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Frank looked at the paper of the mission that Matsuo had chosen, indeed, it seemed like something pretty simple. It was just cleansing certain "contaminated" areas from Yokai or the so-called "Urban Spirits", which are often times variations of Yokai or Monsters born from people's fears and from their own strange stories surrounding creatures that live within streets or among humans, usually known as cryptids or urban legends.
"The mission seems simple enough, but it doesn't specify how many we have to hunt down or where…" Said Frank. "What's up with that?"
"Oh yeah, it doesn't because it's just not necessary," said Matsuo. "We'll be hunting how many we can within 24 hours. Then we report on our work, and we receive a reward equal to how much we worked. This is why this is a good enough mission, its accessible for everyone and it rewards you based on how hard you work without any real big compromises."
"Interesting," Harumi nodded. "I suppose it's fine… Seeing how you guys get rewards can't I get Contribution Points as well?"
She looked at Hinata, who giggled.
"Hehe, of course you do little vampire girl," nodded the girl. "You're part of the Clan Alliance, and therefore you are, in a way, an honorable member of the clan. You receive Contribution Points, but perhaps you don't know how many you've accumulated as you lack the item. Here."
Hinata quickly gave Harumi a little bracelet with a white jewel on top, and as Harumi looked at it, she smiled at her.
"Now pour a bit of your blood in the white jewel for it to bond with you," said Hinata. "This is a Clan Bracelet, it keeps up things such as Mission History, Contribution Points, and more. They're essential for everyone."
"I see, I had little idea it worked this way…" Harumi said.
"Well actually, usually you get a rune in your hand like this one," Matsuo showed Harumi a sun-shaped yellow tattoo on the palm of his right hand. "It's invisible to normal people though. Frank has one as well."
"Yeah!" Frank showed her the tattoo. "We can store items we buy in here within this Runic Tattoo… But I wonder why she didn't get one?"
"Ah, it's better if she doesn't, the Runic Tattoo we have is imbued with Lady Amaterasu's Divinity," explained Hinata. "It also holds her divine protection, but it is dangerous to her, as a dhampir, even if she doesn't take damage from direct contact with the sun, a divinity like this, even if it trying to protect her, would burn her and deal constant damage to her. It would be too dangerous."
"Oh, yeah, I guess it would…" Harumi nodded. "Hmm? Oh, I have more points than I thought…"
"How many?" Erika wondered, looking at Harumi's bracelet, but she was unable to see anything being projected from it. "Eh? Can't see a thing! Can you see it?"
"Yes but it seems only I can see it," Harumi said. "It says I have ten thousand points. I guess I could use them to get some stuff?"
"Of course! If you come to my shop, I will quickly take away those contribution points off your hands and give you anything worth their price!" Hinata said.
"So you also manage a shop?" Wondered Erika.
"She works in multiple things using her Clones," explained Matsuo. "There are other disciples of hers that also use Clones made of Light Magic to do the same. This way we can reduce costs and other things and keep things tidy. Although only Hinata can do it continuously even while her original body is sleeping."
"Yeah, anyway, ten thousand is a decent amount, what do you exactly need, girl?" Hinata wondered.
"Um, I haven't thought about it, but I suppose something that could help me… Not exhaust my reserves of energies too quickly," Harumi said.
"A Mana Optimization Spell or Technique then, or perhaps Mana Recycle?" wondered Hinata. "Well, whatever the case, come by my shop if you want to buy something."
"Will do," Harumi nodded. "Thank you."
"Alright! Now without further ado, let's get going, we wouldn't want the day to end too quickly right? We better not waste our time and get moving," said Matsuo. "Frank, are you ready? We haven't hunted in a long while."
"I'm ready, yeah, let's go," Frank nodded. "I'm getting bored anyway."
"Nice, Harumi, Erika, you're joining as well?" Matsuo asked.
"Of course, we already agreed at doing that," said Harumi, nodding.
"Yep, I'm going to show off how strong I am~!" Erika giggled.
"Hahahah, okay… Well, where do we start then?" Wondered Matsuo.
The four friends walked through the streets of the villa and talked about where to go. Matsuo suggested a few places he could sense, and Frank and the rest agreed.
As they left, Harumi then returned, went to the shop, and got herself a new Magecraft Scroll, which she used to learn a Magic Technique that became engraved into her skin as a Runic Tattoo, it was called [Mana Lifeblood] and it allowed her to exchange Mana for Blood Energy and vice versa, while optimizing the regeneration and the storage of these energies.
It was the perfect Technique for her, and Hinata said that it was surprising it was so compatible with her, as it was a technique often employed by Monks that used Blood Energy extracted from their Lifeforce, Ki, and Mana to fight and develop their abilities while cultivating their bodies.
"It's a pretty useful ability for you, Harumi," Frank said. "How expensive was it though?"
"It's a high-level technique, so it cost all my savings… But I'm glad I got it, I can already feel the difference within me," Harumi smiled, as she saw Mana and Blood Energy moving around her pale hands. "It's cool."
"Nice! Then let's get going!" Matsuo said, as the group walked out of the clan territory and by using Domain Expansion, entered "the other side" letting them jump and fly without being seen by people.
While flying away, hiding its presence, someone was glancing at them from afar…
"They're moving to an urban area… I can detect several pockets of Negative Energy there… A perfect place for my little children to act, fufu."
Behind this dark presence, there were three other people standing in silence, their eyes glowing red in color, their faces devoid of emotion as if they had become nothing but puppets.
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