With Tia and Ignis crashing the party, the "First Red Dragon Emperor Retainers' Bonding Trip" suddenly became a six-person affair.
I mean, who would've thought those two booked rooms at the same inn? They played it so cool the past few days—unlike Rias and the others, who'd have been dropping hints left and right. Ignis came up with the idea, and Tia footed the bill. Those two make a surprisingly great team, don't they? Our big sisters always bring the chaos.
Also, who knew Tia had that kind of cash? Oh, right—she mentioned helping out Ajuka with some work. Guess that's where the money's coming from.
Lost in thought, we headed to the inn's outdoor footbath. Slipping off the sandals we'd borrowed, we dipped our feet into the warm water, a soothing heat spreading through our chilled toes.
Alice let out a contented sigh. "Footbaths are pretty nice, huh? We didn't have anything like this back in Ast-Ade. Total first for me."
True, Ast-Ade had public baths, but nothing like this cozy setup. …Though I do recall getting decked by Alice for trying to sneak a peek at the women's bath.
"Pwah! This beer's hitting the spot!" Ignis exclaimed, chugging a can.
"Whoa, drinking already?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "You're gonna drink at dinner too, right?"
Tia shrugged. "What's wrong with that, Issei? Moments like these are rare."
"Exactly!" Ignis grinned, tossing Tia another can. "Got one for you too, Tia-chan!"
"Well, aren't you thoughtful?" Tia popped the tab and clinked cans with Ignis.
Two gorgeous women in yukata, sipping beer with the ocean in the background? Talk about a picture-perfect scene.
I caught Alice swallowing hard, her eyes glued to their drinks. "You want one, don't you?"
"Uh, n-no… well, maybe a little," she admitted, laughing awkwardly.
"Go for it," I said, pulling out my coin purse and handing it to her. "Buy yourself something."
"Really?" she asked, eyes lighting up.
"You're probably holding back 'cause I'm technically underage here, right? Don't worry about it."
"Yes! Thanks, Issei! I love you!" Alice squealed, practically vibrating with excitement as she sprinted back to the inn, leaving a trail of afterimages. Man, she loves her booze.
I hope she doesn't get carried away like last time. Drunk Alice is… let's just say, dangerously seductive.
Miu smiled, watching her go. "Alice looks like she's having a blast."
"She's soaking it all in," I said. "Kinda like you were in middle school, Miu. Remember how you got excited over everything?"
"Did I?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Totally. You were freaking out over automatic doors and stuff."
Though machines weren't exactly her thing back then.
"But I think it's more than that," Miu said. "She's happy because she's here with you, Onii-chan. It wouldn't be the same with anyone else."
Rayvel nodded. "I feel the same. Being with you makes this special."
I blinked. "You guys…"
Hearing that straight-up was kinda embarrassing, but it warmed my heart. I pulled Miu and Rayvel into a hug, ruffling their hair. "That means a lot. I'm having a blast with you all too."
They blushed, giggling happily. God, they're too cute.
Ignis smirked. "Look at you three, all lovey-dovey. So wholesome."
Tia took a sip of her beer. "Any woman around Issei ends up like this. He's a pervert, but he's fun."
"His pervy side's part of the charm, right?" Ignis teased.
"Maybe so," Tia chuckled. "By the way, Issei, where's Ddraig? I heard he made peace with Albion."
"Oh, Ddraig? He's still chatting with Albion, catching up on old times. Said he's sitting this one out."
I'd hoped Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor himself, would join since this was a retainers' trip, but he's fresh off reconciling with his old rival. Guess he's got his own fun going on. Vali even mentioned they've been talking nonstop.
Tia nodded. "Things sure have changed."
"No kidding," I agreed.
Just then, a small magical communication circle appeared by Rayvel's ear. She listened, nodding, exchanging a few words before dismissing it with a sigh.
"What's up?" I asked.
"It was from Archduke Agares," she said. "There's a stray demon hiding in this area. I've been ordered to subdue or capture it."
Seriously? A stray demon now? We're on vacation!
Tia frowned. "There are locals around here who could handle it. Why drag Issei into this on his day off? Let the Three Factions deal with it. Don't waste our precious time."
Whoa, Tia's pissed! Honestly, I'm with her. I just want a day of fun with my girls, not work.
Rayvel looked apologetic. "I tried explaining that, but this stray demon is apparently too strong for most. That's why the order came to us."
Tia raised an eyebrow. "So, it's at least high-class?"
"Yes," Rayvel confirmed. "And it's been causing trouble in the area."
Great. We can't ignore that. Miu spoke up. "Is it attacking humans?"
Some stray demons prey on humans, turning monstrous. Back when I first joined Rias's team, I saw plenty of those. If this is one of them, we need to handle it today.
"No injuries or deaths, thankfully," Rayvel said, hesitating. "But… it's targeting female tourists. Specifically, it's stealing the underwear of women in yukata."
"What?!"
A stray demon stealing underwear? From women wearing yukata?!
Before I could process that, screams echoed from behind us.
"My underwear's gone?!"
"Mine too! I thought it felt breezy!"
No way. It's stealing underwear that fast? My fists trembled with rage. If this keeps up, women won't feel safe wearing yukata here! Seeing ladies in yukata is half the fun of a hot spring trip! This is a crisis!
I shot to my feet, clenching my fists. "We're taking this creep down! Nobody ruins my yukata dreams!"
Miu sighed. "Your priorities are showing… but yeah, I can't forgive someone who messes with girls like that. It's ruining the trip."
"Agreed," Rayvel said. "It's our day off, but let's handle this."
That's my crew! Tia stood, cracking her knuckles. "Let's make this quick. I'm not missing dinner."
Ignis's eyes glinted. "Anyone who threatens my crab feast gets burned."
With the strongest Dragon King and goddess on board, this stray demon's toast.
I raised my fist. "Alright, Red Dragon Emperor retainers, move out!"
"Yeah!" they cheered, fists raised.
That's when we heard—
"Quit being so pushy!" A furious shout was followed by two guys crashing face-first into the ground, trembling like leaves.
Two sleazy-looking dudes, clearly terrified, stared up at Alice, who was clutching a beer can with a murderous glare.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Alice huffed. "These jerks kept hitting on me, even after I said I was with someone."
Oh, they tried to pick her up. No wonder she's late. These guys must've pushed too far and got a taste of her wrath.
Alice shot them a look, then looped her arm through mine. "As you can see, I've got a husband. Scram, or I'm throwing punches next."
She said it with a sweet smile, but her eyes screamed murder.
At the Stray Demon's Lair
We tracked the stray demon to a small mountain near the inn, where it had set up its hideout. As we approached, Miu chuckled. "Alice was terrifying back there."
"I was more surprised by something else," Rayvel said with a wry smile.
Alice pouted. "They wouldn't take a hint! Don't those guys know when to quit?"
I laughed. "You're a total knockout, Alice. No surprise they tried. You had plenty of royal suitors back in your world, right?"
Still, hitting on my girl? Unforgivable. I should've roughed them up a bit.
Alice turned to Miu, looking sheepish. "Sorry, Miu… I kinda stole the spotlight back there."
"Huh? What for?" Miu asked.
"You know… calling Issei my husband. I got carried away."
Apparently, among my girls, Miu's seen as the "main wife," and Alice felt like she overstepped. But Miu just grinned, pulling both me and Alice into a hug. "I don't mind! We're both Onii-chan's wives, right?"
Ugh, she's too adorable! I hugged them back. "Damn right you're my wives! Alice, next time someone tries that, tell me. Your husband's got your back."
Alice blushed, fidgeting in her yukata. "Thanks, Issei…" Man, she's extra cute like this.
Rayvel looked like she wanted to say something, but before I could ask, Tia spoke up. "This is it."
We stood before a small cave, sealed with a warding barrier. I could sense the stray demon inside. With a nod, we stepped in.
The cave was lit with scattered fires, brighter than expected. Further in, we spotted furniture—mostly dressers. Weirdly specific decor.
"Who's there?!" a voice boomed.
A lanky guy with glasses glared at us, radiating demonic energy. Yup, that's our stray demon.
He pointed at us. "You're here to capture me, huh? I'll take you down!"
His aura flared, his body bulking up, shredding his clothes until he was a hulking giant, a head taller than me. Not bad. High-class demon, at least.
I crossed my arms. "Why'd you betray your master? Someone with your strength would've been valued."
Reports said he didn't kill his master, just vanished. His master, a high-class demon, was supposedly kind, not the type to mistreat retainers. So why ditch a good gig for this?
The stray demon hesitated. "I… feel bad for my master. But I found a dream."
"A dream?" I asked.
"To die surrounded by women's underwear."
"…Huh?"
Did he just say die in women's underwear?
I stared, dumbfounded, as he launched into a passionate rant. "Especially the kind worn by women fresh from the bath! That lingering scent! Wouldn't you agree it's worth dying for?!"
"Nope," I said flatly. "I'd rather die surrounded by girls' boobs."
"Tch, a breast man, huh? I get it, but my heart lies with the scent of worn underwear!"
He went on and on. The gist? He'd served his master for ages, reborn from a human long ago. His only complaint? His master's team was all guys. As a demon, he knew he might die in battle someday, so he decided if he was going out, he wanted to be buried in women's underwear. A scent fetishist, apparently. But his conscience wouldn't let him attack women, so he resorted to stealing their underwear.
Alice clutched her shoulders. "Pervert!"
Yeah, total creep! He seems kinda soft-hearted, which makes it even more pathetic.
Miu and Rayvel hid behind me, pale. I twitched, glaring at him. "Look, just come quietly. You haven't hurt anyone, so the punishment won't be harsh."
"No way!" he roared. "What happens to my precious collection?!"
"We return it to their owners!" I snapped.
"Never!" he bellowed, turning his gaze to Miu. "Hmm, that girl… she smells divine."
He summoned a magic circle, its glow lighting up the cave. It flashed—and nothing happened. Miu, Alice, Tia, Ignis, and Rayvel all looked confused.
The stray demon grinned, holding up a pair of white panties. "Well, aren't these cute?"
I froze. I knew those panties.
"Those are mine!" Miu screamed, her face scarlet. "Give them back!"
That bastard stole Miu's panties?! He raised them to his face, grinning wider. "This is my 'Steal' magic! No woman's underwear can resist—"
Something in me snapped. "You're dead!"
My rider kick sent him flying.
After the Beatdown
"Ugh, that was awful…" Miu muttered, teary-eyed.
After I pummeled the stray demon into a bloody mess, we sent him and his "collection" to the Underworld. The owners will get their stuff back, and that creep's done for. Sniffing Miu's panties? Unforgivable. I made sure his face was unrecognizable by the time I was done.
"I should've gone alone," I sighed. "Almost gave you a trauma."
Miu smiled. "You saved the day, Onii-chan. I'm fine."
Good. At least the trip's not ruined. We'd barely saved her panties in time.
"Nice bath, though," Miu said, splashing the water.
We were in the room's open-air bath now, fresh off an epic dinner of crab hot pot, sashimi, and local dishes. The girls' eyes sparkled as they devoured everything, and Tia and Ignis got tipsy on sake, laughing up a storm.
Then came the main event: mixed bathing. I scrubbed the girls' backs, and they returned the favor, leaving no spot untouched. Now, Miu leaned against my chest, with Alice and Rayvel on either side, my arms around them. The hot water, the ocean view, and their soft skin pressed against me—this was paradise.
Miu's curves floated in the water. Rayvel's petite but busty frame was a sight to behold. And Alice's smooth, porcelain skin? Perfection. This was heaven on earth.
Thank you, Mom, for winning that raffle. I'm forever in your debt.
Miu tilted her head. "Wonder if Tia and Ignis are bathing now?"
"Probably," I said. "Ignis was pretty buzzed. Hope she's okay."
Meanwhile, with Ignis
"Your hair's so pretty, Tia-chan," Ignis slurred. "And your skin's so smooth."
"Flatterer," Tia replied. "Your hair's just as nice."
"And those boobs floating in the water? Gotta squeeze!" Ignis lunged.
"Hey, don't get carried away—nngh! Not there… are you drunk?"
"Maybe~" Ignis giggled.
"Nn… stop sucking—!"
Ignis was on fire tonight.
Back to Us
"She's probably groping Tia's boobs," I said.
Miu laughed. "Sounds likely."
"That's Ignis for you," Rayvel added.
With her drinking? Yeah, Tia might be in trouble. She usually brushes Ignis off, but a powered-up Ignis? Worrying.
Alice sighed. "We're heading back tomorrow. One night went by so fast. I could stay a few more days."
"I hear ya," I said. "But we've got stuff to do. Can't slack off forever."
Miu smiled. "Still, we made great memories. It's short, but we can always come back."
"True," I said. "How about we plan the 'Second Red Dragon Emperor Retainers' Bonding Trip'? Make it a regular thing?"
"Yes!" Miu cheered. "Where to next?"
"Hmm…"
The girls tossed out ideas—mountains, beaches, more hot springs—each one bubbling with excitement. This trip really gave them a break from our hectic lives. Where to next? Guess we'll need a proper meeting to decide.
I grinned, watching them chatter happily.
Later, in Bed
We laid out our futons, debating sleeping arrangements like a school trip cliché. But now…
"Uh, what's going on?" I asked.
The three girls were pressed against me. We'd settled on positions earlier, but they'd rolled out of their futons and into mine.
Rayvel, blushing on my right, spoke softly. "This… doesn't happen often. Is it… okay?"
"It's fine," I said, "but couldn't we just push the futons together?"
Here's the situation: Miu on my left, Rayvel on my right, and Alice next to Rayvel, all crammed into one futon. It's way over capacity—Alice is practically falling off!
"Don't sweat the small stuff," Alice said.
"You'll catch a cold like that," I warned.
"Then nurse me back to health, dear husband," she teased.
"Nice try. Cover up properly."
Geez, I'll have to resort to boob-grabbing if you don't listen.
Rayvel mumbled, "Um…"
"What's up?" I asked.
"I… I want…" She took a deep breath, her face crimson. "Will you… marry me too?"
Marry her? My heart skipped a beat.
"I admire you, Issei-sama," she continued, clutching my yukata. "Not just as my master, but as a man. Please… make me your wife."
Reverse proposal! It reminded me of her oath as my manager, but this was deeper, more personal. Her trembling hands and flushed ears showed how nervous she was.
I sat up, facing her. She scrambled into a seiza position, eyes locked on mine.
"I'm not perfect," I said. "I'm a commoner, and you're a noble Phoenix. I've still got a lot to learn about the demon world. I might mess up sometimes."
I leaned closer. "But I'll do my best. So, Rayvel… will you marry me?"
Her eyes widened, tears spilling as she broke into a radiant smile. "Yes! I'm unworthy, but please take care of me!"
"Congrats, Rayvel!" Miu cheered.
Alice smirked. "You've gotten bold, Issei. Used to fold under pressure."
I laughed awkwardly. "Thanks to Miu, I guess I've grown some guts."
Though I'm still no match for our powerhouse ladies. Also, does this make Riser my brother-in-law? Weird vibe, but he's cool now.
Rayvel, still blushing, fidgeted. "There's… one more thing."
"Hm?"
"Since Miu and Alice have… your affection… I want…" She took a deep breath and shouted, "Please make me a woman too!"
A woman. With Miu and Alice as context, I wasn't that dense.
"You sure?" I asked. "You're a noble, the Phoenix heiress. We're engaged now, but this isn't something to rush into."
"It's not a whim," she insisted. "It's because it's you. And… my family would approve of you."
Really? The Phoenix clan trusts me that much? I mean, her dad did ask for grandkids once…
There was one issue, though. I hadn't brought any… protection. Figured I'd be considerate with Rayvel around.
But then Rayvel took something from Miu—a small box.
"What's that?" I asked.
Miu grinned. "No babies during school, right?"
This sister's too prepared! They'd planned this?!
Alice started rummaging in her bag, pulling out another box. "Guess this is the moment, huh?"
"You too?!" I yelped.
"Miu gave me one, just in case," Alice said, smirking.
I counted—Miu, Alice, Rayvel, and a spare. Four boxes?!
"That's way too many!" I protested.
"You can handle it, Onii-chan!" Miu cheered.
"What kind of faith is that?!"
I'd turn into a husk! Sure, Miu and Alice went through a box once, but that was an all-nighter! And I've got to drive tomorrow!
Rayvel looked at me expectantly, clutching the box. Miu spoke up. "Tonight's about Rayvel."
"Do it gently," Alice added, blushing. "We'll… go later."
Alright, time to man up. I reached for Rayvel's yukata, slowly slipping it off.
The "First Red Dragon Emperor Retainers' Bonding Trip" kicked into its nighttime phase.
Meanwhile, with Rias
"This feeling…" Rias gasped. "No way!"
"What is it?" Akeno asked.
"If my instincts are right, Issei's at it again. You know what that means."
Akeno's eyes widened. "So… a junior beat us to it."
"I want to celebrate," Rias said, "but honestly? I'm a little jealous."
"Indeed…"
They sighed in unison, though Rias was steadily awakening as a Breast Newtype.
Next Chapter Teaser
Wake up!
Here you'll find Alice-chan's boobs, Rias's boobs, and the Oppai Dragon!
—Ignis, Goddess of True Flame
Don't think I'm the same guy as before. I'm still evolving!
—Issei Hyoudou, Red Dragon Emperor Returned from Another World
ECLIPSE
XENON
AGIOS
And then—
…Just a rough plan, haha!
------------------------------
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