their leader Aeternos.

Unlike the highly urbanized Cyprine City, its emo-world counterpart is a mountain range which has dead forests on its foot. The crimson moon’s shine makes the snowy field colored orange. Above and center of the mountain range is a huge castle, and that is obviously where all the hostiles gather.

Too bad we won’t take part in the action because we’re just a backup support unit. While every other Gate Guardian are having the biggest battle of their lives, we, the Aether Crusade, are tasked to give food rations to the raiding camps.

We’re actually doing a Santa Claus job. We are dragging carriages that contain large crates of potatoes, Weapon Gems, and prana tonics.

“U-Ummm… Are those boiled potatoes at the back supposed to be food rations? B-Because I kinda ate... a lot… Ehehehe…” Tiara scratched her head with a smile, her tongue sticking out. And there are potato crumbs all over her cheeks.

“You don’t change at all, Tiara.” Ayano petted her head. “Now you’re getting fatter! Look at your breast and buttocks!”

“Eeeeeek!” Tiara cried as her fellow shrine maiden grabbed her chest.

Seeing that scene made me remember what Lord Freya’s breast felt like. Now my face is red.

“Did you just remember something perverted?”

It was Amy who just talked, and she’s now sitting on my wheelbarrow and leaning at the back of my shoulders. Her warm head and silky smooth blonde hair made it feel like I’m being hugged by a teddy bear from the back.

“O-Of course not!” I turned my gaze away from the two pervy shrine maidens and looked at my childhood friend. “D-Don’t you dare unleash your aphrodisiac again…”

“I knew you liked it~” Amy made a teasing smirk.

I made a gulp. She knew.

“A-Anyway, get off my wheelbarrow! It’s getting heavy!” I protested.

“Ah! I’m so tired of walking! Can I stay here for just an hour? Pretty please~”

What’s with Amy right now? She’s way too aggressive!

“Can’t you see I’m tired? You girls all have it easy distributing the goods, and we boys are tasked to drag wheelbarrows full of supplies.”

Suddenly, a warm sensation enveloped my hand. It was Amy, who was transferring prana to me. She had this cute child-like smile and she’s so close as if she’s begging for a kiss.

“There! I fully replenished your energy! Now you can act as my horse! Hiya!” Amy slapped my butt!

“You bitch!” I yelled. But I proceeded on dragging the wheelbarrow and ended up as her horse anyway.

“Hey, I need some prana transfer. I’m tired too.” Kristoff groaned. “...And also a butt slap, please~”

“Sorry, that order is no longer available.” Amy said.

“Then can I have your smile as take-out?” Kristoff tried again.

“I’ll deliver that smile at your funeral with no shipping fee.”

“How about something more daring… How about a BJ.” Kristoff smiled innocently. This guy needs to stop trying, he’s just embarrassing himself!

“You want a broken jaw?” She pointed her revolver at the back of the poor black guy’s head.

“H-H-Hey! It was just a joke!” Kristoff nervously laughed.

As soon as Amy withdrew her revolver, the poor chick boy sighed and whispered to me.

“You know Alaric, you’re really lucky. Back when we two are still in a relationship, she never even held hands with me. She’s really stingy but you managed to have a score on her even if you guys are not a couple yet.”

Amy heard his protests.

“The answer to that is simple.” Amy angrily stated. “Ric is like my time-tested favorite lemonade that is mildly sweet and healthy… While you… You’re just a chaotic mix of cola, cream, stale fries, and minced sardines. You’re the drink that tries hard to be trendy even though nobody asks for you anyway.”

“You really hate me, don’t you…” Kristoff’s atmosphere was filled with despair.

“And you cheated on me several times. You even had Naomi pregnant.”

“Wha-Wait, what?!” It’s my time to interrupt this awkward talk. “N-Naomi, our classmate back in sixth grade!?”

“Yep~” Amy smiled at me, then shifted to a disgusted face.

Well darn! Naomi is such a pure and innocent sweetheart back then. She’s also beautiful and one of my crush, next to Amy, two years ago. Too bad she was the victim of Kristoff’s bullshit at a young age. Welp, teenage pregnancy is kind of the new trend now.

The goddess of gossip proceeded to shame talk on her ex. “Naomi decided to raise the child all by herself afterward. Since then, Kristoff never saw his child. He didn’t even know if his baby is a boy or a girl.”

“T-That’s... “ Kristoff bowed. He completely stopped pulling the small carriage. “Please don’t tell it to anyone else, Alaric. Especially to those people in Mirose Grande.”

I made a silent nod. Kristoff may be a jerk, and everything is happening due to karma, but I quite pity him for everything that was going on. So I’ll keep it a secret for his sake.

Nah! I’ll tell that story to Heushac later.

<>

Suddenly, our earpiece received a distress signal.

“Mayday! Mayday! Whoever in this channel, please answer!” The voice said.

“This is the backup support unit, Aether Crusade,” Amy answered. “Who is this?”

“We’re the 4th Brigade! We are being attacked by a New Order General! Our location is 342 North East of the mountain range! My men need backup and support!”

“We are currently in 256 North East. We will be approaching your south. Check your fire.”

“Please come immediately! Diadem...Diadem Solstice is killing us all! Hurry!”