Without further ado, enjoy~
Disclaimer : please read the disclaimer on chapter one :P
Three days later, just as expected, Rias lose to Raiser in the rating game, not only because she was undermanned but also she doesn't even look trying to win. Everyone who stayed at Hisako's apartment plus Azazel watched it together. The governor hacked the channel, but it was a waste of time since they got nothing about Raiser from this game.
"Looks like our plan is working smoothly this far, I will leave everything to you Issei."
Azazel said after he had watched the match together with Issei's family.
"Yeah, I already learned how to defeat their immortality from Rena-san."
"Wow, it's convenient when you were receiving favor from the former hosts huh…"
Many previous hosts were veteran in war and fighting, so they taught Issei strategies, weakness of their opponents who they fought in the past, and the reason why they were dead. This knowledge was very precious to build Issei's experience. He ingrained those past hosts' experience as his own.
"But I think no one except Issei can do this though."
The bell then rang, surprising only the girls since Issei could detect the presence, while Azazel seemed already expecting the guest.
"Who is it coming this late? Don't tell me it's that rude devil lord again?" Hisako hissed, she remembered that Sirzech came late at night to make a deal with Issei, she played a role that she was disagreed with Issei for accepting the deal until they get the prize they wanted, 'anything.'
"No, I invited her to come here, she's very important guest." Azazel denied the thought that Sirzech was the one who came to visit. It made them very curious.
"I will open the door okay."
Raynare then stood up and walk toward the front door.
When she opened the door, a woman with curly blonde hair could be seen. She wore a suit that barely contained her heavenly breast inside.
"Hello, is this Shiki residence?" She asked politely toward Raynare.
"Ah, yes… Azazel-sama is already waiting inside."
Raynare let her in while she was still bewitched with the blonde's beauty.
"Good evening."
She greeted everyone who gathered in the living room, Hisako and Asia were dumbfounded by the guest. They never saw anyone that could compare to her beauty.
"At last, you'd come to Gabriel, I thought you should arrive a few hours ago," Azazel smirked at the guest, she was Archangel Gabriel, one of four seraphs of the heaven.
"Geez, Azazel-niisama, if you told me to go somewhere you should escort me. You know I'm bad with unfamiliar places! Moreover, this is devil's territory!" She protested while pouting since Azazel told her to come to Hisako's apartment without giving direction that she had to ask here and there to locate it.
""Ga-ga-Gabriel-sama!"" Raynare and Asia shouted together in shock, Asia instinctively kneeled down.
In front of them was the most beautiful angel in the heaven, the seraph Gabriel. Asia was kneeled down, she was scared that the Gabriel came to impart a judgment toward her.
"Why Gabriel-sama is here, Azazel-san?" Hisako asked, she tried to calm Asia down while trying to protect her, she was wary that Gabriel might take Asia away.
"Because I need Gabriel for something, you don't have to worry Asia-chan, Gabriel is not here to do anything to you, she won't take you back to the church either."
Azazel's words were a relief for Asia and Hisako, the nun's currently happy with her life here. She doesn't want to return to the solitary life of holy maiden anymore. Azazel stood up from the sofa and walk toward Hisako. He kneeled in front of her while taking a small red colored box and opened it in front of Hisako. Inside it was a pair of rings.
"Shiki Hisako, would you marry me?"
Hisako was surprised and happy, the man she loves proposed her. She was wondering why the fallen angel governor awfully tidy today. But, she was worried about her nephew that he won't accept, she glanced at him, and found him smiling, a smile that she never saw for years.
"Ise…" She muttered as her eyes start to moisten.
"You don't have to worry about me anymore, aunt Hisako, this time, please be happy for yourself," Issei said to assure his aunt, he already held her back for years, now is a good opportunity to release her from caring duty and for her to find her own happiness.
"Azazel-san."
"Yes?"
"You proposed me even though you know that I will around not for long, are you sure?"
"That what Gabriel's here for," Azazel answered. "The angels created a system similar to the devil's evil piece called the Brave Saints. It can reincarnate human as an angel, and by becoming one, you could gain the lifespan of an angel. Well, I helped too you know." he explained.
"But… I will have an obligation to Heaven…" Hisako muttered, if she became an angel, she might have to leave this city, city that held many memories for her, she also has yet to meet with Sona again. She also worried about Asia, that she might be alone again.
"Don't worry! one brave saint for Azazel-niisama's marriage is a cheap price!" Gabriel excitedly said, at first she can't believe that his fallen brother was getting married, and he asked her a favor by making his bride an angel, but seeing that her brother is faithful to his words, she would gladly help him. This also can significantly improve the relationship between the angel and the fallen as they were once the same kin.
"You heard her, Hisako, will you accept me?"
"Will heaven be alright with this Gabriel-sama?"
"Yes, do not worry, Hisako-san, though we might use this marriage for our cause."
"Cause?"
"Yes, to unite the angel and fallen angel once again through this marriage."
Hisako sighed as she heard Gabriel's answer, but it was not because she was disappointed, just a little dissatisfaction. When she sealed her own memories, she wished that Issei would get smile again and wished for her own self to find a man who truly she can give her devotion to and in return, the man also does the same, without being tied down by families or conspiracy alike.
And she did, the man she chose also returned her love and actually proposed her right now. But for their marriage isn't free from a certain goal. But who cares. At least, she'll marry the man she loves and vice versa.
"It would be great if nothing follow behind, Azazel-san, what are you waiting for? Are you just going to kneel down without actually put the ring here?" Hisako asked while she shyly offered her left hand.
Azazel smiled then he took the ring and put it on Hisako's left ring finger, and Hisako did the same after that. With this, their engagement established.
"And this is my gift to celebrate your engagement."
Gabriel took out a card, a trump card with heart symbols and number 7 printed on it.
"This card is a symbol of middle, which means I want you to become a center of the peace between the fallen angel and heaven."
Hisako who sat on the sofa stood up and walk toward Gabriel.
"Thank you for your great gift, Gabriel-sama, we will accept it gratefully." Hisako bowed toward the seraph. Gabriel then smiled and started the ritual to reincarnate someone as her family. This is the first time she will do it.
"This is my first to reincarnate someone, I'm so nervous." Gabriel smiled wryly. "Shiki Hisako, I grateful that you are willing to join my family, you will be reborn as my heart family who will bear the number 7."
The card shine then flew toward Hisako and entered her body. That instant, holy power radiated from her body. From her back, seven wings sprout out, four on the right side and the rest on the left side. A halo also appeared above her head.
"Is this the effect of card number seven?" Gabriel muttered as she doesn't understand why Hisako's wings were seven, not six or eight.
"Odd winged angel, this family is truly full of surprises." Azazel laughed in amusement, he and four seraphs were working together on this secret project, they work together because they truly wanted peace between them but many of their subordinates can't accept that kind of peace, so they took their time to convince them.
The bug that happened on Hisako was something that not within his calculation, nor it came up during the testing. But the aura Hisako released right now was on par with his ten winged subordinates, he assumed that this bug was equal to mutation pieces from evil pieces system. Now he will marry the strongest angel in the future.
"But, don't you think that this is weird Azazel-sama, I mean… there's no one with odd number wings you know." Raynare muttered since the angels and the fallen angels that got their wing ripped would naturally regenerate after some time passed.
"That mean my bride is a unique one." Azazel laughing heartily, he didn't mind her appearance too much, he just glad that the ritual went well. Gabriel just hoped that this will not be a problem in the future.
Asia approached Hisako with dreamy eyes, she never thought that she could see a real angel this close.
"Your wings are beautiful, Hisako-san." Asia complimented.
"Thank you Asia-chan." Hisako thanked Asia while smiling.
"Asia Argento, do you also want those wings?" Gabriel offered.
Asia was surprised by Gabriel's offer, it would be the greatest honor for a Christian devout to be recognized as a saint by an Archangel. But something inside Asia hesitated to accept that offer.
"I… I'm not worthy to be your saint, Gabriel-sama, after all, I'm just a heretic…" She answered, unlike Hisako who won't meeting directly with Sona's peerage, Asia who attended the Kuoh Academy will basically meet them every day when Issei have to do his job on the student council, accepting angel there would endanger them if became widely known. But what much more important to Asia was the fact that they are her friends. She doesn't want them to be enemies.
"By becoming my saint, none will ever dare called you heretic or witch anymore." Gabriel tried to convince Asia, she was neither a sinner nor heretic, she's someone who just wanted to extend her hands toward people in need, and a devil took a chance on that. Asia was quickly banished without the church contacting the heaven, that's why Gabriel wanted to restore her name by making the former holy maiden her saint.
"I… had many friends here, some of them are devil, they are kind to me even though I only inconvenient for them… if I… became your saint, I have to leave them behind right? I… don't want to." Asia tried to refuse once again. The blonde archangel became sad with the former nun's answer.
"Do you hold a grudge against the church and heaven?" She asked with a sad tone.
Asia was panicked when she saw Gabriel sad and seemed ready to cry. "That's not true! I… I don't hate the church or heaven! I… just don't want to return to the solitary life of holy maiden!" she shouted her genuine feeling in panic.
Hisako then patted Asia's head to calm her down. "Calm down, Asia, it's already the middle of the night you know." Asia then covered her mouth, she was embarrassed to shouting at night and not only that, but she also raised her voice against an archangel. But rather than offended by Asia, Gabriel smiled.
"Thank you Asia-san, your words brought relief for me." Gabriel said.
"Hisako-neesama, please take a good care of Asia-san."
Hisako smiled wryly when the Seraph called her with nee-sama, "You don't have to tell me that, Gabriel-sama, I already thought her as my own child."
She already talked with Azazel about adopting Asia, and they decided to do that after the ceremony.
"Hisako-san…" Asia muttered while tears welling on the edge of her eyes, it was the first time that she heard someone thought her as their child.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A few days later, Sona returned to the underworld to attend Rias' engagement ceremony before they married on the weekend. Issei received a teleportation paper from Grayfia to enter the hall without restriction on the day where he needs to crash the wedding as per the deal he made with the devil king Lucifer for a prize that the young dragon could choose as he like.
He arrived in a somewhat dark passage with an illumination of small lamps at the interval, at the end of the passage, there's a large door.
Issei took a peek from the opening of the door after he put the guards unconscious and the party didn't start yet, so he decided to wait.
Meanwhile, inside the hall, Sona Sitri was present, she didn't really want to be present, but since her family busy with something else, she was forced to attend. She was restless with something in her mind. Issei doesn't tell her anything about his plan. But, somehow Sona knew that Issei and Raynare were planning something behind her back. She tried to pry Issei but since he rarely changed his tone and expression, she failed, Raynare on the other hands was playfully avoided the subject, making the Sitri heiress was stressed by it.
In the middle of her own thought, Sona noticed Ravel Phenex who was surrounded by noble ladies, bragging about her brother's victory over Rias. The black haired king then noticed Trio of Rias' peerage. Somehow on their face, they didn't reflect any worry. Sona thought that Sirzech must be preparing something to save Rias. She just hoped that if it succeeded and Rias return to Kuoh, the Gremory heiress would leave Issei for good.
She decided to approach the trio.
"Good evening you three."
"Good evening Kaichou, what a lovely dress you wear." Akeno greeted her back while complimenting her dress, it was a blue colored dress.
"It was an unfair game wasn't it? No… it was clear to anyone who saw it."
"Thank you very much, but I don't think it was ended that badly." Akeno answered she turned her gaze to somewhere.
"I don't think the battle already ended though." Yuuto commented.
"Hasn't ended." Koneko said.
Seeing them so relaxed, Sona became more worried that they will involve Issei in this, especially when he and Raynare left Asia in the in the care of the student council to go to meet Rias right before the red-haired princess and her peerage went absent for preparing to fight Raiser.
While they were conversing, Raiser Phenex arrived, accompanied by flickering fire from magic circle. Such flashy way to enter the venue, but effective to pull the crowd's attention to him.
"Good evening honorable nobles of the glorious underworld, may I have your attention please?"
"I would like to make a grand announcement in the name of Phenex clan. Today I invited you all here because I, Raiser Phenex, and the heir of the house of Gremory, Rias Gremory, are to be married. I wanted to share this historic moment, and now I will introduce her, my future bride, Rias Gremory!"
At the end of his introduction, Gremory magic circle appeared and Rias who wearing a sullen face, teleported into the venue.
Seeing the Heiress of Gremory entered the hall, it was Issei's signal to break in. He kicked the door, and the hinges were broken. The metal door was large, when it collapsed to the floor, it produced sounds that surprised everyone in the hall.
"A…ah… it broke." Issei said loud enough before entering the banquet hall.
He appeared in the same outfit when he raided the church to save Raynare, an outfit that does not fit for attending a party.
"Who are you bastard? How you can enter the venue!"
The nobles were panicking that the venue was invaded by someone, the guards immediately react and surrounding him. Sona's eyes were wide open when she saw Issei there. She glanced toward Rias and saw her twisted smile as if saying that everything went according to her plan. Sona gritted her teeth in frustration since she failed to protect Issei from Rias.
"Why she can't stop messing with him?" Sona muttered lowly as her anger toward her childhood friend rising.
She walked toward Issei who surrounded by the guards, this time she will not fail to protect him. Issei noticed Sona's anger smell getting closer.
'Don't come to any closer Sona-chan, Rias Gremory might think that I fell into her trap, but I came here on my own agenda, so sit tight.'
Issei's words resounding in Sona's head, he sent telepathy toward her to stop her, if she ended up protecting him, she might get blamed for something that she didn't take part with.
Sona stopped her track after she heard his voice in her mind, then she caught sight of Issei glanced at her, she didn't know if replying in her mind would reach Issei, so she decided to try something else.
"Please don't be reckless." Sona said with her mouth movement.
'I'll try.' Issei answered as he caught what Sona wanted to say.
"Bastard! Don't just stay silent! Identify yourself!" One of the guards shouted.
"I am Hyoudou Issei, I come by the Lord Lucifer's invitation, sorry about the door, you can send the invoice to him."
"There's no way that Lucifer-sama invited an unruly guy like you, Get him!"
The guards move to attack Issei at the same time. The young dragon ducked to avoid the spearmen's stab. He strides forward and grabbed one the guards' leg and threw him to the side to hit the other guards. A quarter of the encirclement already down because of one move, before he moved to finish the rest, someone decided to interfere.
"That's enough, he spoke the truth. I invited him here." A red haired man stopped them.
"What is the meaning of this Sirzech-sama?"
"This is something that I organized I want to make my little sister's engagement party to be flashy, Dragon versus Phoenix. Don't you think that was a great event to watch? A battle between legendary creatures."
"Dragon? Isn't he a human, Lucifer-sama?" One of the nobles asked.
"He might be a human but, he bears the legendary Boosted Gear." He explained. The crowd was surprised when they heard it.
"The Red Dragon Emperor!"
"So, Raiser, can you show your power once again right in front of Rias and me?" Sirzech asked he knew that the third son of Phenex's pride won't allow him to refuse. Raiser smirked when he heard the Devil Lord's wish and this is a good chance to destroy Issei for calling him grilled chicken.
"Alright then, I cannot decline if Sirzech-sama asked me." He said as he turned his gaze toward Issei, a gaze filled with hatred and desire to destroy the brunette.
"Now, Hyoudou Issei, what prize do you desire when you win the match?"
The nobles started to make a fuss about Sirzech wanted to give a prize to Issei.
"I called him here to entertain us, so I had to prepare appropriate prize for him, now Hyoudou Issei-kun, I will give you anything, wealth, or beautiful women? Name your heart desire."
"Prize can wait until I win the match, Lucifer-san, after all, you only grant it when I did."
Sirzech smiled at Issei. Certainly he sound dependable, but no one could detect the real meaning behind his word, something that able to make the Devil Lord regretted his decision of hiring Issei. "Very well."
Xxxxxxxxxxx
After that, Issei and Raiser were teleported to an arena.
"Really, I'm grateful that Sirzech-sama prepared this event." Raiser sneered toward Issei.
"I'm happy for you then, Raiser-san."
"Like I said, don't call my name casually you trash!" Raiser shouted and immediately started to attack Issei with his fire. The flame flew at high speed toward Issei, he dodged it the side with high speed and charged toward Raiser.
Issei threw a punch toward the Phenex that surprised by his speed and forced him to catch it instead of dodging it.
"Do you know why I was there when you met Rias Gremory in human world Raiser-san?"
"Why would I care for something like that?"
"She called me there so you and I would fight and she would reap benefit from it, if we fight before and I somehow win, she would report that you lose to a human and blah blah blah your engagement would be annulled," Issei explained.
"Aren't you here to dissolve my engagement with Rias?" Raiser asked while being annoyed.
"You should search for a new and better spouse than Rias Gremory."
"HAAAAAA! Don't get cocky!" Raiser's anger rose since he misinterpreted Issei's words, that he would lose and the engagement between him and Rias dissolved. He swiped his other hand that engulfed in fire and tried to roast Issei's hand he caught earlier, but the Boosted Gear host's resistance toward heat and fire was higher than anyone would think.
"Truthfully I don't want to do this, I want to eliminate Rias Gremory directly, so she won't be any hindrance in the future, yet I can't because I would endanger those who important to me." Issei said as he caught the Raiser's other arm.
"What?" Raiser muttered in surprise. Why would Issei try to save Rias if he wanted to kill her?
"You don't know how rotten she is, her smell was much worse than a mountain of garbage that I want to puke every time I met her. In her beautiful wedding dress, only unpleasant smell released from her, even for the future of the devil, I suggest you marry another person."
Issei removed himself from Raiser and took some distance. Raiser was confused with the dragon boy's action, his action doesn't match with his intention. Why? Why would he hate Rias if he helped her to achieve what she wanted?
"Did you do your homework to find out who Rena Fangulf is?" Issei asked abruptly, he deliberately changed the topic since Raiser could pick up his intention.
"Why should I care about some whore?"
"The one you called whore was the one who once reduced the main family of Phenex clan to your parents and your brother, Ruval and she became the most wanted human in the world since she slaughtered more than eighty percent of your clan who can produce Phoenix tears, the ultimate healing potion."
Raiser's eyes wide open from his surprise, he was once asked that to his parents why unlike other families, their main clan family was devoid of people. His father said that he was too young to know and soon forget about it.
"And because you called her a whore, now she wanted a virgin Phenex daughter as a tribute to calm her anger," Issei said flatly.
There's only one person fit as the tribute, Raiser's very own little sister, Ravel.
"YOU BASTARD!"
Raiser charged Issei from the front, his body was engulfed in the fire that looks like a flame tornado as anger rose inside him. He won't allow some unknown bastard took his sister away.
"Even when your mouth is foul, you cared deeply for your sister." Issei said as he smelled care and desperation among the fragrance of killing intent his opponent released.
Issei summoned his sacred gear, the Boosted Gear and start boosting. He dodged Raiser's charge to the side, but Raiser fiercely targeted him, giving no chance to freely dodge again.
"Killing a Phenex is not as hard as anyone would say especially for someone who had Boosted Gear." Issei said in the middle of deflecting Raiser's fierce fire and flame attacks.
"UOOOOOOO!" Raiser shouted as he started to attack more fiercely.
"Like this," Issei said when he saw an opening to counter Raiser. He blew half of Raiser's body when he saw it started to regenerate. He transferred the boost to Raiser.
Raiser's body started to regenerate faster but too fast for him to control, and the regenerated parts became stiff since it was over regenerated.
"Fu-!" The Phenex cursed as he can't control the regeneration, the newly body parts that regenerated can't be used, it was like that different body planted instead.
"This is how Rena-san killed so many Phenex devils, Raiser-san, surrender and I will spare your life."
"I will not let you touch Ravel!" Raiser charged once again. His priority was no longer to slaughter Issei but had changed to protect his sister.
"You are a better man than I thought," Issei said as he drove another punch toward Raiser. The Loud voice of cracking bones could be heard from the blonde devil's body before he flew for few meters until he crashed into the arena wall. He took the full brunt of Issei's punch since he instinctively deactivated his regeneration.
"GAGH!" Raiser grunted, from his mouth blood spurting out as he crashed into the arena wall.
Issei walked toward Raiser. Raiser tried to stand back to his feet, but his body said the otherwise, he fell to his knees and can't get up.
"Your resilience definitely admirable, Raiser-san, but," Issei said he yanked Raiser's shirt and pulled him up and prepared to hit him once again. "Good night."
"STOP!" A girl shouted, she came between Issei and Raiser who can't stand up anymore. Issei's grip on Raiser loosened, and he fell to the floor once again.
"My brother already lost! Anyone with an eye could see it!" The girl said. She was Ravel Phenex, the youngest child and the only daughter of Phenex family.
"Ra…vel… run…" Raiser muttered weakly, Issei was targeting her and he was no longer able to defend her at this point.
"He didn't say anything about surrendering so this fight still ongoing, Ravel Phenex-san." Issei stated in the flat tone.
Ravel gritted her teeth in anger, but if her brother can't win, there's no way attacking him would bring any result.
"You need a tribute to calm Rena Fangulf right? Then spare my brother and kill me instead! A-And don't disturb my family again!" She said with firm tone, but for Issei, she only appeared strong, her legs were shaking, and her smell was filled with fear yet she still resolved to save her brother.
The phenex man was shocked with his sister's statement. He never felt so pathetic that his sister needs to protect him, he swore to kill the dragon when he lay a hand on his sister as his consciousness left him and missed something important.
"I did say that she wanted a tribute, but I never say that I agreed to sacrifice anyone for her. But, since you offered me your life, I will take you home with me later." Issei explained, he would never accept request such as sacrifices from the past hosts. Besides, none of his seniors were vengeful anymore, and Issei already offered something else to calm Rena.
"Y-Y-Y-You swindler!" Ravel shouted with her face painted with deeper color than tomatoes.
"You are the one who suddenly offered yourself, and my aunt said it is a waste to decline a gift," Issei said flatly.
Ravel wanted to scream her lungs out that she made herself in a bad position because of being misled earlier, but a magic circle appeared under three of them, and they returned to the banquet hall, there's already medic team that ready to take care of Raiser there, Issei told them how to fix Raiser. Seeing Issei victorious many were surprised, Rias was smirking triumphantly, she thought that he finally freed from his engagement with Raiser.
"That was truly a splendid fight, now what you desire for your prize?" Sirzech asked Issei as the victor of the fight, he was truly exceeded the expectation since he can win against Raiser without much effort. Ravel who besides Issei hissed toward the devil lord, because he trapped her brother to fight Issei and now, his engagement with the Gremory Heiress definitely finished.
"For my prize, I want you to grant me my three wishes," Issei said with a flat tone. The audience was making another ruckus because he doesn't know his place for asking more prizes from the red haired devil lord. With a single gesture, Sirzech silenced the audience.
"What is it?" He asked, but the young dragon's wish was something he didn't expect at all.
"First, strip Rias Gremory of her ranks and then banish her from her family," Issei announced his first wish.
By stripping her rank and banishing her, then her peerage would be free from her control, thus freeing Akeno from Rias' grasp. By only marrying her to Raiser, Akeno would still be the part of her peerage, that's why they decided to change the plan from the original.
No one ever thought that such things could be Issei's wish. His wish made almost everyone in the hall dropped their jaw, Rias' triumphant smile became stiff, and she still cannot process what just happened.
The crowd that recovering started to talk among themselves.
The devil lord finally recovered, he was angry but tried to keep his calm. "Why do you wish for such thing?"
"I'm granting her wish you know, I heard that was her dearest wish."
"I never wished such things!" Rias shouted to deny Issei's wish.
"I wish that no one see me as Rias from Gremory family. If such words were heard, then you dissatisfied with your family right? That's why I help you for your wish to be granted. From now on no one will see you as Rias from Gremory family anymore." Issei explained. He heard that from Akeno that night, but it left Rias wondered when he heard such things.
"That wish is outrageous! Know your place human!" Another red-haired man came to the scene, Issei suspects that he's another Gremory devil since his smell was identical to Sirzech and Rias.
"Oh is it? After I'm so kind to grant her dearest wish despite that she tried to kidnap my only family so she can have my power to break her engagement? Well Lucifer-sama, do you choose to not to honor your own words?" Issei replied in sarcasm tone, the Gremory devil fell silent. He was surprised that Rias would do such things. The devil lord was fallen into a dilemma, he never expected that the expressionless boy was held a grudge toward her sister, especially kidnapping his aunt whom he met when he made a deal with Issei. She was fiercely protecting Issei from making a deal that he almost gave up to make, not knowing that it was just an act between them.
Ravel was also surprised when she heard that Rias tried to kidnap his family.
Sirzech was deep in his thought, no wonder that his aunt was fiercely protecting him to not be involved with Rias anymore. It was not rare for the devil to do such things but Gremory family was famous for treating their servants fair. He wondered if he spoiling his sister too much that she did something without regarding the consequences of her action. He did 'help' the Gremory Heiress to collect her peerage, but he never wished for his sister to do such thing.
"Does he spoke the truth Rias?" Sirzech glanced toward his sister, the red haired devil lord thought that if her sister admits her mistake, he would beg Issei to forgive her, if not, she had to learn, the hard way.
"Th-that's not true! I didn't kidnap his aunt or anything! If I did kidnap her, won't he already a member of my peerage? He must be already bribed by someone to weaken Gremory family! Ah! It must be Sona! She must be wanted Kuoh for herself because she can't win against me!"
In her panic she started to justify her action while accusing Issei and Sona, the Sitri heiress knitted her brows when she heard that, she can't believe that she actually called someone who sold her own kin to saves herself a friend, best friend even.
"If I were you, I won't drag anyone innocent into this without proof." Issei suggested. Sona didn't take part in their plan, if they started to question Sona, he had permission to use Azazel's name to clean hers.
Sirzech became a little uncomfortable with this, not only he knew that his sister only pleading herself, she actually accusing her friend of something that she might not do.
"Even though I'm the one who found him first, she snatched him from me! He actually decided to follow her even though I'm definitely a better choice!"
She started to blabbering something incomprehensible in her situation, her self-praise in incorrect time like this brought disgust from most of the people in the hall, including her brother and even her father. They never thought that their own sister/daughter would become a typical arrogant noble.
Sirzech sighed as he made his decision. Ruthless it might be, but right now her only saving grace was her ranks removal. He hoped that his sister would learn something from her mistake.
"I declare that Rias Gremory will be stripped all of her ranks, territories and be banished from Gremory clan and from now on you no longer a Gremory, Rias."
"You can't do this to me Onii-sama! Or rather you should kill him!"
"Then why don't you try? You cannot win against Raiser do you think you could win against him who defeated the immortal Phenex?" Sirzech was furious with her sister. She was surprised to hear her brother who always gentle to her throw sarcasm at her.
All of this happened because of Issei and Sona, her plan was ruined because of them, so she directed her hate toward them, also because of them, her brother became angry at her making Rias hate them even more.
Issei who smelled such hatred smell from her decided to stay silent, but if she decided to come to seek revenge on him, he will take the full brunt of it and eliminate her.
"Grayfia, throw her out." Sirzech ordered her queen to lead his sister to leave the hall, she was dragged out while spouting to take revenge against Sona and Issei. Yuuto and Koneko were astonished that their king's true nature was something like that while Akeno threw disgusted look toward her.
When they arrive at door Issei kicked down earlier, Issei stopped them, "Wait a moment, it'd be nice if she also listens to the second wish, my second wish is that you will grant me the rights to kill former Rias Gremory if she ever entering Kuoh Area after this." He declared his second wish.
Compared to the first wish, the second wish doesn't contain any impact at all, he only tried to prevent Rias from returning to Kuoh and more insults came from the banished devil's mouth before she'd being dragged out of the hall.
Sirzech gave his consent to Issei's second wish, he only needs to make sure that his sister doesn't go to Kuoh.
"And the last wish, Peerage member of former Rias Gremory will be freed as free devils but they will be placed in Kuoh but can't leave the without my or the devil in charge's consent."
The last wish would be to buy Akeno's freedom. Even if Rias Gremory were out of the picture, they would still bound to the Gremory family and since Azazel's involvement doesn't leak out, Koneko and Yuuto became a bonus to cover the real target.
"What are you planning to do with them?" Sirzech asked, even though they became free devils that unbound by any family, they still devils, moreover they were his acquaintances.
"I am not good at planning something for someone, but I feel like to protect them instead of someone else if anything happened in Kuoh." Issei answered.
His words indicated that he was not hostile to anyone but Rias in this matter, making the devil lord and the devils that understood what he meant relieved a little.
"Very well, I will send them back to Kuoh in their best condition, you have my words." Sirzech accepted his last wish.
That marks the end of Issei's mission, but after that display of power, many started to take interest on him to pull him into their own peerage.
"I will announce this now before it became a hassle, I don't have any intention to become a devil, so please refrain yourself to offer me anything since it will become a waste. And if any of you do something similar as the former Gremory, it will not end with just banishment." Issei declared in flat tone while he released enough aura to pressed most of the Devils in the Hall.
"Then since my business here already done, I will return home." Issei said as he took out the teleportation circle to go home. And he didn't forget to bring his spoil of battle with him.
"Eh?" Ravel muttered as Issei pick her up by her waist, then she realized that the brunette will also bring her to his home.
"N-NOOOOOOOO!" Ravel screamed as she and Issei gone in the magic circle.
Everyone in the hall was dumbfounded, they still can't process that the daughter of Phenex was brought by the young dragon to Kuoh.
Xxxxxxxxxx
When a magic circle appeared, the people in Shiki residence were expecting Issei come back home, but in his hand was something that they don't expect, a blonde girl that styled her hair in drills.
"I thought you went to the underworld to punish Rias, Ise." Hisako tried to confirm Issei's mission.
"I did." He answered.
"Then how you can explain her?" Hisako said while pointing toward Ravel who still carried in Issei's arm.
"I didn't bring her home with me because I threatened her you know." Issei answered again.
"But you brought me here against my will!" Ravel shouted in frustration, she was carried without much anymore saying.
Raynare found it hilarious that and start laughing.
"At least you should let her pack some clothes, Issei-kun." Raynare said when she noticed that the one he carried was not bringing anything.
"Yes, I'm sorry." Issei apologized.
"How about sorry that you brought me here without my consent?!" Ravel protested once again.
"Looks like this house will be more crowded than before, a new family member will always be welcome here." Hisako giggled, she thought that Ravel was cute when she played the straight man.
This house filled with weirdoes was what Ravel feel at the moment, but then she realized that Hisako was an angel, she still can't figure out what Raynare is, while she determined Asia as an ordinary human since her sacred gear was camouflaged with Azazel's invention.
"Why is an angel here in deep of devil's territory?" Ravel asked, she was wary that Hisako would attack her and she thought a possibility that Sona was betraying the devil by allying herself with an angel.
"Well, don't mind it too much, by the way, Issei until when you want to carry her like that? Raynare-chan will get jealous you know." Hisako teased, Issei and Ravel finally realized the position they still in, Issei then put Ravel down while the latter was blushing furiously.
"I don't mind, no matter how many girls or women fell to my Issei-kun I will always stay beside him." Raynare said in a seductive tone.
"Yes, yes, Raynare-chan, just don't be a yandere okay." Hisako said in a playful tone and made Raynare slightly blushing.
"Nice to meet you, ojou-chan, I'm Shiki Hisako, Ise's aunt, like you said I'm an angel." Hisako introduced herself while keeping brave saints system secret a bit longer.
"I'm Raynare, former fallen angel, I guess, nice to meet you, Phenex-san."
"I… I'm Asia Argento, former holy maiden, now I'm just a heretic who Issei-san and Hisako-san kindly picked up."
Ravel thought that this house is very mysterious, a boy with sacred gear, angel who welcomed devil and heretic alike, also former fallen angel… is that even possible?, and now she was forced to join this house, but she doesn't feel disgusted or anything.
"I'm Ravel Phenex, the only daughter of Phenex family, please treat me well and please just call me Ravel." Ravel introduced herself, she's still being wary of them taking any chance to attack her when she let her guard down. Of course, they don't have any intention to do that.
"Nice to meet you too, Ravel-chan."
The girls spent their time to know each other and Ravel was almost burned out when Raynare told her that Hisako and Azazel were engaged and the fact that if Devil Lord Lucifer decided to protect his sister, it would be another great war. Not three-way battle like before but between the devil and the alliance of angel and fallen angel since Rias tried to kidnap a woman of heaven and the fiancée of the governor of the fallen angel. But it kind of bothering Ravel that Rias doesn't realize that Hisako was an angel no matter how reckless she is. She decided to learn more about this family, family with a home that contains peace between two factions that soon will be three.
And that night, the curtain of their disturbed daily lives finally fell with the new family member joining in… or not.
This is the end of chapter 11 and the closing of the engagement arc.
Thank you very much for everyone who read, followed, favorite, and reviewed this story.
I will put the list from now on : Raynare, Sona, Tsubaki, Ruruko, Serafall, Kalawarner, Akeno, Irina, mysterious OC 1, mysterious OC 2, Ravel, Rossweisse, [Katerea, Aika] (Trial, higher chance to be stricken from the list, hope that my imagination is high enough to put her in the harem :P).
Review answer like usual :D
TheUnknownUser2 : Maybe not? For Koneko I already planned something else, so far I read here, none ever made this pairing with Koneko-chan.
Mr. Mrs. MDF : Thank you :D
Zaralann : Well, thank you :)
Xerzo LotCN : Sorry for being rude :P
Fem!Vali x Kuroka! that's sounds really nice.
About that SI OC pairing, it may sounds ntr-ish, but in my opinion, it would be about how you build the relationship between them in the story, every fanfic is unique story that stood alone from the canon story and the fanfic authors themselves to decides how their own writing goes.
Just like how I wrote this story, I like Sona and Raynare more than Rias and Akeno, that's why I started to wrote my fics with that pairing.
About OC replaced MC rather upgrading the MC, well, I won't say much about it since it's matter of personal preference, just like you prefer to upgrade the MC instead of SI OC no?
For reverse harem, I think it is really a rare case that actually a girl married many men, if they did then... How should I describe it... waiting for Gacha? Somehow I get that kind of feeling lol.
Let's leave the crossover then XD
Well, because my OCs cannot be replaced by anyone else from the DxD chara, that's why. :p
How should I answer it... Just for an example, let's say you like Saji and Akeno and then you wanted to write about that pairing, that kind of feeling I guess. And how it's ntr or not, all depend on how the author write the story about the pairing I guess.
I think the concept when Xenovia joined as devil was a devil who can wield a holy sword and lack of common sense. Well, that's good and nice refreshing concept, but I just can't came to like her, because she said the same thing that made me can't like Kuroka, I don't mind the kids but the word that follows.
I didn't say she wanted to grant Asia a salvation was bad but she literally sold her soul to the devil, that's much worse than Asia who doesn't given a choice to be a devil or not. if you said place, Azazel would definitely opened his arms to welcome her.
Well, the plan work so well when I reduce Sirzech's sisconness. :P
Thanks for the review and debate by the way :D
LightningBlade49 : It should be Sirzech who regretted to make the deal but not very much as I originally thought he will XD
NinjaFang1331 : Thanks :D
Thedevilgamer : I did :)
T-B-R : I don't think so for now.
Ryuujin96 : Thanks for the review, showing to overbearing power would bring negative result I think, if the employer decided that he was too dangerous to be employed, the plan would fail. Rossweisse still have to wait after the summit I think, let's see if I can include her faster.
aten92: Thank you :) the punishment already delivered, next arc would focus on some of emotion he had felt :)
For Aika I still couldn't think a good way to let her in, might struck her in few next chapter if I can't do it and for Katerea, I also hope I can put her in.
Shadowwriter01 : Then just laugh :D
Well DxD is a great story when you ignored that fact. xD
To increase it, was the fact that Issei was the one who helped her peerage instead of doing that herself.
Thanks for the review :)
Talonsen : Well I know that fact, but that part and one other part was the things that make me can't like her, so explaining it wouldn't brought any change for me.
Normally it impossible, but Rias miraculously did it 4 times! she found 4 americans in north korea!
I tried to let it flow realisitically, if you notice, Sirzech was less siscon.
Less emotionless huh... maybe... but it was like because you never use it for a long time that you need to adjust it, that's why when his emotion resurface, he couldn't control it well. And one other thing, this was his struggle to recover after all. :D
Imperial - SamaB : Thank you :D
darth56 : Thanks for your praise and I will :D
RangerElk76 : Yeah, I think I posted this when the notification was under maintenance. thanks for reading :D
DdraigTrueEmperor9 : Thanks you, Rias punishment had been delivered in this chapter.
The plan was mainly Azazel's but those three were doing their best to realize the plan.
I hope you will :)
For Katerea, I will try my best to put her in, when I re-watched the anime I thought this myself, maybe I had a thing for tragedy girl that killed easily without serving their purpose.
Once again, thanks for everyone who read this story, Farcast turned off~