Chapter 11

The group had moved to the Occult Research Clubhouse, Yidrah keeping a gentle, yet constant hold on Koneko. The neko-devil appeared almost robotic in her movement, reacting very little to anything as she was guided inside.

"What exactly is she doing to her?" Rias asked in concern, watching as Yidrah sat on the couch, both hands on either side of Koneko's head.

"Haven't the faintest idea," Issei answered honestly, glancing at Kiba with a raised eyebrow.

Kiba shifted under his gaze. "...Yes?"

"Sorry, just, is every popular person in this school a devil?" Issei asked curiously.

Any other situation, Rias might have smiled at that, even laughed. And she had to actively try not to as she turned to face Issei. "I don't believe we've ever formally met," Rias started diplomatically. "I'm Rias Gremory, Heiress of the Duke of Gremory."

"Nice to finally meet you," Issei said with a nervous, friendly smile. "I'm Issei. Of the Eldritch, I guess."

"You guess?" Rias repeated in surprise.

"I was an ordinary pervert just a while ago, I'm still getting used to any of this being real," Issei admitted with an awkward chuckle as he scratched the back of his head. "And, well, I never asked if I got any formal titles to share."

Rias and Kiba shared curious looks but were interrupted as Akeno entered the room with a small cart of food and drinks, with Gactha trailing behind her.

"Master, she didn't poison them," Gactha informed bluntly.

Rias's brow furrowed at that. "You thought she would?"

"No, please ignore her," Issei said, wavving it off with a sigh. "She's just really overprotective."

"You can command me to leave, Master, if I displease you," Gactha informed without infliction.

"Yeah, no. I'm almost positive Aza is watching in the back of her head to know if you're ever more than thirty feet from me," Issei remarked knowingly.

"Mistress only wants to protect you, Master," Gactha reminded simply.

"I know, I know," Issei said knowingly.

Rias shifted uneasily as the topic of the Eldritch Queen was brought up so casually by Issei.

"So, Veggies, sweets, and meat?" he mused while looking at the cart.

"She said to get as much food as I could," Akeno said, nodding to the Eldritch tending to Koneko.

"Who is she, though? Another servant of the Eldritch Queen?" Rias asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, right, I never introduced her," Issei realized with a facepalm. "Sorry, I'm an idiot. Rias Gremory, that's Yidrah the Dream Witch."

Yidrah glanced briefly at her name being uttered before returning to her work.

Rias froze at that. "The Dream Witch?" she repeated slowly. "You brought the Dream Witch here, just like that?"

"Yeah?" Issei answered with a shrug.

"I take it she's important?" Akeno guessed.

"She's an outer god, with the largest cult on Earth," Rias said, glancing uneasily at the Goddess with a bit of sweat forming on her brow.

"Ahh, I see," Akeno said, keeping her smile fixed on even if one of her hands shook a bit.

Issei frowned at their reactions. "...Sorry."

"Master has no need to apologize to these specks of dust," Gactha said in what sounded like an attempt at reassurance.

"Yeah, well, I want to," Issei retorted as he turned to Rias. "Look, I wasn't trying to scare you or anything with her. I just asked her because she's supposedly the best for this kind of thing. And she probably wouldn't cause a scene."

Rias and Akeno blinked at the apology. "No, thank you for the help, and that consideration," Rias assured. "I've just...never been around Eldritch before, let alone their gods."

"Well, I've never been around devils. So, learning experience?" Issei offered.

"Well, I shouldn't keep her waiting," Akeno said, a bit calmer now as she pushed the cart forward. She stopped at the table and gave a small bow to their divine guest. "I just grabbed everything that we had made in the refrigerator, but I hope this is enough for you, Lady...?"

She hesitated, knowing the name, but knowing she shouldn't say it.

"Madam Yi is fine, if you wish to avoid my name," Yidrah offered, not looking away from her patient. "And the food is not for me. It is for Little Shirone. She has not been eating well. She will turn ravenous soon."

"I understand," Akeno said with a nod, bowing again, more deeply. "Thank you for coming in person to help her, Madam Yi."

Yidrah glanced at her. "Again."

"...I'm sorry?" Akeno asked, not sure what to make of that.

"This is the second time I've treated her," Yidrah answered absently. "I did it before to clean up for our Sultana. I do it now because her beloved asked it of me."

Akeno remained silent at that, processing some of the implications she was hearing. "Then you have my thanks as well, for the first time."

"Put your thanks towards him, if you must put them anywhere," Yidrah remarked, humming in sympathy. "I didn't expect that this little one would come close to the Sultana again when I first helped her."

Akeno's eyebrow rose in surprise. "Is that why she hasn't been...getting better?"

"Her mind is like armor, broken under strain. I welded it back together, but it had no time to set and cool properly," Yidrah elaborated. "I told her she would have been fine in a month. That would have been true. I'll have to remember that more Eldritch are lurking about now when I fix broken psyches."

Akeno nodded. "Is there anything else we can do to help, Madam Yi?"

"I will need Gremory to come closer," Yidrah answered, glancing at the redhead in question. "The kitten needs an anchor. Her mistress will work best."

Meanwhile

"So, the Eldritch have come to Earth."

Vali Lucifer stood alone amongst the city nightscape, atop a large construction crane. Well, mostly alone.

"It is rather unexpected," Albion remarked. "It is rare for them to come to Earth. Those that haven't already been here for eons, at least. And even they largely keep to themselves."

"I'd probably assume they were weak if not for all the warnings," Vali mused. "So, this Queen of theirs. She's...?"

"Great Red is the Dragon of Dreams. None know from where he hails, but I assume he was born of her dreams," Albion answered grimly. "To all knowledge, she is the highest in all the cosmos."

Vali gazed up at the moon and smirked. "You know me well enough to understand that only entices me more."

"And I know downplaying her would be foolish and fruitless," Albion stated. "But she is beyond you, Vali. You cannot hope to even withstand an existence like that before you have the power to challenge Great Red."

"Don't worry. I wouldn't challenge the Red Dragon God Emperor now. I'll wait until the time is right, to test myself against this great Blind God you're so afraid of," Vali assured idly.

"That may be sooner than you think."

Vali raised an eyebrow, looking over the path of the crane, and saw a shrouded figure standing there. "So, you finally showed yourself."

The figure hummed and stepped forward. The shadows evaporated to reveal...a disturbingly normal-looking teenager, a boy with black hair. "Sorry, I had to be sure you would be a fit for us," he remarked idly.

"You are Eldritch, but not one of the gods," Albion observed suspiciously.

"Call me Max," the newcomer responded with an interesting smirk. "Not my real name, obviously, but that's for the best. I'm part of a group that shares certain ambitions that you have as well."

"You're plotting to overthrow the Eldritch Gods, aren't you?" Vali predicted in amusement.

"Hmm, you pick up fast," Max mused. "Yes. We've grown tired of their way of doing things."

"We?" Albion repeated.

"My group. You could call us Eldritch Demigods, I suppose," Max answered with a sigh. "One to one, our seniors would tear us apart, even the Elder Gods. But as a group, our power will one day scratch the plateau of the Outer Gods."

"And you want me to help," Vali summarized, smirking slightly. "Not interested."

Max was a tad surprised by the casual dismissal. "Mind explaining why?"

"I don't just want to take down Great Red, I want to surpass him," Vali elaborated. "Being part of a group that relies on the power of numbers isn't my style."

Max scowled, the wind changing about him. "That's rather disappointing."

"Don't bother," Albion warned. "A battle here will only draw attention to yourself, and your cause."

Max let out a breath before stilling his form. "We will speak again, I believe."

"Before you call, mind if I ask what you call yourselves?" Vali asked with a head tilt.

Max glanced back, his form dissolving into dust as he gave his answer.

"The Eldrititans."

Meanwhile

Issei's mind had drifted to less proper places. That was a given with him in the same room and talking to two of the hottest girls in school, that was a given.

That said, he had to admit, the sight of Rias holding Koneko in a tender embrace was downright sweet and wholesome. This bunch definitely had some make-shift family thing going on.

"She's a very troubled one," Yidrah mused, scowling. "Gremory, do you forbid her from letting her tail and ears display themselves?"

Rias blinked, pulling back from the embrace. Just a bit, because Koneko was holding her with an iron grip. "No, of course not. In public, yes, but we allow our wings out in private if we want."

"I see. So, it is just her," Yidrah remarked with something between annoyance and disappointment. Her hands briefly glowed, Koneko's cat ears and tail plopping out, the latter swishing idly.

"Okay, well, this just evolved from wholesome to adorable," Issei remarked with a chuckle.

"Gremory, I'd recommend releasing her," Yidrah informed flatly. "She requires food."

Rias raised a brow but obliged the goddess. Yidrah's hands stopped glowing and the fingertips had barely left Koneko's head before the neko-devil had leaped from the redhead's arms, and onto the cart, grabbing for any and all food she could with truly animalistic nature to her.

"Okay, wow," Issei remarked in shock at the display, as were the others in the room.

"She will eat, fall into a slumber, and awake within twenty-four hours," Yidrah informed as she stood from the couch. "She will be tired and weary for weeks, but the hallucinations and nightmares shouldn't be an issue. I take it that it won't be an issue to make sure she keeps her limbs unhidden in the near future?"

"What do you mean?" Rias asked in surprise.

Yidrah gave her an unamused look. "Not much goes on Earth without me knowing, Gremory. Least of all supernatural factions retreating to their native realms."

"Wait, what?" Issei asked in surprise, looking at the devils in the room. "You're all leaving?"

Rias sighed as she tried to ignore the bestial Koneko messily eating. "Yes, we are. We'll be leaving in a few days."

"Why? What happened?" Issei asked in confusion. He groaned at the meaningful silence. "Is this because Aza's in the school now?"

"My family is worried about us being so close to her. Sona's too," Rias remarked, glancing at Koneko. "Not without reason."

"It's an understandable move," Yidrah said reasonably. "If that is all, I will take my leave."

"Thank you again, Madam Yi," Rias said gratefully.

"I will tell to you as I did your servant, give your thanks to him," Yidrah remarked, turning to Issei. "Is there more you need of me, Kungur?"

"No, but thanks all the same Yidrah. I owe you one," Issei said with a smile.

Yidrah might have smiled at that as she turned and left the clubhouse.

"Gactha, you can head out for now. I'll be there in a second," Issei said with a frown.

Gactha trailed her eyes over all the devils in the room ominously before nodding, slowly. "As you desire, Master."

Issei waited awkwardly until she left. "Yeah, sorry about her. That's the first time I've seen her around people much."

Rias waved off the apology, hand on her hip. "It's nothing. You helped heal a precious member of my peerage. If anything, I'm in your debt. On that note, may I ask what Akeno offered you?"

"Huh? Oh, she didn't," Issei answered with a shrug. "She just told me about what happened with Koneko and I decided to help."

"...Just out of the goodness of your heart?" Rias asked skeptically.

"More like I felt partly to blame, but also yes?" Issei answered uncertainly. "Look, I know my reputation and everything. And, to be fair, I would jump at the chance to see your boobs."

There were amused looks at his blunt honesty.

"But I'm not an asshole. I'm not going to make your trade giving me a peek to help Koneko," Issei explained.

Everyone stopped as a small thump echoed in the room, causing them all to turn and see Koneko collapse on the floor, already snoozing away with food still on her face and clothes.

"Someone needs a bath," Akeno remarked idly.

Issei sighed as he watched Kiba and Akeno move to pick Koneko up. "Besides, it seems you all have enough on your plate because of me and the Eldritch."

Rias was at a loss for words for a second. Pervert or not, Issei's altruism was a surprise…and a reassuring one.

"I...should probably be going," Issei mused. "I get that you're all leaving to...wait, is it actually Hell?"

"That's what they call it," Rias informed with a smile.

"Yeah, well, even if you're heading back home, I hope we get to meet again, Rias."

"...I'm sure we will, Issei," Rias said gratefully, sticking out her hand.

Issei smiled and shook it.

With that, he left.

"Well, that's taken care of," Ddraig remarked when they exited the building.

"You've been awfully quiet?" Issei asked idly, lifting his hand to raise an eyebrow at it.

"I think my presence would have only added to the tension," Ddraig answered. "You are interested in those two, aren't you?"

"They've appeared in a lot of my wet dreams before Aza, yes," Issei admitted with a tired chuckle. "Not like they'll be around for long."

"I wouldn't worry. Devils live almost forever, and you'll live longer than that. Your paths will cross again," Ddraig assured.

Issei grumbled to himself. "Hopefully under better circumstances," he looked around the area outside of school. He wasn't surprised that Yidrah was already gone. Gactha was probably lurking nearby. "Oi, I still haven't gotten used to not being a virgin, let alone all this. I didn't even think Aza might make people pack up and run."

"Fleeing before an Outer God is an appropriate response, though often futile," Ddraig said.

"I guess," Issei said before yawning. "Geeze, training and all this really took it out of me."

'I did warn you," Ddraig reminded with a boastful laugh. "Regardless, you handled that situation well."

"You think so?" Issei asked with a smile.

"Of course. The supernaturals might become more at ease when they learn that the King of the Eldritch had the Dream Witch herself come down and repair the mind of the random devil," Ddraig offered

"Oh, come on. I'm hardly the King of the Eldritch. I'm just banging the queen," Issei refuted.

"Allow me to repeat: You had one of the most powerful beings in the universe take time out of her day to heal someone, just because you wanted her to help someone," Ddraig rephrased.

Issei stopped and blinked. "...Yeah, I'm an idiot. I had no idea how that looked from the outside."

"It looked strange but benevolent. The best most hope from the Eldritch," Ddraig mused. "Is there a particular reason you're not owning the title of being the Eldritch King?"

"Because I can't even really wrap my head around what that means beyond dating the Queen of the Universe," Issei admitted.

"Fair enough," Ddraig relented.

Meanwhile

Aza took a deep, calming breath. She probably shortened the lifespan of a couple stars doing it, but oh well. "I guess Issei met Yidrah," Aza mused out loud as she stood on, well, herself.

Her true self, the mass of mouths and tentacles floating through space.

"What'd you think she was going to do, kill him?" Yog asked idly, reclining on the empty vacuum like it was a chair. "Because we both know you don't care if he banged her."

Aza stared with a pout at Yog. "Don't think I don't know you were involved in this."

"I was a middle-dritch in all this," Yog dismissed. "Issei asked who could help, and I told him the best option."

"You told him the most amusing option," Aza refuted before sighing. "But you're right, there's no reason to be worked up. I just worry about him. If he...if something happened to him, I don't know how long it'd take him to reform. And he'll be so miserable, having to get used to the Eldritch perspective of time without a body."

Yog blinked. "That is...a fair point, actually," she mused as she twirled her sword. "He also met Rias Gremory."

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, that devil girl. Isn't she the little sister of their leader, or something like that?" Aza inquired, largely without interest.

"Yes, her brother is one of the Four Satans. He's actually a Super-Devil," Yog informed.

"Is that a thing now?" Aza asked, her head tilting. As did her real form.

Along with this chunk of the galaxy.

"Indeed. He can definitely take on some of the Great Old Ones," Yog informed, running her finger on the edge of her blade. "Maybe even make a few of our weaker peers take him seriously."

Aza hummed at that. "Is that so? Interesting. Still, I'm not surprised."

"Well, I am surprised. That you haven't finished this yet," Yog said glancing up above them.

There, in the vastness of space, was a great swarm of icterine annelidans, with sightless eyes and maws crowned with teeth; The smallest, no bigger than mortal children. The largest, those few were greater than most mountains. Like locusts they circled, like vultures they dove upon the prey within their flock.

An Eldritch God, a gargantuan of crustaceous flesh in a form long and pillared, a one-eyed head roaring at the engorged pests that dared to strike at a divinity. Waves of unearthly power rolled from the armored back of the assaulted god, striking out at the tubular foes. But too few fell, and those that lived gorged on the power of the attacks.

"Just giving Gobogeg a chance to retain his dignity," Aza remarked with a sigh as she rolled her shoulders.

Her true self raised many great tentacles as she glared at the battle happening before her.

Her scowl deepened.

Across the limbs of gnarled flesh, mouths ripped open and screeched into the vacuum.

The numberless horde looked down in fright as her concealment fell away. They fled in terror from the screams as they ripped through the emptiness of space, but only the smallest were tiny enough and quick enough to escape her great ire. Those that didn't, were torn asunder and their great bodies withered into shrill statues of their corpses.

"Void Worms. They're normally not that bold," Aza remarked idly, glancing at the Great Old One she had rescued. "Hello, Gobogeg."

"Great Sultana," Gobogeg greeted gratefully, reclining his cyclopean gaze deeply as his injuried form floated before the massive visage that was Azathoth. "Thank you for your aide. I did not expect to meet ones of that size."

"Or that cleverness," Yog remarked, waving to the lesser god. "Hello, Gobo."

"Mighty Sothoth? I didn't notice you in such an avatar," Gobogeg remarked curiously.

"Enough about that. Tell me, how were you caught so unawares by these Void Worms, Gobogeg?" Aza asked sternly.

"Forgive me. Mortals of some wretched world attempted to summon me to destroy it, but they botched the ritual," Gobogeg explained with his own annoyance. "I found myself here, some midpoint in the universe between them and where I was."

"And the Voidriles felt ambitious, especially with ones that large amongst them," Yog mused, glancing around at the mountainous corpses. "We really need to deal with them for good. They'll only get more annoying."

"You're not wrong, but it's not easy when they can hide from even you," Aza reminded before looking thoughtful. "They normally don't come out this way though. They usually hide more at the edges of the universe."

"Yes, that is strange," Yog agreed with a hum.

"Apologizes, My Queen, but is there anything else? I need to find someplace to break off this shell and regrow it," Gobogeg requested, his blood still trickling into space.

"Yes, that is all. I hope you have safe travels, Gobogeg," Aza said with a smile.

"As do I," Gobogeg agreed in exhaustion before floating off.

"They'll be laughing at him for the next epoch," Yog predicted with a chuckle, blinking as Aza sighed.

As in, all of her countless mouths sighed with enough power to snuff out a star.

"Something wrong?" Yog asked curio-

"Oh, you miss your Kungur?" Yog teased with a smirk.

"Yog, you know your time warping doesn't affect my memories," Aza stated blankly.

Yog winced. "Sorry, force of habit. Still, need to get another hit of his unholy rod?"

"Yes, yes I do," Aza answered, blunt and honest, before grinning widely. "Oh, I'm so happy he chose to be an Outer God!"

"You knew?" Yog asked curiously.

"Of course I did! I'm ascending him," Aza pointed out before grinning. "But this means, even in our true forms, I can be the little spoon someday."

Yog tilted her head. "I forget, what does that phrase mean again? Is that you just wanting him to, well, manhandle your true form?"

A veritable earthquake happened across Azathoth's form as she shivered in delight. "N-no. But also, yes. And I need to get back to earth, now!"

End of Chapter

There you go folks. Koneko finally got some help. Things are churning, obviously, and Issei still is wresting ith the concept that he's basically the King of the Eldritch. True to his nature, he's a pervert, but a good hearted one at the end of the day.

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays!

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