Chapter 11

Issei watched the messages rolling in, and for the first time in a while, he felt like he was part of a conversation where he wasn't the butt of a cruel joke. Yeah, they were laughing at his reaction, but it wasn't like the kind of bullying he got at school—it felt more like friends teasing each other.

[Neo One For All]: LMAO

Attached was a picture of a man falling off his seat in laughter.

[Lord Emperor of Mankind]: I have certainly considered that job, but the demons said I was too evil for their tastes.

He followed it up with a picture of a little girl smiling while a house burned in the background.

Issei's eye twitched. This guy…

[The Glutton]: LOL, I guess that's how I should respond. But Emperor of Mankind, I didn't really expect such carefreeness from you. Good job.

Attached was a picture of The Glutton himself, smiling while giving a thumbs-up.

Issei exhaled through his nose, looking at the chat. They were messing around at his expense, but it didn't feel malicious. It was actually kinda fun. Even if it's not so magical, these guys aren't so bad… but I hope they don't make a habit of making fun of me.

Deciding to fight back, he posted a meme of a family jumping on a beach, except the little kid's hand had slipped from her father's grip mid-jump.

[Dragon King]: Why have you betrayed me, Father?

Naruto responded instantly.

[Lord Emperor of Mankind]: With a name like that, you are no son of mine.

Attached was a GIF of a man kicking another man off a cliff.

[Grand Scholar]: I think we call that savage 😁

[All For One]: Apply holy water to burned area.

Issei snorted, covering his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. But then—

[Ruin Princess]: Is that you? You from our school, OD.

Issei froze. His heart skipped a beat.

'OD…? Wait, she recognized me?!'

His eyes darted back to his profile picture. It was a cool dragon image he had picked at random, and his handle was "Dragon King." Could that be it?

[Dragon King]: Who?

He played dumb, but inside, he was screaming. Why is Rias Gremory talking to me?!

[Ruin Princess]: I know who you are, OD, and just like Emperor of Mankind said, we are all special in some way. And you are definitely special. Otherwise, you wouldn't have that dragon name or profile. Just wait for me; I am coming to meet you.

Issei frowned. The system chose his profile picture? He hadn't given much thought to the dragon-themed image the system had automatically assigned him. He had just assumed it was random.

But if what Rias was saying was true… then why a dragon?

Issei stared at the message.

Wait for me…?

He gulped.

'No way… no freaking way. Rias Gremory is coming to see me? Me?!'

His mind went blank. A flurry of thoughts crashed against each other.

'Maybe she likes me.'

But then, Naruto's words echoed in his head:

Don't be so vain and try to understand others.

Issei frowned, slightly conflicted.

But in the end, he shook off the thought.

'I'll think about it later. Right now, let's enjoy some oppai first.'

His eyes drifted back to Naruto's gift, and his lips curled into a grin. Yeah, whatever happened next, at least he was getting some good content out of this.

 

The members of the Heroes Chat Group had fallen into a heated discussion about the superiority of mythical creatures, and as usual, their conversation was full of banter, humor, and unexpected twists.

"Are dragons really strong or something? 'Cause the only thing I remember they could do was fly and breathe fire. They're just lizards with wings that can barely destroy a small village. Toads, on the other hand, are the cool ones. They can wield weapons, use the elements, and even be sages. Isn't that cool?"

Emperor of Mankind typed with enthusiasm, sending along a picture of a toad dressed in a samurai uniform, holding a sword and spitting a water lance. The image was comical and dramatic, reflecting his bias in favor of toads.

The chat quickly buzzed with responses, each person eager to offer their perspective on the matter.

"I think we will have to disagree on that, Lord Emperor of Mankind. No offense, but toads are disgusting, and dragons are cool."

All For One chimed in, his comment laced with mild disdain for the amphibians.

"Same here. Toads just don't taste that good, and they were really weak. The dragon in my world was really strong, though. It could shoot lasers that destroyed planets and moved really fast."

Glutton added, his voice dripping with confidence as he shared his experience with dragons, showcasing their immense power from his own world.

"I will agree with Master here. The toad seems capable of utilizing its hands, unlike the dragon. This gives it an advantage. The usage of water is another, and weapons are better than fighting with your own body most of the time. So, the toad would be better combat-wise. Appearances are dependent on the person."

Grand Scholar offered a measured and thoughtful response, analyzing the situation logically. He appreciated the toad's versatility but did not dismiss the dragon entirely.

The debate was starting to get heated when a new voice interrupted the bickering.

"Boys, no need to argue so much. It's obvious that Kyuubi's are the best."

Golden Fox entered the conversation with a knowing grin, completely bypassing the ongoing dispute.

"I agree. Must have lost my mind for a moment. Kyuubi for life, Yo."

Emperor of Mankind quickly amended his stance, siding with Golden Fox. A picture of Kurama's smug face appeared in the chat, as if to endorse his sudden alliance.

"Kurama, what are you doing?"

Emperor of Mankind asked aloud, now seeing his massive nine-tailed fox friend holding his phone, even though he had been keeping it away just a moment before.

"Nothing, just stating some facts."

Kurama replied with a sly smile, his sharp eyes gleaming with amusement. His grin only deepened as he scrolled through the chat.

Naruto, still focused on the conversation and checking for potential threats, merely nodded and returned to his routine. As far as he was concerned, Kurama was never short on providing an opinion, even if it was just to mess with him.

Meanwhile, the chat had quickly spiraled into new territory. It had become clear to everyone involved that Emperor of Mankind's comment about "Kyuubi for life" might have been misinterpreted by some of the more curious members.

"Momma, will he be my new daddy?"

Kunou asked innocently, as she sat on Yasaka's lap, her big fox ears perking up with excitement.

Yasaka smiled at her daughter's innocent question, her tone soft and understanding, "We will see."

The playful tone in the chat continued as some of the group members tried to hold back their laughter. This exchange only added to the whirlwind of activity happening inside the Heroes Chat Group.

Emperor of Mankind could only chuckle at the misunderstanding. "I'm just here to get some wisdom on dragons, but it seems like everyone's getting the wrong idea," he thought, as he glanced over at Kurama, who had been unusually quiet ever since the "Kyuubi for life" comment.

It seemed that Kurama was enjoying the attention a little too much.

 

The atmosphere in the Heroes Chat Group took a rather unexpected turn as the topic shifted from mythical creatures to the curious interactions between Naruto and Yasaka. The group members couldn't help but notice the playful tone in their exchange, and before long, they began to tease the two, making it into a spectacle.

It all started with Kunou's innocent message asking if Naruto would be her "new daddy." While Yasaka had responded casually, others in the group took it as an opportunity to poke fun.

"Well, looks like we have a new couple in the making," Rias Gremory commented, her words dripping with teasing amusement. "I can already hear the wedding bells. Golden Fox, you sure you're ready to be a part of the Emperor of Mankind's royal harem?"

She sent along a picture of a lavish wedding ceremony, with Naruto and Yasaka standing side by side, both looking completely unaware of the event.

"I've always known you had great taste, but this?" Issei chimed in, his comment playful, but with a tone of admiration. "I guess dragons aren't the only thing with an advantage in this world."

Rias giggled at Issei's comment and quickly added, "You'll get no arguments from me. The Emperor is quite the catch, though I'll admit the thought of him courting Golden Fox is... new territory for me."

The playful banter didn't stop there.

"You two are seriously going to make this official, huh?" Ichigo wrote, sending a wink emoji alongside it. "Looks like the Emperor of Mankind has found his queen, though I'm sure Kurama will have a lot to say about that."

The group was now in full teasing mode, and Naruto could only shake his head as he scrolled through the responses, fully aware that the conversation had taken on a life of its own.

Meanwhile, Yasaka—believing all the attention was a joke prompted by Kurama—played along, not wanting to break the fun and immersion.

"You all are very lively," Yasaka responded, her smile apparent even through the chat. "Though I'm flattered by all the attention, The Emperor and I are just having a fun conversation. No need to jump to conclusions, right?" She sent a wink emoji as if to further add to the playful nature of the moment.

The members of the group didn't miss a beat.

"Haha, nice one, Yasaka. But come on, we all know the real reason you're playing coy. Everyone knows the Emperor of Mankind is irresistible," Toriko chimed in, laughing. "Guess we'll all have to wait for the royal engagement announcement now!"

Rias followed suit, posting a humorous meme of a dragon and a fox locked in a loving embrace with the caption: "True love, but make it divine." The entire group burst into virtual laughter at the absurdity of the meme, and even Yasaka couldn't help but chuckle.