It was Viviana's birthday and Ash prepared a sword and a stack of novels for her. In his mind, she is a noble knight that loves to read and is a warrior.
Though when he gave it to her, she had a deadpan look on her face. "Ash, thanks for the gifts dear... But I'm not really interested in arts." Viviana pointed at the title of the books.
They were all related to how one can manipulate light for arts. He made it for the Nearls, especially because Mlynar is the only one that he considers really good at their special brand of arts.
It read, transverse electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic force for dummies. Particles and photons by Dr. Asmodeus. Kinetic energy of light explained, etc.
She was already having a headache just reading the titles. She has no clue how to understand all that. Margaret only read through it because she's a workaholic.
Maria liked it because it was about science. Zofia doesn't really use arts that extensively. But she read through it still to teach people who use light based arts. She didn't like it at all though.
"This isn't romantic at all." She chided and Ash grasped his chest. "Agh, you're right. But what do I do? I'm just not good at this kind of stuff." He sighed.
"Hah, when you think of romance. It's the school life. Young men and women getting attracted to each other. Spending time every day, learning more things about each other." Viviana explained while in a daze.
"Teens? Sorry to tell you this Viviana, but teens only develop feelings with each other because they're horny as hell. Only a handful of teenage romances last till adulthood." Ash deadpanned at her and she glared at him.
"See! You're too rational." She huffed and he was confused, everything he said was true.
"Well, once their hormones stabilize. They start to fight and tear each other apart. While most find other people they get attracted to due to how horny they are. Humans are dominated by their base instincts and hormones. Only the ones with rock solid wills are not flippant." He shrugged and Viviana sighed.
Her husband was definitely not one for romance. "Sometimes, you're so nice and sweet. But most of the time, you're a cold blooded intellectual." She rolled her eyes.
"Then what am I gonna do? I think most of us aren't romantic at all. They'd rather work hard." He explained and Viviana nodded, that was true.
"We should experience a place that is filled with romance!" She had an idea and he winced.
"Going to school? Are you out of your mind, woman? High schoolers are disgusting pricks that think they can take on the world. I'd lose my mind against those." He snorted.
"Don't be such a killjoy. I know, Nian and Ling are always watching TV right? They must have a nice show where the premise is romance~" Viviana clapped and she pulled him towards the theater room.
Nian and Ling were watching YouTube with bored faces on. Because it was Dusk's turn with the big ass TV with surround sound.
She was watching a documentary about orcas and why they are the Apex predators of the world. Only matched by humanity. The abyssal hunters were also watching while eating some dried squid.
"Nian, Nian. Do you have a show where it's nice and romantic?" Viviana asked the dragon and she looked at her weirdly.
"I guess? Here, look at MyAnimeList. Go to the romance section or whatever." Nian gave her phone to them.
"Now, let's see." Viviana began to read synopses of shows and Ash rolled his eyes.
"Ah! I found one, how about we go to this place?" She pointed at one and it was a world where samurai blood was prominent in a small city in Japan. And the high schoolers there were strong as heck.
"Uhh, sure? Wait, is that an eroge that Kjera likes to play in her spare time?" Ash squinted his eyes and Viviana broke his thoughts.
"Come on already! let's go! You ladies don't mind that I'll take him for a vacation? It'd be my birthday gift." Viviana asked the others and they waved her off nonchalantly.
"Fine... Let's go." Ash began to check the multiverse and he tore open a portal to go there.
__Kawakami City__
A portal opened up in the middle of a patch of grass nearby a river. "Did I get it right?" Ash looked around and it seemed similar, but he wasn't sure.
Viviana saw a group of students that seemed to be enjoying themselves in their walk to school, so she ran up to them.
"Hello, can I know if we're in Kawakami city?" Viviana asked with a smile, though she forgot that she was speaking German. She was from Leithanien, it is her first language.
"Uhhh, Yamato... This hot onee-san is talking in a foreign language! Come on man, you know English. Speak to her and while you're at it, ask if she's single!" A tanned young man with slicked back hair got excited.
"Um, hello ma'am. Can I help you? And screw yourself Gakuto, she's out of your league man." Yamato, a plain looking, lanky teen shot him down.
"Kyah~ Yamato, your English is too good. How about you teach me about it later and give me a nice tutoring?" A purple haired girl fidgeted around. (pic)
"Miyako... We're trying to help a person over here... Though it is weird that she's wearing antlers, is she a cosplayer?" Yamato looked at her horns.
"Oh, I apologize. I was speaking in Leithanien's language. Now, may I know where are we?" She corrected herself.
"Whew, this lady's smoking. She feels strong as heck too. Is it because of all the steak and corn they eat?" A young woman with long black hair and red eyes whistled rudely. (pic)
"Momoyo-senpai, you're being rude. I'll talk to her, guten Tag. You're in Kawakami city." A blonde replied in German and Viviana beamed, they were in the right place. (pic)
"Awww, why are you so stiff Chris? Maybe I should massage you right here?" Momoyo rubbed her chest indecently and the blonde screamed in embarrassment.
"Yo, Viviana. Were we in the right place?" Ash walked up to them and the relatively normal students whistled upon seeing him. He looked like an oni from legends after all.
"Hey, nii-chan. You're strong as heck, how about we battle for a bit? Get our blood pumping~" Momoyo cracked her knuckles.
Ash would normally take that as a cue that the one who asked wanted to die. But this place was peaceful. "Nope." He popped the p and hugged Viviana.
Momoyo groaned in disappointment. "Um, Momo-senpai. I think you shouldn't challenge people out of the blue like that." A girl with a hime cut, carrying a sword softly chided her.
"Mayu Mayu, I don't see strong people like him often!" Momoyo whined.
"Um, Yukie. Nee-san is a battle maniac. You'd be more successful cutting steel than to change her." Yamato replied and Momoyo gave him a noogie.
Ash then looked towards Viviana, with a face that said how is this connected to romance again?
"Thanks for telling us. Come on Viviana, let's go." Ash pulled her and they went to the riverbank to plan out what they'll be doing.
"They're weird as hell, but they don't feel normal at all..." Yamato shivered as he remembered Ash's presence.
"So, what are we going to do here?" Ash threw a pebble at the river, making it skip to the other side.
"Can't you see? They're so full of life and romance, so carefree, friendships being made. And that Yamato boy kept on sending looks towards Momoyo, I smell romance!" Viviana explained to him with a huff.
"Uhhh, really? I thought he was just looking at her because she's the strongest person there." Ash felt and saw the girl's energy.
She was leaking a golden aura. Momoyo was most likely the strongest person on the planet. She can even go toe to toe with a lot of their elites.
"Hah, let's just get into a hotel first." Ash sighed at his wife's antics. She was so excited to observe what will be going on.
They arrived at a hotel owned by the Kuki conglomerate. "Kuki? Their surname's kinda cute." Ash chuckled.
He tried to get the best suite for a month, but the lady in the counter apologized, saying it was for reservations only.
"Hah, call your manager. I'll just buy this hotel then." Ash shrugged.
After waiting for thirty minutes, a limo arrived and they heard someone laugh. "Kuahahaha! Kuki Ageha has arrived, you. Someone had the audacity to try and buy our hotel? Let us see their mettle and do business!"
The young woman has silver hair and an x shaped scar on her forehead. She was rambunctious and haughty. But in an amusing way, she isn't arrogant like the noble pricks in Leithanien. (pic)
"So you're Kuki Ageha? You're pretty young to own a conglomerate?" Ash raised a brow and she looked at him with interest.
"We are the heiress of the Kuki conglomerate kuahahaha! We are pleased to meet you. This is the price of our hotel." She took out a tablet and made him read the contract.
"Wow, you work fast. I'm Asmodeus, call me Ash Ageha. I accept the terms, though can I pay in gold, gems, valuable metals?" Ash gave her his hand.
"Hmm, we accept. Enjoy your new hotel, kuahahaha!" She shook her hand and left.
"That girl was weird wasn't she?" Viviana blinked. "Well, rich people are always kinda weird. At least she's nice and cheerful. Easy to talk to as well." Ash shrugged.
And while they were relaxing in a tub in their suite. Viviana saw an event at the high school. "Look, they're going for a war game against students! This place is much more fun than I anticipated."
Ash sighed and rubbed his temples. "We aren't even students Viviana." Ash deadpanned at her.
"Then we enrol!" She huffed at him and pulled him out of the tub. "Yes, yes, it's your birthday today anyways." He rolled his eyes and they went to the school.
They met up with the principal who was an old man. He felt powerful too, weaker than Momoyo in sheer strength and power. But he was like a surgical blade. Precise with his control and skill.
"Hohoho, you want to join the school you say? Tell me though, why would I let a monster like you in here?" The old man squinted his eyes at Ash.
Viviana was strong as hell relative to them, but she wasn't immeasurably more so.
"That's because we're joining to have some fun and him to learn romance. Fun activities leads to romance." Viviana explained.
"What she said old man. And you feel like Momoyo, your energies are kind of familiar. That Yamato kid told us she's a muscle head. She'd love you for giving her a chance to fight me." Ash shrugged.
"That is true, my granddaughter needs to learn that there are much stronger people out there." The principal then gave them a flag and registered their base in the area they would be fighting in.
A day after, they were suited up in their uniforms and the principal announced that there would be a special team.
Ash was a couple of heads taller than everyone anyways, so they immediately noticed him. "Those who manage to beat this duo, would get an instant win. Test your mettle against them!"
"Yatta! I'm so going to have fun fighting you!" Momoyo pointed at him and he sighed.
"At least I'm not socializing with them. Come on Viviana, let's beat them up." Ash put an arm on her waist and they disappeared.
"Kuahahaha! It seems he isn't simple! We, Kuki Ageha will take this win. Isn't that right Yamato? Momoyo seems to be an afterthought compared to that man." Ageha slapped her leader's back.
"Ugh, this puts a wrench in my plans." Yamato groaned.
Viviana took out her candelabrum and padded sword. Ash was just sitting on a tree stump like a Yankee. Their gold flag right in front of him.
"Hah, why can't we just observe them from afar?" Ash whined.
"Because, you'll just analyze their behavior. You need to experience it mister." She booped his nose.
"Fine, beating up some high schoolers is going to be fun I guess?" He cracked his neck and felt people coming to him.
"I haven't gotten your name yet." Momoyo grinned at him.
"I'm Asmodeus, call me Ash yeah? Where's your friends though? You'll have a bad time if you're alone." Ash stood up and dusted his pants.
"Kuahahaha! We have arrived." Ageha appeared besides Momo and they were ready for a scrap.
"Senpais, he's strong..." Yukie Mayuzumi drew her katana and her intent felt sharp, making Ash nod at her in surprise.
"You guys the strongest in your school? Come at me then." Ash gestured them to go.
"I'll take care of the riff raff, have fun dear." Viviana smiled at him and she started mowing down the teenagers that are trying to get their flag. Leaving a pile of groaning bodies on the floor.
Momoyo compressed her energy and lunged right at him. Sending a well thrown punch that signified her expertise in martial arts.
Ash redirected the force to the ground and he whistled. The earth beneath him cratered.
"You're strong ain't cha?" Ash grabbed her arm and threw her to the sky.
"Shukuchi!" Yukie suddenly disappeared from her place and drew her sword with blinding speed.
He caught it between his fingers and gave a small nod. "Damn, what do they feed you here?" She was human, he was sure. But the shy girl would give Degenbrecher a run for her money.
"Do not forget us!" Ageha came down at him with an axe kick. He caught her leg and whacked Yukie against her, making them fly away.
He suddenly got hit by a beam of golden energy. Causing an earthquake that shook the whole city.
Lying down deep in the earth, he blinked. "What the hell? These girls are ridiculous. Romance my ass, they're like bred for battle." Ash grumbled as he got out of the hole.
"You're good... Let's step it up!" Momoyo grinned at him and began a battle of cqc.
Filling her body to the max with her energy, a golden aura covered her and she released a barrage of strikes at him.
Ash parried and blocked her punches and kicks. Shockwaves were blowing away the trees upon every impact.
"You might be a pretty little thing, but my fists are rated for everyone." Ash countered a straight from her with a hook and she saw stars when it hit her jaw.
He then kicked her on the abdomen, making her plow the ground and breaking through dozens of trees.
"Is she okay? Nah, she's fine." He felt her emotions and she was burning with determination.
"Kuki-senpai!" Yukie suddenly appeared behind him and started slashing at him. Chaining combos that would be undodgeable as vacuum blades were sent out from her sword.
He displayed inhuman flexibility and dodged them like a leaf that swayed in the wind.
Ageha then shouted, ready to slug him. But he pulled on Yukie's blade and threw her at Ageha.
"Now!" Yukie grabbed her arm and threw Ageha at him, increasing her momentum.
Momoyo then appeared from the other side. Ready to pound him as well.
He continued his dodge though, bending his body. And the two of them were sure they would hit him with his awkward posture. Making them overreach. And he almost choked on his spit after feeling four things hit him.
"Damn... Is that larger than 90 centimeters? What the hell do you eat here?" He saw Viviana at the corner of his vision give him a thumbs up.
Momoyo went red like a tomato, but Ageha just laughed it off.
He then felt an overwhelming amount of energy charge up behind him. Momoyo was going for a planet busting attack.
"Kawakami secret art! Star killer." Feminine fury was evident on her face and he sighed. It wasn't even his fault.
Ash raised his finger and the thick beam of golden energy that was vaporizing anything on its way got redirected to space.
The whole world saw a pillar of light and they all thought that Kawakami Momoyo released that for sure.
"Calm down, geez. Has nobody ever touched your chest before?" Ash raised a brow and she sputtered. "Really?" He deadpanned at her, remembering her pervertedness against that blonde, Chris.
"Kuahahaha! Momoyo! You can't throw that around without any forethought!" Ageha laughed at her and Momoyo glared at her.
"You got a feel of my boobs!" She pointed at him accusingly.
"Why am I even surprised? Come here then, you're angry anyways, I'll give you a reason to." Ash disappeared and Momoyo felt a set of large hands squeeze her chest.
"Hmmm, elastic and firm. Perky, no sagging even though it's large. This definitely has a perfect score." Ash reviewed while nodding.
Even Ageha froze, putting an arm over her chest. But it was already too late. "P-put your hands away from our bosom!" She cried out as he started reviewing hers too.
"A little smaller than Momoyo's. It's softer, maybe because she trains more than you? It's more elastic and supple though. Probably because of a perfect diet since childhood, Umu." Ash pinched her cherries a bit and she turned bright red.
"You pervert!" Momoyo ran at him like a raging bull, trying to hit him on the family jewels.
"Nuh uh, I don't have kids yet. And I like my balls where they are thank you." Ash dodged and he put his hands on Ageha's waist.
He then smacked Momoyo with Ageha's chest, making her stop in her tracks.
"Why you!?" Ageha tried to kick him on his nether regions too so he went to Momoyo next and swung the black haired beauty's chest at her as well.
"These can be weapons for real." He pinched her too and they went down on the ground with a smoldering glare at him.
"Ash, you can't just assault them. You have to take them to dinner first." Viviana sighed at him and he shrugged.
"I mean, they were jiggling it around in front of me. How could I resist that? Though, how about we get some takoyaki after this? As an apology, yeah?" Ash offered.
"S-shut up you pervert!" They tried to fight him again and he sighed. "This isn't romantic at all Viviana."
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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.