60. Negotiations with Azazel.
Kouske's POV
After ending my call, I focused on the one who had been spying on us all this time. I didn't want to show my back to the fallens back then, so I didn't pay him much attention. But that guy is still here and seems to be trying to get out of my barrier. So I teleported right behind him.
*bang* *bang*
I could hear loud sounds as he was trying to break the barrier using light guns. His whole body was covered. He was wearing sunglasses, a big cap, a mask, and a big backpack on his back. But he was extremely weak, not even on the same level as trained exorcists. He looked like he didn't have any sort of training, but he had some mana on the same level as F- ranked (beginner low-class) beings.
"Are you an exorcist?" I asked.
"Waah! Do-don't kill me! Please! I am still single!" he started begging after looking behind him, seemingly stunned for a while, but then he had a terrified face.
"First, answer my question. Who are you?" I asked in a monotone voice as I activated Truthful Trace, but I was a bit annoyed by his voice.
"I am James, just a passerby! Please don't kill me! I won't tell anyone about this!" replies the man.
But my skill tells me he was lying. He has probably been here since the first barrier was cast and has probably seen everything. He should be thankful that no one pursued him when he was trapped. Well, the others must have wanted to catch him later, as they were quite busy fighting.
*sigh*
"Look, James, I can tell between lies and truth, and I do not have much time. So tell me the truth at once. I won't give you a second chance," I said as I let out some of my aura, making the guy more frightened.
"S-sorry! Please, don't kill me! I am just a broker. I got news from one of my friends who happened to see Ouryuu coming this way. I just thought maybe he was just going to do some exorcism, and I thought I could film him and post it on DeviNet. I needed some money as my job was not doing well. I thought this would be a nice side hustle, as many are making money by posting videos on DeviNet nowadays!" he replied at first, frightened, then bawled out, crying as snots and tears covered his face.
My skill was telling me he was telling the truth. So he's just unfortunate enough to get caught up in this, and he's not even a skilled broker, as from the looks of it, he's broken and starving. And he's just crying out so loud with snots and tears, which is disgusting and annoying. Seeing a grown man be like this is not pleasant at all.
*sigh*
Talk about being annoying!
"Stop crying if you don't want your neck to be snapped! And where did you get that light gun, then? Don't only exorcists use them?" I asked in an annoyed tone.
"I-I got them from a dealer. He had made a deal with an exorcist, and he gets all kinds of weapons through him and sells them," he replied quickly, then shut his mouth after hearing my threat.
"Did you record anything from before?" I asked.
He looked lost about what to say, but probably remembering my skill, he admitted. He had all the fights recorded, both Ouryuu's and mine.
"I will delete it now if you want! Just let me live!" he pleads.
"You don't need to delete them. Post them on DeviNet with my name," I said.
He looked surprised, as he must have thought I would ask him to delete it. But it's a good chance to spread the news about me in an impactful way.
"I am Akatsuki," I said.
"I am James Bond," he replied with a stupid grin on his face.
I just looked at him incredulously. I am more shocked that that's his real name. His parents must have really wanted to defame that legendary guy.
"Give me your contact information and address," I said
"Why?" he asked.
But after a glare from me, I got his every piece of information and even put a bug on him. A literal bug, a familiar one of mine. I will see if I can make use of him later. Then I kicked him out of the barrier by teleporting him away from this place in a certain trash dump, as Azazel should be here soon. Let's just hope he doesn't smell that bad.
After a while, I could feel someone teleporting outside the barrier. I opened a path in the barrier for them to enter. From the outside, entered Azazel and Shemhazai. Even though it was our first time meeting, it wasn't hard to recognize them.
As they came flying in the air, I also flew up in the air, releasing my own jet-black wings. Azazel and Shemhazai were looking around the place, as it was still wrecked so awfully. I could also feel Azazel using some sort of magic to look into the surroundings, probably trying to see if anyone else was here.
"So, I suppose you are the one who called me," said Azazel as he looked intently at my wings and my aura.
"Yes. I am Akatsuki. It's a pleasure meeting you, even though the circumstances are not so pleasant," I replied.
"You probably already know us. So I won't stick to the pleasantries. Where's Kokabiel and Satanael?" asked Azazel.
"Here," I said as two portals opened behind me, and both of them could be seen unconscious and bound by vines on the other side.
Azazel and Shemhazai looked agitated. Even though they wanted to get them ASAP, they probably held themselves back, considering what kind of dangers could be on the other side. I also closed the portals as quickly as they were opened.
"What do you want?" asked Azazel as Shemhazai kept quiet, observing me.
"You know, I actually have no intentions of making enemies with Grigori. I am quite the peace-loving guy," I said, which earned a raised eyebrow from them.
"Oho? And this is your way of being peaceful? First, you stole our Vritra's Sacred Gears from us, and now this!" Azazel asked, anger evident in his tone.
Then the wings behind me sparkled in purple hues as Vritra spoke out.
"When have I ever been your property, Azazel?" asked Vritra, a bit angrily.
Both Azazel and Shemhazai looked stunned, hearing a voice they thought they might never hear again.
"H-how? How are you speaking right now?" asked Shemhazai incredulously, but Azazel wore a contemplative expression.
"Did you manage to merge all the gears and her soul?" asked Azazel.
"Yes. Thanks to him, I can talk to you guys right now," replied Vritra.
"But how? No one ever succeeded. How did he do this?" asked Azazel.
"Even I don't know. Somehow his soul reacted with mine, attracting all the other pieces and combining them," replied Vritra, sticking to our story.
"And I didn't really mean to steal them, you know," I replied, awkwardly.
While Azazel didn't fully believe us, he decided to change the topic for now.
"Even if I believe you, you still caused us some losses, and now you even attacked us," replied Azazel.
"You can take these for your previous losses," I said as I tossed him two vials of health potions (D).
"What are these?" asked Azazel as he caught them, with Shemhazai also looking on from the side.
"Health Potion. It works similarly to Phenex Tears, but I reckon they are even better as they do not waste the recipient's energies, causing them not to be exhausted. And these are made without any of the Phenex's help," I replied, leaving them stunned.
Azazel looked intently at the potions.
"Are you serious? Nobody has ever managed to make something better than the Phenex Tears," Azazel says, eyeing me suspiciously.
"You can test its effectiveness back at your labs. Let me know if it works or not," I replied.
Obviously, both Azazel and Shemhazai were suspicious, but they held onto them for the slim chance that they were real.
"Now, why have you taken those two hostages if you're so peaceful and all?" asked Azazel in a slightly mocking tone, and I could even sense the hidden anger in his voice.
"We just had the same objectives, but being from different factions made us collide. I even politely asked them to give up on it, but they attacked me first. So I just retaliated," I said.
"And what was your objective?" asked Shemhazai.
"A Longinus, Telos Karma, to be exact," I replied honestly, knowing they would find out about it anyway if Kokabiel or Satanael spoke, and my skill still wasn't strong enough to erase memories of Ultimate Class beings.
Both of them were shocked, probably because they hadn't heard anything about this from those would-be traitors, and obtaining Telos Karma is very rare.
"If what you say is true, then I can understand the cause of the conflict. But how long do you intend to hold them hostage? What do you want?" asked Azazel.
"I want to learn about Sacred Gears from you and all your research on them. I will also sell my potions to Grigori in return, if you agree. I'm sure you can understand the impact those potions can have if you have a constant supply of them," I said, making them contemplate the offer.
After a while, as they finished some discussion, Azazel turned to me.
"If those potions are what you claim them to be, I have no problem sharing my knowledge with you," replied Azazel, clearly considering the potential benefits.
"Well, they are real. You can test them and get back to me with a response," I said, bringing both Kokabiel and Satanael from the portal to them, having already dealt with both of them, as I had already plucked out Kokabiel's tongue on Vritra's request.
As they observed both of their conditions, Azazel asked with a grin, "What if you do not get what you want now, as you have already given us what we want along with your potions, and what if we attack you now?"
"You can try, but you will be the ones to lose the most," I replied with a grin of my own.
After a bit of staring at each other, tension rising as both of us slowly raised our own auras, Azazel suddenly stopped and laughed a bit. Following suit, I retracted my aura.
"Alright, I will believe in you for now," replied Azazel.
I then provided him with a way to contact me, and we all teleported out of that place.
I went directly and withdrew all the money from the account, then returned home. I knew I needed to find a better way to create a bank account without being tracked, instead of relying on dummy ones.
After getting home, I found all three of them back with their shopping bags. Elle and Lavinia were lying on the sofa playing Final Fantasy X on PlayStation 2 (PS2). Elle was likely having a bad influence on Rey-chan. Sakuya was in the kitchen, probably cooking. Feeling tired from all that had happened today, I decided to go to sleep a bit earlier than usual after eating dinner with everyone.
61. Halo's Revelation and an Invitation.
Kouske's POV
I somehow woke up early at dawn, but the next morning, I planned to take a day off. As I gazed at the Telos Karma inside the Orb in my hand, it looked just like a halo, radiating golden energy. It appeared quite majestic, lighting up the whole room and causing Lavinia to wake up with a cute moan.
"Nnnnn...!
"Ko-kun? Why is it so bright? Is it already morning?" asked Lavinia, still a bit sleepy as she rubbed her eyes.
"Sorry, Rey-chan. You can sleep. It's still dark outside. I'll work in my study," I replied, putting the Orb inside my inventory to make the brightness go away. Then, I stayed a bit with her, softly caressing her head to ensure she fell asleep again.
As I was walking to my study, I saw Sakuya up and working. Man, she works too hard. Maybe I'll need to force her to take some time off. I think I'll need to advance my plan for us all to visit Italy. But Elle's paperwork is still not done yet.
"Kouske-sama? You're up early. Do you need something? I'll bring you a cup of coffee," says Sakuya as she sees me. Normally, I start my day by drinking tea or coffee, alternating between the two.
"Sure, a cup of coffee would be nice. But have you had enough sleep? Isn't it too early to work? It's still dark outside, you know. You can just sleep more if you're tired," I said, trying to encourage her to rest, fully aware that it wouldn't be easy to convince a diligent maid to refrain from her duties.
"It's alright. I am fully rested and ready for my work. I'll go make your coffee," says Sakuya as she heads back into the kitchen.
I entered the study and brought out the Orb again. After inspecting it for a while, I placed it on my chest. It got sucked into my soul as I felt a new force entering my body, but I couldn't pinpoint the power. It was dormant. It wasn't hard to activate it, as I had already experienced how to activate a sacred gear.
After a while, a bright golden halo formed over my head, momentarily brightening the whole room. Fortunately, I could control the brightness and stop it from glowing too much. During this time, Sakuya came with coffee in her hands, standing still as she looked at me and the halo over my head.
"What's with the halo, Kouske-sama?" asked Sakuya dubiously as she served me the coffee.
"Do you remember the Longinuses that I mentioned before?" I asked with a grin.
"Yes," she replied.
"It's one of them, Telos Karma, to be exact. I didn't expect it to be a halo either. But it kind of looks nice," I replied as I looked excitedly at myself in the mirror. The halo fully complemented my golden hair.
"Yes, you look majestic, Kouske-sama," replied Sakuya with a slight smile on her normally stoic face as she observed me.
"It actually looks similar to Yehweh's halo. That bastard must have designed it similar to his own for some self-satisfaction of his," replied Vritra, startling both of us.
"Oh. No one actually knows how Telos Karma manifests, otherwise, the angels would have tried harder to get a hold of this," I said.
"Then, wouldn't this cause more issues if the angels see this?" asked Sakuya, concerned.
"Longinuses always bring problems, girl," replied Vritra.
"Hmm."
Thankfully, I could choose to make it invisible. It could even change shape to look like a crown.
After that, I opened my status to see how it was perceived by the system.
Telos Karma/God's Halo (A): It has the ability to manipulate unseen strings of fate to manipulate fate and causality.
Wow! It's even listed as God's Halo, and this baddy can even affect causality!
Unknowingly, I break into a burst of crazy laughter, making both Sakuya and Vritra look at me strangely. I'm sure Clarice feels the same, but fortunately, she's keeping quiet for now.
After I stopped laughing, I could see some transparent and colorful strings coming out of Sakuya's body, some of which were connected to me too. Is this what it means to be bound by the strings of fate?
I could vaguely understand which strings represented what. Some represented her contract with me, some represented her death, love, luck, unluck, etc. If I could break some of them, they might cause some adverse effects, but I won't be testing this on her. And I even knew that it still wasn't powerful enough for me to be able to truly harm her, as my connection with Longinus was totally new.
Also, she's many many times stronger than me, so I can't do much, and the strings seemed very hard upon touching them. Maybe I can do something about her strings of death to make her immortal or something. A thought for the future. Maybe I could even connect two separate strings and see the effect. I'll have to experiment on all this later with some guinea pigs. I guess Mitsuya never fully uncovered its full power.
"What are you doing, Kouske-sama?" Sakuya asks as she sees me touching the air like an idiot.
"I can see strings of fate. So I was touching them," I replied, which sounded pretty crazy even to me, but then explained to her.
Both Vritra and Sakuya were impressed by it. Maybe it can do more than just luck manipulation. I will discover it all in due time.
"So what does my fate look like?" Sakuya asks curiously.
"I can't predict fates... yet. But I can see that yours looks beautiful, and we will be together for a long, long time you cannot even imagine," I replied as I touched the various colorful strings connecting the both of us together. It felt like we were closer than ever as I touched them. And I think I even saw some tints of red on her face.
"I have work to do. So I will leave," Sakuya says stoically as she promptly leaves.
"Brat, you are on the right track to becoming a decent Black Dragon King. Keep it up," said Vritra, encouraging me, to which I could only nod.
Arondight (B+): Arondight is a versatile sword with the unique ability to manipulate holy-demonic light, allowing users to tap into either holy or demonic power depending on their inner nature. Its adaptability makes it a formidable weapon in the hands of skilled wielders. With the potential to wield both types of light separately, Arondight has the capability to unleash powerful attacks and potentially raise its rank even higher. However, mastering this dual power requires careful control and understanding of both holy and demonic energies.
Afterward, I also tried out Arondight. I could manipulate the holy-demonic light quite easily. But it can also change as per one's inner self, allowing people of demonic/dark nature to use demonic light while letting people with a pure heart use holy light. The power behind it was also amazing. I can only use the holy-demonic light, which is in its base form.
But if I could use both holy and demonic light separately, then the sword could produce much more powerful attacks, and it might even raise its rank.
People might think that holy-demonic light should be stronger than only holy or demonic light. But if one can get access to both, it will be easier to control both powers and condense them. I will have to find a way around it later. Thankfully, the system was pretty detailed about it, and I could even feel Clarice's smugness oozing out, but she was still staying awfully quiet for some reason.
Ravel Phoenix's POV
"Did he eat his meal?" I asked the maid who went to retrieve the utensils from my third elder brother's room quite a while ago, as I stand in front of his room's door right now. But why did it take so long?
"U-umm... Yes, Oujou-sama," replied the maid, her breath quite uneven and her clothes somewhat disheveled as she tried to quickly fix herself upon seeing me standing there with the empty utensils in her hand.
"Why do you look like that? Are you feeling unwell?" I asked, concerned, as she had been serving our house for quite a long time, probably even before my or Riser nii-sama's birth.
"No, I'm alright. Just a bit tired, if anything. Thanks for your concern. I will take my leave," she says with a smile as she leaves hurriedly.
I could see some watery fluids in the place where she was standing before, and even smell some fishy, pungent scents wafting in the air when she opened the door. But before I could examine anything, another maid came quickly, wiping the place clean and entering the room with other cleaning agents. What was that? My, 6-year-old, young self had not yet developed enough to understand it back then.
I returned to my room dejectedly, feeling frustrated that I still wasn't able to meet with my brother, as he was still cooped up in his room and refused to meet any other family members. My father, mother, and even my two brothers, who are always busy and mostly away from home for a long time, tried talking to him. But he didn't budge from his stance and refused anyone entry except for the occasional maids and his Queen, Yubelluna.
He wasn't at fault, so my parents and brothers let him take his time. It all started a few months ago when my father brought up the topic of engaging him with Rias Gremory. Before then, my brother had never paid her much attention. But after the talks, and as he had previously seen her at various parties and functions, he easily agreed to the idea.
Nii-sama was so happy and excited for their first official meeting after finalizing their marriage contract. But that Rias Gremory ruined it all. She publicly humiliated my brother. Now he's a laughingstock among the nobles. For what? Because he was trying to be more accommodating to her? For trying to suggest a better, more comfortable, and simpler place where they could relax and talk, instead of that fancy and luxurious restaurant with many nobles present, trying to make her less nervous for their first meeting?
He only tried to make her less nervous and be more considerate, but this is how she repaid him. He planned so much for her that day. But it was all ruined. My brother was so heartbroken and deeply ashamed. I have never seen him make a face like that before.
My father and mother were furious. But the Gremory Clan Head and my father seemed to have worked it out, due to their long-time friendship. But that girl, who was the cause of all of this, didn't even have the decency to come apologize herself and even had the nerve to say that she would never apologize. I will never forgive her for hurting my family and tarnishing our reputation!
Cleria Belial's POV
"Come on. Do it! How long are you going to prolong and delay it?" says an annoyed Rangiku, sitting beside me.
"I am doing it, okay? Just don't rush me so much! I will send the message when I am free!" I replied.
She has been pestering me a lot these days, saying some unthinkable stuff. I might not know much about love, but just thinking about him all day, fantasizing about him, or having my heart race just by thinking about him doesn't mean that I LOVE HIM! It's only because of Rangiku's unbelievable words that I have become much more conscious of this.
Now she has been pestering me to message him for a meeting. It's actually been a while since we last met. It wouldn't hurt to meet my savior and try to repay him more. NOTHING ELSE! It's not like I have any other ulterior motives. NONE at all. I believe the others would also like to meet him again, especially Navirose; she was quite eager to fight him.
"Do it right now, in front of me. I don't believe you will have the courage to do it later," says Rangiku, blandly.
Her words are making me even more conscious and uncomfortable.
I've been trying to write a message for the last 15 or so minutes. Writing and deleting, being formal and informal, starting with a casual hi-hello or asking about his family but it might seem too personal, etc. So I just couldn't make up my mind on what to say or how to say it. This is all making me kind of dizzy.
"Give me your phone. I will do it for you if you can't," says Rangiku, trying to take hold of my phone from my hand.
"Just leave! I am busy and will do it later," I replied.
After bickering a bit, she left but didn't forget to remind me about setting up a meeting with him.
After she left, I took hold of my phone that I had left on the side after finishing some work. Somehow my heart's racing, and I can even hear my heart beating.
*thump* *thump*
[Hello, Akatsuki-san. I trust this message finds you well. It has been some time since our last correspondence, and I hope that life has been treating you kindly.
I am writing to propose a meeting at your earliest convenience. There are matters we would like to discuss, and it would be beneficial for us to gather and exchange thoughts in person. In particular, Navirose is eager to challenge you to a friendly sword fight, and we believe it would be an enjoyable opportunity for all of us to come together.
Please let me know when you are available, and we can arrange a suitable time and place for our meeting—looking forward to your response.
Sincerely yours, Cleria.]
Letting out a sigh of relief, I finally sent it. Do I sound desperate or too eager? Maybe I should have worded it differently!
*sigh*
It wasn't all that bad until I noticed the last line! My face burned as I stared blankly, trying to figure out how to unsend it. But to my horror, it was already sent!
Later on, Rangiku gave me an earful, saying she was telling me to ask for more of a private meeting between the two of us, like a D-DATE, making my mind almost blow up! Asking for something like that is so shameful! She wouldn't shut up no matter what and my mind was already occupied with something else! So I tuned her down.
62. Akatsuki's Worth and a bit of Mischief.
Nakiri Clan
Nakagami's POV
When I returned home, the entire clan was already on high alert. Apparently, Father had mobilized most of our forces to look for Momiji. In reality, I already knew something like this might happen. As I entered the house premises, my father was already standing there.
He must have already received news about sighting Momiji and me, as the bandaged and blood-covered jutshushas carrying our fallen comrades were quite eye-catching for everyone in the clan. People were whispering as they watched us. Soon, people from inside came to help carry the bodies of the fallen, and the mood was already quite somber. Father had a furious look on his face. As he rushed towards me, Momiji-chan tried to interrupt him.
"Father, listen..."
"Shut up! You, come with me," he scolded Momiji, pointing towards me to follow him, then ordered the others to check if anyone needed medication and to take care of the deceased.
Momiji-chan shrank back in fear, probably the first time she'd seen him so angry or heard him yell at her. Father had never spoken to her like that before. As I followed, I gestured for her to stay, noticing her trying to gather the courage to follow us.
We walked towards his room in silence. After entering, he shut the door and then looked at me directly in the eye.
"Do you have any idea just what you have done?" he asks me, suppressing his anger, pointing at the window where the deceased and their direct relatives were coming over to see them, as the courtyard quickly falls into chaos.
"Yes, father," I replied quickly, knowing I should take responsibility for my own actions and not look away.
"Deaths are not uncommon in clans like ours. But do you know what we fear the most?" asks father in an even tone.
"Dying a meaning less death," I replied.
"All the jutshushas joined us to exterminate evils, to die on the battlefield with honor, for humanity. But why did they have to die? Just for your own recklessness? If you hadn't done something so foolish, all those meaningless deaths could have been prevented. It's not so easy to be the head of an entire clan, shouldering all their fates, just to be emotionally unstable and ruin everything," he basically yells, every word penetrating deep into my soul.
I was already aware of what I was doing and was prepared for this irresponsibility. All their deaths are on me.
"Who was it?" he asks after a moment of silence.
"Kokabiel and Satanael," I replied.
"Did you kill them?" he asks.
"No," I replied, and my father was visibly displeased.
"What happened to that accursed thing inside Momiji?" he asks.
I then proceeded to tell him about Akatsuki, how he extracted the gears, and about his potions too.
"So she's safe now," mumbles my father, momentarily relieved but quickly reverting to his previous demeanor.
"Are you sure they weren't Phenex Tears?" asks my father skeptically. He obviously wouldn't believe in someone as suspicious as Akatsuki.
"Yes. They were different from the Phenex Tears. In a sense, they were better because there was no apparent exhaustion after the healing," I replied.
After that, he asked to set up a meeting with Akatsuki after finishing up here. He was very disappointed in me, and that didn't even need to be said. He went on to talk to Momiji, ordering me to take care of the deceased myself.
[A/N: As far as I know, Nakiris are the leading clan among the five principal clans. Even though they also have hypocrites, like any other clan, Momiji lived quite a blessed life in the Dome. Her every wish was fulfilled, and she was close to her family. She lived the life of a sheltered princess, in a literal sense.]
Grigori Headquarters, Underworld
Azazel's POV
"How are things looking?" asks Penemue as she looks over Kokabiel and Satanael in the ICU.
"Both of them are brutally beaten, stabbed, and poisoned. There were deep stabbing marks all over their bodies, but I couldn't find any thorns in any of them. The poison is also foreign but potent, even for Ultimate Class beings. So it's very concerning how he managed to procure them. And Kokabiel's tongue seems to have been completely ripped off. We most probably have to use some animal/human tongues and Phenex Tears for him to talk," I replied in one breath, looking over the reports in my hand to an astonished and worried Penemue.
I was also very concerned for them, but their treatment is ongoing. Worrying wouldn't change anything, and I was literally dying to test out the potions Akatsuki gave me. If they were genuine...
"Did he do all this alone? Was he that strong?" asks Penemue concernedly.
"There must have been others with him there previously, based on the surroundings. But who exactly they were, we can only find out after both of them wake up. The aura he was emitting wasn't that strong, at most at High Class. But he could be hiding it, and he could manipulate space based on how he ripped apart space to bring them out from somewhere. But whatever that ability was, it was giving me the chills," I replied, seriously contemplating the matter.
"Who exactly is he?" mumbles Penemue.
After a while, I left the place to go back to my lab. My excitement was pretty high seeing how confident Akatsuki looked. Even if these potions can never measure up to Phenex Tears, if they can at least heal even a little, it will be a huge boon to have a supply of these.
Buying Phenex Tears from the black markets always costs us a fortune as the devils never sell them to us, officially at least. And healing powers are really rare, even for small and mundane things. So these will be the deciding factors on whether we will be friends or enemies with Akatsuki.
After doing some tests, the result was totally unexpected. I couldn't help but laugh like a madman. In my entire biblical life, there haven't been many times I've ever been this excited. These potions are the real deal, and the results are just... mind-blowing!
"Why are you laughing like that?" asks Shemhazai, looking at me strangely as he must have just come in.
"You will too if you look at the results," I said as I showed him the report. To say he was shocked would be an understatement because it was just that revolutionary. It could impact the whole supernatural world!
"Are you sure these reports are real?" asks Shemhazai in disbelief.
I nod at him. Now, I will have to thoroughly look into this to see if we can figure out the formula or not. But we will still have to get in touch with him soon, to get more of these.
"Azazel, you are salivating," says Shemhazai awkwardly.
Kouske's POV
Currently, I find myself inside a dark cave of sorts. Light emanates from within, drawing me forward. As I move toward the light, the entire cave gradually illuminates, revealing a vast array of treasures. From mundane items to rare jewels and gold, it's like a sprawling treasury. Atop one of the treasure piles, a huge pale blue Western Dragon with celestial blue scales slumbers. As the ground trembles, it awakens, opening its deep blue eyes and fixing its gaze on the entrance.
From the shadowy entrance emerged a figure that gradually brightened as it approached—I recognized Vritra in her human form. Entranced momentarily, I watched as she unleashed a powerful blast of Blaze Black Flare towards the western dragon.
However, the dragon countered with its own breath, creating sound waves that reverberated throughout the cave, after the collision. With my best efforts, I remained rooted in place, firmly anchored by the earth beneath me.
As the battle continued with exchanges of attacks, the western dragon eventually collided with Vritra, sending her tumbling outside the cave with a resounding roar. They continued their fierce combat in their draconic forms, causing widespread devastation in the surrounding area.
Eventually, they both stopped and engaged in what seemed like a heated argument, although I couldn't understand their words. Just as the western dragon, most probably Tiamat, was about to transform into her human form, I felt a presence behind me, enveloping me in a soft embrace. Turning, I found myself face to face with Vritra, her beautiful yet intimidating visage bearing a somewhat mischievous smile, her golden-yellow sclera piercing deep into my soul.
"Peeking, are we?" Vritra's voice broke the silence, her grip on me unyielding.
"Not intentionally," I stammered, feeling awkward under her intense gaze.
"Hmm," Vritra mused mysteriously.
Turning my attention ahead, I realized we were now in a different cave. A pang of disappointment flickered within me at the missed opportunity to see Tiamama's *ahem* Tiamat's human form.
"Did you truly long to see her human guise so badly?" Vritra's question hit the mark with eerie accuracy, her embrace tightening, her heavenly melons pressing against my back with increasing intensity. Her heartbeat was palpable, her breath warm against my neck. There was a distinct scent about her, reminiscent of blue roses and silver lilies intertwined.
"Not really, but I can't deny I was curious," I admitted, my instincts urging me to both lie and reveal a portion of the truth.
"Hmm," Vritra responded, her hold on me not relenting.
"You know, in this place, we're connected on a deeper level. I can sense your thoughts if I focus," she continued, her hands tracing my abs as she licked and nibbled onto my ear, sending shivers down my whole body. I also realized that I was in my adult form.
I awkwardly chuckled at her response. Was this my soul's true form? Was it because of my mind palace that I appeared as an adult rather than my younger self?
"Probably," Vritra replied, even though I hadn't spoken aloud, causing me to break out in a nervous sweat.
"Fufufu..." Vrita chuckled, observing my troubled expression. She had been rather hands-on, touching me all over.
"Are you enemies with Tiamat or something?" I inquired.
"Nope. In fact, she's a good friend of mine," Vritra replied fondly, though a hint of rivalry lingered in her tone.
"Then what was the fight about?" I pressed.
"Just a spar," she explained.
"Hmm. But why couldn't I understand anything you two were saying?" I questioned.
"I don't know, but it probably has something to do with my will," Vritra responded.
"So what were you two discussing?" I asked curiously.
"That's a secret," Vritra replied mysteriously, playfully pinching my nipples.
"By the way, what are you even doing?" I questioned, meeting her gaze.
"Well, what you usually do with other girls," she teased, continuing her actions. I entertained the idea of retaliating for a moment, but knowing our deep connection in this place, I refrained as it wouldn't lead to anything good, only prolonging my eventual suffering. So, I allowed her to continue, for now. In response, her smile grew, confirming her ability to understand my thoughts.
"Oh! Are you jealous by any chance?" I asked as I smirked, unable to resist teasing her back.
"Why would I be jealous?" she said, her nails turning sharp as they trailed along my abs, drawing blood. She seductively licked the blood off her finger and lightly kissed my neck, her hot breath against my skin. Her tongue followed the curve of my neckline, causing an arousing sensation.
My body's response was far from docile, evident by the huge bulge on my pants and the rise in temperature of my body. But suddenly, her teeth sank into the right side of my neck, her suction growing stronger. I contemplated retaliating. But just as I turned, lifted her up, and hugged her, my vision blurred, and I woke up in bed next to Lavinia, sporting a noticeable bulge in my pants. Did she just blue ball me? I could hear Vritra laughing in response.
"Fufufu..."
*sigh*
It was still early morning, so I left my bed without waking Lavinia up. Having done this many times before, it was far easier now than it used to be. But what surprised me was that I had somehow transformed into my adult form in my sleep. Maybe it's an aftereffect or something? Something to think about.
After taking off my t-shirt and grabbing some extra clothes and a towel, I made my way to the spacious bathroom adjacent to the hallway instead of using the one in my room. As I turned the doorknob, I caught the beautiful sight of Sakuya, freshly showered and clad in only a towel, drying her wet hair.
Does she not use her own bathroom? Using this one had its own perks, as I was treated to this delightful sight. The sight of her curves and slim body, showing so much glistening skin, was almost irresistible. However, her presence was undetectable. Her concealment skill was incredibly impressive.
"Have you finished watching?" Sakuya asked, tints of red coloring her cheeks, evident of her embarrassment.
"Umu. Thanks for the treat," I replied without any hesitation, noting her deepening blush. I also caught her sneaky glances at my bulge, which only lifted my spirits further.
"Kouske-sama, Reni-chan is still too young," Sakuya replied after a moment of silence. She was already fully dressed and ready in her usual outfit, and I could sense the changes in time, though I didn't augment my senses with it, knowing it was Sakuya's doing.
"I know," I replied awkwardly.
"It's all good then. But what's with the bite mark on your neck?" Sakuya asked, her curiosity evident.
I glanced into the mirror to find the mark. Did it leave a mark even though we were in a mind palace? Did it blur the line between both realities? Something to ponder later. But shouldn't marks like these vanish as soon as they were created? Is my power playing favourites now? Just as I willed it, the marks vanished.
"Don't worry. It's nothing," I reassured her.
"Then I will take my leave," Sakuya said, hurrying towards the kitchen, hiding her blushing face. She looked cute, without a sliver of doubt.
I watched her back for a moment before rushing into the bathroom to splash cold water over my body, trying to calm myself down there. In my heart, I vowed to exact revenge on Vritra for this. Someday, definitely. And I could feel Vritra amused in my head.
63. New Powers and Taming En Masse!
Kouske's POV
I just bought Beelzebub's bloodline.
Beelzebub Bloodline (B+): Enables the ability to command insect types and integrate and use their powers to their fullest extent possible - 45000 pts.
Yeah, it's not bad, but it's not all that groundbreaking either. My taming skill can do way better than this. After the integration, I didn't notice much of a difference, and I didn't get any magic circles of any type, probably because a pure-blooded heir is still alive and kicking.
I glance at my points, hovering around 650k. It might seem like a lot, but in reality, it isn't. I've been cautious, saving in case of urgent need or for anything Akatsuki might require, like buying sacred gears or similar items for its members. I'm also saving up for those conceptual powers, like Instant Death, Infinity, Life, Absolute Adaptation etc., at the Ex rank. They cost several million each, and even the lowest ones come with a hefty price tag. It was surprising to see such a spike in prices, but what can I do?
*sigh*
After testing out the ability, suddenly I had an idea. Issei had integrated objects into his sacred gear before, so couldn't I do the same with mine? I brought out Arondight. Could I integrate it?
"Be careful. It might cause some unknown side effects," Vritra warned.
[Kouske, it will cause some strain on your soul. But I think you will be fine with your immortality,] Clarice added solemnly.
"Hmm."
I anticipated it already. Let's just hope it doesn't hurt too much. I teleported to the slime dungeon. Now, there was a huge number of slimes resting in this place, all of which were my familiars. Additionally, more slimes also birthed here periodically by the dungeon. Their powers have significantly evolved after repeated grinding in the other dungeons. They already have some kind of corrosive/acidic powers. Now, if I could grant them the gigantification skill, they would be truly monstrous. Just imagining my enemies coming in unguarded and seeing huge slimes eating them up and disintegrating them into oblivion is terrifying.
As I pondered these thoughts, I started the process but felt a sudden pang of pain in my right hand, which was holding Arondight. My hand was getting fatally injured and healing rapidly in quick succession constantly, pouring blood all over the place. Unconsciously, I yelled out loud. The slimes gathered around me in concern, but I mentally ordered them to vacate this place quickly. They left, showing concern for my well-being.
"" Kyu""
I could also hear Clarice's yelling, while Vritra remained as calm as possible. I bore through the pain, and after who knows how much time, I felt the process completed. It wasn't a good feeling to attach something artificially to my soul myself when I didn't even have any soul-manipulating powers. I shouldn't bother doing this again before acquiring some good soul manipulation powers. I was drenched in sweat and pretty exhausted.
"[Kouske! Are you okay?]" Clarice asked, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, looking at my status.
Kouske Miyamura
- Race: Human-Dragon Hybrid
- Age: 7 years
- Strength (Str): D-
- Endurance (End): D-
- Agility (Agi): D-
- Mana: D+
Skills:
- Summoning
- Taming
- Hypnosis (D)
- Body Transformation (D-)
- Teleportation (D)
- Memory Manipulation (D)
- Dark Curtain (D+)
- Senbonzakura
- Flash Step
- Cloud Steps
- Whirlwind Shield (E+)
- Skill Sharing (D+)
-Sense Sharing
- Mutated Sabnock Bloodline (A+)
- Beelzebub Bloodline (B+)
- Metamorphic Mastery (B+)
- Ethereal Doppelgängers (B+)
- Demiplane (A+)
- Falna (C)
- Cognizance Nexus (D+)
-Time Magic (A)
-Gravity Manipulation (C)
-Search (D)
-Touki (C)
-Knife Throwing Technique (D-)
-Marionette Mastery (D-)
-Petrification (D-)
-Illusion Manipulation (D-)
-Vine Manipulation (D-)
-Foresight (D-)
-Plant Manipulation (E+)
-Frostfire Fusion (C-)
-Truthful Trace (C)
- Holy-demonic Light (B-)
Currently Shared Skills:
- Wind Manipulation (Hawks)
- Darkness Manipulation (Noctis)
- Ice Manipulation (Slime)
- Fire Manipulation (Slime)
- Water Manipulation (Slime)
- Earth Manipulation (Slime)
-Knife Throwing Technique (Sakuya)
-Marionette Mastery (Lavinia)
-Petrification (Mossveil Basilisk)
-Illusion Manipulation (Phantom Nymphs)
-Camouflage (Vorpal Viper Vines)
-Vine Manipulation (Briarback Entling)
-Foresight (Ballboon)
-Plant Manipulation (Foliage Wisp)
-Frosfire Fusion (Krystelle Emberfaust)
Items in Effect:
- Vritra's Sacred Gear (B+)
- Fountain of Youth (A)
- Telos Karma/God's Halo (A)
-Condicarment (Bracelet) (C)
Items in Possession:
Boosted Gear (A)
Sacred Gear Extractor (A)
Arondight (B-)
Resistance:
- Poison Resistance (D-)
Points: 665500
Overall Power: D-
There was a new skill in my status, Holy-demonic Light (B-), but Arondight (B-) was also in my possession list. I willed to bring out Arondight, and it came out like a sacred gear on my right hand. Then I tried manipulating the Holy-demonic Light, and it felt like any other skill. It was powerful, but I still had to get used to it to unlock its full potential and power.
But my status has been getting way out of control. So I bought a powerful synthesis-type skill.
Synthesis (B+): Enables one to synthesize and integrate almost anything - 45000 pts.
Just like that, another 45000 points were lost from my savings. But does that mean I can synthesize other things in the future without any consequences?
[A/N: Give me some good ideas about synthesizing Kouske's skills.]
I'll think about that later. After apparent exhaustion, I went to look for the slimes through our connection. I stayed with them for a while, playing with them. These slimes are extremely cute with their sizes. Now, I understand why the girls really like coming to this place. With them here, Sakuya doesn't even have to babysit the others. These slimes always stay beside them in case something unexpected happens.
Right now, I'm in the dungeon, with all my familiars spread out across the Forest Area. Soon, I'll have to leave this area and move to another. This time, I've ordered them not to kill any monsters, just capture them. I'll be taming en masse before leaving the area. It would also be good to get some insect-type monsters. After returning from the trip to Italy, I'll meet Sera and disclose my devil heritage to her.
Elle's identification forge has been completed, and all of us will be going on vacation, probably next week. I guess I'll have to inform the others about my leave. I've been meeting with Sona and the others a lot during this time, and my skills in chess have also improved a bit from playing so much with Sona, but it's still nowhere near that smug loli's level. But I'll definitely beat her on my own in the future.
While thinking about all these miscellaneous things, I start using my new powers. Holy-demonic Light is powerful. I can shape them however I want, like those angels and fallen angels. Thankfully, I can also use them separately, like only using holy light or only demonic light.
I willed the holy-demonic light to wrap around me and tried using it to augment my speed. The increase in speed was significant, not light speed, but still much faster than my normal speed, and with Flash Steps, my speed will become even higher.
At first, the sudden increase in speed made things difficult. I couldn't control it properly, leading to various destructive collisions with the surroundings or the monsters. Thankfully, I had already spread out Hawks, Noctis, or any other familiars, so none of them were hurt. After a while, I was able to somehow safely control it, but it will need a lot more practice.
I also tried out Telos Karma. Even direct point-blank attacks could be miraculously avoided as long as the power difference wasn't too large. I tried cutting off some of those strings of life and death. It was really scary when they suddenly lost their lives by some kind of accident, like getting suddenly attacked by other monsters.
The effect was instantaneous. It was a surefire way to kill someone. But I think the higher one's power is, the harder it is to manipulate their strings of fate. Thank goodness, I never tried this on Sakuya that one time. The chances were slim, but I still don't want anything to happen to my lovely maid.
[A/N: Should Sakuya be A/A+ ranked? Maybe atleast A ranked? What do you guys think?]
I also tried using Absorption Lines alongside Metamorphic Mastery, this time focusing on using them on the Absorption Lines instead of my body. In a short while, they started changing and taking shapes like various sharp weapons.
I could use them like my own limbs, and they still retained their original powers. So it will be a great addition to my arsenal of powers, as whenever I attack my enemies with these, I can also further weaken them by siphoning their powers alongside injuring them.
After spending a long time in this place, I decided to call back all my familiars. After a while, I could hear the earth rumble. When I checked, it was apparently caused by my familiars who were dragging multiple of their defeated foes. Then, hearing a loud thud behind me, I looked to find out that Hawks was throwing unconscious monsters from up in the sky, while Noctis brought his unconscious enemies into his Shadow Space that he created. It's a neat ability.
But what was unexpected was that Hawks and Noctis, along with some other familiars, had ganged up on some Ballboons too and beat the crap out of them. I appreciate their consideration, but I would rather not tame too many of them. Lavinia and the girls should never see these creatures. But thinking about how my enemies will react upon seeing them is amusing. They should also get beat up by their balls.
I started taming each of the monsters, and I had to hurry to go to places with my familiars as they couldn't bring all of their enemies, and they could come to consciousness soon if I don't hurry. Some of the wounded ones might die if I don't hurry. After taming all of them, I decided to return home and transported all my familiars to the Demiplane within a limited space where they can live and eat in peace, and some of the other slimes to the Slime Dungeon where they are the most comfortable to stay. Thankfully, most slimes do not attack each other unprovoked, and they also stay together, so the dungeon slimes cannot cause too much trouble for my tamed ones.
My tamed slimes have small marks of my blue Summoning Magic Circle that can be made to be visible or invisible by their or my wills, differentiating them from the dungeon slimes. It can be applied to all my familiars, and my slimes are obviously stronger than those normal dungeon slimes. Someday I might just unleash my slime army on my enemies. Maybe if I ever go to Tensura and meet Clayman, I should actually consider unleashing my slime army on him and his kingdom. Shouldn't he be fated to be defeated by slimes?
Getting out of my weird thoughts, I teleported home, and suddenly my phone rang up, notifying about an email. Even though I use a smartphone and some smart home appliances bought from the Shop, others cannot help but communicate using emails as it is still the last of 20th century. The smart home appliances are pretty handy, relieving Sakuya of some of her workloads. But she wasn't really happy seeing them as she likes to do her work herself manually.
When I checked my email, it was actually sent by Cleria. She wanted to meet up. Well, it's been a while since I met them last. I replied about meeting them sometime two weeks later. I will give the exact date later. Meeting Navirose and Hiroshi might help me with my swordsmanship. Sparring with Aunt Arene isn't all that helpful right now.
But I will have to think of a way for my phone to stay connected to the network even in the dungeon, seeing how I only got to see this now after coming out of the dungeon when in reality it was sent earlier. Maybe I should check Heaven's System and try to make something similar? Ha ha ha. That's a funny thought. It will take a lot of resources and hard work to do what Yehweh did!
64. Plans for the Future!
Kouske's POV
I have been trying to master Senjutsu for a while, and because of my other skills like Plant Manipulation, Vine Manipulation, Earth Manipulation, and Search, I have finally acquired Senjutsu (F). These skills made it much easier for me to learn Senjutsu. Now, I just have to train it further to evolve it.
Senjutsu (F): Senjutsu, also known as Sage Arts, grants users enhanced physical abilities, heightened senses, and the ability to manipulate natural energy for offensive and defensive techniques. It enables users to sense and harness the energy of nature, enhancing their combat prowess and allowing them to perform powerful techniques such as elemental manipulation and energy blasts. Additionally, Senjutsu users can enter different stages of Senjutsu, with higher levels granting greater power and endurance. They can also commune with nature and gain insights into their surroundings, making them formidable opponents in battle. Senjutsu is also excellent for concealing one's aura and hiding their presence. It allows users to identify the supernatural and others' aura on a whole different level. Furthermore, it grants users the ability to heal others, with the potential for further enhancement through rigorous practice.
My skills in various types of magic have also improved as I learned from Vritra while teaching Momo about magic. Now, my proficiency rivals that of Ultimate Class Magicians. To obtain an official magician's license, I'll need to meet with Mephistopheles.
Becoming an Ultimate Class Magician is prestigious among humans, as they are the top-ranking members of any magician organization. However, before I can attempt that exam, I must first pass the exams to become a Low-High Class Magician. These exams can be taken within any prominent magical organization, but the Ultimate Class Magician exam requires approval from several Ultimate Class Magicians from different organizations to ensure impartial judgment.
While I'm not affiliated with any magician organizations, I plan to make arrangements with Grauzeberer to take these exams. Becoming an Ultimate Class Magician will allow Akatsuki to legally issue magician certificates and identifications, ensuring compliance with the law. Ultimate Class Magicians have the authority to establish their own magician organizations.
As far as I know, there are only two Ultimate Class Magicians in Grauzeberer: Mephistopheles and Gregory Faust, the father of George Faust, the Dimension Lost Longinus wielder. Additionally, there are six in the Golden Dawn Magician Organization, which are the two leading magician organizations. Other smaller organizations typically only have one Ultimate Class Magician.
I'll abide by the laws as long as they're reasonable. Taking the tests to become a recognized organization isn't too much of a bother for me, especially if it helps us avoid being labeled as illegal or a terrorist organization. Additionally, I need to start recruiting more seriously now that most of Akatsuki's preparations are complete.
Sakuya can also easily become an Ultimate Class Magician if she takes the test. She's been practicing diligently and has become proficient in Space and Sealing Magic. Her mastery over Time, Space, and Sealing Magic combined makes her a terrifying force. Her barrier around the house is always active, and anything lower than the full-powered attack of a Satan Class Being cannot even scratch it, and her proficiency is only getting better.
At least in my house, those supernatural beings cannot barge in whenever they want willy-nilly. They will be in for a surprise counter-attack and curses if anyone even tries to barge in, and we will know immediately if someone's trying to enter my house unannounced. I've never really liked those fanfics where supernatural beings can barge into the protagonist's house unannounced whenever they feel like it, as if they owned the place.
I'm currently in the shopping district, thankfully alone. If any of the girls were with me, it would be hell. I'm just doing some necessary shopping for myself, and I'll have to hide my bags when I get home and stash them in the wardrobe without anyone noticing. Otherwise, I'll have to deal with the drama of why I didn't take anyone else shopping with me. Though Sakuya will definitely know. I'm in my adult form because people would find it weird for an almost 8-year-old kid to be strolling around the shopping district alone.
As I finish my business, I feel my Longinus acting up, beckoning me in a certain direction. I follow my instinct and find a family of four browsing the toy section of the mall. There's a little boy around 7 or 8 with brownish-orange hair and golden-brown eyes, and a younger girl with dark brown hair and golden-brown eyes. They might be hard to recognize, but they still bear resemblances to their teenage selves, and with their parents, Yuki Saibai, a mangaka, and Yuki Ringo, a famous fashion designer, looking the same, I know their identity even without using Observe. They're Yuki Rito and Yuki Mikan.
Since I also plan to go into the entertainment and technological industry, being acquainted with Saibai would be good. I should just greet him for now, and then we can talk about business. As I start walking towards them, something feels odd. My powers are acting up again, like an instinct, and it's coming from Rito. I can see various colored strings around him. Before I can inspect those, I'm already in front of them, and Saibai is looking at me straight, probably because of how I approached and stared at them. So, I decided to start by greeting them.
"Hi. Are you mangaka Yuki-sensei?" asks Kouske in a cheery mood.
"Yes. But how do you know me? I don't really appear in any media..." says Saibai suspiciously.
"You see, I saw your recent work, Switch Onmyouji. It's quite good. I am starting my own agency, and I was really interested in working with you," says Kouske.
Hearing Kouske's praise, Saibai makes a goofy face, showing his wife how he's starting to become more famous. His wife has a pleasant expression and just smiles at Saibai.
"I see. But I am really busy with my current manga, and I don't think this is the place to talk about business," Saibai says, making a serious face and gesturing to his family.
Kouske understands Saibai's message and decides it would be better to talk about business another time. Saibai and his wife in the canon never had much time for their children as they were always busy working outside the home. It may not be the case now, but they must still be busy, starting their careers.
Saibai is extremely talented as a mangaka, and his special feature is how he can draw much faster than a normal artist, almost at superhuman speed. His recent manga, Switch Onmyouji, is bound to gain massive success, which might not have been directly shown in To Love Ru, but it was mentioned in Yubuki Kentaro-sensei's another series.
"I understand. I don't want to intrude on your family time. I am Akatsuki. This is my card. I hope we can set a date to sit somewhere and discuss some things," Kouske says while giving out his card, specially made for his identity as Akatsuki.
"Sure. I will get in touch with you," says Saibai.
Omniscient POV
Normally, most people might not get in touch again after suddenly being approached by a complete stranger, but Kouske put some suggestions in his mind so that they could at least have a meeting and talk.
After that, Kouske also gets introduced to his family, and after a brief exchange of words, Kouske and they, go their separate ways. But nobody notices Kouske's hand movements and how he severed some of Rito's strings of fate. Now Rito won't have that super lecherous luck and won't have those lucky pervert moments. He could lead a normal life. Kouske also severed some of his most severe connections, like his fated encounter with a certain alien princess and some others.
Kouske doesn't feel any guilt, as Rito never really appreciated his connections and fate. But Kouske knows Rito is genuinely a nice and kind guy. He is a lot more respectable than Issei. Kouske hopes that at least in this life, Rito will be able to confess his love to Haruna and lead a happy life with her, as there's nothing stopping them now. After that, Kouske goes back home in a genuinely happy mood while also thinking about setting up an actual agency.
After arriving home, Kouske decides to call his father's office for the first time. On the other end, a receptionist picks up the call.
Kouske: Hello, this is Kouske Miyamura. May I speak with Tanaka-san, please?
Kouske intended to speak with the Managing Director (MD), and he knew the MD's direct landline number must be somewhere in the house. However, he felt too lazy to search for it, so he opted to call the office reception number instead. But, he thought if he asked Sakuya, she would have found it for him instantly.
Receptionist: Hello. Do you have an appointment with him?
The receptionist asked incredulously upon hearing the young voice on the other side. Was this someone just wasting her time while she was busy doing makeup?
Kouske: No, but if you could inform him about me, he will speak to me. Or you could transfer the call directly to his room.
Receptionist: *sigh* Listen, kid, we're busy, and if you don't have an appointment, then stop wasting my time. My time is important.
With that, the receptionist hangs up with a snort, feeling irritated. Not just anyone can speak to the MD willy-nilly just because they want to. This particular receptionist is the newest recruit to the job and still doesn't know much about the company. She also boasts about her job in one of Japan's best conglomerates, making most of her female friends (harpy) jealous.
Kouske stands there for a while with an indistinguishable facial expression. After almost two minutes, the phone rings again. This time it's the MD. It seems an old receptionist overheard a bit of their conversation and grew suspicious. She checked the number and found out it was their boss's house landline number. At this time, most landline phones don't provide any function to check caller IDs. But some influential people can have this function installed by talking to the providers, for an extra fee. When she learned of this, she immediately rebuked her junior and went to the MD to inform him about the situation.
MD: Miyamura-sama! It's a surprise to receive a call from you. How can I assist you today?
Tanaka-san has been working in the company for a long time and has been one of their most trusted employees. Kouske's father had given him this important position. He has also met Kouske several times, and Kouske has that memory in mind. Tanaka-san is always busy working for the company in the capital Tokyo, living with his family there.
Kouske: I hope you're doing well, Tanaka-san. I have a small favor to ask. I have a friend who's quite passionate about Ferrari cars, and I was wondering if you could arrange for them to visit the Ferrari headquarters in Italy.
MD: Of course, sir. That sounds like an exciting opportunity. Would you like me to schedule a meeting with the owner of Ferrari or arrange for a tour of the facility?
Kouske: Both, if possible. I want my friend to experience everything, from seeing the inner workings of the company to test-driving some of their iconic cars.
Who hasn't had such a dream at least once in their lifetime? With the Miyamuras being such a prominent Worldwide Conglomerate, arranging this should be possible.
MD: Understood, sir. I'll make the necessary arrangements and keep you updated on the details.
Kouske: Thank you, Tanaka-san. I appreciate your prompt assistance.
MD: It's my pleasure, sir. Is there anything else I can assist you with?
Tanaka-san asked a bit nervously, knowing about the earlier rudeness of the new employee. He was already contemplating a suitable punishment for her. She should have been more diligent in her duties and not wasted company time on personal matters.
Kouske: Yes. The one who answered the phone earlier, reduce her salary by 25% for the next four months and increase her working hours by two hours during that time. If she is dissatisfied, terminate her employment.
Kouske might seem somewhat lighthearted, but he doesn't tolerate negligence in the workplace. She should have taken her responsibilities more seriously, especially considering her role as a receptionist. It's crucial to verify the identities of important callers for the company's sake. Her actions could potentially harm the company, so this serves as a minor consequence.
MD: Understood. I'll take care of it. Is there anything else?
Kouske: That will be all for now, thank you. Have a good day.
Kouske plans to discuss the agency with him on another occasion.
MD: You too, Miyamura-sama. Goodbye.
After ending the call, Kouske books airline tickets for everyone in the Miyamura House for the following week. They'll be staying for a week or more, so he also pre-books hotel rooms and arranges for a tourist guide.
65. Italian Adventures: Part 1
Omniscient POV
After a week of anticipation, everyone boarded the plane bound for Italy. Kouske had splurged on first-class tickets, determined to make the most of their vacation. Lavinia and Elle looked stunning in matching blue dresses, while after much persuasion, Kouske convinced Sakuya to wear a beautiful black dress.
Sakuya's attire exuded understated elegance, with her sleeveless black dress draping gracefully and held in place by delicate strings around her neck. Her wrists were adorned with black cloths resembling bangles, adding a subtle yet striking accent.
Her short hair framed her delicate features, drawing attention to the twin tails cascading down like ribbons of midnight silk, secured with a meticulously crafted black ribbon in an x-shaped knot. The tailored dress revealed Sakuya's flawless porcelain-white skin, accentuating her curves with subtle allure. Every detail of her attire enhanced her innate beauty, leaving a lasting impression of grace and sophistication.
Kouske himself was wearing a black tuxedo in his adult form. All of them attracted attention with their unique features, such as Akatsuki's bright red eyes, which were supernatural and uncommon, one blonde girl, and two girls with blue hair, although one had blue-red hair. Their beauty and attire caught the eye of the other passengers on the flight.
Some were curious to approach them, but Akatsuki's presence deterred them, awed by his handsome appearance. Conversely, those interested in getting to know Akatsuki hesitated after seeing Elle and Sakuya, feeling intimidated by their presence. Lavinia and Elle were bubbling with excitement as they boarded the plane, eager to make the most of every moment of their journey.
After enduring a 13-hour wait on the plane, they finally landed in Rome. Elle had grown quite impatient during those hours, but they managed to calm her down. Thanks to Lavinia's cheeriness, they ended the flight in a good and memorable mood, enjoying the scenery and various hospitalities onboard.
Kouske could sense Sakuya's eagerness to explore and work rather than just sitting still. He hoped she would find enjoyment in their journey as much as he did. During the flight, they had the chance to chat about many things leisurely.
Upon arrival at the airport, Kouske had already arranged for a car to take them to their luxurious hotel nestled in the heart of Rome. After checking in, they wasted no time immersing themselves in the city's vibrant atmosphere.
They strolled through the cobbled streets of the historic center, marveling at the ancient architecture and bustling piazzas. The majestic Pantheon loomed before them, a symbol of Rome's enduring legacy.
For dinner, they sought out a traditional Roman trattoria, where the aroma of freshly baked pizza and homemade pasta filled the air. The girls savored each delectable bite, while Sakuya and Kouske already contemplated mastering some of the art of Italian cuisine. After dinner, they returned to the hotel to rest, marking the end of their first day in Rome.
On the second day, filled with eager anticipation, the group embarked on a guided tour of ancient Rome, led by a knowledgeable local guide. They stood in awe at the grandeur of the Colosseum, imagining the gladiatorial battles that once echoed within its ancient walls.
The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill offered glimpses into the city's rich history, with crumbling ruins whispering tales of emperors and conquests. They captured many memorable photos on Kouske's smartphone.
In the afternoon, they ventured into the sacred enclave of Vatican City, where St. Peter's Basilica rose majestically against the azure sky. It also served as the base of the Church, where they trained and raised their Exorcists to combat the Fallens and Devils, for humanity, although Kouske harbored doubts about their true intentions.
He simply wanted to enjoy his rare vacation with everyone without any trouble. Sakuya gestured for Kouske to glance in the direction she believed to be the Church's base, where Kouske also sensed the presence of many exorcists.
Amidst the crowd, Kouske bumped into someone. What he noticed was a blue-eyed nun with some dangerous curves. Despite her kind demeanor, he felt a sense of unease emanating from her. She was accompanying a young, blue-haired tomboy.
"Sorry. Are you alright?" asks Kouske.
"It's alright. I am fine," replies the nun smilingly.
"Are you here to tour? You look like tourists," asks the nun.
"Yes. I am here with my family to tour. It's quite a beautiful place," says Kouske as he indicates to the girls, who were a bit far away, looking around curiously as Sakuya looked after them. Feeling their gaze, Sakuya looks back and nods. The nun was only able to notice Sakuya in that crowd.
"Of course, it would be beautiful. It's the Lord's sacred land," says the tomboyish girl in a harsh tone, as if it were obvious, holding her hands together and starting to pray. The nun rebukes her for her behavior after she's done with her prayer.
"Ha ha ha," Kouske lets out an awkward laugh.
"You should visit the Cathedral too. It's a beautiful place," says the nun.
"I will," replies Kouske, though he thinks it might be better not to go there among those church fanatics and risk ruining their outing.
"Your Italian is really good even though you are a tourist. It's as good as the natives," says the tomboy, curiously.
"Well, I learned diligently before visiting. Bye then. I hope you have a good day, miss," replies Kouske.
"Griselda, Griselda Quarta. And this little one here is Xenovia Quarta," says the nun.
"Oh. I am Akatsuki. It was nice meeting you, Griselda-san. I will have to go accompany my family now," says Kouske.
"Hmm. Bye. May the Lord's blessing be with you on this journey," says the nun as they go their separate ways.
But Kouske decided to explore the area as quietly as possible. The Vatican Museums beckoned with their priceless treasures, from Michelangelo's masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel to ancient artifacts from distant lands. Kouske also took note of some of the hidden magical treasures somewhere.
As the sun rose over the Eternal City on the third day, Lavinia's excitement reached its peak as they prepared for a family-friendly cooking class. Donning aprons and rolling up their sleeves, they learned the secrets of crafting pasta from scratch under the guidance of skilled Italian chefs.
While Kouske questioned the edibility of Lavinia's handmade pasta, which later turned out to be edible, Sakuya deftly kneaded the dough and shaped it into perfect pasta strands, astonishing even the seasoned chefs with her innate talents.
Some chefs even expressed interest in inviting her to their restaurants. Elle chose not to participate, and although Kouske's pasta was of higher quality than average, it paled in comparison to Sakuya's expertise.
Next, the group learned the authentic way to bake Italian pizzas and how to make cheese from scratch. They also encountered the famous blue cheese, but Kouske's heightened senses prevented him from swallowing it, despite its apparent tastiness.
Lavinia and Sakuya, however, enjoyed it as if it weren't infested with maggots at all! Elle wasn't too keen on trying it, but Lavinia, being Lavinia, kinda force fed her some and encouraged her to enjoy it. Kouske remained adamant about not trying it, earning curious gazes from Sakuya, who took note of his behavior.
In the afternoon, they wandered through the enchanting Borghese Gallery and Gardens, immersing themselves in the beauty of lush greenery and exquisite art. As they explored the art gallery, Kouske tried his best to appreciate the artwork, despite knowing little about art himself.
He hesitated to question some of the pieces that seemed abstract to him, fearing he would lose a debate with the art enthusiasts surrounding him. However, their main reason for being there was to meet the possessor of a sacred gear holder, as Yama-san had provided information about her.
Her name was Dia Viekone, around 8 years old, and she lived with her aunt, Esri Viekone, an artist, while her parents resided abroad due to work. Kouske had heard that they were in the city for an art exhibition. The names sounded familiar, and upon seeing them from afar, Kouske understood why.
Just a few feet away stood Esri Viekone, with her white hair and light blue eyes, accompanied by Dia Viekone, who bore a striking resemblance to her aunt despite being younger. They looked more like sisters than aunts and nieces. Esri enthusiastically explained her artwork to the surrounding people, while Dia stood by her side, looking bored.
Kouske sensed the mana emanating from Dia's body, suppressed but still significant. It rivaled Momo's level, who had been continuously grinding in the dungeon. There was no doubt about Dia's talent. Kouske used his ability to Observe her, intending to learn more about her sacred gear.
Rainbow Mage (C+): Enhances the user's mana control and output, enabling them to convert their elemental affinities. Provides control over the four basic elemental abilities, such as earth, fire, wind, and water, as well as light and dark magic attributes.
Subskill [Multi-Chant] allows her to perform multiple incantations simultaneously with better efficiency, expanding her overall moveset. Her eyes enable her to perceive mana, drastically enhancing dynamic vision and depth perception. They also grant the ability to see things in slow motion, including magic.
Subskill [Aging Resistance] slows down the user's aging rate after the development of their secondary sexual characteristics.
Astonishingly, Dia possessed the High-tier Sacred Gear, the pinnacle of mage-type sacred gear in the Heaven System, leaving any magician envious of her. Even without this sacred gear, her talent should rival that of Lavinia's, and in the future, she might even reach heights comparable to those achievable by Longinus wielders, despite not possessing such a sacred gear herself. It was such a terrific combination. Even DxD's Merlin might be shocked to see such unfairness by the heavens!
While Kouske observed them, the girls looked around the place curiously. Lavinia asked about things she was curious about, dragging Elle along with her, who did her best to keep a calm and collected face. Sakuya accompanied them.
After a while, Lavinia noticed the bored Dia and approached her. After introductions, they started talking, and with permission from Esri, they strolled around the gallery together. Kouske hoped Lavinia could make a new friend with similar hobbies. Seeing that Esri was finally alone and observing the girls from afar, Kouske approached her.
"Hello, Viekone-san. I am Akatsuki. It's an honor meeting an artist like you," says Kouske politely as he approaches her.
Esri is momentarily captivated by his face and distinguished red eyes. However, after registering his name in her mind, she adopts a cautious expression, appearing more guarded against Kouske than with the people before. But almost instantly, she snaps back into her normal, cheerful demeanor.
"Hello~. It's an honor meeting you too~," says Esri mysteriously, which confuses him a bit.
Seeing his genuine confusion, Esri relaxes a bit more, and her mischievous smile becomes more profound.
"So, which one did you like?" asks Esri.
"Huh? What do you mean?" asks Kouske, not understanding.
"Paintings, silly. What else would you come to look here for? Tell me about your impression of my paintings?" says Esri.
Kouske looks behind her to find three paintings: one was a portrait of a girl, one was a painting of nature, and the other was too PROFOUND for Kouske to understand.
"Well, I don't really know much about paintings. But yours look very beautiful, just as much as you are. Though I can't say the same about the last one," says Kouske, but he whispers the last bit to himself.
"Ara~. Thank you," replies Esri, not minding the compliment. Surely, she is used to receiving such compliments on a daily basis.
"So what do you like about it?" asks Esri, making Kouske cough a few times.
"Umm. It looks beautiful. But I don't really have much knowledge on paintings to comment on any specific parts," says Kouske as he scratches the back of his head, realizing it's probably better for him not to comment on things he doesn't know.
"Mou~~. That's unfortunate," says Esri, adopting a thinking pose while puffing her cheeks a bit, as more people approach her.
"Hmm. Maybe you can teach me some basics over a meal or something," Kouske asks hesitantly, not believing every single girl would accept his invitation on their short first meetings.
"Ara~? Are you inviting me on a date?" says Esri, amused.
"I am. So when can we meet?" asks Kouske this time a bit more confidently.
"Hmm... Normally, I don't accept such invites, but this time I will make an exception. Here's my number. But only if I am free, okay? By the way, your Italian is great," says Esri as she smiles and goes over to the people coming towards her.
Kouske looks at her card and wonders if his Longinus is somehow interfering with his fate in some unexpected ways.
After a while, the girls also return, and they prepare to head to the hotel. As they were going to travel and see different cities, Kouske had already booked hotel rooms for them in those cities.
The whole time, Lavinia was talking about the new friend she made, while Kouske was contemplating what new sexy dress to buy Sakuya to wear. It was quite rare to see her in anything other than her maid costumes and nighties.
Kouske goes back, not knowing how recognizable he has become in a single night, because of only one video on DeviNet.
Church Headquarters
Griselda was quite troubled. It was just yesterday that she met this guy, and now he is one of the hottest topics among the supernatural. Even though exorcists don't use the DeviNet much, whether it's because of their sheltered upbringing, lack of knowledge about technology, or their prejudice against devils and their inventions, when the video of Akatsuki easily defeating two Cadres of Grigory shook the DeviNet, the Heaven Faction also received details on the video and informed all important personnel of the church about the new Black Dragon King, unlike any other ones before.
What's more serious is that he is here on Church territory without their knowledge. Only the Lord knows what someone like him is planning to do here. After informing the Church about her encounter with Akatsuki, they were shocked, to say the least. They have tasked her and some others with finding him, learning about his real intentions, and also attempting to invite him to the Heaven Faction.