NMHA - Prologue

Ajuka Beelzebub was having one of those days. Those days where everything is just a little off, where everything that goes on is wrong in such a subtle way that at first you don't even notice. Then it becomes an irritant.

Then it all becomes even stranger, stronger, and the desire to lock yourself in the wine cellar and hopefully make sense of the world around you through the hazy lens of alcohol grows alongside.

Given that he considers himself one of the foremost minds as far as magical theory goes, within the Big Three most certainly, but also arguably across the entire supernatural world itself. His Kankara Formula was proof of that.

One could expect, and rightfully so, that it would take quite a lot to drive him to such extremes.

Normally, this would indeed be the case.

Then again, today wasn't exactly a normal day.

It was one of those days.

It usually was, when Sirzechs came a-calling about some family member of his. Though he'd known about this one for quite some time already, this was the first time this particular member revealed the true depth of their... quirkiness.

He'd had suspicions of course, but to have them revealed so blatantly was a blow to his worldview, and perhaps sanity.

So, in his opinion, he couldn't blame himself for indulging the urge to break open some vintage wine - helpfully provided by said family member, the subject of the magical scientist's d-

"Uh... I don't think that's how you are supposed to drink wine, Lord Beel-"

The green-haired Maou held a finger up to interrupt, not even looking at the subject of his growing vexation, while his Adam's apple bobbed in time with the undulations of the slowly-draining bottle.

Lips parted in an 'O', understanding now exactly what he was going for, before the other sole occupant in the room nodded and allowed him to the drink in peace.

Anyway, indulging the urge to break open some vintage wine, helpfully provided by said family member, the subject of his duress. How thoughtful. He was definitely going to need to be at least a little drunk for this.

Finally, the flow of sweet with bitter fire sliding down his throat was replaced by air, and with equally bitter realization the Satan realized he'd need to actually talk.

"So... let me get this straight." Ajuka lowered his hand to stare at the wine, circling the bottle slowly in his grasp to watch the remaining droplets shift around. His gaze still didn't meet the face of the other. "You're saying that you're from another world."

"Yes, sir."

"Like one of those manga that Sirzechs's sister, Rias, reads."

"As trashy as this sounds, they're called 'isekai', and yes. I'm surprised that you-" Not even a moment of pause. "-wait, that's right, you have to deal with Sirzechs regularly. He probably talks your ear off about Rias and her hobbies."

Someone who understood and sympathized with his plight. Thank the Morningstar. Aside from the reason Ajuka was here, they actually make for decent company together as far as that particular misery goes.

"And you're saying that you've been reincarnated from this world, where one of those manga include the entirety of the supernatural world. Our, supernatural world."

"Reincarnated, being the key word here." That was a confirmation. Ugh, why didn't he have something stronger? Why did he agree to this in the first place?

'Damn you Sirzechs. Falbium's the one who embodies Sloth, so who were you to offload this onto me?'

He pointedly ignored the fact that out of the four Maous, he was the best equipped for interdimensional bullshittery.

"You do realize that sounds both insane and incredibly cliche, right?"

"Considering 'I' woke up after a magical accident stripped 'me' of my soul, I'd say that I've already partaken in my fair share of 'insane' events. What's one more?"

"That's the only reason I'm even entertaining this ridiculous notion."

"That's why you downed an entire bottle of wine," came the dry retort. "So clearly you believe me to at least some extent."

"What's easy enough to accept is the idea that you came from another world." After all, places such as the Feywild existed, as did the Dimensional Gap. The Underworld technically counted as an alternate world as well. Even Dimension Lost, a Sacred Gear, a weapon bequeathed unto humans by the Biblical God, delved into parallel worlds, so it wasn't out of place to extend the train of thought into altogether alternate universes.

"Mhm."

"It's more difficult to believe that in said universe, I, my friends, and the entirety of the supernatural world, are based on a perverted manga, which itself is based on a spin in your world's theology and mythology."

"That's why I made those messages explaining certain major events years beforehand."

Kuroka, the Youkai who instigated a bloody riot in retaliation for her actions. The Red Dragon Emperor, a boy practically obsessed with breasts bearing the power of one of the strongest dragons. Millicas, the son of the most well-known leader of the Underworld, said leader being Ajuka's closest friend.

"Yes, and again that's why I'm still hearing you out on all of this." Ajuka fell silent, and stared longingly at the bottle once again.

"It's the last bit that you're hooked up on, huh?"

"I'm going to need a lot more alcohol to even consider that you may have ended up a different gender in the process of crossing worlds."

Innocent - far too innocent - eyes stared at Ajuka, innocence betrayed by the crooked grin that split full lips. "Is that because it's that hard to believe I was a guy? Or is it more because one of our magical theory debates slash research sessions ended up with us nearly fucking before that backfired charm wore off?"

Ajuka didn't respond to that with an answer, instead deigning to set the bottle on the table between them rather than indulging in the sudden urge to hurl it at his host. No matter how much she deserved it.

Yep. Definitely Sirzechs's cousin, alright.

"Because I'm... seventy-five percent sure that wasn't gay."

"..."

"Okay, okay, maybe just seventy. I had a good time all things considered."

"Luna?"

"Yes Lord Beelzebub?" A radiant visage framed by flowing hair of cedar and sharp aquamarine eyes was only made more smug by the grin that had by this point turned shit-eating.

"I'm going to leave and never touch this topic again if you don't get me something stronger to drink right now." As fervent a scientist as he was, Ajuka knew full well there were some subjects best left alone, and this very much seemed to be one of them.

"I figured that'd be the case. Don't worry, I made sure to bring extra." As if by magic, and it probably was knowing Luna, she pulled out an ice box from beneath the coffee table. A moment's passing and a lifted lid revealed more, likely alcoholic, beverages.

The green-haired Maou grabbed one of the bottles, looked at it, then let out a relieved sigh as he started on this next lifeline. "Much appreciated. You know me well."

"I read you like a book, you mean."

If someone were outside the door to the meeting room at this point in time, they'd have heard peals of laughter following the smash of a bottle shattering.

Yes, it was definitely one of those days.

A/N:

Welcome to NMHA, everyone. This is going to be a semi-realistic take on the DxD-verse, so perhaps the prologue isn't entirely the same mood as the story proper. It's more of a proof of concept, in my eyes. But, I'm going to try and mix in some humor and seriousness alike, since a world this zany just can't be left completely devoid of laughter. But, I'm still relatively new to storywriting, so it might not be perfect. Please bear with me, and enjoy the story!