Here's a quick update to make up for that half chapter my dudes, with 10.3k of words for you to keep on reading
Who's that girl on the cover you ask? Well, read and see. Though you've probably guessed who it is
Thank you for the awesome reviews. They're all so nice and give me warm fuzzy feelings. nohomo
And another special mention to OfficialJesus for once again blessing me with his review and approval for Issei to, as he has aptly put, "get them titties". Thank you jesus. very epic.
aight hav foon
upd: Sorry for taking down the chap, had to fix some mistakes. Look guys, English is my third language, so if you see any grammar irregularities, point them out and write some example. I want to avoid making mistakes, but I won't be able to know if you don't tell me
Death's Chosen
[VI]
||Calm Before the Storm||
His first couple of days being Death's Chosen had been nothing but thrills after another. He had many first times within those 36 hours. His first death, followed with his first restart in life - although it wasn't like a save point he can load up if he makes a silly mistake. Then he had his first encounter with the paranormal beings. His first contact with the supernatural world he never thought existed.
The first he arrived to an eye-opening realization that bras had other appeal than simply covering a woman's delectable part of their body. The first time he ever grabbed them too, no matter how disappointing as it was. First time he buried his face between them as well, and it was a wonderful feeling like no other.
On top of those things, he had the first time to see a real life, very healthy, firm yet bouncy pair of tits, including the nipples and its hued rings surrounding it. A sight he'd never forget in his entire life, as seeing his first breasts was like a religious experience that he believed everyone should have the opportunity to experience.
Those few first days were also the first time he had to fight in his life, for his life, and, to his surprise, he actually enjoyed it.
Not the fighting, but the winning.
The triumphant feeling that he had defeated someone. Issei didn't consider himself to be a winner or a glory seeker, on the contrary, actually. He considered himself as a loser. Not to the point where he'd beat himself up with guilt and constant feel of disappointment that'd make him bedridden, but enough to know that compared to other people, he wasn't exactly a shining example of what a winner is.
Nonetheless, this wasn't just some blind luck. Issei knew who to thank for, and lady fortune was not one to thank. He doubted the devotion of some pure pervert like him would mean something to a being as godly as Death, but damn him if he didn't try.
{Keep it up, boy.} Balthazar, the Wayfarer of the Void, at the moment acting as his coach, brought his focus back to his exercise. {One more lap around the park and you can call it a day.}
"Right- one more. Let's do this-" Issei wheezed. The sun blazed the top of his head, beaming down the moment he started his cardio training, which involved four kilometers - 2.5 miles - of constant jogging around Kuoh. Now the yellow giant helium gas we call a star was about to set, and he could see the crescent moon creeping up the sky orange sky.
His legs felt like they were about to melt, like there was some demon dogs with fire fangs chewing his calves, but Balthazar's word of encouragement solidified his will.
And finally, drenched in sweat, Issei reached the park bench, his landmark for a lap. Puffing out dreary breath and dragging his worn-out legs, Issei plopped down the wooden seat. The same bench which had been replaced by the devils in the same night the incident with the fallen angels occurred.
That was a week ago. Right on Tuesday. And that was the last time he had ever seen any of the fallen angels. Issei never expected he'd think this way, because he was starting to miss those life-threatening excitements.
{Someone's missing the thrill.} The dragon commented with a deep chuckle. Issei replied with a silent, somewhat-awkward smile. Balthazar noticed his host's slight disenchantment for the ordinary way of living as easily as if he was reading an undeciphered codex about the secrets of the universe. {I don't blame you boy. You've tasted the world riddled with constant violence; where individual power can have as much significance as an entire country. A world where winning isn't everything; it's the only thing.}
'…Dude that was kinda unsettling.' Issei muttered a thought, was winning all there is to it? 'But… well, you're not wrong. It sucks that I have to hurt people but… at least they heal pretty quick huh?'
{Hah! You've even given yourself a reason to justify yourself in laying harm unto others.} Balthazar laughed, but that wasn't the usual laugh he carried. That kind of laughter was the kind of laugh he'd do if he found something ridiculous. {Be mindful of yourself boy; keep that kind of mindset when you're in a fight, not before, not after. They're living beings, not mere pawns in a game of chess.}
'Y-yeah, you don't need to tell me twice.' Issei shocked himself as he realized he was about to treat this life like some kind of game where he gets stronger to beat up stronger people. '…Nope. Nope, nope… Can't believe I just think that. Sorry Raz.'
The dragon snorted. {Don't be, boy. It's good that you realize this kind of stuff early on. Listen, that kind of thought is necessary. Yes you're still here, still living in this normalcy; you wake up, go to your school, go home and sleep. An ordinary life you still live. A part of you belongs in that world, but now you've set a foot in another world. It's now too late to take a step back, but you know what that's left you with.}
Issei thought for a while. He didn't want to answer just for the sake of replying. '…Just… move forward?'
{Exactly.} Balthazar grinned, baring his fangs. {You can't turn around, you can't curve yourself around it, but you can always pierce right through. Fate will say you cannot weather the storm, others will try to stop you, underestimate you the same way those fallen angels did until you handed their unholy arses; and that's fine. You simply become the storm.}
Issei wasn't entirely sure if he had the badassery or even the gall to be an unrelenting force of nature, but Issei would be lying if he said that didn't pump him up.
'Alright! I think I'll go for another lap!'
{No that's quite enough. Let your muscle rest.}
That murdered his hype entirely.
Dejectedly, Issei went back to sit on the bench as he peered the Kuoh's public park. When he arrived here, the place was full of life. Children running around playing tags, sometimes falling and crying, drawing their gossiping mother's attention before getting back up and run some more. Now it was devoid of their laughter or high-pitched shrieking. The sun bathed it in its ginger glow and now it was blue and gloomy, silent like a graveyard.
Issei decidedly agree that parks are creepy at night, especially when he was alone, unaccompanied by the stunning crimson-haired beauty of a senior of his.
Speaking of which, 'Is she still following me?'
{Yes she is.} Balthazar huffed. {Regardless of what she told you, boy, she'll always keep a watchful eye trained at your being. To the devil, you're an anomaly wandering around her territory, it's only right that she's conscious of you, whether you're a foe or ally or neither.}
'This feels weird… getting stalked, I mean.'
{If you don't like it, you can always get Tiamat to accompany you. She'll shoo them away with or without your permission.}
'…Yeah… no. I don't wanna stir up any trouble. It's weird that they're avoiding me at school like nothing's happened though.' He thought with a little hint of woe. He missed watching their breasts bounce when they walk. 'Well, except Yumi-chan, but she's my classmate.'
{I think she's simply being considerate with you.} Balthazar assumed, {That farewell she said to you was a genuine farewell, lad.}
'…Oh…' Issei glanced down. '…That's… kinda sad.'
A low humming droned on his ears. {The lad's missing a companionship of pretty girls, I see. Bored of your sausage fest already?}
'N-no!' Issei stiffened. 'I don't mean it that way, come on man… you know me. I won't betray my friends like that. Bros before hoes! Sometimes at least.'
{Hahaha! I jest, boy.}
'Not that I don't want to hang out with the M&M, but… you know. They're boys.'
Balthazar nodded along. {Yes, yes, I understand. Their scent lacked femininity and they possess no such thing as the specialized tissues aptly sculpted to finely adorn the body of a female being and to provide life for their offspring. I get it. You don't have to defend yourself.}
'Dude…' Issei wasn't sure what to say on that elaborate elaboration for a pair of tits, so he didn't bother. 'Kinda wish she doesn't stalk around though. Can't she just watch and stand where I can see her?'
{Why don't you try telling her that?}
'But then she'll know I know she was following me.'
{Exactly.}
Issei sighed. '…Alright, I get your point.'
Idly, he shifted his vision as the blue hues of the world basked in grey and white. Unlike back then, the vision was more vivid now. He could discern the color of a supernatural from a mile away. Further than that, then it'd be just a simple black dot.
He couldn't 'sense' them yet like feeling a shift in the invisible winds of magic - some kind of thing that apparently existed in this world as well - but Balthazar mentioned it wasn't a trick easy to learn, especially during his first few weeks as the Chosen of Death.
Until Issei felt a light shudder creeping up to the hairs of his neck, as if someone just blew a wind on his nape.
'Getting chilly out here.' He thought randomly. He was in his football jersey and shorts that provided little cover to his body against the cold, which was why he mistook it as one.
{Well, would you look at that? Congratulations boy. You just felt your first supernatural presence.}
'Wait, really?' Issei tried not to look to his back since he assumed that was where this supernatural person was hiding. He wasn't smart but he didn't want to alert whoever that was. 'That light shudder?'
{It's a start.} Balthazar sniggered, taking pride for his host's rapid growth. {Stronger you become, the more sensitive you are to their presence. Like a brush grazing on your skin, it'll feel like, or even like a warm moist towel wrapping around you.}
'Oh yeah? Awesome!' Issei nodded, barely containing a smile. That supernatural person would probably think he was nodding to a song chiming inside his head. 'Kinda creepy though. If I didn't know better, I'll probably think that's a ghost or something…' Which brought something to mind. '…Do ghosts exist too?'
To which Balthazar chortled, {Dragons, devils, angels and fallen angels exist in this world and you doubt the existence of a wandering soul?}
'Oh…' Great. That fueled his drive to bail the hell out of this creepy park soon. Fallen angels be damned, at least he could see them and bash them in their faces.
Getting up, letting his legs stretch out for a bit after the arduous labor he had put these faithful limbs through, Issei headed straight to home, realizing that Tiamat might have devoured his portion if he didn't come back soon since it was getting dark. The park clock was pointing at seven, and he'd also rather not come home only to be pulverized by his mother's complaint.
Mid-way, Issei realized him and his stalker devil wasn't the only souls in the lonely park.
A girl. Looking around his age and as tall as Aika – or as some of his classmates would describe, the female version of him, only more popular and understood there was a time and place to be openly perverted.
Issei say screw those time and place, for a pervert is a full-time occupation and dedication.
Her blonde hair was dimmed by the looming darkness, but didn't fail to shine underneath that odd headcover of hers. Some kind of a veil. Slim and slender, she was, wearing a weird dark green outfit with a skirt that almost reached her ankles. A brown leather pack slung on her shoulder, resting at the side of her waist.
In no way she looked Japanese, and the way she peered her eyes at the wooden directional arrow signs suggested that she was a foreigner to this eastern country. If it wasn't for her outfit, he would've mistaken her as Yumi's sister.
It didn't need a detective to tell she was objectively lost.
Issei paused a while to think. 'A nun?'
{Seems so.} Balthazar sniffed. {Hey, she's a special one, this girl. She has the same force like that devil – er… your classmate.}
'Yumi-chan?'
{Right. That lass. She's a Sacred Gear carrier, most likely.}
'…Wait, Yumi has Sacred Gear?'
{Oh, I haven't mentioned?}
'No!'
{Well that doesn't matter now.} The dragon said flippantly. {I know what you want to do. Go on and help her.}
That said, if she didn't understand Japanese, how was he going to talk to her? Well, maybe he'd find out if he had those convenient translating ability in his head.
"Hello," Issei approached her in a calm manner, raising his voice so she took note of him.
"Ah-!" The girl let out a little gasp as she turned around, and immediately her great green eyes that made her small face even smaller and cuter enchanted him.
That said, something deep within him thought that she was supposed to trip herself somewhere in the park in a comically clumsy way that would reveal what panties she was wearing. That was an odd thought. He wouldn't mind if it came true though.
"O-oh! I'm sorry!"
He was surprised that she could speak Japanese, but what surprised him more was her voice. It was so light the winds could carry it away like a feather.
"Ah… Buona sera." She muttered before getting flustered, looking like she was searching for something to say to him in a way that he could understand. "U-umm… k-konbanwa?"
"Oh- good evening." Issei nodded politely, a bit too amazed to be nervous that he was talking to an undeniably cute girl. "You trying to go somewhere?"
"-!"She looked even more distressed as she scrambled her limited Japanese vocabulary. "Umm… I-I… I uhhh-" as she droned on an odd array of words that were foreign to his ears.
'What language of the gods is she speaking?'
{Italiano.} Balthazar pointed, complete with a Florentine accent – not that Issei could tell. {You know a little bit of English from those games and movies you watch. Try it out.}
English was actually one of his best subjects at school – second only to Physical Education. He just went along with what sounded 'right' in his head. He knew watching Hollywood movies undubbed would be useful. But when it comes to pronunciation, however…
"Err… let's see uh… How you doin'?"
While the girl discerned his language, Balthazar had to pause to digest it. {Really? Out of all the introductions, you have to pick Joey from Friends?}
'…W-well... I always wanted to try and say it…'
{You really are one of a kind. A kind of stupid.}
"You can speak English?" Clasping her hands as if she was about to pray, the girl looked at him like he was some sort of a beacon of hope.
"Erm… a little bit, yeah." Issei scratched his neck, feeling it slick with his sweat. He hoped he didn't smell too much.
"Thank goodness!"
Her smile infected Issei. The boy smiled too, though it was more of a grin that he tried to suppress to no avail. "Are you a tourist?"
"Oh no! I'm a sister."
Definitely lost though.
"Umm," She muttered, with a somewhat of a saddened expression he failed to notice. "I have just been appointed to a church in this city… but I got lost on the way." She admitted, sticking out a tiny portion of her pink tongue with slight embarrassment. "Um… Mr…?"
"Issei. Hyoudou Issei." He replied, beaming a confident smile. Always happy when he could be of help, especially to cute girls like her.
She smiled a sincere smile. A smile so sincere Issei felt all his exhaustion had been wiped away. "I'm Asia Argento. Very pleased to meet you, Mr. Issei!"
"Y-you too. I mean, me too." Issei said, dumbly. "You can just call me Issei… everyone calls me that." Sometimes 'perv' or 'leech', but she didn't need to know those nicknames. "Nice to meet you too, Argento-san."
"Then please call me Asia!" The nun tittered, "Erm… I'm not familiar with the language yet, and I don't want to be impolite or assuming… b-but I want to learn. Is it okay if I call you Issei-san?"
"Of course!" Issei gave her a thumb's up. Any girls that didn't call him 'degenerate' was an absolute win in his book. "Now, you're talking about a church… There's one outside the town, I think. D-don't get me wrong here alright, I'm a totally harmless dude wanting to help a stranger in distress!"
"Yes! It's that church!" Asia clasped her hands, inwardly thanking her god, causing a mild headache to Koneko who had been watching by the trees. "I've only been there once… and I thought I can have a walk around the city to try and remember the streets… but, here I am."
Issei stared at her as she twiddled her little fingers. 'Dude, this girl is mad cute.'
{Mmmn. She sure is happy, but looks forced.} Balthazar mused.
'Forced? Her? Come on.'
{I have a bad feeling about this. But hell if I'm not curious. Curiosity may kill the cat but we're no cats. I'll remain on guard, but that doesn't mean you can be lax, boy.}
'No sweat!' With the dragon's approval, Issei gladly offered a hand. "Well? Asia-san, follow me please."
Break
"Whoa-! You came from Rome? That's like- far!" Issei realized he sucked at conversations.
"It is! I had wished I could come here by a ship, but a plane is much more efficient. B-but I truly am grateful, be it by the sky or the sea!"
"So you like the sea eh? Too bad there's no beaches here." No bitches either. "The best beaches are at the islands too... Miyakojima is a great choice if you ever wanna try scuba-diving. The water's crystal clear and free of pollution!"
"Ahh… how wonderful…" Again, that glint of sadness in her eyes and face. "I've always dreamt to be able to mesmerize God's many wonders up close."
As they Issei blinked. "Huh? Why can't you? Don't nuns get breaks too?"
"Oh! Nothing. I'm sorry, I rambled!" Asia nervously laughed to cover her emotions, but it was too late now. Issei had gotten himself concerned with her. Not that he'd push it – they were still acquaintances for all he aware of. "Oh dear… it's not good of me to get sad all the times- I'm sorry dear Lord…"
'Huh.' Issei idly thought as he watched her pray briefly. 'Yo, Raz… Should I start praying too?'
{What for.}
'Isn't that how you communicate with gods?'
{Gods. Not Death.} Balthazar corrected. {Do you think Death has a need of religion? No, lad. Gods are no different to angels, fallen angels, or devils; be it faith or desires, they rely in human. Death doesn't need the faith of others to do what must be done. It's the same endgame for every living being. No matter the religions, no matter if they believe in nothing, whatever they are, be they a streetsweeper or a god reclining in Olympus... You'll meet Him eventually.}
'R-right…' Issei swallowed. He forgot Death was a special kind of God. Actually, the only 'real' God he knew of – and His Sister. He wanted to ask the point of Death choosing him, but he didn't want to question the will of Death Himself.
He distracted himself by keeping the conversation alive with the nun, bringing another topic such as the fast food restaurants as the nun apparently had a very worldly desire of eating a Burger King's burger. Then to some idle talk about the clothing stores as he thought the nun would like to wear something other than her nun outfit.
One thing he realized, however, was that the devil had stopped following him once he drew closer to the church by the outskirts of the town. But it made sense since he imagined devils and church were as compatible with one another as oil and water. Like Koneko to DD bras.
{She stopped following you because you're stepping to their enemies' territory I wager.} Balthazar muttered as the church stuck out like a sore thumb in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees and moss gnawing its walls. {This place sucks, by the way.}
'You said it.' And creepy. He didn't like the overall vibe of an enclosed church in the darkening nights. "Are you sure this is the church?"
"Yes! That is it!" Asia giddily squealed. "Thank you very much, Issei-san!"
'Maybe it's not abandoned...' Issei activated his 'vision', but to no luck. He couldn't see behind walls yet. Only trees and organic matters – not cements. Despite so, he felt an uneasiness stirring his bowels. 'I think you infected me cuz' I have a bad feeling about this, Raz.'
{Aye.} The dragon affirmed. {Something's off here. It's surrounded by a holy presence, but as not every unholy devil is inherently evil, not all holy servants of Biblical God are good. Best leave it be for now, boy, your mother will get worried otherwise.}
Right. The murky world of supernatural might be lying there before him, but he didn't want to get lambasted with nags yet – specifically since he didn't tell his mother about going out late. And because his legs were starting to burn from all the jogging and walking.
"Welp. I'll be going now." Said Issei, waving his hand as the girl seemingly waited for him to go along. "It's getting a bit late, see you Asia-san! I'll be at the park running in the afternoon after school, so if you need another guide, don't be shy alright?"
"Yes!" The girl beamed, happily waving.
He turned around, and started his walk back to his house. "Hope I'll get to see her again. Soon." He muttered the words under his breath, as the nun left into the shadows of the church.
"Goodbye Issei-san." With a faltered smile, the girl whispered under her own breath, watching the boy disappear into the glitters of the town. Brief as it was, she truly enjoyed their moments together, to have someone beside her. Even if it was only as acquaintances.
.
.
.
When he arrived at the living room of his house, Issei wished he came home sooner.
Because on one three-seater sofa, his mother and father sat. On the other couch, was the dragon lady herself, at the moment borrowing his mother's sweater and home skirt that covered her thighs much to his disappointment. But that wasn't why he had a very bad feeling, like a gaping pit deep in his stomach.
It was because Tiamat was openly reading his porn mags. And judging by his mom's vengeful eyes that all mother possessed whenever they caught their supposedly good-for-nothing of a son in the middle of something stupid.
"Done training?" Miki Hyoudou said, calm fury sewn in her words.
Issei scooted back a few steps, his fight or flight instincts telling him to get the fuck away. "…Actually, I'm gonna have a quick jog-"
"Sit. Down. Young man." And there's the tone. The tone of absolute finally that implied the impending judgment. "You I can understand, but her? Are you planning to corrupt her?"
"Ehm… it's… a cultural exchange kind of learning."
"And where do you think you are looking, Gorou?" Pinching her husband's ear, she drew away the husband's leering eyes from the magazine she wanted banished.
{I'll be off. Best of luck. May the force be with you.}
'Wh- traitor! You said you'll never leave me behind!'
{Right. About that. I don't include your mom's wrath as a part of it. Arrivederci, ragazzo.}
'Dammit, I don't speak Italian- hey what did you mea-'
"Issei."
His inner thoughts were cut off as Mrs. Hyoudou slammed a magazine onto the table. "Y-yes ma'am. I'm listening."
Alas, Issei had to weather the storm that took form in his mother's hail-like fury.
Break
It was nighttime in Japan, around the time where all the good kids had gone to sleep and all the bad kids stay up and do bad kid things, like watching porn, or playing mobile games when they were meant to be asleep. But it was only noon at Athens, the capital city of Greek. The country that had taken a steep plunge from grace.
The perfect time for sightseeing the ruins of ancient human civilization, to marvel what humans would build in order to please their patrons; at least Life would think so.
"Patrons…" Death quietly chuckled at the thought as He stared the colossal derelict pillars, sixteen in numbers, the remains of what was once lauded as the Temple of Olympian Zeus. "Slave-drivers, more like. Thousands die building this thing." Not to mention they had to work day and night for centuries. Centuries. That was about ten straight generations, having to lift and carve these rocks.
"Shh! I'm trying to take a picture!"
"How does my silence decrease your ineptitude in taking a stable picture?"
Life promptly lowered her very pricey Nikon camera, revealing the pout adorning her pretty face. "Tsk, tsk, tsk- you're still as mean even as a human."
"Do I look human to you?" Death tilted His head, His triangular cowl shifting to one side, His pool of shadows appearing bizarrely darker as it was under the shadows cast by the great pillars.
"Yeah!" Life complained, glaring with her light olive eyes that were far more precious than any berries. "So you're a bit taller than me, or most humans, and very skinny, but you still have a head, a body, two arms and-" she glanced down to her brother's dark robe, and saw his armor-clad feet. "two legs."
Death sighed. It was sounded like it went through a long tube. "Your simplicity never fails to amaze me, sister."
"Thanks!" Life excitedly replied as she took more pictures of the deranged ruins, her short olive-yellow hair swaying as she moved around to get better angles, sticking a tongue out from the corner of her naturally pink lips. "We're lucky no one's around. Normally there's so many people here, do you know that?"
"Tourists come in holidays. This is Tuesday. People work in Tuesday."
"Oh?" Life blinked, lowering her camera again. "What do gods do on Tuesday?"
"Laze. Retain their incompetence as they have in any other days." Death nonchalantly replied, idly calling forth his weapon; some kind of a dagger, except for the almost circularly curved blade that if straightened would match the length of his arm – more like a dagger with the blade of a scythe. The very weapon that had harvested the souls of unruly gods thousand years ago.
And now, he utilized the tip of that very weapon to carve 'Death was here' at one of the giant pillars.
His crafting was bothered by a sharp and very shrill gasp. "Brother! Don't you-" another petulant gasp since her voice of reason was unheeded. "Stop desecrating the ruins! That's a crime! You can't do that!"
"What's more criminal? Abandoning your people as they drown themselves in sea of debt that is more than 300 billion Euros, or this?"
"W-well you shouldn't do that still!" Life fumed, nearly as threatening as a mildly upset Corgi, especially with her dull blue-gray sweater with oversized sleeves she had to constantly roll up because her hands were shorter. "It's the people who built it, not them!"
Death paused. "A fair point. Not one I'd expect from you, sister." He still sliced the stone, embedding the last 'e', earning himself another glare with a great pout.
Though this time, there were one and a half pair of them, and one was not trained on him.
Death had sensed the presence of the other gods - those pompous big shots who sit on clouds and call themselves Olympians – keeping their eyes on His unassuming sister. Because unlike His sister who chose to become a full-time human being with almost zero powers, Death wasn't as stupid as to let her roam this godforsaken Earth without His protection. Death remained invisible even to the eyes of the gods who couldn't think of any better than to pick a stray 'God' that wandered to their so-called 'territory'.
She couldn't die. If her human vessel was destroyed, she'd still be Life. But she could get hurt. And Death would not take anyone kindly should they harm his sister in any way.
This goddess in particular, despite her very human-like appearance, with her short and wavy scarlet hair that barely touched her shoulders, a black eyepatch over her right eye, covering a bit of her slender face, while one crimson eye glared intently at His sister, was no exception. Even her outfit was human-like, which was a pleasant surprise for Death who had expected the Olympians to be covered in nothing but white silks to expose their glamorous body.
She had a plain white shirt with the collars propped up, revealing a healthy portion of her chest that no doubt would be appreciated by His Chosen. But that was the only skin other than her face she showed. A pair of dark gloves and the same colored pants covered the rest, with a pair of high-heeled combat boots that reached her knees. A small backpack strapped around her waist, resting by her right thigh.
Overall, a rather plain appearance a goddess to have, especially for an Olympian, but perhaps this goddess was different. Perhaps this goddess was a goddess like no other. Or perhaps merely in appearance alone that she was different, as she still showed apprehension towards his sister.
"What pantheons do you originate from?"
Death almost let out a snort at her pathetic attempt in lowering her voice to sound menacing.
"Oh hi! Hello!" Life cheerily replied, a bright smile on her face, unaware to the this alleged menacing aura the goddess tried to radiate as Life simply took a picture of her face. "It's so nice to finally meet you! Hephaestus, right? Can I call you Hephy instead?"
"You know me?" Hephaestus couldn't hide her look of bewilderment. Olympians were famous, sure. Perhaps two thousand years ago or maybe more, but not today save the few well-known ones. She never thought she'd be recognized by other gods, especially by weak goddesses since they tend to dream about meeting The God of the Skies or be embraced in the strong arms belonging to The God of War, but never her.
Not even the father before her. Never the God of Blacksmiths, let alone his daughter.
"Of course!" Life brilliantly smiled, which was, even to a goddess, had quite the effect. Hephaestus failed to suppress her blush. "How do you do? I'm-" The young girl paused, trying to remember the name her brother gave her. "…I'm Lenora. Nice to meet 'cha."
As Life extended her humanly hand that poked out from the oversized sleeve, Death idly watched like a father watching his daughter trying to make friends, leaning a pauldron-shielded shoulder on a pillar.
He remained still, almost without interest, until the goddess swatted that hand who had refused to lay harm.
"If you know who I am, then you best be on your way. I'm sorry to be rude, but it's for your own sake. We don't accept stray goddesses here."
"Oh…" Life whimpered, clutching her hand, staring at it with a clueless look. It was the first she experienced physical pain, and she decided that she hated it as much as she hated the emotional kind of pain. "Okay… I'm sorry."
Anger swirled within Him. As much as the first source of anger had all the destruction and fury of a hurricane, the second source was the eye of the storm. Perfectly calm and placid on the surface, but bottomless in its depth. Other gods and goddesses' anger were hot, and so it used them. But Death's had always been cold, and he could use it.
He had given the goddess a chance - the same exact chance he gave to her kind again and again, because it was only 'fair'. And still, the same result. Perhaps He was the fool to expect these fools could learn from their mistakes.
"Afternoon, little one." His words didn't travel through the air as usual, simply invading the goddess' thoughts. Her reaction of surprise was well received, including the way her face knotted as she digested His tiny insult.
But her emotions were flooded by unyielding waves of fear, submerging every last inch of her bravery as a goddess. Her crimson pupil trembled as she took in the sight of the armor-clad entity looming over her, who had appeared without a warning, towering against her, drowning her body and her shadow in His as white mists enveloped the stone she stood.
The realization mauled her like a dozen hungry wolves, and her legs buckled as her entire body shivered in a dread so suffocating; she found breathing difficult.
"Y-you're… you're-"
"Death. Yes, I'm aware. You hit my sister."
Break
It was some time in the afternoon when school over and no more teachers teaching stuffs he wouldn't be needing in his future as Death's Chosen. But even if he did need it, Issei couldn't shrug away his miserable outlook towards his life quite yet.
"Dude, you alright?" He felt a finger poking his forehead, nudging him as if to make sure he was alive. That was Matsuda's voice – the baldy who could've been a monk.
"Yeah man." Another one followed, this time his other friend's. The last of his closest companions that could match his perversion. "You look like you just lose your porn or something."
Issei wailed into his arms then.
"Wh-whoa!" Motohama jumped back, "Dude, what the hell? Is that really what happened?!"
With a heavy heart, Issei nodded his head. "All my collections- GONE. PAWNED OFF like it's nothing! All my hard work- the money I saved! ALL FOR NOTHING. AAAAAAAAGGGGGHH-"
The entire class looked at the Perverted Trio as they sobbed together, bemoaning the loss of their friend's treasure. Some girls started to mutter something about it being pointless, but Issei gave no shit. They didn't give a shit about his magazines anyway, or him for that matter, and he wanted to punch a face if he could. He really wished he could hit something to vent his extreme sadness – a punching bag would be very appreciated.
"Uhm… Issei-kun? Is he alright? He seem very… depressed."
"Y-Yumi-chan!" Matsuda jumped off from their brotherly huddle, taking full advantage of the attractive female's sight to liven up his eyes. "Goddammit- it pains me to say this, but can you please cheer up our fallen comrade?!"
Yumi slanted her head to one side, her usual smile gracing her lips. "I-I'm sorry?"
"He just had something very dear to him taken away from him… It's like a piece of his dreams have been razed down to the ground." Motohama added, acknowledging the baldy's intention. "He's at rock bottom right now, and only a fair maiden like you can bring him up!"
"A-a fair maiden? Me?" Yumi repeated, her smile turning sheepish as a light blush blessed her fair cheeks, right under the mole beneath her left eye. "Erm… I'm not a fair maiden but I'll give it a try- Issei-kun?"
The sweet utterance of his name tugged away his face from his arms. In these trying times, seeing her face was like seeing an angel – ironic as it was since the girl was a devil.
"Yeah…?"
Something inside her twitched as she saw the face of a broken man. So hopeless and so full of despair, reminding her to a time in her life she wished never existed.
"Rias-Senpai asked to see you." hearing this, the notorious M&M twitched. "Can you come with me to the clubroom?"
"…" Rias… the crimson-haired bombshell with a body to die for. Along with Akeno, another senior with yet another body to die for. Reminded of their shapely bodies, Issei was miraculously healed.
"Hell yeah." He stood up with a salute to his bros. "Adios muchachos."
"Fufu, are you that happy to see your Senpais that much?"
"Wait, I said 'fair maiden' not 'fair maidens'. It was singular. Singular, I say."
But Motohama's complaint was unheard, as Issei strolled away with the dazzling beauty out the classroom, leaving the two perverts staring blank at the opened door, cursing their fate as side characters.
Break
"Ahahaha-! You were depressed since this morning because your mother did the right thing?"
Watching his beautiful classmate wiping a tear of her eye, Issei could only nod grumpily. "…They were like a father -I mean sons to me. I went through highs and lows with them you know."
"Right- right, I'm sorry." Yumi managed to stifle her laughter to mere giggles. "Mfufu- okay. I'm sorry, I'm done."
"…I'm glad you find happiness in my suffering."
"Oh Issei-kun, why would you say that?" Yumi replied, keeping her lips shut as she tried her hardest to stare at the boy's eyes. Only to let out a 'snrk' before losing it again, clutching her belly.
Issei deadpanned. On one hand, she had a cute laughter, and it felt special to him that he could make her laugh. On the other hand, that was his misery she was laughing at.
He pouted. Other boys felt jealous of him as he went past them, and plenty female students were no doubt spreading evil gossips about him, probably starting a rumor that he made a deal with the devil to be able to make her laugh this way, but Issei had stopped caring about the way people see him since he established the Perverted Trio. Besides, they're not the one walking next to her.
As they exited the main school building, making their way to the old one, Issei started to raise his questions. "Why does Senpai want to see me?"
Yumi shrugged, though still snickering at times. "Your guess is as good as mine, Issei-kun. Perhaps she wants to extend her condolences for your devastatinglosspft-"
And she laughed again. At his expense, no less. "Man, I didn't know you'd be this cruel to me, Yumi-chan. This isn't because you're a devil or anything, right?"
"O-oh, o-f course not."
No use talking to her when she kept giggling like a hyena on acid, so Issei simply walked the walk to the clubroom. But if he had to take a wild guess, it had something with him meeting that nun yesterday.
{I thought the same too.} Balthazar echoed, {Sorry for your loss, by the way. I know understand it is painful to let go, but sometimes, it's for the best.}
Issei frowned. 'Dude… you're a damn good bro you know.'
{Now, now, don't get emotional on me. I appreciate the notion, but let's use this as positively as we can.} Said the Wayfarer, sagely.
{What you've lost might be irreplaceable in terms of sentiments, but there are various girls in this worlds, women of stunning beauties, that will most certainly lay a gaze upon you as you propel yourself forward. You can always buy a new edition of those magazines, but you cannot buy a woman's genuine affections. Let this encourage your ambition, lad, a fuel for that harem dreams of yours.}
He sniffled back a tear, touched, but also burning with passion. '…You're right… I wish I can scream right now though.'
{Wanna borrow my room for a second?}
Issei didn't need to reply. He quickly switched with Balthazar, and found himself in the void soon after, with a three-seater couch the dragon had promised on adding. Excusing himself for going to go loud, Issei yelled his lungs out.
"I'LL BE THE HAREM KING THAT MY FUTURE HAREM MEMBERS LOVES AND LET ME DO STUFF TO THEIR BODY WITH THEIR WHOLE HEART!"
He felt better afterwards. Shouting without regards sure was nice. It cleared his mind a little, and allowed some positivity entered his mindset, such as the possibility of meeting that certain Gremory in the middle of her shower.
With an expectant smile, Issei sauntered in the room after Yumi opened the door for him.
"Sup dudes." Issei said, playing it cool despite he was happy on seeing these beauties in this exclusive room once again. "…I mean dudettes."
"Welcome back Issei-kun." That melodic, breathy voice could be none other than Akeno, the Japanese beauty with a rare long ponytail, swaying behind her back as she carried a tray to the short table by the couches. "Ufufu~ it's nice to see you again. Please have a seat."
"And very nice to see you again ma'am!" He replied firmly before making his way to take a seat. Opposite of him was, once again, the petite, white-haired devil. "Hey Koneko-chan."
"Senpai." She replied with a small nod as small as her body, at the moment eating a cream puff. One in her hand, four others on the table right in front of her, still in their respective plastic.
"You sure like sweets huh."
"And your eyes are red." Koneko pinpointedly said, before shoving a cream puff at his direction. "You can have one if you want."
A small gesture of consideration, but that was more than he had ever hoped on getting. Gratefully, he began to undress the cream puffs, letting its sweetness wash away the bitter taste of reality from his mouth.
All while Yumi was snickering behind him.
He took a glance around the lavish room, and unfortunately, Rias was not, for a fact, taking a shower. The Gremory Heiress sat behind her desk, two delicate fingers massaging her temples, before she took off her attention from the piece of paper to focus on the embodiment of perversion.
"Hyoudou-kun." She greeted, her voice prim as she walked towards the couch. "You must be wondering as to why we called you here again- despite I've told you we won't disturb you."
If only he could say all the stalking disturbed him greatly. "Erm… yeah. I am. Did I do anything bad?" He said, putting down the unfinished cream puffs for later.
"No, don't worry." She replied as she took a seat on the center, next to Koneko's. "You can stay, Koneko. I don't mind."
As Akeno placed a cup of brewing tea on her table and Issei's, Rias continued. "You're aware of us, devils, and our enemies; fallen angels, I'm sure, but I must inform you that they're not our only enemies. Can you guess?"
"Uh… the angels?"
"Close." Rias smiled, taking a sip of the Earl Gray tea to take her mind off several troubles.
Issei didn't touch his drink yet because he liked cold drinks, fancy or not. And it was way too early to drink hot drinks for him.
"Unlike their aggressive brethren, angels are mostly passive. They retaliate if we attack first, but never the one to start the attack. Compared to the angels, it's those who are aligned with the Church of Vatican – the Catholics, who are still stuck within their old roots. Their Exorcists are blessed with immense divine power by the angels, but it's the bloodthirsty Stray Exorcists that are even worse than the Church. I fear they'll intend to wipe all devil from this world even if it cost a war."
"…Oh." He knew it was about the nun before. Issei idly wondered if Asia could be one of them, but he couldn't imagine her hurting a fly, let alone a living being… devil or not. What could she do? Pray their wellbeing to death?
{Hah! That'll be hilariously ironic. A sad end for the devil, sure, but a hilarious one.}
Issei didn't say or think of anything because he did find it funny.
"You don't need concern yourself with them, of course, but that is, before you—before we make contact with you… Which is why I bring you here, to inform you of this risk." Rias muttered, her tone grim and trodden with guilt. "There's been a series of murders lately in this city, one that the news doesn't cover."
Issei most certainly had not heard of any murder whatsoever.
"They all have one thing in common; they were our clients. People who wants to or have established contact with us devils to fulfill their desires. It's clear that this is an act of a Stray Exorcists… because the normal ones don't kill humans. They'll send that person to an abbey to pray since they believe in redemption. But no. This is a Stray Exorcist; pure and simple. It's likely that whoever this is, he considers anyone who is an acquaintance of a devil deserving of death."
Issei gulped as a chill crept down his spine. "…M-man, that's really bad."
"…I'm sorry, Hyoudou. I'd like you to stay away from this mess and live your life, I really do. It's not beyond your reach, but it's advisable for you to be wary."
He couldn't bring himself to say that he wanted to pile in on the mess. Not when she had that face. Sod him, he was weak to a girl's guilty look.
"A-ah, that's okay Senpai. Don't worry too much. I got Tiamat on my side, right?"
"True, and I wouldn't have been concerned, should she remain by your side all the time." She sighed, "Which she doesn't. Even as you train your body, Hyoudou-kun, you're alone."
{No you're not.} Balthazar blithely commented. He didn't have to, but he wanted to keep the boredom away.
That wasn't a code, but Issei knew if he wanted to address his stalkers, now would be the time. "But don't you always send someone to watch me over?"
Rias froze. "And how could you tell?"
"W-well, you just said it yourself. I was just guessing, Paisen- er, Senpai."
Her scarlet brows scrunched. It was a blunder of her; no doubt the constant strains of piling up stresses, but she had undervalued this kind pervert's perception. He might not be the sharpest, but he certainly wasn't as dull as she thought.
"It's true that I still keep you under my supervision, Hyoudou-kun. I won't deny it. And I'm afraid I'll have to keep monitoring you. Nothing personal, I assure you. This is one of my duties as a devil to supervise any irregulates in my territory."
Issei waited until she finished speaking since he didn't want to intrude. "And I'm cool with that, but it'll be nice if I can actually see them, you know? Kinda want someone to chat to."
Koneko intruded. "You just want to stare at their chest."
"Damn right." Issei stated with a fantastically shameless smirk. "But real talk tho- actually, I've gotta know Senpai since it's been bugging me lately… but how did you find me before?"
"Before?"
"When uh… When Yuuma-chan killed me. Wait- I mean about to kill me." And scared the fallen angel away from his grubby hands, but he didn't want to come off as grudging.
She was unprepared for his earlier astuteness, but Rias was prepared for this one, however. "Do you remember you had a flier with you? During your bogus date, my familiar gave it to you. Here, I'll simply show you."
It hurt to know it was a 'bogus date', more so to hear it being said, because Issei really enjoyed that date. He didn't let his sadness show, however. He didn't want to get picked on after losing his porns.
Issei flinched as Rias snapped her fingers, a puff of smoke popping by her head. As it dissipated, it revealed a rather odd shaped animal, like a purple ball with bat wings, that would drive a biology teacher insane due to how very… rounded it was shaped.
"This is my familiar, but I'm certain you won't recognize her in this form."
Another puff of smoke, pink and glittery-like. As the bat-thing came out from the smoke, it had turned into a girl with a peculiar hairstyle that resembled the outstretched wings of a bat, dressed in the same red dress with very bat-like shoulder adornments.
That jogged his memories into place. "Ah! It's you! The cute girl!"
The cute girl tittered before Rias called her back, vanishing to a bright crimson light.
"Aw."
"They can't talk, unfortunately, but they can understand the language we speak and listen to our orders. As devils, having a familiar is a basic necessity as they can be your arms and eyes." Rias explained, "But I digress. My point is, the flier you were handed was a way to establish contact to potential humans. That is to say, humans with desires."
Issei recognized this. Balthazar mentioned something about devils and their reliance with humans.
"Perhaps it is by chance that a flier found its way onto your hands during your date, but had you didn't activate that flier by a deep desire, I wouldn't have appeared before you, Hyoudou-kun."
"Ohh…" But what exactly was he desired so deeply that- oh right. "Boobs."
That threw Rias –as well as every other devil in that room– out of her balance, even painting a blush across her face. "P-pardon me?"
"Boobs." Issei confirmed straightly, almost coolly. "That's what I was wishing for. Man, I didn't know that'd literally save my ass- me. I didn't know it'd save me…" but then Issei pondered for a moment. He wasn't a genius or a savant in terms of reading body language, but he could tell that Rias was starting to shift uneasily.
"…Guess I'm lucky huh?"
"One would assume so." She took another sip of her tea, cloaking her nerves that was growing despite no accusations had been thrown at her. "I can't promise you that I won't monitor you, but I can at least promise you that you can see them."
"Nice." Issei grinned, repressing his urge to stick out a teasing tongue at Koneko who was scowling. "Okay then, I'll be watchful for any strange people as always. Noted. Don't worry Senpai. We're friends, right?"
He gave the devil his thumbs up; a silly act that nonetheless gave her a reason to smile.
Issei peered at the clock, and noticed it was about to be three in the afternoon; the time he should start his daily exercises. "Uh- can I go now? I kinda want to train. You know, in case sketchy dudes with crosses and holy bible started preaching me to death."
"Fufu, of course. Thank you for your time, Hyoudou-kun."
"Ara~ you're not going to touch the drink I've made specifically for you, Issei-kun?"
"Hm? Oh right-" He gulped down the strangely flavored but nonetheless pleasant tea in one take. It was no longer hot, but he still felt the warmth coursing through him. "Thanks Akeno-senpai! The tea's great! Tasted… uh… expensively nice. Thanks for the cream puffs too Koneko-chan. And thanks for taking me here Yumi-chan! See ya all tomorrow!"
The devils watched the silly boy strolled outside the room, shutting the door as they could hear him jogging down the hallway.
"Wait, today's my turn to watch him-" Yumi realized as she ran towards the door, only to find Issei had disappeared to the lower floor. "-Issei-kun! Wait for me!"
"I'll be off too, Senpai." Koneko muttered as she took out a paper from Akeno's hand. A contract paper, stepping onto the magic seal on the floor, disappearing in a flash of crimson light.
"Ufufufu~ what a lively pair those two would make." Akeno tittered as she took the empty cup belonging to that boy, smiling her actual smile a little. "I can see why you've taken a liking to him, Bu-chou."
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Rias huffed, fluttering the tingly sensation dancing on her cheeks as she retreated to her desk. "Don't play around with me Akeno. I'm not in the mood for your silly mind games."
Akeno placed an innocent finger on her lush lips. "Ara…? But it's fun watching you squirm."
"Akeno… I am not your plaything." Rias muttered, taking yet another piece of paper regarding the reports of the recent murders. "I am no one's."
Another man entered her thoughts, and Rias' knuckles went white as she clenched her fists.
Well, that took a dark turn. Seeing her King adopted the same expression she had before Issei arrived, the same, gloomy, troubled, almost desperate look, a slow ballet of possibilities working their way across her creased brows. Akeno repressed her urge to tease her lovely King, and be her friend instead.
"Are you still thinking of him?" Akeno softly asked, the usual playfulness in her voice gone without a trace, replaced by concern.
That wasn't Issei she was referring to, Rias noticed. "How can I not." She hissed, angered at her own rudeness. "…I'm sorry. I'm not in the right mind at the moment."
"It's alright Rias. I understand." Akeno assured, resting a hand on the King's stiff shoulder. "I take it you won't consider adding him to your peerage?"
Another sigh. "He's not without potential, that's for sure, but…" And yet another sigh as Rias settled her paper down. "He's just too… earnest. And kind. He doesn't belong in our world."
"Araa~? Are you saying that we're unkind, Buchou?"
"You know yourself more than I do." Rias breathed, "It's a shame, but I don't want to drag him into this mess. I shouldn't have gotten friendly with him… because it has certainly backfired on me."
"Do you regret being nice to him?"
Rias thought for a few seconds. "…No. I didn't. I don't. I'm relieved of what I did."
"Oh?"
She did look back on that night fondly, just him listening to her troubles – a person that she could talk to without worry. Unlike her servants whom she couldn't bear to weigh down with her menial troubles.
Compared to theirs… compared to what they had been through… hers were nothing. They handled it on their own, serving as her adored servants without questions, despite their pasts still chaining them, like a shackle on their ankles.
Why couldn't she do the same and try to handle this on her own instead of having to rely on underhanded means?
Though, she wasn't exactly rich in options either. The date was looming. A week that felt like a matter of days, like a bomb ticking down, except instead of blasting her to pieces, it was a cage that bound her for eternity. A glorified trophy amongst his trophy 'wives'.
A Rating Game against him was in order; her last chance to earn her freedom. And though it was unofficial and wouldn't be recorded in the annals of Rating Games, the shame should she lose was nowhere near as fake.
She had the devastating Power of Destruction by her side, but Rias was no fool to think she or her peerage could stand a chance against his complete peerage. Her four compared to his full fifteen. She'd never ask for anyone else as they had been loyal to her, but undying loyalty unfortunately was not an insurance of winning. And their powerful abilities wouldn't ensure they could last against a wave of trained devils either.
Devils that had went on an unbeaten streak of ten victories, no less, save for the two losses that was done to gain political favor. She fully understood the complete bias for power in this Rating Game the devils highly prided themselves in, but such was the reality she should face. A reality for being in a world where power trumped logical reasoning and proper negotiation.
It had forced her to the edge of her sanity, with nothing but a bottomless pit of despair waiting to swallow her, and she could feel her grip slipping with each day that didn't stop for her. A ray of light arrived in the form of the brazen pervert of her own school, but she killed that own light by creating a silly mistake; such as getting attached to him, seeing him as a 'friend' instead of a pawn in her game, amongst all other things. Going so far to convince and ensure Sona wouldn't try to make him as hers.
She thought she was desperate enough to ignore her principle and let that boy die, but no. Even despair wouldn't let her forsake all her values, her honor as the Heiress of Gremory. But now, as the fated day impended like her own personal doomsday, Rias wished she didn't have any values to consider protecting and simply, much to her dismay, be a little like Riser and give no care about anyone's feelings as long as she's happy.
But even so, she still had a ray of hope, that should she fail, should she marry herself to that spineless Phenex who thought he was the hotshot because of a string of victories, should she forever be banned from walking this Earth she had grown to love, Rias truly wished, that Issei could enjoy his life as free as he wanted.
"Rias."
She blinked once, dragged off her inner torment of thoughts. "Hm?"
"It's Koneko." Akeno muttered, holding a finger on her ear that had a tiny magic circle on it.
Rias didn't like Akeno's serious tone. "Yes? What about her?"
"Her contractor is dead."
"Curses!" Rias would've smashed her cup if she was holding it. "Tch- tell her to come back. That's what? The sixth this week?" In frustration, she slammed her fist on her desk, but without coating her body with demonic power for added strength and resilience as she didn't want to destroy the desk. She felt the pain on her hand, but Rias felt numbed as well.
"They're overstepping their boundaries too far… This one's the last straw." Rias seethed. Clouded or not, this was a certain way for her to loosen a little of her pent-up stresses. "Have everyone prepared for tomorrow. Call Yumi as well and tell her to rest after she's done overseeing Hyoudou."
"Tomorrow night, we'll strike them in their heart and end this insanity. They want to raise fire on our feet? Then so be it. We'll bring the storm."
Upon seeing Rias' spiteful look, a pleased smile curled Akeno's lips. Finally. Retribution from the devils… one she had been lusting for.
"Of course, Buchou."
To be continued
Hey hey people, SSDanz here
This is probably my favorite chapter so far
DxD has Greek gods but most of them have no confirmed face yet. So me being the lazy, glorious me, I ripped off from other anime that has Greek gods/goddesses in it. Hephaestus from Danmachi in particular because I want a goddess who's accidentally been a victim of bullying of other gods and has a unique charm to her looks. Just so Death can add another to his bulli members while Issei increased his unknowing harem members
Since it's become obvious now that Issei won't be a devil, I'm gonna need replacements to fill the void that is Rias' 8 Pawns. I have a few in mind already, so don't worry, though I'm still open to suggestions – so, suggest away
It's a small blooper, but I was going to write Nixon instead of Nikon. Imagine Life carrying a life-sized 36th president of the US.
If you wanna know how I picture how Life's voice sounds like, go to youtube, and type in "sovietwomble cake says hello". It's a 38 seconds clip. Thank me later in the reviews. As for how she looks like, it's gotta be Yuki from Horimiya. Might be plain for the Goddess of all Gods, but still full of life and 100% waifu material. Laifu best waifu - say it with me
As for Death, just type in Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls Opening Cinematic and bob's your uncle. Sure he only said one line, but that's enough. Blizzard's gay for what they did to WoW3, but they do know how to make a trailer
Do you like Death and Life's little side-adventure? Let me know in the comments below k
Lastly, F for Issei's lost porn. RIP in pepperonis.
