Chapter 34

"Umm... Artemis... I didn't mean to worry you... umm... I... I'm sorry?" He didn't know what else to say... he had no experience with angry women.

Issei and Artemis had arrived back to Issei's house immediately after the slap Artemis delivered into Issei, which hurt significantly. It had chunked out Issei's health. Dealing more damage than nearly all of Kokabiel's health.

"Issei... Why did you think... STANDING IN FRONT OF THE BEAM AND TANKING IT WAS A GOOD IDEA?"

"Because I knew that I would live... Do you really think I am an idiot? I knew that I would be fine..."

"But what if you were too overconfident? What if you..."

Issei continued staring at her... the same blank stare he would always give her when he was serious. "I already told you... I had everything under control. I knew that the attack wouldn't hurt me much... I had multiple ways of dealing with the attack."

"Are you lying to me? Issei... you don't understand... if you die... there's no telling what I will do to myself... I might just follow you..."

Hearing that... Now Issei was getting even more concerned. "Artemis... trust me... Have I ever been in a pickle that I can't handle?"

"No... But what if that would have been the first? Issei, you don't seem to understand. It's not about tanking the blow, what if that attack was filled with some poison? What if that attack was filled with some other powerful curse? It's not always about the damage you take, but it's about the lethal magic within the attacks."

"Artemis... Just trust me... I'm not that much of an idiot."

Artemis sighed... reluctantly, she agreed and gently placed her hand on the spot that she slapped. "Just don't do that again... Or I will tie you down and keep you with me."

Laughing at the joke... Issei noticed that she wasn't laughing... Oh shit... she was serious.

"Umm... so... What do we do now?"

"I was planning on keeping you with me while I go and direct my hunt." Issei blankly stared at her while Artemis grinned. "And I'm not taking a no as an answer... I will have you with me no matter what you say. It's time for us to spend a nice, calm and relaxing day with each other."

Opening up his menu... Issei noticed that another dungeon had been unlocked. However, this one was different...

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Land of the Giants

Mutation Dungeon: These dungeons are different as they don't have a boss in them. Rather, the further you go from spawn, the more powerful and better rewards you will receive.

Dungeon Recommended Level: 85

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Issei entered the dungeon, leaving Artemis baffled in seeing him disappear out of existence.

"ISSEI! I WILL FIND YOU!"

With that, Issei arrived in majestical cave. The sapphire-colored rivers flowed endlessly around as the surface that he stood on brightened with the color of the crystals reflecting the color of the river. The very open cave was filled with nothingness besides the crystals. Taking a single step forward, Issei was met with his first opponent of the dungeon.

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Name: Cave Giant

Title: Guardian of a section of the Cave of Delight

Race: Giant

Level: 85

HP: 22500/22500

STR: 240

AGL: 70

END: 150

Bonus:+50% Damage Reduction

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Issei noticed the speed of the giant... this was going to be a very easy fight, especially when he could maneuver his way to defeat this giant.

"You may not pass... for the king shall end you with ease." The giant spoke while slowly moving towards him.

Issei knew that it was time... he had his potions ready as he knew that this was only the start of his torment.

While Issei was in the dungeon having the time of his life, Rias was seen with her brother in front of the school. Her peerage was right behind her and Sona and her peerage were also in the area.

"So, Issei was able to defeat Kokabiel?" Sirzechs questioned while turning to see everyone else in the area.

"Yes... Issei was... pretty effortlessly able to defeat Kokabiel from the looks of the fight." Kiba added in while Akeno, who was next to him, nodded.

"Yeah... even when I was defeated... I was still able to see Issei fight... To say that he was... something else... would be an understatement." She licked her lips while blushing. "He was just... so hot... his muscles... his face... the way that-"

"Okay... moving on." Rias interrupted Akeno while blushing herself, "What do you think of this, brother?"

"I am really doubting the fact that you two will ever be able to be viewed as leaders of this town when Issei is just handling everything by himself." Sirzechs joked, causing for Sona and Rias to frown a little. "We seriously need to have a party for him... how many times has he saved our asses?"

"What kind of party should we hold for him?" Rias began thinking, "Maybe we should have a large sword sticking out of a cake and make sure that it's his favorite flavor. Does Grayfia know of what type of flavor of cake Issei likes?"

"That seems like a great idea for the cake. Not only that, we should also make the cake have some words of gratitude to him." Sona added in which Rias agreed.

Sirzechs nodded to those ideas, "I do think Grayfia knows what type of cake Issei likes. I'm pretty sure it was cheesecake. However, I think we'll make it a little different to surprise him."

Rias squealed at the idea of surprising her hero. She couldn't wait until she sees Issei's facial expression. Sona chuckled when seeing the joyful and childish expression on Issei's face. 'That Issei... from being the largest pervert in the school to being the man to bring joy to Rias like no one is able to.'

Sirzechs bid his farewells before teleporting away to deal with some business leaving a childish Rias jumping up and down in joy. Not only was she able to survive today, but she was also able to watch Issei fight, him care for her, and the potential for her to surprise him. Why wouldn't she be excited for this?

Koneko could only laugh at seeing this... a genuine laugh escaped her mouth. Catching the attention of Akeno and Kiba. "Would you look at that... Koneko can laugh."

Going back to being stoic, she frowned a little. "Just because I don't do it often doesn't mean I don't... know how to."

Kiba chuckled, "Sometimes we forget you even have emotions..."

Akeno chimed in, "You can't really blame us when all you do is eat, sleep, and stare at random things."

"Hey... I don't only do that... I cloud watch, throw things at random perverts, and... do schoolwork."

"Would Rias be considered a pervert?"

"What... no way... the president-"

"I mean... have you seen her when Issei is mentioned?" Akeno said... "She goes bonkers for that boy... I mean... I don't blame her... just looking at his muscles... OH..."

Getting slightly weirded out, Kiba interjected the conversation, "Would you consider Akeno a pervert? Just look at her..."

Koneko, being embarrassed, threw dirt at Akeno and Kiba for trying to mess with her. Continuously chucking dirt at the two, Akeno and Kiba tried running away to no avail as the dirt balls continued. Rias continued curling up in a ball while she knew that her life was going to her much harder from the teasing she was going to her. Sona could only watch in with amusement...

"Sometimes... you just got to be smarter..." She said while turning around to rebuild the school.