Marvelous Shop, Chapter 17

After the time with Kalawarner was done with her needing to report to her superior's. I obviously went to school... Which, it was a bit annoying, was most certainly much less stressful then trying to survive in the Wasteland of the Fallout Universe.

But even during the boring class periods I kept busy. As I either meditated to build up and recover my magical reserves. Or under my table out of sight of other's seeing as I was in the back of the classroom. I practised the cantrips that Kalawarner taught me.

All in the efforts of getting a hang of manipulating my magical energy. As despite D'draig not giving much of a damn about magic, he had dozen's of hosts that had went through the process of learning how to use magic.

So when he was bored, he would give me some generally good advice, despite always having some snippy bits about how draconic energy was better than just basic magical energy.

But time passed by, the school day came to an end was over. And being the chuuni little snow flake I was, I went back up to the school's roof on the fifth floor, and sat on the bench to feel the nice breeze. As I relaxed and listened to D'draig yap about the old days when he was free to burn down nations and such.

"Hmm, Elsha had some trouble with the goddess Artemis. That goddess, after hearing about the Devil's Evil Pieces, started hunting down Sacred Gear wielder's and with Elsha's strength, she was a very obvious target for recruitment." He spoke to me, making me nod as I listened to the tale of the second strongest wielder of the Boosted Gear.

"Funny enough, the wielder of Divine Dividing was also Elsha's sister, and although our rivalry brought the sister's to blows at times. Their conflicts were never anything too bad, until Artemis, wrathful at being bluntly rejected twice after finding Elsha and her sister cursed them both."

I hummed and said quietly. "You spoke a good bit about Elsha, and Belzard, the two strongest previous hosts you have had. How did they die, actually?" 

D'draig was quiet before he sighed and said. "Elsha died protecting her sister as they fought Surtr. Elsha was of the Norse blood, and after they fled southern Europe after beating the lesbian out of Artemis, they both fell when they returned home, only to get into conflict with that god of destruction."

There was a pause before he took a deep breath audibly within my soul. "As for Belzard... He was the strongest of my hosts, physically and magically speaking. And he earned the title of godkiller when he killed the Zoroastrian time god Zorvan, and... Killed two other wielders of Divine Dividing who challenged him." 

D'draig then actually chuckled and said with some fond amusement clear in his voice. "And that bastard died as he lived. He laid with too many succubi, and their drain. No matter how controlled it took too much life force. That and he was already cursed to an early death as Zorvan cursed him to die at a specific time." 

"Coudn't he have... Had another god, maybe even another god of time fix him or something?" I asked curiously.

D'draig scoffed and said blandly. "Partner, almost all... Divines of time are dead, or sealed away with their essence shattered. They are the most arrogant and petty of being's. But no, Belzard refused to bow his head to another god or anyone in general, even if it led to him being allowed to live." 

I shook my head and asked with a wry smile. "Well besides those two, got any other interesting hosts you can tell me about? Like what is the most outlandish thing your hosts have done?" 

And so D'draig gave a drawn out chuckle before the old coot of a dragon began happily explaining how one of his hosts was a certain famous artist obssessed with finding the perfect shaped breast to ass ratio. And with her rather strong talent for stealth.

Had actually spied on Artemis, Athena, Hestia, Aphrodite, Ishtar, Kulkankan, Amaterasu, Gabriel, and many other famous female figures in their private times in the hopes of using the divine and divine crafted to find the 'Perfect Ratio'

"And did they find it? That perfect ratio?" I asked quietly with respect to my predecessor who had given their life in the hopes of finding this meaning of life.

D'draig gave a slow hum before he said in a deep voice. "On her deathbed. As she lay there dying of the wounds she received after spying on Durga. She said that the perfect ratio was to be beheld by the very world and that Tiamat, in her human form, had the perfect ratio." 

I sighed as I imagined such... Wonderful scenery to say the least, I could only give a simple chest bump with my fist as I sent the strongest prayer I could to that previous host. They lived a life, that any man and person of culture would respect without a doubt.

But then, before I could ask D'draig which host had like the biggest harem or something. I raised an eyebrow as Kiba strolled onto the roof. "Hello Jake, you don't mind if I use your first name do you? Or is that something only Akeno and the President can call you?" He said with a bit of teasing.

I felt D'draig retract into my soul at seeing the devil. But I just nodded and said with an easy smile. "Yeah, that's perfectly fine. I have an American heart, so I am not used to the honorifics and such. Please just use my first name." 

Kiba came over and he leaned on the fence pole that surrounded the roof of the school's roof with a fence so no students couldn't off themselves. "So." He started off with a raised eyebrow.

"Rias was rather surprised you came in today after spending time with the Fallen last night?" 

I raised an eyebrow and said rather blandly. "Am I being monitored so closely by your king?" 

Kiba shrugged and said with a wry smile. "Not really, but dragon fire is something very noticeable and that spar you had with the fallen could be sensed by Koneko all the way back here at the school. So we checked on you, to make sure the Fallen didn't actually kidnap you." 

Blinking, I lost the bit of hostility in my expression as I realized that was very much a fair point to make. So I shrugged and said. "Yeah, I spent the night with a Fallen Angel, she was teaching me more about the Supernatural world, and how to do some magic."

Kiba gave a slow nod before he bounced a bit forward on the fence pole he was leaning on. "Well, just remember Jake. That although the Grigori do have humanity's best interest at heart... They are not afraid to use humans to forward their own goals. I know that all too well." He finished with a dark tone.

'How did the Holy Sword Project happen here in this timeline? Was it the church that did it still?' I mused before I said quietly. "I understand, I have no plan to join the Grigori anyway. If they want to make me strong, I certainly am not going to refuse the help though." 

Kiba shook his head before he asked curiously. "So, do you have plans to meet with the Fallen later today? I was hoping to hang out with you, as to be honest..."

The handsome blond brushed a hand through his hair before he said sheepishly. "I would like a male friend to hang out with, I've been getting harassed by the kendo club too much lately." 

There was a pause before I let out a bark of laughter. "Haha! Alright, Kiba, whatcha wanna do then? Besides my plan to do some more training today, I don't have anything major planned." 

Kiba smiled in turn at my easy acceptance, and after a moment of thought, he said. "Well, there is the new Drag-So Ball live action movie that came out last weekend. The Prez said it was an utter travesty of entertainment but how bad could it be?"

"And the movie theater has its own arcade and is connected to the mall so we can get whatever food we want from the food court." 

As he said Drag-So Ball... I first inwardly cringed in horror, then I thought about what he said. 'Wait, that fucking horror show of a live action Dragon Ball movie is coming here as well? Actually, that could be funny to watch, in a It's so bad, it's funny. Kind of way.' 

But hey, if Kiba actually wanted to hang out and have some bro time which totally made sense with how Rias's whole peerage was just ladies or a trap in Gasper. Combined with how Kuoh Academy had like ninety percent girls.

I didn't blame the guy for wanting to hang out with another dude.

"Uhh yeah sure? Sounds good then... Fuck it, let's go then. Unless you need to do something else? Does your King have chores for you or anything?" 

A chuckle escaped the bishounen young man, who then nodded. "Alright, sounds good then. Let me send a message to Rias before we head off, then." 

Kiba as he just said, sent a text message to Rias, and without even waiting for a response. We just... Left. Which did make me think a bit as I kinda expected Kiba to wait for Rias's response. 

But fuck it... It was the Boyz time!

And as we left the school, I saw several girls giving us googly eye's at seeing us walking together and in conversation. I had an idle thought. 'With Kiba's sacred gear. I wonder if I can get him to make me a decent sword to train with. Maybe a sword that makes an enhanced field of gravity around the user for a poor man's gravity chamber.'

-

A thump rang out as Rias Gremory herself dropped her head on her table as she waited... Desperately for someone on the large old-style spin dial phone to pick up her desperate call.

That someone being her overprotective, adoring older brother. Who would know exactly what to do in this situation, especially when her best friend Sona Sitri was likewise making her own phone call to her sister in the underworld.

As both Rias and Sona were smashing their heads in frustration and stress at a letter they both received that was addressed to them very specifically as the 'Temporary' stewards of Kuoh Town.

-

To: Lady Rias Gremory, Heiress of the Gremory Clan-And: Lady Sona Sitri, Heiress of the Sitri Clan.
From: Yasaka, Supreme Leader of the Kyoto Youkai Faction
And: Suzaku Himejima, Matriarch of the Himejima Clan

Esteemed Heiresses of the Gremory and Sitri Noble Clans,

We extend our greetings and trust this message finds you both in good health and high spirit amidst your current responsibilities in Kuoh Town.

We write to you today regarding a matter of significant interest to the Five Principal Clans, the broader Shinto Pantheon, and most especially the youkai. It has come to our attention that a young man by the name of Jake Bariss, is currently residing within the territory under your temporary jurisdiction. Has awakened the Boosted Gear.

As you are well aware, the emergence of such a potent Sacred Gear invariably draws the attention of all major factions even outside of Japan's borders, and appropriately so. However, we wish to make the stance of the Shinto and Five Clans perfectly clear...

The approach to Mr. Bariss by our representatives shall proceed unhindered.

While we recognize your authority over Kuoh Town, we will remind you both that said authority is granted by a VERY provisional agreement, not divine or ancestral right. It is a station afforded through cooperation and mutual interest with your older siblings, one that does not supersede the will or sovereignty of the Shinto faction. Especially when it comes to matters involving national and spiritual significance.

Jake Bariss, born upon the sands of the Land Of The Rising Sun, is now a national concern.

We trust in your prudence and wisdom to understand the delicacy of this situation. Let it not be said that the youth's first impression of the supernatural world was marred by factional politics or overreaching ambitions.

Let our actions reflect the unity and mutual respect we have long claimed to foster.

With all due respect and authority,

Yasaka- Supreme Leader of the Kyoto Youkai Faction

Susaku Himejima- Matriarch of the Himejima Clan, and representative of the Five Principal Clans.

That letter was the source of Rias's and by extension, Sona Sitri's cirrent angst. As not only did this mean that the troublesome youkai, and the often very racist, and problematic Five Principal clans would be swarming into her territory.

But regardless of what happened, the higher-ups in the devils would criticize her and Sona. Whether it be 'allowing' other factions to stampede over her territory. Or worse, to simply 'ALLOW' another faction to recruit a Longinus wielder.

A Longinus wielder that was found within their territory no less.

Finally, a crackle rang out as the heavily enchanted phone that connected to a phone within Gremory's territory in the Underworld came to life, and Rias's head snapped up.

"Big Brother!" Rias whined pitifully as she held the old-style phone to her head.

There was a pause before Sirzech's Lucifer's dead serious voice rang out. "Who do I need to make disappear my adorable little sister? Why are you so stressed?"

And so Rias began explaining how she found the Boosted Gear wielder had been a native to her town, and had come out into the open while he was practising the use of his Sacred Gear. 

Then Rias got into the meat of the matter, in how the Five Clan's and Yasaka was putting pressure on her to all but stand aside so they could collect Jake Bariss for his potential use.

There was a pause before Sirzech's hummed and said quietly. "Rias... As much I want to support you, you are only renting that territory, and only for another four years to do some college classes."

Sirzechs took a breath as Rias was quiet, knowing her brother had more to say. "Not to mention... The White Dragon Empress, is a member of the Grigori and basically the adopted daughter of Azazel. Should they come into conflict, it will cause some issues between our factions."

A pout spread on Rias's face before she took a breath, and knowing she needed to stand up for herself. She said firmly. "I don't want my territory run over Sirzechs, what do I need to do to protect myself and my friends?"

A hum rang out from the line and she stood up straighter in her chair as she could all but feel Sirzech's approval before he said firmly. "Then do what you must. Just don't kill or cripple anyone and all issues can very easily be swept under the rug under the ageis of you just being stronger then the trouble makers." 

Rias's face twitched before she said with a wry smile. "Onii-Chan... I think Yasaka or the head of the Himejima clan may be coming themselves. I can't just throw hands with either of them."

There was a pause as Sirzechs was clearly surprised that either of the leaders of their groups would come directly. Before he sighed and said. "Well, the Boosted Gear is one of the strongest Longinus in a straight fight. It makes sense... Alright, Rias, you hold tight. I will send Grayfia to keep them honest."

Rias's eye's widened at that news, and before she could respond. The line hung up. As Sirzech's knew all too well that his Queen's hard ass nature was going to going make Rias whine a bit.

-

"That shit was so ass..." Kiba spoke with a haunted voice, completely shedding his normally so polite demeanor. As we literally staggered out of the theater that showed the live action version of that already shitty Drag-So Ball rip off.

Dragon Ball Evolution was already a soul destroying horror ride of a movie that would scar you for life... Drag-So Ball, a shitty rip off of the glory that was the base series, had somehow made it even worse. 

The only way to describe it... Was to go from a simple turd, to a turd sandwich with the sandwich being used tampons. That's just how terrible it was and how soul draining it was going down our entertainment-consuming guts.

"Just... Make it to the food stands, brother. We can drink some bleach to clean our hearts of the horror we have consumed." I whispered with dull eyes as World War 2 flash flashbacks were somehow was flashing into my mind and giving me PTSD.

After grabbing some food, and a drink each. By unspoken agreement, we both agreed never to mention that abomination again. And we firmly put that movie in our past as I spoke to Kiba about some training.

"So could you make swords that help you in training actually? Like a sword that enhances gravity around you to have a poor man's gravity chamber?" I asked curiously.

Kiba blinked at my question and he hummed. "Well... Yeah I could do that, I do elemental swords all the time so it's not that difficult anyway. But hmm, its a bit complicated but making my conjured up swords have more effect's make them even more fragile."

I nodded in understanding. Knowing all too well that Kiba's Sword Birth, could make enchanted demon swords. But they had the issue of being rather fragile due their nature in being conjured up from the Sacred Gear.

'It's a good thing that Welf Crozzo isn't in this series... He would have a fucking conniption at the sight of Kiba happily making magical swords that break in just a couple blows.' I mused.

"But could you make such a sword with just the effect of being constantly active so no one had to hold onto it? Or just a switch put on it?" I asked curiously.

Kiba gave a slight hum of thought before he said thoughtfully. "Well, I make demon swords. Which mean's that in exchange for the sword's being more powerful. They need to take power directly from the user. So I am afraid that although I could make one, someone would need to actually be holding the sword to fuel it's gravity effects." 

"Could you just make it like dagger sized then?" I asked after taking a drink while Kiba took a bite of his cheesy fries.

Kiba paused at my question, then he swallowed his food before he spoke. "Thats a decent idea actually. I can try after we leave the mall and we head over to the park across the street." 

Nodding as that was a fair point. As Kiba obviously coudn't just whip out a magical sword in the middle of a very crowded mall's food court. 

Then our topic shifted to more relaxed topic's. Like Kiba's exasperation at how some of their weirder girls in the school were shipping him with other guys... And always as the bottom in the relationship.

But as I was teasing him for being just too handsome, we both froze as rather abruptly the food court's constant drone of background speaking and thick noise quieted down.

And as the human's quieted down, we both turned to the side as the sounds of clicking heels rang out.

A woman that had rather large, if still elegant curved horns that went up her head from just behind her ears was the first thing I noticed. Then her vibrantly pink hair and amber eye's.

Followed by her walking forward directly towards me with her eye's locked onto me as I noticed she was wearing a casual blue tight fitting sweater that expanded over her large breasts and a pair of jeans.

Kiba exhaled heavily and spoke firmly but with a clear frown. "Lady Belphegor. This is the territory of my King, Rias Gremory. You cannot be attempting to snatch a citizen of her territory are you!?" He almost demanded.

And that clinched it. I remembered who this was now.

Roygun Belphegor, the number 2 on the devils Rating Game's rankings. In the manga/light novel she ended up one of Issei's simps due to how she lost like ninety percent of her power when the secrets of the King Pieces came out and hers was taken from her.

And only through Issei's connections could the Rating Game addict who lived for fighting gloriously and earning the favor of her fellow devils could she get back into the Rating Game's after the Belphegor clan threw her ass to the curb for humilating them as she was a cheater with the King's Piece.

But honestly... I coudn't give a shit about the King Pieces. Sure, they were banned because they were dangerous. But true demonic swords were far more dangerous over time as they drank the user's life force for example, but demon sword's weren't banned.

No if someone was willing to chance themselves to get a large power boost in using a King's Piece. That was totally their business, it was no different from someone having the power boost of a Queen Piece in my view anyway.

But regardless of my opinion of Roygon Belphegor, that was just my opinon of her from the novel/manga. This was reality.

And Roygun gave a small smile before she said kindly. "Rias's little knight huh. You are a worthy knight of your King. But this does not involve you Yuuto Kiba."

Her eye's never left mine the whole time she spoke to Kiba, and then as the blond knight went to say something. I staggered in my bench as heavy mana washed over us, silencing him.

Then Roygun retracted her demonic mana which I wasn't angry about. She was an Ultimate Class Devil, and if a reincarnated Low Class Devil with no achievements got mouthy, it was only perfectly natural to silence them.

"Now... Jake Bariss, the Sekiryuutei of this generation." She spoke as though tasting my name on her tongue.

Then she smiled and with no fucking shame she said. "Jake, I can make you strong, lauded by millions, and help rise up the devils nobility system in record time. Join me as the Queen of my Peerage!"