Chapter 29: Chapter 29. The Flying Greens

Five days have passed since the incident between Kiyohime and Valiana.

The scene unfolded in front of Kuoh Academy, leaving the students gawking in disbelief. Valiana, wearing an elegant black suit that complemented her refined aura, stepped out of a sleek, expensive sports car. Her presence exuded power and sophistication as she confidently approached Satria, holding a bouquet of gold-coated roses.

She walked up to Satria, who was standing near the school gate, and handed him a bouquet of gold-coated roses with a slight smile. "Here, for you, my love."

Satria blinked, staring at the bouquet in her hand, and then at her, his brain short-circuiting for a moment. "What the fuck do you think I am?!" he blurted out, his voice laced with equal parts embarrassment and indignation.

The students murmured amongst themselves.

"Is that Shin-sama?"

"The Ice Prince of Kuoh?!"

"And... who's she? Is that his older girlfriend?!"

Before Satria could even react, Valiana opened the car door for him with a charming smile.

"After you," she said, her tone casual yet commanding.

Satria froze. His pride as an Indonesian man took a heavy blow. What the hell is going on?! He hesitated before finally sliding into the car, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Inside, he muttered under his breath, "Why am I the one being treated like the heroine here?"

Valiana chuckled softly, finding his reaction amusing. "You're adorable when you're flustered."

"Don't call me adorable," Satria grumbled, sinking into his seat.

As the car drove off, she casually added, "Let's get some snacks before we go home."

•

After picking up some snacks, Valiana drove them back to Satria's house. The sleek hum of her sports car came to a halt as she parked in the garage. Satria was about to thank her for the ride when, to his bewilderment, Valiana stepped out and began summoning belongings from a blue portal.

Bags, suitcases, and even an ornate weapon rack stacked neatly on his front porch as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

Satria blinked, utterly dumbfounded. "What… are you doing?"

Valiana, calm as ever, casually placed a suitcase against the doorframe before meeting his gaze. "Unloading my stuff."

"Why?" His voice cracked with disbelief.

She tilted her head, her tone cool and straightforward. "What's wrong? This is my new home, right?"

"My what?" Satria is shocked. "Since when did we agree to this?"

Valiana crossed her arms, smirking slightly. "Since you defeated me. You're my mate now. Soulmates should live together—it's common sense."

Satria pinched the bridge of his nose, groaning. "No, that's not how it works! You can't just declare this out of nowhere!"

"It's not 'nowhere,'" she countered, brushing past him with a suitcase in hand. "It's destiny. You won, so I'm your responsibility now."

"You're unbelievable…" Satria muttered, helplessly watching as she made herself at home.

[Fatalis: Looks like you've got a new roommate. Good luck, Puppy]

Satria groaned. "Why do I feel like my life is turning into a bad rom-com?"

Valiana smirked as she began organizing her things. "Oh, don't be so dramatic. You'll get used to it."

•

Satria POV

Kiyohime had settled beside me, looking unusually refreshed. Her calm demeanor and playful banter with Valiana were a stark contrast to what Satria had endured earlier.

Yes, after she punished me.

He shivered at the memory, swallowing hard.

I don't want to talk about it… It's hell. Pure, scary hell.

His mind replayed her chilling words: "You're lucky your Osiris Ring is on cooldown. If it weren't, I'd kill you and resurrect you just so I could punish you again."

He shuddered.

Meanwhile, Valiana stood nearby, holding an odd device in her hand.

"What's that?" Satria asked, happy to focus on anything else.

"It's a Grigori device," she answered casually, spinning the gadget in her hand. "There's a rating game happening right now in the Underworld—Rias Gremory versus Riser Phoenix. I thought I'd watch it to see how my so-called rival handles things."

Kiyohime raised her eyebrows. "Your rival? The Red Dragon Emperor? I've met him before, he's just an ordinary kid who unfortunately got dragged into this."

"Obviously." Valiana shrugged. "It was a pain to get this from that perverted old man, but it'll be worth it."

"Well, that makes two of us. I'm curious about this too," Satria said. "I hope it was worth it to teach him those basic techniques."

Valiana blinked, clearly surprised. "Wait... You taught him how to fight?"

Satria waved a hand nonchalantly. "Only a little. After he did dogeza in front of me, it's my way of appreciating his determination."

Flashback

Satria, like usual, was in his favorite spot at Kuoh Academy—relaxing and basking in the peace until Issei interrupted, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Shin-sama, I can't believe it! You're the author of the holy book!" Issei exclaimed, clutching a well-worn copy of Icha-Icha Paradise to his chest. His wide-eyed awe was almost embarrassing.

Satria groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Just call me what you usually do. I'm not comfortable with all this formal stuff, bro."

"Okay, Shin-san. But… why would you tell me this?" Issei tilted his head, clearly confused. "Why reveal your sacred identity as the creator of this masterpiece?"

Satria smirked and pulled out a notebook. "Simple. I need you to review this book for me."

Issei froze, staring at him in disbelief. "Wait, what?"

"You heard me. Jiraiya-sensei needs inspiration and feedback for the next volume, so I figured you'd be the perfect man for the job." Satria leaned in with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Prove to me that you're the True Master of Perverts. Do you accept this mission?"

Tears welled in Issei's eyes as he clutched the notebook like it was a divine artifact. "You're entrusting me… with this sacred duty? This book isn't even sold on the black market! Of course, I'll do it! You don't even need to pay me, Shin-san!"

"Good." Satria extended a hand. "From now on, we're comrades."

The two shook hands firmly.

"By the way," Satria asked, leaning against the rooftop railing, "how's life with the Devils treating you?"

Issei's face fell. "There's a problem. Rias-senpai's being forced to marry someone named Riser. He's from a big Underworld family—the Phoenix Clan. His peerage is too strong… I don't know how to beat him and save her."

Satria scratched his chin thoughtfully. "How about I give you a quick lesson in fighting? Consider it payment for reviewing my work."

Issei's jaw dropped. "You're serious?"

"Of course. Stand up and get ready."

Issei scrambled to his feet as Satria zipped away with blinding speed, returning moments later with a box of chalk. He started drawing a grid of circles across the rooftop with precise, practiced movements.

When he was done, Issei blinked in confusion. "What's this for, Shin-san?"

Satria grinned, stepping into one of the chalk-drawn circles. "We're going to play a game. Here's the rule: You can only step into one circle at a time. No Sacred Gear abilities. Let me show you."

With fluid grace, Satria darted through the grid, placing one foot in each circle with uncanny precision.

"Your turn," he said, stepping back to watch.

Issei tried to mimic him but failed spectacularly. His movements were clumsy, his feet constantly overshooting or missing the circles entirely.

Satria sighed. "Not bad for a first try, but you're wasting too much energy. Let's add a challenge. Now we'll play tag. The rules are the same: One foot per circle, no powers. First to touch the other wins."

Before Issei could even prepare, Satria blurred forward, tapping him on the shoulder.

Issei gawked. "I didn't even see you move!"

Satria smirked. "Do you know the point of this game?"

Issei shook his head.

"Positioning," Satria explained. "My father always said, 'Wars are won by positioning. Get within the right distance first, and you've already won half the battle.' This game teaches you how to shift your weight and move efficiently."

Issei's eyes lit up with understanding. "I see… You're amazing, Shin-san!"

[Ddraig: This brat is something else]

Satria patted Issei on the back. "Keep practicing. One day, you'll surpass your limits."

Flashback End

As the memory faded, Satria smirked at Valiana. "See? I only taught him the basics. It's up to him to do the rest."

Valiana tilted her head, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "You're either a genius… or insane."

Kiyohime, sipping her tea, chimed in with a sly grin. "Or both."

•

Issei POV

Issei admired the gym's intricate design, noting how it mirrored the real world. "This is a really good replica," he mused aloud.

Koneko immediately hushed him. "Ssst! Someone's here," she whispered, covering his mouth.

From the shadows, four of Riser's peerage members stepped forward.

"We know you're there, Servants of Gremory," one of them announced, weapons at the ready.

Koneko glanced at Issei. "You take the pawn; I'll handle the rooks."

"Leave it to me!"

The Riser pawn lunged at Issei with a chainsaw, but his movements were sluggish and overextended. Issei easily sidestepped the attack, his training paying off.

'Too slow. They waste way too much movement,' Issei thought, smirking. He decided to test a technique he'd been refining. 'This is the perfect chance.'

With a giggle, Issei evaded the attacks and lightly touched the twin pawns, confusing them.

"What are you—?"

Issei snapped his fingers, striking a dramatic pose. "Now, let me show you my power: Dress Break!"

In an instant, their clothes vanished.

"Kyaaa!!! Pervert!"

•

Satria doubled over, laughing uncontrollably as the girls on screen scrambled to cover themselves. "What a wonderful rival you have, Valiana! Wahahaha!"

Valiana buried her face in her hands. "Why him? Why is he my rival?!"

Kiyohime shook her head, her tone incredulous. "You're actually proud to have this pervert as your rival?"

•

Koneko watched the aftermath of Issei's attack with a deadpan expression. "I misjudged you," she said flatly.

Their opponents glared at him. "You're the worst!"

Issei rubbed the back of his head, grinning awkwardly. "Hehe… sorry?"

Just as they were about to leave, lightning struck the gym, taking out the remaining Riser pawns.

"We did it, Koneko-chan!" Issei cheered, raising his hand for a high-five.

"Don't touch me." Koneko sidestepped, keeping her distance.

Before either could react, an attack hit Koneko from behind, forcing her to retire.

•

Watching the stream, Satria's aura flared. His favorite kitten had been hurt, and for a moment, he forgot it was only a game.

Valiana noticed his reaction. "What's wrong? Why are you so angry?"

Satria exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself. "She's my friend. It just feels… wrong to see her hurt."

Kiyohime's sharp gaze turned to him. Her smile was sweet, but her tone was anything but. "Oh? Really? And just how close is this 'friend'?"

"N-No! It's not like that!" Satria waved his hands defensively.

Valiana wasn't convinced. "She's Kuroka's sister, isn't she? You're not hiding anything… suspicious, are you?"

"Of course not!" Satria avoided her gaze, trying to change the subject.

"Hmm. We'll see." Kiyohime's smile didn't waver.

•

While Kiba clashed with Riser's knight, Issei faced Isabella, a brown-haired powerhouse.

"Your opponent is me," Isabella declared, charging at him with fierce punches.

Issei dodged her attacks, surprised by her strength. "What the hell? This is just a game!"

Between blows, Isabella smirked. "I'm special. I'm Riser-sama's little sister."

Issei blinked. "Wait, you can make your sister your servant? Damn, I'm jealous!"

"Enough chit-chat!" Isabella roared, pressing her assault.

Issei activated his Boosted Gear, counting down. "It's been 150 seconds… time for the explosion!" His Sacred Gear glowed green as he prepared his counterattack.

Darting in, he touched her lightly, confusing her. "What are you—?"

"Dress Break!" he declared, rendering her defenseless.

Isabella screamed, trying to cover herself as Issei followed up with a Dragon Shot, sending her flying.

•

Satria shook his head, impressed. "Interesting tactic. But that only works against women."

Valiana scowled. "Why does my rival have to be this perverted brat?"

Satria chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Careful, Valiana. If you face him, you might end up like those girls." His tone turned teasing. "But don't worry, I'll protect you."

Valiana huffed. "Idiot. I don't need your protection."

Satria smirked, his arms wrapping possessively around Valiana as he pulled her onto his lap. He hugged her from behind, his voice low and teasing. "Is it so wrong to want to protect the girl who loves me?"

Valiana opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Satria leaned in and nipped playfully at her neck. The sudden gesture left her cheeks flushed and her words caught in her throat. She crossed her arms, turning her face away in a huff, though the faint blush betrayed her.

Kiyohime's eyes narrowed at the display, a pout forming on her lips. "That's not fair!" she exclaimed, crossing her arms indignantly.

Valiana smirked, her confidence returning as she saw Kiyohime's reaction. "Oh? Is this perhaps my win?" she teased, her tone dripping with playful triumph.

The tension escalated as Kiyohime stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "In your dreams! Do you think I'll let you take all the credit?"

The two began bickering, their voices overlapping as they argued over who had the upper hand. Satria sighed, shaking his head but smiling all the same. With a quick motion, he wrapped his arms around both of them, pulling them close into his embrace.

"Ssstttt," he whispered, his tone firm but affectionate. "We're family. No more fighting, okay?"

Kiyohime and Valiana looked at each other, then at Satria, and couldn't help but chuckle. Their playful rivalry melted into soft laughter as they snuggled closer to him, their previous quarrel forgotten.

Satria smiled to himself, savoring the warmth of the moment. "That's more like it," he murmured, holding them both as they settled in his arms.

"Where are you going? Don't leave us, Hubby!" Valiana pouted playfully.

Satria stood up, stretching his arms lazily and smiling at her. "I'll be right back; need to visit the toilet," he said casually, walking away from his cozy seat.

As soon as he was out of sight, something buzzed, the screen lighting up with a notification from the group chat.

_____________

[Fun Quest Notification]

Catch the flying cabbages heading to Axel!

Details:

A mysterious outbreak of flying cabbages has invaded Axel. Catch as many as you can before they escape!

Special reward for the participant who catches the most cabbages.

Requires 4 participants.

[Join? Yes/No]

Spider-Man: "Flying cabbages? Where's the logic in that?"

Emilia: "Oh! That sounds fun. I want to join!"

Evil Spirit: "Ara-ara, this sounds amusing. I'd love to see what kind of creatures these 'flying cabbages' are. Kazuma's world is as weird as he is."

Kazuma-sama: "Hey! Quit calling me weird! My world has its charms!"

Shin: "I'll join too. Sounds like a fun challenge."

_______________

Satria grinned at the absurdity of the quest.

"Flying cabbages? Really?" He chuckled, scrolling through the messages. The line "Time will be stopped in participants' worlds, so no harm" caught his attention.

"Well, I've got time to kill. Why not?" he muttered, tapping Yes.

A bright light engulfed him, his surroundings blurring into a swirl of colors. Moments later, he found himself standing on a cobblestone street under a clear blue sky. The lively town of Axel stretched before him, bustling with adventurers and locals going about their day.

"So, this is Kazuma's world," Satria mused, scanning the area.

•

Satria stepped into the bustling guild hall, the aroma of food and the chatter of adventurers filling the air. The room was lively, with adventurers sharing tales of their quests over mugs of ale.

"This feels... different," Satria murmured, scanning the area.

"Over here!" a cheerful voice called out.

Turning toward the source, Satria spotted Peter waving excitedly from a table near the center. Sitting with her were Peter, Kurumi, and a group that he immediately recognized as Kazuma's party.

As he approached, Peter grinned. "Finally! Took you long enough, buddy."

"Had to find my bearings," Satria replied, pulling up a chair. He nodded at the others. "So, this is Kazuma's infamous world, huh? Seems... lively."

Satria stood by the table, glancing at the odd mix of people gathered. The mood was lively, and it was clear everyone had their own unique energy. Emilia clapped her hands together, her silver hair shimmering under the light.

"Before we start, let's all introduce ourselves! It'll be easier to work together that way."

Peter nodded. "Good call. I'll go first." He stood up, raising a hand casually. "Name's Peter Parker. Friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. I've got some web-slinging skills that might come in handy for catching those cabbages."

"I'm Kurumi Tokisaki. You could call me an observer, but I promise to make this little game... entertaining." Her golden and crimson eyes glinted mischievously.

Kazuma raised a hand lazily. "I'm Kazuma Satou, the leader of this party. Don't let the eccentric group behind me fool you—we get things done."

"Sometimes," She interjected smugly, puffing her chest out. "Kazuma may be the leader, but I am Aqua, the goddess of water and the true powerhouse of this team. You're all lucky to have me!"

Peter squinted. "A goddess? Really?"

Kazuma groaned. "Ignore her. She's more of a liability than a goddess."

"Hey!" Aqua huffed.

The blonde female crusader stepped forward, her armor clinking softly. "I am Darkness, a crusader sworn to protect the weak and uphold justice. Though my true name is Lalatina, I—"

"No one asked for the full name," Kazuma interrupted, waving her off.

She blushed but continued, "—am ready to face whatever challenges this quest throws at us, even if it means enduring pain for the greater good." Her voice took on a strange excitement.

Satria blinked. "Uh... I feel like there's more to that statement than I want to know."

The loli wizard raised her staff dramatically. "I am Megumin, the greatest archwizard and master of Explosion magic! My powers are unparalleled, and today, even the cabbages will bow to my might!"

Kurumi chuckled, her voice teasing. "Explosion magic for vegetables? How extravagant."

The half-elf smiled warmly, stepping forward. "I'm Emilia. I may not have a grand title like some of you, but I'll do my best to help. Pleased to meet you all!"

Peter smiled. "Nice to meet you, Emilia. It's good to see someone grounded here." He gestured to Satria. "Your turn, bro."

Satria stood confidently before the group, flipping his cloak dramatically (though he didn't actually have one, the gesture was there). He extended an arm as if presenting himself to a crowd of adoring fans.

"Behold! I am Satria, the Golden Emperor! The conqueror of the Multiverse! A being of unparalleled power, destined to reign supreme across all dimensions!" He smirked, his tone dripping with theatrical grandeur and unconsciously mentioning his real name.

The room fell silent for a moment.

"Pfft—HAHAHA!" Kazuma doubled over, clutching his stomach. "Golden Emperor? Conqueror of the Multiverse? What kind of third-rate chunni line is that?!"

Peter tried to keep a straight face but failed, covering his mouth as he laughed. "Dude, I've met my share of dramatic people, but this takes the cake."

Aqua was laughing so hard she fell backward, slapping the floor. "Oh no! I can't breathe! Conqueror of the Multiverse!"

Darkness, ever polite, cleared her throat. "Well, that's... certainly an impressive title." But even she couldn't hide her amused smile.

Kurumi tilted her head with a sly grin, clearly entertained. "Oh my, how bold. I wonder, Emperor Satria, how many dimensions have you conquered so far?"

"Iri bilang Boss!" Satria refused to back down. "That's classified information, but trust me, it's a number you wouldn't believe."

Megumin, her competitive spirit ignited, stepped forward and struck a dramatic pose of her own. "Hah! As if I, Megumin, the greatest archwizard and wielder of Explosion magic, would lose to some Golden Emperor! My explosions are unrivaled across all realms! Witness my power, and you'll bow before me!"

Aqua raised her hand, tears of laughter still in her eyes. "Now we have two of them! Hahaha! Someone... Stop this madness!"

Kazuma groaned, rubbing his temples. "Why do I always end up surrounded by these lunatics?"

To be continued.