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Chapter 15: A Return to Normal
🕑 Added 2025-03-16 15:30:37 +0000 UTCA familiar night sky stretched above them—clear, quiet, peaceful.
The contrast was almost surreal. No ruined house and street. Just the gentle rustling of leaves, the dim glow of streetlights, and the distant hum of a quiet suburban town. The same park where Issei had left what felt like days ago.
But it had only been thirty minutes.
Issei let out a shaky breath, his body still aching from the battle. His legs nearly gave out, but Yuuka quickly moved to support him.
"Damn." He muttered, rubbing his temple. "After everything, it feels weird to be back."
Yuuka and Misuki, however, were frozen in place, looking around with wide, disbelieving eyes.
‘This is it?’ Yuuka asked, blinking in shock. "This is the future?"
Misuki furrowed her brows, scanning the empty streets and dimly lit houses. "I expected something… more. It looks just like our world."
Issei let out a weak chuckle. "Yeah, 2008 isn’t that much of a jump forward from 1994."
Yuuka didn’t seem convinced. "So… what do we do now?"
Misuki crossed her arms, her face hardening. "We don’t officially exist here. No records, no home, no identification. Even if this world looks similar, legally, we’re nobodies."
Issei hummed in thought, then shrugged. "For now, we’ll just go to my house and convince my parents to let you all stay."
Yuuka gave him a flat look. "And if they say no?"
Issei grinned. "They won’t. My parents are good people."
Before Yuuka could argue, Sherri’s voice cut through the night air.
"If we have access to the internet, I can hack into the government system and create fake documents for Yuuka, Hana, Sakura, and Tamamo," the AI stated matter-of-factly. "As a superior AI, I can make them as believable as possible."
Misuki raised an eyebrow. "That would certainly help."
Yuuka sighed, rubbing her temple. "I guess that’s one problem solved, but we still have to deal with explaining to your parents about everything and I doubt they will believe you."
(There’s something far more important to worry about.) A deep rumble filled the air as Ddraig finally spoke up. (Tamamo should never reveal her divine power.)
Everyone turned to look at the red gauntlet on Issei’s arm.
Ddraig continued. (If she does, she will immediately alert the supernatural of her presence, and we won’t simply have to deal with a couple of magicians.)
Tamamo waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, hush, you oversized lizard. I am a master of disguise!"
Without hesitation, she activated her transformation.
A faint glow surrounded her, and within seconds, her fox ears and tails vanished—leaving her looking completely human. Her traditional attire shifted into modern, stylish clothing, perfectly blending into the world around her.
Tamamo twirled in place, admiring her own work. "Ta-da~! A flawless disguise! No one will suspect a thing!"
Ddraig let out a long, exhausted sigh. (That’s not the issue. If a real deity senses your presence—especially Amaterasu—she could come investigate.)
Tamamo simply smirked. "And?"
(And there aren’t supposed to be two of her in this world,) Ddraig grumbled. "We do not need the literal Sun Goddess questioning why another version of herself is walking around. It could bring problems. Partner, you are not ready to face a god.)
Issei sighed. "Yeah, I figured."
Tamamo, however, waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, relax, big guy! I can handle it."
Ddraig scoffed. (You’re too reckless.)
Tamamo pouted. "You’re too grumpy!"
Their bickering continued, and Yuuka rubbed her forehead in frustration.
"Wait…" she said suddenly, her eyes narrowing. "If she’s getting fake identities… what name will Tamamo be using?"
Tamamo grinned mischievously.
"From this moment on… my name is Mizukame Hyoudou!"
A beat of silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
Yuuka spun toward Tamamo, her entire body twitching. "Why do you get to take Issei’s last name?!"
Tamamo placed a hand on her hip, tilting her head smugly. "Because I’m his wife, of course!"
Yuuka twitched. "He never even proposed to you!"
Tamamo waved a hand dismissively. "Minor details, my darling~! In my heart, we’re already bound for eternity~!"
Yuuka clenched her fists. "Fine! Then I’ll take Issei’s last name too!"
Misuki suddenly chuckled, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Oh? But, Yuuka dear, you still haven’t gotten a proposal, and you’re already taking his last name?"
Yuuka’s face turned bright red. "I-I… I’m not ready for that yet! We should go on more dates first!"
Misuki giggled. "Oh? So you do want to marry him someday?"
Yuuka covered her face with both hands. "Ugh, can we not talk about this right now?!"
Sakura, who had been watching the conversation unfold with wide eyes, suddenly tugged on Issei’s sleeve.
"Can… Can I take your last name too?" she asked softly.
Issei smiled warmly, ruffling her hair. "Of course."
Sakura brightened, holding his sleeve a little tighter.
Ddraig sighed. "Regardless, just be careful, Tamamo."
Tamamo rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, ‘don’t reveal my power, don’t get caught by the other version of me,’ blah, blah, blah. I get it!"
Ddraig groaned. "Why do I even try?"
With that settled, they began the slow trek toward Issei’s house.
Yuuka kept a firm grip on him, helping him stay upright while he focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Every step sent dull pain radiating through his body, but he wasn’t about to complain. He’d been through worse.
Tamamo, however, was not suffering in silence.
"Why am I carrying all the bags?" She whined, shifting the weight on her shoulders with an exaggerated pout.
Yuuka smirked. "Because you’re the strongest one here. And Issei is in no shape to carry anything."
Tamamo gasped dramatically, placing a delicate hand over her chest. "But I'm a delicate and fragile wife!"
Misuki raised an eyebrow. "You just wiped out a squad of assassins and nearly killed a priest with cursed foxfire."
Tamamo huffed. "Fine, but only because I’m a good wife!"
Issei sighed, shaking his head as they walked. "Somehow, I feel like I should be more concerned about this conversation."
Sakura, still clinging to Issei’s sleeve, looked up at him with wide, curious eyes.
"Are your parents nice?" she asked softly.
Issei chuckled, giving her a reassuring smile. "They’re the best."
She squeezed his sleeve a little tighter.
As they moved through the quiet streets, Issei began to notice something.
People were staring.
Pedestrians passing by, late-night walkers, even a few people sitting in their cars at red lights—they all turned to look at them.
It wasn’t subtle, either. Some people outright stopped what they were doing to take in the sight of four absurdly beautiful women walking alongside a heavily injured guy.
Mostly, their eyes landed on Tamamo.
And he really couldn’t blame them. She practically glowed under the streetlights, her pink hair catching every bit of moonlight, her presence impossible to ignore. She was already ridiculously attractive, but there was something about her divine nature that made it hard for people not to look.
Yuuka groaned, "Ugh. I feel like we’re being watched like we’re some kind of freak show."
Issei rubbed his temple, "What can I say? When people see beautiful girls, they have to look." He says unintentionally complementing the girls causing them to blush.
Yuuka’s step faltered for a brief second, her face flushing red before she quickly turned her head away. Misuki smirked knowingly, her eyes filled with motherly amusement. Tamamo beamed at him, flashing a victorious grin. And Sakura hid her face against his sleeve, her small hands tightening their grip.
A thick silence settled between them.
Issei blinked. "Wait… Did I say that out loud?"
"Yes, you did," Yuuka muttered, her ears turning pink.
Tamamo giggled behind her sleeve. "Ara~! Darling, if you wanted to shower us with compliments, you should say so more often! No need to be shy~!"
Yuuka groaned. "Ugh. Now she’s never going to let this go."
Misuki hummed. "Oh, but isn’t it nice? A young man appreciating beauty in its finest form~?"
Sakura peeked up at him, her face slightly pink. "You… really think I’m pretty too?"
Issei felt his face heat up now. "I-I mean, yeah! Of course!"
Tamamo laughed. "Good answer, Husband~!"
Yuuka groaned again, covering her face with one hand.
"Can we just walk faster?"
Standing before the familiar front door, Issei felt a strange sense of relief.
After everything—facing death, fighting legendary warriors, traveling between worlds—he was finally home.
But that relief was short-lived.
Because now, he had to explain all of this to his very human parents.
And that was probably going to be the hardest battle yet.
Taking a deep breath, he lifted his hand and knocked.
A moment later, the door opened.
Miki Hyoudou blinked in confusion. "Yes? Who is—"
Her eyes landed on Issei’s battered form.
Her pupils shrank.
"ISSEI?!"
She practically flew out of the house, grabbing him by the shoulders.
"What happened to you?! Are you okay?! Who did this?! GAROU! GET OVER HERE!"
From inside, a deep voice called out, "What is it, honey?"
Garou Hyoudou stepped into view, only for his face to pale.
"Son?! What the hell happened?!"
Issei chuckled weakly, already feeling the storm of parental panic brewing. "Hey, Mom, Dad… Don’t freak out. I swear it looks worse than it is."
"A lot of his bones are broken."
Yuuka’s flat voice cut through the air as she shot him a glare.
"He is lying to you."
Issei sighed, slumping slightly. "Not helping, Yuuka."
Miki quickly ushered them inside, fussing over him the entire time.
"We need to take you to the hospital!" she fretted, already reaching for her cellphone.
"That’s a really bad idea. I, uh… I really can't explain how I got hurt."
That made both parents pause.
Miki and Garou exchanged wary glances, before turning their attention to the four unfamiliar girls standing in front of them.
Garou’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Who are they?!"
Miki’s face was a mix of concern and suspicion. "Issei, what exactly have you gotten yourself into?"
Issei let out a long sigh.
"That’s… kind of why the explanation is complicated. Can we at least sit down? It’s pretty hard to keep standing."
They quickly ushered the entire group inside, closing the door behind them.
Issei told them everything.
The Dimensional Watch. The other world. The Holy Grail War. Magic. The Boosted Gear.
At first, his parents looked confused.
Then skeptical.
Then—downright disbelieving.
With every word that left his mouth, their expressions became more and more strained.
By the time he finished, they were staring at him.
In complete silence.
Finally, Garou pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling deeply. "So let me get this straight. You're telling me that you—my perverted idiot son, who could barely pass math—somehow ended up in another world… fought in a war… was born with a magical dragon in his soul… and now you're back with four girls who also came from that world?"
Miki blinked rapidly. "Are you okay? Do you have a fever? Did you hit your head? I can get ice—"
Issei groaned, rubbing his face. "I knew this was gonna be hard to explain."
Yuuka leaned over and whispered, "Told you."
Tamamo, meanwhile, sighed dramatically, flipping her hair. "Enough of this. I suppose I have to prove it. "
And just like that—
She revealed her fox ears and tail. The golden fur shimmered brilliantly under the living room lights.
Miki and Garou froze.
Their eyes widened.
And then—
But before they could completely lose their minds—
Sherri and Ddraig spoke from both his arms.
Sherri’s mechanical voice rang out first. "Good evening, Hyoudou-san. I am Sherri, an artificial intelligence linked to the Dimensional Watch that is attached to the Master's arm."
Then Ddraig’s deep, rumbling voice followed. (And I am the Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig.)
Miki and Garou stared.
Then, at the exact same time—
They fainted.
Luckily, they landed in chairs.
Yuuka and Misuki sweatdropped.
Yuuka muttered, "…Déjà vu."
Misuki sighed, crossing her arms. "Well, this is familiar."
Tamamo giggled behind her sleeve. "Hehehe~! They handled that about as well as I expected!"
"Mom! Dad!" Issei fretted, trying to move toward them—only for his battered body to betray him.
The moment he put weight on his legs, pain shot through him like lightning.
"Gah—!"
His knees buckled, and with zero grace, he collapsed onto the floor.
"Ow."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then—
Yuuka sighed, rubbing her temples. "You absolute idiot."
Tamamo gasped. "Husband! You must not overexert yourself! If you needed assistance, you should have fallen into my arms~!"
Misuki chuckled. "Well, at least we know he still has energy to panic."
Sakura hesitantly tugged on Misuki’s sleeve. "Are… they going to be okay?"
Misuki glanced at the unconscious couple before nodding. "They’ll be fine. Just… processing."
Still lying on the floor, Issei groaned, staring up at the ceiling.
"This is not how I wanted this night to go."
Before his parents could wake up and faint again, Tamamo quickly got to work, weaving powerful Boundary Fields around the house.
Even without using her full divine power, she could still conceal and fortify Issei’s home—ensuring that neither her presence nor her husband’s growing power would be detected by unwanted eyes.
This way, no supernatural beings or nosy magicians would sense their magic and come investigating.
After all, she still had one important task left.
She needed to heal her dear husband.
The soft glow of magic filled the dimly lit living room. Tamamo knelt beside Issei, her hands hovering over his battered body as golden light pulsed from her fingertips. The warmth of her magic seeped into his wounds, numbing the pain, knitting torn muscles, and mending fractures—but it wasn’t instant.
"Haaah… this is slower than I expected," Tamamo muttered, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Issei, lying on the couch, blinked up at her. "Slower? Feels like a miracle from my perspective."
Yuuka crossed her arms. "Is it taking too long? Why?"
Sherri’s voice chimed in from Issei’s wrist. "Tamamo and I are no longer connected to the Holy Grail System. The Grail supplied a finite amount of magical energy to keep the Servants functional, but now that link is gone. While all my previous abilities still function, I have lost my connection to the Root—I am no longer all-knowing."
That made everyone pause.
Issei turned his head slightly. "Wait… so, you’re saying you don’t have access to everything anymore?"
Sherri hummed. "Correct. I still retain extensive knowledge, but I can no longer process infinite possibilities as I once did, while I was connected to the root. I am, for lack of a better term, limited now."
Issei frowned. "Will you be able to reconnect if we go back to that world?"
"Perhaps." Sherri replied.
Tamamo sighed dramatically, her ears twitching. "So troublesome! But don’t worry, darling, I am still more than capable of healing you!"
Issei gave her a small smile. "I never doubted you."
He tried to sit up—only for Yuuka to smack him on the head.
"Ow—! What was that for?!"
Yuuka scowled. "For being a stubborn idiot. Stop trying to act tough when you're barely able to move!"
Issei groaned, rubbing his forehead. "I'm fine—!"
Smack.
"You're NOT fine!"
Misuki chuckled from the side, shaking her head. "Haven’t you learned by now, Issei? You can’t win against a worried woman."
Tamamo giggled. "Indeed~! A wife must take care of her husband, after all!"
Yuuka muttered under her breath, "He better not enjoy this too much."
Issei sighed but then glanced at Tamamo.
"What about you?" He asked, his voice quieter. "You’re not getting support from the Grail anymore. Are you… okay?"
Tamamo’s expression softened. "Aw~! My dear husband is worrying about me! How sweet!" She then placed a hand on her chest proudly. "But fret not! Your world is overflowing with magic! Compared to my own world, this place is a paradise. So even though you no longer have Command Seals, our connection is just as strong as I can still get more power from you."
“Ehh?” Issei soon looks at his right hand and notices that she is right. The red Command Seals were gone. ‘Oh well.’
Ddraig’s deep voice rumbled from the Boosted Gear.
(That is because the Age of Gods has not ended in this world. Unlike Tamamo’s world, where the gods have faded, they still walk the Earth here. While their influence has waned, they remain. That is why she can still exist without issue.)
A moment of silence followed.
Yuuka furrowed her brows. "Wait. So you’re saying… gods are still around?"
Ddraig let out a deep chuckle. (Indeed.)
Tamamo smirked. "Which means if I ever do need a boost of power, I can just steal some faith from the local deities! Ufufu~!"
Issei groaned. "Please don’t start a divine war in my backyard."
Tamamo pouted. "Fine, fine~! But only because my darling asked so nicely!"
Issei exhaled, relaxing as Tamamo continued her healing.
It was a lot to take in.
As Tamamo finished reinforcing the Boundary Fields, Issei exhaled, finally starting to relax.
Then his parents woke up.
"GAH—!"
"HUH—?!"
Both Miki and Garou shot up in their chairs, eyes wild with panic.
Miki clutched her chest, breathing heavily as she stared at the foxgirl in her house. "It wasn’t a dream! It wasn’t a dream!"
Garou, rubbing his head, stared at Tamamo. Then at Issei. Then at the other beautiful women in the room.
His gaze narrowed slightly. "Alright, son. Start from the beginning. You’re telling me that you really went to another world, were born with a magic gauntlet, fought in a war, and brought four girls home?"
Before Issei could correct him, Tamamo proudly stepped forward, puffing out her chest.
"Actually, I’m his wife!"
The situation immediately got worse.
Miki whipped her head toward Issei, eyes burning with intensity.
"YOU GOT MARRIED?! WITHOUT TELLING US?!"
Before Issei could even open his mouth, Miki’s gaze locked onto Tamamo.
Her eyes gleamed.
Tamamo blinked. "Oh my~?"
Before anyone could react, Miki grabbed Tamamo by the wrist and pulled her aside.
"You. Sit. Now."
Tamamo giggled, playfully adjusting her sleeves as she gracefully sat across from Miki.
"Oho~! How bold, Mother-in-law! You’re already calling for private time with your beloved daughter-in-law? My, my~!"
Miki ignored the comment. She leaned forward, her eyes sharp.
"I have questions. You have answers. First question—How long have you been married?!"
Tamamo smiled playfully.
"Ara~! Technically, we were bound by contract the moment my darling summoned me into his life!"
Miki squinted. "Contract?! What kind of shady marriage is that?!"
Tamamo smirked. "The kind that is sealed with absolute loyalty~!"
Miki sighed, already feeling a headache coming on. "Fine, fine. Next question—Do you love my son?"
Tamamo’s expression softened just a bit.
She smiled.
Not her usual teasing smirk, but something warm. Genuine.
"With all my heart."
A beat of silence.
Miki stared.
Garou stared.
Issei froze.
Yuuka twitched.
Then Miki leaned back, tapping her chin.
"Alright. Next question—WHEN AM I GETTING GRANDKIDS?!"
"MOM!" Issei choked, nearly falling off the couch. ‘Can she even have kids?’
Tamamo, meanwhile, clapped her hands together excitedly. "Oh my~! You truly are the best mother-in-law! So eager for grandchildren already? Ufufu~! I shall work hard to fulfill your wishes!"
Yuuka’s face turned red. "LIKE HELL YOU WILL!"
Everyone turned toward Yuuka, who was practically steaming.
She pointed at Tamamo accusingly. "I’m his real first girlfriend! If anyone gets questioned about grandkids, it should be me!"
Misuki, watching from the side, let out a soft chuckle. "Oh? Does that mean you do plan to give Miki grandkids in the future?"
Yuuka froze.
Her entire body locked up.
"W-Wha—?! I-I didn’t say that! I just meant—We should at least—! D-Don’t twist my words, Mom!"
Misuki smirked. "My, my~. So flustered!"
Miki nodded seriously. "Hmm. Good. That means we have two candidates."
"STOP TALKING LIKE I’M A BROODMARE!" Yuuka yelled, covering her face in embarrassment.
At that moment, Sakura made a decision and tugged on Issei’s sleeve.
"Yes, Sakura?"
Everyone turned toward her.
The small girl clung to him, hugging his arm.
Then—
"I’m your daughter."
The room went silent.
Miki gasped. "WAIT, WHAT?!"
Garou leaned forward, grinning. "Son, you work fast."
Issei held up his hands, panicking. "WAIT, NO! THAT’S NOT—"
Sakura nuzzled his arm. "You saved me. You protected me. That makes you my Papa."
Miki’s mouth opened and closed.
Her brain was short-circuiting.
Then—
"OH MY GOD, I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER!"
Issei facepalmed.
Garou burst out laughing with tears in his eyes. "Hahaha! I take it all back, son! I thought you'd end up a hopeless pervert, but you actually managed to bring home a whole family!"
Miki grabbed both Yuuka and Tamamo by the shoulders.
"You two. I expect grandkids. Soon."
Yuuka exploded. "STOP IT!"
Tamamo simply giggled. "Fufu~! I look forward to fulfilling my duty as the first wife!"
Yuuka growled. "DON’T SAY THAT!"
Issei, still lying on the couch, sighed deeply.
"I just wanted to go to sleep."
The Hyoudou household had never been known as quiet.
But tonight?
It was particularly loud.
Miki was still grilling Tamamo and Yuuka about future grandchildren, Garou was laughing like he had just won the lottery, and Issei was praying for divine intervention.
And then—
A rustling noise came from the fence.
Someone was listening.
Mrs. Sasaki, the next-door neighbor, a woman in her late fifties with an unhealthy love for gossip, peered over the fence.
She had come outside for some fresh air.
What she got instead was quite the scandal.
"—WHEN AM I GETTING GRANDKIDS?!"
"MOM!"
"OH MY GOD, I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER!"
"Son, you work fast!"
"STOP TALKING LIKE I’M A BROODMARE!"
"Fufu~! I shall work hard to fulfill your wishes, Mother-in-law~!"
Mrs. Sasaki froze.
Her jaw dropped.
Her brain stalled.
She glanced at the Hyoudou house.
A slow, horrified realization crept onto her face.
"…I don’t even wanna know."
She backed away from the fence immediately, turning on her heel and marching straight back inside.
Comments
Dillan Guzman
Jajajajajaja, no se por que nunca pase por aquí pero esta divertido autor, gran reunión familiar.
