(Image: Seekvaira)
At present, Akuto is the hottest name in the Underworld.
A fearsome power, top-tier looks, and he hasn't even reached adulthood yet.
If he keeps growing, anyone can see he'll claim at least one Maou seat—either the Leviathan throne or the Lucifer throne.
More crucial still are his special constitution—one that can ignore holy power—and the fact that he has already married multiple wives.
Realizing Akuto represents the devils' future, many pure-blood houses are scheming how to join his interest bloc.
Not for anything lofty—simply to share in that holy-proof bloodline. Even marrying off a pure-blood daughter would be worth it!
Seekvaira was no exception.
Of course, she wasn't about to "marry" Akuto.
As the Archduke House's next head, Seekvaira cannot wed out.
She merely intended to cultivate a good relationship with Akuto.
There are requests she could only make once that relationship was secure.
…
"Akuto-kun, are you…?"
Akeno finally processed it, her eyes on Akuto a mix of excitement and disbelief.
Could it be—Akuto-kun is…!
"That's right. This is a necessary step to revive Shuri." Akuto met the tremble in Akeno's violet eyes and nodded.
There was no helping it—Himejima Shuri was already dead.
With no way to determine which afterworld Shuri currently resided in, Akuto could only use a method outside the usual channels to call the soul.
Of course, there are other ways to summon a spirit.
In the original plot, with help from friends and the elder of the three-tailed cat who knew her mother, Koneko used a mirror youkai to reach beyond and contact her mother in the Western Pure Land—her soul awakening again.
Only, when you don't know which underworld your target is in, Akuto's method is far faster and far cleaner.
…
Soon, Seekvaira sent back her reply.
[Akuto-sama, Soul-Returning Herb and Nether Reishi aren't too difficult. If we mobilize fully, we should be able to broker them within a day or two.]
[As for Dragonspume Blossom, that will be troublesome.]
[Dragonspume is exceedingly rare. It can only grow in special earth, cultivated by a dragon of at least Dragon King class.]
[But most dragons are free and untamed—either roaming or sleeping. Few Dragon Kings spare the attention to cultivate Dragonspume.]
[To my knowledge, Dragon King Tannin is the only one who actually nurtures Dragonspume…]
"As expected."
Akuto nodded. He'd read up on Dragonspume before—its rarity far outstripped Soul-Returning Herb and Nether Reishi.
Strictly speaking, with his current strength he could cultivate it himself.
But for time and efficiency, sourcing existing Dragonspume was the better play.
[Then, Seekvaira-san, could you put me in touch with Tannin?] Akuto asked.
[This…] Seekvaira paused a few seconds.
[Akuto-sama, I only know of Dragonspume by record—I've never seen one in person, nor a listing on the Archduke exchange.]
[I'm afraid it isn't something one can just "buy."]
Seekvaira felt a little weary. Akuto finally approached her for cooperation, and yet she couldn't meet his need.
[I see. Then please proceed with acquiring Soul-Returning Herb and Nether Reishi. As for Dragonspume, I'll obtain it from Tannin myself.]
[You'll obtain it from Tannin yourself… Akuto-sama, do you mean…] Seekvaira suddenly thought of a possibility.
[I mean I can simply ask Tannin for it.]
[…]
Seekvaira let out the faintest breath. For a moment she'd thought Akuto planned to strong-arm the lair outright~
[Very well. If the bearer of the Red Dragon Emperor's Boosted Gear visits in person, there is a genuine chance Lord Tannin will agree to a trade.]
[In that case, let's set Dragonspume aside for now. In the Archduke House's name, I guarantee we'll secure Soul-Returning Herb and Nether Reishi for you within one day.]
Seekvaira had caught the nuance in Akuto's words.
For him to speak so lightly implied he could escalate to force if talks collapsed.
Meaning—Akuto's strength had grown again in this short time, to the Super-Maou tier or higher.
Sensing as much, Seekvaira opened a fast lane for him, compressing a multi-day procurement into a single day.
[Good. I'll leave it to you, Seekvaira-san.]
[You flatter me, Akuto-sama. Helping devils solve problems is precisely why the Archduke platform was built.]
[We're peers, Seekvaira-san. Calling me "-sama" feels a bit distant, doesn't it?] Akuto, recognizing she'd likely bent some rules for him, spoke warmly.
[Then… Akuto-sama's preference is…]
Seekvaira was pleased. If he said so, her "back door" hadn't been opened in vain.
[Just call me Akuto-kun. My friends do.]
[Very well—Akuto-kun. In that case, please call me Seekvaira.]
With courtesy traded for courtesy, both shifted to more intimate forms of address.
…
Amid that amicable mood, Akuto closed the comm array with Seekvaira.
"Akuto-kun, what's next…?"
Akeno looked to him.
Having shared that deep kiss—and seeing the absolute reliability he radiated—Akeno now treated Akuto as her lodestar.
Akuto checked the time. "We have a bit before the appointment. We'll detour to the Underworld first, then head to the shrine afterward."
"So Akuto-kun has a way to reach the Underworld quickly?"
Akeno had seen him warp across space before, but didn't know his spatial authority could traverse entire worlds. She just assumed he used some special teleportation technique or step.
Even if she didn't know, she trusted—if they lacked a fast method, they couldn't possibly make their meeting with Heaven's envoys.
If Akuto-kun said it, he would do it.
That was Akeno now—faith in Akuto, without a seam.
"Mhm. Akeno—take my hand."
"Okay."
Smiling, Akeno offered her pale slender hand, placing it in Akuto's broad palm.
Vwoom—
In the next instant, the two vanished.
…
Underworld.
Dragon King Tannin's domain.
Legions of dragons lived carefree lives.
Sleeping, training, feasting—comfortable and content.
Just then—
"ROOOOOOOAAAR!!!"
Beyond the borders, a scarlet dragon's phantom speared the sky, shaking every dragon in the territory.
Because this was the soul of a Heavenly Dragon.
"That's… Ddraig's soul! The current Red Dragon Emperor has come?"
Realizing as much, Tannin beat his wings and flew straight to the source.
At that moment, Akuto was observing the Dragonspume from afar.
In the place where leyline force and draconic aura pooled deepest, dragon-shaped plants were growing—there was no mistaking the legendary Dragonspume.
As recorded in the God of the Bible's lore, Dragonspume isn't merely a "dragon-power catalyzed byproduct," but a fusion of dragon power and yōkai power.
Thoom—
Tannin landed heavily before Akuto.
The instant he saw the Dragon King, the system chimed in Akuto's mind.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host for triggering a Plot Mission — "Dragonspume and the Leyline."]
[Mission Rank: Gold.]
[Mission Description: Dragonspume Blossoms are the result of resonance between the Leyline Flower and a mighty dragon's power. Besides enhancing medicinal quality and triggering wondrous refinements, they are vital for elevating a dragon's bloodline.
In the Akame ga Kill world, the Host collected many dragon-type Dangerous Species. However, due to that world's spec ceiling, all dragon-types struggle to break past Super-Maou class.
Even the strongest East-Sea Cloud Dragon, though infinitely close to Lord-God class, remains merely close, unable to cross that final chasm.
In truth, DxD's Infinity Dragon God and Red Dragon God Emperor face similar thresholds.
The difference is: while those two can only rely on themselves, the dragons of the Akame world can leverage top-world elixirs to break through.
By using DxD-world Dragonspume Blossoms, the Akame-world dragons can shatter the Lord-God barrier. With enough Dragonspume, the Host can even cultivate a God-class dragon-type Dangerous Species legion.]
[Mission Requirement: Obtain Dragonspume Blossoms and cultivate them to 100 plants.]
[Note:
Low-Tier Worlds — theoretical apex: Ultimate-Class devil or below. (Most slice-of-life worlds, low-martial worlds)
Mid-Tier Worlds — theoretical apex: Super-Maou or below. (Akame ga Kill, Black Bullet, …)
High-Tier Worlds — theoretical apex: Lord-God class or below. (Strike the Blood, Campione! early, KonoSuba, Overlord, Re:Zero, Danmachi, …)
Top-Tier Worlds — theoretical apex: Dragon God class or below. (Campione! late, The Eminence in Shadow, Sin Riders, etc.)
Super World Cluster — theoretical apex: Evil-God class (Triple-Digit) or below. (EXE world)
Break-Limit World Cluster — theoretical apex: Single-Digit or below. (Little Garden).]
…
"Hm?"
Akuto arched a brow. He'd come thinking this was just a quick materials run for Shuri's revival—he hadn't expected to trigger such a sweet system mission.
As the system said, his Akame world Super Dangerous-Species Legion was powerful; once made into chess pieces, most sat at Super-Maou strength.
If Akuto truly unloaded those reserves, he alone could rival any one of the Three Factions.
But their ceiling was still shy of the top.
Now, Dragonspume erased that weakness outright!
Akuto could already see it—himself commanding a legion of Lord-God-class Dangerous Species.
His own power reaching Lord-God was exhilarating; commanding subordinates at that tier was another flavor of bliss entirely.
Under the constant boon of Many-Hearts Communion, his strength climbed steadily anyway. He didn't mind investing time and effort to grow his forces.
(End of Chapter)
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