NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 45: Countdown
"Are those apples...?" asked Rias, surprised to see Vahn produce several bushels of the reddest, most delicious-looking apples she had ever seen while everyone was gathered around to present their spoils.
"Oh, I recognize those!" exclaimed Issei, beaming as he gestured at his chest as if he were hefting something as he recounted, "They drop from these headless centaurs with—well, let's just say they're very top-heavy. As for these apples, they're insanely sweet and fill you up with just a few bites."
"That's not all," stated Vahn, tossing one of the apples into the air and catching it as he explained, "They're called Crimson Bapples, and along with tasting good and filling you up, they can increase your Power by up to ten points. And we discovered that if you bake them, they boost your Guts instead. That's why we brought so many back with us. I wanted to see if they would have different effects depending on the dishes they're made into."
"May I...?" asked Grayfia, her hand poised delicately over one of the bapples, waiting for Vahn to nod before picking up one up, inspecting it, and taking a small bite. At her level, a Power increase of one was utterly inconsequential, but by taking a small sample, she could grasp its flavor and picture dozens of different ways they could be prepared.
"With your and Lady Rias's permission, I would like to borrow one bushel of apples and Sir Kiba," stated Grayfia, offering Vahn and Rias a courteous bow as she made her request.
"It would be my pleasure," responded Kiba, offering a polite smile and bowing with his hand over his heart.
"Why don't we all try preparing dishes...?" proposed Rias, quickly adding, "Oh, and keep the seeds. If they're able to be grown outside, they could become a staple crop in the Underworld."
"Two excellent suggestions, my Lady..." confirmed Grayfia, her silver eyes sparkling slightly as she turned to Vahn, awaiting his response with a faint smile.
Hearing Rias suggest they all try preparing dishes, Vahn's eyes lit up, a broad smile developing across his face as he nodded, answering, "That sounds amazing. I've always wanted to learn how to cook, and after we discovered the bapple's properties, Asia offered to teach me how to bake an apple pie. Is that okay...?"
With Vahn directing the question to her, Asia's expression lit up, causing the interior of the Ending Zone to appear a little brighter as she happily replied, "Of course! I would be more than happy to teach whatever Vahn-sama wishes to know! Please permit me to do so~!"
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With less than seventy-two hours remaining before the Rating Game between Rias's Peerage and Riser's, translating to approximately three weeks within the Corridor, Vahn sat caressing Koneko's head as she lay across his lap, the two of them listening attentively as Rias, Akeno, and Grayfia discussed their preparations and strategy.
"Your principal advantages are that you've had significant time to prepare and that Riser-sama depends heavily on his immortality to achieve victory in Rating Games," stated Grayfia, smiling as she revealed, "The members of his Peerage spend more time playing than training, so if Akeno-san can eliminate his Queen before she has the opportunity to make proper use of her Explosion and Bomb Magic, the only real threat is Riser-sama himself."
"Right...even with the leniency we've been afforded regarding the use of magical items, those that deal holy or light-based damage are prohibited," muttered Rias, standing buck naked with her arms crossed as, before the strategy meeting, they had all been preparing for bed.
"That leaves water and ice as our best options. Fortunately, Vahn-sama has provided weapons that boost the potency of both," hummed Akeno, not naked but wearing her usual black bra, lace panties, garter belt, and stockings.
"Yes, the weapons Vahn-sama has created will surely come in handy..." confirmed Grayfia, the only one fully dressed, specifically in her classical maid outfit.
"The issue is, once he realizes that you possess weapons that counter his flames and regeneration, Riser-sama will doubtlessly take to the sky and aim for a battle of attrition," asserted Grayfia, appending, "And the Phenex Clan is famed for their extraordinary life force and stamina."
"Perhaps, but we have the Red Dragon Emperor on our side," contended Rias, a confident smile developing across her face as she stated, "Issei-san still has a lot of growing to do, but if he can use his Boosted Gear to enhance himself and the potency of a Water-elemental weapon, he could match Riser's speed and deal substantial damage to him."
"It's certainly possible..." confirmed Grayfia. "But even if Issei-sama can match Riser-sama's speed, there is a substantial difference in their battle experience and skill level. And if Issei-sama overextends out of anger or frustration, all the power he has stockpiled up until that point will vanish. If that happens, the match will most assuredly end in Riser-sama's favor."
"I believe in Issei-kun," said Rias, her expression and tone firm, catching Grayfia a little off guard. Then, directing a smile at Vahn, she added, "But, more than that, I believe in Vahn and the strength and time he has gifted us. We will defeat Riser—one way or another."
"And then you and Vahn-sama will marry, have children, and live happily ever after~?" asked Grayfia, a narrow-eyed, affectionate smile replacing her usually stoic expression or practiced smile as she crossed her arms and expressed, "Just make sure you aren't placing too much pressure on yourself and him. Even for a human, eighteen is very young to become a mother. For a pure-blooded Devil, it's almost unprecedented."
"I can't deny that," conceded Rias, exhaling a faint sigh but her expression hardening as she reasoned, "But we need to demonstrate Vahn's power, and I would like to be the mother of his first or second child. Surely you're not volunteering yourself for the responsibility?"
"I would not be opposed to the idea, but Vahn-sama has made it clear he has no intention of engaging in such acts with me..." stated Grayfia, a faint sigh exhaling from her nose. Not because she was disappointed that Vahn wouldn't bed her but because she really wanted to mother a second child with Sirzechs. Unfortunately, even if they spent every night together over the next five hundred years, there was no guarantee they would produce a younger sibling for their son, Millicas...
"Sorry, Grayfia-san, but I don't want to complicate things between you and your husband or make things awkward for Rias..." expressed Vahn, sporting a wry and sincerely apologetic smile.
"Thank you for your consideration, Vahn-sama..." replied Grayfia, folding her hands over her lap and offering Vahn a courteous, respect-filled bow. After more than two months of observing him, she had a comprehensive understanding of Vahn's nature, so while it bothered her not to be able to fulfill Sirzechs's indirect request, she had already given up trying to tempt him. If they crossed the line in the future, it would be because he ordered or asked her to.
Changing topics, Rias decided, "Then our plan for the next three weeks is to increase our familiarity with Water and Ice Magic. Grayfia, at the risk of sounding rude, I would have you serve as our target. If we can reliably hit you moving at or slightly exceeding Riser's maximum flight speed, it won't matter if he takes to the sky."
"That would certainly be an effective way to prepare," confirmed Grayfia, adopting a mischievous smile as she added, "We just need to ensure that Lord Phenex and his son are never made aware that I had a direct hand in helping you prepare. After all, I'm supposed to be an objective third party, here to ensure the integrity of the forthcoming match."
"Well, I'm certainly not going to tell anyone," said Rias, sporting a cheeky smile as she looked around the room, her blue eyes inevitably settling on Vahn. The latter wasn't all that comfortable with lying, but since he was even more uncomfortable with the idea of Riser marrying Rias against her will, his expression firmed as he declared, "I would rather die than betray my friends and loved ones..."
"And that's precisely why I want to be the mother of his child," said Rias, directing the statement to Grayfia as a broad smile developed across her face. Grayfia still felt it was too soon and slightly unfair for Rias to have a child so easily. However, as it was ultimately the young couple's decision to make, she decided not to lecture them. Instead, she offered a slight bow, stating, "Then I will be in my Lady and Akeno-san's care..." before raising her head, smiling mischievously as she appended, "Try not to get too frustrated while trying to hit me~" in a playful tone.
"If anything, that will just make me want to hit you more..." retorted Rias, matching Grayfia's smile as the two buxom Devils briefly produced sparks between their gazes. There was absolutely no enmity between them, but their pride as powerful female Devils ensured they would take the training very seriously...
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"Deja vu..." muttered Vahn, prompting Koneko, seated atop his shoulders and arms folded on top of his head, to append, "Nn...it's the same as the gate we found previously, but the image on the front is different..."
As Koneko mentioned, the gate before Vahn, her, and Asia was virtually identical to the cat-themed gate they had previously encountered on the First Stratum's Seventh Floor. The difference was that while that one had the image of a black cat, the one before them bore the motif of a pair of black wings forming a circle around a crest resembling two lightning bolts flanking a column of light. More notably, while one of the wings was the characteristic bat-like wing of a Devil, the other was feathery, reminiscent of a crow's but slender and elongated.
"You should bring Akeno-san here in the future..." said Koneko, prompting Vahn to tilt his head back slightly, brushing against her chest as he asked, "I'm guessing this is related to her past...?"
"Nn..." responded Koneko, followed by a lengthy silence that made it clear she had nothing more to say.
Providing some insight into what the images on the gate might represent, Asia innocently remarked, "This second wing resembles the wing of a Fallen Angel, and while I'm not too certain, two bolts of lightning around a column of light symbolize Baraquiel, one of their leaders..."
"Akeno will talk about it when she's ready..." said Koneko, turning a stony gaze to Asia as if compelling her to be silent.
"Oh? Did I say something I shouldn't have? If so, I am very, very sorry...!" expressed Asia, offering a steep, apologetic bow to Vahn and Koneko with her golden, cross-shaped scepter resembling a horizontal bar as she held it sideways with her hands over her lap.
"You didn't do anything wrong..." assured Vahn, gently caressing Asia's head as she had practically presented it to him.
Feeling better after Vahn's caress, Asia kept her head bowed and exhaled a faint ehehe~ as the former returned his attention to the gate, studying it for a short while longer. He felt a strong urge to discover what lay beyond it, but as it was clear the gates were related to events from their past that Koneko and Akeno weren't ready to disclose, Vahn told himself, 'Now isn't the time...' before nodding in approval of his decision.
"For now, we'll keep the existence of this door to ourselves..." said Vahn, beginning to understand the importance of keeping secrets as he added, "Akeno-san has already mentioned that she would tell me about her past after this situation with the Phenex Clan was resolved. Once she does, I'll bring her here myself."
"Nn...that's probably for the best. Good job, Master..." said Koneko, sitting up straight and using both hands to tousle Vahn's hair. It curiously always returned to his somewhat spiky hairstyle, so in recognition of him making the correct decision, she messed it up good and proper before massaging his scalp and temples until he sprouted a pair of dark brown cat ears, just as she was hoping he would...
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