Hey hey people, guess who's fallen down the rabbit hole

ti's i

thank you for the warm reviews and the support. i really didn't expect the prologue to do that well

The Hunter

[Chapter 1]

||Memento||

"Is this really necessary?"

Not many could question the will of a Satan Lucifer and get away with it scot-free aside from Grayfia Lucifuge. Having switched her allegiance from the Old Satan Faction into the new one that forsook some traditions decades ago, Grayfia was since then considered by many as Sirzechs' right hand, and rightly so as the maid-dressed Devil had rarely left her post unless it was to attend her maidly duties as one of the Gremory House's head maids.

"You've raised him as your own." She added her reason. "For years he was your apprentice. Yet still you doubt he places no value in that and betrays you?"

Sitting alone before a small dining table located in the corner of his bedroom was Sirzechs Lucifer, currently enjoying his dinner of honey roasted hellboar. Grayfia stood by his right, doing her duty as per usual.

"I raised him" Sirzechs paused as he gulped down the piece of boar meat in his mouth, "as a killer, not my own. " He corrected her. "Make no mistake in thinking I like the boy- I do. And he potentially likes working for me as much - but that's the thing with him."

Sirzechs placed his clean fork and knife on his plate that was nearly barren of meat and vegetables, and stared at Grayfia's unflinching silver eyes.

"Find what a man desires and he'll do anything 'long as you provide him just so." Sirzechs recited what essentially was a basic knowledge for all Devils. "Why do you think he's served me during all these years? Money? Women? No. What he craves most is the thrill that comes with a job. Why do you think he sometimes prioritizes Azazel's chores first? Because Azazel can give him some equipment we can't give him? But it's not the gears that swayed him, but because those things provided him new ways of doing his work. Spices to liven up his generally linear occupation."

Sirzechs peeled his gaze back to the wall in front of him. "Just today he completed the last exciting job I can offer." The Satan whispered ruefully. "Babysitting Rias won't keep him occupied for long. Hunting for Strays will bore him. One day Azazel or Michael or perhaps someone else can offer him something fresh. That day comes, I assure you he will shift his allegiance according to who can give him the most attractive offer, and he will have no problem squeezing whoever comes to him for extra benefits if he can get away with it. If nothing exciting happens in our Realm, that is."

"When that day comes, I will need you to outbid anyone, or stall him long enough so I can come up with something. Because if he ever switches sides… and he has us marked… he will know where he can hurt us the most and cripple us to a point where everything we've done — everything he has done — is rendered moot."

Perhaps she was a little too simpleminded for discreet things such as this, as Grayfia suggested, "If he possesses that much risk on his own, why don't you eliminate him from being a possible threat?"

"Because, Grayfia," Sirzechs turned towards her again, looking a bit peeved, "he's an asset I've invested too much resources into, and has become far too valuable to liquidate him. Someone of his talent comes perhaps once every hundred years; he's the perfect manhunter, and he has proven that by killing every other that was sent after him."

"Didn't he hunt them himself?"

"Hunt them? I sent them to hunt him. Do you remember the skinned body he dumped on my feet, and told me to find someone more worthwhile? That's not a message for me to find him a harder target. And he's not even angry at me or ever brought it up since then. He thought it was a game. As I've always done since he was 14 so he stays on his feet, but the bodies he delivered that day were the last assassins we had. They're replaced now, of course."

"I can dispatch him."

"Are you even— don't." Sirzechs glared, then sighed. What disturbed Grayfia was not the instant rejection, but his tone that implied it was more of a warning of the concerned rather than a simple refusal of an idea. "You think you can beat him in the game of shadows where he has dominated and reshaped it year to year? You'll be dead before you can hatch your first plan, Grayfia. You'd think I'm speaking nonsense but that's exactly the weakness I taught him to exploit. In fact he might have been lingering here in this room or just outside standing without either of us knowing. He's played thousands of roles in his life, wore thousands of faces, and no one has ever managed to pinpoint all those faces belonged to a single man."

Sirzechs grabbed her arm, mildly surprisingly her. Grayfia ascertained he was checking for the beating of her vein.

"I admire your composure. Those who survive a long time on the battlefield start to think they're invincible. I won't blame you if you think that way too, just like dozens he's killed without them ever being able to fight back. He's the proof we aren't. We have magic coursing through our veins but what are we without it? A silly proposition you might think. Not to him. Azazel and Michael are his two other contacts that I know he has worked with. What if there's more? He's a human; he's able to create his own magic. With the right formula, he might be able to retrace Belial's Worthlessness. What then? The only reason he doesn't have my Power of Destruction is due to the large amount of mana it requires to create one. Luckily, his reserve isn't plentiful. At least I don't think it is."

Sirzechs let go of her hand, and Grayfia pressed her lips tightly. She never thought Sirzechs could become this uncertain over a soul. Perhaps the fact she had never seen him in the middle of his work had skewed her view towards him to the point she was underestimating him. Grayfia never expected to be told about every little thing that Sirzechs did behind the scenes, but to think he had sent assassins after his own? Just what kind of an animal had Sirzechs created?

"Do you fear him, Sirzechs?"

A ludicrous question to ask to a Satan, but Grayfia felt the need to know.

"Me? No. I'm thrilled by him." Sirzechs smiled, and this smile was the kind that troubled her. "I want to see how far he can go. Just how crafty he can be. If possible, I want to see him murder a god. Not that I would orchestrate such a contract… but… should they try to meddle with our affairs then… perhaps we just have to. Now that's an offer he can't refuse."

"Either way, he's dangerous. Make no mistake about it. Never undermine his achievements because of his young age, as that is what he uses to kill. He might be our ally but we are not his only one. Just be patient around him and never lower your guard, but don't give him any reason to suspect you. Keep an eye on him so we'll be able to extend that day as long as possible, and inform me of his new interests and if he has contacted anyone other than us - anything that brings us more bargaining chips. You're the only I know who is capable of doing this task, Grayfia."

"Do not fail me."

Grayfia duly nodded, and reminded herself that the Assassin wasn't the only dangerous person in Hell, for Sirzechs Lucifer was the one who molded him unto this world.

Break

One of the many keys to being a damn good assassin was to be insanely aware of your surroundings. That meant checking for traps, bears, bear traps, and traps for other animals including Demons. Aside from that, was the presence of another living being. One crucial weakness of those with supernatural powers was their tendency to rely on their magic alone. Everything they do or plan to do requires some involvement of fancy magical bullshitery, and no matter how clever or efficient they were with their pool of magical reserves; using magic would always always leave faint traces of it.

Due to its invisibility to the naked eye and even the keenest senses, a talented magician could minimize the traces as long as they didn't use high-tier spells that were essentially impossible to hide. Luckily for someone like him, they rarely used those self-restrictive spells because those spells were weak as shit.

Regardless of it, not many could detect the traces of magic or Mana traces unless they underwent specialized training. Some would be able to detect it without training thanks to their heritage or racial strengths, but most wouldn't bother increasing their magical sensitivity as it was not only difficult to learn, a niche skill for very specific occupations, but also a significant waste of time that they could've spent increasing or perfecting their spells.

It was exactly the reason why the Assassin had no trouble snaking around the many traps laid before him during his many spells as Sirzechs' manservant. He had practically perfected his perception thanks to the years spent under the Satan's wings and from the experiences of his former jobs.

Kuoh Academy's merry band of Devils seemed to have not bothered with hiding their traces, as the Assassin could see plenty of leftover magical essence surrounding the small forest and the building located not far from it; Kuoh Academy's Old School Building which was, without a doubt, Rias' group's headquarters. The place was practically pulsating with it, sort of like a pulsing vein.

Tons of magical barriers were erected there, and the Assassin sensed Sirzechs' destructive essences among it as well. Undoubtedly it was to protect them in case of any forms of magical attack, be it from the Fallen Angel or the ever-passive Angels. Unfortunately it didn't ward them off from Familiars, as there was one perched in one of the trees overlooking a certain clubroom; a vibrantly colored Phoenix.

Riser was still persistent it seemed.

Good luck to him, Issei thought as he walked inside the old building from the front entrance, practically alerting the Devils of his intrusion.

Sure he could stealth his way to the Devils' whereabouts, but why bother when he could use 'I got lost' or 'I was curious' as an excuse. No magical nonsense needed. This way he could learn if Rias had heard of him or checked his forged documents courtesy of Grayfia and Roygun.

The old school building was, as expected, rustic in appearance, yet well-maintained thanks to the preservation magic. The floor was dustless thanks to magic. The window panes showed no signs of deterioration. The beige wallpapers were spotless without a tear. The old school building was in pristine condition, all thanks to good ol' magic.

Where would they be if they were without their voodoo, the Assassin idly wondered.

Probably butchered by humans and greedy corporations profiteering from war if Hell's existence became public.

He idly wondered if Sirzechs could surpass their offer in persuading him should that kind of whimsical thinking become a reality. He was, after all, a human himself. But instead of materialistic values, it was satisfaction he sought the most.

He enjoyed stacking heads of impertinent politicians who worked behind the scenes to dethrone Sirzechs Lucifer by causing unrest among the civilians. He would likely enjoy doing it again and see if he could beat his self-kept record.

"What are you doing here?"

His idle thought was interrupted just as he reached the second floor. A white-haired, pint-sized Nekoshou turned Devil was approaching him ahead of the corridor. Her voice was nearly as small as her size.

Koneko. His memory immediately clicked like pulling out a specified file out of a drawer without scrounging through the other files to check its contents.

Though having no permanent one, the Assassin never forgot a face or a name - especially those with strange-colored hair. He had seen and knew her though she had no idea who he was. He first saw her a few years ago, emotionless as a younger Rias promised to keep her safe. Back to a time when Sirzechs tasked him in finding her sister; a supposed murderer on the loose. Not to kill her, but instead to find her faster than her pursuers as Nekoshou as a race was one in the brink of extinction.

It was one of the few occasions where the Assassin pretended to have failed. And he did so for very specific reasons; he found girls with cat ears were rather cute.

Now that reason alone wouldn't have made him fake his reports to Sirzechs. If Kuroka failed in persuading him to let her loose, she would have been jailed to 'atone' for her crime, likely to be turned into another piece in Sirzechs' game. If Kuroka wasn't crafty with her words, antics, and particular 'fake' behaviors that reminded him of his own, the Assassin wouldn't have let her go.

Besides, he could always find her if he tried hard enough. That girl couldn't stay away from her little sister.

…

He just now realized how many overprotective siblings he had met, and was glad he was without one.

"Oh. Hello." Issei said to her, pretending to not hear what she said. "Sorry, I didn't catch what you said."

"Who are you?" She asked as she stopped her walk. The hallway seemed bigger due to her small stature. "What are you doing here?" She repeated the question louder, perhaps realizing she was talking to a normal human without enhanced hearing sense.

"Uhh… I'm Hyoudou Issei, but I get called 'New Guy' more often." Issei replied bluntly as he continued to walk to her, inserting a bit of awkward humor to further cement himself as a harmless student. Again, fistpumping inwardly.

The tiny girl scrutinized him as he stopped 2 meters away from her. It was intentional as to not invade her space. He should play his 'average joe' cards well here and should not be aggressive yet not completely passive.

"What are you doing here?" She reasked.

"I got lost." He blinked, poker-faced. "I've never been to a school with a forest before and I like exploring places." A momentary silence, then he continued, taking a cautious step back. "...Am I… talking to a ghost?"

The girl narrowed her eyes. The accusation might have offended her, but it also laid him off from her suspicion.

"No." She said, somewhat curtly. "I'm a student just like you."

"And not a dead one right?"

"...No."

"Okay." He paused again, looking totally unconvinced, irritating her. "...Well… what are you doing here?"

"Afterschool club activity."

He glanced around.

"...All by yourself?"

"No."

"I mean... I can hang around for a bit… completely not so you can pass on without regrets or anything."

She was glaring at him now.

"I am not. Dead."

"...That sounds like something a ghost would say."

He got the stink eye. Perfect. He ticked her off enough to make her think he was dumb.

And then, a door of one of the classrooms swung open.

A ponytailed girl peeked her head out.

"Koneko-chan? Is everything alright?"

Himejima Akeno. Likely sent by Rias to check up on their junior Devil.

"Oh god. More spirits." Issei mumbled, looking to contemplate jumping outside the window to save himself from a possible haunting.

"Ara? Spirits? How silly, we're no spirits."

"...Sounds like something spirits would say."

Tittering lightly, the girl stepped outside as Koneko rolled her eyes. Meanwhile, the Assassin worked his mind to remind himself of this individual.

Baraqiel's daughter. The one with severe daddy issues. Her family was expelled and hunted by the Five Principal Clans due to her Fallen Angel blood, resulting in her aching hatred towards her father's heritage. Practically orphaned at the age of 10 by the people that shared her family name, which ironically was one of said Five Principal Clans. The Assassin was only 12 years old when it happened, still buried neck-deep in essential training and cramming his head with basic knowledge of the various leaders within the supernatural world.

But the Assassin had always preferred practice over theory, and so Sirzechs had him tasked to allow Rias and Sirzechs' lackeys to 'conveniently' find Akeno when her pursuers were onto her.

A memorable achievement for the Assassin as it was the first time he saved a life instead of taking one. An achievement not many know, and one nobody else should know. An achievement which had a high chance of resulting in death upon learning it, as the Assassin preferred to keep it under the radar, lest unnecessary annoyances appear.

"And who's your new friend, Koneko-chan?"

"He's not my new friend."

"...Oh…" A downcast look devoid of hope. His shoulders slumped, and Issei looked visibly downtrodden by her cruel statement. A look that made Koneko felt a bit bad, though she wouldn't retract her words. Not to a stranger at least.

Akeno chuckled softly. "Is he not? But he seems so... devastated." She giggled again. The Assassin had a feeling she giggled as a tic. "What are you doing here in this building? I don't recall there are any other clubs in here other than ours."

Issei lifted his head up. "I got lost in the forest. Got out from the other end, and now here I am." He paused, thinking. "...Did I just get teleported to a parallel world?"

Koneko started to groan in disgust, and retreated to the clubroom, walking past Akeno as she muttered, "He's all yours Senpai."

Akeno tittered as her junior who was tinier than her in several aspects fled the scene.

"I've never seen you around before."

"Same to you." He lied as naturally as he breathed.

She tilted her head to one side, briefly swaying her impressively long ponytail. How and why she kept her hair that long was still a mystery to him. Sure she looked nice, but in combat, that long ponytail of hers was just begging to be yanked and used against her.

Anyway, he might have overstepped his casualness as she was showing signs of curiosity as to why a boy wasn't stealing glances at her assets.

So he glanced. For the sake of his undercover identity.

Completely for the sake of throwing her off.

Totally.

Not because he was impressed or anything.

Noticing a rather smug smile that briefly etched her lips, Issei shuffled awkwardly and met her eyes again.

"Sorry. I was staring at your chest." He snapped out of it. "I'm Hyoudou Issei. New Guy. "

"Hm?" Akeno blinked owlishly, completely taken by surprise, before she laughed. Not giggled, laughed. "Mfu—ahahaha—! That's the first time I hear someone say that."

Both Issei and the Assassin were left dumbfounded. "Really? That's rude. They should at least apologize when caught." Apologizing worked for the first few times he got caught ogling at Grayfia's after all. Later on he just ran away until she got tired of him and realized the effort wasn't worth it and learned to simply live with it.

Perhaps humans skipped some steps? Perhaps they were more advanced than he thought?

"Indeed. How rude of them. " Akeno twirled a smile, folding her hands underneath her chest to prop them up. "But I suppose it's my fault to have a disgraceful body such as this..."

"No. People gotta learn self-control." Issei answered bluntly, sparing only a second at eyeing her breasticles then back at her again. "I have bad self-control."

It threw her off guard that Akeno forgot what she was planning to do to him.

"So what's your name?"

"...H-hm?"

"You should tell your name because I told you mine. I thought that's basic human courtesy. Unless… you're a spirit."

Wait. This whole time, this person was still thinking she was a ghost?

He cautiously took a step backward, maintaining a perfect poker face.

"Please don't eat me. You won't like me; I'm anemic. You should wait for someone healthier instead. Someone more… filling. With a bit more fat."

Indeed. This human boy seemed to scrawny to possess any strengths or keen spiritual sense to not stumble upon this place. He should be as harmless as a lost pup.

"Mfufu… well then, off you go. It's a lucky day for you… it seems I'm perfectly full."

"Yes ma'am. Thank you ma'am. Bye ma'am."

"Ufufu… goodbye~"

And Issei scampered off, having pinpointed the room they stayed in and confirming Rias had not paid any interest in him, seeing that neither Koneko or Akeno knew or cared who Issei was. Initially he was going to plant a bug in their room, but the existence of that damned parrot of Riser required him to make several adjustments. He'd rather not have Riser get jealous because his bird saw him talking to Rias in her exclusive clubroom.

But hey. It was something to report to Sirzechs. Perhaps then he could twist the bird's neck or something.

For the time being, however, Hyoudou Issei went back to the school building to meet an old acquaintance.

Break

Loosening his red tie and unbuttoning his white uniform shirt, thus revealing the red t-shirt underneath, Issei relaxed as he leaned back to a cushioned chair. He eyed his new surroundings; a well-equipped infirmary furnished with medicine cabinets and other school health center stuff he took no interest in noting further. To his surprise, nothing was imbued with magic. Due to the nurse's previous criminal records, he guessed.

"Must be a far less extravagant office than your old one I'd say, but not that bad in here is it? Are the students annoying?"

"A couple of leering juveniles are far better than having to rot in a dungeon, I would then say." Roygun Belphegor, a former ace of the Rating Game, now sat in her office black chair as a humble nurse of Kuoh Academy and as Sirzechs' pair of eyes. Despite being shunned by her family for cheating the Rating Game, she still retained her pink hair, perhaps signifying although her family might have severed their ties with her, she still considered them as one.

Her curved horns were hidden away, lest the boys of the school grew a fetish for horns probably.

She eyed him up and down, as if trying to imagine this was the person that tracked her. But this couldn't have been him... no, this was him, just in another completely different appearance.

"Remind me how long has it been since our last encounter?"

"Pff- like what? A year or two?" Of course he knew exactly when, but he preferred to be seen as a forgetful numbskull that didn't care about the tiniest of details. Being perceived as stupid had brought him many advantages.

Roygun raised one leg above another, testing the flexibility of her black office skirt with a side slit. A white dress shirt with black tie and trademark white doctor overcoat. She might have been degraded to a mere school nurse, but her charm was still that of a noble. Or maybe she just looked good in a normal outfit because she was already more beautiful than most. Who knows. Issei didn't care much about fashion. She looked nice was all he needed to know.

"'Hyoudou Issei' hmm…?" Roygun flitted her eyes on him, eyeing him up and down once again. She had only looked at his face portrait until he walked into her office. If she hadn't seen it or was told about Hyoudou Issei being the same hunter that caused her ban from the Rating Games, then she would have thought he was just an ordinary student.

To be able to blend in even among the humans… what a terrifying man she had to work with.

"I imagine it's a rare occasion for you to be constantly surrounded by humans."

"Sure is." Issei replied like he was describing the weather. "They're kinda strange aren't they. Like, they paid to sit around and listen? I thought that's something you should get paid for?"

"Sirzechs paid you to do those things?"

"Yeah. Among other things. Money isn't everything and all but… there's not much else to chase."

"Ah… I see…" A cutthroat through and through.

"Mhmm. Yep, yep." The Assassin took another glance around. 'I see'. The standard remark most could think of when they didn't know anything else to say or wanted the conversation to end as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately for her, she wasn't the one who decided when the conversation was over.

"So… what do I exactly do to excuse myself when I have to? Do I just say I feel sick and go here?"

"Yes. My Familiar will take on your shape and rest on one of the beds and stay asleep until you return. However I'll need to know when you return."

"I can do that. I'll get back here first if whatever I do won't take the rest of the day."

"In which case I will say I've sent you home, and I will send a bogus report to your teacher if requested. Anyone who tries to visit earlier I will tell to leave as you are asleep. No one should bother you."

"And if one of the Devils comes here for whatever reason?" He asked to check. He would rather not have the cover of his identity be blown by somebody else; another reason he preferred working alone. Relying on anyone other than himself was not a desirable condition.

"They mostly leave me alone to my own volition. They have never been injured and in the rare case they do, Rias or Sona will heal their own unless their injury is severe, by which I would need to come to them. But on a daily basis, our interaction is limited to greeting each other if we pass in the hallway or during physical checkup. A very lonesome position, this is." She added a light giggle. Issei simply nodded along, wanting to move on to her answer. "But in the unlikely chance they do come to visit, then… I'll simply tell them there's a student resting and bring them to talk elsewhere or delay the talk. Of course I can cast Deception if needed. You needn't worry, Assassin."

Despite the Assassin being a formidable foe, Sirzechs was still an even more terrifying figure. He must be the one behind the assassination of her Peerage members. It served as a direct message to those who planned on ever using the illegal King piece and risking ruining the system. Behind his amenable smile was a ruthless man who would do anything in order to keep the stability of the 'Realm', eliminating his enemies one by one without triggering a war, in which case he perhaps prevented another war. However, considering the current state of Hell compared to before, then maybe a pragmatic tyrant was what Hell needed.

Fortunately, he was not completely without mercy… ruthless when necessary, but not without forgiveness. It just had to be earned - as most things in Hell does. Perhaps he understood if he broke every knee then there would be nobody left to kneel for him.

And this cutthroat was once mentored by him… and if there was anyone, then it must have been him who murdered her members. Roygun could only imagine the monsters hidden underneath their unassuming appearance.

If she could kill him at this moment, then surely many nobles, especially those in the council would be eternally grateful for her. This single entity was the guillotine that hung above their head, the cause for many sleepless nights.

A simple request of letting her back in the Game and new Evil Pieces certainly was not a heavy request to grant. Her Crack ability would surely incapacitate him, as she doubted he was stronger than hers. But then again, though Sirzechs might not be able to do anything in that instant, he would surely find a way to return her the favor for murdering his best agent.

Not a risk worth taking. She needed to focus herself to first earn a place, and rebuild her destroyed Peerage.

Though she had shrugged away the idea, unfortunately for her, Devils weren't the best in hiding their ill intent. Natural sinners, they were. Creatures controlled by desires reflected by a shift of their Demonic Power. It was faint, like the ripple of a sound, a whisper in the middle of a bustling street, but of course the Assassin never missed a beat.

An uncomfortable feeling took grip of her throat the moment she noticed his smile had dropped into a hard flat line. Raising her eyes to meet his, what she found was not the face of an ordinary school boy, but the calculating face of someone who had done portraying some sort of humanity and now preparing to gut his prey in the back. One who could easily cast another unassuming smile in the very next second of him dropping it, making it seem as if she was just imagining things.

"I was looking around before I got here. The uh… Kendo building was it? Had a nail loose in one of the seams." He 'majicked' a rusty nail out of his pocket. A rusty spike, three inches long. He found it during his very brief stint as a guard dog for the perverts.

"It's a weird thing, is it. If you have my occupation, you learn to piece things together, and how to unpiece it. Nails will hold a building together, but it can be used to take a man apart."

"...An interesting observation... I'm afraid I don't see how this relates to our conversation, however."

"Oh come on. You're smart. Of course you know." He laughed briefly, calming down to a simple smile. "Would you like to know how I found your Peerage one by one?"

Roygun immediately sucked in a gasp, not expecting the question. He had seen right through her.

She tried to regain her composure. To ask her as if she had any choice; he scarily reminded her of Sirzechs Lucifer.

"If that's what you wish then…"

He stood up, and held Roygun's jewel-like eyes, green, bright, but now beginning to be murked by fear.

"I don't enjoy torturing people, Lady Roygun, but Zechs thought I'm an expert at it. Not world-class by any means… I've met some when I was learning and let me tell you that cowards make the best torturers. They understand fear and they can use it. Strong, skilled, brave people like you, on the other hand, are horrible at it. They don't see what motivates a normal man. They misunderstand everything. They can't think of anything worse than besmirching their honor or whatever plastic values they believe in... A coward? He'll tie you down and place a bucket full of mice on your stomach and slowly light it on fire. I'm no noble or coward, but I make do with what I have."

"Your Bishop -may Lilith rest her soul- was a brave woman. Full of harsh words with many syllables and similes and judgement. She'd rather die than admit what you did was unjustified or rat you out. A fairly preachy lady if you ask me, but that seems like a recurring theme for most Devil nobles anyway… We sat for a bit and discussed my profession, which, at the time, was as you may have guessed; her interrogator. Then I hammered a nail into her skull. Just here."

He reached out and touched a spot on Roygun's head with the flat end of the nail, and she flinched back like she had been stung.

"She changed her tune a bit after that." He continued calmly, adding a very brief pause that was enough to let it sink in. "Well actually, she changed her tune every time I drove a new nail in. A few more and she was a changed lady. Did you know you can depiece someone like that? One nail might bring back memories of childhood. Another will make her rage or cry or laugh. One eventually wisened her up and she puked out a name and a place. From Pawns to Knights, Bishops and then the Rooks, until ultimately your Queen. Repeating the process took patience, and a whole lot of nails that's for sure. But one of them finally spewed your name."

Gently, he placed the brown nail into her hand, and folded her shaking palm so she cupped it. And just as gently he brushed a tear that was rolling off her cheek with a thumb. Stiff like a stone yet he could feel all sorts of emotions from her; anger, sadness, fear, regret, perhaps imagining what could have been if she didn't try to hide and instead admit her wrong like what Diehauser Belial did. But what or how she felt didn't concern him.

Her cool facade had completely eroded. She stared without focus; an empty blank stare the Assassin was more than familiar with.

"Think of this rusty nail whenever you consider harming me, exposing my cover, or muttering the word 'Assassin' when I am at work, is a wise move."

He patted her hands twice, smiling before turning away to the exit, and left her alone with her jumbled mind. He could hear her silent sobs as he closed the door.

Perhaps a bit rude, but he couldn't allow himself to let someone he might have to work together with for the foreseeable future thinking they could get away with minor mistakes. He had a job to do here.

.

.

.

"How was your first day?" A brunette-haired Grayfia Lucifuge asked not out of simple pleasantry, but to gather as much knowledge as possible from the ordinary-looking assassin.

Said assassin was eating on their dining table. "Went fine. I think. I made some friends and all. And sit down will you? I'm no lord or whatever. You're making me uncomfortable."

"Old habits die hard it appears." She simply replied, abandoning her standing post by the tableside and taking a seat at an adjacent seat from his. "Were you able to meet Rias or Roygun?"

"Rias not so much. Saw her minions though; Akeno and Koneko. It's like… it's like seeing watermelon next to a grape, y'know… like… Jesus, she's 18. Haven't seen her in three years and she's grown that much? Koneko meanwhile… Petite as ever."

"A perverted allegory. Hardly surprising from you."

"Still a fact." Issei pointed out, waddling his pointing finger.

Grayfia disregarded his point. "To answer your question regarding Akeno; it's because of her Fallen Angel bloodline. I'm surprised you didn't know." Especially since this man knew more than he let on. Always.

"Her shoulders must be screaming." He ignored her attempt to condescend him, rambling off.

"What about Roygun?"

"Oh I met her. We didn't talk that much though. She'll do her job carefully, that's as far as I can tell."

"If she sought redemption, then that's the least of what she must do."

"Well… yea but... Man. Not very forgiving aren't you? Anyway, she'll do fine. Just put some faith in her."

To be continued...

Roygun: Pain peko

Will there be heram? i dunno.

action scenes when? next chap

next chap when? next year

pls gib reviews thx

Lemme know if his conversation with Roygun was a bit too hammy or not because edge is now hard to define the line of since everyone -including me- tosses it around. Their conversation was to show he really wasn't there to dick around cock in hand, y'feel me?