Chapter 86
"You are not invited to my lands." I said, feeling the weight of my new armour settle properly, the tightly fitting, perfectly secured mesh of plate and scale feeling almost like a second skin.
His reply, aside from glaring at me angrily, was to stab the bone spear head into the doll, his wrist twisting the blade savagely.
My reply to this, was not falling to my knees yelling 'arrrg', much to his surprise. Instead, my armour, from just under my curved breastplate, to just over my left shoulder, lit up with a collection of coldly glowing runes. "To combat effects that work on contact, such as poison mist, or wide area weakening effects, my armour acts as a second skin, no more effected by such, as the metal it's made of."
With my expanded senses, not just with the armour, but with the connection to the very land I was standing on, I knew Issei and Vali were nearby, watching even. I had no idea what they were waiting for, but I kind of wished they'd stopped the metaphorical slack jawed looks, and deal with this guy...
"Oh? The petty mongrel has a new suit? I wonder how it will deal with this then?" Loki grinned, the air around him suddenly filled with magic circles of a dozen different configurations.
Oh... that might be bad.
Behind me, the wings of the armour stretched out, and with a quick crouch, I jumped into the air, straight up. As Loki unleashed a dozen different kinds of magic, turning what was left of the shrine to little more than flat burning rubble, I rocketed into the air with a crack of sound that was almost drown out by the rest of the noise.
This had two big effects. The first, was that I was no longer touching the ground, and the power that had been feeding my mostly empty mana reserves, from the very land itself, was suddenly gone. I wasn't near mind down, but if I was careless, I'd flatline and the armour, powered by my mana, would become very protective metal and nothing more.
The second, was the realization that aside from about a minute of Akeno teaching me to 'hover' when I'd tested the armour back in the lab, I didn't know the first thing about flying.
A third realization, overshadowed, but not forgotten with the second realization, was that I was REALLY high up. Loki had been hovering about fifty metres over my head, but now, I was almost able to brush the clouds. My single jump had taken me to almost two kilometres. Far down below, I could see Loki's body twitch as if laughing, before turning in mid air, to look at Issei and Vali, who had been hovering a little way off. Since about the only thing I knew I could do was hover, fall like a leaf, or plummet like a stone, I opted for 'hover' and took in deep breaths of the thin night air. After a few moments, I closed my eyes and eased power into the enchantments on my helmet.
"-here to save you now! With that coward Odin dealing with the cleanup, and your friends still dealing with the results of my labs, you're all alone now!" Loki said, "Even if you're both wearing the skin of the dragon emperors, you're nothing to me!"
"This actually works out in our favour." Vali said, the sounds of his armour telling me he had expanded his wings, "Now we can both let loose, without worry of catching anyone else in the crossfire."
"We'll see what you're saying after I slap that grin off your face!" Issei said, his armour creaking, "Even you can't handle another hit from this hammer!"
"I'll admit, you caught me off guard." Loki chuckled, "And I was quite angry at having bits of my poor son thrown at me, by beings even lesser than yourselves!" I heard a subtle hiss of air, like the sound of a blade being swung, "But will you dare get close, when I'm holding this?"
"Sensei and Kiba beat the fear of sharp objects out of me weeks ago!" Issei shouted, "LET'S GO!"
During the conversation, I had focused on pulling the mana in the air with each breath, and recovering. It was helping, but Loki seemed to be unaware of me, and I planned to keep it that way for just a moment or two longer.
Unfortunately, as I opened my eyes and looked with gold tinted vision at the three below me, I heard Loki ask mockingly, "Is that so?"
Again, the air around him was filled with magic circles, and before the two of them could get out of the way, glowing chains spilled from them, snaking out and latching onto the two dragons, latching onto arms and legs, wrapping around them and locking them into place from every angle.
"Do you think I didn't have a plan of my own? Once my son was confirmed killed, security around Gleipnir became almost non-existent!" He laughed as the two struggled, "I thought, 'why not? It held my son down, why not the one who killed him'?"
Now or never I thought, trying to make one of my wings wiggle a bit and push me as directly over the two dragons as I could. I hoped I'd guessed right, and engaged in my second flight mode.
Issei and Vali both strained against the chains, the two of them simply unable to overcome the legendary artifact's power. Having been made to be unbreakable by the best dwarven smiths, to hold back the now dead beast Fenrir, they simply couldn't.
BOOST!BOOST!
Issei kept trying though, pouring more power into it, his body inside the creaking metal of his armour straining, bruising, rubbing raw against the insides of the metal shell. "I... won't... let you... BEAT ME!"
Loki simply floated closer, "You know, I admire your efforts." He smiled, tapping his palm (carefully) with the bone spear head, "I think I'll reward you by letting you watch as I carve out the heart of the White Dragon Emperor... Or was it 'Butt Dragon Emperor'?"
"Don't take me lightly!" Vali growled, trying to twist this way and that against the chains, his gauntlets flashing, but not seeming to effect the magical bindings.
BOOST!BOOST!
"NO!" Issei strained harder, his armour actually starting to crack as his own strength overcame his protection as he pulled harder against his bonds.
Loki simply laughed and paid it no mind, now within striking distance of Vali, tapping the bone spear head against the core crystal in the middle of the white armour, "Maybe I'll mount your helmets on the wall, next to that murderess, if it's even intact." He glanced back at the crater that was once the shrine.
BOOST!BOOST!
Vali relaxed a little, chuckling, "I'd be looking elsewhere for her body."
Loki blinked, "What? Why?"
Then Kodori fell from the sky, a good two metres from Vali and Loki, narrowly missing Issei, and impacting the ground below with a crash that devastated the trees further.
I got to my feet as soon as I remembered which way was up. I had figured Loki would target Issei, the one with the weapon that could hurt him, HAD hurt him. But instead he had moved over to Vali.
"You had ONE JOB!" Vali yelled over the ringing in my ears.
Loki laughed, a full on belly laugh as I shook dirt and leaves off myself, "You wasted your one chance to run away. To live a little longer. But instead, not only did you come back to your certain death, you MISSED! HAAAAHAHAHAHA!"
The armour had done its job perfectly. The protective enchantments to slow incoming attacks (or sudden stops...) had left me only a little bruised, instead of a broken mess. Not a total loss for a complete miss.
"So I go to plan B." I shrugged, looking up at them, taking note of all the nearby magic circles, my enhanced senses telling me where they all were, without needing to even look at them.
Loki touched the point of the spear to the seam of Vali's armour, between the helmet and chest plate, "And what can you possibly do from down there, with your element of surprise lost?"
Ghostly tails, extended from my own, touched a half dozen of the magic circles. My seventh tail pointed straight down, just touching the ground.
I was surprised when I saw Sensei jump into the air. I mean, she always wanted wings, but now she had them! And to move so fast! I was kind of jealous, honestly. But then that bastard Loki ignored her and turned on us!
I didn't know what Sensei was planning, but I couldn't wait! I had to try and stop Loki! But it was really hard. I only knew a little about this chain, and thought maybe I could over power it. All I was doing though was hurting myself, my own armour cutting into me as I tried to move my arms, to push against the chains, if I could just swing this hammer!
Asia-chan was going to be so mad at me for hurting myself like this, but I couldn't just do nothing!
Then Sensei fell from the sky! But she missed!
Vali was upset for sure! Even with that spear from that big red Oni pointed at him, he still managed to act normally. I couldn't rely on Sensei all the time though! I had to break these chains!
"And what can you possibly do from down there, with your element of surprise lost?" I almost didn't hear it, with my blood thundering louder than Sensei's hammer on her anvil in my ears.
I managed to glance down, even with the chain around my forehead, and saw Sensei look at me, and her tails doing that weird trick they did. In a flash I understood, focusing on Loki again, even as I wished I didn't have to rely on Sensei again.
BOOST!BOOST!
EXPLOSION!
OVERTHRUSTER!
Even as most of my armour broke against the chains, my wings and boosters were still attached when all the chains binding me vanished, and all the tension I had stored up trying to break them, let go all at once. "EAT THIS!"
Even as I redirected the power from the chains binding Issei through me, and into the ground, I found the sudden look of surprise on Loki's face incredibly satisfying. Like a high tension cable suddenly snapping, all the power Issei had been using trying to break free was suddenly loose, and the too large head of Mjolnir came arcing over, and slammed directly into him. To Loki's credit, I saw the flash of a protective circle spring up between them, but it shattered instantly.
And then there was a Loki shaped hole in the ground a few metres from me. The fifty or so metre trip down rang out like a thunder clap, and that was BEFORE the power of the hammer called down a full on lightning bolt, SLAMMING into the hole Loki was in, blowing the dirt and ruined trees apart, exposing his stunned, beaten and smoking body to open air again.
Even at this distance, I didn't need to shield my eyes, but my ear protection wasn't up to the task, and I was momentarily deafened. A few shakes of my head later, and a few steps towards Loki's prone form brought most of my hearing back, and I waved to Issei and Vali as they touched down on the ground.
Issei bent down stiffly, picking up the spear head, "Thanks again, Sensei." He said, "You had to pull my butt out of trouble again though."
I shrugged, "I suppose part of it is my fault too." I motioned to Loki, who was just barely breathing, "To the victor the spoils. What's the plan?"
"I was just about to set this up before he suddenly quit the field." Vali said, spreading his arms and summoning a pair of magic circles, thick with Norse runes, on either side of Loki, "Issei was just about to hammer him into this sealing circle too." He brought his hands together slowly, and Loki's body started to freeze.
"Yeah. He got this huge grin on his face, then said, 'I'll get back to you', and vanished." Issei offered me the spear head, "Old man Tannin said Loki opened a way back to Earth, and President, Akeno-san and Sona-san opened up a portal here."
"Here?" I took the spear head, considered breaking it, then simply held it carefully.
"Well, over there." He motioned towards the nearby mountain range where Sona's villa was, where we'd trained for the match against Riser.
"It wasn't hard to find out where he went." Vali said, his hands clapping together, "I'm... a little disappointed." He shook his head, "Maybe I'll fight him again, if he's ever able to break out of what ever prison they're throwing him into."
For all intents and purposes, Loki looked like he had turned to stone, and was now covered in a thick layer of ice, as well as being contained in the two magic circles. "I suppose we'll find out when Lord Odin or Azazel show up..." I looked towards the ruin that was once the hilltop shrine, "Akeno is going to pout, I can tell already."
"There there." I gave Akeno's head a pat as she pouted on my shoulder.
It was roughly two hours later. Issei, Vali, and I had spent that time recovering, and generally catching our breath. Beside us the entire time, was the slowly regenerating segment of dungeon. It had taken quite a beating, but even after Loki turned the rest of the place to a wreck of wood and stone, it was still able to restore itself. Sure, the process was slow, like watching paint dry, but I was glad all the same.
We also reported on what had gone on. The mad dash and crash through the hotel, and their battle with... well, everything but the kitchen sink. Loki had brought two of Fenrir's children, swarms of monsters from the dungeon, as well as other things. Weird monsters that sounded a lot like what happened to Freed, chimeras right out of a horror story. I was right in making a direct counter to that stolen lightsabre too. Those three assassins weren't the only ones using them.
Before Loki had come personally to kill me, Vali and Issei had gotten the upper hand on him after Okakai had thrown his spear into the upstart god. The distraction was enough for Issei to hit Loki with the hammer, but not quite enough to distract him from his desire to kill me.
Now everyone was here, including the three Japanese Gods. I was actually kind of thankful for Akeno pouting on my shoulder. I was wearing nothing but a slightly torn black body suit, a stylish hat, and my shin guards and gauntlets. It helped me hide the embarrassment of having the three Japanese Gods visiting the crater the shrine had become, and the state of dress I was in.
On the plus side, Inari was thrilled at meeting the two bronze guardians. Even if they were converted guardian dogs.
"Well, now that Loki has been dealt with..." Azazel started.
"That Cocytus place of yours seems a much better place to put him. He'd probably just escape the usual prisons up North." Odin chuckled.
"No doubt poor Shemhazai is lamenting all the paperwork such a prisoner entails." Sona commented. Like everyone else, her body was fine thanks to having Asia on hand, but her clothes were only a little better than most of the others.
"We've already got people on the ground cleaning up the mess." Rias continued, "It looks like you won't run out of magic stones any time soon, Sensei."
"Bahhh, don't remind me." Odin sighed, "I'm going to have to go over Loki's labs with a fine tooth comb to make sure those critters he brought along don't start eating the world tree or something."
Rossweisse sighed, probably knowing that Odin would tell someone else to do it, while he went to a party or something.
"It seems you have the situation well in hand." Amaterasu smiled.
"We've been dealing with situations like this for months now." Azazel shrugged, "Cleanup is just as important as keeping the peace."
"Ah, thank you young lady." Susanoo bowed to Asia, and not just a little bow either, "My back feels better already."
"It was... no trouble, really." Asia shied away a little from the warrior God, but only a little. Of course, Issei was there to give her a headpat.
"After seeing this, I think I like the idea of further dealings with the three factions." Susanoo continued, "They conduct themselves well, and with honour."
"I am willing to overlook the past, to start new." Inari nodded, probably referring to Christianity trying to overtake Japan's various religions back when crusades were still in fashion.
"We are in agreement then." Amaterasu nodded, "Though, perhaps this isn't the place to sign a formal contract..."
She looked at me, and I reluctantly nudged Akeno away a little, "I hear the school has a fancy room for this kind of thing." I made a show of looking around, "Though, if you came back in a few weeks, this place will be back up to code." I spotted a red pillar, "The torii is still intact at least..."
"If you need an extra pair of hands..." Baraqiel offered, and I might have seen Akeno smile ever so slightly.
I nodded to him, then looked back to the three Japanese Gods, "We will visit soon then, but make use of this 'fancy room' for now." Amaterasu smiled.
"I believe we should go." Arthur spoke up, "We have matters to deal with elsewhere, Vali."
I could tell something passed between them, but not what.
"Still gotta wait for my lesson... sigh." Bikou gave me a thumbs up, and started away with Kuroka and Arthur.
"Ahem." I gave the four of them my best 'you've been naughty' look, "I believe you have something of mine."
"Damnit." Bikou mumbled, and Kuroko's tails stiffened. The two of them turned around tossed me a pair of lightsabres, "Was hoping you'd forget."
"The rest of you too." I looked around, "My boss was serious about these only being used when needed." Rias smiled at me, and everyone returned the items we'd made for the occasion. "I'll have to call Greyfia later, too." I mumbled as I collected three black metal daggers with a bone chip serrated edge.
"Sona-san?" Maki started, "Can we sleep in tomorrow? Please?"
"No. The culture festival is just after the school trip, and we all have work to do." Sona replied.
"Anyone who doesn't feel like they can make it through the day, can try one of my instant coffee pills." I offered with a grin.
Lady Inari and her big white fox walked with Akeno and I to the workshop. I was carrying the dungeon segment, and with two more coming in, I was just over half way there. "I'm saddened that your shrine was destroyed." Inari said.
"The three most irreplaceable things are still intact." I said, glancing over at Akeno, "I still have your mother's robes in my apartment, the Torii is still intact somehow, and the guardians don't even need polishing."
Akeno's mood brightened almost instantly, "I'd forgotten. Though, some of my things were still there, that was the only thing I was worried about."
"It's good that you are so close to your Miko." Inari smiled, "I've been without one for some time now." She pouted, the expression looking quite cute on her, "Though, I may have one again in a year or two."
"Oh, Sensei may project a tough exterior, but she gets along with almost everyone." Akeno smiled brightly.
Delly's face popped out of the ruff of fur on the giant fox's neck, "Yeah! I mean, aside from like, what? Four people? Five? Even your enemies are your friends now."
If my hands weren't attached to the big rock on my back, I'd probably have scratched my cheek or something, "Well, even I have a hero, and I don't want him to be disappointed in me either."
Akeno and Delly smiled knowingly, while Inari looked curious, "Oh?"
"Akeno? If you could run ahead and get the tarot?"
She nodded, brushed her hand over one of my tails, then jogged ahead.
"Delly?"
"Oh all right. Just a second." Her head and shoulders vanished a moment under the fox fur, "Scritchy scritchy scritchy!" The fox paused a moment, one of its hind legs twitching, and then Delly zoomed off after Akeno.
After a moment, I looked away from their retreating backs and to Inari, "I don't know if this is too forward, and I would really like to be friends with you, Lady Inari." I said, "But I have to tell you now, that you can't keep me."
There was a long moment of silence, then, "That was somewhat... unexpected." She sounded a little sad actually.
I actually felt kind of bad now too. She was quite pretty, like a young mother, but was almost youthful in her mannerisms. But now her face looked like I had just told her that foxes were ugly, or something. "When I put this down, I will let you meet my wife, my Goddess, and many of my closest friends from back home. Just to prove it is no slight against you. In the mean time, I'll tell you about my meeting with a bunch of other Renard, what we call half fox back home, who tried to take me back home with them."
By the end of the story, we'd just gotten to the driveway of the workshop. She was giggling in that same way Akeno did, hiding her laughter behind her hand, while her eyes danced with mirth. Shinkage was waiting there, sitting next to a second dungeon fragment. Akeno and Delly were quietly chatting as well, the part time Miko putting a little paper charm on the dungeon piece.
"Welcome back." He greeted, oddly. He wasn't much for being 'chatty', so he usually just looked at a person to acknowledge them.
"Lady Inari. Meet Shinkage." I motioned with a tail, "While his body is my creation, he's made it his own, and is a trusted friend."
Inari bowed to Shinkage, "Greetings Shinkage. I've only heard rumours of you, but it is a pleasure to finally meet you."
The giant white fox sat at attention beside Inari, as if to say 'I'm taller, nyaa'.
"You may know my... original? I was once part of the Red Dragon Emperor, but now I live proudly as a fragment of his soul." He nodded his head to her, "I would offer a paw to shake, but they are still coated in bone."
"I'll get to that after I put these downstairs. Akeno?" I carefully put the dungeon fragment down, and picked up the one that had been waiting, "If you could?"
"Of course." She nodded, pulling out a blank tag and readying her brush, "Please accept these, Inari-sama." She offered the leather case with the calling cards to the Goddess.
"Lady Inari? Please, come in. Delly? Could you give her the instructions for the Tarot?"
"Sure!"
I stepped into the workshop, and my phone rang. "Akeno? Could you..."
She fished out my phone from my belt pouch, "It's from... Hida? It says someone other than Giant metal feline object 01 has entered the workshop."
"Thank you Hida." I said, looking towards the projector, "You can cancel your watch for now."
Inari was still going through the Tarot after I'd gotten the two stones down into the basement. Akeno had worked her magic around them to make sure they'd stay sleeping, and afterwards I went about removing the bone sheathing from Shinkage's claws and mouth. I made sure to get the soft plastic bristle brush to give Shinkage's body a scrub too.
Inari had only two more left to look at when I sat down across from her. As usual when in the presence of someone of higher rank, Akeno had been standing the entire time. Unfortunately, she looked to be about ready to sleep on her feet. So, when I sat down, I gave her a couple of tugs to sit as well, and she promptly leaned onto my shoulder.
"It seems impossible." Inari said after she set the last Tarot down, "In the background of all these," She motioned to the cards, "I feel some of the circumstances that made them who they are."
"Yes, that's part of it. They are each my 'memory' of them. Mannerisms, quirks, favourite foods, some of the things they've done that have left the biggest impressions on me." I collected them all, and put Hestia's card on top, "It all started with Her. A tiny adorable Goddess who wanted nothing more than to help and be recognized as a good person."
"I understand now, why you said what you did. There is nothing to forgive." She smiled, "Oh dear, I think your poor Miko is exhausted."
Akeno was being held up by my tails, and was quietly snoring on my shoulder. Delly was napping too, flopped on top of one of the phoenix egg boxes. "I don't blame her. We've all had a busy day. Lady Inari, would you excuse me, so that I can take care of her in return for her care of me?"
She giggled again, "No need to be so formal. I rather like the level of formality you give Hestia."
"Perhaps next time you are by, I can call home, and you can chat with Her? She's probably sleeping right now." I offered, "My door is open to you, if you care to visit again."
"I think I will. But yes, when things have settled somewhat. Maybe I will follow along on the school trip to Kyoto..." She mused, "Speaking of... Why don't you hide your tails and ears? It would certainly save on brushing them."
"Two reasons." I stood, my tails wrapping around Akeno and bringing her up to my arms so I could carry her, "I don't know how. And honestly, even if I did, I wouldn't know what to do without them." Haruhime's tail flopped over the top of my head and gave me a headpat.
"Ah, I see." She smiled, looking at the giant white fox, then back to me, "I'm sure you'll figure it out one day." I watched the two of them walk out of the shop. Inari then reached up to put a hand on the side of the fox's jaw, "I will bring tea next time." She smiled, and the two of them vanished with a glow like moonlight washing over them.
I made one last check, then turned to Shinkage, "Good night Shinkage. I'll get a report from you later."
"Very well. You're half way there now, aren't you?"
"Lady Inari has the sixth fragment. So just over half."
"Hm, good. Good night Kodori."
"Hida, keep watch again." I said, hearing a happy sounding 'beep' from the projector.
September 25
I suppose it would technically be 'later that morning' when I got a polite tap at the door. True to my body's clock, I was already up and working through my usual morning stretches too. Akeno was quite resolutely getting in another hour of sleep before she had to get ready for school, so, I made sure she was covered, made sure I was covered (Number One Mom, extra long size) and answered the door.
"Kodori-sama." Greyfia started as soon as the door was open enough to see her face, "I trust it is not too early?"
I glanced back at Akeno, "Too early for some, especially after last... this morning?" I stepped out into the hall and quietly closed the door, "I take it that it's important?"
"Lady Rias mentioned you needed to speak to me." She nodded, "And there are also matters to discuss."
"It's too early in my day for politics."
"Then please go first." She smiled slightly.
"Urg." I grumbled, took a breath, then sighed, "Those three you had working for me are probably dead." I met her eyes, "After we processed Fenrir's body, I gave them each a small chip of bone. No longer than your thumb. Proof they were there, basically. But, aside from those three, and Mr. Ajuka taking a bunch of things, nothing else had made it to my workshop that hadn't been accounted for." I shook my head, "I can't think of any other place where bone laced daggers might have come from." I idly scratched my side where I'd been stabbed.
She frowned, then nodded, "I understand. I will conduct a search for them, to confirm if they are alive, or otherwise."
"That said, all the items were collected after the fight. I haven't had time yet to figure out how Loki did what he did with my cubes, but I also haven't had time to bake cookies for the day." I added, "This also includes weapons given to the two Oni I have working for me. If you can call it that."
"Very well. How are you storing those weapons?" She asked.
"Until Rias says otherwise, that's classified."
"Understood." She replied with her usual professionalism.
"I think that's all I have." I rubbed a hand through my hair, frowning as it caught on a tangle, "Hm, might need a haircut..." I held a hand out, had a tail volunteer, and hugged it when it flopped over my palm, "Okay, your turn."
"We are still collecting the magic stones from the various battle fields. The sudden abundance of them, however temporary, has raised questions about ownership." I nodded, and she continued, "While currently, you are the only one who knows what to do with them,"
"There's an imp in the slums of Lucifaad who might know how to make cheap mana potions out of them, if he figured out my writing. I traded it for information on the dungeon bit I got that day."
"You are the only one who knows how to use them properly." She corrected, "That said, some have inquired about studying them, and breaking your sole claim on them."
I shook my head, "I've been giving you my notes on how to make things I usually use magic stones for. They can be dangerous if mishandled, and if anyone gets dependent on them for some reason or another, they might try and claim the only possible sources of them in this world."
"We will do our best, but with how large the battles were, we cannot possibly account for them all." She nodded.
"Thank you. I'd rather not have to collect any of the dungeon fragments a second time. I'd be very upset if I had to."
"We," I was assuming she meant 'the Gremory house' here, "received a message from Tannin-sama. He has finally convinced his scientists to let an outsider attempt to help them."
"Right, the dragonfruit."
"Indeed. There will be a delivery to your lab in a few days time."
"I said I'd try." I shrugged, "Didn't think he'd actually bother."
She smiled, then, "There has also been an... issue with the prisoners taken in from the Hero Faction." A pause, "They have all been killed, the cause apparently being the destruction of their sacred gear from the inside."
"Why tell me? Rias kept me in the dark about her trips to fight the random goons the Hero Faction have been sending."
"Azazel-san wanted your opinion, and for that, you needed to be informed." She said simply, "The only other information I have been given, is that it relates to Ophis's serpents overloading the person's sacred gear."
"Cyanide pill you didn't even know you swallowed..." I hmm'ed, "Not very nice of them." I shook my head, "Anything else?"
"Almost done." She smiled slightly, probably because I was now hugging all my tails at this point. "With the exemplary performances shown by many of Rias-sama's peerage, there had been talk of 'promoting' several of her peerage."
"Noble titles and all that?"
"Yes. Many see it as a bit early, Sirzechs-sama among them. Normally, such feats of power and skill would be awarded in a timely fashion. However..."
"Issei's been a devil for... a half year? And as a reincarnated devil as well. This would be 'unheard of' and ruffle all kinds of feathers about 'playing favourites' and 'upstart youngsters'."
I managed to confuse Greyfia for exactly two seconds, "Yes, that exactly."
"I hold the record for reaching level two, back in Orario. I went through this too, except with Orario being in a small space, rumour travels at roughly light speed, so it wasn't much fun." It also didn't help I was a little drunk when I let that information slip.
She nodded, already knowing what 'earning a level' meant back in Orario, "Sirzechs-sama has thus requested your advice on the matter."
"If I didn't know better, I'd say 'make feather dusters out of all those ruffled feathers', but I do know better." I sighed, "I'm not familiar with Devil titles, much past they seem similar to the Medieval ones. Maybe give them token titles, so minor as to be thought of as 'pointless'. Ones who 'know' will see the real reason, ones who don't will consider it a token gesture and nothing more."
"Ah, 'a foot in the door', so to speak." She nodded, "I will relay this advice."
"At least you guys don't have a nickname ceremony..." I was very glad I dodged being called 'naked fox'.
"This brings us to the last item." She said, "For your participation in the recent encounter, it was suggested that you receive something for your efforts."
"Considering a good deal of the mess was my fault..."
She carried on over me, "For providing an example of the teamwork the three factions can achieve with an outsider, from the North or otherwise, Michael-sama has sent a small gift to the site of your shrine. This gift was sponsored heavily by the newest members of the multi-pantheon accord as well. And while they are officially members now, they would not declare it openly until a proper ceremony is held on sanctified neutral ground."
"So accept this graciously, or we will be disappointed very quietly?"
"In essence, yes."
"I'll go to the site a little later then." I sighed, "Hm, I should ask Lord Odin about borrowing that hammer..."
"Unfortunately, he has already returned to the North." She informed me.
"Hm. I hope he doesn't have any serious problems with Loki's labs... I wanted to thank him for getting the civilians out of harms way too."
"Azazel-san has already given his thanks for that." She smiled slightly, "That concludes my list. Though, if I may ask something of a personal nature?"
"I'm not officially on the clock for counselling, but for you, always." I returned the smile.
"Youn... my son has been asking for a pet, or something similar. He is too young for a familiar, and I've seen that you have a way with animals."
"I just happen to know a guy who's all about animals. Lemme get my phone, I'll put you in contact with him." I opened the door, "If he suggests anything bigger than a dog though, get him back on track and remind him its supposed to be a child friendly pet."
After getting Akeno out of bed, (this was done mostly by telling her I would tickle her, then throw her into a cold shower if she didn't) accomplishing other morning tasks, collecting Jiru (not bothering to remove Delly), I headed to the workshop. I wasn't going to work on anything just yet, but I made sure to tend to the phoenix eggs, give Shinkage another look (with better lighting) and get Hida re-calibrated, since she was still complaining about it.
By then, Delly had woken up, so the four of us (Jiru, not Hida as number four) headed to the shrine. I wasn't sure what to expect. I mean, I'd seen buildings appear overnight, massive underground spaces made in hours, and even my own workshop repaired right in front of me.
So after stepping past a friendly looking yellow pylon that was labelled 'Closed for renovations' and climbing up the steps and over/around the many trees that had fallen onto them, Shinkage, Delly, Jiru and I reached the shrine grounds.
"Wow." I said.
"My favourite tree is gone." Shinkage sounded like he wanted to sigh.
There was still a giant pit (that was half filled with water) in the exact middle of the clearing where the main building once was. But around that, taking up nearly every flat place that was left, and in some cases, over what looked like hastily flattened ground, were building supplies.
Neat stacks of lumber, both light and dark shades. White stone, some cut, some not. Heaps of shingles (the traditional clay kind). Boxes, clearly labelled with things like 'nails' and 'tools'... And every single stack had a single paper tag on it, that in my limited understanding said 'Blessed'.
The only work that had been done, aside from quick attempts to make space for the materials, and clearing away the debris from the old buildings, was that the red Torii had been dug up and put back into place. Aside from that, it was all just raw materials.
Instant Shrine, just add effort.
Attracted by our voices, the two fox guardians bounced excitedly towards us. They each had a roll of paper in their mouths, and once they were in front of us, they sat at attention, fox tails wagging enthusiastically. I accepted them at the same time, put them under one arm, and gave them both a headpat. I then unrolled one and read out loud.
"As I'm sure you have been told already, we could not let such service go unrewarded. In light of how you like to do things, we have done nothing but supply the materials. Everything, from the smallest nail to the largest plank, has been treated as is tradition. Once rebuilt, Lady Amaterasu Herself will bless the grounds, and it will once again be considered neutral ground, despite it being a holy place. We leave the procurement of extra hands to you, as you seem to enjoy doing that as well. Michael."
"Hm, yet another project."
"The reward for hard work, is more hard work." Delly sighed, "Well now you can put in that bathtub you wanted."
"And the other letter?"
"Akeno told you, did she?" I gave Delly a raised eyebrow and got a stuck out tongue in reply, "Oh yeah..." I unrolled the second letter and read, "The other one wanted a letter to hold too. Micheal."
I looked at the two bronze foxes, getting a toothy smile from both of them.
"I'm definitely going to have to tell Akeno the good news." I smiled, "I'm sure she has an idea or two for improvement."
I was not expecting much in the way of visitors that afternoon. With the culture festival right after the trip to Kyoto, I expected the two peerages to be quite busy. That, and all the excitement from last night, I was pretty sure no one would be moving more than they had to.
So I was quite surprised to have Rossweisse show up at the workshop, looking like a well dressed collection of sad puppies.
"He left me here!" Were her first words after I waved her in. She then plunked her rear onto the nearest bench to where I was working, "He didn't even bother firing me first!"
Unsure as to what I should do, when a nearly in tears Valkyrie shows up at my workshop, I put down my pencil (I'd been drawing up floor plans), sat next to her, and gave her a pat on the shoulder, "There there."
That might have been the wrong thing to do, or the right thing, because she broke down, clung to me, and started crying. "It's not fair! I worked so hard in those thankless conditions, with a lecherous old man who teased me all the time!"
"Well he did have to go home in a hurry." I offered, patting her back now that I was being cried on.
"But... but... now what am I going to do? If I go home now, everyone will laugh at me. I was supposed to stay by his side, but if I can't even do that..."
Delly flew by and offered Rossweisse a box of tissue. I waited until she had blown her nose before replying, "Well, if you need a place to stay, I'm sure Rias might have an idea. The best I can do is offer lunch, oh, and did you want me to make you a proper suit of armour? That stuff you were wearing seemed... a little drafty."
She sniffled, looked a little hopeful, "Even though I can't pay you?"
"Actually." I looked to Delly, who smiled brilliantly, "If you could give my friend here some magic lessons, and help me rebuild the shrine when we get started, I'd gladly make you something."
"Magic circles and formal magic aren't the boss's thing. But I'll try and learn anything you can teach me!" Delly bowed, "Don't tell anyone, but she has all kinds of magic envy."
"Well... I suppose it will give me something to do for now..." She pouted, "But can we eat first? Lord Odin didn't even pay me before he left."
NOTES!
Well then. This should clean up nicely. Next episode, a few little things, a slightly larger thing, and then maybe the trip to Kyoto. Still a bit of cleaning up to do, and some filling in for people who haven't looked at the books/anime.
So you might be wondering, 'If this was book seven, and the Kyoto arc is book nine, where is eight?' Well! Book eight is a collection of short stories. And since I do that already with little side quests and going off on tangents, I'm skipping it. Nyaa, so there. :)
Voting will end as of next update.
Oh yeah. I know that many of you were expecting Kodori to go all ONE PUNNNNNNNNNNCH on Loki. I'd seriously considered it too! But for times like this, where I'm thinking of 'popular opinion/fun to write' and 'personal opinion/fun to write'... Would you believe me if I said I rolled a D20? Besides, Issei is still a hero, and needs a little thunder occasionally.
Don't worry, there's a lot of DxD left to write, and there will be plenty of potential head punches along the way.
Five days, lalala.