Alright, now we're pastthe RoyalRoad mark, so there's no more waiting or ghosting. If y'all ghost me in activities, Imma ghost you as well.
Perfectly Balanced as all things should be.
If you guys love the story, and feel like buying me some milk, so that I don't run off for 20 years to get it, you can follow the link below to join my Patreon. Remove the space after https
https:// www.patreon.com/c/Virtuoss0777?
redirect=true
****
Kokabiel's POV
We didn't have to wait too long for Kazuma and Ritsuka to show up.
Michael and Azrael stood beside me, both radiating curiosity mixed with wariness. They didn't know the full details about the chat group, that particular secret was still mine to keep. But they trusted my judgment implicitly. Three thousand years of brotherhood had earned me that much, at least.
So when reality suddenly rippled and tore open like fabric being cut by invisible scissors, revealing a swirling portal of kaleidoscopic colors, they didn't immediately draw weapons or go into combat stances.
They just watched with interest as two figures tumbled through.
Emphasis on "tumbled."
Kazuma came through first, appearing in a completely undignified manner—face-first into the ground with all the grace of a sack of potatoes being thrown from a moving cart.
THUD
"Ow! Fuck!" He spat dirt and debris, his voice muffled. "Ptui, ptui, damn world-traveling portal! Couldn't you at least let me land in a dignified way?! Talk about a terrible first impression! This is bullshit!"
He pushed himself up on his hands and knees, still spitting. "I paid good money for this tracksuit! Now it's got Underworld dirt all over it! I don't even have a washing machine!"
Ritsuka came through right after him, but she managed significantly better. She wobbled on her feet for a moment, arms windmilling for balance, but she didn't fall. Years of Rayshifting into different Singularities had apparently given her better dimensional travel experience.
She steadied herself, took a deep breath, then turned to face us with a bright, genuine smile.
"Hello, Kokabiel-san! It's so nice to finally meet you in person!" She bowed politely, the gesture perfect and respectful. "These must be your brothers you've told us so much about. It's an honor to meet you guys."
She straightened up, her eyes sparkling with barely contained excitement. "Hello! My name is Ritsuka Fujimaru. I'll be in your care during this mission. Please treat me kindly!"
Michael's expression immediately softened. He smiled warmly, the kind of gentle smile that had earned him the title of "Heaven's Most Compassionate" among the angels.
"Welcome to our world, Miss Ritsuka. It's wonderful to meet my brother's friends." He bowed politely in return, matching her gesture. "Kokabiel might be incredibly strong, but he's socially clueless at the best of times. Please take care of him when we're not around."
I felt my eye twitch. "I'm standing right here, Michael."
"I know," he replied pleasantly. "That's why I said it loud enough for you to hear."
Azrael snickered.
I ignored them both and focused on our guests. "Welcome, Ritsuka. It's good to finally meet you face-to-face as well. I hope you enjoy your stay in my world, despite the circumstances."
Ritsuka beamed. "I'm sure I will! I've been looking forward to this ever since you mentioned Heaven in the chat!"
I smiled. "I'll take you there after this. Although, for Kazuma, I'm not so sure."
Kazuma finally managed to dust himself off and stand up properly. He looked around the Underworld with wide eyes, taking in the dark sky, the ominous atmosphere, the general sense of oppressive gloom.
Then he looked at us. Three archangels standing there with wings and divine auras, and I saw the exact moment reality hit him.
His mouth opened slightly. His eyes went even wider. He started to say something, stopped, then tried again.
"Man, it still feels so weird seeing anime characters in live action..." he muttered under his breath.
Then he seemed to remember where he was and straightened up, putting on what I assumed was supposed to be a dignified expression. It didn't really work, but points for trying.
"Ehem!" He cleared his throat dramatically. "Hello! I'm Satou Kazuma!" He struck a heroic pose that looked like it came from some action show. "A partner of Justice and man of culture who came to help after hearing the sorrowful cries of the oppressed!"
His voice rose with false bravado. "I, Kazuma, won't let justice be trampled by evil! I shall fight for righteousness and protect the innocent!"
Michael looked at him with genuine respect, clearly taking the declaration at face value. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kazuma. I truly admire your resolve to lend us aid in our time of need. You are an admirable young man with a noble heart."
Azrael, however, wasn't so easily fooled. He'd spent centuries dealing with devils, fallen angels, and various other beings who lied through their teeth. His bullshit detector was finely tuned.
He crossed his arms and spoke skeptically, his tone carrying just a hint of challenge. "You're a champion of justice, are you? How very noble." He tilted his head. "Tell me, what exactly motivated you to become such a paragon of virtue? What drives your heroic spirit?"
Kazuma didn't even hesitate. "OPPAI!"
The word came out with such genuine enthusiasm and zero shame that it actually took everyone a moment to process.
The silence that fell after that declaration was more than awkward. It was monumentally awkward. The kind of silence that makes you reconsider every life choice that led to this moment.
Ritsuka's face turned bright red. She looked like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She actually took a few steps away from Kazuma, trying to physically distance herself from the social suicide happening before our eyes.
"I don't know him," she muttered, looking at the sky. "We've never met. I came here alone."
Michael had his mouth hanging open in confusion and doubt, clearly trying to process what he'd just heard. His brain was attempting to reconcile "noble hero fighting for justice" with "guy who just shouted about breasts."
The cognitive dissonance was visible on his face.
Azrael looked like he was about to burst into laughter. His body was actually shaking with the effort of holding it in. His shoulders trembled, and I could see his wings quivering. "This is pure gold!"
And me? I was looking at Kazuma with an icy glare that could have frozen the sun.
My voice came out very, very calm. Too calm. Dangerously calm.
"Care to repeat that, Ku-zu-ma-san?"
I deliberately enunciated each syllable of his nickname in Axel, letting him know exactly how much trouble he was in.
Kazuma's survival instincts finally kicked in. He immediately dropped to the ground in a perfect dogeza, forehead pressed against the dirt.
"I'M SORRY! IT'S NOT MY FAULT! IT'S THE WORLD'S WILL! THE PERVERTED WORLD WILL IS AFFECTING ME!"
He was practically shouting into the ground. "I SWEAR! I'M A DIGNIFIED, PURE VIRGIN, DAMN IT! MY THOUGHTS ARE USUALLY MUCH MORE NOBLE!"
His emotional outburst caused his newly purchased Sharingan to flare up involuntarily. Two tomoe slowly spiraled in his pupils, the red glow visible even though his face was pressed to the dirt.
"Is it too late to say I don't know him?" Ritsuka asked nobody in particular.
Kazuma's head snapped up. "OI! Don't abandon your friend in his time of need! If I'm going down, I'm dragging you with me!"
"We're not friends right now. We're strangers. I've never seen you before in my life."
"BETRAYAL!"
Michael remarked dryly, his composure somewhat restored, "They... certainly are lively."
Azrael finally let out the laugh he'd been holding. "Hahaha! Our brother always had weird taste in companions! But at least they aren't bad at heart, I can sense that much. No ulterior motives or hidden malice."
He grinned at me. "Just supremely socially incompetent. Like you."
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on despite my angelic nature supposedly making me immune to such things.
"Can we please just forget the last few minutes happened and start over?" I asked tiredly.
Everyone nodded, though Kazuma looked relieved while Ritsuka still looked mortified.
The reintroductions went much better the second time around. Kazuma managed to keep his mouth shut about inappropriate topics, and Ritsuka immediately hit it off with Michael.
"So Heaven is a real place here? Like, an actual physical location?" Ritsuka asked with genuine fascination, her earlier embarrassment forgotten in the face of curiosity.
Michael smiled warmly, clearly enjoying her sincere interest. "Indeed! It exists as a separate dimensional space, though it's anchored to this world. We can show you after this situation is resolved, if you'd like."
"Really?!" Ritsuka's eyes lit up. "I'd love to see it! I've read about various afterlife concepts across different cultures, but actually visiting one would be incredible!"
"You're from a world without gods and angels, aren't you?" Michael asked gently.
"Well, we have Servants—heroic spirits from history and legend. But actual, currently active gods and angels? No, those don't exist in my world anymore." She paused thoughtfully. "Or at least, they don't interact with humanity directly."
"How fascinating! I'd love to hear more about these Servants. Your world's magic system sounds quite different from ours."
Meanwhile, Kazuma was attempting to strike up a conversation with Azrael, which... wasn't going as smoothly.
It went something like this:
"Umm... hey, Azrael-san, was it?" Kazuma tried for casual and friendly. "How is it like being the Angel of Death? Does it feel bad when you have to reap the soul of a hot girl dying untimely?"
I wanted to slam my head into a wall. Of course that's what he'd ask about.
Azrael's expression didn't change, but his tone cooled noticeably. "Nobody dies untimely, human. It was their fate to pass at that exact moment. Death comes when it's meant to, not a second before or after."
He continued flatly, "And death doesn't discriminate based on gender, attractiveness, or any other superficial quality. All souls are equal in the end."
"Oh. Cool, cool." Kazuma nodded like he understood, then immediately proved he didn't. "So you just... wait around all day and pop up when someone's about to die? What else do you do for fun?"
Azrael's eye twitched slightly. "It is my sacred duty to harvest the souls of the deceased and guide them to their proper destination. I don't need anything else to fulfill me. It's not a job, it's a calling."
"But like, for fun though—"
"We spar in Heaven," Azrael interrupted, clearly trying to move past this topic. "We have family dinners. We maintain the realm. And in cases like this, we go out and eliminate threats to the world. That's sufficient."
Kazuma nodded sagely, then opened his mouth again. I knew what was coming before he even said it.
"Sooo... you're a fellow virgin like me then? No chicks dig you?"
Azrael spluttered and coughed violently. The Angel of Death, who had faced countless demons and horrors with perfect composure, was rendered speechless by a tactless human.
Michael looked oddly amused at his brothers peril. I would be lying if I said I wasn't amused as well.
"I thought Kokabiel fixed your heavenly system to allow angels to have actual relationships?" Kazuma continued obliviously. "So why haven't you—"
"HOW DARE YOU!" Azrael's voice rose slightly, his composure cracking. "I am a proud Archangel! I have countless beings who would be willing to be my partner if I so desired!"
His wings flared slightly. "I'm simply busy with my responsibilities! I don't have time for such mundane things! Women would only slow down the speed at which I swing my scythe!"
I raised an eyebrow at how easily Kazuma had gotten under Azrael's skin. My brother, who faced death and darkness daily with perfect calm, was getting flustered by relationship questions.
But then Kazuma's next words made a vein pop on my forehead.
"You say that, but Kokabiel's way stronger than you, right?" Kazuma gestured at me casually. "And he has a girlfriend. So that logic doesn't really apply..."
He trailed off, then suddenly shivered. "Why do I feel a sudden chill?"
He took a step back, his survival instincts finally kicking in.
Michael and Azrael both turned to look at me with mechanical precision, their expressions identical masks of disbelief.
Azrael opened and closed his mouth several times, looking like a fish out of water. Then he finally squeaked out, "Brother... what he said... is it true?"
Michael had a forced smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes. "Congratulations, brother. I'm learning so many new things about you today. I wonder what our sister Gabriel would have to say about this development?"
The implied threat was clear—Gabriel would either be ecstatic or devastated, and either reaction would result in me getting tackled, hugged, interrogated, and generally overwhelmed. Lets not even bring Penemue into the equation.
I sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Firstly, she is NOT my girlfriend. Not yet. Not technically. I'm still not fully capable of romantic feelings in the way humans experience them."
I continued before they could interrupt. "Secondly, as I already mentioned in Heaven before leaving, she is the Queen piece I chose for my peerage. And yes, she insisted on it very strongly. There were circumstances involved."
I turned my icy glare on Kazuma. "Lastly, Kazuma, can we have a private chat? Let's go somewhere far away. Somewhere where sound doesn't exist. Shall we?"
Kazuma immediately dove behind Michael, using him as a human shield.
"HELL NO! I'm not leaving Michael-san's side for the entire duration I'm here! I'm not a masochist!" He clutched at Michael's robes. "Satisfy your violent tendencies on the devils! They might actually enjoy a little S&M play!"
He looked desperately at Ritsuka. "Ritsuka! Help me out here! Friendship! Loyalty! Remember those concepts?!"
Ritsuka shook her head and sighed. "You're on your own, Kazuma-san. You had to open your big mouth and cause problems. This is what we call natural consequences."
"BETRAYAL! AGAIN!"
Azrael put a heavy hand on my shoulder, his expression serious. "We have a lot to talk about later, brother. A very long talk. About many things."
Michael nodded gravely. "I'm very interested in meeting this lady who managed to melt our brother's frozen heart. Something even Penemue failed to accomplish after thousands of years of trying."
Azrael added helpfully. "Don't forget lady Athena who still yearns for him. She would be devastated to hear this."
I could feel the headache intensifying. "Can we just go kill the devils now? Please? I'm begging you."
After several more minutes of back-and-forth banter, discussions about my love life and advice on relationship that I absolutely didn't want to have, and Kazuma making things progressively worse every time he opened his mouth, we finally managed to put the relationship issue aside and focus on the actual mission.
I spoke calmly, shifting into tactical mode. "I'll personally deal with Long Aotian—the foreign parasite that invaded our world. He's the primary threat and the source of the dimensional instability."
I turned to my brothers. "Michael, Azrael, you two handle Rizevim and the other Old Satan faction members. They're strong but manageable for you two. Let's hope peace hasn't dulled your blades, brothers."
Then I looked at our guests. "Kazuma, for once in your life, try to be actually useful and provide support. Also protect Ritsuka if things get dangerous. Don't try to be a hero."
Kazuma smiled smugly and cracked his knuckles. "Heh! I'm not the same weakling you met back during the One Piece mission! I've been training hard!"
He struck a dramatic pose. "I've mastered my Tremor-Tremor Fruit abilities and my Sharingan! Behold the glory of the great Kazuma-sama! I'm basically a powerhouse now!"
I decided not to mention that he still tripped over his own feet when he arrived.
"Ritsuka," I continued, "you can provide ranged support with your Mystic Code and summon any Servants you think might be helpful. But don't get too close to the main battle. These are Ultimate-class devils and beyond, their casual attacks could be lethal for a human."
She nodded seriously. "Understood, Kokabiel-san. I'll stay at range and provide support fire."
Michael spoke solemnly, his tactical mind already analyzing the situation. "I can sense multiple powerful presences beyond just Rizevim. The power signatures of Beelzebub's heir, Asmodeus's heir, and Leviathan's heir are all present. It seems all the surviving descendants of the original Satans have gathered under Rizevim's banner."
His expression became concerned. "Are you certain you can deal with this foreign cultivator alone, brother? Even from here, I can sense his power is formidable. Abnormal, even for this world's standards."
Azrael nodded in agreement. "Dealing with the devil heirs won't be an issue with Michael and me working together. We've faced worse odds during the Great War. But that cultivator..." He frowned. "His energy feels wrong. Incompatible with our reality. Like oil trying to mix with water."
Ritsuka coughed lightly, drawing their attention. "Kokabiel-san is much stronger than that person. I've seen what he's capable of." She smiled with complete confidence. "I trust him fully."
I felt something warm in my chest at her words. I smiled and reached out, patting her head gently. "Thanks for your vote of confidence Ritsuka. You really are a well mannered young lady."
She immediately blushed, her cheeks turning pink. "Ehehe..." She wiggled slightly under the praise, looking pleased.
Kazuma gave me a hateful glare from where he was still half-hiding behind Michael. "You don't even stop seducing people even though you already have a girlfriend! Riajuu bastard! This is cruel! Stop flaunting your success!"
I clenched my fist, and he visibly paled.
"Do you want me to tie you up and send you to Zeus's bedchambers as a gift?" I asked pleasantly. "I hear he's very fond of pretty young men."
Kazuma's face went through several shades of horror. He actually covered his butt with both hands protectively.
"Umm... please forget I said anything! Anything at all! My mouth doesn't exist! I'm mute now!"
I took a deep breath, centering myself. "Does anyone have any other questions before we begin?"
Everyone shook their heads.
I nodded curtly. "Alright then. Let's deal with this nonsense quickly and efficiently."
I spread my twelve black wings, each one shimmering with starlight, and lifted off the ground. The others followed—Michael and Azrael with their own white wings, Ritsuka using her Mystic Code's flight function, and Kazuma... actually managing to use his Tremor-Tremor Fruit mixing with wind chakra to create a platform of vibrating air to stand on.
Impressive. He actually had been training.
Let's see how fruitful it is