Chapter 20 Meeting Vert

"I..it's ti..ti...time to wa...wake up Ragna." Tekken's voice reached his ears, making him grumble lightly in his slumber. When the group made it to the town with the cafe, it had closed for the day, leaving Ragna especially bitter. Afterward, they had looked around the village before checking into an inn.

"mmm...tch in a bit," Ragna growled stubbornly, he even wanted to roll a bit, but a substantial amount of weight on his stomach kept him from doing so.

After a bit of whispering made his eye twitch, he felt something poke his cheek and, Tekken's voice shyly said, "Ra...Ragna pl...please wake up." With a small growl, Ragna opened his eyes to see something that made his face bright red.

It was Tekken sitting on his chest, leaning forward slightly with an arm outstretched from poking him. Her face was dusted pink, and, behind her, Ragna could see Neptune smirking at him from her bed. Ragna scowled before hissing out, "What the hell are you doing, Tekken?"

Her face flushed pink while flinching slightly after that Tekken whined out, Wa...waking you up. Ne...Neptune t..t..told me m...men wake-up ea...easier if you do this." She had an innocent smile while scratching her cheek, Ragna gained a glare a Neptune who kept her cheeky smile going.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" IF roared in anger, looking at Ragna and Tekken's position. Her hair covered her eyes as she started muttering things like cheating reaper and, damned chest flab. Finally, before he could explain the situation, IF roared out, her eyes flaring red, "I don't want to hear it, you perverted dirty cheating bastard Reaper, Hellfire Lance!"

A massive explosion rocked the building with flames exploding out of the wall of their room. Compa had shot up to see Neptune laughing in her bed as a sharp-eyed IF was huffing out labored breaths with an intense glare.

"Wh...what happened!" Compa cried out as Neptune turned to her giggling to herself.

The small goddess told her nurse friend, "Just the funniest prank yet, oh, this is too easy hehehe." she had lied to Tekken, knowing something like this would happen in the end. As the smoke around Ragna's bed cleared, Tekken had toppled over, knocked unconscious by the explosion, "Oh crud." Neptune muttered.

A bluish-green wall of light was around Ragna. It was his barrier Ars which he used to stop IF's attack and turned it off while sliding Tekken's body off of the bed. Neptune gave a nervous smile while a sweatdrop rolled down her forehead, asking the Reaper, "So, I guess you won't take a pudding in apology?"

"Tch. better clench your teeth brat." Ragna scowled out as his right arm ignited in Azure flames, bringing it down quickly. For the second time, an explosion rocked the building, the windows blasting out with blackish-purple flames.

(10 minutes later)

Outside of the inn, IF, Neptune and, Tekken were sitting on their knees, holding different expressions after Compa whacked them on the head with her syringe. Neptune cast her eyes off to the side, a half apologetic smile on her face that attempted to hide her self satisfaction. IF's look was bitter and slightly angry as she looked toward's a certain Reaper who was leaning against a nearby tree.

Finally, there was Tekken, who looked generally confused as to why Compa hit her despite being a victim in Neptune's plan. As the awkward silence continued, it was finally broken by Tekken, whining out, "Compa, why was I included in the scolding?"

Compa looked at the brawler with a stern motherly look, replying, "Because you need to learn not to get caught up in Nep-Nep's schemes." she then turned to the little prankster herself. She continued with, "And Nep-Nep, you shouldn't take your jokes too far, especially considering Iffy's feelings."

"Aww, come on, Compa, it wasn't that big of a deal," Neptune did her best to brush off the nurse's words while IF's intense look turned to her.

IF scowled out at her, "You caused us to get kicked out of the inn, after paying for the damages that..." before IF could continue complaining, Compa cut her off by saying," were caused by you overreacting Iffy.

Compa then looked towards the Reaper, who she had also hit in the head, telling him, " Mr. Ragna also caused damage to the inn, but, since Iffy attacked you because of Nep-Nep, I'll let you off a little easier."

Ragna rolled his eyes in response before commenting with the click of his tongue," Either way, whether you reprimand these idiots or not paying for the damages left us broke and, we haven't had breakfast yet."

"True, what do we do about food?" Compa muttered, which made the other three girls blink before gaining more apologetic looks while Ragna shrugged.

The Reaper thought to himself, "I'd go hunting but, this world doesn't seem to have actual animals and, everything bursts into data, only leaving a chance to gain edible parts." In the end, the group just decided to give up thinking of ideas and went to head back to the Basilicom.

(Back at the Basilicom)

Entering the building, Neptune calling out, "Yahoo, creepy evil butler looking, guy! We're back!" Ragna just sighed with an annoyed grumble.

Yvoire came over to the group after a few moments saying, "My my you all are..." he seemed to stop himself thinking back to his encounter with the mysterious woman, Conversation.

(While the group was gone)

"Hmm, who would you be?" Yvoire had just bid a lively group of young people goodbye since visiting hours had passed, only to turn and find girl clad in a purple cloak sitting in a pew a few rows ahead of him.

The woman gave a small smile before getting up and saying, "I am conversation, and I come with a warning." Yvoire raised an eyebrow of mistrust as the woman continued with, "Worshippers of Momus have become active as of late and, it could be possible that there are those trying to "convince" the goddess of Leanbox to work with them."

"What of it?" Yvoire replied before taking a moment to think, his eyes narrowing as he continued to talk, "Are you suggesting that those young ones who left were?"

Conversation nodded before telling him with a nod, "Not at all, those girls are just fine, it's the man who you should be wary of," she gained a small smile, that did well to hide her malice, " after all, he is Momus's avatar."

Yvoire's eyes widened before pinching his forehead, turning as he denied the girl's words, "Impossible, such a thing wouldn't so daringly walk into a CPU's home." He then looked back at her with a criticizing look telling her, "Now, if you're finished with making light of dangerous problems, please vacate the premises."

"Making light of things? How rude of you, I even have proof he is a monster in disguise." Conversation approached him, passing on several pictures of Ragna making use of ars magus and Azure Grimoire. Yvoire's arms shook as he looked at the photographs; he then looked up at Conversation, who still wore that smile.

Yvoire then pushed the pictures back to the lady, shaking his head, he couldn't believe that the white-haired man who sat silently resting in the pews only hours before was a monster. As Conversation headed towards the doors of the Basilicom, she stopped saying out loud, "Whether you believe or not doesn't matter, you'll know when your beloved goddess falls, won't you?"

(back to the present)

"Is there anything urgent you need?" Yvoire kept his eyes aiming at the group as a whole, doing his best not to glance toward the spiky-haired Reaper.

IF was the first to nod, putting on a serious look she told him, "Urgent? Yeah, we met someone calling himself a messenger of...mummus, right?" she had completely forgotten the name the worshipper had been throwing around.

"It was Homus, wasn't it?" Compa tilted her head while commenting, and Tekken replied while playing with her fingers, "I think it was doofus?"

Rolling his eyes, Ragna facepalmed before telling Yvoire, "What these idiots are trying to say to you, was that we ended up meeting some stupid guy preaching about something called Overlord Momus." The Reaper then decided to tack on while looking at his allies, " And what are all of your excuses for forgetting that thing's name, that preacher bastard said it at least 12 times while he was trying to toss shit at us?"

"Eh, it was part of a side chapter can't blame us that much ya know?" Neptune shrugged while answering the Reaper, who sighed at the small goddess.

IF decided to jump back in getting Yvoire's attention by saying, "We don't know what his actual goal was in the end, Tekken knocked him unconscious before he could tell us." Yvoire nodded before IF decided to add on by telling him, "Besides, there is another thing, we've found the source for why the amount monsters running around is increasing."

"Really?!" Yvoire looked shocked while Compa nodded as Tekken herself gained a look of surprise, Yvoire followed up by asking, " So, please do tell what you've found out?"

Compa nodded, "We don't know where they're coming from, but it seems to be that there are discs that spawn monsters."

"Discs that spawn monsters?" Yvoire looked wide-eyed as Neptune jumped up, replying, "Yeppers! Though having proof of it is kind of tuff since we smash them the moment we can."

That sounded logical enough for Yvoire in the end; he still couldn't decide what to do. This group didn't seem malicious enough to do any wrong, and there was no proof those pictures were real. Sighing to himself, he decided to give it a little more time before giving "That" order to the chefs at the planned banquet.

Afterward, Yvoire discussed with the group about taking measures against the discs spreading through Leanbox and, even further alerting the guild about such things. Between the discussion and seeing how the white-haired man gave input with a rough but honest demeanor, Yvoire convinced himself not to trust Conversation's words.

Giving an honest smile, Yvoire told them, "Out of appreciation, I would like to invite you all for dinner tonight," Neptune's eyes shined in joy while Ragna did his best to hold back a suspicious look. In all honesty, the Grim Reaper didn't trust the Yvoire at all but, maybe because he was in the basilicom, he decided to lower his guard a little.

"Now, I'll need to get things prepared so come back just after the sun goes down," He turned to walk off as the group immediately started planning what to do, and he stopped before remembering, "Ah yes could I request that Miss IF remain here until the dinner?"

Ragna walked in front of her, replying, "Not alone, she can't."

"Hey, I can take care of myself Ragna," she then turned her head, snickering out lowly, "I bet you'd rather hang out with the big-boobed hussie anyways."

It looked like the two were going to get consumed in an argument, so Compa took Neptune and Tekken to the side while telling Yvoire, " We'll leave them in your care Mr. Yvoire; see you in a bit." he did a small bow while leaving the two in the main room to have at it.

(Sometime later)

"Man, just how large is this place?" IF commented as she wandered around the basilicom aimlessly, Ragna following behind her could only shrug.

Despite not wanting to admit it, he had to marvel at the large size of the building himself thinking, "Makes the church I lived-in look a friggen barn," he then went to say something to IF but, stopped himself when he noticed she had opened a door and, started to go in.

"What the hell are you?!" Ragna hissed out, chasing after her as she walked into a room absent-mindedly. Not getting a response, he looked at where IF was staring to see a beautiful girl rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

She had long blonde hair with a beautiful figure and a broad chest. The dress she wore was light green and white, with golden linings. On her hands, she wore loose-fitting white-green gloves with golden markings and, a green-golden was around her upper arm.

"*Yawn* Hmm...so bright why are you bothering me when I was so cozy in here?" she muttered before looking at the pair with her dark-blue eyes.

IF blinked in surprise but, just as she was going to answer, Ragna replied, first rubbing the back of his head, "Yeah, sorry about that, the squirt here got lost while looking for the bathroom or exit or something, we'll be leaving now."

"Wh..whoa what a minute there Ragna, isn't this L..Lady G..G...Green Heart?!" IF replied, looking at him with a slightly annoyed expression. Ragna had realized it alright and wanted to get the heck out before he ended up getting involved with her in any sort of way, knowing how the CPUs were at this point.

Green Heart looked at both of them, tilting her head while saying, "Hm voices of a man and, a girl?" she then got off her bed standing and, while wearing a warm smile, said, "My, oh, my! I never thought such cute and cool-looking people would visit me."

"C..cute? I don't think I'm that cute hehe." IF took it as a compliment in spades, while the Reaper simply didn't react to the statement, not caring how the goddess viewed him.

Vert giggled at IF's reaction before asking, "So who would you both be?"

IF was the first to respond, "I..I...I'm I...I...IF." she had a cute stutter as she introduced herself, bowing in respect of the goddess she respected.

"Name's Ragna..." he said, cutting himself off to think if or if not he should add-in the signature Bloodedge title to his name now that he had let the girls know about his past, with a small smile he decided, "Ragna the Bloodedge. Just call me Ragna like everyone else, though."

IF looked at him completely shocked, Ragna, who had fought with her till she was in tears about talking about his past, had openly introduced himself with his old title. IF was now worried, mentally thinking, "There's no way, did he become charmed by Lady Green Heart in a single look?!"

She then looked back at the goddess and noticed a particularly large area of her body, and scowled thinking, "Damn pervert Reaper." she then tugged on his arm to tell him to look toward's her and moved to poke him in his eyes quickly.

"I don't know why you're trying to go for my eyes, but stop," Ragna complained while grabbing IF's arm in a moment's notice, a Lady Green Heart giggled, making Ragna's gaze to turn to her and, he grumbled, "What's so funny?"

She gave a happy smile, "My name's Vert and, I just find how close you are to be amusing." she introduced herself while IF's face turned bright red as Ragna himself scoffed while letting IF's arm go. Vert yawned once more, and, having looked for a way to leave the room, Ragna jumped on the opening.

"Looks like your still pretty tired," he looked at IF saying with fake concern that Hazama would be impressed with, "come on IF let's leave so Vert can rest up properly, being a goddess must be a bitch on someone's stamina."

Once again, the smaller girl was knocked from a state of happiness, thinking, "Ragna's being suspiciously kind to another girl, even if it's a goddess, this isn't fair, not a fair at all." She felt something slowly rising in her and, only Vert seemed to notice the temperature in the room to increase a small amount.

"Oh no it's fine, I'm just coming off of a night of gaming is all," Vert replied nonchalantly, which those words shattered IF's feelings of jealousy, making her eyes void-like as Vert continued with, "I was sleeping to get some time in before the next online mission."

Having been emotionally overwhelmed at this point, IF couldn't stop herself from passing out.

(Time Passes)

"Hmmm, so comfy...warm." IF muttered happily under her breath as she heard a small giggle and, hand pet her head gently. After a few moments of relishing this comfort, she made an effort to open her eyes. She quickly flushed red as she noticed the comfort she was feeling was none other than Vert's embrace with her ample chest acting as pillows.

Vert smiled at the cute girl that had been resting in her lap since her collapse, saying quietly, "Good Afternoon." It looked like IF was going to freak out about their position and, the goddess shushed her saying, "Shhh. Your cool boyfriend is sleeping on the couch over there."

"B..b... ! I...I don't share that sort of relationship with Ragna," there was a look of disappointment on her face and, Vert looked at IF in an understanding way, as the smaller girl shook her head, asking, "What did you two talk about while I was out?"

Vert looked up at the ceiling of the room, replying, "Not too much, sadly. Despite looking like a character from a video game, he didn't know too much about them, and any questions about your relationship with him or just about him, he brushed off entirely."

"I, see," IF mentally cringed for a moment reminding herself that as it were, Neptune's prediction about her goddess was becoming more valid by the second.

Vert then told the girl, "Now, he did let me know you'd be joining us for dinner tonight, so why don't you go get some rest with him."

"Eh?" IF made a noise of confusion with a flush of red on her face as Vert's smile turned to a teasing one.

She brushed fingers under IF's chin and continued with, "Go on and, cuddle with him; this might be the only chance you get without your friends around." In her mind, Vert giggled like a schoolgirl, thinking, "To think such a unique pairing could appear at my doorstep, this is like a fanfic ahh, I'm going to have such fun with them both. Maybe sneak myself into their dynamic oh, but to be the author or in the pairing myself ah, why not both."

"Go on, I swear he's asleep; I'll even wake you up on time hehe." she made a small giggle at IF's nervous look as she slowly made her way to Ragna, poking the Reaper to see if it was trick yet he was in a deep sleep. Vert wouldn't reveal that she had shared some tea with Ragna that she accidentally spiked with sleeping pills, of course.

Looking at the goddess nervously, IF swallowed some spit before telling her, "A..alright, " she then looked at the sleeping figure of her crush whispering, "When you wake up, you better be happy dummy."

Chapter 20 End

Reviews -

RedBurningDragon - thanks for the review

Kerrowe - Yeah, I noticed I had misspelled it when I posted the chapter, and I hope you like the chapter.

ArmantusCumPinnea- I plan for Tekken to be more of a trigger on IF's end, hope you enjoyed the chapter.