<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Bloodedge]

While the Players were en route to the forest that would ideally become their base of operations, both were sending texts to some Bondmates and discussing the oddities of Miyuki's route. Yugi had little to say about that, but he thought it was easy enough to figure out regardless. "Wannabe do-gooder, trying not to get too invested in degen behavior. It's too late to hold back when you get something tangible," he said briefly before sending out his own text to Ai. While he was awaiting response, Miko was getting another. Tomorrow? Where? What nasty shit?

In the meantime, Yugi was entering the System Shop. Ai responded to his message soon enough, prompting Yugi to check her Inventory again. Once he confirmed she had an available space to drop something, he sent the next message. It read: But you still did it. Here. And with that, he deposited a large sack of gold into each of her available pockets. Another message would follow, containing a link to the System Shop and a quick note as the forest came into view for the Players. Can't send you bigger stuff like this. Enjoy.

[Apollymi]

The Players moved towards the forest while having text conversations and a casual discussion. They looked like any other pair moving around, just a tiny girl and a guy walking side by side. Granted, walking might have been a bit of a loose term as they seemed to be moving pretty fast. They spoke about the oddities and Miko agreed, "You definitely can't hold back in the thick of it. Still, he takes the bait so... I'll be pushing that button. It's probably a bad end♪~" Miko decided. Her path in otome games was usually as the heroine, but some heroines had a few villainess tendencies. Speaking of those, an actual text came up this one from Ren questioning her activities which made her chuckle. Or maybe super late, it mostly depends on when house hunting is finished and if you're still up (˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧ Might be able to use your room in our place if we get it. If not we're at onsen and I should have some time for you (๑>ᴗ<๑) I've found some awesome stuff! Like real furries and monster dicks big enough to almost break my neck✪ω✪

While they approached the forest, it would seem that there was quite a bit. Ai would be receiving a text which made her look around her room. Freaky~ At the same time, she soon found her pockets had become quite heavy. Well, that was odd, when she reached in she found bags of gold coins and then a return message about sending her things. She wasn't dumb, she figured this was secret currency. She had enough time alone with the phone to look for a way to spend the funds. Upon finding the shop, she'd buy herself something small initially, just a Boba Tea which would appear in her hand. Wow, you guys are getting to have way too much fun. Still, thanks~ And sometime before she kept looking around but she'd send him a cheeky picture of herself, with that tea. She was sitting around in her underwear letting him see her in her comfort enjoying what he'd given her. Such a thing would also come with a seven percent intimacy increase.

[Bloodedge]

In the interim between messages, Yugi found himself staring down signs urging passersby to consider their families, seek help and so-on. "Seek help, huh? That's a good idea," he said with a bit of morbid cheekiness, casually stepping deeper into the forest. There was a plan for this excursion, and he'd put it into effect after passing a few... hanging bodies. "How about some help guys?" he asked sarcastically to bring forth Igris and the Infantry. "Grunts, spread out and triangulate. We need the deepest part of the forest with the least chance of discovery," he ordered. "Igris, you're with us because reasons."

As the Shadows spread, one more message came Miko's way. I'm usually awake. Text anyway. I can't miss that story! Ren sent that message without so much as a second thought. It seemed Yugi was also witnessing something that happened without any additional thought ─ namely an image of Ai with bubble tea she definitely didn't get from onsen. Thousands of gold and options... and you get boba? Based. Just don't waste all the gold. Make a shopping list. As he sent that, he noticed a decent little climb in Intimacy for Ai. Now at 35%, she was no longer the lowest of his group. Interestingly enough though, they had the least contact and even number of words shared thus far.

[Apollymi]

Miko and Yugi began making their way into the forest. They oddly didn't encounter anyone trying to stop them. That might have made Miko think about it, but she would eventually realize that she looked older at a glance than she physically was. Soon enough, Yugi was dodging hanging bodies and Miko was doing the same, dipping low to go beneath shoes and swaying to avoid legs. "Tehehe♪~" Miko chirped out a laugh only to actually think about what seeking help would mean. "Hm, that was dark, don't mind it though♪~" she mused. What was more, Yugi was soon enough abusing their powers as the Monarch of Shadows. He had the shadows moving around already looking for the deepest part of the forest and even keeping Igris close.

Beyond this point, Miko was told to text regardless of the time. He was apparently quite excited about the story she had to tell. Miko was happy to shoot a text winding up, Hai hai, it'll be a great story time, ja♪ ( ¬ᴗ¬) Beyond that one point it seemed that Ai had sent a nice photo to Yugi. Of course this was done simply out of amusement and because she'd bought something fun. Ai saw that return text and smiled laying back in bed, Yeah, nothing to worry about. I like snacks and all but I'm on the job so I won't do too much spending right now~ Still knowing that she was being looked after instead of doing most of the looking after felt interesting. Ai would sit with that... While one thought over that, Miko watched the shadows and listened to the stillness of the forest. She felt pretty good here, and the sounds weren't super obtrusive.

[Bloodedge]

Miko laughed at that morbid joke just to point out how dark it was afterwards. Yugi had to stop and think. It hadn't even crossed his mind before; the joke simply made itself. "Huh. Yeah, that was a little rude," he observed, just slightly surprised by himself in the aftermath. Well, there was nothing to be done about it now... and the oddest part was that he didn't really regret making such a distasteful joke.

The grunts of the Shadow Army were on the move, scattering to the far ends of the forest while Yugi looked to Igris for confirmation of their work. From body language alone, he could tell there was a relationship between Shadow Soldiers that he would have assigned anyway... but he didn't have to. "Commander through and through, huh? Looks like Igris already works as the knight among soldiers," he babbled. Igris had been looking out, not to be wary of a threat, but instead to keep track of the soldiers. He'd be the one stepping out just ahead of the Players to confirm the central location they desired by lodging that massive sword of his in the ground. "So this is the spot. Good work," Yugi said, prompting the knight to kneel as if honored to serve. Yugi paused for a moment to send yet another text Ai's way. Take a break. Kaichou is in the building and knows Kozuki is one of us. You can relax. Go clothes shopping or something. They're disturbingly cheap for some unbelievable quality. Once that was sent, Yugi pocketed his phone and turned to Miko. "We should pick out a house, but... trees. Queen of Shadows, your orders!" he said in an unnecessarily theatrical way, full-body salute and all.

[Apollymi]

Miko did laugh at a morbid joke and did point out that it was much darker than things they normally said. Somehow that wasn't a criticism but more or less an observation. It would seem, Yugi hadn't even thought about it before he uttered it. A moment of introspection lead to him noting it's rudeness. "Maybe just a little but... we've been a bit weird since our ascension♪~" Miko noted. No matter what powers associated with 'death' might have made them a bit less... warm overall. "Actually, my Veil has a divergence after the job change... it behaves differently too..." Miko asserted knowing that she'd not really had too much time to think about it, given they were so busy during that entire ordeal.

As they discussed and walked thorough the forest, soldiers found the perfect kind of spot. Yugi noted Igris's behavior and Miko nodded. "Definitely Commander, it seems like the others probably look to him for behavior cues as well," Miko noted as they moved about. And while the soldiers fanned out in the area. Yugi sent a text to Ai which had her looking at her phone in stunned awe for a second. What?! Why would Kaicho even be here, she could afford so much better! Ai seemed legitimately surprised and sent that message accidentally after typing it. Her follow up was much calmer but still rattled. I mean, I guess i can relax a bit though if she's here. Nothing bad happens around her and if she's looking after Kaya-tan I suppose this can count as a vacation for me too... what do you think of this?~ she asked at the end. While he waited on a reply he'd turned pomp and circumstance towards Miko who'd was currently standing with pure audacity hands on her hips and her nose up in the air. The Queen of Shadows was asked for her orders and she raised her hands as if surveying the area. "Cut down all trees within this area. From here... to here," she said using Ruler's Hand to bend the ones in the area she wanted as if marking the four corners of the lad scape. "Always need a clean slate to work with," Miko mentioned. As Shadow Soliders began moving using weapons to chop trees she looked at Igris. "Iggy, you could speed this up right?" she said looking to their Knight Commande and knowing he had a big sword and way more skill. "Show them how it's done~" she gave the order knowing that all the trees could be removed in a much more swift manner.

A few moments later Ai would be sending a picture of herself, with a new piece of cloth over her shoulders. A shimmering blue cloth with pink flowers decorating it, but she was posing with peace signs and that Boba Tea balanced between her breasts.

[Bloodedge]

"Yeah, definitely kinda weird since then. I blame Brainface. Fuckin' bum," Yugi complained without really having much reason to do so. More important than that however, was Miko mentioning a difference in her Lumen Veil Skill. They were so very occupied during the Job-Change Quest, there was little time to keep track of everything. "What does it do? I think I was busy fighting for my fucking life... unless that was when you had your skirt tucked into your panties. Then I was still busy, but... y'know."

When the time came to deal with the forest, Yugi busied himself with another message from Ai. By the time he read the initial reaction to Makima's presence at that onsen, another came in with the implication of an incoming picture. He'd wait until the photo appeared before responding to that, taking the time between to watch Miko command their army. Every Soldier was on alert. Once a radius was established, the Infantry began swinging their weapons at trees ─ some chopping them down while others handled the timber directly. She went straight to Igris as well, requesting the former Blood-Red Commander to speed the process along. Without hesitation, Igris stood and retrieved his sword. One swing was enough to topple every tree in a fifteen-meter radius, and another series of swift movements chopped those same trees into lumber that fell into a neat pile. "Wow," Yugi uttered just before the image from Ai arrived. "Wow~" he said once more. That reply would be sent very quick. She was there because we were. And I think your whole areolas are showing through that top. Wanna get out for a bit?

[Apollymi]

"It's absolutely his fault, fucking bitch," Miko agreed. There was an obvious issue with the way they'd become. Something about them seemed different on a deeper level. They were still fun-loving horny teens but they'd become something a bit darker, colder, calculating. As they considered the darkness of their lives as the Monarchs of Shadow, Miko mentioned that change her her skill, "It became, Veil of Hollow Radiance. It still does pulse healing and regeneration of health mana and stamina but it seems to have shifted into something more reactive than preventative. It will also suppress status ailments but not get rid of them. Basically, it enables berserker behavior without the warm fuzzies. But it can cause problems when used on people not actively draining something... It said something about an evolution in response to my desire, probably because I was freaking out about that near death experience," Miko gave the best generalization about the skill she could. She still smirked in response to the commentary about her bottom, she'd casually flip up her skirt and flash him her rear, currently in a pair of lilac colored thongs.

Beyond that point, Yugi texted Ai, and Miko got to see the reactivity of the Shadow Army to her commands. The soldiers were capable enough but she knew it would be quite a while of working on the clearance with just them acting. A few words to Igris and he was moving as well. Clearing much of the area. Chopping wood into timber and leaving much of the other Infantry nothing to do but haul away the piles. Miko looked up at the former Blood-Red Commander with sparkles in her eyes. "OOah♪~ You wield any other swords with that kind of precision, Iggy?♪~" the girl flirted with a beast of a man she knew couldn't flirt back, but she couldn't help it. It felt natural. After sending a picture, Ai waited and the response she got made her laugh. I know... I thought you'd like it~ Anyway, if the Kaicho is here I could step out for a bit. I'll ping you... she offered as she slipped into some new clothes. She kept on that odd shirt, but added a skirt and proper over shirt to it from the shop. She'd also go with a fresh pair of sneakers and some thigh high white lace stockings to match a pair of panties as well. She'd be dressed and slipping out of her room, with her keycard tucked into her phone's case, after buying one with a similar functionality but different design from Miko. At the same time, Miko was pulling out the Spider Queen. "Pull up the stumps and toss them into a pile we need some flat ground to work with. Use your babies if you need help... don't leave the area," she stated. And watched as a small brood of spiders began pulling up stumps and using threads to pull them out of the way, as the Spider Queen collected them along with the timber.