Disclaimer: I own nothing of the properties within this story and all rights go to the creators and companies of said properties

Betaed by Slothful

Chapter 4: The end of normalcy

I learned something very interesting about myself, three days. Day one I was numb, day two I was jumping at shadows, and day three I got used to it.

Well… not really getting used to it but more of accepting it, a sign of humanity's greatest weapon, its adaptability. I realize that I can't leave Kuoh without raising any suspension, I wasn't being bullied or harassed at school so moving to a new school, let alone a new city, is impossible. Moving isn't cheap and I'm seventeen, a minor, so I would need my parents' approval to get an apartment, sign up for a new school, and maybe even for a job.

Meaning that I'm stuck in Kuoh and its school that is run by devils. But I realize that might be for the best. Let's say that I manage to leave Kuoh, what if I run into another series? Or worse, another series that I don't know about? DxD is scary bullshit that's powered by boobs and love but at least I have some understanding of it.

I'll rather be stuck with some horny action anime than go into the unknown.

Plus it isn't that bad, I may have failed not meeting with any of the main cast but Kuoh is a town, and running into people happens. Even people you don't want to meet. So I can meet them but not get too close to them. If I get into a class assignment with one? Just do my part and get it over with. If I somehow get their interest? Just become boring.

And I only have around a year and a half to two years left at Kuoh Academy and time goes faster than one thinks. Two years is quite short, especially when dealing with school work. So just be a normal high school student, get a job, get into the stock trade, get rich, get old, and die, the perfect plan.

But it's time for another day at school, leaving my apartment and walking the trail to my destination. Once I was near the school building, several crowds of students were gossiping among themselves but were loud enough for me to pick up what they were saying.

"Did you hear that Hyoudou is walking with Rias Gremory?!"

"Why was she walking with him?! Do you think he's blackmailing her?!"

"Maybe he's doing her homework?"

"Have you seen his test scores?! It's more likely he is paying her to walk with him!"

"Maybe Gremory is keeping watch? Keeping the pervert from peeping?"

So we are at the point of the story, the day Issei joins the Occult Research Club and the supernatural.

And the true start of the fallen arc…

Pretty soon the Riser fight, Kokabiel's attack, and the peace meeting will happen.

But it doesn't matter to me. I'm an outsider, someone that isn't meant to know about the supernatural, and I can live with that. I ignore more gossip as I speed up my walk, passing the school gates, getting my indoor shoes, and heading to class. Judging by the large group of girls surrounding one of the desks, I can guess that Kiba is back. I can't see him due to the aforementioned crowd but I know enough about how students react to the main cast.

I wonder how the girls would react if they know their dream guy is a devil that was once used for tests to make wielders of Excalibur? Or how Issei will save the world countless times with his harem that is made of several popular girls? And how will he save the world with boob energy? Probably think that I was going mad.

I lean back into my seat, thinking about what to do past the time until class starts. I still have those stock books, so I might as well read them. I pull out one of the books and my notebook and get to reading.

"What are you reading?"

I look up to the voice and sure enough, there stands Kiba. Why is he talking to me? Probably on orders of Rias, to keep an eye on me until he has to get Issei after school.

"Books on the stock market, mainly on how to invest and diversify my portfolio." I told the handsome devil. I'm straight but I'm comfortable enough with my sexuality to say a guy is good-looking.

Kiba's eyes widened at my answer. Why is that so surprising? Maybe it was how I said it? Kiba isn't very well liked by the male students, so maybe me not cussing him out for 'stealing' the girls is what got him. Though Kiba quickly recovers and gives me a prince-like smile, the guy's aura even has bubbles. Fucking bubbles. "The stock market? I never knew you were interested in something like that." Kiba said.

Not surprising as we never talked before. I doubt you would talk to me if Rias didn't order it. It isn't that he was rude or not a people person, it's just better to limit people close to you if you want to keep secrets. Such as being a different species. Devils can erase memories but it's probably something they try not to use too much.

Erasing people's memories can backfire if there are too many holes.

"I have been thinking of what to do after we leave school. Even with college, we have six years before we join the workforce. Less if we're going to work after high school. So I decided to think about potential careers and I feel like some companies are going to do well, so I might as well try stocks." I told the devil.

I can tell some of the students felt uncomfortable with what I was saying. Which was reasonable, they're kids after all, and don't want to worry about something that seems so far ahead of them. Hell, even Kiba isn't that comfortable with it. He was planning on getting enough strength to destroy the sword of Excalibur after all, so I doubt he ever thought about it after that.

Thankfully for all parties, the teacher comes in and thus ends the conversation. But I did see Kiba pull out a smartphone, probably Rias sending him a text about how he needs to bring Issei to the club room. Better get ready for the class myself, because Japanese schools are the Dark Souls of schools.

{Kiba's P.O.V.}

I glance over to the other teen that has gotten our attention as of late. Just as the president and Student Council President said, there is nothing that signals me off about him. Though the way he acts is certainly odd.

While there isn't anything wrong with thinking of the future, Sona has been doing some research on Ren, going as far as to look into middle school records and past teachers. Ren's history has nothing to stand out, he was liked well enough to be accepted but not enough to stand out. He doesn't have any real friends but he also has nobody that really dislikes him, he wasn't part of any clubs and never got any rewards that would get anyone's attention. In a strange sense, Ren is the perfect embodiment of a normal teenage boy.

So how did he gain the attention of a fallen? The more we find out about him, the more strange this becomes. Could it really just be us overthinking it? That the fallen only just go on a date with him and nothing else?

The only other strange thing he has done is how he reacted to talking to me. Normally, the male students want nothing to do with me but Ren was rather polite. It could be that he doesn't want to give the girls a negative impression of him by being rude to me but I doubt that was the case. Though I would be lying to say that the change wasn't a welcome one. It does get annoying that the guys cursed me out for something I can't help. I'm not even planning on dating anyone!

However, what Ren is doing made me question something. What will I do in the future? I plan to destroy the accursed sword to avenge my friends, but what about after that?

…

No… I shouldn't be thinking that. I should be focused solely on my goal. I have to become a High-class devil so I can leave the President's peerage, so my acts will not affect her.

If I can get revenge against the sword that took everything from me… then it doesn't matter what future I will have…

{Ren's P.O.V.}

Classes were over and now it was time for lunch, and this time, I made my own lunch. I took Tonio's advice and actually made a healthy lunch, but I still made it tasty. Rice, chicken, a small salad, and some steamed broccoli. I would add some fruit but that shit cost an arm in Japan. Fuck spending a dollar on an apple just because it comes from a special region of Japan!

I grabbed my bag, which holds my lunch, and made my way to the roof. A bit cliche I know but after writing notes and listening to teachers for a couple of hours, a bit of fresh air sounds good right now. I glance back at Kiba to see several girls asking him if they can join him for lunch, offer some treats or their own cooking to the guy, and even one saying she will treat him to a meal at a family restaurant. While I doubt Kiba would follow me, the fact he was being held up by his fan club means I rest easy knowing that I won't be followed.

Though once I reached the rooftops, I had to hold back a sigh as I saw that I wasn't alone on the roof. Two female students, one being a first-year with long purple hair that was done in a side ponytail and was being held by a hair ornament that looks like a shuriken and has green eyes. The other student's uniform looks different, I believe it's the middle school uniform for Kuoh middle school and a second-year uniform at that. The second girl has short hair that is green in color, similar to the shade of seaweed, with golden eyes but her pupils are slit, just as if they were cat eyes.

Sagiri Ameno and Yaya Fushiguro, two more members of the Hot Spring cast. Normally I might freak out at seeing more main cast members but now? I'm used to it. I'm not sure if the game was at fault or if I just have bad luck but I accepted that I will keep running into them.

"But how can you handle those Cat gods?" Sagirir asked Yaya.

…

I'm ninety-nine percent certain that I wasn't meant to hear that. Maybe I can sneak away without them noticing me?

Though as I was about to leave, Yaya gave an, honestly cute, sneeze. "Bless you." I said without thinking and gaining the two girls' attention. Crap.

"Who are you?" Sagiri's hand was already moving closer to her bag, probably where she keeps a weapon.

"Takahashi. Takahashi Ren." I told the girl with a calm tone, panicking would only make me more suspicious. "I came here to enjoy my lunch and I thought I would be alone. Guess I was wrong."

"You heard us." Sagiri said, stating rather than asking. I can't lie out of this one, or at least not fully.

"Yeah, something about Cat gods. Some kind of new online game?" I ask the two, giving them the best chance to move away from their former topic.

"Yeah, we play an online RPG and I'm a summoner class." Yaya lies without a moment of pause. It's better for them to make me keep the idea of them talking about a game rather than actual cat gods existing. It seems that Sagiri believes that they are in the clear since she moves her hand away from the bag.

"If you two don't mind, I will just eat over there." I pointed at the other end of the roof, far away from them so as not to overhear them talking. Both of the girls nod and watch as I take my seat to enjoy my lunch. That went better than I thought.

I pull out my lunch and open the top part of the bento lunchbox, where all food that wasn't rice is stored. I took a piece of the chicken and ate it, a bit on the plain side but that was to be expected as I only use salt and pepper to season. As I was about to take another bite, I felt someone over my shoulder. I turn around to see Yaya crouching behind me with a small bit of drool on the corner of her mouth.

Wasn't she like this when Fuyuzora made her fish? Sighing, I hold the lunchbox near her. "Want some? It's pretty plain." I warn her, though she wastes no time getting the biggest piece in the box and quickly placing it into her mouth. I was worried that the simple seasoning would make the taste too bland for her liking but judging how she seems to like it tells me otherwise. Maybe it's because of her powers? Her powers made her more cat-like, heck she can even transform into a cat, so maybe the lack of extra seasoning is better for her, letting her get more of the chicken's actual flavor.

"Here." Yaya said, placing some of her lunch into my box. And unsurprisingly, it was fish.

"What are you doing Yaya?" I hear Sagiri ask her friend.

"Sharing some of my lunch. He was nice enough to share his so I should share some of mine." Yaya said uncaringly. "Plus food tastes better with more people."

"But you don't know him." Sagiri argues, making an honestly fair point.

"He told us he is Takahashi Ren. Besides, he seems nice." Yaya said, brushing off Sagiri's concern.

Sagiri sighed at her friend's actions but moved closer to us, probably just to make sure I don't pull anything. Though I doubt I could do anything to her or Yaya, not that I was planning to.

We ate in silence, with Sagiri glancing at me from time to time and at times my lunch. I hold my lunch to her, offering her some of it. Though her look of confusion tells me that my message wasn't clear enough. "You've been looking at my lunch for some time now, do you want to try some?" I ask, watching the ninja girl's face turn red.

"W-what?! NO! I was thinking that your mother was a good cook!" the ninja yells at me.

"She does have a point, your mother must know a bit about cooking. I lost count on how often people would just cook the meat and cover it in a sauce." Yaya comments, eating another piece of chicken.

"Actually, I made it." I told the girls, their eyes widening. "My parents are not living with me and will be out of town for a while. I figure that I can't live off only take-out and convenience store food so I decided to learn how to cook."

The two girls keep staring at me. Guess me knowing how to cook is something to be worthy of staring at. Wait, wasn't Sagiri bad at cooking, or rather her cooking tasted bad due to her mixing medical herbs into the food? So I guess my basic level of cooking might be something to be stunned by.

"There has been something I've been wondering for a while now." I told the girls, snapping them out of their trance. "How did you get in? You are a middle school student right?" I ask Yaya.

"How did you know that?" the green cat girl asked.

"Simple, the uniform. You were close enough for me to realize that it isn't a first-year uniform." I explained.

"I let her in." Sagiri answered. "We live in the same inn and I thought we could have lunch together from time to time." then she throws a glare at me. "You better not tell the teacher about this."

"Why? I would get myself in trouble since no one is allowed on the roof." I told the girl, calming at what I said.

I pulled out my phone, seeing that lunch was almost over so I finished the rest of my lunch and drink. "It was nice meeting you two but I need to leave. My next class is starting soon." I told them as I packed my empty lunchbox and bottle.

"Wait." the ninja said. "We never properly introduce ourselves, I'm Ameno Sagiri and this is Fushiguro Yaya."

I give the girls a nod and a quick goodbye before leaving the rooftop for my next class. That wasn't so bad.

{Sagiri's P.O.V.}

I watch as the odd upper-classman leaves, leaving Yaya and me alone once again. I sigh at the fact I allowed us to be sneaked up by someone. It wasn't a hostel ghost or yokai but the fact I didn't react until the guy gave himself away is shameful for a member of the Chuuma Ninjas! Have I gotten so used to the Gremory and Sitri heiresses trying to recruit me and the other members of the Yuragi Inn to react?

"It's fine." Yaya tells me. "He was just a normal human, if he was a member of either heiresses' peerages, we would have seen him coming a mile away."

Yaya had her own experiences with dealing with the two heiresses, though it seems she hangs out with the white hair girl of the Gremory peerage. Koneko was her name if I'm correct.

"Maybe it's fine for you, but it isn't for me." I said. If I keep letting my guard down despite the fact devils are around me, how long will I take that attitude on a mission? What if my carelessness cost me my life, or someone else's?

I can't believe such a possibility to exist. Maybe I should take my training up? I still haven't gained the Spirit Armor yet and if a random Stray Devil comes near the Inn, I would rather be able to fight it.

That thought has to be for later, as our own lunch is about to end and Yaya needs to head back to her own school. Though one thought keeps plaguing my mind, who is Takahashi Ren exactly and why do I feel like he is hiding more than he lets on?

And why does his existence suddenly gain interest?

{Ren's P.O.V.}

Another day of school done, another boring walk home and more homework done. Now I'm sitting at my desk, looking through part-time flyers from fast food, convenience, or retail stores. I sigh, rubbing my eyes in annoyance. The idea of working in fast food or retail isn't something I want to do as I remember working in retail in my old life and it sucks at times. Fast food is no better, if not worse than retail as some people look down on those jobs and the people that work them.

I looked at the clock on my desk, seeing that it was getting close to six at night. I can save the job hunt for later, I need to make dinner. Odd that I still cook and sleep when I don't remember ever feeling hungry or tired since coming here, but I still do eat and sleep. Maybe it was some kind of comfort to me? To remind me that I'm still human and not some kind of entity that wears the skin of an innocent teenager?

I open the fridge and see… nothing much. There was enough to make dinner for tonight but nothing for breakfast for tomorrow unless I go shopping.

I check the time again on my phone, it now being seven after six. I can do some shopping, maybe pick up something for tonight. I know I plan to eat a bit healthier but a burger does sound good too. I already changed into a simple tee-shirt and jeans so all I need is to grab my jacket and I'm ready to head out. I leave my apartment, feeling the cold night autumn air hitting me in the face. After a bit of a walk to the grocery store to pick up some basic stuff like milk, eggs, and some bread, and a familiar fast food joint with golden arches to get a couple of burgers. However, by the time I was done shopping, it was already pitch black with only the street lights and the windows of homes and shops illuminating the streets.

Even without the potential of Stray Devils, crazy priests, or murdering fallen, I never like the dark. Several people were attacked, raped, and murdered at night, and I always feel uncomfortable in a dark location, even when I know there was nothing there. I remember that there was a shortcut to my apartment but I have been avoiding using it because… it was the park where Issei died.

Knowing that someone was killed and turned into hellspawn a stone's throw away from my apartment is a chilling thought but I decided to go through it. It was only a ten-minute walk through the park to reach my apartment, less if I power walked it. I speeded through the park, not paying any attention to anyone that could be in the park this late at night.

"AAAAHHH!" A female voice yells from behind me, and instinctively turns towards the yell and see…

Ass. A large, white pantie-clad ass is pointed directly at me with the girl groaning on the ground. The hem of her dress (or was it a robe?) hiked up to showcase the honestly nice butt, the fabric of her pantie stretching out to make it very clear how plump her bottom is.

I shake my head, making myself stop staring at the girl's butt. I feel my face burn a bit as I go to help the girl up, but for some reason, I have an odd feeling about this, like I have seen this happen somewhere before.

I went over to the down girl, making sure to keep my eyes off her butt because I don't trust myself to not stare again, and help her up, giving the first proper look at her face. Large green doe eyes, golden blonde hair, and perfectly clear white skin, what really got me was I now knew who this was.

Asia Argento, the main key player for the first arc of DxD, one of Issei's girls, and a future member of Rias's peerage.

But why was she here? Wasn't she meant to meet Issei in the exact same way as I did after his first night as a devil? Or was that something that was only the anime? I remember a friend in discord saying that there were several differences between the light novel and the anime.

"Si?" Asia asked me in a foreign language, reminding me that Asia doesn't know any Japanese.

The reasonable part of me says to leave Asia here, that Issei should be around the corner and that he would help her and will save her. But what if he isn't? What if I leave Asia, Issei doesn't come, and she falls into the hands of some person with… least noble goals, or worse Diodora coming out and taking the innocent girl and… defiles her.

There is nothing I could do to stop someone like Diodora if he does decide to come and rape Asia right now, but I can't just leave an innocent girl like her alone, where someone would take advantage of her. But how can I help her if I can't even understand her?! I don't know Italian!

Wait… I remember that I spoke in English in my past life but I never tried it since coming here. Probably should give it a shot, I can't exactly take her hand and drag her to the church or my place, that's just kidnapping and an open invite for people like Raynare or Freed to come and kill me.

"English?" I asked the blonde nun. I was worried that my accent would be too thick for her to understand me but thankfully she seemed to get it since her eyes widened and nodded.

"A little!" Asia said in excitement. I guess me being probably the first person she can actually talk to since coming here would make her excited. Though her only knowing a little bit of English isn't ideal. "Church! Know where?" Asia asks, evening digging out her bible, pointing at the cross on the cover.

I had to withhold a flinch when she asked that question. I know where the church is, but what the church means makes me want nothing more than to tell the girl to head back home, even when knowing that she has nowhere to go. The abandoned church acts as the base for the fallen and rogue priests… and where Asia's life as a human would end.

But what can I do to stop it? I have no knowledge of magic, martial arts, how to use weapons, or anything. I doubt I even have a sacred gear, especially one that actually helps me fight. If I try taking Asia away from the church, all that will happen is me getting killed.

But I don't want to take the girl there. It makes me no different from Raynare, the one who will kill her, since I know what will happen should I take her there. But again, I know there is nothing I can do to stop it.

"Yes… Church. I know where." I told the girl, her mouth turning into a blinding smile. It honestly hurts seeing her being thankful when I feel I'm tying a noose around her neck.

"Where?" Asia asks me.

"Take you there." I told the girl, who once again smiled.

We gather the contents of spilled luggage, with me helping her carry her suitcase. We walk in silence, as we really can't talk to one another. The silence was cut by a grumbling sound, turning toward the source of the sound to see Asia blushing as another grumble came from her stomach. Guess she hasn't eaten anything since coming to Kuoh. I did buy quite a bit from the burger shop.

I point towards a park bench, though Asia seems confused about what I was trying to say. I held up the bag of fast food and pointed at the bench.

"Hungry?" I ask this time and she understands.

The two of us took a seat, and luckily there was a vending machine so I was about to get us some drinks. I take a seat next to Asia, handing her a coke and giving her a burger, though she looks confused about how to eat it. I pull another burger out of the bag and unwrap it, making sure Asia watches as I take a bite. Asia mimics my movements, unwrapping her own burger and after a moment of hesitation, bites into it.

The nun's eyes widened as tastes the burger. "Deliziosa!" she comments before taking another bite with more joy.

How can a girl make the action of eating a McDonald's burger so cute? I chuckle lightly as I enjoy my burger, watching her trying a coke for the first time. Thankfully I ordered enough for two people, though Asia only ate two burgers. It feels nice to see the nun smile when I know about her backstory.

All of the sudden, Asia stands up and runs toward a kid that was crying. Why was a kid out this late at night? It was almost eight.

I will just chalk it up to the game's doing.

I follow Asia, watching her kneel down and use her sacred gear, Twilight Healing, as a green light appears from her hands and heals the boy's knee. I just remember that outside of my system, this was the first time seeing magic. And it was incredible, seeing something that only should be possible in fantasy happening in front of me is an incredible experience. I watch as the kid runs off, thanking Asia, as Asia herself raises up with… sadden expression?

"Scary?" Asia asked me in a timed voice. I supposed she now thinks I see her as some kind of a freak, a being outside of the normal world. And with how the church treats her, kissing the ground she walks on and calling her a holy saint one minute to her being a witch and getting kicked out the next.

"No." I told her. "You are nice."

Thankfully my words bring a small smile to her face. Though I feel like she somewhat doubts me.

"Ren." I said to her, getting a confused look. "Me, Ren." I said again, pointing at myself.

"OH! Asia!" Asia introduces herself.

"Ren." I said, and once more pointing at myself. "Asia." pointing at her before wrapping my arms around myself.

"Friends." I told the nun, a moment of confusion before that look turned into a realization of what my words meant.

The nun's eyes well with some small tears before she gives me another blinding smile as she wraps around herself with her arms. "Friends!"

Honestly, hearing those words makes me feel warm on the inside. I know Issei should have been her first friend. I felt that she should know that she made a friend today, with that friend being me. Does it help with the guilt of knowing I will be the one taking her to her death? No, but at least I'm making sure she has at least one happy memory after everything the poor girl had gone through.

However, everything must end as we left the park, went up the hill, and finally reached the worn-down church. I watch as Asia takes her suitcase from me and walks into the church, giving me a wave of goodbye. Seeing that my job is done, I made the walk back into my apartment, wondering if there was something I could have instead of taking her to this place. By the time I entered my apartment, my mind was a storm of 'what ifs' and 'if I do this'. Put the food I bought into the fridge and was about to get ready for bed when a ping sound was made, which must have been the Viser quest.

Viser has officially died, the mission has failed and the route (Love in all shapes and sizes) is closed off

And I just gained 500 LP~

Mission 4: The church

The church will be under attack tonight!

Time Limit: 3 hours

Reward: ? will survive, 10,000 LP, ? path will be open, ? path will be open

Failure: ? will die

What the fuck is this shit?! The game never withholds who will be saved before! Why is it doing it now?! Unless… It's to make me take action. Could my ignoring of Viser made the game decide this? To withhold who could live or die to make me follow through with the mission? This mission could mean to save Asia or Raynare, or even both.

Also, the game is a dick. It could have given me this mission when I was at the church but instead of that, it waited until I came back to my apartment, put up my groceries, and got ready for bed just to pop this at me.

But it knows me too well, it knows that I would jump at the idea of saving Asia, even if it was only a possibility. It also knows that I can't reasonably leave her there, Issei and Asia haven't met so Rias doesn't know about her existence. This, in turn, means if Asia were to die at Raynare's hands tonight, Asia will stay dead, or worse, fall into Diodora's hands. I can't just sleep when I know the consequences of my actions, or rather, lack of actions. And there was a possibility of the person who can die being Mittelt, as she should still be in the church. I wouldn't put it past the system at this point.

I quickly slip out of my sleep clothes and throw on a black hoodie and sweatpants. I know that devils could see in the dark, but I don't know if fallen or Freed, the test tube psycho, can. I was tempted to buy a bat or something from my shop but I know that it would be pointless. A knife or a bat against the fallen or any of the priests, let alone Freed, should just be a pool noodle, pointless and useless. But I shouldn't go empty-handed, I bought a female sweatsuit for Asia for her to change into when we try to leave the church as a robe isn't something one should wear if you need to run. Just as I was about to step out of my apartment, I realized that I looked a bit too suspicious with the whole black outfit. I look like what people think of a robber, all I was missing is the ski mask and crowbar.

This… might be bad. Should I just change into something more normal than change again in the woods near the church? What if I run into a cop and they ask questions, eating what little time I have to get into the church? I can probably sneak into the church but I know I can't sneak out of my apartment, through town, up the hill (which was the only way to the church), and the church itself.

There is the fast travel option.

I have a fast travel option?! And you are telling me this now?! I swear this thing is sentience and it loves to fuck with me.

But that solves all of my problems. I open the map and sure enough, an icon for the church is there, it even has a chibi Asia next to it. Though there isn't a chibi Mittelt that could be because it only shows one person on the overworld map. I push the button to fast travel to the church.

Estimated travel time: 2 hours

What? It isn't instant?! Maybe it is taking the time needed to properly sneak by everyone? One can argue that just kills the purpose of fast travel, a method in games to get from point A to B without loss of time. But I think it could hold other functions, just like most things about my system. Besides, it removes certain factors like cops or people seeing me, so it would be worth it in the long run.

I pushed the accept button to fast travel and before I knew it, I was within seeing distance of the church. Ok, that was cool.

Fast Travel Cooldown time: 30 minutes

And that isn't cool. Guess that kills the idea of using it to get me, Mittelt, and Asia out of here when I find her. But for now, I need to find a way into the church. I can't go through the front door and I bet the back is covered to keep idiot teens from entering the building to make it into a party zone. The building has been left to rot for years, around ten years since it shut down if I'm remembering correctly. So there must be a wall I can slip through or a broken window that no one bothered fixing.

Sliding around the building as if I was a snake, making sure not to step on any branches that could alert the people in the building. After scanning the left side of the building, if you were facing the front door, I found an open window. As I slide closer to the window, I realize why it was opened. Ten years of no one taking care of the pipes caused the bathroom here to stink! The smell was so bad I almost was about to give myself away to gag! I pull out my smartphone and use the recorder to see if someone was in the bathroom, seeing that no one was there, I pull myself over the ledge and enter the bathroom.

Holy shit… I'm doing a B&E.

I shake the thought out of my head, remembering why I'm doing this. But there is a problem.

I don't know the full layout of the church. Issei's attack on the church only shows the entrance with all the pews and the secret underground basement, so I'm going in blind. And that was a scary feeling. But I can't chicken out now.

I peek out of the door, seeing the wallpaper peeling off the walls, the floor carpet is stained, and a cockroach running into a creak just as I notice it. Not surprising that this place isn't that clean, I think the fallen and their men have only been here for a few weeks to a couple of months so it wouldn't make sense for the place to be properly cleaned. Especially when they would leave as soon as their mission is over.

I move down the hallway, making sure to be as quiet as I can. If I get caught, there are no redos, restarts, or save states, so I can't afford to be seen. Ideally, I want to find dirty clothes to steal a priest's robe to blend in as I know Raynare doesn't memorize all of her exorcists' faces. But seeing the state of this place, I bet most of them just rewash the outfits that they have and wear every day.

I creak open the first door, seeing a kitchen (which is as dirty as the rest of the place) but no one in it. I know I only just enter but the lack of people is worrying. While I like that I was running into no one, the only reason I can think of why neither the priests nor the fallen is the ritual to extract Asia's gear. And if that was the case, then I'm fucked. Think positively Ren, they are probably out killing people that made contractors.

… Ok, not really positive but it was better than an army of crazy priests armed with guns and ripped-off lightsabers standing between me saving Asia and Mittelt. I checked several more rooms, with them being bunk rooms, guess I found where the priests sleep. But I'm running out of places to look. Could Asia have her own private room? If she does, then it would be near where all the fallen sleep. And there was only one way to find where it was.

I creak open the last door that I haven't checked, and I see several rows of pews from my vision. I rather not go through it with how open it was, but I got to go through it. I slip out of the door frame, closing the door behind me to not raise any suspicion, and quickly hide among the pews. I slowly make my way to the other side of the church, poking my head above the pews to see if there are any doors near me. Seeing one coming close to me I was about to rush towards it until it started opening, forcing me to hide. I stay quiet, holding my breath in fear of them hearing it.

"Have any of you seen Mittelt lately? I haven't seen her since this morning after breakfast." an older female voice said.

"I don't know. Maybe play with that human again. It doesn't matter where she is now, as long as she is here in two days. The device will be ready by then." another, slightly younger sounding, female voice said.

Must be Raynare and Kalawarner. And they are talking about the gear removal procedure.

"That or out buying one of her kid games again. I don't know why someone of her age likes that stupid monster collecting game made for eight-year-olds." the older male voice comments.

… I know I shouldn't give myself away but it was really tempting to slap the LA Noire wannabe for insulting Pokemon. But hearing that Mittelt isn't here brought a bit of comfort but at the same time, now I can't make sure that she knows to get out of here. I will just have to find her later.

But I have a problem, three fallen angels are in the same room as me and I doubt I can sneak back to where I came. But I can't stay here forever. I need to distract them with something. I look around near me for anything I can use. All I could find was an old, torn-up bible, a rock (probably was once part of the ceiling), and a sandwich wrapper from FamilyMart. Picking up the rock and I threw it at the stained glass window that was near where I came in from. Surprisingly, I actually hit the window, shattering it and hopefully getting the three fallen attention.

"Those damn kids are back." I hear Dohnaseek say. "I swear I had it up to here with them."

"Maybe we should give them a good scare~ Maybe then they will stop." Raynare suggests. I don't want to know how bad that would scare them. Especially when they learn no one is outside.

"I might as well come and watch. I have nothing to do." Kalawarna said.

Seeing as this is my best chance to get away and to the other side of the church, I rush at the door and quickly grab the doorknob and turn it to open.

Running into a man's chest.

I tile my head up to get a better look at who I ran into, seeing the handsome man with black hair and golden bangs and a black goatee.

The man gives me a cocky smile. "Dear, I know that you missed me but you really don't have my arms~" the man said as pucker his lips as if he was going for a kiss.

I fall backward, yelling out in shock at who this man was, giving myself away to the other fallen angels but that is the least of my worries. I just face-planted myself into Azazel, the leader of the fallen. Why the fuck is he here?! He should be in the Grigori or at least not in Kuoh until after Kokabiel's attack!

"Lord Azazel?!" I turn back to the screams to see all three of the fallen summoning their light spears but their faces have the uncertain look if they should kill me or bow to their leader.

"Though I must say, you are quite interesting." Azazel said. I don't like the sound of that…

"REN?! Why are you here?!" familiar voice questions and looking behind Azazel, and sure enough Mittelt was standing there with a door behind her opening to reveal Asia in her sleeping gown.

I can only say the one thing that came into my mind through the panic.

"I can explain?" I said weakly. At least this can't get any crazier.

Just I thought that the front door exploded, and dust and smoke filled the room! Once the dust and smoke settle, five figures stand at the hole that was once the church's door.

Kiba and Koneko are standing at the front, sword and fists poised to attack at any moment. Akeno's hand sparks from electricity as she stands in a shrine maiden's outfit and is standing next to her king, all ready to defend her master. Issei had his gear activated, covering his left arm in crimson metal and the green jewels glowed lightly and was standing between the knight and rook. The last person and the master of the group stand, her crimson hair flowing in the wind.

"You fallen have been causing a lot of mischief in my territory and I demand that you fou-" Rias cuts her speech as she sees Azazel standing there as if nothing happened.

"Yes, I too wonder what exactly is going on." Azazel said with a smirk.

I did what any normal person would do.

"I can't explain that." pointing at the devils.

Author's Note:

Another chapter of Stealer is done! And now we are getting the ball rolling! Ren's journey in stealing girls has begun and I think this is an interesting idea, making Asia come in earlier than expected in canon. Also, why Rias's group came in will be explained in the next chapter.

I'm also part of the SGO server so if you want to join and chat, here is a link

/channels/716976671911313470/725019465980444725