So no one day break this time. Oh well.
Review replies!
Dragon Rider 66: I don't currently have any plans beyond Trihexa, but I do have about 16.5% of an idea if I go ahead with it further. Let's see how the final arc goes.
reality deviant: They're not Sugu's neighbors atm. But we'll see. I will probably write that AU after completing the Peace Treaty Arc. As for Kiba being a closet pervert, it was literally one line in the novel.
MWkillkenny84: … that's a very good idea. And everyone's in the "Put Kirito in His Place" Club. Everyone.
xanothos: but what if I don't know how many breads I've eaten in my life?
Well, here we are. This chapter deals with two stories. I read the relevant volume just now and … I totally forgot one of them takes place post-Treaty. Welp, we can change that here.
Obligatory Disclaimer: my ownership of DxD and SAO is inversely proportional to how much I enjoy degenerate ecchi harems like Yuragi-sou and MonMusu (but seriously tho, both are pretty entertaining)
*~B~*
Chapter Forty-Four: Familiar Shenanigans
*~Ise~*
For some reason, Koneko-chan greeted me with a wordless glare.
"Uh … what did I do?" I asked.
"… Not you. Your friends," she answered, still not dropping the glare.
Matsuda, Motohama, what kind of stupid shit did you do?
"If they're the friends I'm thinking of, what exactly did those two idiots do?" I asked. I could probably guess the answer.
"… They were hiding in the first-year changing room," she said. Yep, I knew it.
"They never learn, do they?" I said in exasperation. Well, the past me would have probably joined them …
Another weekend had passed since the Rating Game. Once again, nothing much of note was happening. It was the same old demented clients and the same old jobs.
What had changed, though, was that our mystery Bishop was no longer holed up in his room. Gasper was, at the moment, sitting in his box and chatting with Kirito. I constantly caught words from their conversation that I couldn't make heads or tails of.
I'm supposed to be fluent in every language, you know? What the heck are you two even talking about?
Kiba was sitting down and reading a book. Akeno-san gave Koneko-chan a plate of sweets and then busied herself with making tea.
Buchou had gone to talk with Kaichou about the club report or something. Wasn't this club basically a front? What was it about the club report that was so important?
Just as I was thinking that, the door opened and Buchou walked in, looking troubled. Akeno-san handed her a cup of tea.
"Thank you, Akeno," Buchou said, accepting the cup and sitting down. "What a to-do … I have to hand in the club activity report soon."
"Didn't you just go give it?" I asked in confusion.
"What I gave was the actual club report titled 'The Relation between UFO and Devils'," she explained. Hold on, the relation between what and what, now? "But I also have to give a report as a Devil. Unlike last year, the deadline is earlier this year."
"A report as a Devil?" Kirito asked.
"As a pure-blooded Devil, Buchou is required to attend the school in the Underworld," Kiba explained. "But since she's studying here in Japan, she has to make do with her situation."
"Even though she's here in Kuou, she has to acquire the necessary credits," Akeno-san continued. "Besides Devil jobs, she has to for example, research various mythological creatures. If she doesn't do those, she will be forced to go back to the Underworld."
Man, the Underworld needs a lot of reforms.
"Since it's come to this, let's consult Salamander Tomiita-san."
"Who?" Kirito asked.
"That would be difficult, Buchou," Kiba spoke up. "The Kappa has returned to his homeland to learn his family's cucumber-farming traditions."
A Kappa? Like the turtle-men who have plates on their heads?
Weren't they a high EXP earning mob that spawned on one of the floors of Aincrad?
"Somehow, I'm not at all surprised they actually exist," Kirito said. "I feel a bit guilty about my virtual genocide now."
"So he's gone back … I see," Buchou said. "Cucumber farming is a much more stable occupation than being a rapper."
"I haven't heard his Shirikodama Rhapsody in a while," Kiba mused. "Koneko-chan, do you have a recording?" Koneko-chan nodded.
Hold it, hold it, hold it. A Kappa rapper? Named Salamander Tomiita-san? Were –
"Were his mixtapes fire?" Kirito said what I was thinking with no shame.
"Yes," Koneko-chan answered seriously, which made Kirito blink.
Buchou smiled. "Koneko is a big fan of his," she informed us.
Koneko-chan blushed slightly but nodded in agreement. You're turning me into a kuudere fan, you know? I'm trying to stay faithful to tsunderes here!
"Since we can't go talk to Tomiita-san, what about the chatty Dullahan?" Buchou said.
A Dullahan? We know some headless knight?
"The Dullahan's head has been hospitalized," Akeno-san said. "He has contracted hernia."
How the hell does a Dullahan get hernia?!
Buchou sighed. "In that case, that leaves us with only one option. Such a hassle … and I wanted to go to the forest of familiars tonight, too."
"Asia, Ise and I are getting our familiars?" Kirito asked.
Buchou nodded. "Tonight is a full moon, so it's the best time to go. But we have to deal with her first."
"Ara ara, she's a kind person, Buchou," Akeno-san said.
"True, but she has rigid misconceptions about us, so it makes her hard to deal with," said Buchou.
"Who are you talking about?" I asked.
"You'll see," was all she said. She sighed and got up. "Let's get this over with."
*~B~*
[Location undisclosed]
"Sugou-sama," a person said. "It's ready."
The smile on Sugou Nobuyuki's face would make most people fearfully avoid him.
He'd been playing an irritating waiting game all this time, while perfecting the spell. It wasn't easy to get the data he needed, even being in Ajuka Beelzebub's employ, but Diodora Astaroth had found his idea amusing and helped get him what he wanted.
The things one could get done, being related to a Maou. Sugou was a bit jealous.
It didn't really matter anymore. The spell had been completed after the thirty trial runs, and his other experiment on his newfound guinea pigs was progressing quite well.
Soon, he would have his chance. Asuna would be his.
"Wait until it is time to strike," he said. "I will signal you then."
"Understood."
*~Ise~*
The sound of tennis rackets zipping through the air filled the grounds where we were.
It appeared to be the girls' tennis club practicing. The seven of us – Gasper had fervently insisted he stay in the clubroom – were standing behind a net, and watching.
Whoever invented bloomers needs to be worshipped. Whoever allowed their usage for school needs to be revered. I could not take my eyes off the scene.
"You're staring yet again," Kirito said.
Whatever my retort was gonna be, it was wiped from my mind when someone let out a high-pitched scream. "Kyaaaaa! Kiba-kun is watching!"
Kirito immediately rounded on Kiba. "If only they knew you're not a Casanova but a Master Roshi."
"Kyaaaaa! Kirigaya-kun is there, too!" screamed a different voice.
Kirito froze. Kiba smirked. "Who's the Casanova now?"
"Ohohoho! If it isn't Rias-san!" said an unfamiliar voice.
Riding towards us on a horse that had a chilling aura was a senior with long brown curls – Drill-haired, like Ravel. She had a fairly large bust and was wearing the sports uniform like the other girls practicing.
But what is with that horse?! It was black, fine. But why were its eyes glowing?! Why was it breathing heavily like some demonic thing?!
And why is there a headless guy in armor casually riding behind her?! In broad daylight!
Ohoho got off her horse and calmed it down. "It's a good horse, isn't it?" she said, grinning. "The owner, Mr. Smith, his head got hospitalized the other day, so I'm taking care of it."
It was that Dullahan's horse?! So is that the rest of Mr. Smith behind her?! More like, what kind of hospital treats just a head?!
"Ise, Asia, Kirito, this is my classmate Abe Kiyome," Buchou introduced. "She's the captain of the Kuou Tennis Club. And she comes from a family renowned for their dealings with non-humans. Abe Kiyome-san is quite well versed in mythological creatures.
"Ohohoho! Flattery will get you nowhere, Rias-san!" Ohoho-senpai said.
"More importantly, isn't bringing a Dullahan into school against school rules?" Kirito asked.
"It can't be helped. The body can act independently from the head, so I'm taking care of him and his horse. He makes a great mascot for the club, don't you think? The Headless Mascot Honda-san!"
Buchou nodded. "It can't be helped if it's a mascot." You're okay with it?!
"Kaichou said the same thing," Ohoho-senpai added. Kaichou is okay with it?! What the hell, you've been giving me the totally wrong impression of the student council, Ruruko, Gen, Reya-san!
"So then, Rias-san. What brings you here?" Ohoho-senpai asked.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but may I interview you? I would like to hear from an accomplished beast tamer about those you have under your control."
Buchou asked that pretty calmly but …
"I don't want to," Abe-senpai instantly refused.
"Why do I have to be questioned by a Devil? I'm grateful that this school accepted me, but this and that are totally different matters, right? Rias-san also has a lot of connections so it doesn't have to be me, does it?"
"Wouldn't having a connection with me be beneficial, then?"
Abe-senpai laughed. "Ohohoho! Maybe, but it'll certainly become frightening afterwards! I need to be careful dealing with you and Kaichou or I might lose my soul!"
… I see why Buchou said she was difficult to deal with.
But I could also see where Abe-senpai was coming from. To non-Devils, we were symbols of evil. If I was still human, I'd definitely be afraid of making a deal with a Devil.
"We don't do such serious things, nowadays," Buchou said, sighing. "I would just invite you to dinner or something. So, will you still not accept?"
Abe-senpai put on a contemplative face. Then she smiled dangerously. "Let's make this interesting. How about we play tennis with a penalty?"
"That is certainly interesting." Looks like Buchou's competitive spirit was flaring up. "I'm pretty good at tennis. If we win, you will agree to the interview, correct? What do you desire if you win?"
Abe-senpai looked thoughtful before turning to me. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are the Welsh Dragon, otherwise known as the Sekiryuutei, right?"
"Uh … yeah, that's me."
"Studying you might help my cousin," she said.
"Ara, did something happen to your cousin?" Akeno-san asked.
"She came out of that death game marked by a dragon."
"Your cousin was in SAO?" Kirito asked.
Abe-senpai turned to him. "Oh? Were you in that game, too?"
"Yeah."
"Me, too," I blurted out.
"Two SAO Survivors, one being the Sekiryuutei," Abe-senpai muttered. Then she smiled and turned to Rias. "I've got it. If I win, I borrow your servants for a bit–"
"Denied." Buchou interrupted. She was smiling, but it felt scary.
I'd experienced Buchou's possessiveness first-hand in the few days she had been living at my home. It felt odd ordering my Master, but she kept wanting to sleep in my bed. Is that your succubus blood acting up again? Eventually, I caved in, so long as she wore clothes.
They'd somehow come off in her sleep so I'd wake up with her hugging me while naked. Surprisingly, I got used to it pretty fast.
She had a killer pout. I couldn't refuse her when she did that, and I assumed she'd keep doing what she wanted as long as she stayed over, so I just forced myself to get used to it.
The first morning, Asia had stormed in after Buchou had replied for me. I still have no idea how I managed to defuse that awkward situation.
"They are my important servants. I cannot agree to–"
"We accept your conditions," Akeno-san interrupted. "If we win, you will help Buchou with the report, and if you win, you will borrow Ise-kun and Kirito-kun for a while."
"Wait, Akeno!"
"We just have to win, right?"
Buchou held Akeno-san's gaze for a moment, then sighed and nodded. "I understand. You have a deal, Kiyome-san."
"Ohohoho! I should warn you, I didn't become the tennis club's captain just for my looks!" Abe-senpai confidently declared. "You should train as much as you can! My adorable friends are also experts at tennis!"
"We'll return today after school hours, if that's okay with you. I will blow you away!"
They both laughed, seemingly on good terms, but they both had a scary aura.
"Did they just agree to that without our consent?" Kirito muttered.
You said it yourself. Devils, man.
*~B~*
"Ohohoho! I'm glad to see that you didn't back out!"
After school hours, we of the ORC were gathered at the sports ground.
Abe-senpai was waiting for us, a literal horde of monsters behind her.
"The rules are as follows," Abe-senpai said. "There will be two singles and one doubles. The team to first gain two victories wins. Rias-san and I must participate. The others will be decided by drawing lots."
She even prepared lots, huh. Man, I hope I don't get picked for anything. Buchou gave us some speed training, but I wasn't particularly confident.
Blue tickets mean the player plays singles, red means they join Buchou in the doubles. I really hope anyone but me or Asia gets picked.
Akeno-san and Kirito went first. They both picked out blue tickets.
"Ara, singles."
"Singles, huh? Suits me just fine."
It was then my turn. Please don't be red, please don't be red…!
It was red.
God hates me.
Well, I am a Devil.
"So Ise is my partner. Let's do our best!" Buchou said enthusiastically.
Yeah, I'm just hoping that my best turns out to be even halfway decent.
Akeno-san went first. "Hmm … okay! Cardea!" Abe-senpai called. "You're up!"
From the crowd of monsters a beautiful and very top-heavy girl with wings for arms walked forward. She had windswept sky-blue hair and feathers and was wearing a modified set of the sports kit, which was sleeveless. "Sure thing, Kiyo!" she answered.
"Oh shit, it's Papi," Kirito muttered.
"I'm surprised you made that reference," I muttered back.
"And I'm not at all surprised you got it."
I rolled my eyes. "You watched the show?"
"I watched all kinds of shows, and played all kinds of games. I'm guessing that show is one of your favorites."
"Was. And anyways, Papi was nowhere near that busty." Seriously, how does that Cardea girl fly? Magic? Those are as big as Buchou's. And since she was about as short as Koneko – maybe a bit taller – it only stood out more.
"A harpy," Buchou confirmed. "A winged beast, and the majority of them are female." It works like that in real life, too?
Akeno-san and Cardea-san took their positions on the court. I expected Cardea-san to hold the tennis racquet with her clawed legs, but she was deftly using a wing to hold it.
I could barely follow their rallies. Akeno-san was a total pro. Cardea-san jumped and glided super-fast to catch balls other players would probably miss. Yep, she definitely used magic. The way those bounced around couldn't be good for her balance.
"Hey, you're pretty good, Onee-san!" Cardea-san cheerfully exclaimed.
"Ara, you are quite skilled yourself!" Akeno-san replied.
After several ridiculously long rallies, Akeno-san hit the ball just far enough and fast enough that Cardea-san couldn't reach it and won the match. It was a three-set game and Akeno-san won the first and second sets. Cardea-san was pretty good, but Akeno-san had completely dominated the match.
Either way, the first victory went to us. Kirito was up next.
"Caducea! You're next!" Abe-senpai called.
From the horde of monsters a beautiful woman with the lower body of a snake walked – err, slithered forward. Her straight red hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, and she only wore the shirt of the sports kit, having some sort of tight skirt around her waist.
She wasn't as busty as Cardea-san, but that wasn't a very modest chest either.
… Is this gonna be a running theme now? Is every supernatural-affiliated person gonna be attractive? Dammit, I wanna be a bishounen too!
"Pleased to meet you," she said politely. "I am Caducea, a lamia."
Oh shit, it's Miia. Red hair, too! But her snake half had dark green and red-brown scales.
"A lamia," Buchou repeated. "Snake-people who are also mostly female. My, you've certainly created some interesting pacts, Kiyome-san."
Kirito and Caducea-san began their match. Kirito won the first set, but he was only keeping up because of his crazy reflexes. Caducea-san used her serpentine half to great advantage, twisting and stretching to pull off impossible shots.
"Man, sports are really not my thing," Kirito grumbled, as Caducea-san scored another point on him.
"Do not worry, you are keeping up quite well," Caducea-san said. A minute later, Kirito lost the third set. That made the score 1-1. Man, I am so not confident.
"You actually lost," I directed at Kirito.
"I'm disappointed in you, senpai," Koneko-chan followed up. Even I could detect the teasing tone in her words.
"Sports are not my thing, okay?" he grumbled.
"You have like, the best reflexes of all of us," I countered.
"Miia was too good," he muttered.
"Caducea is my best player," Ohoho-senpai said. "Maybe I should have kept her for the doubles. Oh, well. The doubles shall be a single set match! And my partner … yes, it has to be my adorable Yuki-onna!"
What did she say? Aren't Yuki-onna the beautiful snow women? First an extremely busty and cheerful harpy, then a demure and beautiful lamia, now a Yuki-onna? Did Ohoho-senpai have some exotic harem?
"Hokyooooo!"
A white gorilla stomped to the front of the horde and started beating its fists against its chest.
"This is Christie, my beautiful Yuki-onna!" Abe-senpai declared.
… So this is what it feels like to have your hopes raised and then brutally shattered in quick succession.
I snapped. "Oi, that's just a white gorilla!" I shouted.
"Ise, calm down," Buchou said. "Yuki-onna look like that."
"Screw that! A Yuki-onna is supposed to be a beautiful maiden, not some overgrown primate!"
Abe-senpai nodded. "Well, storybook Yuki-onna do supposedly exist, but I have never seen one myself."
Buchou blinked. "That's interesting. I didn't know that."
"Let's call that little tidbit a free bonus for beating Cardea so easily," Abe-senpai offered, smiling. "Oh, and Cardea? I'm upping your training drastically."
"Hey, no fair!" Cardea-san protested, jumping up. You belong in a Gainax show. That, or you're running on the Dead or Alive physics engine. But then again, so do Buchou and Akeno-san. "That Devil senpai was too good!"
"That just means you have to be better, right?"
Cardea-san pouted. Cute.
"But anyways, my partner will be this splendid Yuki-onna, Christie."
"Like I said, stop calling that Goristie a Yuki-onna!" I roared.
"Ise, Yuki-onna have a deadly freezing breath attack, so be careful!" Buchou warned.
Are you serious right now?! I have to consider that damn gorilla a Yuki-onna?! I reject this reality!
Goristie brought out something which made me gape further. "What the hell is that?!" I yelled, pointing.
"That's Christie's specially made racquet," Abe-senpai said as if stating the obvious.
I stared at the hunk of wood. "That's no racquet! That's a blunt weapon!" I stated the actual obvious.
Uncaring of my protests, the tennis match started. I stood to a side watching Buchou and Ohoho-senpai duke it out. Was – was I even needed here?
Buchou scored a point. Abe-senpai scored a point. Buchou scored another point.
Like me, that damn Goristie was standing to the side, doing nothing. She looked bored.
"Christie! It's going your way!" Abe-senpai called.
The gorilla's eyes went sharp. I didn't catch what happened next.
One moment, Goristie was swinging her blunt weapon. The next moment something zoomed past my ear and there was a frightening boom behind me. I tentatively looked around to see a freaking crater.
"Christie's returns are as killer as always, huh," Cardea=san commented.
"Indeed," Caducea-san agreed. "I would not wish to be receiving those."
That's not a return, that's a final attack!
"Ise-san, Buchou!" Asia called. "Good luck!"
I'll definitely need that, so thanks, Asia! I'll need all the luck I can get! My life's in danger here!
"Ise, focus," Buchou scolded lightly. "We're going to win this."
Buchou threw the ball into the air – wait, how'd she get a replacement so fast? Goristie completely destroyed that last one – and served.
"Christie! Time for that tactic!" Abe-senpai said, redirecting the ball at me.
"Uho!" Goristie took a breath and blew freezing air at me.
My arm froze. Is this the so-called freezing breath?!
Well, if you're gonna do that, then…!
[Boost!]
I materialized Boosted Gear and used my Boosted power to set my hand aflame. Red flames melted the ice away.
[Boost!]
One thing about Boosted Gear was that the first Boost happened as soon as it was summoned. One thing about my subspecies was that the first special Boost needed no time either.
I swung the bat with my quadrupled attack power.
BANG!
Neither Abe-senpai nor Goristie was able to react to the ball that zoomed forward and created a crater just like Goristie's.
There was total silence for a few seconds, which allowed my second special Boost.
"So that's the Welsh Dragon's power," I heard Caducea-san comment.
"Scary, but also really cool," Cardea-san said.
Their words seemed to break Abe-senpai out of her reverie. "Not a bad shot. But for Kei-chan's sake, I will not lose!"
Well, I ain't losing to a gorilla either! I'm not Raku!
"Dude?" Kirito called. "You might wanna take a look at your racquet."
Now that he mentioned it, it did feel a lot lighter. I looked down at it to see the entire upper half missing.
I'm not at all sure if it got vaporized or broken off.
"Well, I don't have any spare racquets around," Abe-senpai said, smiling mischievously.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the harpy and the lamia quickly hide theirs.
Buchou, however, smiled. "You let us serve first. That was your mistake. Ise, win this," she said, holding out her racquet to me, along with another ball – seriously, where the heck did she get those?
I took it and got into position.
[Boost!]
I sure didn't get to show this off against the fried chicken, but I'll do it now! "Flame on!"
Red flames covered my entire body. The racquet and ball also caught fire, but I didn't mind.
"I'll reimburse you later today. Three times over shouldn't be a problem," Buchou reassured Abe-senpai.
"Christie! Freeze him!" Ohoho-senpai shouted.
"Uho!" Goristie breathed a freezing wind that was twice as potent.
I threw the ball up, uncaring. The fire kept me unfrozen. "This is for the beautiful maiden Yuki-onna!" I yelled, hitting the ball with my full strength.
BAAAAANG!
The flaming ball zoomed between Abe-senpai and Goristie and left a huge crater in the tennis court. That was the last point we needed to win the game.
I heard clapping. Caducea-san the lamia and Honda-san the Dullahan were giving applause. Honda-san gave me a thumbs up and I felt like I could read his mind at that moment: Congratulations for showing that gorilla, he seemed to be saying.
"Whoo! That was awesome!" Cardea-san cheered. Man, those things just didn't stop moving.
"Ara, Ise-kun can be very cool when he wants," Akeno-san said.
"Very cool," Koneko-chan agreed.
"Not bad for a pervert," Kirito said.
"Ise-kun is really strong," Kiba mused.
"I knew you could do it!" Asia cheered.
"Well, it's my loss," Abe-senpai said, looking disappointed. "I will do the interview."
"Thank you. And feel free to come to us if you need any help regarding your cousin," Buchou said.
"Uho." Goristie was staring at me with heart eyes.
"Oh, looks like Christie has been captivated by Hyoudou-kun," Ohoho-senpai commented.
Are you serious right now?! I don't want a damn gorilla to fall for me!
Someone grabbed my shoulder. At some point, Kirito had walked up to me. Are you learning Koneko-chan's silent walking?
"Congratulations," he said, grinning. "You've started on your journey, Harem King."
"THIS ISN'T WHAT I WANTED!"
"Uhoho!"
I ran for my life while Goristie followed me.
*~Kirito~*
I let Ise run around like a headless chicken for a while before Koneko, Abe-senpai and I intervened.
Right now, the seven of us had joined Gasper back in the clubroom. I told Gasper the story while Ise was slumped in a couch, looking dead.
"I hope you haven't used up all your energy," said a clearly amused Buchou. "It's almost time to go get your familiars."
"Do all of you have one?" I asked.
Kiba sometimes used his bird to send me challenges while he waited on the roof. Koneko always followed me, saying that someone had to 'watch the idiots' and she kept her white cat on lookout in the staircase while we dueled.
Pretty sure she just wanted to watch us fight.
Also, she was a white-haired girl literally named 'kitten' and her familiar was a white kitten. She's too cute.
Buchou nodded. She held out a hand and a small red bat appeared from the magic circle that formed. "This is mine," she said. "Having a familiar is a basic for all Devils. They can help their masters in various ways. From menial tasks to information transferring, they can be used in various ways."
"Huh. Hey Gasper, do you have one?" I asked.
The box vampire shook his head. "I – I've never needed one. And I'm still sure about that."
"Gasper, do you really not want to join us?" Buchou asked.
"I – I'm fine here."
"Buchou, the preparations are complete," Akeno-senpai said, getting up from the magic circle she had been making.
"Let's not waste any time, then. Everyone gather in the circle," Buchou ordered.
We did so, and the circle flashed. We found ourselves in a forest with the moon shining above our heads.
Or would have it the trees weren't so huge. Good thing I had great night vision due to being a Devil.
"Gotta catch 'em all!"
Us three newbies jumped and turned around. Some weird old guy was standing on a branch. His outfit looked reminiscent of something.
He jumped down and stumbled the landing, and pretended like that hadn't happened.
"I am Zatouji of Madara Town! My goal is to become the Familiar Master!"
"… Did this guy watch too much Pokemon?" I whispered.
Buchou giggled. "Don't make the comparison. He'll refuse to help." Out loud, she said, "Zatouji-san, I've brought the three I've talked about."
"Hmm. A dull-faced boy, an overconfident-looking boy and a blonde beauty. Leave it to me!"
Oi, who are you calling overconfident-looking, you damn chuuni?
"We've all received our familiars from this place with Zatouji-san's help," Buchou explained. "He'll be helping us to find familiars for you three, okay?"
I find it hard to believe this chuuni is so helpful, but sure.
"So, what type of familiar do you desire? Strength type? Speed type? Poison type?"
"Don't say something scary like poison type all of a sudden," Ise said. "What do you recommend?"
Zatouji-san smiled weirdly and took out some sort of catalogue, pointing out a page. "This one! Dragon King Tiamat! It's a legendary dragon titled the Chaos Karma Dragon! It's the only female among the Dragon Kings and is said to be as strong as a Maou!"
"… Yeah, not happening," Ise said.
"Don't you have Boosted Gear?" I asked rhetorically. "So technically, you're both legendary dragons. Doesn't that make you compatible?"
"Even if I wanted to do something ridiculous like taming the last boss, Ddraig says they don't particularly get along."
Wow, even your straight-man routine is lacking energy. Did Goristie shake you that much?
"Umm, do you have anything else?" Ise asked.
Zatouji-san smiled weirdly again and flipped to a different page of the catalogue. "Here! The amazing hydra! Nothing in the world can resist its deadly poison! It's also immortal and would try to kill its master! Useful, right?"
There is something very wrong with your head. "I wanna punch him. Can I punch him?"
"A punch from you would seriously injure him. But this is good. A hydra is very rare. If I remember correctly, there is one in a cave not far from here. We could be finished within hours."
Buchou, Ise right now can't tell you're joking. Even I'd go easy on him right now.
Maybe.
"I'm gonna get killed!" Ise loudly protests. "And I don't need a familiar that's stronger than me!"
"You sure have a lot of requests. So, what do you want?" Chuuni-san said, looking mildly annoyed.
You're the one who's got something wrong with his head, you damn chuuni.
"Maybe a cute familiar?" Ise suggested.
Zatouji-san clicked his tongue. "Newbie Devils just don't understand. You have to catch powerful familiars. If you want to become a Familiar Master you have to catch the same one several times. You have to choose the best among them and make them breed. Also…"
He went on and on with his spiel. If you're carrying out Pokemon breeding techniques in real life, that makes you a pretty bad person.
"U-Um, I also want a cute familiar," Asia piped up.
Chuuni-san stopped his rant immediately to smile at Asia. "Okay, sure."
If I didn't put a hand on his shoulder then, I'm pretty sure Ise would have punched the guy.
Asuna, Lizbeth is your Servant, right? How did her patience last this guy?
We walked a short distance and arrived at a lake. "Listen up, water spirits gather at this lake," Zatouji-san explained. "The water spirits undines don't usually show themselves. They have a pure heart and a beautiful body. They are mostly female."
Hearing those words made Ise look interested. Before long, the lake started glowing.
"Ooh, it'll appear soon," Zatouji-san said, looking excited.
The light of the lake faded, revealing a figure with sparkling blue hair, and wearing robes over its … gigantic bodybuilder physique.
"There it is, an undine! Beautiful, isn't she?" Chuuni-san said.
Ise looked like he'd suffered a critical attack. "That's a veteran warrior, not an undine!" he exclaimed.
"Undines constantly fight for their territory. So it's natural they would look so strong. After all, in the world of spirits, violence is the answer. But this one looks exceptionally strong. That's rare. I recommend you catch it."
He looked like some part of him had died inside. "I've heard that one of the nine fairy races of new Alfheim also share the name 'undine'. Pheh! These are the real undines!" Zatouji-san added.
"Ara, another one has appeared," Akeno-senpai commented.
An undine with a lighter shade of blue hair and the same physique approached the first.
"Ohh! We're about to witness something rare! A territory fight between undines!" Chuuni-san cheered.
"It's rare cause nobody wants to see it," Ise mumbled.
"Go, Dine-chan!" Asia cheered. Uh, which one are you cheering for?
*~B~*
"Nobody move," Zatouji-san suddenly said.
All of us stopped our trek through the forest. I was yet to hear Zatouji-san use an urgent tone like that.
Buchou wanted to ask what was wrong, but Zatouji-san raised a finger to his lips. Everyone waited quietly. Asia hid behind Ise.
Soon, I heard an oddly familiar rustle. Something phased into existence a few meters ahead.
A fox with red fur and yellow eyes. Its claws were long and black, and there were a few black streaks in its tail.
"Isn't that a Shaedfox?" Ise said. Right, that's where I remember it from.
Zatouji-san looked surprised. "I'm surprised you know of them. They're extremely rare. I suggest we keep moving carefully – Shaedfoxes are quite choosy about their masters. They are quick to attack others and they are unpredictable."
Ise seemed not to heed his words. He cautiously walked forward.
"I-Ise-san?" Asia asked, wide eyed.
"Ise?" Buchou said, looking confused.
I held out a hand towards Kiba, on full alert.
The Shaedfox disappeared. Kiba had halfway materialized his sword when he stopped.
It had reappeared right in front of Ise and was looking at him curiously. Ise carefully reached out to pat it. It didn't make any sudden retreats.
"I'm shocked, boy," Zatouji-san said, relaxing. "To think you'd be chosen by a Shaedfox."
"It was just a gut feeling on my part," Ise said.
"Well done, Ise-kun!" Akeno-senpai cheered.
Buchou nodded. "To be expected from the Sekiryuutei."
Ise turned sheepish at the praise.
Something black caught my sight. I turned to look at a black cat with sharp, heterochromic eyes. One was blue, the other was red. "What's that?" I asked.
Zatouji-san followed my gaze. "Oho, another rarity. That's a species of bakeneko known for their intelligence. You can teach it nearly anything, its learning capacity is remarkable. Hmm, but that's odd. They don't normally appear without the presence of a cat or cat spirit."
I didn't miss Koneko twitch slightly. "Must be a coincidence," she said.
Well, whatever. I walked up to it, and it waited where it was, just staring at me with its sharp eyes. It mewled and purred when I stroked it.
"Looks like it's quite taken by you," Zatouji-san commented.
"Does it have a name?" I asked.
"Nah. If you're going to contract it, what do you wish to call it?"
"Kuroneko," I said instantly.
Koneko looked unimpressed. "You're literally going to call it 'black cat'?"
"You have a white cat named Shiro," I countered.
"Better than Kuroneko."
"Maybe, but I'm definitely calling it Kuroneko."
The name had come to me instantly. It might not be much, but this is my way of remembering them.
"Well, then. Let's go find the Sprite Dragon!"
"The Sprite Dragon?" Ise asked.
Zatouji-san nodded. "Like its name suggests, it's a dragon which uses blue lightning. There is one that appeared in the depths of this forest some time ago. Right now, it's still a baby, so it's the perfect time to catch it. It will be impossible to tame after it matures. It – oh! There it is right now!"
Zatouji-san enthusiastically pointed up at a branch.
A small dragon, the size of an eagle, whose blue scales seemed to be glowing.
"So many rare occurrences! This must be the luck of the Sekiryuutei!" Zatouji-san exclaimed.
The dragon glided down and cautiously approached Asia.
"It's so cute," she cooed.
"Looks like we've found familiars for all three of you," Buchou said, smiling. "Quite rare ones, too. Well then, let's hurry and make the contracts."
Buchou told us the words. Man, even thinking the words makes my chuuni side flare up. Are all spells gonna be like this?
"In the name of Hyoudou Issei, I order you! You shall become my familiar and respond to my contract, Kagemaru!"
Kagemaru, huh? Pretty simple name. It was my turn next.
"In the name of Kirigaya Kazuto, I order you! You shall become my familiar and respond to my contract, Kuroneko!"
"Sometimes I forget Kirito-kun's real name," Akeno-senpai mused.
"Me too," Kiba agreed.
Finally, it was Asia's turn.
"I-In the name of A-Asia Argento, I order you! You shall b-become my familiar, a-and respond to my contract, Rassei!"
The magic circle set up by Akeno-senpai glowed one last time. Akeno-senpai sighed in relief. Looks like all three contracts were completed without complications.
"Rassei?" Ise asked.
"I-I combined the Japanese for electricity and Ise-san's name … d-does it bother you?"
Asia anyone who's able to answer yes to that question after seeing your expression has no heart.
"No, not at all!" Ise quickly denied.
"This has been an exceptionally fruitful trip," Buchou said. "Thank you, Zatouji-san."
Zatouji-san shook his head. "No, thank you! I've seen so many rarities today!"
"Thank you for your assistance, regardless," Buchou said. "Well, then! Shall we head back?"
*~B~*
[The next day, after school hours]
I walked into the game store, immediately scanning the shelves.
After coming back from the forest of familiars last night, we went to do our usual nightly jobs. I asked my client if he knew any good multiplayer games, and he gave me several good recommendations.
I wanted to go to bed early, but I ended up sparring with Kiba while Koneko played with Shiro and Kuroneko. Oh, well.
Kuroneko really had an incredible learning capacity. I could probably do without Koneko telling him things like 'Remember, your master is an idiot.'
In any case, since I asked Buchou for a bit of time off, I couldn't get so lost in my thoughts that I'd waste it.
I kept scanning the titles, looking for the ones my client recommended. For some reason, what felt like a powerful holy aura was in the shop.
"Irina, we're not buying that even if we could."
"But Xenovia! I want to understand what this kind of stuff made him feel!"
The argument drew my interest, since it was also the direction of the seemingly holy aura.
Two figures were standing in front of the AmuSphere display. They had white cloaks on, and since I was looking at them from behind, I couldn't see their features. They sounded female, but after Gasper, I wasn't going to take any guesses.
One of them had something big and wrapped with white cloth on her back. It looked vaguely like a sword. It was also the thing giving off that powerful aura.
"Irina, we're on an important mission here. Where and when would you even play it?"
"But, but…! Uuuu, you have a point."
Were they exorcists? Well, according to Buchou, nobody but Stray Exorcists would attack us willy-nilly. And these two didn't seem like Strays. I decided to ignore them, and went back to browsing.
Oh, there's the multiplayer rack. Let's see, which ones would Gasper like…
"You."
I turned to meet the stare of one of the exorcists. Yep, definitely a girl. She had blue hair with a green fringe and hard, dark yellow eyes. She was wearing some sort of tight-fitting black bodysuit.
"You're one of the Devils of this town," Miss Exorcist stated. She looked relaxed, but one hand had inched towards the thing on her back.
The other exorcist turned towards me, too. Also a girl, with chestnut hair tied in twintails, violet eyes and wearing the same outfit as the first exorcist. Strangely, she had a rope tied around her waist, which she was now touching.
"I am, yeah," I said. "I assume you're an exorcist?"
I could see the shopkeeper rolling his eyes. His thoughts were almost audible: Freaking roleplayers.
"What's a Devil doing here?" Miss Exorcist asked.
"Buying games to play with my junior," I answered truthfully.
Miss Exorcist kept looking at me suspiciously. "What? I can't enjoy games now that I'm a Devil?" I protested.
"You've been on your guard since I called you out," Miss Exorcist said.
She caught that? She's good. I shrugged. "I'm a Devil talking to an exorcist whose hands are itching for her weapon. Of course I'll be on guard."
Miss Exorcist's eyes narrowed. "How'd you know it's a weapon?" she demanded.
"Uh … the crazy holy aura it's emitting?" I stated the obvious. "I've never heard of a holy picnic umbrella, so what else could it be?"
"Xenoviaaaaa," Twintails complained. "We just got here. Don't go making enemies."
"… I know. Let's go."
The one called Xenovia threw me one last suspicious glare and the two of them left.
Geez, it hasn't even been a week since the Rating Game. It's too early for another incident.
… Well, so much for buying games.
*~B~*
Aaaaand done.
That ends all three pre-Vol3 chapters. And hah, I did manage to finish it before Singapore.
I can focus on watching anime now.
Anyways, this chapter was basically two stories – the Abe Kiyome story and the Familiars thing. I'll talk about them one by one.
Firstly, the tennis story. This was more than two-thirds the chapter, and a bit fun to write. Ohoho dropped a few interesting lines here and there. I also gave the harpy and lamia names and descriptions too. Because why not. All they got in the LN was 'harpy with huge boobs' and 'lamia with boobs'. Canon!Ise knew his priorities.
Random trivia: Cardea is the name of a Roman wind goddess. Caducea is taken from Caduceus, the Greek god's staff of healing (don't remember if Asclepius or Apollo).
Then came the forest of familiars. Changes: it's from Kirito's POV and Asia isn't the only one who gets a familiar. I also didn't write the whole slime and tentacle molestation bit because … come on. That is disgustingly cliché. I might revisit that scene later as an omake because I do have some idea for it, but meh.
Two other scenes here. One was Sugou scheming. I wanted to add another scene later to tie into the Alfheim arc, but time-wise, it didn't fit.
The other was Kirito meeting Xenovia and Irina, which doesn't really do anything except tie into the Kokabiel arc.
Well, that's that for two-ish weeks.
Punitor567 out. El Psy Congroo.
Ise's POV meant I had to write several comments about voluptuous Papi.
