DxDanmachi: Voyager of Worlds Ability

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Jabu looked at Mika, his expression a mixture of longing, resentment, and—hope.

He harbored a secret: he was in love with Saori Kido.

Ever since he was a child, he had defended her against anyone who defied her, often clashing with Seiya, who refused to blindly obey her every whim.

Seiya, in turn, considered him Saori's lapdog, a title even Jabu himself secretly accepted. After all, despite his courage in battle, he couldn't bring himself to confess his feelings—content to simply admire her from afar.

However, Saori's recent change in demeanor had given him hope. She had moved into the guest house—becoming more approachable, and he could now see her every day.

He had once believed they were from different worlds, that confessing his feelings would be futile. But her newfound warmth had given him the courage to hope.

However, despite her change, the distance between them remained. And the one closest to her now…was Mika.

He had arrived suddenly—gaining a prominent position within the Graad Foundation and often sharing afternoon tea with Saori. Their laughter and easy conversation, even from afar, filled Jabu with a growing sense of—discomfort—a feeling that intensified with each passing day.

Finally, he could no longer bear it...

"Mika, what is your relationship with Miss Saori?" he asked, his voice tight with barely suppressed emotion.

"...."

"Our relationship?" Mika smiled, seeing through Jabu's barely concealed jealousy.

He knew it was a hopeless infatuation. Those who couldn't stay by Athena's side wouldn't dare confess their feelings.

And the closer they were to her, the more they felt the all-encompassing warmth of her Cosmo, the more difficult it became to voice those feelings.

Throughout history, most Saints were young men in their prime, especially the Powerful Gold Saints, who fought alongside Athena. Surely, some must have developed feelings for her. However, none dared to express them.

She was someone to be admired from afar, not approached.

Even the mighty Gold Saints couldn't bring themselves to confess their love to Athena, let alone a Bronze Saint like Jabu. Perhaps only Gods could possess such confidence.

"I know what you're asking, Jabu. Miss Saori and I—we simply enjoy each other's company. I've been sharing stories about my travels around the world, and she finds them entertaining."

"She even expressed a desire to travel herself, but unfortunately, with her responsibilities at the Graad Foundation, she doesn't have much time. As for our official relationship, I suppose I'm her attendant, a bodyguard of sorts."

Jabu's face lit up, hearing that they weren't romantically involved.

He readily believed Mika's explanation.

After all, the outside world was far more exciting than the sheltered life Saori had lived within the Graad Foundation. Mika's stories must have captivated her.

Having convinced himself, he then scoffed, "A bodyguard? You? What makes you think you can protect her? I'm more than enough for that." He clearly looked down on Mika, who wasn't a Saint.

"Oh, really?" Mika smiled, then, in the blink of an eye, his hand appeared before Jabu's face, his index finger gently tapping his forehead.

Jabu hadn't even seen him move!

"H-how is this possible?!" he stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief. As a Saint—accustomed to supersonic speeds, he hadn't even registered Mika's movement.

It was impossible. After all, to him, Mika was just an average human.

He tried to jump back, to escape Mika's touch, but his body wouldn't respond.

"Don't bother struggling. While it might look like I'm just touching your forehead, I've actually disrupted your nervous system. Your body can no longer respond to your commands," Mika explained calmly.

"..." Jabu realized he had lost control of his body. He couldn't even speak. His earlier exclamation had been a mere thought, unspoken.

He was terrified.

He had never experienced such a thing.

Mika's attack had caught him completely off guard. Even burning his Cosmo to its fullest extent couldn't break Mika's hold.

Only when Mika withdrew his hand did he regain control of his body. Mika then patted him on the shoulder.

"Remember, there's always someone stronger. You're not ready to challenge me yet. You need more training. Therefore, instead of directing your hostility towards me, perhaps you should focus on your next opponent, Shun. He's not as weak as you think."

With that, Mika walked past him, heading towards the garden where he usually met with Saori for tea.

——

Mika didn't dwell on his encounter with Jabu. He had no intention of punishing him. As he had said, Jabu should focus on his upcoming battle against Shun.

The difference in their strength was too vast, not just in their current abilities, but also in their potential. Jabu, after all, wasn't one of the five main Bronze Saints.

While he was currently comparable to Seiya and the others, his Power wouldn't be enough in the future.

He would eventually fade into the background.

Therefore, Mika wasn't concerned about him. He only cared about his friends and those who posed a true challenge.

"Speaking of Shun and Jabu's duel—it's almost time for 'him' to appear." As he walked towards the garden, he recalled the recent events of the Galaxian Wars.

Seiya and Shiryu's battle had just concluded. Both had fought fiercely, their Cloths nearly destroyed, eventually discarding them and resorting to hand-to-hand combat.

In the end, Seiya had seized a crucial opening and defeated Shiryu, nearly killing him. Only another punch from Seiya had restarted his heart.

Mika had witnessed their duel. He often accompanied Saori to the arena, so he was familiar with the tournament's schedule.

He knew the next match was Jabu versus Shun.

However, according to his memories, this battle would also mark Ikki's arrival. He would appear at the arena—steal the Gold Cloth, and demonstrate his Overwhelming Power—surpassing even Seiya and the others.

He would be the strongest Bronze Saint at this point in time.

"It seems I'll have to watch this one as well. Such a spectacle—I can't miss it." He smiled, anticipating the upcoming events.

——

——

"Ahhh!!!!"

"Andromeda!!!!"

Mika, standing in the private viewing box, couldn't help but shake his head at the deafening screams echoing from the arena.

Countless female fans were cheering for Shun, His androgynous beauty, coupled with his gentle nature made him incredibly popular, even among the male audience.

"He's quite the celebrity," Mika chuckled.

"Indeed. Among the ten Bronze Saints, Shun is the most popular," Saori confirmed with a smile. Then, turning to Mika, she asked curiously, "You've been attending the matches more frequently lately. I thought you found them…unremarkable?"

"I didn't have time before. Now that I'm less busy, I thought I'd enjoy the—spectacle," he replied calmly.

"You're lying," she said with a gentle smile. "I can tell."

"Discerning lies, huh? What a convenient—Divine ability. The Gods in my world possess similar Powers." He shook his head, realizing his mistake. He had grown careless, forgetting that Gods could see through deception.

In Orario, he had been incredibly cautious when speaking with the Gods, fearing they might discover his secrets.

However, since leaving that world, his vigilance had waned. Now, facing Saori's knowing smile, his guard was up once more, though it wasn't directed at her.

With his secret already revealed, there was nothing more she could discover. He was more concerned about himself, about maintaining his composure and avoiding any careless slips of the tongue in this dangerous world.

"Actually, I sense another presence in this arena, another Saint. If I'm not mistaken—it's him." Since he couldn't lie, he decided to tell the truth. After all, he had sensed Ikki's aura in the arena during his previous visit.

"You mean Ikki?" Saori instantly understood. Of the ten Bronze Saints who had acquired their Cloths, only Ikki, the Phoenix Saint, hadn't returned yet.

And the location of his training…

"Death Queen Island," she murmured. It was a notoriously dangerous training ground.

Few survived to become Saints. And those who did were said to be changed, their personalities twisted by their ordeal. It seemed the rumors about Ikki were true.

"I see…" She nodded, then turned to Mika, her voice soft. "So, you're here to protect me?"

"Of course. I told you I would," he replied, deliberately avoiding a direct confirmation.

She smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes, and Mika tensed up. After all, Athena wasn't just the Goddess of war, but also the Goddess of wisdom.

Unable to lie to a God, he could only speak in half-truths, hoping she wouldn't see through his deception.

'This Goddess is…troublesome,' he thought.

She smiled at him, her expression unreadable. "In that case… I'll choose to believe you."

"Believe me?" He was puzzled. To a Goddess like Saori, truth was truth, and lies were lies. What did she mean by "choose to believe"?

As if sensing his confusion, she chuckled. "I realized it's…inappropriate to use my Divine Power to judge the words of a friend. Therefore, I've decided not to use it on you anymore."

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