Because it got pretty late, Frank decided to call it a day after he helped Matsuo in everything he could. He didn't gain a single level, nor practiced any skill or magic either. But he still felt fulfilled he could help a friend.
Matsuo had regained some confidence, and the group planned to try to convince the Clan Head, the Great Ancestor, whose true name is Kaguyahime to allow Matsuo to visit Domains so he could grow stronger by hunting monsters.
"It was a pretty boring day overall, but I guess it was not too bad," Erika yawned as she felt full after having eaten several bowls of grilled meat and rice that Matsuo's family had feed her for dinner. "Phew, the food was decent!"
"Just decent?" laughed Matsuo's father. "Hahaha! Werewolves are really quite something, aren't they? Well, I'm glad you could get one as a friend, I've heard they're strong and loyal once they make you a friend."
"Hahah... Well, Frank brought her here, I haven't talked much with Erika before," said Matsuo. "I'll try to, I guess."
"Heh, I guess we could become friends!" Erika giggled. "People that offer me food are always food people I can trust!"
Werewolves were surprisingly easy to convince, apparently. Just give them some food and they'll immediately begin to trust you, and if you continue feeding them and being just nice enough, they'll probably mark you as a friend.
Though this scent mark might be a sudden lick in the face... which not everyone appreciates!
"Wow that was easy, I guess our friendship wasn't that special as I imagined," said Harumi, looking at Erike while squinting her eyes.
"W-Wha...?! It's special Harumi! Don't look at me like that...!" Erika panicked, noticing her vampire friend thought the werewolf girl's friendship could be easily bought with food.
As the girls discussed with one another, and then Matsuo's sisters joined them into the conversation, Matsuo patted Frank's shoulders, offering him some freshly grilled meat.
"Here, you're still growing man, eat some more," he said.
"Hahaha, thanks, it's good," said Frank smiling. "Though I'm worrying my family is going to get worried if I don't get in time for dinner... Oof, and I've eaten so much already."
"Ah right, well, I guess you should get going then. Oh, before you leave you should go buy something at the shop that's being run by Hinata, Frank," said Matsuo. "You've accumulated a lot of points right? If you did then there's little point in keeping them around, spend them to buy something that can help you get stronger... Though I can already feel you got plenty strong already, what the hell?"
"Ah yeah, it's because of the dropped items from Koga Saburo, it's a long story," said Frank. "But I don't know if I should talk about it in here... It's about... well, involves another Kami."
"Kami? Oh..." Matsuo nodded. "Alright, I mean, there's other people in here blessed by other Kamis, any Kami is welcome. We aren't just Amaterasu elitist or something. She is a mother of many gods and the head of the Shinto Gods, so she accepts everyone."
"E-Even the Calamity Snake?" Frank asked while feeling a bit embarrassed to say it.
"Pfff...!" Matsuo ended spitting the green tea he was drinking, as his family glared at him in disbelief.
"Matsuo, what was that?!" his father asked angrily.
"Sorry! Ah, my bad... Maybe I'm still a bit agitated after everything... I'll go with Frank outside!" said Matsuo, dragging Frank outside the house.
Once outside, Matsuo asked Frank to explain himself.
And Frank told him what happened...
"Y-You defeated Orochi in a Mindscape Battle?!" Matsuo asked in disbelief. "You know that shouldn't even be possible, right?! It's the eight-headed snake of calamity! Not even Lord Susanoo truly killed him..."
"Well the myth said he slayed him," said Frank. "But Orochi himself told me that his heads simply became snakes of their own."
"Ah... Yeah, makes sense," nodded Matsuo. "Gods and Kami and everything else... It's not easy to actually kill them for real, even between each other, it's never completely possible. So you defeated him and got his blessing and... what does it do?"
"It's like... a bit weird," said Frank. "But I can transform into a half-snake person... Maybe full snake eventually? I had already eaten the demonic snakes using my Yokai Eater Skill, so I can also technically summon snakes out of my hands like Koga could, though not to the level he could."
"That's pretty interesting, if you get the divine scales of Orochi over your body, his powerful venom, and also a long tail, claws, and reflexes then I think it's a pretty good upgrade," Matsuo nodded. "Alright, show me."
"Show you what?!" Frank didn't want to do it.
"You know what, show me how you look," Matsuo smiled. "Come on, it's not too bad right? You don't look like Voldemort or something?"
"God no! I don't look like that, but I still prefer to keep it private for now... what if I transform and alert the rest of the people? Let's do it another day for now..." Frank sighed. "I don't like the appearance though."
"Come on just show me man!" said Matsuo. "Let's see it!"
"Fucking hell Matsuo..."
Frank sighed but at the end, he showed him the transformation.
"Holy shit what the fuck?!"
Matsuo's reaction was just as Frank had expected.
"You really look kind of hideous, my bad, pull it back!"
Frank glared at Matsuo slightly irritated, maybe he shouldn't have helped this bastard.
He turned back to normal and decided to just get going.
"Let's go see Hinata before I leave, I'm thinking of taking some high level, expensive stuff,"
said Frank with a smile.
"Sure, let me ask her for a discount as an apology," Matsuo smiled.
The two friends walked to the shop, which was still open late at night, looking forward to buying something good for Frank.
"Welcome boys! It seems you're here late! What do you want to buy from me today?"
Hinata, a young-looking girl with blonde hair and shiny white eyes appeared from below the desk, looking no older than 14.
However, her true identity was that of an old lady, as this was a temporary clone made using
magic.