[189] A Number Dilemma, Is Ten Enough?

Chapter 189: A Number Dilemma, Is Ten Enough?

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After absorbing the spirit of the black dragon corpse I bought for her, Yuzuru finally reached [Gold] rank. That made four Golds in this household; Ruby, Tsubasa, Asia, and now Yuzuru. 

Their four gold signs weren't bad either, but that's for later when it would be useful. Ruby and Tsubasa were almost at Underlord, now. Despite their late start, their growth was faster than the other two since both had a second source of energy.

I've decided to slow down Asia and Yuzuru's training after I watched for a bit more. I think it'd be better to focus on others instead. Since two spaces were vacant, I had to make careful choices. 

When my mind was busy with all these thoughts, I heard someone call my name. "Aqua, you got a DM," my mother said, waving my phone at me when I walked into the living room from the shower. 

I was really sweaty after hunting all night earlier, and then helping Yuzuru advance. So I wondered what it was so important that she had to tell me herself.

"Can you check it for me?" I asked, going over to the fridge to grab a bottle of cold water.

"I already did." She said, frowning. "It's from that flirty devil girl, Akeno. It's about Rias." She paused for a moment, waiting for me to turn to face her. "Apparently she… passed out? She touched some devil artifact and fell unconscious."

"What?" I put the bottle away and walked over to her. She held the phone to my face. As she said, Akeno was telling me that Rias passed out.

While reading those messages, another one came.

[DirtyFallen: I'm just telling you this so that you don't worry if you can't reach her for a while… She'll be okay, Satan Beezlebub said. Ah and, outsider visits aren't allowed, so you can't meet her sadly.]

I frowned. "She'll be okay yet an outsider visit isn't allowed?"

"How suspicious," Ai rippled with my own idea. "You wanna go check anyway? I think you can, if you push it. After all, you are her Sect Leader, not an 'outsider'."

"No need, if they think it's not that serious," I let out a whiff of breath, after pondering for a bit. She's not dead, and if that's the case I'm sure Ajuka will figure something out. He's smart. "Just tell her that—if they're having trouble with whatever condition Rias is in, just call me, I'm well versed in this demonic artifact field."

Ai typed just what I told her, and sent it. A reply came immediately, but it was a short 'alright'. It's obvious that Akeno wanted my help, but I guess the Satans really didn't want an outsider there.

"Poor girl," Ai put the phone away, shaking her head. "She's cute, I like her. Did you do something in front of her at the party? Maybe she got mad or something and tried to cast some seductive black magic on you."

I raised an eyebrow, "Why are you blaming me for this? I did nothing. I even showed affection to her in public, she loved it. I even rejected that woman, Lady Belphegor, who wanted me in her bed."

"Oh, did you?"

"Yes? I don't lie."

"That's a good boy," Ai patted my head, while I gave her a blank stare. "No, really. You did well, holding it in."

"You'll get in trouble if you keep acting like this," I warned her, my expression flat.

"Oh, what type of trouble, I wonder?" Ai tilted her head in curiosity, looking so dense that I'd have believed her if not for that soft, mischievous smile on her glossy pink lips. In the end, she is a world-class actor, she's making fun of me.

To show her what type of trouble I meant, I pulled her by the waist, her soft chest pressing against my hard frame. "You wanna see?" I grabbed her chin and pulled her face towards me, our lips clasped together as she made a fake surprised gasp sound.

"No~ we shouldn't~ we're fami-" she decided to make more fun of me, so my hand raised and descended on her ass. She yelped aloud, this time not an act, and glared at me with a red face. "Don't hit me."

"Heh, what will you do if I don't listen?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, and she growled. A moment later, she smirked. What's she planning?

Her clothes changed, and she turned into a witch. No, a sorcerer. Her skin went pale, and her ears grew pointy. "Would you like me to cast Eternal Magic, Lightning Fast Ejaculation?"

"...." I stared at her with a blank face. "I did not lend you my Sorcerer identity for this, Mother."

"And I do not care," she grinned at me amusingly. A moment later, her expression shifted. "But when will you tell me the rest of the story…? I'm really curious."

The Eternal Sorcerer, my 5th life's vampire self. That life when I was at my epitome of desperation, that life when I failed more than time could count.

When I said 'Ai is the trump card' I meant this. Her [Wardrobe] ability was really useful. I have only given her female characters before, but she could access male characters' powers too. Which meant she could access my own powers from my other lives if I gave her enough info. That was what my Empress used to do, too.

Two nights ago, I told Ai about my 5th life, as the Eternal Sorcerer. However, I didn't give her all the details. I didn't want to. I only gave Ai the details necessary for my powers to work; I didn't want her to know that I had a mother in my heart who stood on a higher pedestal than herself. Not yet.

"I'll tell you after this expedition is done," I told her, and she scowled. "Trust me, it's better if you don't know now."

"Whatever," she scoffed, and tip-toed to kiss me. "Just be sure to not forget. I'll be mad if you avoid it next time too."

"Sure thing," I grabbed her by her slim, curvy waist, and raised her to kiss her again. "Mem's going to be here soon. Go prepare for today's lesson. If she passes, I think I'll give the 9th spot to her."

"I think you need to increase the number a little then," Ai advised me when I put her back on the ground. "Just a thought."

"Huh. I don't know. We'll see," I waved at her as she left the room, and I sat down on my couch to rest for a bit. The preparatory days were going smoothly.

****

A few weeks later, Mem-Cho reached 7th Circle.

She was the first to reach that high. Of course she was, she received training from both me and Ai, who was using the Eternal Sorcerer template. While I couldn't show Mem the spells in person, Ai could. Plus, Mem also used her Sacred Gear to create a separate space, where time passed faster, so her training time was hastened by a lot.

Sadly, she wasn't experienced enough to help others in the same way. My dream of a Hyperbolic Time Chamber was yet to be fulfilled.

Around the same time, Ruby reached [Underlord]. However, she wouldn't tell me her advancement revelation; I guessed it was quite embarrassing for her to admit. More importantly, since her Twin Pools were connected, her reaching Underlord in her Qi core pushed her Mana core to reach the 6th Circle with ease.

As for one of the only other two mages here, Shoko had reached 6th Circle too. I was quite surprised by that. When asking her about it, she revealed that the voices stored in her Sacred Gear helped her out with advice and such.

At this point, wasn't she one of those classic Xinxia Protagonists with a master spirit locked in a locket? I was impressed by her achievement.

Mother dearest, Ai Hoshino, was just in the 5th Circle. But that's in her base form, she could tap into higher powers with ease using Wardrobe. She also had Supergirl powers, so I wasn't worried about her in the least. She was pushing herself to grow as well, but as per my instructions, she focused on helping others more. Her next target to help was Kalawarna.

Before falling back into training, however, I called everyone in the room to announce something. I also had a decision to make.

"So Memmy would be joining us too," I said and Mem-Cho blinked from the couch. "Your Time Magic is going to be useful, thank you for working hard." She sucked on a popsicle and smiled at me hearing that. She had no complaints.

"But milord~!" Tiger Cub Blue raised her hand, looking quite desperate. "I-if she's joining, doesn't that mean only one spot is remaining? What about us then?!"

By us, she probably meant she and the four other cubs. I've decided to not take them. "I need you to stay here. My uncle and aunt will be here, and so will Asia. So you five shouldn't leave and instead protect them."

"My Hero," my Goddess copied Blue and raised her hand too. That made me smile a little, how adorable. Once I nudged my chin to her, she began to speak. "Can't we take little Asia with us? I would love to show her around Pangeal."

"She is not strong enough, my Goddess," I said, immediately receiving a glare from Asia. She hasn't glared at me that intensively since the day I said God is dead. How cute. I turned to her. "Don't look at me that way, it's your fault for not being strong enough."

"....Rude."

"Aww…" Galaxara looked a bit down.

I sighed. "Our victory isn't going to be clean, my Goddess. So I am only taking those who can take care of themselves, those who wouldn't need my protection. We can always take Asia later on after saving the world."

"Um, then, Aqua… about the last spot?" This time, Shoko spoke up.

Even before I could speak, Yuzuru jumped, hearing her, "No way! Onee-chan, I can't let you go on your own! If I'm not there to protect you, then-"

"I did not allow you to talk, brat," I let out my willpower, and Yuzuru's jaws shut. I looked at Shoko and rubbed my chin. "Word Soul Magic, huh…"

Her improved looks and better complexion weren't the only things that happened in the last few months. She wore a black sundress, her skirt short, and a black choker on her neck. She looked like the idol she was.

[Image Here]

However, that wasn't the only thing. Her powers were undeniable as well. Since she managed to grow this much even though I didn't give her enough attention.

Spell Concept: Chaotic Magestra of the Word Soul Magic – was her magic path.

[Details: Chaotic Magestra of the Word Soul Magic can shape reality with their spoken commands. This magic demands articulate expression and intense focus, turning mere words into tools for construction or weapons of mass destruction. The witch holds the power to manifest and manipulate on the tips of her lips, only constrained by her mana and clarity of imagination. Advanced practitioners can achieve remarkable feats, subtly altering the physical and ethereal realms. However, it's also fraught with risks; misused words can lead to unpredictable outcomes. It's magic balancing potent creation with the discipline of restraint, granting the witch immense power in return for caution.]

It's a spell concept that went great with her Sacred Gear Echo. Even though she's just at 6th Circle, the specialty of her magic meant she could go toe-to-toe with 7th Circle Archmages. Having that Sacred Gear made her even more powerful, it's possible for her to clash with 8th Circle Mages.

Shoko Nishimiya was undoubtedly a powerhouse.

Sadly, her nature was too soft, and her battle experience was nonexistent.

Would it be wise to take someone like her to that dangerous world? Moreover, I had another figure in my head who I wanted to take to fill the 10th number…

I had even summoned that person today. Why's she so late? Just as I thought that my senses tingled.

"Ohaiyo~" a blonde figure jumped through the window, coming to a stop beside me. Dragon God Quetzalcoatl raised a thumb to greet everyone. "It's a-me!"

"You're finally here," I raised a hand to point at her, my eyes meeting with everyone. "After discussing things with her, I've decided that Dragon God Quetzalcoatl will be coming with us as well. She'll be the 10th member of our crew."

The crowd looked at her in uncertainty. While she was certainly strong, she was also a troublemaker. Ai crossed her arms, while Shoko's shoulders slumped a little.

That made me feel bad. I didn't like seeing her sad. She must have been working hard to earn my approval, only to learn that I'd already chosen someone beforehand. 

So I should take a minute to seriously decide if I must take my mother's advice and increase the number or not…

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Author Note: Nice, Top 10 🔥 a bit more and we'll be at 5. Keep voting, 2 chapters waiting just ahead of the line 😕

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