A/N: Hi everyone! sorry for being little late. I was doing some last minute editing before posting the this chapter.
So then without further ado, here are the last update for this weekend! Chapter 78 along with Chapter 28 Rewrite!
Please do enjoy!
PS: Special thanks to Aethergrey314 & ShiroYoruMaou for the power stones! Ahaha I did not expect that.
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"It's the sea!!!" Anisphia shouted with glee, sprinting toward the shoreline. Her pink bikini top and black bottoms caught the sunlight as her blonde hair fluttered behind her in the breeze.
"Anis—Hey! Come back here, you haven't even put on sunscreen yet!" Alice called out from beneath the beach parasol, seated on a mat. She wore an off-shoulder light blue bikini with a short, frilly skirt and the kind of expression that screamed I am this close to losing my patience.
"Kyaa~ It's cold!" Anisphia squealed as the waves splashed her ankles, but the grin on her face only widened.
Alice sighed and stood up, brushing imaginary sand off her skirt. "Honestly… what am I going to do with this girl?" she muttered, making her way toward the water like a reluctant babysitter about to wrangle a wild child.
"Princess Anis sure is energetic…" Sagiri murmured softly, watching the chaos unfold. She sat nearby, dressed in a dark purple frilly bikini, her voice calm as always.
Hajime, lounging in a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and sunglasses, gave a lazy shrug. "Yeah… 'Anisphia' and 'calm' only appear in the same sentence when there's a 'not' somewhere in between."
"...Sounds reasonable." Sagiri blinked, then nodded with faint agreement.
Hajime glanced sideways, his sunglasses catching the sunlight as his gaze swept over Sagiri, then to Anisphia splashing in the waves, and finally to Alice, arms crossed like a sentinel of sunscreen justice. He chuckled.
This commission might be a pain... but the benefits sure is amazing—thanks, Azazel. This detour's not bad at all.
"A-NIS-PHI-A WY-NN PA-LE-TTIA!!" Alice's voice thundered across the shore as she stood at the water's edge, hands firmly on her hips. "You either come back here and let me apply the lotion properly, or I swear I'll drag you back and drown you in it. Your choice!"
"W-Wait, I'm coming! Okay?! No need to go full tyrant mode!" Anisphia yelped, dashing back with arms flailing.
It had only been a day since the Kyoto meeting, but Hajime's group had already found themselves in a small seaside town along Mediterrania's coast. With their mission temporarily on hold and the Three Factions' reinforcements still en route, they took the rare opportunity to enjoy something they barely remembered how to: a real vacation.
"Ughhh… even on my face, Alice?" Anisphia groaned as she sat cross-legged, wincing as Alice gently applied sunscreen.
"You're the kind of girl who'll jump into a lightning storm if it looks like fun. Someone has to make sure you return from this trip without peeling like a roasted fish," Alice replied dryly, her hands firm but careful.
Anisphia pouted, grumbling under her breath. "Still sticky though…"
"Knowing you, you'll run around until you drop, and I refuse to deal with a sunburned wreck later," Alice said firmly, applying another layer of sunscreen.
"Think about how tragic it'd be if you couldn't even cling to Hajime because your skin was completely scorched from the sun. Worse, imagine being stuck in the hotel room alone, nursing your burns, while the rest of us go explore the town. Strolling through streets, sharing seaside desserts with Hajime, having a quiet night chat under the stars... or grabbing a sunset drink at a café by the water. All those little moments you'd miss them. And all because you skipped the sunscreen."
Anisphia's eyes widened in horror at the mental image of red, peeling, unable to cuddle, trapped alone in the room while the others enjoyed themselves reduced to nothing more than pitiful groaning.
"...That sounds awful," she muttered with a shiver.
Alice gave a satisfied nod, her expression triumphant. "Exactly. So if we want to enjoy our trip without setbacks, we prepare. Every ache we can avoid means one more memory we get to keep without regret."
Nearby, Hajime raised an eyebrow as he sipped his tropical juice. "You girls do realize we have healing magic and a full medical bay on the Express, right?"
Alice shot him a flat look. "Yes, Captain Obvious. But that's not the point. Just because we can heal something doesn't mean we should let it happen. If we want to enjoy every moment of this trip, we need to be in top condition not recovering from preventable mistakes. Adventuring 101: prepare first, suffer less later."
Even Sagiri nodded in agreement, her arms folded with approval. Anisphia looked conflicted, torn between her reckless spirit and her newfound fear of losing cuddle privileges.
"…Fine. I'll behave."
Hajime blinked, then raised both hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. You win."
As the day went on, the beach turned into their playground. Alice, Anisphia, and Sagiri splashed in the waves though it quickly turned into a spectacle.
A few flashy guys tried to flirt with them until Hajime's silent, soul-piercing glare hit like a railgun. Their confident grins shattered, knees wobbling under the weight of pure pressure. Anisphia and Alice couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Sagiri, ever the professional, added her own brand of icy intimidation. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as her fingers slipped toward the kunai somehow hidden in her bikini strap.
"Wait—just how did you even hide that in there?!" Anisphia whispered in disbelief.
Before any diplomatic disaster could unfold, Alice and Anisphia hurried over with frozen smiles and panicked whispers, tugging Sagiri away from a possible beachside stabbing.
"Okay, we're not starting an international incident in a swimsuit," Alice hissed, tugging on Sagiri's arm.
Sagiri blinked. "...It was just a warning."
"Yeah, well, your warnings come with potential blood loss," Anisphia muttered.
Eventually it was settled in as much as possible, in a peaceful way. Hajime then excused himself and wandered off with a fishing rod slung over his shoulder. Meanwhile, Anisphia and Sagiri took to building a sandcastle. What started as a simple mound quickly escalated into a grand, multi-tiered sand mansion, complete with towers and even a drawbridge made from a wood that got washed ashored. It wasn't long before a crowd of curious tourists had gathered, snapping photos.
Alice tried to keep things under control, holding back the crowd. "We're not accepting construction requests," she called out dryly, shielding the sand-mansion from an overeager kid.
When Hajime returned hours later, he casually strolled up with two full baskets overflowing with fish, clams, shrimp, and even a few exotic sea creatures.
"Whoa! You actually caught all that?!" Anisphia's eyes sparkled.
"Got lucky," Hajime said flatly, his tone too mechanical to be convincing.
From somewhere far above, a familiar voice of laughter heard down from the orbiting Astral Express.
…Yeah, definitely not an ordinary fishing trip.
By late afternoon, the scent of grilled seafood spread through the open area behind their rented cottage. Hajime stood by the grill, expertly flipping buttered shrimp and soy-glazed fish with the kind of concentration that dared anyone to interrupt him. Whatever happened during that fishing trip, he still refused to talk about it.
Sagiri and Anisphia returned from the nearby town, arms full of local delicacies and additional supplies.
"We're back!!" Anisphia's voice rang out from the kitchen, bright and lively ever.
"We've returned—with reinforcements," Sagiri added calmly as she set the bags of food on the counter.
Alice, beside Hajime at the outdoor grill, glanced over and gave them a wave. "Welcome back, you two. Just in time."
"Whoa! Hajime, that smells amazing!" Anisphia practically skipped through the sliding door leading to the patio, catching the scent of the sizzling seafood. A bit of drool had started forming at the corner of her lips.
"This'll be ready soon. Go prep the table—after wiping that drool," Hajime said without looking up, flipping a soy-glazed clam with practiced ease.
"On it!" Anisphia gave a playful salute and dashed back inside, already shouting something about chopsticks.
"...Even after running around all day, her energy doesn't run out," Sagiri remarked, helping Alice unpack the rest of the food onto the outdoor table. Her gaze briefly followed Anisphia with mild disbelief.
"Fufufu~ that's just how Anis is," Alice said fondly, setting down a tray of grilled skewers. "A whirlwind wrapped in sunshine. But give it time you'll get used to her pace."
Sagiri's cheeks turned a faint pink at Alice's teasing comment. Instead of replying, she opted for silent retreat, redirecting her hands toward the tray of freshly grilled clams and fish Hajime had just finished. Alice couldn't help but laugh softly at the reaction.
From inside the cottage, Anisphia's excited voice rang out. "Alice! There's buttered shrimp here! And—wait—is the crab ready too?!"
"Yes! Both the shrimp and crab are done!" Alice called back, stepping inside with a light skip in her step. "Coming to plate them now!"
Sagiri made a motion to follow her inside, but Hajime's voice called her back.
"Sagiri. Our guests just arrived," he said, eyes never leaving the lobster on the grill. The savory scent of butter and garlic filled the air, bubbling gently as the shell turned bright red. "Can you pick them up?"
Sagiri raised an eyebrow. "Guests?"
Before she could ask more, the cottage doorbell rang—a soft chime cutting through the seaside breeze.
She turned toward the entrance, already moving. But behind her, unseen, Hajime's hands paused for just a moment. His brows twitched. His eyes widened slightly.
A familiar cold yet sunny presence.
WHY?! JUST WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?! Hajime screamed internally. Noah… I swear… this has your fingerprints all over it.
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Aboard the Astral Express, currently orbiting the DXD World...
"WOOAAAHH!! SHE'S HERE!!! THE BLOND AIRHEAD MAGICIAN WHO'S DANGEROUSLY INNOCENT IS HERE!!" Noah practically yelled, shooting up with his spoon raised like a signal flare.
Kiana jumped in her seat, almost spilling her fourth bowl of Lumine's seafood curry. "Captaaain!! Warn me next time before doing that!"
"…Noah," Lumine muttered, deadpan as ever. "Please stop spying on Hajime and just enjoy your food."
Elysia took a slow, measured bite of her curry and looked over at Noah with a gentle sigh. "I get that you're excited watching your rom-com unfold in real time… but at least finish your food while scheming."
Noah gave no reply; he simply stuffed a mouthful of curry into his mouth, cheeks puffed slightly. His body, however, vibrated with excitement as he practically bounced in place.
The three girls, well technically four, with Sirin peeking through Kiana's eyes just exchanged knowing glances and sighed in perfect unison.
Lumine sighed, side-eyeing Noah, whose eyes twinkled like a child discovering a new toy.
"...Didn't they already meet? That blonde girl and Hajime? Wasn't it when he was fishing and got mocked by that sea serpent or sea dragon, whatever it was and then slammed it on land?"
"Pfft—Ahaha! That scene still kills me!" Noah burst out laughing again. "Only Hajime would fish up a divine beast, get insulted by it, slam it like a sack of potatoes, then somehow tame it and have it offering him seafood like an apologetic pet! Ahahaha!"
Kiana, Elysia, and Lumine even Sirin(inside Kiana) tried their best to keep straight faces, but the memory was too ridiculous. One by one, they broke into laughter.
"Ahaha! Okay, okay! Fine!! we admit it! That was hilarious!" Kiana wheezed between laughs
"Hmm, hmm~ I've already logged it in the mission archives: 'How to Fish with Your Sea Dragon'," Elysia giggled as she leaned back in her seat.
Lumine tried to hold back her laugh, but the way her shoulders trembled gave her away. "I can't believe I watched that unfold live…"
"...Only Hajime could turn fishing into a romantic side quest," Sirin's voice came out from her emblem.
"Right?!" Noah grinned, fist pumping in excitement. "I figured they'd only meet formally during the mission briefing! But no! She had to see Hajime slamming a sea serpent while minding her own business and got curious! Ahahaha! Seriously, who manages to catch both a sea monster and a magical girl with one fishing rod?!"
On the projection screen, the blonde girl caught sight of Hajime and froze for just a second, eyes wide in surprise before her expression brightened into a cheerful smile. With an excited wave, she greeted him as if they were longtime friends.
Noah gasped, grabbing the edge of his plate like a kid watching a live romance drama. "OH! OHH!!! THIS IS GONNA BE FUN! Ahaha! How are you gonna survive this, Hajime?! Especially with Anis and Alice already giving 'you-better-explain-this' looks?!"
"…Since when did Noah switch Paths from Trailblaze to Elation?" Sirin's deadpan voice rang, her tone somewhere between tired and baffled.
Kiana, Elysia and Lumine both slowly nodded in silent agreement.
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Sagiri led the small group, all dressed in casual civilian clothes. They each carried bags of food and drinks, blending in perfectly with the local crowd until you noticed the way they moved. Every step, every glance was coordinated and alert. It was clear they weren't ordinary tourists. Their combat experience in the mystical world showed in the way they scanned their surroundings without drawing attention.
At the head of the group was a sharp-eyed young man, posture relaxed yet ready.
"Apologies for being late," he said with a polite nod and a small, apologetic smile. "We're the backup Azazel-san mentioned. Slash Dog team, reporting in."
Sagiri's eyes widened in surprise as she stood beside Hajime. "Grigori sent you? That's… unexpected. The Three Factions must really be taking this seriously."
"Are they famous or something, Sagiri?" Anisphia's curious voice came from the sliding door, her head poking out with childlike interest.
Alice sighed, tapping Anisphia lightly on the head. "Anis, manners. Let them at least step in before interrogating them."
"Ehehehe… oops," Anisphia laughed awkwardly, rubbing her head with a wry smile.
Noticing the curious stares from Hajime, Alice, and especially Anisphia who was practically leaning forward, Sagiri gave a brief explanation.
"The Slash Dog team is one of humanity's top-tier elite squads. What's remarkable is that every single one of them is a pure-blooded human. No divine blood, no demonic heritage, not even from any phantasmal beings. Each member wields a Sacred Gear powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with the supernatural heavyweights."
Sagiri paused for a bit and looked at the trio.
"What's even more noteworthy is that two of them wield Longinus-class Sacred Gears. That type has the theoretical potential to slay gods."
She glanced over to Hajime. "They're in the same league as Vali's Divine Dividing and Issei Hyoudou's Boosted Gear. So the fact that they've been dispatched here… means the Three Factions aren't treating this lightly."
"OHHHH!" Hajime, Alice, and Anisphia all exclaimed in unison, their expressions lighting up with awe.
Tobio scratched the back of his neck, a sheepish grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Ah—please don't expect too much. It sounds more dramatic than it truly is. A Longinus-class Sacred Gear just means it can theoretically slay a god… not that I'm anywhere near that level. Especially not compared to someone like Nagumo-san."
He threw a sidelong glance at Hajime, who blinked once but gave no protest.
Anisphia snorted lightly. "If slaying gods were that easy, they wouldn't be called gods in the first place."
Alice exhaled through her nose, letting a small smile play at her lips. She turned to the group with practiced hospitality. "Well, titles aside, welcome. You came at the perfect time, we're just about to have a late lunch. Please, come in and make yourselves comfortable."
Before Tobio could respond, a delighted gasp broke through the air. All eyes turned toward the source, a blonde girl in a flowing white sundress, eyes wide with recognition and joy as she pointed straight at Hajime.
"Waaa…! It's you!" The blonde girl pointed at Hajime, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Amazing! To think we'd meet again so soon~!"
"...Y-Yo," Hajime replied stiffly, cold sweat running down his back. He didn't need to look to know Alice and Anisphia were staring daggers at him. Sagiri stood nearby, silent but very observant.
"Hehehe~ it's really nice to see you again." She gave him a warm, fluffy smile that seemed to make flowers bloom around her, figuratively, of course. But for Hajime, it was just as overwhelming.
His face turned bright red, matching the lobster sizzling on the grill. He quickly turned his head to escape her radiance… only to lock eyes with two girls radiating something far more terrifying.
Alice's smile was sharp and lovely. Anisphia's eyes were gentle and glowing.
Their eyes, however… could freeze the ocean.
NOOOOOAAAAAHHHH!!! HELP MEEEE!!! Hajime cried internally, blaming all of this on one person: Noah. This is definitely your fault.
—-
"Ahem… thanks for coming," Hajime said, trying to steer the topic away from the building pressure around him. His tone was stiff as he desperately avoided the sharp glances from Alice and Anisphia, the silent judgment in Sagiri's gaze, and the too-sweet smile of the blonde girl watching him with innocent curiosity.
"I think you may already know, but I'm Nagumo Hajime. Just call me Hajime."
"Ahaha… Well, yeah. You're kinda famous, Nagumo-san." The young man at the front smiled, casually offering his hand. "I'm Ikuse Tobio. It's good to meet you."
Hajime shook it with a firm grip, grateful for the smooth rescue.
"It may be temporary, but we're excited to work with a real godslayer."
"Our leader isn't exaggerating! We've all been dying to see what someone who can take down a god is like in person!" a cheerful girl with light brown hair tied in a princess braid leaned in with sparkling eyes and a confident peace sign. "Minagawa Natsume! Nice to meet ya!"
Hajime blinked, eyeing Natsume's wild energy bouncing through the room. She really reminds me of Anis... maybe too much, he thought.
"Samejima Kouki," the other guy finally said, stepping forward with a sharp look in his eyes. His aura was intense, delinquent-like, the kind that made people instinctively keep their distance. "...You don't look like someone who could kill a god. But maybe that's what makes it interesting."
Hajime raised a brow, surprised by the tone. Not hostile—more like… curious? Respectful? Either way, he needed to confirm something.
"Just asking… you're not the type to go on about justice or saving the world or anything like that, right?" Hajime asked cautiously, memories of a certain "Kouki" from his world haunting him.
"Hah?" Kouki scowled, visibly confused. "What kind of dumb question is that?"
"...Nothing. Sorry. Just making sure," Hajime muttered, exhaling with clear relief.
"Pffft! Since when did this Sharkbrain develop that kind of emotional complexity?" Natsume laughed, elbowing Kouki with a teasing grin. "Though I guess his broody lone wolf act kind of counts, right?"
"What did you just call me, Birdbrain?!" Kouki shot back, glaring with mock offense.
Alice blinked, observing them with amused curiosity. "...Such an energetic pair."
Anisphia giggled beside her. "They've totally got that bickering duo vibe, huh? Like chaotic rivals in a school drama!"
"Ha?! Don't joke like that!!" Natsume and Kouki shouted in unison before turning to glare at each other.
"Quit copying me, you Sharkbrain!"
"Says the copycat Birdbrain!"
Alice sighed, watching them go back and forth. "They're like a walking comedy act…"
"Ahahaha, sorry about them," said the girl with brown hair styled in twin side tails, stepping forward with an apologetic smile. "They're always like this. Hello, everyone. I'm Toujou Sae, Tobio-kun's childhood friend. Please take care of us during the mission."
After Sae stepped back, another girl took a quiet step forward. She was stunning, her long blonde hair intricately braided and wrapped like a crown with delicate ribbons. Her features held a soft, dignified blend of Japanese and European lineage, but what stood out most were her eyes—one a clear blue, the other a misty gray.
"Nanadaru Shigune," she greeted gently, her voice barely louder than the breeze. "Hello."
Then, the final girl stepped forward, the same blonde who had spotted Hajime earlier. With a gentle twirl of her summer dress, she picked up its hem and gave a graceful curtsy.
"Lavinia Reni. It's very nice to meet you again, Miracle Fisherman~"
Hajime's cheek twitched. He gave her an awkward smile. "...Please, just call me Hajime, Miss Reni."
Lavinia tilted her head, her smile unwavering. Her eyes sparkled with something soft and oddly amused.
"Then please call me Lavi as well, Hakkun~."
"...Eh?"
"Ha…kkun?" Alice's voice dropped, her expression darkening like a shadow falling across the sun.
"Ne~ Hajime, you seem pretty close with Miss Lavinia~" Anisphia said sweetly, though the glint in her eyes suggested an interrogation was pending. "I wonder... just what happened between you two?"
Sagiri didn't say a word. Her flat, judgmental stare spoke volumes.
"...Is this a real shuraba?" Sae whispered, inching closer to Shigune.
"I believe so, Sae-chan," Shigune replied softly, almost serenely.
"Waaah! This is totally it! We're watching a real rom-com unfold live!" Natsume beamed, practically bouncing in place. "I knew joining this mission would be fun!"
Meanwhile, the cause of all this chaos—Lavinia—simply tilted her head in innocent confusion.
"Hmm? Did I say something weird... again?" she asked, blinking slowly, genuinely puzzled.
The girls continued glaring at Hajime.
Hajime, cornered, muttered under his breath, "...I'm never going fishing again."