I'll be going back to university in about two weeks from now. I have more than several chapters typed up ahead of time, but I just want to let you guys know now, since it doesn't feel right to leave this empty.
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I forgot to address a review in the last chapter, apologies.
yogap34712 -
Issei will join Sylvia's peerage, don't worry. That's set in stone. The entire setup arc I have set already. I'm just deciding on what to do after.
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As a final note, I might make the chapters longer than the current ones, here's the first combined chapter.
Though he still had the hotel booked for 2 days, Ethan left the room with everything he had, since he knew he would return.
But in case, he dialed a number, the person on the other end picking up on the second ring.
[Darren's Lounge, how may I help you?]
"Hey Garo," he answered, "I might not return to Littleton Hotel to check out, think you can send someone and ring up my account?"
[Ah, of course. Just tell me all I need to know.]
Ethan rattled off the information and Garo said his goodbye shortly after Ethan gave his gratitude, and with that, he set off towards the location he guess Koneko went, based on the direction her scent vanished.
He wandered patiently, considering he had the whole day to find Koneko before he should really begin panicking.
On his aimless wandering, he ran into a plaza populated with people. It wasn't hard to recognize Hokkaido Centre, the "tour spot" of Kuoh. Ethan considered buying a sandwich to eat on-the-go, Japanese culture frowning about that practice be damned.
In his search for a cheap restaurant, he barely noticed a teenage male hurrying to meet someone.
"Woah!" Ethan called and the boy looked up, stopping in time.
"Ah, sorry!" The teen apologized in Japanese, which Ethan mentally translated into English, as with any non-English language.
He recognized the uniform the teen wore, the black trousers, with a white Oxford shirt and black blazer on top of it, both unbuttoned.
The only anomaly to the Kuoh Academy uniform was his red t-shirt, which matched the color of blood.
It seemed to match his white skin and brown features, his brown hair tousled-though he did make an attempt to comb it-and brown eyes full of life.
"No problem," Ethan replied. "Hm, there's no school this Saturday and you don't seem to be going to Saturday school. On a date today?"
The teen was shocked at the quick deduction and nodded, "Yeah."
He smiled, "I see. Have fun. Hope you can get it to work out."
"Alright. Thanks, old man." He realized he might have made a mistake and quickly began to correct himself, "I didn't mean any-"
"No worries," Ethan laughed, "I'm sure you meant no harm. Besides, after you turn eighteen, you lose your life so fast you might as well be an old man in your twenties."
The teen sighed a breath of relief, and called to Ethan, "Hey, uh. If you have the time, could you guide me to the Tanahex Arcade?"
Ethan nodded, pointing the direction he was headed in, "You're going the wrong way."
The teen returned an embarrassed look and followed Ethan, "Hey, what's your name?"
"Ethan Sakamoto."
"That's an odd mix," he answered.
"Japanese parents, but I was born and raised in the US," he said simply. "Yours?"
"Issei Hyoudou," he responded. "How come you came here? Any specific reason?"
"I initially came here for a job," Ethan answered. "Eventually decided to pick this place as home if I'm not travelling."
"Travelling? Where have you gone? Your parents?" He noticed that Issei was very eager to learn, probably from never having left this small town his entire life.
"Yeah. World traveller. Been to Egypt, Indonesia, Germany. Though if I were to pick my favorite place, I'd say here." Issei seemed surprised at the choice.
"Why?"
"Lively in places like this plaza," Ethan answered. "But very quiet in every residential areas."
"Oh."
"Yeah, not saying being a world traveler is bad, it's just that you learn so much that you figure things out."
Ethan opted to withhold the fact that Kuoh is where the World's End resides, along with the Sicar's gateway to the various places in the world, such as the Underworld and Heaven.
"How about you? What school do you attend?"
Issei was amazed Ethan was interested. "Kuoh Academy."
"That one all-female academy that just opened up to male students?" Ethan asked once he made sure there was a break in the crowd.
He blushed and nodded.
"I heard the exam is one of the more difficult ones," he continued. "Regardless of your reason for joining Kuoh, definitely have the smarts for that school."
Issei was mortified, "It wasn't difficult, since I learned those lessons already in a different school."
"Then you're a good learner!" Ethan exclaimed. "Hell, I heard there was even calculus on that entrance exam. You don't learn that until secondary school. And really get into it when you enter a university."
"Well..." Issei shifted uncomfortably, enjoying the praise but not receptive to the attention. "Sure, I guess."
He chuckled as Issei fell silent, but definitely more confident. Though his statements weren't necessarily accurate, Ethan deduced what made sense.
They arrived at the arcade not so long after, and Ethan was surprised at who was his date.
Hazelnut hair, and in Kuoh Academy's female uniform, Irina Shidou looked at Ethan with wide eyes of her own, ones that were similar to Sylvia's but far from as attractive, being a darker purple than the one approaching liliac.
Where did that thought come from? Ethan scowled inwardly, knowing any attraction to Sylvia will only prevent him from getting the heavy payment.
"Ethan?!" Irina cried out.
"Irina?" Issei's day seemed to be filled with surprise after surprise. "You know Ethan?"
"Yeah, he was an instructor when we were in the S-" She caught his stare and quickly covered the explanation, since Issei was not involved with Sicar in any way. "He taught me a bit on defensive techniques while I was in school. I didn't think you knew him too!"
"I don't," Issei scratched his head, "I just met him today."
Ethan nodded, "We just happened to bump into each other on the way here. Struck up a conversation. Didn't think I'd meet you again after you left."
"Y-yeah!" irina nodded vigorously, "You taught me a lot of useful things, they came in handy over the past few months."
Ethan nodded and frowned, "That's great. I should be going now, I have my own matters to attend to."
Irina nodded, "Is your number the same as before?"
Ethan shook his head and pulled out two cards, "Just call this if you guys need anything."
Irina stared at the card and nodded. Same with Issei, "Thanks."
"No problem. Calling for anything is fine, lessons like Irina, chat, or hanging out is fine. Advice works too, I guess, but no dating. I never dipped my toe in that water."
Issei seemed confused at the details behind the business card, "Wait...isn't this-"
"For business? Yeah," Ethan responded, "But that's another thing altogether. It costs money and I mean a lot. Not to mention you shouldn't be using that business. Trust me when I say that."
"A-alright," Issei became nervous at Ethan's tone and tucked it into a pocket. "So I can call for anything?"
"100%," Ethan answered. "Except relationships. I can give guesses, but those will be inaccurate. I've never dated."
Issei nodded and Ethan waved them away, "Go on. Enjoy yourselves, you two."
"Nice meeting you again," Irina called.
"Thanks for your help!" Issei added. Ethan gave a thumbs up.
His mind prickled. Koneko was in the area. But where?
Left. Ethan cursed in his head. Forward meant running into a large road that went on forever with no alleys to duck into.
But, he began to walk at a brisk pace, her presence is gone. That means this is the right direction.
The prickling returned and Ethan knew it was the right choice. Moving confidently, he went all the way to the end, feeling Koneko closer, much closer. But now he couldn't tell the direction.
This meant Sylvia was nearby. Which was a huge problem.
Because if she sees him, she will run, and Ethan couldn't follow without putting Koneko nor the other people around in danger.
Through the chatter, he heard a young cat yowl and hiss. He turned, dread filling his body knowing he messed up a chance to follow Sylvia safely.
He caught sight of a white kitten on the shoulders of a girl with mauve hair, hissing in front of her. As the girl heard the commotion, she turned in that direction to look.
Ethan turned around and followed the crowd away, walking a few paces before circling around and following the scent Koneko left behind.
It was as he thought. Some supernatural were present, and Koneko not only warned Sylvia of their presence, but she diverted Sylvia's attention from Ethan. She was going to lead an attack on pursuers, and Ethan will help her pinch them, even if it meant his chance would slip away, dragging the job for a month, or longer.
After all, Koneko's safety is his bigger concern. There was no telling what'll happen during the fight.
Ethan trailed Sylvia and the woman following her, or which he perceived was. The woman he was following had striking blue hair, along with a maroon trench coat and miniskirt, her breasts poking out of the tight outfit.
What is it with supernatural and their outrageous outfits in the human world?
They wore things that made them stick out like a sore thumb, which is exactly what Sylvia is doing too. He wouldn't be surprised if that was how they found her.
Unless there was some type of magic to conceal their appearance, but he doubted that option. He could see their mismatched clothing and he sure as hell didn't have any protection against suggestion magic or Genjutsu.
It might be they looked young enough to seem like popular teenagers in their highschool and college years.
Possibly.
Ethan saw Sylvia pull into a restaurant and sighed. It was now or never. Walk in and become a target, or retreat and reassess his plans. Maybe there is a third option, Ethan thought to himself as he looked through the window, seeing Sylvia peer through it as the supernatural with blue hair take a seat at a table nearby.
Ethan stood, waiting through the crowd and saw a mismatched couple. A man bundled and hidden in a grey trench coat accompanied by a tiny girl with blonde hair and a maid outfit were waiting nearby outside the restaurant.
These supernatural really are terrible at subtlety, he thought, his mind wandering to a paramilitary team he worked with for some time in the past.
While they weren't the best at avoiding creating a shit storm, they were great at their job.
As in, they didn't get people's heads turning as they wondered what the hell they were doing on this sunny day.
Compared to these amateurs.
There didn't seem to be any more people after her, so Ethan sat on a nearby bench, regretting he didn't get a lunch. The thought had just passed his head when Sylvia passed by him, too close. He didn't even see her leave, which was a bad sign. He shouldn't be absorbed in his thoughts at a time like this.
"I counted 2 more, 3 total," he said as she came close.
She made no outward reaction, but her hand squeezed his shoulder, glad for an ally. Sylvia even gave him lunch, dropping the bag of food on his lap.
He chewed through the hamburger quickly, taking at most five bites before forcing himself to choke down the chunk of food.
He waited as he took a second bite of the burger, praying the supernatural took a long pause before pursuing.
No such luck. He had swallowed and began his third bite when the Trenchcoat and Midget slid through the crowd.
He finished two third of the burger when Secretary passed him.
He ate half of the last third and ate quickly, before shoving in the final bit and standing up, chewing.
The entire group retreated down to the Breeze of Hokkaido, the park that was very close to the plaza.
As he entered the perimeter, he knew this was the endgame.
Sylvia had set up a barrier on the spot, and it impressed him she could do it so quickly, even more so that the barrier was easily on par with Garo's protection of the World's End.
So was the expected power of the former heiress of Gremory.
Something to be amazed at, yet so disregarded just because she wasn't able to inherit the Power of Destruction.
It wasn't fair.
Ethan dropped his duffle on a bench and took out his katana from the oversized bag.
Sylvia was running to him, Koneko in her arms.
"Koneko!" Sylvia slowed, confused but the kitten jumped off her arms and darted to Ethan as he gripped the hilt. "Get down!"
She saw his movement and he saw the betrayal on her face, a mix of shock, disbelief, and anger.
"DOWN!" He screamed as he sprinted at her and Sylvia dropped, rolling towards him as Ethan thrust the sword forward as fast as he drew it, cutting outward when he landed a deep gasp into the Secretary's face, the final movement cutting her ear and her hair on the left side of her face.
"Kalawarner!" Midget screamed and the dark wings that sprouted from the woman's back flapped furiously as she flew back, a considerably safe distance from Ethan.
Koneko trotted up to Ethan, "...I was wondering when you would come."
"Didn't you say you would only mark Sylvia?"
Sylvia grabbed his arm, "Might I add that I had a feeling the kitten belonged to someone?"
Ethan only smirked and looked away towards Koneko for her answer, "I like her."
He rolled his eyes, "More like you want to ask her about something after getting on her good side."
"I'm right here," Sylvia pouted, an adorable puff of her cheeks as if she were a child.
"I know," he answered, drawing his eyes around. "There's another man. Wearing a full trench coat."
Sylvia nodded, and for the first time since he met her, she sprouted wings, a horrendous sound of bones snapping and muscles tearing as she did so, the bat-like wings spreading open with its twisted look, and took to the skies. "Alright. I was going to have some fun with these two, but you completely ruined my day."
Ethan saw the monster within, the tortured and broken woman break forth, ready to unleash the anger she built within. "I'll take my anger out on you."
She snapped her fingers and a literal wall of magic circles appeared, the size of a wall on a two-story building, and shot forth an array of magic, from lightning strikes to beams of pure destruction, at the two Fallen Angels before her.
They dodged and Sylvia barked a laugh, clenching her fist and bringing it up to her chin, which caused the torent of magic to explode on the spot, engulfing the Fallen in a cloud of fire, electricity, acid, and various other elements not safe to be surrounded by.
They dove out of the cloud, bleeding and bare as their clothing was melted and/or burned off.
"Guard Sylvia," Ethan said to Koneko before he dashed closer, drawing the katana to launch a blade right at Kalawarner, before thrusting at Midget, both strikes connecting.
Kalawarner felt her arm go numb and looked at it in shock as the left arm fell off, and her visage became dark, "Fucking meddling human."
She raised a hand as blood spilled from a newfound wound in Midget's chest, as the strike from the Iaijutsu found its target.
Fortunately for her, it was a clean wound, missing vitals. The spear in Kalawarner's hand exploded before she could throw it, and she clicked her tongue as she now faced two enemies.
"Damn you guys," a voice muttered. "We found the Red Dragon Emperor and the Disgraced Duchess. A jackpot of the century and you can't be more serious?"
The newcomer was clad in straps, showing nothing but skin and covering only the lewdest parts of the body.
Her dark hair descended once she stopped moving and she pointed at Ethan, "Human, step away from this battle and you won't die today. I only care about the Disgraced Duchess and that boy from Kuoh who has the Boosted Gear."
Boy from Kuoh? I know of only...
"The brunette?"
The newcomer's eyes widened and she scowled viciously, "Do not attempt to get in my way. I will kill you."
Ethan nodded, "It would be smarter if you kill first and talk later."
She smiled, before having her shoulder struck by a weapon, just as Issei and Irina appeared on the far side of the park.
"Get the boy," Leader snarled and the two Fallen approached. Ethan ran, and Leader fired several projectiles, but Ethan simply cut them down before Sylvia knocked the Fallen down, who was then grappled by Koneko, who began binding her arms.
"Irina!" Ethan shouted at the sight of movement appearing out of nowhere, but the girl was already in action, subduing Trenchcoat who had appeared behind them.
Issei was caught off guard and started to run, and luckily towards Ethan.
He slashed upwards, avoiding hitting Issei and shattered two spears made of light with his strike.
"What's going on?"
"Remember that business I run?" Ethan answered by asking a question. "This is what I do for a living."
Issei watched in awe as Ethan slashed horizontally, aiming at Irina who had met his eyes, Trenchcoat below her and likely unconscious.
She deflected the strike to behind the Fallen above, falling back from the force as it beheaded Secretary, but missing Midget due to her height.
"Wha-?"
She didn't have time to react as a spear pierced her side, through both her lungs and heart, killing her instantly. Ethan walked over to Trenchcoat as Midget fell to the ground, and felt for a pulse.
None.
He should have figured when he saw the man's neck loose and hanging.
Ethan turned around as Sylvia touched the ground, staring at her with his eyes narrowed.
"We only needed one alive. The leader."
He smiled, "Well. They were out to kill you, weren't they? They forfeited their lives when they took the job."
The devil smiled as she retracted her wings. "Can't argue with that, can I?"