Hello its me again and with a chapter of this story, its kinda short because this is a filler chapter, they need a downtime before another arc which is the kingdom raid arc which i will do in a single chapter or two who knows, but like i promised i put their stat sheet and all of their equipment in one single chapter so you could follow. 9k words by the way
i forgot to mention my director went menhera on us and wow, i did not see my director like that.
anyhow i hope you like this chapter as much i enjoy writing this!
I do not own Bck Clover and any references i made belonged to their respective creator
"Good work, you three," Yami grunted, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through the wooden bench he cimed as a throne.
The main hall was dim, illuminated only by the flickering hearth and the glowing cherry of the Captain's cigarette. Asta, Noelle, and Luck stood before him, still smelling of dungeon dust and ozone, having just stepped through the shimmering edge of Finral's spatial portal. After several minutes of recounting the chaos—the mineral mages, and the ancient vault —Yami's lips pulled back into a rare, jagged smile.
"That was a hell of a mission," Yami exhaled, a thick plume of smoke obscuring his face. "The Wizard King will be pleased. You three earned some rest."
"Yes, Captain!" they shouted in unison, the sound echoing off the stone rafters.
"Dismissed."
The three offered a sharp, disciplined salute before turning on their heels. Luck headed toward the kitchens with a manic skip in his step, while Asta and Noelle moved toward the stairs, their shoulders brushing in the quiet dark as they retreated to the privacy of their room.
"So, what did you manage to snag, Noelle?" Asta asked, his voice low and raspy. He moved across the room, scrubbing a towel over his damp, broad shoulders. Steam still clung to his skin from the bath, making his corded muscles glisten in the low mplight.
Noelle paused, her brush halfway through a silver strand of hair. She turned, her eyes tracing the hard lines of his torso and the way the heat radiated off him. She didn't hide the way she licked her lips; Asta caught the look and offered a cocky, deliberate flex of his abs, drawing a wide, predatory grin from his wife before he turned toward the bed.
With a sharp flick of Noelle's wrist, two items materialized on the rumpled sheets. The first was a pair of sturdy, leather loafers—different from her usual open-toed style—and the second was a set of delicate earrings.
"[Observe," Asta muttered, tossing the towel aside as he leaned over the bed.
Traveling Loafers (R)
Rarity: Rare
Type: Shoes
Level: 2/ 5
Mana Conductivity: C
Attributes
?Int 1
?Agi 2
Effect: Increases Movement Speed by 5% when inside an elemental field.
Description: Scuffed at the toes from years of field research. They've walked through every elemental hazard known to mages..
"Why these?" Asta asked, running a thumb over the worn leather. "There were definitely fshier options in that pile."
"True," Noelle replied, turning back to the mirror to admire her reflection. "But anything more valuable would be liable to questions from the higher-ups. These look like standard-issue scout gear."
"Smart." Asta admitted. He turned his attention to the earrings—simple, elegant silver bells.
Silver Wind-Chime Earrings (S)
Rarity: Special
Type: Accessory (Earrings)
Level: 2/ 5
Mana Conductivity: C
Attributes
?Int 2
?Agi 2
Effects: Reduces Casting Time while moving
Description: Tiny silver bells that make no sound to others. The faint ringing in the wearer's ears helps them time their movements between incantations.
"Now this is a real find, Noelle," Asta remarked. He didn't bother with a shirt, crossing the room in just his boxers. He picked up the silver bells and approached her. Noelle's smile softened as he drew near; she tilted her head, presenting her ear to him with her eyes closed in trust.
He carefully removed the old studs she'd worn since her childhood and slid the new, enchanted silver into pce. His fingers lingered against the shell of her ear before he leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to her neck.
"I know, right?" Noelle whispered her voice breathy. She smoothed out the silk of her nightgown as he moved back to the bed, dropping the loafers to the floor. She slid under the covers beside him, the faint, magical hum of the earrings already syncing with her pulse.
"So, what do you want to do, Asta?" Noelle asked softly. She felt his calloused hands slide over her stomach, caressing the skin beneath her silk nightgown. A sharp shiver ran through her at his touch, her body leaning back into his heat. "Today is Sunday. Do we head to our [Partner Room]?"
"No, let's try that new instance first," Asta replied, his voice a low vibration against her back. Noelle didn't argue; she simply scooted closer until her back was pressed firmly against his chest.
"Then let's see what we're dealing with, shall we?" Noelle smiled. She swiped her hand through the air, summoning the translucent blue interface. It cast a cool, rhythmic glow over their intertwined limbs.
[Vault Instance]
Type: Treasure Hunt
Enemy Type: Mimic
Enemy Level: 0
Objective: Find the Treasure
Rewards: 100 Tokens
Entry: 1 per day
"What kind of instance is this?" Noelle asked, her brow furrowing as she scanned the details. "Level zero enemies?"
"Really? Just tokens?" Asta muttered, disappointed by the ck of experience points. He stared at the screen for a moment, weighing the cost of their time. "Still... it's a hundred free tokens every single day. We can't afford to pass that up."
"Yeah," Noelle agreed, her voice a soft murmur against the quiet of the room. "We have nothing to lose. Shall we?"
Asta gave a sharp nod and pressed the [Enter] button. The moment his finger made contact with the translucent light, a heavy, familiar fog settled over their minds. Their eyelids grew leaden, and the world of the Bck Bulls' base dissolved into a dreamless void.
[Activating Rest]
[Entering Instance]
When they finally opened their eyes, they were back in the cold, echoing expanse of the dungeon vault. They were no longer in their sleepwear; the System had equipped them in their full combat gear, weapons at the ready. But the mountains of gold and ancient relics were gone. In their pce stood a chaotic, chattering sea of walking mimics. Some were dancing in rhythmic circles, others were sprinting headlong into the stone walls, and a few y snoring loudly in the corners.
[Quest: Find The Treasure]
[Mimics left: 50/50]
"Oh god," Noelle whispered, her hand instinctively going to her forehead as she watched the sheer absurdity of the mimics running amok.
She turned to find Asta already at work. He didn't say a word. He simply grabbed the nearest chest, yanked the lid open, and—when met with a face full of monster guts—sliced it into splinters with his greatsword. He looked at her, his eyes dead and hollow, before moving to the next one. He opened it. Spt. He killed it.
Noelle didn't argue. She marched to a mimic, pried the lid back, saw the rows of teeth, and immediately shattered it with a reinforced kick. This rhythmic cycle of hope and gore continued for what felt like hours. One by one, they systematically decimated the room, their movements becoming robotic and grim.
Finally, they reached the very st chest. Inside sat a single, pulsing gold heart. The moment Noelle's fingers brushed the treasure, the world began to flicker.
[Quest Complete]
[Treasure Found]
[Mimic left: 0/50]
[Gained: 100 Tokens]
The transition was instant. They didn't speak as the white light consumed the vault. When they opened their eyes back in their bedroom, they were lying side-by-side, staring at the ceiling with hollow, gzed expressions both emotionally exhausted.
After a long, hollow silence, Asta finally broke the stillness. Noelle felt his hand shift against hers, his fingers curling around her palm with a weary squeeze. He let out a long, heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of fifty exploded mimics.
"Let's just... go to our room," Asta muttered, his voice thick with exhaustion.
"Yeah," Noelle whispered back, her eyes already fluttering shut. "Please."
They didn't need to move a muscle. They simply focused their intent together, activating the one pce where the System couldn't mess with them. They surrendered to the familiar, tugging weight of sleep, desperate to wash away the memory of monster guts and wasted luck.
[Activating Rest]
[Activating Private Room]
As the darkness took them, the frustration of the vault began to recede, repced by the warm, humming resonance of their shared soul-bond.
When Asta opened his eyes, he was greeted by a sight far more comforting than the stone walls of the Bck Bulls' base. The ceiling above him was sleek and futuristic, illuminated by the warm, flickering orange light of the digital firepce.
Beside him, Noelle was already moving. She slid into the ergonomic chair at the computer desk, her fingers flying across the glowing keyboard as the screens hummed to life. Asta sat up, stretching his arms until his joints popped, a small smile tugging at his lips as he watched her.
"I'm going to the warehouse," Asta said, his voice regaining its strength. "I want to see what liebe is going to do with the rapier, do you want to come?"
"I'll pass," Noelle replied without looking away from the monitors. A pair of sleek, blue-rimmed gsses had materialized on her face. "I need to focus on this. I want that mimic memory scrubbed from my brain before I do anything else."
Asta stepped through the heavy door into the square training hall. The giant monitors were dark and the floor was empty, so he pushed deeper into the facility. He was greeted by the sterile hum of white lights and the sharp, metallic tang of a workshop. As he reached the center of the warehouse-sized space, he spotted Liebe.
The devil was hunched over a workbench, his usual gsses repced by heavy, dark welding goggles. He held a glowing red rod, pressing it against the rapier's surface. The bde had regained its pitch-bck hue, and while its edges looked deceptive and dull, the tip was lethally sharp, glinting under the workshop lights.
"Oh, you're here," Liebe grunted without looking up. He pressed the glowing heating element against the steel, sending a shower of red sparks onto his clothes. "Done being horny already?"
"No. We can't do that yet; Captain might get angry if we're te for chores," Asta replied, walking up to the bench. "What are you doing to it?"
"As you can see," Liebe answered dryly. He tossed the heating tool aside and snatched up a heavy smithing hammer. He began raining rhythmic, bone-jarring blows onto the ft of the bde. "I'm changing its properties. The junk magic it had before was useless for you. It needed a proper tune-up."
Liebe delivered one final, precise strike. He inspected the rapier's alignment one st time, nodded to himself, and tossed the weapon casually toward Asta's chest.
"What do you think?" Liebe asked, reaching for a bright green can beled Monster.
Maybe it's squeezed from some beast, Asta thought, watching the devil crack the tab and take a long swig. He turned his attention back to the weapon in his hands, feeling its new, strange weight before whispering, "[Observe]."
Devil's Touch (SR)
Rarity: Special Rare
Type: Colichemarde (Heavy Rapier)
Level: 2/ 5
Ki Conductivity : A
Effects:
Dual-Bde Resonance: While a Sword is equipped in the off-hand, increase Thrusting speed by 20%. (only Applicable when two weapons are equipped.)
Mana Bleeding: Enemies struck with the tip bleed Mana instead of HP. Bleed rate per second: 0.005% of STR.
Description: A rapier touched by a Devil. Its edges are dull, and its tip is needle-thin after being tempered by Anti-Magic. While it can still negate magic, its true purpose is to drain the enemy's mana reserves dry through precision strikes.
[Liebe's Note: It's the best I can do. Don't break it.
"I should point out," Liebe said, pausing to take another long sip of his neon-colored drink. "Rapiers are a pain to master compared to those oversized sbs of iron you usually swing. I suggest you let Noelle teach you some proper technique."
"She knows how to use a rapier?" Asta asked, surprised.
"It's for royal etiquette, nothing else," Liebe grunted, setting his drink down. "The nobles learn it for show. Let her teach you the basic stances, and then you can find a way to make it actually lethal on your own."
Asta nodded, gripping the hilt and attempting a horizontal slice. He felt the resistance immediately; the handle and the bance of the bde fought against his usual wide, swinging style. It felt awkward, like trying to use a needle as a hammer.
"Oh, and one more thing," Liebe added. He reached into his pocket and tossed two shimmering tickets toward Asta before turning to head back to his private room. "I won those in a bet during my st game. Please, just get stronger already. I have to stop my stream every time you two get 'active.' I'm busy enough just pressing buttons to keep your Ki from leaking out and alerting the whole base. If you two can't hold it in, go somewhere far away. Got it?"
Asta felt the heat rush to his face, his ears turning a bright crimson as he nodded frantically. With that, he was left alone in the hum of the workshop. He attempted a few experimental stabs with the rapier, but the movement felt so stiff and awkward that he eventually gave up. He tossed the bckened bde back into the vat of swirling anti-magic to keep it tempered and retraced his steps to their shared room.
When he entered, the sterile smell of the workshop was repced by the familiar, sweet scent of Noelle's perfume. He found her sitting at the desk, focused on a screen dispying a complex, rhythmic dance—likely a training video for her footwork. Asta didn't say a word; he simply leaned down, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in.
After a moment, he reached over her shoulder and pced the two shimmering tickets on the desk.
"What are these?" Noelle asked, her eyes shifting from the monitor to the items.
"Liebe gave them to us," Asta murmured against her skin.
"What are they for?"
"I don't know. Let's look."
[Guided Skill Procurement Ticket]
Rarity: Gold
Description: Allows the user to select and acquire any single skill within their respective Job Css or currently equipped Weapon Type without consuming Tokens.
Quantity: 1 per ticket.
"These are gold," Asta breathed, his eyes widening at the potential.
"Finally," Noelle said with a satisfied smile, leaning back into his chest. "That devil actually gave us something useful instead of just bankrupting us."
Asta offered a small, confident smile and handed Noelle her ticket before heading toward the bed. He left her to her own devices at the desk, knowing she'd be just as meticulous with her choice as she was with everything else. Settling onto the mattress, he held his ticket tight and ripped it open.
Immediately, the room's dim lighting was eclipsed by a golden glow as a massive interface expanded in front of him.
[Ticket Consumed]
[Please Choose (1) active skills from the list]
Tabs began to popute the air, cascading down in a dizzying array of categories. He saw icons for [Spear Arts, [Greatsword Arts, [Standard Swordpy, and even a tab for [Gdiator Exclusive Skills]
But Asta didn't let his gaze wander. He remembered the awkward, heavy bance of his new weapon—the way the rapier had felt like a stranger in his hand. He navigated past his usual brute-force categories and tapped the [Rapier] tab.
The screen flickered, the icons shifting from broad, sweeping arcs to sharp, needle-thin lines and precision-point strikes. He began to scroll, his eyes scanning the descriptions of the skills that would finally bridge the gap between his strength and this new, delicate form of violence.
Linear
Type: Martial/Active
Cost: 1% Ki per attack
Description: A basic, high-speed forward thrust.
Limitation: Cannot be used while dual wielding
"A basic skill," Asta muttered. He clicked the icon, and a small, crystalline projection manifested in the air. A phantom girl with chestnut-brown hair appeared, holding a single rapier with perfect posture. In a blur of motion, she lunged. The thrust was so explosive and precise that Asta barely saw the steel move—only the ripples in the air left behind by the strike.
Star Spsh:
Type: Martial/ Active
Cost: 5% Ki per attack
Description: high-level 8-hit combo involving rapid thrusts and sshes
Limitation: Cannot be used while dual wielding
Asta watched the next demonstration. The same girl moved like a dancer, her rapier carving a star-shaped pattern in the air with four stabs followed by four lightning-fast sshes. The grace of the movement was mesmerizing, but his excitement died when he read the fine print.
The limitation was a deal breaker. "Everything is for a single bde," Asta grumbled, his brow furrowing. The rapier's whole combat style relied on the Dual-Bde Resonance Liebe had baked into his gear.
He scrolled past the traditional fencing styles, his eyes searching for skills that didn't just allow for a second bde, but thrived on it.
Asta scrolled further down the list, but frustration began to mount. Almost every skill he encountered was designed for a single-handed duelist. He guessed it was a limitation of his current standing; his Gdiator css was currently capped at 37/40, unable to exceed his base level, which likely locked him out of advanced multi-weapon arts.
He kept scrolling, his eyes scanning past dozens of greyed-out or "Single-Hand Only" icons, until one finally caught his eye.
Cierre
Type: Martial/ Active
Cost: 3% Ki Per Attack
Description: Elegantly Dashes Forward with weapons, speed increase depends on [Dash]
Limitation: Can be used with one or two weapons, Rapiers must in either hand.
Asta tapped the icon. This time, the phantom girl was repced by a slender man with blonde hair pulled into a sharp ponytail. He held two rapiers—bdes that looked remarkably like the original Taper Bde before Liebe had bckened it.
Asta watched, captivated, as the man spun gracefully toward a training mannequin. The edges and tips of the twin rapiers glowed with a vibrant pink hue as he moved, leaving trails of light in his wake. Whether the phantom used one bde or two, the fluidity of the dash remained the same—a perfect gap-closer that didn't care about his dual-wielding setup.
Asta smiled and tapped the confirm button. The screen vanished, repced by a physical book that materialized in his hands. He flipped through the pages, finding them entirely bnk until he reached the very back cover, where a small, sharp note was inscribed.
[Usable only in the Training Room]
With the book tucked under his arm, Asta walked over to Noelle. She was still glued to her monitors, her eyes darting between skill trees as she meticulously compared the skills.
"I chose mine, Noelle. I'm heading back to practice it," Asta said.
"Okay," she murmured, barely offering a distracted wave as she dove deeper into her own list.
Asta returned to the sterile, white training hall. As soon as he opened the book, it erupted in a blinding white light before dissolving into glowing particles. The phantom instructor—the slender, blonde man in bck—appeared before him. He offered a stiff, formal bow, then turned toward the open floor to demonstrate the opening movement of the skill.
[Skill Training in Progress]
Status: All other Skills are LOCKED until completion.
Objective: Master the fundamentals of [Cierre].
Step 1: Perform a mid-air rotation.
Asta grinned, brimming with confidence. He coiled his muscles and unched into a spin, trying to mimic the phantom's grace. Suddenly, his vision fshed red. A sharp, electric shock surged through his nervous system as his form faltered, his posture breaking mid-rotation.
Asta grunted, his hair standing on end from the shock. He looked up to see the phantom instructor reset to his starting position, performing the twirl again with mocking, effortless perfection.
When Noelle finally entered the training room with a book of her own tucked under her arm, she stopped dead in her tracks. Asta was sprawled on the pristine white floor, his usually ragged hair standing up in stiff, charred spikes. He was twitching rhythmically.
"What are you doing, Bakasta?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Being... electrocuted," he groaned, pushing himself up. He dusted off his clothes before taking a deep breath. He sprinted, leaped into the air, and attempted a mid-air rotation. Halfway through, the air sparked red, and a bolt of lightning smmed him back into the ground. "It's... way harder than I imagined."
"You mean using a rapier?" Noelle asked, her voice tinged with both concern and mockery.
"Yes. Can you teach me ter? I need to get the 'feel' of it."
"I haven't touched a rapier since I was seven years old," Noelle admitted, crossing her arms. "But I'll try to teach you what I can remember of the stances."
"Thanks," Asta grunted. He unched himself into the air again, only to be bsted back down by another shock. Noelle couldn't help it; a small, amused giggle escaped her lips.
"You know, Asta, you can't just brute-force a rapier," Noelle said, her smile widening. "It's a weapon for royalty. It requires finesse, not just muscle."
"Yeah, I noticed," Asta said, shaking the static from his hands. He looked at the book in her hands as he prepared for another attempt. "What did you end up getting?"
"Serpent's Kick," Noelle replied. She opened her book, and the white light coalesced into a phantom instructor. This time, it was a man with vibrant green hair wearing a formal top hat. With terrifying speed, he delivered a single, fluid upward kick to a training dummy. The sheer force of the impact unched the mannequin into the rafters with a sickening thud.
Asta blinked, watching the dummy bounce off the ceiling. "Really? Just a kick?"
"Yes, simple—but effective," Noelle insisted, her chin tilted up with regal confidence.
She stepped toward her own designated training area, coiling the muscles in her legs. Aiming at the phantom mannequin, she snapped her leading leg upward in a high arc, using her trailing foot to anchor her weight and stabilize the strike. It looked like a perfect, textbook execution of a high kick.
A violent red spark erupted from the floor beneath her, and Noelle was sent tumbling backward as a surge of electricity locked her joints.
"How!?" Noelle shrieked, scrambling back to her feet, her silver hair now slightly frazzled at the ends. "I clearly did it right! My form was perfect!"
Without a system screen appearing to expin the error, she gritted her teeth and tried again. She focused on her breathing, adjusted her hips, and snapped the kick even faster. The result was the same: a blinding fsh of red and the smell of ozone as she was hammered back to the ground.
"You got the... the angle wrong, Noelle," Asta wheezed from his side of the room. He didn't even look up; he just climbed back into a crouch before his own instructor. "It's not just up... it's a snap."
"What do you want to do now, Noelle?" Asta murmured.
He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her as they y ft on their backs, staring at the futuristic ceiling. It had taken hours of grueling, painful repetition. Noelle had managed to complete her training first, her silver hair still buzzing with residual static after a hundred failed attempts. Asta had finally mastered his own skill shortly after, colpsing onto the floor next to her in a heap of exhausted muscles and singed nerves.
Once they had recovered enough to move, Asta had scooped her up like a princess, carrying her out of the training hall and back to their shared bedroom. He deposited her gently on the duvet before colpsing onto the pillows beside her.
"Let's do a [Partner Instance," Noelle whispered, her voice weary but determined. "But I get to spin the wheel this time. I don't want to end up racing horse girls or fighting mimics again—especially if your 'luck' is still active."
"Sure," Asta chuckled weakly. "I just hope it's a rexation room."
"So you can grope me without anyone seeing?" Noelle teased, though she didn't move away from his touch.
"Well, apart from that," Asta admitted, "I just want to rest. That training was brutal. Even without our physical bodies being there, my mind feels like it's been hit by a stampede of boars."
Noelle offered a small, knowing smile. She stood up from the bed and made her way toward the roulette wheel near the door. Asta stayed right where he was, his eyes locked onto her as she walked, unabashedly admiring the view. Noelle, fully noticing his gaze, didn't look back; instead, she slowed her pace, putting a bit of extra sway into her step just to keep him watching.
She reached the roulette interface, which was now glowing with a (1), signaling their avaible spin. Gathering her strength, she gave the wheel a powerful shove, sending it into a frantic, colorful blur. Without waiting for it to stop, she turned on her heel and walked back to the bed with the same slow, teasing stride, sliding back in next to Asta.
They watched with bated breath as the roulette wheel crawled to a stop, nding on a bright, inviting yellow. Asta didn't wait a second—he scooped Noelle up like a princess and charged toward the door so fast they nearly tumbled over. As they reached the threshold, the wood glowed with a soft golden hue. Noelle reached out, pushing the door open, and they stepped through together.
[Entering Rexation Instance]
When they opened their eyes, the futuristic apartment was gone. They were standing in a sprawling, dimly lit lounge. The air was cool and smelled of expensive wood and faint citrus. Noelle blinked, realizing her clothes had shifted into a sophisticated, flowing blue dress that shimmered like moonlight on water. Asta stood beside her, looking unusually sharp in a tailored bck suit that hugged his muscur frame.
A screen materialized in the center of the room:
[Instance Objective: Midnight Lounge]
Task 1: Complete (1) Dance.
Task 2: Finish all served drinks.
Rewards: 1,000 Tokens (Shared)
Special Note: [Drunk] Status is increased.
"So the instance is just us dancing and drinking?" Asta asked, looking around the sophisticated space.
"Most likely," Noelle replied, smoothing the fabric of her gown.
"Well... you look so beautiful, Noelle," Asta said softly. He finally set her down, watching her take a small, instinctive twirl. The dress was stunning, particurly the elegant cut at her chest that highlighted her curves. He found himself completely mesmerized, unable to look away from her.
Noelle felt a blush creep up her neck, but she didn't hide it. "You look quite handsome yourself, Asta," she admitted, her eyes scanning the sharp lines of his suit.
Suddenly, the silence was filled by the warm, melodic notes of a piano, soon joined by the soulful hum of a saxophone. The music surrounded them, setting a romantic, heavy atmosphere that made the rest of the world feel miles away. Noelle looked at Asta, her heart fluttering as he stepped forward and reached out his hand.
"Care to dance, my dy?" Asta asked with a pyful grin.
Noelle raised an eyebrow, though she was already reaching for him. "Do you even know how to dance?"
"Isn't it just swaying back and forth?"
"Just follow my lead, Bakasta," Noelle smiled. She took his hand and pced his other palm firmly on her waist, pulling him close until there was barely any air left between them.
They swayed back and forth in a slow, rhythmic circle. The music was so soothing and the atmosphere so romantic that the rest of the world seemed to vanish. Asta gazed deep into Noelle's eyes, watching them shimmer in the dim light of the lounge. The overhead lights began to shift, fading from a crisp white to a deep, moody glow that cast colorful shadows across the room as they held each other close.
"Do you remember the first time I told you I loved you?" Asta murmured.
"How could I not?" Noelle replied, her voice barely a whisper.
It had been four years ago. Asta had blurted it out right after they had been booted from an "Escape Instance" after losing a chaotic race against a swarm of killer rabbits. Back then, they were covered in dirt and panting for breath, but Asta had looked at her with the same shining eyes he had right now. He hadn't said the words again since that day—until tonight.
"What is your answer, Noelle?"
"What do you think it is?" she teased softly.
"I want to hear it from your lips."
"Then listen well, Bakasta," Noelle whispered.
She leaned in, her lips grazing the shell of his ear, her voice dropping to a tone she saved only for him. "I love you, Asta. I love the way you look at me like I'm the only person in the world—even when I'm being difficult. Back then, I was just a 'failure' from a royal house who couldn't control her own power... but you didn't care about any of that. You saw me before I even saw myself."
She pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, her hand tightening slightly on his shoulder.
"I'm gd you chose me for your quest all those years ago. Because of that you gave me a pce where I finally belonged, a pce where I could be myself, not the little girl who got scared of her sibling, the little girl who went beyond to prove myself, but just be me. So... don't you dare go anywhere, okay? Because I don't pn on ever letting you go."
Asta didn't answer with words. His heart was hammering against his ribs, loud enough that she could probably feel it through his suit jacket. He took her chin with his free hand and leaned in, closing the distance. He kissed her deeply, the lounge's lights swirling in a kaleidoscope of colors around them as the music reached a soaring, breathless stood swaying on the dance floor, lost in a rhythm they had perfected over years of being side-by-side. Asta's hand was steady on her hip, his other hand cupping her chin as they kissed. The kiss they shared were soft, the sounds, easily swallowed by the low hum of the bar and the clinking of crystal.
Asta's heavy dress boot nded squarely on Noelle's toes.
"Ah! Ow... Asta!" Noelle squeaked, her royal poise vanishing as she hopped on one foot.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Asta blurted out, waving his hands in a panic. The romantic fog broke instantly. "The shoes! They're longer than my usual ones, I swear!"
Noelle looked at his guilty, wide-eyed face and felt the irritation melt away. She let out a soft snort, which turned into a giggle, and soon they were both ughing—the kind of breathless, honest ughter that only happens between people who know each other's every fw.
Asta took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers, and led her to a plush velvet bench. As they sat, the music shifted. The saxophone faded, repced by a woman's voice—dreamy, soothing, and slow.
[Pying song: Dancing Through Fantasies]
Two gss bottles appeared on the table, the liquid inside shimmering like liquid starlight.
"Are we allowed to drink these, Noelle?" Asta asked softly, his voice echoing the rhythm of the song. He looked at the bottles, then back at her, his eyes full of a quiet wonder at how beautiful she looked in the lounge's dim light.
"Of course we are," Noelle replied, her voice breathy as she leaned into the radiating heat of his body. She reached for a bottle, her silver hair brushing like silk against the sharp, dark line of his suit. "Shall we?"
Asta grabbed his bottle, and they clinked the gss together with a sharp, clear cnk. They drank in unison, the cool liquid hitting their tongues with the explosive, sun-ripened taste of dark grapes. It wasn't just juice; it was rich and complex, humming with a faint magical resonance that made their skin tingle.
"Wow," Asta exhaled, wiping a stray drop from his lip.
"It's different from the drinks they serve at the royal balls I've attended," Noelle remarked, her eyes shimmering as she studied the bottle.
"How?"
"It's much more... exquisite," she admitted. "Cleaner. It's like the System filtered out all the bitterness."
They talked for a while longer, the low music and the comfort of the bench making the exhaustion of the mimic vault feel like a distant memory. Just as they finished, the empty gsses on the table vanished into pixels. In their pce, a new set of gsses appeared. This time, the liquid inside was a deep, viscous red that caught the dim light like a garnet.
"Red wine?" Noelle murmured, recognizing the rich hue.
"You know this one?" Asta asked, leaning in.
"Yeah," Noelle said, her voice dropping an octave. "It's the same vintage I had at the st ga... but it feels different here." She looked at him, her gaze lingering on his lips. "Shall we?"
"Let's."
They tilted their heads back and drank again. This time, the heat didn't just stay in their throats—it spread through their chests like a slow-moving wildfire. Asta smiled, the warmth making his movements fluid and rexed. He set his bottle down and pulled Noelle into a kiss, their lips meeting in a slow, deep rhythm that was muffled by the singer's haunting, soulful voice.
As time drifted by, the wine gsses vanished. In their pce, two smaller, heavy-bottomed tumblers appeared. The liquid inside was a brilliant, translucent gold, swirling around a single, perfectly spherical ball of ice that caught the amber light of the lounge.
"So Noelle... what is this one?" Asta asked, leaning his elbow on the table, his eyes never leaving hers.
"I don't know, actually," Noelle admitted. Her voice was slightly breathier than before, and Asta could see a faint, beautiful flush creeping across her cheeks. "I don't really drink much... usually just the light stuff at ceremonies."
Asta looked at the golden liquid, then back at her. "Shall we?"
Noelle gave a small, firm nod. They tipped the small gsses back. Unlike the wine, these were emptied in a single, sharp gulp. The taste was an immediate, intense burn that scorched its way down their throats, leaving a trail of pure heat in its wake.
"Wow," Asta wheezed, his eyes widening as he felt the kick of the spirit hit his system. He let out a long breath, feeling the st of his tension dissolve.
"This is... different," Noelle murmured, her voice thick and soft as she hugged Asta's muscur arm, pulling herself tight against his side.
They sat there for a long while, their eyes scanning the vast, empty lounge. The overhead lights flickered rhythmically, shifting from deep violets to a cool, moody blue. The atmosphere in the room changed as the music transitioned; the female vocalist's soulful croon was repced by a smooth, rhythmic male voice. It was a sound they hadn't heard in the lounge before, a pulsing beat that felt modern and alive.
[Now Pying: Color Your Night]
"You know, Noelle... this is our second time getting this instance," Asta said, his voice low and steady. He looked out at the rows of unoccupied velvet chairs and the polished, vacant bar. "But it's so quiet. Nobody is ever here."
"Noelle?" Asta asked after a moment of silence.
He looked down to find her completely mesmerized by her gss. She was leaning forward, her silver hair spilling over her shoulders as she poked at the rge sphere of ice with a delicate finger, watching it bob and spin in the remnants of the golden liquid.
Asta smiled, a genuine, warm expression that had nothing to do with the drinks. He reached out with his free hand, resting his palm firmly on her shoulder, feeling the heat of her skin through the silk of her gown. He didn't push her to answer; he simply leaned back with her, letting the vibrations of the bass and the vibes of the empty, glowing room wash over them both.
Their empty gsses dissolved into pixels, much to Noelle's quiet dismay; she had just started to enjoy the way the ice sphere spun. In their pce, two new tumblers materialized. They were the same size as the st, with the same heavy ice, but this time a single match appeared hovering over the liquid. With a sharp scritch, it ignited, blooming into a low, ghostly blue fme that danced across the surface of the drink.
They watched in silence as the fire slowly burned itself out, leaving behind the thick, intoxicating scent of concentrated, sun-drenched grapes—stronger and more potent than anything they had smelled before.
As the smoke cleared, the atmosphere shifted again. The smooth solo jazz was gone, repced by the synchronized, energetic voices of multiple men singing in a nguage neither of them understood. The lyrics were foreign, but the melody was infectious, the upbeat tempo and soaring harmonies filling the empty lounge with a sudden burst of life. Asta found himself caught in the rhythm, his head bobbing instinctively to the beat.
[Now Pying: Beautiful (Treasure)]
"Can we... actually drink this, Noelle?" Asta asked, looking dubious. He stared at the gss, half-expecting his throat to catch fire just like the liquid had.
Noelle didn't bother answering him. Much to Asta's sheer amazement, she simply grabbed her gss and downed the potent, grape-scented liquid in a single, fearless gulp. She set the tumbler down with a soft thud and offered him a sweet, hazy smile that made his heart skip a beat.
Asta didn't want to be left behind. He followed suit, bracing himself as he swallowed the golden-blue spirit. It burned like a trail of liquid lightning through his throat, but the aftertaste was wonderful—rich, sweet, and lingering.
As he set his gss down, the world felt a little lighter, the edges of the room softening. He watched as Noelle stood up, her movements fluid but slightly uncoordinated. She reached out and snatched his hand, her grip surprisingly firm.
"Noelle?" Asta started, blinking up at her.
"Dance," she commanded. Her face was a deep, beautiful red, and her eyes were bright with a sudden, restless energy.
As they stepped back onto the dance floor, the atmosphere of the lounge pivoted again. The music surged, the beat becoming more energetic and driving, vibrating through the soles of their shoes. Asta watched, mesmerized, as Noelle began to move. She swayed her hips with a rhythmic, hypnotic grace, the silk of her moonlight-blue dress swirling around her legs.
"Dance," she said once again, her voice a pyful challenge as she pulled him closer into her orbit.
[Now Pying: Friday Night]
The soaring, brassy notes of a saxophone erupted around them, the funky bassline pulsing through the floorboards. Noelle was a blur of silver and moonlight-blue, her body moving to the beat with a free-spirited energy Asta had never seen. He followed her lead, his movements stiff and a bit awkward at first, but he couldn't stop smiling. Seeing Noelle beaming at him, was better than any System reward.
The dance floor beneath them came alive, erupting in a kaleidoscope of shifting neon colors that pulsed in time with the sax. It was a far cry from their first slow, romantic sway; this was electric. Noelle snatched his hands, spinning him into her orbit as she pyfully danced around him, her ughter lost in the rhythm.
They stayed out there for two more songs, their bodies moving in a blur of sweat and silk, until the high-energy beat finally began to taper off. Breathless and flushed, Asta led her back to the velvet bench.
The moment they sat, Noelle didn't settle next to him. Instead, she swung her legs over and cimed his p, her silk dress bunching up around her thighs. She draped her arms around his neck, pulling herself flush against his chest. Without a word, she began to press soft, lingering kisses into the crook of his neck, her breath hot against his skin as the lounge's dim lights swirled around them.
The music surged into something frantic and electric, a rhythmic ctter that sounded like a thousand crabs dancing to a wild, syncopated beat. The lounge was alive with noise, but on the velvet bench, the world had narrowed down to the heat of their skin.
Asta sat with his eyes squeezed shut, his head tilted back as Noelle trailed damp, searing kisses along the corded muscles of his neck. His rge, calloused hands slid down the moonlight-blue silk of her dress, finding the firm, rounded curve of her ass. He squeezed, his fingers kneading the soft flesh through the thin fabric, drawing a sharp, needy moan from Noelle's throat that vibrated against his skin.
As the friction between them spiked, two new gsses materialized on the table. They were tall, filled with a vibrant, neon-blue liquid, and topped with tiny, festive umbrels—a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere on the bench.
"Come on, Noelle… let's drink," Asta groaned, his voice thick and strained as he tried to pull his focus back to the System's task.
"No," Noelle whispered, her voice a velvety command. Instead of reaching for the gss, she leaned in and pyfully nipped at the sensitive skin of his neck, her teeth grazing him just enough to make his breath hitch.
"Noelle…" Asta warned, his grip on her tightening.
"No," she murmured again, her hands sliding into his hair to pull him closer, completely ignoring the glowing blue drinks as she continued to pepper him with kisses then pyfully biting him, her hips grinding to him.
"Noelle, you're wasted," Asta growled. The word caught in his throat as he moved with her, his hands gripping the fleshy curves of her hips, holding her steady against him while his brain screamed at him to just flip her over and forget the rules.
"I'm not," she snapped, the word muffled against his pulse.
Asta was vibrating, his heart smming against his ribs like a trapped animal. He was losing the fight to stay civil as Noelle's hands—uncoordinated but relentless—tore at the buttons of his suit. She wasn't just unbuttoning him; she was demanding access.
"Why are you stopping me, Asta?"
Her voice was thick, dripping with the booze and the heat of the room. It was a challenge, a taunt.
"I want to... I want to keep going, but—"
He couldn't even finish. Noelle was back on his neck, her mouth hot and demanding, while her hands traced the jagged lines of his abs. He felt every inch of her through the thin silk of that gown.
"Remember what you said?" Asta hissed, his voice cracking. He grabbed her wrists, forcing her to stop for a second. "The real world. You said you wanted it to be real, not this fake-ass System lounge."
Noelle stopped dead. The drunken fog cleared for a second, her eyes snapping into focus. She didn't look guilty; she looked hungry. She let out a slow, dark ugh, then gave him a hard, deliberate shove of her crotch against his—a reminder of exactly what he was saying 'no' to.
She reached back, grabbed the blue drink, and downed half of it in one go. Asta snatched his own, his hand shaking with the sheer effort of not throwing the gss across the room and taking what was in front of him.
Noelle didn't give him a choice. She smmed her mouth against his, her kiss tasting of sharp mint and the burning sting of the blue liquor. They stayed locked together, a desperate mess of heat and friction, until the lounge finally dissolved into a blinding white gre.
[Instance Complete]
[Returning to Partner Room]
[Reward: 1000 Tokens (Shared)]
The System didn't break their rhythm. As the light faded and the familiar weight of their own bed settled beneath them, they were still at it. The only sounds in the room were the wet, frantic noise of their kissing and the low, rhythmic crackle of the firepce.
"So... that was a hell of a 'rexing' trip, huh?" Asta finally managed to say. He was sprawled on his back, his chest heaving as he stared at the ceiling. His hands were still buried against the small of Noelle's back, feeling the shift of fabric as her shimmering blue gown returned back into the thin, white silk of her nightgown.
"It was fun," Noelle murmured. She was draped over him, her fingers zily tracing the hard muscles of his chest, a satisfied, loopy smile tugging at her lips.
"Fun? It was hirious seeing you completely hammered for once," Asta teased, a tired chuckle vibrating through his chest.
Noelle didn't even argue. She just reached out and gave his side a sharp, indignant pinch. Asta barked out a ugh, watching the deep, embarrassed red climb up her neck and flood her face.
"So," Asta said, his voice dropping, becoming serious as he looked into her hazy eyes. "You want to head back? Back to the real world, Noelle?"
Noelle didn't say a word. She just crawled up his body, her knees pinning his thighs as she cimed his space one st time. She leaned down and pressed a final, lingering kiss to his lips—one that tasted less like booze and more like a promise.
Once she pulled back, she colpsed against him, using his chest as a heavy, rhythmic pillow. She closed her eyes, letting the steady, thudding beat of Asta's heart drown out the residual hum of the firepce. Asta's arms wrapped around her instinctively, pulling her flush against him as their shared room began to blur at the edges.
[Activating Rest: Computing Accumuted Rewards]
Name: Asta
Level: 37 (EXP: 0/ 7500)
Hp: 1485/1485
KI: 11832/11832
Rage: 0/100
Intimacy: 100/100
Title: [Bck Bull's Junior Knight],[Noelle's Lover],[Fate's Unknown Variable]
Css: Gdiator (37/40)
Race: Human
Partner: Noelle Silva (Lovers 90/100)
STR: 550 (29)
AGI: 154 (15)
DEX: 95
STA: 1479 (15)
INT: 174
WIS: 158
LUK: 1
Points Left:0
Passive Skills
True Ki Mastery (B):
· 360-degree awareness of all Ki signatures within 700 Meters
· 2% of damage is redirected to Ki; reduces overall damage taken by 15%
· Permanent 2% Ki regeneration per second.
Rage (B): 2% dmg per 5% of meter, Active until out of combat
Battle Continuation (C): Activates when hp is at 1%, all damage will be directed to SP Cost: 5% SP per second effect ends when all Ki is Lost or battle ends
Dagger Mastery (B): Gives Minimal control and speed when wielding dagger type equipment, Grants: Backstab. Ignore Defenses when attacked from the back. (Current: Ignore Percentage 20%)
Axe Mastery (D): Gives Basic Control and Weight Distribution when using Axe-type Equipment, Grants: Armor Crushing. Attacks ignore 5% of the target's Physical Damage Reduction
Spear Mastery (A): Gives Advance Control when Using Spear-type Weapons, Piercing attacks move 15% faster., Grants: Shield Piercing, +20% damage to Shields
Greatsword Mastery: Boosts movement and attack speed when wielding Greatswords.
Grants: Reflection- Deflects enemy projectiles. Success rate scales with STR/DEX.
Active Skills
Sprint (S): Increases Speed by x0.1 AGI cost 1% Ki per second
Zetten (B): Adds Ki to Attack, Cost 30% Ki per Attack, Grants Different effect per weapon
· Dagger: Hits always apply backstab
· Axe: Attacks cannot be blocked by Cannot be parried or blocked by shields of an equal or lower Rank of the weapon.
· Spear: Ignores Shield, +50% dmg to shielded opponents
· Greatsword: 100% chance to reflect attack to opponent.
Pierce (S): Attacks Twice in quick Succession, Cost 2% Ki per attack
Iron Crusher+2 (A): two continues Attack before smming weapon on the ground creating fissures.
Cierre (F): Dashes Forward with weapons; Rapier must be equipped in either hand
Extra Skills
Skill Chain (EX): Allows to chain skills, Also Allows canceling of skills (interrupting skill animations), 1% Ki per use
Points:0
Equipment:
Five Leaf Clover Grimoire (M)
Attributes: +1 STR, +1 AGI, +1 STA
Passive Skills
[Anti-Magic Coating],[Growth], [Devil's Choice]
The Bck Silence Gloves (R)
Attributes: +6 Str, + 6 Dex, +6 Agi
Passive Skills
Weapon Swap (EX):
Weapon Storage (N): Stores one (2) weapon type. (Current Slot: Demon Coated Spear(R), Devil's Touch (SR))
Demon-Syer Sword (S)
Attributes: +5 Str, +2 Sta
Demon Coated Spear (R)
Attributes: +5 Agi
Passive Skills
[Anti-Magic Poisoning]
Demon Dweller Sword
Attributes: +2 Str, +2 Dex
Passive Skills
[Mana Absorption]
Devil's Touch (SR)
Attributes:+1 Str, +2 Agi, +3 Dex
Passive Skills
Dual-Bde Resonance
Mana Bleeding
Name: Noelle Silva
Level: 37 (Exp: 0/7500)
Hp: 480/480
Mp: 6264/6264
SP: 1232/1232
Race: Human
Title: [Bck Bull's Junior Knight], [Asta's Lover], [Fate's Unknown Variable]
Intimacy: 100/100
Css: Battle Mage (37/40)
Partner: Asta (Lovers 90/100)
Affinity: Water
Stats:
STR: 188 (7)
Agi: 254 (53)
Dex: 188 (15)
STA: 148 (6)
INT: 496 (26)
WIS: 550
LUK: 35
Points Left:0
Passive Skills
True Mana Mastery (B): +35% casting speed of [Water] Element, +25% Mana Regeneration, +10% of damage is redirected to Mana; reduces overall damage taken by 15%
Activated Royal Blood (B): Base Mana 20% Mana Regen 15%
Mana Attunement+2 (B): 5% Mana Regeneration, +5 Int
Crossbow Mastery+2 (B): +10% Crit Rate, +9% Accuracy, +5 Dex, +2 Str
Eagle Eye+1 (B): +10% Crit Dmg on Headshots, +5 Dex, +2 Agi
Swift Kicks (A): 20% attack speed of kicks, [50% in awakening], increased Magical damage based on 9% of Agi
Active Skills
Water Creation Magic (Rank S): Allows magic to make water into anything
? Water Ball(Rank S): Simple Attack Spell (Dmg=Int/Wis)
? Water Shield (Rank S): Barrier Magic (Potency Int/Wis)
Serpent Kick(E): Powerful Upward kick, Successful attack unces target in the air
Awakening (EX):+20% dmg for 20 seconds
Equipment:
Three Leaf Clover Grimoire (M)
Attributes: +1 int, +1 wis
Passive Skills
Grants. [Resonance],[Growth],[Defensive Stance]
Water Princess Crossbow (N)
Attributes: +2 Agi, +2 Int
Passive Skills
Elemental Spirit [Sir Kowalsk (N): Adapts to Users Elemental Affinity, 1% Mana Regen per 10 Seconds
Water Mastery: 10% Speed in water; allows for underwater breathing
Custom Bolts:
Active Skills:
Load (N):
[Spirit Dive: Water Princess Dress:]
Traveling Loafers (R)
Attributes: +1 Agi, +2 Int
Silver Wind-Chime Earrings (S)
Attributes: +2 Int, +2 Agi
Shared Skill:
Observe (Rank: B): Mastery 1/100. View status (ManaXKi Sense). Cost: 100 Sta/100 Mana
Rest (Rank: EX): Mastery 100/100. Compresses 8 hours of sleep into 1; finalizes all stat gains. (1 per week)
Shared Skill:
Observe (Rank: A): View status: (MPXKI) vs Opponent (int/MP), Cannot use on triple level opponents. Cost: 100 Sta/100 Mana
Rest (Rank: EX): Compresses 8 hours of sleep into 1; finalizes all stat gains. (1 per week)
Partner Skill:
Direct Message (EX): Allows messaging between partners, regardless of Distance
Castling: Swaps the Pces of the Couple
Dream Cycle: Passively Increase Intimacy Rate, Dreams will always connect the Partners
Multi Storage: Allows Storage of Items, Size Depends on Retionship Level
Mana Transfer (Rank Ex): Allows transfer on Mana/Ki, efficiency depends on what kind of 'essence' used.
Realized Red Strings of Fate (Rank M): Doubles Mastery Rate of skills when near partner, reveals partner Location when using a map-Type Item, Immune to any debuff with [lust] effect, cannot be seduced
Marital Skill:
Warm touch (Rank Ex): Makes Partner appreciate your touch, only activates on [Rexation] Instances
Tokens: -50,000
and that's a wrap, i was going to continue this chapter but, i figured this was a good stopping point. next chapter is about the kingdom raid.
now that the stats are shown: why is noelle skill water kick and water cross not listed? well its jus a simple attack using load from the crossbow so its like this load(water ball)+ Attack to the head=Water strike, and so on. and so about intimacy will it still be relevant? not anymore its gonna be stuck to 100 now. that was just a mechanic to force the two to interact, now that they had confessed and kissed it will not be relevant anymore, now about their lemon scene when will it be? until they get their mastery's to (A) they wont continue but they may try.
Anyhow the next chapter is by Tuesday or Wednesday
