The warmth of the ascending sunrise gently snuggled against Liohime Kitagami's face as the young man slowly opened his eyes.

A new day had arrived, and an important one as it would be the day that he was going to descend into the second layer of the Paradisus Legion.

Liohime froze as he woke up, his body still trembling slightly from the cold of the nighttime.

S-Shit, I should have realized that sleeping out in the wild was different than in the comfort and warmth of my room…hk.

He glanced downwards as he felt a wet sensation on his chest.

There was Shihon, drooling on him while she continued to sleep soundly like a baby.

Good grief, he thought. Most of her bad sleeping habits are out of the window, but this has certainly been the hardest of them all to break.

"Hey, Shihon."

"Mmmm…"

Liohime exhaled, feeling a bit hesitant to awaken her from her sleep.

Maybe I should just recall her? He pondered, but he also wondered if it would affect her reaction time to being summoned.

Would she still be sleeping if I tried to summon her when I needed her, or…ah shit, I'm overthinking this, aren't I?

He shook his head and forcibly shook her, waking her up instantly.

"Wake up, Shihon."

"Uweeh, I'm up! I'm up!"

"Finally. You also need to learn to stop drooling on me when we sleep together."

"Hm?"

Shihon rubbed her closed eyelids and then wiped her lips.

"I can't help it, Master! Whenever you and I sleep, it feels so good, and…and…"

"Okay, I'm gonna stop you right there. I feel like if you say any more, you're gonna have an orgasm or something," Liohime muttered while glancing at her exuberant mood and her heart shaped pupils.

Using a special storage ring that stores food, water and extra clothes in times of need, he summoned two bottles of water to drink and appliances with noodle packs to make instant noodles to eat.

"Let's eat and drink first before we head out."

"Oooooh! Okie!"

"You're taking the noodles with vegetables."

"Eww!! Not happening!"

"Yes, it's happening, and if you don't you're gonna be without anything to eat."

"Eh, you're soooo cruel, Master," Shihon wailed, but then she paused, and the scooted over towards his face, stopping short just a few inches away from his lips.

"W-What do you want, Shihon?"

"Hey…Master..?"

"....Yes?"

Liohime held his breath.

"I need to take a shit."

What the fuck?

Liohime had completely forgotten that Shihon also used human traits. Although Magical Beasts do not urinate or excrete, Shihon, who was a Magical Beast Girl, certainly did.

"What? Like, right now?"

"Y-Yes! Like, right now!!"

"There's no reason to inform me of that, though! Just find a safe place near the base of the tower, dig a hole, do your business and wipe-"

"With what?"

"Uh…"

"Exactly," Shihon responded with a gloomy face. "I'm gonna be smelling like literal shit. Fuck my life."

"W-Wait, let's see what i might have in here," Liohime said positively as the holographic items within his storage ring lit up as he pressed on it twice.

Skimming through the list of the items, he finally found what he was looking for.

"Well, well, looks like everything will be alright. Wet Wipes to the rescue."

***

After the emergency problem had been thwarted and the food and drinks had been indulged with, the duo relaxed for a few minutes and then stood up together.

"Alright then, I guess it's time, Shihon."

"Yeah. I'm ready whenever you are, Master," his partner replied cheerfully, and Liohime successfully recalled her to his mindspace before exiting the floors above.

He was a bit behind the other Shinigami Soldiers, but there was still plenty of time to catch up.

Thus, with proper rest taken and a will that burned brightly within, Liohime Kitagami now entered the first floor.

He cocked his head in surprise, instantly noticing the black square of hazy atmosphere floating in the ground at the corner of the room.

Is…this it?

Seeing that there was no other exit other than the door that led outside of the tower and the room upstairs, he shrugged his shoulders, guessing that this anomaly was the door to the second layer.

I don't get it. Is this a scientific-based structure, or is it magic-induced? There's no Magical Beast controlling it if it's the latter. Also, how will I return to this spot if I manage to get that Magical Beast egg? I hope that there's a way back.

With anxiety looming, Liohime simply exhaled deeply and walked forward, before stepping into the misty substance that began to slowly drag him downwards.

This is it, then.

He had no idea of what was going to happen, but he knew that the second layer would be even crazier and more dangerous than the first. Therefore, with one down and two to go, he would ensure that his caution was at the highest level when proceeding to venture out in this new layer.

He remembered the words of the client who had given instructions about the directions to take when in the second layer:

((

"The second layer is mostly hidden under the first layer, shadowed with only little sunlight entering the edges near the center. However, the entry to the third and final layer is not through the center, as it is blocked off and covered by earth. The second layer is divided into three main areas, and to reach the third layer, you must travel to the opposite end from your starting point in the middle. The 'Lost Forest' is the quickest yet the most dangerous way to the third layer. Choose that path if you are confident and you will reach the Waterfall of Hell."

))

With those directions engrained in his mind, Liohime narrowed his eyes as he was now shrouded in darkness, awaiting a teleportation mechanic.

And soon enough, it came.

--Liohime Kitagami had been transported to the outer border of the Lost Forest, right above the Spike Field.

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