Highschool DxD-Dream of Perfection

Chapter 29

After Secil brought the steak, Clara ate slowly, maintaining perfect posture. With a steady hand, she skillfully divided the steak into fine pieces, eating them with a fork. Not a single drop of steak juice fell onto the table or the ground. Once she finished, she placed the fork and knife back on the plate and pushed it to the side.

She then grabbed a few fruits from the middle of the table and continued eating, engaging in conversation with Yuto. Initially, Yuto hadn't planned to delve into any magical knowledge until he had fully recovered, but with Clara there—a veritable treasure trove of knowledge—he set aside his book and began asking questions. things he couldn't learn unless he experienced them firsthand or without trial and error.

His questions started simple and basic, gradually increasing in difficulty. He was careful not to intrude on anything personal, for human magic was based on calculation and formula. Personal knowledge, such as unique magic or personal formula and tricks, especially from someone as experienced and strong as Clara, was an immeasurable asset. It was akin to a treasure trove.

After about twenty minutes, Yuto noticed he was starting to push the limits of the conversation. He was about to cross into a territory beyond simple favor for the young genius and an ally that fought side by side—the realm that could be considered rude, impolite, or even greedy.

However, Clara, as if unconcerned, continued to share her experiences freely. She recommended books he hadn't heard of and provided tips he couldn't have gotten without trial and error. Yuto quickly realized what she was doing: when he had been about to stop, she kept going. She was expecting something in return—something equal to the knowledge she was sharing. Yuto accepted the unspoken deal, as he didn't mind the exchange.

A few hours later, Clara stretched, her eyes betraying a hint of exhaustion. "Let's end this for now. The representative from Asgard is coming."

Yuto nodded. "All right." He then ordered Secil to bring him some food, as he had skipped lunch during the conversation. After eating, he washed up and took a moment to stretch outside.

About thirty minutes later, while doing a light workout, Yuto saw Clara and a few others approaching him. When he saw them, he knew exactly what was happening, so he stopped and walked toward them.

"They've arrived ?" he asked.

Clara, with her soft and steady voice, replied, "Yes, and we are going to welcome them."

Yuto nodded, and together with the others, they left the camp, heading east where the representative was expected to arrive. They waited for a few minutes, waiting for them, but after that, it came.

A low rumble at first echoed across the land, followed by a crackle of distant thunder. The sky darkened, clouds swirling in an unnatural fury as though a storm had been summoned from the very heart of the world.

Then, with a thunderous roar, it arrived.

Thor, the god of thunder, appeared in a flash of blinding lightning. Riding his chariot, drawn by the mighty goats Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, the ground beneath his wheels trembled with every step. The chariot, glowing with raw, untamed power, seemed to be crafted from the very fabric of the storm itself. Lightning crackled and twisted around him, illuminating the darkened sky like a godly aura.

Thor stood tall in his chariot, Mjölnir gripped tightly in his hand, his eyes flashing with the intensity of a thousand storms. His long, golden beard whipped in the wind, and his armor, glinting with ancient power, seemed to absorb the very essence of the thunder that roared around him. Each rumble in the sky echoed his presence, each bolt of lightning answering his call.

Behind him, the Valkyries flew in formation, their winged horses cutting through the sky with the grace of divine warriors. Their armor gleamed, reflecting the storm that Thor commanded. They were incarnates of their god's will, executor of their lord's decision.

As Thor descended upon the ground, the storm subsided, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. The earth seemed to breathe with the lingering power of the thunder, and for a moment, it was as if time itself had stopped. Thor's feet touched the ground with a quiet finality, his eyes scanning the area with the intensity of a battle-hardened warrior.

The Valkyries landed gracefully around him, their eyes ever watchful, as they awaited his command. Thor, however, was not concerned nor on guard, as one of the Strongest Gods in existence he did not need to be, as his Godly strength is the highest form of assurance.

"Oh, Clara," Thor's booming voice came as he walked towards her. His armored boots clanked on the ground as he approached her.

Clara, however, just shook her head at Thor, The God of Thunder, whose voice could easily make mortal men's ear ring by merely talking. "Good afternoon, Lord Thor; it has been a long time."

"Long time?" Thor asked, confused as to why she said a long time since it hadn't been that long since they last met. Only to remember a second later that she is a human, so for them, a decade or two is a long time. He felt a bit stupid that he forgot something so simple, but attributed it to not leaving Asgard much in the past few centuries; even if he did, he did not stay with any mortal for a long time. So, after realizing why she said it, Thor smiled back. "Yes, it has been a long time. And you're hair turned completely white, you stubborn brat; look whose the old one now. HAHAAA," he boisterously laughed.

Meanwhile, Yuto just looked at Thor, God of Thunder, with quite fascination. How his mere presence radiated power and weight. How, despite not using any magic or rune, he manipulated the thunder and lighting, with it not hurting or hitting anything he did not want. He wanted to ask God how he was doing it and how different mana is compared to divine energy. But it is not the time yet, at least until he has entered the banquet and drank a few "barrels of alcohol," if the information he got were true. Only then he will ask him if you will soften him up or if any other person converses with Thor and observe his attitude.

While Yuto is in his mind thinking while outwardly showing no signs of any of his thought, Thor and Clara conversed a bit, and she led Thor and Valkyries to the banquet hall. With Thor laughing and happy on the way, he asked her, Do you have Shamians five-century-old alcohol? and that alcohol?, with Yuto and the rest flooring right behind them. 

The celebration that followed was a lively, joyous banquet brimming with laughter, music, and festive cheer with Thor downing Barrels of Alcohol, as if he were a massive camel drinking water, with the mages and warriors from the Phamos family and Thunder Horn guild cheering him on. There was even an arm wrestling competition, with Thor easily getting the first place, unsurprisingly, with Yuto following right behind after beating a tall Valkyrie, whose physical strength was no worse than Yuto, but he beat her after five minutes of struggle. All in all, they celebrated like there was no tomorrow, although the fact that halfway through the banquet, he stripped his upper body naked as if natural is concerning. But Yuto had enjoyed the banquet as much as everyone else, although most of the Valkyries did not join in on it, with only a select few drinking and laughing with the others. 

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Yuto woke up amidst a chorus of groans and curses like, "Ugh, my head" and "I shouldn't have drunk that much," a scene he was all too familiar with in his previous life. However, the fact that two Valkyries were sprawled on top of him, hugging him tightly, was a bit concerning. Thankfully, all of them were fully clothed, so there was nothing scandalous to worry about- he hoped. Although his mind is a bit foggy since he just woke up, so he might be just imagining them.

As he stared blankly at the top of the tent, waiting for his mind to fully clear, he heard slow footsteps approaching. The sound of a fork clinking against a plate accompanied the steps, suggesting that whoever was coming might be carrying a plate.

Turning his head toward the source of the sound, Yuto saw a towering blond man with a thick beard enter the tent. The man, none other than Thor, carried two cups of an unfamiliar brown liquid in one hand and a plate piled high with meat in the other.

"Here," Thor said, offering one of the cups to Yuto.

"Thank you, Lord Thor," Yuto replied politely, accepting the drink. Before taking a sip, he subtly sniffed it and cast a simple spell, making sure it was not one of Thor's not so friendly manly pranks. Satisfied that it seemed safe, he finally drank.

The effect was immediate—Yuto's mind cleared, and the dull headache that had been nagging him instantly vanished. The taste, however, was bitter, like coffee brewed with far too many beans.

"You like it?" Thor asked in an unusually quiet tone, catching Yuto off guard. After last night's chaos, Yuto hadn't expected the god of thunder to be capable of speaking softly.

"Yes," Yuto admitted. "The headache's gone. Thank you."

It was only then that Yuto became fully aware that two Valkyries that were clinging to him were in extremely inappropriate positions—one of them on top of his leg, hugging his waist, while the other hugged his left arm. It hit him twice as hard when he realized that the lord of these Valkyries was watching him with a teasing smile, his expression practically screaming, You lucky bastard.

At that very moment, Yuto's face flushed crimson with embarrassment. He had no idea what to do, having never been in a situation like this—or anything remotely similar—even if he counted his past life. Back then, he had been too busy, with no time for romance. His romantic experiences extended only to one-night stands, with nothing more meaningful ever developing.

Thor noticed Yuto's reaction and chuckled. "Don't worry about me. They're free to do as they please outside their duties," he said casually, sipping from his own mug.

"Ummm... Okay?" Yuto mumbled, the blush fading—only to come roaring back in full force at Thor's next comment.

"Although," Thor added with a sly grin, "I've never seen them act this way before. You must have caught their attention. Congratulations, Boy, a two-for-one deal."

Yuto let out an awkward chuckle, his mind already racing to figure out how to politely reject their advances. Despite his embarrassment, he couldn't help but feel surprised by how open they seemed. He chalked it up to their centuries of experience; surely, anyone that old would be far removed from the shyness of blushing schoolgirls.

So Yuto, forcing a smile replied awkwardly, "Okay," unsure of what else to say.

()

After the awkward moment, Yuto quietly slipped out of the tent without waking the two Valkyries. He did, however, notice that one of them had a faint blush on her cheeks, but he chose not to comment. Once outside, he had breakfast and then sat beside Thor to chat.

Their conversation was casual, with Yuto asking questions like, "How does divine energy feel compared to mana? Does it have limitations? Also, is it true that Gods are at their strongest at their Patheon ?" Basic questions, to which Thor replied, "It feels a bit external as if it's bound to something beyond you—unlike mana, which is neutral and entirely internal, although its quality is much higher compared to mana, with divine energy comparable to liquid, while mana a vapor, so unless it is extremely high quality and dense mana, from a powerful being, they won't compare., Divine energy essentially has no limitations; if a god wills it and has enough divine energy, they can achieve almost anything, if he or she has that crazy amount of Divine energy. Although their output and their authority over their respective law, also their mastery over their it limits it. Yes, they are at their strongest when they are at their place where their Patheon is located."

The discussion continued for about twenty minutes before Thor excused himself to handle other matters. Taking the cue, Yuto decided to focus on his own activities. He stretched, read one of his novels, and relaxed.

By the afternoon, most of the mages and magicians had recovered, and the base returned to its usual hustle and bustle. Yuto assumed it would be an uneventful day, so he spent it by lazing around while doing only one productive thing, which was reaching out to his contacts about specific books he wanted. Clara, ever helpful, had recommended the books and even offered a few rare ones from her personal collection, as they were either incredibly hard to find or unique copies.

The day passed quietly, and everyone turned in for the night. There were no parties or festivities, just a calm and subdued evening.

The next morning, Clara revealed their plan to attack and end the war that day. Her statement left Yuto confused about how such a decisive outcome was possible.

Later that afternoon, Yuto followed Clara as she led the way to where Thor and his Valkyries were heading—the main base of Shadow Veil. Only a small group of high-ranking individuals accompanied them, including Yuto and Clara, while the main army stayed behind. When Yuto asked why, Clara simply said, "They wouldn't be much help except slowing us down. Don't worry, it would all end, before sunset."