Written by Honore/Merlin

"But what's the catch?" I asked, with doubt-laced voice.

"Nothing," said the red-haired girl sitting before me. "Nothing at all, but your continued patronage."

I gave the tiny vial a little shake. It fit snugly within the largest line of my palm. "And you're sure this will make Amano-san love me forever?"

"She'll love you to hell and back, Ise-san," said the girl, making a swift movement with her hand. "You have my honor as a Devil."

"I thought Devils didn't have honor," I muttered under my breath. The girl seemed to hear, as her smile widened. She leaned forward, revealing an unflattering view of cleavage through the school uniform.

"Certainly, you shouldn't have cause to trust me. And that's why you're not signing any contracts, or even doing anything remotely 'contract-like'." She sounded like a sultry "onee-sama" now. "It's like a trial run. If you don't like it, then we can let this one just be a bad memory."

"Problem is, I'll probably end up getting traumatized or something..." I look from her to the vial. "Alright," I said reluctantly. "But if anything bad happens from this, then—then all bets are off, Gremory-san. I don't care if you are a Devil."

Rias inclined her head. "That's quite understandable."

I closed my fingers over the vial. "Thank you." I take a deep bow, which Rias reciprocated.

"I look forward to great results."

I left the occult clubroom. I felt the invisible tug of magics under my skin.

There was an array of tracking spells, observation cantrips, the standard package of monitoring and surveillance every Devil was expected to master. I smiled. The hooks were strong and well-built. Rias had excellent spell-craft.

Few ever did. They wielded their power like a fat club. Never the stiletto, precise and elegant.

Nevertheless, I shrugged off the Gremory spells like cobwebs clinging to my body. I placed Rias' vial into my pockets.

I went to the teaching staffroom, knocked, and asked for Miss Rossweise. The silver-haired teacher came bustling out, scattering some unfortunate's papers from its desk on the way.

A sharp rebuke came from her fellows, and she received a stern lecture. I hung around the corridor, grinning at any teacher who caught my eye. It was some time before Miss Rossweise could stumble for the door.

"Ise-kun?" She sounded breathless.

I whispered, "Could I have a word, please, ma'am?"

"Hueh? Oh, oh very well," she said, her back straightening. She glanced behind her, before following me to an abandoned classroom.

Behind closed doors enchanted with a quick anti-scrying ward, the klutz-like teacher became the Valkyrie she was born to be. She descended to one knee, her eyes glittering with the promise of battle.

I produced the vial. "Rias just gave me this." I chuckled. I turned the glass over, watching the concentrated essence of lust swirl. I tossed the vial to Rossweise. "Have the Fallen use it, get Sitri's Pawn to do something stupid to one of Rias'. The cat, or the half-Fallen. Or the human, he's good too. Get a scandal going. I don't really care who the target is, just get it done tomorrow."

"Saji's a good boy," said the Valkyrie, holding up the vial to the light. "It's a shame. Why, though?" she asked, after a pause.

I shook my head. "Not yet. I'm still making a general sketch."

"Understood," said Rossweise, who now stood. "Was there anything else, Master?"

"I'll see you tonight," I said. Despite her age, and all she'd experienced under my command, the valkyrie's pale cheeks flushed a bright red.

"Alone?" she demanded in a near-whisper. I smirked. The past month, I'd taken to indulging both the valkyrie and the Fallen together when I needed them. Understandably, it has caused some friction in the harem, which thankfully remained nonviolent. But one never knew, when it came to the power struggle that came with the rigors of love and sex.

I bowed with pronounced exaggeration to show I was still slightly noncommittal. I can't help it. Their animosity fueled some of the more creative games I've seen in bed, and I am a truly rapacious Devil. Rossweise huffed, and turned to leave.

"I really do appreciate it, teacher," I said lazily. Rossweise paused at the door. "You are a wonderful wife." I watched her shake her head, without looking back.

I returned home, my thoughts revolving around the small "Peerage" (fancier word for harem) Rias has gathered around herself. It had been a long while since I'd seen my little sister, and I can tell that she'd chosen her companions well. I had long half-wished she remained independent and free of worry since I was exiled from Hell, but being the sole remaining member of House Gremory must be putting a lot of toll on her.

If I could apologize, I would. Thus I contented myself with fooling her with my persona as Hyoudou Issei, teenager with an unrequited love. That little interview in her clubroom had been the very first time I'd talked to her in half a century. Before reaching out to her in the guise of a hapless mortal, I'd observed her dealings in the Kuoh Academy from afar, careful never to reveal my true nature to her or the reigning Sitri demon.

So much has happened since. I so want to tell her everything—but only when it's time.

However, if there's one thing I find lacking in Rias' arrangement, it's that she so blatantly kept her subordinates close to herself, no matter the time of day. It doesn't take a smart Devil to realize that the members of the club are also the members of her Peerage. Keeping her allies close is one thing, and yet there was that Underworld adage about obliterating all the bird's eggs in one stomp.

Just as an example, I, Exiled Devil though I am, have seeded my allies everywhere. Azazel's faction, Heaven, the Khaos Brigade, a branch of the Elder Gods, the mortal Vatican, the pantheon of the Norse, even the Far-Eastern Youkai Coalition. In turn, my harem have their secret allies in different other spheres of power, whom I can call upon when I need to—like the Vampires or the Death Lords.

One such ally, the Fallen who bickered with the Valkyrie, greeted me near my home. On the surface, she's Amano Yuuma, the girl who'd confessed to one Hyoudou Issei and with whom he's sharing a very lovey-dovey relationship.

But on the inside, she's Raynare, formerly one of the Fallen lieutenants in charge of this city in the Far East. Also formerly an adversary, until I showed her another path to power.

"So you didn't go home with the Norse slut," said the black-haired Fallen. She no longer wore the clothes of Kuoh, instead wearing a tight-fitting blouse that accentuated her curves and swellings. Her arms were crossed, pushing up her breasts for blatant display. "Have you seen the error of cavorting with lesser creations, milord? That makes me so happy."

"What a cheap ploy," I remarked, brushing past her into my house. It struck me that her husky tone almost sounded like Rias'. She hurried after me.

Once the front door was shut and I was standing at the foyer, she wasted no time coiling herself around my body like a hungry serpent. "Not if it works, milord," she whispered into my ear.

"Welcome home, Issei," said my mother, her eyes glassy and unfocused. She seemed oblivious to the girl wrapped around her son threading a tongue into his ear. "I've had tea prepared, would you like some?"

"No thank you, mother," I said, performing a Herculean feat by taking off my shoes, and walking up the stairs carrying a full grown woman on my back. By then Raynare had moved on to salivating over my neck.

"Okay, then. It's good to see you working hard on your studies, kiddo."

Ever since my business had expanded, the pressure of preventing a scandal involving my public life as Hyoudou Issei forced me to keep my human parents under a permanent geas. This gave me with a greater amount of freedom to do whatever I wanted in the house, anything in the world short of destroying the house, or conducting my orgies in their room. I have my principles, debauched Devil that I am.

Today, I wasn't as keen on entertaining the Fallen wrapped around me. "Listen, Raynare. Tonight, it's going to be about business."

I went inside my room, which was now outfitted to link into several netherspaces I'd built myself, each larger than my parents' house twice over. Each room held numerous functions, such as a decadent chamber for all my lustful activities, an archive where I organized all my knowledge.

For the time being, it was a sit-rep room, with terminals and screens and massive demonic supercomputers bargained from other dimensions. I've heard it said that Devils didn't need mortal trappings to be great, but this is the 21st century: information superhighway and all that. I will not let my future ambitions be tied down by anyone's stifling traditions, even that of glorious Hell.

I went to a projection of the human globe, where dots signified calls I could make to all my allies and wives throughout the world.

I set Raynare down, a little forcefully, to let her know it was really business, and input a few commands on the console.

I sat down on the leather armchair—all the chairs here were—and beamed as the possessor of the Twilight Healing Gear came onto the screen. I could feel Raynare's silent hiss beside me.

"Issei-san!" the blonde on the screen cried.

"Asia," I said, inclining my head. This one was my latest acquisition, and the only one with whom I treaded lightly. I'd intended to force her to become a mindless meat puppet, but circumstances made me reconsider. Now she's an accredited angel, and a willing part of the harem, even if she still feels that she's the First wife. In her mind, it's a forbidden romance, an angel wedded to a Devil, and I see no reason to change that.

To reinforce the lies I feed her innocent little mind, she's never been part of an orgy. I've given her leave to head charity work under one of my shadow corporations, in some African or South American place, I don't remember. Of course, every other staff with her is a mindless meat puppet, ready to die to protect my investment.

"How is your work coming alone?" I said cheerfully. Raynare snorted beside me.

"It's going great, I've had new wells dug for all the children, and I've managed to integrate one of those scary..." By then I only listened with half an ear to her breathless, impassioned tirade while Raynare made use of her race's flexible body to extend like a tree branch and toy with my crotch with her feet, all while being unseen on the screen.

"All of it sounds marvelous, dear," I said, putting my hand up to interrupt gently. "Of course, did you get it all on your diary?"

"I never go to sleep without writing in it!" she said proudly.

"That's my angel!" I clapped my hands once. She bowed, her cheeks flushed, reminding me of Rossweise's own. "But listen, you know, I may need you back here in Japan for a while."

"Oh?" she asked.

"Yes. It's just some light business, involving the church. I'll send Raynare down to get you—" the toe in my crotch suddenly shoots like a knife, causing me to give Raynare's leg a warning squeeze. "—while you go on and delegate someone to watch over the project while you're away."

"I understand." Her joyful demeanor seemed to droop, like a flower visibly wilting before me.

"Are you alright?" I asked. "Don't worry, you'll be back on the project in no time. Or can't you spend just a little bit of romantic alone time with your husband?" The last part I laced with sugary sweetness.

She perked up. "Oh yes, I do look forward to it! Yes! That sounds marvelous. I'll get my things packed right away."

"Thank you. I really appreciate it, my love."

"Anything for you, Issei-san."

I mock-blew kisses on the screen, and she reciprocated. We continued the game of kiss-blowing for a good minute before she signed off. To an observer like Raynare, we probably looked like the most idiot of couples.

Raynare wouldn't think that, though. She's got the mind of a Devil, and could faintly grasp the bigger picture I was trying to paint over their heads.

It was worth my time to keep an angel like Asia Argento under me, in a sense literally, in order to secure certain powerful connections. She's also a breath of fresh air in bed—others in the harem derisively call it "vanilla", but there's something empowering and lightly addictive about making a beautiful angel squirm and sigh and bite her lips, calling out your name every second.

I looked up from my soliloquy to see Raynare walk out from the room, her hips sashaying.

"I'm not done yet," I called out.

Raynare paused without turning around, just as Rossweise had done. "I think we are. You've just sent me to get the most boring of your bitches, and I intend to deliver."

"Are you pouting?"

"No." She looked over her shoulder, tossing her long black hair and making her ass jiggle. She had the audacity to pose, arms on waist. "But I know when I'm not needed," she said airily. "Enjoy your night with the Valkyrie, milord. I do hope no one calls me in the middle of my flight."

I grimaced, as if looking visibly disappointed, before turning my attention away. Most of the time I'd get up from the chair, scoop her in my arms and take her to my lust chambers, but today would be all business. Even the promise of solitary congress with the valkyrie later that night, or meeting Asia sometime later, was only a link in the chain of plans I hoped to execute before the month was over.

I went over to my archives, and consulted the dossier containing information gathered on Rias' Peerage. Such information would generally be expensive for a Stray Devil to acquire, but therein was the advantage of having close friends, lovers even, in important places.

Of Koneko Toujou I knew, having enjoyed the company of her sister. A shame that she never accepted to be part of my harem, but I was content with being owed favors among her spirit comrades. Koneko would be an interesting study on conquering a family, if it came to it.

Raynare had given me information on the half-breed Fallen, Akeno Himejima. I'd fought that one's father before, on a small skirmish out in Italy. That one was a good-hearted chap, a bit gloomy and dour, but I never expected him to spawn something this delicious. Out of Rias' small assembly, his daughter was someone I'd give a whole country's fortune to fuck. Just to take those God-given breasts in my hands and... whew! I got hard just thinking of it.

Yuuto Kiba was a bit of a thorny subject. I knew someone who wanted him dead, and another who valued the power he possessed. Both sides would also benefit me in the long run; both sides would also be troublesome to displease. Whichever the case was, his matter's not a priority for me, for now.

That left Rias Gremory, seventy-second demon spawned to the House of Gremory and its defacto heir after Sirzechs' accession to Satan and my exile to Earth. In time she will learn the truth, and then I shall claim her as my own.

My cellphone rang, shaking me from contemplation. Seeing the caller, I immediately answered.

"This is Ise."

"Sir! Raynare needs help!" cried the Fallen on the other side.

"What do you mean? She was just at my chambers."

"She sent a distress pulse just a few seconds ago!"

"A distress pulse...?" I checked my logs. I was confused, finding no evidence of a pulse.

I rose, taking my tracking scroll with me. They all knew the consequence of pranking me, no matter the occasion, so I'd take the emergency on its face value.

"I'll take care of it," I told them. Consulting the tracking scroll, I found that Raynare was not far from my house, just a few blocks away. I recalled that the area was near a park of sorts. I headed out on a quick trot. Anyone who could make Raynare send a distress signal was something to watch.

In turn, they had to watch themselves, if they dared hurt someone from my harem.

I found them quickly. The stench of Stray Devil was strong and unmistakable, like a hundred unwashed sumo wrestlers packed into a room.

It towered above the park's trees. A lot of human bodies were strewn everywhere like bloodied marionettes. Among them was Raynare.

It was good that the scroll confirmed she was still alive. If not, I'd have blown the offending creature to ash. With that, I hid my scroll in my pockets and sauntered up, my eyes traveling over its hulking form, finding weaknesses, gauging power. Its horned head seemed too small for the rest of its fat body. It carried a large staff-like weapon, thick and long.

"A human?" It growled, in Infernal tongue. "You smell familiar... Are you aligned with this Fallen wench?"

In another moment, I judged the Devil weak. Then I walked over to Raynare.

"My... lord..." she whispered. I saw her clutch her stomach. My look of displeasure must have been apparent, because she reached out to clutch my ankle. "I'm... sorry..."

"You're a right mess," I remarked. "I have no use for toys that cannot care for itself. You should remember that."

It was disgusting. To be defeated like this by a weak Devil, to have to be rescued by her master... It made my skin roil unpleasantly. She should be taught, later.

"I ask that you leave," I told the Devil in the guttural speech of Hell. "Before unpleasant peoples arrive, and this whole scene becomes suspect. You know what they do to rogues like you."

"You have the tongue of Hell?" the monster said. "Are you perhaps a Devil, hiding in the flesh of man?"

I shrugged, turning away. "I've given you the warning. If you are foolish to disregard it, then it is no qualm of mine."

I felt his attack come like a gust of wind. I ducked as if to pick dust from Raynare's clothes. His weapon passed over me, sending a shockwave that scattered dust and pebbles everywhere.

I straightened to full, staring the Devil straight in the eye. I'd fully intended to leave him for Heaven or Hell to sort, but this attack had been the last straw.

"Master..." said Raynare in feeble voice.

"Shut up," I snarled, shaking my foot free from her grip. I saw four choices before me. Coldly, I contemplated everything.

One would be to take Raynare and evacuate, leaving the Devil to the its own fate.

Another would be to wipe this impudent Devil from creation. Make it die a wretched death, never to be remembered, here in this Far East city.

The blood in my heritage screamed for that choice. Destruction and chaos, thrumming as one in my veins. One would think that stereotyped, as this country's media always portrayed us as, but there was no denying my fervent desire to watch this one disintegrate into ash.

Oh, but I was most definitely not avenging her for her sake. I'm a Devil, and I fully ascribe to the primacy of strength. When a vassal has failed utterly, it is the master's duty to assert complete dominance, that he may not appear like a complete, ineffectual ass.

To emphasize my point, I cracked my knuckles, summoning a bit of the power lying dormant within my soul. A sip of true power, trickling in like a leak on a massive dam. A small percent of the Dragon's strength: claimed, not borrowed; devoured, not fused.

My power.

I blasted forward with the force of an exploding rocket. I slammed my knee into its stupid face, feeling bone and sinew crumple before me. Then I pooled force into my hands, took hold of both sides of its ruined bulk.

These I pulled, tearing the fiend's body lengthwise into two sides like a piece of fabric, gouts of blood splashing onto me.

Then, with its great ugly heart exposed, I tore into it with fastidious glee. No piece of muscle was left intact.

Pounding and pulverizing, howling like a maniac, until there was nothing left in front of me.

In the next moment, it was all over. The devil's ruin lay before me, coating the ground, the trees, my body. I realized my hand was still clamped like a vice on a piece of the thing's heart.

Boy did that feel utterly exhilarating. Well, I was kind of cheating, too, but I never let anyone know it. I may no longer have access to much of a Devil's repertoire of magicks, but what power I do have more than makes up for it.

Still, the aftermath left my human body too tired and winded. A Dragon's blessing was too much for any ordinary human's body to handle. I caught myself taking deep gulping breaths. Snot and sweat dripping in great streams from every orifice on my face, thankfully shrouded by all the blood.

I dropped the piece of heart. It, and every molecule of the Devil's remains would disappear after a while. The mortals would no doubt puzzle over it for a long while. Not that it's any of my concern.

I turned around, blood continuing to flow over and drip from my body. The reprimand I was about to give Raynare was quickly tossed to the wayside.

For there stood Rias Gremory and the big-breasted madonna, eyes and mouths wide as saucers. Rias, her hair more brilliant than any flame, more vivid than rich blood, stammered, "Hyoudou Issei? Is that you? What the hell's going on?"

I almost howled a curse to the four winds.

How long had she been there? How much had she seen? I stood frozen, the cat caught clawing the birdcage.

Damnation. It irked me, but this left me no choice but to enact one of my many backup plans, however unpleasant it was. I resisted the urge to slam my palm on my head.

I exhaled a long, drawn-out sigh. I didn't glance at Raynare—that was bound to direct the conversation to somewhere I couldn't control.

Instead, I smiled, letting the foul devil's blood seep into my gums. I spat out a gob. "Sorry about that. Ahem. Well, it's nice to meet you again, Rias-san. This one apologizes for the late introduction, but I'm Hyoudou Issei, Special Agent of the Far Eastern Coalition of Spirits."

T.B.C.

Thanks for reading!