Chapter 73: Chapter 71
I fixed my cuffs, pulled on my collar to make sure it was nice and straight, and I ran a finger along my tie to make sure there were no creases.
My hand sneaked back and tugged lightly on my ponytail to make sure it was still nice and snug, bound by that little piece of fabric that Scathach used all those days ago and I couldn't help but smile slightly at the memory.
"Hmm..." I fiddled with the buttons on my vest. "Jacket or no jacket? I usually go with no jacket....." I turned around to see how it looked from the back.
[How about Juggernaut drive, that way you can die and put me out of my misery?]
"If you're not going to be helpful...."
[You know what? Go butt-ass naked, I'm sure that will draw lots of attention.]
"You're being really aggressive."
[I have to live through this every day. I've never had a host be so obsessed with what they're wearing, and let me be clear, I have had female hosts before.]
"Mildly sexist....."
[Oh, come off it, I'm technically genderless.]
"Females can be sexist against their own gender, that means nothing." I pointed out. "And besides, you've never had a host look as good as I do." I smirked.
[Oh, there's the patented devil pride I've heard about.]
"Sorry, the dragon says what?"
[The dragon says you're a little bitch.]
"Yes, I, The Red Dragon Emperor, am a little bitch." I declared.
[I hate you.]
I snorted, holding back a laugh. "Well, it could be worse, Ddraig." I set down a box I withdrew from my ring, opening it up to reveal several pairs of cufflinks. "I could go around declaring myself 'Oppai Dragon'."
.....[Little bitch it is then.]
"No, what am I doing?" I shut the small box. "Way too gaudy for a casual get together." I shook my head putting them away.
[You need new shoes.]
I blinked looking down out of instinct. "You know what? I do need new shoes.....I mean its not noticeable, but they were slightly scuffed in that little tussle I had the other day." Another reason to be annoyed with that idiot. "I'm surprised."
[Why? Do you think I don't understand how to look good?] Ddraig snorted. [You know, I used to roll around in gold and jewels so they would get stuck between my scales and make me glitter and shine better.]
Huh....you learn something new every day.
[Why are you even trying so hard? Are you planning on claiming her as well?]
"First, I would use almost any excuse to dress up." It's enjoyable, is that such a crime? And I want to look nice when I meet with my friend, I want to make a good impression. "Second, we barely know each other." I rolled my eyes. I'm not trying to bang every girl I trade words with, regardless of how pretty was was.
[Didn't stop you with Artoria.]
"That....." I stopped for a moment. "Touché." I admit he had a point there, but... "It was a little different, I knew her before I 'knew' her." I would be lying if I said my knowledge of her didn't skew my perceptions and perhaps give me a sort of idol in my mind. Regardless, I did not have any regrets with how things turned out.
And now I couldn't help but think of her.
Nope!
No moping, I'm going out to have drinks with a new friend.
I flipped my hat sitting nearby and set it on my head before adjusting it just right.
"Time to go."
***
"Izzy." I smiled brightly, walking into the bar. It was once again empty minus us three. The owner just gave me a look before going about his business again.
"Hello, Wilhelm." She nodded at me, a small smile on her face.
I took a seat next to her, the man behind the bar already placing a drink infront of me. I couldn't help but chuckle as I took a sip, almost coughing it up. "Damn that's strong." I forced it down, and it was not enjoyable that way. Needs to be sipped to appreciate more. "How have you been?"
"I have been doing very well." She turned towards me, fingering her own glass. "I am excited that my youngest has decided to respond to my inquires. As I mentioned in our correspondence over the phone, he will be visiting me next month."
She keeps herself well reserved, but the excitement in her tone was palpable.
"Oh, I'm curious, what's he like?"
"Hmm, abrasive, rash, prone to using his fists when he should use his words." She listed off. "But he can be really sweet too. Even when his....father and I separated, he was willing to express his intent to visit me, much to his father's anger."
"Ah, isn't it usually the youngest that acts out the most?"
"I suppose you are right., he is definitely a momma's boy." She smiled. "His elder siblings are much more reserved, even if they have they usually cause just as many messes."
"And how have you been?" She inquired. "Has your new-found fame been detrimental at all?"
Oof, I took another sip. "Got attacked by highschooler who looked like he was getting ready to play some DnD in his mom's basement. He also happened to actually know magic."
She blinked at me, mulling over my statement. "Are you...hurt?" She questioned.
"Oh no, kid was as green as my grass" I waived her off. "Well, at least before the little shit tore up a part of my yard. He had a sacred gear as well, as did his friend who tried to kill me too."
"I feel as though you are leaving out several important details." She deadpanned. "Do not try to gloss over the important bits."
"Fine, fine." I sighed. "Wizard kid comes trying to recruit me, called himself the descendant of Georg Faust, I don't know if you know who tha –"
"The famous magician who had a contract with Mephistopheles." She stated, to my surprise. She rolled her eyes at my look. "I do know what goes on outside of my country."
"Of course." I smiled lightly. "Anyways, kid is named Georg Faust, don't know if he's actually named that or is trying to seem better than he really is." I shook my head. "Tried to recruit me to his 'hero faction' or some such nonsense. Basically, humans, heroes, descendants and whatnot who are trying to 'protect' the human race from the supernatural."
"Did the idea of being a 'hero' not catch your fancy?" She propped her chin up with her hand.
"I mean...." I sighed again. "Who doesn't admire the idea of a 'hero', but reality is often much more disappointing." I fingered my glass for a moment. "Besides, he tried to use my 'heritage' as a reason to join. Something about suffering at the hands of the devils." I waived my hand flippantly. "He seemed to jump straight to emotional manipulation to get me to join, pretty weird for a first meeting."
"I take it he did not appreciate your rejection?" She smiled in slight amusement.
"Nope, tried to use his Sacred Gear – Dimension Lost to imprison me." I snorted, a small laugh escaping my lips. "Went crying back home is what he did."
"Pardon." She interrupted me. "Did you say you countered his Dimension Lost? One of those blasted things that is said to have the ability to kill gods?"
"Mhmm."
"I see.....you are stronger than I expected then."
"Long story short, his companion tried to impale me with his True Longinus."
Izzy almost spit out her drink, slamming the cup back down before forcing the drink down her throat. "The True Longinus!?"
"Ah, you've heard of it?"
"Yes, I've heard of the divine spear that can kill gods with the ease that one can kill chickens." She deadpanned. "Not only that, but is it not absolute poison to your kind?"
"It is, but I didn't touch it." Huh, she knows more that I thought.
"You play a dangerous game." She shook her head. "You should take your safety more seriously." Her words were rather gentle, and it seemed like she was.....upset that I acted in the way I did.
"I was not as flippant in how I acted in battle." I explained. "I could feel the deadliness the spear threatened me with and I acted appropriately." I wasn't intentionally trying to court death or anything. "Anyways, lets talk about something more interesting.....like my hat!" I quickly set my hat on the table, upside-down.
"Your hat?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, you see, it has an interesting little function...." I reached my hand deep insinde and... "Wala!" I pulled out Mr.Wiggles, setting him on the counter.
She stared at me, I shot her a cocky smile right back.
The bartender looked unamused by the prospect of having an 'animal' on his bar. I slid a few gold coins his way and he just shrugged.
It was another moment before Izzy finally broke out in giggles. "That is the most ridiculous thing I have seen in quite some time." She calmed herself down. "Whatever could possess you to do this?" Her hand hesitantly reached over to touch the ball of floof.
"Well.....my mom took me to see a stage magician when I was younger." I smiled at the memory. "And I wanted to learn how to do those tricks as a sort of hobby. I actually came back to Japan as a sort of vacation, thought it would be a nice way to unwind and just enjoy myself."
"What is its name?" By the look in her eyes, I could tell she wanted to hold him, so I allowed him to hop over to her a bit. She looked surprised that he was willing to get so close to her. I guess I was used to her aura of 'death' that I sometimes forgot it was even there. Staying in the Land of Shadows kind of desensitized me to such things.
"He is Sir Wigglesbottom fluffytail Octavius Benedict III, crown prince of the Emerald Kingdom."
[You just keep adding more onto it every time you say his name.]
Yup.
"Or just Sir Wiggles for short."
She had a warm smile on her face as Sir Wiggles allowed her to embrace him. "Hello your highness." She cooed, gently rubbing his little head.
I could tell through the link that he was enjoying himself even if her presence was intimidating to him. I think the fact that I was calm in her presence kind of trickled down to him.
"I also made him my familiar."
She let out a cute little laugh as he scrunched his nose. "It seems you were intelligent enough to bind such an immaculate creature to you."
Hmm, was that her way of saying I was smart to get such a cute little thing as my familiar? I did find the way she switched between the way she talked sometimes. Like she was used to speaking in a more archaic fashion, yet sometimes talked like she was on the internet.
"What you like to see the picture I took since I got him?"
"YES!" She blinked, staring at me bashfully. "I mean, yes I would enjoying seeing them."
***
Just a nice fluffy chapter, nothing too exceptional happened.
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