Issei let out a long sigh, watching Tiamat who was ready to 'move in' to his house. It felt like a continuing nightmare.
"Can you carry my suitcase? I'm tired from carrying this large, heavy suitcase," Tiamat requested with a sweet smile, as if it were the most normal thing.
Issei massaged his throbbing temples. "You are a Dragon. And... why am I becoming like your personal servant?"
Tiamat just smiled wider, then walked into the house, leaving the large suitcase by the door. Issei grumbled and tried to lift it. 'Ouch, so heavy!' he thought. 'What's inside? Ancient artifacts or just everyday clothes? How can it be this heavy?'
With great effort, Issei dragged the large suitcase inside. In the living room, he saw his father, Gorou, having his ear pulled by Miki. Issei didn't know and didn't care what was happening. He just focused on his strange task.
Breakfast was ready. Ophis had just come out of the bathroom, her hair still wet and her gaze still foggy. She immediately sat down and started eating her breakfast without much talk. Issei, Irina, Xenovia, and Tiamat joined the meal. The breakfast atmosphere was quiet, though there was a hidden tension.
After breakfast, Gorou got ready for work. He approached Issei and whispered, "Son, how do you get so many beautiful women? Does amnesia bring a harem? It seems your old dream of having a harem is coming true, huh?"
Issei sighed, looking at the figure behind his father. "I don't know, Dad. And... Mom is behind you with a very scary face."
Gorou flinched and turned slowly. Miki stood there with a terrifying smile. "Ara~, is someone thinking of adding more wives? Or jealous and wants to get other women?"
Issei immediately stepped aside. This was their business, and he didn't want to get caught in it. He heard his father sweating bullets and trying to defend himself, "Honey... That's not what I meant! I was just curious!"
Issei quickly grabbed a bag of snacks from the kitchen shelf and went to the living room to avoid the domestic storm. There, Tiamat was sitting on the sofa, sipping tea calmly.
Tiamat put her cup down. "So... what happened last night? I'm curious. You're still wearing that Gauntlet even while eating."
Issei chewed his snack slowly. "Nothing special. My right hand has become a curse. And... why should I tell you about that?"
Tiamat took another sip of her tea, her gaze calm yet meaningful. "Because you are an Anomaly. Your thinking is beyond logic and has deviated from the usual Boosted Gear system. Just answer, how did your right hand become like that?"
Issei sighed, giving up. "Last night I met a Devil, a descendant of Lucifer. He was like an old man cosplaying in the wrong place."
Tiamat smiled. "That's Rizevim Livan Lucifer. He had the Sacred Gear Canceller. From that, I can guess. You changed it from just canceling Sacred Gears, to canceling all things supernatural: magic, ki, even Authority."
Issei nodded, still chewing. "One hundred points for you."
Tiamat smiled wider. "That means... you know how Sacred Gears work and can modify them at will. And also, where did you get such an idea?"
Suddenly, Ophis entered the living room. Smoothly, she sat next to Issei, took the snack from his hand, and ate it calmly.
Issei, undisturbed, answered Tiamat. "You know how Sacred Gears work? Desire. Sacred Gears are driven by the user's desire. The stronger your wish, the stronger the response. And... I heard about the weaknesses of Imagine Breaker." He then gave the rest of his snack to Ophis. "Wait a moment, I'll get my notes."
Issei went to the sink to wash his hands, then went up to his room. He returned with his notebook and placed it on the table.
Tiamat took it and read it carefully. Her eyes scanned the eleven powers listed as weaknesses of Imagine Breaker, besides Void. Her expression changed from curious to confused, and finally to disbelief.
"What do you mean by this?" she asked, staring at Issei.
"Try searching 'Haki' on the internet," Issei replied flatly.
Tiamat took her smartphone and typed 'Haki'. The results showed it was a concept from the anime One Piece. Her eyes narrowed, looking at Issei suspiciously. "Are you joking?"
Issei sighed. "No. Now try using magic. Can you?"
Tiamat tried. Nothing happened. She felt the same emptiness the others felt inside this house.
Issei then snapped his fingers. A small fireball appeared at his fingertip. Tiamat observed it, analyzed it, and then understood. She tried the same, using her Dragon Will instead of magic. A small lightning bolt sparked from her snap. She was surprised.
She looked back at the notes. There it was written 'Dragon Will' as one of the unaffected powers. She stared at Issei, her eyes full of profound bewilderment. "So... the Multiverse is real? There is life outside our world?"
Issei shrugged. "I don't know for sure yet. But... the Sacred Gear system never lies or makes mistakes. That's all I can explain. This world is too narrow, it turns out." He paused for a moment. "For Imagine Breaker, I was inspired by Kamijou Touma, from the anime To Aru Majutsu no Index. But in my version, the effect isn't just touch, but a Domain that I can expand."
Issei then looked at Tiamat very seriously. "Do you know what I fear the most?"
Tiamat fell silent, waiting.
"Outer God... like Nyarlathotep, Azathoth. Or from another anime, there's one called G.O.D."
Tiamat narrowed her eyes. "G.O.D? What is that?"
"From One Punch Man," Issei answered tiredly. "A very dangerous entity. To them, this world might just be a toy. And the most terrifying thing is, they can grant power to others to become their Avatar. Going to other worlds? That's a foolish idea. Gathering a harem? If you go to a world like Saitama's, where G.O.D exists, he will immediately recognize you as an anomaly. The multiverse could become chaotic."
Tiamat closed the notebook, her face serious. "This sounds insane and illogical."
Issei stroked the head of Ophis, who had fallen asleep beside him. "It does. But the fact that you can use Dragon Will inside my Imagine Breaker Domain is proof... that powers outside the system can still work."
Issei looked at the clock. It was 11 AM. He stood up carefully so as not to wake Ophis and stretched his body. "Well, that's enough for today. I'm busy, and tonight I have to look for the Excalibur fragments."
He left Tiamat who was still deep in thought, digesting all the crazy information he had just shared.
In the front yard, Issei saw Xenovia training with her sword.
"Xenovia-san, about Excalibur. Why does it have to be at night?" he asked.
Xenovia turned, her breath slightly labored. "The information we got says the target always appears at night."
Issei sighed. "I hope it's not too late. I don't want to stay up until 3 AM just looking for a target." He waved his hand. "I'm going to the supermarket for a bit."
Xenovia waved back before focusing on her training again.
On the way to the supermarket, Issei heard whispers and strange looks from people seeing his Void Gauntlet. They probably thought he was a Chuunibyou. He ignored them.
Arriving at the supermarket, he picked up some groceries for dinner. His wallet was getting thin. He carefully selected chicken, potatoes, spices, and vegetables. At the checkout counter, the total was 6,900 Yen. His wallet only had 7,000 Yen left. Issei almost had a heart attack, relieved that his money was still enough.
With the grocery bag in hand, he walked home. Midway, his eyes caught a very striking, beautiful girl. She was wearing a Kuoh uniform, but with a small crown on her head and a thick, unusual jacket. The most striking thing was her very large chest.
{That...} Ddraig's voice echoed in his head, sounding wary. {The Ancestor of the Gremory Clan. Just ignore her. Even though her personality is cheerful, don't get too involved in Devil faction politics. Even though you're already 'engaged' to the Sitri family.}
Issei tried to keep walking as if he saw nothing, but his heart was pounding. 'The Gremory Ancestor? But she looks like a high school student! Yesterday I met Sirzechs, and I thought she was just Rias's older sister because of their similarly striking hair.'
{Yes,} Ddraig answered. {And she's starting to notice you. If even the Gremory Ancestor becomes part of your harem.... I'm retiring.}
'WE HAVEN'T EVEN DEFEATED TRIHEXA YET, HOW CAN YOU RETIRE?!' Issei screamed internally.
{Because I'm sure your harem will become absurd and uncontrollable,} Ddraig complained. {Dragon Pheromones are unique and cannot be removed.}
Suddenly, the girl—Runeas Gremory—approached him. "Issei-chan... Why are you ignoring me?"
Issei kept walking, trying hard not to turn. But suddenly, Runeas hugged him from behind. Issei was shocked, but what was more shocking was the sensation of her large, soft chest pressing against his back.
Issei turned, trying to act normal. "Sorry, who are you? I want to go home. And... goodbye."
Before he could run, his hand was grabbed by a now pouting Runeas. "When someone is talking to you, don't ignore them!" She then introduced herself. "I'm Runeas Gremory, from the Gremory Family."
Issei sighed. "Hyoudou Issei. That's all. Goodbye." But his arm was still held.
{The Gremory Ancestor has already been affected by your Pheromones,} Ddraig said in a despairing tone.
{If even Gabriel gets affected and becomes a Fallen Angel in your harem, I'm sure Michael will punish you himself.}
Runeas, curious about the Void Gauntlet, asked, "By the way, what Gauntlet is that? It feels scary if I get too close, but near you, it feels like there's something else behind it."
Issei looked at her. "Please, just leave me alone. I just want to go home and sleep."
Runeas smiled. "Then I'll come along. I'm curious. Sirzechs said you're a newly awakened Dragon and dangerous. Even your Boosted Gear has changed, different from ordinary Sacred Gear users."
Issei kept walking without a word. The combination of Imagine Breaker and Dragon Pheromones was a deadly combo constantly bringing trouble into his life.
Arriving in front of his house, Runeas was shocked. She felt her magic not working, and there was heavy pressure from inside the house—not just one, but two Dragon auras.
Issei turned to her. "Please don't come in. This is a restricted area."
Runeas's curiosity was unstoppable. She also recognized the Dragon aura inside. "Of course I'm coming in! How could you leave me outside?" she said with a feigned sad face.
Issei looked at her annoyed. "Tch. Your expression doesn't work on me. Fine, but only for a short while. If it's too long, I'll kick you out."
Runeas immediately brightened up. "Thank you!" She then quickly entered the house, like a child allowed to play.
Issei let out the heaviest sigh of the day so far, then entered following her.
Once inside, Runeas was surprised to see Tiamat in the living room, still deep in thought. "Tiamat-san! So you're here!"
Tiamat turned. "I wondered who it was. Runeas-san. What brings you here?"
"I was just curious," Runeas replied cheerfully. Her eyes then fell on the small black-haired girl sleeping on the sofa. "By the way, who is that? I feel a very strong Dragon pressure from that little girl."
Tiamat answered calmly, "That is Ophis."
Runeas's eyes widened. Ophis, the feared Infinite Dragon, turned out to be a little girl sleeping soundly. "She's so cute... I want to hug her."
Issei could only sigh again, this time with a feeling of resignation. "Sirzechs and Rias are definitely going to panic knowing their ancestor is at my house."
---
At the Gremory Mansion
Zeoticus Gremory was running around with a panicked face. "Where is Lady Runeas? Why did she suddenly disappear?"
Venelana, his wife, answered calmly while brewing tea. "Maybe she's just out for a walk, Dear. She said she was going to Kuoh for a bit to visit Rias."
But in their hearts, both wondered: what kind of chaos would their childish and curious ancestor cause again in the city already filled with the anomaly named Hyoudou Issei? That simple house had officially become a nest for Dragons and now was added with a Devil Ancestor, a dangerous and unpredictable combination.