65 65. Italian Adventures: Part 1.

Omniscient POV

After a week of anticipation, everyone boarded the plane bound for Italy. Kouske had splurged on first-class tickets, determined to make the most of their vacation. Lavinia and Elle looked stunning in matching blue dresses, while after much persuasion, Kouske convinced Sakuya to wear a beautiful black dress.

Sakuya's attire exuded understated elegance, with her sleeveless black dress draping gracefully and held in place by delicate strings around her neck. Her wrists were adorned with black cloths resembling bangles, adding a subtle yet striking accent.

Her short hair framed her delicate features, drawing attention to the twin tails cascading down like ribbons of midnight silk, secured with a meticulously crafted black ribbon in an x-shaped knot. The tailored dress revealed Sakuya's flawless porcelain-white skin, accentuating her curves with subtle allure. Every detail of her attire enhanced her innate beauty, leaving a lasting impression of grace and sophistication.

Kouske himself was wearing a black tuxedo in his adult form. All of them attracted attention with their unique features, such as Akatsuki's bright red eyes, which were supernatural and uncommon, one blonde girl, and two girls with blue hair, although one had blue-red hair. Their beauty and attire caught the eye of the other passengers on the flight.

Some were curious to approach them, but Akatsuki's presence deterred them, awed by his handsome appearance. Conversely, those interested in getting to know Akatsuki hesitated after seeing Elle and Sakuya, feeling intimidated by their presence. Lavinia and Elle were bubbling with excitement as they boarded the plane, eager to make the most of every moment of their journey.

After enduring a 13-hour wait on the plane, they finally landed in Rome. Elle had grown quite impatient during those hours, but they managed to calm her down. Thanks to Lavinia's cheeriness, they ended the flight in a good and memorable mood, enjoying the scenery and various hospitalities onboard.

Kouske could sense Sakuya's eagerness to explore and work rather than just sitting still. He hoped she would find enjoyment in their journey as much as he did. During the flight, they had the chance to chat about many things leisurely.

Upon arrival at the airport, Kouske had already arranged for a car to take them to their luxurious hotel nestled in the heart of Rome. After checking in, they wasted no time immersing themselves in the city's vibrant atmosphere.

They strolled through the cobbled streets of the historic center, marveling at the ancient architecture and bustling piazzas. The majestic Pantheon loomed before them, a symbol of Rome's enduring legacy.

For dinner, they sought out a traditional Roman trattoria, where the aroma of freshly baked pizza and homemade pasta filled the air. The girls savored each delectable bite, while Sakuya and Kouske already contemplated mastering some of the art of Italian cuisine. After dinner, they returned to the hotel to rest, marking the end of their first day in Rome.

On the second day, filled with eager anticipation, the group embarked on a guided tour of ancient Rome, led by a knowledgeable local guide. They stood in awe at the grandeur of the Colosseum, imagining the gladiatorial battles that once echoed within its ancient walls.

The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill offered glimpses into the city's rich history, with crumbling ruins whispering tales of emperors and conquests. They captured many memorable photos on Kouske's smartphone.

In the afternoon, they ventured into the sacred enclave of Vatican City, where St. Peter's Basilica rose majestically against the azure sky. It also served as the base of the Church, where they trained and raised their Exorcists to combat the Fallens and Devils, for humanity, although Kouske harbored doubts about their true intentions.

He simply wanted to enjoy his rare vacation with everyone without any trouble. Sakuya gestured for Kouske to glance in the direction she believed to be the Church's base, where Kouske also sensed the presence of many exorcists.

Amidst the crowd, Kouske bumped into someone. What he noticed was a blue-eyed nun with some dangerous curves. Despite her kind demeanor, he felt a sense of unease emanating from her. She was accompanying a young, blue-haired tomboy.

"Sorry. Are you alright?" asks Kouske.

"It's alright. I am fine," replies the nun smilingly.

"Are you here to tour? You look like tourists," asks the nun.

"Yes. I am here with my family to tour. It's quite a beautiful place," says Kouske as he indicates to the girls, who were a bit far away, looking around curiously as Sakuya looked after them. Feeling their gaze, Sakuya looks back and nods. The nun was only able to notice Sakuya in that crowd.

"Of course, it would be beautiful. It's the Lord's sacred land," says the tomboyish girl in a harsh tone, as if it were obvious, holding her hands together and starting to pray. The nun rebukes her for her behavior after she's done with her prayer.

"Ha ha ha," Kouske lets out an awkward laugh.

"You should visit the Cathedral too. It's a beautiful place," says the nun.

"I will," replies Kouske, though he thinks it might be better not to go there among those church fanatics and risk ruining their outing.

"Your Italian is really good even though you are a tourist. It's as good as the natives," says the tomboy, curiously.

"Well, I learned diligently before visiting. Bye then. I hope you have a good day, miss," replies Kouske.

"Griselda, Griselda Quarta. And this little one here is Xenovia Quarta," says the nun.

"Oh. I am Akatsuki. It was nice meeting you, Griselda-san. I will have to go accompany my family now," says Kouske.

"Hmm. Bye. May the Lord's blessing be with you on this journey," says the nun as they go their separate ways.

But Kouske decided to explore the area as quietly as possible. The Vatican Museums beckoned with their priceless treasures, from Michelangelo's masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel to ancient artifacts from distant lands. Kouske also took note of some of the hidden magical treasures somewhere.

As the sun rose over the Eternal City on the third day, Lavinia's excitement reached its peak as they prepared for a family-friendly cooking class. Donning aprons and rolling up their sleeves, they learned the secrets of crafting pasta from scratch under the guidance of skilled Italian chefs.

While Kouske questioned the edibility of Lavinia's handmade pasta, which later turned out to be edible, Sakuya deftly kneaded the dough and shaped it into perfect pasta strands, astonishing even the seasoned chefs with her innate talents.

Some chefs even expressed interest in inviting her to their restaurants. Elle chose not to participate, and although Kouske's pasta was of higher quality than average, it paled in comparison to Sakuya's expertise.

Next, the group learned the authentic way to bake Italian pizzas and how to make cheese from scratch. They also encountered the famous blue cheese, but Kouske's heightened senses prevented him from swallowing it, despite its apparent tastiness.

Lavinia and Sakuya, however, enjoyed it as if it weren't infested with maggots at all! Elle wasn't too keen on trying it, but Lavinia, being Lavinia, kinda force fed her some and encouraged her to enjoy it. Kouske remained adamant about not trying it, earning curious gazes from Sakuya, who took note of his behavior.

In the afternoon, they wandered through the enchanting Borghese Gallery and Gardens, immersing themselves in the beauty of lush greenery and exquisite art. As they explored the art gallery, Kouske tried his best to appreciate the artwork, despite knowing little about art himself.

He hesitated to question some of the pieces that seemed abstract to him, fearing he would lose a debate with the art enthusiasts surrounding him. However, their main reason for being there was to meet the possessor of a sacred gear holder, as Yama-san had provided information about her.

Her name was Dia Viekone, around 8 years old, and she lived with her aunt, Esri Viekone, an artist, while her parents resided abroad due to work. Kouske had heard that they were in the city for an art exhibition. The names sounded familiar, and upon seeing them from afar, Kouske understood why.

Just a few feet away stood Esri Viekone, with her white hair and light blue eyes, accompanied by Dia Viekone, who bore a striking resemblance to her aunt despite being younger. They looked more like sisters than aunts and nieces. Esri enthusiastically explained her artwork to the surrounding people, while Dia stood by her side, looking bored.

Kouske sensed the mana emanating from Dia's body, suppressed but still significant. It rivaled Momo's level, who had been continuously grinding in the dungeon. There was no doubt about Dia's talent. Kouske used his ability to Observe her, intending to learn more about her sacred gear.

Rainbow Mage (C+): Enhances the user's mana control and output, enabling them to convert their elemental affinities. Provides control over the four basic elemental abilities, such as earth, fire, wind, and water, as well as light and dark magic attributes.

Subskill [Multi-Chant] allows her to perform multiple incantations simultaneously with better efficiency, expanding her overall moveset. Her eyes enable her to perceive mana, drastically enhancing dynamic vision and depth perception. They also grant the ability to see things in slow motion, including magic.

Subskill [Aging Resistance] slows down the user's aging rate after the development of their secondary sexual characteristics.

Astonishingly, Dia possessed the High-tier Sacred Gear, the pinnacle of mage-type sacred gear in the Heaven System, leaving any magician envious of her. Even without this sacred gear, her talent should rival that of Lavinia's, and in the future, she might even reach heights comparable to those achievable by Longinus wielders, despite not possessing such a sacred gear herself. It was such a terrific combination. Even DxD's Merlin might be shocked to see such unfairness by the heavens!

While Kouske observed them, the girls looked around the place curiously. Lavinia asked about things she was curious about, dragging Elle along with her, who did her best to keep a calm and collected face. Sakuya accompanied them.

After a while, Lavinia noticed the bored Dia and approached her. After introductions, they started talking, and with permission from Esri, they strolled around the gallery together. Kouske hoped Lavinia could make a new friend with similar hobbies. Seeing that Esri was finally alone and observing the girls from afar, Kouske approached her.

"Hello, Viekone-san. I am Akatsuki. It's an honor meeting an artist like you," says Kouske politely as he approaches her.

Esri is momentarily captivated by his face and distinguished red eyes. However, after registering his name in her mind, she adopts a cautious expression, appearing more guarded against Kouske than with the people before. But almost instantly, she snaps back into her normal, cheerful demeanor.

"Hello~. It's an honor meeting you too~," says Esri mysteriously, which confuses him a bit.

Seeing his genuine confusion, Esri relaxes a bit more, and her mischievous smile becomes more profound.

"So, which one did you like?" asks Esri.

"Huh? What do you mean?" asks Kouske, not understanding.

"Paintings, silly. What else would you come to look here for? Tell me about your impression of my paintings?" says Esri.

Kouske looks behind her to find three paintings: one was a portrait of a girl, one was a painting of nature, and the other was too PROFOUND for Kouske to understand.

"Well, I don't really know much about paintings. But yours look very beautiful, just as much as you are. Though I can't say the same about the last one," says Kouske, but he whispers the last bit to himself.

"Ara~. Thank you," replies Esri, not minding the compliment. Surely, she is used to receiving such compliments on a daily basis.

"So what do you like about it?" asks Esri, making Kouske cough a few times.

"Umm. It looks beautiful. But I don't really have much knowledge on paintings to comment on any specific parts," says Kouske as he scratches the back of his head, realizing it's probably better for him not to comment on things he doesn't know.

"Mou~~. That's unfortunate," says Esri, adopting a thinking pose while puffing her cheeks a bit, as more people approach her.

"Hmm. Maybe you can teach me some basics over a meal or something," Kouske asks hesitantly, not believing every single girl would accept his invitation on their short first meetings.

"Ara~? Are you inviting me on a date?" says Esri, amused.

"I am. So when can we meet?" asks Kouske this time a bit more confidently.

"Hmm... Normally, I don't accept such invites, but this time I will make an exception. Here's my number. But only if I am free, okay? By the way, your Italian is great," says Esri as she smiles and goes over to the people coming towards her.

Kouske looks at her card and wonders if his Longinus is somehow interfering with his fate in some unexpected ways.

After a while, the girls also return, and they prepare to head to the hotel. As they were going to travel and see different cities, Kouske had already booked hotel rooms for them in those cities.

The whole time, Lavinia was talking about the new friend she made, while Kouske was contemplating what new sexy dress to buy Sakuya to wear. It was quite rare to see her in anything other than her maid costumes and nighties.

Kouske goes back, not knowing how recognizable he has become in a single night, because of only one video on DeviNet.

*

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Church Headquarters

Griselda was quite troubled. It was just yesterday that she met this guy, and now he is one of the hottest topics among the supernatural. Even though exorcists don't use the DeviNet much, whether it's because of their sheltered upbringing, lack of knowledge about technology, or their prejudice against devils and their inventions, when the video of Akatsuki easily defeating two Cadres of Grigory shook the DeviNet, the Heaven Faction also received details on the video and informed all important personnel of the church about the new Black Dragon King, unlike any other ones before.

What's more serious is that he is here on Church territory without their knowledge. Only the Lord knows what someone like him is planning to do here. After informing the Church about her encounter with Akatsuki, they were shocked, to say the least. They have tasked her and some others with finding him, learning about his real intentions, and also attempting to invite him to the Heaven Faction.

[Author's Note: What did you think of the chapter? Feel free to share your thoughts, leave a review, and even drop some power stones. Add it to your collection if you enjoyed it. I'm open to constructive critiques that help me improve and grow as a writer, so don't hesitate to provide feedback. Thank you for reading!

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[A/N: Let me also mention something for everyone. I would really appreciate if more people expressed and commented how they felt about the chapters. I mean, I literally read maybe around 6/7 times any positive comments on my fics. It actually boosts my confidence and let's me know how my fic is faring. That's why I always ask people to leave comments. It genuinely motivates me. And even the slightest negative comments demotivates me. I am a bit the emotional type, that's why.😅 But that doesn't mean you cannot post negative comments. It will still correct my mistakes...🙂]