Marvelous Shop, Chapter 18

Roygun Belphegor was definitely a woman I could see myself working with. She was a woman of drive, power, and ambition. And after working with Nora back in the Fallout Universe. I certainly couldn't complain about a woman with drive and ambition.

Not like there in the Fallout Universe where survival was key. Here, power and abibition took on a much different art form, and here.

I didn't want to play so easily into the ambitions of others. Especially when joining her didn't give me any concrete bonuses such as with the missions I took on in joining this universe.

No, right now to gain the most strength I needed to stick to 'canon' as much as possible, as I HAD to beat Riser Phenex like an unwanted stepchild for one mission. And then deal with whatever entity that might replace Kokabiel as a big bad that would attack Rias and Sona.

If I succeeded in the last mission as well, I would be able to literally keep the Boosted Gear for myself and all the strength I had acquired here in this world. So as to Roygun's question...

I smiled and said firmly but respectfully. "I very much appreciate your offer. But... I am going to have to refuse. I do not wish to join any peerage frankly."

Roygun blinked before her excited smile faded... Them she looked at me with some warning before she said slowly. "You do realise, I am an ultimate class devil right? I am not Rias Gremory or Sona Sitri, I am a King of power and repute." 

I nodded before I said calmly. "I am aware Lady Belphegor, but I do not wish to lose my humanity or become the servant of another."

There was a pause as Roygun's expression darkened slightly at my very blunt refusal.

Then she took a breath and said with a wry smile. "I haven't been so bluntly refused since my first attempts in creating my peerage. But still..."

Her eye's filled with weight as she looked at me. Then her smile was filled with clear challenge as she spoke. "This world is one that relies on your fist doing the speaking. So why not have a challenge with me Jake Bariss."

Before I could respond however, I felt a heat around my form and for a moment, I thought she was using a fire spell or something. But instead, it was the sky light in the mall we were in. As bright... Almost scaldingly hot sunlight poured down from the sky light.

And the sounds of Japanese wooden heels rang out with soft clacking noises as another feminine voice spoke but it was filled with clear challenge rather than any form of amusement.

"Roygun Belphegor, as ordained by the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, you are to remove yourself from the Land of the Rising Sun effective now. Refusal to comply... Will result in myself, Lady Amaterasu, and Lord Hachiman taking you into custody."

As the woman was speaking my face was twitching as I saw, and most certainly recognized Yasaka a blond-haired an extremely beautiful, and voluptuous kitsune who had her tails out on full display with the number of wards and illusions that were locking the minds of the nearby mortals.

But I was rather confused on something else... Before it hit me as I recalled who this over person reminded me of so much. 'Oh! That's like Akeno's cousin or something in Suzaku Himejim,a I think?'

With Suzaku looking very similar to Akeno but having gleaming crimson eye's instead. Along with wearing a flattering kimono that exposed a bit of her cleavage, rather then the school uniform she was noted in wearing in the Slash Dog series.

Which made sense as it has been a few years since the events of Slash Dog. So there was no reason for Suzaku to be running around in a school uniform.

But appreciating the two beautiful women had to hard stop even though Suzaku was giving me an odd measuring look. Because I could feel the pressure as Roygun and Yasaka's power pressed one another.

And all too quickly, it became apparent that in terms of sheer power, Yasaka with the support of Amaterasu, who was clearly watching this situation. Was taking the lead in terms of power and momentum.

Roygun's stiff form with her right hand curled into a half-closed position relaxed, and then she smiled, but it was a cold smile. "Very well, I can tell when I am not wanted."

The busty pink pink-haired devil then looked to me and her smile gained a hint of warmth as she spoke with finality. "When you are done playing games with the younger generation, and you don't want to be jerked around by the Divine. Come find me in the Underworld, I can get you set up." 

Then with a flare of light, a powerful dimensional glyph formed and took Roygun presumably back to the Underworld. Leaving me and Kiba facing Akeno's cousin, and the leader of the western half of Japan's youkai.

"So... Now that the interloper is gone. We can properly introduce ourselves." Yasaka spoke regally but with a warmer smile.

She then turned sideways a bit, allowing Suzaku to take a step forward with her humming softly before she spoke with a demure but firm voice. "My name is Suzaku Himejima, I am the head of the Himejima household, and the representative of the Five Principal Clans."

Kiba who was still sitting next to me, was looking super fucking awkward to say the least. Like he clearly wanted to interject. Yet he knew this was entirely my trouble and knew that getting involved would get us both into trouble.

But I just took a breath and said with a weak smile. "So is it your turn for you to recruit me as a fellow human?"

Suzaku's face pinched before she sighed and said with a wry smile. "Actually, no. If anything I want you to not be recruited by anyone else. As being honest. At best, within my clan or the Five Principal Clan's you would be treated like a leper due to you obviously being foreign."

She shrugged and continued with a sigh. "Although I have been working to change the elder's point of view on Sacred Gear's and foreign people. You wouldn't truly be welcome in the clans even if the elders would happily use you as a weapon."

I did respect her being so honest to me but then Yasaka chuckled with a husky voice as she spoke in clear amusement. "On the other hand, I would happily recruit you, Jake. I care little for you being of American descent, even if Lady Amaterasu has... Some annoyance towards your bloodline due to her temples in Hiroshima and Nagasaki being bombed."

My lips twitched at the reminder of the nukes being dropped on Japan and I couldn't help but wonder how Amaterasu and the rest of the Shinto felt being the only faction/nation to actually be nuked in reality.

But then again, maybe nukes weren't all too special as Ultimate class being's were walking nukes anyway.

Regardless, I took a breath and said firmly but respectfully. "Lady Yasaka, I respect and appreciate you personally approaching me. But I have no intention of joining any factions."

There was a pause as Yasaka only smiled enigmatically before she looked elsewhere with her smile growing before she refocused on me.

And then she spoke rhetorically. "Well, Jake, you can certainly do that. I am not going to force you to join my court. But... You should be aware that you are weak, and a currently weak Longinus wielder is one of the most attractive treasures to gather in these modern times." 

For a moment, I thought she was threatening me, but I knew that wasn't the case. Still, however, I kept my back straight as I answered quietly but firmly. "I will take heed in your warning Lady Yasaka, now if you both don't mind... I think that my friend and I should be leaving now. We still have school tomorrow."

I then stood up from my seat with Kiba quietly following, before I felt the sun's glare on my form from the sky light grow in strength with Kiba hissing as his skin visibly burnt under the sun's glare.

But then thick clouds covered the sky light with Yasaka's smile dimming and Suzaku saying quietly. "Then go in peace, Jake, Kiba. Also... Tell my cousin, I send my regards." 

With that, I gave Kiba's shoulder a nudge with my hand to pull him and we quickly left the mall. And as we left the mall, I could see the sun was obscured by thick and dark clouds that had mysteriously formed.

"Jake, can I just teleport us back to the ORC? I'd rather not chance us getting... Stopped on the way back." Kiba spoke with a small grimace at the thought.

Likewise, I imagined several assassins or something attacking us, and I could feel D'draig send a feeling of agreement as today had been entirely too reactive and too much going on. So I just nodded with Kiba, much more slowly forming a general teleportation sigil to teleport us away.

-

Meanwhile, Yasaka who was still with Suzaku, looked up at the cloudy sky with a rueful smile. "Just because you are renting this territory... Daring to pull a layer of clouds in front of the head of my Pantheon is rather brave."

A cold female voice spoke with clear power in her voice in turn. "Kiba Yuuto is a member of my sister-in-law's peerage. Amaterasu knew I was here and attempting to hurt him to make a statement was obviously going to earn a reaction."

Suzaku then added verbally as tendrils of divine fire twirled around her hand as she stared up at the figure who conjured up the dense clouds. "And helping the poor overwhelmed Longius wielder from a tight spot also helped as well... Devil, you seem to have almost planned out this entire situation, including using that Roygun as a patsy."

The figure in the air scoffed and with her crimson eye's all but glaring at the two other women, she said flatly. "I have no need for such games. And attempting to send such a threatening letter to Rias Gremory? Maybe you should worry about yourself instead."

Then the figure was taken away in another teleportation sigil that formed underneath her feet, leaving the two women there with Suzaku shaking her head and saying rather bemusedly.

"Well, this was a rather forced meeting all things told. Either way, I have responsibilities to take care of, and I imagine you must get back to Kyoto's ley lines soon Yasaka."

Then Suzaku Himejima's form was engulfed in the flames of the Vermillion Bird before she teleported away leaving Yasaka the nine-tailed fox to huff before she muttered quietly. "Why am I the one being used as an errand woman? And how dare he refuse me so easily... Have I lost my charm?"