Side Story: Guardian of the South-Southwest

New Year.

Just like in the modern world where Rei came from, people in the Sky Realm also celebrate the New Year.

They use the same calendar system—dates, months, and years—as the modern world, and they celebrate the same occasion like the beginning of a new year.

The Grandcypher was flying toward an island where everyone planned to celebrate the New Year.

Sierokarte had informed them about a shrine that only opens once every twelve years.

Without hesitation, everyone agreed to visit the island, excited to seeing the shrine and celebrate the occasion together.

The atmosphere was filled with high spirits, and everyone eagerly anticipated their arrival, curious about what kind of shrine awaited them.

"What the…"

Except for one person, standing in front of a mirror with a dumbfounded expression.

It's been about ten months since Rei suddenly appeared in this Sky Realm—and that's not even counting the alternate timeline.

So much has happened during these ten months. He's met countless people, shared adventures with everyone, and faced challenges together.

Meeting Djeeta, Vyrn, Lyria, Katalina, and so many others…

But now, his attention returned to the mirror in front of him.

At this moment, he was wearing a black yukata, something Lyria had specifically asked him to wear for this occasion.

This was his first time wearing such clothing, and he felt incredibly uncomfortable.

He wasn't wearing anything under it except for his underwear… How could people comfortably wear something like this?

But when he remembered Lyria's pleading face, her sparkling eyes full of hope, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. In the end, he gave in and wore the outfit.

"I think that outfit looks good on you," a woman's voice came from behind him, making Rei turn around.

"Oh, you're already awake, Sandalphon? I thought you'd need more sleep after last night."

After turning, Rei saw Sandalphon sitting on his bed, wrapped in a blanket that draped over her alluring figure.

Her long, wavy brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her crimson eyes gazed at Rei with satisfaction and a hint of desire.

"Did you forget about my regeneration? My recovery is far better than anyone else's, of course I heal faster~"

"But still, my body feels so tired and... full. I'm just going to sleep a little longer," she said before lying back down on Rei's bed.

Hearing that, Rei walked closer to her. "You're not going to come with us to the shrine?" he asked, stopping beside the bed.

He began caressing her hair gently, his fingers brushing against her cheek with affection.

"Nah... I don't really like crowded places like that, and we Archangels don't usually celebrate mortal traditions. So just have fun—and make sure to bring me a souvenir, alright?" she said with a soft smile before turning over and closing her eyes again.

"Alright, I'll bring you something when we get back," Rei replied with a warm smile.

After hearing Sandalphon's breathing slow down and steady, indicating she had fallen asleep, Rei finally moved back to the mirror, trying to adjust his yukata to make it more comfortable.

But before he could do anything, a knock came from the door.

*Knock* *Knock*

"Rei, it's me. Rackam and Noa said we're almost at the island. Are you done?" Orchid's voice called from outside.

Hearing that, Rei decided to walk toward the door instead of letting Orchid in. Sandalphon was still sleeping inside, and he didn't want to disturb her—especially since she wasn't wearing anything beneath the blanket.

Opening the door and stepping outside, Rei closed it behind him. In front of him stood Orchid, still wearing her usual outfit, which left him puzzled.

"Orchid, why haven't you changed yet?" Rei asked in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Orchid tilted her head slightly, clearly not understanding Rei's question.

"Lyria told me everyone going to the shrine was supposed to wear yukatas. Aren't you coming with us? Why aren't you wearing one?"

Orchid's expression grew even more confused, and Rei could see it clearly on her face.

"I never heard anything like that..."

"That's strange... Don't tell me—!" Rei froze as realization hit him.

Lyria had tricked him into wearing this outfit!

"Lyriaaa!!!" Rei's shout echoed across the entire Grandcypher.

Meanwhile, the culprit was currently hiding in Djeeta's room, curled up under a blanket on the bed.

"Eeekk!" Lyria's body shivered as she heard Rei's furious voice, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.

"I told you that was a bad idea. Now he's definitely mad at you," Djeeta said, shaking her head in mild exasperation.

Lyria's expression turned sorrowful as her voice trembled. "But... if I didn't do that, Rei definitely wouldn't have worn that yukata. He's been wearing the same type of clothes every day..."

"I mean, I'm really happy he likes the clothes I made so much, but I wanted to see him in something different—especially for New Year..." Lyria's voice cracked with sadness.

Djeeta sighed, understanding Lyria's feelings. Rei indeed wore the same style of outfit every day, only in different colors. When asked why, Rei had simply said it was because Lyria had made those clothes for him, and he appreciated them deeply. Plus, after wearing that style for so long, he was already comfortable with it.

"I understand what you mean," Djeeta said softly. "But you could have just asked him and explained your reason. I'm sure he would have understood."

"You're right... I should've just told him instead of lying," Lyria muttered, her voice shaking as she fought back tears.

"Don't cry, Lyria. I'll help you apologize to him later. Now come out from under the blanket so we can finish getting ready," Djeeta said, standing up and walking to the makeup table.

"Really...?" Lyria peeked out from under the blanket, her teary eyes looking hopeful.

Djeeta nodded firmly, her expression reassuring.

"...Okay, I'll apologize to him after this," Lyria said softly, crawling out from under the blanket and following Djeeta.

Outside, the Grandcypher continued its slow journey toward the island where their destination lay.

Light snowflakes drifted down from the clouds above, painting the sky in a serene, wintry scene.

-----

After Lyria apologized to Rei, the Grandcypher finally arrived at the island.

However, only Rei, Lyria, Djeeta, and Orchid disembarked. The others encouraged them to have fun, deciding to wait on the Grandcypher.

Rei and the others simply nodded, with Djeeta, Lyria, and Orchid eagerly pulling Rei along, excitement clear on their faces.

This was the first time they had ever seen a shrine like this; the only shrine they'd encountered before was Lucifer's shrine from Gran's timeline.

Walking through a small forest along a narrow path, the group seemed genuinely excited to reach the village where the shrine awaited them.

The Grandcypher couldn't land directly in the village because the airship hangar was already packed with countless other airships.

So Rackam had decided to land nearby, leaving them to walk the remaining distance to the village on their own.

"The snow finally stopped," Rei said, looking up at the snow-dusted leaves above them.

"But it's still pretty cold. Kinda glad I brought this scarf with me," Djeeta added, adjusting her scarf.

"Come on, we should hurry before the place gets even more crowded," Lyria said eagerly.

The group nodded in agreement and quickened their pace. It was already 3 a.m., and they didn't want to miss their chance at the shrine.

Before long, they arrived at the village entrance.

"So many people…" Orchid murmured softly, her sky blue eyes scanning the crowd.

The village was bustling with visitors from other islands, all eager to see the shrine and receive blessings.

It was clear the village couldn't accommodate everyone, as a long queue stretched up the mountain trail leading to the shrine.

"Is that where the shrine is?" Djeeta asked, pointing at the distant line of people winding up the mountain path.

"Well… Looks like we'll have to queue first," Rei said with a sigh, shaking his head lightly.

"It's so long. How long are we going to be here?" Lyria asked, her voice full of dread at the sight of the endless line.

"Let's start lining up first, and we can talk while we wait," Rei suggested.

The group agreed and made their way into the village toward the end of the queue.

As they walked, people began to turn their heads and stare in their direction.

Most of the attention was focused on Rei, who wasn't wearing his usual cloak that typically concealed his appearance.

"Wow, he's so handsome…" Rei immediately picked up on the murmurs with his sharp hearing.

"That silver hair and those blue eyes…"

"He's wearing a yukata, and it looks really good on him."

"Do you think one of the girls with him is his girlfriend?"

More whispers followed, and even Djeeta and the others began to hear them.

Rei noticed how Djeeta, Lyria, and Orchid flinched slightly as they registered the murmurs.

The three girls exchanged glances, seemingly communicating without words.

Before Rei could react, Djeeta grabbed his right arm and hugged it tightly, while Lyria did the same on his left.

Rei instantly felt the soft sensation of their bodies pressing against his arms. Meanwhile, Orchid moved in front of him, standing protectively as if to shield him from the crowd's gaze.

All three of them glared at the surrounding onlookers, their expressions sharp and unyielding.

Disappointed murmurs spread among the crowd as people assumed Rei was already taken. Slowly, the stares and whispers began to fade, and the crowd returned to their own business.

"Nice one, you three," Rei said with an amused smile, relieved that the attention had shifted away from him.

"I forgot about your appearance, Rei… We've grown so used to your face that we forgot how normal people would react," Lyria said softly, her voice tinged with guilt.

"I really shouldn't have made you wear that. I should've just let you stick to your usual clothes…"

Hearing Lyria's saddened tone, Rei immediately tried to comfort her. But with both his arms currently occupied, all he could do was speak.

"I already said I don't mind, Lyria. I really don't. I'm fine with wearing different styles like this. You just need to ask next time, instead of doing what you did before."

Hearing Rei's reassuring words made Lyria smile, her sadness quickly fading away.

With their spirits lifted, the group continued walking and eventually joined the long queue.

Now, all that was left was to wait.

-----

Two hours later…

After two long hours of waiting in line, Djeeta finally reached her limit and spoke up.

"Ahhh, this is taking forever! Can't we just come back tomorrow or something?!" she said, clearly exasperated.

Many others behind them had already given up, leaving the queue to either return to their inns, airships, or simply head home in defeat.

Even Lyria, who had been so excited earlier, now wore a gloomy expression. The initial thrill of visiting the shrine had been completely replaced by exhaustion and frustration.

She wanted to see the shrine—she really did—but if the cost was hours of torturous waiting, she wasn't so sure it was worth it anymore.

"Calm down, Djeeta. Maybe if more people give up, the line will start moving faster," Rei said, trying to keep everyone's spirits up.

"But most of the people giving up are behind us," Orchid pointed out flatly.

"...Well, maybe it'll clear up more at night. How about this—I'll go buy drinks for you three. Just wait here," Rei offered before turning and walking away.

"Wait, Rei!?" Djeeta called after him, but all they heard in response was:

"It's fine, I'll be back shortly."

Rei walked off, leaving the girls behind. He needed to find an empty spot to discreetly pull Rupies from his dimensional storage.

This yukata didn't have any pockets, and since he stored his currency in Lucilius' dimension, he had to find a private place to retrieve them.

Honestly, using Lucilius' dimension place for something as mundane as coins felt ridiculous, but it was undeniably convenient, so he didn't mind.

Rupies are the currency of the Sky Realm, resembling gold coins from a typical fantasy-themed anime or manga.

But finding an empty spot in this crowded village proved to be nearly impossible. Even after wandering for several minutes, Rei still couldn't locate a secluded area.

"How can I pull out my Rupies if there are so many people around…?"

After exploring several narrow alleyways without success, he decided to leave the village entirely and head into the nearby forest.

However, as he walked, something caught his eye.

"A… sheep?"

In front of him stood a small, fluffy sheep, staring at him curiously.

"Why is there a sheep in the middle of the village?"

The sheep looked up at him intently, as if studying him, before letting out a loud bleat and hopping up and down.

Strangely, no one else in the area seemed to notice the sheep, despite its noise and energetic movements.

"No… it's not that they're ignoring it. They can't see it," Rei realized immediately.

Something clicked in his mind.

"Shrine… Sheep… Wait, isn't this related to the Zodiac?"

He quickly recalled the Twelve Divine Generals, the Zodiacs in Granblue Fantasy.

"And a sheep… that must mean…"

Before Rei could finish his thought, the sheep turned and bolted out of the village, heading toward the forest.

"Eh—wait!" Rei immediately gave chase, knowing exactly who the owner of this sheep was.

He couldn't let anything happen to it, as every Zodiac held deep affection for their animal companions.

"Lyria, something's come up. I might need more time before I can come back," he said through their mental link.

"Eh? Wait, Rei, what do you mean?" Lyria's voice echoed in his mind, sounding concerned.

"I'll explain later. Be right back."

With that, Rei focused entirely on chasing the sheep. Surprisingly, it was fast—faster than he'd expected, even for an enchanted creature.

The chase led him deep into the forest, and after several minutes of running, he burst out into an open clearing.

The area was vast, covered in soft green grass and encircled by dense trees.

But before he could fully process his surroundings, Rei's danger sense flared.

He instinctively leapt to the side just in time.

BOOOOM!

The spot where he had been standing a moment ago exploded, debris and dust scattering in all directions.

The threat hadn't passed though—he could still feel hostility lingering in the air.

His sharp eyes caught sight of a spearhead racing toward him at incredible speed.

"Rose Queen: Reflector Tear!" Rei activated Rosetta's ability in an instant. Thorned vines erupted from the ground, twisting and intertwining rapidly to form an enormous rose-shaped barrier in front of him.

Clank!

The spear collided with the rose shield, the force of the attack reverberating through the air.

"Counter!" Rei called out, using the residual force from the impact to repel the attack back toward its source.

"Ahhh!?" A feminine voice cried out in pain as the counter struck her.

Rei landed gracefully on the ground but remained cautious. The massive rose barrier blocked his view, so he couldn't see who the assailant was.

With a wave of his hand, the thorns and petals dissolved, revealing the figure on the other side.

His eyes widened in surprise.

Standing there was a short Draph girl with long blonde hair and large, spiraled sheep horns adorning her head.

Her figure emphasized her Draph heritage, highlighting her big ample chest, thick thighs, and sturdy frame.

There was no mistaking her identity.

Anila, Guardian of the South-Southwest

[IMAGE]

"Why are you here, Astral?! I didn't sense any barrier breaking—how did you manage to enter the Sky Realm?" Anila demanded, her voice sharp and filled with hostility as she pointed her gleaming spear at Rei.

"...What?" Rei froze, confusion etched on his face. It had been years since he last read anything about Anila or the Zodiac stories.

Most of the Zodiac stories he remembered were lighthearted events—gatherings, festivals, even a hot spring trip with the Divine Generals. Nothing like this.

"What do you mean?" Rei asked cautiously, trying to make sense of her accusations.

"Don't play dumb, Astral! I will never let you enslave the people of the Sky Realm again, not like you did hundreds of years ago!" Anila snapped, her grip on her spear tightening as energy began to surge around her.

Small, fluffy sheep began materializing around her—dozens of them. They looked harmless, adorable even, but Rei could feel the immense energy radiating from each one. These weren't ordinary sheep; they were manifestations of Anila's power.

"Wait, wait! I might be an Astral, but I'm not like them!" Rei protested, raising his hands slightly in a gesture of peace.

But Anila wasn't listening. As one of the Twelve Divine Generals, her duty was absolute: protect the Sky Realm, guard the barrier separating it from Estalucia, and watch for any signs of an Astral invasion.

Yet, somehow, an Astral stood before her now—and she hadn't sensed his arrival. Neither had the other Zodiacs, judging by the lack of alerts. This could only mean one thing that they had failed their duty.

Anila prepared to strike, her spear glowing with her energy. But before she could launch her attack, the sheep around her suddenly turned, their heads snapping toward the forest edge as if sensing something—or someone—approaching.

"Rei!"

Djeeta's voice cut through the tense air as she burst into the clearing, her sword already drawn and her expression sharp. When she saw a Draph girl aiming a weapon at Rei, her stance became immediately aggressive.

"What are you doing?!" Djeeta demanded, holding her sword defensively as her sharp eyes locked onto Anila.

Moments later, Lyria and Orchid appeared as well. They froze at the sight of the standoff, but like Djeeta, their expressions turned serious.

The purple crystal embedded in Lyria's chest began to glow faintly, a clear sign that she was ready to call upon the power of a Primal Beast. Orchid's hands twitched slightly, thin silken threads beginning to glimmer in the faint moonlight as they unraveled from her fingertips, ready to ensnare the Draph girl in an instant.

Anila's eyes widened in shock as she looked at Lyria. She could feel it—Astral power, deep and overwhelming, radiating from the girl's core.

The air grew heavy with tension. On one side stood Anila, spear pointed forward, sheep gathering power at her side. On the other, Djeeta, Lyria, and Orchid, ready to strike if Anila so much as twitched toward Rei.

No one moved. No one spoke.

It was a fragile, razor-thin balance—one wrong move, and the clearing would explode into chaos.

"Alright, alright, calm down, everyone," Rei said firmly, this time letting a faint pulse of his power ripple outward. It wasn't overwhelming, but enough to make it clear that he was serious.

The air grew heavy, and the others immediately felt the weight of his presence pressing down on them. Their gazes all turned to Rei instinctively.

"Djeeta, Lyria, Orchid—calm down. This is just a misunderstanding," Rei said, his voice steady and commanding.

The trio hesitated for a moment but ultimately obeyed. Djeeta sheathed her sword, Lyria let the glow of her crystal fade, and Orchid's threads vanished into thin air. They trusted Rei's judgment implicitly and didn't question his order.

"And you—calm down and listen to my explanation," Rei said, turning his piercing gaze toward Anila.

Anila hesitated, gripping her spear tightly. This was her duty—to fight Astrals, to keep them away from the Sky Realm. But as she glanced at the group before her, she realized she was at a disadvantage. Alone, without the support of the other Divine Generals, she couldn't guarantee victory if things escalated.

"...Fine. But I want a full explanation of why an Astral is here," Anila said, lowering her spear. The sheep surrounding her faded into glowing particles before disappearing entirely.

—After a long and detailed explanation—

"I see… Hearing what you three said about him—it's hard to believe. A kind Astral? What kind of absurdity is that?" Anila said with a frown, crossing her arms.

Rei, who had been keeping a distance from the group during the explanation, was now kneeling on the grass, playing with the small sheep that had run away earlier.

"Ahh, you're so fluffy~" Rei said with a rare softness in his voice as he patted the little sheep's fleece.

The sheep let out a happy bleat and pressed its face closer to his hand, clearly enjoying the attention.

"It's the truth," Djeeta said firmly. "We've been adventuring with Rei for a long time now. He's helped so many people—and us—countless times."

"Yes. He's helped me come out of my shell and change into someone I could never have imagined being," Orchid added, her usually cold voice carrying a faint warmth.

"And we won't just stand by if you try to harm him," Lyria said, her blue eyes sharp with determination.

Anila let out a long sigh. Their words, their expressions—they weren't lying. The loyalty and trust they had in Rei were undeniable.

She turned her gaze toward Rei again and saw him still happily playing with the little sheep. It was such an innocent, peaceful scene that it felt… strange. Could an Astral really be as kind as they described?

But Anila wasn't fully convinced. There was still one way she could ensure Rei wouldn't be a threat.

"You four… you're a Skyfarer crew, aren't you?" Anila asked, her sharp golden eyes turning back to them.

"Yeah, we're Skyfarers," Djeeta replied confidently.

"And you're the captain?"

"Yes, I am," Djeeta confirmed, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

"Then… do you mind if I join your crew?"

Her sudden request froze the group in place.

"Wait, what?" the three of them said in unison, their faces filled with confusion.

"My duty as one of the Twelve Divine Generals is to monitor Astrals. And now that there's one standing right in front of me, I have no choice but to follow him and ensure he's not a danger to the Sky Realm," Anila explained firmly, crossing her arms.

Djeeta glanced at Lyria and Orchid, who both nodded subtly. They left the decision to their captain.

"We don't mind, but… are you sure you can just leave the shrine like that?" Djeeta asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't have to act as the Goddess of the Year for another twelve years. Until then, I'm essentially free," Anila said nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders.

"Next year is the Year of the Monkey, so the noisy deity in charge of the monkey shrine can handle everything. There shouldn't be a problem."

"I see… In that case, we'd be happy to have you join us. The more, the merrier!" Djeeta said cheerfully, extending her hand for a handshake.

Anila hesitated briefly before shaking Djeeta's hand firmly.

And just like that, one of the Twelve Divine Generals, Anila, joined their crew.

"Wait… What? How did it suddenly end up like this?!" Rei called out from where he was still petting the sheep, his voice filled with bewilderment.

They had come here to visit a shrine, and now they were leaving with a shrine maiden—a short Draph girl who also happened to be one of the Divine Generals.

It was safe to say things had escalated far beyond what he had expected.

<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >

Happy New Year Everyone.

It's been 10 months since i start this fanfic and i didn't even expect to last this long.

I hope for 2025 i can still continuing this Fanfic and still have free times for writing.

Btw if you curious why there is no Vyrn going with them to the shrine it's because i already wrote that he's coming with them but during writing I forgot about him, so i decided to just delete his name to make it it's only four of them coming.

Once again Happy New Year~