"Alright, no time to waste! I can feel a storm brewing!" Auros valiantly shouted, "Let's go get that bastard!"

"Wait!" Issei shouted for them to go back, "We still haven't gotten our friends from the top of the island! Aru, I'm talking about-!"

"We know who you're talking about, Foreigner. Calm down." Aru sighed.

"So then-!"

"No, we're not going back for them." She simply stated, "They have another role to fulfill in this. Trust the process."

Though their original goal was to find Lune and company and hopefully devise a plan to take down the old man together, it seemed the Gods already had that worked out. Then again, Issei's only reason to go to them was to make sure they were alright, so since they now have the Gods' word that that's indeed the case, he can at least rest easy in a change of plans.

"Holy crap, now that I get a look at it from the outside..." Lem pointed to the crown of the Tree, "Yep, that thing's gone for good. Ain't no saving it."

"That's good." Jorgen said unapologetically.

"Eh? How come? Wasn't your mission to save the Tree from burning?" Issei tilted his head.

At this question, Jorgen refused to give out an answer as he simply looked back towards the island where the old man was. Glancing over at the Gods after seeing Jorgen be this difficult about answering also bore little fruit, with the Gods simply shrugging. That's when the ever-friendly Pierre finally chimed in to help.

"My brother is talking about a certain war strategy." He sheepishly explained, "By having this large Tree suddenly burn down, we can distract the other islands as they all flock here to try and salvage it."

"Oh, I get it!" Lem nodded, smirking at Jorgen as he did, "See? Wasn't so difficult to explain now, was it~?"

"...Hmph." Jorgen pouted.

"We don't know how many of these islands are inhabited, nor do we know how many of them are following the old man's orders." Maxwell added, "Just to be on the safe side, it would be better to only have to deal with him."

This seemingly tragic catastrophe ended up being a blessing in disguise, as they stated. With all that decided, Auros began slowly but surely trudging through the water separating the two islands, with everyone neatly seated on his shoulders. The God of Fighting appears to have quite the reputation among those who know him as the fastest mode of transport in the Vast World, though that title has only recently been taken by Lune's and Issei's airbike.

"Too bad about that flying bicycle you two made." Auros mocked, "Guess humans really were never meant to fly so easily. Maybe try a full scale airplane next time!"

"Ugh, no thanks. I've had enough of airplanes." Issei shivered, "The last time I was on one, it crashed into the ocean."

"So wait, you went back to your world just to come back here?" Aru surmised, "Why? Did something fail on the other side?"

"Nah, I just liked it here more." Issei smiled.

Talking about traveling to other worlds as if the matter was about going on vacation to another country, the Gods and the Vast World's Foreigner simply raved on and on about the many pros both worlds had. Once all was said and done, they came to the conclusion that both worlds had their strong points and weak points, and in the end the choice of which one to spend the rest of your life in was ultimately up to preference. As for the others on the ride...

"...Another world?" Aaron tilted his head, "Wait, you meant that literally?"

"What are these airplanes?" Jorgen too seemed interested, though he only showed hints of it on his face, "I believe we could utilize them for a potential air reconnaissance force, not to mention as a way to transport cargo."

"The mountains of your world do indeed sound beautiful." Pierre happily imagined them in his head, "I wish I could see them with my own Eyes..."

"Hold on, are we all just gonna pretend like he didn't mention the panty dispenser?" Lem finally popped the question that was brewing in his mind from the start.

"Ladies, please, one question at a time." Issei joked, though he did pull up his phone to show Mount Fuji to Pierre, "You're the only wholesome guy here, so I'll fulfill your wish though."

"Wow!" He gawked at the mountain before the device he held in his hands finally caught his Eyes, "Eh? Wait, this isn't a picture frame?"

"What is that? Show me!" Jorgen couldn't take it anymore as he finally jumped to snatch it away.

"Noooope~! That's my phone, get your own!" Issei was faster though, "This is just a piece of my world's technology, it has practically everything on it."

"Like what?" Maxwell asked.

Naming off all the many functions the modern smartphone had on it, Issei seemed to never find the stop button in his voice as he kept rambling on and on. The men were in absolute awe at all that could fit in just this one tiny rectangular device, but they seemed more intrigued by the demonstrations he did than anything.

"Why, with so much it can do, I'd even say it could be referred to as the world's first external organ." Jorgen's Eyes were wide open in disbelief, "To think it would be man-made too... Please, procure one for us as well."

"Nah."

"We will pay you handsomely."

"Mnnn..."

"Kaido, we spared the life of you and this pipsqueak." He then returned to threatening, "Unless you want us to change our minds on it...!"

"I'm thinkin' about it..."

"Argh! If neither money nor life insurance, then what is it that you want from us!?" Jorgen finally snapped.

"I want you, the proud and narcissistic Jorgen, to say just one simple word." Issei gave him a shit eating grin, "Please."

This was the most diabolical plan Issei could have ever come up with in this situation. Just from seeing this desperate reaction on Jorgen's face, he surmised that this could finally be the thing that gets him to shed that solipsistic mask of his. As everyone's gaze turned to the fuming Jorgen, they were even more surprised to hear that very same word actually come out of his mouth."

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Grrr..." Jorgen, who was now bright Red in the face from embarrassment, muttered, "...Please, Issei Kaido, procure this device for us as well."

"Can't. I didn't make this one, I bought it while I was still in Japan." Issei chuckled, "I have no idea how to make one."

"You insolent...!"

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***

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"Wow, I never thought the water here was actually this shallow." Lem looked down below.

"Wanna try taking a dip in to see for yourself?" Auros asked.

"Can I?"

"Don't, it's deep as hell." Aru stopped him, "Don't throw your life away chasing the advice of a God."

"Alright, Goddess. I'll take that advice to heart!" He smiled.

"Urgh, I hate smartasses..." She groaned, "In any case, Auros here can change size at will. That's how he can so easily cross entire oceans just by walking through. He's just constantly adjusting his size to give you guys the illusion that we're always on the same elevation."

"That's very kind of him." Issei patted the Red orc's shoulder, "Good God."

"Do that again and I'll gnaw on your bones." Auros gave him a sidelong glare, "I'm no child. No coddling."

"Adults can get coddled as well." Issei sulked, "I make sure to hug my fiancées as often as possible."

"Ah, you're married, Kaido?" Aaron smirked, "Congratulations to you."

"Gonna get married soon, we just got engaged recently." He proudly pulled his phone out, "Wanna see a picture of us together?"

"Ah, he's the type that prides himself in the game he's pulled." Maxwell chuckled as everyone huddled around the phone, "So, which of these two is the lucky lady?"

"Yes." He simply replied.

"W-What do you mean yes? Is it the White haired one?"

"Mhm, that's my fiancée Othelia." He kept grinning from ear to ear.

"A-And so this other one is...?"

"Eleanor, she's also my wife."

Almost immediately, every one of the Generals craned their heads to Lem as if to reaffirm what they just heard. With a tired expression, he sighed and nodded to their suspicions.

"Yeah, the guy has two wives. Don't ask me how he did it, even I have no idea." Lem groaned, "Big woof, though. He's just doubling his headaches in my opinion."

"Damn! This guy's a pro, haha!" Aaron strongly patted him on the back, "You're crazy, guy! Now that I look at it, you got two rings. Geez, I thought those were just decorations."

"There goes all my self confidence again..." Maxwell sulked quietly, "I'm never gonna find love."

"Oh, don't beat yourself up. I'm sure you'll find the one for you." Pierre consoled him.

"Yeah man, besides, who needs women when you have us, am I right?" Aaron chuckled.

"Coming from you, I don't wanna hear it." Max pouted.

The Generals' friendship seemed quite close, is what Lem and Issei thought. Their tight-knit bond seemed genuine, almost like nothing could ever break them apart.

"I agree. Women are only there to cause problems." Jorgen rolled his Eyes.

"You shut up! You're the only married guy in our friend group!" Max hissed, "Even if it is only on paper!"

"Ah, I have a girlfriend too." Pierre suddenly raised his hand, prompting everyone to stop bickering.

"...You what?"

"Y-Yeah, well..." He twiddled his thumbs, "We just recently started talking. She's this really sweet girl from our hometown, Jorgen. I met here while rebuilding the path to it. A-Ah, but nothing's set in stone yet! We're still only starting out and-!"

"Pierre..." The single Generals all glared at him, "You're saying your fatass got hitched while we're toned and lonely...?"

"A-Ah, guys?" He backed away nervously, "B-Back away, please?"

"Throw him overboard!" Max ordered.

"Yeah, swim back to your darling if you love her so much!" Aaron cried as well.

"G-Guys!" Pierre looked back, "Brother, help me out here! Call them off!"

"Brother..." Jorgen merely took a step back, "When something like this happens in our family, usually you are to notify everyone immediately, yet you kept it a secret from me..."

"What the hell!? It took you years to finally tell me about that time you got married!"

"Unimportant." Jorgen shook his head, flicking his finger away so as to signal to the other two to throw him off, "Have fun swimming, brother."

"Damn all three of you!"

Just as he was thrown overboard, an oddity occurred, for a strong waterjet had hit Pierre head on and sent him back up the way he came. Seeing this, it didn't take much for everyone to guess who could be behind such a merciful save. Indeed, everyone's heads turned to the livid Aru, before she sprayed them all with that very same waterjet.

"Shame on you all!" She hissed, "He's your friend, be happy for him!"

"Oop, she's mad." Issei chuckled, "Last time she was like this was when she walked in on Eleanor, Othelia and me."

It appears Issei has an innate gift. He has the ability to somehow always make the target of hatred go from someone else to him. With just this one simple statement, he managed to not only turn all the Generals' anger towards himself, but he also made Aru recall that traumatic moment in her life.

"Grab his arms and legs." Aru commanded, "Chuck him up as high as your arms let you."

"Gladly." The three Generals nodded.

"O-Oi! Guys, wait, what are you-!?" Issei cried out, "Bahhhh!"

As if getting chucked overboard himself wasn't bad enough already, Issei's flailing about mid air was stopped only by Aru's waterjet that sent him practically to the clouds. It took a couple of minutes before he actually fell down and hit the water, and to make matters worse... He belly-flopped.

"Hey, about me and Nelly..." Lem cleared his throat, "On second thought, I guess saying we're dating isn't actually the case yet."