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A New Sun Chapter 85
🕑 Added 2025-03-01 03:14:43 +0000 UTCChapter 85
~ A New Sun ~
Within a beam of golden light, I appear directly outside my residence in the Kyoto Palace, back home at long last, finally letting me breathe a sigh of relief.
Well, I say 'at long last', but it hasn't been that long. Ama couldn't hold me forever, she had actual work to do and all that, so I'm only really looking at being back a good few hours or so later than I expected.
I don't know how exactly she's supposed to deal with that horde of uncountable toddlers, but hey, she's dealt with them numerous times before, so I assume she has something worked out.
Threats with lightning seemed to work for a time, maybe threats with sunfire are far more permanent?
Somehow, I doubt it.
In any event, none of that is for me to worry about!
My gaze sharpens, and my hand abruptly halts midway as I reach for the front door.
Why?
I sense only one presence inside, and it's a familiar alright, the problem is she's the only one.
It's just Rose inside, and I can feel her quickly rushing down, presumably to see me right away as I come in.
Now, usually, I'd be all for this completely, hell, I'm kind of a little excited right now as is!
Slight issue with that though, and what's causing me to be just a tad more than a little tentative, is just who this girl was with previously.
Who knows what Kuroka and Suza told her to try and do before the latter ran off…somewhere?
I almost want to say Kuroka ran off to hide, that's my knee-jerk response to this, that she told Rose doing something lewd and or stupid when I got back would be romantic or what have you, then she ran off to delay the inevitable consequences.
Keyword there being delay.
Then again, Rose is a bit naive and inexperienced when it comes to this stuff, but she isn't outright stupid enough to fall far Kuroka's blatantly obvious traps and bullshit.
I click my tongue, ultimately deciding now isn't the time for further guesswork when I can just see for myself.
So, ejecting those thoughts with a shake of my head, I grab hold of the handle and allow Rose the time she needs to get ready for…whatever she's going to do.
As I thought, she headed straight to the main entrance area beyond the door and stood almost dead center within it so that when I opened this door she'd be the first thing I saw.
She doesn't move an inch more, so I push open the door and step inside.
My jaw damn near unhinges itself and slams into the floor.
"U-Um…" Rose stands there, a light blush across her face, her shy nervous gaze directed off to a corner of the room, and only occasionally flickering to my face to view my reaction, "W-Welcome home, d-darl…" Rose stutters and stops herself for a moment, her blush practically blazing now, "Nori! Welcome home, N-Nori!"
Okay.
That? That was adorable.
Next thing?
Holy me she's bloody gorgeous.
I was expecting something lewd, not something so…so…I don't have the words!
She's clad in a simple long white sleeveless sundress, with a sprinkling of light blue dots across the fabric. Additionally, she's wearing a flower crown around her neck, made up of what I think might be lilies, and a light brown sun hat with a few of the same flowers stuck on the side of the rim.
It sounds simple to describe, but really, Rose rocks it.
I'm not going to lie. The girl looks like straight-up wife material right now!
Now, granted, it's not like she wasn't already wife material, but the clothes bring it all out.
I think that's ultimately what was being gone for here, right? Considering what Rose tried to say first…that's probably something Kuroka told her to say. It gives off that feeling.
Now, how do I want to go about this?
Slowly, I feel a smile creep up onto my face, as I step inside and close the door behind me.
Internally, I curse Kuroka for being such a terrible influence.
"It's good to be back~!" I hum, happily, stepping right up to the silver-haired girl, "Especially now…"
"O-Oh? T-That's goOOD-!?" Rose flinches and interrupts herself, as I put a hand on her face, my thumb brushing against her cheek, and wrap my other arm around her waist, pulling her right up against me, "What are y-you…?" Rose began in a hushed and hurried breath, stopping once more as her eyes finally fully met my own.
My smile was beaming, as I began, "You know, it's at times like this when I'm reminded what an absolutely beautiful gem you are, and just how blind those fools across the world up north are~..." I murmur, sincerely, with only a slight bit of husk.
I couldn't eliminate it, Rose's considerably large and soft chest was pushing against me right now after all, but I did my best!
At my words, Rose's eyes widened, her breath hitching as actual tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
She tried to look away.
Fortunately, my hand on her face prevented such a move.
Instead, all she managed was a biting of her lip, and a breathless, "Y-You…don't say things like…!"
My smile turns into an easygoing smirk, "Too late. I've got more if you'd like?"
"Mmmm! Please, don't…!" She whined out in response, to which I gave an exaggerated huff and shake of my head.
"One of these days," I began, far more serious, "I'm going to compliment you so much you're going to forget every last insult they threw at you, got that?"
Rose blinked at my words, this time, it took a moment for what I said to finally sink in.
When it did, her face completely lit up, and yet despite that she only gave a small, almost sad smile, "...Right. Are you sure you'll be able to manage that?"
Hmm, someone doesn't sound so sure of me, huh?
In response I flashed her another far brighter smile, and quite literally swept her off her feet, into my arms, picking her up and holding her there like a princess.
"EH!?" She exclaims in shock, one of her arms quickly wrapping around my shoulders to stabilize herself.
Before she can even utter another word in surprise, I look down upon her and say, "Yeah, I'm very sure. After all," I let out a gentle chuckle, as my eyes very obviously scanned her entire form, "there's so much to compliment…" I let my words trail off from there, just like my eyes.
"I…I see~...?" Rose shivered at my gaze and words, but judging by the way her smile grew just a bit more from last time, I think it's safe to say that was a pleased shiver.
With that out of the way, I carried her over to the living area, where there was a nice and empty soft couch to sit on, just for a moment.
Of course, I didn't let her go upon reaching it.
Instead, I sat down, and then brought Rose with me, setting her down sideways on my lap.
The poor girl looked pretty confused about what to do now, but not uncomfortable or awkward in any manner.
In fact, when I sat her down, she was the one who steadily started scooting closer to me, completely of her own volition!
At the same time though, I couldn't just have her sitting her going 'Oh', 'Uh', 'Um', and so forth all the time, so I wrapped an arm around her waist once more, holding her as I took the lead of the conversation once more.
"First things first," I began again, "I should probably apologize for…well, leaving you like that earlier. Then showing back up a little later than expected."
Rose perked up, then pouted a bit, "It's…not much of a problem, I suppose. Kuroka was…well, she tried to get me to try on all this stuff, gave me all this 'advice', and such. Then tried to claim I should call her big sis, all of a sudden?"
I stared, deadpanning at the wall whilst listening to that.
"Not even slightly surprised to hear any of that," I huff, adding, "Is she the one that told you to call me 'darling'?"
Rose's blush magnified once more, "...Y-You caught that?"
My deadpanning turning to her only made her blush more.
"Yeah. Don't worry, I wouldn't mind, you are perfect wife material after al-" Her pale hand practically slammed into my mouth, stopping my words dead in their tracks.
Rose's blush had turned atomic at this point, and I think I could even see little swirlies in her eyes, as she gasped out a breath slowly trying to get her bearings.
Cute~!
Thankfully, it didn't take long for her to get said bearings back, calming down back to the point her face only had a light dusting of pink.
Unfortunately, she continued like I didn't just mention her being perfect material.
Sadge.
"Ahem. Right, anyhow!" Rose finally removed her hand from my mouth, "Suza, ah, big sis Suza was far more helpful, in my opinion." She smiled gratefully, "Much of her advice seemed far less…ah, debasing, much more helpful. She was also much more mindful of costs and such!"
I couldn't help but wince for Kuroka there, despite my growing mocking smirk, "Damn, you called Suza-chan big sis, but not Kuroka? Kinda wish I could have seen her reaction, I bet it was glorious."
Also, it makes sense. Suza always came off to me as the more mature and stable version of Akeno. Of course, her advice wouldn't be complete garbage, or just lewd.
Though, ain't it a bit odd how she still took at least a little bit of Kuroka's advice regardless? Like for the whole 'darling' thing?
Rose tilted her head consideringly at that, "I couldn't say, she sort of just skulked away after we were done. I don't know where she went."
"Probably went to bother her sister." I mused, not like she could go anywhere else.
With a nod of her head, Rose accepts that, before moving on, "All in all, I can confidently say I learned…much." Her flush deepened ever so slightly.
"Good!" I pat her gently on the back, "I'm glad that wasn't all just torture for you then. As for me…" I grimace, before going into what kept me for a little while longer.
Takamagahara, Ama's whole…thing, the works.
By the end of it all, Rose looked understanding, along with being a bit disappointed.
I thought, and completely assumed, she was disappointed in me and had already accepted that as fact.
Instead?
"I see…" Rose nodded grimly as I finished my explanation, "I probably should have seen something like this coming, Noriaki, I apologize for not notifi- EEP!?"
She squeaked and shrieked as I gripped her waist just a touch tighter, intentionally interrupting her.
"Hey now." I started before she could pipe back up, "Don't you start going there with me, blaming yourself for something like that. This is all on me, not you, not anyone else, got it."
Rose looked very unsure, "But, in our contract, my duty-EEP!? H-Hey!" She whined as I did it again.
"What about our contract?" I snorted, ignoring her whining entirely, "None of that matters. You were barely involved with that quickly thrown-together plan, hell, you didn't even know about it until it neared its end anyhow."
"Still!"
"Still nothing." I cut her off shortly, before smiling at her, "Listen, alright? None of that was on you. I want to make that abundantly clear for you, because if you start trying to blame yourself for being a 'bad employee' or whatever I will spank you. Understand?"
"S-Spank me!?" Rose cried out in shock, "That…that wasn't part of the contract!"
"It was not." I admit, easily, my smile growing, "It doesn't have to be though, that's just how bad girls get treated. Has nothing to do with employment."
Rose shudders at my emphasis, her blush magnifying for the umpteenth time this night.
I eye her pointedly, "Got it?"
She nods, quickly, several times, "Y-Yes, Lo- Nori!"
…Come on Rose, if you give me reactions like that, I'm going to start thinking you have a potential kink related to getting screwed by your handsome young boss.
Unfortunately, now is not the time to be thinking about, or trying to discover, Rose's kinks and fetishes.
"Good." I nod, satisfied, "Now that's all settled…why don't we get a move on?"
Rose stills entirely, her only motion being a single befuddled blink.
"...Eh?" She eventually squeaks out, confused.
Huh. Deja vu.
Regardless, I nod, "Yup. Wanna go out now?"
"B-But isn't it too late, now?" Rose started, concerned, with quickly growing panic, "And too cold! F-For me to wear this, I mean!?"
Okay, let's stop that now before she freaks out too much.
"I dunno," I shrug, "what's the weather looking like in Asgard around now?"
She freezes still once more.
Except this time, the panic doesn't get consumed by further confusion, instead, the exact opposite occurs, and her panic completely devours the confusion.
Whoops.
"Asgard?! W-Why!?" She exclaims, crying out in equal amounts fear and panic.
"Oooookay," I hum out, soothingly and low, as I pull her body closer against me, hugging her gently, "before you freak out anymore, listen first alright?"
Rose nods, rapidly, several times, against my shoulder, and so I go on.
"To put it simply? I want to try and give you what you missed out on over there." Rose flinched at that particular mention, I merely patted her on the back gently as I went on, "I may not know what your life was like entirely over there…but, well, surely you saw places you wanted to go with someone," she twitched, "things you wanted to do," another twitch, "just stuff you missed out on there, ya know?"
I took a breath, as it seemed Rose had significantly calmed, before finishing with a gentle smile, "I just figured…why not try and make up for lost time?"
For a beat, Rose didn't say or do anything to even acknowledge my words.
For a second longer, I started getting worried thinking the poor girl might have passed out in my lap or something!
But eventually, thankfully, she moved, slowly pulling away from me, so she could look at me.
She looked almost on the verge of tears. Her eyes were closed, and yet despite that, I could see tears forming and peaking out around the edges. At the same time, however?
I don't think I've ever seen the most pained yet beautiful and sweet smile on someone's face, all at once.
"I…" Rose uttered, sounding nearly breathless, barely managing her next words, "...Thank you. There should still be…some daylight time in Asgard, just-" her breath hitched slightly, I think suppressing a sob, "...Please excuse me, so I can freshen up first…?"
I don't say anything, I merely give her a polite nod.
She slides off my lap with ease, and practically power walks upstairs, I sense her position after she leaves my sight, going straight to the bathrooms.
I slowly lean back into the couch, as I hear the girl burst out in joyous tears and sobbing.
All the while? Absolutely cussing out that old fuck Odin.
Or at least, I assume that's what she's doing. Her accent kicked into high gear almost as soon as she let loose, and I couldn't make out the specifics of what she was saying.
…Oh well, as long as she's happy, yeah?
~ A New Sun ~
Thankfully, it didn't take long for Rose to finish 'freshening up'.
And you'd think, with how she looked when she did come back down, that she did freshen up!
Her cute little blush was gone, replaced instead by a much wider, far happier, glowing smile. There isn't a single tell of whatever exactly she was doing up there.
In addition, she was now also wearing sandals, but considering we're going out now that isn't much of a surprise.
As for myself, I took the time as she was doing…all that, to change out my robes for a fresh pair of robes that looked the same as before.
I would have put on my more formal robe and suit that I used way back when I first met Kunou and Yasaka, but I figured this was supposed to be a more fun thing, not a formal thing.
Onto the next thing of importance!
Actually getting to Asgard.
I stood up as Rose walked back in, her smile infecting me so much that I couldn't help but smile back at her, "So, we ready to head out now?"
Rose nodded, enthused, "I believe we are!"
"Nice! Then…how do we get there, exactly?" I ask, a bit perplexed, "Do we have to call out that one guy's name for him to create a bridge?"
Rose just stared at me like I'd grown a second, third, and fourth head.
"...No?" She answered after a moment, "Where…Where did you get any of that from?"
"...A movie?" I tried, slightly abashed.
Even though the Thor movie doesn't come out for another few years.
The completely unimpressed deadpan she sent me made me finally understand how I look when dealing with stupidity.
Luckily, my suffering was short-lived, as she shook her head and sighed, and held up a finger before elaborating, "No, Nori, we just teleport there via magic." One of her magic circles bloomed into existence right above her finger, but after a moment she added with a tilt of her head, "Well, okay, technically, newcomers to Asgard are supposed to cross the Bifrost Bridge first, from Earth to Asgard, and there's this whole official process…but as a Valkyrie, even formerly, I have special access to a 'backdoor' if you will, which is what we will be using."
I raise an eyebrow, "Just like that."
She nods, easily, "Just like that, yes."
Well damn.
"That…doesn't seem very secure." I mused aloud, to which Rose gave a very tired sigh as she walked over to my side.
"You tell me," she grumbles, her accent slipping in slightly, "I tried telling Odin about the potential of it, but he…didn't particularly care."
That tracks.
"Although," Rose continues, a tad more shy, "I'm sort of…glad, he didn't care to fix it. Now." The silver-haired girl admits, looking down with a slight blush.
I couldn't help but chuckle, reaching over, and taking her free hand in mine, causing her to perk up.
"As am I." I smile right back, only inflaming her blush more.
Without another word, Rose threw down the circle spinning above her finger right in front of us, it expanded as soon as it hit the ground, turning into something almost resembling a devil summoning circle.
Except, in this case, the circle was a deep lavender or violet color, and adorned completely with what I'm fairly certain are Norse runes and other such symbols.
"Before we step through," Rose raises her voice, right as I'm about to take a step, "I highly recommend concealing your aura and power, just so we aren't…bothered. Alright?"
I nod in understanding and take a moment to do just that, closing my eyes and pulling in everything I can, just like I did back in Takamagahara.
"...There we go."
When I open my eyes, to Rose, and everyone else, it'll likely feel like I don't even exist, even if they don't look at me.
Judging by how all those oafs ignored Rose for so long, I don't think they'll find me any suspicious at all.
If they even notice I'm there.
Rose nodded, satisfied.
And then, we both stepped into the circle.
Befitting one of Rose's magic spells, we were gone practically as soon as we stepped in.
I probably should have braced myself for it…I don't know why I was surprised, but with just one step, I was in a completely different world.
Literally.
My home had gone, the artificial lights and shadows peering down from the night sky and through the windows? Gone.
It was replaced by a fresh and new daytime sky, a bright blue, with the golden-yellow light of the sun peeking through the blue above.
There were no clouds, yet somehow, the light from the sun seemed dulled, blocked by…something.
But I didn't have time to ruminate on that, as my gaze was drawn outward, into the distance, into the horizon.
It was all a single tree, a giant, megalithic ash tree, that stretched up and up into the sky, so far up that not even my enhanced eyes could see where it ended.
It made the second biggest structure in the distance seem puny, like an ant in comparison, despite it also being considerable in size.
An old Norse hall that dwarfed both my homes in size combined, made entirely out of gleaming pure gold.
And to my surprise? There was more than just the one, although the one my eyes caught sight of first was most definitely the biggest, most grandiose of them all.
There were dozens of them though, large old Norse-styled long halls and palaces, made of pure gold.
Then, finally, my immediate surroundings came into view, and they were no less impressive.
Old Norse-styled longhouses not entirely made of gold, but instead out of wood, the freshest shiniest of woods, each wall and roof is perfectly and meticulously carved with intricate and unique designs and embroidered with gold along the way to give each home a little more shine.
But it doesn't end there, of course it doesn't stop there.
Amongst the homes, halls, and palaces, were groves upon groves of trees, all sitting upon the same evergreen plains as the houses. They looked remarkably similar to ash trees…except the leaves were this dazzling red-gold color as if they were in a perpetual state of autumn.
And finally, connecting it all? Were these simple well worn sandy-looking paths, waving between each home, connecting everything like a maze.
…So, for the second time today, I stopped and stared, my jaw almost fell out of my face and hit the floor.
I was only brought back to reality by the light and pleasant feminine giggling at my side, and the slight tug of my hand.
I finally turned, looking to see Rose, the scenery as her backdrop…perfection. Actual perfection.
"Come on," she nudges along, giving me another tug, "there's no time to waste!"
…That there is not.
~ A New Sun ~
Chapter 85 End
I skimmed through all the times Asgard appeared or was mentioned in the LNs, and can you lot believe a detailed description of the place was never given?
Like, damn, even Heaven got that much.
So, here we are! I'm gonna have as much fun with this as I can, since I don't think we'll be coming back here or even have a chance too, for awhile!
