บท 26: Chapter 26. Legend of the Hopebringer

Satria's Mansion

Kuoh, Japan

"I'm back, Kiyohime," Satria called out as he stepped into the living room, dropping his bag onto the couch.

A graceful figure emerged from the kitchen, her traditional kimono contrasting with the modern setting. Her gentle smile was warm, but her sharp eyes betrayed an ever-watchful nature. "Welcome back, dear. How was school today?" she asked, approaching him with a teacup in hand.

Satria sighed as he sank into the plush sofa. "Some devil approached me, asking me to join her peerage. Naturally, I turned her down."

Kiyohime's calm expression faltered slightly. Her grip on the teacup tightened. "A devil, you say? Who was it?"

"Rias Gremory," he replied nonchalantly, taking the tea from her hands.

Her eyes narrowed, her composure replaced by unease. "Gremory... as in the clan of Sirzechs Lucifer, the Super Devil? What is the heiress doing in Kuoh?"

"Apparently, she's managing the territory," Satria explained, setting the cup on the table. "She thought I'd jump at the chance to be part of her little group."

Kiyohime's tone turned cold. "Be cautious, Danna-sama. Sirzechs Lucifer is not someone we can afford to provoke—not yet. His power is unrivaled among devils."

Satria leaned back casually, exuding an air of confidence. "I know, I know," he said, waving her concerns off with a lazy grin. "No need to worry, Kiyohime. I've got no intention of picking a fight with him anytime soon."

Kiyohime frowned. "Your tone doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Tell me you've at least thought this through."

Satria smirked, tapping the side of his head. "You think I'm the type to walk into a devil's den without a plan? Trust me, I've prepared a solid contingency plan for when things go south."

She sighed, sitting beside him. "You always say that, but trouble has a way of finding you."

Just as they settled into the conversation, a chime echoed. He glanced at the holographic screen. It wasn't a normal notification—it was from the Dimensional Chat Shop.

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[Dimensional Chat Shop Update]

Big Sale: [168 Hours Remaining]

Book of Diablo Volpir > 15,000©

[Note of a legendary dark magician who defied 12 Heavenly Gods. Who knows what secrets lie within?]

Absorption > 20,000©

[Allows the user to consume any substance, no matter how toxic, absorbing its powers without harm]

Sword Technique: Tempest of the Blade > 8,000©

[The ultimate sword skill. Generates an energy field, making the user invincible within its boundaries]

God-Slaying Emperor Blade > 7,000©

[An unparalleled weapon capable of cutting through any magical or physical defense]

Osiris Ring > 10,000©

[Grants the power to resurrect the dead (Cooldown: 1 month per use)]

_________________

Satria raised an eyebrow, muttering to himself as he scrolled through the items. "What the hell is this? A starter pack for becoming a villain protagonist?" His lips curled into a wry smile. "Absorption? Eating people to gain power? No thanks."

Kiyohime glanced over his shoulder. "What are you looking at?"

"Just some weird chat shop offers," he replied casually, stared at the screen of the Dimensional Chat Shop, his eyes narrowing at the description of the Osiris Ring.

"Resurrect the dead, huh?" he muttered, rubbing his chin.

Kiyohime noticed his serious expression. "What is it, Danna-sama?"

He tapped on the item's description, reading it again. "It's a ring that lets you bring someone back to life, but it has a one-month cooldown."

Kiyohime's eyes widened slightly. "That kind of power… it sounds dangerous. Are you planning to buy it?"

"Yeah," he said, his tone unusually grave. "Not for myself. But you know how crazy things can get. If something happens to you, me, or anyone important… I want to have a backup plan."

Kiyohime smiled softly, though her expression was tinged with concern. "You're always thinking ahead. But don't rely on such things too much, Satria. Life and death have their own balance."

"I get it," he replied, waving off her warning. "Still, I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it." With that, he clicked the Buy button.

_________________

[Purchase Confirmed: Osiris Ring]

[10,000© deducted from your balance]

Shin Coins: 15,500 ©

_________________

Moments later, a golden ring materialized in his hand. The design was intricate, featuring an emerald stone at its center, engraved with ancient hieroglyphs. It radiated a faint, mystical aura.

Kiyohime leaned closer, inspecting the artifact. "That's more impressive than I expected. I can sense its power."

"Yeah," Satria said, slipping the ring onto his finger. "It's a bit overkill, but better safe than sorry."

Kiyohime placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just don't let it make you reckless. It's easy to take risks when you think you can undo the consequences."

He smiled at her concern. "Don't worry, Kiyohime. I'm not planning to test it anytime soon."

________________

Shin: "Hey, Spidey-boy. How's life treating you?"

Spider-Man: "Not bad. Quiet day so far Except for one new thing."

Pervert Sage: "Yo, Shin! Where can I find Tsunade?"

Shin: "Huh? Try a gambling den. Have you run into the Akatsuki yet?"

Pervert Sage: "Not yet. Why? Are they nearby?"

Shin: "Yeah. Itachi and Kisame will show up at Naruto's inn while he's learning Rasengan. Be careful."

Pervert Sage: "Got it. Thanks!"

[Ding! God of Hope has joined the chat]

[Ding! The King of Knights has joined the chat]

[Ding! Batman Junior has joined the chat]

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"Hoo… new members?" Satria murmured, his lips curving into a mischievous smirk. "Let's see who they are."

Kiyohime tilted her head. "Are you really spending time with that app again? Sometimes I wonder what kind of strange world you've gotten yourself into."

Satria chuckled, leaning back against the sofa. "A very entertaining one, Kiyohime."

________________

Spider-Man: "Welcome, new member."

Pervert Sage: "Welcome, newbie."

Evil Spirit: "Hello, newcomer. Welcome to the group."

Emilia: "Welcome new members ^^"

King of Knights: "What sorcery is this? Who are you people? Explain yourselves at once!"

Shin: "Relax, calm down, and welcome to the group. This is a cross-dimensional chat group where you can connect with people from other worlds or dimensions. I'm the admin here. Nice to meet you."

________________

Satria sat back, observing the new members' reactions while trying to piece together their identities.

'King of Knights must be Arturia Pendragon. As for Batman Junior… probably Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, or Damian Wayne. Not too familiar with DC stuff, but I've seen enough to guess.' He chuckled, confident in his deductions.

Then his attention shifted to the most enigmatic new member.

'But who the hell is God of Hope? Greek mythology? Maybe Elpis? Or could it be someone else entirely?' Satria furrowed his brows.

_______________

Ice Sadist: "Alright, folks, you know the group's purpose. Let's start with introductions, shall we?"

King of Knights: "…"

God of Hope: "…"

Batman Junior: "Okay, first off, why am I called Batman Junior? Change my name!"

Kazuma-sama: "You can change your nickname in the profile options, it's very easy."

Ice Sadist: "Why should I care, brat? Introduce yourself already."

Batman Junior: "Do you think I'd share my real name in some shady chat group?"

Shin: "Chill bro, @Batman Junior. Or should I call you… Dick Grayson?"

Batman Junior: "What?! How do you know my name?"

Shin: "I have my ways. And you, @King of Knights—Arthuria Pendragon, right?"

King of Knights: "How dare you! How do you know my true name?"

Shin: "Like I said, I have my ways. Relax. We're not your enemy. In fact, we here to help if you ever face a crisis in your world."

Pervert Sage: "Trust him. He saved my village leader and the entire village from an invasion."

Kazuma-sama: "It's true. Check the live stream feature if you don't believe him."

The newcomers hesitated but eventually checked the live stream option.

Batman Junior: "This… this is real? Not some advanced tech or prank?"

Shin: "Why would I prank you?"

King of Knights: "A group connecting people across worlds… this is unbelievable."

Emilia: "Excuse me, but there's still someone who hasn't introduced themselves yet—@God of Hope?"

_______________

Satria curiosity deepened.

'Who is this God of Hope? Fatalis, help me out here.'

[Fatalis: Already searching your memories, but all I can find is Elpis or maybe Madoka. Try one of those]

_____________

Shin: "Are you the one called Madoka, @God?"

God of Hope: "Who the heck is Madoka?"

Pervert Sage: "Wow, this is the first time Shin's guessing skills have failed."

Ice Sadist: "…"

Shin: "Are you from a school for gods or something?"

God of Hope: "A school for gods? That sounds ridiculous. But no."

Shin: "Alright, last guess—are you Elpis, the Progenitor God of Hope?"

God of Hope: "Interesting that you know Elpis, but no."

Shin: "…"

God of Hope: "Hehe, I'll leave you guessing. By the way, after watching the live stream, I've decided—I want to meet you, Shin. See you in the next quest."

____________

Satria leaned back, both intrigued and exasperated. 'Who is this person? And why does he want to meet me?'

_____________

God of Hope: "Before I log out, can you explain how this group works? Like the shop system?"

Shin: "Sure, You can gift items from your world to others—just scan the item, select a recipient, and it gets delivered. There's also a camera option to share pictures and a live stream feature to broadcast what's happening in real-time."

God of Hope: "Interesting. What about the other features?"

Shin: "You can earn 200-1000 coins every day just by logging in. You can earn even more by completing missions. It's simple."

God of Hope: "Cool. Thanks for the info. I'm logging out now—my wife's calling me."

[God of Hope has logged out.]

Pervert Sage: "…"

Spider-Man: "Of course, the rich flex even in alternate dimensions."

Shin: "Alright, I'm out too. My beloved calling. See you."

[Shin has logged out.]

Kazuma-sama: "Damn those normies, always showing off."

Spider-Man: "Preach, Kazuma."

______________

God of Hope POV

Under the moonlit sky, a blonde-haired man stared into the distance, deep in thought.

"My life just keeps getting more interesting."

I was a shinobi of Konoha, dreaming of becoming Hokage. Now, I've ascended to what some call the God of Hope. Funny, right? A boy who grew up alone, shunned and hated, now carries the hopes of worlds on his shoulders.

But this isn't about my old life. That world… was destroyed. Everything I fought for, everyone I loved—it was gone in an instant. All I had left was Nine Bijuu, and the Sage of Six Paths, who sent me on this journey. A journey to find four ancient keys to restore my world. I didn't understand why I was chosen, but the Sage believed in me, so I had to believe in myself too.

In this new life, I've gained so much. Friends, allies, enemies, a family… even love. Yeah, me. The number-one unpredictable ninja finally found someone—or rather, several someones—who see me for who I am and love me anyway.

Tonight was a long one. Three Great Yokai—fearsome beings even the mightiest warriors of Japan fear—challenged me. Their power was no joke. Otakemaru, especially, pushed me to my limits. If it wasn't for my Hopushin Mode, I might not be standing here. But I'm alive, and in my hands is Ame no Murakumo, the fabled sword that chose me as its wielder. Why it chose me, I have no idea, but I swore I wouldn't disappoint it.

Returning home, I stepped through the hidden doorway connecting Takamagahara to my living room. The moment I entered, my girls were there, staring at me. Their eyes screamed worry.

"Hello, dear," I greeted casually, but before I could say more, they rushed me and wrapped me in a group hug.

Rhea, my wife and the Titaness of Motherhood, looked at me with her gentle yet firm gaze. "Are you sure you're okay, dear?"

I smiled softly and hugged her back. "I'm fine, really."

"You better be," Saeko, my other wife, chimed in with her no-nonsense tone. Her long purple hair and sharp eyes still had that warrior's edge, even in a moment like this. "The twins were worried, you know."

"Sorry for worrying you all," I said, pecking Rhea on the lips before turning to Saeko. "How are the kids?"

"They're fine," she replied, though I caught a flicker of relief in her expression. "You should check on them soon."

Then there was Kuroka, my playful and mischievous Nekomata wife. She tilted her head, her cat ears twitching as she studied me with concern. "You sure you're okay, hubby? Fighting those three must've been crazy."

I chuckled. "It was crazy, but I'm tougher than I look." I stretched my shoulders, feeling the ache of battle but refusing to show it. "Otakemaru was the strongest, though. He almost had me… but I managed to take him down."

Kuroka smirked. "Almost, huh? Looks like you need more training, hubby."

Before I could respond, Saeko reached for the Ame no Murakumo strapped to my back. I quickly stopped her. "Careful. This isn't just any sword—it's dangerous."

Her pout was almost enough to make me laugh. "But it's Ame no Murakumo! I just want to see it."

Sighing, I placed the sword on the table. "Fine, but don't touch it."

The room was filled with awe as they stared at the legendary blade. Even Lara, my girlfriend and an adventurer who had seen more than her fair share of relics, looked mesmerized. Her auburn hair shimmered in the soft light as she muttered, "So, this is the Ame no Murakumo…"

As they admired the sword, my stomach growled loudly, breaking the moment.

"I'm hungry," I admitted, scratching the back of my head sheepishly.

The tailed beasts within me materialized in their chibi forms, snickering. "We're hungry too!"

Rhea and Medusa chuckled at my antics. Medusa, my other wife and someone who once carried a curse so cruel it turned people to stone with a glance, smiled warmly. "Dinner will be ready soon," she said before heading to the kitchen with Rhea.

•

While the others stayed to marvel at the sword, I made my way to the children's room. Opening the door quietly, I saw the twins sleeping peacefully. Their small hands clutched the stuffed animals I brought back from my last mission. Seeing them like this… it reminded me why I fought so hard.

Back in the living room, I leaned against the doorway, watching my family. My wives, my girlfriend, my kids—all of them were here because of the choices I made. Choices to protect, to fight, and to never give up.

The giant fox voice echoed in my mind. "You've come a long way, kid. From that lonely brat in Konoha to this… It's almost enough to make me proud."

"Almost?" I teased.

The fox snorted. "Don't let it get to your head."

I smiled, glancing at the sword on the table. This journey was far from over. The keys, the battles, the sacrifices—they all lay ahead. But for now, I had a home, a family, and a reason to keep going.

This was my new life. And I would do everything in my power to keep it safe.

To be continued.