Third Person POV

Issei was glad.

He was finally out of the Demon Castle dungeon since he completed the first half of the quest and collected all 10,000 Demon souls.

He had a feeling that some time had passed since he departed for the dungeon, the sky of Kuoh had turned into a dark abyss that was being illuminated by the stars that dotted the vast open black.

It was already the end of the day, several hours must have passed. Not like Issei would have known, he was too focused on completing the quest the system gave him to notice.

Plus, he wouldn't have even been able to notice the hours that went by anyway. The system doesn't really tell time, and the sky inside the dungeon was always dark...although he wouldn't even notice since there was so much fire.

Issei sighed to himself.

Issei: "Finally, I'm out of there..."

He scratched the back of his head, he should head back home but before he did...something was on his mind and it was the reward he got.

[Item: Holy Water of Life]

Item Class: S

Type: Consumable

An item that could cure any disease, Issei was no psychic but he got the feeling that he was gonna have to go and craft that item somewhere in the future.

But why would he need to?

Issei didn't know anyone who had a disease, so why would he need to craft an item like that? If anything, he would probably just complete the second part of the quest and get the Demon Monarch's Ring.

Speaking of which, the final ingredient that he needed IF he were to craft the Holy Water of Life was...Purified Blood of Demon King.

Issei: "Hmm..."

Obtaining the Blood won't be easy, he has only reached the 75th floor and that was the limit of how far he could go.

Issei: 'No doubt, the final boss of the Demon castle is a Demon King...'

Issei sighed and shook his head, he's not gonna worry about it for now. For now, he was just gonna go back home and rest up because he deserves to take a break after a long day.

With that, Issei turned and started to walk off. He was sure that his mother was worried sick about him, considering that he has been gone for a few hours.

As he drew closer to his home, he soon stopped as he felt like something was wrong. The brown-haired boy narrowed his eyes as he gazed upon his home, something didn't feel right to Issei.

Issei: 'Someone's in my home...'

Issei slowly approached the front door, preparing himself for whoever or whatever was on the other side. It could be someone like Sona or Rias, but there is a chance that it's a Fallen Angel who is allied with Yuuma.

He slowly opened the front door and walked inside, being as quiet as possible.

Just then, he heard something. It was the sound of his mother talking and giggling with someone, Issei didn't know who it was...but he was gonna find out here and noe. He followed the source of the noise, which was coming from the living room.

Walking toward the source, Issei soon saw his mother sitting on one of the couches, sitting across from three people.

Miki noticed Issei standing there and smiled at the sight.

Miki: "Issei! Welcome home!"

Issei: "Uh, hey mom. Sorry if I was gone for so long"

His gaze moved over to the three people, he may not be able to sense magical power because he was only human but...he could tell that they were powerful. But that didn't mean he couldn't take them on, in fact, he could easily defeat them before they thought about harming his mother.

But he can't make enemies, he needs to be neutral toward everything until he gets a reason to fight back.

The chestnut-haired girl smiled and waved at him.

???: "Issei! It's good to see you again! It's been a while hasn't it?"

Issei raised an eyebrow, for some reason that girl feels familiar to him.

Issei: "Do I know you?"

The girl pouted at him.

???: "Issei, how could you forget about me? We used to play superheroes together!"

When the girl said that, Issei's eyes widen as an image flashed through his mind. It was an old image, one that showed a Young Issei and a Young boy playing superheroes together.

Issei can recall that event, it was when his childhood friend Irina lived close to his home. But the last time he saw Irina, both he and his family moved to a different country.

Issei: "Wait....how do you know that?"

Irina: "Issei, it's me. Irina!"

Issei: "Wait, Irina!? You're a girl!?"

Miki: "Issei! That's not very nice! Apologise!"

Issei looked at his mother.

Issei: "Can ya blame me, Mom? I thought that Irina was a boy?"

Miki raised an eyebrow.

Miki: "What gave you the Idea that Irina was a boy?"

Issei merely deadpanned at his mother, how could he not think that Irina was a boy? If memory serves him correctly, when they were younger Irina had very short hair so that would give him the idea of her being a boy instead of a girl.

Like anyone could make that mistake, he bets you not that if Issei showed someone a picture of both him and Irina when they were children, 99% of them will say that she is a boy.

Issei: "Oh, I don't know. The fact that she had short hair when we were younger!"

Miki: "really? That is what gave you the idea?"

Issei nodded his head.

Miki: "Wow, I thought you were smarter than that"

Issei merely groaned in annoyance, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he shook his head.

Issei: "I'm not even gonna bother, I'm just gonna go to my room and sleep"

Irina: "Aww, don't you wanna catch up first?"

Issei: "No, I'm too tired"

Irina: "Awww..."

And so, Issei waved goodnight to his mother, he then made his way upstairs to his bedroom. When he arrived, he opened his door and was greeted by Yoruichi and Yamato.

Yoruichi: "Meow!"

Yamato: "Woof!"

Issei smiled as he kneeled bow and started to pet the two on the head, causing Yamato to wag her tail which made Issei chuckle.

Issei: "It's good to see you both, sorry I was away for a few hours. I had to deal with something"

Yamato: "Woof?"

Issei walked to his bed and sat down on it, he has had a rough day and deserved to rest. However, he gets the feeling that he won't be able to and that is what he was waiting for.

Issei: 'It's coming, I know that something or someone is gonna appear out of nowhere'

Yoruichi leaped onto the bed and tilted her head.

Yoruichi: "Is something wrong?"

Issei looked down at Yoruichi, he never thought he would hear a cat speak and what was with the male voice? Like, why would she need to have a male voice? It wasn't like anyone will even know who she was since she probably spends most of her time in her cat form.

Issei: "I'm fine, but what's with the male voice?"

Yoruichi: "What? Don't you find it comfortable and casual?"

Issei: "I just find it weird, your a woman, and yet you have a male voice in your cat form"

???: "I was just about to ask the same thing"

Issei perked up and looked at Yamato, who was the source of the voice. The brown-haired boy should be surprised by this, but he already has a talking cat so there's probably very little that will shock him anymore.

Yoruichi looked at Yamato.

Yoruichi: "I was wondering when you were gonna speak"

Yamato: "I wanted to wait for the right moment"

Issei crossed his arms as he raised an eyebrow.

Issei: "So, do you have a human form or are you merely this?"

Yamato: "No, I have a human form"

Just then, steam started to fill Issei's room. At first, he thought it was Yoruichi again, but turns out that wasn't the case as he watched Yamato transform into her human form.

Her appearance took on a very beautiful young woman, standing taller than an average human. She has long, white hair that was bound between orange rods into a ponytail at the back, which fades into aqua green and then blue the further down it goes and ends in rectangular locks. Yamato also had large, orange eyes with prominent eyelashes, wears gold hoop earrings on both ears, and had horns on the top of her head which are mostly red, but gradually become more flesh-colored toward the base.

Her outfit consisted of a sleeveless white garment with a diamond-shaped design on both sides and an indigo, wisp-patterned bottom half. She wears a pair of red hakama pants and sandals, she also wore a large purple and white nio-dasuki behind his back.

Issei: "..."

Issei stood in silence as he slowly looked up at Yamato.

Yamato blinked as she looked at Yoruichi, who was still in her cat form.

Yamato: "Um, is he alright?"

Yoruichi: "Yeah, he's alright. This is normal for him"

Issei turned to Yoruichi and deadpanned at the black feline, he may be wrong but he feels like she was making fun of the boy and that is something that he doesn't want to be right about.

Issei: "Are you making fun of me?"

Yoruichi: "No, what makes you think that~?"

Issei crossed his arms, he really shouldn't bother with something like this since he has just returned from what could be best described as hell. Although there was still a part of him that was feeling uneasy.

He just felt like something was gonna happen, but he wasn't sure what yet. It was only a feeling, a feeling that was not going away.

Issei: "So...Yamato, why were you in the familiar forest?"

Yamato: "I went there to train and become stronger"

Issei: "You want to become stronger? Aren't you already powerful?"

Yamato: "I am, but that didn't mean I was just gonna lay around and do nothing"

Issei nodded his head in understanding, if he were in Yamato's position then he would probably do the same thing.

Although, there was a difference between him and Yamato. She was born with great strength while Issei had to earn him, sure Yamato said that she went to the Familiar Forest to grow stronger but....nothing she has done can compare to the amount of sweat and blood Issei had to lose in order to get where he was now.

He has died already, almost died numerous times, and felt his entire body feel like it was on the brink of destroying itself. Issei has suffered, but he has not allowed that to break him.

Yamato: "But then something happened that made me meet you"

Issei: "What was it?"

Yamato: "All I'll tell you is that I sensed a terrifying familiar aura that made me run away and I met you"

Issei narrowed his eyes, he gets the feeling that will be important later on. Better keep that in mind for the future, just in case.

Issei: "I see..."

Just then, Issei sensed something coming toward him. In an instant, he reached his hand out and grabbed what was coming at him. Both Yoruichi and Yamato were surprised by this action as they saw Issei holding an arrow in his hand.

Yoruichi: "An arrow?"

Yamato: "Where did that come from!?"

Issei didn't say anything as he slowly turned his head, gazing out his window which now had a hole in it. His brown eyes slowly started to glow purple as he saw the one who fired the arrow at him, it was none other than Artemis, the Greek Goddess who hates Men.

Artemis: "Impressive, you sensed it was coming straight towards you. I'm impressed"

Yamato: "It's Artemis, the Greek Goddess of the Hunt! Why is she here?!"

Yoruichi: "My, my. This is certainly something"

Issei sighed as he tossed the arrow away, he had a feeling that someone from the Greek Pantheon would show up at his home eventually. Although, he expected them to at least come when it was morning and when Issei was full of energy, looks like that won't be happening.

He then walked to his window and opened it, looking down at the goddess.

Issei: "I wondered when one of you Greek Gods was gonna show up, though I expected Hades"

Artemis: "So you knew that my uncle was watching you?"

Issei: "Yep, let's just say I got a message that he was after I killed Cerberus"

Artemis: "Can't blame him. He loved that mutt more than he loved his own family"

Yamato walked up to the window.

Yamato: "Why did you attack, Issei? What's your reason for attacking him!?"

Artemis: "I wanted to test him, I saw the fight between him and that Phenex boy"

Hearing this gained Issei's attention, how the hell does she know about the fight he had with Riser Phenex? Last time he checked, the only people who knew about it were the devils who were at the engagement ceremony.

Issei: "How the hell do yo-"

Yoruichi: "I'm afraid Riser broadcasted the battle between you two in secret"

Issei turned to Yoruichi, a feeling of dread washing over him.

Issei: "How many saw...?"

Issei received silence as a response from Yoruichi, this didn't make him feel any better. That basically confirmed that EVERYONE in the supernatural world now knows about his existence, plus the skills he showed off during the duel with Riser. This was not good, very not good for Issei at all. That was the last thing he wanted to happen, he wanted to keep himself a secret from the supernatural world for as long as he could.

Looks like that was no longer an option since everyone now knows about him.

Issei sighed in annoyance, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Issei: "Great, just fucking great..."

Issei sighed in annoyance because now many Gods, Deities, Devils, Fallen Angels, etc. will come after him now.

Issei: "Okay, Look Artemis can we not fight each other? It's been a long day and I am bloody tired"

Artemis: "Tch, typical. Many reasons why I hate men. They're incompetent and lazy"

Issei merely deadpanned at Artemis, did she really think that he was gonna fall for the oldest trick in the book?

Issei: "I would watch how you speak, Artemis"

Unknown to the two, both Yoruichi and Yamato looked around because they swear they can hear boss music playing and they don't know why.

Artemis: "Or what? Do you think you can beat a Goddess you lowly disgusting creature? If I remember correctly you had no father growing up"

Issei: "Okay, I'm not even gonna ask how you know about that. Also, I'm saying you should watch how you speak because HE doesn't like hearing me be insulted"

Artemis: "Who-"

Before Artemis could continue her sentence, she felt a sense of dread wash over her which confused her. Why did she feel that? She was a Goddess, she should feel such a thing.

Her gaze soon move to her right where she was greeted by a strange shadow-like creature, taking the form of some sort of knight, and even with the mask on...she could tell that it wasn't very happy.

Igris had a huge purple bloodlust around his body glaring at Artemis.

How dare she insult his liege?

How dare she try to kill him?

How dare she bring up his liege's father?

Artemis: "What in the name of Olympus!?"

Issei: "Artemis, say Hello to Igris, and let me just say...he's pretty protective"

Artemis: "Tch.....What's a mere shadow gonna do against a Goddess like me-"

Artemis felt weak all of a sudden and fell to her knees.

This caused the Goddess of the hunt's eyes to widen, what the hell was happening to her? Why was she all of a sudden weak? She was perfectly fine a moment ago, so why was she all of a sudden feeling so weak?

Issei: "Jeez, Igris' new skill sure is powerful"

Artemis: "Y-you fucking pig... hiding behind something like a coward!"

Issei deadpanned at the Goddess.

Issei: "Artemis, your talking to the dude who fought Sun Wukong and barely survived!"

Artemis's eyes widen when she heard that name, the Monkey King was someone she never dared to go up against.

Artemis: "Y-you fought The Monkey King!?"

Issei: "Oh, it wasn't a fight. It was more like a one-sided massacre that I SOMEHOW managed to survive. I bet he barely used 1% of his power"

Meanwhile in the Heaven.

Sun Wukong was playing with his son as they were with Tang Sanzang and Bajie and Wujin until.....

Sun Wukong: "Achoo!"

Tang Sanzang: "Wukong, are you alright?"

Sun Wukong: "I think someone was talking about me"

Bajie: "Who would want to talk about a dumb ass monkey?"

Wukong deadpanned at Bajie, did he have to say that in front of his son. Like, couldn't he have said something similar to that...but less annoying.

The demon shook his head as he wondered who was talking about him, not many came to his mind.

Unless...

Sun Wukong: 'Is it Issei...?'

Back with Issei.

Artemis: "H-How is that possible?!"

Issei: "Dumb luck, nothing but dumb luck"

Artemis: "Tch, just because you survived that stupid monkey doesn't mean you are strong. You're just a weak, pathetic- GACK!!!"

She felt gravity get weak for her as she places her hands on the floor.

Issei sighed.

Issei: "Igris, please..."

Artemis watched as the shadow knight moved his weapon away from her neck and back away, she then felt her strength return to her.

Issei grabbed the edge of his window and leaped out of it, landing on the ground safely which should normally be impossible since at the height his bedroom was, he should have broken his legs.

But that wasn't the case, turns out the system doesn't allow such a thing so that was a perk.

Artemis watched as Igris stepped forward and kneeled to the brown-haired boy, she guess that the knight's loyalty to Issei must be very high. She then watched as  Issei walked over to her, his hands in his pockets.

Issei: "You're not my enemy, Artemis. I have no reason to kill you, especially since you are a beautiful huntress who possesses skills that no mortal has"

Artemis was taken aback by what Issei just said and that made a small blush appear on her face.

Artemis: 'W-what the w-why am I blushing!? Why did I react to this pig's words!?'

Issei: "You okay?"

Artemis just stood up and looked away.

Artemis: "I'm fine! I don't need your pity, Pig"

Issei shook his head.

Issei: "Well, as long as your alright"

He turned his attention to Igris who continued to kneel before his liege.

Issei: "You can go back now, Igris"

With that, the former blood-red commander returned to Issei's shadow which surprised the Goddess of the Hunt. She couldn't help but wonder how many more shadow creatures the boy had hidden away in the darkness of his shadow.

Artemis: 'Wait...Could that mutt be one of them?'

Issei: "I apologize for Igris, he's just protective over me since I took the place of his previous ruler who either died or left him to rot"

Artemis: "Oh, I see..."

Issei: "Yeah, so can we not fight? I have had a long day and I am pretty much exhausted"

Artemis: "Hmph.....Fine"

Artemis guessed she could let Issei off, she can't test his skills if he is on the point of dropping dead due to exhaustion.

Issei: "Good, now I can finally go and get sleep..."

With that, Issei turned to head back inside. However, he soon noticed something and that was...Artemis was following him.

He thought he was only imagining it due to his exhaustion, but as soon as he reached the front door, Artemis was still behind him and that was worrying him.

Why was she following him?

What was she doing?

What was her plan?

Issei: "Um, Artemis"

Artemis: "What?"

Issei: "Why are you following me?"

Artemis stood silent.

Issei merely stared at her for a solid minute before he shook his head.

Issei: "Not gonna tell me are you?"

Artemis: "..."

Issei sighed.

Issei: "Yeah, I thought so..."

He sighs and headed to his room and flops onto his bed.

Yoruichi and Yamato, who turned back into her animal form jumped onto the bed.

Yoruichi: "I see you have a new roommate"

Issei: "Don't, just...don't. I'm too tired"

Yoruichi: "Awww, fine"

Issei wasn't gonna worry about Artemis right now, he'll deal with that when he woke up and was fully recovered.

.....

....

....

END OF CHAPTER