Chapter 364 - Options

"Kazehaya Sora."

Silence followed Gin's announcement that stretched into several minutes until Gin couldn't take it anymore. His twin brother remained unspeaking as he looked at him with his expressionless face.

"Er… aren't you going to say something?" he squeaked as he sat near his brother.

He trained his golden eyes on his twin, waiting for him to answer. He knew his plan sounded strange but he had reasons for it.

"Explain," Perun commanded, and Gin was more than happy to do it.

"Maki Eito's obsessed with his daughter marrying Aki because, well, he's the most outstanding among the new generation of businessmen."

"Aren't you and Kresnik not businessmen?"Perun countered, which was also a reasonable one since none knew about their marriages.

"Well, the old man's very practical. He'd never aim for anyone from the Cedar Palace."

The Koutaishidenka of the Homura House and the CEO of Homura International were way out of the Makis' league plainly speaking. Trying to have an arranged marriage with either men or anyone from the Homura House – even Shiro would actually be chasing rainbows.   

Also, the other party already knew that Ryuu was married to Suzuki Ara – Alinea. When Perun stayed quiet, Gin took this as a sign to continue explaining.

"Anyway, I suggested introducing a better candidate for a fiancé to Chairman Maki because it's what he only wants – the perfect son-in-law. Who else is perfect here other than you?"

Kazehaya Gin was totally kissing his twin's ȧss but who cared? It's not as if he was lying anyway. Perun was the King of Heaven – who else was more perfect than him?

"I and Ryuu are out of the question since we're both married. Ivan can't play as Yuuka's fiancé as well for reasons. First, he's not from here, so nobody really knew him. Second, he'll be the one training Alinea. He won't have time – plus he's interested in Ali's friend, Rin. I don't think he'd want to play as someone else's boyfriend."

Ivan would be the one accompanying Alinea in her mission to kill Czernobog. He had to be the one training with her so they could get used to each other's abilities and also form some sort of combinations with their powers. Even if they're both Level A, they were still painfully outnumbered in the Black God's lair.

"It's why I was thinking, brother, you are the best candidate!"

Perun looked at Gin for a while before letting out a loud sigh. "And what did the lady say?"

Ah.

"I haven't told her of the plan yet," Gin confessed. "I didn't want to tell her anything when I haven't talked to you yet."

"Good," Perun answered with an approving voice which made Gin feel elated.

"So, does this mean it's a yes?" he prompted quickly but only got a sharp look in return.

"No," the silver-haired twin answered just as abruptly, and Gin's smile fell.

"But why?"

"Because I don't want to play fiancé with anyone," Perun answered simply. "Where did you get this crude, childish plan, anyway?"

A frown marred the space between his brows. His lips clamped in an unhappy line.

"I thought that when you came to me, you already have thought of all possible options to deal with the problem."

Perun's voice had a tinge of disappointment in them, and Gin felt depressed. He really had no idea what other options they had unless simply killing the Maki Patriarch was it. But he couldn't do the latter. He already gave his word. A deity's words were blessings; he couldn't take it back.

He's in a pinch.

Seeing as he was having a hard time, Perun sat up and shook his head at Gin. "Little brother, if you were not planning on involving me, your suggestion might have been good. But since you already asked for my cooperation, isn't it more rational if you just directly ask me to purify the man?"

Ah!

Gin stood up abruptly; delight flashed on his face. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?"

"At least you were smart enough to discuss this with me first," Perun mumbled, and Gin looked offended.

"I'm not that foolish. I already learned my lesson when I promised her something without checking the situation first."

He was talking about Yuuka's parents being safe, of course.

"We didn't expect that Ozomene was that strong," Gin added while scratching the side of his head.

The miasmas harpies emit were strong, but normally it would take at least several decades for a shadow lurker to be born from it.

"It's not Ozomene," Perun suddenly said that Gin thought he heard him wrong.

"What?"

Perun sighed. "I was not going to meddle, but I ought to tell you that the mother of harpies in Daizo's body is not the actual Ozomene but a part of her only."

EH?

"What do you mean?"

Gin couldn't believe it. The Master of the Homura House already confirmed the harpy's identity and the miasma in the Maki's House was proof that it was Ozomene. Even Aello who was the strongest among the harpy children couldn't emit such strong miasma.

"The negative energy is from Fanya. It's why I noticed it clinging around Yuuka yesterday."

"W-What…"

Gin's eyes widened in horror. "Are you telling me that the blank soul is Fanya?" Was Yuuka Fanya? His crazed former sister-in-law? But wasn't she Shitara? He was confused.

Perun shook his head. "I'm just saying that some negative energy clung to her clothes. It can't infect her since she's a blank soul."

Oh… So this really meant that the possibility she was Alinea's mother was high. But if that was the case, why didn't his brother accept his suggestion earlier?

Gin scratched his head again. "But what do you mean it's not Ozomene?"

Perun arched a silver brow at his twin. "Have you forgotten what Fanya's power is? Have you forgotten how her soul's still able to exist even after being executed back in the Celestial Plane?"

With this, Gin's eyes widened in horror, but Perun was not finished.

"Have you forgotten how that piece of Czernobog's soul was able to come to the surface and infect Shitara?"

Of course…

Gin felt weak. How could he ever forget?

"Fanya… Fanya is Ozomene…"