Danmachi - Eldritch Apostle

A shining light emerged in front of me, revealing a figure standing completely still. As the light dispersed, I could finally see Azathoth's new form.

"And? What do you think of my new form, Niall? I've used this one a few times before, though it's been quite a while..."

In front of me stood a relatively tall kitsune woman, radiating beauty, elegance, and mysticism. Her black hair held subtle hues that shifted like a hidden palette, making it clear it wasn't just plain black.

Her nails were as sharp as the finest-grade sword, and she looked at me with two piercing red eyes that resembled a fox's. Unlike the usual Renards, whose eyes didn't quite match the shape of real foxes or cats, Azathoth's eyes had fully taken on the characteristics of a kitsune from Japanese legends.

She was nothing like I had imagined. She had the figure of a healthy young woman, one who could easily charm countless men. Her black tail swayed gracefully from side to side as she kept her gaze fixed on me, and her soft lips curved into a smile.

Dressed in a traditional kimono, she stepped closer and gently grasped my chin, her grip firm yet careful enough not to harm me with her long nails. Her hands were slender but felt strong, and with the touch of red lipstick on her lips, she looked utterly magnificent.

"You look rather magnificent in this form, Azathoth. I suppose I shouldn't be worried about your backstory or a new name?" I remarked.

She flashed a sharp-toothed smile as she patted my head, her scent filling my nostrils. My eyes shifted to hers. "I have everything under control, dear. You just head back now; I'll take care of Haruhime," she said confidently.

Her long hair swayed as the wind breached the room, and with a wink, she picked up Haruhime. In the blink of an eye, they both vanished. With that done, all that was left was to wait for morning to arrive so I could make my exit.

Deciding to play it smart, I headed downstairs to the reception area. The same three Amazonesses were there, looking wearier as the night dragged on.

"Oh, hello, handsome. Finished with the fox so soon? If you're not satisfied enough, the three of us can keep you company for the night, free of charge," one of them said with a sultry yet sleepy tone. The other two followed her gaze, clearly interested.

"I want my money back because you guys scammed me," I said flatly. "The fox lady you promised wasn't up there, and I wasted my time waiting. It was nothing but a scam."

The three Amazonesses jumped in surprise, their drowsiness instantly dissipating. This was the best way to handle things without harming Hermes' reputation.

"What do you mean there's no one in the room?! Could that fox have slipped past us?!" the lead Amazoness behind the counter yelled, sounding alarmed. "Selena! Go up there and check the room—there's no way that fox could've just disappeared!"

Selena, the Amazoness who had been addressed, rushed upstairs with the other two in tow—the same two who had wanted to bed me half an hour earlier. A tense silence filled the air as we waited for answers.

A few moments later, the Amazonesses returned, shouting that there was no one inside the room. The sudden disappearance of a valuable member of the Ishtar Familia sent everyone into a frenzy.

"YOU! You're coming with us right now. Goddess Ishtar will decide if your words are true while we search for the fox," one Amazoness commanded. They grabbed my arms and led me toward the exit, and I let them, offering no resistance.

"Brothel is closing! I repeat: the brothel is closing due to an emergency! Everyone must end their sessions and leave their rooms!" another Amazoness shouted. The sound of doors sliding open echoed through the building as patrons and their companions began to leave. Confused murmurings gradually faded as Amazonesses were dispatched to search, while the clients were ushered out.

The two Amazonesses escorted me cautiously through the Pleasure Quarter, and soon we arrived at the bridge near the tower. Just as we approached the gate, the Amazoness guarding the bridge stopped us.

"What's going on here? Do you realize you're handling a follower of the god Hermes, who's currently in Ishtar's chambers?" she questioned sharply.

The two Amazonesses holding my arms exchanged nervous glances. They were clearly aware of how much Haruhime meant to their goddess and were desperate to avoid Ishtar's wrath.

"This man is suspected of kidnapping a member of our familia," one of them explained. "Even if he was the one who reported her missing, he's still a suspect. Our goddess will determine if he's telling the truth."

Her tone was professional, like that of a seasoned warrior. The guards stepped aside, allowing us to pass. As we moved forward, the Amazoness who had stopped us earlier kept her eyes on me until she sighed and began issuing orders to the others.

Soon, we found ourselves inside the main tower of the Ishtar Familia, which was already on high alert. Word had already reached Ishtar, who was waiting with Hermes, both looking visibly concerned.

Ishtar approached me in a fury and slapped me hard across the face. The blow was strong enough to knock my mask to the floor. As it clattered down, she gasped quietly, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.

"Tell me, you insolent fool, what have you done with Haruhime?" she demanded, trying to rein in her rage. The surrounding Amazonesses stared at my exposed face, their expressions a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"Excuse me, Goddess Ishtar, but I've done nothing to someone I've never even met," I responded calmly. "The girl wasn't in the room when I entered."

Ishtar listened intently, and the tension in the room seemed to ease slightly. Hermes remained silent, but his eyes looked lifeless. I couldn't help but notice that Phryne, the familia's captain, was absent.

"You… do not lie," Ishtar finally conceded, though she was still seething. "But how could she just vanish like that? Everyone, search every corner and leave no stone unturned! She couldn't have gotten far!"

The gathered Amazonesses scattered like a swarm of mice, leaving only four of us in the hall. Aisha, however, stayed behind, scrutinizing me from head to toe. Moments later, she stepped forward, her eyes narrowed.

"I've seen you before," Aisha said, her voice low. "During our dungeon expedition. You were staring at that fox... the one who's now missing. That clumsy girl means a lot to me, and if anything happens to her, I won't forgive it."

A vein throbbed on her forehead, her rage barely contained. She bit her lip until it bled before turning and sprinting outside to continue the search.

"Who could do such a thing?! Hey, you!" Ishtar snapped, turning to me. "Escort your god out of here. He's too distracted to be of any help right now. Now get lost!"

She waved me off angrily and stormed away with a male bodyguard in tow. Hermes seemed utterly drained, as if the life had been sucked out of him in some other way.

With a sigh, I scooped him up in a bridal carry—ridiculous as it might have looked—and hurried away from the Pleasure Quarter, aiming to return him safely before heading back to the dungeon.